ã€ŠMy Golden Core is a Star, do you call this cultivating?ã€‹


 Chapter 1: Qi Yuan

    Chapter 1: Qi YuanCanglan Realm

    Shen Guang Sect

    The morning bell tolled continuously, awakening all the disciples, who then began their cultivation with vigor, inhaling and exhaling spiritual energy.

    The sounds of morning practice echoed throughout the sect, creating an atmosphere full of vitality.

    On Qise Peak, Qi Yuan lay on his bed. The morning bell was particularly jarring to his ears, so he covered them. His wooden cat puppet also opened its mouth at the appropriate time and made a sound.

    "Wake up!"

    "Wake up!"

    With a wave of his hand, Qi Yuan stuffed a small piece of dried fish into the puppet¡¯s mouth, silencing it instantly. He changed his position and continued to sleep comfortably.

    As the saying goes, "I alone sleep when the sun is high; who is a god? I am a god!"

    Who knows how much time had passed before Qi Yuan finally woke up. He took a deep breath.

    "Mm, the air in this other world is quite sweet."

    Qi Yuan originally belonged to the vast populace of Blue Star. Half a year ago, he transmigrated to this world. Unlike his previous world, this one had extraordinary beings and cultivators.

    By chance, Qi Yuan had joined the Shen Guang Sect, becoming a disciple of Qise Peak, and its only disciple at that.

    After washing up and getting dressed, Qi Yuan left his courtyard. Yesterday, his master had sent a message with some instructions.

    Standing halfway up the mountain, Qi Yuan looked up towards the peak, which was towering and shrouded in immortal mist. He glanced at the palace within the clouds and muttered, "Another day of missing Master."

    The clouds atop the peak rippled momentarily and then dispersed, as if nothing had happened. His master lived at the peak and had set a restriction that Qi Yuan was not allowed to ascend.

    Not seeing the clouds gather and scatter at the peak, Qi Yuan walked down Qise Peak. Today was the Shen Guang Sect¡¯s disciple recruitment ceremony. He was to represent Qise Peak, one of the five peaks of the sect, to recruit new disciples.

    Qise Peak had only one incompetent disciple¡ªhimself¡ªand the sect had expressed their dissatisfaction. However, the peak master of Qise Peak was powerful, so those complaints could only be kept to themselves.

    Currently, even the peak master of Qise Peak had issues with Qi Yuan, which was why they planned to recruit more disciples.

    Qi Yuan slowly walked down the peak. When he reached halfway down, he stopped.

    There was a large tree here, several feet high. Looking down from above, one would see:

    [This is a somewhat unusual blade of grass, but three days ago, Elder Kumu and the Empress of Dashang had a rendezvous here.]

    Standing under the tree, Qi Yuan glanced at the fresh green grass on the ground, and a series of words appeared in his mind. He was taken aback. If he remembered correctly, a few days ago, when he came here, his eyes saw:

    [This is an ordinary blade of grass, but four days ago, a wild dog urinated on it.]

    "This grass is quite interesting."

    [This is a Jade-level cultivation technique with 1,371 obvious flaws and numerous other minor flaws. Cultivating to the highest level will turn one into indescribable nourishment for an unknown being.]

    First, doctors; second, sword cultivators; and third, obsessed cultivators.

    Doctors possess medical skills to heal injuries. Cultivators may need them for treatment and quick recovery after duels, so it''s best not to provoke them. Moreover, doctors are often skilled in making deadly poisons and pills, killing silently.

    Sword cultivators are known for their formidable combat skills and decisive killing, so it''s best to avoid them.

    Obsessed cultivators are rather unusual. They are fixated on something to an extreme degree, whether it''s a sword, a flower, or a person, leading to mental issues. Such cultivators are unpredictable; who knows when a mental case might suddenly go crazy?

    Qi Yuan belonged to the obsessed lineage.

    "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, you are a bit late," Kang Fulu said softly.

    "I went to bed too late yesterday," Qi Yuan yawned.

    The eldest disciples of the other peaks remained silent. Kang Fulu said, "Since everyone is here, let''s begin recruiting disciples."

    The square was filled with new disciples who had just passed the entrance examination. The eldest disciples of each peak were responsible for selecting recruits for their respective peaks.

    Kang Fulu stepped forward and looked at the hundreds of new disciples below, speaking slowly.

    "Shen Guang Sect is one of the three major cultivation sects of the Dashang Kingdom."

    "Congratulations to all of you for passing the rigorous tests. From now on, you are disciples of Shen Guang Sect."

    Hearing this, the hundreds of young men and women below felt excited. After all, Shen Guang Sect was one of the most powerful cultivation sects in the Dashang Kingdom. Joining the sect meant becoming someone of high status.

    Kang Fulu was pleased with their reactions and continued.

    "Shen Guang Sect has five peaks. You may choose one to join."

    "This is the eldest disciple of the Divine Medicine Peak, Zhuge Miao."

    "This is the eldest disciple of the Myriad Laws Peak, Xu Yiyi."

    "This is the eldest disciple of Qise Peak, Qi Yuan."

    "This is the eldest disciple of the Battle Peak, Madman."

    "I am Kang Fulu, the last disciple of the Five Lights Peak Master, the son-in-law of the Shen Guang Sect Master, the grandmaster of the Five Lights Sacred Law, and the founder of the Little Sun Technique, the chief eldest disciple of the Five Lights Peak."

    As Kang Fulu spoke, five-colored divine light appeared above his head, making him look extremely impressive and conspicuous.

    Yes, Kang Fulu, known as the most narcissive figure of the Five Lights Peak.

 Chapter 2: Jiang Lingsu

    Chapter 2: Jiang Lingsu

    The gaze of the many newcomers below shifted upon hearing Kang Fulu''s introduction. Some felt admiration, others envy, while a few found it amusing.

    Kang Fulu continued, "Information about the five peaks of Shen Guang Sect has already been distributed to you all. Now, those who achieved grades of ''B'' or ''C'' in the assessment may begin choosing which peak they wish to join."

    The assessment results were divided into three grades: A, B, and C.

    Grade A was the best, B was next, and C was the worst.

    Therefore, those with grades B and C would choose their peaks first.

    Grade B qualified one as a formal disciple, while grade C designated one as a servant disciple.

    Only those with grade A could become true disciples!

    As for those with grade A, each of them was considered a genius and needed special training.

    The main purpose of the senior disciples from each peak was to interact with and invite these few new disciples who received an A grade to join their peaks.

    "Kang Senior Brother is so impressive, joining Five Light Peak is definitely worth it!"

    "I''d still choose Ten Thousand Laws Peak; in the path of cultivation, the Dao and its techniques are the key!"

    "My dream is to become a pharmacist, only pharmacists can save Da Shang. I will join Shen Yao Peak!"

    "Battle Peak suits someone like me!"

    "It''s a pity Seven Color Peak doesn¡¯t accept regular or servant disciples, otherwise I''d definitely choose it. I heard there¡¯s only one senior brother there. If I joined, I''d be the second disciple, and the resources would be plentiful."

    In no time, those who had achieved grades B and C had chosen their respective peaks.

    Among them, Five Light Peak had the most new members. Excluding Seven Color Peak, Shen Yao Peak had the fewest because not everyone could become a pharmacist. If someone devoted decades to it and achieved nothing, they might be expelled. It was better to focus on cultivation.

    With everyone choosing their peaks, only the seven who had achieved grade A remained¡ªfour males and three females.

    "Fellow disciples, how should we choose from these seven?" Kang Fulu asked, his eyes fixed on a young man in black, the one he was most interested in.

    The others, realizing something, remained silent.

    At this moment, Zhuge Miao, the senior disciple of Shen Yao Peak, suddenly said, "Before we came, Master instructed that Seven Color Peak should choose first this time."

    Upon hearing this, Kang Fulu sighed.

    He had intended to keep this information hidden, fearing that Qi Yuan would choose the one he favored.

    After all, Seven Color Peak only had one disciple, making it highly attractive to others.

    Joining other peaks meant competing with many disciples, but joining Seven Color Peak meant only one competitor.

    Moreover, that lone competitor seemed unreliable.

    The seven new disciples looked at Qi Yuan with eyes full of hope, as if their faces bore the words "pick me."

    "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, please select," Kang Fulu said.

    He deliberately didn''t provide any information about the seven new disciples, hoping to prevent Qi Yuan from choosing the most talented one, as that would be a significant loss for Five Light Peak.

    Qi Yuan gazed at the seven, his expression calm.

    Since his master had sent him to select a disciple to boost Seven Color Peak''s reputation, he had to choose wisely.

    Qi Yuan''s expression turned strange.

    A potential rival?

    Exclude!

    The girl, Jiang Lingsu, looked at Qi Yuan cautiously.

    Seeing Qi Yuan''s expression hinting at rejection, her gaze turned determined. She bowed deeply to Qi Yuan and said, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, please give me a chance to join Seven Color Peak!"

    Jiang Lingsu wasn''t from Da Shang but had come from the distant east.

    She was born into a noble family and held a high status.

    A sect like Shen Guang was something she wouldn''t have considered before.

    However, a month ago, her bloodline awakened, granting her a chance to use her family''s supreme treasure, the Heaven and Earth Mirror.

    In the mirror, she glimpsed an apocalyptic scene.

    There was slaughter everywhere, with countless cultivators falling.

    Her father died in battle, and her mother bled in the palace.

    The land fractured, and the seas overturned.

    Only the small Shen Guang Sect seemed to harbor a high master who survived the catastrophe.

    The Heaven and Earth Mirror was a supreme treasure, and what she saw was a future vision or a warning from fate.

    Thus, she came to Shen Guang Sect.

    Before coming, she had investigated the sect thoroughly.

    It seemed ordinary, but the peak master of Seven Color Peak was mysterious and stronger than expected.

    Unfortunately, she couldn''t convey the future she saw to anyone.

    If she revealed it, everyone would forget, including herself.

    So now, she bore a great responsibility.

    She couldn''t bear to see her loved ones perish or the world fall apart.

    She had to join Seven Color Peak!

    Qi Yuan yawned, looking at Jiang Lingsu''s determined gaze.

    She immediately said, "If I can join Seven Color Peak, I''m willing to serve as a slave or maid to help you, Senior Brother."

    Before coming to Shen Guang Sect, she had investigated the master and disciple of Seven Color Peak.

    The peak master was incredibly mysterious, like a dragon that rarely showed itself.

    The disciple had some talent but was of the "obsessive" lineage.

    Obsessive lineage cultivators had peculiar personalities and, due to their obsession, often neglected other matters, needing someone to assist and take care of them.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Jiang Lingsu and said, "Alright."

    Relieved, Jiang Lingsu thought, for the sake of the world, what did a bit of personal sacrifice matter?

 Chapter 3: The Masterâ€¦ Exquisitely Beautiful

    Chapter 3: The Master... Exquisitely Beautiful

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s agreement, Jiang Lingsu finally relaxed.

    "Greetings, Senior Brother!"

    The remaining six individuals looked at Jiang Lingsu with a hint of envy.

    Kang Fulu let out a sigh of relief, pleased that Qi Yuan had not chosen the person he had his eye on.

    "Now that the selections are complete, farewell everyone," Qi Yuan said.

    The senior disciples from the other peaks nodded.

    Despite Qi Yuan''s somewhat peculiar nature, he was still very polite.

    "Farewell, Junior Brother Qi Yuan!"

    "See you tonight, Junior Brother Qi Yuan!"

    These people warmly greeted Qi Yuan, creating a congenial atmosphere.

    Where interests were not involved, they all showed Qi Yuan considerable respect.

    However, Zhuge Miao from Shen Yao Peak hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, I have some questions about the formula for the Nourishing Essence Pill. Could you spare some time to enlighten me? If you can help me, I am willing to offer a Foundation Establishment spiritual item in return."

    Zhuge Miao''s attitude was sincere.

    Earlier, he had reminded Qi Yuan to choose first to create an opportunity for this conversation.

    His words caused varied reactions among the present disciples of Shen Guang Sect.

    Qi Yuan looked at Zhuge Miao and said, "I''ll be walking my pet down the mountain this evening. I can take a look then."

    Hearing this, Zhuge Miao felt a surge of joy.

    When Qi Yuan mentioned his pet, Xu Yiyi from Ten Thousand Laws Peak seemed to recall something, a smile appearing on her usually cold face.

    "Junior Sister, let''s go." Qi Yuan called out to Jiang Lingsu, and the two left the crowd.

    It was only then that Kang Fulu spoke, "Junior Brother Zhuge, are you sure you want to consult Qi Yuan about the pill formula?"

    The others present also showed expressions of doubt or mild amusement. They didn''t think Qi Yuan could actually help Zhuge Miao.

    "Junior Brother Qi Yuan is exceptionally talented, often having astonishing insights. He might have unique views on alchemy as well," Zhuge Miao replied.

    Half a month ago, he had encountered Qi Yuan walking his pet and discussed pill formulas with him. Unexpectedly, Qi Yuan''s perspective provided significant help.

    "If he''s so amazing, why hasn''t he gathered a single Foundation Establishment spiritual item?" The senior brother of Battle Peak, known for his straightforwardness, said, "Junior Brother Zhuge, you might end up wasting a Foundation Establishment item."

    Foundation Establishment spiritual items were highly valuable, essential for cultivators at the peak of Qi Refinement to break through to Foundation Establishment.

    The higher the quality of the spiritual item, the better the results for the cultivator in establishing their foundation.

    Now, except for Qi Yuan, the senior disciples of the five peaks had all achieved Foundation Establishment.

    In their view, Qi Yuan''s inability to reach Foundation Establishment was likely due to offending his master and not being granted a Foundation Establishment spiritual item.

    Xu Yiyi from Ten Thousand Laws Peak said, "A genius one step, a madman the next. Qi Yuan might have unique insights."

    "Alright, let''s discuss these matters later. We have important tasks to attend to," Kang Fulu said.

    The conversation ceased, and Kang Fulu turned to the remaining five individuals.

    "No need for further introductions for them."

    "Let''s go pay respects to Master now!" Jiang Lingsu was eager.

    Qi Yuan shook his head, "We can''t."

    "Master isn''t here?"

    "No, there''s a barrier from the mountainside to the mountaintop. We can''t go up."

    "What?" Jiang Lingsu was confused.

    "Master said, without reaching the Core Formation stage, we are not allowed to see her at the mountaintop."

    In the path of cultivation, there are seven stages: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Purple Mansion, Yin God, and Yang God.

    Shen Guang Sect, one of the three major sects in Da Shang, had over a thousand disciples.

    Most of these disciples were in the Qi Refining stage.

    Above Qi Refining was Foundation Establishment.

    Foundation Establishment cultivators were already mid-level fighters in a sect, holding significant positions such as deacons or even elders.

    Once one reached Core Formation, they became a high-level member of the sect.

    In Da Shang, Core Formation cultivators could walk unchallenged unless they encountered Nascent Soul elders.

    As for higher stages like Yin God and Yang God, it was said there were none in Da Shang.

    Jiang Lingsu was stunned.

    Core Formation cultivators were strong wherever they went.

    Even with her family''s resources, it would take at least ten years to become a Core Formation cultivator.

    As for Senior Brother Qi Yuan, despite his moderate talent, she doubted he would ever reach Core Formation.

    Even if he did, the quality of his core might not be high.

    "Senior Brother, why did Master set such a harsh requirement?" Jiang Lingsu was puzzled.

    She didn''t have that much time to wait.

    Qi Yuan looked at Jiang Lingsu and said slowly, "Master might be afraid... of seeing me."

    "Huh?" Jiang Lingsu was taken aback, recalling Qi Yuan''s previous comments about the master.

    Master probably just doesn''t want to see you!

    "I understand, Senior Brother." Jiang Lingsu found it hard to deal with cultivators of the Obsessive lineage.

    She looked at Qi Yuan, "Senior Brother, where will I stay?"

    She couldn''t go to the mountaintop, and there were no other houses here.

    "There are straw and some wood in the courtyard."

    Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu felt a sense of foreboding.

    Was Senior Brother going to make her build a straw hut? She had never lived in one before.

    "You can move them and build a straw hut for yourself."

    Qi Yuan yawned again.

 Chapter 4: Qi Yuanâ€™s Obsession

    Chapter 4: Qi Yuan¡¯s Obsession

    Jiang Lingsu stood still, unable to believe her ears.

    She... a dignified young lady...

    Build her own house?

    A straw house at that??

    Use her spells for this?

    She wanted to say something to Qi Yuan.

    Unfortunately, Qi Yuan didn''t seem to notice her expression.

    He looked up at the clouds and said, "You''d better hurry; it might rain tonight."

    Jiang Lingsu blinked, feeling a bit confused. "Senior Brother, what if I can''t finish it?"

    She wanted to send a message to her senior brother: Help me.

    "There¡¯s a bench in my room," Qi Yuan said. "If you''re worried about getting wet, you can borrow it to sleep on."

    After speaking, Qi Yuan walked into his straw house.

    Jiang Lingsu clenched her fists and watched her senior brother''s back.

    She resigned herself to her fate.

    After all, she wasn''t the type to force others to take pity on her.

    She would handle her own affairs.

    She followed Qi Yuan into the courtyard and began to gather straw and some wood to build her... nest?

    Despite her frustration, Jiang Lingsu remembered her purpose for coming here.

    Her primary goal was to find that high person.

    Although the Seven Color Peak Master, Ruan Yixi, was the most likely candidate, there could be others.

    Who knows, there might be a seal beneath the Shen Guang Sect, where a supreme power slumbers.

    As for Qi Yuan, she decided to treat him as an ordinary senior brother, neither getting too close nor deliberately distancing herself.

    Clouds gathered and dispersed as Jiang Lingsu diligently worked on her straw house.

    In the previously empty space, a straw house appeared.

    Although she had never built a house or lived in a straw house, she had practiced spells.

    She also had many treasures with her.

    When the house was unstable, she simply used a "Binding Talisman" to keep it from collapsing.

    After finishing the house, it was still early.

    Jiang Lingsu clapped her hands and looked at her house, feeling extremely satisfied.

    "Senior Brother."

    She went to Qi Yuan''s house and called out.

    No matter what, she had joined Seven Color Peak, so she needed to keep up appearances.

    She needed to learn Seven Color Peak''s spells.

    "Come in," Qi Yuan''s voice came.

    This made them somewhat out of touch with the outside world.

    Thus, cultivators of the Obsessive lineage were extremely difficult to communicate with.

    Jiang Lingsu had seen cultivators of the Obsessive lineage before but had never encountered one obsessed with games.

    Usually, those obsessed with games would be sent for treatment, with electrotherapy being the most popular.

    After all, traditional cultivators did not highly regard game obsession as part of the Obsessive lineage.

    "Does this count as an obsession?" Qi Yuan didn''t look up. "If it does, then yes, I''m obsessed with it."

    Jiang Lingsu didn''t know what to say.

    Should she suggest electrotherapy for her senior brother?

    Does an obsession with games have a future?

    "Senior Brother, isn''t this a bit unreliable? I''ve never heard of a great cultivator obsessed with games."

    In the Obsessive lineage, the potential of the object of obsession varied.

    For example, being obsessed with trees: a thousand-year dragon blood tree was better than an ordinary tree, and a heaven-favored wood was better than a thousand-year dragon blood tree.

    Games... what potential do they have?

    "A new era calls for new things," Qi Yuan said casually, glancing at Jiang Lingsu.

    He had obtained this game jade slip a year ago, before transmigrating to this world.

    In Qi Yuan''s view, it was like a gaming console.

    But this console was special; it seemed to connect to a network.

    His transmigration had a lot to do with this game jade slip.

    Even his ability to see hidden information was likely related to this jade slip.

    In this world, he had seen many game jade slips, similar in appearance but fundamentally different.

    Jiang Lingsu was at a loss for words.

    But she remembered her purpose.

    She continued, "Senior Brother, can I get the cultivation techniques of Seven Color Peak?"

    Qi Yuan looked at Jiang Lingsu seriously and said, "Seven Color Peak''s techniques can''t be cultivated."

    "Why?" Jiang Lingsu asked.

    Could Senior Brother know some secret?

    Does it have something to do with the peak master?

    "The techniques are poisonous."

    "Pfft..." If Jiang Lingsu had water in her mouth, she would have spit it out.

    Now, Qi Yuan seemed like a raving lunatic to her.

    But recalling the information she had gathered before coming, this senior brother of Seven Color Peak indeed had a reputation for being eccentric.

    So it wasn''t surprising.

    "Senior Brother, I don''t mind. Please give me the techniques," Jiang Lingsu said.

    Qi Yuan slowly took out a jade slip and handed it to Jiang Lingsu. "This is the cultivation method of Seven Color Peak. But it''s only half."

    "The first part is the original technique. The latter part is my modification, but it''s incomplete."

    He handed the technique jade slip to Jiang Lingsu.

 Chapter 5: Clearing the Level

    Chapter 5: Clearing the Level

    ¡°Senior Brother, you can modify cultivation techniques?¡± Jiang Lingsu''s eyes sparkled with amusement, adding a touch of charm to her already captivating face.

    Modifying cultivation techniques wasn''t easy.

    Especially for a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

    Only cultivators at the Yuan Dan stage or higher were qualified to modify techniques.

    Therefore, Jiang Lingsu didn''t take Senior Brother Qi Yuan''s words seriously.

    She accepted the jade slip containing the technique and reminded him, "Senior Brother, cultivation techniques are extremely important. Do not modify or practice them recklessly; it can lead to Qi deviation!"

    She had only just met Qi Yuan and didn''t want to overstep her bounds, so she merely offered a word of caution.

    Qi Yuan looked at her and said softly, "Do you think everything will be fine if you don''t modify the technique?"

    Jiang Lingsu was at a loss for words.

    It seemed her senior brother really had some mental issues, and they were quite serious.

    Obsessive lineage cultivators, indeed!

    She didn''t say anything more and took the jade slip back to her room.

    "¡®Seven-Color Flame Refinement Technique¡¯?"

    "A Jade-level technique?"

    "Looks pretty ordinary."

    She initially intended to investigate the Seven Color Peak Master''s background through this technique.

    But it looked quite ordinary.

    Although a Jade-level technique was decent, she didn''t think much of it.

    After all, her family had plenty of Jade-level techniques.

    She examined the content of the technique.

    "The latter part is... modified by Senior Brother?"

    "It does look somewhat convincing."

    "At least it fooled me."

    "The Climbing Pavilion has a collection of myriad techniques. They might have this one. I wonder if Sister Yaya has annotated it. She''s best at modifying techniques. If I get a chance, I''ll have her evaluate the modifications, so Senior Brother can avoid taking the wrong path."

    Jiang Lingsu muttered to herself.

    ...

    Inside the straw house.

    Qi Yuan''s attention was entirely focused on the game jade slip.

    He had had this game jade slip for a year.

    He had been playing this game for about a year too; it was just an ordinary boss-fighting game.

    The game map showed the place called the Moonwatching Continent.

    The Moonwatching Continent had four forbidden areas and two death zones.

    Qi Yuan''s current map was called Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone.

    Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone was filled with many monsters.

    These monsters were fierce and violent.

    There were snakes as thick as barrels, carnivorous flowers with sharp teeth, and beetles as large as tanks.

    To Qi Yuan, these monsters were just experience points.

    However, there was one monster in Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone that annoyed Qi Yuan and reduced his gaming experience.

    In the end, he dug a hole and buried himself in the ground before going offline, avoiding Crazy Brush''s night raids.

    "The final boss Crazy Brush is only level 70. No problem."

    "I need to finish it quickly and take my pet for a walk in the evening."

    Qi Yuan held a long sword, donned golden armor, and emitted multicolored lights. Each slash came with various special effects, looking flashy.

    In other games, one glance would reveal he was a pay-to-win player, and a flamboyant one at that.

    Half an hour later, Qi Yuan stormed into the Xuanyuan Hall.

    Holding his large sword, he shouted dramatically, "Where do you think you''re going, demon!"

    Timid in reality, he was bold and aggressive in the game.

    The response was Crazy Brush''s terrified scream.

    He charged forward with his long sword, unstoppable.

    One Crazy Brush after another broke.

    His experience bar kept rising.

    "Come out, demon!"

    Qi Yuan shouted, trying to lure out the biggest boss in Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone.

    Unfortunately, there was no response.

    All the Crazy Brushes were fleeing in all directions.

    Qi Yuan was having a blast.

    Just then, a golden light shone brightly.

    The Xuanyuan Hall began to shake.

    A fox tail-shaped brush broke through the ground.

    The sharp brush was like a sword, eager for a worthy opponent, directly stabbing at Qi Yuan.

    "Good thing I was prepared," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    He had a plan in place before coming.

    Even without a plan, he wouldn''t fear it.

    His strength spoke for itself.

    "Eight Summer Slashes!"

    Qi Yuan used his strongest sword technique.

    That''s right, he used a sword technique with a knife.

    In an instant, the Crazy Brush broke.

    Qi Yuan shrugged, "Only took one slash. Too weak.

    Seven more slashes to go. I wonder who can take them. So lonely."

    With the Crazy Brush defeated, Xuanyuan Hall collapsed.

    At this moment, a prompt sounded in Qi Yuan''s ear.

    ¡¾Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone cleared. Reward obtained.¡¿

    ¡¾Reward 1: Heavenly Dao Fragments *10.¡¿

    ¡¾Reward 2: Divine Brush.¡¿

 Chapter 6: Walking the Pet

    Chapter 6: Walking the Pet

    "Heavenly Dao fragments?"

    "This game is quite generous. The rewards are pretty substantial."

    As a person from Blue Star, Qi Yuan was very familiar with Heavenly Dao fragments.

    After all, defying the heavens had long become a cliche?.

    But regardless, Heavenly Dao fragments were definitely valuable.

    "It seems the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone has become mine?"

    Qi Yuan accepted the Heavenly Dao fragments.

    He felt as if the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone had become his territory.

    "Interesting," Qi Yuan muttered.

    The Heavenly Dao fragments seemed to grant control over the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone.

    Receiving the fragments felt like becoming the game''s GM.

    "So, is the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone mine now?"

    Qi Yuan wasn''t overly excited.

    "Are the Heavenly Dao fragments just this? Or do I need to collect all the fragments for them to be truly useful?"

    He shifted his attention from the fragments to the Divine Brush.

    "The Divine Brush, condensed by the power of rules, can inscribe rules in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone?"

    "For instance, specifying the conditions to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone?"

    "Wouldn''t that mean anyone carrying a ladder could get in?"

    Qi Yuan recalled a funny trend he had seen on Blue Star: anyone with a ladder could seemingly go anywhere¡ªcinemas, amusement parks, zoos. As long as they had a ladder, the staff wouldn''t stop them.

    Thinking about it, Qi Yuan inscribed a rule in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone:

    Carrying a ladder grants free passage.

    "Looks like it''s getting late. Time to walk my pet."

    Qi Yuan rubbed his tired eyes.

    Playing this game too much was mentally exhausting for him.

    This was partly why he sometimes seemed disoriented and unreliable in the Shenguang Sect.

    Of course, it wasn''t entirely the game''s fault.

    His personality was also a factor.

    He often appeared... a bit eccentric.

    Qi Yuan tidied up and prepared to walk his pet and visit Zhuge Miao.

    Meanwhile, Jiang Lingsu also emerged from her straw house.

    She had spent the entire day fixing up her place and was now thinking of going down the mountain to buy some daily necessities.

    He came out almost every evening to walk his pet.

    Initially, he was the only one doing it.

    But as the Senior Brother of Seven Colors Peak, he had a certain celebrity effect. Walking pets slowly became popular in Shenguang Sect, with many people imitating him.

    Of course, those senior brothers and sisters walked real pets, or rather, spirit beasts with combat abilities.

    "Your little turtle is not bad. In a few thousand years, it might develop intelligence." Qi Yuan commented on the pet the tall woman was walking.

    The tall woman felt proud hearing the first half of his sentence.

    She had spent a lot of time selecting this spirit beast.

    But the second half of his sentence made her a bit frustrated.

    Thousands of years to develop intelligence?

    Is that considered good?

    Even with a good temper, she couldn''t help but retort, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, when will your pet awaken its intelligence?"

    Qi Yuan''s pet was a kitchen knife; how could it awaken intelligence?

    Many Shenguang Sect disciples nearby laughed heartily at this.

    Qi Yuan frowned, thought for a moment, and said seriously, "At most a year, or maybe very soon, it should awaken intelligence."

    "Senior Brother, you must be joking," the tall woman laughed, clearly not believing him.

    Qi Yuan just smiled and didn''t explain.

    At that moment, Zhuge Miao''s figure appeared in everyone''s sight.

    He said, "Junior Brother Qi Yuan has modified the Spirit Refining Technique and tested it himself. Regardless of success or failure, his courage is commendable.

    For you to laugh at this is to be frogs in a well."

    Hearing Zhuge Miao''s words, everyone present lowered their heads.

    "Senior Brother''s lesson is right!"

    Zhuge Miao was the senior brother of the Divine Medicine Peak, a Foundation Establishment expert.

    They were very afraid of him.

    As for the amiable Qi Yuan, they didn''t hold much reverence.

    After reprimanding the crowd, Zhuge Miao walked up to Qi Yuan, "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, Master was refining medicine today, and I was attending to him, so I''m late. Please forgive me."

    The domineering aura around Zhuge Miao dissipated, and he treated Qi Yuan as an equal, even with a hint of admiration.

    "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, I obtained a Yuan Nourishing Pill formula from an ancient cave.

    However, some parts are missing. Could you help me with it?

    I am willing to offer a Foundation Establishment treasure as thanks."

    Zhuge Miao''s attitude was very humble, in stark contrast to his previous domineering manner.

    Qi Yuan took the Yuan Nourishing Pill formula and looked it over.

    ¡¾This is an incomplete Yuan Nourishing Pill formula. If you replace the Zhu Huang with Privet, and the Yang Gu with Lesser Tribulus, the pill''s effectiveness can be increased by fifty percent, and its toxicity reduced by one or two degrees.¡¿

 Chapter 7: Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item

    Chapter 7: Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item

    Qi Yuan''s eyes had the ability to see hidden information.

    In an instant, he could see the missing parts of the pill recipe.

    Moreover, the method to improve the recipe appeared in his mind immediately.

    Of course, this improvement wasn''t the optimal solution.

    If he were to look at the recipe again tomorrow, he would find a new way to improve it.

    And the effectiveness of the improvement would be even better.

    However, he could only see the hidden information of the same item once a day.

    The Seven Colors Flame Refining Technique he practiced had been continuously modified this way.

    Even so, the Seven Colors Flame Refining Technique still had significant issues.

    "The Yuan Nourishing Pill recipe has many problems," Qi Yuan responded directly.

    Zhuge Miao''s eyes showed anticipation, "Please enlighten me, Junior Brother."

    "Replace Zhu Huang with Privet."

    "Privet?" Zhuge Miao was a bit confused.

    He wanted to ask about the missing parts, but Qi Yuan directly modified the recipe.

    However, recalling the last time he exchanged ideas with Qi Yuan, he was still amazed by Qi Yuan''s wild and imaginative thinking.

    That time, Qi Yuan had helped him a lot.

    Moreover, since he was the one seeking help, he had to hold his opinions back.

    Just then, Zhuge Miao noticed something and said, "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, please wait, I have a message."

    "A phone call?" Qi Yuan didn''t mind, "Go ahead."

    In the cultivation world, there were no phones, but there were message talismans.

    Cultivators could communicate through these message talismans.

    However, these messages had distance limitations, and the farther the message, the higher the cost.

    Additionally, entering certain secret realms would render them ineffective.

    So, not all cultivators could afford to use them.

    "What''s the matter, Junior Brother?" Zhuge Miao lowered his voice to take the message.

    "A complete recipe has been found?"

    "No need, you don''t have to worry about it."

    After receiving the message, Zhuge Miao''s face initially showed joy, but then he was a bit angry after hearing the advice from his junior brother.

    He cut off the message and looked at Qi Yuan, calming down, "Please continue, Junior Brother."

    "The missing part is Yang Drum.

    However, Yang Drum has a strong yang nature, which is somewhat conflicting. It can be replaced with Lesser Tribulus for better results," Qi Yuan said, extending his hand, "Where''s the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item?"

    Zhuge Miao was still processing Qi Yuan''s words. Hearing Qi Yuan asking for the item, he quickly took out a piece of jade bamboo.

    The jade bamboo was purple, like amethyst, with a touch of white at the joints.

    "This is Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo, an eighth-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item."

    Considering Qi Yuan was a disciple of the Mad Sect, it became more understandable.

    Disciples of the Mad Sect were unruly and had unconventional thinking.

    Hearing Zhuge Miao''s words, Qi Yuan''s eyes softened, "I didn''t say anything wrong, so why should I apologize?"

    Cold sweat dripped down Zhuge Miao''s back.

    "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, let''s stop here!"

    He feared Qi Yuan might commit another outrageous act, offending the aloof and cold fairy of Seven Colors Peak.

    If he got involved, it wouldn''t end well.

    Qi Yuan smiled, "You all fear Ruan Yixi, but I don''t because she is my..."

    "Don''t say it!" Zhuge Miao, heart pounding, quickly stopped Qi Yuan.

    Otherwise, if the Seven Colors Peak Master got angry, it wouldn''t bode well for him.

    Qi Yuan didn''t say more, bid farewell to Zhuge Miao, and continued to walk his kitchen knife.

    Zhuge Miao sighed in relief.

    Luckily, nothing happened.

    At that moment, an anxious voice called out, "Senior Brother, did you exchange it?"

    Xu Langhu, dressed in a green robe with a gourd at his waist, hurried over.

    He pulled out a yellowed piece of paper.

    "This is a recipe I picked up at the market today. It matches the Yuan Nourishing Pill recipe you found in the secret realm, so I contacted you immediately, Senior Brother."

    Xu Langhu handed the recipe to Zhuge Miao, and seeing that Zhuge Miao''s Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo was gone, he said in anguish.

    "Senior Brother, we already have the recipe. Why did you trade with Qi Yuan?

    He''s not even from our Divine Medicine Peak. How could he help you with the recipe?

    He probably hasn''t left yet. I''ll go catch up and get the Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo back!"

    Xu Langhu said a lot, not noticing Zhuge Miao''s darkening face.

    "My transaction with Junior Brother Qi Yuan is not for you to judge.

    Besides, even if Qi Yuan couldn''t help me, so what?

    I''m willing to give him this favor."

    The previous message Zhuge Miao received was from Xu Langhu.

    Zhuge Miao had already learned that his junior brother had a complete recipe. He had the opportunity to cancel the deal but didn''t.

    "Senior Brother..." Xu Langhu''s voice was nervous, "I was just worried you''d return empty-handed.

    Luckily, I got the complete recipe.

    You saved my life, Senior Brother. I''ll give the recipe to you."

    He no longer mentioned Qi Yuan.

    In his view, how could Qi Yuan understand the recipe?

    He had studied medicine for ten years at the Divine Medicine Peak and couldn''t complete the recipe, so how could Qi Yuan?

    Zhuge Miao took the recipe, "I''ll compare it with what Junior Brother Qi Yuan said and refine several batches of Yuan Nourishing Pills."

    "That''s a waste of ingredients," Xu Langhu muttered, clearly thinking Qi Yuan''s method wouldn''t yield any Yuan Nourishing Pills.

 Chapter 8: Qi Yuanâ€™s Online Friend

    Chapter 8: Qi Yuan¡¯s Online Friend

    Qi Yuan walked slowly through the Shen Guang Sect, with a vegetable knife in tow. Along the way, he occasionally heard laughter and some sweet talk. Such a harmonious cultivation world.

    He looked at the sky and said, "It''s time to return to the peak." The time was still early, and he could open the game jade slip to play a game.

    By the time he returned to Qise Peak, it was already late at night. On the peak, the white jade palace was illuminated by a half moon. The cold moonlight fell through the night, revealing a graceful silhouette that disappeared after a glance at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan looked away and glanced at Jiang Lingsu''s thatched hut, murmuring to himself, "If there were these immobilizing talismans on Earth, houses wouldn''t collapse during earthquakes."

    After sighing, he led the vegetable knife back to his small courtyard. The yard was empty, waiting only for Qi Yuan''s footsteps. He untied the rope from the vegetable knife handle and said, "No need to tie you up at home, just don''t wreck the place, and no one will hit you."

    Qi Yuan stroked the small nicks on the knife and began to enter the game jade slip world. However, as he entered the game, Qi Yuan was stunned.

    "She''s online?"

    When he first obtained the game jade slip, Qi Yuan treated it as a gaming console. (Note: The protagonist has an unusual mindset, behaves erratically, and is neurotic.) At that time, the game map was not unlocked.

    Qi Yuan inexplicably added a friend and entered the friend list. This was the only friend he made when he was sick. Since becoming ill, he lived alone without anyone to talk to. The in-game friend became his companion.

    Qi Yuan also treated her as a fellow gamer. They often chatted about various topics, mostly Qi Yuan listening to her. However, her conversation was odd, occasionally mentioning terms like "imperial guards" and "prime minister." Qi Yuan guessed she might be a wealthy heiress who hadn''t fully taken over the family business.

    They talked a lot, and Qi Yuan once suggested, "Let''s team up in the game." Unfortunately, after the game map refreshed, his friend list disappeared, and he never saw her again, let alone teamed up.

    Now, seeing her in the friend list, he thought for a moment and sent a message: "Are you there?"

    Now that he had traveled to the cultivation world, she might not be around.

    ...

    Mist filled the air, and the ink painting on the screen seemed stained, appearing with elongated patterns.

    In her view, Qi Yuan was a free-spirited monster hunter. His terms like "fighting monsters" and "game map" referred to hunting beasts.

    Qi Yuan shrugged, "We players are the Fourth Calamity. What''s dangerous? Those monsters are just our experience packs."

    Jin Li felt reassured by his familiar tone and response. Every time they talked, even if Qi Yuan''s words were odd, she felt a sense of peace.

    "I fought monsters alone for half a year. Want to team up? Male-female pairing, work less tiring. With the two of us, we''d reach level 100 in no time."

    Jin Li replied, "I have things to handle at home and can''t leave."

    "So busy you don''t even have time to game. Sigh, you wealthy folks work so hard. What about us poor folks?" Qi Yuan''s message made Jin Li smile.

    "Why don''t you come help me fight monsters? I just switched maps, and there are plenty here. I need your help, Miss Jin."

    Seeing his light tone, Jin Li knew he wasn''t in danger. She smiled, "I''m not available now."

    "What are you doing? Working late?"

    "I''m..." Jin Li hesitated before sending, "bathing."

    Qi Yuan paused. "Should we meet after your bath?"

    Jin Li smiled wryly, "I can''t make it."

    But she thought of something and asked, "Where are you?"

    "I was in Xuanyuan Forbidden Area, now heading to Yiguan Forbidden Area," Qi Yuan answered truthfully. He was in the game''s teleportation array, preparing to go to the next map.

    "Xuanyuan Forbidden Area? Yiguan Forbidden Area?" Jin Li was stunned. Those were among the four forbidden areas, where even king-level experts could die, and emperor-level experts might fall. Xuanyuan Forbidden Area was inaccessible even to emperor-level experts.

 Chapter 9: Forbidden Land? Just Bring a Ladder to Enter!

    Chapter 9: Forbidden Land? Just Bring a Ladder to Enter!

    Wangyue Continent, vast and immeasurable. The human and demon races have equal power. Among the humans, there are over a dozen kingdoms, large and small. The human and demon races are the most powerful forces on Wangyue Continent. However, above both humans and demons, there exists an even more terrifying presence.

    It is not a race but the legendary Four Forbidden Lands and One Absolute. The four forbidden lands are extremely strange and perilous. Even the royal members of the demon race dare not step into them lightly, or they would face the danger of death and destruction. The absolute land is even more terrifying, known as Tianjue. Entering it means certain death, even for royalty.

    Despite the dangers, anyone who enters the Four Forbidden Lands and One Absolute and returns alive gains immense benefits. The four forbidden lands are filled with spiritual herbs and countless heavenly treasures. It is said that Tianjue contains an Ascension Platform, which, if climbed, allows one to ascend to the legendary immortal world.

    Xuanyuan Forbidden Land is one of the famous forbidden lands, located within the Nangan Kingdom, less than a thousand miles from the capital. Unlike other forbidden lands, Xuanyuan Forbidden Land is rumored to be the tomb of a supreme being. The outer perimeter of Xuanyuan Forbidden Land is protected by supreme restrictions, making it impossible for even emperor-level experts to enter.

    Now, Qi Yuan claims he has been fighting monsters in Xuanyuan Forbidden Land all this time? How is that possible!

    At first, Jin Li thought Qi Yuan was joking. However, she cautiously asked, "You can''t be serious, right?"

    "Why would I lie? I''m waiting to team up with you. Going through a dungeon alone is too boring."

    Jin Li still found it hard to believe.

    "Xuanyuan Forbidden Land is filled with monsters. It took me over six months to clear them all. It was exhausting."

    Jin Li was stunned.

    The monsters in Xuanyuan Forbidden Land aren''t just numerous; they are also very strong. For ten thousand years, no era on Wangyue Continent has ever conquered a forbidden land. To clear Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, one would need incredible strength. Even an emperor-level expert couldn''t do it.

    "What is your cultivation level? Are you an emperor?" Jin Li cautiously asked.

    "Emperor? What''s that? I''m level 82 now."

    "Level 82?" Jin Li was puzzled. But she knew Qi Yuan often spoke strangely. For example, he once said he wanted to take a spaceship to the stars but was afraid of dying from a lack of oxygen. How far away are the stars? According to ancient records, there are countless worlds: the human world, the immortal world, and many more. Each world shares the same sky. It is said that the stars are reflections of great powers, not real. Climbing to the stars is an illusion.

    Jin Li held her forehead, feeling a headache. The Nangan Kingdom was like a big piece of meat, coveted by many. She knew all too well the crown prince''s intentions. Looking at the memorials, her headache intensified. She thought of Qi Yuan; only talking with him allowed her to forget her identity and responsibilities.

    But she also understood that as she enjoyed luxurious privileges and became the Empress of Nangan, she had to shoulder the responsibility for its people.

    "Someone, go to the library and bring me all records related to Xuanyuan Forbidden Land," Jin Li ordered the maid beside her.

    "Yes." The maid retreated, and Jin Li continued reviewing the memorials.

    ...

    The General''s Mansion, located on Qingyi Alley, was once bustling when the general was alive. Now, it was desolate. At this moment, an uninvited guest arrived.

    The visitor was broad-shouldered, about seven feet tall, with a beard and a noticeable dent in his forehead. He was Sima Ting, the power-holding prime minister of the Nangan Kingdom!

    Looking at the general''s widow, he slowly said, "Madam Qin, how are your injuries?"

    Lady Qin glared at Sima Ting, her eyes blazing with anger. "Sima Ting!"

    She shouted, her face even paler. She knew all too well who was responsible for her injuries. Sima Ting dared to come here.

    Sima Ting remained calm, "Madam Qin, the big picture is set. Why do you persist? What future do you have following that girl?"

    "How dare you disrespect the Empress!" Lady Qin was furious. If she hadn''t been ambushed and severely injured, Sima Ting wouldn''t dare speak like this in front of her, a top king-level expert.

    Sima Ting glanced at her with disdain. "A mere woman. Without me, what right did she have to ascend the throne? She tripped on flat ground during her coronation, a sign from the heavens that she is unworthy. In her ten years of rule, Nangan faces internal and external troubles. Without me, the kingdom would have collapsed. She is no longer fit to rule."

    Lady Qin felt both anger and sorrow. She had watched Jin Li grow up. Jin Li worked hard, but she couldn''t master imperial politics, couldn''t manipulate the court officials. She wasn''t a cunning emperor but a diligent and benevolent ruler. Sometimes, Lady Qin wished Jin Li were just a regular princess, not the Empress.

    But holding the imperial seal, one couldn''t retreat or avoid fighting. To not fight was to die!

 Chapter 10: Could Qi Yuan Be Telling the Truth?

    Chapter 10: Could Qi Yuan Be Telling the Truth?

    Aunt Qin would rather Jin Li not be in that position. But she knew it was not possible.

    "You treacherous wolf!" She glared at Sima Ting, her eyes full of anger. "Colluding with the Northern Khan Court, you deserve to be executed!"

    The Northern Khan Court and the Nangan Kingdom were archenemies. Every autumn harvest, the iron cavalry of the Northern Khan Court would break through the border and raid the Nangan Kingdom. The two nations had a deep blood feud.

    "That is the difference between you and me," Sima Ting said proudly. "Between nations, there are only interests; warriors talk about grudges and revenge. Lady Qin, I advise you to know your place and hand over the treasury key, or else..."

    Sima Ting threatened. As the legitimate wife of the late Great General, Lady Qin held the key to the imperial treasury. This key could unlock the Tianyun Lock and retrieve the Tianyun Imperial Seal. For Sima Ting to usurp the throne, he needed the Tianyun Imperial Seal to legitimize his claim and receive the national fortune of Nangan.

    "Don''t even think about it."

    Sima Ting looked at Lady Qin and said no more. After all, she was the widow of the Great General. Currently, General Tianqi on the frontline had been as close as brothers with the Great General. If he killed Lady Qin, things would get complicated. But Lady Qin was the Empress''s reliance, so he had to severely injure her, rendering the Empress without claws and teeth.

    "Lady Qin, take care of yourself," Sima Ting said. "In three days, the Crown Prince of Nanfeng Kingdom will arrive. In ten days, the duel will take place. How will you respond?"

    With that, Sima Ting left, flicking his sleeves. Anger flashed in Lady Qin''s eyes, then turned to desolation. She was severely injured, her foundation damaged, making a quick recovery almost impossible. The duel would likely end in defeat.

    ...

    "Your Majesty, there are a total of seven books here, all records about Xuanyuan Forbidden Land," the maid said, placing the books on the jade throne.

    "Mm." Jin Li nodded, picking up a book and reading it carefully. Today, after hearing Qi Yuan mention Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, she became interested in it.

    Now, Lady Qin was seriously injured. In ten days, the Crown Prince of Nanfeng Kingdom would arrive in Nangan''s capital, and his national teacher would duel Lady Qin. If they lost, Nangan Kingdom would lose face, and her own fate would be in jeopardy.

    The supreme emperor who left this information had been a grand protector of Nangan Kingdom. This information had always been in the library, never spreading out. How did Qi Yuan know? Could Qi Yuan be a member of the royal family?

    Jin Li''s mind was in turmoil.

    "No! He knows that beast is called the mad pen! Could it be... Qi Yuan has really been to Xuanyuan Forbidden Land?"

    Jin Li took out the exquisite jade and quickly sent a message.

    "Qi Yuan, have you really been to Xuanyuan Forbidden Land? Entering with a ladder... is that true? I urgently need to enter."

    Although Qi Yuan was often unreliable and liked to joke, she feared he might answer casually, so she mentioned her own need. She was betting her life on this. Qi Yuan wouldn''t joke about this.

    However, after sending the message, Qi Yuan did not reply.

    "Unfortunately, Yiguan Forbidden Land is too far. Otherwise... alas."

    Jin Li sighed, then her eyes became determined.

    "Prepare for departure. Tomorrow I will leave the palace."

    Time was running out. She decided to leave the palace tomorrow and head to Xuanyuan Forbidden Land. She had no other choice. Staying in the capital was just waiting to die.

    She then ordered, "Send a squad of Kirin Guards to Yiguan Forbidden Land to see if there are any disturbances."

    Qi Yuan said he went to Yiguan Forbidden Land. If Qi Yuan was a strong man, there would certainly be turmoil in Yiguan Forbidden Land. She sent the Kirin Guards to investigate.

    Meanwhile, in Yiguan Forbidden Land, Qi Yuan carried a golden great sword, looking curiously at the strange creatures ahead.

 Chapter 11: Senior Brother Will Protect You

    Chapter 11: Senior Brother Will Protect You

    Qi Yuan looked around and saw many colorful clothes floating in the Yi Guan Forbidden Land.

    "These little monsters are quite creative in their design."

    The colorful clothes included robes, short jackets, long gowns, vests, nursing skirts, coats, dungarees... Both ancient and modern clothing styles were represented.

    These clothes floated in the air like living beings.

    However, when Qi Yuan entered the Yi Guan Forbidden Land, all the clothes turned their heads in unison.

    Although the clothes had no heads, Qi Yuan felt as if thousands of eyes were staring at him.

    "Tough opponent, run!"

    Qi Yuan immediately fled.

    Even though he was at level 82, the clothing monsters in the Yi Guan Forbidden Land were too numerous.

    There were at least ten thousand of them, and many were above level fifty.

    Most importantly, the beasts and monsters in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land were powerful but lacked organized structure, each fighting independently.

    But these clothes were clearly organized like an army.

    If Qi Yuan made a move, these clothes would swarm him.

    Qi Yuan shamelessly ran away.

    After about a quarter of an hour, Qi Yuan sighed in relief.

    "Finally escaped."

    He picked up his big golden sword and dug a hole in the ground.

    The hole''s depth was unknown.

    He dug with great skill.

    After all, he was used to it.

    He lay down in the hole.

    Only then did he notice the message from Jin Li on the chat interface.

    He immediately replied, "I wasn''t lying to you, you can enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land by carrying a ladder. It''s not dangerous."

    Since he personally set the rules, how could there be a problem?

    Of course, seeing that Jin Li said she would go to the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land herself, Qi Yuan checked his game screen.

    The game screen showed that the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land was in a controlled state.

    This meant the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land belonged to him.

    He sent another message, "Don''t worry, go boldly."

    On the Qiyuan Peak, Qi Yuan looked at the moonlight and felt a bit tired.

    He wondered if playing the game for too long had drained his energy.

    He said to Jin Li in the game, "There are too many clothing monsters in the Yi Guan Forbidden Land. I''ll clear them tomorrow. I dug a hole and buried myself in the dirt. Logging off, good night."

    After saying that, Qi Yuan put down the game jade slip.

    The game jade slip also merged into his body.

    Meanwhile, in the dark palace, Jin Li, who was already asleep, suddenly opened her eyes.

    She looked at the content in the Linglong Yuxi and her eyes flashed with a strange expression.

    "Okay, be careful, stay safe, good night."

    A simple greeting.

    Although his cultivation was low, his eyes could see hidden information.

    He could create a technique and then continuously improve it based on the hidden information.

    Qi Yuan had already read all the sect''s techniques.

    Unfortunately, he was still far from creating his own technique.

    Or rather, his accumulation was too little.

    However, he had just seen that Jiang Lingsu had many Dao techniques.

    He said to Jiang Lingsu, "Junior sister, you need to save your senior brother."

    Jiang Lingsu was worried, fearing that her senior brother had a problem with his cultivation.

    "What''s wrong?" she asked.

    Qi Yuan said lazily, "I see you have an extraordinary background..."

    "Do you want to borrow money?"

    "No, I want to borrow some of your techniques, regardless of grade, just let me have a look." Qi Yuan said.

    Jiang Lingsu sighed in relief, "Senior brother, how many do you need?"

    "The more the better," Qi Yuan said, "Ideally hundreds or even thousands."

    Numerous Dao techniques indicated a large quantity.

    "Senior brother, what do you need so many techniques for?" Jiang Lingsu asked.

    Qi Yuan replied lazily, "Even if I told you, you wouldn''t believe it.

    Give me some techniques, and when I succeed in my cultivation, I will protect you, not just in the Divine Light Sect, but throughout the Canglan Realm."

    Jiang Lingsu laughed upon hearing this.

    Protect her?

    Does she need protection?

    Although Qi Yuan was taller and possibly older, Jiang Lingsu felt she could easily defeat him with one hand.

    "What do you need so many techniques for? Tell me," Jiang Lingsu asked again.

    "To create my own technique," Qi Yuan didn''t hide it.

    After all, no one would believe the truth in this world.

    For example, he had exposed the sect leader as a spy, but no one believed him.

    Jiang Lingsu was stunned.

    Create his own technique?

    This senior brother really dared to think big.

    But thinking of something, she still took out a jade slip.

    "Senior brother, this jade slip contains many techniques. I''ll lend it to you."

    For many years, Ruan Yixi had only taken Qi Yuan as a disciple.

    This showed that Ruan Yixi must value Qi Yuan greatly.

    She needed to build a good relationship with Qi Yuan.

    "I''ve lent you the techniques, but senior brother, you must not get addicted to games and train hard so that you can protect your little junior sister in the future," Jiang Lingsu said.

    "Gaming is also a form of cultivation," Qi Yuan said, taking the jade slip of techniques.

    As for the smell of sweat on his junior sister, it no longer smelled bad, but rather fragrant, because the jade slip contained hundreds of techniques.

 Chapter 12 Carrying a Ladder Really Works?!!

    Chapter 12 Carrying a Ladder Really Works?!!

    Jiang Lingsu no longer denied Qi Yuan.

    The Obsessed Path was different from ordinary people.

    As for being obsessed with games, whether there''s potential or not... it actually depends on the person.

    A sword prodigy practicing basic sword techniques could still defeat a mediocre person practicing the Nine Heavens Divine Sword.

    Of course, is senior brother a prodigy? In Jiang Lingsu''s opinion, he counts as a genius, but he''s far from being a prodigy.

    The Dashang Kingdom is too small.

    And the Canglan Realm is too big.

    Even her family, in the Canglan Realm, is actually not much.

    "Senior brother, remember to practice well and protect me in the future." After saying this, Jiang Lingsu returned to her thatched cottage to continue her cultivation.

    Qi Yuan also returned to his room.

    He held the jade slip of techniques given by Jiang Lingsu and started to carefully browse through it.

    "The Earth Fiend Demon Soul Technique?"

    "The Four Advancement Technique?"

    "The Three Yuan Art."

    Qi Yuan quickly read through the techniques in the jade slip.

    And his talent of seeing hidden information was constantly at play.

    ¡¾This is the Four Advancement Technique, created by the Four Gentlemen of Jinzhong. On the surface, it''s a high-grade technique, but in reality, it''s a dual cultivation technique for four people. If four people practice together, it can reach the Jade level.¡¿

    Cultivation techniques are divided into initial grade, intermediate grade, high grade, jade level, profound level, and heavenly level...

    The higher the grade, the harder it is to practice, but its power and potential are also higher.

    The jade slip contained a total of 627 techniques, mostly initial and intermediate grades. High grades were rare, and there were only a few jade levels.

    For two consecutive days, Qi Yuan was immersed in the jade slip, not even touching the game jade slip.

    For him, accumulating this knowledge was greatly beneficial.

    With his ability to see hidden information, he could easily create a technique, a technique that wouldn''t become fodder for some entity.

    Of course, this technique might have limited potential.

    For example... its effect at full mastery might be equivalent to doing a hundred push-ups a day.

    On the second night, Qi Yuan had dark circles under his eyes.

    He suddenly laughed loudly, "I''ve got it!"

    That''s right, he finally succeeded in creating a rough outline of a technique based on the techniques in the Shen Guang Sect and those given by his junior sister Jiang Lingsu.

    He looked at his technique.

    ¡¾This is a flawed technique. Practicing it has a certain probability of causing memory confusion and can be practiced to the peak of the Qi Refining stage.

    It''s worth mentioning that practicing this technique won''t become fodder for any entity.¡¿

    Qi Yuan was very excited.

    The commander of the Forbidden Army also had many questions in her mind.

    However, she was loyal to the Empress, and she would unswervingly follow the Empress''s orders.

    "Yes." Jin Li''s voice was cold and dignified, "You all, carrying ladders, head towards the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land."

    Six Forbidden Army elite drew their swords towards the three prisoners.

    The three prisoners were all death row inmates, brought here without knowing what for.

    They knew that ahead was the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, which even emperor-level powerhouses couldn''t enter.

    How could they enter?

    However, with swords at their backs, they could only carry the ladders and slowly move forward.

    Next to her, the commander of the Forbidden Army finally asked, "Your Majesty, you intend to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, but... can this really work?"

    Jin Li was also anxious inside. She trusted the six women a lot: "A friend told me that carrying a ladder... might allow entry into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land."

    "This... sounds quite absurd." The commander of the Forbidden Army said.

    The other Forbidden Army members also felt the same.

    A few hundred meters away, on a big tree, were two men.

    They were sent by Prime Minister Sima Ting.

    Since the Prime Minister had no expectations for Jin Li entering the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, he didn''t send experts.

    These two men, overlooking from above, were curious.

    "What does the Empress mean? Trying to break into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land?"

    "Breaking into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land is one thing, but why carry a ladder!"

    "Ridiculous."

    "No wonder most of the world is ruled by men and rarely by women. This Empress... is too funny."

    Carrying a ladder to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land sounded absurd.

    It was like saying someone could ascend by farting loudly.

    But in the next moment, their expressions turned incredulous.

    Because they saw that the protective barrier of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, which even emperor-level powerhouses couldn''t break, allowed the three prisoners carrying ladders to enter openly.

    Jin Li''s heart was extremely excited.

    What Qi Yuan said was true.

    The commander and the other members of the Forbidden Army were all in disbelief.

    Even though Jin Li was excited, she remained calm: "Huayue, take care of the two bugs behind."

    The Forbidden Army member named Huayue disappeared.

    Jin Li''s gaze deepened.

    She looked at the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land with a complex expression.

    Thinking about something.

 Chapter 13 Entering Xuanyuan Forbidden Land

    Chapter 13 Entering Xuanyuan Forbidden Land

    At this moment, the present elite guards and their commander still wore expressions of disbelief.

    That was Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, a terrifying forbidden place that had existed for countless millennia.

    Even supreme emperors could not enter it.

    For tens of thousands of years, countless strong individuals had researched ways to enter it, all ending in failure.

    But now, carrying a ladder allowed entry?

    Isn¡¯t that too simple?

    Jin Li''s voice was icy: ¡°This matter must not be leaked!¡±

    ¡°We swear on our lives that this matter will not be revealed to a second person!¡± The elite guards present knew the importance of the matter.

    The commander of the guards was excited: ¡°This is heaven''s blessing for our emperor! Once we master the method of entering Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, we can send people inside and surely gather many spiritual herbs from the periphery!¡±

    Xuanyuan Forbidden Land had not been entered by any living being for at least ten thousand years; there must be many spiritual herbs inside.

    The depths of Xuanyuan Forbidden Land were still beyond their current strength to explore, but the periphery surely had plenty of spiritual herbs and fewer fierce beasts.

    The guard commander was about to enter carrying a ladder.

    Even in just the periphery, she had already seen several extremely precious spiritual herbs.

    Jin Li''s face remained cold, revealing no hint of her inner excitement.

    She had a ladder beside her but had not carried it yet, needing further verification.

    ¡°Do not act rashly for now; let¡¯s observe a bit more.¡±

    The death row inmates were all extremely wicked individuals.

    At this moment, the three carrying ladders entered Xuanyuan Forbidden Land.

    Their faces showed shock and fear.

    One man, seeing a spiritual herb, displayed greed.

    He immediately plucked it and stuffed it into his stomach.

    Outside, there were powerful elite guards.

    To survive, eating spiritual herbs was the only chance.

    As for escape?

    Their current speed was about the same as ordinary people.

    With the elite guards watching them, how could they escape?

    Eating the spiritual herbs was their only possible chance for survival.

    Seeing the death row inmates eating the spiritual herbs, the guard commander was extremely anxious.

    Even she would not dare eat those herbs so casually.

    But the death row inmates were gobbling them down!

    Empress Jin Li remained calm and silent, watching inside the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land.

    Seeing this, the guard commander could only stay put, feeling a deep heartache.

    It hurt more than having three ounces of flesh cut from her chest.

    At this moment, Empress Jin Li¡¯s pupils contracted.

    The elite guards also sensed something, becoming alert.

    A roar resounded, and a giant blue-eyed, white-furred beast appeared, a full ten feet tall.

    Its footfalls broke trees and crushed objects, sending wood chips flying.

    ¡°That¡¯s Three Flower Fragrance!¡±

    ¡°Xuan Yu Grass!¡±

    ¡°Green Fruit!¡±

    The elite guards were ecstatic at the abundance of spiritual herbs in the periphery of Xuanyuan Forbidden Land.

    The place had been untouched for ten thousand years.

    The spiritual herbs here were beyond imagination.

    Unlike other forbidden lands, where the periphery¡¯s spiritual herbs had long been harvested by strong individuals, leaving only the dangerous depths.

    But now, they were reaping a rich harvest in the periphery of Xuanyuan Forbidden Land.

    ¡°In just one hour, we¡¯ve already harvested twenty-three king-grade spiritual herbs.¡± Jin Li couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    King-grade spiritual herbs, even for Empress Jin Li of the Nangan Kingdom, she had consumed less than ten in her life.

    And here, in such a short time, they had gathered twenty-three.

    There were even more spiritual herbs of other grades.

    This short harvest alone was worth more than the annual revenue of the national treasury.

    The guard commander¡¯s face glowed: ¡°With so many spiritual herbs, we can produce numerous strong individuals and attract many experts to serve us!¡±

    Jin Li was also pleased.

    She remembered Qi Yuan saying he had cleared Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, yes, cleared.

    Thinking of something, she said: ¡°We need to go deeper into Xuanyuan Forbidden Land to harvest emperor-grade spiritual herbs, especially the Nine Flower Celestial.¡±

    Jin Li wanted to go deeper, indeed, to harvest the Nine Flower Celestial.

    But there was another reason.

    The nearby guards¡¯ faces changed slightly.

    Xuanyuan Forbidden Land¡¯s depths had emperor-grade spiritual herbs but also emperor-level fierce beasts.

    If they encountered a king-level fierce beast, they could still escape.

    But encountering an emperor-level fierce beast meant almost certain death.

    They gripped their ladders more tightly.

    Wondering if the ladders would still be effective.

    ¡°We will go with Your Majesty!¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Jin Li nodded.

    To turn the tables, the twenty-odd king-grade spiritual herbs were far from enough.

    She needed the Nine Flower Celestial to heal Aunt Qin¡¯s injuries and even help Aunt Qin advance.

    She also needed to gather other emperor-grade spiritual herbs.

    Of course, she also wanted to see the depths of Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, where Qi Yuan had stayed for half a year.

    The group of beauties, carrying ladders, cautiously walked through Xuanyuan Forbidden Land.

    Whenever they encountered fierce beasts, whether strong, weak, fierce, or gentle, the beasts ignored them, even avoiding harming them.

    This scene amazed the guard commander: ¡°Carrying ladders allows us to enter Xuanyuan Forbidden Land without the beasts attacking us. This is truly incredible.¡±

    After speaking, she added: ¡°Who is the remarkable person who told this method to Your Majesty?¡±

    The others also looked at Jin Li, full of curiosity.

    It must be a supreme emperor, right?

 Chapter 14: Diligent Qi Yuan

    Chapter 14: Diligent Qi Yuan

    A trace of gentleness flashed in the depths of Jin Li''s eyes. "He is my friend."

    She added, "I''m not very clear about his identity either."UppTodated from

    The few Imperial Guards present were all moved.

    Who exactly is this extraordinary person?

    ...

    "I didn''t expect myself to be so diligent."

    "It seems that the good quality of hard work in our nation is truly ingrained in my genes."

    Qi Yuan stretched his body and felt very happy.

    Today, even before the puppet cat called, he had already gotten up.

    "Sure enough, not playing games, going to bed early and getting up early, only then can you enjoy such a beautiful morning."

    At this moment, Jiang Lingsu''s voice came, "Senior Brother, we have finished our morning practice."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt a bit embarrassed.

    Jiang Lingsu continued, "However, compared to the previous days, Senior Brother, you have made progress.

    If you can follow what you just said, and not play those decadent games anymore, the future is promising."

    "Not playing games is impossible." Qi Yuan decisively rejected.

    "Senior Brother, didn''t you say you would take care of me in the future?" Jiang Lingsu smiled, "If you don''t practice well, how can you take care of me?

    Don''t let it be that after causing trouble, you need your junior sister to take care of you."

    "You taking care of me is also not bad." Qi Yuan said, "My favorite saying is, ''If one gains wealth, do not forget old friends.''"

    Jiang Lingsu rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan thought of something and took out the jade slip of the cultivation technique. "Junior Sister, here''s your jade slip back. Thank you."

    Jiang Lingsu took the jade slip, with a smile on her lips. "Senior Brother, have you created your own cultivation technique?"

    "Naturally." Qi Yuan said confidently, "But it''s not yet perfect, it can only be cultivated to the peak of the Qi Refining stage. I need to extend it to the Foundation Establishment stage."

    Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu was stunned for a moment, then laughed even more joyfully, "Only two days and Senior Brother has created a cultivation technique, truly a prodigious talent!"

    She spoke insincerely.

    Because, this is impossible.

    Unless, instead of creating a cultivation technique, it''s more like modifying someone else''s technique and claiming it as his own.

    Of course, that''s still very impressive.

    "Would you like to switch to practicing the technique I created?" Qi Yuan said seriously, "The techniques you are practicing have too many issues."

    They would become the nourishment for some entity.

    Naturally, Qi Yuan wouldn''t practice such techniques.

    "Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother, but there''s no need."

    Jiang Lingsu declined.

    The technique she practiced was a Heaven-level technique, and there was no way she would switch to another.

    "Senior Brother, looking at your attire, are you planning to go down the mountain?"

    "Yes." Qi Yuan nodded, "I plan to create the Foundation Establishment part of the technique, but unfortunately, I don''t understand much about Foundation Establishment, especially its grades, so I plan to go down the mountain and listen to some lectures on Foundation Establishment."

    Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu became even more certain that what Senior Brother said before were all jokes.

    After Xu Renshan spoke, the disciples below became serious.

    Although their cultivation was still far from Foundation Establishment, it was important to learn about it in advance.

    "Above Qi Refining is Foundation Establishment. Becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator qualifies one to be a steward in our Divine Light Sect, enjoying offerings.

    However, Foundation Establishment is extremely difficult, blocking many seekers of the Dao." Xu Renshan spoke with a nostalgic look in his eyes.

    Back then, he almost couldn''t achieve Foundation Establishment.

    "Foundation Establishment also varies in quality.

    You should know that Foundation Establishment requires Foundation Establishment materials, using them as the foundation to build one''s foundation.

    The higher the grade of the Foundation Establishment material, the better the effect of Foundation Establishment." Xu Renshan spoke eloquently.

    Immediately, a disciple below chimed in, "I know, Foundation Establishment materials are divided into superior, medium, and inferior grades, with superior being the best and inferior the worst."

    Xu Renshan nodded in satisfaction. "The higher the grade of the Foundation Establishment material, the better the Foundation Establishment effect.

    You know the grades of Foundation Establishment materials, but probably few of you know that Foundation Establishment itself also has grades."

    Upon hearing this, many people in the audience focused even more.

    This was indeed something they didn''t know.

    Xu Renshan glanced at Qi Yuan''s seat, seeing Qi Yuan also listening attentively, he felt very proud.

    "Foundation Establishment is divided into Mortal Foundation, Spirit Foundation, Earth Vein Foundation, and Immortal Foundation.

    Generally, inferior Foundation Establishment materials result in Mortal Foundation. I am a Mortal Foundation cultivator, having wasted my life, with no hope of forming a Yuan Dan, unfortunately.

    Medium Foundation Establishment materials result in Spirit Foundation, though Earth Vein Foundation is also possible.

    Superior Foundation Establishment materials correspond to Earth Vein Foundation.

    It''s said that above superior Foundation Establishment materials, there are even higher-grade materials that can result in Immortal Foundation!

    Immortal Foundation signifies the potential to become a true immortal."

    Everyone in the audience breathed rapidly; who doesn''t want to become a true immortal?

    "Of course, each level of Foundation Establishment also has sub-levels."

    Qi Yuan frowned and suddenly asked, "May I ask, teacher, is Immortal Foundation the best Foundation Establishment?"

    Hearing the chief disciple of Seven Colors Peak asking him a question, Xu Renshan''s beard almost lifted in pride.

    "No, above Immortal Foundation, there is the legendary Heavenly Dao Foundation, which is the strongest Foundation Establishment."

    "Then, teacher, what is Heavenly Dao Foundation?" Qi Yuan asked earnestly.

    Xu Renshan was stunned by this.

    He, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, knew nothing about Heavenly Dao Foundation.

    But he still braced himself and said, "The so-called Heavenly Dao Foundation is profound and mysterious. I only have a few guesses; listen to them but don''t take them seriously."

    After saying this, Xu Renshan breathed a sigh of relief.

    He started to make things up.

    Anyway, he had already said it was just his guess, so it shouldn''t be taken seriously.

    Moreover, this kind of thing, the disciples here would never use in their lifetime.

    He could make things up, and no one would expose him.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan immediately focused all his attention.

    He wanted to know, what exactly was Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

 Chapter 15: So-called Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment

    Chapter 15: So-called Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment

    Xu Renshan cleared his throat.

    "What do you think is the most precious foundation establishment material in the world?"

    He looked at the disciples below, appearing quite like an enlightened master.

    "Is it the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Fruit?" a female disciple asked tentatively.

    Xu Renshan responded, "The Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Fruit, rumored to only be born in the Nine Heavens Thunder Domain, is an extraordinary foundation establishment material above the top grade, considered extremely rare, but still not the most precious."

    "Star Tear?"

    "Xuanhuang Primal Qi?"

    "Supreme Bone?"

    Many disciples present mentioned extremely precious foundation establishment materials.

    These foundation establishment materials were legendary treasures.

    Xu Renshan turned to Qi Yuan, who was deep in thought, and asked, "Qi Yuan, what do you think it is?"

    Qi Yuan replied, "Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, since it''s Heavenly Dao, could it be related to the Heavenly Dao?"

    Xu Renshan praised, "You''re correct. The material for the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment should be..."

    At that moment, Qi Yuan suddenly felt enlightened, as if he had received a divine revelation.

    He felt his mind open up!

    He was about to understand!

    His expression became excited and slightly crazy.

    "I understand now. Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, so that''s how it is."

    Qi Yuan respectfully bowed to Xu Renshan and then took his leave.

    Epiphany is fleeting; he had to record it immediately.

    Seeing this, Xu Renshan smiled.

    He continued to explain to the other disciples of the Divine Radiance Sect, "There is a kind of miraculous substance in the world called Heavenly Vein Qi, which is said to be a wisp of qi shed from the Heavenly Dao. Obtaining it can forge a Heavenly Dao Foundation."

    These were things Xu Renshan had read in ancient books.

    "Heavenly Vein Qi is the most precious foundation establishment material."

    ...

    On Seven-Colored Peak, Qi Yuan sat in a daze, his mind unusually active.

    "Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment..."

    "So the so-called Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment means using the Heavenly Dao as the foundation establishment material."

    Qi Yuan had an epiphany. If his goal wasn''t too grand, the Heavenly Dao of this world might directly bless him, crowning him with flowers.

    The Heavenly Dao liked him too much, giving him three flowers and even throwing in two extra.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the sky with a puzzled expression, "But... how do I refine the Heavenly Dao into my foundation establishment material?"

    "I wonder what the Heavenly Dao tastes like, if it''s edible."

    Unfortunately, no one responded to him.

    "Speaking of the Heavenly Dao, I seem to have obtained a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land. Can this be used as a foundation establishment material?"

    Qi Yuan''s spirits lifted, realizing something extraordinary.

    That gaming jade slip wasn''t just a game to him.

    For every ten levels, he gained one minor skill.

    Qi Yuan''s two primary skills were "Sky-Splitting Sword Technique" and "Overbearing Strength."

    Stealth was a minor skill that could hide his form and move quickly.

    In the Garment Forbidden Land, Qi Yuan passed through many forests and saw many strange garment demons.

    Especially in a certain forest, he felt as if he had entered not just a forbidden land.

    In the dense forest, there were many trees.

    Every tree was hung with colorful bras and panties.

    With the wind, the panties fluttered.

    The scene was extremely comical.

    Qi Yuan even saw many pairs of underpants.

    If some pervert came here, they would surely exclaim with delight.

    But if that pervert touched these panties, the outcome would be tragic.

    Each pair of panties had a level of no less than thirty.

    Qi Yuan quickly left the area.

    After about half an hour, Qi Yuan finally stopped.

    "Finally found a place with few garments!"

    He looked at the dozen or so garment demons washing clothes by the water ahead.

    These garment demons were between levels thirty and fifty.

    They were washing clothes.

    Qi Yuan shouted loudly.

    "Monsters, face my sword!"

    The golden sword instantly enlarged, becoming several feet long.

    The huge sword swept out, stirring up a gale, overturning the river water.

    The sword fell on the garment demons, smashing them into pieces.

    Experience +100.

    Experience +300.

    ...

    Experience +200.

    At level eighty-two, Qi Yuan could easily kill these low-level garment demons.

    "Not bad," Qi Yuan patted his hands, "time to find other garment demons."

    Before attacking, he had used a minor skill to cover up the commotion, so it wouldn''t attract other garment demons.

    However, to Qi Yuan''s surprise, just as he left, hundreds of garment demons came rushing.

    At the same time, he sensed that garment demons from all directions were also heading his way.

    He was stunned, "How did I get exposed?"

    He quickly started running.

    If surrounded, the outcome would be miserable.

 Chapter 16: Seeking Help from Empress Jin Li

    Chapter 16: Seeking Help from Empress Jin Li

    An hour later, Qi Yuan was panting heavily.

    After confirming that no one was behind him, he lay down in a valley.

    "This isn''t playing a game, this is escaping for my life!"

    After killing just a dozen or so garment demons in a remote area, hundreds and thousands of garment demons surrounded him.

    He kept running, using all his strength to finally escape.

    Qi Yuan sat up, a look of confusion on his face. "How did the other garment demons discover me?"

    He was very puzzled.

    "Could it be that all the garment demons share the same perception?"

    Qi Yuan thought of the Zerg he had seen in previous anime.

    In some anime, the Zerg were controlled by a mother body, using the same system.

    "If that''s the case, then it''s troublesome!"

    In this case, his strategy of dividing and conquering would fail.

    He was very distressed.

    This game map was harder to grind than he had imagined.

    "Maybe I should ask Jin Li for help?

    She might have some game strategies."

    Qi Yuan thought, then sent a message: "The garment demons in the Garment Forbidden Land are too many.

    Today, I saw a forest full of bras and panties. The scene was so shocking that if I took a picture and posted it online, it would definitely go viral!"

    "I encountered some problems while hunting garment demons today."

    Qi Yuan described the problems he encountered and sent it out.

    "Do you have any strategies over there? Please send them to me. I''d be very grateful!"

    ...

    "Prime Minister, Her Majesty has returned to the palace," said a man in a long robe respectfully. "The people we sent are gone."

    Sima Ting was playing chess. Hearing this, he laughed and ignored the robed man, instead saying to the civil official playing chess with him, "Bo Chang, are you sure placing it here will take one of my pieces?

    My pieces are connected, with true eyes everywhere. The overall situation is settled; you are already in a deadlock."

    The civil official, hearing this, joked flatteringly, "Your chess skills far surpass mine. The situation is dire, and I''ll take any piece I can."

    Sima Ting laughed heartily.

    The current Empress Jin Li was like a black piece on the chessboard, with no way out.

    A cornered beast will fight, but death is only a matter of time.

    The civil official then said opportunistically, "In six days, when Old Lady Qin is defeated, we will all attack. By then, the Southern Qian will be the Prime Minister''s domain."

    Hearing this, the powerful minister Sima Ting''s eyes filled with more laughter.

    Although the Southern Qian Kingdom was already his, it could not compare to being rightfully his.

    ...

    Jin Li was in a good mood.

    She had just seen Aunt Qin and gave her the imperial medicine, the Nine-Flower Kylin.

    Jin Li felt a bit disappointed upon hearing this.

    Could she not help Qi Yuan?

    At this moment, Dong Shishun seemed to hesitate, finally saying, "Your Majesty..."

    "Speak freely."

    "There might be records about the Garment Forbidden Land in the Yu Mansion.

    The old duke once visited the Garment Forbidden Land in his youth." Dong Shishun knew that the Yu Mansion had detailed books about the Garment Forbidden Land.

    The reason he hesitated was because the relationship between the old duke and the Empress was very bad, even strained.

    The old duke''s daughter was the former noble consort, while the current Empress''s mother was the previous empress.

    The noble consort and the empress had a grudge, and the noble consort died unexpectedly in the palace.

    The old duke blamed the empress for this.

    Along with that, he also hated the Empress.

    If the Empress were to ask for the books, she would definitely be troubled.

    Jin Li also realized this, but she was still happy to finally find a clue.

    She waved her sleeve: "I will personally visit the old duke!"

    She had few people under her, and sending someone to ask for the books would definitely be recognized by the old duke. It was better for her to go herself.

    Being troubled was nothing.

    As long as she found information about the Garment Forbidden Land, it would be worth it.

    ...

    Late at night, Jin Li left the Yu Mansion holding a book.

    After kneeling for too long, her legs were uncomfortable as she walked, but her face was filled with a smile.

    Hua Xian, the commander of the Imperial Guards, supported Jin Li, her beautiful eyes filled with anger: "The old duke is too much! He knows your legs were injured years ago, yet he deliberately troubled you. You are a noble Empress, and he made you kneel before Noble Consort Xi''s spirit for three hours!"

    Hua Xian was both angry and helpless.

    During the previous emperor''s reign, imperial power had declined and Sima Ting had taken control.

    Later, Sima Ting slaughtered the royal family and supported a little girl to the throne.

    No one in the court respected Empress Jin Li.

    Seeing the Empress kneel for several hours, she felt immense pain.

    Ordinary people kneeling for three hours was a torment.

    For someone pampered, they would have fainted long ago.

    Even an ordinary adult would find it unbearable.

    Kneeling for three hours without moving was an extremely painful experience.

    Although Empress Jin Li had some cultivation, it was not strong, and her legs were injured. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have made a spectacle during her coronation.

    Kneeling for three hours was also difficult for her.

    "No matter, at least I got what I wanted." Jin Li tightly held the book, feeling content.

 Chapter 17: Chatting Online

    Chapter 17: Chatting Online

    In the carriage, Jin Li couldn''t wait to flip through the book. As the night grew deeper, she continued reading after returning to her palace, searching for the information Qi Yuan needed.

    "Your Majesty, it''s already the early hours of the morning. You should rest. If your health suffers, I can''t bear the responsibility," a maid in a yellow palace dress reminded her.

    Without lifting her head, Jin Li replied, "Hmm."

    There were many records about the Yi Guan Forbidden Zone in the Yu Manor''s collection. Jin Li was looking for the answers Qi Yuan asked for, and also gathering other related information to share with him, to help him out.

    "Finally found it," Jin Li''s eyes lit up. "All Yi Guan demons are connected, sharing a collective consciousness, but at night, this connection significantly weakens!"

    With this information, she quickly took out the Linglong Yuxi and relayed it to Qi Yuan.

    At the same time, she shared the other information she had gathered about the Yi Guan Forbidden Zone.

    After sending these messages, she felt a surge of excitement. However, as she continued reading, a puzzled expression appeared on her face.

    "The ancient texts mention that there are only bridal gown demons in the Yi Guan Forbidden Zone. Strange, how does Qi Yuan explain the bellyband demons he mentioned? Could it be that new types of Yi Guan demons have emerged in the forbidden zone?"

    Jin Li was perplexed.

    However, she would soon be able to ask the returning guards she sent. Perhaps they had seen Qi Yuan and could explain the situation.

    She was curious about Qi Yuan''s appearance.

    Putting down the book, a wave of exhaustion hit her. She felt tired, and her long legs and delicate feet were sore. The aftereffects of kneeling for three hours hadn''t fully dissipated.

    The sun shone on Qi Yuan, making him feel lazy. Climbing out of a pit, he still had traces of dirt on him. He looked up at the sun, "So round, just like a golden elixir."

    As usual, he opened the chat interface.

    There were many messages from Jin Li in the chat area.

    He read through them one by one.

    "As expected, three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang. Asking Jin Li for help really paid off."

    From Jin Li, he got useful information.

    "So, the Yi Guan demons indeed have a collective consciousness, but it weakens significantly at night. This is my chance."

    "But right now, it''s broad daylight, so testing it will have to wait until night."

    Qi Yuan continued to read the other information.

    He asked about difficulties? Role?

    Was he asking about her real-life identity?

    Initially, she hadn''t fully revealed her identity to Qi Yuan, considering her unique position as the Empress of Nan Qian Kingdom.

    Now...

    "I am... the Empress of Nan Qian Kingdom," Jin Li decided not to hide her identity any longer.

    "Wow? Your character is so powerful, being an Empress! No way, we definitely have to meet. I''ve never even met a mayor, and an Empress is really rare."

    Jin Li couldn''t help but smile bitterly.

    "What is your current task?" Qi Yuan continued to ask.

    Task?

    Jin Li was getting used to Qi Yuan''s peculiar way of speaking and roughly understood his meaning. "As the Empress of Nan Qian, I have to deal with the Prime Minister Sima Ting who covets the throne, the northern Khanate''s invasions, and occasional beast attacks."

    "So, your main task now is to get rid of Sima Ting, secure the throne, and then deal with the other enemies?"

    Jin Li was a bit shocked by Qi Yuan''s casual tone.

    She had considered these major issues, but accomplishing them seemed impossible.

    Maintaining peace was already a challenge.

    Even if Qi Yuan was an unparalleled emperor, mastering the way to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone and being able to traverse the Yi Guan Forbidden Zone, he couldn''t achieve what he mentioned.

    "Sigh, I wonder how high the level of the characters you encounter is and whether they can be killed with a sword," Qi Yuan said, then asked, "Have you read the ''Art of Dragon Slaying'' by the great man? It''s a very great book. The great man is very powerful. If you can grasp a few insights from his work, this situation will be a piece of cake."

    "I haven''t read it. The ''Art of Dragon Slaying''? It must be very precious, right?" Jin Li guessed it must be something very valuable.

    Hearing Qi Yuan say that understanding the ''Art of Dragon Slaying'' could easily resolve her issues, she thought it must be worth a fortune.

    "It''s not expensive, maybe a few hundred coins? You can buy it for about a hundred pounds of grain. Unfortunately, I haven''t read it myself, otherwise, I could teach you and revolutionize the game world."

    To avoid sounding too serious, he used "revolutionize" instead.

    Jin Li was stunned.

    Such a valuable book was worth only a hundred pounds of grain.

 Chapter 18: Black Mountain Sect

    Chapter 18: Black Mountain Sect

    "I don''t understand military tactics or play politics. In this situation, I think we should just create chaos and upheaval," Qi Yuan expressed his peculiar opinion.

    "I''ll see if I can recruit some underlings in the Yi Guan Forbidden Zone to help you," he said after chatting with Jin Li for a while before logging out of the game.

    The Yi Guan demons were difficult to deal with during the day. He had to wait until night to confront them. Spending too much time in the game took a toll on his mental energy, so Qi Yuan didn''t stay in the game world for too long.

    "I need to change my routine," Qi Yuan thought. "For the time being, I should play the game at night and rest during the day."

    "I need to speed up my progress and clear the game. Maybe then I can collect all the fragments of the Heavenly Dao. According to the Heavenly Dao Foundation Theory, the Heavenly Dao is the best spiritual material for foundation building. If I build my foundation with the Heavenly Dao, I''ll be the top disciple among the Five Peaks!"

    With these thoughts, Qi Yuan said, "It''s still early; I should go walk my blade."

    "Recently, I need to walk it more frequently. It feels like it''s about to develop a mind of its own."

    "Will it develop intelligence in about a month? Why so early? Could it be related to my insight into the Heavenly Dao Foundation?"

    As Qi Yuan walked with his ordinary iron kitchen knife, he pondered, "I wonder if, once it has developed intelligence, I can use it to kill a Yuan Dan master."

    He looked forward to it.

    He had modified the Spirit Refining Technique for a long time. The blade he was cultivating would undoubtedly be extraordinary.

    In the short term, he couldn''t break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, so his power couldn''t change significantly. But the blade could give him extraordinary strength.

    Qi Yuan wandered leisurely on the road of the Shen Guang Sect.

    At this time, a group of disciples in black tight-fitting outfits hurried past. These disciples were from the Shen Guang Sect''s Jin Guang Hall.

    Jin Guang Hall was the law enforcement hall of the Shen Guang Sect, dealing with internal and external matters. These disciples were rushing outside the mountain gate, clearly because something urgent had happened.

    However, when they saw Qi Yuan, the disciples from Jin Guang Hall stopped. "Greetings, Senior Brother."

    Qi Yuan looked at the law enforcement disciples of Jin Guang Hall, especially the leader, and nodded. "No need for formalities, you all hurry along."

    "Thank you, Senior Brother," replied the leader, Zheng Jianghe, and then the group hurriedly left.

    Qi Yuan was quite familiar with Zheng Jianghe. Due to his own... unusual behavior, he had been taken to Jin Guang Hall several times and had become acquainted with Zheng Jianghe.

    Watching Zheng Jianghe''s back, a stream of words appeared in Qi Yuan''s mind.

    ¡¾This is a righteous cultivator who, at this moment, only wants to kill.¡¿

    "Then you have to endorse it for me," Qi Yuan said, glancing at Jiang Lingsu. Although she was young, her appearance and temperament were outstanding, far surpassing the so-called ''98 Flowers'' and ''00 Flowers'' of his previous life.

    "Endorse?" Jiang Lingsu didn''t understand.

    But the topic didn''t continue, as Qi Yuan had to start his game grind.

    At night, Qi Yuan entered the game.

    The Yi Guan Forbidden Zone was silent.

    Suddenly, a pale arm reached out from the soil.

    Qi Yuan was online.

    He wielded a large sword and continued to sneak around. Before long, he arrived at a forest.

    Clothes hung from the trees, and if one didn''t look closely, they might think it was a bunch of corpses.

    Qi Yuan chose a spot with fewer Yi Guan demons. He raised his large sword and stayed vigilant, watching his surroundings.

    "Indeed, at night, their senses are significantly dulled, and their connection weakens. How much will it weaken?"

    During the day, if he appeared so blatantly with his large sword, the Yi Guan demons would have noticed him long ago. But now, they hadn''t.

    This confirmed that their senses were indeed dulled at night.

    Qi Yuan approached and stabbed a bellyband with his large sword. The bellyband shattered instantly.

    He looked around; the other Yi Guan demons hanging on the trees didn''t react.

    Qi Yuan smiled. "Does this mean I can quietly kill all the Yi Guan demons in one night?"

    With this thought, he moved on to the next Yi Guan demon and repeated the process.

    Experience +200.

    He wielded the large sword, killing with ease. However, after killing the thirtieth Yi Guan demon, the remaining demons on the trees finally reacted, waking up one after another.

    But unlike the organized response during the day, they seemed chaotic and disoriented at night.

    "Hunting time!" Qi Yuan thought, seeing this as his chance.

 Chapter 19: Striking Hard in the Game, Timid in Reality

    Chapter 19: Striking Hard in the Game, Timid in Reality

    Qi Yuan wielded his giant sword, moving among the bellybands... no, among the Yi Guan demons.

    Small skills activated continuously.

    Powerful Sword Skull Splitter!

    Xiaoxiang Sword Rain!

    Blood Escape!

    Experience +300.

    Experience +200.

    ...

    Experience +400.

    Qi Yuan killed with great satisfaction, finally finding the feeling of playing a game.

    The monsters before him were all experience packs!

    He slaughtered all around in the game.

    Sword to pierce the big shorts!

    Chopping off the big clothes!

    Sword to stab the straps!

    Qi Yuan killed with great joy.

    And the number of Yi Guan demons around him increased.

    Trees were broken, and Yi Guan demons were shattered.

    Within a radius of dozens of meters, it was Qi Yuan''s personal battlefield.

    He was like a killing god. Once he approached a Yi Guan demon, it became his experience baby.

    Because it was nighttime, the Yi Guan demons couldn''t quickly gather, fighting individually.

    For Qi Yuan, this was undoubtedly like a wolf entering a flock of sheep.

    The reason he could kill so freely in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone was that the monsters there were not united.

    At this moment, all the Yi Guan demons in the Yi Guan Forbidden Zone were slowly awakening.

    As Qi Yuan went on a killing spree, some newly awakened Yi Guan demons were still dazed.

    "So, even demons can have stampedes."

    Qi Yuan saw the "stampede" in the distance and rushed over.

    The stampede of Yi Guan demons was different. It was due to their sudden awakening, triggering emergency responses, and attacking randomly.

    This led to many weaker Yi Guan demons being caught in the chaos.

    "Kill!"

    Qi Yuan transformed into a god of grinding, slaughtering all around in the game.

    The last girl was ordinary, with the most notable feature being her numerous freckles.

    Generally speaking, cultivators rarely had freckles on their faces.

    "Greetings, Senior Brother."

    The three girls bowed.

    The status of the chief disciple was prestigious. Even yesterday, when Zheng Jianghe led a team out and encountered Qi Yuan, he stopped to salute before leaving.

    Seeing Qi Yuan still not fully awake, Jiang Lingsu couldn''t help but say, "Senior Brother, it''s already noon. How is it early?"

    Qi Yuan looked up at the sun in the sky.

    It was big and round.

    He looked at the three girls again.

    Hey... I''ve been thinking about forming a golden core recently; everything looks big and round.

    "What are you discussing so passionately?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    "Isn''t it about the Black Mountain Sect!" the seemingly innocent girl said, her face filled with anger.

    Qi Yuan suddenly remembered that Zheng Jianghe had led Jin Guang Hall to Rong City yesterday, which seemed related to the Black Mountain Sect.

    "What happened?"

    "A few days ago, a true disciple of the Black Mountain Sect, named Chu Tianxiong, committed heinous acts in Rong City, defiling several newlywed women and exterminating their entire families. It''s truly despicable!

    Brother Zheng Jianghe led Jin Guang Hall to capture Chu Tianxiong in Rong City!" The innocent girl became increasingly agitated, her words almost incoherent.

    Jiang Lingsu said, "Xiao Ran, don''t get excited. Let me explain.

    Chu Tianxiong was captured by Jin Guang Hall and was extremely arrogant.

    Brother Zheng Jianghe wanted to take Chu Tianxiong back to the sect for punishment, but halfway there, an elder from the Black Mountain Sect appeared, took Chu Tianxiong away, and... and injured Brother Zheng Jianghe!"

    All three girls were furious, with the freckled girl clenching her fists, wishing to kill Chu Tianxiong.

    Jiang Ran said, "The Black Mountain Sect is too rampant!"

    The freckled girl couldn''t help but speak up, "If it weren''t for the Black Chicken Old Demon, would the Black Mountain Sect dare to be so arrogant?"

    Hearing the name Black Chicken Old Demon, Jiang Ran''s face turned solemn.

    Qi Yuan said, "I''ve watched many TV shows; villains never have a good ending!"

    The three girls were confused, not knowing what TV shows were.

    But they understood the second half of the sentence.

    They fell silent.

    Will bad people really not have good endings?

    Jiang Lingsu remembered that when a demonic cultivator who had slaughtered an entire country came to her clan, her father and grandfather treated him with great respect.

    This is ultimately a world where strength is respected.

    Bad people... might live even better than good people.

    "Senior Brother is right. Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished. It''s just that the time hasn''t come yet!" Jiang Lingsu agreed.

 Chapter 20: First-Grade Foundation Building Spirit Item â€“ Yellow Flower Fruit

    Chapter 20: First-Grade Foundation Building Spirit Item ¨C Yellow Flower Fruit

    Qi Yuan put the matter of the Black Mountain Sect behind him. He strolled with his knife.

    Along the way, he heard many whispers, all condemning the Black Mountain Sect.

    "The Black Mountain Sect is truly detestable!"

    "They even injured Senior Brother Zheng, showing no respect for our Shen Guang Sect!"

    "Because their sect leader has a good adoptive father!"

    "What''s even more hateful is that the Black Mountain Sect plans to participate in the Foundation Building Conference in half a month!"

    "What, the Black Mountain Sect is coming too!"

    "I heard that the chief disciples of several peaks are discussing yesterday''s events, but why is he still walking his knife?"

    "Quiet down. Hasn''t he yet to build his foundation? What''s the use of discussing?"

    "He''s probably no match for Chu Tianxiong."

    "Don''t say that. It''s not that Senior Brother doesn''t want to build his foundation. He surely doesn''t want to remain at the peak of Qi Refining."

    Qi Yuan listened to this, seemingly without any reaction.

    ...

    Wangyue Continent.

    Empress Jin Li showed a hint of joy on her face: "Aunt Qin, are your injuries healed?"

    Aunt Qin nodded: "Thanks to Your Majesty''s imperial medicine, my injuries have finally healed, and my strength has further increased."

    "That''s good." The stone in Jin Li''s heart was finally laid to rest.

    After the loss of her father and mother, it was Aunt Qin who watched her grow up.

    She relied heavily on Aunt Qin.

    However, thinking of something, she asked: "Aunt Qin, do you have confidence in the battle with the Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom in six days?"

    The duel in six days concerned the life and death of Jin Li and her followers.

    If they failed, Sima Ting would certainly seize the opportunity to strike.

    By then, Jin Li would have no ability to resist.

    Forcible resistance would only result in the premature death of those who followed her.

    Upon hearing this, Aunt Qin''s face clouded with worry: "Yesterday, the Crown Prince of Nan Feng Kingdom visited Sima Ting. Sima Ting gave him a grand pill called the Mixed Element Blood Locking Pill."

    "What!" Jin Li''s teeth gnawed her gums. "Sima Ting''s intentions are known to all!"

    The Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom was a late-stage king-level expert.

    His cultivation technique was the Dragon Elephant Purgatory Technique.

    The stronger his blood and energy, the more powerful he became. At the highest level, he would have the strength of a hundred dragons and elephants.

    Before, Aunt Qin, who had taken the Nine-Flower Qiluo, was slightly stronger than the Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom.

    But now, with the supreme blood and energy pill given by Sima Ting, the Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom would be like a tiger with wings, his strength greatly increasing.

    From the late stage of the king level to the peak, it was only a matter of time, and he might even glimpse the emperor level.

    When he met the elder again, Kumu Zhenjun changed his face directly: "As a person of the demonic path, you dare to sow discord between me and Shen Guang Sect."

    That elder of the Demon Desire Sect was already on the verge of death, and upon hearing this, he passed away directly.

    Qi Yuan looked at Kumu Zhenjun, lazily saying: "You haven''t done anything against Shen Guang Sect. Why shouldn''t I call you Sect Leader?"

    Kumu Zhenjun looked at Qi Yuan, his emotions extremely complex.

    How did this chief disciple of Qise Peak, who talked nonsense, know he was a spy of the Demon Desire Sect?

    Or was it completely made up?

    "Qi Yuan, I have a task for you." Kumu Zhenjun returned to the main matter.

    Qi Yuan''s attitude also became serious.

    "In half a month, there will be the Foundation Building Conference." Mentioning this, Kumu Zhenjun''s eyes flashed with sharpness, "This Foundation Building Conference is hosted by our Shen Guang Sect.

    At that time, Da Shang Nation, Xu floating Mountain, the Demon Desire Sect, and other sects will send disciples to participate, competing for the first-grade Foundation Building spirit item... the Yellow Flower Fruit."

    A first-grade Foundation Building spirit item is the best among the top three grades of Foundation Building spirit items.

    In Da Shang Nation, it is extremely rare.

    It is said that among the elusive experts of Da Shang Nation, only a handful have used top three-grade Foundation Building spirit items.

    And not even first-grade ones.

    This shows the rarity of first-grade Foundation Building spirit items.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was stunned: "Why don''t the senior brothers and sisters wait for this Yellow Flower Fruit?"

    "We didn''t expect that this time, only a few Foundation Building spirit items would form in the secret realm, including this Yellow Flower Fruit." Kumu Zhenjun sighed.

    If he had known in advance that a first-grade Foundation Building spirit item would form, he would never have let the chief disciples of the peaks build their foundations early.

    Now, among the chief disciples of the peaks, only Qi Yuan hadn''t built his foundation.

    Kumu Zhenjun thought this might be a coincidence.

    But it could also be a deliberate arrangement by the head of Qise Peak.

    She purposely left the top-grade Foundation Building spirit item for her disciple.

    "So, this time, it''s up to you to lead our Shen Guang Sect and participate in the Foundation Building Conference.

    Qi Yuan, I hope you can show the might of our sect and secure the Yellow Flower Fruit!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was quite helpless: "Can I not participate?"

    "No!" The Sect Leader of Shen Guang Sect firmly refused. Considering Qi Yuan''s character, he added, "You only need to go on last once. It won''t take more than an hour."

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan finally agreed: "Alright."

    "Sect Leader, I''ll take my leave now." Qi Yuan was about to leave.

    Seeing Qi Yuan like this, the Sect Leader of Shen Guang Sect couldn''t help but smile wryly.

    He didn''t know if placing hope on Qi Yuan was reliable.

    If the Yellow Flower Fruit was taken by another sect and produced another strong figure like the Black Chicken Old Demon, it would be troublesome.

    Just as he was lost in thought, Qi Yuan suddenly stopped.

    "Sect Leader, is the Empress of Da Shang beautiful?"

 Chapter 21: Wealthy Fool

    Chapter 21: Wealthy Fool

    Even though Kumu Zhen Jun was a True Lord, his heart was churning at this moment.

    He looked at Qi Yuan, wanting to say something.

    However, Qi Yuan directly left.

    Kumu Zhen Jun sat down, his hand caressing the purple sandalwood chair, wisps of red dust incense rising. He didn''t know what he was thinking about.

    Outside Shen Guang Sect, Qi Yuan was once again strolling with his knife.

    "A first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item... Yellow Flower Fruit." Qi Yuan was actually tempted.

    The price of Foundation Establishment spiritual items was steep.

    "However, to get the reward at the Foundation Establishment Conference, you need to defeat disciples from other sects... too troublesome."

    Just thinking about competing made Qi Yuan feel bored; he''d rather grind in games, where his power genuinely increased.

    Only, when he went to a shop and asked about the price of a first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item, his eyes lit up.

    "What, worth ten thousand spirit stones? And it''s priceless?"

    "A wealthy clan once offered fifty thousand spirit stones and didn''t get one? Couldn''t even buy a second-grade one?"

    Qi Yuan was somewhat tempted.

    As the head disciple of Seven Colors Peak, he could only get ten spirit stones worth of resources every month.

    However, after offending his master, his spirit stone supply was cut off.

    He lived frugally every day.

    Recently, his thatched hut was leaking in the rain, and he was reluctant to spend spirit stones to hire someone for repairs, so he climbed onto the roof and fixed it himself.

    What kind of cultivation life was this?

    Moreover, once Qi Yuan reached Foundation Establishment, the amount of spirit stones he would need would be vast.

    Polishing his mana during the Foundation Establishment stage was extremely costly in terms of spirit stones.

    Hence, the Foundation Establishment disciples of Shen Guang Sect often went out to take on tasks to earn spirit stones.

    "Maybe I should give it a try?"

    "Forget it, too troublesome."

    "If some bad guy wins it, then I could take the moral high ground and snatch it."

    Qi Yuan was daydreaming, but it was just daydreaming.

    Such a high-grade Foundation Establishment item would definitely be guarded by powerful people. With his current weak strength, how could he possibly snatch it?

    Wandering around aimlessly all day, Qi Yuan felt like he was missing a ghost fire and a teenage girl telling her father, "Dad, you just don''t understand him."

    When he returned to Seven Colors Peak, Qi Yuan smelled a rich aroma.

    "Spiritual carp fish, fragrant mushrooms, North treasure melon..."

    Qi Yuan''s nose was very keen.

    These aromas made his mouth water.

    "Junior sister, this pot of yours... must have cost a lot, right?" Qi Yuan remembered that in the half year since he arrived in this world, he had only eaten a spiritual dish once, and it was worth less than one spirit stone.

    Xiao Xiang Sword Rain!

    Armored Champion''s Strong Fist!

    Qi Yuan began his slaughter again.

    The Yi Guan monsters were killed one by one.

    Other Yi Guan monsters woke up in the trees.

    They had no faces, no eyes, no ears, not even mouths.

    But Qi Yuan could feel their anger.

    If they were given mouths, Qi Yuan was sure he would hear a series of beautiful curses.

    "Your ******"

    Of course, these Yi Guan monsters couldn''t talk, couldn''t curse Qi Yuan, they could only attack Qi Yuan, venting their anger.

    Unfortunately, they all became Qi Yuan''s experience babies.

    Qi Yuan weaved in and out, comparable to Zhao Yun and Wen Yang.

    After a few hours, seeing the Yi Guan monsters regroup, Qi Yuan left without a trace.

    Afterwards, Qi Yuan dug a pit and buried himself.

    He was reflecting.

    "The Yi Guan monsters are regrouping faster."

    "It seems they are also growing."

    "But I am also growing, another level up, but it will get slower from now on."

    After summarizing, Qi Yuan opened the chat interface.

    As usual, he replied to a series of messages from Jin Li.

    Jin Li''s messages were fragmented, mentioning things like floods in a region from the memorials, which made her worried; or that her horse suddenly went crazy today, and she almost got hurt.

    Qi Yuan slowly replied, then shared his daily routine in the game with Jin Li.

    In a short while, he sent a series of messages.

    "Getting late, time to log off."

    Qi Yuan felt he had spent enough time in the game.

    At this moment, to his surprise, Jin Li sent a message.

    "Still up so late?" Qi Yuan wanted to look up at the moon, but couldn''t see it from the pit.

    "Had a lot to do today." Jin Li said, feeling a sense of peace in her tired heart.

    "Today I met Aunt Qin. With the imperial medicine picked from Xuan Yuan Forbidden Land, her injuries have healed significantly."

    Jin Li slowly recounted the day''s events.

    She didn''t like spreading negative energy, so she tried to speak in a calm tone.

    "Your mission difficulty is quite high." Qi Yuan thought that if he were in Jin Li''s position, he might not do as well as her.

    After all, court politics were all about human relationships, and he only knew how to fight and kill.

 Chapter 22: Get Stronger by Doing Push-Ups

    Chapter 22: Get Stronger by Doing Push-Ups

    "Tell me, is there any way in this world to quickly increase one''s strength?" Jin Li couldn''t help but ask.

    "Quickly get stronger?" Several answers instantly came to Qi Yuan''s mind.

    Eat a devil fruit?

    Receive a master''s direct transmission of power?

    Or... do push-ups.

    In this world, there were no devil fruits, and no one who could directly transmit power.

    "Doing push-ups can make you stronger," Qi Yuan enthusiastically said. "I know someone, very ordinary, nothing special, but he insisted on exercising every day¡ªpush-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups.

    As a result, it didn''t take long for him to become stronger, though he did go bald."

    "Exercise, push-ups? Sit-ups? Pull-ups? What are those?" Jin Li looked puzzled. "Are these supreme cultivation techniques?"

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan was a bit surprised: "So, you''re a girl who doesn''t like exercising. Let me teach you how to exercise."

    "Isn''t that improper?" Jin Li thought Qi Yuan was about to teach her some supreme cultivation techniques.

    "Don''t worry, it''s common stuff, very simple." Qi Yuan pondered for a moment, then spent about ten minutes teaching these exercises to Jin Li.

    "These... can increase one''s strength?" Jin Li found it unbelievable.

    Because these movements were ordinary, not mystical at all.

    But considering that carrying a ladder could get one into the Xuan Yuan Forbidden Land, she thought it might be true.

    "Well... actually, they can''t. Maybe after ten years of practice, you could beat a wolf?" Qi Yuan said.

    Jin Li was momentarily stunned, then she smiled: "These can be taught to ordinary soldiers."

    "But it''s not entirely impossible." Qi Yuan said, then took out the magic pen.

    Now, the Xuan Yuan Forbidden Land was under his control.

    He could change the rules of the Forbidden Land.

    "Then let''s add that exercising can increase cultivation."

    After thinking for a while, Qi Yuan wrote that doing "push-ups," "sit-ups," and other exercises would increase cultivation.

    After writing, Qi Yuan was thoughtful.

    "It''s done... but it seems there might be some side effects?"

    "Hair loss?"

    "So... even when changing the rules, it''s based on my understanding?"

    "No, I need to be smart about this and not overthink it." Qi Yuan felt a headache and didn''t delve further into the principles.

    He quickly said to Jin Li: "In the Xuan Yuan Forbidden Land, doing the exercises I mentioned can quickly increase your cultivation. Bring more people to increase strength and try to clear the levels soon to help me farm instances."

    "Doing those exercises in the Forbidden Land can enhance strength?" Jin Li was a bit confused.

    "Of course, why would I lie to you? But be mindful, doing these exercises too much can cause hair loss."

    Jin Li was still somewhat puzzled.

    Psychologically, she trusted Qi Yuan''s words.

    But logically and rationally, she felt Qi Yuan was talking nonsense.

    As for the side effect of hair loss, she didn''t pay much attention to it.

    "Understood." These loyal followers all understood the seriousness of the matter.

    They all felt incredulous.

    The Xuan Yuan Forbidden Land hadn''t been entered for thousands of years.

    Why... carrying a ladder... could let one in?

    Hadn''t anyone tried this method in those thousands of years?

    But then again, which emperor would be so idle to carry a ladder into the Forbidden Land?

    But why did it work?

    Did carrying a ladder have some special significance?

    They were puzzled.

    After entering the Forbidden Land, the group went deeper inside.

    Jin Li spoke again: "Keep carrying the ladder, don''t let go. Remember the exercises I taught you on the way here?"

    "Yes."

    "Organize yourselves. We will do those exercises in the Forbidden Land." Jin Li ordered.

    Everyone present was bewildered.

    Aunt Qin also asked: "Your Majesty, why are we doing this?"

    "Aunt Qin, do you trust me?" Jin Li looked at Aunt Qin and said seriously.

    "Of course, I trust what Your Majesty says."

    "Doing these exercises..." Jin Li looked up at the sky, "can quickly increase our cultivation in the Forbidden Land."

    "What?"

    "Increase cultivation?"

    If they weren''t Jin Li''s loyal followers, and if Jin Li wasn''t the empress, if it were some keyboard warriors from Qi Yuan''s previous world, they would surely start mocking.

    Words like ridiculous and foolish would be thrown around.

    But these loyal followers, though their faces showed incomprehension, didn''t speak.

    Aunt Qin felt the same.

    This was even harder to accept than carrying a ladder to enter the Forbidden Land.

    If cultivation were this simple, wouldn''t the world be full of high-level cultivators?

    Aunt Qin naturally didn''t believe it in her heart, but she still said slowly: "This method of cultivation is indeed quite interesting. I wonder where Your Majesty learned it from."

    "It was also told by that friend." Jin Li did not hide it.

    "It seems that senior must be a powerful expert enjoying life." Aunt Qin murmured.

    The words "enjoying life" reflected her thoughts.

    However, she still carried the ladder and started doing push-ups: "Let this old body try and see the effect."

    She took action.

    Everyone present stopped what they were doing and looked at Aunt Qin.

 Chapter 23: Qi Yuan, Willing to Help Demons

    Chapter 23: Qi Yuan, Willing to Help Demons

    Aunt Qin started by trying to do push-ups.

    She carried the ladder and bent down.

    Her palms touched the ground, and she felt there was nothing mystical about it.

    "Perhaps... he''s just making it up?"

    With this thought, Aunt Qin began to do push-ups.

    It must be said that someone wearing silk clothes doing push-ups looked quite out of place.

    Within less than a breath, Aunt Qin was about to complete one push-up.

    Aunt Qin initially had a helpless smile because she didn''t feel any operation of cultivation techniques or true essence during the push-up.

    Without these, how could one become stronger?

    But in the next moment, just as she completed one push-up, a special change came instantly.

    Jin Li hurriedly asked, "Aunt Qin, how do you feel?"

    At this moment, Aunt Qin was completely stunned.

    "I... I feel... my body seems to have become stronger."

    "What?" Everyone present exclaimed.

    Could it be that exercising really could make one stronger?

    "How much stronger?" Hua Xian asked quickly.

    She feared Aunt Qin was considering Jin Li''s status as the empress and thus gave a vague answer.

    Aunt Qin then said seriously, "Just one push-up is equivalent to half an hour of my cultivation."

    "What!" Everyone present was shocked.

    One push-up equaled half an hour of cultivation.

    Isn''t that too exaggerated?

    "Doesn''t this mean that doing less than ten thousand push-ups is equivalent to a year''s cultivation?" Hua Xian calculated and was immediately astonished.

    "If it''s true, then cultivating here for one day would be equivalent to ten years outside?"

    Everyone was incredibly shocked.

    Doing push-ups could enhance cultivation?

    What kind of principle is this?

    How could such a thing exist!

    It''s simply incomprehensible!

    It''s like saying that eating, drinking, or even farting could breakthrough cultivation.

    While everyone was amazed and puzzled, they all began to exercise.

    So, these thirty loyal followers all started exercising with ladders on their backs in the Xuan Yuan Forbidden Land.

    They were all cultivators, powerful, and did push-ups very quickly, "lying down" as if flying.

    This scene was extremely shocking.

    If people from Qi Yuan''s previous world saw this, they would definitely shout, "Awesome!"

    Of course, if a video were posted, the comments would be "Not a big deal," "I could do that too," "I have a friend who...".

    After all, the comment section is where all kinds of geniuses and experts gather.

    "I... broke through!"

    Aunt Qin also solemnly said, "To die for Your Majesty, we have no regrets!"

    Seeing this, Jin Li felt touched but also found it a bit funny, "The side effects aren''t that terrible, it won''t kill you all."

    Everyone felt relieved.

    The commander of the imperial guards, Hua Xian, looked at Jin Li and slowly asked, "May I ask what the side effects are?"

    "Getting stronger... might cause hair loss."

    "Hair loss?"

    "Just hair loss?"

    "That''s it?"

    Everyone was shocked.

    Shocked that... that''s it?

    With such a great enhancement, the side effect is just losing hair.

    Not to mention hair loss, in Nan Qian Country, some people even castrated themselves to practice evil arts for strength.

    Compared to that, what is hair loss?

    Nothing at all!

    A woman who had just broken through a major stage smiled, "I lost a dozen hairs when I broke through earlier. I didn''t know the reason, turns out it was this."

    Not to mention losing a dozen hairs, even if all the hair on their bodies fell out, they would still be willing to break through a major stage.

    At this moment, a bald female guard suddenly said, "I don''t have any hair... what will fall out?"

    Everyone looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.

    ...

    Time flew by.

    Qi Yuan hunted demonic monsters again.

    Now, through his efforts, he was already at level 88.

    He killed a demonic monsters with one sword strike.

    Unfortunately, these demonic monsters couldn''t speak and didn''t scream.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan''s expression changed dramatically.

    "So painful!"

    He screamed, his face showing pain as he held his stomach, "My body is... being cut apart."

    But soon, seeing the demonic monsters completely shattered, he showed a smug smile.

    "I''m such a nice guy."

    "Seeing you can''t talk, I specially did the voice acting for you."

    "Today, I''ll be a voice actor for a day."

    Saying this, he charged at the demonic monsters again with his sword.

    "Strong Sword Skull Split!"

    "No!"

    "Xiao Xiang Sword Rain!"

    "So painful!"

    "Dragon Spin!"

    "Ah!"

 Chapter 24: The Ancient Qi Chuang Wood

    Chapter 24: The Ancient Qi Chuang Wood

    After a massive slaughter, Qi Yuan dug a hole and buried himself again.

    "In about ten more days, I should reach level 90.

    I wonder what big skill will awaken then."

    Qi Yuan was very much looking forward to it.

    "Once I reach level 90, the Clothing Forbidden area will soon be cleared as well.

    If I clear the map of this world, will I awaken new special abilities?"

    Qi Yuan''s mind wandered.

    After entering the game jade slip, it wasn''t long before his eyes mutated, allowing him to see hidden information.

    If he cleared the game, would he undergo other mutations?

    "Will I gain the ability to hear whispers from the indescribable, like a clairaudient?"

    "Or maybe, I''ll grow a dog''s nose?"

    Qi Yuan thought whimsically.

    Lying in the pit, he still couldn''t see the moon.

    "Qi Yuan, thank you. Today, Aunt Qin defeated the Grandmaster of Nan Feng Nation!

    When Aunt Qin displayed her emperor-level power, Sima Ting''s gloomy expression was really something!"

    Jin Li''s message came through.

    It seemed she was genuinely happy, even using interjections in her message.

    "Great, you''ve completed quite a few tasks as well. Finish them quickly, and we can meet in person.Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    By the way, should we decide on a place to meet?" Qi Yuan said whatever came to mind.

    On the other end, there was a long silence, and it took a while for a response.

    "Under the Ancient Qi Chuang Wood, what do you think?" Jin Li asked.

    The Ancient Qi Chuang Wood is the most mythically renowned tree on the Moon-Watching Continent.

    The ancient tree reaches the sky, its height unknown, and legend has it that standing on top of it, one can grasp the stars.

    It is said that this tree was planted by a deity.

    Before the deity went to battle the Sky Demon, he planted an Ancient Qi Chuang Wood in his yard.

    The deity told his wife that he would return when the tree grew to three zhang high.

    The deity''s wife waited under the Ancient Qi Chuang Wood, longing for him, for countless years.

    The tree, once as tall as a person, finally grew to three zhang high.

    Yet, she never saw her beloved return.

    Later, it grew to thirty zhang, then three hundred zhang, even thirty thousand zhang and higher.

    The deity''s wife never saw her husband return victorious.

    "A first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item! Whoever wins it will surely be able to form a Nascent Soul. In the future, they''ll be a big shot in Da Shang Nation, and probably in other countries as well!"

    "A first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item is that strong. What about the Earth Vein Foundation Establishment or the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment? What kind of grandeur must they have?"

    "Don''t even think about it. People like that are not ones we''ll ever encounter."

    Everyone sighed, feeling the vastness of the universe and their own insignificance.

    At this moment, a male disciple gritted his teeth and said, "I heard Chu Tianxiong of the Black Mountain Sect will also come here!"

    "He dares to come!"

    "How dare he! Recently, an elder from the Black Mountain Sect injured Zheng Jianghe, and they still dare to come here!"

    "Our female disciples must be careful, or else... or else..." Some female disciples'' faces turned pale, evidently very afraid of Chu Tianxiong.

    "Hmph, this is Shen Guang Sect, one of the three major sects of Da Shang. How can we let Black Mountain Sect act recklessly!" A disciple said forcefully.

    Towards the Black Mountain Sect, Shen Guang Sect disciples were united in their anger but also felt helpless.

    After all, the Black Chicken Old Demon was like a heavy mountain pressing down on the three major sects.

    Qi Yuan naturally didn''t hear what these people were saying.

    He walked his knife and slowly returned to Seven-Colored Peak.

    "Oh dear, why haven''t you awakened intelligence yet."

    Qi Yuan wanted to pat the knife but feared cutting his hand.

    The biggest fear was making the knife stupid. What if it became a fool after gaining intelligence?

    "But it should be within these two days, maybe even tonight." Qi Yuan thought.

    He returned to the yard and tied the knife to a stake.

    "Tonight, I need to quickly finish the game and go to bed early. Tomorrow I have to attend that stupid Foundation Establishment Conference. Annoying!"

    Qi Yuan felt very socially anxious.

    He still preferred interacting with the speechless monsters in the game, even doing voice-overs for them.

    At tomorrow''s Foundation Establishment Conference, he would be the face of Shen Guang Sect, welcoming people from other sects and interacting with them. Just thinking about it was annoying.

    "If only my body were a star in the vast universe, just hanging in the sky, not having to say anything."

    Thinking this, Qi Yuan entered the game.

    What he didn''t know was that, at night, the kitchen knife suddenly sprang up, cutting the rope that tied it.

    It searched anxiously around the hut for a while and found some grass to eat.

    Apparently starving, it set its sights on a nearby hut.

    By the moonlight, it sneaked out.

    Then, it greedily eyed the hut. If it had eyes, they would be glowing, but finally, it hesitated and started... rummaging through the trash heap.

    About half an hour later, it quietly returned and tied itself back up with the rope.

 Chapter 25: Jiang Lingsuâ€™s Request

    Chapter 25: Jiang Lingsu¡¯s Request

    Morning light gently illuminated the sky as the dawn broke.

    Jiang Lingsu, dressed in a green long skirt, with her silk-like attire flowing, resembled a green snake woman.

    Her lively eyes still held a trace of drowsiness as she brushed the hair from her temples and took a deep breath: "It seems I lost a piece of Jin Yuan Jade yesterday.

    Alas, it''s a pity I can''t buy it in Shen Guang Sect.

    I''ll have to make do."

    Jin Yuan Jade is a type of spiritual jade that, when lit, emits a profound fragrance that brightens the eyes and calms the mind.

    Yesterday, a puppet cleaned the house and threw a partially used piece into the trash heap.

    In the past, she wouldn''t have cared.

    But here in Shen Guang Sect, she couldn''t buy a replacement.

    She decided to retrieve it from the trash heap.

    She went to the trash heap, covering her nose with her sleeve, intending to summon the puppet to find the piece of Jin Yuan Jade.

    But... the trash heap.

    "Who rummaged through this?"

    She stared at the trash heap, stunned.

    The trash heap usually contained her household waste and some remnants of unused spiritual items.

    Like the Jin Yuan Jade.

    Unexpectedly, someone had gone through the trash heap outside her house.

    She thought of something and a talisman appeared in her hand.

    This talisman, called the Sensing Talisman, was one of the many talismans Jiang Lingsu possessed, crafted by a Spirit Infant stage cultivator.

    She usually placed it by her bed for warning.

    Seeing the trash heap rummaged through, she immediately took out the Sensing Talisman to check for clues.

    In the middle of the Sensing Talisman, there was a faint line.

    "Last night at the hour of the ox? A living creature lingered outside my house for the time it takes an incense stick to burn?"

    Jiang Lingsu inferred from the remaining information on the Sensing Talisman that a living creature had lingered outside her house for quite a while last night.UppTodated from

    But there was no malice; the Sensing Talisman hadn''t alerted her, otherwise, she wouldn''t have been able to sleep.

    Jiang Lingsu frowned at the trash heap: "There are only Master, me, and Senior Brother on Seven-Colored Peak.

    Other ordinary animals wouldn''t trigger the Sensing Talisman.

    At least, it must be a spiritual being."

    "Could it be..."

    Suddenly, Jiang Lingsu looked towards the thatched house next door.

    She remembered the way Senior Brother ate spiritual food last time, and an inexplicable emotion arose within her.

    Alas...

    She thought for a moment and returned to her room.

    Half an hour later, Jiang Lingsu arrived outside Qi Yuan''s courtyard.

    "Senior Brother, are you up?" Jiang Lingsu called softly.

    "Could it be that Junior Sister saw through my inner pretense and wants to tear off my mask? Is she trying to take care of me?"

    Qi Yuan thought whimsically.

    But he didn''t dwell on it and instead focused on the kitchen knife tied in the yard.

    "Junior Sister saw through my stubbornness, but have you, knife?"

    The kitchen knife lay on the ground, motionless.

    "What name should I give you?"

    The knife remained still.

    "Knife?"

    "Kitchen knife?"

    "Little knife?"

    "Blade?"

    "Demon knife?"

    "Heavenly knife?"

    The knife finally reacted, trembling slightly.

    Qi Yuan grabbed the knife, his eyes showing a puzzled look: "Is this what gaining intelligence looks like? It''s not even as smart as my little Ai."

    Little Ai, when asked to fart, at least knew to call on the nearby Xiao Du to do it.

    This knife, whether it had intelligence or not, seemed no different.

    But thinking about it, this was normal.

    However, holding the knife, Qi Yuan felt his combat power had increased.

    "Summer Eight Slashes, how many Core Formation cultivators could it kill?"

    Unfortunately, this was Seven-Colored Peak, not a good place to practice with the knife.

    And he had to represent Shen Guang Sect at the Foundation Establishment Conference, leaving no time to practice.

    ...

    In Shen Guang Sect.

    The Foundation Establishment Conference finally began.

    This time, due to the first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item, the Yellow Flower Fruit, the participants from various sects in Da Shang Nation were not weak.

    "Elder Fei Hua from Demon Desire Sect has arrived!"

    "Sword Master of Splitting Light from Floating Mountain has arrived!"

    "King of Changshan County has arrived!"

    "Ancestor Worship Chicken from Black Mountain Sect has arrived!"

    With the boy''s announcements, colorful clouds gathered outside Shen Guang Sect''s mountain gate.

    One by one, spirit boats stopped in the sky, landing in front of Shen Guang Sect''s mountain gate.

    Qi Yuan, dressed in a white robe, stood with the wind blowing his clothes, making a rustling sound. He looked at the arriving sect members with a gentle smile in his eyes: "Welcome, everyone, to Shen Guang Sect to attend the Foundation Establishment Conference!"

    At this moment, he was quite reliable.

 Chapter 26: Calamity of Bloodshed

    Chapter 26: Calamity of Bloodshed

    The various sect cultivators landed, their expressions varied.

    Qi Yuan stood aside, already knowing the leaders of each sect.

    Because the foundation establishment spiritual item this time was first-grade, the people sent by each sect were stronger than usual.

    In past foundation establishment conferences, no Core Formation true cultivators would attend.

    But this time, there were four.

    Two from Floating Mountain and Demon Desire Sect.

    Representing the Great Shang Nation, the King of Changshan County.

    And the Ancestor Worship Chicken from Black Mountain Sect.

    According to the unspoken rules of the cultivation world, apart from the three major sects and the Great Shang Nation, other sects, even if they valued it, could not send Core Formation true cultivators.

    But Black Mountain Sect was arrogant and had always pushed to become the fourth major sect, so they sent Ancestor Worship Chicken.

    Behind these strong figures stood some Foundation Establishment elders and disciples at the peak of Qi Refinement.

    Many of those disciples at the peak of Qi Refinement had sharp eyes, clearly hoping to make a mark at this foundation establishment conference.

    Some disciples from smaller sects, however, looked a bit nervous, obviously afraid of not performing well.

    The King of Changshan County was a handsome man with a beautiful beard. He wore silk and satin clothes, striding forward towards Qi Yuan, with a smile on his face: "Where is your sect master? Not in closed-door cultivation, I hope? After the foundation establishment conference, have him join me for a few drinks!"

    The King of Changshan County appeared very carefree. He was a Core Formation true cultivator but spoke with a bold air.

    The other Core Formation true cultivators present looked at the King of Changshan County with some awe.

    After all, the King of Changshan County was the father of the current empress of the Great Shang Nation, giving him strong confidence.

    "After the foundation establishment conference, the king may inquire with our sect elders." Qi Yuan''s thoughts wandered.

    If the King of Changshan County knew his daughter was involved with the sect master, would he still be able to drink happily with the sect master?

    After all, the sect master was much older than the King of Changshan County.

    Qi Yuan was the chief disciple of Seven-Colored Peak. Though only at the peak of Qi Refinement, his status was just slightly below that of a Core Formation cultivator, and he was representing Shen Guang Sect.

    So, these Core Formation cultivators conversed with him on equal terms.

    At this moment, Ancestor Worship Chicken of Black Mountain Sect spoke impatiently: "Why hasn¡¯t the foundation establishment conference started yet? I need to get back and raise chicks."

    The other sect elders present had slightly changed expressions, clearly displeased with Ancestor Worship Chicken¡¯s words.

    The King of Changshan County laughed heartily: "Why so impatient, Ancestor Worship Chicken? It won''t take long."

    Seeing the King of Changshan County speak, Ancestor Worship Chicken gave him face.

    If it had been anyone else, he would have retorted.

    Qi Yuan also spoke: "Everyone, please!"

    Ancestor Worship Chicken, originally named Kunshan Master, later recognized the old black chicken demon as a foster father along with the sect master of Black Mountain Sect, thus changing his name to Ancestor Worship Chicken.

    The group followed Qi Yuan, slowly walking into Shen Guang Sect.

    Black Mountain Sect did not fear Shen Guang Sect but did not dare provoke Seven-Colored Peak.

    ...

    The incident passed, and the foundation establishment conference began.

    The disciples from various sects at the peak of Qi Refinement took to the stage one after another.

    The foundation establishment conference was simple, just dueling.

    Qi Yuan found it quite boring.

    After all, in the game world, he was invincible. Watching such low-level battles was dull.

    If there weren''t so many people, he would have taken out his game jade slip to play.

    At this moment, a voice sounded in Qi Yuan''s ear.

    "Senior Brother, it''s your turn."

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan slowly walked onto the stage.

    The Core Formation true cultivators and Foundation Establishment cultivators all focused on Qi Yuan.

    After all, Qi Yuan was the chief disciple of Seven-Colored Peak, with a very special status.

    "Duantian Jiao from Demon Desire Sect greets Senior Brother." Duantian Jiao was dressed in black, with a curvaceous figure and a tear mole under her left eye, looking particularly charming.

    "Qi Yuan of Shen Guang Sect." Qi Yuan introduced himself.

    He also sized up Duantian Jiao.

    [She is an ordinary cultivator but has a little quirk: she likes to pick her feet. Be careful not to get kicked by her, or you might get athlete¡¯s foot.]

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned. This beautiful girl, despite her appearance, was skilled in biochemical attacks. He needed to be cautious.

    "Begin!" With the sound of a bell, the battle commenced.

    Qi Yuan was extremely cautious, keeping his eyes on Duantian Jiao''s feet.

    When he saw Duantian Jiao flying towards him, he raised his hand lightly.

    However, before he could use his power, something surprising happened.

    "Poof..."

    Duantian Jiao flew out, vomiting blood.

    "Senior Brother, as expected of the chief disciple of Seven-Colored Peak, your acupoint hitting technique from a distance is formidable. Tian Jiao admits defeat!" Duantian Jiao stood up and surrendered.

    Qi Yuan was dumbfounded: "I hadn''t even exerted force, and you fell?"

    No, he hadn''t even made a move, and the opponent lost?

    Was there a conspiracy in this foundation establishment conference?

    The other sect elders and Qi Refinement disciples were not surprised.

    But some disciples looked at Qi Yuan with a hint of jealousy.

 Chapter 27 The Domineering Master Falls in Love with Me?

    Chapter 27 The Domineering Master Falls in Love with Me?

    Qi Yuan stood on the stage, his sleeves fluttering in the wind.

    Could it be... I''m too handsome?

    The opponent was so captivated that she directly surrendered?

    Qi Yuan looked at the conceding Duan Tianjiao and confirmed she was a woman.

    Being captivated by his looks was perfectly normal.

    As for the gazes from others directed at him, he seemed not to notice.

    "This battle, Qi Yuan wins!"

    Qi Yuan accepted the result with ease.

    He stepped down from the stage.

    Other cultivators then took turns to perform martial arts and duels, fighting fiercely.

    Qi Yuan sat among the crowd, feeling drowsy from watching.

    Changshan County King stroked his beard, smiling: "Young Brother Qi, with the Yellow Flower Fruit, a first-grade Foundation Establishment item, your future is promising."

    Qi Yuan was a bit puzzled: "The duels are not over yet, how does the County King know I can take the top prize?"

    Changshan County King smiled without answering.

    Time flew by.

    It was Qi Yuan''s turn again.

    This time, Qi Yuan faced a sword cultivator from Suspended Mountain.

    Sword cultivators were quite rare in the Great Shang Kingdom.

    Qi Yuan took the duel seriously.

    He actually wanted to see if the sword cultivators'' sword control technique involved stepping on the sword to fly or transforming into sword light.

    Of course, he also understood that the opponent, being in the Qi Refining stage, couldn''t possibly perform sword flight.

    "Please enlighten me!"

    The sword was a gentleman''s weapon, so Qi Yuan faced the sharp-eyed young man with humility and courtesy.

    The young sword cultivator from Suspended Mountain held an iron sword, its cold light flashing, and pointed it at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan extended his hand, forming a sword gesture.

    In the game world, his weapon was a great sword.

    The way of the sword.

    A hearty and exhilarating competition between men about swordsmanship was about to begin.

    However, at the critical moment, the young sword cultivator''s face turned pale, clutching his stomach: "Such a domineering spell, harming people invisibly! Brother... I concede!"

    That''s right, the young man directly conceded and stepped down from the stage.

    Of course, because of this incident, the Peak Master of Seven-colored Peak had earned favors from various sects, which is why they were willing to give her face and let her disciple have the first-grade Foundation Establishment item.

    Without thinking, Qi Yuan said, "The domineering master fell in love with me?"

    Changshan County King''s smile disappeared: "You brat, keep your voice down, don''t implicate me!"

    Changshan County King was quite afraid of the Peak Master of Seven-colored Peak.

    It was rumored that she was a great cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage. If not for her injuries, she would have already entered the Purple Mansion realm.

    In the subsequent process, Qi Yuan''s duels went smoothly.

    As long as he stepped onto the stage, his opponents would concede.

    Probably, they had received instructions from their sect elders not to hurt the beloved disciple of the Peak Master of Seven-colored Peak.

    However, when Qi Yuan entered the final round of duels, an unexpected event occurred.

    "Black Mountain Sect, Chu Yundong, please enlighten me!" Chu Yundong, dressed in black, exuded a strong aura of evil.

    He did not immediately concede but looked solemnly at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan was not surprised.

    "Please enlighten me."

    He said this while looking at the peculiar-shaped magic weapon in Chu Yundong''s hand.

    It looked like a feather duster, but with black feathers, densely packed and extremely hard.

    [This is a Foundation Establishment magic weapon. When used, the feathers scatter like flowers, capable of injuring Foundation Establishment cultivators.]

    The elders of various sects in the audience were all surprised, some even looked at Bai Ji Laozu, pondering something.

    "The Black Mountain Sect''s ambition is not small." The Feihua Elder from the Devil Desire Sect looked at Bai Ji Laozu.

    Bai Ji Laozu smiled: "The Foundation Establishment item is for everyone to compete for.

    Otherwise, what is the point of holding this Foundation Establishment Conference?"

    "Even using a Foundation Establishment magic weapon." The Split Light Sword Master from Suspended Mountain squinted at Bai Ji Laozu, "The Black Chicken Old Demon... has probably refined his cultivation again?"

    Others also looked at Bai Ji Laozu, trying to glean more information about the Black Chicken Old Demon.

    The sudden move by the Black Mountain Sect made everyone suspect the involvement of the Black Chicken Old Demon.

    The Black Chicken Old Demon was a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator, while the Peak Master of Seven-colored Peak was rumored to be a late Nascent Soul stage cultivator with injuries.

    Could it be... the Black Chicken Old Demon had broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage?

    From this small matter, everyone in the audience tried to infer much more.

    Chu Tianxiong also showed a pleased smile. Previously, Qi Yuan had predicted a disaster for him, and he was about to get angry but was stopped by the Patriarch. Now, seeing this scene, he was very satisfied.

    He hoped to see Chu Yundong use the Foundation Establishment magic weapon to defeat Qi Yuan and take the first-grade Foundation Establishment item.

    The sect elders were no longer focused on the outcome of the duel but on how to relay the information back to their sects.

    Only Changshan County King and Chu Tianxiong were still paying attention to the stage.

    Unfortunately, due to the rules, Changshan County King could not remind Qi Yuan to be cautious of Chu Yundong''s Foundation Establishment magic weapon.

 Chapter 28: Jiang Ranâ€™s Worries

    Chapter 28: Jiang Ran¡¯s Worries

    "Begin!"

    With the sound of the bell, the final battle began.

    The disciples of the Divine Light Sect all watched the stage with worried expressions.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan also moved.

    Since the opponent was holding a Foundation Establishment magic weapon, it was best to prevent the opponent from unleashing its full power.

    Although he wasn''t afraid, there was no need to complicate matters when it could be resolved easily.

    Stealth Technique!

    In an instant, Qi Yuan''s figure disappeared from the stage.

    Chu Yundong was stunned for a moment. Where did he go?

    At that moment, a massive fist landed on the back of his head.

    Bang!

    Chu Yundong didn''t have time to react and was knocked out with one punch!

    Having played games for so long, Qi Yuan had rich experience in fighting monsters. With skills like quick scoping, dodging, and combo attacks, he could handle Chu Yundong effortlessly.

    Qi Yuan knocked out Chu Yundong with a single punch, then cast a Dust-Cleaning Spell on his fist. Who knows if Chu Yundong had dandruff?

    He raised his fist like a champion boxer and said, "I won."

    Unfortunately, there were no sexy ring girls holding up cards for him, nor were there any bold ones giving him a kiss.

    Only the bearded old man, King Changshan, stood up and waved enthusiastically at Qi Yuan.

    "Divine Light Sect, Qi Yuan wins!"

    With this announcement, everyone finally noticed what had happened on the stage.

    Chu Tianxiong''s face darkened as he looked at the fallen Chu Yundong: "Useless!"

    Patriarch Baiji was also momentarily stunned but ultimately said nothing.

    The other sect disciples were not surprised. After all, Qi Yuan was the top disciple of the Seven-Colored Peak. Even if there was no underhanded scheme in this Foundation Establishment Tournament, he still had a good chance of winning.

    Of course, without the Seven-Colored Peak Master''s prior notice, the tournament wouldn''t have been this harmonious, and the outcome would have been uncertain.

    "No wonder he''s the top disciple of the Seven-Colored Peak!"

    "He doesn''t just cultivate mana; his fighting skills are also deep!"

    "Senior Brother, how did you win?" a disciple of the Divine Light Sect asked.

    [She is an ordinary cultivator. Recently, auspicious signs have appeared around her, indicating that something good is about to happen.]

    After checking, Qi Yuan looked at Chu Tianxiong: "My divination tells me that Junior Sister Jiang Ran has something good happening. Maybe you should kowtow to her and share the good fortune. Maybe it will drive away your blood calamity."

    Qi Yuan spoke sincerely, truly thinking about Chu Tianxiong''s well-being.

    "You..." Chu Tianxiong was furious, eventually leaving in a huff, unwilling to continue the conversation.

    Qi Yuan sighed: "A dog bites Lu? Dongbin; it doesn''t recognize a good person''s heart."

    With that, he took the Yellow Flower Fruit and prepared to return to the Seven-Colored Peak.

    Since his master thought so much of him, he should show some gratitude.

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, thank you." At that moment, Jiang Ran approached, her eyes a bit red.

    Today, Chu Tianxiong had caused her trouble, and she was terrified. It was Senior Brother Qi Yuan who had stepped up to help her.

    Qi Yuan was puzzled: "Thank me for what?"

    "Thank you for standing up for me and saying that... Chu Tianxiong has a blood calamity, which made him so angry," Jiang Ran explained, feeling a bit relieved.

    Qi Yuan smiled: "I was telling the truth; he does have a blood calamity. Unfortunately, he doesn''t listen. If he had kowtowed to you, maybe it would have been dispelled. People need to listen to advice. I once knew someone who did and became a big streamer."

    Listening to Qi Yuan''s rambling, Jiang Ran''s worries eased a lot: "Senior Brother, you are so interesting."

    But then she remembered something and said seriously: "Senior Brother, you must be careful of Chu Tianxiong. He is ruthless and vengeful. Don''t leave the sect if you can."

    "Why fear a little Chu Tianxiong? I can cut off his head with one swing, fulfilling his blood calamity," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Knowing Qi Yuan''s nonchalant attitude, Jiang Ran still warned: "Chu Tianxiong is a Foundation Establishment expert, and his wife is a concubine of the Black Chicken Old Demon. Because of this, he is highly favored in the Black Mountain Sect. You must be careful."

    Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow: "I didn''t know he was a cuckold; quite considerate of safety."

    After finishing his conversation with Jiang Ran, Qi Yuan took the Yellow Flower Fruit and left.

    Jiang Ran watched his departing figure and sighed: "With a Grade One Foundation Establishment Spirit Item, perhaps in five hundred years, Senior Brother could reach the Nascent Soul stage. By then, I wonder if I will still be alive."

    The Black Chicken Old Demon loomed like a dark cloud over her heart.

    The arrogant and ruthless Chu Tianxiong was a thorn in the side of all Divine Light Sect disciples, including Jiang Ran.

    After all, the crimes Chu Tianxiong committed in Rong City recently had not been punished.

    Learning that the Black Mountain Sect group would rest in Rong City for the night made Jiang Ran even more angry and powerless.

 Chapter 29: I Want to Eat Fish

    Chapter 29: I Want to Eat Fish

    Qi Yuan, carrying the Grade One Foundation Establishment Spirit Item, the Yellow Flower Fruit, returned to Seven-Colored Peak.

    He quickly arrived back at the courtyard.

    His junior sister, Jiang Lingsu, was cultivating and seemed to have reached a crucial point.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her thatched hut, which was filled with white mist, indicating that she was at a critical stage in her cultivation.

    He passed by the hut and continued up the mountain.

    Soon, a barrier appeared before him.

    It was the restriction placed by his master, Ruan Yixi, to prevent him from going up the mountain.

    "Open sesame!" Qi Yuan tried shouting.

    Unfortunately, the barrier remained unmoved.

    "Could it be that I misunderstood Master''s intentions?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    There was no need to guess his master''s intentions since she had obtained the Grade One Foundation Establishment Spirit Item for him.

    Could it be that... he was too reserved?

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan held up the Yellow Flower Fruit.

    "Master, your disciple Qi Yuan has brought a betrothal gift!"

    The barrier still did not move.

    Qi Yuan looked up and saw the clouds in the sky gathering, seemingly hiding a peerless beast!

    A cold wind blew, causing Qi Yuan''s face to sting.

    After a while, the strange phenomena disappeared.

    Qi Yuan looked puzzled.

    "Could it be that I misunderstood Master''s intentions?"

    "No, it must be that the Yellow Flower Fruit has a bad connotation. Yellow flowers, yellow flowers, tomorrow''s yellow flowers!"

    "Or maybe, is it possible that she''s already my wife, and there''s no need to bring a betrothal gift?"

    Thinking this, Qi Yuan became excited again.

    His eyes clearly saw...

    [Her name is Ruan Yixi. She appears to be your beautiful master, but in reality, she might be your wife.]

    "Sigh, you are too resolute," the physician lamented, applying prepared medicinal liquid to Zheng Jianghe''s wounds.

    Zheng Jianghe had just broken through to Foundation Establishment and had not yet learned any healing secret techniques. He also lacked proficiency in wood and water-based spells, making his healing process incredibly slow.

    "Today, the Black Mountain Sect is causing trouble, showing their arrogance! According to the elders on the peak, the Black Chicken Old Demon might have reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm. That Chu Tianxiong will probably become even more arrogant. Choosing to stay overnight in Rong City might hide ulterior motives!" The physician was worried for Zheng Jianghe.

    "If I go, they will have scruples. Do they dare to kill me?" Zheng Jianghe''s eyes were filled with intense killing intent, "Everyone from the Black Mountain Sect deserves to die!"

    He knew well what kind of notorious existence the Black Mountain Sect was.

    None of their disciples were good people; they were all demon cultivators with blood-stained hands.

    A few years ago, an elder at the Yuan Dan stage from the Black Mountain Sect refined a Soul Gathering Banner by extracting the souls of an entire town''s inhabitants.

    Afterward, that Yuan Dan elder shamelessly said he gave the town''s people something to do because they were too idle.

    Those demonic cultivators had long since lost their humanity.

    The physician understood Zheng Jianghe''s thoughts but couldn''t help saying: "They might not dare to kill you, but they could harm you. Be careful this time."

    Rong City.

    A spacious courtyard was now devoid of any human presence.

    The broken windows seemed to still have remnants of red paper cutouts.

    In the courtyard pond, a few fish swam, seemingly waiting to be fed.

    On the moss-covered marble, faint traces of blood could still be seen.

    Chu Tianxiong stepped into the courtyard, laughing heartily: "Elder, let''s stay here tonight."

    Patriarch Baiji looked at the courtyard, revealing a satisfied smile: "Tianxiong, you really know how to handle things. Staying here will surely disgust those righteous hypocrites."

    The other disciples of the Black Mountain Sect approached and asked, "Deacon Tianxiong, what''s special about this place? Why would staying here upset the Divine Light Sect?"

    Chu Tianxiong laughed: "Half a month ago, the man of this house got married. The bride he married was incredibly beautiful, even more so than my master''s wife!"

    Hearing this, the disciples of the Black Mountain Sect had their eyes light up.

    "More beautiful than your master''s wife? Deacon Tianxiong, you are in luck!"

    "In front of her husband, I was about to... but the woman was so strong-willed that she directly killed herself by hitting the pillar. See, that very pillar over there. I killed them in half the time of a stick of incense and then slept with her corpse for a night."

    "Deacon Tianxiong, how was the taste of the corpse?"

    "Hmph." Chu Tianxiong snorted coldly, "Do you all think I''m just a lustful killer? If you think of me that way, you''re underestimating me. I forcefully took a newlywed wife and killed her entire family not for simple carnal desires but to practice a Daoist technique! If one is controlled by simple desires, they are not worthy of the path of cultivation!"

    The other Black Mountain Sect disciples looked at him with admiration: "Deacon Tianxiong, well said!"

    "Daoist techniques above all!"

 Chapter 30: Killing Fish

    Chapter 30: Killing Fish

    "Deacon Tianxiong, when we entered the city today, I seemed to hear the sound of firecrackers and gongs, as if someone was getting married. I deliberately sent a spirit insect to follow them and noted down the address. Deacon Tianxiong, do you want the juniors to accompany you to practice some Daoist techniques tonight?" one of the Black Mountain Sect disciples said obsequiously.

    Upon hearing this, Chu Tianxiong smiled with satisfaction.

    "Your name is Liu Wei, right? You know how to do things; I''ll remember you. Tonight, when we practice the technique, you''ll be the first to taste that bride," Chu Tianxiong said.

    Everyone burst into laughter.

    However, Chu Tianxiong''s face suddenly turned fierce as he remembered something.

    "That Qi Yuan from Seven-Colored Peak was really infuriating today! If it weren''t for his good master, I would have made him understand what a real bloodbath and earthly hell look like!"

    "Deacon Tianxiong, I heard that Qi Yuan is mentally challenged. Why bother with a fool? When we unify the cultivation world of Dashang, you can do whatever you want to that fool," someone chimed in.

    Nightfall was approaching.

    Just then, a rhythmic knock was heard at the gate.

    The people from the Black Mountain Sect in the courtyard stopped their conversation.

    Chu Tianxiong looked toward the gate and said, "Liu Wei, go check it out."

    Liu Wei got up and walked toward the gate.

    When the door opened, a masked man appeared before everyone.

    The mask was simple, without any facial features, very plain.

    Liu Wei saw the visitor and couldn''t help but show a mocking expression: "What are you doing here?"

    The masked man took out a kitchen knife and spoke slowly, his voice a bit hoarse: "I am a bit hungry and plan to kill some fish to eat."

    "Is he an idiot?" Liu Wei was momentarily stunned.

    Chu Tianxiong noticed the situation at the gate and called out, "There''s fish in the pond; let him in."

    Liu Wei smiled, "Deacon Tianxiong is kind, rewarding you with a fish to eat."

    However, someone inside the courtyard asked, "Deacon Tianxiong, why did you let him in?"

    Chu Tianxiong replied, "It''s boring here. Let''s find some entertainment. The guy seems crazy, but his skin... is quite fair."

    They were bold and very powerful, not worried about encountering difficult problems. Moreover, they did not sense any danger from the masked man.

    The masked man, holding the kitchen knife, entered the courtyard.

    Patriarch Baiji was cultivating in the inner courtyard, while the others looked at the masked man with mocking expressions.

    When the masked man got closer, Chu Tianxiong suddenly stopped him: "Take off your mask and let me see what you look like."

    The masked man hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, seemingly reluctant: "Do you really want to see?"Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    "Haha, why not let us see? Are you horribly ugly?"

    "If you''re ugly, I''ll give you a new face!"

    The Black Mountain Sect members laughed heartily, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on their faces.

    The masked man might be terrifying, but he was definitely not at the Yuan Dan stage!

    With Patriarch Baiji''s shout, a Dan light shot toward the masked man.

    The masked man, seeing this, raised his kitchen knife and shouted: "Heavenly Slash Sword Technique!"

    This was the first time he had used this big skill in reality!

    Facing a tough opponent required a big move.

    He leaped into the air, the moonlight bathing his white robe.

    His outline glowed faintly with white light, making his figure appear ethereal, yet the outline remained solid.

    In Patriarch Baiji''s eyes, it seemed as if a kitchen knife slashed out from the moon.

    An overwhelming, unimaginable blade light rushed toward Patriarch Baiji.

    For some reason, Patriarch Baiji felt fear.

    He was a Yuan Dan cultivator.

    The opponent... was definitely not at the Yuan Dan stage.

    The blade light crushed everything in its path, instantly engulfing Patriarch Baiji''s Dan light.

    In the next moment, the blade light shattered Patriarch Baiji''s protective Dan light.

    The once imposing Patriarch Baiji was directly slain by a single slash.

    His round golden core turned into a small shattered ball, full of holes.

    The masked man was momentarily stunned: "That''s it?"

    He knew he would win, but he didn''t expect it to be so easy.

    Maybe he was too powerful.

    Maybe his knife was quite good too.

    Or perhaps...

    He looked at the small golden core on the ground and commented, "His golden core is too small, and his Dan light is insufficient. It couldn''t even withstand one slash. It seems that when forming a golden core in the future, it should be bigger, and the Dan light should be more."

    The masked man said this and looked up at the moon.

    "At the very least, the Dan light should be as much as the moonlight, right?"

    At this point, the remaining few disciples were trembling uncontrollably, some even running away.

    The masked man saw this and recited, "I am a person from my homeland, and I love to kill entire families!"

    With that, he slashed, killing the remaining disciples instantly.

    The masked man looked at the corpses on the ground, walked toward the pond slowly.

    "Time to catch a fish to eat."

    He said, rolling up his pants, washing the kitchen knife by the pond, and then caught a black fish.

 Chapter 31 Peace of Mind

    Chapter 31 Peace of Mind

    The pond water was emerald green and clear as the masked man placed his hand into it. A few black fish immediately swam towards him, seemingly mistaking him for a feeder.

    The masked man grabbed one fish; it was slippery and sticky. The fish lay quietly in his hand, not struggling.

    The masked man suddenly smiled, ¡°I won''t eat fish after all.¡± With a wave of his hand, a stream of water rose, and the fish in his hand returned to the stream.

    Looking at the black fish, he said, ¡°Go tell your mother that you are about to embark on a journey.¡± He placed the black fish into a bamboo tube and fastened it to his waist.

    Gazing at the corpse on the ground, a sinister light flickered in his eyes. ¡°Should I loot the corpse?¡±

    ...

    Zheng Jianghe, dressed in black, wore an extremely grim expression.

    ¡°People from the Black Mountain Sect are staying at the Chen residence?¡± The Law Enforcement disciple from the Golden Light Hall nodded, his eyes almost spitting fire. ¡°Yes!¡±

    Zheng Jianghe clenched a Yin Wood Pearl, crushing it in his hand. ¡°The Black Mountain Sect is too arrogant!¡±

    Just half a month ago, Chu Tianxiong had slaughtered the Chen family. It was supposed to be a day of joy for the family, but instead, dozens of lives were brutally taken overnight, including the bride. When Zheng Jianghe arrived at the Chen residence, he witnessed a scene of utter carnage.

    The bride''s father, travel-worn, had rushed to the Chen residence, kneeling and kowtowing to him repeatedly. The sight of the elderly man with white hair kneeling before him was unforgettable.

    Especially later, after Chu Tianxiong had left, the stubborn father and his wife knelt outside the gates of the Shen Guang Sect for more than ten days. Zheng Jianghe remembered it clearly.

    And now, Chu Tianxiong had chosen to stay at the Chen residence again. What was he planning?

    ¡°Let''s go to the Chen residence!¡± Zheng Jianghe gritted his teeth.

    Initially, he planned to send some people to monitor the Chen residence to prevent Chu Tianxiong from committing more atrocities. But after some thought, he decided to go himself.

    A group of people, under the cover of night, swiftly headed towards the Chen residence. Their expressions were all heavy with a sense of foreboding.

    They knew they were powerless against Chu Tianxiong and the Black Mountain Sect disciples. It was the same last time, and it would be the same this time.

    ¡°Blood!¡± Suddenly, Zheng Jianghe stopped, sniffing the air. Using a technique to enhance his sense of smell, he detected a strong scent of blood, coming from the direction of the Chen residence where Chu Tianxiong and the Black Mountain Sect disciples were staying.

    Worry grew in Zheng Jianghe''s eyes. Could it be that the Black Mountain Sect disciples had committed another massacre in Rong City? ¡°Hurry!¡±

    The group quickened their pace towards the Chen residence. At that moment, the main gate creaked open, and a man in a strange mask and white robe emerged.

    Outside the Shen Guang Sect.

    The sun had long set, and the moon was slowly rising. The Shen Guang Sect felt chilly at night.

    An elderly man with white hair knelt outside the gates of the Shen Guang Sect, his forehead covered in cold sweat. The old man, frail and at death''s door, could die at any moment¡ªperhaps from a fall or in his sleep.

    ¡°Old man, let¡¯s go back,¡± said the old woman beside him. Though her hair was also white and disheveled, her attire suggested she had once been well-kept.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kneel a bit longer. If a passing immortal sees us, they might be moved and avenge Qian Qian!¡± The old woman¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she looked at her stubborn husband.

    In a world of cultivators, ordinary people¡¯s lives depended on fate. Living in the region controlled by the Black Mountain Sect meant a tragic fate. Under the rule of a righteous sect like the Shen Guang Sect, life was luckier. But in the eyes of the lofty immortals, weren''t they still just ants?

    Facing Chu Tianxiong, they had no power to avenge themselves and could only hope for the Shen Guang Sect¡¯s help. Their situation was like those who petitioned the emperor for justice. Fortunately, no one drove them away here.

    At that moment, a clear, melodious voice rang out. ¡°Today I caught a blue flower fish. I¡¯m in a good mood, so I brought you some fish soup.¡±

    Qi Yuan appeared, holding two bowls of fish soup. The aroma was mouthwatering and particularly enticing.

    Seeing this, the old man¡¯s face lit up with excitement, and he was about to kowtow. ¡°Please, Immortal, avenge my poor daughter!¡±

    Qi Yuan flicked his finger, a burst of spiritual power steadied the old man, stopping him from kowtowing. Qi Yuan handed the fish soup to the elderly couple.

    ¡°The sect is aware of your situation.¡±

    ¡°Drink this soup and rest well.¡±

    Qi Yuan turned away, feeling a bit introspective. ¡°The great man was right. If heaven has feelings, it will grow old; the true path is the rough one.¡±

    ¡°Since ancient times, love leaves only empty regret, this regret continues endlessly.¡±

    ¡°Justice delayed is not justice; my heart is at peace where it belongs.¡±

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself. Finally, he sighed, ¡°I hope those who hear my words won¡¯t be misled by me.¡±

    With that, he vanished. The elderly couple kept bowing, joy finally appearing in their eyes. An immortal had noticed them! Their persistence had not been in vain.

    Of course, many such efforts in the world end in nothing.

 Chapter 32: The Worried Qi Yuan

    Chapter 32: The Worried Qi Yuan

    "Senior Brother!"

    A clear voice rang out.

    Qi Yuan put on his clothes and rubbed his sleepy eyes.

    Yawning, he glanced at the black fish in the fish tank and walked out of the courtyard.

    "What''s going on, this early in the morning?"

    Outside the courtyard, Jiang Lingsu and Jiang Ran, two beautiful women, stood side by side. One was innocent and cute, the other pure and elegant.

    Qi Yuan felt a wave of comfort.

    Indeed, beautiful things always lift the spirits.

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, I have some good news to share with you!" Jiang Ran''s pretty face was lit with a smile. "Yesterday, the disciples of the Black Mountain Sect were killed by a mysterious master while staying overnight in Rong City! Chu Tianxiong is dead, and Patriarch Bai Ji is also dead!"

    Hearing this, Jiang Ran''s face was full of excitement.

    Qi Yuan slapped his thigh. "I didn''t expect my divination skills to be this accurate!"

    However, thinking of something, he corrected himself, "I told you I was good at divination. I could see at a glance that that kid was destined for bloodshed. See? He didn''t listen to me and died. Serves him right!"

    Jiang Lingsu sighed helplessly. "I really wonder which high master did such a great deed!"

    "I heard that today, an Elder from the Black Mountain Sect, who happened to be nearby, arrived to investigate the scene. And last night, our Shenguanzong also had elders go to Rong City. Although the scene was burned, they have already gathered quite a few clues," Jiang Lingsu, who always kept up with the news in Shenguanzong, reported.

    Qi Yuan''s heart tightened. "What clues?"

    "The one who massacred the Black Mountain Sect disciples was a masked man. The elders said that the mysterious masked man should be a sword cultivator, but to avoid revealing any traces of sword techniques, he deliberately used a knife to slaughter the Black Mountain Sect disciples," Jiang Lingsu explained.

    "What kind of knife?"

    "I don''t know," Jiang Lingsu shook her head.

    "Could it be a kitchen knife?" Qi Yuan took out a knife and waved it.

    Jiang Lingsu covered her mouth and chuckled. "How could it be!"

    Jiang Ran''s innocent face also broke into a smile, a hint of charm naturally flowing through it. "If they were killed by a kitchen knife, that would be both frustrating and satisfying!"

    Jiang Lingsu added, "It is said that Bai Ji Laozu''s protective Dan light was shattered with a single blow, his golden Dan crushed to death. This indicates that the knife must be a powerful magic weapon, not comparable to an ordinary kitchen knife."

    Qi Yuan immediately retorted, "All things are equal. How can you look down on my knife! My knife can also chop off that guy''s head with one strike!"

    Jiang Ran smiled and said nothing.

    Jiang Lingsu continued to argue with Qi Yuan, "If all things are equal, why do you insult dogs?"

    Qi Yuan didn''t continue on this topic. Holding the knife, he said worriedly, "I have a kitchen knife, and the Black Mountain Sect disciples died by a knife. Do you think the Black Mountain Sect will suspect that I killed Chu Tianxiong?"

    The more Qi Yuan thought, the more worried he became, and the angrier he got.

    Even though he had done things almost flawlessly, what if there was a congenital sage in the Black Mountain Sect who figured out it was him?

    He had already imagined the elders of the Black Mountain Sect coming to Shenguanzong, laying siege to his peak.

    He, alone, weak and helpless.

    The more he thought, the more upset he became, his face turning red with anger.

    "By the long pavilion, by the ancient road, in the evening, the green grass sky."

    "The Black Mountain Sect really has no shame!"

    "I was just representing the moon to eliminate some evil, right?"

    "And now they team up to bully a 229-month-old kid?"

    "Is there no justice, no reason?"

    "Too much bullying!"

    "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, don''t bully the poor!"

    "No, I need to take revenge!"

    Qi Yuan sharpened his knife, put on a hat to cover his head, and smeared soot on his face for disguise.

    Looking at himself in the mirror, Qi Yuan felt a bit more secure.

    He tucked the kitchen knife at his waist and sneaked out of the Seven-Color Peak.

    Not long after, Jiang Lingsu arrived outside Qi Yuan''s courtyard. "Senior Brother, are you there?"

    She called out, but there was no response.

    "Strange, Senior Brother was just here. When did he leave? How did I not notice?"

    She had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage last night, becoming an official Foundation Establishment cultivator. Her perception had significantly increased.

    If her Senior Brother had left, she should have sensed it.

    "Very strange."

    She looked at the glass water tank, noticing the swimming black fish.

    "Is this the fish Senior Brother caught last night? It doesn''t seem like a wild fish."

    She pondered for a moment but didn''t think much more of it and left the courtyard.

    At this moment, in the Shenguanzong library.

    Qi Yuan was on the third floor, hiding in a corner, secretly looking up information on the strength of the Black Mountain Sect.

 Chapter 33: Just This?

    Chapter 33: Just This?

    Qi Yuan was seriously reading a book.

    The worry on his brow gradually relaxed.

    "The Black Mountain Sect is just this?"

    Originally, the Black Mountain Sect was quite notorious in the Great Shang Kingdom.

    Qi Yuan had thought that the Black Mountain Sect''s strength was absolutely formidable.

    However, now it seemed that the main strength of the Black Mountain Sect actually only belonged to the third tier in the Great Shang Kingdom.

    The first tier was the three major immortal sects.

    The second tier had at least one Nascent Soul combat strength, or methods capable of resisting a Nascent Soul expert''s attacks.

    But the Black Mountain Sect had neither. Within the Black Mountain Sect, there were only seven Golden Core cultivators.

    Among the seven Golden Core cultivators, the strongest was the sect master, who was only at the mid-Golden Core stage.

    The others were merely at the early-Golden Core stage.

    This level of strength only placed them in the third tier in the Great Shang Kingdom.

    "In other words, without the Black Chicken Demon, the Black Mountain Sect is just this?"

    The more Qi Yuan thought, the more reassured he felt.

    His knife had already awakened its intelligence. If there were a late-stage Golden Core with fully developed protective light, he would be somewhat apprehensive.

    But just a mid-Golden Core, and several early-Golden Cores with low-grade golden cores at that.

    His eyes lit up, and he sneered, "With such strength, they still dare to trouble me? They are courting death!"

    "Strike first to gain the upper hand, delay and you''ll be at a disadvantage!"

    "They certainly wouldn''t have expected that I would cross time and space to kill them in advance, nipping this cause and effect in the bud."

    Qi Yuan began planning.

    The Black Chicken Demon was not in the Black Mountain Sect, so if he moved quickly enough, he could take revenge and then run away.

    "It''s a pity that I''m still too weak, otherwise I wouldn''t need to avoid the Black Chicken Demon. I could just chop off his head with one strike!"

    "Black Chicken Demon, I''ll remember you!"NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

    "If only I could really travel through time, I would definitely kill him when he was still a chick and make chicken soup. Or I could dance on his grave after he dies of old age."

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but think of a female prodigy in the Go world on Blue Star.

    That female prodigy was a strong person who understood the rules of time.

    She had won against the best female Go player of the past in the present; she had won against the best female Go player of the present in the past.

    Leaving required a report, as he was the eldest disciple of a peak, not an ordinary disciple.

    ...

    Dong Xian was holding a pile of bamboo slips, walking quickly within Shenguanzong.

    Before coming to Shenguanzong, he had lost all his cultivation and had voluntarily broken off his engagement with his fiance?e.

    It was precisely because of these actions that he avoided the power struggle and came to Shenguanzong.

    Just a few days ago, the remnant soul within him began to awaken.

    The remnant soul was of a powerful artifact refiner, harmed by treacherous people, leaving only a wisp of remnant soul that entered Dong Xian''s body.

    Recently, the remnant soul had been guiding his cultivation and teaching him the secrets of artifact refining.

    Yesterday, under the guidance of the remnant soul, he had even found several precious artifact refining materials at a market.

    "Old Artifact, if the Black Chicken Demon reaches the late Nascent Soul stage, will the entire Great Shang fall into chaos?" Dong Xian asked the remnant soul within him.

    Old Artifact chuckled, "Why are you, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, worrying about such things? Are you still thinking about your power and influence?"

    Dong Xian was silent for a long time before replying, "If I could, it would also help you recover your strength, Old Artifact."

    "If you can seize power, that''s naturally the best. But your foundation is too weak, and your mother''s family is not strong. It''s better to focus on cultivation and follow the proper steps. With my artifact refining techniques, barring any accidents, you could reach the Nascent Soul stage within a few hundred years. Strength is the fundamental thing," Old Artifact advised earnestly.

    Dong Xian''s identity was special. He was actually an unappreciated prince of the Great Shang Kingdom.

    Now, the emperor of Great Shang was old and foolish, with not much life left.

    The various princes were ambitious, vying for power and coveting the throne.

    Among the many princes, Dong Xian had the weakest background and foundation.

    So, recently, he had voluntarily broken off his engagement and retreated to Shenguanzong to avoid the strife.

    "Hmm." Suddenly, Old Artifact exclaimed, "Who is that?"

    Dong Xian looked over quickly and saw a strangely dressed man walking on the main road.

    But he still recognized him.

    "The eldest disciple of the Seven-Color Peak, Qi Yuan." Dong Xian didn''t know why Old Artifact was interested in him.

    "Did you see the kitchen knife at his waist? It must be something special. It''s a pity I can''t extend my divine sense; otherwise, I would definitely find out what''s special about that kitchen knife. Quickly, buy that kitchen knife!" Old Artifact urged urgently.

    Dong Xian was stunned.

    If it were just an ordinary kitchen knife and Qi Yuan an ordinary Shenguanzong disciple, he might be able to buy it.

    But... that''s not the case.

    Following Old Artifact''s command, he approached, steeling himself.

 Chapter 34: Blood of a Core Formation Cultivator

    Chapter 34: Blood of a Core Formation Cultivator

    "Greetings, Senior Brother Qi Yuan!" Dong Xian stepped forward, showing respect upon seeing Qi Yuan.

    "Is it you?" Qi Yuan glanced at Dong Xian and couldn''t help but take a half step back.

    People like Dong Xian, who seem to have a protagonist''s destiny, are better kept at a distance.

    In the TV shows and anime Qi Yuan watched, whenever a supporting character suddenly had a good moment with the protagonist, it usually meant they were about to be killed, triggering the protagonist''s power surge.

    Many shows often had comments like, "Poor old guy."

    Qi Yuan didn''t want to be that old guy and didn''t want to be killed.

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, I have an impertinent request. I''m not sure if I should say it." Dong Xian said.

    Qi Yuan quickly replied, "You shouldn''t say it."

    This immediately blocked what Dong Xian was about to say.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan took a closer look at Dong Xian.

    [He''s just an ordinary young man, but his soul has awakened, and he''s now an artifact refiner. This artifact refiner has taken a liking to your kitchen knife.]

    Seeing that Dong Xian had no reaction, Qi Yuan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Young man, there''s a strange fire in the back kitchen of the Divine Medicine Peak. I think it suits you well."

    After saying that, Qi Yuan left directly. While walking away, he concealed the aura of his knife.

    The awakened soul had taken a liking to his knife, which made Qi Yuan wary.

    Meanwhile, Dong Xian stood there, puzzled.

    "A strange fire? What''s that?"

    At this moment, the voice of the old artifact spirit, Qi Lao, came through.

    "You should be cautious with Qi Yuan. He''s not as simple as he seems."

    "Huh?"

    "When I got close to him just now, I detected that his knife had traces of blood on it."

    "Blood? Isn''t that normal?"

    "Blood of a Core Formation cultivator," Qi Lao said.

    Dong Xian was stunned.

    A Core Formation cultivator?

    That kitchen knife had killed a Core Formation cultivator?

    One must know that Core Formation cultivators in the Great Shang Kingdom are akin to royal consecrates.

    That seemingly ordinary kitchen knife had stained the blood of a Core Formation cultivator?

    Did the peak master of the Seven-Colored Peak reward Qi Yuan with it?

    No wonder Qi Lao said the knife was extraordinary.

    Qi Lao continued, "You can only make friends with Qi Yuan, not enemies."

    He left out one crucial detail: the blood was fresh.

    Dong Xian couldn''t help but smile, "Why would I have any reason to be enemies with the first disciple of a major peak?"

    ...

    At the Seven-Colored Peak, Jiang Lingsu looked curious.

    "Senior Brother, are you leaving the sect?"

    Qi Yuan nodded, "I''ve already spoken to the sect master. He agreed to let me go out and establish my foundation."

    "Establish your foundation? Why do you need to leave the sect for that?" Jiang Lingsu was puzzled.

    Many scoundrels would undoubtedly prefer a beautiful and wealthy woman like the one in front of him.

    Qi Yuan''s great skill was "dominant strength," but he hadn''t awakened his inner scoundrel attributes.

    "You really know how to talk," the beautiful woman laughed, her voice like tinkling bells. "Young people like you are full of energy."

    She looked at Qi Yuan''s tall and sturdy figure, as if recalling her past.

    "Fellow Daoist, be careful of the Black Mountain Sect when you go to Wuxue City to dig for blood crystals. In Wuxue City, offending the city lord is better than offending the Black Mountain Sect. Offending the city lord might only get you killed, but offending the Black Mountain Sect could get your entire family killed." The beautiful woman''s eyes showed a trace of fear and disgust when mentioning the Black Mountain Sect.

    "The Black Mountain Sect is so vicious? Killing entire families?" Qi Yuan lowered his voice, seemingly agitated.

    If the Black Mountain Sect knew he killed Chu Tianxiong, would they go to Blue Star and kill his whole family?

    That would be horrible!

    But then Qi Yuan thought, what family does he have?

    He''s all alone on the household registry.

    So pitiful!

    When people curse him online, he doesn''t even have a family to retort with.

    "The Black Mountain Sect is powerful and domineering. We have to give one-tenth of the blood crystals we dig to the city lord and another two-tenths to the Black Mountain Sect. Sometimes... even more than two-tenths!" The beautiful woman gritted her teeth, clearly angry.

    Qi Yuan was furious, "Wuxue City isn''t under the Black Mountain Sect''s jurisdiction. How can they be so arrogant? They''re worse than capitalists! They should be hanged on the streetlights!"

    The beautiful woman quickly lowered her voice, "Fellow Daoist, keep your voice down. If the Black Mountain Sect hears you, it could spell trouble."

    Qi Yuan thought to himself, I''m not being selfish!

    I''m not just avenging myself!

    I''m carrying out justice!

    He brainwashed himself, believing he stood on the moral high ground, looking down on the Black Mountain Sect.

    He and the beautiful woman enjoyed a pleasant conversation during their journey on the spirit boat.

    Of course, this had nothing to do with Qi Yuan''s emotional intelligence and everything to do with his looks and youth.

    After about five hours, the spirit boat landed.

    Many cultivators disembarked.

    The beautiful woman extended an invitation, "If you have no place to stay, you can spend the night at my place."

    Qi Yuan looked at the sky and said, "No thanks."

    He needed to act quickly to catch the last spirit boat back.

    He wouldn''t stay here for the night.

    After killing, he needed to flee immediately!

    Returning to the crime scene often leads to getting caught, as seasoned killers know.

    At this moment, a somewhat displeased voice called out.

    "Mother, I''m here."

    A young woman in a fine palace dress approached, accompanied by a Foundation Establishment female cultivator. The palace-dressed young woman looked at Qi Yuan with a hint of hostility.

    Qi Yuan was baffled.

    "Farewell, Liu Piao," Qi Yuan said to the beautiful woman before turning to leave.

    The palace-dressed young woman walked up and took the beautiful woman''s arm, "Mother, who was that?"

    The beautiful woman smiled, "Xiaorou, you are too wary of everyone. That was just a rogue cultivator I met by chance, coming to Wuxue City to dig for blood crystals. I thought he had a good demeanor, so I chatted with him. You''re getting older, you should find a Daoist companion."

    The palace-dressed young woman''s vigilance faded, and she sighed, "With such a large blood crystal mine to manage, where do I find the time? Besides, Mother, I''m not some celestial maiden, but I won''t just pair up with any rogue cultivator I meet on the street. I have to meet with other mine owners and go to the Black Mountain Sect in an hour."

    Mentioning the Black Mountain Sect, the palace-dressed young woman''s eyes clouded with worry.

 Chapter 35: Kill My Family? Iâ€™ll Annihilate Yours!

    Chapter 35: Kill My Family? I¡¯ll Annihilate Yours!

    When Liu Piao heard her daughter''s words, she felt both headache and heartache.

    "Cultivators in the Black Mountain Sect are not good people.

    If you were dealing with other righteous sects, it would be fine.

    But dealing with the Black Mountain Sect, you... being so beautiful, will definitely encounter significant trouble.

    Especially since the Black Mountain Sect has increased the blood crystal mine''s share, it''s not easy to resolve.

    So, I thought you should get married early and let your husband handle this kind of thing."

    "We need to find someone powerful. That weakling just now, if he encountered someone from the Black Mountain Sect and argued over the blood crystal mine''s share, could he negotiate any benefits for us?" The young woman said proudly.

    "You were just wary of others, and now you''re saying others are weak. Ah, you always have a point." Liu Piao knew her daughter''s personality very well, feeling quite helpless.

    ...

    The Black Mountain Sect, in the entire Great Shang Kingdom, was merely a second or third-rate sect without any Nascent Soul foundation, not even a late Core Formation expert.

    But the Black Mountain Sect''s sect master recognized the powerful Black Chicken Old Demon as his foster father.

    The status of the Black Mountain Sect rose significantly.

    In the Great Shang Kingdom, the Black Mountain Sect became increasingly domineering.

    Within the mountain gate, there were hundreds of disciples, over a dozen stewards, and several elders.

    But these people had an extremely notorious reputation in the surrounding area.

    It could be said that when an ordinary Black Mountain Sect disciple went out to their territory, the common folk had to kneel and kowtow.

    The Black Mountain Sect had become a figure to frighten children at night.

    Inside the Black Mountain Sect, Elder Yu Linglong, covered in a black veil, couldn''t hide her graceful figure.

    Half-lying on a white jade chair, she exhaled orchid-scented breath: "Have you found out the identity of the masked man?"

    A disciple knelt on the ground, not daring to look up at this elder.

    This elder was the number one beauty of the Black Mountain Sect.

    She was also the woman favored by the Black Chicken Old Demon.

    Of course, the Black Chicken Old Demon hadn''t touched her yet, rumored to be planning to cultivate her to the Nascent Soul stage before making her his Dao companion and pursuing dual cultivation together.

    In the Black Mountain Sect, Yu Linglong''s status was higher than the sect master.

    "The masked man killed people with a knife, which was actually swordsmanship. Xuanzhong Mountain is highly suspicious," the disciple said, "Elder Whirlwind has now returned, and the sect master has summoned all disciples and elders outside, preparing to pressure Xuanzhong Mountain!"

    Hearing this, Yu Linglong''s smile became more charming: "It seems that the Black Chicken Old Demon is really about to step into the late Nascent Soul stage."

    The disciple kneeling below pretended not to hear Yu Linglong addressing the Black Chicken Old Demon in such a way.

    At this moment, there seemed to be the sound of clothes slipping. Yu Linglong opened her vermilion lips and said to the disciple below: "Do you dare to climb up here?"

    The disciple''s heart wavered. He knew Yu Linglong was dissatisfied with the Black Chicken Old Demon, but he hurriedly refused: "I don''t dare!"

    He could cut off a Core Formation cultivator''s head with one slash!

    Let alone these Foundation Establishment stewards?

    The gale created by the large sword directly smashed the three Foundation Establishment stewards against the mountain gate''s stone.

    Spurt!

    The Foundation Establishment stewards spat blood, their hearts shattered.

    Qi Yuan raised the large sword and slashed the Black Mountain Sect''s mountain gate.

    "A hundred years ago, you killed my whole family!"

    "Today, I will annihilate your entire sect!"

    Qi Yuan''s voice was like rolling thunder, soaring into the sky.

    Inside the Black Mountain Sect, seeing the fall of several stewards, the disciples trembled with fear.

    This was too formidable.

    If they stepped forward to stop him, it would be suicide. Only the Core Formation elders could handle this.

    Sure enough, as Qi Yuan split open the mountain gate, two Core Formation elders appeared together inside the Black Mountain Sect.

    Their faces were filled with endless fury.

    The spiritual energy in the space began to stir!

    All the disciples who saw this were invigorated.

    Those Foundation Establishment stewards and disciples also stepped forward to besiege Qi Yuan.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan didn''t hesitate.

    The large sword swept across!

    The powerful wind instantly killed dozens of disciples on the spot.

    The Core Formation elders in the sky were furious.

    It was the first time they had seen someone specifically targeting disciples.

    However, seeing Qi Yuan''s moves, they noticed something: "Did you kill Ancestor Bai Ji?"

    The Core Formation elder, Elder Whirlwind, had returned from outside and examined Ancestor Bai Ji''s body, knowing quite a bit.

    Qi Yuan looked at Elder Whirlwind, swinging the large sword: "Since you figured it out, I can''t let you live!"

    He flew into the sky.

    Seeing this, the two Core Formation elders had a suspicious look in their eyes.

    "Why don''t you have a golden core in your body?"

    "Are you not a Core Formation cultivator?"

    Qi Yuan''s answer was the large sword!

 Chapter 36: Yu Linglong

    Chapter 36: Yu Linglong

    "My Golden Core... is in the sky!"

    Qi Yuan shouted, wielding his great sword with a fierce downward slash! Elder Whirlwind felt a tremendous threat and dared not face the sword head-on. His heart was even more shocked.

    "You''re not a Golden Core cultivator!"

    Finally, he realized something. The shock in his heart was even more intense. Not a Golden Core, yet overpowering a Golden Core! Is there really such a monstrous Foundation Establishment cultivator in the world?

    "No, I am a Golden Core cultivator. I have a Golden Core!" Qi Yuan quickly argued.

    It had to be said, the three-way battle looked rather comical, reminiscent of a schoolyard brawl. The magical duel did not attract the attention of the Black Mountain Sect disciples, but the content of the argument did. Qi Yuan wielded his great sword, thrashing the two opponents.

    In less than ten breaths, he completely gained the upper hand. Suddenly, Elder Whirlwind cast a spell, seemingly realizing something, his eyes widening. He shouted, "Run! This isn''t a human!"Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    "Yes, I''m not Foundation Establishment. I''m Golden Core!"

    Qi Yuan naturally wouldn¡¯t give the Golden Core elders a chance to escape. With a downward slash, he split the two Golden Core elders into pieces, without even leaving them a chance to be whole.

    Everything happened too quickly. The two Golden Core elders had barely fought Qi Yuan for ten breaths before being slain. The Black Mountain Sect had seven Golden Core cultivators, including the sect leader. With the Bai Ji Old Ancestor dead and now two more slain, only four Golden Core elders remained.

    The loss to the Black Mountain Sect was nearly half. At this moment, other strong members of the Black Mountain Sect, no longer merely spectators or having emerged from seclusion, arrived at the mountain gate. Leading them was the Black Mountain Sect''s leader, Black Wind Daoist. He wore a grey robe, had a youthful appearance with white hair, looking quite old despite his age.

    Yu Linglong stood beside Black Wind Daoist, curiously gazing at Qi Yuan, occasionally casting flirtatious glances. The other two Golden Core elders looked solemn, staring intently at Qi Yuan.

    Black Wind Daoist looked at the ruins and remained unmoved. "Attacking our mountain gate is going too far. Though we are a small sect, Bai Ji Old Ancestor is my adoptive father. If you leave now, we will let this matter rest. In the past, our Black Mountain Sect exterminated your family. Now, you¡¯ve killed three of our Golden Core elders. We can call it even."

    Black Wind Daoist couldn''t believe it. His heavy iron Golden Core, equivalent to a mountain in weight, was cut apart. Qi Yuan coldly remarked, "It''s not that I''m too strong; it''s that your Golden Core is too small."

    Reflecting, Qi Yuan thought, in the future, if he forged a Golden Core, it must be large, not like Black Wind Daoist¡¯s egg-sized core, easily split in one cut. With that, Qi Yuan, holding the butcher knife, no longer concealed his power. "Kill!"

    He charged at the remaining three Golden Core elders. The intense battle saw no regard for the lives of the disciples, who were swiftly slaughtered. Within ten breaths, Qi Yuan beheaded another Golden Core elder with the Heavenly Slash Sword Technique. One remaining elder, heavily injured, was betrayed by Yu Linglong, who absorbed his Golden Core to restore her cultivation.

    Now, only Yu Linglong remained among the Golden Core elders. Covered in blood, her attire in tatters, exposing her smooth skin, she pleaded with Qi Yuan, "Spare my life, please."

    "Humph!" Qi Yuan ignored her, slashing relentlessly.

    Yu Linglong, in desperation, confessed, "I possess the Purple Bamboo body. I¡¯ve remained pure, keeping my virginity. Bai Ji Old Ancestor coveted my purity, investing resources in me to cultivate me to the Nascent Soul stage, to then dual cultivate with me, reaching the legendary Purple Mansion realm. If you spare me, I¡¯ll serve you and help you achieve the Purple Mansion destiny!"

    Qi Yuan paused. "Purple Mansion?"

    Seeing hope, Yu Linglong continued, "If you engage with me now, you can reach the Nascent Soul stage today. If you wait until I reach the Nascent Soul stage, you could enter the Purple Mansion realm by spending a night with me!"

    Qi Yuan, contemplating, realized, "So, you''re the reserve of Bai Ji Old Ancestor? I can''t let you live! A Nascent Soul stage Bai Ji Old Ancestor is already terrifying enough, let alone one in the Purple Mansion stage!"

    With that, he swiftly decapitated Yu Linglong, shattering her Golden Core. Yu Linglong was dead beyond recovery. Qi Yuan, relieved, said, "Lucky she mentioned her Purple Bamboo body. Otherwise, if I had left, Bai Ji Old Ancestor might have revived her body, using it to step into the Purple Mansion realm."

    Pouring special corpse-dissolving liquid on her body, Qi Yuan turned her into a puddle, then burned it dry, collecting the residue into his storage bag. "This way, Bai Ji Old Ancestor can''t obtain her purity."

    Unsettled, he decided, "Not safe enough!" Burning the remnants again, he ensured complete destruction, then turned to the Black Mountain Sect, eyes full of killing intent. "Some disciples still live. I must finish them off and loot their library before fleeing!"

    With the sect formation draining the disciples'' and enforcers'' cultivation, most turned into dry corpses, but a few survived. Qi Yuan would leave no one behind.

 Chapter 37: Qi Yuanâ€™s Scheme

    Chapter 37: Qi Yuan¡¯s Scheme

    After finishing off the last of his enemies, Qi Yuan ransacked the entire Heishan Sect like a whirlwind. Due to limited time, he focused on the library. To Qi Yuan, cultivation methods were the most important. The vast knowledge accumulated from countless methods, combined with his ability to see hidden information, allowed him to continually refine the "Qi Yuan Sutra" and forge his own path to immortality.

    "It''s time to leave," Qi Yuan thought, estimating the time and quickly departing from Heishan Sect.

    ...

    Duan Qianrou, dressed in a simple, elegant outfit, was seated in a Yun Rabbit Carriage. The Yun Rabbit, a creature with three heads and eight legs, could travel both on land and in the air. It was very stable, making it an excellent choice for pulling carriages.

    ¡°Everyone, when negotiating with Heishan Sect this time, we must stand united and not back down. Giving two-tenths of our blood crystals to Heishan Sect is our limit; we can''t give more!¡± said a burly man.

    In the Yun Rabbit Carriage were more than ten people, all mine owners from Wuxue City.

    Recently, Heishan Sect demanded that the amount of blood crystals turned over by the mine owners be increased from two-tenths to three-tenths. This demand infuriated the mine owners. Wuxue City was not under Heishan Sect''s jurisdiction. Paying two-tenths was already unreasonable, and now they demanded three-tenths, which was outrageous.

    ¡°Sigh, Lao Wang, what good is our united front? Heishan Sect has Hei Ji Laoyao backing them. Even the three major cultivation sects have to give them face. How can we, a bunch of rogue cultivators, fight against Heishan Sect? I¡¯m afraid if we don¡¯t increase the tribute, we won¡¯t make it back to Wuxue City,¡± an elderly cultivator said, his voice filled with helplessness.

    Everyone''s faces turned solemn. They knew that Heishan Sect was ruthless enough to carry out such threats. The elders of Heishan Sect were notorious for their cruelty. Even the seemingly delicate Yu Linglong had practiced killing as part of her cultivation before being taken as Hei Ji Laoyao¡¯s concubine. As for Heishan Sect¡¯s disciples, many were robbers before joining, known for their brutal nature.

    ¡°Sigh, if only a sword immortal would come and wipe out Heishan Sect, that would be great!¡± someone mused.

    ¡°Even the three major sects can''t do anything about Heishan Sect; where would a sword immortal come from?¡±

    ¡°Lao Wang, keep your voice down. Don¡¯t let Heishan Sect¡¯s people hear you.¡±

    Duan Qianrou, sitting in the carriage, felt a bit melancholy. Just then, the Yun Rabbit Carriage slowed down. Everyone inside tensed, fearing they had encountered Heishan Sect¡¯s people. When the curtains were pulled back, they saw a handsome young man standing there.

    Duan Qianrou was surprised to recognize the young man as the one who had been talking to her mother earlier that day. What was he doing so close to Heishan Sect¡¯s headquarters? Could he be a disciple of Heishan Sect? If so, she felt a surge of disgust, as she believed there were no good people in Heishan Sect.

    ¡°Look over there!¡± someone pointed inside Heishan Sect.

    Using their spells to look inside, they saw the destruction and corpses scattered everywhere.

    ¡°That¡¯s a Core Formation Elder...¡± someone stammered.

    ¡°Heishan Sect has been wiped out!¡±

    Everyone was stunned. This was Heishan Sect, known for its tyranny. To wipe them out required at least a Nascent Soul elder. Who would dare provoke Black Chicken Demon ?

    All eyes turned to Lao Wang, who had earlier wished for a sword immortal to destroy Heishan Sect.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I didn¡¯t do it!¡± Lao Wang protested.

    Duan Qianrou, however, thought of the young man they had just encountered. Had he seen something?

    Everyone had their own thoughts, but they all knew that the kingdom of Dashang was about to plunge into chaos.

    ...

    Tianyun Market.

    Qi Yuan walked briskly. After leaving Heishan Sect, he realized he hadn¡¯t covered his tracks well. Although he had destroyed Yu Linglong¡¯s body to prevent Black Chicken Demon from using it to break through to the Nascent Soul or even Purple Mansion stage, he worried there might be other cultivators with the same special body type in Heishan Sect. To avoid further complications, he decided to spread the information about Heishan Sect¡¯s special body types.

    This way, when Black Chicken Demon came out of seclusion and found Heishan Sect destroyed, he would only find chaos, with no bodies left to use.

    To achieve this, Qi Yuan aimed to spread the information through Ling Tian Pavilion, a major distributor of various jade slips used for communication and information exchange across Dashang. Essentially, he planned to use their network to ensure every cultivator knew about Heishan Sect''s secrets. This would inevitably lead to countless cultivators risking their lives to claim the body types for themselves, leaving Black Chicken Demon with nothing but frustration and rage.

    As he thought of this plan, Qi Yuan quickened his pace towards Ling Tian Pavilion, knowing it was the best way to ensure his safety and thoroughly disrupt Heishan Sect¡¯s remnants.

 Chapter 38: The Struggle

    Chapter 38: The Struggle

    At Ling Tian Pavilion.

    Bu Chisu, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, was holding an incense burner, with fragrant smoke curling up.

    ¡°There are three simplicities in cultivation: simple clothes, simple food, and simple...¡±

    Creak. The door was pushed open.

    ¡°Steward, there¡¯s business.¡±

    The servant, familiar with Bu Chisu, entered without knocking.

    Bu Chisu, with a gentle temperament, was not angry but looked toward the door where Qi Yuan stood.

    ¡°What can I do for you, esteemed guest?¡±

    ¡°I want to use your Ling Tian Pavilion to make an announcement!¡±

    ¡°Here is the price list. Please take a look and choose the tier you prefer,¡± Bu Chisu handed the price list to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the prices and smacked his lips. The prices were indeed high, starting at dozens of spirit stones. If he hadn¡¯t made a fortune at Heishan Sect, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to afford an ad.

    ¡°I¡¯ll choose the 3,000 spirit stones tier,¡± Qi Yuan decided after some hesitation. This tier would suffice for his needs. Once many people knew there was a Purple Bamboo Body at Heishan Sect, they would definitely flock there to scramble for the corpses. Most people couldn¡¯t recognize a Purple Bamboo Body anyway.

    ¡°What information do you wish to publish?¡± Hearing the amount, Bu Chisu took another look at Qi Yuan, trying to guess his identity.

    ¡°I want to announce that Heishan Sect has a Purple Bamboo Body!¡± Qi Yuan lowered his voice.

    ¡°What?¡± Bu Chisu¡¯s eyebrows twitched as countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He looked at Qi Yuan with a slight smile. ¡°Do you have a grudge against Heishan Sect? Trying to make their disciples restless, I see!¡±

    Qi Yuan nodded. This person was half right. He wanted Heishan Sect¡¯s disciples to be uneasy even in death. Firstly, if there really was a Purple Bamboo Body, it wouldn¡¯t fall into Black Chicken Demon¡¯s hands. Secondly, when Black Chicken Demon emerged from seclusion, he would find nothing at Heishan Sect, making it impossible to find the culprit. Qi Yuan planned to drag everyone down with him.

    ¡°If it were any other pavilion, they might not dare to take this business for fear of offending Heishan Sect. But Ling Tian Pavilion isn¡¯t afraid. I¡¯ll take the deal!¡± Bu Chisu said confidently.

    They pondered who might have destroyed Heishan Sect. The woman then reminded them, ¡°Finding out who destroyed Heishan Sect is not our primary concern. Remember why we are here.¡±

    ¡°Maybe someone is playing a trick on us, and there is no Purple Bamboo Body here at all!¡± The five spread their divine senses, scanning the area.

    ¡°A Purple Bamboo Worm?¡± the woman exclaimed, holding a worm.

    The others¡¯ expressions changed.

    ¡°Where there are Purple Bamboo Worms, there must be a Purple Bamboo Body nearby. It seems there is indeed a Purple Bamboo Body here!¡± Everyone''s breathing quickened. The significance of a Purple Bamboo Body, which could help a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator reach the Purple Mansion realm, was not lost on them. They immediately began examining the corpses to find the Purple Bamboo Body.

    Suddenly, a barefoot man stared at some dirt. ¡°The Core Formation True Person Yu Linglong of Heishan Sect is missing.¡±

    He then shifted his gaze. ¡°Could it be that the Purple Bamboo Body has already been taken by the one who destroyed the sect?¡±

    ¡°What are we doing here then?¡± said an elder who had been silent, his voice raspy.

    At that moment, the second barefoot man grabbed the corpse of the Heishan Sect¡¯s leader. ¡°Nuodian Monk, how dare you!¡±

    The others immediately joined in, causing the corpse to be torn apart.

    The poor leader of Heishan Sect couldn¡¯t rest in peace even in death.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the Purple Bamboo Body. Why fight over it?¡± the barefoot man shouted.

    ¡°This may not be the Purple Bamboo Body, but it¡¯s a Blue Bamboo Body, slightly less valuable. Ground into powder, it can nurture a special herb that produces a Blue Infant Fruit, enhancing Nascent Soul cultivation,¡± the woman explained. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the leader to be Yu Linglong¡¯s father, or perhaps her grandfather?¡±

    ¡°Fortunately, someone discovered this early; otherwise, within two hundred years, Black Chicken Demon would certainly have reached the Purple Mansion realm!¡± The thought sent chills through them. Such an event would drastically change the power dynamics in Dashang.

    However, this fear was fleeting. After fighting over the sect leader¡¯s corpse, the Nascent Soul experts continued their search. Given the frequent appearance of Purple and Blue Bamboo Bodies, there might be other special bodies here. They couldn¡¯t let any corpses go.

    Thus began a fierce battle for the corpses within Heishan Sect.

    Unaware of these events, Qi Yuan stretched lazily, feeling refreshed.

    ¡°Finally, I can relax and play games.¡±

 Chapter 40: The Unexpected Change in the Forbidden Clothes

    Chapter 40: The Unexpected Change in the Forbidden Clothes

    Returning from the foot of the peak, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Fortunately, no one suspects it was me!¡±

    ¡°Lingtian Pavilion is really impressive! A powerful figure leveled the entire Black Mountain Sect last night!¡±

    ¡°I wonder which Nascent Soul elder took action. Did anyone from our Shinguang Sect go?¡±

    ¡°Sure enough, most people are focused on the Purple Bamboo Physique now!¡±

    ¡°Even if Old Monster Black Chicken comes out, he probably won''t be able to find the culprit.¡±

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    As night fell, Qi Yuan once again entered the game world.

    The first thing he did was chat with his online friend Jin Li.

    Currently, in the Southern Qian Kingdom, Aunt Qin displayed Emperor-level strength on the day of the duel, defeating the national teacher of the Nan Feng Kingdom.

    The Prime Minister of the Southern Qian Kingdom, Sima Ting, looked extremely displeased.

    Jin Li¡¯s short-term task was completed.

    However, the crisis had not yet been resolved.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been a qualified emperor.¡±

    ¡°Once the turmoil in the Southern Qian settles, I... will leave the Southern Qian. What do you think?¡±

    Through Linglong Yuxi, Jin Li sent these words to Qi Yuan.

    She tightly clutched Yuxi, feeling a bit uneasy.

    This time, Qi Yuan''s message took a dozen breaths to come through.

    Jin Li quickly read it.

    ¡°What¡¯s the fun in being an emperor? Once the task is done, just leave!

    Why not join me in hunting monsters? It¡¯s much more fun!¡±

    Seeing the last sentence, a smile curled up at Jin Li¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Okay, with you.¡±

    The unqualified empress had another sleepless night, tossing and turning.

    Meanwhile, the instigator, Qi Yuan, was holding his great sword and began his hunting spree.

    However, upon stepping into the depths of the Forbidden Clothes, Qi Yuan squinted his eyes.

    ¡°Something¡¯s off.¡±

    He noticed that today¡¯s Forbidden Clothes was somewhat different from usual.

    On a crooked tree, most of the branches were broken, exposing thorny fractures, with a piece of gray pants hanging on it.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t... caused by me.¡±

    ¡°Is there someone else?¡±

    The monsters he killed would always turn to ashes, becoming his experience points.

    There would definitely not be such a scenario where things were shattered.

    His gaze grew solemn, becoming more cautious.

    After all, in this world, there were treacherous ministers like Sima Ting, so there must be other human NPCs.

    There might be such NPCs within the Forbidden Clothes.

    Qi Yuan was extremely cautious, observing for a while.

    But he only found a few broken clothing monsters.

    The other clothing monsters were the same as usual.

    With the dominant power boost, this slash should be enough to wound a level 90 monster.

    But this slash only made the unknown creature take half a step back.

    Meanwhile, the red gas merged into Qi Yuan¡¯s body.

    Instantly, Qi Yuan felt his body stiffen.

    The red gas seemed to turn into red threads, binding his internal organs, trying to turn him into a puppet.

    ¡°Too tough, run!¡±

    Level 95!

    He was only level 88, with a 7-level difference, including a major level difference.

    Gotta run!

    However, knowing it was the Lord of the Fallen Forbidden Zone, Qi Yuan felt somewhat relieved.

    NPC, he could see its health bar, he could kill it!

    But now, he had to run!

    Qi Yuan ran quickly, using his dominant power to the extreme.

    The Ugly Clothes Monster King just followed from a distance, seemingly not in a hurry to catch Qi Yuan.

    Not sure how long he ran, Qi Yuan felt exhausted and empty.

    He also noticed the Ugly Clothes Monster King had stopped chasing.

    He breathed a sigh of relief.

    After running a few more miles.

    ¡°No, I need to dig a hole and sleep, I¡¯m totally spent.¡±

    He quickly picked up his great sword to dig a pit.

    But he was stunned.

    ¡°Is this a graveyard?¡±

    ¡°A burial mound?¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, if I don¡¯t dig now, I¡¯ll be forced to log out!¡±

    ¡°Dear grandpas, please lend me your precious land, we¡¯ll just be neighbors for one night.¡±

    In the burial mound, a thin mist lingered. Dilapidated tombstones toppled over, and a grave was covered in lush wormwood. Underneath, there was a hole with centipedes with many tiny legs crawling inside.

    Qi Yuan found a spot away from the graves and dug a big pit.

    Qi Yuan was relieved he didn¡¯t dig into any neighbor''s home.

    He quickly buried the pit, lying comfortably inside.

    But as he closed his eyes, he felt he touched something slippery.

    ¡°Could it be I touched that old man''s skull?¡±

    With such thoughts, Qi Yuan logged out.

    On the Seven-colored Peak, he couldn¡¯t hold on and fell into a deep sleep.

    Half an hour later, in the Forbidden Clothes, in the burial mound.

    Firecrackers and the sound of gongs resounded.

    It seemed like a funeral, yet also like a wedding.

    A group of clothing monsters came from the mist in droves, dancing and igniting their own clothes.

    The burial mound was brightly lit, with clothing monsters raving.

 Chapter 41: Letâ€™s Get a Divorce!

    Chapter 41: Let¡¯s Get a Divorce!

    When Qi Yuan logged into the game again, he felt like making a video.

    "Guys, what should I do? My family arranged a ghost marriage for me!"

    Then, he would add a watermelon-head effect.

    On TikTok, the comments might be, "Sister, stay strong."

    On some forum, the comments might be, "Brother, you are blessed."

    Of course, these are all stereotypes.

    These responses wouldn¡¯t solve Qi Yuan''s current problem.

    He looked at his bride.

    He really wanted to see her face, her eyebrows, her arms, and her legs.

    Is it too much to want to see his bride?

    However, this bride... had no face.

    Not only did she have no face, but she also had no hands or legs.

    No... feet.

    "Sigh, I just took a nap, and now I¡¯m married to an NPC?"

    Qi Yuan was in a place similar to a bridal chamber.

    On the window, there were paper flowers with the character "Ï²" (happiness) written on them.

    As soon as he entered the game, he was lying next to his bride.

    His bride was a large red wedding dress, in an ancient Chinese style, like those in ghost movies.

    If you looked closely, you could almost imagine a delicate and graceful bride.

    He looked at the clothing monster, or rather, the wedding dress monster in front of him.

    He was helpless: "I really want to solve you with a sword and turn you into an experience pack."

    The red wedding dress seemed to understand Qi Yuan''s words and shrank back a bit.

    However, Qi Yuan ultimately did not kill this NPC.

    When fighting the fallen zone lord, the ugly clothing monster emperor, the blood-red gas had entered Qi Yuan''s body.

    That gas was extremely troublesome for him, continuously weakening his attributes and even attempting to control his body.

    And that red gas had been dispelled by this wedding dress monster, Qi Yuan''s bride.

    Since she had helped him, how could he bear to turn her into an experience pack?

    Moreover, this wedding dress monster seemed to have some intelligence.

    Unlike other clothing monsters that would attack Qi Yuan on sight.

    He looked at the wedding dress monster, now named Little Bride, who was only a step away from him, and slowly said, "Who are you, what''s your name?"

    The wedding dress monster didn''t answer, remaining motionless.

    "No name?"

    "Don''t remember?"

    "Then let''s call you..."

    "Little Red?"

    "Little Monster?"

    "Little Bride!"

    Seeing that Little Bride could express herself with wooden plaques, he tested her.

    He made some wooden plaques for her to express her thoughts.

    To his disappointment, it didn''t work.

    Little Bride could only take out those eight plaques.

    It seemed her world could only be expressed through these eight plaques.

    "Sigh, let''s get a divorce." Qi Yuan said, "Our feelings are broken, let''s divorce."

    Little Bride held onto Qi Yuan''s arm tightly, a wooden plaque with "holding hands" image slipping out.

    "You can help me?" Somehow, Qi Yuan seemed to understand the meaning of the image, both asking him to stay and implying she could help him.

    Qi Yuan became interested, looking at Little Bride.

    At this moment, a surprising event occurred.

    Little Bride''s entire cold body pressed against Qi Yuan''s.

    A special change happened at this moment.

    In the bridal chamber, the blood-red wedding dress turned into red light spots, like red fireflies, falling onto Qi Yuan''s body.

    In less than a fraction of a second, the red fireflies turned into red armor, covering Qi Yuan''s body, leaving only his eyes exposed.

    From a distance, the armor appeared blood-red, like flowing blood. Despite this fluid appearance, it gave Qi Yuan a strong sense of security.

    Exquisite and beautiful, mysterious and powerful.

    Qi Yuan, clad in blood armor, holding his great sword, now stood ten meters tall.

    At this moment, he looked like a terrifying demon walking in hell.

    Qi Yuan felt a wedding dress tattoo on his chest.

    The tattoo was identical to Little Bride.

    He realized the tattoo was Little Bride''s true form.

    The blood armor was Little Bride''s defense, not her real body.

    Qi Yuan looked at himself and was stunned: "Level 93?"

    Combining with Little Bride, or rather merging with her, Qi Yuan had increased by 5 levels, reaching level 93.

    However, he vaguely felt this was temporary.

    This made him excited.

    That''s 5 levels!

    Gaining 5 levels was a huge boost for Qi Yuan, making monster hunting much easier.

    Facing the 95-level ugly clothing monster emperor again, he wouldn''t have to run away immediately and might even stand a chance, especially one-on-one.

    Of course, this one-on-one meant him and Little Bride against the ugly clothing monster emperor.

    At this moment, something unexpected happened to Qi Yuan.

    He simultaneously activated two skills.

    One major skill and one minor skill.

    Every 30 levels, Qi Yuan would get a major skill, usable in reality.

    Every 10 levels, he got a minor skill.

    Combining with Little Bride, Qi Yuan''s level broke through 90, granting him two skills.

    The major skill was [Together as One], and the minor skill was [Torn Clothes].

 Chapter 42: The Four Departments of the Divine Court

    Chapter 42: The Four Departments of the Divine Court

    Together as One.

    As long as Qi Yuan and Little Bride aren''t too far apart, even if they can''t see each other, Qi Yuan can use this major skill to merge with her.

    When using this skill, Qi Yuan can enjoy Little Bride''s power.

    Torn Clothes.

    Qi Yuan''s attacks always have armor-piercing properties against clothes and armor.

    These two skills are quite good.

    After all, Qi Yuan realized that if he normally leveled up to 90, he could get two skills.

    This meant he got two skills for free.

    Little Bride left his body. For some reason, Qi Yuan felt that he and this clothing monster had formed some kind of connection.

    He looked at Little Bride, staring at her intently.

    He wanted to see her eyes, but he couldn''t.

    "Are you sure you don''t want a divorce?" Qi Yuan said, "After I clear this map, I might leave."

    In the past, there were love stories like Xu Xian and the snake demon, Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy, and the monkey with his infatuated bird fairy.

    But he had never seen a person fall in love with an NPC.

    Let alone an NPC that''s a piece of clothing.

    Little Bride trembled when she heard Qi Yuan''s words, and a wooden plaque fell, with the image of a man and the words "husband."

    Qi Yuan picked up the plaque and thought for a while, "Then you are just my in-game partner. Right now, we''re in a divorce cooling-off period."

    Once he clears the game, it would be the end.

    Another wooden plaque slipped from Little Bride''s sleeve.

    A hugging image.

    If Little Bride had eyes, she would surely be looking at Qi Yuan expectantly.

    "No hugs!"

    What''s the point of hugging? Merging is better.

    Qi Yuan looked at Little Bride and said slowly, "Let''s merge."

    Seeing that Little Bride did not refuse, Qi Yuan used the skill Together as One.

    Merging using Together as One is different from when Little Bride merges with him voluntarily.

    He wanted to see the difference between the two.

    In an instant, Little Bride once again appeared on his chest.

    A blood-red armor emerged on Qi Yuan''s body again.

    Unlike when Little Bride voluntarily possessed him, this armor was covered with blood-red spikes, looking more dangerous and terrifying, with a more vibrant red color, not the previous dark red.

    If Little Bride''s voluntary armor focused on defense and protection, Qi Yuan''s use of Together as One emphasized attack.

    The level increase of 5 was still present.

    This increase was extremely terrifying.

    "If I wear this armor and charge into the clothing monsters, who can stop me besides the zone lord?"

    Qi Yuan felt that his game progress had accelerated significantly.

    "What about the shared power?"

    Qi Yuan sensed it.

    Looking around, there were thousands upon thousands.

    They looked like terracotta warriors.

    But Qi Yuan had a feeling that once awakened, they would be the strongest army, invincible.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze was drawn to a stone tablet.

    The tablet was densely inscribed with words.

    "The Four Departments of the Divine Court: Clothing Department, Bridal Princess, Mistress of the Celestial Wife.

    Gather the world''s battle armor, support the grandeur of the Divine Court, and shock the demons of the world, clothing the world!"

    He read carefully.

    The stone tablet recorded many things, including an extremely powerful era.

    In the past, the Celestial God established the Divine Court, commanding four departments, dominating the world, bringing peace to the land.

    The Clothing Department was the most prominent of the four, its master leading the slaughter.

    The Clothing Department''s elite army once flattened ten thousand mountains and endless plains, driving the demon race to the icy wastelands.

    The mistress of the Clothing Department, the Bridal Princess, was also the Celestial God''s wife.

    Qi Yuan thought of Little Bride.

    Could Little Bride be related to this Bridal Princess?

    He continued reading.

    The Divine Court ruled the four seas and eight wastelands, maintaining peace for hundreds of years.

    The four-department-commanding Divine Court was invincible in the world.

    But when invincible in the world, enemies from the heavens came.

    One day, enemies from beyond the realm invaded Moonwatch Continent.

    The Divine Court''s ruler, the mighty Celestial God, led his people to face the enemy.

    But he never returned.

    The four departments gradually declined.

    The last elite army of the Clothing Department was buried in the underground palace, waiting to revive one day, to fight for the Celestial God and the world.

    "So this is the game''s setting?"

    "The Four Great Forbidden Zones should be the four departments of the Divine Court."

    "The final boss should be the enemy from beyond the realm."

    "My mission is to defeat the extraterrestrial invaders, protect the world, and receive the Heavenly Dao reward?"

    "Sure enough, wearing the emperor''s armor means I must be a great hero protecting the world!"

    As an inexperienced gamer, this was Qi Yuan''s idea.

    "I thought guarding a country like Jinli was tough, but this is the true hell difficulty!"

    According to the records, the Divine Court ruled the world with nearly a hundred countries.

    "For the Heavenly Dao foundation, I must fight!"

    "Now, I am Little Bride''s man!"

    Directly gaining five levels! That''s too strong!

    ......

    In Moonwatch Continent, somewhere, some murmurs arose, seemingly whispering.

 Chapter 43: Dangerous Situation

    Chapter 43: Dangerous Situation

    Qi Yuan half-leaned against the coffin in the underground palace. He felt that the strange events of today should be shared with Jin Li.

    "Jin Li, I have some good news and some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

    In the palace, Jin Li, who was struggling with official documents, saw the flashing light of the Linglong Yuxi. The corners of her mouth involuntarily lifted. The troubles of the Nangan Kingdom seemed to dissipate.

    "Let''s hear the good news first."

    "The good news is that I got married."

    "Married???"NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

    "The bad news is, I married a bridal gown!"

    "..."

    Qi Yuan roughly recounted today''s events to Jin Li. After hearing it, Jin Li inexplicably felt relieved.

    "With Xiao Jia, I can definitely farm monsters faster. I estimate it won''t take long to clear the Yiguan Forbidden Zone. How about your situation?"

    Jin Li frowned as she read Qi Yuan''s message, her mood clouded.

    After the late emperor passed away, all royal offspring were slaughtered, leaving only Jin Li as the sole survivor. One could say that the entire Nangan Kingdom was under Sima Ting''s control. However, to legitimize his rule and due to concerns about the Tianqi Grand General, who commanded troops outside and had become a regional warlord, as well as the Tianyun Sacred Sect, Sima Ting didn''t directly usurp the throne.

    The recent duel arranged by the Nanfeng Kingdom''s national advisor was a conspiracy by Sima Ting. However, due to Xuanyuan Jin, Aunt Qin''s breakthrough to the imperial level, the national advisor of Nanfeng was defeated during the duel, thwarting Sima Ting''s plot.

    Such a personality made her a wonderful confidant for Qi Yuan. After all, encountering someone like this, who could quietly accompany him through life''s ups and downs, made the passage of time feel serene and worthwhile.

    "Focus on your tasks. If something happens, I''ll let you know," Jin Li said, feeling a surge of warmth. "You too, although I might not be able to help much."

    From birth, Jin Li had never known family affection or genuine concern. Her father was a drunken, unpredictable figure who never showed her care. She had never met her mother. Aunt Qin was the only person who had been kind to her, and now there was Qi Yuan.

    "The information you provided about the Yiguan Forbidden Zone was a big help. Unfortunately, I can''t assist you now."

    Qi Yuan finished the message and looked at the buried Yibu soldiers before him, hatching an idea.

    "Once I control the Yiguan Forbidden Zone, these Yibu soldiers should belong to me, right?"

    Although these Yibu soldiers were not individually strong, their coordinated power should be enough to sweep through the world, at least outside the forbidden zones.

    ...

    In the grand minister''s mansion, which resembled a palace, Sima Ting sat in a high seat, rolling a walnut in his hand, lost in thought. His eldest son, Sima Riyue, looked fierce. "Father, let''s rebel. This is getting boring!"

    Sima Ting looked at his son without any change in expression. "You may leave. I have matters to discuss with Uncle Wen."

    His son bore little resemblance to him. If not for his mother''s connection to the Tianyun Sacred Sect...

    After Sima Riyue left, Sima Ting turned to the scholarly-dressed man beside him. "Brother Wen, have you found out why Lady Qin reached the imperial level? Is there someone behind Empress Jin Li targeting me or the Tianyun Sacred Sect?"

    The scholarly man, Wen Zhongyong, was an imperial-level expert Sima Ting relied on. A member of the Tianyun Sacred Sect, Wen Zhongyong was proficient in curse techniques. Despite the protection of the Tianyun Jade Seal, Wen Zhongyong had cursed the late emperor to death, demonstrating his formidable skill.

 Chapter 44: The Eternal Evergreen Immortal Turtle

    Chapter 44: The Eternal Evergreen Immortal Turtle

    Wen Zhongyong stood beside Sima Ting, slightly shorter in stature.

    "According to our inside sources, this may be related to a certain individual. Last year, Empress Jin Li took a treasure from the royal treasury named Linglong Yuxi."

    "This treasure?" Chancellor Sima Ting was surprised.

    This treasure, a natural pair, allowed its two holders to communicate with each other. But it was limited to these two people, which was inferior to modern communication artifacts.

    "According to our inside sources, Empress Jin Li has been communicating with a mysterious person through Linglong Yuxi. The breakthrough of Lady Qin to the imperial level might be attributed to this person!" Wen Zhongyong shared his judgment.

    Sima Ting''s forehead furrowed more deeply, clearly showing his anger. Most palace maids were Sima Ting''s people, making it easy to obtain this information. Furthermore, when Jin Li mentioned Qi Yuan''s name during her time in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone, or occasionally muttered "Qi Yuan" in her chambers, it was only natural for such information to leak out.

    "How dare they ruin my plans! Have you identified this person?"

    Wen Zhongyong shook his head. "The other half of Linglong Yuxi vanished a thousand years ago."

    "Can we speculate about this person''s identity?" Sima Ting asked. "To help Lady Qin break through to the imperial level, this person must not be simple!"

    Sima Ting had many enemies. Even within the Tianyun Sacred Sect, he had foes. Now, someone was aiding Empress Jin Li and causing him trouble, possibly targeting either him or the Tianyun Sacred Sect.

    The Tianyun Sacred Sect was the foremost sect of the human race, revered as a holy land by over a dozen human nations. Located in the far north, the sect both safeguarded human fortunes and kept the great demons of the demon race at bay. The Tianyun Sacred Sect stood aloof like celestial beings. However, in recent years, they began to meddle in worldly royal affairs.

    Sima Ting could be considered a pawn of the Tianyun Sacred Sect. Other countries were also gradually being devoured by the sect. Besides the Tianyun Sacred Sect, there were many other sects within the human race, many of which banded together to resist the sect.

    A plain-looking young man crawled out of a brothel, appearing relaxed and carefree.

    "A journey of dust, a journey of beauty is far better," he mused.

    The young man''s ordinary appearance would make him unremarkable on the street. Yet, if his identity were revealed, it would shock everyone¡ªhe was the Tianyun Supreme Master!

    "Three thousand years, and I can finally leave Tianyun Mountain for three hundred miles. Not bad," the Supreme Master thought. Three thousand years ago, a drop of blood had awakened his intelligence, transforming him from a land turtle into human form with eternal life. The blood had given him many secret techniques and knowledge, but at the cost of being unable to leave Tianyun Mountain. He cultivated in seclusion year after year, making slow progress due to his poor aptitude. It took him five hundred years to reach the imperial level and another fifteen hundred to become an unparalleled emperor. Twenty years ago, he reached the legendary celestial realm.

    Despite his low aptitude, his survival instincts were sharp, often outlasting his enemies and then celebrating over their graves. He founded the Tianyun Sacred Sect, becoming its supreme master, while his elders remained unaware that each generation of supreme masters was just his various disguises.

    As he strolled, he hummed a tune. "Indeed, I was too timid before. Stirring up the thousand-year war between humans and demons, feeding on the blood and qi of the fallen, my progress was slow. Controlling the fortunes of the human race and demon bloodlines is the true path!"

    Feeling his power surge, the Supreme Master lamented his poor aptitude. According to the secret techniques of the immortal blood, inciting wars provided him the blood and qi necessary for his gradual advancement. Human and demon races were naturally opposed, and it took little effort to manipulate them from the shadows. Yet, with his rapid power growth, he sought a more extreme method.

    Thus, he devised the most potent and sinister technique: the national fortune blood sacrifice. He sent the Ruler of Nation to various countries to absorb their fortunes. In sixty years, the ritual would be complete, and he would sacrifice the human and demon races, transcending to become the true ruler of Wangyue Continent.

    Reflecting on his life, the Supreme Master felt proud. His life, though arduous, was ultimately successful¡ªlow profile yet victorious, and becoming powerful late in life.

    "I once bowed to the powerful, and now I stir the winds with a word. No matter how talented you are, you too will become dust and a joke," he mused. "The eternal evergreen immortal turtle has finally come into its own today!"

    Often frequenting brothels, the Supreme Master hummed his tunes, though his literacy was poor, and his verses lacked proper structure. As he prepared to return to the sect for another seclusion, a crow flew overhead, bringing bad luck. With a flick, the crow died instantly.

    Feeling a sudden dread, the Supreme Master decided, "No more roaming outside! No more brothels either." He made an uncharacteristic decision against his usual habits.

 Chapter 45: The Substitute Becomes the Real One

    Chapter 45: The Substitute Becomes the Real One

    In the Prime Minister''s mansion of the Southern Qian Kingdom, the red creeper wood was burning with a crackling sound. The flames were a striking blood-red color, the perfect medium for the curse-killing technique.

    Wen Zhongyong''s sharp gaze held the fixed nation ruler in one hand and a whisk in the other.

    "Chase the form a thousand miles, spirit-fearing kill!"

    "Curse!"

    As he spoke, the blood-red flames on the red creeper wood leaped nearly half a meter high. The red glow reflected on Wen Zhongyong and Sima Ting''s faces, making them look particularly eerie. Sima Ting, standing nearby, with his beard trembling, asked expectantly, "How is it, sir?"

    Wen Zhongyong, holding the fixed nation ruler, replied calmly, "The curse-killing technique has been performed. We just need to wait a moment to see blood."

    He was already a royal-level powerhouse, and with the fixed nation ruler from the Heavenly Fate Saint, even supreme emperors could be killed with this curse-killing technique!

    Sima Ting breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, sir!" he said, draping a purple crane cloak over Wen Zhongyong''s shoulders.

    Boom!

    A sudden explosion shattered the silence. Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, covering Sima Ting in blood. His deep purple crane cloak was soaked in red, and he held onto the cloak filled with flesh and blood.

    "How could this be... how could this be..." Sima Ting muttered in disbelief, his face covered in blood and his beard stained with bits of flesh.

    Wen Zhongyong had exploded! The sudden explosion of Wen Zhongyong was due to the backlash from the curse-killing technique.

    Who on earth was the target?

    Even the fixed nation ruler was destroyed?

    Thousands of miles away, in the Heavenly Fate Sacred Gate.

    In an underground palace, the Heavenly Fate Lord was climbing into a coffin. This coffin was crafted with centuries of accumulation from the Heavenly Fate Sacred Gate, unrivaled in attack and defense.

    Earlier, outside Tianyun Mountain, upon seeing a crow fly by, he felt a premonition of disaster and rushed towards the coffin without making any arrangements. As he neared the coffin, he sensed a vast, irresistible force that seemed to transcend time and space, chasing after him.

    With wide eyes filled with confusion and unwillingness, he muttered, "Why!"

    He had painstakingly and low-key planned for three thousand years, living like a turtle. He had thought he would rise to prominence, but unexpectedly, he met his end. It was as if a powerful being passing by had casually sneezed, instantly killing him.

    His meticulous planning turned into a joke. The Heavenly Fate Lord... died a mysterious and tragic death.

    With a shout, Qi Yuan charged in like a wolf among sheep, slashing mercilessly.

    Whatever suspender pants, stepmother skirts, all fell before him. His experience points soared.

    +200!

    +300!

    This time, Qi Yuan was bolder than before. After half an hour of slaughter, he quickly reached level eighty-nine. Just then, a chilling gaze locked onto him.

    "The Ugly Clothes Monster King, you''ve come!"

    Qi Yuan''s spirits lifted. He immediately donned his blood-red battle armor, even turning his large sword red. His stature grew to ten meters tall, although he could go higher, ten meters was optimal for now.

    "Let¡¯s see if your health bar will drop!"

    Facing the Ugly Clothes Monster King, even at level ninety-four, Qi Yuan felt some pressure. He unleashed his strongest move, the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique. Leaping up, the ground shook with his power, and a blood-red sword light descended from the sky.

    Crack!

    The Sky-Splitting Sword Technique struck the Ugly Clothes Monster King. It raised a claw, a mix of pale and dark hues, to catch Qi Yuan¡¯s sword. The sword couldn''t penetrate further, and the monster king looked at Qi Yuan without any emotion.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan was stunned.

    "Only a tiny bit of damage?"

    "Time to run."

    Realizing the difficulty, Qi Yuan decided to flee. "Seems like level ninety-five is a major threshold!"

    Switching his battle armor to defense mode, he made his escape. Without Xiaojia''s armor, escaping would be much harder, perhaps even impossible. But now, he could flee openly, no longer scurrying like a rat.

    After escaping, Qi Yuan felt great. In the past, the Ugly Clothes Monster King would have been a significant challenge. Now, it''s just a matter of four or five days. He planned to use Xiaojia''s armor to level up to ninety. By then, the Ugly Clothes Monster King wouldn''t stand a chance.

    At that time, it would be a matter of whether the monster king''s claw was harder or Qi Yuan''s sword sharper.

 Chapter 46: Three Hundred Years? My Daughter Will Be Dominating the Universe by Then!

    Chapter 46: Three Hundred Years? My Daughter Will Be Dominating the Universe by Then!

    Qi Yuan returned to the graveyard and dug a pit for himself.

    "I''m not sleeping in the bridal chamber. I don''t like lying on hard boards," Qi Yuan said earnestly to Xiaojia, who stood behind him.

    Xiaojia followed silently. Qi Yuan jumped into the pit. Suddenly, he heard a thud from outside the pit. He quickly climbed out and saw Xiaojia had tripped over a stone and fallen.

    He helped Xiaojia up and brushed the dirt off her.

    "Sure enough, not having eyes is a problem. You keep falling!"

    Over time, Qi Yuan had discovered many of Xiaojia''s traits, such as her tendency to trip and knock things over in the house.

    "When I get married, I''ll definitely find someone with eyes," Qi Yuan sighed.

    He thought for a moment, then hugged Xiaojia as if collecting clothes in the rain, and dove back into the pit.

    ...

    In the Forbidden Land of Yin and Yang, a valley with dozens of coffins lay quietly.

    Crack. The lids of the coffins flipped open. Dozens of humanoid creatures sat up. They were men and women, exuding a vast aura. If Qi Yuan saw them, his eyes would shine with excitement. They were all level 90 NPCs, some even above level 95!

    The strongest among them, a man with a vertical pupil on his forehead, gazed through the Forbidden Land of Yin and Yang, seemingly seeing the Forbidden Land of Clothing. He spoke slowly, his voice neither male nor female, "Another fellow cultivator will soon join us in the human realm."

    "Congratulations. Who would have thought that despite the extraterrestrial demons severing all connections and fishing under the moon, someone could still ascend to the heavenly realm."

    Thousands of years ago, after the Heavenly God left and never returned, the Moon Gazing Continent underwent terrifying changes. Martial artists trained through various levels: Postnatal (0-9), Innate (10-19), Grandmaster (20-29), King (30-49), Emperor (50-69), Heavenly Realm (70-89), and Divine Realm.

    Any martial artist who broke through the emperor level to reach the heavenly realm would have a fishing line descend from the sky, pierce their body, and drain their brains and blood. In the end, only an empty skin would remain.

    Thus, in the past ten thousand years, almost no new heavenly realm powerhouses emerged on the Moon Gazing Continent.

    For these leaders, the Bride Princess''s help could elevate their power to the peak of the Divine Realm or even higher, giving them better odds against the demons.

    "What''s the use of saying this? Would any of you dare leave the Forbidden Land of Yin and Yang to find the Bride Princess? Besides, we didn''t even know a new Bride Princess had been born," a fat man mocked, also a leader.

    Some were displeased, others silent. "I just think it''s a waste for the Bride Princess to marry him!"

    "Sigh, the extraterrestrial demons are terrifying. Even the Heavenly God wasn''t their match. Can we win the demon-slaying assembly three hundred years from now?"

    The Heavenly God, the most talented powerhouse of ten thousand years ago, had suppressed even Tong and the peak Divine Realm powerhouses in the Five Elements Forbidden Land. The Heavenly God was defeated; could they win?

    "Giving up before the battle, Old Tang, are you scared? I remember your favorite grandson was taken by the demons'' fishing line, his flesh devoured!"

    "Every bit of strength is crucial for us. No matter what, the Bride Princess''s husband is our fellow cultivator. How can we speak ill of him?"

    "It''s just... the Bride Princess is wasted on him. If she chose Tong, she could create a second Heavenly God, even stronger!"

    The group argued, each with their own thoughts. Tong then spoke with a chilling tone, "Enough, with the enemy at the gate, no internal strife. Moli, send an invitation to that fellow cultivator for the demon-slaying assembly."

    "Yes, sir," replied Moli.

    In the Forbidden Land of Clothing, Qi Yuan, about to log off, was stunned. "An invitation?"

    A letter appeared on Xiaojia, an invitation. "Three hundred years from now? Demon-slaying assembly?"

    "Screw that!"

    "In three hundred years, my daughter will be dominating the universe!"

 Chapter 47: Crisis in the Imperial Capital

    Chapter 47: Crisis in the Imperial Capital

    Qi Yuan noted the invitation.

    However, a demon-slaying assembly three hundred years later? How could he possibly wait that long? In three hundred years, even the Qing Dynasty would have perished, right?

    He no longer paid attention to it and logged off swiftly.Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    As the annoying wooden cat puppet meowed incessantly once again, Qi Yuan did not toss a small wooden fish into its mouth this time.

    He got up, patted the wooden cat puppet''s head, and looked at the beautiful morning light outside. ¡°The best plan of the day lies in the morning!¡±

    He invigorated himself, and his gaze fell into his storage bag.

    When he saw the pile of books and jade slips of martial arts techniques, his face immediately fell.

    ¡°Coming to another world, and still having to work 996!¡±

    In the Black Mountain Sect, Qi Yuan had exerted great effort to empty the library and acquire the jade slips of martial arts techniques.

    For Qi Yuan, martial arts techniques were the most important things.

    After all, most of the martial arts techniques in this world were not suitable for him.

    He needed to read other books, use the information his eyes absorbed to accumulate knowledge, and ultimately perfect his own martial arts techniques.

    Last time, using the jade slips of martial arts techniques from his junior sister Jiang Lingsu, with more than 600 techniques, Qi Yuan had spent two days roughly going through them.

    Now, the number of techniques he had to read far exceeded 600, and books were much harder to absorb than jade slips.

    Moreover, last time, it was just techniques for the Qi Refining stage, which he could glance over quickly. Now, to perfect techniques for the Foundation Establishment stage, he had to read them carefully.

    So many books could definitely not be read in just a month.

    Qi Yuan buried himself in the books, reading them diligently.

    He read with great seriousness.

    Because these books were the foundation for creating his Foundation Establishment techniques.

    He read the dry martial arts techniques even more attentively than advanced mathematics.

    Unfortunately, he read incredibly slowly; a single book took a long time to get through, far from being like quantum reading.

    ¡°It¡¯s better to establish the Heavenly Dao Foundation soon so that divine sense can be externalized. That way, reading won¡¯t be so tiring.¡± Qi Yuan flipped through a book, thinking how useful divine sense was.

    Unfortunately, it could only be externalized after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, enabling quantum reading.

    ...

    For several days in a row, Qi Yuan read books during the day and logged into the game at night.

    With the assistance of Little Bride, Qi Yuan was now able to dominate the Yi Guan Forbidden Land.

    Although he still couldn¡¯t kill the Ugly-Clothed Emperor, with his increasing strength, he could at least injure him.

    The terrifying Ugly-Clothed Emperor had no way to deal with Qi Yuan.

    He could only let Qi Yuan wreak havoc in the Yi Guan Forbidden Land.

    ¡°Strong Sword Splits Skull!¡±

    ¡°I have no head, how can you split my skull?¡±

    As always, Qi Yuan provided voiceovers for the clothed monsters in the Yi Guan Forbidden Land, entertaining himself and finding some amusement.

    Otherwise, the tedious monster-slaying time would be too dull.

    The experience bar soared.

    At level eighty-nine, he wasn¡¯t far from reaching level ninety.

    What she didn¡¯t know was that a major event was being plotted in the Chancellor¡¯s Mansion at that very moment.

    The once arrogant and noble Chancellor Sima Ting was now like a hound, hunched over.

    Beside him were two people, one fat and one thin.

    The fat one was a great demon Sima Ting was most unwilling to meet.

    Years ago, when he rose to power, he had borrowed the strength of this great demon.

    This was his weakness.

    The thin one was an imperial-level expert from the Heavenly Fate Holy Sect.

    He hadn¡¯t expected the two to be in collusion.

    And now, the two most powerful forces in this world had set their sights on the Southern Qian Kingdom.

    The pressure fell on him.

    The thin imperial-level expert squinted his eyes. ¡°Sima Ting, they are merely some mortal soldiers. Why the hesitation? This will be a great merit for you. In three years, when the Holy Lord¡¯s plan succeeds, you can choose any of these dozens of countries.¡±

    The demon imperial-level expert then laughed heartily. ¡°To accomplish great things, one cannot be petty.¡±

    A few days ago, they, the demon clan, cooperated with a stand-in for the Heavenly Fate Holy Lord to assassinate the true Heavenly Fate Holy Lord.

    As a price, the Heavenly Fate Holy Sect had ceded the Southern Qian Kingdom to the demon clan.

    Now, this demon imperial-level expert had brought the supreme royal order to serve as the vanguard.

    The vanguard was simple: weaken the military forces of the Southern Qian Kingdom and forge a supreme imperial weapon¡ªthe Bloodless Imperial Staff.

    The creation of this staff required extremely harsh conditions.

    Thus, he connected with the Heavenly Fate Holy Sect to pressure Sima Ting.

    They needed Sima Ting to mobilize his troops into the capital.

    Set up a grand formation, accumulate the murderous aura of the military, and then massacre the city to saturate it with blood, finally forging the supreme imperial weapon, the Bloodless Imperial Staff.

    All this required was Sima Ting¡¯s foundation¡ªhis army and the entire capital of the Southern Qian Kingdom.

    Sima Ting wanted to oppose it, but facing the two most powerful forces in this world, he could only submit.

    His life was now in their hands.

    Hearing the imperial-level expert from the Heavenly Fate Holy Sect offer some benefits, he could only swallow his resentment.

    ¡°Everything is as the lords command. The troops are already slowly entering the city.¡±

    Previously, Sima Ting had deployed his troops outside the capital city.

    Now, it was just a matter of letting these troops enter the city, which would be swift.

    ¡°Sima Ting, very good, ambitious, knowing when to advance and retreat. The Heavenly Fate Holy Sect will not treat you poorly.¡± The thin imperial-level expert patted Sima Ting¡¯s shoulder, very satisfied. ¡°Once this is done, you¡¯ll have a plaque as a hall elder. In the Heavenly Fate Holy Sect, your status won¡¯t be lower than mine.¡±

    Sima Ting was delighted to hear this.

    That was what he longed for.

    With the plaque of a hall elder, he would be a player looking down on a dozen countries.

    Not a pawn, despite having strong power, but still at the mercy of others.

    ¡°Thank you, my lord!¡±

    The demon imperial-level expert then grinned broadly. ¡°I heard the female emperor of the Southern Qian Kingdom is a stunning beauty.

    I¡¯ve always loved collecting wine vessels. When the capital falls, leave the head of that female emperor for me. The head of a beauty, especially a female emperor, would make the wine taste exquisite, most fitting.¡±

    Sima Ting shuddered at these words but still nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright!¡±

 Chapter 48: Deathâ€™s Radiance

    Chapter 48: Death¡¯s Radiance

    The next day.

    In the court, dark clouds loomed.

    Kong Qi, the Minister of Rites, clad in deep attire, tall and handsome, usually dignified, now wore a face full of anger: "Prime Minister, for three consecutive days, why have the Dragon War Army, Black Flag Army, and Liaodong Army openly entered the capital? Could it be...you are planning a rebellion?"

    The court was silent.

    Except for a few officials, most were utterly obedient to Sima Ting.

    Now, the entry of the three armies was what they had been eagerly awaiting.

    The Southern Qian Kingdom had long needed a change.

    Of course, they didn''t know that these troops entering the capital were not for a coup but rather...they were merely sacrificial lambs.

    And they themselves were also sacrificial lambs, no different from those soldiers and common people.

    Sima Ting, walking with the bearing of a dragon and tiger, responded to the Minister of Rites, "The entry of the three armies is in accordance with the Ministry of War''s orders, compliant with the laws of Southern Qian. Minister, your groundless speculation and attack on me, disregarding the court''s laws, is what is truly absurd!"

    The other officials burst into laughter.

    Great Sage Kong Qi, known for his gentle temperament and upright character, always hailed as a sage.

    But at this moment, he was also enraged by Sima Ting.

    "Sima Ting''s intentions are known to everyone!" Great Sage Kong Qi said, suddenly bursting into tears, "The entire court, and yet, not a single person... Southern Qian is doomed!"

    The other officials looked at Kong Qi with mocking expressions.

    Kong Qi was a competent sage, but certainly not a mature official.

    At this moment, Duke Yu, who had remained silent, spoke up, "Prime Minister, does His Majesty know the purpose behind gathering the three armies into the city?"

    Sima Ting glanced at Duke Yu, not expecting this old turtle to speak up for Jin Li.

    However, none of this mattered anymore.

    "Isn''t His Majesty already aware now?" Sima Ting looked at Jin Li, seated on the throne, his eyes smiling, showing no respect at all.

    The former emperor had been his puppet.

    Jin Li had been placed on the throne by him personally.

    It could be said that the entire court was filled with his people.

    He continued, "Recently, there have been demons causing trouble in the capital. To ensure His Majesty''s safety, I have assembled the three armies in the capital. During this period, a curfew will be imposed in the capital, allowing entry but not exit! After half a month, once the demons are eradicated, the three armies will leave the capital, so there is no need for panic!"

    After speaking, Sima Ting turned and left without even pretending.

    The other officials also left one after another.

    Many officials discreetly saluted Jin Li before hastily departing.

    In the large palace, only a few officials remained, along with a troubled Jin Li.

    "Stabilize Soul?"

    The first small skill was called Stabilize Soul, which could fix his soul, enabling him to maintain clarity when facing illusions and fantasies.

    "Death''s Radiance?"

    The major skill was Death''s Radiance.

    Looking at this major skill, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but click his tongue.

    This skill was about dancing on the edge of death.

    At the brink of death, on the verge of dying, it could unleash the most dazzling light, the most powerful combat force.

    Moreover, this was not only a battle-enhancing skill but also a self-healing skill.

    Injuring the enemy could absorb their life force to heal his own wounds.

    Simply put, the lower his health, the stronger he became, and it also had life-stealing and mana-stealing abilities.

    "Why not give me a Serpent''s Fangs? I would be invincible!"

    Qi Yuan felt that this skill was somewhat dangerous and needed to be paired with Serpent''s Fangs.

    That way, he might even be able to carry the enemy''s crystal.

    "However, it¡¯s already pretty good. At full health, using Death''s Radiance can still exert twice the combat power."

    Holding the blood-red greatsword, Qi Yuan''s gaze penetrated the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, looking to the deepest part.

    "Ugly-Clothed Emperor..."

    "No, Clothed Emperor, here I come."

    At the deepest part of the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, the Clothed Emperor, who had been watching Qi Yuan, swiftly approached him.

    In an instant, the two rushed toward each other and clashed fiercely!

    "Ah!"

    The red aura on Qi Yuan''s blood-colored armor seemed about to overflow. He raised his sword, and the sword, originally only a few meters long, suddenly extended to over a thousand meters in the red aura.

    "Take my sword!"

    With Death''s Radiance, Qi Yuan''s fighting style completely changed.

    He pursued the strongest attack and the widest range of destruction.

    Although the residual waves couldn''t hurt the Clothed Emperor, they could kill other clothed monsters.

    These provided experience points and enemies for life-stealing.

    More importantly, he didn''t have to worry about running out of mana, so he could unleash his full power!

    "Today, I will slay you!"

 Chapter 49: Faceless Mask

    Chapter 49: Faceless Mask

    The massive blood-red sword, with a single slash, held a power that even the Divine Realm couldn''t ignore. Not to mention, Qi Yuan was already at level 95.

    According to the classifications of Wangyue Continent, this was already considered the late stage of the Divine Realm. One more step, and he would become a major powerhouse.

    The immense shockwave uprooted trees, and hundreds of clothed monsters lost their courage and souls, becoming the nourishment for Death''s Radiance.

    With one sword stroke separating the world, Qi Yuan''s experience surged crazily, and the form of the Ugly-Clothed Emperor appeared somewhat disheveled.

    Several black claws on its massive paw were broken, revealing white flesh underneath.

    The Ugly-Clothed Emperor, seemingly devoid of intelligence, didn''t care about the pain of its injuries and continued charging at Qi Yuan.

    "It seems today we not only decide the victor but also life and death!"

    Qi Yuan wielded his giant sword with ease, without the slightest instability.

    He now felt as though he could slash down a mountain with a single stroke.

    Of course, not a mountain within the Forbidden Land.

    The terrain here was special.

    With each sword swing, the wind and clouds moved.

    His activated minor skill, Rending Clothes, had an advantage against the Ugly-Clothed Emperor and other clothed monsters.

    Rending Clothes had an armor-piercing effect on clothes and armor.

    And for the Ugly-Clothed Emperor, being inherently made of clothes, bathing was like washing clothes.

    Rending Clothes didn''t just break their armor; it tore their very essence.

    The Ugly-Clothed Emperor''s mask, black and white with no color, clashed with the sharp sword and eerie claws.

    Claws broke, flesh peeled back, exposing ghastly white bones.

    "You have bones?" Qi Yuan was a bit surprised.

    The Ugly-Clothed Emperor remained silent, its horrifying mask staring at him.

    In the eerie silence of the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, the scene was terrifying.

    The two clashed again.

    Throughout the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, countless clothed monsters were killed by the shockwaves of their battle.

    The Ugly-Clothed Emperor''s injuries grew more severe, looking increasingly miserable.

    On the other hand, Qi Yuan fought more fiercely as the battle progressed.

    He surveyed the now nearly ruined Forbidden Land of the Clothed, and his giant sword shrank.

    "This place is soon going to be shaped by me; I can''t destroy it further."

    He held his sword, ready to end this pointless battle.

    Dominant Power!

    Sky-Slashing Sword Technique!

    Two major skills used simultaneously, his most powerful strike in a normal state.

    Boom!

    The blood-red sword thrust toward the Ugly-Clothed Emperor.

    To Qi Yuan''s slight surprise, the Ugly-Clothed Emperor didn''t dodge or couldn''t dodge in time. It allowed Qi Yuan''s terrifying strike to pierce its chest.

    "I need to kill the demonic scourge to get complete Heavenly Dao Fragments."

    "However, according to the invitation, the demonic scourge is in Earth Abyss."

    "To obtain complete Heavenly Dao Fragments, I must go to Earth Abyss."

    "This doesn''t really affect me, though; it just means I can''t fully control the Forbidden Land of the Clothed."

    That meant he couldn''t set the rule for the Forbidden Land of the Clothed to be as accessible as a back door.

    "No, my mind is too exhausted today; I need to log off quickly." Although Qi Yuan wasn''t injured in today''s battle, his mental energy was greatly consumed.

    The mana regeneration from Death''s Radiance couldn''t replenish the mental energy drained from playing the game for too long.

    Staying in the game too long would harm his real-life self significantly.

    Qi Yuan held Little Bride close, and this time, instead of digging a pit, they both lay flat together.

    ...

    In the palace, the lights were bright.

    Imperial guards surrounded the outside, and a tense and murderous atmosphere filled the entire palace.

    To Jin Li''s surprise, after summoning Kong Qi during the day, Duke Yu also sought an audience, expressing considerable dissatisfaction with Sima Ting.

    His words subtly suggested that Jin Li should escape if possible.

    Jin Li understood these reasons.

    But she couldn''t leave.

    The night was deep, and she tossed and turned.

    Now, the only thing that could lift her spirits was talking with Qi Yuan.

    Unfortunately, it was already late, and Qi Yuan hadn''t sent any messages.

    She wondered how he was doing in the Forbidden Land of the Clothed.

    She wondered if she could survive this ordeal.

    The ancient Catalpa tree was visible but untouchable.

    At this moment, a faint light flickered from the exquisite jade.

    Jin Li loosened her grip and looked at the message inside.

    "I have good news to tell you, I''ve conquered the Forbidden Land of the Clothed!"

    "The Forbidden Land of the Clothed is mine!"

    "I need to log off now, I''ve expended too much energy today, I''ll go to another forbidden land tomorrow."

    Seeing this, Jin Li felt a small weight lift off her chest.

    The Forbidden Land of the Clothed was finally taken by Qi Yuan.

    "Be careful." After sending the message, Jin Li felt her face warm.

    She recalled seeing her female imperial guards whisper similar words to their husbands.

    She thought of her recent predicament, originally wanting to tell Qi Yuan in person.

    But seeing that Qi Yuan seemed exhausted, she decided to wait until he rested well to tell him.

    However, the exquisite jade flickered again.

    "Little Jin Li, I have a brilliant plan to help you stabilize Southern Qian. Do you want to hear it?"

 Chapter 50: Past Events

    Chapter 50: Past Events

    "Huh?" Jin Li was momentarily stunned.

    "I''m currently in the Forbidden Land of the Clothed and have subdued a group of minions. These minions should be strong enough to defeat Sima Ting without much trouble. Should I send them over to help you?" Qi Yuan had always kept Jin Li''s situation in mind. Since he had subdued the Forbidden Land of the Clothed''s Forbidden Guards, he thought it best to send them quickly to assist Jin Li. Delaying even one day could lead to irreparable regret.

    "Huh?" Jin Li felt a surge of immense joy. If Qi Yuan were by her side, she couldn''t imagine what kind of crazy or impulsive actions she might take at this moment. She was willing to sacrifice herself but feared she wasn''t worthy of him.

    "Happy now?" Qi Yuan boasted, "I''m helping you cheat."

    He suddenly felt like a wealthy player in a game, spending thousands of dollars, while Jin Li was just a regular player. A regular player was experiencing the benefits of a wealthy player''s assistance. More importantly, when he was gravely ill and living alone, Jin Li was the only light he saw.

    "However, sending them might be slow, and they''ll have to attack from outside the city. If no one is there to protect you, Sima Ting might get desperate. How about this: build a Sacrificial Altar, conduct a ritual, and the Forbidden Guards will appear. It should take about three days!"

    Qi Yuan detailed the method of summoning the Forbidden Guards to Jin Li, which took about half an hour. Exhausted, Qi Yuan finally logged off.

    Little Bride quietly held Qi Yuan, unmoving, as if Qi Yuan was her everything.

    ...

    "Summon the Forbidden Guards!" Jin Li''s eyes gleamed with joy. There was both the relief of surviving a disaster and the joy of possibly seeing Qi Yuan.

    "Someone, summon Minister of Rites Kong Qi..." Jin Li began, then added another name, "Summon Duke Yu!"

    About half an hour later, Kong Qi and Duke Yu stood in the palace hall. Aunt Qin, Flower Immortal, and others stood to the side. They looked at Empress Jin Li with a trace of confusion in their eyes.

    "Minister Kong, I wish to build a Sacrificial Altar. Here is the blueprint. How many days will it take?" Empress Jin Li handed a blueprint to Flower Immortal, who then passed it to Kong Qi.

    Jin Li''s face darkened. "Build the Sacrificial Altar!"

    At this moment, she had to be stubborn and firm!

    Kong Qi felt disappointed in Empress Jin Li. Although the former emperor was also controlled, he always sought to break free and acted with the wisdom of a sage king. But Empress Jin Li...

    Kong Qi''s heart ached. Seeing Jin Li''s stubbornness, he shed tears. "I am useless, unable to alleviate the Empress''s worries. I am willing to contribute 370 taels of silver to help build the Sacrificial Altar."

    Three hundred seventy taels of silver was a lot for an ordinary person but insufficient to build the Sacrificial Altar. Duke Yu sighed deeply. "The Empress intends to share the fate of the nation! I am willing to contribute 80,000 taels of silver and 800 craftsmen to build the Sacrificial Altar. This will be my last act for Southern Qian."

    Back then, his daughter, Consort Xi, was pregnant, and the Empress was also expecting. Both were admiring flowers when a maid brought a bowl of apricot blossom soup, a simple broth. Consort Xi loved apricot blossom soup, so the Empress shared some with her. Who knew the soup was poisoned? Consort Xi miscarried and later died of sorrow.

    Had Consort Xi not drunk the soup, the Empress would have, and Jin Li would never have been born. Consort Xi and her unborn child had saved Jin Li''s life. Although the public believed Consort Xi was poisoned by the Empress out of jealousy, Duke Yu knew it was Sima Ting''s doing. So when Jin Li borrowed books from Duke Yu''s residence, he violated etiquette, making her kneel at his daughter''s spirit. For his daughter and unborn grandchild had died in Jin Li''s place.

    Sometimes, he even considered Jin Li his granddaughter.

    Jin Li, unaware of this, was overjoyed by Duke Yu''s words. "Thank you, Duke Yu!"

    Money was essential, but craftsmen were crucial. Duke Yu''s provision of 800 craftsmen solved nearly all the problems. How could Jin Li not be pleased?

    Duke Yu looked at Empress Jin Li and said, "Your Majesty, I do not know your purpose in doing this. But I must say, your life was exchanged by many sacrifices! Your life and death concern the safety of Southern Qian! Please prioritize the nation''s welfare. I will stay in the palace to build the Sacrificial Altar!"

    He implied that he would be a distraction, building the Sacrificial Altar while Empress Jin Li secretly left.

    Empress Jin Li, even if slow, understood Duke Yu''s implication and said, "I understand."

 Chapter 51: Qi Yuan, the Weakened

    Chapter 51: Qi Yuan, the Weakened

    Watching as Lord Yu and Minister Kong left, Jin Li felt exhausted. She realized she wasn¡¯t suited to be an empress. If... if the situation in Nan Qian were resolved, she wished to leave this place, go to the ancient Ji Tree, and... see Qi Yuan.

    If only it were possible...

    "Your Majesty," Aunt Qin whispered in Jin Li¡¯s ear, "Is building the sacrificial altar the will of that person?"

    Jin Li hesitated upon hearing this. "Aunt Qin, you just need to follow my instructions."

    Aunt Qin stopped speaking but a trace of worry flashed in her eyes. She had recognized the altar design on the blueprint, and so had Lord Yu.

    Aunt Qin withdrew and left the palace, spotting Lord Yu standing alone not far away, leaning against the gray-white railing. Seeing Aunt Qin, Lord Yu said aloud, "Old Madam Qin, you must have recognized the content on that blueprint."Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    "Yes," Aunt Qin nodded, "It¡¯s a sacrificial altar. It¡¯s said that in ancient times, the Yue continent was unified under a divine court that shook the world. Building a sacrificial altar could summon the divine army. But now, those are just legends. The divine court has long fallen; where would a divine army come from? Twenty years ago, when the city of Jingzhou in the Qing Kingdom was besieged by monsters, the governor built a sacrificial altar from an ancient design... and what was the result?"

    Lord Yu could only sigh at this. "I wonder where Her Majesty got this blueprint. But... isn¡¯t relying on the sacrificial altar just as hopeless as hoping Her Majesty can leave the imperial city safely?"

    Clearly, Lord Yu also didn¡¯t believe that the sacrificial altar could actually summon a divine army.

    Aunt Qin¡¯s face turned gloomy. "We do our best and leave the rest to fate."

    ...

    "A sacrificial altar? Ridiculous!" When Sima Ting heard this news, his eyes filled with mockery.

    The beast king of the Yao clan held a blueprint in his hands, smiling. "Using the sword of the ancient divine court to cut modern demons. This Empress Jin Li is quite adorable."

    As a member of the Yao clan, he knew the divine court very well. In ancient times, when humans and the Yao clan competed, a top human expert, revered as a god, established the divine court and led four divisions. Building a sacrificial altar could summon the divine army. The divine court once drove their Yao clan to the icy wilderness. These events were well recorded in the ancestral grounds of the Yao clan.

    "Let her build it. It¡¯s just a dying struggle," said the skinny emperor of the Heavenly Luck Sacred Sect, indifferent.

    Qi Yuan slowly left the thatched hut, spotting Jiang Lingsu flipping through some materials. She wore an ice-blue dress, her presence calming yet distant. Seeing Qi Yuan, she frowned. "Senior Brother, did something go wrong with your cultivation?"

    "No, just tired from staying up late gaming. I need a massage to recover. Junior Sister, would you like to give me a massage? I''ll pay you... three spirit stones."

    "...Go away!" Jiang Lingsu''s budding concern was immediately squashed by Qi Yuan¡¯s flippant remark.

    Qi Yuan chuckled, leisurely descending the mountain. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t agree; otherwise, he¡¯d waste three spirit stones. Proper massages in town didn¡¯t even cost spirit stones. If it weren''t for her being wealthy, he wouldn¡¯t have offered so many.

    As he walked away, Jiang Lingsu felt a twinge of guilt. Was she too harsh earlier?

    After a genuine massage in town, Qi Yuan felt slightly better. He also bought a delicious spirit stew for one spirit stone. A day of relaxation later, Qi Yuan felt somewhat restored.

    "My soul is still too weak. Unfortunately, soul-related techniques and herbs are extremely rare."

    In the vast library of the Black Mountain Sect, Qi Yuan had found no soul-related techniques. Such herbs were even scarcer. Anything related to the soul was highly valuable, often monopolized by Nascent Soul stage cultivators who needed them to advance to the Zifu stage. Even as a Qi Refining cultivator, or even at Foundation Establishment or Core Formation stages, obtaining such resources was nearly impossible.

    "But it¡¯s not a big deal. Once I achieve Foundation Establishment, I¡¯ll consider soul-enhancing methods."

    Qi Yuan had gained the ability to see hidden information after entering the game and reaching Qi Refining. Who knew what new abilities might come with Foundation Establishment? He wasn¡¯t worried.

    Returning to Qise Peak, Qi Yuan prepared to rest and recover before diving back into the game. As he passed the large tree on the mountainside, he paused again, looking down.

    "This is an unusual little grass. It smells the scent of the moon."

    Qi Yuan looked up at the sky. "The scent of the moon? What is that?"

    Gazing back at the grass, he mused, "Will you recognize the scent of Qi Yuan if I see you tomorrow?"

    He wanted to find someone healthy to wake this unusual little grass and ask how it turned extraordinary. He also wanted to be extraordinary.

 Chapter 52: Winds Rising in the Imperial City

    Chapter 52: Winds Rising in the Imperial City

    The night was pitch black.

    Within the imperial city, Aunt Qin was covered in blood.

    The horror in her eyes had not yet dissipated, but she was frantically running towards the inner city.

    The two auras behind her did not pursue but instead went into hiding.

    However, the terror lingering on Aunt Qin had not faded.

    She hurried into the palace.

    "Aunt Qin, what happened to you?" Seeing Aunt Qin covered in blood, Jin Li was horrified.

    Nearby, Duke Yu and the great scholar Kong Qi, who were overseeing the construction of the sacrificial altar, also quickly approached, clearly noticing Aunt Qin''s dire state.

    Upon seeing Aunt Qin''s severe injuries, both men''s eyes revealed concern and despair.

    In recent days, they had not only been building the sacrificial altar but also secretly plotting with Aunt Qin to see if they could smuggle Empress Jin Li out of the imperial city.

    Tonight, Aunt Qin had sneaked out of the city to test the waters.

    Unexpectedly, Aunt Qin returned gravely injured.

    "Cough, cough..." Aunt Qin coughed, spitting out a mouthful of bloody foam mixed with pieces of shattered organs.

    Seeing this, Jin Li hurriedly fed Aunt Qin the healing medicine brought by the flower fairy.

    After taking the medicine, Aunt Qin''s complexion improved slightly.

    "Aunt Qin, are you feeling better?" Jin Li was extremely worried.

    "I''m better, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Aunt Qin looked at the crowd and said heavily, "Just now, when I tried to leave the city, I was intercepted by two emperor-level beings!"

    "What, two of them?"

    "If it were only two, they wouldn''t have injured me so severely. There were also several others lurking in the shadows. Most importantly, they weren''t human; they were demons! A massive formation has been set up outside the imperial city!" Aunt Qin spoke rapidly.

    Hearing this, everyone''s faces changed dramatically.

    The great scholar Kong Qi''s beard trembled: "Demons? A formation?"

    "Outside the formation, there was a blood-red sky with three thousand white flags, indicating it is likely the Soul Entrapment Formation!" As Aunt Qin spoke, everyone present felt weak at the knees.

    The Soul Entrapment Formation was notoriously infamous.Upstodatee from

    Fifty years ago, a small country bordering the demon beast territory was invaded by demons, who set up the Soul Entrapment Formation, brutally killing hundreds of thousands of people.

    Because of that incident, the human nations of the Moonwatch Continent were enraged, forming an allied army to fight the demons.

    As a result, both sides suffered heavy losses.

    It was also due to that conflict that the royal authority of the Nanqian Kingdom began to decline gradually.

    Several major human nations underwent significant changes.

    "Good, I have nothing else to do; I will go watch. See if my future wine vessel is beautiful enough." The demon emperor laughed.

    "I will make the arrangements." Sima Ting had not planned to go, but since the demon emperor wanted to, he would bring all the civil and military officials.

    "Okay." The demon emperor nodded in satisfaction, his eyes showing a deep and inscrutable look.

    His purpose in watching the sacrificial ceremony was not merely to see his future wine vessel.

    On that day, with all the civil and military officials gathered, he planned a massacre.

    With bloodshed, panic, fear, and desire, the bloodless imperial staff would be forged with even greater terror.

    Of course, he did not share these thoughts with Sima Ting.

    ...

    The sacrificial altar was more than two zhang tall, with a pavilion on top, each of its four corners adorned with a small beast sculpture.

    The entire altar exuded an aura of ancient simplicity and rough primitiveness.

    From afar, it looked desolate and heavy.

    Due to its simplicity, the construction of the sacrificial altar did not take long.

    Sima Ting sat in his seat, the demon emperor lounging beside him, completely without manners.

    Sima Riyue''s hair was unbound, looking even more wild.

    Nearby, a group of civil and military officials whispered among themselves.

    Some looked at Sima Ting with doubt, others glanced at the demon emperor thoughtfully.

    It was clear that Aunt Qin had already spread the word about the formation.

    However, most people thought it was merely a ploy by Empress Jin Li to sow discord.

    Moreover, without emperor-level power, they could not detect the Soul Entrapment Formation.

    "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

    With a cry, Empress Jin Li appeared in everyone''s sight.

    She was dressed in a golden, wide-sleeved robe with phoenix birds embroidered in gold on the sleeves. Around her neck was a white jade necklace adorned with golden flowers. Her waist was cinched with a Linglong Jade Seal, and she wore a pearl phoenix crown on her head.

    At this moment, she exuded the grace and dignity befitting an empress.

    Unfortunately, apart from the Minister of Rites and a few others, no one saluted her.

    At that time, the army had entered the imperial city, and Sima Ting''s faction no longer bothered to keep up appearances.

    Seeing this, Sima Riyue was pleased. He leaned towards Sima Ting and said loudly, "Father, if you had done this earlier, I would be the crown prince by now!"

    Many civil and military officials heard this and smiled.

    Jin Li heard it but remained silent.

    "The auspicious time has arrived, let the sacrificial ceremony begin!" Kong Qi straightened his back, his voice heavy, as if this ceremony would witness the end of a dynasty.

 Chapter 53: The Divine Altar, the Clothing Departmentâ€™s Forbidden Army Emerges

    Chapter 53: The Divine Altar, the Clothing Department¡¯s Forbidden Army Emerges

    As Kong Qi chanted, Jin Li slowly ascended the sacrificial platform.

    This was supposed to be a national sacrifice, but only the Minister of Rites was present to perform the ceremony. How pathetic.

    Qin Yi and Duke Yu stood below the platform, looking at Jin Li on the stage with a deep sense of helplessness in their eyes.

    Jin Li ascended the altar, praying for the descent of the Divine Court''s army, but it was nothing more than an illusion, a mirage.

    They were utterly powerless to change the situation.

    Meanwhile, some of the civil and military officials beside Sima Ting watched Jin Li with a look of amusement.

    Especially those who knew the origin of the sacrificial platform, they mocked her. Some even felt a pang of sorrow. The empress was cornered, with no way out.

    The beautiful but doomed Empress Jin Li was destined to perish with the empire.

    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Empress Jin Li slowly ascended the altar.

    This time, her steps were steady.

    Inside her, emotions swirled.

    Foremost was her worry for Qi Yuan.

    It had been four days since Qi Yuan last sent any message.

    But now, with the grave situation at hand, worrying was useless. She cast aside other emotions, following Qi Yuan''s steps for the ritual.

    Holding a long jade tablet, she appeared devout.

    As she climbed two-thirds of the steps, Kong Qi prostrated himself, curling up, tears streaming down his old face.

    This was the most humiliating ceremony he had ever presided over.

    Even more so than the empress''s enthronement.

    And this time, it was likely his last ceremony, marking the end of the Nangan Kingdom.

    He, along with the empress, would be mere footnotes in history, leaving no trace.

    Sima Riyue sat among the officials, legs spread, showing no decorum. He pointed at the sacrificial platform: "What do you think, will Her Majesty become a legend if she leaps off the platform?"

    The last empress of the empire, leaping from the altar, would indeed be legendary.

    The officials remained silent, no one answering him.

    The demon emperor beside him grinned, revealing sharp, white teeth: "I hope she doesn''t land headfirst, or my exquisite drinking vessel will shatter."

    He spoke, then continued drinking in his peculiar way, biting the cup and swallowing it.

    This strange act drew the attention of many.

    Watching the demon emperor swallow the cup, Sima Riyue glanced at Empress Jin Li''s elegantly coiffed head, a twinge of fear creeping in.

    He knew this man was extraordinary, possibly from the Tianyun Sect, prompting him to say: "You have peculiar taste, truly an elegant man."

    The demon emperor poured Sima Riyue a drink, and the two drank together.

    As for the empress on the sacrificial platform?

    Who cared?

    Empress Jin Li reached the top.

    Standing on the two-zhang-high altar, she raised the jade tablet with her left hand, tossing a jade ring into the stone brazier with her right. The ring shattered into pieces.

    Her voice, clear as a mountain spring, resounded with authority.

    "O gods, take pity on my thoughts, accept my jade tablet!"

    Her voice rose, and the flames danced.

    "My heart is restless, seeking solace from the heavens."

    "O mighty heavens, look down upon me!"

    ...

    The invocation was brief, part of it provided by Kong Qi.

    The most crucial part of the ritual was given by Qi Yuan.

    It was very short, just two lines.

    Jin Li earnestly recited the first line.

    The last line required no recitation, only a thought.

    Watching the chaos, the demon emperor smiled in satisfaction.

    The more chaotic and bloody the capital, the stronger the Bloodless Emperor''s Staff would become.

    After a massacre, he turned his gaze to Qin Yi, guarding the sacrificial platform, a look of contempt in his eyes.

    At her peak, Qin Yi wasn''t his match, let alone now, wounded as she was.

    "My drinking vessel, here I come!"

    The demon emperor''s body swelled, growing three zhang tall, towering over the platform.

    Facing an emperor-level foe, he showed respect.

    A fierce beast, mocking humanity.

    Qin Yi, seeing this, leaped into the air, her slender figure blocking the platform.

    At this moment, she heard Empress Jin Li''s solemn and dignified chant.

    "Soldiers, heed the call, kill!"

    With this chant, an unexpected event unfolded.

    Above the platform, the clear sky suddenly filled with dark clouds.

    Thick clouds gathered, casting the capital into darkness.

    A chilling, mysterious, and profound aura spread.

    Everyone was terrified, hearing the sound of thousands of horses and the awakening of gods.

    "What''s happening?" The demon emperor was shocked for the first time.

    The other demon emperors outside the city were equally stunned.

    A cold voice echoed from the sky.

    "By the decree of the Lord of the Clothing Department, Qi Yuan!"

    "Summoned by Empress Jin Li of Nangan!"

    "The Divine Court''s Four Departments, the Forbidden Army of the Clothing Department, purge the traitors!"

    A ray of bright sunlight pierced the thick clouds.

    The sky brightened.

    Then darkened again.

    Looking up, near the sacrificial platform, appeared thousands of soldiers.

    Clad in black armor, wielding golden weapons, they stood in the air.

    They surrounded Empress Jin Li, led by ten terrifyingly powerful black-armored warriors.

    Silent, but exuding immense pressure.

    They seemed to have marched through history, demons from the underworld.

    They did not look at the people below, as if they disdained to look, but everyone felt the unbearable pressure.

    At this moment, the clothing department''s imperial guards formed a military formation, holding long golden spears, announcing their arrival to the world.

    Duke Yu widened his eyes when he saw this scene.

    "The Four Departments of the Divine Court... The Imperial Guards of the Clothing Department are really here!"

    The great sage Kong Qi, who was crawling on the ground, was also completely stunned and cried with joy: "God bless Nan Kingdom, God bless my Empress!"

    Auntie Qin was also shocked: "It''s all true, the Lord of the Clothing Department? Qi Yuan?"

    After so many thousands of years, is there still the Divine Court in the world, is there still the Clothing Department?

    Yes!

    At this time, the cold and silent Imperial Guards of the Clothing Department finally moved. A Imperial Guard in red armor flew silently in front of Queen Jinli, and announced with a mechanical voice.

    "My Lord brought two words."

    "The master said that he wanted to say a rustic love word. With him here, no one in the world can touch you."

    "The master also said..."

    Hearing these two words, Jinli''s eyes flashed with determination. She looked up at the ancient Qi Chun wood in the center of the world, and her eyes were like stars.

 Chapter 54: Arrows Like Thunder, Spears Like Dragons

    Chapter 54: Arrows Like Thunder, Spears Like Dragons

    An indescribable emotion spread as Jin Li couldn''t help but ask, "How is he?"

    The red-armored figure seemed to have anticipated this question: "The master is well."

    After saying this, the red-armored figure seemed to lose all its spiritual essence and ceased speaking.

    Jin Li felt at ease. She knew this was a forbidden army of the Clothing Department, resurrected from death.

    They were a battle-hardened elite force that had already fallen in battle.

    She looked at the demon emperor.

    At this moment, the demon emperor also looked at her in astonishment.

    "Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

    "The Four Departments of the Divine Court were long destroyed in the mists of history!"

    "How can there be a forbidden army of the Clothing Department in this world!"

    "You are nothing but projections, heart demons!"

    "Disturbing my supreme heart, you must die!"

    The demon emperor roared, seemingly about to charge towards the forbidden army of the Clothing Department, intending to shatter those shadows with a punch.

    However, something astonishing happened.

    He took a step forward but immediately retreated, flying out of the city.

    At this moment, one of the ten black-armored commanders within the forbidden army, carrying a long bow, drew it partially and released an arrow.

    Whoosh!

    The long arrow made a sonic boom, leaving a long trail across the sky.

    The swift arrow, like a bolt of lightning, pierced the demon emperor''s body.

    The demon emperor looked back in disbelief: "Supreme... emperor!"

    With a "bang," the arrow exploded, and his body was blown apart.

    A terrifying giant beast, the demon emperor, was easily shot to death by a single arrow, then exploded.

    It was as if a balloon had been popped by an arrow.

    This scene shocked the civil and military officials present.

    Even Sima Ting was utterly shaken.

    The thin emperor of the Tianyun Sect beside him trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief.

    A powerful figure, infinitely close to a supreme emperor, ranking among the top ten in the demon race, was killed by a single arrow?

    He looked at the forbidden army of the Clothing Department in the sky, feeling no resistance in his heart.

    The ten leaders, each with an aura as deep as the ocean!

    They were supreme emperors!

    And not just ordinary supreme emperors!

    A forbidden army of ten thousand led by ten supreme emperors and nearly a hundred emperors!

    What a concept!

    None of the soldiers were ordinary people.

    "Too bad you don''t have a face." Qi Yuan thought.

    He didn''t disturb the little wedding garment.

    Because he found that the little wedding garment seemed to be like him, greatly exhausted and not yet recovered.

    This was the first time he had seen the little wedding garment in this state.

    Qi Yuan''s expression was complex.

    It seemed that he couldn''t be too combative in the future.

    Qi Yuan decided that he should be more cautious in the future.

    At this moment, the little wedding garment, who had been asleep, suddenly moved.

    If it had eyes, Qi Yuan would have noticed its long eyelashes fluttering before opening its eyes.

    Seeing the little wedding garment awake, Qi Yuan smiled gently: "You''re in trouble. After leaving the Clothing Department, you probably won''t see your kin for a while."

    There were many other wedding garment spirits in the Clothing Department.

    The little wedding garment continued to cling to Qi Yuan, like a clingy puppy.

    "I wonder if you''ll have trouble adjusting. The place we''re going next is called... the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    I wonder if there are many monsters in the Five Elements Forbidden Land?"

    If there were many monsters in the Five Elements Forbidden Land, Qi Yuan decided to rely less on the little wedding garment and fight on his own.

    Even without the little wedding garment, didn''t he still conquer the Clothing Department Forbidden Area?

    It was originally clumsy, knocking things over when it walked, and even tripping over nothing.

    Moreover, its body was soft and delicate. Qi Yuan feared it couldn''t handle the strain of frequent merging.

    Of course, Qi Yuan was reminded of a certain TV show''s siblings, where the brother said he could defeat the enemy without his sister''s sword, but the sister sacrificed her sword, and the brother died in battle.

    Naturally, Qi Yuan did not favor such an ending.

    "Five Elements Forbidden Land... here I come."

    Qi Yuan held the little wedding garment''s cold hand, and they finally stepped into the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    Unlike the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area and the Clothing Department Forbidden Area, it was vastly different.

    Looking around, Qi Yuan saw no flowers, trees, or other monsters in the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    The environment was peculiar.

    One side was lava, burning with blazing flames; another side was ice, spouting cold springs; another side was a gold mine, with specks of gold sand, some of which were in liquid form, flowing.

    The Five Elements Forbidden Land, a place where the five elements gather.

    He tightly held the little wedding garment''s hand as they walked into the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    After all, given the little wedding garment''s clumsy and nai?ve nature, if it walked by itself and fell into the fire, burning its clothes and exposing itself, what then?

    Of course, what if it got hurt.

    At this moment, an old voice sounded in Qi Yuan''s ear.

    "Lord of the Clothing Department, I have been waiting for you for a long time!"

 Chapter 55: Knocked on the Wrong One

    Chapter 55: Knocked on the Wrong One

    Qi Yuan looked towards the source of the voice and felt a sharp sensation.

    When he looked closely, he saw an amiable old man.

    However, this old man gave Qi Yuan a strange feeling.

    It seemed as if... he wasn''t a living person.

    Suddenly, a trace of vigilance flashed in his eyes. He protected Xiao Jia behind him and held his long sword towards the old man.

    He spoke, "You are a demonic entity!"

    Qi Yuan saw that the inside of the old man''s body was empty. The entire person was just a human skin.

    The old man still maintained a kindly smile: "You could say I am a demonic entity, but also not."

    Qi Yuan carefully examined the old man again.

    He sensed a strong metallic aura from the old man.

    A guess formed in his mind.

    The old man said, "The name I had in life has long been forgotten.

    After being devoured by extraterritorial demons, I died, leaving only this human skin behind.

    Upon entering the Five Elements Forbidden Land, I gained a new lease on life.

    Now, I am called Jin Zu. I am neither human nor non-human, neither alive nor dead."

    Qi Yuan looked at Jin Zu and understood.

    Jin Zu was now just a vessel for metal attributes.

    He didn''t even have a soul.

    Only a persistent will remained.

    Thus, he was as good as dead.

    "What do you want from me?" Qi Yuan asked, his vigilance unrelenting.

    "Lord Tong of the Yin-Yang Forbidden Land must have invited the Master of the Clothing Department to the demon-extermination assembly three hundred years later.

    Since we all are beings of the Moonwatch Continent, we should unite against the extraterritorial demons. Otherwise, we might end up like my former self¡ªdead, leaving only a human skin." Jin Zu sighed.

    Qi Yuan looked at Jin Zu. Despite being just a human skin, he felt more comfortable with him than with the elders and disciples of the Black Mountain Sect.

    "I must exterminate the extraterritorial demons!" Qi Yuan''s attitude was firm.

    The big boss must be dealt with.

    His heavenly foundation was tied to the big boss.

    Upon hearing this, Jin Zu''s amiable expression deepened: "Now that the Master of the Clothing Department has come to the Five Elements Forbidden Land, we are willing to open the Five Elements Training Grounds.

    "Of course I can decide!" Jin Zu said confidently.

    "Good, it''s a deal." Qi Yuan responded, "It seems it won''t be long before I clear the Five Elements Forbidden Land."

    The green-clad woman looked at Qi Yuan with dissatisfaction and turned to Jin Zu, communicating telepathically: "Grandpa Jin Zu, how can you make such a promise with him!"

    Jin Zu smiled without speaking.

    Led by Jin Zu, the group walked deeper into the forbidden land.

    Along the way, Qi Yuan kept surveying his surroundings.

    The Five Elements Forbidden Land indeed had no other monsters, but there were many natural and geographical disasters, extremely dangerous.

    Creatures around level fifty or sixty entering rashly would likely die.

    After about a quarter of an hour, Jin Zu led the group to a valley.

    In the valley, there were over seventy coffins.

    Qi Yuan knew that many powerful beings were dormant in these coffins.

    Jin Zu said, "Most of the powerful beings of the Moonwatch Continent are gathered in the Five Elements Forbidden Land and the Yin-Yang Forbidden Land.

    They are in these coffins, both to rest and to cultivate.

    When the demon-extermination assembly begins, they will emerge from the coffins.

    By then, Master of the Clothing Department, you will join them in exterminating the extraterritorial demons."

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan remained silent.

    Three hundred years, he couldn''t wait that long.

    How old was he now?

    In three hundred years, even a dynasty could be wiped out.

    Jin Zu continued talking to himself, then he walked to a coffin and knocked on it lightly.

    There was no response from the coffin.

    Seeing this, he knocked harder a few more times.

    Still, there was no response.

    Jin Zu looked puzzled: "Hmm?"

    At this moment, the adjacent coffin lid suddenly lifted, and a rough-looking man with a wild demeanor sat up: "Jin Zu, has your memory gone with your former self? You even knocked on the wrong coffin!"

    Seeing the rough man, Jin Zu''s face showed a trace of embarrassment: "Ahem, an accident."

    The rough man then looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes seemingly scrutinizing: "Not bad, even with the help of the wedding dress empress, you''re a good seedling.

    It was worth using my essence to open the Five Elements Training Grounds for you.

    I hope in three hundred years, you can become a major power!"

 Chapter 56: Power of the Five Elements

    Chapter 56: Power of the Five Elements

    After the rough man finished speaking, he suddenly spat out a thick phlegm from his mouth. However, the phlegm transformed into a ball of five-colored gas.

    Jin Zu caught the gas, gave some instructions to Xiao Lu, and then led Qi Yuan further in.

    Moments later, all the coffin lids in the area suddenly lifted.

    One by one, humanoid beings sat up, each exuding a terrifying aura.

    The rough man spoke with a hint of amazement in his voice, "Unexpectedly, he has already stepped into the Divine Realm. Truly a genius, second only to Yu."

    Everyone looked at Yu.

    In the Five Elements Forbidden Land, there were only two peak Divine Realm experts.

    In the world today, there were only three peak Divine Realm experts.

    Yu, clad in a white robe covered in feathers, had an extremely handsome appearance, resembling a stunningly beautiful female immortal.

    "Given a few more millennia, he might become a giant in the Divine Realm. What a pity, what a pity." Yu''s voice was extremely soft, leaning towards the feminine side.

    "If he gains something in the Five Elements Training Ground within three hundred years, coupled with the support of the Wedding Dress Empress, he might be able to wield the power of a giant in the Divine Realm."

    A giant in the Divine Realm was already the strongest combat power below the peak of the Divine Realm, extremely rare.

    However, when this person mentioned the Wedding Dress Empress, many people present had flickering eyes, as if recalling something.

    In the past, the Heavenly God could suppress an era, largely due to the Wedding Dress Empress.

    If they obtained the Wedding Dress Empress, the power they could wield would be at least that of a giant, and they might even wield the power of a peak Divine Realm expert.

    If Yu or Long Pan obtained her, they might even surpass the power of the Heavenly God.

    Facing the extraterritorial demons, their chances would improve.

    However, they also understood that the Wedding Dress Empress was not easy to obtain.

    Yu gently admonished, "No internal strife."

    The soft voice carried a hint of warning.

    Everyone knew Yu''s character¡ªthe fewer words, the more serious the matter.

    Everyone fell silent, hiding their inner thoughts.

    At this moment, the green-clad girl couldn''t help but speak: "That Master of the Clothing Department, his intentions are sinister. He wants... the Five Elements Forbidden Land!"

    "What?" The rough man was surprised upon hearing this.

    The green-clad girl quickly recounted what had happened to everyone present.

    After hearing it, their expressions varied.

    "He wants to fully control the Five Elements Forbidden Land? His ambition is not small."

    This condition was extremely difficult.

    Mastering the Metal element alone would take even the Heavenly God several centuries.

    Mastering all five elements? By then, the demon-extermination assembly would be over.

    Moreover, not all experts could adapt to the other elements. Even if they slayed the essences, they might not gain the power of the five elements.

    "I understand." Qi Yuan was excited.

    Isn''t this just like collecting fragments in a game?

    Collect all five fragments, then exchange them to become the lord of the forbidden land.

    After saying this, he held Xiao Jia''s hand, glanced at Jin Zu, and said, "I''m going."

    Jin Zu watched Qi Yuan enter, chuckling, and reminded him, "In the Five Elements Training Ground, there are also some young prodigies from the Five Elements Forbidden Land. If you encounter them, take care of each other."

    "Okay!" Qi Yuan replied, and his figure disappeared.

    At this moment, a water figure appeared, transforming into a woman¡ªit was Shui Zu.

    Jin Zu shook his head and then said, "I hope he can.

    If so, we will have another peak Divine Realm expert during the demon-extermination assembly.

    Our chances will be better."

    Shui Zu said, "It''s just a slightly better chance, sigh."

    "Hmph, are you all hoping he becomes the lord of the forbidden land?

    Even if he does, he might not be able to defeat the extraterritorial demons.

    And we will still die!" A flame rose into the sky, and the short-tempered Huo Zu appeared.

    "We are already dead, just a remnant will remaining. How can we talk about dying again?" Mu Zu, barefoot and exuding a peaceful and revitalizing aura, spoke.

    "Oh, you old undead! Do you have to remind me that I''m already dead? I had finally forgotten it, and now you bring it up again!" Huo Zu cursed and ran off like a wisp of smoke, "Now I won''t be able to sleep tonight!"

    The remaining ancestors exchanged glances, their thoughts varied.

    At this moment, in the Five Elements Training Ground, Qi Yuan, holding Xiao Jia''s hand, looked into the distance.

    "These monsters aren''t very high-level, only around forty or fifty, with stronger ones at seventy or eighty. No, some are even at ninety."

    He looked at the Five Elements monsters, showing a thoughtful expression.

    "If I base my cultivation on the Heavenly Dao, won''t my foundation be unstable?

    If I transform the power of the five elements into the energy of the five elements, can''t I reconstruct my cultivation foundation?

    If I succeed, my foundation should far surpass that of my peers, right?"

    Qi Yuan also considered that his Heavenly Dao foundation seemed insufficient. If he filled it with the power of the five elements.

    If he found a desolate planet, could he possibly recreate earth, water, wind, and fire?

 Chapter 57: Five Elements Fulfilled? Impossible!

    Chapter 57: Five Elements Fulfilled? Impossible!

    Qi Yuan held Xiao Jia''s hand as they walked through the training grounds. His eyes swept around, taking in information.

    [Gold Spirit, Level 48, can be transformed into Gold Essence Qi.]

    A dung-yellow monster was rushing towards Qi Yuan. Its entire body was golden yellow, seemingly with solid gold as bones, liquid gold as blood, and the gas it exhaled was gaseous gold. Its appearance was somewhat disgusting.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Gold Spirit with disdain and casually slashed it with his sword. The giant Gold Spirit fell in response.

    Experience +100.

    Gold Essence Qi +1 (wisp).

    "Not bad, not bad. I just don''t know how much Gold Essence Qi is needed to complete the gold element."

    One Gold Spirit could provide Qi Yuan with a wisp of Gold Essence Qi, which was quite good for him. After acquiring the Gold Essence Qi, he could feel that his attack seemed slightly sharper, a subtle but noticeable improvement.

    He carried his sword and held Xiao Jia''s hand, heading deeper into the training grounds where more Five Elements Spirits and more experience and essence awaited.

    He needed to collect more of the Five Elements Qi to achieve the complete mastery of the five elements. In doing so, the Five Elements Forbidden Land would be entirely under his control. The Heavenly Dao fragments would also be within reach.

    "Kill!"

    Qi Yuan, accompanied by Xiao Jia, fought in the Five Elements training grounds for three hours. Initially, he did not merge with Xiao Jia, thinking that Xiao Jia''s body had not rested well and merging would deplete her energy. However, later he decided to merge with Xiao Jia because leaving her alone was dangerous. Given her naive nature, if she were left alone in a seemingly safe place, she might end up falling into the water.

    Additionally, he wasn''t facing enemies of the level of the Ugly Clothes Monster Emperor, so merging with Xiao Jia caused minimal depletion to her energy. After merging, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but sigh, "We''ve been married for so long, and I''ve grown fond of her over time."

    Of course, Xiao Jia played a crucial role in Qi Yuan''s victory over the Garment Forbidden Land. Who wouldn''t appreciate such a partner? Some unscrupulous people might even call Xiao Jia "mom" directly.

    Standing ten meters tall, Qi Yuan was invincible in the Five Elements Forbidden Land, cutting down two Earth Spirits with one slash. In the game, he was on a killing spree, the only regret being that there were too few Five Elements Spirits.

    Most of his time was spent searching for the Five Elements Spirits.

    "It''s time to log out." Qi Yuan, as usual, separated from Xiao Jia. Today in the Five Elements training grounds, Qi Yuan had made significant gains. Last time, after defeating the Ugly Clothes Monster Emperor, he was level 91, close to level 92. Today, he reached level 92. When merged with Xiao Jia, he could exert the power of level 97, equivalent to the strength of a domain giant.

    Not only that, but he also acquired a lot of the Five Elements Qi. He obtained 20 wisps of Gold Essence Qi and 11 wisps of Wood Essence Qi. The other three essences were within this range.

    With so much Five Elements Qi, Qi Yuan vaguely sensed that to complete the gold element, he would need 50 times what he currently had. In other words, by killing a thousand Five Elements Spirits, he could achieve complete mastery of the five elements.

    "It would take at least fifty days to achieve complete mastery of the five elements. That''s too slow!"

    "Was this game designed by Netease? Making people collect fragments every day, and even spending money doesn''t make it any better!"

    "I need to speed up!"

    "The biggest problem now is that there don''t seem to be many Five Elements Spirits in the training grounds. I wonder where there''s a large concentration of them. Otherwise, I could grind for five or six days and might achieve complete mastery of the five elements, taking control of the Five Elements Forbidden Land."

    "If I remember correctly, there are other talents in the Five Elements training grounds. They''ve been here for a long time and are most familiar with the place. Tomorrow, I''ll look for them and ask where the dens of the Five Elements Spirits are."

    Hearing this, the red-robed man remembered something and said, "I heard from Little Green that someone else has entered the training grounds, calling himself the Lord of the Garment Department."

    Tang Yan was surprised, "Lord of the Garment Department? The husband of the Bride Empress? Who is he? It seems we have another strong talent among us."

    Tang Yan looked pleased. More talents meant a better chance against the extraterrestrial demons.

    "It seems he''s not from our forbidden lands but an outsider who, by chance, entered the Garment Forbidden Land and obtained the Garment Department''s legacy," the red-robed man said, his tone a bit sour. "This person... unlike us, he has great talent but perhaps has never faced any real setbacks, making him arrogant. On his first day in the Five Elements Forbidden Land, he declared he would control the land and be the leader of the Five Elements!"

    Tang Yan was stunned, "That''s a joke, right? Can''t be serious!"

    To control the Five Elements Forbidden Land, one needs to perfect the Five Elements. Tang Yan, the top water talent, considered a once-in-a-millennium genius, needed a year to gather a wisp of Water Essence Qi. The more he gathered, the harder it became. To perfect the water element would take at least three thousand years, not to mention the other four elements.

    The Garment Department Lord would need talent in all five elements comparable to Tang Yan''s water talent and then spend ten thousand years to perfect the Five Elements. Clearly impossible.

    "That''s why I say the Garment Department Lord is inexperienced, having never encountered true talents, hence his arrogance," the red-robed man couldn''t help but say.

    The bun-haired woman chuckled, "You can say such things among us but don''t say it in front of the Garment Department Lord."

    The red-robed man laughed, "Of course, I''m not foolish. We''re all in this together for the Demon-Slaying Conference. I''ll praise him to his face and save the bad-mouthing for behind his back."

    Tang Yan and the bun-haired woman were helpless.

    At this moment, a lazy voice came, "Didn''t your mother tell you not to speak ill of others behind their backs?"

    The three were stunned and quickly looked at the red-robed man''s position. A hand reached out from the ground, grabbing the red-robed man''s ankle. The three were surprised but not flustered.

    The soil churned, and a handsome man holding a bride-like girl emerged from the ground.

    "Lord of the Garment Department!" Tang Yan couldn''t help but recognize Qi Yuan''s identity. His gaze swept over Xiao Jia and finally rested on Qi Yuan''s face.

    The red-robed man also recognized Qi Yuan, his face showing embarrassment. It was too awkward to bad-mouth someone and be caught by the person.

    He forced a smile, "Ahem, apologies, that was my fault."

    But why was the Garment Department Lord buried in the ground instead of collecting Five Elements Essence?

    The bun-haired woman asked out of curiosity, voicing the three''s question, "Lord of the Garment Department, why were you buried in the ground?"

    "Um, sleeping," Qi Yuan decided not to reveal too many game terms to NPCs. What if the NPCs awakened?

    He had seen a movie where a game NPC awakened and fell in love with a human female player.

    "Sleeping?" The red-robed man was wide-eyed, "Domain warriors don''t need to sleep."

    Upon reaching the celestial domain, one no longer needed sleep. Sleeping was an inefficient way to rest.

    "I wanted to sleep a bit longer, but you were too noisy, disturbing my dream, so I came up. As a price for disturbing me, you must answer a question for me." Qi Yuan, feeling clever again, had his eyes sparkle.

 Chapter 58: Are You the Father of Water Spirits?

    Chapter 58: Are You the Father of Water Spirits?

    "Lord of the Garment Department, what questions do you have? Feel free to ask," Tang Yan said calmly.

    "I want to know where there are more Five Spirits, the more the better," Qi Yuan asked, raising his most concerned question.

    There were too few Five Spirits here, not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

    Upon hearing this, the three present all doubted their ears. How could anyone ask where there were more Five Spirits?

    Shouldn''t he be asking where there were fewer?

    "Two hundred miles from here, there is a valley with two hundred Wood Spirits. Does that meet the Lord of the Garment Department''s needs?" Tang Yan answered cautiously.

    Qi Yuan was a bit disappointed upon hearing this. "Isn''t there more?"

    "How much more?" The bun-haired woman couldn''t help but interject.

    "The more, the better. A thousand is not too many; ten thousand... is a bit much."

    Everyone was somewhat confused, not knowing why Qi Yuan would ask such a question. Entering the training grounds, shouldn''t one seek a quiet place to slowly comprehend and gather the Five Essence Qi?

    "Why are you looking for a place with many Five Spirits?" the red-robed man asked.

    Qi Yuan gave him a look, thinking this red-robed man was a bit foolish. "Of course, to get the Five Essence Qi. The more Five Spirits there are, the more Five Essence Qi there will be, and the easier it will be to collect."

    The red-robed man was stunned by this answer. Tang Yan looked at Qi Yuan, thinking that Qi Yuan might have just entered the Five Elements training grounds and had not yet obtained any Five Essence Qi, unaware of the tricks involved.

    He quickly told Qi Yuan the secret: "Lord of the Garment Department, obtaining Five Essence Qi is not a simple task. You need to pay attention to some key points..."

    However, at the end of his explanation, Tang Yan added, "A thousand miles east from here, there is an abyss, the core area of the Five Elements training grounds, with over ten thousand Five Spirits."

    Tang Yan spoke at length, even detailing the route to the core area. The red-robed man stood aside, wanting to laugh but holding back, waiting for the Lord of the Garment Department to leave before laughing. Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing to laugh in his face after bad-mouthing him earlier.

    Qi Yuan was slightly stunned upon hearing this. "Is obtaining Five Essence Qi difficult?"

    "Very difficult. Even with talent as extraordinary as Brother Tang Yan, it took a year to comprehend and obtain a wisp of Water Essence Qi," the bun-haired woman answered.

    Qi Yuan''s expression remained unchanged. He looked at the Water Spirit trapped behind the bun-haired woman and asked, "Do you still need this?"

    The bun-haired woman was stunned and instinctively replied, "No."

    "That''s good. Although you are... I don''t want to steal your monsters," he said, swinging his sword. The Water Spirit was immediately cut in half.

    Experience +100.

    Water Essence Qi +1 (wisp).

    At this moment, the red-robed man, who had been holding back laughter, widened his eyes. He even wanted to rub his eyes to ensure it wasn''t an illusion!

    What did he just see? The Lord of the Garment Department casually killed a Water Spirit with one sword stroke and then... comprehended a wisp of Water Essence Qi.

    Is it that simple? Talent? Impossible! It must be a coincidence!

    The red-robed man thought so, and Tang Yan and the bun-haired woman also thought the same.

    "Lord of the Garment Department, your talent is astonishing. I didn''t expect you to comprehend Water Essence Qi in just a few breaths," Tang Yan praised.

    He was now certain that the Lord of the Garment Department was a genius with talent even surpassing his own and also of the water attribute.

    "I''m different from you," Qi Yuan didn''t think his talent was anything special. Unlike them, he was a player; killing monsters earned him rewards.

    These NPCs, on the other hand, had to rely on real comprehension.

    Qi Yuan''s words left the three present speechless, especially the bun-haired woman. She felt that the Lord of the Garment Department''s words were as annoying as the red-robed man''s and needed to be blocked.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the red-robed man and asked, "Do you still need those three Water Spirits behind you?"

    At this moment, Tang Yan suggested, "I have a proposal. How about we go to the core area?"

    The red-robed man and the bun-haired woman quickly nodded.

    "Alright!"

    After all, people are different. They didn''t know when they would next comprehend Water Essence Qi, and going to the core area wouldn''t take much time. Watching someone kill a Water Spirit with one sword stroke and comprehend Water Essence Qi was a once-in-a-lifetime event they couldn''t miss!

    All three of them were water attribute practitioners. Missing such a historic moment would be a shame!

    ...

    A thousand miles wasn''t very far for Qi Yuan, but it still took some time to travel.

    Especially since he encountered other Five Spirits along the way, he didn''t mind collecting them. Even the smallest gains were still gains.

    Tang Yan and the other two chased after him but couldn''t keep up with Qi Yuan. Even though Qi Yuan stopped to kill and walk, they still couldn''t catch up.

    However, while chasing, they informed those outside of the situation. After all, the Lord of the Garment Department''s talent was too astonishing. If he perfected the water element and combined it with the Bride Empress, he might be able to exert the peak power of the Divine Domain!

    Unfortunately, he was too young! Otherwise, given more time, he would undoubtedly be more terrifying than the gods.

    Qi Yuan didn''t know he was being followed by three people.

    He didn''t fly directly to the core area. He was very close to level 93 and planned to level up to 93 before going to the core area. Otherwise, no matter how tough his spear was, it would be dulled by thousands of Five Spirits.

    Increasing his combat power before heading to the core area was the key.

    Because of this, when Tang Yan and the others arrived at the core area, they didn''t find Qi Yuan.

    The red-robed man looked at the core area from a distance, feeling the terrifying aura inside. "Could the Lord of the Garment Department have tricked us? Used a diversion technique and didn''t come at all!"

    The bun-haired woman glared at the red-robed man and moved a little farther away from him. "You should talk less. Don''t you know you attract Five Spirits'' attention the most?"

    Tang Yan nodded in agreement.

    The red-robed man''s mouth and person were annoying and often attracted Five Spirits'' attacks whenever he appeared.

    If it was anywhere else, it would be fine, but this was the core area, where even Divine Domain level Five Spirits existed.

    "You worry too much. Those previous incidents were just coincidences," the red-robed man said, but as soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous roar came from the core area.

    Tang Yan and the bun-haired woman glanced at the red-robed man.

    Both immediately started running.

    At this moment, within the core area, tens of thousands of Five Spirits roared out, densely packed like a stampede.

    The red-robed man cried out, "Wait for me! It''s really not my fault!"

    "Stop talking... Hey, don''t run towards me!"

    "Stay away from me!" Tang Yan also complained.

    The three of them fled frantically, followed by tens of thousands of Five Spirits.

    About an hour later, Qi Yuan, holding Xiao Jia, quietly arrived at the core area. Seeing the empty core area, he showed a puzzled expression, "Did I come to the wrong place?"

    However, he scanned the distant mountains with suspicious eyes. He clearly sensed the presence of Five Spirits.

    "The ground is still warm; they haven''t been gone long. Did they go to a party?"

    Qi Yuan thought and gritted his teeth, "It''s too much not to invite me to a party!"

    He entered the core area. For some reason, he felt a bit hot upon arrival. The Five Essence Qi in his body also seemed to be boiling. And in the abyss, something seemed to be flickering.

 Chapter 59: The Art of Daydreaming

    Chapter 59: The Art of Daydreaming

    Qi Yuan cautiously entered the core area.

    Ahead lay an unending stretch of mountains. He stopped on a flat expanse.

    Further ahead was an abyss, seemingly bottomless and shrouded in mist.

    No animals or plants could be seen within it.

    However, faintly visible were five colors, representing the forces of the Five Elements.

    These five colors were like boiling, flowing paints. If a person fell in, their bones would likely be dissolved.

    If Qi Yuan, who had yet to begin cultivation, had looked down into the abyss, his acrophobia would have made his legs tremble, and he might have felt an uncontrollable urge to jump.

    But now, he didn''t feel that way.

    "According to typical game settings, shouldn''t I have to slay all the Five Spirits here before reaching the final reward area? Unexpectedly, the Five Spirits are gone, and I can arrive here without killing any monsters."

    Qi Yuan lifted Xiao Jia into his arms. "Be careful."

    Qi Yuan jumped into the abyss.

    In an instant, he felt as if he had collided with a thin membrane.

    He squeezed through it. for new novels

    When he looked around, Qi Yuan saw more of the five colors.

    It seemed to be a pool.

    The pool was filled with the boiling colors of the Five Elements.

    Qi Yuan felt a tingling sensation on his body.

    He looked at Xiao Jia, who was turning an increasingly intense shade of red, as if she were in a sauna. She seemed quite uncomfortable in this place.

    "United we stand!"

    Qi Yuan decided to merge with Xiao Jia.

    Not to enhance his strength or defense, but to protect Xiao Jia.

    Xiao Jia''s true form wasn''t very strong, and staying here could easily harm her.

    It was better to transform into armor, imprinting onto Qi Yuan''s chest.

    Wearing the armor, Qi Yuan moved through the pool.

    But his speed was slow, as if moving through molasses.

    "This place looks ordinary; there''s nothing useful here, right?"

    The five colors in the pool were very pure.

    To use an inappropriate analogy, each color was like a pure substance made of a single element.

    So, although this place was large, there wasn''t much actual substance.

    His eyes scanned the area, and a series of prompts appeared.

    ¡¾This is Golden Quicksand, gathered from the essence of gold scorched by the great sun. Bathing in Golden Quicksand can increase the chance of sensing the essence of gold.¡¿

    ¡¾This is Wood Quicksand, gathered from the essence of wood scorched by the great sun. Bathing in it...¡¿

    ¡¾This is Water Quicksand...¡¿

    What he saw were the essences of the Five Elements, produced by a so-called great sun scorching them.

    These substances could increase the chance of sensing the essence of the Five Elements.

    Perhaps very useful for the three people Qi Yuan met.

    But for Qi Yuan, they were almost useless.

    "My drop rate is 100%, so these Five Element Quicksands are completely useless to me. Can they even push my drop rate beyond 100%?"

    "However, those three NPCs I met might find them useful. Their drop rates are probably less than 1%, how tragic."

    Thinking this, Qi Yuan grabbed a handful of Five Element Quicksand.

    Though useless to him, they were valuable to others, so grabbing a handful wouldn''t hurt.

    Otherwise, coming here for nothing would be too pointless.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan paused.

    He saw something other than the Five Element Quicksand.

    ¡¾Great Sun''s Flower. Touching it may allow one to hear some remnants of the Great Sun''s thoughts. The lucky ones might even acquire some useful techniques.¡¿

    Qi Yuan looked at a wisp of light ahead, about the size of a firefly.

    He grasped the light in his hand.

    Disjointed whispers fell into Qi Yuan''s ears.

    "The Moon Continent is my foundation, how dare you!"

    "Evil demon from beyond, aaahhh!"

    "Great Sun''s Incantation!"

    ...

    "I am unwilling!"

    Fragments of thoughts entered Qi Yuan''s mind, making him unsteady on his feet.

    "Is standing on the Five Element Quicksand consuming too much energy? Have I been playing too long today? I need to log out soon."

    With this thought, Qi Yuan began analyzing the fragments he heard.

    "It seems like a powerful being encountered another strong being, fought a battle, and lost?"

    "Evil demon from beyond? Could this be referring to the game''s final boss? Is the Great Sun a god? He fought the evil demon and lost badly, only managing to scorch the demon''s leg?"

 Chapter 61: Thatâ€™s Right, Itâ€™s Perfected

    Chapter 61: That¡¯s Right, It¡¯s Perfected

    ¡°Five Elements Drifting Sand?¡±

    The eyes of the four present lit up.

    This was the Five Elements Drifting Sand, carrying it could increase the chances of comprehending the essence of the five elements.

    In the Five Elements Training Ground, this was a treasure!

    How did the leader of the Clothing Division get it?

    He was so fierce, and the Five Elements Drifting Sand...

    ¡°I encountered this yesterday in the core area, it''s almost useless to me.

    It should be useful to you, so I''ll give it to you.¡±

    Upon hearing this, the other four''s suspicions dissipated.

    However, hearing the latter part, they fell silent again.

    Useless... useful.

    Indeed, with the leader of the Clothing Division''s 100% chance of comprehending the essence of the five elements, it was indeed useless to him.

    Thinking of this, they held the essence of the five elements, not feeling as excited anymore.

    At this moment, Tang Yan thought of something and suddenly said, ¡°Leader of the Clothing Division, didn''t you say the Five Elements perfection is too slow?

    Seeing this Five Elements Drifting Sand, I have an idea, not sure if it will work.¡±

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up, it seemed that giving away the Five Elements Drifting Sand was the right move!

    Sure enough, in the game, you should do more tasks, you might trigger new storylines.

    ¡°What idea?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°The formation conditions of the Five Elements Drifting Sand are very harsh, if it is formed, it means there must be something nearby that terrifies the five spirits.

    The leader of the Clothing Division can go to the place where the Five Elements Drifting Sand was formed to find that thing.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

    Relying on that thing, the leader of the Clothing Division can kill the five spirits faster and comprehend the essence of the five elements.¡± Tang Yan said honestly.

    Qi Yuan thought it made a lot of sense.

    The reason for the formation of the Five Elements Drifting Sand was because it was scorched by the great sun.

    This means that the five spirits fear the great sun!

    The great sun is the nemesis of the five spirits!

    If he had the great sun, wouldn''t he be able to quickly sweep through and kill all the five spirits in the Five Elements Forbidden Land?

    Root them out!

    Who asked them to have a party without inviting him!

    Qi Yuan has a strong sense of revenge.

    But that great sun... Qi Yuan immediately thought of the White Sun Fantasy Technique.

    ¡°Thank you all, goodbye!¡±

    Qi Yuan ran off in a flash, he had to find a safe place to dig a hole and bury himself.

    The four people on the scene, watching Qi Yuan''s back, had different expressions.

    ...

    On the Seven-Colored Peak, Qi Yuan recorded the incomplete White Sun Fantasy Technique.

    Looking at the contents, he hesitated, ¡°Should I really practice this? Will there be any problems?¡±

    He glanced at his "Qi Yuan Sutra".

    ¡°Actually, it''s not a big deal, practicing the ''Qi Yuan Sutra'', sometimes I get mentally disturbed, memory loss.

    But I also feel I''m fine now, mentally very good... quite fine?¡±

    ¡°Moreover, I don''t need to fully practice it, just need to simulate the aura of the great sun.

    Then use the great sword to display it and scare those five spirits!¡±

    After convincing himself, Qi Yuan immediately focused on the White Sun Fantasy Technique.

    He didn''t fully practice it but focused on simulating the aura of the great sun.

    This kind of practice was very shallow, not fully mastering the technique, but very effective.

    In just half a day, Qi Yuan succeeded in simulating it.

    He was overjoyed.

    ¡°Why do I feel a bit cold?¡±

    Exiting from the focused state of practice, Qi Yuan felt a bit of coldness, like knives cutting his skin.

    ¡°Am I too weak?¡±

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but wonder, then was stunned, ¡°Am I too weak?¡±

    Qi Yuan thought he had accidentally discovered the essence of the world.

    The legendary weakness might just be a very weak universe needing kidney supplements.

    He put on more clothes, but the coldness on his body hadn''t completely dissipated.

    He lit a fire in the courtyard.

    After lighting the fire, he stepped out and saw the pale-faced Jiang Lingsu.

    ¡°Junior Sister, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I''m... fine.¡± Jiang Lingsu was a bit dazed seeing her senior brother.

    The foreign demons were too strong.

    At level 94, he was no match.

    There were monsters here, he had to kill more and gain more experience.

    Tang Yan was surprised by Qi Yuan''s response, he said loudly, ¡°We will wait for the leader of the Clothing Division outside.¡±

    After saying this, Tang Yan retreated.

    Li Qin looked at Qi Yuan''s tall and imposing figure, ¡°The leader of the Clothing Division has become a relentless killing machine, unable to stop, right?¡±

    Even cultivators can become obsessed, turning into unfeeling killing machines.

    Next to him, the man in red swallowed hard, ¡°The leader of the Clothing Division is too ruthless.¡±

    He regretted talking bad about the leader of the Clothing Division behind his back, especially since he was overheard.

    If the leader of the Clothing Division turned into a relentless killer and finished off the five spirits in the core area, would he also kill him with a single strike?

    He was very nervous.

    ¡°Father! Father! Father!¡±

    ¡°The leader of the Clothing Division is charming and elegant!¡±

    ¡°The leader of the Clothing Division is truly a dragon among men, a king among monkeys!¡±

    Suddenly, he remembered they were about to give the leader of the Clothing Division the Divine Reflection, and he quickly suggested to himself, always calling the leader of the Clothing Division father in his heart.

    This way, when the leader of the Clothing Division received this information, he would surely forgive him, right?

    He was always so shameless.

    ...

    ¡°Level 95?¡± Qi Yuan didn''t know how long he had been killing.

    But there were less than a thousand five spirits left in the core area.

    His eyes were red, surrounded by five halos, clearly not an ordinary person.

    ¡°But it''s still not enough, too weak.¡±

    Even with Little Bride, he could only reach level 100 strength.

    Such strength was fine for fighting the peak of the Divine Realm in the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    But against the foreign demons, Qi Yuan felt it was unreliable.

    Only reaching level 999 would give him some confidence.

    Nine million levels would give him a bit of security.

    At nine million trillion trillion levels, he would dare to leave his name boldly after killing someone.

    ¡°Perpetrator, Qi Yuan.¡±

    But he knew it was impossible.

    The monsters in the four forbidden lands were limited.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    He looked at the last thousand or so five spirits and charged at them.

    Finally, after killing the golden spirit, Qi Yuan stopped swinging his sword.

    ¡°Almost level 96.¡±

    He sighed.

    This trip to the Five Elements Forbidden Land, he leveled up quickly.

    In just a few days, he reached level 96 and cleared the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    This was a good thing for Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Alright, time to completely control the Five Elements Forbidden Land.¡±

    ¡°And the big gift they want to give me, I wonder what it is.¡±

    After killing so much, Qi Yuan felt his mental illness was almost cured, exuding a cold aura.

    He unmerged with Little Bride, and Tang Yan and others flew over immediately.

    ¡°Leader of the Clothing Division.¡±

    They looked at Qi Yuan, their eyes showing fear.

    They were intimidated by Qi Yuan''s killing aura.

    Only Little Bride, as always, clung tightly to Qi Yuan''s clothes, standing behind him.

    ¡°Alright, it''s all killed here, let''s go out.¡± Qi Yuan said.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    A few of them walked out of the Five Elements Forbidden Land together.

    As soon as they left, Qi Yuan saw a familiar figure.

    The green-clad girl, her eyes red, glaring at Qi Yuan from afar.

    ¡°If you can''t kill the foreign demons, I will never let you go in this life and the next!¡±

    After threatening him, the girl quickly left, her small and thin figure looking desolate.

 Chapter 62: If One Day, Practice Turns False into Real, Transforms Illusion into Reality

    Chapter 62: If One Day, Practice Turns False into Real, Transforms Illusion into Reality

    The girl hurled her threat and turned to leave, giving Qi Yuan no time to react.

    Qi Yuan squinted, watching her retreating figure. This was the first time he had seen such intense emotion from an NPC in this world.

    Tang Yan''s expression remained indifferent. He already knew that the Five Ancestors of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth were merely remnants of their obsessions. They had long since perished at the hands of the foreign demons. His rational mind prevented him from being as sentimental as Little Green.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan felt a burning sensation. A flame, bright red, flew towards him, burning fiercely just centimeters away from him.

    "Ahhh!" With a scream, Fire Ancestor appeared beside Qi Yuan in human form. He looked at Qi Yuan with malicious intent, "You don''t seem special besides looking a bit handsome, so how did you perfect the Five Elements?"

    Tang Yan quickly introduced, "This is Fire Ancestor, he has a bit of a temper."

    "Greetings, Fire Ancestor," Qi Yuan respectfully greeted.

    Upon hearing Tang Yan''s words, Fire Ancestor spat, and a flame ignited Tang Yan''s robe. Tang Yan responded with a refined smile, "Fire Ancestor, you''re being mischievous again."

    "Ahhh!" Fire Ancestor screamed in anger.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan sensed other presences approaching. The earth moved as if a mole were walking through it, then coalesced into a small girl resembling a roly-poly doll. The girl, shorter than Little Green, looked at Qi Yuan without speaking.

    "This is Earth Ancestor."

    "Greetings, Earth Ancestor," Qi Yuan saluted.

    "Young man, I just took a nap, and you''ve perfected the Five Elements already. I thought I had slept for thousands of years, but it turns out it was only three days. Truly unexpected," came a voice from afar as Metal Ancestor arrived gracefully.

    He looked as meticulous and proper as when Qi Yuan first met him. Standing beside Metal Ancestor were two others: Water Ancestor, dressed in a blue long dress, and Wood Ancestor, barefoot, clad in colorful clothes, with a playful smile on his face.

    "Greetings, you three," Qi Yuan seriously greeted.

    Seeing this, Tang Yan and the other prodigies silently left the area. Qi Yuan, holding Little Bride''s hand, faced the Five Ancestors. Metal Ancestor approached, his expression kind and gentle, "Back then, I made an agreement with the Leader of the Clothing Division. Now, it''s time to fulfill it."

    He went straight to the point without any preamble. Fire Ancestor muttered complaints, but was kicked by the roly-poly girl Earth Ancestor, silencing him.

    At this moment, the dignified Water Ancestor spoke, "Leader of the Clothing Division, can you guarantee that you will participate in the Demon Slaying Assembly in three hundred years to exterminate the foreign demons?"

    Since Qi Yuan now controlled the Five Elements Forbidden Land, they would vanish from this world, and their remaining obsessions would no longer exist.

    "I will definitely exterminate the foreign demons!" Qi Yuan didn''t mention the Demon Slaying Assembly but directly targeted the foreign demons. He must kill the foreign demons. Only by doing so could he obtain the complete fragments of the Heavenly Dao and then proceed with the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

    "Good!" Water Ancestor nodded in satisfaction at his response. Metal Ancestor, Wood Ancestor, and Earth Ancestor also nodded. Only Fire Ancestor looked reluctant, but after a glare from the roly-poly girl Earth Ancestor, he reluctantly nodded as well.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Metal Ancestor and slowly asked, "You have all faced the foreign demons before. How strong are they?"

    He was curious about the combat power of the foreign demons. Metal Ancestor remained silent before speaking, "The foreign demons possess a supreme treasure called the Blood Fishing Line. It falls from the sky like a fishing line and pierces into the cultivator''s body. Back then, my former self was pierced by the Blood Fishing Line. Despite my best efforts, I couldn''t sever it, nor even leave a mark on it."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt a hint of apprehension. Metal Ancestor was likely a Divine Realm expert when alive. Such a strong individual couldn''t even leave a mark on a mere fishing line. Qi Yuan feared it would be extremely challenging if he encountered that line.

    "In the Demon Slaying Assembly, if you face the foreign demons, stay far away from the Blood Fishing Line," Wood Ancestor advised. "Being pierced by the Blood Fishing Line means even a deity cannot escape."

    The usually irritable Fire Ancestor surprisingly added, "The foreign demons might not be just one person but two or even more!"

    Qi Yuan, receiving this information, showed a puzzled expression. "How strong are the foreign demons? The Four Forbidden Lands have about dozens of strong experts. If we join forces and attack, we could chop him to death, right?"

    Qi Yuan believed the combined strength of the Four Forbidden Lands was formidable. If these level ninety experts joined forces, he might not stand a chance against them.

    "The foreign demons are immortal and cannot be killed! Or even if they are killed, they will resurrect!" Wood Ancestor explained.

    "Immortal?" Qi Yuan was surprised but then dismissed it. How could there be an unkillable boss in a game? It''s just a matter of killing it multiple times. However, he raised his estimate of the foreign demons'' power. Without reaching level 100, going after the foreign demons would be seeking death.

    Seeing Qi Yuan had understood what he wanted to know, Metal Ancestor smiled kindly, "Old friends, it''s time to fulfill our promise and empower the Leader of the Clothing Division."

    "Agreed."

    "Agreed."

    "Agreed."

    "Damn it, fine!"

    As the words fell, the five of them placed their hands on Qi Yuan''s shoulders. The power of the Five Elements¡ªmetal, wood, water, fire, and earth¡ªsurged into Qi Yuan''s body. These five colors were even more intense than the power of the five spirits, spreading into Qi Yuan''s body. He felt his blood changing color, and his skin bore the imprints of the Five Elements like tattoos.

    Qi Yuan watched as, with the infusion of the Five Elements'' power, the bodies of the Five Ancestors slowly faded. Except for the reluctant Fire Ancestor, the others seemed calm or even relieved. Although they said nothing, Qi Yuan understood their expressions as they slowly disappeared.

    In the final moments, Fire Ancestor shouted, "Kid, I hate you for reminding me that I''m already dead!" This shout seemed to use all his strength, and his form dissipated from this world. The other four also vanished before Qi Yuan, as if they had never existed.

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned. Gone. He looked at the Five Elements'' tattoos on his body, which would take about a day to fully integrate. He held Little Bride''s hand tighter this time, "Log out, we''ll come back tomorrow."

    Feeling exhausted, he took Little Bride to a secluded spot, dug a hole, and climbed in with her, as usual. Holding her waist, he opened his contact list. Only Jinli was there.

    "Great, I didn''t expect to become an old man''s killer."

 Chapter 63: Whether the Shinguang Sect is Chaotic or Not Depends on Qi Yuan

    Chapter 63: Whether the Shinguang Sect is Chaotic or Not Depends on Qi Yuan

    At the same time, strange things were happening all over the Shinguang Sect.

    Two Qi Refining disciples were sparring with their swords.

    Suddenly, their swords broke free from their hands and started fighting in mid-air.

    The onlookers were stunned.

    ¡°Ye Buxiu and Li Fan must have been hiding their strength, mastering sword control at Qi Refining level three. Terrifying! This talent must not be underestimated... I mean, this talent will surely achieve great things!¡±

    Ye Buxiu was dumbfounded, and Li Fan was shocked.

    When did they learn sword control? They had no idea.

    As everyone was marveling, a loud shout came from the sky.

    ¡°Catch it, my alchemy furnace is running away! There¡¯s a batch of pills inside!¡±

    Everyone looked up to see a bright red furnace darting around in the sky, bouncing erratically.

    An elder was frantically chasing his alchemy furnace.

    Before anyone could react, more strange things happened.

    ¡°Damn it, my sword ran away!¡±

    ¡°Ah, my silver, why is it flying into the sky?¡±

    ¡°The hairpin I was going to give to my master¡¯s wife, why is it flying too?¡±

    Countless metal objects were flying into the sky, bouncing around like they had lost their minds.

    This scene caught the attention of many elders.

    Many elders in seclusion came out because treasures from their storage bags flew away.

    Master Withered Wood stood on a cloud, several elders flying to his side.

    They looked down at the Shinguang Sect from the sky, their expressions varied.

    Now, the Shinguang Sect was like a scene of chaos, with countless metal objects flying towards the sky and bouncing around.

    The types of metal objects were varied and strange.

    ¡°My iron hand, why have you abandoned me?¡± A one-armed man cried bitterly.

    ¡°Whoa, Mr. Jiao, it¡¯s made of innate fire iron, which junior sister is this fierce?¡±

    ¡°Whose golden underwear is this? So flashy!¡±

    ¡°Have our magical tools gained sentience and are rebelling?¡±

    The disciples below were shocked, discussing amongst themselves.

    They couldn¡¯t understand what was happening.

    On the Seven Colors Peak, the knife looked at the flying magical tools in the sky, full of envy.

    It thought for a moment, then broke free from its rope and secretly flew out.

    Anyway, everyone else was going crazy.

    If it, a normal knife, joined in, surely no one would notice, right?

    Above the clouds, several elders stood behind the sect leader of Shinguang Sect, their eyes filled with confusion.

    ¡°Sect Leader, this is a strange occurrence,¡± said a white-bearded elder. Just moments ago, while he was cultivating, he suddenly felt a chill and his underwear flew away. That underwear was a defensive magical tool he had spent a lot to create, with many precious metals added to it. Yet, it just flew away.

    The other elders, also affected in various ways, were equally puzzled.

    The sect leader of Shinguang Sect extended his divine sense, seemingly searching for something, but found nothing.

    ¡°It must be the emergence of a supreme metal attribute treasure causing this situation,¡± said Master Withered Wood, the sect leader, sharing his conclusion.

    The other elders, hearing this, breathed heavily.

    A supreme metal attribute treasure emerging?

    Unfortunately, they looked around but couldn¡¯t find it.

    Meanwhile, on Seven Colors Peak, Jiang Lingsu hurried to Qi Yuan¡¯s courtyard and shouted, ¡°Senior brother, something¡¯s wrong!¡±

    Qi Yuan woke up slowly, rubbing his sleepy eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Your pet, that kitchen knife, has gained sentience.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment. ¡°Oh, I see.¡±

    The knife had already gained sentience, so this wasn¡¯t surprising, was it?

    What was there to be alarmed about?

    He was about to go back to sleep.

    Seeing Qi Yuan so calm, Jiang Lingsu was confused.

    She had noticed that the Shinguang Sect seemed to have a supreme metal attribute treasure appearing, causing all the metal attribute treasures to go wild.

    Seeing her senior brother sleeping, she tried to scare him.

    Unexpectedly, it didn¡¯t work at all.

    Ignoring them, Qi Yuan walked straight to his kitchen knife.

    The junior brothers and sisters shook their heads.

    They said nothing more.

    It was no secret that senior brother had some odd quirks.

    Let him be.

    Even if he couldn¡¯t catch the knife, it wouldn¡¯t matter much, just some extra effort.

    Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Qi Yuan walked to the knife, muttering, extending his hand.

    ¡°Disobedient, you¡¯re grounded for three days.¡±

    He grabbed the knife.

    In an instant, time seemed to freeze.

    All the flying magical tools stopped and returned to their owners.

    No one paid attention to Qi Yuan.

    Those who did thought it was a coincidence.

    ¡°Is it over?¡±

    ¡°My iron hand, you¡¯re back!¡±

    ¡°My sword, my sharp sword!¡±

    Everyone was thrilled to have their treasures back.

    Some were annoyed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t come near me! I don¡¯t know you!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person, I¡¯m not your owner!¡±

    These statements drew attention.

    Especially the elder who owned Mr. Jiao, making some disciples gulp.

    No wonder it was made of innate fire iron.

    Some were happy, others were sad.

    Suddenly, someone exclaimed, ¡°My magical tool got stronger!¡±

    ¡°My sword¡¯s grade increased!¡±

    Everyone found that their tools had strengthened after the riot.

    The elder who had kicked away Mr. Jiao secretly used a spell to retrieve it.

    The chaos in the Shinguang Sect temporarily subsided, but the disturbance continued.

    Qi Yuan sneaked back to the peak.

    Meanwhile, Dong Xian, holding his Xuantian Treasure Ruler, asked curiously, ¡°Old Master, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    A hoarse voice transmitted, ¡°It could be a supreme metal attribute treasure, or... hmm, the second possibility is impossible, no need to mention it.¡±

    Dong Xian was puzzled.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the metal attribute treasure?¡± He eagerly asked.

    He wanted to obtain it.

    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it¡¯s... the kitchen knife in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Dong Xian was stunned.

    The kitchen knife in senior brother Qi Yuan¡¯s hand was a supreme metal attribute treasure.

    ¡°That knife is extraordinary. A Qi Refining cultivator holding it could kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

    A Foundation Establishment cultivator could kill a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, even...¡± The old master sighed.

    Such treasures are rare, unexpected in this remote area of the Dashang Kingdom.

    Dong Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°It¡¯s that powerful?¡±

    Doesn¡¯t this mean if he seeks senior brother Qi Yuan¡¯s help, his chances in the dragon-seizing contest increase significantly?

    But senior brother Qi Yuan is not easily moved.

    He¡¯s only obsessed with games.

    Games? Dong Xian considered giving his cherished, rare, banned game to senior brother Qi Yuan to strengthen their bond.

    It¡¯s a limited edition!

    Forbidden!

    Not available on the market!

    ¡°When I become the crown prince, who needs games, real life is better!¡±

    Dong Xian gritted his teeth, deciding to find time to give the game to senior brother Qi Yuan to build rapport.

    For the dragon-seizing contest, he¡¯d use other valuable things to win him over!

 Chapter 64: Divine Reflection

    Chapter 64: Divine Reflection

    The five elements were still slowly transforming.

    Qi Yuan had once again entered the game.

    This time, he woke up holding Little Bride.

    A prompt appeared.

    [The Five Elements Forbidden Dungeon has been cleared, reward obtained.]

    [Reward 1: Heaven''s Dao Fragment *10.]

    [Reward 2: Heart of the Five Elements.]

    This time, the Heaven''s Dao fragments were not corrupted.

    Ten fragments, just as he had expected.

    The Heart of the Five Elements... a gift from the five ancestors?

    According to the description, this Heart of the Five Elements could better assist Qi Yuan in the transformation of his Qi Refining.

    The Five Elements Qi was no ordinary Qi.

    They countered and complemented each other.

    Without the Heart of the Five Elements, transforming Qi into the Five Elements Qi would be quite troublesome for Qi Yuan.

    The first transformation might be quick, but the second, third, and so on would be much slower.

    The Heart of the Five Elements shortened the time and avoided many troubles.

    "Only one forbidden area and two absolute areas left?"

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    Through Tang Yan, Qi Yuan had learned that the so-called extraterrestrial demons were in the Earth Absolute area.

    So, Qi Yuan only needed to conquer the Yin-Yang Forbidden and Heaven Absolute areas, and finally suppress the extraterrestrial demons to obtain all the fragments of Heaven''s Dao.

    But before that, he needed to visit the coffin gathering place.

    The strong figures of the Five Elements Forbidden area still had a big gift for him.

    ...

    Half an hour later.

    Qi Yuan stood beside Tang Yan, feeling somewhat surprised.

    He hadn''t expected that the powerful figures of the Five Elements Forbidden area would perform a divine reflection for him.

    This meant that they would transmit all their comprehension of techniques and all their life memories to him.

    This feeling was quite peculiar.

    These NPCs made Qi Yuan feel a touch of admiration.

    He couldn''t imagine imparting all his knowledge and memories to someone else so selflessly.

    "Master of the Clothes Department, we will perform a divine reflection for you.

    Our cultivation insights and experiences will be transmitted to you.

    This will accelerate your cultivation progress.

    Do you agree?" Yu''s voice was gentle.

    Dozens of eyes in the coffins stared at Qi Yuan.

    Honestly, if it were nighttime, it would be quite creepy.

    However, he already had a bridal wife, so what was there to fear?

    "I agree." Qi Yuan did not refuse.

    These NPCs performing divine reflection for him would greatly help him.

    Battle experience, spell combat, and more.

    It should also benefit his real-world cultivation, right?

    "Master of the Clothes Department, before you accept the divine reflection, you need to swear a heart demon oath to destroy the extraterrestrial demons!" The bearded Dragon Judge spoke, his voice somewhat soft as he looked at Qi Yuan.

    "No problem." He had already agreed to the five ancestors of the Five Elements, so making the same promise to these people was normal.

    Qi Yuan spoke and then made the heart demon oath as instructed by these powerful figures of the divine realm.

    With the oath, it meant that Qi Yuan had to slay the extraterrestrial demons.

    "Since the oath is made, let''s begin the divine reflection!" Yu said.

    All fifty-three figures present turned to look at Qi Yuan.

    Most of them were half-lying in their coffins.

    There were also new-generation young talents like Tang Yan, the man in red, and Little Green.

    Being stared at by so many people.

    Qi Yuan remained calm.

    "Divine reflection!"

    When he made the heart demon oath, he didn''t explicitly say he would participate in the demon-slaying conference, only that he would kill the extraterrestrial demons. He probably had this in mind.

    These old guys are more cunning than monkeys. They saw through his little trick but didn''t point it out."

    "Are monkeys cunning?" The Master of the Clothes Department asked.

    ...

    "Little Bride, do you think I can defeat the extraterrestrial demons?"

    Qi Yuan held Little Bride as they transmitted to the Yin-Yang Forbidden.

    Little Bride didn''t speak, a wooden plaque slipped out of her sleeve.

    Hand holding sleeve.

    "You will fight monsters with me?"

    Qi Yuan felt a bit embarrassed.

    "Suddenly I feel particularly indebted to you NPCs."

    "Turns out my skin is still not thick enough."

    "But it''s okay, no matter what, I will take down that big boss!"

    Qi Yuan''s thoughts jumped quickly.

    He was talking about the extraterrestrial demons, then suddenly shifted to the Yin-Yang Forbidden.

    "I heard that the people in the Yin-Yang Forbidden speak in a very strange manner.

    If I imitate their way of speaking, will they beat me up?"

    "If they perform the divine reflection for me and I learn their strange way of speaking, what should I do?"

    After chatting with Little Bride for a while, Qi Yuan felt reinvigorated.

    Qi Yuan thought he was very lucky.

    After getting sick, he had no one to talk to.

    Later, he met Jin Li.

    Now, he had met Little Bride.

    He thought about it and was ready to chat with Jin Li again.

    There were 99+ messages from Jin Li in the contact list.

    Jin Li said that with the support of the Clothes Department''s Forbidden Army, she had completely taken control of Nan Qian.

    Now, the Forbidden Army had surrounded the Tianyun Sacred Sect.

    After dealing with the Tianyun Sacred Sect and the demon clan, she would abdicate from the throne of the Empress of Nan Qian and come to the ancient Qi Tong tree to meet him.

    "Seems I need to speed up too."

    Qi Yuan thought.

    "A girl is giving up the throne to meet me."

    "Isn''t this more passionate than deliberately getting wrong answers on the college entrance exam to go to the same school?"

    Way more passionate.

    At this time, Qi Yuan finally stepped into the Yin-Yang Forbidden.

    The Yin-Yang Forbidden, one of the four great forbidden areas.

    The most notable feature of this area was that half of it was night and half was day.

    They alternated.

    This reminded Qi Yuan of Earth.

    Unfortunately, the Yin-Yang Forbidden was not a sphere.

    Even if Qi Yuan flew up to look, it wasn''t a sphere.

    "Defeat Zang Hua, obtain the divine reflection, no problem."

    "But how should I take control of the Yin-Yang Forbidden?"

    Qi Yuan didn''t want to be an old man killer anymore.

    And the Yin-Yang Forbidden didn''t have beings like Jin Zu or Shui Zu.

    Controlling the Yin-Yang Forbidden became complicated.

    At this moment, a voice sounded in Qi Yuan''s ear.

    "Master of the Clothes Department, you have arrived!"

    The speaker was a woman with three thousand strands of black hair. Her appearance was extremely beautiful, her face cold, with a kind of broken beauty.

    "Zang Hua?" Qi Yuan understood that this would be his opponent in the Yin-Yang Forbidden.

    "Defeat me, and the Yin-Yang Forbidden will be under your control!" Zang Hua said coldly.

    Without any hesitation, she directly attacked Qi Yuan.

 Chapter 65: Since Weâ€™re All in Qi Refinement, Using Qi to Form a Sword is Reasonable, Right?

    Chapter 65: Since We¡¯re All in Qi Refinement, Using Qi to Form a Sword is Reasonable, Right?

    Zang Hua was a terrifying powerhouse from the Celestial Era. Her strength was notable even during the God Court period.

    However, she was most remembered for her love and hatred towards the Heavenly God.

    Even among top-tier powerhouses, gossip and drama existed.

    "Little Bride, step back!" Qi Yuan instructed, raising his precious sword and stepping forward.

    This time, he did not merge with Little Bride but chose to face the challenge alone.

    To be honest, this was his first time in the game fighting against an intelligent being.

    "Your talent is good, but your achievements rely solely on the Heavenly God''s legacy, don''t they?" Zang Hua said, her eyes reddening.

    In the distance, other powerful beings from the Divine Realm were watching.

    Zang Hua''s words resonated with some, while others understood she harbored resentment.

    Zang Hua had always admired the Heavenly God, fighting battles for him. Unfortunately, the position of the Emperor''s Empress went to the Bridal Queen.

    Proud as Zang Hua was, she even lowered her head, willing to be a concubine, but was rejected by the Heavenly God.

    Zang Hua''s emotions towards the Heavenly God and the Bridal Queen were complex.

    Now, the husband of the Bridal Queen, the new Master of the Clothes Department, had suddenly risen to power.

    Many believed this was due to numerous gifts left by the Heavenly God, possibly including treasures that enhanced talent.

    Moreover, Zang Hua never liked the Clothes Department and had a particular aversion to the new Bridal Queen, the daughter of the Heavenly God and that woman.

    Therefore, even after Dragon Judge subdued Hitomi, and others remained silent, she stood up.

    "Besides your talent, what else do you have?"

    "Have you experienced the chaos of the Western Sea?"

    "Have you ever fought against the three great domains?"

    "Without experiencing major battles, you are just a fledgling eagle, incapable of defeating the extraterritorial demons!"

    Zang Hua shouted, "Let me show you what it means to be one of the Ten Generals of the God Court!"

    Zang Hua was one of the former Ten Generals of the God Court!

    In the God Court, her status was second only to the Heavenly God and the four department heads.

    She had fought countless battles, large and small, thousands of times in her life.

    She was a woman who had crawled out of a sea of blood, standing on a mountain of corpses.

    As she made her move, it was a barrage of endless fierce attacks.

    Qi Yuan''s vision was filled with Zang Hua''s figures.

    Zang Hua''s strongest martial art was the Infinite Sea of Flowers!Upstodatee from

    Countless flower petals danced in the air, with hundreds of Zang Hua''s figures moving among them, launching different attacks at Qi Yuan.

    Unless one''s martial heart and spirit far surpassed Zang Hua''s, they could not distinguish which were real and which were illusions.

    This move was highly effective against inexperienced fighters.

    Qi Yuan held his sword in front of him.

    In the Xuanyuan Forbidden, the Clothing Crown Forbidden, and the Five Elements Forbidden, Qi Yuan had killed tens of thousands of monsters, gaining a wealth of combat experience, far exceeding even the disciples and elders of the Divine Light Sect.

    However, his previous opponents were mostly mindless monsters.

    They could not compare to Zang Hua.

    Or rather, their combat experience was not on the same level.

    Qi Yuan thrust his sword, powerful and unyielding.

    Amid countless afterimages, he locked onto Zang Hua''s true body.

    Because his eyes could see hints.

    His sword struck, and a look of surprise flashed in Zang Hua''s eyes.

    She couldn''t dodge in time and pushed her palm forward.

    Slash!

    The collision of sword and flesh should have favored the sword.

    However, a cunning smile appeared in Zang Hua''s eyes, "You are still too young."

    The force penetrated through the sword, directly entering Qi Yuan''s chest.

    Even though Qi Yuan had defenses all over his body, he was still slightly injured by the penetrating force.

    Pale-faced, he looked at the blood-soaked Zang Hua with a calm expression, "You are right."

    In the distance, the watching giants of the Divine Realm spoke, their eyes filled with admiration.

    "He was able to injure Zang Hua."

    "It seems we have underestimated him; he is not just a mere cultivator prodigy!"

    "The Infinite Sea of Flowers, even I cannot identify Zang Hua''s true body. How did he do it?"

    "He is still too young and was tricked by Zang Hua."

    "Such a pity, he is still too immature."

    Three hundred years... is too short, too short." Yu spoke, his expression complex.

    The Master of the Clothes Department had only appeared for a few days and had already achieved perfection in the Five Elements, a talent unmatched in history.

    Given enough time, who knows what he could achieve?

    Everyone watched Zang Hua and Qi Yuan.

 Chapter 66: Heavenly Thunder is Just a Pekingese (a type of Dog)

    Chapter 66: Heavenly Thunder is Just a Pekingese (a type of Dog)

    Sword Formed from Qi!

    Qi Yuan had already perfected the Metal element and had abundant Metal Qi within his body.

    Metal Qi and mana could be interchanged.

    With a single point of his finger, golden light appeared.

    A golden sword materialized in his hand!

    The golden sword was composed entirely of Metal Qi from the Five Elements.

    It was incredibly sharp.

    Beside him, Dong Xian watched with wide eyes.

    What was this?

    Did Senior Brother Qi Yuan really form a sword from Qi?

    How did he do it?

    Deep within his soul, Elder Qi seemed thoughtful.

    "This seems somewhat like martial arts supernatural abilities."

    Qi Yuan, holding the sword formed from Qi, said slowly, "Watch as I cut down the birds in the sky with one swing of my sword!"

    As he spoke, he raised the golden sword towards the sky.

    But at that moment, a sudden bolt of lightning descended from the clear sky, heading straight for Qi Yuan.

    On a sunny day, why was there lightning?

    And why was it striking him?

    Qi Yuan was startled: "Oh no, I raised it too high and attracted the lightning."

    He quickly swung his arm, throwing the golden sword away, which landed far off.

    The lightning struck the golden sword instantly.

    In a flash, the golden sword shattered, turning into Metal Qi and dissipating into the air.

    The lightning also vanished.

    Dong Xian, witnessing this scene, was completely bewildered.

    What just happened?

    At this moment, the voice of Artifact Elder echoed in his mind.

    "This Qi Yuan likely practiced some strange forbidden technique, hence the heavenly punishment in the form of lightning. Never attempt this sword formed from Qi technique." Elder Qi warned.

    Dong Xian immediately understood, recalling records about heavenly lightning in royal archives.

    Nowadays, heavenly lightning almost never appears.

    However, practicing some bizarre forbidden techniques could attract heavenly lightning.

    Dong Xian quickly said, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, you shouldn''t use this sword formed from Qi technique anymore; it''s a forbidden technique not tolerated by the heavens."

    To be honest, Dong Xian was still quite shaken, fearing that Qi Yuan might be struck dead by the lightning.

    If that happened, how could the master of the Seven Colors Peak tolerate him?

    Meanwhile, Artifact Elder in his mind found it extremely peculiar.

    Normally, if one practices forbidden techniques, the heavenly lightning punishes the person.

    But why did the lightning only strike the sword Qi Yuan threw away, and not him?

    Listening to Dong Xian, Qi Yuan wore a perplexed expression: "Wasn''t it because I raised it too high and the sword, being a conductor, attracted the lightning?"

    "Could it really be a forbidden technique?"

    Dong Xian didn''t understand Qi Yuan''s first part, but he comprehended the latter. He emphasized: "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, you should refrain from practicing this technique in the future!"Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

    Dong Xian thought, it was fortunate he had Qi Yuan demonstrate first.

    If Qi Yuan had taught him the technique and he practiced it unknowingly, he might have been struck dead by lightning before even forming the sword!

    Was Qi Yuan''s mention of using Qi to form a horse implying that riding a horse in such a manner would make it hard to escape the lightning?

    "Senior Brother, I take my leave." Dong Xian bid farewell to Qi Yuan and swiftly distanced himself.

    As expected, lunatics are not only hard to deal with but also dangerous to stay around for too long.

    Back on the Seven Colors Peak, Qi Yuan sat on the ground, deep in thought.

    Forming a sword from Qi!

    Suddenly, he stood up, forming a sword from Qi again!

    Lightning descended once more without warning.

    Qi Yuan quickly threw the sword away, and the lightning instantly shattered it.

    Qi Yuan saw this and thought, "It seems it''s really a forbidden technique!"

    But instead of disappointment, his eyes were filled with excitement.

    He suddenly found himself in a teleportation array, the destination being the treacherous Tian Jue, one of the Four Forbidden and Two Absolute places.

    "Without fully mastering the Yin-Yang Forbidden, I''m transported to a new map. Did I complete the dungeon?"

    Qi Yuan felt bewildered.

    "Or does mastering the Yin-Yang Boundary Stone count as completing the Yin-Yang Forbidden?

    But the Heavenly Dao fragment reward hasn''t been given yet?"

    "Lousy game, must be a bug!"

    Qi Yuan thought it must be a game bug.

    He pondered for a moment and sent a message to Jin Li.

    "Jin Li, be careful, this game is full of bugs.

    I haven''t even completed the Yin-Yang Forbidden, and now I''m transported to a new map, Tian Jue."

    Shortly after, Jin Li''s message arrived: "Tian Jue? Be cautious, should I send the Clothing Department''s elite troops to help you?"

    She used "send" instead of "dispatch."

    She always remembered that the elite troops of the Clothing Department originally belonged to Qi Yuan.

    "No need, they''re too weak." Qi Yuan decisively refused.

    The strongest of the Clothing Department''s elite troops were only Supreme Sovereigns, not even reaching the Heavenly Realm.

    Having accepted the divine reflections of many beings, Qi Yuan gradually accepted the NPC''s level classifications.

    On the other side, Jin Li, who had been fighting and running all the time, fell silent for a moment, then said: "Tian Jue is extremely dangerous, and there is a Flying Ascension Platform. Do not ascend it.

    It''s said that ascending will lead to flying ascension, leaving this world.

    But whether that''s true, no one knows."

    Qi Yuan replied, "I''ll remember that, don''t worry, I won''t fly ascension before we meet in person."

    On the other end, Jin Li, who had been running all the time, felt a ripple in her previously calm heart.

    She looked out the window at the ancient Jicai Tree, seemingly covering the entire Moon Watching Continent, its branches dotted with star-like lights, resembling a giant, beautifully lit Christmas tree.

    "Alright, when the time comes, let''s meet under the ancient Jicai Tree.

    The scenery there is extraordinarily beautiful, the most beautiful place in the world."

    "Really? I''m really looking forward to it." Qi Yuan also wanted to see how beautiful the scenery under the ancient Jicai Tree was and what Jin Li, whom he had never met, looked like.

    As they chatted, time flew by.

    "Heavenly Peril is approaching, goodbye for now, chat later."

    Qi Yuan ended the chat, holding Little Bride''s hand, becoming more vigilant.

    The scene changed, and he found himself in an endless desert.

    "So this is Tian Jue?"

    Qi Yuan looked up and saw a massive floating platform in the sky.

    Not a city, but a gigantic floating high platform.

    The platform was pitch-black, but this black seemed eerie, as if stained with blood.

 Chapter 67: Qi Yuan: I Am the Moral High Ground!

    Chapter 67: Qi Yuan: I Am the Moral High Ground!

    Qi Yuan thought to himself and looked at the divine general.

    ¡¾The divine general of the Ascension Gate. Defeat him on the Ascension Platform to gain control over Tianjue.¡¿

    It seemed this NPC wasn''t lying.

    "Alright, I accept the challenge!" Qi Yuan said firmly, tightly holding Xiao Jia''s hand.

    He had to bring Xiao Jia along, otherwise she would stumble and get hurt again.

    Last time, when he fought Zang Hua, he didn''t bring Xiao Jia. By the time he saw her again, she had stumbled many times and was covered in dust and mud, looking pitiful and making his heart ache.

    The golden-armored divine general looked at Qi Yuan, his voice booming: "The battle begins; death will not end it!"

    With this declaration, Qi Yuan saw a staircase appear on the Ascension Platform.

    Boom, boom, boom!

    It sounded like a giant beast''s footsteps shaking the ground as the staircase extended, reaching from the sky to the ground.

    After about a quarter of an hour, the stairs extended to Qi Yuan''s feet.

    From the sky to the ground, a heavenly ladder appeared.

    Counting the steps, they matched exactly with 129,600.

    "Climb the steps, the battle begins. The victor ascends one step," the golden-armored man explained the rules.

    Qi Yuan did not climb immediately but asked, "Can I rest in between?"

    "After each victory, you may descend the stairs, but you cannot stay outside for more than a day, or you will be forcibly summoned!

    Remember, one year on the steps is equivalent to one day outside."

    "Oh, that''s fine then." Qi Yuan felt relieved.

    He looked at Xiao Jia, smiling, "This time, I will fight alongside you."

    In his heart, he added another sentence.

    Alongside everyone in the Five Elements Forbidden Land and Yin-Yang Forbidden Lands.

    These 129,600 battles would be perfect to hone his combat experience, to refine the experiences and insights of those 84 people.

    Qi Yuan had gained a lot of insight from his battle with Zang Hua.

    And climbing the Daylight Ascension Platform was a great opportunity.

    The combat experience he lacked should be well-honed here, right?

    Moreover, after so many battles and killing so many monsters, he should gain quite a bit of experience, right?

    With these thoughts, Qi Yuan stepped onto the first step.

    The view before him changed instantly.

    It seemed he was now standing on the Ascension Platform.

    Qi Yuan scanned his surroundings.

    He noticed that where he was now felt like a coliseum.

    Around the coliseum were tens of thousands of seats.

    The seats varied in levels, some high and some ordinary.

    It seemed that in the past, people had watched duels here!

    But now, it was empty, with no audience.

    This made Qi Yuan, who had social anxiety, feel better.

    "Good thing no one is watching, otherwise it would be embarrassing."

    At this moment, a loud heartbeat sounded.

    Qi Yuan saw a burly man, shirtless and tall like a sumo wrestler from a prosperous country, rushing toward him.

    That wasn''t a living being, but a shadow, or perhaps... a monster that could provide experience!

    "Xiao Jia!"

    Qi Yuan merged with Xiao Jia.

    At this moment, he closed his eyes.

    Now, he was no longer himself; he was Long Pan.

    Insights naturally come from the strong.

    Long Pan''s memories and combat experiences flowed into Qi Yuan''s mind like a spring.

    At this moment, he forgot his own moves.

    He regarded himself as Long Pan.

    If he were Long Pan, how would he face this enemy?

    Jiang Lingsu laughed: "Who knows? Maybe you sneaked out one night and used your kitchen knife to kill everyone in the Black Mountain Sect."

    Qi Yuan''s gaze turned cold instantly: "Junior Sister, you know too much!"

    For some reason, Jiang Lingsu felt a chill in her heart.

    She looked at Qi Yuan with a trace of fear, but still said: "Senior Brother, I don''t know why you have such a strong smell of blood.

    But you''d better dispel or hide it.

    Otherwise, it will be detrimental to your cultivation and could lead to inner demons.

    More importantly, if you encounter some bizarre high-level cultivators, they might kill you in the name of justice."

    Thinking of something, Jiang Lingsu felt a flash of fear and resistance deep inside.

    She knew such cultivators.

    They belonged to an organization.

    People in this organization hated evil but had a bad reputation.

    They called themselves righteous envoys but acted extremely overbearingly.

    Once, a cultivator wiped out a bandit camp, only to be killed by this organization for having too strong a smell of blood.

    Anyway, their definition of justice was the only justice.

    If they said someone killed too much, without asking why, that person deserved to die.

    "What? There are such people who want to rid me of evil?" Qi Yuan was taken aback.

    Jiang Lingsu was speechless.

    She couldn''t understand how her eccentric senior brother could have such a strong smell of blood.

    Could playing too many games affect reality?

    "Indeed, there are such people, and not just one, but a whole organization.

    What, Senior Brother, are you planning to go and wipe them out?

    They''re not as weak as the Black Mountain Sect; they have double-digit strong divine infant (Nascent Soul) cultivators." Jiang Lingsu laughed.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan sat on the ground, looking dejected: "I''m so useless, weak and helpless, I can''t even kill them all in one night, wipe out their entire organization."

    But thinking of something, Qi Yuan said: "Such hateful people, I should unite with righteous people to destroy them!"

    Used to her senior brother''s odd logic, Jiang Lingsu was happy to banter with him: "Righteous people won''t do. They represent justice, often committing evil under the guise of justice."

    "Standing on the moral high ground?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Jiang Lingsu understood his meaning: "Yes."

 Chapter 68: Endless Slaughter

    Chapter 68: Endless Slaughter

    "Kill!"

    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

    An endless sea of flowers!

    On the Heavenly Ascension Steps, Qi Yuan held his sword, integrating all of Zanghua''s insights into himself.

    In an instant, thousands of terrifying blood-red armored men, each ten meters tall, appeared on the entire arena.

    Thousands of towering Qi Yuan figures, all holding swords, focused their gazes on a single enemy on the arena.

    It was a 0.5-meter-high giant beetle, a mutant species among beetles, its size tens of times larger than ordinary beetles.

    At this moment, it looked at the towering shadows all around, question marks floating above its head.

    Qi Yuan pointed his sword at the giant beetle: "As the saying goes, shoot the bird that sticks out. Who told you not to keep a low profile, growing into such a big dumb thing? You must be the blue giant of the beetle clan!"

    If the 0.5-meter-tall giant beetle could speak, it would definitely say, "You''re ten meters tall, calling me a big dumb thing at 0.5 meters?"

    Kill.

    With the boost from the endless sea of flowers, the swords of the thousands of Qi Yuan figures converged on a single point, stabbing at the giant beetle.

    The giant beetle died.

    According to forensic examination, its body was full of holes, not a piece of intact flesh could be found.

    After killing, Qi Yuan took a deep breath.

    "My understanding of Zanghua has deepened once again."

    Today, he had fought over a hundred battles, constantly comprehending Zanghua''s combat techniques and cultivation experiences.

    "Now, I can shamelessly say, no one understands Zanghua better than I do."

    "Continue, next match!"

    Dragging his massive body, Qi Yuan prepared to step into the next battle.

    Now, he had already reached level 97, his strength reaching a staggering degree.

    "Longpan is only level 99, the peak of the Divine Domain.

    Then is level 100 a new realm?

    But... is the Divine Domain really only from level 90 to 100?

    That''s too short, isn''t it?

    Moreover, when I merge with Xiao Jia, I can display the power of level 102, but I don''t feel... that kind of major breakthrough in the realm."

    While continuously fighting on the Ascension Platform, as his level increased, Qi Yuan discovered many issues.

    The Heavenly Domain ranges from level 70 to 89.

    The Divine Domain, is it really only from level 90 to 99?

    When stepping from level 89 to 90, Qi Yuan clearly felt a qualitative change in his strength.

    However, when wearing Xiao Jia, forcibly breaking through to level 100, that surge in strength didn''t feel very intense.

    "Could it be that Tong, Longpan, and Yu are not truly the peaks of the Divine Domain?" Qi Yuan suddenly had a terrifying suspicion.

    But if they are not the peak of the Divine Domain, why do they think they are?

    Is it possible that a supreme being altered their cognition?

    Or... is someone restricting their breakthroughs?

    This feels like a person at the fifth level of Qi Refinement being forcibly altered to believe that the fifth level is the peak, and then starting to build a foundation someday.

    If so, what awaits him might be death.

    Thinking this way, Qi Yuan felt that this game world might have a bigger boss.

    He couldn''t help but look towards the Ascension Platform and the densely packed seats above it.

    "Who used to watch the battles here?"

    "The enemies I''m encountering now are already at level 80. How strong were the strongest fighters on the Ascension Platform?"

    Qi Yuan finally put these thoughts aside.

    The battle continued, and he resumed killing to gain experience.

    ...

    In the Five Elements Prohibition.

    Longpan stood up, gazing at the sky, looking at an ancient Qichun tree, and couldn''t help but exclaim, "I didn''t expect that in the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, and it has grown so large."

    Yu also looked up at Longpan: "The seed of the ancient Qichun tree, you obtained it from the forbidden land of the Five Elements and offered it to the gods.

    Perhaps this seed has absorbed all of the Princess of the Wedding Gown''s obsessions to grow this large?"

    Ten thousand years ago, the gods were defeated, and the extraterrestrial demons ravaged the human world.

    Their comrades died or were injured, and only they retreated into the forbidden land, relying on it to temporarily evade the extraterrestrial demons.

    Yu excelled at divination and predicted that the day of the lunar eclipse would be the moment when the extraterrestrial demons were at their weakest.

    This led to the demon-slaying event three hundred years later.

    "It''s a pity that the Four Great Forbidden Lands and the Two Great Deadlands are ancient and mysterious. Even after staying in the forbidden land of the Five Elements for so long, and even though the Five Patriarchs are considered the controllers of the forbidden land, we couldn''t discover its true secrets," Longpan lamented.

    "The leader of the Clothing Division should have gone to the mortal realm?" Yu asked.

    The mortal realm refers to places other than the Four Great Forbidden Lands and the Two Great Deadlands.

    "Our insights and experiences must be honed either through battles or by venturing into the mortal world," Longpan said. "Although Zanghua has a foul mouth, her intentions are well-meaning."

    They knew that Zanghua''s battle with the leader of the Clothing Division was to help the leader digest insights and experiences.

 Chapter 69: The Invitation

    Chapter 69: The Invitation

    "With the help of your Yibu Forbidden Army, I have already taught the Tianyun Sacred Sect a lesson.

    The three supreme emperors of the demon clan have also been shot dead by the Yibu Forbidden Army.

    In another half month, I... will have completed my mission." Jin Li was also learning to speak in Qi Yuan''s manner.

    "Mission completed? So soon! Impressive, once you¡¯re done, don¡¯t log off yet, wait for me a bit, we can meet in real life!"

    "Okay." Jin Li held the Linglong Yuxi in her hand.

    Now, with the Yibu Forbidden Army in hand, she truly became the empress of Nan Qian.

    The taste of power is indeed intoxicating.

    But as someone who always enjoyed the mountain springs and breezes and understood her own place, she soon woke from it.

    "Once this is over, I should leave."

    "I was never a qualified emperor, so leaving it behind is no big deal."

    She had done her best with the tasks at hand, relying on the Yibu Forbidden Army to sweep away the demon clan, suppress the Tianyun Sacred Sect, and eliminate some threats. The future matters would be left to those who follow.

    At this moment, Jin Li sat by the window, gazing at the distant ancient qichun trees, lost in thought.

    ......

    "Senior Brother, an invitation!"

    Early in the morning, Qi Yuan was awakened by someone calling him in his dream.

    Having killed too many people in the game, he had grown accustomed to it, no longer having nightmares.

    But killing too many is exhausting, so he had been sleeping longer these days.

    Waking up, he rubbed his sleepy eyes, brushed away the hair from his brow, and asked, "What? What is it?"

    Qi Yuan felt a bit grumpy upon waking.

    But remembering there was a reason for this, he suppressed his grumpiness.

    Leaving the thatched cottage, he saw Jiang Lingsu standing gracefully outside the yard.

    Her beauty, with its mix of charm and playfulness, was pleasing to the eye, dissipating some of his morning grumpiness.

    "Senior Brother, this is an invitation for Master." Jiang Lingsu handed the invitation to Qi Yuan. "The sect master had Qing Ying deliver it, and she also said the sect master has a message for you."

    "Oh? What message?" Qi Yuan took the invitation.

    The invitation looked quite high-end, with a watercolor painting on the outside.

    "The sect master said, you can open the invitation and take a look." Jiang Lingsu said.

    Qi Yuan was slightly stunned.

    Not knowing what the sect master was up to.

    He opened the invitation and carefully read it, his brows immediately furrowing.

    He felt that his grumpiness upon waking was justified.

    A thought struck him¡ªcould it be that the other day when he mentioned the Bright Palace, the experts of the Bright Palace sensed it and sent an invitation to see his master?

    The invitation was issued in the name of the Bright Palace.

    The content was simple: the foundation-building cultivator Zhu Lianhua of the Bright Palace had come to Da Shang, wanting to invite some top righteous figures of Da Shang to gather and discuss the future situation of Da Shang''s cultivation world and determine Da Shang''s development.

    Before the gathering, he would visit.

    Zhu Lianhua would come to the Shen Guang Sect in the next few days; the exact time was not fixed, so the Shen Guang Sect needed to prepare in advance.

    After reading the content, he breathed a sigh of relief.

    It wasn''t trouble for him; he had worried for nothing.

    Qi Yuan looked at the content of the invitation, sneering: "This guy is more pretentious than I am!"

    As he spoke, he handed the invitation to Jiang Lingsu.

    After all, this wasn''t something that needed to be kept secret.

    Wang Shuang pondered: "Even if they have, they probably wouldn''t admit it publicly."

    "What if I offer a recommendation to join the Bright Palace in exchange for their treasure, would they agree?"

    Wang Shuang was stunned.

    A recommendation to join the Bright Palace was indeed precious.

    But just that.

    The Bright Palace was strong, but too far from Da Shang!

    Wang Shuang respected Zhu Lianhua, but if pushed to the limit, he might dare to kill him.

    Of course, without being pushed, who would take such a risk?

    Wang Shuang found Zhu Lianhua''s mentality from the big city absurd but still said: "I''m afraid the Shen Guang Sect might not recognize the value."

    In other words, the Shen Guang Sect would not hand over the treasure.

    Zhu Lianhua was not surprised: "Seems I need another way."

    Though accustomed to arrogance.

    He understood not to push too hard.

    Otherwise, his identity wouldn''t mean much.

    In Da Shang, he might look down on all foundation-building cultivators, but if a yuan dan cultivator decided to risk it all, disregarding their life, he would be in trouble.

    The two walked through the market, occasionally transmitting messages and occasionally speaking aloud.

    Wang Shuang then said: "I have learned a treasure-seeking technique, though not always reliable, it occasionally finds something.

    Today, let me show Daoist Zhu some treasure hunting, as an offering."

    Wang Shuang kept a low profile, understanding part of Zhu Lianhua''s personality.

    Sure enough, Zhu Lianhua showed interest: "Let''s see your skills."

    Wang Shuang performed a spell, named the Heavenly Treasure Seeking Technique.

    He could sense some peculiar treasures.

    But he knew this market had no precious items, so he decided, if he failed to find anything, he would use his own money to buy something to replace it.

    The spell performed, a golden light appeared in Wang Shuang''s eyes.

    After about half an incense stick of time, Wang Shuang''s brows lifted with joy: "Unexpectedly, there is indeed something here, Daoist Zhu, wait a moment, I will buy it and show it to you."

    If both went, the stall owner might see Zhu Lianhua''s distinguished attire and raise the price.

    Zhu Lianhua nodded, understanding this, allowing Wang Shuang to go alone.

    He waited quietly in the market, knowing that even if Wang Shuang failed to find anything, he could secretly replace it with something else.

    Soon, Wang Shuang returned with a look of joy: "Daoist Zhu, I spent only a spirit stone, and successfully found a treasure, take a look!"

    Wang Shuang held up the item he had found: "Though it looks a bit fancy and somewhat damaged, its material..."

    He stopped speaking abruptly.

    Noticing Zhu Lianhua''s grim expression.

    Did he say something wrong?

    Wang Shuang was frightened: "Daoist?"

    Zhu Lianhua grabbed the item from Wang Shuang''s hand, his expression shifting: "Where did this come from?"

    Wang Shuang''s heart sank, cautiously asking: "Daoist recognizes this treasure?"

    "It''s no treasure at all!" Zhu Lianhua threw the item to the ground, "This is my invitation to the Shen Guang Sect!"

    His anger evident, he was clearly furious.

    Wang Shuang was stunned.

    He hadn''t expected the item he found to be Zhu Lianhua''s invitation to the Shen Guang Sect!

    This was too... ridiculous!

 Chapter 70: They are plotting a major conspiracy!

    Chapter 70: They are plotting a major conspiracy!

    "Tearing up my invitation and selling it in the market, what does that mean? Are they disrespecting me, not putting the Bright Palace in their eyes?"

    Zhu Lianhua was furious; he had never been so humiliated.

    Wang Shuang, standing next to him, also felt a bit embarrassed.

    This Shinguang Sect, how could they handle things so poorly?

    He knew that Zhu Lianhua had sent an invitation to the Seven-Color Peak, but he didn''t expect it to be torn up and sold in the market.

    He organized his thoughts and said, "I''ve heard that the senior disciple of Seven-Color Peak is eccentric and acts unusually. Perhaps he was the one who sold the invitation!"

    Wang Shuang did not mention the Peak Master of Seven-Color Peak, trying to direct the conflict toward Qi Yuan.

    After all, he feared that Zhu Lianhua, in a fit of anger, might clash with the suspected late-stage Nascent Soul Peak Master.

    But having a conflict with a Qi Refining disciple was not a big deal.

    "Hmph, without that bitch Ruan Yixi''s permission, would her disciple dare to sell my invitation?" Zhu Lianhua transmitted his voice, his face already calm.

    If Jiang Lingsu were here and heard Zhu Lianhua''s voice transmission, she would definitely say, "Senior brother would dare."

    "Zhu Daoist, be careful with your words. This is the market under Shinguang Sect!"

    "Hmph, we are just transmitting our voices, what is there to fear!" Zhu Lianhua continued his voice transmission.

    Wang Shuang felt even more contemptuous upon hearing this.

    Everyone knows you''re afraid and don''t dare to scold openly, so why act so arrogant?

    "Daoist, are we still going to Shinguang Sect?" Wang Shuang tentatively asked, "Should we go to demand an explanation?"

    He looked at Zhu Lianhua, fearing that Zhu Lianhua, in a fit of anger, would make a scene at Shinguang Sect.

    If that happened, he would definitely claim that his thirteenth concubine was having a difficult labor and he needed to rush back home, avoiding involvement.

    Zhu Lianhua''s expression was uncertain, but he eventually spoke, "Going now would be courting humiliation!

    But I will remember today''s humiliation. Shinguang Sect... humiliates me today, and when I step into the Nascent Soul realm in the future, I will make this sect restless!

    Let''s go!"

    Zhu Lianhua chose to bide his time.

    Completing the task given by his master was the top priority.

    As for Shinguang Sect, Ruan Yixi, and that Qi Yuan, he remembered them!

    Wang Shuang was delighted upon hearing this: "Daoist, this is a wise decision. That Ruan Yixi is highly skilled and not easy to provoke, but her disciple is just a Qi Refining stage. When he leaves the sect, I will find a reason to capture him to vent your anger!"

    Not far away, Qi Yuan, wearing a cloak, was scratching his face anxiously.

    Just now, he had secretly gone down the mountain to sell that invitation.

    Unexpectedly, he encountered people from Bright Palace.

    What a small world.

    He secretly hid his presence and followed them, eavesdropping on some information that made him angry.

    That Zhu Lianhua wants to seize the treasure!

    Who is the treasure of Shinguang Sect if not Qi Yuan himself?

    Trying to seize him? How could Qi Yuan tolerate that?

    In the end, seeing the anger and intense voice transmission of the other party who bought the invitation, Qi Yuan felt they were plotting something big.

    "It''s a pity I can''t read minds, otherwise, I would surely know their conspiracy!

    They provide concealment, protection, and escape." Jiang Lingsu gave the talismans to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up: "Thank you, Junior Sister!"

    "Senior Brother, use the Concealment Talisman and Copper Armor Talisman, and let''s follow them."

    "Alright." Though reluctant, Qi Yuan used the talismans.

    The two of them, using the talismans, walked through the market.

    The market people seemed oblivious to their presence.

    They followed Zhu Lianhua and Wang Shuang out of the market.

    Qi Yuan and Jiang Lingsu kept following behind.

    "Senior Brother, stay close to me," Jiang Lingsu whispered.

    She feared if Senior Brother was too far, she couldn''t protect him if a fight broke out.

    "Alright." Qi Yuan moved closer to Jiang Lingsu.

    The distance between them was very close, and Jiang Lingsu could feel Qi Yuan''s slightly nervous breathing, making her blush.

    It was her first close encounter with a man.

    But for Senior Brother''s safety, she didn''t hesitate, taking his hand: "Senior Brother, if there''s danger, stay behind me."

    "Alright, I''ll protect you from behind!" Qi Yuan agreed, holding Jiang Lingsu''s hand.

    They secretly followed Zhu Lianhua and Wang Shuang. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they entered a forest.

    In this secluded place, few people came.

    Jiang Lingsu remained calm, but Qi Yuan seemed nervous, his breathing rapid, making Jiang Lingsu feel a strange sensation.

    "Senior Brother, when the time is right, we will attack and kill them."

    "Attacking without honor, I understand this!"

    "Yes, follow my lead." Jiang Lingsu emphasized.

    Facing a perfected Foundation Establishment and a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Jiang Lingsu knew she wasn''t their match alone.

    But with her numerous treasures, she could overwhelm the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

    They moved quietly, soon reaching the depths of the forest.

    At this point, Wang Shuang and Zhu Lianhua stopped, seemingly discussing something.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan suddenly shouted, "Junior Sister, now is the best time, watch me sneak attack!"

    With that, Qi Yuan charged with a kitchen knife.

    Jiang Lingsu was dumbfounded.

    She knew this was the best time for a sneak attack, but she needed time to prepare her treasures.

    She planned to get ready and then tell Senior Brother she was about to attack, and he should stay behind.

    Who knew Senior Brother was so impulsive!

    Those were a perfected and a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!

    You, a Qi Refining stage, charging like this?

    And this is called a sneak attack?

    Charging with a kitchen knife!

    At this moment, Jiang Lingsu had no time to think.

 Chapter 71: Ascension Platform, The Final Step

    Chapter 71: Ascension Platform, The Final Step

    Qi Yuan easily sliced through two Foundation Establishment cultivators like cutting vegetables.

    The event happened so suddenly that Jiang Lingsu was left dumbfounded.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s shout, she blinked her large eyes, looking pitiful.

    "Senior brother, I didn''t see anything, and I know nothing!"

    Could it be that senior brother has been possessed by an old demon?

    This was Jiang Lingsu''s first thought.

    Killing two Foundation Establishment cultivators with a kitchen knife was too fierce!

    No wonder his body emanated such intense killing intent, it didn''t seem fake.

    She had naively thought that senior brother had simply played too many games, resulting in a body full of killing intent.

    He must be going out hunting every day while she was cultivating.

    From the way senior brother killed earlier, if an Essence Core cultivator was unprepared, they might even be ambushed and hurt.

    Jiang Lingsu looked at her senior brother, feeling a bit nervous.

    Qi Yuan was also stunned, his face anxious: "Junior sister, how can you not take responsibility after doing such a thing to your senior brother?"

    Jiang Lingsu observed her senior brother''s expression, which didn''t seem faked.

    It was hard to imagine that this was the same person who had just suddenly killed two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

    Could her judgment be wrong, or was this old demon just too adept at disguising?

    She secretly activated the Kunqian Mirror.

    The result showed that her senior brother was at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, his soul was intact, and there were no signs of possession.

    This left her both shocked and delighted.

    Shocked at how formidable her senior brother was.

    Delighted that her senior brother was not possessed by an old demon.

    Jiang Lingsu couldn''t figure it out. She recalled her senior brother''s actions carefully.

    There didn''t seem to be anything special about it, but he had managed to kill two Foundation Establishment cultivators with a kitchen knife.

    "Senior brother, why are you so formidable? If it''s a secret, you don''t have to tell me."

    "I''ll tell you if you promise to take responsibility for me," Qi Yuan insisted.

    Jiang Lingsu held her forehead; yes, the original senior brother was back.

    "I... will take responsibility," Jiang Lingsu said, feeling strange as if she had slept with her senior brother and then refused to acknowledge him.

    "Because in the game, I experienced endless killing.

    Every day, it was kill, kill, kill!

    Constant killing, I don''t know how long it went on." Qi Yuan spoke seriously, his tone a bit weary.

    Really in the game jade slip?

    Jiang Lingsu looked at Qi Yuan, feeling an inexplicable heartache.

    Thinking of the one on Seven Colors Peak, who was her convenient master, she suddenly realized.

    The skills her senior brother showed when killing the two Foundation Establishment cultivators weren''t particularly advanced, but his combat techniques were seamless.

    Without endless combat and killing, such techniques couldn''t be honed.

    The game jade slip her senior brother had must be extremely precious, allowing daily combat to sharpen oneself.

    Such a valuable jade slip must have been given by that mysterious master on Seven Colors Peak.

    But Jiang Lingsu was puzzled. Why train so many combat skills at the Qi Refining stage?

    "Senior brother, you are truly amazing. In regions where the immortal path flourishes, you''d be considered a true prodigy!"

    Of course, there was an unspoken sentence she didn''t say.

    Senior brother could only be considered a juvenile prodigy, far from those who had truly grown.

    Her senior brother''s combat power far exceeded that of an average peak Qi Refining cultivator.

    While it''s rare, Jiang Lingsu had seen many who could fight above their level.

    If it were one of the prodigies she knew, she might accept it more readily.

    But in her original understanding, her senior brother was just an ordinary little genius, now suddenly showing prodigious combat power, she could only imagine a lot.

    Thinking of this, Jiang Lingsu suddenly felt enlightened, everything became clear.

    Her senior brother being that master''s disciple, it''s normal for him to be comparable to prodigies.

    Senior brother, with the combat power of a prodigy and an exceptionally handsome appearance, seemed like a very good man.

    Thinking this, her heart rippled again.

    Qi Yuan, hearing Jiang Lingsu compare him to prodigies, said: "Junior sister, no need to flatter me, just take responsibility as promised!"

    Jiang Lingsu felt her imagined scene shatter: "Senior brother, you''d be better without a mouth."

    "Whether I have a mouth or not, you must take responsibility!

    You were the one who urged me to come, you''re the mastermind, I''m the accomplice!" Qi Yuan loudly proclaimed.

    Jiang Lingsu rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan, her gaze filled with countless emotions.

    "I killed these two," Jiang Lingsu said softly.

    Before coming, she had already planned how to deal with the aftermath of the murder.

    Naturally, she wouldn''t blame the Shen Guang Sect but take full responsibility.

    Qi Yuan, hearing this, felt relieved: "I happened to pass by, I can testify it was these two who attacked first, and junior sister had no choice but to fight back!"

    Jiang Lingsu was almost immune to her senior brother''s logic.

    Is this even human language?

    From being the murderer to becoming a witness.

    Jiang Lingsu and Qi Yuan approached the bodies, and Jiang Lingsu bent down, taking Zhu Lianhua''s storage bag.

    With a flick of her hand, a jade slip fell into her palm.

    Jiang Lingsu showed an understanding look: "As expected, the Bright Palace sent this person to the Great Shang to control it and incorporate it into the Bright Palace."

    "What do you mean?" Qi Yuan leaned in.

    "The Eastern Lands have thirteen states, the Bright Palace is located in Cuiyun Immortal State, taking half a month to reach the Hundred Nations from there by immortal boat.

    The Hundred Nations don''t have large sects like the Bright Palace and are constantly at war.

    The Great Shang Kingdom is one of the Hundred Nations.

    The Hundred Nations are about the size of one state in the Eastern Lands."

    "This map is quite large, so does this mean I''m just a country bumpkin from the mountains?" Qi Yuan, having joined the Seven Colors Peak and becoming the senior brother, felt proud, thinking he was a dragon among men.

    Hearing this vast world made him lose his pride.

    Now he felt like a vice leader of a small study group in a village elementary school.

    "Brilliant Sword!"

    A sword emerged, like winter wind cutting human skin and flesh.

    Only a blood-red sword appeared, standing in the air, inexplicably terrifying.

    With one sword strike, Qi Yuan felt he could easily kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

    This could be said to be very terrifying. Without relying on the power of the knife, Qi Yuan slaying a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even when they weren''t on guard, was not so easy.

    Seeing this sword, Qi Yuan nodded with satisfaction: "The adaptation can be considered successful, it''s just... blood-red, not like a righteous sword, but more like an evil cultivator''s sword.

    "No good, in the coming period, I need to find a chance to change this blood sword into a light sword!"

    Qi Yuan felt that the main task next was to disguise the blood sword produced by this technique as a light sword.

    Then in future battles, he could openly use it, and even imitate Bright Palace to pressure others with righteousness!

    Look, I''ve even condensed my righteousness into a light sword, how could I possibly be an old demon?

    Qi Yuan returned to the cottage.

    He glanced at the cold moon above Seven-Color Peak, sighing inexplicably: "It''s time to kill again. Today... crossing the final hurdle, as long as I defeat the Golden Armored Divine General, I will fully control Tian Jue."

    Actually, he felt some trepidation in his heart now.

    In the outside world, perhaps less than a month had passed.

    But in Tian Jue, he had already been killing for several hundred years, nearly a thousand years.

    In Tian Jue, he killed every day.

    The enemies he encountered also grew stronger and stronger.

    His combat skills had also been honed to an astonishing degree.

    Now facing Zang Hua again, he only needed to use 90% of his strength to kill Zang Hua in one move.

    It should be noted that Zang Hua was a level 97 God Realm powerhouse.

    On the Ascension Stairs in Tian Jue, he killed every day, seeking to learn from opponents, emulate them, then defeat them with one sword strike.

    He didn''t know how many God Realm beings he had killed.

    His combat experience against God Realm had reached the peak, he could kill God Realm beings with his eyes closed.

    And his experience pool had accumulated to a terrifying degree.

    Unfortunately, his level remained stuck at 99, unable to advance further.

    Too much killing made Qi Yuan somewhat weary.

    However, thinking of Xiao Jia who had always fought alongside him, he roused his spirits again.

    "I am a man who has donned armor, I should slay all enemies!"

    Qi Yuan entered the game, holding Xiao Jia''s hand as they climbed out of the pit.

    Qi Yuan stepped onto the final stair.

    As long as he passed the last stair, he only needed to defeat the golden-armored general to fully control Tian Jue.

    The last two battles would both be bitter struggles.

    Qi Yuan held Xiao Jia''s cold little hand as they stepped onto the final stair.

    The scene before their eyes changed.

    Qi Yuan looked around and saw peak after peak in his field of vision.

    The peaks gathered around, surrounding him in the middle.

    On each peak sat a God Realm powerhouse.

    The auras of these God Realm powerhouses were no weaker than Dragon Judge, Yu, or Tong.

    All were peak God Realm, level 99 existences.

    For some reason, Qi Yuan even felt their levels might actually be higher than 99, but for some unknown reason were suppressed to level 99.

    When Qi Yuan appeared, all the God Realm powerhouses on the peaks opened their eyes.

    Thousands of sharp gazes looked at Qi Yuan, making him feel as if thorns were pricking his back.

    It was like the Roc in "Journey to the West" who intruded into Spirit Mountain and was surrounded by all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats. Now he also stood in the center of three thousand God Realm powerhouses.

    "Three thousand God Realm beings?" Qi Yuan held his sword, his figure especially straight and tall, a faint bloody color permeating, appearing bewitching yet extraordinarily handsome.

    Facing the God Realm powerhouses of the final level, his gaze was especially calm, but looking closely, one could see endless bloodiness within.

    But when he looked down at Xiao Jia, a trace of tenderness welled up in his gaze.

    "Xiao Jia, let''s fight together once more!"

 Chapter 72: Clearing Tianjue, Meeting Jin Li

    Chapter 72: Clearing Tianjue, Meeting Jin Li

    Blood-red armor covered his entire body, and Qi Yuan''s height had soared to 137 meters.

    On his shoulders, blood-red spikes glistened, appearing transparent and sinister under the sunlight, as if they were about to drip blood. for new novels

    He wielded a massive sword, striding forward like a demon emerging from hell.

    Qi Yuan held his sword, his voice hoarse and deep.

    "Kill!"

    At this moment, there was only one word: kill!

    Kill! Kill! Kill!

    Three thousand peaks flew towards Qi Yuan, with peak-level Divine Realm experts attacking from all directions.

    Qi Yuan opened his blood-red eyes, seeing countless afterimages and innumerable martial techniques.

    "Kill!"

    He raised the giant sword with one hand and jumped fiercely.

    The immense impact cracked the ground beneath his feet.

    The giant blood-red armor leaped up.

    At this moment, all techniques seemed useless.

    The massive body, standing 137 meters tall, falling with such force was enough to terrify anyone.

    Not to mention, this behemoth wielded an extremely powerful sword strike.

    "Die, all of you!"

    Everything he saw, he killed!

    Qi Yuan didn''t know how many he had slain.

    But in the game world, on the Ascension Platform, anyone he saw was slain by him!

    Seen and killed!

    A single sword strike shattered the enormous peaks.

    Rocks and soil flew, breaking into countless pieces.

    The peak''s owner was directly smashed to death by a single strike.

    "Ah!"

    Qi Yuan was like a killing god, no, a killing demon!

    Wielding the giant blood-red sword, he slaughtered with every strike.

    Three thousand peak Divine Realm experts joined forces, attacking him continuously.

    Dozens to hundreds of martial techniques bombarded Qi Yuan.

    It was like trying to entangle a giant beast with a spider''s web.

    Qi Yuan wielded his sword, sweeping horizontally with brute force, breaking through all techniques.

    One sword strike, no matter what martial technique, secret art, or forbidden spell, was like a spider web being cut apart, dissolving into nothingness.

    Peaks shattered.

    Rivers flowed backward!

    Blood stained the Divine Realm.

    Facing three thousand peak Divine Realm experts, Qi Yuan was like a wolf among sheep!

    A mighty beast, standing on the ground, its head looking down from the clouds, wielding a giant sword, slaughtering all beings.

    His combat skills, his will, had been honed to perfection in these 129,600 battles.

    His battles with the peak Divine Realm were filled with the beauty of violence, brute force, and dominance; yet also with supreme skill, natural, and artistic.

    "Kill, kill, kill!"

    "Kill, kill, kill!"

    Slaughter until the heavens and earth were turned upside down, until the sun and moon lost their light, until the world was in chaos!

    Brothers in arms.

    Qi Yuan and Xiaojia slaughtered the three thousand Divine Realms together!

    ......

    In the Forbidden Land of Five Elements.

    Long Pan''s eyes showed a trace of worry: "Do you feel that the restrictions of the Forbidden Land of Five Elements are slowly fading away? I''m afraid that in a thousand years, it will become an ordinary forbidden land, even Supreme Emperors will be able to tread."

    "Do you suspect it''s the extraterrestrial demons?" Yu spoke, "In a thousand years, the demon-slaying assembly would have long ended.

    If he is slowly unlocking the restrictions of the Forbidden Land of Five Elements now, what''s the use of it taking a thousand years?"

    "You have a point." Long Pan ceased the topic, "What do you think of the current training of the Chief of the Department of Clothes in the human world, how much of our Divine Shadow has he digested?"

    "He has only been out for a month? You think too much. There''s still three hundred years left, hopefully, he can reach the peak of the Divine Realm, so we can have a bit more confidence facing the extraterrestrial demons." Yu sighed.

    Long Pan thought of something, his expression becoming solemn: "After the Celestial God went to resist the extraterrestrial demons, he sent you a message. Besides what you told us, is there really nothing else, like the strength of the extraterrestrial demons, and their exact numbers?"

    Yu was silent for a moment: "No, what the Celestial God said, I''ve already told you all."

    "Why hide it?" Long Pan sighed upon hearing this.

    "No."

    ......

    "Die!"

    The giant sword descended from the sky, shattering the last peak.

    The sword tip also ground down the last peak Divine Realm expert in the three thousand Divine Realms.

    Yes, not stabbed to death, because his body couldn''t accommodate such a large hole, he was ground flat.

    Qi Yuan stood still, his body covered in thick blood that seemed to be solidifying.

    Half a day in the outside world, a year in the Ascension Platform.

    Qi Yuan fought tirelessly, continuously battling.

    Finally, he completely killed the three thousand Divine Realms.

    The blood on his blood-red armor had dried, leaving some black spots.

    He inserted his sword into the mountain, sitting down, panting heavily.

    The air exhaled from his nostrils and mouth blew away the nearby rocks and soil.

    He scooped up water from the lake with his hand, splashing it on his face repeatedly, the lake''s water level dropped significantly, revealing the mud.

    Qi Yuan finally felt much cooler.

    Having defeated the three thousand Divine Realms, he had now climbed 129,600 steps.

    Going further up, he would reach the true Ascension Platform.

    Defeating the golden armored god would mean he completely controlled Tianjue.

    Each of the final steps had three thousand Divine Realms.

    How terrifying must that final golden armored god be?

    Qi Yuan couldn''t imagine.

    "Battle!"

    Qi Yuan had no fear.

    He was now at his weakest yet strongest.

    If he retreated, his martial spirit would dissipate.

    He could only move forward, invincible.

    He pulled the sword from the mountain''s crevice, shattering the peak.

    Holding his sword, he ascended the final Ascension Platform.

    His body quickly shrunk, reducing to twelve meters.

    At this moment, a majestic voice came: "You have arrived."

    Qi Yuan looked over, seeing a one-armed golden armored god.

    He stood on the Ascension Platform, his expression mechanical and cold, holding a pitch-black spear in his right hand.

    The spear was stained with blood, emitting a cold light.

    He was different from the golden armored god Qi Yuan first saw.

    "But only one month, then I have to go to Dijue to fight bosses?"

    "Doesn''t matter, meeting her first!"

    Qi Yuan thought and quickly informed Jinli about this.

    "Jinli, I have cleared Tianjue, I can leave the forbidden land and spend a month in the mortal world!"

    "Let''s meet at the Ancient Tree!"

    "By the way, you left the Southern Qian Kingdom and headed to the Ancient Tree a few days ago. Have you arrived?"

    At this moment, in a small town under the ancient tree of Gu Qi Chuanmu, Jinli was sitting by a lake.

    Not far away, some children were playing and making a racket. One child was playing in the water and was pulled out by his mother, receiving a couple of smacks on his buttocks, clearly from a loving mother.

    A large bird flew down from the Ancient Tree, diving into the water with a splash, seemingly catching a small fish.

    By the lake, many young couples were meeting.

    "Are you really coming to see me?" Jinli''s heart tightened.

    "Yes, I have a month. Where shall we meet? Give me the coordinates."

    "I am in Qiyue Town, in the Yuehuang Dynasty under the Ancient Tree. It''s easy to find. After leaving Tianjue, head southeast, and you will reach here. I will wait for you at Banyue Lake." Jinli''s body trembled with excitement.

    "Okay, I got it." Qi Yuan said, then asked, "How is it outside? Is stuff expensive? Is the food good? Is the scenery beautiful?"

    "The scenery here is beautiful. The Ancient Tree is really huge.

    It is the divine tree of Wangyue Continent. The Yuehuang Dynasty is next to it, unlike the Southern Qian Kingdom, there is no war here, and people live in peace.

    There are many delicious things. I tried a crispy sweet duck today, and it tasted very good.

    I''m trying to learn how to make it. When you come, I''ll cook for you!"

    "Okay, I hope it''s not too bad. Otherwise, I''ll have to pretend it''s good and eat it all, which would be tough."

    "......"

    "Oh, this is my first time meeting an online friend. To be honest, I''m quite excited."

    "Me too."

    "What do you look like? Oh, that was abrupt."

    "I should be... okay?"

    "Don''t worry, I''m very handsome, I won''t dislike you.

    I''ve asked you so many questions, don''t you want to ask me something? Like my height, annual income, whether I have a car, a house, the bride price......"

    "......"

    "Saying so much, it feels like a matchmaking.

    Online, it should be cpdd."

    "What is that?"

    "Looking for a partner, that''s what it means. Anyway, I''ve used too much energy today, I need to log off and rest for a while. I should be out of Tianjue by tomorrow.

    If I don''t get lost, see you tomorrow.

    If I do get lost, then see you in three or seven days!"

    After finishing, Qi Yuan logged off.

    Jinli, dressed in white, sat by the lake, thinking about something.

    "Your Majesty, is that esteemed person coming to see you?" Aunt Qin appeared beside Jinli.

    Jinli smiled: "Yes, also Aunt Qin, don''t call me Your Majesty anymore, just call me Ali.

    I am no longer the Empress of Southern Qian Kingdom, and I am not suited to be an Empress."

    Aunt Qin, familiar with Jinli, smiled: "Seeing you looking so lost now, what are you worried about?"

    "Nothing..."

    Aunt Qin said: "Your Majesty has a noble body and a beautiful appearance, worthy of anyone."

    Jinli was silent, not speaking.

    Aunt Qin continued: "That esteemed person was willing to lend the terrifying Clothing Department Forbidden Army to Your Majesty, showing his great care for you. Your Majesty doesn''t need to worry anymore. Being so distracted, you might be exhausted before you even meet."

    Jinli heard this and stood up: "Alright, Aunt Qin, let''s go back."

    The two left the lakeside and walked towards the house they bought.

    At this moment, a group of children wearing masks walked past Jinli.

    The masks were varied, and the children, holding sticks and humming songs, were led by a private school teacher to a place.

    "Aunt Qin, why are they wearing masks?" Jinli was curious.

    "It seems they are going to worship a god statue." Aunt Qin knew a bit but not much.

    "What god, why the masks?"

    "It seems that god also wears a mask."

    "Why do they all carry sticks?"

    "I don''t know."

    "What is that god in charge of?"

    "Not in charge of marriage, but three days later, there will be a temple fair in this town. If that esteemed person comes, you two can watch the temple fair together.

    This town has many god statues and many popular temples.

    That god with the mask seems to have few worshippers, only that private school teacher believes in that god."

    "Well, a temple fair does sound interesting. We can go and see."

    The next day.

    In Tianjue.

    Qi Yuan stretched.

    He stood by the lake, looking at his reflection in the water.

    "Still as handsome as ever."

    He stood up, thinking of something.

    "When meeting an online friend, should I bring a gift? Otherwise, it''s impolite."

    "Oh no, I have nothing on me."

    He stood by the lakeside in Tianjue, pondering.

    His figure dissipated, running all over Tianjue.

    Soon, a wooden hairpin appeared in Qi Yuan''s hand.

    The hairpin was ordinary, but made from many precious plants.

    "A handmade wooden hairpin should be okay, right?"

    "Hope it doesn''t get criticized online for being cheap and handmade."

    "Jinli isn''t that kind of person, it''s fine."

    He thought for a moment.

    Sending a message to Jinli.

    "I got you a meeting gift, a wooden hairpin, handmade, don''t mind it being cheap."

    After saying this, he left Tianjue, heading out.

    After dozens of breaths, Qi Yuan finally walked out of Tianjue.

    "A desert?"

    He gazed at the sky.

    Ancient poems flooded his mind.

    "Lonely smoke straight in the vast desert, the setting sun round over the long river."

    He looked out, seeing a vast golden desert.

    "Huh? Where did my game interface go?"

    Qi Yuan was stunned.

    Upon stepping out of Tianjue, his game interface disappeared.

 Chapter 73: A Slightly Eerie World

    Chapter 73: A Slightly Eerie World

    The game interface disappeared?

    A sense of caution flashed through Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    He quickly walked back towards Tianjue, but found that he couldn¡¯t return at all.

    "So, once I leave the forbidden zone and the restricted zone, I lose my game interface?"

    "Doesn''t that mean I¡¯m no different from an NPC?"

    Qi Yuan was stunned.

    Soon he accepted this reality.

    "Even without the game interface, I can still exterminate the evil demons from beyond!" Qi Yuan recalled a saying from a certain big shot and stopped thinking about it.

    "The only pity is that I can¡¯t contact Jin Li anymore."

    "Shouldn''t there be no cliche?d scenarios where we mistake each other?"

    Qi Yuan had heard many stories about blind dates going wrong and mistaken meetings.

    "Xiaojia." Qi Yuan gently called while holding Xiaojia.

    Xiaojia obediently shrank and eventually turned into a tattoo of a wedding dress on Qi Yuan¡¯s chest.

    Qi Yuan also put on the faceless mask he got from the Ugly Robe Monster Emperor.

    Now, dressed in a pitch-black blood armor with a mask on his face, he looked like a demonic guard from a palace.

    His figure also shrank at this moment, becoming the size of an ordinary person.

    "Now, I look like a major villain."

    The faceless mask could temporarily block the perception of the evil demons from beyond.

    The Ugly Robe Monster Emperor was once a prodigious genius.

    Such a prodigy was most despised by the evil demons from beyond, who would dangle meat hooks from the sky to extract their flesh, leaving only a human skin.

    The Ugly Robe Monster Emperor used the faceless mask to block the perception of the evil demons from beyond.

    Unfortunately, he ventured into the polluted robe-restricted zone and broke into the heavenly realm, where his flesh was extracted by the meat hooks.

    Qi Yuan was now a level 99 strongman. Walking among humans would attract the attention of the evil demons from beyond.

    Therefore, he wore the faceless mask on his face.

    He held his great sword and looked southeast.

    A giant ancient Jizhi camphor tree came into view.

    "Thousands of miles away, ah, too bad there¡¯s no spirit boat here, and even if I knew how to build one, it would be useless; I can only travel on foot."

    The game world and the real world were two different worlds.

    In the game world, martial arts could reach divine levels.

    In the real world of the Canglan Realm, it was the path to immortality.

    Cultivating the techniques from the game world wouldn¡¯t turn one into a resource.

    Unfortunately, they couldn¡¯t be cultivated or even referenced in the real world to supplement the ¡°Qi Yuan Sutra.¡±

    The first time Qi Yuan tried to reference the techniques from the game world, he was terrified.

    At that time, he seriously doubted if he had a mental problem, having attempted to cultivate game techniques.

    "Let''s go, to the ancient Jizhi camphor tree, Yuehuang Dynasty, for a meet-up!"

    Qi Yuan transformed into a blood-red afterimage and flew towards the ancient Jizhi camphor tree.

    After an unknown amount of time, Qi Yuan suddenly fell from the sky.

    In the desert, on several dead tree stumps, hung several human corpses, about fifteen in total, looking like dried corpses under the scorching sun.

    The bodies were small, appearing to be children.

    Vultures were tearing at the flesh, as if it were rotten meat in a garbage dump.

    Seeing Qi Yuan''s appearance, the vultures flapped their wings and flew away.

    Qi Yuan looked at these "tender," emaciated, dried corpses, estimating that the oldest might be around eleven or twelve years old, while the youngest was likely a three-month-old baby, and there were many of them.

    They seemed to have been cruelly killed and exposed in the wilderness.

    He glanced at the sun in the sky.

    "In such hot weather, it''s not good to expose them like this."

    Qi Yuan waved his hand, and all the stumps sank into the sand.

    Ordinary mortals, once dead, their karma dissipates.

    "This world isn¡¯t as beautiful as Jin Li said."

    "Maybe it¡¯s just that I¡¯m currently standing in the darkness."

    Thinking this, Qi Yuan flew back into the sky.

    This time, he flew high, far above, seemingly unaffected by the mundane world.

    The affairs of the world are numerous, and it''s hard to distinguish right from wrong. Or perhaps, what is right, and what is wrong?

    ...

    A flash of blood-red light.

    Less than a few hundred miles away from the ancient Jizhi camphor tree.

    Below was a town, and Qi Yuan stopped.

    He had two things to do in this town.

    The first was to ask for directions to the Yuehuang Dynasty; the second was to have a good rest, eat a meal, and change into simple clothes.

    Outside the city wall, a long queue formed.

    Qi Yuan landed at the end of the line.

    In front of Qi Yuan was a chubby man.

    Qi Yuan looked at the city, where the three large characters ¡°Kunwu City¡± were written.

    Hundreds of people were lined up outside the city walls.

    The sun above was blazing.

    The fat man in front of Qi Yuan wiped his sweat.

    Judging by his attire, he was either rich or noble.

    Qi Yuan stood quietly, his gaze fixed on the other side of the city wall.

    There, another entrance had a different queue.

    That entrance was unlike the one Qi Yuan was in, with very few people, seemingly a privileged entrance.

    However, that privilege was different from what Qi Yuan thought, not for the wealthy.

    It was... all elderly people.

    Mostly those over fifty or sixty years old.

    Outside the city gate, they didn¡¯t have to queue and could enter directly.

    "Respecting the elderly, Kunwu City has a simple and honest folk custom." Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    At this moment, the fat man in front of Qi Yuan turned around upon hearing this, "Friend, you¡¯re not a local, are you?"

    When he saw Qi Yuan¡¯s mask, his eyes widened in fright but quickly returned to normal: "Friend, what you just said is only half correct."

    "I need to quickly find out where Yue Dynasty''s July Town is."

    "Ah, if I meet her later, what if we develop feelings while chatting?"

    Qi Yuan knew that if two people chatted for a long time online and got along well, if they met in person and neither had obvious shortcomings, there was a high chance they would hit it off.

    "Why am I thinking about this when we haven''t even met!"

    Qi Yuan left the inn and went to a shop called Kunwu Fengsheng.

    He learned about this shop from the inn''s waiter during his meal.

    This shop sold information and was very influential in Kunwu City.

    "A distinguished guest is here, please come in."

    Just as Qi Yuan stood in front of Kunwu Fengsheng, a pleasant voice came.

    A tall woman walked out of the shop, wearing a black veil that obscured her face.

    Qi Yuan noticed that she was an imperial-level warrior.

    Moreover, when she saw his mask, she reacted slightly but quickly hid it.

    Qi Yuan said, "I want to buy a map of the surrounding area."

    Hearing this, the veiled woman softly said, "Distinguished guest, please wait a moment."

    She turned and went into the shop, opened a drawer, and spread a map out in front of Qi Yuan.

    "Is the distinguished guest satisfied?" the veiled woman asked softly.

    Qi Yuan was slightly stunned. Who does business like this?

    In such a martial world, warriors are almost photographic in memory.

    Once a map is unfolded and a warrior looks at it, it loses its value.

    But he still glanced at it and showed a puzzled expression: "Does this map definitely include all the nations around Gu Qi Camphor Wood?"

    "Yes." The veiled woman nodded affirmatively.

    "Why is there no Yue Dynasty or July Town?"

    The veiled woman was stunned: "I have never heard of Yue Dynasty or July Town."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was confused.

    Was this person lying to him?

    Or did Jin Li deceive him?

    Or did he remember wrong?

    "However, I have heard of the Moon Emperor Clan. I don''t know if that''s what you''re looking for."

    "Moon Emperor?" Qi Yuan murmured.

    Yuehuang (Moon Emperor) Clan and Yue Dynasty differ by one word but the gap is significant.

    Even if the Moon Emperor Clan established a nation, it would be called Moon Emperor Dynasty.

    "The Moon Emperor Clan has twelve lakes, named January Lake, February Lake, March Lake... Each lake is home to a branch of the Moon Emperor Clan.

    I wonder if this has any connection to the July Town you''re talking about?"

    "Where is it?" Qi Yuan asked hurriedly.

    If one is a coincidence, so be it, but two consecutive coincidences indicate a problem.

    The veiled woman hesitated.

    Qi Yuan said, "Just speak freely."

    The veiled woman then said, "The Moon Emperor Clan refuses to comply with the Hundred Cities Decree and is currently at war with the Hundred Cities. It might be dangerous to go there now, risking innocent lives.

    The Hundred Cities Decree is the Filial Piety Decree.

    The Hundred Cities demand that the Moon Emperor Clan also adhere to filial piety, punishing anyone who disobeys!"

    "Where is it?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Here." The veiled woman marked the location of the Yuehuang Clan on the map, "July Lake is here, only a few miles from the main trunk of Gu Qi Camphor Wood."

    "Thank you for the information." Qi Yuan sincerely thanked her, "I don''t have enough money with me, but I see you are an imperial-level warrior, so I will give you this technique. If you practice it, you have a chance to break through to the Supreme Emperor level."

    Qi Yuan said, picking up a piece of paper in the shop, writing quickly. In a few breaths, a technique appeared on the paper.

    This technique came from the memory of a strong Divine Realm warrior and was a simple technique.

    It happened to suit the veiled woman.

    Moreover, she had shown him kindness first, so he reciprocated.

    The veiled woman took the technique and looked at it: "This... this..."

    She showed an excited expression.

    The technique was of a very high level and suited her well. If she practiced it, it wouldn''t take long for her to become a Supreme Emperor.

    She wanted to thank him but saw that he had already disappeared.

    "Senior?" She wanted to say something but didn''t.

    After about ten breaths, an old woman lifted the curtain and came out of the shop.

    The old woman, with a face full of wrinkles, looked very old: "Xiao Lian, did you figure out that person''s background?"

    The veiled woman''s brow furrowed: "His strength is at least that of a Supreme Emperor, or even..."

    "A Divine Realm?" The old woman frowned.

    "If it¡¯s a Divine Realm, then perhaps from the forbidden area." The veiled woman was very excited.

    "Or it could be a bait laid by the Hundred Cities Alliance." The old woman said.

    Hearing this, the veiled woman felt disappointed: "We have had no contact with the lords of the forbidden area for nearly a thousand years.

    The Black Robe Guard''s power is growing.

    Can we really win?"

    "Our purpose for existing is to kill the Black Robe Guard and return a bright and clear sky to the world!

    Xiao Lian, don''t worry, the Black Robe Guard acts against the heavenly way and will face divine retribution!" The old woman had a fierce look in her eyes.

    Her son, her daughter, her husband, all died at the hands of the Black Robe Guard.

    She was irreconcilable with the Black Robe Guard.

    "Mm." Hearing this, the black-veiled woman nodded silently.

    "Xiao Lian, close the shop, we''re going to visit the Moon Emperor clan." The old woman thought of something and made a decision.

    "Okay."

    "We can also use the war between the Hundred Cities Alliance and the Moon Emperor clan to see if that faceless person is really a senior from the Forbidden Zone, or a bait from the Black Robe Guards." The old woman said in a deep voice.

    ......

    The moon climbed onto the branches.

    The lake water sparkled, Jin Li sat on a green stone by the lake.

    She would occasionally look up and look around, then show a disappointed expression, and then become full of expectation again.

    Aunt Qin stood not far away, seeing Jin Li''s appearance, she sighed softly, not knowing what she was sighing about.

    At this time, a voice sounded in Aunt Qin''s ear: "Old Madam Qin, long time no see."

    Hearing this ethereal and pleasant voice, Aunt Qin''s body suddenly stiffened.

    "It''s you? High Priestess!"

 Chapter 74: Restless Shadows

    Chapter 74: Restless Shadows

    "It''s getting dark."

    "There should be a lot of mosquitoes by the lake. I wonder if Jinli is still waiting for me."

    "Damn it, where exactly is July Lake!"

    Although the map was fully marked, it wasn''t detailed. It couldn''t be as precise as on Blue Star, down to each building, and it couldn''t even pinpoint some small hills accurately.

    Now, Qiyuan had reached the vicinity, but he still didn''t know the exact location of July Lake.

    At this moment, a few voices came.

    Qiyuan''s eyes lit up: "There are people. Can I go ask them?"

    At this time, around the lakeside, moonlight was falling.

    The air was filled with the smell of blood.

    Two groups of strong men were holding weapons, poised for battle.

    "Is this how the Yuehuang Clan treats guests? We traveled thousands of miles from Black Cloud City to see your priest, and we can''t even do that?" said a one-eyed man with an eye patch, looking particularly fierce.

    "When evil guests arrive, we naturally have reasons not to see them!" said a man with pure green hair from the other side.

    "It seems your Yuehuang Clan doesn''t realize the price of offending us!" The one-eyed man brandished a large knife, looking ferocious.

    "The Yuehuang Clan fears no threats." The green-haired man spoke.

    Both sides were on the verge of fighting, arguing fiercely, as if they could start fighting at any moment.

    At this moment, a voice came: "Everyone, please stop for a moment. Do you know where July Lake or July Town is?" for new novels

    Qiyuan appeared beside these people, wearing a mask and speaking sincerely.

    After he spoke, both sides who were still arguing looked at him strangely.

    "We are currently at the shore of July Lake." The one-eyed man spoke in a rough voice.

    Qiyuan was stunned: "This is July Lake?"

    Behind the two groups was a "lake" about the size of a pond.

    Isn''t this lake too small?

    Where is Jinli?

    He looked around but didn''t see Jinli.

    Could he have come to the wrong place?

    "Thank you for the information." Qiyuan was a bit disappointed and thanked the one-eyed man.

    Where is Jinli?

    Where is July Town?

    He was about to leave and circle around the ancient Qichun Tree.

    At this moment, the one-eyed man stopped him.

    "Young man, don''t leave just yet. Help us judge who is right and who is wrong!" The one-eyed man showed a ferocious smile.

    He suddenly wanted some fun.

    "Sorry, I''m in a hurry. I still have to go to July Town to see an old friend." Qiyuan''s mood was low.

    "I know where July Town is. If you judge who is right and who is wrong, I''ll tell you." The one-eyed man said.

    "You''re right!" Qiyuan didn''t hesitate.

    The one-eyed man shook his head: "That''s no fun."

    Qiyuan had no choice but to calm himself down and wait there, acting as a proper judge.

    Seeing this, the green-haired man said to Qiyuan: "Sir, you''d better leave quickly. The Hundred City Alliance is hunting down some rogue warriors. You might get implicated if you stay here."

    The one-eyed man sneered: "Why do you Yuehuang Clan people like to slander so much? Do you have evidence that I''m hunting this friend?"

    "Does the evil reputation of the Hundred City Alliance need to be mentioned?"

    "In the Hundred City Alliance, fathers are kind, sons are filial, and the elderly are cared for. Where is the evil reputation? It''s you Yuehuang Clan people who lack basic manners. We came to see your priest and were turned away? Do you want to imitate the Da Luo Kingdom?"

    Qiyuan stood aside, confused.

    He didn''t know who was right or wrong.

    It seemed both had a point.

    "Hmph, our Yuehuang Clan will never bow down. If your Hundred City Alliance dares to come, I''ll kill one if one comes, kill a hundred if a hundred come!" The green-haired man said angrily.

    Oh dear!

    Kill a hundred?

    Qiyuan knew who was right and who was wrong.

    At this moment, the one-eyed man laughed coldly: "The three thousand members of the Da Luo Kingdom''s royal family were all slaughtered by us!"

    Qiyuan was completely shocked. There was an even more formidable person here.

    He was anxious, fearing more changes: "I know, they''re right, you''re wrong!"

    He pointed to the people of the Hundred City Alliance, saying they were wrong.

    After speaking, he added: "Now can you tell me where July Town is?"

    The one-eyed man was stunned, then laughed: "You say we''re wrong again?"

    The seven warriors behind him also looked at Qiyuan with a mocking expression and a murderous intent.

    Qiyuan asked: "Where is July Town?"

    The one-eyed man laughed: "I''ve never heard of any July Town! There is no such place as July Town here!"

    The people behind him were all laughing.

    Seeing this, the green-haired man reminded again: "Sir, leave quickly. The Hundred City Alliance are not good people."

    Qiyuan ignored him, standing quietly in place, his eyes fixed on the one-eyed man: "Are you sure you lied to me?"

    "No need to confirm, I did. So what? You ungrateful thing. A rogue warrior like you dare to show your face, you''re seeking death." The one-eyed man said contemptuously.

    Qiyuan drew his sword, his face turning extremely grim for the first time: "I hate being lied to, especially about something so important!"

    If he was given a wrong address, he might be even later in seeing Jinli.

    He already didn''t have much time.

    How could he not be angry!

    He held his sword, and under the shocked eyes of everyone present, attacked with lightning speed.

    "Lying to me deserves death!"

    He was so fast that no one could react, not even seeing an afterimage. There was a neat cut on the necks of the eight people behind the one-eyed man.

    When Qiyuan''s sword tip pressed against the one-eyed man''s throat, blood spurted from the necks of the eight people behind him, spectacularly, followed by the thudding sound of bodies falling.

    "Do you really not know where July Town is?" Qiyuan pushed his sword tip forward, pressing the one-eyed man''s Adam''s apple inward, and blood flowed.

    The one-eyed man dared not speak.

    "Die!"

    With a sword through his Adam''s apple, Qiyuan exuded a murderous aura.

    His clothes, for some reason, seemed to slowly turn red at this moment, as if stained with blood.

    The little boy seemed very curious about everything and quite brave.

    "I''m waiting for someone," Qi Yuan said.

    The little boy felt sad upon hearing this, "When I was little, I used to wait here every day for my dad to come home. Sometimes, I would draw on the ground with a stick. When it got late, I would catch some fireflies..."

    "You were little?" Qi Yuan''s focus was peculiar.

    "I''m eight years old now."

    "Such small memories, you still remember?"

    "It¡¯s only been two or three years, I still remember what my dad looked like.

    I even carved his likeness so that I¡¯ll remember him for life," the boy said, happily pulling out a wood carving of a man. "My father was a sculptor, and I will become a great sculptor too!"

    Hope shone in the boy''s eyes.

    At that moment, a dirty child ran over, "Ah Qiao, do you want some candied haws?"

    The dirty child opened his hand to reveal three dusty candied haws.

    "Xiao Ping, where did you get these?" Ah Qiao took one.

    "I found them." The dirty child noticed Qi Yuan. "Mister, do you want one?"

    He held out his hand, curiously looking at Qi Yuan.

    Ah Qiao, seeing this, laughed, "He¡¯s an adult, he won¡¯t eat your dirty candied haws!"

    At that moment, a voice called out, "Ah Qiao, Xiao Ping, come back, it''s time to eat!"

    "Mister, we¡¯re leaving!"

    The two boys ran off quickly.

    The lakeside returned to silence, with only Qi Yuan sitting there, staring blankly.

    The next day, the boy named Ah Qiao came again, chatted with Qi Yuan for a while, and then left.

    Ah Qiao said he would carve a sculpture for Qi Yuan in the future, using the best materials.

    Because Qi Yuan had taught him some carving techniques.

    On the third day, Qi Yuan noticed that the lakeside was much quieter. The women from the Yuehuang Clan didn¡¯t come to wash clothes, and the children didn¡¯t come to play.

    The green-haired man met Qi Yuan and said the Hundred Cities Alliance might attack soon.

    They were still searching for Jinli.

    At night, Qi Yuan sat alone by the lake.

    Suddenly, he stood up, "I can''t wait any longer."

    He decided to fly around the ancient Ji Gong tree.

    What if he encountered her?

    But he knew the probability was low.

    Because this required the unity of time, space, and person.

    Missing any one of these, and he might not see her.

    He flew towards the ancient Ji Gong tree.

    The thick trunk was like a mountain.

    After flying two-thirds of the way, Qi Yuan stopped.

    He saw a horrifying scene.

    Ahead, the giant ancient Qi Chuan tree, with its sky-reaching trunk and hanging branches, looked like fishing lines dropping from the sky.

    However... the branches were densely covered with human corpses.

    Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands?

    Hundreds of thousands? Millions?

    Dense and uncountable, looking as far as the eye could see.

    Under the green branches of the ancient Ji Gong tree hung countless corpses.

    White bones, wrapped in tattered clothes; dry corpses, emitting the stench of rotting snakes; fresh corpses, with peaceful smiles in their eyes...

    Qi Yuan was silent.

    It was the first time in his life seeing so many corpses.

    He flew forward, not knowing how long he had been flying.

    When he looked up, he saw those dense feet, countless skeletons.

    How many people were there?

    What did these people do wrong?

    Why were they hung here?

    Qi Yuan was silent. He flew around the main trunk of the ancient Ji Gong tree, searching with his powerful martial spirit.

    Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t sense anyone like Jinli.

    What he saw were countless corpses hanging under the ancient Ji Gong tree!

    This was a human purgatory!

    The world wasn¡¯t as beautiful as Jinli had described!

    "Why can¡¯t I find her!"

    Qi Yuan was irritable.

    He had almost flown around the main trunk of the ancient Qi Chuan tree but still couldn¡¯t find her.

    He was very afraid, afraid of really not seeing Jinli.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan stopped again.

    His pupils shrank as he saw two familiar corpses.

    One was the woman he saw outside Kunwu City, holding a baby.

    She was hanging under the ancient Ji Gong tree, her expression as numb and indifferent as when Qi Yuan first saw her.

    The other was the child she had once tightly held in her arms.

    Someone he had met not long ago, now hanging under the dense branches of the ancient Ji Gong tree.

    For some reason, a nameless rage rose in Qi Yuan''s heart.

    He drew his sword, wanting to cut down the ancient Ji Gong tree with one slash.

    At that moment, a pleasant female voice called out, "Qi Yuan..."

    Qi Yuan turned around abruptly. Under the soft moonlight, there stood a girl in a flowing long dress.

    A look of disappointment flashed in Qi Yuan''s eyes, "Who are you?"

    He hadn''t seen Jinli, but he knew at a glance that she wasn¡¯t Jinli.

    "Yuehuang Clan, one of the twelve priestesses, July."

 Chapter 75: The Place of Death, Stay Within 100 Meters

    Chapter 75: The Place of Death, Stay Within 100 Meters

    In the small town of July.

    Jinli turned around and saw a girl dressed in green.

    The girl looked quite young, like she was in her early teens. Her black hair was coiled on top of her head, forming two high buns on each side, adorned with gold, resembling a fairy''s hairstyle.

    She wasn''t very tall, but with her fairy-like buns, she barely reached 1.6 meters in height.

    The green-clad girl looked at Jinli and spoke slowly, "I am the priestess of the Yuehuang Kingdom, July."

    Jinli was somewhat surprised.

    She had come here quietly this time, yet she was still noticed.

    "Greetings, Priestess of July," Jinli said.

    However, the next words from the girl priestess made her heart skip a beat.

    "Qingluo is my sister."

    A look of disbelief flashed through Jinli''s heart.

    Because Qingluo was her mother''s name.

    Was this young girl really talking about the Qingluo she was thinking of?

    "She is your mother, and also the saintess of our Yuehuang Kingdom."

    Upon hearing this, Jinli looked at Aunt Qin.

    Aunt Qin said nothing, seemingly confirming it.

    "I see," Jinli seemed to have little reaction.

    "May I invite Your Majesty to visit the ancestral land of the Yuehuang clan?" Priestess July extended an invitation.

    "Sorry, I don''t have time," Jinli directly refused. She looked at the lake, a strange unease growing in her heart.

    She couldn''t contact Qiyuan.

    And Qiyuan hadn''t come to her.

    "Is Your Majesty waiting for someone?" Priestess July''s expression remained calm.

    Jinli didn''t speak, tacitly agreeing.

    "The person Your Majesty is waiting for hasn''t come."

    A flash of excitement appeared in Jinli''s eyes, but it quickly disappeared. She said coldly, "You know?"

    "I don''t know." Priestess July shook her head. She raised her head, looking at the towering ancient Qichun tree. "There are too many unknowns in this world, too many questions that cannot be answered.

    Some are buried by history, washed away by time; others are simply without an audience, a solitary appreciation.

    But when the ancient Qichun tree reaches the moon, all mysteries will be revealed."

    After she finished speaking, she didn''t lower her head, still looking at Jinli. "It is said that the original wedding dress princess waited for the god here by this lake but never met him; then there was a faceless sword god waiting for someone here, but the lover never came; and there was a guest from heaven who lingered here for a long time before disappearing.

    Everything in the world has its cause and effect, predestined, and no one can break it. Why must Your Majesty be so obsessed for a moment?"

    Upon hearing this, a look of stubbornness appeared on Jinli''s cold face. "I don''t believe in cause and effect, nor in predestination. Ten years isn''t enough, then a hundred years, a hundred years isn''t enough, then a thousand years, ten thousand years!"

    Her eyes were determined.

    It''s just that she couldn''t contact him for now; they would meet one day.

    "If we meet... sigh." Priestess July sighed, "If Your Majesty still can''t find that person, why not visit the Faceless Sword God''s temple?"

    After speaking, Priestess July walked away gracefully.

    Jinli''s heart skipped a beat. She suddenly remembered some content from the second message Qiyuan had asked the red-armored wedding dress to pass to her.

    She murmured, "Not meeting... not meeting..."

    Suddenly, she looked at Aunt Qin and asked, "Aunt Qin, do you know of a second desperate place besides Tianjue?"

    Aunt Qin shook her head, "I don''t know."

    "Is that so?" Jinli suddenly thought of the return of the Qilin Guards she had sent to the Tomb Forbidden Land half a month ago.

    The Tomb Forbidden Land, as usual, only had some wedding dress monsters living there.

    In the depths, there were no other clothing monsters, nor were there any signs of battle.

    She stood by the lakeside, looking at the sparkling water, her expression cold as the moon.

    Under the ancient Qichun tree.

    Qiyuan looked at the elegant girl in a long dress, his expression complicated, "Have you found Jinli?"

    The girl in the long dress shook her head, "I have not."

    Qiyuan looked at the girl in the long dress, hesitated for a moment, moved his lips, and his voice was a bit hoarse, "Do you know about the South Qian Kingdom?"

    "Never heard of it." Priestess July shook her head.

    Qiyuan paused for a moment, then asked again, "What about the South Feng Kingdom?"

    "Then... what about the Tianyun Sacred Sect?"

    The Tianyun Sacred Sect, the most powerful sect of the human race.

    Qiyuan didn''t originally want to ask about this.

    "I do not know." Priestess July still shook her head.

    "Well... I understand." The irritation on Qiyuan''s face dissipated, and he seemed particularly calm, or rather overly calm.

    "The person you are looking for, our Yuehuang clan will do our best to find!" Priestess July''s face showed an apologetic expression.

    "Okay." Qiyuan didn''t continue that topic but looked up at the ancient Qichun tree, at the sinister corpses hanging from it. "What''s going on here?"

    "According to the Hundred Cities Alliance, the people hanging up there are all those who did not respect filial piety and those who obstructed the implementation of the filial piety decree," Priestess July said coldly, her eyes clearly filled with anger. "The Hundred Cities Alliance wants to include our Yuehuang clan as well. Anyone who makes a mistake is hanged on the ancient Qichun tree!"

    Qiyuan was silent, "This act is against the way of heaven, like removing the fuel from under the cauldron."

    Generally speaking, the next generation is the future of a country, a race.

    Doing this, it won''t be long before the human race on the Wangyue Continent withers away.

    "The Hundred Cities Alliance issued the filial piety decree, causing dissatisfaction among various countries, who opposed it. Even within the Hundred Cities Alliance, there are many dissidents.

    Countless strong people rebelled, rivers of blood flowed."

    The seventh priestess of the Yuehuang clan said coldly.

    "Such a scene, the Hundred Cities Alliance should have been on the verge of collapse.

    However..."

    The seventh priestess''s face darkened.

    "Black Robe Guards!"

    Mentioning this term, the seventh priestess was obviously very agitated, her body trembling slightly, seemingly terrified.

    Qiyuan heard this term again.

    The last time was outside Kunwu City.

    "They are very strong?" Qiyuan asked.

    "They... are monsters, ghosts!" The seventh priestess seemed to recall something terrifying, her eyes filled with fear.

    "There aren''t many of them. Each one wears a black robe, their faces completely hidden.

    They don''t eat or drink, they don''t speak, they seem to have no emotions, only slaughter! Their strength... is too strong.

    No one can match them, the strongest warriors are as fragile as chickens before them.

    It was unclear what he was thinking or doing.

    The July Priestess came again, this time holding the hand of a little girl.

    "Sir, she is the Holy Maiden of our tribe. I entrust her to you."

    The July Priestess let go, and the short little girl behind her peeked at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan also looked at the little girl.

    The girl appeared very timid and shy. What caught one''s attention most were her eyes, with long eyelashes fluttering like fans, and in her pupils, there seemed to be a crescent moon.

    "What is her name?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "You may call her Yue Nu, sir."

    "Yue Nu?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    The July Priestess handed the Holy Maiden to Qi Yuan.

    She said, "Sir, I will be traveling far for some time. Please take care of her."

    The July Priestess took out a jade round piece from her bosom.

    "This is called Linglong Yuxi, naturally paired. Ordinary people can communicate through this treasure. I give this one to you, and the other is with me. If there''s an emergency, you can contact me through Linglong Yuxi."

    Qi Yuan accepted the warm Linglong Yuxi.

    He found it somewhat similar to the communication jade slips of Canglan Realm.

    He tried it out, saying, "Are you there?"

    The July Priestess saw the message from Linglong Yuxi, glanced at Qi Yuan, and said, "Yes, just like that."

    Then she squatted down and said to the Holy Maiden, "Yue Nu, remember to stay with this senior during this time. He will protect you. Be obedient."

    Yue Nu peeked at Qi Yuan and nodded.

    "Thank you, sir," the July Priestess bowed.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan suddenly asked, "Why do you trust me so much?"

    The July Priestess showed a devout expression, "Everything is guided by fate."

    "Mystical nonsense," Qi Yuan muttered.

    He didn''t like talking to spiritual people; they always spoke in riddles.

    The July Priestess bid farewell to Qi Yuan and left the July Lake.

    By the green lake, only Qi Yuan and the Holy Maiden of the Moon Royal Tribe remained.

    He glanced at Yue Nu and said, "Go play with the mud over there, just stay within my sight."

    The little girl didn''t react; she just sat beside Qi Yuan, staring at the lake with him.

    The scene, one big and one small, was quite picturesque.

    After some time, a cold wind blew.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the sky and saw tiny specks falling.

    "It''s snowing."

    "Looks like I''ll be fishing alone in the cold river snow."

    He glanced at the Holy Maiden clinging tightly to his sleeve, "If you''re cold, go back to the house."

    The little girl''s hands were red from the cold. She looked at Qi Yuan and obediently left.

    "My enthusiasm isn''t warm enough, even freezing the little girl," Qi Yuan thought.

    He sat alone by the lake, feeling vast and solitary.

    After some time, Qi Yuan''s shoulders were covered with snow.

    Snow piled up on the branches by the lake, and when the wind blew, it scattered down.

    The lake surface seemed to have a thin layer of ice.

    He sighed, "It''s good to feel the cold wind; it clears my head."

    The murderous intent in his heart had lessened with the accumulating snow after constant killing before.

    At this moment, a creaking sound was heard. The little Yue Nu opened the wooden door, holding a large bowl, and carefully walked toward Qi Yuan.

    The large bowl was steaming, filled to the brim with fragrant fish soup.

    The little girl placed the fish soup in front of Qi Yuan, her star-like eyes looking at him.

    "For me?" Qi Yuan sniffed the fish soup, "I didn''t expect that coming here, I wouldn''t get to eat crispy sweet duck, but I did get a bowl of fish soup. Worth it."

    The little girl stood silently by, seemingly memorizing Qi Yuan''s words.

    Qi Yuan picked up the fish soup, ready to drink it all in one go.

    Suddenly, he frowned and looked ahead, "These game NPCs are so rude, don''t they know not to disturb players when they''re eating?"

    In the distance, seven figures slowly approached Qi Yuan.

    They wore cloaks and stepped on the snow without leaving any traces.

    From a distant pavilion, the girl Leng Yue saw this scene, her pupils contracted.

    "Seven emperors!"

    Seven emperors had come simultaneously, and judging by their aura, they were no ordinary emperors.

    At this moment, she was anxious and worried for the faceless man.

    Now, all the experts of the Yuehuang Clan were out and not in the clan.

    Could the faceless man stop these seven emperors?

    At this moment, the seven emperors were less than a hundred meters away from Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan spoke again, "The spread of the smell of blood in the air is 50 centimeters per second. I need 200 seconds to finish this bowl of soup. You are now 100 meters away from me, dying here is most appropriate."

    Qi Yuan spouted nonsense.

    The seven of them, upon hearing this, showed a murderous look in their eyes.

    "Sir, you''re too arrogant!"

    "I am Zhou Ao of the Hundred Cities Alliance. Sir, being a supreme emperor, you must be over fifty years old. Joining our Hundred Cities Alliance would be perfect for enjoying your old age. It would be unwise to oppose our Hundred Cities Alliance."

    Zhou Ao said, exuding vigorous and surging energy.

    The snowflakes falling on him melted instantly.

    They took steps forward simultaneously, heading towards Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan glanced at them sideways, "You''ve crossed the line."

    If they were within 99 meters, dying there, the smell of blood would ruin his fish soup.

    "Let''s see what you can do if I step forward!" someone shouted.

    Seeing the NPCs dare to defy him, a cold gleam flashed in Qi Yuan''s eyes.

    "Why are you all so useless, can''t even give me some experience points after dying?"

    As he finished speaking, the sword in Qi Yuan''s hand suddenly flew out, straight towards the seven people.

    Under the moonlight, in the snowy night, a sword light flashed.

    The seven stood still, eyes wide open, motionless.

    Snowflakes fell on their shoulders, and as if the snow was too heavy, the seven fell to the ground simultaneously.

 Chapter 76: The Moon Maiden Embraces the Sword and Slays a Thousand Troops in the Snowstorm!

    Chapter 76: The Moon Maiden Embraces the Sword and Slays a Thousand Troops in the Snowstorm!

    Instant kill!

    Yes, another instant kill!

    Facing a King-level opponent, Qi Yuan killed instantly.

    Facing Emperor-level opponents, Qi Yuan still killed instantly.

    He didn¡¯t even get up, still sitting on the bluestone.

    With just a casual wave of his hand, seven Emperors fell dead.

    What level is this, truly a supreme Emperor?

    On the pavilion, Yue Nu''s small face was horrified, and the veiled woman beside her was equally shocked.

    Qi Yuan held a bowl of fish soup: "Better drink it quickly, the smell of blood drifting over here wouldn''t be good."

    He said this, slowly savoring the fish soup.

    "The taste is good, almost as good as my junior sister''s spirit fish soup."

    Qi Yuan praised.

    This compliment seemed well received, as a sweet smile appeared on the Yue Nu''s face, her crescent moon pupils turning into full moons.

    However, the little girl thought of something and suddenly stepped forward to retrieve Qi Yuan''s sword from the seven corpses.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan laughed.

    "No need to retrieve it. Let the sword stay there.

    Whoever crosses this sword shall be killed!" Qi Yuan laughed heartily.

    In reality, he was timid, scared of even a small Black Mountain Sect, losing sleep at night.

    But in the game, he had to be bold and strike hard.

    Otherwise, being too cautious would turn him into a real coward, which would be ridiculous.

    On the pavilion, Cold Moon watched this scene with admiration and longing in her eyes.

    "This is the Sword God!"

    The veiled woman was also extremely excited: "The Faceless Sword God, he must have emerged from the forbidden zone."

    ......

    The Hundred Cities Alliance.

    A fat man seated at a high position had a face full of smiles.

    "What do you all think of the Yue Clan branch in July?"

    In the hall, over twenty supreme Emperors were seated.

    "What else? With a flick of a finger, we can annihilate them!" A supreme Emperor spoke, his voice resounding like a bell.

    "Only these southern barbarians are left resisting. Once they are destroyed, the southern domain will be ours." A female supreme Emperor spoke, her voice ethereal.

    At this moment, a small, shrewd old man spoke: "I heard a supreme Emperor has appeared by the July Lake, very powerful, killing seven of our Emperors from the Hundred Cities Alliance with one sword. We cannot be careless.

    Should we report this to...¡±

    Before he finished, someone interrupted.

    "No matter how strong the Faceless Sword God is, can he defeat twenty-five of us?

    Can he defeat our three thousand Iron Tuskers?" the shrewd old man spoke.

    "Indeed, no need to trouble that person.

    With our three thousand Iron Tuskers and us here, how can we not kill the Faceless Sword God?"

    Everyone discussed and agreed.

    They were seasoned, knowing the Faceless Sword God''s strength, fearing him, but fearing the Black Robe Guards even more.

    When the Black Robe Guards appeared, not only their enemies but they themselves could die!

    They were merely the Black Robe Guards'' fodder.

    In front of the Black Robe Guards, all lives were equal.

    Even they could be devoured, leaving only a human skin.

    So, unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn¡¯t request the Black Robe Guards'' help.

    "If so, it''s decided. In ten days, for new novels

    We will act, the three thousand Iron Tuskers will flatten the Yue Clan!

    Their two Saintesses must be captured and sacrificed... to the heavens!" The smiling fat man set the tone.

    ......

    After killing the seven unwise Emperor-level strongmen, the Hundred Cities Alliance made no further moves.

    Qi Yuan still sat on the bluestone by the July Lake every day.

    The little girl Yue Nu sat silently beside him, also gazing at the snowy lake.

    One big, one small, almost becoming two snowmen.

    This time, Qi Yuan''s fiery passion helped warm the Moon Maiden.

    Sitting beside Qi Yuan, the little girl didn¡¯t feel cold.

    During this time, Cold Moon, the disciple of the July Sacrifice and next in line, came to see Qi Yuan, informing him of the Hundred Cities Alliance''s impending attack.

    She urged Qi Yuan to take the Saintess and leave.

    Qi Yuan looked at Cold Moon and said, "We are here to enjoy the snow."

    Cold Moon, hearing this, said nothing more, but sadly added, "If you can''t hold them off, please leave us."

    Qi Yuan nodded, "Don''t worry, if it''s too tough, I''ll play dead immediately."

    After Cold Moon left, not long after, the veiled woman arrived.

    She knelt and saluted Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan thought of old acquaintances in the Five Elements Forbidden Zone and said, "In three hundred years, the Demon Slaying Conference will begin. If nothing happens, we will eliminate the extraterrestrial demons."

    The veiled woman left with tears streaming down her face.

    The lakeside quieted down again.

    Snow fell for several days, accumulating thicker and thicker.

    In the evening, the Yue Nu, wearing a white cloak, brought a bowl again, her face flushed, her breath visible in the cold.

    Qi Yuan''s nose twitched: "This time it''s not fish soup, something new?"

    The Yue Nu opened the bowl, a sweet aroma wafted out.

    Qi Yuan was stunned, then smiled: "Crispy sweet duck, I finally get to eat it."

    He remembered casually mentioning it that day, which the Moon Maiden noted.

    Qi Yuan tasted it, savoring it.

    "You little one, your cooking skills are impressive.

    It''s a pity you¡¯re an NPC, otherwise, I''d bring you to Seven Color Peak to be a little cook."

    The Yue Nu showed a confused expression.

    Qi Yuan suddenly said: "You keep cooking for me, treating me like an NPC to complete tasks?

    Come on, tell me, what''s your motive?"

    A hint of panic flashed across Yue Nu''s face but quickly disappeared. She clutched Qi Yuan''s clothes tightly: "I don''t want to die!"

    Qi Yuan looked at her, remembering the July Sacrifice.

    These days, he heard the Moon Clan had two Saintesses.

    The sword, like a blood-colored dragon, cut through countless lives with its sword light.

    In just a few breaths, all three thousand Iron Floats were exterminated.

    At the shore of the July Lake, the faceless man sitting on the blue stone did not even look at the battlefield. He said lightly, ¡°This is the game version of the Brilliant Sword I created these days. How much have you learned?¡±

    The Moon Maiden¡¯s eyes turned red as she replied, ¡°I¡¯ve learned about thirty percent.¡±

    At this moment, the twenty-five Supreme Emperors in their palanquins revealed expressions of horror and intense shock.

    How could there be such a powerful being in this world?

    How could there be such a sword!

    With one sword, the blood-colored dragon annihilated three thousand Iron Floats!

    At the shore of the July Lake, Qi Yuan, hearing Yue Nu¡¯s words, showed a satisfied expression. ¡°Not bad, your talent is quite good. The remaining few NPCs should be enough for you to learn seventy to eighty percent, right?¡±

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s voice, the sword that resembled a blood-colored dragon seemed to sense something and charged straight toward the twenty-five Supreme Emperors!

    The twenty-five Supreme Emperors were terrified beyond measure.

    What they saw was not a sword but a blood-colored dragon of slaughter.

    ¡°No!¡± The beautiful female Supreme Emperor, clad in a colorful feathered robe, was struck by the blood light. Half of her body was sliced off, and the remaining flesh quickly withered, while the blood was boiling.

    ¡°Devil!¡±

    Seeing this, the other Supreme Emperors dared not fight.

    They had survived this long not because of their strength or bravery but because they were sufficiently sly and shameless.

    Unfortunately, the blood-colored dragon-like sword would not spare them.

    Waves of blood light, like beams from a blood moon grinding disc, struck down each Supreme Emperor.

    ¡°No!¡±

    The howls and pleas for mercy were drowned out in the wind and snow.

    All twenty-five Supreme Emperors were killed one by one.

    The final sword pierced through the fat Emperor¡¯s corpulent body.

    The fat Emperor collapsed on the ground, his eyes clouded, and he still had a smile on his face. ¡°The Black-Robed Guards... The Celestial Gods from beyond the domain won¡¯t spare you.¡±

    After he spoke, he lost all breath and died.

    At this moment, the sword that resembled a blood-colored dragon flew back to Qi Yuan¡¯s side and fell into the lake.

    Under the branches of the ancient locust tree, Cold Moon was in utter shock.

    This... This... Surpasses even the Supreme Emperors!

    Such power!

    The black-veiled woman was also extremely excited, murmuring, ¡°Master!¡±

    At the shore of the July Lake, Yue Nu, holding the sword sheath, came to Qi Yuan¡¯s side.

    The sword, having circled in the lake and cleansed itself of the dirty blood, returned to its sheath.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Moon Maiden with a smile. ¡°This is the first time you¡¯ve faced so many enemies. Do you have any comments?¡±

    The Moon Maiden¡¯s small face showed a look of delight. ¡°So strong, so strong.¡±

    She was, of course, referring to Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn to say something.¡± Qi Yuan began.

    It seemed he asked the Moon Maiden that question just to say this.

    Yue Nu looked up at Qi Yuan with seriousness.

    Qi Yuan contemptuously said, ¡°I haven¡¯t faced such low-level monsters for a long time.

    Monsters of this level shouldn¡¯t even appear on my map.¡±

    After entering the Five Elements Forbidden Land, the Yin-Yang Forbidden Land, and Tian Jue.

    Especially after the stages behind Tian Jue, what kind of opponents did Qi Yuan encounter?

    God Realms, often in thousands.

    Divine Domains weren¡¯t even significant.

    Sometimes there were three thousand.

    These three thousand Iron Floats and twenty-five Supreme Emperors were nothing but trivial monsters.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to hunt some higher-level monsters. Do you want to come and see?¡± Qi Yuan asked the Moon Maiden earnestly.

    The Moon Maiden nodded, her face full of determination.

    Qi Yuan took the Moon Maiden¡¯s small hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s see if the legendary Black-Robed Guards qualify as elite monsters.¡±

    As a player, how could he sit around like an NPC, waiting for enemies to come and challenge him?

    Taking the initiative was his nature.

    At the July Lake, he had already gotten his answer.

    It was time for him to leave, to confront the final boss of this world and gather the fragments of the Heavenly Dao.

    But before that, he had to deal with the Black-Robed Guards that ravaged the world.

    He could not tolerate such audacious small monsters.

    Holding the Moon Maiden¡¯s small hand, the two vanished into the boundless wind and snow.

    ......

    The Hundred Cities Alliance.

    A place known as the Ten Thousand Graves Cave.

    It was filled with white bones and rotting corpses.

    There was much flesh, but no vultures or wolves came here.

    It was eerily silent.

    This was the core forbidden land of the Hundred Cities Alliance.

    It was also the most feared place.

    No warrior dared to come here.

    Even Supreme Emperors would be terrified and horrified just by glancing at the Ten Thousand Graves Cave from afar.

    At this moment, a faceless man holding a seven or eight-year-old girl stepped into this place.

    The area was eerily quiet, with no sound.

    The faceless man¡¯s expression was neither sad nor happy. ¡°This map... is really lacking, not even comparable to a hair from the Four Great Forbidden Lands.¡±

    The faceless man was Qi Yuan. He, along with the Moon Maiden, had slaughtered the entire Hundred Cities Alliance.

    King-level strongmen?

    Emperor-level strongmen?

    Supreme Emperors?

    All were insignificant mobs, not worth a single sword from Qi Yuan.

    He fought gods and Buddhas, slaughtering the Hundred Cities Alliance to the point of blood flowing like rivers.

    Now, he had finally arrived at the dreaded lair of the Black-Robed Guards.

    Holding his sword, he said softly, ¡°I¡¯m here to clear the map.¡±

    As his words fell, the gigantic blood-colored sword charged into the Ten Thousand Graves Cave.

    At this moment, countless Black-Robed Guards flew out of the cave like bats.

 Chapter 77: A Dog Game, and You Still Want to Stab Me?

    Chapter 77: A Dog Game, and You Still Want to Stab Me?

    The sword light, blood-red and dragon-like, rampaged across the battlefield. To the onlookers, the black-robed guards, who seemed like gods and demons, were powerless under Qi Yuan¡¯s sword.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the waning moon in the sky.

    ¡°Not even elite monsters, no experience, what a bad luck.¡±

    Moon Girl looked up at the imposing figure beside her, her eyes reflecting the crescent shape of the moon.

    The sword, like a blood dragon, continued its slaughter. The powerful and mysterious black-robed guards fell one after another.

    With the sword sheathed, Moon Girl held the scabbard carefully.

    Qi Yuan said, ¡°Let¡¯s move to the next place.¡±

    Before leaving, Qi Yuan intended to wipe out all the minions of the extraterrestrial demons on Earth.

    After all, it¡¯s a game¡ªkill the small monsters first, then the big ones. Isn¡¯t that the routine?

    In Kunwu City, with its walls towering nearly twenty feet high, suddenly a sword light descended from the south into the city.

    A mocking voice followed: ¡°This sword only kills the top villains and nobles, only slaughters the emperors!¡±

    The voice echoed throughout the city, reaching everyone¡¯s ears.

    Many people were confused, some were shocked, others were delighted, and some were furious.

    An old man in Kunwu City, rising from the bed of a young girl, showed an angry expression. ¡°Who dares to be so bold?¡±

    The answer was a blood-red sword light.

    ¡°Ah!¡± The young girl, unclothed, screamed as she saw the old man¡¯s head fall to the ground.

    Meanwhile, the sword light ravaged Kunwu City, causing many heads to roll.

    The entire Kunwu City was instantly thrown into chaos.

    At that moment, a burly man turned pale. ¡°Da Lang! The city lord is dead!¡±

    The chubby man¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing this.

    Just then, the mocking voice rang out again: ¡°From today onward, the edict of filial piety is abolished. Respect the elderly, but also love the young, everyone, and oneself.¡±

    As the words finished, the blood-red dragon-like sword flew out of the city.

    The chubby man looked up, showing a puzzled expression. ¡°This voice sounds familiar.¡±

    He suddenly remembered the faceless man he had encountered while queuing outside the city.

    Could it be...

    A terrifying thought arose in his mind.

    Outside Kunwu City.

    The sword was sheathed again.

    Qi Yuan looked down at the petite Moon Girl. ¡°How much have you mastered now?¡±

    ¡°N... Ninety percent.¡±

    ¡°Still a bit short, huh?¡± Qi Yuan pondered. ¡°Can¡¯t have you end up like Chenxiang. Let¡¯s move to the next city.¡±

    For seven consecutive days, the entire Hundred Cities Alliance was thrown into chaos.

    A faceless swordsman, accompanied by a young girl with a sword, traversed the Hundred Cities.

    In each city, the sword came out like a dragon.

    All the emperors and nobles in the cities were slaughtered.

    Once, a beggar, seeing the faceless swordsman slaughtering the minions of extraterrestrial demons in a city, asked the sword-wielding girl from a distance, ¡°How much have you learned?¡±

    The girl, head bowed and holding the hem of her dress, replied, ¡°Ninety percent.¡±

    Other heroes in different cities also witnessed the same scene from afar.

    They called the faceless swordsman the Faceless Sword God and the girl the Ninety Percent Girl.

    After seven days, Qi Yuan and Moon Girl had traversed one hundred thirty-seven cities in the Hundred Cities Alliance and thirteen sites of the Ten Thousand Tombs.

    The number of those slain was countless, but the blood flowed like rivers.

    On the last day, Qi Yuan stood in the final city, his hands on his hips, unsure of what a worthy opponent was.

    ¡°How much now?¡±

    ¡°... Ninety percent,¡± Moon Girl said cautiously but firmly.

    Qi Yuan sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve already wiped out all the minions of the extraterrestrial demons on Earth.

    He should be reacting soon. Saying ninety percent again is unfair.¡±

    Moon Girl fell silent, looking at Qi Yuan with a pleading expression on her face. ¡°Can you... wait three hundred years before killing the extraterrestrial demons? By then... I¡¯ll still be holding the sword for you.¡±

    ¡°Is it the Dog Eating the Moon?¡± Qi Yuan looked at the moon and then at Moon Girl. ¡°No matter how fun a game is, you can¡¯t play it for three hundred years, right?

    Yue Nu said nothing, looking at Qi Yuan with stubbornness.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to July Lake. It¡¯s time for me to leave.¡± Qi Yuan took Moon Girl¡¯s hand, and they disappeared into the vast snow.

    July Lake, the shimmering lake was gone.

    What remained was thick ice, covered with snow.

    Qi Yuan sat again on the cold snow, looking at the young girl, and said slowly, ¡°Rest for the night. I¡¯ll leave tomorrow.¡±

    Yue Nu looked at Qi Yuan, silent.

    After Qi Yuan closed his eyes, Moon Girl turned and went back to the wooden house.

    At this moment, on the Seven-Colored Peak, Qi Yuan exited the game.

    He walked out of the thatched cottage and went to Jiang Lingsu¡¯s house.

    ¡°Junior Sister.¡±

    ¡°Senior Brother, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Jiang Lingsu, who seemed to have just bathed with damp hair, asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m preparing to build my foundation. It will take three to five days at the shortest, or as long as a year or more.

    If anyone looks for me during this time, please let them know.¡±

    ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Lingsu was somewhat confused. ¡°Building a foundation takes so much time?¡±

    ¡°Junior Sister, I¡¯m preparing to build the Heavenly Dao Foundation, so it naturally takes longer,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Jiang Lingsu was speechless.

    Heavenly Dao Foundation? In your dreams.

    Moreover, building a Heavenly Dao Foundation probably doesn¡¯t even take that long.

    She suspected that Senior Brother was likely cultivating some secret technique.

    With Senior Brother¡¯s strong combat power, it was probably related to cultivating various powerful secret techniques.

    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry, Senior Brother. I¡¯ll keep an eye out.¡± Jiang Lingsu said, then suddenly thought of something. She asked, ¡°Senior Brother, will you not starve to death while cultivating secret techniques?¡±

    Qi Yuan was speechless. ¡°The spirit stones you gave me are still with me. How could I starve to death?

    A proper cultivator starving to death would be too disgraceful.¡±

    Jiang Lingsu felt that Senior Brother might actually be able to die of starvation.

    Qi Yuan gave a few more instructions and returned to his room.

    He looked at the kitchen knife in the yard, bent down, and tied the rope around its neck. ¡°I won¡¯t be tying it anymore. During my retreat, you need to keep watch.¡±

    The knife seemed to shiver, as if in agreement.

    Qi Yuan went inside and set up a few small formations using the jade slips he brought from the Black Mountain Sect.

    He re-entered the game.

    Cold snow fell on his face. He opened his eyes to see a small, red, freezing hand gently brushing the snow off his shoulder.

    ¡°Sir... you¡¯re awake?¡± Yue Nu looked at Qi Yuan as her little hand withdrew.

    She was afraid she might have woken him.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Qi Yuan gazed at the vast white snow and exhaled a cloud of breath.

    Moon Girl felt warmer next to him. She looked at Qi Yuan and asked, ¡°Will you be killing the extraterrestrial demons tomorrow?¡±

    Xiao Jia was always clumsy, tripping over things as she walked.

    Now, Qi Yuan, holding the great sword, was almost the same as when he first entered the game.

    The difference was that he was now at level 99.

    The experience pool still contained a vast amount of experience.

    But he hadn¡¯t leveled up.

    Before Qi Yuan was a massive bronze door.

    The bronze door, weathered by time, was covered in rust.

    "Open sesame." Qi Yuan said casually.

    Unexpectedly, the bronze door opened in response.

    An expansive world appeared before Qi Yuan.

    The world in front of him had no land, no trees, and no clouds.

    It seemed as if he were in mid-air.

    However, a sun hung above the sky.

    "Is this the Land of the Absolute?"

    Qi Yuan stepped into the Land of the Absolute.

    A heavy and cold voice rang out: "Trespassers in the Land of the Absolute shall be killed without mercy!"

    Qi Yuan looked and saw a golden-armored man standing in the void far above the sky.

    His face was resolute, with sharp lines, like a sculpture.

    His imposing figure, with a tiger¡¯s back and a wolf¡¯s waist, in golden armor, appeared even more majestic, and his eyes carried endless authority.

    ¡°Celestial... Golden Armor?¡±

    Qi Yuan instantly recognized the Celestial Golden Armor.

    He was the husband that the mother of Xiao Jia had waited for a thousand years.

    He was also the crush that the Flower Burial Fairy had always sought but never attained.

    He was also the God who swept through the Six Realms and the Lord of the Four Divisions of the Divine Court.

    Yet now, he was merely a puppet, a gatekeeper of the extraterrestrial demons.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Celestial Golden Armor and took a step forward: ¡°Even if you¡¯re Xiao Jia¡¯s father, my father-in-law, you can¡¯t plagiarize my lines.

    What you just said was a copy of what I taught to Moon Girl: ¡®Those who cross this sword shall be killed without mercy.¡¯¡±

    The Celestial Golden Armor looked at Qi Yuan, his tiger eyes devoid of any emotion.

    He said nothing, only took a step forward towards Qi Yuan.

    ¡°You don¡¯t speak, could it be that you want to say that all the world¡¯s writings are plagiarized, or that our words come from a dictionary and don¡¯t count as plagiarism?¡±

    Qi Yuan casually remarked.

    The Celestial Golden Armor walked towards Qi Yuan and drew his long sword from his waist.

    ¡°Ah, angered by embarrassment, starting to fight when unable to win an argument!¡±

    Qi Yuan also drew his sword.

    ¡°Even though Xiao Jia and I are having a divorce, we¡¯re still in the cooling-off period.

    You are Xiao Jia¡¯s father, so let me personally help you find relief.¡±

    Qi Yuan drew his sword.

    Facing Xiao Jia¡¯s father, he still showed respect and personally drew his sword.

    Slash.

    A streak of blood flashed.

    The former Lord of the Divine Court, a man at the pinnacle of the Divine Realm, the strongest man in this world, was decapitated by a single sword strike.

    For Qi Yuan, killing a peak Divine Realm being with one sword was nothing.

    However, in the next moment, the Celestial Golden Armor that Qi Yuan had just killed revived again, returning to its original state.

    Perfectly intact, with no wounds.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Celestial Golden Armor and sighed: ¡°Killing him repeatedly, he always revives.

    I¡¯m afraid Long Pan, Tong, and Yu would find this level very difficult.¡±

    He swung his sword again and decapitated the Celestial Golden Armor.

    But the Celestial Golden Armor seemed immortal.

    Each time Qi Yuan killed him, he would quickly revive and then attack Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan frowned: ¡°This is so boring.¡±

    He kept killing without stopping.

    After all, it was just a matter of one sword.

    Qi Yuan drew his sword, he killed, he revived, he killed again, and revived again.

    After about fifty or sixty times, Qi Yuan suddenly roared: ¡°Extraterrestrial demons, come out quickly. This is too dull.

    You wouldn¡¯t want me to keep torturing your puppet, would you? Although he can keep reviving, it¡¯s consuming your essence, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice, like thunder, echoed throughout the Land of the Absolute.

    This time, when the Celestial Golden Armor revived, it no longer approached Qi Yuan.

    At this moment, a kind voice came: ¡°Young friend, come to my cave and I will brew tea for you.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked and saw a sage-like old man appear before him.

    The old man, with a crane¡¯s hair and a child¡¯s face, looked extremely kind.

    If this were in the Canglan Realm, Qi Yuan would definitely have taken him for an accomplished immortal.

    But this was the Land of the Absolute.

    The sage-like old man gave Qi Yuan an impression that even surpassed that of the level 119 Golden Armor General.

    He looked at the old man.

    [Hu Shan, Level 119 (Fallen State).]

    Qi Yuan did not show any courtesy to the old man but drew his sword: ¡°Extraterrestrial demon, die!¡±

    He used the same sword strike that killed the Golden Armor to strike at the old man.

    However, when the sword came down, the old man stood still, unmoving.

    He still had a kind smile on his face: ¡°Although I have fallen from the Fifth Realm, I am not a cultivator of the Fourth Realm like you can kill.¡±

    Qi Yuan watched the extraterrestrial demon warily.

    Many thoughts flashed through his mind.

    Was it because the opponent¡¯s level exceeded his, and the use of their power was more refined?

    So, his strongest sword couldn¡¯t harm the opponent? This was the first time he encountered such a situation.

    Seeing that one strike was unable to affect Qi Yuan, the old man spoke: ¡°Young friend, you repeatedly say that I am an extraterrestrial demon, but in reality, I am not an extraterrestrial demon.

    I, along with some like-minded individuals, was invited to this world to save it.

    You must have been deceived and misled by treacherous people, taking us for extraterrestrial demons.¡±

    Qi Yuan sneered: ¡°As expected, high-level bosses have maxed out their fraud skills.¡±

    ¡°Young friend, it seems you still do not believe me.¡± The old man looked regretful and continued, ¡°You should have been to Kunwu City?¡±

    Qi Yuan did not respond. He was contemplating how to kill this extraterrestrial demon.

    Moreover, he had a faint feeling that there must be more than one extraterrestrial demon here.

    ¡°Young friend, please look.¡±

    The extraterrestrial demon said, waving his hand.

    An image appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s vision.

 Chapter 78: The Old Man Slayer

    Chapter 78: The Old Man Slayer

    Qi Yuan looked ahead.

    In the scene before him, a burly man, reeking of alcohol, was beating up an old man. Afterward, the burly man grabbed some silver coins from the old man''s arms, kicked him, and then left.

    Qi Yuan watched impassively.

    "Look again, my friend." The old man waved his hand, and the scene changed.

    This time, the previously violent burly man was extremely filial to the old man. He carefully fed him, served tea, and wiped his body.

    "We promulgated the doctrine of filial piety, and only then did people start to become more filial. This is why we came here¡ªto save the world."

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan smiled calmly: "What a grand show of filial piety."

    The old man, unfazed, continued, "Do you know that you abolished the doctrine of filial piety? The man in the scene killed his father on that very day. All this responsibility falls on your shoulders."

    Qi Yuan looked at the old man with suspicion: "Are you the one with problems, or is it me? An outer-world demon actually trying to moralize me?"

    "Alas," the old man sighed, showing a helpless expression. "Young friend, we do not wish to be your enemies. But what I have said is true. We really are here to save this world."

    Qi Yuan remained silent, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings.

    Seeing this, the old man continued:

    "We fish for souls and consume their flesh and blood out of necessity. Because... once we pass away, we will transform into terrifying demonic beings.

    Demonic beings have no rationality and will slaughter any living being they encounter. Their power will reach the fifth realm, bringing disaster to the world.

    Once a demonic being appears, it will plunge the world into ruin, and no one will be able to stop it.

    That is why we have to harden our hearts, fish for souls, and consume flesh to extend our lifespan and reduce the disasters faced by the world."

    The old man displayed a sympathetic expression, making him seem genuinely concerned for the world.

    "After we arrived in this realm, we were also afraid of bringing disaster to this world. That''s why we specifically came to the Land of Absolute.

    Here, a day in the Land of Absolute equals ten years outside.

    The talents and martial arts experts that appear in ten years outside are enough for us to extend our lives.

    Demonic beings will not truly appear. Old man¡¯s actions have a reason.

    Otherwise, why would we stay in the Land of Absolute instead of directly going to the human world?"

    The old man spoke earnestly.

    His reasoning seemed reasonable.

    Once their lifespan is over, they would turn into demonic beings. And the power of these demonic beings sounded even greater than theirs.

    If a few of them appeared in the world, it would indeed bring great disaster.

    Qi Yuan stared into the old man''s eyes and suddenly said, pinpointing the key point: "Since you turn into demonic beings after your lifespan ends, how did you deal with demonic beings in your previous world? Or, how did you prevent them from appearing?"

    As expected, the old man''s eyes froze, showing a painful expression.

    Recalling the doctrine of filial piety and the old man''s words, Qi Yuan understood instantly. He looked at the old man and said, word by word: "If demonic beings appear after the end of your lifespan, doesn¡¯t that mean¡ª"

    "You don''t turn into demonic beings unless you pass away!"

    Qi Yuan''s statement caused pain and regret to appear on the old man''s face.

    After a long while, he raised his head, looking at Qi Yuan with an agitated expression.

    "Do you know? I started fighting for my family at seventeen. I bled for my family, opened seventeen secret silver mines, and even faced attacks from enemies of the same level, suffering over seven hundred wounds of all sizes.

    But why, why, when I am old, with only a few years left to live, my family members discuss how to kill me?

    They even invited the Demon-Slaying Society.

    I am not dead yet, what do they want?"

    The old man was beside himself with grief.

    "They are my dearest children, whom I raised with my own hands. And what do they want to do? I just want to pass away peacefully; is that a crime?

    If it were you, would you accept such a fate?"

    He looked at Qi Yuan with intense emotion.

    "This is such a boring setup." Qi Yuan looked at the old man and slowly said, "You are just a villain, a big boss I should defeat. I¡¯m not interested in how much suffering you¡¯ve endured or how unfairly you¡¯ve been treated.

    Even if you turned into a pitiable beauty, crying with tears and telling me how challenging and cruel your life has been, I still wouldn¡¯t be sympathetic or interested.

    What I¡¯m most interested in is using my big sword to chop off your dog head!"

    Just a big boss, easy to kill.

    The old man¡¯s face turned dark: "Are you sure you want to be our enemy? Are you prepared for the consequences?"

    The old man did not want to fight Qi Yuan.

    Because their states were not good.

    If they fought, their lifespan would decrease significantly.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s strength far surpassed that of the former divine beings.

    "It¡¯s not that I want to be your enemy, but it¡¯s destined that I will defeat you big bosses!

    I am the young man who slays evil dragons!"

    With that, Qi Yuan directly attacked!

    "You¡¯re seeking death!" The old man roared with fury.

    "Hmph, you¡¯re all old men, while I¡¯m young and vigorous, full of energy!" Qi Yuan had discovered the weakness of these outer-world demons.

    They had little lifespan left.

    And now, with all the black-robed guards killed.

    As long as Qi Yuan blocked the entrance here and prevented them from consuming the flesh and blood of the human world,

    These old men would not be able to replenish their lifespan.

    And with him fighting them,

    These outer-world demons would never achieve peaceful death.

    Of course, this method was easy to think of but not so easy to execute.

    Qi Yuan stood by the bronze door, sword in hand.

    He lazily watched them: "What belongs in the heavens stays in the heavens, what belongs in the human world stays in the human world. I¡¯m here to guard the Southern Heavenly Gate!"

    Qi Yuan held his sword, blocking the entrance to the Land of Absolute.

    At this moment, several cold voices came from deep within.

    "Overestimating oneself!"

    "Hmph, I want one-tenth of his flesh and blood."

    "Haha, does a mere divine realm dare to block us!"

    As the voices fell, five more powerful figures appeared in front of Qi Yuan.

    These five figures exuded a terrifying aura, comparable to that of the sage-like old man.

    They gathered with the sage-like old man and advanced towards Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan looked at the six of them, sword in hand, with a puzzled expression: "Are there only these six outer-world demons? This boss is too easy to farm."

    "Ha." The sage-like old man sneered coldly.

    The sky in the Land of Absolute suddenly darkened.

    Qi Yuan looked up and saw that the firmament was densely packed with glowing eyes, all silently watching him.

    However, the owners of these eyes seemed to be in a special state, unable to act freely.

    To Qi Yuan, they appeared to be in a dormant state.

    Once they awaken from this dormancy, their lifespan would rapidly decrease.

    This terrifying scene made Qi Yuan shiver involuntarily: "You brought an entire group, didn¡¯t you?"

    An entire group of big bosses?

    What a surprise!

    Qi Yuan instantly became apprehensive.

    "Begging for mercy now is too late!" The old man said coldly, glaring at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan ignored him. Though he was frightened, he still maintained a strong front: "Looks like today I¡¯m going to play the role of the Old Man Slayer!"

    Qi Yuan held his sword and blocked the entrance to the Land of Absolute.

    The six level 119 experts simultaneously attacked Qi Yuan.

    Dominant power!

    ¡°Haha, a bunch of old fogies, still hesitating, still wanting to live?¡±

    In front of the Earthly Gate, Qiyuan sat on the steps.

    He was covered in blood, looking like a blood-soaked figure.

    If one looked closely, they would see that there was not a single piece of intact flesh on him.

    His wounds were dense, even his eyeball was half broken.

    However, he still blocked the way, with a wild grin on his face.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    The response was the cold voice of the extraterrestrial demons from within the Earthly Gate.

    ¡°Kill!¡± Qiyuan responded with a single word, drawing his sword, and the sword came out like a dragon.

    With the support of the Death Radiance, he fought harder and harder, like an undefeated death god.

    It was because of the Death Radiance¡¯s bloodsucking skill that he could endure so much.

    Otherwise, facing such high-level attacks, he would have been dead long ago.

    In these past ten days, he had already eliminated eight hundred of the higher-level demons within the Earthly Gate.

    That¡¯s why he had the right to be so arrogant!

    Was this a siege of thousands of extraterrestrial demons against Qiyuan?

    No, this was Qiyuan soloing a large boss battle.

    ¡°Kill, kill, kill!¡±

    One must go mad to survive.

    Qiyuan single-handedly faced over a hundred extraterrestrial demons.

    These extraterrestrial demons didn¡¯t hold back, pouring their source attacks on Qiyuan as if it were free.

    Because they knew, if they didn¡¯t deal with this trouble, they would be doomed!

    And Qiyuan, facing countless attacks, was not afraid at all.

    Years of honing had integrated his battle experience into his bones.

    Even though he was gravely wounded, even though he was constantly injured.

    Even though he seemed to be on the brink of collapse, he still held his sword, killing more and more.

    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re getting weaker and weaker!¡±

    ¡°When I first arrived, every source attack landed on me.

    Now, you¡¯ve missed a third of them!¡±

    ¡°And my sword, can you still avoid it?¡±

    Qiyuan laughed heartily, wielding his sword with difficulty, killing one of the extraterrestrial demons.

    Massive amounts of experience flowed into him.

    Although he didn¡¯t use it to level up.

    But the sensation of gaining something every time he killed someone was addicting.

    He looked at the sky, watching the decreasing number of eyes above.

    He shouted loudly: ¡°No way, no way, can¡¯t two thousand seven hundred old men defeat a young guy like me?¡±

    The extraterrestrial demons looked at Qiyuan, trembling with fear.

    At this moment, Qiyuan¡¯s entire body was no longer intact.

    Half of his flesh had been dug out.

    When he wielded his sword, one could even see his bare white bones.

    Flesh and blood are the source.

    Such terrifying injuries were something even they couldn¡¯t endure.

    All the extraterrestrial demons felt a heavy weight in their hearts.

    As time passed, many years went by in the mortal world.

    In the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    The coffin lid was lifted.

    Dozens of terrifying figures emerged.

    These people were the divine realm powerhouses who had been sleeping in the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    About a quarter of an hour later.

    The people from the Yin-Yang Forbidden Land arrived at the Five Elements Forbidden Land through the teleportation array.

    Tong looked at everyone and said coldly, ¡°The Demon Slaying Conference... has begun.¡±

    Everyone looked up at the sky and saw the scene of a celestial dog eating the moon.

    The celestial dog eating the moon signified the start of the Demon Slaying Conference.

    At this time, the extraterrestrial demons were at their weakest.

    This was also the best opportunity for them to confront the extraterrestrial demons.

    ¡°Where is the Master of the Clothing Department?¡± The Flower Burial Fairy scanned everyone and asked.

    Long Pan replied calmly, ¡°He probably went to train in the mortal world.¡±

    ¡°The Demon Slaying Conference is about to start. He hasn¡¯t returned yet?¡± The Flower Burial Fairy said, showing a complex expression, ¡°Could something have gone wrong?¡±

    Others had varying expressions upon hearing this.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pity that we have all been marked by the extraterrestrial demons. As soon as we leave the Forbidden Land, we will be hunted by our flesh and blood.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t leave, and outsiders can¡¯t enter. We can¡¯t know the current situation of the Master of the Clothing Department. Could there really be a problem?¡±

    ¡°Hum, I¡¯m afraid he might be fleeing from the battle, scared.¡± At this time, a sarcastic voice sounded.

    ¡°Hum, don¡¯t speak of baseless conjectures.¡± The Flower Burial Fairy said, glaring at that person, ¡°The Master of the Clothing Department might have been delayed. Let¡¯s wait another day.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you also making baseless conjectures?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m making reasonable inferences!¡± The Flower Burial Fairy said coldly, staring at that person.

    That person evidently feared the Flower Burial Fairy and did not speak further.

    Everyone fell silent, and no one made any more comments on the matter.

    They waited at the spot, discussing the demon slaying matters.

    One day later, they still had not seen the Master of the Clothing Department¡¯s appearance.

    Long Pan looked at the celestial phenomenon and said slowly, ¡°Wait another day.¡±

    Meanwhile, within the Earthly Gate.

    Qiyuan¡¯s entire body had no intact flesh, even his bones were incomplete.

    With slender fingers gripping the sword tightly, he thrust it through the heart of the frenzied extraterrestrial demon.

    After killing the last extraterrestrial demon, he forced a smile on his bloodied and mutilated face.

    ¡°Finally done?¡±

    After so many days, he had finally exterminated all the extraterrestrial demons within the Earthly Gate.

    At the end, some extraterrestrial demons even cried out for him to be their father.

    Qiyuan disregarded them, killing all without exception!

    He held his sword alone, guarding the bronze door, not allowing any extraterrestrial demons to escape.

    The crazed extraterrestrial demons used powerful forces, countless attacks, all unleashed on Qiyuan.

    He was gravely injured.

    His heart was also extremely tired.

    For so many days, he had kept killing, not daring to stop.

    Because if he stopped, he knew he might never wake up.

    Even at this time, when he killed all the enemies, he still kept his spirit tense and kept his spirit in an excited state.

    Half of his body was against the bronze door, and his eyes showed coldness.

    "The fragment of the Heavenly Dao is finally in hand."

    He also knew that he would face the most powerful challenge he had encountered since entering this game.

    The game is not over yet.

 Chapter 79: I, the Foundation of the Heavenly Dao, How Will You Stop Me?

    Chapter 79: I, the Foundation of the Heavenly Dao, How Will You Stop Me?

    As night fell, the Five Elements Forbidden Land remained bright as day.

    The massive black clouds in the sky were spreading across the full moon.

    The day had come.

    Long Pan stood up, his voice deep and resonant: ¡°Since we haven¡¯t waited for him, let¡¯s go first. Perhaps the Master of the Clothes Division will follow.¡±

    The others did not say much in response.

    Only the previously cynical person muttered, ¡°Never underestimate human cowardice.¡±

    The Flowering Fairy shot him a sharp look, and he shrank back.

    Little Green, among the crowd, had a cold expression, her thoughts unreadable.

    At this moment, Tong turned to Yu: ¡°Should we perform an augury before the battle?¡±

    All fifty-two people present looked at Yu.

    Yu was the best at divination, with unparalleled skills in the art.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Yu replied, as succinct as ever.

    As his voice fell, feathers from his robe continued to drift into the air.

    Yu extended his hand, which remained still in the air.

    Feathers danced about, and one eventually landed in his hand.

    Everyone looked at him expectantly.

    The Flowering Fairy spoke bluntly: ¡°What is the omen?¡±

    Yu looked at the feather, his expression unchanged: ¡°A sign of ten deaths with no life.¡±

    The atmosphere grew somber at this revelation.

    ¡°Still a sign of ten deaths with no life?¡± An elder¡¯s face showed clear disappointment.

    The Flowering Fairy spoke coldly: ¡°Even if it¡¯s ten deaths, we must still smash a few teeth from those domain-external demons!¡±

    The previously cynical man¡¯s eyes also revealed a look of resolve: ¡°If life is to be spent in vain, better to end it with extermination of demons!¡±

    ¡°The bones I¡¯ve left in the Forbidden Land are rusted. It¡¯s time to move around,¡± said an old warrior with a severed arm.

    His wife had been ensnared by the domain-external demons. He had clung tightly to her, unwilling to let go until a divine being severed his arm, allowing him to survive.

    ¡°No need to be so dejected; humans can overcome the heavens,¡± Tong said, looking at everyone. ¡°We will refine the Black Turtle Shell. After half a day, we will proceed together.¡±

    Everyone had a piece of Black Turtle Shell, a supreme defensive treasure. Refining it would help resist the attacks of the domain-external demons.

    This refining would also integrate their energies into a formation.

    Little Green silently refined the Black Turtle Shell, remembering what she had said to the Master of the Clothes Division that day.

    If you cannot slay the domain-external demons, I will pursue you for eternity!

    Moonlight Empire.

    A massive altar rose up.

    The altar, towering at seven zhang and seven (about 23 meters), had been meticulously constructed over thirty years by the Moonlight Empire.

    Standing on the altar was like reaching out to grasp the stars.

    The altar was also known as the Moon-Chasing Tower.

    At this moment, the sky was filled with the celestial phenomenon of the celestial dog eating the moon.

    The entire human world seemed on the brink of darkness.

    Thousands of young women prostrated on the ground, heads bowed in contemplation.

    On the Moon-Chasing Tower, twelve newly appointed priests were performing a dance.

    The moon was the foundation of the Moonlight Empire, revered as a deity.

    The celestial dog eating the moon was a disaster for the Moonlight Empire.

    At the same time, a small figure, a few thousand meters away, gazed at the altar, her eyes showing complex emotions: ¡°Three hundred years.¡±

    It had been three hundred years since the Master of the Clothes Division left.

    Three hundred years felt like fleeting water.

    She looked up at the nearby lake, her eyes filled with solitude.

    A clear voice came from behind: ¡°Giving the Moonmark to anyone at will, during this celestial dog eating the moon, you might not endure and will be doomed to sink in the mortal world.¡±

    The speaker was a first-generation saintess of the Moonlight family, like the Moon Maiden.

    The Moon Maiden remained silent, her eyes showing a crescent moon shape.

    Regarding those words, she offered no response¡ªsilence was her answer.

    Had it not been for the Master, she might have died at the hands of the Hundred Cities Alliance.

    She wouldn''t have waited for the celestial dog eating the moon.

    Back then, she was merely a sacrificial piece.

    Seeing the Moon Maiden¡¯s silence, the clear voice suddenly lamented: ¡°Even I, as the Moon Sovereign... have not escaped the fate of being lost?¡±

    Inside the Abyss of Earth¡¯s End, Qi Yuan¡¯s injuries had reached their peak.

    He sat half-lying on the ground, leaning against the large door, still blocking it and breathing heavily.

    For these days, he had exterminated all the domain-external demons within the Abyss of Earth¡¯s End.

    Those demons had hoped for a peaceful death, but Qi Yuan delivered them their end.

    Now, the Abyss of Earth¡¯s End was empty, with all the domain-external demons killed by Qi Yuan.

    He sat in place, unable to move, his injuries too severe, with blood slowly dripping from him.

    The vast Abyss of Earth¡¯s End was only filled with Qi Yuan¡¯s labored breathing and the sound of dripping blood.

    ¡°Truly worthy of being chosen by me,¡± suddenly, a mechanical, indifferent voice echoed.

    The once-fallen golden-armored man appeared in front of Qi Yuan, his enormous figure walking towards Qi Yuan, making the sound of armor clanking.

    Unlike before, his eyes were now white, giving a chilling effect.

    Qi Yuan, sitting there, showed a helpless expression: ¡°I told you, the plot isn¡¯t over yet. Look, the real mastermind has finally shown up.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not surprised?¡± The golden-armored man, who was originally the Celestial God, showed a hint of surprise in his white eyes. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter now.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at the golden-armored man, his body covered in blood, and said: ¡°So the great mastermind hides within my deceased father-in-law¡¯s body. What skill is that? Show your true form; I¡¯m itching to fight a boss.¡±

    The golden-armored man¡¯s eyes, devoid of emotion, spoke with admiration: ¡°I once thought I could only linger on in despair.Upstodatee from

    Unexpectedly, I found you in the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    What a marvelous body, what terrifying talent.

    In just a few months, you¡¯ve advanced from the early stage of the Divine Realm to its peak.

    Such a body should not be exposed; it is a gift from the heavens.¡±

    His voice was extremely greedy, like an old monster starving for thousands of years.

    Holding his great sword, Qi Yuan listened to the golden-armored man¡¯s greedy words: ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve decided I¡¯m your old man killer.¡±

    As he spoke, he brandished his great sword at the golden-armored man.

    He saw flowers blooming and withering, icebergs melting, heavenly maidens bathing, and monkeys urinating.

    He even saw a stone absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, eventually exploding and transforming into a humanoid creature.

    This humanoid being, born holy, spoke words that became reality, and was the darling of the world.

    It walked to the river to drink water, a millennium-old fairy fruit floating over.

    It slept on the ground, with a piece of armor falling beside it.

    Its cultivation surpassed that of ordinary beings.

    It was as if it were the favorite of the heavens.

    In just a few thousand years, this humanoid being became the ruler of this world, slaying various demon overlords and the human emperor.

    Countless memories spread out.

    Qi Yuan saw the humanoid being rampaging across the world.

    In his vision, there were almost only the magnificent figures of the humanoid being.

    He became somewhat absorbed, imagining himself as that humanoid being, stirring up endless blood rain in the world.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan cursed, ¡°Sending women? Even committing violations? Not as good as Dragon Ao Tian!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough of Dragon Ao Tian, this pompous brat is too much. I need a change of taste.¡±

    He no longer paid attention to the humanoid being.

    He watched a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law argue, ants carrying grains, and hermaphroditic creatures mating.

    He saw everything in this world.

    He had the Dao of Heaven fragments.

    His vision was not limited to the humanoid being.

    Otherwise, his mind would be confined to the life of the humanoid being.

    It was not a third-person perspective but a first-person perspective.

    Eventually, after experiencing endless years, he became the Great Sun.

    This was also the Great Sun¡¯s plan.

    Unfortunately, the Great Sun had no idea that Qi Yuan had already gathered all the Dao of Heaven fragments.

    Now, he was the Dao of Heaven.

    Qi Yuan viewed the world as if he were a player observing the background and introduction of a world.

    He was sometimes immersed and sometimes critiqued the bugs.

    He did not know how much time had passed.

    The humanoid being, which Qi Yuan had forgotten, suddenly emitted a cry.

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you look at me!¡±

    ¡°I am your everything!¡±

    ¡°I am you!¡±

    Like a balloon filled with water being pricked by a needle.

    The humanoid being shattered, becoming a fragment in Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    Qi Yuan was completely unaware of this, still exploring the world.

    The world was too vast, with many things left to see.

    In the Absolute Land, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes remained tightly closed, his hand still firmly gripping the sword, sitting on the steps.

    In the vast Absolute Land.

    Suddenly, a light as bright as the sun flashed.

    The entire Absolute Land was filled with white light.

    A gigantic roar echoed.

    ¡°Who are you!¡±

    ¡°I... will kill you!¡±

    The soul that had seized control dispersed, and a massive stone appeared in the Absolute Land.

    This stone burned with white flames.

    The white radiance filled the entire Absolute Land.

    That was the last remaining form of the Great Sun.

    The gigantic stone emitted an aura far surpassing that of the Domain Gods, making the space itself tremble.

    With a mighty roar, the entire Absolute Land reverberated with the words ¡°Who are you!¡±

    ¡°Rebellious son, I am your father!¡± At this moment, Qi Yuan, who had kept his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

    He looked at the giant stone with disdain, ¡°I take back what I said earlier. I don¡¯t have such an ugly son.¡±

    Though Qi Yuan had obtained the complete Dao of Heaven.

    This Great Sun could be considered his son.

    But Qi Yuan had no intention of acknowledging it.

    Too shameful.

    ¡°You should die!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed to wear away my remnants!¡±

    ¡°But in this world, you, who cannot break through to the Domain Gods, can only die!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all you, it¡¯s all you. Why don¡¯t you just peacefully accept death!¡±

    ¡°Why must you force me!¡±

    The Great Sun roared, suffering and bellowing.

    Unable to seize control, he could only struggle to survive.

    Now, although heavily wounded and near death, he could not exert his full strength.

    However, he was still the strongest in this world.

    So, without true danger, his true form dared to appear.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    A blazing white light spread towards Qi Yuan, a power comparable to the origin itself.

    Qi Yuan saw this and murmured, ¡°I suddenly feel that the outer demons had a point; one should uphold filial piety.¡±

    However, when facing the Great Sun¡¯s strongest attack.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s lips once again curved into a smile.

    He softly thought to himself.

    Upgrade.

 Chapter 80: Dao of Heaven Foundation, New Abilities

    Chapter 80: Dao of Heaven Foundation, New Abilities

    How much experience did Qi Yuan have stored?

    Even Qi Yuan himself did not know.

    On the Ascension Platform, the countless minor monsters had given him an immense amount of experience.

    In the Absolute Land, nearly three thousand outer demons had also provided a substantial amount of experience.

    At this moment, this experience was like an ocean suspended upside down, with only a small outlet allowing it to flow into Qi Yuan¡¯s body.

    Qi Yuan held his sword, looking at the massive stone, and said, ¡°I... am not level 99!¡±

    Demon Radiance!

    Dominant Power!

    Heaven-Slaying Sword Art!

    All the major skills and all the minor skills were simultaneously deployed.

    Qi Yuan unleashed the strongest sword strike of this world.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    The blazing white light intertwined with the blood-red sword energy, emitting a power far beyond the ordinary.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s body bathed in the white and blood light.

    His body slowly dissolved, struggling against the blood light,

    but a smile still appeared on his lips: ¡°You will die faster than me, haha!¡±

    After saying this, Qi Yuan weakly closed his eyes.

    He sat on the steps, his blood already dried, still tightly gripping the sword.

    ......

    Outside the Absolute Land, a few moments earlier.

    The Domain Gods from the Yin-Yang Forbidden Land and the Five Elements Forbidden Land finally arrived.

    At this time, their expressions were extremely calm.

    Soon, they would face the most terrifying outer demons in this world.

    The Celestial Dog eating the moon was still happening.

    Darkness had already shrouded the world.

    However, at that moment, a massive tremor seemed to emanate from the Absolute Land.

    Everyone was shocked, looking at each other in dismay.

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Did the outer demons discover us and plan to ambush us?¡±

    ¡°Look over there, what is that?¡±

    Suddenly, the red-clad man pointed at the sky.

    In the heavens, the giant Celestial Dog was eating the moon.

    A great sun suddenly rose, turning the entire world as bright as daylight.

    Everyone looked up at the sky, an inexplicable sense of fear arising in their hearts, as if a great disaster was imminent.

    ¡°Two suns, what¡¯s going on?¡± Everyone was both shocked and fearful.

    ¡°Not good, that sun is going to fall to the earth!¡±

    ¡°The Great Sun in the sky, the sun and moon reversed... This is the revival of the Great Sun!¡± Yu realized something, a tear of blood falling from the corner of his eye, ¡°So, this is the true ten deaths and no life?¡±

    The other Domain Gods were horrified by the scene.

    A great sun was actually falling towards the continent.

    Although it might not compare to the high sun in the heavens, it was still a small sun.

    Falling to the human world?

    What an apocalyptic scene!

    The sea would flood back, the earth¡¯s veins would rupture, and all life would turn to ashes.

    ¡°Ten deaths and no life?¡± Xiao Lu looked at the falling great sun, suddenly reconciled, and smiled, ¡°Lord of the Clothing Department, I no longer blame you.¡±

    However, at that moment, a sword suddenly appeared in the sky.

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°Whose sword is it!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    The Domain Gods were stunned.

    Because in the sky, a sword appeared, a sword they were familiar with.

    The Moon Dynasty, the woman looked up at the heavens, the moon in her eyes turning into a waning moon: ¡°Sir...¡±

    The Garment Forbidden Land, Xiao Jia staggered and ran, seemingly calling for something, falling down, getting up, and falling again.

    In the heavens, in front of a great door, a bloodied man sat on the steps, his flesh and blood in tatters, holding a long sword.

    He seemed to have come from hell, having endured countless attacks and bites from demons.

    His body was covered in wounds.

    His eyes were shattered, but he still held the sword, striking at the sun, and then roared, ¡°I... am not level 99!¡±

    With one sword strike, chaos ensued.

    The entire world of blazing white had turned half blood-red.

    The clash between the blood-red and white light released unimaginable energy.

    ¡°Lord of the Clothing Department, that¡¯s the Lord of the Clothing Department!¡± The red-clad man shouted.

    Long Pan looked at the heavens, his eyes flashing with endless emotions, eventually turning into a smile: ¡°How could the person I believe in possibly flee in the face of danger!¡±

    ¡°How is this possible! How is this possible!¡±

    The other Domain Gods looked at the heavens, silent.

    Some even felt guilty.

    Others had tears of emotion in their eyes.

    They saw the bloodied man with a smile on his lips, closing his eyes.

    ¡°You die faster than me, haha.¡± The only sound left in the world.

    The sword energy continued to spread.

    The blazing white light grew dimmer.

    The black Celestial Dog was also severed by that sword.

    The great sun was eventually torn apart, turning into countless stars.

    Clang, a door fell in the Absolute Land.

    Among the four forbidden lands and two absolute lands, the Absolute Land no longer existed in the world.

    All the Domain Gods looked at the Absolute Land.

    They saw, behind the fallen door, a bloody youth sitting on the steps, holding a sword, his eyes closed, with a smile on his lips, as if asleep, or perhaps dreaming a beautiful dream.

    ¡°Lord of the Clothing Department!¡±

    The Domain Gods cried out in shock, some with pained expressions, and they rushed madly towards the Absolute Land.

    How many battles had they experienced.

    This is...

    However, in their sight, the broken youth seemed to vanish along with the disappearance of the Absolute Land.

    Only a trace of blood-red remained, then disappeared.

    ......

    ¡°Too much history in the world is covered by the passage of time.¡± The height of the July Sacrificial Priest was not as tall as Jin Li¡¯s, but walking beside Jin Li, she appeared even more dignified.

    A flicker of disappointment passed through Jin Li''s eyes, and she said nothing.

    ¡°The Forbidden Lands and the Absolute Lands, in fact, during the establishment of the Moon Dynasty, besides the four major Forbidden Lands, there were also two Absolute Lands. Now, only one Absolute Land remains.¡±

    After the establishment of the Moon Dynasty, it experienced multiple falls, but was eventually reestablished.

    ¡°Another Absolute Land?¡± Jin Li¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage could he truly abstain from food.

    At that moment, a voice came: ¡°Senior Sister, has Senior Brother Qi Yuan not emerged yet?¡±

    Dong Xian, dressed in black, was incongruous against the vast snowfall.

    ¡°Not yet. Senior Brother said that this retreat would last a year or more.¡± Jiang Lingsu replied before returning to her own room.

    Dong Xian, hearing this, felt a bit disappointed.

    There were only two months left to prepare for the Dragon Seizing Contest.

    The Sect Master had instructed him to invite two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

    One he had successfully invited was the Sect Master¡¯s son-in-law, the chief disciple of the Five Lights Peak, Senior Brother Kang Fulu.

    Senior Brother Kang Fulu was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, practicing the Five Lights Sacred Method.

    He was undeniably the strongest among the Foundation Establishment disciples of the Divine Light Sect.

    Dong Xian had paid a high price to invite him.

    As for the second Foundation Establishment cultivator, he wanted to invite Qi Yuan.

    The Artifact Elder had said that Qi Yuan was extremely mysterious, harboring secrets, and if he reached Foundation Establishment, wielding that treasured kitchen knife, he could even fight against Golden Core cultivators.

    If Senior Brother Qi Yuan could help, Dong Xian might truly win the Dragon Seizing Contest and change his fate.

    Then his fiance?e would no longer be separated from him.

    But now, Senior Brother Qi Yuan was still in seclusion, and no one knew when he would come out.

    He feared that time might run out.

    He waited at the Seven-Colored Peak for a while before finally leaving in disappointment.

    ¡°Artifact Elder, shall we consider finding someone else?¡± Dong Xian couldn¡¯t help but suggest.

    The Artifact Elder snorted coldly: ¡°If we are to collaborate, we should collaborate with the strongest. If Kang Fulu¡¯s strength is as great as his words, you naturally have no fear.

    Wait a bit longer; there will be an opportunity!¡±

    Dong Xian nodded upon hearing this.

    He had deliberately asked the Artifact Elder to strengthen his own resolve.

    ......

    On the Seven-Colored Peak, the snow piled higher and higher.

    Jiang Lingsu grew increasingly worried that the senior brother might really have died in the room, coming to check every day.

    However, feeling the breath of the living, she could only slightly ease her worry.

    At this moment, inside Qi Yuan¡¯s room.

    With his eyes closed, Qi Yuan¡¯s face showed a look of pain.

    Sweat continued to stream down his forehead.

    Strange voices drifted into his ears.

    ¡°Heavenly Grade Secret Art, only 9.99!¡±

    ¡°Damn, my elixir failed again.¡±

    ¡°Shit tastes so good, but I can¡¯t eat it anymore. I¡¯m a Golden Core cultivator now; I can¡¯t be like when I hadn¡¯t awakened spiritual intelligence.¡±

    ¡°Did you hear? Senior Sister and Master slept together. But that¡¯s not all; when Master¡¯s wife found out, she got involved with Senior Sister¡¯s brother.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been lying low in the Divine Light Sect for so many years. When will we act?¡±

    Countless voices surged into Qi Yuan¡¯s ears.

    He suddenly opened his eyes, with a moment of confusion, which quickly cleared.

    ¡°Am I back?¡±

    ¡°Xiao Jia?¡±

    ¡°......¡±

    ¡°I... succeeded in Foundation Establishment?¡±

    ¡°Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment!¡±

    Yes, after coming out of the game world, Qi Yuan obtained the complete Heavenly Dao fragment.

    He used the ¡°Qi Yuan Sutra¡± to treat the Heavenly Dao as a Foundation Establishment spiritual object and began his Foundation Establishment.

    In just half a day, he successfully achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

    However, after succeeding in Foundation Establishment, he felt his mind was hazy and extremely drowsy, as if something was targeting him. His consciousness was slowly dissipating, and he couldn¡¯t help but fall into a deep sleep.

    He dreamt again.

    The content of the dream was unclear to him.

    He only remembered that in the dream, he entered a wooden house, where there was a big thing. That big thing saw him and started fighting him.

    It must be said that the big thing was very fierce, and Qi Yuan was no match for it.

    But Qi Yuan was not easily defeated either; he fought back fiercely until the big thing didn¡¯t drive him out.

    He also stayed in the big thing¡¯s house, but the big thing, fearing Qi Yuan would destroy the house, made many agreements with him.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t remember the details of the agreements.

    Upon waking from the dream, amidst his confusion, he heard many strange sounds.

    ¡°My strength... is so great. Is this the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?¡±

    Qi Yuan felt that now, without using a knife, he could punch and kill... the Sect Master of the Black Mountain Sect.

    As for the Sect Master of his own sect, Kumu True Monarch, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t know because he had never fought him.

    ¡°Indeed, as expected of Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment. I should be able to leave the countryside and easily defeat high school cultivators, right?¡±

    Qi Yuan got up.

    He performed a spell on himself and changed into a new set of clothes.

    At this moment, a strange voice entered his mind.

    ¡°The chest binding is too small again. It¡¯s annoying.¡±

    Qi Yuan was stunned.

    ¡°Could it be that after Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, I¡¯m hearing things?¡±

    ¡°Why am I hearing Junior Sister¡¯s voice?¡±

    ¡°Could it be that I have a secret crush on Junior Sister and am craving her body?¡±

    Thinking this, he left his room.

    ¡°Junior Sister.¡± He called out to the thatched cottage next door.

    ¡°Senior Brother? Wait a moment, I¡¯ll come out right away.¡± Jiang Lingsu¡¯s voice was filled with joy mixed with panic.

    Soon, Jiang Lingsu came out of the thatched cottage.

    Her face was full of excitement: ¡°Senior Brother, you finally came out of seclusion.¡±

    Qi Yuan then looked at Jiang Lingsu¡¯s chest.

    Hmm... indeed very large and spectacular.

    ¡°Junior Sister, I have achieved Foundation Establishment.¡± Riches not returning to the village is like wearing a brocade robe in the dark.

    After succeeding in Foundation Establishment, it was definitely time to fantasize about Junior Sister.

    ¡°Foundation Establishment?¡± Jiang Lingsu looked at Qi Yuan with even greater joy, ¡°Congratulations, Senior Brother. Congratulations!¡±

    Qi Yuan, hearing this, looked at Jiang Lingsu with anticipation: ¡°Is that all?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Lingsu was stunned, ¡°What else?¡±

    ¡°You should ask me what kind of Foundation Establishment I achieved.¡± Qi Yuan boasted.

    Jiang Lingsu helplessly smiled: ¡°Senior Brother, what kind of Foundation Establishment are you?¡±

    ¡°Since you asked sincerely, I will generously tell you, I, Qi Yuan, achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.¡± Qi Yuan stood in the snow, like a flamboyant immortal guest.

 Chapter 81: When Ning Tao Grows Up, She Will Be the Most Beautiful Girl in the Worldâ€

    Chapter 81: ¡°When Ning Tao Grows Up, She Will Be the Most Beautiful Girl in the World¡±

    Jiang Lingsu naturally didn¡¯t believe in heavenly foundation establishment. If Senior Brother had indeed established his foundation with the heavens'' help, there would have been extraordinary phenomena.

    Birds should have sung, and flowers should have bloomed in the cold winter.

    Yet, in the past few days, there were no such beautiful phenomena. Instead, it had been snowing continuously with thunderstorms in the sky.

    Rather than heavenly foundation establishment, Jiang Lingsu even thought a demon might have been born.

    Of course, continuous thunderstorms were not considered extraordinary phenomena.

    Jiang Lingsu would naturally be happy for Senior Brother¡¯s successful foundation establishment.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan showed a worried expression in his eyes: ¡°Junior Sister, you are knowledgeable. After establishing the heavenly foundation, could there be any side effects?

    I don¡¯t know why, but I have been feeling muddled recently and occasionally hear hallucinations.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Lingsu frowned, ¡°These symptoms shouldn¡¯t occur after a successful foundation establishment, Senior Brother. I think you should see a doctor or consult an elder.¡±

    Qi Yuan hesitated upon hearing this.

    At that moment, those strange murmurs entered his ears again.

    ¡°I¡¯ve finally reached the third level of Qi Refining. Will Senior Sister look at me more favorably now?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, no! It stinks!¡±

    ¡°The Xuan Yuan Technique has seven levels. Reaching the seventh level allows one to step into the realm of the Yuan Dan Real Person!¡±

    These sounds, like buzzing mosquitoes, continued to echo in Qi Yuan¡¯s ears.

    Hearing these voices, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened.

    ¡°I get it!¡±

    Jiang Lingsu blinked, internally filled with question marks.

    ¡°My golden finger has arrived!¡± Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    When he stepped into Qi Refining, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes could see hidden information invisible to ordinary people.

    Now that he had established his foundation, his ears could hear strange things. Wasn¡¯t that normal?

    His golden finger had indeed arrived.

    Jiang Lingsu, upon hearing this, thought that even after establishing his foundation, Senior Brother still had some mental issues.

    However, recalling something, Jiang Lingsu said, ¡°Senior Brother, didn¡¯t you want to join the Divine Flower Society?

    Now that you have established your foundation, I can recommend you for membership. What do you think?¡±

    Qi Yuan nodded and smiled, ¡°Sure, thanks a lot, Junior Sister.¡±

    Now, he and Junior Sister had killed Zhu Lianhua of the Guangming Palace.

    That day, the generous Junior Sister took the blame for him, and Qi Yuan still felt uneasy.

    Joining the Divine Flower Society would add a layer of protection to himself.

    That was Qi Yuan¡¯s thought.

    Moreover, as someone from a small village cultivating immortality, making connections with university-level immortals early on would be quite prestigious.

    ¡°Your application will take some time to be approved,¡± Jiang Lingsu said, looking expectantly at Qi Yuan, ¡°I¡¯ve helped you a lot. How do you plan to repay me?¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced at Jiang Lingsu¡¯s chest.

    Hmm, the petite and cute Jiang Lingsu was wearing a loose, light green dress today, which still couldn¡¯t hide her ample bosom. A glimpse of her smooth, white cleavage was faintly visible through the thin fabric.

    Very impolite to say, quite substantial.

    Qi Yuan suddenly recalled the voices he had heard before.

    The bra is too small, very annoying.

    Offering timely help, solving Junior Sister¡¯s problems, wasn¡¯t that a form of repayment?

    He subconsciously said, ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a larger bra.¡±

    Jiang Lingsu heard this and looked down, her hand instantly covering her chest.

    Just now, she had hurriedly dressed upon learning that Senior Brother had emerged from seclusion. In her excitement, she had worn a small bra carelessly and quickly put on the nearby thin dress.

    With a slight exposure, her face instantly reddened: ¡°Shameless.¡±

    After saying that, she quickly ran into the house.

    Qi Yuan looked at Jiang Lingsu¡¯s back, puzzled, then reflected on himself: ¡°Too abrupt.¡±

    Feeling he had spoken too insensitively, he vowed to be more tactful in the future.

    Seeing Junior Sister return to her straw hut, Qi Yuan also went back to his room.

    Sitting in his room, the emptiness from completing the game had not dissipated.

    Especially seeing the heavy snow on the Seven-Color Peak, he felt nostalgic, recalling the snow on July Lake in the game.

    He sat alone on a green stone, accompanied only by Moon Lady.

    Qi Yuan stretched out his arm.

    The crescent mark on it had disappeared.

    ¡°Life is but a dream.¡±

    Qi Yuan took out the game jade slip and his consciousness delved into it.

    However, all he saw was a vast expanse of white.

    He couldn¡¯t enter Moon Watching Continent as he did before.

    ¡°After completing the game, can¡¯t I enter anymore?¡± Qi Yuan walked out of the straw hut and looked up at the sky.

    The stars above were dense, no different from the stars seen on the Moon Watching Continent.

    ¡°The stars in the sky are all projections, so the Moon Watching Continent and the Canglan Realm still see the same sky.¡±

    This slightly comforted Qi Yuan.

    He returned to his room.

    ¡°Since I have completed one game, will a second game be opened?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness roamed within the white game jade slip.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan saw a light, like a game app icon.

    ¡°A new game?¡± Qi Yuan looked delighted.

    His consciousness kept approaching the game app icon.

    But the game app icon seemed extremely repellent, and Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness couldn¡¯t get close.

    ¡°Stupid game, not letting me play!¡± Qi Yuan was angry.

    He tried hard to approach, but still couldn¡¯t get close.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face turned pale: ¡°Could it be insufficient memory, unable to download?

    Or perhaps, the level of this game is too high, and I can¡¯t play it now?¡±

    Her mother had said that if you told a man you were going to marry him, he would probably hesitate for a moment.

    "Achoo!" Qi Yuan sneezed as the cold wind blew into the dilapidated straw hut, chilling him to the bone.

    Qi Yuan, who was reading a cultivation manual, stood up: "I¡¯ve achieved heavenly foundation establishment, and I¡¯m a supreme foundation establishment cultivator. Yet, I¡¯m still living in a straw hut¡ªthis is too lowly. Tomorrow, I''ll move to a wooden house."

    Qi Yuan felt that with his increased strength, his status should also rise.

    Continuing to live in a straw hut was too frugal.

    "Sigh, even if I change to a wooden house, it won''t change my hard-working fate." Qi Yuan sighed helplessly.

    In the past, although he worked hard on cultivation and studying manuals during the day, he could still play games at night.

    It was like the blue planet''s working people who worked hard from 9 to 9, six days a week, but could still play games and watch short videos for leisure and entertainment after work.

    But now, with no games and no more "entertainment," every day was just arduous learning. It couldn¡¯t be more miserable.

    "Should I resign from my position as the chief disciple of Seven-Color Peak and go to the mortal world to become a wealthy landowner, lording over everyone?" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened at this thought.

    But soon, he dismissed this idea.

    "Without Shen Guang Sect as a shield, if the Black Chicken Old Demon finds out I destroyed Black Mountain Sect and comes after me, I won¡¯t be able to escape."

    "If I become a wealthy landowner, I¡¯ll surely marry a dozen concubines, and end up with a family full of money-draining children. If they get into trouble, I¡¯d have to clean up their messes. If they offend cultivators, it would be even more troublesome.

    Wouldn¡¯t I become a babysitter then?"

    "Mortals have their own difficulties. I should just continue my cultivation."

    Qi Yuan abandoned this sudden idea.

    He started to read the cultivation manual seriously.

    Currently, he had three important tasks to do.

    The first task was to supplement the subsequent cultivation techniques of "Qi Yuan''s Manual."

    At present, "Qi Yuan''s Manual" only allowed cultivation up to the foundation establishment stage. The techniques from foundation establishment to golden core were not yet complete.

    This required Qi Yuan to slowly supplement.

    The second task was to enhance his soul.

    With a strong soul, he could enter the game and escape the monotony of daily cultivation.

    The third task was to acquire more high-grade techniques.

    Ordinary techniques were too slow in practice. Even having thousands of techniques was not as beneficial as having one high-grade technique.

    But, high-grade techniques were not easy to come by.

    "Thinking about Zhu Lianhua¡¯s first hundred days, when will I meet another bright and handsome man like Zhu Lianhua, my white moonlight."

    Qi Yuan missed Zhu Lianhua¡¯s mysterious technique.

    The night was deep, and outside the straw hut, everything was white.

    "I¡¯m having game withdrawals."

    Qi Yuan took out the game jade slip, but still couldn¡¯t enter the game icon.

    He listened carefully, but there was no sound from the game.

    "I want to play games, I want to kill, kill, kill."

    Qi Yuan was helpless.

    At this moment, his hand touched another jade slip.

    "Is this the game jade slip Dong Xian gave me, with the cold and proud female sword fairy?

    This female sword fairy must be strong. I wonder how many moves she can withstand from me."

    With this thought, Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness entered the game jade slip.

    Suddenly, a phantom of a cold and proud female sword fairy appeared in front of Qi Yuan.

    "Defeat me!"

    Qi Yuan saw this and swung his hand.

    A sword light flashed, and the female sword fairy¡¯s sword broke.

    "So weak, boring." Qi Yuan thought of giving this game a bad review.

    At this moment, a tear rolled down the cold and proud female sword fairy¡¯s face.

    "I have been defeated by you, do as you wish!" The female sword fairy said, humiliated, and started to undress, "Even if you have my body, you cannot have my heart. My heart will always belong to Senior Brother."

    As the female sword fairy¡¯s clothes fell, her face filled with humiliation, she crawled towards Qi Yuan like a dog.

    "Hey, that''s dishonorable, using seduction?" Qi Yuan slashed the female sword fairy with a single strike, cursing as he left the game.

    "My own game is still the best." Qi Yuan sighed.

    ...

    The first light of dawn climbed over the clouds, and the snow was slowly dissipating.

    The entire Seven-Color Peak became colder.

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, Dong Xian pays his respects!"

    Outside the wooden house, Dong Xian, dressed in black, wore a respectful expression.

    Soon, Qi Yuan emerged from the wooden house.

    He looked at Dong Xian, proudly saying, "Junior Brother, how do you find my new home? Grand or not? Does it have the potential of a luxurious residence? Does it match my current status?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s straw hut had been repaired yesterday, turning into a wooden house.

    Dong Xian glanced at the wooden house, his smile somewhat frozen.

    This shabby wooden house...

    "Senior Brother¡¯s dwelling is truly a celestial abode, a spiritual realm of the world." Dong Xian still flattered him.

    Qi Yuan was very pleased.

    It was like buying a bicycle, posting a picture in the friend circle, and getting countless compliments from old classmates.

    Feeling elated, it was quite nice.

    "I heard from Junior Sister that you¡¯ve been wanting to see me while I was in seclusion. What¡¯s the matter?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Since the incident with the bra, Junior Sister hadn¡¯t wanted to talk to Qi Yuan for several days.

    But a few days ago, Junior Sister came to Qi Yuan¡¯s house and told him that Dong Xian had been looking for him.

    "Senior Brother, are you aware of the Dragon Seizing Struggle?" Dong Xian stood respectfully outside the wooden house, his attitude sincere.

    "I¡¯ve heard a bit." Qi Yuan was aware of the Dragon Seizing Struggle.

    Last time, Junior Sister Jiang Lingsu mentioned that Zhu Lianhua from Bright Palace intended to meddle in the Dragon Seizing Struggle of the Great Shang, aiming to control the Great Shang.

    In other words, Guangming Palace had great ambitions.

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, I have another identity. I... am the 17th prince of the Great Shang Kingdom."

 Chapter 82: The Strengthening of the Soul and Hearing the Gameâ€™s Voice Again

    Chapter 82: The Strengthening of the Soul and Hearing the Game¡¯s Voice Again

    "You¡¯re a prince?"

    Qi Yuan was a bit stunned.

    This guy really has a protagonist''s template.

    Not only does he have a remnant soul within him, but he¡¯s also a prince with a fiance?e who has broken off their engagement.

    "In the Dragon Seizing Struggle, the sect master promised that I could select two foundation establishment cultivators from the sect to assist me.

    The first one I chose was Senior Brother Kang Fulu.

    For the second, I want to ask for your help, Senior Brother Qi Yuan, to participate in the Dragon Seizing Struggle.

    If Senior Brother Qi Yuan helps me, I will definitely give a great reward.

    Regardless of success, I will give you three Jade-level techniques and three foundation establishment treasures.

    If we succeed, I will open the royal treasury and let you choose anything you want."

    Dong Xian said sincerely.

    This was the most valuable thing he could offer at the moment. It was everything he had.

    After hearing this, Qi Yuan lost interest: "The Dragon Seizing Struggle requires going to the capital of the Great Shang Kingdom. It¡¯s too far. I don¡¯t want to go. I just like staying at home."

    When he went to destroy Black Mountain Sect, Qi Yuan returned home overnight.

    He didn¡¯t like running around outside, especially not staying overnight.

    Dong Xian was stunned by this reason for refusal. It seemed too unreliable.

    "If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll go back to cultivating." Qi Yuan thought it was best not to get too close to someone with a protagonist''s template.

    If he became the protagonist''s helper, one day he might be killed by the plot, igniting the protagonist¡¯s inner potential.

    He was all too familiar with such plots.

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, I am willing to offer even better conditions. If you are not satisfied, we can discuss it further." Dong Xian hurriedly said.

    "It¡¯s too far, I don¡¯t want to go." Qi Yuan decisively refused and returned to his house to continue cultivating.

    Outside the wooden house, Dong Xian''s face was filled with disappointment.

    "Qi Lao, are my conditions not enough?" Dong Xian was very discouraged.

    "It might not be about your conditions. What Qi Yuan said might be true. He really doesn¡¯t want to travel far." Qi Lao said helplessly, "Some prodigies have peculiar habits. Especially those who focus solely on cultivation."

    "Sigh." Dong Xian clenched his fists, feeling very unwilling.

    This time, he was preparing to participate in the Dragon Seizing Struggle. He had informed his mother about it.

    His mother, born in a small family, had only one foundation establishment cultivator in the family¡ªhis uncle.

    Without hesitation, his uncle gave him the only two foundation establishment treasures he had.

    His mother also gave him many spiritual medicines and treasures awarded by the emperor.

    Therefore, he managed to persuade Kang Fulu.

    Now, if he couldn¡¯t convince Qi Yuan, his chances in the Dragon Seizing Struggle were slim.

    He didn¡¯t want to disappoint his mother and uncle.

    Standing outside the wooden house, he waited quietly, like a student waiting in the snow.

    Suddenly, Dong Xian''s communication jade slip vibrated.

    It was a message from Senior Brother Kang Fulu.

    He glanced at the content and was stunned.

    "Qi Lao, do you know what Senior Brother Kang Fulu just told me?"

    "What?"

    "Senior Brother Kang Fulu said a secret realm appeared in Rong City, and the location of the Dragon Seizing Struggle has been changed to Rong City."

    "What?!!"

    Rong City was very close to Seven-Color Peak. Even a Qi Refining cultivator could get there in an hour or two.

    Just now, Senior Brother Qi Yuan said it was too far to go.

    Now, the location of the Dragon Seizing Struggle had changed to Rong City.

    Is this destiny helping me? Dong Xian thought, extremely excited.

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, Dong Xian requests to see you!" Dong Xian shouted joyfully towards the wooden house.

    Qi Yuan came out of the house: "You¡¯re still here?"

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, the location of the Dragon Seizing Struggle has been changed to Rong City!" Dong Xian said excitedly.

    Qi Yuan was stunned: "In Rong City?"

    That was very close.

    Why did it suddenly change to Rong City?

    "It''s absolutely true. Senior Brother Kang Fulu told me." Dong Xian said, his breath visible in the cold air. "Now, may I invite Senior Brother Qi Yuan to assist me in the Dragon Seizing Struggle?"

    Qi Yuan stood there, feeling a bit amazed.

    Is this the protagonist''s template?

    Even the heavens are helping him solve problems.

    He thought, if he still didn¡¯t know what was good for him, even the heavens might deal with him.

    Since the heavens were helping Dong Xian, couldn¡¯t he ask for an exorbitant price?

    Qi Yuan hesitated and slowly said, "I can help you, but I have a few conditions."

 Chapter 83: The Moon God and News from the Moon Watching Continent

    Chapter 83: The Moon God and News from the Moon Watching Continent

    "Too expensive, it''s really too expensive," Qi Yuan lamented.

    How many houses can ten thousand spirit stones buy? Qi Yuan didn''t know. But this jade slip was even more primitive than a mobile phone.

    Jiang Lingsu''s lips curled up. "Sister is rich."

    "But it has too few functions. If it could do video calls and voice chats, it would be better," Qi Yuan elaborated, even thinking about copying Tencent QQ. "If we could send red packets and grab spirit stones, it would be more interesting."

    Qi Yuan, like ordinary people, was particularly good at finding faults and making suggestions.

    "Senior brother, you should just shut up!" Jiang Lingsu rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan. "Figure it out yourself. I''m tired and going back to sleep."

    Her delicate hand slipped out of Qi Yuan''s grasp, and Jiang Lingsu returned to her almost dilapidated thatched hut.

    Qi Yuan, on the other hand, directed his spiritual consciousness towards the jade slip of the Divine Flower Association.

    "Should I choose a nickname?"

    "How about ''Faceless Swordsman''?"

    "No, I was wearing a mask when I killed Chu Tianxiong."

    "I founded the ''Qi Yuan Sutra,'' I should be a revered Dao ancestor! Let''s go with ''Origin Heaven Venerable!''"

    Qi Yuan changed his nickname and entered the forum.

    The forum had three sections: public, intermediate, and advanced.

    Qi Yuan tried, but he could only access the public section.

    He couldn''t enter the intermediate and advanced sections.

    "My contribution points are not enough to enter the intermediate section?"

    Other sections of the Divine Flower Association required contribution points for access.

    Contribution points were earned by contributing to the Divine Flower Association.

    Currently, Qi Yuan''s contribution points were zero, so he couldn''t enter the other sections.

    "Could there be any hidden sections?"

    Qi Yuan mumbled to himself and entered the public section.

    Instantly, information presented itself to Qi Yuan, much like posts on the forums of his previous life.

    "Flying Swordsman''s Foundation Establishment Cultivation Insights"

    "Seeking to Purchase Grade One Foundation Establishment Spiritual Herb, Yuanlong Grass"

    "Experiences from Training in the Chongshan Secret Realm"

    "These titles are all very proper," Qi Yuan commented.

    He clicked on the first post he saw, the one about Foundation Establishment cultivation insights.

    The poster was named Flying Swordsman.

    The post mentioned that Flying Swordsman was a mid-grade Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Earth Vein.

    He shared some of his cultivation insights.

    He mentioned that the most important aspect of Foundation Establishment was to lay a solid foundation and cultivate powerful mana. This way, when forming the Golden Core, the core would be stronger.

    Many people replied to the post, and they were very polite.

    "Thank you, fellow Daoist."

    "When you have time, fellow Daoist, come to my cave dwelling, and we can drink and chat."

    Qi Yuan exited the post.

    He then looked at other posts.

    There were many posts in the public section, covering various topics.

    Cultivation insights, seeking to buy treasures and secret techniques, sharing experiences from secret realms, chatting, arranging for duels, etc.

    Suddenly, a post caught Qi Yuan''s eye.

    "Golden Water Needles from the Red Rock Realm for Sale"

    "Red Rock Realm?"

    Qi Yuan clicked in to take a closer look.

    In the post, the author introduced the Red Rock Realm.

    The Red Rock Realm was a small mortal realm adjacent to the Canglan Realm, rich in various gold-based treasures.

    The Grand Dao Sect controlled the gateway to the Red Rock Realm and conducted "trade," bringing many unique treasures into the Canglan Realm.

    "Indeed, there isn''t just one world. The Canglan Realm and the Red Rock Realm are adjacent. What about the Moon Watching Continent?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    He thought for a moment and searched for "Moon Watching Continent."

    However, there was no information about the Moon Watching Continent, which left Qi Yuan a bit disappointed.

    "It seems this game isn''t popular."

    Qi Yuan thought about it and decided to make a post.

    After some thought, he posted:

    "Shocking! I, who have built my foundation with the Dao of Heaven, am so unfortunate! Seeking help from all you experts!"

    Qi Yuan felt that their post titles were too proper, so he went with a shocking title.

    "Everyone, ever since capturing the Dao of Heaven and establishing my foundation, I feel lost.

    Building a foundation with the Dao of Heaven is too difficult, and cultivation techniques are hard to find. I seek from all you experts, a profound or heavenly level technique, or a technique to enhance the divine soul. I, Origin Heaven Venerable, will definitely repay you handsomely in the future. Let''s discuss.

    By the way, does anyone know about the Moon Watching Continent? This is where I achieved my Dao, and I long to revisit."

    Qi Yuan''s post was simple: "I, building my foundation with the Dao of Heaven, need a technique."

    After posting, Qi Yuan exited the jade slip of the Divine Flower Association and continued cultivating the "Hundred Refinements Soul Enhancement Technique" to strengthen his divine soul.

    At this time, Qi Yuan''s post had already attracted a lot of attention.

    In the Eastern Lands, Green Cloud Immortal State.

    In a cave dwelling, a young man with handsome features, dressed in golden clothes, looked extraordinary.

    His consciousness entered the jade slip of the Divine Flower Association.

    Every day, he would browse the public section to see posts that interested him.

    Unfortunately, those seniors or fellow cultivators were too dull.

    To date, he had only made two like-minded friends in the Divine Flower Association and established a communication group.

    He looked at the posts in the public section, and suddenly, a post with a long title caught his eye.

    "So long? Shocking? Building a foundation with the Dao of Heaven?"

    The man in golden clothes was surprised by the title.

    "Could it be that our Divine Flower Association has another descendant of an old monster?"

    The man in golden clothes was a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Earth Vein. He knew the difficulty of building a foundation with the Dao of Heaven.

    It required capturing the Qi of the Heavenly Vein.

    And to capture the Qi of the Heavenly Vein, an old monster at the Yin Spirit or even Yang Spirit level needed to make a move.

    Rogue Immortal Venerable: "Wow, a newcomer?"

    Great Sun Flame Emperor: "This brother is the one who built his foundation with the Dao of Heaven."

    Rogue Immortal Venerable: "Wow, a big shot, a fellow Daoist. Unfortunately, I''ve been a Foundation Establishment cultivator for a hundred thousand years, just an immortal-grade Foundation Establishment. I can''t rebuild, my life''s regret."

    "Big shot, you''re so powerful. Give us a heavenly-level technique to see your strength," Qi Yuan said humbly.

    "Cough, cough, I don''t have a heavenly-level technique, but since you joined the communication group, you''re one of us, a fellow Daoist. In the group, we have some techniques we''ve shared. There are three profound-level techniques and seven jade-level techniques. You can take a look," said Rogue Immortal Venerable.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes sparkled, "How can I accept this?"

    He quickly accessed the three profound-level techniques and the seven jade-level techniques.

    "We''re all brothers. If you have any techniques, you can share them too. We can all walk the Dao together," said Great Sun Flame Emperor.

    "You all are so kind," Qi Yuan thought and added "Glorious Sword" to the group.

    He quickly opened the techniques and memorized them.

    "Origin Heaven Venerable, you''re amazing. You even have ''Glorious Sword'' from the Palace of Light," Great Sun Flame Emperor said, putting away his previous disdain.

    To bring out a profound-level technique, especially "Glorious Sword," showed that Origin Heaven Venerable had some power.

    Although they liked to brag, they still had some strength.

    "No, I''m just an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator."

    "I''m just an ordinary immortal," Rogue Immortal Venerable felt he had been speaking without skill before, but Origin Heaven Venerable was interesting. "I just occasionally kill some demons and evil cultivators."

    "You''re amazing, big shot. When I was on the Moon Watching Continent, I faced three thousand extraterrestrial demons. To prevent them from wreaking havoc, I trapped them in the absolute ground, fought them for a month, and finally killed them all!"

    "Fought for eternity? I like the sound of that. Can I use it in the future?" Great Sun Flame Emperor asked excitedly.

    "No problem," Qi Yuan replied.

    After obtaining the techniques, Qi Yuan exited the jade slip.

    He felt that the two people in the group were very kind but also a bit strange.

    He quickly began to study the profound and jade-level techniques to perfect his own technique.

    "I''ve finally perfected ''Qi Yuan Sutra'' to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Unfortunately, cultivation is too slow."

    At this rate, it would take at least five years for him to reach the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

    These techniques far surpassed those he obtained from the Black Mountain Sect.

    Qi Yuan sighed, feeling that the Great Shang Kingdom was too small, like a village-level cultivation unit, compared to larger places.

    Just a few techniques had significantly supplemented the "Qi Yuan Sutra," but he felt helpless.

    His cultivation was too slow.

    Five years from initial Foundation Establishment to mid-Foundation Establishment sounded fast.

    But for Qi Yuan, it was too slow.

    Who knows when the Black Chicken Old Monster might suddenly reach the late Nascent Soul stage and wake up.

    Facing a Nascent Soul old monster, Qi Yuan was still afraid.

    Although he had built his foundation with the Dao of Heaven, he felt that in his dream, he had beaten up the person in the wooden house, moved into the wooden house, but didn''t win the fight, leaving a loose end.

    "When will the game start?" Qi Yuan felt that fighting in the game would increase his cultivation faster.

    Cultivating step by step was too slow.

    "White Moonlight, please grant me a technique to enhance my divine soul!" Qi Yuan prayed sincerely.

    A single "Hundred Refinements Soul Enhancement Technique" added limited divine soul strength each day. He needed more techniques to perfect and transform into a stronger technique.

    "My divine soul has strengthened significantly. Let''s try accessing the game icon again!" Qi Yuan immediately spread his consciousness into the game jade slip.

    ......

    Liu Feng (Flowing Wind) Realm.

    Demoness Ning Tao still wore a black dress, standing atop a mountain.

    She bore heavy injuries.

    Five powerful figures surrounded Ning Tao, exuding terrifying auras.

    If Qi Yuan were here, he would recognize these five as Heavenly Domain-level experts.

    "Demoness, hand over your treasures, and we''ll leave you with an intact corpse!" An elderly man with an immortal demeanor spoke, his eyes filled with greed.

    This demoness had reached their level in just a century.

    Naturally, they believed she possessed great treasures that allowed her to cultivate so quickly.

    The other four looked at Ning Tao with equally greedy eyes.

    Ning Tao, standing at the mountain''s peak, smiled proudly, her black dress embroidered with delicate patterns swaying in the wind. Compared to her past self, her figure was taller, her waist slimmer, her chest fuller, barely fitting in her dress.

    The most striking feature was her snow-white skin, contrasting sharply with her black dress, as white as snow under the moonlight.

    She looked at the five, her eyes filled with arrogance, "Is it possible that I rely on my talent?"

    "Humph, talent my foot!" A burly man stared at Ning Tao, "Where''s the man backing you? Bring him out!"

    Over the years, Ning Tao had grown quickly, avoiding quick suppression due to rumors of a great cultivator supporting her, causing hesitation.

    But no one knew who this great cultivator was.

    "Old man, I believe she has no such backer. It''s all lies!" A cold woman spoke, glaring venomously at Ning Tao.

    The five controlled Blood Slaughter City, sacrificing three hundred boys and girls annually to Sin City, and Ning Tao was once one of those children.

    The five slowly approached Ning Tao.

    Ning Tao smiled charmingly, "Why would I need my husband to kill you?"

    The first time she heard that strange voice, she had taken the opportunity to kill her attackers.

    But she feared the voice''s owner.

    Her mother had said that calling a man "husband" would make him temporarily stop killing.

    As a child, she had called out to the heavens to save herself.

    But a hundred years had passed, and Ning Tao was no longer that weak girl.

    She had grown strong, capable of protecting herself.

    Today, the attack by the five Blood Slaughter City rulers was actually her plan to kill them.

    "Today is your death day!" Ning Tao, wielding the scythe of the Grim Reaper, stood as the wind blew her hair over her enchanting face.

    A powerful aura spread at that moment.

    Suddenly, a thunderous sound came from the sky.

    "Damn game, blocking me, die... Ah, I''m not your husband!"

    Boom!

    A mysterious voice echoed.

    It was as if a god from the heavens was scolding the earth, booming like thunder.

    The five experts saw the sky''s energy rolling, forming a purple-red lightning.

    "Original Divine Ability, Supreme of Five Realms!"

    The five''s faces showed horror.

    Was this a Supreme attack?

    Did this demoness really have a powerful backer?

 Chapter 84: Dragon Seizing Struggle

    Chapter 84: Dragon Seizing Struggle

    "Spare us, Supreme Lord!"

    Facing the legendary Supreme Lord, how could they dare to act presumptuously?

    It was said that when the Supreme Lord got angry, corpses would lay scattered for miles.

    It was precisely because there was a Supreme Lord stationed in the City of Sin that they were so fearful.

    However, that terrifying thunderbolt was charging straight towards them.

    "No!"

    The five powerful figures tried to escape, but how could they withstand that thunderbolt?

    The thunderbolt struck them, and they watched helplessly as their bodies turned to ash.

    The five rulers of Blood Slaughter City perished there.

    "Ugh!" Ning Tao''s small body was thrown like a kite with a broken string, landing far away.

    Just the aftershock of that thunderbolt had severely injured her.

    Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, but her face showed a sweet smile. "Husband, are you warning me?"

    "Only a powerful man is worthy of me, Ning Tao!"

    "Husband, you still care about me. This original divine power struck me to help me better comprehend it, right?"

    With a sweet smile on her face, she looked like a gentle, obedient wife.

    If Qi Yuan were here to hear Ning Tao''s words, he would definitely say, "Little beauty, you have too much imagination."

    Of course, what he didn''t know was that the once young-sounding girl was actually older than him.

    Meanwhile, on Seven Colors Peak.

    Qi Yuan was furious. "Stupid game, perverted game, always making an NPC call me husband and seducing me, but not letting me play!"

    After his divine soul had grown significantly, he tried to forcefully enter the game.

    But he failed.

    Just as his consciousness neared the game icon, a strong backlash hit him.

    All he could do was curse loudly!

    He also heard part of Ning Tao''s thoughts, in which she referred to him as husband.

    He cursed harshly.

    "This won''t do. I need to strengthen my divine soul and teach this game a lesson!"

    Qi Yuan started cultivating.

    Nearly two months flew by.

    Qi Yuan opened his eyes, looking at the slightly increased mana within him, feeling helpless.

    His power was growing too slowly.

    During these two months, Qi Yuan mainly practiced techniques to enhance his divine soul, with "Qi Yuan Sutra" as a secondary focus.

    In these two months, he had tried many times to enter the game, all ending in failure.

    He had heard Ning Tao''s voice seven times, responding four times and ignoring the other three.

    After all, the last three times, she didn''t call him husband.

    He thought she might not have been calling him, so he didn''t want to try to curry favor unnecessarily.

    "Senior brother, the struggle for the dragon is about to begin. You need to head out," Jiang Lingsu, acting like a little elf, called out to Qi Yuan.

    "Okay." Qi Yuan looked at his junior sister, dressed slightly thicker for the spring weather, and stepped out of his wooden hut.

    ......

    Rong City was originally a mortal city under the Divine Light (Shen guang) Sect.

    However, in the past two months, the city had undergone great changes.

    Mortals occasionally saw immortals flying across the sky.

    Some saw three-zhang tall stone giants carrying wood and large stones, building palaces outside the city.

    In less than two months, many palaces had sprung up.

    Outside Rong City, it looked like a paradise for immortals.

    At this moment, three streams of light streaked across the sky.

    Voices reached Qi Yuan''s ears.

    "The Great Shang transformed from a mortal nation to an immortal nation largely due to the opening of the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm in the capital. In the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm, there are many secret treasures. The Great Shang used these treasures and resources to become the most powerful force in the nation," said the knowledgeable white-haired Kang Fulou. "However, in recent years, with the rise of the Demonic Desire Sect, the Great Shang is no longer as powerful as before."

    He glanced over to see his consort on the bed, her eyes filled with affection, a thin veil draped over her body.

    Breaking Wolf was already dressed, his eyes sharp like a poisonous snake¡¯s. ¡°How did it go?¡±

    The Eighteenth Prince lowered his head and mumbled, ¡°Mother... she doesn¡¯t want to talk to me.¡±

    ¡°Useless.¡± Breaking Wolf cursed under his breath, looking down on the Eighteenth Prince even more.

    But such a useless Eighteenth Prince was easy for them to control.

    ¡°Since the Empress doesn¡¯t want to cooperate with our Palace of Light, we¡¯ll leave it for now.¡± A hint of displeasure flashed in Breaking Wolf''s eyes. He asked, ¡°Have the people from the Divine Light Sect arrived?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve just arrived at the palace.¡± The Eighteenth Prince bowed his head humbly, then whispered, ¡°Mr. Breaking Wolf, my seventeenth brother... is a good person. In the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm, can you spare him?¡±

    Seventeenth Brother was Dong Xian.

    Like the Eighteenth Prince, Dong Xian was also not favored.

    Dong Xian had always taken good care of him, and their relationship was strong.

    ¡°For your sake, I can spare his life.

    But, the two from the Divine Light Sect, I must take care of them.¡± Breaking Wolf¡¯s eyes showed a flash of killing intent.

    Zhu Lianhua had died in the Great Shang Kingdom, killed by the Divine Flower Association.

    This was a great humiliation for Breaking Wolf.

    The plan for the Hundred Nations was led by his master.

    Once successful, his master¡¯s position in the Palace of Light would greatly improve.

    However, Zhu Lianhua was killed near the Divine Light Sect.

    Although it was the Divine Flower Association that killed her, the Divine Light Sect was definitely involved.

    ¡°Of the two from the Divine Light Sect, who is stronger?¡± Breaking Wolf asked, recalling something.

    ¡°Kang Fulou from Five Light Peak is stronger. He is a late Foundation Establishment cultivator and the sect leader¡¯s son-in-law, as well as the closing disciple of the Five Light Peak¡¯s leader.¡± The Eighteenth Prince had met Kang Fulou and remembered his lengthy self-introduction. ¡°He is also in the top three of the Great Shang¡¯s Top Ten Talents.¡±

    The Great Shang¡¯s Top Ten Talents referred to the ten most outstanding Foundation Establishment cultivators in the kingdom.

    ¡°Great Shang¡¯s Top Ten Talents?¡± Breaking Wolf sneered.

    He was ranked in the top 700 of the Eastern Lands¡¯ prodigy list.

    Naturally, he looked down on the Great Shang¡¯s Top Ten Talents.

    For him, one sword could kill them.

    ¡°Leave, my friend is coming to enjoy himself, and he doesn¡¯t like others watching.¡± Breaking Wolf commanded coldly.

    The Eighteenth Prince, still wearing a fawning smile, obediently left.

    ......

    ¡°Not bad, not bad, even more luxurious than my Foundation Establishment cottage,¡± Qi Yuan commented while in the palace.

    He looked at the gold cups and jade plates, wanting to take them back to Seven Colors Peak.

    Kang Fulou remained calm. ¡°Soon, we¡¯ll have to meet up.¡±

    By now, people from various sects had arrived.

    All the princes were here too.

    They needed to meet and then open the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm to begin the struggle for the dragon.

    Qi Yuan nodded, feeling excited.

    He was looking forward to meeting Breaking Wolf, his White Moonlight.

    With some time left before the meeting, Qi Yuan felt bored.

    He decided to enter the Divine Flower Association¡¯s jade slip with his spiritual sense.

    He noticed there were many messages in the group of the Divine Flower Association¡¯s Four Great God Emperors.

    ¡°Good news, everyone. Today I ranked 300th on the Eastern Lands¡¯ Small Prodigy List,¡± announced Rogue Immortal Venerable.

    ¡°Congratulations!¡±

    ¡°Congratulations!¡±

    ¡°Big shot, please protect us!¡±

    Everyone in the group was posting.

    Qi Yuan also felt admiration for Rogue Immortal Venerable.

    Qi Yuan, at best, was in the top ten Foundation Establishment cultivators in his village, while his group members were already provincial-level prodigies.

 Chapter 85: Generous Lu Fei

    Chapter 85: Generous Lu Fei

    "Not bad, Rogue Immortal Venerable, you made it onto the Eastern Lands'' Small Prodigy List!"

    It was the Ice Mountain Overlord who spoke, having remained silent in the group chat until now.

    Rogue Immortal Venerable quickly responded, "I can''t compare to you, Overlord Sister!"

    It seemed that Rogue Immortal Venerable was somewhat afraid of the Ice Mountain Overlord.

    Great Sun Flame Emperor added, "Rogue Immortal Venerable, keep pushing forward and get on the main Eastern Lands'' Prodigy List!"

    After lurking in the chat for a while, Qi Yuan finally understood. The Eastern Lands'' Prodigy List records the top 1,000 prodigies under sixty years old in the Eastern Lands.

    The Small Prodigy List is a subsidiary list for those who can''t make it onto the main Prodigy List.

    Regardless, both are far superior to the Great Shang''s Top Ten list.

    Qi Yuan, filled with admiration, thought of the well-informed group members and asked, "Do any of you know Breaking Wolf from the Palace of Light?"

    Know your enemy, and you will win every battle.

    "Breaking Wolf? Never heard of him. Oh, newcomer, we now have four emperors in the Divine Flower Association instead of three," Ice Mountain Overlord said.

    Rogue Immortal Venerable quickly added, "Origin Heaven Venerable, have you encountered Breaking Wolf? He is ranked within the top 700 of the main Eastern Lands'' Prodigy List. Those on the Prodigy List all have the ability to challenge opponents beyond their rank. The Palace of Light is hostile to the Divine Flower Association. You must not reveal your association with the Divine Flower Association, or Breaking Wolf will certainly not spare you!"

    Qi Yuan was both surprised and delighted. Surprised at the opponent''s apparent strength, and delighted that this White Moonlight must be carrying many valuable items.

    At this point, Great Sun Flame Emperor also expressed concern, "Origin Heaven Venerable, if you lack the power of a Golden Core, it would be wise to avoid Breaking Wolf."

    Great Sun Flame Emperor knew some things about the Palace of Light''s actions. Breaking Wolf seemed to be handling affairs in a small place, but he didn''t know exactly where. It now appeared that the "Glorious Sword" obtained by Origin Heaven Venerable had come from someone in the Palace of Light. Breaking Wolf had gone there to reclaim the honor.

    "Thank you all for your concern, but why would I, a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven, fear him?"

    "Are you also a Foundation Establishment of the Dao of Heaven?" Ice Mountain Overlord inquired.

    "Of course. That day, I battled three thousand extraterrestrial demons, capturing the Dao of Heaven and finally establishing my foundation!" Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    Ice Mountain Overlord paused for a moment before quickly saying, "Origin Heaven Venerable is truly impressive; another giant in the cultivation world is rising!"

    Feeling the group''s admiration, Qi Yuan felt that the group members were the best. Others didn''t believe he had built his foundation on the Dao of Heaven, but the group members did.

    He remembered something and asked, "Does Breaking Wolf have any powerful techniques?"

    A White Moonlight carrying great wealth is a good White Moonlight.

    "Breaking Wolf''s master is Wind Fury True Lord, a late Nascent Soul stage powerhouse. Breaking Wolf should have many valuable items," Great Sun Flame Emperor said. "You need to be careful."

    Ice Mountain Overlord then spoke up, "Wind Fury? I''ve seen him. Not a great person. He once secretly overthrew a small country to refine a magic treasure. If his master wasn''t formidable, I would have scattered his ashes long ago."

    Rogue Immortal Venerable added, "... Ice Mountain Overlord is still awe-inspiring."

    "Big Sister, give me a hug!" Qi Yuan quickly flattered, knowing that Ice Mountain Overlord must be a significant figure. As the saying goes, if a woman is three thousand years older, she can become an immortal.

    Qi Yuan hoped to rise with them.

    After praising Ice Mountain Overlord for a while, Qi Yuan exited the chat, feeling very excited.

    "I can hardly wait to find a secluded place to..."

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, it''s time to head out," Dong Xian''s voice interrupted.

    Qi Yuan collected his thoughts.

    ......

    In the palace, a group of people stood with their hands behind their backs.

    Qi Yuan stood near Dong Xian, scanning the crowd as if looking for someone.

    More and more people gathered in the hall.

    A dozen princes, all wearing golden robes embroidered with large pythons.

    Behind them stood Foundation Establishment cultivators with varied expressions.

    The First Prince, tall and bearded, stood at the forefront.

    Behind him stood two Foundation Establishment sword cultivators from Floating Mountain, exuding a sharp aura.

    Ordinary cultivators felt as if their eyes were pierced by swords just by looking at these two.

    At that moment, a voice reached Qi Yuan''s ears.

    "Senior Sister has cultivated a profound-level technique. The Foundation Establishment cultivators from Floating Mountain and Divine Light Sect can be subdued with one hand."

    It was a transmission.

    Sometimes, Qi Yuan could hear strange sounds nearby¡ªsome were conversations, others were thoughts, and some were transmissions.

    Now, he caught a voice.

    His eyes lit up.

    Who was this little cutie with a profound-level technique?

    Qi Yuan''s gaze swept the hall, finally landing on a seductive female cultivator from the Demonic Desire Sect.

    This female cultivator wore a bright red dress, her figure exaggeratedly curvy, with a slender waist and a full chest, the dress revealing much of her fair skin.

    The deep cleavage and round curves were boldly displayed without any attempt to cover them.

    Though impressive, Qi Yuan thought it couldn''t compare to his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu.

    His junior sister''s clothing was loose but hid great potential.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes were like torches, fixed on the female cultivator.

    A White Moonlight!

    [This is an ordinary emperor, gravely injured and severely ill, with only a month left to live under normal circumstances.]

    An elderly emperor, weak and dying, without any imperial majesty.

    "Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Empress."

    Everyone bowed, maintaining basic decorum.

    The Great Shang Emperor looked at the crowd, gasping after just standing for a while, and had to be helped to the dragon throne by the Empress.

    The Empress, sitting beside him, exuded far more presence than the Emperor. "In two days, the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm will open, and the struggle for the dragon will begin.

    There are many treasures in the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm.

    The rules for the struggle are simple: whoever obtains the most valuable treasures will be... the future emperor of the Great Shang!"

    The Empress, sparing with words, didn''t give a long speech.

    With just a few words, the princes'' breaths quickened.

    Some clenched their fists, some looked grim, while others seemed indifferent, having no hope for the struggle.

    Even Dong Xian was somewhat excited.

    He also wanted to become the Emperor of the Great Shang!

    "The Emperor''s health is poor. Everyone, disperse," the Empress quickly said. The Emperor hadn''t spoken a word before they left.

    The crowd had mixed thoughts, while Qi Yuan kept staring at Lu Fei, hoping to catch her thoughts.

    Noticing his gaze, Lu Fei smiled seductively. "Come play with me tonight, little brother. I''ll leave my door ajar for you."

    With that, Lu Fei, full of charm, followed the Seventh Prince out.

    The crowd also began to disperse.

    The female sword cultivator from Floating Mountain watched Lu Fei''s back, glanced at her own flat chest, and angrily thought, "Shameless!"

    ......

    As night fell, Qi Yuan wanted to leave and play with Lu Fei, the White Moonlight.

    But he couldn''t leave just yet.

    Senior Brother Kang Fulou mentioned a visitor tonight.

    Sure enough, not long after, a pair of young cultivators entered the hall, exuding sharp sword energy.

    "Greetings, Senior Brother Kang, Junior Brother Qi."

    The newcomers were the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from Floating Mountain.

    The male cultivator was named Lei Wen, and the female was named Miao Li.

    When Miao Li entered the hall, she looked at Qi Yuan with some displeasure.

    Kang Fulou warmly welcomed them. "Please, sit."

    Lei Wen and Miao Li took their seats.

    Lei Wen spoke, "For this struggle for the dragon, our master said that the kingdom''s affairs should not be influenced by outsiders. We should unite with the Divine Light Sect to drive out the Palace of Light first, then discuss other matters."

    Lei Wen got straight to the point.

    Kang Fulou nodded. "That makes sense. Our master also instructed us that the Great Shang should not fall under the control of the Palace of Light."

    If the Great Shang fell under the Palace of Light''s control, the three major sects would suffer.

    "I''ve already contacted other Foundation Establishment cultivators from various sects. Five are willing to cooperate with us. There are still a few who are closer to the Divine Light Sect. Please reach out to them," Lei Wen said, stating his purpose clearly to Kang Fulou and Qi Yuan.

    In the Great Shang, the three major sects were supreme.

    Other sects were backed by the three major sects, all having some ties with them.

    "Don''t worry, it''s a small matter," Kang Fulou said warmly.

    "Breaking Wolf from the Palace of Light is highly formidable. We will need you and our junior sister to help subdue him," Lei Wen said, not mentioning Qi Yuan.

    After all, Qi Yuan was a new Foundation Establishment cultivator with low combat power.

    "Agreed," Kang Fulou nodded. "As fellow Daoists of the Great Shang, we must stand together against our common enemy."

    Everyone reached an agreement.

    The two sword cultivators from Floating Mountain prepared to leave.

    At that moment, the previously silent Miao Li said softly, "Lu Fei is ruthless and practices techniques that absorb Yang to supplement Yin. Some people should not be deceived by her beauty."

    With that, Miao Li left with Lei Wen.

    Qi Yuan was puzzled by Miao Li''s words, unsure of her intent. He thought for a moment and said to Kang Fulou, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister Miao is warning you not to fall for Lu Fei''s charms."

    Kang Fulou: "..."

    ......

    At night, under a half-moon sky.

    Qi Yuan left the palace, using a stealth technique to move around.

    The palace was brightly lit, with cultivators walking about.

    Qi Yuan''s stealth went unnoticed.

    "The Demonic Desire Sect''s quarters should be ahead, right?" Qi Yuan hesitated. His goal tonight was to eavesdrop on Lu Fei, hoping to overhear some profound-level techniques.

    After all, that big sister was kind-hearted and inviting him to her room. Qi Yuan was too shy to go, so he decided to eavesdrop instead.

 Chapter 86: Little Bride (Xiao Jia)???

    Chapter 86: Little Bride (Xiao Jia)???

    After about a few dozen breaths, Qi Yuan stopped and held his breath.

    "This is Lu Fei''s room, right?"

    "White Moonlight, here I come!"

    Qi Yuan stood outside the room, hidden in the darkness.

    He listened intently.

    Unfortunately, all he could hear were some water sounds.

    Qi Yuan listened for a long time but got nothing.

    However, he did not give up; he was very patient.

    After all, it was a profound-level technique. If he could find a few more, his "Qi Yuan Sutra" could be further perfected.

    The more techniques he mastered, the more it would benefit him.

    For example, with his eyes, he could see different information based on the level of the technique and identify various flaws.

    For instance, without a profound-level technique, he could see seven flaws in a jade-level technique and improve upon them.

    After acquiring a profound-level technique, he could see ten flaws in that same jade-level technique.

    Qi Yuan even felt that if a heavenly-level technique were placed in front of him now, he wouldn''t be able to see its flaws.

    The more techniques he knew, the more information he could see.

    As night deepened, Qi Yuan kept his ears pricked, straining to listen.

    He stood in the darkness, unnoticed by the people passing by.

    After an indeterminate amount of time, Qi Yuan''s eyes brightened.

    "Has it started?"

    He finally heard Lu Fei''s thoughts during her cultivation.

    "Muddle without limit, qi moves to the dantian, emperor moves and..."

    Qi Yuan widened his eyes, listening intently, afraid to miss anything.

    After a while, Qi Yuan''s eyes showed satisfaction.

    "Yin Maiden''s Great Cultivation Technique? Quite vicious!"

    Qi Yuan obtained the profound-level technique "Yin Maiden''s Great Cultivation Technique." This technique lived up to the Demonic Desire Sect''s reputation.

    To master this technique, one needed to co-cultivate with seven deeply affectionate men and kill them at their most passionate moment.

    "Even the infamous villain Bai Lang didn''t suffer like this. Lu Fei is ruthless."

    "Not only do you have to fawn over her, but you also risk your life doing it! Such a vicious person isn''t worthy of being my White Moonlight. Breaking Wolf is better¡ªhandsome, rich, and with many techniques!"

    After stealing the technique, Qi Yuan''s feelings for Lu Fei vanished instantly, leaving him feeling somewhat ungrateful.

    Just as he was about to leave, a figure cloaked in black appeared in his sight.

    "A thief?"

    "An adulterer?"

    The black-cloaked figure entered Lu Fei''s room.

    Qi Yuan crouched outside, his mind racing.

    For some reason, the black-cloaked figure made Qi Yuan feel a chill down his spine.

    "Could it be a Nascent Soul stage monster?"

    Qi Yuan thought it best to leave quickly.

    Given his current strength, he wasn''t sure if he could defeat a Nascent Soul monster.

    If discovered by such a monster, it would be dangerous. Better to flee quickly.

    He listened for a while outside the room but found there seemed to be a sound-blocking spell. He decided to sneak away quietly.

    ......

    Two days passed quickly.

    In these two days, many events occurred.

    The first was that this Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm differed from the first one.

    The first Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm only allowed cultivators under thirty to enter.

    This Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm, however, was discovered to allow cultivators under a hundred to enter.

    This caused a stir.

    Many princes without the support of the three major sects united to change the previous rules, allowing Golden Core cultivators to participate.

    This caused quite a commotion in the palace.

    Later, a Golden Core cultivator from the Divine Light Sect killed another Golden Core cultivator, finally calming the storm.

    The proposal was ultimately vetoed by the three major sects.

    The struggle for the dragon would proceed under the original rules.

    Many princes were dissatisfied, but they were powerless against the three major sects.

    Qi Yuan opened his jade slip from the Divine Flower Association.

    He looked disappointed.

    He couldn''t communicate with anyone in the association.

    Kang Fulou''s expression turned serious. He looked at Dong Xian and said, "There''s something I need to tell you."

    Dong Xian quickly responded, "Please, speak, Senior Brother."

    "Your father, the Emperor, passed away last night. The three major sects have kept this secret to avoid any disturbances in the struggle for the dragon."

    Dong Xian was stunned.

    His father was dead?

    Although he had no feelings for his father and had seen him less often than withered wood True Lord, that was still his father in name.

    Hearing this suddenly, he felt a bit lost.

    "Thank you for telling me, Senior Brother. This won''t affect me!" Dong Xian quickly regained his composure.

    Qi Yuan was momentarily distracted.

    He had seen the old Emperor and noted that he had about a month to live.

    Now, in less than two days, he was dead.

    There must have been some change.

    Could it be that the sect master and Empress sought excitement, and the old Emperor discovered it, leading to the sect master killing the Emperor?

    Qi Yuan speculated maliciously.

    Then he dismissed the thought, having no evidence to support such a notion.

    No one mentioned it again. Kang Fulou, with white hair, took a deep breath, feeling the dense spiritual energy. "The spiritual energy here is stronger than Five Light Peak. No wonder the Great Shang rose so quickly a thousand years ago after obtaining the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm."

    Qi Yuan agreed.

    Cultivating in the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm felt faster than on Seven Colors Peak. He could reach mid-Foundation Establishment in two to three years.

    But for Qi Yuan, that was still too slow.

    He preferred fighting in the game.

    "Where the spiritual energy is strong, the chance of finding rare treasures is higher. We need to go deeper into the secret realm!" Kang Fulou said.

    Both Qi Yuan and Dong Xian agreed.

    The deeper they went, the more likely they were to find valuable treasures. Qi Yuan also felt he had a greater chance of encountering his White Moonlight.

    Meanwhile, in the deepest part of the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm, spiritual energy surged like mist.

    In a pool, the spiritual energy seemed to become tangible, flowing continuously.

    In the center of the pool was a crystal coffin.

    This crystal coffin had an ancient, awe-inspiring aura.

    Inside the crystal coffin lay... a petite wedding dress.

    Any cultivator who came here would feel that this wedding dress was not an ordinary garment but a sentient being.

    ......

    "There are so many good things here." Qi Yuan wandered through the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm.

    He stopped and picked a mushroom.

    This mushroom, called a spirit spray mushroom, could absorb thin spiritual energy and release rich spiritual energy, worth several spirit stones.

    Qi Yuan transformed into a mushroom-picking girl, quickly gathering a dozen of them.

    Dong Xian felt envious, his eyes flashing with greed.

    If the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm belonged to him, he could quickly reach the Nascent Soul stage and even have hope of entering the Purple Mansion stage.

    But he quickly dismissed the thought.

    This second Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm couldn''t be controlled by the royal family alone but by the three major sects.

    "Let''s go deeper; there must be better things," Kang Fulou said.

    The group continued to fly deeper into the secret realm.

    Suddenly, Dong Xian stopped. "A corpse?"

    In the distance, there was a corpse.

    The three stopped.

    They found three corpses. "Fifth Brother?"

    Dong Xian recognized his fifth brother in a python robe.

    "Regret Dragon Hand?" Dong Xian lifted his fifth brother''s robe and saw a golden palm print on his stomach, looking despondent.

    The Regret Dragon Hand was a secret of the Great Shang royal family that every prince had to learn.

    Seeing the mark of the Regret Dragon Hand on his fifth brother, it was clear he was killed by his siblings.

    Having just entered the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm and encountering such a thing, Dong Xian''s mood was evident.

    Kang Fulou squinted at the other two corpses. He recognized them.

 Chapter 87: Entering the Land of the Sunken Coffin, a Killing Intent Emerges

    Chapter 87: Entering the Land of the Sunken Coffin, a Killing Intent Emerges

    Kang Fulou looked at the other two bodies on the ground and said in a deep voice, "They are from the Qingyang Sect. They visited us this morning."

    Qi Yuan also remembered the pair; they were siblings.

    This morning, they had come to visit and brought some spirit broth.

    It tasted good, but it was a bit salty.

    "We must be careful in this struggle for the dragon." Kang Fulou''s face was dark. "Daring to harm allies of the Divine Light Sect is asking for death!"

    "This person''s Regret Dragon Hand is fully mastered. All three were killed instantly. Which prince is hiding such strength?" Dong Xian was puzzled.

    The princes of the Great Shang Kingdom were quite average in talent.

    Otherwise, they wouldn''t need to bring in Foundation Establishment cultivators for help.

    The fact that a prince killed two Foundation Establishment cultivators with one strike indicated the killer''s extraordinary strength.

    "No need to think about who the killer is. We will encounter them eventually and then kill them!" Qi Yuan said.

    In the cultivation world, Qi Yuan didn''t want to use his brain much.

    Why use your brain when you can use your hands?

    "Let''s continue deeper into the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm," said the white-haired Kang Fulou.

    ......

    Two more days passed, and Qi Yuan, Kang Fulou, and Dong Xian had ventured further into the secret realm.

    This time, they found six more bodies in the depths of the realm.

    These bodies, like the ones Dong Xian had seen before, all died from the Regret Dragon Hand.

    Kang Fulou''s face turned extremely grim. "Again, it''s the Regret Dragon Hand. Killing six Foundation Establishment cultivators in an instant¡ªdoes the Great Shang royal family have such a powerful prince?"

    Even Kang Fulou himself couldn''t instantly kill six Foundation Establishment cultivators, including two late-stage ones.

    This required at least Golden Core level strength.

    Qi Yuan looked at the six bodies, his eyes showing a serious expression for the first time. "This killer is quite formidable."

    His eyes could see more information.

    [This is an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, killed by an unusual Nascent Soul practitioner.]

    No useful information was found on the other five bodies.

    How could a Nascent Soul enter the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm?

    True Lord Taiguang was overseeing the entrance.

    And reaching Nascent Soul within a century?

    That talent is too exaggerated.

    Even an unusual Nascent Soul practitioner seemed too much.

    "Are there any royal members of the Great Shang Kingdom who have reached Nascent Soul level?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Dong Xian was stunned, not understanding why Qi Yuan was asking this but still answered seriously.

    "In our Great Shang royal family, there were only two Nascent Soul ancestors, but they both died a few years ago," Dong Xian said sadly.

    The decline of the royal family was largely due to the death of those two Nascent Soul ancestors.

    Currently, the Nascent Soul protectors of the royal family were not of royal blood.

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan didn''t ask further.

    A Nascent Soul cultivator had somehow entered and was hunting Foundation Establishment cultivators.

    Qi Yuan sensed a conspiracy.

    At this moment, Kang Fulou said, "There are fighting sounds ahead. It seems to be from the Floating Mountain people. Let''s go and see."

    "Alright." Qi Yuan felt a surge of anticipation.

    Was his White Moonlight among them?

    The three of them quickly flew towards the sound of the fight.

    Before reaching the scene, Qi Yuan saw countless sword energies and continuously falling trees.

    The battle ahead was intense.

    "Metal Sword Technique!" Kang Fulou''s eyes showed a serious expression. "One of the seven great sword techniques of Floating Mountain. Indeed, powerful."

    The three hurried over to see Lei Wen and Miao Li fighting a python-robed figure.

    This python-robed figure was fighting the two Floating Mountain disciples without falling behind.

    It was extremely frightening.

    Dong Xian saw the python-robed figure and was shocked. "Second Prince!"

    That python-robed figure was the Second Prince, his second brother. When did he become so powerful, able to fight the two true disciples of Floating Mountain?

    At this moment, Lei Wen''s voice called out, "Senior Brother Kang, help us! This man has been killing indiscriminately in the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm with the Regret Dragon Hand. At least three princes have died at his hands. Several disciples from Lihen Sect and Daqian Association were killed by him!"

    "It''s him?" Kang Fulou was furious. "Daring to target us, let me show you the power of the Divine Light Sect''s sect leader''s son-in-law and Five Light Peak''s head disciple!"

    He had seen the bodies of three princes killed by an unknown strongman.

    It turned out to be this Second Prince killing indiscriminately.

    Moreover, this Second Prince specifically targeted sects related to the Divine Light Sect and Floating Mountain.

    Kang Fulou raised his horsetail whisk and quickly joined the battle.

    Five Light Saint Method!

    Kang Fulou used his most satisfying technique, the Five Light Saint Method.

    Qi Yuan didn''t join the fight because Lei Wen hadn''t called for him.

    And he felt that with Kang Fulou joining, the Second Prince would not be a match.

    As a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven, he couldn''t casually make a move.

    He had to maintain his style.

    Sure enough, with Kang Fulou using the Five Light Saint Method in conjunction with the Metal Sword Technique, the trees ahead were flying, and multicolored light kept flashing.

    It looked like a messy anime video with random special effects.

    Qi Yuan watched from the side, feeling bored.

    Dong Xian watched in terror, sweat occasionally dripping from his forehead.

    "Sigh, battles with music are more thrilling. This is boring," Qi Yuan couldn''t help but sigh.

    Watching anime or short videos, the content might be average, but with music, the atmosphere completely changed, even giving people an adrenaline rush.

    Dong Xian stood beside Qi Yuan, utterly confused.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan took out a jade slip from his storage bag. "Luckily, I have some music saved."

    Since the battle ahead lacked music, he would add it himself.

    The Great Shang Kingdom secretly studied it for a century, and with the help of a mysterious great cultivator, they found a flaw in the river, allowing entry to the deepest part of the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm, the Land of the Sunken Coffin.

    Now, someone else had entered. The old man was astonished.

    "Liang Ye," the purple-robed old man called.

    A man in soft armor appeared, looking at the old man with fervent eyes.

    The aura from this man was clearly Golden Core!

    With True Lord Taiguang overseeing the entrance, Golden Core cultivators weren''t supposed to enter.

    If Kang Fulou saw this, he would be shocked at how a Golden Core cultivator got in.

    "Northeast, a cultivator has entered. Go deal with him quickly and return," the old man commanded.

    He was plotting to take full control of the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm.

    No one could disturb him.

    Anyone who did would be killed without mercy.

    "Yes!" Liang Ye replied respectfully.

    A Foundation Establishment cultivator was easily handled.

    He quickly left, heading northeast to eliminate the intruder.

    The purple-robed old man remained seated, his face twisted with malevolence. "Soon, soon, the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm will belong to the Great Shang royal family. Second Prince, rest assured, I will avenge you!

    Once this is over, I will personally decapitate Kang Fulou, Lei Wen, Miao Li, and Qi Yuan to honor you!

    The Divine Light Sect and Floating Mountain must die!

    Our Great Shang royal family is the true ruler of the Great Shang!"

    His death-filled eyes shone with madness.

    Once the Sunken Coffin was fully refined, the coffin would emerge, no longer fleeing like before.

    Obtaining that coffin, the old man couldn''t imagine the fortune it would bring.

    ......

    "Qi Yuan?" The man in soft armor was surprised to see the intruder.

    "You know me?" Qi Yuan looked at him, his eyes finding no useful information.

    "I remember all the young talents of the three major sects!" Liang Ye said, his eyes full of killing intent. "Today, your blood will honor the start of the Great Shang''s grand journey!"

    As he spoke, Liang Ye walked towards Qi Yuan.

    If it were someone like Kang Fulou, he might be cautious.

    But Qi Yuan, who had just reached Foundation Establishment, was no threat.

    "Qi Yuan, remember my name, Liang Ye. In the future, this name will be legendary in the Great Shang cultivation world!"

    Liang Ye''s face showed excitement and anticipation for the future.

    Qi Yuan responded, "Villains always want to kill me after a few words?"

    He took out his cleaver, intending to create an illusion.

    "This knife was given by my master, a Nascent Soul treasure. I can barely wield it, but it''s enough to kill you!"

    Saying this, Qi Yuan charged at Liang Ye with the cleaver, its aura terrifying.

    Feeling the dreadful aura, Liang Ye''s face changed. "How is he so strong!"

    He realized that with the added power of the treasure, Qi Yuan was stronger than the Great Shang''s Top Ten.

    But Liang Ye still felt he could suppress Qi Yuan.

    "After your death, this treasure will be mine!" Liang Ye''s eyes showed greed.

    Qi Yuan''s face showed frustration. "Why are you so strong?

    I have to use a secret technique, or else..."

    Gritting his teeth, Qi Yuan muttered something.

    His movements suddenly sped up, the white light of the cleaver flashing through the grass, sharp enough to split a Golden Core.

    "No!" Liang Ye''s face filled with fear, but he had no chance to resist.

    With one slash, Liang Ye''s body was split in two.

    Qi Yuan, the victor, looked pale. "Pfft."

    He spat out blood, his face as white as paper, and walked unsteadily.

    "Using my master''s treasure took most of my mana to kill him.

    I need to quickly recover my mana here, or I won''t be able to wield this treasure if another enemy comes."

    He took Liang Ye''s storage bag and placed the Soul Thought Flower in it.

    Once alone, Qi Yuan''s pale facade disappeared.

    "My acting just now should win me the White Magnolia Award!"

    "I''m such a genius!"

    Qi Yuan could have killed Liang Ye instantly.

    But he didn''t.

    Liang Ye clearly had a Soul Thought Flower, which would transmit a few words.

    So, Qi Yuan pretended to struggle, using his master''s treasure to win.

    He also feigned serious injury.

    Now, he seemed to be recovering mana, making the mastermind behind Liang Ye eager to send more killers.

    Defeat the small ones, then the big ones, and finally the boss.

    This way, he would get more Soul Thought Flowers.

    If he showed too much strength, the enemy might flee.

    Pleased with his plan, Qi Yuan felt proud of his intellect.

    Suddenly, his face changed.

    "Oh no, something''s wrong!"

    He looked horrified. "I forgot to play background music. Without it, my acting won''t win the White Magnolia Award."

    Qi Yuan regretted it deeply.

    He decided that next time, he would play some thrilling battle music before the fight.

    After the fight, he would play some emotional music.

    "Too bad I don''t have ''One Plum Blossom.'' If I could play it while spitting blood, the effect would be perfect."

    Thinking this, Qi Yuan smiled.

 Chapter 88: Continue the Music, Continue the Killing

    Chapter 88: Continue the Music, Continue the Killing

    Deep in the Land of the Sunken Coffin, the purple-robed old man''s face showed anger.

    "Qi Yuan, huh? Hmph, Ruan Yixi, you really care. You actually gave a Nascent Soul treasure to your disciple. Could it be true, as rumored, that Qi Yuan is either your lover or your son?"

    "With his mana exhausted, he can''t drive the treasure..."

    "Liang Ye, you died this time, but I will definitely avenge you and won''t let you die in vain!"

    Liang Ye was his most valued death warrior.

    With the help of a powerful figure, he raised three hundred death warriors.

    The weakest of these death warriors were late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

    Through demonic cultivation methods, these cultivators'' strength increased rapidly, but their lifespan was extremely short.

    Most had less than ten days to live.

    This was also a method of that senior great cultivator.

    Liang Ye was different. Liang Ye cultivated the orthodox royal family method.

    "Liang Chong!" the purple-robed old man called out again.

    Immediately, another man in soft armor appeared.

    His aura was even stronger than Liang Ye''s.

    "I''m at a critical moment of refining. I''ll leave the main Soul Thought Flower to you. A man named Qi Yuan has entered the Land of the Sunken Coffin with a treasure..."

    The purple-robed old man conveyed all the information to Liang Chong and then said, "Kill Qi Yuan and bring the treasure back to me! You will command the three hundred death warriors for now! Do not let anyone enter the Land of the Sunken Coffin. Understand?"

    "Understood, with Liang Chong here, no one can disrupt your plans!" Liang Chong''s face was filled with determination.

    He was a death warrior, willing to die for his master.

    ......

    "How many people does this mastermind have left? There can''t be no one left, right?" Qi Yuan waited for half a day without seeing anyone.

    If the mastermind had only a few people, wouldn''t it be a loss?

    A few Soul Thought Flowers wouldn''t even be enough to fill his teeth.

    At that moment, an arrow shot from a distance.

    The arrow emitted a powerful aura, like a shot from a Golden Core cultivator.

    "How dangerous!" Qi Yuan dodged the arrow with a swift roll.

    He quickly opened the jade slip playing some music.

    Then he stood up, his face pale, looking around. "Who dares to sneak attack me?"

    In the distance, two death warriors in light armor showed puzzled expressions.

    "Why did he open a jade slip to play music?"

    "Is he trying to scare us off?"

    "Don''t be afraid. His mana is still not fully recovered. Let''s kill him!"

    The two medium-built Golden Core death warriors charged at Qi Yuan without holding back.

    Powerful spiritual energy filled the entire meadow.

    Qi Yuan, like a kite with a broken string, fell to the ground.

    "So... strong!"

    He struggled to get up, wiping the blood from his mouth.

    "But no matter how strong you are, I''ll never surrender!"

    Qi Yuan''s body emitted a spirit of fearlessness.

    The two death warriors were moved but only slightly.

    "Kill!"

    The two attacked together, aiming to kill Qi Yuan.

    "Two old geezers ganging up on a young man like me!"

    Qi Yuan wielded his cleaver, struggling to hold on.

    After a short while, he was spitting blood.

    Knocked down multiple times, he stood up each time, scaring them with his cleaver. He persisted like an unyielding swordsman.

    This made the two death warriors even more moved.

    "After you die, we will give you a proper burial!"

    They began to respect Qi Yuan.

    "After you die, I''ll bury you well and even put up a monument!" Qi Yuan, always one to reciprocate kindness, said.

    The two Golden Core death warriors'' faces turned cold upon hearing this.

    "Finish him quickly. We still have to guard the stronghold," one said.

    They changed tactics, no longer holding back because of Qi Yuan''s cleaver.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan smiled.

    "Want to kill me? No way!"

    "I have a treasure given by my master!"

    He spat more blood, his face showing a tragic determination.

    "Using a secret technique, my lifespan has been reduced by twenty years.

    But it''s enough to drive the treasure!

    To kill you, I''ve sacrificed too much!"

    With Qi Yuan''s loud declaration, he swung his cleaver and instantly killed the two Golden Core death warriors.

    His face turned as pale as snow, but he smiled. "I won!"

    Blood dripped from his mouth, and his hair gained a streak of white.

    ......

    Outside Rongcheng, in the palace.

    "He''s gone?"

    Sect Leader Kumu looked at the empty bed, his expression changing unpredictably.

    The Empress''s face was equally grim. "I underestimated that old fool."

    True Lord Taiguang squinted. "The old Emperor''s move must be to truly control the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm. I''m curious, how does he plan to control it?"

    "With the Red Sword Sect." Suddenly, a voice sharp as a sword resounded.

    With nearly three hundred death warriors beside him, Liang Chong''s courage surged. He flew into the sky, glaring at Qi Yuan. "I thought you might not be the Seven Colors Peak''s Qi Yuan. But you''re crazy enough to challenge us, indeed a madman!"

    "You''re crazy! Your whole family is crazy!

    I scored full marks in moral character and got an S+ in mental health, and you call me mad!"

    Qi Yuan grew angrier.

    "Facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven, you dare not surrender and even insult me? You''re asking for death!"

    Qi Yuan charged into the stronghold with his cleaver.

    Seeing Qi Yuan''s boldness, Liang Chong sneered, "Kill!"

    But soon, his smile froze.

    Qi Yuan charged into the stronghold like a wolf among sheep.

    Though the Red Demon Golden Core cultivators were weaker, they were still Golden Core.

    How could they be killed in one slash, four or five at a time?

    With one swing of his cleaver, the five closest Golden Core cultivators had their defenses shattered like paper, and were split in half before they could react.

    How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator be this strong?

    Was he a disguised Nascent Soul cultivator?

    Was he truly a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven!

    Even if he was, could he be this strong?

    Liang Chong''s confidence vanished.

    The security of having three hundred warriors disappeared.

    "Quick! Quick! He''s out of mana, exhaust him!" Liang Chong felt fear but didn''t retreat.

    The royal family gave him everything.

    He saw the Emperor as his father!

    He would die for the Emperor.

    Even in death, he would guard the stronghold.

    "Indeed, fighting with background music adds style. It''s like playing a game. The blood and flesh aren''t as unsettling," Qi Yuan''s jade slip played music as he slaughtered.

    He was covered in blood, all of it his enemies''.

    These Golden Core cultivators were like water to Qi Yuan.

    Slaughtering them was effortless.

    In less than a stick of incense time, a fifth of the stronghold''s warriors lay dead.

    Qi Yuan, now drenched in blood, looked like a carefree god of death, wielding his cleaver.

    "Continue the music, continue the killing."

    Qi Yuan charged into the crowd again, resuming his slaughter.

    Though they provided no experience points.

    But each one carried a Soul Thought Flower.

    Very valuable.

    To enemies, he was never merciful.

    "Kill!" Liang Chong roared, commanding the death warriors.

    The death warriors showed high spirits.

    "Die for the Emperor!"

    "Fight for the Great Shang!"

    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

    It was as if they were performing the most righteous act of their lives.

    Qi Yuan, holding his cleaver, was unmoved. Brainwashed death warriors were no different from NPCs.

    If their master ordered them to kill their parents, wives, and children, they would do so without hesitation.

    In the cultivation world, brainwashing was even more terrifying.

    Time flew, and night slowly fell.

    Batch after batch of death warriors fell around Qi Yuan.

    In the end, only a dozen remained, glaring at Qi Yuan with anger, not fear.

    "Die for the Emperor!"

    The remaining warriors charged at Qi Yuan, their Golden Cores exploding. They chose self-destruction.

    But the Red Demon Golden Core cultivators were so weak that even self-destruction caused no major waves.

    Qi Yuan brushed off the meat scraps on his body.

    Holding his cleaver, like a big villain, he smiled evilly. "You''re the last one."

    Liang Chong''s gaze was firm, holding a spear, like the most loyal warrior of the empire.

    "Kill!"

    The spear moved like a dragon, breaking through the formation.

    But this powerful strike, enough to rival the Black Mountain Sect''s master, was easily dodged by Qi Yuan.

    He slashed Liang Chong''s chest and abdomen with his cleaver.

    Life drained from Liang Chong''s body.

    His eyes showed confusion. "Why?"

    Why was he so strong?

    "Because I... am a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven."

    Qi Yuan didn''t add another sentence.

    He could kill Golden Core cultivators even when he was still in Qi Refining.

    He feared this man would get jealous, crawl out of his grave, and come for him at night.

    "Is it over?" Qi Yuan, covered in blood, looked at the corpses.

    He squatted down, collecting all the Soul Thought Flowers.

    He glanced at the ground, feeling it didn''t match the surroundings.

    He stomped his foot.

    The ground caved in, burying the corpses.

    He stomped again, and the ground returned to normal.

    If anyone came, they wouldn''t know nearly three hundred powerful cultivators were buried here.

    Qi Yuan, holding his cleaver, shouted, "I''ve wiped out your stronghold. Won''t you come out?"

    He sensed a strong presence nearby, plotting something.

    As an enemy, he couldn''t let them succeed.

 Chapter 89: A Flick to the Forehead for White Moonlight

    Chapter 89: A Flick to the Forehead for White Moonlight

    In the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm.

    Breaking Wolf looked at the five Foundation Establishment cultivators in front of him, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.

    "Is this the best you can do, even when united?"

    He had just encountered several people from the Divine Light Sect, the Floating Mountain, and other sects, and easily repelled them.

    Five late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators together could even make some Golden Core cultivators cautious.

    But Breaking Wolf, using his Radiant Sword, easily forced the five to retreat.

    Kang Fulou, with blood at the corner of his mouth, looked extremely wary. "As expected of someone from the Light Palace!"

    Lei Wen and Miao Li were also badly injured.

    The sword cultivators of Floating Mountain were always known for their unmatched offensive power, but they seemed powerless compared to Breaking Wolf''s Radiant Sword.

    "Didn''t you boast in the grand hall for me to remember you, white-haired man?" Breaking Wolf held his glowing long sword, shining as if wrapped in sunlight. "Where is that junior brother of yours now? Is he hiding somewhere? Did he dig a hole and bury himself like a quail as soon as he entered the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm?"

    Miao Li gritted her teeth, her eyes coldly staring at Breaking Wolf.

    Breaking Wolf''s mouth curled into a smile. "It seems he is indeed scared. Since he doesn''t dare to come out, I''ll start by killing you!"

    Kang Fulou waved his dust whisk. "I am the son-in-law of the sect master of the Divine Light Sect, the personal disciple of the peak master of the Five Light Peak. Do you really think you can kill me?"

    His white hair was subtly changing, turning black.

    Suddenly, Breaking Wolf''s eyes showed a trace of seriousness. "Hmph, you''re lucky this time."

    Breaking Wolf quickly transformed into a stream of light and disappeared from sight.

    Miao Li looked confused. "What''s going on? Why did he leave suddenly?"

    Lei Wen glanced at Kang Fulou, his eyes full of deep wariness.

    At this moment, Kang Fulou turned around, a look of surprise on his face. "Uncle Master Li Xiao, Uncle Master Pang Long, why are you here?"

    In the distance, several large groups of white light were flying towards them rapidly.

    In just a few breaths, dozens of cultivators from the Divine Light Sect landed there.

    Leading them was a middle-aged man with a greenish face, Li Xiao.

    Seeing Kang Fulou, Li Xiao felt relieved.

    "You are still alive, thank goodness."

    "Uncle Master, how did you enter the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm? Did something happen outside?" Kang Fulou quickly asked.

    The sudden arrival of the uncle masters meant something significant must have happened.

    Li Xiao truthfully told the crowd about the events outside.

    Everyone''s faces turned extremely grim upon hearing the news.

    "The old emperor faked his death and secretly colluded with the Red Sword Sect?" Kang Fulou realized something, understanding everything. "So it wasn''t the second prince who killed the fifth prince and others. It was actually the old emperor!"

    Kang Fulou quickly led Li Xiao and the others to see the bodies killed by the Remorseful Dragon Hand.

    Li Xiao''s face turned as dark as water upon seeing them.

    The usually low-key Pang Long spoke, "I can sense the aura of a Nascent Soul."

    "What? The old emperor has become a Nascent Soul?" Kang Fulou''s face changed unpredictably.

    A Nascent Soul, lurking in the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, was terrifying to imagine.

    "It''s good you are still alive. Let''s leave the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm quickly," Li Xiao decisively said.

    At this moment, Pang Long spoke again, "Where is Qi Yuan?"

    Among the crowd, there was no sign of Qi Yuan.

    "Junior Brother Qi Yuan should have gone to find the old emperor''s allies. It''s my fault. I underestimated the risks of the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm." When Qi Yuan mentioned the Soul Thought Flower, Kang Fulou realized its value.

    Qi Yuan had left without stating his reason, but Kang Fulou guessed he went to find the second prince''s allies to seize the Soul Thought Flowers.

    As a senior brother, Kang Fulou did not want to take away something his junior brother wanted, so he didn''t say anything at the time.

    "What? He went to find the old emperor''s allies?" Li Xiao was anxious.

    "Uncle Master Li Xiao, please lead the others out of the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm. As the sect master''s son-in-law and the personal disciple of the peak master of the Five Light Peak, I must bring my junior brother back!" Kang Fulou said righteously.

    Li Xiao stood silently, pondering. "Pang Long, you take them back. I''ll go with Kang Fulou to find Qi Yuan."

    ......

    In the Land of the Sunken Coffin.

    The purple-robed old man emitted a terrifying aura.

    Suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

    He glanced deeply behind him, his eyes bloodshot.

    A crystal coffin was entwined with liquid-like spiritual energy, surrounded by countless vines.

    Just now, a mysterious force was pulling, as if trying to extract the crystal coffin.

    But then, the force dissipated like a deflated balloon.

    "Who!"

    The purple-robed old man roared in anger. He had been trying for days, but it was futile.

    He understood that the method given by that great cultivator was useless.

    Useless as it was, he kept trying, but the borrowed power from the strongholds suddenly dissipated, leaving no chance.

    Furious, he left the place, unable to vent his rage.

    Meanwhile, outside the stronghold, Qi Yuan looked up, a relaxed smile in his eyes.

    "The big guy still loves me, sending an alternative Nascent Soul to test my strength?"

    Of course, Qi Yuan also knew that the big guy''s love was limited.

    If given the chance, he would definitely kick Qi Yuan out of the wooden house.

    Qi Yuan, holding his cleaver, stood on the grassy field, his sleeves fluttering in the wind.

    In the sky, the purple-robed figure rapidly approached, stopping a mile away from Qi Yuan.

    "It''s you, Qi Yuan?!" The purple-robed old man looked incredulous.

    He smelled the thick scent of blood.

    This meant that all three hundred death warriors were killed!

    He couldn''t understand it.

    Why was Qi Yuan here?

    Even if Qi Yuan was Ruan Yixi''s son, it shouldn''t be like this.

    Could it be that Ruan Yixi''s cultivation level...

    He endured countless humiliations, unyielding, yet met such an end.

    He was unwilling.

    Qi Yuan looked at the old emperor, speaking calmly. "I don''t know your past, so I won''t judge you. I''ll just send you to the afterlife."

    The old emperor coughed, muddy blood spilling from his mouth. "You also seek the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, right?

    Hehe, I failed. In one more hour, that crystal coffin will be transported away!

    I can''t get it, and neither will you!"

    With that, the old emperor tilted his head, dying there, his face full of unwillingness.

    The mighty emperor of a vast dynasty, silently died there.

    Qi Yuan stood beside the old emperor, holding his cleaver, deep in thought.

    "What a pity, he didn''t carry anything valuable, not even techniques to enhance the soul."

    Qi Yuan was disappointed.

    Killing the old emperor, he gained nothing substantial.

    His only gain was understanding his strength level.

    "Is the Black Chicken Old Demon at late Nascent Soul? Still troublesome!" Qi Yuan sighed.

    The Black Chicken Old Demon remained a looming threat.

    It was all that big guy''s fault for not letting him fully achieve the Heaven Dao Foundation Establishment.

    Otherwise, as the Ice Queen said, a true Heaven Dao Foundation Establishment could speak things into reality.

    Killing the Black Chicken Old Demon would be as easy as killing a chicken.

    After about a hundred breaths, a stream of light fell from the sky.

    Breaking Wolf, in a white robe, appeared near Qi Yuan, his face full of delight. "From afar, I sensed the aura of the Radiant Sword. So, you are from the Divine Flower Sect."

    The previously despondent Qi Yuan brightened up seeing Breaking Wolf. "White Moonlight, you''re finally here."

    Breaking Wolf glanced at the corpse beside Qi Yuan, a mocking smile on his lips. "Using the Radiant Sword to kill a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Your strength is just so-so.

    Today, I''ll show you what the true Radiant Sword is!"

    Not knowing the corpse was a Nascent Soul, Breaking Wolf continued.

    "To die by the Radiant Sword is an honor!"

    As someone in the top seven hundred of the East Land''s Heaven''s Pride List, his version of the Radiant Sword was superior to Qi Yuan''s.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up. "So this is the advanced version of the Radiant Sword. It will be mine!"

    "Indeed, as Lu Fei said, your head has some issues. Do you think I''m as foolish as Zhu Lianhua?" On his way, Breaking Wolf encountered two from the Devil Desire Sect, killing them both.

    Through Lu Fei, he learned how to enter the Land of the Sunken Coffin and more about the situation.

    Like, the mad Qi Yuan was in the Land of the Sunken Coffin.

    Not knowing Lu Fei was diverting disaster before her death, Breaking Wolf didn''t care.

    Arrogance and prejudice as Heaven''s Pride made him disdain the so-called geniuses of the Great Shang.

    The Radiant Sword unleashed!

    Breaking Wolf''s body emitted a holy aura.

    "My sword can kill Golden Core!"

    With that, he struck.

    He wanted these locals to see what true Heaven''s Pride was.

    A giant light sword descended from the sky, heading straight for Qi Yuan.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan shook his head. "Using the Radiant Sword to kill Golden Core, such a waste.

    To kill you, I need no knife or sword, just a flick."

    Qi Yuan extended his thumb and middle finger.

    Snap!

    His middle finger flicked, colliding with the terrifying light sword.

    Crack!

    The powerful light sword shattered instantly.

    The force of the flick landed on Breaking Wolf''s forehead.

    Pop!

    Breaking Wolf''s heart and soul shattered with the light sword. His face showed disbelief as he heard the young man''s murmur.

    "At your feet are hundreds of Golden Core cultivators."

    "The one I just killed with the Radiant Sword was a Nascent Soul."

    "You are my White Moonlight. I can''t bear to use a knife or sword on you, only a gentle flick."

    "Was I gentle enough today?"

    "Oh no, too much force. The flick killed my White Moonlight."

    Qi Yuan smiled, walking towards Breaking Wolf.

    Breaking Wolf''s face showed disbelief. He wanted to speak but couldn''t.

    In his heart, he whispered: Madman.

    His breath ceased.

    Qi Yuan bent down, collecting his spoils.

    "Nice, lots of spirit stones."

    Killing those death warriors and the old emperor yielded nothing but Soul Thought Flowers.

    Finally, White Moonlight brought valuable items.

    "White Moonlight is so kind, bringing so many gifts. How can I accept this?"

    Qi Yuan rummaged through Breaking Wolf''s storage bag.

    He found seven Jade Grade techniques, two Mystic Grade techniques, and an advanced version of the Radiant Sword.

    "Jackpot!" Qi Yuan felt this trip to the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm was worth it.

    These techniques, once fully absorbed, would enhance his insight when viewing other techniques.

    His "Qi Yuan Sutra" could progress further.

    "Plus the Soul Thought Flowers, it''s a double blessing!"

    The Soul Thought Flowers could enhance the soul, boosting Qi Yuan''s combat power and increasing his chances of entering the second game.

    "Alright, the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm is fully cleared. Time to leave."

    "No, I should check out the crystal coffin the old emperor was scheming about."

    "What if it''s filled with Soul Thought Flowers? Triple blessing?"

 Chapter 91: Elder Xuanchong with a Bad Temper

    Chapter 91: Elder Xuanchong with a Bad Temper

    In the palace hall.

    True Lord Kumu sat at the main seat, smoke from the incense of Red Dust wafting past his face, obscuring his expression.

    Frenzied Sword True Lord, the sect master of the Suspended Mountain Sect, squinted his eyes. "Dead, and the Soul Thought Flowers were taken by Qi Yuan?"

    Below, Elder Li Xiao nodded.

    Kang Fulou did the same, adding, "Roughly three hundred Soul Thought Flowers were taken by Qi Yuan, suggesting that he killed them all."

    Upon returning from the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, Li Xiao and Kang Fulou hurried to meet the sect master to report the events that transpired in the secret realm.

    "Three hundred Red Demon Seed death warriors, at least a hundred of them being Golden Cores..." Frenzied Sword True Lord didn''t finish his sentence.

    This news was too shocking.

    Even a late-stage Golden Core couldn''t achieve such a feat.

    Yet Qi Yuan was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

    "Could it be that the Red Sword Sect didn''t implant Red Demon Seeds in those death warriors?" The Empress of the Great Shang Kingdom, dressed in a light purple phoenix robe, had a puzzled expression on her fair, jade-like face.

    "If that were the case, it would make sense... But without the Red Demon Seeds, how could the old emperor''s grand plan succeed?" Frenzied Sword True Lord voiced his doubts.

    True Lord Withered Wood sat silently at the main seat, deep in thought.

    Finally, he pondered aloud, "Have we found the method to enter the Land of the Sunken Coffin yet? If we do, everything will be clear."

    Elder Li Xiao shook his head. "Only the Red Sword Sect and the deceased old emperor might know."

    Mentioning the Red Sword Sect weighed heavily on everyone''s hearts.

    It was a formidable force, with terrifying experts at the Purple Mansion level.

    Purple Mansion cultivators and Nascent Soul cultivators were worlds apart.

    Purple Mansion cultivators could begin to decipher the essence of spiritual energy and wield fundamental power.

    Fundamental power was immensely terrifying; Nascent Soul cultivators couldn''t evade it and could only withstand it.

    If a Purple Mansion expert came to the Divine Light Sect, even if all Nascent Soul cultivators of the sect joined forces, they would likely be defeated by the Purple Mansion expert.

    While five or six late-stage Golden Core cultivators could contend with an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, five or six Nascent Soul cultivators unfamiliar with fundamental power would stand no chance against a Purple Mansion expert.

    "The Red Sword Sect is some distance from the Great Shang Kingdom''s cultivation world, and they have their own enemies. A Purple Mansion expert may not dare to leave their sect, so there''s no need to worry," True Lord Kumu''s words eased the crowd''s anxiety.

    At this moment, Kang Fulou said, "Breaking Wolf from the Radiant Palace is also likely dead in the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, though it''s unclear who killed him."

    He paused before continuing.

    True Lord Kumu looked at his son-in-law and said, "Speak your mind."

    Kang Fulou continued, "Lu Fei and Liu Xing from the Demonic Desire Sect were both killed by Breaking Wolf. The old emperor and his death warriors were killed by Junior Brother Qi Yuan. A few months ago, Zhu Lianhua from the Radiant Palace sent a challenge to Seven-Colored Peak but was refused. The next day, Zhu Lianhua''s body was found around the Divine Light Sect. Now, Breaking Wolf''s death in the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm is also likely linked to Junior Brother Qi Yuan."

    Kang Fulou spoke calmly, but his heart was not at peace.

    After all, he had witnessed Breaking Wolf''s strength, comparable to an early-stage Golden Core cultivator.

    "Foundation Establishment stage... Interesting." Frenzied Sword True Lord''s eyes gleamed. "Could it be that the Seven-Colored Peak master is actually a Purple Mansion expert in hiding?"

    Although common belief in the Great Shang Kingdom was that Ruan Yixi was a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, experts like Frenzied Sword True Lord and True Lord Withered Wood suspected she might be an injured Purple Mansion cultivator.

    If she was a Purple Mansion cultivator, she could have granted Qi Yuan some fundamental power.

    That would explain everything.

    "No more discussion on this matter," True Lord Kumu concluded.

    The others in the hall accepted his verdict.

    With the matter resolved, they began to take their leave.

    In the vast hall, only True Lord Withered Wood and the dignified and beautiful Empress of the Great Shang Kingdom remained.

    True Lord Kumu stood up, walked to the Empress, and embraced her. Feeling her warm, full body, he said, "Muyu, you''ve worked hard."

    The Empress, with her charming phoenix eyes, responded, "If it weren''t for you back then, I would have long been dead. What''s there to complain about?"

    At that moment, True Lord Kumu pondered, "Do you think Qi Yuan killed Breaking Wolf and those death warriors with treasures given by Ruan Yixi, or by his own power?"

    The Empress''s dignified eyes showed pain, seemingly lost in memory. "Have you not given up?"

    A fierce aura emanated from True Lord Kumu''s eyes. "How can I forget? My clansmen were all killed by them. I must cultivate an exceptional genius, at least within the top one hundred of the Eastern Land Heaven''s Pride List, to retrieve what our ancestors left us! Fulou is very diligent, but his talent is limited. Even reaching the Minor Heaven''s Pride List is difficult, let alone the top one hundred."

    The Empress didn''t try to dissuade him further. "This matter must be approached cautiously and not decided lightly."

    "That''s why I need to send someone into the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm to investigate what happened in the Land of the Sunken Coffin. If Qi Yuan indeed did it, he deserves my investment!" Sect Leader''s face was full of anticipation.

    Qi Yuan was genuinely kind to his fellow disciples.

    After being a free guide for so long, giving a bit of advice was nothing.

    The pretty female disciple was initially confused but then delighted. "Thank you, Senior Brother Qi Yuan!"

    She had indeed been feeling something wrong with her cultivation recently but didn''t know why.

    At this moment, a sharp voice came from within the cave dwelling.

    "How did you see that?"

    The speaker was Elder Xuanchong from within the cave.

    The cave door opened, and the pretty female disciple left on her own accord.

    Qi Yuan entered the cave and immediately felt a strong wood attribute aura.

    Elder Xuanchong, his face covered in black soot, stood before a broken alchemy furnace.

    It seemed he had failed in pill refining and caused an explosion.

    "My eyes saw it," Qi Yuan, skilled in the Five Elements Qi, was highly sensitive to the Five Elements.

    Xuanchong looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes flashing with interest. He casually asked, "I heard you killed Breaking Wolf in the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm?"

    "It wasn''t me. How could I dare offend the Radiant Palace?" Qi Yuan quickly denied it.

    Xuanchong''s eyes showed disappointment but then asked, "Did you kill the old emperor and his death warriors?"

    "Yes!" Qi Yuan didn''t hide it. The old emperor was dead, and likely had no one behind him.

    Moreover, it wasn''t a secret that he had obtained the Soul Thought Flowers. Anyone could find out with a bit of investigation.

    "Can you tell me how you killed them?" Elder Xuanchong was curious.

    "One slash at a time."

    Elder Xuanchong stared at Qi Yuan and suddenly laughed. "I believe you."

    "What do you want to be refined?"

    "Soul-Splitting Pills." Qi Yuan handed over the recipe and Soul Thought Flowers.

    Elder Xuanchong examined the recipe and was surprised. "This is different from the ones I''ve seen."

    "I improved it. Use this one to refine the pills." Qi Yuan was surprised Elder Xuanchong recognized the original recipe.

    It seemed this old man had an unusual background.

    But so what?

    The Divine Light Sect was full of holes anyway.

    Elder Xuanchong looked at the recipe and took the Soul Thought Flowers. He said, "The other ingredients are available on Divine Medicine Peak, but we don''t have any Xuan Chicken Feathers. You''ll have to buy them from the market."

    Qi Yuan nodded. "How much will the ingredients and labor cost?"

    "Free, no need for spirit stones." Xuanchong''s sharp voice sounded, and he forced a smile that looked eerie.

    "Why?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    "Because you are a key disciple of the sect master," Xuanchong smiled.

    Qi Yuan felt confused.

    Then, Xuanchong took out a gourd from his storage bag.

    "I have a few Soul-Splitting Pills here. You need them, so take them."

    Qi Yuan checked the gourd and saw it indeed contained Soul-Splitting Pills.

    He remembered what the pretty female disciple had said.

    Who said Elder Xuanchong had a bad temper?

    He''s a great person!

    "Elder Xuanchong, I''ll take the pills. I''ll take care of you in your old age!" Qi Yuan needed the Soul-Splitting Pills badly.

    Even if Xuanchong had ulterior motives, it didn''t matter.

    Better to take the advantage first!

    "You talk interestingly." Xuanchong wasn''t angry at the mention of taking care of him in old age. "Get the Xuan Chicken Feathers, and I''ll refine the pills."

    "Okay!" Qi Yuan left the cave, disappearing in a flash of light.

    In the cave, Xuanchong looked at the Soul Thought Flowers, his expression changing.

    At this moment, a spatial fluctuation occurred, and True Lord Kumu appeared in the cave.

 Chapter 92: The Battle Between North and South

    Chapter 92: The Battle Between North and South

    "How about it? Is he worth nurturing?" asked True Lord Kumu.

    Elder Xuanchong''s eyes flashed with complexity. "I can''t see through him."

    True Lord Kumu''s eyes flickered with emotion upon hearing this.

    When Elder Xuanchong first arrived at the Divine Light Sect, there was only one person he couldn''t see through, and that was the Seven-Colored Peak master, Ruan Yixi.

    Now, there was another¡ªQi Yuan?

    "So, Breaking Wolf was most likely killed by Qi Yuan?" True Lord Kumu stroked his beard. "His talent seems to have just barely touched the threshold of a top-tier prodigy. He is worthy of our focused cultivation!"

    Elder Xuanchong chuckled. "What if he doesn''t care for your nurturing?"

    True Lord Kumu was momentarily speechless but then said, "I''ll provide him with the resources he needs for cultivation, helping him to smoothly advance to the Nascent Soul stage!"

    "That kid keeps saying he''s a Heaven-Path Foundation Establishment. What if he wants to form a Celestial Golden Core? Can you provide the resources for that too?" Elder Xuanchong''s words left True Lord Kumu at a loss for words.

    "If you want to win him over, you have to give him something he needs. For instance, he seems to be constantly seeking to strengthen his soul. You have a stash of items that could help with that. You won''t reach the Purple Mansion stage in this lifetime anyway, so you might as well give those things to him. Then explain everything clearly, and everything will be fine."

    True Lord Kumu fell silent. Those items were his foundation. If he lost them, his chances of reaching the Purple Mansion stage would be virtually nil.

    He was contemplating, hesitating.

    ...

    "Husband, are you afraid of me? Afraid to meet your little wife?"

    After consuming the Soul-Splitting Pills given by Elder Xuanchong, Qi Yuan soon heard the voice from the game.

    This time, the voice was even clearer, as if someone were speaking right next to him.

    Hearing Ning Tao''s voice made Qi Yuan angry.

    It felt like two people arguing online.

    "Just wait! If I see you, I''ll definitely hang you up and beat you!"

    Ning Tao had seemed quite cute at first, always calling him ''Uncle''. But lately, she had become particularly arrogant, constantly provoking Qi Yuan.

    Flowing Wind Realm.

    Ning Tao''s jade body lay horizontally, her snow-white face hidden under a black veil, her black dress revealing glimpses of her white, jade-like figure.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s words, her every expression was seductive. "Husband, I''ll be waiting for your arrival."

    After a while, when she received no response, she put on an outer robe and walked out of the palace.

    Several women in matching uniforms approached, their eyes filled with respect.

    Among them, two women exuding the aura of supremes stepped forward. "Palace Master, we have spent a hundred years finally bringing you the Soul Lock Jade."

    They spoke as they presented a piece of jade to Ning Tao.

    Taking the Soul Lock Jade, Ning Tao''s smile grew even wider.

    "Husband... Let''s see where you can run this time."

    The Soul Lock Jade was a treasure of the Flowing Wind Realm.

    Its sole function was to forcibly lock the soul of a powerful being through remnants of their presence.

    Ning Tao had always wanted to find the owner of that voice.

    Over a thousand years, her feelings towards that voice had evolved from fear and gratitude to a complex mix of emotions.

    She believed that the owner of the voice was likely a supreme as well.

    And she, Ning Tao, was among the best of the supremes.

    She feared no supreme!

    "Husband, this time, I''ll lock you in the demon egg. I''ll temporarily seal your memories. When the shell breaks, I''ll walk up to you and tell you... I''m your mother."

    That voice had initially evoked fatherly feelings in the young Ning Tao.

    Now, she wanted to reverse roles.

    She would imprison him by her side, nagging him every day.

    How dare he speak to her and then ignore her?

    After obtaining the Soul Lock Jade, Ning Tao began her plan.

    It wasn''t easy to lock a supreme''s soul.

    After an unknown amount of time, the Flowing Wind Realm, with its pitch-black peaks like swords piercing the sky, seemed even more ominous.

    Atop the peaks, there were palaces and silhouettes moving about.

    Different races were common in the Canglan Realm, so it wasn''t surprising.

    What surprised Jiang Lingsu was that different races were usually proud and rarely interacted with humans.

    But the being Qi Yuan brought back, named Xiao Jia, really did look like a little wife he had tricked into following him.

    Wherever Qi Yuan went, the being named Xiao Jia followed him like a little tag-along.

    "Senior Brother, tell me, how did you manage to trick Little Bride into being with you?" Jiang Lingsu couldn''t help but ask.

    "Don''t you think... I''m very handsome?" Qi Yuan said.

    He had conquered Little Bride with his looks.

    Jiang Lingsu was speechless.

    Senior Brother was indeed handsome, but when he opened his mouth... it left people speechless.

    "Senior Brother, what''s her background?" Jiang Lingsu was curious.

    Her Kun-Qian Mirror couldn''t discern Little Bride''s strength.

    That was very strange.

    "She''s the wife I married with an eight-palanquin sedan chair," Qi Yuan replied.

    "If you don''t want to say, then don''t." Jiang Lingsu said sourly, glared at Qi Yuan, and returned to her straw hut.

    At this moment, a white crane flew over, landing in Qi Yuan''s wooden house.

    Seeing the large white crane, Little Bride seemed very happy and got up to take a look.

    "Elder Xuanchong''s efficiency is impressive. The Soul-Splitting Pills are ready so soon."

    He took the gourd from the white crane.

    The gourd was filled with Soul-Splitting Pills, a hundred in total.

    And the quality of these hundred Soul-Splitting Pills was much better than the ones Elder Xuanchong had given him before.

    "With so many Soul-Splitting Pills, my soul strength should reach the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, right?"

    This mid-Foundation Establishment stage was, of course, compared to himself, not to ordinary cultivators.

    He took out a Soul-Splitting Pill, the fragrance wafting in the air.

    Little Bride took a deep breath.

    "Want some candy?" Qi Yuan generously offered the Soul-Splitting Pills.

    Little Bride turned her head away, not looking at Qi Yuan.

    "Oh, I forgot you don''t have a mouth and can''t eat."

    Qi Yuan thought, then began pouring the Soul-Splitting Pills into his own mouth.

    ...

    ...

    "Qi Yuan..."

    In the Divine Light Sect''s market, a middle-aged man with a blank expression sipped tea quietly.

    Thoughts flickered in his eyes.

    The man''s name was Luo Jing, a Core Formation cultivator from the Bright Palace.

    He had secretly come to the Divine Light Sect with Breaking Wolf to plan.

    Initially, he had been quite successful.

    The beautiful consort of the Eighteenth Prince had become his plaything.

    But when Breaking Wolf entered the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, he disappeared, likely already dead.

    He now dared not return to the Bright Palace or flee.

    Otherwise, the mark Breaking Wolf''s master had left on him would teach him a lesson.

    "This time, among those who entered the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, Qi Yuan is the weakest.

    I must capture him and find out what happened inside, or I won''t be able to explain!"

    These days, Luo Jing had been hiding in the Divine Light Sect''s market, quietly waiting for the right moment.

    Finally, when he saw that figure appear, Luo Jing''s eyes filled with murderous intent.

    "Blame yourself for being the weakest!"

    If it were Kang Fulou, it would take some effort. But Qi Yuan? He wouldn''t!

 Chapter 93: The Hundred-Nation Blood Battle and Qi Yuanâ€™s Helplessness

    Chapter 93: The Hundred-Nation Blood Battle and Qi Yuan¡¯s Helplessness

    In the marketplace.

    Qi Yuan wandered purposefully.

    With a new wife at home, it couldn''t remain empty and devoid of furnishings.

    For several days, Qi Yuan had been coming to the marketplace to shop.

    When he stopped by the clothing shop, Qi Yuan paused.

    "Should I buy a bra for my junior sister?"

    He recalled last time when he had spoken with high emotional intelligence, yet it hadn''t pleased his junior sister.

    He realized it was because he was a giant in words but a dwarf in actions.

    Every action of his would warm his junior sister''s heart for an entire day.

    But then he hesitated. "I''m not that close with my junior sister."

    He decided to drop the idea.

    Remembering something, he left the marketplace.

    In the marketplace, Luo Jing''s eyes flashed with a fierce glint.

    He immediately followed.

    Trailing behind Qi Yuan, he sought a suitable place to strike.

    When he saw Qi Yuan land in a secluded forest, he felt a surge of joy.

    This was the perfect place to make his move!

    As long as he captured Qi Yuan and interrogated him about the events in the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, he could report back to Breaking Wolf''s master.

    He quickly followed and landed.

    But in the next moment, he froze.

    "Where is he?" He discovered that Qi Yuan had disappeared from the secluded forest.

    Alarmed, he sensed an ambush.

    Instantly, he was on high alert.

    But then he felt a chill on his neck as if a blade had brushed against it.

    His eyes widened as he saw a hand reaching into his dantian, grabbing his golden core.

    And his head was lifted by another hand.

    Yes, as soon as Luo Jing landed, his head and body were separated by a single stroke.

    Qi Yuan held Luo Jing''s head in one hand and his golden core in the other.

    "Are you from the Radiant Palace?" Qi Yuan brought the head closer and glanced at it.

    Before killing this man, Qi Yuan had already seen his identity and knew he harbored ill intentions towards him.

    At this moment, Luo Jing''s heart was in turmoil. "Who... who are you?"

    A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator easily subdued a mid-Core Formation stage cultivator.

    This was too much!

    Even the top 100 geniuses on the Eastern Soil Heaven''s Proud List couldn''t do this.

    Even if they could, it wouldn''t be so effortless. This was a complete one-hit kill.

    Was he facing not a Foundation Establishment cultivator but a Nascent Soul monster?

    "I am the Qi Yuan you so desperately want to capture, the weakest one," Qi Yuan said, looking at Luo Jing.

    He was glad he had hidden his strength.

    Otherwise, if a late Nascent Soul stage cultivator from the Radiant Palace came after him, he might not be able to handle it.

    In the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, he had already tested his incomplete Heaven-Path Foundation Establishment. He could kill early Nascent Soul stage cultivators and might be able to go toe-to-toe with mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivators. But against late Nascent Soul stage cultivators, he would need to reach mid-Foundation Establishment to contend.

    Cultivating the "Qi Yuan Sutra" to reach mid-Foundation Establishment would take years.

    So now, Qi Yuan was eager to enter the game and quickly level up.

    He had many hidden enemies now.

    The Black Chicken Old Demon, who was always in closed-door cultivation; Breaking Wolf''s master, True Lord Wind Fury; and whoever was behind the old emperor.

    Even though these enemies might not know Qi Yuan was their enemy, Qi Yuan knew.

    He was constantly uneasy.

    He needed to quickly improve his strength to be prepared for any eventuality.

    "You can''t be Qi Yuan. A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator can''t be this powerful," Luo Jing said, incredulous, then pleaded, "Spare me, senior. I''m willing to be your servant."

    Qi Yuan coldly replied, "I don''t need servants."

    He prepared to crush Luo Jing''s golden core.

    Luo Jing hastily begged, "Spare me, senior. I''m very useful. I know a lot. The Radiant Palace''s plot against the hundred nations is not simple. It''s for the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle, to elevate a treasure to the Yin God level!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan''s heart tightened.

    "I know many secret arts..." Luo Jing frantically tried to demonstrate his value.

    But Qi Yuan didn''t listen to his nonsense any longer. He crushed Luo Jing''s golden core.

    Luo Jing''s aura dissipated in that instant.

    "So poor? Only a mid-level technique?"

    After looting Luo Jing''s body, Qi Yuan left the mark of the Divine Flower Society on him.

    The Divine Flower Society and the Radiant Palace were mortal enemies.

    Wasn''t it normal for a Divine Flower Society cultivator to kill Luo Jing?

    What did it have to do with him, a village-level Foundation Establishment cultivator?

    However, after killing Luo Jing, Qi Yuan still felt uneasy.

    He quickly entered the Divine Flower Society chat.

    "Do you know about the Radiant Palace''s plot for the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle?"

    "Not clear." Rogue Immortal was always online. "I only know the Radiant Palace has been targeting the hundred nations recently."

    Great Sun Flame Emperor added, "It''s not a good thing."

    At this point, Ice Mountain Overlord said, "The hundred nations area is unique.

    Nowhere in the Eastern Soil Thirteen States has so many cultivating nations.

    In the Radiant Palace, there''s a broken treasure called the Royal Extreme Fright Dragon Crown.

    The Radiant Palace covets the hundred nations to start the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle, using the bloodshed between nations to generate blood energy to nourish the Royal Extreme Fright Dragon Crown, hoping to elevate it to a Yin God artifact."

    This revelation shocked the other three emperors, including Qi Yuan.

    The Radiant Palace had grand designs!

    How ruthless!

    Starting the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle, causing countless deaths, just to create a Yin God artifact?

    At first, Qi Yuan thought the Radiant Palace''s plot was just for the Great Shang.

    Now it seemed it was for the hundred nations.

    All to create a Yin God artifact.

    This showed the Radiant Palace''s great determination.

    This failed attempt in the Great Shang wouldn''t make them give up.

    "The Radiant Palace claims to be righteous yet commits such heinous acts!" Rogue Immortal''s words were full of indignation.

    He cast a soundproofing technique in the house.

    Then, he threw a small dried fish into the wooden cat puppet''s mouth.

    Early morning on the Seven-Colored Peak was slightly cool.

    He gently covered Little Wife with a robe.

    Looking at her, his eyes were complex. "Following me... you must be suffering."

    Seeing Little Wife, he knew her identity wasn''t simple.

    He quickly discarded this sentiment.

    Now wasn''t the time for sentimentality. Strengthening himself was crucial, perfecting his cultivation technique was vital.

    "My most precious technique is the Great Sun''s ''White Day Fantasy Technique,'' but it doesn''t align with my system.

    I can''t integrate it into the ''Qi Yuan Sutra.''"

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    If he could integrate it, he felt his technique could directly reach Core Formation, even higher.

    "My knowledge is still too limited. I can''t find the commonality between Canglan Realm and Moonlit Continent to convert techniques."

    Qi Yuan thought.

    Perhaps at a higher level, all techniques from different worlds would unify.

    "But the concepts of the ''White Day Fantasy Technique'' can be borrowed."

    Qi Yuan began to recall and analyze the "White Day Fantasy Technique."

    "The later part of the White Day Fantasy Technique requires swallowing stars to achieve oneself, an unrealistic idea."

    The stars in the sky weren''t real stars.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes saw that the stars in all heavens were merely projections of gods.

    "No wonder the Great Sun faced external enemies. His strength probably tempted... a god''s star projection, leading to suppression.

    But what happened after that is unknown."

    Recalling the White Day Fantasy Technique, Qi Yuan''s eyes brightened.

    "The White Day Fantasy Technique is useless in this world, but what about on Blue Star?"

    As the saying goes, there''s no trash in the world, only misplaced treasures.

    The White Day Fantasy Technique required devouring the star projections of gods, antagonizing gods.

    This was impossible.

    But what if he targeted the stars in Blue Star''s universe?

    Qi Yuan''s eyes saw that the stars in Blue Star weren''t projections but real stars.

    Unclaimed stars.

    "Swallowing stars means challenging gods, impossible without surpassing godly strength.

    But if I target Blue Star''s stars, can''t I devour them if my appetite is big enough?"

    The more Qi Yuan thought, the more excited he became.

    It seemed feasible.

    "But how do I leave this world and go to a universe like Blue Star?"

    So far, the Moonlit Continent and Canglan Realm, based on their star projections, were in the same "universe."

    To devour stars, he needed to reach a second universe.

    "Blue Star, I miss you."

    "Sun, Pluto, Big Dipper, I miss you." Qi Yuan felt a growing hunger.

    "Too much thinking. I should focus on forming a powerful Golden Core first."

    And the prerequisite for all this was entering the second game world to level up quickly.

    Qi Yuan took out his last Soul-Splitting Pill and slowly swallowed it.

    Lately, he had been consuming Soul-Splitting Pills, slowly absorbing their power.

    After the last pill, Qi Yuan began absorbing its power.

    His soul continued to grow.

    After an unknown time, Qi Yuan woke up, finding himself covered with a robe, and some sweets on the table.

    Little Wife lay on the table, seemingly asleep.

    Looking outside, it was pitch black.

    Stars dotted the sky, illuminating the heavens.

    Moonlight seeped through the wooden house''s gaps, falling on Little Wife.

    "My soul strength finally reached mid-Foundation Establishment."

    Heaven-Path Foundation Establishment''s mid-stage.

    He could try entering the second game world.

    Qi Yuan took out the game jade slip, ready to enter the game.

    His soul saw the familiar game icon.

    Like before, he let his soul wander, approaching the game icon.

    When the time seemed right, Qi Yuan suddenly increased his soul output.

    "Let me in!"

    He was very close to the game icon, suddenly entering, trying to sneak in while the game icon was off-guard.

    This time, his soul had grown significantly, and it was a surprise attack.

    The game icon''s resistance was weaker than before.

    But it still reacted strongly.

    Just as he was about to touch the game icon, his soul faced a fierce counterattack.

    Disappointed, Qi Yuan realized.

    He needed at least late Foundation Establishment soul strength to truly sneak into the game.

    But reaching late Foundation Establishment soul wasn''t easy.

    Even with the same amount of Soul-Splitting Pills, he couldn''t reach late Foundation Establishment.

    Soul improvement became harder with progress.

    "Failed again?"

    Qi Yuan felt disheartened.

    Then, a familiar voice reached his ears.

    "Husband, husband, your little wife is completely naked. Aren''t you coming to see?"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was furious.

    Damn game!

    It had just rejected him and now used an NPC''s voice to entice him!

    Was it mocking his inability?

    "I''m coming, I''m coming!" Qi Yuan roared, his soul resisting the game''s barrier.

    At this moment, in the Heavenly Heart Palace, Ning Tao, half-undressed, exposing a smooth shoulder, smiled.

    "Husband, let''s see where you run this time."

 Chapter 94: Good News and Bad News

    Chapter 94: Good News and Bad News

    Following Ning Tao''s voice.

    Qi Yuan immediately felt that the resistance from the game icon seemed to weaken slightly.

    Moreover, he felt as if a pair of hands gently pulled him.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    "Here I come!"

    Unexpectedly, things had taken such a turn.

    No matter what, he had to get into the game first.

    In the Flowing Wind Realm, inside the Heavenly Heart Palace.

    Ning Tao pulled up her slipping shoulder strap, her previously half-open black dress now neatly worn.

    Her words were provocative, but she didn''t truly intend to give herself to the owner of that voice.

    When she was young and weak, she might have had such thoughts.

    But now that she was a supreme being, she naturally couldn''t act that way.

    She wanted to maintain control.

    The Soul Locking Jade floating in the air had turned crimson.

    It was as if its power had reached the limit, like an overloaded electrical component.

    The Soul Locking Jade seemed to be pulling something.

    Ning Tao poured all her strength into the Soul Locking Jade.

    Suddenly, a purple lightning bolt struck from the sky.

    Boom!

    The entire sky darkened.

    Crack.

    The Soul Locking Jade, one of the three great treasures of the world, suddenly shattered.

    This made Ning Tao''s eyes flash with surprise.

    Her gaze fell on the demon egg beside her.

    The demon egg lay quietly, bound by eighteen iron chains.

    Ning Tao, dressed in a black skirt with black stockings on her legs, walked towards the demon egg, her eyes filled with charm.

    "Husband, you finally came to see me."

    Inside the demon egg, Qi Yuan was a bit confused.

    "Where is this place?" He looked at the girl in front of him.

    The girl''s face was half-covered with a black veil, hiding half of her face.

    The exposed half still made Qi Yuan feel the Creator''s favor towards her.

    Her hair was like clouds, her eyes like frost. Despite her charming smile, Qi Yuan could sense her resistance.

    Ning Tao, in a black dress with a black silk ribbon around her waist embroidered with various birds, looked stunning.

    Her exposed skin was as white as jade, almost sickly pale.

    Under the black dress, her straight, well-proportioned legs were wrapped in black stockings. Her feet, clad in black silk, hovered about ten centimeters off the ground.

    Qi Yuan was momentarily dazed.

    He glanced at Ning Tao''s exquisite feet.

    Why are there stockings in this world, and black ones at that?

    But thinking about it, if there are skirts in different worlds, why can''t there be black stockings?

    Ning Tao looked at the now blood-red demon egg in front of her, a hint of dread in her eyes. "Husband, this is the Heavenly Heart Palace, your new home."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was stunned.

    He now somewhat understood his situation.

    There was good news and bad news.

    The good news was that he had entered the game.

    The bad news was that he didn''t enter normally, so he didn''t have a player''s identity, becoming a... peculiar NPC?

    He pondered whether he should exit the game and then improve his soul strength to late Foundation Establishment to enter the game as a normal player.

    But Qi Yuan wasn''t in a hurry. Now that he had smuggled into the game, he could first understand the game''s background.

    At this moment, he heard Ning Tao say, "Husband, do you prefer me in this? I saw you sneak a glance at my leg just now."

    Ning Tao spoke while lifting her skirt slightly.

    Of course, it was still very modest, not even reaching her knees.

    Qi Yuan didn''t deny it.

    Black stockings?

    White stockings?

    Skin-colored stockings?

    Which LSP (Lewd Sock Puppet) doesn''t like to rip them?

    He looked at the strange object he was now inhabiting, observing the eighteen thick chains on it.

    Qi Yuan asked, "Can you let me go?"

    "Husband, how dare I? What if you escape?" Ning Tao''s face showed a pitiful expression, like a true love-struck fool.

    "Don''t worry, I won''t run." Qi Yuan said.

    "Husband, I don''t believe you," Ning Tao slowly approached Qi Yuan. "Last time, you said you''d hang me up and beat me."

    Qi Yuan remained silent.

    Ning Tao floated above him, lifting her delicate foot as if to step on Qi Yuan''s body. "So, I boldly hung you up. Do you want me to step on you?"

    Her black silk-wrapped foot was close at hand, her toes like neatly arranged art pieces, white and delicate.

    If this were on Blue Star, Qi Yuan might smell something foul.

    But here, he could even detect a faint fragrance.

    However, recalling something, Ning Tao retracted her foot. "I can''t humiliate you like this. Besides, it might be too easy for you."

    Qi Yuan felt helpless.

    Now I am the fish, and she is the knife.

    "What do you want?" Qi Yuan had to ask.

    "Husband, shouldn''t I be the one asking what you want?" Ning Tao''s charming eyes turned sharp.

    "When I was young, you appeared in my world.

    What exactly do you want?"

    A powerful aura surged.

    Southern law dictated that cultivators must die before their time to prevent the birth of demons.

    When demons appeared, southern cultivators would hunt them down.

    In the North, there were no such restrictions. Cultivators could die naturally, and demons would arise.

    Due to these differing laws, the North and South developed vast differences.

    In the South, ordinary people lived well, but many cultivators fled North yearly.

    In the North, there was almost no space for ordinary people. They had to serve cultivators to survive.

    The North and South were hostile, a life-and-death struggle.

    Nearly a hundred years ago, the Northern-Southern Decision was signed.

    The South and North would engage in a life-or-death battle.

    In the central land, 108,000 cities were built.

    These cities were supported by southern sects and countries, dispatching cultivators to guard them.

    The 108,000 cities would clash with the demon army led by the North''s seventeen kings.

    If the cities fell, the South would lose its land.

    The South would fall to the North.

    If the demon army failed, the North would return to the South, jointly facing the demon catastrophe.

    The Northern-Southern Decision had been in place for over twenty years.

    The South''s situation was dire.

    "In a world where ordinary people are mere consumables, the North is destined to overpower the South."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    Because that was human nature.

    Just like the extraterrestrial demon said, "I shed blood for my family; why can''t I enjoy my old age?"

    Recently, Ning Tao tried to seal Qi Yuan''s memories.

    But it had no effect.

    Qi Yuan was like a prisoner.

    Not a player.

    But he didn''t hate Ning Tao.

    Without her, he couldn''t have entered the game early to understand its background.

    He didn''t want to be like in the Moon Watching Continent, where he nearly cleared all dungeons before understanding the game''s setting.

    Plus, she was just an NPC.

    "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, the sect master summons you."

    At this moment, a white crane landed outside the wooden house, calling Qi Yuan.

    "Sect Master?" Qi Yuan looked thoughtful.

    Since returning from the Heavenly Dragon Immortal Realm, Qi Yuan often felt an invisible gaze on him.

    It seemed related to the sect master.

    "Coming." Qi Yuan looked at Little Wife behind him. "Little Wife, let''s go."

    Little Wife turned into a stream of light, merging with Qi Yuan''s chest.

    Following the white crane, Qi Yuan met Elder Kumu by a lakeside in the Sacred Light Sect.

    Elder Kumu looked at Qi Yuan and said slowly, "I have a great opportunity for you, but you must pass my test first."

    Previously, Qi Yuan might have declined, finding it troublesome.

    But now, the threat of the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle and the Radiant Palace was like a sword over his head.

    He needed opportunities to quickly strengthen himself.

    He had to form a Golden Core to deal with the Radiant Palace.

    If a Celestial Golden Core wasn''t enough, he had to strive for a Celestial Nascent Soul!

    "Sect Master, please go ahead," Qi Yuan agreed.

    "Come with me." Elder Kumu lifted Qi Yuan, a spiritual wind enveloped him, and they flew off.

    As they flew, Elder Kumu handed Qi Yuan a mask.

    "Put it on, don''t reveal your identity."

    Qi Yuan complied, donning the mask.

    The mask not only hid his face but also his figure.

    They flew for a while until another stream of light appeared, a masked woman.

    The woman glanced at Qi Yuan and nestled against Elder Kumu, softly calling, "Husband."

    Elder Kumu openly embraced the woman, even glancing at Qi Yuan.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan was speechless.

    He knew the woman was the Great Shang Empress, a Nascent Soul-level expert.

    After about three hours, they landed in a valley.

    Qi Yuan sensed nine powerful auras.

    All were Nascent Souls.

    Elder Kumu brought Qi Yuan down, and an old voice spoke.

    "Are all nine Nascent Souls here?"

    The speaker was an old man with a cane.

    A hunchbacked old woman with a sharp voice said, "How interesting, two shoeless monks, nine Nascent Souls, I thought there''d be ten."

    Immediately, two barefooted Nascent Souls glared at each other. "I''m the shoeless monk!"

    "Who are you, pretending to be me?"

    Qi Yuan glanced at them, then at the nine Nascent Souls, finally at the hunchbacked woman.

    [A common cultivator, always barefoot, often impersonated, sometimes impersonating himself.]

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    Besides the nine great cultivators, there were a dozen Core Formation cultivators.

    The old man in charge eyed Qi Yuan. "Are you sure you want him to participate?"

    Elder Kumu nodded. "Yes."

    The leader said no more.

    The others, especially the Core Formation cultivators, were surprised, trying to discern Qi Yuan''s identity.

    After all, today''s situation was dangerous even for Core Formations, what was a Foundation Establishment doing here?

    The leader continued, "A hundred miles from here is the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. I''ve located the Black Chicken Old Demon''s lair."

 Chapter 95: This is Called Foundation Establishment!

    Chapter 95: This is Called Foundation Establishment!

    Hearing about the Black Chicken Old Demon, Qi Yuan''s heart tightened.

    One could say that the Black Chicken Old Demon had always been like a sword hanging over Qi Yuan''s head.

    A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, suspected to be on the verge of breaking through to the late-stage Nascent Soul, the Black Chicken Old Demon had given him immense pressure.

    Since killing Chu Tianxiong and destroying the Black Mountain Sect, Qi Yuan had always felt a thorn in his side¡ªthe Black Chicken Old Demon.

    Now, seeing nine Nascent Soul cultivators in the room, Qi Yuan had an exciting guess.

    He then heard the old man with the cane say, "The Black Chicken Old Demon is a demonic cultivator, wreaking havoc in our Great Shang cultivation world, wantonly slaughtering our fellow cultivators.

    The Black Mountain Sect has been tyrannical, committing heinous crimes.

    Now, we have located the Black Chicken Old Demon. We must strike swiftly to kill him!"

    The Black Chicken Old Demon was one of the few mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in the Great Shang cultivation world, only a step away from the late-stage Nascent Soul.

    Additionally, the Black Chicken Old Demon had no sect, was skilled in escape techniques, and was unpredictable, so the major sects in the Great Shang cultivation world were reluctant to provoke him.

    However, now that the Black Chicken Old Demon¡¯s lair had been found and he was in seclusion to break through, they had gathered together to eliminate him.

    Of course, Qi Yuan believed that the main reason was that the Black Chicken Old Demon was about to break through to the late-stage Nascent Soul.

    Once he did, the balance of power in the Great Shang cultivation world would truly change.

    These great cultivators did not want another tyrant above their heads.

    "Eliminate the Black Chicken Old Demon and uphold justice for all cultivators!"

    "We must kill the Black Chicken Old Demon!"

    The nine Nascent Soul cultivators voiced their agreement.

    The other Core Formation cultivators standing by were also excited.

    Qi Yuan felt the same.

    With so many Nascent Souls present, the Black Chicken Old Demon was sure to die.

    A voice transmission reached Qi Yuan''s ears.

    "The Black Chicken Old Demon has many disciples and followers, including Core Formation and Foundation Establishment cultivators.

    No matter what method you use, as long as you kill a Core Formation cultivator, you will pass my test.

    This mission to eliminate the Black Chicken Old Demon is very dangerous, even for Core Formation cultivators. You can still back out now."

    "No need," Qi Yuan replied. He would not back out.

    In the Heavenly Dragon Immortal Realm, he had already killed many Core Formation cultivators.

    To him now, Core Formation cultivators were nothing special.

    And with nine Nascent Soul cultivators targeting the Black Chicken Old Demon, Qi Yuan felt no fear.

    "Good. As long as you kill a Core Formation cultivator, you pass the test.

    Then, I will discuss a matter with you. If you agree, I will grant you a great opportunity; if you refuse, I will give you another opportunity." Kumu Zhenjun said.

    Qi Yuan agreed via voice transmission, having no objections.

    After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the nine Nascent Soul cultivators finished discussing their plan to kill the Black Chicken Old Demon.

    The group signed an agreement.

    Qi Yuan and the other Core Formation cultivators did not sign.

    "Let''s go," the old man with the cane said, waving his hand.

    All twenty-plus cultivators present were cast with a concealment spell and flew toward the depths of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.

    Not long after, the old man with the cane stopped.

    "This place is called the Six Demon Caves, with six entrances.

    We will enter from the central cave and head straight for the Black Chicken Old Demon!"

    The nine Nascent Soul cultivators had no objections. Disguised, they entered the central cave entrance.

    At this time, a Core Formation cultivator said, "There are five other entrances. We have thirteen people, so we can form five teams."

    Quickly, five teams formed.

    Qi Yuan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was alone, as no one wanted to team up with him.

    After all, this mission was extremely dangerous, and no Core Formation cultivator wanted to be dragged down by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

    Moreover, a Foundation Establishment cultivator participating in such a mission was definitely a talent valued by the sect leaders.

    If such a talent died near them, they feared the wrath of Nascent Soul elders.

    Better safe than sorry.

    Qi Yuan did not mind being alone.

    Just then, an old voice called out.

    "I will team up with this young man," an old man in a black robe said, walking towards Qi Yuan.

    The others looked at the old man without comment.

    "Since that''s settled, let''s enter the caves."

    The five teams entered their respective cave entrances.

    Qi Yuan and the old man entered their cave.

    The view turned dim.

    The cave was large, with a diameter of twenty meters. The terrain inside was unique, with extremely solid rock.

    Facing Qi Yuan, the old man was very courteous. "This old man¡¯s surname is Liu, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator. If we encounter danger, we should help each other."

    His words were very polite.

    A mid-stage Core Formation helping a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

    No, it was entirely the Core Formation cultivator taking care of the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

    The old man, Liu, spoke this way to make connections with Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan nodded. "Alright."

    Liu''s face showed respect.

    He was a rogue cultivator, struggling to reach the Core Formation stage. In the Great Shang Kingdom, he was a strong cultivator.

    The situation changed, it needed a quick battle.

    Qi Yuan panicked seeing this.

    "Old Liu, that''s not fair, stealing my kill!"

    Sect Leader Kumu said he must kill a Core Formation cultivator.

    Only Zuyuan Zhenren in this cave, Qi Yuan wouldn''t let Liu have him.

    He drew his cleaver.

    "Kill!"

    He moved faster than Liu could react, reaching Zuyuan Zhenren first.

    Liu''s eyes widened.

    How could a Foundation Establishment be this fast?

    Seeing Zuyuan Zhenren''s Golden Core, he shouted, "Don''t touch the Golden Core!"

    The biggest difference between Core Formation and Foundation Establishment was the Golden Core.

    Golden Core formed with Golden Core spiritual items, condensing solidified spiritual power.

    Foundation Establishment had liquid spiritual power in the dantian.

    Golden Core solidified on the Golden Core spiritual item.

    Indestructible, among other features.

    "Humph, a mere Foundation Establishment dares enter the Six Demon Caves, courting death!"

    The Golden Core emitted intense light.

    Each ray was potent spiritual power.

    One ray could burn a Foundation Establishment.

    But Qi Yuan''s cleaver ignored the light, slashing the Golden Core.

    "Your Golden Core is poor quality, can''t withstand my cleaver!" Qi Yuan smiled.

    The indestructible Golden Core cracked.

    With a snap, it shattered.

    Immense spiritual energy fell like rain.

    Zuyuan Zhenren''s eyes widened in horror, clutching his chest. "How... how..."

    His hard-earned Golden Core, shattered by a cleaver?

    By a Foundation Establishment!

    "Poof." He spat blood, a cleaver flash, and he was dead.

    Qi Yuan wiped the blood from the cleaver.

    Liu Guan, watching, was stunned.

    What did he see?

    A cleaver shattering a Golden Core?

    This is a Foundation Establishment?

    The Great Shang Ten Heroes were nothing!

    This was a supreme prodigy!

    He swallowed, shocked yet excited. He gambled right.

    He approached Qi Yuan, even more flattering.

    Suddenly, a great roar echoed.

    "You won''t take my Nascent Soul!"

    With the roar, a tremendous explosion shook Liu Guan''s soul.

    His face turned pale, and he collapsed.

    Qi Yuan, holding his cleaver, glared around. "Who farted so loud?"

    He heard a loud fart.

    No response.

    Seeing Liu Guan unconscious, he muttered, "Knocked out by a fart."

    ...

    Deep in the Six Demon Caves.

    Nine Nascent Souls, tattered, in poor condition.

    The cane elder had a large chest wound, bleeding.

    "The Black Chicken Old Demon lives up to his name, severely wounding three of us before dying!"

    "If not for Daoist holding the final soul attack, at least four of us would have died." The hunchbacked woman admired Kumu Zhenjun.

    His soul strength reached late-stage Nascent Soul.

    Among them, only his soul strength surpassed the Black Chicken Old Demon.

    "Thank you, Daoist!"

    "Thank you, Daoist!"

    The others thanked Kumu Zhenjun.

    He remained composed. "We should rest and leave together."

    They agreed.

    They couldn''t separate.

    Or the injured might be killed.

    They didn''t trust each other.

    "The Black Chicken Old Demon is finally gone. The Great Shang cultivation world will have a century of peace," an elder sighed, excited.

    The great cultivators were emotional.

    This battle not only killed the Black Chicken Old Demon but also secured his treasures.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan saw Liu Guan would take a while to wake.

    He turned. "That fart was ridiculous, knocked out a man, and revived a dead one!"

    He saw Zuyuan Zhenren revived.

 Chapter 96: Blood of the Soul from the Void

    Chapter 96: Blood of the Soul from the Void

    The Black Chicken Old Demon''s soul had just entered the body he had prepared long ago. His eyes showed a trace of astonishment.

    Where''s the Golden Core? It''s gone.

    He glanced around and saw a Foundation Establishment cultivator seemingly looking at him.

    Hearing the Foundation Establishment cultivator''s words, the Black Chicken Old Demon''s eyes flashed with suspicion.

    "My final soul attack didn''t affect you, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator? It seems you possess a soul-protecting treasure of high grade!"

    With that thought, his eyes lit up with joy.

    "Heaven favors me! A great disaster avoided must bring fortune!"

    Surrounded by nine Nascent Soul cultivators, he had faked his death to escape, already gravely injured.

    But he hadn''t expected to encounter a Foundation Establishment cultivator immune to his soul attack.

    His final soul attack was indiscriminate, affecting the nine Nascent Soul cultivators most, then the nearby cultivators like Zuyuan Zhenren.

    The mid-stage Core Formation cultivator was unconscious, but the Foundation Establishment cultivator was lively.

    This indicated the cultivator must have a high-level soul-protecting treasure.

    Judging by the level, it was extremely high.

    If he obtained it, he could find a secluded place to cultivate steadily. With this treasure, his chances of overcoming the Purple Mansion tribulation would greatly increase.

    How could he not be excited? He looked at Qi Yuan as if he were a prized possession.

    Qi Yuan also looked at him with a puzzled expression, "People woken up by farts really do have something wrong with their heads."

    Holding his cleaver, he was about to strike.

    "Hmph, even injured, I''m not someone a mere Foundation Establishment can humiliate." The Black Chicken Old Demon''s eyes showed disdain as he instantly cast a spell to trap Qi Yuan.

    However, Qi Yuan wielded his cleaver, slashing directly at the Black Chicken Old Demon''s soul.

    Crack.

    The cleaver seemed to slice through the soul, landing on the Black Chicken Old Demon''s soul.

    "Impossible!" The Black Chicken Old Demon felt an excruciating pain, the smug and excited look on his face completely vanished.

    This wasn''t a treasure, this was a devil! With no time to think, the cleaver shattered his remnant soul.

    Zuyuan Zhenren''s body fell to the ground again.

    "Hopefully, no one farts again and wakes him up," Qi Yuan muttered, looking around suspiciously.

    Then his gaze fell beside Zuyuan Zhenren''s body.

    A drop of blood-red liquid hovered in the air.

    Qi Yuan looked at it and saw the information.

    [Soul Blood, from the Void, accidentally fell into the Great Shang, obtained by the Black Chicken Old Demon. If this blood merges with a soul, it can cultivate a seed, eventually becoming a soul weapon. The stronger the seed, the stronger the soul weapon. After death, one can also be resurrected from the seed.]

    "So, the Black Chicken Old Demon was the seed, and the Zuyuan Zhenren I just killed was the Black Chicken Old Demon?"

    Qi Yuan''s eyes showed greed as he looked at the drop of blood.

    "This drop of blood is really something!"

    "The Black Chicken Old Demon is truly my wealth-spreading fairy!"

    "Old Demon, I misjudged you. You''re not my enemy; you''re my white moonlight, brighter than the Broken Wolf!"

    "This is soul blood from the Void, a truly valuable item!"

    Soul weapons were extremely rare.

    The entire Great Shang probably didn''t have a single soul weapon.

    Moreover, the soul blood''s soul weapon seemed to be of the growth type, which was even more terrifying.

    Qi Yuan immediately swallowed the drop of soul blood.

    Instantly, he felt the drop of fresh blood integrate into his soul.

    This blood could deprive and parasitize at any time.

    "If I parasitize a Yang God, wouldn''t that Yang God become my soul weapon?"

    Qi Yuan had wild thoughts but felt this idea wasn''t feasible.

    "I need to find a suitable object to parasitize, to create my soul weapon!"

    With that thought, Qi Yuan decided to leave.

    He looked at the unconscious Liu Guan.

    "For letting me go first, I''ll take you out."

    With a wave of his hand, Liu Guan''s body floated behind him like a controlled corpse.

    At that moment, Kumu Zhenjun''s transmission came through his jade slip.

    "The Black Chicken Old Demon has been killed. We nine will heal in the Ten Thousand Demon Cave for four days.

    How are things on your end?"

    Qi Yuan replied, "Already settled, killed a Core Formation."

    Let Wuxue City''s people work for him.

    After all, the current emperor, Dong Xian, was his junior brother.

    ...

    "Grandfather, you''re awake?" Duan Qianrou, at his bedside, was thrilled to see Liu Guan awake.

    "I?" Liu Guan was confused, then recalled seeing the Foundation Establishment cultivator shatter Zuyuan Zhenren''s Golden Core before fainting.

    He didn''t remember what happened after.

    "Who brought me back?" Liu Guan asked.

    "A masked cultivator, looking young, maybe not very strong," Duan Qianrou said.

    "He brought me back? Where is he?" Liu Guan was excited.

    "Grandfather, he left four days ago."

    "He left?" Liu Guan looked disappointed.

    "Grandfather, who is he?" Duan Qianrou noticed her grandfather''s interest.

    "He''s a... true supreme prodigy!

    Even the Great Shang Ten Heroes are nothing compared to him! Just a Foundation Establishment, but I saw him shatter a late-stage Core Formation''s Golden Core."

    "What?" Duan Qianrou was shocked, covering her mouth in disbelief, "Do we have such a Foundation Establishment in Great Shang?"

    Foundation Establishment battling Core Formation was unimaginable.

    Especially a late-stage Core Formation.

    "Yes, your grandfather... " Liu Guan explained the events, "I tried to connect, but he feared revealing his identity, not telling me his name.

    Piao, Qianrou, his deed mustn''t be disclosed, understand?"

    "Father, I won''t tell."

    "Don''t worry, Grandfather, I understand the importance."

    "Who is he? Could he be the one who destroyed the Black Mountain Sect?" Liu Guan wondered, "If so, it all makes sense."

    "Foundation Establishment?" Duan Qianrou recalled the young man on the spirit boat.

    Her mother had chatted with him, intending to introduce him to her. She had been unhappy.

    Later, she saw him asking for directions near Black Mountain Sect.

    Hearing her grandfather, she guessed.

    "Mother, didn''t you find the man who brought Grandfather familiar?"

    "Ah?" Liu Piao was puzzled.

    "Remember the young man you chatted with on the way back from Nanshan, who you wanted to introduce to me?

    That day, the Black Mountain Sect was destroyed!" Duan Qianrou said eagerly.

    "You think they''re the same person?" Liu Piao understood her daughter''s meaning.

    Perhaps wrongly, or preconceived.

    Hearing her daughter, she felt the man and the one who brought her father back were alike.

    Their conversation, at times, was wild.

    ...

    Four days after Qi Yuan returned to Seven-Colored Peak.

    Most blood crystals were consumed by Xiao Jia.

    Qi Yuan noticed no change in Xiao Jia''s body.

    But their combined form''s blood armor seemed stronger in attack and defense.

    He was surprised.

    Regardless, it was a good thing for him.

    And Xiao Jia seemed to enjoy blood crystals as snacks.

    Qi Yuan decided to ask the sect leader to buy Wuxue City and its mines.

    For Xiao Jia, just one word: spoil! Though not a domineering CEO, he would spoil his wife.

    Especially a wife like Xiao Jia.

    "Qi Yuan." A voice came from outside.

    True Lord Kumu stood outside.

    His expression complex, with a trace of expectation.

    "Sect Master, please come in," Qi Yuan said.

    True Lord Kumu entered the wooden house.

    He glanced at Xiao Jia, then said, "Since you killed a Core Formation, you''ve passed my test."

    "Sect Master, what is the matter, and what is the opportunity?" Qi Yuan asked eagerly.

    "I''m not from Great Shang, but from East Earth," Kumu Zhenjun said, "I want you to represent me in the East Earth Prodigy Battle!"

 Chapter 97: The Overbearing Bright Palace

    Chapter 97: The Overbearing Bright Palace

    ¡°Back then, my clan was annihilated, and I survived by hiding in Great Shang. Eventually, by chance, I joined the Shenguang Sect.¡±

    True Lord Kumu''s tone was calm, as if he were narrating from a third-person perspective.

    Qi Yuan listened, feeling that this so-called chance was likely Sect Leader Kumu being captured by people from the Demonic Desire Sect and sent to the Shenguang Sect as a spy.

    ¡°My clan was wiped out, and a treasure from my clan was lost, becoming one of the rewards for being in the top 100 of the East Earth Prodigy Ranking.

    In four years, the East Earth Prodigy Ranking will be finalized.

    I need you to enter the top 100 and retrieve the treasure of my clan.¡±

    Sect Leader Kumu then provided more details to Qi Yuan.

    The East Earth Prodigy Ranking had very generous rewards for the top 100, including opportunities to reach the Purple Mansion stage.

    Those who ranked higher could choose treasures first.

    The treasure from Kumu Zhenjun''s clan was extremely special and valuable, but outsiders didn''t recognize its worth and included it among the treasures for the East Earth Prodigy Ranking.

    ¡°Top 100, no problem. Sect Master, what is the great opportunity you mentioned?¡± Qi Yuan was still fixated on the great opportunity.

    Sect Leader Kumu¡¯s eyes, usually as calm as still water, showed a trace of reluctance. ¡°This item is called the Void Bright Soul Wood. Below the Purple Mansion stage, consuming it can increase one¡¯s soul strength by a small level.¡±

    This was undoubtedly a genuine treasure.

    Its greatest use was for someone in the late Nascent Soul stage to break through to the Purple Mansion stage.

    Using it would increase the chances of passing the Purple Mansion tribulation.

    True Lord Kumu had never used it, saving it for his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage.

    Now, he was giving this Void Bright Soul Wood to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan opened the small gourd and saw a stick-like gelatinous substance resembling jelly inside.

    His eyes confirmed it was genuine, and he beamed with joy. ¡°Sect Master, you are truly a good person. Even if you are a spy from the Demonic Desire Sect, I recognize you.¡±

    What Qi Yuan lacked the most now was a treasure like the Void Bright Soul Wood to enhance his soul strength.

    ¡°This item is incredibly valuable. You should save it for when you break through to the Purple Mansion stage,¡± True Lord Kumu reminded, despite the strain in his voice.

    Since it could increase soul strength by a small level below the Purple Mansion stage, naturally, the later it was used, the better the effect.

    ¡°Is the same true for Heaven¡¯s Path Foundation Establishment?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Scet Leader Kumu was momentarily stunned. ¡°It should be similar.¡±

    He had never seen Heaven¡¯s Path Foundation Establishment, so how could he know?

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan had an idea.

    Despite its value, he would consume it now to enhance his strength.

    ¡°In the meantime, focus on improving your cultivation. When the East Earth Prodigy Battle begins, I will inform you,¡± Sect Leader Kumu said, ready to leave.

    But Qi Yuan called him back, ¡°Sect Master, may I make a small request?¡±

    Sect Leader Kumu looked at Qi Yuan, ¡°Don¡¯t push it!¡±

    ¡°Not excessive at all. It¡¯s just that my wife has a small hobby¡ªshe likes to eat snacks.¡± Qi Yuan brought up his wife, Xiao Jia.

    ¡°Get to the point,¡± Sect Leader Kumu said, his expression darkening.

    ¡°The blood crystal mine in Wuxue City¡ªI want the sect to buy it, and all the blood crystals should be brought to me.¡±

    Sect Leader Kumu glanced at Qi Yuan, snorting, ¡°This is a small request?¡±

    The blood crystal mine in Wuxue City was well-known among loose cultivators.

    Many loose cultivators relied on it to improve their strength.

    Monopolizing the blood crystal mine might attract hostility from loose cultivators.

    Though this hostility was insignificant to the Shenguang Sect, as sect leader, True Lord Kumu had to consider how to maximize benefits.

    ¡°Give me five days,¡± True Lord Kumu said, turning to leave.

    In the simple wooden house, only Qi Yuan and Xiao Jia remained.

    In the wooden house, Qi Yuan gazed greedily at the Void Bright Soul Wood in the small gourd.

    ¡°Hopefully, this can help me reach the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment in soul strength!¡±

    Only then could he properly start the second game, truly entering it instead of being trapped in the Floating Wind Realm.

    Qi Yuan began to consume and digest the Void Bright Soul Wood.

    ...

    Great Shang, Imperial Palace.

    Thousands of civil and military officials knelt, creating a grand scene.

    "First, we sacrifice to the heavens!"

    "Second, we sacrifice to all celestial gods!"

    "Third, we sacrifice to our ancestors!"

    The sound was majestic, and all who heard it bowed in reverence.

    Colorful flags fluttered, drums pounded heavily, and a dignified and resounding musical performance played.

    Dong Xian ascended the steps slowly, while ministers held jade tablets as a sign of loyalty and eunuchs held ceremonial staffs symbolizing imperial authority.

    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Dong Xian ascended the throne.

    "The new emperor ascends..."

    All civil and military officials knelt again.

    The half-face with the word ¡°demon¡± was seen as extremely ugly.

    When Ning Tao¡¯s face showed the word ¡°demon,¡± even her most beloved mother tried to kill her in her sleep.

    Young Ning Tao fled, gaining a scar next to the ¡°demon¡± word.

    Later, she fled, constantly hunted, called a demon girl.

    During her escape, she met Qi Yuan.

    Since then, her face was covered by a black veil.

    No one saw her other face.

    Even she wouldn¡¯t look at the disfigured side of her face.

    She didn¡¯t want Qi Yuan to see it.

    ¡°Besides the Thirteen Demons, are there other major villains?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    In his view, Ning Tao wasn¡¯t the big boss.

    Though Tianxin Palace was a powerful force, it wasn¡¯t the strongest.

    ¡°There are no villains. To Southern cultivators, the North are all villains; to Northern cultivators, the South are all villains,¡± Ning Tao replied with a wry smile.

    Ning Tao didn''t mention that both sides saw demons as the greatest villains, hated more than the demon fiends.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Qi Yuan was indifferent and stopped asking.

    ¡°My lord, when will you hatch and accompany me to see the vast night sky?¡± Ning Tao asked seriously.

    ¡°No,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    He wanted to play the game, not stargaze.

    Ning Tao wasn¡¯t disappointed. ¡°My lord, be good. Your wife will go earn money to support the family.¡±

    She put on another layer of gauze and shoes, leaving the underground palace.

    As the Tianxin Palace leader, she had many duties to handle.

    Sitting on her jade throne, looking at the decree, she mused, ¡°Blood demon, an absolute fiend?¡±

    But she smiled wryly.

    She was considered an absolute fiend as well.

    Nearby palace maids trembled at Ning Tao¡¯s smile.

    Ning Tao¡¯s eyes showed complex emotions.

    Those who claimed to be willing to die for her feared her smile.

    The word ¡°demon¡±...

    ...

    In the underground palace.

    ¡°This mass of flesh is peculiar.¡±

    Qi Yuan observed the mass where he resided.

    Each look revealed different answers.

    This time, he saw...

    [Heaven¡¯s Blood of Desire, ultimate desire.]

    Last time, it was chaotic god blood.

    ¡°This must be a treasure.¡±

    He suspected his irregular soul residency caused mutations in the mass of flesh.

    Its form kept changing.

    ¡°What if I merged the soul blood with it?¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered but dismissed the idea.

    He didn¡¯t know its value yet and didn¡¯t want to waste the soul blood.

    He needed to get stronger fast.

    ¡°Too bad I can¡¯t take it with me. Otherwise, I could study it daily.¡±

    ¡°Alright, time to leave here and enter game mode.¡±

    Qi Yuan thought, transitioning into game mode.

    Suddenly, countless images flooded his mind.

    He saw a towering city with thirty-zhang high walls.

    Countless human cultivators and soldiers guarded the city.

    Outside, terrifying demon fiends swarmed like the sea, attacking the city.

    Arrows rained down, hitting the fiends, but it was futile.

    Ferocious fiends stormed the walls, leading to brutal close combat.

    Armored soldiers wielding spears and swords charged fearlessly.

    The battle raged for three days.

    Blood stained the walls.

    The city walls turned black.

 Chapter 98: Game Starts, A Soldier in Wugui City

    Chapter 98: Game Starts, A Soldier in Wugui City

    The massive city had fallen.

    Everywhere was devastation, ruins, and rubble.

    In the city, only scattered hundreds of demonic fiends wandered.

    The ground was littered with bones, and no one built graves.

    Whose beloved sons'' souls were tied to this place?

    A month later, a human army returned to this city, reclaiming it after a bloody battle.

    The commanding officer, with a gruesome scar across his face, looked particularly terrifying as he drank with the generals.

    Five days later, the demonic fiends attacked again.

    The city fell once more.

    For two months, fires raged. Then, another human army arrived.

    Unfortunately, their fate was the same¡ªtotal annihilation.

    Later, another human army came, only to meet the same end.

    And later still, Qi Yuan stood on the city wall. This city had seen no human armies for over ten years.

    He looked at the city full of bones.

    "Once a soldier steps into this city, his lifespan starts counting down. No one survives beyond ten days."

    "Now my task is to defend this desolate city?"

    Qi Yuan stood alone in the desolate city, looking up at the towering, scarred city walls.

    A sense of desolation and bleakness overwhelmed him.

    On the wall, three characters read "Wugui City" (No Return City).

    Qi Yuan glanced at himself: "Level 45, huh?"

    Entering the game now, he was at level 45.

    Unlike the first time, when he was at level 1.

    So Qi Yuan guessed that level 45 was equivalent to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

    His soul strength in the Azure World determined his level in the game.

    "Level 45, not bad. I can start killing mobs."

    Qi Yuan''s eyes sparkled with joy.

    Killing monsters would allow him to level up in the game.

    And this cultivation level would also be reflected proportionally in reality.

    His cultivation in reality would improve rapidly as well.

    He liked this feeling.

    "Unfortunately, I don''t have a suitable weapon." Qi Yuan looked at himself.

    He seemed to have entered alone.

    But in a moment, he froze.

    "Xiao Jia?"

    He noticed the mark of Xiao Jia on his chest.

    Xiao Jia had come into the game with him?

    "Xiao Jia!" Qi Yuan called out.

    Immediately, beside Qi Yuan, Xiao Jia''s figure appeared.

    Dressed in a blood-red wedding dress, she looked incredibly enchanting.

    Timid Xiao Jia looked around in confusion.

    But when she saw Qi Yuan, she seemed reassured, tightly holding his arm.

    Qi Yuan smiled, "In ancient times, scholars studied at night with a red-sleeved beauty accompanying them.

    Now I, Qi Yuan, defend a lonely city with a bride in a wedding dress accompanying me."

    Thinking this, Qi Yuan found the game interesting again.

    At that moment, the wandering demonic fiends in the city seemed to notice Qi Yuan and roared as they rushed toward him.

    For these fiends, tearing apart all humans was their instinct.

    Hundreds of fiends, looking like various terrifying monsters, with huge bodies, charged at Qi Yuan.

    "Xiao Jia!" Qi Yuan shouted.

    Together!

    Immediately, blood-red fireflies merged into Qi Yuan''s body, covering him in blood-red armor, thoroughly protected.

    Wugui City hadn''t been under Great Xia¡¯s control for over ten years.

    It was one of the lost 108,000 cities.

    Half a year ago, Great Xia''s king exhausted national resources to gather an army of elderly soldiers to retake Wugui City.

    Unfortunately, they encountered a fiend army on the way.

    A fierce battle ensued, and only Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao survived, waking up from the pile of corpses.

    Severely wounded, they still headed for Wugui City to plant Great Xia¡¯s flag on the city wall.

    Once the flag was planted, it signified that Wugui City still belonged to Great Xia.

    Wugui City wouldn''t be considered entirely lost.

    If a city was occupied by fiends for over a hundred years, it would no longer belong to humans.

    Unless retaken and defended for a hundred years.

    How difficult was that?

    Soldiers who went to Wugui City had no retreat, not even supplies.

    In Great Xia, there was a saying.

    Once on the road to Wugui City, one''s lifespan was only a month.

    "Too bad the flag can''t stay on the wall," Chen Jiao lamented.

    He used to be a butcher, like his ancestors.

    His cousin and father died in Wugui City.

    He was the last of his family.

    Zhang Sheng, a town constable, with his father as the head constable.

    To Chen Jiao, Zhang Sheng was born with a silver spoon.

    Zhang Sheng always loved playing the hero, dressed finely and riding spirited horses.

    This time, he defied his father¡¯s advice and joined the army secretly, ending up here.

    Seeing Wugui City, Zhang Sheng was thrilled, "Wugui City has been out of Great Xia¡¯s control for over ten years. Once we plant the flag, Great Xia¡¯s people will be inspired!"

    Zhang Sheng''s grandfather also died in Wugui City.

    He was the youngest in his family, with elder brothers taking care of his father, so he came.

    Both severely wounded, they spoke, blood dripping from their mouths.

    "To be buried with the unyielding heroes of Great Xia, I have no regrets," Chen Jiao, despite his butcher background, liked to use literary phrases.

    "The only regret is we can''t build graves for our ancestors," Zhang Sheng said, drawing his plain knife, his gaze steely.

    Entering Wugui City meant facing fiends'' attacks.

    Certain death awaited, even without fiends; their injuries wouldn''t let them live beyond ten days.

    At that moment, Zhang Sheng¡¯s eyes widened, "There¡¯s someone on the wall?"

    Chen Jiao was also stunned, disbelief written on his face.

    Wugui City had been lost for over ten years. How could there be people?

    Was it an illusion?

    Wasn''t Wugui City full of fiends?

    They couldn''t understand, looking at each other.

    "Let''s go see."

    Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao quickened their pace toward Wugui City.

    The closer they got, the more amazed they were.

    Wugui City was eerily silent, without any fiend roars.

    It contradicted their information.

    Wugui City should be swarming with fiends.

    On the wall, the dark-robed man holding a broken sword became clearer.

    Sitting on the wall, his figure was thin but unmistakably human.

    "Who... who are you?" Chen Jiao mustered the courage to ask.

    The man on the wall moved, looking at them, his voice calm, "Wugui City, the defender!"

    Chen Jiao and Zhang Sheng were shocked, emotions overwhelming them.

    Could it be that Wugui City hadn''t completely fallen?

    There were still Great Xia¡¯s people, one man with a broken sword, sitting on the wall, defending?

    "I am Zhang Sheng, a soldier of Great Xia¡¯s Song Battalion!"

    "I am Chen Jiao, a soldier of Great Xia¡¯s Song Battalion!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan looked at them, "The NPCs meant to defend this place?"

 Chapter 99: Three Men Defending One City

    Chapter 99: Three Men Defending One City

    Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao climbed up the city wall, already gasping for breath.

    Both had many questions in their hearts.

    "Are you the one defending this place?" Zhang Sheng asked, his face full of excitement.

    This was the land of death in the Central Plains!

    Of the 108,000 cities, a third had long become dead zones.

    Wugui City was considered half a dead zone.

    For over ten years, the Great Xia Dynasty had been unable to gather an army to send here.

    Qi Yuan, holding a broken sword, sighed, "It''s been a while, but unfortunately... no fiends have appeared."

    "You''re not from Great Xia, you''re a wandering hero?" Zhang Sheng noticed the absence of Great Xia¡¯s flag on the wall and instantly understood.

    There were still many wandering heroes who bravely fought in the Central Plains.

    Most of these heroes were cultivators.

    Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao were not truly considered cultivators, merely unranked ones.

    Half of those who came with them were cultivators.

    Unfortunately, all of them died at the hands of the fiends.

    "Consider me a wandering hero," Qi Yuan didn''t deny it.

    "May I place the Great Xia¡¯s flag here?

    This represents that Wugui City is still under Great Xia¡¯s control." Zhang Sheng looked at Qi Yuan expectantly.

    "Go ahead," Qi Yuan looked at the two NPCs with a complex expression.

    Despite their weak and near-death states, the two had no fear of dying but were instead excited.

    Beside him, Chen Jiao, with his one arm, pulled out the blood-stained, crumpled flag from his chest and carefully smoothed it out.

    Zhang Sheng helped him, both acting as if performing a solemn task.

    Even though it was just placing the flag on the city wall, they were panting heavily.

    The wind blew, dust flew, and the flag flapped loudly.

    The two looked at the flag, eyes full of longing, "I wonder how long this flag will stand."

    "It''s a pity General Yuan can''t see the flag flying over Wugui City," Zhang Sheng sighed.

    General Yuan was the one leading the Song Battalion.

    Facing hundreds of fiends, he killed dozens before dying of exhaustion, his eyes still open, looking towards Wugui City.

    Zhang Sheng knew General Yuan was a noble who had met the emperor.

    Before leaving, General Yuan had said that if the flag couldn''t be planted on Wugui City''s wall, Great Xia would cease to exist within twenty years.

    Great Xia would be completely integrated into Da Sui and defend the Galan City together.

    The two sighed and then looked at Qi Yuan, "Hero, where are the fiends in Wugui City?"

    "Many were wandering around, and I killed them," Qi Yuan sat on the wall, seemingly bored.

    In reality, he was revisiting and deeply comprehending the techniques he learned in Azure World.

    One day in Azure World equaled ten years here. He needed to make good use of this time.

    His newly compiled "Qi Yuan Sutra" could be practiced, but it was full of issues.

    It would not only worsen memory but also cause mental derangement.

    He was deepening his understanding to reduce the flaws in the "Qi Yuan Sutra."

    Only when fiends appeared did he take action. Most of the time, he sat on the wall.

    "There must have been over a hundred fiends wandering in Wugui City, right? Are you a cultivator?" Chen Jiao couldn''t help but ask, "What realm are you in?"

    Zhang Sheng quickly glared at Chen Jiao.

    Chen Jiao realized he was being rude, as one shouldn''t ask a cultivator''s realm.

    "Level 49, quite weak," Qi Yuan didn''t hide it.

    Chen Jiao was stunned for a moment.

    Zhang Sheng thought Qi Yuan was unwilling to reveal his true strength.

    Night fell quickly.

    The whole world was about to be shrouded in darkness.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the sky, pitch black.

    "Hey, why aren''t there any stars in the sky in your world?"

    After coming to Wugui City, Qi Yuan discovered that at night, the entire world was as black as ink.

    No stars, no starlight.

    "Stars in the sky? What do you mean?" Zhang Sheng was confused, not understanding what Qi Yuan meant.

    Qi Yuan understood roughly.

    This world had no stars in the sky.

    Could it be that someone had eaten all the stars?

    Thinking of this, Qi Yuan became excited.

    "Nothing, it''s dark now. You''re not cultivators, so you can''t see well. Find a place to sleep." Qi Yuan kindly reminded them.

    "Alright," Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao got off the wall.

    As they walked down the last step, they both turned in unison, looking deeply at the Great Xia flag in the night.

    ...

    The next day, at dawn.

    Qi Yuan still sat on the wall, comprehending the techniques from Azure World.

    Sometimes, he glanced at Wugui City and saw two panting men moving white bones, burying them.

    The two were gravely injured and didn''t have many days to live.

    Yet they kept moving the corpses.

    By evening, Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao brought up a large wooden box, panting.

    "Hero, would you like a drink?" The box was filled with wine.

    Opening the jars, a mix of sour and fragrant alcohol filled the air.

    Back on Blue Star, Qi Yuan, due to his illness, never drank.

    He also didn''t have the habit of drinking.

    "Thank you, but I don''t drink. I go mad when I do," Qi Yuan declined.

    "This is our unique daughter¡¯s fragrance wine of Great Xia.

    When a daughter is born, the family buries a few jars of this wine.

    When she gets married, they dig it up.

    Usually, you can''t drink it. Only soldiers heading to Wugui City get some as a send-off," Chen Jiao said, gulping the wine, "If we don''t drink it now, no one will."

    Zhang Sheng also drank deeply from a jar, "If we don''t drink now, no one will."

    The whole wall was filled with the scent of alcohol.

    After drinking, Zhang Sheng walked to Qi Yuan''s side, "Hero, I found many good things in the city.

    This is a blood-activating pill, a blood-nourishing pill, and some healing medicine. They should be useful to you. I brought some."

    In the last days, they stopped burying bones, keeping a breath to guard the Great Xia flag.

    After some time, the ground began to tremble.

    On the wall, the two were suddenly invigorated.

    They struggled up, watching the distant yellow sand.

    Amid the sand, about seven to eight hundred massive fiends charged.

    Like giant elephants, dust flying.

    Such a powerful fiend army would tear through mortal troops in an instant.

    Such fiends made Wugui City indefensible.

    Zhang Sheng showed no fear, raising his bowl, "Drink with me!"

    Chen Jiao drank deeply.

    The bowls shattered on the ground.

    "Damn fiends finally came!"

    Zhang Sheng looked at Qi Yuan, feeling regret.

    This hero hadn''t left and now had no chance to escape.

    Chen Jiao cursed, looking at the charging fiends, tears in his voice, "I want to go home. In a hurry, I forgot to castrate the pig I gave Widow Li..."

    Qi Yuan looked at the fiends, smiling.

    "Finally here?"

    He looked at the fiend army, holding his broken sword, standing on the wall.

    He shouted, "I am the defender of Wugui City. Trespassers will die!"

    The loud voice reached the fiend army.

    The fiends ignored it, charging at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan''s face turned cold, "You don''t respect me, making it difficult for me."

    He held the broken sword, jumping off the wall.

    The thirty-foot-high wall was like flat ground to Qi Yuan.

    Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao were stirred.

    "Too bad we''re not cultivators. Otherwise, we''d jump down and fight with the hero!" Zhang Sheng sighed.

    They were unranked cultivators with little training.

    Jumping off the wall meant death.

    "Hero, please kill the enemies. We''ll accompany you on the yellow springs road!" Zhang Sheng shouted.

    The voice used all his strength, leaving him weak.

    "Three companions, not lonely!" Chen Jiao yelled.

    Qi Yuan felt helpless, "You two sit on the wall and watch me kill these small monsters!"

    "Before dying, seeing a hero kill fiends, this life... is not in vain!" Zhang Sheng''s voice broke.

    Qi Yuan, holding his sword.

    Seven to eight hundred fiends, like charging elephants, came.

    Dust flying, a sea of yellow sand.

    Qi Yuan, standing on the sand, hair flowing, sleeves fluttering.

    He performed the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique!

    At that moment, Qi Yuan used a great skill.

    Though only level 49, his skills from before remained.

    He wondered if he could still awaken new skills every ten or thirty levels?

    Putting aside the thought, Qi Yuan focused on killing.

    "Kill!"

    He leaped, the broken sword descending like a mighty statue.

    Boom!

    Sword energy surged, splitting the sand, hundreds of fiends shattered.

    Ninety-seven fiends died in one strike.

    Qi Yuan, holding the broken sword, walked towards the fiend army, "Small monsters should line up to be cut."

    On the wall, Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao were wide-eyed.

    What did they see?

    One strike killed nearly a hundred fiends?

    Such... power... terrifying.

    This wasn''t a mere commander, it was a lord!

    A lord could be a marquis in Great Xia!

    Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao were in awe.

    They never expected this strange hero to be a legendary lord.

    They watched Qi Yuan enter the fiend army.

    The broken sword was like the sharpest weapon.

    Passing fiends, each got a strike.

    "Kill!"

    In Tianjue, Qi Yuan slaughtered thousands.

    In Dique, he fought three thousand outer-world fiends.

    His techniques were honed to perfection.

    Especially monster-killing techniques.

    The fiend army was easier to kill than scattered fiends.

    The sword moved like a dragon, killing all fiends.

    Kill, kill, kill!

    The yellow sand blinded Qi Yuan.

    He, with his broken sword, defended the lone city.

    Entering and exiting the fiend army thrice.

    Seeing, hearing, touching fiends, all killed.

    The mighty fiend army was slaughtered by him alone.

    At dusk, Qi Yuan held the broken sword, clothes unblemished, looking at the last wounded bone fiend.

    "Don''t run, fight me fair!"

    "Oh, you''re hurt, don''t want to fight?"

    "Blood-activating pill for you."

    "Forgot, you''re bones, can''t revive blood."

    A flash of the sword, the last bone fiend died.

    Qi Yuan blew the blood off the sword.

    Wind and sand blew, Qi Yuan stood in the vast desert, turning back.

    Sadly, there was only desert, no smoke, no sunset over the river.

 Chapter 100: The Opportunity to Comprehend the Essence

    Chapter 100: The Opportunity to Comprehend the Essence

    On the city wall, Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao, both on the verge of death, had a glimmer of color in their eyes.

    "The one I admired most was our human leader, the White Emperor, but now I have to add another... the young hero!" Zhang Sheng looked at Qi Yuan with immense admiration.

    Chen Jiao was also extremely excited.

    He never expected that the formidable demon army, which was enough to wipe out the Song Camp, would be annihilated by Qi Yuan alone.

    ¡°Cough cough... Such a feat calls for a drink!¡± Chen Jiao, imitating the boldness of a wandering knight, raised a bowl of wine with one arm and poured it into his mouth. The blood from the corner of his mouth stained the wine red.

    By now, Qi Yuan had returned to the city wall.

    He looked at the two men in their final moments and asked, "Is there any quest you need to trigger?"

    What he meant was, do you have any regrets?

    If he was free or if it was convenient, he might accept their quest.

    ¡°Dying after witnessing the young hero slaughter the demon army, I have no regrets in this life,¡± Zhang Sheng said. The color in his pupils faded quickly. ¡°The young hero is destined to be a great ruler, there''s no need to be confined in... Wu Gui City.

    Wu Gui City is just the hope of the Great Xia people, not the hope of the world.

    The young hero can head to other cities, where our human brethren are also fighting.¡±

    Qi Yuan remained silent after hearing this.

    ¡°My family¡¯s pig still...¡± Chen Jiao couldn''t finish his sentence, exhausted, he leaned against the wall, unable to move. He raised his blood-stained wine bowl, seemingly to toast Qi Yuan, but couldn''t muster the strength.

    The wind fluttered the military flags, and the open wine jar emitted its fragrance. The two men seemed drunk and fell silent.

    Qi Yuan looked at them, seeing their lives fade away just like many others.

    ¡°If I remember correctly, there are three levels of death.¡±

    ¡°The first level is brain death, where bodily functions cease.¡±

    ¡°The second level is social death, where a funeral is held, IDs are canceled, and the world is informed of their death.¡±

    ¡°The third level is when dust returns to dust and they are forgotten by everyone.¡±

    ¡°You two are lucky. I am destined to become an immortal being, living as long as the heavens, and I will remember you.¡±

    Qi Yuan said, picking up Chen Jiao¡¯s wine bowl, still tinged with blood.

    He took a sip; it was sour with a hint of blood.

    ¡°It tastes terrible!¡±Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com

    He glanced at the two men, then sat on the city wall.

    ¡°Xiao Jia.¡±

    He called.

    Xiao Jia appeared, clutching his sleeve obediently.

    He hugged her, and they sat on the city wall, looking at the vast desert.

    Qi Yuan slowly recovered his vitality.

    He was very strong.

    But slaughtering the demon army also consumed much of his energy.

    Now, his level was still low, making it hard to kill the demon army.

    Not to mention venturing outside.

    Encountering a powerful one might mean dying before even achieving success.

    Of course, sitting in Wu Gui City also posed dangers.

    Five days later, another demon army appeared.

    Qi Yuan, wielding a broken sword, merged with Xiao Jia and charged into the demon army.

    Drinking couldn¡¯t solve worries, so how could they be resolved?

    Naturally, by killing and killing and killing!

    ...

    Time flew by, and the night was pitch black. On the walls of Wu Gui City, the military flag of Great Xia fluttered in the wind.

    ¡°It has been half a year since we last saw intelligent beings.¡±

    Since the deaths of Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao, no new intelligent beings came to Wu Gui City.

    But the demon army attacked the city periodically.

    Each attack was stronger than the last, although the increase in strength was limited.

    ¡°At level 59 now, with the next attack, I¡¯ll reach level 60.¡±

    Qi Yuan, hugging Xiao Jia, pondered.

    At level 50, he didn¡¯t awaken any new minor skills.

    So, at level 60, would he not awaken major skills either?

    Suddenly, in the dark night, a helpless voice reached Qi Yuan¡¯s ears.

    ¡°Am I really that ugly? Why haven¡¯t you come to see me all these years?¡±

    The voice was familiar; Qi Yuan had heard it in the Canglan Realm.

    It was Ning Tao.

    Last time, he didn¡¯t respond.

    This time, his consciousness returned to the flesh locked by eighteen chains.

    He looked over and saw Ning Tao seemed to be asleep, her small body curled up, looking insecure with a tear stain at the corner of her eye.

    ¡°Even as a supreme being, she still sleeps.¡± Qi Yuan secretly criticized, ¡°And talking in her sleep too.¡±

    At that moment, Ning Tao suddenly opened her eyes in her sleep, showing a hint of apprehension: ¡°Husband, you¡¯re here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times, I¡¯m not your husband, and you¡¯re not my wife.¡±

    ¡°Do you refuse to acknowledge your little wife, or do you want to call me mother?¡± Ning Tao smiled coquettishly.

    ¡°This conversation is impossible.¡± Qi Yuan was helpless and then asked, ¡°Why is there no star in the sky of Liufeng Realm?¡±

    He was curious.

    He had asked Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao but got no answer.

    So, he wanted to ask Ning Tao.

    Ning Tao was surprised: ¡°Aren¡¯t you a supreme being?¡±

    If he were, he would know why.

    Qi Yuan looked at Ning Tao: ¡°Did I ever say I was a supreme being? I¡¯m just a little Dao foundation builder.¡±

    ¡°No, you are a supreme being!¡± Ning Tao remembered, when she was besieged, Qi Yuan killed several strong people with his primordial power.

    Since he was a supreme being, why didn¡¯t he know why there were no stars in the sky?

    Her eyes showed shock: ¡°You are not a cultivator of this realm!¡±

    Like a giant armored warrior, he charged into the demon army.

    ¡°Just a thousand demons, the strongest level 50, is that all?¡±

    Qi Yuan fought fiercely, his sword constantly slashing.

    Wherever he went, all demons perished.

    His experience bar skyrocketed.

    Suddenly, a prompt sounded in Qi Yuan¡¯s ear.

    ¡¾Leveled up to 60, gain a chance to comprehend the essence. Use it?¡¿

    Many thoughts crossed Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    He didn''t expect at level 30 to awaken minor skills and now at 60 to get a chance to comprehend the essence.

    Understanding the term "essence," Qi Yuan knew its importance.

    But now, he couldn''t think much.

    The demon army was still attacking.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    Qi Yuan fought harder, wanting to finish off the demon army and see what comprehending the essence meant.

    He charged into the demon army, fighting like a god.

    ...

    Far away.

    The demon controller Misan looked puzzled: ¡°Caixia, did Wu Gui City fail again?¡±

    The woman named Caixia was also surprised: ¡°Behind Wu Gui City is Great Xia, a small country with no overlords.

    The demon army sent should have easily destroyed Wu Gui City.¡±

    Their main enemy was Galan City.

    Wu Gui City¡¯s capture was left to the demons.

    Usually, it should be easy.

    But it wasn''t captured in half a year.

    Misan noticed this by chance.

    ¡°Did another city support Wu Gui, maybe Galan?¡± Misan wondered.

    ¡°Galan can barely defend itself, supporting Wu Gui is suicide!¡± Caixia scorned.

    ¡°In a few days, lead a team of overlord-level demons to Wu Gui City and capture it,¡± Misan ordered, ¡°Whoever is in Wu Gui City must die.¡±

    ¡°We overlooked this small city, but now that we noticed it, it will die!¡± Caixia was eager to fight.

    ...

    After killing all demons, Qi Yuan was exhausted, blowing off the blood on his broken sword.

    He returned to Wu Gui City.

    ¡°No demons for five days.¡±

    ¡°Time to see what comprehending the essence means.¡±

    Qi Yuan found a secluded, safe place.

    He whispered: ¡°Use it.¡±

    ¡¾Comprehending the essence, the longer you stay, the better the effect.

    Note, the duration of comprehension in the real world is instantaneous.¡¿

    Qi Yuan was relieved.

    If he took too long, demons might sneak into Wu Gui City, which would be bad.

    But now, no need to worry.

    ¡¾Comprehension begins.¡¿

    With the prompt, Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness blurred.

    When it cleared, he felt strange.

    Like facing the sun, feeling like the Dao, hanging in the sky.

    Now, he was on a mountaintop.

    He was a drop of blood, or a mass of blood, the size of a marble.

    This drop of blood stood on the peak.

    Qi Yuan looked up.

    In the sky, a door appeared.

    What kind of door?

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t describe it, couldn¡¯t find words.

    But he knew it was a door.

    Seeing the door, Qi Yuan sensed several strong auras rising, trying to enter.

    But they shattered before touching the door.

    The door seemed the most terrifying thing.

    Touch it and die.

    ¡°Is this the essence?¡±

    Qi Yuan observed the door.

    It constantly changed, never fixed.

    ¡¾The Door of Myriad Variations, the Unknown Door.¡¿

    Even with his eyes, Qi Yuan could only learn the name, nothing more.

    He knew his knowledge was too limited.

    He kept watching the door.

    After a long time, a voice like a lark sounded.

    ¡°Oh my, a new neighbor.

    Wow, so ugly, round and red.

    Will it lower our Nine Pan Peak¡¯s average beauty?¡±

    Qi Yuan saw a small, colorful bird nearby.

    ¡°You¡¯re ugly!¡± Proud of his looks, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t tolerate insults.

 Chapter 101: Comprehending the Door of Myriad Variations, Gaining the Power of Mutation

    Chapter 101: Comprehending the Door of Myriad Variations, Gaining the Power of Mutation

    "You can talk... wow, you¡¯re a monster!"

    The canary flapped its wings, flying three meters high. Its small body trembled in fear.

    Qi Yuan was speechless: "I am human, a bona fide human.

    You, a bird, speak human language instead of bird language. You are the monster!"

    "Miss can speak bird language!"

    "Biu biu biu... chirp chirp chirp..."

    The canary''s voice was like a machine gun, or an electric scooter alarm, crisp and piercing.

    "Miss spoke bird language, so I am not a monster. Now it¡¯s your turn. You are a drop of blood, speak blood language, or you¡¯re a monster!" the canary demanded.

    At this moment, the conversation between her and Qi Yuan was utterly illogical, like a childish chat.

    How does blood speak?

    Qi Yuan was dumbfounded.

    But he couldn''t let himself be outdone by a bird.

    "Dinosaur... carrying a wolf... blood blood blood..."

    Qi Yuan made up nonsense instantly.

    The canary''s eyes widened, rolling: "You are lying. Where does blood speak like that?"

    "You are not blood, so how would you know how blood speaks?" Qi Yuan felt he had the upper hand, referencing the saying ''You are not a fish, so how can you know the joy of fish.''

    Sure enough, the canary was stunned by Qi Yuan.

    "Neither of us are monsters?" It cautiously flew over, landing near Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan paused, realizing he had been led astray.

    Whether one could speak bird or blood language had nothing to do with being a monster.

    "You are a monster, I am not." Qi Yuan emphasized.

    The canary landed beside him: "Even if Miss is a monster, she is a very beautiful monster. And you, an ugly freak!"

    Qi Yuan couldn''t stand it: "If I transform, I will be handsome and dignified."

    The two argued childishly and gradually became familiar.

    Qi Yuan found that the canary wasn''t very smart, rather vain, or perhaps just loved beauty.

    He felt that this canary dragged him to its level of intelligence.

    He stopped arguing over meaningless things and asked, "Where is this place?"

    "This is Nine Pan Mountain."

    "Where is Nine Pan Mountain?"

    "In Nine Pan Mountain, of course," the canary replied with a look that suggested Qi Yuan was an idiot.

    Qi Yuan was speechless, thinking, ¡®Why not call it Second Fairy Bridge, why not call it Chenghua Avenue?¡¯

    But he understood he couldn''t get anything useful from the canary.

    "Do you know about the Southern and Northern Wars?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    Anyone in the Liufeng Realm would know about the Southern and Northern Wars.

    The canary shook its head.

    "Do you... know about demons?" Was this place not the Liufeng Realm?

    The canary''s eyes widened in fear: "Those ugly things, there are lots and lots of them at the foot of the mountain!"

    Qi Yuan understood.

    He looked at the sky without stars and concluded this was likely the Liufeng Realm.

    "Those ugly things, crazy and erratic, attack us on sight."

    "Do you know what that door in the sky is?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    The door in the sky was mysterious and ancient.

    In the Liufeng Realm, he had never seen such a door.

    This indicated that the place he was in...

    "I don''t know." The canary shook its head.

    Qi Yuan didn''t want to talk anymore. This dumb canary couldn¡¯t provide any answers.

    He stared at the Door of Myriad Variations in the sky, slowly comprehending.

    The canary glanced at Qi Yuan and returned to its nest.

    The small nest, hanging on a tree, looked delicate and exquisite.

    Back in its nest, the canary preened its fine feathers.

    It groomed for half a day.

    After some time, it poked its little head out: "Blood drop, what are you doing? What''s so interesting about that door?"

    "I am comprehending the essence," Qi Yuan replied.

    Comprehending the essence wasn¡¯t like in TV, requiring total immersion without disturbance.

    He just needed to look at it.

    Anyway, fragments would fall off.

    ¡¾You have comprehended the Door of Myriad Variations, back-scratching ability +1.¡¿

    ¡¾You have comprehended the Door of Myriad Variations, mutation ability +1.¡¿

    ¡¾You have comprehended the Door of Myriad Variations, mental disorder +1.¡¿

    All sorts of strange abilities were comprehended.

    The more Qi Yuan comprehended, the better his mental state became.

    "What is comprehending the essence?" The canary looked up at the Door of Myriad Variations, eyes filled with instinctive fear. "Can it make one more beautiful?"

    "Maybe... it¡¯s possible." Qi Yuan replied truthfully.

    With the strange things he comprehended, becoming more beautiful was normal.

    The canary was excited: "I want to comprehend it too!"

    It imitated Qi Yuan, staring blankly at the Door of Myriad Variations in the sky.

    As he comprehended, Qi Yuan''s form gradually grew larger.

    In the past month, the ability he comprehended most was mutation.

    He had ten of them.

    As for other strange abilities, they were fleeting and not systematic.

    A month later, a sudden storm swept over Nine Pan Mountain, the wind blowing the trees, drenching the world. Qi Yuan, through the rain, still stared at the Door of Myriad Variations.

    During the thunderstorm.

    ¡¾You have comprehended the Door of Myriad Variations, slight increase in combat power in thunderstorms.¡¿

    "Can it be?" It was the first time in a month he had comprehended an increase in combat power.

    However, the cold rain hitting his face made him uncomfortable.

    At that moment, a banana leaf covered his head, shielding him from the rain.

    The canary''s voice came: "Blood drop, what a heavy rain."

    Qi Yuan saw it, its feathers mostly wet, trembling: "I am not afraid of rain, you should go back to your nest. Wet feathers aren¡¯t pretty."

    "Hmph!" The canary held the banana leaf. "We are neighbors. Miss sees you without hands or legs, feeling sorry for you... Ah-choo..."

    Qi Yuan, holding Xiao Jia, sat on the city wall, leisurely.

    "This guard mode is good, constantly killing monsters is too much, even for me."

    Qi Yuan had the death glow, but he was still weak, hard to recover from injuries.

    He needed levels eighty or ninety for the death glow to be most effective.

    Then he would be truly resilient.

    "They¡¯re here?"

    Qi Yuan squinted, looking at the desert.

    In the distance, dust rose.

    The demon army¡¯s advance stirred a sandstorm.

    This time, stronger than before.

    "Eight hundred?"

    "Over twenty at level forty-nine?"

    Qi Yuan squinted.

    Usually, there were only one or two of such level.

    Now, over twenty.

    "Unfriendly visitors!"

    Qi Yuan smiled happily.

    "Beating the small ones, the big ones finally come?"

    He jumped from the wall with his broken sword.

    As always, he shouted at the demon army: "I am the guardian of Wu Gui City, intruders... will be killed without mercy."

    Holding the sword, his thin figure contrasted with the thirty-meter high wall.

    This time, different from before, the demon army halted.

    A woman''s voice came.

    "Such a handsome man."

    With this voice, a scantily clad woman appeared.

    Her face was average, but her figure was explosive, in a blood-red dress slit to the waist, exposing much of her hip, showing a deep handprint on her slightly tanned skin.

    Her face had strange tattoos.

    She was the demon controller Caixia.

    She looked at Qi Yuan with an ambiguous gaze: "So this is why Wu Gui City couldn''t be taken, a cultivator appeared."

    Qi Yuan looked at Caixia, surprised: "Besides foreign demons and void shadows, this is my first time seeing a humanoid experience pack."

    Caixia''s eyes flashed with regret: "Handsome and strong, but not very bright.

    But I''m not interested in your mind, just your body."

    Caixia¡¯s eyes gleamed as she licked her lips: "Interested in joining my northern camp?"

    This kind of conversation was normal.

    Exorcists from ten thousand and eight thousand cities often fled to the north.

    Caixia¡¯s last male pet came from Galan City.

    "I see you as an experience pack, and you lust for my body, seeking death!" Qi Yuan, angry, held his broken sword.

    Delusional woman, shrimp-head woman!

    "You still don¡¯t see reality." Caixia''s smile vanished, "You have no support in Wu Gui City.

    My demon army is endless.

    Do you think, blocking a few waves, you can guard Wu Gui City?

    You alone, even as a state guardian, can''t hold Wu Gui City!

    Ten thousand and eight thousand cities will fall one day!"

    Caixia retreated.

    As a demon controller, her power was average.

    The demons were her strength.

    Over twenty overlord-level demons could sweep a small city like Wu Gui.

    Not to mention hundreds more demons.

    As Caixia retreated, the demon army roared, charging Qi Yuan.

    "Kill!"

    Qi Yuan alone blocked Wu Gui City, facing eight hundred demons, charging into the army.

    A flash of his sword, dozens of demons were shredded.

    A new prompt sounded in his ear.

    ¡¾Mutation progress 1%, extract 1% demon essence.¡¿

    ¡¾Gained demon essence *1.¡¿

    Qi Yuan paused.

    Killing demons used to only grant experience.

    Now, he also gained demon essence.

    Was this related to comprehending the mutation ability?

    Demon essence, what was it?

    But now wasn''t the time to ponder.

    He was still fighting, questions for after the battle.

    The slaughter had just begun!

    With demon essence, Qi Yuan felt more excited, killing with greater vigor.

    Not far, Caixia saw this, her eyes greedier: "Such a strong body, I want a lick."

    But after a few hundred breaths, her greed turned to fear.

    Eight hundred demons besieging one man, now a hundred killed, and he was unscathed.

    Holding the broken sword, not a swordsman, but an assassin charging the army.

    Yet this assassin faced encirclement, still killing dozens with each stab.

    What assassin fights an army head-on?

    She realized the gravity: "You are a state guardian!"

    In this small Wu Gui City, a state guardian!

    Qi Yuan, killing an overlord-level demon, greedily eyed Caixia: "Thanks for the appetizers."

    Level sixty and fifty-nine were a threshold.

    In the Canglan Realm, it was the difference between foundation building and golden core.

    In Wangyue Continent, between emperor and supreme emperor.

    In Liufeng Realm, between state guardian and overlord.

    Before, without merging with Xiao Jia, killing this army took effort.

    Now, easily done.

    Caixia, without hesitation, fled.

    A state guardian was too much for her!

 Chapter 102: Visitors from Galan, How Can One Man Guard a City?

    Chapter 102: Visitors from Galan, How Can One Man Guard a City?

    "Trying to run?"

    Qi Yuan saw that Caixia was attempting to escape and his face turned cold.

    He chased after Caixia.

    "Stop him!" Caixia shouted, and all the demons became even more frenzied, charging at Qi Yuan with reckless abandon.

    Seeing that the demons had temporarily trapped Qi Yuan, Caixia''s confidence grew.

    "I never expected a state guardian to come to Wu Gui City!

    You are strong, and I''m no match for you, but so what if you¡¯re a state guardian?

    There are many state guardians in Galan City, but they¡¯re still beaten and cowering inside, afraid to come out?

    The South is destined to fall, why fight for it?

    Life is short, we should enjoy it while we can, why care about the so-called world?

    Doing these things is just for your own moral satisfaction."

    Caixia looked at Qi Yuan, eyes filled with a smug expression.

    "I¡¯m leaving. The next time I return, Wu Gui City will definitely be overturned."

    With that, she turned and left without looking back.

    Qi Yuan grew anxious: "Dare to overthrow the city I guard? You¡¯re seeking death!"

    Sky-Splitting Sword Technique!

    Qi Yuan used his strongest sword technique.

    With one stroke, the hundreds of demons surrounding him were forcibly cut open, creating a gap.

    Caixia saw this and her face showed shock.

    Killing over ten overlord-level demons with one sword was not something an ordinary state guardian could do.

    A gust of wind blew, and Caixia heard Qi Yuan shout.

    "Villain, don¡¯t run, stay... as a dog!"

    The powerful wind struck her waist, and she fell from the air like a kite with a broken string.

    Just a residual wave had taken away all her combat power.

    She struggled to turn around and saw the handsome man with a broken sword approaching her.

    She was terrified.

    She didn''t want to die here.

    "I... I am willing to be a dog!" Lying on the scorching sand, Caixia''s heart felt a strange ripple. She looked at Qi Yuan with a pleasing expression, even sticking out her tongue like a real dog.

    "Begging dog has no house!" Qi Yuan felt disgusted and slashed Caixia with his sword.

    Caixia''s body fell limply, not understanding why, even after becoming a dog, she wasn''t spared.

    Did they have such deep-seated hatred?

    Aren''t the cultivators from the North and South often surrendering to each other?

    But she had no time to ponder because she was dead.

    After killing Caixia, Qi Yuan turned back to the demon army.

    He lifted his sword and charged again.

    Half an hour later.

    Qi Yuan returned to the walls of Wu Gui City.

    Now, he most wanted to understand what exactly this so-called demon essence was.

    He introspected and carefully sensed his body.

    After some time, Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

    In his spirit, he observed a speck of gas the size of a grain of rice.

    This gas was multicolored, possessing countless hues.

    "Is this the demon essence?"

    ¡¾Demon Essence, the evil of living beings: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Lust.¡¿

    "The seven deadly sins?"

    "This doesn¡¯t seem like a good thing."

    His spirit touched the rice-sized demon essence and immediately his mind was flooded with countless visions.

    He saw himself cutting through the Palace of Light.

    He devoured mountains of delicious food.

    He tore his junior sister Jiang Lingsu''s dress and put stockings on her legs.

    "Six."

    Qi Yuan thought he just wanted to play along.

    "Suddenly, I feel the mutation ability is not a good thing."

    Qi Yuan realized he might have fallen into a trap.

    However, after pondering for a while, he dismissed this thought.

    "There''s a saying: There are no evil martial arts, only evil people."

    "Demon essence is another side of human nature.

    If I kill all the demons in this world, how much demon essence would I have?

    If I refine it into my golden core, it might be powerful."

    A golden core might evoke enemies¡¯ seven emotions and six desires, breeding inner demons.

    Qi Yuan thought this through.

    If that were the case, his golden core would control similar emotions and desires?

    Qi Yuan reassured himself.

    His mood improved significantly.

    ...

    Demons only roared like dragons.

    Liu Wentai looked embarrassed: "Guarding Wu Gui City alone is a great feat.

    By our guardian''s order, we invite you to Galan City.

    We have dozens of state guardians, hundreds of overlords, and strong forces.

    Since the start of the Southern and Northern Wars, we have never lost a city.

    Now, we plan to counterattack the demon army, defeat the demon controller leader Misan, and secure ten years of peace.

    However, Galan City lacks manpower, and you, a state guardian, would be a great help in our counterattack!"

    Liu Wentai grew excited.

    After all, a counterattack against the demons was unprecedented.

    Success would boost the morale of the Dazui Kingdom.

    And they would be remembered in history.

    Qi Yuan shook his head: "Sorry, I¡¯m not interested."

    He refused outright.

    Liu Wenmei and Liu Wentai were surprised.

    Liu Wentai quickly added: "Won¡¯t you reconsider?

    If you join us, Galan City will provide ten great medicines annually, and access to powerful techniques to enhance your strength."

    Liu Wentai offered incentives.

    Great medicine?

    Techniques?

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t need them.

    With his death glow, demons were the best medicine.

    In the game, he only needed to kill demons to grow stronger.

    "I am the guardian of Wu Gui City. I won¡¯t leave for another place." Qi Yuan shook his head firmly.

    Liu Wenmei stepped forward: "Your defense of Wu Gui City is admirable.

    But you are alone, guarding for three years, repelling waves of demons. The demons will only grow stronger.

    How long can you hold out?"

    Liu Wentai continued: "Wu Gui City is backed by Great Xia.

    Great Xia now has no overlord, not even a thousand leaders.

    You have no backup. One day, Wu Gui City will fall, and you will die.

    Please, think of the greater good, not just a small country. Consider the human race!"

    Offering benefits, then speaking of dangers, finally appealing to duty, most people would agree.

    Yuan Qi remained silent.

    Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei made sense.

    The unknown guardian couldn¡¯t hold Wu Gui City alone.

    No matter how strong, how could he fight all the northern demons?

    Guarding alone, only death awaited.

    Qi Yuan smiled: "Don¡¯t use NPC thinking to understand a player.

    I won¡¯t leave Wu Gui City.

    My mind is made up. Please leave."

    Guarding Wu Gui City¡¯s rewards might be as valuable as fragments of the Dao. He couldn¡¯t leave.

    Moreover, he might not be in the same faction as Galan City, possibly competitors.

    They would compete for demons.

    Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei looked grave.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words were partly unclear, but his meaning was evident. They didn¡¯t expect his resolve.

    Liu Wenmei, defiant, asked: "What would it take for you to leave Wu Gui City for Galan City?

    Any condition, I will agree!"

    Her gaze was firm, she meant it.

    Qi Yuan laughed: "I want to be the lord of this world, can you?"

    Liu Wenmei knew he couldn¡¯t be persuaded.

    The siblings looked at Qi Yuan, eyes complex: "Since that¡¯s the case, take care. Goodbye!"

    They left decisively.

    "Wait." Qi Yuan spoke.

    Liu Wenmei¡¯s face lit up: "Have you changed your mind?"

    Qi Yuan shook his head: "No, I wanted to say, if you can¡¯t kill all demons, send them to me. I¡¯m itching for a fight."

    Recently, demons attacked every few days.

    Qi Yuan enjoyed the kills.

    But one could never have enough experience.

    Liu Wenmei was puzzled by Qi Yuan¡¯s request but nodded: "I¡¯ll report this to the guardian."

    She assumed Qi Yuan wanted to contribute to Galan City¡¯s plan.

    The siblings bid farewell and left.

    Qi Yuan looked at Yuan Qi: "Why didn¡¯t you leave with them?"

    Yuan Qi, emotionally charged, said: "Great Xia can¡¯t support your defense of Wu Gui City. I, Yuan Qi, am willing to lay down my life for you!"

    He left unsaid: Great Xia¡¯s people stand with you.

    If possible, thousands from Great Xia would rush to Wu Gui City, ready to die.

    But... most would die on the way.

 Chapter 103: He Is a Disciple of the White Emperor!

    Chapter 103: He Is a Disciple of the White Emperor!

    Qi Yuan listened to Yuan Qi''s impassioned speech for a long time before saying, "My guarding of Wu Gui City has nothing to do with Great Xia.

    I guard it simply because I am its guardian."

    He didn''t want to owe anyone a favor without reason.

    Hearing this, Yuan Qi was initially confused.

    However, he quickly understood.

    This guardian must be someone who cares deeply for all living beings.

    He wasn''t from Great Xia, but he didn''t want to see the southern land fall to the north, so he came to Wu Gui City alone to guard it.

    He wasn''t confined to a small country, but cared for the world.

    This is a true great cultivator!

    Yuan Qi''s admiration grew.

    However, he thought of his brother and eventually asked in a somber tone, "Did you see any soldiers from the Song Camp when you arrived at Wu Gui City?"

    "Not long after I arrived, two ordinary soldiers from the Song Camp came.

    They said they were ambushed on the way, and the entire army was wiped out. Only they escaped with serious injuries, but they didn''t last long and died in Wu Gui City," Qi Yuan recalled the two men.

    One was Zhang Sheng, the other Chen Jiao.

    If they had changed their names, perhaps their fate would have been different, Qi Yuan thought.

    "They are buried deep within Wu Gui City."

    Yuan Qi felt a heavy heart.Upstodatee from

    He had suspected as much before coming.

    Seeing the truth only deepened his pain.

    His grandfather, father, and eldest brother, three generations, all died in Wu Gui City.

    "The box on your back contains wine, right?" Qi Yuan smelled the faint scent of wine.

    "Yes." Yuan Qi answered solemnly.

    He had traveled a long way to Wu Gui City to let the soldiers there taste the wine from their homeland, to show that Great Xia had not forgotten them.

    "Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao drank bad wine when they arrived.

    Since you brought good wine, you can use it to pay tribute to them." Qi Yuan still remembered the terrible taste of the wine Chen Jiao raised before he died.

    Probably only Chen Jiao and Zhang Sheng enjoyed it.

    "I''ll first offer a cup to you." Yuan Qi said, trying to take the wine from his back.

    "I don''t drink." Qi Yuan said, flying up to the city wall. He looked out at the vast desert and said loudly, "In the future, the people of Great Xia should stop coming to Wu Gui City.

    I guard this place, and it is impregnable. No one can steal from my home.

    If you must come, just bring some military flags."

    Qi Yuan didn''t know how many years he would guard this place.

    More flags would always be better.

    Otherwise, it wouldn''t attract demons, which would be bad.

    Yuan Qi felt mixed emotions.

    He looked at the thin figure on the city wall and bowed solemnly.

    On his way to Wu Gui City, he had not thought about returning.

    He didn''t know when the city would fall, but he wasn''t afraid.

    ...

    In Galan City, the guardian Dong Long had a full beard and mostly white hair.

    He stood on the towering city wall, with the Dazui flag flying in the wind.

    The guardian looked at Liu Wentai with surprise: "He doesn''t want to come?"

    Dong Long was indeed surprised.

    Great Xia was a small country, not even a tenth the strength of Dazui.

    In a little over ten years, Great Xia would lose Wu Gui City and be absorbed into Dazui.

    Now, Wu Gui City had a new guardian, a state guardian at that, so Dong Long naturally wanted to recruit him.

    "It''s a pity." The other party''s refusal meant Dong Long couldn''t force it.

    Guarding a city alone without support or supplies, one day, he would be overwhelmed by the ever-growing demon army.

    Dong Long lamented the loss of a hero.

    "Dismissed." Since he wouldn''t come, Dong Long wouldn''t think about it further.

    He was at a crucial moment in organizing an army to counterattack Misan.

    He had to kill Misan and other demon controllers.

    After that, he could return to Dazui. When he left, his granddaughter had just been born. This time, his great-grandson might be getting married.

    ...

    Five years later.

    In the northern demon control camp.

    A burly man in iron armor appeared, shaking the ground.

    He looked at Misan in the distance with a mocking expression: "What a waste. Nine cities in Yuzhou, and after all these years, you still can''t conquer them. You were even heavily injured and had to flee. You bring shame to the North."

    The burly man in iron armor laughed, and his subordinates laughed too.

    Misan''s face darkened: "Yuzhou is strong, not easy to take."

    "Hmph, a waste shouldn''t make excuses." The burly man said, "Forget Galan City, even the weakest Wu Gui City, guarded by one state guardian, you couldn''t take. Ridiculous."

    Misan''s eyes showed fear at the mention of Wu Gui City: "Wu Gui City is not simple. That guardian is no ordinary state guardian.

    Wu Gui City is not easy to take."

    "Misan, just focus on recovering. If you can''t take Yuzhou, I, Wutu, will!" Wutu said, striding away with his men.

    In the room, Misan''s dark expression gradually faded.

    Beside him, an ordinary-looking woman said angrily: "Wutu is too arrogant!"

    Misan wasn''t angry, instead, he looked relaxed: "Don''t curse him. I should thank him for taking over Yuzhou for me. Otherwise..."

    The woman looked puzzled, not understanding her master.

    Misan looked at her and slowly said, "Do you think I really can''t defeat Dong Long of Galan City?"

    "Master is wise and powerful, defeating Dong Long is a small matter. He used tricks against you..."

    Misan was disappointed.

    Indeed, few intelligent people understood him.

    "I lost to Dong Long on purpose to leave Yuzhou," Misan said proudly. "Yuzhou is a dead end. Wutu will die if he goes there."

    The woman was puzzled.

    Wutu was a peak state guardian, close to becoming a land myth.

    Misan continued, "Remember the guardian of Wu Gui City?"

    The woman''s face showed hatred: "The seven-colored sisters all died by his hand!"

    The seven-colored sisters were Misan''s trusted aides.

    First, the weakest, Caixia, was sent to attack Wu Gui City and never returned.

    Then, her sister Caiyi led a stronger force and also fell outside Wu Gui City.

    Next, two more sisters went and died.

    Finally, the top three sisters went together, including two state guardians and many strong demons, but they didn''t return either.

    It was like sending in small forces, then bigger ones, then the oldest and strongest.

    When Misan learned of their deaths, he was incredulous.

    He initially wanted to destroy Wu Gui City.

    But then he calmed down.

    He investigated and discovered a terrifying truth.

    "The guardian of Wu Gui City was a mere overlord when he arrived.

    In a few years, he grew stronger, becoming a state guardian, and not an ordinary one!

    Such a person has great fortune and must be killed in one strike. Otherwise, sending people one by one will only make him stronger!" Misan was cautious.

    "Is he really that powerful?" The woman asked urgently, "Why not gather a demon army to kill him when he was weak?"

    Misan glared at her.

    How would I know who he was when he was weak?

    Now, the guardian of Wu Gui City was formidable.

    Sending another demon army might result in another disaster.

    He looked at the sky and suddenly said, "Do you know the White Emperor of the South?"

    "Yes, he is as strong as the master."

    "Decades ago, the White Emperor''s disciples left his palace.

    They came to the ten thousand and eight thousand cities to train.

    The guardian of Wu Gui City, with great fortune and growing stronger, might be a disciple of the White Emperor." Misan revealed his theory.

    That was why he attacked Galan City, deliberately failing and fleeing to leave Yuzhou.

    "A disciple of the White Emperor?" The woman was excited. "If we capture him, it would be a great gain!"

    She was thrilled.

    Capturing the top disciple of the South, the supreme being might personally meet her.

    Misan was speechless: "I shouldn''t have told you this. With your intelligence, you won''t understand.

    Capturing a disciple of the White Emperor, what good is that? Besides, is the White Emperor really just an enemy of the master?

    We should stay out of big people''s affairs."

    The woman felt aggrieved, not knowing what she said wrong.

 Chapter 104: No More Pretending, I Am Invincible. Do As You Please

    Chapter 104: No More Pretending, I Am Invincible. Do As You Please

    Wu Gui City.

    "It''s been ten years. Only a day should have passed in Canglan Realm."

    A light drizzle fell on the city wall, leaving tiny spots that quickly evaporated. The ground was scorching hot, like a furnace, making the air stifling.

    Over the past few years, Qi Yuan had been guarding Wu Gui City, ensuring no demons entered. Occasionally, he would sneak out to "hunt" and kill demons. His level had reached a terrifying height.

    "Soon, I should ensure no demons enter Wu Gui City and log off."

    Qi Yuan had almost never logged off. After all, one day in the real world equated to ten years in the game world.

    If he went out for a meal, Wu Gui City could become a den of demons, undoing all his previous efforts.

    Of course, while this game¡¯s anti-addiction measures weren''t as strict as those in Wangyue Continent, one couldn''t live entirely in the game, right?

    "Senior."

    At this moment, a voice came.

    Qi Yuan looked over and saw two familiar figures approaching.

    It was Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei, who he had met once before.

    The two arrived at Wu Gui City, panting, their clothes thick with dust.

    They seemed to have rushed over in a hurry.

    "It''s you two. Still alive, I see." Qi Yuan said.

    Liu Wentai was momentarily speechless but still said, "Senior, something terrible has happened. A few years ago, we drove Misan away, and Yuzhou enjoyed a brief peace.

    Now, Misan has left, and Wutu has arrived.

    Wutu is a more terrifying demon controller than Misan, a peak state guardian. The demons he controls far surpass Misan''s!"

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up: "After eating grass for so many years, finally, some meat!"

    Seeing Qi Yuan''s lack of reaction, Liu Wentai hurriedly said, "We''ve received word that Wutu plans to start with Wu Gui City. Once he takes Wu Gui City, he''ll move on to other cities!"

    "Thank you for traveling so far to bring me this good news." Qi Yuan said. If it had been a few years ago, he wouldn''t have wanted the enemy to be too strong.

    But now, he feared the enemy would be too weak.

    "Senior, we''re not joking!" Liu Wenmei said anxiously, seeing Qi Yuan''s calm demeanor as if he were joking.

    Liu Wentai added, "Wutu comes with a great force. Please, senior, move to Galan City and join us in resisting the enemy!"

    Liu Wentai truly admired Qi Yuan.

    Even Galan City''s guardian, Dong Long, praised Qi Yuan more than once.

    After all, they all thought Qi Yuan couldn''t hold Wu Gui City alone for long.

    Yet Qi Yuan had held out and was doing well.

    Of course, that might have something to do with Galan City defeating Misan, reducing the pressure on Yuzhou.

    But now, with Wutu coming, Yuzhou''s situation was about to change dramatically.

    Wu Gui City would be the first target, to be made an example of by Wutu.

    Qi Yuan looked at the two and sighed: "NPCs are NPCs, repeating the same lines after so many years."

    Last time these two NPCs came, they tried to persuade him to leave.

    This time, they used the same tactics again, truly dedicated.

    Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei were completely stunned. They didn''t fully understand Qi Yuan''s words.

    "Senior..." Liu Wenmei tried to persuade again.

    Qi Yuan waved his hand: "Even if this world is destroyed, I won''t die, because... I am a player! You should go back..."

    Qi Yuan paused.

    "Looks like you won''t be going back."

    His gaze pierced through the desert, showing excitement.

    A powerful demon army was heading his way.

    "You''ve always wondered how I dare to guard a city alone? Today, I''ll show you.

    A little shock for you NPCs from a player!"

    "Tired of being underestimated."

    "Go back and tell your guardian, if I wish.

    I can wipe out all demons within thousands of miles!"

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s words, Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei''s minds briefly froze.

    They didn''t understand what Qi Yuan was about to do.

    Or what he meant by those words.

    They watched as Qi Yuan leaped from the city wall.

    His clear voice rang out.

    "I... don''t need teammates."

    "Xiao Jia... is enough."

    Together as One!

    At this moment, Qi Yuan no longer hid his strength.

    In the vast desert, blood-red fireflies covered Qi Yuan''s body.

    The flowing red covered Qi Yuan, his body growing to ten feet tall.

    The ten-foot-tall giant was covered in blood-red armor, his head fully protected, revealing only a pair of cold, emotionless eyes.

    Blood-red crystalline spikes adorned his shoulders, both bewitching and mysterious.

    The towering blood-red armor giant held a massive blood-red broken sword, each step causing the ground to shake.

    Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei stared wide-eyed at Qi Yuan.

    Their eyes were filled with shock.

    What was this? A terrifying giant, exuding explosive power, stood before them.

    "Don''t let the young ones believe it, while the old ones don''t.

    You''re not demons, I don''t like this fishing tactic."

    Qi Yuan finished speaking and entered the city, finding a secluded spot.

    "Comprehend the essence..."

    He began to comprehend the essence again.

    As Qi Yuan spoke.

    His vision changed again.

    The yellow sand disappeared, replaced by misty fog.

    Qi Yuan sat on the peak of Nine-Pan Mountain and suddenly widened his eyes.

    He found the Myriad Gates of Change right on Nine-Pan Mountain! Last time, when he came to Nine-Pan Mountain, the Myriad Gates of Change were high in the sky.

    This time, it was only a few hundred feet away.

    Very close.

    But Qi Yuan couldn''t touch it.

    He glanced at the small nest of the golden canary, now empty.

    Qi Yuan looked back at the Myriad Gates of Change.

    ¡¾You have comprehended the Myriad Gates of Change, Mutation Ability +10.¡¿

    ¡¾You have comprehended the Myriad Gates of Change, Coughing Ability +10.¡¿

    ¡¾You have comprehended the Myriad Gates of Change, Clothes Tearing Ability +10.¡¿

    Being closer, Qi Yuan''s comprehension was much stronger.

    Previously, it was fragments of one point at a time. Now, it was ten points at once.

    "Not good, it''s too hot, too scorching."

    Qi Yuan observed himself.

    He was now blood-red, constantly boiling.

    Every moment, he felt like his body was being dried out, constantly evaporating.

    "Is it because I''m too close to the Myriad Gates of Change?" Qi Yuan rolled down the mountain.

    At that moment, a huge fragment fell.

    ¡¾You have comprehended the Myriad Gates of Change, Human-Demon Path +999.¡¿

    ???

    Qi Yuan was bewildered.

    A single blow of 999?

    What is this, Human-Demon Path?

    Receiving this information, Qi Yuan''s eyes showed shock.

    "This is an entirely new system?"

    "No, this is the cultivation system of the Flowing Wind Realm!"

    "As a player, I learned the NPC''s cultivation method?"

    "A complete system summary, this is really..."

    Qi Yuan was stunned.

    By then, he had rolled to the mountainside.

    The boiling, evaporating sensation, and merging with the Myriad Gates of Change feeling subsided.

    He set aside his previous thoughts.

    "I''ll sit here."

    Qi Yuan turned into a large blood drop, continuing to comprehend the Myriad Gates of Change.

    Then, a cheerful voice called out.

    "Blood drop?"

    Qi Yuan looked over and saw a girl in a golden dress.

    The girl¡¯s eyes were wide, filled with surprise and joy, her delicate face like a peach blossom, her small lips slightly parted, innocent and charming.

    Her golden dress shimmered, making her look like she had stepped out of a fairy tale.

    "Are you... the golden canary?" Qi Yuan thought, remembering meeting a golden canary while comprehending.

    This little beauty must be the golden canary.

    "Hmph, I knew you¡¯d show up when that damn gate appeared!" The golden canary stood a short distance away, looking at Qi Yuan without approaching.

    "How long have I been gone?" Qi Yuan asked the golden canary.

    He figured it had been a long time.

    The golden canary used to weigh a pound. Now she must weigh ninety pounds?

    "Forty-seven years and three months!" The golden canary said, hands on her hips, looking very angry.

    "I¡¯ve been gone that long." Qi Yuan realized.

    His time away had nothing to do with the game but with the appearance of the Myriad Gates of Change.

    "Hmph, you left without saying goodbye. I removed you from my friends list.

    But I put on pretty makeup today and feel good, so I¡¯ll reluctantly call you a friend again."

    The golden canary turned her dress around proudly: "I transformed. Am I pretty?"

    Even after all these years, the golden canary was still vain.

    "Yes, a rare beauty." Qi Yuan said casually.

    He wasn''t good at compliments or insults.

    "That¡¯s insincere!" The golden canary pouted, then remembered something and said, "No way, no way, who on Nine-Pan Mountain still can''t transform?"

 Chapter 105: The Way of the Human-Demon

    Chapter 105: The Way of the Human-Demon

    ¡°Is transformation... difficult?¡± In the past, for Qi Yuan, transformation was indeed difficult while he was comprehending.

    But now, he had comprehended the Way of the Human-Demon.

    The complete cultivation system was in his mind.

    With just a snap of his fingers, he could transform.

    ¡°You can transform?¡± The canary, Xue Yan, whose appearance was as pure as jade, had never seen blood transformation.

    According to the legends of Jiupan Mountain, only spirits and monsters could transform.

    Blood... what was that?

    ¡°Don''t transform and become an ugly creature again. I''ve gotten used to your ugliness over twenty-seven years. If you change to another ugly form, it will take me another twenty-seven years to get used to it,¡± Xue Yan said, troubled.

    Qi Yuan was too lazy to talk to this chatterbox of a little girl.

    He immediately performed the transformation technique from the Way of the Human-Demon.

    In an instant, a blood mist appeared, and the spiritual energy in the surroundings converged towards him, forming a humanoid shape.

    In about ten breaths, Qi Yuan appeared in a blood-red robe, extraordinarily handsome.

    On his forehead, there was a red mark, looking rather demonic.

    Now, he looked the same as before.

    Just more demonic and more handsome.

    Xue Yan stared at Qi Yuan, her snowy complexion blushing: ¡°Barely acceptable, just about matching me.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt his body: ¡°Indeed, having a body feels more comfortable.¡±

    After saying this, he sat down again, looking at the Gate of Myriad Forms in the distance.

    Xue Yan stood aside, her golden dress unmoved by the wind, angrily saying, ¡°Is that gate more attractive than me?¡±

    Seeing the blood pearl transform, she had thought about celebrating personally.

    But after transforming, Qi Yuan just looked at the gate again.

    Like a block of wood.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t answer, he continued to gaze at the Gate of Myriad Forms in the sky.

    His mutated abilities and the Way of the Human-Demon were increasing rapidly.

    A month later, a small wooden hut appeared near Qi Yuan.

    Xue Yan, hands on her slender waist, shouted at Qi Yuan, ¡°This is a feng shui treasure land. I moved here not to be your neighbor, so don¡¯t get any ideas!¡±

    ¡°Is it possible that you moved here, and I didn''t even know?¡± Qi Yuan glanced at Xue Yan, who had put on makeup again today, her cheeks like peach blossoms, very charming.

    ¡°Hmph! Being your neighbor is a blessing you''ve cultivated over a hundred years!¡± Xue Yan said indignantly, returning to her hut, her small chest rising and falling in anger.

    However, she would glance outside from time to time, in case her childhood friend disappeared again someday.

    Time flowed, and Qi Yuan sat on the stone, comprehending the Gate of Myriad Forms.

    Every day, Xue Yan would come to chat with him about trivial matters.

    Qi Yuan also learned that there were many other spirits and monsters like Xue Yan on Jiupan Mountain.

    Most had transformed, but not all transformations were complete.

    For example, Qi Yuan saw a spirit with a long nose like an elephant.

    He remembered scenes from television, where male spirits often retained many monster features, while female spirits mostly transformed into human forms, keeping only small monster traits.

    Previously, Qi Yuan thought it was just TV fiction, never imagining Jiupan Mountain would be like this.

    ¡°Blood Pearl, something urgent! I need your help!¡± One day, Xue Yan ran over in a hurry, pulling his hand.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qi Yuan let Xue Yan pull him along.

    Anyway, it didn¡¯t affect his comprehension.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I''ll explain on the way!¡± Xue Yan dragged Qi Yuan down the mountain.

    Soon, Xue Yan''s small hand was sweaty with anxiety, ¡°They are fighting!¡±

    Qi Yuan soon reached the foot of the mountain.

    There, several monsters were arguing, surrounded by onlookers.

    The reason for the argument was simple: a love triangle.

    A male dog and a female rabbit were originally a couple, but the female rabbit cheated, and the heartbroken male dog got together with a female dog.

    Recently, the female rabbit had a baby.

    Building a nest doesn¡¯t require a house, does it?

    Rabbits use their fur to build nests, keeping some animal habits.

    She was reluctant to use her own fur because it was painful, so she ripped the male dog¡¯s fur every night.

    Now, they were arguing.

    The male dog¡¯s eyes were red: ¡°I loved you so much, but you cheated.¡±

    The female rabbit was angry: ¡°You said you didn¡¯t mind my past when you pursued me. After catching me, you changed?

    And you, you flirted with him while I was still with him. We hadn''t broken up yet, and you slept with him, you little bitch!¡±

    The female dog retorted: ¡°If you hadn''t cheated, would he have done this?

    I¡¯ve always been generous, not mentioning the past.

    But you, you gave birth and didn¡¯t want to use your fur for the nest, so you took his.

    You have maternal love but no quality.¡±

    The male dog accused the female rabbit of cheating.

    The female rabbit accused the female dog of being the third party.

    The female dog accused the female rabbit of ruining her ex.

    They argued fiercely, and onlookers tried to mediate.

    Xue Yan was anxious: ¡°What should we do?¡±

    Qi Yuan was speechless: ¡°If I knew it was such a big deal, I should¡¯ve called more people.

    Buddha, Sun Wukong, Thanos, Iron Man, Bald Qiang, all of them would have solved this.¡±

    With so many great beings, could the argument continue?

    It might even be the most valuable argument in history.

    Xue Yan gave Qi Yuan a white look: ¡°They are so chaotic, whose fault is it?¡±

    ¡°Go up and slap them all, then leave. The matter should be resolved.¡± Qi Yuan said, ¡°But you don¡¯t have a mental illness certificate, so you can¡¯t.¡±

    To act as a judge, you need a mental illness certificate, otherwise, you could end up in jail.

    ¡°This year, the White Fox Bai Hu was named the top beauty of the Eighteen Mountains. Why? I¡¯m the real top beauty!¡± Xue Yan said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get agitated.¡± Qi Yuan said.

    He feared the next moment Xue Yan would turn into a demon.

    Xue Yan smiled sweetly: ¡°You can fly, right? Take me around the Eighteen Mountains. I want everyone to know I¡¯m the top beauty!¡±

    Qi Yuan was speechless: ¡°Xue Yan, your competitive spirit is too strong.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not competition, it¡¯s revealing the truth!¡±

    ¡°Your face is thicker than mine.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think if we fly around like that, people will think we¡¯re crazy?

    Sounds so stupid!¡±

    Qi Yuan wanted to refuse.

    He respected those with mental issues but didn¡¯t want to be seen as crazy himself.

    He wanted to be known as a proud swordsman!

    ¡°Blood Pearl giegie...¡± Xue Yan clung to Qi Yuan¡¯s arm, pleading.

    Qi Yuan gave in immediately: ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll go, okay?¡±

    Who could refuse a girl calling him ¡°giegie¡±?

    ...

    At night, Qi Yuan returned to his usual place.

    Today, he took Xue Yan around the Eighteen Mountains.

    He announced that Xue Yan was the top beauty of the Eighteen Mountains.

    Anyone who disagreed was subdued by Qi Yuan.

    Now, Qi Yuan just wanted to stay here and avoid people.

    In contrast, Xue Yan was smug, in a great mood.

    She even wanted to do it again.

    ¡°Blood Pearl, did you see the White Fox today? Is she less pretty than me?¡± Xue Yan looked at Qi Yuan expectantly.

    Qi Yuan recalled the White Fox Bai Hu¡¯s appearance.

    In terms of looks, Xue Yan was indeed superior.

    But looking at the ordinary Xue Yan, he understood why Bai Hu was the top beauty.

    ¡°Want the truth or a lie?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Xue Yan glared: ¡°A lie.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s beautiful.¡± Qi Yuan lied.

    Xue Yan pouted: ¡°Both the lie and the truth are her, right?¡±

    ¡°The truth is you.¡±

    ¡°You''re lying.¡±

    ¡°I never lie.¡±

    ¡°You just lied!¡±

    ...

    Twenty years later.

    Qi Yuan sat on a green stone.

    The Way of the Human-Demon had reached 999999.

    Terrifying.

    He looked at the Gate of Myriad Forms in the sky, thoughtful.

    ¡°Heart Demons, born of heaven and earth, nourished by nature, like shadows following form.¡±

    ¡°Tempt with power, disturb with emotions, entrap with greed... all such, sins.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt deeply, his voice growing louder.

    ¡°If you seek me by form, by sound, you walk the wrong path.¡±

    ¡°See no sun, no moon, no stars, seek no immortals or demons, humans shall entrap demons!¡±

    His voice, vast as spring thunder, like dragon roars, echoed across Jiupan Mountain and beyond.

    Wherever it reached, a strange fragrance spread, refreshing the mind.

    All spirits and monsters who heard Qi Yuan¡¯s voice stood dazed, deep in thought.

    Some spirits bowed, as if receiving supreme teachings.

    ¡°Who is preaching?¡±

    ¡°Which master?¡±

    ¡°Jiupan Mountain, quickly!¡±

    ¡°Such wondrous teachings, related to Heart Demons!¡±

    All spirits were shocked. Even humans who heard it were overjoyed, rushing to Jiupan Mountain.

    A day passed.

    Qi Yuan sat like a deity, speaking profound words.

    On Jiupan Mountain, flowers bloomed, birds sang, auspicious clouds appeared.

    Countless animals, spirits, and even powerful human cultivators sat quietly at the mountain¡¯s base, listening intently.

    They were deeply moved, sometimes pondering, sometimes enlightened.

    They were immersed in Qi Yuan¡¯s teachings.

    On Jiupan Mountain, dead trees sprouted, everything was harmonious, all beings gazed at Qi Yuan in reverence.

    Only Xue Yan, a few meters away, looked at Qi Yuan with pride.

 Chapter 106: The Origin of the Gate of Myriad Forms

    Chapter 106: The Origin of the Gate of Myriad Forms

    The lecture lasted forty-nine days.

    The wondrous sound echoed throughout the Eighteen Mountains, akin to celestial music.

    Jiupan Mountain was crowded with people, and thundering filled the sky as a spring rain sprinkled the earth.

    The gentle rain fell on their bodies, bringing a sense of refreshing peace.

    A human cultivator, with blurry eyes, murmured, ¡°Since the disappearance of the sun, moon, and stars, humanity has not heard divine sound again!¡±

    A monster lay prostrate on the ground, ready to worship Qi Yuan as the supreme sage.

    Qi Yuan sat on a large stone, his voice clear: ¡°The Way of the Human-Demon, this... imprisons the demons!¡±

    With his final words, a technique named the "Demon Confinement Technique" was etched into the hearts of all present.

    The mountain was filled with dazed monsters and human cultivators.

    At this time, an elderly human knelt down, ¡°Thank you, divine one, for bestowing this technique, saving my race in times of crisis!¡±

    The "Demon Confinement Technique" primarily helped practitioners build a cage to trap the demons within their hearts.

    In this way, emotional agitation wouldn¡¯t suddenly unleash the demons from their bodies.

    This was of great significance for both humans and monster spirits.

    As the old man knelt down, the rest of the humans and monsters, regardless of their cultivation level or status, all knelt down, chanting in unison, ¡°Thank you, divine one, for bestowing this technique, saving our races in times of difficulty.¡±

    The sight of monsters and humans bowing to Qi Yuan was awe-inspiring.

    Xue Yan was stunned.

    Everyone was kneeling; should she kneel too?

    She quickly dismissed the thought.

    How could her childhood friend make her kneel alone?

    If kneeling was necessary, they should kneel together.

    She looked at Qi Yuan, her beautiful eyes filled with pride.

    Qi Yuan stood up, looking at the vast crowd of humans and monsters, many thoughts flashed through his mind.

    Finally, he said one sentence.

    ¡°The lecture is over; everyone return to your homes.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t intended to lecture.

    It was just that he had reached the pinnacle of his comprehension of the Way of the Human-Demon, feeling the need to express it.

    He sorted out his way, chanting naturally.

    Monsters and humans gathered below after hearing it.

    Gradually, Qi Yuan realized that preaching was also sorting out the Way of the Human-Demon.

    The more he spoke, the clearer his understanding became.

    After sorting it out... everyone should leave, or it would be awkward with them staring at him.

    The vast crowd of humans and monsters, upon hearing Qi Yuan''s dismissal, performed the disciple¡¯s salute again and slowly left.

    Finally, twenty-six people stayed behind.

    Half were human, half were monsters.

    Looking at Qi Yuan, they approached sincerely: ¡°We are willing to serve the Blood Lord as our master.¡±

    Qi Yuan, wearing a blood-red robe and having cultivated with blood, was rightly called the Blood Lord by them.

    Qi Yuan felt reluctant.

    Why should he take disciples for no reason?

    However, glancing at the Gate of Myriad Forms in the sky, many thoughts crossed his mind.

    He did need some people to help gather more information about the Gate of Myriad Forms.

    Moreover, he didn''t know when he would return next time; having some familiar faces around would be good.

    ¡°I do not take disciples, but if you wish to stay, then stay.¡±

    The twenty-seven people, though initially disappointed, were excited to hear they could stay.

    Thus, none of the twenty-seven chose to leave.

    ¡°We are willing to serve the Blood Lord!¡±

    Xue Yan stood beside Qi Yuan, her eyes on one of the women among the twenty-seven.

    That woman was the white fox, Shang Yanran, from before on Jiupan Mountain.

    Seeing Shang Yanran, Xue Yan immediately clung to Qi Yuan''s hand, looking down on her with her nose in the air, displaying her superior attitude.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan said, ¡°Find a place on Jiupan Mountain and build your homes.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Regardless of their previous identities or personalities, all twenty-seven now looked at Qi Yuan with reverence.

    After all, Qi Yuan¡¯s preaching on Jiupan Mountain, especially the final "Demon Confinement Technique," could change the fate of both humans and monsters.

    The twenty-seven understood that after today, the lecture and teaching on Jiupan Mountain would spread quickly throughout the Flowwind Realm.

    They knew that this seemingly ordinary lecture held significant importance.

    Before long, Jiupan Mountain would become a true holy land.

    The Blood Lord would become a revered figure for countless beings.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s interest was piqued: ¡°Tell me more.¡±

    Shang Yanran continued, ¡°It¡¯s rumored that in ancient times, there was a great demon in the Flowwind Realm, called Buddha.¡±

    ¡°Buddha?¡± Qi Yuan was surprised.

    That name shouldn''t be used lightly.

    ¡°According to records, Buddha was an immortal or god undergoing trials in the mortal world. After enduring the worldly tribulations, he could return to the realm of gods and immortals.

    However, he encountered a woman who changed his fate in Rakshasa City.

    At first sight, he fell for her, considering her his lifelong companion.

    The woman was the daughter of a great demon, attacked by righteous forces.

    Buddha saved her, and they fell in love.¡± Shang Yanran spoke with a hint of regret, ¡°I say, Buddha shouldn''t have saved the demoness, avoiding all the trouble!¡±

    Bai Ze said, ¡°What wrong did the woman do? Should she be attacked just because she was born in the demon path?¡±

    Shang Yanran gave her husband a look. Being Bai Ze, symbolizing auspiciousness, he naturally had a compassionate heart.

    Qi Yuan was reminded of some fantasy dramas.

    ¡°That Buddha didn¡¯t destroy the world for her, did he?¡±

    Being willing to oppose the world for someone seemed common.

    ¡°No.¡± Shang Yanran smiled, ¡°In the end, between the world and the demoness, Buddha chose the world, and the demoness died.¡±

    She was clearly pleased with this outcome.

    Bai Ze murmured, ¡°How could a weak woman bear such a burden?¡±

    ¡°What happened next?¡± Qi Yuan was more interested in the connection to the Gate of Myriad Forms than in their love story.

    ¡°Unfortunately, Buddha¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t firm enough. The demoness¡¯s death caused a crack in his will to endure worldly tribulations.

    Though he saved the world, leading to her death, the world saw him as hypocritical and ruthless, using the pure demoness to achieve fame, making her a stepping stone.

    Buddha sat by her grave for three hundred days, eventually going mad and becoming a great demon.¡±

    Shang Yanran continued with a cold smile, ¡°People respect power, not virtue. If Buddha had killed those slandering him, there wouldn¡¯t be such trouble.¡±

    Bai Ze sighed, ¡°Killing doesn¡¯t solve problems.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the connection to the Gate of Myriad Forms?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Ultimately, it still revolved around love and destruction.

    ¡°Buddha became a demon, his thoughts turning into Heart Demons, triggering the Flowwind Realm¡¯s Heart Demon Calamity, making everyone susceptible to Heart Demons.

    Heart Demons spread through people¡¯s minds, and neighboring realms closed their gates to the Flowwind Realm.

    The Flowing Wind Realm became isolated, and endless Heart Demons eventually summoned or created a gate, a replica of the legendary Gate of Myriad Forms.

    In legends, the Gate of Myriad Forms contains endless Heart Demons, and even gods and immortals would fall if they entered.

    It¡¯s said that only by opening the true Gate of Myriad Forms can all Heart Demons vanish.¡±

    Opening the gate and entering didn¡¯t contradict each other at this moment.

    ¡°Endless Heart Demons created a replica of the Gate of Myriad Forms?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    Didn¡¯t that mean the Gate of Myriad Forms was filled with valuable experience?

    He looked at the Gate of Myriad Forms, feeling greedy, wanting to taste it.

    He wondered why there was no Gate of Myriad Forms during the Southern-Northern Decision.

    Was it eaten?

    If so, it was unforgivable.

    ...

    ¡°Back?¡± Qi Yuan looked around Wugui City, a flash of images in his mind.

    This time, comprehending the origin took him a hundred and twenty years.

    The biggest gain was the Way of the Human-Demon and the "Demon Confinement Technique."

    ¡°So, the reason people only face Heart Demons upon dying of old age is because of me?¡± Qi Yuan pondered, ¡°Can I change the past and affect reality? It¡¯s beyond comprehension. I need to think carefully and stop random thoughts.¡±

    He decided not to dwell on it.

    It was just a game.

    Enjoying it and leaving no regrets was enough.

    Qi Yuan thought of his neighbor, Canary Fairy.

    ¡°When will we meet again?¡±

    ¡°At level 120?¡±

    ¡°Or has she already perished with time?¡±

    ¡°Without comprehending the origin, even the mysteries of reincarnation are beyond reach.¡±

    ¡°After reaching level 120, I hope to enter the Gate of Myriad Forms.¡±

    Before leaving, Qi Yuan hinted to Canary Fairy.

    She should be able to accept the reality better.

 Chapter 107: Fortunately, There Is You, Xiao Jia

    Chapter 107: Fortunately, There Is You, Xiao Jia

    Jiupan Mountain.

    Xue Yan¡¯s face turned pale as she saw the Gate of Myriad Forms disappear. Grabbing her dress, she frantically ran up the mountain.

    ¡°Blood Pearl!¡±

    The familiar figure did not appear; the peak was empty.

    Xue Yan felt inexplicably lost.

    The Gate of Myriad Forms vanished, and Blood Pearl... disappeared.

    Everything was so strange and hard to accept.

    The mountain breeze lifted the strands of hair on Xue Yan¡¯s cheeks as she stubbornly looked at the sky.

    ¡°Blood Pearl, could you really be that Buddha they talked about?¡±

    ¡°Am I... the demoness you killed?¡±

    Ever since the origin of the Gate of Myriad Forms was discovered, a theory spread secretly on Jiupan Mountain.

    It said that the Blood Pearl who appeared with the Gate of Myriad Forms was a great demon, a drop of Buddha¡¯s blood.

    The Blood Lord preaching the ¡°Demon Confinement Technique¡± was his atonement.

    Many on Jiupan Mountain considered this theory absurd, but many also believed it.

    Xue Yan stood alone at the peak.

    She didn¡¯t like the story of Buddha slaying the demoness.

    ...

    A vast rain fell, and in Wugui City, Yuan Qi wore a raincoat. When he looked up at the city wall and saw the defender, a wave of inexplicable fear surged in his heart.

    Just moments ago, an army of thousands of demons attacked, and the defender slew them one by one with his sword.

    This should have been heartening, but for some reason, looking at Qi Yuan filled Yuan Qi with a strange terror, as if he were seeing a terrifying demon from hell.

    Especially when Qi Yuan sat on the city wall, his eyes glinted with a blood-red light, making Yuan Qi tremble inexplicably.

    It felt like he wasn¡¯t looking at a defender but a terrifying demon.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, are you afraid of me?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice came from the city wall, landing like a stone on Yuan Qi¡¯s heart. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Lord Defender, your current state... is a bit strange.¡±

    He didn¡¯t dare look at Qi Yuan directly.

    ¡°Hmm, go away.¡± Qi Yuan said lightly, seemingly indifferent.

    Yuan Qi breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly left.

    Being close to the defender filled his heart with inexplicable fear.

    Inside, he felt incredibly stifled.

    Qi Yuan sat on the wall, holding a broken sword still stained with blood. With a shake, the blood drops fell.

    ¡°After this comprehension, the extraction of the demonic origin increased tenfold, reaching 10%.

    I hope I don''t end up becoming a monster like the demons,¡± Qi Yuan pondered.

    His emotions had been very unstable lately, with greed, wrath, lust, and arrogance constantly flowing through him.

    This was especially severe after slaying demons.

    ¡°Xiao Jia, are you afraid of me?¡± Qi Yuan turned to look at the red wedding dress behind him.

    Xiao Jia, flustered and almost tripping, dropped a wooden sign on the ground.

    Qi Yuan picked it up; it was a sticky note.Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com

    Qi Yuan hugged Xiao Jia tightly, smelling the faint fragrance of her dress, and showed a satisfied expression: ¡°Fortunately, I have you... Playing a game alone can sometimes be quite boring.¡±

    The red in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly faded, and the previous terrifying aura gradually dissipated.

    He hugged Xiao Jia, and they sat on the city wall, looking out over the vast desert. Unfortunately, in the Flowwind Realm, there was no sunrise or sunset.

    ...

    In the Demon Controller¡¯s camp, Wu Tong¡¯s face was ashen.

    ¡°A small Wugui City, do I have to go personally?¡±

    Wu Tong was furious, overturning the wine cups and jade plates on the table.

    The dozen national guardians present kept their heads down, not daring to speak.

    Recently, the vanguard army, led by Iron Chain, went to Wugui City but didn¡¯t return.

    This shocked them all.

    Iron Chain was second only to Wu Tong in strength within the camp, yet he didn¡¯t come back.

    They wouldn¡¯t go without knowing the situation, so they could only control some demons to methodically attack Wugui City.

    But those demons didn¡¯t return either.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Wu Tong glared at his cowardly subordinates, ¡°If Mi Sang finds out about this, how will he mock me?¡±

    No one dared to speak.

    If they attacked other cities, they could surrender if defeated, but no one dared to go to Wugui City.

    An old man stepped forward: ¡°Commander Wu Tong, perhaps Wugui City¡¯s name is unlucky, leading to no return.¡±

    They dared not go.

    Wu Tong¡¯s anger intensified: ¡°Who dares go to Wugui City? Capture it, and you will be heavily rewarded, even with... demonic origin.¡±

    Going to Wugui City would likely expose his plans.

    So he could only rely on Wu Tong to find the source of evil before going himself.

    ¡°Wugui City is manageable... but... where did the great demon become a demon?¡± The man hesitated.

    That place held a fortune equal to Wugui City.

    But it was harder to capture than Wugui City.

    He needed a plan to capture it.

    ...

    Garan City was shrouded in heavy clouds, the atmosphere tense.

    Defender Dong Long listened to his subordinates'' reports, his face stern: ¡°Wu Tong will lead all his forces to attack Wugui City. What do you think?¡±

    The national guardians looked grave: ¡°Wu Tong is tougher and stronger than Mi Sang. If Wugui City falls, Garan City... will be in trouble.¡±

    Everyone was worried.

    Mi Sang, though strong, had been hesitant in attacking Garan City, fearing for his life.

    Wu Tong, however, seemed highly aggressive.

    ¡°Wen Tai, what do you think?¡± Dong Long asked Liu Wentai and his sister.

    Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei had met Qi Yuan.

    ¡°The defender of Wugui City is incredibly powerful, possibly a land myth.¡± Liu Wentai recalled Qi Yuan¡¯s amazing sword strike with reverence.

    ¡°A land myth is strong, but Wu Tong will have over a hundred national guardians and countless demon troops. Even a land myth could be overwhelmed. I suggest inviting the Wugui City defender to Garan City.¡±

    Dong Long nodded: ¡°If he comes, I would even give up my position as Garan City¡¯s defender.¡±

    Liu Wentai hurriedly said, ¡°The Wugui City defender will never come to Garan City!¡±

    He remembered Qi Yuan¡¯s sword strike, expressing his attitude.

    He felt the defender was already annoyed with his constant urging to leave.

    ¡°Arrogant!¡± An old man said, ¡°Does he think being a land myth means he can do as he pleases?¡±

    A deep voice said, ¡°A land myth can indeed do as they please. If Liu Xiantai is right, the defender¡¯s presence in Garan City would be a burden.

    With his strength, even if Wu Tong attacks, he can leave. Can Wu Tong stop him?

    We should worry less about Wugui City and more about defending Garan City after he leaves.¡±

    Everyone agreed.

    Wugui City couldn¡¯t be defended.

    The defender would surely leave.

    They had to face Wu Tong¡¯s army.

    Their pressure was much greater now.

    Garan City¡¯s defender, Dong Long, stood on the city wall, looking into the distance: ¡°I hope... the mythic defender heavily damages Wu Tong¡¯s army before leaving.¡±

    This way, Wu Tong couldn¡¯t quickly organize his forces to attack Garan City, giving them time to prepare.

    ¡°Liu Wentai, Zhao Ju, take some people and watch Wugui City from afar.

    Report any news immediately.¡± Dong Long ordered.

    He wanted news of Wu Tong¡¯s army, not Wugui City.

    Wugui City¡¯s fate was sealed.

    He needed to know the damage to Wu Tong¡¯s army after Wugui City fell.

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Liu Wentai and Zhao Ju obeyed.

    ...

    A month passed in a flash.

    Liu Wentai and Zhao Ju hid in the vast desert, concealing themselves.

    Behind them, over a dozen cultivators also hid.

    They were Garan City¡¯s guerrilla scouts, skilled in hiding and speed.

    Zhao Ju, hidden in the sand, smiled mischievously: ¡°That Wugui City defender sure likes to... show off.

    If it were me, facing Wu Tong¡¯s army, I¡¯d have run already.

    But there he is, sitting on the city wall, unafraid of thousands of troops. He¡¯s pretending to be brave, but it¡¯s quite impressive!¡±

    ¡°Is it possible the defender isn¡¯t afraid?¡± Liu Wentai thought of Qi Yuan.

    That defender wasn¡¯t what Zhao Ju said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when Wu Tong¡¯s army comes, he¡¯ll surely strike and run!¡± Zhao Ju was confident.

    If he had that power, he¡¯d emulate the defender too.

    Being flashy might be unprincipled, but it was definitely cool.

    Liu Wentai looked at Zhao Ju with disdain: ¡°Don¡¯t judge a gentleman with a petty mind.¡±

    Zhao Ju shrugged: ¡°I don¡¯t judge by thoughts, only actions.

    If he stays in Wugui City and harms Wu Tong¡¯s army, I¡¯ll respect him.

    Though I say he shows off, he¡¯s indeed impressive. The only flaw is Wugui City will fall.¡±

    Zhao Ju spoke with regret.

 Chapter 108: Thanks for the quote, Bro

    Chapter 108: Thanks for the quote, Bro

    Boom!

    Boom!

    The heavy sound was like a giant drum pounding on the chest.

    Yellow sand flew, and dust filled the sky.

    In the midst of the dust, the ferocious faces of colossal creatures could be seen faintly.

    There were not one or two, but tens of thousands of terrifying demons!

    The sight of tens of thousands of demons charging was immensely shocking and soul-crushing.

    Amid the yellow sand, Zhao Ju was terrified by this scene.

    They were hiding nearly ten miles from Wugui City, yet the army of tens of thousands of demons unsettled them. One could only imagine the pressure on Qi Yuan, who was sitting alone on the city wall, facing the demon army.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan stood up on the city wall, his sleeves fluttering in the wind. Holding his broken sword, he looked happy: ¡°The monsters are finally attacking the city!¡±

    In games, there were often beast tides attacking cities.

    During such times, player guilds would cooperate to defend the city.

    But in this game, Qi Yuan was the only player.

    So, he had to defend the city alone.

    Looking at the army of tens of thousands of demons, his eyes shone with joy.

    These demons were all experience points.

    By slaying them all, he could level up several times.

    As the army advanced, Qi Yuan, holding his broken sword, leaped off the city wall.

    Together with Xiao Jia, he merged into one.

    For Qi Yuan now, a larger body was more effective in slaying enemies.

    Standing ten feet tall, Qi Yuan looked like a terrifying blood-red giant, wielding a blood-colored broken sword, resembling a battle demon drenched in blood.

    Seeing this, Zhao Ju¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°What kind of divine power is this? It¡¯s too cool!¡±

    A land myth could possess divine powers.

    Divine powers had unimaginable abilities.

    Liu Wentai also looked at Qi Yuan¡¯s enormous body. It wasn¡¯t his first time seeing it, but each time, he was deeply shocked.

    It felt like a majestic god or a terrifying giant demon was standing in the distance.

    ¡°It seems the defender of Wugui City will use his divine power to slash once and then escape!¡± Zhao Ju made his prediction. ¡°We should be ready. Once the defender leaves, we need to retreat quickly!¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± The cultivators present nodded, feeling a bit tense.

    Indeed, as Zhao Ju predicted, Qi Yuan faced the army of demons.

    In the first round, he used the Sky Severing Sword Technique!

    For Qi Yuan, the Sky Severing Sword Technique was the simplest, most domineering, and most powerful skill.

    One slash was like a world apart, enough to annihilate thousands of soldiers.

    A sword of dozens of meters fell from the sky, and where the blade passed, it created a hundred-meter heatwave.

    Yellow sand scattered, and the blood-red giant sword cut into the demon army like a celestial being wielding a sword.

    The once terrifying and orderly demon army was split open by this slash.

    The power of one sword killed nearly a thousand demons!

    ¡°So strong!¡± Zhao Ju was shocked, ¡°If I were this strong, I¡¯d play guerrilla warfare with the demon army every day, slashing once a day to anger them!¡±

    After speaking, he prepared to leave.

    Though Qi Yuan¡¯s sword caused significant damage, it was nothing to the demon army.

    The powerful demons within the army hadn¡¯t been harmed.

    ¡°We...¡± Zhao Ju was about to suggest leaving, but what happened next stunned him completely.

    He thought the defender of Wugui City would escape after causing damage with one slash.

    But what did he see?

    Facing the army of demons, the defender didn¡¯t run. Instead, he charged into the army¡¯s encirclement!

    ¡°This action of the Wugui City defender... is unwise!¡± Zhao Ju was puzzled, unable to understand Qi Yuan¡¯s reasoning.

    Though impressive, being surrounded by the demon army was deadly.

    ¡°Run now; there¡¯s still a chance to break through!¡± Zhao Ju was more anxious than the blood-red figure, almost wanting to shout at Qi Yuan.

    Liu Wentai was also worried, remembering Qi Yuan¡¯s cold face. He believed Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t such a person.

    Meanwhile, at the rear of the demon army, the trainee demon controllers were laughing wildly.

    ¡°This Wugui City defender is truly reckless!¡±

    ¡°One person charges into my demon army; he¡¯s courting death!¡±

    ¡°Does he really think we¡¯re pushovers?¡±

    These demon controllers sharpened their knives, mocking Qi Yuan.

    Wu Tong, seeing the terrifying figure, also sneered.

    ¡°As expected of a disciple of the White Emperor, he has the confidence to charge alone into an army. Unfortunately, he met me.¡± Wu Tong thought to himself.

    He spoke, his voice spreading through the army: ¡°All national guardians, attack the Wugui City defender!¡±

    He didn¡¯t want to use ordinary demons to wear down the defender. Instead, he chose to suppress him with force!

    After all, with the Supreme¡¯s ultimate attack, he wasn¡¯t afraid of the Wugui City defender.

    Following Wu Tong¡¯s command, dozens of national guardians surrounded Qi Yuan.

    Powerful demons also rushed toward Qi Yuan.

    Within ten breaths, over a hundred national guardians secretly surrounded the rampaging Qi Yuan.

    Ten miles away, Zhao Ju saw this and despaired: ¡°Now... the defender of Wugui City probably can¡¯t get out.¡±

    Surrounded by so many national guardians and countless demons, the defender had lost his last chance of survival.

    Liu Wentai was also tense, feeling conflicted.

    He trusted Qi Yuan¡¯s strength, but the pressure Qi Yuan was facing was unimaginable.

    In such a situation, how could it be resolved without a Supreme?

    Unfortunately, the Supremes, high above, wouldn¡¯t appear in such a small place.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m too weak. Otherwise... I¡¯d fight alongside the Wugui City defender!¡± Liu Wentai sighed.

    Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Qi Yuan was like a god of death, slaying everything in sight with his sword.

    Currently, killing demons extracted 10% of the demonic origin for Qi Yuan.

    Amid the slaughter, his eyes turned even redder, with emotions like greed, wrath, and arrogance flowing through them.

    His task for the Supreme would be halfway completed.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    The purple droplet shot towards Qi Yuan, and the world fell silent.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s enormous body seemed locked in place, unable to move.

    Ultimate divine powers involved the essence, and without reaching the Supreme realm, land myths had no way to counter them.

    Facing an ultimate divine power meant only death.

    Qi Yuan also sensed the intense crisis.

    If this hit him, he would surely die.

    The gap between land myths and Supremes was like the difference between Divine Infants and Purple Mansions, a qualitative disparity.

    Yet, Qi Yuan¡¯s lips curled into a smile: ¡°You think you¡¯ve won by sneak attacking me without martial virtue?

    But you forgot one fact: I¡¯m not an elder; I¡¯m a young man!¡±

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s memory, young men winning by sneak attacking elders was common.

    But never the reverse.

    In the Earth Abyss, extra-terrestrial demons often sneak attacked him without martial virtue, yet Qi Yuan grew stronger, even figuring out near a hundred techniques to dodge ultimate attacks.

    He faced the purple droplet calmly, cycling through nearly a hundred avoidance techniques in his mind.

    In a fraction of a second, Qi Yuan smiled: ¡°Found it!¡±

    Break!

    He lightly exhaled towards the purple droplet.

    The unbreakable ultimate divine power, capable of destroying a city, was blown apart by Qi Yuan¡¯s breath.

    Qi Yuan smiled, looking at Wu Tong: ¡°Thanks for the rocket, bro!¡±

    With his words, the scattered purple droplet suddenly split into two, four... a thousand... ten thousand droplets.

    Tens of thousands of purple droplets hovered around Qi Yuan, motionless.

    Wu Tong was dumbfounded: ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    He didn¡¯t understand.

    The demon army and the demon controllers felt a sense of danger.

    The tens of thousands of purple droplets hovered before Qi Yuan.

    This time, Qi Yuan gently blew on the droplets again.

    ¡°Like a spring breeze overnight, thousands of horses lose their heads!¡±

    The wind moved the purple droplets, which then exploded.

    Countless droplets, like flying arrows, shot into the demon army.

    Qi Yuan, holding his broken sword, felt exuberant: ¡°Cheating feels great!¡±

    The purple droplets landed on the demons.

    The powerful demons didn¡¯t last a breath before dying and vanishing.

    These droplets were like enhanced bone-melting water, performing human vanishing acts.

    Any contact meant death.

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    Wu Tong was also terrified, beyond his understanding.

    The ultimate divine power was supposed to be his trump card.

    How did it end up with the Wugui City defender?

    Was this defender the Supreme himself?

    He couldn¡¯t comprehend it.

    ¡°No!¡± The droplets hit Wu Tong, and despite his struggles, he vanished.

    Under the attack of the purple droplets, demons and demon controllers alike perished upon contact.

    It was a spectacular sight, like rain falling, causing all life to collapse and perish.

    In just three breaths, the entire demon army vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered with intense killing intent.

    He had extracted much demonic origin this time, exuding a terrifying aura, resembling a true demon.

    Holding his broken sword, his body shrank as he looked at the yellow sand, speaking softly.

    ¡°The wind rises, rippling a pool of spring water.¡±

    He glanced at Zhao Ju and Liu Wentai in the distance before flashing back to Wugui City.

    Meanwhile, Zhao Ju was utterly dumbfounded.

    ¡°Am I hallucinating?¡±

    Liu Wentai was also silent, finding the scene incomprehensible.

    Wu Tong had used his divine power to attack the Wugui City defender.

    The defender blew on Wu Tong¡¯s divine power, and suddenly, the entire demon army... was gone.

    No matter how he thought about it, it seemed unbelievable.

    ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s too unbelievable!¡± Zhao Ju sighed, ¡°I misunderstood him. He wasn¡¯t showing off; he¡¯s genuinely impressive!¡±

    Liu Wentai nodded in agreement.

    One man took out an army of tens of thousands of demons!

    This defender of Wugui City was likely the strongest below the Supreme realm!

    ¡°But the only flaw is...¡± Zhao Ju continued regretfully, ¡°If the Wugui City defender had killed the demon army, then collapsed from exhaustion and died, today¡¯s feat would be a timeless legend.¡±

    Liu Wentai: ¡°...¡±

    ...

    In Garan City, Dong Long, with his silver hair and wrinkles, stood on the city wall, his face full of worry.

    He was extremely anxious about the battle ahead.

    Wu Tong was several times more troublesome than Mi Sang.

    Once Wugui City fell, Garan City would be the next target, and he didn¡¯t know how long they could hold out.

    Thinking of this, Dong Long¡¯s old face grew darker.

    At that moment, his spirits lifted because the scouts sent to observe Wugui City¡¯s battle were returning.

    He was nervous but maintained his composure, sitting in the high tower.

    No matter what happened, as the commander, he had to remain calm, like a mountain unshaken by a landslide.

 Chapter 109: The Hundred-Day Plan to Destroy the Palace of Light

    Chapter 109: The Hundred-Day Plan to Destroy the Palace of Light

    ¡°Defender, Defender!¡±

    The cultivator ran up the city wall, his face filled with excitement.

    Dong Long gazed into the vast desert, the news from afar causing only a ripple in his thoughts.

    He was contemplating how Garan City should deal with Wu Tong.

    Wu Tong had nearly a hundred national guardians under his command.

    With such terrifying strength, Garan City would find it difficult to cope.

    It would be better if the Wugui City defender killed some of the national guardians before leaving.

    After a few moments, sensing the arrival of the cultivator from Wugui City, he slowly asked, ¡°Did the Wugui City defender kill any national guardians?¡±

    The cultivator, ready to report, swallowed his organized words and said excitedly, ¡°Yes, he did!¡±

    Dong Long was not surprised by this.

    Given the Wugui City defender''s strength, killing a few national guardians wasn''t a problem.

    ¡°He killed...¡± Dong Long started to ask how many were killed, but thought it would make him seem too calculating, so he asked, ¡°Did the Wugui City defender flee?¡±

    The cultivator blinked.

    He felt today''s commander was a bit verbose, asking strange questions instead of letting him report properly. But since the other was a higher-ranking official, he couldn¡¯t be blunt.

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t flee!¡± the cultivator answered truthfully.

    The Wugui City defender was still sitting comfortably on the city wall!

    ¡°What?¡± Dong Long was shocked, tears almost falling from his eyes. ¡°The Wugui City defender... chose to fight to the death?¡±

    The guards present were filled with a tragic sense of heroism, some raising their heads to the sky in a long howl, others clenching their fists.

    ¡°Wugui City may be gone, but the defender lives on in our hearts!¡±

    ¡°No matter how strong Wu Tong is, he''ll have to step over my corpse!¡±

    Damn it! The reporting cultivator wanted to slap Dong Long but didn''t dare.

    However, he gathered the courage and said loudly, ¡°Everyone, please listen. The Wugui City defender isn¡¯t dead!¡±

    His words left everyone stunned.

    The eyes of over a dozen national guardians focused on the cultivator, and he felt immense pressure.

    ¡°The Wugui City defender isn¡¯t dead, did he surrender?¡±

    ¡°Damn!¡±

    The cultivator looked at the group of big shots, feeling utterly speechless. ¡°Can you all stop talking and let me speak?¡±

    Silence.

    Silence.

    A moment of silence fell over the scene.

    Dong Long, seeing this, calmly said, ¡°Everyone, be quiet and let him speak.¡±

    The cultivator breathed a sigh of relief and quickly spoke.

    ¡°The Wugui City defender not only isn¡¯t dead, but he also fought against Wu Tong¡¯s army of tens of thousands of demons!

    He alone, with one sword, wiped out Wu Tong¡¯s demon army! Wu Tong is dead¡ªno, none of the demon army or demon controllers survived!¡± The cultivator exhaled all this in one breath.

    After speaking, he felt very relieved and a bit anxious.

    At that moment, everyone was completely silent, unable to believe their ears.

    Dong Long looked at the cultivator, his gaze piercing: ¡°Is everything you said true?¡±

    ¡°Reporting to the commander, there¡¯s not a single false word. If I¡¯m lying, I¡¯m your father!¡± The cultivator, having held back his words, spoke boldly and even accidentally said something wrong.

    But at this moment, no one in Garan City cared about his last sentence.

    Everyone¡¯s faces showed disbelief.

    The Wugui City defender wiped out Wu Tong¡¯s army alone?

    Wu Tong is dead?

    This was like a myth!

    A land myth surrounded by Wu Tong¡¯s army should only meet death.

    But the Wugui City defender not only survived but killed all the enemies!

    Unimaginable, unbelievable, like a dream.

    ¡°Haha, Wu Tong is dead!¡± Dong Long couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°The Wugui City defender is so terrifying!¡±

    Dong Long laughed, gesticulating wildly. With a forceful push, he knocked down a large section of the city wall and fell off it himself.

    A national guardian, laughing joyfully, had knocked down the city wall and fallen.

    The other national guardians also laughed.

    Only the reporting cultivator was a bit worried, but seeing everyone else laugh, he joined in.

    ...

    In Wugui City, Qi Yuan sat on the city wall.

    ¡°Supreme¡¯s ultimate attack...¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes showed a contemplative look.

    ¡°Is there a Supreme eyeing me... or something else?¡±

    He glanced at Wugui City.

    An empty Wugui City, with only Yuan Qi sweeping the fallen leaves, no one else in sight.

    ¡°Now... facing a Supreme, I¡¯m still a bit weak,¡± Qi Yuan lamented.

    This time, although he faced an ultimate attack, Qi Yuan had battled many fallen Supremes in the Earth Absolute stage and mastered some techniques to evade ultimate attacks, enough to kill the opponent.

    But this wasn¡¯t universal.

    Against a true intact Supreme, his attacks couldn¡¯t hurt them.

    ¡°Unless I also have my ultimate divine power.¡±

    This required leveling up to 120.

    Currently, he was only level 94.

    Still a long way to go before level 120.

    ¡°Wu Tong is dead, and Yuzhou will be vacant for a while. I should take this chance to clear out the demons in Yuzhou.¡±

    Qi Yuan made up his mind.

    Now, his strength was enough to protect himself. Even against a large-scale demon army, he was not afraid.

    It was time to clear the demons around Wugui City and strengthen himself.

    Quickly reach level 120 and undergo the third comprehension of the origin.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t know how many years would pass for the Canary Fairy during his third comprehension.

    He also didn¡¯t know if he could see the Canary Fairy or Jiupan Mountain again.

    ¡°If she¡¯s still there, where would she be?¡± Qi Yuan looked up at the vast desert.

    They had demanded Great Shang hand him over by name.

    ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Lingsu licked her lips. ¡°Senior brother, are you scared? If you are, why not go up the mountain and ask our master? Maybe our powerful master can deal with the Palace of Light.¡±

    Jiang Lingsu still wanted to know if Ruan Yixi was the person she was looking for.

    Or someone else.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Qise Peak, where the palaces and towers were shrouded in mist, indistinct.

    ¡°I miss our master too, but I can¡¯t go up the mountain!¡± Qi Yuan sighed. Thinking of the Palace of Light, he gritted his teeth, ¡°Damn Palace of Light, I¡¯ve been generous enough not to write their names in my book, but they¡¯ve noted me first.

    No, I have to note them in my book too, and remember this shame!¡±

    Qi Yuan said and took out a notebook from his storage bag, writing the Palace of Light in it.

    Jiang Lingsu was used to this: ¡°Writing it down is useless; you can¡¯t curse them to death.

    Sigh, senior brother, let me tell you some gossip. Great Shang won¡¯t hand you and Kang Fulou over, but besides our Divine Light Sect, Great Shang has other sects.

    Their thoughts differ from ours.

    I heard some cultivators from the Devilish Desire Sect went to contact the Nascent Soul cultivator from the Palace of Light. You should be careful.¡±

    ¡°The Devilish Desire Sect, even with their thick eyebrows, is thinking of rebelling?¡± Qi Yuan was shocked.

    He remembered the sect leader was a spy from the Devilish Desire Sect.

    Thinking of this, he felt it wasn¡¯t safe to stay on the mountain.

    What if he was sold out?

    He couldn¡¯t entrust his safety to others'' mercy.

    Qi Yuan worried but suddenly had a flash of inspiration: ¡°Junior sister, if I kill the emissary from the Palace of Light, Great Shang won¡¯t hand me over, right?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly. That emissary is a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator with divine powers!

    You, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, can¡¯t handle that.¡± Jiang Lingsu emphasized the words ¡°Foundation Establishment.¡±

    ¡°Never mind that. Just tell me if what I said makes sense?¡±

    Jiang Lingsu thought for a moment and realized it did make sense.

    Killing the emissary from the Palace of Light would make the issue of handing over Qi Yuan or Kang Fulou irrelevant.

    But who would do such a thing?

    The thought process was too unusual.

    It was like... like... Jiang Lingsu couldn¡¯t find the words.

    ¡°It makes sense, but this will thoroughly offend the Palace of Light.¡± Jiang Lingsu said.

    ¡°Hmm, as long as it makes sense.¡± Qi Yuan mumbled, said goodbye to his junior sister, and returned to his cabin.

    His face was serious, looking deeply troubled.

    The Palace of Light put a lot of pressure on him.

    He was plotting a strategy, devising a perfect plan.

    After about a quarter of an hour, a grand plan took shape.

    Qi Yuan was very pleased.

    He entered the Divine Flower Society chat group and shared his plan.

    ¡°Everyone, to counter the Palace of Light¡¯s threat, I¡¯ve come up with a grand plan. You¡¯re all experts, help me see if there¡¯s anything to improve, or even sponsor me a little.¡±

    Soon, someone spoke in the group.

    The most active, Rogue Immortal Lord, was the first.

    ¡°Heaven Origin Lord is indeed formidable, planning to destroy the Palace of Light!

    Let me see how this plan is.¡±

    Rogue Immortal Lord opened Qi Yuan¡¯s document.

    A few big words caught his eye.

    ¡°The Hundred-Day Plan to Destroy the Palace of Light¡±

    Simple and straightforward.

    Rogue Immortal Lord was puzzled but still opened it.

    Seeing the content, he couldn¡¯t hold back.

    First Day: Ambush the Nascent Soul early-stage emissary from the Palace of Light and kill him! Difficulty: One star.

    Second to Fourth Days: Perfect the cultivation method from mid-stage Foundation Establishment to late-stage Foundation Establishment. Difficulty: Two stars.

    Fifth to Seventh Days: Cultivate from mid-stage Foundation Establishment to late-stage Foundation Establishment. Difficulty: One star.

    Eighth to Twentieth Days: Form at least a heavenly-grade Golden Core. Difficulty: Three stars.

    ...

    ¡°Ahem... Heaven Origin Lord, your plan is quite unique.¡± Rogue Immortal Lord was at a loss for words.

    Damn!

    You think breakthroughs are as easy as drinking water?

    Jumping a realm in a few days?

    Even if the Dao were your father, it wouldn¡¯t work!

    And forming at least a celestial-grade Golden Core, it¡¯s too much.

    ¡°This plan has been brewing for a long time. I specifically refined the details and added difficulty ratings, making it seamless.¡± Qi Yuan was very proud.

    Rogue Immortal Lord didn¡¯t want to speak.

    This was called seamless?

    Just adding difficulty ratings?

    He wanted to say it was pure fantasy!

    At that moment, Ice Queen also spoke in the group.

    ¡°Wow, let me see Heaven Origin Lord¡¯s plan!¡±

    Rogue Immortal Lord was a bit happy to see Ice Queen. He couldn¡¯t criticize Heaven Origin Lord, but Ice Queen would surely scoff at the plan.

    After a few moments, Ice Queen spoke again: ¡°This Hundred-Day Plan is straightforward, clear, and grand. I approve!

    I¡¯m most impressed that Heaven Origin Lord detailed what to do each period and the difficulty. So meticulous!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m most proud of.¡± Qi Yuan was very pleased.

    His highlight was noticed.

    Rogue Immortal Lord: ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Anyone want to support my plan? When I destroy the Palace of Light, I¡¯ll be very grateful!

    Especially with techniques, I want to perfect mine to late-stage Foundation Establishment, even Golden Core!¡± Qi Yuan began crowdfunding in the group.

    ¡°Heaven Origin Lord, I¡¯ll support with one... spirit stone.¡± Rogue Immortal Lord said weakly.

    ¡°I have many techniques. I just killed some rabbits and got five profound-level techniques, one of which is high-grade profound-level. I¡¯ll give them to you.¡± Ice Queen said domineeringly.

    Qi Yuan almost cried with joy hearing Ice Queen.

    The world was still full of good people!

 Chapter 110: Is Everyone in the Group His Alternate Account?

    Chapter 110: Is Everyone in the Group His Alternate Account?

    Everyone in the group was kind.

    Qi Yuan was moved.

    Thinking of something, Qi Yuan said, "In a hundred days, the Palace of Light will be destroyed. I have a plan to make a fortune and share it with the group."

    "What fortune-making plan?" The Sun Emperor arrived late.

    "Does the Palace of Light give high-interest loans? If you''re in Cuiyun Continent, you might as well borrow some spirit stones from them. Once I destroy the Palace of Light, those loans won''t need to be repaid." Qi Yuan shared his fortune-making plan with his group friends.

    Rogue Immortal Lord was completely stunned.

    He wanted to say, are you serious?

    The hundred-day plan had just been formulated, and the destruction of the Palace of Light was still far away, and you¡¯re already planning this?

    "Heaven Origin Lord, you are indeed a genius!" Ice Queen said in the group, "Why didn''t I think of making money like this?"

    "As long as you work hard, think more, and use your brain, you''ll be as successful as me." Qi Yuan shared his success experience.

    "Heaven Origin Lord, how much wealth do you have now?" Rogue Immortal Lord asked faintly.

    "Ahem... that¡¯s not important." Qi Yuan suddenly felt a bit guilty.

    Maybe he wasn''t very successful?

    It was just the flattery from the group that made him feel a bit arrogant.

    He immediately reflected on himself and said, "Don''t borrow too much high-interest loans from the Palace of Light. After all, the hundred-day plan hasn''t been fully implemented yet. Everyone should act within their means and not celebrate too early."

    "I''m going to borrow ten thousand high-interest loans from the Palace of Light, just to reduce their spirit stone reserves and help Heaven Origin Lord''s cause." The Sun Emperor said without hesitation.

    "I¡¯ll borrow a million!" Ice Queen said dominantly.

    Rogue Immortal Lord shivered at hearing this.

    Are they all going crazy with Heaven Origin Lord?

    "Unfortunately, I''m too far from the Palace of Light, otherwise, I would also borrow some." Qi Yuan felt that it was difficult to have everything.

    "Alright everyone, I have to log off now. I¡¯m going to ambush the Nascent Soul early-stage envoy from the Palace of Light and kill him when he''s not expecting it." Qi Yuan continued.

    Now, he couldn''t stay long in the real world.

    After all, something might happen in the game world at any time, and he needed to be efficient in his actions.

    "Heaven Origin Lord, are you really going to ambush a Nascent Soul cultivator?" Rogue Immortal Lord asked weakly.

    That was a Nascent Soul!

    Not some random cat or dog!

    "Yes, I¡¯m going right now." Qi Yuan was serious.

    "That''s a Nascent Soul..." Rogue Immortal Lord felt that Heaven Origin Lord really had a problem, it didn''t seem like he was pretending.

    "So what if it''s a Nascent Soul? I¡¯m a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator, don¡¯t you understand the value of a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?" Qi Yuan was confident, "Unfortunately, I¡¯m not as perfect as Ice Queen in Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, I would teach the Palace of Light a lesson right now."

    Ice Queen smiled sweetly and said in the group, "Rogue Immortal Lord, you underestimate Heaven Origin Lord. He¡¯s a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator, why would he fear the little Palace of Light?

    Since Heaven Origin Lord has formulated a detailed plan, I dare say, the Palace of Light will be destroyed within a hundred days!"

    A Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator definitely had the backing of a Yin God expert.

    Rogue Immortal Lord was stunned.

    Did he underestimate his group members¡¯ strength?

    Should he go borrow a high-interest loan from the Palace of Light?

    "Heaven Origin Lord, can I tell some of my friends that a powerful person is planning to attack the Palace of Light and let them borrow high-interest loans too? This won¡¯t expose your plan, right?" Ice Queen asked.

    Qi Yuan thought for a while and said, "Feel free to tell them, just don¡¯t reveal my identity."

    After thinking about it, he realized that in the Divine Flower Society, apart from his junior sister Jiang Lingsu, no one knew his identity.

    What was he afraid of?

    Even if the word got out, the people from the Palace of Light wouldn''t think it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator planning to destroy them.

    The Palace of Light would focus more on others.

    Even if they knew a Foundation Establishment cultivator was bragging about destroying them, they wouldn''t take it seriously.

    It would be like an internet user suggesting to a rocket scientist that phoenix trees make better rocket fuel, and if the rocket scientist took it seriously, they would lose.

    ...

    In an unknown cave mansion, a woman was shrouded in light, making it difficult to see her face.

    She took out a jade slip, thought for a moment, and sent a message.

    "A friend of mine is planning to attack the Palace of Light. If you want to borrow high-interest loans from the Palace of Light, you¡¯d better hurry." The woman was Ice Queen.

    Messages came back one after another in the jade slip.

    "Who is the big shot targeting the Palace of Light?"

    "Hiss... Is it a Yin God?"

    "It seems the recent actions of the Palace of Light have angered some big shots."

    "Let''s go, borrow some spirit stones from the Palace of Light before the news spreads!"

    "If we¡¯re late, we won''t get anything."

    In the next few days, several Purple Mansion cultivators would go to the Palace of Light to borrow spirit stones, which might make the upper echelons of the Palace of Light sense that something was wrong.

    ...

    In the Great Shang Kingdom, Yunzhi Mountain was shrouded in mist, like an immortal paradise.

    In a bamboo house, the sound of a zither drifted.

    The Nascent Soul cultivator from the Palace of Light was playing the zither.

    Jibai Ying, the current true disciple of the Devilish Desire Sect, was listening, captivated.

    "Senior, you are indeed a zither master. One tune is enough to settle Great Shang." Jibai Ying flattered.

    She was sent by her master to serve this Nascent Soul cultivator from the Palace of Light and strengthen the relationship between the Demonic Desire Sect and the Palace of Light.

    "You flatter me. Great Shang isn''t willing to hand over even two ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators to me. How can I talk about settling Great Shang?" Lord Liqin''s eyes were smiling, looking especially kind.

    Jibai Ying''s expression turned cold: "Great Shang is completely controlled by the Divine Light Sect. Naturally, they wouldn''t hand over Kang Fulou and Qi Yuan.

    As far as I know, Young Master Wolf''s death in the Immortal Realm is inseparable from the Divine Light Sect."

    "Kang Fulou and Qi Yuan killed Young Master Wolf? Are they that talented?" Lord Liqin only knew half of the story about the Immortal Realm.

    Wolf was listed on the Eastern Land''s Heavenly Pride list, and he had a small status and position within the Palace of Light.

    "Humph, that Kang Fulou is at most on par with me. As for that Qi Yuan, he''s a nobody. I can kill him with one sword strike.

    How could they have killed Young Master Wolf?

    I suspect that during the opening of the Immortal Realm, there were Golden Core cultivators from the Divine Light Sect involved, and Young Master Wolf was likely besieged by them." Jibai Ying analyzed reasonably.

    Lord Liqin nodded: "You make sense."

    He didn''t believe that their prodigy from the Palace of Light would be killed by cultivators from a small place like Great Shang.

    "The royal family of Great Shang and the Divine Light Sect collude for their own selfish interests, putting Great Shang in danger.

    Our Demonic Desire Sect doesn¡¯t want to be labeled a demonic faction. Please advise us, my lord!" Jibai Ying saw the right moment to state her purpose.

    She wanted to align with the Palace of Light.

    Some colorful underwear, a pathetic pile of spirit stones, and techniques that Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care for.

    "What''s this, a list? A spy list?"

    Unexpectedly, Qi Yuan found a list of spies in the Divine Light Sect within Jibai Ying''s storage bag.

    Qi Yuan opened the list and was stunned: "The Devilish Desire Sect really went all out?"

    The list had hundreds of names.

    Considering that the Divine Light Sect had only a few thousand members, including elders, disciples, and even servants, it was shocking.

    "No wonder I always felt something was wrong in the Divine Light Sect.

    It¡¯s a miracle it still functions well."

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care much.

    After obtaining the list, he had no intention of disrupting the current situation.

    He certainly wouldn¡¯t imitate a certain internet user, threatening a senior with the list.

    "But what¡¯s the Demonic Desire Sect''s true motive for infiltrating the Divine Light Sect so extensively?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    It seemed foolish if their only goal was to take over the Divine Light Sect.

    Recalling some strange sounds he heard occasionally during his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, he speculated there must be deeper reasons.

    "First, complete the hundred-day plan, then consider other matters.

    If needed, I¡¯ll devise another detailed plan with my smart brain!"

    Qi Yuan entered the Divine Flower Society chat group.

    "Good news, everyone. The first step of the hundred-day plan is complete. Your investment is paying off."

    Rogue Immortal Lord: "... The Nascent Soul cultivator is dead?"

    "Chopped him with a cleaver!" Qi Yuan said nonchalantly.

    Rogue Immortal Lord fell silent.

    Is there something wrong with me or with Heaven Origin Lord?

    "Heaven Origin Lord, you act swiftly. I¡¯m going to borrow another twenty thousand spirit stones from the Palace of Light." The Sun Emperor quickly replied.

    "Heaven Origin Lord, don¡¯t be too fast. If you destroy the Palace of Light too soon, my sisters won¡¯t be able to borrow spirit stones." Ice Queen said anxiously.

    Rogue Immortal Lord looked at the messages in the group, feeling conflicted.

    Could the Sun Emperor and Ice Queen be Heaven Origin Lord''s alternate accounts?

    Otherwise, why would they believe such an outrageous story?

    Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment or not, how could they kill a Nascent Soul with one strike?

    No matter how extraordinary, a Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn''t defeat a Nascent Soul!

    Even the number one on the Heavenly Pride list couldn¡¯t defeat a Nascent Soul cultivator during Foundation Establishment.

    "Let''s wait a hundred days and see if Heaven Origin Lord is bragging or if I¡¯m short-sighted."

    Rogue Immortal Lord decided to stay silent in the group and observe.

    Unaware of this, Qi Yuan memorized all the new techniques.

    When he entered the game, he could perfect the ''Qi Yuan Scripture'' during his spare time.

    After some time, a voice suddenly came to his mind.

    "Hmph, you want me to hand it over? No way!"

    Ning Tao?

    Qi Yuan was stunned. What¡¯s happening in the game?

    ...

    In the northern region.

    Several terrifying auras filled the air, affecting the weather, with rain continuously falling.

    Seven Supremes surrounded Ning Tao, their faces fierce.

    "Ning Tao, hand over the Blood Demon, and we''ll spare your life!"

    The seven Supremes stared at Ning Tao, their eyes full of dread.

    Especially seeing the blood sphere behind her, their fear intensified.

    "Hmph, you want me to hand it over? No way!"

    Ning Tao, dressed in a black form-fitting dress embroidered with golden plum blossoms, stood slender in the air, protecting the blood sphere behind her.

    "He¡¯s not the Blood Demon, and I won¡¯t hand him over!"

    "But you, who instigated this attack against me?"

    Blood dripped from her sleeve, dissipating into the air.

    At the Supreme level, they consciously prevented any body fluids from lingering outside.

    Being besieged by seven Supremes, Ning Tao was seriously injured.

    Even so, she protected the blood sphere like a mother hen protecting her chick.

    "Ning Tao, as the Palace Master of the Heart Palace, you defy the Supreme''s orders and secretly collude with the Blood Demon.

    Leave the Blood Demon, and we¡¯ll let you go!" One Supreme said sternly.

    The Palace Master of the Heart Palace was a powerful figure among the Supremes.

    They didn¡¯t want to push her too hard, fearing casualties.

    "What evidence do you have that he¡¯s the Blood Demon?" Ning Tao, blood still on her lips, smiled charmingly.

    But the seven Supremes felt a visceral revulsion.

    The character "demon" on her face, even hidden by a black veil, made them feel nauseous.

    So, despite being a Supreme, the Thirteen Demons of the North were universally hated.

    From a young age, Ning Tao had faced looks of disgust and hostility.

    Even her most loving mother once sneaked into her room at night with scissors, trying to kill her.

    "He looks like the Blood Demon described by the Supreme." One Supreme said, staring at the blood sphere, "If he¡¯s not the Blood Demon, what is he?"

    "He¡¯s my... son." Ning Tao smiled sweetly, but her smile sent chills through everyone.

    A helpless voice came: "How did I become your son?"

    It was Qi Yuan speaking.

    But, his skin was still too thin to respond like a middle schooler, calling a girl his mom and saying he wanted to drink milk.

 Chapter 111: The Obsessed Ning Tao, Battle Royale

    Chapter 111: The Obsessed Ning Tao, Battle Royale

    As Qi Yuan spoke, everyone''s eyes fell on the blood sphere.

    "Palace Master of Tianxin Palace, what do you have to say now? How is he not a blood demon?"

    The seven supreme beings looked at Qi Yuan, but they did not sense any terrifying aura from him.

    They also knew that the blood demon was not yet fully formed and was not worth worrying about.

    Ning Tao turned around to look at Qi Yuan behind her, a look of grievance in her eyes. "You finally deign to see me."

    Qi Yuan gazed at Ning Tao''s injuries with a complex expression.

    "You can leave me behind."

    After all, the blood sphere was not Qi Yuan''s true body.

    Even if it were damaged, it would not affect him in the slightest.

    Ning Tao raised her head stubbornly, "I won''t be like someone who disappears for decades, even centuries."

    She turned to the seven supreme beings around them:

    "I said no one could hurt you, so no one will!"

    The aura of origin spread from Ning Tao, making her seem as if she were one with the world.

    Seeing this, the seven supreme beings also wore grim expressions and merged with the world.

    Qi Yuan calmly remarked, "You will... die. Why do this?

    We were just strangers meeting by chance and hardly exchanged a few words."

    Qi Yuan couldn''t quite understand Ning Tao''s thoughts.

    He felt that Ning Tao was like an obsessed child.

    "Hmph." Ning Tao snorted coldly.

    She didn''t want to talk to Qi Yuan.

    What did he know about her thoughts and feelings?

    Just a filthy man!

    "Who would have thought that the esteemed Palace Master of Tianxin Palace would also be bewitched by the blood demon and fall into a love trap?" One supreme being laughed.

    "Hahaha... A witch in love..." Another female supreme being laughed mockingly.

    Everyone knew that witches were cursed by heaven, making anyone who saw them feel disgusted and regard them as the ugliest beings in the world.

    A witch in love was the funniest thing in the world.

    How could anyone fall in love with a witch?

    "Have you laughed enough?" Ning Tao''s face turned cold, "Either get out of the way or... die!"

    It was the first time Qi Yuan saw such a cold side of Ning Tao.

    She was like a stray cat, wary of everything in the world, facing people with the most aggressive stance.

    "It seems, Palace Master of Tianxin Palace, that today you wish to die here with the blood demon." The female supreme being smiled without anger.

    At this moment, Ning Tao''s voice reached Qi Yuan''s ears: "I have good news for you. When the battle starts, I will release your restraints, and you can run as far as you can."

    Qi Yuan replied, "Actually, I have already left."

    This blood sphere was not Qi Yuan''s body, merely flesh he once resided in.

    Ning Tao was silent for a moment, then said, "Actually... I knew."

    Qi Yuan smiled.

    "Even if I''m at the foundational level of the Heavenly Dao, I can''t be a match for seven supreme beings."

    Ning Tao wasn''t surprised.

    In her view, Qi Yuan was just an ordinary supreme being.

    Especially since he came from another realm and was restricted by the world''s rules, he couldn''t exert the full power of a supreme being.

    Otherwise, she wouldn''t have trapped him so easily.

    "You just need to leave, don''t burden me." Ning Tao''s voice was full of disdain.

    "I can''t leave." Qi Yuan said seriously, "These seven people framed me as the blood demon and want me dead here. An aunt can tolerate it, but an uncle cannot!"

    "What do you mean?" Ning Tao was puzzled.

    "I want to borrow your hands to kill them."

    "Tch, you''re from another realm. How can you know the origin better than our supreme beings in Liufeng Realm?"

    The origin of each world is different.

    In Canglan Realm, those with Purple Mansions also grasped the origin.

    However, in Liufeng Realm, they could only be considered half a supreme being.

    Because the origins were different.

    "You''re underestimating me!" Qi Yuan said proudly, "I''m more familiar with this realm''s origin than anyone!"

    Qi Yuan had once fought nearly three thousand old men in Dique.

    Those old men all used the origin of Liufeng Realm.

    Various origins in Liufeng Realm had hurt him, and he remembered them clearly.

    "Kill!" The seven supreme beings'' attacks struck at this moment.

    Once they moved, it was the legendary origin divine ability.

    Seven origin divine abilities attacked Ning Tao simultaneously.

    Even someone as powerful as Ning Tao seemed weak against seven origin divine abilities.

    She couldn''t block all seven at once and had to endure one or two.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s voice came: "Gather the power of the human-demon in the dantian, disperse the qi in the palm, and flow through the void..."

    Qi Yuan spoke quickly, and Ning Tao followed his instructions instinctively.

    She seemed like a carp in the sea, rolling to avoid the origin divine abilities attacking from different directions and levels.

    She completely blocked the seven origin divine abilities!

    A look of surprise appeared on Ning Tao''s small face: "How did you do that?"

    The seven supreme beings were even more shocked.

    Just now, Ning Tao''s dodge showed an extreme understanding of their origin divine abilities.

    It was as if each of them were facing their own origin divine ability.

    This was impossible!

    Because how could they reveal their trump cards to others?

    "What kind of technique is this? How did you do it?"

    "Hmph, why should I tell you how I know?" Qi Yuan''s assistance brought joy to Ning Tao''s heart, but the danger wasn''t over, and she couldn''t let her guard down.

    She hid in the sky, her whip in hand, and the sound of thunder seemed to echo.

    The seven supreme beings'' expressions were grim: "We must kill her!"

    Their origin divine abilities had been seen through by one person. If leaked, they would be the weakest among their peers.

    "While she''s severely injured, leave her behind!" The female supreme being said coldly.

    The seven supreme beings showed no mercy, continuing their origin divine abilities.

    Qi Yuan stood behind, speaking quickly to Ning Tao.

    It was Qi Yuan''s instructions that allowed Ning Tao to truly contend with the seven supreme beings simultaneously.

    Otherwise, heavily injured Ning Tao wouldn''t be a match for the seven supreme beings.

    After half a day, in a desolate area.

    Ning Tao fell from the sky like a broken kite, her face pale, and her black dress stained with blood.

    "Cough... We escaped..."

    Her bleak life changed.

    The cold water made her feel sleepy.

    The decades of escape injured her origin.

    Her life force was fragile, close to falling.

    Ning Tao looked at Qi Yuan, her expression complex: "Husband, may I see what you look like? I''m curious."

    "I''m also curious about the other half of your face. If you let me see, I''ll show you my true self." Qi Yuan wouldn''t let his true body be near Ning Tao. "No photo, no video."

    Obsessive Ning Tao might lock his true body here.

    "Forget it." Half-submerged, Ning Tao blew on the water, "I won''t let you see, or you''ll hate me like the others."

    She wouldn''t let Qi Yuan see half her face.

    She didn''t want the one person she cared for to hate her.

    But Ning Tao wasn''t giving up: "Why do you care about my face? You can treat me as someone else, I can wear black silk for you."

    "I''m pure, don''t tempt me!" Qi Yuan refused.

    Though Lust affected him, he didn''t want to be a slave to desire.

    When the time is right, everything will fall into place.

    They fell silent, Ning Tao soaking in the water.

    After about a quarter-hour, Qi Yuan asked, "Do you know the strength of the lord and White Emperor?"

    Now at level 109, in the north-south decision, he was still a small fry.

    To understand the world''s top power, he asked Ning Tao, a late-stage supreme being.

    "The lord and White Emperor..." Ning Tao''s eyes grew serious, "If they wish, they can kill me with a finger."

    "That strong?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    Ning Tao wasn''t weak among supreme beings.

    A finger could kill her.

    In Canglan Realm, this was equivalent to a Yin God.

    Thinking of the Yin God''s power, Qi Yuan felt pressured.

    A partial Yin God in the sun was hard enough; two complete ones were tougher.

    "I must stay low, not expose myself to big bosses." Qi Yuan thought.

    Recently, a handsome man claimed to be White Emperor''s disciple in Wugui City.

    He invited Qi Yuan to White Emperor Palace.

    No way!

    At least until level 99999, Qi Yuan wouldn''t meet White Emperor.

    Thinking of the real world''s Light Palace, with Yin God-like power.

    Qi Yuan frowned: "Ning Tao, can a strong hegemon kill the lord?"

    A hegemon was equivalent to Canglan''s foundation.

    Ning Tao smiled: "Husband is too naive."

    A hegemon couldn''t do it.

    "What about a strong protector?" Qi Yuan asked.

    In reality, he wasn''t at protector level, just a pill master.

    Ning Tao continued smiling: "Even the strongest protector can''t."

    A protector, she could kill with a breath.

    "If the protector is as big as Ultraman?" Ning Tao was the strongest he could converse with, a late-stage supreme being, worth asking.

    Maybe she could inspire him to deal with Light Palace.

    To sleep well, Qi Yuan needed Yin God-level power.

    "I don''t know Ultraman''s size, but if as big as Liufeng Realm, maybe the protector could kill the lord."

    "A protector the size of Liufeng Realm?"

    Qi Yuan was stunned, an idea sparked.

    Ning Tao made sense.

    If... he made a golden pill as big as Liufeng Realm, could he crush Light Palace?

    Such a golden pill, majestic and powerful!

    See who disagrees, throw the golden pill.

    It was better than his fantasy of a golden pill with Lust.

    Qi Yuan got excited: "Ning Tao, you''re smarter than my wise brain."

    But he felt helpless.

    Such a golden pill... how?

    Even with a digger, he couldn''t empty Liufeng Realm.

    Qi Yuan was troubled.

    He stopped thinking about a celestial golden pill; this was better.

    A golden pill like this suited the heavenly foundation!

    Ning Tao stayed silent, soaking in the water.

    Qi Yuan thought about making a golden pill from worlds.

    A genius idea!

    He felt the "White Day Fantasy Art" suited him.

    After a long time.

    "Husband..." Ning Tao''s voice was soft, like the first time Qi Yuan heard her.

    Qi Yuan stopped thinking and looked at her, seeing expectation in her eyes.

    "If I''m gone, can I see your true face?"

    "Don''t curse yourself." Qi Yuan sounded regretful, "If you let me go sooner, all would be well. Now you''ve angered the north, letting me go won''t help."

    Ning Tao was strong.

    In decades, she killed six supreme beings.

    Now, the north''s most wanted were the blood demon and Ning Tao.

    "I said I won''t leave you, and I won''t.

    Unlike you, who abandoned me, leaving me alone." Ning Tao''s voice was soft and crying.

    Qi Yuan didn''t fully believe her.

    How much of her words were true?

    But her words moved him.

    He needed to level up quickly, reaching level 120.

    He wanted to return to Jiupan Mountain.

    Each time, he left without notice.

    He looked at Ning Tao: "Did I abandon you?"

    They never met, so it didn''t count.

 Chapter 112: Threat from the Grand Supreme

    Chapter 112: Threat from the Grand Supreme

    Night had fallen, and Ning Tao¡¯s delicate body curled up, her overly pale hands tightly gripping the chain. "Husband..."

    Suddenly, she opened her eyes, cold sweat on her forehead.

    She looked at the blood sphere not far away, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

    He had left.

    Suddenly, a ripple appeared in the space.

    A blood-red figure materialized, forming into a man: "Ning Tao, why are you mingling with the blood demon?"

    The man¡¯s head was also covered by a black hood, hiding his face.

    He, like Ning Tao, was one of the Thirteen Demons of North Magic, named He Wu.

    "He is not a blood demon," Ning Tao said seriously.

    "All the supreme beings of the North have declared him to be a blood demon, so he is a blood demon!" He Wu said.

    As members of the Thirteen Demons, they were different from other supreme beings and didn''t care about the great affairs of the blood demon.

    After all, the blood demon''s havoc on the world was something far in the future.

    Their immediate crisis was much closer at hand.

    He Wu looked at Ning Tao: "In your current state, you might fall before a century is up.

    The Gate of Myriad Variations reappears; how will you withstand it? If you cannot maintain your peak strength and fight for a hundred days, you will surely die."

    Ning Tao fell silent for a moment and then changed the topic: "Have you found out who is spreading the rumors about the blood demon in Tianxin Palace? Which of my enemies is it?"

    The news of the blood demon in Tianxin Palace spread throughout the North, leading to Ning Tao being besieged. There had to be a mastermind behind it.

    "Suspected to be the Purple Taoist," He Wu replied.

    "Him?" Ning Tao sneered, her eyes flashing with killing intent. "I have no enmity with him, why frame me?"

    "We Thirteen Demons, do we need to have enmity with anyone? Aren¡¯t we all hated by the heavens and men?" He Wu smiled self-deprecatingly.

    From birth, they, with the "demon" character carved on their faces, were hated by all.

    Did anyone need a reason to frame them?

    It was original sin.

    ...

    In Wugui City, Qi Yuan returned from slaying demons, a fierce look in his eyes.

    "Rather than saying the blood sphere is the blood demon, it¡¯s more accurate to say I am the blood demon," Qi Yuan introspected.

    In his soul, the source of evil had grown from a grain of rice to the size of a fist.

    If Qi Yuan didn''t control it fully, he would undoubtedly become a terrifying demon.

    "I''m a player, not some damn blood demon." Qi Yuan shook off his previous thoughts.

    "Big brother, you¡¯re back?" At this moment, a frivolous voice called out.

    Chen Huan, dressed in white robes, jumped down from the city wall with a bright smile on his face.

    Looking at Chen Huan, Qi Yuan said helplessly, "I don''t take sworn brothers, I''m not that childish."

    The white-robed man in front of him had come to Wugui City five years ago.

    Chen Huan''s status was quite special, being one of the three thousand disciples of the White Emperor.

    After hearing of Qi Yuan''s deeds from Yuan Qi and seeing him in action a few times, Chen Huan insisted on becoming sworn brothers with Qi Yuan.

    How could a noble player like him take an NPC as a sworn brother? It would be a laughingstock.

    "Big brother, look, I¡¯m at the peak of the land¡¯s mythology. Maybe one day, I¡¯ll break through to the supreme realm.

    Having a supreme little brother would give you quite a reputation, wouldn¡¯t it?" Chen Huan, carefree and self-assured, laughed.

    "I... don''t need reputation." Qi Yuan, not wanting to bother with Chen Huan, flashed to the city wall.

    Chen Huan followed him up, gazing at the vast desert: "Big brother, you¡¯ve guarded Wugui City alone for seventy years; I truly admire you.

    But if I break through to the supreme realm, and you ask to be sworn brothers, do you think I¡¯d still care about you?"

    "You''ve said this for five years, why haven''t you broken through to the supreme realm yet?" Qi Yuan looked at Chen Huan with disdain, "Is it possible for someone to be stuck at the peak of land mythology for a hundred years?"

    Chen Huan had been at the peak of land mythology a hundred years ago.

    Chen Huan wasn¡¯t in a hurry: "Big brother, becoming a supreme being is not easy.

    To achieve it, one must comprehend the essence of human-demon power; then, within that power, find one¡¯s own path and awaken the origin divine ability.

    Both steps are as difficult as climbing to the heavens!"

    In the Canglan Realm, to become a Purple Mansion, one must comprehend the essence of spiritual energy.

    In the Liufeng Realm, it was the human-demon power.

    "Is it that hard?" Qi Yuan felt Chen Huan wasn¡¯t as talented as the Four Emperors of Shenhui.

    Not to mention the Ice Mountain Overlord and the Sun Emperor, even the Rogue Immortal Sovereign probably had more talent than Chen Huan.

    After all, comparing oneself to an Immortal Sovereign was a mark of a great talent.

    Unfortunately, the Rogue Immortal Sovereign couldn''t enter the game world; otherwise, Qi Yuan would have had him demonstrate true talent to Chen Huan.

    "Yes, it is difficult." Chen Huan''s face turned serious.

    Both steps were hard.

    Especially the first, comprehending the essence of human-demon power.

    Once comprehended, a cultivator without high aspirations, not seeking a powerful origin divine ability, could easily become a supreme being.

    Chen Huan was precisely the unaspiring type.

    Yet, he had wasted a hundred years without success.

    "I think human-demon power is simple; the difficult part is the origin divine ability." Qi Yuan pondered.

    Watching the Gate of Myriad Variations, his path in the human-demon way had reached a terrifying level.

    What was the essence of human-demon power? Qi Yuan felt he understood it better than the White Emperor and the Supreme Sovereign.

    As for the origin divine ability, it was more complex.

    In Dique, facing nearly three thousand old men, Qi Yuan had seen various origin divine abilities.

    Each origin divine ability, based on its essence, followed its own path.

    Qi Yuan watched the light, asking: "Is she also a disciple of the White Emperor?"

    "Yes, she¡¯s my senior sister!" Chen Huan admired Huang Mengling, "She¡¯s different from me. I¡¯ve been in the White Emperor¡¯s palace for a thousand years without seeing the master.

    Senior Sister is different; she has seen the master.

    Her understanding of the origin is profound, she will soon become a supreme being."

    "Really?" Qi Yuan pondered, asking, "Since your senior sister understands the origin, why not ask her to tell you what it is, so you can become a supreme being?"

    Chen Huan looked at Qi Yuan like he was an idiot: "Even if she wanted to tell me, the origin can¡¯t be transferred; it must be understood.

    Sometimes I doubt your sanity, not knowing such basic things."

    "Can¡¯t be transferred?" Qi Yuan was surprised, "Isn¡¯t it useful?"

    In Jiupan Mountain, he had explained some origin principles.

    Some strong cultivators had then understood some origin.

    Mostly, Qi Yuan taught the Trapped Demon Art; if he fully explained the human-demon power origin, many would have comprehended it then.

    "If origin could be transferred, everyone would be supreme beings." Chen Huan replied.

    Qi Yuan fell silent, staring at Chen Huan, pondering.

    ...

    Twenty days later, Chen Huan hurriedly approached Qi Yuan.

    "The cities in Yuzhou have all evacuated, you¡¯re still not leaving?" Chen Huan was anxious.

    Qi Yuan, like a turtle, stayed in Wugui City: "No rush. By the way, do you know which Grand Supreme came to the Thousand Cities?"

    Qi Yuan recalled Wu Tong.

    When Wu Tong attacked, he carried a supreme being¡¯s origin divine ability strike.

    That incident was peculiar.

    Not knowing if it related to the Grand Supreme now.

    "The Purple Taoist." Chen Huan was serious, "He is top-tier among Grand Supremes."

    "Really?" Qi Yuan recalled the purple droplet.

    Was it the one plotting against him? Possibly.

    No matter, an enemy!

    Qi Yuan took out a notebook.

    "What are you doing?" Chen Huan was puzzled.

    "Writing him in my notebook."

    Enemies must be remembered.

    Sometimes his memory failed, but enemies couldn''t be forgotten.

    "Haha." Chen Huan laughed, "Planning to pass this notebook to your descendants to trouble the Purple Taoist?"

    He doubted Qi Yuan could kill the Purple Taoist in this life.

    "When I reach level 120, killing him will be like slaughtering a dog!" Qi Yuan said confidently.

    With his power now, using Little Marry could exceed level 120.

    But without an origin divine ability, he couldn''t defeat a supreme being.

    "That¡¯s a Grand Supreme; even after thousands of years, you won¡¯t match him!" Chen Huan said.

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment: "You¡¯re right, I can''t kill the Purple Taoist yet."

    "You really dare to dream. Let¡¯s run, when we become supreme beings, we can get revenge." Chen Huan urged.

    Becoming a supreme being within a thousand years seemed impossible.

    Even after the north-south decision, he wouldn''t be a supreme being.

    In the grand scheme, he was just a grain of sand.

    Even as a supreme being, a bigger grain of sand.

    "Run? No! Now I need a detailed plan to hunt the Purple Taoist!" Qi Yuan said seriously.

    "...You really dare to dream, that¡¯s a Grand Supreme! The gap between land mythology and supreme beings is vast.

    As long as their origin remains, we can''t harm them!" Chen Huan sighed.

    "Listen to my plan, you''ll be impressed by my wisdom." Qi Yuan needed Chen Huan for his plan.

    "Tell me." Chen Huan smiled.

    "A detailed plan requires deep thought. If I tell you directly, there may be flaws; I''ll write it down." Qi Yuan preferred writing important things.

    He wrote quickly, seriously.

    Chen Huan watched, seeing Qi Yuan so earnest for the first time.

    Could it be a super plan?

    Involving multiple supreme beings, with counter-plots, killing a supreme being.

    "Finished!" Qi Yuan, holding the notebook, was proud.

    On Blue Star, writing such a plan would sweat him out.

    Now a cultivator, he didn''t sweat, but he faked a bead of sweat for effect.

    "Let me see." Chen Huan eagerly took the notebook.

    He read Qi Yuan¡¯s grand plan.

    After several moments, he was speechless.

    "Is this it?" Chen Huan was exasperated, "This is nonsense, impossible to execute, even my great-great-great-granddaughter could plan better!"

    [Days 1-10: Teach Chen Huan origin, help him break through to supreme;

    Days 11-20: Seek lone supreme beings, have Chen Huan kill with origin divine ability, I''ll assist and take the final blow.

    Days 21-100: Continue killing supreme beings, gaining experience, understanding origin, breaking through to supreme, and killing the Purple Taoist.]

    Qi Yuan, reflecting on the critique, realized: "I get it, I didn¡¯t mark the difficulty; I¡¯ll do that now!"

    "...Your plan is too unrealistic. Step one, teaching me origin, is it possible?"

 Chapter 113: Shock of the White Emperorâ€™s Disciple

    Chapter 113: Shock of the White Emperor¡¯s Disciple

    How can the origin be transmitted? It''s impossible.

    Moreover, this so-called big brother knows nothing about the origin! The plan''s first step was already infeasible, not to mention the rest, which was utter nonsense.

    Yet he had believed it.

    "Who says the origin can''t be transmitted?" Qi Yuan said softly, "Chen Huan, if I teach you the origin and help you become a supreme being, will you serve me for a hundred years?"

    "Not just a hundred years, even a thousand would be fine!" Chen Huan replied without hesitation.

    "Swear on your heart demon," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    "Are you serious?" Chen Huan stared at Qi Yuan, realizing he didn''t seem to be joking.

    "Yes." Qi Yuan nodded, speaking mysteriously, "The opportunity is right in front of you; it depends on whether you can grasp it."

    "Swear? Who''s afraid of that!" Chen Huan, with his nonchalant personality, didn''t hesitate.

    "I, Chen Huan, swear on my heart demon, if the warden of Wugui City successfully teaches me the origin and helps me become a supreme being, I will serve him for a hundred years.

    If I break this vow, may my heart demon consume me and cause my body to be destroyed by a demon!"

    In Liufeng Realm, swearing on one''s heart demon was the most solemn oath.

    Breaking it would indeed cause the heart demon to erupt, leading to an early demise.

    "Big brother, I''ve sworn. Now you should guide me to become a supreme being." Chen Huan shrugged nonchalantly.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s clothes inexplicably turned blood-red, a robe draping over him.

    A mysterious aura surrounded him, and although he stood beside Chen Huan, it felt as if he was in a lofty heavenly palace.

    Surprised and then excited, Chen Huan heard a voice like ancient gods whispering.

    "The essence of human-demon power lies in the seven sins: greed, arrogance..."

    "Transient winds do not last a morning, sudden rains do not last a day, the human heart does not end..."

    "To gain, one must first give..."

    The ethereal voice filled Chen Huan''s ears, saturating his soul.

    He seemed to be in the clouds and deep underground.

    In the vast sky, the whispers fell on him like sweet dew.

    His dry body became moist, and for the first time, his parched soul was full.

    After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly opened his eyes, radiating a terrifying light.

    "I... have understood!"

    Chen Huan looked at Qi Yuan, now dressed in a blood-red robe, feeling mixed emotions he couldn''t describe.

    Or rather, he couldn''t imagine.

    How could the warden of Wugui City understand the origin? And even if he did, how could he teach it, and how could others comprehend it?

    Especially through teaching.

    Even the White Emperor and the Supreme Sovereign couldn''t teach the origin so that others would comprehend it.

    Could it be... that the warden of Wugui City was a reincarnated great power? But even a great power couldn¡¯t teach the origin, right? "How do you feel?"

    Qi Yuan''s voice pulled Chen Huan from his thoughts.

    Looking at Qi Yuan, the blood robe was gone, and he had returned to the familiar appearance.

    The feeling of awe and respect lessened.

    Suddenly, Chen Huan knelt with a thud: "Dad, Dad, I am your long-lost son!"

    He hugged Qi Yuan''s leg.

    "Get lost!" Qi Yuan kicked Chen Huan away, "Hurry and become a supreme being to complete my plan!"

    Qi Yuan vanished, leaving Chen Huan alone on the city wall, feeling desolate.

    "What a pity... I missed the chance to recognize him as my father." Chen Huan was disappointed, like realizing too late that a lottery ticket he used as toilet paper was worth millions.

    "But..." Chen Huan¡¯s spirits lifted, "If I can''t be the son of a great person, being his henchman isn¡¯t bad either!"

    "I never thought, at just eleven hundred years old, I would become a supreme being, and not just an ordinary one!"

    Chen Huan was thrilled.

    The origin Qi Yuan taught him was different from what ordinary supreme beings understood.

    He didn''t know how others experienced the origin but knew it was different.

    Comprehending the origin barely gave birth to the lowest level of origin divine abilities.

    But Chen Huan felt he had many paths to choose from, each a grand avenue!

    He wasn¡¯t a low-level supreme being but one with great potential! ...

    In the endless Blood Sea, it churned endlessly.

    A whisper echoed: "A familiar feeling, a de?ja? vu."

    Blood energy surged, and various demons struggled in the Blood Sea.

    The voice continued.

    "Little Crocodile, take the sword to the Hundred Thousand and Eight Thousand Cities.

    If you meet someone... or something, and the sword flashes red, bring him here.

    Treat him... better than me."

    The voice faded into the Blood Sea.

    A giant crocodile flew out of the Blood Sea, carrying a sword, and vanished.

    The supreme beings guarding the Blood Sea also heard the Supreme Sovereign''s voice.

    Their eyes filled with confusion and shock.

    Especially the words: treat him... better than me.

    Who had appeared in the Hundred Thousand and Eight Thousand Cities? From the Supreme Sovereign''s tone, that person seemed... quite remarkable.

    Meanwhile, in the White Emperor''s Palace, a light flashed.

    The inner hall, unopened for a thousand years, opened, and a white crane flew out, heading for the Hundred Thousand and Eight Thousand Cities.

    All the supreme beings were surprised to see this.

    What had happened for the White Emperor''s crane... to fly out?

    The white crane hadn¡¯t appeared for thousands of years.

    Even the decision between the North and the South didn¡¯t make it show up.

    Messages spread from near the White Emperor''s Palace, reaching all corners of Liufeng Realm.

    Numerous supreme beings turned their gaze to the Hundred Thousand and Eight Thousand Cities.

    The whole Liufeng Realm was in turmoil.

    ...

    Zzz!

    The sword clashed with Supreme Yu Bai''s chest, an origin shield forming.

    The powerful sword, capable of easily killing land mythology cultivators, felt like it struck the hardest steel.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s prized sword, enhanced by a magical robe, only made a hole in her clothes.

    Through the hole, a patch of snow-white skin was visible.

    The sword didn''t even leave a red mark on her soft skin.

    Supreme Yu Bai was stunned, not expecting the opponent to pierce her clothes.

    Though the sword didn¡¯t harm her, piercing her clothes was surprising enough.

    She was shocked, and Qi Yuan even more so: "You¡¯re... too tough?

    If you¡¯re married, won¡¯t your husband have trouble getting through your defense if he¡¯s not a supreme being?"

    Supreme Yu Bai''s face showed anger: "How dare you insult me, you brat, you court death!"

    A mere land mythology cultivator daring to challenge a supreme being.

    If word got out, she would be laughed at in the North.

    Enemies would mock her openly!

    She was furious: "Let me show you what a supreme being is!"

    Supreme Yu Bai attacked, using a powerful origin divine ability.

    In an instant, Qi Yuan saw a slender needle shooting towards him.

    The needle radiated intense killing intent.

    Qi Yuan stayed calm, eyes fixed on the needle.

    He lifted his broken sword and shouted, "Chen Huan, the origin divine ability has three layers, attack her Danxin Point, Xiaokong Point..."

    Following Qi Yuan''s voice, Chen Huan, who had been hiding nearby, finally acted.

    He followed Qi Yuan¡¯s instructions precisely, unleashing his origin divine ability towards Supreme Yu Bai.

    Supreme Yu Bai smirked: "I''ve been waiting for you!"

    She had sensed someone else hiding nearby.

    Otherwise, why would a mere land mythology cultivator dare to attack her?

    Using a land mythology cultivator as bait for a supreme sneak attack, they underestimated her.

    Three slender needles appeared, targeting Chen Huan.

    Chen Huan¡¯s face darkened, feeling intense danger. He had just broken through to the supreme realm, unsure how to respond, fearing he might mess up Qi Yuan''s plan.

    Most importantly, Supreme Yu Bai''s origin divine ability also targeted Qi Yuan, a land mythology cultivator. Could he withstand it?

    At that moment, Qi Yuan''s voice reached him: "Trapped in the sky, thinking of a white crane..."

    Hearing this, Chen Huan¡¯s face lit up with joy.

    "I understand!"

    Supreme Yu Bai''s terrifying attack now seemed full of flaws to him.

    He was excited.

    His figure dodged Supreme Yu Bai''s origin divine ability, appearing behind her.

    Myriad Star River!

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s teachings, he envisioned a river of stars.

    Never having seen stars, he longed for them.

    He turned it into his origin divine ability.

    The powerful ability struck Supreme Yu Bai''s body.

    Her face showed disbelief.

    Qi Yuan''s voice came again.

    "Bind three inches, settle the heart!"

    Chen Huan didn¡¯t hesitate, following Qi Yuan''s instructions, pouring origin divine ability into Supreme Yu Bai¡¯s body.

    For the first time, Supreme Yu Bai showed fear.

    "Who are you, why... do you know my origin divine ability so well?"

    It wasn¡¯t just familiarity, they knew it better than she did.

    "I am the one who will kill you!"

    Qi Yuan appeared before her, holding the broken sword, eyes filled with killing intent.

    "You..." Supreme Yu Bai was puzzled.

    Her origin divine ability should have easily killed a land mythology cultivator, why was he still alive?

    "Die!" Qi Yuan didn¡¯t waste words, stabbing his sword into Supreme Yu Bai''s body.

    With her origin divine ability sealed by Chen Huan, she couldn¡¯t defend, dying from Qi Yuan''s strike.

    "Finally, it softened!" Qi Yuan was pleased, holding the broken sword.

    Previously unable to pierce her, now without the origin shield, he easily broke through.

    A flood of experience points flowed in.

    Qi Yuan felt elated.

    His experience bar soared.

    In no time, it stopped at level 119, close to level 120, and another chance to comprehend the origin.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s determination grew as he looked at the surrounding land mythology cultivators, slicing through them, leaving dozens of bodies.

    He couldn¡¯t kill supreme beings, but land mythology cultivators were easy prey.

    Looking at the blood-soaked Chen Huan, he asked, "How are you?"

    "A bit injured, but alright." Chen Huan felt unreal.

    A supreme being... was so easily killed?

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s help, he exploited Supreme Yu Bai''s origin divine ability flaws, directly attacking her core.

    But the final clash left him injured.

    Despite this, he was excited, ignoring his wounds.

    "If you¡¯re fine, let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll slaughter the other demon caves!" Qi Yuan was calm.

    He needed to kill more demons, gather experience, and reach level 120.

    "Alright!" Chen Huan didn¡¯t hesitate, now also driven by the thrill of battle, eager to vent.

    He had been influenced by Qi Yuan, now addicted to killing.

    Previously, after killing, he would flee, never daring to attack a second cave, fearing being trapped.

    "Let¡¯s go!"

    They quickly left the Liuchuan Demon Cave, heading to other caves.

    Meanwhile, in the Thousand Cities, the North¡¯s Demon Controllers¡¯ base, the Purple Taoist opened his eyes, shocked: "Supreme Yu Bai... is dead?"

 Chapter 115: The Fate Stone

    Chapter 115: The Fate Stone

    "He was wearing a blood-red robe, and looked extremely handsome," Bai Luo described from memory.

    The old man was stunned, then said, "Hmph, he must be one of those old folks ranked in the thousands.

    Those old folks were far from the Blood Lord, unlike us who were close to him. To appear more connected to the Blood Lord, they often dressed like him."

    Hei Yu thought of something and said, "He also claimed to be the Blood Lord."

    "What?" The old man''s murky eyes lit up, his frail body bursting with strength as he grabbed Hei Yu by the collar, "He said he is the Blood Lord??"

    Everyone who listened to the Blood Lord''s teachings revered him deeply.

    They saw the Blood Lord as a father, and respected him as a teacher.

    No one dared to impersonate the Blood Lord!

    "What did he look like?" The old man asked urgently.

    Bai Luo and Hei Yu had never seen their master like this before.

    Bai Luo waved her hand, creating a water screen. Within it, a vague figure began to form.

    However, just as it formed, the figure shattered.

    It seemed there was an inexplicable force preventing her from showing Qi Yuan''s appearance.

    Seeing this, the old man¡¯s eyes widened: "Could it be... could it really be the master?"

    The Blood Lord was born sacred, and no image could capture his appearance.

    No spell could depict his visage.

    Bai Luo was also stunned, remembering her childhood.

    She had admired the Blood Lord greatly and once asked her master to show her his image, but just like today, it couldn''t be displayed.

    "Is he really the Blood Lord?" Bai Luo was incredibly excited, "But... the Fate Stone said the Blood Lord had perished!"

    The Fate Stone was a supreme treasure of the Liufeng Realm, incapable of error.

    The old man lowered his head, lost in thought.

    At that moment, Bai Luo remembered something and extended her delicate hand: "This is the small gift the senior gave me!"

    A drop of blood-red liquid appeared.

    The old man¡¯s eyes fixed on it: "Master, he is the Blood Lord!"

    He was now completely convinced that the man was indeed the Blood Lord.

    "Where did he go?" The old man asked urgently, looking extremely anxious.

    Bai Luo quickly recounted the events of the day to her master.

    After hearing it all, the old man wept.

    "He is the Blood Lord," the old man¡¯s emotions were mixed. He looked expectantly at Bai Luo, "Did the Blood Lord mention anyone else besides Goldfinch? Did he mention me?"

    Bai Luo: "..."

    Hei Yu, who was also excited, coldly said, "No!"

    Hearing this, the old man wasn¡¯t disappointed: "The master has a poor memory, it¡¯s normal he didn''t mention me, but he surely remembers me in his heart.

    Now, the master must be heading to the world''s end, I must quickly relay this news to the world''s end."

    The old man paced, contemplating how to deliver the news.

    After a few moments, he made up his mind: "Let''s go to the world''s end!"

    He wanted to go to the world''s end to see his master.

    At the same time, he planned to use special channels to inform the Blood Palace of the Blood Lord''s return!

    ...

    In the sky, a stream of light flashed.

    Many cultivators looked up, their eyes filled with reverence.

    Some purple-robed cultivators were astonished, with countless messages constantly being transmitted to the Purple Heaven Alliance.

    Every time the stream of light paused, a blood-red sword shadow would descend from the sky, destroying a stronghold of the Purple Heaven Alliance.

    The entire Liufeng Realm was in turmoil.

    Countless messages were being sent to the headquarters of the Purple Heaven Alliance.

    A terrifying piece of news was sweeping across the Liufeng Realm.

    The Blood Lord had resurrected and was coming for the Purple Heaven Alliance!

    At the Purple Heaven Alliance headquarters, a handsome man sat on a phoenix chair, his face showing a hint of mockery.

    "The Blood Lord''s resurrection is an utter joke!" The man was the male pet of Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden.

    Currently, he was acting as the chief steward of the Purple Heaven Alliance.

    "The Fate Stone is a supreme treasure of the world, it cannot be wrong.

    The Blood Lord has long perished, that person must be an impostor!

    I suspect it''s the remnants of the Blood Palace. Seeing our army march to the world''s end, unable to resist, they can only send some experts to sabotage our strongholds!" A man over three meters tall spoke, his voice like a deep bell.

    This statement was agreed upon by everyone present.

    On the phoenix chair, chief steward Lin Xuemei exuded arrogance: "The times have changed, even if the Blood Lord is resurrected, so what?

    The thirteen purple-robed executioners, deal with that Blood Lord, whether real or fake!"

    In the hall, thirteen purple-robed figures appeared, each exuding formidable power.

    These thirteen purple robes were all at the level of land mythology, extraordinarily powerful.

    "Understood!"

    The thirteen purple-robed figures left the hall.

    Chief steward Lin Xuemei smiled: "Tomorrow is my hundredth birthday, how are the preparations?"

    With the Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden leading the army to the world''s end, Lin Xuemei was in charge of the Purple Heaven Alliance.

    Tomorrow would be his hundredth birthday.

    None of the Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden''s male pets had lived past a hundred.

    Most were discarded when she grew tired of them and then buried.

    But Lin Xuemei was different. He was the favorite and was about to become the first male pet of Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden to reach a hundred.

    So, he was extremely concerned about his centennial banquet.

    Compared to his banquet, the Blood Lord was insignificant.

    "Rest assured, everything is ready!" An elder spoke humbly.

    Everyone present looked at Lin Xuemei with ingratiating smiles.

    After all, climbing into the bed of Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden was an impressive feat.

    ...

    Late at night.

    The entire Tongtian City was as bright as day.

    Tomorrow would be the hundredth birthday of Lin Xuemei, the chief steward of the Purple Heaven Alliance.

    The entire Tongtian City was adorned with lanterns, full of festive atmosphere.

    In a restaurant, three men with concealed auras were present.

    "Heart demon, you''re a demon!"

    The eleven supreme beings were terrified, their hearts filled with fear, their heart demons emerging.

    The sword light flashed, and the eleven supreme beings fell like the sixty land mythology cultivators.

    Qi Yuan remained calm, eerily beautiful.

    He looked at the formed swords, which already had the prototype of the origin divine ability.

    "Is the source of evil my origin divine ability?"

    With this ability, those affected would have heart demons, go mad, and fall into obsession.

    It might not work as well on the cultivators of Canglan Realm.

    But it was definitely effective against the cultivators of Liufeng Realm.

    Affected by his ability, who wouldn''t become a demon?

    Now, Qi Yuan felt that if he wanted, he could instantly form the source of evil into his origin divine ability, becoming a true supreme being.

    However, he didn¡¯t directly form the source of evil into his origin divine ability.

    The source of evil was closely related to the great demon.

    People already saw him as the great demon.

    If he formed such an origin divine ability, wouldn''t he become a new great demon?

    He was a player!

    After killing the eleven supreme beings, Qi Yuan landed beside Lin Xuemei.

    Lin Xuemei looked at Qi Yuan, surprisingly calm: "It seems the leader was right; you are the reincarnation of the great demon."

    "I am me, not that damned great demon," Qi Yuan said casually.

    "Stop hiding, great demon! A single sword causing heart demons, if you''re not the great demon, who is?" Lin Xuemei said righteously, "Great demon, the leader is a genius, a once-in-a-millennium talent, you will be destroyed by the leader!

    The great demon will be eradicated from the world, justice belongs to the Purple Heaven Alliance, to humanity!"

    After speaking, Lin Xuemei spat blood and severed his heart vein, dying.

    He looked like a righteous man, facing a demon with courage.

    Qi Yuan laughed: "I''m the big villain now? Interesting."

    His laugh was extremely eerie.

    The surrounding Purple Heaven Alliance members were terrified, scrambling on the ground as if seeing a demon from hell.

    "Am I that scary?" Qi Yuan looked at a water screen, seeing his eerily beautiful face, "Clearly so kind and good-looking, Goldfinch should appreciate my beauty, always showing off."

    That night.

    The Blood Lord stormed the Purple Heaven Alliance headquarters.

    With one sword, he killed sixty land mythology cultivators.

    With another sword, he killed eleven supreme beings.

    The chief steward of the Purple Heaven Alliance couldn''t bear the humiliation and committed suicide, declaring, "The great demon will be eradicated from the world, justice belongs to humanity!"

    The world was in an uproar!

    Many major sects, families, and powerful individuals gathered, calling for a cultivator assembly, vowing to exterminate the demon and restore peace.

    ...

    Fengxin Continent.

    Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden opened her eyes, which glowed with a purple light.

    "Xiao Mei... is dead?"

    "The Blood Lord... resurrected?"

    Her expression was calm, with a hint of surprise.

    A stone tablet floated before her, and Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden gazed at it, her eyes seeming to traverse time.

    "Resurrected from death?"

    "The great demon is not dead, the great thief is not extinct."

    "So what if the great demon is resurrected, sealing him in the Gate of Myriad Worlds will still restore peace!"

    "The world still belongs to the Purple Heaven Alliance!"

    "Blood Lord? Great demon? Relics of an old era, I am now the master of the Fate Stone!"

    Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden''s face was excessively calm.

    A blood light flashed on the Fate Stone.

    A line of text appeared.

    "In a month, the Gate of Myriad Worlds opens, supreme beings can enter."

    Seeing this, Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden smiled strangely.

    "Truly, the heavens help me!"

    Her original plan was to march her army, destroy the Blood Palace, take the world''s end, and control the Gate of Myriad Worlds.

    Now, with the Blood Lord''s appearance.

    Her plan gained an additional step, to seal the Blood Lord in the Gate of Myriad Worlds and completely erase him.

    "Relay my command, all supreme beings, follow me to the world''s end!"

    Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden decided to abandon all land mythology and other troops, taking only supreme beings to the world''s end.

    The various factions in the army were puzzled.

    But facing Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden¡¯s command, no one dared to defy.

    All the supreme beings flew out, surrounding Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden, heading to the world''s end.

    ...

    "The master... is still alive?"

    Daoist Fool transformed into a stream of light, chasing Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden ahead.

    Upon hearing this news, he was incredulous and extremely excited.

    The Fate Stone cannot be wrong!

    But the master''s resurrection was certain, how could he not be excited?

    He also felt a bit worried.

    But soon, he dismissed the worry.

    The Blood Lord had treated him with great kindness, never wronging him, how could he harbor doubts?

    "This news must be relayed back, tell Yanran and Bai Ze!"

    All these years, to ensure the Blood Palace''s survival, he had lived in disguise, peeling off his face, cutting his bones, and joining the Purple Heaven Alliance as an insider.

    Now, it was time to return.

    He looked at the hundred supreme beings and the terrifying Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden ahead, gritting his teeth.

    A drop of red blood appeared, and he transformed into a stream of light, disappearing.

    Purple Heaven Mystic Maiden squinted, her face filled with killing intent: "Blood Palace remnants?"

    She pushed her palm, hitting the stream of light.

    The light moved across the sky, leaving a trail of blood.

 Chapter 116: I Will Wait for You Beautifully!

    Chapter 116: I Will Wait for You Beautifully!

    "Hmph, remnants of the Blood Palace, hidden within my Zitian Alliance, how despicable!"

    Zitian Xuannu? hastily struck out, severely injuring the man but unable to detain him.

    "That scarlet light, was it the work of the Blood Lord?" one of the supremes spoke, a solemn look in his eyes.

    The reason the foolish man could break free from the encirclement in an instant was because of that drop of scarlet blood.

    "I once obtained a drop of that blood and inquired with the Destiny Tablet.

    The Destiny Tablet''s answer was that it belonged to a great demon!" Zitian Xuannu? raised her head, her eyes filled with a murderous intent.

    Hearing the mention of the Destiny Tablet, the expressions of those present tensed, and a trace of greed emerged in their hearts.

    The Destiny Tablet was a supreme treasure of this world, said to be able to see the past and the future.

    Zitian Xuannu?''s achievements were inseparable from the Destiny Tablet.

    It could be said that with the Destiny Tablet in her possession, Zitian Xuannu?''s combat power was the strongest in this world.

    And the Destiny Tablet had become Zitian Xuannu?''s tool for asserting her authority.

    Whether the Blood Lord was a great demon or not was irrelevant.

    What mattered was that Zitian Xuannu? said the Destiny Tablet declared the Blood Lord a great demon.

    Therefore, the Blood Lord was a great demon, to be struck down by all under heaven.

    ...

    At the ends of the earth, within the Blood Palace.

    Morning came, with no sun, yet there was still a faint light.

    The ends of the earth were located in the south, the southernmost part of this world, and the place where dawn broke earliest.

    In a boudoir, a young girl with snow-like cheeks and black hair framing her delicate face was looking at herself in the mirror, carefully drawing her thin, curved brows. Her slightly pale face was transformed into a beautiful visage, and the flowers in the vase on the pearwood dressing table reflected in the mirror along with her face.

    The girl stood up, her brocade dress embroidered with intricate pairs of turtledoves, and her eyes brightened.

    Every morning, the canary would rise early and meticulously draw her eyebrows.

    Even after three hundred years, she seemed unchanged from her time on Jiupan Mountain, still loving beauty and paying close attention to her appearance.

    "Sister Canary, I heard that the Foolish Daoist has returned," a crisp, urgent female voice called from outside the room, "but he was seriously injured when he returned, fainted without saying a word. Do you want to go see him?"

    "Huh?" Anxiety flashed in the Canary''s slender eyes. "What happened?"

    "Sister Yanran said the Foolish Daoist had been undercover in the Zitian Alliance, and his sudden return likely means he brought urgent news.

    I suspect the Zitian Alliance will soon come to our Blood Palace." The girl''s voice was filled with worry. "Sister Canary, shall we go to the hall to see the Foolish Daoist?"

    "Okay..."

    "Huh? Sister Canary?" The girl showed a puzzled expression.

    She saw the Canary running out of the boudoir barefoot, her delicate, lotus-like feet bare, lifting her skirt as she ran outside.

    She was confused.

    Why so urgent?

    She seemed more hurried than reincarnating.

    Outside the Blood Palace, the sea churned constantly. A man in a blood-colored robe, with a faint smile on his face, looked into the distance and transformed into a stream of light to meet the incoming figure.

    "Blood Bead!"

    The young girl¡¯s face was filled with excitement, her eyes moist as she lifted her skirt and ran, crashing into the arms of the man in the blood-colored robe.

    Clinging to the blood-colored robe like a koala, she no longer cared about her image, her long legs tightly wrapped around Qi Yuan¡¯s waist.

    "I knew it, I knew you would come back to see me!" Canary''s voice cracked a bit.

    "Sorry, I''m late." Qi Yuan, holding her full thigh with one hand and caressing her back with the other, smiled brightly at seeing her unchanged beauty.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com

    After a while of tenderness in Qi Yuan''s arms, Canary still clung to him, unwilling to let go. She blushed, like a peach blossom, and whispered, "You''ve become even more handsome... Luckily I did my makeup this morning, otherwise, I would have been outshone by you!"

    "I knew you appreciated my looks." Qi Yuan''s smile deepened. "Along the way, people were very afraid of me."

    "Hmph, those people are blind!" Canary''s voice was cheerful. "I''m the most beautiful woman in the Eighteen Mountains, and you, Blood Bead, are the most handsome man in the Eighteen Mountains."

    Qi Yuan listened to her voice and tightened his embrace.

    Holding her, he looked out to the sea.

    In the sea, there was a grand portal.

    Canary also noticed the portal and seemed a bit dazed.

    Qi Yuan grabbed Canary''s small foot, wiping off the dust. "It''s dirty, let¡¯s wash it."

    The warm sensation made Canary shy. She looked at Qi Yuan and said, "I just got up, didn''t properly wear my shoes... Don''t touch my feet, it tickles!"

    Qi Yuan placed Canary on a large stone in the sea, and they sat side by side, facing the grand portal.

    [You have comprehended the origin, mutation ability +1000.]

    [You have comprehended the origin, water control ability +10.]

    It was as if Qi Yuan had first arrived at Jiupan Mountain, with Canary by his side, and he was comprehending the grand portal.

    "Blood Bead, I suspect you¡¯re deceiving me!" Canary said discontentedly.

    "Deceiving you about what?"

    "You lied, saying that comprehending the grand portal would make me prettier, but that''s false!

    I''ve been comprehending it for so many years, with no effect at all!

    And... and everyone says the grand portal is an ominous door, containing the heart demon of the great demon.

    Continually comprehending it might result in being possessed by the heart demon of the great demon." Canary''s voice was filled with worry.

    Qi Yuan squinted, looking at the grand portal.

    [The grand portal, the unknown door, the door of all doors, it can be any door.]

    According to Shang Yanran and Bai Ze''s investigations, the grand portal was a replica created by the infinite heart demons of the Liufeng Realm.

    However, what Qi Yuan''s eyes saw had nothing to do with a replica.

    Qi Yuan gently stroked Canary''s head and said softly, "It''s all rumors; we haven''t seen it ourselves, so how do we know if it''s true or false?

    Even the legends of Buddha, great demons, and enchantresses may not be true.

    Perhaps someone fabricated them.

    Perhaps it¡¯s entirely different from what they say."

    Qi Yuan always believed only a third of rumors.

    What he trusted most were his own eyes.

    "Canary, don''t believe anyone else. Trust only yourself, understand?"

    The sea breeze stirred the surface of the sea, waves blossoming.

    Canary tilted her head, looking at Qi Yuan. "I¡¯ll reluctantly trust you!"

    Qi Yuan smiled warmly. "Alright, we should return to the Blood Palace. There are still matters to handle."

    His ties to this world were mostly with Canary.

    He wanted to comprehend the grand portal.

    After wiping out the Zitian Alliance, he would attempt to enter the grand portal.

    For now, the grand portal remained unopened, and Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t entirely confident of entering it.

    The others watched him leave, still feeling like they were in a dream.

    The Blood Lord came and went quickly.

    After a brief silence, one of the supremes spoke.

    "Can anyone gauge master¡¯s strength?" one supreme asked a sensitive question.

    Normally, he wouldn¡¯t ask this.

    But now, with the Zitian Alliance''s threat looming, they couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate and had to consider their safety.

    "Can¡¯t tell," the other supremes shook their heads.

    The Blood Lord was innately divine, very mysterious to them.

    Shang Yanran then said, "Roughly stronger than me, but compared to Zitian Xuannu?, it¡¯s uncertain, especially since... she has the Destiny Tablet."

    Mentioning the Destiny Tablet cast a shadow over everyone''s hearts.

    This supreme treasure had many mystical attributes.

    Rumors said that whoever possessed it could rule the world.

    There were also rumors that the Buddha could suppress the world with its help.

    "Since master is confident, we should trust him," Bai Ze, always reverent toward the Blood Lord, said with blind faith.

    Shang Yanran, knowing her husband''s nature, smiled and said, "We should prepare for both outcomes: fighting alongside master and securing a retreat, just in case."

    ...

    At the ends of the earth, the sea churned.

    Qi Yuan sat on a large stone, quietly comprehending the grand portal.

    Canary, holding her head with her hand, looked at Qi Yuan, blinking, afraid that if she blinked, Blood Bead would disappear again.

    "Blood Bead... how long will you stay this time?" After a long while, Canary gathered the courage to ask.

    "I don¡¯t know," Qi Yuan replied.

    The chance to comprehend the origin had pulled him into the past of the Liufeng Realm.

    The girl quietly accompanying him was a past figure.

    He would eventually return to the present, unable to stay long in the past.

    Thinking of this, Qi Yuan felt troubled.

    This strengthened his resolve to attain the mixed-element sagehood and master the river of time.

    Unfortunately, comprehending the grand portal hadn¡¯t given him any abilities related to time and space.

    "Hmm, then when will you appear next time? Will it also be when the grand portal appears?" Canary asked expectantly.

    Her and Blood Bead¡¯s reunions were always brief.

    But thinking that good things come to those who wait, Canary felt sweet inside.

    "I don¡¯t know," Qi Yuan fell silent, then after a long time, he said softly, "Canary... one day, I will find you at the end of time."

    There were many others he needed to find.

    Including Jin Li.

    "Hmph, I will wait for you beautifully!" Canary said happily. "You better not get old. If you come with white hair, I¡¯ll pretend not to know you!"

    She moved closer, boldly hugging Qi Yuan¡¯s arm, cherishing this reunion.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s heart calmed, comprehending the grand portal carefully.

    After defeating Zitian Xuannu?, he would consider entering the grand portal.

    ...

    Within the Blood Palace, dark clouds loomed.

    The news of the Blood Lord¡¯s return had excited the Blood Palace for a while.

    But soon, more turmoil arose.

    Many strong individuals who had joined the Blood Palace later fled.

    Before leaving, these individuals declared, "The Destiny Tablet has declared that the Blood Lord is a great demon!

    The great demon is the source of all heart demons, to be struck down by all under heaven!"

    This caused considerable unrest within the Blood Palace, people becoming anxious.

    Many wanted to flee.

    Shang Yanran ruthlessly suppressed some rebels, staining the Blood Palace with blood.

    This escape reduced somewhat.

    However, the entire Blood Palace still resembled a small boat in a storm, precarious and fraught with danger.

    But at this time, many elders who had attended the lecture on Jiupan Mountain were heading to the Blood Palace, supporting the Blood Lord.

    Unfortunately, these people were few compared to the many strong individuals gathering at the ends of the earth to strike down the great demon.

    A storm was brewing, hidden currents stirring.

    At the ends of the earth, outside the Blood Palace.

    Strong individuals from the three major empires, seven major sects, twelve families, and the Zitian Alliance gathered continuously.

    Just waiting for Zitian Xuannu?¡¯s order, heroes under heaven would strike down the great demon.

    One day, with calm winds and clear skies, by the sea, the figure in the blood-colored robe stood up.

    Because, in the sky, the grand portal finally opened.

    Qi Yuan looked at the grand portal, his eyes gleaming.

    Countless terrifying, eerie auras spread.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes showed greed.

    He had a premonition that entering it would yield countless gains!

    Perhaps, he could even comprehend his own origin divine ability.

    But at that moment, a roar echoed from the grand portal, as if a terrifying creature was trying to break out from within.

    Qi Yuan watched the grand portal, his greed fading into curiosity. "The great demon¡¯s... heart demon, is inside the grand portal?"

    At that moment, a heavy drumbeat sounded, and the whole world became murderous.

    The battle... had begun.

 Chapter 117: If One Sword Isnâ€™t Enough, How About Ten or a Hundred?

    Chapter 117: If One Sword Isn¡¯t Enough, How About Ten or a Hundred?

    "Destroy the great demon!"

    "Bring light back to the world!"

    "The death of the great demon will vanquish heart demons. We shall be heroes for eternity!"

    Numerous supremes from the Zitian Alliance gathered, heading towards the ends of the earth.

    Shang Yanran, Bai Ze, and the Foolish Daoist, among others, also arrived, standing beside Qi Yuan.

    They looked at the massive warship in the distance, their eyes filled with intense fighting spirit and a hint of worry.

    On the warship were one hundred and twenty-three supremes.

    Over ninety of them were from the Zitian Alliance.

    The rest came from other major forces.

    These people stood on the warship, exuding strong battle intent.

    The warship stopped five miles away from the ends of the earth, hovering in the air.

    The people of the Blood Palace at the ends of the earth felt a strong threat.

    They had a premonition that if the hundred supremes on the warship attacked simultaneously, those here would not withstand a single blow.

    However, seeing the calm demeanor of the figure in the blood-red robe gave them a bit of reassurance.

    At this moment, a ethereal female voice echoed, "Hand over the great demon, and the people of the Blood Palace can live."

    The owner of the ethereal voice was the legendary Zitian Xuannu?.

    The people at the ends of the earth remained unchanged, with Shang Yanran showing a mocking smile. "Hand over Zitian Xuannu?, and we may spare your lives!"

    This statement enraged the supremes on the warship.

    But Zitian Xuannu? did not get angry. Her gaze fell on Qi Yuan, her eyes turning cold. "Your previous self was a compassionate Buddha, but you stepped into evil for a demoness, causing endless heart demons, leading to the deaths of billions in the Liufeng Realm. Your crime is unforgivable.

    Great demon, you should take your own life. I will not trouble the others in the Blood Palace."

    Qi Yuan laughed, "You covet the ''Demon Binding Technique,'' just say it. Why pin a crime on me? Truly a shrimp-brained woman!"

    "Hmph!" A man on the warship angrily shouted, "Great demon, the Destiny Tablet has recorded that you are the great demon. You still want to distort the facts? Surrender now!"

    Qi Yuan''s face remained calm, "Usually, I¡¯m not much for trash-talking before a battle.

    But today..."

    Qi Yuan''s tone shifted, "When I destroyed the headquarters of the Zitian Alliance, your male pet told me a shocking secret!"

    Qi Yuan''s words instantly piqued everyone''s interest.

    Everyone looked at Qi Yuan, eager to know the secret about Zitian Xuannu?.

    In such a tense moment, curiosity still prevailed.

    "Your male pet told me that Zitian Xuannu? is his mother!" Qi Yuan loudly proclaimed.

    The voice traveled over twenty miles.

    Everyone was shocked.

    The people of the Blood Palace were initially stunned, then laughed.

    The strong individuals on the warship were either enraged or looking at Zitian Xuannu? with strange expressions.

    Zitian Xuannu?¡¯s face was as dark as water, her eyes filled with murderous intent that seemed almost tangible.

    Qi Yuan continued, "Who can''t write a short essay?"

    "I can also spread rumors!"

    "But, I¡¯m not interested in proving whether I¡¯m the great demon."

    "Framing, slandering, so what?"

    "You call me the great demon, a scourge to the world. Then today, I shall play the part of the great demon and bring disaster to the world, so what?"

    "I have a sword, and it shall slay all!"

    For Qi Yuan, defending oneself was the weakest action.

    Proving innocence with death would only invite ridicule from the enemy.

    The best method was... to kill!

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t good at verbal battles or defending himself. What he excelled at was beheading.

    As Qi Yuan spoke, the sea behind him began to boil.

    The entire sea, stretching for tens of miles, turned blood-red.

    The blood-red water quickly condensed into a giant blood-red sword.

    In Qi Yuan''s left hand appeared a long sword.

    An overwhelming aura spread, making Qi Yuan appear truly like a great demon.

    Anyone who saw Qi Yuan felt an inexplicable fear.

    Except for Canary, whose eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at Qi Yuan.

    This was her childhood friend!

    However, she still meekly said, "Blood Bead, I''ll go to Sister Yanran."

    After all, Blood Bead was about to start a great battle, and holding his hand would only be a burden.

    Qi Yuan smiled, "Why should you leave to kill them?

    I don''t trust anyone else to protect you; I feel safest when I protect you."

    He glanced at Shang Yanran before turning his gaze back to the warship.

    Zitian Xuannu?¡¯s expression turned serious.

    "No wonder they call you the great demon, your demonic aura is overwhelming.

    But to oppose the world, you are courting death!"

    With the Destiny Tablet, Zitian Xuannu?''s confidence was immense.

    The Destiny Tablet was more powerful than she had imagined.

    And she had uncovered its true secrets, secrets even the Buddha had not discovered.

    With the Destiny Tablet, even if the Buddha revived, she would not fear!

    "You are the ones courting death!"

    Qi Yuan raised his sword high.

    Heaven-Slashing Sword Technique!

    He did not move.

    The blood-red sword flew into the sky.

    The sword grew larger.

    It was a mile long!

    The powerful blood-red sword descended with Qi Yuan''s shout.

    The people of the Blood Palace watched in awe.

    Especially Shang Yanran, who had thought the gap between her and her master was not large.

    But now, she realized the gap was immense.

    This sword could easily obliterate her!

    It could even wipe out everyone in the Blood Palace.

    The supremes on the warship were also moved, some even terrified.

    Only Zitian Xuannu? remained calm.

    The Destiny Tablet she had swallowed glowed, filling her with boundless pride.

    "In this world, I am invincible!"

    She stretched out her hand, and an immense force surged from it, forming a colossal hand.

    The power of the Destiny Tablet flowed into her hand.

    She grabbed the blood-red sword with it.

    Crunch.

    This brought an ominous change to everyone present.

    "Blood Bead... my head hurts!" Canary looked at Qi Yuan, her energy completely drained, her face pale as paper, as if enduring something.

    "My... heart demon!" Shang Yanran¡¯s face turned pale as well.

    "The heart demon from the grand portal... is coming out!" The Foolish Daoist also looked in pain, suppressing his inner evil.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face turned serious for the first time.

    He knew everyone¡¯s state all too well.

    The "Demon Binding Technique" trapped everyone¡¯s heart demons.

    Only when they died naturally would their heart demons emerge as demons.

    But now, the terrifying heart demon from the grand portal was emerging, stirring everyone¡¯s heart demons.

    If this continued, everyone¡¯s heart demons would break free, leading to their deaths.

    If the heart demon from the grand portal emerged, everyone in this world would likely die.

    Qi Yuan held Canary tightly, a trace of reluctance in his eyes. "Canary, I have to enter the grand portal. Remember... I will find you at the end of time."

    This origin insight had brought many events.

    But the time was short, less than two months.

    Reunited with Canary, they had to part again.

    Canary¡¯s face was pale, but she forced a bright smile. "I... will wait for you."

    Qi Yuan glanced at everyone, then at the place where the Destiny Tablet was.

    But the Destiny Tablet seemed to have disappeared from his sight.

    He knew he couldn¡¯t wait any longer.

    He looked at the grand portal and charged in without hesitation.

    As the figure in the blood-red robe disappeared, the grand portal closed again.

    The terrifying heartbeat weakened.

    Canary¡¯s pallor faded as she looked at the grand portal, her eyes filled with reluctance.

    "Blood Bead... will he be alright?"

    She looked at everyone.

    They slowly returned to normal, with Shang Yanran showing a worried expression.

    "The grand portal contains endless heart demons.

    The Blood Lord entering will suffer immense pain, a thousand cuts!"

    Everyone felt a sense of tragedy and pain.

    "The Blood Lord is sacrificing himself for us, for this world, willing to feed the demons with his body!

    And yet, this world calls him a great demon. It¡¯s truly ridiculous!" Bai Ze said with sorrow.

    Canary stared at the grand portal, "When will Blood Bead come out?"

    She didn¡¯t care how the world saw Blood Bead; she only cared that he came out alive.

    Shang Yanran shook her head in disappointment. "No one has ever come out of the grand portal.

    He... will eventually be assimilated into a heart demon."

    A heart demon... a blood demon.

    "No, there must be a way!" Canary refused to accept this. She ran towards the grand portal.

    But she couldn¡¯t get close.

    The grand portal, though near, seemed as distant as the ends of the earth.

    Everyone remained silent.

    Shang Yanran¡¯s eyes showed a peculiar light. "The Destiny Tablet, maybe we can find a way to save the Blood Lord with it!"

    Everyone looked towards the place where the Destiny Tablet was, but it was empty.

    ...

    Inside the grand portal.

    Countless pains gnawed at Qi Yuan¡¯s soul.

    Even he felt intense pain.

    This pain was a hundred, a thousand times stronger than facing those old monsters from the underground.

    He stood in the grand portal, with a door behind him.

    This was the door he had entered through.

    He looked up.

    A staircase descended from the sky, its height unknown.

    In the sky, there was another door.

    On the staircase, there was a withered corpse.

    The corpse wore a neat cassock, looking extremely serene.

    The skin was like dried bark, as if it hadn¡¯t been touched by water for millennia.

    Sunken eyes like dead fish eyes, shriveled and stinking, with a resentful gaze fixed on Qi Yuan.

    The corpse was walking down the steps, as if to reach Qi Yuan and push the door open.

    "Are you the heart demon of the great demon?" Qi Yuan asked, enduring the pain.

    The withered corpse spoke, its voice hoarse yet compassionate, "Thank you for entering the gate of ten thousand demons, helping me close the gate of ten thousand demons.

    Otherwise, if I went out, this world would fall into complete ruin."

    The voice was gentle, the gaze resentful, as if in a struggle.

    "The gate of ten thousand demons?" Qi Yuan recalled that the grand portal was the gate of all doors, capable of being any door.

    To this Buddha, it was the gate of ten thousand demons, but to Qi Yuan, it might be another door.

    "You entered this gate, not just to close the grand portal and prevent me from going out," the withered corpse spoke again.

    "Yes." Qi Yuan nodded.

    He came here for a crucial purpose: to comprehend the origin.

    In the grand portal, his comprehension was ongoing and extremely exaggerated.

    "I don¡¯t know your goal.

    But to achieve it, you need to send me into reincarnation and climb the steps of ten thousand demons," the withered corpse said.

    Sending into reincarnation meant killing it.

    Qi Yuan nodded, asking, "You seem out of place in this Flowing Wind Realm."

    His eyes saw useful information from the corpse.

    The resentful gaze softened, as if reminiscing.

    "I came from the Buddha¡¯s land."

    "This realm is cursed, abandoned by the gods, its beings unable to reincarnate or reach nirvana.

    I thought my deep cultivation would bring the three thousand scrolls of Buddha¡¯s teachings here, opening the gate of ten thousand demons to enter and enlighten this realm.

    But my shallow mind bred heart demons, bringing disaster."

    "Please help me find release and save this realm!"

    "Otherwise, if the grand portal opens, the curse will spread to the Buddha¡¯s land, leading to its downfall!"

    The corpse spoke, its resentful gaze returning to Qi Yuan.

    It leapt towards Qi Yuan, seeming to tear him apart.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze turned cold, "I can help you find release, but saving the world is beyond me."

    This world hadn¡¯t wronged him; why should he save it?

 Chapter 118: Origin Divine Ability

    Chapter 118: Origin Divine Ability

    The withered corpse was not a physical entity. Even the cassock it wore was formed from its spirit.

    The monk before Qi Yuan was actually a conglomeration of heart demons.

    When it attacked, it mobilized countless heart demons from the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, also known as the Grand Portal, gnawing at Qi Yuan.

    "You and I are alike, harboring the world''s greatest evils."

    "Greed, arrogance, lust... so many sins, let us sink into this bliss together!"Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com

    Qi Yuan''s body surged with blood energy, and his blood-red robe billowed without wind.

    A broken sword condensed in his hand, its blade emanating various sinister auras.

    After slaying countless demons, Qi Yuan¡¯s source of sin had reached its peak.

    "Sink?" Qi Yuan''s aura was even more menacing than these thousands of demons, making him appear as a demon lord. "You¡¯re just a bunch of experience points, yet you think you can drag me down!"

    The blood-red sword in his hand was condensed from the source of sin.

    Its evil aura was no weaker than these heart demons.

    "Become my sustenance!"

    Qi Yuan''s sword shook, and any heart demon that bit him turned to fragments.

    He observed the Grand Portal, gaining mutation abilities. The sin sources he extracted from slaying demons were somewhat akin to these heart demons.

    Slaying heart demons added to his source of sin.

    Step by step, he advanced, cutting down heart demons, which became part of his sin source.

    "No wonder all techniques in the Canglan Realm have flaws, making practitioners sustenance.

    Extracting sustenance feels fantastic!"

    Qi Yuan ignored the heart demons, continuously slaying them.

    The sin source grew rapidly.

    [You have comprehended the origin, mutation ability +9999.]

    [You have comprehended the origin, charisma +1.]

    [You have comprehended the origin, laziness ability +1.]

    Qi Yuan climbed the stairs, the withered corpse clinging to his back, whispering in his ear.

    "One step forward is a bottomless abyss, a world of extreme evil.

    One step back is an endless demonic realm, a world of bliss.

    Sink into the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, and become one with me!"

    As Qi Yuan stepped on the stairs, countless pale hands reached out from the bottomless abyss, grabbing his ankles and pulling at his clothes.

    The corpse on his back kept whispering in his ear.

    Everywhere he looked, there were endless demons.

    Qi Yuan suddenly recalled a line.

    "I am the sun!"

    With his words, his body suddenly radiated a brilliant light.

    Qi Yuan intended to use his great sunlight to purify this demonic realm.

    The brilliant light swept through.

    Qi Yuan thought he could clear this Grand Portal and slay these heart demons!

    But... things didn¡¯t go as he expected; there was a small twist.

    The heart demons, seeing his brilliant light, were not afraid but instead rushed towards it like moths to a flame, faces filled with fanaticism.

    "Hey, I¡¯m not your dad!"

    Despite their fervor, Qi Yuan showed no mercy.

    The brilliant light swept through, turning all heart demons into his sin source.

    "I am like a blazing sun in the sky. Why aren¡¯t the heart demons afraid of me?"

    "Is it just because my light... is blood red?"

    "Are you color discriminating?"

    Qi Yuan was furious.

    These heart demons had no eyes, yet they still discriminated by color.

    The endless light devoured the demons.

    Qi Yuan, like a demon lord, walked on the endless corridor of stairs, slowly ascending.

    Countless insights and evils filled his body.

    If he wanted, he could even directly condense his origin divine ability.

    Gluttony - The Maw of Taotie.

    Arrogance - The Eye of Heaven.

    Lust - The Fire of Red Lotus.

    ...

    The Seven Deadly Sins, forming seven origin divine abilities, then combining into one.

    Once the origin divine ability emerged, it would capture everyone¡¯s mind, dragging them into the endless demonic realm.

    ...

    Shinguang Sect, Five Light Peak.

    Kang Fulu stood outside the cave mansion, respectfully listening through a water curtain.

    Inside the cave was the peak master of Five Light Peak, Kang Fulu¡¯s master, the True Monarch Taiguang.

    A hoarse voice came from within, as True Monarch Taiguang taught Kang Fulu the key to forming a golden core.

    "To condense a golden core, you must first overcome the heart demon tribulation, then the heavenly tribulation, using the treasured object as the core, and solidifying spiritual energy to form the golden core."

    "Nowadays, the world has changed, and heavenly tribulations do not appear. You only need to overcome the heart demon tribulation to achieve the golden core."

    "The heart demon tribulation is difficult... but not impossible.

    The stronger the obsession, the firmer the heart, the stronger the heart demon tribulation.

    Being natural and sincere, on the contrary, may mean no heart demon, making it easier to overcome.

    Just like that Qi Yuan of the Seven Colors Peak, obsessed with one thing, without other distractions, making it easier to pass."

    "Remember, do not be bewitched by the heart demon, you must slay it!"

    "Disciple understands." Kang Fulu stood before the cave mansion, pondering his master¡¯s words.

    The heart demon tribulation...

    ...

    In the Grand Portal, also known as the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, heart demons abounded.

    Qi Yuan emitted a dense red light, with endless heart demons piled on him.

    He was like a man carrying a mountain of heart demons, climbing towards the topmost door.

    Every moment, thousands of heart demons fell from the mountain, turning to ashes.

    But more heart demons kept climbing onto Qi Yuan¡¯s back, as if he were the most delicious food, the demon lord!

    "Now I look like a giant heart demon."

    Qi Yuan chuckled.

    The Seven Deadly Sins formed countless emotions, flashing red in his eyes.

    Bearing endless heart demons, he ascended step by step.

    After extracting the sin source by slaying demons, Qi Yuan¡¯s mind had subtly changed.

    Unbidden images would appear in his mind, things he had never thought of before.

    He isolated himself, rarely interacting with others, partly to guard the city and partly to prevent heart demons from growing.

    He killed and killed, using slaughter to dissolve desires.

    Re-entering this world, he continued to kill and kill.

    Seeing Canary again, he felt a new allure from her.

    Was it from his heart, or was it the heart demon?

    It didn¡¯t matter; to Qi Yuan, the deed was the thought.

    Suppressing desire, liberating nature?

    Nonsense!

    Kill and kill, kill until rivers of blood flow, crush everything with one sword!

    "Become a heart demon, merge with us!"

    The withered corpse¡¯s voice spread in his mind.

    "You have no way back!"

    Qi Yuan sat motionless on the steps, his whole body blood-red, constantly transforming into a heart demon, inch by inch.

    In the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, a terrifying giant demon seemed to be forming.

    Qi Yuan remained silent, unable to recall what he was thinking.

    ...

    At the ends of the earth, the sea was blood-red.

    Canary stared blankly at the Grand Portal, "Blood Bead... when will you come out?"

    Blood Bead had entered the Grand Portal eleven years ago.

    For eleven years, she had waited outside.

    Five years ago, the Grand Portal underwent a strange change, dyeing all the surrounding seawater red.

    Now, the red had spread to Canary¡¯s feet.

    Shang Yanran appeared beside Canary, worry etched on her face. "He will come out someday."

    They didn¡¯t know what was happening inside the Grand Portal.

    But Shang Yanran had felt a terrifying demon brewing within.

    Once formed, the demon would plunge the world into an irreparable disaster.

    And this demon... was likely the Blood Lord.

    "Sister Yanran, you don¡¯t need to comfort me." Canary¡¯s face remained radiant, her makeup exquisite. "Entering the Grand Portal, he will become... a demon."

    Shang Yanran sighed.

    Entering the Grand Portal sealed the Blood Lord¡¯s fate.

    He entered to save the world, sealing the Grand Portal and feeding the demons with his body.

    ... and became a demon.

    "If he comes out, I will be here waiting for him." Canary smiled brightly, "Just like on Jiupan Mountain, I want him to see me first when he comes out."

    Shang Yanran said nothing.

    The Blood Palace was already retreating from the ends of the earth.

    People were migrating away from the area.

    "If he becomes a demon, I hope he still looks good." Canary mused.

    At this moment, Bai Ze appeared, his face exhausted. "We¡¯ve found the Destiny Tablet."

    He extended his hand, revealing the Destiny Tablet.

    Seeing it, Shang Yanran showed no excitement. "Too late."

    Now... the Blood Lord was clearly a demon. Even the Destiny Tablet couldn¡¯t save him.

    If they had found it when he first entered, they might have had a chance.

    But now, the Destiny Tablet could only show a way to slay the demon.

    Bai Ze was silent, his eyes filled with guilt.

    Shang Yanran then said, "Canary, in a few days, we will leave here."

    "Yes." Canary¡¯s voice was firm, "Don¡¯t try to persuade me to leave or knock me out and take me away. Understood?"

    Shang Yanran looked at the Grand Portal, finally nodding, "Alright."

    Shang Yanran and Bai Ze left, leaving the empty ends of the earth to Canary.

    She sat on the stone she once shared with Blood Bead, watching the Grand Portal.

    Her voice was tinged with sobs, "Blood Bead, everyone else isn¡¯t waiting for you, but I am!"

    Everyone said a demon would emerge.

    But it was still her childhood friend, her Blood Bead.

    She watched the Grand Portal, just as she had waited on Jiupan Mountain for her childhood friend to reappear.

    Time passed, and now the Blood Palace and the surrounding cities were nearly empty.

    The ends of the earth grew cold, blood-red frost forming on the ground.

    The seawater turned into blood-red ice.

    Only a dozen people remained in the Blood Palace.

    They were all that was left.

    The old man had traveled from Jiupan Mountain but hadn¡¯t seen the Blood Lord. He looked at the Grand Portal, his eyes filled with loss.

    "Did master never mention my name? Is it too ugly?"

    The Foolish Daoist shook his head, "Nangong Dagou, master is concerned with the world, he has no time to mention you."

    Nangong Dagou felt dejected.

    They stood there, looking at Canary not far away, moved.

    Tomorrow, they would leave this place for good.

    Only Canary would remain.

    "Sigh, master cares for the world, yet Zitian Xuannu? slandered him.

    Just as she was slain, master entered the Grand Portal to feed the demons with his body." Bai Ze¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration.

    Everyone was moved by their master¡¯s sacrifice.

    They looked at the Grand Portal, hoping for a final glimpse.

    Suddenly, a change occurred.

    "What¡¯s happening?"

    Everyone was shocked.

    The endless blood sea and frost vanished, turning back into seawater.

    The blood-red frost on the ground disappeared.

    Canary felt a warm sensation in her frozen hands, but her face showed fear. "Blood Bead... his aura... it¡¯s gone!"

    The dozen people flew to Canary, looking at the Grand Portal with complex, terrified expressions.

    Now, the blood-red frost was gone, the world seemed to clear up.

    The terrifying demonic aura from the Grand Portal was rapidly fading, as if the demon was disappearing forever.

    Shang Yanran¡¯s face turned sorrowful, "The Blood Lord... he transformed into the supreme heart demon but still awakened a trace of humanity, ending his own life."

    The Buddha, who became a great demon, entered the Grand Portal.

    The Buddha couldn¡¯t awaken his humanity and perished.

    The Blood Lord managed this, how could they not be moved?

 Chapter 119: Am I Really Ugly? Why Donâ€™t You Come to See Me?

    Chapter 119: Am I Really Ugly? Why Don¡¯t You Come to See Me?

    Shang Yanran¡¯s explanation was the most logical.

    Even if the Blood Lord were forever trapped in the demonic realm, lost to heart demons, and transformed into a great demon, he still retained a sliver of humanity and chose to end his own life rather than harm the world.

    Everyone present was deeply moved.

    Their admiration for the Blood Lord reached a new height.

    What even the great Buddha couldn¡¯t do, the Blood Lord accomplished.

    "No!" Canary looked at the Grand Portal, wanting to move forward but unable to, "I don¡¯t want Blood Bead to end his own life!"

    She was originally a carefree canary on Jiupan Mountain.

    How could she get used to the separation of the mortal world?

    And the person leaving was her childhood friend.

    "Is there any way to save Blood Bead?" Canary turned to Shang Yanran with a pleading look, "Please."

    Shang Yanran seemed to think of something, her eyes flashing with sorrow: "Now that the Blood Lord has ended his life and the blood demon has dissipated... I have a method that might save him.

    But... what may be revived could be a blood demon."

    Everyone fell silent.

    Bai Ze¡¯s face was complex. Finally, he said, "If reviving him turns him into a terrifying blood demon, wouldn''t that go against our master''s wishes?

    Is there no other way?"

    Shang Yanran said, "Master has ended his own life. The revived blood demon won¡¯t be a true terrifying blood demon, but rather an ordinary heart demon."

    "Save him!" The old man Nangong Dagou said firmly.

    "Save him!" The usually silent Foolish Daoist spoke up.

    "Master taught me the way, saving my life. Today I must do something for him!"

    Hearing these resolute words, Shang Yanran showed a sorrowful smile.

    The master they saved would be a blood demon, but would he still be the master?

    Yet, they chose to save him anyway.

    "The method is recorded on the Destiny Tablet. I originally thought it would never be used, but today... it will be." Shang Yanran took out the Destiny Tablet.

    After obtaining the Destiny Tablet, she hadn¡¯t given up on saving the Blood Lord, even though it was too late. She continued seeking ways to save him.

    It recorded that if the Blood Lord ended his life, severing himself from the demon, there would be a slim chance of saving him.

    "In the Grand Portal, there is a door called the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    The Gate of Ten Thousand Demons and the Grand Portal do not occupy the same space.

    But in some way, they are connected.

    If someone enters, they may see the Blood Lord.

    If they call out and transmit true essence, they might awaken him."

    This was the method recorded on the Destiny Tablet half a month ago.

    By entering the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons and calling out, transmitting true essence, they could potentially awaken the Blood Lord.

    "No problem." Nangong Dagou said.

    Canary also looked at the Grand Portal with excitement, recalling Blood Bead¡¯s words. Her gaze became determined: "Blood Bead..."

    Shang Yanran continued, "However... entering the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons will subject one to the curse of the demons, enduring endless pain.

    This pain may not match the agony of being gnawed by demons, but it is still extraordinary and beyond what ordinary people can bear.

    Moreover, after being cursed by the demons, one may become hideously ugly, hated by heaven and man.

    All living beings who see you will feel disgust and want to kill you!

    Even the closest lovers will feel revulsion and want to kill you!

    Even the chaotic heart demons will despise such ugliness."

    Shang Yanran spoke, deliberately glancing at Canary.

    Everyone knew Canary loved beauty.

    Entering the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons and emerging would make one hideously ugly.

    This ugliness was of a rule-based nature, unchangeable.

    "How do you enter the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons?" Canary asked as if she hadn¡¯t heard Shang Yanran¡¯s words.

    The Foolish Daoist smiled, "It''s just a body."

    Nangong Dagou gritted his teeth, "Having an ugly name is one thing, now I''ll also have to be ugly. Poor me and my handsome face."

    Bai Ze also said, "I will go too."

    Of the fourteen present, all except Shang Yanran were willing to enter the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    Shang Yanran said, "Husband, you cannot go. Your cultivation is second only to mine. You must help me open the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons and send them in!"

    Bai Ze¡¯s face changed multiple times before he finally said, "Okay."

    Canary looked at the Grand Portal, full of anticipation.

    Blood Bead... if I become ugly, will you still dislike me?

    ...

    The scene shifts to a quarter of an hour earlier.

    Inside the Grand Portal.

    Qi Yuan sat on the steps.

    His entire body was almost fully transformed into a heart demon.

    Having refined the sin source into a divine ability, his soul was also fully transformed into a heart demon.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan retained only a sliver of clarity.

    However, he showed no panic, only a puzzled expression, murmuring to himself.

    "What¡¯s my trump card?"

    "Why did I choose to enter the Grand Portal?"

    "Why did I refine the sin source into a divine ability?"

    "How strange, why can¡¯t I remember?"

    His body rapidly transformed into a heart demon, yet Qi Yuan remained incredibly calm.

    "Oh dear, after practicing the ''Qi Yuan Sutra'' too much, my memory has worsened. At such a critical moment, I¡¯ve forgotten my trump card, the path I intended to take!"

    Qi Yuan vaguely remembered that initially, he hadn¡¯t intended to practice the Void Realm Sovereign Heart Demon Induction.

    But then, it seemed he remembered something and practiced it anyway.

    "Could it be that the game failed because of my poor memory?"

    If that were the case, it would be ironic.

    Like someone with poor memory trying to cultivate, unable to remember the cultivation methods, despite having great talent but unable to practice.

    "No, wait..."

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan paused.

    A flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

    "I remember what my path was!"

    "No, I forgot again."

    After an indeterminate amount of time, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    "I¡¯ve got it!"

    He hadn¡¯t remembered, nor could he, but he understood.

    The biggest problem with the ''Qi Yuan Sutra'' was the mental instability and poor memory.

    Qi Yuan always believed his mind was normal.

    Poor memory, however, was a real issue.

    Forgetting was his path, his essence, his origin divine ability.

    The pain inflicted upon him, unbearable, forget!

    The sorrow inflicted upon him, intolerable, forget!

    Forget the pain, and there is no pain.

    Forget this is a real world, treat it as a game world, and the world¡¯s stabs won¡¯t feel as real.

    All along, Qi Yuan had been practicing forgetting.

    "Blood Bead?"

    "Who is this?"

    "Who¡¯s calling?"

    He looked over, his eyes seeming to see through the Grand Portal, spotting a scarred girl.

    For some reason, his heart ached.

    ¡¾Canary, your childhood friend, you spoil her greatly.¡¿

    "Childhood friend?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness was hazy.

    He looked at himself.

    ¡¾Qi Yuan, you consider yourself the origin of all things.

    Now, you are enduring the heavenly tribulation.

    Your origin divine ability is too powerful, the heavens do not wish for you to exist.¡¿

    "I am Qi Yuan?"

    His mind instantly cleared.

    The heavenly tribulation dissipated at this moment.

    The origin divine ability, ''Great Forgetting Mind Sutra,'' was complete!

    At this moment, a unique symbol also formed in the world. Qi Yuan watched as it drifted to the Grand Portal, engraving itself on the door.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Grand Portal, seeing it like a paper full of stamps, covered in strange symbols.

    Now, there was one more symbol, left by Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother looking at the symbols on the Grand Portal. His gaze fell on the abyss, through which he saw a fleeting figure.

    He couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s face, only their outline, but he knew who it was.

    "The ''Great Forgetting Mind Sutra'' is about forgetting."

    "Canary is about not forgetting."

    "Not wanting to forget, for not forgetting."

    "Forgetting and not forgetting."

    "Forget this world, don¡¯t forget Canary."

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    "The enlightenment is over... should I leave?"

    Qi Yuan had a premonition that the Grand Portal would soon disappear, and he would return to the present.

    This enlightenment of the origin brought him much.

    Two origin divine abilities.

    The first, the Void Realm Sovereign Heart Demon Induction.

    When the divine ability is activated, heart demons arise.

    The second, the ''Great Forgetting Mind Sutra.''

    Forgetting is the path.

    With the origin comprehended, he should, as before, leave this realm.

    This might be his last time comprehending the origin.

    Meaning he couldn¡¯t return to the past, couldn¡¯t see Canary, couldn¡¯t see those who awakened him.

    He didn¡¯t know the price they paid.

    But he knew it must have been unbearable.

    "Canary..."

    "We are separated... by thousands of years."

    "When we meet again... will it be dust to dust, ashes to ashes?"

    Qi Yuan naturally didn¡¯t want that.

    Time, fate... he would conquer them!

    At this moment, a black dot appeared in his hand.

    This was the most precious ability he had comprehended in the Grand Portal.

    The power of reincarnation!

    It is said that only Yin spirits could enter reincarnation.

    Some Nascent Souls had a chance of reincarnating too.

    "You woke me up, the power of reincarnation... I give it to you!"

    "I hope in the next life, we will meet again!"

    ...

    On Seven Colors Peak, Jiang Lingsu, who was cultivating, opened her eyes.

    "I feel like I just forgot something."

    She clutched her chest, confusion in her eyes.

    At that moment, a thunderclap sounded from the peak, heading towards Seven Colors Peak.

    The thunder was ordinary, like a typical lightning bolt.

    On the white jade palace at the peak, a cold white light shot up, clashing with the thunder, then disappearing.

    Jiang Lingsu showed a strange expression: "Was that heavenly thunder?

    Did Master intervene?

    It was too quick; I couldn¡¯t see Master¡¯s power."

    She looked at a nearby wooden house.

    Inside, it was quiet, with no sound.

    "Is Senior Brother playing games again?"

    "If he stays here playing for decades, the Shinguang Sect might forget he exists!" Jiang Lingsu continued her cultivation, not thinking much.

    ...

    At the ends of the earth.

    Several centuries had passed since the Grand Portal last appeared.

    The area was now deserted.

    Few people lived there.

    The Grand Portal had long disappeared, and by the sea, there was a wooden house.

    Facing the sea, but not warming with the spring.

    The ancient mirror on the dressing table was shattered, its fragments reflecting a flawless face.

    The left side was covered with a black veil.

    The girl¡¯s hand trembled, unable to hold the eyebrow pencil steadily. She couldn¡¯t even apply simple makeup properly.

    She looked in the mirror, seemingly trying hard to dress up.

    Suddenly, a stone broke the window, landing inside.

    A seagull flew away disdainfully.

    The pencil fell from her hand, and she cried out, "I¡¯m so clumsy, I can¡¯t even do my makeup. I¡¯m... ugly!"

    She covered her left face, unwilling to look at it.

    After a long time, she finally finished her makeup.

    She looked at where the Grand Portal had vanished, her voice tinged with grievance: "Am I really ugly? Why don¡¯t you come to see me?"

 Chapter 120: You Are Not a Supreme

    Chapter 120: You Are Not a Supreme

    In the Xingyuan Demon Cave,

    Chen Huan was extremely anxious.

    Several Supreme beings were closing in, among them, a Grand Supreme.

    "We¡¯re done for, we can¡¯t escape!"

    Chen Huan looked at Qi Yuan, feeling an instant of daze from him.

    "They can¡¯t escape; I... am Supreme now." Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes reflected the vicissitudes of life, as if he had experienced countless years.

    The enlightenment had ended, and he had returned to the game reality.

    "Big Brother... you¡¯ve become Supreme?" Chen Huan was astonished, then overjoyed.

    Looking at Qi Yuan, he felt he had become even more unfathomable.

    Just moments ago, he was still a myth on land, how did he suddenly become Supreme?

    Had he comprehended the origin?

    Awakened his origin divine ability?

    "Now, it¡¯s time to complete the third step of my plan, to slay the invaders!" Qi Yuan was about to implement his meticulous plan.

    "You¡¯ve just broken through to Supreme, it¡¯s impossible. They have a Grand Supreme, whose origin divine ability has reached the engraved realm!" Mentioning engraving, Chen Huan¡¯s eyes showed a hint of fear, "An engraved origin divine ability, even if flaws are found, cannot be defeated!"

    What Chen Huan said, Qi Yuan also knew.

    While fleeing with Ning Tao and mastering the Human Demon Path, he learned more about Supreme beings.

    Just entering the Supreme realm, the origin divine ability is at the terminal stage.

    At the terminal stage, the control over the origin divine ability is not very stable, and it consumes a lot.

    Mid-stage Supremes have their origin divine ability at the meticulous stage.

    They can control the origin divine ability meticulously, not wasting a single bit of it.

    As for late-stage Grand Supremes, they have reached the legendary engraved stage.

    Their origin divine ability is engraved in their body and soul.

    Without even moving, the origin divine ability forms on its own.

    The gap between a Grand Supreme and an early-stage Supreme is vast.

    Even through attrition, they can exhaust an early-stage Supreme¡¯s origin divine ability.

    "Engraved... indeed very powerful." Qi Yuan grinned, "But... I haven¡¯t killed anyone for tens of thousands of years, I¡¯m already starving."

    In the Grand Portal, Qi Yuan had sat for countless years.

    He had forgotten the passage of time, forgotten himself.

    It had indeed been many years since he last killed anyone.

    "Big Brother, did you forget? We just killed a Supreme and quite a few mythic beings!" Chen Huan felt his Big Brother was unreliable.

    Sometimes profound, sometimes not.

    He didn¡¯t want Qi Yuan to be unreliable now.

    Their conversation, though seemingly long, took less than two breaths.

    The terrifying aura descended completely.

    Six Supremes stood in the air, surrounding Qi Yuan and Chen Huan.

    The Purple Daoist¡¯s eyes were deep, looking at the two with surprise: "How did you two kill Supreme Yu Bai?"

    The Purple Daoist spoke, his eyes fixed on Qi Yuan.

    He ignored Chen Huan completely.

    The others also looked at Chen Huan and Qi Yuan with astonishment.

    Yu Bai¡¯s strength was well-known. Even two Supremes couldn¡¯t kill him quickly.

    But these two did it. Did they have a secret?

    The six had their own thoughts.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell on the Purple Daoist, his eyes sharp as knives. He pondered, "Was it you who sent Wu Tong to ambush me?

    Who gave you the courage... to ambush me?"

    Before a fight, one mustn¡¯t lose momentum!

    Even village dogs bark before a fight, right?

    This Purple Daoist had inexplicably ambushed him; there must be a story.

    The others looked at the Purple Daoist upon hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    The Purple Daoist ambushed the Wugui City guardian?

    Did he come to the Thousand Cities for a reason?

    The Purple Daoist didn¡¯t explain, he waved his sleeve: "Capture the Wugui City guardian alive, kill the other."

    Chen Huan was furious: "I am the White Emperor¡¯s disciple, why not capture me alive too?"

    The five Supremes attacked Chen Huan.

    Five terrifying origin divine abilities fell on him.

    If hit, Chen Huan would be severely injured, if not dead.

    "Big Brother, save me!" Chen Huan turned into a stream of light, dodging, with five divine abilities close behind.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice reached Chen Huan¡¯s ears.

    Qi Yuan, now stronger, could see the flaws in the five origin divine abilities.

    Chen Huan, hearing this, was delighted: "Big Brother, you¡¯re like a father to me!"

    Chen Huan, like a god, dodged the five divine abilities but lost an arm in the process.

    The six Supremes were shocked.

    They didn¡¯t expect Chen Huan to escape their origin divine abilities.

    They looked at Qi Yuan with amazement, curiosity, fear, and joy.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed.

    "Now... it¡¯s my turn!"

    This world, though a game, felt real. It wasn¡¯t turn-based.

    Qi Yuan had held back, waiting to see through their origin divine abilities.

    A cultivator¡¯s origin divine ability was their path, revealing their true self.

    Attacking from the heart, most likely to induce heart demons.

    As Qi Yuan spoke, the five Supremes felt inexplicable fear.

    The Purple Daoist stood in the air, eyes narrowed, unafraid.

    He had a premonition that the Wugui City guardian could kill the other Supremes but not him.

    Which suited him.

    The secrets and treasures of Wugui City should be his.

    Qi Yuan stepped forward, his robe fluttering.

    It turned blood-red.

    He stood there, eyes deep as an abyss.

    Void Realm Sovereign Heart Demon Induction!

    Their origin divine ability was flawless, forming on its own.

    "The last arrogant one died by my sword; you... won¡¯t be far off."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes turned serious.

    Grand Supremes were indeed strong!

    Now, Qi Yuan had killed five Supremes, leveling up to 124.

    The Purple Daoist was 189.

    A gap of over 60 levels.

    Qi Yuan had challenged higher levels before, but never this high.

    But in a game!

    Soloing bosses is fun.

    Holding his broken sword, Qi Yuan¡¯s form grew.

    "Little Wedding!"

    "Together as One!"

    Donning blood-red armor, Qi Yuan¡¯s level rose by five.

    The gap with the Purple Daoist narrowed.

    But still significant.

    "Interesting... but soon, all of this will be mine."

    The Purple Daoist watched Qi Yuan like a child watching ants.

    To him, Qi Yuan growing to dozens of feet, stronger, was like a small ant becoming a big ant.

    "Take my sword!"

    Strong sword energy spread, carrying endless heart demons.

    Early-stage Supremes affected by this sword wouldn¡¯t die naturally.

    But his opponent was a Grand Supreme!

    The Purple Daoist stood still, his origin divine ability activating.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s strong sword was blocked by him.

    The Purple Daoist said lightly: "Do it more; if you die, I won¡¯t see such swords."

    He wanted to understand the sin source and Wugui City¡¯s secrets through Qi Yuan¡¯s sword.

    Chen Huan watched silently.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s attacks were ineffective, as expected.

    His origin divine ability was deadly, but if he grew to Grand Supreme, he¡¯d be invincible except for the Emperor and the Venerable.

    But now, he was newly Supreme.

    The gap with Grand Supremes was vast.

    Qi Yuan remained calm, saying: "Purple Daoist, actually... you¡¯re not a Grand Supreme."

    But he kept attacking.

    Fighting and talking.

    Qi Yuan used to hate this.

    But now, with the origin divine ability, he had to talk for the best effect.

    The Purple Daoist smiled: "You¡¯re amusing."

    First time someone said he wasn¡¯t a Grand Supreme.

    Did it matter?

    "A Grand Supreme doesn¡¯t just engrave the origin divine ability in body and soul but also in demons.

    Demons are part of you; without engraving, how can you be a Grand Supreme?" Qi Yuan talked nonsense.

    "Rubbish." The Purple Daoist¡¯s origin divine ability hit Qi Yuan, who dodged easily.

    His eyes showed surprise.

    "When you reached Grand Supreme, did you hear a whisper calling... the Demon Confinement?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    The Purple Daoist¡¯s eyes darkened: "How do you know?"

    He thought of Wugui City, the demoness¡¯s burial site.

    Did the Wugui City guardian know these things?

    Qi Yuan smiled mysteriously.

    The ''Demon Confinement Technique'' was from his understanding of the Grand Portal.

    When he taught it, he couldn¡¯t add traps, but he didn¡¯t need to.

    He created the technique.

    The Purple Daoist¡¯s technique was derived from the ''Demon Confinement Technique,'' so he knew its effects well.

    "Your technique is flawed." Qi Yuan became a great deceiver, speaking confidently, "When you reached Supreme, your dantian¡¯s human demon power rolled three times; last time you meditated, you saw a door in your mind..."

    The Purple Daoist¡¯s face grew darker, then showed joy: "You¡¯ve gained more than I imagined in Wugui City!"

    "So, you¡¯re not a Grand Supreme; your origin divine ability isn¡¯t fully engraved, with many flaws.

    You¡¯re at best mid-stage Supreme, not a true Grand Supreme.

    The Emperor and the Venerable are the only flawless Grand Supremes." Qi Yuan lied.

    "You speak interestingly, almost convincing me... but does it matter? I¡¯m not flawless, but can you beat me?" The Purple Daoist was somewhat convinced.

    "To be a true Grand Supreme, you must forget... you¡¯re a false Grand Supreme, or you¡¯ll never reach true Grand Supreme!" Qi Yuan revealed his plan.

    The Purple Daoist paused, forgetting he was a Grand Supreme.

    Forget?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes sharpened.

    The moment was here!

    The Great Forgetting Mind Sutra!

    Void Realm Sovereign Heart Demon Induction!

    Hidden until now, the Great Forgetting Mind Sutra activated.

    The Purple Daoist stood, eyes blank: "I¡¯m not a Grand Supreme?"

    He forgot he was a Grand Supreme.

    His aura dropped for an instant.

    His flawless origin divine ability showed a flaw.

    The Void Realm Sovereign Heart Demon Induction activated.

    Heart demons filled the Purple Daoist¡¯s heart.

    He, like the five Supremes, had demons emerge.

    His eyes cleared, showing fear and anger, he roared: "I am a Grand Supreme!"

 Chapter 121: Qi Yuanâ€™s Plan to Establish the Blood Palace

    Chapter 121: Qi Yuan¡¯s Plan to Establish the Blood Palace

    Unfortunately, it was too late for him now, as his heart demon had already taken hold.

    Though his cultivation was restored to that of a Grand Supreme, and his origin divine ability was flawless once again, the heart demon had already manifested and was spreading like wildfire, impossible to extinguish.

    The Purple Daoist¡¯s face contorted in fear and fury as he looked at Qi Yuan: "What have you done?"

    He couldn''t comprehend it at all.

    The heart demon was devouring his body, and his origin divine abilities, fully focused on defense, were not enough.

    "What did I do? I don¡¯t remember." Qi Yuan cast a glance at the Purple Daoist.

    Not far away, Chen Huan observed the scene, finding Qi Yuan even more unfathomable and disordered.

    All he saw was Qi Yuan using a few words to scare the Purple Daoist, leading him inexplicably to suffer a heart demon break.

    Chen Huan didn''t understand the cause but found it extremely terrifying.

    He wondered if he should pierce his own ears.

    If one day he listened to Qi Yuan''s words and also experienced a heart demon break, that would be terrible.

    At this moment, the previously invincible Purple Daoist roared and struggled for a long time but ultimately failed to suppress the demon within his heart.

    In the end, he died with hatred in his heart.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan sighed: "As expected of a Grand Supreme, it took so much effort to kill him!"

    Honestly, Qi Yuan didn''t like using words to kill people.

    He wasn''t naturally skilled with words, unlike Zhuge Liang who verbally defeated Wang Lang.

    What he preferred was to kill enemies with a single sword stroke or behead them with a cleaver.

    But his enemies were too strong, and his mastery of the Great Forgetting Sutra was only at a rudimentary level, barely scratching the surface.

    Perhaps, once it reached the engraved level, his mere presence would make others forget him upon seeing him.

    He could then forget everything, including himself, at will.

    Chen Huan, hearing Qi Yuan''s words, wanted to splash tea in his face: "Big Brother, you just talked a Grand Supreme to death, you¡¯re stronger than... my master!"

    "A few simple words exhausted all my wisdom! Do you know, mental labor is sometimes more exhausting than physical labor."

    Though only sometimes.

    Chen Huan felt Qi Yuan was again spouting incomprehensible nonsense.

    He could only say...

    "Big Brother is mighty! You killed a Grand Supreme with just a few words!

    I never thought I''d see the day I could fight alongside you, slaying a Grand Supreme and... six lesser Supremes." Chen Huan included Supreme Yu Bai in his count.

    Qi Yuan ignored Chen Huan.

    Killing a Grand Supreme yielded significant experience points.

    He directly leveled up to 132.

    If more Supremes came for him to kill.

    Qi Yuan thought he could quickly level up to 200.

    But Supremes weren¡¯t that easy to kill, especially Grand Supremes.

    He looked at the Purple Daoist¡¯s corpse: "If you hadn¡¯t wanted to be my wife, you might have been a decent ¡®white moonlight¡¯."

    Saying this made Qi Yuan feel like a scoundrel.

    But he didn¡¯t care; his eyes fell on the ancient stone slab beside the Purple Daoist¡¯s corpse.

    "The Fate Tablet... we meet again."

    Qi Yuan smiled brightly, grabbing the escaping Fate Tablet.

    "No wonder this Purple Daoist and the Purple Heavenly Goddess are so alike; they both obtained the so-called strongest treasure of this world, the Fate Tablet."

    Holding the Fate Tablet, he looked at it.

    [Fate Tablet Fragment, formerly known as the Deception Tablet, contains ominousness, was purified by the Buddha.

    Everyone can find the answers they seek on the Fate Tablet.]

    The information was limited but useful.

    Staring at the Fate Tablet fragment, Qi Yuan thought deeply.

    He remembered the mummified corpse he encountered in the Grand Portal.

    The corpse had said it came from the Buddha¡¯s domain to purify the ominousness.

    This Fate Tablet...

    "If people can find the answers they seek on you, can you make me a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, a Primordial Saint?" Qi Yuan smiled at the Fate Tablet.

    Holding the Fate Tablet, a special image appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    It felt as if he had traveled through time and saw his future self.

    In the future, he relied on the Fate Tablet, defeated the White Emperor and the Supreme, left this world, and ascended to the legendary immortal realm.

    Using the Fate Tablet, he overcame crises step by step, proving the ultimate path.

    In the future, he became a Primordial Saint, capable of traversing the river of time.

    With a breath, all stars were extinguished in an instant.

    Qi Yuan looked at the tablet.

    [A deceptive future image, those who possess the Fate Tablet are more likely to believe this is true.]

    It was all illusion.

    He hadn''t traveled to the future, nor had he proven the ultimate path.

    It was all false.

    Holding the Fate Tablet, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm: "No wonder those who obtain you think they''re invincible; turns out..."

    He laughed: "Can you help me find the person I¡¯m looking for?"

    He thought of Ning Tao.

    This time, the Fate Tablet had no answer.

    Instead, it displayed strange characters.

    The general meaning was that activating the Fate Tablet also required energy, ideally the host¡¯s blood.

    Qi Yuan laughed: "Seems you don¡¯t know who I¡¯m looking for either."

    He placed several restrictions on the Fate Tablet fragment and put it away.

    Looking at Chen Huan, he said: "Let''s go."

    ...

    One day later, in Wugui City.

    Chen Huan was surprised: "You want to form a faction called the Blood Palace? That name is unlucky."Findd new stories at novelhall.com

    Who in the world didn''t know of the Blood Demon?

    "Sister, the Wugui City Guardian¡¯s power is beyond your imagination." Chen Huan recalled the time he was surrounded by the Grand Supreme and other Supremes, saying, "The Purple Daoist of the Thousand Cities led Supremes to attack me and my brother, but my brother... easily killed them!"

    Supreme deaths were usually catastrophic.

    Especially Grand Supremes, nearly impossible to kill.

    A fight could last hundreds of days to kill one.

    How long did it take for the Purple Daoist to fall?

    Less than the time of one incense stick!

    Huang Mengling¡¯s face showed more disdain: "The Purple Daoist is a Grand Supreme; who in the Thousand Cities can defeat him?

    Who could kill him?

    To stop him, at least three Grand Supremes would need to cooperate with ten other Supremes.

    The Wugui City Guardian, barely breaking into Supreme, could kill the Purple Daoist?

    Junior brother, I don¡¯t know what your goal is, but I advise you to turn back."

    She blocked Chen Huan¡¯s way.

    She was his senior sister, and he always feared her.

    But now, a terrifying aura enveloped her, turning her face pale.

    Chen Huan¡¯s voice echoed.

    "Sister, I am now... Supreme!"

    "I respect you as my senior sister for our master¡¯s sake!"

    "Do you understand?"

    Chen Huan¡¯s face turned cold.

    Huang Mengling felt the killing intent and chill.

    Her gums trembled, unable to meet Chen Huan¡¯s gaze, she stepped aside silently.

    Chen Huan left without looking back.

    In the palace, Huang Mengling¡¯s fear didn¡¯t fade for a long time: "A Supreme without strong origin divine abilities, I can defeat easily in a century!"

    She was defiant.

    After a while, a finely dressed old man hurried out of the palace.

    Huang Mengling was surprised: "Wang Gai, aren¡¯t you in closed cultivation to break through to Supreme? Why are you out?"

    Wang Gai, lowering his head, replied: "Miss Huang, I... I want to go to Wugui City to seek an opportunity."

    He dared not look at Huang Mengling.

    Chen Huan¡¯s words were exaggerated, even absurd.

    It might be a trap.

    But Wang Gai was running out of time.

    He wasn¡¯t afraid of dying.

    But he feared his family¡¯s fate without his protection in the Thousand Cities.

    The Great Sadness City Guardian, a Supreme, valued people¡¯s usefulness.

    He could fight now, so his family lived well.

    If he died, their fate would be grim.

    "Go!" Huang Mengling¡¯s face was dark.

    Wang Gai hurried away.

    He sighed inwardly: "Breaking through to Supreme from mythic is hard.

    Even Miss Huang, a disciple of the White Emperor, struggles with heart demons during enlightenment."

    He remembered when he first met Miss Huang, she was polite and courteous.

    Not like now, heart demons rampant.

    Wang Gai worried more.

    If the White Emperor¡¯s disciple struggled so much.

    Could they really break through to Supreme in Wugui City, joining the Blood Palace?

    But thinking he was near death anyway.

    He decided to take a risk.

    If he failed, at least he tried.

    ...

    In the icy wilderness, a black silhouette appeared.

    Ning Tao¡¯s face was pale, like a pear blossom, half covered by a black veil, but the visible half was enough to topple nations.

    But the "demon" character wouldn¡¯t let people appreciate her beauty, only feel repulsed.

    She walked through the snow, clutching a chain.

    Suddenly, she stopped and asked in a bewitching, ethereal voice: "Husband, when will you come to see me?"

    No one answered.

    The snowy wilderness was silent except for the howling wind.

    Ning Tao didn¡¯t lose hope, smiling sweetly: "Husband, you better hide well, or if I find your true self, I¡¯ll chain you to my side.

    Because you... never come to see me."

    She walked alone in the snow.

    After a while, the snow stopped.

    A blood-red figure appeared ahead, the Thirteenth Demon of the Northern Demons, He Wu.

    Ning Tao¡¯s eyes showed wariness: "Why are you here again?"

    He Wu¡¯s eyes held a hint of joy: "Aren¡¯t you curious why we became like this, loathed by all?"

    "Curious or not, does it matter?" Ning Tao smiled sadly.

    At least she hadn¡¯t seen disgust in her husband¡¯s eyes.

    Only familiar, unintentional love.

    "The far south of the Flowwind Realm, at the end of the world, may hold our answer." He Wu said, "I¡¯ve informed the Northern Demons; they all agreed to go with me. Will you come?"

    Ning Tao was curious: "Who told you this?"

    He Wu¡¯s eyes showed nostalgia: "Can¡¯t say, can¡¯t say."

    "Aren¡¯t you afraid it¡¯s a trap?" Ning Tao asked.

    "If it is, then this world is a cruel joke." He Wu replied.

    Ning Tao was silent for a while, then said: "I¡¯ll go, but it¡¯ll take time."

    She was still with the Blood Demon, always being hunted.

    He Wu glanced at the blood-colored flesh behind Ning Tao, sighing: "If you leave it, all threats will cease."

    Ning Tao smiled sweetly: "If I leave it, what if my husband can¡¯t find me?"

    He Wu looked at her for a long time, then said: "Even the Blood Demon would loathe your face; otherwise, why doesn¡¯t he appear?"

    They loathed themselves, let alone others.

    "No, my husband wouldn¡¯t." Ning Tao stubbornly raised her head, looking behind, determined, "He¡¯s just lost for now, not..."

 Chapter 122: Preaching and Becoming a Supreme

    Chapter 122: Preaching and Becoming a Supreme

    He Wu glanced at Ning Tao and said after a long pause, ¡°Going to the end of the world will take us through the Ten Thousand Eight Thousand Cities. As Northern Supremes, we must be careful.¡±

    Among the Thirteen Northern Demons, only two were Grand Supremes: Ning Tao and He Wu.

    Hearing this, a flash of killing intent appeared in Ning Tao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is the Purple Daoist also in the Ten Thousand Eight Thousand Cities?¡±

    The Purple Daoist had betrayed her, exposing the Blood Demon, leading to relentless pursuit. If it weren¡¯t for her "husband¡¯s" help, she might have died a bloody death by now. This grudge had to be avenged.

    ¡°He should be in the Bloodfall Thousand Cities,¡± He Wu did not hide the truth. ¡°But I advise you not to go. Although you are stronger than him, you are not much stronger. If he manages to trap you and other Northern Supremes join in, they might be able to keep you there.¡±

    Ning Tao laughed softly, with a hidden edge in her smile. ¡°I¡¯m just going to take a look.¡±

    ¡°Take care of yourself!¡± He Wu glanced at Ning Tao. ¡°I must go now. If I stay with you any longer, I might not be able to resist... killing you.¡±

    After speaking, He Wu¡¯s figure disappeared into the snowy wilderness.

    Ning Tao touched the left side of her face, looking at the mass of blood and flesh chained behind her. She smiled seductively, ¡°Is my husband also afraid to see me, fearing that he might not be able to resist killing me?¡±

    The Thirteen Northern Demons were not only loathed by the heavens and all beings.

    Especially Ning Tao, she was the most unique among the Northern Demons.

    It seemed her "demon" was deeper. Anyone who spent time with her couldn¡¯t help but feel a strong urge to kill her.

    The other demons experienced this too, but not to her extent.

    ...

    In Wugui City, Qi Yuan sat on the city wall. ¡°Now, my real-world cultivation should be close to the late Foundation Establishment stage.¡±

    Due to the difference in time flow, he wasn¡¯t sure if he should log out of the game just yet.

    ¡°I¡¯m still too weak,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    Whether in the real world or the game world.

    Recently, Qi Yuan had challenged and killed a Grand Supreme. It seemed easy, but it was incredibly difficult in reality.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s mastery of the Great Forgetting Sutra, his origin divine ability, was only at the initial stage.

    Killing the Purple Daoist last time exhausted that ability and it would take some time to replenish.

    As for the Void Realm Ruler¡¯s Heart Demon, he had plenty left, seemingly inexhaustible.

    After all, just a bit of it could overwhelm Supremes of the same level.

    ¡°Sigh, why can I surpass two major realms in the real world, killing Nascent Souls while in the Foundation Establishment stage, but not do the same in the game, where Supremes kill... Yang Gods?¡±

    Qi Yuan felt that his game character was too weak, only capable of being invincible at the same level, and struggling to challenge higher levels.

    Of course, this had a lot to do with the increasing differences between minor levels as one¡¯s strength grew.

    ¡°In the real world, even if I break through to the Golden Core stage, it would be difficult to fight Yin Gods across two major realms.¡±

    ¡°I must destroy the Light Palace quickly, or else if the Ice Mountain Overlordess is trapped by the high-interest loans from the Light Palace, I¡¯m in trouble.¡±

    ¡°I wonder what the game will reward me with for guarding Wugui City for so long. Will it help me kill Yin Gods with my Golden Core?¡±

    ¡°Key fragments?¡±

    ¡°If not... I¡¯ll have to condense the Flowwind Realm into my Golden Core, hahaha...¡±

    At this moment, whether it was an illusion or not, Qi Yuan felt as if the world trembled slightly.

    How could the world tremble?

    Clearly, it was just his illusion.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t the world trembling, but Chen Huan returning.¡±

    Qi Yuan stood up, looking into the distance. He saw a group of five people rushing towards Wugui City.

    Leading them was Chen Huan.

    Following him were four mythic beings.

    Three appeared elderly, while one still retained a youthful appearance.

    Qi Yuan could see they were nearing the end of their lifespan, their energy nearly exhausted.

    In this world, mythic beings only had about a thousand years of lifespan, much shorter than Nascent Souls in the Canglan Realm.

    These individuals were nearing their deaths, their bodies halfway into the grave.

    Only such mythic beings would come to Wugui City.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised.

    A spark can ignite a prairie fire.

    As long as he preached once, more people would surely come to Wugui City.

    If not, then something was wrong with this world and it needed fixing.

    ¡°Big brother, I went to Great Sadness City, and only these four were willing to come.¡± Chen Huan spoke, eyes filled with guilt.

    The four behind Chen Huan were now scrutinizing Qi Yuan.

    Dressed in a red robe, exceedingly handsome, his eyes filled with a deep crimson, yet restrained. One word to describe him: ¡°Bewitching.¡±

    Wang Gai stared at Qi Yuan, growing more curious the longer he looked.

    It was his first time seeing such a unique... person.

    Not even the most powerful Supremes gave him this feeling.

    Could he really help them break through to Supreme?

    That would be... Supreme.

    ¡°No matter. Since you have come to my Wugui City, you must join my Blood Palace. Understand?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze was calm as he addressed the four.

    ¡°Lord Guardian, if you help me become Supreme, I will not only serve the Blood Palace but also oppose Great Sadness City if needed,¡± the young woman said.

    Wang Gai and the others nodded.

    If they could become Supreme.

    The conditions set by the Wugui City Guardian were not harsh at all; in fact, they were almost too easy to believe.

    How many mythic beings were there in this world?

    No one knew.

    But there were only a few thousand Supremes.

    Becoming a Supreme gave one a chance to rise above and become a player rather than a pawn.

    Below Supremes, all were pawns.

    ¡°Very well, let¡¯s begin the preaching.¡± Qi Yuan said indifferently.

    Wang Gai¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

    So soon?

    No contract signing?

    No heart demon oath?

    No loyalty test?

    Just handing out the opportunity to become Supreme so easily?Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com

    The task was now forgotten.

    This was a chance to become Supreme.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± the woman said, turning into a stream of light heading for Wugui City.

    Li Yunzhi followed.

    The bearded wise man hesitated, not understanding.

    ¡°Are they going in to gather more information to report back?¡± He thought, quickly following.

    He couldn¡¯t let those sycophants outdo him!

    After a few moments, the three entered Wugui City.

    Chen Huan looked at them, smiling.

    He said, ¡°Today¡¯s preaching is over. The Blood Lord said he dislikes trouble, so the next preaching will wait until ten people gather. The one after might be twenty, or a hundred, or a thousand.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Li Yunzhi was disappointed, but quickly recovered, ¡°That makes sense. Preaching can¡¯t be so easy.¡±

    Chen Huan turned and left, returning to Wugui City.

    Leaving the three standing there.

    They looked at the four on the city wall, eyes filled with envy, ¡°All have the origin aura...¡±

    Besides Wang Gai, the other three slowly showed the origin aura.

    Li Yunzhi knew that within a day or two, these four would become Supremes.

    What an opportunity.

    He looked up at the sky, deep in thought.

    The bearded wise man also looked up, seeing nothing, and asked, ¡°Li Yunzhi, what are you looking at?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m wondering... why the heavens haven¡¯t sent retribution?¡± The Blood Lord¡¯s actions defied the natural order.

    But nothing happened.

    ¡°What retribution, aren¡¯t you supposed to be gathering information, why join the Blood Palace?¡± the bearded wise man asked.

    ¡°Are you brain-dead from heart demons? It¡¯s to become Supremes?¡± the woman said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, we need to gather ten people in Great Sadness City to hear the Blood Lord¡¯s preaching!¡± Li Yunzhi was eager.

    His brother was about to become Supreme.

    He didn¡¯t want to see his brother flaunting it in front of him.

    ...

    The next day.

    Great Sadness City.

    Huang Mengling opened her eyes, reading the message, her face filled with disbelief, ¡°Supreme... really Supreme, how is this possible?¡±

    Just now, news came from within Great Sadness City, confirming that the four who went to Wugui City had comprehended the origin and were forming their origin divine abilities. Once successful, they would become true Supremes.

    This was inconceivable.

    Huang Mengling had seen Wang Gai recently.

    He was old and weak, nowhere near comprehending the origin.

    ¡°Is this news true or false?¡± Huang Mengling still couldn¡¯t believe it.

    ¡°This is... absolutely true,¡± said a Supreme, one of the Great Sadness City Supremes.

    Huang Mengling was silent.

    She had met the Wugui City Guardian days ago.

    He seemed just like Chen Huan, how did he suddenly become Supreme?

    ¡°This matter... is very suspicious!¡± Huang Mengling paced, finally deciding, ¡°I must report this to Senior Brother!¡±

    She didn¡¯t have direct access to the White Emperor.

    But such a significant matter must be reported to her Senior Brother.

    The Supreme nodded.

    This major event had to be known by the real big shots.

    He was a Supreme, but only at the initial stage, unable to handle this.

    Then he remembered something, quickly saying, ¡°Recently, the demon-controlling Supremes of Bloodfall Thousand Cities have disappeared. Even the Purple Daoist hasn¡¯t appeared. There may be a conspiracy connected to Wugui City.¡±

    ¡°What? Those Supremes are missing?¡± Huang Mengling was shocked.

    She remembered Chen Huan saying the Wugui City Guardian had killed the Purple Daoist and other Supremes.

    She didn¡¯t believe it then.

    But now, the Purple Daoist was missing?

    Could it be... he was really killed?

    But that was a Grand Supreme!

    Even if her Senior Brother acted, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to kill.

    How could a newly ascended Supreme kill a Grand Supreme?

    Or was there another twist?

    Huang Mengling rubbed her temples, finally saying, ¡°Supreme Yin, you must send people to investigate if the Purple Daoist... is dead.¡±

    ¡°Dead? What!¡± Supreme Yin was startled.

    That was a Grand Supreme.

    One of the most powerful beings.

    ¡°And another thing, Supreme Yin. In the near future, the Thirteen Northern Demons may pass through the Ten Thousand Eight Thousand Cities, possibly Great Sadness City. Please don¡¯t stop them; this is my Senior Brother¡¯s will,¡± Huang Mengling said.

    Her Senior Brother¡¯s will likely represented the White Emperor¡¯s will.

    ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Supreme Yin agreed, compared to the first matter, the second was trivial.

    High-level plans, they just needed to execute.

    ¡°Thank you, Supreme Yin.¡± Huang Mengling¡¯s words hinted for him to leave.

    Supreme Yin left, eyes filled with suspicion.

    Huang Mengling¡¯s head ached.

    Things were developing beyond her expectations.

    She didn¡¯t know if this was good or bad.

    ¡°Hopefully, Senior Brother can resolve this,¡± she thought, knowing she couldn¡¯t handle it.

    She couldn¡¯t understand how a mythic being she met days ago, just handsome and charismatic, could suddenly...

 Chapter 123: You Wonâ€™t Kill Them Fighting Like This, Let Me Handle It

    Chapter 123: You Won¡¯t Kill Them Fighting Like This, Let Me Handle It

    White Emperor Palace.

    The man in the white crane robe placed a white chess piece on the board, mumbling to himself, "Born sage... Blood Lord... preaching... Supreme..."Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com

    "Senior Brother, this matter is critical. Should we report it to Master?" The baby-faced girl, the second disciple of the White Emperor Palace, asked with a worried look.

    Yun He shook his head, "A few days ago, Master had a fierce battle with the Supreme and was seriously injured. He is currently in seclusion to heal and won''t see anyone for a while."

    The baby-faced girl''s eyes filled with concern, "Master is injured?"

    "Sigh..." Yun He''s eyes clouded with worry, "The Supreme is pressing hard. The north-south conflict... it''s really difficult!"

    Once the north-south conflict ends, and if the south loses, the Flowwind Realm will become unimaginable, with rampant demons leaving no space for ordinary people to survive.

    "If the Supreme didn''t have the Fate Tablet, Master wouldn''t have to fear her!" The baby-faced girl said indignantly.

    The balance between the White Emperor and the Supreme was tipped with the arrival of the Fate Tablet. The baby-faced girl remembered that it was only after the Supreme obtained the Fate Tablet that the north began to completely overpower the south. Previously, although the south was at a disadvantage, it wasn''t so pronounced.

    "Fate Tablet..." Hearing this, Yun He was startled, "Do you think that Blood Lord... also has a Fate Tablet?"

    The Fate Tablet was not unique.

    The baby-faced girl suddenly realized, "If it''s the Fate Tablet, then it''s possible... But Master said the Fate Tablet is an ominous object. If the Blood Lord has it and creates a batch of Supremes, won''t it make things even harder for the south?"

    She had already placed the Fate Tablet''s owner in the opposition. Although the Fate Tablet couldn''t mass-produce Supremes, it could certainly create dozens, maybe even a hundred. The south was already at a disadvantage, and if the north gained a hundred more Supremes, the north-south conflict would tilt further in their favor. It could even push the timeline of the final battle forward, and their Master''s preparations wouldn''t be enough.

    "No, I must go to Wugui City immediately to see the Blood Lord," Yun He said, emotions flashing across his eyes. "If Master comes out of seclusion, inform him about the Blood Lord and the Fate Tablet."

    "Alright." The baby-faced girl looked at Yun He, "Senior Brother, be careful. If there''s any danger, return to the White Emperor Palace."

    She was worried it might be a trap to ensnare her Senior Brother.

    "I understand." Yun He smiled calmly.

    He was most like the White Emperor, with his heart set on saving the world, unafraid of death.

    ...

    Six years later.

    In Wugui City.

    Yuan Qi, now old and frail, had been full of vigor when he first came to Wugui City, but now he was nearing the end of his life.

    In the bustling Wugui City, he had become a gatekeeper.

    Looking at the bustling activity, Yuan Qi''s eyes filled with a smile, "The Lord Guardian... finally no longer has to guard the city alone."

    He coughed as he spoke.

    In six years, Wugui City had changed a lot.

    The biggest change was the increase in people.

    Wugui City now had a population of 200,000.

    The number of Supremes had reached an astonishing three hundred.

    This number, if revealed, would shock the world.

    In just five years, the Blood Palace had grown at an alarming rate.

    Unfortunately, the north-south conflict had turned the Ten Thousand Eight Thousand Cities into isolated fortresses, and many were unaware of this development.

    Some who knew scoffed at it.

    However, many mythic beings traveled thousands of miles to Wugui City.

    Unfortunately, many died on the way.

    At this moment, many mythic beings had arrived in Wugui City.

    In half a month, there would be the legendary preaching assembly.

    This time, a thousand peak mythic beings had gathered.

    Of course, many mythic beings who had not yet reached the peak also came to listen and improve their strength.

    At that time, the Blood Lord would appear and preach to all the mythic beings.

    "It''s getting dark, time to close the gates." Yuan Qi, now old and frail, didn''t know if he would live to see the end of the north-south conflict.

    But he believed that as long as the Blood Lord existed, one day the conflict would end.

    The victor... would be the Blood Lord.

    Outside Wugui City.

    In a newly built underground palace.

    Qi Yuan smiled, "Having subordinates feels great."

    He sat in a grand chair, extending his broken sword.

    One after another, demons, like items on a conveyor belt, were cut by Qi Yuan.

    He didn''t even need to move; every day, a large number of demons were captured by his Supreme subordinates and brought to him for cutting.

    After all, catching a hundred mythic-level demons earned them another chance to listen to his preaching.

    The Supremes worked tirelessly, capturing demons day and night.

    The reason this was done outside Wugui City was that if the demons entered the city and Qi Yuan failed to guard it, it would be disastrous.

    So he built a demon factory outside the city.

    Every day he slaughtered demons.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan paused, "Do I look like I''m working in a factory, tightening screws?"

    As endless experience flowed in, Qi Yuan felt like he was in a factory, tightening screws.

    The demons were the products.

    The only difference was that others might stand or sit on stools, but he had a grand chair.

    "Am I working for... the Flowwind Realm?"

    The more Qi Yuan thought, the angrier he got. He looked up at the sky.

    "If you don''t give me some benefits, I''ll definitely turn you into my Golden Core."

    He said, crossing his legs, extending his sword as more demons turned into fragments.

    The demonic essence grew crazily.

    The Void Realm Ruler''s Heart Demon ability stored endlessly.

    Qi Yuan felt he could never exhaust this ability.

    As for... the Great Forgetting Sutra, it was another extreme.

    Against peers, Qi Yuan was reluctant to use it.

    At that moment, a bell rang outside.

    "Come in," Qi Yuan said lazily.

    The door opened, and Chen Huan, dressed in red, walked in.

    Compared to five years ago, his aura was even more terrifying.

    "Brother, a new batch of Supremes has arrived in the Bloodfall Thousand Cities. There are quite a few of them, and they seem to be planning something big."

    Chen Huan was now the chief steward of the Blood Palace, managing many affairs.

    "How many?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    "Over twenty, including several mid-level Supremes," Chen Huan said.

    Due to the presence of mid-level Supremes, they couldn''t investigate too deeply to avoid detection.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up, "No Grand Supremes?"

    Mid-level Supremes were dangerous to others, but to Qi Yuan, they were nothing.

    As long as they didn''t have flawless divine abilities, his Void Realm Ruler''s Heart Demon could deal with them.

    In reality, so many Supremes, including mid-level ones, could easily kill a Grand Supreme.

    Grand Supremes were powerful in single combat.

    The current scene was all too familiar.

    The five mid-level Supremes were driving her to a certain place.

    And that place was where she intended to go.

    She tried changing routes, but was blocked each time, forced to follow this path.

    She knew she was heading into a trap.

    But she had no choice.

    Even if her husband came to help, it wouldn''t do much.

    She was in a dire situation.

    Half an hour later, Ning Tao, a stream of light, stopped.

    In a desert, her face expressionless, "Quite a setup!"

    Behind her, the five mid-level Supremes smiled, "Demoness, you''ve run out of road."

    Around her, twenty-three figures appeared.

    All Supremes, including five mid-level ones.

    Ten mid-level Supremes, more than ten early Supremes, and a treasure made by Grand Supremes, more than enough to kill an injured Grand Supreme.

    Blue Charm Supreme looked at Ning Tao, eyes filled with disgust, then at the blood ball with a complex look, "Demoness, this is your grave!"

    The other Supremes looked at Ning Tao with the same disgust.

    Demonesses were hated by all, even them.

    Ning Tao smiled, looking at the blood ball with tenderness, "My husband is not a Blood Demon, and I am not a demoness.

    But it doesn''t matter anymore."

    She looked at the blood ball, holding the chain tightly, not wanting to part from it.

    In this situation, Ning Tao accepted her fate.

    She had faced endless pursuit.

    Heading to the world''s edge, she had a premonition she wouldn''t make it.

    There were limits to human strength, she wasn''t a chosen one, rather, the world''s hated.

    "Enough talk, kill!"

    Blue Charm Supreme ordered, and twenty-three Supremes attacked together.

    The five behind her also attacked.

    Powerful origin abilities enveloped Ning Tao, her face pale but fearless.

    She was like a black butterfly in the rain, dodging all origin abilities.

    These powerful abilities were all avoided.

    "Impressive, even injured, a Grand Supreme is strong!

    Everyone, attack together, wear her out!"

    Blue Charm Supreme knew Grand Supremes were hard to kill.

    Facing an injured one, they had to wear her down.

    Once her origin was exhausted, the flawless abilities would have flaws.

    Then she would be just a powerful mid-level Supreme, easily killed.

    Sheep Chaos Supreme stayed in the crowd, avoiding real effort.

    Ning Tao dodged attacks, holding the chain tightly, not wanting the blood ball harmed.

    "Everyone, no holding back, kill her quickly!" Blue Charm Supreme shouted.

    The Supremes attacked again.

    But Ning Tao still dodged perfectly.

    The Supremes were calm, knowing she was just a struggling beast.

    Suddenly, a mocking voice came, "You won''t kill her fighting like this, let me handle it!"

    A red-robed man appeared, face masked, exuding a terrifying aura.

    Blue Charm Supreme''s face changed, "Blood Lord?"

    He was just surprised.

    "Wugui City''s Blood Lord? We haven''t dealt with you yet, and you dare interfere.

    Do you think you won''t die?"

    Blue Charm Supreme shouted.

    "You didn''t come alone, did you? Where are your Supremes? Bring them out, we can kill the Grand Supreme and take Wugui City today!"

    Blue Charm Supreme was confident.

    Ning Tao glanced at the red-robed man, her hidden left eye twitching, right eye unchanged.

    The other Supremes looked at him with caution, but mostly relaxed.

    Sheep Chaos Supreme said Wugui City had a few early Supremes, nothing to fear.

    "Do you really want me to call them? I fear you''ll be shocked." Qi Yuan said softly.

    He observed the battle, watching their abilities.

    This would make his Heart Demon ability more effective.

    Ten mid-level Supremes were tough.

    "Humph, Blood Lord!" Blue Charm Supreme snorted, ignoring the clown, just cautious.

    The other Supremes felt the same.

    A few Supremes couldn''t change the outcome.

    Qi Yuan smiled faintly, "Since you want to see, I''ll show you.

    Come out... my fighters."

    With his words, the sky rippled.

    Hundreds of red-robed figures appeared.

    Cold, stern, all exuding Supreme auras.

    So many Supremes, the scene was shocking.

    "All Supremes?"

    "So many?"

    The Supremes attacking Ning Tao were stunned.

    Some gasped.

    Sheep Chaos Supreme said there were a few.

    But a hundred?

    The information was terribly wrong!

    Qi Yuan stood, not shielding the Supremes behind, saying, "I shouldn''t have brought them out, you gasping is causing global warming."

    He moved forward.

    Ignoring their shock, he repeated, "Fighting like this won''t kill her, let me handle it."

    The Supremes behind, including Wang Gai, were amazed.

    The Blood Lord... fighting nearly thirty Supremes alone?

    How dare he!

    But their orders were to watch.

    They didn''t dare move, fearing to disobey.

    Qi Yuan moved forward, the red robe even more striking.

    He became a hundred-zhang tall blood-armored giant, wielding a red broken sword.

    "This is how you kill!"

 Chapter 124: The Canary is Definitely Prettier than My Ugly Face

    Chapter 124: The Canary is Definitely Prettier than My Ugly Face

    With the enhancement of "With You Under My Command," Qi Yuan now stood nearly a hundred meters tall.

    A giant of a thousand meters high wouldn''t mean much to a Supreme, as they could suppress such a giant with a single hand.

    However, when facing the blood-red armored giant''s killing gaze, a sudden sense of fear arose in their hearts.

    Blue Charm Supreme forcibly suppressed this fear, sneering at Qi Yuan, "We possess a treasure crafted by a Grand Supreme, providing both offense and defense. Even with the Supremes behind you, you can''t stop us! In the upcoming north-south conflict, the south is destined to lose, and you will surely die!"

    Blue Charm Supreme was already preparing to flee.

    The other Supremes had similar thoughts. After all, facing over a hundred initial stage Supremes was too terrifying.

    Qi Yuan, wielding the broken sword, resembled a colossal reaper from the underworld.

    His cold, unfeeling eyes swept over the twenty-plus Supremes.

    In an eerie voice, he said, "Many people can''t see the future, but they''ve already glimpsed it."

    The enormous broken sword exuded a sinister, blood-red aura.

    Qi Yuan raised the sword and slashed.

    Void Realm Ruler''s Heart Demon invoked.

    As he swung the sword, he roared, "This is your future!"

    An endless blood rain poured from the sword, like a torrential downpour, falling on the twenty-seven Supremes.

    Sheep Chaos Supreme and Ning Tao were unaffected.

    Greed, arrogance, gluttony, lust... all these emotions were embedded in the blood rain, stirring the Supremes'' hearts.

    The Supremes first felt bewildered, then terror-stricken.

    "W-what is this?" Blue Charm Supreme''s face was filled with horror.

    The treasure crafted by the Grand Supreme made their defense impenetrable, even against a Grand Supreme''s origin ability.

    However, the blood rain pierced through this defense, landing on their bodies.

    Blue Charm Supreme''s face contorted. As soon as he spoke, something horrifying happened.

    A terrifying tumor bulged out from his back, ripping through his robes.

    The tumor grew larger, the size of a millstone.

    Suddenly, the tumor burst like a pimple, spraying yellow liquid, as a monstrous demon emerged.

    The demon''s eyes were filled with greed and hunger.

    It clung to Blue Charm Supreme''s shoulder, gnawing at the tumor.

    This scene repeated with the other Supremes.

    Demons burst from their bodies like parasitic worms, devouring their hosts.

    Some Supremes, twisted and writhing like beasts, rolled on the ground.

    Others tore at their own skin, trying to peel it off for relief.

    The scene was eerie, horrifying, and utterly gruesome.

    "Devil, you''re a devil!"

    The mid-level Supremes, barely able to speak, looked at Qi Yuan''s terrifying figure with eyes full of confusion and fear.

    "Spare me... I''ll be your dog!" one Supreme pleaded.Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com

    The towering blood-red giant surveyed the frenzied Supremes.

    He calmly stated, "This is the fate of those who oppose me."

    The hundred Supremes behind him were all aghast. Hearing Qi Yuan''s words, they shivered inwardly.

    The scene before them defied all understanding.

    They had only seen their revered, enigmatic Blood Lord transform into a blood-red giant.

    He swung his sword once, and blood rain fell.

    The terrifying thing was that the Supremes'' heart demons were fully awakened. These once powerful Supremes, devoured by demons, were as helpless as children.

    This origin ability easily wiped out twenty-seven Supremes, leaving them no chance to resist.

    This sight filled them with terror.

    How could this be a born sage?

    This was a god, a demon god!

    Everyone swallowed hard, remaining silent.

    In the crowd, Sheep Chaos Supreme trembled.

    For the first time since becoming a Supreme, he felt this way.

    His back tingled, his face filled with ecstasy.

    He stepped forward, shouting, "Blood Lord is mighty, ruling the world!"

    Now, he didn''t resemble a Supreme at all, but the most obsequious follower.

    Qi Yuan ignored Sheep Chaos Supreme, focusing on the twenty-plus Supremes.

    One by one, they died in agony.

    These terrifying Supremes, who could destroy cities, perished miserably.

    Qi Yuan''s experience bar grew rapidly.

    He couldn''t help but sigh.

    Supremes truly lived up to their name.

    The skyrocketing experience was far more rewarding than that from mythic-level demons.

    In just a few seconds, all the Supremes perished.

    The hellish scene vanished, leaving Qi Yuan at level 148.

    As one progresses, the gap between small levels grows, requiring endless time to bridge.

    Qi Yuan was just 2 levels away from mid-level Supreme.

    However, he didn''t need time; he just needed to kill, and his experience would grow.

    But this was just leveling.

    Mastering origin abilities, from time to the micro level, required his own efforts.

    Qi Yuan grinned, sweeping his gaze over everyone present, "Do you understand how to kill now?"

    The previous battle was slow and wasteful, dragging on forever.

    It lacked the efficiency of Qi Yuan''s clean and decisive strike.

    "We understand." The Supremes behind him quickly replied.

    Wang Gai, among them, was horrified.

    Sheep Chaos Supreme, however, beamed, flattering, "Compared to Blood Lord''s single strike, our fights are like childish scuffles."

    Qi Yuan accepted the flattery, his gaze finally settling on the solitary Ning Tao, his smile playful, "You''re not leaving?"

    Ning Tao clutched the chain tightly, looking at the blood-red figure, the fear in her eyes fading, "If you don''t speak, how dare I leave?"

    In Wugui City, Qi Yuan lazily lay on a master chair, his broken sword harvesting demons on the conveyor belt.

    He had now reached mid-level Supreme by Flowwind Realm standards.

    "Having many subordinates is great." Qi Yuan sighed.

    Now, the Blood Palace had nearly two thousand Supremes.

    Every day, many Supremes went out, capturing demons for Qi Yuan to kill.

    His experience grew rapidly.

    "Unfortunately, my level has increased, but understanding origin abilities is slow."

    Supremes in this realm needed to improve their origin abilities to advance.

    Qi Yuan only needed to level up.

    However, his origin abilities couldn''t be leveled up through experience; he needed to comprehend them.

    Fortunately, with endless source power, Qi Yuan''s first origin ability, Void Realm Ruler''s Heart Demon, reached a terrifying level.

    The quantity was overwhelming.

    He couldn''t exhaust it.

    This ability reached the micro level.

    But Great Forgetfulness Mental Method had no progress, still at the time level.

    "Seems my talent is too poor. Without this game, I''d be a nobody in the Canglan Realm, probably not even entering the Divine Light Sect."

    Qi Yuan was disappointed.

    He often tried to understand Great Forgetfulness Mental Method.

    But every next day, he forgot the previous day''s progress.

    How could he comprehend it?

    "Too hard, too hard, this game is too hard to play!" Qi Yuan lamented.

    Great Forgetfulness Mental Method wasn''t for humans.

    If the micro level was this hard, what about engraving?

    If he engraved it on his body and soul, Qi Yuan suspected he''d become an idiot.

    "Brother, brother, Supreme Mila is here to see you!" Chen Huan rushed into the underground palace, anxious.

    "Can''t you see I''m screwing in bolts? Not seeing." Qi Yuan waved.

    What Supreme Mila, he wasn''t interested.

    "Brother, Supreme Mila''s father is Grand Supreme Miku, a Grand Supreme!" Chen Huan emphasized.

    Qi Yuan smiled, "Finally, a high-level NPC?"

    A high-level NPC might be good or bad.

    But it didn''t matter to Qi Yuan.

    Just a game.

    "See him." Qi Yuan changed his mind, curious about Supreme Mila and his intentions.

    He also wanted to see if he''d be an enemy.

    If so, that''d be great.

    After a few seconds, footsteps echoed.

    The underground palace was dim, candle flames flickering.

    A man in a green robe entered, exuding the arrogance of a noble family.

    Supreme Mila approached, bowing respectfully, "Mila greets the Blood Lord."

    Qi Yuan continued watching the cute demons, ignoring Supreme Mila, "Speak quickly, I''m busy."

    Supreme Mila, despite the cold reception, showed no displeasure, saying, "I''ve come to present a great opportunity to the Blood Lord."

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan grew interested, finally looking at Supreme Mila, "It better be great."

    Now, Qi Yuan was only interested in big things.

    He wanted to refine something enormous into his golden core.

    Only then could he challenge the Bright Palace.

    "The Blood Lord, born a sage, created thousands of Supremes, shocking the world.

    My father, Grand Supreme Miku, is a top figure in the south.

    He greatly admires the Blood Lord but cannot visit Wugui City." Supreme Mila spoke eloquently.

    "Get to the point." Qi Yuan was impatient.

    "My father has gathered allies, willing to serve the Blood Lord as the ruler of the world!" Supreme Mila said excitedly, "The Blood Lord can help others become Supremes, you should be the world''s ruler.

    Neither the White Emperor nor the Supreme can compare."

    Qi Yuan laughed.

    Playing a game, and the NPCs wanted to crown him?

    Supreme Mila continued, "The Blood Palace is strong but lacks mid-level and Grand Supremes.

    My father, Grand Supreme Miku, is willing to lead Grand Supremes to serve you."

    Supreme Mila was extremely respectful.

    "Anything else?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "I have a sister, three hundred years old, beautiful.

    She admires the Blood Lord, and my father wishes to send her to the Blood Palace as your consort."

    Qi Yuan''s expression became playful.

    This NPC knew how to work, even offering his sister.

    But he said, "I''m not interested in being some world ruler. Your offer doesn''t interest me.

    And I''ve never met your sister."

    His words were full of rejection.

    Supreme Mila looked disappointed.

    His grand plan seemed to be failing.

    But he persisted, "In half a month, the Blood Lord will hold a sermon. May I attend?"

    Qi Yuan glanced at him, "Fine, leave."

    "Thank you, Blood Lord." Supreme Mila left without delay.

    The large palace was left with Qi Yuan and the demons on the conveyor belt.

    He murmured, "We''re all old foxes, no need for charades."

    He looked at the demons, smiling, "Fatten the pig, grow its wings."

 Chapter 125: Plotting Against Wugui City? Just a Death Sentence

    Chapter 125: Plotting Against Wugui City? Just a Death Sentence

    Supreme Mi Luo left the underground palace and, accompanied by his subordinates, entered Wugui City. He looked around the city, his eyes filled with amazement.

    "In just a few years, Wugui City has transformed immensely. If those old fogeys in seclusion woke up and saw how the world has changed, they would be flabbergasted."

    Honestly, the changes in Wugui City left Supreme Mi Luo deeply impressed. When he learned about them, he immediately reported to his father, Grand Supreme Mi Kong. Currently, Grand Supreme Mi Kong was actually in Great Grief City.

    As Mi Luo Supreme walked through Wugui City, he frequently noticed the presence of Supremes flying in the sky, each one exuding a powerful aura. His eyes gleamed with envy, "If only these Supremes were under my command."

    After wandering around the city for half a day, Supreme Mi Luo returned to his inn. As night fell, he sat in meditation, a single candle flickering in the room. Suddenly, the candlelight flickered, and a black-clad figure stealthily entered Supreme Mi Luo''s room.

    Supreme Mi Luo opened his eyes, his expression stern, "You''re here?"

    "Greetings, my lord!" The visitor was also a Supreme but behaved extremely humbly in front of the similarly ranked Mi Luo Supreme. This Supreme, originally at the peak of the Earthly Mythical level, had sworn a heart demon oath to serve Mi Luo Supreme and had secretly entered Wugui City to finally break through to become a Supreme. There were more like him.

    Initially, those who came to Wugui City did so with clear intentions to break through. Later, many arrived with ulterior motives. Mi Luo Supreme and his father had planted numerous such agents in Wugui City, all sworn by heart demon oaths and deemed trustworthy.

    "How''s everything progressing?" Supreme Mi Luo asked in a deep voice.

    "My lord, the Blood Palace isn''t as formidable as it seems. Its members are loosely organized, with no true loyalty. If we take down the Blood Lord, many might not even come to his aid and might even rejoice!" The black-robed Supreme replied quietly.

    He made a valid point. Gratitude could often turn into enmity, and human nature was unpredictable. The Blood Palace was too new, lacking any guiding principles or clear objectives. The Supremes fought their own battles, with no true loyalty to the Blood Lord. Some felt gratitude towards him, but others harbored fear and resentment. They didn''t want the Blood Lord to continue his sermons, nor did they want more Supremes to emerge, fearing it would devalue their status.

    Supreme Mi Luo nodded, "What about the Blood Lord''s strength?"

    He had asked several agents this question.

    "The Blood Lord''s strength is shrouded in mystery, but based on his performance in a demon hunt, he seems to be at the mid-Supreme level, nothing too intimidating," the black-robed Supreme answered.

    Supreme Mi Luo looked worried, "Even if he''s at the mid-Supreme level, I still have concerns."

    Indeed, the Blood Lord''s ability to give sermons that help others comprehend their origin abilities was already beyond comprehension and should not be taken lightly. However, fortune favors the bold, and with his father''s life nearing its end, they had to collaborate with other Grand Supremes to plot against Wugui City. They believed the Blood Lord''s sermons and assistance in reaching Supreme levels were likely due to a piece of the Destiny Stone.

    "There is no other explanation," Mi Luo Supreme concluded.

    "My lord, the Blood Lord may seem enigmatic, but he''s actually quite erratic. His cultivation method seems to have caused him to lose his memory frequently," the black-robed man continued to persuade.

    His observations were accurate. Anyone who interacted with the Blood Lord noticed his strange behavior, and it didn''t seem like an act.

    Supreme Mi Luo''s eyes darkened, "I''m still afraid of unforeseen events. What if it''s all a facade?"

    The black-robed man quickly reassured, "If you don''t take the Blood Lord''s place today, others will do so tomorrow!"

    This black-robed man was a prime example of how great kindness could turn into enmity. Serving under the Blood Lord made him uncomfortable and guilty. The only way to alleviate this guilt was for the Blood Lord to die.

    Supreme Mi Luo''s eyes were complex, "We''ll discuss this further."

    The black-robed man had no choice but to withdraw.

    Alone in his inn, Supreme Mi Luo muttered, "I hope this plan succeeds in one stroke!"

    "If it does, my Mi family will become the foremost power in the Flowwind Realm!"

    This plan had been in the works for years, with Supreme Mi Luo and his father secretly sending loyal Earthly Myths into Wugui City. Many of the Supremes in Wugui City were loyal to them, and information flowed daily to Great Grief City from different channels.

    "The next sermon for a thousand Earthly Myths must be our moment to act!" Supreme Mi Luo knew that if they didn''t act soon, it would be too late. They had reached their limit in sending Earthly Myths into Wugui City. In another century, if Wugui City had tens of thousands of Supremes, any plot would be impossible.

    Now was the best opportunity. The longer they waited, the slimmer the chances. This time, Supremes from both the north and south had collaborated to block information and plot against Wugui City, hoping for a significant gain.

    "I hope the Blood Lord is only a mid-level Supreme."

    "I hope he doesn''t have his followers swear heart demon oaths before sermons because he''s truly mad."

    "I hope... this plan succeeds!"

    With three hopes, Supreme Mi Luo remained cautious and anxious.

    ...

    In Wugui City, people came and went, the streets bustling.

    Wang Gai and Li Yunzhi sat in a restaurant, drinking.

    Wang Gai sighed, "A storm is coming."

    Wugui City had recently seen the arrival of over two thousand peak Earthly Myths. In a few days, these two thousand Earthly Myths would gather to listen to the Blood Lord''s sermon and ascend to the Supreme level.

    Li Yunzhi, looking at his close friend, whispered, "Do you feel something''s off in Wugui City recently?"

    Wang Gai''s face changed, "Yes, there is something."

    The Blood Palace now had one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five Supremes, almost surpassing the number in the south. But despite the many Supremes, none were mid-level Supremes.

    "Yesterday, someone approached me," Li Yunzhi said hesitantly.

    Wang Gai looked at Li Yunzhi, his expression serious, "Just say it. I won''t tell anyone."

    Li Yunzhi looked at his close friend, hesitated for a moment, then transmitted his thoughts to Wang Gai.

    The content was that a Supreme hinted that something big was about to happen in the Blood Palace and advised against taking sides lightly.

    After transmitting his message, Li Yunzhi looked nervous, "Do you think the Blood Palace will fall apart?"

    "Someone''s plotting against the Blood Lord?" Wang Gai''s face turned cold.

    Seeing how much Wang Gai trusted the Blood Lord, Li Yunzhi continued, "What should we do then? Should we repay the Blood Lord''s kindness?"

    He was torn. Emotionally, he wanted to repay the Blood Lord''s teachings, but rationally, he knew the enemy must have prepared thoroughly. Rushing in would likely mean death, with no impact on the outcome.

    "A bunch of clowns dare to plot against the Blood Lord!" Wang Gai fumed.

    He vividly remembered the scene where the Blood Lord slaughtered over twenty Supremes, leaving an indelible mark on his mind.

    Supremes might be strong, but in the Blood Lord''s eyes, they were as fragile as ants.

    Those twenty-plus Supremes, including ten mid-level Supremes, from the north, couldn''t last a single round against the Blood Lord.

    Wang Gai felt that if the Blood Lord had targeted them, they would have met the same fate.

    Unfortunately, Li Yunzhi wasn''t there that day.

    If he had been, he wouldn''t worry, knowing the Blood Lord''s power.

    No matter how many Supremes, they were like cabbage to the Blood Lord.

    He perished, leaving only a drop of blood that disappeared.

    The Gate of Myriad Demons was neutralized.

    But who knew the Gate of Myriad Beasts had endless beasts trying to escape?

    The White Emperor suspected the Destiny Stone led them into the Gate of Myriad Beasts, opening it.

    But it was done and couldn''t be changed.

    "Let''s hope... for success."

    If successful, the Flowwind Realm could endure another three hundred years.

    If not, it would become a true demon and beast haven.

    "Yanran... was it the Destiny Stone''s influence on you?"

    The White Emperor sighed, deeply melancholic.

    His avatar should merge with his true form to enter the Gate of Myriad Beasts.

    The situation there was dire.

    ...

    In Wugui City, Supremes gathered.

    For miles outside, no demons had been seen alive in years.

    Now, Wugui City was very safe, not even needing Qi Yuan to guard it.

    Within the city, powerful beings converged.

    Two thousand peak Earthly Myths gathered, their faces showing various emotions.

    Some were worried, some expectant, some anxious.

    Some Supremes mingled among them, having captured many demons for another chance to hear the sermon.

    Wang Gai and Li Yunzhi were among the crowd.

    Wang Gai was calm, while Li Yunzhi looked nervous.

    "Wang Gai, why aren''t you worried?" Li Yunzhi transmitted.

    "Why worry? A bunch of cabbages causing trouble, would you be nervous?" Wang Gai was calm, even looking forward to what would happen.

    Since witnessing the Blood Lord''s power, he had regarded him as the true god, the chosen one.

    How could someone so terrifying not be the chosen one?

    "You know something but won''t tell me. If I knew, I wouldn''t be so anxious." Li Yunzhi complained.

    Clearly, Wang Gai knew more.

    "Just follow Sheep Soul Supreme''s example... and lick," Wang Gai glanced at Sheep Soul Supreme, who acted like a lapdog.

    As Wang Gai finished, a mysterious aura filled the air.

    Everyone stopped talking, looking at the blood-red robed figure on the wall with awe.

    "Greetings, Blood Lord!"

    "Greetings, Blood Lord!"

    The voices thundered like a storm.

    It was far more lively than the Jiupan Mountain sermon.

    Unfortunately, these people weren''t as genuine, some harboring ill intentions.

    Supreme Mi Luo stood among them, his eyes filled with envy as hundreds of Supremes saluted Qi Yuan.

    He wished he could be in that position.

    At this moment, his heart raced with anticipation.

    Suddenly, the Blood Lord''s gaze fell on him, making Supreme Mi Luo''s heart skip a beat.

    He heard the Blood Lord''s ethereal voice, "Supreme Mi Luo seems hesitant. Do you have something to say?"

    Supreme Mi Luo''s mind raced.

    Had he been exposed?

    He forced himself to stay calm, "The Blood Lord is indeed extraordinary, selflessly giving sermons to enlighten others without asking for anything in return."

    He was genuinely praising, albeit a bit exaggerated.

    "If it were me, I couldn''t do it," he continued.

    "What would you do?" Qi Yuan''s smile was inscrutable.

    "If it were me, I''d make them swear a heart demon oath before the sermon, pledging loyalty to me," Supreme Mi Luo revealed his true thoughts.

    This was likely what most Supremes thought.

    Hence, they found the Blood Lord''s sermons hard to understand.

    Surprisingly, Qi Yuan seemed to ponder, "You make a good point. Perhaps... everyone should swear a heart demon oath today... pledging loyalty to me?"

    Qi Yuan''s gaze swept over the Earthly Myths below, a smile playing on his lips.

    The Earthly Myths looked at each other, some terrified.

    Supreme Mi Luo''s palms were sweaty.

    If they swore the oath, his hidden agents would be exposed.

    He was very nervous.

    But then, Qi Yuan laughed, "Just kidding. What use is your loyalty to me?"

    Loyalty was worth nothing compared to life.

    "The sermon... begins."

 Chapter 126: Heâ€™s Not Pretending to Be Crazy, He Really Is Crazy

    Chapter 126: He¡¯s Not Pretending to Be Crazy, He Really Is Crazy

    Over two thousand peak Earthly Mythics and several hundred Supremes gathered in the enclosure. Qi Yuan, dressed in a blood-red robe, sat serenely on the city wall.

    His gaze was divine, his voice ethereal like the sound of immortals.

    As he began his sermon, everyone present became entranced.

    Even the scheming Supreme Mi Luo seemed to be transported between celestial realms and infernal pits, experiencing constant transformations.

    The crowd was completely captivated, and time quietly slipped away.

    Outside Wugui City, three terrifying presences lay dormant.

    Leading them was Supreme Mi Luo''s father, Grand Supreme Mi Kong.

    His face showed a peculiar expression, ¡°Even with the aid of the Destiny Stone, the Blood Lord¡¯s talent is terrifying.¡±

    ¡°The Path of Human and Demon is the path of human nature. One must deeply understand human nature or be fixated on a single thought to comprehend the essence. To preach, one must be adept at human relationships and see through the nature of all things. Unfortunately, this means... confusion.¡± Another Grand Supreme sighed, ¡°The Blood Lord¡¯s madness isn¡¯t a fac?ade. His deep understanding of the Path of Human and Demon is something even Grand Supremes can¡¯t bear. His madness is normal.¡±

    The three present were all Grand Supremes.

    They had already etched their essence abilities onto their bodies and souls.

    Their understanding of the Path of Human and Demon was profound.

    This path was inherently chaotic; the deeper the understanding, the greater the impact.

    There was no supreme being like the White Emperor or the Supreme who remained in the mortal world. Otherwise, no one knew if they might suddenly go mad.

    With the help of the Destiny Stone, the Blood Lord could clarify the chaotic Path of Human and Demon, allowing Earthly Mythics to directly touch the essence. This meant the Blood Lord was so deep into the Path of Human and Demon that he could collapse into madness at any time.

    Even a Grand Supreme couldn''t bear it, let alone the Blood Lord.

    ¡°We must not emulate the Blood Lord and become too entangled with the Destiny Stone. Each person shall wield the Destiny Stone for seven years, taking turns.¡± A yellow-browed Grand Supreme proposed. He was from the north.

    This proposal was something they had previously agreed upon.

    ¡°No objections,¡± said a blue-haired woman coldly, ¡°I like studying strange things. Two-thirds of the Blood Lord''s body should be left for me to research thoroughly.¡±

    Grand Supreme Mi Kong chuckled, ¡°When we strike, we mustn''t be too forceful. If we shatter the Blood Lord, Grand Supreme Bingxue won¡¯t be able to study him.¡±

    The yellow-browed Grand Supreme smiled, but his eyes showed worry, ¡°My brow keeps twitching. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a good or bad omen.¡±

    ¡°What else are you worried about?¡± Mi Kong asked.

    ¡°The disappearance of the Purple Taoist in the Land of Blood and Thousand Cities is strange,¡± the yellow-browed Grand Supreme was uneasy.

    Mi Kong internally despised the yellow-browed Grand Supreme.

    They had discussed this many times, yet he was still worried.

    ¡°Even if the Blood Lord killed the Purple Taoist with the Destiny Stone¡¯s help, we have... thousands of Supremes at our command. Even the White Emperor would be cautious, let alone the Blood Lord!¡± Mi Kong reassured, but his lifespan was nearing its end, and this had to succeed.

    Over the years, the three Grand Supremes had secretly sent peak Earthly Mythics into Wugui City.

    With this sermon alone, they had sent fifteen hundred people.

    One could say that the prosperity of Wugui City was partly due to their contributions.

    Grand Supreme Bingxue said calmly, ¡°If we delay any longer, others will covet the Blood Lord too.¡±

    The yellow-browed Grand Supreme pressed his twitching brow, ¡°Alright!¡±

    Mi Kong laughed, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss how to divide the spoils again.¡±

    Discussing these things always brought excitement and joy.

    After all, this opportunity was greater than becoming a Grand Supreme.

    ...

    On the city wall, the sermon ended.

    Those seated below had varying expressions; some frowned, some pondered.

    Qi Yuan stood on the city wall, murmuring, ¡°This sermon was much more serious than the previous ones. Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡±

    As Qi Yuan''s voice fell, a man suddenly stood up in the enclosure, essence power bursting from him.

    His eyes were closed, but his suppressed joy was evident.

    He had become a Supreme!

    Some Supremes woke from their insights, looking at the newly ascended Supreme with complex emotions.

    One after another, Earthly Mythics began to ascend to Supremes like bamboo shoots after a rain.

    In just a few hours, the number of new Supremes in the enclosure exceeded a thousand.

    This matched the Flowwind Realm¡¯s accumulation over a millennium.

    Supreme Mi Luo opened his eyes, filled with amazement.

    Hearing about it was nothing compared to seeing it firsthand.

    He glanced at the Blood Lord on the city wall, a bold idea flashing in his mind.

    Soon... he could take his place.

    Waiting... waiting... waiting for all his agents to ascend to Supremes.

    Half a day passed, an agonizingly long day for those working, and too short for those on vacation. For those breaking through to Supremes, time seemed unrealistically short.

    To Supreme Mi Luo, that afternoon felt exceptionally long.

    Finally, as the last Earthly Mythic ascended to Supreme.

    All two thousand Earthly Mythics had become Supremes.

    As usual, these two thousand Supremes saluted Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Thank you, Blood Lord, for your sermon!¡±

    The thousand Supremes shouted in unison, their voices echoing throughout Wugui City.

    At least for that moment, their gratitude was genuine.

    Qi Yuan stood on the city wall, lazily, ¡°Finally over.¡±

    Following the Blood Lord¡¯s words, the three Grand Supremes tensed.

    Was there really a countermeasure? If so, this was going to be a brutal fight!

    As the Blood Lord spoke, a hundred Supremes flew up to join him on the city wall.

    Among them was Wang Gai.

    These hundred were the Supremes who had witnessed the Blood Lord''s power before.

    Seeing these people gather, the Blood Lord felt reassured, ¡°With them, what can you possibly do against me?¡±

    The three Grand Supremes exchanged glances, feeling the absurdity of the situation.

    The Blood Lord having a hundred loyal Supremes was understandable. But expecting them to fend off a thousand others was ludicrous.

    The three Grand Supremes concluded the Blood Lord wasn¡¯t just acting mad¡ªhe was truly insane.

    They had been cautious and made numerous plans for a lunatic, which now seemed ridiculous.

    The Blood Lord stood on the city wall, addressing the thousand Supremes with a smile, ¡°To deal with you, I¡¯ve formed an orchestra. That¡¯s quite an honor, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    In the Canglan Realm, the Blood Lord had thought about playing background music during battles to add to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have enough followers at the time and had to settle for playing music through jade slips.

    Now, as the Blood Lord, he had no shortage of people.

    ¡°A hundred Supremes playing music for you, sending you off in style, isn''t that grand?¡±

    The Blood Lord snapped his fingers.

    The hundred Supremes took out various musical instruments, including flutes, trumpets, drums, and erhu.

    At the forefront, five Supremes, including Wang Gai, held instruments resembling suona horns.

    The scene was both solemn and comical.

    The Blood Lord commanded, ¡°Play.¡±

    Wang Gai blew into his suona.

    A mournful sound echoed, akin to a funeral lament.

    The hundred Supremes played in unison, their expressions serious, like mourners at a burial.

    In the dry desert air, the mournful tune resonated.

    The Blood Lord stepped into the rhythm.

    ¡°Upon first hearing, you don¡¯t recognize the suona¡¯s tune. Upon hearing again, you''re already in the coffin.¡±

    ¡°Too bad I didn¡¯t prepare coffins for you, so you won¡¯t be called coffin-dwellers!¡±

    As the music played, the Blood Lord walked off the city wall, stepping toward the thousand Supremes.

    He thought to himself, having a hundred Supremes playing suona increased his battle prowess. Unfortunately, this couldn¡¯t be replicated in the Canglan Realm.

    If it could, he would have a few hundred Supremes playing suona outside the Guangming Palace every day.

    The thousand Supremes exchanged bewildered glances.

    The suona¡¯s tune was indeed sorrowful, but this was too absurd.

    Grand Supreme Mi Kong¡¯s face darkened.

    This Blood Lord was genuinely insane! ¡°Attack!¡± Grand Supreme Mi Kong commanded.

    The thousand Supremes hesitated but began to prepare for battle.

    The Blood Lord stopped.

    ¡°Have you ever seen a thousand demons ravaging the world, with blood raining down?¡±

    Void Realm Dominator, Heart Demon Invocation!

    At that moment, the Blood Lord in his blood-red robe unleashed his essence ability, like a flood bursting through a dam.

    With the mournful music as a backdrop, blood rain poured down, landing on the thousand Supremes.

    The Supremes tried to resist the rain, but it seemed intangible, impossible to block or touch.

    Yet, as it landed on them, a horrifying transformation occurred! The Blood Lord, like a bloody death god, sat in the air, his eyes filled with a cruel smile.

    ¡°Keep playing, keep killing!¡±

    Void Realm Dominator, Heart Demon Invocation!

    With the suona''s lamentation, blood rain fell, causing terror and madness among the thousand Supremes.

    The once formidable Supreme army crumbled instantly under the Blood Lord''s essence ability.

    The lamenting music played on, representing the living¡¯s sorrow for the dead.

    In the enclosure, the thousand Supremes, twisted by terror, fought and consumed themselves.

    The sight was bizarre and horrifying.

    Li Yunzhi, along with the remaining thousand Supremes, stood in stunned silence.

    What was this? A divine ability that incited heart demons, instantly killing a thousand Supremes! Even Mi Luo Supreme, who was not one of Wugui City''s old Supremes, suffered terribly.

    The scene was indeed terrifying.

    This Blood Lord wasn¡¯t a divine saint but a true killing god!

    The surviving thousand Supremes swallowed hard, their faces pale with fear.

    This meant the Blood Lord could just as easily kill them if he wished.

    Everyone was shocked, watching the Supremes die one by one in horror.

    The three Grand Supremes also looked terrified for the first time.

    ¡°You... you... what are you?¡±

    An army of a thousand Supremes sent to their deaths, like a demonic domain¡ªthis was beyond their comprehension.

    Even a god couldn¡¯t achieve this!

 Chapter 127: Memories of the Past in the Demon Gate

    Chapter 127: Memories of the Past in the Demon Gate

    Above the void, Qi Yuan''s mouth held a serene smile.

    But this smile, in the eyes of everyone, was like a devil''s sneer.

    ¡°Oh dear, the music just got to the middle part, and... everyone¡¯s already dead?¡±

    Qi Yuan looked helpless.

    Seventeen hundred Supremes weren''t enough to kill.

    The music had just reached the halfway point, and they were all dead.

    Everyone felt a chill.

    That was seventeen hundred Supremes, not some random nobodies.

    They died... just like that, without even knowing why.

    Qi Yuan didn''t seem to feel the same shock.

    Game NPCs, especially enemy NPCs, dying wasn''t much of an issue.

    The music continued, so how could the killing stop?

    His eyes fell on the remaining thousand Supremes.

    "Should we... continue with a few more?"

    Upon hearing this, the surviving Supremes were terrified, their eyes widening with fear.

    The tall, burly man who had spoken up for Qi Yuan earlier quickly said, ¡°Blood Lord, we have always been loyal to you!¡±

    The nearly hundred Supremes who had stood up earlier, including Li Yunzhi, also quickly echoed, ¡°We are willing to die for the Blood Lord!¡±

    The remaining thousand Supremes, seeing this, were scared out of their wits.

    At this moment, they understood what they should and shouldn''t do.

    Otherwise, they would end up like those thousand Supremes.

    ¡°Willing to die for the Blood Lord!¡±

    The voices echoed, louder and more forceful than before when they were thanking the Blood Lord.

    "In that case... those three Grand Supremes are yours to deal with. Don''t kill them outright, leave them with a breath," Qi Yuan said lazily, looking disappointed.

    His divine ability was invincible against ordinary Supremes.

    But dealing with Grand Supremes was still troublesome.

    Better to let these thousand Supremes attack and kill those three Grand Supremes.

    The sound of the suona continued, and the drums became even louder.

    The thousand Supremes looked at the three Grand Supremes in unison.

    The momentum was enough to frighten anyone.

    "How dare you plot against the Blood Lord, you deserve to be killed!"

    ¡°The Blood Lord is not someone you little minions can provoke!¡±

    At this moment, the Supremes who were previously undecided became the most loyal warriors, charging towards the three Grand Supremes.

    The three Grand Supremes showed pained expressions.

    When the sudden change occurred, they wanted to flee, but were locked in place by the gazes of dozens of Supremes, unable to escape.

    Now, with a thousand Supremes charging at them, how could they have any chance of survival?

    Grand Supreme Huang Mei tore at his eyebrows in anger, shouting at Mi Kong, "Mi Kong, I shouldn''t have come with you!"

    Countless original divine abilities rained down.

    The three Grand Supremes had no ability to fight back and could only defend themselves.

    In just one round, the three powerful Grand Supremes lost their combat ability, their divine abilities exhausted, their bodies shattered.

    Had it not been for the thousand ordinary Supremes holding back, they would have died already.

    At this moment, with the sound of the suona still playing, Qi Yuan landed beside the three Grand Supremes with his broken sword.

    ¡°You guys were too weak, you didn''t bring enough people. I couldn''t even reach level 200.¡±

    As he spoke, he took out his broken sword to finish off the three Grand Supremes.

    Grand Supreme Mi Kong looked at Qi Yuan, unwilling to accept his fate. ¡°You... you¡¯re not human!¡±

    Qi Yuan couldn''t be bothered to respond. Amid the mournful suona music, he killed the three Grand Supremes one by one.

    Before the song ended, the killing was over.

    Qi Yuan felt utterly bored.

    He returned to the city wall, looking at the musicians, and said softly, ¡°If only you could be my musicians forever.¡±

    Bringing a thousand suona players to the Guangming Palace to play every day.

    Guangming Palace... would be nothing!

    ¡°Serving the Blood Lord is our honor!¡± Yang Hun Supreme said obsequiously.

    They continued to play music while watching the slaughter below.

    Seventeen hundred Supremes were killed in the blink of an eye by the Blood Lord.

    What a terrifying event!

    Yang Hun Supreme was thrilled with his early decision to join the Blood Lord, securing his place as one of the most valued members of the musical troupe.

    "But you still need more practice. Ideally, the sound of the suona should be heard a hundred miles, even a thousand miles away.

    That would suit my status.¡±

    Qi Yuan said this, then shook his head.

    ¡°Forget it, that would disturb the people. There are small animals sleeping, too.

    I¡¯m a compassionate person; I can''t do such a thing.¡±

    Qi Yuan''s indifferent voice sounded strange to everyone present.

    This is compassion... killing a thousand Supremes just like that?

    They had never seen such a compassionate person.

    Yang Hun Supreme, trying to please, said, ¡°The Flowing Wind Realm is fortunate to have the Blood Lord!¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at Yang Hun Supreme and said, "Having you is indeed my good fortune."

    Yang Hun Supreme: ¡°...¡±

    For some reason, even though the Blood Lord¡¯s words seemed to praise him, he felt they might not be.

    After the battle ended, the musical troupe finished their piece and descended the city wall.

    Qi Yuan stood on the wall, feeling both joy and disappointment. ¡°Level 200.¡±

    This time, after killing over a thousand Supremes and three Grand Supremes, combined with years of grinding in the demon factory, Qi Yuan finally reached level 200.

    ¡°If my guess is correct, level 209 is the peak of Grand Supreme.¡±

    The Grand Supreme realm spans levels 180 to 209.

    Beyond that, is it the Yin God?

    Or something else?

    ¡°Unfortunately, after today¡¯s battle, my strength has been somewhat revealed.

    I doubt anyone in the Blood Palace will rebel against me now.¡±

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t one to kill indiscriminately.

    Those who wanted to harm or kill him were easily dealt with.

    As for others, even NPCs, Qi Yuan didn''t want to waste energy killing them.

    ¡°I should quickly expand the Blood Palace¡¯s territory, recruit more Supremes, and have them capture more demons.

    If I can¡¯t defeat the White Emperor and the Supreme, I¡¯ll just call for more people, right?¡±

    If he had tens of thousands of Supremes, Qi Yuan didn''t believe that no matter how strong the White Emperor and the Supreme were, they could kill tens of thousands of Supremes.

    ¡°Indeed, the power of the masses is strong!¡±

    Of course, this applied to others, not him.

    ¡°Although I am a Grand Supreme now, why can''t I engrave my original divine ability on my body and soul?¡±

    Previously, Qi Yuan had difficulty advancing the Great Forgetting Heart Sutra. Now, even the Void Realm Dominator Heart Demon Invocation faced obstacles.

    He simply couldn''t engrave it!

    ¡°Is my talent really that poor?¡±

    Qi Yuan was helpless.

    Now, his Void Realm Dominator Heart Demon Invocation had reached the subtle level, just a step away from the engraved level.

    But now, the place was deserted, not even a single land deity in sight.

    Where had everyone gone?

    Grand Supreme Grinding Stone was confused, shouting, ¡°Tiger, Tong Xiu... where are you?¡±

    His voice echoed for miles, but no one responded.

    ¡°Could it be...¡± A strange thought crossed his mind.

    At that moment, a voice finally responded, ¡°Grand Supreme Grinding Stone, you¡¯re finally awake!¡±

    Grand Supreme Grinding Stone saw the newcomer, puzzled, ¡°Grand Supreme Peng Lai, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t ask. A major figure from the Blood Palace is coming. We must prepare to welcome them!¡± Grand Supreme Peng Lai said urgently.

    Grand Supreme Grinding Stone was baffled, ¡°Blood Palace? Is that a force created by the Supreme?¡±

    ¡°No, the Blood Palace was founded by the Blood Lord of Wugui City in the South!¡±

    ¡°The South?¡± Grand Supreme Grinding Stone¡¯s eyes flashed with killing intent, ¡°A southern force dares come to our North?¡±

    ¡°Grand Supreme Grinding Stone, curb your killing intent. We cannot offend the Blood Palace!¡± Grand Supreme Peng Lai was terrified.

    Afraid of any conflict.

    Everyone knew this world belonged to the Blood Palace!

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Grand Supreme Grinding Stone found it hard to believe.

    ¡°The Blood Palace was founded by the Blood Lord, commanding thirty thousand Supremes!¡±

    Grand Supreme Grinding Stone: ¡°...What did you say?¡±

    The South-North Decision involved only a few thousand Supremes.

    But suddenly, a mysterious force with thirty thousand Supremes?

    Absurd!

    ¡°It¡¯s true. Never offend the Blood Palace. Years ago, Grand Supreme Wu Zui insulted the Blood Lord. In response, three thousand blood-robed Supremes from the Blood Palace beat him to death!¡± Grand Supreme Peng Lai spoke with fear.

    Grand Supreme Grinding Stone knew of Grand Supreme Wu Zui, infamous for his foul mouth.

    Grand Supreme Grinding Stone felt as if he had traveled through time.

    ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely!¡±

    ¡°How long have I been in seclusion, a thousand years?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been in seclusion for... twenty-nine years.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Prepare to welcome the Blood Palace dignitary.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m the highest commander of the North!¡±

    ¡°The North is gone. The Supreme is missing. The highest commander means nothing.¡±

    ...

    Inside the Demon Gate.

    In a desolate place, an underground fortress.

    This fortress was a Flowing Wind Realm outpost.

    Inside, the White Emperor¡¯s avatar looked weak.

    He gazed at the thirteen people before him with a nostalgic look.

    ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived.¡±

    Over the years, he had guided the North¡¯s thirteen demons into the Demon Gate.

    The Demon Gate was a battleground, full of dangers.

    The White Emperor had expended great effort to get these thirteen here.

    He Wu looked at the White Emperor with respect.

    Ning Tao was relieved, only the White Emperor could earn He Wu¡¯s trust. She clutched her chain, deep in thought.

    The other thirteen demons looked at the White Emperor with curiosity and doubt.

    ¡°White Emperor, why have you gathered us here?¡± Ling Yayi, elegant as jade, asked, ¡°Can you explain the ¡®demon¡¯ character on our faces?¡±

    Born as demons, they suffered endless hardships.

    The White Emperor looked at them with nostalgia, ¡°Actually, tens of thousands of years ago, you were... my junior brothers and sisters.¡±

    His words shocked everyone.

    Some were confused.

    It was strange.

    Tens of thousands of years ago, they weren¡¯t even born. How could they be his junior siblings?

    Reincarnation was beyond the reach of Supremes.

    The White Emperor surveyed them, finally taking out a mirror.

    ¡°This mirror is called the Demon Mirror. In it, you might find answers.¡±

    The mirror shattered into thirteen pieces, falling into their hands.

    Ning Tao held the mirror, her expression complex. She asked the White Emperor, ¡°Tens of thousands of years ago, did I have a Dao companion?¡±

    The White Emperor shook his head, ¡°I can¡¯t recognize who is who.¡±

    The others exchanged looks, finding this bizarre.

    But they couldn¡¯t doubt the White Emperor.

    Even if he lied, how could they resist?

    The White Emperor added, ¡°In the mirror, you might see the most memorable scenes, whether of sorrow or joy.¡±

    Hearing this, they focused on the mirrors.

    Ning Tao, holding the mirror in one hand and the chain in the other, glanced at the blood ball, then at the mirror.

    In the mirror, the scene shifted.

    In a vast desert, a man in a blood-red robe walked with a long sword.

    The man¡¯s face was obscured, like through a cloud.

    A delicate girl appeared, her face lighting up at the sight of the blood-red robe.

    ¡°Blood Bead!¡±

    In the desert, the man in the blood-red robe turned, his voice cold and ethereal, ¡°Who are you?¡±

    He seemed to speak to the air.

    In his view, there was nothing ahead.

    Yet he felt someone was there.

    ¡°I...¡± The girl tried to speak.

    The man suddenly drew his sword, ¡°All in the world is to be forgotten.

    You shouldn¡¯t be here!¡±

    With a swing, the girl fell like a broken kite.

    Blood flowed, staining her clothes. The girl reached out, trying to call the man.

    But he walked away without looking back.

    ¡°Blood Bead...¡±

    The scene froze. Ning Tao looked at the blood-red robe, her expression unreadable. ¡°Heh...¡±

    The North¡¯s thirteen demons watched the scene.

    Their mirrors showed nothing yet.

    He Wu wore a playful smile, ¡°Who knew the famous Heavenly Heart Palace Master had such a past.¡±

    The others chuckled.

    Only the White Emperor showed pity.

    This was... the Demon Mirror¡¯s dream?

    Was the master truly... a great demon?

    Was Jin Si Que... a demon girl?

    Ning Tao remained silent, watching the mirror.

 Chapter 128: A Glance of Ten Thousand Years, The Cycle of the Great Demon

    Chapter 128: A Glance of Ten Thousand Years, The Cycle of the Great Demon

    Within the ancient mirror.

    The man in the blood-red robe held a blood-red sword, walking through the vast desert.

    The blood-red robe flapped in the wind, a solitary figure, resembling a crimson sunset from afar.

    The injured girl, clutching her bloody wound, chased after that blood-red figure with unwavering determination.

    Everyone present was moved.

    ¡°To be struck so ruthlessly yet still chase after him for miles, Heavenly Heart Palace Master, you are truly... infatuated,¡± Ling Yayi sighed.

    Ning Tao¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she stared at the mirror¡¯s surface. ¡°She is she, I am me.¡±

    She naturally did not want to accept that the girl in the ancient mirror was her in reality.

    The scene shifted again.

    The girl with delicate features and willow-leaf brows found the man in the blood-red robe once more. She stared at him dumbfounded, softly whispering, ¡°Blood Bead...¡±

    It was as if she wanted to say something, but could only manage to softly call his name.

    The man in the blood-red robe lifted his head, his gaze cold and emotionless. In his vision, there was no girl¡ªonly air, a face he couldn¡¯t see clearly, a phantom figure.

    ¡°All is illusory, all is to be forgotten.¡±

    He drew his sword again, and the red sword light flashed.

    This time, his sword seemed even more forceful, slicing the girl in half at the waist.

    The girl¡¯s face showed disbelief, tears in her eyes. ¡°Blood Bead...¡±

    She couldn¡¯t say anything else, only softly calling his name.

    Everyone watching felt a mix of emotions, anger rising against the blood-red figure.

    ¡°This person is too heartless!¡±

    ¡°Heartless and unkind, truly a demon.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening, let¡¯s keep watching.¡±

    The eyes of the White Emperor¡¯s avatar also showed a trace of melancholy.

    Is this the suffering faced within the Demon Gate?

    The scene continued, the blood-red figure wandering aimlessly through the world.

    It seemed that without the girl¡¯s restraint, he moved faster and killed more mercilessly.

    He came across a town, drew his sword, and slaughtered.

    He encountered a city, drew his sword, and massacred.

    Every living being that entered his eyes, he killed.

    Those present were horrified. ¡°This is a god of slaughter!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s fallen into madness!¡±

    ¡°Heavenly Heart Palace Master, how could you love such a great demon?¡±

    Ning Tao¡¯s expression remained cold, her lips bitten, saying nothing.

    The blood-red figure was like the most powerful demon in the world, slaughtering every enemy in sight.

    In a snowstorm, a general in heavy armor led tens of thousands of soldiers out of the city to confront the blood-red figure.

    The tens of thousands of soldiers marched to their deaths heroically.

    The battle lasted seven days and seven nights.

    An entire nation''s army gathered there.

    The blood-red figure, like the god of death, continued to harvest lives.

    Finally, one night, the blood-red robe was exhausted. He tightly gripped his broken sword, confusion in his eyes. ¡°Am I... this weak?¡±

    The blood-red robe was puzzled by his own weakness.

    He clearly remembered slaughtering three thousand fellow cultivators without a change in expression.

    Why could this army capture him?

    The blood-red figure was captured, bound with heavy chains.

    He was wrapped in layer upon layer of iron chains.

    The entire capital city¡¯s populace came out, spreading the news joyfully. They looked at the blood-red figure in the prison cart, dancing and laughing.

    They cursed, insulted.

    Rotten eggs, stones, and spoiled cabbage were thrown at the blood-red figure.

    The nation¡¯s general captured the Blood Demon. The Blood Demon was paraded for seven days and burned at noon.

    For seven days, the capital was bustling with activity.

    All their grievances were vented on the blood-red figure.

    Seven days later, the blood-red robe was bound to an iron pillar.

    Below was a high stack of firewood.

    A woman cursed him. ¡°Devil, burn him, burn him!¡±

    ¡°Such a devil should die, burn in hell forever, never to reincarnate!¡±

    Amid the curses, the blood-red figure¡¯s eyes showed confusion. ¡°I am... a devil?¡±

    He always felt like he had forgotten something.

    The blazing fire was lit, smoke stinging his eyes.

    A familiar voice called out, ¡°Blood Bead...¡±

    A small figure flew over the crowd, tightly hugging the man bound in chains. She tried to free him but couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Blood Bead...¡± The girl was anxious as the fire spread. She clung to the blood-red robe, pushing him as if trying to wake him.

    ¡°You...¡± The blood-red figure¡¯s eyes momentarily cleared. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    He opened his eyes but saw nothing.

    He felt as if someone was hugging him, but he couldn¡¯t see them.

    ¡°I...¡± The girl wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t. She could only keep calling his name.

    The fire spread, and amidst the thousands of onlookers, faces were filled with joy.

    The girl clutched the blood-red robe, even as the flames consumed her.

    The delicate girl tightly embraced the blood-red robe, consumed by the fire in the snowy cold.

    In his fourth life, he wreaked havoc, was submerged in the sea, and she searched the entire seabed to find him, sharing his fate.

    Each life, the blood-red robe was defined by killing.

    He seemed to have forgotten who he was, only knowing he was a great devil.

    And she always watched him, accompanied him, and sank into reincarnation with him.

    She faced the scorn of the world, all the enemies, and divine punishment not only for the great devil but also for Blood Bead.

    And she always stood by his side.

    Everyone was truly moved.

    Even Ning Tao was somewhat numb.

    She didn''t know how many times that girl had been stabbed.

    She didn''t know how much pain that girl had endured.

    She only knew it must have been very painful.

    No matter what happened, the girl foolishly stayed by his side, unwavering in her support.

    It was incomprehensible and hard to understand.

    At this moment, the White Emperor''s avatar spoke again, ¡°The scenes in the mirror may be illusions. Back then, the master entered the Demon Gate alone to save the world, suppressing the heart demon... while you entered the Demon Gate to awaken the master...¡±

    Everyone''s eyes were filled with surprise.

    If this was an illusion, it was indeed easier to accept.

    However, even if it was an illusion, the endless slaughter across many lives still made it hard to accept.

    Simply watching it, one could feel the girl''s pain.

    Much less experiencing it personally, enduring the repeated harm from a loved one.

    What kind of pain was that?

    ¡°Illusions?¡± At this moment, a sneer sounded, ¡°Are these really illusions? This is clearly the great devil''s life, merely replayed in illusions. Blood Bead is evidently the true great devil!¡±

    With this voice, a woman in a white robe appeared, her face seductive, with a charming smile.

    Seeing the newcomer, everyone''s eyes widened, ¡°The Master!¡±

    The White Emperor¡¯s expression also showed a hint of confusion, then a darkened look, ¡°Master, don''t distort the facts!¡±

    The newcomer was none other than an avatar of the Master, Shang Yiran.

    ¡°Bai Ze, why deceive yourself?¡± Shang Yiran smiled charmingly, ¡°For a so-called master, you even distrust your wife. You don''t even want to call my name?¡±

    Shang Yiran''s eyes carried sorrow, ¡°You never trust me.

    Look at the demon girl. Even in the illusion, though the great devil slaughtered beings and hurt her repeatedly, she never left him, trying to wake him up.

    The only pity is that the demon girl was sincere, but the great devil was heartless.

    Bai Ze, can you trust me like the demon girl trusted the great devil?¡±

    As Shang Yiran spoke, seven terrifying figures appeared.

    These seven were all Great Supremes, not ordinary ones.

    The seven figures surrounded Bai Ze and the Northern Demons.

    Bai Ze''s expression turned melancholic, ¡°Yiran, why guess groundlessly?

    The Destiny Tablet has influenced you too much.¡±

    Shang Yiran, the wife of the White Emperor, Bai Ze.

    Shang Yiran took a step forward, her powerful aura spreading.

    The Northern Demons felt immense pressure.

    Ning Tao''s eyes showed deep apprehension.

    Such strength was beyond her ability to withstand.

    ¡°The Destiny Tablet is just a treasure, how can it influence me?¡± Shang Yiran''s eyes showed disdain, ¡°Actually, whether the master is a great devil or the demon girl is a demon, we will see the answer by continuing to watch, right?

    Bai Ze, if the master is a great devil and the demon girl is a demon, will you suppress and kill them for the world''s peace?

    Only with the death of the great devil and the demon girl can the Flowing Wind Realm return to peace!

    The struggle between the North and South, the battle for the Demon Gate, can finally end!¡±

    Bai Ze hesitated upon hearing this.

    Shang Yiran''s eyes sparkled with a smile, knowing she couldn¡¯t persuade Bai Ze now.

    She too was curious about how the Blood Master walked out of the Demon Gate.

    The Demon Gate wasn¡¯t something one could easily awaken from.

    Entering meant becoming the great devil.

    But at this moment, why could the Blood Master... break free?

    She didn¡¯t understand at all.

    What she didn¡¯t know was that Qi Yuan''s awakened power was Forgetfulness.

    He forgot he was the great devil.

    Thus, he broke free from the Demon Gate''s shackles.

    Thus, he was no longer the great devil.

    The scene in the ancient mirror became blurry.

    The blood-red robe stopped slaughtering and disappeared into the world.

    Sometimes, he sat by the stream in a daze, muttering, ¡°Who am I?¡±

    Sometimes, he sat under the eaves, watching the rain fall, ¡°What have I forgotten?¡±

    Sometimes, he watched ants on the ground, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve forgotten everything.¡±

    He was like a stone, crouching there.

    Dust settled on him.

    Leaves fell on his shoulders.

    In the deep mountains, he became a stone.

    Thousands of years, endless cycles of time.

    Suddenly, a voice reached his ears, ¡°A city appeared in the desert, with a girl waiting for someone.¡±

    A city?

    The stone thought.

    The stone shattered, and a blood-red figure emerged.

    His eyes flashed with endless thoughts.

    ¡°Someone is still waiting for me.¡±

 Chapter 129: The Imprinting of the Primordial Divine Power!

    Chapter 129: The Imprinting of the Primordial Divine Power!

    The astonished look in the eyes of the Supreme Master did not fade. She could not comprehend the scenes in the ancient mirror.

    Up to now, she did not understand how the Blood Lord walked out of the Demon Gate.

    Even she, if she entered the Demon Gate, would become a great devil.

    On what grounds did the Blood Lord walk out?

    At this moment, Ning Tao felt an inexplicable pain in her heart.

    She couldn''t help but recall that day outside Wugui City when she saw the figure in a blood-red robe.

    Was it a coincidence?

    The scene shifted again.

    On Jiupan Mountain, a colorful little bird flapped its wings and landed next to a drop of blood.

    The little bird''s eyes were filled with curiosity.

    The story continued.

    ¡°I am the Golden Canary, beautiful, aren''t I? I am the number one beauty on Jiupan Mountain!¡±

    ¡°You round little thing, I''ll call you... Blood Bead.¡±

    ¡°You disappeared without a word. I won''t go looking for you, I won''t miss you!¡±

    ¡°Blood Bead, it''s raining...¡±

    If the previous scenes were like a mournful song in a snowy winter, the current scene was like a gentle spring rain, fresh with a hint of melancholy.

    ¡°Blood Bead, you¡¯re back!¡±

    ¡°Blood Bead, you¡¯re amazing. Tell everyone that the Golden Canary is the number one beauty in the Eighteen Mountains!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not a great devil; he won¡¯t die!¡±

    ¡°I''ll reluctantly believe you this time!¡±

    ¡°How to enter the Demon Gate...¡±

    The girl left the Demon Gate with a mark of ¡°demon¡± on her once-proud and often vain face.

    ¡°I am so clumsy, I can''t even put on makeup properly, how ugly...¡±

    ¡°Am I very ugly? Why don''t you come to see me?¡±

    At this point, the scene abruptly ended.

    Ning Tao held her left cheek, feeling immense pain.

    Countless memories flooded her mind like a tide.

    Thousands of years, tens of thousands of years, endless memories.

    There were whispers of Blood Bead in her ears, and there was also the cold, ruthless sword of the blood-red robe.

    She remembered everything.

    She was the number one beauty of Jiupan Mountain, the Golden Canary.

    Blood Bead, her most admired childhood friend.

    Life after life, in the cycle of illusions.

    She entered the Demon Gate, witnessing Blood Bead''s descent into the illusion, trying to wake him up.

    ¡°Blood Bead...¡± Ning Tao held her face, feeling inexplicably hesitant.

    She recalled the day she saw the gentle eyes of that blood-red figure outside Wugui City.

    ¡°Do you know the Golden Canary? She is a very proud, very vain girl, and I have been looking for her.¡±

    At this moment, the Supreme Master¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she looked at Ning Tao and asked, ¡°Demon girl, have you recalled all your memories? Do you hate the great devil now?¡±

    This seemed very important to her.

    Ning Tao raised her head and coldly looked at her, ¡°He is not the great devil!¡±

    Blood Bead said she was not the great devil!

    She believed it!

    Even if in the illusion, she saw him slaughtering beings, saw him stabbing her again and again.

    She believed he was not the great devil.

    The world might call him the great devil, but the Golden Canary knew he was just her childhood friend, not anyone else.

    ¡°Ha, another self-deceiver.¡± Shang Yiran laughed, then looked at Bai Ze, ¡°We are husband and wife, and they are my junior brothers and sisters. I am willing to let them go, but... the demon girl, I must kill or take away.¡±

    Shang Yiran''s body radiated terrifying aura, enough to make even a Great Supreme tremble.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

    The seven powerful figures behind her also stepped forward, pressing towards Bai Ze.

    ¡°This time... no one can save you, demon girl.¡± Shang Yiran''s eyes flashed coldly, ¡°Only by eliminating the demon girl and the great devil can this world truly find peace.

    Bai Ze, will you really block me?

    Can you block me?

    Or will you disregard the world''s beings for personal feelings?¡±

    Shang Yiran''s body emitted a terrifying aura.

    She had to take the demon girl away.

    In the past, she thought the Blood Lord was dead and treated the Northern Demons merely as chess pieces.

    But recently, her avatar detected a trace of the Blood Lord''s aura in the world.

    Thus, the Golden Canary must be in her hands.

    In this world, the person she coveted most was Bai Ze. Now, she added the Blood Lord to that list.

    Bai Ze looked at Shang Yiran, showing a moment of hesitation before speaking, ¡°She is not the demon girl, and even if she was... that was two cycles ago.

    To take her, you must get past me!¡±

    ¡°No one can stop me today!¡± Shang Yiran''s face turned hideous.

    No one could stop her from taking the Golden Canary today!

    Bai Ze was desolate.

    Shang Yiran was right.

    He couldn''t stop her.

    Shang Yiran''s avatar, along with those seven powerful figures, could easily take Ning Tao away.

    Even if the master came, he might not be able to stop Shang Yiran.

    This situation... was unsolvable.

    ...

    In the underground palace.

    Qi Yuan sat with closed eyes, meditating on his primordial divine power.

    Ten years had passed.

    His understanding deepened, but he still couldn''t imprint the power, nor reach the subtle realm of the Grand Forgetfulness Sutra.

    ¡°Forget... what have I forgotten?¡±

    He pondered hard but found no answers.

    Suddenly, a faint, intermittent voice reached his ears.

    ¡°Blood Bead...¡±

    ¡°Blood Bead...¡±

    The voice was sorrowful, tinged with helplessness.

    Qi Yuan''s heart skipped a beat, as if seeing the Golden Canary with a tear-streaked face, eyes red, stubbornly looking up, helplessly at him.

    Countless scenes surged into his mind like waves.

    ¡°A drop of blood is enough to kill you!¡±

    As Qi Yuan spoke, his blood drop figure underwent a terrifying change.

    Divine Soul Blood!

    The Divine Soul Blood from the Great Void was now used by Qi Yuan.

    Obtained from the Black Chicken Old Demon, the Divine Soul Blood could parasitize treasures, turning them into divine soul artifacts.

    What treasure could be more precious than his drop of blood?

    This was a drop of blood from the Heavenly Dao Foundation!

    At this moment, Qi Yuan turned himself into a divine soul artifact.

    With the fall of the Divine Soul Blood, Qi Yuan''s blood underwent a huge transformation.

    He looked at the Golden Canary, ¡°Wait for me!¡±

    After becoming a divine soul artifact, he could no longer project his consciousness here.

    The blood-red figure kept changing.

    Imprint!

    In Wugui City, Qi Yuan let out a great roar.

    He finally understood why he couldn''t imprint his primordial divine power.

    In the illusion, he cut off an arm, forgetting the consciousness imposed by the Demon Gate¡ªthat he was the great devil.

    That arm turned into a drop of blood.

    That drop of blood was the source of all demons, the great devil, the origin of all demons.

    That drop of blood truly matched the primordial divine power: Heart Demon Induction.

    He needed to imprint this power onto the divine soul artifact!

    In the barrier, the blood-red robe figure disappeared.

    Ning Tao''s eyes were filled with reluctance.

    The blood-red figure turned into a dazzling blood-red sword.

    Shang Yiran''s eyes showed greed, ¡°Transforming yourself into a divine soul artifact, what a brilliant move.

    If an ordinary Supreme wielded this sword, it could even harm a Great Supreme!

    But such a sword, while ingenious, can''t kill or even hurt me!¡±

    As Shang Yiran spoke, the blood-red sword underwent another change.

    Greed, lust, arrogance...

    Various emotions emanated from the sword.

    Everyone in the barrier, including the White Emperor, felt uneasy.

    They looked at the blood-red sword, showing surprise.

    ¡°Primordial divine power!¡± Shang Yiran''s eyes widened, ¡°You imprinted your primordial divine power onto a sword, you... you''re so... willing!¡±

    Imprinting primordial divine power onto a divine soul artifact was unheard of.

    But Shang Yiran knew it was possible.

    ¡°Blood Lord, ha ha... this move surprised me.

    But without your primordial divine power, your main body is crippled!

    Without it, even an ordinary Supreme can kill you!¡± Shang Yiran laughed.

    Her evaluation of the Blood Lord plummeted.

    Those who easily lost their heads had no great achievements.

    ¡°Let me see how strong your primordial divine power is!¡±

    Facing the Blood Lord''s primordial divine power, Shang Yiran remained unafraid!

    After all, her level was at the world''s peak.

    Breaking further would lead to undesirable consequences.

    All her plans would be in vain.

    Ning Tao held the blood-red sword, her figure growing taller.

    Holding the sword, she felt a blood bond.

    ¡°This sword is called the Primordial Divine Power: Heart Demon Induction!¡±

    Ning Tao stepped forward, like an unparalleled swordswoman.

    After all these years, she could finally... fight alongside Blood Bead.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    As she swung the sword, endless blood energy filled the barrier.

    Greed, arrogance, gluttony... various emotions surged.

    The faces of the seven strong figures finally showed alarm.

    Shang Yiran''s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Heart demon? Great devil? How is this possible!¡±

    How could he be the real great devil!

    Such a primordial divine power couldn''t be refined.

    Only the great devil, once a Buddha, could refine it.

    For all worldly demons stemmed from the great devil''s essence.

    What''s going on?

    Shang Yiran''s eyes showed confusion, then she laughed.

    A real great devil... how interesting!

    As the sword struck, the seven strong figures behind Shang Yiran, like fragile porcelain dolls, cracked just from a glance.

    They howled and cried as if falling into an endless demon realm.

    The seven strong figures didn''t survive even one strike.

    On Shang Yiran''s back, a snow-white demon emerged.

    Unlike others, it showed no fear, only smiling, ¡°Blood Lord, this time, you win. This avatar is yours.

    But without your primordial divine power, what fear do you hold?

    I''ll wait for you in the Demon Palace!

    If you delay, the Golden Canary... will be mine.¡±

    With that, Shang Yiran shattered her avatar with a palm.

    For continuing would allow the sword to harm her true body through the avatar.

    Shang Yiran''s avatar vanished.

    The seven strong figures, with heart demons bursting out, fell.

    One simple sword killed eight strong figures.

    The Northern Demons looked at each other in astonishment.

    Today''s events were beyond their expectations.

    The White Emperor looked at the blood-red sword, eyes filled with shock and sorrow.

    Such a sword evoked endless heart demons.

    Master... was truly the great devil?

    If true...

    He didn''t know how to face it.

    Ning Tao tightly gripped the sword, her pale face showing a smile, ¡°Blood Bead... the illusions were false.¡±

    All the pain was due to the curses endured after entering the Demon Gate.

    Blood Bead''s sword strikes were mere illusions.

 Chapter 130: Many Enemies?

    Chapter 130: Many Enemies?

    Deep within the White Emperor Palace.

    The baby-faced woman sighed in relief, looking at Yun He, and said softly, ¡°Senior Brother, your injuries have finally mostly healed.¡±

    Yun He¡¯s eyes showed gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Junior Sister.¡±

    Years ago, he left the White Emperor Palace and headed to Wugui City, where he encountered the old demon crocodile. They fought a fierce battle, and he was gravely injured.

    In the city of Great Sorrow, he sensed that the Great Supremes were plotting against him. At least three Great Supremes were lurking in the city.

    Gravely injured, he used a secret technique taught by his master, the White Emperor, to escape from the city of Great Sorrow and returned to the White Emperor Palace.

    Upon his return, he fell into a coma and had been treated in seclusion by his second junior sister for many years, finally recovering.

    ¡°Hmph, daring to plot against you, Senior Brother, using Wugui City as a trap¡ªwhat nerve that city lord has!¡± the baby-faced woman said angrily.

    She had been treating her senior brother''s injuries for years without stepping outside the chamber, genuinely furious about the plot against him.

    In twenty years, Senior Brother would enter the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons to aid the White Emperor against the Supreme.

    Yun He felt a lingering fear as he recalled the event.

    Using the Destiny Tablet as bait, they almost killed him.

    But now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on that. Yun He¡¯s eyes were filled with worry, ¡°Over ten years have passed. I wonder how many cities in the south have fallen in the Southern and Northern War?¡±

    This was Yun He¡¯s constant concern.

    The Gate of Ten Thousand Demons had one battlefield, and the Southern and Northern War had another.

    Both battlefields were crucial.

    ¡°Senior Brother, don¡¯t worry. Senior Baihe is out there and will surely protect the south,¡± the baby-faced woman reassured him.

    Baihe was the White Emperor''s spiritual pet, a Great Supreme in her own right.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Yun He nodded, ¡°I wonder how Master is faring in the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.¡±

    The crisis in the south was small compared to the one within the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    At that moment, a loud voice, full of energy, echoed through the chamber and the entire palace.

    ¡°Wugui City Commander, Blood Palace Blood Lord, here to visit the White Emperor Palace!¡±Findd new stories at novelhall.com

    The voice was so loud it reached every corner of the White Emperor Palace.

    The two Supremes guarding the palace gates trembled upon hearing it, ¡°The Blood Lord?¡±

    Who didn¡¯t know of the Blood Lord''s terrifying reputation?

    He was the Supreme Slayer!

    It was said that three Great Supremes, along with seventeen hundred Supremes, attacked the Blood Lord.

    The Blood Lord remained unflustered, had a hundred-man band play the suona, and fought alone!

    His primordial divine power burst forth, causing the heart demons of the seventeen hundred Supremes to erupt, killing them on the spot.

    Seventeen hundred Supremes¡ªa number that likely matched the Supremes of the entire south.

    In essence, the Blood Lord had single-handedly wiped out all the Supremes of the south.

    The entire White Emperor Palace was uneasy, unsure why this terrifying Blood Lord had come.

    At that moment, a calm but displeased voice rang out, ¡°Wugui City Commander, what business do you have at my White Emperor Palace?

    You plotted against my senior brother, and now you dare to come to the White Emperor Palace?¡±

    The baby-faced woman stepped out of the chamber and flew into the sky.

    She was still angry about the plot against her senior brother, which had left him healing for years.

    Yun He, watching his junior sister stand up for him in the sky, felt both helpless and gratified.

    At that moment, a white crane fluttered in, extending a white hand to cover the baby-faced woman''s mouth.

    ¡°Oh dear, Xiaolian, how can you speak to the Blood Palace Blood Lord like that!¡± The white crane transformed into a petite girl, lecturing Xiaolian with an air of seniority, ¡°The Blood Palace Blood Lord is my godfather!¡±

    The baby-faced woman was stunned.

    Yun He was completely dumbfounded!

    It was true that the white crane was the White Emperor¡¯s spiritual pet, but it had only agreed to follow him after being subdued by the White Emperor.

    This white crane was naturally arrogant, always looking down on others.

    How did it gain a godfather, and that godfather being the infamous Blood Lord?

    ¡°Hmph, the Blood Palace Blood Lord is the number one Supreme in Liufeng Realm, having unified one hundred and eighty thousand cities. The Blood Palace¡¯s forces have swept through the Endless Blood Sea.

    All of the northern territories are under the Blood Palace¡¯s rule!¡± The white crane girl boasted, looking very smug, ¡°Even the White Emperor must show respect to the Blood Palace Blood Lord. Hurry and come greet him!¡±

    Yun He and the baby-faced woman were bewildered.

    What had they heard?

    The north was swept by the Blood Palace?

    ¡°Is it true?¡± The baby-faced woman quickly transmitted.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. Would I lie to you? Now all the Supremes in the north and south serve the Blood Lord!¡±

    As they spoke, the three arrived outside the White Emperor Palace, seeing the legendary Blood Lord.

    A dozen or so Supremes inside the palace secretly observed the Blood Lord, eyes filled with fear and admiration.

    ¡°This... I don¡¯t know.¡± Yun He hesitated, as matters involving the Heavenly Dao were beyond his understanding.

    ¡°Good!¡± Qi Yuan laughed, looking up at the sky, ¡°I¡¯ve been diligently cleaning up demon scum for you, yet you¡¯ve given me nothing?¡±

    Yun He and the baby-faced woman exchanged confused glances.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s anger grew, ¡°You lured me here with promises, and now you exploit me?¡±

    The palace was silent, except for the Blood Lord¡¯s rants.

    The Supremes watched, stifling their laughter.

    Their understanding of the Blood Lord¡¯s madness deepened.

    ¡°First, you lured me in, and now you exploit me. Do you think you¡¯re the Bull Demon King and I¡¯m Princess Iron Fan?¡±

    ¡°My demands are simple: give me a golden core, or I¡¯ll turn you into my golden core!¡±

    ¡°And my golden core must be... very big, at least... not much smaller than you!¡±

    Qi Yuan made outrageous demands.

    After all, he had been working diligently for years with no reward, and it was time to extort something.

    He had decided he needed a large golden core.

    Without it, he couldn¡¯t take down the Bright Palace.

    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t hear me. You gave Bai Ze a treasure, but not me? Think I won¡¯t devour you?¡±

    At that moment, the world seemed to tremble.

    It was as if the heavens were frightened by Qi Yuan¡¯s threat.

    Yun He and the white crane girl were taken aback.

    They, too, felt the tremor.

    Was it an illusion?

    They exchanged puzzled glances, suspecting the Blood Lord was indeed conversing with the heavens.

    The trembling ceased, and Qi Yuan smiled, ¡°That¡¯s better.¡±

    Feeling triumphant, he believed his golden core was within reach.

    ¡°A golden core down the throat, and my fate is no longer in the hands of heaven!¡±

    Qi Yuan imagined swallowing the core and becoming a Golden Core Daoist.

    Then, the entire Shen Guang Sect, all five peaks, would bow to him.

    He could graduate from village-level cultivation and join a county-level high school.

    Skipping township level altogether!

    Such was the power of a world-class golden core!

    But then, his face paled.

    ¡°What if the golden core is too big to swallow?¡±

    ¡°Is lube effective?¡±

    An hour later.

    Inside the White Emperor Palace, a voice trembled, ¡°Did you say there are thirty thousand Supremes in the Blood Palace?¡±

    ...

    Inside the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    He Wu¡¯s expression was complex, ¡°Da Gou, do you think Master is really the Great Devil?¡±

    Ling Yayi¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Call me Ling Yayi, not Nangong Da Gou!¡±

    The Northern Demons Thirteen had all regained their past memories.

    ¡°Da Gou sounds better.¡±

    Ling Yayi glared at He Wu, his face turning serious, ¡°The scenes in the illusion... they are indeed the Great Devil¡¯s past.¡±

    He Wu fell silent.

    In the illusion, the blood-red robe massacred the living.

    In reality, it had truly happened.

    But the protagonist was the Great Devil.

    Ning Tao¡¯s death with the Blood Lord was false.

    The demoness had always accompanied the Great Devil, aiding in the slaughter.

    In essence, the current misery of the Liufeng Realm was tied to the Great Devil and the demoness.

    ¡°Blood Bead is not the Great Devil!¡± Ning Tao¡¯s voice was firm, clad in a black dress, the demon character still on her left cheek.

    He Wu¡¯s eyes wavered, then steadied, ¡°Master isn¡¯t. Even if he were, so what?

    Our enemy remains Shang Yiran and the Ten Thousand Demons Realm!¡±

    ¡°Hmph, Shang Yiran, that nine-tailed fox, she¡¯s the real Great Devil!¡± Ling Yayi grumbled.

 Chapter 131: Return to Canglan, Planning for Light

    Chapter 131: Return to Canglan, Planning for Light

    "Twenty years from now, the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons will open. I wonder if we can hold out until then." At this moment, He Wu''s eyes carried a hint of reminiscence.

    "With the soul artifact left by our master, what is there for the Lord to fear?" Ling Yayi, also known as Nangong Dagou, replied nonchalantly as usual.

    "But... the Lord has under his command ten thousand Supremes from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm." He Wu swallowed as he said this.

    Ten thousand Supremes¡ªa terrifying number just to think about.

    The total number of Supremes in the entire Liufeng Realm didn''t even come close to this. Not to mention, the strength of the Northern Lands surpassed that of the Southern Lands.

    They couldn''t hold out for long here.

    Ling Yayi''s expression also turned serious upon hearing this: "In twenty years, our master will come here. I don¡¯t know... Sigh, although I wish to see our master, I still hope he does not come."

    The Blood Lord was powerful, divine by nature.

    Given enough time, our master might surpass the Lord who possesses the Destiny Tablet.

    However, that Lord was unscrupulous, colluding with the Ten Thousand Demons Realm, amassing nearly ten thousand Supremes under his command.

    How can we fight this? If ten thousand Supremes attacked simultaneously, even the White Emperor would perish! Our master is strong, but not that strong.

    Although our master¡¯s innate divine abilities are known as the Supreme Slayer.

    When his divine abilities are unleashed, the heart demons of the Supremes in the Liufeng Realm burst out, unable to resist.

    But those ten thousand Supremes are from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm.

    Our master¡¯s innate divine abilities cannot kill them instantly.

    "Palace Master Tianxin, do you wish for our master to come?" Ling Yayi looked at Ning Tao.

    If there was anyone in this world whom our master cared for, it would be Ning Tao.

    Ling Yayi no longer hoped that our master remembered his name.

    Even if remembered, it would be Ling Yayi, not Nangong Dagou.

    He Wu also looked at Ning Tao.

    Ning Tao held a blood-red longsword, her eyes clear: "I both hope and do not hope."

    The canary might hope, but she does not.

    Meanwhile, deep within the fortress.

    Baize sat at the bottom, his body like glass, translucent and flawless.

    Countless scenes from the Ten Thousand Demons Mirror flashed in his mind, a look of pain in his eyes, with a wisp of black energy silently rising.

    At this moment, the Lotus of Heartlessness emitted a faint glow, dispelling the black energy on his forehead.

    Baize¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of clarity: "Stop thinking about this. The urgent matter... is to first solve the crisis of the Ten Thousand Demons Realm and Shang Yanran."

    After about ten breaths, a Grand Supreme entered: "White Emperor, recently, the Lord''s attacks have weakened, besieging but not attacking. What could this mean?"

    Mentioning this, the Grand Supreme looked worried, unsure if this was good or bad.

    Besieging without attacking meant they were safe for now, with no one injured or dead from battle.

    But if the Lord launched a full attack, it would be a devastating blow, likely unstoppable by anyone here, dooming the Liufeng Realm.

    Baize¡¯s eyes flickered before he finally sighed helplessly: "Does she... want to wait for our master?"

    Twenty years later, the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons will open.

    Our master will certainly enter the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    "Yanran... Killing won¡¯t solve the demonic infestation." Baize sighed softly.

    After the Buddha became a demon, the great demon was imprisoned in the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    However, people¡¯s hearts harbored more demonic seeds.

    As the demonic seeds grew, the world would descend into madness.

    Once they reached a certain number, all beings in the Liufeng Realm would have no way to survive.

    In his view, Shang Yanran went to the Northern Lands to start the North-South War to eliminate the demonic seeds through killing.

    He did not support it, but could not stop it.

    He always believed that killing could not solve the demonic infestation.

    There must be a better solution.

    "Master... it¡¯s better not to enter the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons."

    ...

    In the Ten Thousand Demons Palace within the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    Shang Yanran wore a plain white robe, her eyes narrowed with a faint smile.

    The Supremes in the palace were trembling with fear.

    "Please punish me, Lord. It was my fault for not guarding the Ten Thousand Demons Mirror, letting the White Emperor take it!" The Grand Supreme with purple eyes knelt on the ground, trembling.

    The Ten Thousand Demons Mirror was one of Shang Yanran''s treasures.

    "Hehe..." Shang Yanran laughed, making the Grand Supreme even more terrified, "What fault do you have? If I hadn¡¯t let him get the Ten Thousand Demons Mirror on purpose, how could he have taken it?"

    The Grand Supreme was stunned but still kept his head down, not daring to speak.

    Shang Yanran waved her hand impatiently, and the Grand Supreme quickly got up, sighing in relief as he left.

    In the vast palace, only Shang Yanran remained.

    Her eyes showed a mixture of a smile and a cry.

    She muttered to herself, looking somewhat resentful: "Husband, in the illusion, it was our whole life."

    Resentment turned into madness.

    "Why, when I was with you through killing and death, did you wake up and want to kill me?"

    "Why... wouldn¡¯t you let me see your treasures?"

    "Is it you enlightening me, or me... obtaining you?"

    A flash of greed appeared deep in Shang Yanran''s eyes.

    Baize is the Buddha, the great demon! And she... is the demoness, and being a demoness is just one of her identities.

    Back then, when Qiyuan entered the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, he fell into the illusion, which was the life after life of the great demon.

    But it was Qiyuan playing the role.

    Qiyuan was in the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, and the canary was in the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    In the past, she accompanied the great demon through life after life causing havoc in the world. When the great demon woke up, he wanted to kill her.

    Her plans turned into nothing.

    "Great Sun Bright Buddha!"

    "Great Sun Golden Lotus!"

    The greed in Shang Yanran¡¯s eyes grew stronger.

    The Great Sun Golden Lotus was the relic left by the Great Sun Bright Buddha upon passing.

    If she obtained the Great Sun Golden Lotus, her true form would be molded into a flawless golden body.

    This golden body would be indestructible and invincible.

    Those memories calmed down, and his headache improved a lot.

    "The Great Forgetfulness Sutra is truly a good thing. If I return to Blue Star, I could be the best doctor in the world, earning millions a month, marrying a rich and beautiful woman, and reaching the peak of life."

    Using it on Alzheimer''s patients would make them forget they had Alzheimer''s, and they''d be normal again.

    This was simply a magical cure.

    "Indeed, the innate divine ability I comprehended is still here."

    "That soul artifact..."

    Qiyuan felt something.

    If he wanted, he could summon the blood-red longsword engraved with the Heart Demon Lure of the Void Lord.

    But now, the people of the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons still needed that sword to fight the enemy, so he naturally wouldn''t do that.

    Forgetting the things in the game, Qiyuan began to seriously plan against the Bright Palace.

    "In the game, I learned a move: posting to smear the Bright Palace!" Back then, the Purple Heaven Immortal continuously smeared him, calling him the great demon. He killed the Purple Heaven Immortal and learned the art of smearing.

    "I need to post in the Shenhua Guild, but I don''t have a secondary account." Qiyuan was very cautious.

    Posting to insult others couldn''t be done with the main account; if discovered, he would be finished.

    Secondary account?

    He didn¡¯t have one!

    "Junior sister, help!" Qiyuan shouted, running out of the wooden house.

    In the thatched hut, Jiang Lingsu opened her eyes, looking helpless: "Senior brother, what¡¯s wrong?"

    "Junior sister, do you have any secondary accounts for the Shenhua Guild? I need them urgently!" Qiyuan said anxiously.

    Jiang Lingsu looked at Qiyuan: "Speak clearly!"

    She didn¡¯t understand what senior brother was saying.

    "Secondary accounts!" Qiyuan explained repeatedly. After dozens of breaths, Jiang Lingsu finally understood what Qiyuan meant.

    "Why do you need... secondary accounts?" Jiang Lingsu asked, then added, "Forget it, I won¡¯t ask. I can give you some accounts.

    But... these accounts aren¡¯t cheap, how will you repay me?"

    Qiyuan was overjoyed: "Junior sister, you are truly a living Bodhisattva who rescues the suffering."

    Junior sister was a golden thigh, always there to help.

    "How about I renovate your thatched hut, making it high-end and upscale like my wooden house?" Qiyuan pondered seriously.

    Jiang Lingsu twitched her mouth: "Anything else?"

    Qiyuan whispered, "I have an insider tip for you."

    Insider tips in the previous life¡¯s stock market were illegal.

    Qiyuan was cautious.

    "What tip?" Jiang Lingsu was interested.

    "The Bright Palace... is doomed!" Qiyuan whispered.

    "Huh?" Jiang Lingsu was stunned.

    "A peerless genius is about to strike against the Bright Palace. The Bright Palace won¡¯t last three months.

    Now, quickly borrow a large amount of spiritual stones from the Bright Palace. It¡¯s a sure win.

    I know some big shots who borrowed tens of thousands of spiritual stones from the Bright Palace." Qiyuan used the Ice Mountain Tyrant as a front.

    "Is it true?" Jiang Lingsu was surprised.

    How come she had no information about this?

    "It¡¯s absolutely true. If I¡¯m lying, I¡¯m a dog!" Qiyuan said seriously.

    "Then I¡¯ll believe you this time, and go borrow tens of thousands of spiritual stones as pocket money." Jiang Lingsu said casually.

    Hearing this, Qiyuan couldn¡¯t hold back: "Junior sister, why don¡¯t you invest in me?"

    Tens of thousands of spiritual stones as pocket money.

    Qiyuan instantly understood why Daozi always went through the trash.

    Junior sister¡¯s trash pile was richer than his home.

    How could people be so different? Getting a few secondary account jade slips from Jiang Lingsu, Qiyuan felt proud.

    "I need to create some powerful alternate identities!"

    "Each one will insult the Bright Palace, putting pressure on them!"

    Qiyuan thought as he registered several secondary accounts.

    He also pondered appropriate alternate identities.

    Seven Desires Demon Lord, Blood-Clad Sword God, Crazy Taoist...

    "Crazy Taoist doesn¡¯t fit my style, but I need to create some accounts that don¡¯t fit my style, so they won¡¯t suspect me."

    Qiyuan praised his own cleverness.

    Using the Blood-Clad Sword God account, he entered the Shenhua Guild¡¯s forum.

    "Wow, why are there so many shocking titles?"

    The first time he entered the forum, the post titles were all proper and formal. Now, they all started with shocking.

    Qiyuan was tempted to click on those posts to see what had happened.

    But he remembered he had serious business and couldn¡¯t browse posts.

    He pondered, then posted his first message.

    "Sword God Returns Home, Daughter Lives in a Doghouse, the Bright Palace is Outrageous!"

    "I am the Blood-Clad Sword God, who once fought for the Cangyun Continent, protecting its land with blood and sweat.

    A month ago, my communication jade slip rang. When I answered, I heard my daughter¡¯s aggrieved crying!

    ...

    When I got home, I found my beloved daughter living in a doghouse!

    And the culprit was the Bright Palace!

    They started the Hundred Nations Blood War, bullying civilians, occupying my cave dwelling. I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, who bled and sweated for the Cangyun Continent, had my daughter living in a doghouse!

    I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, will seek justice!"

    Qiyuan quickly logged into another secondary account to boost his post.

    "The Bright Palace is wicked. I am a wandering cultivator in the Hundred Nations, though called the Seven Desires Demon Lord, I am kind-hearted and don¡¯t even kill chickens. I have a flock of stray chickens.

    This time, the special envoy of the Bright Palace came to my country, took a fancy to my chickens, and snatched them to cook and eat.

    They didn¡¯t take my chickens, they took my family!"

    Qiyuan re-read the post he wrote, feeling more and more satisfied.

    He felt his literary talent was exceptional. If he returned to Blue Star, he could become the editor-in-chief of the People¡¯s Daily.

    "I need to speed things up."

    Qiyuan thought, deciding to use the power of the Four Kings of Shenhua to boost his post.

 Chapter 132: The Eve

    Chapter 132: The Eve

    In the chat group of the Four Kings of Shenhua.

    "I have good news for you all, the progress of my ''Hundred-Day Plan to Destroy the Bright Palace'' is ahead of schedule.

    I am now working on the fourth step, which is very challenging!"

    Qi Yuan''s plan was meticulous, divided into four steps, with the last step being the hardest, rated four stars in difficulty.

    "Are you about to form your Golden Core, Origin Supreme?" Rogue Immortal replied quickly.

    "You''re still here? Didn''t you say you were going into seclusion for a hundred days last time?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "I was, but when my jade slip lit up, I couldn''t help but check it." Rogue Immortal said awkwardly.

    "You¡¯re addicted, you need electrotherapy." Qi Yuan said, then brought the conversation back on track, "I have already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from forming a celestial-grade Golden Core!"

    Qi Yuan was full of confidence.

    He had already communicated with the Heavenly Dao of the Liufeng Realm.

    Forming a celestial-grade Golden Core was no problem.

    "If I remember correctly, you achieved the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment not long ago, Origin Supreme?" Rogue Immortal asked weakly.

    "Only two or three months ago, sigh, time flies, and things are unpredictable!" Qi Yuan sighed inexplicably.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor also joined the chat at this time: "Wow, as expected of the genius I have my eye on, Origin Supreme is amazing."

    "Is there progress in the plan to destroy the Bright Palace?" The Ice Mountain Overlord also started to speak, sending several messages in a row.

    "I found several sisters and borrowed millions in high-interest loans from the Bright Palace. Origin Supreme, you need to work harder!"

    "Don''t worry, I won''t let you down!" Qi Yuan was moved, "I have devised some small plans against the Bright Palace, and I need your support!"

    "What do you need me to do?"

    "Kill people? I¡¯m best at that!"

    "I... can only offer one spirit stone."

    "No need for that. I have registered a small account and am posting about the sins of the Bright Palace. I need you to help boost the posts."

    Qi Yuan shared his posts and ideas with them.

    Upon hearing this, the Ice Mountain Overlord¡¯s eyes lit up.

    She sent several messages in a row.

    "Brilliant, Origin Supreme is a true genius!"

    "This title is simply perfect!"

    "A dignified Sword God, his daughter living in a doghouse, the Bright Palace is outrageous!"

    "Ahem, actually, I just borrowed someone else''s idea." Qi Yuan felt a bit guilty.

    Last time he borrowed Wu Tong¡¯s words, he killed Wu Tong directly.

    No one would know he plagiarized, and Wu Tong, the original creator, couldn''t crawl out of hell to expose him.

    People on Blue Star were still alive, he hadn''t killed them all. If someone claimed the idea and it was exposed, it would be too embarrassing.

    Unless he devoured Blue Star, he couldn''t rightfully claim originality.

    "Rest assured, Origin Supreme, I will help you boost your posts every day!"

    "Thank you all!" Qi Yuan was grateful.

    He left the chat and continued to use his small account to post.

    ...

    In a branch of the Bright Palace.

    Wind Fury True Lord had a trace of anger in his eyes: "Has the Great Shang not responded yet?"

    His disciple, Broken Wolf, had gone to the Hundred Nations and perished in the Great Shang.

    The envoy sent to the Great Shang had also not returned.

    "Calm down, Wind Fury True Lord." Strong Flood True Lord tried to soothe him.

    Both at the late stage of the Divine Infant, Strong Flood True Lord was slightly lower in status.

    Because Wind Fury True Lord¡¯s father was a Purple Mansion great power!

    Without the Yin God, in the Canglan Realm, the Purple Mansion was already considered a great power!

    "Hmph, my disciple died mysteriously in the Great Shang, and I can¡¯t even get an explanation?" Wind Fury True Lord said discontentedly.

    Strong Flood True Lord was displeased but still flattered him: "Recently, our Bright Palace seems a bit unstable. The Palace Master ordered us to stay low for a while."

    "Oh, what''s going on?" Wind Fury True Lord was unaware.

    "Recently, many Purple Mansion great powers have come to our Bright Palace to borrow money. It''s said... they have borrowed millions of spirit stones." Mentioning this, Strong Flood True Lord was shocked.

    Purple Mansion great powers, coming in groups to borrow spirit stones.

    This clearly was not a good sign.

    "Could it be that our Bright Palace starting the Hundred Nations Blood War has displeased some old guys?

    But the Hundred Nations Blood War was approved by those big figures!"

    The Hundred Nations Blood War would cause endless slaughter and the death of billions.

    For such a major event, the Bright Palace naturally couldn¡¯t just do it without approval.

    If it displeased a big figure, they would have no justification.

    With approval, it was different.

    At least, nearby big figures wouldn¡¯t intervene.

    "The palace is investigating. It''s best to be cautious. Also, today in the Shenhua Guild, someone is accusing our Bright Palace.

    That person¡¯s name looks like trouble." Strong Flood True Lord waved his hand, showing a series of images to Wind Fury True Lord.

    "Sword God? Daughter living in a doghouse?" Wind Fury True Lord widened his eyes, "Who did this? It''s even more ridiculous than me!"

    Killing is one thing, but humiliating is another.

    Wind Fury True Lord usually just killed, rarely humiliated.

    Now, a fellow in the Bright Palace forced someone''s daughter to live in a doghouse; it was a bit... too much.

    "The palace is investigating if this is true or slander." Strong Flood True Lord sighed, "A storm is coming!"

    Recent events made them feel as if an invisible hand was targeting the Bright Palace.

    But the Bright Palace couldn''t find out which powerful figure was behind it.

    Would such a powerful figure need these means?

    Wind Fury True Lord was apprehensive but said: "The Great Shang is a small country, even if I take action, it won¡¯t affect these matters.

    Let¡¯s wait a few days for the palace¡¯s investigation results before I go to the Great Shang!"

    Strong Flood True Lord nodded, then asked: "Wind Fury True Lord, who do you think humiliated the Blood-Clad Sword God and made his daughter live in a doghouse?"

    Wind Fury True Lord pondered: "It¡¯s likely to be No Void True Lord or Fang Yuan True Lord, they are the most suspicious."

    "Indeed, only they could do such a thing!"

    Yes, that was the Bright Palace.

    Each one was comparable to Qi Yuan¡¯s past great enemy, the Black Chicken Old Demon.

    Now, in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes, he could kill them all with a flick of his finger.

    "Today, seventy thousand peak land myths will become Supremes. I don¡¯t know if this is good or bad."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    When the game ends, he would leave.

    These seventy thousand peak land myths would become Supremes.

    Adding the previous thirty thousand Supremes.

    That¡¯s a hundred thousand Supremes, as if they were free.

    So many Supremes would indeed change the Liufeng Realm''s structure.

    Once Qi Yuan leaves the game, what would happen to these Supremes, he didn¡¯t know.

    Moreover, these Supremes were not Purple Mansions of the Canglan Realm.

    They had demonic seeds in them!

    When they died of old age, demonic seeds would appear!

    Supreme-level demonic seeds, just thinking about it was terrifying.

    Perhaps, he wasn¡¯t creating a hundred thousand Supremes, but a hundred thousand demons!

    This world...

    Qi Yuan stopped thinking about it. He looked at the tens of thousands of people, his expression ethereal, like a god in the clouds.

    "Preaching... begins..."

    This preaching session was more grandiose than any before, with a larger scale.

    The Blood Lord stood on the walls of Wugui City, celestial music echoed from the sky, reaching their souls.

    Unlike before, this time, blood rain suddenly started to fall from the sky.

    It seemed like the tears of the heavens, the blood of the heavens.

    The seventy thousand land myths, soaked in the blood rain, didn¡¯t notice it, fully immersed in the human-demon path.

    However, the other strong ones in Wugui City, looking at the Blood Lord, felt he was like a blood-colored great sun.

    In a world abandoned by the gods, without sun, moon, and stars, it seemed there was now a blood-colored great sun.

    Finally, there was light in this world, even if it was blood-red.

    ...

    Time flowed, and at the ends of the earth, a blood palace appeared.

    Now, ninety-nine percent of the Supremes in the Liufeng Realm had gathered at the ends of the earth, seemingly waiting for the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons to open.

    Everyone was excited, but also suppressing themselves.

    Yun He, amid his excitement, was also worried: "I hope the master can hold on until the Blood Lord arrives."

    As the opening time of the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons approached, the Blood Lord¡¯s appearances became less frequent.

    The entire blood palace was eerily quiet.

    Qi Yuan, holding Xiao Jia, had a peculiar expression: "The Great Forgetfulness Sutra... is only a step away from being engraved."

    Now, Qi Yuan¡¯s Great Forgetfulness Sutra was enough to be engraved.

    But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it.

    If engraved on his soul or body, he might truly go insane.

    "Could it be that I can only reach the micro level of the Great Forgetfulness Sutra and not engrave it?"

    Qi Yuan was helpless.

    A Grand Supreme with an engraved innate divine ability was clearly not on the same level as a mid-stage Supreme at the micro level.

    Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t engrave it now.

    If he did, he would truly forget, unable to be awakened.

    "Sadly, this is my path, and I must walk it with tears."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    He stopped thinking.

    There would always be a way when the time came.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    He Wu was shrouded in darkness, his eyes full of worry: "In a few days, the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons will open. We... will have a hard time receiving the master."

    Ling Yayi looked at the stronghold ahead, sensing the aura, and his eyes were full of fear: "More than twenty Grand Supremes and over a hundred ordinary Supremes, the Lord has really gone all out!"

    The Lord¡¯s main camp had surrounded the White Emperor.

    At the entrance of the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, the Lord had also sent many strong ones.

    Moreover, to deal with the Blood Lord, twenty Grand Supremes were sent, ten of whom were from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm, and over a hundred ordinary Supremes, all demons from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm.

    This way, they wouldn¡¯t be restrained by the Blood Lord¡¯s innate divine ability.

    "We only have five people, we can¡¯t possibly match these Supremes." He Wu was worried.

    The gap between the enemy and them was too large.

    Unfortunately, the five of them had made all the preparations to come here.

    The Gate of Ten Thousand Demons was full of the Lord¡¯s people.

    "Do you think the master can defeat these people?" Ling Yayi asked.

    They came here to receive the Blood Lord.

    "Probably not." He Wu said solemnly.

    Years ago, the Blood Lord¡¯s sword had engraved the innate divine ability.

    It showed that their master had been severely injured in the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons and had only recently awakened, just stepping into the Grand Supreme realm.

    Although the master¡¯s innate divine ability restrained the Supremes of the Liufeng Realm, the demoness¡¯s subordinates were mostly Supremes from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm.

    Twenty Grand Supremes now, the current Blood Lord couldn¡¯t possibly be a match.

    Ling Yayi frowned and suddenly said: "What if when the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons opens, I fly to those Grand Supremes and self-destruct my innate divine ability, shouting my name, Ling Yayi.

    Wouldn¡¯t the master forget my name as Nangong Dagou and only remember me as Ling Yayi?"

    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, self-destructing would only be sending yourself to death. The master needs to face those strong ones to come through." He Wu knew Ling Yayi wanted to sacrifice himself to give the master a chance to enter the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

    "Sigh, I¡¯m just looking for a solution." Ling Yayi shrugged.

    "Instead of believing your self-destruction will attract those Supremes¡¯ attention, I believe the master can fight his way through." A mid-stage Supreme couldn¡¯t help but say.

    He was also one of the Northern Demons Thirteen Fiends.

    He Wu nodded in agreement.

    Ling Yayi looked at the two, dissatisfied: "You both have ''demon'' written on your faces, I find you both very annoying."

 Chapter 133: Crushing Directly!

    Chapter 133: Crushing Directly!

    At the entrance of the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, twenty Grand Supremes gathered, accompanied by a hundred Supremes from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm.

    These Supremes stood together, following the Lord''s orders to hunt the Blood Lord.

    "There are some small mice outside. Should we deal with them?" one Grand Supreme from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm suggested, referring to He Wu and Ling Yayi hiding around them.

    This suggestion made many Grand Supremes from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm eager to act.

    "Dealing with them would be a waste of time," a human Grand Supreme said. "The Lord''s order is to capture the Blood Lord. Let¡¯s not get distracted!"

    These human Grand Supremes feared the Lord and prioritized his orders.

    "Hmph, the so-called Blood Lord might scare you people from the Liufeng Realm, but we from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm are not afraid."

    "Why such a big fuss? Two Grand Supremes from our Ten Thousand Demons Realm could easily capture the Blood Lord."

    They had gathered much information about the Blood Lord. His innate divine ability could trigger heart demons to break out, which was a dimensional attack on the Supremes of the Liufeng Realm but didn''t scare the Grand Supremes from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm.

    The human Grand Supreme who spoke earlier showed a helpless expression. These Supremes from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm were still beast-like and unruly.

    At this moment, the usually silent Cat Demoness Grand Supreme spoke up: "Follow the Lord''s orders. Don''t worry about those small mice for now."

    The Cat Demoness Grand Supreme was tall and beautiful, with the most eye-catching feature being the row of lights on her chest.

    Yes, a row.

    Unlike some other female demons, after transforming into human form, she retained some cat characteristics: cat tail, cat ears, and five pairs of breasts.

    This made her particularly striking.

    Many male Supremes couldn''t help but glance at her.

    Such a cat girl would surely be popular with Blue Star¡¯s otakus! If Qi Yuan saw her, he might even think that.

    The Cat Demoness Grand Supreme was also the leader of the demon Supremes present.

    With her order, the demon Supremes stopped mentioning dealing with He Wu.

    They quietly waited for the Ten Thousand Demons Gate to open.

    A day later.

    Inside the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, a sudden gust of wind blew, and a powerful aura swept through the gate.

    All the Supremes couldn''t help but look towards the entrance.

    It was pitch black there. Even for Grand Supremes, their divine senses couldn¡¯t penetrate it, so they had to rely on their eyesight.

    Once through the black mist, they would reach the Liufeng Realm.

    "It''s opening!" The Cat Demoness Grand Supreme was excited, smiling exaggeratedly, making her row of lights tremble. She scanned all the Supremes present. "Who wants to go in and check the situation?"

    "I will go."

    "I will too."

    Two demon Grand Supremes eagerly volunteered.

    They wanted to capture the Blood Lord and also craved human blood in the Liufeng Realm.

    The Cat Demoness Grand Supreme smiled and nodded.

    The two Grand Supremes directly traversed into the black mist.

    The other Supremes waited calmly, some even smiling.

    "After this mission, we need to feast well." A tiger-faced demon Grand Supreme said, eyeing a human Grand Supreme with a hint of greed.

    The human Grand Supreme glared back fiercely, displeased: "The mission isn¡¯t over yet. Let''s wait until we capture the Blood Lord."

    "With so many of us here, it¡¯s just a matter of time. We might not even need to act. The two who went in might have already captured the Blood Lord." The tiger-faced Grand Supreme said casually.

    The demon Grand Supremes didn''t take it seriously.

    "You humans fear the Blood Lord, we demons do not!"

    "With so many strong ones here, what''s to fear?"

    At this moment, the Cat Demoness Grand Supreme showed a strange expression: "They¡¯re coming back...so soon?"

    The other Grand Supremes also sensed it and some smiled.

    "Didn''t expect them to be so fast. Have they captured the Blood Lord?"

    According to the Lord, the Blood Lord lost his engraved innate divine ability and was no longer a threat, his strength having fallen to mid-Supreme.

    They felt overprepared sending so many strong ones.

    In the crowd''s view, they saw the two Grand Supremes, Fu Feng and Yang Li, fleeing frantically.

    The Supremes were surprised.

    Things weren¡¯t going as expected.

    The Cat Demoness Grand Supreme waved her sleeve, stopping Fu Feng and Yang Li. She sternly asked: "What¡¯s the panic? Did you see the Blood Lord?"

    Fu Feng and Yang Li, both frantic, replied.

    "No...no!" Fu Feng said anxiously.

    "Then why run?" the Cat Demoness Grand Supreme questioned.

    "Too many people, too many!" Yang Li remembered the scene he saw in the darkness, his scalp tingling.

    "So many people?" A human Grand Supreme was surprised. "Did the Supremes from the White Emperor Palace also come? If so, how will they handle the North-South conflict?"

    There were still many Supremes in the Southern Lands. If they ignored the North-South conflict and entered the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, it would be troublesome.

    "Come, let¡¯s see for ourselves." The Cat Demoness Grand Supreme was bold.

    "No, there are too many of them, tens of thousands, and all are Supremes!" Fu Feng cried, "Run now, before it¡¯s too late!"

    He only glimpsed them from afar and was terrified, running back immediately.

    The Grand Supremes first paused, then laughed: "We know the number of Supremes in the Liufeng Realm. Fu Feng, you must have been tricked!"

    The level of the Liufeng Realm couldn''t support that many strong ones.

    These Supremes didn''t believe it.

    It¡¯s like if an American military officer reported seeing thousands of Chinese aircraft carriers, no one would believe it.

    The current Grand Supremes had a similar thought.

    "The Liufeng Realm is on the verge of collapse. Even at its peak, it couldn''t support that many Supremes. It must be an illusion!" The Cat Demoness Grand Supreme declared, "Don''t be afraid, come with me to check."

    For some reason, his body trembled with unconscious fear.

    Yang Hun¡¯s humble voice reached his ears: "Blood Lord, we have killed all the hundred Supremes at the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, leaving one alive!"

    The Grand Supreme felt countless eyes on him in the darkness.

    He looked up, and his despairing eyes filled with horror!

    What did he see?

    Countless Supremes!

    They floated in the void, forming armies like mortal troops, surrounding the supreme throne where the Blood Lord sat.

    How many Supremes...

    The Grand Supreme swallowed hard.

    In the black mist, his divine sense couldn¡¯t reach far. He couldn¡¯t see clearly.

    Ten thousand? Thirty thousand? Or a hundred thousand?

    Is this real?

    Is the world broken?

    How could there be so many Supremes?

    He recalled his words to Yang Hun, now seeming ridiculous.

    "Where is the Lord¡¯s base?

    Where is the White Emperor now?"

    The Blood Lord¡¯s cold voice fell on the Grand Supreme.

    The Grand Supreme looked up at Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes, confused: "They are at...Manzhang Plain..."

    He didn''t hide anything, mechanically revealing all he knew.

    It didn¡¯t matter whether he told or not.

    The countless Supremes above were beyond comprehension.

    How would his revered Lord respond?

    He looked at Qi Yuan, then broke down: "Is heaven dooming the Liufeng Realm? You demon!"

    He finished, killing himself.

    Yang Hun¡¯s face changed: "Forgive me for failing to prevent this!"

    Qi Yuan remained calm, looking at Yang Hun: "Am I a demon?"

    Yang Hun quickly replied: "The Blood Lord is the chosen one, the ruler of this realm, not a demon."

    Qi Yuan smiled.

    At this moment, the Vanguard Camp returned: "Blood Lord, we captured some Supremes claiming to be your acquaintances!"

    Five Supremes were brought before Qi Yuan.

    Originally smirking, Ling Yayi almost knelt seeing the countless Supremes.

    He Wu was also stunned, the scene beyond their imagination.

    They thought the Blood Lord had united the Supremes of the Liufeng Realm.

    This wasn¡¯t unification!

    It was creation from nothing!

    Ling Yayi swallowed, nervously speaking: "Master, master, do you remember me?"

    Qi Yuan looked at the handsome Ling Yayi, noticing his covered left face, and was slightly moved: "The Thirteen Demons of the North...I know you, but which one are you? What¡¯s your name?"

    Life changes, time passes, cycles erase marks.

    Even the canary had changed from proud to the sickly Ning Tao.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t recognize Ling Yayi but knew this disciple had entered the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, enduring its curse to awaken him.

    Silence.

    Hearing Qi Yuan, Ling Yayi was silent.

    He shouldn¡¯t have spoken.

    There were nearly a hundred thousand troops?

    Announcing his old name would be too embarrassing.

    "I am...Nangong..."

    "Nangong?" Qi Yuan was puzzled.

    "Nangong, Nangong..." Ling Yayi was anxious, finally blurting out, "Nangong...Dog."

    "Dog?" Qi Yuan looked at Ling Yayi, finally recognizing him.

    Nangong Dog, native of Jiupan Mountain.

    The hundred thousand troops heard the strange name, momentarily reacting.

    If not for the Blood Lord¡¯s presence and being in the military, they might have laughed.

    "Master, he is Foolish Daoist, now called He Wu!"

    "Master, I am Guqin!"

    ...

    "I am Bai Li!"

    Qi Yuan listened, his expression calm. He seriously looked at the five, imprinting them in his mind: "I...remember you!"

    This memory was serious for Qi Yuan.

    He remembered many people.

    Like the Five Ancestors in the first game¡¯s Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    Or Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao who gave him wine in Wugui City.

    "Master, Manzhang Plain is in crisis. Please move quickly to capture the Lord!

    The canary...is still waiting for you!" He Wu said solemnly.

    He knew it wasn¡¯t time to reminisce, they must solve the crisis at Manzhang Plain.

    Old memories flashed in Qi Yuan¡¯s mind, his expression calm.

    Once the Lord, the big boss, was defeated, the task of guarding Wugui City would be truly over.

    It would be time...to leave the game.

    "Advance!" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed fiercely.

    Lastly, it was...kill, kill, kill!

    The hundred thousand Supremes in red robes advanced to Manzhang Plain!

 Chapter 134: I am a Player, I am Unreasonable, I use hacks!

    Chapter 134: I am a Player, I am Unreasonable, I use hacks!

    In the vast plain of Wanzhangyuan, the Supreme Master was wrapped in a white robe. Her eyes were deep and always seemed to conceal her thoughts.

    At this moment, the last stronghold of the White Emperor Palace in Wanzhangyuan had shrunk into a small cluster.

    Nearly ten thousand Supreme Beings, along with over a hundred Great Supreme Beings, had surrounded the stronghold completely.

    Now, the entrance to the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters was open, and Shang Yanran''s plan was more than halfway completed.

    She looked at the stronghold where the Great Sun Golden Lotus radiated a blazing white aura, and greed flashed in her eyes.

    "It... will be mine, and no one can stop me!"

    After so many years of planning, this was the first time she had been so close to it!

    The Great Sun Golden Lotus, the relic left by the Great Sun Bright Buddha upon his death, was now considered a supreme treasure, yet it was covered in dust and treated as a mere lotus of no significance.

    Only in her hands could this treasure realize its greatest value.

    The Liufeng Realm and the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm, which she had polluted, would become her true paradise.

    And she would ascend further.

    "Supreme Master, when will we launch the general attack?" A Great Supreme Being stood by her side, looking puzzled.

    The Supreme Master had besieged but not attacked for twenty years, and he couldn''t understand why she would do this.

    Now that the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters was open, the immediate task should be to annihilate the remaining forces of the White Emperor Palace and take complete control of the Liufeng Realm.

    "We will launch the general attack when the Blood Lord is captured," the Supreme Master had her own plans.

    Bai Ze... or the Buddha, had been trapped in the cycle of reincarnation for countless lifetimes and no longer possessed the great powers of the past.

    However... capturing him was not an easy task.

    Her forte was never cultivation or the Dao; it was manipulating people''s hearts.

    So even though the former Buddha was far stronger than her, he was still played in the palm of her hand and became a great demon.

    This also created the demon spawn of this world.

    "The Cat Demoness Great Supreme... should be back soon." The human Great Supreme looked excited.

    He was about to witness a great moment.

    However, he hesitated: "What if the Blood Lord is too strong or has helpers? What if the Cat Demoness Great Supreme cannot capture him?"

    "No matter how strong he is, he is just a Great Supreme.

    How many helpers can he have?

    Even if the Cat Demoness can''t capture him and he escapes, he will come here.

    The canary... has always been here."

    Shang Yanran was also interested in the Blood Lord, but not as much as Bai Ze.

    She didn''t sense any divine aura from the Blood Lord.

    Thus, he was not worth worrying about.

    No matter how talented or extraordinary he was, without divinity, he was just a plaything.

    Even the divine Buddha was manipulated by her, wasn''t he?

    As for the Blood Lord, he was just an unexpected pawn.

    "Bai Ze, do you still not want to see me?" At this moment, a lonely smile flashed in Shang Yanran''s eyes, and her slightly sorrowful voice reached the last stronghold of the White Emperor Palace.

    She began her performance.

    Bai Ze''s figure appeared at this moment.

    He looked at Shang Yanran with compassionate eyes: "Yanran, the sea of bitterness is boundless, turn back to the shore, don''t go further down the wrong path."

    "What wrong have I done?" Shang Yanran''s face was full of sorrow, "I am doing this for the entire Liufeng Realm.

    Do you want to see the entire Liufeng Realm ravaged by demons and eventually fall?"

    Bai Ze sighed: "So the Southern Land... is the best solution."

    Not allowing cultivators to rest in peace was a way to clear out the demons.

    It was a pity, but there was no better method.

    "Now... isn''t there a better way?" Shang Yanran looked at Bai Ze with a resolute gaze, "The reincarnations of the Great Demon and the Demoness have been found, as long as..."

    "Hmph, Shang Yanran, stop spreading lies, your collusion with the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm to bring war is already a great crime!" Among the Thirteen Northern Demons, a Supreme Being spoke angrily, his eyes full of pain.

    This former senior sister had become like this, how could he not be heartbroken?

    "Our master''s grace is as heavy as a mountain, but it concerns the life and death of this realm, we should prioritize the world''s beings!

    If our master falls, I will build a temple for him and pray for him every night..."

    Before Shang Yanran finished speaking, a terrified voice suddenly came.

    A Great Supreme Being, with a look of terror, flew towards Shang Yanran.

    "Not good, not good, they are attacking!"

    Upon hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed in Shang Yanran''s eyes.

    She glanced at Bai Ze and slowly said, "Husband, prioritize the world''s beings!"

    Back then, the Buddha killed the demoness, who was her, for the world''s beings.

    Now, Shang Yanran was confident that Bai Ze would kill the Blood Lord for the world''s beings.

    In Bai Ze''s eyes, in the Buddha''s eyes, there were only the world''s beings, where could he place her, a demoness?

    And how could he tolerate the Blood Lord, a Great Demon?

    Shang Yanran''s figure dissipated and left.

    In the stronghold, Bai Ze''s eyes were deep, lost in thought.

    The Northern Demon who had just scolded the Supreme Master was also puzzled: "Attacking? Could it be... Master is coming?"

    He was excited at the thought.

    Reuniting with old friends was always a joy in this world.

    Ning Tao held a long sword, her black dress accentuating her graceful figure. Her face seemed to have light makeup, and the half of her face that was visible was stunning.

    Greed, arrogance, and lust emanated from the sword, and Ning Tao''s cold eyes hid a trace of fear: "I want... to go meet him."

    She was afraid of meeting him in this state.

    "You can''t, if you go out, the Supreme Master will not let you go!

    If Master comes here and you are captured by the Supreme Master... then..." Bai Ze hesitated.

    Ning Tao tightened her grip on the sword: "I will take a look."

    She was not being capricious; she just wanted to see him.

    ...

    Sitting on the throne, Qi Yuan''s eyes showed a bit of relaxation.

    "Bringing people to crush is better; soloing monsters is too slow."

    If it were just him, how long would it take to clear the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters?

    The Supreme Beings here in the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm were not like the old men in Dique, nor the Supreme Beings in Liufeng Realm who could be easily dealt with by his innate divine power.

    Ten thousand Monster Supreme Beings could easily drown Qi Yuan.

    "Reporting to Blood Lord, Song Battalion has cleared the front stronghold, killing thirty-seven enemies!" Song Battalion''s leader Liu Gaoda, in a blood-red robe, looked helpless.

    The stronghold assigned to him had too few Supremes.

    One round, and they were easily slaughtered.

    Everyone looked up to see five more groups of blood-robed figures.

    Another five thousand Supremes!

    "What''s going on?" Hong Niu Great Supreme was confused.

    How could there be more!

    The Great Supreme who sighed was also stunned.

    When did the Liufeng Realm have so many Supremes!

    "I am Yang Hun, the vanguard leader of the Blood Palace!"

    "By order of the Blood Lord, kill the Supreme Master!"

    "Those who block, die!"

    "Those who surrender, die!"

    Yang Hun, leading seven thousand Supremes, attacked the camp.

    One strike, the world shook.

    "Five thousand against seven thousand, I have six thousand Supremes behind me, we have the advantage!" Hong Niu Great Supreme shouted, fearless of the Blood Palace Supremes.

    That was the thought of many Supremes.

    The number surprised them, but they still believed they had the advantage.

    But Yang Hun''s eyes showed contempt: "You don''t know the terror you are facing!"

    He anticipated the shock and fear on these Supremes'' faces as the army overwhelmed them!

    "Hmph, small Liufeng Realm, challenging the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm, overestimating yourself..."

    Hong Niu Great Supreme''s words were cut off as a massive roar came from the sky.

    "Kill!"

    "Kill!"

    "Kill!"

    The sound was overwhelming, coming from all directions.

    Hong Niu Great Supreme looked up, eyes wide.

    In the sky.

    One group!

    Ten groups!

    Thirty groups!

    Seventy groups!

    Blood-robed armies flew towards them.

    And the numbers kept growing.

    The sky was filled with blood-robed figures.

    And the numbers kept increasing!

    Hong Niu Great Supreme''s eyes were bloodshot, filled with horror: "What is this?"

    "Impossible!"

    All the Supremes were terrified, looking at the blood-robed figures in the sky, gasping!

    A hundred thousand troops arrived at Wanzhangyuan.

    The red robes fluttered in the air, and the sky was filled with red.

    Even the ground seemed to turn red!

    A hundred thousand troops formed over a hundred battle arrays, each filled with Supremes.

    It was unbelievable!

    Such a terrifying force, who could stop it?

    Who could block it?

    At this moment, in the hundred thousand Supreme army, the blood-robed figure on the throne stood up, his gaze domineering.

    He scanned the tens of millions of Monster Supremes in Wanzhangyuan, his voice echoing everywhere.

    "With a hundred thousand Supremes as pawns, what can you use to stop me?"

    "Game boss? Just a shrimp!"

    "Blood Palace, listen to orders, kill!"

    Qi Yuan''s words were followed by the hundred thousand Supremes moving forward.

    Red clouds pressed down, the world shook!

    A hundred thousand Supremes attacked simultaneously, an earth-shattering event that could make gods tremble.

    "Kill!"

    "Kill!"

    The hundred thousand Supremes showed no mercy, countless innate divine powers rushing towards the five thousand Supremes!

    It was a one-sided battle!

    A bloody massacre!

    The poor five thousand Supremes, each a true elite, were killed in the flood of divine powers.

    They didn''t even know which Supreme''s divine power killed them.

    They didn''t see the enemy''s face before dying.

    If examined, it would be said that the bodies were filled with divine powers.

    "Offend the Blood Palace, kill!"

    The momentum was overwhelming, the hundred thousand Supremes shouted.

    Divine powers flew, mountains shattered.

    "Block the Blood Palace, kill!"

    Divine powers flew, the earth sank.

    "Enemies of the Blood Palace, kill!"

    Divine powers flew, more terrifying than nuclear bombs.

    The landscape was unrecognizable.

    The five thousand Supremes were long dead... without bodies.

    Divine powers everywhere, greed, lust, and arrogance engulfed everything.

    The hundred thousand army crushed the place in an instant!

    A hundred thousand against five thousand, it was a complete crush!

    No matter how talented a Great Supreme was, they would die in the endless flood of divine powers!

    This was the Blood Palace, Qi Yuan''s secret to clearing the game!

    The hundred thousand Supremes, like Qi Yuan''s arms, marched towards the depths of Wanzhangyuan.

    There, the last five thousand Supremes awaited!

    Meanwhile, inside the White Emperor Palace stronghold.

    Everyone was stunned, or rather... shocked.

    The scene before them was beyond their imagination!

    Or rather, they never dared to imagine it.

    Ning Tao held a blood-red sword, her eyes piercing through the red mist, seeing the man she longed for.

    "He... my childhood sweetheart!"

 Chapter 135: Talk to Me About Human Nature? About the Big Picture? Iâ€™ll Cut You Down!

    Chapter 135: Talk to Me About Human Nature? About the Big Picture? I¡¯ll Cut You Down!

    "Kill!"

    "Kill!"

    "Kill!"

    Wherever the eyes could see, where the army was headed, the ten thousand Supremes surged through Wanzhangyuan like a tide of iron under the specially improved formation of Qi Yuan.

    The ten thousand Supremes, like celestial soldiers, swept away everything in their path. No one could stand against them.

    After all, the current formation was created by all the Great Supremes of the Liufeng Realm together and was further refined by Qi Yuan who identified and corrected its flaws.

    This formation was far stronger than the one used by the Supremes who besieged Ning Tao in the past.

    The army surged forward, sweeping everything away effortlessly.

    Qi Yuan stood in the void, his blood-red robe more vivid than blood itself.

    A lazy expression hung on his face, "This is what playing a game should be like."

    Now, he finally felt the thrill of being a pay-to-win player.

    With a horde of underlings crushing everything in their path, there was no need for him to lift a finger.

    Compared to the brutal battles in Dique, this was extremely relaxing.

    Now, he truly felt like a major villain, relentlessly attacking the righteous forces, crushing them with overwhelming power.

    The Supreme Beings of the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm, facing ten times their number, dared not truly engage and were fleeing in all directions.

    Unfortunately for them, the ten thousand Supremes in blood-red robes had surrounded them on all sides.

    The hundreds of Supreme battalions continued to close in, launching innate divine powers in long-range attacks.

    In fact, they only needed to cast their innate divine powers into designated areas without targeting any specific Supreme.

    Using endless divine powers, they forcibly overwhelmed the Supreme Beings of the demon clan.

    The situation was completely one-sided. The Supreme Beings of the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm, considered the true enemies of the Liufeng Realm, had no chance to fight back against Qi Yuan¡¯s army.

    "No!"

    "How is this possible!"

    "Why is this happening?"

    The once proud and confident Supreme Beings of the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm were now weak, helpless, and utterly confused.

    Their cries were drowned in the sea of innate divine powers.

    These Supremes had no idea how to break the defenses or which divine power to counter.

    There were too many attacks.

    Way too many.

    This day, the ten thousand Supremes crushed the Supremes of the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm, leaving countless dead.

    Wanzhangyuan was blasted into an abyss.

    Here, the aura of innate divine power was incredibly dense.

    Ordinary Supremes had a high probability of perishing just by entering, as if it were a battlefield contaminated by nuclear weapons, where no living creature could survive.

    Qi Yuan, in his long robe, stood in the void.

    Chen Huan''s face was full of deep guilt: "Blood Lord, the Supreme Master... has disappeared."

    At this moment, he did not call Qi Yuan "Big Brother" but "Blood Lord".

    Now that almost all the enemies had been crushed and killed, only the Supreme Master remained unaccounted for.

    Despite the ten thousand Supremes'' overwhelming and encircling attack, the Supreme Master had mysteriously vanished, which was too strange.

    Qi Yuan was not surprised by this, and a smile appeared in his eyes: "It seems that the final boss has some tricks after all.

    As for her... she is likely... there!"

    Qi Yuan had roughly figured out Shang Yanran''s identity.

    Indeed... she was a difficult boss.

    But that was only the case for others.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze pierced through the distance, as if seeing through time, and landed on the last stronghold of the Liufeng Realm.

    "Let''s go!"

    The army of ten thousand blood-clad Supremes marched towards the final stronghold.

    The sight was spectacular, and perhaps... terrifying.

    The Supremes in the stronghold, having lived most of their lives and seen all kinds of battles, had never seen such a scene!

    Originally, they thought the final battle would be the most terrifying one.

    They thought they might fight to the last drop of blood for the Liufeng Realm.

    But to their surprise, the final battle had nothing to do with them.

    The ten thousand Supremes attacked the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters and directly overwhelmed the Supremes of the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm.

    It was simply... too unbelievable.

    At this moment, the army in blood-red robes, like a cloud of blood, was rushing towards them.

    Their hearts couldn''t help but tremble.

    In an instant, the mighty and orderly formation arrived at the gates.

    The army split neatly, and a blood-red figure emerged. All the Supremes looked at that figure with deep reverence.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze fell on the girl in the black dress in the distance.

    His eyes softened: "I''m here."

    This time, unlike the first world, there were no unexpected incidents.

    It seemed he was speaking to the girl, as well as to the others in the stronghold.

    Ning Tao looked at Qi Yuan, her steps hesitant for the first time. The countless words in her heart turned into one sentence: "I''ve been waiting for you."

    Today, she had put on light makeup and specially worn black stockings.

    Under her black dress, her figure appeared particularly petite. Her chest was delicately shaped, not too big, not too small. Her slender, fair legs, wrapped in black stockings, made her look like a sickly girl from an anime.

    Her skin was very pale, a cold white that seemed to match her personality.

    Yet she seemed out of place in this world.

    Qi Yuan saw the canary''s shadow in her.

    At this moment, a seductive voice came from within the stronghold.

    "A Great Demon indeed, to make me lose a life."

    The speaker was none other than the Supreme Master who had disappeared earlier.

    She appeared within the stronghold!

    "Supreme Master!"

    Yang Hun and Chen Huan quickly shouted: "The Blood Lord is not the Great Demon!"

    The ten thousand Supremes behind them remembered the Blood Lord''s terrifying power, killing Supremes like chickens, and hesitated no more, shouting in unison.

    "The Blood Lord is not the Great Demon!"

    The sound echoed through the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters.

    Qi Yuan stood in the void: "See, this is what real popular support looks like!

    What bullshit big picture, what world''s beings!

    I am the big picture!"

    His eyes were filled with disdain.

    "The Supremes of the Blood Palace fear me, hate me, even want to kill me, so what? Now they still serve me obediently!"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked like an arrogant, overbearing villain.

    And yet, no one could do anything about him.

    "Pointing at a deer and calling it a horse, how interesting." Qi Yuan raised his hand, "Shang Yanran is the Great Demon."

    Chen Huan and Yang Hun understood Qi Yuan''s meaning and quickly shouted: "Shang Yanran is the Great Demon!"

    The ten thousand Supremes behind them also shouted in unison: "Shang Yanran is the Great Demon!"

    The sound roared like the sea, shaking the heavens and earth.

    The scene was comical, yet powerful enough to shock the heart.

    "See?" Qi Yuan pointed at the Supremes all around, "This is real popular support!"

    For the first time, a trace of urgency appeared in Shang Yanran''s heart.

    She had played with human nature and traversed many realms, but had never met someone like Qi Yuan.

    Still, she didn''t back down: "Master, when you were the Great Demon, you killed your most beloved Demoness for the world''s beings.

    At the ends of the earth, to contain the demon spawn, you entered the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons alone, feeding yourself to the demons.

    Today, can you not also sacrifice yourself for the world, for the countless beings of the Liufeng Realm?"

    Shang Yanran''s righteous voice was full of incitement, spreading everywhere.

    Qi Yuan''s smile grew wider: "You''re even more disgusting than the Bright Palace, trying to morally bind me?"

    "I know these words are selfish, but for the world, for the big picture, I am willing to be the villain and say them!" Shang Yanran continued.

    Qi Yuan''s face showed even more disgust. It was the first time he had cursed in this world.

    "Damn it, still talking nonsense, I''ll cut you down!"

    "I have no manners, I¡¯m a college student, I don''t talk about the big picture!"

    Qi Yuan shook his hand, and the blood-red sword in Ning Tao''s hand returned to his.

    He held the long sword and slashed at Shang Yanran.

    Now, Qi Yuan had reached the pinnacle of this world.

    With one slash, endless desires erupted.

    Even Shang Yanran''s eyes showed a hint of emotion.

    Because her body came from this world, she could also be affected by inner demons.

    With one slash, Qi Yuan''s usually unstoppable innate divine power was less smooth than before.

    The slash only injured Shang Yanran, not drawing out her inner demon.

    Shang Yanran''s face turned pale, and she cut off an arm to dissolve the innate divine power. She shouted: "Bai Ze, aren''t you going to act? Only by killing the Great Demon can this world truly be at peace!"

    In the stronghold, Bai Ze''s eyes were filled with endless hesitation and struggle.

    Shang Yanran''s voice came again.

    "The Buddha once killed his most beloved Demoness for the world.

    Now, killing the Great Demon, the Master won''t blame you.

    The one before you is not the Master, but the Great Demon!"

    "Killing the Great Demon is also the Master''s last wish!"

    Bai Ze stood still in the stronghold, his heart filled with countless emotions, constantly struggling. The Lotus of No-Mind radiated a terrifying aura.

    Even Qi Yuan sensed a trace of danger.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze fell on the Lotus of No-Mind, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

    ¡¾The Dust-covered Great Sun Golden Lotus, the relic formed after the death of the Great Sun Bright Buddha, can form an immaculate golden body.

    Its power is boundless; once it truly appears, it can burn everything in the world.¡¿

    Seeing the Great Sun Golden Lotus, Qi Yuan suddenly understood.

    His innate divine power was forgetfulness, the Great Forgetfulness Sutra.

    He needed to keep all past events in mind, forget them, then recall them.

    The plot of this world had been recalled in his mind countless times.

    There were many places he didn''t understand or were full of loopholes.

    Back on Jiupan Mountain, he instructed Bai Ze and Shang Yanran to investigate the matters of the Gate of Myriad Differences and listened to their report.

    At that time, he looked at Bai Ze and saw that Bai Ze was a monk.

    He couldn''t help but smile at Bai Ze and Shang Yanran.

    Later, through the Stone of Fate, he confirmed that Shang Yanran was the spirit of the Stone of Fate.

    There was once a great Buddha who tried to convert the Stone of Fate, also known as the Stone of Deception.

    He then confirmed that Shang Yanran was the Demoness and the Stone of Deception.

    And his disciple Bai Ze was the former Buddha, the former Great Demon.

    The source of all demon spawn.

    However, Qi Yuan still had one thing he didn''t understand.

    Why did Shang Yanran do all this?

    Was it just to make the Buddha fall and become the Great Demon?

    If that were the case, she just needed to release the news that Bai Ze was the Great Demon.

    Wouldn''t Bai Ze fall then?

    Now, seeing the Great Sun Golden Lotus, he completely understood.

    Shang Yanran''s goal had always been the Great Sun Golden Lotus.

    But she didn''t dare to push too hard, nor did she dare to face Bai Ze directly.

    Once Bai Ze awakened his memories of being the Great Demon, Bai Ze would become the Great Demon again.

    Then, the dust-covered Great Sun Golden Lotus would burn everything in the world.

    The fallen Bai Ze would, like the former Great Demon, kill the Demoness again.

    The Liufeng Realm would be completely destroyed, and even she, as the Stone of Fate, wouldn''t be spared.

    So, she changed her approach.

    She identified Ning Tao as the Demoness and the Blood Lord as the Great Demon.

    She forced Bai Ze to take action against the Blood Lord and Ning Tao.

 Chapter 136: Flip the Table, If Anyone Has to Die, Itâ€™s You!

    Chapter 136: Flip the Table, If Anyone Has to Die, It¡¯s You!

    Between the world''s beings and his master, Bai Ze would be caught in a dilemma.

    If he killed, it would be a wrongful killing, and his Buddha heart would be tainted.

    If he didn''t kill, he would forget his original intention, and his Buddha heart would be flawed.

    In either case, Shang Yanran would achieve her goal and seize the Great Sun Golden Lotus.

    Qi Yuan understood this, feeling speechless inside.

    The Stone of Fate, always manipulating destiny, had too small a mind.

    If it were him, he''d swallow the Great Sun Golden Lotus without a second thought.

    If one doesn''t dare to swallow the Great Sun Golden Lotus, how could they call themselves the Stone of Fate?

    However, Qi Yuan was also in a dilemma.

    If he let Bai Ze remember he was the Great Demon, the Liufeng Realm would be completely destroyed.

    If he didn''t expose that Shang Yanran was the demoness and the spirit of the Stone of Fate, Shang Yanran would achieve her goal.

    At this moment, Shang Yanran looked at Bai Ze with eyes full of anticipation.

    "Join me, kill the Great Demon, and the world will be at peace; if you don''t..."

    Bai Ze''s clear eyes became cloudy.

    Those were the marks left on his Buddha heart by the Stone of Fate ten thousand years ago.

    He looked at Qi Yuan and at the ten thousand Supremes, his eyes filled with pain: "I..."

    He couldn''t speak.

    One side was his master, the other side was the world''s beings.

    Qi Yuan looked at Bai Ze and shouted loudly: "Bai Ze, let me teach you one last lesson.

    All worldly troubles arise from not forgetting.

    Forget everything, and there will be no troubles."

    Bai Ze''s Buddha heart trembled again.

    The last time?

    Could it be that his master was going to sacrifice himself for the world''s beings like last time?

    Shang Yanran was stunned, then overjoyed.

    Ning Tao''s eyes narrowed, she stared at Qi Yuan blankly, saying nothing.

    But her eyes said it all.

    All the Supremes looked at Qi Yuan in the same way, making Qi Yuan feel a bit puzzled.

    Did everyone think he would sacrifice himself to save the world?

    When did his character become so noble?

    But then he looked at Shang Yanran: "Let me teach you one last lesson as well.

    Manipulating people''s hearts, manipulating fate, has no future. Only by mastering power can you win people''s hearts and control fate."

    For some reason, hearing this, Shang Yanran''s pupils contracted, and fear arose in her heart.

    Does the Blood Lord know something?

    How could he possibly know?

    Qi Yuan shouted: "Shang Yanran, don''t you know who the real demoness is?"

    Fear appeared on Shang Yanran''s face for the first time, and she hurriedly said: "You can''t say it!"

    If it''s revealed, the Buddha will remember everything.

    The Great Sun Golden Lotus will burn everything.

    The Liufeng Realm will be finished, and so will she!

    Qi Yuan ignored her words.

    People''s hearts?

    Schemes?

    Fate?

    Without power, these disgusting things are the only things to play with!

    Ridiculous, just clowns, he''d flip the table!

    Such a big boss had no dignity at all!

    "Shang Yanran, you are the demoness, you are the spirit of the Stone of Fate!"

    "Bai Ze, you are the Buddha, you were the Great Demon!"

    "Everything that happened in the Mirror of Ten Thousand Monsters is your life!"

    Qi Yuan, without hesitation, revealed the truth.

    His voice echoed in the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters, leaving everyone stunned.

    Shang Yanran was terrified: "No, we''ll die, we''ll die, I have to leave here, leave here!"

    She was truly scared!

    The Liufeng Realm would be finished!

    Even the Ten Thousand Monsters Realm connected by the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters would be destroyed.

    The one who always manipulated fate and people''s hearts was now exposed, like a real clown, without any aura of a strong person.

    At this moment, endless emotions spread in Bai Ze''s eyes.

    Countless memories flooded in like a tide.

    The aura of the Lotus of No-Mind became extremely terrifying.

    Shang Yanran tried to escape, but Qi Yuan blocked her with a sword: "Where do you think you''re going? Go back to Gotham City, Batman is waiting to beat you up!"

    "Madman, you''re a complete madman!" Shang Yanran raged.

    She wanted to escape, but couldn''t leave.

    Chaotic energy kept spreading from Bai Ze''s body.

    Various terrifying emotions accumulated on the Lotus of No-Mind.

    Shang Yanran looked at the Lotus of No-Mind, her eyes filled with despair: "It''s over, we''re all finished, the Liufeng Realm is truly finished!"

    Shang Yanran was frantic, completely losing her previous confidence.

    On the field, the ten thousand Supremes looked at Bai Ze, their hearts filled with fear and apprehension.

    They had a premonition that something terrible was about to happen!

    "Hahaha, Blood Lord, you''re the real sinner. You made Bai Ze remember the past, the Great Sun Golden Lotus is the relic of the Great Sun Bright Buddha, and when covered in dust, it will burn everything in the world!

    Hahaha, the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences is closed, no one can leave, hahaha, we''re all going to die!" Shang Yanran glared viciously at Qi Yuan.

    It was all his fault.

    The sinner of the world.

    At this moment, Bai Ze opened his eyes, and they were blood-red.

    Everyone who saw Bai Ze felt intense fear.

    Bai Ze''s eyes fell on Shang Yanran.

    There was pain, helplessness, but more chaos in his eyes.

    He remembered everything from the past.

    He would lose control and become the true Great Demon.

    The dust-covered Great Sun Golden Lotus also began to burn everything in the world.

    "Master..." A trace of clarity appeared in Bai Ze''s eyes, and he sighed deeply.

    It was unclear whether he hated Qi Yuan for revealing everything or was thinking of something else.

    "Haha, in another hundred breaths, this world will be completely destroyed.

    Once the Great Sun Golden Lotus starts burning, it can''t be stopped." Shang Yanran was completely insane, "Blood Lord, haha, in this battle, there are no winners, only losers!"

    Everyone''s hearts were heavy and fearful.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan was overly calm.

    "Who said there are no winners?"

    "In this game, if I kill you, I win!"

    Qi Yuan said, looking at Bai Ze, who was about to fall into madness: "Bai Ze, do you remember what I just taught you?

    Only by forgetting can there be no troubles in the world."

    A trace of clarity remained in Bai Ze''s chaotic eyes: "Master, I am useless, I cannot forget.

    I cannot forget those I slaughtered.

    He looked at the Great Sun Golden Lotus and suddenly opened his mouth.

    The burning Great Sun Golden Lotus entered Qi Yuan''s stomach.

    Hot, scorching, burning everything...

    But Qi Yuan showed no fear.

    The endless terrifying aura seemed to tear him apart.

    Now, he felt incredibly strong, yet as if he could explode at any moment.

    The canary held Qi Yuan tightly, as quiet as a little bird, saying nothing.

    With countless people watching, she didn''t feel shy, but cherished this moment.

    Qi Yuan held the blood-red sword and suddenly looked at the ten thousand Supremes behind him.

    "The world''s inner demons are all illusions."

    "Forget the inner demons, and they will not exist!"

    With the Great Sun Golden Lotus''s power, Qi Yuan''s voice spread through the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters and the entire Liufeng Realm.

    "All demons in the world, obey my command and forge this sword together!"

    Qi Yuan, holding the canary with his left hand, raised the blood-red sword with his right, pointing it towards the sky.

    This sword was forged from all the sources of sin in the world.

    This sword was also a weapon Qi Yuan formed by stripping the essence of the Great Demon he experienced.

    This sword, in a certain sense, was the source of sin in this world.

    This sword was also engraved by the Lord of the Void Realm''s inner demon.

    Qi Yuan''s move aimed to engrave all the inner demons in this world onto this sword!

    Seeing this, Bai Ze smiled calmly: "I will help you, master!"

    Countless Buddha lights enveloped the blood-red sword.

    In the sky of the Liufeng Realm, a giant blood-red sword appeared.

    Arrogance, greed, sloth...

    Endless emotions spread on the blood-red sword.

    The grand Buddha voice echoed throughout the Liufeng Realm.

    In No-Return City, Yuan Qi looked up at the giant sword in the sky, smiling but feeling incredibly lonely: "Guardian..."

    In the Ten Thousand Eight Hundred Cities, all the cultivators looked up at the sky, eyes filled with confusion or relief.

    In the streets and alleys, countless people looked at the blood-red sword, bewildered, bowing their heads.

    Countless inner demons flew to the sky, merging into the blood-red sword.

    Qi Yuan''s body became hotter and hotter, white mist constantly rising.

    The blood-red sword, absorbing endless inner demons, became more demonic, like an unparalleled evil sword!

    One strike from this sword could shock the world.

    Bai Ze''s face showed a look of relief. He looked at Qi Yuan, eyes filled with admiration.

    If this matter was resolved, he would stay in this world for lifetimes, never returning to the Buddha Kingdom.

    But he didn''t know how his master would deal with the Great Sun Golden Lotus.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan endured the burning pain inside his body. He glanced at the canary, feeling a bit reluctant: "I have to go..."

    The canary held him tightly, whispering: "I''m... asleep."

    Qi Yuan looked at the canary''s closed eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly, as if she was really asleep.

    Seeing this, he finally said: "This time, I won''t search for you at the end of time."

    There was another sentence Qi Yuan didn''t say.

    But... you might have a bad memory and sometimes forget me.

    The canary, seemingly in sleep, smiled, a shallow dimple appearing under the "demon" character on her face.

    Qi Yuan held the canary, looked at everyone, including the Thirteen Northern Demons who entered the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters and woke him up.

    Everyone also looked at the figure like a blood sun, eyes filled with complex emotions.

    Ling Yayi forced a smile: "If there is reincarnation, master, remember my name, Ling Yayi."

    He didn''t know what the Blood Lord would do.

    But he knew the ending would be a farewell.

    He Wu looked desolate, saying nothing.

    Yang Hun Supreme was even more exaggerated, tears in his eyes: "Blood Lord... Wuwuwu..."

    A key appeared in Qi Yuan''s hand.

    It was the key he obtained as a reward for guarding No-Return City.

    ¡¾Please name the key.¡¿

    Qi Yuan looked at the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences, his eyes filled with determination.

    "The Key of Ten Thousand Differences!"

    Yes, he named this key the Key of Ten Thousand Differences.

    He looked at the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences, smiling: "Now, you are the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences!"

    Everyone who saw the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences could see it differently.

    It could be the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons or the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters.

    Now, it was the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences.

    With Qi Yuan''s words.

    In the sky, a door appeared before him.

    The door had various strange symbols on it, and one symbol, if anyone saw it, they wouldn''t remember it existed.

    Qi Yuan held the canary, gripping the sword, and flew towards the door.

    The Gate of Ten Thousand Differences!

    He put the key into the lock.

    Click.

    The door opened.

    A desolate, deep, dark aura swept in.

    Qi Yuan saw nothing but held the canary tightly, plunging into the darkness.

    The Gate of Ten Thousand Differences closed instantly.

    The ten thousand Supremes, like ten thousand soldiers sending off the Dragon King in a city, shouted in unison: "Farewell, Blood Lord!"

    These voices, Qi Yuan didn''t hear. Now, he had left the Liufeng Realm.

    "Hold on to me!"

    Qi Yuan shouted, holding the canary with one hand, gripping the sword with the other.

    He felt like he was falling into an endless deep sea.

    His body, his soul, were subjected to endless rejection.

    It felt like something was pressing against him.

    "I build my foundation with the Heavenly Dao!"

    He held the sword, shouting.

    The chaos ahead finally split open, revealing endless stars to Qi Yuan.

    Countless stars, vast and beautiful.

    The entire Milky Way.

    He looked over.

    ¡¾This is a star, yet to be named.¡¿

    This was a real star, not a projection! Qi Yuan was excited.

    "Isn''t this... the ''universe'' where the Canglan Realm is located?"

    The Great Sun Golden Lotus was incredibly hot, seeming to burn everything.

    But Qi Yuan''s heart was filled with excitement.

    "Sure enough, extorting the Heavenly Dao still had some use!"

 Chapter 137: Condensing a Mundaneâ€ Golden Core

    Chapter 137: Condensing a ¡°Mundane¡± Golden Core

    The starry sky was resplendent, the Milky Way stretching across the heavens.

    The universe was vast and profound, desolate yet expansive.

    Countless stars spanned endlessly as far as the eye could see.

    A star burned with infinite fire, radiating endless heat, seemingly so close to Qi Yuan that he could reach out and touch it.

    The heat was scorching, causing fine beads of sweat to form on Ning Tao''s delicate face. Her black dress clung tightly to her petite body, accentuating her graceful figure. Even as a Great Supreme, she felt the heat acutely.

    She gazed at this universe with a look of wonder and a hint of fear for the unknown.

    Stars were often associated with legendary deities.

    And this universe contained so many stars...

    Qi Yuan held Ning Tao close. His body was even hotter than hers, and his voice trembled: "This is a brand-new universe..."

    If divided by the concept of the universe, Canglan Realm, Wangyue Continent, and Liufeng Realm were all in the same universe.

    Above the sky, there was the same array of stars, the same divine projections, or reflections.

    Of course, the situation in Liufeng Realm might be a bit special.

    Qi Yuan had passed through the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences and arrived in a brand-new universe.

    This universe was utterly silent.

    Qi Yuan didn''t sense any life forms.

    Or perhaps, there were life forms, but he couldn''t sense them.

    Anyway, the sun, moon, and stars here were real celestial bodies.

    Not divine projections, not false images.

    Qi Yuan held Ning Tao. The Great Sun Golden Lotus within him burned everything, causing his consciousness to start blurring.

    Leaving Liufeng Realm, he seemed to have left the game and didn''t need to return to Canglan Realm immediately.

    However, his current physical condition needed resolution.

    The Great Sun Golden Lotus continued to burn.

    He looked at Ning Tao, his expression fluctuating slightly: "I have to go."

    Otherwise, the Great Sun Golden Lotus would harm Ning Tao.

    Ning Tao stood in the vast void, looking at the familiar figure close to her. Her eyes were firm, tightly clutching Qi Yuan''s sleeve. Her long, slender legs wrapped around his waist, as if afraid he would suddenly disappear like before.

    Seeing the timid Ning Tao, Qi Yuan''s eyes squeezed out a smile: "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine."

    Qi Yuan said, looking at the star close by that didn''t seem too large.

    He said: "See that little sun over there? It''s going to become my golden core soon."

    Ning Tao''s eyes flashed with confusion.

    She didn''t understand but listened quietly.

    "I need to go there and swallow it." Determination appeared in Qi Yuan''s eyes.

    "Don''t worry about me. I''ll build my foundation on the Heavenly Dao and swallow a star!

    I''ve heard of a mighty being who swallowed a whole universe.

    Swallowing a star is nothing."

    "Blood Lord... you better not lie to me!" Tears welled up in Ning Tao''s eyes.

    She was scared Qi Yuan was lying to her.

    Qi Yuan intended to leave her here alone to face the burning Great Sun Golden Lotus.

    "When have I ever lied to you?" Qi Yuan''s thoughts were complicated as he held Ning Tao''s soft hand, his expression gentle.

    Their bond was very deep.

    At this moment, the burning of the Great Sun Golden Lotus became even more terrifying, instantly burning Ning Tao''s clothes to ashes. She seemed to intentionally not resist the burning.

    Qi Yuan''s hand rested on Ning Tao''s smooth back, her fair body fully visible to him.

    Her petite body moved slightly, the small curves gently brushing against his arm. Qi Yuan suppressed his desire.

    Ning Tao leaned close to Qi Yuan''s ear, her voice soft but firm: "Blood Lord, you''ve seen my body, no matter how ugly I am, you can''t despise me!

    If you leave without saying goodbye, I will lock you by my side for all eternity!"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan couldn''t distinguish if the enchanting girl in his arms was the canary or Ning Tao.

    He only knew her eyes were especially captivating.

    "I won''t." Qi Yuan looked at the girl, his gaze firm, though his voice held a trace of concern, "It''s just... after I refine the star into a golden core, I might leave here, and only the golden core will remain.

    If I condense the golden core, don''t keep staring at it, you might forget things."

    A part of him would remain here.

    Ning Tao seemed to understand a bit, her moist lips moving close to Qi Yuan. She bit lightly and smiled proudly: "I''ve left a mark, my husband, you are mine now."

    But then her smile faded, replaced by a timid look: "Blood Lord, bite me too, I want to be yours!"

    Ning Tao was bold and enchanting, the canary shy and proud.

    Qi Yuan lowered his head, a faint fragrance wafting over. He said: "Our combined mental age isn''t even as big as someone else''s shoe size.

    Little Ning Tao, I have to go."

    This simplicity, purity, and innocence dispelled Qi Yuan''s melancholy.

    Ning Tao held Qi Yuan''s head, her snowy face flushed. Her black dress reappeared, and her long, white legs were once again wrapped in black stockings.

    At their level, condensing clothes from cosmic dust was simple, or they could use their power to do it.

    She looked at Qi Yuan, her voice slightly domineering: "You know."

    Qi Yuan nodded, looking deeply at Ning Tao, then gazed at the countless stars in the vast universe.

    Finally, he fixed his gaze on the nearest and smallest sun.

    Without hesitation, he charged towards it.

    Ning Tao watched from afar, through the vast universe.

    Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

    After an unknown period, a bright light flashed from the star.

    The light then dimmed again.

    At this moment, countless thoughts flashed through Qi Yuan''s mind.

    He had already entered the star.

    Endless pressure and high temperatures squeezed and burned his body.

    Inside, the Great Sun Golden Lotus also burned everything.

    The two burning forces reached a delicate balance.

    The pain Qi Yuan endured far surpassed anything before.

    Especially the Great Sun Golden Lotus, whose terrifying burning was unbearable.

    Death Ray!

    The great skill kept activating, Qi Yuan''s power kept rising.

    Fighting against the Great Sun Golden Lotus.

    The Great Sun Golden Lotus was the relic left by the Great Sun Bright Buddha, incredibly terrifying.

    Covered in dust, it sought to burn everything in the world.

    "Forget!"

    The supreme innate divine power, the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, kept engraving on the star.

    The star, which seemed "calm" before, exploded violently.

    The shattered flawless golden body floated above the star.

    "In the world, only with the Heavenly Dao can a world be complete!

    You lack the Heavenly Dao, a perfect match for me!"

    "You are a chocolate ball!"

    "You are an egg!"

    "You are a stone!"

    "You are my golden core!"

    Qi Yuan continually engraved.

    The potential of the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra far exceeded that of the Void Realm Lord''s Heart Demon Draw.

    This powerful innate divine power kept engraving, with no Heavenly Dao or other beings to stop Qi Yuan.

    As long as Qi Yuan''s appetite was big enough, he could swallow the star.

    The star slowly succumbed.

    The Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra continually engraved, turning the star into Qi Yuan''s form.

    Qi Yuan had no body, his flawless golden body turned into solid power, wrapping the star shallowly.

    Of course, wrapping was an exaggeration, more like scattered bits.

    Too big!

    The star was too big!

    Not cute at all!

    The Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra kept engraving, with no obstruction.

    The Great Sun''s unfulfilled "White Day Fantasy Technique" was realized by Qi Yuan now.

    This universe had more than one star!

    Countless stars and planets in an endless galaxy.

    No Heavenly Dao, no other beings.

    This universe was completely undeveloped.

    Qi Yuan, eating from one bowl, thought about the pot.

    "Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, engrave!"

    "Golden core... begins!"

    Qi Yuan shouted.

    The Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra finally engraved on the star.

    The star finally took Qi Yuan''s form.

    "Condense!"

    A terrifying aura swept through, the star suddenly burst into a bright light, forming a golden core, and then the light faded, the star returning to its original form.

    No one who came to this world would take this star for anything but an ordinary star, not a cultivator''s golden core.

    The aura of forgetfulness spread over the star golden core, suspended in the vast universe.

    Swallow a golden core, and today you know who you are!

    Qi Yuan finally formed a golden core, becoming a Golden Core Master!

    In the Divine Light Sect, besides a few peak lords, this was an incredibly rare existence!

    Qi Yuan''s consciousness slowly returned.

    He looked at the black figure in the universe, his eyes showing reluctance.

    The star''s light turned into a Milky Way, beautiful and like auspicious clouds.

    The Milky Way crossed the endless universe, reaching Ning Tao.

    As a Great Supreme, Ning Tao saw this, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

    The terrifying aura ahead surpassed everything.

    Even the Supreme Master, even the White Emperor, were like children before this terrifying aura.

    "Blood Lord..." Ning Tao''s lips trembled.

    She looked through the Milky Way, not seeing the familiar figure.

    The star emitted its final voice.

    "It''s here, so am I."

    The white Milky Way swept over, and Ning Tao''s body was baptized.

    Qi Yuan''s golden core had boundless power.

    The star was him, the Heavenly Dao was also him.

    This golden core was like a god, even more terrifying.

    After all, how could an ordinary Yin God contend with a star?

    Ning Tao stepped onto the starlit Milky Way, looking up at the seemingly close star, a smile on her lips: "This is much better than the ends of the earth."

    In the lonely universe, the girl was accompanied by the star.

    ...

    Canglan Realm.

    "Pain!"

    "So much pain!"

    "So swollen?"

    In the wooden house, Qi Yuan clutched his stomach in pain.

    "Am I pregnant?"

    He looked at his stomach, which appeared normal.

    But he felt both swollen and empty, extremely conflicted.

    He glanced at the wooden cat puppet on his bedside.

    His eyes showed helplessness.

    "I have too little spiritual power now. When I have enough, I wonder if I can summon the golden core''s projection to see... her."

    The time difference in that universe was huge.

    Due to the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, would the canary''s memory remain before he left?

    Qi Yuan couldn''t be sure.

    "Where''s my golden core?"

    Qi Yuan looked inside his dantian, seeing nothing.

    "Is my golden core still... in that universe?"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan sensed something and stepped out of his wooden house.

    He looked up at the starry sky. In the daytime, stars were faintly visible, countless stars everywhere.

    Qi Yuan immediately saw, next to the blazing sun, a small sun.

    The small sun wasn''t as bright as the main sun but still shone.

    He looked at the sun in the sky.

    ¡¾The projection of the star golden core is there, and a woman is always with you.

    Where the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra is, her memory might remain before you left, or she might comprehend something powerful.¡¿

 Chapter 138: Itâ€™s Not the Sun, Itâ€™s My Golden Core

    Chapter 138: It¡¯s Not the Sun, It¡¯s My Golden Core

    At this moment, in Canglan Realm.

    Countless eyes were looking up at the sky.

    Next to the vast sun, there appeared... a small sun.

    Compared to the vast sun, the small sun seemed insignificant.

    However, everyone who saw that small sun had a look of shock deep in their eyes.

    "There is an additional sun in the sky!"

    "What is going on? What kind of phenomenon is this?"

    "This is not a phenomenon; it''s real!"

    In the northern ice plains, a sleeping ice dragon opened its eyes, its blue pupils glancing at the new sun in the sky: "Have I slept too long, causing hallucinations?"

    He turned over and continued to sleep.

    In the Eastern Lands, a woman bathed in light looked up at the sky, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Who is reflecting across the heavens..."

    Whenever a star appeared, it signified a new supreme being.

    In the Central Heavenly Region, a man in a white robe was fishing. Suddenly, his hand shook, and the fishing rod broke.

    He looked at the new sun, his face filled with deep concern.

    "The sky cannot have two suns. Is there an immortal god challenging that position?"

    "Times are troubled, I hope this doesn''t spread here. We don''t have much time left; we should relocate... if we delay, we might get caught in the crossfire!"

    Countless eyes watched the new sun in the sky with reverence and awe.

    At this moment, in Shen Guang Sect.

    The peak masters gathered together, with True Lord Withered Wood among them.

    Everyone looked at the new sun in the sky.

    "Why is there suddenly another sun?"

    "It''s baffling."

    "There must be great terror within!"

    "We should not look at this sun too much. Prolonged gazing might affect our memory."

    "Really, it can do that?"

    In Shen Guang Sect, the cultivators were fervently discussing the new sun, their discussions heated.

    At this moment, the voice of the sect master, True Lord Withered Wood, rang out: "What use is there in discussing the new sun? Will it affect your cultivation? Will it help you break through?

    I have summoned you to discuss the Blood War of a Hundred Nations and the matter of the Light Palace."

    The peak masters fell silent, ceasing their discussion of the new sun.

    Even if there was another sun in the sky, they still had to eat.

    Such matters were not for low-level cultivators to consider.

    Their focus should be on matters directly affecting them.

    "Kang Fulou has reached the Golden Core stage, and Qi Yuan is the disciple of the Seven Colors Peak master. We cannot hand these two over to the Light Palace!"

    "Indeed, we cannot!"

    "Hmph, the Light Palace is overbearing, initiating the Blood War of a Hundred Nations. Do they have any decency left?"

    "Alas, without high-level cultivators to stand up for the Hundred Nations, the outcome is already decided!"

    The people present were filled with despondency.

    Weakness is a crime.

    The Light Palace was a force that suppressed the Hundred Nations.

    A hundred nations, with thousands of sects, could not contend.

    They were at the mercy of the Light Palace, reduced to pawns in the Blood War of a Hundred Nations.

    The Shang Kingdom was particularly unfortunate, becoming part of the demonic faction in the Blood War of a Hundred Nations!Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

    Any cultivator encountering the demonic faction could use any means necessary to kill them.

    Neighboring forces had likely begun preparing to invade Shang, plundering its resources.

    This was a great disaster for Shang.

    All forces within Shang could not avoid this.

    Now, Shang was in turmoil, with many scattered cultivators preparing to leave the war-torn land.

    "The Hundred Nations can''t produce a single Purple Mansion powerhouse. How can we contend with the Light Palace?

    Kang Fulou and Qi Yuan are talented, but they need time to grow. Even if Kang Fulou reached the Nascent Soul stage and Qi Yuan the Golden Core stage, it would be useless," an elder said, filled with helplessness.

    The Hundred Nations were too weak, unable to produce a single Purple Mansion powerhouse.

    Even if they had one, it wouldn''t change the outcome.

    The Light Palace had dozens of Purple Mansion powerhouses.

    It was undoubtedly the overlord of the Eastern Lands, Cuoyun Continent.

    Of course, these elders didn''t know that the Light Palace also had the partially complete Yin God artifact, the Imperial Dragon Crown.

    Otherwise, they would be even more desperate.

    Even a partially complete Yin God artifact had the power to easily wipe out the entire Shang in the Hundred Nations.

    This was power even a Purple Mansion powerhouse couldn''t resist.

    "I got news from Lingtian Pavilion that a Blood Sword God from the Flower Association is from the Hundred Nations.

    The Light Palace humiliated the Blood Sword God, forcing his daughter to live in a doghouse. The two seem to have had a falling out. Hopefully, this can delay the Light Palace''s offensive."

    "The Light Palace is despicable, claiming to be the leader of the righteous path in Cuoyun Continent, yet acting so dishonorably!

    As the saying goes, misfortune should not involve one''s family. Forcing a young girl to live in a doghouse is truly despicable!"

    "Alas, we know they are despicable, but what can we do?"

    "The Blood Sword God''s power is probably only at the late Nascent Soul stage, not a match for the Light Palace."

    The group discussed with worry, their faces clouded with gloom.

    Against the Light Palace, they were too weak.

    At this moment, on Seven Colors Peak.

    Qi Yuan looked at himself in the mirror, feeling a bit melancholic.

    "Bai Ze, Foolish Daoist, Nangong Big Dog, Chen Huan, Zhang Sheng..."

    He recalled the storylines from the game world of Liufeng Realm, remembering the names he needed to keep.

    Other unnecessary memories were temporarily forgotten using the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra.

    "I''ve finally become a Golden Core Master."

    "This time... I thought my mouth had awakened a special ability, but it turns out... it''s my eyebrows."

    After entering the Qi Refining stage, his eyes could see hidden information.

    After achieving Heavenly Dao Foundation, his ears could hear strange sounds.

    Upon forming a Golden Core, he gained a new ability: his eyebrows could predict good or bad fortune.

    If his left eyebrow twitched, it meant something good.

    She seemed to be comforting Qi Yuan.

    Xiao Jia''s fragrance was especially soothing, like a gentle evening breeze, not too strong or weak, making one feel at ease and ready to dream.

    Ning Tao''s scent varied, sometimes like a clear mountain orchid, other times like a seductive poppy, evoking deep desires and sins.

    "Wangyue Continent... Moon God Yuan Jun..."

    "When the Great Sun... who did it meet?"

    "Can I visit Wangyue Continent again?"

    Perhaps there, he would find answers.

    ...

    Casting aside his worries, Qi Yuan re-entered the Divine Flower Association''s jade slip.

    The Hundred Days to Overthrow the Light Palace plan was ongoing.

    He needed to expedite it.

    Most importantly, he needed new techniques.

    Having reached the Golden Core stage, the "Qi Yuan Sutra" had stagnated.

    He needed the Light Palace''s White Moonlight to send him techniques.

    Entering the forum, Qi Yuan checked the post he made with his alt account.

    There were thousands of replies.

    Glancing through, he saw it was mostly Divine Flower Association members condemning the Light Palace.

    "They''re learning the shock tactic, but their insults are too restrained.

    This forum won''t censor words; they can let loose!"

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    Of course, he was just venting. He wasn''t good at cursing.

    At most, he''d use asterisks to intimidate the opponent.

    Qi Yuan left the forum and returned to the group chat.

    "Dear seniors, I have a question. If my Golden Core left my body, how can I summon it back?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    His Golden Core was in another universe, right?

    The small sun in the sky was just a projection of his Golden Core.

    Summoning it to his dantian was impossible.

    His small stomach couldn''t handle a star Golden Core.

    But moving the Golden Core to this universe would make using its power more convenient.

    Now, summoning it across the universe was too cumbersome.

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, you formed a Golden Core?" Rogue Immortal always claimed to be in seclusion but kept up with group messages.

    "Just barely." Qi Yuan boasted, "This time, I led ten thousand Purple Mansions, sweeping through ten thousand Supremes in the Demon Realm, and barely killed the big boss, forming a... very strong Golden Core."

    Worried his friends wouldn''t understand, Qi Yuan used "Purple Mansion" instead of "Supreme."

    "Awesome." Rogue Immortal was speechless, imitating Qi Yuan''s previous style.

    Ten thousand Purple Mansions?

    Nonsense.

    If he had ten thousand Purple Mansions, why would he secretly register an alt to defame the Light Palace?

    He''d just sweep through it!

    Rogue Immortal felt that Origin Heavenly Sovereign''s condition was worsening.

    "You''re quick to form a Golden Core, truly a peerless talent!" Great Sun Flame Emperor praised, with a hint of flattery.

    Ice Mountain Tyrant appeared in the group chat after a while, responding seriously: "Losing a Golden Core... is indeed tricky. Where did it go?"

    "Not in Canglan Realm." Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    The group fell silent.

    Rogue Immortal felt Origin Heavenly Sovereign was really blowing things out of proportion.

    "I can''t help with that." Ice Mountain Tyrant admitted, then asked, "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, have you visited other worlds too?"

    "Yes." Qi Yuan nodded.

    Wangyue Continent, Liufeng Realm, and that universe, he''d been to them all.

    "If I recall correctly, the Eastern Lands Genius List has been moved up.

    Origin Heavenly Sovereign, if you participate, you should aim for a good ranking.

    The Eastern Lands discovered a new world entrance. The top thirty on the Genius List will have a chance to enter that world." Ice Mountain Tyrant shared important information.

    Rogue Immortal was excited: "Such a great opportunity, a new world with infinite resources!"

    "Rogue, you shouldn''t think about it. Focus on entering the Genius List first.

    The top thirty is for talents like Origin Heavenly Sovereign with Heavenly Dao Foundation." Ice Mountain Tyrant remarked bluntly.

    "Woo." Rogue Immortal felt the weak had no voice.

    At that moment, Great Sun Flame Emperor said: "Recently, the Light Palace invited the Blood Sword God to meet in Chen Country. The Nascent Soul late-stage expert who forced the Blood Sword God''s daughter to live in a doghouse will apologize in person."

    Qi Yuan was stunned: "Apologize?"

    Wasn''t that his fabrication?

    Why were they apologizing?

    Did they take the hint?

    "Perhaps it''s a genuine apology or an attempt to force you to drop the matter. Origin Heavenly Sovereign, be cautious, don''t fall for the Light Palace''s tricks." Great Sun Flame Emperor warned.

    "Hmph, I now have an invincible Golden Core. What is there to fear?" With the star Golden Core, Qi Yuan''s confidence soared.

    Even without the Golden Core''s power, he wasn''t afraid of the Light Palace''s late-stage Nascent Soul experts.

    At the late Foundation Establishment stage, he could already crush the Light Palace''s Nascent Soul experts.

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, don''t be reckless. Think it through." When it came to life and death matters, Rogue Immortal was cautious and genuinely concerned for Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan felt touched: "Don''t worry, the ''Hundred Days to Overthrow the Light Palace'' plan is proceeding smoothly. You can borrow money freely!"

    Qi Yuan thought about whether to take advantage of the Light Palace''s apology to borrow more loans.

    "Unfortunately, the Light Palace won''t lend me more. They''re too stingy!" Ice Mountain Tyrant complained.

    "Ice Mountain Tyrant, how much did you borrow?" Great Sun Flame Emperor asked.

    "Not much, just four million spirit stones."

    "..."

    "..."

    "... not much..."

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    Borrowing money and not repaying was indeed a great way to earn!

    If he overthrew the Light Palace, Ice Mountain Tyrant would make a net profit of four million spirit stones without doing anything.

    It was terrifying!

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, remember to update us on the progress of overthrowing the Light Palace. I can''t spend money smoothly until I have it all!" Ice Mountain Tyrant said.

    "Rest assured!" Qi Yuan replied confidently.

    He decided to meet the late Nascent Soul expert from the Light Palace as the Blood Sword God.

    Now that he had formed a Golden Core, it was time to... kill!

    In the game, he fought fiercely and formed a Golden Core. In reality, he couldn''t always be timid, right?

    The star Golden Core''s fame should start with overthrowing the Light Palace!

 Chapter 139: How is an Original Divine Ability Not a Divine Ability?

    Chapter 139: How is an Original Divine Ability Not a Divine Ability?

    Chen Country.

    Lingfeng Ferry.

    This used to be a busy ferry crossing with boats coming and going. Over time, strange occurrences began happening here. Passersby would be mysteriously blown away by the wind, leading to the ferry''s abandonment. Now, it was bustling again.

    The Light Palace had chosen Lingfeng Ferry to meet the Blood-Clad Sword God. A grand treasure ship was docked at the ferry, with three Nascent Soul enforcers from the Light Palace gathered there.

    Two were at the late Nascent Soul stage and one at the mid Nascent Soul stage, a strength comparable to several major sects in Chen Country.

    Besides the three Nascent Soul enforcers from the Light Palace, many Nascent Soul experts from Chen Country were also present on the treasure ship.

    "The so-called Blood-Clad Sword God is likely Marquis of the Earth Sword. I thought he was dead, but it seems he is alive and has joined the Divine Flower Association, causing trouble for several True Lords," said Duke Dongchang, his face full of guilt.

    True Lord Wukong glanced at Duke Dongchang, his voice buzzing: "This matter is not your fault. It is that Blood-Clad Sword God stirring up trouble!"

    Back then, True Lord Wukong came to Chen Country for leisure and took a liking to Marquis of the Earth Sword''s mansion. Beneath the mansion was a spiritual eye containing the Star Essence, a treasure that absorbs the essence of heaven and earth, and possesses the energy of golden evil spirits, making it a perfect carrier for a mid-grade Golden Core.

    True Lord Wukong merely expressed his desire for the mansion. Duke Dongchang then forcibly evicted everyone from the Marquis of the Earth Sword''s mansion. When the family resisted, True Lord Wukong impatiently shouted, "Send them to the doghouse!"

    The marquis''s 90-year-old daughter was forced to live in the doghouse. Later, Duke Dongchang secretly slaughtered the entire family of the Marquis of the Earth Sword to eliminate future troubles.

    Now, Duke Dongchang was here to curry favor with the Light Palace. It seemed the Marquis of the Earth Sword had taken the name Blood-Clad Sword God and improved his cultivation, daring to cause such a stir.

    "The Marquis of the Earth Sword and his family''s fate is deserved. They offended the True Lord," Duke Dongchang said righteously. "When that Blood-Clad Sword God arrives, I will persuade him to return to the right path and apologize to the Light Palace."

    These words were just for show. Duke Dongchang wished for a conflict between the Blood-Clad Sword God and the Light Palace to use the Light Palace''s hand to eliminate the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    "Apologize? Hmph!" True Lord Wukong was furious. This incident had caused a stir even in Cuoyun Continent. He had been forced to leave his secluded cultivation to come to this desolate place to apologize, which filled him with anger. Apologize? The Blood-Clad Sword God would dare to accept?

    "This Blood-Clad Sword God is likely a coward, only daring to provoke in the dark. I doubt he will show up here," said a Nascent Soul cultivator.

    Many of Chen Country''s cultivators sided with the Light Palace, angry and disgusted with the Blood-Clad Sword God, wishing to eliminate him quickly to secure their standing in the Light Palace.

    "There''s no need for the True Lords of the Light Palace to act. If he shows up, we''ll capture him and make him apologize to the True Lords of the Light Palace!"

    Hearing this, True Lord Wukong felt somewhat appeased, his dissatisfaction with being in this desolate place lessening.

    Outside the treasure ship, on a small boat stood a young girl in green, accompanied by an old woman.

    The old woman looked at the grand treasure ship and said softly, "The Light Palace is here. Miss Ya, would you like to go aboard?"

    The old woman was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and the young girl in green beside her was at the Golden Core stage, yet the old woman showed great respect to her.

    The young girl, Jiang Ya, was ranked fifteenth on the Eastern Lands Genius List. Being ranked fifteenth in the Eastern Lands, where even the Hundred Nations couldn''t produce a single genius on the list, was a significant achievement. If not for her beauty, she would undoubtedly become a Purple Mansion powerhouse in the future. Such talent was enough to command respect in the Eastern Lands.

    However, Jiang Ya''s most terrifying attribute wasn''t her cultivation talent but her profound understanding and ability to annotate and modify various cultivation techniques. Because of this, she was accepted as a disciple by the master of the Ascension Pavilion, a highly sought-after honor among the top three on the Eastern Lands Genius List.

    The master of the Ascension Pavilion, Old Man Wutian, was a Purple Mansion powerhouse closest to the legendary Yin God realm in the Eastern Lands. The Yin God realm was said to touch upon the domain of immortals and gods. If Old Man Wutian reached the Yin God realm, Jiang Ya''s status would far surpass that of the top three on the Genius List.

    "No, thank you," Jiang Ya shook her head. "I am here because there might be a conflict. Observing the battles of Nascent Soul cultivators would be beneficial for my cultivation. I detest the Light Palace as much as Ling Su does, so why would I get involved with them?"

    The Ascension Pavilion collected cultivation techniques from all over the world. Jiang Ya was interested in any technique, and observing the battles of Nascent Soul cultivators would be highly beneficial to her. Her path was to modify and create cultivation techniques, and she pursued this path with unwavering dedication. Once she reached the Nascent Soul stage, she would awaken a divine ability related to this path. Upon reaching the Purple Mansion stage, she would comprehend the essence of spiritual energy and use it to grasp her original divine ability.

    Jiang Ya suddenly thought of something and said, "If the Blood-Clad Sword God is weak and quickly defeated, Elder Shi, could you fight the Light Palace cultivators? I want to see their techniques."

    The old woman nodded, "As you wish, Miss Ya."

    As night fell, a small boat floated on the water. Jiang Ya stood at the front of the boat, her consciousness immersed in a jade slip. Every moment, she practiced her path.

    The vast sea and moonlight reflected on the water.

    Suddenly, Jiang Ya opened her eyes. The old woman also looked up, a serious expression in her eyes.

    They saw a man in a blood-colored robe walking on the water, with the full moon hanging high in the sky. The cold moonlight shone on him, reflecting a red light.

    "What a strong smell of blood!"

    "How many people has he killed?"

    "The Blood-Clad Sword God?"

    On the treasure ship, the gazes of over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators fell on the blood-robed figure on the water. Their eyes were filled with uncertainty and a hint of fear.

    The three Nascent Soul enforcers from the Light Palace saw the blood-colored robe and were initially stunned. Then, True Lord Wukong shouted, "With such blood energy, how many souls have you killed? Such a great devil, if I had known earlier, I would have killed you on the spot. How could you be allowed to wreak havoc in the world?"

    Initially, the three Nascent Soul enforcers from the Light Palace planned to go through the formalities of apologizing before finding trouble with the Blood-Clad Sword God. But seeing him, they felt there was no need for formalities. The overwhelming blood energy indicated countless killings. This wasn''t a Sword God but a great devil. Such a devil should be killed immediately.

    Under the full moon, the blood-robed figure emitted a demonic light. His voice was hoarse and cold.

    Qi Yuan had entered the role, playing his alter ego.

    "My daughter was innocent, sharp-tongued, and exceptionally smart. I wanted to give her the stars and the moon. But you forced her to live in a doghouse. This matter is far from over!"

    Hearing this, Duke Dongchang was surprised.

    Innocent? Sharp-tongued? Marquis of the Earth Sword, your 90-year-old daughter barely has any teeth left, right?

    But the blood-clad figure''s face seemed obscured by a layer of blood mist, making it impossible to see his features clearly.

    "Such a devil should have his entire family sent to hell!" Duke Dongchang seized the moment to speak.

    Qi Yuan looked puzzled, "Weren''t you here to apologize? Is this your attitude?"

    In a breath, True Lord Wukong turned into a pool of blood.

    Qi Yuan looked at the blood pool, boasting, "Isn''t my divine ability stronger than yours?"

    Unfortunately, True Lord Wukong was dead and couldn''t answer.

    The Nascent Soul cultivators on the treasure ship trembled.

    Original... Divine Ability!

    The Blood-Clad Sword God used an Original Divine Ability!

    Though many hadn''t seen Purple Mansion cultivators in action, they knew Qi Yuan''s move was an Original Divine Ability!

    Original Divine Abilities were the domain of Purple Mansion cultivators.

    Seeing through the essence, it was beyond Nascent Soul cultivators!

    The Blood-Clad Sword God... was a Purple Mansion cultivator!

    A Purple Mansion cultivator in the Hundred Nations?

    Duke Dongchang felt a chill, terrified.

    How did it suddenly turn into a Purple Mansion?

    The remaining two Nascent Soul enforcers from the Light Palace also looked pale but tried to stay calm. After all, the Light Palace had dozens of Purple Mansion cultivators.

    "Senior using an Original Divine Ability against True Lord Wukong''s divine ability seems a bit too much," the previously arrogant Nascent Soul enforcer now spoke respectfully.

    He was no longer as arrogant as before but still held a trace of pride. After all, they were from the Light Palace and had no direct enmity with the Blood-Clad Sword God. True Lord Wukong had a grudge with the Blood-Clad Sword God, and his death didn''t matter.

    "How is an Original Divine Ability not a divine ability?" Qi Yuan said matter-of-factly.

    He had borrowed this line from Wu Tong. Since he had killed Wu Tong, it didn''t count as plagiarism.

    He spoke, raising his sword, advancing towards the treasure ship.

    The Nascent Soul enforcers from the Light Palace looked tense, "Is Senior determined to wipe us out? Though Senior is a Purple Mansion cultivator, the Light Palace has many cultivators of the same rank. And Senior has already killed True Lord Wukong, let''s call it even. We hope Senior will reconsider!"

    At this point, they couldn''t fight, only reason.

    "Hmph." Qi Yuan sneered, "That''s not what you said earlier."

    When he first appeared, these Nascent Soul cultivators had insulted him. Most of them had looked at him with killing intent, eager to eliminate him.

    Now... they changed their tune?

    "Does Senior really want to be our enemy?" the late Nascent Soul enforcer said coldly.

    "You are the ones who want to be my enemy!" Qi Yuan replied, not hesitating.

    The Void Realm Dominator Heart Demon Charm erupted.

    The grand treasure ship turned blood red.

    All the Nascent Soul cultivators on the ship looked crazed.

    "No!"

    "I shouldn''t have killed my brother and humiliated my sister-in-law!"

    "I didn''t mean it. He was too talented."

    With the Heart Demon unleashed, the luxurious treasure ship turned into a blood-red hell.

    Over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators danced wildly, their faces twisted, consumed by heart demons, dying miserably.

    The servants and singers on the ship shivered, witnessing the most terrifying scene.

    "Boring, none of them could withstand a single strike." Qi Yuan sheathed his sword.

    The Light Palace cultivators were too weak. He didn''t even need his Golden Core''s power.

    Even the Light Palace''s Purple Mansion cultivators probably couldn''t make him use his Golden Core.

    Only the Emperor''s Dragon Crown, capable of using Yin God level power, might force him to use his Golden Core.

    Yin God... too powerful.

    That was a true immortal!

    Invisible to mortals and cultivators, a divine being!

    Qi Yuan sheathed his sword, scanning the surroundings, his voice thundering, "The Light Palace falsely offered to apologize, then ambushed me. This grudge must be avenged!

    I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, formally declare war on the Light Palace!

    Either the Light Palace falls, or I perish!"

    Qi Yuan shouted, his voice echoing for miles.

    All the surrounding cultivators were shocked, deeply moved.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God was a Purple Mansion cultivator!

    The Hundred Nations finally had a Purple Mansion cultivator!

    Qi Yuan waved his hand, collecting all the storage bags.

    These White Moonlights had come all this way to meet him, so he had to take their gifts.

    Taking the storage bags, he was about to leave when a gentle voice called, "Senior, please stay."

 Chapter 140: How Can a Purple Mansion Change the Situation?

    Chapter 140: How Can a Purple Mansion Change the Situation?

    Qi Yuan glanced up and saw a young woman in green on a small boat in the distance.

    ¡°Oh? What do you want?¡±

    Qi Yuan was direct. He was eager to get back to creating cultivation techniques.

    ¡°I am Jiang Ya, a disciple of Old Man Wutian from the Ascension Pavilion. I am quite curious about your original divine ability... It seems... out of place in this world, yet you can still use it. It''s really strange,¡± Jiang Ya introduced her background to add a layer of protection, her eyes filled with curiosity.

    A Purple Mansion cultivator¡¯s original divine ability requires comprehending the essence of spiritual energy and forging one''s own path based on that understanding. However, in the Blood-Clad Sword God''s divine ability, she didn¡¯t sense the essence of spiritual energy. This puzzled her.

    ¡°I thought you were here to cheer for me,¡± Qi Yuan was disappointed.

    The woman before him was fairly pretty, though a bit flat-chested. She would make a decent cheerleader. Pretending to be the Blood-Clad Sword God, he couldn¡¯t play his own background music. Without a band of a hundred supreme musicians, his battle seemed monotonous and dull. He really needed a cheerleading squad. But this woman came to question him, which was quite dull.

    ¡°I''m leaving,¡± Qi Yuan turned and left in disappointment.

    Jiang Ya watched the blood-red shadow disappear into the sky, her eyes filled with a mix of respect and awe.

    ¡°This person... his potential is unfathomable.¡±

    The old woman beside her smiled, ¡°No matter how unfathomable, he is nothing compared to the pavilion master.¡±Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

    Jiang Ya shook her head. Her master had once demonstrated his original divine ability to her. Comparing it now to the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s divine ability, she had a vague premonition that her master¡¯s divine ability might not match up to this Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s.

    ¡°Let''s go to the Divine Light Sect,¡± she decided. She had seen enough of the battle and needed to go see her sister to get her out of this Hundred Nations'' turmoil.

    Even with a powerful enemy like the Blood-Clad Sword God, the Light Palace would not stop the Hundred Nations War. The two sides were bound to clash. Even her master couldn¡¯t stop the Light Palace without reaching the Yin God realm, let alone the Blood-Clad Sword God. He might have a strong divine ability, but his cultivation level was likely far below her master¡¯s.

    ...

    On Seven Colors Peak, Qi Yuan, dressed in a plain white robe, stood in front of his new brick house. Looking at it, he felt satisfied.

    ¡°Only such a high-class house is worthy of me,¡± he said, glancing at his junior sister Jiang Lingsu¡¯s wooden hut nearby, feeling even more superior.

    Sure enough, happiness is relative.

    ¡°Senior brother, where did you go? You disappeared suddenly,¡± Jiang Lingsu had finished bathing and found a message from Qi Yuan outside her hut.

    ¡°I was out. People are deceitful. If anyone asks you to come to an appointment for an apology, don¡¯t go. It might be an ambush,¡± Qi Yuan shared his life lessons.

    ¡°Did someone set you up?¡± Jiang Lingsu¡¯s heart tightened.

    ¡°If not for my strong divine ability, I might have been schemed against,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    A divine ability? Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu¡¯s worry disappeared. Only Nascent Soul cultivators could use divine abilities. Her senior brother must be having an episode! He had just claimed to have formed a Golden Core, and now he was talking about being a Nascent Soul cultivator? His illness was serious!

    She looked at Qi Yuan with pity, ¡°Senior brother, don¡¯t keep looking at that new sun in the sky. It might make your memory worse.¡±

    Qi Yuan emphasized again, ¡°That¡¯s not a sun, it¡¯s my Golden Core!¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay!¡± Jiang Lingsu didn¡¯t argue and asked, ¡°Senior brother, why did you leave a message for me?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s hand stiffened. He asked, ¡°I¡¯ve been seriously playing games recently, oblivious to everything else. Has anything happened on Seven Colors Peak, especially at the peak?¡±

    Qi Yuan felt lost after leaving his master¡¯s palace.

    Jiang Lingsu frowned, thinking for a few moments, ¡°A few days ago, there was a sudden thunderclap on Seven Colors Peak. It seemed master intervened to block it.¡±

    ¡°Thunder?¡± Qi Yuan was puzzled. ¡°Master intervened?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Lingsu nodded solemnly. ¡°Some strange things happened before the thunder.¡±

    ¡°What strange things?¡± Qi Yuan asked quickly.

    ¡°I was meditating when I suddenly felt like I had forgotten something, but then I remembered immediately,¡± Jiang Lingsu said.

    For cultivators, any anomaly was noteworthy. It could be someone¡¯s trick or a heart demon.

    ¡°Forget?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes showed contemplation. Everything connected at this moment.

    When he comprehended his original divine ability for the third time, he faced heart demons and heavenly tribulation. The heart demons were from the Ten Thousand Demon Gate, and the tribulation was about forgetting. Could this realm also have a tribulation that his master blocked?

    ¡°Master does care about me,¡± Qi Yuan felt reassured, looking at the pavilion on the peak. Seven Colors Peak seemed deserted, as if no one had lived there for a thousand years. He had only seen his beautiful master once, catching a glimpse of her profile and back.

    ¡°Senior brother, can you stop saying such explosive things?¡± Jiang Lingsu rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan. In the Canglan realm, it was common for masters and disciples to become Dao companions. Even ancestors and descendants could become Dao companions.

    ¡°Junior sister, I know you¡¯re jealous because master doesn¡¯t care about you. But don¡¯t worry, senior brother cares about you,¡± Qi Yuan joked.

    ¡°Get lost!¡± Jiang Lingsu looked at Qi Yuan¡¯s handsome face. Why was he getting more attractive?

    After she left, Qi Yuan thought about the slender girl he saw on the boat, ¡°She must be poor and malnourished. Junior sister¡¯s family must have a mine; her figure is amazing.¡±

    ¡°No, she¡¯s been taking care of me,¡± Qi Yuan replied sincerely.

    Jiang Ya¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°With the Hundred Nations War starting, Dashang will be in turmoil.¡±

    Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu frowned. She knew why her sister had come.

    ¡°Lingsu left without a word to the family, causing resentment, but I suppressed it. I support her choice, but with the Hundred Nations War and Dashang becoming a demonic territory, it¡¯s not suitable for her to stay,¡± Jiang Ya spoke calmly.

    Jiang Lingsu glanced at Qi Yuan, looking pitiful.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll protect junior sister!¡± Qi Yuan said confidently.

    Jiang Lingsu felt warm inside. Her senior brother was unreliable, but he was kind and handsome.

    Jiang Ya smiled, ¡°Qi Yuan, don¡¯t refuse immediately. I believe in your determination to protect Lingsu, and I don¡¯t doubt your character. Lingsu¡¯s judgment is better than mine.¡±

    Qi Yuan was confused. Did he have such determination?

    Jiang Ya continued, ¡°We can¡¯t stop the Hundred Nations War. I suggest moving Seven Colors Peak, or even the Divine Light Sect. My Ascension Pavilion can help, and the Light Palace won¡¯t stop you.¡±

    Her proposal was a significant concession, showing great concern for Jiang Lingsu. Normally, she would forcibly take Jiang Lingsu away.

    Qi Yuan looked at the peak and his new brick house, ¡°Seven Colors Peak can¡¯t be moved.¡±

    His determination surprised Jiang Ya.

    ¡°Besides, the Light Palace will soon be destroyed, so there¡¯s nothing to fear,¡± Qi Yuan said, his plan to destroy the Light Palace progressing steadily.

    Jiang Ya was surprised, then seemed to understand, ¡°You¡¯re pinning your hopes on the Blood-Clad Sword God?¡±

    ¡°Blood-Clad Sword God?¡± Jiang Lingsu was confused.

    ¡°What does he have to do with this?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s surprising that the Hundred Nations have produced a Purple Mansion. But even if he¡¯s late or perfected, he can¡¯t change the Hundred Nations War,¡± Jiang Ya said honestly.

    A Purple Mansion in the Hundred Nations would normally be cause for celebration, indicating their own powerhouse. But appearing during the Hundred Nations War was unfortunate. The war was vital to the Light Palace¡¯s survival, and they wouldn¡¯t back down. With dozens of Purple Mansions and the Emperor¡¯s Dragon Crown, even Jiang Ya¡¯s master couldn¡¯t compete without becoming a Yin God.

    Jiang Lingsu was puzzled, ¡°What Purple Mansion?¡±

    She didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Yesterday, the Light Palace met the Blood-Clad Sword God at Lingfeng Ferry, and they fought. The Blood-Clad Sword God used an original divine ability to slaughter the Nascent Souls. Before leaving, he declared war on the Light Palace. It¡¯s admirable, but it won¡¯t change the outcome,¡± Jiang Ya said.

    Jiang Lingsu covered her mouth, glancing at Qi Yuan.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God was a Purple Mansion?

    And killed several Nascent Souls?

    Blood-Clad Sword God...

    She had so many questions for Qi Yuan but couldn¡¯t ask with her sister present.

    Qi Yuan wanted to say, ¡°I¡¯m not a Purple Mansion, just a Golden Core newbie!¡±

    But he couldn¡¯t reveal his identity. He remained silent.

    Jiang Ya continued, ¡°I know it¡¯s hard to accept. I¡¯ll come back after the Blood-Clad Sword God and Light Palace¡¯s outcome is clear.¡±

    She bid farewell and entered Jiang Lingsu¡¯s wooden hut.

    In the simple hut, Jiang Ya frowned but said nothing. She sat, looking at the distracted Jiang Lingsu, smiling, ¡°Not happy to see me?¡±

    ¡°No...¡± Jiang Lingsu was thinking about the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    ¡°I looked at the techniques you sent me. One was poorly modified.¡±

    ¡°Really? Will it cause problems?¡± Jiang Lingsu was worried.

    It was a technique her senior brother had modified.

    ¡°In theory, practicing it would cause madness, memory loss, even complete amnesia.¡±

    ¡°What, that serious?¡± Jiang Lingsu stood up, anxious.

    Her senior brother didn¡¯t practice it, right?

    Seeing her reaction, Jiang Ya smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about your senior brother. The incomplete technique is theoretical and can¡¯t be practiced.¡±

    Jiang Lingsu sighed in relief. Her senior brother was safe.

    ¡°I can¡¯t stay long. The Dongtu Prodigy War has been moved up, and I must participate. After it ends, I¡¯ll take you home,¡± Jiang Ya said.

    The upcoming war was crucial. Though her master hadn¡¯t said, Jiang Ya could sense its importance.

 Chapter 141: The Aliases in Action

    Chapter 141: The Aliases in Action

    Bright Palace.

    A flash of killing intent appeared in the depths of the red-bearded elder¡¯s eyes: "Good, good, good. A Purple Palace has emerged from the Hundred Nations; this is truly an excellent development."

    Within the jade-like palace, the eyes of three Purple Palace masters and dozens of Nascent Souls also flickered with killing intent.

    "A mere region like the Hundred Nations managed to produce a Purple Palace and now they don¡¯t know their place, declaring war on our Bright Palace. What a colossal joke!" Black Rope, a Purple Palace master known for his volatile temper, exclaimed.

    This time, the three of them were presiding over the Hundred Nations Blood War.

    Now, being provoked by a small nation cultivator who had barely broken through to the Purple Palace, how could they not be enraged?

    The Bright Palace boasted dozens of powerful Purple Palace cultivators and even possessed the damaged Yin God artifact, the Imperial Extreme Dragon Crown.

    It could be said that as long as the Yin God didn¡¯t appear, no one could rival them.

    And now, a mere Purple Palace dares to challenge the Bright Palace.

    They were courting death!

    "This Blood-Clad Sword God is truly arrogant. His clan should be in the Chen Kingdom. Should we send someone to capture them and force him to reveal himself?" suggested a Nascent Soul cultivator, offering a strategy.

    "This is unwise. After all, our Bright Palace is the leader of the righteous path in Cuiyun Continent; how could we stoop to such actions and lose face?

    More importantly, the relatives of that Earth Sword Marquis are long gone," another Nascent Soul cultivator replied.

    The Nascent Souls present fell silent.

    They had already torn the veil off and initiated the Hundred Nations Blood War; who cares about face?

    "A mere Purple Palace isn¡¯t worth making a fuss over. If he dares to come, he won¡¯t return alive," said Qian Yuan, a mid-stage Purple Palace master, who held considerable status in the Bright Palace.

    Moreover, his disciple was extremely talented, ranking among the top prodigies of the Eastern Lands, with a high likelihood of entering the Purple Palace realm.

    This time, he was overseeing the Hundred Nations Blood War to enhance his reputation.

    In the future, if the Bright Palace added another Palace Lord, his name would surely be on the list.

    Once he spoke, the others did not continue the discussion.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God was a significant threat to these Nascent Souls.

    For the ordinary Purple Palace masters, he needed to be taken seriously.

    But for someone like Qian Yuan, he wasn¡¯t worth mentioning.

    "I have a guest to meet. Everyone, attend to your duties," Qian Yuan waved his hand, and the Purple Palaces and Nascent Souls present left the hall.

    Outside the grand hall, an elderly man in a purple robe looked worried, his eyes filled with concern.

    The old man, named Xu Yeli, was the Supreme Elder of the Qiyan Sect and the only Purple Palace master in the sect.

    To outsiders, a Purple Palace master might seem high and mighty, overlooking the world.

    But Xu Yeli felt particularly oppressed.

    Because... of the Bright Palace.

    "Senior Xu, Elder Qian Yuan is waiting for you in the hall," a Nascent Soul cultivator came out from the hall at that moment.

    Xu Yeli¡¯s expression changed, but he quickly forced a smile.

    "I will meet Brother Qian Yuan right away."

    Xu Yeli said as he walked towards the palace.

    In a few breaths, Xu Yeli entered the hall. Looking at the imposing man seated above, he spoke with a hint of respect: "May I ask why Brother Qian Yuan has summoned me?"

    Qian Yuan, seated on a white jade chair, looked handsome, his eyes as deep as the stars: "It¡¯s been some time since we last met, and I thought we should catch up."

    When Qian Yuan said "catch up," it was merely a decree that forced Xu Yeli out of his secluded cultivation and to travel thousands of miles to the Bright Palace.

    Is this what you call "catching up"?

    Xu Yeli felt discontent but dared not show it: "It has indeed been some time."

    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Qian Yuan got to the point.

    "Do you know that the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle has been moved up?"

    "I¡¯ve heard a little about it," Xu Yeli replied, a sense of foreboding growing inside him.

    The Qiyan Sect was small, with only one Purple Palace.

    However, the sect¡¯s Holy Son, Xu Yeli¡¯s disciple Xu Tongchen, was ranked in the top thirty of the Eastern Lands Prodigy List.

    Xu Tongchen had exceptional talent. When he formed his Golden Core, he awakened the True Solar Fire!

    When he summoned his Golden Core, the True Solar Fire burned everything in its path, and no one could withstand it.

    Even the divine abilities of Nascent Souls couldn¡¯t resist the True Solar Fire.

    There was a saying that had spread throughout Cuiyun Continent:

    The Qiyan Sect was holding Xu Tongchen back.

    If Xu Tongchen had been born in the Bright Palace, he would have been ranked in the top ten of the Eastern Lands Prodigy List, not just the top thirty!

    Once, a Bright Palace Palace Lord personally visited the Qiyan Sect, intending to take Xu Tongchen as a disciple.

    But Xu Tongchen, out of gratitude for his master, refused the offer.

    As a result, the Qiyan Sect and the Bright Palace became enemies.

    "Xu Tongchen¡¯s talent is truly enviable," Qian Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    Xu Yeli¡¯s heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Huang Tu is ranked twenty-seventh, while Tongchen is ranked twenty-ninth, still slightly behind your disciple."

    He feared that Qian Yuan was once again setting his sights on his disciple.

    Huang Tu was Qian Yuan¡¯s disciple and the highest-ranked prodigy from Cuiyun Continent on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List.

    "He¡¯s only ranked twenty-seventh, which doesn¡¯t compare to your disciple¡¯s terrifying talent," Qian Yuan said, his voice lowering, "You should know that the advancement of the Eastern Lands Prodigy List this time offers a great opportunity for those in the top twenty."

    Xu Yeli¡¯s sense of foreboding grew stronger.

    Qian Yuan continued, "The Qiyan Sect and the Bright Palace both hail from Cuiyun Continent, and we should support each other.

    This time, we must ensure that the Bright Palace has a representative in the top twenty.

    I must trouble you to tell your disciple, Xu Tongchen, to remember our shared roots in Cuiyun Continent and to support Huang Tu during the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle."

    At this moment, Qian Yuan¡¯s true intentions were revealed.

    Xu Yeli¡¯s expression darkened.

    Support?

    That was just a polite term.

    Qian Yuan¡¯s meaning was clear.

    When the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle began, his disciple shouldn¡¯t compete for a spot but should instead assist Huang Tu in making it into the top twenty.

    Not assist?

    That would be considered a betrayal of their shared roots.

    "Brother Xu, I know this is a bit unreasonable.

    But I, Qian Yuan, am not an unreasonable man. After we complete the Hundred Nations Blood War, I will grant the Hundred Nations region to your Qiyan Sect. What do you think?

    Don¡¯t look down on the Hundred Nations region; it¡¯s vast, and there might be a hidden abode left by some ancient master.

    Recently, the Blood-Clad Sword God, who has reached the Purple Palace realm, emerged from the Hundred Nations.

    I bet he¡¯s not cultivating but rather frolicking with some female cultivators from the Great Shang Kingdom!"

    He was displeased.

    His disciple, the Broken Wolf, had possibly died at the hands of the Divine Light Sect.

    Yet the Six-String True Monarch wasn¡¯t suppressing the Divine Light Sect but was instead secluded in cultivation here.

    Naturally, Fengnu True Monarch was not happy.

    "Perhaps Six-String True Monarch has reached a critical stage in his cultivation," Qianghong True Monarch tried to mediate.

    Suppressing his anger, Fengnu True Monarch shouted at the formation in front of him: "Six-String True Monarch, come out and meet me!"

    He was in the late Nascent Soul stage, and his father was a powerful Purple Palace master, giving him the right to be arrogant.

    But after shouting, the place remained eerily silent, with no response.

    The two exchanged puzzled glances.

    Could something have happened?

    However, at that moment, a burst of mad laughter echoed from the sky.

    "The world laughs at me for being too crazy, but I laugh at the world for seeing too clearly."

    A middle-aged man with a crazed expression, wearing a tattered robe, appeared before Fengnu True Monarch and Qianghong True Monarch.

    "Who are you?" Fengnu True Monarch warily eyed the man in front of him.

    The man held a kitchen knife in his hand and looked at Fengnu True Monarch: "I am... the Mad Taoist."

    "The Mad Taoist?" Fengnu True Monarch was stunned, and a sense of foreboding crept over him.

    The Divine Flower Gathering, the Mad Taoist?

    "Why are you here?" Qianghong True Monarch asked, baffled.

    But at that moment, the Mad Taoist, holding his kitchen knife, grinned mischievously: "Why am I here? Shouldn¡¯t you be asking yourselves that?

    Instead of staying in your stronghold, you¡¯re wandering around, wasting my time."

    As he spoke, he charged at Fengnu True Monarch and Qianghong True Monarch like a madman wielding a kitchen knife.

    The two late-stage Nascent Souls had no intention of fighting back.

    The situation was too strange.

    They wanted to leave and rethink their strategy.

    But the Mad Taoist¡¯s voice followed them: "You can leave, but your bodies must stay."

    As his words fell, the kitchen knife slashed through the air, striking Fengnu True Monarch and Qianghong True Monarch.

    The two Nascent Souls used their divine abilities to protect themselves.

    But the kitchen knife seemed indestructible, cutting through their defenses effortlessly.

    "You¡¯ll die for opposing the Bright Palace!" Fengnu True Monarch roared.

    His body couldn¡¯t hold out any longer and was cut in half by the knife, his soul annihilated.

    Qianghong True Monarch met the same fate. In front of Qi Yuan, the late-stage Nascent Souls were as fragile as chicks; he didn¡¯t even need to use his original divine power.

    After slaughtering the two Nascent Souls, Qi Yuan waved his hand, collecting their storage bags.

    "This Fengnu at least barely counts as a past infatuation, but this Qianghong True Monarch is too poor, isn¡¯t he?

    And yet, he dares to come to the Great Shang?

    If only there was the internet here, I¡¯d hang him out to dry online for sure," Qi Yuan muttered as his figure disappeared.

    His other aliases also needed to start acting.

    In the Wei Kingdom¡¯s imperial court, the harem had already become a garden for the Bright Palace.

    Several Nascent Soul cultivators spent the night in the emperor¡¯s bed, indulging in their pleasures.

    Suddenly, a wretched voice echoed in the sky.

    "Where¡¯s my chicken?"

    "Where did my chicken go?"

    Above the palace, a man in black robes, with disheveled hair, appeared, exuding an extremely dangerous aura.

    "Who are you?" One of the Nascent Soul cultivators in the harem flew up, "This is a Bright Palace stronghold; there¡¯s no chicken here!"

    "Chicken... so it was you who stole my chicken!" The disheveled man¡¯s eyes filled with rage, his voice trembling, "You bastards, that was my kin, and you stole it and ate it!"

    "Are you the Seven Desires Demon Lord?" The Nascent Soul cultivator instantly understood that the man before him was likely the Seven Desires Demon Lord of the Divine Flower Gathering.

    "You heartless wretches, even eating a cute chicken will get you struck by lightning!" The disheveled man pointed at the Nascent Soul cultivator, as if accusing him.

    The Nascent Soul cultivator smirked, "Mad and seeking death!"

    He didn¡¯t sense a strong aura from the man in front of him.

    At that moment, outside the palace, some of the Wei Kingdom¡¯s Nascent Souls looked at the figure in the sky, their eyes filled with helplessness.

    "I hope this fellow Daoist can stay safe."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes blazed with anger. "Do too much evil, and you''ll be struck by lightning!

    Since birth, I''ve been a do-gooder, never even killing a chicken or stepping on an ant.

    You, on the other hand, will be struck by divine retribution!"

    "Divine retribution? There hasn¡¯t been divine retribution in this world for ages. Where did this lunatic come from?" The Nascent Soul cultivator, filled with fury, charged at Qi Yuan.

    But just then, Qi Yuan¡¯s hand suddenly formed a golden dumpling.

    As soon as the dumpling appeared, an overwhelming aura spread out.

    Qi Yuan threw the dumpling, and it landed in front of the Nascent Soul cultivator.

    The Nascent Soul cultivator barely had time to sense the rich metallic essence before a bolt of divine lightning tore through the sky, striking him down.

    He tried to resist, but it was futile.

    "No!" He screamed in confusion, unable to comprehend.

    Why did divine lightning suddenly appear? Why did it kill him? He didn¡¯t know that this was a secret technique Qi Yuan had once created.

    By condensing the essence of gold, he formed a sword.

    Wherever the sword was thrown, divine lightning would follow.

    ¡°Here come the dumplings.¡±

    ¡°Chicken-filled dumplings.¡±

    Qi Yuan stood like a lord of the skies.

    Countless dumplings rained down like hailstones.

    Over the entire Wei Kingdom¡¯s imperial palace, dark clouds gathered, as if the heavens themselves were enraged.

    Every cultivator in the imperial capital looked up at the sky in fear and awe.

    Countless bolts of divine lightning descended upon the Wei Kingdom¡¯s palace.

    Every Nascent Soul cultivator from the Bright Palace was helplessly stuffed with a dumpling and then struck by divine lightning.

    It was as if the Nine Heavens God had transformed into divine lightning, bringing down terrifying judgment, all triggered by dumplings.

 Chapter 142: Stealing Xiao Jiaâ€™s Snacks, Courting Death!

    Chapter 142: Stealing Xiao Jia¡¯s Snacks, Courting Death!

    The supreme divine lightning descended into the harem, annihilating all the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Bright Palace.

    Qi Yuan recorded the scene using a memory stone.

    "Unfortunately, the Divine Flower Gathering''s forum doesn¡¯t allow images or videos. If the scene of the Bright Palace being struck by divine retribution were leaked, I could stand on the highest moral ground.

    If even divine lightning can''t help but strike you, is the Bright Palace still any good?"

    Though he couldn¡¯t post the video, Qi Yuan decided to record it anyway. Perhaps someday, it might come in handy.

    After finishing the recording, Qi Yuan prepared to leave the Wei Kingdom. After all, he still had many places to visit.

    There were many aliases he hadn¡¯t yet revealed.

    Although in some places he simply threw a blood-colored sword to serve as an alias, it still wasn¡¯t enough.

    He needed to create chaos everywhere to make it seem like there were many people involved, right?

    As he held the memory stone and stood amidst the divine lightning, ready to leave, he noticed many cultivators in the grand palace below, looking up at him with solemn respect.

    There were elders, strong young men, and even children.

    "Thank you, Senior, for saving the Wei Kingdom!"

    "We will never forget the kindness of the Senior!"

    During the Hundred Nations Blood War, some countries wished to negotiate peace, while others resisted. However, in the face of the powerful Bright Palace, they had no ability to resist and could only become pawns.

    The more they resisted the Bright Palace, the more they would fall into the demonic camp and be completely consumed.

    Sensing the goodwill of many cultivators, Qi Yuan said aloud, "For those of us cultivators, those who commit many injustices will surely face divine retribution! From now on, do more good deeds!"

    After spreading a bit of positive energy, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure disappeared.

    He left behind a group of excited yet bewildered cultivators.

    ......

    Bloodless City.

    The blood crystal mine stretched for dozens of miles, painting the landscape in a deep crimson hue.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze softened as he looked at the figure ahead.

    Xiao Jia was busy in the blood crystal mine, picking up countless blood crystals and stashing them away somewhere unknown.

    Qi Yuan smiled like an aunt watching her beloved niece.

    Feeding Xiao Jia always brought him joy.

    After about an hour, Xiao Jia emerged from the blood crystal mine and flew to Qi Yuan''s side.

    She clung tightly to Qi Yuan¡¯s sleeve, and a small wooden plaque, showing her happiness, slipped from her cuff.

    "Feel free to eat. This mine is now my personal property," Qi Yuan said generously.

    The blood crystal mine of Bloodless City had already been secured by Withered Wood True Monarch on his behalf.

    Every day, numerous blood crystals were sent to Seven-Colored Peak.

    This time, Qi Yuan had sought the sect master¡¯s permission to come to Bloodless City and collect blood crystals.

    In reality, he wasn¡¯t spending most of his time in the mine.

    Instead, he was out causing havoc under various aliases, wreaking havoc everywhere.

    Of course, others believed he was in the mine.

    "Come, Xiao Jia, let''s go home," Qi Yuan said, holding Xiao Jia''s hand as they left the blood crystal mine.

    Outside the blood crystal mine, Liu Guan looked anxious, while his granddaughter Duan Qianrou stood beside him, her mind filled with thoughts.

    Recently, Liu Guan had participated in the siege against the Old Black Chicken Demon, teaming up with a mysterious prodigy. In the end, his soul was injured, and he fell unconscious, only to be sent home by the mysterious prodigy.

    He had been curious about the prodigy¡¯s identity ever since.

    After all, that prodigy had slain a late-stage Golden Core cultivator while still in the Foundation Establishment stage!

    "Grandfather, is he really that person? And if he isn¡¯t?" Duan Qianrou also recalled the young man her mother had encountered on the flying boat.

    Later, when she rode the Cloud Rabbit Carriage, she encountered that young man again.

    At the time, she hadn¡¯t thought much of it, but now it seemed likely that he was the one who destroyed the Black Mountain Sect.

    Liu Guan looked resigned. "Let¡¯s hope he is..."

    Duan Qianrou''s expression was complicated.

    This blood crystal mine was under her control.

    Previously, a true disciple of the Demon Desire Sect had tried to exert pressure, demanding that the Duan family send a portion of their blood crystals to the Demon Desire Sect regularly.

    Duan Qianrou had no choice but to comply.

    But later, the Divine Light Sect took over all the blood crystal mines in Bloodless City.

    Their blood crystals had to be given to the Divine Light Sect.

    As for the true disciple of the Demon Desire Sect, they had to stop.

    But recently, that disciple had come looking for her again.

    Duan Qianrou had explained everything clearly, but the disciple didn¡¯t care, giving her a deadline to comply.

    They even threatened that if she didn¡¯t hand over the crystals, they would take them by force.

    Duan Qianrou had reported the matter to the Divine Light Sect, but unfortunately, the sect was far away, and the person handling the situation hadn¡¯t arrived yet.

    Now, they were pinning their hopes on Qi Yuan.

    The gate of the blood crystal mine opened, and Qi Yuan emerged, wearing a white robe that made him look exceptionally handsome.

    Xiao Jia, dressed in a bright red outfit, obediently followed behind him.

    To be honest, the scene was a bit unsettling for Duan Qianrou.

    But she steeled herself and said, "Greetings, Young Master Qi Yuan!"

    Qi Yuan glanced at the two of them. "Why are you waiting for me? What¡¯s the matter?"

    "Young Master, it¡¯s about Ji Ruxue of the Demon Desire Sect..." Duan Qianrou explained the situation truthfully while observing Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction.

    After all, high-ranking disciples of sects like these were often arrogant. Instead of helping, they might even blame her for causing trouble.

    After hearing this, Qi Yuan looked at Duan Qianrou. "Is what you say true?"

    "Absolutely true. I wouldn¡¯t dare deceive you, Young Master!" At this point, Duan Qianrou was as humble as could be, a stark contrast to her previously proud demeanor towards Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan scanned her, and hidden information appeared, confirming she wasn¡¯t lying. He coldly said, "I never expected someone to have the audacity to steal Xiao Jia¡¯s snacks. They must have a death wish."

    Ever since Qi Yuan regarded the Bright Palace as his enemy, he rarely encountered low-level opponents.

    Now, a small fry was trying to steal Xiao Jia¡¯s snacks, so of course, he would deal with it personally.

    Occasionally dealing with small fries was a nice change of pace.

    After all, constantly fighting Nascent Souls and Purple Palaces could become monotonous.

    Even Old Biden became weary after too many battles.

    It''s still better to mingle with the younger crowd to feel young again.

    Otherwise, why did the rich old men in his past life always fancy schoolgirls?

    "Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s see just how bold this Ji Ruxue from the Demon Desire Sect really is."

    Hearing this, Duan Qianrou felt relieved and even a little pleased.

    As long as Qi Yuan was willing to take action, the problem could be solved.

    It was as if the ones who died weren¡¯t Nascent Soul True Monarchs, but... Foundation Establishment cultivators! Behind him, Liu Guan¡¯s eyes were wide, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.

    Wasn¡¯t Qi Yuan a disciple of Seven-Colored Peak?

    How had he suddenly... killed two Nascent Souls? Even the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect couldn¡¯t do that, could he?

    His body trembled, unable to comprehend what he had just seen.

    As for Duan Qianrou, she was lying on the ground, seemingly knocked unconscious by the shockwaves of the battle.

    "Alright, the enemies are dead. Let¡¯s go. Stop pretending to be unconscious," Qi Yuan said, glancing at Duan Qianrou.

    Her acting skills were terrible, after all. Only then did Duan Qianrou get up.

    She looked at Qi Yuan, her eyes filled with fear.

    Yes, fear.

    "Senior..." Duan Qianrou¡¯s voice trembled.

    "Don¡¯t call me Senior. Do I look that old? Call me... Young Master Qi Yuan," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    Hearing this, Duan Qianrou¡¯s gums trembled as she wondered what fate awaited her.

    After all, they had witnessed something terrifying, and it was very likely they¡¯d be silenced.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Liu Guan. "You¡¯re a decent person."

    Back when they were hunting the Old Black Chicken Demon, no one wanted to team up with a Qi-refining cultivator, except for Liu Guan.

    Hearing this, Liu Guan¡¯s heart filled with joy.

    Could it really be him? "You don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯m not someone who kills for no reason," Qi Yuan said casually. "You only need to swear on your inner demons that today¡¯s events will not be revealed in any way, and this matter will be over."

    For now, the Bright Palace had not been destroyed.

    Naturally, he had to keep his aliases hidden and not reveal his true strength.

    "Senior, if I reveal any of today¡¯s events, may I die a terrible death!" Liu Guan quickly swore.

    Duan Qianrou followed suit and swore as well.

    Both felt as though they had narrowly escaped death.

    At the same time, their gazes towards Qi Yuan were filled with deep reverence.

    What had happened today felt like a dream.

    "Alright, the enemies are dead, so I¡¯ll head back to the peak." Qi Yuan said, preparing to leave with Xiao Jia. Before leaving, he glanced at Liu Guan. "You¡¯re not as frail as before. If you had fainted today, I would¡¯ve had to carry you away."

    After saying this, Qi Yuan and Xiao Jia¡¯s figures disappeared.

    Liu Guan and Duan Qianrou were left behind, their hearts unable to calm down for a long time.

    Duan Qianrou looked at Liu Guan. "Grandfather, was it really him?"

    "Yes... absolutely!" Liu Guan¡¯s eyes shone with intense light.

    Qi Yuan had slain a late-stage Golden Core while still in the Foundation Establishment stage, which was already astonishing.

    But what he witnessed today went far beyond his imagination.

    Could Qi Yuan actually be the reincarnation of some deity? That was the only explanation!

    What a tremendous stroke of luck! Liu Guan¡¯s heart was filled with awe.

    It took a long time for him to calm down.

    "Qianrou, don¡¯t mention moving away again.

    We must stand with the Great Shang, come what may! Gather more blood crystals, and next time, I¡¯ll personally deliver them to the Divine Light Sect!"

    How could he not hold on to such an incredible opportunity?

    ......

    When Qi Yuan returned to Seven-Colored Peak, he received a summons from the Sect Master.

    Now, standing in the sect¡¯s grand hall, he looked at True Lord Kumu and slowly asked, "Sect Master, what do you need from me?"

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan glanced at Kang Fulu, who was standing beside the Sect Master.

    By now, Kang Fulu had entered the Golden Core stage.

    This surprised Qi Yuan.

    "Do you remember the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle I mentioned some time ago?" True Lord Kumu asked.

    "Of course."

    "The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle has suddenly been moved up and will begin in a month or two.

    This time, you and Kang Fulu will participate together," True Lord Kumu said.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was taken aback.

    So soon? "How long does the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle usually last?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He was in a hurry to destroy the Bright Palace and didn¡¯t have time to participate in any prodigy battles.

    "It could be as short as half a month or as long as several years. There¡¯s no set time."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face fell. "Can I not go?"

    True Lord Kumu was stunned, looking at Qi Yuan in silence, but his expression was extremely dark.

    Kang Fulu, however, spoke warmly. "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, if you¡¯re facing some trouble, feel free to tell us. We can help you solve it."

    "I¡¯m planning to destroy the Bright Palace, so I don¡¯t have time for the prodigy battle," Qi Yuan said casually.

    After all, no one believed what he said anyway, so he might as well be honest.

    As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, the warm smile on Kang Fulu¡¯s face froze.

    Your "trouble" is quite something. You really dare to say that!

    True Lord Kumu looked at Qi Yuan and coldly said, "The location of this Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle is in Cuiyun Continent, not far from the Bright Palace, so it won¡¯t interfere with your... destruction of the Bright Palace!"

    With the last four words, the Sect Master emphasized his tone, expressing his inner emotions.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face lit up with joy. "If that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t worry, Sect Master. While I¡¯m destroying the Bright Palace, I¡¯ll definitely participate in the prodigy battle and get a good result!"

    If it¡¯s on the way, it won¡¯t interfere with his plans to destroy the Bright Palace! True Lord Kumu looked at Qi Yuan with helplessness.

    "I didn¡¯t expect the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle to be moved up either.

    You¡¯ve only just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and your cultivation hasn¡¯t advanced much.

    You don¡¯t need to achieve an outstanding result in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, just do your best."

    Originally, the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle wasn¡¯t scheduled so soon. Given Qi Yuan¡¯s talent and the time he had to improve his cultivation, he would have been better prepared.

    Now, with the sudden advancement of the battle, Qi Yuan¡¯s strength hadn¡¯t improved much, making it even less likely for him to reach the top hundred.

    True Lord Kumu could only pin his hopes on his son-in-law, Kang Fulu.

    "Don¡¯t worry, Sect Master. The treasure you gave me last time was incredibly useful.

    This time, I¡¯m determined to bring back the treasure from your family!" Qi Yuan said confidently.

    True Lord Kumu gave a helpless smile. "This time, as you head to the Eastern Lands, don¡¯t reveal your identities. It seems there¡¯s a Nascent Soul steward in the Bright Palace who¡¯s hostile towards you."

    Qi Yuan nodded.

    The Sect Master was talking about Fengnu True Lord, right?

    He¡¯s already dead.

    The news should spread in a few days.

 Chapter 143: Could They All Be the Same Person?

    Chapter 143: Could They All Be the Same Person?

    After leaving the sect hall, Kang Fulu and Qi Yuan walked side by side.

    "Junior Brother, you¡¯ve never been far from home all these years, have you? This time, we¡¯re suddenly leaving the Great Shang and heading to Cuiyun Continent. Who knows what lies ahead... and when we¡¯ll be able to return," Kang Fulu sighed, his expression pensive.

    With the Hundred Nations Blood War looming, the Great Shang was in turmoil.

    The Sect Master had sent the two of them to participate in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, perhaps with the intention of helping them escape the vortex of chaos.

    By excelling in the Prodigy Battle, they might catch the attention of a major sect and be taken in, freeing themselves from the confines of the Hundred Nations and Cuiyun Continent.

    "The Bright Palace will be destroyed, and we¡¯ll be back as soon as the Prodigy Battle ends. It won¡¯t take long," Qi Yuan said casually, looking relaxed.

    Seeing Qi Yuan so calm, Kang Fulu couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    Ah, it¡¯s better to be naive and carefree.

    Unlike himself, who, even after forming a top-grade Golden Core, remained constantly worried.

    "Junior Brother, just do your best in the Prodigy Battle," Kang Fulu said, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes. "Don¡¯t be discouraged by my top-grade Golden Core. It might be unprecedented in the Great Shang, but it still falls short compared to the prodigies of the Eastern Lands."

    Though Kang Fulu was being modest, he was actually showing off.

    "The top hundred on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List have those who¡¯ve formed profound, earth, and even heavenly-grade Golden Cores. It¡¯s unimaginable."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan looked at Kang Fulu with a comforting expression. "Senior Brother Kang, don¡¯t lose heart. Sure, a top-grade Golden Core might be a bit weak, but... in our Divine Light Sect, it¡¯s still in the top ten, right?"

    Kang Fulu: "..."

    He didn¡¯t want to talk. He had come to show off, not to seek comfort.

    He really wanted to tell Qi Yuan, "Do you have any idea how valuable a top-grade Golden Core is in a small place like the Hundred Nations?"

    Just then, Kang Fulu¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Ahead of them, the chief disciple of Ten Thousand Laws Peak, Xu Yiyi, was passing by.

    Kang Fulu ignored Qi Yuan and immediately flew over.

    "Junior Sister, I recently acquired a treasure. Want to see it?"

    "What treasure?"

    "My... top-grade Golden Core!"

    "A Golden Core? Senior Brother, you¡¯ve reached the Golden Core stage?"

    Qi Yuan watched the scene from a distance and sighed. "Thankfully, I aspire to reach the stars and the sea, starting from humble beginnings.

    A top-grade Golden Core? As if that could blind my eyes."

    Qi Yuan glanced at his own Golden Core.

    He sighed inwardly, wondering when his Golden Core could devour more planets, larger stars, or neutron stars.

    If that happened, the myriad stars in the sky, apart from those illuminated by the gods, would all be part of his Golden Core.

    Such a sight would be truly awe-inspiring, wouldn¡¯t it?

    He looked at the small sun in the sky and muttered, "It¡¯s a pity my Golden Core is too far away. Otherwise, if I could show it off like Senior Brother Kang, I¡¯d surely receive a lot of praise."

    Of course, it might not be just praise.

    If he displayed his Golden Core, those who saw it might all die.

    ......

    In the Bright Palace, Qian Yuan¡¯s face was particularly grim.

    "Nearly a hundred Nascent Souls were killed in the Hundred Nations? What a bunch of useless trash!"

    In the past few days, nearly a hundred Nascent Souls dispatched to the Hundred Nations were attacked and killed within two days.

    The loss of nearly a hundred Nascent Souls was a significant blow to the Bright Palace!

    "Mad Taoist, Seven Desires Demon Lord, Blood-Clad Sword God... the people of the Divine Flower Gathering are ruthless!" Black Rope, enveloped in spiritual energy, was like a powder keg ready to explode. The Nascent Souls present watched him, fearing he might lose his temper.

    "When did our Bright Palace provoke so many... ''terrifying'' enemies?" Qian Yuan was furious.

    In the Divine Flower Gathering, several individuals from the Hundred Nations suddenly targeted them.

    They all appeared at once, and each was a prodigy. It was unbelievable.

    "Do you think they could all be the same person, playing multiple roles to attack us?" the red-bearded elder suggested.

    "That¡¯s unlikely," Elder Black Rope¡¯s voice was gruff. "The Mad Taoist has a strange treasure resembling a kitchen knife, which he uses to kill Nascent Souls like slaughtering chickens;

    The Seven Desires Demon Lord practices some forbidden technique that can summon divine lightning to strike enemies;

    And the Blood-Clad Sword God, needless to say, wields original divine powers as a Purple Palace master.

    Each of these individuals is extraordinary. They shouldn¡¯t be the same person!"

    Everyone present agreed with Elder Black Rope¡¯s words.

    The ones who slaughtered the Bright Palace¡¯s Nascent Souls were as many as ten.

    Each had distinctive traits and exceptional abilities, with their own unique paths of cultivation.

    Such distinctiveness made each of them stand out as a prodigy in their own right.

    How could they all be the same person?

    "How could a tiny place like the Hundred Nations produce so many middle-aged prodigies?

    It¡¯s evident they¡¯re all from the Divine Flower Gathering!" Qian Yuan concluded.

    The term "middle-aged prodigies" typically referred to those who were on the prodigy lists of the previous generation.

    The individuals who attacked the Bright Palace¡¯s Nascent Souls all had the strength of middle-aged prodigies.

    This was terrifying.

    It was clear they were all members of the Divine Flower Gathering.

    "The Divine Flower Gathering..."

    The mention of this organization made the stewards present exchange uneasy glances.

    It was a loose yet powerful organization.

    Its headquarters weren¡¯t even in the Eastern Lands.

    If the Divine Flower Gathering decided to target them, it would be troublesome.

    Seeing the stewards¡¯ fear, Qian Yuan reassured them, "Don¡¯t worry, everyone. The Divine Flower Gathering can¡¯t interfere with our affairs in the Eastern Lands.

    The Grand Palace Master has already gone to the Imperial Sacred Continent to meet with the Eastern Lands Leader of the Divine Flower Gathering to seek an explanation."

    Hearing this, the stewards breathed a sigh of relief.

    Qian Yuan continued, "The Mad Taoist, Seven Desires Demon Lord... and others are already on the Bright Palace¡¯s wanted list.

    If they dare to step into Cuiyun Continent, they will meet certain death!

    As for the Blood-Clad Sword God, the three of us have already sent a challenge letter to the Divine Flower Gathering.

    If he dares to come, he will die!

    Until the Blood-Clad Sword God is dealt with, there¡¯s no need to send any more stewards to the Hundred Nations!"

    "Understood!" The stewards present were relieved.

    They were genuinely afraid of being sent to the Hundred Nations now.

    That would be suicide!

    ......

    Jiang Ya glanced at Qi Yuan, a bit surprised. "Yin Gods vary in strength, just as the Heavenly Dao does.

    A powerful Yin God might be able to break free from such constraints."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan began to understand.

    "Sigh, if only I had known when I formed my Heaven-Grade Foundation Establishment, I should have used the Heavenly Dao of the Canglan Realm instead of the one from the Wangyue Continent. What a mistake!"

    The Heavenly Dao of the Wangyue Continent clearly seemed weaker than that of the Canglan Realm.

    Jiang Ya glanced at Qi Yuan but said nothing.

    She had already learned from Jiang Lingsu that Qi Yuan was a cultivator on the path of madness, and his mind seemed somewhat troubled.

    The spirit boat flew swiftly, and Jiang Ya didn¡¯t speak to Qi Yuan again. She was entirely focused on a jade slip.

    Frowning, she was deep in thought.

    The master of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion, Wutian Elder, who was also her mentor, had given each of his direct disciples a challenge.

    Jiang Ya¡¯s challenge was a Heaven-Grade technique called the "Heartless Sutra."

    Her master had mentioned that this technique contained several flaws.

    If she could identify these flaws and then successfully revise the technique, she would qualify to enter the Ascending Heaven Tower and join her master in accomplishing a significant task.

    Currently, out of Wutian Elder¡¯s five direct disciples, only one had passed the test and entered the Ascending Heaven Tower.

    Jiang Ya had been studying the "Heartless Sutra" daily, but her progress was minimal.

    So far, she had only discovered three flaws.

    As for revising the technique, that was still out of reach.

    After all, this was a Heaven-Grade technique, and it was specially given by Wutian Elder, not just an ordinary Heaven-Grade technique.

    Qi Yuan noticed Jiang Ya¡¯s troubled expression and couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Senior Sister Jiang, are you facing a difficult problem? Why not share it?"

    According to what his junior sister had told him, Jiang Ya was the direct disciple of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion Master.

    The Ascending Heaven Pavilion collected countless techniques.

    And Qi Yuan was most in need of techniques.

    With Jiang Ya carrying such wealth, it was hard not to be interested.

    So Qi Yuan decided to be a helpful sycophant.

    Even though a sycophant usually doesn¡¯t have a house, as long as he doesn¡¯t flatter just one person but flatters all the rich women, he becomes a sea lion.

    Naturally, Qi Yuan was much more enthusiastic about Jiang Ya.

    Jiang Ya opened her eyes again, her expression gentle, but Qi Yuan still noticed a hint of rejection in her eyes.

    "It¡¯s just a small matter, no need to trouble you, Junior Brother."

    The challenge set by her master was something that even a Purple Palace master might not be able to pass.

    Qi Yuan, being from the Hundred Nations, probably hadn¡¯t seen many Earth-Grade techniques, let alone this "Heartless Sutra."

    His shallow foundation might not even allow him to understand the technique.

    As for her sister Jiang Lingsu¡¯s claim that Qi Yuan was skilled at revising techniques, the content of those revisions was dubious.

    Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t seek his help.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt a bit disappointed.

    If only all rich women were as easy to please as his junior sister Jiang Lingsu.

    For several days, Qi Yuan was incredibly bored.

    He spent his time either secretly studying the techniques his junior sister Jiang Lingsu had given him or tirelessly criticizing the Bright Palace on the Divine Flower Gathering forum.

    Now, his alias as the Blood-Clad Sword God had become a star on the forum.

    Whenever he posted, dozens of people would rush to praise him.

    This made Qi Yuan feel so proud that he even considered abandoning his main identity to become the Blood-Clad Sword God full-time.

    Of course, that was just a thought.

    "Rogue Immortal Lord, in a few days, I¡¯ll be arriving in Cloud City. When will you get there? Let¡¯s meet up!" Qi Yuan asked in the group chat.

    "I¡¯ll probably be a bit late. I¡¯m coming with my Senior Brother," Rogue Immortal Lord replied in the chat.

    He wasn¡¯t in Cuiyun Continent, so it would take him longer to get there.

    "Who¡¯s your Senior Brother? Which great figure or Immortal Lord?" Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    "He¡¯s not."

    "It seems even Rogue Immortal Lord is no match for you." Rogue Immortal Lord had praised Qi Yuan so many times that Qi Yuan felt he had to return the favor.

    This is called reciprocity.

    Otherwise, when he shows off in the group in the future, if no one praises him, it would be awkward.

    At that moment, in the Eastern Lands, Thunderwalk Continent, Rogue Immortal Lord sat on a spirit boat.

    Looking at Origin Heavenly Lord¡¯s compliment, he felt a bit helpless.

    "I¡¯m just a small fry, and my Senior Brother is ranked in the top three hundred of the Eastern Lands Prodigy List. I can¡¯t compare."

    "Top three hundred? That¡¯s too weak. It¡¯s nothing compared to you, Rogue Immortal Lord." With Jiang Ya, who was ranked seventeenth on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List, by his side, Qi Yuan felt like he was ranked seventeenth too. He spoke boldly, looking down on anyone ranked lower than seventeen.

    "Cough, cough..." Rogue Immortal Lord replied awkwardly.

    Just then, a tall man walked over.

    The man wore a green robe and had slanted eyes, not particularly handsome. "Junior Brother, we¡¯ll arrive in Cuiyun Continent in ten days. Remember to set aside your personal grievances. We¡¯ll go together to visit Huang Tu, the prodigy of the Bright Palace!"

    Rogue Immortal Lord hesitated upon hearing this. "Senior Brother, I¡¯m a member of the Divine Flower Gathering, and the Divine Flower Gathering is currently in conflict with the Bright Palace. I¡¯d better not go."

    Right now, Origin Heavenly Lord was at war with the Bright Palace.

    As one of the Divine Flower Gathering¡¯s Four Emperors, he might not be able to help in battle, but he should at least maintain solidarity, right?

    "Hmph!" The man with slanted eyes snorted coldly. "Junior Brother, the Cuiyun Continent is the Bright Palace¡¯s stronghold. How can we not meet the prodigy there?

    This is a great opportunity to make connections. How can you miss it?

    Besides, has there really been a major conflict between the Divine Flower Gathering and the Bright Palace?

    That Blood-Clad Sword God is just a Purple Palace master provoking the Bright Palace. He¡¯s courting death!"

    Hearing this, Rogue Immortal Lord was quite frustrated. "Senior Brother, I¡¯ve already arranged to meet a friend."

    The man with slanted eyes raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, your friend hasn¡¯t even made it onto the main Eastern Lands Prodigy List."

    "His strength is enough!" Rogue Immortal Lord defended Origin Heavenly Lord.

    "How about this, let¡¯s bring him along when we meet Huang Tu?" The man with slanted eyes generously suggested.

    Hearing this, Rogue Immortal Lord quickly replied, "No!"

    Origin Heavenly Lord and the Bright Palace were like fire and water!

    If they brought him to meet Huang Tu, who knows what would happen!

 Chapter 144: Qi Yuanâ€™s Grand Plan, A Just Cause!

    Chapter 144: Qi Yuan¡¯s Grand Plan, A Just Cause!

    The man with the slanted eyes frowned and said sternly, "Junior Brother, you¡¯re not a child anymore. You should prioritize the sect¡¯s interests.

    The sect¡¯s current situation isn¡¯t great.

    We need to form good relations. The Bright Palace is the overlord of Cuiyun Continent and is incredibly powerful. We should befriend prodigies like Huang Tu. Who knows? They might become an asset to our sect someday."

    Rogue Immortal Lord felt helpless after hearing this but could only say, "Understood, Senior Brother."

    ......

    Yunzhong City, located in the southwestern region of Cuiyun Continent.

    This city was once remote and didn¡¯t belong to any major power.

    Within the city, the most famous places were a courtyard and a pavilion¡ªYunzhong Courtyard and Ling Tian Pavilion.

    One dealt in high-end entertainment, while the other collected information from across the world.

    But now, Yunzhong City was far more crowded than before.

    The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle was being held in Yunzhong City.

    The city had become a gathering place for all the prodigies from the Eastern Lands.

    More prodigies were still arriving.

    This once-remote city had suddenly become the most prosperous place in Cuiyun Continent.

    Following behind Jiang Ya, Qi Yuan casually glanced around and spotted a Nascent Soul cultivator.

    In the Hundred Nations, Nascent Soul cultivators were rare.

    In some small cities, even Foundation Establishment cultivators could dominate.

    But in Yunzhong City, not to mention Foundation Establishment, even some Golden Core cultivators might be serving as greeters in certain elixir pavilions.

    "If Yunzhong Courtyard is famous for anything, it¡¯s the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance.

    Three hundred charming Golden Core female cultivators, dressed in sheer veils, dance gracefully in a misty pavilion.

    At night, they don¡¯t need lamps. They simply summon their three hundred Golden Cores.

    That scene... sigh, it¡¯s a pity I won¡¯t get to see it," Kang Fulu spoke in Qi Yuan¡¯s ear, eyes gleaming as he vividly described the scene.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t particularly moved.

    During his time in Wugui City, after his last lecture, the Supreme Lord Yang Hun had specially arranged a grand feast with music and dance.

    At that time, 1,600 stunning female Supremes, dressed in red skirts, performed a mesmerizing dance.

    The scene was magnificent, though slightly less impressive than a 3,000-member suona orchestra.

    Later, 300 alluring female Supremes performed a private dance, the content of which even Yang Hun didn¡¯t know, as the dance was choreographed by the women themselves.

    Their movements were more seductive and bold.

    The only audience members were Qi Yuan and Xiao Jia, with Xiao Jia thoroughly enjoying the show.

    After watching, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how ancient emperors on Blue Star were so easily swayed by sycophants.

    Which leader, which high official, could resist such temptation?

    Compared to Golden Cores, Qi Yuan found watching Supremes dance far more interesting.

    Just then, a loud sound like a dragon''s roar echoed through the air.

    Many in Yunzhong City looked up at the sky.

    There, a Rabbit Carriage appeared, flying over the city.

    This immortal chariot was drawn by eighteen cloud rabbits with ancient dragon bloodlines.

    Its momentum was like a tidal wave.

    Looking closer, there were 54 heads and 144 feet.

    Wherever it passed, immortal light spread, and divine sounds descended.

    It was a symbol of immense prestige.

    "That¡¯s Huang Tu¡¯s carriage!"

    "It¡¯s actually Huang Tu! He¡¯s ranked twenty-seventh on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List."

    "He¡¯s the strongest prodigy of our Cuiyun Continent¡¯s younger generation. This time, he might make it into the top twenty!"

    "The leading rabbit is a Nascent Soul demon beast! That¡¯s terrifying!"

    Many cultivators below exclaimed in awe and envy.

    Meanwhile, in the rabbit carriage, Xu Tongchen''s eyes suddenly narrowed, as if he noticed something.

    "Tongchen, what¡¯s wrong?" Huang Tu opened his eyes and looked at Xu Tongchen. Although his gaze was somewhat restrained, his overbearing aura couldn¡¯t be hidden.

    "N-nothing," Xu Tongchen quickly replied.

    Huang Tu glanced at him and said, "Focus on your cultivation. The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle will require your help."

    Huang Tu spoke more directly than his master.

    While his master, Qian Yuan, pressured Xu Yeli with soft words, Huang Tu didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries.

    After all, he came from a noble background and possessed immense talent.

    To him, it was only natural for the peers of Cuiyun Continent to serve him.

    With Xu Tongchen, he was straightforward.

    He even felt that inviting Xu Tongchen to ride in the same carriage was a great favor.

    As expected, Xu Tongchen felt a heavy weight in his heart upon hearing Huang Tu¡¯s words, though his expression didn¡¯t change. "Alright."

    He had long harbored resentment toward Huang Tu.

    But for the sake of his master and the Seven Words Sect, he had no choice but to endure it.

    At that moment, however, he recalled the strange feeling he had earlier.

    As the rabbit carriage passed, the Solar True Fire within him suddenly flared up.

    It felt like he had seen the real sun.

    Was it an illusion? Remembering that man¡¯s face, Xu Tongchen was filled with suspicion and doubt.

    He couldn¡¯t understand why he had felt that way.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan watched the rabbit carriage fly away and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, "No wonder people from big cities travel in such style.

    Sigh, I may be stronger than him in the game, but in real life, he completely outshines me."

    Jiang Ya, standing beside him, remained as calm as ever.

    The rabbit carriage in the sky meant nothing to her.

    Kang Fulu, on the other hand, patted Qi Yuan¡¯s shoulder and said, "Junior Brother, what¡¯s so special about a rabbit carriage? It¡¯s nothing compared to the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance!"

    Mentioning this, Kang Fulu¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement.

    Qi Yuan initially wanted to use his Daoist powers to project the dance of the 3,000 female Supremes for Kang Fulu to see, to show him what true taste and class were.

    But he thought better of it, realizing that someone like Kang Fulu wouldn¡¯t appreciate it, so he gave up.

    Just then, a man with a small mustache approached them. "Are you folks new to Yunzhong City?"

    "Yes," Kang Fulu replied cautiously, eyeing the man with suspicion.

    "I just overheard you two talking about the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance, heh."

    The mustached man chuckled lewdly.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

    "Why don¡¯t you add me on your messaging jade slip?

    I¡¯ve got more than just the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance. I¡¯ve got all kinds of private collections, passionate recordings, saintess exclusives, forbidden techniques, beast girls, fox girls, master-disciple fantasies, and even some featuring promising young talents.

    Did Jiang Ya tell his junior sister?

    His junior sister sure knew a lot.

    What was she trying to say? Was she implying that many of the things that mustached guy sold were fake? Was she warning him? His junior sister was really kind.

    "Junior Sister, why don¡¯t you show me something real?"

    Meanwhile, on Seven-Colored Peak, Jiang Lingsu¡¯s jade slip flashed briefly at her waist.

    She quickly took it out.

    When she saw the message, her face flushed, and she gritted her teeth. "Qi Yuan!"

    Qi Yuan, of course, had no idea about Jiang Lingsu¡¯s reaction.

    He said in the group chat, "Rogue Immortal Lord, I¡¯ve arrived in Yunzhong City.

    No wonder it¡¯s such a big city; it¡¯s bustling and lively."

    At that moment, Rogue Immortal Lord saw Qi Yuan¡¯s message and felt anxious and hesitant. "Origin Heavenly Lord, I won¡¯t arrive for a few more days."

    "No problem, we¡¯ll meet then." Qi Yuan was enthusiastic.

    "Um... Origin Heavenly Lord, would you like to join me at a banquet when you arrive?" Rogue Immortal Lord asked cautiously.

    He was aware of the sect¡¯s predicament and remembered his Senior Brother¡¯s warning.

    But since Origin Heavenly Lord was his friend, he couldn¡¯t just abandon him.

    "A banquet? What kind of banquet?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "It¡¯s... Huang Tu¡¯s banquet. He¡¯s inviting some prodigies.

    Origin Heavenly Lord, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. When you attend, you can just eat some spiritual fruits and ignore everyone else." Rogue Immortal Lord was conflicted.

    "Wow, it¡¯s him? I know him¡ªhe¡¯s the top prodigy of Cuiyun Continent.

    Today, he was driving that rabbit carriage, looking so majestic.

    Rogue Immortal Lord, you really are a big shot to get me an invitation to such a high-level banquet!

    Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go to give you face. As long as he doesn¡¯t provoke me, I won¡¯t be too harsh. After all, I have no personal grudge against him, right?" Qi Yuan said casually, his gaze deepening.

    Rogue Immortal Lord was moved.

    Origin Heavenly Lord considered him a friend.

    To the point of temporarily setting aside his grudge with Huang Tu.

    "By the way, now that I¡¯m in Yunzhong City, I should continue my hundred-day plan," Qi Yuan said in the city.

    Rogue Immortal Lord was feeling more and more confused.

    Origin Heavenly Lord¡¯s words were really baffling him.

    Is he a Foundation Establishment, a Golden Core, or a Purple Palace master?

    "I¡¯ve come up with a grand plan today. I¡¯ll brew it for two days and then strike the Bright Palace again."

    After saying this, Qi Yuan left the group chat.

    The next morning, as dawn broke, he seemed to notice something and logged into the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s account to post on the forum.

    [Title: The Bright Palace Ravages the Hundred Nations, and Faces Divine Retribution. I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, Represent Justice in Destroying It!]

    The title was simple, but the content was rich.

    "The Bright Palace has committed countless atrocities. Upon arriving in Cuiyun Continent, I purchased some jade slips from Ling Tian Pavilion, which documented the evil deeds of the Bright Palace.

    They ravaged the Hundred Nations, ultimately attracting divine retribution¡ªdivine lightning killed over a dozen Nascent Souls! This is karma, divine retribution for their evil deeds! The Bright Palace¡¯s luck has run out; it must be destroyed!"

    After posting, Qi Yuan logged out of the jade slip and continued refining the techniques his junior sister had sent him.

    The path of the Golden Core, and continuing the "Qi Yuan Sutra," was becoming increasingly difficult.

    After all, Qi Yuan¡¯s ambitions were immense.

    He wanted to refine the other stars in that universe into his Golden Core!

    The day quickly passed.

    As night fell, Qi Yuan felt drained. "It¡¯s too difficult. The techniques for the Golden Core stage are on a completely different level than those for Foundation Establishment!"

    He stopped refining techniques and instead entered the Divine Flower Gathering forum.

    When he checked, he was pleasantly surprised to see nearly a thousand comments.

    "It seems justice is on my side!"

    Qi Yuan now felt he could stand on the moral high ground and sweep away the Bright Palace.

    He began reading the comments seriously.

    "Didn¡¯t expect the Blood-Clad Sword God would... heh heh."

    "Don¡¯t get me started. My brother begged me to buy the latest jade slip early this morning. So I did, and after watching it... well, I¡¯ll just say that it¡¯s popular in our Imperial Sacred Continent."

    "Fellow Daoist above, aren¡¯t you from Cuiyun Continent? Give us a keyword!"

    "Bright Palace Nascent Souls... Ling Tian Pavilion¡¯s dark branch has it. Don¡¯t go to their main branch."

    "Dark branch? They sell... that!!"

    The comments were frantic, with people begging for more.

    Of course, there were also some serious comments.

    "It¡¯s really divine lightning!"

    "What exactly did the Bright Palace¡¯s Nascent Soul cultivators do to attract divine retribution?"

    "Did anyone notice that something seemed to fall from the sky, and then they were struck by divine retribution?"

    "I couldn¡¯t see clearly. There was some kind of Daoist spell that made it blurry, but it looked big and round. Based on my years of experience, it¡¯s probably... a Nai."

    "??"

    "Something like that falling from the sky and then the Bright Palace getting struck by divine retribution? How much evil did the Bright Palace do?"

    "No wonder they added a Daoist spell to blur it out. It¡¯s just too cruel and bloody!"

    Qi Yuan was stunned by what he read.

    He opened his backup video and watched it.

    After watching, he was even more bewildered.

    "A video that was supposed to be inspiring and satisfying¡ªwhy did adding a mosaic suddenly make it feel so lewd?"

    Qi Yuan was at a loss.

    The scene clearly showed buns falling, followed by the Bright Palace¡¯s Nascent Souls being struck by divine retribution.

    He didn¡¯t want to reveal the buns, so he added a mosaic.

    But now... no matter how you looked at it, it resembled a Nai.

    "Forget it. The point is, justice is on my side, and I should now attend the banquet and meet those Purple Palace masters from the Bright Palace!"

    The Bright Palace had laid down the gauntlet, challenging him.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t one to back down.

    With justice on his side and a righteous cause, it was time to meet those old White Moonlight masters from the Bright Palace.

    "No wonder young guys like rich women in their eighties or nineties."

    "Once those old masters kick the bucket, their techniques will all be mine, won¡¯t they?"

    "That¡¯s what makes for a proper White Moonlight!"

    "A young pup like Young Master Wolf (the one who died in the Dragon Seizing Struggle) doesn¡¯t count as White Moonlight. I¡¯m revoking his White Moonlight status!"

 Chapter 145: Iâ€™m Off to Kill Someone, Talk Later

    Chapter 145: I¡¯m Off to Kill Someone, Talk Later

    Yunzhong Pavilion.

    Prodigies gathered, banquets were in full swing, with exquisite food and fine wines flowing freely.

    Huang Tu stood at the center of the crowd, full of spirit and confidence.

    Xu Tongchen stood by his side, holding a cup of wine, but his mind was elsewhere.

    He was still pondering the strange sensation he had felt that day.

    The Solar True Fire was his greatest stroke of fortune and his most prized possession.

    With it, he could have easily ranked in the top ten of the Eastern Lands Prodigy List. However, to keep a low profile and not overshadow Huang Tu, he chose to rank just behind him.

    The Solar True Fire was incredibly powerful and highly sensitive to treasures related to the sun.

    Yet when he saw that man, he felt as if the man himself... was like a blazing sun.

    His Solar True Fire kept jumping, almost as if... it recognized its father.

    ¡°Huang Tu¡¯s mastery of the Dao has deepened. This time, he might break into the top fifteen, maybe even the top ten, in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle,¡± someone at the banquet praised Huang Tu.

    Huang Tu accepted the praise with an arrogant expression.

    At this point, someone else added, "It¡¯s a pity though. If Huang Tu had Xu Tongchen¡¯s Solar True Fire, he would surely be ranked in the top three!"

    Hearing this, Xu Tongchen''s expression subtly changed.

    The speaker was Zheng Fangxing, a cultivator ranked seven hundredth on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List.

    His sect had a long-standing grudge with Xu Tongchen¡¯s Seven Words Sect.

    Now, he was blatantly trying to sow discord.

    Despite this, the haughty Huang Tu didn¡¯t bother hiding his true thoughts and glanced at Xu Tongchen. ¡°It is indeed a pity.¡±

    Xu Tongchen felt stifled and angry, but he couldn¡¯t retaliate, so he could only force an awkward smile.

    The Bright Palace¡¯s arrogance was ingrained, and they acted with impunity.

    Zheng Fangxing continued, ¡°That Blood-Clad Sword God from the Divine Flower Gathering has been relentlessly provoking the Bright Palace.

    My master, Mo Ku, has long been disgusted by his arrogance and has gone to the Ming King Palace to join Elder Qian Yuan in facing off against him.

    But... some people, despite being from Cuiyun Continent, fail to unite with us against the Blood-Clad Sword God. Their relationship with him is rather ambiguous.¡±

    Zheng Fangxing was clearly targeting the Seven Words Sect.

    A few days ago, Elder Qian Yuan had challenged the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    The surrounding forces near the Ming King Palace were all summoned to witness the battle.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just to witness; it was to support.

    Zheng Fangxing¡¯s master, Mo Ku, had gone early upon hearing the news.

    Xu Tongchen¡¯s master, Xu Yeli, however, had made excuses not to go.

    ¡°Some people are just cowards, too afraid of the Blood-Clad Sword God,¡± Zheng Fangxing kept egging on the situation.

    ¡°Hmph, a mere cultivator from the Hundred Nations, who just happened to break through to the Purple Palace Realm, dares to challenge the Bright Palace? He¡¯s courting death!¡±

    ¡°At Ming King Palace, Elder Qian Yuan has set the stage. I bet that Blood-Clad Sword God won¡¯t even dare to show up and will just hide in the Hundred Nations!¡±

    The young prodigies in the palace were full of praise for the Bright Palace and full of mockery for the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    Their sects might have had Purple Palace cultivators, but in front of the Bright Palace, they could only play the dog.

    The idea of a Blood-Clad Sword God challenging the Bright Palace seemed absurd to them.

    "After the prodigy battle, we¡¯ll probably hear about the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s defeat," a young cultivator said.

    Huang Tu nodded in agreement. "The Blood-Clad Sword God is nothing to fear. He¡¯s just using underhanded methods."

    For the past few days, jade slips of the Bright Palace¡¯s Nascent Soul elders being struck by divine lightning had been circulating widely.

    In the cultivation world, many secretly criticized the Bright Palace.

    After all, the Bright Palace¡¯s overbearing nature had long bred resentment among lower-level cultivators.

    But criticism aside, it didn¡¯t really harm the Bright Palace.

    With dozens of Purple Palace cultivators and a powerful incomplete Yin God artifact, no coalition of lower-level cultivators could shake the Bright Palace¡¯s position.

    The prodigies at the banquet, all of noble birth, didn¡¯t even register the voices of the common cultivators.

    The banquet continued, and as Zheng Fangxing¡¯s provocations persisted, most attendees subtly or openly shunned Xu Tongchen.

    Xu Tongchen sat alone in a corner, drinking gloomily. His thoughts kept returning to the man he had seen that day.

    He had secretly sent someone to investigate.

    The results should be coming soon.

    ......

    In his cave, Qi Yuan was still digesting some of the techniques his junior sister had obtained from Jiang Ya.

    Unfortunately, his progress was slow.

    Rubbing his forehead, Qi Yuan glanced at Xiao Jia, who was sleeping on the table beside him, his eyes softening.

    "I think it¡¯s about time. I¡¯ll head to Ming King Palace soon and meet my alluring White Moonlight," Qi Yuan mused.

    At that moment, a sound echoed outside the cave.

    It was like a doorbell from Blue Star.

    Qi Yuan looked through the array and saw a young man.

    The cave door opened, and Qi Yuan looked at the young man calmly. "What brings you here?"

    "I am Xu Tongchen of the Seven Words Sect. Three days ago, I saw you briefly.

    I apologize for this sudden visit. I hope you won¡¯t take offense," Xu Tongchen spoke with utmost humility.

    He was eager to understand why his Solar True Fire reacted so strongly.

    As he drew closer to this young man, the Solar True Fire within him became more agitated.

    His entire body began to heat up, and he couldn¡¯t help but look at Qi Yuan with growing intensity.

    Qi Yuan frowned. "Get to the point."

    "When I formed my Golden Core, I was fortunate enough to condense a wisp of Solar True Fire..."

    "Solar True Fire?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    That was a valuable treasure.

    With Solar True Fire, a Golden Core cultivator could resist even the divine powers of a Nascent Soul.

    It was truly a city-level rarity¡ªa random Golden Core cultivator with the power to kill a Nascent Soul.

    "Ever since I saw you, my Solar True Fire has been jumping, almost as if..." Xu Tongchen hesitated to continue.

    Qi Yuan looked at him thoughtfully.

    [This is an ordinary cultivator, but with the Solar True Fire, he¡¯s somewhat extraordinary. The Solar True Fire sees you as its father.]

    "Is that all?" Qi Yuan looked at the sky. "I¡¯m busy right now, off to kill someone. We¡¯ll talk after I¡¯m done."

    With that, Qi Yuan vanished, leaving a dumbfounded Xu Tongchen behind.

    "Daoist..."

    He wanted to call out to Qi Yuan, but he was already gone.

    Torn with indecision, Xu Tongchen finally decided to wait.

    Not understanding the reason behind this was like having ants crawling inside him.

    An hour later...

    In the sky, a figure clad in a blood-red robe streaked like a blood-red rainbow across the heavens.

    A loud voice echoed down from above.

    ¡°The Bright Palace has committed countless evils and has been struck by divine retribution!¡±

    Outnumbered, why would they fear a newly-advanced Purple Palace cultivator?

    The blood-red rainbow stopped in the sky, revealing a figure clad in blood-red robes, with a sword on his back, and an incredibly handsome face.

    A terrifying aura of blood pervaded the air as Qi Yuan spoke coldly, ¡°Is everyone here?¡±

    Looking at the five Purple Palace cultivators below, he was a bit disappointed.

    Only five? That¡¯s too few.

    And none of them were late-stage Purple Palace.

    This generation¡¯s White Moonlight wasn¡¯t very impressive.

    Qian Yuan looked at Qi Yuan, his voice booming. "Blood-Clad Sword God, you¡¯ve got some guts. I actually admire you for that.

    If it weren¡¯t for your constant slander and provocation in the Divine Flower Gathering, I would have considered recruiting you as a guardian beast of the palace!¡±

    ¡°The Bright Palace sure is a joke. You¡¯re all old, but still playing the fool?¡± The blood-red sword on Qi Yuan¡¯s back let out a sharp cry. ¡°Today, I¡¯m here to carry out heavenly justice.¡±

    Since they had agreed to a duel, it was time for a massacre.

    Why waste words?

    The blood sword was drawn.

    In that moment, Qi Yuan seemed to have emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

    His blood-red robe seemed to be dripping with blood.

    He was enveloped in a kingdom of blood.

    The five Purple Palace cultivators were momentarily stunned.

    The man before them didn¡¯t look like a righteous cultivator at all!

    He looked like a powerful demon!

    The dense aura of blood was so thick that if someone said he had killed tens of billions, they would believe it.

    And this guy claimed to be upholding justice?

    ¡°You, upholding justice? What a joke! Today, for the sake of the world, the Bright Palace will rid it of you, this demon!¡±

    Qian Yuan was in the middle stage of the Purple Palace Realm, second only to the three palace masters of the Bright Palace.

    In all of Cuiyun Continent, he was among the top cultivators.

    His strength gave him confidence.

    The five Purple Palace cultivators looked at Qi Yuan with both fear and disdain.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan, holding his sword, his blood-red robes fluttering, said, ¡°Once, with this sword, I slew 1,700 Purple Palace cultivators. Today... sending you all on your way is a favor.¡±

    The Purple Palace cultivators were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

    ¡°Mad as a hatter, no wonder he dares to come to Ming King Palace!¡±

    How many Purple Palace cultivators were there in all of Cuiyun Continent? Claiming to have slain 1,700 Purple Palace cultivators with one sword¡ªwho was he trying to fool?

    Not even a Yin God would claim to have killed 2,000 Purple Palace cultivators.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother responding.

    With White Moonlight, sweet talk was useless; they needed to be thoroughly beaten until they wept bitter tears.

    Master of the Void Realm: Heart Demon Invocation!

    Qi Yuan unleashed his source divine power.

    The sun and moon were thrown into disorder.

    Souls were twisted.

    Heart demons were born.

    In an instant, the Purple Palace cultivators¡¯ expressions changed drastically.

    When an expert made a move, it was obvious.

    Their previous arrogance and disdain vanished entirely.

    Only by facing him directly did they realize what a formidable opponent they had encountered.

    ¡°Engraved... you¡¯re a late-stage Purple Palace?¡± Qian Yuan¡¯s face was grim, tinged with fear.

    Engraved-level source divine power. Late-stage Purple Palace... the Bright Palace only had three, and they were the palace masters!

    The Blood-Clad Sword God... was a late-stage Purple Palace cultivator, something they had never considered.

    The Hundred Nations producing even one Purple Palace cultivator was already terrifying.

    But a late-stage Purple Palace? Every late-stage Purple Palace cultivator in the Eastern Lands was a long-established figure.

    How could one suddenly appear out of nowhere? He was bewildered, desperate, struggling to resist Qi Yuan¡¯s source divine power.

    His micro-level source divine power was fragile against the Master of the Void Realm¡¯s Heart Demon Invocation.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother with dead men.

    The red-bearded elder, meanwhile, had fallen into madness.

    He seemed to see a giant city, with thousands of Purple Palace cultivators gathered.

    A man in blood-red robes stepped forward, and with one swing of his sword, 1,700 Purple Palace cultivators were trapped in a demonic realm, gradually falling to their deaths.

    ¡°It¡¯s real... how is this possible!¡±

    How could anyone kill thousands of Purple Palace cultivators with a single sword?

    His mind shattered at that moment.

    The other three Purple Palace cultivators were just as powerless. When Qi Yuan unleashed his source divine power, they fell into madness.

    Though they were not supreme beings from the Flowing Wind Realm, Qi Yuan¡¯s source divine power was of a very high level and at the engraved stage.

    To him, these five Purple Palace cultivators were indeed nothing more than a matter of a single sword strike.

    Qi Yuan stood in the void, looking at the five Purple Palace cultivators with a sense of regret. ¡°They¡¯re dying too slowly. I¡¯m in a hurry to get back.¡±

    These weren¡¯t supreme beings from the Flowing Wind Realm, so even after falling under his source divine power, they didn¡¯t immediately die from heart demon possession.

    As he thought about this, Qi Yuan¡¯s sword stabbed forward once more.

    It was like stabbing pigs¡ªQi Yuan systematically dealt with the five Purple Palace cultivators one by one.

    ¡°Luckily, they don¡¯t have a tyrant body that¡¯s immune to control; otherwise, killing them would¡¯ve been more troublesome.¡±

    Effortlessly, he slew all five Purple Palace cultivators.

    Qi Yuan found that slaughtering weaker opponents was indeed satisfying.

    By now, the entire Ming King Palace was in shock, with all the Nascent Soul cultivators paralyzed with fear.

    Qi Yuan smiled wickedly. ¡°Die.¡±

    With just a word, those Nascent Soul cultivators fell into a boundless hell.

    Ming King Palace was reduced to ruins in an instant.

    Standing amid the devastation of Ming King Palace, Qi Yuan¡¯s smile widened.

    ¡°These five White Moonlights weren¡¯t too bad.¡±

    With a wave of his hand, he skillfully collected all the storage bags.

    Then he glanced at the fallen Nascent Souls.

    ¡°Even though they¡¯re not White Moonlights, they traveled all this way to deliver gifts.¡±

    "A light gift still carries deep affection."

    "A gift from an elder must not be refused."

    Like a dragon with an insatiable hoard of treasures, Qi Yuan collected those storage bags as well.

    Then, standing amidst the ruins of the Ming King Palace, he glanced around with satisfaction.

    After a moment, he decided it was time to leave, having accomplished his goal and more.

 Chapter 146: The Subtle Uses of Sunfire

    Chapter 146: The Subtle Uses of Sunfire

    "Why are they all Profound-level techniques, hmm..."

    "Huh, there''s actually a Heaven-level technique!"

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    This was the first time he''d ever seen a Heaven-level technique.

    This Heaven-level technique had been obtained from Qian Yuan''s storage bag.

    Its name was Seven Dark God Technique.

    Qi Yuan was very excited.

    His Qi Yuan Sutra had been stagnant for some time, and obtaining a Heaven-level technique might just be the breakthrough he needed to push the progress of the Qi Yuan Sutra forward.

    "I kind of want to go back and build a tomb for him... Forget it, when the people from the Bright Palace return, they¡¯ll probably take care of it. I¡¯ll just consider it as if I did it myself."

    "What a windfall! It seems like the old ones really do drop more loot!"

    "In the future, when I select my ''white moonlight,'' I need to establish some strict criteria. Otherwise, any random stray cat or dog, like that worthless wolf, could become my ''white moonlight,'' and that¡¯s too low-class."

    "First, they must be old¡ªthe older, the better."

    "Second, they must have high cultivation¡ªthe higher, the better."

    "Third, they must have little remaining lifespan¡ªold men are easier to kill."

    Qi Yuan quickly scanned through the technique and then flew towards Cloud City.

    Night gradually fell, and Xu Tongchen quietly waited outside the cave dwelling.

    "I wonder how strong the person that fellow cultivator wanted to kill is, and whether he needs my help."

    "What if he dies out there?"

    "The enemy shouldn''t be too difficult to kill, right?"

    Many thoughts flashed through Xu Tongchen''s mind.

    He couldn¡¯t stay outside for too long; Huang Tu wouldn''t allow it.

    Moreover, Huang Tu had secretly planted spies to keep an eye on him.

    Xu Tongchen loathed Huang Tu and the Bright Palace, but he was powerless to do anything about them.

    "You''re still here?" Just then, a crisp voice sounded.

    Xu Tongchen quickly looked over and saw that familiar figure.

    Inside him, the Sunfire began to burn hotter.

    "Did you finish killing the person?" Xu Tongchen asked.

    He glanced at Qi Yuan and saw that Qi Yuan¡¯s clothes were neat and his aura stable.

    He guessed that the enemy must have been weak.

    "Yeah, finished. They were all old men, easy to kill," Qi Yuan said casually, looking at Xu Tongchen. "Come inside the cave with me for a chat."

    Qi Yuan was quite interested in Sunfire.

    Xu Tongchen hesitated but then followed Qi Yuan into the cave.

    "My fellow cultivator, could you lend me your Sunfire to examine?" Qi Yuan went straight to the point.

    This threw Xu Tongchen off.

    Wasn¡¯t he the one supposed to clarify things with this person?

    But remembering that he needed something from this man, he decided not to conceal anything.

    After all, summoning it wasn¡¯t a big deal for him.

    He paused briefly and said, "Be careful, don¡¯t get burned by the Sunfire."

    Xu Tongchen began to perform his Dao technique.

    In the cave, a small, round golden core appeared.

    The golden core emitted a powerful aura.

    "Your golden core is a bit too small; it can''t withstand much," Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but remark.

    Xu Tongchen was momentarily stunned.

    His golden core was at least of high-grade Earth rank... In the entire Green Cloud Continent, there were hardly any cores of a higher grade than his.

    And yet, it was being dismissed as too small.

    Suppressing his thoughts, Xu Tongchen continued, and a wisp of flame jumped out from the golden core.

    The flame was small, about the size of a candle flame, but its aura was terrifying.

    Qi Yuan felt that even a Nascent Soul might not survive if touched by this fire.

    The Sunfire was bright on the inside and dark on the outside, emitting a strong golden light. It danced continuously in front of Qi Yuan, seemingly eager to leap from Xu Tongchen''s golden core onto Qi Yuan.

    Xu Tongchen could sense the Sunfire''s eagerness and its strange affinity for the person before him.

    This made Xu Tongchen also feel a sense of warmth and admiration towards Qi Yuan.

    Sunfire, the divine fire, can be comprehended by those with destiny.

    This fire can devour all other flames in the world.

    The Sun, which possesses Sunfire, can devour all the stars.

    When he read the last sentence, Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

    Then, he was overjoyed.

    Is this the legendary flame of a certain Fire deity?

    Has my big break finally arrived?

    If I comprehend the Sunfire and fuse it with my Stellar Golden Core, doesn¡¯t that mean my core could devour everything in that universe?

    He looked at Xu Tongchen, eyes gleaming, "Why don''t you just give me that fire?"

    Xu Tongchen was taken aback.

    Isn¡¯t this a bit too blunt?

    He grew wary, "This fire cannot be given away."

    "Give it to me, and you can name your price. Do you have any enemies? I''ll kill them for you. Do you have a ''white moonlight''? I''m the best at pursuing people." Qi Yuan quickly offered.

    He considered himself a beacon of justice, refusing to seize by force or kill without cause to rob others of their treasures.

    Xu Tongchen gave Qi Yuan a strange look, "This fire really cannot be given away."

    The Sunfire was the foundation of his life, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t give it away.

    Moreover, it was something he had comprehended, akin to a divine power¡ªhow could it be given to someone else?

    "Look at your Sunfire¡ªit¡¯s almost treating me like its father," Qi Yuan said, his eyes full of longing as he gazed at the Sunfire.

    Xu Tongchen sighed and dropped the subject, "Fellow cultivator... Do you know why this is happening?"

    He too was puzzled. He didn¡¯t understand why, when near this person, he could feel the Sunfire burning more vigorously within him.

    His Sunfire was continually growing stronger.

    "Because... I am the Sun," Qi Yuan answered matter-of-factly.

    "..."

    "If I meditate on your Sunfire every day, do you think I could comprehend my own Sunfire?" Since he couldn''t take it by force, Qi Yuan sought another way to possess Sunfire.

    "In theory, yes. It took me twenty years to comprehend Sunfire. If I let you meditate on it for half an hour each day, and if your talent is high, you might be able to comprehend it in about twenty years," Xu Tongchen replied earnestly.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s suggestion was outrageous, but Xu Tongchen answered him with patience.

    "Alright then, how about this: each day I¡¯ll meditate on your Sunfire, and in return, I''ll help you kill people. How does that sound? I¡¯m really good at killing¡ªif they deserve it, I won¡¯t let any of them get away."

    Hearing this, Xu Tongchen found the man before him... truly odd.

    Killing people?

    In the Eastern Lands, he would probably be in the top one hundred¡ªa truly famous figure.

    However, the Blood-clad Sword God had appeared suddenly out of the Hundred Nations, with no traceable information about him.

    All that was known was that he was born from the Divine Flower Society and had a grudge against the Bright Palace.

    "You learned to play it, right?" Qi Yuan asked, looking at Xu Ye Li.

    "Yes, senior, I practiced all night. I can play it now," Xu Ye Li answered seriously.

    "In that case, when I go to slay the Bright Palace''s Zifu expert later, you can play music for me," Qi Yuan said casually.

    After all, as a Daoist Foundation established under the Heavenly Way, with a Stellar Golden Core, it was only fitting that there be music played by a Zifu expert during battle to match his status and rank.

    "Senior... shouldn''t we think this through?" Xu Ye Li couldn¡¯t help but suggest, "Senior, you just killed five Zifu experts yesterday¡ªwhy not take some time to rest before making another move? If you act now, you might expose your whereabouts. If the Bright Palace surrounds you, it¡¯ll be hard to escape."

    "What, are you going back on your word?" Qi Yuan glanced at Xu Ye Li, a light smile playing in his eyes.

    Xu Ye Li''s heart skipped a beat, sensing that he was facing a terrifying demon.

    "No... Everything will be done according to your orders, senior," Xu Ye Li replied quickly, not daring to say anything more.

    In truth, he was also very curious about how this senior had managed to kill the Zifu experts.

    After all, Zifu cultivators were notoriously hard to kill.

    Unless the difference in the quality of their original divine powers was too great, or unless their abilities happened to counter each other, most battles would devolve into a prolonged struggle to deplete the Zifu cultivator¡¯s original divine power.

    "Let''s go. This time, my ''white moonlight'' is Mei Yang, who¡¯s alone," Qi Yuan said, transforming into a streak of rainbow light.

    Xu Ye Li followed closely behind.

    At this point, he had already resigned himself to his fate.

    After all, the Bright Palace was planning to betray him.

    He might as well follow the Blood-clad Sword God and do something significant.

    A quarter of an hour later.

    Fenglin City.

    Mei Yang of the Bright Palace read the message from the palace and a cold expression appeared on his face, "So it''s a late-stage Zifu expert... This Blood-clad Sword God is quite troublesome."

    However, when he thought of the three Palace Lords and the Bright Palace¡¯s protective treasures, his worries completely disappeared, "It¡¯s just the last stand of a cornered beast."

    "Elder, should we return to the palace now?" A cautious Nascent Soul officer asked.

    "We haven''t collected all three hundred Yin-born virgin boys'' hearts yet, so there''s no need to rush back to the palace. Are you worried about the Blood-clad Sword God? He just destroyed the Ming King Palace. He¡¯s probably still recovering somewhere, healing his wounds. He won''t show up, and even if he does, it¡¯ll only expose his hidden location," Mei Yang analyzed logically.

    Hearing this, the Nascent Soul officer didn¡¯t press the matter further.

    But at that moment, a mournful and heroic suona sound suddenly echoed throughout Fenglin City.

    Mei Yang frowned.

    A Zifu expert?

    "Which fellow Daoist has come to Fenglin City? I am Mei Yang of the Bright Palace!" Mei Yang ascended into the sky, heading toward the source of the sound.

    His pupils shrank.

    He saw a Zifu expert dressed in black playing the suona, and he also saw a man in a blood-red robe.

    "The Blood... the Blood-clad Sword God..."

    Upon seeing the man, a powerful sense of danger overwhelmed him.

    Without hesitation, he turned to flee.

    Even though he had just reasoned that the Blood-clad Sword God wouldn¡¯t strike again so soon, that he must still be recuperating, the sight of him made Mei Yang realize that the only option was to run.

    Qi Yuan frowned as he watched, "Why does it feel like this is more like a police siren, scaring people off?"

    Without any further hesitation, Qi Yuan drew the sword from his back.

    "The Bright Palace has committed countless atrocities, and they must be punished!"

    "I, the Blood-clad Sword God, shall act on behalf of Heaven!"

    He unleashed his original divine power, the Heart Demon Guidance of the Void Realm Dominator.

    The fleeing Mei Yang suddenly froze.

    It was as if he had fallen into a demonic realm.

    All sorts of negative emotions flooded his spirit.

    "No... The Bright Palace is the true leader of the righteous path!"

    "They all deserve to die, deserve to die!"

    "Don¡¯t come for me!"

    Mei Yang lost his mind, going mad in an instant.

    The suona¡¯s sound suddenly grew more intense.

    Xu Ye Li watched Mei Yang, his eyes filled with fear.

    This Blood-clad Sword God¡¯s original divine power... was terrifying.

    It was the most horrifying divine power he had ever seen.

    This wasn¡¯t a divine power¡ªit was clearly a demon¡¯s temptation!

    "Sigh, I still have to finish him off with a sword¡ªhow dull," Qi Yuan remarked as he observed the dazed Mei Yang.

    His original divine power could only cause Mei Yang to suffer from inner demons for a while; it couldn¡¯t actually kill him.

    He still needed to deliver the final blow.

    With a light push of his sword, Mei Yang, a Zifu expert, met a tragic end.

    The whole affair happened incredibly fast¡ªwithin just three breaths.

    Xu Ye Li''s legs trembled uncontrollably beneath his black robe as he witnessed the scene.

    Is there really such a way to kill a Zifu expert? Isn¡¯t it supposed to be... a slow struggle, gradually depleting the Zifu expert¡¯s original divine power? He looked at the Blood-clad Sword God, his fear deepening.

    "Alright, the person is dead, and I¡¯ve taken his storage bag. We¡¯ll meet again next time," Qi Yuan glanced at Xu Ye Li and then disappeared without a trace.

    Xu Ye Li hurriedly fled as well; there was no way he would dare stay here any longer.

    ...

    Night had deepened, and after seeing Xu Tongchen off from the cave dwelling, Qi Yuan sighed.

    "Sunfire is really hard to comprehend; I still don¡¯t have any clues."

    But Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t discouraged.

    Good things take time.

    As long as he came up with a thorough plan, he could eventually comprehend Sunfire.

    He stopped thinking about Sunfire for the moment and instead opened the jade slip from the Divine Flower Society.

    He had received many friend requests, but he didn¡¯t accept any of them. Instead, he posted another message on the forum.

    Just for fun, I killed a Zifu expert. Let¡¯s all have some fun.

    After posting, he switched to his main account.

    "Rogue Immortal, how much longer until you arrive?"

    "I''m still on the way, ran into some trouble. Should be there in less than ten days."

    "Hurry up. I''m waiting for you to introduce me to some geniuses so I can gain some knowledge. Do you think anyone at the Genius Banquet will look down on me because I come from a poor place and humiliate me?"

    "Origin Heavenly Lord, just don¡¯t reveal your identity," Rogue Immortal replied, clearly afraid that Qi Yuan might expose himself.

    If that happened, Huang Tu would definitely capture Qi Yuan.

    "You make a good point," Qi Yuan thought for a moment and agreed with Rogue Immortal¡¯s suggestion.

    He couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    "If I, a poor guy, pretend to be rich and meet some female geniuses at the banquet, what if they find out I¡¯m actually from a poor background?"

 Chapter 147: Strategies and Genius of the Canglan Realm

    Chapter 147: Strategies and Genius of the Canglan Realm

    "There''s something happening on the spirit boat, Origin Heavenly Sovereign. Let''s talk when we get there."

    The Rogue Immortal quickly logged off after saying this.

    The group chat immediately became quiet.

    Aside from the Rogue Immortal, who was always online, the Great Sun Flame Emperor and Ice Queen were usually only online occasionally.

    Qi Yuan clicked on the forum and immediately saw the post made by his alternate account, the Blood-clad Sword God.

    There were now a lot more comments underneath it.

    "Senior, you really did it!"

    "The Bright Palace has done so much evil¡ªthey deserve to be killed!"

    "Still, try to avoid taking too many risks. If the Zifu experts from the Bright Palace surround you, it could be dangerous. The Bright Palace is powerful, and the Green Cloud Continent is their stronghold. Senior Blood-clad Sword God, you should be cautious."

    "I also have a grudge against the Bright Palace. Blood-clad Sword God, would you like to meet up and discuss taking down the Bright Palace together?"

    There were all sorts of comments below the post.

    Some were just praising him, while others were advising the Blood-clad Sword God to be careful.

    "It''s a pity that the Blood-clad Sword God is just my alternate account. Otherwise, I could boldly say, ''I, Origin Heavenly Sovereign, have a Heavenly Dao Foundation and a Stellar Golden Core. Why would I fear the Bright Palace?''"

    After thinking it over, Qi Yuan used his main account to reply to the post.

    "I, Origin Heavenly Sovereign, with a Heavenly Dao Foundation and a Stellar Golden Core, fully support the Blood-clad Sword God. If needed, I can lend my Stellar Golden Core to the Blood-clad Sword God."

    After replying, Qi Yuan was very pleased with himself. "The people from the Bright Palace must be trembling in fear after seeing my reply!"

    After all, with a Stellar Golden Core supporting the Blood-clad Sword God, how could the Bright Palace possibly stand against him?

    However, after a while, Qi Yuan was stunned.

    There were several more replies under the post.

    "My Immortal Pill Golden Core fully supports the Blood-clad Sword God!"

    "My million Golden Cores fully support the Blood-clad Sword God!"

    "My Nine-turn Golden Core fully supports the Blood-clad Sword God!"

    Qi Yuan looked at these and was dumbfounded. "Can a nine-turn intestine even form a Golden Core?"

    Then, his eyes narrowed. "Those who have the Dao receive much help; those who lose the Dao receive little help. The Blood-clad Sword God is sure to succeed!"

    With so many terrifying Golden Cores, and possibly even a Calculus Golden Core or Quantum Golden Core, all supporting the Blood-clad Sword God, victory was certain!

    Qi Yuan switched to his Blood-clad Sword God account.

    "With so much support, I, the Blood-clad Sword God, will go kill more Zifu experts from the Bright Palace to celebrate."

    He made sure to reply specifically to the Nine-turn Golden Core user.

    At that moment, in a cave dwelling.

    A female cultivator widened her eyes, her face showing signs of panic.

    "Senior, please don''t reply to me!"

    She had just been mimicking the comments of others, but she ended up getting a response.

    Now, it looked like she had incited the Blood-clad Sword God to go kill more Zifu experts from the Bright Palace.

    The Bright Palace was a top-tier force in the entire Eastern Lands.

    Naturally, this female cultivator didn¡¯t want to truly provoke them.

    "The Bright Palace won''t come after me, right?"

    "I''m not even in the Eastern Lands right now, so it should be fine."

    Thinking this, the female cultivator breathed a sigh of relief.

    ...

    Three days passed.

    Qi Yuan was once again clad in his blood-red robe.

    Xu Yeli followed behind him, his expression numb.

    Just before, he had followed the Blood-clad Sword God to yet another Bright Palace stronghold.

    When the suona began to play, a Zifu expert went to their grave.

    That particular stronghold had five Zifu experts.

    It was one of the larger Bright Palace outposts.

    In the end, the Blood-clad Sword God easily slaughtered them.

    For the Blood-clad Sword God, killing Zifu experts was as easy as killing infants.

    Xu Yeli''s body trembled uncontrollably now.

    He had reached the point of no return, completely unable to distance himself from the Blood-clad Sword God.

    "Senior... do you have any strategies for dealing with the Bright Palace?" Xu Yeli now had to think about his future.

    A powerhouse like the Blood-clad Sword God, even if he completely offended the Bright Palace, could just walk away in the end.

    Xu Yeli understood that even if the three Palace Lords of the Bright Palace acted together, they wouldn¡¯t be able to capture the Blood-clad Sword God.

    And with the Blood-clad Sword God continuously slaughtering the Bright Palace''s Zifu experts, those who remained would start to retreat to the Bright Palace headquarters.

    Dozens of Zifu experts, along with the three Palace Lords, would retreat to defend the Bright Palace.

    If the Blood-clad Sword God dared to go there, it would surely be his end.

    So Xu Yeli realized that the Blood-clad Sword God''s feud with the Bright Palace was nearing its conclusion.

    But he himself didn¡¯t have the Blood-clad Sword God''s strength.

    "Deal with the Bright Palace?" Qi Yuan replied casually, "I''ve already made a plan to destroy the Bright Palace within a hundred days, and it''s about to succeed."

    Currently, he was wiping out the Zifu experts outside.

    The remaining Zifu experts from the Bright Palace would undoubtedly retreat to the headquarters.

    That would be Qi Yuan''s opportunity.

    If they didn¡¯t gather together, honestly... they would be hard to kill.

    After all, if a Zifu expert wanted to hide, even Qi Yuan would have trouble finding them.

    Xu Yeli coughed when he heard Qi Yuan''s words, "I look forward to hearing good news from you, Senior."

    Destroying the Bright Palace?

    Xu Yeli didn''t believe it.

    Without divine intervention, who could destroy the Bright Palace?

    He was deeply worried, feeling uncertain about the future.

    Qi Yuan was unaware of Xu Yeli''s thoughts, and even if he knew, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered much to him.

    Having killed five old and charming ''white moonlights,'' Qi Yuan felt his harvest was bountiful this time.

    After returning to his cave dwelling, he quickly logged into his alternate account and returned to the Divine Flower Society forum to post again.

    Five Zifu experts killed to celebrate for fellow Daoists!

    "Sunfire is too conspicuous. The Bright Palace won''t let you keep it forever," Xu Yeli said darkly.

    The Bright Palace had always been overbearing, but they had at least maintained some semblance of propriety.

    But lately, whether it was initiating the Hundred Nations Blood War or anything else, they had been very direct.

    Xu Yeli vaguely sensed that something big might be happening.

    Unfortunately, his level was too low to know exactly what.

    "Master, with the Bright Palace currently dealing with the Blood-clad Sword God, do they still have time to come after my Sunfire?" Xu Tongchen spoke first with frustration, then with excitement.

    Xu Yeli remained silent.

    Xu Tongchen continued, "The Blood-clad Sword God is truly a peerless powerhouse. With just one man and one sword, he has killed nearly ten Zifu experts from the Bright Palace. Including their lackeys, he¡¯s killed more than ten. A peerless powerhouse like that should be the rightful leader of the righteous path in the Green Cloud Continent."

    "But I¡¯m confused¡ªwhy is there always a black-robed Zifu expert playing the suona behind the Blood-clad Sword God during battles? Why doesn¡¯t he help the Blood-clad Sword God? Is he not strong enough?" Xu Tongchen finally voiced his confusion.

    The black-robed suona player seemed like someone who was just there to watch, completely useless.

    "Sigh, why would the Blood-clad Sword God keep such a worthless old servant?"

    Xu Yeli''s expression grew darker and darker.

    Xu Tongchen noticed and quickly asked, "Master, what¡¯s wrong? Has the Bright Palace insulted you again?"

    Xu Yeli glared at Xu Tongchen, "Your master is the worthless old servant you¡¯re talking about!"

    "..." Xu Tongchen was dumbfounded and instantly felt guilty. After a long pause, he became excited again, "Master, you¡¯ve met the Blood-clad Sword God? What¡¯s he like? Is he as noble as the legends say... like a sage?"

    "A sage?" Xu Yeli snorted coldly, "He¡¯s a killing god!"

    Where would you find a sage like that?

    ...

    When Xu Tongchen next arrived outside Qi Yuan''s cave dwelling, he was still in a daze.

    His master was actually the Blood-clad Sword God¡¯s follower.

    The Blood-clad Sword God could offend the Bright Palace and then simply leave.

    But his master couldn¡¯t.

    If they were discovered, the fate of the Qiyan Sect would be dire.

    He was somewhat distracted as he entered Qi Yuan''s cave dwelling.

    "You¡¯re here. Quickly, summon the Sunfire so I can observe it," Qi Yuan urged.

    "Alright." Xu Tongchen summoned the Sunfire.

    For him, it was better to focus on improving his strength rather than worrying about useless things.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze once again fell on the Sunfire.

    He squinted his eyes, carefully examining it.

    At the same time, the small sun in the sky seemed to flicker with a tiny flame.

    After half an hour, Qi Yuan showed a satisfied expression, "Not bad, not bad¡ªI¡¯ve made some progress."

    Xu Tongchen could feel the growing strength of the Sunfire and couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Did Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan gain some insight?"

    "I¡¯ve gained a little insight," Qi Yuan replied seriously.

    Indeed, it was just a little, like how a tricycle can only carry a little.

    Xu Tongchen was stunned.

    It had taken him decades to gain insight into the Sunfire.

    And Qi Yuan had done it in just a few days?

    Was he lying?

    "At this rate, I should be able to fully comprehend it in ten to fifteen days."

    "Alright..." Xu Tongchen hesitated, unsure whether Qi Yuan was telling the truth, but he still said, "If you manage to comprehend the Sunfire before the Eastern Lands Genius Battle, you¡¯ll surely sweep through the competition and rank in the top twenty."

    "Sigh, to be honest, ranking in the top twenty is a bit stressful for me. After all, these geniuses come from noble backgrounds, while I come from humble beginnings. I feel very inferior when I see them," Qi Yuan said.

    Xu Tongchen was speechless.

    Not long ago, he was criticizing his Golden Core for being small, and now he¡¯s feeling inferior?

    "Fortunately, Heaven rewards hard work. I worked tirelessly and finally made it out of the mountains, achieving a Heavenly Dao Foundation. I¡¯ve finally distanced myself from these geniuses."

    So all that talk before was just nonsense.

    Feeling inferior with a Heavenly Dao Foundation? Xu Tongchen was now certain that Qi Yuan had some mental issues¡ªhe spoke like a madman.

    However, when he heard "Heavenly Dao Foundation," he couldn¡¯t help but marvel, "In this Genius Battle, there¡¯s indeed a Heavenly Dao Foundation cultivator named Gu Xiaoyao."

    "A Heavenly Dao Foundation?" Qi Yuan¡¯s expression grew serious, "Is it a perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation or a flawed one?"

    According to Ice Queen, a perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation could speak with the authority of the Dao, causing gods to fall.

    But Qi Yuan, with insufficient talent, only had a flawed Heavenly Dao Foundation.

    This meant that even after achieving a Heavenly Dao Foundation, his strength was pathetically weak.

    At the Foundation Establishment stage, he could only kill Nascent Souls.

    So whenever he encountered a Nascent Soul, he would shout:

    "I have a Heavenly Dao Foundation, what¡¯s wrong with killing a Nascent Soul?"

    He wasn¡¯t bragging; he was expressing his frustration.

    He, a Heavenly Dao Foundation cultivator, could only kill Nascent Souls like dogs.

    Xu Tongchen was puzzled by Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    Since when were there perfect and flawed Heavenly Dao Foundations?

    "Of course, it¡¯s a perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation," Xu Tongchen replied.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression grew even more solemn.

    This time, in the Eastern Lands Genius Battle, he would finally face a terrifying opponent.

    The legendary Heavenly Dao Foundation.

    "Tell me, with my Heavenly Dao Foundation and a Stellar Golden Core, can I defeat this Gu Xiaoyao?" Qi Yuan asked quietly.

    Xu Tongchen shook his head, "Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan, even if you comprehend the Sunfire, you won¡¯t be able to defeat that Heavenly Dao Foundation cultivator."

    Qi Yuan fell silent.

    He was still too weak.

    Should he avoid participating in this Eastern Lands Genius Battle?

    Otherwise, if he encountered that Heavenly Dao Foundation cultivator and couldn¡¯t win, it would be very embarrassing.

    But when he remembered the promise he made to the sect master, he became conflicted.

    He needed to find a way to avoid running into that Heavenly Dao Foundation cultivator.

    "Fellow Daoist, in two days, Huang Tu will be hosting a Fish-Dragon Banquet, and I need to accompany him. I won¡¯t be able to come and cultivate with you, so please bear with me," Xu Tongchen said softly before leaving.

    Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment, "Alright."

    The Fish-Dragon Banquet is starting?

    Isn¡¯t the Rogue Immortal arriving soon?

 Chapter 148: The Fish-Dragon Banquet

    Chapter 148: The Fish-Dragon Banquet

    Inside the Bright Palace, the atmosphere was heavy.

    Last time, there were only about a dozen Purple Mansion experts present.

    Now, there were over thirty Purple Mansion experts gathered¡ªmore than half of the Bright Palace''s total number.

    The expressions on these Purple Mansion experts were grim.

    Third Palace Lord Zi Lan spoke, her voice lacking its usual calmness: "All Purple Mansion experts outside the headquarters, return immediately."

    Previously, when the Blood-clad Sword God had demonstrated late-stage Purple Mansion strength, Zi Lan hadn¡¯t taken it too seriously.

    Purple Mansion cultivators had already comprehended the essence of spiritual energy and awakened their original divine powers.

    Killing them would be difficult.

    Last time, when the Blood-clad Sword God killed five Purple Mansion experts, they assumed he had exhausted his strength and was resting somewhere.

    But then, six more Purple Mansion experts from the Bright Palace fell one after another.

    The situation had escalated far beyond their expectations.

    "Until our confrontation with the Blood-clad Sword God is over, all Purple Mansion experts are to remain at the headquarters," Third Palace Lord Zi Lan ordered.

    The Purple Mansion experts exchanged uneasy glances.

    "How should we deal with this Blood-clad Sword God?" one Purple Mansion cautiously asked.

    "The First Palace Lord is currently negotiating with the Eastern Lands leader of the Divine Flower Society. Until the negotiations are complete, we just need to hold our position at the headquarters," Zi Lan said, a trace of helplessness in her tone.

    As the leading righteous sect of the Green Cloud Continent, the Bright Palace had never been forced into such a humiliating situation.

    But the Blood-clad Sword God was no ordinary late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator.

    He slaughtered Purple Mansion experts with ease.

    "If we... make peace with him, it would be an utter humiliation for our Bright Palace!" one Purple Mansion cultivator remarked, already anticipating the outcome.

    After all, the Blood-clad Sword God''s original divine powers were powerful, and as long as he remained elusive, it would be difficult for the Bright Palace to capture him.

    "Hmph, if he dares to come to our headquarters, we will make sure he has no burial place," another elder declared.

    They were used to being arrogant and found it hard to accept making concessions for the first time.

    "The Blood-clad Sword God isn¡¯t foolish enough to come here and throw his life away," a Purple Mansion elder commented. "Anyone who has reached this level of cultivation is a cunning old fox. It seems we¡¯ll have to swallow our pride this time."

    "It¡¯s his lucky day!" a woman in yellow added.

    The meeting in the Bright Palace quietly came to an end.

    From that day on, no one in the Bright Palace mentioned attacking the Blood-clad Sword God again, nor did anyone dare to bring up his name.

    All the elders and deacons simply waited for the First Palace Lord to return.

    As for the Blood-clad Sword God, who was still active on the Divine Flower Society forum, they could only ignore him.

    ...

    Outside the cave dwelling.

    Jiang Ya¡¯s brow still held a trace of worry.

    The Heaven-level technique that Elder Wutian had taught her had shown no progress in recent times.

    She glanced at Qi Yuan and Kang Fulu, then waved her hand. "Are you two interested in attending the Fish-Dragon Banquet?"

    In Jiang Ya''s hand was an invitation to the Fish-Dragon Banquet.

    Anyone who had been on the Eastern Lands Genius Ranking would receive this invitation to the Fish-Dragon Banquet.

    Kang Fulu''s eyes lit up. "I''m interested!"

    The Fish-Dragon Banquet would feature a live performance of the Fish-Dragon Golden Core Dance, which was much better than a recording.

    Qi Yuan, however, shook his head. "A friend of mine is arriving in Cloud City soon. I need to meet him. He¡¯ll be taking me to the Fish-Dragon Banquet, so I won¡¯t be going with you two."

    Jiang Ya looked at Qi Yuan, a bit surprised.

    Kang Fulu was also surprised. "Junior Brother, you actually have a friend here?"

    "Uh-huh, we met online."

    Kang Fulu was puzzled by the term "online." Did he mean a spider web?

    "Be careful and don¡¯t get scammed," Kang Fulu advised.

    As the senior brother of the Divine Radiance Sect, he felt responsible for looking out for Qi Yuan.

    "Don''t worry," Qi Yuan replied, glancing at the Divine Flower Society''s jade slip.

    He felt uneasy. Why did a simple meetup have to be so complicated?

    The Rogue Immortal hadn¡¯t replied to his messages for two days now.

    Could something have happened to him again?

    ...

    On the spirit boat.

    The Rogue Immortal looked at the man with upturned eyes, concern showing in his gaze. "Senior Brother, are you feeling better?"

    "Cough, cough, much better," the man with upturned eyes replied, his face pale and looking quite weak.

    Seeing this, the Rogue Immortal felt exasperated.

    This senior brother of his loved making new friends.

    As someone ranked on the Eastern Lands Genius List, he was a big deal even on this small flying boat.

    A few days ago, this senior brother had made friends with a female cultivator from the lower Eastern Lands Genius List.

    They quickly ended up in bed together.

    If the Rogue Immortal hadn¡¯t found him, this senior brother would have been drained dry.

    The female cultivator from the lower Eastern Lands Genius List practiced a technique that absorbed yang energy to nourish yin energy, and the man with upturned eyes had fallen victim to it.

    During this time, the Rogue Immortal had to use his own vitality to restore his senior brother''s weakened body.

    After all, this senior brother was their sect''s hope.

    He was also the only cultivator in the sect who had made it onto the main Eastern Lands Genius List.

    "Senior Brother, from now on, stay away from those demonesses," the Rogue Immortal advised earnestly.

    The man with upturned eyes, still a bit shaken, couldn¡¯t help but reminisce. "But those demonesses... they''re so... tempting. Junior Brother, I''ve learned my lesson this time. I won¡¯t make the same mistake again!"

    The Rogue Immortal didn¡¯t believe him at all. This wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened with his senior brother.

    And the sect master never scolded him, which left the Rogue Immortal puzzled.

    At that moment, he decided not to dwell on these troublesome thoughts.

    "We¡¯re almost at Cloud City. My friend said he¡¯d meet me down below," the Rogue Immortal thought of Origin Heavenly Sovereign and grew excited.

    "Mm, bring him along. We¡¯ll go to the Fish-Dragon Banquet together. Sigh, this journey has been full of twists and turns, but at least we¡¯re going to make it to the banquet," the man with upturned eyes said with a sigh.

    Although he had become the ruler of Liufeng Realm, he had mostly stayed in Wugui City and hadn¡¯t visited other places.

    Gao Jien raised his head and said, "Compared to our Zilei City in Lei Xingzhou, this is far inferior. However, the environment is quite elegant, suitable for seclusion."

    Cloud City wasn¡¯t considered a particularly prosperous place even within the Green Cloud Continent.

    Naturally, it couldn¡¯t compare to the most prosperous Zilei City in Lei Xingzhou.

    Qi Yuan looked at Gao Jien with admiration. "As expected of someone from a big place¡ªyou have great knowledge."

    Hearing this flattery, Gao Jien couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit pleased.

    This Origin Heavenly Lord was much more agreeable than Luo Cha.

    This made Gao Jien think that if it weren¡¯t for networking, it might be better to spend more time with "low-status people" in the future¡ªhe would receive more praise that way.

    Unlike Luo Cha, who always verbally attacked him.

    The celestial boat docked, and the three disembarked, heading towards the grand hall of Yunzhong Pavilion.

    Qi Yuan looked around, curious about everything he saw.

    Unfortunately, the crowd was full of young people, with no old men or his "white moonlight."

    Led by a servant girl, the three entered the palace.

    The grand hall was filled with thousands of people.

    "Origin Heavenly Lord, let¡¯s find a quiet place to sit," the Rogue Immortal suggested.

    Although he was talkative in the Divine Flower Society group, in reality, he was somewhat socially anxious and didn¡¯t like interacting with too many people.

    Gao Jien glanced at his junior brother and smiled wryly. "Don¡¯t cause any trouble¡ªI¡¯m going to meet some friends."

    He didn¡¯t insist on bringing his junior brother along to meet people.

    He would let him and his friend catch up instead.

    Qi Yuan sat in a corner and casually picked up a piece of fruit from the table to eat.

    The Rogue Immortal, now relaxed, realized that Origin Heavenly Lord wasn¡¯t much different from him¡ªjust another newbie.

    "Sigh, I wonder when I¡¯ll be able to make it onto the Eastern Lands Genius List," the Rogue Immortal sighed as he looked at the geniuses in the hall.

    "Isn¡¯t that easy?" Qi Yuan glanced around and replied casually.

    "Oh?" The Rogue Immortal was intrigued.

    "All I have to do is kill all the geniuses in this hall, and there will be vacancies on the Eastern Lands Genius List. You¡¯ll definitely make it then. Of course, I might not be able to kill the Heavenly Dao Foundation cultivator, but as for the others, they won¡¯t be able to stop me," Qi Yuan said confidently, genuinely wanting to help the Rogue Immortal.

    The Rogue Immortal¡¯s expression changed. "Origin Heavenly Lord, don¡¯t say such things out loud¡ªtransmit them directly. If others hear you, they might misunderstand!"

    This Origin Heavenly Lord was just like in the group¡ªalways speaking recklessly.

    "It¡¯s a pity that I have no grudge against them. Otherwise, I¡¯d really want to kill them all. That way, I wouldn¡¯t even have to participate in the Eastern Lands Genius Battle to make it onto the list," Qi Yuan sighed.

    Participating in the Eastern Lands Genius Battle could take ten to fifteen days, or even years¡ªQi Yuan really didn¡¯t feel like joining.

    The Rogue Immortal wanted to cover Qi Yuan¡¯s mouth or, better yet, move farther away from him.

    He was genuinely worried that some of the geniuses might get annoyed with Origin Heavenly Sovereign and decide to deal with him.

    Half an hour passed.

    Qi Yuan and the Rogue Immortal had eaten quite a few spiritual fruits by now.

    There were now a few more people at their table.

    These people seemed to be just as uninterested in socializing and had casually found a place to sit.

    "Origin Heavenly Lord, where¡¯s your senior brother?" the Rogue Immortal asked out of boredom.

    "He should be inside," Qi Yuan guessed. Kang Fulu was probably being introduced to some geniuses by Jiang Ya.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t interested in that.

    How could geniuses compare to white moonlight?

    "Inside?" The Rogue Immortal was surprised. "The hall is divided into the inner hall and the outer hall. Only those ranked in the top one hundred on the Genius List can enter the inner hall."

    The others at the table now looked at Qi Yuan with surprise.

    After all, being in the top one hundred on the Eastern Lands Genius List almost guaranteed that one would reach the Zifu Realm.

    Such people were true geniuses wherever they went.

    "Yes, the one who took my senior brother inside is in the top one hundred."

    Qi Yuan remembered that Jiang Lingsu had told him her sister, Jiang Ya, was ranked seventeenth on the Eastern Lands Genius List.

    At that moment, a woman at the table spoke up. "Why don¡¯t you ask your friend to take us into the inner hall as well?"

    The others also looked at Qi Yuan, their expressions varied.

    Qi Yuan glanced at them but didn¡¯t respond.

    He had no relationship with these people.

    If the Rogue Immortal had asked, he might have agreed.

    Seeing that Qi Yuan didn¡¯t respond, the woman felt awkward, and the others looked at him with a hint of mockery in their eyes.

    The group secretly transmitted messages, discussing something among themselves.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t pay them any mind, happily continuing to eat spiritual fruits with the Rogue Immortal.

    Just then, a phoenix cry suddenly echoed through the hall.

    A group of dozens of geniuses emerged from the inner hall.

    At the forefront was Huang Tu, whose ranking wasn¡¯t the highest, but as the host from the Green Cloud Continent, the others gave him face.

    Huang Tu''s face was beaming with a smile, looking as if he was on top of the world, with no sign of the grief from his master¡¯s recent death.

    He strode forward, his expression full of respect. "Heavenly Soul Fairy, it¡¯s an honor to have you here. Please, come inside!"

    The phoenix cry signaled the arrival of a top-ten figure from the Genius List.

    Heavenly Soul Fairy, dressed in a black combat outfit that accentuated her curves, caught the gaze of nearly every genius in the outer hall.

    Heavenly Soul Fairy was ranked eighth on the Eastern Lands Genius List.

    She was someone to be admired!

    The Rogue Immortal looked at Heavenly Soul Fairy with admiration. "Heavenly Soul Fairy has an Immortal-grade Foundation. If her family had a Yin God, she might have achieved a Heavenly Dao Foundation."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan''s gaze toward Heavenly Soul Fairy grew more serious. "It seems that talent alone isn¡¯t enough¡ªyou also need the right background."

    The others at the table also watched Heavenly Soul Fairy with admiration. The woman who had spoken earlier sighed, "Now, this is a true genius, someone who could shape the future of the Eastern Lands. Given ten thousand years, she might become someone like the Blood-clad Sword God."

    "Shh, we¡¯re in the Green Cloud Continent¡ªdon¡¯t mention the Blood-clad Sword God here," someone quickly reminded her.

    The Rogue Immortal was taken aback.

    Even these geniuses knew about the Blood-clad Sword God?

 Chapter 149: Speak Quickly, the Dragon King Invites the Crooked Mouth

    Chapter 149: Speak Quickly, the Dragon King Invites the Crooked Mouth

    When the Blood-Robed Sword God was mentioned, the expressions of those present changed subtly.

    A Taoist technique was employed, temporarily isolating the communication here.

    "Fellow Daoist, how dare you wear a blood robe? Aren¡¯t you afraid that the host, Huang Tu, will see it and cause trouble for you?

    The Radiant Palace can¡¯t trouble the Blood-Robed Sword God, but they can trouble you," a male cultivator named Zhao Buyu, who was sitting at the same table, said softly.

    He was also the only one at this table who was on the Eastern Land''s Genius List, and therefore, received the most attention from those present.

    The others also looked towards Qi Yuan.

    Currently, there were two matters in Cuiyun Continent that attracted the most attention.

    The first was the Eastern Land Genius Battle.

    The second was the feud between the Blood-Robed Sword God and the Radiant Palace.

    However, because the second event happened so quickly, many of the geniuses who had just arrived in Cuiyun Continent were not aware of it.

    Qi Yuan was a bit dazed when he heard this.

    Just because he was afraid that he would be looked down upon at the banquet, he decided not to attend as himself.

    But now, even after donning the identity of the Blood-Robed Sword God, he was still being targeted?

    Isn''t this too much?

    Beside him, the Rogue Immortal Venerable murmured, "You guys also know about the Blood-Robed Sword God?"

    His knowledge of the Blood-Robed Sword God was limited to what he had heard earlier.

    "We¡¯re not from the Sacred Flower Society." The five people present shook their heads.

    The woman at the table looked puzzled. "What does this have to do with the Sacred Flower Society? The Blood-Robed Sword God has recently arrived in Cuiyun Continent.

    Wherever he goes, gods and buddhas fall. I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s already killed dozens of Radiant Palace Purple Mansion cultivators.

    Unfortunately, we have never had the chance to witness the Blood-Robed Sword God''s glory, and there¡¯s no recording stone that has captured his appearance."

    She spoke excitedly, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

    Whenever the Blood-Robed Sword God appears, the suona horn blows, and Purple Mansions fall.

    However, those who have seen the true appearance of the Blood-Robed Sword God are very few.

    But when those people are asked to describe the Blood-Robed Sword God''s appearance, they find it impossible.

    Beside her, the Rogue Immortal Venerable was utterly stunned, and he transmitted his voice, "Origin Celestial Sovereign, what are they talking about?"

    "They''re exaggerating," Qi Yuan replied sincerely.

    The Rogue Immortal Venerable sighed in relief upon hearing this, but then Qi Yuan continued.

    "I haven''t killed dozens of Purple Mansion cultivators from the Radiant Palace. I¡¯ve only killed nine," Qi Yuan transmitted back.

    The Rogue Immortal Venerable: "..."

    Now, he was completely bewildered.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God had killed nine Purple Mansion cultivators?

    In his sect on the Thunderwalking Continent, there were only five Purple Mansion cultivators in total.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God...

    At this moment, his mind was in turmoil, unable to think clearly.

    The woman who had spoken earlier looked at Qi Yuan and said, "Fellow Daoist, you should heed Brother Buyu¡¯s advice and change your attire to avoid causing trouble."

    The Rogue Immortal Venerable glanced at Qi Yuan, looking conflicted. "Maybe we should just leave?"

    His mind was still in disarray.

    Everything before him seemed like a hallucination, unreal.

    Qi Yuan replied, "The Fish-Dragon Golden Elixir Dance hasn''t started yet. I''m not leaving."

    He was still waiting to see the Fish-Dragon Golden Elixir Dance and record it for Little Jia to see.

    The woman looked at Qi Yuan, seeing that her advice was futile, and decided not to say anything more.

    After all, they had just met by chance.

    At the table, Qi Yuan continued eating spirit fruits.

    At this moment, not far away, dozens of geniuses were welcoming the Celestial Maiden of Heavenly Soul.

    Huang Tu¡¯s face was full of smiles.

    But behind him, Xu Tongchen¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere.

    Just now, the True Solar Flame within him suddenly flared up.

    It felt as if Qi Yuan was nearby.

    However, after a quick scan, he did not find any trace of Qi Yuan.

    Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a figure in a blood-red robe.

    A peculiar expression appeared in his eyes.

    "Qi Yuan?"

    Although that person looked nothing like Qi Yuan.

    However, the feeling he got from the True Solar Flame was identical to what he had felt from Qi Yuan before.

    He was almost certain that it was Qi Yuan.

    "Why is he dressed like that?"

    Xu Tongchen was puzzled.

    At the same time, he quickly averted his gaze.

    He was afraid that Huang Tu would see Qi Yuan dressed like that.

    Of course, Xu Tongchen had no idea that at this moment, Qi Yuan was unintentionally using the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra.

    Unless someone intentionally looked at him, they would unconsciously ignore him.

    It was as if he didn¡¯t exist.

    Meanwhile, on the high tower, two Nascent Soul cultivators sneakily glanced at the figure in the blood-red robe and quickly averted their gaze. "Is it him?"

    The two Nascent Soul cultivators were as nervous as eavesdropping shrimp-heads.

    They were from the Cloud Court and were responsible for maintaining order at this Fish-Dragon Banquet.

    They paid close attention to all the geniuses at the banquet.

    While observing, the figure in the blood-red robe caught their eye.

    Both of them were startled.

    "I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never seen the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    But him... I can¡¯t see through him," said the taller Nascent Soul cultivator, a look of apprehension on his face.

    Nowadays, in Cuiyun Continent, any high-level cultivator who wasn¡¯t in seclusion knew of the Blood-Robed Sword God''s fearsome reputation.

    More than ten Purple Mansions, killed just like that.

    Such strength made him a terror even in the Eastern Lands.

    "Tishu will be here soon. He¡¯s seen the Blood-Robed Sword God once and might be able to recognize him," said the shorter Nascent Soul cultivator.

    The idea of the Blood-Robed Sword God attending the Fish-Dragon Banquet was beyond belief.

    Currently, many forces in Cuiyun Continent had their eyes on the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    In secret, countless Purple Mansion cultivators wished to establish a connection with him.

    After all, the Radiant Palace was extremely tyrannical, and many forces in Cuiyun Continent would love to see it fall.

    Of course, they knew the Blood-Robed Sword God could not destroy the Radiant Palace.

    But any damage he could inflict on the Radiant Palace would be welcome.

    The two Nascent Soul cultivators occasionally glanced at Qi Yuan, silently hoping that Tishu would arrive soon.

    They didn¡¯t dare to face the Blood-Robed Sword God, a notorious killer, on their own.

    If it really was him, and he lost control and slaughtered all the geniuses at the banquet, it would be a disaster.

    ...

    "Do you think he could actually be the Blood-Robed Sword God?"

    "Impossible. A high-ranking expert like the Blood-Robed Sword God wouldn¡¯t waste time coming to our Fish-Dragon Banquet to watch a Golden Elixir dance, right? If he wanted to, any Core Formation female cultivator would go to his room and dance."

    The geniuses whispered among themselves.

    Many were watching Qi Yuan with a mindset of enjoying the spectacle.

    At this moment, Huang Tu, clad in a yellow robe, stepped out from the inner hall, surrounded by dozens of geniuses, his face dark with anger.

    He looked at Zheng Fangxing¡¯s shattered body on the ground, then at Qi Yuan, and said hoarsely, "Fellow Daoist... you¡¯ve gone too far."

    Beside Zheng Fangxing, Xu Tongchen was filled with anxiety.

    Qi Yuan... was too fierce!

    Killing someone at the Fish-Dragon Banquet?

    He was racking his brains, trying to figure out how to save Qi Yuan¡¯s life.

    "How have I gone too far? He wanted to kill me, so I killed him first," Qi Yuan said lazily, always advocating for revenge without delay. "What about you? Are you here to avenge him?"

    As he spoke, he glanced at the numerous geniuses behind Huang Tu.

    "Are you all here to avenge him?"

    The geniuses looked at each other, clearly not expecting this blood-robed man to be so bold.

    Was he challenging them all?

    At this moment, Gao Ji¡¯en wore a long face, looking more dejected than anyone else.

    When he had arrived, his junior disciple had mentioned that his friend was a bit crazy, different from others.

    This wasn¡¯t just a bit crazy; this was madness beyond belief.

    A single man dared to provoke dozens of geniuses.

    "If you¡¯re all here to avenge him, then... that makes you my enemies. And I¡¯ll have to... kill you all." Qi Yuan said this nonchalantly and even glanced at the Rogue Immortal Venerable. "If I kill them all, do you think you could get on the Eastern Land''s Genius List?"

    The Rogue Immortal Venerable was speechless, unable to find words.

    Zhao Buyu, who was sitting at the table, discreetly moved further away from Qi Yuan.

    After all, this person clearly had issues and was likely a disciple of the Obsession Sect.

    Huang Tu¡¯s face was now terrifyingly dark.

    Beside him, Xu Tongchen hurriedly said, "Do you know who he is? He¡¯s ranked 27th on the Eastern Land''s Genius List, someone you cannot afford to offend!"

    He frantically gave Qi Yuan a look, hoping Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t be too arrogant and provoke everyone¡¯s wrath.

    Qi Yuan lazily replied, "Right now, it¡¯s not me offending him, but him offending me.

    Of course, I¡¯m not one to kill the innocent. You can leave now and pretend none of this happened.

    I¡¯ll take care of the corpse, so it won¡¯t bother you.

    Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m very experienced at handling corpses."

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan took out a bottle of Corpse Dissolving Water and casually poured it over Zheng Fangxing¡¯s body in front of everyone.

    As he poured, Qi Yuan sighed.

    Indeed, power is a man¡¯s greatest beauty and confidence.

    Back then, when he used Corpse Dissolving Water on Yu Linglong, he had to do it secretly.

    Now, he could do it openly in front of everyone.

    The expressions of the crowd grew even more peculiar.

    Huang Tu¡¯s face was now dark as night. "If you can walk out of the Fish-Dragon Banquet today, I, Huang Tu, don¡¯t deserve to be on the Genius List."

    And then, as soon as he finished speaking, Qi Yuan suddenly disappeared from the table.

    Everyone looked at each other, bewildered.

    Where did he go?

    Did he run away?

    The geniuses were astonished, surprised by Qi Yuan''s speed.

    To vanish from everyone¡¯s sight like that, his strength was definitely not that of an unknown figure on the Genius List.

    "Even if you¡¯re in the top 20 of the Genius List, I, Huang Tu, will not let you go!" Huang Tu looked at the empty seat, his gaze sweeping over the Rogue Immortal Venerable and Gao Ji¡¯en, his eyes brimming with killing intent.

    At that moment, a lazy voice called out, "I already walked out of the Fish-Dragon Banquet, and now I¡¯ve walked back in. Shouldn¡¯t you take yourself off the Genius List? Could you be... removed from the list?

    If so, maybe my brother could make it onto the official Genius List."

    Qi Yuan appeared again, his words shocking everyone as he glanced at the Rogue Immortal Venerable.

    "......"

    "......"

    The scene fell into silence.

    Many people looked at Qi Yuan, finding it unbelievable.

    This guy... was quite a character, wasn¡¯t he?

    The Rogue Immortal Venerable was on the verge of tears, deeply moved this time.

    Huang Tu¡¯s face turned ashen. "Today, you will die."

    At that moment, Huang Tu suddenly attacked Qi Yuan.

    The other geniuses stood by, watching as if it were a

    spectacle.

    However, just as Huang Tu made his move, a hurried voice rang out.

    "Stop!"

    A sharp aura spread throughout the Fish-Dragon Banquet, causing all the geniuses present to suddenly feel unstable in their cultivation.

    They sensed that their spiritual energy circulation had become sluggish, as if they had been reduced from geniuses to mere mortals.

    "Purple Mansion?"

    The geniuses were astonished. Why would a Purple Mansion cultivator appear at the Fish-Dragon Banquet?

    A figure descended into the hall, and with a casual wave, stopped Huang Tu in his tracks.

    The geniuses in the room looked at the new arrival with a mix of confusion and awe.

    "It¡¯s the Lord of the Cloud Court!"

    "A senior in the mid-stage Purple Mansion!"

    The gazes of the geniuses towards the Purple Mansion cultivator changed instantly.

    Although they were geniuses, and the top hundred on the Genius List were guaranteed to progress on the path of cultivation without major obstacles, eventually reaching the Purple Mansion stage, they were not there yet.

    For now, a Purple Mansion cultivator was still a figure far above them, someone immensely powerful and out of reach.

    The Lord of the Cloud Court entered the hall, casting a respectful glance at Qi Yuan.

    "Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, there¡¯s no need to engage with these juniors."

    The words sent a collective gasp through the room.

    This blood-robed man... was the Blood-Robed Sword God?

    The woman who had been sitting at Qi Yuan''s table was utterly shocked.

    Gao Ji¡¯en was also dumbfounded, feeling as though his mind was in chaos.

    Xu Tongchen was equally stunned.

    Qi Yuan was the Blood-Robed Sword God?

    He felt completely disoriented.

    Is my master actually the old servant of my friend?

    The relationships suddenly seemed very confusing.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked around at the many eyes filled with respect and shock, his emotions swelling with pride.

    He turned to the Lord of the Cloud Court, smiling.

    "Quickly say it, the Dragon King invites the Crooked Mouth."

 Chapter 150: The Great Calamity Approaches, News from the Moon Watching Continent

    Chapter 150: The Great Calamity Approaches, News from the Moon Watching Continent

    "..."

    The Master of Cloud Court remained silent.

    He didn¡¯t quite understand.

    The Dragon King with a crooked mouth? What does that mean?

    "Sigh, there''s definitely a generation gap between us and you old folks," Qi Yuan sighed upon seeing the Master of Cloud Court remain reticent.

    He had come to understand something.

    No wonder the "white moonlight" always remained "white moonlight" and could never be elevated¡ªit''s because of the generation gap due to old age.

    The Master of Cloud Court''s mouth twitched. "Senior, you sure know how to joke."

    As he spoke, he looked toward Huang Tu beside him. "Could Senior perhaps spare this young man''s life as a favor to me?"

    At this moment, Huang Tu¡¯s eyes were filled with intense fear.

    How could the blood-robed man before him possibly be the Blood-Robed Sword God? The Blood-Robed Sword God, who was like a nightmare, someone he wished to tear apart and devour, was standing right next to him, yet he didn¡¯t dare to harbor any resentment; his body was trembling uncontrollably.

    This was because the Blood-Robed Sword God was truly a fearsome killer.

    "Why should I do you this favor? He wanted to kill me, so I killed him. That''s only natural," Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly, glancing at Huang Tu.

    The geniuses around Huang Tu felt as if they were plunged into an icy pit. They quickly distanced themselves from him, viewing him as a plague.

    "If Senior kills Huang Tu, then... it will be difficult to reconcile with the Bright Palace," the Master of Cloud Court warned. "This battle of geniuses is crucial, and Huang Tu is the only hope for the Bright Palace to make it into the top twenty."

    "Oh, he¡¯s from the Bright Palace? And he¡¯s that important to them?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    No wonder Huang Tu looked familiar¡ªit turned out he was a junior from the "white moonlight."

    "More important than a Purple Mansion cultivator, even... comparable to a Palace Master," the Master of Cloud Court emphasized Huang Tu¡¯s significance.

    It seemed that he genuinely wanted to save Huang Tu.

    Hoping that the Blood-Robed Sword God would spare his life for this reason.

    Qi Yuan was speechless. So the people of the Bright Palace couldn¡¯t survive without Huang Tu? Can¡¯t they just watch a video?

    A cold smile appeared on Qi Yuan¡¯s face. "All the more reason to kill him."

    With a flick of his finger, a spell flew toward Huang Tu.

    The Master of Cloud Court¡¯s face changed, and he tried to intervene.

    Unfortunately, the gap in strength between him and the Blood-Robed Sword God was too great; he couldn¡¯t stop Qi Yuan¡¯s attack.

    Even if he tried, he would be injured.

    The spell struck, and Huang Tu''s gaze froze.

    His body went limp, collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

    The Master of Cloud Court¡¯s face grew particularly grim.

    The geniuses present were all terrified.

    This Blood-Robed Sword God was beyond reason.

    He truly killed this genius!

    He didn¡¯t care at all about being criticized for bullying the weak.

    With Huang Tu dead, the Master of Cloud Court sighed. "Senior, was it necessary to strain relations with the Bright Palace like this?"

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t respond to the Master of Cloud Court but instead clapped his hands and looked at Rogue Immortal Sovereign. "Another one bites the dust. Your rank on the genius list just went up a notch. How far are you from the main list now? Want me to kill a few more?"

    Upon hearing this, the other geniuses turned pale with fear, retreating several steps.

    Was this Blood-Robed Sword God insane?

    Rogue Immortal Sovereign was completely stunned. He forced a smile that looked worse than crying. "No... no need."

    Beside him, Gao Jien stood frozen, not daring to move.

    If it weren¡¯t for the presence of two Purple Mansion cultivators, he would have already rushed over to ask his junior brother what the deal was with this Blood-Robed Sword God.

    The Master of Cloud Court looked at Qi Yuan and slowly spoke, "Actually, there¡¯s another message from the Bright Palace that they asked me to convey to Senior."

    "Are you a lackey of the Bright Palace?" A wave of killing intent swept over Qi Yuan.

    After all, it was the "white moonlight," very valuable.

    "No, no," sweat formed on the Master of Cloud Court''s forehead as he sensed a crisis. "I have no affiliation with the Bright Palace."

    Hearing this, the killing intent around Qi Yuan faded.

    "Senior, could we speak privately?" the Master of Cloud Court suggested.

    Some things are best not transmitted in public.

    "Hmm, alright. We can even take two steps," Qi Yuan nodded, then looked at Rogue Immortal Sovereign. "Rogue Immortal Sovereign, when the Fish Dragon Gold Pill Dance begins, make sure to record it for me. Thanks."

    After speaking, Qi Yuan and the Master of Cloud Court disappeared, leaving behind a crowd of awestruck and terrified geniuses.

    Rogue Immortal Sovereign sat there dazed, his mind a mess.

    The other geniuses looked at him with envy.

    Gao Jien quickly transmitted a message, asking, "Junior Brother, what¡¯s going on with this Blood-Robed Sword God and the Bright Palace? Should we make a run for it and head back to Thunder Realm Continent?"

    "Senior Brother... I¡¯m not really sure either," Rogue Immortal Sovereign replied, still feeling confused.

    Meanwhile, in the cavern, a faint incense burned, giving the entire residence a touch of immortal aura.

    Qi Yuan, clad in a blood-red robe, blood energy emanating from him, looked at the Master of Cloud Court. "Speak, what is it?"

    "Sigh, Senior should not have killed Huang Tu. This has completely offended the Bright Palace," the Master of Cloud Court began.

    "I''ve already offended them," Qi Yuan said indifferently.

    He was planning to destroy the Bright Palace anyway; why would he care about offending them? What¡¯s the point of fearing dead enemies?

    Even in this world of cultivation, if he destroyed his enemies'' bodies and souls, they couldn¡¯t come back as ghosts.

    "Senior may not know how important it is for the Bright Palace to have someone enter the top twenty in this Eastern Continent Geniuses Battle."

    "Isn''t it just to gain entry into a new world?" Qi Yuan asked, surprised.

    The Master of Cloud Court was taken aback. "If Senior knows that, then shouldn''t you know what it implies?"

    "Oh? What does it imply?" Qi Yuan asked, confused. "Don¡¯t give me riddles; just explain."

    The Master of Cloud Court¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    It seemed the Blood-Robed Sword God truly didn¡¯t know.

    But... shouldn¡¯t every top power in each continent, or at least the legitimate major forces, be aware of this?

    "Oh dear, Daoist Xu, you saw my junior brother and didn¡¯t tell me? Were you too intimidated by the killing intent of the Blood-Robed Sword God?" Kang Fulu¡¯s expression grew serious.

    "This Blood-Robed Sword God... he and I both hail from the Hundred Nations. His strength is truly terrifying. I wonder where he slaughtered so many people to cultivate such blood energy. Such a peerless killer is probably quite reclusive. Most people wouldn¡¯t dare stay near him for long. Who knows when the Blood-Robed Sword God might kill them?"

    Xu Tongchen remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

    Qi Yuan looked at Kang Fulu. "Senior Brother, the Blood-Robed Sword God is actually a nice person. He¡¯s not interested in killing young people; he only likes killing old folks."

    Kang Fulu rolled his eyes at Qi Yuan. He had seen the Blood-Robed Sword God kill geniuses as if they were nothing. What would a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like Qi Yuan know about the Blood-Robed Sword God?

    "Alright, you two should go cultivate," he said, too lazy to argue with Qi Yuan.

    "Okay," Qi Yuan agreed.

    Last time, he had felt a resonance with the True Sun Fire.

    This time, he intended to fully grasp the True Sun Fire.

    Following Qi Yuan, Xu Tongchen entered the cavern.

    This time, his mindset was completely different from before.

    Previously, he had treated Qi Yuan as an equal, but as a genius ranked in the top thirty, his pride occasionally surfaced.

    But now, all that pride was gone, replaced entirely by reverence and fear.

    "Bring out the True Sun Fire. This time, I must comprehend it," Qi Yuan ordered.

    Hearing the senior''s command, Xu Tongchen immediately summoned the True Sun Fire.

    Qi Yuan''s expression became serious and focused as he entered the zone.

    Before him, the True Sun Fire, dark within and bright on the outside, emitted a golden glow.

    Qi Yuan stared at the True Sun Fire as if he were standing within a sun itself.

    Inside the sun, powerful flames burned furiously, as if they could incinerate everything.

    The flames seemed to notice Qi Yuan¡¯s presence, burning even more fiercely, looking more excited.

    Almost as if a daughter had met her sugar daddy.

    "True Sun Fire, you are my True Sun Fire," Qi Yuan murmured, repeating the phrase.

    Suddenly, a spark of the True Sun Fire leaped out, flying into Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes brightened, a flicker of flame dancing in his pupils.

    A look of joy appeared on his face. "I¡¯ve comprehended the True Sun Fire!"

    Hearing this, Xu Tongchen was shocked, but remembering that this was the Blood-Robed Sword God, his surprise diminished somewhat. "Congratulations, Senior! Congratulations!"

    In truth, Xu Tongchen was also curious.

    Why would a Purple Mansion powerhouse who had already comprehended his primordial divine ability still be interested in learning his True Sun Fire?

    Even if he mastered it, it would only be a powerful ordinary divine ability, useful only for killing Infant Souls, and would be useless against a fellow Purple Mansion cultivator.

    Of course, these thoughts stayed in his mind; he would never voice them.

    "It¡¯s been tough for you, but it¡¯s a win-win," Qi Yuan said casually.

    He was well aware that standing next to him had nourished the True Sun Fire for Xu Tongchen.

    The other guy must have thought of him as an old man.

    But Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care.

    "Senior... then I¡¯ll take my leave," Xu Tongchen hesitated before testing the waters.

    "Hmm," Qi Yuan nodded. He knew Xu Tongchen had recognized his identity but didn¡¯t mind.

    After all, Xu Tongchen¡¯s teacher was a member of his music band.

    When he went to take down the Bright Palace, he¡¯d have to bring him along.

    After Xu Tongchen left, Qi Yuan entered the Divine Flower Society¡¯s jade slip once more.

    During this period, he had been posting on the Divine Flower Society forum, live-streaming his plans to destroy the Bright Palace.

    Many people had supported him.

    This time, he logged in with his main account and entered the Divine Flower Society Four Emperors chat group.

    As soon as he joined, he saw Rogue Immortal Sovereign bragging.

    "You guys don¡¯t know, Origin Heavenly Lord is a true big shot!"

    "When I met him initially, he was so down-to-earth that I thought he was a total newbie. Then, when the Purple Mansion cultivators appeared, they acted like dogs in front of Origin Heavenly Lord! I was completely shocked! Origin Heavenly Lord is a true big shot!"

    "Before he left, Origin Heavenly Lord asked me to record the Fish Dragon Gold Pill Dance. And during the performance, I was allowed to stand right on the stage. If it weren¡¯t for so many people... no, if it weren¡¯t for remembering Origin Celestial Lord¡¯s instructions, I would have done something... inappropriate."

    "I could tell from the beginning that Origin Heavenly Lord wasn¡¯t ordinary. I¡¯m just waiting for the Bright Palace to be destroyed," Ice Empress commented in the group.

    "Ice Empress, you won¡¯t have to wait long. My plan to destroy the Bright Palace is already in its final stages. In a few days, I¡¯ll go and annihilate them," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    By now, everyone in the Bright Palace had retreated to their headquarters.

    It was said that the First Palace Master would return soon, and Qi Yuan intended to wipe them out in one fell swoop.

    "Wow, the big shot is here! Let me pour you some tea!" Rogue Immortal welcomed him warmly.

    "Origin Heavenly Lord, you¡¯re here?" Great Sun Flame Emperor sent a message in the group.

    Qi Yuan saw that his private messages were blinking.

    It was a message from the Great Sun Flame Emperor.

    "Origin Heavenly Lord, are you really going to destroy the Bright Palace?"

    "Hmm, the plan is already in motion; how could it be left unfinished?" Qi Yuan replied.

    He was curious why the Great Sun Flame Emperor would private message him.

    "The Bright Palace is no ordinary force. It has deep ties with a Yin God," the Great Sun Flame Emperor cautioned.

    "Even if the Buddha himself showed up, he couldn¡¯t stop me!" Qi Yuan declared.

    Seeing this, the Great Sun Flame Emperor knew that Origin Celestial Lord had made up his mind. He said:

    "Your conflict with the Bright Palace has caught the attention of the higher-ups in the Divine Flower Society. The Society¡¯s President will likely try to add your Blood-Robed Sword God account as a friend."

    "Is that so? I¡¯ll check later and accept the request."

    It''s important to give face to a forum moderator, after all.

    "Origin Celestial Lord... if a Yin God from the Bright Palace comes after you, just mention the name Feng Jun (Wind Monarch). It might save you from a calamity," the Great Sun Flame Emperor finally advised.

    To be honest, he didn¡¯t think Origin Heavenly Lord could actually destroy the Bright Palace.

    He feared that Origin Heavenly Lord¡¯s temperament might provoke that Yin God.

 Chapter 151: Heâ€™s Truly Gone Mad, Killing the Messenger of the Yin God!

    Chapter 151: He¡¯s Truly Gone Mad, Killing the Messenger of the Yin God!

    When Qi Yuan heard what the Great Sun Flame Emperor said, his heart felt warm.

    ¡°If any Yin God tries to harm me, I will definitely mention the name of Feng Jun.¡±

    His friends were really kind.

    Unfortunately, he was still too weak at the moment and could only cling to the big shots, unable to relieve them of their burdens.

    After finishing his conversation with the Great Sun Flame Emperor, Qi Yuan switched to his Blood-Clad Sword God account.

    There were indeed many friend requests on this account.

    ¡°Is this the Flower Society''s East Continent Master?

    As expected, a big shot is indeed a big shot, not even bothering to change his ID.¡±

    He accepted the friend request from the account named "Flower Society East Continent Master."

    Not long after, a message arrived.

    ¡°Fellow Daoist Blood-Clad Sword God, do you have some time?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I never expected that our Flower Society''s East Continent branch would gain such a strong figure like the Blood-Clad Sword God.¡± The East Continent Master started with some flattery.

    This made Qi Yuan feel a bit embarrassed, so he directly asked, ¡°What can I do for you, Master?¡±

    ¡°Fellow Daoist, could you consider settling the dispute with the Bright Palace?¡±

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan was displeased.

    ¡°The Bright Palace and I have a deep blood feud; it cannot be settled!¡±

    Was this East Continent Master of the Flower Society here to play peacemaker?

    ¡°It¡¯s just a minor grievance; why can¡¯t you let it go?

    You are strong, yes, but two fists can''t fight four hands. The Bright Palace has dozens of Purple Mansion experts gathered, led by three late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators. If you go, you¡¯re just courting death.¡±

    What the East Continent Master said was true, and this was also the general consensus among most Purple Mansion cultivators.

    Currently, the feud between the Blood-Clad Sword God and the Bright Palace was believed by almost all the strong ones to be at a stalemate until one side produced a Yin God.

    On one hand, the Blood-Clad Sword God was too powerful and had no attachments, making it difficult for the Bright Palace to deal with him quickly.

    On the other hand, the Bright Palace was too powerful; now that they had withdrawn, if the Blood-Clad Sword God went to provoke them, it would be a death wish.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already posted that I¡¯ll wipe out the entire Bright Palace. If I don¡¯t go now, wouldn¡¯t that be a huge loss of face?¡± Qi Yuan responded matter-of-factly.

    This response left the East Continent Master of the Flower Society at a loss.

    ¡°If you are willing to reconcile, the three Palace Masters of the Light Palace will personally apologize to you.

    The Bright Palace is also willing to offer several techniques and treasures as compensation.¡± The East Continent Master continued, ¡°The exact compensation will need to be discussed between you and the Light Palace.

    In ten days, at the Feixian Tower, the Bright Palace will host the Banquet of a Hundred Immortals to apologize to you. At that time, you can send a wisp of your essence to discuss the specific compensation details with the Palace Masters of the Bright Palace.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan chuckled.

    Was this still the same arrogant Light Palace he had known?

    ¡°I still prefer their original arrogant attitude.¡±

    Arrogant, aloof, and high and mighty¡ªthose traits are much more enticing to conquer, aren¡¯t they?

    ¡°If they want to talk to me, they can start by stopping the Hundred Nations Blood War and then have each of the Purple Mansions commit suicide.¡± Qi Yuan made a ridiculously excessive demand.

    The East Continent Master of the Flower Society fell silent.

    Is this what you call negotiating?

    ¡°Blood-Clad Sword God, are you really unwilling to meet and talk?¡± The East Continent Master¡¯s tone carried some helplessness.

    ¡°Do you think my demands are too excessive?

    If they aren''t even willing to kill themselves, they have no sincerity at all. Why bother with reconciliation?¡±

    ¡°Meet? No need for Feixian Tower.

    In seven days, I¡¯ll go to the Bright Palace headquarters myself; let them clean their necks and wait.¡± Qi Yuan said domineeringly.

    After speaking, he posted a message on the God Flower Society forum.

    ¡°In seven days, I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, representing justice, will flatten the Bright Palace!¡±

    This time, his intent to annihilate the Bright Palace garnered much support.

    Qi Yuan finally sent out his death notice.

    After posting, Qi Yuan felt refreshed.

    ¡°Now, the Bright Palace should all be holed up in their headquarters, making it the perfect time to strike.¡±

    After the post was up, it quickly received numerous comments.

    ¡°Is the senior serious?¡±

    ¡°Witnessing history!¡±

    ¡°Mighty senior, I¡¯ve long been displeased with the Bright Palace.¡±

    ¡°Senior, perhaps you should reconsider?¡±

    Seeing the comments below, Qi Yuan¡¯s battle intent surged.

    ¡°As expected, the people are with me, justice is with me.¡±

    However, when he saw some pessimistic comments, listing the strength of the Bright Palace and arguing that the Blood-Clad Sword God couldn¡¯t possibly wipe out the Bright Palace, Qi Yuan¡¯s face turned a bit ugly.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I mute them?¡±

    ¡°Although they make some valid points, it¡¯s just so annoying to look at.¡±

    At this moment, Qi Yuan understood, it¡¯s a good thing he¡¯s not an emperor; if he were, he¡¯d definitely be a tyrant, unable to tolerate any lengthy, loyal advice.

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment and replied to his die-hard fan Little Li from the Fox Den with a single sentence.

    ¡°This time, in wiping out the Bright Palace, I¡¯ll count you as contributing.¡±

    Far away, Little Li from the Fox Den was dumbfounded.

    ¡°Big shot, I was just here to cheer you on; don¡¯t drag me into this!¡±

    Although the place where she lived was very far from the Bright Palace, gaining an enemy out of nowhere was still not a good thing.

    ...

    One post shook the entire Cuiyun Continent.

    Nowadays, in all the inns, taverns, and pleasure boats across Cuiyun Continent, the most talked-about topic was the final battle between the Bright Palace and the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    Because the Blood-Clad Sword God had declared that in seven days, he would flatten the Bright Palace, which surprised many people.

    These people couldn¡¯t understand why the Blood-Clad Sword God dared to do this.

    Even the top figure below the Yin God in the East Continent, the master of the Ascension Pavilion, Wutian Old Man, wouldn¡¯t dare say he could annihilate the Bright Palace.

    How could the Blood-Clad Sword God dare?

    Most of the lower-level cultivators verbally supported the Blood-Clad Sword God, but none of them believed he would win.

    After all, even though the Blood-Clad Sword God had killed nine Purple Mansion experts of the Bright Palace, the Bright Palace still had more than fifty Purple Mansion experts, including three late-stage ones.

    Plus, with their millennia-old foundation, what would the Blood-Clad Sword God fight with?

    At this moment, Qi Yuan emerged from his cave mansion to bask in the sun.

    As soon as Qi Yuan spoke, he made his move.

    The blood-colored longsword was unsheathed, releasing a torrent of blood energy.

    The original divine power of the Void Realm Dominator''s Heart Demon Manifestation followed the blood-colored longsword, transforming into a streak of blood light that pierced the chest of the woman in the palace dress.

    The woman was stunned, unable to believe what was happening. She looked at Qi Yuan as if she had just seen a dog that refused to obey: ¡°You... are mad...¡±

    She couldn¡¯t understand.

    How dare the Blood-Clad Sword God do this?

    She was the messenger of a Yin God!

    ¡°Die!¡± Qi Yuan struck again.

    One powerful strike and one basic attack were enough to kill the mid-stage Purple Mansion woman on the spot.

    With a wave of Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, her storage bag fell into his possession.

    Qi Yuan looked inside and immediately smiled, his anger dissipating entirely.

    ¡°Well killed, excellently killed, magnificently killed!¡±

    This woman was incredibly wealthy!

    Inside her storage bag were two Heavenly-level techniques.

    Qi Yuan looked at the broken corpse of the woman and felt a twinge of guilt: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, if I had known you were so rich, I wouldn¡¯t have spoken harshly to you earlier.¡±

    Qi Yuan wanted to squeeze out some tears, but they wouldn¡¯t come.

    He could only conclude that this White Moonlight wasn¡¯t worth his deep emotions.

    At this moment, all the cultivators who witnessed this scene were completely silent.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God had killed a messenger of the Yin God?

    The Blood-Clad Sword God wasn¡¯t giving himself a way out!

    Regardless of the outcome of today¡¯s battle with the Bright Palace, the Blood-Clad Sword God would have no place to hide in the East Continent.

    Of course, Qi Yuan was unaware of what the others were thinking.

    Even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t care.

    He looked at the celestial carriage and recalled what the Great Sun Flame Emperor had said.

    In the face of a crisis involving a Yin God, he could mention Feng Jun¡¯s name.

    So, he calmly said two words to the celestial carriage: ¡°Feng Jun.¡±

    After speaking, Qi Yuan transformed into a streak of blood light and disappeared.

    ...

    In the Bright Palace, fifty-six Purple Mansion experts were gathered.

    Everyone¡¯s expression was grim.

    The Great Palace Master, bathed in radiant light, looked surprised: ¡°The Blood-Clad Sword God... killed the messenger of the Honored One Ye Qiong.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± The Third Palace Master Ziming¡¯s face changed drastically, then turned into glee, ¡°He¡¯s seeking death!¡±

    The Second Palace Master¡¯s voice was gentle and elegant: ¡°No wonder he dares to come to our Bright Palace headquarters. He¡¯s not pretending to be crazy; he¡¯s truly mad.¡±

    If he weren¡¯t truly mad, how could he do such a thing?

    Even the Wutian Old Man wouldn¡¯t dare storm the Bright Palace headquarters, let alone kill a Yin God¡¯s messenger on his way.

    ¡°Sigh, what bad luck, to be targeted by such a madman.¡± The Second Palace Master sighed, seemingly regretting the loss of the nine Purple Mansion experts.

    ¡°After we kill the Blood-Clad Sword God today, I will personally take his corpse to the Honored One Ye Qiong,¡± said the Great Palace Master.

    Since the Blood-Clad Sword God had offended the Honored One Ye Qiong, the Great Palace Master intended to make the most of this situation after eliminating him.

    Some of the gathered Purple Mansion experts were excited, while others were worried.

    The Great Palace Master¡¯s eyes were deep.

    Hidden in his sleeve was the Supreme Dragon Crown, still lying in wait.

    This was also his greatest reliance.

    This was also the foundation that had kept the Bright Palace standing for millennia.

    Even a Yin God wouldn¡¯t casually make an enemy of the Bright Palace.

    However, the Yin God artifact was still incomplete; it needed to be perfected through the Hundred Nations Blood War before it could be used as a true Yin God artifact.

    Before that, it was best not to use it.

    Today, the Great Palace Master did not intend to use it.

    ¡°We¡¯ve given him the chance to reconcile. Since he refused and still comes to court death, we can only grant his wish.¡± The Third Palace Master Ziming spoke angrily.

    The Bright Palace had already shown great sincerity, even apologizing, but the Blood-Clad Sword God not only refused to accept it, he came seeking death!

    This was also the thought of all the other gathered cultivators.

    ¡°He¡¯s here.¡±

    At that moment, an urgent voice called out.

    The fifty-some Purple Mansion experts on the scene all looked up at the sky.

    Red filled their eyes.

    The blood-colored streak across the sky brought with it overwhelming killing intent.

    The killing intent was so intense it dyed the sky red.

    The blood-red sky looked eerie and ghostly, instilling an inexplicable fear in all who saw it.

    Qi Yuan, in a blood-red robe, stood tall in the void, incredibly handsome.

    The blood-red sword on his back seemed to tremble, eager to unsheathe itself and drink the blood of the world.

    He glanced lazily at the towering Bright Palace ahead and said, ¡°Anyone who leaves the Bright Palace now, I won¡¯t kill today.¡±

    There were no weaklings in the Bright Palace headquarters now; the weakest among them were at the Nascent Soul stage.

    Upon hearing this, the Third Palace Master Ziming sneered, ¡°Such arrogance!¡±

    Qi Yuan cast a sidelong glance at Ziming and replied, ¡°I brush my teeth every day, no bad breath here.

    But you, on the other hand, I bet you haven¡¯t brushed your teeth in centuries. It¡¯s stinking up the place.

    Is bad breath your original divine power?

    Your original divine power is really strong; it¡¯s already hurting me.¡±

    Ziming¡¯s face alternated between shades of blue and red. All he could manage to say was, ¡°Sharp-tongued!¡±

    Below, the gathered Purple Mansion and Nascent Soul cultivators watched Qi Yuan with heavy expressions, unable to share his light-heartedness.

    It seemed clear now that this battle was inevitable.

    The blood cloud pressed down on the palace. Over fifty Purple Mansion cultivators and a thousand Nascent Soul cultivators stood arranged in formation, their expressions inevitably tense.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze swept over the thousand cultivators present, and he showed a satisfied expression: ¡°The Bright Palace truly lives up to its name as the top force in Cuiyun Continent. These old men are just my type.¡±

    Suitable old men, suitable White Moonlight.

    He snapped his fingers.

    Behind him, Xu Yeli, trembling, raised the suona to his lips. It was his first time facing so many Purple Mansion experts.

    The melancholic sound of the suona began to play at this moment.

    The atmosphere of slaughter condensed to its peak at this very instant.

    ¡°Begin the slaughter!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with a cruel smile.

 Chapter 152: If I Unleash My Stellar Golden Core, How Will You Respond?

    Chapter 152: If I Unleash My Stellar Golden Core, How Will You Respond?

    The slaughter began in an instant.

    The Grand Palace Master took a step forward, his expression calm, and gave a light shout.

    "The Nine Layers of Radiant Light Formation!"

    From above the Nine Heavens, radiance descended.

    The Grand Palace Master was cloaked in this radiance, making him appear incomparably sacred.

    The Second and Third Palace Masters flew into the sky, their deep eyes filled with reverence.

    "Summon our Glorious Sword!"

    As the two of them spoke, the expressions of the fifty or so Purple Mansion cultivators below became solemn, and they shouted in unison.

    "Summon our Glorious Sword!"

    The forms of the fifty-some Purple Mansion cultivators began to turn transparent.

    Countless rays of light emanated from their bodies, their sleeves billowing with white light, each appearing like a saint.

    Over a thousand Nascent Soul cultivators flew into the sky, resembling fireflies, emitting their own brilliance.

    "The Glorious Sword, guard our Light!"

    "The Unbreakable Shield, repel all demons!"

    As the thousand-plus cultivators shouted, thousands of swords of light hovered above the Light Palace, as if a myriad of swords had been fired.

    The aura of light, holiness, sacrifice, and devotion filled the air.

    Every cultivator''s expression was solemn, with no fear of death, as if they were fighting for the light.

    Seeing this, the smile on Qi Yuan''s face froze.

    He looked at the sacred Light Palace and then glanced at his own aura of overwhelming blood.

    Why did he feel like he was the villain here?

    "I am the true representative of light! You shameless thieves who have stolen the light!"

    "I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, represent justice, represent light, and will exterminate you!"

    "The true Glorious Sword belongs to me!"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s blood-colored robe flapped in the wind as he shouted.

    Above the sky, the endless blood mist boiled and surged, the immense killing intent sweeping across, striking fear into the hearts of all who caught even a glimpse of the heavens.

    The blood sword behind him unsheathed, its crimson glow eerie, like the allure of an evil god.

    Heart Demon Invocation of the Void Realm Sovereign!

    The blood-colored sword of the soul shot into the sky.

    Within the endless sea of blood, it seemed as if summoned, as over a thousand blood-red swords soared into the air.

    Arrogance, evil, greed, gluttony...

    A fierce wind howled, and demonic faces twisted in rage.

    Countless ominous auras emanated from the thousand-plus blood-red swords.

    "Now this is what you call a Glorious Sword!" Qi Yuan glanced at the Glorious Sword behind him, feeling a bit guilty.

    If he had only summoned one, he could have disguised it as a radiant, holy light.

    But with over a thousand of them, it was too difficult to maintain the facade.

    So, he decided to stop pretending.

    Who said villains can''t be good guys?

    "Justice will triumph over evil!" Qi Yuan roared.

    The cultivators of the Light Palace also shouted, "The Glorious Sword shall vanquish all evil!"

    The red blood swords and the sacred light swords collided at this moment!

    The entire sky was split in half.

    One half was filled with surging blood, the other as pure as rain.

    Blood and light clashed.

    The sacred radiance, the purest thing in the world, was instantly tainted by the blood.

    The white light on the Grand Palace Master''s body wavered, seemingly on the verge of falling apart.

    Over a thousand Nascent Souls and fifty-plus Purple Mansion cultivators turned deathly pale.

    Dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators saw their light swords completely transform into blood swords.

    Qi Yuan''s complexion also paled.

    He had forcefully withstood dozens of original divine powers.

    At that moment, he quickly used Death''s Radiance to restore himself to normal.

    "Not bad, you¡¯ve got some skill. Your fake Glorious Sword can actually compete with my real one.

    Looks like killing you all will take a whole day and night."

    After the first clash, both sides suffered losses.

    The Light Palace lost over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators.

    While Qi Yuan had expended some energy, it was instantly replenished by Death''s Radiance, leaving him completely unscathed.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s words, all the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Light Palace were visibly shaken.

    They had thought that even if this strike couldn¡¯t kill the Blood-Clad Sword God, it would at least severely wound him!

    But now, the Blood-Clad Sword God looked as if nothing had happened to him, not even a scratch.

    "Again!" Qi Yuan fought with even greater fervor.

    Once, he had challenged two thousand seven old men beyond his level.

    Now, with the same original divine power, what¡¯s the big deal about killing some Purple Mansion cultivators?

    This time, he summoned three thousand blood-red Glorious Swords.

    Overwhelming them with sheer numbers!

    "Swear to protect the Light Palace!" the Nascent Soul and Purple Mansion cultivators roared, their bodies glowing with intense light.

    Boom!

    The collision happened once more.

    This time, Qi Yuan combined his domineering strength and Death''s Radiance with his original divine power.

    Light and blood intertwined.

    The light now bore a trace of eerie red.

    Qi Yuan laughed, "Ha ha, keep going! Your fake light will ultimately be devoured by me!"

    In the distance, all the Purple Mansion cultivators watching the battle were utterly shocked.

    "The Blood-Clad Sword God... is terrifying beyond belief. Even Wutian Old Man might not be his match!"

    "Give him another thousand years, and he might really become a Yin God!"

    "Where did this demon come from? If he truly defeats the Light Palace, what will become of Cuiyun Continent¡¯s future?"

    Original divine powers reveal a cultivator¡¯s true nature and potential.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God''s original divine power was steeped in blood and filled with negative emotions.

    Anyone who looked at him could tell he was an unstoppable demon.

    "Could it be that he¡¯s not a cultivator of this world?" one Purple Mansion cultivator wondered aloud.

    Watching the battle up close, they felt that Qi Yuan''s original divine power seemed different from theirs.

    "A demon from another realm? How did the Light Palace provoke him?"

    "With such overwhelming blood energy, he must have slaughtered millions of beings!"

    At that moment, there was a fluctuation in the void, and a man in golden robes murmured, "With such overwhelming blood energy, he¡¯s undoubtedly a great demon.

    I was thinking of saving him and recruiting him into our Seeking Dao Palace, but it seems... I should reconsider."

    Hearing this, the nearby Purple Mansion cultivators were all shocked.

    "Seeking Dao Palace?"

    Seeking Dao Palace was a mysterious organization in the Canglan Realm.

    This organization was founded by a Yin God.

    The minimum entry requirement was late-stage Purple Mansion.

    These Purple Mansion cultivators gathered together in search of the path to becoming a Yin God.

    Now, even the people from Seeking Dao Palace were paying attention to the Blood-Clad Sword God!

    How could they not be surprised?

    "Senior, who do you think will win this battle?" one Purple Mansion cultivator couldn¡¯t help but ask the golden-robed man from Seeking Dao Palace.

    The golden-robed man watched the fierce battle ahead. "The Blood-Clad Sword God''s original divine power is unique, and he¡¯s cultivated secret arts, making him stronger than Wutian Old Man. If the Light Palace doesn¡¯t change its tactics, the Blood-Clad Sword God is sure to win eventually.

    But..."

    The golden-robed man¡¯s tone shifted.

    "The Light Palace won¡¯t just sit and wait to die!

    As soon as the Yin God artifact appears, it will eclipse the sun and moon, and the Blood-Clad Sword God will undoubtedly fall.

    The outcome of this battle... is already decided."

    After saying this, the golden-robed man¡¯s figure vanished.

    By this time, the battle between the Light Palace and Qi Yuan had already gone through more than ten rounds.

    In each clash, Qi Yuan gained a slight advantage.

    With every encounter, over a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators from the Light Palace were polluted, their hearts consumed by inner demons.

    Their light swords turned into blood swords.

    Even several Purple Mansion cultivators were affected.

    The entire virtual realm seemed unable to contain this great sun.

    "A mere Yin God¡ªbehold my Stellar Golden Core!"

    At that moment, the sun''s phantom exploded!

    Endless flames, boundless light and heat, swept through the entire virtual realm.

    The divine finger, capable of destroying the heavens and the earth, under the brilliance of the great sun, was as laughable as a wax statue.

    It melted away, into nothingness.

    The entire virtual realm was consumed by fire, turmoil, and destruction.

    The Imperial Dragon Crown of Frightening Majesty atop the Grand Palace Master¡¯s head didn''t even have time to make a sound before it was engulfed in the endless fire and heat.

    His expression froze, staring blankly at the great sun as his body was devoured.

    "The sun... golden core..."

    He couldn¡¯t comprehend, couldn¡¯t imagine.

    Even if he became a Yin God, he wouldn¡¯t understand why there would be a Stellar Golden Core.

    But he didn¡¯t need to understand.

    Upon seeing the Stellar Golden Core, even with the Imperial Dragon Crown of Frightening Majesty, even with the power of a Yin God, under the great sun, he was reduced to ashes without any resistance.

    All the Purple Mansion and Nascent Soul cultivators were instantly vaporized, leaving no trace behind.

    The power of the great sun¡ªwho could resist?

    No one could!

    Over a thousand cultivators of the Light Palace fell just like that.

    Qi Yuan stood in the virtual realm, like a great sun himself, his eyes flickering with the true flames of the sun.

    His dantian now truly burned with the passion of fire.

    After summoning the Stellar Golden Core, the Light Palace was pitifully weak in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    At that moment, a joyful voice came through.

    "Blood Pearl!"

    Qi Yuan suddenly felt a soft, delicate body pressing against him.

    "Canary?" Qi Yuan looked at the canary¡¯s projection, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.

    However, he noticed that the canary¡¯s figure was gradually fading and would soon disappear.

    "You¡¯ve been gone for several days." The canary was just as she had always been, her black dress making her pale skin even more striking. Her slender waist was easy to grasp, and the intricate embroidery on her skirt was matched by black stockings that wrapped her fair thighs and delicate feet.

    "Several days?" Qi Yuan looked at the canary and said, "One day on earth is a hundred years in the heavens; in reality... I''ve been gone for over a thousand years.

    But I engraved my original divine power on the golden core, so you live within my golden core, always in a state between remembering and forgetting.

    So, time for you has been in a unique kind of stasis."

    Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t expected that summoning his golden core¡¯s projection would also summon Ning Tao¡¯s projection.

    Ning Tao was briefly stunned, then smiled sweetly, "So, over the long years, except for you, my time has been frozen?"

    Her figure grew fainter.

    Qi Yuan nodded, "If you want to change that, you can leave the golden core."

    "No, this is fine too." Ning Tao looked at Qi Yuan, her face full of longing.

    She knew she was about to leave.

    "Blood Pearl, I¡¯ve become very strong now!" She extended her snow-white fist and waved it in front of Qi Yuan. "Next time, you won¡¯t need to summon that big golden core. You just need to call me, and I can help you kill your enemies. Just now, I could have taken on ten of those bugs by myself.

    Summoning the big golden core is too wasteful!"

    On the Stellar Golden Core, Ning Tao had received Qi Yuan¡¯s gift.

    Her cultivation had reached a new level.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan patted the canary¡¯s black hair, "When my dantian is full of spiritual energy again, I¡¯ll definitely call you down to play."

    Summoning the Stellar Golden Core had severely depleted the spiritual energy in his body.

    In the short term, he couldn¡¯t summon it again.

    After all, this wasn¡¯t just crossing between worlds, but between universes.

    "No need to summon me all the time, just call me when you¡¯re in danger!" The canary spoke thoughtfully, looking at Qi Yuan¡¯s face, her eyes shining with stars. "This time, I appeared suddenly, and now I¡¯m leaving suddenly too."

    Her figure continued to fade.

    Qi Yuan held her hand, slowly watching her disappear.

    Finally, he placed a wisp of flame in Ning Tao¡¯s hand: "This is the Solar True Fire I just acquired. Ignite it on the star."

    On the star, igniting the Solar True Fire might allow his golden core to devour other planets and stars.

    His golden core was also constantly growing stronger.

    "Okay." Ning Tao nodded vigorously, and her figure vanished.

    Qi Yuan''s black robe turned blood red at this moment, and his figure became ethereal.

    He was about to leave the virtual realm and return to the real world.

    At this moment, all the Purple Mansion cultivators watching the battle were completely stunned.

    Just now, the Grand Palace Master had dragged the Blood-Clad Sword God into the virtual realm.

    Above the sky, anomalies had occurred.

    A great sun had suddenly fallen.

    In the Canglan Realm, countless terrifying auras had simultaneously taken action.

    At that time, pillars of light could be seen shooting into the sky, trying to stop the sun.

    It seemed as if the Canglan Realm had almost been destroyed.

    All the Purple Mansion cultivators felt as if they had narrowly escaped death.

    They had no idea what had happened.

    They only knew that something terrifying had definitely occurred.

    At this moment, one Purple Mansion cultivator said, "The Blood-Clad Sword God and the Light Palace... should have decided the outcome by now, right?"

    "The Grand Palace Master donned the Imperial Dragon Crown of Frightening Majesty, wielding power comparable to a Yin God. The Blood-Clad Sword God must be dead.

    If you calculate the time, the people from the Light Palace should be coming out soon."

    "What a pity for the Blood-Clad Sword God, such a great power, to die here."

    At this moment, outside the Light Palace headquarters, the mournful sound of the suona continued.

    Xu Yeli played the suona, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

    "Blood-Clad Sword God, I can¡¯t leave, so I¡¯ll see you off on your final journey."

    The suona¡¯s lament became even more sorrowful.

    At that moment, a ripple appeared in front of the Light Palace headquarters.

    Everyone turned to look.

    They saw a blood-red figure emerge from the virtual realm.

    His eyes were deep, as if he had experienced endless years.

    Seeing that figure, all the watching Purple Mansion cultivators were utterly stunned.

    "Blood-Clad Sword God?"

    "How is it him coming out!"

    "How is this possible!"

    These Purple Mansion cultivators were bewildered, confused, and lost.

    Facing a Yin God, how could the Blood-Clad Sword God have been the one to emerge?

    He was clearly just a Purple Mansion cultivator¡ªhow could he possibly be a match for a Yin God?

    At this moment, the mournful tune of the suona still played.

    Qi Yuan looked at the now-empty Light Palace, and a sudden wave of sorrow welled up.

    ¡°Boo hoo... You died so tragically!¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t even leave a single hair behind!¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t leave anything for me!¡±

    ¡°Boo hoo... My White Moonlight, how could you abandon me and leave like this?¡±

    ¡°Swallow!¡±

    All the Purple Mansion cultivators were stunned by this scene.

    They looked at Qi Yuan in silence.

    At that moment, one Purple Mansion cultivator couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He glanced at a Nascent Soul cultivator.

    The Nascent Soul cultivator nervously flew over to Qi Yuan and asked, "Senior Blood-Clad Sword God, did you kill everyone in the Light Palace?"

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t force out any tears, but his sorrow was genuine: "Justice will always triumph over evil."

    The Nascent Soul cultivator didn¡¯t dare say anything, just staring at the blood-red demonic sword in Qi Yuan¡¯s sword box.

    You look more like the evil one, don¡¯t you?

    At this moment, Qi Yuan stood up, looked around, and began a post-battle speech: "I was not fighting alone. Behind me stood the Golden Core and Stellar Golden Core of the God Flower Society, Little Li from the Fox Den, the Four Emperors of the God Flower, Feng Jun, and behind me stood all the cultivators and ordinary people oppressed by the Light Palace!"

    Qi Yuan spoke passionately, summarizing the battle and deepening the theme.

    However, he was too sad, his voice hoarse, and he couldn¡¯t help but look again at the empty Light Palace.

    ¡°Boo hoo... You were so heartless, leaving nothing behind for me.¡±

    Everyone was dumbfounded, with "what?" written all over their faces.

    That day, the Blood-Clad Sword God single-handedly annihilated the Light Palace, gave an impassioned speech, and mourned at the "graves" for three hours before leaving.

    No one knew what had happened in the virtual realm.

    Everyone¡¯s attention was focused on that falling sun.

 Chapter 153: The True Genius, Great Wisdom True Monarch

    Chapter 153: The True Genius, Great Wisdom True Monarch

    The atmosphere on the God Flower Society forum was somber.

    Threads like:

    "Mourn for the Blood-Clad Sword God for Thirty Breaths""The Blood-Clad Sword God is Gone, But His Spirit Remains!""Remembering the Past: When I Was a Child, the Blood-Clad Sword God Once Held Me...""There is True Love in This World¡ªI Abstain from Carnal Desires for Three Days for the Sword God!" When Qi Yuan logged into the God Flower Society forum and saw these posts, his face turned pale.

    "Hey, I''m not dead yet, and you¡¯re already mourning for me!"

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    These people probably assumed that his battle with the Light Palace had ended in defeat, so they made these posts.Findd new stories at novelhall.com

    If that was the case, it was understandable.

    He thought for a moment and decided to post using his Blood-Clad Sword God account.

    "I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, bring good news: the Light Palace is destroyed, and justice has finally triumphed over evil!"

    These days, the name Blood-Clad Sword God was a hot topic. Even Qi Yuan titled his post with his name to attract attention.

    As soon as the post went up, it quickly garnered replies.

    "The Blood-Clad Sword God is still alive?"

    "The Light Palace is destroyed?"

    "Did today¡¯s sun falling make me lose my mind?"

    "Could this be a fake Blood-Clad Sword God?"

    The fact that the Blood-Clad Sword God had posted and "risen from the dead" caused the forum to explode.

    Members of the God Flower Society were spread throughout the Canglan Realm, so the news of the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s destruction of the Light Palace had not yet reached them, and many were unaware.

    In their view, the Blood-Clad Sword God was sure to lose in a battle against the Light Palace, which had the backing of a Yin God.

    But now that the Blood-Clad Sword God had won, how could they not be shocked?

    "Senior, I knew you would win!" Little Li from the Fox Den quickly replied, secretly deleting her earlier post mourning the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    The forum was abuzz, contributing to the warming of the Canglan Realm and filling it with joy.

    Outside the forum, the news of the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s destruction of the Light Palace also began to spread slowly throughout the Cuiyun Continent.

    "Senior... how did you win?"

    Someone asked.

    Many were puzzled and curious.

    How had the Blood-Clad Sword God defeated the Light Palace?

    At this moment, many Purple Mansion cultivators were also keenly interested in this question.

    "At the time, the Light Palace used the Imperial Dragon Crown of Frightening Majesty, and the Grand Palace Master unleashed the finger of a god.

    I thought I was going to die.

    But then I remembered the countless people behind me supporting me.

    So, I asked the big shots in the God Flower Society and borrowed celestial golden cores, nine-turn golden cores, a million golden cores, and even a Stellar Golden Core...

    Countless golden cores fell, summoning the sun and annihilating the Light Palace."

    Qi Yuan added some exaggeration, mixing truth with fiction.

    After all, he was currently just a Stellar Golden Core cultivator, not even able to fully utilize a perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation, so he had to downplay his true abilities and hide his trump card.

    Everyone following the post was stunned.

    They hadn¡¯t expected such an answer.

    "The sun in the sky was summoned by the big shots?"

    "...Is that for real?"

    Some remained silent, others were doubtful, and some spoke the truth in a joking tone.

    "Of course it¡¯s true. I¡¯m just a small fry among the big shots of the God Flower Society. If I hadn¡¯t borrowed the Stellar Golden Core, I might not have survived." Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    Using your own things can''t be called borrowing?

    Meanwhile, in the East Continent, within a cave.

    A man in golden robes looked at the jade slip in silence.

    He had watched the battle between the Blood-Clad Sword God and the Light Palace up to a certain point, then, predicting the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s defeat, he had left.

    He hadn¡¯t seen the latter half of the battle and was unaware of how the situation had reversed.

    The white-haired elder beside him asked, "Is what he said true?"

    The golden-robed man recalled the blood-colored figure he had seen that day and slowly replied, "He¡¯s surrounded by overwhelming blood energy, likely a powerful demon who has slaughtered millions.

    From a distance, I didn¡¯t detect any divinity in him, so it¡¯s impossible for him to be a Yin God.

    Summoning the sun... that¡¯s too terrifying.

    In our Canglan Realm, besides that legendary figure, who else could ascend to a divine position and illuminate all realms?"

    As he mentioned this person, the golden-robed man¡¯s eyes filled with deep fear.

    He didn¡¯t even dare to utter that person¡¯s name.

    The elder, hearing this, felt a heavy weight on his heart.

    For that person... was unspeakable.

    "Rather than believing he summoned the sun, I¡¯m more inclined to believe he had help.

    When he killed Ye Qiong Zunzhe¡¯s messenger, he mentioned the name Feng Jun.

    If it was Feng Jun... that would make sense.

    But... with the great calamity approaching, all the Yin Gods are conserving their strength, avoiding action if possible.

    Why would Feng Jun intervene?"

    "I¡¯d rather believe that the stingy old man Feng Jun stepped in than that the Blood-Clad Sword God summoned the sun," the elder said with a smile. He was an old member of the Seeking Dao Palace and had known Feng Jun in his youth.

    Unfortunately, one became a Yin God, while the other was still searching for the path in the late Purple Mansion stage.

    He knew Feng Jun¡¯s character well.

    "Sigh, you returned too quickly. A strong figure like the Blood-Clad Sword God should have been recruited into our Seeking Dao Palace.

    His strength might even surpass that of Wutian Old Man." The white-haired elder sighed.

    Wutian Old Man was among the top-tier late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators in the Seeking Dao Palace.

    "This time he survived, but he¡¯s completely offended Ye Qiong Zunzhe, so he¡¯s probably not long for this world!" the golden-robed man couldn¡¯t help but say.

    "If he can destroy the Light Palace, why can¡¯t he kill Honored One Ye Qiong?" the white-haired elder chuckled.

    The golden-robed man glared at the elder, "The Light Palace only had a damaged Yin God artifact. How could that compare to the real Honored One Ye Qiong?"

    "How do you know? Someone who can easily wipe out the Light Palace can¡¯t kill Honored One Ye Qiong?" The elder continued to smile, "It¡¯s a pity I can¡¯t leave right now. Otherwise, I would have loved to meet this Blood-Clad Sword God."

    ...

    At this moment, Qi Yuan was basking in the praise of others, feeling quite pleased with himself.

    Then a comment caught his eye.

    "Blood-Clad Sword God, I heard you killed Honored One Ye Qiong''s messenger on your way to the Light Palace?"

    "Yes, I did," Qi Yuan replied.

    Jiang Ya looked at Qi Yuan and calmly said, "There might be someone who can give you the answer."

    "Who is it?" Qi Yuan asked eagerly.

    "Great Wisdom True Monarch, ranked fourth on the East Continent Talent Battle rankings," Jiang Ya replied coolly.

    "Great name, he must be a wise person!" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Judging by his reputation, he could already imagine that this was a true genius.

    "He, like you, follows the path of obsession, and... he has already entered the Nascent Soul stage. He might be able to give you a lot of advice," Jiang Ya explained. "If Junior Brother Qi Yuan wishes to meet him, I can arrange it now."

    "Yes!" Qi Yuan was excited.

    Meeting him was a must!

    "Alright." Jiang Ya turned and took out a communication jade slip.

    ...

    As night fell, a flower boat docked by the shore.

    A man with slicked-back hair, floral shorts, and a long robe that didn¡¯t fit him at all.

    On the flower boat, he seemed completely out of place.

    However, the people on the boat looked at him with respect.

    For this man was none other than Great Wisdom True Monarch, ranked fourth on the East Continent Talent Battle rankings.

    At this moment, Great Wisdom True Monarch¡¯s eyes were clear as he stared at the hand of a female cultivator nearby, making her feel embarrassed.

    The woman¡¯s delicate hand, with slender, fair fingers and long nails painted a light crimson, looked both elegant and beautiful.

    "Wind Moon Fairy, your hands are exquisite, unmatched, and priceless.

    Is Great Wisdom True Monarch also a connoisseur of such things?" a nearby, rough-looking genius commented, trying to get closer to Great Wisdom True Monarch.

    Great Wisdom True Monarch gazed at the delicate hand, his eyes clear, deep in thought.

    "Are her nails that long for picking her nose?"

    Silence.

    The flower boat fell into a dead silence, and the genius who had just spoken couldn¡¯t find any words.

    Wind Moon Fairy¡¯s face turned red with shame, her expression constantly changing as she wished she could sink into the ground.

    At that moment, a hearty voice rang out, "My advice is, if you¡¯re picking your nose, don¡¯t wear nail polish¡ªit could hurt your nose."

    A man in black robes stepped onto the flower boat.

    He looked at Great Wisdom True Monarch with respect. "My name is Qi Yuan. Senior Sister Jiang Ya sent me to ask Great Wisdom True Monarch for advice on the Nascent Soul stage!"

    The others on the boat looked at Qi Yuan, then at Great Wisdom True Monarch, their expressions complicated.

    Wind Moon Fairy, however, glared angrily at Qi Yuan.

    She didn¡¯t dare offend Great Wisdom True Monarch, but she wasn¡¯t afraid of this unknown Qi Yuan.

    Great Wisdom True Monarch looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes brightened. "How do you think Wind Moon Fairy should pick her nose?"

    "Well." Qi Yuan sat down beside Great Wisdom True Monarch and pondered, "Using fingernails is rather inelegant.

    Fairies don¡¯t poop or pick their noses.

    So why not create a Dao technique specifically for picking noses?"

    "Fellow Daoist, you¡¯re a genius!" Great Wisdom True Monarch looked at Qi Yuan, excited.

    Qi Yuan looked at Great Wisdom True Monarch, feeling a sense of kindred spirit.

    At that moment, a voice suddenly called out.

    "Not good! Wind Moon Fairy has fallen into the river!"

    Everyone looked at the river with pity for Wind Moon Fairy.

    Seeing this, Great Wisdom True Monarch slowly said, "Wind Moon Fairy must have been inspired by Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan to enter the river and comprehend the flow of water, then create a Dao technique specifically for picking noses."

    Everyone present silently mourned for Wind Moon Fairy.

    It was likely that by tomorrow, she would have a new nickname¡ªNose-Picking Fairy.

    Qi Yuan nodded and got straight to the point. "Fellow Daoist, I¡¯ve always felt the path to the Nascent Soul is unclear.

    I¡¯ve heard that to form a Nascent Soul, one must shatter their golden core to create the soul.

    But my golden core was formed through great effort; I can¡¯t bear to shatter it.

    What should I do?"

    Qi Yuan had worked hard to form his Stellar Golden Core¡ªhow could he bear to shatter it?

    That was his baby.

    The others around him were stunned by Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    Someone who doesn¡¯t want to shatter their golden core?

    Is this guy crazy from cultivation?

    No wonder... he can communicate so easily with Great Wisdom True Monarch.

    Great Wisdom True Monarch looked at Qi Yuan and pondered, "Sigh, I never thought we¡¯d be on the same page.

    Back when I was just building my foundation, I was already thinking about this issue."

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but hold Great Wisdom True Monarch in even higher regard.

    This was truly a far-sighted genius!

    When he was building his foundation, he never thought about what would happen to his Nascent Soul.

    But this guy was thinking about it back then.

    "In the end, after much thought, I created a method called the Two-Core Technique," Great Wisdom True Monarch said proudly.

    "I first formed a fake core, then formed a real golden core.

    Finally, when I broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, I shattered the fake core and kept the golden core.

    So now I have both a golden core and a Nascent Soul within me!"

    A fake core is something a Foundation Establishment cultivator creates using external means when they have no hope of forming a real golden core.

    Qi Yuan was stunned by Great Wisdom True Monarch¡¯s thought process.

    What a genius¡ªwhat great wisdom!

    "However, there¡¯s a flaw in this method: my golden core and Nascent Soul tend to fight each other," Great Wisdom True Monarch said with frustration.

    The other geniuses on the boat looked at Great Wisdom True Monarch, speechless.

    Not only do your golden core and Nascent Soul fight, but you also often fight yourself.

    They knew that Great Wisdom True Monarch had developed a split personality, with two different personas inhabiting his body.

    "Such minor issues aren¡¯t real problems," Qi Yuan said dismissively. "A good technique is bound to have some flaws. My own technique has a flaw where after cultivation, you become mentally unstable and forgetful.

    But look at me now¡ªI¡¯m perfectly sane! I can eat eight steamed buns in one sitting!"

    The people present looked at Qi Yuan and instantly understood.

    This is what you call perfectly sane?

    At the same time, they felt even more sorry for Wind Moon Fairy.

    Why did she have to catch the attention of these two lunatics? How pitiful.

    "Unfortunately, I¡¯m already in the Golden Core stage, so I can¡¯t use the Two-Core Technique." Qi Yuan sighed.

    Great Wisdom True Monarch¡¯s path wasn¡¯t suitable for him.

 Chapter 154: Taking a Shortcut

    Chapter 154: Taking a Shortcut

    Daoist Zhi Zhen looked at Qi Yuan and said, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to shatter your own Golden Core, why not shatter someone else¡¯s and form your own Nascent Soul?¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced around at everyone present and finally said bitterly, ¡°Their Golden Cores are too weak; I don¡¯t fancy them.¡±

    As soon as he said this, the expressions of the several prodigies present subtly changed.

    One of the prodigies couldn''t hold back and said, ¡°I, Lu?, may not be talented, but I condensed an Earth-grade Golden Core using the ten-thousand-year-old Dark Yin Qi. When my Golden Core is unleashed, three miles around turn into Dark Yin. Tell me, is this Golden Core weak?¡±

    The singers on the flower boat all revealed envious expressions upon hearing this.

    For an ordinary cultivator, being able to form a Golden Core was already a joyous event. Usually, the Golden Cores formed range from the ninth grade to the first grade. Being able to form a Xuan-grade, Earth-grade, or even Heaven-grade Golden Core was considered a one-in-a-billion feat. Amongst the beings of the Hundred Nations, there are more than ten billion. Among them, besides Qi Yuan, the highest grade was Kang Fulu''s first-grade Golden Core.

    Qi Yuan glanced at that prodigy and said regretfully, ¡°It¡¯s weak.¡±

    Three miles around turn into Dark Yin?

    That¡¯s nothing!

    When he was still in the Qi Refining stage, he could kill with a kitchen knife.

    ¡°Then what kind of Golden Core have you formed? Why don¡¯t you take it out and show us?¡± The prodigy sneered coldly.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid if I take it out, you¡¯ll all die.¡±

    A Stellar Golden Core isn¡¯t something that can be summoned casually.

    ¡°Just afraid to show it, aren¡¯t you?¡± The prodigy sneered mockingly.

    They naturally believed Qi Yuan was just boasting. The other prodigies laughed and said, ¡°Lu?, maybe he¡¯s got an Immortal-grade Golden Core. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t care about your Earth-grade Golden Core.¡±

    Qi Yuan ignored them; these people were too young, needing thousands of years to grow into his ¡°white moonlight.¡± He didn¡¯t even bother responding.

    He continued to seek help from Daoist Zhi Zhen, ¡°Their Golden Cores are too weak, really not up to my standards. Is there any other method?¡±

    Daoist Zhi Zhen replied, ¡°Do you know why the Nascent Soul is called the Nascent Soul?¡±

    Qi Yuan was stunned at the question.

    Honestly, he didn¡¯t know. Generally speaking, isn¡¯t it just shattering the core to form the baby, and the divine soul taking residence?

    ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know either,¡± Daoist Zhi Zhen said. ¡°But according to my years of reading ancient texts, I speculate that the Nascent Soul is the foundation of the Yin God. As we all know, once one steps into the Yin God realm, they can give birth to the Primordial Spirit and travel through the Void. Now, how do you think the Primordial Spirit is born?¡±

    The Divine Soul is the soul of a cultivator, while the Primordial Spirit is something even more mysterious. Upon reaching the Yuan Dan realm, the Divine Soul can leave the body. But the Primordial Spirit is a higher-level existence, capable of entering the legendary Void.

    ¡°Could it be that the Primordial Spirit evolves from the Nascent Soul?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but say.

    ¡°Yes, I suspect the same. Both have the word ¡®spirit¡¯ in them, so there must be a connection. So, it could be said that all Yin Gods, even Yang Gods, have their Primordial Spirits as Nascent Souls,¡± Daoist Zhi Zhen shared his findings with Qi Yuan.

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan gazed at the stars projected in the sky, his eyes widening. ¡°Even Immortals and Gods have Nascent Souls?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you this, but don¡¯t tell others. There¡¯s a great karmic consequence in this,¡± Daoist Zhi Zhen warned solemnly.

    The singers on the flower boat and the prodigies were all left speechless.

    Immortals and Gods as Nascent Souls? Really daring to say that.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell anyone,¡± Qi Yuan glanced around at everyone on the flower boat.

    For some reason, everyone present felt a chill in their hearts.

    Daoist Zhi Zhen nodded. ¡°Do you know what my Nascent Soul is?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Daoist Zhi Zhen¡¯s expression became sorrowful. ¡°My Dao companion went mad during cultivation and died. I took her hair and made it into an outer core, while her body became a Golden Core. My Nascent Soul is her hair. I hope that one day when I ascend to the Yin God realm, my Nascent Soul will evolve and possibly give birth to... her Primordial Spirit.¡±

    Qi Yuan fell silent upon hearing this.

    Not being good at comforting people, he simply said, ¡°I wish you success.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Daoist Zhi Zhen¡¯s eyes flashed with sharp resolve. ¡°One day, she will be reborn from the flames in my Nascent Soul!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts drifted far away. He remembered the Five Ancestors of the Five Elements Forbidden Land: Jin, Shui, Tu, and the others. Back then, they sacrificed themselves to grant Qi Yuan the power of the Five Elements and allowed him to control the Forbidden Land of Five Elements.

    If he followed his thoughts and condensed a Nascent Soul, when he entered the Yin God realm in the future, could those old friends emerge from his Nascent Soul?

    Of course, Qi Yuan was only thinking.

    At this moment, Daoist Zhi Zhen spoke again, ¡°To maintain both the Golden Core and the Nascent Soul is to defy the heavens. It might attract heavenly retribution. Be careful, my friend.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡± Qi Yuan nodded.

    The Stellar Golden Core had already ignited the True Solar Fire. The potential of this Golden Core would become infinitely vast. In Qi Yuan''s view, given enough time, he might even be able to devour all the stars in a universe. Even if he didn¡¯t enter the Nascent Soul realm, he could still grow stronger just by relying on his Stellar Golden Core. So, even if he didn¡¯t perfect the Qi Yuan Sutra, he could slowly become one of the top powerhouses across the myriad worlds.

    The Golden Core is already an invincible path; why form a Nascent Soul?

    But clearly, Qi Yuan was ambitious. He wanted to enhance himself in all aspects, so the Qi Yuan Sutra naturally needed to be perfected, and the Nascent Soul had to be formed as well.

    ¡°Thank you, my friend. I¡¯ve benefited greatly,¡± Qi Yuan said, feeling grateful.

    Though the path to forming a Nascent Soul wasn¡¯t fully confirmed, Qi Yuan already had many ideas.

    ......

    As night fell, Qi Yuan returned to his cave dwelling.

    The Ice Mountain Queen from the Divine Flower Society had sent him over a hundred techniques. These techniques were gifts from her sisters to Qi Yuan. Among them were four Heaven-level techniques, dozens of Xuan-level techniques, and countless Jade-level techniques. Suddenly, Qi Yuan went from being a pauper to a temporary rich man.

    ¡°With so many techniques, I should be able to push forward the Qi Yuan Sutra,¡± Qi Yuan thought as he immediately immersed himself fully into the grand task of revising his cultivation method.

    Time passed quickly.

    The date for the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle drew closer and closer.

    More and more prodigies gathered in Yunzhong City. Every day, one could see the figures of some prodigies flying through the sky above the city.

    Qi Yuan, however, shut himself off from the outside world, focusing only on perfecting the Qi Yuan Sutra.

    ¡°Just take me in directly. It¡¯ll save time,¡± Qi Yuan said nonchalantly.

    The tall woman¡¯s expression changed several times before she finally nodded.

    Inside the palace.

    Feng Lan was playing chess with the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion.

    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that such a major event would happen in just a month since arriving in Cuiyun Continent,¡± Feng Lan sighed.

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion also looked wistful. ¡°Who could have imagined that such a powerful force like the Radiant Palace would be wiped out overnight? The Blood-Clad Sword God is truly a killing god. I still don¡¯t know how he managed to destroy the Radiant Palace. Could it be, as he claimed, that the fallen sun that day really had something to do with him?¡±

    ¡°Impossible,¡± Feng Lan shook his head. ¡°This world... can only have one such figure. You know who I¡¯m talking about.¡±

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion fell silent, not daring to continue.

    It¡¯s taboo to mention such a figure, especially that one.

    At this moment, Feng Lan spoke with concern, ¡°Once the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle is over, I must return quickly. Staying in Cuiyun Continent is too dangerous. If I survived the great calamity only to die here, that would be too unlucky.¡±

    He was deeply afraid of the Blood-Clad Sword God because he was currently in charge of the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, serving the three Yin Gods. Technically, he was a temporary subordinate of Yeqiong Sovereign. If the Blood-Clad Sword God knew about this, Feng Lan was sure the madman would kill him. Nowadays, who in Cuiyun Continent wasn¡¯t afraid of the Blood-Clad Sword God?

    Justice defeating evil?

    It¡¯s just a bigger demon defeating a lesser evil!

    At that moment, a hurried voice transmitted, ¡°Ancestor, the Blood-Clad Sword God is here.¡±

    The chess piece in Feng Lan¡¯s hand dropped abruptly, and his face turned pale with fright.

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion looked puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, friend?¡±

    ¡°No, I must run. The Blood-Clad Sword God is here to kill me!¡± Feng Lan was terrified, filled with grief.

    He said this and prepared to flee.

    But in the end, he didn¡¯t manage to escape because he felt a terrifying pair of eyes on him before he could move.

    ¡°If you want to run away just by seeing me, does that mean you¡¯re a bad person? If you are, then I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, must punish evil!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s lazy voice echoed.

    Feng Lan, though a Purple Mansion cultivator, couldn¡¯t help but tremble, his face twisting with fear. ¡°Not running... just... just needed to pee...¡±

    ¡°You Feng family members are truly odd¡ªone picks their nose, and the other needs to pee,¡± Qi Yuan said, glancing at the tall woman and then at Feng Lan.

    Feng Lan felt awkward and confused. Did this mean the Blood-Clad Sword God wasn¡¯t here to kill him?

    He looked at Qi Yuan with utmost respect. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the Blood-Clad Sword God was visiting. What brings you here?¡±

    Now, he had none of the demeanor of a Purple Mansion powerhouse, looking more like a small-time crook.

    After all, he might respect Yin Gods, but he feared the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    After all, this was a true demon lord.

    ¡°I signed up for the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle a while ago,¡± Qi Yuan said, casually finding a chair and sitting down.

    Feng Lan was stunned.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God signed up for the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle?

    A dignified Purple Mansion expert signing up for the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle? What¡¯s the point?

    ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯ve been researching a cultivation technique lately and have reached a critical stage, so I can¡¯t participate in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle. Can the battle be postponed?¡± Qi Yuan asked gently, his tone amiable since he was asking for a favor.

    ¡°Senior... the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle cannot be postponed,¡± Feng Lan said with great difficulty, utterly confused. The Blood-Clad Sword God must be over a thousand years old by now, far too old for the battle.

    Feng Lan explained the reason, which was simply that the secret realm¡¯s opening time was fixed and couldn¡¯t be altered.

    At this, Qi Yuan looked at Feng Lan. ¡°In your opinion, how do I compare with the top ten prodigies on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List?¡±

    Feng Lan was at a loss.

    Is the senior trying to mess with me?

    ¡°Of course, you are stronger!¡± he answered cautiously.

    ¡°You see, you admit I¡¯m stronger. Doesn¡¯t that mean that if I participate in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, I¡¯m guaranteed to make it into the top twenty?¡±

    ¡°You can,¡± Feng Lan nodded. He glanced at Qi Yuan and hesitantly said, ¡°But senior, your age... it¡¯s a bit advanced. The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle is only for those under 200 years old.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m very young. I¡¯m not even twenty... almost thirty,¡± Qi Yuan asserted.

    Qi Yuan had initially planned to tell the truth. But then he remembered that he was already married to Xiao Jia. Marrying before twenty would be against the marriage laws, so he lied about his age a little.

    In the room, the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion stayed silent.

    The tall woman stood aside, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

    Feng Lan¡¯s expression became complicated. ¡°Senior... you do look very young.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just looks. I am young!¡± Qi Yuan corrected Feng Lan.

    ¡°So, my strength qualifies, and I¡¯m the right age. I might not make it to the top three, but I should easily get into the top ten, right? Since the result is the same, let¡¯s skip the process and directly rank me in the top ten,¡± Qi Yuan declared boldly.

    There¡¯s no denying that taking a shortcut feels great.

    Feng Lan was speechless.

    Is this Blood-Clad Sword God even human?

    If it were anyone else, even a late-stage Purple Mansion, Feng Lan would have cursed them out for being shameless.

    But against the Blood-Clad Sword God, he didn¡¯t dare to object.

    ¡°This matter needs to be reported to the three Yin God Lords. I... I can¡¯t decide on my own,¡± Feng Lan said weakly.

    ¡°Then hurry up and report it. I need a quick result,¡± Qi Yuan said, his voice turning cold. ¡°If anyone maliciously obstructs me from getting into the top twenty of the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, that¡¯s an act of enmity against me!¡±

    Cold sweat broke out on Feng Lan¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll report it right away!¡±

    He wouldn¡¯t dare to oppose the Blood-Clad Sword God, not in a million years.

    The memory of the Radiant Palace still lingered vividly in his mind.

    A force that had lasted for ten thousand years, the top power in Cuiyun Continent, was wiped out in a single night!

 Chapter 155: Yeqiong Sovereignâ€™s Plot

    Chapter 155: Yeqiong Sovereign¡¯s Plot

    Qi Yuan sat comfortably in his chair, waiting for the outcome. He couldn''t deny that taking a shortcut for the first time felt quite satisfying.

    By now, the mighty Feng Lan had already passed the information up the chain.

    ...

    At the Heaven and Earth Cave, a fierce Yin wind howled. A tall man stood outside the cave entrance, his face filled with respect and anger as he spoke, ¡°This Blood-Clad Sword God has gone too far! He mercilessly killed Mi¡¯er, spoke recklessly at the Divine Flower Society, and dared to provoke the Sovereign. Is it all because he has Fengjun Sovereign to back him? And now, he dares to interfere in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, trying to secure a spot without competing? He¡¯s utterly disregarding the three Sovereigns!¡±

    This tall man was a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator who had long been serving Yeqiong Sovereign. Upon receiving Feng Lan''s message, he was enraged.

    The Yin wind continued to howl through the Heaven and Earth Cave.

    A childlike voice echoed from within: ¡°What do you think should be done about it?¡±

    The tall man frowned, deep in thought. ¡°First, there¡¯s Fengjun Sovereign. Second, the great calamity is approaching. The Sovereign must conserve his strength, making it unwise to take action against the Blood-Clad Sword God.¡±

    He pondered on how to deal with the Blood-Clad Sword God but, after a while, still couldn¡¯t think of a solution. Was he really going to let the Blood-Clad Sword God disrupt the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle and gain access to Moonwatching Continent?

    Suddenly, the tall man¡¯s eyes lit up with an idea, and he said with delight, ¡°Let him gain a spot in the top twenty of the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle. The Blood-Clad Sword God is clearly trying to enter Moonwatching Continent. The Heavenly Dao there is shattered, and the strong are few. Not only are we from the Canglan Realm targeting it, but so is the Demora Clan. The Demora Clan has a treasure that can sense any cultivator above the Five Realms. If the Blood-Clad Sword God enters Moonwatching Continent, the Demora Clan will surely detect him. Given their unruly nature, they will undoubtedly kill him. Entering Moonwatching Continent would be like sending the Blood-Clad Sword God into a lion¡¯s den!¡±

    At present, Moonwatching Continent was divided into three powers. The weakest was the native population of Moonwatching Continent. The strongest was the Demora Clan. Even the three Sovereigns were highly wary of the Yin Gods within the Demora Clan. Sending the Blood-Clad Sword God into Moonwatching Continent would be akin to sending a sheep into the tiger''s den.

    The cave fell silent for a while before the childlike voice spoke again, ¡°Let it be as you say.¡±

    The tall man''s eyes filled with joy upon hearing this.

    Then, another childlike voice came from the cave.

    ¡°If it¡¯s convenient, investigate his origins.¡±

    ¡°Based on the current information, it¡¯s almost certain that the Blood-Clad Sword God, the Mad Daoist, and the Seven Desires Demon Lord are the same person. They all originate from the remote Hundred Nations,¡± the tall man reported, lowering his head. ¡°We can¡¯t find much more information. My guess is that the Blood-Clad Sword God might not be a native of the Canglan Realm.¡±

    The cave was silent again, with only the sound of the howling Yin wind.

    ¡°Investigate further and see if there are any other members of the Divine Flower Society in the Hundred Nations.¡±

    After a long pause, the childlike voice came again.

    ¡°As you command!¡± The tall man bowed, though his face showed some difficulty. This task would be hard to carry out.

    ...

    Back in Yunzhong City, Feng Lan was on edge, but he maintained a smile.

    ¡°Senior Blood-Clad Sword God, why are you so fixated on entering Moonwatching Continent? Why not simply join one of the prodigy factions? That way, you¡¯d automatically qualify to open up territory in Moonwatching Continent.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan lazily replied, ¡°Moonwatching Continent is my home. I must return home.¡±

    After all, the Heavenly Dao of Moonwatching Continent had been used to build his foundation. Isn¡¯t Moonwatching Continent his home now?

    Feng Lan gave an awkward smile. The energy level of Moonwatching Continent was so low that it couldn¡¯t possibly sustain a powerful figure like the Blood-Clad Sword God. Naturally, he thought the Blood-Clad Sword God was joking.

    ¡°Once I¡¯m in the top twenty, when will I have the qualification to enter Moonwatching Continent? I¡¯m in a hurry,¡± Qi Yuan said, eager to enter Moonwatching Continent. He wanted to see if it was the world he had once lived in. He also wanted to know if he might have a chance to see a certain woman he never met before.

    ¡°When the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle ends, the entrance to Moonwatching Continent will briefly open. At that time, Senior can enter,¡± Feng Lan explained.

    ¡°Good.¡± Qi Yuan nodded.

    At that moment, Feng Lan¡¯s communication jade suddenly lit up.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes fixed on him. ¡°Is that the news?¡±

    Feng Lan was nervous and didn¡¯t dare look. He feared that the Sovereign might react negatively, not only denying the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s request but also doing so in an overbearing way, which might anger the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    While the Blood-Clad Sword God wouldn¡¯t dare kill a Sovereign, he might kill him!

    He sent his consciousness into the jade and then, with a look of surprise, said, ¡°Senior Blood-Clad Sword God, the higher-ups have agreed. You are exempt from the trials and will be given a spot in the top twenty of the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle. You¡¯ve also been granted the qualification to enter Moonwatching Continent.¡±

    Feng Lan breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that the higher-ups wouldn¡¯t agree.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan smiled broadly. ¡°Your higher-ups are quite magnanimous. I¡¯ll have to invite them to dinner when I get the chance.¡±

    Feng Lan gave an awkward smile, knowing he wouldn¡¯t be passing that message along. He was well aware of the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s recent provocation of Yeqiong Sovereign at the Divine Flower Society. If the two were to meet, a fight would be inevitable.

    ¡°Since I¡¯m now in the top twenty of the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, do I get to choose a prodigy reward?¡± Qi Yuan asked Feng Lan, recalling the Sect Master¡¯s instructions.

    Feng Lan was momentarily stunned, wondering if he had heard correctly. The top hundred in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle did indeed receive rewards. The rewards were often powerful Nascent Soul artifacts. These were useful for young prodigies, but for someone as powerful as the Blood-Clad Sword God, what use could they possibly have?

    ¡°Of course,¡± Feng Lan quickly replied, not daring to hesitate. With a wave of his hand, a storage bag flew from the depths of the palace into his hand.

    ¡°Senior Blood-Clad Sword God may choose any of these treasures. You can even take two.¡±

    When the storage bag was opened, it revealed an array of dazzling treasures. If Qi Yuan had seen these during his Qi Refining stage, he would have been thrilled. But now, with a Stellar Golden Core, he wasn¡¯t impressed. He looked at the small purple-gold gourd and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take this.¡±

    This small gourd was the treasure the Sect Master had instructed Qi Yuan to retrieve.

    ¡°Senior has an excellent eye,¡± Feng Lan said after carefully examining the gourd and discovering its secret. ¡°This gourd is actually a Purple Mansion artifact.¡±

    As soon as he said this, Feng Lan regretted it. Ordinary Purple Mansion artifacts were nothing to the Blood-Clad Sword God. A man capable of destroying the Radiant Palace hardly needed such things.

    At this moment, the usually silent Master of Yunzhong Pavilion glanced at the purple-gold gourd and boldly asked, ¡°Senior, do you have any connection to this gourd?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yuan replied, looking at him. ¡°This is a treasure from an elder¡¯s clan. Now... it should return to its rightful owner.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion nodded. ¡°Senior, may I have your contact information?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Qi Yuan didn¡¯t refuse and casually showed the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion a Purple Mansion communication jade.

    ¡°Everything is settled. Pavilion Master, Feng Lan, Booger Fairy, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Qi Yuan transformed into a blood shadow and disappeared.Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

    Feng Lan breathed a sigh of relief as he left.

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion¡¯s eyes were deep in thought, and the tall woman, known as the Booger Fairy, looked aggrieved and speechless.

    ...

    When Qi Yuan returned to his cave, Kang Fulu was nowhere to be seen.

    Jiang Ya was still standing by the Bodhi tree, deep in thought about her cultivation method.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Jiang Ya and called out, ¡°I successfully took the shortcut. I won¡¯t be participating in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle. I¡¯ll be in seclusion for seven days to study my techniques!¡±

    Jiang Ya looked at Qi Yuan with a puzzled expression but said, ¡°Alright.¡±

    Given Qi Yuan¡¯s strength, participating in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle would indeed be futile. It was better not to participate.

    These Purple Mansion cultivators were the most elite forces in Cuiyun Continent, all gathered here.

    Any one of them could cause chaos in a city or even a nation.

    But facing Qi Yuan, their eyes were filled only with respect.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion with a calm expression. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion wasn¡¯t the strongest among the Purple Mansion cultivators present, but he was clearly the leader.

    ¡°Senior, you destroyed the Radiant Palace and rid Cuiyun Continent of a great evil! Now, Cuiyun Continent is leaderless. We wish to elect you as the leader of Cuiyun Continent!¡± the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion said solemnly.

    The late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator also bowed his head. ¡°We all wish to elect you as our leader.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan laughed.

    Are they trying to make me the leader of the martial arts world?

    ¡°I prefer things to be simple and direct, without beating around the bush,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Having a group of Purple Mansion cultivators elect him as their leader was essentially like finding a father to govern them. Unless there were special circumstances, who would want that?

    The late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator stepped forward and said, ¡°Senior, are you aware that a great calamity is approaching?¡±

    Qi Yuan shook his head.

    What great calamity? He had only heard the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion mention it, but he didn¡¯t know the specifics. The Purple Mansion cultivators probably didn¡¯t know either; only the Yin Gods might.

    ¡°In a few hundred years, a great calamity will descend, and the world will likely fall into chaos. All cultivators will be in danger. Even we, as Purple Mansion cultivators, will be barely able to survive.

    Because of this, the Radiant Palace initiated the Hundred Nations Blood War, hoping to fully restore the Emperor¡¯s Shock Dragon Crown to mitigate the calamity. Only a Yin God-level power has a chance of resisting the calamity, giving us a chance to survive.¡±

    ¡°So, you want me... to protect you?¡± Qi Yuan understood.

    With the Emperor¡¯s Shock Dragon Crown and the Radiant Palace gone, Cuiyun Continent had lost its Yin God foundation. Facing the vague threat of a great calamity, Cuiyun Continent was defenseless.

    So, these Purple Mansion cultivators had come to pledge allegiance to Qi Yuan. After all, Qi Yuan had destroyed the Radiant Palace and had the strength of a Yin God.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± the late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator said.

    Everyone looked at Qi Yuan with respect.

    The late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator continued, ¡°We are willing to form the Blood-Clad Alliance and elect you as the leader. We will serve at your command! Whatever you want to do, we will be your right hand. If you need treasures, techniques, or anything else, we will find them for you.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was thoughtful.

    He had to admit, he was tempted.

    After all, he did need techniques.

    And having these Purple Mansion elders search for techniques would be much more convenient than searching himself.

    If he became the leader of the righteous path in Cuiyun Continent, wouldn¡¯t all the techniques in the continent be his?

    At that moment, the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion stepped forward. ¡°Senior, please look at this.¡±

    As he spoke, an old man with a weak aura was brought forward.

    The old man¡¯s eyes were filled with fear and a hint of resentment. Despite his weak state, his aura revealed that he was a Purple Mansion cultivator.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know him.¡±

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion continued, ¡°Senior, some time ago, you were tasked by an elder to retrieve the purple-gold gourd. That gourd came from the Honglian clan. Two thousand years ago, Honglian took a fancy to the Sacred Queen of the Wood Clan and wanted to take her as a concubine. The Sacred Queen refused and hanged herself. In a fit of rage, Honglian slaughtered the entire Wood Clan, leaving only a few survivors. The purple-gold gourd was one of the treasures Honglian took from the Wood Clan. Your elder is likely a member of the Wood Clan. We have captured Honglian and leave his fate to you!¡±

    Honglian glared at the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion with fury. ¡°I¡¯ve already pledged allegiance to Shuixian Continent. Do you intend to start a war with Shuixian Continent by capturing me?¡±

    Shuixian Continent, which bordered Cuiyun Continent, was slightly stronger than Cuiyun Continent when the Radiant Palace was still around, but not by much.

    Qi Yuan looked at Honglian.

    He roughly understood.

    This must be the person responsible for the Sect Master and Elder Xuan Chong¡¯s clan¡¯s destruction.

    Back then, Elder Xuan Chong, known for his temper, had taken good care of him.

    Qi Yuan smiled at Honglian. ¡°If the entire Shuixian Continent is full of Purple Mansion cultivators like you, then why not start a war?¡±

    He wouldn¡¯t mind having more ¡°white moonlight.¡±

    The late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator chuckled awkwardly, not daring to speak.

    At this point, Qi Yuan said, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll accept the role of leader of Cuiyun Continent. And your task is to collect as many techniques as possible for me.¡±

    All the Purple Mansion cultivators smiled at this. The Blood-Clad Sword God had agreed, and their minds were at ease. With the great calamity looming in a few hundred years, they wouldn¡¯t have to face it alone.

    Then, Qi Yuan said, ¡°Xu Yeli, and you, I have a task for you.¡±

    The late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator tensed up. ¡°At your command, Senior. You may call me Meishan.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, take Honglian and...¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced at the other Purple Mansion cultivators, who wisely left.

    Only then did Qi Yuan continue, ¡°Take him to Da Shang and Shen Guang Sect, and hand him over to Elder Kumu.¡±

    Meishan and Xu Yeli¡¯s expressions hardened. ¡°At your command.¡±

    Knowing such a secret, they realized they could no longer sever their ties with the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    ¡°Also, give him the purple-gold gourd as well,¡± Qi Yuan added with a smile.

    Inside the gourd, he left a source divine ability and a wisp of True Solar Fire. He wasn¡¯t afraid of these two harboring ill intentions.

    With that, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure disappeared.

    Only Meishan, Xu Yeli, and Honglian remained.

    Xu Yeli looked at Meishan, puzzled. ¡°Senior, I¡¯m curious. Why did you choose the Blood-Clad Sword God?¡±

    Xu Yeli had only recently learned about the coming calamity. He finally understood how close they were to death.

    ¡°Are you suggesting that the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s days are numbered because he¡¯s offended Yeqiong Sovereign?¡± Meishan asked, his voice melancholic.

    ¡°No... that¡¯s not what I meant.¡±

    ¡°Other than the Blood-Clad Sword God, do we have any other options? Let¡¯s hope that Yeqiong Sovereign, fearing the great calamity, won¡¯t take action against our leader in the coming centuries. Only then, under his protection, will we have a chance to survive when the calamity strikes.¡±

 Chapter 156: The Yin Gods Are Too Strong, I Need to Devour Stars!

    Chapter 156: The Yin Gods Are Too Strong, I Need to Devour Stars!

    Three days later.

    Qi Yuan looked at the various techniques in the storage bag and beamed with joy.

    ¡°As expected, it¡¯s good to have subordinates.¡±

    ¡°If only the techniques from the Liufeng Realm were useful to me.¡±

    ¡°With so many techniques, they should be enough to advance the Nascent Soul Chapter and push my Golden Core to the mid-stage, right?¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    The Golden Core Path was like a bottomless pit for Qi Yuan. After all, how many planets and stars are there in the universe? Qi Yuan didn¡¯t know. Devouring them all would indeed be a monumental task.

    ¡°However, the previous advancements in the Golden Core Path should be enough to allow my Solar True Fire to devour a few planets, right?¡±

    Qi Yuan looked inward at his dantian, where a projection of his Golden Core burned brightly with flames.

    One day on earth is a hundred years in heaven.

    It wouldn¡¯t be long before he could start devouring some planets for fun.

    Without further thought, Qi Yuan fully immersed himself in the techniques he had obtained.

    ...

    In the Divine Light Sect of the Great Shang Kingdom.

    Elder Xuan Chong of the Divine Medicine Peak looked grim, and True Lord Kumu wasn¡¯t faring much better.

    In front of them stood a young man dressed in white robes.

    ¡°Kumu True Lord, you and I are from the same clan. Why would I deceive you? And Elder Xuan Chong, we three come from the same clan, so we should prioritize the interests of the Wood Clan!¡± said the young man in white robes, named Mu Kong.

    Back when Honglian exterminated the Wood Clan, Mu Kong wasn¡¯t in the clan and barely escaped with his life.

    True Lord Kumu looked at Mu Kong with anger in his eyes. ¡°The interests of the Wood Clan? You mean your own interests!¡±

    Mu Kong smiled calmly and said, ¡°With your talent, Kumu True Lord, when will you ever reach the Purple Mansion realm? My master, the Supreme Elder of the Red Sword Sect, is a Purple Mansion cultivator. If you hand over the Wood Origin Canon and the Great Shang serves the Red Sword Sect, my master will recover from his injuries and avenge the Wood Clan!¡±

    He spoke with grandeur and righteousness.

    True Lord Kumu¡¯s face darkened.

    The Red Sword Sect had coveted the Great Shang for a long time. Back then, the old emperor of the Great Shang had the shadow of the Red Sword Sect behind him. Now that their efforts to support the old emperor had failed, they sent Mu Kong as a negotiator?

    ¡°Kumu True Lord, give me an answer within three days. If not, my master will come here personally, and he won¡¯t be as reasonable,¡± Mu Kong said arrogantly. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll stay at... Seven Colors Peak. I¡¯ve heard the peak master is stunningly beautiful. I wonder if I¡¯ll be lucky enough to see her?¡±

    True Lord Kumu¡¯s face turned ashen. ¡°The peak master of Seven Colors Peak is in seclusion and doesn¡¯t see visitors.¡±

    He didn¡¯t know that the top of Seven Colors Peak was already empty.

    ¡°What a pity,¡± Mu Kong said regretfully.

    He was weak, only at the Yuan Dan stage, so he didn¡¯t dare offend Ruan Yixi. But... when his master arrived, the outcome might be different.

    ¡°Kumu True Lord, Elder Xuan Chong, think carefully and consider the bigger picture. If my master doesn¡¯t receive my message in three days, he will personally come to the Divine Light Sect.¡±

    After speaking, Mu Kong smiled and walked toward Seven Colors Peak.

    True Lord Kumu and Elder Xuan Chong stood in the hall, their expressions dark.

    ¡°This is outrageous!¡± True Lord Kumu wished he could kill Mu Kong with one strike.

    But he hesitated, fearing the retaliation of the Red Sword Sect¡¯s Supreme Elder. If he acted rashly, it could drag the Divine Light Sect into a crisis of annihilation.

    ¡°Is the feng shui here bad?¡± Elder Xuan Chong, usually silent, spoke up.

    He had been at the Divine Light Sect for centuries, quietly cultivating and never getting involved in sect affairs. But over the past hundred years, he had noticed many problems within this small Nascent Soul sect.

    In the sect, he had found over a hundred spies.

    There were also some strange disciples, deacons, and elders.

    At first, he thought these people joined the Divine Light Sect with ulterior motives.

    But as it turned out, they were normal and never caused any trouble.

    These problematic individuals formed a sect that had no problems.

    First, there was the Hundred Nations Blood War, and now there was the threat from the Red Sword Sect. Elder Xuan Chong truly believed the feng shui here was bad.

    True Lord Kumu was weary.

    Born into a noble family, he had endured endless hardships to reach this point, his expression resolute. ¡°Fate may be limited, but people... have no limits.¡±

    He didn¡¯t believe in fate; he believed that everything had to be fought for.

    ¡°Enough of the nonsense. Are you going to hand over the Wood Origin Canon or not?¡± Elder Xuan Chong snapped at True Lord Kumu.

    True Lord Kumu sighed. ¡°The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle should have started. I wonder how Fulu and Qi Yuan are doing.¡±

    Elder Xuan Chong also showed a hint of regret in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that Qi Yuan didn¡¯t have enough time. Otherwise... if he had condensed his Golden Core, he might have had a chance to enter the top hundred of the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle and retrieve the purple-gold gourd. With that gourd, our Wood Clan would have a glimmer of hope for revival.¡±

    True Lord Kumu said bitterly, ¡°How can we revive when Honglian is still alive?¡±

    Not to mention Honglian, even the injured Purple Mansion cultivator from the Red Sword Sect was beyond their ability to handle.

    The two men could only sigh in bitter helplessness.

    After some time, a voice suddenly cried out urgently, ¡°Something terrible has happened, Sect Master!¡±

    A deacon rushed in, his eyes filled with panic.

    Elder Xuan Chong couldn¡¯t help but rub his forehead. The feng shui really is bad.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± True Lord Kumu asked, maintaining his composure despite the urgency.

    ¡°Mu Kong... is dead... he died halfway up Seven Colors Peak!¡± the deacon reported.

    True Lord Kumu¡¯s face changed dramatically.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    He waved his sleeve and, along with Elder Xuan Chong, flew to Seven Colors Peak.

    When they landed halfway up the peak, True Lord Kumu saw a familiar towering tree.

    Once, he had met secretly with the Empress of the Great Shang, now the Dowager Empress Mu You, under this very tree.

    But now, Mu Kong¡¯s body lay there, split in two as if sliced cleanly by a sword.

    Jiang Lingsu stood nearby, wearing an orange dress that made her look like a bee.

    ¡°What happened?¡± True Lord Kumu asked.

    ¡°I have,¡± the old Earth Turtle responded, his body thin and frail, though Qi Yuan knew this was merely an appearance. This old man¡¯s defense was likely stronger than that of the Grand Palace Lord of the Radiant Palace.

    ¡°How powerful are Yin Gods?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    The old Earth Turtle appeared thoughtful, recalling the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion¡¯s advice to describe the Yin Gods as extremely powerful. However, even without this advice, the old Earth Turtle genuinely believed Yin Gods were incredibly strong.

    ¡°The Yin God realm is the realm of immortal gods. I¡¯ve seen the owner of the Emperor¡¯s Shock Dragon Crown, Wulong Sovereign. He is a Yin God of the Second Step.¡±

    ¡°The Second Step?¡±

    ¡°The Yin God realm is divided into seven small steps, from the First Step to the Seventh Step. The First to the Third Step are collectively known as Sovereigns. The Fourth Step is known as Great Sovereigns. Once all seven steps are completed, one becomes... a Yang God!¡±

    ¡°A Purple Mansion cultivator must condense a Divine Aperture and transform their mana into divine power to become a Yin God. Cultivation in the Yin God realm involves expanding the Divine Aperture. Each additional Divine Aperture roughly doubles their strength. With 12 Divine Apertures, one is considered to be in the Second Step. With 36 Divine Apertures, one reaches the Third Step.¡±

    ¡°When you say ¡®doubles,¡¯ do you mean a linear increase or an exponential one?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    If it were an exponential increase, that would be terrifying.

    The old Earth Turtle didn¡¯t understand Qi Yuan¡¯s meaning.

    ¡°Roughly speaking, how many First Step Sovereigns would it take to defeat an 11 Divine Aperture Sovereign?¡± Qi Yuan rephrased.

    ¡°At least ten, maybe dozens, or even hundreds. The further along they are in their Divine Apertures, the more divine power they possess. Wulong Sovereign, at the Second Step with 13 Divine Apertures, could unleash an attack as powerful as that of a Sixth or Seventh Divine Aperture Sovereign with the incomplete Emperor¡¯s Shock Dragon Crown.¡±

    ¡°And how many Divine Apertures has Yeqiong Sovereign opened?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    The old Earth Turtle smiled helplessly. ¡°Such secrets are beyond my knowledge.¡±

    Qi Yuan now had a general understanding of the Yin God realm. The differences in power within this realm were vast.

    At this moment, the old Earth Turtle added in a low voice, ¡°Some time ago, after Senior¡¯s battle with the Radiant Palace in the Void, I personally went to see the remnants of the battle in Cuiyun Continent...¡±

    When Qi Yuan had summoned the projection of his Golden Core, it had caused great destruction. Although it was merely a projection and not the actual Golden Core, it had still created significant remnants.

    ¡°Based on the remnants left behind from the battle, I estimate that the battle was at the level of a Second Step Yin God,¡± the old Earth Turtle said with a look of awe.

    Qi Yuan, hearing this, began calculating.

    The projection of my Stellar Golden Core that crossed universes was only at the level of the Second Step?

    But on reflection, it made sense. After all, it had crossed a universe and was only a projection, not the actual Golden Core.

    Clearly, it was still too weak.

    Qi Yuan felt a sense of urgency.

    ¡°What¡¯s the strongest Yin God in the Canglan Realm? Is there a Yang God?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°This I do not know, but I can confirm that the Eastern Lands has no Great Sovereign, only Sovereigns,¡± the old Earth Turtle replied.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Qi Yuan nodded, thinking that Yeqiong Sovereign, at best, was only at the Third Step.

    The old Earth Turtle left.

    The grand hall was now empty except for Qi Yuan.

    He looked at the techniques in the storage bag, his gaze intense.

    ¡°The Yin Gods are indeed strong, but unfortunately... my Stellar Golden Core is in another world.¡±

    ¡°What if Yeqiong Sovereign is at the Third Step?¡±

    According to the old Earth Turtle, the Third Step would have at least 36 Divine Apertures, with a perfect count of 81.

    If Yeqiong Sovereign had 81 Divine Apertures, Qi Yuan knew he couldn¡¯t win against him now.

    ¡°No, I must prioritize advancing along the Golden Core Path!¡±

    Qi Yuan looked inward at his dantian and found that his Solar True Fire had accumulated to a significant degree.

    It had only been ten days here, but in that universe, a thousand years had passed.

    ¡°Solar True Fire... devour!¡±

    At that moment, Qi Yuan activated his Solar True Fire.

    Instantly, his dantian became scorching hot.

    Meanwhile, in the vast universe, flames on a star began to flicker.

    A cold, beautiful girl in a black dress opened her eyes, a wisp of Solar True Fire burning in her palm.

    She looked at the thirteen planets before her, a hint of excitement on her face.

    ¡°Solar True Fire, go!¡±

    With the girl¡¯s command, the golden flames on the star surged.

    The star¡¯s size suddenly increased tenfold, then a hundredfold.

    In the Canglan Realm, the small sun in the sky grew even brighter, flashing once.

    All the ordinary people, and even cultivators, couldn¡¯t help but glance at the small sun in confusion.

    In the vast universe, Solar True Fire blazed.

    In all directions, the intense flames burned.

    The mythical fire devoured everything, spreading its massive wave of heat across the vast universe.

    Thirteen massive planets, stars so large that mortals could never measure them in a lifetime, were as small as dust under the Solar True Fire.

    One, two, three... thirteen planets were successively devoured by the Solar True Fire.

    Whether solid, gaseous, or icy, these cosmic bodies were all consumed by the flames.

    Ningtao¡¯s eyes flashed with joy. ¡°I¡¯ve gained a few more palaces.¡±

    In the Canglan Realm, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but burp for the first time since he started cultivating.

    He looked inside his dantian and saw the projections of many stars.

    Though ¡°many¡± was an exaggeration¡ªit was only fourteen.

    One star, thirteen planets, and several insignificant small bodies.

    ¡°I¡¯ve started collecting stamps!¡±

    ¡°The next target is to devour a star!¡±

    Qi Yuan felt that he still had plenty of Solar True Fire left.

    ¡°If one star can¡¯t crush Yeqiong Sovereign, what about two?¡±

 Chapter 157: You All Continue, I Took the Wrong Path

    Chapter 157: You All Continue, I Took the Wrong Path

    In the Heaven and Earth Cave, a childish voice echoed.

    ¡°The sun in the sky has mutated again. I wonder if this is... a good thing or a bad thing.¡±

    A seductive female voice chuckled lightly. ¡°This at least involves the struggle of a Great Sovereign. We shouldn¡¯t worry about such matters. Instead, we should consider whether we¡¯ve made any progress in recent years, whether we¡¯ve opened another Divine Aperture.¡±

    ¡°The Sovereign of Sentiments is as amusing as ever,¡± an elderly voice said. ¡°Let¡¯s not bring up such matters.¡±

    These three were the Yin Gods of the Eastern Lands, the ones responsible for hosting the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle. In reality, however, the battle was entirely organized by Yeqiong Sovereign. The other two never interfered, and the conversation they were having was just among their avatars. Their true bodies were already in deep slumber, focusing on expanding their Divine Apertures.

    ¡°In half a month, the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle will end, and the gate to Moonwatching Continent will open. I wonder... if we can secure a place there,¡± the seductive female voice said, tinged with inexplicable sadness.

    ¡°The Demora Clan... they are too strong,¡± the elderly voice lamented. ¡°Without the help of other Yin Gods, we cannot contend with the Demora Clan.¡±

    The childish voice then spoke, ¡°Seeking help from other Yin Gods? That would be handing Moonwatching Continent over to them on a silver platter! Absolutely not!¡±

    ¡°But the Demora Clan has a Second-Step Yin God!¡± the elderly voice brought up again.

    Mentioning a Second-Step Yin God made the other Yin Gods fall silent. They were all First-Step Yin Gods, having only opened a few scattered Divine Apertures. Against a Second-Step Yin God, they stood no chance.

    At this point, the seductive female voice spoke again. ¡°I heard that recently, a certain Blood-Clad Sword God destroyed the Radiant Palace. The remnants of that battle from the Void Realm are no small matter. This suggests that a battle of Second-Step caliber occurred in the Void Realm. Could this Blood-Clad Sword God be a Second-Step?¡±

    ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t have any divine nature. He isn¡¯t a Yin God.¡±

    ¡°Could it be that he possesses a powerful Yin God artifact?¡± the female voice grew greedy.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I have a Yin God artifact?¡± the elderly voice grumbled.

    Unless one was at the Second Step, a Yin God¡¯s divine power would be insufficient to open additional Divine Apertures, let alone to forge a Yin God artifact.

    ¡°If the Blood-Clad Sword God dies in Moonwatching Continent, that would be great,¡± the seductive voice laughed. ¡°Then I could pick up that Yin God artifact.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re daydreaming. Would the Demora Clan leave a Yin God artifact behind?¡±

    ¡°Yeqiong, sending the Blood-Clad Sword God to Moonwatching Continent is quite the scheme.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t scheme against him; he wanted to enter Moonwatching Continent. I merely granted him that small wish. If he dies there, he can¡¯t blame me,¡± the childish voice said with righteous indignation.

    ...

    The Eastern Lands were in turmoil.

    Meanwhile, the small Great Shang Kingdom was far from peaceful.

    True Lord Kumu, the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect, had been troubled for days.

    With Mu Kong¡¯s death at the Divine Light Sect, the Red Sword Sect would now have even more reason to target them. Even though the Red Sword Sect¡¯s Supreme Elder was still injured, he was still a Purple Mansion cultivator. A Purple Mansion and a Nascent Soul were on entirely different levels, much like how a Yin God and a Purple Mansion were not on the same level.

    The sect¡¯s grand array had already been activated, awaiting the arrival of the Red Sword Sect¡¯s Supreme Elder.

    At this moment, a terrifying aura swept across the sky.

    True Lord Kumu¡¯s face changed. ¡°A Purple Mansion?¡±

    The elders and deacons of the Divine Light Sect also looked grim.

    ¡°They actually came!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s over. The Divine Light Sect is finished!¡±

    ¡°Wait, it¡¯s not just one¡ªit¡¯s two Purple Mansions!¡± True Lord Kumu felt two powerful presences, and his heart sank into despair.

    One Purple Mansion could easily destroy the Divine Light Sect, let alone two. The Red Sword Sect¡¯s old, undying Purple Mansion even found someone to help? This was beyond disgraceful!

    ¡°Sect Master, let¡¯s fight them to the death!¡± A Golden Core elder said angrily.

    ¡°We swear to defend the sect!¡±

    The entire sect was united in resolve.

    Meanwhile, outside the sect, Meishan and Xu Yeli exchanged puzzled looks.

    ¡°Did we come to the wrong place?¡±

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have.¡±

    ¡°Why does it feel like they see us as their greatest enemies?¡±

    The two were confused.

    Finally, they spoke up.

    ¡°Meishan of the Blood-Clad Alliance is here to visit the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect!¡±

    ¡°Xu Yeli of the Blood-Clad Alliance is here to visit the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect!¡±

    Their voices boomed, passing through the sect¡¯s protective array and into the ears of all the disciples and elders of the Divine Light Sect.

    The elders and disciples exchanged confused glances.

    ¡°Blood-Clad Alliance? What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t this the Red Sword Sect?¡±

    True Lord Kumu was just as baffled, and Elder Xuan Chong was equally bewildered.

    The elders flew to the sect¡¯s gate and looked out.

    True Lord Kumu¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    The two elders before him had auras as deep as the ocean.

    The one in front, especially, did not seem like an ordinary Purple Mansion.

    Why were such powerful figures visiting the Divine Light Sect?

    ¡°Are you the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect?¡± Meishan looked at True Lord Kumu. Despite being a Nascent Soul cultivator, Meishan¡¯s demeanor was exceptionally gentle.

    After all, this man was the elder of the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    ¡°I am Kumu, Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect. May I ask who you are?¡± True Lord Kumu asked, full of doubt.

    ¡°Our leader of the Blood-Clad Alliance has a gift for you,¡± Meishan said.

    A purple-gold gourd appeared in his hand. Despite the sect¡¯s protective array, the gourd passed through without obstruction, landing directly in True Lord Kumu¡¯s hands.

    ¡°The purple-gold gourd?¡± True Lord Kumu was stunned as he looked at the familiar gourd.

    It was the lost treasure of the Wood Clan!

    For a thousand years, he hadn¡¯t seen this treasure!

    And now, it had reappeared!

    Elder Xuan Chong also stared intently at the purple-gold gourd.

    The rest of the sect was confused, not understanding why the Sect Master and Elder Xuan Chong were reacting so strongly.

    True Lord Kumu was overwhelmed with emotion, holding the treasured gourd, memories of the past flooding his mind.

    But a question nagged at him.

    The purple-gold gourd was supposed to be a reward in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle.

    How had it ended up here?

    Suddenly, he thought of Qi Yuan and Kang Fulu.

    He had only ever mentioned the treasure and its significance to these two.

    Now that the treasure had returned, it must be related to them!

    But who?

    True Lord Kumu immediately ruled out Kang Fulu. After all, he knew how capable his son-in-law was.

    That left only Ruan Yixi¡¯s disciple, Qi Yuan, whom he couldn¡¯t quite figure out.

    After some thought, he decided to stockpile more.

    After all, devouring a star was not the same as devouring a planet.

    The two were fundamentally different.

    Moreover, if he remembered correctly, the stars around him were all bigger than his.

    Even after devouring a dozen planets, the difference compared to those stars was still vast.

    ¡°I¡¯ll gather more Solar True Fire. With a bit more effort, I should be able to devour a star. That should be enough to defeat Yeqiong Sovereign, right?¡±

    Qi Yuan mused.

    ¡°Until I devour another star, I should keep a low profile.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt he was still too weak.

    ¡°Sigh, if only my Golden Core were in this world. If it were, I¡¯d dare to directly challenge a Yang God!¡±

    Of course, Qi Yuan was only joking.

    Not knowing how strong a Yang God was, he wouldn¡¯t recklessly provoke one.

    ¡°Leader!¡± The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion called from outside the hall.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Has the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle ended?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it has ended, and the entrance to Moonwatching Continent has opened,¡± the Master of Yunzhong Pavilion said as he entered the hall.

    Qi Yuan was pleased. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I want to enter Moonwatching Continent.¡±

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°The situation in Moonwatching Continent is unclear. Aside from those three Sovereigns, no one knows what¡¯s happening inside. If you enter rashly, there may be danger. Perhaps it would be wiser to send some juniors in first to scout?¡±

    Currently, the only Yin God in Cuiyun Continent was the Blood-Clad Sword God. If something happened to him, the Purple Mansions would have no chance of surviving the impending calamity.

    ¡°What you say makes sense,¡± Qi Yuan nodded. ¡°If Yeqiong Sovereign ambushes me, that would be a huge loss.¡±

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion smiled. ¡°Shall I make arrangements then?¡±

    ¡°Why arrange for others? Isn¡¯t it fine if I go?¡± Qi Yuan said, his appearance changing as his face and blood-red robe transformed into a black outfit. ¡°I¡¯m a Yuan Dan cultivator. Before, I was just pretending to be a Purple Mansion in front of you. Now I¡¯ve returned to my original form. As a Yuan Dan, no one should pay attention to me, right?¡±

    The Master of Yunzhong Pavilion was silent, unsure how to respond.

    ...

    At the entrance to Moonwatching Continent.

    The prodigies had gathered.

    Those ranked in the top nineteen of the Prodigy List were all present.

    Gu Xiaoyao, dressed in black, stood at the forefront. Having cultivated the Heavenly Dao Foundation, he had rightfully earned the top spot on the Prodigy List.

    True Lord Dazhi stood nearby, eyes closed, seemingly dozing off.

    Jiang Ya was also among the crowd, her expression calm.

    Xu Tongchen¡¯s eyes glimmered with sharpness.

    With the Radiant Palace destroyed, he no longer hid his strength. His Solar True Fire burned everything in its path, securing him a spot in the top twenty.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the last person? When will they arrive? I¡¯d like to see which prodigy dared to take a shortcut,¡± a female cultivator from Shuixian Continent spoke, her voice laced with mockery.

    She was ranked third on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List, her mastery of water far surpassing others. Those ranked between twentieth and thirtieth were no match for her.

    The other prodigies looked at Ling Jiao with wary eyes.

    Ling Jiao had every reason to be proud.

    First, her talent was exceptional.

    Second, she hailed from Shuiyun Palace, which possessed a Yin God artifact.

    Third, her mother was the youngest daughter of a Yin God from the Northern Lands, doted on by that Yin God.

    She was truly a prodigy born with a silver spoon.

    ¡°Sorry, sorry, I¡¯m a bit late.¡± At that moment, a voice rang out.

    The crowd turned to see a ¡°bulky¡± man approaching.

    The man was dressed in layer upon layer of robes¡ªat a glance, there were dozens. Each robe looked incredibly valuable.

    On his head, he wore a dragon crown that obscured his face, making it impossible to see his features.

    Most absurdly, he had turtle shells strapped to both his back and chest.

    In his hands, he carried large bags.

    ¡°Sorry for being late. Please, have some buns and soy milk,¡± the ¡°bulky¡± man said.

    This man, of course, was Qi Yuan.

    For this trip to Moonwatching Continent, he had made many preparations, wearing numerous protective robes and covering himself with talismans. Until he had devoured a second star, Qi Yuan had decided to reform his ways and live quietly.

    The first step was to disguise himself so Yeqiong Sovereign wouldn¡¯t recognize him.

    Because of these preparations, he arrived a bit later than the others.

    Though, truthfully, he wasn¡¯t late, as the entrance to Moonwatching Continent had yet to fully open.

    The buns and soy milk floated from his hands toward the gathered prodigies.

    The nineteen other prodigies looked at each other, catching the buns and soy milk.

    Only Ling Jiao snorted coldly, waving her hand to knock the buns and soy milk to the ground.

    Qi Yuan looked at Ling Jiao, full of self-reproach. ¡°Sigh, I thought everyone liked sweet soy milk, so I bought the sweet kind. I didn¡¯t know you preferred savory. If I had known, I would have bought savory for you.¡±

    Ling Jiao looked at Qi Yuan with disdain. ¡°I wondered who took a shortcut. Turns out it¡¯s someone who hides their face, too scared to show their true identity.¡±

    She was puzzled.

    This wasn¡¯t the Blood-Clad Sword God?

    This man didn¡¯t have the aura of a powerhouse. He couldn¡¯t be the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    Then who was he?

    She wanted to find out who had taken the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s place in Moonwatching Continent.

    This was her mother¡¯s task for her.

    That¡¯s why she deliberately picked on Qi Yuan.

    The other prodigies also watched Qi Yuan, curious.

    Only Xu Tongchen wore a strange expression, avoiding eye contact with Qi Yuan.

    ¡°What do you mean I¡¯m not showing my true identity? It¡¯s just that I¡¯m wearing more clothes. You¡¯re wearing clothes too, so why say I¡¯m hiding my identity? Isn¡¯t that the pot calling the kettle black? How about this, you take off one piece of clothing, and I¡¯ll take off one too. That way, we¡¯ll both show our true selves?¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Ling Jiao¡¯s face darkened.

    How many clothes was she wearing?

    This man was wearing dozens!

    Shameless!

    The other prodigies watched, amused.

    At that moment, True Lord Dazhi, munching on a bun, spoke up, ¡°I think this gentleman has a point. Let¡¯s all undress together.¡±

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Ling Jiao snorted coldly, saying nothing more.

    In her heart, she marked Qi Yuan as an enemy.

    What started as a provocation at her mother¡¯s behest had now turned into a real grudge!

 Chapter 158: This Is My House, I Decide Who Rents

    Chapter 158: This Is My House, I Decide Who Rents

    Twenty prodigies gathered, each with their own thoughts.

    Apart from Ling Jiao, the other prodigies were at least outwardly respectful to Qi Yuan. They were all very curious about this strange man and wondered which Yin God he was descended from.

    There were only a handful of Yin Gods in the entire Eastern Lands.

    At this moment, the powerful Feng Lan appeared, with Feng Yue Fairy following closely behind him. She was slender, and her jade hands were wrapped in white gloves, covering her nails and fingers.

    All the prodigies present looked at Feng Lan with respect in their eyes.

    ¡°Greetings, Senior Feng Lan!¡±

    It was only natural for these prodigies to show respect to a powerful Purple Mansion cultivator.

    Feng Lan nodded and glanced at Qi Yuan, who was carrying a turtle shell. His expression became peculiar. After clearing his throat, he began, ¡°You are all prodigies of the Eastern Lands, bearing the responsibilities of your sects. Let me briefly introduce the situation of the Moonwatching Continent.¡±

    As he spoke, twenty jade slips landed in the hands of the prodigies.

    These jade slips contained detailed information about the Moonwatching Continent.

    ¡°Currently, there are three main factions on Moonwatching Continent, including us. These are the native inhabitants of Moonwatching Continent, the Demora Clan, and our forces. The native inhabitants are of little concern. However, the Demora Clan is quite powerful. But don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve made an agreement with the Demora Clan that any power of the fifth tier or above will not take action,¡± Feng Lan explained.

    The fifth tier referred to the Purple Mansion realm.

    ¡°In Moonwatching Continent, who are we primarily up against?¡± Gu Xiaoyao asked.

    Qi Yuan also glanced at Gu Xiaoyao. This was someone with a perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation, someone even he was wary of.

    ¡°Among the three factions, the Demora Clan is the strongest. So, we¡¯ve temporarily formed an alliance with the natives of Moonwatching Continent. But, in reality, both of them are our enemies,¡± Feng Lan continued.

    Everyone nodded.

    Qi Yuan studied the jade slip, gaining a deeper understanding of the complex situation on Moonwatching Continent.

    Both the Canglan Continent and the Demora Clan were gradually devouring the territories of Moonwatching Continent.

    ¡°On Moonwatching Continent, the three Sovereigns have already established strongholds, each guarded by several Nascent Soul cultivators,¡± Feng Lan added. ¡°You must remember not to provoke them.¡±

    Openly, the Eastern Lands only had those three Sovereigns.

    Moonwatching Continent was discovered and occupied by those three.

    The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle offered twenty spots to allow other major forces to share in the benefits.

    These twenty would enter Moonwatching Continent to train, assess the state of the continent, and, based on their contributions, earn greater influence.

    In simple terms, they were working for those three Sovereigns.

    The better they performed, the more rewards they would receive, and their sects could send more people to claim territories to escape the upcoming calamity.

    ¡°Understood,¡± the twenty prodigies replied in unison.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then everyone, enter Moonwatching Continent!¡± Feng Lan said.

    Before them, a door suddenly appeared.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes fell on the door, including Qi Yuan¡¯s.

    His eyes were filled with curiosity.

    To be honest, this was his first time... traveling to another world through such a method.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Gu Xiaoyao said.

    The group of prodigies began entering the door.

    A white light greeted them as they stepped through.

    Everyone felt as if their vision was filled with a blinding white light, rendering them unable to see anything clearly.

    Suddenly, a sensation of spinning and disorientation overcame them.

    This feeling lasted for several dozen breaths.

    Qi Yuan was filled with anticipation and a hint of unease.

    He didn¡¯t know if this Moonwatching Continent was the world he had once lived in.

    He didn¡¯t know if he would meet old friends here.

    On Moonwatching Continent, what year was it now?

    The white light dissipated, replaced by a dry, scorching atmosphere.

    It felt as though a wave of heat swept over them.

    Everyone felt the intense heat.

    They had arrived in what appeared to be a desert.

    ¡°So this is Moonwatching Continent?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty hot!¡±

    Everyone had different reactions, filled with curiosity about this unfamiliar world.

    At this moment, Ling Jiao glanced at Qi Yuan and couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Some people are still wearing such thick clothing in this heat. Do they think this is still Canglan Continent?¡±

    In Canglan Continent, the world was filled with spiritual energy.

    As long as one¡¯s spiritual power was strong enough, theoretically, they could use spells indefinitely.

    But Moonwatching Continent was different.

    It wasn¡¯t the same world as Canglan Continent. In this world, there was no spiritual energy.

    The spiritual power in their dantians was limited and difficult to replenish once depleted.

    Even with spirit stones, absorbing energy here was more cumbersome than in Canglan Continent.

    So, they were conserving their spiritual power, avoiding unnecessary spell usage.

    Qi Yuan, however, didn¡¯t respond to Ling Jiao.

    Or rather, he didn¡¯t even hear her.

    He crouched down, looking at a withered blade of grass on the ground.

    He extended his finger, touching the small blade of grass.

    As he touched it, something extraordinary happened.

    The withered grass on the ground seemed to be revitalized by spring rain.

    The originally yellow leaves turned lush and vibrant.

    In the desert, one by one, blades of grass began to sprout, growing rapidly.

    At this point, True Lord Dazhi remarked, ¡°Old Man Wutian is still collecting techniques?¡±

    Jiang Ya glanced at True Lord Dazhi but said nothing.

    Old Man Wutian had once taken a liking to True Lord Dazhi, wanting to take him as a disciple, but True Lord Dazhi had refused, claiming that following Old Man Wutian offered no prospects.

    This caused quite a stir in the Eastern Lands at the time.

    After all, Old Man Wutian was the number one under the Yin Gods in the Eastern Lands, and countless prodigies sought to become his disciple.

    True Lord Dazhi was the first to refuse.

    As the prodigies from the Eastern Lands introduced themselves and their demands, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but be amazed.

    Every one of them came from a major faction.

    Even Xu Tongchen¡¯s Seven Words Sect had a Purple Mansion cultivator.

    Unlike them, he came from a small village-level sect where a Nascent Soul cultivator was the strongest.

    As the discussions continued, Ling Jiao, with her powerful background, naturally garnered the most attention from the representatives.

    They wanted to collaborate with the strongest, knowing the Demora Clan was too powerful to be handled by weak allies.

    Ling Jiao, facing the representatives, wore an arrogant expression. ¡°Three cities? Are you trying to treat me like a beggar? Even if you offered me three cities in Canglan Continent, I wouldn¡¯t want them, let alone these shabby ones on Moonwatching Continent.¡±

    The elderly representative who had just spoken looked embarrassed, unable to respond to such blatant scorn.

    About half an hour passed.

    Most of the representatives had reached agreements with the prodigies.

    These dozen or so prodigies appeared satisfied, their eyes filled with pride.

    Clearly, they were pleased with the outcome of the negotiations.

    On the other hand, the representatives wore heavy expressions.

    Even after reaching agreements, the clouds of worry on their faces didn¡¯t dissipate.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan, who had remained silent, turned to the bald man, his eyes curious. ¡°Do you know of Nanqian Nation?¡±

    The bald man, Luo Xi, wasn¡¯t a monk but someone who had trained in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, resulting in side effects.

    Back then, Qi Yuan had controlled the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land and set the rules within it.

    Doing push-ups, pull-ups, and the like would make one stronger.

    But the side effect was hair loss.

    It was clear that Luo Xi had trained there.

    Luo Xi¡¯s expression grew puzzled. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Qi Yuan seemed disappointed. He said, ¡°When you have time, take me to see Fenggui.¡±

    Luo Xi¡¯s face brightened but then dimmed as he said, ¡°Honored one, Fenggui only has three cities. We cannot... give up our territory.¡±

    Just moments ago, he had tried to negotiate with the other prodigies.

    But no one had accepted his conditions.

    ¡°Why would I want your cities?¡± Qi Yuan smiled. ¡°Your cities are mine already, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Luo Xi¡¯s expression changed, not understanding Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    Beside him, Ling Jiao couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and sneered. ¡°Thick clothes, thick skin. Are you trying to rob them?¡±

    Qi Yuan finally looked at Ling Jiao. Standing on Moonwatching Continent, he felt his strength growing every moment.

    Though this increase might disappear once he left Moonwatching Continent, here, it was real.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s courage returned.

    ¡°How am I robbing them?¡± Qi Yuan asked, sounding wronged. ¡°Moonwatching Continent is my home. I have the deed! If they offer me cities, I won¡¯t even want them. After all, they¡¯re already mine. What would I do with them?¡±

    The other prodigies exchanged confused glances but said nothing.

    Jiang Ya also looked at Qi Yuan strangely, feeling a sense of familiarity with this turtle-shell-wearing person.

    True Lord Dazhi was amazed and asked, ¡°Friend, is this really your home?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Qi Yuan nodded earnestly. ¡°Absolutely!¡±

    ¡°No wonder. So, it really is your home. Doesn¡¯t that mean our earlier deals should be voided? Friend, how about this: my faction will help you fend off the Demora Clan, and you rent me a place in your home,¡± True Lord Dazhi suggested seriously.

    If anyone else had said this, people would have found it unbelievable.

    But coming from True Lord Dazhi, it was easier to accept.

    Qi Yuan thought for a while and then said, ¡°Alright.¡±

    True Lord Dazhi had helped him a lot, so Qi Yuan was willing to do him this favor.

    Ling Jiao laughed mockingly. ¡°Ridiculous! Do you really think Moonwatching Continent is yours?¡±

    Qi Yuan finally gave her a proper look. ¡°I won¡¯t rent my house to you. Now, leave.¡±

    Ling Jiao was furious, feeling foolish for arguing with an idiot.

    She said no more.

    The others didn¡¯t take Qi Yuan¡¯s words seriously, dismissing him as crazy.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan continued, ¡°Anyone else who wants to rent a place, speak up now. I¡¯m heading to Fenggui soon and won¡¯t have time to chat.¡±

    The remaining people were even more bewildered.

    Did this turtle-shell guy really think he was the master of Moonwatching Continent?

    ¡°It seems no one else wants to rent.¡± Qi Yuan looked at the representatives of the seven nations and said in a soft voice, ¡°Children, your agreements with them are void. Soon, I¡¯ll go and see who dares to behave arrogantly in my house!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words seemed to carry a magical power.

    The people of Moonwatching Continent looked at Qi Yuan and felt a strange sense of kinship, as if meeting their father.

    ¡°Void the agreements?¡± The old man looked confused.

    The others also appeared torn, struggling in their minds.

    ¡°Yes, void them! Moonwatching Continent is my home, and if there are unwanted guests, I¡¯ll kick them out myself!¡±

    ¡°Alright, void the agreements!¡± the old man said, feeling an overwhelming force compelling him to speak.

    ¡°We¡¯ll void them too!¡±

    ¡°So will we!¡±

    The representatives of the seven nations declared that their previously negotiated agreements were void!

 Chapter 159: News of the Moon Empire, the Mysterious High Priest

    Chapter 159: News of the Moon Empire, the Mysterious High Priest

    Currently, although Qi Yuan had not fully regained his status as the Dao of the Moonwatching Continent, his words already carried a certain authority over the seven nation representatives, influencing their decisions.

    At his command, the representatives of the seven nations promptly annulled their previous agreements.

    The faces of the many prodigies present changed drastically upon seeing this.

    Once again, Ling Jiao was the first to challenge Qi Yuan.

    "How dare you use illusions to deceive the natives of the Moonwatching Continent and force them to annul the agreements! You''ve got some nerve!"

    "You''re being too excessive. With the impending calamity, we should be working together, not trying to hog everything for yourself!"

    "Hog everything? Isn''t Moonwatching Continent his home?" True Lord Dazhi couldn''t help but remark.

    The other prodigies glared at Qi Yuan, their expressions unfriendly.

    After all, securing a foothold on the Moonwatching Continent was part of their sects'' plans to mitigate the coming calamity.

    Now, Qi Yuan''s actions clearly threatened their interests.

    To challenge nearly twenty powerful forces alone¡ªhow audacious!

    "Moonwatching Continent is my home. I decide who gets to rent from me. Didn''t I just ask if anyone wanted to rent? No one did," Qi Yuan said with an innocent expression. "So the agreements were annulled. That''s only natural. The contracts weren''t signed, so they aren''t legally binding. Even if you took me to court, I''d still win."

    Qi Yuan''s words left the prodigies baffled. They understood each word but couldn¡¯t make sense of them together. They only grasped the general idea: he intended to take over Moonwatching Continent.

    "Who gave you the confidence to go up against all of us?" Ling Jiao asked coldly.

    The others also looked at Qi Yuan with hostility.

    "It¡¯s righteousness, it¡¯s justice!" Qi Yuan declared righteously. "In the Land of the Free, if you break into my home, I have the right to shoot you dead!"

    Qi Yuan tried to intimidate them with stories from a distant land.

    "Hmph, let¡¯s see what you''re capable of!" Ling Jiao''s powerful aura surged, indicating she was ready to attack Qi Yuan.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan felt disappointed. It seemed that tales from the Land of the Free couldn''t scare these people.

    They really were going to attack him.

    "You might as well all come at me together. Today, I''ll show you that my fists are the law!" Qi Yuan, wrapped in twenty layers of robes, appeared especially bulky. The turtle shells on his chest and back made him look even more comical.

    But now, he was directly challenging more than a dozen prodigies!

    The prodigies'' faces changed slightly in shock.

    "What audacity!"

    "Even if you''re at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, you¡¯ll be thoroughly defeated today!"

    The prodigies were enraged.

    Most of them were in the Golden Core stage, some even in the Nascent Soul stage. Except for the Purple Mansion, they were the top cultivators in the Eastern Lands.

    And this turtle-shell man clearly wasn''t from the Purple Mansion.

    If a cultivator who had comprehended a primal spirit ability entered another world, they would be strongly repelled by that world.

    Since Qi Yuan wasn''t experiencing such repulsion, at best, he was at the Nascent Soul stage.

    A Nascent Soul cultivator challenging all twenty of the Eastern Lands'' top prodigies was suicidal.

    "I''m not at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage¡ªI''m just at the Golden Core stage!" Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Of course, no one believed him or paid him any attention.

    "It doesn''t matter if you''re Nascent Soul or have a thousand Golden Cores. You''ll lose today!"

    The dozen or so prodigies prepared to attack Qi Yuan.

    But Qi Yuan ignored them and instead looked at Gu Xiaoyao, saying seriously, "You''re a Heaven Dao Foundation cultivator, the opponent I respect the most! A battle with you might cause continents to collapse, the sun and moon to dim, and could take half a year to resolve. Let me defeat them first, and then we''ll have an honorable duel!"

    Gu Xiaoyao was momentarily stunned, then felt a strange sense of superiority rise within him. "Alright."

    The strange man before him didn''t regard the other prodigies as worthy opponents, choosing instead to save the final battle for him. This set him apart from the others.

    "How arrogant, to challenge all of us alone. You must have a death wish!" Ling Jiao sneered coldly. "No amount of turtle shells and robes will save you!"

    The other prodigies, feeling humiliated by Qi Yuan''s words, were filled with battle intent.

    "...I won''t be participating in this battle," Xu Tongchen quietly backed out.

    He knew that the man before them was the Blood-robed Sword God!

    Moreover, he was puzzled. Weren''t cultivators at the Purple Mansion level supposed to trigger heavenly phenomena when entering another world?

    "I''m not good at fighting, so I''ll sit this one out too," Jiang Ya said after some thought, also withdrawing from the fight.

    True Lord Dazhi looked at Qi Yuan and raised a fist. "I support you."

    The remaining fifteen prodigies glared at Qi Yuan with hostility.

    None of them wanted to strike first, as ganging up on one person would be shameful even in victory.

    They waited for Ling Jiao to take the lead and teach this turtle-shell man a lesson.

    However, before Ling Jiao could act, Qi Yuan made the first move.

    "In my own home, I have buffs. How can you hope to defeat me?"

    Qi Yuan shouted as a terrifying aura swept over them.

    The prodigies felt their breaths quicken as immense pressure bore down on them, leaving their faces pale.

    Before they could react, it felt as if mountains were pressing down on their backs.

    The fifteen prodigies were immobilized, crushed by the weight.

    Ling Jiao suffered the most, being pinned face-first into the ground, creating a deep crater where she lay.

    With just a display of power, Qi Yuan instantly defeated fifteen prodigies!

    Or rather, they weren''t even on the same level!

    Qi Yuan had merely exerted his pressure, and the fifteen top prodigies were utterly defeated.

    The defeated prodigies looked terrified.

    "A Purple Mansion cultivator?"

    "Are you a Purple Mansion cultivator? How is this possible!"

    "No, even a Purple Mansion cultivator isn¡¯t this strong. You... you''re the Blood-robed Sword God!"

    The prodigies were confused and deeply shaken.

    High above, several streaks of light cut across the sky.

    Qi Yuan looked at Luo Xi beside him and asked, "Have you been to the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land?"

    Luo Xi was startled. "Senior... how do you know?"

    Jiang Ya, overhearing this, shot Qi Yuan a puzzled glance.

    "In the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, doing push-ups and sit-ups can increase your strength, but the price is... hair loss," Qi Yuan sighed.

    These were the rules he had set back then to help Jin Li grow stronger.

    Luo Xi¡¯s shock intensified, as if his world had been turned upside down.

    How could this foreigner know such secrets?

    Qi Yuan looked at Luo Xi. "Can you tell me about the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land?"

    Luo Xi hesitated.

    He didn¡¯t know Qi Yuan¡¯s identity.

    But the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land involved enormous secrets.

    He didn¡¯t know what to say.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the towering Gu Qi Chun Tree in the sky, his thoughts drifting back to a distant time.

    He remembered sitting by the Seven Moon Lake, fishing alone on a green stone, accompanied by the Moon Maiden.

    "Tell me. It¡¯s alright," Qi Yuan said softly, his voice full of persuasive power.

    Luo Xi, who had been torn, slowly began to speak. "When I was young, I followed my parents to the Moon Empire. By chance, I joined the Moon Empire and became one of the Vowed to the Moon."

    "The Moon Empire still exists..." Qi Yuan recalled the people by the Seven Moon Town and the Moon Maiden who had left a crescent-shaped scar on his arm.

    He looked at his arm, now smooth and clean. The crescent scar had long since faded.

    "By becoming Vowed to the Moon, one can enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, gain power, and serve the Moon God!" Luo Xi spoke with deep reverence. "Later, when the Demora Clan invaded and Fenggui was in danger, I asked the leader for permission to return to Fenggui to protect it."

    Qi Yuan listened, his eyes fixed on the moon above.

    The Moon God, the Moonwatching Continent, the Moon Maiden, the Moon Token, the master...

    Were they all connected?

    He felt deeply conflicted.

    He didn¡¯t know if he would be able to meet the people he wished to see.

    At that moment, Jiang Ya¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts. "Senior, how do you plan to deal with the Demora Clan?"

    "Naturally... I¡¯ll kill them," Qi Yuan replied decisively.

    Jiang Ya continued, "The Demora Clan in Fenggui and the other six nations isn¡¯t very powerful. With your strength, Senior, you could sweep them away in a few days. However... if you reveal your full strength, it will alarm the powerful members of the Demora Clan. In as little as a few days, or as much as a few months, the Yin Gods of the Demora Clan will surely come after you. You¡¯ve already made enemies of so many great powers in the Eastern Lands. Facing the Demora Clan alone..."

    Her eyes were filled with worry.

    The Demora Clan was very powerful. Otherwise, the Yin Gods of the Eastern Lands wouldn¡¯t be struggling to hold their own against them.

    "This is my home. Am I supposed to surrender it just because the enemy is strong?" Qi Yuan said firmly.

    Moonwatching Continent was his home. If unwanted guests had come, he would make sure "they leave their lives behind."

    Jiang Ya was at a loss for words.

    Talking to the Blood-robed Sword God was as difficult as talking to her own master¡¯s senior brother, Jiang Lingsu.

    True Lord Dazhi also chimed in, "A man¡¯s head can be cut off, and his blood can flow, but his home must not be given away!"

    Xu Tongchen remained silent, not participating in the conversation.

    Qi Yuan then turned to Luo Xi. "Who told the Moon Empire about the secrets of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land?"

    Back then, he had only shared the secret with Jin Li and hadn¡¯t told anyone else, not even the Moon Maiden.

    So how did the Moon Empire find out about the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land?

    "I don¡¯t know, Senior," Luo Xi said, puzzled by Qi Yuan¡¯s question.

    Qi Yuan sighed inwardly.

    It seemed he would have to visit the Moon Empire himself to uncover the truth.

    Could it be that Jin Li went to the Gu Qi Chun Tree to wait for him and eventually joined the Moon Empire?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s mind was filled with questions.

    He asked again, "Is the Moon Empire still located near the Gu Qi Chun Tree? Is anyone still living by the Seven Moon Lake?"

    "Yes," Luo Xi nodded. "The Moon Empire is still there, though its fame has faded. But it still produces many powerful figures. Seven Moon Town is considered sacred ground in the Moon Empire. The High Priestess has always lived there, in the wooden house by the Seven Moon Lake."

    Hearing the title "High Priestess," Qi Yuan¡¯s left eyebrow twitched. "What is the High Priestess¡¯s name? What does she look like?"

    "The High Priestess... has the appearance of a child and hasn¡¯t aged in a hundred years. She always wears a veil, so her face is hidden. The High Priestess is also the Moon Empire¡¯s strongest warrior, the most powerful in all of Moonwatching Continent. Her swordsmanship is unparalleled, and no one can match her!" Luo Xi¡¯s eyes were filled with fervor.

    It was clear that the High Priestess held an exalted position in the hearts of the Vowed to the Moon.

    "The High Priestess is also the closest servant to the Moon God," Luo Xi added.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s mind raced.

    Swordsmanship?

    Childlike appearance?

    Could it be the Moon Maiden?

    But he had been gone for so long. The Moon Maiden must have grown up or perished in the river of time.

    Could this be a coincidence?

    To uncover the truth, Qi Yuan would have to visit the Moon Empire.

    Strangely, after arriving at the Moonwatching Continent, Qi Yuan felt a trace of fear.

    Fear that everything might have been for nothing.

    But this fear lasted only a moment.

    "Hmph, I¡¯ll become a Sage of Primordial Chaos, a Great Luo Golden Immortal. Even if everything is empty, I can turn illusion into reality!" Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    He decided to wipe out the invaders near Fenggui and the other seven nations before heading to the Moon Empire to uncover the truth.

    "Twenty-one days. It¡¯ll pass quickly," Qi Yuan muttered.

 Chapter 160: Becoming a Young Father with Millions of Children

    Chapter 160: Becoming a Young Father with Millions of Children

    Fenggui Kingdom was weak, possessing only three cities. These three cities were guarded by ten generals who fought valiantly. Now, seven of those generals had fallen, leaving only three remaining.

    A towering general with white hair gazed into the distance, his expression filled with the weariness of time.

    "General Qi, how are things?" a slightly youthful voice asked. The queen, in her early twenties, was simply dressed as she approached gracefully.

    "The Demora army outnumbers us several times over. It''s not looking good!" General Qi replied gravely.

    Having fewer troops to defend the city than the attackers isn¡¯t usually a critical problem. But the opponents were the Demora Clan. Each member of the Demora Clan was a powerful warrior, comparable to a cultivator of the first realm.

    After the great changes in heaven and earth and the rise of martial arts, many strong individuals had emerged on the Moonwatching Continent. But they still fell far short compared to the Demora Clan.

    The entire Fenggui Kingdom had only a few third-realm cultivators, and Luo Xi, who had returned from the Moon Empire, was in the fourth realm.

    According to the classifications of the Canglan World, the third realm was equivalent to the Golden Core stage.

    Among the soldiers, only one in ten was a martial artist.

    "I wonder if Luo Xi managed to bring back reinforcements," the young queen said with a despondent expression.

    General Qi remained silent. The conditions Luo Xi offered were unlikely to sway the people from another world. And were those people any better than the Demora Clan? They were just a weaker version of them.

    The young queen''s face showed determination. "Even if there are no reinforcements, I will defend the kingdom to the death!"

    "I am willing to die for Fenggui, and for the Moonwatching Continent!" General Qi declared solemnly.

    This war wasn''t just about the survival of the kingdom; it was about the survival of the entire world. The people of the Moonwatching Continent had become coveted prey for foreign invaders. The only chance of survival lay in fighting with all their might.

    Just then, a distant and ethereal voice echoed.

    "I don''t need you to die for me."

    Five figures appeared out of thin air on the city wall.

    General Qi¡¯s heart tightened as his hand moved to the hilt of his sword. However, upon seeing Luo Xi, his vigilance lessened slightly, though his hand remained on his sword.

    "Your Majesty, these are the allies from the Canglan World," Luo Xi quickly introduced.

    The queen''s youthful face lit up with a characteristic smile. "Greetings to all of you."

    Qi Yuan glanced at the queen. For some reason, he thought of Jin Li. Jin Li had likely been around this age when they first met.

    "Hmm, is this all the Demora Clan has?" Qi Yuan looked out over the city walls at the sprawling enemy camp, which stretched endlessly and looked particularly formidable.

    General Qi was puzzled. What did he mean by "Is this all"?

    "When will the forces behind you arrive, Senior? We are willing to act as the vanguard and slay these demons!" General Qi responded.

    The young queen also looked expectantly at Qi Yuan, who appeared far too young.

    "I''m in a hurry. After I kill the Demora Clan here, I need to move on to the other six nations."

    General Qi¡¯s eyes flickered with confusion.

    The young queen also looked to Luo Xi for clarification on what was happening.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze pierced through the miles, seeing the grotesque, beast-like Demora Clan members.

    They were three meters tall, with skin that was a mix of dark and blue tones. Their backs were covered in dense scales, and their gaping mouths revealed fangs dripping with green fluid.

    Most striking was the crimson scar on their foreheads, which resembled a burning flame.

    A blood-red sword appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.

    His eyes seemed to traverse the river of time.

    In a blizzard, he had once taken the Moon Maiden and annihilated the Hundred Cities Alliance. Mysterious black-cloaked guards had fallen like dead dogs under his sword.

    Now, the Demora Clan had invaded his Moonwatching Continent.

    As the Dao of this world, Qi Yuan naturally wouldn¡¯t show mercy.

    He ran his hand along the sword¡¯s blade as if wiping away the bloodstained dust.

    Everyone present focused on the sword in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, and their eyes involuntarily filled with fear and awe.

    It was as if they were witnessing a demon god who had slaughtered countless lives!

    Could this bloodthirsty god really be the savior of Fenggui?

    However, as soon as Qi Yuan wiped the blood from the blade, a brilliant light erupted.

    All the people of Fenggui saw that white light and, for reasons unknown, felt a warmth in their hearts, a sense of closeness. It was as if they were looking at their emperor, their god!

    A vast voice rang out, like a deity''s proclamation:

    "With one sword, all dust becomes light.

    Slay the Demora, and a thousand mountains bloom."

    The blood-red sword slipped from Qi Yuan¡¯s hand and flew directly into the sky.

    Countless rays of light shot out from the sword, and the blinding sword light swept toward the Demora Clan''s camp.

    "Enemy attack!" an urgent voice called out from within the camp.

    But before they could react, they were engulfed by the sword light.

    Nearly all the Demora warriors, including several Nascent Soul cultivators, were instantly vaporized by the light.

    In just three breaths'' time, the entire Demora camp was leveled!

    Before the onlookers could even register their shock, bright red flowers began to sprout from the scorched earth where the camp once stood.

    The battlefield had transformed into a sea of flowers in the blink of an eye, a stark contrast to the scene just moments before.

    Qi Yuan smiled. "If you dare to come to my home, you can stay as fertilizer!"

    True Lord Dazhi gave a thumbs-up. "You truly understand the concept of waste not, want not."

    Jiang Ya looked at Qi Yuan, speechless for a long time.

    As for General Qi and the young queen, their eyes widened, and their bodies trembled slightly.

    Such power... What kind of realm was this?

    Was this the legendary fifth realm?

    Luo Xi had been watching Qi Yuan¡¯s sword closely, and now a great wave of realization surged in his heart. "Your sword technique... it seems familiar!"

    Indeed, in Qi Yuan¡¯s sword technique, Luo Xi saw traces of the High Priestess¡¯s swordsmanship.

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan glanced at Luo Xi, his mind filling with endless possibilities. "Let''s go to the next kingdom."

    With a wave of his sleeve, Qi Yuan did not linger. He, Jiang Ya, True Lord Dazhi, Xu Tongchen, and the others left in an instant, disappearing from sight.

    Only the stunned young queen and General Qi remained.

    If Qi Yuan showed up, asked for no land, only techniques, and wiped out the Demora Clan, it would naturally offend the Nascent Soul cultivators who had helped before. They might even grow to hate him.

    "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m a reasonable person. I¡¯ll definitely convince them with reason." Qi Yuan was unconcerned.

    "Senior¡¯s reasoning is the highest and truest reasoning. I completely agree," True Lord Dazhi said in agreement.

    Jiang Ya, on the other hand, was at a loss for words.

    Was this really called reasoning?

    It seemed more like killing and beheading!

    She suspected that True Lord Dazhi, after following the Blood-robed Sword God for a while, would be influenced. If his master saw him veering off course, he would probably be so angry he¡¯d break out of seclusion.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked at the gathered officials and casually said, "Farewell!"

    The King of Wei¡¯s eyes instantly filled with reluctance. "Senior... be well!"

    The nobles and even the royal guards all looked at Qi Yuan, some with tears in their eyes, others with deep reluctance.

    It was as if their own father was leaving, no, someone even closer than a father!

    The scene became... eerie, at least to Jiang Ya.

    She felt goosebumps rise on her skin.

    She couldn¡¯t understand why this was happening.

    Were these people''s emotions... too intense?

    And it didn¡¯t seem like they were acting. Was this really necessary?

    "Let¡¯s go," Qi Yuan said, not looking back at the people below, and left with Jiang Ya and the others.

    As they departed, the palace was filled with the sound of sobbing, even more intense than before.

    Jiang Ya was full of doubts. "Senior... why do they treat you like this?"

    She couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    It was too strange.

    "Because I saved them," Qi Yuan said matter-of-factly.

    Jiang Ya didn¡¯t believe it.

    If a great demon saved her, she would be grateful, but she would still be more afraid.

    But these people on the Moonwatching Continent had the eyes of someone who saw the Blood-robed Sword God as... a father.

    Seeing Jiang Ya¡¯s disbelief, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression turned melancholy. "I never thought I¡¯d become a father at such a young age, not even twenty, with so many children, millions of them."

    As the Dao of this world, Qi Yuan technically could consider all living beings on the Moonwatching Continent as his children.

    Jiang Ya was stunned.

    True Lord Dazhi chimed in, "Based on my years of experience, the factors of life¡¯s inheritance number in the billions. In theory, if both partners are compatible, they could have a billion children at once. I¡¯ve been studying this too. If my Two-Pill Method doesn¡¯t advance in the future, then I¡¯ll let my thousands of descendants go out into the world."

    Qi Yuan was even more impressed with True Lord Dazhi.

    This was no ordinary wisdom¡ªthis was the wisdom of a man who would move mountains, a wisdom hidden behind simplicity!

    "True Lord Dazhi knows so much," Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but praise.

    True Lord Dazhi humbly replied, "The truth is hidden in everyday life. You just need a pair of eyes to discover it and the skill to summarize it. For example, I realized that if I abstain from desire for half a day each day, I¡¯ll have abstained for half my life. So those who are considered lustful aren¡¯t really that bad; they actually abstain for quite a long time."

    "The Dao is simple!" Qi Yuan exclaimed.

    He, too, had discovered many truths.

    For example, in the mortal world, those who live the longest are usually old people.

    Jiang Ya didn¡¯t want to speak anymore.

    Her doubts were still unresolved.

    "Senior... is Moonwatching Continent really your home?" she couldn¡¯t help but ask, trying to steer the conversation back.

    Otherwise, they¡¯d start spouting more truths again.

    "Yes," Qi Yuan nodded firmly, without hiding anything.

    "Senior... could it be that you were born on the Moonwatching Continent?" Jiang Ya couldn¡¯t help but recall their first meeting. She had sensed that the Blood-robed Sword God¡¯s primal spirit ability seemed somewhat incompatible with the Canglan World.

    "You could say I¡¯m half from here. I established my Heaven Dao Foundation here!" Qi Yuan looked up at the sky.

    "Heaven Dao Foundation?" Jiang Ya was puzzled by this term.

    She looked at Qi Yuan more closely, trying to discern something, but found nothing.

    ...

    Chuang Kingdom.

    A young prince was carrying a basin of foot-washing water, his expression neutral.

    A young girl nearby couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Brother, why didn¡¯t you listen to Senior Zhang Yan¡¯s advice? You wouldn¡¯t be suffering this humiliation now."

    Six months ago, when Chuang Kingdom was in crisis, the Demora army attacked. The emperor of Chuang Kingdom personally went to seek help from the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Canglan World. In the end, they ceded five cities and sent nine princes and princesses as slaves.

    Among them, a Nascent Soul cultivator named Zhang Yan had taken a liking to Zhao Ci and wanted to take him as a disciple.

    But Zhao Ci had refused, angering Zhang Yan and resulting in his current humiliation.

    "Sister, you know that I admire the Faceless Sword God the most. I¡¯ve already joined the Faceless God Cult and become one of its followers. I can¡¯t change sides now!"

    Five thousand years ago, the Faceless God Cult began to rise.

    The Faceless God Cult worshiped the Faceless Sword God.

    According to legend, in ancient times, extraterrestrial demons invaded the Moonwatching Continent, bringing misery to its people. Under the Gu Qi Chun Tree, millions of Moonwatching Continent''s citizens who had resisted the extraterrestrial demons were hung.

    The Faceless Sword God, unwilling to see the suffering of the people, took up his sword alone and fought against three thousand extraterrestrial demons, ultimately perishing along with them.

    The girl¡¯s expression dimmed. "There is no second Faceless Sword God on the Moonwatching Continent."

    The legend of the Faceless Sword God was so ancient that the girl didn¡¯t even believe it was true.

    But then she remembered something, and her eyes lit up. "Brother, have you heard of the Blood-robed Sword God who slaughtered the Demora Clan? Do you think... he could help us save Chuang Kingdom?"

    Zhao Ci didn¡¯t respond, only letting out a long sigh.

    Through Zhang Yan, he had already learned about the power structure of the Eastern Lands in the Canglan World.

    The three Sovereigns were the absolute top powerhouses.

    Their subordinates alone numbered over a hundred in the fifth realm.

    The Blood-robed Sword God, according to their descriptions, was merely in the fifth realm.

    He carried the basin of foot-washing water, knocked on a door, and entered a room.

    The Nascent Soul cultivator, Zhang Yan, glanced at Zhao Ci with a sneer. "Do you really think that the Blood-robed Sword God can help you?"

    Zhao Ci¡¯s heart sank, and he remained silent.

 Chapter 161: If He Wanted, He Could Swallow the Moonwatching Continent in One Bite

    Chapter 161: If He Wanted, He Could Swallow the Moonwatching Continent in One Bite

    Zhang Yan, with his head full of white hair, looked at Zhao Ci and spoke earnestly, "The Moonwatching Continent has no future. The Demora Clan is unstoppable. You¡¯d be better off becoming my disciple and joining the Canglan World."

    "Senior, I swore when I was young that I would never take a master, and if I ever did, it would only be the greatest¡ªthe Faceless Sword God!" Zhao Ci''s eyes were firm.

    He had grown up hearing stories of the Faceless Sword God and deeply admired the legendary figure who had turned the tide of battle, single-handedly fighting three thousand extraterrestrial demons.

    "Hmph!" Zhang Yan snorted coldly. "You¡¯re short-sighted. The Moonwatching Continent''s Dao is flawed; its strongest figures barely reach the Nascent Soul stage. The Faceless Sword God, no matter how powerful, was just an exceptional Nascent Soul cultivator. But I, in this lifetime, have hopes of reaching the Nascent Soul stage. If that so-called Faceless Sword God were to stand before me, what could he do against one of my primal spirit abilities?"

    Zhao Ci remained silent. He knew he couldn''t convince Zhang Yan otherwise.

    "Oh, by the way, your third brother tried to secretly meet this so-called Blood-robed Sword God, but Hu Mang turned him into a human swine," Zhang Yan said lightly.

    Zhao Ci¡¯s hand froze, and the water in the basin rippled. It was as if a layer of mist clouded his vision.

    His third brother... a righteous man, always willing to help others, who used to take him horseback riding as a child. Now, he had been mutilated, with his hands and feet severed, his eyes gouged out, his vocal cords pierced, and his ears punctured.

    How could he not be filled with anger?

    "My patience is limited. If you don''t give me a satisfactory answer within three days, you might end up like your third brother," Zhang Yan said coldly.

    He was tired of reasoning with this native of the Moonwatching Continent.

    ...

    In the sky above, a flash of blood-red light streaked across.

    Qi Yuan and his party of four landed on the city wall outside the capital of Chuang Kingdom.

    Within moments, several terrifying auras approached.

    Qi Yuan looked over and saw several Nascent Soul cultivators from the Canglan World.

    Lazily, he said, "Where is the Demora Clan¡¯s military camp? My sword is eager to strike."

    At that moment, Zhang Yan stepped forward, a respectful smile on his face. "You must be the Blood-robed Sword God. I am Zhang Yan, the elder brother of Lady Mir, a messenger under the command of Sovereign Ye Qiong."

    Qi Yuan paused, surprised.

    Mir? Wasn''t that the arrogant woman who had blocked his path to threaten him on the way to annihilate the Palace of Light, whom he had killed with a single strike?

    Her brother?

    Qi Yuan''s expression grew peculiar¡ªshould he kill him?

    But then he remembered that families shouldn¡¯t be implicated for the actions of one member, so his killing intent faded.

    He didn¡¯t like the idea of exterminating entire families.

    He also found it strange that Zhang Yan, knowing he had killed his sister, didn¡¯t seem angry at all. Could it be... that Zhang Yan was a man of high morals and reason?

    But then he quickly realized that the Moonwatching Continent''s entrance opened only rarely. Zhang Yan had likely entered the continent a year before, so news of Qi Yuan killing Mir and destroying the Palace of Light hadn¡¯t reached him yet., I just want to kill the Demora Clan. Give me the location, and I''ll handle it," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    He wanted to leave quickly, fearing that staying too long around Zhang Yan would tempt him to eliminate him.

    "Senior, we can handle the Demora Clan ourselves. Please, attend to other matters," Zhang Yan said, raising his tone slightly. "We are here under the orders of Sovereign Ye Qiong, so we ask for your understanding."

    He only regarded the Blood-robed Sword God as an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, so his respect was limited.

    If he had known that Qi Yuan had destroyed the Palace of Light and understood Qi Yuan''s personality¡ªor insanity¡ªhe wouldn''t have spoken so brazenly.

    "I¡¯m naturally inclined to help others, and besides, the Moonwatching Continent is my home. I can¡¯t rely solely on others to protect it; I must do my part as its master," Qi Yuan said politely, remembering he had killed Zhang Yan''s sister and trying to be courteous.

    Zhang Yan¡¯s smile deepened. "Your Majesty, please explain whether we need their help."

    The man in the dragon robe was old, frail, and had a look of helplessness in his eyes. He finally spoke, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but we can handle the Demora Clan ourselves."

    Beside him, Zhao Ci felt a pang of disappointment, and the girl¡¯s face also darkened visibly.

    Zhang Yan smiled. "Blood-robed Sword God, Senior, please leave now."

    Qi Yuan glanced at the old emperor. "If you¡¯re being threatened, just blink."

    The old emperor was startled. Normally, he blinked frequently, and hearing this, he blinked a few times.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression turned to rage. "How dare you threaten the emperor!"

    Instantly, Qi Yuan¡¯s anger was directed at the dozen or so Nascent Soul cultivators present.

    Before, they might have been formidable opponents, but now, to him, they were nothing.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s sudden outburst shocked everyone present.

    Even True Lord Dazhi couldn¡¯t help but say, "According to my studies of the law, threatening the emperor is a crime punishable by death for nine generations. Oh dear, your mothers... are gone."

    The Nascent Soul cultivators¡¯ expressions shifted.

    Zhang Yan, trying to maintain control, repeated, "Blood-robed Sword God, Senior, we are here under the orders of Sovereign Ye Qiong. Please reconsider!"

    "True Lord Dazhi said that threatening the emperor is a crime punishable by death for nine generations. Your sister is Sovereign Ye Qiong''s servant, and Sovereign Ye Qiong is barely part of your nine generations, so he¡¯s in trouble too," Qi Yuan said, pressing his advantage.

    He finally had a reason to convict Sovereign Ye Qiong.

    This put him squarely on the moral high ground.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words made the Nascent Soul cultivators¡¯ faces pale. They couldn¡¯t understand what he meant, but they all felt that this man was bold to the point of madness.

    However, despite their discomfort, they didn¡¯t dare confront a Nascent Soul cultivator head-on.

    "Senior, we¡¯re not stopping you from killing the Demora Clan. It¡¯s just that... Senior, you¡¯re already a Nascent Soul cultivator. If you recklessly slaughter the Demora Clan here, their Nascent Soul cultivators will likely come to hunt you down. You should be careful!" Zhang Yan said, subtly threatening him.

    "Don¡¯t change the subject. Death for nine generations, execution! Execution!" Qi Yuan shouted, his voice thunderous.

    He drew his blood-red sword, its killing aura soaring.

    Zhang Yan¡¯s face turned grim. "Senior, are you serious?"

    [This is a somewhat mysterious woman, her cultivation at the Yin God stage, having taken the first step of the Heaven Traversal Path.]

    With this information confirmed, Qi Yuan realized that this Yin God was not from the Moonwatching Continent but from the Canglan World.

    "Who are you, an Eastern Earth Sovereign? What do you want from me?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The white-clad woman looked at Qi Yuan and shook her head. "I am not an Eastern Earth Sovereign. I¡¯ve come to persuade you to stop killing the Demora Clan."

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan was intrigued, growing more curious about the woman¡¯s identity.

    To be honest, this was the first Immortal he had encountered.

    "On the Moonwatching Continent, there are five Immortals within the Demora Clan, two of whom have reached the second step of the Heaven Traversal Path. If you continue to slaughter the Demora Clan, they will eventually notice you. It won¡¯t be long before they emerge to hunt you down," the white-clad woman explained, her voice calm.

    Qi Yuan remained confident. "When they do show up, we''ll see who hunts whom!"

    By that time, he would have fully regained control over the Dao of the Moonwatching Continent. His power would soar, and he doubted that those five Immortals could defeat him.

    Not to mention that by then, his spiritual energy might be fully restored, and he still had his stellar core.

    The white-clad woman¡¯s face remained impassive. "You are indeed strong, but facing those five Immortals... the outcome is uncertain."

    "I have confidence in myself."

    The white-clad woman sighed softly. "I see... why does this matter concern you?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He didn¡¯t believe that an Immortal would care so much about him for no reason.

    "I snuck into this realm to accomplish something important," the white-clad woman said. "If you keep provoking those five Immortals, it might ruin my plans."

    "Well, I apologize for that," Qi Yuan replied sincerely.

    The white-clad woman looked at him for a long time before finally speaking again. "Do you know about the impending calamity?"

    "I know a little," Qi Yuan admitted.

    In truth, he knew next to nothing.

    "The Great Catastrophe is coming. Even we Immortals might not survive. Even if we escape to the Moonwatching Continent, it will only buy us some time before our cultivation is severely reduced," the white-clad woman lamented, her voice tinged with worry about the future.

    "Go on," Qi Yuan encouraged.

    "Currently, I¡¯ve found a way to escape from the Canglan World, to completely avoid the calamity. If you¡¯re willing to help me with one task, I¡¯m willing to share that path with you," the white-clad woman offered sincerely.

    She didn¡¯t trust any of the Immortals from the Canglan World, not even the Blood-robed Sword God. But since he was rampaging through the Moonwatching Continent, endangering her plans, she had no choice but to reveal herself.

    Qi Yuan furrowed his brow. "Is the Great Catastrophe that powerful?"

    The white-clad woman nodded. "If It wished, It could swallow the Moonwatching Continent in one bite."

    She didn¡¯t mention the latter part.

    The Dao of the Moonwatching Continent was flawed, making it an easy target. If the Dao were intact, even the strongest beings would struggle to consume it. Only a lower-level world¡¯s Dao might be within reach of ordinary Immortals, while stronger Dao might even baffle the likes of a Yang God.

    Qi Yuan was taken aback. "It¡¯s that strong!"

    The Moonwatching Continent was vast, at least as large as several kingdoms combined. To think that it could be swallowed in one bite! This was beyond Qi Yuan''s comprehension.

    His confidence was momentarily shaken.

    "If It¡¯s that strong, could It swallow the sun as well?" Qi Yuan asked, his voice hesitant.

    If the being was powerful enough to devour the sun, then he was definitely not ready to face it.

    A being that strong was beyond his understanding.

    The white-clad woman chuckled at the notion. "Are you joking? A being capable of reflecting the myriad realms, at least at the level of a Great Sovereign, couldn¡¯t possibly devour the sun."

    Qi Yuan felt relieved hearing that.

    But he still harbored some anxiety.

    After all, his stellar core was in another universe. When would he be able to bring it here?

    "The Great Catastrophe is only a few centuries away. You should start preparing to leave this realm, or else... well," the white-clad woman sighed again.

    "Could the Great Catastrophe arrive sooner?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "No," the white-clad woman replied with certainty. "It¡¯s in a state of stupor."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s sense of urgency lessened once more. "That¡¯s good. A few hundred years should be enough time for my stellar core to devour a few more stars, and by then, my daughter might have even surpassed me in power. I¡¯m not worried!"

    The white-clad woman furrowed her brow.

    She had heard that the Blood-robed Sword God was a bit mad, but she had hoped it was just a temporary condition. To her dismay, he seemed to approach even such a critical matter as the Great Catastrophe with nonchalance and madness.

    This was a catastrophe that threatened the entire Canglan World, and here he was, treating it so lightly.

    "Are you sure you won¡¯t cooperate with me to leave this realm?" the white-clad woman asked again, seeking confirmation.

    "The Canglan World is my second home, and the Moonwatching Continent is my third home. I have no plans to leave for now," Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    The white-clad woman¡¯s face showed a trace of disappointment. "If that¡¯s your choice, then please proceed cautiously. Try to avoid revealing your Immortal-level power too soon."

    "Alright," Qi Yuan agreed. Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "Senior, may I ask you a question?"

    It was rare to encounter an Immortal, so he wanted to gather as much information as possible.

    "Oh?"

    "Well... I¡¯m a Dao Foundation cultivator using the Dao of the Moonwatching Continent as my foundation. If I fully reclaim this Dao, how powerful would I be?"

    The white-clad woman¡¯s expression grew peculiar. "I¡¯ve never heard of such a Dao Foundation. But... any Dao that is born within a world requires at least a Great Sovereign to contend with it. Even a small world¡¯s Dao cannot be easily manipulated by ordinary Immortal Sovereigns¡ªit takes a Great Sovereign. Worlds vary in power, and so do Great Sovereigns. Not all of them can control a world¡¯s Dao. Some powerful world Daos are beyond even the reach of a Yang God."

    Qi Yuan was stunned and eagerly asked, "So how strong would I be?"

    The white-clad woman smiled wryly. "That¡¯s something I can¡¯t tell you."

 Chapter 162: Spiritual Energy is Toxic

    Chapter 162: Spiritual Energy is Toxic

    Qi Yuan was somewhat disappointed that he didn''t get the answer he wanted.

    "May I ask, how many Great Sovereigns are there in the Canglan Realm?" Qi Yuan asked, looking at the woman in white with great anticipation.

    He had finally encountered someone qualified to be his ideal, his "white moonlight." How could he not take full advantage of her?

    The woman in white spoke in a low voice, "There might be, or there might not be.

    Faced with the great calamity, even the Great Sovereigns dare not show themselves.

    What difference does it make whether they exist or not?"

    She didn''t have high hopes for the future of the Canglan Realm. The only chance of survival was to leave the Canglan Realm and follow that path.

    "Perhaps you should leave with me, and escape this land of strife," the woman in white urged once more.

    Because that path was filled with danger, it would be very difficult for her to walk it alone.

    Qi Yuan smiled silently, making his attitude clear.

    The woman in white sighed, "Even the Great Sovereigns dare not face the great calamity; how can you... Alas."

    "Is the great calamity really that terrifying?" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but ask.

    "The great calamity itself is terrifying, but what''s even more terrifying..." The woman in white looked up at the sky, at the countless stars, "Is that above it all, there are immortals and gods."

    The woman in white had stayed in the Canglan Realm for nearly ten thousand years. Although she had never seen a Great Sovereign, she vaguely sensed that there must be one lurking in the Canglan Realm.

    Yet, in the face of the great calamity, these Great Sovereigns remained unmoved, hiding away like turtles.

    For one, they feared the calamity; for another, they feared the immortals and gods above it.

    Otherwise, if the immortals and gods descended, how could the Canglan Realm possibly resist?

    Qi Yuan also looked up at the countless stars, glanced at the moon, and his thoughts wandered.

    Suddenly melancholic, his eyes then brightened with a new idea.

    "Since you''re leaving the Canglan Realm anyway, do you have anything you don''t need? Maybe have a clearance sale?" Qi Yuan looked at the woman in white with anticipation.

    After all, she was a powerful Yin God.

    The resources of such a figure were exceedingly vast.

    Worth a thousand Young Master Breaking Wolf!

    No, Breaking Wolf was nothing in comparison. Truly, there were no names in this world wrongly given¡ª "Breaking Wolf" was just scrap metal and couldn''t compare to a yin deity at all!

    The woman in white was momentarily stunned as she looked at Qi Yuan. "It''s all just worthless stuff that may be useless to you."

    "I''m not picky." Qi Yuan rolled up his sleeves, showing off his muscles, "I''ll take anything¡ª I''m big and strong, looking thin in clothes but all muscle underneath."

    The woman in white was at a loss for words. After thinking for a long time, she finally waved her hand.

    A jade pendant fell into Qi Yuan''s hand.

    "Since we''ve met by chance, take this jade pendant. Go to the extreme north, find any inn, and show this to the innkeeper.

    You just need to state your request, and the innkeeper will do their best to fulfill it.

    If you have the time, please look after my sect..." the woman in white sighed.

    Compared to survival, a sect that had existed for nearly ten thousand years was not much.

    She was only holding onto a bit of sentimentality.

    After all, once she left, other forces would certainly covet her sect, so it might as well go to the Blood-Robe Sword God.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the jade pendant, his face beaming, "When someone gives you something, you have to take care of it! I''ll take good care of it!"

    He couldn''t even imagine what it would be like to consume all the resources of a yin deity.

    "Farewell, until we meet again," the woman in white said, and her figure slowly disappeared by the lakeside.

    Qi Yuan looked at the lake, his gaze clear. "A great calamity that even the Great Sovereigns dare not face is indeed troublesome.

    The main issue is, according to that powerful being, the calamity could summon help¡ª immortals and gods from the heavens!

    A group of immortals and gods ganging up on a little Golden Core cultivator like me?"

    A scene instantly appeared in Qi Yuan''s mind.

    Him, a Golden Core cultivator, battling countless immortals and gods!

    "One star wouldn''t be enough to handle that, would it?"

    "No, I have to find a way to summon help too, or maybe even stars. Let''s see who can summon more and stronger forces!"

    ...

    Returning to Chuangguo, Qi Yuan landed on the city wall.

    A map of the Mo Luo army camp had already appeared in Qi Yuan''s hands.

    He looked at the few people beside him and couldn''t help but sigh, "As expected, a powerful being is generous, handing over their sect''s resources before fleeing."

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan gave a pointed look at Jiang Ya.

    It seemed like he was hinting that she should be more generous too.

    Jiang Ya was slightly stunned. "What powerful being?"

    The Blood-Robe Sword God possessed resources on par with an Yin God. How powerful must someone be for Qi Yuan to call them a powerful being?

    Could it be another Yin God?

    "An Yin God." Qi Yuan didn''t hide the truth, as the woman had not asked him to keep it secret. "She said that a great calamity is approaching and that she''s planning to run away, to leave this place."

    "Run away?" Da Zhi Zhenjun''s expression turned rarely stern. "She won''t be able to. Does she really think she can avoid the great calamity by leaving the Canglan Realm?"

    "Oh? Why do you say that?" Qi Yuan looked at Da Zhi Zhenjun.

    "Based on my years of observation, I''ve discovered a terrifying truth." Da Zhi Zhenjun''s face turned serious.

    Qi Yuan''s heart tightened.

    Everyone present also looked at Da Zhi Zhenjun, their curiosity piqued.

    Although Da Zhi Zhenjun was known for being eccentric, he was truly a prodigy, or else the Old Man Wu Tian wouldn''t have wanted to take him as a disciple.

    Everyone watched as Da Zhi Zhenjun, with a heavy expression, opened his mouth: "Spiritual energy is toxic!"

    Jiang Ya was momentarily stunned.

    Xu Tongchen was bewildered.

    "According to my observations, everyone who uses spiritual energy for cultivation ends up dead.

    Therefore, spiritual energy is toxic!" Da Zhi Zhenjun said solemnly.

    Jiang Ya couldn''t help but retort, "Cultivating to the level of a Great Sovereign grants near-immortality, living as long as the heavens and earth. Great Sovereigns also use spiritual energy for cultivation, so why haven''t they died of old age?"

    "Have you ever seen a living Great Sovereign?" Da Zhi Zhenjun asked quietly.

    Jiang Ya was at a loss for words. "...No, I haven''t. But I haven''t seen a Yang God either. Does that mean Yang Gods don''t exist?"

    Da Zhi Zhenjun looked up at the countless stars in the sky. "Who knows if they exist or not?"

    Qi Yuan, however, was deeply shaken.

    He didn''t know if spiritual energy was truly toxic.

    But the cultivation techniques of the Canglan Realm definitely had problems.

    After cultivating, one would become food.

    This Da Zhi Zhenjun was truly a genius!

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan thought of Blue Star.

    Everyone on Blue Star who had ever inhaled oxygen had died.

    Does that mean... oxygen is toxic too?

    Everyone was playing the suona, except her, which felt awkward.

    Right now, she felt very strange.

    She could barely understand why Da Zhi Zhenjun would join the suona group.

    But later, when they went to other countries, and the Blood-Robe Sword God casually mentioned it, people from all walks of life¡ª from commoners to nobles¡ª eagerly signed up to join the Blood-Robe Sword God''s band.

    It was as if joining the band had become a lifelong honor.

    She really wanted to tell one of the band''s emperors:

    "You''re an emperor, and you''re running off to play in a band?"

    She couldn''t understand it.

    That emperor, whom she had only seen a few times, was clearly a ruler of great ambition.

    And this is what he chose?

    "Senior, what exactly did you do to them to make even emperors want to play the suona for you?" Jiang Ya had spent enough time with Qi Yuan to understand his personality, so she spoke more boldly.

    "Isn''t it normal for an emperor to play the suona?

    I''ve even seen a carpenter emperor.

    I''ve also seen some countries where comedians become leaders." Qi Yuan replied casually.

    Now, there were only a few weeks left until he would fully control the heavenly laws.

    And he was getting closer and closer to the Moon Dynasty.

    But instead of excitement, he felt a sudden apprehension about returning home.

    Just then, Zhao Ci from the suona band stepped forward, speaking respectfully, "Senior, a divine envoy from our Faceless God Sect wishes to meet you. He says he has urgent news to deliver."

    Qi Yuan perked up.

    A die-hard fan?

    "Let him come over." Qi Yuan was always enthusiastic about meeting fans.

    Before long, a middle-aged man in black embroidered robes appeared. He glanced at the Blood-Robe Sword God, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes, "Greetings, Senior!"

    "Oh? What is it?"

    "Senior, according to information from our Faceless God Sect, the Mo Luo race has taken notice of you and plans to send five fifth-stage cultivators to besiege you.

    Please leave this place immediately, or you risk being trapped here," the divine envoy from the Faceless God Sect said.

    At the same time, he felt a strange sense of kinship toward the Blood-Robe Sword God, an otherworldly being. This was something he had never felt before.

    "Five Purple Mansions, huh?" Qi Yuan sighed helplessly, "Why are otherworldly cultivation techniques so weak?"

    Otherwise, these five Purple Mansions could have been five "white moonlights."

    The kind he liked to blow up.

    Qi Yuan reflected on this.

    He decided that from now on, any potential "white moonlights" must be from the Canglan Realm.

    "Senior, please conceal your identity. Our Faceless God Sect can use a special passage to escort you to the Moon Dynasty!" the divine envoy said seriously.

    If they were to protect the Blood-Robe Sword God to the Moon Dynasty, the Faceless God Sect''s external members would likely serve as decoys, and their sacrifices could be significant.

    The divine envoy knew that every member of the Faceless God Sect was unafraid of death and willing to fight for the Wangyue Continent!

    "I''ll go to the Moon Dynasty, but there''s no need for you to escort me." Qi Yuan didn''t take the five Purple Mansions seriously.

    The divine envoy became anxious upon hearing this.

    The senior didn''t want to go with him?

    He was desperate to persuade him further.

    But then he saw the Blood-Robe Sword God look up at the sky and say slowly, "It''s too late to leave now because... their people have already arrived."

    Qi Yuan had already sensed the arrival of the Mo Luo race''s powerful beings.

    Unfortunately, none of them were "white moonlights" that could send him cultivation techniques. Qi Yuan was disinterested.

    The blood-red sword behind him, sensing the arrival of powerful enemies, let out a resonant hum.

    The divine envoy''s face turned ashen. "So soon? We''re doomed."

    Five fifth-stage cultivators¡ª how could the Blood-Robe Sword God possibly withstand them?

    Everyone present would likely die here.

    But then, a deep, thunderous voice echoed, causing the divine envoy''s face to drain of all color.

    Because... he saw an Yin God!

    A god from legend!

    "Jie jie jie, good thing I came. Otherwise, you five would just be giving him more experience points.

    This one is clearly no ordinary late-stage Purple Mansion!"

    Mo Hui Sovereign, standing fifteen meters tall, appeared, looking down at Qi Yuan with a mocking expression, like a cat toying with a mouse.

    The five Purple Mansions, standing beside Mo Hui Sovereign, felt a chill in their hearts.

    They followed Mo Hui Sovereign like mere sidekicks.

    At this moment, everyone who saw Mo Hui Sovereign felt an inexplicable sense of dread.

    It was the instinctive fear of a weaker creature facing a stronger one.

    Especially the divine envoy, who had turned deathly pale.

    With an Yin God taking action, the Blood-Robe Sword God had no chance of reaching the Moon Dynasty.

    Qi Yuan, however, looked up and down at the Yin God, feeling helpless, "You, a mighty Yin God, bullying a little Golden Core cultivator like me¡ª how thick is your skin?"

    "What an amusing human. Upon seeing me, your first thought wasn''t to kneel and beg for mercy.

    Could it be that you really... have something wrong with your head?"

    "You''re the one with something wrong! Your whole family has something wrong with their heads!" Qi Yuan couldn''t stand it anymore.

    If an Yin God insulted him, he had to insult them back.

    Mo Hui Sovereign didn''t get angry; instead, he continued to watch Qi Yuan with interest.

    But the five Purple Mansion cultivators beside him couldn''t hold back, "Offending a god¡ª such a crime is punishable by death!"

    "Sharp-tongued, prepare to die!"

    Not far away, Jiang Ya watched this scene, her eyes filled with shock and curiosity. She wanted to know what the Blood-Robe Sword God''s trump card was.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan shrugged helplessly and snapped his fingers, "Play the music, play something cheerful."

    This time, no mourning tunes.

    Da Zhi Zhenjun, standing behind him, picked up the suona and began to play.

    The others from the Wangyue Continent seemed unfazed by the god''s pressure. Under the god''s watchful gaze, a lively, slightly out-of-place tune began to play.

    Jiang Ya stood silently by.

    Facing an Yin God... and they''re playing music.

    This Blood-Robe Sword God is truly extraordinary!

    No, even those second- and third-stage cultivators playing the music are extraordinary!

    After all, who would dare provoke a god like this?

    Even a Purple Mansion wouldn''t dare.

    But these people did!

    She couldn''t make sense of it!

 Chapter 163: A New Game Icon, Meeting the High Priestess

    Chapter 163: A New Game Icon, Meeting the High Priestess

    The Demon Sovereign¡¯s eyes flickered with a strange expression.

    ¡°This intriguing little worm, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen one like you.¡±Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

    ¡°Who... gave you the courage?¡±

    As the Demon Sovereign spoke, the aura of a Yin God began to permeate the space.

    The key difference between a Yin God and a Zifu cultivator is divine power!

    A Yin God has already transformed the spiritual energy within their body into divine energy.

    It¡¯s a power far more advanced than innate magical abilities.

    With just a trace of divine energy, one could easily create a deadly realm with a mere gesture.

    A short distance away, the divine envoy witnessing this scene found himself unable to move.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan shouted toward the sky, ¡°Ning Tao, save me!¡±

    That¡¯s right, Qi Yuan was using the Great Summoning Technique!

    At this moment, he chose to rely on someone else for the first time! The spiritual energy within him wasn¡¯t enough to summon the projection of a star.

    However, summoning Ning Tao¡¯s projection was possible.

    Feeling thrilled and expectant, Qi Yuan was ready to rely on someone else for the first time.

    A joyful sound of suona, with a light-hearted tune, filled the air.

    It was as if the sun in the sky flashed its light.

    Space seemed to freeze, and time appeared to come to a halt.

    Under everyone¡¯s gaze, a woman in a black dress appeared out of nowhere.

    She had an enchanting face, her skin white as snow, excessively pale, like the most exquisite porcelain in the world.

    With a petite, delicate figure, her long hair flowed down like a waterfall of the night. Her left eye was pure like gentle rain, reminiscent of a lively spring maiden, while her right eye was deep and seductive, like a dark goddess.

    A profound and powerful aura enveloped her, resembling that of a deity.

    This was the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s trump card?

    Jiang Ya instantly understood that the Blood-Robed Sword God and this Yin God woman must have a close relationship, possibly even being her most cherished descendant.

    ¡°Treading the Heavens, Two Steps!¡± The Demon Sovereign¡¯s pupils shrank as he sensed a threat.

    He had only taken one step in the Treading the Heavens technique, opening three divine apertures.

    But the other party was a terrifying existence who had taken two steps.

    Her strength was at least ten times greater than his.

    Low-level cultivators might still be able to fight across realms.

    But those who had reached the level of Yin God, which of them wasn¡¯t a true prodigy?

    Being one divine aperture short, one¡¯s combat strength would be hard to compensate through other means.

    Such a significant gap in realms made it impossible to fight across levels.

    Even the young Grand Sovereigns had no record of fighting across levels.

    He wanted to flee.

    Just then, Qi Yuan¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Ning Tao, quickly kill him for me!¡±

    ¡°Husband, please wait a moment!¡± Ning Tao spoke, waving her delicate hand.

    The Demon Sovereign, who was planning to flee, was instantly immobilized in mid-air.

    Seeing this, Jiang Ya was utterly stunned.

    This goddess... called the Blood-Robed Sword God what? Husband???

    Isn¡¯t she supposed to be the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s ancestor? How did she become his partner?

    A mere Zifu cultivator like the Blood-Robed Sword God managed to marry a Yin God who had taken two steps in Treading the Heavens?

    This is too...

    She was a bit disoriented, staring at the battle ahead.

    ¡°No!¡± The Demon Sovereign roared as the divine energy in his three divine apertures surged, trying to break free from the immobilization.

    But his divine energy was no match for Ning Tao¡¯s projection; the difference was more than tenfold.

    The disparity between them was even greater than the gap between late-stage Nascent Soul and early-stage Golden Core cultivators.

    A difference of an entire realm.

    To Ning Tao, his divine energy was as weak as a mountain spring.

    With just one finger, Ning Tao had him completely restrained.

    ¡°You can¡¯t kill me! My elder brother is also at the second step of Treading the Heavens!¡± The Demon Sovereign, unable to break free, quickly calmed down.

    Ning Tao didn¡¯t respond but instead looked toward Qi Yuan, leaning on him like a delicate bird, ¡°Husband... how should we deal with him?¡±

    Jiang Ya, watching from a distance, was in disbelief.

    A high and mighty Yin God was acting like a lovesick maiden.

    Qi Yuan helplessly brushed Ning Tao¡¯s hair.

    The last time she appeared, she called him ¡°Blood Bead¡± when no one was around.

    This time, in front of everyone, she called him ¡°Husband.¡±

    How could he not understand the mind of a maiden? Looking at Ning Tao¡¯s stunningly beautiful face, he muttered, ¡°So this is what it feels like to rely on someone else... it really is... wonderful.¡±

    After mumbling, he looked at the Demon Sovereign, arrogantly saying, ¡°Your elder brother is a Yin God; my... wife is also a Yin God!¡±

    Perhaps out of a sense of competition, he called Ning Tao his wife for the first time.

    Ning Tao¡¯s left eye was as tender as water, filled with the shyness of a maiden, while her right eye was seductive and alluring, her face flushed with a touch of crimson.

    The Demon Sovereign was completely flustered by Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    ¡°There are five Yin Gods in total from our Mo Luo Clan this time...¡±

    ¡°My wife is a Yin God!¡±

    ¡°Two of them have taken two steps in Treading the Heavens, three...¡±

    ¡°My wife is a Yin God!¡± Qi Yuan said proudly.

    No matter what the Demon Sovereign said, Qi Yuan shut him down with this sentence, looking smug.

    ¡°You¡¯re not from Moonwatch Continent, so why fight the Mo Luo Clan for it?

    The three Grand Sovereigns from your Canglan Realm have made an agreement with us to divide Moonwatch Continent.

    If you let me go, we can give you one-third of the territory!¡± The Demon Sovereign continued to negotiate.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face turned cold, ¡°Ridiculous, Moon Watching Continent is mine; how dare you offer me what¡¯s already mine!¡±

    Seeing that Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t be persuaded, the Demon Sovereign turned to Ning Tao, ¡°The conflict between the Mo Luo Clan and Moon Watching Continent involves... two Yang Gods.

    Senior, reaching the second step of Treading the Heavens is no easy feat.

    One day, you will become a Grand Sovereign and ascend to the higher realms.

    Why risk offending our Mo Luo Clan and the Yang God behind us over such trivial matters?¡±

    At this moment, the Demon Sovereign played his trump card.

    The dispute between the Mo Luo Clan and Moon Watching Continent was merely an extension of a conflict between two Yang Gods.

    Of course, the Mo Luo Clan was not actually directly affiliated with the Sun God, nor were they even considered a close subordinate; it was just a tactic to intimidate Ning Tao.

    The High Priestess¡¯s young face was determined, ¡°We cannot leave now; I must wait for someone.¡±

    The woman in white remained silent for a long time before asking, ¡°Is the person you¡¯re waiting for the Faceless Sword God?¡±

    The High Priestess did not answer, but her silence was an answer in itself.

    ¡°If the Faceless Sword God had not perished over the past ten thousand years, he would have arrived by now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been sitting here for five thousand years; a few more years won¡¯t matter.

    I¡¯ve never met him, but I want to know if he¡¯s really as legendary as they say...¡± The girl¡¯s eyes were filled with endless longing.

    At this moment, she seemed to remember something and asked, ¡°Do you think the Blood-Robed Sword God is more powerful, or is the Faceless Sword God stronger?¡±

    The woman in white felt a bit helpless towards her young master and couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly, ¡°Whoever the High Priestess believes is stronger must be stronger.¡±

    ¡°The Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s wife is only at the second step of Treading the Heavens, so in that regard, he doesn¡¯t compare to the Faceless Sword God.

    And the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s appearance surely can¡¯t match the Faceless Sword God¡¯s.¡±

    The High Priestess spoke as she looked at her reflection in the water.

    She was particularly certain about the latter point.

    ¡°So, the Faceless Sword God wins completely.¡± The High Priestess said proudly.

    The woman in white said nothing, her eyes still clouded with worry.

    At that moment, the High Priestess spoke softly, ¡°I understand your concerns. If the situation becomes untenable, I will activate the teleportation array and take... the Moon Dynasty with me.¡±

    But... if the Faceless Sword God awakens then, will he be able to find July Lake? But Moon Watching Continent may become a true purgatory.

    The place he once protected with his life¡ªhow could she bear to see it in ruins?

    Hearing this, the woman in white breathed a sigh of relief.

    She had feared that the High Priestess would stubbornly insist on staying.

    At that moment, an urgent voice called out, ¡°High Priestess!¡±

    A divine envoy from the Faceless God Cult appeared, wearing a black embroidered robe, his face showing a strange expression.

    The High Priestess¡¯s delicate face showed curiosity, ¡°I already know that the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s wife has taken two steps in Treading the Heavens. Is there something else?¡±

    ¡°High Priestess, I find this Blood-Robed Sword God... a bit odd.¡± The envoy spoke hesitantly.

    ¡°What¡¯s so odd?¡± The High Priestess asked calmly.

    She had seen many strange things in the world.

    ¡°The moment I saw him, I felt an inexplicable closeness.

    And it¡¯s not just me; everyone on Moon Watching Continent who sees him feels a deep affection and a strong trust in him.¡± The envoy explained.

    The situation was indeed very strange.

    The woman in white glanced at the envoy, her eyes deep, ¡°There are no traces of divine magic.¡±

    The High Priestess pondered, ¡°Anything else?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s one more thing; the sword technique he uses... resembles your own, High Priestess.¡±

    ¡°What...¡± The High Priestess¡¯s starry eyes twitched, reflecting the winter snow.

    ...

    Looking at the ancient tree on the horizon, Qi Yuan raised his arm.

    The mark of the crescent moon never appeared.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be the Moon Maiden?¡± Qi Yuan felt a bit disappointed.

    If the High Priestess were the Moon Maiden, the crescent moon mark in his hand might have appeared.

    And the Moon Maiden... would have sensed him and come to meet him.

    So, that High Priestess might just be a coincidence.

    ¡°Seriously, why does it have to snow?¡±

    He stood in the vast snow, letting it cover his shoulders.

    Getting closer and closer to the Moon Dynasty, Qi Yuan felt bored staying in the inn, so he stepped out alone.

    His state of mind was quite different from before.

    Perhaps thousands of years had already passed; everything, everything, had vanished into the long river of time.

    Even the Nanqian Kingdom was gone.

    The Tianyun Sect had become a sect from nearly ten thousand years ago.

    Everything, everything, had disappeared into the dust of history.

    Suddenly, snow from the tree above slid down, falling on Qi Yuan¡¯s shoulders and head.

    He was about to look up when he saw, not far away, a young woman in her early twenties approaching slowly.

    She wore a fox fur coat, her expression serene, her hood pulled back to reveal a face as pure as the crescent moon, with a snowy flower-like complexion.

    Her lips were thin, her eyes clear and elegant, with a refined and graceful demeanor.

    As she approached Qi Yuan, she gently asked, ¡°Is she... beautiful?¡±

    She extended her jade-like finger, pointing to her own face.

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

    ¡¾This is a mysterious girl with deep ties to you.¡¿

    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s very beautiful.¡± Qi Yuan looked at the face, lost in thought.

    He wanted to figure out her identity.

    ¡°Hehe, she would be very happy to hear that.¡±

    ¡°Who... is she?¡± Qi Yuan stared at the face, countless thoughts swirling in his mind, along with a bold guess.

    ¡°She said, remember this face of hers, so that in the future... when you meet her, you won¡¯t fail to recognize her.¡±

    ¡°Is she Jinli?¡± Qi Yuan stood there, staring blankly at the face.

    He had waited for Jinli for a long time under the ancient tree, but she never showed up.

    ¡°She is also the Moon Maiden.¡± The young woman said softly.

    Time and space seemed to freeze again.

    Qi Yuan thought back to the July Lake and the stubborn girl from back then.

    The promise made across time and space, both standing at opposite ends of time, originally couldn¡¯t meet, but... fate arranged for them to meet in a different form.

    He didn¡¯t know she was Jinli.

    And she didn¡¯t know he was the Qi Yuan she would meet in the future.

    Actually, they weren¡¯t strangers to each other, and it wasn¡¯t a matter of never meeting, but rather they had always been there.

    ¡°Who... are you?¡±

    Before his eyes, the young woman¡¯s form shifted, turning into that of a seven or eight-year-old girl.

    Seeing the little girl before him, Qi Yuan was reminded of the Moon Maiden from the past.

    In her, he saw traces of the Moon Maiden.

    ¡°I¡¯m my mother¡¯s daughter, my father¡¯s daughter!¡± The girl looked at Qi Yuan, her face full of smiles, ¡°I¡¯m also the most precious gift my father gave to my mother.¡±

    Back then, Jinli had taken her from the Faceless Sword God¡¯s statue.

    All the memories came flooding back.

    She had truly met him.

 Chapter 164: Past Events, Action of the Ye Qiong Venerable

    Chapter 164: Past Events, Action of the Ye Qiong Venerable

    Memories of the past surged into Qi Yuan''s mind.

    All the fragmented images replayed in his mind.

    ¡°You are... that Hairpin?¡± Qi Yuan asked, looking at the young girl.

    Back then, when he emerged from Tianjue, he had carefully prepared a gift for Jinli. Unfortunately, by the shores of July Lake, he never got to meet her.

    The two of them were at opposite ends of time and space.

    Accompanying Qi Yuan, as snow covered his shoulders, the one sharing the snowfall with him was the Moon Maiden.

    Later, he ventured alone to Dijue, where the Moon Maiden left a crescent moon mark on his arm. He also left a hairpin for the Moon Maiden, hoping she could pass it on to Jinli, who existed in the future.

    ¡°I am not some hairpin; I¡¯m my father¡¯s daughter,¡± the High Priestess stubbornly raised her head.

    Qi Yuan looked at her, feeling overwhelmed with emotions.

    Everything was connected at this moment.

    He and Jinli had only communicated through the Linglong Yuxi.

    They had never met in person, but Qi Yuan could sense that she was just an ordinary girl.

    He recalled the bits of conversation he had overheard in the Forbidden Land of the Five Elements.

    Back then, the Great Sun faced a formidable enemy, and despite using every means, he could only manage to wound the enemy''s leg.

    He also remembered Jinli mentioning her embarrassing experiences from her youth¡ªfalling flat on her face during her coronation, and how her leg had been injured early on, never fully healing.

    So, the formidable enemy who fought against the Great Sun was the previous incarnation of Jinli.

    But why did she later become the Moon Maiden, and then Jinli again? The High Priestess seemed to notice the confusion in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes. She said in a clear voice, ¡°Father, do you want to know about Mother¡¯s origins?¡±

    ¡°...Yes.¡± Honestly, Qi Yuan was reluctant to acknowledge this daughter.

    After all, having a daughter suddenly appear out of nowhere, and one who hadn''t yet dominated the ancient world, made his previous bold claims seem awkward.

    But when he thought about it, having one more daughter was better than mysteriously losing one, so he accepted it in his heart.

    In a certain sense, she was indeed his daughter.

    ¡°Mother comes from the Upper Realm,¡± the High Priestess said, gazing up at the star-filled sky.

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but also look at the stars twinkling among the ancient trees.

    He thought of the Moon God Sovereign and the Moon Token his master had left behind.

    ¡°Back then, Mother received an order from the Moon God Palace to descend and destroy the ruler of this world, the Great Sun.

    She easily slew the Great Sun but was ambushed by the Black Demon Abyss.

    The Black Demon Abyss is a force in the Upper Realm, even more powerful than the Moon God Palace, and has always been in opposition to it.

    After slaying the enemy, Mother was also caught in the cycle of reincarnation.

    The arrangements made by the Yin God of the Black Demon Abyss before his death also took effect, creating the Otherworld Demons scenario.

    Once that scenario was completed, Mother would completely perish, unable to return to the Upper Realm.

    Later, with no memory of her past, Mother became the Moon Maiden and met Father.

    Father ventured alone to Dijue, destroyed the Outer Realm evil spirits and the Great Sun, broke the pre-determined scenario, and saved Mother.¡± The High Priestess¡¯s lips were as thin as cherries, and her teeth were like broken jade.

    Qi Yuan was silent for a long time before finally saying, ¡°So it was she who awakened me?¡±

    In her first reincarnation in this world, Jinli was known as the Moon Maiden.

    She left a crescent moon mark on Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.

    Back then, Qi Yuan fought alone against the Outer Realm evil spirits, slew the Great Sun, and performed the Heavenly Dao Foundation Building.

    In truth, his injuries were severe.

    It was the Moon Maiden who used her remaining divine power to heal his injuries.

    So, when Qi Yuan awoke again, the Moon Maiden no longer existed.

    After who knows how many years of slumber, nearly reduced to a mere mortal, Jinli reappeared.

    Without divine power, even the injury on her leg left by the Great Sun in the past could no longer be suppressed.

    The High Priestess looked at Qi Yuan, lifting her head, ¡°Mother says Father is very handsome.¡±

    ¡°Where is she now?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    ¡°The battle between the Moon God Palace and the Black Demon Abyss has reached its climax.

    After Mother¡¯s cultivation was restored, she ascended to the Upper Realm through the teleportation array.

    She left me here because she believed that Father surely hadn¡¯t perished.

    One day, Mother will meet Father again!¡± The High Priestess¡¯s starry eyes were full of smiles.

    Like seeing you, seeing you.

    Where had they missed each other? They had clearly met, just in the wrong time, not recognizing each other.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the sky, at the vast array of stars, lost in thought.

    Why... are they all up in the heavens?

    ¡°Can I ascend to the Upper Realm through the teleportation array?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    The High Priestess narrowed her eyes, ¡°One must reach the Yin God realm to ascend to the Upper Realm through the teleportation array.¡±

    In the Moon Dynasty, there is a teleportation array that can send some people to the lower realms of other lineages of the Moon God Sovereign.

    Only the arrays in those lineages can allow a Yin God to ascend to the Upper Realm.

    ¡°Yin God... that¡¯s too far away,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    He could slay Yin Gods, but his current cultivation was only at the Golden Core stage.

    He was still two major realms away from the Yin God level, including the Nascent Soul and Purple Mansion stages!

    ¡°What¡¯s your current cultivation, Father?¡± The High Priestess stared at Qi Yuan¡¯s face.

    ¡°I¡¯m very weak, just a small Golden Core cultivator.¡±

    ¡°Golden Core?¡± The High Priestess was surprised, ¡°That must not be an ordinary Golden Core.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at this daughter, whom he had never met before, ¡°What... is your name?¡±

    The High Priestess smiled, her starry eyes twinkling as she kept staring at Qi Yuan, ¡°Qi Jianjun.¡±

    ...

    In the inn.

    True Lord Dazhi yawned.

    Jiang Ya sat nearby, carefully studying the newly acquired cultivation techniques.

    Xu Tongchen was also focused, studying the newly obtained Suona Score and learning the techniques.

    The inn¡¯s door opened, letting in a gust of cold wind mixed with snowflakes.

    Two figures, one large and one small, entered the inn.

    True Lord Dazhi glanced at Qi Yuan, his eyes showing a look of wisdom.

    Jiang Ya, however, was staring at the little girl, sensing a threat.

    His daughter knew so much.

    He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve always had a question in my mind.¡±

    ¡°Father, please ask.¡±

    ¡°Why do the Molo Clan, Moon Watching Continent, and Canglan Realm all speak the same language?¡±

    Even the same language as Blue Star.

    Logically, different races should have different languages, right?

    On Blue Star, a small place, there are thousands of languages.

    But in the vast Canglan Realm, they all use the same language.

    ¡°The lands under the stars of the heavens all share the same language.¡± Qi Jianjun was surprised, not expecting Qi Yuan to ask such a question.

    Qi Yuan was stunned, reaching out to catch a snowflake, ¡°Then why don¡¯t snowflakes speak human language?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ...

    Three days later.

    Moon Dynasty, July Lake.

    Qi Yuan sat by the lake, watching it grow larger and larger, his eyes filled with memories.

    He had finally arrived here.

    But the one accompanying him wasn¡¯t the Moon Maiden; instead, it was Qi Jianjun.

    The two of them seemed carefree, as if they were fishing.

    In the distant pavilion, the woman in white watched the scene, her expression unreadable.

    ¡°The Blood-Robed Sword God... is actually the Faceless Sword God.¡±

    This was something she hadn¡¯t anticipated.

    The Faceless Sword God was considered an ancient figure in the history of Moonwatch Continent.

    But now, he was still alive, and his cultivation seemed to still be below the Yin God level.

    This was very strange.

    But strange or not, against the Molo Clan, their Moon Dynasty still stood no chance.

    After all, one of the Yin Gods from the Molo Clan had taken two steps in Treading the Heavens and had reached the pinnacle of that path.

    One more step, and they would become a Three-Step Treading the Heavens existence.

    Such a powerhouse could single-handedly suppress the entire Moon Dynasty.

    ¡°July, shouldn¡¯t you try to persuade the High Priestess to prepare for our departure from Moon Watching Continent?¡± the woman in white asked.

    She now thought the best course of action was to leave this world as quickly as possible.

    The July Priestess had already been replaced many times. She looked at Qi Yuan by the lake, her expression fervent, ¡°The Faceless Sword God will surely save Moon Watching Continent again!

    Those who offend Moon Watching Continent shall all perish!¡±

    Hearing this, the woman in white couldn¡¯t help but facepalm.

    She didn¡¯t understand why everyone on Moon Watching Continent had such inexplicable faith in the Faceless Sword God.

    Even though he had once saved the world, the facts were clear now: they were outmatched.

    Why such blind trust?

    She was baffled.

    She wanted to try persuading the High Priestess again, but in the end, she didn¡¯t.

    Because the High Priestess¡¯s fervor was even stronger than everyone else¡¯s.

    ...

    Canglan Realm, within the Heavenly Cave.

    A childish voice echoed.

    ¡°The results are in: the Blood-Robed Sword God doesn¡¯t have a Yin God artifact; rather, he has a Yin God who has taken two steps in Treading the Heavens backing him.¡±

    ¡°A two-step Treading the Heavens Yin God?¡± Affectionate Venerable gasped, ¡°No wonder he dares to kill our subordinates at will and provoke us.¡±

    ¡°Thankfully, I didn¡¯t offend such a powerhouse,¡± said an elderly voice.

    ¡°But he has killed Mohui, thoroughly angering the Molo Clan.

    Just now, the Molo Clan¡¯s Mojun Venerable sent a message.

    He wants to cooperate with us three to jointly kill the Blood-Robed Sword God and the Yin God backing him,¡± the childish voice continued, calm and without emotion.

    ¡°A two-step Treading the Heavens Yin God... This kind of conflict is too much for my frail old body, so I won¡¯t get involved.¡±

    ¡°Hehe, Yunju Venerable, are you afraid?¡± The Affectionate Venerable chuckled seductively.

    ¡°Mojun Venerable said that we don¡¯t need to face the Yin God backing the Blood-Robed Sword God directly.

    We only need to capture the Blood-Robed Sword God alive and prevent the Moon Dynasty from using their teleportation array. Such a small task is easy for us.

    Mojun Venerable also said that if we succeed, one-fourth of Moonwatch Continent¡¯s territory will be divided among us.¡± The childish voice carried a hint of greed.

    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± the seductive voice of the Affectionate Venerable responded with a light laugh.

    ¡°I won¡¯t get involved,¡± the elderly voice said again.

    ¡°Are you afraid of Fengjun?¡± the childish voice sneered.

    ¡°This has nothing to do with Fengjun; it¡¯s just that as I get older, my courage has grown smaller,¡± the elderly voice replied, sounding helpless.

    ¡°Yunju Venerable, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t participate, but... you must not inform Fengjun or anyone else until this matter is resolved!¡± The childish voice carried a slight threat.

    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t interfere,¡± the elderly voice said helplessly, finally falling silent.

    In the Heavenly Cave, only the childish voice and the seductive female voice remained, seemingly discussing something.

    Who knows how long it took, but eventually, the childish voice echoed throughout the Heavenly Cave.

    ¡°Send a message to Shuiyun Palace, telling them that their grudge with the Blood-Robed Alliance can be settled at any time.¡±

    Shuiyun Palace, located on Shuixian Continent, had always been at odds with Cuiyun Continent.

    Recently, the Blood-Robed Alliance had captured a Zifu cultivator from Shuiyun Palace, leading to friction between the two sides.

    Now, word had come from Moonwatch Continent that Ling Jiao had offended the Blood-Robed Sword God and been slain by him.

    Shuiyun Palace was furious, and if not for the three Venerables above them and their fear of the Blood-Robed Sword God, they would have already launched an invasion of Cuiyun Continent.

    Since the two of them now planned to cooperate with the Molo Clan to target the Blood-Robed Sword God, they decided to throw Shuiyun Palace a bone, letting them attack the Blood-Robed Alliance and eliminate the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s allies.

    This wasn¡¯t a crucial matter and could be done easily.

    ¡°As you command!¡± Within the Heavenly Cave, a Zifu cultivator¡¯s eyes flashed with a sharp light.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God had long irritated them by provoking the Heavenly Cave.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to Moonwatch Continent.¡± At that moment, even the Ye Qiong Venerable, who had been asleep in the Heavenly Cave for thousands of years, finally stirred.

    In the Eastern Territory, a long rainbow could be seen streaking across the sky.

    All the cultivators who saw that rainbow knew that something major was about to happen!

 Chapter 165: Reclaiming the Heavenly Dao, Executing the Verdict

    Chapter 165: Reclaiming the Heavenly Dao, Executing the Verdict

    Within the Divine Flower Society Forum.

    A post was pushed to the top.

    "Major News: Shuiyun Palace Plans to Attack the Blood-Robed Alliance! Calling on Senior Blood-Robed Sword God!"

    This post immediately caught the attention of many.

    "What¡¯s going on? How does Shuiyun Palace dare? Didn¡¯t Senior Blood-Robed Sword God just annihilate Guangming Palace?"

    "The background of Shuiyun Palace is slightly stronger than Guangming Palace, but the difference in strength isn''t significant. Where did Shuiyun Palace get the courage?"

    "Hmph, if Senior Blood-Robed Sword God makes a move, Shuiyun Palace will surely be destroyed!" Hu Li Dong Xiao Li quickly replied.

    But the next moment, someone commented on her post.

    "If Shuiyun Palace dares to act, they must be confident and well-prepared. I boldly speculate that Senior Blood-Robed Sword God provoked the Ye Qiong Venerable recently. Ye Qiong Venerable must be planning to deal with Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, giving Shuiyun Palace the courage!"

    Hu Li Dong Xiao Li was startled by this comment, thinking it might be true, and began to worry about the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    After all, he was the only great cultivator who had chatted with her.

    "Could it be true? Is Senior Blood-Robed Sword God okay?"

    At this point, more and more people began replying to the post.

    "Sigh, it seems Ye Qiong Venerable must have made a move!"

    "Senior Blood-Robed Sword God was somewhat unwise; he should have stopped after annihilating Guangming Palace. Why provoke Ye Qiong Venerable and kill his people? Offending a Yin God... this is retribution."

    "I¡¯ve long thought Senior Blood-Robed Sword God would face such a fate. He¡¯s too arrogant, doesn¡¯t know humility, and deserves this."

    "What a pity, a great senior!"

    "Hey, the outcome isn¡¯t decided yet, so how can you all say Senior Blood-Robed Sword God is going to lose?" Hu Li Dong Xiao Li felt indignant and argued back against those who were pessimistic.

    "If Ye Qiong Venerable has chosen to act, it must be foolproof. He will win with overwhelming force. Senior Blood-Robed Sword God is just a clown who suddenly gained strong cultivation."

    "If you talk about Senior Blood-Robed Sword God like that, aren¡¯t you afraid of retaliation if he sees it?"

    "Senior Blood-Robed Sword God can¡¯t even protect himself now. Why would I be afraid of retaliation? If he¡¯s got the guts, let him come at me."

    "This giant demon, Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, is finally going to die. This is divine retribution, and I¡¯m so happy¡ªI¡¯m having an extra meal today!"

    In the forum, some people began to speak out, criticizing the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    When the Blood-Robed Sword God was at his peak, they were jealous and didn¡¯t dare to speak out.

    Now that the Blood-Robed Sword God was "suspected" of being in trouble, they jumped out, boldly pointing fingers.

    Moreover, since they weren¡¯t openly provoking the Blood-Robed Sword God like he did, they didn¡¯t fear retaliation.

    After all, no one knew their true identities.

    Seeing this, Hu Li Dong Xiao Li''s eyes reddened. "You¡¯re all doomed! I¡¯m going to record your comments and send them to Senior Blood-Robed Sword God!"

    She took out a recording stone and began recording all the slanderous comments about the Blood-Robed Sword God in the forum, including the IDs.

    At this moment, she was like a devoted fan of the Blood-Robed Sword God, patrolling the entire forum, recording all negative comments about him.

    Unfortunately, she was alone. Otherwise, with more people, she could control the narrative just like fans of celebrities on Blue Star.

    ...

    Majestic mountains.

    Yunju Venerable, clad in white robes, had an immortal demeanor.

    Suddenly, he opened his eyes, his face showing curiosity.

    "What brings my old friend here?"

    Before him appeared an elderly man with white hair, emanating a thick aura of death.Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

    Yunju Venerable looked at the old man with complex thoughts.

    This old friend had known him for a long time.

    His talent was even higher than Yunju Venerable¡¯s.

    However, a thousand years ago, while capturing a wisp of heavenly vein energy for his granddaughter to help her with Heavenly Dao Foundation Building, he accidentally got tainted by a wisp of calamity.

    His cultivation had been stagnant since then, and his lifespan was rapidly diminishing.

    In just a thousand years, he had become a dying old man, like a candle flickering in the wind.

    It wouldn¡¯t be long before this Yin God would perish.

    Yin Gods dreaded calamity more than anything.

    Only a few close friends knew about this white-haired Yin God¡¯s injury; even his granddaughter, who had achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Building, didn¡¯t know.

    "My granddaughter insisted that I come and ask about the Blood-Robed Sword God. So, has Ye Qiong Venerable really made a move against him?" the white-haired old man asked.

    Yunju Venerable sighed, "I can¡¯t reveal anything about this matter."

    He had just sworn an oath in the Heavenly Cave and could not go back on his word.

    Looking at the white-haired old man, he added, "Even if you went, it wouldn¡¯t change the outcome."

    "I see... Ever since I was wounded by the calamity, I¡¯ve become useless, unable even to fulfill a small request for my granddaughter," the old man sighed, realizing that Ye Qiong Venerable had indeed acted against the Blood-Robed Sword God and might already be in action. "Yunju, please do me a favor. I can¡¯t help the Blood-Robed Sword God, but please take care of his Blood-Robed Alliance."

    Yunju Venerable chuckled, "You truly dote on your granddaughter. This is a small matter. I¡¯ll send someone to Shuiyun Palace to stop the conflict."

    "Thank you, old friend." The white-haired old man sighed.

    "Your injuries..." Yunju Venerable looked at the old man, who was shrouded in an aura of death, his mind racing.

    "I¡¯ve already met with a Grand Sovereign, but even they couldn¡¯t help," the Ice Soul Venerable said, looking desolate. "I¡¯m nearing the end of my life. I just hope my granddaughter can step into the Yin God realm before I go."

    "The Yin God realm is incredibly difficult to achieve," Yunju Venerable lamented. "Especially with the impending calamity, making a breakthrough is nearly impossible."

    The Ice Soul Venerable remained silent.

    In the Canglan Realm, to become a Yin God, one must venture into the Celestial Realm to transform their spiritual energy into divine power.

    In the Celestial Realm, there were endless seas of lightning. Without someone to protect her, his granddaughter¡¯s foundation was insufficient, making it impossible for her to break through to the Yin God realm.

    But with the calamity approaching, all Yin Gods were struggling to protect themselves. Who would be willing to waste their divine power to protect someone in the Celestial Realm?

    The cost of doing so was even greater than battling a fellow Sovereign, and it would take at least a hundred years to recover.

    "Ice Soul, you once saved my life. If you... pass on, I will look after your granddaughter," Yunju Venerable promised.

    The Ice Soul Venerable smiled warmly, "Thank you, old friend."

    ...

    Snowflakes fell.

    Qi Yuan reached out his hand to catch a snowflake.

    True Lord Dazhi stood nearby, watching the heavy snowfall. "I¡¯ve heard it said that no two snowflakes in the world are identical. Snowflakes are like people... there are no two identical people in the world either."

    "Then why don¡¯t snowflakes speak human language?" Qi Yuan asked.

    True Lord Dazhi looked at the snowflake, "Maybe because they don¡¯t have mouths."

    "Really?"

    "Maybe," True Lord Dazhi replied uncertainly.

    At this moment, the snowfall grew heavier.

    Qi Yuan''s aura was silently undergoing a transformation.

    Just now, when the Blood-Robed Sword God waved his hand, she couldn¡¯t resist at all and felt as powerless as an ordinary cultivator.

    She was shaken.

    She was a Yin God, a deity with divine power.

    But with a mere wave of his hand, the Blood-Robed Sword God made her feel like a child, as if she had no cultivation at all.

    What kind of technique was this? A terrifying thought crossed her mind, but she didn¡¯t dare to confirm it.

    ...

    In a valley.

    The Molo Clan was gathering.

    Several terrifying figures were gathered together.

    Perhaps there were too many Yin Gods.

    The rules of the world in the entire valley seemed unstable.

    A childish voice spoke, "Mojun Venerable, in this cooperation, neither I nor Affectionate Venerable can deal with that two-step Treading the Heavens powerhouse. We can only help you capture the Blood-Robed Sword God and prevent the formation from activating."

    Affectionate Venerable stood beside Ye Qiong Venerable, her eyes filled with seductive charm as she looked at the purple, towering figure ahead.

    That terrifying figure was Mojun Venerable, who had reached the pinnacle of two-step Treading the Heavens, just one step away from becoming a three-step Treading the Heavens powerhouse.

    Such a powerhouse was considered top-tier even in the Canglan Realm.

    "Anyone who dares to kill my brother is dead meat. That two-step Treading the Heavens powerhouse will die without a doubt; you don¡¯t need to lift a finger!" Mojun Venerable¡¯s voice was deep and filled with strong confidence. "Today, even if the Moon God Sovereign descends, they won¡¯t be saved!"

    Of course, the latter part was just boasting.

    Mojun Venerable served the Black Demon Abyss.

    With his strength, he was just a nobody in the Black Demon Abyss and hadn¡¯t even met the Black Demon Sovereign.

    "I¡¯ve heard that Blood-Robed Sword God provoked Ye Qiong Venerable in the Canglan Realm?" A Yin God from the Molo Clan spoke, his eyes filled with mockery. "How does it feel to be humiliated by a Zifu cultivator?"

    Ye Qiong Venerable¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his childish voice calm, "A cultivator who relies on women is not worth mentioning."

    "I wouldn¡¯t mind having a Grand Sovereign take a fancy to me," Mojun Venerable said with a smile.

    However, at that moment, a desolate and sorrowful sound of music suddenly rang out.

    All six Yin Gods present changed their expressions.

    "This is..." Ye Qiong Venerable¡¯s face shifted.

    He had heard about the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    When the suona sounds, it¡¯s time for the Blood-Robed Sword God to start killing.

    But how could there be suona music here? A sense of foreboding gripped him.

    All the Yin Gods present looked tense.

    Endless divine power surged, threatening to tear the entire mountain range apart as they searched for the source of the sound.

    "Who is it? Show yourself!" Mojun Venerable roared.

    They couldn¡¯t locate the source of the sound.

    "Didn¡¯t your mothers teach you not to talk bad about others behind their backs?"

    A voice suddenly echoed through the valley.

    "Oh, I forgot, you don¡¯t have mothers. They¡¯ve been dead for a long time."

    After saying this, Qi Yuan regretted it, feeling like slapping himself.

    As his voice echoed, a group of over fifty people suddenly appeared before the six Venerables.

    Leading them was Qi Yuan, dressed in a blood-red robe.

    His gaze fell on Ye Qiong Venerable and Affectionate Venerable, showing surprise, "Oh, there are humans here too?"

    Ye Qiong Venerable frowned, "Blood-Robed Sword God, you¡¯re a Yin God too?"

    For the Blood-Robed Sword God to appear out of nowhere, accompanied by a music troupe, was indeed strange.

    There was no doubt he was a Yin God.

    For some reason, a sense of doom crept into Ye Qiong Venerable¡¯s heart.

    Mojun Venerable was also filled with doubts.

    Facing six Yin Gods, the enemy didn¡¯t flee but instead attacked them head-on.

    Were they seeking death? There were only two explanations.

    The first was that the enemy was insane.

    The second was that the enemy had a trump card.

    Mojun Venerable scanned the surroundings, always wary of the appearance of that two-step Treading the Heavens powerhouse.

    He looked at Qi Yuan with great apprehension but still said, "Since you¡¯re all here, we can eliminate you in one fell swoop! Ye Qiong Venerable, Affectionate Venerable, as agreed, the Blood-Robed Sword God is yours to handle."

    Ye Qiong Venerable and Affectionate Venerable¡¯s brows furrowed.

    That was the previous agreement, assuming the Blood-Robed Sword God was a Purple Mansion cultivator. But now... it seemed that the person before them was no mere Purple mansion.

    They wanted to argue.

    But Qi Yuan spoke directly, "No wonder you¡¯re so incompetent. You¡¯re so hesitant even when killing someone. Today, I¡¯ll teach you how to kill properly! And don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t fall in love with me because of it."

    At this moment, Qi Yuan extended his finger.

    He pointed at the six Yin Gods before him and said softly, "God says, you are guilty of gossiping behind people¡¯s backs."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, the world around them instantly changed.

    The rules of the vast earth directly assaulted the six Yin Gods.

    Their expressions changed drastically as they felt that the Heavenly Dao of this world seemed to have awakened, suppressing them with the force of an entire realm. Their divine apertures were blocked, and their divine power couldn¡¯t circulate.

    Mojun Venerable¡¯s eyes filled with horror, "This is a Divine Domain! You¡¯re a Grand Sovereign!"

    Such a phenomenon could only be caused by a Grand Sovereign.

    Only a Grand Sovereign could condense a Divine Domain and easily suppress ordinary Sovereigns.

    Even Ye Qiong Venerable¡¯s face showed fear.

    How could this be possible? How could this be a Grand Sovereign? How could the Blood-Robed Sword God be a Grand Sovereign! The white-robed woman playing the suona also widened her eyes in shock. The scene before them was completely unexpected.

    Qi Yuan ignored the six of them and calmly continued, "God says, gossiping behind people¡¯s backs is a grave sin, punishable by death. He has already sent someone to your residence to execute you by gunshot, effective immediately."

    Qi Yuan snapped his fingers, but for some reason, it didn¡¯t make a sound.

    Feeling a bit embarrassed, he provided his own sound effects.

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    As if six gunshots rang out, the six Yin Gods had no ability to resist and were shot dead by Qi Yuan.

    The incredibly powerful Yin Gods died... pitifully... too easily, without making any waves.

    The suona music continued.

    Qi Yuan looked at the people behind him and solemnly said, "Never gossip about others behind their backs, or you¡¯ll be executed by gunshot. I once received such a message, and it scared me to death."

    Everyone present was utterly stunned.

 Chapter 166: With My Words, Condense the Laws of Heaven and Earth

    Chapter 166: With My Words, Condense the Laws of Heaven and Earth

    Only a breath of time passed, yet it felt as though a whole day had gone by. The crowd stared at the six fallen Yin Gods before them, still feeling as if they were in a dream.

    Six Yin Gods, without any ability to resist, were easily slain.

    That overwhelming force, rendering the Yin Gods incapable of fighting back.

    Other than the Divine Domain, the woman in white couldn¡¯t think of any other explanation.

    Only a Great Sovereign could wield a Divine Domain.

    But how had the Blood-Clad Sword God suddenly become a Great Sovereign?

    The woman in white was deeply confused.

    On the other hand, Da Zhi Zhenjun seemed to be pondering something.

    Xu Tongchen, however, was unfazed.

    What was this compared to the time when the sun fell? That had truly shocked him.

    ¡°Father is amazing!¡± Qi Jianjun clenched her little pink fist, full of pride, showing none of the usual arrogance of a Yin God.

    Behind her, the people in the suona band looked on with fanatical eyes.

    Qi Yuan reached out, and immediately seven or eight storage bags fell into his hand.

    His divine sense swept through the storage bags, and a smile appeared in his eyes.

    ¡°Confiscated stolen goods.¡±

    He was quite pleased.

    This was truly a jackpot!

    Inside those storage bags were six Heavenly-level techniques, with two of them being mid-grade Heavenly-level, each worth ten of the lower grades.

    ¡°Seeing how sensible you all are, I¡¯ve decided to allow you to settle on the Moon Watching Continent and become a part of it.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at the corpses of the Yin Gods.

    As he stared at them, the bodies turned into something akin to fertilizer, merging with the dust.

    ¡°¡®Yin Gods¡¯ are not heartless; they turn into spring mud to nourish flowers,¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but recite a line of poetry.

    These Yin Gods were truly good people.

    The Moon Watching Continent had been so barren that apart from the High Priest, not even a single Purple Mansion cultivator could emerge.

    But now, with the addition of this fertilizer, it was a blessing for the Moon Watching Continent.

    The woman in white watched this scene in silence for a long time.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan closed his eyes, and the crowd looked at him, not daring to speak.

    A breath later, he opened his eyes again: ¡°There are still 13 million Molo clan troops left to deal with.¡±

    The woman in white hurriedly said, ¡°I will personally lead people to deal with the remaining Molo army.¡±

    The strength of the Moon Watching Continent was incapable of facing the Molo army.

    Only she, as a Yin God, could run around and kill, wiping out those millions of Molos.

    ¡°Why bother with such trouble?¡± Qi Yuan chuckled, ¡°Since they dared to come to my home, they can all stay and become fertilizer.¡±

    The woman in white was puzzled by his words.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God was strong, at the level of a Great Sovereign, but to kill the Molo army without harming the Moon Watching Continent would be extremely difficult.

    Unless, of course, one used brute force to kill them.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan rose into the air again, his blood-red robe flapping in the wind.

    The light of the sun and moon froze, concentrating on Qi Yuan.

    A vast voice echoed at that instant.

    ¡°The myriad beings of the earth, all things in existence, are under my control.¡±

    The ancient Tree trembled, snowflakes danced wildly.

    Rivers flowed backward, and deserts roared.

    At that moment, every living creature on the Moon Watching Continent couldn¡¯t help but look toward Qi Yuan¡¯s location.

    Whether human, animal, or beast, their eyes were filled with fervor and reverence.

    The vast voice spread across the entire Moon Watching Continent.

    All the Molo troops looked up at the sky, their faces bewildered.

    In the stronghold of the Canglan Realm on the Moon Watching Continent, Gu Xiaoyao, a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Heavenly Dao, looked up, eyes confused: ¡°What is this?¡±

    The Nascent Soul cultivators were also puzzled, having no idea what was happening.

    ¡°This is... the voice of the Blood-Clad Sword God!¡± a prodigy gritted his teeth, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

    They didn¡¯t know what was about to happen, but they could sense that something terrifying was coming.

    At this moment, the woman in white widened her eyes, looking at Qi Yuan in confusion.

    She could clearly see that the world¡¯s origin was trembling, active.

    How could the Blood-Clad Sword God make the world¡¯s origin boil?

    This was something even a Great Sovereign couldn¡¯t do.

    The vast voice resounded once more.

    ¡°With my words, condense the laws of heaven and earth!¡±

    ¡°Thunder God and Lightning Mother, Five Sacred Mountains and Rivers, the creation of Heaven and Earth, all heed my command!¡±

    ¡°Slay the Molo army!¡±

    As the vast voice rang out, the entire Moon Watching Continent turned into a divine prison.

    The sky darkened, the sun and moon lost their light, and the countless stars were obscured by dark clouds.

    Within the black clouds, thunder rumbled as if a colossal beast was roaring, and ferocious deities were howling.

    In the clouds, two innate gods appeared, formed by the will of the Heavenly Dao.

    ¡°Thunder God receives the order!¡±

    ¡°Lightning Mother receives the order!¡±

    In the mountains and rivers, booming sounds echoed, as if ancient gods were awakening, roaring.

    ¡°The Five Sacred Mountains receive the order!¡±

    Heaven and earth, all beings, at that moment, received the command of the Heavenly Dao, fully awakened.

    ¡°Weihe receives the order!¡±

    ¡°Xuanyuan¡¯s prohibition receives the order!¡±

    ¡°Tianjue receives the order!¡±

    All things in the world seemed to gain souls, awakening from their slumber, responding to the will of the Heavenly Dao.

    A snap of the fingers, and the command, ¡°Play music!¡±

    A flash of brilliance appeared in the eyes of the Da Zhi Zhenjun, and then the mournful yet exhilarating and heroic sound of the suona began to play.

    The woman in white was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly joined in.

    All across the Moon Watching Continent, one terrifying figure after another appeared.

    They were like ancient innate gods, awakening from their slumber.

    ¡°By the order of the heavens, slay the Mara!¡±

    A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, and the pitch-black world finally saw light.

    In the heavens, countless bolts of lightning pierced through the space.

    As he spoke, he waved his hand, and two Purple Mansion cultivators fell to the ground.

    One was a man, the other a woman.

    Both were bound with ropes and covered in countless wounds, looking extremely miserable.

    Meishan¡¯s pupils contracted when he saw them.

    These two were the lord and lady of Shuiyun Palace, both at the late Purple Mansion stage.

    Yet they had been captured by Tiger Roar Venerable and brought here, bound and humiliated. It was truly baffling.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been in seclusion for 300 years, paying no attention to worldly affairs. I never imagined that when I emerged, I would hear that these two had conspired with Yeqiong Venerable to plot against the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    I¡¯ve already crippled their cultivation and brought them to the Blood-Clad Alliance, to be dealt with as the Blood-Clad Sword God sees fit!¡± Tiger Roar Venerable said, striking Shuiyun Palace¡¯s lord with a whip.

    A terrifying bloody mark appeared, the strike infused with a soul attack that an ordinary person couldn¡¯t bear. Yet the lord of Shuiyun Palace, like a dead pig, made no sound at all.

    In the presence of a Yin God, even a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator¡¯s life and death were entirely in his hands.

    The old man of Meishan remained silent, his heart in turmoil, completely unable to understand what had happened.

    Could it be... that the Blood-Clad Sword God had won against Yeqiong Venerable?

    But even if that were the case, why would an old Venerable like Tiger Roar Venerable surrender?

    As they wondered, the spiritual energy in the heavens and earth began to gather.

    All the Purple Mansion cultivators could feel the spiritual energy in the world churning as if a great figure was about to descend.

    In the sky, terrifying figures appeared one after another.

    ¡°Venerable Qingmei requests an audience with the Blood-Clad Sword God!¡±

    ¡°Venerable Leichen requests an audience with the Blood-Clad Sword God!¡±

    ¡°Venerable Yunju requests an audience with the Blood-Clad Sword God!¡±

    ¡°So many Yin Gods... Oh my god, what on earth has happened!¡± All the Purple Mansion cultivators were shocked, having no idea what was going on.

    These Venerables, legendary figures, had all gathered at the Blood-Clad Alliance to see the Blood-Clad Sword God. How could they not be stunned!

    ...

    ¡°Shocking! Four Gods Descend, Gather at the Blood-Clad Alliance!¡±

    ¡°Just now, four Yin Gods gathered at the Blood-Clad Alliance.

    The specific reason is unknown. To find out what happens next, stay tuned!¡±

    ¡°??¡±

    ¡°Four Yin Gods gathered at the Blood-Clad Alliance. What happened? Tell us what happens next!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, why didn¡¯t you finish the story?¡±

    ¡°If I find out where you live, I¡¯ll definitely use a spell to erase you!¡±

    A single post drew countless attention.

    After all, four Yin Gods gathering at the Blood-Clad Alliance was a major event among major events.

    Typically, Yin Gods remain unseen. Nearly 99% of cultivators have never seen a Yin God, only heard of them in legends.

    On the Divine Flower Society Forum, a post by a Nascent Soul cultivator could attract countless followers.

    Now, with four Yin Gods gathering at the Blood-Clad Alliance, how could it not spark imaginations?

    Especially since there had been a dispute between Shuiyun Palace and the Blood-Clad Alliance.

    It was rumored that Yeqiong Venerable and Youqing Venerable had jointly attacked the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    Could it be that the situation had taken a turn?

    All the cultivators were like ants on a hot pan, unwilling even to cultivate, constantly refreshing the posts.

    The forum was filled with all kinds of information.

    Some people speculated that there was a powerful Yin God artifact in the Blood-Clad Alliance, attracting the Yin Gods to fight over it.

    Others claimed they saw Tiger Roar Venerable hang his son-in-law, the lord of Shuiyun Palace, outside the Blood-Clad Alliance.

    In any case, the information varied, with none of it consistent.

    Meanwhile, in the Divine Flower Four Emperors group.

    Rogue Immortal Venerable was extremely anxious: ¡°Ice Mountain Queen Sister, do you know what¡¯s going on? Is Origin Heavenly Venerable okay? He should be fine, right?¡±

    Ever since Shuiyun Palace declared war on the Blood-Clad Alliance, Rogue Immortal Venerable had been as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

    But unfortunately, he was too weak to intervene in such a major event.

    Ice Mountain Queen responded in the group: ¡°Do you remember when Origin Heavenly Venerable said he was a Heavenly Dao Foundation?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for such a strong person to be a Heavenly Dao Foundation?¡± Rogue Immortal Venerable was puzzled, not understanding what Iceberg Overlord meant.

    ¡°What I mean is, Origin Heavenly Venerable¡¯s Heavenly Dao Foundation is a true Heavenly Dao Foundation!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Rogue Immortal Venerable was stunned, not comprehending her words.

    A Heavenly Dao Foundation is a Heavenly Dao Foundation. What did she mean by a ¡°true¡± one?

    ¡°He... devoured the Heavenly Dao of an entire world to form his foundation!¡± Ice Mountain Queen explained with a hint of mystery.

    ¡°What? He swallowed the heavens?¡± Rogue Immortal Venerable was shocked. ¡°Devouring an entire Heavenly Dao, how is that even possible!¡±

    He couldn¡¯t even imagine it.

    A cultivator who used Heaven¡¯s pulse to build their foundation was someone he would look up to for the rest of his life.

    Not to mention someone who devoured a Heavenly Dao.

    What kind of concept was that?

    Well, Rogue Immortal Venerable had no concept.

    But swallowing the Heavenly Dao of a world would make someone far more powerful than a Yin God.

    ¡°Origin Heavenly Venerable doesn¡¯t eat people, right?¡± Rogue Immortal Venerable shivered.

    If he could eat the heavens, eating a person would be nothing to him, right?

    At that moment, Ice Mountain Queen¡¯s tone turned serious: ¡°Do you remember what cultivation level Origin Heavenly Venerable claimed to be?¡±

    ¡°Golden Core!¡± Rogue Immortal Venerable said.

    Back then, Origin Heavenly Venerable had pretended to be a small fry at the Golden Core stage when he met with him.

    Who could have known that he would suddenly transform into a mighty Purple Mansion cultivator?

    That was already terrifying.

    Later, when he heard that the Blood-Clad Sword God had annihilated the Light Palace, Rogue Immortal Venerable had become numb.

    That had already shown the power of a Yin God.

    And now, he had even devoured a Heavenly Dao?

    Ice Mountain Queen¡¯s words were something Rogue Immortal Venerable completely believed.

    ¡°Do you remember what kind of Golden Core Origin Heavenly Venerable said he had formed?¡±

    ¡°Origin Heavenly Venerable mentioned in the forum that it was a Stellar... Golden Core.¡± Rogue Immortal Venerable typed, feeling a lump in his throat.

    ¡°Do you think... it¡¯s possible that Origin Heavenly Venerable¡¯s Golden Core is the actual sun in the sky?¡± Iceberg Overlord asked in the group.

    Rogue Immortal Venerable was completely at a loss.

    In the past, he would have said it was impossible.

    But Origin Heavenly Venerable had shattered his understanding time and time again.

    Could it be that someone had actually formed a Golden Core from the sun?

    How... could that even be possible?

    He blinked, looking up at the sun in the sky.

    He couldn¡¯t comprehend what kind of strength it would take to forge the sun into a Golden Core.

    But suddenly, he thought of something.

    ¡°When the second sun appeared in the sky, was that when Origin Heavenly Venerable said he broke through to the Golden Core stage?¡±

 Chapter 167: Qi Yuan, Who Takes Things Seriously, Rectifies the Cultivation Worldâ€™s Atmosphere

    Chapter 167: Qi Yuan, Who Takes Things Seriously, Rectifies the Cultivation World¡¯s Atmosphere

    Moon Dynasty.

    The woman in white looked at the young girl in front of her, her eyes filled with helplessness.

    "High Priestess, do you really plan to go to the Canglan Realm with him?"

    "You¡¯re going to the Upper Realm alone. I must stay here," Qi Jianjun said with a sweet smile on her face.

    This was very different from the High Priestess the woman in white was used to seeing.

    All of this was because of that man.

    "High Priestess, do you think that his current state is due to the aftereffects of devouring this world¡¯s Heavenly Dao?" the woman in white asked, subtly reminding Qi Jianjun to be cautious.

    After all, a person who is mad could unexpectedly harm others.

    "In such a dreamy world, isn¡¯t it nice to be a little mad?" Qi Jianjun replied evasively.

    The woman in white fell silent.

    Qi Jianjun continued, "Alright, the teleportation array has been activated. You should go to the Upper Realm. If you reach the Moon God Palace, tell my mother that I¡¯ve found my father."

    The teleportation array leading to the Upper Realm was random, with no guarantee of where it would send her.

    The woman in white might spend hundreds or even thousands of years trying to find the Moon God Palace.

    The High Priestess glanced at the woman in white and then walked outside.

    When she saw the figure in the blood-red robe, her eyes lit up with joy.

    "Father, are we going to the Canglan Realm?"

    "Yes," Qi Yuan nodded.

    In the past few days, he had intended to visit the world where the Molo tribe resided.

    Unfortunately, the gate had already closed.

    He had even thrown a punch at the Molo Realm from afar, but nothing happened.

    Later, he spent a day traveling across the Moonwatch Continent, hoping to find traces of the past.

    Unfortunately, whether it was Xuanyuan''s Prohibition, the Dressing Department Prohibition, the Five Elements Prohibition, the Yin-Yang Prohibition, or Tianjue, all were empty.

    He didn¡¯t see any of his old friends, nor did he find any familiar traces.

    Without the power of reincarnation, there¡¯s almost no chance of being reborn as a Yin God.

    Death meant complete annihilation, dissolving into the world.

    No one remembered them anymore.

    Except for Qi Yuan.

    So, Qi Yuan decided to head back to the Canglan Realm, returning to the Seven-Color Peak.

    Of course, before going back, he wanted to stop by the Ascension Pavilion.

    After all, Jiang Ya still owed him quite a few techniques.

    "Everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s go." Qi Yuan took one last deep look at the ancient Kiyou Tree.

    The towering tree was clad in silver, covered with snowflakes, creating a beautiful scene.

    "Let¡¯s go back." Qi Yuan glanced at the True Lord of Wisdom, Xu Tongchen, and Jiang Ya.

    Four had come, and five were returning, with the addition of a child.

    "Sigh, we¡¯re leaving." The True Lord of Wisdom sighed, "Is it me leaving this world, or is it the world leaving me?"

    In an instant, the group of five arrived at the desert where they had first come through and quickly entered the passage back to the Canglan Realm.

    Qi Yuan also felt the terrifying power he wielded in the Moonwatch Continent slowly dissipating.

    However, he was neither anxious nor hurried.

    As they stepped back into the Canglan Realm, Qi Yuan squinted his eyes.

    "There are quite a few people. Are they Yeqiong¡¯s reinforcements?" Qi Yuan held Qi Jianjun¡¯s hand, noticing four terrifying presences.

    All four were Yin Gods.

    "Greetings, Blood-Clad Sword God Senior!" Yunju Venerable spoke up.

    The others also bowed.

    "Senior, we are not acquainted with Yeqiong Venerable."

    "I¡¯m Leichen, it¡¯s an honor to meet you, Senior."

    The four Yin Gods present all looked at Qi Yuan with deep respect.

    The high and mighty Yin Gods treated Qi Yuan as a Purple Mansion cultivator would treat a Yin God.

    Many noticed the young girl Qi Yuan was holding and had a strange look in their eyes.

    "Are you all Yin Gods from the Eastern Land?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He only knew that there were three Yin Gods in the Eastern Land on the surface.

    "Yes."

    "No, Senior, I¡¯ve come to apologize." The aged Tiger Roar Venerable seemed like a child in front of Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Tiger Roar Venerable, who quickly explained the situation.

    Finally, Tiger Roar Venerable added, "I had no knowledge of Yeqiong Venerable¡¯s schemes."

    "The ignorant are not guilty." Qi Yuan smiled warmly.

    As expected, strength is everything.

    Back then, when the Light Palace initiated the Blood War of a Hundred Nations, aiming to incite chaos, not a single Yin God spoke up for the Hundred Nations.

    Now, just because Ling Jiao had spoken ill of him, Yunju Venerable had stopped Shuiyun Palace from sending troops.

    Even before Qi Yuan could express his opinion, the lord of Shuiyun Palace had been brought, restrained, and left to his disposal.

    Hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words, Tiger Roar Venerable breathed a sigh of relief.

    He was genuinely terrified of the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    Based on the descriptions from Gu Xiaoyao and the other Nascent Soul cultivators, they had confirmed that the Blood-Clad Sword God had devoured the Heavenly Dao of the Moonwatch Continent.

    And to devour the Heavenly Dao, one must at least be at the Great Sovereign level.

    In other words, the Blood-Clad Sword God was at least a Great Sovereign.

    Moreover, the power he wielded in the Moonwatch Continent was even greater than that of an ordinary Great Sovereign.

    "You didn¡¯t come just to welcome me back, did you?" Qi Yuan looked at the four Yin Gods.

    For some reason, he had the same feeling he had after destroying the Light Palace when those Purple Mansion cultivators had sought him out.

    Yunju Venerable stepped forward and said, "We have already sealed all information about Senior. Besides the four of us, only Ice Soul Venerable knows."

    "I¡¯ll remember the favor you and Ice Soul have shown me." Tiger Roar Venerable had already explained everything, including Yunju Venerable¡¯s assistance to the Blood-Clad Alliance.

    Yunju Venerable was overjoyed.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

    He couldn¡¯t help but think that sometimes, it¡¯s better to be cautious.

    Otherwise, if he had joined Yeqiong Venerable and Youqing Venerable in dealing with the Blood-Clad Sword God, he would have walked right into a trap.

    "Senior, we¡¯ve come to ask you for a favor," Yunju Venerable said as the other Yin Gods looked at him.

    "What is it?" Qi Yuan knew there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch.

    "When the great calamity arrives, we hope Senior will allow us to take refuge in the Moonwatch Continent!" Yunju Venerable looked hopeful.

    If it were just an ordinary Great Sovereign, they wouldn¡¯t be able to survive the calamity.

    Qi Jianjun gritted her teeth.

    Little Li from the Fox Den finally dared to speak up: "Those people are really too much. Even after the Blood-Clad Sword God posted in the Shenhua Forum, some people still privately said that a dignified Yin God like him wouldn¡¯t bother with these small matters."

    "Why wouldn¡¯t we?" Qi Jianjun said, "Should we only fight the strong?

    If they dare to bad-mouth my father, is that a small matter? They¡¯re finished."

    Qi Jianjun memorized all the content.

    Before leaving, Little Li from the Fox Den glanced at the Grandma.

    "Little Li is my father¡¯s friend."

    With that, Qi Jianjun¡¯s phantom disappeared.

    The Grandma¡¯s shock lingered.

    She entered Little Li¡¯s part of the Fox Den, speaking much more gently than before, her face full of kindness: "Little Li, how did you meet that Venerable?"

    This was something Little Li had never seen before.

    "Grandma, I met him in the Shenhua Forum..." Little Li honestly recounted how she came to know the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    Hearing this, the Grandma¡¯s smile grew even wider: "Little Li, you¡¯ve done well."

    The Grandma seemed to have thought of something and continued, "I remember you always wanted the Nine-Tail Fruit, but you didn¡¯t have enough contribution points.

    Fortunately, I have eight remaining here, with no use for them. I¡¯ll give them to you."

    The Grandma handed eight Nine-Tail Fruits to Little Li.

    Little Li¡¯s face lit up with joy at the sight of the Nine-Tail Fruits.

    This joy was like a kitten seeing catnip.

    "Thank you, Grandma!" The precious Nine-Tail Fruit would have taken her at least a hundred years to gather enough points to get just one. How could she not be happy to suddenly receive eight? ...

    Blood-Clad Alliance.

    Qi Yuan sneered: "How dare they bad-mouth me behind my back and try to morally blackmail me? They¡¯re really asking for death!"

    Jiang Ya stood silently by his side.

    She didn¡¯t see this as a big deal.

    At this moment, the True Lord of Wisdom spoke up, his expression serious: "I think the Blood-Clad Alliance should launch its first campaign right now to stamp out this kind of backbiting at the source!"

    "Right, this isn¡¯t about personal revenge. It¡¯s about rectifying the atmosphere of the cultivation world!" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he raised the importance of his actions, "The cultivation world is filled with filth, and the atmosphere must start changing with me!"

    At this moment, Qi Jianjun appeared: "Father, I¡¯ve gathered the general information from the Vice President of the Shenhua Forum."

    Qi Jianjun extended her small hand, looking quite proud.

    The three people in the room immediately began discussing how to take revenge.

    Jiang Ya watched the three of them discussing how to rectify the atmosphere of the cultivation world and felt quite out of place.

    She was puzzled... You¡¯re a dignified Great Sovereign, and yet you¡¯re concerned with such trivial matters? ...

    Eastern Land, Water Immortal Continent.

    Liqi City was a rather remote cultivation city.

    The nearby cultivation sects were led by a late Golden Core stage sect.

    At this moment, Wang Shenghai was in the Red Lips Pavilion, indulging in pleasures, but his brow was furrowed, unable to relax.

    A group of cultivators was also drinking and having fun.

    "Wang, why are you so gloomy?" asked a Golden Core stage cultivator, curious.

    "Sigh, didn¡¯t I join that Shenhua Forum? I originally thought that Yeqiong Venerable would successfully kill that Blood-Clad Sword God, but who would have thought Yeqiong Venerable was so useless, getting killed by the Blood-Clad Sword God instead. What a waste!" Wang Shenghai spat.

    He spoke with authority to the cultivators present.

    He often spoke of the major events he saw on the Shenhua Forum, earning much praise.

    The Golden Core cultivator heard this and felt some disdain.

    Wang Shenghai, who spent his days doing nothing, had the nerve to call a Yin God Venerable a demon?

    "Wang, you should be careful. If that Yin God Venerable hears you, he might come after you," the Golden Core cultivator advised.

    "We¡¯re in such a backwater place. A Nascent Soul cultivator coming here would be talked about for years. How could a Yin God Venerable come?" Wang Shenghai was confident and fearless.

    After all, how could such a great figure bother with someone as insignificant as him?

    It was like expecting an ordinary person to go out of their way to swat a mosquito in another building.

    But just then, a mournful suona sound suddenly filled the air.

    The Golden Core cultivators in the Red Lips Pavilion were all stunned.

    Because in front of them, more than a dozen cultivators dressed in blood-red robes, playing suonas, had suddenly appeared.

    Each of these cultivators had an aura so deep that they couldn¡¯t discern their cultivation level.

    At least Nascent Soul level!

    At that moment, a man in a blood-red robe appeared, looking at Wang Shenghai with a smug expression: "So you¡¯re the one who¡¯s been bad-mouthing me behind my back?"

    Wang Shenghai was stunned, instantly sobered up: "S-Senior... are you?"

    He didn¡¯t recognize the man before him, but his cultivation level was undoubtedly very high.

    "Aren¡¯t you the one who said on the Shenhua Forum that I should be torn to pieces by Yeqiong Venerable, and that when I died, the sky in the Eastern Land would clear up?" Qi Yuan looked at Wang Shenghai, smiling brightly.

    "You... you¡¯re the Blood-Clad Sword God!" Wang Shenghai looked at the blood-robed Qi Yuan, and the suona players behind him.

    He instantly realized that this setup could only belong to the Blood-Clad Sword God!

    He¡¯s a dignified Yin God Venerable, and he¡¯s not playing fair! The other cultivators present were also shocked and dumbfounded.

    A Yin God... this was actually a Yin God Venerable! Such a great figure had actually come to this small, remote place! It was like the richest man in the world coming to attend a local trade school.

    "Correct, and your reward is another bullet." Qi Yuan smiled brightly.

    Qi Jianjun then pulled out a jade slip and read coldly, "Wang Shenghai, seventy years ago, in order to obtain a first-grade Foundation Establishment item, you conspired to kill your junior brother Li Xiangyang¡¯s entire family; twenty years ago, you forcibly abducted a woman...

    Six days ago, you made wild statements on the Shenhua Forum, slandering the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    Your crimes are heinous, and you are sentenced to... execution."

    Qi Yuan extended his hand, mimicking the gesture of firing a gun: "Don¡¯t talk bad about people behind their backs again.

    Oh, and after you die, you¡¯ll be the most famous person in this city. Don¡¯t thank me."

    Qi Yuan fired.

    Bang! Wang Shenghai was dead.

    He never expected to die at the hands of a legendary Yin God.

    The cultivators present were filled with fear and shock.

    A Yin God had come to Liqi City.

    Wang Shenghai would undoubtedly become the most famous person in Liqi City from now on.

    After all, a Yin God Venerable had traveled thousands of miles with his entourage to personally execute a lowly Golden Core cultivator.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the people present and said softly, "Rectifying the atmosphere of the cultivation world starts with me.

    And as for all of you, don¡¯t think that small sins aren¡¯t worth correcting."

    With that, Qi Yuan left with the Purple Mansion band.

    The Red Lips Pavilion was left with cultivators who were too stunned to move for the rest of the day.

    What had happened today was beyond belief!

 Chapter 168: Offering Snacks to the Yin God

    Chapter 168: Offering Snacks to the Yin God

    The Yin God descended, and the Purple Mansion played music.

    He came quickly and left just as quickly.

    After killing a Yuandan cultivator, he disappeared into the sky.

    In the small town of Liqi City, Wang Shenghai''s name completely resonated, making him the most famous person there.

    If someone were to ask why he was so famous, the people of Liqi City would say, "He was the first cultivator in Liqi City to be killed by the Yin God Venerable."

    At this moment, Qi Yuan had already changed his title to Blood-Robed Sword God and entered the Shenhua Forum.

    "Purifying the Cultivation World¡¯s Atmosphere, Starting with Me, the Blood-Robed Sword God!"

    "Looking back, when I first came to Shenhua Forum, everyone here spoke so nicely, with humility and courtesy.

    I don''t know when, but the atmosphere here went bad, filled with all sorts of hostility.

    Especially recently, many people on the forum have been slandering and spreading rumors about me, causing me deep pain, unable to eat or sleep, and nearly succumbing to depression.

    I have to take medicine every day just to fall asleep.

    Sometimes, it''s not just knives or Daoist techniques that kill; words can too.

    Just now, I went to Liqi City and executed the Shenhua Forum cultivator who slandered and defamed me.

    As for the others who defamed me, I will personally go and educate them one by one."

    "... Is that for real?"

    "Does the big shot even sleep?"

    "I never expected the Yin God Venerable to be so sensitive. Come here, Mommy will give you a hug, Blood Baby. Don¡¯t be sad, be good."

    "Strongly support! Blood-Robed Sword God is invincible! Beat those disgusting people to death!" Fox Den Xiaoli quickly replied.

    She hadn''t expected the Blood-Robed Sword God to share her feelings.

    At the time, when she was arguing with those people, she truly couldn''t eat or sleep and almost became depressed.

    But some people, especially those who had verbally attacked the Blood-Robed Sword God before, started to feel a bit panicked.

    "Senior is the Yin God Venerable and should be magnanimous. Why bother with small people? It¡¯s unbecoming."

    "Right, this is something only a demonic cultivator would do!"

    Seeing these comments, Qi Yuan sneered and told Qi Jianjun to take note, then replied, "I am a barbarian, so I have no manners!"

    Da Zhi Zhenjun looked on enviously and said, "A real man should be like this!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan thought of Liu Bang.

    He glanced at the Da Zhi Zhenjun: "When your mother gave birth to you, did she dream of a dragon?"

    "No, but she did dream of golden light falling from the sky," said the True Lord of Great Wisdom.

    "That should be the light of wisdom," Qi Yuan remarked. He then posted another message on the Shenhua Forum: "Next stop, Fengxian City, those who know, know."

    At that moment in Fengxian City, a young woman in embroidered robes turned pale.

    "Ancestor, Ancestor!"

    She stumbled into a cave residence, shouting loudly.

    Not long after, an old man exuding a terrifying aura appeared, his face full of kindly affection.

    "What happened? Who bullied my little Die?" The old man''s name was Yan Yiqi. Ten years ago, he entered the Purple Mansion and became the Supreme Elder of the Chaoyang Sect. He was quite pleased with himself.

    The young woman before him was his most beloved descendant.

    "Ancestor, please save me... Wuwu," the young woman cried, her eyes full of tears, looking particularly pitiful.

    Yan Yiqi immediately felt distressed. "Quick, tell me, who bullied my little Die?"

    "Ancestor, I saw a senior on Shenhua Forum who was acting arrogantly and killing innocents, so I secretly commented on it with some others.

    Who knew that the senior was so petty and is now coming to Fengxian City to kill me!" The young woman was completely flustered but still knew how to exaggerate.

    Anyway, it wasn''t her fault.

    "How absurd! Just because a junior criticizes him, he comes for revenge? This is the behavior of a demonic cultivator!

    If everyone acted like this, wouldn''t the cultivation world be in chaos?

    Tell me his name and cultivation level. If he dares to come, I''ll have words with him!" Yan Yiqi said righteously.

    The young woman felt reassured. "Ancestor, he''s the Blood-Robed Sword God on Shenhua Forum, the Yin God Venerable."

    "..." Yan Yiqi''s heart skipped a beat. "What... did you say?"

    "He¡¯s already made threats. He just killed a cultivator in Liqi City and is now hurrying to Fengxian City. Ancestor... it¡¯s not Xiao Die''s fault; it''s all because the Blood-Robed Sword God is narrow-minded." The young woman cried, acting pitiful, knowing that this approach never failed.

    No matter what mistake she made, she would be forgiven.

    Yan Yiqi''s expression changed slightly. He took Xiao Die''s Shenhua Forum jade slip and read for a while, his beard nearly curling up. "You dared to slander the Yin God Venerable, you must have eaten a bear¡¯s heart and a leopard¡¯s gall!

    The Venerable is purging the cultivation world¡¯s atmosphere with good intentions, but you... you¡¯re just a parasite in the cultivation world!

    Someone, tie her up. We will welcome the Venerable''s arrival!"

    "Ancestor, it was clearly..." Xiao Die wanted to resist, but she couldn¡¯t get a word out.

    In the days that followed, such incidents happened repeatedly.

    Every time Qi Yuan went to a city, he would announce it in advance.

    The cultivators of those cities, and even those from nearby cities, would gather early to watch the spectacle.

    After all, this was the Yin God Venerable, a big shot rarely seen in ten thousand years.

    When the big shot appeared, there would even be music played by the Purple Mansion.

    For small fry like them, it was rare enough to even see the Purple Mansion, let alone hear its music.

    And the geniuses who had cursed on the Shenhua Forum were already tied up by their sects and handed over to the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God swept across the land, tracking down and punishing people through the network.

    This serious yet absurd attitude indeed shook the Eastern Land.

    Many sect elders issued orders forbidding their young disciples from casually slandering strong people on their communication jade slips.

    And some cultivators who were once adept at verbal battles also fell silent.

    To some extent, the atmosphere in the cultivation world did improve a lot.

    Leixing Continent.

    The Rogue Immortal Lord sat in front of the pill furnace, deep in thought.

    "Watch the fire!" A stern voice suddenly called out.

    The Rogue Immortal Lord snapped to attention and carefully observed the flames in the pill furnace.

    She said this and then glanced at the tall woman beside her, "Sister Hua, I¡¯m not going upstairs."

    After saying this, she looked at the Rogue Immortal Lord, "Xiaoyu, you don¡¯t mind if I sit here, do you?"

    The Rogue Immortal Lord looked at Qi Yuan.

    Honestly, hearing Ye Chan call Qi Jianjun a little girl, he was really worried that the Yin God Venerable would kill Ye Chan on the spot.

    "Rogue Immortal Lord, haha, I know your real name now, so you¡¯ll be using your real name online from now on." Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t expected that the Rogue Immortal Lord''s name was actually quite rogue: Gao Xiaoyu, a bit feminine.

    The Rogue Immortal Lord awkwardly smiled, feeling quite nervous inside.

    Facing Origin Heaven Venerable wasn¡¯t too bad, but facing Qi Jianjun, that was really nerve-wracking.

    "Is this your Dao companion? She¡¯s quite good-looking." Qi Yuan glanced at Ye Chan, giving a polite compliment.

    Ye Chan blushed slightly, "Don¡¯t say such things."

    Qi Yuan showed an expression that said everyone understood, patting the Rogue Immortal Lord on the shoulder, "Keep it up. Become a father soon."

    The Rogue Immortal Lord was speechless.

    Ye Chan looked at Qi Jianjun, her face slightly red, then waved her hand, "Come here, what a cute little girl, let me give you a meeting gift."

    As she spoke, a porcelain white jade bottle appeared in her palm, "There are some candies inside. They taste really good. Eat one when you¡¯re craving something sweet; it won¡¯t upset your stomach."

    The Rogue Immortal Lord kept winking at Ye Chan.

    Are you giving snacks to a Yin God?

    Qi Jianjun extended her hand, ready to take the bottle.

    At that moment, a hurried voice came, "Xiao Chan, that¡¯s the Three Yang Essence Pills your grandfather gave you. How can you give them to a child!"

    The tall woman who had just gone upstairs rushed back down, followed by a young, handsome man, Feng Tian.

    "My things, I can give them to whomever I want." Ye Chan was displeased with Sister Hua.

    Sister Hua was momentarily speechless.

    At that moment, Feng Tian looked at Qi Yuan, "Children don¡¯t understand, but you, as an adult, should. Don¡¯t you know how valuable the Three Yang Essence Pills are?

    Ye Chan is being kind, but do you really feel comfortable taking something like that?"

    Qi Yuan laughed, "I never understood such things."

    As he spoke, he took the bottle from Ye Chan''s hand.

    He opened the bottle, and a fragrant scent filled the air.

    "Come, Jianjun, have some candy."

    Qi Jianjun grabbed a handful of pills and stuffed them into her mouth, "Tastes good."

    Sister Hua and Feng Tian were stunned.

    Especially Sister Hua, who kept shaking her head, "Such a waste, such a waste."

    Such precious pills, given to a child.

    Feng Tian glanced at Qi Yuan, "I¡¯ll report this to Great Master Ye Chen."

    He said this and glared angrily at the Rogue Immortal Lord, "Colluding with outsiders, deceiving..."

    "Enough!" Ye Chan coldly looked at Feng Tian and Sister Hua, "I¡¯ll do as I please. Are you my son, caring for me so much?"

    Feng Tian was momentarily speechless.

    Sister Hua''s face alternated between green and red, and she finally softened her tone, "Xiao Chan, we¡¯re just worried about you being deceived."

    The atmosphere on the scene became tense.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan spoke, "Rogue Immortal Lord, we¡¯ll talk later. I have someone to kill."

    Qi Jianjun, holding Qi Yuan''s hand like a little follower, said, "Goodbye, Uncle, goodbye, Sister."

    His musical ensemble was arriving late; he had to go kill someone.

    Ye Chan was stunned.

    How did the conversation suddenly turn to killing?

    Feng Tian and Sister Hua were also surprised.

    At that moment, a familiar sound suddenly echoed in the sky.

    The desolate sound of suona, like the sighs of gods, resonated throughout the entire city.

    Everyone¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to the sky.

    "The Blood-Robed Sword God has come to kill!"

    They had heard in the morning that the Blood-Robed Sword God was coming to kill someone here.

    Such a major event, they had naturally come early to watch.

    At this moment, this city was likely hiding countless strong people.

    Even the elusive, secluded Purple Mansion might appear, just to witness the legendary Yin God Venerable.

    That was the one who had destroyed the Bright Palace and killed both the Exhausted Venerable and the Sentimental Venerable¡ªa powerful Yin God!

    At least someone who had reached the second step of sky-treading.

    "Let¡¯s go, watch from upstairs!" Ye Chan, no longer concerned, prepared to take the Rogue Immortal Lord and Qi Yuan upstairs to watch the spectacle.

    "I have to go kill someone." Qi Yuan, holding Qi Jianjun''s hand, vanished.

    Ye Chan was momentarily stunned, but eventually, she still went with the Rogue Immortal Lord to watch the excitement.

    At that moment, the city''s cultivators had almost all gathered together.

    They looked up at the dozen or so Purple Mansion cultivators in the sky, their expressions full of awe.

    "Using the Purple Mansion as a band, what grandiosity the Blood-Robed Sword God has!"

    "Shh, don¡¯t speak ill of the Venerable, or else..."

    "No, I¡¯m not speaking ill, I¡¯m praising, praising!"

    "Never thought I¡¯d live to hear the Purple Mansion play music and see the legendary Yin God!"

    Ye Chan stood on the restaurant''s upper floor, her eyes shining, "Gao Xiaoyu, what do you think the Blood-Robed Sword God looks like? Is he cold and distant, the kind that keeps people away?

    I heard he also has a daughter, and she¡¯s a Yin God too. It¡¯s terrifying."

    The Rogue Immortal Lord didn¡¯t speak. He wanted to say, you just saw the Blood-Robed Sword God, and you even gave his Yin God daughter some candy.

    But thinking about it, he decided not to say anything; they¡¯d find out soon enough.

 Chapter 169: The Truth of the Great Catastrophe

    Chapter 169: The Truth of the Great Catastrophe

    Everyone looked up at the sky, gazing at those stern-faced Purple Mansion cultivators, their eyes filled with reverence.

    At this moment, a hunched old man appeared, lamenting sorrowfully, "Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, this person is merely a branch member of the Liu family and has nothing to do with our main Liu family."

    The Blood-Robed Sword God had not yet appeared, but this Purple Mansion cultivator had already begun to speak nonstop.

    The cultivators in the city watched this scene with mixed emotions.

    "This is the Purple Mansion we''re talking about¡ªa being whose mere finger movement can shake the entire Leixing Continent.

    Yet, because a descendant of a branch of the Liu family offended the Blood-Robed Sword God, he traveled thousands of miles to come here and bind that descendant."

    "This Liu Wen bullied men and women alike, and now that he''s offended the Blood-Robed Sword God, this is truly karma!"

    "Where is the Blood-Robed Sword God? Why hasn''t he appeared yet?"

    The crowd was puzzled, eager to see what the legendary Blood-Robed Sword God looked like.

    "He''s here!"

    At that moment, a figure in a blood-red robe appeared in front of the dozen or so Purple Mansion cultivators playing music.

    The man was handsome, with a tall and upright figure, holding the hand of a harmless-looking little girl.

    However, anyone who saw this little girl would feel nothing but fear and awe, not deceived by her innocent appearance.

    After all, she was a Yin God.

    "This is the Blood-Robed Sword God. The aura of the Yin God Venerable is truly extraordinary.

    Even if he hides his cultivation, I would still think he is an exceptional expert if I saw him on the street," a man sighed. Suddenly, he glanced at the man next to him with a puzzled look. "Brother Feng Tian, what''s wrong? Why is your body trembling?"

    At this moment, Feng Tian was staring at the man in the blood-red robe in the sky, his eyes full of disbelief.

    He... is he the Blood-Robed Sword God?

    Next to him, Sister Hua was also trembling violently, her face pale.

    Not far away, Ye Chan covered her mouth, looking at the Rogue Immortal Lord, unable to speak, her eyes blinking rapidly.

    The Rogue Immortal Lord saw this and felt very proud. Finally, he could say with satisfaction, "You¡¯re not mistaken; he is the Blood-Robed Sword God, and the one you just gave candy to is his daughter, a Yin God.

    You¡¯re really brave; I admire you."

    At this moment, in the sky, Qi Jianjun was reading aloud the list of Liu Wen''s crimes.

    Qi Yuan''s face lit up with a brilliant smile. "The most noteworthy thing in your life is that you died by my hand."

    With a light push of his hand, Liu Wen, who had been making arrogant statements on the Shenhua Forum, perished instantly.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the Purple Mansion expert who had come all the way here and said softly, "I am always reasonable; I won''t harm the innocent, nor will I exterminate families. You may leave."

    Hearing this, the Purple Mansion cultivator sighed in relief. "Thank you, Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, for cleansing the atmosphere of the cultivation world. When I return, I will certainly discipline my descendants to do more and speak less."

    "Mm."

    Qi Yuan nodded, and his figure disappeared at that moment.

    The sound of the suona also abruptly ceased, and the Purple Mansion cultivators in the sky vanished as well.

    The cultivators in the city looked at the sky, feeling it had ended too soon.

    "I didn''t get enough of a look. Why did they leave so quickly?"

    "Wouldn''t it be great if they killed one more?"

    "How about someone go provoke the Blood-Robed Sword God so we can watch some excitement?"

    "If you want to, you go!"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan reappeared in the inn with Qi Jianjun.

    However, due to his innate divine ability, others who saw him wouldn¡¯t remember or associate him with the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    "The person is dead. Rogue Immortal Lord, let''s go and have a chat." Qi Yuan called out to the Rogue Immortal Lord.

    Ye Chan, who was beside the Rogue Immortal Lord, felt her heart pounding and didn''t dare to speak.

    In the distance, Feng Tian and Sister Hua were pale, their emotions in turmoil after seeing the interaction between the Rogue Immortal Lord and Qi Yuan.

    "Let¡¯s go," Qi Yuan called out to the Rogue Immortal Lord.

    Ye Chan looked at the Rogue Immortal Lord, her voice trembling, "I can''t move my legs; I won¡¯t go."

    She still couldn''t accept it. She didn¡¯t dare to meet the Blood-Robed Sword God or his daughter, fearing she might embarrass herself.

    The Rogue Immortal Lord sighed, "Alright, take care. I¡¯ll go chat with my friend and then deliver the medicine to your grandfather."

    Upon hearing this, Ye Chan thought to herself, "Forget the medicine! Just give it to me directly!"

    Of course, she didn¡¯t say this out loud.

    At this moment, the Rogue Immortal Lord and Qi Yuan sat back at their original spot in the inn.

    They ordered a lot of dishes.

    Qi Jianjun held a cup of wine, ready to take a sip.

    But Qi Yuan''s chopsticks struck her little hand. "Children shouldn''t drink alcohol."

    At this moment, the waiter saw this scene and smiled. "This is fruit wine; it won¡¯t get anyone drunk. Even children can drink it; it''s fine."

    Qi Jianjun looked at Qi Yuan smugly.

    Qi Yuan glared at the waiter. "If my daughter gets spoiled, it''ll be your fault."

    "Your daughter is so well-behaved and adorable; her future is bright. She will definitely become a Golden Core master," the waiter said, offering the usual blessings.

    "Stop saying that!" Qi Yuan retorted.

    The waiter was stunned for a moment. "A Nascent Soul Lord!"

    "Use your imagination! I hope my daughter will be able to dominate the ages in 300 years," Qi Yuan said casually.

    The waiter laughed, thinking this customer was particularly interesting.

    As they ate, Qi Yuan looked at the Rogue Immortal Lord and slowly said, "Regarding what you mentioned some time ago about wanting to break your golden core and start over, I thought about it for a long time and discussed it with Da Zhi Zhenjun. We concluded that there''s no need for you to break your core and start over."

    Qi Yuan was always generous to his friends.

    He had kept the Rogue Immortal Lord''s comments in the group chat in mind.

    Hearing this, the Rogue Immortal Lord was deeply moved.

    At that time, he had casually mentioned in the group that his golden core wasn¡¯t good enough and that he wanted to break it and start over.

    He never expected that the Origin Heavenly Venerable would actually consider it for him.

    "After Da Zhi Zhenjun enlightened me, I thought you could emulate his Two Core Method.

    If you''re dissatisfied with the golden core you¡¯ve formed, why not form a few more?

    Over the past few days, I¡¯ve roughly created a method based on your situation, called the ''Nine Core Method.'' This method allows you to form up to nine golden cores.

    However, due to limited time, I haven¡¯t fully developed it.

    Once you¡¯ve formed multiple golden cores, you¡¯ll get used to it. Later, you can perfect it into the Ten Core Method, Twenty Core Method, whatever you like."

    Qi Yuan handed a jade slip to the Rogue Immortal Lord.

    Creating this method for the Rogue Immortal Lord had also given Qi Yuan many insights.

    His stellar golden core currently relied on devouring solar true fire.

    But as everyone knows, if you devour too much, strange things can happen, like an upset stomach.

    So Qi Yuan thought his golden core could also take two paths.

    One path is to form more stellar and planetary golden cores; the other is for the stellar golden core to keep devouring.

    Now, Qi Yuan was heading to the Ascending Sky Pavilion for more techniques.

    He had already collected many techniques from other Yin Gods.

    But to him, it still wasn¡¯t enough.

    After all, the golden core chapter was a bottomless pit.

    And the Ascending Sky Pavilion collected techniques from all over, not just from the Eastern Lands, but from other regions of the Canglan Realm as well.

    The Eastern Lands bordered the North and were far from other regions.

    Especially the Central Heaven Domain, even for a Yin God, reaching it wasn¡¯t easy.

    It could be said that in the Eastern Lands, the Ascending Sky Pavilion had the most complete and extensive collection of cultivation techniques.

    About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense passed.

    The spiritual boat descended.

    A tall pavilion straight into the clouds appeared in Qi Yuan''s sight.

    Seeing the pavilion, Jiang Ya smiled brightly, "We¡¯re back."

    She hadn¡¯t expected that just by participating in a small Eastern Lands Genius List, so many things would happen.

    It all felt like a dream.

    "Greetings to Lord Blood-Robed Sword God." At that moment, a man in white robes appeared, elegant and scholarly, with a strong scholarly aura.

    "Senior Brother." Jiang Ya greeted him.

    This white-robed man was Jiang Ya''s senior brother.

    Da Zhi Zhenjun looked at the white-robed man. "Has that old man Wutian not come down?"

    The white-robed man seemed unsurprised by Da Zhi Zhenjun¡¯s tone.

    "Master is sitting in the Ascending Sky Pavilion, and until the riddle is solved, he will not come down. Please forgive him, Senior." The senior brother of the Ascending Sky Pavilion was polite.

    "No problem. Lead me into the Ascending Sky Pavilion," Qi Yuan said.

    He wasn¡¯t interested in meeting Old Man Wutian.

    He was interested in the Ascending Sky Pavilion¡¯s collection.

    Was it really as rumored, containing techniques from all over?

    Not just from the Eastern Lands, but from other regions as well.

    "Please follow me, Senior," the white-robed man said.

    Qi Yuan followed him inside, while the others stayed behind.

    Soon, Qi Yuan arrived at the towering Ascending Sky Pavilion.

    His left eyebrow twitched, and Qi Yuan smiled, "It seems something good is about to happen."

    Entering the Ascending Sky Pavilion, the white-robed man excused himself and slowly disappeared.

    In the vast Ascending Sky Pavilion, Qi Yuan was the only one left.

    Looking at the myriad of technique jade slips on the first floor, Qi Yuan showed a satisfied expression.

    "The Ascending Sky Pavilion¡¯s reputation for collecting techniques from all over isn¡¯t false." Just on the first floor, when he scanned with his divine sense, he found over ten thousand techniques.

    There were basic, intermediate, advanced, jade-level, and mysterious-level techniques, all kinds.

    On this first floor alone, he found five heavenly-level techniques.

    To know, at the Exhausted Venerable and Sentimental Venerable¡¯s places, he only got six heavenly-level techniques.

    Here there were five, and it was only the first floor.

    According to Jiang Ya, the Ascending Sky Pavilion had five floors.

    This first floor was almost richer than a Yin God.

    Yet Old Man Wutian was only a Purple Mansion expert.

    "Greetings, Lord Wangyue."

    At that moment, a hoarse voice came.

    Qi Yuan looked over and saw an old man sitting in a wheelchair.

    The old man¡¯s body was like withered wood, but his eyes were bright and piercing.

    Qi Yuan was surprised, "You¡¯re in the Purple Mansion, yet you¡¯re sitting in a wheelchair?"

    [A somewhat unusual cultivator, the master of the Ascending Sky Pavilion, Old Man Wutian.]

    "I¡¯ve gotten used to sitting. I can¡¯t leave it," the old man¡¯s voice was hoarse.

    "If you get married in the future and prepare for your wedding night, will you still sit in a wheelchair?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

    "Senior, you have a wonderful sense of humor."

    Facing Qi Yuan, he didn¡¯t show the same fear that other Purple Mansion cultivators did.

    They seemed to converse as equals.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t mind this either.

    "If I cannot break free from the shackles of this body, how could I even talk about marriage?" Old Man Wutian said, looking at Qi Yuan, "I envy you, my friend. To become the Lord of the Moon Watching Realm in one leap, you have... at least ten thousand years of freedom."

    "No riddles," Qi Yuan said, looking at Old Man Wutian.

    Old Man Wutian stared at Qi Yuan, "Lord Wangyue, do you know what the Great Catastrophe is?"

    Qi Yuan pondered and showed a surprised expression, "You know?"

    In fact, he had asked many Yin Gods about the Great Catastrophe, but while they all mentioned it, none of them knew what it actually was.

    Yet Old Man Wutian seemed to know.

    "Look up, Lord, at the brightest star in the sky."

    Qi Yuan looked up.

    In the sky, the red sun was like a glowing tomato.

    "The sun? The Great Catastrophe is the sun?" Qi Yuan''s eyes narrowed.

    According to the information he had gathered, the sun in the sky represented a Yang God.

    That Yang God was also the most powerful Yang God in the surrounding realms.

    That¡¯s why its light was the brightest.

    Of course, there were Yang Gods who illuminated all the heavens, much stronger than this one.

    But those were far, far away from the Canglan Realm.

    "Yes, and no." Old Man Wutian spoke, "The Great Catastrophe and that sun have an indescribable connection.

    So, even if there are some strong ones in the Canglan Realm, they can only endure the humiliation and let themselves be taken advantage of in the face of the Great Catastrophe."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan began to understand.

    If what Old Man Wutian said was true, then the Great Catastrophe was indeed difficult to deal with.

    "Three hundred thousand years ago, a supreme expert emerged in the Canglan Realm.

    He created his own cultivation technique and ascended to become a great sovereign.

    Facing the Great Catastrophe, he struck with fierce power, nearly suppressing it.

    But... at that moment, the stars of the heavens shone, and countless celestial beings descended.

    That supreme expert also fell as a result."

 Chapter 170: A New World, the Mortal Heart Realm

    Chapter 170: A New World, the Mortal Heart Realm

    "The one behind the Great Catastrophe¡ªis it that sun?" Qi Yuan looked at the sun, deep in thought.

    "Now in the Canglan Realm, there are two suns in the sky."

    Old Man Wutian sat in his wheelchair, his eyes profound.

    "Unfortunately, the second sun is too small. Otherwise, if the two fought, our Canglan Realm might have had a chance to break free from the Great Catastrophe."

    Qi Yuan was speechless. He looked at Old Man Wutian and said, "You''re the one that''s small!"

    He never liked being called small.

    Old Man Wutian seemed not to hear Qi Yuan''s words and muttered, "Born in the Canglan Realm, we are too constrained by the Great Catastrophe."

    "If we could shatter that sun in the sky, wouldn¡¯t the Great Catastrophe be over?" Qi Yuan asked seriously.

    Old Man Wutian chuckled, "The Great Catastrophe itself is already invincible in this world. Even if the supreme beings of this realm joined forces, they wouldn''t be its match.

    Moreover... to kill that sun in the sky, one would need to at least reach the realm of a Yang God.

    But without ascending to the higher realms, it''s impossible to break through to the Yang God stage.

    And once we ascend to the higher realms, we people of the Canglan Realm become meat on their plate."

    Generally speaking, cultivators at the Yin God stage have the opportunity to ascend to the higher realms.

    The rules of heaven and earth are more complete in the higher realms, and the world''s essence is more abundant.

    To advance to the Yang God stage, one must be in the higher realms.

    It''s impossible to reach the Yang God stage in the lower realms.

    "I¡¯ve sat here for endless years and finally found a way out," Old Man Wutian said as his wheelchair rolled over to a jade slip, which he picked up.

    "What way out?"

    "We become the fodder of the Great Catastrophe, marked by that sun in the sky, all because our cultivation techniques... have flaws," Old Man Wutian said solemnly.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was surprised.

    He had known for a long time that there were problems with the cultivation methods.

    But this was the first time he heard it from a native of the Canglan Realm.

    The Yin Gods he had encountered before had never mentioned this, and Qi Yuan had also discovered that the techniques they practiced had the same flaws.

    Hearing it from a Purple Mansion cultivator was indeed interesting.

    "If we create a new method and use it to cultivate to the Yin God stage, then ascend to the higher realms, we could... avoid the Great Catastrophe," Old Man Wutian said, his voice hoarse. "But creating a new method is incredibly difficult."

    Qi Yuan suddenly had an idea. "If we use techniques left behind in the Canglan Realm from the higher realms, wouldn¡¯t there be no problem cultivating them?"

    "Not so," Old Man Wutian replied. "According to ancient records, the supreme being who once arose in the Canglan Realm obtained a cultivation method from a Yang God in a dream and cultivated all the way to the realm of a great sovereign.

    But even then... he still became fodder for that sun.

    The Great Catastrophe even affects the will of heaven in the Canglan Realm, so even techniques from the higher realms, when cultivated here, inadvertently make one fodder."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was shocked.

    This Great Catastrophe sounded truly unsolvable.

    Fortunately, though his Qi Yuan Sutra had some minor issues, it wouldn''t turn him into fodder.

    "Unfortunately, despite all my years of struggle, I still haven''t created a new method that can truly escape the Great Catastrophe," Old Man Wutian sighed deeply, his voice filled with endless sorrow.

    The purpose of creating the Ascending Sky Pavilion was to create a new method to avoid the Great Catastrophe.

    Qi Yuan, however, said, "Even if you create a new method, at most only a few cultivators can avoid the Great Catastrophe.

    If this new method spreads and the Great Catastrophe and that sun find out, wouldn¡¯t the Canglan Realm still... be doomed? So I believe that the Great Catastrophe cannot be avoided. Escaping it won''t solve the problem.

    We must face it head-on, take the initiative, and resolve the Great Catastrophe!"

    Qi Yuan spoke passionately.

    With his increased strength and after sweeping through a series of Yuandan and Nascent Soul cultivators in the Eastern Lands, he had become somewhat overconfident.

    He felt like someone who could command the world, and no one would dare disobey.

    Old Man Wutian looked at Qi Yuan and pointed in a direction.

    "The Great Catastrophe should be in that direction. After traveling for three months, you''ll reach it. Are you sure you want to go and see the Great Catastrophe, Lord Wangyue?"

    Qi Yuan immediately looked in that direction.

    Suddenly, his right eyebrow began twitching wildly.

    They say when your left eye twitches, it''s good luck; when your right eye twitches, it''s bad luck.

    If it was just a minor twitch, it might still mean luck.

    But this was too intense!

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t deceive himself.

    "Forget it, I¡¯ll let the Great Catastrophe go for now," Qi Yuan decided. He wouldn''t mess with the Great Catastrophe until he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage.

    "Is it okay if I copy all your techniques here?" Qi Yuan asked.

    If he could copy all the techniques in the Ascending Sky Pavilion, he could return to the Seven-Colored Peak and play games in peace.

    The game icon was almost loaded; it only needed a few more days of preparation before he could enter.

    Qi Yuan planned to memorize all the techniques now so that he could continue refining the Qi Yuan Sutra in his spare time while in the game.

    Otherwise, if he didn¡¯t get enough techniques to advance the Qi Yuan Sutra before entering the game, his power would increase, but without enough techniques, his progress in the real world would be slow.

    "Feel free, Lord Wangyue," Old Man Wutian said as he pushed his wheelchair away.

    Qi Yuan then immersed himself in the Ascending Sky Pavilion, collecting all the techniques.

    ...

    Seven days later.

    On a spiritual boat, Kang Fulu was beaming with pride. "In the Eastern Lands Genius Battle, I, your senior brother, fought valiantly against many and upheld the prestige of our Five-Colored Saint Law!

    Even when faced with several geniuses from major sects, I didn¡¯t flinch and defeated them honorably.

    Now, I¡¯m ranked 498th on the Eastern Lands Genius List.

    It¡¯s a pity you didn¡¯t participate in the Eastern Lands Genius Battle, or you would¡¯ve seen your senior brother''s heroic performance."

    Qi Yuan looked at the few strands of gray hair on Kang Fulu¡¯s head, knowing that he must have worked hard to achieve this in the Eastern Lands Genius Battle.

    After leaving the Ascending Sky Pavilion, Qi Yuan briefly gave instructions to the Blood-Robed Alliance, announced his seclusion, and then reverted to his original identity, taking Qi Jianjun back to the Shining Light Sect.

    On the way back, he happened to meet Kang Fulu and decided to travel with him.

    "Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t break into the top 100 of the Eastern Lands Genius List, so I couldn¡¯t bring back the treasure the sect master needed.

    I¡¯ve been secretly investigating who took that treasure, but I haven¡¯t found any clues," Kang Fulu said, disappointed.

    Qi Yuan smiled at this.

    Now, the Blood-Robed Sword God had established the Blood-Robed Alliance and sent people to the Shining Light Sect. When her Senior Brother sent word that two subordinates would be coming, she couldn¡¯t help but let her imagination run wild.

    But thinking about how her Senior Brother had spoken to her just now, friendly and without the overwhelming aura of a great demon, and how he reacted normally even when she threw a little tantrum, she felt she must be overthinking it.

    However, there must be some deep connection between her Senior Brother and the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    Could it be that the Blood-Robed Sword God was her master?

    Only that would make more sense.

    Of course, she still harbored a slight suspicion that her Senior Brother was the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    "And what¡¯s the other major event?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He was already aware of the Blood-Robed Alliance''s activities.

    "The Demon Desire Sect had an internal conflict. The Shen family suddenly launched an attack and suppressed the Ji family, slaughtering all its members.

    Now, the Demon Desire Sect is ruled by the Shen family," Jiang Lingsu said seriously.

    Qi Yuan was a bit surprised.

    He had been planning to deal with the Ji family of the Demon Desire Sect upon his return.

    But now, he didn¡¯t need to deal with them; the enemies within the Demon Desire Sect were already gone?

    Life is truly unpredictable.

    "Senior Brother, who is this..." Jiang Lingsu finally took a serious look at Qi Jianjun, her eyes full of curiosity.

    Earlier, she had vaguely heard the little girl call Senior Brother "Daddy."

    "This is my daughter, Qi Jianjun."

    "Daughter?" Jiang Lingsu''s eyes widened. "Senior Brother, if I remember correctly, you¡¯re not even twenty years old. How do you have such a big daughter?"

    "I have a game, and she¡¯s my daughter in the game," Qi Yuan explained.

    Jiang Lingsu was confused.

    She remembered that in her family, some people played game jade slips and adopted brothers, sisters, even fathers and daughters.

    But those were just... games.

    Such a young Qi Jianjun... What¡¯s going on here?

    "Alright, Junior Sister, now that you''re awake, I¡¯m going back. I need to continue playing my game.

    I haven¡¯t played in a long time, and I¡¯m eager to get back to it," Qi Yuan said, hurrying off.

    The room was left with a bewildered Jiang Lingsu.

    "Could it be that the little girl is an orphan adopted by Senior Brother? So pitiful," Jiang Lingsu¡¯s maternal instincts were stirred.

    She stood up, her body stiff from lying down too long.

    However, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the discomfort quickly vanished.

    Suddenly, she thought of something, her expression turning curious.

    "Where are the talismans I placed at the door?"

    Every time she went into seclusion to cultivate, she would place talismans around to protect her safety.

    Now, the talismans were gone.

    "How did Senior Brother avoid my talismans?" Jiang Lingsu wondered, her expression puzzled.

    ...

    In the Mortal Heart Realm.

    In the village of Qingshui.

    Villagers, their faces pale and gaunt, walked back with heavy injuries on their faces.

    The village chief, Yuli, was a small old man with a hunched back, his pants rolled up to his knees, exposing legs as thin as matchsticks.

    "We lost the village battle. Such a disgrace!"

    A fat man cried bitterly, looking particularly sad.

    "Shijia Village has no martial virtue; they worship a new god!" a scholarly-looking man said disdainfully, expressing his contempt for Shijia Village''s new god.

    At the mention of the new god, everyone present looked uneasy.

    For these villages to have favorable weather and good harvests, they had to worship a god.

    Qingshui Village had been worshiping the Dogtail Grass God, who hadn¡¯t shown any response for decades.

    According to the god official Shentu, the Dogtail Grass God had probably starved to death.

    It sounded ridiculous, but it was understandable.

    After all, Qingshui Village had always been dirt poor, with nothing to offer the Dogtail Grass God.

    "Without the blessings of a god, we can¡¯t possibly defeat Shijia Village!" a man said.

    Qingshui Village was overall stronger than Shijia Village.

    But Shijia Village had a new god who could bless their villagers, making Shijia Village much stronger than Qingshui Village.

    In this fight over water resources, Qingshui Village suffered heavy losses.

    "Even if the Dogtail Grass God blesses us, we still can¡¯t beat Shijia Village. Their new god is too powerful!"

    At the mention of the new god, everyone in the village felt a deep sense of dread.

    "How about we also worship a new god?" a villager tentatively suggested.

    "No!" The usually silent village chief, Yuli, spoke up. "No matter what, Qingshui Village must not worship a new god, absolutely not!"

    The crowd fell silent.

    They all knew why the village chief was so adamant.

    The difference between the new gods and the old gods was that the new gods required human sacrifices!

    Shijia Village¡¯s new god demanded the sacrifice of a child every month.

    This was something the people of Qingshui Village could never accept.

    "Moreover, we are the remnants of an ancient clan. How could we possibly worship a new god?" Yuli said.

    At the mention of the ancient clan, pride filled the eyes of the villagers.

    The ancient clan was the most unyielding.

    Once, when the heavens were blind, the great gods of the ancient clan dared to challenge the heavens.

    Now, with the new gods causing chaos, how could they bow to these new gods and survive by groveling? "Our ancient clan dares to challenge the gods. Even if we decline, we mustn¡¯t bend our spines!"

    "Dare to fight the heavens, dare to challenge injustice in the world¡ªour ancient clan will not be humiliated!"

    "Ugh, I¡¯m so hungry. Goudan, give me a steamed bun!"

    "Your ancient clan bloodline is so pure, and you have the nerve to ask me for a steamed bun?"

 Chapter 171: The God of Slaughter, Ready to Feast

    Chapter 171: The God of Slaughter, Ready to Feast

    A group of people returned to the village, passing by a dilapidated temple.

    Suddenly, a sturdy man suggested, "Since the Dogtail Grass God is no longer with us, why don¡¯t we sell his statue? Maybe we can trade it for some food."

    The others looked at the broken statue, their eyes lighting up with interest.

    "The Dogtail Grass God''s statue could probably get us a few hundred steamed buns, right?" the fat man said, his eyes gleaming.

    Shentu, the village god official, became anxious. "The god has protected our Qingshui Village for so long; how can we smash his statue!"

    If the statue were destroyed, he, as the god official, would lose all his status.

    "The Dogtail Grass God protected us while he was alive. Now that he¡¯s gone, he would certainly want to sacrifice himself to keep us from starving," the fat man argued.

    The other villagers also eyed the statue, their eyes gleaming with greed.

    Since the Dogtail Grass God was born from the statue, he hadn¡¯t really protected Qingshui Village.

    After all, Qingshui Village never had much food or offerings.

    The Dogtail Grass God probably ran away or starved to death a long time ago.

    "If we smash the statue, Qingshui Village will incur divine wrath. No god will ever protect us again!" Shentu said urgently.

    As long as the statue remained, it meant the legacy was intact.

    If they sincerely prayed and offered sacrifices, perhaps a new god might emerge from the statue.

    "This statue is too low-level. We can¡¯t even feed ourselves¡ªhow can we support a god and hope for the future?

    I think it¡¯s better to sell it for money and enjoy ourselves before we die!"

    "Yes, most of the nearby villages already worship the new gods.

    If we don¡¯t, we¡¯ll all be killed sooner or later.

    Better to trade the statue for money.

    I¡¯ve heard that the temple on Old Immortal Mountain has some beautiful demon women who look like celestial beings.

    For just a few coins, you can enjoy a night with those demon women and feel like a god yourself," the fat man said, his eyes glowing with lust.

    The temple on Old Immortal Mountain was home to many beautiful demon women who specialized in taking the life essence of men, providing a service known as "peaceful death."

    However, before death, those demon women would serve their clients lavishly, allowing those who sought death to experience the ultimate pleasures of the world.

    Villagers from nearby often saved up to die peacefully at the temple.

    In fact, the temple¡¯s business was booming.

    For decades, their prices had never increased, making it a popular place.

    The villagers of Qingshui, trapped in their village with barely enough to eat or drink, had little hope for the future.

    To them, dying in the temple was almost a blessing.

    "We can¡¯t!" Shentu stood in front of the temple. "I heard the statue come to life recently; it seems a new god is being born inside!"

    "Shentu, stop making things up. No one¡¯s offered any sacrifices here, so how could a new god appear?"

    "Who¡¯s been secretly worshiping?"

    "What if Shentu is telling the truth? After all, a newly born god is still a life. If we sell the statue, it might die!"

    The villagers debated among themselves.

    Some wanted to sell the statue, while others hesitated.

    "I think Shentu is just making this up because he doesn¡¯t want to lose his position as god official," an old man said weakly, just wanting to die peacefully.

    Nearly a hundred villagers, considered the strong labor force of Qingshui Village, were present.

    Whenever the village needed to fight for water or go hunting, they were the ones sent out.

    But now, most of them were gaunt and emaciated from hunger.

    The village chief, Yuli, watched the scene, his old eyes clouded with emotion but saying nothing.

    To think that proud Qingshui Village would fall under his leadership¡ªit was truly... a disgrace.

    He would go down in history as a sinner.

    Just then, a sudden gust of wind swept through the village.

    The villagers were momentarily stunned.

    The dilapidated statue suddenly exploded.

    "What¡¯s happening?"

    "The statue exploded?"

    "We''re doomed¡ªno money now!"

    The villagers regretted it deeply.

    That statue was worth money!

    But then a light voice echoed, "A new game? My people?"

    Everyone looked over and saw a stunningly handsome man standing in the ruined temple.

    The man had a sword on his back and an extraordinary aura.

    "A god?"

    "A god!"

    The villagers were stunned.

    They could clearly sense that this person was indeed their god.

    The sudden appearance of a god left them bewildered.

    After all, since the Dogtail Grass God disappeared, they hadn¡¯t expected another god to be born in Qingshui Village.

    They hadn¡¯t offered any sacrifices or prayed sincerely.

    The god that appeared... must be one of the weakest, right?

    And the statue¡¯s destruction meant this was the last god Qingshui Village would have.

    The villagers were filled with mixed emotions; the broken statue saddened them.

    No more peaceful deaths now.

    "Let¡¯s go."

    "Everyone back to your homes."

    The villagers weren¡¯t as reverent as the legends described.

    However, most of them stayed, watching the newly born god.

    One old man even boldly asked, "Lord God, are you hungry? I have half a steamed bun at home¡ªdo you want it?"

    This god was, of course, Qi Yuan, who had entered the game.

    Hearing their words, he felt a bit strange.

    "I¡¯m a god, and I¡¯m a player¡ªhow could I be hungry?" Qi Yuan said confidently.

    But then, a loud grumbling noise echoed.

    The villagers looked at Qi Yuan with interest.

    Qi Yuan was stunned.

    The sound had come from his stomach.

    Last time, in his dream, he seemed to hear the name Origin Heavenly Sovereign.

    "Yes," Qi Yuan replied, looking at Shentu. "How did you end up so miserable, as a Nascent Soul cultivator?"

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t understand.

    "No reliable support, no money, and nothing to eat," Shentu replied weakly.

    By reliable support, he meant the god that Qingshui Village worshipped.

    "Generally, after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, you don¡¯t need to eat, right?" Qi Yuan asked, still puzzled by his hunger.

    "Don¡¯t need to eat? If you don¡¯t eat, you¡¯ll die," Shentu said, looking at Qi Yuan as if he were the strange one.

    "Alright." Qi Yuan could only chalk it up to different world customs.

    "Lord God..."

    "Hmm?"

    "Are you sure you don¡¯t want that flatbread I offered earlier?" Shentu clutched the piece of bread with teeth marks, secretly eyeing Qi Yuan, as if afraid Qi Yuan would change his mind.

    Qi Yuan was speechless. "I¡¯m sure!"

    Shentu smiled brightly. "That¡¯s good. At least I can fill my stomach before I die, so I won¡¯t be a hungry ghost."

    "Having a follower like you is really... a blessing," Qi Yuan said helplessly.

    Qingshui Village was so poor that they probably didn¡¯t even have a suona.

    Otherwise, he would¡¯ve had Shentu help him form a band.

    Shentu ignored Qi Yuan''s words, quickly devouring the flatbread, as if afraid Qi Yuan would snatch it from him.

    Just then, Qi Yuan stopped in his tracks.

    In the village ahead, the sound of drums and gongs echoed.

    "Seems lively over there," Qi Yuan remarked.

    Shentu looked at the village of a hundred households ahead.

    "Today is their sacrificial day. They¡¯re going to sacrifice three boys to the new god," Shentu said, his expression darkening. "These damned new gods are all evil. Since when do gods eat people!"

    According to ancient clan records, gods were simply powerful humans, the spirits of heroes who died fighting for humanity.

    These spirits protected humans, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.

    But the new gods, also known as evil gods, fed on humans.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan''s gaze pierced through the village, seeing a weeping woman and a man pinned to the ground.

    "Wuwu, Xiao Qian, Xiao Qian..." the woman cried, struggling.

    One of the sacrificial offerings was her young child.

    "Sister Li, offering sacrifices to the god is an honor for us!" a burly man said, his eye glowing with a bloody light.

    This indicated he was already influenced by the new god, gradually being assimilated. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he became the new god¡¯s most loyal guard.

    Another man sighed, "Sacrificing a dozen children each year for good weather in Shitou Village¡ªthat¡¯s a fair trade."

    "Sister Li, look at Qingshui Village next door. They refuse to worship the new god, and now look at their fate. I bet in another month, everyone there will be dead," said a fat man with large ears, who was also touching the woman¡¯s chin.

    "Ptui! Evil god!" The woman spat in the fat man¡¯s face.

    The fat man¡¯s expression turned dark. "Sister Li, I was talking nicely to you, but you won¡¯t listen. Seems like you¡¯re disloyal to the god¡ªsend her to the Red Pen!"

    Hearing this, the woman struggled even more fiercely.

    The man pinned to the ground shed tears from his tiger-like eyes.

    Since the new gods appeared, a new term had been coined: the Red Pen.

    New gods loved to eat young children.

    But what if there weren¡¯t enough children?

    Then, they would lock up some women, putting them in the Red Pen, where they were kept just to... breed.

    This treatment of people like livestock was utterly inhumane.

    "This is Shitou Village, ruled by the Shi family. You Wang family people better behave, or I¡¯ll send you all to the Red Pen!" the fat man said.

    Shitou Village wasn¡¯t solely inhabited by the Shi family; other families lived there too.

    However, it was the Shi family, the largest family in the village, that had orchestrated the descent of the new god.

    Because of this, they now completely controlled Shitou Village.

    As for the other families, they didn¡¯t dare speak out.

    Offending the Shi family could mean having your children offered to the new god!

    "The heavens are blind to let you evil gods descend..." the woman wailed.

    The fat man laughed. "Evil god? This is the true god, the future ruler of the Mortal Heart Realm!"

    Everyone knew that the new gods were slowly devouring the territory of the old gods.

    Now, two-thirds of the Mortal Heart Realm worshipped the new gods.

    The old gods were barely holding on. It wouldn¡¯t be long before they were completely wiped out.

    "Evil god, come out and die!

    I¡¯m hungry¡ªhurry up and die so we can feast!"

    At that moment, a crisp voice echoed from the sky. Two figures appeared above, one was Shentu, the other Qi Yuan.

    The people of Shitou Village looked up in surprise.

    "The god of Qingshui Village?"

    "A new ancient god?"

    "Come to Shitou Village to die?"

    Many Shi family villagers had red-glowing eyes.

    If this were happening in Qingshui Village or at their temple, they might have felt fear.

    But here in Shitou Village, this was their home ground.

    They were confused and astonished.

    Was this ancient god out of his mind, daring to leave his temple and come here?

    Generally, gods rarely left their temples or domains.

    Meanwhile, the woman on the ground looked up at Qi Yuan in the sky, her eyes filled with devotion as she repeatedly bowed, her forehead bleeding. "God, please save my son."

    Just then, a seductive voice rang out.

    "Oh my, a newly born cutie has come to me. Do you want to merge with your sister?"

    A she-wolf in a blood-red dress appeared, looking particularly eerie.

    The villagers of Shitou Village saw the god manifest and quickly knelt.

    "Greetings, Lord God!"

    The new god was their god, their heaven.

    The fat man looked at the wolf-dressed woman with fanaticism.

    As for the newly born ancient god of Qingshui Village, he was nothing.

    Standing next to Qi Yuan, Shentu was trembling, but remembering he had eaten a bit of bread, he felt it was worth it and grew bolder.

    "Bold evil god, you¡¯ve plagued the world. The god of Qingshui Village will destroy you!"

 Chapter 172: Feast, Thirty Days of Celebrations!

    Chapter 172: Feast, Thirty Days of Celebrations!

    The she-wolf in the red dress flew into the air, her posture seductive. The villagers of Shijia Village looked terrified.

    Qi Yuan gazed at the she-wolf, the so-called god of Shijia Village, with a strange expression in his eyes.

    "A Nascent Soul cultivator at the peak, wielding a sliver of original divine power?"

    He could see at a glance that the so-called god before him was not very powerful, only slightly stronger than the villagers.

    A mere Nascent Soul cultivator, though at the peak, had managed to condense a sliver of original divine power through the villagers'' offerings.

    This was already quite impressive.

    In the Canglan Realm, if Nascent Soul cultivators could gain original divine power through such means, the entire realm would descend into chaos, with "gods" everywhere.

    It should be noted that the Shang Kingdom had dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators, and the hundred kingdoms had thousands, yet there was not a single Purple Mansion cultivator.

    This shows just how vast the gap between Purple Mansion and Nascent Soul cultivators truly is.

    The she-wolf in the red dress, exuding a seductive charm, stuck out her broad tongue. "A newly born ancient god, your taste must be delicious."

    New gods could enhance their cultivation by devouring ancient gods.

    The she-wolf stared at Qi Yuan, her eyes glowing with greed.

    Qi Yuan, maintaining a high level of composure, responded lightly, "Hmph, you little creature, you should be able to give me a lot of experience points, right?"

    Upon arriving in this world, Qi Yuan discovered that his character level was different from the usual levels of 1 to 100.

    Currently, he was at Divine Being Level 1.

    And before him, the she-wolf was at Divine Being Level 55.

    The difference between the two was... immense.

    It was like comparing an early Yuandan cultivator to a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

    And the opponent was still a god in her own domain, wielding original divine power.

    Ordinarily, such a difference would result in Qi Yuan being instantly defeated.

    In his current state, without summoning his Stellar Golden Core, Qi Yuan''s in-game power was indeed insufficient to overcome such a vast level difference.

    "My people, offer your strength to me!"

    "Fight by my side!"

    The she-wolf in the red dress let out a seductive shout.

    The villagers of Shijia Village winced, their faces turning pale.

    It was clear that, despite her apparent disdain for Qi Yuan, the she-wolf was going all out from the start.

    Countless red light dots flew out from the villagers'' bodies, gathering in the hands of the she-wolf and finally forming a massive wolf-toothed club.

    Shentu looked at the club, his gums trembling. "It''s a sacrificial artifact!"

    Sacrificial artifacts were formed from the offerings of countless people, containing the essence of the world''s power.

    In Qi Yuan''s understanding, these were weapons capable of wielding original divine power.

    "Interesting," Qi Yuan murmured, intrigued.

    This was the first time he had seen someone inscribe original divine power into a weapon like he did.

    By this time, Village Chief Yuli had arrived with nearly a hundred villagers.

    Seeing the she-wolf absorbing the villagers'' offerings, they all showed signs of fear.

    "We''re doomed!"

    "The evil god...!"

    "Go, help the lord god!" Village Chief Yuli commanded.

    The villagers did not hesitate. This was a time to unite and support Qi Yuan.

    But Qi Yuan simply remarked, "The more people, the merrier the feast."

    He showed no fear of a Divine Being Level 55 opponent.

    "Sword, come!"

    With a light command, the sword on Qi Yuan''s back flew out of its sheath.

    The sword was blood-red, engraved with intricate patterns. The hilt was adorned with seven grim-faced figures, each with a different expression.

    A massive wave of bloodthirsty energy spread, turning the entire sky above Shijia Village crimson, as if a demon had descended upon the world.

    The villagers of Qingshui Village, who had come to help, froze in their tracks.

    The terrifying blood energy felt like an evil weapon that had slaughtered countless lives.

    The villagers of Shijia Village looked on in horror. "A demon god!"

    "He''s a demon god!"

    Earlier, the villagers of Qingshui had called Shijia''s god an evil god.

    Now, the villagers of Shijia were calling Qingshui''s god a demon god in return!

    Qi Yuan looked at the she-wolf in the red dress. "You have the blessings of your people and the support of your shrine, but I have a sword that will sever your head!"

    For once, Qi Yuan felt justified in saying, "I''ll cut off your head," because the opponent truly had a wolf''s head.

    "Sword, go."

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t even lift a hand.

    He valued his life too much to put himself in harm''s way.

    At Level 1, if he were to be struck, it would be disastrous.

    The sword, inscribed with original divine power, flew towards the she-wolf in the red dress.

    Her expression turned to one of fear.

    "Where did you get that sacrificial artifact?"

    She couldn¡¯t understand.

    Despite having left his shrine and domain, how could he still wield a sacrificial artifact, especially one so terrifying?

    Compared to the terrifying sword, the wolf-toothed club in her hand was insignificant.

    "Chop off the head!" Qi Yuan commanded, giving no explanation.

    The sword, engraved with original divine power, shot towards the she-wolf in the red dress.

    The original divine power of the Void Lord¡¯s Heart Demon was unleashed.

    Against such original divine power at the inscribed level, a mere Nascent Soul peak cultivator stood no chance.

    In just half a breath, the guardian deity of Shijia Village fell into madness.

    "Eat, I must eat!"

    The sword passed through, and the she-wolf¡¯s head fell.

    The powerful guardian deity had been effortlessly slain.

    A massive amount of experience surged into Qi Yuan¡¯s body.

    His level increased from 1 to 2, 3, and finally stopped at Level 11.

    The villagers of Shijia Village were stunned.

    Village Chief Yuli was also stunned.

    The villagers he had brought along were in shock.

    A god, having left his shrine, wasn¡¯t supposed to be this powerful, right?

    How could he have killed Shijia Village''s new god?

    His voice was filled with emotion, tinged with sadness.

    The villagers of Shijia Village exchanged confused glances, as did the villagers of Qingshui Village. Everyone was... baffled.

    Then, Qi Yuan extended his hand, signaling for something.

    The burly man, catching on quickly, gave a nod. Soon, several old women in white robes¡ªprofessional mourners¡ªappeared.

    "Oh, God, you died so horribly!"

    "Wuu wuu..."

    These women wailed with such conviction, it seemed as though they were mourning their own relatives.

    Qi Yuan listened to their cries, feeling that the solemnity of the occasion was just right.

    "Let the feast begin!" he declared, diving into the food, nearly swallowing a whole pig¡¯s head in one bite.

    He was starving.

    Ever since he had arrived in this world, he had never felt as hungry as he did now.

    The villagers of Qingshui Village, like starving ghosts, tore into the food with wild abandon.

    Some secretly hoarded food, hiding it away for later.

    They were just that hungry.

    ...

    Back in Qingshui Village.

    Two old men lay on a haystack, munching on steamed buns.

    "Sigh, when will this suffering end?"

    "Not long now. If the lord god dies in Shijia Village, Qingshui Village will be next. At least I saved some dry food; I won¡¯t die hungry."

    "This newly born ancient god is really strange. If he had stayed in the village, we could have survived a little longer. But going to Shijia Village... that¡¯s like throwing a bun to a dog."

    These two old men voiced the thoughts of nearly everyone in the village.

    No one believed the newly born ancient god could defeat the new god.

    And even if he did win, the aftermath would be terrible.

    Feihuang City had practically become a stronghold for new gods.

    There was almost no place left for the ancient gods.

    Just then, they heard the sound of rustling nearby.

    One of the old men called out, puzzled, "Sister Jiang, what are you doing out here so late?"

    A frail-looking middle-aged woman raised her head, her eyes glowing with hope but her voice weak. "There¡¯s a feast."

    "Huh?" The old man felt like he had heard those words before but couldn¡¯t quite place them.

    "The lord god killed the evil god, and there¡¯s a feast in Shijia Village. We¡¯re going to help... and eat."

    Hearing this, the old man was stunned.

    The lord god killed the evil god? In the evil god¡¯s own territory?

    His eyes lit up. "A feast!"

    None of the other details mattered. The feast was what mattered.

    ...

    In Shijia Village, the evil god had been slain, and the most powerful family in the village had been entirely wiped out by Qi Yuan.

    Their granaries, filled to the brim with food, had been looted.

    On the first day, the feast was in honor of the fallen evil god. On the second day, the feast continued.

    With so many people dead, there was plenty of reason to keep the feast going!

    One day, a thin old man, dressed in scholarly robes, was traveling in a horse-drawn carriage pulled by a skinny horse.

    His eyes were half-closed, and he looked seriously injured.

    "Sir, are you alright?" Huang Mengying asked with concern.

    "The new god in Kuangfeng Town was stronger than expected.

    The town is fortified with five hundred guards. In its home territory, I was heavily injured in the battle and will need three years to recover before I can fight again," the old scholar said with a sigh. "I have failed Lord Huang¡¯s trust."

    Huang Mengying¡¯s worry deepened, but she still tried to console him. "As long as you¡¯re alright, sir."

    "Alas, six of the seven towns have fallen under the control of new gods, leaving Feihuang City to stand alone," the old scholar lamented.

    Feihuang City had always worshipped the ancient gods.

    There was an ancient god enshrined in the city.

    But twenty years ago, that ancient god fell into a deep sleep and would not wake.

    The situation in the city deteriorated.

    Many influential families within the city began secretly advocating for the worship of new gods.

    Huang Mengying¡¯s father, the city lord, naturally resisted this, suppressing the powerful families.

    But these families, unable to sway the city, colluded with the towns and villages, toppling ancient gods to welcome new ones.

    Now, six of the seven towns under Feihuang City¡¯s jurisdiction worshipped new gods.

    As for the villages, most had turned to new gods, with few still worshipping the ancient ones.

    The old scholar was a close friend of the city lord and a powerful late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, personally invited by the city lord to eliminate the new gods in the towns and weaken their influence.

    Unfortunately, after killing just one new god, he encountered a second and was seriously injured.

    At that moment, the sound of suona horns reached them, an unusually lively scene for a village near Feihuang City.

    The old scholar was puzzled. "Boy, what¡¯s happening in the village up ahead?"

    "Sir, I¡¯ll go find out."

    The young boy driving the carriage jumped down and ran towards the village.

    Before long, he returned. "Sir, it¡¯s Shijia Village. They¡¯re having a feast!"

    "Shijia Village, having a feast?" The old scholar was taken aback.

    If he remembered correctly, Shijia Village was home to an evil god.

    "It¡¯s because the ancient god of Qingshui Village killed the evil god of Shijia Village, and now they¡¯re having a feast!"

    Hearing this, the old scholar smiled. "How interesting. I must see this for myself."

    Huang Mengying was also intrigued.

    This situation was indeed unusual.

    In these troubled times, it was rare for an ancient god to slay a new god.

    And to kill a new god and then boldly host a feast? That was even rarer.

    After all, the new gods were so powerful now that many ancient gods could barely protect themselves, let alone openly defy them.

    "Let¡¯s go take a look," Huang Mengying said, her curiosity piqued.

    She was well-versed in the history of the county and knew all the deities worshipped in the villages under Feihuang City.

    Qingshui Village worshipped the Dogtail Grass God, the lowest of the low.

    How could such a god defeat the evil god of Shijia Village?

    The carriage rolled forward, the passengers each with their own thoughts, until they reached Shijia Village and were greeted by a bustling scene.

    They also saw coffins laid out on the ground, with people wailing around them.

    What had been a funeral now seemed utterly absurd amid the celebrations.

 Chapter 173: Qi Qi: He Must Be a Very Majestic God

    Chapter 173: Qi Qi: He Must Be a Very Majestic God

    "Nan Gong Wuji from Feihuang City seeks an audience with the deity!" The elder in the scholar''s robe was immensely powerful; he could easily kill even the gods who ruled entire regions.

    However, when he came to see the deity of Qingshui Village this time, his attitude was one of utmost respect.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan, who was focused on eating, looked up and saw Nan Gong Wuji. "Are you here to join the feast too? Come and sit down, eat whatever you like."

    Nan Gong Wuji looked at Qi Yuan, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

    He couldn''t feel any strong divine presence from Qi Yuan.

    This indicated that this deity was actually of a very low rank.

    "Then I will accept your hospitality." Nan Gong Wuji walked over.

    Huang Mengying, full of curiosity, followed along. She was really curious about how this new deity had managed to kill the deity of Shijia Village.

    She was also puzzled as to how a deity could sit and eat with these ordinary folks. She had seen many deities before; they might not have been extremely powerful, but they all considered themselves noble and wouldn''t deign to sit with mortals.

    This deity seemed overly down-to-earth.

    When Nan Gong Wuji and Huang Mengying arrived, some villagers hurried to bring them chairs and extra bowls and chopsticks.

    The villagers were all curious, staring at the elder and the woman. After all, they were important figures from the city.

    "Is the lord the newly born deity?" Huang Mengying couldn''t help but ask.

    If she remembered correctly, the deity of Qingshui Village was a dogtail grass god, not a human figure.

    "Something like that." Qi Yuan continued to eat.

    Honestly, he had already practiced fasting in the Canglan Realm, so no matter how good the food was, it all tasted the same to him.

    Maybe this was because of his age.

    But eating at the banquet in Shijia Village reminded him of the taste of his childhood.

    "Why did the venerable one suddenly kill the new deity of Shijia Village?" asked the scholar-robed elder Nan Gong Wuji.

    Generally speaking, any deity could be addressed as "venerable."

    Calling someone venerable like this was akin to meeting a deputy director and calling them director.

    Huang Mengying was also puzzled.

    Now, the few remaining ancient gods of Feihuang City didn''t dare provoke the new gods.

    Few dared to make a move against an evil god.

    "I just arrived here and was a bit hungry. My domain is so poor it''s practically echoing with emptiness.

    What do you do when you''re hungry? You can''t just steal food from others, right? How would that be any different from bandits?

    So, I came up with a plan.

    When people die, don''t they hold a banquet? Wouldn''t there be a feast?

    I killed their deity, and now they''re holding a banquet.

    It shows my idea was right." Qi Yuan explained matter-of-factly, happily eating.

    Nan Gong Wuji was stunned for a moment when he heard this.

    Huang Mengying was completely at a loss.

    This reason sounded too ridiculous.

    Naturally, she didn''t believe it.

    However, Huang Mengying still said, "The venerable one killed the evil god of Shijia Village... I''m afraid this will provoke the evil god of Kuangfeng Town."

    Shijia Village was under Kuangfeng Town, and the two evil gods had a subordinate relationship.

    "Then so be it." Qi Yuan didn''t care at all.

    After days of feasting, the hunger in his stomach had gradually subsided. It was time to continue... eating banquets.

    No, killing monsters.

    "The god of Kuangfeng Town is far more powerful than the evil god of Shijia Village.

    Mr. Nan Gong Wuji was injured by that evil god." Huang Mengying said with a sorrowful expression.

    Qi Yuan looked at the elder in the scholar''s robe.

    [Nan Gong Wuji, Divine Being, Level 82.]

    "Not bad, you¡¯re qualified to play the suona for me.

    My band still needs one more person, are you interested?" Qi Yuan looked at Nan Gong Wuji expectantly.

    According to the Canglan Realm''s classifications, Nan Gong Wuji''s strength was at the late Purple Mansion stage.

    He hadn''t expected to encounter a late Purple Mansion stage cultivator crashing a village banquet.

    The waters of this world were really deep.

    After all, he had traveled all over the Dashang Kingdom and rarely encountered anyone at the late stage of the Nascent Soul.

    Nan Gong Wuji didn''t quite understand Qi Yuan''s words but just smiled awkwardly: "What Miss Huang said is true. The venerable one has killed an evil god, completely offending the entire lineage of evil gods. It won¡¯t be long before their minions find their way here."

    "I am the daughter of the lord of Feihuang City. Venerable one, why not leave Qingshui Village and come to my Feihuang City?

    I will build a temple and erect a statue for you!" Huang Mengying was trying to recruit Qi Yuan, also hoping to save his life.

    Any ancient god who dared to kill a new god would inevitably be hunted by other new gods, with tragic outcomes.

    "No, let''s not bring it up again. I won''t leave Qingshui Village." Qi Yuan waved his hand.

    His task was to protect Qingshui Village, so there was no way he could leave.

    Seeing Qi Yuan''s reaction, Huang Mengying realized she couldn''t persuade him and sighed softly.

    She had already explained the gravity of the situation, but if he didn''t listen, there was nothing she could do.

    She felt a bit regretful. The power of Feihuang City was still too weak.

    Otherwise, how could they let a new god act so freely?

    "This is pig''s ear, try it." Qi Yuan handed Nan Gong Wuji a piece of pig''s ear.

    Nan Gong Wuji smiled and declined, "I don''t eat meat."

    Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment: "Are you a monk? No, you¡¯ve got a full head of hair. Are you a vegetarian?"

    Nan Gong Wuji didn''t quite understand Qi Yuan''s words, so he said instead, "I am a follower of the Holy Mother of Fasting."

    Seeing Qi Yuan''s puzzled expression, Huang Mengying explained, "The Holy Mother of Fasting is a powerful ancient god.

    The Holy Mother of Fasting believes that when a person is born, they are pure, but after a journey through the world, they become tainted.

    The food they eat, the spiritual energy they cultivate, and the air they breathe all harm and pollute their bodies.

    Only by fasting, severing all ties with the world, can one shape the true body of glazed purity!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan didn''t know how to respond for a moment: "This Holy Mother of Fasting seems to have some issues with her head."

    Nan Gong Wuji was not offended by this judgment.

    After all, almost everyone dismissed his faith.

    And he wasn''t truly fasting either.

    Now, with the evil gods descending and the battle between old and new gods raging, the ancient gods were at a disadvantage.

    Many villages had already become playgrounds for evil gods.

    The people there had lost their minds, becoming puppets, only knowing to worship the evil gods, becoming part of them.

    Just like in Shijia Village, if given a hundred more years, the villagers would slowly turn into zombies, becoming part of the evil god.

    And the evil god''s strength would increase significantly.

    After a few hours, Qi Qi and Xiaoxue finally arrived at Qingshui Village.

    Seeing the desolate village, Qi Qi¡¯s eyes filled with sorrow.

    The former Fancun Realm had been a place where everyone lived in peace and happiness.

    But now... one side suffered greatly, while the other... turned into walking corpses.

    "Granny, where are the villagers of Qingshui Village, and where is the deity?" Qi Qi saw an old woman and quickly approached to ask.

    The old woman looked at Qi Qi warily: "Who are you?"

    "Granny, my name is Qi Qi, I¡¯m from Tianfu..."

    "Tianfu?" The old woman looked at Qi Qi, recognizing her bloodline, and her eyes filled with sorrow. "Are you also of the ancient bloodline?"

    Ten years ago, an evil god descended, and the people of Tianfu refused to worship the god.

    The god grew angry and destroyed the city, turning Tianfu into scorched earth, with all its people perishing in battle.

    The people of Tianfu also had ancient bloodlines and refused to worship new gods.

    Given that this young woman shared the same bloodline, the old woman naturally trusted her more.

    "Yes." Qi Qi nodded, her expression neutral.

    "Our village¡¯s people, led by the deity, went to Chenxi Village to exterminate the evil god there.

    The evil god said Chenxi Village has plenty of pigs, so the deity went to kill the evil god and have a feast." The old woman spoke straightforwardly, almost drooling as she did so, the earlier sorrow forgotten.

    Qi Qi was stunned by this.

    What kind of situation was this?

    She was puzzled as to why the deity of Qingshui Village would go to exterminate an evil god.

    Could it be that this deity was strong? But Qi Qi knew the level of the statue in Qingshui Village, as her family had crafted it. How could it give rise to a powerful deity? "Granny, where is Chenxi Village?" Qi Qi couldn''t help but ask.

    "Just follow that road ahead for three miles. When you see a pavilion, turn right..."

    "Thank you, granny!" Qi Qi quickly took Xiaoxue with her and hurried towards Chenxi Village.

    On the way, Xiaoxue¡¯s face showed a puzzled expression: "Miss, how can the deity of Qingshui Village be so bold as to dare challenge an evil god?

    Feihuang City... is practically a fallen area!"

    Now, as the battles between new and ancient gods raged, many battlefields had been opened.

    Each had its own advantages and disadvantages.

    Overall, the new gods were stronger.

    And Feihuang City was considered a fallen area.

    The cities around Feihuang City had mostly been taken over by the new gods.

    In such an environment, the ancient gods were at a disadvantage.

    So many ancient gods chose not to resist, not to fight back.

    Some even chose to become the lackeys of the new gods.

    The fact that the deity of Qingshui Village dared to act against an evil god was unexpected.

    "Maybe the deity of Qingshui Village is also a venerable one with a righteous heart, unwilling to see evil gods slaughter all living beings!" Qi Qi, even before meeting the deity of Qingshui Village, already admired the deity in her heart.

    She felt this must be a great god, one who was willing to sacrifice himself for the people.

    Such an ancient god might be more likely to die in Fancun Realm.

    But they were certainly worthy of respect.

    "Such venerable ones are most likely to be killed by the evil gods, while those ancient gods who grovel and serve the new gods live the longest. This world is so unfair!" Xiaoxue couldn''t help but sigh.

    The two quickened their pace towards Chenxi Village.

    Just then, a hurried voice suddenly rang out.

    "You, a Nascent Soul cultivator, can¡¯t even catch a pig!"

    "Hurry up, catch these pigs, or how will we hold the feast!"

    Qi Qi and Xiaoxue looked over and saw a large group of pigs frantically running towards them.

    These pigs were all robust and had cultivation, mostly at the Golden Core stage.

    These pigs were fleeing in panic, kicking up dust.

    Behind the hundreds of pigs was a handsome young man with a sword on his back, hands in his pockets, stepping on a fat pig, cursing.

    "If I didn¡¯t need them alive, I would¡¯ve chopped off all their heads with one swing." The handsome young man spoke, divine light radiating from him.

    Qi Qi¡¯s eyes widened: "Is he the deity of Qingshui Village?"

    Xiaoxue was also stunned.

    Just moments ago, they had imagined the deity of Qingshui Village as a majestic figure, and now they were being told he was... catching pigs?

    "Hey, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and help stop the pigs, and I¡¯ll reward you with a pig tail to eat!" Qi Yuan shouted from a distance.

    Shentu was also pulling along a pig, looking at Qi Qi for help.

    Qi Qi sighed and reluctantly pulled out a formation disk.

    The Nine Heavens Yin-Yang Dragon Confining Array!

    As soon as the formation disk was activated, the space around Qi Qi changed, and a hundred golden-armored generals appeared, holding long spears, their expressions stern, advancing forward.

    "Trap them!"

    The hundred golden-armored generals shouted in unison, their spears turning into immortal ropes that tied up all the pigs.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan clapped his hands in delight: "Not bad, not bad. Later, I¡¯ll reward you with a pig head."

    Qi Qi felt a bit embarrassed.

    Such a powerful formation, and she had used it to trap pigs.

    At this moment, the village chief Yulei and the priest Shentu walked over, giving Qi Qi approving looks.

    "This little girl is quite capable!"

    "Impressive, she managed to stop hundreds of pigs just like that."

    Being praised like this, Qi Qi felt her toes curling in embarrassment, almost wanting to dig a hole in the ground.

    "Haha, it was nothing." Qi Qi responded with an awkward but polite smile.

    She watched as the villagers hoisted the pigs up and walked towards the handsome young man, trying to stay composed.

    However, when she saw the pig still squealing under his foot, she couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corners of her mouth.

    "Venerable one, are you the guardian deity of Qingshui Village? I am Qi Qi, from Tianfu."

 Chapter 174: If You Donâ€™t Mind

    Chapter 174: If You Don¡¯t Mind

    ¡°Are you here for the feast?¡± Qi Yuan looked at Qi Qi and asked.

    Qi Qi was slightly stunned, her thoughts unable to keep up.

    ¡°...Yes.¡± After a moment''s hesitation, she answered seriously.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression changed: ¡°Such deep cunning! You traveled all the way from Tianfu to Qingshui Village just for some pig¡¯s head!¡±

    Qi Qi: ¡°???¡±

    She was completely bewildered.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t come for the pig¡¯s head.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you wanted to eat at the feast?¡± Qi Yuan quickly retorted.

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Qi Yuan interrupted her.

    ¡°I came for something inside the statue...¡± Qi Qi began, but suddenly caught herself.

    She almost let it slip.

    This man in front of her, as expected of a god, had almost tricked her into revealing her purpose with just a few words.

    But then, realizing that her purpose didn¡¯t really need to be hidden, she said, ¡°My lord, I came here for something inside the statue.¡±

    After she finished speaking, the villagers of Qingshui Village exchanged glances.

    The statue seemed to be gone.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to enjoy the feast; we can talk later.¡± Qi Yuan kicked the pig under his foot.

    The pig squealed and was kicked over to Wang Zhongshan.

    Qi Qi was speechless.

    Beside her, the maid Xiaoxue was also holding onto a pig, looking very aggrieved: ¡°Miss, what should we do?¡±

    It was her first time holding onto a pig, and as a young lady, she found it very embarrassing.

    ¡°Let¡¯s join the feast.¡±

    ...

    In a large pot, water was boiling, and the steam was rising.

    Large chunks of pork were simmering, and the aroma spread throughout the village.

    Qi Yuan waved his hand: ¡°Wang Zhongshan, call over the mourning band from Shijia Village. The people here cry too half-heartedly; it¡¯s no fun.¡±

    Wang Zhongshan was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded: ¡°Alright, my lord, I¡¯ll call them right away.¡±

    Nearby, the priest Shentu couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Our people in Qingshui Village can cry too!¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced at Shentu: ¡°Forget it, the people of Qingshui Village cry too fakely.¡±

    Qi Yuan then looked at Chen Xifan from Chenxi Village and nodded approvingly: ¡°Your village¡¯s chef is quite skilled, better than the one from Shijia Village.¡±

    Chen Xifan, hunched over, replied, ¡°I¡¯m willing to cook for the venerable one every day.¡±

    Just today, the deity of Qingshui Village had come to Chenxi Village with great pomp.

    The god they worshiped had excitedly rushed out to greet them, only to be swiftly beheaded by a single strike.

    The temple guards of Chenxi Village had also turned into demonic creatures, all of whom were slain by Qi Yuan.

    Most of the villagers, except for a few who resisted, chose to protect themselves.

    They had worshiped the new god out of necessity, offering sacrifices of boys and girls each year, harboring resentment in their hearts but lacking the power to resist.

    The people of Chenxi Village both feared and were grateful to Qi Yuan.

    The feast continued.

    As the fatty pork was served, everyone¡¯s appetites were whetted.

    Yulei, the village chief of Qingshui Village, and the priest Shentu sat together with a fat man and a thin man.

    ¡°The Origin Heavenly Lord is our village¡¯s guardian deity, but... the people of Shijia Village are too obsequious,¡± said the thin man, his voice tinged with jealousy.

    ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s all my fault. I wanted to sell the statue to make some money, and I ended up offending the venerable one,¡± the fat man said, looking distressed.

    After the battle with Shijia Village, Qingshui Village was on the brink of collapse.

    The once-fat man was now so starved that he was almost unrecognizable.

    With the statue in the temple serving no purpose, selling it seemed reasonable.

    ¡°In theory, aren¡¯t we supposed to be the arms of the deity? But our guardian deity is a bit too... extreme.

    He handles everything himself, charging into battle with his sword!

    It¡¯s too dangerous,¡± the thin man said nervously.

    It was as if a king were personally leading his troops into battle every day, charging ahead of his soldiers. The villagers were naturally shocked by this.

    If anything happened to the deity, Qingshui Village would be doomed.

    ¡°It¡¯s because we¡¯re too weak!¡± Village Chief Yulei puffed on his pipe, exhaling smoke.

    The others looked embarrassed at his words.

    Indeed, they were too weak to assist the deity with their problems.

    If they were all powerful, they wouldn¡¯t fear being sidelined.

    Qi Qi glanced at Qi Yuan, not fully understanding his words.

    But recalling what Qi Yuan had said earlier, she thought there must be some deeper meaning.

    She looked at the fragments on the ground and slowly said, ¡°When my ancestors forged this statue, they embedded a Yinsheng Stone within it.¡±

    As she spoke, she watched Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction but saw that he remained unmoved.

    She was surprised¡ªthis big shot was truly unfazed, even upon hearing about the Yinsheng Stone.

    This only strengthened her resolve to invest in him.

    The future of the Origin Heavenly Lord was full of potential.

    ¡°Now that the world has changed, ancient gods can no longer break through to true gods.

    But the Yinsheng Stone can help an ancient god ascend to the realm of true gods.¡±

    Qi Qi bent down and cupped her hands around the fragments of the statue.

    ¡°Even though the statue is broken, I can still extract the Yinsheng Stone from these fragments, so you can break through to the realm of true gods.¡±

    Qi Yuan was deep in thought.

    He considered himself a player.

    Would this world¡¯s restrictions apply to him?

    In the Moonlit Continent, it seemed that the Great Sun had once set a rule prohibiting all beings from breaking through to level 100.

    Qi Yuan felt he had been affected as well.

    So this Yinsheng Stone might be useful to him too.

    ¡°I can¡¯t accept something for nothing. Just tell me, what quest do you have for me?¡± Qi Yuan was treating Qi Qi like an NPC giving him a quest, with the Yinsheng Stone as the reward.

    ¡°My lord, why must we be so formal with each other?¡± Qi Qi said, her face turning slightly red.

    She continued, ¡°When my ancestors forged the statue, they made a pact with the statue¡¯s spirit. The god who emerged from the statue would... would...¡±

    Qi Qi¡¯s ears turned a translucent red, and her voice took on a shy tone.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°Are you telling me you¡¯re betrothed to me, and you¡¯ve come to break off the engagement?¡±

    A flood of thoughts crossed Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    If she wanted to break off the engagement, should he utter that classic line, ¡°The river flows east for thirty years, then west for thirty years¡ªdon¡¯t underestimate a poor young man!¡±

    But what if she didn¡¯t want to break off the engagement?

    Should he seize the initiative?

    Qi Qi¡¯s beautiful eyes showed surprise. Qi Yuan¡¯s words left her confused.

    ¡°Back then, my ancestors made a pact with the statue¡¯s spirit that the god who emerged from the statue would... would be my adoptive father.¡±

    Qi Yuan was stunned.

    He had just gained one daughter, and now he was gaining another?

    ¡°Even though we both share the Qi surname, it¡¯s a bit much to ask me to be your foster father.

    Given our ages, who knows who¡¯s older?¡± Qi Yuan always thought of himself as very young.

    But suddenly having such a grown daughter was bound to raise some eyebrows.

    ¡°This was the pact between my ancestors and the statue¡¯s spirit,¡± Qi Qi said hesitantly, ¡°If my lord doesn¡¯t wish to acknowledge it, we can just forget it.¡±

    As she spoke, she took out a yellow cloth inscribed with the original agreement.

    Qi Yuan looked at the shattered statue on the ground and finally murmured, ¡°The statue shattered to bring me forth. I¡¯ll remember this favor. Today, I¡¯ll take a small loss and accept you as my daughter.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Qi was overjoyed, though her face still held a slight blush: ¡°Father!¡±

    Qi Yuan felt a bit strange hearing this: ¡°You should call me ¡®Dad¡¯ instead.¡±

    For some reason, the word ¡°Father¡± reminded him of Lu? Bu.

    ¡°Dad¡± sounded much better.

    It felt much more proper.

    Qi Qi was momentarily stunned, but then she sweetly called out, ¡°Dad!¡±

    Calling an ancient god ¡°Dad¡± didn¡¯t trouble Qi Qi much.

    Most ancient gods were the spirits of heroic souls who had died in ancient times.

    These heroic spirits had fought in the great war of the distant past, sacrificing themselves for the Fancun Realm. Each one was worthy of Qi Qi¡¯s respect.

    They had lived far longer than Qi Qi.

    Having become his adoptive daughter, Qi Qi quickly embraced the role: ¡°Dad, now that you have the Yinsheng Stone and the potential to reach true godhood, you should no longer focus solely on your own strength. When facing enemies, try to avoid taking action yourself.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan was surprised.

    He didn¡¯t see the connection.

    ¡°Dad, do you know that a true god¡¯s power is not only related to their own strength but also to their followers?¡± Qi Qi explained.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Qi Yuan had fought the evil gods of Shijia Village and Chenxi Village.

    They gained power from their followers, significantly boosting their strength.

    The villagers of Qingshui Village were too weak, so Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t had them boost his power.

 Chapter 175: The Divine Visualization Technique: Observingâ€¦ the Three Pure Ones?

    Chapter 175: The Divine Visualization Technique: Observing... the Three Pure Ones?

    "Indeed, the villagers of Qingshui Village aren''t very strong right now, so the benefit they provide to you, Dad, is minimal. But you mustn''t overlook them because to become a true god, your strength, potential, and cultivation speed are all connected to the people of your domain," Qi Qi advised earnestly.

    She was filled with ambition, determined to cultivate her adoptive father into a peerless true god.

    "If I''m strong enough, won''t that solve the problem?" Qi Yuan pondered. In the Liufeng Realm, he could quickly create powerful warriors in large numbers, but it seemed more difficult in the Fancun Realm.

    "The realm of true gods is known as the Seven Steps to Heaven. The first three steps make you a Venerable, and the last four steps elevate you to a Great Venerable. To become a Great Venerable, at least one person in your domain must also be a true god! The more true gods you have among your people, the stronger you will become!" Qi Qi painted a grand vision for Qi Yuan.

    After all, the realm of a Great Venerable was not something to consider just yet. She mentioned it to give her adoptive father some motivation. According to the villagers of Qingshui Village, her adoptive father had only recently been born, and many of his memories might not have resurfaced.

    Qi Yuan listened and then asked, "Does this apply to a Yang God as well?"

    Qi Qi was taken aback and slowly replied, "That... I do not know."

    Qi Yuan looked up at the stars in the sky. The brightest one was clearly the Yang God. As for the others, they might not be Yang Gods, but at the very least, they were Yin Gods.

    In the Canglan Realm, a great calamity was imminent. According to Elder Wutian, twenty thousand years ago, a supreme being had once defeated such a calamity. Unfortunately, with the descent of the Immortals and Gods from the heavens, that supreme being eventually fell.

    Behind that calamity were a Yang God and countless other immortals and gods.

    If Qi Yuan had countless immortal and godly subordinates, would he still fear that calamity? In the worst-case scenario, both sides could just gather their forces and see who had more, who was stronger.

    "You make a good point," Qi Yuan agreed with Qi Qi. "I want to rename Qingshui Village to Pei County."

    He needed to train these villagers.

    But the problem was, how? Could he just hold feasts every day?

    That wouldn''t be enough.

    "How about I go steal some treasures to enhance their cultivation?" Qi Yuan asked, seeking Qi Qi''s opinion.

    Qi Qi responded, "That could be one way, but what''s more important is the Divine Visualization Technique. However, for that, Dad, you need to recover your past memories."

    "Huh?" Qi Yuan was confused. What past memories?

    Seeing his confusion, Qi Qi continued, "Every ancient god was once a heroic spirit who died in the Great Battle of Hongtang. In that battle, true gods served as generals, and Zifu cultivators as soldiers, with thousands of true gods participating. All these true gods perished in the Great Battle of Hongtang, unknown to the world.

    "Dad, you are an ancient heroic spirit who witnessed many true gods. Once you recover your memories, you can describe those true gods and form the Divine Visualization Technique, which you can then bestow upon your people.

    "The stronger the god being visualized, the faster the cultivators'' progress and the higher their potential ceiling."

    This meant that the stronger the ancient god before their death, the more true gods they had encountered, and the more Divine Visualization Techniques they could create. In contrast, heroic spirits with lower cultivation levels might have seen fewer true gods, leading to fewer Divine Visualization Techniques and less improvement for their people.

    "Most cultivators in the Fancun Realm now visualize the Lord of Hongtang and his Twelve Heavenly Generals. They are indeed powerful, but too many people are visualizing them, and the descriptions are vague, so the improvement for cultivators isn''t that great.

    "If you, Dad, can recall ten true gods, especially a few who haven''t been visualized by other cultivators, then... the people of Qingshui Village would see their cultivation levels rise quickly," Qi Qi continued.

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment and asked, "What if the gods aren''t from the Fancun Realm? Can they still be visualized?"

    He recalled the Yin Gods from the Canglan Realm. Those Yin Gods should be considered true gods. Qi Yuan had seen quite a few of them. If he described them for the villagers of Qingshui Village to visualize, wouldn''t that work?

    "Have those gods ever received incense offerings?" Qi Qi asked.

    "No."

    "If they haven''t received incense offerings or been worshipped by the masses, then it probably won''t work," Qi Qi said seriously.

    In the Fancun Realm, the true gods of the past had all been worshipped by at least one city. Only such true gods could be used to form the Divine Visualization Technique.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan realized his previous idea wouldn''t work. Did he have to return to the Canglan Realm, summon those Yin Gods, and have them establish temples to receive the worship of thousands? That wouldn''t work, and besides, there weren''t that many Yin Gods in the Canglan Realm that he''d encountered.

    "Don''t worry, Dad. Once your memories return, you''ll be able to create the Divine Visualization Technique," Qi Qi reassured him.

    Qi Yuan wanted to say that he had no memories to recover. He had never participated in the Great Battle of Hongtang, nor had he seen true gods, so he couldn''t create a Divine Visualization Technique.

    Suddenly, he had a thought: "These new gods are also worshipped by the masses. If I visualize them into the Divine Visualization Technique, would that work?"

    Qi Qi felt that her adoptive father was being overly imaginative, but considering that he had just been born and his memories hadn''t fully returned, she understood.

    "Visualizing these new gods could lead to terrifying consequences. Your people could even be assimilated and become demonic creatures," Qi Qi explained.

    This immediately made Qi Yuan abandon the idea.

    "Dad, don''t think too much about it. For now, focus on killing more evil gods and accumulating evil god divine power. Creating a Divine Visualization Technique requires consuming your divine power, but you can also use the divine power of evil gods as a substitute."

    "I have a bit of evil god divine power," Qi Yuan said. After killing two evil gods, he had indeed gained some evil god divine power, though he didn''t know how to use it. Now, after hearing Qi Qi''s explanation, he finally understood its purpose.

    "If I make up some true gods, can they be used to create the Divine Visualization Technique?" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but ask.

    He truly hadn''t seen any true gods from the Fancun Realm.Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

    Qi Qi smiled and replied, "Dad, if you''re knowledgeable enough about those gods, you might really be able to create something. Here''s a guide on how to form the Divine Visualization Technique. Once your memories return, you should be familiar with these methods. But for now, you can look at it and try it out."

    If the attempt failed, it wouldn''t consume the evil god''s divine power; it would just waste some time. So Qi Qi felt no qualms about giving the Divine Visualization Technique guide to Qi Yuan.

    After chatting for a while, Qi Qi left the temple.

    The value of the resulting Divine Visualization Technique could vary greatly.

    Two factors determined its worth.

    First was the strength of the god visualized, rated on a scale from one to seven, representing the Seven Steps to Heaven.

    Second was the "visualization degree," indicating how many people had visualized that god and how many followers practiced that particular technique.

    The product of these two factors determined the technique''s value.

    The values were ranked in seven tiers: Common, Elite, Rare, Uncommon, Epic, Legendary, and Mythical.

    It was a bit like classifying monsters in a game, with each tier further divided into one to three stars.

    Dongjianghe had once visualized a three-star Rare technique and had been quite proud of it in the chat group.

    Meanwhile, Divine Cat Venerable had been mocked by Dongjianghe but ended up visualizing a one-star Uncommon technique.

    An Uncommon one-star technique, if not given to all followers, could be enough to cultivate a true god¡ªprovided one had a treasure that could help someone reach true godhood.

    So Divine Cat Venerable had the confidence to challenge Dongjianghe.

    "Newbie, don''t listen to their slander. Trust me, pick a different true god to visualize.

    If you insist on visualizing this one, there''s a high chance you''ll fail. Even if you succeed, it''ll likely be a one-star Common technique," Dongjianghe warned sincerely.

    "I don''t think visualizing a divine dog will work either, but since Dongjianghe is against it, I believe you''ll succeed. Go for it, newbie; we believe in you," someone else encouraged.

    "Thanks for the advice, everyone. I''m going to visualize now."

    Qi Yuan exited the mental space and entered the visualization site.

    The visualization site was a mountain within the spiritual world.

    To visualize, one needed to imagine the god they wished to see and eventually carve it into the mountain.

    Then, a Divine Visualization Technique would be created.

    For his first attempt, Qi Yuan chose not to visualize something too powerful, partly out of fear of major karmic repercussions and partly to experiment and see if it could actually be cultivated.

    He looked at the mountain.

    Memories from Earth flooded his mind.

    With his innate ability, the Great Forgetting Mind Technique, Qi Yuan could recall every detail from his past, every glance, and every memory.

    He remembered flipping through various books out of boredom while sick and living alone. At the time, he hadn¡¯t committed them to memory, but now he could recall everything.

    In his mind, the image of a majestic divine dog began to take shape.

    "Its form is like that of a white elephant, its might like that of a dragon. With golden wings fluttering, it dazzles the heavens.

    "A single bark could frighten the gods, and three barks could break water, terrifying the ghosts!"

    Wearing a three-peaked hat, dressed in a solemn red robe, a fearsome three-eyed deity rode on clouds and rain, with a terrifying divine dog by his side, exuding a powerful aura.

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s mind, the image of a terrifying divine dog solidified.

    At that moment, a deep voice echoed from within the visualization mountain.

    "Have you ever seen this god?"

    "Does this god truly exist?"

    The two voices were awe-inspiring, and Qi Yuan instinctively felt compelled to answer truthfully, unable to lie.

    Then, he looked up at his Golden Core.

    Instantly, the Great Forgetting Mind Technique activated.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze became resolute.

    "This god exists!"

    "I¡¯ve seen it before¡ªtwo heavenly gods were battling from the Ninth Heaven down to the Eighteenth Layer of Hell. This divine dog stood by, seizing the opportunity to launch a sneak attack!"

    The visualization mountain fell silent.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s answer had been recorded.

    After about a breath¡¯s time, the visualization mountain spoke again.

    "If there is no incense worship, this Divine Visualization Technique may fail. Do you still wish to proceed?"

    "Yes!" Qi Yuan watched the visualization mountain, his curiosity piqued.

    He was also a bit nervous.

    If this succeeds... it would be unbelievable!

 Chapter 176: Envy, Jealousy, Hatredâ€”Even I Could Be a Dog!

    Chapter 176: Envy, Jealousy, Hatred¡ªEven I Could Be a Dog!

    In the chat group.

    Dongjianghe was acting arrogant.

    "I may not be able to compete with you old folks, but suppressing a newcomer is easy for me. This newcomer didn''t listen to me and is going to suffer for it. Just now, I searched through ancient texts and records of incense offerings and couldn''t find any mention of a true god being a divine dog. That newcomer might know of one, but it must have had very few incense offerings. Even if they manage to visualize it, it will be at the most basic level."

    Dongjianghe was full of bravado in the chat.

    Previously, he had visualized a three-star Rare Divine Visualization Technique, earning him praise from many guardian gods in the group.

    He got cocky.

    He ended up mocking several others, including Divine Cat Venerable and Black Dragon Venerable.

    Initially, both of these ancient gods had visualized one-star Rare techniques, but after Dongjianghe mocked them, they managed to visualize one-star Uncommon techniques.

    These two often brought this up in the chat to taunt Dongjianghe.

    A one-star Uncommon Divine Visualization Technique was powerful enough to create a true god among one¡¯s people, which was an incredible achievement.

    "I think the newcomer will succeed!" Black Dragon Venerable chimed in.

    When he first joined the group, Dongjianghe had asked him his age and then mockingly called him an old man, earning his ire.

    "Newcomer, are you back yet? Did you succeed in your visualization?" Dongjianghe asked.

    Perhaps to help ancient gods better understand Divine Visualization Techniques, any ancient god entering the visualization mountain would be randomly placed in a specific chat group, and their consciousness would pass through it when they exited.

    They could also enter the chat group anytime to talk.

    Right now, Dongjianghe could see that Qi Yuan was online.

    The others were also curious.

    "I barely succeeded," Qi Yuan replied, feeling both pleased and nervous.

    "See? Anyone Dongjianghe mocks is bound to succeed!" Divine Cat Venerable exclaimed.

    The other members of the group were excited too.

    "Newbie, I have a question for the big shots here. If I were to create a completely fictional god, could I still visualize a Divine Visualization Technique for my people?" Qi Yuan asked in the chat.

    "Stop joking. You can''t visualize a fictional god. You wouldn''t even pass the heart test on the visualization mountain. Besides, a fictional god with no incense offerings would never form a valid Divine Visualization Technique, even if you passed the heart test. As long as it forms, there shouldn''t be any problems," Dongjianghe, as the group leader, responded actively. "So, what level was the Divine Visualization Technique you formed? Don''t worry if it''s low; we''re all friendly here and won''t mock you."

    Although Dongjianghe said this, he was secretly hoping that the newcomer''s technique would be low-level so he could gloat and take down Divine Cat Venerable and Black Dragon Venerable.

    The other ancient gods in the group were also eagerly watching for Qi Yuan''s response.

    "The level is indeed quite low, just barely above average. It doesn''t compare to the techniques you all have," Qi Yuan said, looking at the level displayed on the Divine Visualization Technique and feeling a bit dissatisfied. It seemed just above the average line.

    But remembering that there were still many higher-level gods on Earth, Qi Yuan felt more confident.

    "Average? A one-star Common level?" Dongjianghe''s excitement was palpable in his text.

    He was already crafting his response, ready to educate the newcomer and put down Divine Cat Venerable and Black Dragon Venerable.

    "A two-star Uncommon level, barely average," Qi Yuan replied.

    Out of seven levels, the three in the middle are average, right?

    The chat went silent.

    Divine Cat Venerable quickly spoke up: "Impressive! A two-star Uncommon level? How come I''ve never heard of this divine dog!"

    "Two-star Uncommon? Apart from White Dawn Venerable, that''s the highest we''ve seen! As expected, anything Dongjianghe mocks turns out to be a rare treasure!"

    "So envious! A two-star Uncommon technique means that as long as you have enough resources, one of your people is bound to become a true god!"

    This also meant that if the world hadn¡¯t changed, Qi Yuan would have had a chance to ascend to Great Venerable.

    For an ancient god to become a Great Venerable, at least one of their people had to be a true god.

    At that moment, White Dawn Venerable appeared in the chat: "Well done, newcomer. You have potential."

    Seeing White Dawn Venerable, Divine Cat Venerable, Black Dragon Venerable, and the others began showering him with praise.

    "When will White Dawn Venerable ascend to Great Venerable?"

    "White Dawn Venerable has visualized three Uncommon techniques and one Epic¡ªtruly a master!"

    "It won''t be long before White Dawn Venerable becomes a Great Venerable."

    Those who had been praising Qi Yuan quickly shifted to praising White Dawn Venerable.

    Qi Yuan joined in: "To think you are just one step away from becoming a Great Venerable, truly terrifying!"

    "Newcomer, which region are you an ancient god of?" White Dawn Venerable asked in the chat.

    "Lin Kingdom," Qi Yuan replied truthfully.

    Feihuang City was part of the Lin Kingdom.

    "The Lin Kingdom is in the north, a fallen region... Newcomer, would you consider leaving there and coming to my Hu Kingdom to... make a fortune together?" White Dawn Venerable offered an olive branch.

    "Big shot, I want to come to Hu Kingdom too!"

    "Please take me in, White Dawn Venerable¡ªI don''t even have shoes to wear!"

    "Wow, newcomer, you''re in a fallen region. That''s dangerous!"

    Seeing these responses, Qi Yuan felt a warm sense of camaraderie.

    Human kindness is still alive and well.

    "Thank you, big shot, but as an ancient god of this land, I must stand my ground and defend my domain, even if it means death!" Qi Yuan declared with grand resolve.

    After all, the game¡¯s task was to protect Qingshui Village.

    "Newcomer, you''ve got guts!" Divine Cat Venerable commented.

    "If only more ancient gods had such spirit," added Treasure Venerable, a hint of regret in his words. "I used to have a friend who defected to the new gods."

    The chat grew somber at this.

    "Newcomer, I¡¯m also in the northern region. If you ever want to hang out, come find me in the Jiang Kingdom; it¡¯s not far from the Lin Kingdom. But be careful of the Lu? Kingdom¡ªmy friend is there," Treasure Venerable said.

    "Sure," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    Exiting the chat, Qi Yuan''s eyes shone with anticipation.

    With a wave of his hand, a Divine Visualization Technique was imprinted on a piece of cloth.

    It recorded a technique for visualizing the divine being... Xiaotianquan.

    "Indeed, visualizing a powerful god requires more divine power."

    During the visualization, Qi Yuan had a sense that the divine power he gained from slaying two evil gods was just enough to visualize Xiaotianquan.

    To visualize more powerful gods, he would need to hunt down stronger evil gods and collect more divine power.

    ...

    In a dirt-built house, the fat man sat in his yard, playing with his black dog.

    ...

    In Qingshui Village.

    Village Chief Yulei had a grim expression.

    Ahead, Wang Zhongshan from Shijia Village was leading a group of women dressed in mourning clothes, all wearing eager expressions.

    "Is the lord going to take action against other evil gods?" Yulei asked.

    He had gathered quite a few people after hearing the news.

    At that moment, Chen Xifan from Chenxi Village arrived with a group of villagers who looked like chubby chefs.

    "Chenxi Village is here. When do we start the feast?" Chen Xifan asked, clearly excited.

    Previously, he had only prepared feasts in his village.

    He never imagined that this time they would be heading to another village.

    "We''ll depart once the lord arrives," Yulei said, looking at the fat man behind him with some dissatisfaction. "I told you to organize a team to play the suona, so why are you taking so long?"

    Zhu Shizhong looked aggrieved. "The people in our village aren''t very cultured; they don''t know how to play well."

    Wang Zhongshan from Shijia Village quickly chimed in, "Our village has a musician. Why not let us handle the suona playing?"

    Yulei glared at him.

    Was Shijia Village trying to steal their job?

    This was outrageous!

    Qingshui Village was supposed to be the lord¡¯s direct followers.

    Seeing this, Wang Zhongshan didn¡¯t push the issue and instead turned to Zhu Shizhong. "Why are you sulking? We¡¯re about to go to war!"

    Zhu Shizhong shot him an angry glare.

    Wang Zhongshan was confused.

    Yulei, meanwhile, reprimanded Zhu Shizhong, "It''s just a dog. If the lord wants to eat it, then so be it. Will you sulk like this when the lord arrives?"

    Zhu Shizhong¡¯s expression softened slightly.

    The people from the three villages gathered together, looking serious yet expectant.

    They were about to witness the ancient god display his power.

    At that moment, Shentu, the priest, announced, "The divine dog under the ancient god¡¯s command has arrived!"

    Everyone was puzzled, unsure of what was happening.

    In the distance, they saw a huge black figure approaching, covered in black fur. Its back had two bulging lumps, as if something was about to burst out.

    The massive beast bared its fangs, looking extremely fierce.

    "A black dog?"

    "A big black dog!"

    "A Purple Mansion-level beast!"

    The villagers were shocked and confused.

    How did the ancient god acquire such a powerful divine dog?

    A Purple Mansion-level beast could rival the new gods of nearby villages!

    Zhu Shizhong''s eyes widened as he recognized the dog. "That¡¯s... my black dog! My black dog!"

    His face lit up with joy.

    So that¡¯s where his black dog had gone.

    The black dog seemed to recognize him too and turned its massive head toward him.

    It extended a leg, just as Zhu Shizhong used to kick it, and pinned him to the ground.

    Zhu Shizhong was pressed under the dog¡¯s heavy paw, unable to move, his face pleading. "Lord Dog, I was wrong! I was wrong! You¡¯re not my dog; I¡¯m your dog!"

    The divine dog seemed satisfied and released him.

    The villagers were stunned, unable to process what they had just seen.

    Village Chief Yulei¡¯s eyes gleamed. "This must be a Divine Visualization Technique!"

    Only a Divine Visualization Technique could explain the dog¡¯s sudden surge in strength.

    From Golden Core to Purple Mansion, this meant the technique was of high quality.

    The villagers now looked at the black dog with envy.

    Zhu Shizhong was also stunned. He never imagined that the ancient god had taken his black dog to give it such an extraordinary opportunity.

    He was envious, jealous, and regretful. He wished he could go back to the day the lord had asked for his dog so he could bark like a dog and say he too could be a dog.

    "Onward to Xiaoshi Village!" Shentu announced.

    And so, led by the black dog, the mourning team, the suona players, and the chefs all marched toward Xiaoshi Village.

    Meanwhile, in Xiaoshi Village.

    The evil god Liu Yan looked grim as he gazed at his trembling villagers, his eyes filled with cruelty.

    "Are you all planning to rebel?" he growled.

    The villagers shook with fear.

    "We wouldn''t dare, my lord!"

    "We are willing to die for you!" The assimilated villagers¡¯ eyes glowed red.

    Their consciousness had long been absorbed, making them part of the new god.

    "Hmph, what is Kuangfeng Town¡¯s Shuo Lang doing? I sent a message ages ago, and they haven¡¯t sent anyone to help!" Liu Yan fumed.

    He would never dare to say such things in front of Shuo Lang, but with him not present, he felt bolder.

    He wasn¡¯t afraid of being overheard by his villagers.

    Just then, a burly man hurried over, his face anxious. "My lord, the people of Qingshui Village are here. They have suona players, mourners, and even people carrying pots and pans!"

    Liu Yan¡¯s face darkened further. "They¡¯re well-prepared."

    Then he asked, "Did they bring a coffin?"

    The burly man hesitated. "No, their god didn¡¯t come either. Leading them is a black dog. It has a very fierce aura!"

    Liu Yan¡¯s anger flared. "They dare send a wild dog against me? Such an insult is intolerable!"

    Even evil gods have their pride.

    He hadn¡¯t yet clashed with the god of Qingshui Village, but he refused to believe he was weaker than him.

 Chapter 177: The Black Dog Roars to the Heavens, Vertical Pupil Shows Its Power!

    Chapter 177: The Black Dog Roars to the Heavens, Vertical Pupil Shows Its Power!

    At this moment, two men clad in iron armor were hiding far from Little Stone Village, watching the scene with an amused look in their eyes.

    "Are you really not going to help Liu Yan?" the taller armored man asked.

    "Liu Yan is an arrogant fool who has shown much disrespect to the great deity. He deserves to die to make room for others!" replied the shorter armored man.

    The taller one nodded, "The ancient god of Qingshui Village has some ability, having already killed two of the new gods."

    The shorter man added, "Exactly. The new gods below Gale Wind Town aren¡¯t part of the lord¡¯s inner circle. Once they¡¯re wiped out, our lord can eliminate the ancient god of Qingshui Village and bring his followers here!"

    The evil god of Gale Wind Town, known as the Wolf God, had been aware of Qi Yuan¡¯s arrival for several days.

    However, the Wolf God was unconcerned.

    The new gods beneath Gale Wind Town weren¡¯t loyal to him; some even opposed his faction. Thus, he planned to use Qi Yuan to cleanse the villages beneath Gale Wind Town.

    Once he killed Qi Yuan, he could openly place his own people in those positions.

    Of course, the Wolf God wasn¡¯t a fool and understood the dangers of raising a tiger only to invite trouble later.

    Thus, he had dispatched two temple guards to investigate the situation.

    At this time, the sound of a suona horn began to play, and the two temple guards perked up, looking ahead.

    A long procession quickly advanced toward them.

    But this procession didn¡¯t look like an army on the march¡ªit resembled a funeral procession.

    The taller iron-clad guard couldn¡¯t help but smile, "This ancient god of Qingshui Village is quite clever."

    "The leading divine dog is rather extraordinary," remarked the shorter one.

    "But it¡¯s only at the early Purple Mansion stage¡ªnot a threat!" said the taller guard.

    As temple guards, they were elite warriors of Gale Wind Town, also at the early Purple Mansion stage.

    There were over thirty guards of their level in Gale Wind Town, so they naturally looked down on a mere black dog at the early Purple Mansion stage.

    "I¡¯ve heard that the ancient god of Qingshui Village is not even at the Purple Mansion stage but has a powerful sacrificial artifact, which is how he killed two new gods," said the shorter guard. "That artifact will be the Wolf God¡¯s prize!"

    The Wolf God wasn¡¯t well-known among the seven towns, but the temple guards who had been assimilated understood that their Wolf God was far beyond just a peak Purple Mansion stage deity. He had even opened half of a divine aperture, making him a demigod!

    This was why Nangong Wuji, a peak Purple Mansion stage cultivator, had been injured by the Wolf God.

    The two hid as the sound of the suona grew louder.

    The taller one grinned, "The show¡¯s about to begin!"The? source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

    They watched the village battle from a position of superiority.

    At that moment, Liu Yan of Little Stone Village soared into the sky, emanating a terrifying aura.

    "To provoke me with a mere dog¡ªQingshui Village has insulted me, and they will pay dearly!"

    The suona band had not yet arrived, but its sound reached them first.

    The evil god Liu Yan ascended, and the villagers¡¯ faith coalesced into a sacrificial artifact radiating an aura of primordial divine power.

    Without hesitation, he struck out, venting his inner fury.

    This primordial divine power strike had been accumulating for decades and was terrifyingly powerful.

    Even a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator would struggle to withstand it.

    Of course, it was only a single strike.

    Zhu Zhuangshi looked worried, "Can the big black dog handle this?"

    Although the big black dog was in the Purple Mansion stage, it had just broken through using the visualization method and was not yet proficient in using primordial divine power.

    Unless the primordial divine power¡¯s energy level was too high, it would struggle to withstand this attack!

    The village chief Yu Lei and the priest Shentu shared this concern.

    They hadn¡¯t expected the enemy to be so formidable.

    But at the forefront of the villagers, the big black dog¡¯s eyes flashed with disdain.

    It suddenly flew into the sky, letting out a thunderous roar like a lion¡¯s.

    With a blood-curdling howl, it sucked in the air.

    What happened next was terrifying.

    The clouds in the sky, as if a hole had opened in a river, all funneled into the big black dog¡¯s mouth.

    The Howling Celestial Dog¡¯s divine power was to swallow clouds and exhale mist.

    The big black dog had visualized this power!

    It swallowed the clouds from the sky.

    The big black dog then spat toward Liu Yan.

    Immediately, multicolored mist spewed out, filled with heavenly fire, earthly flames, and fierce winds.

    This was no ordinary mist.

    Liu Yan¡¯s eyes widened.

    "This primordial divine power... isn¡¯t from this world!"

    He couldn¡¯t comprehend it, and then he screamed in agony.

    His sacrificial artifact was incinerated by the primordial divine power.

    His body began to disintegrate.

    That wasn¡¯t mist¡ªit was fire!

    At this moment, the tall and short men hiding in the distance widened their eyes in shock.

    "That¡¯s not a primordial divine power from this world. An evil god?"

    If Qi Yuan had long since hidden the origin of his primordial divine power, even using the stellar gold elixir to obscure the nature of his power, the big black dog hadn¡¯t.

    Such a precious divine technique, given to a mere dog¡ªit was a waste of a treasure!

    "Sigh, such a powerful divine technique, capable of creating a true god... wasted so casually," Qi Qi said.

    In her view, even her godfather couldn¡¯t visualize many such divine techniques.

    After all, true gods were rare, and those who once received incense offerings were even fewer.

    Her godfather had seen other ancient gods, but that didn¡¯t mean the divine techniques he condensed were unique or particularly strong.

    "It¡¯s fine, there are plenty more. As long as there¡¯s enough evil god power, anything is possible."

    Qi Yuan was excited. What would it be like to visualize all the celestial beings?

    It would be interesting, right?

    Looking at her godfather, Qi Qi didn¡¯t persuade him further, but said, "Godfather, we now have four villages under our control. We can¡¯t keep celebrating with a feast every time we take over another village¡ªit¡¯s not sustainable."

    Qi Qi was telling the truth.

    Right now, everyone was enjoying good food and drink, but with more people, this practice wouldn¡¯t last.

    After all, if they held a feast every day, they¡¯d soon run out of resources.

    Even if they conquered new villages, what if they didn¡¯t have enough grain or meat?

    Qi Yuan nodded, "We need to conquer more villages to keep the feasts going."

    Qi Qi couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly, "Godfather, this isn¡¯t going to work. We need to establish a base of our own."

    Qi Yuan understood what she meant.

    "It¡¯s all the enemy¡¯s fault for being so poor; otherwise, we could feast every day!" Qi Yuan lamented.

    These new gods were too useless. Despite managing their territories for years, they couldn¡¯t even provide for a grand feast.

    The people present felt a pang of sympathy for the dead evil gods.

    They killed them, took their things, and then feasted on them.

    It was too tragic.

    Indeed, opposing the Origin Heaven Sovereign was a terrible idea¡ªit would end in misery.

    Qi Qi was also a bit speechless, and said, "We need to grow more crops and ensure good harvests."

    Qi Yuan nodded, "Should we also raise some pigs?"

    Hearing this, the maid Xiaoxue, who was eating pork, nodded furiously, "Yes, I support pig farming."

    "That¡¯s your responsibility," Qi Yuan said, looking at Xiaoxue.

    Raising pigs wasn¡¯t something he could leave to his goddaughter, after all.

    Xiaoxue was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up, "Okay."

    Then Qi Yuan asked, "How many new gods are left in Gale Wind Town?"

    "Including the one in Gale Wind Town, nine remain."

    "In that case, let¡¯s kill one a day for the next few days!" Qi Yuan ordered.

    They couldn¡¯t kill too many in a day, or the feasts would overlap.

    ...

    Gale Wind Town.

    Inside the temple.

    The Wolf God appeared, his face looking grim.

    "What is it?" Since his mysterious injury, he had been lying low, recuperating.

    "Great deity, the five great families are preparing to summon that great one!" The fat man¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement.

    The Wolf God was surprised, "I thought that was years away?"

    "We¡¯ve confirmed that the ancient god, Yuan Shen, is severely injured and unable to awaken.

    This is the best time to summon the new god!"

    "This is good news." The Wolf God hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking.

    If a true god descended, Feihuang City would fall completely under his control.

    "However, summoning the new god requires your help, Wolf God!" The fat man looked pleadingly at him.

    "Oh?"

    "To summon this true god, a plague needs to be created, and we need your assistance."

    "Spreading a plague in Feihuang City? Fine, but give me a few days."

    The fat man¡¯s eyes lit up, "Thank you, great deity!"

    ...

    In Qingshui Village, Qi Yuan walked along the ridge of a field with Qi Qi, looking at the thin crops with a complicated expression, "You¡¯re right, these crops really..."

    In the past two days, Qi Yuan had killed two more new gods.

    He now possessed the power of two more evil gods.

    One of them was at the Purple Mansion stage, stronger than many others.

    As his territory expanded, he felt the growing shortage of food.

    He couldn¡¯t help but think how convenient it would be if they could survive on fasting like in Canglan Realm.

    The cultivators here were too reliant on food.

    "Does godfather have a solution?" Qi Qi, who managed the logistics of Qi Yuan¡¯s territory, asked. "Our food supply will only last three months."

    "It¡¯s a pity I don¡¯t have Golden Fertilizer," Qi Yuan sighed.

 Chapter 178: A New Addition to the Logistics Team

    Chapter 178: A New Addition to the Logistics Team

    Qi Qi ignored what Qi Yuan said. For things she didn¡¯t understand, she chalked it up to a generation gap between her and her ancient godfather¡ªit was normal not to understand everything.

    "Why don¡¯t I go to Feihuang City and see if I can find a solution? There are many cultivators there who are skilled in agriculture," Qi Qi suggested.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up at this, "I¡¯ve got it! Leave it to me!"

    If cultivators were skilled in agriculture, why not visualize a deity who governs agriculture? If Qi Yuan remembered correctly, Hou Ji and Shennong were gods of agriculture.

    According to ancient texts, Hou Ji was the ancestor of the Zhou dynasty, the son of the Supreme God, and served as a minister during the reigns of Yao and Shun. He was the first to store grain in state granaries and establish agricultural methods, providing seeds to the common people and teaching them farming. He was revered as the God of Millet and the God of Agriculture.

    As for Shennong, he was even more renowned¡ªwho on Blue Star hadn¡¯t heard of Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs?

    But thinking of the high levels of these two gods, Qi Yuan felt that his current evil god power might not be enough to visualize them.

    He had to lower his sights a bit.

    Returning to the temple, he once again entered the visualization chat group.

    The group was lively.

    "Sigh, I just visualized a rare divine technique. Seems like someone else failed again," said Venerable Shen Miao in the group, seemingly dissing the group leader, Dong Jianghe.

    "Hmph, a bunch of old men looking down on the Young Heavenly Emperor, aren¡¯t you?" Dong Jianghe retorted.

    "You, a Young Heavenly Emperor? The Origin Heaven Sovereign seems more deserving of that title," added Venerable Black Dragon in the group.

    Dong Jianghe noticed something and cautiously asked, "Origin Heaven Sovereign, are you preparing to visualize again?"

    "Yes," Qi Yuan replied.

    "Which true god are you planning to visualize this time?" Dong Jianghe asked tentatively, trying to gauge Qi Yuan¡¯s intentions. If this continued, more group members would surpass him, and he would lose his right to bark orders.

    "This time, I originally wanted to visualize a powerful one, but unfortunately, my evil god power is too limited. So, I plan to visualize a... somewhat weaker one," Qi Yuan answered.

    In his understanding, the god he was referring to was indeed rather weak.

    Dong Jianghe immediately smiled widely. Finally, it wasn¡¯t going to be a powerful visualization! His title of Young Heavenly Emperor was safe!

    "It¡¯s okay. Visualizing an ordinary one-star deity is still good," Dong Jianghe said, unable to resist adding, "After all, not everyone can be like Venerable Bai Xi, who has one epic and three rare ones. And I... am destined to surpass Venerable Bai Xi!"

    The group members immediately started teasing Dong Jianghe: "Oh, Dong Heavenly Emperor, when are you going to visualize another rare one?"

    Qi Yuan greeted the group and then entered the visualization realm again.

    A towering mountain of visualization stood before him.

    In his mind, he immediately pictured the deity he wanted to visualize.

    "An old man with the appearance of a sage, holding a staff. White beard, white hair, and a kindly smile."

    Suddenly, the image of a white-bearded old man appeared in a small temple.

    Sometimes, a monkey with a thunderous mouth would suddenly strike the ground, and the little old man would quickly emerge from the earth.

    The mountain of visualization asked two soul-searching questions again.

    Qi Yuan followed the same process, using the stellar gold elixir to illuminate himself.

    After a few breaths, the mountain of visualization suddenly burst into light.

    A divine technique appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.

    To his surprise, all three of his evil god powers disappeared, including one at the Purple Mansion level.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed with astonishment, "It¡¯s even stronger than the Howling Celestial Dog?"

    But then he thought, considering the incense offerings the other deity received, it was only natural that it was stronger than the Howling Celestial Dog.

    Holding the divine technique, Qi Yuan left the mountain of visualization.

    Meanwhile, the group was still buzzing with activity.

    "Just now, the mountain of visualization flashed with golden light. Did someone get an epic? Origin Heaven Sovereign just went in¡ªcould it be him?" Venerable Shen Miao asked in the group.

    Dong Jianghe quickly replied, "He said the one he was visualizing was very ordinary¡ªhow could it be an epic? Besides, I see Origin Heaven Sovereign as having the potential of a three-step ladder, not someone who would know so many rare true gods."

    "Dong Heavenly Emperor, don¡¯t be so sure!"

    "Let¡¯s wait and see!"

    "Hey, Origin Heaven Sovereign is back. Tell us, what did you visualize this time?"

    Qi Yuan looked at the group messages and smiled wryly, "I got lucky this time and visualized... an epic one-star."

    "What? Origin Heaven Sovereign, that¡¯s not a funny joke!" Dong Jianghe exclaimed.

    "I¡¯m not lying. It really is an epic one-star. This time, I visualized the Earth God," Qi Yuan replied.

    The Earth God also managed part of agriculture.

    According to some ancient texts, the Earth God was associated with Hou Tu.

    However, the Earth God Qi Yuan visualized was based on the Earth God in his memory.

    "Earth God? What kind of true god is that? Never heard of it!"

    "That side effect is nothing. Xiaoxue, you can always use magic to make yourself taller again," Qi Qi said generously.

    An ordinary divine technique, after all, was not something to worry about giving away.

    Xiaoxue nodded eagerly, "I want it!"

    "Alright, here¡¯s the divine technique. Take a look!" Qi Yuan handed the glowing golden divine technique to Xiaoxue.

    Qi Qi¡¯s eyes widened, "Golden light... an epic one-star?"

    She couldn¡¯t stay calm!

    She had assumed it was just an ordinary divine technique.

    But it turned out to be an epic one-star, even more valuable than the one given to the big black dog!

    "Godfather, this is such a waste! Actually, I¡¯d like to be short too, so I can snuggle back into your arms!" Qi Qi couldn¡¯t stay calm at all.

    An epic one-star divine technique could certainly create a true god, as long as there were the right breakthrough treasures.

    As she spoke, she even transformed into a childlike form, her height only reaching Qi Yuan¡¯s waist, looking incredibly cute.

    Qi Yuan chuckled, "There¡¯ll be one for you in the future, but this one is perfect for Xiaoxue."

    Qi Qi¡¯s face fell, "Godfather..."

    An epic one-star divine technique was incredibly rare!

    She couldn¡¯t help but feel unbalanced.

    It was as if her divine technique had been given to someone else.

    After all, she was helping her godfather grow stronger. She had a sense that her godfather¡¯s things were her things.

    Xiaoxue was indeed her maid, but a pig farmer didn¡¯t seem worthy of an epic one-star.

    "It¡¯s okay," Qi Yuan laughed, "Xiaoxue, give it a try."

    Xiaoxue glanced at her mistress, then couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and accepted the divine technique.

    She immediately entered a meditative state.

    "Godfather, you can¡¯t feed fine flour to wild boars!" Qi Qi said helplessly.

    After all, it was her godfather¡¯s divine technique, and it was his choice who to give it to¡ªshe had no right to object. But she still felt uneasy.

    "Don¡¯t worry. Just kill more evil gods, and there will be more divine techniques," Qi Yuan reassured her.

    "Godfather, I¡¯m just afraid you¡¯ll run out of stock!" Qi Qi said.

    After all, in ancient times, there were only so many gods who received incense offerings.

    The most powerful ones had almost all been visualized.

    There were few left at the epic level.

    As for legendary ones, they were even rarer.

    And mythical ones? Those hadn¡¯t appeared in centuries.

    The night passed without a word, and Qi Qi looked at Xiaoxue with a mixture of emotions.

    As for Qi Yuan, he held his little bride and went to sleep in their pit.

    The next day, blood-red light once again illuminated the earth, and Qi Yuan felt refreshed.

    Because he had leveled up again.

    He looked at Xiaoxue with satisfaction, "Not bad, you¡¯ve reached the Purple Mansion stage!"

    The divine technique was really fast for leveling up.

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s small territory, there were now two people at the Purple Mansion stage.

    Xiaoxue opened her eyes, a look of joy in them, "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Miss!"

    Qi Qi still looked forlorn, "Sigh, Xiaoxue, it seems you¡¯ll be going off to battle in other villages, while I can only watch from behind."

    Xiaoxue had reached the Purple Mansion stage¡ªshe was now a formidable force.

    "Xiaoxue¡¯s awakened primordial divine power might be different from others. Her combat ability is average, but she excels in guarding the land and agriculture," Qi Yuan explained.

    The Earth God wasn¡¯t a combat deity.

    And he noticed that Xiaoxue¡¯s awakened primordial divine power was also related to agriculture.

    "What?" Qi Qi¡¯s eyes widened, "Xiaoxue visualized a deity with a divine role? And it¡¯s related to agriculture? How is that possible? Isn¡¯t agriculture the domain of Venerable Youlong?"

    But Venerable Youlong had been visualized countless times, and no one could use him to reach the Purple Mansion stage or awaken an agricultural-related primordial divine power.

    Qi Qi was confused.

    Now she was being told that there was another deity overseeing agriculture?

    What did this mean?

    Where did it come from?

 Chapter 179: Is This Forcing Growth? Wrong, the Earth God is Strong Too!

    Chapter 179: Is This Forcing Growth? Wrong, the Earth God is Strong Too!

    Qi Qi was deeply puzzled. Everyone in the Mortal Heart Realm with even a bit of common sense knew that Venerable Youlong governed agriculture. But now, there was an Earth God as well.

    Qi Yuan smiled, "This just shows how little you know!"

    On Qi Yuan''s previous world, Blue Star, the Earth God had an exceptionally strong following.

    Yet Qi Qi still couldn¡¯t grasp it. After all, gods with divine roles were both rare and precious.

    Qi Qi knew that countless followers cultivated the divine technique of Venerable Youlong. When considering the crop yields of her godfather¡¯s territory, she had thought about using Venerable Youlong¡¯s divine technique but ultimately decided against it. Too many people had visualized it, making it nearly ineffective.

    "You should take Xiaoxue to the fields and try it out," Qi Yuan suggested without further explanation, busy with writing his own Qi Yuan Sutra and planning which village to visit that night for a feast.

    As Qi Qi led Xiaoxue, she couldn¡¯t help but recall the scene of the big black dog pinning Zhu Zhuangshi down during the feast.

    "Xiaoxue, now that you¡¯ve reached the Purple Mansion stage, you won¡¯t bully me, will you?" Qi Qi asked.

    "Miss, I would never!" Xiaoxue responded quickly, waving her hands in alarm.

    Only then did Qi Qi smile, "How do you feel?"

    Her confusion remained unresolved. The only explanation that made sense was that the true god Xiaoxue had visualized was powerful and also held some agricultural responsibilities. Only that could explain why it was an epic one-star.

    With Xiaoxue in tow, they arrived at the fields.

    Qingshui Village now had water and was growing a variety of crops, including something resembling wheat, rice, and sweet potatoes. While similar to those on Blue Star, these crops were not exactly the same. They contained some spiritual energy, as expected in a world of cultivation, and were not bound by the seasons.

    "Miss!" The village chief greeted Qi Qi with respect. As the god¡¯s adopted daughter, she was a treasure to Qingshui Village.

    Qi Qi noticed a man in plain clothes standing beside the village chief, "And who is he?"

    "Miss has been diligent in agricultural matters, so I invited Mr. Xu Youping from Shisha Town. He¡¯s the most skilled in agriculture among the seven towns and has gained some insights by visualizing Venerable Youlong," the village chief, Yu Lei, introduced.

    Shisha Town was the only one of the seven towns under Feihuang City that still worshipped an ancient god.

    Xu Youping was a highly respected figure in Shisha Town, responsible for agricultural affairs. His accomplishments in visualizing Venerable Youlong were notable, despite the fact that many had visualized Venerable Youlong; he was one of the few who had achieved significant results.

    Xu Youping looked at the fields of Qingshui Village and sighed, "The land is too barren. Even if I give it my all, I could only increase the yield by half."

    Yu Lei was not surprised by this answer, "That would already be quite good."

    Qi Qi, standing beside them, suddenly looked at Xiaoxue, "Didn¡¯t the god say that your primordial divine power is related to agriculture? Would you like to try?"

    Yu Lei then turned to Xiaoxue, his eyes filled with disbelief. They had just shared a feast yesterday, and Xiaoxue had only been in the Golden Core stage. How had she suddenly reached the Purple Mansion stage?

    A divine technique! Realizing this, Yu Lei could no longer stay calm.

    Xu Youping glanced at Xiaoxue and respectfully said, "I didn¡¯t expect to meet a fellow cultivator!"

    Shisha Town had many people at the Purple Mansion stage, so Xu Youping wasn¡¯t overly deferential toward someone at that level. He assumed Xiaoxue had also visualized Venerable Youlong and thus knew something about agriculture.

    "Unfortunately, too many people have visualized Venerable Youlong. Even if one becomes a true god on their own, they can only increase crop yields by sixty to seventy percent," Xu Youping lamented.

    Xiaoxue, eager to try, said, "Let me give it a try!"

    She was about to unleash her primordial divine power when Xu Youping watched with interest. But then, Xiaoxue suddenly looked distressed, "Miss, my primordial divine power... part of its effect requires your cooperation."

    Yu Lei was stunned. Xu Youping was also taken aback. A primordial divine power that required cooperation? They had never heard of such a thing.

    "How can I help?" Qi Qi asked curiously.

    "Just pray for a good harvest on your godfather¡¯s land," Xiaoxue replied.

    Though puzzled, Qi Qi followed Xiaoxue¡¯s instructions, "May all the crops on my godfather¡¯s land grow strong, may there be abundant harvests, and may the yield increase dramatically!"

    Xiaoxue closed her eyes as a unique aura spread around her. Her primordial divine power was indeed special¡ªone of its abilities was to connect the earth with the heavens, channeling the prayers of the people to the heavens.

    Even Xiaoxue herself was somewhat perplexed.

    Then... the heavens responded.

    Qi Qi looked at Xiaoxue, "How is it?"

    Xu Youping commented, "This is the first time I¡¯ve seen something like this..."

    Just then, Xiaoxue¡¯s height suddenly shrank, making her look like a porcelain doll. A wisp of special energy appeared in her hands.

    She opened her eyes, which were filled with authority but also kindness, "By the decree of the heavens, this place shall have favorable weather and bountiful harvests!"

    As she spoke, the special energy flew from her hands, spreading over the fields¡ªnot just the fields of Qingshui Village but also those of Shijia Village, Chenxi Village, and others.

    "What is this..." Xu Youping muttered in confusion as he watched the expanding energy. "Shouldn''t agriculture involve rain, fertilizing, loosening the soil, weeding, and pest control? What is this little girl doing?"

    But in the next moment, his eyes widened in shock.

    The energy settled over the fields, and a miraculous change occurred. Crops that were mere sprouts began to grow at a visible speed. The stems thickened, and branches kept sprouting. The once barren fields turned lush green. The seedlings seemed to have undergone years of growth.

    "Is this... forcing growth?" Xu Youping exclaimed, "But this technique only makes the crops grow faster without actually bearing fruit!"

    Watching this, Xu Youping could only think of "forcing growth" as an explanation.

    Qi Qi also felt a shock of disbelief. Could this really be a form of agricultural sorcery, disguised as righteousness but actually leading to disaster?

    But the next moment dispelled all her doubts.

    The crops, which had appeared to be "forced" to grow, began to bear fruit. In just a few breaths, wheat, rice, and other crops filled the fields, their golden hue shimmering like waves of gold. The branches were laden with heavy grain.

    The yield was far beyond that of normal growth.

    "This isn¡¯t forced growth! What on earth is going on?" Xu Youping grabbed a handful of rice, examining it intently, clearly unsettled. "What exactly is your primordial divine power? Which god did you visualize?"

    In a single glance, the once-young crops had fully matured. Not only that, but the yield had also doubled!

    Either one of these phenomena would astonish the world, but the two combined were simply unbelievable.

    "This primordial divine power is called ''Connecting Heaven and Earth.'' The god I visualized is called the Earth God," Xiaoxue explained quickly, seeing no need to hide anything.

    "Earth God?" Xu Youping repeated the name, utterly bewildered, "How could there be such a god? Why have I never heard of him?"

    "Is it too late for me to start learning agriculture now?"

    The leaders of the villages were filled with envy and jealousy.

    This was a new divine technique.

    When Zhu Zhuangshi¡¯s black dog learned a divine technique, its status skyrocketed, even earning a seat at the feast.

    This made them green with envy.

    The elderly agriculture experts were overjoyed at the news.

    "Does this mean I¡¯ll have the chance to learn a divine technique?"

    "The lord is truly divine!"

    These men were over the moon.

    Led by Yu Lei, they entered the temple, first bowing in reverence before stepping inside.

    A dozen of them saw Qi Yuan, who was in the middle of creating a new technique.

    "You¡¯ve arrived?" Qi Yuan opened his eyes and got straight to the point, "These are the agriculture experts?"

    "Yes!" the elderly men answered quickly, their joy evident on their faces.

    "I¡¯ll grant you this divine technique to visualize together!" Qi Yuan tossed the glowing golden divine technique into the air.

    Yu Lei, Shi Chongshan, and Chen Xifan¡¯s eyes turned red with envy at the sight.

    This was an epic-level divine technique, guaranteed to create a true god.

    They were beyond envious, with Chen Xifan even drooling.

    The elderly men quickly knelt in gratitude before starting to visualize the divine technique.

    Watching from the side, Chen Xifan couldn¡¯t help but ask, "My lord... could I visualize the big black dog¡¯s divine technique? I¡¯ve been spending a lot of time with the village dogs lately, learning from them."

    Shi Chongshan was furious at Chen Xifan¡¯s shamelessness.

    But he quickly stood up as well, "My lord, I¡¯ve recently become sworn brothers with the divine dog, and I¡¯m very eager to learn that divine technique!"

    Qi Yuan looked at them and said playfully, "That divine technique is limited in scope and can only create one true god, so I can¡¯t let you see it."

    After all, creating ten Purple Mansion cultivators wouldn¡¯t be as valuable as one true god.

    The two men were speechless.

    A true god?

    They hadn¡¯t even considered that¡ªbecoming Purple Mansion cultivators was already astonishing!

    But the lord was thinking about true godhood, which was far beyond their reach.

    Could a true god really emerge from their little village?

    It would be like their ancestors¡¯ graves were smoking!

    "Today, we¡¯ll continue hunting evil gods and then have a feast. The more evil god power we collect, the more divine techniques there will be. Don¡¯t worry¡ªyou won¡¯t be left out," Qi Yuan said casually.

    "Prepare yourselves, we¡¯re setting out soon!"

    "Understood!"

    Everyone present was overjoyed, though some couldn¡¯t help but worry, fearing that the lord was just making empty promises.

    ...

    In Feihuang City, Huang Mengying looked out the window at the drizzle, resting her chin on her hands, her eyes filled with worry.

    A man dressed in battle armor entered, and Huang Mengying¡¯s expression immediately changed to one of coldness, "What¡¯s the situation?"

    The man kept his head down, his expression grim, "Recently, the five great families have been contacting the evil gods of the various towns, seemingly planning something major."

    "Are they preparing to summon the new god?" Huang Mengying¡¯s heart sank.

    The five great families were finally making their move, no longer hiding their intentions.

    "Most likely," the man replied.

    "Give the order to prepare more medicinal herbs. Also, go to the neighboring city and buy herbs at high prices. Bring in some doctors as well," Huang Mengying instructed.

    She had a good idea of which new god the five great families intended to summon¡ªone associated with plagues.

    In the coming days, the five great families and those new gods would surely spread disease.

    Unable to kill the evil gods or stop the spread of the plague, all they could do was mitigate the damage, reducing the number of deaths.

    "Yes, ma¡¯am," the man replied.

    At that moment, Huang Mengying thought of something else, "What about the ancient god of Qingshui Village?"

    She remembered briefly meeting that ancient god with Nangong Wuji. She had a certain impression of him.

    "According to reports, he has taken over several more villages belonging to the new gods."

    Huang Mengying sighed, "He¡¯s a truly righteous ancient god, but unfortunately, his power is too weak, and the time left for him... is running out."

    In these chaotic times, those who worshipped ancient gods had no way to survive.

    While worshipping the new gods might bring temporary peace, in the long run, it would lead to assimilation and the loss of self.

    Huang Mengying couldn¡¯t bear to see the place where she grew up overrun by the walking dead.

    Thinking of something else, Huang Mengying asked, "What about our contact with the Ancient God Alliance?"

    The man¡¯s face darkened, "The Ancient God Alliance has no one to spare to help Feihuang City. Their contact person said that if we leave Feihuang City, they could offer assistance."

    "Leave... That¡¯s out of the question," Huang Mengying said, her voice firm. How could she leave the place where she was born and raised, or stand by while her people turned into the walking dead? "At some point, pass the Ancient God Alliance¡¯s message to the ancient god of Qingshui Village. He has great potential. If he joins the Ancient God Alliance, he might become a true god in the future."

 Chapter 180: The Fall of a True God, A Sword Slays the Wicked

    Chapter 180: The Fall of a True God, A Sword Slays the Wicked

    Heavy rain poured continuously for several days. The Wolf God stepped out of the temple, his expression cold and indifferent.

    "My lord!" The leader of the temple guards approached, showing great respect.

    "How are the villages below?" the Wolf God asked.

    These past days, he had been preoccupied with matters concerning the plague.

    The temple guard leader looked serious, "The villages... have all fallen into the hands of Qingshui Village as of today."

    Hearing this, the Wolf God was a bit surprised, "This Origin Heaven Sovereign is quite bold."

    Although the Wolf God had intentionally allowed Origin Heaven Sovereign to conquer these villages, no other ancient god would dare act so boldly. For instance, the ancient god Ruoyu of Shisha Town had always kept a low profile, never provoking the new gods, much like a quail.

    "My lord, should I take some guards and capture him?" the temple guard leader suggested.

    In Gale Wind Town, there were over thirty temple guards at the Purple Mansion stage. The temple guard leader did not consider Origin Heaven Sovereign a threat. With their numbers, Qingshui Village would surely be destroyed.

    The Wolf God¡¯s eyes narrowed as he recalled the terrifying aura he had sensed earlier.

    "For now, avoid confronting Qingshui Village!"

    He had a feeling that a true god might be lurking nearby. It was better to stay low for now. Once the new god arrived, the new god could deal with that ancient true god!

    The temple guard leader nodded, "Recently, the people of Jinshi Town have been acting up. It seems that because you haven¡¯t taken action against Qingshui Village, many in Jinshi Town are considering defecting to Qingshui Village."

    A while back, Nangong Wuji had attacked the god of Jinshi Town, killing him. Now, Jinshi Town was in chaos, with several village-level new gods vying for power. Many villagers wanted to flee to Qingshui Village, where the Origin Heaven Sovereign was gaining momentum.

    "Foolish commoners with limited vision," the Wolf God sneered. To him, these ordinary people were like frogs in a well, only able to see the small patch of sky above them. How could any new god, or even an ancient god, see the Origin Heaven Sovereign as anything other than a dead man walking?

    "Very well, since they want to go to Qingshui Village," the Wolf God¡¯s eyes gleamed, "spread the contents of this bottle among those heading to Qingshui Village."

    The temple guard leader accepted the bottle, his eyes gleaming with amusement, "As you command!"

    The bottle contained the source of a plague. Recently, the five great families had visited the new gods of various towns to obtain it.

    "Let them live for a little while longer, but don¡¯t let them live too comfortably," the Wolf God said cruelly.

    With that, he returned to the temple.

    The temple guard leader left the temple and headed for Jinshi Town.

    The rain continued to pour heavily. It eased a bit at noon, only to start pouring again by evening.

    For Qi Yuan and the others, the feast continued as usual, with the same enthusiasm as always. But for the people of Jinshi Town, the rain only deepened their gloom.

    The townspeople were divided on what to do about Jinshi Town. Some chose to flee Feihuang City, others decided to stay, and many planned to seek refuge in Qingshui Village.

    The next day, the blood-red light once again illuminated the land.

    Wei Ting, carrying his younger sister, returned from the physician¡¯s clinic. He was tall, nearly two meters in height, and usually quiet and reserved. Orphaned at a young age, he and his sister had always relied on each other.

    Back at their home, Wei Ting looked at his sleeping sister without saying a word. He gently lifted her shirt, revealing her back.

    There, he saw a mass of black spots, each surrounded by pus-filled blisters. The sight was horrifying.

    At that moment, the frail girl awoke, her voice weak, "Brother, am I going to die?"

    "No," Wei Ting¡¯s voice was far from gentle, almost stiff. He quickly pulled down his sleeve to hide the black spots on his own arm.

    "Brother, don¡¯t lie to me. The physician said I have the plague and that there¡¯s no cure," the girl forced a smile.

    Wei Ting had noticed something wrong with his sister¡¯s body the previous night. Initially, he had only given her some herbal medicine, but by midnight, he realized something was eating away at her spiritual energy. Her body became covered in black spots, and her aura weakened. He quickly took her to the town¡¯s clinic, only to witness a grim scene. Outside the clinic, many others had the same symptoms as his sister, and there were even several corpses. Among them was the body of their neighbor, who had chosen not to go to Qingshui Village but had given Wei Ting some spiritual materials for cultivation. Yet, now he saw that neighbor¡¯s corpse at the clinic.

    The physician had told him that his sister had contracted the plague and was beyond saving. He advised Wei Ting to take her home and find a place to bury her, using magic to isolate the body before burial.

    "It¡¯s nothing serious, just a minor illness¡ªit¡¯ll get better," Wei Ting said. He wasn¡¯t good with words and struggled to express his feelings. Even when their parents died, he had remained silent, burying them without shedding a single tear.

    "Brother, let¡¯s go to Qingshui Village. I don¡¯t want to die in this place ruled by evil gods," the girl said, gripping his hand.

    She had used a spell on her hand to prevent the plague from spreading to Wei Ting.

    "Okay," Wei Ting agreed, pulling his sister¡¯s clothes back down and carrying Wei He in his arms as he headed toward Qingshui Village through the rain.

    The path from Jinshi Town to Qingshui Village was treacherous, passing through several villages controlled by evil gods. Wei Ting moved cautiously, not daring to fly openly.

    In the rain, he saw many other townspeople from Jinshi Town sneaking toward Qingshui Village, many of them weakened, showing signs of the plague.

    Suddenly, Wei Ting felt a numbness in his leg and a buzzing in his head as if his spine had exploded.

    "Brother, what¡¯s wrong?" Wei He asked, sensing her brother¡¯s distress.

    "Nothing," Wei Ting replied, struggling as his spiritual energy became increasingly difficult to control and his consciousness grew fuzzy. But he gritted his teeth and quickened his pace toward Qingshui Village.

    Perhaps due to the heavy rain, his vision became increasingly blurred. With his broad chest, he shielded Wei He from the rain as they pushed onward.

    It was unclear how much time had passed, but Wei Ting finally saw a group of people ahead, and his heart relaxed. With that release of tension, his body suddenly went limp, and he collapsed into the mud, unconscious. In his final moments of awareness, he saw people rushing toward him.

    Wei Ting slowly regained consciousness, hearing gentle voices around him.

    "How are they?"

    "Godfather, all these people from Jinshi Town have the plague. Their condition is critical."

    "Lord God, this plague is terrifying. It corrodes spiritual energy. Shouldn¡¯t we... drive them out?"

    "For now, let¡¯s focus on treating the patients. We can deal with the rest later."

    For several days, Jinshi Town turned into a living hell. Every day, more bodies were found in hidden corners. Sometimes, you could see a small girl carrying her brother¡¯s body, her eyes vacant as she headed home.

    Meanwhile, the news that Qingshui Village could treat the plague spread quickly, drawing more and more people from Jinshi Town to Qingshui Village.

    At this time, two Purple Mansion cultivators from a distant place also arrived in Qingshui Village.

    These two were members of the Ancient God Alliance.

    The leader was an old man with white hair and beard, accompanied by a shorter man. They looked ordinary, blending in easily with a crowd.

    "Sigh, it seems Feihuang City is doomed," the old man said, his tone filled with helplessness.

    "It won¡¯t last three years," the short man predicted, "It¡¯s a pity that the ancient god Yuan hasn¡¯t awakened. Otherwise, joining our Ancient God Alliance might have given them a fighting chance."

    "The Huang family mentioned that a certain ancient god here has great potential. Since we¡¯re passing through, why not invite him to join our Ancient God Alliance?"

    As they conversed, they made their way to Qingshui Village.

    Before coming, they had investigated the background of the Origin Heaven Sovereign. Upon learning that he possessed two high-level divine techniques, both men considered him a worthy candidate.

    "Who are you?" At that moment, the ground before them shifted, and a petite woman emerged, eyeing them warily.

    The old man smiled kindly, "We¡¯ve come from afar to visit the Origin Heaven Sovereign. We mean no harm."

    "Is that so? I¡¯ll go inform him," the woman, who was Xiaoxue, quickly disappeared.

    About a hundred breaths later, inside the temple.

    Qi Yuan looked at the two envoys from the Ancient God Alliance and said slowly, "I appreciate your offer, but... I won¡¯t leave Qingshui Village."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s firm stance surprised the two envoys.

    The old man tried once more, "Are you sure you won¡¯t reconsider?"

    "No need."

    The short man¡¯s eyes flickered, "I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve visualized two high-level divine techniques. Would you be willing to sell them to our Ancient God Alliance?"

    "I won¡¯t sell them. I¡¯m keeping them for myself," Qi Yuan replied without hesitation.

    Hearing this, the short man¡¯s expression turned pitiful, "Feihuang City is doomed. These divine techniques... will likely be lost to the world. Please, for the sake of all people, make a copy of the divine techniques for us to preserve."

    The short man¡¯s thinking was simple. If this god of Qingshui Village was so stubborn as to refuse to leave, the two high-level divine techniques would be lost. It would be a waste. Better to take them and claim credit.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression darkened, "You¡¯re being very disrespectful."

    The old man quickly grabbed the short man, trying to say something.

    But the short man, seemingly oblivious to Qi Yuan¡¯s displeasure, continued loudly, "Our Ancient God Alliance¡ª"

    However, his words were cut short as he suddenly turned around, looking up at the northern sky.

    Qi Yuan also looked in that direction.

    In the distant north, a dazzling beam of light suddenly shot down from the sky.

    The light was at least thousands of miles away from Qingshui Village, but it was incredibly bright.

    A domineering, destructive, and terrifying aura swept across, as if intent on erasing everything.

    The old man¡¯s face turned grave, "A battle between true gods!"

    It was a clash between an ancient god and a new god!

    A beam of light also shot up from the ground, full of unstoppable momentum. But compared to the beam from the sky, it was clearly weaker. Yet it still charged forward to resist.

    Qi Yuan squinted as he watched the two beams collide.

    Boom!

    The moment the beams made contact, Qi Yuan felt the earth tremble.

    The beam from the sky was clearly stronger and directly obliterated the one from the ground, crashing into the earth.

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t see what happened next, but he could guess that the city below was likely gone.

    This world had a high level of power, and the heavens were much "stronger" than in the Canglan Realm. But the strike of a true god could still wipe out an entire city.

    "An ancient god has fallen," the old man sighed, his eyes filled with sorrow.

    The beams of light had signaled a battle between a true god and an ancient god. The ancient god had fallen, and the city he protected had been reduced to ashes.

    At that moment, the short man looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes crazed, "Did you see that? This is what happens if you stay in a fallen zone! You¡¯ll die at any moment! Your only chance is to leave with us and join the Ancient God Alliance! If you give me those two divine techniques, I¡¯ll recommend you to join!"

    The short man seemed deranged, or perhaps he was trying to exploit the situation.

    Seeing this, the old man¡¯s face changed drastically as he tried to stop his companion.

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s expression had already turned cold, and a blood-red sword appeared in his hand.

    "No one has ever dared to threaten me... and lived!"

    With a swift slash, the short man fell, following the ancient god and the city into oblivion.

 Chapter 181: Just a Clown, Let Him Be Arrogant for a Few Days

    Chapter 181: Just a Clown, Let Him Be Arrogant for a Few Days

    With one swift strike, Qi Yuan killed the short man, and the atmosphere in the temple became tense. The old man with white hair was visibly shocked, then filled with fear.

    He had never expected his companion to be so bold as to openly threaten Qi Yuan. Nor had he expected this ancient god to kill his companion on the spot.

    "Y-you..."

    "What? Do you also want the divine techniques like him?" Qi Yuan asked, his gaze playful as he looked at the old man.

    The old man stared at his fallen companion''s body, resigned to his fate, "He was wrong and deserved death. But by doing this, Ancient God Sovereign, you have severed ties with the Ancient God Alliance. You¡¯ll never be able to join us."

    To be honest, the old man had hoped that someone like the Origin Heaven Sovereign would join the Ancient God Alliance. With evil gods pressing in from all sides, the ancient gods were already in decline. Yet even in such times, they still fought among themselves for power, unable to truly unite.

    He admired gods like the Origin Heaven Sovereign who dared to challenge the evil gods and wanted to bring him into the Ancient God Alliance. There were still many gods in the alliance who wanted to make a difference.

    "I¡¯m not interested in joining the Ancient God Alliance," Qi Yuan replied, looking up at the sky.

    In the distant north, a true god had just fallen.

    "Five towns under Feihuang City are completely controlled by evil gods. Those five evil gods are all beings at the late or peak stages of the Purple Mansion. You should be careful, Origin Heaven Sovereign," the old man warned.

    Qi Yuan lowered his head. He already knew this information. The power level of this world seemed high, and these new gods were strong.

    Right now, taking down the five evil gods would indeed be troublesome.

    "You should pay particular attention to the evil god of Gale Wind Town. He¡¯s not just an ordinary peak-level Purple Mansion!" the old man added.

    "You mean he¡¯s a ''royal-level'' peak Purple Mansion?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The old man was momentarily confused by Qi Yuan¡¯s question but continued, "He has already condensed half a divine aperture!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression became serious. The biggest difference between a Yin God and a Purple Mansion cultivator was that a Yin God possessed divine spiritual power. The Wolf God, having condensed half a divine aperture, was practically a demigod. He could already use divine spiritual power.

    "He¡¯s that strong?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    He looked up at his Stellar Golden Core, feeling a bit more secure.

    "You can¡¯t defeat him unless you become a true god!" the old man said.

    Qi Yuan fell silent. Right now, he could easily kill ordinary late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators with his primordial divine power. But against someone who had condensed half a divine aperture, his primordial divine power would be nearly ineffective. He couldn¡¯t defeat such an opponent as he had done with other ancient gods.

    He could only kill him easily by summoning his Stellar Golden Core. But in this "game," Qi Yuan wanted to keep a low profile. He didn¡¯t want to summon his Stellar Golden Core without fully understanding the game.

    "Do any of the evil gods have Yang God power?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Yang God? Are you referring to something above a true god?"

    "Yes."

    "In the ancient battle of Hong Tang, one of the new gods had a power above a true god," the old man said with a sigh. "It was that being¡¯s participation that led to the catastrophic defeat of the Mortal Heart Realm."

    "What happened to that power above a true god?"

    "I don¡¯t know," the old man shook his head.

    Qi Yuan furrowed his brow in thought. Over time, he had learned about the Battle of Hong Tang through the chats in the visualization group. It was a battle where evil gods invaded the Mortal Heart Realm. Gods led the charge, with Purple Mansion cultivators as foot soldiers, and the fighting shook the heavens and the earth. Nearly ninety percent of the true gods in the Mortal Heart Realm perished. It was a battle that broke the backbone of the realm. Afterward, the world changed drastically. Without special treasures, those at the peak of the Purple Mansion could no longer become true gods.

    "Hmm," Qi Yuan thought that dealing with the Wolf God without summoning his Stellar Golden Core or Ning Tao might be the best approach. Here, there was no virtual realm, and battles between Yin Gods took place directly in the world. Summoning the core would be too conspicuous.

    Qingshui Village was still too weak. He should follow the example of the ancients¡ªstore up food and bide his time. After all, he still had many divine techniques.

    "You may leave," Qi Yuan said, deciding not to kill the old man. He was always fair, rewarding or punishing as deserved. Since the old man hadn¡¯t wronged him, there was no reason to kill him. Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t someone who would kill entire families out of spite.

    The old man left, and for the next few days, Qingshui Village was busier than ever. More and more people from Jinshi Town, afflicted by the plague, arrived. Fortunately, under Xiaoxue¡¯s leadership, the Earth Gods worked tirelessly, and the plague gradually subsided.

    Three days later, while Qi Yuan was in the temple, continuing to write the Qi Yuan Sutra, he suddenly heard the sound of a girl sobbing. He opened his eyes and saw his maid Xiaoxue, her eyes red from crying.

    Qi Yuan wrapped his arm around Xiaojia¡¯s waist, glancing up at the sky. The rain had cleared, but the plague continued to spread. It had only been half an hour since Xiaoxue¡¯s tears.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness once again entered the chat group.

    The plague was getting worse, and the Earth Gods alone couldn¡¯t cure it completely. He thought about visualizing another deity. With the current evil god powers, it should be enough.

    The chat group was lively.

    "Do you know what it means to be the Young Heavenly Emperor?" The group leader, Dongjiang He, was once again bragging, "I just visualized another rare three-star god! Honestly, I don¡¯t even know my own limits. Once my memory fully recovers, I might even scare myself!"

    "Stop bragging; you¡¯re nothing compared to Origin Heaven Sovereign!" retorted Shenmiao Zunzhe, who was known for his playful nature.

    "Origin Heaven Sovereign is here. Are you planning to visualize another god this time?" Dongjiang He cautiously asked.

    "The plague in my territory is severe..." Qi Yuan replied.

    So it¡¯s for this kind of thing? Dongjiang He felt relieved, thinking the god¡¯s level wouldn¡¯t be too high, and he could keep bragging for a few more days.

    At that moment, the usually reserved Heilong Zunzhe spoke up, "It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen Tianbao Zunzhe."

    "Now that you mention it, it has been a while. Last time, he said he wanted to give the treasure that could allow a breakthrough to true godhood to Origin Heaven Sovereign."

    "I was hoping to call him godfather."

    Shenmiao Zunzhe suddenly asked, "Origin Heaven Sovereign, did you feel the battle between true gods to your north a few days ago?"

    Qi Yuan immediately thought of the pillar of light piercing the sky from the other day.

    "Yes," he answered.

    The group fell silent for a moment before Heilong Zunzhe said, "Origin Heaven Sovereign, the battle you saw might have involved Tianbao Zunzhe fighting against the evil gods. Unfortunately..."

    "Sigh."

    The mood in the group grew somber.

    "Tianbao Zunzhe, may you rest in peace."

    "Tianbao Zunzhe, may you rest in peace."

    "Origin Heaven Sovereign, the north is a fallen land. Leave if you must. Last time, Tianbao Zunzhe wanted to give you that treasure, likely because he knew he was trapped and didn¡¯t want it to go to waste."

    "Tianbao Zunzhe knew the new gods were after him. With his power... he could have left," one member remarked.

    But everyone understood that Tianbao Zunzhe hadn¡¯t left because he couldn¡¯t abandon his people.

    "If I¡¯m not mistaken, one of Tianbao Zunzhe¡¯s friends defected to the new gods and is now in Lu Kingdom? He must have met Tianbao Zunzhe," Qi Yuan murmured.

    "Yes. Why do you ask, Origin Heaven Sovereign?"

    "No reason, just curious."

    With that, Qi Yuan dove back into the visualization realm.

    The vast Visualization Mountain loomed before him as Qi Yuan looked at the evil god powers in his hand.

    "Curing the plague?"

    "Wrong!"

    "Killing those who spread the plague is the real solution!"

    He decided to visualize a different god.

    Many had advised him to back down, but if he really did that, would he still be Qi Yuan?

 Chapter 182: Wei Ting, Do You Want to Slay Gods?

    Chapter 182: Wei Ting, Do You Want to Slay Gods?

    "He stood nine zhang tall, with a waist as wide as nine zhang!"

    "Donning a golden crown, wearing golden armor, and wielding a Xuanhua battle axe."

    As Qi Yuan imagined, a towering figure appeared.

    This figure was exaggeratedly massive, with his height and waistline equally immense.

    His eyes were wide with anger, gripping a giant Xuanhua axe, and his gaze was filled with an overwhelming battle intent.

    This was the Giant Spirit God.

    Back when Li Tianwang, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, led an army of 100,000 heavenly soldiers under the orders of the Jade Emperor to besiege Sun Wukong, the Giant Spirit God, as the vanguard officer, was the first to confront him.

    Although his weapon was broken by Sun Wukong''s Golden Cudgel and he was defeated, he remained a heavenly general of the divine realm, a legitimate god who defended the heavenly palace!

    "Is the spiritual power of these evil gods sufficient?"

    "If not, I''ll have to use some of my own."

    The stellar golden pill shone, and the Second Question of Conscience appeared once more.

    Qi Yuan''s expression was solemn.

    This time, what he imagined was different from the previous two times.

    He closed his eyes.

    Suddenly, the Mountain of Contemplation burst into golden light once again.

    Qi Yuan''s face turned pale.

    He had also consumed some divine power.

    However, a smile appeared in his eyes.

    It succeeded!

    At this moment, the atmosphere in the chat group was tense.

    Then, Dongjiang suddenly said, "The Mountain of Contemplation has burst into golden light again. Could it be that someone has imagined another epic being?"

    "Could their fortune surpass that of our ancient gods?"

    "If that''s the case, the Young Heavenly Emperor could rest easy."

    ...

    The night was pitch-black. Wei Ting looked at his sleeping sister in the room as he meditated and cultivated.

    His strength had already reached the Divine Infant stage.

    In the town, he was considered a formidable figure.

    Of course, compared to the new gods who possessed sacrificial artifacts, he was far inferior.

    As soon as the plague showed signs of improvement, he began to train diligently.

    Because his enemy was a terrifying new god, even the powerful guardian god of Qingshui Village couldn''t truly deal with this new god.The? source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

    At that moment, a black figure suddenly appeared.

    Wei Ting abruptly stood up, seeing the god in the cold starlight. The god spoke, his voice icy: "Wei Ting, do you want to slay gods?"

    Wei Ting''s heart skipped a beat, but he nodded firmly, "Yes!"

    He felt he had chosen the right person to follow.

    Even if it meant death this time!

    ...

    The crimson light of dawn illuminated the earth.

    In Gale Town, evil gods gathered.

    Today, She Wolf was hosting a Child Banquet, inviting all the gods.

    Outside the massive temple, there was laughter and joy everywhere.

    In the cages on the carriages around Gale Town, naked children were trapped.

    These children had numb expressions, dazed looks; some were innocent and laughed at the people outside.

    The golden-armored temple guards escorted these children, slowly moving towards the temple.

    The gods, dressed in luxurious robes¡ªsome with crane-like white hair, others of incomparable beauty¡ªdrank fine wine and feasted on divine fruits, enjoying themselves immensely.

    "The last time we held a Child Banquet was thirty years ago; it¡¯s been a while," said an elder with crane-like white hair, reminiscing fondly.

    "At that time, in Feihuang City, only the three of us from the seven towns remained," the elder in yellow robes said, relishing the memory. "Back then, two ancient gods who disapproved of our Child Banquet came to stop us. But in the end, She Wolf subdued them with just one finger, and they were steamed alive."

    "Steamed alive? She Wolf... truly creative."

    "Hahaha, this time, surely no fool would dare interrupt our Child Banquet, right?"

    "There¡¯s only that weakling Ruyu left. If he dares come, it¡¯ll just be offering himself as a dish!"

    "Steamed alive!"

    "Kill!"

    He roared, slaughtering another dozen new gods.

    The remaining new gods looked terrified, utterly lost.

    They had never encountered such a powerful divine being, and it seemed he was only at the late Purple Mansion stage, not even reaching completion!

    Yet, a single person had them running scared.

    Wei Ting swung his axe again, killing several more evil gods.

    The powerful evil gods couldn''t even withstand a single blow from his axe.

    With a few more swings, he continued to reap lives.

    She Wolf stood behind the new gods, his face extremely grim: "You little bastard, you¡¯re forcing me!"

    He tried to endure but couldn''t any longer.

    He had condensed half a divine aperture, but he didn''t dare to use his divine power lightly.

    Because this divine power was hard-won.

    Using it once would set back his advancement to true godhood by decades, centuries, or even millennia.

    But the towering giant ahead filled him with a powerful sense of threat.

    He even had the feeling that if he didn¡¯t use that half a divine aperture, he would be killed by this terrifying giant.

    He couldn¡¯t comprehend how such a terrifying figure had appeared in Feihuang City.

    This person claimed to be the vanguard officer under the Origin Celestial Venerable.

    There was only one explanation: the God Imagining Technique!

    This terrifying giant must have been an unimaginably powerful being in life, someone beyond his comprehension.

    And only Wei Ting could imagine such a being.

    Hearing She Wolf speak, the remaining new gods looked relieved: "She Wolf, hurry and strike him down!"

    "This giant is truly terrifying. If he grows stronger, Feihuang City will be doomed!"

    These people pinned all their hopes on She Wolf.

    She Wolf was, after all, a half-god level being.

    No matter how strong this terrifying giant was, he was only at the late Purple Mansion stage, not even reaching perfection.

    "You forced my hand!"

    She Wolf roared, and a wisp of divine power belonging to a true god began to emanate.

    The atmosphere of the world changed, becoming terrifying.

    The bodies of the believers in Gale Town began to wither and crack.

    The remaining dozen new gods finally lost their pallor.

    "The power of a half-god¡ªwho can withstand it!"

    She Wolf, full of confidence, looked at the towering giant ahead and shouted loudly, "Who dares to kill me! Do you dare?"

    At that moment, a cold voice rang out, and a man dressed in a white robe appeared, his white clothing as pure as snow, resembling a sword immortal.

    "I dare!"

    A flash of crimson sword light, like a meteor, streaked through the air as the stars flickered.

    Everyone, including the new gods, saw nothing but red in front of their eyes.

    Their entire field of vision was filled with red.

    When the red color faded, their sight returned to normal, and they saw the white-robed man calmly blowing the blood droplets off his blood-red long sword.

    He looked at the headless corpse in the distance with a mocking smile in his eyes.

    "I am... undefeated among those of the same rank!"

    "You''re not even an Yin God, and yet you dare to be so arrogant!"

    Indeed, Wei Ting, after imagining the Giant Spirit God, saw his strength surge, and Qi Yuan''s rank had also risen.

    Later, Wei Ting went on a killing spree, slaughtering nearly a hundred evil gods.

    Qi Yuan''s rank continued to skyrocket.

    While Wei Ting was butchering the evil gods, Qi Yuan was not idle either. He personally intervened, killing the temple guards in various towns and villages.

    Now, he had already reached the 72nd level as a divine being, at the mid-Purple Mansion stage!

    At the same rank, he had never been afraid.

    She Wolf might be a half-god, but so what?

    Without being a true god, he was on the same level as Qi Yuan. How could he withstand the original divine powers imprinted on Qi Yuan''s stellar golden pill?

    With just a fleeting moment of distraction, Qi Yuan could easily strike him down with a single sword stroke.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the remaining new gods with a cruel smile in his eyes: "Kill!"

 Chapter 183: Collaborating with the New Gods?

    Chapter 183: Collaborating with the New Gods?

    Wei Ting, towering like a giant, looked at the remaining evil gods with intense battle fervor in his eyes. He suddenly stepped forward, the Xuanhua axe in his hand transforming into a reaper''s scythe.

    As he swung it down, half of the evil gods instantly met their demise.

    Wei Ting, now a god of war, slaughtered recklessly.

    "No!"

    "Spare me!"

    Facing Wei Ting, these once-arrogant evil gods were now devoid of their former haughtiness.

    The seductive Tao An''s face twisted in fear, "Spare me! This world is destined to belong to the new gods. If you continue this slaughter, you will surely incur the wrath of a true god."

    In just a few moments, only two new gods remained.

    She spoke quickly, desperately seeking a way to survive.

    "There are new gods all around. We are here to summon the Great Plague Venerable. If you kill us, you will completely offend the Great Plague Venerable. When he descends, he will not spare you!"

    Tao An, dressed in a bewitching red dress, her appearance alluring, calculated furiously in her mind.

    "Oh? Killing you will completely offend the Great Plague Venerable?" Qi Yuan paused, surprised.

    A true god might descend?

    Seeing this, Tao An thought she had a chance and quickly continued, "We have gathered here in Gale Town specifically to summon the Great Plague Venerable. If you kill us all, the summoning will stop, and you will completely offend him! But if you think the Great Plague Venerable cannot descend, you are mistaken. He will only be delayed by a year or two, and when he arrives, he will surely kill you!"

    "If you continue the summoning, when will the Great Plague Venerable descend?" Qi Yuan asked, clearly interested.

    This was a matter of great concern to him.

    A true god, with all its contained evil divine power, would be terrifying.

    If he could... perhaps he could imagine an even more powerful deity.

    "Half a month," Tao An replied, continuing, "Origin Heavenly God, your talent is remarkable. It''s a pity to remain with the ancient gods. Today, two-thirds of the cities in the Lin Kingdom are under the control of the new gods. Just recently, in the neighboring Jiang Kingdom, a true god struck down an ancient god venerable, and now the Jiang Kingdom belongs to the new gods.

    Origin Heavenly God, I hope you consider your future carefully. Joining the new gods will undoubtedly be better than staying with the ancient gods. Just like the ancient god in the Lu? Kingdom who joined us; he now lives a life many envy. He was even favored by the Great Venerable Gu Xuan, who gave him his daughter in marriage!

    If you join the new gods, you can avoid the calamity of killing gods. You might even have a chance to marry the daughter of a true god. Even if that doesn¡¯t happen, I am willing to offer myself to you..."

    As Tao An spoke, she wore a seductive smile, her demeanor full of charm.

    Qi Yuan murmured to himself, "So, to summon the Great Plague Venerable quickly, I have to keep you alive?"

    Tao An¡¯s eyes brightened; she felt she had convinced the Origin Celestial Venerable.

    She continued, "When the Great Plague Venerable descends, I will certainly speak well of you before him. You will be credited with the success of the summoning."

    Tao An felt a surge of hope, believing the other party was truly willing to cooperate with her.

    "Summoning the Great Plague Venerable... I think it¡¯s a good idea," Qi Yuan said, looking at Tao An.

    Overjoyed, Tao An slowly walked toward Qi Yuan, deliberately letting her dress slip off her shoulder, revealing a seductive glimpse of skin.

    "This is the wisest choice you could make."

    "But... I don¡¯t want to cooperate with you."

    The blood-red long sword in Qi Yuan''s hand let out a sharp hum as it slashed through the air with lightning speed. Tao An''s head separated from her body in an instant.

    Her expression remained the same as before, her final thoughts filled with confusion.

    Weren''t they going to cooperate?

    Why had she been killed?

    Unfortunately, she would never have the chance to understand why it happened.

    After slaying Tao An with a single strike, Qi Yuan turned to the remaining trembling evil god and forced a kind smile: "Shall we cooperate?"

    The evil god¡¯s body trembled even more violently as he nodded frantically.

    "I need you to summon the Great Plague Venerable as quickly as possible."

    The evil god didn¡¯t dare to speak, only nodding in agreement.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan seemed to think of something and suddenly said, "If I temporarily cooperate with you new gods, could we be considered... friends? No, perhaps colleagues?"

    The evil god didn¡¯t understand what this demon meant but still nodded: "Yes."

    "Sigh, their families aren¡¯t here. Dying far from home is truly tragic. I suppose it¡¯s only right that I arrange their final rites, and it wouldn¡¯t be too much to feast on their remains, would it?"

    "Wei Ting, spread the word: Prepare the feast and keep it going... until the true god descends!"

    Before, Qi Yuan always felt his reasons for feasting were insufficient. This time, feasting on the remains of his colleagues should be justifiable, right?

    Meanwhile...

    In Stone Sand Town...

    Weak Feather sat alone in the temple, his eyes closed, cutting off his five senses.

    Today was the day of the Child Banquet.

    "Sigh, sigh, sigh, I¡¯m so much fatter than him. Why wasn¡¯t I chosen?"

    Today, Wei Ting transformed into the Giant Spirit God and swept through the area, shocking everyone.

    This showed that the Lord God had given another extremely precious god-imagining technique.

    Given Wei Ting¡¯s formidable combat prowess, this god-imagining technique must be extremely rare.

    Unfortunately, the Lord chose Wei Ting, making Zhu Zhuangshi drool with envy.

    Beside him, Chen Xifan couldn¡¯t help but comment, "The Lord God needs someone strong, not someone fat."

    Hearing this, Zhu Zhuangshi was dissatisfied: "Doesn¡¯t my name say it all?"

    "Heh." Chen Xifan sneered, unwilling to argue with Zhu Zhuangshi.

    But deep down, he was also envious of Wei Ting.

    A stranger who had suddenly gained the favor of the Lord God had risen to power overnight.

    That god-imagining technique had directly pushed Wei Ting to the late Purple Mansion stage.

    Given enough time, Wei Ting could reach the peak of the Purple Mansion stage, and with a treasure, he could become a true god.

    This meant that Qingshui Village would gain a true god!

    What an incredible honor.

    For their small, rundown village to produce a true god.

    But it was also something to be envious of, as the true god could have been any one of them, but they hadn¡¯t seized the opportunity.

    Nearby, Qi Qi listened to the conversation with a smile. She turned to her maid, Xiaoxue: "See? Grooming a godfather and letting him work hard is much better than struggling yourself."

    Xiaoxue beamed, "Indeed."

    Yesterday, she had witnessed the misery of Jinshi Town and felt deep sorrow, harboring immense hatred for the mastermind.

    But she didn¡¯t dare tell her master what had happened.

    Because she knew that Qingshui Village needed to grow slowly; it couldn¡¯t yet confront any of the towns.

    But today, her heart was filled with joy. What did she see?

    Her master had led Wei Ting, and the two of them had swept through six towns, wiping out all the evil gods.

    Even now, she was brimming with joy and gratitude.

    It was like a child who had been wronged, only to have their parent take fierce revenge the next day.

    She stole a glance at Qi Yuan in the distance, then whispered to Qi Qi, "Miss, can I also acknowledge the Lord God as my godfather?"

    Qi Qi raised an eyebrow, "Are you trying to steal my father?"

    "... God-grandfather would do." Xiaoxue muttered.

    "I don¡¯t have a daughter like you!" Qi Qi glared at her.

    At the table, the group feasted, accompanied by laughter and song.

    The gloom of the past few days was swept away.

    At this moment, Village Chief Yuli sent a voice transmission: "What do you think of the Lord God?"

    Shentu thought of something, his face changing slightly as he responded via transmission: "Are you thinking of..."

    Village Chief Yuli remained silent.

    Shentu frowned and pondered, "In ancient times, the Lord God must have been an extremely powerful deity, perhaps even one who had taken three steps toward heaven."

    "Taking three steps toward heaven... might barely qualify one to enter the Ancestral Land," Yuli said.

    The people of Qingshui Village were descendants of the ancient clan.

    The ancient clan had an Ancestral Land, which was extremely dangerous. Even true gods had a high chance of perishing there.

    Even a Great Venerable entering might not survive.

    But within the Ancestral Land were countless treasures, some of which could help someone surpass the limits of the heavens and become a true god, while others were innate treasures of immense power.

    As descendants of the ancient clan, they had the right to recommend their village¡¯s guardian god to enter the Ancestral Land.

    "However, even if we wanted to recommend the Lord God to enter the Ancestral Land, he would at least need to reach the level of a true god. And to qualify for entry, he would likely need to take three steps toward heaven. To achieve significant success in the Ancestral Land and escape unscathed, one would need to be a Great Venerable. Our Lord God is still far from that level. For now, we shouldn¡¯t think too much about such distant matters; we should focus on how to survive the siege of the evil gods." Shentu sighed.

    Shentu''s words were indeed reasonable.

    Though the Lord God had swept through six towns, which was impressive, this would undoubtedly draw the attention of some powerful evil gods.

    Sooner or later, a strong evil god might come for retribution.

    Moreover, it seemed the Lord God was planning something significant, working with the tiger to skin it.

    The Great Plague Venerable might appear in this world soon.

    They couldn¡¯t imagine how their Lord God would respond.

    Would he imagine another god? But where could he find another powerful deity?

 Chapter 184: Visitors from the Jiang Kingdom

    Chapter 184: Visitors from the Jiang Kingdom

    The rain poured incessantly.

    On the wide streets of Feihuang City, Wang Wenqi, wearing a raincoat, turned sharply and entered a narrow alley.

    Her speed suddenly increased, causing water to splash everywhere.

    Behind her, a man in a black robe appeared, a mocking smile in his eyes. "Survivor of the Jiang Kingdom, where do you think you¡¯re going?"

    The man in the black robe lunged forward, attempting to capture Wang Wenqi.

    At that moment, an elderly man dressed in scholar¡¯s robes intervened.

    A bright light burst forth in the alley, halting the attack of the man in the black robe.

    The black-robed man stopped, his eyes filled with surprise. "Are you from the Wushi Sect?"

    The elderly man in the scholar¡¯s robe looked at the black-robed man with a sorrowful expression. "You¡¯re a member of the Lin Kingdom''s royal family. Why are you serving the evil gods?"

    "A wise bird chooses the best tree to nest in. I merely made a better choice." The black-robed man didn¡¯t attack again, his voice deep.

    "Collaborating with evil gods is akin to courting disaster. The evil gods will gradually synchronize with you, turning you into their true puppets!" The elderly man in scholar¡¯s robes spoke sternly.

    In the northern lands, many nations had been under the control of evil gods for a long time.

    In such nations, most of the citizens were no longer truly human, having become the evil gods'' puppets.

    The Wushi Sect¡¯s followers had ventured into those cities and witnessed horrifying scenes.

    The citizens appeared normal, working during the day and resting at night.

    But every person had the same expression, the same routine, and never spoke voluntarily.

    Children never cried, and dogs never barked, making the atmosphere eerie.

    The reason the elderly man and many others resisted the new gods so fiercely was largely because of this.

    As for the monthly offering of children, to some influential people, it wasn¡¯t even considered a problem.

    The black-robed man remained indifferent. "The Lord God has already promised that those of us who first pledged allegiance to him will have control over our own minds. If you¡¯re strong enough... why don¡¯t you join us? The Lord God will accept you."

    "You..." The elderly man in scholar¡¯s robes was furious. "You can control your mind, but you don¡¯t care about others?"

    "Others lack the strength; they don¡¯t even qualify to serve the Lord God. Their inability to control their minds is entirely due to their weakness." The black-robed man forced a smile onto his expressionless face.

    "That¡¯s no excuse for aiding and abetting the wicked!" The elderly man in scholar¡¯s robes attacked furiously.

    The black-robed man sensed something and his gaze hardened. "You have reinforcements? I¡¯ll spare you for now."

    With that, the black-robed man vanished.

    A few moments later, six or seven people arrived in the area.

    At the forefront were Huang Mengying and Nangong Wuji.

    Wang Wenqi, who had been wearing the raincoat, looked at Huang Mengying and the others with gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Sister Mengying, for saving me."

    Huang Mengying looked at Wang Wenqi, her gaze complicated. "You shouldn¡¯t go out anymore for the time being."

    Wang Wenqi lowered her head, gritting her teeth. "I didn¡¯t expect the evil god¡¯s minions to find me here!"

    As she said this, everyone present tensed up.

    Just moments ago, the elderly man in scholar¡¯s robes had sent a message that the attacker was a member of the Lin Kingdom''s royal family.

    "The defeat of the Jiang Kingdom, the capital reduced to ruins, has terrified many people." Huang Mengying''s voice was filled with helplessness.

    An evil god, who had completed the three steps to ascend to heaven, descended upon the capital of the Jiang Kingdom.

    The ancient god who guarded the Jiang Kingdom resisted the evil god to the death.

    It¡¯s said that this enraged the evil god.

    After killing the ancient god of the Jiang Kingdom, the evil god leveled the capital.

    All six million people in the Jiang Kingdom¡¯s capital perished.

    This terrified many.

    The upper echelons of the Lin Kingdom were trembling in fear.

    Hearing this, tears welled up in Wang Wenqi¡¯s eyes, on the verge of falling.

    Seeing this, Huang Mengying quickly apologized. "I¡¯m sorry, Sister Wenqi, for bringing up something that hurts you."

    Wang Wenqi was from the Jiang Kingdom. Huang Mengying knew that her parents and relatives lived in the capital of the Jiang Kingdom and were killed by that evil god.

    Wang Wenqi had come to Feihuang City for other reasons, which saved her life.

    Wang Wenqi hid her face in her sleeve, then asked, with a trace of resentment in her voice, "Did the Origin Heavenly God really side with the new gods?"

    Huang Mengying, hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but recall the young man she had seen at the feast.

    That ancient god had a handsome, carefree appearance and seemed to disregard the evil gods entirely.

    A few days ago, he suddenly struck, killing all the gods in Gale Town, which had shocked them.

    After all, the evil gods of the six towns were beyond even Nangong Wuji¡¯s ability to handle.

    The satisfaction of helping her godfather succeed was beyond compare.

    "Godfather, are you planning to use the Yinsheng Stone to become a true god and then confront the Great Plague Venerable? I¡¯ve heard that the Great Plague Venerable has three divine apertures, so you should be careful." Qi Qi added.

    In her mind, her godfather must be planning to slay the god by summoning the Great Plague Venerable.

    Her godfather would use the Yinsheng Stone to break through to the level of a true god.

    Then he would battle the Great Plague Venerable.

    Even though her godfather had just broken through to the level of a true god with only one divine aperture, she was certain that in his past life, he must have been extremely powerful, at least at the level of completing the three steps to ascend to heaven.

    Such a being could certainly fight beyond his level, taking on opponents with one or two more divine apertures.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. "I¡¯m only at the mid-Purple Mansion stage, not even close to perfection. Even with the Yinsheng Stone, I can¡¯t break through to the level of a true god."

    The Yinsheng Stone was indeed a precious treasure, but there were still limitations.

    "What?" Qi Qi was shocked. "Godfather, you¡¯re not at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage?"

    She couldn¡¯t understand how her godfather had managed to kill She Wolf if he wasn¡¯t at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage.

    Without reaching the peak, even with the Yinsheng Stone, her godfather wouldn¡¯t be able to ascend to the level of a true god.

    Wei Ting was powerful, being in the late Purple Mansion stage, but it would still take him half a month to reach perfection.

    What was her godfather thinking?

    "Of course I¡¯m not, I still have a long way to go. But if I kill a god venerable, I might reach the peak of the Purple Mansion stage." Qi Yuan said casually, eating a piece of pig head.

    Otherwise, why would he choose to cooperate with the new gods to summon the Great Plague Venerable?

    The Great Plague Venerable perfectly fit his ideal image as White Moonlight.

    First, he was old, definitely an elderly figure.

    Second, he was full of treasures. Killing him would not only grant Qi Yuan a massive amount of experience but also provide him with the evil divine power.

    A true god¡¯s evil divine power would be far more valuable than the scraps from the current Purple Mansion stage evil gods.

    Qi Yuan could then imagine even more powerful deities.

    If he could summon the likes of the Three Pure Ones, he would gladly lie down and do nothing.

    Of course, thinking about the Great Plague Venerable as a perfect match for his ideals was unrealistic; he certainly couldn¡¯t summon the Three Pure Ones.

    This made Qi Yuan think the Great Plague Venerable was rather useless.

    "Once the feast is over, I¡¯ll head back." Qi Yuan decided to return to Qingshui Village after the feast and head to the Mountain of Contemplation.

    At that moment, a voice called out, "Lord God, a guest has come to see you."

    "Oh? What kind of guest?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    He looked over and saw a man in a black robe approaching, led by Wei Ting.

    The black-robed man glanced at Qi Yuan, his demeanor arrogant. "So you¡¯re the god of Feihuang City?"

    When dealing with those who had defected to the new gods, one had to be arrogant and domineering.

    Those spineless cowards feared nothing more than someone like him.

    The black-robed man spoke with utter disregard and sat down directly in the empty seat next to Qi Yuan, looking entirely confident.

    Qi Yuan stared in surprise. "I don¡¯t recall inviting you to sit next to me."

    The black-robed man seemed not to hear Qi Yuan¡¯s words and instead pointed at Qi Qi. "This woman is beautiful. Is she your plaything? Lend her to me."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face darkened with anger. He struck without warning, punching the black-robed man in the stomach. "You¡¯ve got some nerve! You don¡¯t even have a ghost fire, not even dyed yellow hair, yet you dare to covet my daughter!"

    The punch was so powerful, infused with Qi Yuan¡¯s divine power, that it knocked the black-robed man to the ground.

    Qi Yuan was both speechless and furious.

    It seemed that having a beautiful daughter wasn¡¯t always a good thing. Now even this ghost-fire man¡ªno, a man without even ghost-fire¡ªwas eyeing his daughter.

    The black-robed man was shocked; he hadn¡¯t expected Qi Yuan to strike so suddenly.

    Typically, those who defected to the new gods were extremely cautious.

    Why had he attacked right away?

    "Origin Heavenly God, I am a member of the Lin Kingdom¡¯s royal guard, a follower of the True God Suihan!" The black-robed man quickly revealed his identity, hoping it would save him.

    Qi Yuan only became more annoyed. "A mere royal guard? Do you have health insurance and a pension? Do you have a house and a car? How dare you covet my daughter?

    And who is this Suihan True God? Is he retired? How much is his pension?"

    The black-robed man was stunned, suddenly feeling unprepared for this encounter.

    This Origin Celestial Venerable was unlike the usual cowards; he seemed a bit unhinged.

    He quickly said, "It¡¯s a misunderstanding, just a joke."

    At this point, he was lying on the ground, completely restrained, unable to move.

    "A reckless joker." Qi Yuan looked down at the black-robed man, scolding him. "Didn¡¯t your father ever teach you that a joke is only funny if the other person can appreciate it?"

    Next to him, Qi Qi was bewildered; everything had happened so suddenly that she hadn¡¯t even had time to react.

 Chapter 185: A Legend! White Xi Venerableâ€™s Offer

    Chapter 185: A Legend! White Xi Venerable¡¯s Offer

    The man in the black robe endured the pain and said, "This is all a misunderstanding. We both serve the new gods, so there''s no need for infighting."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan finally took a serious look at the black-robed man.

    "A small experience package?"

    The black-robed man suddenly felt a strange sense of fear. Despite the warmth in Qi Yuan''s eyes and even a hint of longing, what he felt was eerie.

    "Why did you come to find me?" Qi Yuan asked, showing some interest.

    Was he now playing the role of a double agent?

    He needed to look a bit more dashing, maintain a better demeanor, and say something profound to raise his prestige.

    "A woman from the Jiang Kingdom has fled to Feihuang City, carrying a great treasure."

    "Longkui?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    "... No, this woman''s name is Wang Wenqi, and she is a descendant of Tianbao Venerable. Half a month ago, she suddenly left the capital of the Jiang Kingdom under suspicious circumstances, seemingly carrying a great treasure. I was ordered by the True God Suihan to capture her and retrieve the treasure." The black-robed man spoke, mixing truth with lies.

    He hadn¡¯t received any orders from the True God Suihan, but he mentioned it to scare Qi Yuan.

    "Get to the point." Qi Yuan almost blurted out, "Hurry up and say it," but remembered he was playing the role of a double agent, which required maintaining some dignity. Saying something crude would make him look like a lowly thug.

    The black-robed man quickly said, "The problem is that there are several powerful members of the Wushi Sect in Feihuang City. I cannot handle them alone. I need the Origin Celestial Venerable to assist me. The treasure will be split fifty-fifty."Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com

    Qi Yuan looked at the black-robed man and asked, "Is that all?"

    The black-robed man sighed in relief. With the backing of the True God Suihan and the offer of a fifty-fifty split, he thought he had successfully convinced Qi Yuan.

    But then Qi Yuan said something unexpected: "I didn¡¯t have a choice before, but now I want to be a good person."

    Bang.

    He moved as if pulling a trigger, and the black-robed man''s head exploded, leaving him dead.

    Until his death, the black-robed man couldn¡¯t understand why this spineless traitor to the new gods had dared to kill him.

    Qi Yuan turned to Qi Qi, speaking like a concerned father, "If you ever bring home another old man like that, just kill him on the spot!"

    Not even a ghost fire.

    Qi Qi was silent for a while before finally saying, "Godfather, he wasn¡¯t someone I brought back."

    "Huh? Did I kill the wrong person?" Qi Yuan felt a bit embarrassed. "Let¡¯s eat!"

    After the feast, Qi Yuan returned to his dilapidated temple in Qingshui Village.

    It was already evening, and the sky was blood-red, casting a crimson glow over the entire village, making it look especially eerie.

    Qi Yuan entered the chat group.

    The group was fairly quiet at the moment.

    Qi Yuan asked in the group, "Do you guys know the surname of Tianbao Venerable?"

    It didn¡¯t take long for White Xi Venerable, who rarely spoke, to respond, "It should be Wang."

    "Thanks, big shot!" Qi Yuan replied.

    "Origin Heavenly God, are you preparing to perform another imagining?" White Xi Venerable asked. "Last time, when the Mountain of Contemplation flashed with golden light, you left the mountain. Did you imagine an epic being?"

    White Xi Venerable was referring to the time when Qi Yuan had imagined the Giant Spirit God.

    "Yes, it was me," Qi Yuan admitted.

    As soon as he said this, the group erupted.

    "Two epics?"

    "His talent rivals White Xi Venerable!"

    "East Heavenly Emperor, stop bragging about being a young heavenly emperor. It¡¯s clear that the Origin Heavenly God is the real heavenly emperor!" Divine Cat Venerable joked in the group.

    Even Black Dragon Venerable couldn¡¯t help but say, "I bow to the big shot!"

    Imagining two epic beings was unparalleled in the group.

    Even White Xi Venerable seemed slightly overshadowed by the Origin Celestial Venerable.

    "Sigh, it¡¯s nothing special. I¡¯ve only been imagining small fries. I feel like I¡¯m not doing well. It¡¯s just that the evil divine power is too little. Otherwise, I could imagine something stronger," Qi Yuan said truthfully.

    Who had he imagined so far?

    Howling Celestial Dog, Earth God, Giant Spirit God.

    These gods were well-known, but their power was somewhat lacking.

    But Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He planned to imagine something more powerful next.

    However, his sincere words sounded grating to the other gods in the group.

    "You little brat, you¡¯re even better at showing off than me!" East Jiang River said angrily.

    Thinking about how the Origin Heavenly God had imagined two epic beings, he felt a headache coming on.

    "Could it be that the fate of the East Dynasty is truly coming to an end, and I¡¯m about to become the East Vanquished Duke?"

    East Jiang River realized he couldn¡¯t accept this. He had to imagine a powerful god to reclaim his honor.

    "Yes, I was fortunate to imagine one."

    The ancient gods in the group swallowed hard.

    East Jiang River was seething with envy: "Am I really the weakest one in the group?"

    "Who did you imagine?" Black Dragon Venerable asked, trembling.

    How could there still be a god-imagining technique of this level?

    "I imagined the Heavenly King of the East, Dhritarashtra." Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

    The group members were baffled.

    "Why have I never heard of this true god?"

    "Nor have I."

    "Sigh, unfortunately, I don¡¯t have enough evil divine power. Otherwise, I would have imagined his three brothers as well."

    "He has three brothers?"

    "What are their powers? What are their names?" White Xi Venerable quickly asked.

    He wanted to know who this so-called Heavenly King of the East was.

    Since he didn¡¯t know, he thought he could figure it out through the names of his brothers.

    "Viran, Guhyaka, and Virupaksha. They are the Four Heavenly Kings, known as the Four Heavenly Generals. They all have similar power levels, but their strength is somewhat average."

    The group members looked at each other, bewildered.

    They had no idea who these four were.

    And the Origin Heavenly God¡¯s assessment¡ªcalling them average¡ªleft them even more confused.

    "So there are three other legendary god-imagining techniques... that you haven¡¯t imagined yet?" White Xi Venerable asked in the group.

    "Yes."

    The group members were shocked.

    At this point, White Xi Venerable quickly said, "Origin Heavenly God, why don¡¯t you leave the Lin Kingdom and go somewhere else? Your talent is too incredible to waste in the Lin Kingdom. Why not come to the Ancient God Alliance? I have a friend there! I could recommend you join!"

    White Xi Venerable was clearly trying to recruit him.

    The potential to imagine four legends was incredibly rare in the entire Mortal World.

    It could be said that the value of the Origin Heavenly God was not even inferior to that of a Great Venerable.

    Four legendary god-imagining techniques could definitely create four Great Venerables.

    Their power would be terrifying.

    "No thanks, I¡¯m busy right now and don¡¯t want to go anywhere else." Qi Yuan declined directly.

    After speaking, he exited the chat group.

    Meanwhile, in the distant eastern Tiger Kingdom.

    White Xi Venerable stared at the messages in the group, his expression shifting constantly. "This is a true prodigy!"

    How could he let such a prodigy slip through his fingers?

    He thought for a moment and lit a stick of incense in his room.

    Suddenly, an elderly man with white hair appeared, his gaze kind as he looked at White Xi Venerable.

    "White Xi, what do you need?"

    This white-haired old man was a terrifying ancient god at the level of a Great Venerable.

    Even his mere projection filled the palace with a suffocating pressure.

    "Master, I¡¯ve encountered a peerless genius!" White Xi Venerable quickly told the white-haired old man about the Origin Celestial Venerable.

    The white-haired old man¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Such a talent... if he grows, we could gain at least five more Great Venerables!"

    "Master, he¡¯s currently in the Lin Kingdom, which is a fallen region. Please, master, help him escape, or at least ensure his safety!" White Xi Venerable urged.

    The white-haired old man¡¯s gaze flickered. "He is indeed very talented, but... he¡¯s still far from the Child of Destiny. Right now, we¡¯re all focused on nurturing that Child of Destiny, so we can¡¯t spare the effort."

    The white-haired old man quickly made a decision.

    The Origin Heavenly God certainly piqued his interest, and his talent was exceptional.

    But compared to the Child of Destiny, who could imagine a mythical-level god, he was still lacking.

    "But..." White Xi Venerable hadn¡¯t expected this outcome but understood the priority.

    "But master, his talent and potential are truly extraordinary, far beyond mine!" White Xi Venerable tried once more.

    "The Child of Destiny must not fail. Since he¡¯s in a fallen region, I can¡¯t go there," the white-haired old man explained. "Four legends... that¡¯s quite impressive, but... even ten legends don¡¯t compare to one myth."

    "Master!" White Xi Venerable wanted to say more.

    "I know you don¡¯t want to see a talent wasted." The white-haired old man laughed. "Great Venerable Shenlei happens to be without a disciple, and he can¡¯t cultivate the Child of Destiny as we do. I¡¯ll inform him about this."

    White Xi Venerable sighed in relief. "Thank you, master."

    Great Venerable Shenlei¡¯s power might not be as great as his master¡¯s, and he had been severely injured, but he was still a Great Venerable!

 Chapter 186: The Furious Qi Yuan

    Chapter 186: The Furious Qi Yuan

    Thundercloud Valley.

    Great Venerable Shenlei bathed in lightning, his emaciated body sighing deeply, ¡°This lightning is still too weak; it can¡¯t heal my wounds.¡±

    Seventy years ago, one of his close friends betrayed the ancient gods and joined the ranks of the evil gods, infuriating Shenlei. In his rage, he fought two Great Venerables at once, severely injuring his former friend.

    But his own injuries were even more severe.

    ¡°I can still live for 300 more years... that¡¯s not bad,¡± Shenlei murmured as he assessed his body.

    His injuries were far too grave.

    Otherwise, as a Great Venerable, his lifespan would be measured in tens of thousands of years.

    Three hundred years would pass in the blink of an eye.Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com

    Just then, an ancient voice echoed.

    ¡°Great Venerable Shenlei, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± The speaker was the white-haired elder who had just finished conversing with White Xi Venerable.

    Shenlei¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and a bolt of lightning struck the white-haired elder.

    ¡°You¡¯re old enough to know better than to barge in without knocking! Is my body so fascinating?¡±

    The white-haired elder didn¡¯t take offense, laughing heartily. ¡°Great Venerable Shenlei, haven¡¯t you been searching for a worthy successor? I¡¯ve found one for you.¡±

    Shenlei frowned. ¡°If they¡¯re too weak, I¡¯d rather not bother.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re definitely not weak. If it weren¡¯t for the need to train the Child of Destiny, I wouldn¡¯t have given such a promising disciple to you.¡± The white-haired elder then told Shenlei about Qi Yuan.

    ¡°A legend?¡± Shenlei was somewhat surprised.

    A legendary god-imagining technique could almost certainly produce a Great Venerable.

    ¡°And according to him, there are three other true gods of the same level,¡± the white-haired elder added.

    Shenlei lowered his head, muttering, ¡°These Four Heavenly Kings... why haven¡¯t I heard of them before? And that Howling Celestial Dog, Earth God, and Giant Spirit God¡ªI¡¯ve never heard of them either.¡±

    The white-haired elder frowned, pondering, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of these true gods either.¡±

    ¡°Could they be from a divine lineage that never appeared on the front lines?¡± Shenlei speculated.

    During the Great Flood War, not all gods fought openly; some divine lineages carried out crucial, secretive missions.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not important. The question is, do you like this potential disciple?¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Shenlei said nonchalantly, but his whiskers practically curled in excitement.

    ¡°The true gods he imagines are unknown. Perhaps he knows of a god who controls lightning, which could help heal your injuries.¡±

    ¡°Hah, you¡¯re really reaching. It would take at least a legendary god-imagining technique for that to happen.¡± Shenlei kicked the white-haired elder. ¡°I need to get dressed. Get out!¡±

    The white-haired elder chuckled, ¡°Shenlei, don¡¯t be as reckless as before.¡±

    Shenlei had always been impulsive, charging into battle like a brute.

    If he hadn¡¯t recklessly fought two Great Venerables back then, he wouldn¡¯t have suffered such severe injuries.

    ¡°Do I need your advice?¡± Shenlei glared at the white-haired elder.

    ¡°Poor kid, whoever becomes your disciple will have to constantly persuade you to be cautious, not reckless.¡± The white-haired elder left, still laughing.

    ¡°Get out, I need to prepare for my journey!¡± Shenlei called out.

    Even for him, entering a fallen region required caution.

    Otherwise, he might face death.

    The fallen region had more than one Great Venerable.

    In the north, there was even a Great Venerable who had taken five steps toward heaven.

    Shenlei didn¡¯t even entertain the idea of fighting such a being, who could easily kill him.

    One day later.

    Feihuang City.

    Wang Wenqi gazed out the window at the continuous rain, her eyes filled with sorrow.

    She thought of the Jiang Kingdom, her family, and her great-grandfather.

    The maid beside her, also affected by the gloomy weather, said, ¡°Miss, when will we leave Feihuang City? I want to see the snow in the Jiang Kingdom again.¡±

    It was raining in the Lin Kingdom, but snowing in the Jiang Kingdom.

    Wang Wenqi stared blankly at the snow outside. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Originally, she had come to Feihuang City on her great-grandfather¡¯s instructions to find the Origin Celestial Venerable.

    But now, the Origin Celestial Venerable was collaborating with the new gods.

    Her great-grandfather had died at the hands of an evil god. How could she give her great-grandfather¡¯s belongings to the Origin Heavenly God?

    Earlier that day, at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, she had met several important figures of Feihuang City, including Weak Feather, the ancient god of Stone Sand Town.

    Everyone was deeply wary of the Origin Heavenly God.

    Most of them believed that the Origin Heavenly God had chosen to survive by collaborating with the new gods.

    In the past, she might have been sympathetic toward those who sought to survive by collaborating with the new gods.

    What if the Great Plague Venerable was a coward and got scared off? Because of this, he had only given Wang Wenqi the god-imagining technique for Dhritarashtra and hadn¡¯t yet had her consume the treasures to break through to the level of a true god.

    This time, Wang Wenqi had brought him five treasures that could help someone at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage break through to become a true god.

    Though Qi Yuan had never met Tianbao Venerable, he was deeply grateful.

    He also remembered Zhang Feng¡¯s name.

    ¡°He probably won¡¯t be scared. The Circle God has been in a deep slumber, severely wounded. Even if he awakens, he won¡¯t have much strength,¡± Wang Wenqi replied.

    ¡°Good. I¡¯m just worried... that he might be too scared to descend.¡±

    The altar preparations continued.

    In an unknown space, a voice echoed.

    ¡°Great Plague Venerable, aren¡¯t you afraid someone is setting you up?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, if I were that timid, I wouldn¡¯t have become a true god!¡±

    ¡°Then why are you burning through your divine power to force an early descent?¡±

    ¡°That boy is too strange. I can¡¯t give him any more time.¡±

    ¡°May your journey be smooth, Great Plague Venerable!¡±

    The Great Plague Venerable ignored the voice and stepped into the membrane.

    Suddenly, the sound of a massive heartbeat and chewing filled the air.

    The Great Plague Venerable¡¯s divine power rapidly diminished.

    Above his three divine apertures, powerful light shone brightly.

    ¡°So hungry, so hungry, so very hungry!¡± The Great Plague Venerable couldn¡¯t help but roar.

    A fierce hunger gripped him, making him want to cut off his own flesh and eat it.

    After what felt like an eternity, the starving Great Plague Venerable suddenly burst into laughter.

    ¡°The Mortal World... I¡¯ve finally arrived!¡±

    At that moment, in the night sky above Gale Town, a colossal figure appeared.

    He roared in delight, his expression ecstatic.

    The aura of a true god spread across the land, as if the entire world was shrouded in mist.

    The residents of Gale Town were shocked.

    ¡°The Great Plague Venerable... has descended early!¡±

    ¡°How is that possible?¡±

    In the City Lord¡¯s Mansion of Feihuang City, the powerful figures there sensed the aura, their faces turning pale.

    ¡°The Great Plague Venerable!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s descended early!¡±

    ¡°He must have sensed a threat. We¡¯re doomed!¡±

    ¡°Where is the Circle God? Hasn¡¯t he awakened yet?¡±

    Huang Mengying looked up at the terrifying figure in the sky, her expression grim. ¡°The Circle God... can¡¯t wake up in time. It¡¯s up to the Origin Celestial Venerable now.¡±

    The people in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion felt a deep sense of impending doom, overwhelmed by the crisis.

    At the same time, Qi Yuan looked at the terrifying figure in the sky and was slightly surprised. ¡°Finally using his brain, but not much.¡±

    Wang Wenqi, seeing this, immediately swallowed the Yinsheng Stone.

    Instantly, the spiritual power within her body transformed into divine power.

    A divine aperture quickly formed.

    The realm of a true god... was within reach!

    But just then, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed. ¡°Oh no, someone¡¯s going to steal my kill!¡±

    A hearty laugh echoed, ¡°Good disciple, let me give you a greeting gift!¡±

    From the nine heavens above, vast lightning descended, terrifying thunder serpents, each capable of slaying a god.

    Qi Yuan shouted at the top of his lungs, ¡°Please, spare his life a little! Don¡¯t steal my kill!¡±

    He really wanted to curse the person for being shameless, but they were a Great Venerable! As the former Moonwatching Venerable, Qi Yuan knew the power and terror of a Great Venerable.

    Anyone below four steps toward heaven was an ant, not just a saying.

    The difference between a Great Venerable and a regular Venerable lay in their divine domain! Within their divine domain, a Great Venerable could kill a regular Venerable with a snap of their fingers.

    So, he chose to back down!

    Meanwhile, the Great Plague Venerable was both hungry and terrified. Poor old man, he had finally managed to descend after much hardship.

    And what did he encounter? A Great Venerable!

    A Great Venerable, lying in wait for a true god with three divine apertures¡ªwas this even fair?

    ¡°You... shameless!¡±

 Chapter 187: The Origin of the Treasures

    Chapter 187: The Origin of the Treasures

    How could the Great Plague Venerable not be furious?

    What had he done to deserve being ambushed by a Great Venerable? The terrifying thunder serpents surrounding him could each slay a true god who had taken the first step toward heaven.

    In the face of such a formidable opponent, he had no chance to resist.

    At that moment, Great Venerable Shenlei stood in the sky, the wind howling around him, his hair thick and short.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice reached his ears, and he hesitated for a moment before reaching out with a large hand.

    In an instant, the once-powerful Great Plague Venerable was reduced to a small piece of charred flesh.

    Great Venerable Shenlei held the fragment in his hand and appeared before Qi Yuan. ¡°Disciple, you spoke too slowly, but luckily, he¡¯s still got a bit of life left.¡±

    Shenlei opened his wide palm, revealing a small, charred piece of meat¡ªmore cooked than anything you¡¯d find in a roast meat shop.

    Yet, despite its appearance, it was still alive.

    Qi Yuan eyed the fragment, his gaze flickering. ¡°Can I have it, sir?¡±

    He could sense that the powerful figure before him was indeed a Great Venerable.

    Though not as powerful as the Moonwatching Venerable, this was still a Great Venerable, far beyond his current ability to contend with.

    A true man knows when to bend and when to stand tall.

    ¡°I said I¡¯d give you a gift, so of course, it¡¯s yours.¡± Shenlei handed the charred piece of flesh to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan looked at the piece of meat, and his sword appeared, glowing with intense light.

    He was ready to kill the god and gain experience.

    ¡°Take this, old thing!¡± Qi Yuan shouted, having long coveted this "white moonlight" target.

    He had meticulously plotted and planned to finally bring this about.

    The experience and evil divine power couldn¡¯t go to waste.

    Bang!

    As the sword collided with the fragment, an embarrassing thing happened.

    Qi Yuan almost stumbled.

    The piece of meat was too tough; he couldn¡¯t even cut through it with his sword.

    Seeing this, Shenlei burst into hearty laughter. ¡°You need to eat more meat and build up some strength. Look at those scrawny arms and legs¡ªyou probably couldn¡¯t even manage three thousand women in one night.¡±

    He knew Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t yet a true god.

    Without becoming a true god, how could he fight one? Even with this tiny piece of flesh before him, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t cut through it.

    Shenlei had been looking forward to seeing Qi Yuan struggle.

    The citizens in the fiefdom wanted to laugh but dared not, knowing they had to maintain the god¡¯s dignity.

    At that moment, Wang Wenqi, who was beside Qi Yuan, plucked her pipa strings.

    A sharp, piercing sound rang out, and the piece of flesh instantly turned to ash.

    In that instant, a torrent of experience flowed into Qi Yuan¡¯s body.

    Having just reached level 70, his level soared, reaching 89 before stopping just shy of 90.

    Powerful evil divine power also fell into Qi Yuan¡¯s hands.

    Feeling elated, Qi Yuan turned to the burly, short-haired old man, his gaze appreciative. ¡°Sir, your strength is impressive.¡±

    ¡°And your talent isn¡¯t bad either,¡± Shenlei replied, scrutinizing Qi Yuan. ¡°In ancient times, which faction were you from?¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at Shenlei and leaned in to whisper, ¡°My identity is a bit special. I¡¯ll tell you, but you mustn¡¯t share it with anyone else.¡±

    Shenlei nodded, understanding that Qi Yuan was likely on some special mission. How else would he know so many true gods that even Shenlei hadn¡¯t heard of?

    ¡°I belong to... the Dragon Group of China!¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    The Dragon Group of China¡ªwho hasn¡¯t heard of it? Full of talented individuals, producing the likes of the Four Heavenly Kings, was perfectly normal.

    ¡°The Dragon Group of China?¡± Shenlei murmured the name, feeling a sense of gravity and importance in those words. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it, but just hearing it for the first time... it feels extraordinary.¡±

    ¡°Sir, are you interested in joining the Dragon Group? If you join now, I can appoint you as the captain of a special operations team.¡± Qi Yuan continued, trying to persuade him.

    The strength of a Great Venerable was certainly worth recruiting.

    Shenlei chuckled, his eyes playful. ¡°I came to take you as my disciple, not to join some Dragon Group. Do you think my strength is up to the task? Come, be my disciple. I¡¯ll treat you well.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked surprised. ¡°You want to take me as a disciple?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Your strength... it¡¯s not quite there.¡±

    Shenlei¡¯s smile froze on his face.

    ¡°I cultivate with the five elemental energies, have a Heavenly Dao foundation, and condense a stellar golden core... your strength is just so-so. You could perhaps be a member of my team, maybe as a special effects artist.¡± Qi Yuan continued.

    He had music and BGM, but he was still lacking in the special effects department for his expeditions.

    Shenlei¡¯s boundless sea of lightning and terrifying thunder god form would certainly suffice for special effects.

    ¡°This is interesting.¡± Shenlei squinted. ¡°Do you have a master?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yuan replied, looking at Shenlei. ¡°I don¡¯t know how strong my master is, but... she¡¯s definitely much stronger than you. Even though I¡¯ve formed a stellar golden pill, I wouldn¡¯t dare to confront her.¡±

    Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    His master, Ruan Yixi, had always seemed mysterious to him.

    ¡°Your master sounds intriguing. Where is she?¡± Shenlei inquired.

    He pondered, guessing that Qi Yuan¡¯s master might be the leader of this so-called Dragon Group of China.

    Could it be that she was a powerful figure who had taken six or even seven steps toward heaven?

    If that were the case, he wouldn¡¯t dare to challenge her.

    ¡°My master is a bit shy. I keep calling her ¡®wife,¡¯ and she got embarrassed and ran away.¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    ¡°Someone, bring Ma Po over,¡± the woman in the robe ordered.

    Soon, an old woman entered the palace.

    The old woman¡¯s expression was a bit dazed, her eyes clouded, and she seemed mentally unwell.

    ¡°Ma Po, the guardian god of Qingshui Village you mentioned likely has true god-level strength. Initially, he wasn¡¯t qualified to attend the Hundred Flowers Festival, but given our long friendship, I¡¯ll give him an invitation.¡± The woman handed the invitation to Ma Po.

    Ma Po¡¯s eyes cleared for a moment as she took the invitation. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    The woman smiled. ¡°There¡¯s no need for thanks between us. But you should remind that ancient god to keep a low profile at the festival. The guests this time are all of very high status. If he offends someone, even I won¡¯t be able to help.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡± Ma Po nodded.

    The woman looked at Ma Po, her gaze tinged with nostalgia. ¡°Our two clans were once close allies, great families in ancient times. What a shame...¡±

    The North Sea God-Eye was inhabited by aquatic beings.

    Without the permission of these beings, not even true gods could enter the North Sea God-Eye.

    Because of this and other geographical advantages, no evil god had yet dared to target the North Sea God-Eye.

    In the Northern Lands, it was one of the safest places.

    Every year, many true gods sought refuge in the North Sea God-Eye.

    Ma Po¡¯s eyes flashed with determination. ¡°The Phoenix Clan will rise from the ashes!¡±

    She knew that if she could take her young mistress back to the ancestral land, the mistress would have a chance to inherit the Phoenix Clan¡¯s legacy and restore its glory.

    The Phoenix Clan had once produced several powerful beings who had taken six steps toward heaven.

    In ancient times, they were among the great powers.

    Qingshui Village.

    Qi Yuan held the treasures in his hand, his expression complicated.

    ¡°These five treasures... can¡¯t help me break through to the true god stage?¡±

    After reaching level 89, Qi Yuan had intended to break through to the true god stage.

    But despite preparing five treasures, he had a premonition that they wouldn¡¯t be enough to achieve the breakthrough.

    He glanced at the five treasures.

    ¡¾Mysterious Spirit Armor: Its origins are somewhat mysterious. It can help one break through to the true god stage.¡¿

    ...

    ¡¾Three Joy Jade: Its origins are somewhat mysterious. It can help one break through to the true god stage.¡¿

    ¡°They clearly state they can help... so why can¡¯t I use them? Could it be... I¡¯m not human?¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at the treasures, feeling both strange and curious.

    He decided to step out of the temple.

    He immediately saw his adopted daughter Qi Qi and Great Venerable Shenlei.

    Since coming to Qingshui Village, Shenlei had initially intended to take Qi Yuan as his disciple.

    But after meeting Qi Qi, he had considered taking her instead.

    Unfortunately, Qi Qi refused.

    Why work hard herself when she could rely on her godfather¡¯s efforts? ¡°Qi Qi, your talent is no less than your godfather¡¯s. You shouldn¡¯t waste it!¡± Shenlei urged.

    Qi Qi shook her head. ¡°No need to say more. I refuse.¡±

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s laughter rang out. ¡°Qi Qi did the right thing. If you acknowledge him as your master, he¡¯ll be on the same level as me. That¡¯s too much of a loss for me.¡±

    Shenlei¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s beneath you to be on the same level as me?¡±

    ¡°A little bit,¡± Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    If looks could kill, Shenlei would have murdered Qi Yuan dozens of times over. ¡°You little brat, your mouth is even nastier than mine. Be careful, or you¡¯ll bring disaster upon yourself!¡±

    Despite his words, Shenlei found himself quite fond of Qi Yuan.

    Otherwise, a guy who wasn¡¯t even a true god wouldn¡¯t dare act so boldly in front of him.

    ¡°I brush my teeth every day. My mouth isn¡¯t nasty.¡± Qi Yuan retorted, grinning. ¡°Would you like me to recommend a toothpaste... maybe Naais Tooth Tooth Fun? It¡¯d be perfect for you.¡±

    Shenlei rolled his eyes. ¡°Weren¡¯t you preparing to break through to the true god stage? Why are you out here?¡±

    Qi Yuan took out the five treasures, his expression melancholic. ¡°Sigh, for some reason, these treasures can¡¯t help me break through.¡±

    Shenlei was surprised. ¡°Can¡¯t break through?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, can¡¯t.¡± Qi Yuan nodded firmly.

    Shenlei¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding. ¡°These treasures can indeed help people break through to the true god stage. But... some true prodigies, with immense potential, might need more than one treasure to break through. You... are one of those prodigies? I didn¡¯t see that coming.¡±

    He was astonished. Such prodigies were exceedingly rare.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression fell. ¡°That¡¯s so extreme?¡±

    He knew that treasures like the Yinsheng Stone were in limited supply in this world.

    Or rather, there were only so many of them.

    If his breakthrough was restricted by this, wouldn¡¯t it mean that summoning someone like Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun would be impossible even with these treasures?

    ¡°To explain this, we must go back to ancient times,¡± Shenlei began, gazing at the treasures in Qi Yuan¡¯s hands. ¡°Do you know what these treasures are?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Yuan was puzzled.

    ¡°These treasures are actually... the remnants of the Wushi Holy Mother after her death,¡± Shenlei explained, his voice filled with sorrow. ¡°During the Great Flood War, the Wushi Holy Mother was the most powerful ancient god in the Mortal World. Her strength was just a step away from surpassing the true god stage. But, unfortunately, she fell in battle against the evil gods.

    When the evil gods invaded, they shattered the Pillar of Heaven, making it impossible for anyone in the Mortal World to break through to the true god stage. The Wushi Holy Mother couldn¡¯t bear this, so before she died, she transformed herself into these treasures, leaving an alternative path for the people of the Mortal World.¡±

    Qi Yuan was moved by this revelation.

    The Wushi Holy Mother¡¯s sacrifice was akin to a whale¡¯s fall, giving life to countless beings.

    ¡°Because of this, if someone¡¯s talent exceeds that of the Wushi Holy Mother, a single treasure might not be enough for them to break through to the true god stage. In fact, some exceptionally gifted individuals might not be able to break through even with multiple treasures,¡± Shenlei explained slowly.

    Although the Wushi Holy Mother had been the greatest figure in the Mortal World, her talent wasn¡¯t the absolute peak.

 Chapter 188: The Proud Shenlei Grand Venerable

    Chapter 188: The Proud Shenlei Grand Venerable

    "I once met a supreme prodigy who was just one step away from becoming a true god. Unfortunately, his talent was so overwhelming that it even surpassed that of the Wushi Holy Mother. No matter how many treasures were given to him, he couldn¡¯t break through to the true god stage," said Shenlei Grand Venerable, his eyes filled with sorrow and endless sadness.

    This was why, even if a true dragon were born, it would be impossible for it to break through to the true god stage.

    "I hope your talent isn''t too extraordinary, kid... Otherwise, it¡¯ll be quite interesting if you can¡¯t break through to the true god stage," Shenlei''s sadness quickly turned to nonchalance, and he chuckled.

    Qi Yuan''s face turned blank as he absorbed this information: "So you''re saying that if one''s talent exceeds that of the Wushi Holy Mother, using the treasures she left behind won¡¯t help them break through to the true god stage?"

    "Exactly." Shenlei nodded earnestly, smiling. "But don¡¯t worry. Your talent is impressive, but it surely doesn¡¯t surpass the Wushi Holy Mother. How many people in this world could have talent greater than hers? Perhaps not even a handful. In the path of cultivation, talent alone isn¡¯t everything."

    "I''m doomed... What if I am stronger than her?" Qi Yuan muttered, feeling this was a real possibility. "Did the Wushi Holy Mother have a Dao of Heaven foundation? Did she condense a stellar golden pill?"

    Shenlei felt choked up. "Could you stop boasting? Even the chosen ones of destiny don''t brag like you!"

    Qi Yuan felt even more dejected. "So, having too much talent is a curse. I used to hear people say that rich folks have their own troubles, and I¡¯d scoff. What could be so difficult about eating ten buns in one sitting? But now I get it. This must be the rich man¡¯s dilemma¡ªhaving a stomach too small to enjoy more than one bun at a time."

    Nearby, Qi Qi smiled softly. "Godfather, let''s go find more treasures. I¡¯m sure you can reach the true god stage."

    "No, I suddenly feel like I¡¯ve been too optimistic. I used to dream of bringing all the powerful immortals of our Heavenly Court into existence through my visualizations. But now it seems that many of those immortals are far stronger than the Wushi Holy Mother. Even if I visualize them, they won¡¯t be able to break through to the true god stage."

    Qi Yuan felt utterly disheartened. This meant he might only be able to visualize weaker figures.

    "Wasn¡¯t it the Dragon Group of China? Now it¡¯s the Heavenly Court?" Shenlei looked perplexed.

    "They started in the Heavenly Court, then joined the Dragon Group of China," Qi Yuan explained. "Eventually, they followed the crooked-toothed Dragon King."

    Shenlei didn¡¯t want to continue this conversation. "Stop with the nonsense, Origin Celestial Venerable. Are you really saying your Heavenly Court is filled with so many talented individuals?"

    "Yes," Qi Yuan affirmed. "The Four Heavenly Kings are just small fry. Take someone like Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, Nezha, the True Martial Great Emperor, Zhenyuan Daxian, or even the Buddha himself¡ªany one of them could easily suppress all opposition!"

    "Are they really that strong?" Shenlei was skeptical.

    "Extremely strong!"

    "Never heard of them. You sure you didn¡¯t just make them up?"

    "How could a god lie?" Qi Yuan felt sure of himself. These divine figures existed vividly in his memory.

    Shenlei wasn¡¯t convinced. "I¡¯ll believe it when I see you actually visualize them."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s worry deepened. "Besides these treasures, is there any other way to break through to the true god stage?"

    "Unless... the broken Pillar of Heaven is restored," Shenlei said.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. "We can fix the Pillar of Heaven!"

    "Legend has it that a god, surpassing the true god stage, dwells within the broken Pillar of Heaven. Origin Celestial Venerable, I have high hopes for you. If you can repair the Pillar, you¡¯ll be the greatest benefactor of our world, and I¡¯ll even call you master!" Shenlei teased.

    "Yang God?" Qi Yuan immediately dismissed the thought.

    He had heard from his daughter Qi Jianjun that Yang Gods, at full power, could even swallow a star. His Stellar Golden Pill, situated in another universe, would only project a shadow and couldn¡¯t contend with Yang Gods. Facing Yang Gods, Qi Yuan was still very much afraid.

    "Yang Gods isn¡¯t that big of a deal. Your Dragon Group, or Heavenly Court, could just send someone like the Buddha to fix it," Shenlei said.

    "You make a good point, but even if I visualize the Buddha, my followers won¡¯t be able to break through to the true god stage or truly wield the Buddha¡¯s power. How could they repair the Pillar?" Qi Yuan pondered seriously.

    The visualization methods only allowed his followers to cultivate quickly and borrow some power from the gods they visualized. It didn¡¯t mean they would actually become those gods.

    "You¡¯re really letting this get to your head, huh?" Shenlei was at a loss for words, seeing how seriously Qi Yuan was considering all this.

    At that moment, Qi Qi blinked at Shenlei. "Grand Venerable Shenlei, why not give my godfather some treasures and see how many it takes for him to break through to the true god stage?"

    Shenlei spread his hands. "I¡¯m just an old bachelor¡ªI don¡¯t have any treasures."

    "Just as I thought," Qi Yuan said. "Your face says it all¡ªno way you¡¯re going to drop any loot."

    Shenlei glared at Qi Yuan. "Stop insulting me with words I don¡¯t understand!"

    "I wasn¡¯t insulting you. I was just saying you¡¯re an old master. That¡¯s a compliment, meaning you¡¯re wise and knowledgeable," Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    Shenlei looked doubtful.

    "Master Shenlei, with all your wisdom, surely you can suggest another way to break through to the true god stage?" Qi Yuan asked humbly.

    "There¡¯s no other way, except to fix the Pillar of Heaven," Shenlei said firmly. But then he added, "You¡¯re getting off track. How could your talent surpass the Wushi Holy Mother¡¯s? Just gather more treasures, and you should be fine. Why worry about such things?"

    "Sigh, how can the sparrow understand the swan''s ambitions?" Qi Yuan lamented, deciding not to pursue the matter further.

    He felt that if this problem wasn¡¯t resolved, he¡¯d be stuck visualizing only lower-level gods like the Four Heavenly Kings. Anything stronger would be out of reach.

    "A legendary-level god? That¡¯s quite the talent. I¡¯m actually in need of a disciple. How about passing him over to me?"

    "Get lost, you already have seven disciples!"

    "A legendary-level god isn¡¯t bad at all, but it¡¯s still not enough to be my final disciple. My final disciple visualized two legendary gods and seven epic ones," one of the group members boasted.

    Hearing this, Shenlei was quite pleased. "Sigh, it¡¯s just that his talent is a bit lacking. Otherwise, I¡¯d reluctantly take him as a disciple."

    Shenlei had a simple goal for joining the group chat¡ªto show off. But first, he needed to lower expectations a bit.

    Soon, Qi Yuan would shock everyone by visualizing three legendary gods at once, and Shenlei would enjoy their stunned reactions.

    "That guy is about to start. We should see the golden light on the Visualization Mountain and hear the sound of a hundred birds soon. If he visualizes three gods, I¡¯ll reluctantly take him as a registered disciple," Shenlei boasted.

    "Grand Venerable Shenlei, you¡¯re too much. Three visualized gods, and you¡¯ll only take him as a registered disciple?"

    "Grand Venerable Shenlei, stop pretending. That was Origin Celestial Venerable, the one I recommended to you, right?"

    "Hey, don¡¯t spill the beans!" Shenlei hurriedly replied.

    Part of his consciousness drifted into the Visualization Mountain.

    Suddenly, the mountain was bathed in golden light, accompanied by the sound of a hundred birds.

    Shenlei smiled. "Alright, one legendary god down."

    "Not bad. He¡¯s worthy of being a registered disciple," commented one of the ancient gods in the group.

    The ancient gods in the group were quite excited to see the golden light, as a legendary god could potentially lead to the rise of a great venerable in the future.

    Suddenly, the Visualization Mountain was illuminated by golden light again, flashing twice.

    "Three gods?" The group members were stunned.

    "Grand Venerable Shenlei, was this your plan all along?"

    "You¡¯re quite the schemer!"

    "This ancient god is definitely worthy of being your direct disciple. Why didn¡¯t you recommend him to me, Grand Venerable Baigu?"

    As they chatted, Qi Yuan was in the Visualization Mountain, happily surveying the remaining evil god power.

    He was thrilled. "This Yin God-level power is incredibly efficient! I¡¯ve visualized three of the Four Heavenly Kings and still have over ninety percent left? No way, I need to visualize more... How about the Eighteen Arhats?"

    With that in mind, Qi Yuan prepared to continue his visualization.

    Meanwhile, in the chat group, Shenlei was getting carried away with the praise. "With this, I now have four legendary gods. I guess I can reluctantly take him as a disciple."

    "Grand Venerable Shenlei, you¡¯re so easily swayed. We compliment you once, and you start showing off? You don¡¯t need to overdo it."

    "Give me twenty treasures, and I¡¯ll hand him over to you," Shenlei replied, boldly demanding a high price.

    "Forget it. Treasures are more important. This disciple is excellent, but not worth twenty treasures."

    Just as these words were spoken, the Visualization Mountain was suddenly illuminated by golden light again.

    Once, twice, thrice... ten times...

    The group members were left dumbfounded.

    Shenlei, too, was at a loss for words, as a terrifying thought began to take shape in his mind.

    The golden light continued to flash.

    With each flash, the hearts of the grand venerables in the group skipped a beat.

    Finally, the golden light stopped after eighteen flashes.

    By now, the Visualization Mountain wasn¡¯t just filled with the sound of a hundred birds¡ªit was like the chorus of a thousand birds.

    The venerables who had been chatting just moments ago stared in disbelief.

    "Did I see that right?"

    "Eighteen flashes... How is that possible?"

    "Are they all legendary?"

    "Is this really your disciple, Grand Venerable Shenlei?"

    "Grand Venerable Shenlei, where are you right now? I¡¯ve prepared twenty treasures. I¡¯m coming to take my disciple right away!"

 Chapter 189: Some People Are Powerful, Not Because They Are Special

    Chapter 189: Some People Are Powerful, Not Because They Are Special

    A single legendary visualization would make a Grand Venerable take notice and regard someone with respect. Four legendary visualizations would be enough to make a Grand Venerable consider taking someone as a direct disciple.

    But... twenty?

    What does that even mean? None of the Grand Venerables present had any concept of it.

    They had never seen a situation where an ancient god visualized 21 legendary-level gods all at once.

    Twenty-one visualizations of this caliber could, in theory, create twenty-one Grand Venerables, given enough resources and time.

    Of course, reaching the Grand Venerable stage is exceedingly difficult, but stepping into the third realm of ascension is absolutely within reach.

    "Grand Venerable Shenlei, where is my brother-in-law? I¡¯m coming to bring him back right now!"

    "I don''t have twenty treasures, but I have twenty daughters. As long as they get along with your disciple, they can all marry him!"

    "Grand Venerable Shenlei, you didn¡¯t want to take him as your disciple before, but now he probably wouldn¡¯t want to accept you as his master."

    Everyone in the group chat was losing their minds.

    A set of legendary-level visualizations like this, appearing all at once, was simply terrifying.

    Shenlei Grand Venerable was also in a state of shock. Looking at the chat, he fiercely replied, "Get lost!"

    Meanwhile, in the group chat Qi Yuan was in, everyone was completely dumbfounded.

    Dongjiang He spoke slowly, "Did I develop an eye disease?"

    "Dongzi, no, you didn''t." The Divine Cat Venerable replied, also struggling to accept what had happened. "Those golden lights just now, could they have been from Origin Heavenly God?"

    "No way, right?" Dongjiang He swallowed hard. "I just made a comment about how visualizing three legendary gods was tough and told Origin Heavenly God not to push himself, and he responded by showing me over twenty?"

    Just moments ago, Origin Heavenly God had entered the chat to talk about visualization. Dongjiang He, recalling what Origin Heavenly God had said about the Four Heavenly Kings, was still somewhat skeptical.

    But afraid of being proven wrong, he had only made a vague comment.

    And now...

    Over twenty legendary gods?

    Is this even real? Is there any logic left in the world? Does his casual remark have this kind of power?

    "If this really was Origin Heavenly God, I think, Dongzi, you should step down and adopt him as your godfather!"

    "If there are really twenty-one legendary gods, I''d also be willing to call Origin Heavenly God my godfather!" someone else chimed in.

    Everyone in the group was incredibly excited.

    Ancient gods in the Mortal Heart World rarely went to the Visualization Mountain to visualize.

    So, there was a 99% chance that the golden lights and the sounds of thousands of birds were the work of Origin Celestial Venerable!

    At that moment, Qi Yuan exited the Visualization Mountain and looked at the group chat. He quickly said,

    "I¡¯m still young; I don¡¯t accept godsons!"

    If he accidentally adopted a treacherous figure like Lu? Bu, it would be disastrous.

    It¡¯s much better to adopt obedient goddaughters like Qi Qi.

    Seeing the messages in the group, Qi Yuan quickly left, fearing he might be hounded by men wanting to be his godson.

    In the chat, the others were left in awe.

    "It really was Origin Heavenly God. Terrifying!"

    "Dongjiang He, you¡¯re too unfortunate. Origin Heavenly God doesn¡¯t even want you as a godson!"

    "If only the Tianbao Venerable had known about this," someone lamented.

    Mentioning the Tianbao Venerable brought silence to the once-bustling group chat.

    After leaving the chat, Qi Yuan now had twenty-one visualization methods.

    At this moment, Shenlei Grand Venerable urgently appeared before Qi Yuan.

    "Was that you in the Visualization Mountain?" Shenlei asked.

    "Yes," Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    "Who exactly are you?" Shenlei scrutinized Qi Yuan, trying to discern his origins.

    "Me?" Qi Yuan pondered for a moment, unsure of how to answer. He had never really thought about it before.

    As he thought, he became more and more puzzled.

    "By the shores of Lake July, some call me the Faceless Sword God. In Wugui City, others call me the Blood Demon. In the Ascension Pavilion, some refer to me as the Moonwatching Grand Venerable. These are all me... but am I really them?"

    "Moonwatching Grand Venerable?" Shenlei seized on this keyword. "You were a Grand Venerable in your previous life? Why have I never heard of this title?"

    He ignored Qi Yuan''s other ramblings, having learned to only focus on what he could understand when speaking with Qi Yuan.

    "I¡¯ve got it!" Qi Yuan suddenly had an epiphany. "Is it possible... that you are me? The stars in the sky are all me, and so are all the living beings on earth?"

    Shenlei furrowed his brow. "Are you having a breakdown? How could I be you, and how could the stars be you?"

    "Why not?" Qi Yuan seemed to understand something. "A regular cat sees its reflection in a mirror and is startled because it lacks self-awareness and can¡¯t recognize itself. You think you¡¯re not me, but that¡¯s just because your perception is limited. You can¡¯t comprehend that you are me. The stars in the sky can¡¯t comprehend it either, but once they do, they¡¯ll realize they are me."

    "Enough nonsense!" Shenlei glared at Qi Yuan. "Want me to use my lightning techniques to help you understand?"

    "No need, I¡¯m not addicted to gaming, so I don¡¯t need electroshock therapy," Qi Yuan joked. "Just kidding, I¡¯m merely creating my own Qi Yuan Sutra and had a sudden realization."

    He definitely wasn¡¯t ready to withstand the Grand Venerable''s lightning.

    "You people in the Dragon Group of China are truly full of talent!" Shenlei said. "Twenty-one legendary visualizations? These incredibly precious visualization methods could create twenty-one true gods or even Grand Venerables. You¡¯d better think carefully about which worthy people you give them to."

    "No need. I¡¯ll just pick some at random. Why make it so complicated?" Qi Yuan replied.

    Shenlei was dumbfounded.

    Qi Yuan said confidently, "Some people are powerful, not because they¡¯re special, but because I chose them."

    "That¡¯s such a waste of these visualizations!" Shenlei protested.

    "It¡¯s not a waste. There are plenty more where these came from. In the Heavenly Court, there are the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, Sixty Jiazi Gods, and a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals. As long as there¡¯s enough evil god power, I can visualize anyone."

    But for Qi Yuan, the three things he lacked most were: evil god power, treasures to break through to the true god stage, and a method for him and the powerful Heavenly Court deities to break through to that stage.

    "You sure like to boast. A hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals? If the Mortal Heart World had those, the Great Flood War wouldn¡¯t have been such a disaster!"

    "See? Your perception is limited. Everyone has their own limitations," Qi Yuan said, assuming the role of a motivational speaker, offering Shenlei a free lesson.

    Not only the Subduing Dragon Arhat but also the Subduing Tiger Arhat faced the same issue.

    Both Arhats couldn¡¯t use the treasures; there was no reaction.

    "What a pity," Qi Yuan sighed, looking at Zhao Zun and the other man. "Don¡¯t blame yourselves; it¡¯s the high-level visualization method that makes these treasures ineffective."

    Hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words, Zhao Zun felt a mix of emotions.

    This was truly... absurd.

    For him, he wasn¡¯t sure if this was good news or bad news.

    "No matter, there will be other opportunities to break through in the future." Qi Yuan retrieved the two treasures.

    He pointed at two other men. "You look the happiest, and you have long eyebrows, so you two can break through first."

    The two men, who had visualized the Happy Arhat and Long-Browed Arhat, were thrilled as they received the treasures.

    With the treasures, they quickly broke through to the true god stage.

    Immediately, a terrifying aura spread throughout the area.

    Shenlei Grand Venerable was amazed. "These people aren¡¯t ordinary true gods. They¡¯ve only opened one divine aperture, yet they can already fight against those with three apertures."

    The true god stage is divided into seven steps, with a vast difference between each step.

    Even within the first step, the gap can be enormous.

    After all, the difference between eleven divine apertures and one isn¡¯t just elevenfold¡ªit¡¯s far greater.

    "Your names are too complicated for me to remember, so I¡¯ll give you titles. From now on, you¡¯ll go by these titles!" Qi Yuan declared casually.

    He was ambitious and wanted to recreate the Heavenly Court.

    "You shall be Subduing Dragon Arhat, and you, Subduing Tiger Arhat, Deer-Sitting Arhat, Long-Browed Arhat..."

    Qi Yuan bestowed titles upon them, even giving names to the three beautiful women.

    However, the former Four Heavenly Kings were now women, which felt a bit strange.

    In his mind, Qi Yuan silently apologized to the original Four Heavenly Kings. He only borrowed their names because he had a bad memory.

    "With my bodyguard team complete, let¡¯s go to the Hundred Flowers Festival!" Qi Yuan commanded.

    This time, he set off for the Hundred Flowers Festival with the Four Heavenly Kings, Eighteen Arhats, and his goddaughter Qi Qi.

    The group quickly prepared and set off grandly for the North Sea¡¯s Divine Eye.

    Meanwhile, outside Qingshui Village, the villagers tearfully bid farewell to Qi Yuan.

    Zhu Zhuangshi watched as the large black dog stood in front of him, feeling particularly annoyed.

    He eyed the Four Heavenly Kings and the Eighteen Arhats with envy.

    "Guardian Deity, I... I¡¯ve always been loyal!" Zhu Zhuangshi shouted.

    This time, Qi Yuan had bestowed twenty-one visualization methods, shocking the entire village.

    Not only the village but Feihuang City as well.

    Zhu Zhuangshi was green with envy.

    The village chief, Yulei, stood silently by, also feeling jealous.

    Nearby, Shen Tu whispered to the village chief, "Should we tell the guardian deity about the ancestral land?"

    Originally, they planned to wait until the guardian deity broke through to the true god stage before revealing the secret, intending it to be a pleasant surprise.

    But now they thought it would be better to tell him right away, to gain favor and familiarize themselves with him to earn the visualization method!

    "When the guardian deity returns, we¡¯ll tell him immediately!" Chief Yulei decided. No more pretending to be mysterious or waiting for the right moment¡ªdirect action was the way to go!

    After all, this was a visualization method, a chance to become a true god!

    ...

    "This rain is getting heavier."

    A stream of light flew through the air. The Many-Heard Heavenly King, Magic Li Hong, dressed in red, held an umbrella, shielding Qi Yuan from the rain.

    She looked worried. "Lord, it doesn¡¯t seem like this rain will stop anytime soon."

    Zhao Zun spoke up, "This area is close to the North Sea, where it rains constantly. According to legend, it¡¯s related to the death of the evil dragon¡¯s son."

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan was intrigued. "Was the third son of the Dragon King skinned?"

    "In the North Sea, a group of flood dragons resides. One of them came to the mortal realm to cause trouble, committing all sorts of atrocities. But it was killed by the Third Miss of the Phoenix Clan. Since then, the North Sea Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan have been at odds. This place is where the evil dragon was killed, so it often experiences storms, making it hard to have a good harvest."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan glanced at Qi Qi.

    This story was interesting.

    Should he consider visualizing Nezha and giving him to Qi Qi?

    But then he remembered that Qi Qi was his goddaughter, so maybe not.

    Nezha was quite rebellious.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t like rebellious daughters¡ªhe preferred them to be obedient.

    Just then, a light, airy voice echoed through the air.

    "My friend, you are mistaken. The constant rain here has nothing to do with the North Sea Dragon Clan; it¡¯s solely due to the slain evil dragon. That dragon had great talent, especially in water-based abilities, and had the potential to become a Grand Venerable with dominion over rain. After it was killed here, this place has been plagued by endless rain."

    As the voice spoke, three figures appeared before Qi Yuan.

    Leading them was a true god, who looked clean-cut and upright, with a tall, straight figure.

    Beside him were a boy and a maidservant.

    The god scanned Qi Yuan and his group, his eyes flickering with curiosity.

    "I am Ye Liuyun. Greetings to all," he said, his gaze lingering on Qi Yuan.

    He was very curious about this group.

    After all, the leader seemed ordinary, yet he was accompanied by six true gods, each of whom looked extraordinary.

    The other followers, all at the peak of the Purple Palace, also seemed quite remarkable.

    Especially the one who had just spoken¡ªalthough he was only at the peak of the Purple Palace, for some reason, Ye Liuyun felt a twinge of fear.

    Qi Yuan looked at Ye Liuyun, his eyes filled with surprise. "Are you from the Dragon Clan?"

 Chapter 190: Since Weâ€™re Already Here

    Chapter 190: Since We¡¯re Already Here

    When Qi Yuan said this, Ye Liuyun¡¯s expression momentarily changed, but he quickly composed himself.

    "Your Excellency must be joking; I am not of the dragon race," Ye Liuyun replied calmly, though curiosity and a hint of apprehension brewed within him. He had used a precious item to conceal his true aura, so how did the other party see through it?

    "No five claws, not a Qinglong nor a Zhulong, indeed not a true dragon, just a half-dragon at best," Qi Yuan commented nonchalantly.

    Moments earlier, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes had revealed Ye Liuyun¡¯s information, confirming his dragon lineage, which prompted his statement.

    Hearing this, Ye Liuyun suppressed his initial disdain and felt a surge of complex emotions. He considered himself a pureblood dragon with a rich lineage¡ªif he wasn¡¯t a true dragon, then who was? As for those other types like five-clawed dragons, Zhulong, and Qinglong, he hadn¡¯t even heard of them, likely just some mongrel dragons. Although these thoughts brewed in his mind, he kept them to himself, not wanting to reveal too much.

    He observed Qi Yuan closely. "And you are?"

    "Guardian deity of Qingshui Village, Origin Celestial Lord," Qi Yuan responded truthfully.

    Ye Liuyun and his attendants exchanged puzzled glances.

    To Ye Liuyun, Qi Yuan¡¯s power did match that of a village-level guardian deity. However, the fact that Qi Yuan had six true gods serving him like servants, holding umbrellas and offering fruit, was utterly bewildering. Even though Ye Liuyun had a prestigious status within his clan and was respected by elders stronger than him, he couldn¡¯t imagine making them serve him in such a manner. If he ever dared ask his elders to feed him fruit, they¡¯d probably break his legs¡ªnot out of a lack of affection, but simply because it was beneath them.

    "You must be here for the Hundred Flowers Festival?" Ye Liuyun inquired.

    "Yes," Qi Yuan nodded.

    "Why don¡¯t we travel together?" Ye Liuyun suggested, intrigued by Qi Yuan.

    "Sure," Qi Yuan agreed without hesitation.

    The group then set off together toward the North Sea¡¯s Divine Eye.

    As they journeyed, Ye Liuyun began to explain, "The dragon that terrorized this area was not particularly strong, but its talent was exceptional. It was considered the hope of the North Sea Dragon Clan. However, it was slain by the third Miss of the Phoenix Clan, and since then, the dragon clan has held a grudge against the phoenix clan."

    Ye Liuyun glanced at Qi Qi and added, "Miss, when you enter the North Sea¡¯s Divine Eye, it might be wise to conceal your aura. If the dragon clan senses it, it could lead to trouble."

    "Thank you for the warning," Qi Qi replied.

    Standing nearby, Wang Wenqi cast a spell to conceal Qi Qi¡¯s phoenix aura. Of course, if a true god were to approach closely, they might still sense it, unless she used a treasure like the one Ye Liuyun had used.

    Qi Yuan watched this unfold but made no move to intervene.

    "Have you prepared for your trip to the North Sea¡¯s Divine Eye?" Ye Liuyun asked.

    "I¡¯m always preparing," Qi Yuan answered, thinking of his ongoing readiness to kill evil gods. Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t encountered any on this journey so far.

    "It seems you have great ambitions, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll make your mark at this Hundred Flowers Festival," Ye Liuyun remarked, still trying to discern Qi Yuan¡¯s background.

    "Are there many treasures at the Hundred Flowers Festival?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Shenlei Grand Venerable was not from the Northern Lands and didn¡¯t know much about the festival, and the newly ascended true gods in his service had no experience with it either.

    "Legend has it that at the last Hundred Flowers Festival, a prodigy walked away with seven treasures, each capable of elevating someone to true god status," Ye Liuyun said, his tone tinged with envy.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. "That many? How do you win them?"

    These treasures were precisely what he lacked most. With enough of them, he could create an endless number of true gods, greatly expanding his influence.

    "Well, it¡¯s not easy," Ye Liuyun cautioned. "In the North Sea¡¯s Divine Eye, a Grand Venerable named Qionghua is in a deep slumber. She is undisputedly the first among the North Sea Water Tribe. The original purpose of the Hundred Flowers Festival was to make the flowers bloom and awaken Grand Venerable Qionghua."

    Ye Liuyun continued, growing more certain that Qi Yuan was either from outside the area or someone without a strong backing, given his lack of knowledge on these matters.

    "To make the flowers bloom, just add some fertilizer, right? If that doesn¡¯t work, get a dwarf to kiss her awake," Qi Yuan mused, his imagination running wild.

    Ye Liuyun struggled to maintain his composure.

    "I am the Dusk Venerable from the Ancient God Alliance. Recently, someone in the alliance offended you, and I¡¯ve come to apologize," the Dusk Venerable said sincerely.

    For a Second Step true god to lower himself like this before someone who wasn¡¯t even a true god was surprising to the other gods present.

    "The one who offended me has been dealt with, so we can consider the matter closed. I was half-expecting you to come looking for trouble, but instead, you¡¯re here to apologize. I must say, I¡¯m not quite used to it," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    "We are all ancient gods, and we should support each other, not engage in mutual slaughter," the Dusk Venerable said, casting a glance at the gods around Qi Yuan before sending a message via divine sense. "Are all these gods around you recently visualized through new methods?"

    The Dusk Venerable had heard about Qi Yuan and knew he had recently visualized several powerful gods. After hearing about how Qingshui Village survived a crisis, he concluded it was likely due to Qi Yuan visualizing another powerful god who became a true god to overcome the threat.

    The Dusk Venerable was well aware of Qingshui Village¡¯s previous strength. Now, seeing so many true gods here, the explanation seemed obvious: new visualization methods. He quickly connected this to the recent event at the Visualization Mountain, where twenty-one legendary methods were revealed.

    Given the timing, he boldly guessed that the legendary figure was none other than the village guardian, Origin Celestial Lord. Such a figure was worth befriending, not offending!

    The Dusk Venerable¡¯s amiable approach led the other true gods to mistake Qi Yuan for the son of a Grand Venerable. Otherwise, why would a Second Step true god go out of his way to befriend him?

    "Yes, I visualized them," Qi Yuan answered the Dusk Venerable¡¯s query truthfully.

    Hearing this, the Dusk Venerable became even more excited.

    "Would you be willing to sell some of these methods? I¡¯d offer a high price," he offered, his desire evident.

    Visualization methods were valuable not only for followers but also for true gods. For a Second Step true god like the Dusk Venerable, advancing further was incredibly difficult. However, a powerful visualization method might offer a breakthrough¡ªprovided the visualized god¡¯s path closely aligned with his own.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. "I don¡¯t sell visualization methods. They¡¯re only for my followers. But if you come to Qingshui Village, I might grant you one."

    The Dusk Venerable felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped to use these methods to find a breakthrough or at least empower his followers. His path involved controlling water, a popular but challenging path to find suitable methods for. Without the potential for personal growth, he wasn¡¯t willing to become a follower of Qi Yuan.

    "Well, I hope we can collaborate in the future," the Dusk Venerable said, maintaining his enthusiasm. With Qi Yuan¡¯s vast potential, he was certainly someone worth knowing.

    Just then, a woman¡¯s voice announced, "Now that everyone is here, please follow me into the North Sea¡¯s Divine Eye."

    A regal woman appeared, nodding at the gods gathered before her.

    Qi Yuan, having just finished a grape, joined the other true gods as they proceeded into the North Sea¡¯s Divine Eye.

    The Divine Eye resembled a giant vortex, sinking into the ground, radiating powerful spatial waves. The vortex wasn¡¯t filled with water but seemed to contain space itself.

    The woman holding a command token scanned each true god. After confirming there were no disguised new gods and that the invitations were in order, she allowed them all to enter.

    In an instant, the scene before Qi Yuan transformed. They now stood in what resembled an underwater palace. Budding flowers surrounded them, with lush greenery and vibrant plants filling the space. Various sea creatures like crabs, squid, and shellfish swam through the water.

    "Is there a golden cudgel here?" Qi Yuan suddenly blurted out, a thought crossing his mind.

    The nearby gods looked at him, puzzled. They had never heard of such an item.

    "What is that?" Ye Liuyun asked.

    "It¡¯s a weapon wielded by a monkey, quite powerful, and it can calm the seas," Qi Yuan shrugged. According to the tale of Journey to the West, the golden cudgel was just a magical staff. However, in Qi Yuan¡¯s memory, it was a great treasure. What man wouldn¡¯t want a golden cudgel that could shrink or grow at will? With it, he could subdue demons and make all creatures obey him.

    Unfortunately, Qi Yuan lacked the divine energy to visualize the Monkey King and lacked the necessary treasures to break through to true godhood. Otherwise, bringing Sun Wukong to life would be a lot of fun.

    The noblewoman¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts. She spoke with a hopeful tone, "The Hundred Flowers Festival has begun. I invite you all... to awaken a sea of flowers!"

    At previous festivals, two-thirds of the sea of flowers had bloomed. But a third remained unopened. If all the flowers bloomed, Grand Venerable Qionghua would awaken, providing the North Sea Water Tribe with a pillar of strength, and they would no longer fear the dragon clan¡¯s encroachments.

    The gathered gods gazed at the budding flowers, deep in thought, eager to try their luck. After all, the treasures hidden within the North Sea¡¯s Divine Eye were valuable. Just one could elevate a follower to true godhood. Having a true god among one¡¯s followers was a crucial advantage in such turbulent times.

    At that moment, Ye Liuyun spoke up, "Brother Qi, I¡¯ll give it a try."

    He was eager, having clearly longed for the Hundred Flowers Festival¡¯s rewards.

 Chapter 191: The Dragon Clan Causes Trouble

    Chapter 191: The Dragon Clan Causes Trouble

    Ye Liuyun stepped forward, drawing the attention of many.

    The ancient gods attending the Hundred Flowers Festival were from nearby regions and were somewhat familiar with each other. Qi Yuan and Ye Liuyun, however, were strangers to them. They were curious about Ye Liuyun¡¯s attempt to awaken the flowers.

    Ye Liuyun approached a budding flower. The flower was a Ningxiang Jade, with emerald green buds emitting a unique fragrance. Long ago, when Qionghua Grand Venerable achieved enlightenment, she favored keeping a Ningxiang Jade flower by her bedside.

    Ye Liuyun closed his eyes and began to visualize.

    Around him, murmurs started to spread.

    "How dare he try to awaken Ningxiang Jade? That''s a bold move."

    "Venerable Wu Qian, if I remember correctly, didn¡¯t you also attempt to awaken Ningxiang Jade at the last Hundred Flowers Festival and failed?"

    "It¡¯s very difficult. Attempting Ningxiang Jade right away is quite audacious for an unknown true god."

    "If he fails, it will be quite embarrassing."

    Most true gods usually started with simpler tasks. If your first attempt fails, it¡¯s quite awkward and can be seen as disrespectful to the North Sea Water Tribe.

    Standing aside, Qi Yuan watched with interest. "If I try to awaken a flower, will I be questioned like this too?"

    Qi Qi smiled, "Who would dare question godfather?"

    Qi Yuan chuckled. This time, he was just a spectator, and it was interesting to see Ye Liuyun being questioned. Whether on Earth in his previous life or in various worlds, scenes like this were quite common. Whenever a controversial post was made online, it would attract all sorts of comments, much like the murmuring true gods around him.

    "Today, let¡¯s just watch the show," Qi Yuan said. "We can be the questioning or shocked spectators."

    After all, he didn¡¯t know this so-called Qionghua Grand Venerable, so he naturally couldn¡¯t visualize a god related to her to awaken the flowers.

    At that moment, Ye Liuyun suddenly opened his eyes.

    "Visualization complete!" he declared.

    All eyes were on him.Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com

    "Will it work?"

    "If Ningxiang Jade blooms, the rewards will be enviable."

    Ye Liuyun reached out and touched the petals of the Ningxiang Jade flower. Immediately, a phantom appeared from the visualization method.

    "Who is this?"

    "I¡¯ve never seen this true god before."

    The phantom was that of a middle-aged man, looking quite ordinary.

    "This true god is called Venerable Hengyuan. Before the Battle of Hongtang, he took pleasure in flowers. The Ningxiang Jade was actually something he found in the Sky Sea and presented to Qionghua Grand Venerable," Ye Liuyun explained, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "Unfortunately, Venerable Hengyuan¡¯s affection for her was unrequited."

    In simpler terms, Qi Yuan interpreted this as a somewhat cliche?d love story.

    The others, upon hearing this, were moved. "I didn¡¯t expect such a story."

    "It¡¯s normal for someone as stunning as Qionghua Grand Venerable to have suitors."

    The crowd murmured, reflecting on the past. Without Ye Liuyun¡¯s visualization of Venerable Hengyuan, this story might have been lost to history.

    The phantom of Venerable Hengyuan extended his hand, touching the Ningxiang Jade. The flower, previously just a bud, blossomed with seven green petals, releasing a rich fragrance that filled the air.

    Two beams of white light flashed, landing in Ye Liuyun¡¯s hands.

    At that moment, Jin Jiao turned to the Qionghua Palace Lord. "Palace Lord, if you can¡¯t awaken Qionghua Grand Venerable, why not consider our North Sea Dragon Clan¡¯s proposal? Marry me, and we can use our Dragon Clan¡¯s God Summoning Seal. It might just awaken Qionghua Grand Venerable!"

    "This matter is not up for discussion!" The Qionghua Palace Lord¡¯s expression turned even grimmer. She knew exactly what the Dragon Clan wanted. While the God Summoning Seal could indeed awaken Qionghua Grand Venerable, it would awaken the spirit of a dragon, not her master. The Dragon Clan¡¯s Grand Venerable had been slain by the Third Miss of the Phoenix Clan long ago. Without a Grand Venerable of their own, the Dragon Clan sought to use Qionghua Grand Venerable¡¯s body as a vessel for their own.

    Jin Jiao remained unperturbed. "The North is far from peaceful. Without a Grand Venerable to guard the North Sea Divine Eye, three allied Grand Venerable-level evil gods could break the Divine Eye¡¯s defenses. The Water Tribe under the North Sea Divine Eye needs a Grand Venerable."

    The Qionghua Palace Lord did not respond, though she knew he was right. Jin Jiao¡¯s words were true, but she could never allow her master¡¯s body to be taken over by an old dragon.

    Their confrontation ended there, but Jin Jiao seemed to sense something and turned his gaze to Qi Qi, then to Qi Yuan.

    The other six dragons also eyed Qi Qi with hostility.

    Ye Liuyun noticed this and became concerned, sending a message to Qi Yuan. "Brother Qi, let¡¯s not get involved with them. If something happens, we should leave immediately."

    Ye Liuyun was also of the dragon race but belonged to a branch at odds with the North Sea Dragon Clan, now forced to live in a secluded ancient well.

    Jin Jiao¡¯s gaze lingered on Qi Yuan, and he, along with his six true gods, approached. "You look like a person of great stature, a true phoenix among men."

    Qi Yuan seemed to ignore Jin Jiao, instead turning to Zhao Zun. "What¡¯s wrong with you?"

    Zhao Zun, staring at the seven dragons, felt an overwhelming surge of battle intent. Previously, he had felt something similar with Ye Liuyun, but this time, it was far stronger, his eyes nearly glowing red.

    "Master, I¡¯m... just a bit hungry," Zhao Zun muttered, swallowing.

    Jin Jiao¡¯s expression darkened, displeased by the response. But seeing the six true gods guarding Qi Yuan, even if they were weaker, Jin Jiao decided against picking a fight just yet.

    He spoke in a measured tone, "Your maidservant carries the bloodline of the Phoenix Clan. My North Sea Dragon Clan has long been at odds with the Phoenix Clan. Could you do me, Jin Jiao, a favor and hand her over? Of course, I¡¯m not one to take advantage¡ªI¡¯ll let you choose three of my new concubines in return."

    Jin Jiao¡¯s offer was generous. Among the sons of deities, it was not uncommon to exchange servants and concubines, a practice that was never considered a big deal. Seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s apparent arrogance, Jin Jiao assumed he was another spoiled second-generation god like himself.

    Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think you deserve any favor from me?"

    Jin Jiao was momentarily stunned.

    The other gods were equally shocked. Jin Jiao had already lowered himself considerably, yet Qi Yuan refused to give him any face. Could Qi Yuan really be the son of a Grand Venerable?

    Jin Jiao¡¯s expression turned cold, though he remained wary. "You refuse to give me face, but must you insult my North Sea Dragon Clan as well?"

    "You¡¯ve already offended me by suggesting a trade for my goddaughter. Why should I give you any face?" Qi Yuan retorted. "You¡¯re not even as good as a lowly ghost flame boy, truly pathetic."

    "You..." Jin Jiao seethed, not fully understanding the reference but knowing he was being insulted. He wasn¡¯t the type to act rashly, however, so he decided to withdraw for now and investigate Qi Yuan¡¯s identity further.

    "I¡¯ll remember this insult, Qi Yuan!" Jin Jiao spat, turning to leave.

    The other gods watched with interest, some thinking Qi Yuan had overplayed his hand. After all, this was the North Sea Divine Eye, the Dragon Clan¡¯s territory. If they decided to retaliate, even a Grand Venerable¡¯s son might not escape unscathed.

    Many thought Qi Yuan was being reckless, putting his life in the hands of the enemy''s patience.

    But Qi Yuan suddenly called out to Jin Jiao. "You think you can just leave after offending me? You¡¯re treating me like a joke, aren¡¯t you?"

    In reality, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care for caution in such situations. In a game, he would simply clear the board. Why should he hold back now?

    "You seven little minnows can go, but leave your divine energy behind," Qi Yuan demanded, his tone full of menace.

    The crowd was stunned. How could Qi Yuan dare to provoke Jin Jiao further? This was madness!

    The strength of Jin Jiao¡¯s group far exceeded that of Qi Yuan¡¯s six true gods. Qi Yuan¡¯s protectors were strong but clearly all early-stage true gods, without many god apertures opened.

    "How dare you!" Jin Jiao roared, fury blazing in his eyes.

    "Because I¡¯m perfectly equipped to deal with you," Qi Yuan replied, a grin spreading across his face.

 Chapter 192: Iâ€™ve Seen the Sky-Breaking Yinglong, and You Dare Call Yourselves Pure-Blooded Dragons?

    Chapter 192: I¡¯ve Seen the Sky-Breaking Yinglong, and You Dare Call Yourselves Pure-Blooded Dragons?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was calm, laced with a hint of mockery, leaving the gathered gods utterly stunned. They couldn¡¯t comprehend where Qi Yuan¡¯s confidence stemmed from. After all, this was the North Sea Divine Eye, the stronghold of the North Sea Dragon Clan. Provoking them was akin to courting death.

    Jin Jiao glared at Qi Yuan, his eyes blazing with fury. "Even if your father is a Grand Venerable, today you¡¯re staying here!"

    He was truly enraged. No matter what, Qi Yuan would not leave this place unscathed. Behind Qi Yuan, his six True Gods stood fearless before the formidable enemy, ready for battle at any moment.

    At that moment, an elderly man, also a Second Step True God, intervened, trying to mediate. "We are all ancient gods, and with external enemies pressing in, we should avoid conflict and prioritize peace."

    This old man was known as a peacemaker. Jin Jiao¡¯s expression softened slightly at his words, though he still stared daggers at Qi Yuan. "Hand over the girl, and we¡¯ll let this go."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression darkened. This person was putting on too much of an act. "Leave your divine power behind, and I¡¯ll spare the North Sea Dragon Clan," Qi Yuan retorted coldly.

    While Jin Jiao¡¯s words hinted at reconciliation, Qi Yuan¡¯s tone left no room for negotiation. To those unfamiliar with the situation, it might even seem like Qi Yuan was the villain. Beside him, Ye Liuyun grew anxious, repeatedly sending messages to Qi Yuan. "Brother Qi, you¡¯re being too rash. Shouldn¡¯t we just leave?"

    Qi Yuan, however, remained unconcerned. He replied telepathically, "Is he a Yang God? If not, why should I lose face by running away?"

    At the same time, Huanghun Zunzhe (the Dusk Venerable) sent a message as well. "Venerable Origin, if things get out of hand, I can step in and hold off Jin Jiao for you."

    This offer came with considerable risk, as it meant thoroughly offending the North Sea Dragon Clan. But Huanghun Zunzhe considered the legendary feat of Qi Yuan visualizing twenty-one legendary gods at once and decided it was worth it. If he publicized this event, many ancient gods would rush to Qi Yuan¡¯s aid. He figured this was where Qi Yuan¡¯s confidence came from.

    "Thanks for the offer, but it¡¯s not necessary yet," Qi Yuan responded. Facing Jin Jiao, he remained utterly unflustered and unworried. The Qionghua Palace Lord was not pleased with the situation. She wanted to stop the fight, but since both sides seemed intent on conflict, her hands were tied. She could only sigh and say, "If you must fight, do it in the North Sea¡¯s ancient battlefield. Do not damage the waters."

    Before the arrival of the evil gods, the True Gods of this world would battle in designated ancient battlefields to avoid harming mortals. However, with the arrival of the evil gods, such considerations were often discarded, with little regard for the destruction left in their wake.

    "Fine!" Jin Jiao gritted his teeth, eyes burning with anger.

    Qi Yuan nodded in agreement. "Let¡¯s go."

    With that, they all made their way toward the ancient battlefield. The gathered ancient gods watched on, each with their own thoughts. The Qionghua Palace Lord could only feel helpless. This year''s Hundred Flowers Festival seemed destined to end in disappointment. Qionghua Grand Venerable remained in slumber, leaving the future of Qionghua Palace uncertain.

    Soon, the group arrived at the ancient battlefield, a place where the space was remarkably stable, even more so than in the rest of the world. This was unlike the empty void of the Canglan Realm. As Qi Yuan entered the ancient battlefield, his eyes showed a trace of surprise.

    [Ancient Battlefield: The birthplace of Fanxin World, where primordial gods and demons emerged from the chaos.]

    The ancient battlefield was the origin of Fanxin World? Qi Yuan was slightly taken aback by this revelation.

    Meanwhile, the ancient gods observing from afar had mixed expressions. "This Venerable Origin is far too reckless!"

    "Spoiled brats will always be spoiled brats."

    "Sigh, we ancient gods are already in decline, why must we fight among ourselves?"

    "One side has a Second Step True God and six peak First Step True Gods; the other side has six early-stage First Step True Gods. How could they possibly win?"

    None of the ancient gods had any confidence in Qi Yuan¡¯s chances. The disparity in strength was just too vast. Even Huanghun Zunzhe watched intently from a distance, ready to intervene if necessary to save Qi Yuan. After all, offering aid in times of need is far more valuable than adding to a victory.

    Now in the ancient battlefield, Jin Jiao, no longer restrained, exploded in fury. "How dare you humiliate me in Qionghua Palace! You deserve death!"

    With a roar, the six True Gods at Jin Jiao¡¯s side revealed their true forms. Six massive jiaolongs (scaled dragons) ascended into the sky, their powerful auras intertwining as they coiled together, exuding an unmatched sense of power.

    "In the North Sea, our Dragon Clan rules the waters. We are the natural kings here!" Jin Jiao roared, full of confidence. "To kill you, there¡¯s no need for me to act personally!"

    At his command, the six gigantic jiaolongs locked their lantern-sized eyes on Qi Yuan, their gaze cold and menacing. But Qi Yuan remained unmoved. "I may not have Nezha, but I do have the Dragon Subduing Arhat."

    Qi Yuan glanced at Zhao Zun. "Weren¡¯t you hungry? Today I¡¯ll allow it¡ªyou can break your vow and eat meat."

    Zhao Zun¡¯s visualized god was the Dragon Subduing Arhat. According to some myths, Ji Gong was a reincarnation of the Dragon Subduing Arhat, so technically, breaking a vow could be seen as justifiable.

    Upon hearing this, Zhao Zun stepped forward, his body as solid as bronze, causing the ground to tremble. The sight puzzled the other ancient gods. "Purple Mansion Perfection?"

    "A Purple Mansion cultivator facing off against True Gods? Even the legendary Wu Shi Saint Mother couldn¡¯t do that!"

    Zhao Zun¡¯s massive hands grabbed Jin Jiao¡¯s enormous dragon body, hoisting it into the air. Jin Jiao struggled fiercely, his divine power surging, but he couldn¡¯t break free from Zhao Zun¡¯s grip.

    The power of the Dragon Subduing Curse gave Zhao Zun an overwhelming advantage against the dragon race.

    ¡°Lesser jiaolongs are nothing more than food for immortals. Dragon liver and phoenix marrow... How dare you act so arrogantly?¡± Zhao Zun sneered, thrusting his hand into Jin Jiao¡¯s body and ripping out his liver.

    Jin Jiao howled in agony, but Zhao Zun was unimpressed. ¡°This inferior dragon liver isn¡¯t even worthy of a banquet.¡±

    With a swift motion, Zhao Zun smashed Jin Jiao¡¯s head into the ground, shattering his skull. He then methodically crushed each of Jin Jiao¡¯s divine apertures.

    In the face of the Dragon Subduing Curse, Jin Jiao was utterly helpless. After dismantling Jin Jiao, Zhao Zun stood covered in blood, surrounded by the remains of the dragons he had slain.

    The other ancient gods watching from afar were struck with terror. They couldn¡¯t comprehend what they had just witnessed.

    Zhao Zun scanned the crowd with cold eyes. ¡°My Dharma title was bestowed upon me by my Heavenly Venerable. I am the Dragon Subduing Arhat!¡±

    His voice reverberated across the battlefield. As the echo of his words faded, the immense power surrounding Zhao Zun began to dissipate, and his aura returned to that of a Purple Mansion cultivator.

    The onlookers were left speechless. Ye Liuyun, who had been observing with a growing sense of dread, was now fully shaken. ¡°The Dragon Subduing Arhat!¡±

    Huanghun Zunzhe was equally stunned. ¡°To dare take the title of Dragon Subduing, this god must be terrifying!¡±

    After all, claiming the title of Dragon Subduing meant opposing the entire dragon race. Although dragons in the Fanxin World were not the mightiest, they were still a formidable force that even a Grand Venerable would think twice about crossing.

    ¡°The Dragon Subduing Arhat... Who was he in ancient times?¡±

    The ancient gods were filled with unease, unable to comprehend the depths of today¡¯s events. Moreover, when the Dragon Subduing Arhat had invoked the Dragon Subduing Curse, the phantom of a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon had appeared behind him¡ªa dragon that Ye Liuyun recognized as a seven-step True Dragon, far more powerful than any Dragon Ancestor who had only reached the sixth step. The realization of such a being''s defeat under the Arhat¡¯s hands left him profoundly unsettled.

    The legends Zhao Zun had uttered during the battle, mentioning the sky-breaking Yinglong and immortal feasts, seemed too terrifying to be true. Ye Liuyun couldn¡¯t stop shaking as he pondered whether everything Zhao Zun had said might actually be real.

    The ancient gods remained rooted to the spot, still processing the shocking events. Meanwhile, Qi Yuan nonchalantly glanced at the dragon liver in Zhao Zun¡¯s hand. ¡°I don¡¯t eat livers from transformed dragons. It¡¯s not worth much; just toss it.¡±

    Qi Yuan had reaped the divine power of seven dragons, making this one of the most lucrative encounters since his arrival in this world. He was in a cheerful mood.

    ¡°These dragons were such considerate donors,¡± Qi Yuan mused as he glanced at the other ancient gods. ¡°Anyone else here eyeing my goddaughter? Feel free to speak up.¡±

    The ancient gods immediately took a step back, responding in unison, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±

    Qi Qi, hearing this, felt a warm glow in her heart. She believed her godfather was defending her, and her heart was filled with gratitude. Since the collapse of the Heavenly Pavilion and the death of her kin, this was the first time she had felt so cherished by someone¡ªstrong, domineering, and protective.

    Qi Yuan, oblivious to his goddaughter¡¯s thoughts, was slightly disappointed. His goddaughter had unintentionally drawn out these aggressors, but there hadn¡¯t been many takers. ¡°Now that the battle is over, let¡¯s return to the Hundred Flowers Festival,¡± Qi Yuan declared.

    With that, he led the Four Heavenly Kings and Eighteen Arhats back to the event. The ancient gods watching from the sidelines remained deeply shaken.

    As they returned to the festival, the event continued, but the atmosphere had shifted. Many of the gods were now more focused on Qi Yuan than on the festival itself. The Qionghua Palace Lord advised Qi Yuan, ¡°Venerable Origin, since this is the North Sea Dragon Clan¡¯s territory, you should leave quickly after killing Jin Jiao.¡±

    Her companion, a middle-aged woman, also eyed Qi Yuan curiously. Initially, she had only allowed him to attend as a favor to her friend. But now, she realized this was no mere village-level guardian deity¡ªthis was a powerful and influential figure.

    ¡°The Hundred Flowers Festival isn¡¯t over yet. Why should I leave?¡± Qi Yuan responded. With seven dragon kills under his belt, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t worried about the North Sea Dragon Clan seeking revenge.

    ¡°I¡¯m still hoping to get some treasures. Alas, my followers are hungry for them,¡± Qi Yuan said, glancing at the Eighteen Arhats, visibly disappointed.

    The Qionghua Palace Lord sighed and gave up trying to persuade him. With the festival now more than halfway through, the gods redoubled their efforts to awaken the flowers, though with little success. Only a third of the flowers had yet to bloom.

    Qi Yuan stood off to the side, bored. ¡°Sigh, being too handsome has its drawbacks. If I had a more provocative face, someone would¡¯ve definitely come over to mock me by now, challenging me to visualize a god and awaken the flowers,¡± he lamented.

    Ye Liuyun shook his head in disbelief. He wanted to say, ¡°With your power, who would dare provoke you?¡±

    ¡°If only I could be insulted and doubted by the crowd, then I could visualize a god and shock everyone. That would be quite the scene,¡± Qi Yuan mused aloud.

    He finished speaking and began winking to Huanghun Zunzhe from a distance.

 Chapter 193: They Shut Themselves Down

    Chapter 193: They Shut Themselves Down

    Huanghun Zunzhe noticed Qi Yuan''s continuous blinking and found it strange, not understanding his intent.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan sighed and said, "I also want the flowers to bloom. I also want to obtain the treasures."

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care if the flowers bloomed; what he wanted were the treasures. Ye Liuyun¡¯s two treasures nearly made him drool. He was slightly annoyed, wondering why it wasn¡¯t Jin Jiao who had obtained them.

    Huanghun Zunzhe seemed to grasp the meaning behind Qi Yuan''s words, and with a faint smile, he approached him. "I''ve heard that the Origin Heavenly Venerable has unparalleled talent in visualization. Why not give it a try? Perhaps you can make the flowers bloom."

    With these words, the attention of all the other ancient gods shifted to Qi Yuan. They were quite curious about this mysterious figure.

    Even the Qionghua Palace Lord¡¯s eyes lit up, filled with anticipation as she looked at Qi Yuan.

    "But the gods I know don¡¯t know Qionghua Dazun," Qi Yuan replied truthfully. "If I can''t make the flowers bloom, you won''t laugh at me, right?"

    Qi Yuan said this as he glanced around at the ancient gods.

    The ancient gods quickly waved their hands.

    "How could we?"

    "Whether they bloom or not, it¡¯s not a big deal. Why would we mock you?"

    "Heavenly Venerable, give it a try. If anyone dares to talk nonsense, I¡¯ll be the first to take action!"

    The ancient gods were all very accommodating.

    A smile appeared in Qi Yuan''s eyes. "This world is still full of good people. Everyone is so reasonable."

    Qi Yuan thought to himself that if the characters in TV shows and anime were as reasonable as he was, others wouldn¡¯t dare mock them either. Mockers would be dealt with immediately.

    "Since you all want me to give it a try, I''ll give it a try. Who knows... the flowers might bloom?" Qi Yuan said.

    After all, it was just a try; maybe he could get some treasures.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan entered the Visualization Mountain.

    As he passed by the group chat, many messages appeared before his eyes.

    "Godfather!"

    "Godfather is visualizing again!"

    "I, Dongjianghe, just don¡¯t believe it. Can he succeed again? How can there be such an absurd thing in this world? The True Gods in the Battle of Hongtang were only so many! How could there be so many that escaped? Could he really be a true genius?"

    "Confident!"

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t respond in the chat; he didn''t want to recognize a bunch of godsons. He entered the visualization realm and immediately saw the Visualization Mountain.

    After some thought, Qi Yuan softly said, "A peerless beauty, unmatched in the world, incomparable among a thousand."

    As Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed, the shadow of a stunning woman appeared, draped in brilliant multicolored garments. The Star Core Golden Elixir shone upon her, and the heart''s second inquiry began again.

    A few moments later, Dongjianghe in the group chat almost spat blood.

    "My Eastern Heavenly Emperor¡¯s time has truly run out? How can there be another legend!"

    Seeing the golden light and hearing the chirping of countless birds, Dongjianghe was completely at a loss.

    Back at the Hundred Flowers Festival, Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

    "Let''s hope the Flower Fairy can bring me some unexpected gains."

    Everyone else was watching Qi Yuan closely.

    At this moment, a golden light flashed, and a Visualization Method floated beside Qi Yuan.

    "A legend!" The old good-natured Second-Step True God widened his eyes in shock.

    The blooming of flowers wasn¡¯t determined by the level of the Visualization Method. Sometimes, an ordinary one could make the flowers bloom. So far, nothing rare had appeared at the festival.

    But now, a legendary one had suddenly emerged.

    How could they not be shocked?

    The other ancient gods looked at each other in astonishment.

    "A legendary level... In ancient times, this would have belonged to a Sixth-Step or higher great power!"

    Such a Visualization Method could almost certainly create a Grand Venerable. Seeing it at the Hundred Flowers Festival was truly astounding.

    Huanghun Zunzhe was also shocked, but his reaction was milder than the others. After all, he had already witnessed twenty-one legends before; one more was easier for him to accept.

    He looked at Qi Yuan, trying to figure out what identity he had in ancient times. How did he know so many powerful ancient True Gods, many of whom were unheard of?

    "Heavenly Venerable, what connection does this god have with Qionghua Dazun?" Huanghun Zunzhe couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    The Qionghua Palace Lord also looked expectantly at Qi Yuan.

    Such a powerful Visualization Method might indeed be connected with Qionghua Dazun and could possibly awaken her.

    "This god is called the Flower Fairy, known as the Mistress of Flowers. She probably doesn''t know Qionghua Dazun," Qi Yuan said.

    The others felt unfamiliar with the title of Flower Fairy.

    "Since they¡¯re both related to flowers, Qionghua Venerable might know this Flower Fairy!" The Qionghua Palace Lord said excitedly.

    All eyes were now on the Visualization Method beside Qi Yuan, eagerly awaiting the blooming of the flowers.

    Qionghua Venerable had been injured and asleep, with only two ways to awaken. The first was for all the flowers to bloom, restoring all her memories and allowing her to wake up, though still as her injured self.

    The second was to break through her own limitations and comprehend the Flower God divinity. No one in Qionghua Palace had considered this option because even a Grand Venerable couldn¡¯t help Qionghua Venerable grasp the Flower God divinity.

    Moreover, even if Qionghua Venerable had been awake, comprehending the Flower God divinity wouldn¡¯t have been easy. But now, with Qi Yuan¡¯s Visualization of the Flower Fairy, the flowers had closed, and his words had led Qionghua Venerable to understand the essence of the Flower God divinity, allowing her to break through and awaken.

    The other ancient gods were stunned.

    "Qionghua Venerable... has broken through?"

    "She has grasped the Flower God divinity?"

    The ancient gods were filled with envy. Divinity was something even Grand Venerables coveted. Gods of the Venerable rank couldn¡¯t even touch it. Only a Grand Venerable had a slight chance of reaching divinity. A Grand Venerable who attained divinity was said to have the potential to surpass Yin God realm.

    Of course, this was just a saying. In ancient times, many Grand Venerables had grasped divinity, but none had truly transcended the Yin God realm.

    But it was still an extraordinary feat.

    With just a Visualization Method, the Origin Heavenly Venerable had awakened Qionghua Venerable and led her to comprehend divinity. This was too incredible!

    The ancient gods looked at Qi Yuan with burning eyes.

    Qionghua Venerable stepped forward, shedding any airs of a Grand Venerable. "If the Heavenly Venerable does not mind, this humble woman would like to serve as your disciple."

    Her words left the ancient gods even more stunned.

    A Grand Venerable wanting to become the disciple of a Purple Mansion cultivator who wasn¡¯t even a True God!

    The Qionghua Palace Lord was wide-eyed. Did this mean she would have to call Qi Yuan "Master"?

    Qi Yuan looked at Qionghua Venerable and shook his head. "I don¡¯t take disciples."

    He couldn¡¯t be bothered with taking disciples.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s response left everyone even more astonished. In their place, they would have gladly accepted. This was a Grand Venerable, after all!

    Moreover, she was a benevolent Grand Venerable, genuinely offering her allegiance. Anyone would have accepted her as a disciple.

    Ye Liuyun, standing nearby, wore an expression of disbelief.

    Qionghua Venerable was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting this outcome. She looked at Qi Yuan, her eyes reflecting a swirling resolve as if she had made a decision. "This humble woman is willing to serve the Heavenly Venerable at all times."

    This statement left the ancient gods utterly shocked.

    This was a Grand Venerable, and a beautiful one at that.

    Qi Yuan looked at Qionghua Dazun and casually said, "I don¡¯t need a maid. How about becoming a citizen of my Qingshui Village instead?"

    In any case, Qi Yuan and Qionghua Venerable¡¯s conversation left everyone speechless.

    Qionghua Venerable nodded, her eyes filled with joy. "Thank you, Heavenly Venerable."

    In the Fanxin World, this kind of conversation was akin to signing a contract. As long as Qionghua Venerable acknowledged it and Qi Yuan permitted it, she would now be considered one of Qi Yuan''s citizens.

    "Good, our village finally has a Grand Venerable. I¡¯ll reward you with this Visualization Method."

    Qi Yuan casually handed over the precious Visualization Method.

    Even as a Grand Venerable, Qionghua Venerable felt a surge of excitement upon receiving it.

    "Oh, right. Since I¡¯ve awakened you, shouldn¡¯t the treasures that can help True Gods break through here belong to me?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He had come to the Hundred Flowers Festival specifically for these treasures. Recruiting Qionghua Dazun as a citizen was an unexpected bonus.

    "Of course!" Qionghua Dazun nodded, waving her delicate hand. Instantly, twenty-five treasures flew into her hand from the North Sea God¡¯s Eye. "Currently, only twenty-five treasures have been born in the North Sea God¡¯s Eye. They¡¯re all here."

    The North Sea God¡¯s Eye was a special place where treasures would periodically appear. Qionghua Palace had more treasures than most ordinary Supreme Beings.

    Qi Yuan, holding the twenty-five treasures, was delighted. "This trip was worth it. I¡¯ve profited."

    His words left the Qionghua Palace Lord at a loss for words.

    The other ancient gods also found the Origin Heavenly Venerable¡¯s approach amusing. Didn¡¯t recruiting Qionghua Venerable count as a profit?

    Qi Yuan looked at Qionghua Dazun and thought of something. "Haven¡¯t any of the North Sea Dragon Clan come to apologize to me yet?"

    With a Grand Venerable by his side, Qi Yuan decided to take full advantage.

    The North Sea Dragon Clan had offended him; he wouldn¡¯t let the matter rest without some compensation.

    The ancient gods exchanged glances.

    Before, they would have said that the North Sea Dragon Clan would be happy just not to cause you trouble. Why would they come to apologize?

    But now, Qi Yuan¡¯s words made perfect sense.

    The Qionghua Palace Lord¡¯s expression shifted several times before she stepped forward respectfully. "The old dragons of the North Sea Dragon Clan have already awakened. They¡¯re likely still discussing the incident at the ancient battlefield."

    Since Qi Yuan had killed Jin Jiao, the Qionghua Palace Lord had been closely monitoring the movements of their neighboring North Sea Dragon Clan.

    In the North Sea Dragon Clan, there was still an old dragon at the Third Step.

    At this moment, the dragons were probably still deliberating over Jin Jiao¡¯s death.

    "They¡¯re too slow. No wonder they¡¯re not a significant force," Qi Yuan remarked casually. "Qionghua Dazun, lead the way. I want to visit the North Sea Dragon Clan."

    "As you command, Heavenly Venerable." Qionghua Venerable smiled sweetly.

    For her, serving the Heavenly Venerable was a good way to strengthen their relationship.

 Chapter 194: A Chance to Break Through to True Godhood (Yin God), The Monkey

    Chapter 194: A Chance to Break Through to True Godhood (Yin God), The Monkey

    At the North Sea Dragon Clan, five old dragons had gathered, their conversation filled with anger.

    "Have you found out his identity yet?" asked the leader, dressed in a golden robe, his gaze fierce.

    "No," another old dragon replied, his voice filled with helplessness.

    "Taking the name ¡®Dragon Subduer,¡¯ how arrogant!"

    "Sigh, our North Sea Dragon Clan has suffered a great loss. It¡¯s truly infuriating!"

    The deaths of Jin Jiao and the six other dragons represented a significant blow to the North Sea Dragon Clan, as they were among the clan¡¯s most promising and powerful members. Aside from the present Dragon Sovereign, who was at the Third Step of Heavenly Ascension, the rest of the old dragons were only at the First Step and lacked further potential.

    Dressed in gold, the Dragon Sovereign¡¯s gaze was filled with fury. "Breaking the backbone of our clan, even if his father is a Grand Venerable, we cannot let this go!"

    "Indeed, this cannot be left unresolved," came a calm voice. The space around them rippled, and a group of ancient gods appeared in the palace. Qi Yuan, smiling, looked at the five old dragons. "You haven¡¯t compensated me yet."

    The Dragon Sovereign¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly. "You... Qionghua Venerable, how are you awake!"

    He immediately realized that Qionghua Venerable had brought this group into his palace. His heart trembled; he hadn¡¯t expected Qionghua Venerable to awaken.

    "Whether she¡¯s awake or not is none of your concern. I¡¯m here to demand compensation. That Jin Jiao offended me, and unless you bring out some treasures, my anger won¡¯t be appeased," Qi Yuan said lazily, like an entitled second-generation aristocrat.

    "How dare you speak while I¡¯m addressing Qionghua Venerable?" the Dragon Sovereign couldn¡¯t help but retort.

    "Speaking rudely to the Heavenly Venerable is punishable by death," Qionghua Venerable immediately acted. Her divine domain spread out, and within it, the Dragon Sovereign, despite being at the Third Step of Heavenly Ascension, was reduced to the state of a mere mortal. With a simple push of her hand, the divine power struck the Dragon Sovereign¡¯s body.

    There was no sound, but the Dragon Sovereign spat out blood, and one of his divine apertures shattered.

    "Destroying one of your divine apertures is a warning," Qionghua Venerable said, withdrawing her divine domain. She stood quietly beside Qi Yuan, like a loyal servant.

    Qi Yuan looked at Qionghua Venerable approvingly, then glanced at the Dragon Sovereign. "You really lack insight. Didn¡¯t you notice the other four old dragons beside you were too scared to speak?"

    The Dragon Sovereign, weakened and defeated, looked at Qi Yuan but dared not say another word. He was utterly baffled. Why was Qionghua Venerable treating Qi Yuan with such deference? Could Qi Yuan be her son? But the respect she showed Qi Yuan didn¡¯t align with that explanation.

    Qi Yuan turned to the five old dragons. "You¡¯ve offended me. Now, open up your treasury. I¡¯ll choose some items, and this matter will be settled."

    The Dragon Sovereign lay on the ground, not daring to speak. The five old dragons communicated rapidly in secret, trying to find a way out of this situation.

    After a few moments, an old dragon stepped forward, his posture extremely low. "Heavenly Venerable, Jin Jiao deserved his fate for angering you. His death was justified."

    Understanding that discretion was the better part of valor, these old dragons no longer mentioned revenge.

    "Lead the way to the treasury," Qi Yuan said, uninterested in their grievances. His focus was on acquiring treasures. "If the treasures don¡¯t satisfy me... well..."

    Qi Yuan chuckled ominously, making the five old dragons tense up, feeling the threat of death.

    The old dragon in a green robe hunched over, abandoning the Dragon Clan¡¯s usual arrogance. "Please, follow me, Heavenly Venerable."

    As they moved, Qi Yuan glanced at the Dragon Sovereign lying on the ground like a dead fish. "Actually, I preferred you when you were more defiant."

    Hearing this, the Dragon Sovereign felt a surge of anger, spitting out blood and seemingly fainting from rage.

    "Let¡¯s go to the treasury," Qi Yuan ordered, waving his hand.

    The group followed the green-robed old dragon to the treasury. Qi Yuan was slightly surprised by what he saw. "A treasury built inside a prison, quite creative. Aren¡¯t you worried the prisoners might escape with your wealth?"

    The North Sea Dragon Clan¡¯s treasury wasn¡¯t in a separate palace but deep within a prison.

    The green-robed old dragon quickly explained, "We heard that the Heavenly Venerable particularly values treasures that can help one break through to the True God realm. Such treasures are all stored in the Dragon Prison, where a spring occasionally produces them."

    This spring was similar to the North Sea God¡¯s Eye, where treasures occasionally emerged. Most of the treasures in Qionghua Palace were obtained in this way.

    Soon, they arrived at the spring.

    Qi Yuan looked over.

    "Oh, I see," the golden-haired monkey lost interest and stopped talking. In its mind, Qi Yuan was trying to curry favor with the ancient ape clan by freeing them.

    The other two monkeys stepped forward.

    "I¡¯ll remember this debt of gratitude!" said a skinny monkey.

    "Thank you!" echoed the other monkey.

    "It¡¯s nothing, I just felt a connection," Qi Yuan said, acting on a whim.

    The golden-haired monkey, growing impatient, barked, "Sixth, Seventh, stop wasting time and come here!"

    To the golden-haired monkey, the other two were just followers.

    Qi Yuan chuckled, "You really are unruly."

    The accompanying dragon commented, "This monkey¡¯s talent is extraordinary. Once, a Grand Venerable wanted to take it as a disciple, but it refused. Such a prodigy, if properly nurtured, will surely become a powerful True God. It¡¯s only natural for someone like this to be a bit arrogant."

    Qi Yuan smiled, unconcerned with these trivial matters.

    As the group continued, the golden-haired monkey boldly addressed Qi Yuan, "I smell treasures on you. Give me a few?"

    "I need them," Qi Yuan calmly refused.

    The golden-haired monkey wanted to argue but hesitated when it saw the unfathomable Qionghua Venerable beside Qi Yuan.

    "Heavenly Venerable," called a group approaching them.

    It was the Eighteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings, each holding treasures from the dragon palace, their faces beaming with joy.

    The four female Heavenly Kings stood beside Qi Yuan like attendants, their auras concealed, making it impossible for anyone not at the True God level to detect their true strength.

    The two ordinary monkeys¡¯ eyes lit up at the sight of the treasures, while the golden-haired monkey fixated on the blood-red spear in Wang Wenqi¡¯s hand.

    "Hey, if you won¡¯t give me any of your treasures, then I want that weapon your servant is holding!" the golden-haired monkey demanded, its eyes blazing with desire.

    Qi Yuan was taken aback. "What did you say?"

    "You¡¯re trying to befriend the ancient ape clan, aren¡¯t you? If you want to win us over, you have to please me. I¡¯m the future king of the ancient ape clan. I want that spear!" the golden-haired monkey insisted.

    Due to its extraordinary talent, the golden-haired monkey had grown increasingly arrogant and defiant, believing that no one would truly harm it, only imprison it until the ancient ape clan ransomed it.

    "Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be grateful just because you released me. I know what you¡¯re up to. Even without your help, with my strong talent, the North Sea Dragon Clan wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to me. Don¡¯t think you can use this to manipulate me!" the golden-haired monkey continued.

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but remark, "A monkey choosing to emulate the worst habits of internet trolls, constantly jumping to conclusions. How strange¡ªyou don¡¯t even have a keyboard, so why are you talking like this? I thought this kind of behavior didn¡¯t exist in the real world?"

    Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t freed the monkey because he was impressed by its talent or wanted to ally with the ancient ape clan. He had simply found the coincidence of encountering a monkey in the dragon clan¡¯s prison intriguing.

    Did talent matter to him? The talents of his Arhats alone far surpassed those of the Unfed Holy Mother, the most powerful being in this world.

    But this monkey, jumping around and being obnoxious, was irritating.

    The golden-haired monkey was surprised by Qi Yuan¡¯s response. "You can¡¯t win over the ancient ape clan by doing this. I¡¯ll personally¡ª"

    "I don¡¯t want to ally with the ancient ape clan; I even want to offend them," Qi Yuan interrupted. "Why would a monkey want to emulate the chatterbox from ¡®A Chinese Odyssey¡¯? You don¡¯t even look as good as Sun Wukong, yet you¡¯re so full of yourself. I¡¯m not your dad, so why should I put up with you?"

    Before the golden-haired monkey could finish its sentence, Qi Yuan drew his blood-red sword and, in a flash, cut the monkey down.

    Afterward, Qi Yuan felt a sense of relief. He pointed his sword at the corpse. "I¡¯ve had enough of you. Just one more word, and see what happens."

    Unfortunately, the golden-haired monkey was already dead and couldn¡¯t respond. Its proud talent and defiance meant nothing in the face of Qi Yuan.

    The nearby dragons, witnessing the scene, broke out in cold sweats.

    They hadn¡¯t even been in each other¡¯s company for more than a few minutes, yet Qi Yuan claimed to have been annoyed with the monkey for a long time.

 Chapter 195: Hanging on the Tree

    Chapter 195: Hanging on the Tree

    Qi Yuan remained calm as he killed the golden-haired monkey with a single strike. The Eighteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings were unfazed, as if they were used to such occurrences. Only the green-robed old dragon looked worried, mumbling to himself, "This is bad. You¡¯ve killed the strongest genius of the Ancient Ape Clan. The Ancient Ape Clan will definitely... cause trouble."

    Qi Yuan heard this and smiled. "Why is this bad? I killed Jin Jiao, so why wouldn¡¯t I kill a monkey?"

    The green-robed old dragon was stunned. The North Sea Dragon Clan didn¡¯t dare kill the golden-haired monkey, but Qi Yuan did, and he even killed Jin Jiao. Thinking of this, the old dragon sighed with a hint of regret, though it wasn¡¯t clear if it was for Jin Jiao or the monkey. The golden-haired monkey was arrogant, but its strength was only at the Purple Mansion level, and it had no idea about the power of Qionghua Venerable or the others around Qi Yuan. It could be said that ignorance led to its fearlessness, which led to Qi Yuan killing it without any hesitation.

    The other two monkeys stood nearby, trembling. One of them, called Xiao Liu, stepped forward and clasped his hands together, saying, "Gu Jin brought this on himself and angered you. My brother and I are willing to return to the Ancient Ape Clan and report today¡¯s events truthfully to the elders to avoid any conflict."

    Xiao Liu was quick-witted, speaking rapidly. He was trying to save himself. Qi Yuan looked at Xiao Liu with some surprise. "What if the Ancient Ape Clan wants to cause trouble for me?"

    "I will explain the situation, and the elders, being reasonable, will not start a conflict," Xiao Liu replied.

    "And if they do?" Qi Yuan pressed.

    "If the elders still want to trouble you, I will die before them!" Xiao Liu¡¯s voice was resolute, and he seemed prepared to sacrifice himself.

    Qi Yuan smiled. "Then I¡¯ll give you a chance, a chance for the Ancient Ape Clan."

    What happened afterward didn¡¯t concern Qi Yuan¡ªhe didn¡¯t care. After all, it was just a game, and enjoying it was the most important thing.

    After leaving the North Sea Dragon Clan, Qi Yuan passed by Qionghua Palace and finally left the North Sea God¡¯s Eye with the group of ancient gods. Qionghua Venerable remained at the palace. On one hand, Qi Yuan had given her the Divine Visualization of the Hundred Flowers Fairy, and she needed time to comprehend it and further her progress toward the Flower God position. On the other hand, she also stayed to help Qi Yuan collect any treasures that might emerge from the North Sea God¡¯s Eye.

    Outside the North Sea God¡¯s Eye, a group of ancient gods bid Qi Yuan farewell. At this Hundred Flowers Gathering, Qi Yuan¡¯s Dragon Subduer Arhat had defeated the North Sea Dragon Clan, and Qi Yuan had awakened Qionghua Dazun, who then recognized Qi Yuan as her master. Each of these events was astonishing.

    "Heavenly Venerable Origin, I reside on Xuan Kong Mountain. If you pass by, I will certainly offer you the best food and wine," an ancient god said gallantly.

    Ye Liuyun looked at Qi Yuan, feeling more shaken than the others. Unlike them, he had the blood of the dragon race, so he could tell that the dragon shadow behind the Dragon Subduer Arhat was a true five-clawed golden dragon of the Seventh Step, a step beyond the Dragon Ancestor. He couldn¡¯t comprehend why such a powerful dragon had been subdued by the Arhat. Reflecting on Qi Yuan¡¯s previous words, Ye Liuyun felt the need to report this to the elders in his clan.

    After Ye Liuyun left, the others also said their farewells to Qi Yuan. The last to leave was the Dusk Elder. He looked at Qi Yuan and sighed, "With your talent, it¡¯s too dangerous for you to stay in the fallen zone."

    The Dusk Elder understood the terror of Qi Yuan¡¯s talent¡ªtwenty consecutive legendary Divine Visualizations. Only the most extraordinary, those destined to create myths, could compare.

    "If you¡¯re so worried about my safety, why not become my bodyguard?" Qi Yuan joked.

    The Dusk Elder chuckled wryly. He wasn¡¯t that selfless. If Qi Yuan could visualize a legendary Divine Visualization that suited him, he might consider serving Qi Yuan like Qionghua Venerable, but such visualizations were rare. The chance of finding a second one was slim.

    "Alright, I¡¯ve gained enough this time. It¡¯s time to go home," Qi Yuan said, and with the Four Heavenly Kings and the Eighteen Arhats, he turned into a stream of light and disappeared.

    Back at Qionghua Palace, Qionghua Venerable¡¯s pupils showed traces of flower petals. The Palace Mistress stood beside her, hesitant to speak.

    "You¡¯re wondering why I, a Grand Venerable, would choose to serve the Heavenly Venerable, right?" Qionghua Venerable asked.

    The Palace Mistress nodded. She was indeed puzzled. While the Heavenly Venerable Origin had awakened the Grand Venerable with the Divine Visualization of the Hundred Flowers Fairy, which was a great favor, such a favor could be repaid with treasures or other means. Serving as a subject seemed excessive. In ancient times, the Heavenly Venerable Origin might have been a powerful figure, perhaps at the Sixth or Seventh Step, but those days were gone. Now, the Heavenly Venerable was only at the Purple Mansion stage, while Qionghua Venerable had started from a much higher point. It seemed almost impossible for the Heavenly Venerable to surpass Qionghua Venerable in this life, which made the Palace Mistress¡¯s confusion all the more understandable. Serving the Heavenly Venerable wasn¡¯t just a matter of words¡ªit was a serious commitment.

    Qionghua Venerable¡¯s gaze deepened. "Have you ever heard of the Hundred Flowers Fairy?"

    The Palace Mistress shook her head. "No, I haven¡¯t."

    Before this, she had never heard of any stories about the Hundred Flowers Fairy.

    "The position of Flower God has been my lifelong pursuit. It¡¯s a role that no one in the Fanxin World holds..." Qionghua Dazun said.

    The Palace Mistress¡¯s face changed. "Then he... could it be..."

    ...

    It was clear that the Wang family had been preparing for this move for some time. With the current upheaval, they were ready to leave. "Fei Huang City should start making preparations as well," Madam Wang advised. "If your Huang family decides to leave, we can help."

    The Wang and Huang families had been close for generations. After some discussion, Madam Wang took her leave, not staying the night in Fei Huang City.

    As she watched the Wang family¡¯s carriage depart, Huang Mengying¡¯s resolve hardened. "Someone, report this to the Heavenly Venerable Origin immediately."

    The Wang family¡¯s carriage moved through the night, the occupants somber. Madam Wang lifted the curtain and looked back at Fei Huang City, filled with the warmth of daily life, and sighed. "With the evil gods on the rise, who knows when Fei Huang City will become a ghostly domain?"

    Worshiping the evil gods might bring short-term benefits, but once fully assimilated, it would turn people into walking corpses. Such a fate was unacceptable to these noble families. Of course, some evil gods offered tempting conditions, winning the loyalty of certain noble families and even some ancient gods.

    Wang Wenya, lost in thought, asked softly, "Madam Wang, do you think that ancient god from Qing Shui Village will leave?"

    They had already heard about the events in Fei Huang City and were curious about the ancient god from Qing Shui Village.

    "Judging by his actions, I don¡¯t think he will leave," Madam Wang replied. You can tell a lot about an ancient god¡¯s intentions by how they manage their domain. For example, the Wang family had been slowly withdrawing from Fei Wu City, selling off their fixed assets and consolidating their holdings, a clear sign of their readiness to flee at any moment. In contrast, Qing Shui Village had been expanding its farmland, with no indication of any intention to leave.

    "Now, going to the Ancient God Alliance is the best outcome," Wang Wenya said.

    A man in the carriage added, "Perhaps he¡¯s unwilling to abandon his people."

    The others fell silent at this. After a long while, the carriage continued on its way.

    Suddenly, a familiar voice called out, "Routine inspection!"

    Routine inspections were common when traveling through various cities, checking for spies of the evil gods in the domains of the ancient gods, and vice versa.

    Wang Wenya recognized the voice and peeked through the curtain, surprised to see a familiar figure. "Zhao Zun, is that you!"

    "Wenya?" Zhao Zun recognized Wang Wenya as well.

    "What are you doing here?" Wang Wenya asked, a hint of happiness in her voice. They had been classmates at the academy, though they hadn¡¯t been particularly close. But a year ago, Zhao Zun¡¯s family had been ruined, and he had disappeared.

    "My family was destroyed, and I escaped to this place," Zhao Zun explained briefly.

    Wang Wenya listened, feeling conflicted. She hadn¡¯t expected her former classmate to have gone through such hardship. "Are you following the Heavenly Venerable now?" she asked curiously. Recalling their old friendship, she suggested, "There might be a war soon. Would you like to leave this troubled place with me?"

    "No," Zhao Zun shook his head firmly. "My future was given to me by the Heavenly Venerable. I won¡¯t leave."

    As the Dragon Subduer Arhat, he was no longer the old Zhao Zun. Wang Wenya was puzzled by his unwavering resolve, but since he didn¡¯t want to leave, she wouldn¡¯t insist. Returning to the carriage, she felt a bit melancholic.

    Madam Wang, noticing this, asked, "Your classmate, was he always this strong?"

    "Huh?" Wang Wenya didn¡¯t understand what Madam Wang meant.

    "He¡¯s incredibly strong now. How could he have lost his family to Zhao Si?" Madam Wang was puzzled.

    "Isn¡¯t he just a Nascent Soul cultivator?" Wang Wenya asked, still confused.

    "He¡¯s not a Nascent Soul cultivator. If he wanted, we might all have to stay here," Madam Wang said solemnly.

    As the most powerful member of the Wang family, Madam Wang was at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage. But facing Zhao Zun, she had a premonition that she wasn¡¯t even his equal in a single move.

    "How could he be so strong?" Wang Wenya couldn¡¯t comprehend it. It had only been a year, yet he had advanced by an entire major realm?

    "Perhaps it¡¯s related to his claim of being the Dragon Subduer Arhat," Madam Wang murmured, thinking about the Divine Visualization. "No wonder he¡¯s willing to serve Qing Shui Village¡¯s guardian god. To have advanced so quickly to the peak of the Purple Mansion, that Divine Visualization must be incredibly powerful."

    But admiration aside, the Wang family had no intention of staying in Qing Shui Village to serve its guardian god. Heading to the Ancient God Alliance was the only way to survive in the fallen zone.

 Chapter 196: Qi Yuanâ€™s Reckless Plan

    Chapter 196: Qi Yuan¡¯s Reckless Plan

    "Such a prosperous little town, what a pity," Madam Wang remarked, looking out at the vibrant scenery. The fields were lush with greenery, and the crops stood tall, bearing abundant fruit. However, no matter how beautiful the scenery or how promising the future, it would all be destroyed under the advance of the evil gods. The only hope for survival lay in fleeing south, far away from the devastation. "Let¡¯s go," Madam Wang sighed, giving the order to move on.

    The northern lands were almost entirely overrun, and the only hope of survival was to reach the Ancient God Alliance in the south, where most of the lands were still under the control of the ancient gods.

    As the morning light broke, Qi Qi took a deep breath outside the temple. "Godfather, you nearly scared me to death!"

    She looked up at Qi Yuan, who was hanging from a tree with his crimson-robed wife, Xiaojia. The shock had not yet left her eyes. Anyone would be terrified if they saw two people hanging from a tree early in the morning.

    "A goddaughter of the Heavenly Venerable, and you''re scared by something like this?" Qi Yuan laughed as he descended from the tree, still holding onto Xiaojia. "This is Xiaojia, my... wife."

    Qi Yuan introduced Xiaojia to Qi Qi, who seemed to understand and let a happy wooden plaque slip from her sleeve.

    "Ah?" Qi Qi was stunned. She had vaguely seen this red robe when she first arrived in Qing Shui Village and had always thought it was a treasure. She never expected it to be her godfather''s... wife?

    "Why did you come looking for me?" Qi Yuan asked, sensing that there were others outside the temple. "Did something happen?"

    "Godfather, there''s been a major upheaval in the Lin Kingdom. The late emperor... has passed away, and the governor of Fei Ling Prefecture has been transferred," Qi Qi reported, summarizing the news she had received the night before. Now that Qing Shui Village was under her management, she handled most of the logistics and day-to-day affairs, allowing Qi Yuan to focus on playing the game without worrying about running a village or a city. Qi Yuan was better suited to combat than administration, but fortunately, Qi Qi was a competent "housekeeper," managing everything efficiently.

    "When will the evil gods attack?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Qi Qi frowned and replied, "Of the seven cities in Fei Ling Prefecture, four have already fallen to the evil gods. If a new god descends, I estimate it will take about two years before they march on Fei Huang City."

    She spoke with a worried expression, knowing that Qing Shui Village didn''t have much time left.

    Qi Yuan''s eyebrows twitched. "Two years? That''s too slow. It looks like I''ll need to make a detailed plan."

    His enthusiasm was palpable. While his talent for cultivation might be average, his ability to make plans was exceptional. Every plan he meticulously crafted was flawless, advancing smoothly and with unstoppable momentum. Any plan he devised was bound to succeed.

    "What plan?" asked Shen Lei, the Grand Venerable, moving closer.

    "Naturally, the plan is to unify Fei Ling Prefecture," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Shen Lei frowned. "Fei Ling Prefecture could see the descent of a god at the Second Step of Heaven. Without my intervention, it will be very difficult for you to win with your current strength."

    Shen Lei¡¯s concerns were valid. The Eighteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings were all extremely talented with limitless potential, but they were only at the First Step of Heaven, each having only one divine aperture. They might be able to take on gods with three or four apertures, but defeating a god at the Second Step of Heaven, who had at least twelve apertures, would be nearly impossible. The Dragon Subduer Arhat''s victory over stronger foes was unlikely to be repeated.

    "Second Step gods are indeed strong, but my plan is flawless," Qi Yuan said, undeterred.

    Shen Lei laughed heartily. "Don¡¯t come begging me for help later. If I do step in, we might have to flee the north."

    If Shen Lei were to intervene, it would draw the attention of the powerful evil gods in the north, forcing him to flee for his own survival.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Shen Lei. "This plan does have some issues. Have you heard of the Ancient Clan?"

    He had no intention of waiting for the enemy to slowly approach and then defending the city. He preferred to take the initiative.

    "But if you start a war against those cities, the Second Step god from Fei Ling Prefecture will definitely descend sooner. It might not even take two years¡ªmaybe just half a year!" Shen Lei warned, trying to make Qi Yuan understand the gravity of the situation.

    "Half a year? No wonder they haven¡¯t taken over Fanxin World after all these years¡ªthey¡¯re so slow. Alright then, after I return from the ancestral land, I''ll immediately march on Fei Ling Prefecture to speed up that god¡¯s descent."

    Qi Yuan waved his hand and turned to Qi Qi. "Gather the chefs, the musicians, and the mourners. We¡¯re heading to Fei Wu City!"

    Even Qi Qi was taken aback by this. "Right now?" she asked, bewildered.

    The plan seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision. And why bring chefs, musicians, and mourners?

    "I never repeat myself," Qi Yuan said firmly.

    Qi Qi¡¯s expression became serious. "Understood!"

    She was unconditionally obedient to her godfather.

    Shen Lei watched Qi Yuan with a strange look. "You... remind me of myself when I was young."

    "Don''t flatter yourself."

    "This war of yours... seems a bit frivolous," Shen Lei couldn¡¯t help but comment.

    "It¡¯s just a game. Isn¡¯t being frivolous part of the fun?" Qi Yuan shrugged.

    Shen Lei seemed to understand something, smiling as he said, "Life as a game, indeed. It¡¯s interesting. I was overthinking it."

    "It¡¯s a game after all. Why make it so complicated?" Qi Yuan said lightheartedly.

    Fifteen minutes later, outside Qing Shui Village''s temple, the mourners, chefs, and musicians were all gathered. Nearly a hundred people were assembled, making quite a commotion.

    "Hey, I was just in the middle of washing clothes! I haven¡¯t even hung them out to dry!"

    "What¡¯s going on? Are we mourning someone? Is a feast being prepared?"

    The crowd was in chaos, with no semblance of military order. But as soon as Qi Yuan appeared, the scene instantly quieted down.

    Qi Yuan looked at the three hundred people, along with the Eighteen Arhats, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the three squads. He raised his voice, "Today, we have only one goal: to march on Fei Wu City! We¡¯ll hold a feast in Fei Wu City!"

    The crowd cheered, their voices echoing in excitement.

    Shen Lei watched with a peculiar expression, while the chefs, musicians, and mourners were all thrilled by Qi Yuan¡¯s speech. They trusted him completely. After all, they wouldn¡¯t be the ones on the front lines.

 Chapter 197: The Origin Heavenly Venerable Arrives; The People of Fei Wu City Have a Feast

    Chapter 197: The Origin Heavenly Venerable Arrives; The People of Fei Wu City Have a Feast

    In Qing Shui Village, the Grand Venerable Shen Lei watched the departing expedition with disbelief in his eyes.

    ¡°They¡¯re really setting off?¡± he muttered.

    Beside him, Zhu Zhuangshi gazed enviously at the proud and powerful large black dog marching off to war. Gathering his courage, Zhu looked at the Grand Venerable Shen Lei. In the past, he would have bowed and scraped before a True God, but after following the village''s protector deity for some time, he had lost much of his fear of authority¡ªthough he still held a deep respect for the deity.

    ¡°You get used to scenes like this after a while,¡± Zhu Zhuangshi said, speaking from experience as he tried to comfort Shen Lei. After all, those who had followed the protector deity for a while had become immune to such grand displays.

    Shen Lei gave Zhu a glance and said dismissively, ¡°A man who was pinned down by a dog and couldn¡¯t even get a seat at the table has no right to speak to me.¡±

    At that, Zhu Zhuangshi''s previously confident demeanor vanished, and he looked pitifully hurt. Recently, during a feast, Zhu had drunk too much and tried to reminisce about the good old days while hugging the large black dog, only for the dog to pin him down.

    Wang Chongshan, who was standing nearby, teased him, saying, ¡°My sworn brother isn¡¯t who he used to be; how dare you mess around with him?¡± Wang Chongshan''s sworn brother was none other than the large black dog. Zhu Zhuangshi looked even more aggrieved at that.

    Outside Fei Wu City, officials lined up in two rows at the city gates. Their expressions varied¡ªsome were eager, others anxious, and some looked heartbroken.

    ¡°Commander Ji, why are you still here?¡± asked a tall man with a neat mustache, wearing a green robe and a gray belt. He looked spirited and robust.

    Ji Buran glanced at Wang Chunfeng but remained silent.

    Wang Chunfeng didn¡¯t seem offended and replied with a polite bow, "We''re colleagues now; we should look out for each other."

    Fei Wu City had no ancient gods, only a city lord. Ji Buran was the Chief Commander in the city lord¡¯s manor, overseeing a battalion. With the sudden changes in the city, most of the prominent figures had fled, leaving Ji Buran as the highest-ranking official who had stayed behind.

    As for Wang Chunfeng, he was originally a merchant with no official position, but since the new god was about to take over Fei Wu City, he had pledged his allegiance early and thus became the representative of the new god¡¯s forces.

    Now they were standing outside the city gates, waiting to welcome the new god''s arrival. Each of the officials had their own motives, standing there under a light drizzle, which was nothing to these cultivators.

    Wang Chunfeng, smiling, said, ¡°Commander Ji, do you think less of me because I¡¯m just a merchant?¡±

    Ji Buran finally looked at him seriously and replied in a deep, powerful voice, ¡°Not at all.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯ve always admired you, Commander Ji,¡± Wang Chunfeng replied amiably. ¡°Once the lord arrives, we can work together to serve the god.¡±

    When Wang Chunfeng mentioned the new god, his eyes were filled with reverence. The new god would assimilate some of the citizens, but not all. The new god had also promised that those who served loyally could leave the Fanxin World with the god and gain eternal life.

    Wang Chunfeng¡¯s roots were in Fei Wu City. Leaving the city would mean losing everything he had accumulated over the years, so he chose to stay. Many like him sought to take advantage of the situation. However, most of the city''s population consisted of elderly and frail citizens who couldn¡¯t leave. Even those with cultivation levels at the Foundation or Core stages faced certain death if they ventured out of the city in these troubled times.

    Ji Buran had stayed behind out of concern for the people under his care.

    "Yes," Ji Buran responded, nodding at Wang Chunfeng.

    At this moment, Wang Chunfeng recalled something and said, "Commander Ji, with the new god arriving, we should do something to show our loyalty. We¡¯re planning to hold a feast for young girls. Since you know the city best, we¡¯d appreciate your help in gathering them."

    A fierce light flashed in Ji Buran¡¯s eyes, which he quickly concealed. "Fei Wu City is in a state of decline. Such a feast should be planned carefully."

    "Are you unwilling to help, Commander Ji?" Wang Chunfeng asked with a sly smile.

    "What do you mean?" Ji Buran¡¯s eyes filled with anger.

    Wang Chunfeng clapped his hands, and two guards brought forth a child, about seven or eight years old, who was struggling to break free.

    Wang Chunfeng smiled. ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling to hold a feast for girls, perhaps we can hold one for boys instead. I¡¯ve already caught one.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Ji Buran¡¯s anger exploded as he recognized the child as his own son. He had stayed in Fei Wu City, ready to defend it to the last, sending his family away to safety. He never expected Wang Chunfeng to capture his son. Fury boiled within him, and his aura, that of a Purple Mansion cultivator, surged as he prepared to strike.

    But Wang Chunfeng remained calm. ¡°The lord will arrive soon. Are you planning to rebel?¡±The? source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

    If he could take down the leader, the battle would be won. As the Arhats pressed him, the Flowing Venerable inched closer to Qi Yuan, preparing to strike.

    ¡°This is taking too long. If it continues like this, it¡¯ll delay the feast,¡± Qi Yuan remarked, bored by the ongoing battle. ¡°Four Heavenly Kings, you¡ª¡±

    But before he could finish, the Flowing Venerable, bolstered by his divine power, charged at Qi Yuan, a triumphant grin on his face.

    ¡°I¡¯ve survived divine wars! What can you local weaklings do against me?¡± he roared, convinced of his victory.

    But as he reached Qi Yuan, four beautiful women¡ªthe Four Heavenly Kings¡ªstepped forward. Each one was a true god. Behind them, the remaining twelve Arhats formed a protective barrier around Qi Yuan, their divine power palpable.

    The Flowing Venerable¡¯s grin froze. He swallowed hard, realizing the gravity of his mistake.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    The sixteen true gods attacked simultaneously. The sounds of pipa strings, spinning parasols, and jingling bells filled the air as the Flowing Venerable was bombarded with twelve iron fists.

    ¡°No!¡±

    The Flowing Venerable¡¯s divine apertures shattered under the relentless assault. Qi Yuan watched impassively, sighing, ¡°If you¡¯d lent me your corpse earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer. I might¡¯ve even let your spirit dine at the table.¡±

    With that, the Flowing Venerable was beaten to death, his divine apertures obliterated by the iron fists of the mighty warriors.

    Qi Yuan turned to the officials outside the city gates, his eyes cold. They were paralyzed with fear. The Flowing Venerable had been killed¡ªby twenty true gods! Where did so many true gods come from?

    ¡°The feast begins,¡± Qi Yuan announced, his gaze turning icy. ¡°Kill anyone who was planning to help the evil gods. It¡¯ll give us more time to feast.¡±

    At his command, the Dragon-subduing Arhat and the Tiger-taming Arhat charged into the crowd, cutting through the officials like they were nothing. Cries of pain and terror filled the air as the once-arrogant officials fell like paper before them.

    Turning to Ji Buran, Qi Yuan¡¯s voice softened. ¡°I have a task for you.¡±

    Ji Buran, tense with anticipation, replied earnestly, ¡°Yes, my lord?¡±

    Here stood an ancient god willing to stand up for Fei Wu City. Ji Buran¡¯s admiration for him was boundless.

    ¡°We¡¯ve traveled far to hold a feast for the Flowing Venerable. We have chefs, mourners, and musicians¡ªall we need is food. Go and gather some provisions,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    The villagers behind him, eager for the feast, licked their lips in anticipation. To them, following Qi Yuan was most joyful when there was a feast.

    Ji Buran, slightly confused, eventually nodded. ¡°Understood!¡±

    He didn¡¯t fully grasp the Qing Shui Village protector deity¡¯s intentions, but he believed there was more to this than just a feast. There had to be a deeper meaning.

    ¡°The Origin Heavenly Venerable has come, so the people of Fei Wu City will have a feast,¡± Qi Yuan mused, watching Ji Buran¡¯s retreating figure and the imposing city before him.

    Qi Qi stood beside him, her eyes alight with excitement, though a hint of sadness lingered beneath. Unfortunately, the people of Tianfu and other cities, those who had perished at the hands of evil gods, would never have the chance to feast, to enjoy the victory over the evil gods.

    Determined, Qi Qi resolved to eat heartily, to honor those who had died defending Tianfu and its people.

    Qi Yuan examined the Flowing Venerable¡¯s storage bag, quickly assessing its contents. ¡°If I¡¯d met him a few months ago, he might have been something, but now... this is it?¡±

    The bag held little of value, but the evil god¡¯s divine power and experience were rewards enough.

    However, something caught his eye¡ªa broken helmet, riddled with holes and still stained with fresh blood. Qi Yuan recognized a familiar aura from it.

    ¡°Wenqi, could this be your great-grandfather¡¯s helmet?¡± he asked, producing the battered helmet for all to see.

    The evil god¡¯s divine power still lingered within it, a testament to the fierce battle it had witnessed.

 Chapter 198: The Seed of the World

    Chapter 198: The Seed of the World

    Wang Wenqi''s eyes turned red as she gazed at the helmet.

    She didn''t say a word, but her reaction spoke volumes.

    "So, this Flowing Venerable is connected to the Jiang Kingdom?" Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    If that were the case, it would mean he had killed a relatively important god.

    Images flashed through Wang Wenqi''s mind before settling on a final one. Her voice was cold as she said, "He was Zhang Feng''s brother-in-law, a descendant of a Great Venerable!"

    Zhang Feng, an ancient god, was a close friend of Wang Wenqi''s great-grandfather, the Heavenly Treasure Venerable. In the end, this friend betrayed the ancient gods and joined the New Gods'' faction.

    Zhang Feng had caught the attention of a powerful Evil God and married his daughter to him. Later, the fall of Jiang Kingdom had Zhang Feng¡¯s hand in it.

    Evidently, the Flowing Venerable was the offspring of that Evil God.

    "So, it was him," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    Standing nearby, Qi Qi quickly grasped the situation, and her expression grew serious.

    They had just slain the offspring of a Great Venerable!

    This was no small matter.

    If the Great Venerable sought revenge, they would be powerless to resist. Even with their twenty true gods, their strength was only in numbers. They wouldn''t stand a chance against a Great Venerable, or even a true god at the Third Step of Heaven.

    "Godfather, should we still continue the feast?" Qi Qi was starting to have second thoughts.

    She wanted to persuade Qi Yuan to leave. Not to mention the Great Venerable, even Zhang Feng alone would make it difficult for them to escape.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the starry sky, his gaze sweeping over the brightest star.

    "In a game, if you get scared off by some second-generation god, then what''s the point of playing?" Qi Yuan said dismissively.

    He was always the dictator of his plans. While Qi Qi handled logistics and management, once Qi Yuan made a decision, it was final.

    Hearing this, the worry on Qi Qi''s face faded, replaced by a sweet smile. "Everything is up to you, Godfather."

    "We continue the feast, continue the plan, and conquer territories. My plan is that within a month, every corner of Fei Ling Prefecture will be holding feasts!" Qi Yuan declared firmly.

    Everyone present was fired up, their spirits lifted by Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    The once-desolate Fei Wu City was transformed almost overnight with Qi Yuan''s arrival. A long, continuous banquet was set up along the broad streets, stretching for miles.

    Many of the city¡¯s remaining residents peeked out from their homes, stepping into the streets to join this mysterious feast. All they knew was that a new ancient god had taken control of Fei Wu City.

    For many, there was a fleeting sense of excitement, but it was quickly overshadowed by uncertainty about the future. They didn¡¯t know how long this god would stay in Fei Wu City. Perhaps, after enjoying the celebration, he would leave with his entourage, leaving them to face the retribution of the New Gods.

    "Big sister, what''s happening outside?" A weak voice called from within a small house.

    Yang Lian opened the door and looked at her frail younger sister lying on the bed. She explained what was happening outside.

    "A feast? I want to go," the younger sister struggled to sit up.

    Yang Lian shook her head. "We don¡¯t know if this ancient god is friend or foe. You can''t go out."

    The young girl lay back down, disappointment in her eyes.

    "I''ll go out and bring back some food for you later," Yang Lian said, gently stroking her sister''s head with a look of affection. "They probably won''t stay in Fei Wu City for long. Once you¡¯ve recovered, I''ll take you away from here."

    Yang Lian''s eyes hardened with determination. "This is our chance. As soon as you¡¯re better, we''ll leave this city."

    Her sister''s illness was the only reason they hadn''t left already. Now that the Origin Heavenly Venerable had arrived, Yang Lian was ready to take her sister away.

    "Alright," her sister nodded.

    "Remember, never reveal your powers in front of either ancient gods or evil gods until you¡¯ve become a Great Venerable yourself. Never trust anyone until then!" Yang Lian warned, holding her sister''s hand tightly.

    The weak girl nodded again.

    Yang Lian gazed up at the starry sky, despair clouding her eyes. "This world... it¡¯s beyond saving. No one can save it. Leaving is the only way to survive."

    Yang Lian¡¯s sister carried within her the seed of the world. If she could leave this world and reach a higher plane, perhaps she could seek the help of other yang gods to save the Fanxin World.

    But Yang Lian knew that doing so would place the Fanxin World in even greater danger. A primordial world, capable of creating endless possibilities, would be coveted by any yang god. And the Fanxin World had no means of defending itself.

    Yet, turning to another yang god was the only slim chance of survival. Even so, the Fanxin World might end up under the control of another yang god. But that would be a better fate than the complete destruction of all life.

    Yang Lian forced a smile. "Maybe I''m overthinking it. Even if we do manage to leave, finding another yang god will be nearly impossible. But as long as you¡¯re alive, there¡¯s hope."

    "Mm," the girl nodded firmly.

    After speaking, Yang Lian sensed something and hurriedly left the room.

    "Sister, did you notice that Brother Zhao Zun... seems different from before?"

    "Hmm... it does seem that way." Yang Lian frowned.

    "The Venerable he follows must not be an ordinary person," the little girl murmured.

    If he were, would she have felt the urge to bestow a gift?

    "Perhaps in a past life, he was a... myth." Yang Lian boldly speculated.

    Why else would her sister have bestowed a gift?

    In this world, only those of mythic status were worthy of such gifts.

    Mythical beings were those who had taken seven steps into the heavens, becoming legends.

    Mythical beings were the strongest pillars of this world.

    In the battle of Hongtang, when the Mother of All Beings perished, the Fanxin World lost countless true gods. More than seventy percent of the true gods and Great Venerables died. But the mythic beings, those who had taken seven steps into the heavens, all fell in battle.

    Not a single one survived. The so-called Heaven¡¯s Chosen weren¡¯t favored by the heavens¡ªthey were those capable of visualizing mythic-level gods.

    They were the last hope of the Fanxin World.

    Yang Lian held her frail sister, her eyes filled with deep sorrow. "Are you still in pain?"

    "A little," the little girl replied through gritted teeth.

    "Hold on just a bit longer. Soon, you¡¯ll be able to leave the Fanxin World, and then... it won¡¯t hurt anymore." Yang Lian embraced her sister, thinking of Zhao Zun.

    Perhaps, like Zhao Zun and the Origin Heavenly Venerable, she too would eventually fall in battle, giving her life to the Fanxin World.

    But her sister would carry the seed of the world, the hope of the world, through the ages until it could finally sprout.

    But... would it still be the Fanxin World that emerged?

    Would the old memories still remain?

    Meanwhile, Zhao Zun returned to the city lord¡¯s mansion.

    Qi Yuan was busy gnawing on a pig¡¯s trotter when he remarked to Qi Qi, "You eat too slowly, savoring every bite. Xiaoxue¡¯s way of wolfing down food is much more appetizing."

    Qi Qi rolled her eyes. "Godfather, I¡¯m a lady. Ladies have manners!"

    In the mansion, the atmosphere was warm and joyful. Ji Buran also sat quietly at the table, nibbling on a pig¡¯s trotter.

    Then Qi Yuan declared, "In a few more days, we¡¯ll capture the remaining two cities. My great plan is finally moving forward."

    There was something incredibly satisfying about seeing daily progress on his plan.

    Qi Yuan mused that if everyone on Earth had progress bars or experience meters, it would produce many hardworking talents like him.

    Qi Qi listened while gnawing on a bone, refusing to engage with Qi Yuan¡¯s ¡°great plan.¡±

    That was a plan? Honestly, Qi Qi thought her godfather¡¯s plan was too simplistic¡ªless detailed than her notes on planting and far less thorough than an elementary school guide to feeding pigs.

    "When this plan is done, we¡¯ll return to Qing Shui Village and prepare to enter the ancestral land of the Gu Clan," Qi Yuan said, filled with anticipation.

    "The Gu Clan..." Qi Qi hesitated. "The ancestral land is dangerous. Godfather, you must be careful."

    "Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no one more cautious than me in this world," Qi Yuan said, spouting nonsense as he slurped his fragrant soup.

    "Godfather, you¡¯re not cautious at all. The Thunder God is the cautious one. You¡¯re just at the Purple Palace level, yet you dare face true gods, and even Great Venerables," Qi Qi said, exasperated.

    "I¡¯m not just at the Purple Palace level anymore. I¡¯m a... Stellar Gold Core now. I¡¯ve already become very cautious," Qi Yuan said as he continued eating heartily.

    "Godfather, stop talking nonsense."

    "If I weren¡¯t cautious, I¡¯d secretly summon my Stellar Gold Core and smash it into the Heavenly Pillar to crush that old evil god!" Qi Yuan said, his tone deadly serious.

    He had considered it, but unfortunately, his Stellar Gold Core was only a projection. If it were a real star, he¡¯d definitely try to clash with the yang god inside the Heavenly Pillar.

    Even though his daughter said yang gods could swallow stars, Qi Yuan remained skeptical. Perhaps some yang gods could, but that didn¡¯t mean all of them could. And just as yang gods varied greatly, so did stars.

    Qi Qi looked at the night sky, smiling. "Godfather, if you could really summon the stars, you might actually crush a few evil gods!"

    As for gods above the true god level, Qi Qi didn¡¯t comment. That was a realm beyond her comprehension.

    But a star could definitely crush a mythic being.

    "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m working on it. I¡¯m preparing to swallow another star. One day, I¡¯ll secretly drop it down and give that old bastard a scare," Qi Yuan said, gazing at the night sky.

    In the empty universe where Ning Tao resided, time continued to flow rapidly. The solar flames continued to accumulate, and soon, Qi Yuan would be able to condense two Stellar Gold Cores.

 Chapter 199: The Myth Plan

    Chapter 199: The Myth Plan

    As Qi Qi sat beside Qi Yuan and listened to him speak, she couldn''t help but give him a thumbs-up.

    ¡°Godfather, you¡¯re truly one in a billion. Out of all the Golden Core cultivators in the Fanxin World, not one of them has... condensed a golden core like yours.¡± It was hard to tell if Qi Qi was praising or mocking him.

    ¡°Indeed, the Fanxin World is a bit lacking. I know a friend who not only condensed a golden core but also a Nascent Soul,¡± Qi Yuan said, thinking of the Wise True Monarch.

    The Wise True Monarch lived up to his name, possessing great wisdom.

    Qi Qi took a sip of her soup, making a soft slurping sound before setting her porcelain spoon down to speak. ¡°Honestly, Godfather, I think condensing a stellar Nascent Soul is more impressive than a stellar golden core.¡±

    ¡°And why do you say that?¡± Qi Yuan asked, genuinely curious.

    ¡°A Nascent Soul is the foundation of a true god. The stronger the Nascent Soul, the stronger you¡¯ll be as a true god. A golden core is just a transition; it¡¯s something you¡¯ll eventually shatter anyway, so it doesn¡¯t really matter how well you form it,¡± Qi Qi explained, sharing what she knew.

    ¡°Sigh, you¡¯re definitely not as wise as the Wise True Monarch. Sometimes, his words make me feel enlightened. But listening to you... feels like a waste of time,¡± Qi Yuan said, shaking his head.

    Nearby, Zhao Zun noticed their conversation winding down and took the opportunity to report the current situation in Fei Wu City to Qi Yuan. Although he was reporting to Qi Yuan, Qi Qi was listening closely.

    After the report, Zhao Zun said, ¡°Lord, I ran into an old acquaintance in Fei Wu City. She asked me to give you a gift.¡±

    Zhao Zun then recounted his encounter with Yang Lian and described the situation with her sister.

    He also relayed Yang Lian¡¯s message that her sister was too weak to see anyone.

    ¡°A gift?¡± Qi Yuan''s interest was piqued. ¡°A little girl sent me a gift? Seems like I''m really winning hearts and minds here¡ªdestiny is on my side!¡±

    He was eager as he took the blood-red jade leaf from Zhao Zun''s hands.

    [Blood Jade Leaf, a unique creation, stained with the blood of a true god. Wearing it in the Fanxin World increases your luck by one.]

    ¡°Luck?¡± Qi Yuan examined the leaf, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    Luck was a somewhat abstract concept. In the past, when he controlled the Heavenly Dao in the Moon Watching Continent, he could bestow luck upon others, but it was a very shallow effect.

    ¡°I¡¯ll accept her gift. I just wonder when I¡¯ll have the chance to return the favor,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    Zhao Zun had already conveyed the message that the girl didn¡¯t want to see anyone, so Qi Yuan thought it was enough to accept the gift without being presumptuous.

    Zhao Zun bowed his head. ¡°I¡¯ll relay your words to her, Lord.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    Half a day later, in a small courtyard, Yang Lian looked at a familiar figure with a smile on her face. ¡°No need for a return gift. Just thank the Origin Heavenly Venerable for his kindness.¡±

    How could anything match the value of world luck as a return gift? Yang Lian doubted that even a god could repay such a gift.

    Seven days passed quickly.

    The expedition team, consisting of the Eighteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings, had already returned to Fei Wu City. This time, they split into two groups and, following Qi Yuan¡¯s plan, executed each step meticulously.

    The remaining two cities fell quickly to their surprise attack, with the resident evil gods caught off guard and slain.

    Of the seven cities in Fei Ling Prefecture, four were previously under the complete control of evil gods. Now, only the prefecture¡¯s capital remained. According to intelligence, a powerful evil god at the Second Step of Heaven was set to take control of it.

    This evil god was mid-stage Second Step, a formidable opponent. Even if the Four Heavenly Kings and Eighteen Arhats joined forces, defeating this god would be challenging.

    The entire Fei Ling Prefecture was now in turmoil. On one hand, Qi Yuan¡¯s forces were actively hunting down and killing evil gods and their followers. On the other hand, many of the remaining evil god followers were lying low, waiting for the arrival of the new prefecture lord to purge the ancient gods.

    The whole prefecture was on edge. The noble families who initially planned to flee didn¡¯t slow down despite Qi Yuan¡¯s campaign against the evil gods; in fact, they hurried even faster, fearing they might become collateral damage. Those who remained were mostly common cultivators and the poor masses. Of course, a few noble families also made their way to Fei Wu City, choosing to stand with the Origin Heavenly Venerable against the impending crisis.

    In just a few days, the once-empty Fei Wu City had become lively again. Every day, there were feasts along the streets, filling the city with a rare sense of joy and celebration amidst the pervasive blood mist.

    Qi Qi stood on the city walls, watching the people below enjoy the feast, smiles lighting up their faces. She couldn¡¯t help but recall the day she stood on a mountain, witnessing the endless rain of heavenly fire that reduced Tianfu City to ashes. Countless citizens rose up in resistance, but in the end, Tianfu was consumed by flames.

    ¡°Maybe, in this oppressive world, sharing a feast of an evil god¡¯s bounty is the only thing worth celebrating,¡± Qi Qi thought to herself. ¡°No wonder people hold feasts after death¡ªperhaps it¡¯s to dispel the fear of death with the lively atmosphere.¡±

    ¡°Miss Qi Qi, the Lord is preparing to return to Qing Shui Village.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go see him off!¡± Qi Qi lifted her head, her eyes bright with anticipation.

    Her godfather was returning to Qing Shui Village to head to the ancestral land. She, along with the Four Heavenly Kings and some of the Arhats, would stay behind to guard Fei Wu City.

    Back in Qing Shui Village, the Thunder God Venerable couldn¡¯t help but smile when he received the news.

    ¡°This guy really is bold¡ªhe¡¯s already killed three evil gods?¡±

    Hearing the news, the Shenlei Venerable was both impressed and taken aback. This Origin Heavenly Venerable was truly a man of action.

    ¡°The Flowing Venerable could be a problem...¡± The Shenlei Venerable knew a bit about the gods in Lin Kingdom before he arrived. The Flowing Venerable was the son of a Great Venerable and the brother-in-law of Zhang Feng.

    He hadn¡¯t expected the Flowing Venerable to be the new evil god of Fei Wu City.

    After thinking for a moment, he activated a jade slip. Immediately, his shadow appeared in an ancient land.

    An old man with white hair was meditating with his eyes closed. When he sensed the presence, he opened his eyes. ¡°Shenlei Venerable, is there trouble in the Northern Region?¡±

    He was already seriously injured, with only about three hundred years of life left. He knew he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against any Great Venerable now.

    But he was confident he could take down the mid-stage Second Step evil god in Fei Ling Prefecture and Zhang Feng, the Third Step traitor. However, once he did, he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape the fallen region.

    The white-haired old man looked at Shenlei Venerable, deeply moved. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him.¡±

    ¡°Alright, no more talk. That kid is probably on his way back,¡± Shenlei Venerable said as his projection faded away beside the white-haired old man.

    In the desolate land, with blood flowing like rivers, the white-haired old man stood up, gazing at the sky, his expression somber.

    At that moment, his jade slip glowed, and a figure cloaked in black appeared. Seeing this figure, the white-haired old man¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°Why have you come? Be careful!¡±

    The figure in the black robe spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°I¡¯ve found a new node. It¡¯s located in the heavens...¡±

    The white-haired old man¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. ¡°Another node? That¡¯s good news.¡±

    Nodes were critical to the Myth Plan, determining whether they could open the gates of the Fanxin World and escape.

    The black-robed figure remained motionless, showing no sign of joy. After several seconds of silence, his calm voice broke the stillness. ¡°I killed the Pear Blossom Great Venerable.¡±

    The white-haired old man fell silent, his voice turning hoarse. ¡°That wasn¡¯t your fault.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡± The black-robed figure responded lightly and disappeared.

    Back in Qing Shui Village, Shi Chongshan came forward to greet them. Seeing the large black dog, he smiled warmly. ¡°Brother, you¡¯ve returned.¡±

    The black dog nodded in a human-like gesture. It glanced at Zhu Zhuangshi nearby, opening its mouth to spit out a large bone.

    Shi Chongshan saw this and said to Zhu Zhuangshi, ¡°Hurry up and thank my brother. He was thinking of you even during the feast and brought you back a bone!¡±

    Zhu Zhuangshi looked at the bone, on the verge of tears.

    He had once brought a bone home for the black dog after a feast, and now karma had come full circle.

    He didn¡¯t dare be angry at the black dog, so he glared at Shi Chongshan instead. ¡°When I get stronger, I¡¯ll make you pay, you treacherous scoundrel!¡±

    Of course, he wouldn¡¯t actually eat the bone¡ªthe black dog wasn¡¯t really trying to insult him.

    ¡°Alright, enough nonsense. We need to pick some people to go with me to the ancestral land,¡± Qi Yuan said as he appeared, addressing the village chief, Yu Lei.

    Yu Lei''s heart leaped as he quickly responded, ¡°How many people, Lord?¡±

    ¡°Hmm... seven or eight,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    This time, he planned to take the Dragon Subduing Arhat, the Tiger Subduing Arhat, the Long-Browed Arhat, and the Happy Arhat with him. He also thought about bringing seven or eight villagers along.

    ¡°Lord, may I go as well?¡± Yu Lei asked eagerly.

    ¡°You can go if you¡¯re not afraid of death,¡± Qi Yuan said coolly.

    Entering the ancestral land was extremely dangerous for anyone below the True God level. Even Great Venerables could perish there, let alone these villagers.

    ¡°Let the villagers volunteer, but make sure they understand the risks. If no one volunteers, just... pick anyone. If too many volunteer, choose the strongest eight,¡± Qi Yuan instructed.

    This time, he wanted to be prepared for the journey into the ancestral land.

    According to what Yu Lei and Shen Tu had told him, there were many dangerous areas in the ancestral land, but also many safe ones. With his ability to sense fortune and disaster, Qi Yuan believed he was well-suited to navigate it.

    After finishing his instructions, Qi Yuan turned to Shenlei Venerable. ¡°Thunder Old Man, why don¡¯t you come with me to the Gu Clan¡¯s ancestral land as my bodyguard?¡±

    Shenlei Venerable gave Qi Yuan a sidelong glance. ¡°You wish.¡±

    ¡°Sigh, you¡¯re freeloading in our Qing Shui Village, doing absolutely nothing. During the last expedition, I even asked you to join the music band and add some thunder effects for the BGM, but you refused. You¡¯re so stingy¡ªmight as well be a mascot,¡± Qi Yuan grumbled.

    Shenlei Venerable was always eager to eat but never lifted a finger to help.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a great gift for you when you get back!¡± Shenlei Venerable stroked his beard, looking smug.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t make it too abstract,¡± Qi Yuan shot back. ¡°All I ever expect from you is to add some BGM for me.¡±

    ¡°Do you think I, a Great Venerable, would stoop so low as to provide background thunder for your battles? Dream on!¡± Shenlei Venerable glared at Qi Yuan, deeply insulted.

    To think a proud warrior like him would be reduced to mere sound effects¡ªit was unthinkable.

    Qi Yuan looked at him and sighed. ¡°Thunder is an art, too. Looks like I¡¯ll have to call in the Thunder Department.¡±

    The Thunder Department was one of the Eight Divisions of Heaven. They were responsible for managing thunder, rain, wind, and clouds, and had the authority to monitor and judge good and evil across the Three Realms.

    The Thunder Department was quite famous among the Eight Divisions, overseen by the Nine Heavens Indestructible Heavenly Venerable. It was said that this Venerable was an avatar of one of the Four Imperial Lords, the Eternal Life Emperor.

    If Qi Yuan could visualize this Venerable, he would definitely have the most epic special effects in every battle, with lightning flashing all around. Of course, the Venerable¡¯s status was quite high, and Qi Yuan might not have enough evil god power to visualize him yet.

    But he could start with the Five Thunder Emperors and the Thirty-Six Thunder Generals. They should be easier to visualize, and they¡¯d still bring top-notch effects to the table.

    ¡°What¡¯s this Thunder Department now?¡± Shenlei Venerable chuckled. ¡°You folks at the Huaxia Dragon Group sure are something!¡±

 Chapter 200: The Fortune Teller

    Chapter 200: The Fortune Teller

    While waiting to enter the ancestral land, Qi Yuan resided in the temple, seldom going out. To his surprise, many people volunteered to accompany him on the journey, despite the high likelihood of death. Over fifty people signed up, far more than he expected.

    In the end, eight individuals were chosen to join him: Village Chief Yu Lei, the priest Shen Tu, Shi Chongshan from Shi Family Village, Chen Xifan from Chenxi Village, and Zhu Zhuangshi, among others. These were prominent figures in Qi Yuan''s territory.

    "Are none of you afraid of death?" Qi Yuan asked casually one day while standing before the temple and looking at the eight chosen individuals.

    Zhu Zhuangshi shrugged. "I''m more afraid of being overshadowed by a big black dog for the rest of my life than I am of dying!"

    As part of the Gu Clan, Zhu Zhuangshi knew well the dangers of entering the ancestral land. The death rate for True Gods was over fifty percent, and even Great Venerables had been known to perish there. But without risking death, how could he hope for the deity to grant them divine cultivation methods?

    "Zhu Zhuangshi, don''t insult my sworn brother!" Shi Chongshan retorted, defending the black dog.

    Zhu Zhuangshi looked at Shi Chongshan with disdain. "If I manage to obtain a divine cultivation method, you''ll be nothing more than a pig or a dog!"

    The group laughed, the fear of the ancestral land momentarily dissipating.

    "Alright, since the entrance to the ancestral land is open, let''s not waste time. We''ll go in and out quickly!" Qi Yuan, always a man of action, was eager to carry out his plan.

    "Understood!"

    Village Chief Yu Lei took a deep drag from his pipe before setting it down in the corner of the temple wall. The other villagers were equally determined.

    Qi Yuan then looked at the Thunder God Venerable. "I might be back in a day or two, or maybe four or five. Please take care of Qing Shui Village while I''m gone, Thunder Old Man."

    "Is ''Old Man'' really a term of respect?" the Thunder God Venerable asked skeptically.

    "Of course! Cultivators don''t lie to other cultivators."

    Qi Yuan nodded seriously, his sincerity apparent. "When you kill someone, you should shout, ''The Old Man is here!'' It would be so stylish."

    "I''ll take your word for it," the Thunder God Venerable said, patting his clothes and looking at Qi Yuan, a sense of melancholy washing over him.

    "I wish you brilliance like the stars, shining bright in the heavens," the Thunder God Venerable said, his tone poetic.

    "Why are you suddenly getting all artsy? Were you a literary type in your youth?" Qi Yuan asked, suspicious. Then he added, "I don''t know any poetry, so I''ll just wish you boundless wealth and eternal life."

    "Who are you cursing? Wealth in the tens of thousands?" The Thunder God Venerable looked at Qi Yuan with disdain.

    "You''re too greedy," Qi Yuan said nonchalantly.

    After bidding farewell to the Thunder God Venerable and the others, Qi Yuan followed Village Chief Yu Lei and Priest Shen Tu to an ancient well north of the village.

    The well, seemingly bottomless, emitted a ghostly glow around its edge, making it look particularly eerie at night.

    Shen Tu, dressed in a green robe, stepped forward and dropped a single drop of blood into the well. The glow intensified, and Qi Yuan felt a strong spatial fluctuation.

    "A teleportation array?" Qi Yuan asked, intrigued.

    In the Cang Lan Realm, he had encountered many formations, but never a teleportation array. The phenomenon before him felt similar to what he remembered of teleportation arrays.

    Village Chief Yu Lei, his beard white with age, nodded. "This is a teleportation array from ancient times. It leads directly to the ancestral land."

    Qi Yuan''s curiosity deepened. "How does a teleportation array work? Is it based on space laws?"

    Shen Tu responded, "A teleportation array has nothing to do with space laws."

    "What? Isn''t mastering space laws supposed to allow you to tear through space and escape?" Qi Yuan asked, confused.

    "Tearing through space leads to the Void. Entering the Void with a physical body will cause it to disintegrate. True Gods can project their souls to enter the Void, but it''s not a method for travel. In the Void, ten years of travel might not cover the distance of a single day in the real world. The teleportation array enters a place called the Dark Void, which is the opposite of the Void. The coordinates in the Dark Void correspond directly to the real world, but the distances are much shorter," Shen Tu explained.

    Qi Yuan began to understand. The Dark Void seemed to function like a wormhole, folding space to bring two points closer together.

    "How does a mere Nascent Soul cultivator know so much? Are you an NPC meant to provide explanations?" Qi Yuan joked.

    "As a priest, this knowledge is part of my inherited memories," Shen Tu clarified.

    "I see. It''s your preset. Everyone has a preset role. It''s the same in games and in reality," Qi Yuan mused. "Alright, let''s see how this teleportation array works."

    Soon, everyone stepped into the array. Qi Yuan felt as though a transparent membrane enveloped them, and beyond it, everything was pitch black.

    "This is the Dark Void. There''s no light, no sound," Shen Tu remarked, awe in his voice. It was his first time experiencing a teleportation array as well.

    Cultivators could usually see in the dark, but not in the Dark Void. Even with spiritual sight, there was nothing to see or hear, only the voices of those within the array.

    Qi Yuan looked around, seeing nothing but darkness.

    ¡¾Teleportation Array, special construct, capable of traversing the Dark Void.¡¿

    His eyes could only perceive the array itself. Beyond it, the Dark Void held no secrets for him.

    He closed his eyes, listening intently.

    If sight was blocked, what about sound? In the Cang Lan Realm, he could hear Ning Tao in the Flow Wind Realm.

    Time passed slowly.

    Suddenly, several urgent voices reached Qi Yuan''s ears.

    "The Tamar people will never be slaves!"

    In his previous life, Qi Yuan had seen many TV dramas where fortune tellers became famous by reading fortunes for the main character. But reading for mortals was boring¡ªreading for gods was more fun.

    Once, he had read Chu Tianxiong''s fortune in the Black Mountain Sect and predicted bloodshed. That very night, Chu Tianxiong was killed by the Faceless Man, proving Qi Yuan''s skill.

    Now, with his new eyebrow-twitching ability, his fortune-telling would be even more accurate.

    He glanced at the burly man, and his eyebrow twitched. "You''ll have some bad luck in the ancestral land, but afterward, good fortune will come your way."

    The burly man kept his expression neutral. "I''ll take your word for it."

    Qi Yuan then turned to the other gods, scanning each of them.

    His eyebrow twitched again, and he continued with his predictions.

    "You... will be fine."

    "You... have a chance of perishing." Qi Yuan pointed to an old man in a green robe.

    The old man, with a kind face, showed a hint of disdain. "Perhaps your fortune is reversed."

    The younger sister laughed. "Old Snake is at the late stage of the Second Step. He''s the strongest among us and the least likely to die."

    The others looked at Qi Yuan, amused. They all knew Old Snake and were aware of his formidable strength.

    Qi Yuan just smiled. "Not only did my eyebrow predict his disaster, but my eyes also tell me he''s likely to fall." Qi Yuan spoke lazily. "Sigh, you''re doomed."

    He almost felt like giving the old man a "Peach''s Three Words" speech.

    "Next!" Qi Yuan said enthusiastically.

    His eyes had already detected something unusual about these gods. Now, he was having a bit of fun before they entered the ancestral land.

    "You... will be fine."

    "You... will be fine."

    "You... are in trouble," Qi Yuan said, pointing at a short man.

    The short man''s expression changed, and he glanced at Old Snake before snorting.

    "You have good luck and will find great fortune," Qi Yuan said, looking at Yanxi Ancient God. "But your three followers... they''re doomed."

    Yanxi''s three followers visibly tensed, their expressions shifting.

    But Qi Yuan ignored them, moving on to the next person.

    In total, Qi Yuan pointed out four gods and three followers who were likely to face danger.

    After completing his fortune readings, Qi Yuan glanced at the group. "This was only my second attempt at fortune-telling, so it might not be accurate. Don''t take it too seriously."

    The gods'' reactions were mixed. Some treated it as a joke, while others frowned, deep in thought.

    Those who had been singled out for danger kept their expressions neutral, but internally, they were on high alert.

    The younger sister, ever playful, teased, "If I give you a treasure, can you change the results for Old Snake?"

    Qi Yuan responded cryptically, "Some people are dead, but they don''t know it. Others are alive, but they might as well be dead."

    The burly man cursed under his breath. "Enough with the mumbo jumbo. Let''s get moving. Kid, if you can''t protect your followers, hand them over to me."

    Qi Yuan shrugged. "I don''t want my people to suffer under your care."

    "Let''s go. Into the ancestral land."

    "Agreed!"

    The other gods voiced their agreement, preparing to enter the ancestral land.

    Meanwhile, Old Snake, the short god, and the others singled out by Qi Yuan began communicating via divine transmission.

    "What''s with that kid? He pointed us all out, except for Yanxi, who was coerced. Could it be... he knows something?"

    "This situation is strange. We''ve defected to the New Gods. There''s no way anyone knows. Has the Proud World Great Venerable abandoned us?"

    "That kid is suspicious. There might be a powerful god hidden among his followers, targeting us."

    "If he''s targeting us, why point us out? To warn the others to attack us in the ancestral land?"

    "Right. It''s not safe to fight at the entrance. He''s signaling the others to strike once we''re inside!"

    "I suggest we just run once we get inside."

    These gods were deeply uneasy.

    Qi Yuan''s followers seemed like mere mortals, but who knew if one of them was a powerful True God hiding their aura? Even Old Snake couldn''t see through them, which meant they were likely at least a Third Step True God.

    "So, what''s the plan?"

    "Plan? Run!"

 Chapter 201: Is the Ancestral Land Dangerous? Thatâ€™s It?

    Chapter 201: Is the Ancestral Land Dangerous? That¡¯s It?

    The group of ancient gods continued their secret discussions, speculating about the situation. It wasn¡¯t surprising they were so cautious¡ªthey were trying to predict Qi Yuan¡¯s actions using normal reasoning. Qi Yuan had pointed out potential dangers among them, which was difficult for them to understand. But regardless of his reasons, running away seemed like the safest choice. After all, anyone willing to defect to the evil gods was naturally quite concerned with self-preservation.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell Yanxi Ancient God about this; he might have already betrayed us. The information might have leaked because of him!¡±

    The group communicated via divine transmission, pretending nothing was wrong on the surface.

    ¡°Old Snake, let''s team up when we enter the ancestral land. We can watch each other''s backs,¡± the burly man suggested to the distracted Old Snake.

    Old Snake, lost in thought, nodded absentmindedly. ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°I have an artifact that allows us to combine our powers for both offense and defense. Do you want to use it together?¡± the burly man asked.

    Old Snake¡¯s face suddenly darkened. ¡°No need!¡±

    Such an artifact would indeed enhance their combat abilities, but it would also bind him to the burly man, limiting his movements. It was a trap!

    Old Snake''s hesitation vanished, leaving only one thought¡ªescape as soon as they entered the ancestral land.

    The other defectors also reached the same conclusion after witnessing this exchange. Meanwhile, the burly man was left confused, unaware of why Old Snake reacted so strongly.

    The elder twin sister, however, looked thoughtful as she observed the situation.

    "Let''s head into the ancestral land and see what''s inside," Qi Yuan said eagerly.

    The sky turned from gray to white, and a transparent barrier appeared before them.

    "This looks like an energy shield¡ªinteresting," Qi Yuan mused as he examined the barrier rising over the ancestral land. The barrier gave off a sci-fi vibe, unlike the more traditional formations he was used to in cultivation worlds.

    The group quickly moved through the barrier and into the ancestral land. As they entered, several powerful auras erupted.

    Old Snake immediately unleashed his divine power and bolted. Yanxi Ancient God¡¯s three Purple Mansion-level followers suddenly revealed themselves as True Gods, their divine apertures burning as they fled with incredible speed. The other defectors Qi Yuan had pointed out also fled at breakneck speed, their movements hundreds of times faster than the speed of sound.

    "What just happened?" the burly man wondered, then quickly followed the fleeing gods without hesitation.

    The remaining ancient gods were left standing there, bewildered.

    Qi Yuan, watching the fleeing gods, couldn¡¯t help but remark, "Is there a reward for getting first place in the running race here?"

    The younger twin sister snapped out of her confusion. "I''ve never heard of such a thing."

    "Why is that burly guy running with them?" Qi Yuan could guess why the others were fleeing, but not why the burly man had joined them.

    The other ancient gods were equally puzzled. Finally, Yanxi Ancient God turned to Qi Yuan, his expression respectful. "Senior, were you sent here by a Great Venerable?"

    This question only deepened the confusion among the others.

    Qi Yuan, puzzled, replied, "What Great Venerable?"

    Yanxi, still uncertain, explained, "I thought a Great Venerable might have discovered that the Proud World Great Venerable was plotting against the ancestral land, and thus sent you to thwart the plan. Besides the Fortune Venerable, all the other gods, including Old Snake, had already defected to the evil gods."

    Yanxi''s words shocked the other ancient gods.

    "What? They defected to the Proud World Great Venerable!"

    "The Proud World Great Venerable is even planning to seize the last entrance¡ªcould it be..."

    "Indeed, when this senior pointed them out, I knew something was off."

    The group began to murmur among themselves as Yanxi continued revealing more details. He explained that the Proud World Great Venerable had captured his family, forcing him to bring three True Gods disguised as followers into the ancestral land. The other defectors had been secretly working for the Proud World Great Venerable, and their mission was twofold: to assassinate the remaining ancient gods and seize control of the last entrance to the ancestral land.

    The ancient gods were alarmed by this revelation.

    "Thank goodness this senior pointed them out," one of the gods said, realizing how close they had come to disaster.

    Another ancient god bowed deeply to Qi Yuan. "Senior, you have saved our lives. We are deeply grateful. If you have any requests, please let us know."

    The other gods quickly followed suit, expressing their gratitude and offering to repay Qi Yuan''s kindness.

    "Can I really ask for anything?" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    "Please, feel free to ask!" the gods urged him.

    Usually, such a favor would be repaid with a precious treasure or kept as a favor for the future.

    "Your powers are impressive. How about becoming citizens of Qing Shui Village?" Qi Yuan suggested earnestly.

    These gods were all True Gods, and their addition would significantly boost the village''s power.

    The gods were taken aback by the suggestion.

    "Senior... surely you''re joking?"

    [Puppet God: Second Step True God, currently dormant. If the tower''s alarm is triggered, it will awaken.]

    [Universal Pill Furnace: A unique pill furnace.]

    [Golden Silk: A discarded piece of lingerie.]

    Qi Yuan''s eyes scanned the surroundings, reading the hidden information that revealed the tower¡¯s secrets.

    Qi Yuan also noticed the dormant Puppet Gods in the tower. They came in various forms: one looked like a speck of dust, another like a six-legged metallic beetle, and yet another resembled a brick.

    "Just at a glance, I can see fifty-seven Puppet Gods. No wonder the tower is considered so dangerous."

    Qi Yuan''s ability to see hidden things made everything in the tower clear to him.

    "So, as long as I don''t trigger the tower''s alarm, these Puppet Gods won''t wake up?" Qi Yuan pondered aloud.

    According to the other ancient gods, any action could potentially awaken a Puppet God, even if one transformed into a wisp of wind.

    "Time to put my twitching eyebrows to work!" Qi Yuan thought, eager to test his theory.

    His twitching eyebrows could predict danger and fortune. By mentally charting a path through the tower and using his eyebrow¡¯s reactions as a guide, he could figure out the safe route without triggering any alarms.

    As he experimented, testing possible routes in his mind, his right eyebrow twitched.

    This path is dangerous!

    He tried another route, and again, his right eyebrow twitched.

    He kept testing until, after several attempts, his eyes lit up. He had found the safe first step.

    Next to him, Zhu Zhuangshi, puzzled, asked, "Lord Qi Yuan, is something wrong with your eyebrow? It''s twitching like crazy!"

    Village Chief Yuli, Priest Shentu, and the other villagers looked at Qi Yuan with surprise. His eyebrow was twitching so rapidly that it seemed unnatural.

    "I told you, my eyebrow can tell fortunes," Qi Yuan said with a grin. He had just figured out the first safe step.

    The villagers, hearing this, steeled themselves.

    Lord Qi Yuan was known for his peculiar methods, and this was no different. After all, he was the one risking his life first, so they had nothing to fear.

    "Follow me¡ªleft hand, right hand, one step at a time," Qi Yuan instructed as he led them forward in an odd dance-like manner.

    The others imitated his strange movements exactly, even using magic to match his body shape and attire.

    The group moved in unison, like a coordinated dance troupe, until Qi Yuan halted at a safe spot he had identified. He resumed his mental calculations, figuring out the next safe step.

    The villagers whispered among themselves.

    "Look, his eyebrow is twitching like crazy again!"

    "Is he really telling fortunes?"

    "Or maybe he''s just really tired?"

    "If I said I find this kind of funny, would you hit me?"

    "We must treat the Lord with respect. We''re professionals, loyal followers¡ªno laughing at the Lord."

    "Unless... he''s just too funny."

    Amidst their mutterings, Qi Yuan opened his eyes again.

    "Follow me, same move as before," Qi Yuan said, leading them deeper into the tower.

    In just a few dozen breaths, he guided them to the top floor, his path weaving through the tower¡¯s dangerous interior like a skilled dancer.

    There, a musty fragrance filled the air, lingering as if from ancient times.

    The villagers'' eyes widened as they saw the liquid bubbling with immortal energy.

    "Linmu Immortal Liquid!" Village Chief Yuli exclaimed, his eyes glowing with fervor.

    "This is incredible! Just a small sip can increase the speed of divine aperture formation fivefold, and there¡¯s so much here!"

    "How many thousands of catties are there?"

    The villagers were on the verge of losing their composure. This was immortal liquid, a treasure even True Gods coveted.

    "Is this stuff drinkable?" Qi Yuan asked, eyeing the Linmu Immortal Liquid with suspicion.

    [Linmu Immortal Liquid: A special bathwater mixed with a cleansing agent created by the Water Treasure Clan.]

 Chapter 202: A Bountiful Harvest, the Taiyin Thunder Pearl

    Chapter 202: A Bountiful Harvest, the Taiyin Thunder Pearl

    As they stared at the Linmu Immortal Liquid, the villagers'' breathing became rapid, and they were itching to indulge in it. But since Qi Yuan hadn''t said anything, they didn''t dare move forward.

    Seeing the eager villagers behind him, Qi Yuan asked, "You guys don¡¯t even play basketball, so why are you so eager to drink bathwater?"

    This puzzled Qi Yuan, as he remembered a basketball player from his previous life on Blue Star who was rumored to want to drink bathwater.

    "Basketball? Bathwater?" The villagers were baffled by Qi Yuan¡¯s seemingly random thoughts. They were focused on the Linmu Immortal Liquid, so the mention of these two unrelated things confused them.

    "Ah, seems like this bathwater has already been used," Qi Yuan remarked. Then, he commanded, "Happy Arhat, collect all this bathwater."

    Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t use this bathwater himself, but if his followers wanted to, he wouldn¡¯t stop them.

    Happy Arhat was excited. "Divine Lord, I¡¯m about to condense my second divine aperture. Can I drink a bit of this Linmu Immortal Liquid?"

    Long-brow Arhat quickly followed suit, his eyes filled with longing for the Linmu Immortal Liquid. The other villagers were just as eager. Even if they weren¡¯t True Gods, drinking the Linmu Immortal Liquid would still offer numerous benefits, such as improving their cultivation and enhancing their talents.

    "Go ahead, each of you can have a drink," Qi Yuan permitted.

    The villagers rushed forward, scooping the bathwater with their hands, cradling it in their palms. Village Chief Yuli, his old face filled with bliss, inhaled the fragrance of the Linmu Immortal Liquid.

    "This scent is truly marvelous. Just smelling it is invigorating. I can¡¯t even imagine how wonderful it must taste!"

    Village Chief Yuli savored the Linmu Immortal Liquid as if it were a child in a feudal kingdom tasting milk for the first time. The others were no better off¡ªthey were all enraptured by the experience.

    "Too bad I can¡¯t livestream this; it would be quite entertaining," Qi Yuan mused. He secretly took out a recording stone to capture the moment. Who knows, in endless ages, these people might become mighty figures. Then, he could show them this recording of their obsession with bathwater¡ªit would be amusing.

    "I¡¯ve opened my second divine aperture!" Happy Arhat suddenly exclaimed. A powerful surge of divine energy emanated from him as he successfully opened a new divine aperture. His strength soared instantly. The other villagers also experienced varying degrees of improvement, their bodies nourished by the various treasures within the Linmu Immortal Liquid. Their faces glowed, and their postures became more upright.

    "Not bad, we¡¯ve already gained so much from just the first tower," Qi Yuan said, pleased. With Happy Arhat¡¯s power increasing, he was naturally excited. According to what they had been told, the ancestral land had seven layers with over a hundred towers. If the first tower¡¯s bathwater was this powerful, who knows what better treasures awaited in the other towers? Their overall strength would surely see significant improvement.

    "Pack up the few tons of bathwater and let¡¯s move on to the next tower," Qi Yuan ordered.

    The villagers didn¡¯t know why Qi Yuan kept calling the Linmu Immortal Liquid "bathwater," but they didn¡¯t care. They just chalked it up to a quirk in his speech. After all, how could such a precious liquid be bathwater? Who would even use so much of this rare liquid for bathing?

    "Yes!" Happy Arhat eagerly took out a storage bag and filled it with the Linmu Immortal Liquid.

    Qi Yuan glanced around the tower, which was filled with metal scraps and various strange, broken objects. To him, most of these things were useless.

    "Alright, on to the next tower!" Qi Yuan announced with a wave of his hand. The villagers followed him as they left the tower.

    Outside, a group of ancient gods was still anxiously waiting, their nerves taut as they prepared to rush in and rescue them at any moment.

    "It¡¯s been so long without any movement¡ªwhat¡¯s going on?" Yanxi Venerable asked, puzzled.

    "It¡¯s truly strange," others agreed.

    The interior of the tower was fraught with danger, with traps that could be triggered at any moment, awakening the Puppet Gods within. They had been inside for over a hundred breaths, yet there was no sign of trouble¡ªsuch a thing was almost unheard of.

    "Could he really be able to tell fortunes?" the younger twin sister wondered aloud.

    The other ancient gods chuckled at the suggestion but didn¡¯t take it seriously. Fortune-telling was one of the most unpredictable arts, and in a place as chaotic as the ancestral land, even a master of divination could meet their end.

    Just then, a voice called out, "Why are you all still here?"

    The ancient gods immediately looked up towards the source of the voice. They saw Qi Yuan opening something that looked like a glass window at the top of the tower and jumping out, followed by the villagers.

    The sight of the villagers easily leaping out of the tower was like watching a man sneaking out of a woman¡¯s house after a tryst.

    The ancient gods were stunned.

    They...

    The younger twin sister, always blunt, exclaimed, "You made it to the top floor!"

    If they were coming out of the top floor, it meant they had reached the top!

    This tower had three layers, and even the first layer had claimed the lives of many ancient gods. No one had ever reached the second layer, let alone the top! How had these two gods and a bunch of mortals made it to the top and back out alive? Were the Puppet Gods inside still asleep?

    The ancient gods were in utter disbelief.

    Qi Yuan and his group landed beside them. "Of course I can tell fortunes¡ªI naturally found a safe path. Unfortunately, this tower didn¡¯t have anything valuable, just a bunch of bathwater," Qi Yuan said nonchalantly.

    The first tower hadn¡¯t impressed him much.

    "Bathwater? There¡¯s bathwater in the tower?"

    The ancient gods exchanged confused glances, struggling to make sense of Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    "Just bathwater? Wait, whose bathwater?"

    Seeing how easily Qi Yuan and his group had come out, their minds raced with possibilities. Either Qi Yuan was extremely lucky, or he had some hidden abilities, or perhaps the tower was malfunctioning. Whatever the case, they couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of envy and jealousy.

    After all, Yanxi Venerable had once ventured into this very tower. But after just one breath inside, he was chased out by a horde of Puppet Gods, leaving one of his legs behind. He had struggled mightily for a single piece of thin golden silk, which he now used as a mask to conceal his aura. The contrast between his hard-earned prize and Qi Yuan¡¯s effortless success was stark and disheartening.

    "I am a pine tree, and pine trees naturally suffer from osteoporosis!" Wangsong Venerable quipped, causing a few chuckles among the group.

    Though they joked about becoming followers, none of them seriously considered it¡ªat least, not yet. While the treasures were valuable, they weren¡¯t worth giving up their freedom. After all, with enough time, they could advance on their own.

    Meanwhile, inside the tower, Qi Yuan and his group reached the top floor once more.

    "These are... Taiyin Thunder Pearls!" Priest Shentu, who was well-versed in various relics, recognized the terrifying orbs contained in a giant glass jar. His face was filled with shock.

    "Taiyin Thunder Pearls, each capable of obliterating a city!"

    Taiyin Thunder Pearls came in various sizes, with the smallest as large as a pea. These could release an explosion equivalent to a full-power strike from a First-Step True God. The largest, the size of a fist, had the destructive power of a Great Venerable¡¯s attack, their might unimaginable.

    The glass jar was filled with countless pea-sized Taiyin Thunder Pearls and twelve fist-sized ones.

    The villagers'' legs trembled at the sight. If these were to explode, they would all be blown to the heavens.

    Qi Yuan examined the legendary Taiyin Thunder Pearls with a curious expression.

    [Taiyin Thunder Pearl, also known as Fish Blasting Thunder Cracker, a popular toy among certain children.]

    "A toy for blasting fish?" Qi Yuan thought, his interest piqued.

    These Taiyin Thunder Pearls, with their nuclear-level power, were merely children¡¯s toys in this world. It was a sobering reminder of just how deep and vast this world¡¯s mysteries were.

    But then Qi Yuan reminded himself¡ªhe was just a player in this world. There was no need to overthink it.

    "This kid really had a thing for collecting fireworks. Too bad they¡¯re all mine now," Qi Yuan thought with a sense of satisfaction.

    As an adult, he finally had enough fireworks to fulfill his childhood dreams.

    "Look at this¡ªI¡¯ve got so many fireworks!" Qi Yuan boasted, holding up the glass jar. The Taiyin Thunder Pearls rattled inside as he shook it, much to the horror of the villagers. They feared that Qi Yuan might accidentally set them off and blow them all to pieces.

    "This haul is even better than the first tower. Let¡¯s move on!" Qi Yuan commanded as he led the group back out through the window.

    Outside, the waiting ancient gods sensed movement and looked up, their eyes widening.

    "They¡¯re coming out!"

    "They really made it out!"

    "Is he really that good at fortune-telling?"

    The ancient gods were bewildered, their understanding of the world turned upside down.

    "You¡¯re still here?" Qi Yuan asked, genuinely surprised. "NPCs in this game need better AI¡ªthey¡¯re just standing around watching."

    Qi Yuan had played many games, and NPCs generally exhibited the following traits:

    They often spaced out.Their models were lazily designed.They got new skins during holidays.Their side quests were usually optional and didn¡¯t affect the main storyline.They didn¡¯t have much health.

    To Qi Yuan, these ancient gods were no different from game NPCs. A single Taiyin Thunder Pearl would wipe them out, without disrupting his main quest.

    The younger twin sister¡¯s eyes narrowed as she spotted something alarming. "Taiyin Thunder Pearls¡ªa lot of them!"

    The glass jar Qi Yuan held contained thousands of pea-sized Taiyin Thunder Pearls and a dozen fist-sized ones. As Qi Yuan casually shook the jar, the ancient gods watched in horror.

    Qi Yuan waved the jar slowly. "Don¡¯t worry¡ªthese are just for blasting fish."

    He was proud of his collection of fireworks.

    The ancient gods fell silent, eyeing the Taiyin Thunder Pearls warily. Just one of those fist-sized pearls could obliterate them all before they had a chance to flee.

    "Your luck is truly remarkable, to find such treasures," the ancient gods remarked, their voices tinged with envy.

    Wangsong Venerable¡¯s eyes glowed red with jealousy. If the Linmu Immortal Liquid had only made him envious, the Taiyin Thunder Pearls made him outright jealous.

    He looked at Qi Yuan with burning eyes and said, "Daoist, may I accompany you to the next tower? I¡¯m willing to serve as your follower for ten years¡ªor better yet, your subordinate for ten years!"

    Qi Yuan was surprised. "I suppose I can agree to that."

    What was one more follower? It was no trouble for him.

    Seeing this, the other ancient gods who had been silently watching Wangsong Venerable¡¯s boldness exchanged glances. The man with the large mole spoke up. "Daoist, I too wish to follow Wangsong Venerable¡¯s example and accompany you to the next tower. Ten years of service for one tower!"

    Qi Yuan nodded. "Alright."

    Seeing that the ice had been broken, the remaining ancient gods quickly spoke up.

    "Daoist, count me in!"

    "Origin Heavenly Lord, my sister and I would like to join as well!"

    With the precedent set, the other ancient gods didn¡¯t hold back. Within a few short moments, all eight ancient gods had agreed to follow Qi Yuan into the towers.

    Qi Yuan grinned. "One tower, ten years. With over a hundred towers here, you¡¯ll be working for me for over a thousand years."

 Chapter 203: Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures, Born to Protect Babies

    Chapter 203: Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures, Born to Protect Babies

    "Well then, let''s head to the third tower," Qi Yuan declared, waving his sleeve as the twenty-one of them headed toward the third tower.

    The ancient gods were filled with anticipation, eager to see how Qi Yuan managed to bypass the numerous dangers and reach the top of the tower to claim the treasures.

    Soon, they entered the third tower.

    Qi Yuan turned to the group and said, "Please wait a moment while I do some calculations."

    As soon as he spoke, his eyebrows began to twitch rapidly.

    The villagers were used to this sight, but the ancient gods were left bewildered.

    "Is he really using his eyebrows to tell fortunes?"

    "Can this even be possible?"

    "How could this be?"

    Their worldview was shattered once more. Initially, they thought Qi Yuan was using some profound Daoist technique or had access to some secret knowledge within the tower. But it turned out to be exactly what it appeared¡ªjust like when he had used his eyebrows to divine the situation at the entrance to the ancestral land.

    "Could this be the legendary and long-lost ''Dancing Brows'' celestial calculation technique?" Wangsong Venerable quickly adjusted to his role as a follower, addressing Qi Yuan as "Divine Lord."

    The younger twin sister looked puzzled. "Is there really such a technique? Why haven¡¯t I heard of it?"

    The other ancient gods also looked at Wangsong Venerable, curious to learn more about Qi Yuan¡¯s abilities.

    "If it¡¯s long lost, it''s natural that you wouldn''t know about it," Wangsong Venerable replied.

    "Wangsong Venerable, since you know about this celestial technique, why not tell us more about its origins and its power?" one of them asked.

    "Ahem, I actually don¡¯t know anything about it, nor do I understand it."

    "What? Then how do you know about it?"

    "I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t understand."

    "Uh?"

    "It¡¯s been lost for so long. How could I possibly know? I¡¯ve never even heard of it before!" Wangsong Venerable said earnestly.

    The other ancient gods were left speechless. So, Wangsong Venerable had just made it up? But it did sound plausible. After all, if it had been lost for so long, it was only natural that they wouldn¡¯t know about it.

    "Everyone, follow me. Do exactly as I do," Qi Yuan instructed, then began to move forward.

    The villagers quickly followed, mimicking his movements as they walked through the empty tower.

    The ancient gods hurried after them.

    Before long, they reached a platform.

    "It¡¯s safe here for now. You can move freely within a ten-meter radius. I¡¯ll continue my calculations," Qi Yuan said.

    The ancient gods'' eyes gleamed with excitement.

    "Dragon Silk!"

    "Divine Dragon Fist Gloves!"

    "Condensed Flame Marrow!"

    All sorts of precious treasures were scattered around the small area.

    These treasures were extremely rare and often required battles to the death to obtain, yet here they were, lying all over the place.

    The ancient gods'' eyes were practically glowing red as they frantically picked up the treasures. If they weren¡¯t afraid of waking the Puppet Gods, they might have tried to take the very ground they stood on.

    "Let''s move forward!" Qi Yuan ordered.

    He led the group higher up the tower.

    The ancient gods were already making a fortune, collecting many rare treasures along the way.

    Finally, they reached the top floor.

    The ancient gods gasped.

    "Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures!"

    On a table before them were ten vials of Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures. Each vial could open one divine aperture! These ten vials could open ten apertures!

    How could the ancient gods not be tempted?

    This kind of elixir was priceless in the mortal realm. Although some Great Venerables had claimed that ten vials were the maximum a cultivator could safely consume, that was still an astonishing amount.

    [Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures, produced by He Yao Pharmaceutical Factory No. 6, Office Branch, designed to protect babies¡¯ health. He Yao Pharmaceutical Factory, born to care for babies.]

    Qi Yuan looked at the Primordial Liquid with a thoughtful expression. A short description, but it revealed quite a bit of information.

    The mention of the "industrial zone" made Qi Yuan think deeply. Ever since entering the ancestral land, he had noticed its oddities. Combining this with the mention of the industrial zone, Qi Yuan began to see the ancestral land as a small city.

    The towers they had entered so far contained things like bathwater and fireworks, which seemed like household items. If there was a residential area, it would make sense that there would be an industrial area too.

    He speculated that one of the upcoming towers might even be the actual He Yao Pharmaceutical Factory No. 6 Office Branch, where they might find far more Primordial Liquid than the mere ten vials here.

    The slogan "born to care for babies" amused Qi Yuan.

    Do babies really need Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures? Does this mean that babies here are born as divine spirits? The origins of this place were becoming increasingly mysterious.

    "Do you ancient gods of the ancient one clan know when the ancestral land fell into the mortal realm?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Wangsong Venerable quickly replied, "Divine Lord, it''s said that the ancestral land fell into the mortal realm when the world first opened."

    "That long ago?" Qi Yuan was surprised. "Could this Primordial Liquid be expired?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts quickly shifted from the origins of the ancient one clan to concerns about the liquid¡¯s expiration date, leaving the villagers even more confused.

    "Are the babies of the ancient one clan very strong at birth?" Qi Yuan asked, curious about the Primordial Liquid, which seemed to be a kind of baby formula.

    "Ordinary clansmen are born at the Foundation Establishment stage, which is considered average in the mortal realm," Wangsong Venerable explained.

    "Born at the Foundation Establishment stage? Then this baby formula isn¡¯t for you," Qi Yuan mused.

    According to what the ancient one clan had said, they came from beyond the mortal realm, but the information Qi Yuan had gathered suggested otherwise. The ancient one clan¡¯s babies were born at the Foundation Establishment stage, and they likely couldn''t even handle the Primordial Liquid. It was possible that the ancient one clan claimed to be from outside the mortal realm to seem more prestigious.

    "So, does this mean every race starts at a different point?" Qi Yuan murmured.

    In the Canglan Realm, everyone started as a normal person. In the mortal realm, they started as Foundation Establishment cultivators. But in this so-called ancestral land, the starting point might be as Yin Gods.

    This was terrifying.

    "Let¡¯s go, onward to He Yao Pharmaceutical Factory No. 6, on the road to becoming true gods!" Qi Yuan collected the Primordial Liquid and led the group out of the window to continue their journey.

    Qi Yuan decided to speed up his progress. After all, there weren¡¯t enough good things in the residential area. He needed to head to the industrial zone, where products were made in bulk. If he found a warehouse, it would be a huge jackpot.

    Meanwhile, elsewhere in the ancestral land...

    "Hup!"

    "Push!"

    Boom! The alloy door finally gave way and swung open.

    Inside, the ancient gods'' breaths quickened.

    "Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures!"

    "Pain Relief Pills!"

    "Pure Spirit Powder!"

    The room was filled with countless treasures, all stored in transparent glass cases. They seemed endless, impossible to count.

    The ancient gods¡¯ hearts trembled. There was enough Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures here to supply the entire mortal realm and still have plenty left over. In addition, there were numerous other rare and valuable treasures for enhancing cultivation, healing, and more.

    Qi Yuan smiled. "Now, this kind of cheat suits my status."

    He picked up a bunch of Primordial Liquid and other treasures.

    "Each of you take ten vials of Primordial Liquid and two other treasures," Qi Yuan said casually.

    The ancient gods'' eyes reddened with gratitude.

    Wangsong Venerable looked at Qi Yuan with tears in his eyes. "Divine Lord, I¡¯ve decided¡ªI¡¯ll follow you for the rest of my life!"

    Wangsong Venerable was ready to pledge himself entirely to Qi Yuan, not just for a limited time.

    "Okay," Qi Yuan replied, unfazed.

    The other ancient gods were grateful and excited, but they weren¡¯t ready to give up their freedom for the rest of their lives, unlike Wangsong Venerable.

    Each of them took their allotted share of the Primordial Liquid and other treasures.

    None dared to take more than they were given.

    After receiving their Primordial Liquid, the ancient gods eagerly drank it down.

    Immediately, divine apertures began to open, one after another, in a scene that was truly astonishing.

    Happy Arhat also advanced to the second step of the Yin God.

    "I¡¯ve finally reached the second step!" one ancient god exclaimed in delight.

    "I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve made it to the late second step¡ªI might even reach the third step!" the elder twin sister marveled.

    The group was filled with joy, excitement, and overwhelming happiness, their minds buzzing with elation.

    It was as if an ordinary worker earning five thousand a month had suddenly received a hundred years'' worth of salary all at once.

    Meanwhile, Zhao Zun and the other villagers who hadn¡¯t yet reached the level of a true god were enviously holding their vials of Primordial Liquid. Unfortunately, they couldn¡¯t use these treasures until they became true gods.

    Zhao Zun was envious, feeling a surge of impatience and frustration. He couldn¡¯t wait to break through to the level of a true god.

    "Alright, now that everyone has had their breakthroughs, let¡¯s continue exploring the other warehouses," Qi Yuan said, waving his hand.

    He began collecting the glass cases full of treasures into his storage bag.

    Over the next few hours, they opened five more warehouses. Two of them appeared damaged, with no valuable items left inside. However, the remaining three warehouses were filled with treasures, just as valuable as the Primordial Liquid for Divine Apertures.

    Having already been stunned by the Primordial Liquid, the ancient gods were better prepared to handle this new wave of treasures, though the shock still lingered.

    "He Yao Pharmaceutical Factory isn¡¯t great¡ªeverything here is for babies. Is there nothing for adults?" Qi Yuan complained, still unsatisfied.

    By now, they had reached the fourth layer of the ancestral land, having explored more than seventy towers. Three more layers remained unexplored.

    Meanwhile, on the seventh layer of the ancestral land...

    A burly man clad in a sleek, liquid-like combat suit stood tall, the suit shimmering with colorful lights. This suit, excavated from the ancestral land, was worn by Ao Shi Great Venerable. This was his second time entering the seventh layer of the ancestral land.

    The first time, he had entered as a Nascent Soul cultivator and by sheer luck had become a true god. Later, as a Great Venerable, he had been too afraid to return.

    For years, he had studied the ancestral land, finally uncovering some secrets. Of course, much of his progress was built on the research of the ancient gods before the Great War of the Gods.

    The liquid-like suit he wore greatly increased his chances of survival in the seventh layer.

    His expression cold, Ao Shi Great Venerable stared at Snake Elder, his eyes dark and menacing.

    "Your cover was blown?"

    The ancient gods, including Snake Elder, trembled in fear. They also wore liquid-like suits, but none as advanced as Ao Shi Great Venerable¡¯s.

    "Yes, that newcomer exposed us immediately. I suspect a Great Venerable has discovered our plan!" Snake Elder reported the situation truthfully.

    Ao Shi Great Venerable narrowed his eyes. "You didn¡¯t kill them, but I don¡¯t blame you."

    Snake Elder sighed in relief. Ao Shi Great Venerable was notoriously unpredictable, and they had feared his wrath.

    "You need not fear me. We are all ancient gods and should look out for each other. I¡¯m alone among the new gods, struggling to maintain my position. I need reliable people to help me. You¡¯re ancient gods like me, so I trust you," Ao Shi Great Venerable¡¯s tone softened.

    Snake Elder¡¯s anxiety vanished, replaced by a sense of being valued. "We¡¯re willing to serve you with all our strength, Great Venerable!"

    The other ancient gods echoed his sentiments.

    "Good. I do have a task for you all," Ao Shi Great Venerable said, his voice warm.

    "Please, Great Venerable, tell us!" Snake Elder replied eagerly, hoping to redeem himself.

    "To open this tower¡¯s side door, we need to burn some true gods. I¡¯m short a few, so I¡¯ll need you to enter the tower," Ao Shi Great Venerable said gently.

    Snake Elder¡¯s face drained of color as a sense of impending doom washed over him.

    "You!"

    He cursed, trying to flee.

    But the divine domain was activated, pinning him down.

    Two new gods, dressed in similar liquid-like suits, stepped forward, their expressions mocking as they pressed the ancient gods down and tossed them into a terrifying furnace in front of the tower.

    The furnace could incinerate even true gods.

    Ao Shi Great Venerable didn¡¯t give Snake Elder and the others a chance to survive. Perhaps these ancient gods didn¡¯t know, but every new god did¡ªno one was crueler to ancient gods than Ao Shi Great Venerable, who had once been an ancient god himself.

    Perhaps to prove his loyalty, Ao Shi Great Venerable was notoriously ruthless.

    "Feng Kui, Tan Zui, I need you two to bring the other ancient gods in the ancestral land here. We still need more true god bodies to open this door," Ao Shi Great Venerable commanded.

    Two terrifying new gods, one male and one female, both at the third step of the divine path, appeared.

    With two third-step gods after them, the first- and second-step ancient gods had no chance of escape.

    "As you command!"

    The male and female gods bowed their heads and vanished.

 Chapter 204: The Underdeveloped Twins

    Chapter 204: The Underdeveloped Twins

    Feng Kui and Tan Zui vanished into streams of light as they descended to the seventh layer. The two of them moved cautiously through the ancestral land, occasionally communicating via transmission.

    "Just a bunch of weaklings at the first and second steps of the divine path, and they send us to catch them!" Feng Kui sneered, her eyes filled with disdain.

    "That¡¯s what you get when Ao Shi recruits a bunch of worthless ancient gods who can¡¯t even handle such simple tasks," Tan Zui mocked Ao Shi Great Venerable, despite his impressive talent. To these new gods, a dog was still a dog, and a servant was still a servant.

    They were working under Ao Shi Great Venerable, but they held little respect for him.

    "Let¡¯s just capture those ancient gods quickly and get this over with. This place gives me the creeps; I don¡¯t want to stay here any longer," Feng Kui said.

    "Agreed, the sooner we¡¯re done, the better," Tan Zui replied.

    Meanwhile, in the seventh layer, Ao Shi Great Venerable stood before a towering structure, his expression complex. "What secret lies within this tower?"

    He had once entered this tower by chance and emerged as a true god. Now, he was just one step away from uncovering the truth. The new gods didn¡¯t care much about this secret, as they didn¡¯t need to break through in the mortal realm. But to Ao Shi, this was crucial for his advancement.

    Because of this, his actions in the ancestral land had already caused dissatisfaction among the new gods. The investment far outweighed the returns.

    Suddenly, a voice, old and withered, echoed in Ao Shi''s mind.

    "Just now, three ancient Great Venerables descended upon South City."

    "What?" Ao Shi''s expression changed.

    "They might be here for you," the ancient voice continued.

    "Thank you for the warning, Feng Bo Great Venerable," Ao Shi¡¯s face flickered with emotions.

    "There¡¯s nothing more to gain from this place. Once we conquer the mortal realm, you can study it at your leisure. This time, we can¡¯t help you. You should withdraw, or you risk perishing," Feng Bo Great Venerable¡¯s voice was calm, but it was clear he didn¡¯t support Ao Shi''s continued presence in the ancestral land.

    "I understand." Ao Shi¡¯s expression darkened as he looked at the tower with deep reluctance.

    Just another year¡ªno, just three more months¡ªand he could reach the core of the tower. Perhaps the secret he had been seeking would finally be revealed. But the ancient gods wouldn¡¯t give him the time, and the new gods wouldn¡¯t give him the chance.

    He took a long, hard look at the tower, then finally ordered, "Let¡¯s go!"

    If those three Great Venerables were indeed after him, staying here would be too dangerous. So he chose to leave, hoping to return another time.

    "As you command," the other new gods responded, gathering towards Ao Shi.

    One new god hesitated, "Great Venerable Ao Shi, Feng Kui and Tan Zui haven¡¯t returned yet."

    Ao Shi narrowed his eyes. "I¡¯ve already informed them. They said they encountered some enemies and will leave after dealing with them. We go first."

    Ao Shi''s tone was final, leaving no room for objection. Even if the others had doubts, they didn¡¯t dare voice them. They might speak ill of him behind his back, but doing so in front of him would be suicidal.

    ...

    "Follow me."

    In one of the towers, Qi Yuan opened another warehouse. Recently, he had been frantically looting the ancestral land. While he hadn¡¯t found anything as massive as the haul from He Yao Pharmaceutical Factory, his gains were still substantial.

    The ancient gods following him were all smiles. The elder twin sister had even broken through to the third step of the divine path, making her the strongest among them. Her younger sister wasn¡¯t far behind, having reached the late second step, close to the third. Happy Arhat and Longbrow Arhat had also reached the second step.

    The ancient gods had grown significantly stronger, but the Nascent Soul, Golden Core, and Purple Mansion cultivators had seen far less improvement. After all, as Qi Yuan saw it, they were too weak¡ªstill babies, so to speak. The ancestral land didn¡¯t have much suitable for them.

    "I hope this time we find something good," Qi Yuan said, filled with anticipation for this warehouse.

    When the door opened, Qi Yuan¡¯s excitement turned to disappointment. The warehouse seemed to have suffered severe damage, with various strange alloys scattered chaotically.

    "There''s an intact box over there!" the younger twin sister spotted a pristine glass box.

    Qi Yuan approached the box, opened it, and found hundreds of vials inside. The ancient gods'' eyes lit up, their bodies trembling in excitement.

    "Is this..."

    "Divine Domain Elixir!"

    "It¡¯s actually Divine Domain Elixir!"

    The ancient gods were no longer calm, staring at the elixir with rapid breaths. The Divine Domain Elixir was known to help form the seed of a divine domain. The domain was what allowed a Great Venerable to easily crush those below them.

    A god who had formed the seed of a divine domain could challenge those a step or even two steps higher. However, it was incredibly rare for a god to form such a seed without first perfecting their divine apertures. Not even the greatest of the mortal realm had achieved this.

    Qi Yuan examined the vials.

    ¡¾Divine Domain Elixir, also known as the Robust Growth Tonic. What to do when a child is underdeveloped? Use the Robust Growth Tonic to help them grow strong and healthy. Note: This tonic has several known flaws.¡¿

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes could see hidden information, and this time, what he saw was astonishing. The Divine Domain Elixir, a treasure to the ancient gods, was actually... a tonic for underdeveloped children.

    "Are they just lucky?"

    Their special suits allowed them to navigate the ancestral land more safely, but even so, they wouldn¡¯t dare enter the towers recklessly. Even a Great Venerable could die inside, let alone them.

    "But their luck is about to run out," Feng Kui¡¯s eyes gleamed with greed.

    Tan Zui nodded in agreement. "If they¡¯ve reached the third step, they must have found something valuable inside!"

    He was excited. While a third step god could vary in strength, both he and Feng Kui were late third step gods. Together, they could easily wipe out all the true gods before them. They were confident.

    "Such treasures are wasted on them," Feng Kui said, unable to contain her excitement any longer. "Let¡¯s go."

    The two emerged from the shadows, blocking Qi Yuan and his group.

    Feng Kui¡¯s eyes were filled with greed as she licked her lips. "It looks like you¡¯ve had quite a haul inside. Hand it over, and it will all be mine."

    "Evil gods?"

    "Third step!"

    The ancient gods felt a surge of fear. Before entering the ancestral land, a single third step god could have easily defeated them all. Now, with two third step evil gods appearing, they were understandably shaken.

    Feng Kui was pleased with their reaction. "Hand over everything you¡¯ve gained from the tower, and I¡¯ll make sure you die painlessly."

    But then, the ancient gods realized something. Why were they afraid? They had just consumed the Divine Domain Elixir and awakened the seeds of a divine domain. They were pseudo-Great Venerables now, and their courage returned.

    Qi Yuan, meanwhile, looked curiously at the two new gods. "Your clothes are interesting. Who sent you?"

    "A mere mortal dares to speak?" Tan Zui snapped, glaring at Qi Yuan.

    For a mere mortal to interrupt a conversation between gods was the height of insolence in his eyes.

    "How dare you!"

    "Show some respect!"

    "To speak to the Divine Lord in such a way is to court death!"

    The ancient gods immediately moved to protect Qi Yuan, their divine apertures spinning as they unleashed their terrifying power.

    Feng Kui raised an eyebrow. "You follow a mere mortal as your leader? Is he the reason you could enter the tower?"

    Tan Zui squinted at Qi Yuan. "Don¡¯t worry. You won¡¯t have a complete corpse."

    Qi Yuan yawned. "Just a couple of underdeveloped minions daring to speak out? Kill them. I could use some evil god energy."

    He spoke lazily.

    These two evil gods were still not Great Venerables despite their age. Clearly, they were underdeveloped.

    At his command, all ten ancient gods attacked simultaneously.

    Feng Kui sneered. "Trash is trash."

    Tan Zui glanced at Qi Yuan. "You¡¯re going to die miserably."

    A few second and third step gods dared to fight them? How laughable.

    But in the next moment, Feng Kui¡¯s expression froze.

    She felt the air around her solidify, and her divine apertures became sluggish.

    "This is... a divine domain seed!"

    Her eyes widened in shock, her gums trembling.

    She realized what she was seeing¡ªa divine domain seed! But how could this be? Even among all the new gods, only one had awakened such a seed. And here she was, facing one in this remote place. The shock and fear were overwhelming.

    "No way... all of them?" Tan Zui was even more stunned than Feng Kui.

    He wasn¡¯t just seeing one divine domain seed¡ªhe was seeing ten.

    It was like a dream. They had encountered ten gods, and all ten had awakened divine domain seeds.

    The odds of this... were astronomically low.

    Yet it had happened.

    The two powerful evil gods found themselves utterly suppressed by the ten nascent divine domains, their previous arrogance completely shattered.

    Qi Yuan chuckled. "The Robust Growth Tonic works wonders. You two, being underdeveloped, stand no chance against those who¡¯ve fully matured, do you?"

 Chapter 205: The Final Tower and the Lost Glow Stick

    Chapter 205: The Final Tower and the Lost Glow Stick

    Ten true gods attacked in unison. The formidable embryonic divine domains they wielded completely suppressed the two third-step evil gods. These evil gods were rendered immobile, their terror and shock palpable.

    "You... are powerful. If you were to join us, you would hold positions equivalent to Great Venerables in the New Gods'' ranks!" Feng Kui, realizing brute force was futile, resorted to persuasion.

    Tan Zui quickly added, "Your future is bright, and you are destined to become Great Venerables. The fall of the mortal realm is inevitable. Why not join us in the New Gods'' ranks?"

    The two of them desperately tried to convince the ancient gods, listing the advantages of the New Gods over the Ancient Gods. The ancient gods, hearing this, felt a heavy weight on their hearts. The joy of awakening their divine domain seeds faded as they realized the truth in the evil gods'' words.Visitt  for the latest updates

    Despite their newfound strength, they were but small figures standing against the overwhelming tide of fate. The gap between the Ancient Gods and the New Gods was not something a few Great Venerables could close.

    "You two would be excellent at scams and pyramid schemes with your silver tongues," Qi Yuan waved dismissively. "Unfortunately, I can''t stand those kinds of people. Kill them."

    Without further hesitation, the ancient gods attacked. The divine domains crushed the two evil gods, and divine power overwhelmed them. What they once considered mere second-step gods obliterated them in an instant.

    Qi Yuan clapped his hands. "Not a bad haul. Barely worthy of my ''White Moonlight'' title."

    Indeed, it had been fruitful. The divine power of two third-step evil gods would surely produce powerful deities when visualized. If he could find a way to break through to a true god, he could summon even more formidable deities.

    Most importantly, this would allow him to level up from being a level 89 divine entity to level 90. With the experience gained from previous evil gods and these two third-step ones, he was well on his way. Once he broke through to a true god, his levels would soar.

    "You two didn¡¯t die in vain¡ªthis was an unexpected bonus. Someone, give my White Moonlight a proper burial," Qi Yuan said, clearly in a good mood.

    The ancient gods exchanged puzzled glances. The younger twin sister, having reverted to her normal form with a deliberately smaller chest, spoke up, "Divine Lord, this is the ancestral land. We can¡¯t bury them here."

    Digging anywhere might disturb a puppet god.

    "Sigh, not only can we not bury them, but we can¡¯t even hold a feast. My poor White Moonlight, you died so tragically," Qi Yuan lamented.

    In the past, when his White Moonlight died, he could at least hold a grand feast. But these two died in this godforsaken place¡ªno feast, no burial.

    "Since we can¡¯t bury them, we¡¯ll..." Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes fell on a metal box. Seeing no immediate danger, he glanced at the two corpses with deep affection. "We¡¯ll have to put them in the trash bin."

    With a gentle kick, the two evil gods¡¯ bodies were sent into the trash bin.

    "Sigh, when we return to Qing Shui Village, we¡¯ll hold a feast for them," Qi Yuan sighed.

    "As you command!" Chen Xifan responded promptly. He was the head chef, well-versed in preparing such feasts.

    The ancient gods remained puzzled by Qi Yuan''s actions, but Zhu Zhuangshi quickly began explaining Qi Yuan¡¯s heroic deeds at Qing Shui Village. The ancient gods listened, realizing that such bizarre actions were indeed typical of Qi Yuan. In this context, his behavior in the ancestral land seemed almost normal.

    "Alright, let¡¯s move. It¡¯ll be morning soon, so let¡¯s speed this up!" Qi Yuan led the group deeper into the ancestral land.

    Meanwhile, back in Qing Shui Village, Shen Lei Great Venerable gazed at the starry sky, feeling a deep sense of unease. He handed a storage bag to his petite servant, Xiao Xue.

    "Inside this bag is everything I own. When Qi Yuan returns, give it to him," Shen Lei Great Venerable said, his tone heavy.

    Xiao Xue was confused. "But..."

    "Hmph, that kid will be so dazzled by what¡¯s in this bag that he¡¯ll beg me to take him as a disciple. But, alas, I won¡¯t be around to see that," Shen Lei Great Venerable¡¯s voice was melancholic, filled with resignation.

    "Tell Qi Yuan that the Zhang Feng he¡¯s always wanted to kill¡ªI¡¯ll do it for him!" Shen Lei Great Venerable declared, his energy surging. "I... am leaving now."

    With that, Shen Lei Great Venerable transformed into a stream of light and vanished, his voice echoing through the sky.

    "Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. My life was worth it."

    "I am the true reckless hero!"

    He was heading out early to hunt down Zhang Feng. He couldn¡¯t travel openly, as that would draw the attention of other Great Venerables and alert Zhang Feng. He needed to move discreetly, even if it took longer.

    In the darkened Qing Shui Village, Xiao Xue held the storage bag, finally realizing what was happening. She was distraught. "What do I do, what do I do!"

    ...

    An hour passed, and Qi Yuan¡¯s group emerged from another tower, their harvests plentiful. The group¡¯s spirits were high, some visibly proud, others introspective.

    Qi Yuan, however, was disappointed. He still hadn¡¯t found a way to break through to become a true god.

    At that moment, the younger twin sister transmitted a message to her elder sister. "Sister, someone just asked if we wanted to become citizens of Qing Shui Village. What do you think?"

    The elder sister was taken aback. The gains they had made by following Qi Yuan into the ancestral land were unimaginable. In the past, she wouldn¡¯t have thought it possible to become a Great Venerable, even if given ten thousand years. But now, she was almost a pseudo-Great Venerable. With a bit more time, she might even reach the Great Venerable level.

    "Qi Yuan has granted us so much; this debt is too great to repay even in a thousand years," the elder sister sighed.

    "So, should we become permanent citizens and offer eternal service?" the younger sister asked.

    "No," the elder sister declined. "There are other ways to repay kindness besides becoming someone¡¯s servant. These gains are great, but losing my freedom to serve one person is something I can¡¯t do."

    The elder sister spoke honestly, reflecting the thoughts of most ancient gods. It was like a wealthy person, worth billions, being helped by someone to reach tens of billions. Would they be willing to lose their freedom and become a servant? Probably not.

    "Got it," the younger sister sighed.

    The others felt a twinge of disappointment. After all that effort, there was nothing to show for it.

    "This time, we lost out!"

    "Lost? Compared to before, we¡¯re rolling in it!"

    "True, we¡¯ve gained so much we¡¯ve become complacent."

    The group reflected on their situation. Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes, however, were fixed on the glowing rod. His mind was filled with information.

    [Lost Glow Stick, a special creation. This item may allow you to return to the past and witness the events of bygone days.

    Note 1: Using this item will not alter history; it is only for observation.

    Note 2: Only 3 uses remain.

    Note 3: Once a scene is chosen, it cannot be changed.

    The desolation here may be linked to its use.]

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    "Time travel?"

    This was his first encounter with a time-related treasure. Though he had traversed time in the past, even altering history, that was a game reward. This, however, was a game item, and he couldn¡¯t help but be amazed.

    The Lost Glow Stick wasn¡¯t as powerful as the game¡¯s rewards, only allowing observation, not interaction, with the past. But even so, it was an incredible artifact.

    He examined the Lost Glow Stick, scanning every inch of the tower. Countless pieces of information flooded his mind.

    After a quarter of an hour, Qi Yuan finally understood.

    "Due to some unknown reason, the Lost Glow Stick has already been used twice."

    "It brought the aura of the ancient past to this place, allowing Ao Shi Great Venerable to break through to true godhood."

    In ancient times, when the Heavenly Pillar stood unbroken, anyone could ascend to godhood without special treasures. The Lost Glow Stick, due to its unique nature, had opened a window to the ancient past, and Ao Shi Great Venerable had harnessed this aura to break through.

    But that aura had been depleted. Now, the only way to break through to true godhood was to activate the Lost Glow Stick and journey back to the ancient times. In those ancient times, they could break through.

    Of course, they would be mere observers, unable to interact with historical figures, just tourists witnessing history. But they could use the ancient aura to break through.

    "So, this is a bug?" Qi Yuan wondered, holding the Lost Glow Stick with curiosity.

    Perhaps, for some, the Lost Glow Stick was a tool for exploring and studying ancient history. But for Qi Yuan, it was a means to break through to true godhood.

    "Wait, I can¡¯t activate it?" Qi Yuan was surprised. The Lost Glow Stick remained inert, refusing to activate.

    "Of course, treasures like this aren¡¯t for just anyone," Qi Yuan mused, considering how to break the lock. Was it only usable by the original inhabitants of the ancestral land?

    Suddenly, a thought struck him. "Sometimes, luck is key!"

    He retrieved the blood-red jade leaf from his storage bag and wore it. The leaf was a gift from a little girl and was said to increase his fortune in the mortal realm.

    With the jade leaf on, Qi Yuan looked at the Lost Glow Stick again. This time, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

    "Conditions met. Would you like to begin the journey now?"

    "This journey will start no later than one-quarter of an hour from now."

    "Conditions met?" Qi Yuan was taken aback.

    He glanced at the blood-red jade leaf, his mind racing. Could the girl who gave him the jade leaf be a descendant of the original inhabitants of the ancestral land? Was that why he met the conditions?

    However, it seemed that once activated, the Lost Glow Stick couldn¡¯t be turned off. This meant that within the next quarter of an hour, he would begin the journey into the past.

    "Not bad," Qi Yuan smiled, pleased with his fortune.

    This trip to the ancestral land had been well worth it. He looked at Dragon Subduing Arhat, Tiger Taming Arhat, and the eight ordinary people who had accompanied him.

    "This is an opportunity I can¡¯t waste," Qi Yuan muttered.

    Since they could break through in the ancient times, he would use the remaining evil god power to piece together powerful visualization methods and bestow them upon the eight mortals.

    Then, they would all go to the ancient times to break through together. After all, the deities in his memories were too powerful to visualize without special means. Only by traveling to the ancient past could they be summoned.

    No need to waste the opportunity.

    "Wait here. I¡¯m going to visualize a god and come back," Qi Yuan said.

    Village Chief Yulu?¡¯s eyes widened.

    Zhu Zhuangshi was overjoyed. "Haha, my time has finally come!"

    The villagers were ecstatic. The deities Qi Yuan visualized¡ªwho would they be given to? There was no need to guess.

    The ancient gods, however, were puzzled.

    "Why is he visualizing a god now?"

    They didn¡¯t understand. To visualize a god in the dangerous ancestral land seemed reckless. What was the point of visualizing an ordinary or even rare deity now?

 Chapter 206: The Mythical Beings Emerge

    Chapter 206: The Mythical Beings Emerge

    The ancient gods present were full of doubt, while the eight villagers were bursting with excitement. Especially Zhu Zhuangshi, who was grinning from ear to ear, as if Qi Yuan was passing through the tower.

    ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t be fooled by me acting timid along the way. After today, I, Old Zhu, will hit back hard!¡± Zhu Zhuangshi, a mere Golden Core level cultivator, boasted wildly, leaving the true gods present utterly confused.

    "Is this guy out of his mind? A Golden Core cultivator talking about hitting back hard? Too funny."

    The true gods looked at these eight people, feeling that their joy was a bit over the top.

    ¡°I wonder what level of visualization method the Divine Lord will conjure this time!¡±

    ¡°Old Zhu can¡¯t be overshadowed by a dog his whole life!¡±

    These eight villagers were full of anticipation, especially considering the Eighteen Arhats, legendary figures, all of whom, except for Subduing Dragon and Taming Tiger, had become true gods. How could these eight not be envious?

    These eight were the earliest followers of Qi Yuan, his true loyalists.

    ¡°Since the Divine Lord is going to visualize, shall we take a look inside the Visualization Realm?¡± the younger twin sister suggested, curious about why Qi Yuan wanted to visualize.

    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go take a look.¡±

    Since they were bored anyway, they might as well enter the Visualization Realm and see.

    ¡°Hopefully, the Visualization Realm will flash with golden light; otherwise, it¡¯ll be a waste to enter.¡±

    ¡°Divine Lord is mighty and extraordinary; a flash of golden light is common,¡± Wangsong Venerable flattered.

    The ancient gods joked as they entered the Visualization Realm.

    Then, the usually low-key Shentu, the divine official, spoke, "I hope that when you enter the Visualization Realm, your eyes don¡¯t get blinded by the brilliance!"

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan entered the chat group.

    ¡°Everyone, I¡¯m going to visualize. Group leader, can you give me a buff? I¡¯m a bit unsure if I can successfully visualize this time.¡±

    Qi Yuan indeed felt a bit uncertain. After all, the highest level in this world seemed to be mythical. If he visualized something beyond that, could it even manifest? Or would it just be a myth? So, he sought Dongjianghe¡¯s help for a buff.

    ¡°Hahaha!¡±Updated chapters at novelhall.com

    ¡°Hahaha!¡±

    Dongjianghe laughed twice in the chat group.

    ¡°So, the day has finally come, Qi Yuan! You¡¯ve finally run out of reserves!¡±

    Dongjianghe was feeling triumphant. Recently, he had been humiliated in the group. Although he had managed to visualize a rare entity, the group no longer called him the Young Heavenly Emperor, instead referring to him as "Dongwang Gong."

    ¡°I knew all along that Qi Yuan had exhausted his reserves.¡±

    ¡°From now on, Qi Yuan probably won¡¯t be able to visualize anything, while I, Dongjianghe, still have a bright future!¡±

    ¡°This time, my prediction won¡¯t be wrong! I had a hunch!¡±

    Qi Yuan smiled as he read this. This was exactly what he wanted. Today, everything would go smoothly!

    Other group members chimed in as well.

    ¡°Dongjianghe, you¡¯re shameless!¡±

    ¡°Twenty legendaries are on the decline, but two rares have a bright future, right?¡±

    ¡°I bet Qi Yuan will still manage to visualize an epic entity this time.¡±

    Ignoring the chat, Qi Yuan entered the Visualization Realm.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have much evil god power left, the strongest being from two third-step gods. That should be enough to visualize eight powerful ones, right?¡±

    Qi Yuan muttered as he looked at the Visualization Mountain, making up his mind.

    "Now manifest the majesty of four heads and eight arms, wielding the grand creation of the seven stars and eight spirits. Standing fifty zhang tall, with red hair, clad in crimson robes and a dark crown with golden armor. Leading an army of 360,000 divine soldiers, with a light swing of his axe, the demons are shattered, and divine light shines forth."

    As Qi Yuan recalled, a terrifying deity with four heads and eight arms appeared. Each head bore an expression of great fury, holding eight objects: a halberd, a spear, a trident, a sword, an imperial bell, a seal, a fire gun, and a fire rope.

    The deity stood behind Qi Yuan, as majestic as a star! The entire sky seemed to dim in comparison to his brilliance.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s ears filled with the shouts of countless celestial soldiers.

    ¡°Tian Peng! Tian Peng! Nine Origins Demon General!¡±

    ¡°Three hundred thousand soldiers, guard my nine heavens!¡±

    This time, Qi Yuan was visualizing the Marshal Tian Peng, the Heavenly Emperor of the North Pole, Supreme Law Lord, Commander of the Divine Troops.

    The title was "Supreme Law Lord of the North Pole, Marshal of the Heavenly Armies of the Supreme Celestial Empire," one of the four great protectors under the Northern Star Emperor, and leader of the Four Saints of the North Pole!

    The star-like golden core shone upon Qi Yuan, and in the Visualization Mountain, the Question of the Heart asked once again.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes were resolute, his mind filled with the image of that imposing deity.

    ¡°This deity exists!¡±

    ¡°I have seen him, commanding the Celestial River, leading 360,000 soldiers of the Thunder Department!¡±

    The Visualization Realm fell silent, and the Visualization Mountain operated like the rules of heaven.

    Qi Yuan was filled with anticipation. This time, he was visualizing Marshal Tian Peng, a powerful deity in the mythological system with a high status. If he could manifest this deity, the results would be unimaginable.

    Boom!

    Suddenly, countless drums echoed through the Visualization Mountain. The sound seemed to come from ancient times, majestic and mighty, like tens of thousands of celestial soldiers beating their war drums.

    As the drums sounded, thunder roared in the sky above the Visualization Realm.

    Dragons and serpents soared towards the heavens, intertwining in the sky.

    Phoenixes flew, their clear cries echoing.

    A terrifying deity with four heads and eight arms, a towering figure, stepped out of the Visualization Mountain.

    A loud voice resounded through the Visualization Realm.

    ¡°I am the Supreme Law Lord of the North Pole, Marshal of the Heavenly Armies of the Supreme Celestial Empire!¡±

    With this proclamation, a visualization method condensed before Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan smiled.

    ¡°It worked.¡±

    Meanwhile, in the various chat groups across the world, there was a moment of stunned silence.

    ¡°Ten thousand drums sounding, thunder roaring, dragons and phoenixes appearing¡ªthis is... a myth!¡±

    Meanwhile, in the ancestral tower, the younger twin sister¡¯s mouth hung open in disbelief.

    The other ancient gods were just as stunned, their shock lingering.

    ¡°Is this... real?¡± the younger twin sister murmured.

    Zhu Zhuangshi, hearing this, was overjoyed. ¡°Well? Did the Divine Lord¡¯s visualization method flash with golden light? I can¡¯t be overshadowed by that big black dog!¡±

    ¡°Judging by their expressions, it definitely flashed. Haha,¡± Shi Zhongshan was also pleased. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll finally be able to sit as an equal with my sworn brother!¡±

    The other villagers were equally delighted.

    Suddenly, one of the ancient gods spoke with difficulty, ¡°The Divine Lord¡¯s visualization methods... they¡¯re not for you, are they?¡±

    ¡°Who else?¡± Zhu Zhuangshi boasted, ¡°I¡¯m the Divine Lord¡¯s most loyal follower. What¡¯s wrong with rewarding me with a visualization method?¡±

    The other ancient gods were once again left in disbelief.

    A mythical visualization method, given to eight... ordinary villagers?

    This was beyond wasteful!

    Previously, they had thought it was wasteful for ordinary villagers to drink the Limu Immortal Liquid. Now, with eight mythical visualization methods, it wasn¡¯t just wasteful¡ªit was outrageous!

    ¡°The Divine Lord is truly... terrifying!¡± Even the elder twin sister couldn¡¯t help but speak.

    The other ancient gods were still reeling from the shock, unable to recover.

    Just then, Qi Yuan emerged from the chat group.

    Everyone immediately turned their gaze towards him.

    Qi Yuan looked at Wangsong Venerable. ¡°It¡¯s a shame I didn¡¯t have more evil god power; otherwise, I could have conjured a visualization method for you to play with.¡±

    Wangsong Venerable¡¯s white beard trembled with emotion, his eyes welling up with tears. ¡°The Divine Lord still remembers me¡ªI am truly grateful!¡±

    Meanwhile, the other ancient gods were stunned.

    Could the Divine Lord still visualize? The only reason he hadn¡¯t was because he lacked enough evil god power?

    This was simply unbelievable!

    Then Qi Yuan turned to the eight villagers. ¡°You¡¯ve all been with me from the beginning. It¡¯s been a while. These eight visualization methods are my gift to you.¡±

    Zhu Zhuangshi was overjoyed. ¡°Thank you, Divine Lord!¡±

    The others also stepped forward to express their gratitude.

    Unable to contain himself, Zhu Zhuangshi asked, ¡°Divine Lord, after cultivating this visualization method, will I finally be able to defeat... the big black dog? I don¡¯t want to be bullied by that dog anymore!¡±

    The ancient gods watched Zhu Zhuangshi with a mix of frustration and amusement. A fool who considered a dog his greatest enemy was receiving a mythical visualization method?

    Their hearts were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred!

    If they could receive a mythical visualization method, they would even be willing to lower their cultivation to the Purple Mansion level and start over!

    ¡°As long as you work hard, you probably won¡¯t be bullied by the big black dog anymore,¡± Qi Yuan replied cautiously.

    After all, the big black dog was exceptionally gifted, capable of summoning the shadow of a certain deity. That deity was even stronger than the one Qi Yuan intended for Zhu Zhuangshi.

    Zhu Zhuangshi was full of anticipation, and the other seven villagers were just as eager.

    With a wave of Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, eight visualization methods appeared.

    Seeing the purple-glowing methods, the eight ancient gods were filled with envy.

    The eight villagers were also stunned.

    ¡°A mythical visualization method¡ªI never thought I¡¯d see one in my lifetime!¡±

    ¡°Eight of them!¡±

    ¡°Sigh, sigh, sigh!¡±

    The ancient gods were on the verge of tears.

    After all, such methods were being given to eight ordinary villagers.

    With another wave of his hand, Qi Yuan distributed the visualization methods to each of the eight villagers.

    Everyone¡¯s hands trembled as they received them, scarcely believing their eyes.

    Tears streamed down Zhu Zhuangshi¡¯s face as he clutched his method tightly. ¡°Divine Lord, could I be your illegitimate child?¡±

    Otherwise, how could someone like him, Zhu Zhuangshi, be worthy of such a terrifying visualization method?

    He looked at Qi Yuan, becoming more convinced of the possibility. He and the Divine Lord were both so heroic and handsome!

    Qi Yuan glanced at Zhu Zhuangshi¡¯s chubby figure with disdain. ¡°If I had a son who looked like you, he wouldn¡¯t have been born! Stop babbling and start visualizing; I¡¯m on a tight schedule! If you keep talking nonsense, I¡¯ll take the method back and give it to Wangsong Venerable.¡±

    Zhu Zhuangshi was startled.

    ¡°Divine Lord, I was just rambling!¡±

    He quickly focused on the visualization method, as did the other seven villagers, using their spiritual power to suppress their excitement and concentrate.

    The scene grew quiet as the eight villagers immersed themselves in their visualization methods.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the remaining ancient gods and spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯m taking my followers away for a while. Wait here.¡±

    The true gods were puzzled.

    Where were they going?

    But considering Qi Yuan¡¯s power and mystery, they didn¡¯t dare question him.

    ¡°As you command!¡± the younger twin sister replied earnestly.

    ¡°Stay where you are and don¡¯t move. If you disturb the puppet gods here, you¡¯ll all die.¡±

    With those words, Qi Yuan looked at his followers.

    With a wave of his hand, the Lost Glow Stick¡¯s light enveloped them all.

    In an instant, the eleven of them disappeared.

    The remaining ancient gods were astonished.

    They hadn¡¯t sensed how Qi Yuan had disappeared at all! But when they remembered that he had just visualized eight mythical beings and treated the dangers of the ancestral land as nothing, everything seemed normal again.

    ¡°The Divine Lord is truly a god¡ªhow lucky I am to follow him!¡± Wangsong Venerable¡¯s face was lit up with exaggerated joy.

 Chapter 207: The Foodless Holy Mother

    Chapter 207: The Foodless Holy Mother

    Qi Yuan opened his eyes. He couldn¡¯t see anything, nor could he hear anything. He even felt as if his thoughts were frozen at that moment.

    In the Flowing Wind Realm, his return to the past and his acquaintance with the Canary had been instantaneous. But here, using the Lost Glow Stick felt particularly lengthy. Perhaps it was because his thoughts had been frozen.

    After what seemed like an eternity, a sliver of light entered Qi Yuan¡¯s vision. He suddenly raised his head and looked up at the sky. The blood-red stars hung eerily above.

    He glanced around but couldn¡¯t spot his Stellar Golden Core. "Have I traveled back in time?" Qi Yuan wondered aloud.

    The others present also wore puzzled expressions.

    "Where are we?"

    "This place feels strange."

    "The trees here are quite dense."

    The villagers gradually awakened and looked around, their faces showing signs of surprise.

    "Don¡¯t worry about where this is," Qi Yuan instructed. "Focus on visualizing and then... breakthrough!"

    Upon hearing his words, the villagers quickly immersed themselves once again, beginning to visualize their respective visualization methods.

    Zhu Zhuangshi¡¯s face was filled with excitement. "Old Zhu is finally going to rise!"

    The Dragon-Taming Arhat and the Tiger-Subduing Arhat were particularly astonished. They had noticed that the aura of this place could actually support their breakthrough to the True God realm. For a moment, they were puzzled, and many thoughts crossed their minds. However, they quickly remembered that it was their Guardian Deity who had brought them to this place. The Guardian Deity was all-powerful, capable of even visualizing mythical beings. So, this too, wasn¡¯t surprising.

    The villagers entered a state of meditation, their bodies floating in the air. Meanwhile, in the forest, a butterfly with black and red wings fluttered by. Qi Yuan reached out his hand, blocking the butterfly¡¯s path. In an instant, the butterfly passed through his palm. Curiosity sparkled in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    "I can¡¯t affect this world, and this world can¡¯t affect me. So, how can one achieve a breakthrough here?" Qi Yuan pondered. But then he realized that he was perhaps too weak to comprehend the principles of the Lost Glow Stick¡ªmuch like giving a mortal a profound cultivation technique they couldn¡¯t possibly understand.

    "Break through," Qi Yuan murmured softly.

    The wind howled, and the white deer drank by the lake. In the stillness, Qi Yuan broke through silently, without fanfare. His level increased to Divine Being Level 90, and then further to True God Level 1.

    Within Qi Yuan¡¯s body, a Divine Aperture began to form. A vast amount of experience surged through his body, forming aperture after aperture¡ªone, two, three... Until, finally, it stopped at the thirteenth aperture.

    Qi Yuan squinted his eyes, "True God Level 13?" He had leaped directly to True God Level 13. "So, this is what it¡¯s like to be a Yin God? It¡¯s... okay, I guess." Qi Yuan felt no particular excitement, nor was he overly impressed.

    "Now I guess... I¡¯ve evolved from a fertilized egg to a slightly underdeveloped embryo." Qi Yuan¡¯s mindset was calm. He glanced back at the others¡ªthe Dragon-Taming Arhat and the Tiger-Subduing Arhat had already broken through to the True God realm. A powerful aura emanated from them. With just one Divine Aperture, Qi Yuan estimated they could fight a Yin God with five apertures. That was already formidable.

    At this moment, the Dragon-Taming Arhat and the Tiger-Subduing Arhat were still in deep meditation, attempting to condense another aperture.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan felt the world tremble violently. The ground cracked open, the lake seemed to spill over like a basin of water, and the white deer leaped in surprise, its body soaked.

    The blood-red stars in the sky seemed to draw closer, as if about to descend upon the earth. Qi Yuan even felt that if he climbed the mountain ahead and reached out, he could touch those terrifying stars.

    The villagers around him were still deep in visualization, unaffected by the scene before them.

    "Is this... the Great Flood War?" Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, looking towards the distant southwest. The tremor seemed to have originated from the Heavenly Pillar. The Heavenly Pillar, akin to the mythological Buzhou Mountain, stood tall and indomitable.

    At this moment, the pillar trembled, as if it could collapse at any moment. Qi Yuan felt a twinge of anxiety. "Hopefully, the Heavenly Pillar won¡¯t collapse before they¡¯ve all broken through to True Gods. That would be a joke."

    However, Qi Yuan estimated that the eight villagers would likely need six hours to reach the peak of the Purple Mansion stage and then break through to True Gods. Judging by the state of the pillar, it wouldn¡¯t collapse within a day or two. His concern was unnecessary.

    Nonetheless, he said, "You all stay here and cultivate well. I¡¯ll... go for a stroll."

    After issuing this instruction, Qi Yuan transformed into a stream of light and headed towards the Heavenly Pillar. The Great Flood War of ancient times¡ªQi Yuan wanted to witness it firsthand. After all, the powerful beings here couldn¡¯t harm him. He might as well treat it like watching a movie.

    ...

    The mountains sank, and in the sunken craters, red and yellow molten lava flowed. A giant, snow-white hand fell from an ancient battlefield and plunged into the lava, causing it to splash and erupt like a volcanic explosion. The entire land was scarred and ravaged.

    At the summit of the Heavenly Pillar, several terrifying figures stood tall. Each one was a mythical being who had taken seven steps to ascend to the heavens!

    Among them was a woman clad in red robes, her eyebrows like emerald feathers, her skin as white as jade, and her figure as slender as a bamboo shoot. Around her waist was a shattered golden pendant. She looked delicate and fragile but was, in fact, the most powerful being in the Mortal Heart Realm¡ªthe Foodless Holy Mother.

    "The attacks from the evil gods are becoming more frequent. Today alone, 327 True Gods have fallen," Cang Xuan Great Venerable said, gazing at the blood-red sun with deep worry in his eyes.

    "The evil gods aim to sever the Heavenly Pillar; they want to cut off the very roots of our Mortal Heart Realm!" another Great Venerable said solemnly.

    The seven Great Venerables gathered at the Heavenly Pillar were the last remaining mythical beings of the Mortal Heart Realm. All other myths had perished in the Great Flood War.

    At this moment, the seven mythical beings were united at the Heavenly Pillar to protect it from collapsing. If they died, there would still be a glimmer of hope for the Mortal Heart Realm. But if the Heavenly Pillar were severed, the Mortal Heart Realm would become a rootless, drifting entity.

    Yet, they knew that they couldn¡¯t stop the evil gods from shattering the Heavenly Pillar.

    Was this desperation?

    Qi Yuan could only think of it that way. If he were in such a desperate situation and encountered an unknown entity, he might also seek help. The unknown often equates to power.

    "What kind of help?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "In two days, when the being above True Gods makes his move, the Heavenly Pillar will shatter. After it breaks, I need to hold him off for twenty breaths. The other mythical beings will then use that time to enter the pillar and send the world seed out. Otherwise... if that being devours the entire Heavenly Dao, this world will have no future."

    A being above True Gods? Devouring the Heavenly Dao? The world seed?

    Qi Yuan quickly understood the Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s plan. That being above True Gods had grand ambitions. If he devoured the Heavenly Dao of this world, it would mean the end for Qing Shui Village and possibly the entire game.

    This was different from his situation with the Heavenly Dao of Wangyue Continent, where he had become its master. In the Mortal Heart Realm, the Heavenly Dao would be forcibly devoured, leading to the extinction of its inhabitants.

    Moreover, it would mean the failure of Qi Yuan¡¯s mission in the game.

    "I¡¯ll help, absolutely!" Qi Yuan quickly agreed. "I also want to see what a being above True Gods looks like! But I should warn you, I might not be able to help much."

    Since he could return from the future, it meant that the Foodless Holy Mother had indeed managed to hold off that being for twenty breaths. So, whether he was there or not, it might not make a difference. He was just going to observe, to get a glimpse of a so-called Yang God¡ªa being that was likely the final boss of the game. It was important to understand the boss¡¯s strength in advance. He also wanted to see if his Stellar Golden Core could take the boss down.

    "It¡¯s a pity we can only hear each other¡¯s voices and not interact. Otherwise, I¡¯d ask for your autograph to take back with me," Qi Yuan remarked, trying to touch the zither strings in the courtyard, but his hand passed right through them.

    "Stay here for the next two days," the Foodless Holy Mother suggested, turning her head to look out at the lake.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll stay. Just in case that being above True Gods shows up earlier, I wouldn¡¯t want to miss it," Qi Yuan agreed, looking at a reclining chair in the courtyard and pretending to lie down. Although he couldn¡¯t physically lie on it, he could at least fake it.

    "You have two reclining chairs here. Do you often have guests?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    The Foodless Holy Mother hesitated for a moment before replying, "Not often."

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t press further. "I¡¯ll take a nap. Wake me when it¡¯s time."

    Of course, he wasn¡¯t really sleeping. He was just passing the time by continuing to compile the Qi Yuan Sutra. Now that he had reached True God Level 13 in the game, he realized the sutra was only halfway through the Nascent Soul stage. He needed to speed things up. Otherwise, if he completed the game and the sutra was still stuck at the Nascent Soul stage, how would he advance to the Infant Spirit stage?

    After a few dozen breaths, the Foodless Holy Mother glanced at the reclining chair and softly asked, "Are you on the chair?"

    There was no response.

    She stared at the chair, lost in thought. "It¡¯s a shame, only two days remain."

    She lifted her head, gazing at the blood-red stars. The time left for her, and for the Mortal Heart Realm, was running out.

    A light breeze blew through the courtyard, bringing a slight chill to the base of the Heavenly Pillar. Compared to the devastation all around, the Heavenly Pillar seemed like a serene haven. Yet, in truth, the fiercest and most brutal battles were taking place here. In the Great Flood War, every myth of the Mortal Heart Realm would fall¡ªnone would survive.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan seemed to be roused by a faint sound. He opened his eyes to find a pot of steaming fish soup in the courtyard. A look of surprise crossed his face. "Aren¡¯t you the Foodless Holy Mother? Why are you cooking fish?"

    The Foodless Holy Mother had many followers in Feihuang City, including Nangong Wuji. Once, when Qi Yuan hosted a feast and invited Nangong Wuji, the follower had declined, saying that the followers of the Foodless Holy Mother did not consume grains. The Holy Mother herself was said to be even stricter, believing that all things were poisonous, and eating them brought great harm. Only by achieving self-realization could one find the true path.

    "You¡¯re awake?" the Foodless Holy Mother glanced at the reclining chair, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "I like eating fish."

    "Seems like records can¡¯t always be trusted," Qi Yuan remarked.

    "Would you like to try some? I made it myself," the Foodless Holy Mother offered calmly.

    "No thanks, you¡¯re just teasing me. I can¡¯t eat anything from this world," Qi Yuan declined.

    "I regret that you can¡¯t join me in enjoying such a rare delicacy," the Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s voice held a trace of melancholy.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t respond to that.

    It was normal for the Foodless Holy Mother to be emotional, considering she only had two days left to live.

    "I¡¯ll watch you eat, since there¡¯s nothing else to do," Qi Yuan decided. After all, respect for the dying was important. He thought it might help her feel less lonely.

    The Foodless Holy Mother paused for a moment, then smiled softly. She began eating slowly, savoring each bite, as if she were relishing the moment.

    "What¡¯s your current cultivation level?" she asked after the meal.

    "I have two levels¡ªFoundation Establishment in the real world and True God Level 13 in the game."

    "Thirteen apertures..." the Foodless Holy Mother murmured. "Would you like me to take you on a tour of the Mortal Heart Realm? It might help you advance your cultivation."

    "A tour?" Qi Yuan hesitated. His strength had always increased through combat, not sightseeing. How would touring help him break through?

    But then he considered that this was a dying person¡¯s request. Perhaps exploring the Mortal Heart Realm would aid in his spiritual growth.

    After a moment of thought, he agreed, "Alright."

 Chapter 208: Yang God, a Hasty Return

    Chapter 208: Yang God, a Hasty Return

    The crimson light shone upon the snow-capped mountains, making them appear exceptionally enchanting.

    The North Sea was a deep blue, where the water met the sky, creating a tranquil horizon with gentle waves.

    In the endless forest, lakes interconnected, and within one of them, a dragon lay dormantFor a day, Qi Yuan accompanied the Foodless Holy Mother on a tour of the Mortal Heart Realm.

    Standing under the sunlight, Qi Yuan gazed at the distant snow-covered peaks, thinking, "It seems like this really was just a sightseeing trip. My cultivation didn¡¯t improve, but my mind feels much more open."

    In the game, Qi Yuan had never stopped for even a moment, always taking things seriously. But now, for the first time, he was truly relaxing, experiencing a different kind of journey.

    "Honestly, this might be the first proper vacation I¡¯ve ever taken in my life. Although we only skimmed the surface, it was quite meaningful," Qi Yuan said.

    A hint of a smile appeared in the beautiful eyes of the Foodless Holy Mother. "It¡¯s not bad to have one last look at this land with you."

    "You¡¯ve already reached the peak of the Great Master level. What is the realm beyond True Gods like?" Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask, filled with curiosity about the Yang God. Unfortunately, he had never encountered one before.

    The Foodless Holy Mother was the most powerful being in the history of the Mortal Heart Realm, and she was the closest to becoming a Yang God.

    "The realm beyond True Gods..." The Foodless Holy Mother fell silent. "I don¡¯t know either."

    Although she had reached the pinnacle of the Yin God stage, she had not fully grasped the Yang God¡¯s realm.

    Qi Yuan felt a bit disappointed upon hearing this. "I guess I¡¯ll have to see the final boss myself to understand just how powerful a Yang God really is."

    As soon as Qi Yuan finished speaking, a deafening sound erupted.

    Suddenly, his vision was filled with a blood-red light.

    He quickly looked up at the sky.

    From the crimson star that seemed to hover above the Mortal Heart Realm, a massive hand emerged. This colossal hand was as large as a planet. With a slight push of the hand, the enormous Heavenly Pillar, stretching tens of thousands of miles high, collapsed like a fragile tower of blocks.

    "The Heavenly Pillar... has fallen!" Qi Yuan exclaimed, watching the pillar crumble as if witnessing the sunset.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to witness this historic moment.

    As the Heavenly Pillar fell, the Mortal Heart Realm quaked, and blood-red rain filled the sky.

    It was as if the heavens themselves were weeping!

    "Go!" The Foodless Holy Mother took a deep look at where Qi Yuan stood and shouted.

    Qi Yuan quickly followed.

    He knew the Foodless Holy Mother was going to confront the Yang God, and he was about to witness the most devastating battle of the Great Flood War.

    All the myths of the Mortal Heart Realm would meet their end today.

    Blood rain poured down as Qi Yuan followed the Foodless Holy Mother to the top of the shattered Heavenly Pillar.

    "Foodless Holy Mother, twenty breaths!"

    "Hold on!"

    Six of the myths communicated through divine transmission before their figures disappeared into the Heavenly Pillar.

    They had begun the process of condensing and sending out the world seed from within the pillar.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked up at the sky.

    He saw the place from which the terrifying giant hand had emerged had turned into a dense sea of blood.

    The blood sea churned, devoid of water, filled entirely with crimson light.

    The intense blood-red glow was so blinding that even a mere mortal glance at it could be fatal.

    A cold, emotionless voice echoed from the high heavens.

    "Annihilate."

    The terrifying blood-colored figure was impossible to see clearly.

    It was as if the Foodless Holy Mother was nothing more than an insignificant ant in the eyes of this figure¡ªor perhaps she didn¡¯t even register at all.

    Qi Yuan also looked at the terrifying silhouette.

    [Projection of the Devouring Form of the Blood Sun Saint, Yang God. This form can devour all things, swallowing stars whole.]

    The figure stood high in the sky, descending at an unimaginable speed.

    It wouldn¡¯t take twenty breaths. In just one breath, the figure would reach the Heavenly Pillar.

    "Who is that?" The Foodless Holy Mother gazed up at the terrifying figure in the sky. Her blood-red robes, under the crimson light, looked even more enchanting and alluring.

    "Projection of the Devouring Form of the Blood Sun Saint..." Qi Yuan, without any worry, relayed the information he had seen to the Foodless Holy Mother.

    "Devouring, huh?"

    The Foodless Holy Mother seemed to have received crucial information.

    Her red robes fluttered in the wind as she raised her head and screamed at the terrifying figure in the sky.

    "Chaos without limits!"

    "The one and only!"

    Her snow-white hand shimmered with endless light.

    The Foodless Holy Mother charged toward the terrifying figure with the determination of a warrior heading to their death, without a trace of hesitation.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed through the sky.

    "The upper jaw has been injured."

    To be honest, Qi Yuan felt a twinge of regret, but also a sense of fulfillment.

    He took one last look at the terrifying figure within the Heavenly Pillar, then glanced at the glow of the Lost Glow Stick.

    "The time is almost up. It¡¯s time... to go back."

    The Foodless Holy Mother had long since perished. Qi Yuan had come to witness her end, nothing more.

    ...

    Near the entrance of the Ancestral Land, a burly man was humming a tune, looking smug. "I think I must have had the biggest haul this time, right?"

    This time, the burly man had stumbled upon several fortuitous encounters, opening three divine apertures in total. Such a harvest could easily be considered significant, even among those who had ventured into the Ancestral Land before.

    "Are they still inside? If they knew how much I gained, they¡¯d be so envious!" The burly man thought to himself, waiting expectantly. However, a sense of unease grew as he noticed the somewhat hostile gazes from the three Great Venerables nearby.

    As time passed, about an hour later, more commotion came from within the Ancestral Land.

    The three Great Venerables perked up immediately, their spirits lifting as they eagerly looked toward the source of the disturbance.

    "I hope it''s Origin Heavenly Venerable!"

    "It better be him!"

    "Don¡¯t let it be...," one of the Great Venerables began, casting a sidelong glance at the burly man.

    The burly man, too, was filled with anticipation. He didn''t care who emerged as long as he could show off his accomplishments.

    Soon, the mist at the entrance of the Ancestral Land parted, and a group of twenty-one people appeared.

    These twenty-one individuals all wore expressions of joy and satisfaction.

    The burly man, who had been ready to boast, suddenly froze.

    Because... he realized he couldn''t discern the strength of any of these twenty-one people.

    Even the ordinary villagers, who had previously been mere mortals, now seemed unfathomable to him.

    Those ancient gods whose cultivation levels had been lower than his own now felt completely out of reach.

    What had happened?

    "Origin Heavenly Venerable!"

    "Is that really you?"

    "You finally came out!" The three Great Venerables immediately turned their attention to Qi Yuan, their gazes filled with genuine relief and excitement.

    "Who are you?" Qi Yuan asked, surprised.

    "I am the master of the White Dawn Venerable and a friend of Thunderbolt Great Venerable. He asked me to look out for you," replied the Lishan Great Venerable quickly.

    "Oh, I see. I didn¡¯t expect Old Man Thunderbolt to be so considerate." Qi Yuan nodded, thinking about whether Thunderbolt Great Venerable had finished off all the pigs back at the village.

    At that moment, the Lishan Great Venerable¡¯s eyes fell on Zhu Zhuangshi and the other villagers, his pupils narrowing in shock. "Did you give them your Divine Visualization Techniques?"

    "Yes," Qi Yuan answered nonchalantly.

    "Did you give them... the ones you just visualized?" Lishan Great Venerable¡¯s voice trembled slightly.

    "Yeah. There were eight villagers, and I visualized eight techniques, so I gave them one each," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    Lishan Great Venerable felt a deep pang of sorrow. Those were Divine Visualization Techniques at the mythic level... and they were just given away so easily?

    Zhu Zhuangshi, sensing his rising power, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit cocky. "What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t you think Old Zhu is worthy of a Divine Visualization Technique?"

    Now that he had ascended to Step Two of the Heaven-Treading realm and had used the serum to awaken his Divine Domain Seed, his power was growing every moment. He felt infinitely strong.

    He even believed that dealing with the Great Black Dog would no longer require a finger¡ªjust a strand of hair would suffice.

    Even in front of Lishan Great Venerable, he felt no fear.

    Lishan Great Venerable looked at Zhu Zhuangshi, his thoughts racing. The techniques have already been used... There¡¯s no turning back.

    After a moment, Lishan Great Venerable noticed something unusual. His pupils contracted sharply. "Divine Domain Seed... How is this possible? You... no, all of you, how did you all awaken Divine Domain Seeds!"

    Lishan Great Venerable was deeply shaken.

    The ancient gods before him seemed to have only recently awakened their Divine Domain Seeds, which were still unstable, allowing a wisp of energy to leak out that he had detected.

    "They were underdeveloped and took some oral fluid, so they grew stronger," Qi Yuan explained offhandedly.

    "Oral fluid?" Lishan Great Venerable was puzzled.

    The ancient god Wangsong spoke up, "The Lord refers to the Divine Realm Elixir. Hehe, following the Lord this time, we really struck gold in the Ancestral Land."

    Upon hearing "Divine Realm Elixir," the burly man¡¯s eyes turned red with envy.

    Opening three divine apertures was impressive, but it paled compared to awakening a Divine Domain Seed!

    How had all these people awakened Divine Domain Seeds?

    It wasn¡¯t fair! He was consumed with jealousy and resentment!

    Lishan Great Venerable was also stunned, but soon a smile appeared on his face.

    This meant that the ancient gods now had several more combatants who were comparable to Great Venerables. And among them, eight had mythic-level Divine Visualization Techniques.

    The future looked promising.

    "We need to head back through the teleportation array. Farewell, everyone." Qi Yuan, uninterested in further conversation, casually waved his hand.

    Only then did Lishan Great Venerable remember his original purpose. He quickly called out, "Origin Heavenly Venerable, please wait!"

    We can¡¯t let him go back just yet!

 Chapter 209: Running Away? Thatâ€™s Not My Style!

    Chapter 209: Running Away? That¡¯s Not My Style!

    "Is there something you need?" Qi Yuan looked at Lishan Great Venerable.

    With a wave of his hand, Lishan Great Venerable caused the burly man and the elder from the Ancestral Land to lose their five senses. He was about to do the same to the other ancient gods present when Qi Yuan spoke up, "They are all my followers now. You can speak freely."

    After using the Lost Glowing Stick, Qi Yuan had returned from the past to the present, and only a little over two hours had passed. Upon his return, the ancient gods had all decided to permanently become Qi Yuan¡¯s followers, like Wangsong Ancient God, instead of maintaining their previous temporary allegiance. The main reason was that Qi Yuan''s eight mythic-level Divine Visualization Techniques were too shocking. After some discussion, they decided to follow him for good.

    Lishan Great Venerable glanced at the ancient gods, his curiosity only lingering for a moment before he turned back to Qi Yuan. "Origin Heavenly Venerable, you have visualized eight mythic-level Divine Visualization Techniques. This matter is of great importance. You must not reveal your identity, or the evil gods will surely send strong beings to assassinate you!"

    "Hmm," Qi Yuan responded calmly. He was well aware of such dangers and didn¡¯t give them much thought. After all, in games, it¡¯s common for the villains to come one after another, trying to kill the hero.

    "The Qing Shui Village is located in the Fallen Zone. If you return now, you will face great danger. In the Fallen Zone, we ancient gods cannot help you. If the evil gods make a move against you, you will be fighting alone!" Lishan Great Venerable tried to explain the gravity of the situation to Qi Yuan.

    "Fighting alone? I¡¯m used to that. But now, I¡¯m not exactly alone, am I? I have so many villagers supporting me. Each of them has a bright future," Qi Yuan replied lightly.

    In the Moon Continent, Qi Yuan had fought alone from the start. However, he had always had Jinli to chat with, and later on, Xiao Jia joined him in battle. He had blocked the Abyss alone, which was true solitude. Playing a game where you have to face bosses solo is just part of the experience, after all.

    Lishan Great Venerable was silent for a moment, then continued, "With your ability to visualize eight mythic-level Divine Visualization Techniques, your importance even surpasses that of the Chosen Ones. Have you heard of the Mythic Plan?"

    "No."

    "During the Hongtang War, the foundation of the Mortal Heart Realm was fully exposed. Two-thirds of the ancient gods perished, and all the mythic beings fell. However, even in their deaths, they left behind a sliver of hope¡ªa seed of the world," Lishan Great Venerable said, his voice full of sorrow. He had participated in the Hongtang War, a battle so brutal that true gods fell daily. For mortals, it wasn¡¯t even a fight; they were less than cannon fodder.

    "Hmm," Qi Yuan nodded. He had witnessed the Hongtang War firsthand a few hours earlier, seen the collapse of the Celestial Pillar, and watched as Wu Shi Saint Mother single-handedly held off the projection of a Yang God, ultimately sacrificing herself.

    "Even at its peak, the Mortal Heart Realm could not stop the evil gods, let alone now. Our only hope is the Mythic Plan, which aims to create several mythic beings. These mythic beings would then tear open a path at the Mortal Heart Realm¡¯s boundary, allowing the seed of hope to escape! Originally, the success rate of the Mythic Plan was less than half a percent. But with your help, the success rate could jump to thirty percent! At that point, we old folks would sacrifice everything to ensure that you and some young people, along with the seed of hope, escape the Mortal Heart Realm!" Lishan Great Venerable didn¡¯t hide anything from Qi Yuan.

    The villagers and ancient gods behind Qi Yuan were deeply shaken and filled with sadness. The power of the Mortal Heart Realm was still too weak compared to the evil gods.

    Qi Yuan listened calmly. "Oh, I see."

    Lishan Great Venerable was surprised by Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction. He had expected Qi Yuan to be more moved. "I humbly ask that you join our Mythic Plan to ensure the future of the Mortal Heart Realm! When the plan is enacted, you can leave the Mortal Heart Realm and enjoy great freedom!"

    Lishan Great Venerable¡¯s offer was sincere, considering Qi Yuan¡¯s well-being at every turn. He even offered Qi Yuan a chance to leave the Mortal Heart Realm, something that would tempt any other prodigy. Most would agree to join the Mythic Plan and escape with the hope of the world. But Qi Yuan was different. He flatly refused.

    "Running away isn¡¯t my style. How am I supposed to level up if I don¡¯t complete my mission?"

    Qi Yuan had worked hard to get into this game. Leaving it wasn¡¯t an option.

    His words left Lishan Great Venerable speechless. The ancient gods behind Qi Yuan were also surprised and felt a deep respect. They realized that while Qi Yuan often seemed carefree and eccentric, he had great courage when it mattered most.

    "I¡¯m going to kill that Yang God above the Celestial Pillar!" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes burned with murderous intent. He had merely traveled back in time to watch a historical event, but that Yang God projection had insulted him, calling him a "little bug" and trying to attack him. That was unacceptable. Qi Yuan had to settle this score, not just for himself but for Wu Shi Saint Mother, who had treated him kindly and even acted as his guide.

    He didn¡¯t need to say it out loud, but he had made up his mind to kill the Blood Sun Great Sage.

    His declaration stunned everyone. If anyone else had said this, they would have thought it was a joke. But coming from the Origin Heavenly Venerable, a prodigy who had created countless miracles and visualized eight mythic-level Divine Visualization Techniques, it felt like a firm resolve, not just empty words.

    The villagers behind Qi Yuan quickly echoed his sentiment, full of determination.UppTodated from

    "I, Old Zhu, am willing to be the vanguard and clear the way for the Lord!"

    "Old Yulian will serve with all my might!"

    "I, Chen Xifan, am more than just a cook!"

    "Stone Mountain¡¯s life belongs to the Lord. Whatever he says, I¡¯ll do it!"

    Wangsong Ancient God also felt moved and full of fighting spirit.

    "I am a god born of a pine tree, with the strongest of pride. What¡¯s there to fear from a Yang God above?"

    These followers spoke lightly, as if facing a true god was no big deal.

    Lishan Great Venerable and the other two Great Venerables were astonished. They hadn¡¯t expected this response from Qi Yuan. They had considered the possibility of him refusing but never thought he would refuse in this way.

    "Are you sure you want to choose this path?" Lishan Great Venerable¡¯s expression was deeply moved. There were ancient gods in the Mortal Heart Realm who supported the Mythic Plan, and others who didn¡¯t. Some ancient gods, like Qi Yuan, chose to stay and fight to the end with the Mortal Heart Realm.

    "I¡¯m not choosing this path¡ªthey¡¯re forcing me!" Qi Yuan said, suddenly feeling very much in character, as if the evil gods were truly pushing him to this point. He felt like a mistreated son-in-law forced to stand up against his oppressors.

    Lishan Great Venerable sighed. He knew he couldn¡¯t convince Qi Yuan.

    "Please be careful when you return to Qing Shui Village. Stay low-key until these eight have fully matured. Only then should you reveal your strength," Lishan Great Venerable advised, remembering Thunderbolt Great Venerable¡¯s words about Qi Yuan¡¯s recklessness.

    A group of over twenty people turned into a stream of light, heading straight for Cai Country.

    On the way, Wang Wenqi joined them, adding to the ranks. Her great-grandfather, Tianbao Venerable, had once been close friends with Zhang Feng, but Zhang Feng had betrayed him, leading to his death. Wang Wenqi couldn¡¯t forget this grudge. The devastation of Jiang Kingdom was also tied to Zhang Feng¡¯s betrayal. She had to be part of this.

    This time, Qi Yuan and his group made no effort to conceal their approach. They flew directly toward Cai Country, not fearing the alert of the evil gods.

    Along the way, numerous voices of alarm echoed.

    "Who dares to come to our¡ª"

    The evil gods stationed in the cities sensed the ancient gods approaching and immediately unleashed powerful auras, trying to intercept them.

    However, Qi Yuan and his group continued their direct flight, disregarding any obstacles. In the past, they would have taken a more cautious approach, but now, they pressed forward without hesitation.

    As they charged ahead, three small evil gods had already been killed by the twin sisters. The evil gods were stationed in fortified cities, but they were no match for Qi Yuan''s group. Each time an evil god appeared to block their path, the twin sisters quickly dispatched them with their divine powers.

    Qi Yuan frowned as they encountered yet another small-time obstacle. "These little pests are really getting annoying."

    Indeed, this was the fourth such small fry they had to deal with.

    The twin sister¡¯s divine domain enveloped the latest evil god, leaving him with no chance to fight back. He was quickly slain, his divine essence absorbed.

    The evil god''s death was quick, but it slowed their progress somewhat.

    "Lord, we must strike quickly and then retreat. If we are surrounded by the evil god¡¯s army, we won''t be able to escape!" The elder sister warned, her expression grave.

    The others shared her concern. Every evil god¡¯s army had at least one great venerable, along with hundreds of other evil gods. If they were caught, escape would be nearly impossible.

    "I understand. It''s just that every time we get close to a city, some evil god blocks our way. It''s really irritating."

    Qi Yuan felt the urge to shout aloud.

    The younger twin sister couldn¡¯t help but worry, and so did the other gods.

    Finally, Qi Yuan had an idea. He activated his divine power, sending out a transmission that echoed through the heavens.

    "We''re here to slay the traitor Zhang Feng. Any who stand in our way will be killed without mercy!"

    Qi Yuan''s voice reverberated across the land as they continued their charge toward Cai Country.

    Perhaps his message had struck fear into the lesser evil gods because no more of them dared to block their path.

    The message continued to spread from Lin Country to Jiang Country and then to Cai Country. Many new gods were shocked and looked up at the stream of light in the sky. Hidden ancient gods were equally astonished.

    "Has a righteous god finally come to slay the traitor Zhang Feng?"

    "Hahaha, may the righteous god go in peace!"

    Most of these hidden ancient gods assumed Qi Yuan was a powerful but desperate ancient god making a final stand.

    Zhang Feng''s betrayal had led to Cai and Jiang countries falling under the rule of the evil gods, causing massive changes in the surrounding five nations. The hidden ancient gods loathed Zhang Feng, and all of them longed to see him dead.

    Suddenly, a message entered Qi Yuan''s mind.

    "Senior, be careful. The capital of Cai Country is occupied by an evil god''s army."

    The voice came and went quickly, clearly from an ancient god risking much to warn Qi Yuan before disappearing to avoid detection by the new gods.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s heart tightened. "An evil god¡¯s army is stationed in Cai Country?"

    Could it be that Shenlei Great Venerable had already stormed Cai Country, prompting the evil gods to reinforce it?

    The ancient gods following Qi Yuan also grew tense.

    The elder twin sister quickly suggested, "My lord, perhaps we should split up. My sister and I can go to Cai Country, while you retreat."

    "No need," Qi Yuan replied calmly. "Zhang Feng... alive or dead, I must see him!"

    "Let¡¯s go!"

    He was determined to confront Zhang Feng in Cai Country.

 Chapter 210: The Four Saints Defend, Tianpeng Shows His Might!

    Chapter 210: The Four Saints Defend, Tianpeng Shows His Might!

    In the capital city of Cai Country.

    Cough, cough... Zhang Feng coughed up blood, his face pale as a ghost.

    The burly man beside him, clad in iron armor with intricate patterns and densely carved depictions of various figures, looked at Zhang Feng with a furrowed brow. "How bad are your injuries?"

    The burly man was a captain from the nearby evil god¡¯s military camp, possessing the power of three steps to heaven.

    "It will probably take decades of recuperation before I can take action again," Zhang Feng replied, his expression filled with sorrow. "During this time, I''m afraid I won''t be able to serve our lord."

    "You were too careless to have been injured by an assassin. The assassin has been dealt with, but your injuries..." The burly man frowned, his face clouded with uncertainty.

    The camp leader had always valued Zhang Feng, entrusting him with various difficult and dirty tasks. After all, Zhang Feng was an ancient god, so he was naturally used ruthlessly.

    "Sigh, the assassin was also a three-step ancient god. Because of my loyalty to the camp leader, I''ve made too many enemies among the ancient gods, often facing assassination attempts," Zhang Feng said helplessly.

    The burly man examined Zhang Feng''s injuries and said, "You should rest and recover. I will report this matter truthfully to the camp leader."

    With that, the burly man left the palace with three new gods.

    As he squinted, seemingly deep in thought, one of the new gods couldn''t help but snort, "That Zhang Feng must be faking his injury!"

    "Yes, he''s just trying to avoid doing the camp leader''s bidding!"

    "His brother-in-law is dead, and instead of avenging him, he wants us to do it!"

    The new gods all suspected Zhang Feng of deceit.

    "He claims he was attacked by a three-step ancient god, yet he can''t even produce the assassin''s corpse!"

    Last night, after receiving news of Zhang Feng''s injury, they had rushed to Cai Country to support him, only to be turned away. They hadn''t seen Zhang Feng until daylight.

    The burly man sighed as he glanced at his subordinates. "His injuries don¡¯t seem fake. Whether he''s faking or not, it seems we truly won''t be able to rely on him for the next few decades."

    "Hmph, this is our territory! With the camp leader in charge, where would a three-step ancient god dare to act? An assassin? What a joke!"

    These new gods were full of confidence.

    In the fallen zone, ancient gods were on the brink of extinction, fortunate enough not to be wiped out entirely. They rarely engaged in assassination attempts. Those who could flee had already fled.

    However, at that moment, a terrifying voice rang out like thunder.

    "Execute the traitor Zhang Feng! Those who stand in our way shall be killed without mercy!"

    The four new gods present were stunned.

    Was there really an assassin?

    Inside the palace, Zhang Feng also froze.

    There really was an assassin!

    "How bold!" the burly man roared. "Who dares to act so brazenly in my presence?"

    The burly man was furious.

    It seemed Zhang Feng truly had been attacked. Being ambushed before was one thing, but to have someone come openly after Zhang Feng while their camp was present was a direct affront to him.

    How could he not be angry?

    He soared into the sky.

    Seven new gods around him also took to the air.

    A powerful aura of evil godly energy spread, enveloping the entire capital of Cai Country.

    All the ordinary citizens trembled in fear.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan and his group stopped above the capital city of Cai Country.

    Qi Yuan looked at the burly man, squinting. "Are you Zhang Feng?"

    Beside him, Wang Wenqi quickly replied, "My lord, that is not Zhang Feng!"

    The burly man also scrutinized Qi Yuan, his eyes widening in surprise. "I wondered who would dare come to the capital of Cai Country with such boldness. Twenty or more true gods!"

    Indeed, the appearance of Qi Yuan and his group was imposing.

    More than twenty true gods, most of whom were at the level of two steps to heaven. In the surrounding countries, this would be considered a very strong force.

    However, the burly man was not afraid.

    This time, their camp had sent only elite troops to the capital of Cai Country. Eight true gods, with four at three steps to heaven and four at two steps to heaven.

    Even though they were outnumbered, their strength far surpassed that of Qi Yuan''s group.

    Moreover, he was a peak three-step true god, on the verge of forming a divine domain.

    He alone could suppress these ancient gods.

    "So many people, all potential trophies!" The burly man said, his voice filled with excitement.

    "You''re not Zhang Feng, yet you dare block our way. Are you seeking death?" Qi Yuan''s voice was cold, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

    At that moment, a regretful voice interrupted. Zhang Feng, pale and weak, rose into the air. "Wenqi, I deeply regret what happened to your great-grandfather. Who could have known he would be so stubborn? If he had joined me in serving the new gods, he wouldn''t have angered them, leading to such a tragedy. His death was unfortunate, but it was to avoid bringing disaster to the innocent people of the city. For the greater good, for the sake of the people, it¡¯s best not to resist the new gods."

    Wang Wenqi''s eyes turned red with anger at Zhang Feng''s words.

    Qi Yuan, growing impatient with Zhang Feng''s hypocritical speech, cut to the chase. "Why are you pretending to be injured? Do you think I''ll spare you because of it?"

    Qi Yuan''s gaze was sharp, seeing through Zhang Feng¡¯s deception.

    Zhang Feng coughed again, spitting blood.

    The burly man, now suspicious, looked at Qi Yuan. "It seems that the assassin who attacked Zhang Feng last night was one of your associates. We were mistaken about Zhang Feng."

    The other new gods also felt a pang of guilt for doubting Zhang Feng.

    "An assassin? What happened to him?" Qi Yuan asked, recalling Thunderbolt Great Venerable.

    "He was naturally executed!" the burly man boasted. "And next, you will be too!"

    Executed?

    Qi Yuan paused for a moment, then laughed. "As if Zhang Feng could manage that!"

    Even if Shenlei Great Venerable was injured, he was still a Great Venerable. There was no way someone like Zhang Feng could defeat him without killing him.

    If Shenlei Great Venerable had such a poor showing, Qi Yuan would tease him for three years.

    Qi Yuan was certain that Shenlei Great Venerable hadn¡¯t arrived yet, which made sense. If Shenlei Great Venerable was hunting Zhang Feng, he would be much more cautious, avoiding all major cities. Any delay along the way would be understandable.

    Feeling reassured, Qi Yuan relaxed. He eyed the evil gods before him with a greedy look.

    "So much evil god power."

    He figured he could conjure up quite a few powerful deities with this.

    The burly man felt uncomfortable under Qi Yuan''s gaze. "I don''t like the way you''re looking at me!"

    After all, he was supposed to be the hunter, while Qi Yuan and his group were the prey¡ªhis trophies.

    "I don''t care if you like it or not," Qi Yuan responded indifferently. "Except for Zhang Feng, kill the rest!"

    His command left both the ancient gods and the new gods momentarily stunned.

    Shouldn''t the goal be to capture them alive? How do you capture someone dead?

    But since Qi Yuan had given the order, the ancient gods hesitated no further. They spread out, surrounding the eight evil gods, including Zhang Feng.

    The burly man¡¯s smile faded. "Am I still dreaming? A group of two-step ancient gods dares surround us?"

    He was utterly confused.

    This was clearly an all-out attack from a Great Venerable, delivered from thousands of miles away.

    The difference between a Venerable and a Great Venerable was like the gap between an Yin God and a Purple Mansion cultivator.

    Though they had consumed the divine domain elixir and could manifest divine domain seedlings, their seedlings were nothing compared to a Great Venerable¡¯s complete domain.

    Even from thousands of miles away, the full-force strike of a Great Venerable felt like an unstoppable force of annihilation.

    The elder twin sister¡¯s expression was grave. "We must all work together to help the lord block this attack!"

    She called out to the other seven ancient gods.

    These seven were all veteran ancient gods, incredibly powerful.

    If the eight of them combined their strength, they might be able to block the attack.

    But even then, it would come at a great cost.

    If two of them survived, it would be considered lucky.

    Such was the difference between a Great Venerable and a regular Venerable.

    "No need for you to act!"

    Suddenly, Zhu Zhuangshi stepped forward.

    Chen Xifan, Shi Chongshan, and Mu Tong also stepped forward.

    The elder twin sister was stunned.

    Weren¡¯t they only newly advanced to true gods?

    For them to block this attack was nothing short of suicide.

    Qi Yuan, however, nodded approvingly. "Northern Polar Four Saints, don¡¯t disappoint me."

    Indeed, these four were the ones who had practiced the Northern Polar Four Saints Divine Techniques.

    Zhu Zhuangshi was the Marshal Tianpeng; Shi Chongshan was the Xuantian Shangdi, also known as the True Martial Great Emperor; Chen Xifan was the Marshal Tianyou; and Mu Tong was the Marshal Yisheng.

    "Even if they¡¯ve attained True godhood, the gap between them is still too vast..." The elder twin sister¡¯s heart raced with anxiety.

    These four had only recently begun to grow in power after practicing the divine techniques of godhood. Dying here would be such a waste.

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s orders could not be questioned.

    All they could do was worry.

    The four villagers soared into the sky, meeting the massive light pillar head-on.

    They stared at the Great Venerable¡¯s full-force strike without a hint of fear.

    "Today, I¡¯ll show you what real strength is!" Zhu Zhuangshi roared.

    The other three echoed his battle cry.

    Suddenly, time seemed to freeze.

    With their shouts, the four villagers underwent a dramatic transformation, and a divine aura filled the air.

    Terrifying shadows began to form behind them.

    Behind Zhu Zhuangshi, a fearsome god with four heads and eight arms appeared, holding eight different weapons and standing over forty meters tall.

    The Milky Way flowed between his palms, and terrifying lightning danced through his hair like tiny serpents.

    The image of Tianpeng appeared.

    The other three villagers underwent similar transformations.

    Behind each of them, terrifying shadows of gods materialized.

    The shadows were like divine beings descending, impossible to look at directly.

    Even a glance filled one with awe.

    Then, the sound of the Milky Way surging filled the air.

    The clamor of golden-armored soldiers echoed through the sky.

    The ancient gods couldn¡¯t help but stare at the shadows.

    It was as if they could see beyond the shadows, where legions of soldiers stood.

    "Is this... godhood?"

    "Why is it a thousand, ten thousand times more terrifying than I ever imagined!"

    The ancient gods trembled in awe.

    A purple thunderbolt flashed, and the Milky Way surged.

    Countless sounds of armored soldiers on the march filled the air, and it seemed as if behind the shadows were endless legions of divine warriors, all clad in golden armor and wielding long spears and halberds.

    Every soldier was a god!

    These divine soldiers formed an army so vast it was impossible to count.

    The battle cries rang out.

    "Tianpeng! Tianpeng! Nine Yuan Spirit Warriors!"

    "Heavenly Armored Warriors! Defend the South and repel the evil!"

    "Heavenly Generals! Defend the North and strike the enemy!"

    "Three hundred thousand soldiers, protect the Nine Heavens!"

    The ancient gods were stunned.

    Godhood?

    Nonsense!

    Where in the world of Fancheng are there gods commanding three hundred thousand true gods? Three hundred thousand true gods as soldiers!

    Not even the legends of the Hongtang War dared to exaggerate like this.

    "I am the Great Marshal of the Northern Polar Four Saints, Tianpeng!"

    "How dare you harm me!"

    Zhu Zhuangshi shouted again.

    The terrifying shadow behind him opened its eyes.

    The other three marshals also opened their eyes.

    A powerful aura swept across everything.

    At that moment, words couldn¡¯t capture the scene.

    The shadows of the Northern Polar Four Saints reached out, grabbing the terrifying pillar of light that was meant to destroy everything.

    "Ahhhh!" Zhu Zhuangshi shouted.

    The other three villagers also displayed a fierce determination!

    They used their godly bodies and divine domain seedlings to directly confront the Great Venerable¡¯s full-force strike.

    Boom!

    The pillar of light shattered into nothingness!

 Chapter 211: A New Battle Plan

    Chapter 211: A New Battle Plan

    The world trembled as the Great Venerable¡¯s full-force attack was reduced to nothing.

    Zhu Zhuangshi patted his wide sleeves, a look of smug satisfaction in his eyes. "Now, Old Zhu should be able to easily beat that big black dog!"

    Recently, he had been terribly bullied by that big black dog. Now, he could finally hold his head high.

    The other three remained solemn, the divine aura gradually fading from their eyes.

    The ancient gods present were still in shock, unable to recover from the awe-inspiring scene they had just witnessed.

    ShenleiThat was a Great Venerable! A full-force attack from a Great Venerable had been effortlessly neutralized.

    Everyone present was silent and astonished. Was this the power of a god?

    It was clear that it wasn¡¯t!

    Although they had never seen myth-level divine techniques before, they knew they couldn''t be this exaggerated.

    That was a true full-force strike from a Great Venerable. Even if these four were only at the first or second step of godhood and had awakened the seeds of divine domains, they shouldn¡¯t have been able to withstand it.

    The scene before them defied their understanding.

    No wonder the Origin Heavenly Venerable dared to come to Cai Country; he must have already had a plan and was confident in his victory.

    In their hearts, the image of the Origin Heavenly Venerable became even more majestic.

    At that moment, a voice echoed, reaching the ears of all the ancient gods present.

    "A qualified NPC can¡¯t just be shocked all the time; that¡¯s how you get left behind by the times. It¡¯s important to have a skill. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be out of a job before you¡¯re thirty-five. Chef? Musician? Mourner? Which one do you want to learn? I can teach you! These three are especially easy to find jobs in, so you won¡¯t have to worry about being left behind by the times."

    The ancient gods were stunned, and the shock in their hearts vanished instantly.

    The elder twin sister looked at Qi Yuan, a face full of helplessness. "My lord, we should hurry and escape. If that Great Venerable catches up, it will be a deadly battle!"

    The other ancient gods quickly nodded in agreement.

    The full-force strike of the Great Venerable had been blocked, but if the Great Venerable chased them with hundreds of evil gods, they would still be in a dire situation.

    "We can leave, but what about Thunderbolt Great Venerable?" Qi Yuan thought for a moment, then decided there was no need to worry about Thunderbolt Great Venerable. As long as the old man wasn''t too out of his mind, he would likely return after discovering what had happened in the capital of Cai Country.

    "Let¡¯s go."

    The group transformed into a stream of light, heading back to Qing Shui Village.

    Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, an old man wearing a golden mask with strange patterns etched on it stood. Through the mask, his cold eyes were visible.

    "My strike... was blocked?" He was somewhat surprised, perhaps even shocked.

    The opponents were merely Venerables, yet the four of them had joined forces and blocked his attack. How could he not be surprised?

    "Shall we pursue them?" asked a new god at the third step to heaven, his eyes anxious. After all, they couldn¡¯t just watch as those ancient gods escaped.

    Although they didn¡¯t understand how those ancient gods had managed to block a strike from the Great Venerable, their camp had plenty of true gods. Under the command of the camp leader, they could easily annihilate those ancient gods.

    "No," the camp leader replied, his voice firm.

    Something was strange about this situation.

    Each of those true gods had divine domain seeds, which was simply too unbelievable.

    True gods of that caliber would be nurtured carefully, so why would they suddenly appear in the fallen zone as assassins?

    There was something fishy going on; it might even be a trap aimed at him.

    His lieutenant was disappointed, feeling that he had missed out on a sure victory. If the Great Venerable had made a move, he was confident he could have captured those twenty ancient gods.

    The camp leader looked at his lieutenant and narrowed his eyes. "You take a few true gods and capture them."

    "Huh?" The lieutenant was stunned.

    Was he serious?

    Was he really sending him?

    ...

    On the wide road, divine beings occasionally flew by.

    At a roadside tavern, a sign was posted today.

    "Buy three drinks, get three free."

    A burly figure stopped in front of the tavern, sniffing the air deeply.

    A rich, fragrant aroma filled his nose.

    "A grand drink is in order before doing great deeds!" the burly figure thought. "Innkeeper, bring me three jars of your best wine!"

    "Coming right up!"

    The burly figure sat down, his eyes flashing with hints of purple lightning. "It seems fate is on my side. If I hadn¡¯t gotten lost, I might have run into that Great Venerable."

    This burly figure was none other than Shenlei Great Venerable.

    Since leaving Qing Shui Village, he had been careful and discreet, hiding his identity while making his way to Cai Country to catch Zhang Feng off guard.

    On his way, he encountered an ancient god from the Ancient Gods Alliance and stopped to gather information.

    However, that ancient god had misled him, sending him down the wrong path and wasting his time.

    But this detour allowed him to avoid the battle between the Great Venerables.

    Not long ago, as he was making his way to Cai Country, he had seen the Great Venerables clashing in the sky from afar.

    In the past, he wouldn¡¯t have cared about such things. But now, heavily injured and needing to conceal his identity, he couldn¡¯t risk being detected by the Great Venerables.

    Fortunately, getting lost had delayed him just enough to miss the battle, which made him feel that fate was on his side.

    "I wonder which two Great Venerables were fighting," Thunderbolt Great Venerable pondered.

    But he quickly dismissed the thought. As long as it didn¡¯t interfere with his mission, it didn¡¯t matter.

    "Shenlei Great Venerable, where are you now? I¡¯ve found the Thunderwood you needed."

    Shenlei Great Venerable was dumbfounded by the sudden barrage of greetings.

    What did they mean by eight myths?

    Who had visualized eight myths?

    His disciple?

    He was utterly confused.

    Could it be...

    A terrifying thought crept into his mind.

    At that moment, Li Shan Great Venerable finally replied, "Shenlei Great Venerable, you¡¯re still alive? That¡¯s great! You... should return quickly."

    In the group chat, Li Shan Great Venerable didn¡¯t elaborate.

    He still needed to keep Shenlei Great Venerable and Qing Shui Village¡¯s situation hidden from the evil gods.

    After all, those eight mythical gods had not yet fully grown.

    If exposed, the evil god¡¯s army might try to crush them in their infancy.

    Hearing Li Shan Great Venerable¡¯s words, Shenlei Great Venerable was filled with a thousand questions.

    He wanted to ask more, but realizing there were other ancient gods in the chat, he held back his curiosity.

    Exiting the chat group Shenlei Great Venerable furrowed his brow, still deep in thought. "Eight myths... could it really be him?"

    If it was... that would be incredibly shocking.

    "Could that kid really be a genius?"

    If it was him, it would make sense.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t want to see him die, so he had come and killed Zhang Feng himself.

    "How is he bolder than I am!" Shenlei Great Venerable slapped his thigh. "This is too reckless!"

    He was extremely worried.

    Qi Yuan was far too reckless. He had just visualized eight myths and was already launching a full-scale attack?

    This must have caught the attention of the evil gods.

    This was bad news.

    ...

    In Feiwu City, several figures landed.

    Qi Yuan looked at the city¡¯s inhabitants still feasting and turned to the ancient gods around him.

    "After working so hard, you must be tired. Go enjoy the feast and replenish your energy."

    The ancient gods exchanged glances.

    "My lord, shouldn¡¯t we discuss how to deal with the evil gods?" the younger twin sister blurted out, speaking her mind.

    Now, after a long march and the assassination of Zhang Feng, they were certainly impressive, but they must have caught the attention of the evil god¡¯s camp.

    The evil god¡¯s camp would surely begin increasing its forces to surround and kill them.

    After all, even without considering the mythical gods, the mere fact that there were over twenty gods with divine domain seeds was enough to make the evil gods take them seriously.

    "You¡¯re right!" Qi Yuan nodded earnestly.

    This made the ancient gods breathe a sigh of relief. Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t entirely unreliable.

    "Now that Qing Shui Village¡¯s strength has increased by at least tenfold, we can¡¯t just sit back and wait. We should take the initiative and fight to grow stronger!" Qi Yuan said, his mind spinning with ideas. "It seems it¡¯s time to put my brilliant mind to work and come up with a brand new battle plan!"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words left the ancient gods bewildered again.

    Shouldn¡¯t they be thinking about how to respond to the evil god¡¯s attack? Should they flee, hide, or engage in guerrilla warfare?

    How... how had they ended up talking about taking the initiative to attack?

    Wasn¡¯t this just asking for trouble!

    "My lord... isn¡¯t this a bit hasty?" the elder twin sister couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    The elder twin sister¡¯s thoughts were shared by the other ancient gods. Now was the time to avoid battle if possible.

    The gains they had made in the Ancestor Land were already substantial.

    They needed to quickly use those resources to enhance their power.

    Especially the eight true gods who had obtained the myth-level visualization techniques; they needed to be quickly pushed to the Great Venerable level.

    Only then would Qing Shui Village¡¯s strength be truly formidable.

    "Not hasty at all." Qi Yuan shook his head. "I¡¯ve had many enemies who dragged things out, taking decades to deal with a simple matter. In the end, I wiped them all out!"

    Take the Black Mountain Sect, for instance. Qi Yuan had suspected they wanted to invade Earth and dig up his ancestors'' graves.

    But the Black Mountain Sect had taken their time, never making a move, which had kept Qi Yuan up at night, leading him to come up with a plan to destroy them overnight by flying his spirit boat into their base.

    The same went for the Bright Palace.

    They had constantly targeted Qi Yuan, demanding that the Shang Dynasty hand him over along with Kang Fuluo.

    What fools! If Qi Yuan had been in the Bright Palace¡¯s position, he wouldn¡¯t have set any deadlines¡ªhe would have destroyed Qi Yuan immediately.

    That way, he wouldn¡¯t have given Qi Yuan time to grow stronger.

    In Earth¡¯s history, if Qi Yuan had been a general of the Yuan Dynasty, he would have taken his ten thousand soldiers and smashed the begging bowl of Zhu Yuanzhang.

    "The longer we wait, the more variables will arise. So... we must act with lightning speed to eliminate the surrounding evil gods!" Qi Yuan spoke with conviction, his logic sound.

    The ancient gods around him were dumbfounded.

    "I have a new plan, and it¡¯s called... ¡®Three Days... to Slay a Hundred Gods!¡¯"

    Seeing that the others seemed moved by his words, Qi Yuan quickly seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.

 Chapter 212: The Furious Dusk Venerable

    Chapter 212: The Furious Dusk Venerable

    Silence.

    All the ancient gods present were silent.

    The plan to "Destroy a Hundred Gods in Three Days" was simply too shocking.

    Previously, the evil god''s camps might have hesitated, perhaps observing the situation or coordinating with other camps before launching an attack on Qing Shui Village.

    But once Qi Yuan launched the "Destroy a Hundred Gods in Three Days" plan, it would undoubtedly drag the entire fallen zone into the flames of war.

    The Great Venerables of the evil god''s camps would no longer sit idly by.

    At that point, a true god war would break out! A relentless, ongoing god war.

    "My lord, this will ignite a god war!" one of the ancient gods said with difficulty.

    The ancient gods were certain that after the "Destroy a Hundred Gods in Three Days" plan, the evil god''s camp would unite within two days and march on Qing Shui Village.

    At that point, their power would be insufficient to counter the evil gods.

    "A god war is great! Every day, we''d rake in vast amounts of evil god spiritual power¡ªwhat a profit!" Qi Yuan clapped his hands in approval.

    The other ancient gods exchanged looks.

    Sure, it''d be a huge profit, but they''d need to stay alive to enjoy it.

    "Don¡¯t worry, my plan is foolproof! You just need to follow my instructions, and the evil gods will be defeated!" Qi Yuan said confidently.

    The ancient gods hesitated.

    Then Zhu Zhuangshi spoke up, "What are you hesitating for? Acting like some timid false gods! I, Old Zhu, am the first to support the lord''s plan!"

    Shi Chongshan quickly added, "I support it too!"

    "Whatever happens, happens. I don¡¯t believe the lord would lead us to ruin!" said Gu Shen, the Pine Tree Ancient God.

    With that, the remaining ancient gods finally voiced no objections.

    At this point, the elder twin sister lowered her head, "Please, Heavenly Venerable, reveal the plan so we can carry it out!"

    Everyone else looked at Qi Yuan as well. Since they had chosen to serve him, they would follow his orders.

    "Xiao Qi!" Qi Yuan called out.

    Within about a hundred heartbeats, Qi Qi rushed over, out of breath. "Godfather, you¡¯re back?"

    Qi Qi glanced at Qi Yuan and the many ancient gods behind him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, though it quickly faded.

    "Xiao Qi, how many true gods are left in Lin Country?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "There are 43 left, five of them at the third step to heaven. The numbers at the second and first steps are unclear," Qi Qi answered earnestly.

    "Is that all?" Qi Yuan sounded disappointed.

    The number of evil gods in Lin Country was underwhelming.

    "The first step of the ¡®Destroy a Hundred Gods in Three Days¡¯ plan: You twenty ancient gods with divine domain seeds, after you finish eating, head to each city in Lin Country and kill all these evil gods for me!" Instantly, Qi Yuan''s meticulous plan was already a third complete.

    "......"

    "......"

    Silence.

    The ancient gods were at a loss for words. Even Gu Shen, the Pine Tree Ancient God''s beard twitched slightly.

    This plan seemed rather haphazard.

    Qi Yuan seemed tired of talking and picked up the water on the table, taking a sip. "The first day''s plan is set. Now let''s move on to the second day. Xiao Qi, what¡¯s the nearest country to Lin Country? How many evil gods are there?"

    "The nearest is Feng Country, which has seventy-two evil gods," Qi Qi answered seriously.

    As Qing Shui Village¡¯s chief strategist and head of logistics, she handled all the dirty and tedious work. She had already gathered this information for Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan frowned, "It seems there are more evil gods in Feng Country. Killing only forty on the first day seems like a waste, and it might scare away the evil gods in Feng Country! I think we should scrap the previous plan and start over!"

    The ancient gods fell silent again.

    This all seemed rather childish.

    But at least the plan was being reworked. After all, the first day¡¯s plan didn¡¯t sound... very reliable.

    "I think the three-day plan should be condensed into a one-day plan. Now, you should immediately start by sweeping through Lin Country and Feng Country, slaughtering all these evil gods!" Qi Yuan said passionately.

    The citizens in front of him each possessed divine domain seeds. When facing anyone below the level of Great Venerable, they could basically achieve instant kills.

    Given that, it made sense to act quickly and wipe out all those evil gods.

    If they moved too slowly, following a three-day plan, the evil gods might catch wind and flee.

    What was most intriguing was that when Qi Yuan was visualizing in the mountain, he had conducted a small experiment.

    Among the Beidou Four Saints, Tianyou Marshal was actually the deputy marshal.

    During visualization, Qi Yuan used his Stellar Gold Elixir to forget the concept of "deputy" and visualized him as the main marshal.

    And the Tianyou Marshal in the visualization method turned out to be the main marshal.

    That was interesting.

    These gods might differ significantly across various versions, including their identities, status, and power.

    But the visualization always followed Qi Yuan¡¯s memory.

    At that time, Qi Yuan had a sudden idea¡ªwhat if he made something up from scratch?

    Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t work.

    So, visualization wasn¡¯t pure imagination; it needed a foundation in reality.

    Qi Yuan looked at Zhu Zhuangshi, "You don¡¯t need to join today¡¯s one-day plan. I have another task for you."

    Zhu Zhuangshi was thrilled.

    The Lord was giving him special treatment!

    "Lord, please feel free to give Old Zhu any orders!" Zhu Zhuangshi said excitedly.

    He smugly looked at Shi Chongshan and the big black dog on the ground, as if to say, "See? This is what it means to be the favorite."

    Half a day later.

    In one of the Ancient Gods Alliance¡¯s strongholds.

    Rain continuously fell as a man in white hurried in, his face full of anxiety.

    Pushing open the door, he entered the hall, bringing a blast of cold air. The three Venerables inside looked at him with mixed emotions.

    "What¡¯s going on?" asked Venerable Wanshan, frowning.

    "Lord, those ancient gods have killed another new god. Today, all the evil gods in the three cities nearby were slaughtered!" the man in white reported urgently.

    This should have been good news, but his face was full of worry.

    "Who are these ancient gods, and why are they so strong?" Venerable Wanshan asked.

    Venerable Wen Yang shook his head, sighing, "Sigh, while it¡¯s satisfying to see them slaughtering evil gods, their actions will drag Feng Country into war. It won¡¯t be long before the evil god¡¯s camp retaliates, sweeping through Feng Country. Our hard-earned stronghold may be collateral damage, and the people of Feng Country... will likely suffer a bloody massacre."

    "Why be so pessimistic, Venerable Wen Yang? Even if they didn¡¯t step up to kill the evil gods, do you think the evil gods would have spared us?" Dusk Venerable finally spoke up. "No matter what, I respect them for daring to kill evil gods!"

    Venerable Wanshan agreed with Venerable Wen Yang, "What a pity. With such strength, why didn¡¯t they lie low, as we in the Ancient Gods Alliance do, planning carefully and thinking of the bigger picture? Sure, they¡¯ve killed some evil gods, but they¡¯re just small fry. This doesn¡¯t solve the fundamental problem of the fallen zone. There are three evil god camps around us. Once their Great Venerables make a move, they¡¯ll have no place to bury themselves!"

    Dusk Venerable was infuriated by this.

    Someone else was out there killing evil gods, and they were sitting here making sarcastic remarks?

    Killing small fry?

    You¡¯ve been in the Ancient Gods Alliance for centuries, always talking about the bigger picture, and what have you accomplished? You haven¡¯t even killed a small fry!

    "If the evil god camp makes a move, the Ancient Gods Alliance can go to their aid, giving them a hand!" Dusk Venerable declared.

    Venerable Wanshan laughed, "Dusk Venerable, you¡¯re being impulsive. Their actions have already exposed them. The evil god¡¯s camp won¡¯t let them go. Once they act, those ancient gods will be dead! There¡¯s no need for us to sacrifice our own people for the sake of some dead men. I¡¯ve just received word that these ancient gods claim to be from Qing Shui Village, under someone called the Origin Heavenly Venerable. Why haven¡¯t I heard of this village? Did they grow strong through some stroke of luck? Sigh, they were too reckless. If they gained such fortune, they should have hidden away. Their impulsiveness is a death sentence. Those fortunes would have been better off in the hands of the Ancient Gods Alliance, where they could be put to better use. They¡¯re wasting the treasures of Fanxin Realm, and in the end, all they¡¯ve done is kill some small fry."

    "Hmph! I¡¯m ashamed to be associated with you!" Dusk Venerable could no longer hold back. "If you won¡¯t help, I will!"

    Dusk Venerable had met Origin Heavenly Venerable before.

    At the time, Origin Heavenly Venerable had invited him to become one of his people, but Dusk Venerable had declined.

    Now, it seemed that had been a mistake.

    The Ancient Gods Alliance was full of people who were just occupying their positions without doing anything.

    Did these people even hear themselves?

    Spouting grand ideals, always talking about the greater good and weighing the benefits, yet mocking the ancient gods who dared to challenge the evil gods?

    Dusk Venerable swept out of the room.

    Venerable Wanshan and Venerable Wen Yang were taken aback.

    They were furious at Dusk Venerable¡¯s words.

    "A bunch of short-sighted brutes, only knowing how to fight and kill!"

    "Why bother with Dusk Venerable? When the god war breaks out, those are the first people who¡¯ll die!"

    Venerable Wanshan took a deep breath, looking as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, "It¡¯s all for the realm, for its survival."

    "Dusk Venerable is just a second-step Venerable. If he leaves the Ancient Gods Alliance, he¡¯s nothing." Venerable Wen Yang said. But then, in the next breath, his expression changed, "That Dusk Venerable has gone too far! He¡¯s calling for support for Qing Shui Village!"

 Chapter 213: Listening to Music in the Pavilion

    Chapter 213: Listening to Music in the Pavilion

    In the communication area of the Ancient God Alliance.

    The Dusk Venerable expressed his frustration and said, "Right now, the top generals under the Origin Heavenly Venerable are sweeping through Feng and Lin Countries. This will definitely draw the attention of the evil god camps! I am willing to go to Lin Country to assist the Origin Heavenly Venerable. Who will join me?"

    "So it was the Origin Heavenly Venerable behind today¡¯s grand show. I''ll go too!"

    "Who is this Origin Heavenly Venerable? This action seems unwise."

    "They''re just showing off. Once the evil god camps mobilize, they¡¯ll all die. Supporting them now is just throwing our lives away!"

    "They eliminated the evil gods, and you call that showing off? We''ve been hiding like turtles, so what kind of show are we putting on?"

    "We in the Ancient God Alliance can¡¯t eradicate the evil gods in Lin and Feng Countries? Why didn¡¯t we do it? We endured for the sake of the bigger picture! Is that also wrong?"

    "If all the ancient gods in the Ancient God Alliance go to assist the Origin Heavenly Venerable, even the evil god camps would have a hard time dealing with us!"

    "We should be developing quietly. Starting a war lightly will drag the Ancient God Alliance and the entire Fanxin Realm into a disaster."

    "We keep retreating, and retreating... What, should we wait until the evil gods are at our door before we start resisting?"

    The group was filled with debate, with different ancient gods expressing their opinions.

    After half an hour of heated discussion.

    Under a locust tree, the Dusk Venerable sighed deeply.

    Surrounding him were nearly twenty ancient gods.

    These twenty or so ancient gods had voluntarily left the Ancient God Alliance, intending to go to Qing Shui Village to support the Origin Heavenly Venerable.

    At this moment, these ancient gods were full of righteous zeal, ready to face death.

    "Dusk Venerable, we should get going," said the Fire Lotus Venerable, her voice gentle like a southern maiden.Updated chapters at novelhall.com

    "We''ve waited long enough. Those who were meant to come have arrived. The others have made their own choices; there''s no need to wait any longer," another ancient god said, with a tone of resignation.

    The Ancient God Alliance had over three hundred ancient gods, yet only about twenty had come.

    Not even a tenth.

    But this was to be expected.

    Going to support Qing Shui Village meant facing the evil god camps¡¯ assault.

    With their current strength, they had little hope of withstanding an attack from the evil god camps.

    At this point, the Fire Lotus Venerable asked the Dusk Venerable, "You are most familiar with the Origin Heavenly Venerable. Do you know why Qing Shui Village suddenly gained so much power and why they suddenly attacked the evil gods in Feng and Lin Countries?"

    As soon as she asked, the other ancient gods also looked at the Dusk Venerable.

    They were all very curious about this.

    Qing Shui Village was a previously unknown place, and suddenly it had produced several true gods who dared to challenge the surrounding evil gods.

    It was astonishing and hard to comprehend.

    Even the evil gods probably hadn''t anticipated this.

    The Dusk Venerable frowned and pondered before saying, "The Origin Heavenly Venerable... once visualized twenty-one legendary-level visualization techniques!"

    Facing these ancient gods who were willing to go to Qing Shui Village, the Dusk Venerable decided to trust them.

    "What? That peerless genius was him!" The usually calm Fire Lotus Venerable showed a look of shock.

    Back then, the story of an ancient god who had visualized twenty-one legendary-level visualization techniques had shocked the entire Fanxin Realm.

    Almost all the ancient gods in the Ancient God Alliance had heard of it.

    They had assumed it was a peerless prodigy from the southern region.

    They never expected it to be someone from the fallen zone.

    "If that''s the case, it makes sense," the ancient gods murmured among themselves.

    At this moment, one ancient god suddenly had a thought.

    "Could the eight mythological beings who appeared in the visualization land recently... also be his work?" the ancient god said, his voice trembling.

    Visualizing twenty-one legendary techniques was already extremely rare.

    Eight mythological beings? That was unheard of.

    The odds that these were the same person were low, but it was possible.

    "I don''t know," the Dusk Venerable shook his head.

    "If it is him... then I think those old fellows in the alliance were right. We should develop quietly and accumulate strength," one of the ancient gods couldn¡¯t help but say.

    "They call it quiet development, but what have they developed? They¡¯re just being cowards!"

    The ancient gods debated heatedly.

    The Dusk Venerable¡¯s eyes grew firm. "If he really visualized eight mythological beings, then we must protect him at all costs!"

    The other ancient gods nodded in agreement.

    The evil god camps were indeed powerful, but that didn''t mean Qing Shui Village was already doomed.

    ...

    Half a day passed in the blink of an eye.

    The Shenlei Venerable had already returned to Feiwu City and even visited Qing Shui Village.

    Now, he was gritting his teeth, glaring at the big black dog beside him. "Couldn''t you have stopped the Origin Heavenly Venerable?"

    The big black dog trembled, feeling deeply wronged.

    Today was a particularly bad day for it.

    "Lord, have you been here before?" Zhu Zhuangshi asked, surprised.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s origins had always been a mystery.

    The villagers of Qing Shui Village and other ancient gods had often speculated about Qi Yuan¡¯s identity in ancient times.

    "Yes, I once traveled the world with an extraordinary woman. She said this was her birthplace. It used to be a bamboo forest, but now they¡¯ve built a pavilion."

    Qi Yuan sighed, feeling the passage of time.

    Long ago, the Foodless Mother had brought Qi Yuan to Xiaojiang Mountain. She had taken a bamboo stalk, made it into a fishing rod, and fished with Qi Yuan.

    The Foodless Mother had once murmured that she wished she had been born a few tens of thousands of years later.

    "If it¡¯s a place you¡¯ve been to, why not revisit it?" Zhu Zhuangshi suggested tactfully.

    He had followed Qi Yuan out to do great things.

    But he wasn¡¯t in a hurry.

    "Yes, it¡¯s a teahouse now. Let¡¯s have a look around," Qi Yuan said casually. "There seems to be a treasure inside. We can grab it on the way."

    Though it was called a teahouse, it was far from ordinary.

    There were performances of singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments, all under one roof.

    Before they even entered, a voluptuous woman greeted them with a wide smile.

    "Are you here to listen to music or watch dancing? Would you like a private room?" the woman asked, her eyes lingering on Zhu Zhuangshi with a knowing smile.

    "A private room," Qi Yuan replied.

    "Very well!" The woman smiled so broadly her chest almost shook with laughter.

    As they entered the pavilion, a sweet fragrance filled the air. In the center of the pavilion, seventeen graceful young women danced.

    They wore gauzy robes, their slender waists swaying, their lotus-like steps light and graceful, each smile full of allure.

    Zhu Zhuangshi couldn¡¯t take his eyes off them.

    The other patrons also clapped softly, admiring the girls'' enchanting dance.

    It was hard to imagine such decadence in the fallen zone.

    Perhaps knowing that the future was bleak, these cultivators were indulging in every pleasure.

    Madam Liu led the way, her gaze tinged with curiosity.

    She couldn¡¯t gauge the strength of these two guests.

    But the burly one, no matter how well he hid it, she could sense that he was at least at the peak of the Purple Mansion level, maybe even an ancient god.

    What were they doing in Hua Ye City?

    Madam Liu couldn¡¯t figure it out, but she dared not ask.

    How many ancient gods still served the Fanxin Realm?

    Most were now lackeys.

    They couldn¡¯t expose themselves, as they were all members of the Foodless Sect.

    "Would you like any of the girls to play the zither or sing?" Madam Liu asked with a smile.

    With a wave of her hand, images of over a dozen young women appeared in the air.

    Each one was stunning, with charming expressions, not just enhanced by beauty filters.

    Alongside each girl floated a brief description.

    Some specialized in playing the zither, others in playing the flute, while some excelled in both dance and song.

    Qi Yuan scanned the images but didn¡¯t find what he was looking for. He asked, "Who can play the suona?"

    Madam Liu was momentarily taken aback. "You have a unique taste."

    It wasn¡¯t uncommon for customers here to have peculiar preferences.

    But asking for a suona was indeed unusual, if not rare.

    It was like hiring two comedians to perform at a funeral.

    "Whenever the suona plays, I feel like killing. I¡¯m about to kill someone, so I need someone who can play it," Qi Yuan said nonchalantly.

    The smile on Madam Liu¡¯s face froze.

    Killing?

    She knew that something big was about to happen.

    These two guests were clearly not ordinary people.

    "There¡¯s a new god overseeing this area. You might want to think twice before doing anything," Madam Liu hinted cautiously.

    "Who can play the suona?" Qi Yuan ignored her warning and repeated his question.

    "Xiao Xing studied the suona for a while," Madam Liu replied, seeing no other option.

    "Then let¡¯s have her." Qi Yuan sat by the window, where he could see the graceful dancers below.

    "Please wait a moment."

    Madam Liu left the room and went to another chamber.

    "Xiao Xing, there are two guests in Room Seventeen. Pay close attention and see if you can find out their identities," Madam Liu instructed.

    As a follower of the Foodless Sect, she was especially interested in mysterious figures like Qi Yuan and Zhu Zhuangshi.

    "Try to find out who they intend to kill," Madam Liu added. "But most importantly, prioritize your safety."

    Xiao Xing, dressed in a light yellow gown, nodded. "Understood, Madam Liu."

 Chapter 214: The Thunder Strikes

    Chapter 214: The Thunder Strikes

    "Sigh, we''ve been rooted here for over a hundred years, yet the information we''ve been able to gather and send out has been very limited," Madam Liu said, disappointment clear in her voice.

    They had established themselves in the fallen zone to gather and relay intelligence to the ancient gods. Unfortunately, after so many years, the amount of valuable information they had managed to transmit was minimal. Worse, many of their sisters had died in the process. At times, Madam Liu questioned whether their efforts were worth the sacrifices.

    "Madam Liu, no matter the outcome, as long as we do our part, that''s all that matters. Our job is to pass on information; it''s up to those powerful beings to slay the evil gods!" Xiao Xing said with determination.

    Madam Liu gave a resigned smile. "It¡¯s just that after being in the fallen zone for centuries, not only has the situation not improved, but it has also worsened. I can¡¯t help but feel disheartened."

    The two exchanged words for a while longer. After Madam Liu gave her final instructions, Xiao Xing took her suona and headed to the private room where Qi Yuan was waiting.

    Xiao Xing approached with a curious expression. After all, it was nearly unheard of for someone to request suona music in a place like this.

    "Are you sure you want to hear the suona?" Xiao Xing asked cautiously.

    "Yes," Qi Yuan replied, glancing at Xiao Xing before directing his gaze toward the main hall, where an evil god was hiding his aura, seemingly plotting something. This evil god was in possession of a treasure infused with the divine power of the Foodless Mother.

    The mournful and bleak sound of the suona began to fill the room.

    Zhu Zhuangshi glanced at the evil god hidden in the hall and sent a transmission to Qi Yuan, "My lord, should we take action?"

    Qi Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at Xiao Xing''s delicate face. "Why involve these innocent NPCs?" Qi Yuan said.

    When he had entered the pavilion, his Stellar Gold Core had been subtly influencing everyone. Aside from Madam Liu and Xiao Xing, no one else even realized Qi Yuan was there.

    Zhu Zhuangshi looked ashamed. "I was too hasty."

    "It¡¯s fine. We have plenty of opportunities. Let''s enjoy the suona performance first, then we can get to work," Qi Yuan replied.

    Inside the pavilion, Qi Yuan leisurely drank tea while listening to the suona. Xiao Xing seemed to get into the rhythm, not only playing the suona but also dancing gracefully as she played, her movements enchanting and full of life. The melancholy notes of the suona seemed to blend seamlessly with her graceful dance, echoing the sorrowful backdrop of the Fanxin Realm.

    Meanwhile, on a mountain outside Hua Ye City, a man wearing a golden silk mask showed a look of surprise.

    "That group actually made a move against the evil gods of Feng and Lin Countries, killing dozens of new gods?"

    The man was genuinely shocked upon hearing this. He had previously clashed with that group, and although he had held back to conserve his strength and avoid any unexpected incidents, he hadn¡¯t expected that group to be so audacious as to slaughter the new gods of Feng and Lin Countries. This was clearly provoking their camp to take action.

    "Commander, Feng and Lin Countries are in crisis. Should we send troops to assist?" his subordinate asked cautiously.

    "Send troops? Would they even make it in time?" the masked man shook his head.

    The subordinate nodded but then hesitantly added, "The Twilight Venerable just sent word, asking us to be the first to attack those rogue ancient gods since we¡¯re the closest."

    The masked man shook his head again. "No need. I won¡¯t act until our coalition is fully assembled. Otherwise, it¡¯ll just be my men dying, and everyone else sharing the credit. There''s no point in that. Besides, those ancient gods are like fish in a barrel; they won¡¯t escape. There¡¯s no rush."

    The masked man was confident in his position. In his view, the Fanxin Realm was inevitably destined to fall under the dominion of the new gods. No matter how much the enemy struggled, it was merely a last gasp before the end. The outcome was already determined, and his priority was to preserve his forces and maximize his gains.

    "Let them live one more day," the masked man said with a relaxed tone.

    "Understood."

    "By the way, how is the investigation into the Foodless Sect going?" the masked man asked.

    The fallen zone was known to harbor many followers of the Foodless Mother in hiding.

    "So far, the Red Leaf Pavilion is the most suspicious. We¡¯ve already sent a true god to investigate," the subordinate responded.

    "Why bother investigating? Just destroy them outright. This is the Fanxin Realm; the lives of these people are nothing but expendable," the masked man said coldly.

    "Understood!" The subordinate quickly complied.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan was still enjoying the suona performance, savoring the tea and watching the girl''s dance, feeling rather pleased.

    "No wonder so many people love going to such places. It¡¯s truly... refined!" Qi Yuan mused.

    However, just as he was lost in thought, the door to the room burst open. Madam Liu rushed in, her face full of urgency and an apologetic expression.

    "Esteemed guests, an emergency has arisen at Red Leaf Pavilion, and I must take Xiao Xing away!" Madam Liu said hastily.

    She had just received news that an evil god was planning to attack Red Leaf Pavilion. She needed to get the followers of the Foodless Sect out of there immediately, or they would be killed, and it would be a gruesome death.

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan waved his hand, and Madam Liu¡¯s body froze in place.

    "Good times always end too quickly."

    "Xiao Xing, don''t worry. Finish the suona piece, and the spell on her will be lifted."

    Without the suona music, Qi Yuan felt it would detract from the significance of the task he was about to undertake.

    Xiao Xing, though terrified, continued playing the suona as instructed.

    "Let¡¯s go, time to get to work," Qi Yuan said, standing up. He and Zhu Zhuangshi then vanished in a flash of light.

    In the air, faint whispers could be heard.

    "My lord, I think we forgot to pay."

    "Hmm... do you have any money?"

    "...No."

    "Don¡¯t worry. We were just here to have a chat with the young ladies, not to indulge in anything. No payment needed, and no need to worry about getting into trouble. If the authorities ask, just say we were here to collect old phones."

    "???"

    As the suona music continued, Xiao Xing looked at Madam Liu with growing concern.

    "Madam Liu, what¡¯s wrong?" She tried many ways to free her, but none worked.

    Qi Yuan looked at the evil god, a smile forming on his handsome face, making him appear even more eerie under the purple light.

    "I¡¯m just here to fish."

    Knowing that slaughtering the evil gods of Feng and Lin Countries would provoke a response from the evil god camps, Qi Yuan had a simple solution: wipe out the camps before they could retaliate.

    So, Qi Yuan had brought Zhu Zhuangshi to Hua Ye City and used a Taiyin Thunder Pearl to destroy the evil god camp.

    In the ancestral land, Qi Yuan had obtained a bottle of Taiyin Thunder Pearls.

    These were used for fishing.

    There were eight pearls, each capable of killing a Venerable-level fish.

    This time, Qi Yuan had used one on Wuqiong Mountain, limiting its range to ensure the camp was completely obliterated.

    Not a single evil god had escaped.

    "And you, a stray fish, must die too," Qi Yuan said softly as his sword flashed out, instantly cutting down the evil god trapped in the embryonic divine domain.

    All the cultivators in Hua Ye City who witnessed this were stunned, their hearts filled with shock, fear, or excitement.

    Xiao Xing was frozen in place, staring at the magnificent figure in the sky, her eyes reddening. "It was him... the guest... he destroyed Wuqiong Mountain!"

    She remembered what Madam Liu had said, that the guest wanted to kill someone and needed to hear the suona first.

    The people he killed were the hundreds of evil gods from Wuqiong Mountain.

    And the suona they listened to was the one she played.

    Her heart was filled with a mix of excitement and complex emotions. If she had known, she would have played even harder, putting her all into it.

    Only then would she have been worthy of the guest¡¯s righteous slaughter of the evil gods.

    "People of Hua Ye City, hello. I was just here to fish. Keep eating your meals and flirting with your girls. Don¡¯t mind me. Next time I come by, I¡¯ll treat you all to a feast."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed throughout Hua Ye City.

    After speaking, he and Zhu Zhuangshi vanished in a flash of light.

    There were other evil god camps nearby, and Qi Yuan needed to hurry before they learned of what had happened here and scattered. Otherwise, he would lose a lot of profit.

    The figures in the sky disappeared, but the purple light still bathed the city.

    Everyone who heard the voice was left in awe, their hearts filled with a sense of wonder that would linger for a lifetime.

    ...

    Qing Shui Village.

    Night had fallen.

    Shenlei Venerable looked at the few ancient gods before him, seething with anger.

    "You¡¯ve got some nerve, wiping out the evil gods of Feng and Lin Countries!"

    The ancient gods who had carried out the one-day plan to slaughter a hundred gods had just returned.

    The Thunder God Venerable was furious, scolding them as soon as they met.

    It was as if he were blaming them for not stopping Qi Yuan.

    The younger twin sister, known for her fiery temper, wasn¡¯t one to back down. "Why don¡¯t you go talk to the Lord when he gets back?"

    Convincing Qi Yuan? They knew they couldn¡¯t do it.

    Shenlei Venerable was furious. "Where¡¯s Qi Yuan? Why isn¡¯t he back yet?"

    He was really worried.

    At dusk, the Dusk Venerable had arrived with a group of true gods to offer support, but they hadn¡¯t even seen Qi Yuan.

    Shenlei Venerable and the others had spent half an hour discussing their plan.

    They had decided to hold off the evil god camps at all costs, allowing Qi Yuan and the eight gods who had mastered myth-level divine visualization techniques to escape to the North Sea Divine Eye.

    They were ready to sacrifice themselves, just waiting for Qi Yuan to return.

    But while the other ancient gods had come back, Qi Yuan was still missing.

    Shenlei Venerable couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious.

    "Don¡¯t worry, the Lord is wise. He won¡¯t put himself in danger," the Ancient God of Wangsong reassured him.

    He had unwavering faith in Qi Yuan.

    "If he doesn¡¯t come back soon, the next to arrive in Flying Dance City will be the evil god camp!" Shenlei Venerable said, exasperated.

    Qi Yuan was too unreliable, making him worry constantly.

    He had thought he was reckless, but compared to Qi Yuan, he was nothing!

    Qi Yuan was the epitome of recklessness!

    Just after returning from the ancestral land, he had gone to hunt down Zhang Feng. After killing Zhang Feng, he had a meal and then set off on a thousand-mile journey to slaughter over a hundred true gods in Feng and Lin Countries.

    Now, if someone told Shenlei Venerable that Qi Yuan was off attacking an evil god camp, he would believe it.

 Chapter 215: New Followers

    Chapter 215: New Followers

    In Flying Dance City, Shenlei Venerable was nearly jumping with anxiety. He desperately wanted to find Qi Yuan and send him to the North Sea Divine Eye.

    The Dusk Venerable stood nearby, his expression pensive. "The Origin Venerable has always been unconventional. Nothing he does surprises me anymore."

    At the Hundred Flowers Festival, the Dusk Venerable had already witnessed Qi Yuan''s unique approach. This distinctiveness, along with his willingness to challenge the evil gods and take the lead in battle, had earned the Dusk Venerable¡¯s respect.

    The Fire Lotus Venerable was equally curious. "I, too, would like to meet this extraordinary person."

    Who was this Qi Yuan, who had managed to visualize twenty-one legendary beings and eight mythological figures? Such a legendary ancient god could arguably stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest in the Fanxin Realm, like the Foodless Mother.

    The Fire Lotus Venerable, herself an ancient spirit, had never met the Foodless Mother, but she had heard of her deeds and deeply revered her. In a way, the Fire Lotus Venerable considered herself half a follower of the Foodless Sect.

    "Hey, old man Shenlei, you''re back?" Suddenly, a voice called out from the sky.

    Two figures appeared before the gathered group. All eyes turned to Qi Yuan, their gazes filled with surprise and respect. This was the legendary prodigy?

    "You brat, do you even realize how much trouble you''ve caused?" Shenlei Venerable scolded Qi Yuan angrily, "Get ready to head to the North Sea Divine Eye!"

    "The North Sea Divine Eye? What for?" Qi Yuan looked puzzled. "Old man Shenlei, stop making such a fuss. Just tell me what''s going on!"

    "What do you think, you idiot? It''s to escape, of course! Look at the mess you''ve made!" Shenlei Venerable was almost furious enough to explode. "You sent your men to wipe out the evil gods of Feng and Lin Countries. Sure, it was satisfying, but what happens next?"

    Shenlei Venerable pointed to the Twilight Venerable and the others. "These people have left the Ancient God Alliance to come to Qing Shui Village to support you, risking their lives in the process!"

    Only then did Qi Yuan turn his attention to the Twilight Venerable and the others. Qi Qi, who was beside him, quietly introduced them.

    After hearing Qi Qi¡¯s introductions, Qi Yuan''s expression softened. These ancient gods had left the safety of the Ancient God Alliance and journeyed all the way to Qing Shui Village¡ªhe couldn''t help but feel grateful for their support. Qi Yuan had never been one to withhold his gratitude from his friends.

    "Would you like to become my followers?" he asked the Dusk Venerable and the others.

    His question left the ancient gods from the Ancient God Alliance momentarily stunned. They had come to Qing Shui Village ready to sacrifice themselves, and now the Origin Venerable was asking if they wanted to become his followers. It was puzzling.

    Shenlei Venerable glared at Qi Yuan. "Why are you still obsessing over followers at a time like this? Get to the North Sea Divine Eye, or you''ll be dead meat when the evil god camps come after you!"

    The other ancient gods agreed. The priority now was to leave and head for the North Sea Divine Eye.

    Qi Yuan, however, shook his head. "The evil god camps won''t be coming."

    "What?" Shenlei Venerable was confused.

    "Just now, Zhu Zhuangshi and I took a little stroll and blew up four nearby evil god camps," Qi Yuan said casually, pulling out a bottle filled with what looked like firecrackers. "These firecrackers are pretty high quality, and they have a limited range. Unfortunately, there were only eight big ones, and I used four of them. From now on, I¡¯ll only be able to blow up smaller targets," he lamented.

    "Taiyin Thunder Pearls!" Shenlei Venerable¡¯s eyes widened.

    As a master of thunder techniques, Shenlei Venerable knew exactly what he was looking at. Those little beads were Taiyin Thunder Pearls. Even the fist-sized ones emitted an aura that made even Shenlei Venerable feel threatened.

    The other ancient gods were equally shocked, their divine energy instinctively circulating to protect their bodies.

    "I used four of the big ones to blow up four evil god camps," Qi Yuan said, putting the Taiyin Thunder Pearls away. "So, it''s unlikely that any more evil god camps will be coming after us. Everyone can just relax and enjoy the feast."

    Qi Yuan''s tone was lazy and relaxed.

    Since killing the evil gods of Feng and Lin Countries would attract the attention of the evil god camps, the solution was simple: eliminate the camps before they could react. With no camps left, Qing Shui Village could rest easy.

    Shenlei Venerable was speechless.

    The ancient gods from the Ancient God Alliance were equally at a loss for words. Qi Yuan never ceased to break their expectations.

    Shenlei Venerable took a deep breath, grumbling under his breath. "Whoever calls me reckless after this, I''ll be having words with them!"

    Reckless? Compared to Qi Yuan, he was nothing. Qi Yuan was the real deal when it came to boldness! Next to the Origin Venerable, Shenlei Venerable felt like a cautious coward.

    "So why would we go to the North Sea Divine Eye?" Qi Yuan asked again, looking around at everyone as he extended his invitation.

    "Do you want to become my followers? I have some small rewards for you."

    The Dusk Venerable sighed. Qi Yuan really was persistent about making others his followers. The first time they met, Qi Yuan had made the same offer.

    Before heading off with Zhu Zhuangshi to blow up the camps, Qi Yuan had carefully considered how to develop his forces. One crucial aspect was helping his followers, especially the Venerables, find a suitable path.

    What Qi Yuan needed most now was high-level combat power.

    For example, even with the myth-level divine visualization technique of the Celestial Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Zhuangshi¡¯s strength was still far behind that of the Venerable Qiong Hua, who had the legendary-level visualization of the Hundred Flowers Immortal.

    Of course, in terms of potential, Tianpeng Marshal¡¯s was higher.

    The paths of the Venerables were set. Unlike regular followers, they couldn¡¯t just pick and choose any divine visualization technique. Only those that aligned with their path as true gods would be useful.

    It was like Qiong Hua Venerable and the Hundred Flowers Immortal.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s idea was to have his true god followers write down the paths they were pursuing and the divine roles they aspired to. Then he could match each of them with a suitable divine visualization technique, speeding up their progress.

    "Here¡¯s the form!" Qi Qi waved her hand, and a stack of papers with a distinctly modern feel appeared, filled with questions.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the form, grabbed it, and then distributed it to everyone.

    "Fill out the form. I¡¯m going to eat. When I¡¯m done, hand them in. And don¡¯t just make stuff up!"

    With that, Qi Yuan left the group and headed to the feast.

    The ancient gods looked at each other, unsure of what to make of this.

    Shenlei Venerable also held a form, frowning. "What¡¯s all this? Is that brat going to pocket our divine domain elixir?"

    The Dusk Venerable looked at the form, puzzled.

    "Age? Name? Personality?

    Skills?

    Cultivation techniques?

    Desired divine role?"

    The form was full of odd questions, leaving the Twilight Venerable both amused and confused.

    If the Dusk Venerable had lived on Blue Star, he would have realized that the form was eerily similar to a job application.

    "Dusk Venerable, what is the Origin Venerable up to?" Fire Lotus Venerable asked.

    The other ancient gods were equally puzzled.

    What was the point of filling this out?

    "No idea," the Dusk Venerable shook his head. But then a terrifying thought crossed his mind, which he quickly dismissed.

    Impossible.

    "Could the lord be planning to create custom divine visualization techniques for us?" The Ancient God of Wangsong said, his voice trembling.

    The other ancient gods turned to look at him.

    The thought had crossed their minds as well, but it seemed too far-fetched.

    "The lord knows many ancient gods we¡¯ve never even heard of, but how could he create custom techniques for each of us? I think he¡¯ll probably use these forms to select a few suitable candidates," the younger twin sister analyzed.

    Her explanation seemed more reasonable, and most of the ancient gods agreed.

    The Ancient God of Wangsong looked at one of the ancient gods, "Li Xiao, aren¡¯t you planning to focus on the path of the body?"

    Li Xiao looked confused. "I¡¯m cultivating wood techniques. The path of the body is just something I mentioned casually!"

    "Well, you can¡¯t take the same path as me! I¡¯m focusing on wood techniques!" The Ancient God of Wangsong was getting anxious.

    After all, only one powerful ancient god might emerge on a given path. A Venerable-level divine visualization technique would be crucial for them. If they followed the same path, only one might receive Qi Yuan¡¯s blessing.

    Li Xiao glanced at the Ancient God of Wangsong with disdain. "Why are you getting worked up over something that hasn¡¯t even happened yet? It¡¯s embarrassing to have you as a neighbor."

    The two began arguing, lightening the mood considerably.

    The previously tense atmosphere became much more relaxed.

 Chapter 216: Let Me Show You Something Good

    Chapter 216: Let Me Show You Something Good

    Night had fallen, and a blood-red glow hung high in the sky, making the world seem eerily sinister and terrifying.

    Shenlei Venerable handed his form to Qi Yuan, his expression complicated. ¡°Are you planning to visualize more divine techniques for these ancient gods?¡±

    Qi Yuan took the form and nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°There might be a problem with that.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan was surprised. ¡°What problem?¡±

    ¡°There originally wouldn¡¯t be any problem, but since you showed up... it¡¯s become an issue. Because... you¡¯re too good at visualizing!¡± Shenlei Venerable sighed, exasperated. ¡°The Visualization Realm is actually dependent on the Heaven Pillar. After the pillar broke, the world changed. Not only can the Purple Mansion no longer ascend to True God, but even the Visualization Realm is now restricted. Before, there were so few myth-level visualizations that no one noticed this limit.¡±

    Shenlei Venerable¡¯s point was that Qi Yuan was overloading the system. For instance, if the Visualization Realm could support the visualization of a hundred divine techniques, the people of Fanxin Realm might only create fifty, so no one noticed the limit. But Qi Yuan alone had visualized fifty, and he wasn¡¯t stopping. So now the limit was becoming apparent.

    ¡°Currently, the Visualization Realm can probably only support five more myth-level divine techniques,¡± Shenlei Venerable continued. ¡°You should save some for the Myth Plan... for them.¡±

    Shenlei Venerable was aware of the Myth Plan. He neither supported nor opposed it, but now, the chosen ones in the plan had only visualized two myth-level techniques.

    ¡°There¡¯s such a restriction?¡± Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t too concerned. This restriction was similar to how the Purple Mansion couldn¡¯t ascend to True God. He could simply use the Lost Starlight Rod to take the Venerables and his followers back to the past. On a previous trip to the past, Qi Yuan had experimented with visualizing and found that he could still enter the Visualization Realm. This meant he could take all his villagers and ancient gods back to the past to visualize and ascend to True God. The past, before the Heaven Pillar broke, likely wouldn¡¯t have these restrictions.

    Shenlei Venerable looked at Qi Yuan with a complicated expression. ¡°So... even if you¡¯ve seen True Gods from beyond the Fanxin Realm, no matter how many or how powerful they are, they can¡¯t save the Fanxin Realm. I don¡¯t need a grand gift or a powerful divine technique.¡±

    Shenlei Venerable¡¯s voice was filled with a sense of melancholy and endless uncertainty. To him, Qi Yuan¡¯s very existence in the Fanxin Realm was a mistake. A prodigy of Qi Yuan¡¯s caliber could have reached unimaginable heights in another world, but here, he was trapped in the Fanxin Realm with no hope.

    ¡°You¡¯re underestimating me, old man Shenlei,¡± Qi Yuan said confidently. ¡°This game is full of restrictions, designed to keep players from winning too easily. But I know how to break the rules. These limitations can¡¯t stop me. Just watch¡ªI¡¯ll go full throttle and steamroll the Fanxin Realm!¡±

    The limitations Shenlei Venerable mentioned didn¡¯t worry Qi Yuan. The only drawback was that the Lost Starlight Rod had only two uses left, so he had to plan carefully. He couldn¡¯t just visualize whenever he wanted.Fo?ll0w current novE?ls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

    Shenlei Venerable¡¯s beard bristled. ¡°You get a little praise, and suddenly you think you¡¯re invincible? Steamroll the Fanxin Realm? Forget the Yang God in the Heaven Pillar¡ªhow do you plan to deal with the myth-level evil gods? I just got word that the vanguard under the Evil God General of Qingheng Continent is gathering at Sunset Slope. The evil gods¡¯ forces are stronger than we thought¡ªthirty-four Venerables and over a thousand ordinary evil gods. This time, their goal isn¡¯t just us; they plan to sweep through the entire Qingheng Continent and wipe out every ancient god.¡±

    As Shenlei Venerable spoke, his worry deepened. They had initially expected ten Venerables at most, but there were thirty-four. The Evil God General was determined to purge the entire Qingheng Continent.

    ¡°Sunset Slope, what a poetic name,¡± Qi Yuan said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. ¡°Thirty-four Venerables and over a thousand evil gods¡ªwhat a feast!¡±

    It was like the heavens had answered his prayers. He had been worrying about how to gather enough evil god energy to return to the past, and now so many had gathered.

    Shenlei Venerable stared at Qi Yuan. ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡±

    This many evil gods could sweep through the entire Qingheng Continent, crushing all resistance. Even if the ancient gods from the southern lands came to help, they would be too late. The evil gods wouldn¡¯t let them in.

    ¡°You should just go to bed,¡± Shenlei Venerable suggested, seeing no point in discussing the impending threat. To him, it felt like talking to a brick wall. Then he remembered something and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be asleep by now? Why are you still awake?¡±

    Ever since arriving in Qing Shui Village, Shenlei Venerable had noticed how odd Qi Yuan was. Not only was his behavior strange, but he also slept at night, hanging from a tree, which was downright eerie.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why I¡¯m so confident, even in the face of the evil god alliance?¡± Qi Yuan asked, suddenly serious.

    Shenlei Venerable was silent for a moment, surprised to see Qi Yuan so solemn. ¡°A bit curious, yes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a secret to tell you, but you can¡¯t tell anyone else,¡± Qi Yuan whispered conspiratorially.

    Shenlei Venerable felt his heart race. The Origin Venerable clearly had many secrets, and not small ones. Otherwise, how could anyone visualize eight myth-level divine techniques with no known origin? And now, this secret was about to be revealed to him?

    He couldn¡¯t help but feel a little nervous. ¡°I swear, I won¡¯t tell a soul.¡±

    He watched Qi Yuan expectantly, his curiosity piqued.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve cultivated a very powerful Golden Core,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly, though he was bursting with pride inside. Finally, he had the chance to show off his Stellar Golden Core again.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Shenlei Venerable was puzzled.

    A powerful Golden Core? What nonsense! A Golden Core, no matter how powerful, was still just a Golden Core. To him, a True God, a Golden Core was nothing more than a trifle. No matter how powerful it was, what did it matter?

    ¡°I¡¯d be more worried if they didn¡¯t give us something to do,¡± Venerable Wenyang replied, relieved. ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted dozens of comrades. Today, we¡¯ll head to Sunset Slope to welcome the new god army!¡±

    ¡°Sigh, for the sake of the Fanxin Realm¡¯s survival, we¡¯ll have to bear the shame of being called traitors,¡± Wan Mountain Venerable said, his voice filled with melancholy, as if he had no other choice.

    ¡°That vile Origin Venerable! He¡¯s nothing but trouble, acting so arrogantly just because he found some Taiyin Thunder Orbs. He forced us to leave here and become lackeys for the new gods. Sigh,¡± Venerable Wenyang lamented.

    Leaving the Ancient God Alliance, where they could do as they pleased, to become subservient to the new gods was a bitter pill to swallow.

    ¡°If we weren¡¯t unsure how many Taiyin Thunder Orbs he has left, I would have killed them all before going to Sunset Slope and presented their heads to the new gods!¡± Wan Mountain Venerable growled.

    ¡°By the way, did you notice that a new star appeared in the sky last night? It was strange.¡±

    ¡°Maybe another True God broke through to the level above True God.¡±

    ¡°Too bad the Fanxin Realm remains sealed off.¡±

    ...

    Sunset Slope, located in the heart of Qingheng Continent.

    Once, an evil god camp had been stationed here. In the past two days, evil gods had been gathering here. Now, the small Sunset Slope was filled with over a thousand evil gods.

    At the forefront stood the Three Flames Venerable. Clad in red armor that covered his entire body, leaving only his piercing eyes visible, he stood atop a high platform, surrounded by over thirty Venerables.

    In just two days, countless Venerables and Respectables had arrived, and the evil god army was fully assembled.

    At this moment, with over a thousand Respectables gathered, even without a word spoken, anyone could feel the immense pressure and the impending storm.

    The Ancient God Fengtian, clad in light armor, stepped forward, his face lit with joy. ¡°Three Flames Venerable, Wan Mountain Venerable of the Ancient God Alliance has brought ninety-seven ancient gods to pledge their loyalty. They await your command!¡±

    Though Fengtian Venerable¡¯s expression was serious, he was inwardly delighted. The battle hadn¡¯t even begun, and nearly a hundred ancient gods had already sworn loyalty. The credit for this would be immense.

    Three Flames Venerable¡¯s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. ¡°Excellent, very well done.¡±

    Fengtian Venerable quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your overwhelming reputation, Three Flames Venerable. These ancient gods didn¡¯t dare oppose you!¡±

    Three Flames Venerable¡¯s laughter grew louder.

    Nearby, Wan Mountain Venerable, Venerable Wenyang, and a group of True Gods from the Ancient God Alliance kept their heads bowed, their expressions respectful.

    ¡°We¡¯re willing to serve as vanguard, paving the way for Three Flames Venerable!¡± Wan Mountain Venerable pledged his loyalty.

    Venerable Wenyang added, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Three Flames Venerable has a flame divine bird as a mount. I¡¯m skilled in caring for birds and would be honored to serve as your birdkeeper!¡±

    The other ancient gods scrambled to flatter him, looking ridiculous.

    The new god Venerables around them burst into laughter, watching them like they were clowns.

    Wan Mountain Venerable saw their mockery but dared not resent the new gods. Instead, his hatred for Qi Yuan grew even deeper. To him, all of this was Qi Yuan¡¯s fault.

    ¡°Haha, the backbone of the Fanxin Realm was broken in the War of Hongtang long ago! Now, it¡¯s all just a bunch of jumping clowns. If they stay out of trouble, we¡¯ll leave them be. But dare to attack a military camp? The Origin Venerable is the toughest bone in the Fanxin Realm. Such a person is admirable, worth a hundred of you.¡±

    Three Flames Venerable looked at the ancient gods of the alliance, his tone dripping with scorn.

    ¡°Too bad he offended the General. Only death will satisfy that crime!¡±

    Three Flames Venerable¡¯s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

    Meanwhile, over a thousand miles away, Qi Yuan lay in a tree, with the Thunder God Venerable standing nearby. Several ancient gods stood around them, looking worried.

    Qi Yuan lazily asked, ¡°Are they all gathered yet?¡±

 Chapter 217: The Stellar Golden Core Shows Its Power Again

    Chapter 217: The Stellar Golden Core Shows Its Power Again

    ¡°They¡¯ve all gathered.¡±

    Shenlei Venerable stood at the mountaintop, his voice trembling slightly.

    The other three ancient gods nearby, who were originally from the Ancient God Alliance and familiar with the area around Sunset Slope, were called here by Shenlei Venerable to guide the way. They were filled with confusion, not understanding why they had to watch for so long.

    Fire Lotus Venerable looked at Qi Yuan, who was lying on a tree, and inexplicably felt a sense of admiration. Facing the massive army of evil gods at Sunset Slope, she couldn¡¯t be as calm and leisurely as Qi Yuan.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan stood up, a faint smile on his lips.

    ¡°Since everyone¡¯s here, it¡¯s time for them... to lie down together.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words were mysterious.

    Shenlei Venerable¡¯s breathing quickened as he stared at Sunset Slope.

    Fire Lotus Venerable and the other ancient gods were puzzled, unsure of what Qi Yuan meant.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked up at the sky.

    ¡°Appear, my sun!¡±

    ¡°Enjoy my warmth, White Moonlight!¡±

    As he finished speaking, time seemed to stand still.

    The entire world, bathed in a layer of faint red light from the blood-colored stars, suddenly underwent a slight change.

    All the Venerables and ancient gods experienced a brief moment of bewilderment.

    ¡°Why has the sunlight... changed color?¡±

    Everyone had the same thought.

    In Sunset Slope, Three Flames Venerable and the other Venerables and evil gods were momentarily stunned.

    Venerable Wan Mountain quickly said, ¡°The heavens change color¡ªa great omen! This foretells that Three Flames Venerable will surely sweep across Qingheng Continent!¡±

    Three Flames Venerable forced a smile. ¡°A good omen, indeed.¡±

    The other new gods also smiled.

    Some ancient gods secretly despised Venerable Wan Mountain, thinking he had no spine. To speak such nonsense to flatter him¡ªif they had known, they would have flattered him first.

    At that moment, a Venerable noticed something unusual. ¡°Look at the sky. It seems a star is falling.¡±

    The True Gods at Sunset Slope all looked up at the sky.

    The sky was filled with stars, and among them, a sun was moving rapidly, seemingly heading somewhere.

    The sun¡¯s speed increased, and its light grew brighter.

    ¡°Could it be... falling into the Fanxin Realm?¡±

    A Venerable muttered.

    The hearts of all the True Gods sank.

    Judging by the situation, it was indeed about to fall into the Fanxin Realm.

    ¡°No matter. Even if it falls into the Fanxin Realm, it has nothing to do with us,¡± Three Flames Venerable said, his expression complicated.

    This level of battle was not something a Venerable like him could intervene in.

    After all, there was a Great Saint of Blood Sun lurking in the Heaven Pillar. How could a mere star, even if it were the reflection of a sun god, be a threat to such a powerful being?

    Venerable Wan Mountain took the opportunity to flatter him. ¡°The stars fall because of the Venerable¡¯s might.¡±

    Three Flames Venerable chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m merely a fifth-step Venerable. I don¡¯t deserve such flattery.¡±

    This was no ordinary star¡ªit was a star that could shine on its own.

    There were two kinds of stars in the heavens: those that emitted light and those that did not.

    The ones that emitted light represented Yang Gods, while those that did not represented ordinary peak Yin Gods. Not all Yin Gods could have their reflections in the heavens¡ªthe right to have a star was a privilege granted by the Yang God they served.

    The reflection of these stars in the heavens borrowed the light of their Yang God''s sun.

    The General of Qingheng Continent, who was Three Flames Venerable¡¯s superior, had such a star in the heavens.

    Three Flames Venerable extinguished these thoughts and looked up at the sky.

    Boom!

    In a fraction of a second, the entire Fanxin Realm suddenly shone with intense light.

    Everyone¡¯s vision blurred for a moment.

    A shadow of the sun hung in the sky.

    Everyone instinctively looked up.

    ¡°It¡¯s really falling into the Fanxin Realm!¡±

    ¡°Which sun god has intervened?¡±

    ¡°Is this a warning?¡± a Venerable pondered.

    ¡°Hmph, a mere sun god from beyond our realm, crossing countless spaces to meddle in the Fanxin Realm¡¯s affairs¡ªthis is courting death!¡± a myth-level god snorted.

    All the True Gods looked up at the sky, their expressions varying.

    The projection of a sun falling was indeed a terrifying event.

    All the True Gods sensed a dangerous aura, but they chose to remain silent. If a sun god was willing to intervene, then naturally, the target must be Blood Sun Great Saint in the Heaven Pillar.

    But in the next moment, everyone¡¯s expressions changed.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening? It¡¯s heading toward the Northern Lands!¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t good¡ªthe target isn¡¯t Blood Sun Great Saint!¡±

    All the Venerables and True Gods felt a surge of anxiety.

    The sun fell faster and faster, bringing with it an aura of annihilation.

    The Venerables in the Northern Lands had no time to act¡ªthey couldn¡¯t stop the terrifying sun projection together.

    Three Flames Venerable¡¯s smile froze.

    Something¡¯s wrong!

    Something¡¯s very wrong!

    Instead, it fell on Sunset Slope, which was fortunate.

    ¡°Qing Shui Village... Origin Venerable... is it?¡± General Riyang¡¯s eyes were filled with murderous intent.

    ¡°You intend to strike at the sun god¡¯s pawn?¡± another General asked.

    General Riyang shook his head.

    Of course, he wouldn¡¯t.

    What if the same thing happened again?

    ¡°I will report this situation to the Master and let him decide!¡± General Riyang replied.

    As long as the Master acted to seal the Fanxin Realm again, preventing the sun god¡¯s pawn from borrowing external power, he could crush the Origin Venerable of Qing Shui Village with a flick of his wrist.

    ...

    In the Southern Lands.

    Dozens of Venerables gathered, their expressions serious.

    ¡°What do you all make of today¡¯s events?¡± an elder asked, his voice hoarse.

    ¡°This is an unprecedented change in the Fanxin Realm, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we seize it, it could bring the Fanxin Realm back from the brink!¡± a Venerable said excitedly.

    ¡°A sun god... a glimmer of hope!¡±

    ¡°If he¡¯s willing to help us, we might stand a chance against the evil gods!¡±

    ¡°But how do we know he isn¡¯t just another evil god?¡± an elder questioned.

    The excited Venerables fell silent.

    Right.

    An innate world, drawing the covetous eyes of sun gods.

    This new arrival¡ªwho¡¯s to say he isn¡¯t just another evil god, another who seeks to devour the Heavenly Dao of the Fanxin Realm?

    ¡°The Myth Plan must continue!

    We can¡¯t pin our hopes on anyone else.

    And besides, it seems this Yang god hasn¡¯t personally intervened.

    He probably doesn¡¯t want to offend the two Yang gods.¡± An elder spoke, setting the tone for the discussion.

    Such a powerful being might help them complete the Myth Plan, but he couldn¡¯t possibly stand against the two Yang gods eyeing the Fanxin Realm.

    Why would Yang gods fight to the death?

    ¡°Ling Zhong Venerable, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± The elder turned to a headless ancient god.

    The other ancient gods also looked at Ling Zhong Venerable.

    Ling Zhong Venerable sat quietly, exuding a powerful aura of battle.

    All eyes were on Ling Zhong Venerable, their gazes filled with respect.

    This was a ruthless warrior who had survived the Battle of Hongtang and had a deep relationship with the Foodless Holy Mother.

    His opinion was highly valued by the ancient gods.

    He was one of the pillars of the Southern Lands.

    ¡°I will go to the Northern Lands.¡±

    Ling Zhong Venerable¡¯s words were brief.

    The gathered Venerables fell silent.

    A powerful ancient god like Ling Zhong Venerable entering the fallen Northern Lands had a high probability of never returning.

    Ling Zhong Venerable was willing to risk his life for a sliver of hope for the Fanxin Realm.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in Feihuang City.

    Qi Yuan, having finished his feast, stretched lazily.

    ¡°Victory in war hinges on speed. The three-step plan to eradicate the evil gods is halfway done. Now for the remaining half.¡±

    Without a plan, one might be like a headless fly.

    Qi Yuan always preferred to plan his actions.

    Now, clearing the Fanxin Realm was proceeding according to his carefully laid plan.

    ¡°Is everyone here?¡± Qi Yuan asked again.

    Shenlei Venerable¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    The last time he heard this question, Origin Venerable had summoned a sun projection and wiped out the evil gods at Sunset Slope.

    Now, hearing it again, he almost had a stress reaction.

    The other ancient gods looked at Qi Yuan expectantly.

    Was it time for him to distribute divine essence elixirs and other benefits?

    They had been looking forward to these rewards for a long time.

    Today was truly a day of double blessings.

    First, the evil god army at Sunset Slope was wiped out by the sun projection.

    Now, Origin Venerable seemed ready to distribute rewards.

    Venerable Huanghun looked at Fire Lotus Venerable, noticing her strange expression. ¡°Fire Lotus Venerable, you don¡¯t seem very happy?¡±

    Fire Lotus Venerable had been out of sorts since returning with Origin Venerable, her eyes vacant and pupils dilated.

    Even now, as Qi Yuan gathered them to distribute rewards, she still wore that blank expression, not showing any joy.

    This puzzled Huanghun Venerable. What had happened when she went out with Origin Venerable to make her like this?

    ¡°N-nothing...¡± Fire Lotus Venerable snapped out of her daze.

    ¡°I think the Venerable is about to give us divine essence elixirs. I never thought I¡¯d have the chance to awaken a divine seed,¡± Huanghun Venerable said with a smile. ¡°Even though it won¡¯t change the overall situation, it¡¯ll help us kill a few more evil gods¡ªit¡¯s worth it!¡±

    Most of the ancient gods shared Huanghun Venerable¡¯s thoughts.

    Fire Lotus Venerable, however, seemed not to hear him. She looked at Qi Yuan in the distance and murmured, ¡°Perhaps our Fanxin Realm... really has hope after all.¡±

 Chapter 218: Meeting the Foodless Holy Mother Again

    Chapter 218: Meeting the Foodless Holy Mother Again

    "What?"

    Venerable Huanghun was a bit confused.

    "Do you really think that with the Divine Essence Elixir, we can defeat the evil gods? You overestimate us!" Venerable Huanghun laughed.

    Fire Lotus Venerable gave Huanghun Venerable a look. "Who said it was for you?"

    Even if the twenty-odd ancient gods present all advanced to Venerable level, it still wouldn''t change the overall situation in the Fanxin Realm.

    "This time, I''ll take you all to a place. When we get there, don''t act rashly. Follow my instructions." Qi Yuan addressed the gathered ancient gods and villagers.

    This time, after annihilating two evil god camps and the evil gods at Sunset Slope, Qi Yuan had accumulated a significant amount of evil god energy. Since Shenlei Venerable mentioned saving some slots for the Myth Plan, Qi Yuan decided not to take more than his share and instead use the Lost Glow Rod to travel back to the past to visualize.

    Back then, the Heaven Pillar hadn''t collapsed, and visualization wouldn''t be restricted.

    Upon hearing this, the ancient gods were stunned. It wasn''t the distribution of Divine Essence Elixir?

    The expectation in their eyes visibly faded. However, no one dared to question Qi Yuan.

    Shenlei Venerable looked at the ancient gods and couldn''t help but say, "A bunch of unambitious people, what''s a Divine Essence Elixir worth?"

    Venerable Huanghun wanted to retort, thinking that Shenlei Venerable didn''t need the Divine Essence Elixir, but as ordinary Venerables, they did. However, fearing Shenlei Venerable''s power, Huanghun Venerable kept silent.

    "Don''t worry, this time''s reward won''t be less than the Divine Essence Elixir." Qi Yuan reassured them.

    Under the curious gazes of the crowd, Qi Yuan took out the Lost Glow Rod. The gathered ancient gods and villagers looked at the Lost Glow Rod with curiosity, their faces filled with wonder.

    The Lost Glow Rod emitted a glow that enveloped everyone. Time and space began to shift.

    The scene before them suddenly changed.

    "Where is this?"

    "How strange, why can''t I touch the flowers and trees here?"

    "Wait, is that... the Heaven Pillar!"

    The ancient gods and villagers looked at the towering mountain in front of them with astonishment in their eyes. That mountain was none other than the Heaven Pillar!

    Wasn''t the Heaven Pillar already collapsed? How could it suddenly reappear?

    Everything before them was beyond their expectations.

    Qi Yuan calmly addressed the villagers and ancient gods. "Don''t worry. We''ve just traveled back to the past."

    Time travel was something Qi Yuan often did and had become accustomed to, but the villagers and ancient gods were taken aback.

    "Back to the past..."

    "Unbelievable..."

    The stronger they were, the more they realized their own insignificance. In the myriad worlds, even shadow gods (Peak Yin Gods with a star) were just tiny specks of dust. To mortals, true gods might seem omnipotent, but in reality, there were many things they couldn''t do. Traveling through time was a profound ability beyond the reach of shadow gods. In the eyes of these ancient gods, even Yang gods would struggle with it.

    Now, Qi Yuan had taken them back in time. How could they not be shocked?

    "I obtained this treasure from the Ancient One''s ancestral land, allowing us to return to the past. However, we can only observe; we can''t interact with or perceive the past," Qi Yuan explained, not hiding the existence of the Lost Glow Rod.

    The villagers and ancient gods looked at the Lost Glow Rod with awe. They had heard of the Ancient One''s ancestral land, known to be full of dangers, but they hadn''t expected it to contain such a powerful artifact. The only downside was that they couldn''t interact with the past, making many tasks impossible.

    "The Heaven Pillar hasn''t collapsed yet, so take this opportunity to train well. It might greatly improve your strength," Qi Yuan suggested.

    So, they were to train in the past? Was this the reward? The crowd didn''t know whether to laugh or cry.

    Only Shenlei Venerable seemed to understand something. He transmitted to Qi Yuan, "You''re not planning to visualize a god from your Huaxia Dragon Group, are you?"

    "Correct," Qi Yuan replied.

    "It''s true!" Shenlei Venerable was astonished. "I missed it last time, but this time... I want to witness it myself."

    Qi Yuan chuckled.

    He entered the Visualization Realm.

    This time, he was directly in the Visualization Realm, without any chat group distractions.

    Qi Yuan looked at the towering mountain before him, intrigued.

    "It seems the Heaven Pillar and the Visualization Realm are connected to the Ancient One''s ancestral land. Otherwise, many things would be unexplainable," he murmured.

    Setting aside all other thoughts, Qi Yuan began to visualize.

    This time, he had brought thousands of villagers and thirty ancient gods. For the villagers, except for a few who were familiar to Qi Yuan, he planned to customize visualizations for them. The rest would be visualized as Heavenly Soldiers, Thirty-Six Heavenly Marshals, Seventy-Two Earth Fiends, Sixty Jiazi Gods, Twenty-Four Cloud and Rain Guardians, and Thirty-Six Thunder Generals, among others.

    Qi Yuan had countless gods in his memory, including gods from the Heavenly Court, as well as ancestors from the Honghuang era, and primordial deities. He never lacked material for visualizations.

    ...

    At the Heaven Pillar, a woman in a red dress stood with a cold expression. The breeze played with her hair, making her look particularly lonely.

    Just then, a resigned voice spoke.

    "Foodless Holy Mother... leave the Heaven Pillar."

    "The collapse of the Heaven Pillar is inevitable. Why do you persist? This is draining your divine domain!"

    Venerable Ling Zhong appeared, his headless form adding to the eerie atmosphere.

    "I made a promise to him that I would guard the Heaven Pillar. The day it collapses will be the day I fall." Foodless Holy Mother looked at the Heaven Pillar, her eyes tinged with a hint of youthfulness. But the aura she exuded was that of a mythical being.

    Venerable Ling Zhong looked at Foodless Holy Mother''s stubborn expression and sighed. "Why tie your life to the Heaven Pillar? You are the world''s favored one. One day, you might have a chance to reach beyond true godhood."

    Foodless Holy Mother smiled sadly. "There''s no chance."

    "Why are you so stubborn?" Venerable Ling Zhong lamented. "The Heaven Pillar is teetering. It won''t be long before it collapses."

    Foodless Holy Mother looked at Venerable Ling Zhong, her expression calm but her voice resolute. "You should leave. There''s no need to persuade me."

    "Why? Why risk your life for someone who may not even exist? The world favors you; the hardships of your youth were just tests from the world. The one who helped you wasn''t someone else; it was the world, and it was you. I even asked the Fanxin Elder, and he said... the person you''ve been looking for doesn''t exist. It''s just a figment of your imagination from your youth!" Venerable Ling Zhong tried to convince her.

    "No!" Foodless Holy Mother''s voice became sharp. "A promise I made will be fulfilled!"

    Her gaze deepened.

    She was always one to keep her promises.

    No matter the cost, she would fulfill them, even if it meant her life.

    She looked at Venerable Ling Zhong. "You should leave. If you take one more step towards the Heaven Pillar and cause it to waver, I won''t spare you!"

    Venerable Ling Zhong sighed. "You''re making enemies of the other myths. The Heaven Pillar doesn''t belong to you. Occupying it for ten, a hundred years is fine, but for a thousand or ten thousand years? That''s going too far."

    "Let them become enemies. As long as I''m strong enough, who dares to oppose me!" Foodless Holy Mother''s gaze was filled with the aura of a ruler.

    Seeing this, Venerable Ling Zhong said no more and disappeared.

    The towering Heaven Pillar was left with only Foodless Holy Mother standing alone.

    Suddenly, the Heaven Pillar shook violently, and Foodless Holy Mother''s face turned pale as if the pillar was about to collapse.

    But amidst her pale complexion, she forced a smile.

    "I knew it. It''s not just my imagination."

    Meanwhile, in the Visualization Realm, just as Qi Yuan was about to visualize another deity, a familiar female voice echoed in his mind.

    "If you continue visualizing now, the Heaven Pillar will collapse."

    "Foodless Holy Mother?" Qi Yuan was startled.

    It was Foodless Holy Mother''s voice.

    Hearing her voice again, Qi Yuan felt a mix of emotions.

    He had witnessed Foodless Holy Mother''s fall, and seeing her again stirred deep feelings within him.

    "I''m at the Heaven Pillar. Come find me." Foodless Holy Mother''s voice trembled slightly.

    Qi Yuan, recalling the matter of the Heaven Pillar, decided to go meet Foodless Holy Mother.

    What if he really caused the pillar to collapse?

    Qi Yuan exited the Visualization Realm.

    On the Heaven Pillar, Foodless Holy Mother seemed to hear something. Her face turned pale, but then the pallor faded, replaced by a radiant smile.

    Because a familiar voice reached her ears.

    "Could it be that I haven''t revealed my identity this time?" Qi Yuan looked at Foodless Holy Mother, curious.

    Because this time, if he met Foodless Holy Mother, why hadn''t she recognized him in their last encounter?

    Or were timelines parallel?

    "What identity?" Foodless Holy Mother asked, intrigued.

    Qi Yuan began to study Foodless Holy Mother.

    Compared to their first meeting, she seemed a bit younger, but her power was still that of a myth.

    "I mean, if I told you we''ve met in the future, would you believe me?" Qi Yuan said casually. "By the way, where''s my recliner? Get me one."

 Chapter 220: Flawless Glaze Body

    Chapter 220: Flawless Glaze Body

    Elder Fanxin let out a sigh of relief upon hearing her answer. However, he still looked at the Foodless Holy Mother and asked, ¡°Foodless, your complexion doesn¡¯t look too good. Do you need me to take a look?¡±

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan whispered in the Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s ear, ¡°Tell him you can eat seven fish in one sitting and that you¡¯re in perfect health!¡±

    Right now, Qi Yuan¡¯s priority was to quickly feed the Foodless Holy Mother so that her health would improve. Once she was better, the Heaven Pillar would be restored, and he could resume his visualizations.

    ¡°I can eat seven fish in one sitting. I¡¯m in excellent health. No need for concern. You all may leave now,¡± the woman in the red dress said in a stiff tone, clearly indicating that she was dismissing them.

    Elder Fanxin found her response peculiar. For some reason, he felt that something was off about the Foodless Holy Mother today.

    ¡°The battle at the Dragon Ascension Ground is crucial. Please ensure you do not miss it; the fate of the Fanxin Realm hangs in the balance!¡± Elder Fanxin reiterated.

    ¡°Understood,¡± the Foodless Holy Mother replied before her figure vanished into the Heaven Pillar, leaving behind a group of astonished ancient gods.

    ¡°Was that really the Foodless Holy Mother?¡±

    ¡°Strange, it seemed like she was talking to someone.¡±

    ¡°You felt that too?¡±

    The venerables and gods began to discuss among themselves.

    Elder Fanxin frowned. ¡°I had the same feeling, but... I couldn¡¯t detect anyone.¡±

    Elder Fanxin was a mythical figure, and in the Fanxin Realm, there was no one who could hide in front of him. His strength was evident.

    Beside him, Venerable Ling Zhong seemed to have thought of something, causing him to pause.

    Could it be...

    He felt uneasy, as if something was amiss.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan followed the Foodless Holy Mother back to the bamboo house.

    Qi Yuan sighed, ¡°Ah, my reputation is ruined. I¡¯ve ended up being a thief for a day. If I had stolen something more prestigious, like immortal pills, celestial garments, or divine armor, it would have been better. But what did I end up stealing? Pots and pans!¡±

    When they had arrived in the nearby village, all the shops were closed, and no one was around. Faced with this, the Foodless Holy Mother simply took the pots and pans she needed. It was quite bold.

    ¡°They worship me, and I protect them. Consider these items tributes,¡± the Foodless Holy Mother didn¡¯t bother arguing with Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s not important. Let¡¯s get started on the spicy fish!¡± Qi Yuan was eager. Once the Foodless Holy Mother was in better health, he could resume his visualizations.

    He was also curious¡ªhow could eating some food restore the Heaven Pillar? Why didn¡¯t she eat regularly? Now, he might finally find out what was going on.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°Finally, I get to be the commander in the kitchen!¡± Qi Yuan was excited.

    Soon enough, under Qi Yuan¡¯s direction, the Foodless Holy Mother caught seven fish. She cleaned them, removed their guts, and scaled them.

    Qi Yuan sat nearby, enthusiastically giving instructions: ¡°We probably didn¡¯t need the knife. It¡¯s just going to collect dust.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, scale them more carefully. There¡¯s still half a scale left.¡±

    ¡°When it comes to cooking, presentation, aroma, and taste all matter. Your fish pieces are uneven¡ªyour knife skills need work.¡±

    ¡°There aren¡¯t enough chili peppers; add some more.¡±

    ¡°Sigh, you¡¯re the worst cooking student I¡¯ve ever had.¡±

    Qi Yuan took on the role of a strict teacher, offering relentless guidance.

    The Foodless Holy Mother, under his direction, struggled to prepare a plate of spicy fish like an ordinary mortal woman.

    ¡°Not bad for a first attempt; it¡¯s already quite good,¡± Qi Yuan praised, looking at the burnt fish. After all the criticism, it was time for some compliments. A combination of criticism and praise was the way to go.

    ¡°Go ahead and eat it, and see if your health improves,¡± Qi Yuan urged.

    He was curious to see if eating food would indeed restore the Heaven Pillar, and how that worked.

    The Foodless Holy Mother frowned, clearly hesitant.

    ¡°Don¡¯t judge the dish by its looks; it actually tastes quite good,¡± Qi Yuan encouraged.

    After all, for a cultivator, no matter how bad the fish might taste, they could still eat it. The dish had been made under his guidance, so it couldn¡¯t be that bad.

    The Foodless Holy Mother picked up a piece of fish with her long, slender fingers, holding it near her lips. Her brow furrowed deeply, and her eyes showed clear signs of reluctance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not poisoned. You won¡¯t get sick,¡± Qi Yuan reassured her.

    The Foodless Holy Mother gave Qi Yuan a deep look before resolutely shoving the fish into her mouth.

    Her face suddenly turned pale, as if she had suffered a serious injury.

    Qi Yuan was taken aback.

    Was it really that bad?

    ¡°Is it really that awful? Maybe we should make another batch with a different pan,¡± Qi Yuan suggested, worried as he tried to reach out and pat her on the back.

    But his hand passed through her, unable to make contact.

    After all, they were in different times and couldn¡¯t touch each other.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± the Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s body trembled slightly, her brow furrowing even more. She slowly chewed and swallowed the fish, as if she were swallowing poison, perhaps even worse than poison.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression changed.

    He now believed it¡ªthe Foodless Holy Mother did have anorexia, and it wasn¡¯t just any kind of anorexia.

    Just eating a piece of fish... could make her like this?

    He couldn¡¯t understand it. He stared at the Foodless Holy Mother, concerned. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    At this point, the Foodless Holy Mother, dressed in a red dress, was lying on the bamboo mat, her eyes closed, and her forehead covered in sweat.

    But she seemed cold, her body occasionally shivering slightly.

    This sudden change left Qi Yuan completely baffled.

    She was a myth, after all.

    Could a piece of fish really do this to her?

    He had witnessed the Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s battle with a sun god¡¯s avatar, where she was severely wounded yet didn¡¯t tremble.

    Without it, he would have been destroyed by his power.

    Now, if he drew out the blood of the Flawless Glaze Body... it would cost him...

    ¡°Playing this game is asking for my blood, huh!¡±

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but grumble.

    ¡°But... my blood can¡¯t even cross into the past!¡±

    Even if he wanted to give his blood, it wouldn¡¯t work.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try!¡±

    At this point, he had no other options.

    The Foodless Holy Mother was still half-asleep.

    The Heaven Pillar was not yet repaired.

    He still had many gods to summon.

    The game wasn¡¯t over yet.

    ¡°Sigh, playing this game isn¡¯t just draining my energy; it¡¯s also making me bleed. If the rewards for completing it aren¡¯t good, I¡¯m not letting this slide!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he focused on his finger.

    As he concentrated, his finger became transparent, clear as crystal.

    A few drops of pure, transparent blood oozed from his finger, dripping down.

    His body wavered, and his face paled slightly.

    Above his Stellar Golden Core, the terrifying flames burned.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness blurred for a moment, feeling as if the endless flames were scorching his body.

    ¡°This game is taking my blood and my life!¡± Qi Yuan muttered.

    He watched intently as the blood fell toward the fish.

    Qi Yuan was tense.

    If it didn¡¯t work, he¡¯d have to somehow recover that blood.

    In the next moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    The transparent blood seemed to cross time itself, landing on the fish and dissolving into it, disappearing completely.

    The fish looked the same as before, but the blood was gone.

    Next to him, the Foodless Holy Mother seemed to sense something, her delicate nose twitching: ¡°I¡¯m so hungry...¡±

    She opened her eyes, and her once pale face had regained some color, with a healthy flush appearing. Qi Yuan noticed a suppressed hunger in her eyes.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you try eating the fish again?¡± Qi Yuan suggested cautiously.

    At this moment, the Foodless Holy Mother was like a savior.

    Her health was crucial for the Heaven Pillar¡¯s restoration, and that, in turn, was essential for Qi Yuan to summon more powerful gods.

    The Foodless Holy Mother looked at the fish with a puzzled expression. She picked up the chopsticks and took another bite of the fish.

    She chewed slowly, savoring each bite.

    Her pace quickened as she ate, losing all semblance of the dignified lady she usually was.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    If she could eat, that was a good sign.

    He was just worried she couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Take your time. If you¡¯re still hungry, we can cook more fish,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    The Foodless Holy Mother paused, her chopsticks halting. She looked at the spot where Qi Yuan was supposed to be, her eyes deep and filled with longing: ¡°How did you do that?¡±

    ¡°Secret,¡± Qi Yuan chuckled, keeping the truth to himself.

    For some reason, he felt a chilling sensation as he looked into her eyes, as if she were a predator eyeing her prey.

    The Foodless Holy Mother stared at where Qi Yuan was, trying to see his eyes, to find the answers in them.

    But she saw nothing and heard nothing.

    ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± the Foodless Holy Mother asked out of nowhere.

    ¡°No,¡± Qi Yuan smiled.

    The moment of unease had passed quickly.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be me who¡¯s afraid of you, Qi Yuan?¡± the Foodless Holy Mother said as she continued eating, her voice soft. ¡°I can¡¯t see you or sense you, yet I can hear your voice. If I were an ordinary person, I might think I was haunted. But now, even though I¡¯ve reached the pinnacle of this world, I still can¡¯t perceive you. Isn¡¯t that... terrifying?¡±

    The Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s smile was bright, with a hint of helplessness.

    ¡°When you put it that way, it is kind of scary,¡± Qi Yuan admitted. If he were in her position, he would be wary of someone he couldn¡¯t perceive.

    The Foodless Holy Mother said no more, continuing to eat her fish slowly and methodically.

    The night was quiet, the stars twinkling, and a cool breeze blew through the Heaven Pillar, bringing a chill to the air.

    Qi Yuan sat by her side, gazing at the starry sky.

    ¡°In the future, there will be two stars up there that belong to me.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t help but boast again.

    Then he shifted gears.

    ¡°What kind of constitution do you have that makes it so you can¡¯t eat anything?¡±

 Chapter 221: The Fickle Foodless Holy Mother

    Chapter 221: The Fickle Foodless Holy Mother

    The woman in the red dress paused, seemingly lost in thought.

    "The Foodless Body."

    "Huh? Just three words?" Qi Yuan was stunned.

    Three words seemed way too unimpressive.

    "From what I¡¯ve seen, others have names like Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, Heavenly Fate Chaotic Divine Demon Body, Innate JK Sacred Body, or at least a four-character name like Archaic Sacred Body."

    This was the first time Qi Yuan had heard of the "Foodless Body."

    "I made up the name myself," the woman in the red dress said, looking at Qi Yuan with a mischievous smile in her eyes.

    Qi Yuan hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "It seems we have something in common. The technique I created is called the Qi Yuan Scripture."

    He named his technique after himself, and the Foodless Holy Mother called herself by her body''s name. It was quite amusing.

    "What are the effects of the Foodless Body?" Qi Yuan asked.

    In truth, he wanted to understand the state of the Foodless Holy Mother''s body.

    "You¡¯ve already seen them," the Foodless Holy Mother didn¡¯t answer directly.

    "I think it might be more complicated than that. You looked at me strangely before," Qi Yuan recalled the unsettling feeling he had when she looked at him earlier.

    The woman in the red dress stopped eating fish, lightly biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth. She glanced sideways at Qi Yuan. "Are you afraid I might eat you?"

    As she spoke, she deliberately took a bite of the fish, chewing forcefully as if imagining it were Qi Yuan.

    "Not at all," Qi Yuan blurted out.

    They were separated by time; even if she had the appetite of a gluttonous beast, she couldn¡¯t eat him.

    The woman in the red dress didn¡¯t say anything more, continuing to eat her fish.

    Qi Yuan sat beside her, watching as her complexion gradually improved. His mood lifted accordingly.

    This meant that the Heaven Pillar was being restored bit by bit.

    He could return to the visualization mountain to continue his work.

    However, something occurred to him, and he asked, "If the fish were impure, would you still be able to eat it so calmly?"

    Qi Yuan remembered the last time he saw the Foodless Holy Mother.

    She was eating fish right beside him.

    The fish hadn¡¯t been purified, yet she ate it with great enjoyment.

    "No," the Foodless Holy Mother answered bluntly.

    Another wave of doubt washed over Qi Yuan.

    Could it be that he had seen a version of the Foodless Holy Mother from a parallel timeline?

    That version of her didn¡¯t seem to react to impure fish as this one did.

    "Hey, if you ever meet me in the future, remind me that we¡¯ve met before."

    "Okay."

    "Promise me you won¡¯t lie!" Qi Yuan sensed she might deceive him, so he added, "If you lie, you¡¯re a little puppy!"

    As the saying goes, beautiful women are the most deceptive because if less attractive women lie, no one believes them.

    "Why would I lie to you?"

    "I¡¯ll trust you this time."

    "Are the evil gods really powerful?" the Foodless Holy Mother asked.

    "Well... they¡¯re strong, but don¡¯t worry, villains like them always fall by my hand!" Qi Yuan said with confidence.

    "It seems you¡¯re quite confident," the Foodless Holy Mother said, a touch of melancholy in her voice.

    "I¡¯ve already devised a detailed plan, broken into three steps. Right now, I¡¯m in the latter part of the first step, and soon, my plan will be complete!" Qi Yuan was excited as he talked about his plan.

    After all, it was his brilliant creation, and he loved to boast about it.

    "It¡¯s a pity... I was born too early," the Foodless Holy Mother mused, her voice filled with sadness.

    Qi Yuan was momentarily taken aback.

    He recalled the last time he saw the Foodless Holy Mother, she had said something similar.

    Was it just a coincidence? Or something else? Could the Foodless Holy Mother he met last time really be this one? But why wouldn¡¯t she recognize him?

    Or did she recognize him but choose not to say anything?

    Was there some hidden plot? Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but speculate. He was about to ask more when he suddenly felt a chill in the air.

    The warmth in the red-dressed woman¡¯s eyes vanished, replaced by a biting coldness.

    Her icy gaze fell upon Qi Yuan, and even though they were separated by time, he could almost feel the bone-chilling cold.

    "I¡¯m going to sleep," the Foodless Holy Mother said, finishing the last of the fish, her voice frigid.

    Her attitude toward Qi Yuan had shifted dramatically, from somewhat warm to utterly frosty.

    Qi Yuan was surprised. "She¡¯s pulled out the three magical tools of a goddess."

    The sudden change in the Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s attitude left Qi Yuan curious, but he wasn¡¯t about to try to warm up to her cold shoulder.

    "Remember to eat the fish tomorrow."

    "Okay," the Foodless Holy Mother replied, her voice still icy.

    Qi Yuan placed his hands behind his head, watching as the Foodless Holy Mother retreated into the depths of the bamboo house and lay down on the bed.

    "This woman changes her mood faster than the weather."

    "Do myths even need to sleep?"

    Qi Yuan left the bamboo house and wandered outside.

    The villagers of Qingshui Village and the ancient gods stood in place.

    As instructed by Qi Yuan, they didn¡¯t move, avoiding any accidents.

    Venerable Shenlei crossed his legs, sitting in an undignified manner. He looked at the empty forest and grumbled, "That kid went off to have a private moment with the Foodless Holy Mother, leaving us here. How interesting!"

    Venerable Huanghun laughed helplessly. "He went to deal with the Heaven Pillar."

    "Sigh, I actually wanted to meet the legendary Foodless Holy Mother," Venerable Shenlei said, stroking his beard.

    As the first person in the Fanxin Realm, the Foodless Holy Mother naturally piqued his curiosity.

    At that moment, the usually quiet Venerable Huolian spoke up. "Honestly, I¡¯d like to go see myself."

    The others were curious about the past and their younger selves, and Huolian Venerable wanted to see who she was back then.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to explore too,¡± an ancient god chimed in, intrigued by their surroundings.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re not just interested in exploring; you¡¯re looking to spy on beauties bathing?¡± Huolian Venerable shot a glare at the god who had spoken.

    The god laughed awkwardly. ¡°You¡¯ve known me for a century. Do I really seem that low?¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°No, but someone¡¯s eyes nearly popped out earlier.¡±

    ¡°It must have been Venerable Zanghun!¡±

    Earlier, half an hour ago, a few fairies had come to a nearby lake to bathe.

    Before the fairies had even begun to undress, Venerable Zanghun¡¯s eyes had been glued to the spot, and he almost ran over to the lake.

    In the end, the other ancient gods had to restrain him.

    After all, as gods loyal to the Origin Heaven Lord, how could they do something so undignified? Spying was shameful.

    If they wanted to watch, it should be done openly.

    ¡°You bunch of spineless fools, always thinking about such trivial matters,¡± Venerable Shenlei huffed, playing the part of the elder.

    Venerable Zanghun grinned, ¡°If I get the right divine technique, I might follow in Zhu Zhuangshi¡¯s footsteps.¡±

    The story of Zhu Zhuangshi and the big black dog had spread throughout Feihuang City.

    The big black dog once had a chance to suppress Zhu Zhuangshi.

    Then Zhu Zhuangshi turned around and suppressed the big black dog.

    Everyone in Feihuang City was talking about it.

    Venerable Zanghun¡¯s meaning was clear.

    He was implying that he, too, might have a chance to suppress Venerable Shenlei.

    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± Venerable Shenlei scoffed, acting indifferent.

    The others were excited by Venerable Zanghun¡¯s words.

    Who wouldn¡¯t want to change their fate with a mythic technique, like Zhu Zhuangshi did?

    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll get mythic-level divine techniques?¡±

    ¡°Is there one suitable for me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching the Visualization Mountain these past two days, and I haven¡¯t seen anything unusual,¡± one ancient god said, sounding worried.

    Usually, when a divine technique of epic or higher level was visualized, the Visualization Mountain would react.

    Something like golden light would burst forth, or drums would thunder.

    But for the past two days, the Visualization Mountain had been quiet, with no signs at all.

    Venerable Shenlei stood there, feeling nervous too.

    ¡°That kid better not have given me just an ordinary divine technique.¡±

    Although he had said he didn¡¯t care about Qi Yuan¡¯s benefits, that was only lip service.

    He was hoping for something epic or higher.

    Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t improve him much.

    "Venerable Shenlei has been with the Heaven Lord longer than the rest of us. He might receive a mythic technique," Venerable Huolian said, her tone filled with admiration.

    Venerable Shenlei shook his head, quickly saying, "A thunder technique as a myth? That¡¯s too much to expect."

    He was just worried Qi Yuan might give him something ordinary, so he was trying to lower everyone¡¯s expectations.

    The others agreed.

    Venerable Huanghun also muttered, ¡°My path is the control of water, and two others who came with me have a similar path. I fear the Heaven Lord may struggle to give us all a suitable divine technique.¡±

    The two other water-controlling ancient gods heard this and felt a bit disheartened.

    After all, in any given role, there could only be one strong god.

    How could there be more? So among the three water-controlling gods, perhaps only one would get a suitable divine technique.

    "It seems Venerable Huanghun is most likely to receive a powerful divine technique," said one of the other water-controlling gods enviously.

    Among the three, Venerable Huanghun had the best chance, as he had the longest history with the Origin Heaven Lord.

    Another ancient god also looked at Venerable Huanghun with envy.

    The ancient gods continued to chat, some flattering each other.

    As for the ordinary villagers, they had no such worries.

    To them, any divine technique would be welcome.

    They were ordinary people, their paths undefined, so they could go in any direction.

    Just then, a voice echoed in their ears.

    "I¡¯m back. Time to hand out the rewards."

 Chapter 222: What is the Lord of the Stars Compared to This?

    Chapter 222: What is the Lord of the Stars Compared to This?

    "Heavenly Lord!"

    "Lord!"

    The many ancient gods and thousands of villagers all turned to Qi Yuan.

    Venerable Huanghun¡¯s breathing quickened slightly.

    Venerable Shenlei looked at Qi Yuan, but this time, he didn¡¯t speak rashly.

    "This time, I¡¯ve visualized quite a few divine techniques in one go."

    After the Foodless Holy Mother had eaten her fill, or rather after the Heaven Pillar had been restored, the visualizations from the Visualization Mountain returned to normal.

    Qi Yuan used up all the demonic god¡¯s spiritual energy he had, visualizing many powerful divine techniques.

    Every ordinary villager received one.

    Wei He stood among the crowd, her young face set in determination.

    Her brother, Wei Ting, had visualized the Giant Spirit God, becoming incredibly powerful.

    She also wanted to visualize a powerful god, to gain great strength and repay the Origin Heavenly Lord.

    "You sixty, step forward," Qi Yuan said, waving his hand. Sixty villagers, including Wei He, were separated from the group.

    The ancient gods watched with curiosity, wondering what level of divine techniques these ordinary villagers would receive.

    Wei He stood up straight, her small frame brimming with resolve.

    "The divine techniques you will receive are for the Sixty Jiazi Gods."

    Qi Yuan waved his hand, and sixty divine techniques floated in the air.

    The ancient gods, who had been filled with anticipation, were stunned.

    Because...

    "Legendary!"

    "Sixty legendary techniques!"

    "How is that possible?"

    "I want a legendary one too!" one of the ancient gods cried out.

    After all, a rare-level divine technique was incredibly valuable to them.

    Above the rare level were epic, and above epic were legendary.

    They didn¡¯t dare dream of a divine myth, but they had small hopes for a legendary technique.

    And now, the Origin Heavenly Lord had casually handed out sixty legendary techniques.

    How could they not be shocked?

    When Qi Yuan had once revealed twenty-one legendary techniques at once, it had shaken the entire Fanxin Realm.

    But now... sixty in one go!

    Venerable Shenlei¡¯s nose almost twisted in envy. He could hardly contain his jealousy.

    "The Sixty Jiazi Gods are also known as the Tai Sui. The Tai Sui is the ruler of the year, and each god governs a specific year," Qi Yuan explained.

    The sixty divine techniques fell into the hands of the sixty villagers, their faces lighting up with excitement.

    Wei He held the Jiazi technique, bowing deeply to Qi Yuan.

    "Thank you, Heavenly Lord, for your gift!"

    "Thank you, Heavenly Lord!"

    "Hurry up and start visualizing, and quickly break through to true godhood."

    Qi Yuan then turned to the remaining villagers, waving his hand again. Suddenly, a thousand more glowing divine techniques appeared.

    The villagers were completely stunned.

    The ancient gods were also utterly dumbfounded.

    Because these divine techniques... none of them were below epic level, and the majority were legendary.

    "The Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends!"

    "The Twenty-Four Heavenly Lords of the Thunder Department!"

    "Heavenly Soldiers and Generals!"

    "Clairaudience and Clairosmia!"

    "The Gourd Brothers!"

    These thousand divine techniques encompassed a wide range, even including some at the divine myth level.

    The ancient gods¡¯ eyes gleamed with greed.

    "I sensed it¡ªa legendary technique aligned with my path!"

    "How can there be... so many powerful gods!"

    "Even a divine myth might not create a legendary-level divine technique..." one ancient god said, his voice trembling with disbelief.

    The divine techniques behind these visualized gods were so powerful that they could easily dominate the Fanxin Realm!

    Some ancient gods began to have terrifying thoughts.

    Venerable Huolian¡¯s eyes rippled with emotion as she recalled the day when the great sun had hung in the sky.

    The Heavenly Lord... must be a Lord of the Stars.

    And not just any Lord of the Stars.

    Even among the Sun Gods, there were vast differences in power.

    "Quickly visualize and break through to true godhood.

    One day, I hope to lead a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals to rampage across the land!"

    Qi Yuan said, feeling quite pleased with himself.

    He couldn¡¯t help but think of the golden-furred monkey he had slain in the North Sea God¡¯s Eye.

    After killing their prodigy, the Ancient Ape Clan had yet to make any move against him.

    Could they be plotting something?

    If so, he might as well follow in the footsteps of Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, and lead a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals to their doorstep.

    That should be enough to flatten the Ancient Ape Clan, right?

    The villagers were deeply moved, each eagerly taking their divine technique to begin their cultivation.

    The thirty ancient gods watching all had red eyes.

    Those divine techniques were making them extremely envious!

    Not just a few of them¡ªall of them!

    Such powerful divine techniques, given to ordinary villagers, seemed to them like feeding pigs with divine nectar!

    "This is too... wasteful," one ancient god couldn¡¯t help but say, his voice trembling slightly.

    "How is it wasteful? They¡¯ve been following me for so long. Even if they haven¡¯t made great contributions, they¡¯ve at least worked hard. What¡¯s wrong with giving them a bit of a reward?" Qi Yuan said casually.

    Besides, it wasn¡¯t just a reward.

    With that, Qi Yuan vanished.

    The thirty ancient gods stood there, stunned.

    Venerable Zanghun¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement as he turned to Venerable Shenlei. "Haha, the lord didn¡¯t give me just any divine myth this time.

    Venerable Shenlei, I¡¯ll show you what it means to look at someone with fresh eyes after three days!"

    Venerable Zanghun had borrowed the phrase from Qi Yuan. He had heard Qi Yuan say it once and had memorized it.

    Now, he was feeling quite proud of himself. The divine technique he had received was for the Earth Star Lord.

    The Earth Star Lord was one of the Nine Star Lords.

    Just by briefly interacting with the technique, Venerable Zanghun had already realized that this was no ordinary divine myth.

    The Origin Heavenly Lord must have seen his exceptional potential and chosen such a powerful divine technique for him.

    But Venerable Shenlei was fully immersed in his divine technique and couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to Venerable Zanghun.

    After all, the technique he had received... just from one glance, he could sense its terrifying power.

    Compared to the Thunder Ancestor, what was the Sun Holy Saint in the sky?

    Venerable Zanghun continued to boast, "The lord¡¯s true form must be a Lord of the Stars, a powerful Yang God.

    And the technique I¡¯ve received must be from one of his most powerful subordinates, half a step above even a Yang God!"

    Venerable Zanghun was practically floating.

    "Little Earth Star, dare to be so arrogant?" the younger of the twin sisters scoffed. "I¡¯m the Moon Star Lord, the lord¡¯s first general!"

    The Star Lords knew there were nine of them, but they didn¡¯t know who was who.

    Each believed themselves to be the strongest.

    "No, I¡¯m the lord¡¯s most powerful general!" another ancient god argued.

    He believed the god he had visualized far surpassed any ordinary divine myth and wasn¡¯t even threatened by the Sun Gods.

    At that moment, a usually silent ancient god spoke up. "The Lord of the Stars... is nothing."

    The other ancient gods turned to look at Zhuge Yan, their eyes sharp.

    "The god I¡¯ve visualized is the Southern True Emperor of All Blessings, one of the Ten Emperors.

    An ordinary Lord of the Stars wouldn¡¯t even have the right to enter my domain."

    Zhuge Yan¡¯s words left the other ancient gods in stunned silence.

    A Lord of the Stars... that¡¯s already no ordinary Yang God.

    But Zhuge Yan said an ordinary one wouldn¡¯t even qualify to enter his domain.

    And this was just one of the Ten Emperors.

    What kind of unimaginable power did the other nine Emperors hold?

    The ancient gods were all speechless.

    Then, one of them spoke up, "A Lord of the Stars is indeed nothing special. The god I¡¯ve visualized is a Lord of the Stars, and not an ordinary one at that."

    The others gasped.

    Venerable Zanghun, who had been so proud of his Earth Star Lord technique, couldn¡¯t take it anymore. "So none of you have ordinary divine myths?"

    Not just ordinary¡ªhis seemed to be the weakest.

    The joy he had felt earlier had evaporated.

    It¡¯s sad enough when your own efforts seem weak, but it¡¯s even more painful when your friends are much stronger.

    At that moment, Venerable Shenlei opened his eyes, lightning flashing within them.

    "Today, I¡¯ll show you what it means to reach the myth realm in a single day!"

    Venerable Shenlei was filled with confidence.

    The Nine Heavens Responding Thunder General was the lord of all thunder!

    The insights this divine technique had given him were immense.

    He was confident he could reach the divine myth in just one day.

    The other ancient gods all turned to look at Venerable Shenlei, their hearts filled with awe.

    "Reaching the myth realm in a single day¡ªis this even a divine myth technique?"

    ...

    At the top of the Heaven Pillar, in the bamboo house.

    The red-dressed woman sat surrounded by various fish.

    She cradled a bowl of fish in her arms, her eyes blank.

    Suddenly, she seemed to sense something, and a glimmer of joy flashed in her eyes before quickly fading away.

    She spoke to the empty air in front of her.

    "Qi Yuan, I¡¯m hungry."

    Qi Yuan looked at the weakened Foodless Holy Mother, his eyes filled with guilt.

    "That¡¯s on me; I visualized too much." He couldn¡¯t use his spiritual senses to examine the Foodless Holy Mother, but just by looking at her, he could tell she was very weak.

    He glanced at the fish, not hesitating to let blood drip from his fingers¡ªpure, transparent blood that fell onto the fish.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s body suddenly shuddered, and his face grew even paler.

    Using so much blood at once was hard even for him.

    The Foodless Holy Mother stared at the fish, her eyes glowing as if she were looking at the most delicious meal in the world.

    But instead of eating immediately, she looked at Qi Yuan. "How do you do it?"

    "Secret," Qi Yuan replied without hesitation. "Eat slowly, and I hope that by the time I leave, your body will be fully healed. Otherwise, I¡¯ll feel guilty."

    Qi Yuan never liked owing anyone anything.

    The Foodless Holy Mother said nothing, her eyes growing cold again as she slowly ate the fish.

    After some time, she set down her chopsticks, lowering her head as if deep in thought. Finally, she whispered.

    "We¡¯ve met by chance. When you leave, let me know, and I... I¡¯ll see you off."

 Chapter 223: For the Greater Good, Please Go Die

    Chapter 223: For the Greater Good, Please Go Die

    "Eat more fish; it will make the Heaven Pillar stronger."

    Qi Yuan said as he stood nearby.

    This recent visualization had greatly enhanced his subordinates'' strength, as well as his own. The first step of his three-step plan had been completed to perfection. The next step was to lead his army and annihilate the demonic forces of Qingheng Continent with lightning speed.

    The demonic power he would gain from this would allow him to use the Lost Glow Stick again, enabling him to return to the past for one final enhancement.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t sure when that last journey to the past would take him. It could be any time between the present and the Hongtang War or even far before that. But whatever the case, it was a good idea to feed the Foodless Holy Mother more and strengthen the Heaven Pillar further. The next visualization should have even greater results than this one.

    Thinking about this, Qi Yuan asked, "Do you know anything about the ancestral land of the ancient clan?"

    He had always been curious about the ancestral land of the ancient clan but hadn¡¯t found much information about it from others.

    The Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s expression grew complicated. "That place is extremely dangerous. Even a divine myth might perish there."

    "Indeed, without a special method, it¡¯s impossible to enter. Entering recklessly could lead to death even for a divine myth," Qi Yuan agreed.

    It seemed the Foodless Holy Mother didn¡¯t know much more about the ancestral land than he did.

    She lowered her head and continued eating her fish, saying nothing more.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the stars, his face pale. Fortunately, his recent level-ups had been substantial, so the effects of losing the Pure Glazed Blood weren¡¯t too severe. However...

    "Before I leave, make more fish dishes¡ªspicy fish stew, grilled fish with chili, and pickled fish," Qi Yuan continued.

    "Alright."

    For the rest of the day, the Foodless Holy Mother spent her time fishing by the lakeside. Dressed in her red robe, with her long black hair flowing down to her waist, her eyes reflected a coldness that seemed impossible to dispel.

    Qi Yuan lay on a recliner the Foodless Holy Mother had found somewhere, though he wasn¡¯t really resting. He watched the fish in the lake, his mind unusually clear.

    Suddenly, he had a thought and asked the figure not far from him, "If you went back to the past, unable to change anything just like I am now, what would you do?" he asked curiously.

    He truly didn¡¯t have any good way to alter the past. Powerful divine techniques couldn¡¯t be passed on to people in the past since divine techniques must be visualized, not taught. So, he couldn¡¯t really enhance the strength of the Fanxin Realm¡¯s forces.

    What was he supposed to do¡ªteach the Foodless Holy Mother nuclear fission?

    The thought was amusing.

    And even if he did, to a true god, it would be like a weapon for blowing up fish.

    If he could physically go back to the past, Qi Yuan would have the confidence to change history. But in this state, he couldn¡¯t.

    The Foodless Holy Mother hesitated before slowly replying, "I would just be a passerby, looking at the mountains and rivers¡ªthat would be enough."

    "No wonder you''re the number one in the Fanxin Realm. You truly live a carefree life," Qi Yuan said, recalling how during the Hongtang War, the Foodless Holy Mother had led him to travel the mountains and rivers.

    After a few hours passed, the table was filled with various fish dishes. The Foodless Holy Mother wasn¡¯t greedy, making only enough to fill the table.

    The fragrance of the food was strong, though Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t smell it.

    Looking at the fish, Qi Yuan felt a bit of pain in his heart. Still, he let drops of his Pure Glazed Blood fall onto the fish.

    The impurities were cleansed once more, and Qi Yuan''s body swayed slightly, feeling like he had a cultivation version of low blood sugar.

    "Alright, I have to go now," Qi Yuan said, satisfied with his work as he clapped his hands.

    The Foodless Holy Mother glanced at where Qi Yuan had been standing, her gaze then falling on the fish on the table.

    "Thank you."

    "No problem, helping each other is a traditional virtue!" Qi Yuan smiled.

    In his heart, though, he was grumbling.

    "This game really takes everything from you¡ªeven blood."

    Without further hesitation, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure vanished.

    The bamboo house was now empty, and the red-robed woman¡¯s expression froze as if she had realized some truth. A voice filled with despair suddenly echoed in her mind.

    "Swallow him... Swallow everything..."

    A trace of coldness flashed in the woman¡¯s eyes as she looked at the fish in front of her, her gaze becoming even more complex. She chewed slowly, taking half a day to eat just half a fish.

    ...

    In Feiwu City.

    Yuan Kun had never liked the Ancient God Alliance, and now that they had arrived with three great venerables, it was obvious they weren¡¯t here to cooperate but to take over.

    Most of the gods present had never thought much of the Ancient God Alliance, and now, after the alliance had lost over a hundred gods at Sunset Slope, they looked down on it even more.

    "For the sake of the world, the Northern Sea God¡¯s Eye should be controlled by the Ancient God Alliance. The Origin Heavenly Lord has many capable people under his command, but only one great venerable, Qionghua. We don¡¯t feel comfortable with the Northern Sea God¡¯s Eye in his hands. However, if the Ancient God Alliance, which puts the world first, were to control it, we would ensure everyone¡¯s safety," the alliance leader said calmly.

    Currently, the only way to resist the demonic army was through the Northern Sea God¡¯s Eye. Several great venerables working together could build a strong defense, perhaps even deterring the demonic army from sacrificing lives to break through. The Ancient God Alliance was determined to seize control of the Northern Sea God¡¯s Eye.

    Ye Liuyun listened to their words, feeling even more disdainful. They were clearly after power, so why bother with such self-righteous rhetoric? In his view, the Ancient God Alliance was full of hypocrites. Too cowardly to face the demonic army, they chose to bully the Origin Heavenly Lord instead.

    Of course, the alliance leader didn¡¯t know that Qi Yuan was the one who had visualized twenty-one legendaries and eight divine myths, nor that it was Qi Yuan who had summoned the solar phantom. If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to speak so boldly.

    Just then, a lazy voice rang out.

    "Who¡¯s spouting such self-important nonsense? What is this... the Bright Palace¡¯s branch?"

    Qi Yuan, dressed in a green robe, appeared in the hall. He sat down in the main seat, his eyes openly fixed on the Ancient God Alliance leader.

    Seeing Qi Yuan, Ye Liuyun quickly transmitted a message: "Brother Qi, be careful. The Ancient God Alliance is up to no good."

    The alliance leader glanced at Qi Yuan, his voice calm. "My request may seem excessive, but if you hand over control of the Northern Sea God¡¯s Eye to the Ancient God Alliance, we will certainly compensate you!"

    "Are you deaf?" Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze suddenly turned cold.

    The gods in the hall were all taken aback.

    Brother Qi, how can you be so bold as to speak to three great venerables like that!

    At the same time, it was incredibly satisfying.

    They had long despised the Ancient God Alliance, but they had always been too afraid of its power to say anything.

    The alliance leader¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change much as he continued, "Your anger is understandable. But if you hand over control of the Northern Sea God¡¯s Eye, I will let this go..."

    "It seems some people really don¡¯t understand human language," Qi Yuan interrupted. He spread his hands, looking somewhat helpless.

    "When I said you were from the Bright Palace¡¯s branch, I wasn¡¯t making small talk. I was telling you... you¡¯re heading west."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s lazy voice fell, and the gods in the hall were shocked.

    Ye Liuyun¡¯s eyes widened.

    How does Brother Qi dare to keep surprising me like this?

    The other gods were also astonished. The Origin Heavenly Lord¡¯s words had completely offended the Ancient God Alliance. The alliance might not take action now, out of respect for their shared status as ancient gods, but they would certainly take secret revenge later.

    The alliance leader¡¯s expression hardened, but he seemed to maintain his composure. "If you take back what you said, there¡¯s still time."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan seemed to realize something. "You''re right, I should take it back because you¡¯re very strong..."

    The gods in the hall were confused.

    This is too shameless. How can you talk tough and then back down right after?

    Ye Liuyun also had a strange look on his face.

    Is Qi Yuan really going to back down?

    A hint of a smile appeared in the alliance leader¡¯s eyes as he softened his expression. But behind that smile was a barely concealed killing intent.

    Qi Yuan then continued, "The Bright Palace is too weak, just a bunch of Purple Mansions. So, I take back what I said¡ªyou¡¯re not from the Bright Palace¡¯s branch; you¡¯re the Bright Palace itself! And you¡¯re not just heading west; you¡¯re already on your way!"

    The alliance leader¡¯s smile froze, and the killing intent in his eyes was no longer hidden.

    "For the greater good, I won¡¯t hold your words against you," the alliance leader said.

    Qi Yuan, however, lazily replied, "For the greater good, please go die."

    As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Yuan clapped his hands.

    "Huanghun, Huolian, take these three from the Ancient God Alliance and send them on their way!"

    With his command, two terrifying figures suddenly appeared near Qi Yuan, their overwhelming auras spreading through the room.

    The alliance leader¡¯s face turned pale.

    "Huanghun... you¡¯ve become a great venerable?"

    "And Huolian... what¡¯s going on?"

    The ancient gods from the Ancient God Alliance were all shocked. Just a few days ago, they had seen Huanghun and Huolian, both of whom had been in the second step of ascension. Now... how had they become great venerables?

 Chapter 224: The Heavenly Lordâ€™s Plan Is the Only Hope for the Fanxin Realm!

    Chapter 224: The Heavenly Lord¡¯s Plan Is the Only Hope for the Fanxin Realm!

    On Huanghun and Huolian, the Ancient God Alliance''s leader sensed an overwhelming power he couldn¡¯t contend with. This meant... they hadn''t just recently stepped into the fourth step of ascension.

    The three great venerables of the Ancient God Alliance were utterly shocked, feeling as if they were in a nightmare. The other ancient gods were equally stunned by the scene unfolding before them.

    "Kill," Qi Yuan said softly.

    At this command, Venerable Huanghun and Venerable Huolian showed no mercy. Facing their former leader, they acted decisively, unleashing the full power of their divine domains, which immediately crushed the divine domains of the three great venerables from the Ancient God Alliance.

    The leader¡¯s face turned pale. "Fifth step of ascension!"

    "How is this possible?" another venerable cried out in terror.

    "We¡¯re all on the same side¡ªthere¡¯s no need for such violence!" one of the venerables from the Ancient God Alliance pleaded, feeling utterly helpless.

    Unfortunately for them, Venerable Huanghun and Venerable Huolian did not receive any orders from Qi Yuan to hold back, so they pressed their attack.

    Their terrifying divine domains, one of water and the other of fire, crushed the divine domains of the three great venerables as if they were nothing!

    Venerable Huanghun had visualized the Water God of Calamity, who ruled over all the waters of the world. How could these three hope to compete against him?

    Their divine domains, cobbled together without divine authority, were like fragile porcelain dolls in the eyes of Venerable Huanghun and Venerable Huolian, full of weaknesses.

    In just one breath, the divine domains of the three venerables shattered. They were utterly paralyzed.

    A complete slaughter!

    This wasn¡¯t just a difference in cultivation level; it was a disparity in the very essence of their divine domains.

    The strength of a great venerable lay in the divine domain. A divine domain with divine authority was an entirely different concept compared to one without.

    To use an imperfect analogy, it was like comparing a university student who could use mathematical formulas without understanding them to a mathematician who had created those very formulas. The gap was enormous.

    The divine domains of the three great venerables from the Ancient God Alliance were shattered. Then, a wave of divine power surged forth, and the three venerables were slain on the spot.

    Silence.

    Fear, shock... various emotions spread across the faces of the ancient gods present.

    Qi Yuan looked at the corpses of the three venerables and sighed, "Delivering divine power from a thousand miles away, such a thoughtful gesture. To repay this kindness, I¡¯ve decided to eat three extra bowls of rice today."

    The deaths of the three venerables didn¡¯t stir any emotion in Qi Yuan. In fact, he seemed to have a good appetite, ready to enjoy his meal.

    The other ancient gods shifted their gazes toward Qi Yuan, their expressions changing.

    Ye Liuyun remained silent. Qi Yuan¡¯s actions continually shattered his understanding of the world.

    Three great venerables¡ªjust killed like that.

    Even though the venerables of the Ancient God Alliance had murderous intent, they hadn¡¯t outright attacked. But Qi Yuan? He didn¡¯t waste time talking; he simply killed them.

    Ye Liuyun still couldn¡¯t understand how Venerable Huanghun had become a great venerable and, more puzzlingly, how he had reached the fifth step of ascension.

    Qi Yuan looked at the fearful ancient gods and spoke softly, "There¡¯s no need to be afraid. I¡¯m not a bloodthirsty person. These people were from the Bright Palace¡¯s main branch and had a deep grudge against me. Back when I was just building my foundation, they humiliated me in every way possible! But luckily, the day came when I rose up, overthrew the oppressors, and wiped out the Bright Palace! Who would have thought they would set up their main branch here too? I had no choice but to kill them. But rest assured, I am a good person. I never harm the innocent, and I don¡¯t wipe out entire families."

    The people present gave awkward smiles.

    Ye Liuyun really wanted to tell Qi Yuan, "Brother Qi, you might want to use a speechwriter next time. Do you realize your words contradict each other? First, you say you wiped out the Bright Palace, and then you claim you don¡¯t wipe out entire families?"

    The leader of the Ancient Ape Clan, Yuan Kun, was sweating profusely. "My grandson offended the Origin Heavenly Lord, and he was right to kill him. I, Yuan Kun, apologize to the Origin Heavenly Lord!"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze turned cold, and a bone-chilling aura enveloped Yuan Kun.

    Then, he heard Qi Yuan say, "Was the leader of the Ancient God Alliance your grandson? Could it be... that you¡¯re a hidden powerhouse?"

    "Of course not!" Yuan Kun hurriedly explained.

    Qi Yuan relaxed slightly. "Oh, you¡¯re from the Ancient Ape Clan. You scared me for a moment. I was wondering if you were biding your time, planning to take revenge for that golden-furred monkey. I was even thinking about bringing some great venerables and venerables to visit your clan. Don¡¯t worry, I have no ill intentions. I just wanted to bring a wreath for the golden-furred monkey and maybe attend a funeral banquet."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face was full of smiles, looking very amicable.

    But Yuan Kun¡¯s smile was more like a grimace, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

    Qi Yuan said he had no ill intentions? Nonsense.

    Bringing great venerables and venerables to deliver a wreath? Attending a funeral banquet?

    He meant to wipe out the clan!

    Yuan Kun felt lucky he had come here today.

    "Origin Heavenly Lord, my Ancient Ape Clan is willing to fully submit to you and become your subjects!" Yuan Kun gritted his teeth and said.

    He mainly feared that the Origin Heavenly Lord might change his mind and wipe out his clan. After all, he had just seen the three venerables of the Ancient God Alliance killed without hesitation.

    He was terrified!

    "Huh?" Qi Yuan was a bit surprised.

    Someone actually volunteered to become his subject today? Usually, when he tried to recruit gods as his subjects, it was like pulling teeth. And now, an entire clan was offering itself up?

    The ancient gods were stunned into silence by Qi Yuan¡¯s plan.

    Mobilize the entire village to attack the demonic army¡¯s main base on Qingheng Continent?

    How... delusional!

    But out of fear of Qi Yuan, none of the ancient gods dared to speak up.

    Seeing their reaction, Qi Yuan asked, "Isn¡¯t my plan good? Why aren¡¯t you applauding?"

    "Absolutely," Ye Liuyun said with difficulty.

    Yuan Kun also grunted, "Absolutely."

    The other ancient gods, seeing this, quickly echoed, "Absolutely."

    The plan was indeed... absolute.

    "Why no applause? Are you afraid of smashing the green wood table with too much force?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Finally, Ye Liuyun couldn¡¯t hold back. "Origin Heavenly Lord, you can¡¯t be serious about this plan, right?"

    He had some familiarity with Qi Yuan, which gave him the courage to speak up.

    "Of course I¡¯m serious. The plan is already in motion. All the villagers say it¡¯s a great plan and fully support it! Since you¡¯re all new here and a bit weaker, you don¡¯t need to participate this time. But in a few days, when I counterattack Tianzhu, you can join in," Qi Yuan said casually.

    "Counterattack Tianzhu? Us?" Yuan Kun was bewildered.

    If the previous plan sounded ridiculous, what could this possibly be?

    If they tried to counterattack Tianzhu, wouldn¡¯t they just be marching to their deaths?

    They wouldn¡¯t even make it there before dying on the way.

    "Don¡¯t worry, my plan is well thought out. You just need to play your roles, and follow my guidance. From now on, the people of Fanxin will once again become the masters of the Fanxin Realm. With firm belief, we will make the Fanxin Realm great again!" Qi Yuan said, casually borrowing a famous speech.

    He wondered if he should find time to destroy Earth, just in case anyone noticed the plagiarism. That might be awkward.

    However, Qi Yuan thought that these words were quite powerful. He felt a surge of adrenaline, even thinking that he might go straight to the factory to work tirelessly for 24 hours screwing bolts. The ancient gods here must also be feeling quite inspired, right?

    Looking at the silent ancient gods, Qi Yuan said, "I understand. My words were so rousing that you need time to savor them. I won''t disturb your reflection."

    With that, Qi Yuan''s figure disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.

    Only then did the gathered ancient gods dare to exhale deeply.

    "That was terrifying!"

    "Sigh."

    They had been too scared to speak while Qi Yuan was present, and now that he was gone, they finally felt some relief. But their minds were still in turmoil, unable to process everything that had happened today, which felt more surreal than anything they had ever experienced.

    Ye Liuyun turned to Huanghun Venerable, who hadn¡¯t left yet, and asked, "Venerable Huanghun, are you really going to attack General Li Yang¡¯s forces today?"

    Huanghun Venerable¡¯s eyes twinkled with a smile. "Yes."

    The gathered ancient gods'' breath quickened.

    It was true!

    "Isn''t that... suicide?" one ancient god muttered.

    At that moment, the tall and elegant Venerable Huolian spoke up, "If anyone is going to die, it¡¯s General Li Yang."

    Her face was full of admiration and reverence as she spoke of Qi Yuan. "The Heavenly Lord¡¯s power is unimaginable. Even the god above Tianzhu isn¡¯t worthy of tying his shoes!"

    The ancient gods, who had received divine teachings from Qi Yuan, held many different theories about his identity. The most popular one was that the Heavenly Lord was a reincarnation of a supreme being. The gods they were visualizing were all former subordinates of this being. Though the Heavenly Lord was still weak now, his future potential was limitless.

    The other ancient gods exchanged uneasy glances, not quite understanding what Venerable Huolian meant.

    "You can¡¯t comprehend the Heavenly Lord¡¯s power yet, which is understandable," Venerable Huolian said. "But every action the Heavenly Lord takes is part of a well-calculated plan. If he dares to launch a counterattack against General Li Yang, and even dares to take down the god above Tianzhu, then he must have absolute confidence in his success. Let me give you a glimpse of the Heavenly Lord''s might."

    "Did you see the sun that fell today? That sun... the Heavenly Lord said it¡¯s his golden core!"

    "What?"

    "The sun belongs to the Origin Heavenly Lord?"

    "How... is that even possible?"

    "No wonder!"

    The gathered ancient gods were in an uproar, their shock evident. The sun in the sky... was the Origin Heavenly Lord¡¯s golden core?

    In that case...

    Venerable Huolian continued, "The Heavenly Lord¡¯s strength now is not even a tenth of what it will be in his full power. Facing the god above Tianzhu might still pose some danger. Honestly, I don''t know how things will turn out. But this is our last chance, isn¡¯t it?"

    For a long time now, the Fanxin Realm had been without hope. The so-called "God Plan," where a few people escaped the Fanxin Realm, was nothing more than self-deception. To Venerable Huolian, thinking that escaping with a few survivors meant the Fanxin Realm was saved was laughable.

    "The Heavenly Lord¡¯s plan is the only hope left for the Fanxin Realm!"

 Chapter 225: The Battle Begins

    Chapter 225: The Battle Begins

    Seeing the admiration and respect on Venerable Huolian¡¯s face, the gods present were deeply shocked.

    Even if Huolian Venerable was deceiving them, her cultivation level couldn''t be faked.

    From stepping into the second step of the sky to reaching the fifth step¡ªthat was a leap of three full levels, which would normally take a true god tens of thousands of years to achieve.

    And after the great changes in heaven and earth, advancing became even more difficult, especially from the rank of a Venerable to a Grand Venerable. Not everyone had the opportunity to condense a divine domain.

    In just a few days, Huolian Venerable''s earth-shattering transformation was simply astonishing.

    If only Huolian had undergone such a terrifying transformation, they might have thought that the Origin Heavenly Lord was merely infatuated with women. But since Huanghun had also transformed similarly, it couldn¡¯t be explained by simple desire.

    Ye Liuyun¡¯s breathing quickened.

    Divine Visualization!

    A sudden surge in strength could only be explained by divine visualization.

    Suddenly, Ye Liuyun remembered the powerful dragon clans that Qi Yuan had mentioned. His body trembled uncontrollably.

    If they were all real... and he obtained them, what kind of opportunity would that be?

    He regretted it deeply. After the Hundred Flowers Gathering, he should have followed Qi Yuan to Qingshui Village.

    Anyway, now he was already a citizen. If he had gone earlier, perhaps he would be a Grand Venerable by now.

    He was filled with remorse.

    The other ancient gods present also had various thoughts in their minds.

    "Tonight, the battle will begin. To prevent any information from leaking out, everyone here will rest for one day," Huolian Venerable¡¯s voice remained gentle as always, her long hair flowing, her temples soft.

    "Isn¡¯t one day too short? How about we wait until the battle is almost over?" Yuan Kun said calmly.

    "We have no complaints; staying here for a few more days is fine."

    "The Heavenly Lord''s plan is of utmost importance!"

    These people quickly adopted their roles, thinking on behalf of Qi Yuan.

    Venerable Huanghun and Venerable Huolian did not explain further. After giving a few instructions, the two figures disappeared.

    As night gradually descended, several terrifying figures gathered in the hall.

    Standing below Qi Yuan was a group of ancient gods.

    These ancient gods were now all Grand Venerables, their strength formidable.

    They gathered to discuss the upcoming attack on the evil gods¡¯ base in Qingheng Continent.

    Venerable Shenlei was in high spirits, his gaze sharp: "There are two mythic figures in Qingheng Continent, one is General Li Yang, and the other is Deputy General Tai Zhong. These two, leave them to me; I can suppress them with one hand!"

    The elder of the twin sisters, usually reserved, now revealed her edge: "Though we, the Nine Luminaries, have only reached the fifth step, our divine domains can overlap and reinforce each other. Together, we can fight a mythic figure."

    Standing among the group, Venerable Zanghun secretly glanced at Venerable Shenlei.

    Now, with eight ancient gods supporting each other, he had grown bolder and was no longer so fearful of Venerable Shenlei.

    "Although I have only reached the sixth step, I can still hold off a mythic figure for a time," said a low-key old man who had visualized the Southern True Wanfux Tianzun, one of the Ten Great Tianzun.

    Qi Yuan nodded. Among the ancient gods present, there were three who could combine their strength to achieve mythic-level combat power.

    And this was only temporary. Given time, Qi Yuan believed that in a hundred or a thousand years, there would be twenty or thirty mythic-level combatants.

    But Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t wait that long.

    "Although our current strength still falls short of that of the evil gods, it is far greater than that of General Li Yang!" Qi Yuan said confidently.

    At that moment, a voice came through: "Heavenly Lord, Venerable Lishan has arrived!"

    Qi Yuan was surprised.

    Venerable Lishan had actually come from the southern region to the northern region?

    "Let him in," Qi Yuan instructed.

    The ancient gods present were brimming with confidence.

    Venerable Shenlei continued, "Now is the perfect time to strike! I believe we should head to the evil gods'' base in Qingheng Continent right now and slaughter them until rivers of blood flow!"

    "Venerable Shenlei, is this what you call being steady? Didn¡¯t you promise me you wouldn¡¯t be reckless?" At that moment, a grumbling voice came through.

    Venerable Lishan, with his white hair, entered and looked at Venerable Shenlei as if he wanted to tear him apart.

    Previously, Venerable Shenlei had complained to him, claiming that he wasn¡¯t the reckless one, but that the Origin Heavenly Lord was. At the time, Venerable Lishan had believed him and had considered the Origin Heavenly Lord to be a reckless fool.

    But what did he hear as soon as he arrived?

    "Head to the evil gods'' base in Qingheng Continent right now and slaughter them until rivers of blood flow?"

    Clearly, Venerable Shenlei had been deceiving him; Venerable Shenlei was always reckless and had been egging on the Origin Heavenly Lord. He had misunderstood the Origin Heavenly Lord.

    Venerable Lishan was furious, glaring at Venerable Shenlei.

    Venerable Shenlei looked at Venerable Lishan, a smile appearing on his face. "Lishan, I''m not being reckless. I''m very steady. I only plan to take on the two mythic figures in Qingheng Continent. The other rabble, I''ll leave to the other ancient gods. Normally, I would take them all on myself. Isn''t that mature and steady?"

    Venerable Lishan was taken aback.

    He didn¡¯t immediately understand Venerable Shenlei¡¯s words.

    Venerable Shenlei continued to smile. "Lishan, open your eyes and see what my cultivation level is now."

    Venerable Shenlei¡¯s divine domain unfolded at that moment.

    In an instant, endless thunder filled the air.

    A terrifying divine domain seemed to turn the world into a sea of lightning.

    Venerable Lishan¡¯s white hair stood on end.

    "With no mythic figure among them, how dare they challenge us? Once the lord¡¯s orders arrive, we¡¯ll rally our forces and sweep away these insignificant foes!"

    General Li Yang¡¯s eyes were filled with confidence.

    Without the assistance of a Yang God, the enemies in the Fanxin Realm were nothing to worry about.

    To him, they were merely chickens and dogs.

    "You''re right, General. Without a Yang God to back them up, these people are just a bunch of clowns," Deputy General Tai Zhong said, a sneer of contempt appearing on his face.

    With just one move, he had nearly turned the southern region upside down.

    The so-called foundations of the Fanxin Realm were laughable in his eyes.

    But just at that moment, a vast and overwhelming voice suddenly echoed across the sky, like world-ending thunder:

    "I command the life and death of all beings, reward and punishment for good and evil."

    "I oversee the Five Thunders and govern the Three Realms."

    "Now, I summon the Thunder of Myriad Calamities to strike down demons and cleanse the heavens of all evil!"

    With this resounding declaration, the entire sky above the evil gods'' base became shrouded in dark clouds.

    Lightning crackled and rumbled, filling the sky.

    The sea of thunder seemed to pour down, the divine prison imposing its will.

    Amidst the endless lightning, the shadows of countless terrifying deities began to appear.

    Nine Heavens Thunder Generals, Eight Directions Cloud and Thunder Generals,

    Five Thunder Kings, Thirty-Six Thunder Lords, Five Barbarian Thunder Envoys, Twenty-Four Protector Heavenly Lords...

    Endless numbers of Thunder Division soldiers and generals waved their flags and commanded the lightning.

    "Kill!"

    "Kill!"

    "Kill!"

    The sound of war drums echoed, and the word "kill" surged like a tide.

    Within the evil gods'' base, all the evil gods turned pale.

    It was as if they were suddenly surrounded by a million true gods!

    The evil gods'' base fell into complete chaos.

    General Li Yang¡¯s eyes flashed with horror.

    "Mythic figure!"

    "Divine Domain!"

    How could such a figure exist in this realm?

    There was no time for him to think. He roared, "This is a divine domain of a mythic figure! All these deities are mere illusions, not real!"

    He was trying to dispel the fear in his subordinates'' hearts.

    But his roar did little to quell the overwhelming fear among the true gods.

    Because even if they were just shadows, they could feel an overwhelming, unbeatable presence and the crushing pressure it brought.

    If these were not mere shadows, what then?

    They couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine!

    General Li Yang was growing anxious.

    Even he felt a strong sense of danger from the mythic figure standing before them.

    Moreover, this mythic figure had directly unleashed a divine domain that completely enveloped the evil gods'' base.

    General Li Yang let out a thunderous shout.

    "Lord Blood God, grant me your divine light to dispel this illusion!"

    His divine domain expanded at that moment.

    Above the sky, a small star suddenly shone brightly.

    Within the realm of thunder, a blood-red light began to glow.

    General Li Yang''s body seemed to be made entirely of overwhelming blood light.

    He stood under the thunder, with endless blood light beneath him.

    But facing the invincible power of the thunder, the blood light in the divine domain trembled.

    Deputy General Tai Zhong saw this and quickly activated his own divine domain. "General, let me help you!"

    The two mythic figures joined forces to face the terrifying enemy.

    Above the sky, Venerable Shenlei¡¯s purple eyes remained indifferent, countless reflections of lightning dancing within them.

    A majestic voice resounded.

    "Above, I illuminate the Great Dao of Heaven; below, I relieve the suffering of the underworld."

    "Your delusions have taken root in your heart, and for that, you must be slain!"

    "Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, heed my command, kill!"

    With Venerable Shenlei¡¯s thunderous command, the battle within the divine domain finally began.

    In an instant, endless lightning transformed into countless divine generals and heavenly soldiers, descending from the sky and charging into the sea of blood.

 Chapter 226: A Jumble of Divine Domains

    Chapter 226: A Jumble of Divine Domains

    Nearly a million bolts of purple lightning descended from the sky, crashing into the blood-red divine domain. Each bolt of lightning transformed into a soldier or a god of the Thunder Division, or into a Thunder Lord or Thunder King.

    This was no simple plea for help from the Thunder God and Mother of Lightning; it was a command that all gods of thunder obey!

    Within the divine domain, countless thunder gods descended to cleanse the blood-red domain, bringing justice to the wronged and smiting the evil demons.

    General Li Yang and Deputy General Tai Zhong, two mythic figures, joined forces¡ªone even had the support of a star.

    Yet, under the crushing power of the divine lightning prison, they were utterly overwhelmed!

    With just one clash, General Li Yang''s face was marred with blood-red cracks, from which a bloody glow continuously seeped. His eyes were filled with disbelief.

    "Who exactly is the god you worship?"

    He couldn''t comprehend it, and a deep fear took root in his heart. The towering figure of the Thunder Ancestor seated in the heavens was too terrifying for him to even glance at directly.

    Not to mention the master of the divine domain¡ªjust the terrifying gods formed from the lightning, even as mere shadows, were enough to suffocate him with their pressure.

    And there weren''t just one or two of these shadows¡ªthere were hundreds.

    If mere shadows could wield such power, what would the true forms of these gods be like?

    He couldn''t even imagine.

    What kind of enemy was he facing?

    Venerable Shenlei stood in the void, his long robe billowing, surrounded by countless flashing bolts of lightning.

    He wasted no words, his voice thundering like a storm.

    "Great, merciful sage, sovereign of the supreme Dao!"

    As his voice echoed, all the gods formed by the lightning suddenly expanded tenfold, a hundredfold.

    Their auras became unimaginably terrifying! These heavenly gods, descended by the order of the Thunder Ancestor, were here to sweep away all evil gods.

    General Li Yang''s divine domain was fracturing under the pressure.

    Without the support of his star, he would likely have perished by now.

    Yet, even with it, his divine domain was already one-third shattered after just a brief clash.

    The two opponents were on completely different levels!

    Meanwhile, outside the divine domain, the battle was just as intense.

    In the skies above Qingheng Continent, nine massive star shadows suddenly appeared. Everyone in the continent who looked up could see these terrifying star shadows.

    It was as if they could reach out and touch the edges of these stars with their hands.

    Each star emitted a terrifying aura.

    Nine stars encircled the sky, waging war!

    It was said that the nine celestial lords governed all the fortunes and misfortunes of gods, and now, their wrath was evident.

    "Boundless Tai Chi, the nine stars conquer the heavens!"

    One twin represented the sun, the other the moon.

    Yin and yang combined to form the Tai Chi!

    As the nine celestial lords roared, a massive Tai Chi symbol, like a sky-covering canopy, was forcibly slammed down onto the earth.

    Seven stars shone brightly within it!

    Countless evil gods, like fireflies, rose into the sky.

    But within the great formation of the nine celestial lords, there was no escape.

    They were like primitive tribesmen in animal skins, wielding wooden spears, charging at a modernized army of steel and iron.

    Their only fate was death.

    "Ah!"

    "No!"

    "All the great lords, heed my command! Break through!"

    The evil gods'' base was in chaos.

    The disordered evil god army began to form battle lines, attempting to fight back against the nine celestial lords.

    However, a thousand supreme beings might be able to kill one great supreme, but a thousand exalted beings couldn''t even harm a great lord.

    The gap between divine domains couldn''t be bridged by sheer numbers!

    The nine celestial lords, when united, could even fight against mythic figures!

    How could these exalted beings and ordinary great lords compare?

    The divine domains granted by Qi Yuan''s god-vision technique were all from the orthodox gods of the heavenly court.

    They ruled over the thirty-three heavens, each one possessing boundless power.

    Their divine domains even coalesced into divine offices.

    Their power was ten times greater than those of the same rank.

    Nine great lords, each at the peak of their power, united to unleash unimaginable devastation!

    And beyond the nine celestial lords, other true gods tore through the evil god army like a hot knife through butter!

    The war was completely one-sided!

    The evil god base was in ruins.

    Everywhere was engulfed by divine domains, and ordinary exalted beings were killed in the crossfire without even realizing it.

    Miles away, all the cultivators and ancient gods couldn''t help but soar into the sky, watching from afar as the massacre unfolded.

    They couldn''t see the specific details, but they could see an endless sea of lightning hanging upside down, as if it were about to swallow the world; they could see the nine stars suspended in the sky, with countless evil gods throwing themselves into the flames, only to fall back down.

    "A great battle is taking place at the evil god base!"

    "These are definitely mythic figures!"

    Most divine domains are pure and focused, as this allows them to unleash their full power. Even if other attributes are present, they¡¯re usually minor.

    But this one was a total mishmash.

    "How did idiots like you manage to cultivate to the mythic level? Didn¡¯t I already tell you that you were going to die? In context, it¡¯s clear that this is your burial ground. Haven¡¯t you ever learned reading comprehension in school? If you can¡¯t even answer a question like this, how did you reach the mythic level? The world is too unfair. I, Qi Yuan, will do the world a favor by killing you and restoring a bit of fairness."

    As Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed, the sword transformed into countless blood-red bullets!

    "Nameless Gatling Bodhisattva, d-d-d-d-d-d!"

    The bullets transformed into terrifying giant serpents, opening their bloody maws to devour the two evil god generals.

    The two evil god generals screamed in agony, their divine domains crumbling like paper under Qi Yuan''s assault.

    Their minds and spirits began to fracture under the relentless onslaught.

    "Don''t kill us... Ah!"

    "With such a chaotic divine domain, you''ll never reach the Yang God level!"

    "When our master takes action, you''re dead for sure... Spare us!"

    The two evil god generals begged for mercy.

    They had cultivated for most of their lives, even obtaining the opportunity to illuminate the heavens. They didn¡¯t want to die here.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked up at the starry sky.

    Two stars were dim, and shadowy red figures were gnawing at them.

    "You have such big stars, so much land, and yet you¡¯re letting it all go to waste without housing anyone. Such a waste! With housing prices so high, you two have contributed greatly to the problem!"

    "What are you even talking about?!"

    "The Yang Gods are invincible!"

    "I''m saying... Why aren''t there people living on the Sun? These Sun Gods are just greedy landlords!"

    The sword light flashed, and the two evil god generals'' divine domains shattered in that instant.

    Two tiny specks of dust were added to Qi Yuan''s divine domain.

    A torrent of evil god power surged into him, and Qi Yuan''s experience bar shot up wildly.

    "Mythic level... is this weak?"

    "Or maybe... I¡¯m just too strong?"

    By this time, the battle at the evil god base in Qingheng Continent was drawing to a close.

    General Li Yang had been slain by Venerable Shenlei. The latter''s eyes still sparkled with purple lightning, clearly indicating that he hadn''t had enough of the fight.

    He plunged back into the battlefield, slaughtering evil gods left and right.

    The sounds of slaughter and thunder filled the air.

    Moments later, the bloodied ancient gods stood beneath Qi Yuan, their eyes full of fierce determination.

    The evil gods of the base had all been exterminated.

    Venerable Shenlei stood beside Qi Yuan, his gaze domineering. But when he looked at Qi Yuan, it turned to reverence.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan finally spoke, "Everyone, I suddenly realized that I¡¯m really strong. Just now, I casually killed two mythic-level beings."

    At these words, the ancient gods present remained calm, showing no surprise.

    After all, wasn¡¯t it normal for the Origin Heavenly Lord to kill mythic-level beings?

    "If we¡¯re this strong, why not take the opportunity to wipe out all the other evil god bases too?" Qi Yuan suggested, having carefully considered his decision.

    "Good!" Venerable Shenlei quickly agreed.

    He was eager for more battle, to slay more mythic-level beings.

    "Kill! I want to keep killing!" Venerable Huolian, no longer showing any semblance of a lady, had completely transformed.

    The other ancient gods also nodded, their hearts burning with fervent intent.

    "Kill!"

    "Cleanse the Northlands, restore our homeland!"

    They were all fired up.

    "In that case..." Qi Yuan was about to announce a new battle plan when his eyes suddenly narrowed. "They''re fleeing!"

    At that moment, all the ancient gods looked up at the sky.

    In the northern sky, countless beams of light shot up, forming pathways to the heavens.

    Tens of thousands of evil gods were crammed into these pathways, fleeing from the Mortal Heart Realm.

    "They¡¯re fleeing?"

    "They¡¯re really running away!"

    "How could they flee?"

    The ancient gods were dumbfounded, struggling to process the surreal scene.

    The evil gods, who had ravaged the Mortal Heart Realm for hundreds of thousands of years... were just running away.

    Without looking back, with no hesitation, they fled.

    "They¡¯re running... This is too boring, I wanted to keep killing," Qi Yuan muttered in disappointment.

    At that moment, Venerable Shenlei''s voice boomed, "Deity, I¡¯ve also come up with a plan, inspired by you!"

    "What plan?" Qi Yuan asked, intrigued.

    "Lord, since you¡¯re disappointed at the lack of opponents, I propose a two-step plan: first, we immediately attack the Tianzhu (Heaven Pillar) and capture the Yang God; second, after capturing the Yang God, we will launch an all-out counterattack against the evil god realms!" Venerable Shenlei proposed excitedly.

    Qi Yuan blinked, then looked at Venerable Shenlei with a meaningful gaze. "Are you out of your mind, or do you think I''m stupid? Marching against the Yang God now... would be suicide."

    Qi Yuan was feeling confident, but not so much that he¡¯d get himself killed.

    "And another thing... plagiarism is disgraceful! You took my plan, split it up, and then claimed it as your own. Have you no shame? I¡¯ve never plagiarized, and I won¡¯t tolerate my followers doing it either!"

 Chapter 227: The Youthful Heavenly Emperor

    Chapter 227: The Youthful Heavenly Emperor

    Venerable Shenlei, after hearing Qi Yuan''s reprimand, lowered his head, wanting to retort but finding no words. The plan was indeed borrowed from the Origin Deity.

    "Your plan is not thorough enough, we should go with mine," Qi Yuan said, his gaze fixed on the distant northern lands.

    Beams of light shot straight into the sky, with countless new gods crammed into them, fleeing from the Mortal Heart Realm.

    The sight left the ancient gods present deeply moved.

    Venerable Lishan was equally astonished, never having imagined that one day he would witness such a scene.

    Venerable Huanghun, with a complicated expression, said, "I never realized... that we had become this powerful."

    Powerful enough that, before the battle was even over, the remaining enemies had already begun to flee.

    "It''s not that we''re too strong, it''s that the Heavenly Lord is too terrifying!" Ancient God Wangsong remarked appropriately, looking at Qi Yuan with great respect.

    The other ancient gods turned their gaze towards Qi Yuan. Indeed, Wangsong was right.

    Without the Origin Heavenly Lord, they would still be lost in confusion, worrying endlessly about the fate of the Mortal Heart Realm. They wouldn''t have been able to scare away the evil gods, let alone launch a counterattack against them.

    The changes Qi Yuan had brought to this world were monumental.

    "Fortunately, I''m just a humble cultivator in the Golden Core realm. There''s no need to praise me so much, it''s quite embarrassing," Qi Yuan said, feeling a bit shy. He believed he was just a regular player in a game, not some mighty God¡ªthe real powerhouses were the Three Pure Ones.

    The ancient gods were left speechless. Venerable Shenlei, in particular, wanted to tell Qi Yuan, "Stop being so modest¡ªshow the same pride you had when you boasted about your stellar elixir."

    Back then, that incident had left Venerable Shenlei completely dumbfounded.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the beams of light and felt a mix of emotions. "These evil gods fleeing have messed up my plan!"

    Originally, his plan had included measures specifically targeting these evil gods. With them fleeing, that part of his plan was now incomplete.

    "But fortunately, most of those who escaped were from the evil god stronghold and their military camps. There are still many evil gods stationed in the cities who haven''t had time to flee," Qi Yuan said, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

    "We should immediately take action and sweep across the northern lands, eliminating the remaining gods!" Ancient God Wangsong suggested promptly.

    Qi Yuan nodded, "It will be hard work for you all. No time for a banquet, just keep working. I never thought I¡¯d end up like a capitalist."

    The other ancient gods, filled with battle spirit, immediately took their leave to hunt down the evil gods still lurking in the Mortal Heart Realm.

    ...

    In Huaye City, the atmosphere had been tense ever since the evil god camp was bombed several days ago, with many evil gods coming to investigate.

    Huaye City, already chaotic, became even more fraught with tension.

    Inside the Red Leaf Pavilion, Xiao Xing, dressed in a yellow long dress, gazed at the sky. The sky, with its strange mix of blue and faint red, had left her in a daze.

    Aunt Liu, standing beside Xiao Xing, patted her on the shoulder and took a deep breath. "Was what we just saw... real?"

    Xiao Xing snapped out of her daze, nodding vigorously, her expression a mix of hesitation and excitement. "It was real!"

    Too much had happened in just one day. First, the sun fell from the sky, then came the ocean of lightning and the nine stars hanging in the sky. Such events were far beyond their understanding as mere cultivators in the Purple Mansion realm.

    Finally, those terrifying beams of light shot into the sky, leaving them more bewildered than ever, unsure of what had just transpired. But they knew it had to be something earth-shattering, especially when the evil gods investigating Huaye City saw the beams and fled frantically, muttering, "Wait for me!"

    The Red Leaf Pavilion, which had been collecting information on the evil gods for the ancient gods for centuries, had an inkling of what this might mean. The hearts of all the ancient gods were filled with a mix of emotions.

    Just then, a clear voice echoed from outside the room.

    "Last time, I left in a hurry and didn''t pay. How about this: I''ll treat you all to a banquet."

    Outside the room, Qi Yuan stood with a bright smile, speaking softly.

    The last time he and Zhu Zhuangshi had blown up the evil god camp, they had dined and dashed at the Red Leaf Pavilion, something that had weighed on Qi Yuan''s conscience. Remembering his promise to treat everyone in Huaye City to a feast, he had decided to come back.

    The Red Leaf Pavilion had once been the home of the No-Food Mother, and Qi Yuan thought it might be a good idea to turn it into a memorial.

    Inside the room, Xiao Xing and Aunt Liu heard the familiar voice, and their eyes widened in surprise.

    "Great one!" They hurried to open the door, looking at Qi Yuan with a mix of emotions.

    "Great one, you saved Huaye City from the evil gods¡ªhow could we possibly ask you for tea money?" Aunt Liu quickly said, her voice trembling slightly.

    She looked at Qi Yuan with a heart full of gratitude and awe. In her understanding, Qi Yuan had to be at least a venerable one or higher. The thunderous event at the evil god camp might have been connected to the recent lightning ocean.

    How could she not be amazed?

    "I have another reason for coming here. Would you consider selling the Red Leaf Pavilion to me?" Qi Yuan asked gently.

    He was considering turning the place into a memorial for the No-Food Mother, who had once been the top figure in the Mortal Heart Realm.

    Aunt Liu was taken aback, then looked at Qi Yuan with a bit of hesitation. "We are followers of the Foodless Holy Mother. We gather information on the evil gods for the ancient gods... If we sell the Red Leaf Pavilion to you, we wouldn''t be able to continue our work."

    Aunt Liu and Xiao Xing both hesitated. They were dedicated to the cause of the Mortal Heart Realm, to gathering information for the ancient gods. Even if the information they gathered had only a small impact, they still felt it was worth doing.

    "You don''t need to worry about that anymore. You can now live the life you want," Qi Yuan said softly, his voice gentle. "Did you see those beams of light just now? That was the evil gods scrambling to flee the Mortal Heart Realm."

    Xiao Xing''s eyes widened, and Aunt Liu''s body tensed at his words.

    "Is this true?" Xiao Xing''s eyes filled with tears.

    "Of course," Qi Yuan replied with a smile. Then, he flew into the sky and announced, "The Origin Heavenly God has arrived! The people of Huaye City... it''s time to feast! Tonight... we feast!"

    ...

    A mythic-level contemplation method was a crucial part of the mythic plan. Manifesting such a method would greatly enhance the power of the Mortal Heart Realm, aiding in the implementation of the plan.

    "Oh? A mythic-level contemplation method? Not bad, that¡¯s impressive. There are a few bottles of pills in my cave¡ªtake them as a reward. I have to go out now, I¡¯m in a hurry," his master¡¯s voice was calm and composed, without any great excitement.

    This reaction left Dongjiang He stunned.

    He didn¡¯t understand. He had just manifested a mythic-level contemplation method, shouldn¡¯t his master be overjoyed... shouldn¡¯t he be moved to tears?

    How could he still be thinking about going out, and what could be more urgent than this?

    "Master, what¡¯s the emergency?" Dongjiang He couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    "Just now, a great battle occurred in the northern lands, and it seems that three evil god generals were killed. The entire army of the evil god stronghold has fled the Mortal Heart Realm!" his master said, his figure turning into a stream of light, with a final message echoing in Dongjiang He''s mind, "I have to go and confer with the other ancient gods, we¡¯ll talk later!"

    The vast mountains were left empty, with only Dongjiang He standing there.

    He was utterly bewildered, his mind unable to process what had just happened.

    "I was just contemplating... and the world changed?"

    Dongjiang He was in complete shock.

    How could this be happening?

    And what his master had just said... was too terrifying.

    The evil god army was routed?

    It was inconceivable. Even in his wildest dreams, Dongjiang He wouldn''t dare to imagine something so incredible.

    It was as if someone was playing a game.

    Maybe they should let him play next?

    He stood there for an indeterminate amount of time before re-entering the chat group.

    This time, many members were online.

    Dongjiang He immediately saw a message from the Origin Deity.

    "Jiang He is right, manifesting mythic contemplation methods is indeed easy."

    The message had come from none other than the Origin Heavenly God.

    Below, many familiar faces were replying.

    "Origin Heavenly God, the northern evil gods fleeing... was that your doing?"

    "The thunderous ocean, the nine stars in the sky¡ªwere those all manifestations of mythic-level contemplation methods?"

    "Origin Heavenly God, was that all your work...?"

    The group was buzzing with excitement.

    Dongjiang He¡¯s earlier message about his own mythic-level contemplation method had been completely overshadowed.

    No one even cared about it.

    Dongjiang He felt like coughing up blood.

    But now, he was also extremely curious.

    "What on earth happened?!"

    Without having seen it for himself, everything felt too unreal, like a dream.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the messages in the group and responded.

    "I always thought the evil gods were powerful, but it turns out they¡¯re not that tough."

    "The one who unleashed the thunderous ocean was the old man Shenlei. I gave him a slightly powerful contemplation method, and he jumped from the fourth step to the seventh step, taking down two evil god generals on his own."

    "As for the nine stars, those nine received nine mythic-level contemplation methods, but they¡¯re a bit weaker, so the power was just average."

    "The evil god generals aren¡¯t that formidable, really. I killed two of them with a single sword stroke. I suspect the evil gods are all paper tigers, especially the generals. Maybe any one of you could take them down with a well-timed attack."

    Qi Yuan''s words were calm, but the ancient gods were stunned.

    Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be only eight mythic-level contemplation methods?

    Dongjiang He had thought that those eight had all been given to ordinary people.

    But now, Shenlei Venerable had one too?

    And the Origin Heavenly God killed two evil god generals with a single sword stroke... Wasn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated?

    This couldn¡¯t be real¡ªit had to be a lie!

    Dongjiang He refused to accept this reality.

    "Origin Heavenly God, didn¡¯t you only manifest eight mythic-level contemplation methods?" Shen Miao Venerable asked, trembling slightly.

    "I... manifested them before," Qi Yuan, sitting in the Red Leaf Pavilion, replied simply.

    It was true¡ªhe had manifested them in the past.

 Chapter 228: The World Seed

    Chapter 228: The World Seed

    "When? When was this?" The ancient gods present were puzzled, their minds reeling with disbelief.

    "Was the Northern Battle really your doing, Origin God?"

    "So, it''s true!"

    "Such a shame about Venerable Tianbao, not being able to witness this moment."

    "I heard the evil god stronghold fled entirely¡ªwhat a relief!"

    But "relief" doesn''t quite capture it! The Mortal Heart Realm has been oppressed for so long, unable to deal with the evil gods. And now... they were driven off by the Origin God! So much has happened in such a short span, and without any warning.

    "Origin God, mighty and powerful!"

    "All hail the Origin God, eternal and unyielding!"

    "Origin God, a god among gods!"

    The chat group was in an uproar; only such outbursts could express their overwhelming excitement.

    "What¡¯s going on? Did the Origin Heavenly God manifest another legendary feat?"

    Messages flooded the chat.

    At this point, Qi Yuan remembered something and asked in the group, "Since we''ve known each other for a while, how about I offer you all some benefits? Interested?"

    "What kind of benefits?" asked Black Dragon Venerable.

    "Even if the Origin God sends me to the wilderness, I''d gladly go!" replied Venerable Shenmao earnestly.

    "I second that," Venerable Baixi chimed in, deeply moved.

    He still remembered the first time he met the Origin God in the group¡ªback then, the Origin Deity was still somewhat naive and modest, even calling him "senior." But now, the Origin Deity had become a dominant force. Through his master, Venerable Lishan, Baixi had learned that the events in the Northern Region were indeed true. The Origin God, leading the people of Qingshui Village and the surrounding villages, had utterly devastated the evil god stronghold. It was almost unimaginable. Could it be that every villager in that place was a prodigy?

    "Come to the Lin Kingdom, Feiwu City, and become my citizens!" Qi Yuan extended the invitation, "Since we''ve met, I''ll lead you in a counterattack against the evil gods!"

    The game wasn''t over yet, with the Yang Gods in the Heaven Pillar still devouring the Heavenly Dao. Qi Yuan was quietly accumulating his strength. In more sophisticated terms, the Yang Gods'' path had reached its end, but he still had a long way to go.

    "Citizens!"

    "I, Venerable Shenmao, am the first to agree!"

    "Becoming a citizen? I¡¯d do it even if it meant dying!"

    After all, the Origin God had done a great favor for the Mortal Heart Realm. The God''s kindness is something to be repaid over lifetimes, so becoming a citizen is no big deal.

    "I agree too!" Venerable Baixi responded. His master had already become a citizen of the Origin God, so why should he hesitate?

    Seeing the other ancient gods in the group so excited, Dongjiang He was left speechless. He was a young Heavenly Emperor who had manifested a mythic-level contemplation method. Becoming someone else''s citizen felt beneath him. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to lower his pride like that.

    "I have a form you need to fill out. I''ll send you the information. If you want to become my citizens, fill it out, and I''ll send you some benefits," Qi Yuan said, like a wealthy deity casually distributing his wealth.

    After all, he was earning so much so easily. If he were earning only a fraction of this, he probably wouldn¡¯t be so generous.

    In a matter of seconds, the ancient gods in the group wasted no time, immediately filling out their information and sending it to Qi Yuan.

    Dongjiang He, seeing this, widened his eyes. "These people... do they have no pride? I''m the young Heavenly Emperor who manifested a mythic-level contemplation method. I can''t be like them. I need the Origin God to personally invite me. I''ll refuse once or twice before agreeing!"

    "Is anyone else interested? If not, I''m logging off. If you want to become my citizens later, there won''t be any benefits," Qi Yuan asked in the group.

    Dongjiang He¡¯s pupils constricted at the thought. Was the Origin God really about to leave without personally inviting him? Panic-stricken, he blurted out, "Wait for me, Origin Deity! I haven''t filled out the form yet!"

    Opportunities like this were rare, and he didn¡¯t want to miss out. After all, everyone else in the group had become the Origin God''s citizens, with some even addressing him as their foster father. If he became a citizen too, it wouldn¡¯t be so embarrassing, right?

    ...

    The slaughter continued.

    The fall of the evil god stronghold happened swiftly. However, hunting down the remaining evil gods was taking longer. The evil gods had scattered across various locations, and upon hearing that the stronghold''s forces had all fled, they too began fleeing in all directions.

    The forces of Qingshui Village fought for three days and still hadn''t completely wiped out the remaining evil gods.

    Atop a high mountain, the village chief, Yuli, with his white hair, exuded a profound aura. Beside him was the priest Shentu, whose presence was cold and foreboding. Anyone who saw him felt an inexplicable fear.

    Zhu Zhuangshi, sitting atop a large black dog, grinned broadly, showing off his white teeth with pride.

    "Now, filthy dog, do you know who your master is?"

    The black dog whimpered softly, not daring to retort.

    At that moment, several ancient gods at the second step of the Heaven Ascension Path appeared. When they saw Yuli and the others, they looked at them with deep respect.

    "Honored ones, the three evil gods, including Lin Li, are hiding on the mountain ahead. The city has prepared a banquet for you. Once the evil gods are slain, we can feast together," one of the ancient gods said cautiously, looking at Yuli and the others with admiration.

    "Very well. You may withdraw. Leave this to us," the village chief, Yuli, instructed.

    The ancient gods bowed and retreated. As they left, they whispered among themselves.

    "So, these are the forces of Qingshui Village? As expected of the Origin God¡¯s direct subordinates¡ªeach one is extraordinary!"

    Her sister carried within her the seed of the world. If this were revealed to any powerful being, even an ancient deity, it could be a disaster.

    The world seed was something everyone coveted, even those at the level of divine myths.

    While the Origin God had driven off the evil gods and was a great benefactor to the Mortal Heart Realm, no one could truly know his intentions. The stronger the person, the more likely they were to desire the world seed.

    "I once had an old friend who, like you, had a world seed within her. But... she was a bit different from you," Qi Yuan said, thinking of the Foodless Holy Mother.

    Indeed, he had sensed the presence of a world seed within the Foodless Holy Mother. But the seed within her was different from the one in the girl before him.

    The girl¡¯s seed seemed to have come from the Heavem Pillar.

    The Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s seed was something else entirely.

    However, the Foodless Holy Mother had perished. The girl in front of him was not her reincarnation.

    Upon hearing Qi Yuan''s words, the girl showed a hint of surprise.

    Yang Lian was also taken aback.

    She hadn''t expected the Origin God to know someone else with a world seed.

    "She¡¯s someone you should be familiar with¡ªshe¡¯s the Foodless Holy Mother."

    "What? It¡¯s her?" Yang Lian was astonished.

    The little girl, however, remained calm, displaying a maturity beyond her years.

    "Brother Qi Yuan, you¡¯re very mysterious and very powerful."

    "Just average, really."

    "To have scared off the evil gods, you are the greatest in the history of the Mortal Heart Realm," Yang Lian said, her voice tinged with admiration.

    "Don¡¯t flatter me¡ªI¡¯m still quite weak, only capable of defeating a baby," Qi Yuan replied, recalling the information he had seen in the ancestral land. "I¡¯ve seen what I came to see, so I¡¯ll be going."

    Yang Lian was surprised at his sudden decision to leave.

    "You¡¯re leaving..."

    Qi Yuan looked at Yang Lian and smiled. "Though I may have flexible morals, I don¡¯t harm others. A world seed might be precious to some, but to me, it¡¯s not as valuable as a bowl of delicious fish soup."

    Hearing this, Yang Lian was filled with guilt.

    She had indeed been judging a gentleman by her own narrow standards.

    The Origin God clearly had no interest in the world seed.

    She believed his words. If he had truly been greedy, he could have taken it by force¡ªthere was no need for deception.

    "Let me see you out, Origin God," Yang Lian said, following him quickly.

    "Alright," Qi Yuan replied as he walked out of the house without a backward glance.

    Yang Lian followed closely, her expression shifting several times.

    "What do you plan to do next, Origin God?" Yang Lian finally gathered the courage to ask, referring to the evil gods.

    "Naturally, I¡¯ll slay the two Yang Gods," Qi Yuan said confidently. This was the final step in his plan. Once the two yang Gods were defeated, his task of protecting Qingshui Village would be complete.

    Yang Lian lowered her head, a look of melancholy in her eyes. "The Mortal Heart Realm is an innate world... Anything is possible here, but... it''s impossible to break through to the level above Yin gods. Your talent is unmatched in history, but... without ascending to that level, you won''t stand a chance against those two."

    There was much Yang Lian hadn¡¯t said.

    To walk the seventh step on the path to the heavens is to enter the realm of the Yang God. But the seventh step is a long journey, requiring one to truly walk the path of heaven.

    With the Heavenly Dao within the Heaven Pillar being devoured, even hundreds of years might not remain.

    Time was running out for the Origin God.

    Even if it were possible to break through to the level of a Yang God in this innate world, the time was too short.

    Qi Yuan remained silent.

    Yang Lian continued, "The Mortal Heart Realm is doomed to perish. The two Yang Gods... they are unbeatable. Perhaps in a past life or in another form, you were a being of great power, but here in the Mortal Heart Realm, you are trapped, as if in a cage.

    Yang Lian begs you to take my sister away from the Mortal Heart Realm! My sister carries the world seed within her. If you are interested, when she grows up, she could dual cultivate with you, which would greatly benefit your cultivation. If you break through to the level above Yin Gods, you will be far beyond a mere Yang god!"

    Yang Lian spoke earnestly.

    The Origin God was someone she could trust.

    She felt at ease entrusting her sister to him.

    And besides, who else could take her sister out of the Mortal Heart Realm?

    Qi Yuan looked at Yang Lian''s face, feeling rather speechless. "I¡¯m really not interested in your world seed. Leaving the Mortal Heart Realm? How would I continue the game then? I can''t grant your request."

    Qi Yuan flatly refused.

 Chapter 229: The Eve

    Chapter 229: The Eve

    Yang Lian was momentarily stunned. She hadn''t expected such an answer.

    This was a world seed, nearly equivalent to the essence of an entire world.

    The seed of a primordial world represents infinite possibilities, something even the Yang Gods deeply coveted.

    "God... are you really not going to reconsider?" Yang Lian was reluctant to give up. The only one who could take her sister out of the Mortal Heart Realm was likely the Origin God.

    "No need," Qi Yuan replied firmly, his figure disappearing.

    In the alleyway, only Yang Lian remained, her gaze complex as she looked at the spot where Qi Yuan had disappeared.

    ...

    Meanwhile, outside Feiwu City, powerful figures were gathering.

    The escape of the evil gods from their stronghold had shocked the entire world.

    The higher echelons of the ancient gods in the southern region had engaged in intense debates.

    Different gods held various opinions about the Origin Deity.

    Some believe the Origin God was the savior of the Mortal Heart Realm, the last hope, and that they should firmly support him.

    Others thought that while the Origin God might be powerful now, he had no chance against the two supreme evil gods. Only the Mythical Plan offers a slim hope.

    Yet another faction saw the Origin God as another evil god and harbored distrust and skepticism towards him.

    Most of those who had come to Feiwu City adhered to the first view.

    Dongjiang He was among them, closely following his master. The arrogance on his face was gone, replaced by a layer of frustration: "Those old geeks are despicable. The mythical-level contemplation method I worked so hard to create... and they just took it away."

    Dongjiang He had decided to come to the northern region with his master to become a citizen of the Origin God. However, some ancient gods in the southern region had forced Dongjiang He to leave his mythical-level contemplation method behind, arguing that the Mythical Plan had provided the resources for him, the chosen one, to create it, so it had to stay in the southern region.

    His master consoled him, "Coming to the northern region might be the greatest opportunity of your life. A mythical-level contemplation method is nothing in comparison."

    In the Mortal Heart Realm, a mythical-level contemplation method could at most allow a second-step to reach the third step overnight. As for a grand Venerable, a half-step increase would be remarkable.

    In terms of potential and power growth, it wasn''t even as significant as the legends Qi Yuan had contemplated.

    "Right, the Origin God did say he would give me some benefits!" Dongjiang He''s mood brightened at the thought.

    Everyone in the group had come to Feiwu City, gathering and conversing with each other. Dongjiang He''s earlier complaints were more about trying to show off to the others.

    Unfortunately for him, the others in the group were already familiar with his tricks and didn''t bother responding.

    Nearby, Venerable Shenmao looked at Dongjiang He with disdain. "So, you''re just at the first step of the Heaven Ascension Path, and you call yourself the young Heavenly Emperor! I¡¯m at the third step¡ªwhat does that make me, the middle-aged Heavenly Emperor?"

    Venerable Heilong, who was a bit older, chuckled. "Among us, it turns out Dongjiang He is the weakest!"

    "I still remember when the Origin God first appeared, Dongjiang He mistook him for a divine being who hadn''t even reached the level of a true god," Venerable Baixi reminisced. "Who knew he was a myth all along!"

    It hadn''t been that long ago, yet it felt like a lifetime.

    Dongjiang He wasn''t happy with that remark. "How is that my fault? Back then, the Origin God acted like a clueless newbie who didn''t even understand the realm of true gods. Who knew he was playing dumb, teasing us!"

    Indeed, when the Origin God first joined the group, he had seemed like a total beginner, asking all sorts of basic questions.

    "Who could have guessed... he was actually a myth all along!" Venerable Shenmao said, awe evident in his eyes.

    The ancient gods present couldn''t help but feel a deep admiration.

    A myth, the only myth in the Mortal Heart Realm.

    "Is it possible... that the Origin God we met at first wasn''t actually a myth?" Venerable Heilong suggested, sounding thoughtful.

    The ancient gods were taken aback.

    Not a myth? Then, was he just a True God?

    "Venerable Heilong, what nonsense are you spouting? How could anyone go from the Purple Mansion stage to a myth in just one month? Even a Yang God reincarnated couldn''t achieve that!" Dongjiang He didn''t believe it for a second.

    The other ancient gods agreed with Dongjiang He.

    The Origin God must have been a myth all along, just biding his time and gathering strength.

    Once he was ready, he struck the evil gods with overwhelming force.

    "That¡¯s why we shouldn¡¯t speculate idly or believe baseless rumors. Didn''t some say the Origin God was mad, that he wasn''t in his right mind? How could someone who has reached the level of a myth be anything but sharp?" Dongjiang He continued.

    "Exactly. We interact with the Origin God in the group all the time¡ªwe know what he''s like!"

    "Such a peerless ancient god must be unmatched. Even the Foodless Holy Mother can''t compare."

    At that moment, Venerable Dusk appeared, radiating an aura of depth and ancient power.

    All the grand Venerables and gods present turned their attention to Venerable Twilight.

    "Such an aura..."

    "I feel an overwhelming presence of water!"

    The grand Venerables were astounded.

    "No need to guess what the Origin God is thinking. Just look at what he''s done! He has taken the fight to the evil gods, slaughtering over ten thousand of them. He is our benefactor! For that reason alone, I am willing to become his citizen!"

    "I am willing too!"

    The gods present expressed their opinions.

    Basic information registration forms floated down, and many ancient gods began filling in their details.

    Some gods, however, hesitated, holding onto their forms, not ready to make a decision. Others preferred to wait and see or chose to leave quietly.

    A quarter of an hour later.

    In Feiwu City, Qi Yuan looked out at the gathered gods, his expression calm.

    Among the crowd were not only the newly arrived ancient gods but also the other villagers from Qingshui Village.

    Altogether, there were over four thousand people.

    Among them, ninety-nine percent were True Gods, and there were even some like Big Black Dog who were only at the Purple Mansion level.

    "Not bad. Not bad at all. As expected of my citizens, each of you has a strong spirit!" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but praise.

    After all, on Earth, outside of the military, it''s rare to see thousands of people gathered with such energy. Most of the time, they would be slumped over, looking like they had just spent the night gaming at an internet cafe.

    "With such a mighty force, united under Qingshui Village, how could we fail to wipe out the evil gods?" Qi Yuan mused.

    The villagers of Qingshui Village, including Zhu Zhuangshi and the others, looked on with excitement.

    From being cold and starving villagers to becoming True Gods feared by all, it was all thanks to the Origin God.

    "We are willing to die for the Origin god!" Village Chief Yulei declared solemnly.

    The other villagers from Qingshui Village, along with those from Xiaoshi Village and Chenxi Village, also shouted in unison, "We are willing to die for the Origin God!"

    In this moment, they seemed truly ready to lay down their lives for the Origin God.

    The ancient gods, including Venerable Dusk, were also moved and shouted in unison, "We are willing to die for the Origin God!"

    For now, they did not mention the Mortal Heart Realm, only the Origin God.

    Qi Yuan raised his hand, and the fervent cries died down, leaving the place in silence.

    "We have met by fate, and I hope that when the matters of the Mortal Heart Realm are concluded, you all will have a bright future."

    In the Flowing Wind Realm, Qi Yuan also had many subordinates.

    But in reality, aside from a few familiar faces, he didn''t even know most of them.

    Those people didn''t share the same goals as Qi Yuan.

    Their goals were to increase their power and prolong their lifespan.

    In the end, they chose to serve Qi Yuan, compelled by his primordial abilities.

    There was some element of coercion involved.

    But in the Mortal Heart Realm, things were different. Here, they shared a common goal.

    These ancient gods were genuinely willing to serve Qi Yuan.

    "God, when shall we... launch our counterattack against the evil gods?" Venerable Lingzhong asked, voicing the question on everyone''s mind.

    He had once been entrusted by the Foodless Holy Mother to deliver something to the Origin God before heading to the Heaven Pillar.

    "After your strength increases from this time, and after resting for a day, we will be ready for the final battle!" Qi Yuan''s eyes shone with determination.

    To be honest, this plan was the most uncertain, the one he had the least confidence in, out of all his plans.

    Two Yang Gods... could he really defeat them?

    Even Qi Yuan himself wasn''t sure.

    The ancient gods, upon hearing this, felt a surge of excitement.

    After all, they had witnessed the rapid growth of Venerable Shenlei, Venerable Dusk, Venerable Fire Lotus, and the others.

    They didn''t expect to become mythical-level beings like Venerable Shenlei, but gaining a powerful contemplation method and growing stronger was always good.

    Qi Yuan looked over the crowd, his voice steady. "Everyone... let''s set off!"

    This time, he planned to use the Lost Glow Wand one final time to return to the past, to contemplate more gods and help these ancient gods grow stronger.

    A single ancient god could use more than one contemplation method. For instance, he could contemplate more thunder gods like Lei Gong for Venerable Shenlei, which would further enhance his power.

    Now, after slaying over ten thousand evil gods, including four mythical beings, Qi Yuan had more divine power than ever before, a hundred times more than during his last contemplation.

    He could contemplate even more powerful gods.

    This time, he intended to summon all the powerful, named gods.

    Perhaps even the Three Pure Ones.

    This would be Qi Yuan''s last chance!

 Chapter 230: The Foodless Holy Mother

    Chapter 230: The Foodless Holy Mother

    Thunder rumbled, and dark clouds obscured the sun.

    In the Xiaojiang Mountains, the air was filled with curses and angry shouts.

    Streaks of light flashed across the sky, and a great fire broke out, engulfing the entire mountain range. Even the torrential rain couldn''t extinguish the blazing inferno, which raged for ten days straight, leaving the once verdant Xiaojiang Mountains a desolate wasteland.

    Several streaks of light hovered over the mountain, searching for something.

    ¡°Did you find it?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Useless! A group of Purple Mansion-level cultivators couldn''t even catch a mere mortal?¡±

    ¡°She was in the Xiaojiang Mountains before the fire. Her fate is special, and she isn''t even a Qi Refining stage cultivator. She should have perished in the flames.¡±

    ¡°The Xiaojiang Mountains span three hundred miles. She should be... dead.¡±

    ¡°Damn it, our time here is limited, and this world has too many powerful beings. Otherwise...¡±

    ¡°The Primordial Body and the Devouring Body, two of the most powerful physiques, are both in one person. If we could obtain even one of them...¡±

    ¡°No matter, if she''s dead, then our mission is complete.¡±

    ¡°Even if she isn''t dead, she''ll either starve or overeat to death.¡±

    ¡°We wasted a precious Descent Talisman just to kill this little brat.¡±

    As their voices faded, the streaks of light disappeared as well.

    The Xiaojiang Mountains, stretching three hundred miles, were now a wasteland, with only the remnants of the great fire left behind.

    After a long time, a small figure crawled out from beneath the ground.

    It was a little girl, looking no older than eleven or twelve. Her hair was burnt and yellowed, the tips singed by flames. Her clothes were tattered and torn, resembling a beggar''s rags. However, if one looked closely, they could see that these clothes were once finely made, like a princess''s dress.

    She raised her head and looked up at the sky. She saw countless stars but none that she recognized. A deep sense of loneliness welled up inside her.

    Since birth, she had been frail and sickly, nearly dying shortly after she was born. However, her parents had discovered that she possessed the Primordial Body, one of the ten most powerful physiques known.

    This physique was pure and unblemished, as if made of celestial glass, free from any worldly taint. Because of this, her family had showered her with love and care. However, alongside the Primordial Body, her body also harbored the Devouring Body, another of the top ten physiques.

    If the Primordial Body represented purity and detachment from the world, the Devouring Body was its antithesis, designed to consume everything in its path. These two physiques clashed within her, making her frail like a mere mortal, despite being twelve years old. Every day, her family spent enormous resources to buy unappetizing nutritional fluids to sustain her.

    She was grateful, especially to her mother, the only one who truly cared for her and could tolerate her spoiled nature. Even though she knew her parents were raising her to sell her in a grand transaction, she still felt a sense of gratitude. Her parents had always hidden the truth from her, as had all her relatives.

    In the family, everyone pretended to treat her well, doting on her as if she were a princess. She acted spoiled, indulging in their affection, even though she knew it was all an illusion. She could hear their thoughts.

    Her father looked at her with affection but also with the greed of someone eyeing valuable goods. Her mother was conflicted, often coming to hold her at night, filled with guilt, repeatedly asking for her forgiveness. But the little girl didn¡¯t feel that her mother was in the wrong. Her mother owed her nothing, giving her food, clothing, and enduring her tantrums. Even if she were sold off, it seemed fair enough to her.

    The little girl had encountered all kinds of people and heard all kinds of dirty thoughts in their minds.

    The holy and virtuous priest, who secretly had a fondness for elderly men. The high-ranking official, ambitious and eager to start a rebellion. This was her life until she turned eleven.

    One day, her father excitedly came to her, saying he had found a way to cure her and was taking her to seek treatment. But she had heard his thoughts; she knew her father had found a buyer.

    She happily boarded the flying ship with her mother. Those days, her mother seemed troubled. The little girl was happy because she had heard three times that her mother had considered running away with her, although ultimately, the buyer''s offer was too tempting.

    On their way to treatment, an accident happened. A group of mysterious people attacked their flying ship. It crashed, and at that moment, her Primordial Body suddenly activated, transporting her to the nearest primordial world.

    Some of the mysterious attackers used Descent Talismans to follow her into this world, intent on killing her.

    After the fire subsided, she crawled out of the ruins, not reborn from the flames, but simply waiting for death. She curled up on the ground, her gaze empty.

    ¡°So... hungry...¡±

    A deep sense of hunger gnawed at her, but she endured it.

    ¡°Starving to death... doesn¡¯t feel good.¡±

    She looked at the dirt on the ground, wanting to take a bite. But she knew if she did, her Primordial Body would react with pain far worse than the hunger she felt. The Devouring Body devoured everything, while the Primordial Body rejected everything.

    The conflict between these two opposing physiques had created her current state. All she could do was wait for death.

    After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly heard a voice in her mind.

    "Is that... the Foodless Holy Mother?"

    ¡°So, I¡¯ve encountered her again. What a coincidence.¡±

    The little girl remained motionless on the ground, as if she hadn''t heard anything. After spending over ten years in her family, she had become very skilled at pretending and playing her part.

    She was curious about the clear male voice but didn''t show it.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The voice spoke again, this time addressing her directly.

    She was startled.

    ¡°If you keep walking like that, it¡¯ll take forever. It¡¯s like Sun Wukong taking Tang Sanzang to the Western Heaven. Let me teach you some magic.¡±

    ¡°Magic?¡± Wu Shi asked, intrigued. She looked in the direction of the man''s voice and said seriously, ¡°If I learn magic, I won¡¯t be valuable anymore.¡±

    With her physique, once she started practicing magic, she would lose her value. Her family hadn¡¯t allowed her to cultivate for this reason.

    "You''re a person, not a commodity. What does value have to do with it?" the man said nonchalantly.

    In his mind, he thought, ¡°The Foodless Holy Mother must have had a rough childhood. She¡¯s a bit odd. I can¡¯t let her learn my ''Qi Yuan Sutra.'' She doesn¡¯t have my sharp mind. If she practiced it, she might become even more confused.¡±

    Hearing his thoughts, Wu Shi was silent for a moment. She memorized the flying spell called "Princess Riding a Broom" and began practicing it.

    After a few moments, the man watched in surprise. ¡°As expected of the Mortal Heart Realm¡¯s number one. She learned it so quickly! Find a stick, sit on it, and follow my instructions.¡±

    Wu Shi hesitated, glanced at the man¡¯s direction, and found a stick. She straddled it, activating the spell. Her body wobbled as she lifted off the ground.

    "You look like a witch now. Oh, by the way, are you afraid of heights? It¡¯d be pretty funny if you fell from the sky," the man said as he led the way, occasionally making odd remarks.

    Wu Shi followed behind, not knowing how long they traveled.

    Eventually, they stopped by a small pond. It seemed a battle had taken place there, and half of the pond¡¯s water had drained away. The ground was littered with dead fish.

    ¡°Cook the fish, and you¡¯ll be able to eat,¡± the man said, clapping his hands as if excited.

    Wu Shi froze. She was starving, but looking at the fish made her feel nauseous.

    ¡°I... don¡¯t eat fish.¡±

    The man¡¯s thoughts flashed quickly.

    He said, ¡°Just try cooking it. You¡¯ll see this fish is different from what you¡¯ve had before.¡±

    Wu Shi hesitated but decided to trust the man. After all, he had taught her to cultivate.

    If her family knew, they¡¯d probably tear him apart.

    But that was just a thought. Her family... would never come here.

    For the first time, she prepared fish, roasting it over a fire.

    She sensed the man approaching, and her curiosity grew. Then she heard him say, ¡°Go ahead, try it.¡±

    Wu Shi stared at the fish, her gaze filled with fear.

    She didn¡¯t want to experience that pain again.

    Even with the Devouring Body, eating anything made her want to end her own life.

    Only nutritional fluids were bearable.

    She hesitated but took a small bite of the burnt fish, chewing slowly.

    A warm sensation spread through her limbs, as if she were basking in sunlight.

    She felt warmth she had never known before.

    ¡°It¡¯s... delicious.¡± It was the first time she had tasted something so good.

    The nutritional fluids she used to drink couldn¡¯t compare to this. They were like the depths of the abyss in comparison.

    She felt that even if she died after eating this fish, it would be worth it.

    The man smiled, ¡°You look like a cat eating a treat.¡±

    He looked at Wu Shi as if she were a pet in a movie.

    Wu Shi continued eating the fish, savoring the taste she had never experienced before. She turned to the man and asked, ¡°Why does it taste so good?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a secret,¡± the man replied.

    Wu Shi was disappointed.

    When he said it was a secret, he didn¡¯t even think of the real answer.

    ¡°I want to eat another fish. I¡¯ll grant you a wish in return,¡± Wu Shi said, her voice soft and hesitant.

    She really wanted to eat more.

    The man just smiled.

    He didn¡¯t respond to Wu Shi¡¯s offer, but his thoughts ran deep.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of meeting her? Maybe there¡¯s no point at all.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just... a glimpse into history.¡±

    History is buried by the sands of time, and stories are concealed. Uncovering even a small part of it might reveal the life of a single being.

 Chapter 231: Fate Will Bring Us Together Again

    Chapter 231: Fate Will Bring Us Together Again

    A new fish was roasted and ready.

    Wu Shi kept her gaze forward, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man''s appearance. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t see him.

    Eventually, she stopped trying and turned her attention to the charred fish in front of her. Ignoring the heat, she grabbed the fish with her hands and began to devour it greedily, savoring each bite.

    As someone with the Primordial Body, Wu Shi rejected all worldly impurities. Even specially made nutritional fluids were hard for her to swallow. But this fish in front of her tasted like the most delicious thing in the world¡ªsomething she had never experienced before.

    ¡°Do you... want some?¡± Wu Shi paused, holding the half-eaten fish out toward where the man''s voice had come from.

    Then, she heard his thoughts.

    ¡°Through time and space, I can''t touch anything, so how could I eat the fish?¡±

    Wu Shi was puzzled by his thoughts, but she believed that the man really had come from the future.

    ¡°Not hungry, you eat more,¡± the man said.

    Naturally, he wanted the Foodless Holy Mother to eat more and grow stronger. After all, he still needed to go to the Heaven Pillar to visualize the deities.

    Wu Shi felt a bit disappointed. It was the first time she had tasted something so good, but she was eating alone.

    ¡°Earlier, I said if you gave me a fish, I''d grant you a wish. What do you want?¡± Wu Shi asked, looking up.

    She didn''t like owing people anything. So when her parents treated her as a commodity to be sold, she didn''t harbor any resentment.

    ¡°A wish?¡± The man looked at the Foodless Holy Mother, his eyes filled with surprise. ¡°Do you see that mountain that reaches the sky?¡±

    Wu Shi turned her head and saw what looked like a giant pillar reaching the heavens.

    ¡°That¡¯s the Heaven Pillar. Help me keep an eye on it, and make sure it doesn¡¯t collapse,¡± the man said casually.

    For some reason, after saying this, he felt a sense of destiny.

    Wu Shi seemed confused but nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±

    The man smiled. ¡°Now, go gather more fish, so you don¡¯t starve to death.¡±

    Wu Shi hesitated, then her eyes lit up. ¡°I can eat them all?¡±

    ¡°If I leave and you starve to death, what¡¯s the point?¡± the man said. Looking at the Foodless Holy Mother, he thought that if she hadn¡¯t met him, she really might have starved to death. And then, what would happen to the Heaven Pillar in the future?

    Besides, he was naturally kind-hearted and law-abiding. Helping out in this situation wouldn¡¯t hurt.

    After all, he and the Foodless Holy Mother had met twice before, and this was their third and final meeting.

    Hearing the man¡¯s words, Wu Shi looked excited. She sat on her stick, flying around the area and collecting fish from the ground.

    Soon, like a hoarding hamster, she had gathered a pile of fish.

    The little girl¡¯s eyes gleamed with mischief. ¡°A woman¡¯s intuition.¡±

    Of course, she wouldn¡¯t admit that she had been listening to his thoughts the entire time. His thoughts had woken her up.

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re using intuition now?¡± The man didn¡¯t press further. ¡°I¡¯ve created a technique for you called the ¡®Wu Shi Sutra.¡¯ Try cultivating with it.¡±

    He then spent three to four hours explaining the technique to Wu Shi. But her ability to remember everything in one go saved him the trouble of repeating himself.

    Wu Shi quickly began cultivating using the ¡°Wu Shi Sutra.¡± Her talent was extraordinary¡ªso much so that it could only be described as exaggerated.

    The man admitted that in the Canglan Realm, Wu Shi¡¯s talent would outshine every genius on the talent rankings. Even he would be ashamed to compare himself.

    A day later, the man looked at Wu Shi¡¯s frail figure and said softly, ¡°Now that you can barely protect yourself, I should be on my way.¡±

    It was time for him to leave, to enter the Mountain of Visualization and conduct his final visualization. Then he would return for the last battle.

    Looking at Wu Shi, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    He remembered meeting the Foodless Holy Mother later on, seeing her blood spilled at the Tianzhu Pillar.

    She was a person who had long since died, a figure buried in the dust of history.

    Wu Shi¡¯s heart tightened, her eyes filled with a sense of loss. After a moment of silence, she asked softly, ¡°Will we have a chance to meet again?¡±

    The man hesitated. He had used up the three opportunities provided by the Lost Glow Rod, so he couldn¡¯t return to the past. As for the Foodless Holy Mother...

    Recalling how she didn¡¯t seem to recognize him during their later encounters, he wondered if the three Foodless Holy Mothers he had met were even the same person.

    ¡°Fate will bring us together again,¡± he said finally, before disappearing.

    By the ruined pond, the young girl sat surrounded by a pile of charred fish.

    Her eyes were filled with complex emotions.

    Her hands clenched tightly, her nails digging into her flesh, drawing blood.

    Her gaze was full of intense desire. ¡°I really want... to eat him.¡±

    This desire was a primal instinct.

    With her Devouring Body, she felt she could take a bite out of the empty air and maybe even tear off a piece of flesh.

    But she didn¡¯t dare¡ªshe was too timid.

    That person was too mysterious.

    He could even make food pure enough for her to eat.

    How did he do it?

    She couldn¡¯t understand why he would do such a thing.

 Chapter 232: Visualization, With Some Surprises

    Chapter 232: Visualization, With Some Surprises

    "Will we... meet again?" Wu Shi curled up, struggling to suppress the overwhelming desire within her.

    The more time she spent with that man, the more unbearable her urge to devour him became. It was a primal instinct she had to control, because she was too weak to act on it.

    Thankfully... he had left.

    If he had stayed even one more day, she wasn''t sure what she might have done.

    "When we meet again... will I be able to eat him?" the girl wondered.

    ...

    "What a boring and uneventful journey."

    Qi Yuan gazed out over the vast land below, sighing deeply.

    This time, he had met the Foodless Holy Mother again, but it was when she was still a child.

    He had thought he might uncover some hidden truths of history or some earth-shattering ancient secrets. But it turned out to be nothing more than watching a little girl catch fish and eat, with nothing particularly special happening.

    There was no deep enmity or unresolved grievances between him and the Foodless Holy Mother. It was like watching a simple movie.

    "Time to visualize!"

    With that, Qi Yuan stopped dwelling on the past and entered the place of visualization.

    This time, he had an abundance of evil god energy.

    He had many deities in mind that he wanted to visualize¡ªhe planned to bring out a group of powerful figures all at once.

    "I''ve only visualized one of the Six Sovereigns so far, so the other five should be next. I also want to visualize King Tota Li, Yang Jian, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Fire God Zhu Rong, the Ancestor Witches , Hou Yi... even the Three Pure Ones, and perhaps even Pangu!"

    Qi Yuan''s memory holds many deities. While some of these deities were likely misrepresented in his previous life''s lore on Earth, the ones he visualized were identical to those in his memory.

    This surprised Qi Yuan and left him unable to fully explain it.

    If he were to force an explanation, there were two possibilities:

    The first possibility was that these deities truly existed, and even if his visualization was inaccurate, it wouldn''t affect the outcome of the visualization technique.

    The second possibility was that this innate world could create infinite possibilities, and these deities existed because of Qi Yuan''s visualization.

    Regardless of the explanation, it didn''t affect Qi Yuan''s plan, so he didn''t bother to dwell on it.

    "Often, things that seem absurd or made-up are closer to reality. Because reality doesn''t follow logic, but fiction must."

    Qi Yuan''s gaze grew focused.

    The first deity he intended to visualize was the King of the Netherworld, the Queen Earth Deity, also known as Hou Tu!

    He had already planned out Qi Qi''s path¡ªfirst having her ascend to the True God realm through the Phoenix, and then becoming a Grand Sovereign through Hou Tu.

    After all, for his goddaughter, he had to offer something good, right?

    As for the Thunder God Grand Sovereign, Qi Yuan planned to visualize another of the Six Sovereigns, the South Pole Longevity Emperor.

    The Nine Heavens Thunder God was essentially an incarnation of the South Pole Longevity Emperor, so he needed to further enhance the Thunder God Grand Sovereign''s abilities.

    Qi Yuan had his personal preferences.

    For most of those who followed him, he would reward them with suitable visualization techniques to maximize their potential.

    But for those who were closer to him or had a more personal relationship with him, he would offer more.

    "To the left of the North Star, she commands the spirits and holds the chart of all gods!"

    "The nine stars are the roots of the nine heavens, the beams of the sun and moon, and the source of all things."

    ...

    The Heaven Pillar trembled continuously.

    In the world of the Mortal Realm, all deities were awakened in shock.

    They had no idea what was happening.

    Their faces were filled with terror and confusion.

    This tremor lasted for a full hour.

    Yet, despite this, the Heaven Pillar of the Mortal Realm remained standing tall and unwavering.

    However, within the ancestral land of the Ancient Clan, one tower after another mysteriously vanished.

    But who in this world of deities had the time to care about the ancestral land?

    Even if the towers vanished, those ancient gods wouldn''t notice.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s eyes were filled with determination.

    Because just now, he had almost completely visualized all the powerful deities from his memory, condensing them into visualization techniques.

    Scrolls of visualization techniques floated around him.

    Each visualization technique exuded an aura as vast as the stars¡ªancient, profound, mysterious, and unknowable.

    If any ordinary ancient god were to witness this scene, their eyes would surely be blinded by the brilliance.

    Each and every one of these scrolls was of mythic quality!

    Moreover, they were not just ordinary mythic techniques!

    Three of the scrolls were particularly profound, encompassing all things, with stars orbiting within them like decorations, and life and death intertwined around them.

    However, upon closer inspection, these three scrolls appeared as simple points of light.

    There was nothing amiss, but anyone who tried to visualize them would sense that all the other mythic-level visualization techniques combined couldn''t compare to even one of these three.

    These three visualization techniques represented the Jade Purity Yuan Shi Tianzun, the Supreme Purity Ling Bao Tianzun, and the Grand Purity Dao De Tianzun.

    They were the most supreme deities of Daoism!

    "The Three Pure Ones... they actually manifested!" Qi Yuan took a deep breath.

    The Three Pure Ones, the Six Sovereigns, the Five Elders, the Three Officials, the Six Departments...

    Qi Yuan had visualized every deity from his memory.

    These successful visualizations left Qi Yuan feeling both excited and amazed.

    But the most surprising visualization of all was one deity that was downright absurd.

    Even more ridiculous than when he had visualized the Calabash Brothers.

    Because this time, he had visualized... Gatling Bodhisattva.

    "Is there really someone out there worshipping him?" Qi Yuan was baffled.

 Chapter 233: Strength Ascending, Experts Rising Like a Tide

    Chapter 233: Strength Ascending, Experts Rising Like a Tide

    Qi Yuan stood atop the empty Mountain of Visualization, his thoughts in turmoil.

    He couldn''t shake the feeling that the Visualization Techniques were far more complex than they seemed, and that this mountain held secrets beyond his comprehension.

    "In other worlds, I''ve never encountered or even heard of anything like the Mountain of Visualization," Qi Yuan murmured to himself as he descended from the mountain.

    Meanwhile, in the endless mountain range:

    Dong Jianghe''s gaze wandered restlessly, and he sobbed, "I gave up a Mythic-level Visualization Technique to join Qi Yuan. The price I paid was too steep."

    The God of Cats gave Dong Jianghe a sidelong glance. "Stop obsessing over that so-called Mythic Visualization Technique! Don''t you realize that since Qi Yuan arrived, Mythic-level Visualization Techniques have become common?"

    Over the past two days, those who had joined Qi Yuan had learned the secret behind the strength of the Thunder Grand Venerable and others¡ªit was due to the Visualization Techniques!

    Qi Yuan hadn''t just visualized eight Mythic-level Techniques; he had even traveled back in time to visualize a whole array of such techniques.

    Yet Dong Jianghe remains puzzled, his gaze fixed on Shenlei Grand Sovereign at the forefront. He couldn''t help but wonder, "Doesn''t the Shenlei Grand Venerable already have a Visualization Technique? Why is he here?"

    "Not only is he here, but so are the other ancient gods and villagers who already have Visualization Techniques," the Black Dragon Venerable said meaningfully.

    Dong Jianghe inhaled deeply. If his guess was correct, it was terrifying.

    This meant that Qi Yuan wasn''t lacking in Visualization Techniques¡ªwhat he lacked was the spiritual power of the evil gods.

    Dong Jianghe¡¯s pride crumbled once more. "If the title of Young Heavenly Emperor has to go to Qi Yuan, so be it!" Dong Jianghe said, trying to console himself.

    The God of Cats glanced at him without comment.

    At that moment, a calm voice echoed through the area.

    "I possess countless techniques that can solve the mysteries of the world, comprehend the principles of Yin and Yang, and observe the cycle of life and death."

    "My blessings, I now bestow upon you all!"

    A man in a dark robe appeared, surrounded by countless specks of light, each representing a Visualization Technique.

    All the ancient gods and villagers looked at these Visualization Techniques with a sense of reverence.

    Even the previously nonchalant Shenlei Grand Sovereign couldn''t maintain his composure.

    Gasp!

    "There are so many more powerful ones than mine?"

    After receiving the Visualization Technique of the Nine Heavens Thunder God, Shenlei Grand Sovereign had been quite pleased with himself.

    He had thought it was the most powerful Visualization Technique Qi Yuan could offer!

    After all, the Thunder God¡¯s power was beyond his comprehension, controlling thunder across heaven and earth, from the thirty-three heavens above to the nine hells below.

    But now, as he looked at the Visualization Techniques surrounding Qi Yuan, many of them radiated an unfathomable aura that even he found mysterious and overwhelming.

    Especially the three Techniques at the top¡ªthey looked simple, yet seemed to be the source of everything.

    When Shenlei Grand Sovereign gazed at them, he felt an urge to worship.

    And now, these Visualization Techniques were to be bestowed upon them!

    The gathered ancient gods felt a mix of solemnity and excitement.

    "Thank you, Heavenly God, for your blessing!"

    "We vow to follow the will of the Origin Heavenly God. Should we stray, may we suffer the wrath of heaven and earth!"

    Every ancient god was filled with excitement. Even Dong Jianghe finally admitted that his Mythic-level Visualization Technique was nothing in comparison.

    Everyone looked at Qi Yuan with the reverence of devoted disciples. The elderly Lishan Grand Venerable, with his white hair, even had tears in his eyes.

    It was as if he saw hope for the world.

    Lingzhong Grand Venerable remained silent, as if he had come to a realization.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s gentle voice echoed.

    "Once, the War God Xing Tian fought with the Emperor for divinity. The Emperor severed his head, but Xing Tian did not die. He used his nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth, wielding a shield and an axe as he continued to battle!"

    Lingzhong Grand Sovereign seemed to feel something.

    His gaze was transfixed on one of the Visualization Techniques.

    It was as if he saw a terrifying deity, holding a giant axe and shield, battling fiercely with the Emperor.

    Even after the Emperor severed his head, this terrifying deity continued to fight, relentless and undaunted!

    Lingzhong Grand Venerable was deeply moved.

    If their ranks weren¡¯t high enough, then Qi Yuan¡¯s certainly would be.

    Qi Yuan thought about it and nodded. "You make a good point."

    ...

    Thunder roared, and rain poured down.

    The city of Feiwu was engulfed in silence.

    After some time, Qi Yuan opened his eyes. His once deep and ancient gaze was now calm, as if he were an ordinary mortal.

    "The Three Pure Ones live up to their name. Now I... stand at the pinnacle of myth, don''t I?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    After visualizing the Three Pure Ones, his power had skyrocketed.

    For him, defeating a military commander would no longer require a sword¡ªjust a glance would suffice.

    Even the most powerful version of Wushi Shengmu in his memory would not last a single round against him.

    And as for the split of Blood Sun Great Sage in the past, Qi Yuan felt he could destroy it in the mortal realm!

    His strength had increased by tenfold, no, a hundredfold.

    He even felt that he could be considered the greatest myth he had ever encountered!

    However, his cultivation remained at the Seventh Step of Ascension.

    Once the seven steps were completed, one could reach the level of the Sun God.

    Yet these seven steps seemed boundless, with no clear path forward.

    Just as others had said, he was stuck at the level of myth and could advance no further.

    A flash of contemplation crossed his tranquil eyes.

    At that moment, a voice, elegant, serene, and mysterious, echoed in his ear.

    "Godfather, an envoy from the evil gods has arrived."

    The speaker was Qi Qi. At this moment, she was dressed in a brown gown, her aura more profound and her demeanor colder.

    She was quite different from the mischievous girl she once was.

    Qi Qi had visualized the deity Houtu, one of the Six Royal Emperors, and a being of supreme nobility.

    "An envoy from the evil gods?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    He hadn¡¯t expected the evil gods to send an envoy to see him.

    Now that the battle was drawing near, he decided to meet with them.

    After about a hundred breaths'' time, the evil god''s military commander, Wu Kui, stood before Qi Yuan, led by Qi Qi.

    For some reason, when Wu Kui saw Qi Yuan, he felt an overwhelming urge to bow in reverence.

    This feeling was far stronger than what he had felt in the presence of the Sun God.

    He was deeply shocked.

    Despite both being at the Seventh Step of Ascension, how could there be such a vast difference between them?

    Especially in this remote city of Feiwu, his divine power seemed to tremble uncontrollably, as if a terrifying deity lay dormant within the small city.

    Seated in a high place, Qi Yuan glanced at Wu Kui, a look of regret in his eyes. "It''s a pity I let you all escape last time, but it''s fortunate we meet again."

    Last time, Qi Yuan had swept through the evil gods of Qingheng Continent and was preparing to eliminate the remaining military commanders.

    But before he could act, those evil gods fled, leaving Qi Yuan at that time feeling somewhat regretful.

    Wu Kui''s heart tightened, but remembering his master''s instructions, he spoke firmly, "Greetings, Heavenly Sovereign. On behalf of my master, I come to... negotiate peace!"

    His words left the ancient gods serving Qi Yuan in shock.

    Qi Qi''s eyes also reflected a complex emotion.

    The evil gods... actually wanted to negotiate peace.

    This was something they had never dared to imagine before.

    There was a time when the evil gods would never have shown weakness to their enemies, let alone sought peace.

 Chapter 234: The Simple Terms of Negotiation

    Chapter 234: The Simple Terms of Negotiation

    "Negotiate for peace?"

    Qi Yuan was somewhat surprised.

    The evil gods had actually sent a military commander to negotiate.

    "Go on, tell me, how do you propose we make peace?"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s followers were still processing and refining their Visualization Techniques. There was no rush.

    Military Commander Wu Kui quickly spoke, his demeanor very respectful.

    "The Mortal Heart Realm is an innate world, and the Heavenly Sovereign should be aware of the extraordinary nature of such worlds!"

    Wu Kui continued.

    "Innate worlds are formed at the beginning of creation. The beings here may resemble humans, but they are, in truth, different. They are not truly human and harbor different hearts. Since the Heavenly Sovereign has awakened memories of past wisdom, you are not one of these innate beings. Why entangle yourself with them? Humans and innate beings are naturally opposite."

    Qi Qi''s eyes flashed with a hint of murderous intent. "You claim we''re not human? And you are?"

    Wu Kui felt a sudden, inexplicable shiver of fear. He had the distinct feeling that if this woman made a move, he would have no chance of survival. His heart was filled with shock¡ªcould she be another mythic being?

    His mind raced with speculations about Qi Yuan''s past life, convinced that it must have been incredibly powerful.

    "Distinguishing between innate beings and humans or even demons is simple. Innate beings are born from chaos, carrying a trace of chaotic energy within them. This chaotic energy represents endless possibilities. Because of it, innate beings can transform into demons, devils, humans , or even evil beings. Such innate evil spirits are a scourge upon the world, deserving of eradication by all."

    "In the upper realms, we and the innate evil spirits are sworn enemies! To determine whether a disguised cultivator is an innate being, one only needs to see if they can practice a Visualization Technique. Only those with a trace of chaotic energy can cultivate such techniques."

    Wu Kui explained, and though his words were honest on the surface, they were laced with an attempt to deceive Qi Yuan.

    Innate beings in innate worlds symbolize infinite possibilities. They may appear as humans, demons, or beasts, and might believe themselves to be human. But in reality, they are not.

    Because they possess a trace of chaotic energy, innate beings can practice Visualization Techniques, rapidly increasing their strength, and are easily swayed by foreign evil gods.

    To ordinary cultivators, innate beings are seen as heretical, and almost everyone despises them. After all, it might take an ordinary genius thousands of years to break through to the Yin God realm, while an innate being could achieve it overnight.

    However, when it comes to innate worlds, the perspective of all cultivators is completely different¡ªit''s not fear, but greed.

    This is because an innate world is incredibly special, capable of producing countless innate beings.

    A Mythic-level cultivator who wishes to ascend to the Yang God level needs to cultivate their own domain of power. The more Yin Gods that serve them, and the greater their potential, the stronger they will be when they finally ascend to the Yang God level.

    Thus, possessing an innate world can allow a Mythic-level being to rapidly accumulate power and ascend to the Yang God level. And not just any Yang God¡ªa particularly powerful one.

    For Mythic-level beings, an innate world is crucial; for Yang Gods, it''s even more so.

    While Wu Kui didn''t know the full details, he knew that a complete innate world could help a Yang God advance to an even higher realm.

    This was an incredibly tempting prospect!

    After all, a Yang God can effortlessly annihilate entire worlds with a mere flick of their hand.

    The fact that an innate world could aid a Yang God in advancing further was an unfathomable allure.

    Since an innate world is isolated and has not been connected to the greater realms, innate beings cannot become Yang Gods. The most powerful in this realm are merely Mythic-level beings, making an innate world a coveted prize for Yang Gods.

    However, any innate world that has been connected to the greater realms for a long time is met with great caution by every Yang God. Who knows what kind of monsters could be growing inside?

    Qi Yuan listened to Wu Kui¡¯s words, catching some of his inner thoughts, and a smile appeared in his eyes.

    "How interesting."

    If only innate beings could practice Visualization Techniques, then what did that make him?

    If they had enough time, the four thousand Yin Gods under Qi Yuan¡¯s command could grow to terrifying levels. When they finally turned against the evil gods, they would be in a much stronger position.

    "Why pretend to agree? I¡¯ve already proposed my terms," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    He had already laid out a new set of conditions for negotiation, and they were very well thought out.

    Qi Qi was speechless.

    These were terms?

    What kind of negotiation was this?

    "Godfather, there''s no way they¡¯ll agree to your conditions."

    "The Dao gives birth to fifty, and the heavens lose one, leaving forty-nine. There are no absolutes in this world. What if their master, on a whim, decides to agree to my terms? As a wise person once said, ¡®Do not neglect to do good because it is small; do not commit evil because it is small.¡¯ So, even if the odds are slim, we should never give up. You never know," Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    He felt that after visualizing the Three Pure Ones, his mind had become clearer, and his logic had sharpened.

    Every word he spoke seemed to carry profound wisdom.

    Qi Qi was silent, unable to argue.

    The news of the evil gods sending an envoy to negotiate peace quickly spread throughout Feiwu City. The contents of Qi Yuan''s conversation with the evil god¡¯s military commander also circulated, reaching many of the followers and ordinary cultivators.

    These followers and cultivators had mixed reactions.

    "The Mythic Plan we''ve been clinging to isn¡¯t as good as the slim chance of the evil gods'' peace terms!"

    "If the Heavenly Sovereign agrees, a million people in the Mortal Heart Realm could survive!"

    "The Mythic Plan...how many will it save?"

    Shi Chongshan, who had just visualized the second god, Erlang Shen, wasn¡¯t surprised when he heard Qi Yuan¡¯s response.

    "A refusal from the Heavenly God is what I expected!"

    At that moment, Ling Zhong, the headless grandmaster, stood with eyes wide open on his chest, looking particularly dignified.

    In his eyes, there was a mix of complex emotions.

    After a hundred breaths had passed, Ling Zhong stood before Qi Yuan.

    He looked at the Heavenly God and slowly spoke, "Heavenly God... before the Heaven Pillar was broken, the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother once said that in the future, if anyone could save the Mortal Heart Realm, I should give them this."

    Qi Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, a hint of surprise in his gaze.

    He recalled the sight of Wu Shi huddled by the pond, clutching a large fish as she slept, and the complex and peculiar expression on the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother¡¯s face when he met her at the Heavenly Pillar.

    A specially crafted storage bag appeared before Qi Yuan.

    Ling Zhong¡¯s figure disappeared, leaving Qi Yuan alone in the courtyard.

    With a sense of nostalgia and curiosity, Qi Yuan opened the storage bag.

    Immediately, a faint fragrance wafted out.

    Inside the storage bag were various fish¡ªspicy fish, grilled fish, sour fish.

    The fish looked like the ones Wu Shi had made when Qi Yuan met her the second time.

    She...didn¡¯t eat them?

    He recalled Wu Shi by the pond, clutching a half-eaten fish as she asked him:

    "Do you... want to eat?"

 Chapter 235: The Past

    Chapter 235: The Past

    Staring at the fish inside the storage bag, Qi Yuan fell silent for a moment. He picked up one of the fish, his gaze complex.

    "After all these years, it shouldn''t have gone bad, right?"

    "This girl... she even saved some fish for me."

    He picked up a piece of the fish with chopsticks, placed it in his mouth, and slowly chewed and savored it.

    At that moment, a young, innocent voice echoed in Qi Yuan''s ear.

    "Hehe, actually, my name isn''t Wu Shi. I don''t even have a name."

    "When I first met you, I knew we would meet three times."

    "Why? Because not only could I hear your voice, I could also hear your thoughts."

    The girl''s voice brought Qi Yuan back to the recent past, to the moment he saw the young Wu Shi, the last time he would see the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother.

    Her voice was tender, as if she was saying something she had wanted to express when they first met.

    Qi Yuan had a moment of realization.

    No wonder... she had seemed so strange¡ªbecause she could hear his thoughts.

    This meant she must have known that they would meet again in the future and that she would eventually die at the hands of a Yang God.

    As Qi Yuan ate the fish, the girl''s incessant voice continued.

    "When I first saw you, I was very cautious. I even thought you might eat me. I misjudged you."

    "But hehe, I wanted to eat you, too, but I was too scared to do it."

    The girl began to recount her past, as if she were writing in a diary, lamenting her lonely life.

    Qi Yuan continued eating the fish, savoring each bite, as the voice in his ear gradually lost its childish tone and became more mature.

    "The second time I saw you, I was a little happy because I finally got to eat some delicious fish."

    "I was so, so hungry."

    "Compared to eating fish, nothing else mattered."

    "The scent on your body became even more enticing. I... really wanted to eat you back then."

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but recalled the second time he met the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother. She had been curled up on the ground in a red dress, her face pale, and when she looked at him, there had been a hint of greed in her eyes.

    But later, she had eaten the fish, her expression turning cold as she distanced herself from Qi Yuan.

    "So, her attitude changed back then because she wanted to eat me?"

    Qi Yuan''s gaze remains calm.

    From the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother''s words, he now understands that she possessed both the Innate Primordial Body and the Devouring Primordial Body.

    These two terrifying constitutions were in constant conflict with each other.Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    No wonder, whenever he saw the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother, she always seemed strange, as if she were suppressing something.

    She was suppressing her desire to devour him.

    "A chance encounter... you gave me fish to eat, so I helped you guard the Heaven Pillar. We''re even. But you harbored ill intentions; if I devoured you... it wouldn¡¯t be unfair, would it?"

    The Venerable Foodless Holy Mother''s tone was light-hearted.

    But Qi Yuan knew the deep-seated struggle within her.

    The Devouring Primordial Body¡¯s desire to devour was immensely strong.

    Back then, when the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother, a being of mythic power, ate ordinary fish, the pain had been so unbearable that she had trembled all over, lying on the ground.

    She was a mythic being, and even when her body was riddled with wounds while facing a Yang God, she had not cried out in pain.

    Yet, merely eating a piece of fish had caused her such agony.

    "Luckily, I later realized that what I had been eating all along was... your blood."

    The Venerable Foodless Holy Mother''s voice carried a hint of nonchalance.

    It seemed she had convinced herself not to follow her instincts and devour Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze grew more complicated. "So, she really could have eaten me back then?"

    Even though they had been separated by time and space, there had been moments when Qi Yuan had felt a faint sense of danger around the Venerable Wushi Mother.

    He recalled the first time he saw her, when she had quietly eaten the fish in front of him.

    At that time, the fish had not been purified by his blood, yet the Venerable Holy Mother Mother had still eaten it with relish.

    Previously, Qi Yuan had not understood why.

    He had assumed that each time he met the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother, it was a different person.

    Now, he understood that she had eaten the unpurified fish, enduring the extreme pain to suppress her urge to devour him.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s emotions were conflicted.

    He hadn¡¯t imagined that their three simple meetings, where nothing earth-shattering had occurred¡ªjust eating, drinking, and chatting¡ªhad such profound implications behind them.

    "I wandered the Mortal Heart Realm for tens of thousands of years. This world is much more interesting than my old home, and it smells much better..."

    The Venerable Foodless Holy Mother''s voice was filled with a certain cheerfulness.

    Qi Yuan remained silent.

    The Venerable Foodless Holy Mother''s childhood had indeed been tragic. Like a caged canary¡ªor perhaps more accurately, like a piece of merchandise¡ªshe had been kept at home.

    When she arrived in the Mortal Heart Realm, the people there were like Qi Yuan, ignorant of her terrifying dual constitutions.

    The way they looked at her was much more normal.

    It was understandable that she had lived a happier life in the Mortal Heart Realm than in her old home.

    Her time in the Mortal Heart Realm had been the happiest of her life.

    As Qi Yuan finished the last piece of fish, a voice rang in his ear.

    "Since we met by chance, how about a deal?"

    "I helped you guard the Heaven Pillar, and you help me... protect the Mortal Heart Realm."

    Qi Yuan ate the last piece of fish.

    He recalled how he had exchanged one fish for the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother''s help in guarding the Heaven Pillar.

    Everyone¡¯s spirits were high, with no fear of the future.

    It was just death, after all!

    For them, who was truly afraid of death?

    ...

    Within the Heaven Pillar.

    The sound of chewing echoed continuously.

    The Devouring Incarnation of Blood Sun Great Saint continued to consume the Heavenly Dao.

    Suddenly, Blood Sun the Great Saint¡¯s movements halted.

    "Devouring..."

    Inside the Heaven Pillar, she looked towards the north.

    Her chaotic eyes became clear in that moment.

    Countless memories flooded back into her mind.

    A crazed look flashed in Blood Sun the Great Saint¡¯s eyes.

    "The Innate World... the Devouring Primordial Body... Is this Heaven¡¯s favor for me?"

    If she obtained the Innate World and fully devoured it, her realm would rise to new heights.

    Now, she had even caught the scent of the legendary Devouring Primordial Body.

    Among all the Devouring Incarnations, the Devouring Primordial Body was the supreme form!

    Her current body was a Devouring Incarnation.

    Now, she had caught the scent of the Devouring Primordial Body?

    How could she not be excited?

    For her, the Devouring Primordial Body was even more precious than the Heavenly Dao of this world.

    Because it was the most suitable constitution for her!

    Without any hesitation, she awoke from her slumber, halting her devouring of the Heavenly Dao, and emerged from the Heaven Pillar.

    Boom.

    Suddenly, a loud, heart-pounding sound reverberated.

    This sound was like a heavy drum, striking directly at everyone¡¯s hearts.

    All the ancient gods in the Mortal Heart Realm, as well as ordinary cultivators, were startled in that moment.

    A strong sense of hunger gripped their bodies.

    They clutched their stomachs, wracked by the conflicting sensations of pain and emptiness. It was as if a piece of their consciousness had been carved out, leaving them dazed.

    All living beings in the Mortal Heart Realm couldn¡¯t help but look up at the sky.

    High above, beyond their sight, a towering and terrifying figure appeared in everyone¡¯s vision.

    No matter the angle or distance, that figure was clearly visible to all.

    "A being... above the True Gods!"

    "The Heavenly Dao... She¡¯s devoured most of the Heavenly Dao!"

    "She is the undisputed ruler of the Mortal Heart Realm!"

    "Ahhh, how can such a being be defeated!"

    Seeing that figure, everyone felt an overwhelming urge to worship.

    It was as if they wanted to tear themselves apart and offer their pieces to her.

    Just a single glance told them she was invincible!

    The Mythic Plan seemed utterly ridiculous!

    Some had blood-red eyes, tears of blood streaming down their faces.

    Some knelt, driven mad, losing all reason.

    Only those who had seen a Yang God could understand the immense power of a Yang God.

    "Evil gods... go to hell, ahhh!"

    "Ravaging our Mortal Heart Realm, the evil gods must be destroyed!"

    At that moment, seven or eight figures shot up into the sky from the southern lands.

    Each figure shone like the brightest stars!

    Eight pillars of light, filled with the utmost courage, charged straight towards the figure in the sky.

    For eight Grand Venerables to act simultaneously was an event of monumental proportions in the Mortal Heart Realm.

    All the followers watched, filled with anticipation.

    They hoped that these eight Grand Venerables could at least hurt¡ªjust hurt¡ªthat evil god in some way.

    The evil god in the sky looked at the eight pillars of light, her expression unchanged.

    She spoke, her voice cold and emotionless, like a deity issuing a decree from the Nine Heavens.

    "How dare fireflies compete with the sun and moon for glory!"

    Blood Sun Great Saint didn¡¯t even lift a hand. With just a slight shout, her voice rang out.

    It was as if a divine decree had been issued, or as if her words alone held the power of the law.

    Boom!

    What no one had expected was that with just Blood Sun Great Saint''s voice, the eight pillars of light, like arrows that had exhausted their strength, suddenly stopped in mid-air.

    In the next moment, the eight pillars of light exploded, and the brilliant light disappeared, turning into scattered starlight.

    Eight Grand Venerables had attacked simultaneously, yet they hadn¡¯t even forced the Yang God to act. With just a shout, all eight Grand Venerables were slain!

    The Mortal Heart Realm was left in a state of shock.

    Was this... the power of a being above the True Gods?

 Chapter 236: Battle Begins, Who Gave You the Courage!

    Chapter 236: Battle Begins, Who Gave You the Courage!

    High in the sky, that towering figure stands arrogantly, above all others. Starlight scattered and fell from the heavens.

    It seemed as though the world was weeping, as a mysterious blood rain began to fall.

    "Weaklings, you have no right to resist!"

    "Only death awaits you!"

    The Blood Sun Great Saint was filled with arrogance and desire, her eyes fixed on the north, her tongue licking her lips as if she were eyeing the most exquisite delicacy.

    The Devouring Primordial Body ... If she could obtain it, combined with the Innate World, how powerful could she become?

    It was unimaginable!

    "Surrender to me, and I will make you my consort!"

    Blood Sun the Great Saint''s gaze pierced through miles, locking onto the Origin Heavenly Sovereign in Feiwu City.

    Qi Yuan''s face bore an expression of helplessness. "Don''t you know that interrupting someone during a meal is very rude? It''s extremely disrespectful to the dead; beware that the Secret Wheel Venerable might crawl out of hell to seek revenge on you!"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan had already visualized the Three Pure Ones and acquired the Devouring Primordial Body . His strength had now reached an exceedingly terrifying level.

    Ordinary myths, he could obliterate with a mere gesture.

    When he spoke, his voice echoed across the world, reaching all corners of the Mortal Heart Realm.

    All of the realm''s inhabitants heard the words of the legendary Origin Heavenly Sovereign.

    In their hearts, hope arose¡ªa hope that the Origin Heavenly Sovereign could vanquish the terrifying figure in the sky!

    Although they knew this hope was nothing more than a delusion.

    The Devouring Incarnation of Blood Sun Great Saint swept across Feiwu City, her gaze falling upon all the ancient gods.

    In her eyes, a flicker of amazement and surprise passed¡ªa rare sight in the tens of thousands of years she had lived.

    Because those ancient gods... each one seemed to hold boundless potential.

    Moreover, each of these myths seemed capable of suppressing her during her mythic period!

    She was the favored daughter of the heavens, a being who had already stepped into the realm of the Yang God!

    And yet, what did she see here?

    Her body couldn¡¯t help but tremble before she broke into wild laughter.

    "Haha, Devouring Primordial Body... everything will be mine!"

    "These ancient gods will all become my nourishment!"

    "The gods you visualized will all serve me!"

    Naturally, she assumed that Qi Yuan''s achievements were all due to the Devouring Primordial Body.

    Only the Devouring Primordial Body could explain this!

    "A mere incarnation dares to speak such big words!"

    What Qi Yuan faced was actually one of Blood Sun Great Saint''s incarnations.

    Back then, what the Venerable Foodless Holy Mother faced was merely a projection of that incarnation.

    "This is my past body!" Blood Sun Great Saint was furious!

    To ascend to the Yang God realm, one must walk the Seven Steps of Heaven, then sever the past body to achieve the present form!

    For a newly ascended Yang God, the past body may be weaker, but it is still the extreme of mythic power, capable of obliterating myths with a mere gesture.

    Blood Sun Great Saint''s past body was more than enough to dominate the Mortal Heart Realm.

    Not to mention, she had already devoured a large portion of the Heavenly Dao.

    No matter how many myths stood before her, given time, she could destroy them all!

    After all, a Yang God''s past body was far beyond the reach of mere myths.

    "I thought you were just an incarnation, but you''re actually a dead person!"

    A past body was essentially a dead body, wasn¡¯t it?

    As Qi Yuan''s voice rang out, he made his move, unleashing the full might of the Three Pure Ones.

    "You dare seek death!" Blood Sun Great Saint''s past body roared in fury.

    A mere myth dared to show her disrespect!

    She opened her mouth, and suddenly, her jaws split wide, extending all the way to her ears.

    Then...

    In an instant, the entire sky was filled with nothing but a gaping, bloody maw.

    "I will devour you and complete myself!"

    The gaping maw snapped shut, as if it was swallowing the entire world, plunging everything into darkness.

    Qi Yuan found himself engulfed in endless darkness.

    Surprised, he murmured, "You dare to swallow the Three Pure Ones? Who gave you the courage?"

    In that instant, the true meaning of the Three Pure Ones erupted!

    From One came Two, and from Two came Three!

    "How can a being above the True Gods be this strong?"

    "How can we possibly fight this?"

    The Mortal Heart Realm was an Innate World, and its most powerful beings were those who had taken the Seven Steps of Heaven.

    As for beings above the True Gods, there were no records of them!

    Otherwise, the strongest beings in the Mortal Heart Realm would not be True Gods but Yang Gods!

    The ancient gods of the Mortal Heart Realm had speculated about the power of beings above the True Gods.

    The Venerable Foodless Holy Mother had once resisted a projection of a being above the True Gods for twenty breaths.

    So the Mythic Plan held a slim hope.

    The idea was that the myths would attract the attention of the being above the True Gods, allowing the seeds of hope to escape.

    But now, with the sky torn open, they finally saw what a Yang God truly was.

    A Yang God''s eye alone was larger than the entire Mortal Heart Realm!

    How could they fight such a terrifying existence?

    How could they possibly win?

    Though there were legends that a Yang God could swallow stars, the Mortal Heart Realm was a sealed world. They had no concept of how large a star really was.

    All the inhabitants of the Mortal Heart Realm were filled with fear; their will to fight had vanished.

    Faced with such a sight, who wouldn¡¯t be terrified?

    But Qi Yuan remained unusually calm.

    With a surge of power, the invisible chains binding him shattered.

    From the rift in the sky, a majestic voice boomed.

    "Do you dare to come out and fight?"

    Blood Sun Great Saint roared.

    Her true form could not enter the Mortal Heart Realm without tearing it apart.

    The Heavenly Dao hadn¡¯t been fully consumed yet, so the Mortal Heart Realm couldn¡¯t be destroyed.

    Qi Yuan''s expression remained indifferent, even serene. "Why wouldn¡¯t I dare?"

    Facing an enemy, there was no escape!

    So... the only choice was to fight to the death!

    In Feiwu City, all the ancient gods'' fighting spirit was ignited.

    "I am willing to follow the Heavenly God and slay the evil god!" Shenlei Great Venerable declared, his voice causing the heavens to tremble.

    "We will fight!" The Pine-Guarding Ancient God roared, his expression fierce.

    "We dare to fight!" Shi Chongshan¡¯s voice was as solid as the mountains themselves.

    "We are ready to die for the Heavenly God!"

    These were not just empty words; they were promises from the ancient gods.

    If the world crumbled, if everything was destroyed, the Origin Heavenly God was still their only hope.

    These ancient gods would never give up their last hope!

    "Fight!"

    "Fight!"

    "Fight!"

    Their voices thundered like a mighty tide. Nearly five thousand Great Venerables roared in unison, a sound louder than the battle cries of a million heavenly soldiers, echoing throughout the entire Mortal Heart Realm!

    None of them hesitated!

    Even knowing they faced a Yang God, a being that could devour the Mortal Heart Realm, they did not falter.

    At that moment, not a single one of Qi Yuan¡¯s followers hesitated; all of them soared into the sky!

    Nearly five thousand True Gods¡ªnone of them weaker than a Great Venerable¡ªrose to follow Qi Yuan without fear, charging toward the rift in the sky.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression was as calm as the ocean. In an instant, he passed through the rift in the sky and emerged into the boundless chaos.

    Behind Qi Yuan, five thousand Great Venerables radiated terrifying auras, every one of them ready to die in battle against the Yang God.

    Each of these Great Venerables, in any other world, would be the most powerful of beings.

    And each one... if given enough time, had the potential to reach the Yang God realm.

    This was the terrifying nature of innate beings, and also the terrifying nature of the gods Qi Yuan had visualized!

    Now, Qi Yuan looked at the terrifying creatures in the distance, unable to see their full forms.

    Vast, endless, as immense as stars.

    These creatures were not just one but two!

    How could one possibly fight such enemies?

    Yet Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes remained steady, his gaze cold. "In my foundation stage, I dared to swallow stars! Now that my Golden Core is perfected, why wouldn¡¯t I dare to kill two Yang Gods?!"

 Chapter 237: The Might of a Yang God!

    Chapter 237: The Might of a Yang God!

    The gap between a Yang God and an Yin God is larger than that between a human and an ant.

    Each Yang God has a star that belongs to them, one that emits endless light.

    In Qi Yuan''s understanding, such a star is a sun.

    A Yang God is equivalent to a sun!

    In his previous life on Blue Star, the sun was the ruler of the solar system.

    The sun accounted for 99.86% of the total mass of the solar system.

    In the Canglan Realm, an ordinary Yin God could, at full strength, destroy an entire nation.

    But a Yang God... if given enough time, could devour the entire Canglan Realm.

    At this moment, in the distant starry sky, two colossal, incomprehensible Yang Gods stared down at everyone with their enormous eyes.

    The impact of facing them head-on was terrifying and horrifying.

    The true form of the Blood Sun Great Saint moved, and the stars around her rotated like ornaments in her cascading hair, which flowed like a waterfall.

    When she spoke, her voice was vast, as if it echoed from within everyone''s heart: "Those who do not reach Yang God are all ants!

    You are all impressive quite, but you are doomed to have no future!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan shrugged. "I''ve heard that kind of talk too many times!"

    When he was in the Qi Refining stage, he heard Foundation Establishment cultivators say that those who hadn''t reached Foundation Establishment were ants.

    Later, he heard the same from Purple Mansion cultivators.

    As his strength grew, the phrase changed to Yin Gods, and now it was Yang Gods.

    "You NPCs need to update your dialogue!"

    Facing two Yang Gods, Qi Yuan was fully on guard, sensing intense danger.

    But he wasn''t afraid.

    If he was scared of Yang Gods in the game, would he bow down to them in reality?

    At this moment, the Blood God Great Saint stood by, sealing off this space to prevent Qi Yuan from escaping.

    The Blood Sun Great Saint couldn''t be bothered with words.

    "Devouring you will complete me!"

    As her voice echoed, her enormous form moved.

    The stars hanging in her hair jingled like ornaments.

    A gigantic hand descended from the sky.

    This is the true form of the Yang God, her Dharma Body .

    In the upper realms, Yang Gods will never appear in their Dharma Body.

    But this was the space between worlds.

    The enormous hand descended, as if it could grasp the entire Mortal Heart Realm in its palm.

    But in reality, such a hand could, at most, kill all the ordinary beings on the surface of the Mortal Heart Realm.

    A world of this level could not be easily crushed into powder.

    It was a vast and unparalleled strike.

    This was the strongest blow Qi Yuan had faced since his reincarnation.

    All the ancient gods looked grim.

    How could they block such a blow?

    Could it be stopped by human strength?

    But none of them felt fear; not a single ancient god hesitated!

    "Kill!"

    Qi Yuan shouted as he charged forward.

    In the Mortal Heart Realm, he hadn¡¯t killed many gods.

    But his experience points had skyrocketed.

    Plus, after visualizing the Three Pure Ones, he had reached the peak of the Path of Myth.

    Otherwise, how could he have reverse-slain a Yang God''s past self as a Mythical Being?

    Now, he was facing the present self of a Yang God¡ªher true form!

    Qi Yuan transformed into a stream of light, rushing toward the Yang God''s Dharma Body.

    Compared to the Yang God''s vastness, this light was like a mere speck.

    But even a speck of light can ignite a wildfire.

    "I shall assist the Heavenly God!"

    "The Nine Luminaries illuminate the heavens!"

    "All Thunder Division, kill!"

    "All Battle Division, fight!"

    "Emperor of Heaven and Queen of Earth, master of yin and yang, nurturer of all things!"

    Nearly five thousand Great Venerables struck at once, closely following the Origin Heavenly God.

    In the vast, empty space, countless lights soared into the sky.

    These lights were insignificant compared to the Yang God, but they were like a spark that could set the world ablaze.

    "Heavenly Stars Formation!"

    "Big Dipper Formation!"

    "Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation!"

    "Nine Netherworlds Twelve Earths Formation!"

    Each ancient god transformed into a star.

    Nearly five thousand stars formed the Heavenly Stars Formation!

    Qi Yuan''s form soared, and in his hand, a blood-red sword emitted an aura of boundless slaughter.

    He alone sat at the heart of the formation, becoming its core.

    The blood-red sword seemed to be empowered by the Immortal-Slaying Sword, the Execution-Slaying Sword, the Trap-Slaying Sword, and the Absolute-Slaying Sword.

    Looking at the vast Yang God, Qi Yuan''s voice echoed through the heavens: "Together with all of you, I will strike a single sword!"

    In the formation, every ancient god wielded a blood-red sword.

    Slaughter, execution, destruction, entrapment... terrifying auras filled the air.

    Nearly five thousand innate deities, holding swords, stood solemnly.

    At that moment, all the gods swung their swords!

    "Strike!"

    "Strike!"

    Shi Chongshan''s wife, once a helpless woman, was shattered into fragments under the Yang God¡¯s blow, leaving only a pool of blood that fell into the Heavenly Stars Formation, continuing to fuel the formation¡¯s operation.

    Without the Heavenly God, they would have perished long ago.

    Dong Jianghe was covered in blood, laughing bitterly. ¡°If the spring wind has mercy on the flowers, could it grant me youth once more?¡±

    His body was broken, teetering on the edge of death. If the Yang God struck again, he would surely perish!

    At this moment, Qi Yuan remained terrifyingly calm.

    This battle... their deaths were inevitable.

    This game had become his most challenging yet.

    But he felt no fear.

    For as soon as he learned of the two Yang Gods and realized that this realm offered no path to become a Yang God, Qi Yuan knew how this game would end.

    He had tried countless methods; his right eyebrow had been twitching constantly, indicating extreme danger.

    If they delayed, perhaps they would grow stronger, but once the Blood Sun Great Saint fully devoured the Heavenly Dao of the Mortal Heart Realm, their true death knell would ring.

    Right now, the Blood Sun Great Saint was at her weakest.

    This was their best chance.

    Because as their strength increased by 1, the Blood Sun Great Saint''s strength would increase by 10.

    So they had no choice but to fight.

    Although, to everyone else, it seemed like they were marching to their deaths.

    Human strength has its limits.

    ¡°Show me all your cards!¡± the Blood Sun Great Saint bellowed.

    In the distance, the Blood God Great Saint watched the battle with ease.

    How could Yin Gods possibly fight a Yang God?

    Such a thing had never happened since the beginning of time!

    ¡°There is no absolute in this world!¡±

    At that moment, Qi Yuan spoke, and his aura became more obscure.

    Even though his right eyebrow was twitching wildly.

    As time passed, the twitching grew more intense, signaling the terrifying danger ahead.

    ¡°The Great Dao is fifty, Heaven gives forty-nine, but one is hidden!¡±

    The one hidden represents a thread of life.

    However, to grasp this thread of life, he needed to fulfill all forty-nine.

    At this moment, he would face two Yang Gods with his strongest form!

    ¡°The Great Sun shines brightly, illuminating all directions!

    I don my black robe, decreeing nine chapters!¡±

    In the starry sky, a virtual image of a star suddenly began to pulse.

    A massive solar shadow hung in the night sky.

    The terrifying solar shadow grew closer and closer.

    The Blood Sun Great Saint''s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. ¡°A star¡¯s shadow? Impressive, but it¡¯s just a shadow... and nothing more.¡±

    She was utterly indifferent.

    But in the next moment, her expression turned to one of shock.

    ¡°Two stars? Interesting!¡±

    In the midst of the massive solar shadow, another star¡¯s shadow appeared.

    Two star shadows hung in the sky, illuminating the heavens and the earth.

    ¡°Not enough, you can become even stronger.

    Then... devouring you will be all the more satisfying!¡±

    The Blood Sun Great Saint¡¯s eyes were filled with greed.

    With the summoning of the two solar shadows, the threat posed by the Origin Heavenly God escalated once more.

    But since he hadn¡¯t become a Yang God, she felt no fear.

    This was like watching from the top of a five-thousand-meter-tall building, holding a sniper rifle while looking at Qi Yuan below.

    Qi Yuan was wielding a massive blade, which had become sharper and longer, but how could it possibly threaten her?

    ¡°Xiao Jia!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice rang out coldly.

    In an instant, Xiao Jia''s figure appeared, her wedding dress fluttering in the starry sky, her aura deeply profound.

    The once silent Blood God Great Saint now revealed a look of astonishment. ¡°A Yang God¡¯s past self? No, not quite!

    ¡°Clad in robes, Together as One!¡± Qi Yuan shouted.

    Blood-red armor appeared on Qi Yuan¡¯s body as he sat at the center of the great formation, his form towering, reaching an unimaginable height.

    The terrifying, ferocious armor made him look like a demon from the depths of hell.

    Wielding a blood-red sword, the towering giant seemed capable of cleaving the world apart with a single strike.

    But under the shadow of the Yang God¡¯s enormous Dharma Body, he was still tiny, like a slightly larger ant.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s strength had increased by six levels.

    But the gap between him and the Yang God was still far too vast.

    ¡°Not enough, not enough, nowhere near enough!¡± The Blood Sun Great Saint¡¯s eyes gleamed with greed. ¡°What other surprises can you give me?¡±

    The stronger the Origin Heavenly God grew, the more benefits she would gain from devouring him.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan, with the two solar shadows supporting him, and clad in blood-red armor, seemed to have reached his peak.

    His terrifying strike could rival the one unleashed by the ten-thousand-star formation earlier.

    But... even such a strike had only caused minor damage to the Yang God¡¯s Dharma Body.

    It had not touched the core, let alone killed the Yang God.

    At this moment, the village elder Yulei sighed deeply. ¡°We are willing to lend the Heavenly God a hand!¡±

    Shi Chongshan stepped forward. ¡°We are willing!¡±

    Zhu Zhuangshi grinned. ¡°We are willing!¡±

    The priest Shentu''s voice echoed through the world.

    ¡°I have a technique, called ¡®Assimilation.¡¯ We are willing to become the Heavenly God¡¯s nourishment, to help the Heavenly God slay the evil god!¡±

    The Assimilation Technique was obtained from the evil gods.

    The villagers of Qingshui Village, after becoming True Gods, had been studying the Assimilation Technique all along.

    Their research was not only to save ordinary people who had been assimilated by the evil gods but also because... they were willing to be assimilated by the Origin Heavenly God, to become a part of him and boost his strength!

    The Assimilation Technique echoed throughout the Heavenly Stars Formation.

 Chapter 238: So, All Beings Are Me!

    Chapter 238: So, All Beings Are Me!

    The moment the Assimilation Technique was invoked, all the ancient gods felt its presence within them.

    This technique mimicked the evil gods'' method of assimilation.

    By practicing it, they will become a part of the Origin Heavenly God.

    They would be like puppets, their everything becoming the foundation of the Origin Heavenly God, enhancing Qi Yuan''s power, and helping him ascend to the Yang God realm.

    Having received this technique, some of the ancient gods hesitated, some felt melancholic, but none showed reluctance.

    "Heavenly God made me what I am today; now, I repay him!" Great Venerable Dusk speaks with determination.

    With his words, those who had visualized the Water God Gonggong exploded, transformed into drops of water that merged into Qi Yuan''s divine domain.

    Village elder Yulei activates the Assimilation Technique. His eyes showed a peaceful smile.

    "This old man can no longer guard the Underworld for the Heavenly God!"

    His body explodes, without hesitation, becoming one with Qi Yuan.

    "The spring wind shows me mercy; I, Dong Jianghe, am destined to be a youth... but it turns out that youth is Heavenly God!" Dong Jianghe could barely hold on, and with his last bit of divine power, he used the Assimilation Technique.

    "We are willing to die for the Heavenly God!"

    "We are willing to die for the Heavenly God!"

    Voices roared as one ancient god after another chose to sacrifice themselves.

    Perhaps they knew that even by sacrificing themselves, the Origin Heavenly God might not be able to bridge the gap to the Yang God realm.

    But they still resolutely chose to die!

    Within the Heavenly Stars Formation, one star after another dimmed.

    The once-bright starry sky lost its light.

    Shenlei Great Venerable roared, "Qi Yuan, after I die, the esteemed title of Old Deng that you admire so much will be yours!"

    Shenlei Great Venerable also chose assimilation, his body exploding.

    The blood of the ancient gods who had died in battle, scattered within the Heavenly Stars Formation, was also assimilated, becoming part of Qi Yuan.

    The former subjects, all the ancient gods¡ªQi Qi, Shi Chongshan, Shentu, The Cat God, The Pear Mountain Great Venerable¡ªone by one, familiar figures chose assimilation, one by one passing away behind Qi Yuan.

    At this moment, a familiar figure appeared near Qi Yuan.

    This figure, dressed in a red robe, was ethereal like a celestial being.

    It was none other than the Foodless Holy Mother.

    After the ancient gods who used supreme treasures to reach the sovereign level perished, the Foodless Holy Mother''s shadow appeared.

    She looked at Qi Yuan with the same complex gaze as before.

    She smiled brightly, saying, "I finally get to see you."

    This peerless beauty then shattered, choosing to use the Assimilation Technique, becoming part of Qi Yuan.

    Now, Qi Yuan''s power surged wildly.

    Within his divine domain, floods raged, thunder rolled, and the earth overturned...

    At this moment, he was more powerful by tenfold, no, a hundredfold than before!

    All the divine power of the Great Venerables, including their Visualization Techniques, flooded into his mind.

    It was as if millions of heavenly gods were hidden within his body.

    The Blood Sun Great Saint smiled. "What a noble sacrifice, but alas... it is all in vain!"

    "Kill!" Qi Yuan raised his sword with both hands.

    His massive body leaped from the starry sea!

    The fragile celestial bodies in the starry sea were shattered into dust by the shockwave of this unparalleled strike, scattering like flakes of skin.

    This immense strike replaced all the fallen ancient gods.

    This strike was at least tenfold, no, a hundredfold more powerful than the one before!

    The divine strike cleaved The Blood Sun Great Saint''s body in two.

    The enormous body was severed, and a thin line of blood appeared on The Blood Sun Great Saint''s forehead.

    "Impressive, being able to wound my Dharma Body¡ªtruly impressive."

    But as she spoke, her colossal, celestial body healed once more.

    The Blood Sun Great Saint seemed unharmed.

    Her smile deepened. "But alas, without becoming a Yang God, you cannot harm my core!"

    This type of wound didn''t even count as damage to her.

    The gap between the Yang God and the Yin God was too vast; they weren''t even the same kind of life form.

    No matter how strong Qi Yuan''s sword was, it couldn''t truly harm a Yang God.

    It was like a brute crushing gold, but unable to destroy the gold itself.

    Qi Yuan stood silently, holding his sword.

    At this moment, he was incredibly powerful.

    He even had the feeling that given enough time, he could completely cleave a star in half.

    But his mighty sword couldn''t truly harm a Yang God.

    "Now, you are incredibly strong, surpassing all myths. The divine power within you even surpasses mine.

    But what of it? The difference between a Yang God and a Yin God isn''t merely in divine power!"

    "Not enough?" Qi Yuan''s gaze deepened.

    Was his divine power still insufficient?

    "What good is more divine power?" The Blood Sun Great Saint said. "Without becoming a Yang God, you are merely a fleeting moment, a firework. How can that compare to the eternity of the stars?"

    "I understand now, it''s not that I don''t have enough divine power!"

    Qi Yuan''s voice was cold.

    He swung his sword again, silently digesting the divine power of the fallen ancient gods.

    "What good is more divine power?

    They sacrificed themselves, assimilating into you!

    But in the end, assimilation is just assimilation; their divine power is not truly yours!

    If your divine power cannot be unified, how can you possibly fight me?"

    The Blood Sun Great Saint looked at Qi Yuan with greed.

    Within Qi Yuan''s divine domain, everything was chaotic, and so was his divine power.

    His body began to shrink.

    His terrifying aura receded inward.

    The Blood Sun Great Saint now wore a puzzled expression, tinged with deep fear.

    "What... are you doing?"

    For some reason, facing the Origin Heavenly God, she felt a sudden, inexplicable fear.

    "I want to tell you, you''re on the wrong path."

    Qi Yuan''s voice boomed, echoing through the cosmos.

    "The path to Yang God isn''t about unification.

    It''s about... transforming everything into me!

    I, Qi Yuan, am the only one in all the heavens!"

    "You never existed¡ªyou''re just one of the many things I created."

    "You''re insane!" The Blood Sun Great Saint was filled with dread, convinced that Qi Yuan had lost his mind.

    After all, she had once encountered a Yang God who was very much like Qi Yuan, following a similar path.

    But now, she didn''t hesitate¡ªshe attacked.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes grew cold. "You''re a version of me that I despise¡ªdie!"

    He struck, his blood-red sword swinging lightly.

    A massive crack appeared in The Blood Sun Great Saint''s colossal body.

    Such a crack would have meant nothing to her before.

    But now, her body broke out in goosebumps.

    Her true form was dissolving rapidly, being assimilated.

    This was something she had never experienced.

    She trembled. "What are you doing?"

    "I''m... reclaiming myself!"

    Qi Yuan''s blood-red sword, as if endowed with the Devouring Physique, began to consume The Blood Sun Great Saint.

    In the distance, The Blood God Great Saint finally lost his composure, launching a terrifying attack toward Qi Yuan.

    But Qi Yuan remained incredibly calm.

    "The Innate World represents infinite possibilities."

    "So, this is what an Innate Yang God is!"

    As he spoke, his sword swept through the air.

    Behind him, a million heavenly soldiers and generals appeared, blowing mournful trumpets.

    The sorrowful sound of the trumpets echoed as Qi Yuan casually swung his sword at The Blood God Great Saint.

    "We''re all part of the same whole, so why fight amongst ourselves?"

    He sighed deeply.

    Now, he was more powerful than ever.

    The Blood God Great Saint''s eyes filled with horror. "What... what are you?"

    The two Yang Gods, like the extraterrestrial demons in the Moonwatch Continent, looked at Qi Yuan in terror.

    Their understanding couldn''t comprehend Qi Yuan''s existence.

    "I am... you!"

    Qi Yuan smiled brilliantly.

    The two terrifying Yang Gods felt their bodies grow cold.

    They wanted to flee, but their bodies wouldn''t obey.

    In truth, if it were any other Yang God facing Qi Yuan''s strike and unable to withstand it, they could have escaped.

    But these two Yang Gods couldn''t.

    Because their bodies had long been tainted with the Innate Qi of the Innate World.

    The Innate World represents infinite possibilities.

    Thus, the Visualization Technique can create gods.

    Thus, the Visualization Techniques Qi Yuan imagined could come to life.

    Thus, Qi Yuan could say he was Shenlei Great Venerable, Qi Qi, and the Foodless Holy Mother.

    Because they had all been influenced by the Innate World.

    Because Qi Yuan had the Devouring Physique.

    Because Qi Yuan had the Qi Yuan Scripture.

    These three things were indispensable.

    Only with all three could Qi Yuan be created¡ªthe Qi Yuan who declared that all beings were him!

    Otherwise, even if Shenlei Great Venerable and the ancient gods chose to assimilate into Qi Yuan, he could never truly become them.

    "Tainted with Innate Qi... you are me!"

    His gaze deepened.

    At that moment, the two Yang Gods couldn''t move.

    The Blood Sun Great Saint''s delicate face began to change, slowly transforming into Qi Yuan''s likeness. Her planet-sized eyes shrank drastically.

    The Blood God Great Saint''s face morphed into the image of a star.

    At that moment, the two Yang Gods became Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan''s face showed anger.

    "How dare you impersonate me¡ªdie!"

    Qi Yuan spoke, unleashing a powerful strike.

    At that moment, he became a Yang God.

    One strike, and the stars were extinguished.

    The two colossal forms disintegrated.

    In the boundless cosmos, two blood-red stars exploded, scattering into endless fragments.

    The heavens trembled.

 Chapter 239: Reflections

    Chapter 239: Reflections

    "The blood star... is gone!"

    "Gone!"

    In the Mortal Heart Realm, in the southern lands, all the ancient gods and even ordinary people looked up at the sky.

    Where there had once been a massive tear in the heavens, where a gigantic blood-red sun had loomed, it was now completely gone.

    What this meant, the ordinary people did not understand, but how could the ancient gods not know?

    An elderly man wept openly, tears streaming down his face. "The evil god... is gone!"

    The evil god that had ravaged the Mortal Heart Realm for tens of thousands of years, the one who was even beyond a true god...

    Gone.

    He returned, not too long ago, when the heavens were torn open and that terrifying being beyond a true god had roared in fury.

    The Origin Heavenly God, dressed in a blood-red robe, had entered the tear in the sky from the northern lands.

    Five thousand gods followed behind him, swearing to slay the evil god!

    When the ancient gods of the Mortal Heart Realm first glimpsed the corner of the eye of that being beyond a true god, they knew.

    This battle was unwinnable.

    The power of that being beyond a true god was beyond comprehension.

    Its body was larger than the entire Mortal Heart Realm.

    The ancient gods, born and raised in the Mortal Heart Realm, could combine all the resources they had ever gathered, and it would still not equal even a fraction of the power of that being beyond a true god.

    In such a battle, defeat was inevitable.

    Yet now...

    That blood-red sun that had shone over the Mortal Heart Realm for thousands of years was gone.

    The Mortal Heart Realm had won.

    The Origin Heavenly God had won.

    But...

    "The Pear Mountain Great Sovereign... has fallen."

    "The White Xi Revered One... is gone!"

    The elderly man, his hair and beard white, rushed into his cave dwelling. When he saw that all thirty lanterns hanging in the room had gone out, his heart was filled with sorrow.

    The ancient gods who had gone to the northern lands had left a wisp of their essence in these life lanterns.

    The extinguished flames in the lanterns meant that they had died in battle beyond the heavens.

    The elderly man looked up at the sky, hoping to see the ancient gods falling like shooting stars back into the realm.

    But, sadly, he was destined to be disappointed.

    In Feihuang City, Huang Mengling, the city lord''s daughter, stood in reflective silence.

    She recalled the first time she had seen that young man.

    He had been eating at a banquet.

    She had invited him to leave Qingshui Village, which was in great danger, to come with her to the city and even recommended him to join the Ancient Gods Alliance.

    That strange ancient god had refused, acting in a mad and reckless manner.

    But who would have thought he could...

    The memories of those days still lingered before her eyes, as if in a dream.

    At that moment, a weak voice sounded in Huang Mengling''s ear.

    "My injuries have healed by about thirty percent. Has the Flying Spirit Palace sent any evil gods?"

    The voice belonged to Ancient God Yuan, who had been injured and in a deep sleep.

    When Feihuang City had faced a crisis, she had briefly awakened, but had quickly returned to her slumber.

    Even while healing, she had been constantly worried about the situation in Feihuang City.

    Knowing that the Origin Heavenly God had slain the descending evil gods, she expected a fierce retaliation from them.

    Hearing Ancient God Yuan''s question, Huang Mengling was momentarily at a loss.

    She didn''t know how to respond.

    After hesitating for a moment, she finally said, "The evil gods... are gone."

    "Gone?" Ancient God Yuan''s voice was filled with confusion and disbelief.

    Suddenly, she looked up at the sky, her expression shifting to one of shock, and then horror.

    In her ears, Huang Mengling''s somber voice continued.

    "Yesterday, the Origin Heavenly God led the ancient gods of several villages in a counterattack against those beings beyond true gods... They left the heavens and have not returned."

    ...

    Night had fallen, and the ancestral land of the ancient tribes was silent.

    It wasn''t time for the ancestral land to be opened, so the place was empty, devoid of people.

    Suddenly, a flash of blood-red light appeared, and Qi Yuan materialized within the ancestral land.

    Clearly, he intended to keep Zhao Qingyu there.

    However, at that moment, a voice suddenly sounded.

    "No wonder my quest isn''t complete yet. It turns out... some still covet my Qingshui Village."

    As the voice echoed, a figure in a blood-red robe appeared.

    The man had long hair and an exceptionally handsome face, resembling a demonic god descending to earth.

    Wang Can and the other ancient god froze in shock.

    They were both utterly stunned.

    "Origin Heavenly God!"

    It was the Origin Heavenly Sovereign¡ªhe was still alive!

    Zhao Qingyu was trembling, her eyes shining with hope.

    She wanted to tell the Origin Heavenly God about the conversation she had overheard, but she couldn''t find the words.

    However, at that moment, a flash of blood-red light passed.

    "Don''t think I can''t hear you just because you were whispering behind my back."

    Wang Can and the other ancient god''s eyes widened in terror.

    A blood-red aura surged into their divine domains, shattering them as if they were made of thin paper.

    Their minds filled with fear, and their bodies fell, lifeless.

    Even in death, they couldn''t understand how the Origin Heavenly God had known about their plot.

    They had been whispering in secret, and Zhao Qingyu had been under control.

    With Wang Can dead, the pressure on Zhao Qingyu disappeared. She looked at Qi Yuan, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, Heavenly God, for saving my life!"

    At that moment, streaks of light flashed by, and it was clear that the other ancient gods near Qingshui Village had noticed something was missed.

    When they saw Qi Yuan, they were either shocked or overjoyed.

    The Origin Heavenly God was still alive!

    "Greetings, Origin Heavenly God!"

    "Greetings, Heavenly God!"

    A dozen ancient gods gathered near Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan gave them a casual glance.

    An elderly man stepped forward, hunched over. "May I ask, Heavenly God, what happened to the evil gods?"

    The disappearance of the blood sun suggests the fall of those beyond true gods.

    But they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, so they were still anxious.

    "Dead," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    Upon hearing this, the ancient gods felt a weight lifted from their hearts, but Qi Yuan continued.

    "Qingshui Village is my territory. No unauthorized persons are allowed inside."

    The quest to protect Qingshui Village is not yet over.

    The other ancient gods had little reaction to this; they were still processing the news of the evil gods'' demise.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan seemed to remember something. "Earlier, I promised to hold banquets in some of the cities, but I never had the chance to follow through.

    Would you be willing to help me with this?"

    Upon hearing this, many of the ancient gods felt a surge of joy.

    Zhao Qingyu quickly stepped forward. "It would be an honor for me to serve the Heavenly God in this matter!"

    The Heavenly God was still alive.

    It was clear who now reigned supreme in this realm.

    "I leave it in your hands."

    Qi Yuan waved his hand.

    "Everyone, please return."

    His form disappeared once again, reappearing inside Qingshui Village.

    The place where it all began.

    The quiet Qingshui Village was no different from any ordinary village.

    The crops in the fields were growing vigorously.

    "If my quest is to protect Qingshui Village, then I should move the village."

    "I am Qingshui Village, and Qingshui Village is me!"

    As Qi Yuan spoke, Qingshui Village began to undergo a strange transformation.

    The stones, bricks, mud, earth, trees, and spiritual rice all began to fade, being absorbed into Qi Yuan''s divine domain.

    Qi Yuan''s face paled momentarily before returning to its normal color.

    At that moment, the game notification sounded.Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

 Chapter 240: Returning to the Canglan Realm, Nascent Soul True Monarch!

    Chapter 240: Returning to the Canglan Realm, Nascent Soul True Monarch!

    [You have completed the Qingshui Village instance and received rewards.]

    [Reward 1: Innate Seed.]

    [Reward 2: Innate True Spirit.]ation about these two rewards flooded into Qi Yuan''s mind at that moment.

    The Innate Seed, as the name suggests, is a seed. But this seed is extremely special. It can take root and grow in any world, develop under the owner''s direction, and can then be replaced when the owner descends.

    "This Innate Seed... is rather peculiar."

    After reaching the Yin God level, Qi Yuan realized that in the past, his gameplay involved his Primordial Spirit entering the game world. However, his Primordial Spirit was somewhat unique, being one-time use and nearly identical to a physical body, with flesh and blood.

    Regardless, it was a direct descent.

    Now, with the Innate Seed, Qi Yuan could plant the seed first, allow it to grow, and then replace it when he descended himself.

    "It doesn''t seem particularly useful¡ªat most, it allows for early entry into the game and a bit of foresight into the plot."

    "No, wait... there is some utility. The feedback from the Innate Seed''s power growth is greater than what the game would provide!"

    This realization left Qi Yuan somewhat frustrated.

    If he had obtained the Innate Seed earlier, he might already be at the Yin God level in the Canglan Realm by now.

    As things stand, even after slaying two Yang Gods, he has only just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage upon returning to the Canglan Realm.

    Qi Yuan then focused on the second reward: the Innate True Spirit.

    Innate Beings are all born from the Innate True Spirit. Possessing an Innate True Spirit, Qi Yuan could even cultivate a new Mortal Heart Realm. Such a world of Innate Beings is highly coveted, even by Yang Gods. If Qi Yuan carefully nurtured it, his path to Yang God would extend very far indeed.

    However, Qi Yuan simply chuckled and said, "What¡¯s one Innate World compared to a Heavenly Court?"

    He thought of the fallen Shenlei Great Venerable, his adopted daughter Qi Qi, and all the villagers of Qingshui Village.

    Without hesitation, the Innate True Spirit before him, which looked like a peeled, crystalline egg, exuding an infinite, vast aura as though it could birth countless beings, was suddenly shattered by a multitude of sharp blades formed from Qi Yuan¡¯s divine power.

    "Let this become... my Nascent Souls."

    With these words, the Innate True Spirit instantly split into 4,752 fragments¡ª4,750 for the villagers and one each for the Foodless Holy Mother and the Tianbao Venerable.

    The fragmented Innate True Spirit entered Qi Yuan¡¯s divine domain.

    Under his control, these Innate True Spirits transformed into Nascent Souls. In his divine domain, the assimilated divine power returned to these Nascent Souls. Countless memory fragments also flowed into the Nascent Souls.

    "It¡¯s time... to leave." Qi Yuan''s gaze deepened.

    The task was complete, and his time in the Mortal Heart Realm was running out¡ªless than half a day remained.

    In these last moments, he thought of the time he had once spent exploring this world with the Foodless Divine Mother. This time, he would take one last solitary look at the Mortal Heart Realm.

    ...

    Canglan Realm.

    In his small brick house, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes snapped open.

    It felt as though ages had passed in an instant, with countless memories flooding his mind like fragments of a shattered mirror.

    He glanced at the stars in the sky and sighed softly. "As expected... not even a quarter of an hour has passed in the Canglan Realm."

    He had ventured into the game world again and then returned, yet the time in the Canglan Realm had remained frozen at the exact moment he left.

    In his mind, memories surged like a flood.

    Qi Yuan Sutra activated, temporarily sealing all memories as though storing them as a film.

    The heavy expression on Qi Yuan¡¯s face faded away.

    He examined his Dantian.

    Inside, he saw 4,752 Nascent Souls.

    Each Nascent Soul radiated a terrifying aura, as though an Yin God slumbered within. If awakened, they would surely shake the Canglan Realm.

    Moreover, these Nascent Souls were no ordinary gods.

    For instance, Shenlei Great Venerable, who had acquired the Southern Pole Longevity Emperor Visualization Technique. Given time, he could potentially ascend to Yang God in a larger world!

    Thus, each Nascent Soul within Qi Yuan possessed the potential to become a Yang God!

    If they were to awaken, they could become 4,000+ Great Venerables¡ªand possibly even Yang Gods!

    "Oh dear, I¡¯ve inadvertently created so many Nascent Souls. Now, I¡¯ve truly earned the title of Nascent Soul True Monarch!"

    In the Great Shang Kingdom, a Nascent Soul True Monarch was considered a top-tier figure.

    The Sect Master of the Shenguang Sect, Elder Kumu, was also a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s nemesis, the Black Chicken Demon, was likewise a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

    After much hardship, Qi Yuan had finally become a proper Nascent Soul True Monarch.

    In the Great Shang Kingdom, he could now establish his own sect!

    "A brick house no longer befits my status. This time, I¡¯ll move into... a bungalow!"

    As his power grew, so too did his standards, and his living quarters could no longer be so humble.

    If there were televisions here, he would demand the best.

    "This breakthrough was indeed significant." Qi Yuan reflected.

    After all, such significant events were beyond her control.

    "Senior Brother, why did you call me out?" Jiang Lingsu asked.

    "I¡¯ve got some good news and some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" Qi Yuan asked with a grin.

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s health had always been poor, her body turning icy cold every so often.

    Even with Qi Yuan¡¯s warmth, he could only briefly alleviate the cold when holding her hand.

    Unless they shared a bed every day, he couldn¡¯t dispel her pain entirely.

    Throughout his journey in the Mortal Heart Realm, Qi Yuan never forgot about his junior sister¡¯s condition.

    After all, she had supported him generously, and while Qi Yuan no longer needed her modest wealth, he wasn¡¯t about to become ungrateful now that he was wealthy.

    "Good news," Jiang Lingsu replied directly.

    She knew that when talking with her senior brother, it was best to follow her instincts and say whatever came to mind.

    "The good news is that I¡¯ve found someone with a water-attribute heavenly spirit root who can cure your condition!"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s initial plan was to reach the level of a Golden Immortal and then capture a Purple Mansion cultivator to heal his junior sister.

    But in the Mortal Heart Realm, he had encountered many Purple Mansion cultivators with water-attribute heavenly spirit roots and had chosen a particularly beautiful and obedient one to become one of his subjects.

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. "You found someone?"

    Does that mean her illness could finally be cured?

    Would she no longer have to endure such excruciating pain?

    Overjoyed, she moved closer to Qi Yuan, grabbing his arm.

    "Where is she?"

    "But there¡¯s also bad news," Qi Yuan said calmly. "The person I found isn¡¯t at the Purple Mansion level."

    "Ah?" Jiang Lingsu''s excitement faded, disappointment flashing in her eyes.

    Without a Purple Mansion cultivator, there was no way to permanently cure her condition.

    And training a regular water-attribute heavenly spirit root cultivator to the Purple Mansion level... That was out of the question.

    Even her Jiang Family couldn¡¯t do it.

    "Thank you for your efforts, Senior Brother, but it¡¯s okay," Jiang Lingsu smiled brightly.

    It was enough that her senior brother cared about her.

    It didn¡¯t matter if he couldn¡¯t help.

    "I¡¯m not done with the bad news yet," Qi Yuan continued.

    Jiang Lingsu pushed aside her earlier excitement and smiled, "What else is there?"

    "The cultivator I found isn¡¯t at the Purple Mansion level; she¡¯s at the Yin God level."

    In fact, she wasn¡¯t just any Yin God but a Great Venerable¡ªa God among gods.

    Jiang Lingsu was stunned, her breath quickening. "Senior Brother... You found an Yin God?"

    That was an Yin God!

    An Yin God could do what a Purple Mansion cultivator could, and more!

    Her senior brother was full of surprises!

    But Jiang Lingsu was also a bit apprehensive. Her Jiang Family couldn¡¯t even afford to hire an Yin God.

    "But I¡¯m not done with the bad news." Qi Yuan didn¡¯t leave her in suspense this time. "That Yin God... is dead."

    Jiang Lingsu blinked.

    "She became one of my Nascent Souls."

    Jiang Lingsu blinked again.

    Why did that sound so strange?

    "So, my Nascent Soul can heal you!" Qi Yuan boasted.

    Jiang Lingsu was bewildered. After a long pause, she said, "Senior Brother... we¡¯ve only been apart for one incense stick¡¯s time, and now you¡¯re pulling my leg?"

    She playfully punched Qi Yuan, twisting his arm with a bit of force.

    After all, she was only at the Foundation Establishment level, so she couldn¡¯t really hurt the Golden Core-stage Qi Yuan, which meant she could go all out.

    To be a Nascent Soul already, that was too hard to believe!

    "Your senior brother never lies. Even if I do, it¡¯s only for good reasons," Qi Yuan said nonchalantly. "Now, let¡¯s go back to your room so I can heal you."

    "Are you serious, Senior Brother?" Jiang Lingsu asked, astonished.

    While her senior brother was unreliable at times, when he got serious, he was often right.

    "I swear I¡¯m not lying!" Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    Jiang Lingsu hesitated for a moment. "Wait, I need to gather my thoughts. This is all too much."

    She was genuinely confused.

    Her senior brother¡¯s words were simply too unbelievable.

    After a while, she clenched her teeth and said, "Alright, Senior Brother, I¡¯ll believe you this time. But if you¡¯re tricking me, you won¡¯t hear the end of it!"

 Chapter 241: Average Talent Jiang Lingsu

    Chapter 241: Average Talent Jiang Lingsu

    After Jiang Lingsu spoke, she headed straight into her room.

    "Senior Brother, wait until I call you in."

    "Okay."

    Jiang Lingsu entered her room alone, still feeling a bit dazed.

    Is Senior Brother... serious about this?

    "Or could it be that Senior Brother has some ulterior motives?"

    But then she thought, who would really lose out in that situation?

    Since there was no reason for Senior Brother to deceive her about something like this, Jiang Lingsu decided to give it a try.

    After all, the cold poison she suffered from wasn¡¯t something just anyone could endure.

    About the time it takes to burn two sticks of incense later, Jiang Lingsu finished tidying up her messy room.

    Normally, Senior Brother wouldn¡¯t enter her room, so she rarely cleaned it thoroughly.

    After all, it was normal for girls to have a lot of things, right?

    Now that everything was in order, at least on the surface, the room looked presentable.

    A large bathtub had been added to the room, and Jiang Lingsu, dressed in a tube top, sat down in the bath. The water in the tub was a blue-green color, constantly boiling, with Qingyu flowers, Immortal Dragon Rock leaves, and Su petals floating in it.

    These spiritual herbs were essential for treating Jiang Lingsu''s physical condition.

    At this moment, her fair arms and slender shoulders were exposed above the water. Her collarbones were well-defined, with a few strands of wet black hair clinging to them as she looked toward the door.

    "Senior Brother, you can come in now."

    After speaking, she instinctively covered her chest with her hands, her cheeks turning slightly pink, perhaps due to the water¡¯s heat.

    "I''m coming, I''m coming..."

    Light footsteps approached and stopped about two breaths later.

    Jiang Lingsu took a deep breath, feeling that the water was a bit too hot, causing red marks to appear on her fair skin.

    "Are you taking a bath?" Qi Yuan¡¯s voice came from outside.

    "I''m fully dressed!" Jiang Lingsu couldn¡¯t help but raise her voice.

    "Are we filming a drama?" Qi Yuan sounded intrigued.

    Taking a bath while fully dressed¡ªwasn¡¯t that just for TV?

    Despite his curiosity, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t step forward, instead standing behind the screen.

    "Men and women should maintain proper boundaries. Your Senior Brother is a married man and must avoid suspicion. I¡¯ll help you from here."

    Qi Yuan spoke from behind the screen, his tone calm and collected.

    He felt quite pleased with himself, thinking that his emotional intelligence was quite high.

    Back on Blue Star, there were often sayings like "men and women should maintain proper boundaries," "daughters should avoid fathers," or even that "fathers should hang themselves immediately after their daughters are born to avoid impropriety."

    Though Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t extreme, he was very conscious of maintaining appropriate boundaries.

    "Avoid suspicion?" Jiang Lingsu fell silent for a moment in the bathtub. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

    "Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m avoiding you because of your body or looks; it¡¯s just about maintaining proper boundaries!" Qi Yuan explained warmly, thinking he was being very considerate.

    In this situation, he was worried that Jiang Lingsu, as a patient, might overthink, so he decided to lay everything out clearly.

    He was being truthful too¡ªhis junior sister was naturally beautiful, one of the top beauties in the Shenguang Sect. As for her figure, it was exceptional, hard to conceal even under ordinary clothing.

    So, he truly wasn¡¯t avoiding her because of that.

    Jiang Lingsu froze, biting her lip, wanting to jump out of the bathtub and give her Senior Brother a good punch.

    "Senior Brother, you''d be better off as a mute." Jiang Lingsu couldn¡¯t help but say.

    Why did such a handsome, talented Senior Brother have to ruin her fantasies every time he opened his mouth?

    "I understand."

    Qi Yuan realized his words were too considerate, and his junior sister was a bit overwhelmed.

    "Are you ready? Senior Brother''s Nascent Soul is about to enter!"

    "I''m ready," Jiang Lingsu replied, her face full of curiosity. She was eager to see how exactly her Senior Brother planned to treat her.

    After all, only a Purple Mansion cultivator with a water-attribute heavenly spirit root was supposed to be able to cure her.

    What kind of thing was Senior Brother¡¯s Nascent Soul?

    At that moment, the room suddenly became eerily silent.

    Jiang Lingsu focused all her attention on her surroundings.

    She glanced through the screen at the figure standing still behind it.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation.

    In the Mortal Heart Realm, for cultivators, the most precious things were: first, the Original Ancestral Land; second, Qi Yuan''s Divine Visualization Technique; third, the accidental treasures of the Foodless Holy Mother; and finally, the Mortal Heart Realm itself, an Innate World.

    The Original Ancestral Land was closely tied to Qi Yuan¡¯s Divine Visualization Technique.

    Qi Yuan was able to create such a powerful Divine Visualization Technique because he had consumed the resources of the Original Ancestral Land¡¯s special towers.

    In addition to the special nature of Qi Yuan¡¯s Divine Visualization Technique, the completion of his mission granted him the Innate True Spirit.

    The Innate True Spirit was essentially a seed for an Innate World.

    In terms of value, it even surpassed the Mortal Heart Realm itself.

    All of the resources of the ancestral land, the Divine Visualization Techniques, and the Innate True Spirit.

    All of these things combined...

    Formed a Nascent Soul, not just any Nascent Souls, but Innate Gods with extremely high potential!

    She had a pure water-attribute spirit root.

    This kind of spirit root was considered a rare talent even in the Eastern Lands.

    In the Shenguang Sect, it was unparalleled.

    "Your talent is indeed quite average. Just a pure water-attribute spirit root? Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, spiritual power is just average, nothing special. Your constitution is slightly better than the average female cultivator¡¯s, with more flexibility. Hmm, the severity of your condition has affected your Yin Qi, making it somewhat abnormal...

    Junior Sister, apart from having a slightly larger chest and being good-looking, you¡¯re really quite ordinary, not even as good as a village girl." Qi Yuan''s words were blunt.

    Based on the feedback from the Nascent Soul, Qi Yuan had essentially given his junior sister a health check-up.

    The results were disappointing¡ªher talent was utterly ordinary.

    Forget about attracting a Yang God to take her as a disciple, even an Yin God might not be interested.

    Even a Purple Mansion cultivator... might not be bothered to take her in.

    Sitting in the bathtub, Jiang Lingsu could barely hold back the urge to kick Qi Yuan.

    She naturally assumed that the information had been provided by the Yin God treating her condition.

    "Senior Brother, what kind of village girl... has a pure spirit root?" Jiang Lingsu retorted, annoyed.

    "The one right in front of you is a village girl. I searched for a long time in the game and finally found her in a small Village."

    Qi Yuan said lazily.

    This woman had first visualized the Water Kid from Hulu Brothers, and later the Water God who held dominion over water, eventually becoming a Grand Venerable.

    Jiang Lingsu was left speechless.

    How could she argue with that? After all, should she ask the Yin God directly, "Are you a village girl?"

    Her Senior Brother might be familiar with the Yin God, but she wasn¡¯t, so she couldn¡¯t afford to be disrespectful just because of her close relationship with her Senior Brother.

    "Sigh, Junior Sister, you¡¯re really too ordinary, not even qualified to become my Nascent Soul." Qi Yuan lamented.

    Jiang Lingsu was at a loss for words.

    Nascent Soul?

    Her Senior Brother had just said this Yin God was his Nascent Soul.

    Her Senior Brother really dared to think big.

    She couldn¡¯t say such things in front of the Yin God for fear of the Yin God blaming her Senior Brother.

    Yin Gods were capricious and represented the highest level of power in the Canglan Realm, not to be offended lightly.

    "In that case..." Qi Yuan thought of something, "If I¡¯m not mistaken, when a major sect disciple breaks through to the Nascent Soul realm, they can hold a Nascent Soul ceremony.

    Junior Sister, I¡¯ve decided to hold a Nascent Soul ceremony, and you can be the doorkeeper, welcoming guests and collecting gifts for me!"

    Though Qi Yuan was low-key, he still liked to make a bit of a show.

    Now that he had reached the Nascent Soul stage, he had to hold a ceremony to show off.

    Returning wealthy to one¡¯s hometown is like wearing a rich brocade in the night¡ªwhat¡¯s the point if no one sees it?

    If he didn¡¯t display his Nascent Soul cultivation, what would he do if some small fry tried to bully him?

    "Senior Brother, if you can convince the Sect Master to let you hold a Nascent Soul ceremony, I¡¯ll be your doorkeeper!" Jiang Lingsu replied.

    "Fine, convincing the Sect Master is no big deal."

    Qi Yuan shrugged.

    It would only take him three sentences to empty the Sect Master¡¯s storage bag.

    As for Junior Sister Jiang Lingsu... it seemed that this wealthy woman would give him money even without him asking.

    With this in mind, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze towards Jiang Lingsu became even more gentle.

    This wealthy Junior Sister was indeed very kind.

    Half an hour passed, during which Qi Yuan and Jiang Lingsu chatted endlessly, separated by the screen.

    They discussed every detail of the Nascent Soul ceremony, from what gifts to give to where people should sit.

    "Junior Sister, your ailment is cured," Qi Yuan said.

    As he spoke, the goddess-like figure faded away.

    The pressure Jiang Lingsu felt instantly vanished. She carefully examined her body.

    The coldness she had been suffering from was completely gone.

    A joyful expression appeared on her face as she realized her ailment had been fully cured.

    If a Purple Mansion cultivator had treated her, it might have required several sessions.

    But with a Yin God, one session was enough for a full recovery.

    Jiang Lingsu was overjoyed. She thought of something and stepped out of the bathtub, her gaze landing on something far away. With a wave of her delicate hand, she draped a thin veil over her graceful figure.

    Jiang Lingsu stepped around the screen, her expression sincere as she gracefully bowed. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

    To be able to find an Yin God to heal her, the gratitude she felt was immense.

    Qi Yuan was slightly surprised as he looked at the lightly dressed Jiang Lingsu.

    His junior sister, who was usually very conservative, was now dressed quite revealingly, a first in front of him.

    The thin veil was almost transparent, barely concealing her exquisite figure, instead enhancing it with a teasing hint of mystery.

    "Junior Sister, aren¡¯t you going to put on more clothes? Aren¡¯t you afraid I might be a bad guy?" Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    Jiang Lingsu responded confidently, "Everything that needs to be covered is covered, so what¡¯s the problem?

    If that Yin God senior could see me, why can¡¯t you, Senior Brother?"

    Qi Yuan was left speechless.

    Indeed, he was being old-fashioned. The Qing dynasty was long gone, yet he still had a pigtail on his head.

    "Even if you are a bad guy, who knows who would really lose out?" Jiang Lingsu continued.

 Chapter 242: The Innate Seed, Cultivating an Alias

    Chapter 242: The Innate Seed, Cultivating an Alias

    "Junior Sister, you''re a bit dirty-minded. No wonder you have a water-attribute spirit root¡ªturns out it''s sewage."

    Qi Yuan looked at Jiang Lingsu with an appreciative gaze.

    This side of Jiang Lingsu was something he had never seen before, and it had its own unique charm.

    Jiang Lingsu didn¡¯t shy away and didn¡¯t try to cover herself, which made her feel a surge of joy.

    After all, every person, regardless of gender, feels pride when admired by someone as exceptional as her Senior Brother.

    "Not bad. Your looks and figure far surpass those of your sister Jiang Ya, so you''ll be more than adequate as a doorkeeper."

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but give his evaluation.

    The smile on Jiang Lingsu¡¯s face froze.

    There it was... Senior Brother was just being Senior Brother¡ªshe shouldn¡¯t have had any expectations.

    "Senior Brother, thank you so much for this," Jiang Lingsu said, expressing her gratitude.

    "It¡¯s nothing, just a small matter."

    As Senior Brother and Sister, they should love each other like family.

    Unfortunately, their master Ruan Yixi wasn¡¯t around, possibly up in the higher realms.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s partner Jin Li was also in the higher realms.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t ascend to the higher realms until he reached the Yin God stage.

    "Senior Brother, you¡¯ve helped me so much that I have no way to repay you. If you have a request that¡¯s not too excessive, I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill it," Jiang Lingsu said seriously.

    Her words made Qi Yuan pause.

    Jiang Lingsu added confidently, "Even if it¡¯s a bit excessive, that¡¯s fine too."

    Jiang Lingsu knew Qi Yuan¡¯s character, which is why she made such an offer. With anyone else, she would have simply offered all her spirit stones or some other treasures.

    "I''m curious," Qi Yuan said, as Jiang Lingsu''s words reminded him of something.

    He continued, "If I offered you two options as a way to repay me, which would you choose?"

    "What options?" Jiang Lingsu asked.

    "First option: ''This humble girl has no way to repay such kindness and vows to repay the benefactor in the next life as a horse or an ox.'' Second option: ''This humble girl is willing to offer herself in marriage.''"

    Qi Yuan was testing his charm.

    From what Qi Yuan remembered, if the benefactor was ugly, the lady would say she¡¯d repay him in the next life as a horse or an ox. But if the benefactor was handsome, she¡¯d offer herself in marriage on the spot.

    This happened quite often.

    For instance, in ancient times when a matchmaker introduced a couple, if the woman was satisfied, she¡¯d say, "I leave the decision to my parents." But if she wasn¡¯t satisfied, she¡¯d have a different set of phrases.

    In any case, you had to be tactful when speaking.

    Qi Yuan was also trying to be tactful.

    Jiang Lingsu furrowed her brows, seemingly deep in thought.

    After a while, she looked Qi Yuan in the eyes and said, "Compared to repaying you as a horse or an ox, I''d rather offer myself in marriage."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyebrows shot up with joy.

    It seemed he was indeed handsome.

    Being certified as handsome by others was different from thinking it oneself.

    Qi Yuan felt quite smug until Jiang Lingsu hesitantly added, "Senior Brother, is this excessive request the one you had in mind? If so, I..."

    Qi Yuan quickly waved his hand, "Not at all. I¡¯m not the kind of person who would exploit someone¡¯s gratitude!"

    He wasn¡¯t about to play the role of a blackmailing benefactor.

    Jiang Lingsu felt a bit disoriented by this response.

    Though she had outwardly appeared calm when she made her decision, internally, she had struggled.

    Now that she had her answer, she felt a mix of emotions¡ªpartly relieved, partly disappointed.

    But then again, this was so typical of her Senior Brother.

    His style was always unpredictable, making it difficult to understand him.

    So when interacting with him, Jiang Lingsu had learned to just go with the flow and not overthink things she couldn¡¯t comprehend.

    "I¡¯ll keep that request in mind for now. Oh, and don¡¯t forget to invite the Demonic Desire Sect to the Nascent Soul Ceremony."

    Qi Yuan gave special instructions.

    Several disciples and elders from the Demonic Desire Sect had offended him.

    At that time, Qi Yuan was busy wiping out his main enemy, the Bright Palace, so he only casually killed a few elders from the Demonic Desire Sect.

    When the Bright Palace was destroyed and he returned to the Great Shang, he discovered that the Demonic Desire Sect had undergone changes.

    The sect had always been controlled by two factions: one with the surname Shen, who were very low-key, and the other with the surname Ji, who were extremely arrogant.

    For years, the Ji faction had dominated the Shen faction.

    But after Qi Yuan returned, he learned that the Shen faction had suppressed and eliminated the Ji faction. Now the Demonic Desire Sect was once again under the control of the Shen faction.

    Qi Yuan was curious about what had happened within the Demonic Desire Sect and wanted to learn more. So he decided to extend an invitation and see for himself.

    After parting with Jiang Lingsu, Qi Yuan returned to his room.

    His daughter, Qi Jianjun, was nowhere to be found¡ªlikely off somewhere fishing.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness then dove into the game jade slip.

    The game had ended, and Qi Yuan was now waiting for a new one.

    This time, as usual, a new game icon was slowly forming within the jade slip.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s divine sense approached the icon, but it was repelled.

    "What kind of world will it be this time?" Qi Yuan wondered with anticipation.

    Kang Fuluo, now with a head full of white hair, was filled with confusion.

    He had just returned from the Cangyun Continent, having recently made it onto the Eastern Lands¡¯ list of top talents, a joyous achievement, yet the Sect Master had shown little reaction.

    In the meantime, Kang Fuluo had been investigating what had happened while he was away from the sect.

    He discovered that during his absence, there had been some trouble caused by Purple Mansion cultivators, who were then killed by members of the Blood Robe Alliance.

    The Blood Robe Alliance was closely connected to the Seven-Color Peak as well.

    This made him even more suspicious.

    Could it be that Qi Yuan, who was always a bit odd, had been blessed by fortune and taken in as a disciple by the Blood-Robe Sword God?

    Given his thought process, this was the only conclusion he could draw.

    Sect Leader Kumu looked at Kang Fuluo and said casually, "Tomorrow, our Shenguang Sect will hold a Nascent Soul ceremony. Go prepare the arrangements and send out the invitations."

    "Which Elder has reached the Nascent Soul stage?" Kang Fuluo asked, delighted.

    With another Nascent Soul cultivator, the Shenguang Sect¡¯s strength would significantly increase.

    The Demonic Desire Sect had already gone through changes, and the Shenguang Sect would become the number one sect in the Great Shang.

    "Seven-Color Peak... Qi Yuan."

    "Junior Brother Qi Yuan?" Kang Fuluo¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Qi Yuan... a Nascent Soul?

    How could this be? Wasn¡¯t he just at the Foundation Establishment stage?

    "As the head disciple of a peak, your mental state is far inferior to Qi Yuan¡¯s," Sect Leader Kumu said proudly.

    When Qi Yuan had mentioned his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, the Sect Leader hadn¡¯t been surprised¡ªjust curious.

    Why would an Yin God pretend to have just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage?

    Kang Fuluo remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Sect Master... Are you sure you¡¯re not joking with me?"

    It was like being told that a classmate who was struggling to keep up suddenly won a Nobel Prize and was elected to the Academy of Sciences.

    How was he supposed to process that?

    "Do I have any reason to lie to you about this? The invitations are ready, so go send them out," Sect Leader Kumu said.

    The invitations even included a special title for Qi Yuan, as requested: the Great Shang¡¯s First Nascent Soul.

    Kang Fuluo didn¡¯t object.

    After all, if the boss wanted to play, he¡¯d play along.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan logged into the Divine Flower Four Emperors chat group.

    "Great news, everyone! I¡¯ve reached the Nascent Soul stage."

    Reaching the Nascent Soul stage naturally called for some showing off.

    Qi Yuan even considered contacting the president of the Divine Flower Association to have a post pinned in the association¡¯s forum.

    "Congratulations to Qi Yuan of the Divine Light Sect¡¯s Seven-Color Peak for reaching the Nascent Soul stage and becoming the Great Shang¡¯s First Nascent Soul."

    But then he decided that it was better to stay low-key with such special treatment.

    He didn¡¯t dwell on it.

    "Nascent Soul?" The Rogue Immortal Venerable was stunned. "Origin Heavenly Venerable, you¡¯re incredible!"

    No matter what, the best response to Qi Yuan was praise.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor also chimed in with flattery.

    Even the Ice Mountain Queen offered a few compliments before lamenting, "Sigh, while your cultivation levels are soaring, I¡¯ve been stuck for hundreds of years."

    The Ice Mountain Queen had been stuck at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage for centuries.

    To break through to the Yin God stage, she needed to traverse the boundless sea of lightning.

    But with the looming catastrophe, the lightning sea had become even more dangerous. Even ordinary Yin Gods acting as guardians would face immense difficulties. Breaking through to the Yin God stage was exceedingly challenging for her.

    Her grandfather was very old and seemed to have some injuries, so venturing into the boundless lightning sea would be extremely risky for him.

    Without a suitable guardian, she had no choice but to delay her breakthrough.

    She had considered asking the Blood-Robe Sword God, also known as Origin Heavenly Venerable, but ultimately decided against it.

    After all, Origin Heavenly Venerable was just a venerable figure, and even venerables faced the risk of falling in the boundless lightning sea.

    Moreover, with the catastrophe on the horizon, even Yin Gods were conserving their strength for the coming challenges.

    She didn¡¯t want to trouble Qi Yuan, nor could she afford the price.

    "It¡¯s all because of that damn catastrophe!" The Ice Mountain Queen couldn¡¯t help but curse.

    Without the catastrophe, she might have had a chance to break through to the Yin God stage.

    "The catastrophe..." Mentioning the catastrophe made Qi Yuan¡¯s expression grow serious.

    Even though he had surpassed many myths in the Mortal Heart Realm and had even slain two Yang Gods...

    He still felt a deep sense of unease regarding the impending catastrophe.

    Even though he could call for reinforcements...

    What if the catastrophe summoned a Yang God?

    The difference between Yang Gods was even greater than the gap between humans and dogs.

    He didn¡¯t know which Yang God was behind the catastrophe.

    "Ice Mountain Queen, don¡¯t worry. After I play through one more game, I¡¯ll wipe out the catastrophe!" Qi Yuan announced in the group.

    In fact, if the Yang God behind the catastrophe couldn¡¯t intervene directly, or if their strength was average, Qi Yuan might be able to solo the catastrophe once his cultivation stabilized.

    "Origin Heavenly Venerable, please don¡¯t call me sister anymore," the Ice Mountain Queen replied.

    Having an Yin God powerhouse call her "sister" just made her seem older!

 Chapter 243: The Four Emperors of the Divine Flower group plan a Meeting

    Chapter 243: The Four Emperors of the Divine Flower group plan a Meeting

    "Once a sister, always a sister!" Qi Yuan was very particular about ethics and morals.

    For example, when he saw Ruan Yixi (his master), he immediately recognized her as his wife, so he always addressed her as "wife."Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

    Since Ice Queen was older than him, he naturally had to call her "sister."

    "I''m youthful and beautiful, but you all keep calling me old!" Ice Queen gritted her teeth as she sent this message.

    Back when she was at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage, she didn¡¯t act superior in the group, and she never showed inferiority when facing Qi Yuan.

    "Ice Queen, you''re stunning and in the prime of your youth!" Rogue Immortal perfectly timed his flattery.

    Rogue Immortal had already resigned himself to his fate. His talent was lacking, and the Origin Heavenly Sovereign, who used to be on the same level as him, had now become a super powerhouse. In the group, he was the only true newbie left.

    So, his role was simple: flatter the powerful and cling to their coattails.

    "Although breaking through to Nascent Soul True Monarch feels amazing, I still have my own worries. My progress has been too fast," Qi Yuan said with a worried expression.

    He really had progressed too quickly.

    After returning to Seven Colors Peak, he hadn¡¯t even had time to settle in before advancing from the early Gold Core stage to the Nascent Soul stage.

    This speed was unprecedented and unparalleled.

    Rogue Immortal was at a loss. Someone was actually complaining about progressing too fast? By Qi Yuan''s description, this was the epitome of flaunting.

    "If I break through to the Yin God stage, I''ll definitely show off in front of my sisters, just like the Origin Heavenly Sovereign," said Ice Queen. "I''ll say... Sigh, breaking through to Yin God was too easy, no challenge at all, no sense of accomplishment."

    "Of everyone in this group, the Origin Heavenly Sovereign has truly mastered the art of bragging."

    "I''m not showing off. I genuinely have concerns. I went to find the Old Man Wu Tian and moved all the cultivation techniques from the Ascension Pavilion. But, unfortunately, I''ve exhausted all those techniques, and they''ve only gotten me to the point of breaking through to Nascent Soul."

    Qi Yuan was genuinely troubled.

    The cultivation techniques related to his Gold Core path had two branches¡ªone was to continue along the path of the Star Core, and the other was to break through to Nascent Soul.

    Now that he had exhausted all the techniques, the Star Core Dao''s techniques remained unfinished, and he had no clear path forward for the Nascent Soul Dao.

    So, even though Qi Yuan was technically a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he could still be considered a Gold Core cultivator.

    His words once again left the Four Emperors of the Divine Flower group speechless.

    "You finished all the techniques in the Ascension Pavilion..."

    "Even though the Ascension Pavilion''s master was only at the peak of the Purple Mansion stage, he was highly respected by even Yin Gods. Origin Heavenly Sovereign... you''re truly formidable!"

    "Sigh, don''t mention it. I''m broke now and severely lacking in cultivation techniques. Where can I find another place as resource-rich as the Ascension Pavilion?" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but ask for advice.

    His Star Core Dao was a bottomless pit.

    His Nascent Soul Dao also needed various techniques.

    He had completely drained Jiang Ya, the wealthy woman of the Ascension Pavilion, so Qi Yuan needed to look elsewhere for resources.

    Along the way, he might also check out the impending great calamity.

    "Of the thirteen provinces in the Eastern Land, the Ascension Pavilion has the most techniques. If you want more, Origin Heavenly Sovereign, you may need to leave the Eastern Land." The Great Sun Flame Emperor suggested.

    "Oh, leave the region?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    Not long ago, Qi Yuan had returned from the Moonwatch Continent, where he had eliminated those who defamed him, following the tip-off from Little Li of the Fox Cave.

    However, his actions had been confined to the Eastern Land.

    He hadn¡¯t ventured beyond the Eastern Land yet.

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, why not come to Feng Tianyu? Feng Tianyu borders the Eastern Land, and the Dao Seeking Palace has a branch in Feng Tianyu. You might find plenty of cultivation techniques there," the Great Sun Flame Emperor explained.

    In the Canglan Realm, there were thirty-six regions in total.

    Among them, the Eastern Land, Central Celestial Domain, and Northern Ice Plains each constituted one region.

    Feng Tianyu was adjacent to the Eastern Land and was where the Great Sun Flame Emperor resided.

    Feng Tianyu was more powerful than the Eastern Land, and more importantly, Feng Tianyu had Yin Gods.

    The Dao Seeking Palace was an organization established by Purple Mansion cultivators, comprising members from various regions, all in pursuit of the Yin God Dao.

    The major strongholds of the Dao Seeking Palace in the Eastern Land, Feng Tianyu, and the Demon Yao Region were located in Feng Tianyu.

    "Does the Dao Seeking Palace have many techniques?"

    "The Feng Tianyu branch of the Dao Seeking Palace has slightly fewer techniques than the Ascension Pavilion. However, its members possess many techniques that they haven¡¯t turned over," Ice Queen explained.

    "What Dao Seeking Palace? This is clearly my perfect target!" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    According to his criteria, the members of the Dao Seeking Palace were all old but vigorous, perfectly matching his standards for his "White Moonlights".

    Of course, whether they were suitable still depended on a closer look and whether they were destined.

    "I''ll go. As soon as I finish the Nascent Soul ceremony, I''ll head to Feng Tianyu to meet you," Qi Yuan said to the Great Sun Flame Emperor.

    At this point, Ice Queen suggested, "The Four Emperors of the Divine Flower group have never met in person. Why don''t we take this opportunity, while the Origin Heavenly Sovereign is in Feng Tianyu, to meet up?"

    "No problem. If everyone comes, I''ll make the arrangements!" The Great Sun Flame Emperor was a bit excited.

    Rogue Immortal hesitated for a moment and said, "I have some time as well."

    "It looks like the Four Emperors of the Divine Flower will finally meet," Qi Yuan also felt a surge of excitement.

    He was quite eager to meet his online friends.

    This incident had remained an unsolved mystery in the Great Shang Kingdom; no one knew who the killer was, only that they used a special knife.

    Now, as Jiang Ran glanced at the kitchen knife following Qi Yuan, countless thoughts crossed her mind.

    Could it be that Qi Yuan had been hiding his strength all along?

    Could he be the one who destroyed the Black Mountain Sect?

    Filled with gratitude, Jiang Ran couldn''t help but ask, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, was it you who annihilated the Black Mountain Sect?"

    If it was, Senior Brother Qi Yuan was indeed her great benefactor.

    Qi Yuan glanced around, as if acting very secretive: "I''ll tell you, yes, it was me. But don''t tell anyone. Otherwise, if the hidden experts of the Black Mountain Sect come to Blue Star and kill my fellow villagers, it would be bad!"

    Jiang Ran''s eyes lit up.

    It really was Senior Brother Qi Yuan!

    Back when Senior Brother Qi Yuan had stood up to the Black Mountain Sect, Jiang Ran had been worried about his strength. She had no idea that he would secretly destroy the entire sect overnight.

    The second part of Qi Yuan''s words also shocked Jiang Ran.

    The Black Mountain Sect had hidden experts? Stronger than Senior Brother Qi Yuan?

    She felt immense guilt.

    After all, Senior Brother Qi Yuan had faced the Black Mountain Sect''s wrath because of her.

    "Thank you, Senior Brother Qi Yuan, for eliminating evil and helping me out of a dangerous situation!" Jiang Ran sincerely expressed her gratitude.

    Right now, she was only at the Qi Refining stage, with no spirit stones or treasures to offer in thanks.

    "No problem," Qi Yuan waved his hand. "The Black Mountain Sect was too overbearing. They were always plotting against me in secret, so I had no choice but to wipe them out in one go.

    After all, even an ordinary person can unleash their anger and spill blood when pushed to the limit!"

    Jiang Ran hadn''t expected there to be such a backstory. It turned out the Black Mountain Sect had long been secretly bullying Senior Brother Qi Yuan.

    Senior Brother Qi Yuan''s actions were just payback.

    After expressing her gratitude several times, Jiang Ran continued up Seven Colors Peak to find Jiang Lingsu.

    Now, only Qi Yuan and the grass remained.

    "It seems you''re lacking sunlight!" Qi Yuan casually remarked.

    He glanced at the Star Core in the sky.

    Now that he had reached the Nascent Soul stage, his dantian''s spiritual power was far more abundant than when he was in the Gold Core stage.

    In the past, summoning the Star Core once required a long time to accumulate spiritual power.

    Now, that wasn¡¯t necessary¡ªhe could summon it multiple times in one go.

    As for Ningtao''s projection, he could even summon her down to stay with him.

    However, right now, the Star Core was in a critical stage of devouring the third sun, so Ningtao couldn''t leave.

    So, Qi Yuan planned to summon Ningtao to play together once the third Star Core was successfully absorbed.

    "Maybe next time I play a game, I can call Ningtao down to play with me too.

    If the new game is set in a modern society, it would be great. I could get a marriage certificate with Xiaojia and Ningtao."

    Qi Yuan, having grown up on Blue Star, found it easier to accept a marriage certificate over ancient marriage contracts.

    "Besides, I''m broke, so I don''t have to worry about dividing assets in a divorce."

    As Qi Yuan thought about this, he furrowed his brows.

    "Damn heavens, why am I so poor!"

    Qi Yuan was indeed quite poor.

    The Blood-Robed Alliance had been steadily collecting cultivation techniques, but it was just a drop in the bucket.

    He wanted to go to the Dao Seeking Palace to obtain more techniques, but he didn¡¯t have the money to buy them.

    "If only I could hold a Nascent Soul ceremony for each of my Nascent Souls, I could empty the pockets of all the Nascent Soul old monsters in the Great Shang Kingdom!" Qi Yuan mused.

    Holding a Nascent Soul ceremony typically involved receiving gifts from other Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

    If he could hold one ceremony for each Nascent Soul, Qi Yuan would undoubtedly make a fortune.

    But then he realized that even if he emptied the Great Shang Kingdom, he wouldn¡¯t make that much money, so he abandoned the idea.

    "If I could hold a Nascent Soul ceremony in the Canglan Realm that everyone could attend, and do it over four thousand times, I¡¯d definitely become the richest person in the Canglan Realm."

    Qi Yuan fantasized wildly.

    It was like wishing everyone in the world would give him a dime.

    But this time, the fantasy was even more ambitious¡ªnot only did he want a dime from everyone, but he also wanted it over four thousand times, which was like asking everyone on Blue Star to give him over four hundred bucks.

    Even then, it would barely match the debt of certain companies.

    Qi Yuan stopped indulging in such meaningless fantasies. On Seven Colors Peak, many cultivators were busy constructing his new concrete house.

    Qi Yuan looked into the distance. "When Qi Jianjun, that little brat, comes back and sees the place completely changed, she¡¯ll definitely be surprised."

    Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, a little girl was holding a fishing rod, fishing in a large lake.

    Occasionally, a shiny spirit fish would be caught, and the girl''s face would light up with a bright smile.

 Chapter 244: Yin God

    Chapter 244: Yin God

    ¡°It''s a Crimson Flame Fish!¡±

    ¡°That fish is worth ten spirit stones!¡±

    ¡°Whose disciple is this little girl?¡±

    The fishermen around the lake started breathing heavily.

    A single fish worth ten spirit stones was enough to excite all the Qi Refining cultivators present. Most of these Qi Refining cultivators were rogue cultivators who couldn¡¯t even earn ten spirit stones in a year.

    Moreover, the bucket next to the little girl wasn''t just filled with the Crimson Flame Fish but also other spirit fish.

    Altogether, the contents of her bucket were worth several hundred spirit stones¡ªenough to tempt even Foundation Establishment cultivators.

    Qi Jianjun seemed oblivious to the chatter around her as she continued casting her fishing rod, calmly waiting for the next bite.

    At that moment, an old Qi Refining cultivator sitting nearby couldn¡¯t stay silent any longer. He spoke earnestly, ¡°Little girl, there''s an old saying that wealth shouldn''t be flaunted. You¡¯re in danger here with so many eyes on you. Who are your elders? You should call them to take you back home.¡±

    Qi Jianjun continued to focus on the calm lake, her voice tinged with a bit of sadness as she replied, ¡°My mother has gone to the heavens, and my father is so obsessed with his games that he¡¯s lost track of time, not even knowing if he''s dead or alive.¡±

    The old man sighed, understanding what she meant. The girl''s mother had probably passed away, and her father was drowning his sorrows in games.

    ¡°Poor child,¡± the old man said, subtly prying, ¡°To have such a lovely and talented child like you, your parents must have come from a distinguished background. Which sect do you belong to?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re from out of town. We just arrived in the Great Shang not too long ago,¡± Qi Jianjun replied nonchalantly.

    Just then, her fishing rod twitched, and a smile of delight spread across her face.

    ¡°She¡¯s caught another one!¡±

    The nearby fishermen couldn¡¯t help but cheer.

    A young man standing a bit further away watched the scene with a helpless expression.

    ¡°That girl is in trouble. She¡¯s been targeted.¡±

    He recognized the old man sitting next to Qi Jianjun. The old man appeared kind-hearted and harmless, but in reality, he was a scout for bandits, gathering information on potential targets.

    If the old man could extract some useful information from Qi Jianjun, the bandits would assess whether to make a move on her.

    The world of cultivation was never as peaceful as it seemed. Perhaps the disciples of major sects were well-protected, but for rogue cultivators and even some minor sect disciples, the ugly side of this world was ever-present.

    The young man wearing a bamboo hat glanced at the girl with a look of pity. But knowing the bandits the old man was connected to, he sighed, understanding that he didn¡¯t dare intervene.

    At that moment, a Foundation Establishment cultivator and two Qi Refining cultivators began walking toward the lakeside, discussing something as they approached.

    ¡°If they¡¯re from out of town, they¡¯re probably fat sheep fleeing from disaster!¡± The Foundation Establishment bandit had a greedy look on his face.

    With a haul worth several hundred spirit stones and no apparent risk, this was a business opportunity too good to pass up.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already investigated. None of the nearby sects claim this girl. She seems to come from a lowly background,¡± reported a Qi Refining bandit at the seventh level.

    As long as she wasn¡¯t a sect disciple, they had nothing to fear. They were only wary of the top three major sects, but any other sect? They weren¡¯t afraid at all.

    ¡°She must have some good fortune to catch so many fish. How about we burn her face, mute her, and make her fish for us here forever?¡± suggested another Qi Refining bandit.

    These bandits often did such things. Even in mortal countries, beggar gangs would disfigure people to make them more pitiable while begging.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± the Foundation Establishment bandit said, his face twisted with greed.

    The three bandits emerged, their faces covered with masks. The fishermen around the lake began trembling, with some grabbing their buckets and sneaking away.

    The young man from earlier sighed deeply, unwilling to look in the direction of the little girl.

    Many of the fishermen were also casting sympathetic glances at the girl, knowing that she was about to meet a cruel fate.

    Her father was truly irresponsible!

    Meanwhile, not far away, two figures stood under a tree, observing the unfolding situation at the lakeside.

    A woman¡¯s eyes flashed with murderous intent. ¡°These bandits are despicable, even attacking a little girl. And those men... they¡¯re all cowards, not one of them is willing to help. My lord, should I step in...¡±

    The woman looked at the man beside her, dressed in coarse clothing, with deep reverence in her eyes.

    The woman¡¯s name was Shen Zhifeng, and she was the only Nascent Soul cultivator of the Shen family in the Demon Desire Sect, and the leading figure of the Shen family.

    Even though she was a Nascent Soul True Lord, she acted like a servant in the presence of the coarse-clothed man next to her.

    This man was none other than Shen Wushen!

    It was Shen Wushen who had helped the Shen family regain control of the Demon Desire Sect. He single-handedly killed all the other Nascent Soul cultivators in the sect, as easily as slaughtering chickens.

    Though Shen Zhifeng was a Nascent Soul cultivator, she knew she couldn¡¯t last a single round against Shen Wushen.

    Moreover, one from a major sect?

    Qi Jianjun glanced at Shen Wushen, a hint of surprise in her eyes. ¡°Are you from the Upper Realm?¡±

    Shen Wushen¡¯s heart trembled.

    Even ordinary Yin Gods couldn¡¯t discern his origins.

    This senior...

    Shen Zhifeng was also taken aback.

    The rogue cultivators exchanged puzzled glances.

    ¡°Senior, I am indeed a disciple of Futuo Mountain,¡± Shen Wushen replied.

    ¡°Never heard of it,¡± Qi Jianjun shook her head. ¡°My mother is also in the Upper Realm. I haven''t seen her in a long time. If you return to the Upper Realm, could you pass on a message for me?¡±

    Qi Jianjun¡¯s words made Shen Wushen¡¯s scalp tingle.

    This senior¡¯s mother is in the Upper Realm?

    Wasn¡¯t it said that in this world, no Yin God could ascend to the Upper Realm? What was going on?

    ¡°Please, tell me more,¡± Shen Wushen said, bowing.

    Qi Jianjun smiled with delight. ¡°You¡¯re a good guy. My mother is from the Moon God Palace, a moon lady named Jin Li. Tell her that her daughter, Jianjun, misses her dearly... and that Jianjun has found her father!¡±

    Qi Jianjun rattled off a long message.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done me a great favor. If you encounter any trouble in the Canglan Realm, this young lady has your back!¡±

    Despite looking like a seven or eight-year-old girl, Qi Jianjun spoke with the tone of an elder.

    ¡°Thank you, senior,¡± Shen Wushen hurriedly replied, still reeling from the shock.

    The Moon God Palace was much stronger than Futuo Mountain. The moon ladies of the palace were candidates for the next Moon God, and even though Shen Wushen¡¯s master was a mythological figure, some moon ladies had higher statuses despite possibly having lower cultivation levels.

    To think that this senior was the daughter of a moon lady¡ªShen Wushen was stunned.

    A moon lady had married and had such a large child?

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off.¡± Qi Jianjun waved her hand, grabbed her bucket, and disappeared in an instant.

    Shen Zhifeng¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°A Yin God... she¡¯s a Yin God!¡±

    The aura that Qi Jianjun had inadvertently leaked was unmistakably that of a Yin God.

    In the Great Shang Kingdom, she hadn¡¯t even seen a Purple Mansion cultivator, let alone a Yin God.

    The other fishermen, hearing Shen Zhifeng¡¯s exclamation, also widened their eyes in disbelief.

    ¡°A Yin God?¡±

    ¡°A true god?¡±

    ¡°Blessed by the heavens, to have witnessed a true immortal!¡±

    The fishermen fell to their knees, bowing repeatedly.

    That was a Yin God!

    Some recognized Shen Zhifeng as the newly appointed sect master of the Demon Desire Sect, a Nascent Soul True Lord. If she said the girl was a Yin God, there was no doubt about it.

    The fishermen were overwhelmed with excitement, unable to believe they had witnessed such a legendary event.

    The young man from earlier was filled with regret, his face a picture of sorrow.

    If only he had known that the girl was a legendary immortal, he would have said something to earn her favor.

    She was a true immortal!

    In the Hundred Kingdoms, Nascent Souls could already wield immense power.

    If he had aligned himself with a Yin God, he could have even dared to disrespect Nascent Soul True Lords.

    But there was no turning back time.

    Meanwhile, Shen Zhifeng¡¯s face grew cold, causing all the rogue cultivators present to tremble with fear.

    ¡°What happened today, never happened. If even a single word leaks, you will face unimaginable consequences!¡±

    The rogue cultivators turned pale, none daring to protest.

    Shen Wushen murmured, ¡°These bandits need to be cleaned up.¡±

    ¡°I will immediately send orders to wipe out these bandits completely!¡± Shen Zhifeng responded quickly.

 Chapter 245: The Mighty Shen Wushen

    Chapter 245: The Mighty Shen Wushen

    Today, the Shen Guang Sect was exceptionally lively. Nascent Soul cultivators from all over the Great Shang Kingdom, known for their reputation, had gathered.

    After all, the invitation sent out by the Shen Guang Sect was simply too shocking. A Nascent Soul cultivator at just around twenty years old was unheard of, not just in the Great Shang Kingdom, but across the entire Hundred Kingdoms. Even in the Eastern Lands, there had never been a Nascent Soul cultivator so young.

    As a result, many of these Nascent Soul True Lords were filled with doubt about Qi Yuan¡¯s breakthrough on the Seven-Colored Peak.

    At the moment, a group of Nascent Soul True Lords had gathered, discussing the matter.

    Sitting on a golden chair, Wu Dian, the monk, rested his arm on a golden lotus and stretched out his feet carelessly. In a rough voice, he asked, ¡°What do you all think? Is it true that Qi Yuan from the Seven-Colored Peak has broken through to the Nascent Soul stage?¡±

    ¡°Even if it is true, I don¡¯t believe he achieved it at twenty years old. Perhaps some old monster has taken over his body!¡± said Tea Talk True Lord, narrowing her eyes. She was at the mid-Nascent Soul stage and, as a rogue cultivator, was the most powerful among the rogue cultivators in the Great Shang Kingdom, aside from the deceased Black Chicken Old Monster.

    ¡°It''s hard to believe that anyone could reach the Nascent Soul stage at twenty, but with some great fortune or a supreme treasure, it''s not impossible,¡± said Kuang Jian, the True Lord of the Suspended Mountain Sect.

    As the leader of one of the three major sects, his words carried weight, and the other Nascent Soul cultivators nodded in agreement.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that a Purple Mansion cultivator died in the Shen Guang Sect. Perhaps Qi Yuan¡¯s breakthrough is related to that,¡± Wu Dian suggested.

    The faces of the Nascent Soul True Lords present changed slightly at this.

    The Red Sword Sect had long been plotting in the Great Shang, even supporting the old emperor of the Great Shang. They had tried to trap disciples from various sects in the Heavenly Dragon Immortal Realm. However, some time ago, a Purple Mansion cultivator from the Red Sword Sect caused trouble in the Shen Guang Sect and was directly slain by a mysterious expert in the sect.

    When this news spread, the Nascent Soul True Lords were shocked. They all entered the Ling Tian Pavilion to investigate and eventually learned that the incident in the Shen Guang Sect was related to the Blood Robe Alliance.

    Initially, they didn¡¯t know what the Blood Robe Alliance was. But soon they discovered that its leader, the Blood-Robe Sword God, had risen from the Hundred Kingdoms.

    His daughter had been humiliated by the Bright Palace, forced to live in a dog kennel, and in his rage, he destroyed the Bright Palace, which had over fifty Purple Mansion cultivators. There were even rumors that he had killed many Yin Gods.

    This was a matter that shook the heavens.

    The Blood Robe Alliance was established by the Blood-Robe Sword God. It was said that Qi Yuan from the Seven-Colored Peak had a deep connection with the Blood-Robe Sword God.

    When they thought about it this way, everything made sense. Perhaps Qi Yuan had been taken under the Blood-Robe Sword God''s wing, or maybe he was even his offspring.

    After all, the background of the Seven-Colored Peak¡¯s chief disciple, Qi Yuan, was indeed mysterious.

    Ruan Yixi had dominated the Great Shang for many years, rarely leaving her sect, and the one time she did, she brought back a disciple. It was enough to make them suspicious.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, everything makes sense.¡±

    ¡°The Shen Guang Sect has incredible luck.¡±

    ¡°Sigh...¡±Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    These Nascent Soul True Lords began to let their imaginations run wild. Even if they cracked open their skulls and dried out every last drop of brainpower, they could never guess that Qi Yuan was actually the Blood-Robe Sword God himself. It simply defied all logic.

    ¡°No wonder there¡¯s always been a rumor that Qi Yuan calls his master, Ruan Yixi, his wife. Maybe... hehe.¡±

    ¡°The Blood-Robe Sword God must be in seclusion, breaking through to the Yin God stage, and had no time to take care of his son, so he found him a child bride.¡±

    In any case, the Nascent Soul True Lords were now indulging in wild gossip, making up stories in their minds.

    ¡°Who would have thought that the famous Seven-Colored Peak chief would turn out to be a child bride?¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say such things carelessly!¡±

    At that moment, Jiang Lingsu, dressed in an elegant dark blue flowing gown with a deep black belt around her waist, and layered pleats at the hem, giving her an ethereal appearance, entered the scene.

    She looked frustrated, with her hands on her waist. ¡°These Nascent Soul True Lords are so stingy! Is this all they¡¯re offering?¡±

    Although she was unhappy about having to act as a doorman for her senior brother, she took her role seriously.

    Standing across from her was Jiang Ran, dressed simply, who couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Senior sister, you weren¡¯t like this when you were on the Seven-Colored Peak earlier.¡±

    On the Seven-Colored Peak, Jiang Lingsu had been furiously complaining about Qi Yuan.

    Mostly about how he was tactless and humiliating by making her act as a doorman.

    ¡°But now that you¡¯re actually acting as a doorman, senior sister, you seem to be enjoying yourself. You¡¯re even worrying about whether the gifts are too little, acting very much like a housekeeper!¡± Jiang Ran said with a grin, seemingly amused by Jiang Lingsu¡¯s behavior.

    Sure enough, a slight blush appeared at the tips of Jiang Lingsu¡¯s ears hidden under her hair. She puffed out her chest and said, ¡°If my senior brother receives more gifts, I, as his junior sister, might get a share. Why shouldn¡¯t I care?¡±

    She spoke with confidence.

    Jiang Ran looked at Jiang Lingsu, a hint of envy in her eyes.

    Back when they had all received top-tier evaluations, Qi Yuan had the option to choose a disciple to join the Seven-Colored Peak.

    At that time, Jiang Ran had also hoped to be chosen.

    For one, the Seven-Colored Peak¡¯s leader, Ruan Yixi, was particularly mysterious. For another, there were only two disciples on the peak, meaning more resources for each.

    However, Qi Yuan had rejected everyone, including her and Jiang Lingsu.

    But Jiang Lingsu had the courage to stand up and ask Qi Yuan, which led to her joining the Seven-Colored Peak.

    Now, Qi Yuan had become a Nascent Soul True Lord. As his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu could practically walk sideways in the Great Shang Kingdom.

    One''s fate could change entirely from the moment they joined a sect.

    Facing these Nascent Soul True Lords, Jiang Lingsu had the confidence to complain about their meager gifts, something Jiang Ran would never dare do.

    Naturally, she felt a tinge of jealousy.

    Just then, a voice announced, ¡°Shen Wushen and Shen Zhifeng from the Demon Desire Sect have arrived!¡±

    At the Nascent Soul ceremony, all the Nascent Soul cultivators present looked up.

    The sudden upheaval in the Demon Desire Sect had shocked everyone. The Shen family had suddenly risen to power, suppressing the Ji family.

    There were many rumors about the origins of Shen Wushen.

    All eyes turned to Shen Wushen.

    With that cry, the previously calm Shen Wushen seemed to awaken a dormant power within him. His aura suddenly grew ten times stronger.

    The Nascent Soul True Lords on the platform all paled.

    It felt as if they were not facing a Nascent Soul cultivator but a war god!

    ¡°Summon your Nascent Souls quickly!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t hold back on your divine abilities!¡±

    The thirty-three Nascent Soul True Lords didn¡¯t hesitate. At that moment, no one held back.

    Otherwise, the Seven-Harmony Nourishing God Pill would slip through their fingers.

    ¡°Whirlwind Cleaves Autumn Waters!¡± Kuang Jian, the True Lord of the Suspended Mountain Sect, shouted.

    A giant sword appeared out of nowhere. The Suspended Mountain Sect¡¯s leader had unleashed his strongest divine ability.

    ¡°Weak, too weak,¡± Shen Wushen moved at lightning speed, so fast that even the other Nascent Soul cultivators couldn¡¯t see him clearly.

    He reached out, caught the giant sword formed by the divine ability between his fingers, and with a flick, the terrifying divine ability disintegrated.

    Before Kuang Jian could react, a tremendous force struck him, sending him flying off the platform, defeated.

    The other Nascent Soul cultivators were shocked.

    ¡°He¡¯s too strong!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re no match for him!¡±

    ¡°How can there be such a monster?¡±

    At that moment, Shen Wushen moved like a ghost, weaving through the thirty-plus Nascent Soul cultivators as if they were nothing.

    Anyone who encountered him was effortlessly knocked off the platform.

    Their prized divine abilities were useless against Shen Wushen.

    He moved like a specter among them, and every few seconds, another Nascent Soul True Lord was defeated.

    The duel was nothing short of breathtaking.

    To the disciples and elders watching, it was as if they were witnessing a divine display of magic, followed by the defeat of the Nascent Soul True Lords.

    Every cultivator who saw this scene was in awe.

    ¡°He¡¯s too powerful!¡±

    ¡°Is he really a Nascent Soul?¡±

    ¡°Even a Purple Mansion cultivator might not be this strong!¡±

    The cultivators watched Shen Wushen as if he were a deity descended to earth.

    After all, he was overwhelmingly powerful.

    One against thirty, and it was a complete rout!

    Not far away, Jiang Lingsu bit her lower lip, frowning. ¡°This guy has no tact. Today was supposed to be Senior Brother¡¯s Nascent Soul ceremony, and he¡¯s stolen all the attention!¡±

    Her muttered complaint snapped Jiang Ran out of her shock.

    She looked at Jiang Lingsu, feeling... baffled.

    Is this really the time to worry about stealing the spotlight?

    Shouldn¡¯t we be more concerned about... the danger posed by the Demon Desire Sect?

    After all, the Demon Desire Sect had always been at odds with the Shen Guang Sect.

    Now that the Demon Desire Sect had produced such an unparalleled Nascent Soul cultivator, every disciple of the Shen Guang Sect felt a sense of looming threat.

    ¡°You¡¯re too weak, too weak.¡±

    A hundred breaths passed, and on the dueling platform, only Shen Wushen stood tall.

    All thirty-three Nascent Soul True Lords had been forced off the platform.

    In just a hundred breaths, he had taken on thirty-three and won decisively!

    Shen Wushen¡¯s eyes flashed with disappointment.

    This battle was simply uninteresting¡ªa mere warm-up.

    The thirty-three defeated Nascent Soul cultivators looked grim.

    Faced with the arrogant Shen Wushen, they had been utterly crushed and didn¡¯t dare say another word.

    Shen Zhifeng, recalling something, couldn¡¯t help but say proudly, ¡°My lord is the true... number one Nascent Soul in the Canglan Realm! If my lord were to participate in the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List, he would undoubtedly be the top!¡±

    If she had said this before, the Nascent Soul cultivators would have scoffed.

    But now, seeing Shen Wushen¡¯s overwhelming power, even rivaling that of a Purple Mansion cultivator, they couldn¡¯t disagree.

    If he competed in the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List, he would surely take first place.

    ¡°Kang Fulu, you¡¯re on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List. If this Shen Daoist participated, would he take first place?¡± Wu Dian asked.

    It was easier to accept their defeat if it was to the number one Nascent Soul in the Eastern Lands.

    Kang Fulu hesitated for a moment, surprised to be called upon.

    Recalling the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents battle, he replied, ¡°Those talents are far beneath Shen Wushen!¡±

    Indeed, not even Da Zhi True Lord, who was among the top ten on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List, had this level of dominance.

    Hearing this, Shen Zhifeng¡¯s smile grew even more triumphant. ¡°My lord is undoubtedly the number one Nascent Soul in the Canglan Realm!¡±

 Chapter 246: Because Your Number of Nascent Souls Is Too Few

    Chapter 246: Because Your Number of Nascent Souls Is Too Few

    Hearing these words, everyone else nodded in agreement with Shen Zhifeng. This way, they wouldn¡¯t lose face.

    At that moment, a lazy voice drifted in.

    "His strength is barely acceptable, but if you¡¯re talking about taking first place on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List, he still wouldn¡¯t get it."

    Qi Yuan appeared, dressed in a bright red blood robe, his face strikingly handsome, his aura like that of a transcendent being. Anyone who laid eyes on him couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of reverence or other complex emotions.

    Even Jiang Lingsu took a few extra glances at Qi Yuan. Today, it seemed that he had gone to extra lengths to dress up, making him particularly eye-catching, with a charm and appearance that made her heart flutter and her face flush.

    The only flaw in this picture was that he was holding a rope in his hand, with a pet cleaver tied to the other end.

    "Greetings, Senior Brother Qi Yuan!"

    "It¡¯s been a few days, and Senior Brother Qi Yuan is as impressive as ever," said Zhuge Miao of the Divine Medicine Peak, his expression complicated.

    The last time Zhuge Miao had seen Qi Yuan, he had asked him for advice on improving a pill formula. At that time, he had called Qi Yuan "junior brother." Afterward, he ventured into a secret realm, gained substantial benefits, and returned triumphantly, having advanced to the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment realm.

    And now... Qi Yuan had already reached the Nascent Soul stage.

    When Zhuge Miao heard this news, he was dumbfounded.

    At that moment, the other Nascent Soul cultivators also turned their gazes toward Qi Yuan, their expressions varied.

    "Greetings, True Lord Qi Yuan!"

    "Who would have thought that today our Great Shang would gather such talents."

    "It won¡¯t be long before Qi Yuan becomes the second Shen Wushen."

    "True Lord Qi Yuan is a young genius; he¡¯s sure to achieve great things in the future."

    The Nascent Soul cultivators couldn¡¯t help but flatter him.

    Qi Yuan, however, couldn¡¯t help but respond, "No need to talk about the future; I¡¯ve already achieved great things."

    Saying that he would achieve great things in the future felt like an insult to him.

    Wu Dian, the monk who had spoken earlier, was taken aback and gave an awkward laugh.

    At this moment, Shen Zhifeng looked at Qi Yuan and asked, "True Lord Qi Yuan, why do you say that Lord Shen cannot take first place on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List?"

    In Shen Zhifeng¡¯s eyes, Shen Wushen, who had descended from the Upper Realm, was like a celestial being. How could any Nascent Soul cultivator from the lower realms compare to her lord? Even Yin God-level cultivators had to show her lord respect.

    The others also looked at Qi Yuan, curious about why he would say such a thing. Was he not afraid of offending Shen Wushen?

    Shen Wushen¡¯s background was clearly extraordinary, and he might even have the support of a Yin God. His status was no less than Qi Yuan¡¯s.

    "Because... I also participated in the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List," Qi Yuan said with a proud smile, clearing his throat as if preparing to make a grand speech. "I, not being very talented, used a backdoor method to secure first place on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List."

    As soon as he said this, everyone was momentarily stunned, then shocked, or perhaps bewildered.

    First place on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List? Using a backdoor?

    It was certain now¡ªthis Blood-Robe Alliance leader, the Blood-Robe Sword God, was definitely Qi Yuan¡¯s biological father.

    Otherwise, how could he have used a backdoor to secure first place on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List?

    Shen Zhifeng¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of disdain. "If that¡¯s the case, then indeed, Lord Shen might not take first place on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Talents List. But... could he claim the title of the number one Nascent Soul in the Great Shang?"

    Shen Zhifeng looked at Qi Yuan, her expression unreadable. She seemed like a die-hard fan of Shen Wushen, eager for her "gege" to be number one in the world.

    "Sorry, but the title of the number one Nascent Soul in the Great Shang has already been taken¡ªby me!" Qi Yuan said humbly.

    When it¡¯s time to be modest, he¡¯s modest; when it¡¯s time to be bold, he¡¯s bold.

    His Nascent Soul might be ordinary at the moment, unable to even kill a Yang God, but its growth potential was immense. Especially with the Divine Vision Technique and the high tower from the ancestral land, once his Nascent Soul fully awakened, it could pave the way to the Yang God level.

    Right now, it might be ordinary, but the future was bright, and even now, it was enough to be called the number one Nascent Soul in the Great Shang.

    Naturally, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t want anyone else to take this title.

    When he said this, the Nascent Soul cultivators were stunned.

    Kang Fulu quickly sent a sound transmission: "Senior... brother, this Shen Wushen is a tough opponent. He just defeated all thirty-three Nascent Souls here!"

    He feared Qi Yuan might not know what had happened due to being absorbed in gaming.

    "Oh, he¡¯s got some skill, but not much," Qi Yuan replied via sound transmission.

    Since obtaining the Divine Visualization Technique, all his followers had been true peerless talents.

    Even Zhu Zhuangshi could challenge opponents across realms, exceeding the Yin God level.

    If Shen Wushen reached the Yin God level, he certainly wouldn¡¯t match up to Zhu Zhuangshi.

    If he couldn¡¯t even compare to one of Qi Yuan¡¯s Nascent Souls, how could he be called the number one Nascent Soul in the Great Shang?

    As Qi Yuan spoke, Shen Wushen¡¯s gaze locked onto him, filled with intense battle intent.

    He was, at heart, a battle maniac.

    "You¡¯re strong?" Shen Wushen asked excitedly, looking at Qi Yuan.

    "Just average, third in the world," Qi Yuan said lazily.

    He was being modest.

    "If you injure me, this bottle of pills is yours!" Shen Wushen offered, holding out the Seven-Harmony Nourishing God Pills again.

    The Nascent Soul cultivators on the scene all held their breath, their eyes filled with greed.

    They, too, wanted that bottle of pills, but they had been utterly defeated by Shen Wushen.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the pills, then yawned. "I¡¯m not interested in those pills, nor am I interested in defeating you."

    Shen Wushen was momentarily stunned.

    This was the first time he had encountered a Nascent Soul cultivator who wasn¡¯t interested in the Seven-Harmony Nourishing God Pills.

    Shen Zhifeng couldn¡¯t help but sneer. "Or perhaps you just don¡¯t dare?"

    Jiang Lingsu couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She turned to Jiang Ran and said, "Let¡¯s cheer for Senior Brother together!"

    After all, no one else was cheering for Senior Brother.

    Today was supposed to be his Nascent Soul ceremony; he shouldn¡¯t feel neglected.

    So, Jiang Ran and Jiang Lingsu became an impromptu cheerleading team, rooting for Qi Yuan.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked at Shen Wushen with a calm expression. "I¡¯ll let you make the first move. Otherwise, if I attack, you won¡¯t have a chance to."

    After all, Shen Wushen was a wealthy opponent.

    Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t mistreat a wealthy benefactor, his patron.

    He had to give him some face.

    "Arrogant!" Shen Zhifeng couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.

    The other Nascent Soul cultivators felt the same way, but out of fear of offending Qi Yuan, they kept their opinions to themselves.

    When gods fought, it was best to keep silent if you were too close.

    "Come, show me how much of my power you can draw out!"

    As Shen Wushen spoke, an overwhelming aura filled the air.

    This time, the power he unleashed was even stronger than when he had faced the thirty-plus Nascent Soul cultivators earlier.

    A powerful attack bore down on Qi Yuan, who stood motionless as if he hadn¡¯t even noticed.

    It¡¯s over.

    All the Nascent Soul cultivators thought the same thing. Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t even reacted, let alone defended himself.

    Elder Kumu of the Shen Guang Sect grew anxious, flying up in an attempt to intervene.

    But there was no stopping it¡ªhe simply wasn¡¯t fast enough.

    Shen Wushen¡¯s attack landed directly on Qi Yuan.

    To everyone¡¯s surprise, Qi Yuan remained unharmed.

    He hadn¡¯t been hurt at all.

    A lazy voice followed.

    "To be honest, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve personally faced such a weak Nascent Soul."

    The Nascent Soul cultivators were all stunned.

    Shen Wushen¡¯s power had been clear for all to see.

    Such an attack could have killed any of the Nascent Soul cultivators present.

    Yet, it hadn¡¯t even scratched Qi Yuan.

    "Qi Yuan is this strong?"

    "But he just reached the Nascent Soul stage, didn¡¯t he?"

    "He¡¯s strong, but not much stronger than Lord Shen!"

    "You¡¯re strong!" Shen Wushen didn¡¯t back down; instead, he grew even more excited, as if he had found a fated rival. "Once I defeat you, I¡¯ll have reached the pinnacle of my Nascent Soul path and can then form my Purple Mansion! I didn¡¯t expect to gain so much this time!"

    "I suggest you go ahead and form your Purple Mansion early. Defeating me... you¡¯re still far from that," Qi Yuan said with a faint smile.

    Then he looked at Shen Wushen and suddenly opened his mouth, blowing gently.

    Immediately, Shen Wushen¡¯s face filled with astonishment.

    A powerful wind surged toward him.

    It seemed as if Qi Yuan had simply blown gently.

    Yet Shen Wushen felt this wind was even stronger than his original divine ability.

    "God-Slashing Extinction Technique!" Shen Wushen roared, unleashing his most powerful attack.

    This strike was strong enough to kill even a Purple Mansion cultivator.

    But against the casual breath of Qi Yuan, it was like an ant roaring at a tornado.

    Shen Wushen couldn¡¯t move.

    That breath was like the strongest divine ability, pinning him in place.

    All the Nascent Soul cultivators were stunned.

    "This kind of technique..."

    "It¡¯s not a divine ability; how can it be so powerful?"

    "But... Qi Yuan¡¯s technique clearly... is still at the Nascent Soul level!"

    "The sky over the Great Shang is really going to change!"

    Shen Zhifeng was in complete shock, her face full of disbelief. "How is this possible!"

    Jiang Lingsu was initially stunned, then overjoyed, though tinged with slight disappointment. She waved her hand. "Senior Brother, you¡¯re amazing!"

    The Nascent Soul cultivators looked at Qi Yuan with changed expressions.

    At that moment, Shen Wushen lowered his head, his face filled with confusion, murmuring, "I lost... I lost..."

    He couldn¡¯t understand why he had lost.

    Why couldn¡¯t he withstand a simple breath from Qi Yuan?

    Suddenly, he looked up and stared at Qi Yuan. "We¡¯re both Nascent Souls. Why... are you so much stronger?"

    Qi Yuan smiled. "Because... your number of Nascent Souls is too few."

 Chapter 247: Keeping Promises

    Chapter 247: Keeping Promises

    Qi Yuan''s words left everyone present stunned, especially the Nascent Soul cultivators. The disciples and elders of the Shen Guang Sect exchanged confused glances.

    Not far away, Jiang Lingsu covered her face with her sleeve and whispered helplessly to Jiang Ran, "Senior Brother is acting crazy again!"

    Senior Brother was great in every other way, except for his occasional bouts of craziness.

    What does he mean by saying that there aren''t enough Nascent Souls? At this moment, True Lord Kuangjian stroked his beard and said, "True Lord, your words... are quite astonishing, to say the least."

    "We cultivators condense one Nascent Soul from our shattered Golden Core. How could there be two?" True Lord Chayu also questioned, confused.

    Shen Zhifeng''s expression was grim, but she couldn''t find the words to refute.

    Most of the Nascent Soul cultivators present were skeptical of Qi Yuan''s claim.

    After all, the concept of condensing a single Nascent Soul from a Golden Core was widely accepted, like the idea that one plus one equals two.

    Could there really be someone capable of condensing two Nascent Souls?

    Only Shen Wushen seemed deep in thought after hearing Qi Yuan''s words, muttering to himself, "Not enough Nascent Souls?"

    In his understanding, it was only possible to condense one Nascent Soul.

    The Nascent Soul was formed from the shattered Golden Core.

    One Golden Core could only give rise to one Nascent Soul.

    Even if someone forcibly tried to form two, wouldn''t it just divide the power of the Golden Core into two weaker halves?

    Wouldn''t that make them weaker instead of stronger? Shen Wushen looked at Qi Yuan, puzzled. "The Nascent Soul comes from the Golden Core. Even if one could form two, it wouldn''t make any real difference."

    Shen Wushen sincerely sought answers, genuinely curious.

    This caused the other Nascent Soul cultivators to feel puzzled.

    Was there really any point in discussing this?

    Shen Zhifeng''s expression shifted multiple times, and she wanted to remind Shen Wushen.

    But in the end, she held back her thoughts.

    "You''re right; that''s how most people think.

    But only true geniuses can find another path.

    The solution is simple: don''t shatter your Golden Core to form a Nascent Soul! Let the Golden Core follow its path, and the Nascent Soul follow its own.

    Two different paths, both leading to Rome." Qi Yuan''s words were astonishing, and the reference to "Rome" added an air of mystery, making them sound profound.

    The other Nascent Soul cultivators frowned, trying to grasp the deeper meaning of Qi Yuan''s words.

    Could the Golden Core really follow its own path?

    Could the Nascent Soul walk its own road?

    Shen Wushen also frowned deeply, seriously contemplating this idea.

    At this moment, Shen Zhifeng interjected, "Nonsense! How could such a path exist in this world? My lord, don''t be deceived!"

    She was certain Qi Yuan was spouting nonsense, deliberately trying to mess with the other cultivators.

    Many Nascent Souls shared her skepticism.

    What Qi Yuan said was too outlandish, too incomprehensible.

    After all, it''s difficult to change people''s deeply ingrained beliefs.

    It''s like someone telling a person on Earth that the Earth is flat¡ªmost people wouldn''t believe it.

    "Unless you show us two Nascent Souls," Shen Zhifeng challenged.

    Qi Yuan shrugged, "Why should I show you my Nascent Souls?"

    Even though he was hosting a Nascent Soul ceremony to show off, there was a difference between showing off voluntarily and being forced to.

    Shen Zhifeng was momentarily stunned, then offered, "Ten Jade-level techniques!"

    Qi Yuan remained indifferent.

    That''s more like it.

    But then he remembered his bet with Shen Wushen and added, "What if I really have two Nascent Souls? Then what?"

    He wanted to get more out of this.

    "If you do, I''ll give you one hundred thousand spirit stones!" Shen Zhifeng declared. "If you don''t, you''ll have to serve as a sparring partner for my lord for ten years."

    A die-hard fan would never stop rooting for Shen Wushen.

    "No deal, I''m not interested in spirit stones." Qi Yuan really wasn''t interested in spirit stones anymore.

    He had reached a level where, like Jack Ma, he could claim that money didn''t interest him.

    Only techniques could catch his attention now.

    Shen Zhifeng gritted her teeth. As the leader of a sect, she could certainly offer more.

    But she couldn''t gamble away the sect''s resources.

    She thought for a moment and then said through gritted teeth, "If you have two Nascent Souls, I''ll eat Monk Wudian''s boots!"

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    Now, this was going to be fun!

    Usually, Qi Yuan''s dealings with white moonlights were all about benefiting himself while harming others.

    But if Shen Zhifeng ate Monk Wudian''s boots, it would harm others without benefiting herself.

    Qi Yuan found that quite appealing.

    "Deal!"

    Qi Yuan agreed readily.

    The Nascent Soul cultivators exchanged glances, some struggling to suppress their laughter.

    Even Monk Wudian didn''t expect to be dragged into this. He blinked and looked at Qi Yuan, saying, "True Lord, hurry up and show those two Nascent Souls!"

    After all, Shen Zhifeng was the sect master of the Demon Lust Sect.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan clapped his hands, "Not bad. Keeping promises and acting decisively, much better than the people on Earth."

    Qi Yuan had already decided that if he ever got the chance to return to Earth, he would ensure the culture there was rectified, making sure all those who bluffed about eating and drinking actually kept their promises, just like Shen Zhifeng.

    Shen Zhifeng furrowed her brows and turned away, not wanting to look at Qi Yuan.

    Her expression was incredibly complex, and she was holding her breath.

    If Shen Wushen hadn''t been present, she would have run off to dissect her stomach and remove the pieces of the boot to throw away.

    Right now, every breath she took was filled with the stench, so she didn''t dare speak.

    "Shen Wushen, where are the techniques?" Qi Yuan asked, turning to Shen Wushen.

    He had won the bet, so Shen Wushen owed him all the techniques he had.

    Shen Wushen was straightforward, showing no hesitation.

    "These are all the techniques I have."

    "The divine technique, please wait a moment."

    As he spoke, he pulled out a blank jade slip and recorded the technique he practiced onto it.

    "The divine technique is called Supreme Chaos Disruption Art. I hope you don''t share it with others."

    The storage bag was handed over to Qi Yuan.

    Inside, Qi Yuan found one divine technique, fourteen Heaven-tier techniques, and three Mystic-tier techniques.

    As for Jade-tier techniques, Shen Wushen had none.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan was overjoyed.

    "Don''t worry, I won''t let anyone else see the techniques you gave me."

    After all, these techniques were destined to be incorporated into the Qi Yuan Canon.

    He wasn''t lacking in spirit stones; what he needed were techniques.

    "Friend, do you really lack techniques?" Shen Wushen asked as he looked at Qi Yuan.

    Shen Wushen naturally held great admiration for Qi Yuan.

    Even the saint son of Futu Mountain wouldn''t be able to withstand a single blow from Qi Yuan at the Nascent Soul stage.

    And that saint son was the personal disciple of a Yang God, trained by the Yang God himself.

    Yet he was still inferior to this cultivator from the lower realm.

    In Shen Wushen''s eyes, even if Qi Yuan were in the upper realm, he would still be one of the most outstanding geniuses.

    "Lack? I really do. Why, do you have a way to get more?" Qi Yuan asked expectantly, looking at Shen Wushen.

    "I can... but it''s not easy." Shen Wushen replied after some thought.

    "How about this, if you can get me another divine technique, I''ll modify your divine technique for free, boosting its power by at least twice. How does that sound?" Qi Yuan quickly proposed. "If you can get me more Heaven-tier techniques, I can even guide you, helping you reach greater heights on the path of the Nascent Soul.

    Of course, my Nascent Souls are one of a kind, but yours... still have plenty of room for improvement."

    As Qi Yuan''s power grew, his vision became more refined.

    During his time in the Mortal Heart Realm, he had even taken on the form of an Yin God, and guiding a Nascent Soul cultivator was a trivial matter for him.

    Shen Wushen listened and observed Qi Yuan carefully, finally nodding, "Deal!"

    He chose to trust Qi Yuan.

    After all, a genius of Qi Yuan''s caliber had no reason to deceive him.

    As for modifying his divine technique, Shen Wushen wasn''t entirely convinced. After all, a divine technique was created by a Yang God¡ªhow could a Nascent Soul cultivator improve it?

    Even if Qi Yuan tried, he would probably make it worse, not better.

    But Shen Wushen trusted Qi Yuan''s guidance.

    "It''s a deal!" Qi Yuan agreed enthusiastically.

    At that moment, a cheerful voice rang out.

    "Father is having a meal here without inviting Jianjun?"

    A young girl, around seven or eight years old, floated into view, her eyes sparkling with joy.

    The Nascent Soul cultivators present were surprised by the sudden appearance of the girl, unable to discern her cultivation level.

    Shen Zhifeng''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    She knew that this girl was an Yin God! An Yin God calling Qi Yuan "father"? What was going on? Shen Wushen was also momentarily stunned.

    He seemed to understand now.

    No wonder Qi Yuan was so powerful.

    He was the husband of a Moon Maiden! The Moon Maiden was one of the heirs to the Moon God Palace.

    Her status was even higher than that of the saint son of Futu Mountain.

    Could it be that the Moon Maiden had visited the Canglan Realm and had a child with Qi Yuan? Then she returned to the upper realm.

    But Qi Yuan, due to the limitations of the Canglan Realm, couldn''t ascend to the upper realm.

    If that were the case, everything made sense.

    After all, only a true genius like Qi Yuan could capture the heart of a Moon Maiden.

    The Moon Maidens of the Moon God Palace rarely fell in love, but once they did, they were devoted... to one person for life.

    "This is my daughter, Qi Jianjun," Qi Yuan introduced to the Nascent Soul cultivators.

    The Nascent Souls were even more bewildered.

    Wasn''t Qi Yuan only twenty years old? How could he have a daughter this old?

    At that moment, Qi Jianjun transmitted a message to Qi Yuan, her eyes filled with a bright smile, "Father, this person in front of you... he''s from the upper realm!"

 Chapter 248: Preparing to Confess to My Master

    Chapter 248: Preparing to Confess to My Master

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up when he heard his daughter, Qi Jianjun, speak.

    "The Upper Realm?"

    "Yes, the Upper Realm where mother is!" Qi Jianjun replied seriously.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s gaze toward Shen Wushen changed again.

    "Let''s go to the Seven-Color Peak."

    As for the Nascent Soul ceremony, forget it.

    After all, Shen Wushen is from the Upper Realm.

    Jinli... is still in the Upper Realm.

    And Master... is also in the Upper Realm.

    Unfortunately, he couldn''t leave the Canglan Realm, so he naturally couldn''t go to the Upper Realm.

    The great calamity hadn''t passed, so even if he stepped into the Yin God realm, he couldn''t use the teleportation array to reach the Upper Realm.

    Since Shen Wushen came from the Upper Realm, he could go back and deliver a message.

    Shen Wushen didn''t hesitate and immediately said, "If Brother Qi invites me, how could I refuse?"

    With that, Qi Yuan and Shen Wushen turned into two streams of light and disappeared.

    Standing in front of the newly built cement house, Qi Yuan asked nonchalantly, "Brother Shen, what do you think of my new residence?"

    Since Shen Wushen called him "Brother Qi," it wouldn''t be too much to call Shen Wushen "Brother Shen," right?

    Shen Wushen was slightly taken aback. Looking at the house in front of him, he, who was not good with words, said, "The Great Dao is simple."

    "You speak with insight," Qi Yuan smiled. "Come, let''s go inside and talk in detail."

    "Alright."

    The two entered the house and sat down in chairs.

    Qi Yuan looked at Shen Wushen with anticipation. "I heard you came from the Upper Realm?"

    "Yes," Shen Wushen nodded.

    These details must have been told to him by Qi Jianjun.

    "Can you travel between the Upper and Lower Realms?" Qi Yuan asked seriously.

    "It''s difficult... very difficult. It requires a great price," Shen Wushen replied.

    He had only managed to come to the Canglan Realm by relying on the treasures left behind by his ancestors, along with activating the sect''s supreme treasure.

    Now, he could only descend to the Lower Realm one more time.

    So, he planned to exchange divine techniques for Qi Yuan''s guidance.

    "As long as it''s possible!" Qi Yuan said, a bit delighted.

    A great price?

    With his intelligence, he could devise a detailed plan to help Shen Wushen solve this problem.

    He quickly asked, "Do you know the Moon God Palace? Can you see the Moon Maiden... Jinli?"

    He had never really met Jinli.

    Or rather, the person he had met was the Moon Maiden, Jinli''s past self.

    "I know the Moon God Palace. Your daughter entrusted me with..." Shen Wushen recounted what had happened with Qi Jianjun the previous day, including the task she had asked him to undertake.

    "However, Futu Mountain is too far from the Moon God Palace. I''ve only heard of the Moon Maiden, but I don''t know this Jinli.

    Futu Mountain is too far, and delivering a message might take as long as three years."

    Shen Wushen spoke truthfully.

    "Three years?" Qi Yuan murmured.

    He thought of the Moon Maiden by the July Lake and remembered Jinli, who had waited for him in a future timeline for millennia.

    For Qi Yuan, the time that passed was very short.

    But for Jinli, it was very long.

    "Could I write a letter for you to deliver to her?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Shen Wushen quickly shook his head. "Items from the Canglan Realm can''t be taken to the Upper Realm."

    The Canglan Realm... is extremely special.

    "Really?"

    "Brother Qi can send a verbal message. After I return to the Upper Realm, I can transcribe it into a letter and deliver it to the Moon God Palace," Shen Wushen suggested.

    "That''s not very private," Qi Yuan shook his head. "In that case, how about I compose a cultivation technique, and you... deliver that technique to the Moon Maiden Jinli?"

    Qi Yuan''s idea was simple: to create a powerful Dao technique that would incorporate what he wanted to say.

    This way, when Jinli received the technique, she would understand Qi Yuan''s message.

    To say a few words to Jinli, Qi Yuan decided to create a powerful cultivation technique.

    "No problem," Shen Wushen agreed.

    "I''ll give you the technique in five days," Qi Yuan said.

    He needed time to create this technique.

    After all, he couldn''t just create a useless technique.

    "Oh, by the way, do you know someone named Ruan Yixi from the Moon God Palace?" Qi Yuan thought of his master.

    Shen Wushen shook his head. "I don''t."

    Qi Yuan frowned.

    Ruan Yixi was indeed connected to the Moon God Palace.

    But whether she was part of the Moon God Palace was still uncertain.

    Thinking of something, Qi Yuan chuckled. "Does the Upper Realm have newspapers?"

    "What is that?" Shen Wushen was confused.

    "Do you know Ling Tian Pavilion? They have a service where you can pay spirit stones to publish information," Qi Yuan explained.

    Shen Wushen: "..."

    Create one on the spot?

    In front of him... create one?

    He hesitated for a moment, then chose to remain silent and watched Qi Yuan carefully.

    Qi Yuan closed his eyes.

    In his mind, countless pieces of information swirled.

    After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Qi Yuan opened his eyes again. "This technique is simple, not very high-level, so it was easy to create. It''s done."

    Seeing this, Shen Wushen looked at Qi Yuan. "Maybe... you should work on it a bit longer?"

    A technique created in the time it takes an incense stick to burn? He was a little afraid to use it.

    After all, this was a technique for transforming Nascent Souls into Golden Cores.

    He had never heard of such a technique before.

    "If you give me more divine techniques, I''ll work on it a bit longer.

    Who knows, in the future, you might be able to use your Nascent Soul to slay Yin Gods!" Qi Yuan said with a smile, his expression deep and mysterious.

    This technique still had a lot of room for improvement.

    For example, endlessly cycling between shattering the golden core and transforming the Nascent Soul.

    However, each additional cycle would require more time and effort from Qi Yuan.

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan recorded the technique into a jade slip.

    "This technique, called the ''Golden Soul Method,'' is now yours."

    Shen Wushen took the jade slip, and his divine sense quickly entered it, his eyes filled with curiosity as he browsed the "Golden Soul Method."

    The moment he read it, he became deeply engrossed, his eyes shining with fervor.

    "This technique actually exists... why didn''t I think of this before!"

    Shen Wushen was ecstatic, like a starving tiger that had just found its prey.

    He was now fully convinced that the "Golden Soul Method" was real, not a fake.

    This technique could indeed solve his problem.

    Once he mastered it, not only would the issue of his lacking spiritual energy be resolved, but his overall strength would also... double!

    "Stop losing your mind here. Go back. I have other things to do," Qi Yuan said, issuing a polite but firm dismissal to the excited Shen Wushen.

    He still needed to seriously create a technique for Jinli, embedding the message he wanted to convey within it.

    That technique, of course, couldn''t be as casually created as the one he had just given to Shen Wushen.

    "Thank you for imparting this knowledge, Daoist Qi." Shen Wushen snapped back to reality, bowed respectfully to Qi Yuan, and then, with a flick of light, hurried away.

    He was so eager that he even forgot to call for Shen Zhifeng.

    In the cement house, Qi Yuan was left alone.

    He looked up at the sun and moon in the sky.

    He murmured, "With the great calamity, I still can''t ascend to the Upper Realm for now."

    Ordinarily, reaching the Yin God realm would allow one to ascend to the Upper Realm.

    In some worlds, those at the Purple Mansion level could reach the Upper Realm through special means.

    But due to the great calamity in the Canglan Realm, Yin Gods couldn''t ascend to the Upper Realm, nor could their primordial spirits leave their bodies to wander the void or travel to other worlds.

    Qi Yuan couldn''t ascend to the Upper Realm, so naturally, he couldn''t see Jinli.

    "The one from the past..."

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    He already had an idea for the technique.

    Last time, he had the Yi Guan Demon deliver his second message, "As if seeing you."

    This time, the technique he was creating would be called "Seeing You."

    Back when he was a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, the barriers of time and space left him powerless and confused. He even thought that to meet Jinli, he might have to wait for thousands or tens of thousands of years, with no guarantee of success.

    But now, he wasn''t the same Qi Refinement cultivator living in a thatched hut; he was a Nascent Soul True Monarch living in a cement house!

    The barriers of time and space were no longer out of reach but within his grasp.

    He looked at the stars in the sky and murmured, "Not far now."

    ...

    Upper Realm.

    Futu Mountain.

    Shen Wushen appeared in his cave.

    His eyes gleamed with sharp light.

    His aura had more than doubled in strength since before.

    Now, he dared to challenge the Saint Son of the same realm!

    He might even win.

    This was the power that the "Golden Soul Method" had given him.

    But then he remembered something and frowned.

    "Even so, I''m still too weak compared to Qi Yuan."

    Originally, his increase in strength made him confident, eager to challenge Qi Yuan again.

    But this time, he lost badly.

    Moreover, the more his strength grew, the more he realized the gap between him and Qi Yuan seemed to widen.

    This feeling was terrifying.

    He left the cave.

    Immediately, a young girl approached him, her face full of respect. "Young Master, you''ve come out of seclusion?"

    "Yes," Shen Wushen nodded.

    Leaving the cave, he transformed into a stream of light and headed outside the sect.

    He needed to send a message to Qi Yuan.

    Or rather, send a cultivation technique.

 Chapter 249: A Few Things About the Upper Realm

    Chapter 249: A Few Things About the Upper Realm

    In the Upper Realm.

    Within the city, immortal light filled the air.

    Occasionally, streams of light streaked across the sky and descended into Dream Returning City.

    Shen Wushen, dressed in black robes with fluctuating spiritual energy, flew through the air.

    All the cultivators he encountered, whether they were at the Golden Core stage, Nascent Soul stage, or even those in the Purple Mansion realm, instinctively made way for Shen Wushen.

    This was because Shen Wushen was flying atop a small mountain.

    This small mountain was the symbol of a true disciple of Futu Mountain.

    Futu Mountain was the strongest sect in the area, a legendary holy land said to be overseen by a Yang God.

    The status of a true disciple was even higher than that of an ordinary Yin God.

    Shen Wushen landed in Dream Returning City, where a towering building stood before him, known as the Eight Treasures Pavilion.

    This pavilion was a branch of the Celestial Pavilion.

    Its primary business was transmitting messages.

    The advertisements Qi Yuan had mentioned¡ªthose were also handled by the Celestial Pavilion.

    "Honored guest, I apologize for not greeting you sooner," came a hearty voice as the pavilion master of the Eight Treasures Pavilion''s first floor stepped out.

    He was an elderly man with white hair, wearing a neatly tailored Daoist robe embroidered with a crane ready to take flight among the clouds.

    The pavilion master''s cultivation was at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, just one step away from becoming an Yin God. Yet, he showed great respect toward Shen Wushen.

    "I need to use your Eight Treasures Pavilion to send a message," Shen Wushen got straight to the point.

    He was not skilled in socializing, nor did he need to be, as the people he met generally treated him well.

    The pavilion master''s eyes softened with a kind smile. "May I ask where the message needs to be sent?"

    "To the Moon God Palace, to the Moon Maiden, Jinli," Shen Wushen replied.

    The message included not only Qi Jianjun''s verbal message but also the cultivation technique that Qi Yuan had composed, titled Seeing You.

    These items were placed in a storage pouch and simply processed.

    Of course, the Celestial Pavilion, which stood behind the Eight Treasures Pavilion, would never allow these items to be leaked.

    After all, the Celestial Pavilion had been in business for millions of years, even dealing with the Yang Gods.

    If there were any problems, the Celestial Pavilion would have been destroyed long ago.

    Even in a world where strength is paramount, trustworthiness is of utmost importance.

    Once trust is shattered, it could lead to complete chaos.

    "The Moon God Palace?" The pavilion master hesitated for a moment, then took out a jade slip resembling a map and consulted it.

    It was clear that while he had heard of this holy land, he was not familiar with the specific location of the Moon God Palace.

    "It''s quite far..." After determining the general location of the Moon God Palace, the pavilion master sighed, "It will likely take three years to deliver the message."

    The Upper Realm is incredibly vast, or rather, it is the collective name for many worlds.

    The Upper Realm is so immense that even an ordinary Yang God cannot traverse all its regions in their lifetime.

    How many individual worlds are there in the Upper Realm?

    Even the Yang Gods do not know.

    However, the worlds of the Upper Realm are divided into nine heavens.

    Futu Mountain is located in the second heaven of the lower three heavens.

    The Moon God Palace is situated in the sixth heaven of the middle three heavens.

    "Understood, thank you," Shen Wushen said, handing over two storage pouches¡ªone containing the items to be delivered and the other holding the payment.

    The pavilion master quickly accepted them, then took out an ancient oil paper and signed an agreement with Shen Wushen.

    The deal was thus sealed.

    Shen Wushen breathed a sigh of relief. He had completed one of the tasks Qi Yuan had given him.

    But there was still another...

    Thinking of this, he hesitated.

    The remaining task was far more troublesome than delivering a message.

    The Moon God Palace was vast, but there were only a few Moon Maidens, so sending a message to one of them was feasible.

    However, "confessing to Ruan Yixi" was obviously more complicated.

    The Moon God Palace was too large, and to send a message to someone named Ruan Yixi would require broadcasting it widely, as Qi Yuan had suggested.

    The cost... would be even higher.

    He also needed to spend a significant amount of money to exchange some cultivation techniques for Qi Yuan.

    The Lower Realm required money too, which was another huge expense.

    So now, he was essentially broke.

    The only way to make money... was by completing the tasks Qi Yuan had mentioned.

    Shen Wushen didn''t hold out much hope.

    Perhaps out of dozens of tasks he took on, Qi Yuan could complete two or three, which would already be a huge profit.

    At least he wouldn''t be at a total loss.

    With this in mind, he was about to leave.

    Suddenly, he saw a fair-skinned, beautiful woman with an incredibly striking figure, and he couldn''t take another step.

    The woman moved gracefully, her jade-green dress fluttering, revealing a hint of her ample bosom and the delicate curve of her cleavage¡ªa sight that captivated all eyes.

    She had a voluptuous figure, a slender waist, and an alluring face with eyes like autumn water, exuding endless charm.

    "Lian Mei Fairy... I can''t believe I have the fortune to see Lian Mei Fairy up close!"

    "The Fairy is even more enchanting than the legends say!"

    "A fairy like this, I wonder who could be her Dao companion."

    "I heard that even the Saint Child of Futu Mountain desires Lian Mei Fairy as his Dao companion but to no avail."

    Lian Mei Fairy was a true disciple of Futu Mountain, with strength at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.

    ???

    What a jerk, taking my technique and just leaving? On the other side, Shen Wushen returned to the Eight Treasures Pavilion.

    The pavilion master came out to greet him again, this time with an even brighter smile.

    He had just received word that Shen Wushen had easily defeated Lian Mei Fairy in a duel.

    "Pavilion Master, I have another matter to trouble you with," Shen Wushen said directly, explaining Qi Yuan''s request in full.

    He handed over the original divine technique to the pavilion master.

    "This is... the payment."

    He had already memorized the technique and could transcribe it for Qi Yuan.

    The pavilion master was momentarily stunned.

    "This kind of business involving the Moon God Palace... I need to report this to my superiors. It might take a few days to get an answer," the pavilion master said, his expression troubled.

    After all, this business involved advertising to the entire Moon God Palace.

    The Moon God Palace was not just any holy land; it was an extraordinary one.

    Such a transaction had to be handled with caution.

    If this "Ruan Yixi" turned out to be a significant figure in the Moon God Palace, a public confession could provoke Ruan Yixi''s ire and the displeasure of the entire Moon God Palace.

    So, in the pavilion master''s opinion, his superiors would likely reject the request.

    After all, it''s better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

    "Alright," Shen Wushen replied, taking back the divine technique and leaving immediately.

    He needed to return to Futu Mountain and take on some tasks for Qi Yuan to complete.

    ...

    In Futu Mountain, Grand Sovereign Huadu sat with his eyes closed.

    Within the resplendent cave, a football-sized pearl projected the image of an elderly man.

    The old man was prostrate on the ground, his face showing deep reverence.

    "Unworthy disciple and grandson, Crane Cloud, the 31st Sect Master of Xuantian Sect, humbly requests the Patriarch''s blessing!"

    Grand Sovereign Huadu opened his eyes and sighed softly. "I didn''t expect it to be the 31st generation already."

    He had once been a member of the Lower Realm, the third Sect Master of Xuantian Sect.

    Later, he ascended to the Upper Realm.

    He had almost no connection with Xuantian Sect anymore.

    Now, Xuantian Sect had fallen into decline, with only the Sect Master being at the Purple Mansion stage.

    According to the 31st Sect Master''s prayer, the sect had discovered a new world and wanted to enter it to spread their teachings and gain resources.

    But Xuantian Sect was too weak, lacking the qualifications or ability to spread their teachings.

    Thus, the Sect Master performed a ritual, beseeching for a blessing.

    "The incense of the past..."

    Grand Sovereign Huadu sighed.

    With a flick of his finger, a talisman seemed to cross space, passing through the pearl to descend to the Lower Realm.

    "My ties to the past are severed. I wonder when... I will reach the mythical realm?"

    Grand Sovereign Huadu''s face was filled with melancholy.

    He had been stuck at the sixth step of the Heavenly Path for nearly ten thousand years.

    He had been unable to advance to the mythical realm.

    If he could step into the mythical realm, he would truly become a core figure in Futu Mountain.

    If his contributions were sufficient, he could request the privilege of reflecting the heavens (his own star) from the Mountain Lord.

    With these thoughts in mind, his consciousness delved into a jade slip, and a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

    "The task... was taken?"

    "Shen Wushen... a true disciple?"

    Grand Sovereign Huadu was astonished.

    The task he had issued was related to cultivation techniques and was crucial to his advancement to the mythical realm.

    He had posted this task for seven thousand years, but no one had ever taken it.

    The task was extremely difficult, requiring a mythical cultivator on the same path as him to have even a slight chance of solving it.

    Even then, it would take that mythical cultivator over a thousand years to complete.

    There were no mythical cultivators in Futu Mountain who followed the same path as Grand Sovereign Huadu.

    "Shen Wushen''s master is... Grand Sovereign Wang Qiang. He is mythical... but on a different path from mine."

    "How strange, why would a mere Nascent Soul take on my task?"

    Grand Sovereign Huadu was baffled.

    He had issued the task without expecting anyone to solve it.

    After all, in Futu Mountain, perhaps only the Mountain Lord, a Yang God, could solve it.

    Grand Sovereign Huadu didn''t dwell on it, instead, he closed his eyes and continued his cultivation.

    Meanwhile, Shen Wushen spent the entire day tirelessly combing through the sect''s task records, taking on a large number of them.

    A few days later, he received a message from the pavilion master of the Eight Treasures Pavilion and went there again.

    The pavilion master greeted him with a look of delight. "Young Master Shen, our superiors have approved the previous request."

    In truth, the pavilion master himself was also quite curious.

    Generally, such a request would be denied, but for some reason, it was approved this time.

    Although puzzled, he didn''t show it.

    Hearing this, Shen Wushen breathed a sigh of relief.

    "Thank you, Pavilion Master!"

    He had completed Qi Yuan''s task, and he had done so ahead of schedule.

 Chapter 250: The Journey

    Chapter 250: The Journey

    On the flying boat, Qi Yuan lounged lazily on a deck chair, basking in the sunlight.

    After leaving the Shen Guang Sect, Qi Yuan hurriedly made his way to the Feng Tian Domain.

    The time to meet the Four Emperors of the Divine Flower group was approaching.

    Upon arriving in the Feng Tian Domain, Qi Yuan boarded this flying boat headed for Qing Hong City.

    At this moment, the flying boat was filled with a mixed crowd.

    There were thousands of cultivators onboard, the weakest among them being at the Foundation Establishment stage.

    However, Nascent Soul and Purple Mansion cultivators were few and far between.

    A beautiful woman sat next to Qi Yuan, dressed in a green robe, her eyes sparkling with charm. "Fellow Daoist, you''re not from Feng Tian Domain, are you?"

    This beautiful woman had boarded the flying boat with Qi Yuan.

    On the boat, there was a small trading event.

    After participating, Qi Yuan bought a fair number of cultivation techniques and got to know this woman.

    Her name was Li Ruoxian, and she had many techniques to offer; Qi Yuan bought seven profound-level techniques from her.

    "That''s right, I''m not," Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

    Qi Yuan didn''t despise poverty, but he certainly admired wealth.Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com

    Especially a wealthy woman who could become his beloved.

    "Fellow Daoist, you have an extraordinary aura. Where are you from? Could it be the Eastern Lands?" Li Ruoxian was quite talkative. "The Eastern Lands are somewhat inferior to Feng Tian Domain, but they still produce many outstanding talents.

    Recently, a certain Blood-Robed Sword God has become quite famous in our Feng Tian Domain as well.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God has slain many, particularly those who spoke out of turn at the Divine Blossom Assembly. His actions have greatly pleased the public, inspiring many younger cultivators in the Feng Tian Domain to emulate him."

    When she mentioned the Blood-Robed Sword God, there was a hint of respect in Li Ruoxian''s eyes, but also some helplessness.

    Qi Yuan felt a sense of pride when he heard this.

    It seemed that his efforts to purify the cultivation world had some effect.

    "I also greatly admire the Blood-Robed Sword God. If all cultivators were like him, where would there be any of this moral decay?" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but sigh.

    Inside his body were more than four thousand Nascent Souls, like a small society, yet these Nascent Souls never fought with each other.

    Because he was of noble character.

    Li Ruoxian was momentarily stunned by his words, then smiled. "Fellow Daoist is quite right."

    She changed the subject, "Are you going to Qing Hong City to meet friends?"

    "Yes, I have a few friends there."

    At that moment, the flying boat stopped for a temporary landing.

    Qi Yuan stood up, a smile on his face. "I have a friend boarding here; I''m going to greet them."

    "Sure," Li Ruoxian said, giving him a curious look.

    Qi Yuan thought of something and turned to Li Ruoxian. "Could I trouble you to hold my chair for me? I''d be unhappy if someone took my warm seat while I''m gone."

    Li Ruoxian couldn''t help but laugh. "Sure."

    She watched Qi Yuan walk away.

    A clear voice suddenly whispered in Li Ruoxian''s ear, "What do you think of this Qi Yuan?"

    Li Ruoxian looked at the young girl who had just arrived and smiled helplessly. "Silly girl, what are you thinking?"

    "This fellow Daoist is really handsome, has an extraordinary temperament, and spends generously on buying techniques¡ªhe must be wealthy.

    And most importantly, he likes the same Blood-Robed Sword God that I do. I fully support this match!"

    "You..." Li Ruoxian said, both amused and exasperated. "You''ve only just met him, and you¡¯re already getting ahead of yourself."

    "Grandmother, it''s been so long since Grandfather passed. You''ve been alone for so many years; it''s time you thought about your future," the young girl said, seemingly quite satisfied with Qi Yuan. "See how considerate I am? I made sure not to show up while you were talking to Qi Yuan."

    Li Ruoxian''s expression became calm as she thought of something. "Let''s not talk about this again. We''re going to Qing Hong City to retrieve Yang Lang''s belongings from the Seeking Dao Palace."

    Yang Lang was Li Ruoxian''s Dao companion and the young girl''s grandfather.

    He had passed away early, leaving many of his belongings at the Seeking Dao Palace.

    The young girl didn''t say anything further upon hearing this.

    At that moment, two figures approached.

    It was none other than Qi Yuan and Rogue Immortal.

    "This is Li Ruoxian; I met her on the flying boat," Qi Yuan introduced her to Rogue Immortal.

    He then said, "This is Gao Xiaoyu, a good brother of mine."

    Gao Xiaoyu was Rogue Immortal''s real name.

    Rogue Immortal felt a bit odd hearing his real name used.

    Li Ruoxian greeted them with a bright smile. "Greetings, fellow Daoists."

    She couldn''t help but look at Rogue Immortal again, a trace of surprise in her eyes.

    She had been unable to discern Qi Yuan''s cultivation level before and, seeing his generous spending, had naturally assumed he was a Purple Mansion cultivator like herself.

    But now, Qi Yuan''s good friend seemed to be at the Golden Core stage.

    How could she not be surprised?

    The young girl also looked stunned; as a Golden Core cultivator herself, she could easily see Rogue Immortal''s level.

    Qi Yuan, Rogue Immortal, Li Ruoxian, and the others disembarked together.

    The young girl smiled and said, "The next time you see the Blood-Robed Sword God, make sure to get a recording stone."

    Qi Yuan stroked his chin. "Is the Blood-Robed Sword God that popular in Feng Tian Domain?"

    "Yes, many of my friends admire him.

    If you give me a recording stone of the Blood-Robed Sword God, I could sell it for a lot of money," the young girl said excitedly.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God''s reputation was currently very strong in Feng Tian Domain.

    This was partly due to his conduct and also because of a recent amusing incident in Feng Tian Domain.

    "Sigh, you''re making me tempted. I almost want to record myself and sell it," Qi Yuan sighed.

    It wasn''t a bad way to make money.

    But Qi Yuan had his principles; he wasn''t selling his dignity. He couldn''t bring himself to do it.

    Who knew what some crazy cultivators, male or female, might do with his image?

    After all, there were many questionable games circulating in this world.

    Like the one East Leisure had sent him featuring a Sword Dao Fairy.

    "Are you thinking of impersonating the Blood-Robed Sword God? Don''t even try it. If he finds out, you''re done for," the young girl whispered.

    She then added, "By the way, if you go to the Seeking Dao Palace, don''t mention the Blood-Robed Sword God."

    "Oh? Why is that?" Qi Yuan was puzzled.

    What had the Blood-Robed Sword God done to the Seeking Dao Palace?

    "Haven''t you heard about the recent big scandal in Feng Tian Domain?"

    "What scandal?"

    The young girl leaned in to whisper to Qi Yuan.

    "Not long ago, Grand Sovereign Wu Jun went to Cloud Mountain to ask Grand Sovereign Jasmine to be his Dao companion.

    But Jasmine Grand Sovereign said she already had someone in her heart¡ªthe Blood-Robed Sword God.

    Grand Sovereign Wu Jun was furious and left Cloud Mountain in anger.

    Grand Sovereign Wu Jun is the one in charge behind the Seeking Dao Palace in Feng Tian Domain."

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

    Who is this Jasmine Grand Sovereign?

    How did I suddenly gain an enemy without even knowing it?

    "Jasmine Grand Sovereign is the most beautiful woman in Feng Tian Domain. The fact that she is in love with the Blood-Robed Sword God speaks volumes about his extraordinary presence," the young girl continued.

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but wonder.

    Am I really that handsome?

    She fell in love with me without even meeting me?

    Of course, there might be more to the story.

    Not knowing the full truth, he decided not to speculate further.

    The group continued to chat as they walked.

    Li Ruoxian then said, "The person who''s picking me up is here. I''ll see you next time, fellow Daoist."

    An elderly man in a tattered Daoist robe approached, his face showing signs of fatigue as if he had just woken up.

    "Alright, next time, you can take me to the Seeking Dao Palace," Qi Yuan said, also bidding farewell to Li Ruoxian.

    He thought he spotted the Great Sun Flame Emperor and the Ice Mountain Overlord in the distance.

    The Four Emperors of the Divine Flower had finally gathered.

    Meanwhile, the young girl followed Li Ruoxian and the disheveled Daoist.

    She seemed quite afraid of the Daoist, not daring to make a sound.

    The group sat in a rabbit-drawn carriage.

    The tattered Daoist lifted the curtain and looked thoughtful. "Interesting, the people you were with earlier are with Feng Jun''s grandson."

    Li Ruoxian looked out the window and saw the scene too.

    Surprised, she said, "Feng Jun''s grandson?"

    Feng Jun had a significant conflict with the Seeking Dao Palace.

    More importantly, she had initially thought Qi Yuan was just an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, possibly with some Purple Mansion relatives, but nothing noteworthy.

    Now, seeing him with Feng Jun''s grandson, it seemed Qi Yuan''s background was more complex than she had imagined.

    The young girl was also surprised to hear this.

    She instantly felt relieved that she hadn''t really mocked Rogue Immortal for being at the Golden Core stage.

    If Qi Yuan had an Yin God cultivator backing him, didn''t that mean he could be a match for her grandmother after all?

    "If you take him to the Seeking Dao Palace next time, try to avoid Yuan Chen if he''s on duty," the Daoist casually mentioned.

    He had overheard Qi Yuan asking Li Ruoxian to take him to the Seeking Dao Palace earlier.

    "Thank you for the warning, fellow Daoist," Li Ruoxian replied sincerely.

    "There''s one more thing you should know. You can only take away sixty percent of Yang Cui''s belongings," the Daoist added, as if he had just remembered something.

    Li Ruoxian wasn''t surprised. "Understood!"

 Chapter 251: Qi Yuanâ€™s Plan

    Chapter 251: Qi Yuan¡¯s Plan

    At the flying boat dock in Qing Hong City.

    For the first time, the Four Emperors of the Divine Flower were formally gathering.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor stood in a golden robe, exuding a refined and distinguished aura. He looked at Qi Yuan with a smile in his eyes.

    "The Origin Heavenly Emperor is indeed as handsome and extraordinary as the legends say."

    "Rogue Immortal looks a bit shabby, but there''s plenty of room for improvement," said the Ice Mountain Queen, standing beside him.

    She was a tall woman with delicate features, but her gaze conveyed a sense of ruggedness.

    "The Four Emperors of the Divine Flower have finally gathered here. Today is a day worth commemorating, an important day for the Canglan Realm!" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but say.

    "Origin Heavenly Emperor, do you have some kind of plan?" Rogue Immortal, standing nearby, couldn''t help but ask excitedly when he heard Qi Yuan''s words.

    He thought Qi Yuan might have some idea, like establishing some sort of force. If that were the case, Rogue Immortal hoped to follow along and possibly make a big profit.

    "...No," Qi Yuan thought for a moment and shook his head. "I just felt that this scene was appropriate for such words."

    As for the content of his words and their meaning, did it really matter?

    Just like in the Mortal Heart Realm, every time before a feast, Qi Yuan would give a lengthy speech.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor wasn''t surprised by this at all.

    The Ice Mountain Queen spoke up, "If there''s business to be done, I can invest three million spirit stones.

    Heh, these spirit stones were all earned from the Bright Palace."

    Back then, Qi Yuan had devised a plan to destroy the Bright Palace within a hundred days.

    He had informed the Four Emperors of the Divine Flower, inviting them to take out high-interest loans from the Bright Palace.

    In the end, the Bright Palace was destroyed.

    Naturally, those loans didn''t need to be repaid.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was full of envy. "Jealousy, envy, and hatred! Unfortunately, those Bright Palace white moons were...too fragile. My Stellar Golden Core turned them all to dust, leaving me with no spirit stones, no techniques."

    Upon hearing Qi Yuan''s words, the other three members of the Four Emperors of the Divine Flower fell silent for a moment.

    They couldn''t help but look up at the sky.

    There, they saw two dazzling suns surrounding the central sun, all shining brightly.

    Even from an unknown distance, one could still feel the terrifying power of those suns.

    Such a terrifying celestial body...seemed to be Qi Yuan''s Golden Core.

    To be honest, when they first had this suspicion, they were shocked and found it unbelievable.

    After all, who in the world could condense the sun into a Golden Core?

    "Origin Heavenly Emperor, there''s a new sun in the sky recently. Is that also your Golden Core?" the Ice Mountain Queen asked.

    "Yes, my third Golden Core is also being condensed. It shouldn''t be long before it''s complete," Qi Yuan replied, his voice full of confidence. "Just give me time, and the entire sky above, with all its stars, will be my Golden Cores, illuminating the four directions!"

    Qi Yuan was telling the truth.

    Given enough time, his Stellar Golden Core would devour more stars and other celestial bodies.

    The heavens would be filled with endless projections of his Golden Cores.

    Who knows, he might even end up devouring black holes and other celestial bodies.

    That would certainly be interesting.

    "I don''t need a sun; if I had a star of my own, that would be enough," Rogue Immortal couldn''t help but sigh.

    The Ice Mountain Queen laughed, "That''s simple. Just cling tightly to the Origin Heavenly Emperor''s leg, and one day, when you reach the Seventh Step of the Heavenly Path, the Origin Heavenly Emperor might reward you with a star, illuminating the heavens."

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor also chuckled, his expression intriguing.

    Because what the Ice Mountain Queen said was true.

    With the Origin Heavenly Emperor''s terrifying talent, it was only a matter of time before he became the legendary Yang God.

    As long as the Origin Heavenly Emperor could resolve the great calamity, then...anything was possible.

    The Seeking Dao Palace was home to nearly all the peak Purple Mansion cultivators from the three regions, with many other Purple Mansion cultivators joining as ordinary members.

    These Purple Mansion cultivators gathered there to break through to the Yin God stage.

    Naturally, the Seeking Dao Palace had many cultivation techniques.

    "That...would be an astronomical figure," Rogue Immortal said, swallowing nervously.

    Following a great figure was certainly different¡ªhe casually talked about building a Wangxian Tower and buying the Seeking Dao Palace.

    Rogue Immortal felt like a complete novice, unable to participate in such high-level discussions.

    "We can''t afford it," the Ice Mountain Queen said. "Even if we had enough spirit stones, they wouldn''t sell it."

    An organization like that would never sell itself to anyone.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor thought for a moment and then said, "The Heavenly Emperor is in great need of cultivation techniques. The Seeking Dao Palace is a good place to get them, but there''s another path you could consider."

    "Oh? What path?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "You should know that the Seeking Dao Palace here is controlled by the Grand Sovereign Wu Jun.

    However, before this, the palace was overseen by a mythical figure.

    That mythical figure...fell during the great calamity."

    At the mention of the great calamity, a flash of pain crossed the Great Sun Flame Emperor''s eyes.

    The Ice Mountain Queen narrowed her eyes, clearly dreading the great calamity.

    After all, a mythical figure had fallen in that calamity.

    "Before that mythical figure fell, they left behind many secret treasures. Nearly half of the resources and techniques of the Seeking Dao Palace are stored in those secret treasures.

    Even Grand Sovereign Wu Jun doesn''t have control over them; they are all in the hands of that mythical figure''s daughter, Grand Sovereign Jasmine."

    At this point, the Great Sun Flame Emperor gave Qi Yuan a pointed look.

    "Recently, Grand Sovereign Wu Jun proposed to Grand Sovereign Jasmine, asking her to be his Dao companion, but she refused, saying that her heart already belonged to the Blood-Robed Sword God."

    The Blood-Robed Sword God was one of Qi Yuan''s aliases.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor wasn''t sure if Grand Sovereign Jasmine was familiar with Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan stroked his chin and murmured, "Am I really that attractive? Could Grand Sovereign Jasmine be one of my die-hard fans?"

    According to the Great Sun Flame Emperor, this Grand Sovereign Jasmine was undoubtedly a wealthy woman.

    She controlled half of the resources of the Seeking Dao Palace and many cultivation techniques.

    "I have a plan. I''d like you all to give me your thoughts," Qi Yuan said to the three.

    They were all intrigued.

    Qi Yuan''s plans were always particularly interesting.

    "Please go ahead, Heavenly Emperor."

    Qi Yuan looked at the three of them and said seriously, "What do you think about a marriage scam?

    I pretend to marry Grand Sovereign Jasmine, have her give me the mythical secret treasures as a dowry, and then immediately divorce her.

    According to the law, if we divorce quickly, the dowry isn''t refundable, and I can even take half of her assets.

    Wouldn''t that be an easy way to get my hands on the mythical secret treasures?"

    Qi Yuan thought this plan was flawless.

    And the law was on his side.

    Even though it was the law of his home planet, who said it couldn''t be used in the cultivation world?

    "Uh...this..." Rogue Immortal was speechless. "You can make money that way?"

    "Origin Heavenly Emperor, if you do this, you''ll completely offend Grand Sovereign Jasmine," the Great Sun Flame Emperor said sternly, worried that Qi Yuan might actually go through with it.

    "You''re a real talent!" the Ice Mountain Queen laughed, covering her mouth.

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment and then shook his head. "Never mind, let''s scrap that plan. I don''t want to be labeled as a divorced man at such a young age and be ridiculed."

    More importantly, he was already cultivating immortality, so marrying for profit¡ªwhat kind of cultivation would that be?

    That would be too pointless.

 Chapter 252: The Junior Sisterâ€™s Clever Plan

    Chapter 252: The Junior Sister¡¯s Clever Plan

    Hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words, the Great Sun Flame Emperor let out a sigh of relief.

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, Grand Sovereign Jasmine is incredibly powerful. Moreover, because of her father, she holds great influence across the three regions. Many senior figures have to show her respect, so you mustn''t offend her lightly."

    As the Great Sun Flame Emperor mentioned Grand Sovereign Jasmine, his expression became complicated.

    He was telling the truth.

    In the three regions, Grand Sovereign Jasmine might not be the strongest, but she was certainly the most untouchable.

    Due to the mythical secret treasures left by her father, Grand Sovereign Jasmine had many sycophants.

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, when did you start flirting with Grand Sovereign Jasmine?" Rogue Immortal couldn¡¯t help but ask, intrigued by gossip about a Yin God¡¯s personal life.

    "I don¡¯t know her," Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    He really didn¡¯t know Grand Sovereign Jasmine.

    He wasn¡¯t particularly interested in her mythical secret treasures¡ªwhat he wanted were the techniques within them.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor frowned upon hearing this. "Then why would she say something like that...?"

    "Maybe the Origin Heavenly Sovereign is just too good-looking. If I were a woman, I¡¯d fall for him too!" Rogue Immortal said.

    "Get away from me!" Qi Yuan glared at Rogue Immortal, displeased by the sudden male affection.

    Everyone chuckled.

    Qi Yuan continued, "Regarding Grand Sovereign Jasmine, I can ask my junior sister for advice. She¡¯s also a wealthy woman, and she might have some ideas on how to handle this."

    After saying this, Qi Yuan took out a jade slip and sent a message to his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu.

    "Junior sister, I¡¯ve recently encountered a wealthy woman.

    I¡¯ve never met her, and she¡¯s never met me.

    But she publicly declared that she likes me.

    She has some things I want.

    How do you think I can get those things from her?"

    His junior sister, being a wealthy woman, had already given him a lot of resources.

    She had even secretly given him Jiang Ya¡¯s techniques.Updated chapters at novelhall.com

    Qi Yuan¡¯s early success was largely due to the financial support from his wealthy junior sister.

    Since his junior sister was so good at getting people to cough up money, he figured he¡¯d ask her how to make another wealthy woman do the same.

    Meanwhile, at Seven-Colored Peak, Jiang Lingsu widened her eyes in surprise, looking particularly cute.

    She frowned, muttering angrily, "Wasn¡¯t he supposed to meet up with some friends from the Divine Flower Assembly? How is there now a wealthy woman involved?"

    "What nonsense! She hasn¡¯t even met my senior brother and already says she likes him. She¡¯s definitely up to no good!"

    She thought carefully about how to reply to her senior brother.

    "Senior brother, she says she likes you, right?

    Why don¡¯t you just go and ask her directly? If she really likes you, she should give you the things you want.

    If she gives them to you, then you¡¯ve got what you wanted.

    If she doesn¡¯t, it means she¡¯s just toying with you!"

    On the other side, Qi Yuan read Jiang Lingsu¡¯s reply and couldn¡¯t help but smile. "My junior sister has both brains and beauty; her wisdom rivals that of a great sage."

    Qi Yuan genuinely thought her advice made sense.

    He could find a time to meet Grand Sovereign Jasmine directly.

    If she claims to love him, would she not be willing to part with her secret treasures? What kind of love would that be?

    As long as Grand Sovereign Jasmine marked the treasures as a gift, even if they ended up in court, Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t have to return them.

    This was indeed a great idea¡ªmuch simpler and more straightforward than getting married.

    "None of them are from Feng Tian Domain.

    One of them is a Purple Mansion cultivator, probably from a prominent background judging by their attire.

    Another seems to be someone from the Eastern Lands'' Young Talents List, named Gao Xiaoyu, from a Purple Mansion sect.

    The third one...is unknown, but their robe is even less impressive than Gao Xiaoyu''s. At most, they¡¯re also from a Purple Mansion sect."

    The assistant manager was well-informed.

    He recognized Rogue Immortal as someone from the Eastern Lands'' Young Talents List.

    "Eastern Lands'' Young Talents List?" Elder Xiang Yun was stunned. "So trashy?"

    He paid attention only to the top twenty of the Eastern Lands'' Talents List, dismissing the rest as irrelevant.

    As for the Young Talents List, that was just trash among trash.

    "If those two are so worthless...then I¡¯ll make an example out of them!" A cold glint appeared in Elder Xiang Yun¡¯s eyes.

    He couldn¡¯t kill the Great Sun Flame Emperor, but dealing with two nobodies was no problem.

    Even if Feng Palace found out, the higher-ups would only praise him.

    After all, making life difficult for Feng Jun and the Great Sun Flame Emperor was a shared goal within Feng Palace.

    The assistant manager hesitated.

    He understood what Elder Xiang Yun intended.

    The Ice Mountain Queen¡¯s background likely involved a Yin God, so they couldn¡¯t afford to offend her.

    They couldn¡¯t kill the Great Sun Flame Emperor either.

    But humiliating the Great Sun Flame Emperor by kicking him out of Wangxian Tower wouldn¡¯t be enough.

    The best targets were the two without power or background¡ªQi Yuan and Gao Xiaoyu.

    They could be accused of something, then thrown out of Wangxian Tower and beaten to death by the guards.

    This would humiliate the Great Sun Flame Emperor effectively.

    "If you do this for me, you¡¯ll be rewarded.

    Didn¡¯t you have your eye on Yang Li¡¯s granddaughter? Do this well, and I¡¯ll arrange for her to end up in your bed tonight!"

    Hearing this, the assistant manager¡¯s eyes gleamed with greed, and he couldn¡¯t help but swallow. "Consider it done!"

    Elder Xiang Yun laughed heartily. "Feng Xie...making an enemy of me was the stupidest decision of your life!"

    After all, he was carrying out the will of Feng Palace¡¯s higher-ups to suppress the Great Sun Flame Emperor.

    Who would have thought that the Great Sun Flame Emperor would dare to fight back, even injuring him several times?

    How could he not be furious?

    Meanwhile, inside Wangxian Tower.

    Qi Yuan waved his hand. "We¡¯re all brothers here. Your problems are my problems!

    Back then, when the Bright Palace oppressed me, didn¡¯t you all support me, cheering me on?"

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor looked grateful.

    On the flying boat earlier, he had mentioned his predicament to Qi Yuan.

    He feared that coming out of seclusion might provoke retaliation from Elder Xiang Yun of Feng Palace.

    At the time, Qi Yuan had dismissed his concerns, saying, "If he dares come after you, then when the grass on his grave grows ten meters tall, there will definitely be an extra illegitimate son."

    "Thank you, Heavenly Sovereign," the Great Sun Flame Emperor sighed in relief.

    He had been worried that Elder Xiang Yun might cause trouble and that his three friends would misunderstand, thinking he had deliberately provoked Elder Xiang Yun to use Qi Yuan¡¯s strength against his enemies.

    "Just be straightforward about it, like how I told you about my Stellar Golden Core and the over four thousand Nascent Souls I¡¯ve condensed. I didn¡¯t hide anything from you, did I?" Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    "Over four thousand Nascent Souls?" Rogue Immortal swallowed nervously. "If you have so many Nascent Souls, could you give me one?"

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, are you planning to have children or what?"

    At that moment, the door to the private room suddenly swung open.

 Chapter 253: My Backing is Strong Too

    Chapter 253: My Backing is Strong Too

    The door to the private room was violently thrown open.

    Five cultivators filed in, their faces full of hostility.

    Leading them was the assistant manager who had been conversing with Elder Xiang Yun. His expression was calm, as if everything was under control.

    He was just about to speak when one of the men from the Divine Flower Four Sovereigns spoke up.

    "These people are terrible at doing business. They should have at least waited until we finished spending money, boosting the GDP, before causing trouble." The speaker was Qi Yuan. "Being too eager like this is no way to accomplish anything big."

    They had just been discussing the possibility of someone causing trouble, and here they were.

    The assistant manager paused, not understanding Qi Yuan''s words.

    He spoke slowly, "The Wangxian Tower has lost a precious artifact, the Exquisite Teapot. A staff member saw that it was you who took it. We ask that you come with us."

    Qi Yuan rubbed his nose. "You should stop talking. Every time you do, my nose seems to grow longer."

    The assistant manager frowned, feeling frustrated by this disconnected conversation.

    He waved his hand, and a nervous-looking staff member stepped in.

    As soon as the staff member entered, he immediately pointed at Qi Yuan and Rogue Immortal, speaking anxiously, "Manager, it was them. I saw it with my own eyes¡ªthey stole the Exquisite Teapot!"

    At this moment, the door to the private room was open, and the cultivators outside could hear the conversation.

    No matter where you are, people love to watch drama and gossip.

    Quite a few cultivators began to pay close attention to what was happening in the room.

    "They actually stole the Exquisite Teapot, the treasure of Wangxian Tower!"

    "How bold!"

    "Wait, isn¡¯t that Feng Xie? He¡¯s come out of seclusion!"

    "This... seems suspicious."

    People were gathered nearby to watch the commotion.

    Among them, a man in a green robe frowned, looking worried. "Wangxian Tower is owned by Feng Palace. This is... not a simple matter."

    "Ye He, are you saying these people are targeting... Feng Xie?" another man asked, his voice filled with anger.

    "Yes, Feng Palace has become more and more overbearing. Feng Jun is also a descendant of the old master... and yet..." Ye He replied, his voice full of dissatisfaction.

    In Feng Tian Domain, the undercurrents ran deep.

    The people of Feng Palace often subtly suppressed the disciples of Wenfeng Mountain.

    Ye He¡¯s sect had a good relationship with Wenfeng Mountain.

    He and Feng Xie were acquaintances.

    Now, seeing Feng Xie being targeted, he realized the situation was very serious.

    On the other side, the Great Sun Flame Emperor''s eyes blazed with anger. "You just randomly bring in someone to say that my two brothers stole the Exquisite Teapot, and that¡¯s supposed to be evidence?"Updated chapters at novelhall.com

    The assistant manager remained calm. "These two cultivators are acting suspiciously. To clear themselves, they need to hand over their storage bags for inspection!"

    His tone was arrogant and left no room for argument.

    It was clear he was here to stir up trouble.

    "There¡¯s no logic in asking someone to prove their innocence," the Great Sun Flame Emperor said coldly.

    Although he had anticipated someone might cause trouble, encountering it still filled him with resentment.

    This was why he had spent so much time in seclusion at Wenfeng Mountain, rarely going out and seldom making friends, for fear of implicating them.

    As for Qi Yuan, the Ice Mountain Queen, and the others, he had already mentioned this concern before they met in person.

    "If you don''t prove your innocence, how will you clear your name?" a sneering voice came from the doorway as Elder Xiang Yun entered, his face full of arrogance as he looked at the Great Sun Flame Emperor.

    "I came to Wangxian Tower today to meet with some friends, but the ninth-floor private rooms were all taken. Luckily, Feng Xie, your friend here, has done something interesting¡ªstealing the Exquisite Teapot. Now there¡¯s a room available for me, so I should really thank you!"

    As Elder Xiang Yun spoke, he pulled out a spirit stone.

    "Take this spirit stone as a reward for vacating the private room for me."

    Elder Xiang Yun was an expert in humiliation.

    If this had been anyone else, they might have had no choice but to swallow their pride.

    "I suggest you confess sooner rather than later, to avoid unnecessary suffering. Otherwise... your sect might get involved, and things won¡¯t be so simple anymore," Elder Xiang Yun continued with an air of superiority.

    In the world of cultivation, strength ruled.

    If this had been in Cuiyun Continent, the Bright Palace might still have feared some Yin God sects.

    But in Feng Tian Domain, Feng Palace feared nothing.

    Before true power, Elder Xiang Yun would be as humble as a servant. But when dealing with the weak, he was the epitome of arrogance.

    He was skilled at flattering those above him and bullying those below.

    The assistant manager spoke up at the right moment, his tone indifferent. "If you two confess and commit suicide to atone, your sects won¡¯t be implicated. Otherwise..."

    The other cultivators with him wore hostile expressions, exuding strong auras.

    Not far away, Ye He frowned and quickly stepped forward. "I can testify that after they entered the room, they didn¡¯t leave. This must be a misunderstanding!"

    Ye He¡¯s intervention caught everyone by surprise.

    The assistant manager hesitated.

    Elder Xiang Yun raised an eyebrow. "Ye He, do you know what you¡¯re saying?"

    Those who had come to gather here were either wealthy or noble.

    They were all well aware of the conflict between Feng Palace and Wenfeng Mountain.

    Even if Qi Yuan had strong backing, it couldn¡¯t compare to Elder Xiang Yun¡¯s.

    Calling for backup would only result in more humiliation.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan suddenly looked up at the Great Sun Flame Emperor. "Is Feng Palace located in Qinghong City?"

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor nodded.

    Both Feng Palace and the Dao-Seeking Palace were located in Qinghong City.

    Qinghong City was also the number one city in Feng Tian Domain.

    The cultivators nearby chuckled at this.

    He didn¡¯t even know that Feng Palace was in Qinghong City, and he claimed to be from Feng Palace?

    Then, suddenly, a powerful aura emanated from Qi Yuan.

    A strong scent of blood filled the air.

    His robes turned blood-red, and a voice that seemed to pierce the heavens echoed through the ears of every cultivator.

    "Grand Sovereign Jasmine, didn¡¯t you say you had a crush on me?

    Now, I, Blood-Robed Sword God, have come to Wangxian Tower. Are you not going to come out and see me?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was like thunder, filled with intense killing intent.

    In that moment, it swept across the entire Qinghong City.

    In every corner of Qinghong City, cultivators and even ordinary people heard the transmission.

    "What... Blood-Robed Sword God?"

    "Blood-Robed Sword God is here!"

    "That killing god has arrived!"

    The voice resonated, penetrating the Dao-Seeking Palace and even Feng Palace.

    In the Dao-Seeking Palace, a towering man frowned, his gaze deep, before closing his eyes again.

    In Feng Palace, several elders were caught off guard.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s declaration had taken them by surprise.

    They had expected Blood-Robed Sword God to visit... but shouldn¡¯t he have been low-key when meeting Grand Sovereign Jasmine?

    Why make such a public scene?

    At that moment, deep within Feng Palace, a woman dressed in a multi-colored gown lay languidly on her bed, her graceful figure exuding allure. Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Interesting."

    Back in Wangxian Tower, all the cultivators were stunned.

    Especially Elder Xiang Yun, whose face was full of shock. "You¡¯re Blood-Robed Sword God!"

    How was that possible!

    How could this young man be the East Land overlord, Blood-Robed Sword God!

    Blood-Robed Sword God was well-known in Feng Tian Domain.

    The main reason was that when Grand Sovereign Jasmine rejected the Dao-Seeking Grand Sovereign, she mentioned that her heart belonged to Blood-Robed Sword God.

    People in Feng Tian Domain started investigating who this Blood-Robed Sword God was.

    What they found was terrifying. Blood-Robed Sword God was a killing machine.

    And not just any ordinary killing machine!

    Most Yin God cultivators could be called killing gods if they killed their peers or at most a few Purple Mansion cultivators.

    But Blood-Robed Sword God was different. He killed Yin Gods, Purple Mansions, and even Nascent Souls and Foundation Establishments alike.

    His reasons for killing were simple.

    If someone insulted him on the Divine Flower Forum, he would track them down, bring his funeral band, and start killing.

    He didn¡¯t even spare the Foundation Establishments.

    Because of this, Blood-Robed Sword God became famous in Feng Tian Domain and even gained a following.

    Now, the faces of the cultivators in Wangxian Tower changed.

    "He¡¯s Blood-Robed Sword God!"

    "He''s actually Blood-Robed Sword God?"

    "I hope I didn¡¯t... badmouth him earlier?"

    "Truly a handsome man. No wonder Grand Sovereign Jasmine fell for him!"

    Elder Xiang Yun¡¯s legs trembled uncontrollably.

    The assistant manager was drenched in cold sweat.

    A person¡¯s name carried weight; so did their reputation.

    Anyone who knew Blood-Robed Sword God knew that he was a monstrous killer, merciless beyond compare.

    He had slain countless Yin Gods.

    Rumor had it he had killed over a hundred Purple Mansion cultivators, single-handedly setting the East Land¡¯s cultivation world back by ten thousand years.

    The blood-robed figure before them, exuding a palpable killing intent¡ªwho else could he be but Blood-Robed Sword God?

    Elder Xiang Yun had expected the opponent to have a strong backing, but not this strong.

    Now he was stuck, his face twisted in pain.

    "Misunderstanding... it¡¯s all a misunderstanding."

    He couldn¡¯t understand why the mighty Blood-Robed Sword God, an Yin God rivaling the Grand Sovereigns, would be fraternizing with someone like Feng Xie.

 Chapter 254: Since You Love Me So Much, Itâ€™s Not Too Much to Give Me the Mythical Treasure, Right?

    Chapter 254: Since You Love Me So Much, It¡¯s Not Too Much to Give Me the Mythical Treasure, Right?

    "There''s no misunderstanding."

    Qi Yuan laughed, his eyes full of mirth.

    Though his smile was friendly, it appeared particularly terrifying to Elder Xiang Yun, as if Blood-Robed Sword God could end his life in an instant.

    At that moment, a bright, almost heavenly voice rang out.

    "Blood-Robed Sword God, why didn¡¯t you notify me before coming to Qinghong City? I would have prepared a grand welcome for you at Feng Palace."

    Everyone turned to see a woman wearing a veil, as ethereal as a goddess from the Nine Heavens.

    Surrounded by radiant colors and graceful in her movements, she was as beautiful as a celestial being.

    The moment she appeared, she became the center of everyone''s attention.

    "Greetings, Grand Sovereign Jasmine!"

    "Greetings, Palace Master!"

    All the cultivators bowed.

    After all, Grand Sovereign Jasmine was the most prestigious woman in Feng Tian Domain, and she was also the leader of Feng Palace, the foremost power in the domain.

    Cold sweat dripped from Elder Xiang Yun''s forehead.

    With Grand Sovereign Jasmine''s arrival, it was undeniable that the man before him was indeed Blood-Robed Sword God.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Grand Sovereign Jasmine and lazily remarked, "These people accused me of stealing the Exquisite Teapot from Wangxian Tower and demanded I commit suicide to atone. Normally, with my temperament, I would have killed them with a single strike and been done with it. But considering the ambiguous relationship between us, I thought I''d give you some face."

    Elder Xiang Yun, hearing this, felt a flicker of hope¡ªwas he going to be spared?

    But Qi Yuan''s next words dashed all his hopes.

    "So, I called you here to witness as I kill them."

    A flash of blood-red light cut through the air in an instant.

    The once arrogant Elder Xiang Yun and the assistant manager of Wangxian Tower were split in half by Qi Yuan¡¯s blood-imbued sword.

    Qi Yuan clapped his hands and looked at Grand Sovereign Jasmine. "Since you love me so much, you shouldn¡¯t mind me cleaning house for you, right?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s sudden move shocked all the cultivators present.

    Even with Grand Sovereign Jasmine on the scene, he had slain her subordinates right in front of her, showing no respect for her authority.

    However, Grand Sovereign Jasmine didn¡¯t show any anger. Instead, she smiled charmingly, full of allure. "They insulted you. If you hadn¡¯t killed them, I would have done it for you."

    The cultivators who heard Grand Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s words were all filled with envy for Blood-Robed Sword God.

    To kill her subordinates in front of her, yet she wasn¡¯t angry and spoke to him so tenderly¡ªthis was true love.

    Blood-Robed Sword God was the real winner in life.

    He had not only immense power but also the affection of a Grand Sovereign.

    "It seems I misunderstood you. The rumors were true; you really do love me that much," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Grand Sovereign Jasmine chuckled softly. "How could I not be infatuated with you, a man of unmatched beauty and extraordinary strength?"

    As she spoke, she reached out, attempting to touch Qi Yuan''s arm. "Why don''t you come back to Feng Palace with me?"

    "No," Qi Yuan flicked her hand away before it could touch his arm. "Men and women should keep their distance. I haven¡¯t agreed to date you, so... don''t touch me."

    A look of surprise flashed across Grand Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s face before she smiled again. "Why have you come to Qinghong City, my lord?"

    "I heard that there¡¯s a beauty in Qinghong City who secretly admires me. She cries herself to sleep every night because she can¡¯t see me. I couldn¡¯t bear it, so I came to check on her, to see if she¡¯s sick from longing," Qi Yuan lied shamelessly.

    After all, since Grand Sovereign Jasmine had spread rumors of her affection for him, he might as well embellish the story a bit.

    "My darling Jasmine, I didn¡¯t expect you to love me this much. I... am truly touched," Qi Yuan added, deliberately deepening his voice on the word "darling."

    Surely, Grand Sovereign Jasmine would be charmed by him.

    The other cultivators struggled to contain their laughter upon hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    Unfortunately, Blood-Robed Sword God had a fearsome reputation as a killer, so they didn¡¯t dare laugh openly.

    Instead, Grand Sovereign Jasmine laughed with a sound like silver bells. "No wonder I fell for you; you¡¯re indeed interesting."

    "My darling Jasmine, since you love me so much and I¡¯m already here in Qinghong City, when are you going to confess your love for me?" Qi Yuan¡¯s words left everyone in shock.

    "Confess?"

    "Is Grand Sovereign Jasmine going to confess to Blood-Robed Sword God?"

    The cultivators struggled to process what they were hearing.

    How did this turn into Grand Sovereign Jasmine proposing to Blood-Robed Sword God?

    The smile on Grand Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s face froze. "My lord, surely you¡¯re joking?"

    "I never joke. Since you love me so much, you wouldn¡¯t mind confessing your love, right?" Qi Yuan continued to apply moral pressure.

    If you love me so much, wouldn¡¯t you confess your love?

    Grand Sovereign Jasmine smiled but said nothing.

    How was this sexual harassment?

    "Did you two do something in front of us just now, so fast we didn¡¯t even notice?" Rogue Immortal speculated.

    "Hey, don¡¯t slander me. I¡¯m not that fast. Besides, who said sexual harassment requires physical contact? She was eyeing me lustfully!"

    While interacting with Grand Sovereign Jasmine, Qi Yuan occasionally heard her inner thoughts.

    And they were quite inappropriate.

    If Qi Yuan had a system, it would probably be constantly alerting him.

    Lust +1.

    Lust +1.

    Yes, the lust was all coming from Grand Sovereign Jasmine.

    That¡¯s why Qi Yuan had been so fearless.

    "She was sexually harassing you with her mind?" The Ice Mountain Queen couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter. "Is that even possible?"

    "Why wouldn¡¯t mental sexual harassment count as harassment?

    I¡¯ve been wronged. I should have caught her red-handed. Then the Mythical Treasure would have been mine," Qi Yuan lamented, feeling he had missed the perfect opportunity.

    Unfortunately, there was no short video platform in this world.

    Otherwise, he would have exposed Grand Sovereign Jasmine for the perverted woman she was.

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, many strong figures in Feng Tian Domain are eyeing the Mythical Treasure," the Great Sun Flame Emperor reminded him. "After all, it¡¯s the inheritance of a Myth."

    A Myth is someone who has taken the seventh step on the Heavenly Path, standing at the peak of the Yin Gods.

    One more step, and they would become a Yang God!

    The inheritance of a Mythical figure not only attracted the attention of Yin Gods from Feng Tian Domain but also tempted those from the Demon and Monster Domains.

    The reason Grand Sovereign Jasmine was so pursued wasn¡¯t just because of her beauty but because of the Mythical Treasure.

    Everyone wanted the Mythical Treasure to reach the seventh step.

    "Didn¡¯t the Dao-Seeking Grand Sovereign pursue Grand Sovereign Jasmine? Origin Heavenly Sovereign, after what you did today, the Dao-Seeking Grand Sovereign might challenge you," the Ice Mountain Queen laughed.

    "Are these old men, these Grand Sovereigns, really going to fight over a woman like street thugs?" Qi Yuan wondered aloud.

    "The Dao-Seeking Grand Sovereign isn¡¯t fighting for a woman; he¡¯s fighting for the Mythical Treasure and the opportunity to step into legend!" the Ice Mountain Queen explained.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor nodded. "Because of the Mythical Treasure, five Yin Gods have died in the past few thousand years, three of whom were from East Land."

    These Yin Gods were rumored to have perished due to Grand Sovereign Jasmine.

    Other Yin Gods were aware of this.

    But what could they do?

    The Mythical Treasure was in Grand Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s hands. To obtain it, they had to pay a price.

    It wasn¡¯t about jealousy; it was about the Mythical Treasure.

    "East Land has so many pure-hearted warriors that they traveled to Feng Tian Domain just to die?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    No wonder East Land had so few Yin Gods compared to the other three domains.

    It turned out they had all died in Feng Tian Domain.

    No, wait, some had also died at Qi Yuan¡¯s hands.

    Now, there were only a few Yin Gods left in East Land.

    "Should I team up with these people to seize Grand Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s Mythical Treasure?" Qi Yuan pondered, then shook his head. "But she only harassed me; she doesn¡¯t deserve to die. It¡¯s tough standing on the moral high ground."

    Compared to the Bright Palace, Grand Sovereign Jasmine was clearly on a higher level.

    When dealing with the Bright Palace, Qi Yuan could easily take the moral high ground, listing its seven deadly sins.

    But with Grand Sovereign Jasmine, that approach wouldn¡¯t work.

    The most important thing was that Qi Yuan considered himself a law-abiding person who wouldn¡¯t kill the innocent.

    "If Grand Sovereign Jasmine dies, the Mythical Treasure can¡¯t be opened, so..." the Great Sun Flame Emperor added.

    "Grand Sovereign Jasmine, my beloved White Moonlight, since you love me so much and our feelings are somewhat mutual, what¡¯s wrong with giving me the Mythical Treasure?" Qi Yuan sighed.

    The Mythical Treasure was said to contain many techniques.

    At that moment, the Great Sun Flame Emperor said, "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, I have an idea. We could establish a faction specifically to help you collect techniques."

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan was intrigued. "But... I¡¯m very poor and can¡¯t afford to buy techniques."

    Collecting techniques required a huge investment of manpower, resources, and finances.

    For example, Ascending Heaven Pavilion had amassed so many techniques because Ling Tian Pavilion supported it financially.

    "That¡¯s simple. We don¡¯t need to pay for them; we can... share," the Great Sun Flame Emperor proposed, clearly having thought this through.

 Chapter 255: The Origin God Sharing Society

    Chapter 255: The Origin God Sharing Society

    "Sharing?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    This was a term he had taught the Great Sun Flame Emperor. Now, the Great Sun Flame Emperor brought it up, clearly having come prepared.

    "Your proposal is interesting... but how do we get people to share?" Qi Yuan raised the key point.

    As the platform for resource sharing, he could openly take advantage of others'' resources, but there needed to be a reason for others to share.

    "Many sects might be unwilling to reveal their core techniques," the Ice Mountain Queen added.

    For some ancient sects, their techniques were their foundation. These inherited techniques couldn''t be easily shown to outsiders. If they were leaked and enemies discovered their weaknesses, it could spell disaster, possibly even annihilation.

    That''s why major sects had strict rules prohibiting the spread of their secret techniques. The techniques Qi Yuan had given to Jiang Lingsu at Seven Color Peak weren¡¯t secret to the Shen Guang Sect, so there were no such concerns.

    "Getting a sect to hand over their techniques will be extremely difficult unless there''s a significant benefit, or they¡¯re forced to," Rogue Immortal also suggested.

    With Qi Yuan''s power, he could indeed use force to make some sects hand over their techniques. But he couldn¡¯t possibly force every sect in Canglan Realm to comply¡ªhe''d exhaust himself, and it would be very inefficient, wasting time.

    "So, we need a reason, a reason that would make those sects willing to hand over their techniques. Origin Heavenly Sovereign, you have many techniques, don¡¯t you? You could upload those you have acquired and establish a point system based on the rarity of each technique. Anyone who wants to view your techniques would first need to upload new ones to earn points to exchange. If you have high-level techniques, you could attract many sects to upload their non-secret techniques. For you, this would result in a massive influx of techniques," the Great Sun Flame Emperor explained his plan in full.

    Qi Yuan nodded. "This approach could indeed yield many techniques, but... my appetite is too large."

    It wasn¡¯t that Qi Yuan was overly greedy, but the Golden Core chapter of the Qi Yuan Sutra was a bottomless pit. A star might be powerful in the Canglan Realm, but on the scale of the universe, a star was less than a drop in the ocean.

    To devour the entire universe, the Golden Core chapter of the Qi Yuan Sutra had a long way to go, and more techniques were always better.

    "Unfortunately, I can¡¯t go to the Upper Realm right now, or else..." Qi Yuan looked expectant.

    The techniques he had obtained from Shen Wushen had made him quite rich. He was also eagerly awaiting what new techniques Shen Wushen might bring from the Upper Realm this time.

    Last time, he had received a divine technique from Shen Wushen, which couldn¡¯t be passed on to others. Otherwise, if he uploaded that divine technique, it would certainly cause a sensation in the Canglan Realm. After all, there were no divine techniques in the Canglan Realm; the highest level was only heavenly techniques. If he and the Great Sun Flame Emperor established a sharing organization and promoted it with a divine technique, it would surely attract many people.

    Shen Wushen, I¡¯m counting on you, Qi Yuan thought.

    "Just sharing will make it difficult to obtain a large number of techniques; we need a guiding principle," the Ice Mountain Queen said.

    "I know, we need a catchy slogan. How about, ''Make Canglan Great Again''? What do you think?" Qi Yuan asked.

    This time, Qi Yuan borrowed an idea from someone else.

    "That¡¯s a bit vague," Rogue Immortal said with an awkward smile. What did it matter to them if Canglan Realm was great or not?

    "Indeed," Qi Yuan was disappointed and started thinking more seriously.

    "The Great Tribulation is approaching, and all the hidden sovereigns and major powers are focused on their own survival. No one cares whether Canglan Realm is great," the Great Sun Flame Emperor said solemnly.

    As Qi Yuan rubbed the teacup in his hand, his eyes lit up. "I¡¯ve got it¡ªI¡¯ve thought of a great slogan!"

    "What slogan?"

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor, Ice Mountain Queen, and Rogue Immortal all looked at Qi Yuan expectantly.

    Qi Yuan looked serious and declared, "Techniques... are poisonous!"

    "What?"

    The three of them were stunned.

    Especially the Ice Mountain Queen. "What techniques are poisonous?"

    "All techniques in the Canglan Realm... are poisonous. The techniques you practice, even your Dao techniques, are poisonous. Once you practice them, you¡¯ll be trapped in the Canglan Realm and become food," Qi Yuan revealed what he had seen to the Divine Flower Four Sovereigns. This time, he didn¡¯t hide anything because he was strong enough now. Unless directly faced with the Great Tribulation, he could pretty much do as he pleased in the Canglan Realm.

    "What?"

    The three of them were shocked.

    This was the first time they had heard such a thing.

    "Perhaps it¡¯s due to the Great Tribulation that techniques became poisonous. Long ago, a peerless prodigy challenged the Great Tribulation and perished. I speculate that there were two reasons for his demise: first, the Great Tribulation summoned too many powerful beings; second, his technique had a flaw and was naturally restrained. Even though he was unparalleled, he still died tragically," Qi Yuan explained, combining what the Ascending Heaven Pavilion Master had told him with his own reasoning.

    "By practicing the poisonous techniques of the Canglan Realm, Yin Gods can¡¯t travel the void, explore other realms, or ascend to the Upper Realm; they can only become food," the Great Sun Flame Emperor turned pale.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words struck them like a thunderbolt.

    The Ice Mountain Queen was also stunned, struggling to accept this reality.

    God Origin? God Ape?

    "No, let¡¯s call it the Origin God Sharing Society," Qi Yuan relented, adding two more words as his final stand.

    After all, it was just a name for an organization. It didn¡¯t matter too much.

    Rogue Immortal looked pleased, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "If one day the Origin God Society becomes the most powerful organization in Canglan Realm, I can tell my descendants that I named it!"

    Qi Yuan rolled his eyes at Rogue Immortal.

    The group discussed for another half an hour at the Wangxian Pavilion before finalizing the development plan for the Origin God Sharing Society.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor¡¯s grandfather, Feng Jun, would be in charge of managing it. After all, without the strength of a Yin God, managing such an organization could lead to many problems.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor and Rogue Immortal would also contribute to the Origin God Sharing Society. The usually lazy Ice Mountain Queen would take on a consultant role, overseeing recruitment from the sects near her homeland.

    The development of the Origin God Sharing Society would follow two paths.

    The first was through the Divine Flower Society¡¯s forum, where they would announce the slogan that techniques were poisonous and that everyone should unite against the Great Tribulation.

    The second path involved leveraging the Dao-Seeking Palace to build the society¡¯s reputation.

    Even the best services need exposure.

    No matter how competitive the Origin God Sharing Society was, it would be useless if no one knew about it.

    "I¡¯ll post the announcement first, and then we¡¯ll visit your grandfather," Qi Yuan said to the Great Sun Flame Emperor.

    With the Origin God Sharing Society¡¯s foundation laid, Qi Yuan was ready to announce that techniques were poisonous at the Divine Flower Society and then visit the Great Sun Flame Emperor¡¯s grandfather, Feng Jun, to have him manage the society.

    At this point, Qi Yuan switched to another account, using the Blood-Robed Sword God alias. After some thought, he began drafting a post.

    "A Shocking Discovery in Canglan Realm: The Techniques We Practice Are Full of Traps!"

    "I, Blood-Robed Sword God, leader of the Blood-Robed Alliance, am risking my life to reveal a terrifying truth that concerns the safety of all cultivators in Canglan Realm.

    "Techniques are poisonous! "The techniques we¡¯ve been practicing are toxic, and as our strength grows, we will gradually become food for certain beings.

    "What kind of conspiracy is this? I can¡¯t even begin to imagine...

    "To address this issue, I¡¯ve joined forces with like-minded individuals to establish the Origin God Sharing Society.

    "In the Origin God Sharing Society, there are non-poisonous techniques..."

    Crafting such a post was no challenge for Qi Yuan.

    First, grab attention with a shocking headline, create a sense of fear, present the problem, then offer a solution with concrete actions.

    The solution was the establishment of the Origin God Sharing Society, attracting people to upload their techniques in exchange for non-poisonous ones.

    Finally, Qi Yuan mentioned the approximate launch time of the Origin God Sharing Society, inviting everyone to join.

    In closing, Qi Yuan wrote:

    "Don¡¯t panic; I, Blood-Robed Sword God, will lead the way and pledge my life to defend Canglan Realm!"

    This post stirred up a storm as soon as it was published.

    "Is this real?"

    "Techniques are poisonous? Why haven¡¯t I noticed anything?"

    "Becoming food? That¡¯s terrifying! If this is true, isn¡¯t Canglan Realm just a pig farm?"

    "That¡¯s nonsense, right?"

    "Hey, don¡¯t talk nonsense... Oh, it¡¯s Blood-Robed Sword God speaking. He¡¯s right; techniques are poisonous!"

    "Blood-Robed Sword God is an Yin God Sovereign. If he¡¯s saying this, could it be true?"

    "How can techniques be poisonous!"

    Hundreds and thousands of Divine Flower Society members saw the post and were shocked, questioning its authenticity.

    If anyone else had said it, they wouldn¡¯t have believed it. But this was the Blood-Robed Sword God, an Yin God Sovereign¡ªwould he lie to them? And for what reason?

 Chapter 256: Qi Yuanâ€™s Post Gets Censored

    Chapter 256: Qi Yuan¡¯s Post Gets Censored

    In the Demon-Yao Domain.

    The head of the Divine Flower Society''s branch was looking at the post with a smile in his eyes.

    A Yin God standing beside him chuckled, "Old Shen, do you think what this Blood-Robed Sword God says is true?"

    The branch head of the Divine Flower Society shook his head, "How could it be true? If the techniques we practice had issues, wouldn''t we have noticed? He''s just fearmongering."

    "Indeed, the idea that techniques are poisonous is utterly absurd."

    "He¡¯s fabricating a connection between the idea of poisonous techniques and the Great Tribulation just to promote the Origin God Sharing Society and gather techniques from around the world."

    The branch head clearly didn¡¯t believe what Qi Yuan had said.

    However, Qi Yuan¡¯s post had indeed sparked much discussion and caught the attention of many. Yet, most Yin Gods who saw it were skeptical and chose not to believe it. Only some low-level cultivators believed it, thinking that a powerhouse like the Blood-Robed Sword God wouldn¡¯t need to lie to them.

    The next day, Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    Without gaming to keep him up all night, he felt well-rested and even allowed himself the rare luxury of sleeping in.

    "Something¡¯s wrong!" Rogue Immortal rushed in, flustered.

    Qi Yuan frowned, "What happened?"

    Had something serious occurred? Had the Great Sovereign of Martial Laws come to confront him?

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, the post you made last night on the Divine Flower Society¡¯s forum got deleted!"

    "What?"

    Qi Yuan quickly connected to the Divine Flower Society''s jade slip.

    Indeed, the post he had made the previous day had disappeared. Despite the thousands of comments it had garnered the day before, it was now gone as if it had never existed.

    At that moment, the Great Sun Flame Emperor and the Ice Mountain Queen hurried in, clearly also aware of what had happened.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s frown deepened. Something strange was going on. He thought for a moment and sent a message to the head of the Eastern Lands branch of the Divine Flower Society.

    "Did you see the post I made yesterday? Why was it deleted? Who deleted it?"

    Not long after, he received a response from the branch head.

    "Senior, I¡¯m not sure. But one thing is certain... It was probably deleted by the Head of the Central Society."

    "The Head of the Central Society? Did I offend him? Why would he delete my post? Does this tiny Divine Flower Society not even allow freedom of speech? Give me his number. I¡¯ll add him and confront him directly!"

    Qi Yuan was angry. He could tolerate having a post deleted on Earth, but to have one deleted while cultivating¡ªthis was too much! He wanted to have a good talk with the Head of the Central Society.

    "I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help, Senior. I can¡¯t contact the Head of the Central Society either," the branch head responded.

    "Can my post be restored?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "No."

    "Damn it! I¡¯ll just post it again!"

    Frustrated, Qi Yuan tried to make another post using the Blood-Robed Sword God account, planning to complain about the censorship.

    But then he realized he couldn¡¯t post anything.

    "I¡¯ve been banned!" Qi Yuan was furious.

    He had been banned! What kind of nonsense was this?

    The Eastern Lands branch head quickly added, "Senior, this has nothing to do with me."

    "Where is the Head of the Central Society?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "The Head of the Central Society is elusive; no one knows where he is."

    Qi Yuan exited the Divine Flower Society¡¯s jade slip and relayed what had happened to the Great Sun Flame Emperor, the Ice Mountain Queen, and the others.

    Their expressions turned serious upon hearing this.

    "It seems there¡¯s something deeper going on."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze darkened. "No matter how deep the water is, I¡¯ll chop off the head of this petty authoritarian with my sword!"

    "Origin Heavenly Sovereign, be careful. Something might be coming your way..." the Ice Mountain Queen cautioned.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s banishment from the forum had an ominous feel to it, suggesting that danger might be imminent.

    "Hmph, let¡¯s see who needs to be careful," Qi Yuan said dismissively. "In a way, this is good. Before, I didn¡¯t know who the enemy was; now at least I know... who the enemy is."

    His gaze turned cold.

    "Forget about this for now. We planned to visit Feng Jun today. Let¡¯s head to Wenfeng Mountain."

    Qi Yuan remained unperturbed. He was confident in his strength.

    In an unknown location.

    A sea of thunder raged, and clouds of immortal energy roiled.

    Ahead was a misty area, the scene within barely visible, though shadows moved through it.

    Suddenly, a stream of light flew in, landing in the unknown land.

    Feng Xie¡¯s father, Feng Jun¡¯s son, had mysteriously perished 700 years ago.

    It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the highest peak of Wenfeng Mountain, where Feng Jun was in seclusion.

    A tall man walked out, his expression kindly. "Junior Brother Feng Xie, the Master is currently meeting an esteemed guest. Please wait a moment."

    "Grandfather has a guest?" The Great Sun Flame Emperor was surprised. "Who is it?"

    "It¡¯s a Yin God, shrouded in a black robe. He seemed unwilling to reveal his identity, so I don¡¯t know who he is," the tall man replied honestly.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor, seeing this, turned to Qi Yuan and said, "Apologies, we¡¯ll need to wait a while."

    The tall man also glanced at the Ice Mountain Queen and Qi Yuan with a peculiar expression, completely ignoring Rogue Immortal.

    The group waited at the base of the mountain for about a quarter of an hour before a shout rang out from the peak: "Get out!"

    The clouds atop the mountain swirled and scattered.

    A black-robed man descended from the peak, appearing somewhat resigned.

    The black-robed man saw the Great Sun Flame Emperor and said softly, "Feng Xie, try to persuade your grandfather. The Mythic Inheritance belongs to him as well; it shouldn¡¯t be controlled by that woman!"

    With that, the black-robed man turned into a wisp of smoke and vanished.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor¡¯s face darkened, but he said nothing.

    At that moment, a graceful old man in white appeared. His hair was half white and half black, giving him a peculiar appearance.

    "Honored guests have come from afar. I apologize for not greeting you sooner. I am Feng Jun."

    "I am the Blood-Robed Sword God, or you may call me the Origin Heavenly Sovereign," Qi Yuan introduced himself.

    "Please, come with me," Feng Jun said, waving his hand.

    Instantly, the scene around them changed, and they found themselves in a modest but elegant cave dwelling.

    Qi Yuan got straight to the point, "The four of us plan to establish the Origin God Sharing Society and need someone to manage it. Feng Xie recommended you, Senior. Would you be willing?"

    Feng Jun nodded, having already been informed by Feng Xie the previous night. "There¡¯s no problem with that."

    "Thank you, Senior. If the Origin God Sharing Society encounters any issues, please feel free to contact me," Qi Yuan said respectfully, addressing Feng Jun as "Senior" out of respect.

    "Here are some techniques I¡¯ve collected that can be made public as resources for the Origin God Sharing Society. Among them are fourteen Heaven-grade techniques and three Profound-grade techniques. These are non-toxic, so their exchange rates should be set higher," Qi Yuan added.

    Non-toxic techniques would undoubtedly be in high demand among the sects, attracting the most people for exchanges. Naturally, the price should reflect that.

    Feng Jun nodded but hesitated. "Are the techniques really toxic?"

    "It¡¯s true," Qi Yuan shrugged.

    At this, the Great Sun Flame Emperor spoke up, "Grandfather, yesterday the Blood-Robed Sword God made a post... but it was deleted."

    He explained the situation to Feng Jun in full.

    Feng Jun was silent for a long time, frowning. After a while, he said, "It seems this matter is even more complex than we thought."

    He pondered, his thoughts swirling as he tried to activate his techniques.

    However, even he couldn¡¯t detect any issues with his techniques.

    This meant that other Yin Gods who heard Qi Yuan¡¯s claims would likely dismiss them as well.

    "The matter is tied to the Great Tribulation, so it¡¯s naturally complicated," Qi Yuan replied.

    "This will be difficult to convince people of. The Origin God Sharing Society might have a slow start," Feng Jun said honestly.

    "How can we make people believe?" Qi Yuan pondered, but he couldn¡¯t find a solution.

    The other three members of the Divine Flower Four Emperors were also at a loss.

    Finally, Qi Yuan said, "We¡¯ll do what we can for now, gathering as many techniques as possible."

    "Right, the Blood-Robed Sword God is right. With the techniques he¡¯s already provided, some sects will surely be tempted to exchange their techniques," Feng Jun said.

    While the slogan of the Origin God Sharing Society might spread slowly, the allure of benefits would still attract many techniques.

    "Perhaps if I release a divine technique later, we could really hit the jackpot," Qi Yuan mused, waiting for Shen Wushen to bring him a divine technique.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s casual comment left Feng Jun stunned. "You have divine techniques?"

    "Yes, I do. But I can¡¯t reveal the one I currently possess. If I get a new one later, it should be fine to share. I¡¯ll put it into the Origin God Sharing Society, and you, Senior, can look at it anytime," Qi Yuan said generously.

    He didn¡¯t want to manage the Origin God Sharing Society himself; he preferred to be a hands-off leader. If Feng Jun was willing to manage it, what harm was there in letting him see the techniques?

    Feng Jun was silent, filled with a mix of emotions. "People..."

    He suddenly thought of the black-robed man who had visited him earlier.

    The man had tried to entice him with the Mythic Inheritance, hoping he would join the plot against Feng Palace.

    The Mythic Inheritance had caused endless bloodshed in the Feng Tian Domain, with Yin Gods vying for it due to a high-grade Heaven technique and some rare herbs it contained.

    But now, hearing Qi Yuan speak of having divine techniques left Feng Jun feeling conflicted. Compared to the legendary divine techniques, Heaven techniques were insignificant.

    If Qi Yuan really had divine techniques, the Origin God Sharing Society would quickly become famous across the Canglan Realm.

    After all, divine techniques were unprecedented in the Canglan Realm. Even if they existed, there might be only one.

    And Qi Yuan had one.

 Chapter 257: A Letter

    Chapter 257: A Letter

    Feng Jun''s thoughts did not concern Qi Yuan much. "Thank you for your help, Senior."

    Qi Yuan spoke respectfully.

    Even though he had traveled to another world, he still maintained the good qualities of respecting the elderly and caring for the young that he had learned on Earth.

    Of course, if he ended up as a beggar, well, then he wasn''t from Earth¡ªhe was from Trisolaris.

    "These techniques, I will donate to the Origin God Sharing Society to contribute to its cause," Feng Jun said as he pulled out a storage bag filled with techniques he had prepared.

    The bag was packed with techniques.

    But Qi Yuan didn''t seem too pleased. "Please don''t call me ''Origin God.'' Just call me Blood-Robed Sword God or Qi Yuan."

    Feng Jun was slightly taken aback but nodded in agreement.

    At that moment, Feng Xie, who had been quiet, asked, "Grandfather, what was that man here for today?"

    Feng Xie looked serious, recalling how the Yin God had mentioned the Mythic Inheritance before he left. He had a vague idea of what it was about.

    "Just as you suspect, he wanted to use my name to plot against Grand Sovereign Jasmine and seize the Mythic Inheritance," Feng Jun said without hiding anything.

    This wasn''t the first time this had happened. Rumors suggested that Feng Jun was the illegitimate son of the Mythic Tai Feng, and since the Mythic Inheritance was in Grand Sovereign Jasmine''s hands, many hidden Yin Gods coveted it and wanted to use Feng Jun to get their hands on it.

    "Hmph, a bunch of sneaky scoundrels!" Feng Xie couldn''t help but vent his anger.

    Qi Yuan, watching from the side, asked calmly, "Are you also interested in the Mythic Inheritance?"

    Feng Jun shook his head. "If I gain it, it''s a blessing; if I lose it, it''s fate."

    Qi Yuan was a bit surprised; he had expected a different answer.

    "Sigh, if Grand Sovereign Jasmine were to confess her love to me and offer the Mythic Inheritance as a gift, I might consider being her boyfriend for a day," Qi Yuan mused.

    Feng Jun remained silent at this remark.

    Then Qi Yuan said something even more surprising, "Great Sun Flame Emperor, if I get together with Grand Sovereign Jasmine, wouldn¡¯t that make me your grandfather?"

    According to the rumors, Moli Da Zun was Feng Jun''s sister. If Qi Yuan were with Grand Sovereign Jasmine, his status would be far above that of the Great Sun Flame Emperor.

    "Uh, um..." The Great Sun Flame Emperor coughed, too flustered to respond.

    "No worries, if that day comes, we¡¯ll each call our own titles," Qi Yuan said cleverly.

    At the Seeking Dao Palace.

    Li Yaxian looked tired, and her granddaughter beside her seemed both weary and relieved.

    "Grandfather''s inheritance is finally back!"

    "Although there were some obstacles, we got through it in the end," Li Yaxian said with a smile. This trip to the Seeking Dao Palace had its challenges, even with the guidance of the scruffy Daoist. However, by using money and donating 40% of the inheritance to the Seeking Dao Palace, they managed to resolve everything.

    But there was one steward, named Yang Kang, who persistently made things difficult for her. He had a deep grudge against her late husband. Li Yaxian had heard from her husband that Yang Kang was a lecherous man who once tried to abuse his power to assault a man, only to be stopped by her husband. Ever since then, Yang Kang held a grudge against her husband.

    When she came to retrieve her husband''s inheritance, Yang Kang made no secret of his disdain, even hinting that she would need to offer something in return¡ªnamely, her body.

    Fortunately, the scruffy Daoist intervened, dealing with Yang Kang and allowing Li Yaxian to claim the inheritance.

    "This trip to Qinghong City, while fruitful, is only disappointing because I didn¡¯t get to see the Blood-Robed Sword God," the young woman said wistfully.

    When they first arrived in Qinghong City, they heard a loud voice that seemed to shake the sky. The Blood-Robed Sword God had come to Qinghong City and shouted at Moli Da Zun from the Wangxian Tower.

    It was an unforgettable moment, but the young woman had been too busy to witness it herself. Later, she heard about the events at Wangxian Tower and the Sword God''s gallant demeanor, which left her feeling a deep sense of regret.

    Perhaps it was the influence of the Blood-Robed Sword God or Moli Da Zun, but no one had managed to capture an image of the Sword God during that time, leaving her without the chance to see her idol.

    She admired him greatly, and missing the chance to meet him was a huge disappointment.

    "Doesn''t it scare you that the Blood-Robed Sword God, who has killed so many, might accidentally kill you?" Li Yaxian teased her granddaughter after reclaiming her husband''s inheritance, clearly in a good mood.

    "The Blood-Robed Sword God doesn''t kill indiscriminately. He only kills those who deserve it!" the young woman defended him like a true fan.

    "You..." Li Yaxian chuckled affectionately. "Qi Yuan¡¯s looks might even rival those of the Blood-Robed Sword God."

    "My admiration for the Blood-Robed Sword God has nothing to do with looks. Of course, if he were as handsome as Qi Yuan, or even half as handsome, he''d be my dream partner!" the young woman said, daydreaming.

    "Stop daydreaming. Let''s go meet Qi Yuan and take him to the Seeking Dao Palace," Li Yaxian said.

    She had promised to help introduce Qi Yuan to the Seeking Dao Palace. Now that he was almost here, it was time to go meet him.

    "Sigh, if only Qi Yuan were a bit stronger. I wouldn''t mind him being my grandfather," the young woman joked. "Having such a handsome grandfather wouldn¡¯t be so bad."

    Li Yaxian gave her granddaughter a sideways glance.

    The two left the Seeking Dao Palace and headed toward the meeting place they had arranged with Qi Yuan.

    The streets were bustling, filled with cultivators who moved through the city like ordinary people. In Qinghong City, there were almost no ordinary people, mostly cultivators at the Qi Refining stage. Occasionally, you could even see Nascent Soul true cultivators.

    Qi Yuan stood amidst the crowd, absorbing newly acquired techniques.

    He was constantly collecting techniques to use in creating his Qi Yuan Sutra. While he might not think highly of every technique, each one offered some insights.

    To put it simply, the world¡¯s rules might be 100, scattered across all techniques.

    Qi Yuan was collecting those 100 rules to use in his ongoing creation of the Qi Yuan Sutra. Whenever he had free time, he would absorb these techniques, aiming to fully understand the world¡¯s rules in the Canglan Realm.

    "Qi Yuan, you''re here," the young woman in the yellow dress called out, waving as she spotted him from afar.

    Pavilions and palaces were hidden among the clouds and mist, seeming almost otherworldly.

    Having frequently visited the Seeking Dao Palace in recent days, Li Yaxian was familiar with the place, and she was considered half a member of the palace herself.

    So, with Li Yaxian leading the way, no one stopped Qi Yuan from entering.

    Soon, Qi Yuan found himself standing in front of a palace after crossing corridors, suspension bridges, and solitary peaks.

    "This time, we¡¯re meeting an elder named Fu Lv, a Great Cultivator of the Perfected Purple Mansion stage. He has the authority to make decisions about external affairs for the Seeking Dao Palace," Li Yaxian explained.

    Qi Yuan nodded. "Thank you."

    The young woman in the yellow dress stuck out her tongue and whispered, "The people of the Seeking Dao Palace tend to be arrogant. We might have to wait a while."

    "That¡¯s fine, I¡¯m not in a rush," Qi Yuan replied as he surveyed the surroundings, seemingly deep in thought. Suddenly, he asked, "Do you think I¡¯m too by-the-book?"

    Today, seeing the beggar die in front of him had made Qi Yuan reflect on many things.

    There were too many people in this world who didn¡¯t play by the rules.

    Someone had sent him a letter and then killed the messenger.

    This infuriated Qi Yuan.

    To deal with rule-breakers, Qi Yuan believed he should abandon his adherence to rules.

    Otherwise, he would be hampered by them.

    "Following the rules is good for surviving longer when you''re not yet powerful enough," Li Yaxian replied, not understanding why Qi Yuan was asking this but still sharing her thoughts.

    Qi Yuan considered her words.

    "You make a good point. Rules are set by the strong to control the weak. And now... Am I not strong?"

    Then...

    Qi Yuan suddenly realized he had been too kind, too bound by rules.

    If he didn¡¯t follow the rules, would anyone dare to commit murder in front of him so brazenly, showing no respect for the law?

    Certainly not.

    If he made the rules, everyone would follow them.

    "It seems I haven¡¯t killed enough people yet," Qi Yuan muttered. "No one seems to fear me, and that¡¯s not a good thing."

    Qi Yuan realized he had the potential to be a villainous overlord.

    Since that was the case, why follow the rules?

    Why go through the proper channels when he could just go straight to Wu Jun Da Zun?

    Qi Yuan''s thoughts cleared up at that moment.

    Then, a mocking voice interrupted.

    "Fu Lv Elder is busy today, so you won''t be seeing him."

    A chubby middle-aged man appeared, his body disproportionately large compared to his small head.

    His eyes were filled with greed as he looked at Li Yaxian¡¯s figure before shifting to Qi Yuan with even more intensity.

    Li Yaxian¡¯s expression changed when she saw the man.

    She had been worried about encountering him today and had taken a detour to avoid him.

    But it seemed her efforts had been in vain.

    This chubby cultivator was none other than Yang Kang, who had been causing her trouble.

    Now, hearing him speak, Li Yaxian immediately realized he was deliberately causing problems, preventing them from seeing Fu Lv.

    She was furious but didn¡¯t dare to show it.

    The young woman in the yellow dress was boiling with anger, glaring fiercely at Yang Kang.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze deepened as he looked at Yang Kang and asked, "Did you intentionally interfere so that we couldn¡¯t see Fu Lv today?"

    Yang Kang was momentarily taken aback before chuckling. "You''re too blunt. I didn¡¯t interfere with anything; don¡¯t accuse an innocent man. However, if you''re willing to pay a certain price, I could arrange for Elder Fu Lv to see you today."

    As he spoke, his eyes glowed with greed.

    "Yes, I¡¯m not falsely accusing you. I¡¯m just going to cut off your head."

    Qi Yuan''s voice was calm.

    The statement was so abrupt that everyone was momentarily stunned.

    "What?" Yang Kang froze, sensing a heavy threat.

    A flash of sword light, and before he could react, Yang Kang¡¯s head was severed from his body.

    It happened so fast, so shockingly, that Li Yaxian didn¡¯t even have time to react. She could only stare blankly at Qi Yuan as he spoke to the corpse.

    "Your head was too big for your shoulders, so I helped lighten your load."

    "Is this price enough?"

    But Yang Kang was already dead, unable to answer Qi Yuan''s question.

 Chapter 258: Grand Duke of Metal Virtue, Tai Bai Tai Hao Star Lord

    Chapter 258: Grand Duke of Metal Virtue, Tai Bai Tai Hao Star Lord

    Li Yaxian was deeply shaken.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s instant killing of Yang Kang had taken her completely by surprise.

    She had never expected that Qi Yuan¡¯s strength could be this formidable. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be a Nascent Soul cultivator?

    Could it be that he had been hiding his true strength?

    But at this moment, none of that mattered.

    What mattered was that Qi Yuan had killed someone!

    In the Seeking Dao Palace, he had killed one of their stewards!

    This was a monumental event!

    Even a Yin God wouldn¡¯t dare to kill so casually in the Seeking Dao Palace.

    Li Yaxian¡¯s mind was in turmoil, filled with worry and fear.

    The young woman in the yellow dress was equally stunned; the scene before her had far exceeded her expectations.

    ¡°Let¡¯s run!¡± Li Yaxian¡¯s mind was filled with only one thought¡ªescape.

    Even though she knew that escaping might be impossible.

    But just as she had this thought, powerful auras began to emanate from all around them.

    ¡°Who dares to cause trouble in the Seeking Dao Palace!¡±

    ¡°Bold fiend! To kill someone in our Seeking Dao Palace is to court death!¡±

    In an instant, more than ten powerful auras surged toward them, surrounding Qi Yuan, Li Yaxian, and the others.

    Each of these individuals was a Purple Mansion cultivator, their auras overwhelmingly terrifying.

    Surrounded by more than ten Purple Mansion cultivators, Li Yaxian¡¯s face turned deathly pale. She had never been this close to death before.

    The young woman in the yellow dress clenched her teeth, her face as white as a sheet.

    But Qi Yuan remained calm, speaking nonchalantly, ¡°I am a seeker of the Dao, having come here with devotion to challenge the Daoists of the Seeking Dao Palace. If I win, I ask that each of you grants me your cultivation techniques. If I lose, I will grant you all the opportunity to become gods.¡±

    ???

    The Purple Mansion cultivators were taken aback, struggling to process his words.

    Li Yaxian and the young woman in the yellow dress were also stunned¡ªQi Yuan¡¯s thought process was moving so quickly that they couldn¡¯t keep up.

    ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject! How do you explain killing Daoist Yang Kang?¡± an elderly cultivator demanded, glaring at Qi Yuan.

    As time passed, more and more Purple Mansion cultivators gathered around, some watching from a distance.

    ¡°I came to see Elder Fu Lu, but this man asked me to sleep with him, so I killed him on the spot,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    He remained utterly unflustered, even when faced with so many powerful cultivators.

    This left Li Yaxian feeling both admiration and helplessness toward him.

    "Those are just your words!"

    "Even if he insulted you, you should have let us judge him. What right did you have to kill him?"

    "When you come to the Seeking Dao Palace, you must follow our rules!"

    The Purple Mansion cultivators were furious.

    After all, killing a steward within the Seeking Dao Palace was a direct affront to them.

    "I¡¯m not part of the Seeking Dao Palace. Why should I follow your rules?" Qi Yuan replied with a natural, matter-of-fact tone.

    His words immediately sparked even greater anger among the Purple Mansion cultivators.

    How could this man be so arrogant?

    Did he not realize where he was? This was the Seeking Dao Palace!

    How could he be so brazenly fearless?

    But at that moment, a distant, ethereal voice echoed in everyone¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Blood-Robed Sword God, as a Great Sovereign, why bother toying with these juniors?¡±

    A figure clad in blood-red armor, tall and imposing, stepped forward.

    His entire body was shrouded in this blood armor, exuding an aura of immense power.

    Though he stood close, he seemed at once both near and far.

    Seeing this figure, all the Purple Mansion cultivators present were visibly shaken.

    The newcomer was none other than the true power behind the Seeking Dao Palace.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun!

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun was a reclusive figure, rarely seen even by the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Seeking Dao Palace, with only a fraction of them having ever met him.

    Today, he had appeared in person.

    And what he said...

    Blood-Robed Sword God...

    Could it be...

    All the Purple Mansion cultivators were astounded.

    The person they had surrounded and intended to subdue was none other than the Blood-Robed Sword God!

    They had nearly attacked a Great Sovereign!

    Li Yaxian was stunned, looking at Qi Yuan in disbelief.

    The young woman in the yellow dress covered her mouth, her eyes wide as she stared at Qi Yuan.

    She could hardly believe it¡ªthe man standing before her was actually her idol, the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    Qi Yuan met Great Sovereign Wu Jun¡¯s gaze, his expression calm. "I wasn¡¯t toying with them. They are all Purple Mansion cultivators, much older than me. They are my seniors. I came to the Seeking Dao Palace to challenge these senior Daoists. I meant what I said earlier. If they lose, they will give me their cultivation techniques. If they win, I will grant them the chance to become gods."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words left the gathered Purple Mansion cultivators staring at each other in shock.

    Who were they to be challenged by a Great Sovereign who had traveled all this way?

    A Great Sovereign!

    Even if all the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Seeking Dao Palace were to band together, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against an Yin God Sovereign.

    And in the entire Canglan Realm, no combination of Yin God Sovereigns could stand against a Great Sovereign.

    A Great Sovereign challenging them... Should they feel honored, or was this just too absurd?

    As for Yang Kang''s death, no one was concerned about that anymore.

    If someone had died at the hands of an Yin God Sovereign, that Sovereign might have to offer an apology, given the power of Great Sovereign Wu Jun.

    With a wave of his hand, a divine force enveloped Qi Yuan.

    In an instant, both Qi Yuan and Great Sovereign Wu Jun vanished, entering a virtual realm.

    In the Canglan Realm, any battle involving Yin Gods would automatically be transferred to the virtual realm.

    Back at the Seeking Dao Palace, the Purple Mansion cultivators breathed a sigh of relief as Qi Yuan left.

    "The Blood-Robed Sword God is audacious to challenge Great Sovereign Wu Jun!"

    "Where does he get his confidence?"

    "In the Moon Watching Continent, the Blood-Robed Sword God may be powerful, but in the Canglan Realm, he¡¯s nothing!"

    Creatures that devour a world¡¯s Heavenly Dao gain power within that world, but when they travel to other worlds, they are suppressed by that world¡¯s Heavenly Dao, unable to exert their full strength.

    They can only exert the strength of a weak Great Sovereign¡ªthis is common knowledge.

    Information about the Blood-Robed Sword God and his connection to the Moon Watching Continent had initially been kept secret, but eventually, the truth had leaked out.

    The Purple Mansion cultivators of the Seeking Dao Palace were generally aware of the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s background.

    Not far away, the young woman in the yellow dress blinked. "Grandmother, is he really the Blood-Robed Sword God?"

    Li Yaxian took a deep breath at her granddaughter''s question. "He must be."

    She couldn¡¯t believe that the lazy man who had sunbathed with her on the flying ship, complaining about being poor, was actually a Great Sovereign.

    The young woman in the yellow dress felt even more conflicted.

    She had actually tried to play matchmaker between the Blood-Robed Sword God and her grandmother!

    And she had even thought that the Blood-Robed Sword God wasn¡¯t good enough for her grandmother.

    Luckily, she hadn¡¯t said anything about it; otherwise, if the Blood-Robed Sword God found out...

    "Do you think the Blood-Robed Sword God will win?" the young woman in the yellow dress asked Li Yaxian.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God was her idol, and she even knew him personally. On their journey, she had often joked around with him and occasionally made fun of him. Now that she thought about it, it felt like a dream.

    So, she hoped that the Blood-Robed Sword God would win.

    "It''s going to be difficult," Li Yaxian replied.

    At this moment, in the virtual realm, there was nothing but empty space.

    Qi Yuan and Great Sovereign Wu Jun hovered in the air, facing each other.

    The battle had been arranged hastily, so there were no spectators.

    Even if other Yin Gods knew about the battle, they wouldn¡¯t know where it was taking place.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun looked at Qi Yuan, his body radiating a terrifying aura.

    Upon entering the virtual realm, he no longer restrained his power.

    A terrifying aura swept through the space, as if it could tear it apart.

    He looked at Qi Yuan, his fighting spirit soaring. "Let me see where your confidence comes from!"

    He couldn¡¯t understand why the Blood-Robed Sword God dared to challenge him!

    The gap between Yin Gods and Great Sovereigns is vast.

    Clearly, the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s battle record involved killing a few Yin God Sovereigns.

    In the Canglan Realm, where he was suppressed by the Heaven''s Way, his strength was more than enough to overwhelm an Yin God Sovereign, but against a Great Sovereign, he was just asking for death.

    "When I became a Golden Core cultivator, I dared to challenge Yin Gods.

    Now, having formed my Nascent Soul, why shouldn¡¯t I dare to challenge a Great Sovereign?"

    "Madness! Playing tricks!" Great Sovereign Wu Jun shouted.

    With his shout, a powerful divine domain was unleashed.

    Battles between Great Sovereigns are simple: it¡¯s all about the collision of divine domains.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun unleashed his divine domain, clearly intending to end the fight quickly.

    "My divine domain is called ''Breaking Gold!''"

    In Great Sovereign Wu Jun''s divine domain, the strongest power was that of metal, representing the ultimate offense.

    As the divine domain unfolded, Qi Yuan saw endless metal energy forming countless swords, spears, and artifacts, all attacking him.

    Faced with this assault, Qi Yuan chuckled softly, "Your divine domain... is still too small."

    The divine domain before him seemed tiny to Qi Yuan, with not much metal energy present.

    "Hmph!" Great Sovereign Wu Jun snorted coldly.

    His divine domain was not small, and its energy level was high, ranking him among the stronger Great Sovereigns.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun said coldly, "Let me see how large your divine domain is!"

    The metal energy surged forward like a storm of blades.

    Qi Yuan remained calm, his voice solemn.

    "Radiant and mighty, the Nascent Soul emerges from the divine treasury, heed my command, brilliance of Metal Virtue!"

    Qi Yuan chanted softly.

    With his voice, a Nascent Soul appeared, radiating an ancient, vast aura.

    The space seemed to freeze at that moment.

    An old, ethereal voice echoed as if it had traversed the river of time.

    ¡°Grand Duke of Metal Virtue, Tai Bai Tai Hao Star Lord, at your command!¡±

    As the voice resonated, Great Sovereign Wu Jun''s expression turned to shock.

    What had he just seen?

    His lips trembled involuntarily, his body shook uncontrollably, and his once-proud divine domain wavered, on the brink of collapse.

    It was clearly a Nascent Soul, yet he saw it as if a divine domain as vast as a star had unfolded before him.

    That star seemed even larger than the Canglan Realm.

    A divine domain, bigger than the Canglan Realm itself!

    Was this even a divine domain?

    How could there be such a divine domain!

    He trembled, his body quivering, utterly bewildered.

    The infinite metal energy, so pure and potent, seemed as though even a wisp could shatter his divine domain.

    How could he possibly fight against this?

 Chapter 259: Shameless!

    Chapter 259: Shameless!

    In the Phoenix Palace, Great Sovereign Jasmine lay lazily on her bed, a playful smile flickering across her brows.

    ¡°So soon, the two of them are already facing off. They are quite eager,¡± she whispered, her breath fragrant.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine had anticipated this clash between the Blood-Robed Sword God and Great Sovereign Wu Jun in her plan.

    What surprised her was how quickly it happened.

    In the ancient mirror before her, a man in a dark cyan robe stood with his back to Great Sovereign Jasmine, speaking in a low voice.

    ¡°Who do you think will win this battle?¡±

    ¡°Is there even a need to think? Of course, it will be Great Sovereign Wu Jun,¡± Great Sovereign Jasmine replied, gracefully brushing her hair aside.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun was a peak-level Fourth Step cultivator.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God, in the Canglan Realm, could at most reach the Fourth Step and was no match for Great Sovereign Wu Jun.

    ¡°I disagree with you,¡± the voice from the ancient mirror said in a low tone.

    ¡°What? Do you think the Blood-Robed Sword God could actually win?¡± Great Sovereign Jasmine laughed. ¡°If he does win, I might actually fall for him. What¡¯s the harm in spending a day as a pair of desperate lovers with him?¡±

    The figure in the ancient mirror seemed not to hear her teasing words and continued, ¡°He¡¯s the one challenging Great Sovereign Wu Jun. I¡¯ve always believed that whoever issues the challenge is confident of victory.¡±

    In his view, the Blood-Robed Sword God wouldn¡¯t challenge Great Sovereign Wu Jun unless he was confident in his success.

    After all, at their level, who would take on a challenge without certainty?

    This was the same reason why, despite many powerful figures secretly coveting the Mythical Treasure that Great Sovereign Jasmine had guarded for so many years, none dared to openly snatch it.

    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t met the Blood-Robed Sword God, I might have believed you. But he is... someone who defies common sense,¡± Great Sovereign Jasmine recalled her encounter with the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    When most Great Sovereigns meet, their conversations are polite and respectful, like the flow of water over a high mountain.Updated chapters at novelhall.com

    But not with him. He would frequently say things like, ¡°If you love me so much, why not give me the Mythical Treasure?¡±

    He spoke without leaving himself any room to retreat.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s wait and see,¡± the figure in the ancient mirror said before falling silent again.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine rose from her bed, her colorful robes draping perfectly over her curvaceous body. Her exposed calves were covered in stockings as thin as cicada wings, and underneath, there seemed to be tattoo-like kiss marks.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to the Seeking Dao Palace to see the show.¡±

    At this moment, across all of Feng Tianyu, any Yin Gods near the Seeking Dao Palace were rushing there.

    They regretted missing the initial showdown, but they needed to be on-site to witness the result firsthand.

    A battle between Great Sovereigns could easily result in life or death with the slightest mistake.

    Naturally, they wanted to witness such a rare event¡ªa life-and-death duel between Great Sovereigns, something not seen for millennia.

    It didn¡¯t take long for terrifying auras to arrive at the Seeking Dao Palace.

    A total of six Yin Gods descended.

    These Yin Gods were led by Great Sovereign Jasmine and the Seven Wounds Elder.

    The arrival of six Yin Gods caused the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Seeking Dao Palace to tremble with fear. They had never seen so many Yin Gods at once in their lives.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pity this divine battle happened so suddenly. We missed the chance to witness it,¡± said the Seven Wounds Elder, a Great Sovereign from the Demon Beast Domain. His true form was a demonic beast, though no one knew which kind.

    He now resided in Feng Tianyu.

    Standing beside Great Sovereign Jasmine, he chuckled amiably.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s gaze was enchanting. ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ll have the chance to meet that interesting man again.¡±

    She was referring to the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    When Great Sovereigns clash, there is a high chance that a Yin God could perish.

    Li Yaxian and her granddaughter stood nearby, looking anxious. The events of today had been too outrageous and surreal. They still felt as if they were in a dream.

    Hearing Great Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s words, their faces turned pale.

    If the Blood-Robed Sword God were to fall, what would they do?

    Their hearts were in turmoil, but none of the cultivators present paid any attention to them.

    Meanwhile, in the virtual realm...

    A vast divine domain, as large as a star, filled with pure and pristine metal energy, spread out.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes remained calm as he looked at Great Sovereign Wu Jun. ¡°Now you see... how small your divine domain is, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun swallowed hard.

    After the terrifying figure unleashed his divine domain, his own divine domain had collapsed almost instantly.

    Although both were of the metal element, the gap between him and the terrifying figure before him was immense.

    How could there be such a divine domain in the world?

    ¡°What is this?¡± Great Sovereign Wu Jun was no longer calm. His previous pride and fighting spirit were shattered with the appearance of the Grand Duke of Metal Virtue, Tai Bai Tai Hao Star Lord.

    ¡°Are you blind?¡± Qi Yuan scoffed, glancing at Great Sovereign Wu Jun. ¡°This is my Nascent Soul. Can''t you tell?¡±

    Qi Yuan spoke truthfully, even with a hint of pride.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun was speechless.

    At first, the Blood-Robed Sword God did summon his Nascent Soul.

    But then the Nascent Soul said, ¡°At your command,¡± and transformed into a majestic... mythical figure.

    ¡°You must love me even more now, right? Shouldn¡¯t you take this opportunity to confess to me? If you give me the Mythical Treasure as a gift, I might reluctantly agree to be your boyfriend for a day.¡±

    Hearing this, the Yin Gods couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God was indeed as rumored¡ªa character.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s smile froze. She forced an awkward smile. ¡°You¡¯re a bit... too forward. You¡¯re making me blush.¡±

    ¡°A quality man like me would be in high demand in the matchmaking market. If you don¡¯t act quickly, you won¡¯t have another chance to be this close to me,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    For now, he still found Great Sovereign Jasmine appealing.

    But who knows? After playing a few more games, he might become someone even Great Sovereign Jasmine couldn¡¯t reach.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine smiled charmingly but didn¡¯t give a direct answer.

    Qi Yuan shrugged, losing interest in pursuing the matter further. Suddenly, he turned his gaze to the Purple Mansion cultivators who had surrounded him earlier.

    He addressed Great Sovereign Wu Jun with a commanding tone, ¡°I defeated you in our challenge, and now it¡¯s time for me to challenge these old monsters, right?¡±

    He looked at the Purple Mansion cultivators, his fighting spirit blazing.

    A month ago, these old fellows would have been the precious moons in his heart.

    But times had changed. Now, these old fellows were past their prime and far less attractive.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words left the Yin Gods puzzled.

    The Purple Mansion cultivators exchanged uneasy glances.

    Was he serious?

    After defeating a Great Sovereign, he was going to challenge the Purple Mansion cultivators?

    But unfortunately, the Purple Mansion cultivators trembled in fear. They didn¡¯t dare speak against Qi Yuan.

    This Blood-Robed Sword God bullied them because they were old and weak!

    The Blood-Robed Sword God had killed countless people. If they spoke and displeased him, and he killed them with a single sword strike, no one would avenge them.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun was also frustrated, unable to understand Qi Yuan¡¯s line of thinking.

    He said solemnly, ¡°On behalf of the Seeking Dao Palace¡¯s Purple Mansion cultivators... I concede.¡±

    ¡°Great Sovereign Wu Jun, how can you speak on behalf of the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Seeking Dao Palace?

    They haven¡¯t even expressed their opinions yet, and you¡¯re already speaking for them.

    What if they don¡¯t want to concede and wish to fight me honorably?¡± Qi Yuan looked at the Purple Mansion cultivators with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Is there anyone among you who dares to accept my challenge?¡±

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun was left speechless.

    Among the Purple Mansion cultivators, the sloppy Taoist suddenly stepped forward, his voice trembling with respect.

    ¡°Blood-Robed Sword God, this junior concedes and is willing to present my techniques to the senior!¡±

    Seeing this, the other Purple Mansion cultivators quickly followed suit.

    ¡°We all concede and are willing to present our techniques to the senior!¡±

    Dozens of Purple Mansion cultivators conceded simultaneously, their expressions extremely respectful.

    Accepting the challenge was out of the question¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t dare, not even with a thousand lives.

    At this point, conceding and offering their techniques was all they could do.

    Qi Yuan grinned widely, looking at Great Sovereign Wu Jun, ¡°See? This is the power of public opinion. They are captivated by my charismatic personality and willingly concede.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

    ¡°Those who gain the Dao have much support; those who lose the Dao have little support. So this is what that means.¡±

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun didn¡¯t dare to respond. He feared saying, ¡°They were forced.¡±

    ¡°I accept your concessions and your techniques. There¡¯s no need to be so enthusiastic; it¡¯s embarrassing,¡± Qi Yuan said as he accepted the techniques, feeling quite pleased.

    If only the old folks at the Bright Palace were as sensible.

    If they had been sensible and handed over their techniques, they wouldn¡¯t have ended up without even their bones remaining.

    However, thinking of something, Qi Yuan continued, ¡°As for the remaining Purple Mansion cultivators, when will they return to the Seeking Dao Palace? I plan to challenge them one by one.¡±

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun replied expressionlessly, ¡°All the Purple Mansion cultivators will return today.¡±

    This time, he was smart enough not to suggest that they concede.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Qi Yuan nodded, ¡°Since I¡¯ve now defeated everyone in the Seeking Dao Palace, as agreed, you should assist me with my other matters.¡±

    According to their previous agreement, if Qi Yuan defeated Great Sovereign Wu Jun and all the Purple Mansion cultivators, the Seeking Dao Palace would give him all their techniques and assist his Original God Sharing Society.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun hesitated for a moment before saying solemnly, ¡°A bet is a bet. From now on, the Seeking Dao Palace will follow the senior¡¯s commands!¡±

    Hearing this, the Yin Gods¡¯ expressions changed slightly.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine and the Seven Wounds Elder also looked intrigued.

    If Great Sovereign Wu Jun losing to the Blood-Robed Sword God was unexpected but within their tolerance, his current attitude was akin to swearing allegiance.

    This indicated that Great Sovereign Wu Jun hadn¡¯t just lost; he had lost utterly and completely. Otherwise, why would he say ¡°follow your commands¡±?

    In their minds, their assessment of the Blood-Robed Sword God rose yet another level.

    At this moment, having just barely subdued the Seeking Dao Palace, Qi Yuan turned his gaze to the six Yin Gods present.

    He said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s convenient that most of the Yin Gods from Feng Tianyu are here today. I have something important to tell you.

    Since you¡¯re all here, I¡¯ll inform you now.

    I¡¯ve established an Original God Sharing Society, um... to prepare for the great calamity. I hope you will support it in some way.¡±

 Chapter 260: Hmph, Scheming, Stingy Woman

    Chapter 260: Hmph, Scheming, Stingy Woman

    ¡°Preparing for the great calamity?¡±

    Upon hearing this, the Yin Gods present all wore grave expressions.

    The great calamity was like a sharp sword hanging over the head of every Yin God.

    When that sword fell, not a single Yin God believed they could escape unscathed.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun¡¯s face tightened as he looked at Qi Yuan. ¡°Please, Senior, explain in detail!¡±

    If it had been the Blood-Robed Sword God speaking of this in the past, he would have dismissed it outright.

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s displayed strength was undoubtedly at the mythical level.

    And not just any mythical level¡ªhe stood at the pinnacle of the Canglan Realm, making him qualified to speak about the great calamity.

    ¡°In fact, the cultivation techniques we practice are poisonous...¡± Qi Yuan began, explaining to the Yin Gods present about the toxicity of their cultivation techniques and the original intent behind establishing the Original God Sharing Society.

    After hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words, the Yin Gods looked at each other, their expressions varied, but none responded.

    Having witnessed the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s strength, Great Sovereign Wu Jun believed Qi Yuan¡¯s words somewhat. His face changed slightly, ¡°There¡¯s such a thing?¡±

    ¡°Are none of you going to voice your opinions?¡± Qi Yuan asked the six Yin Gods.

    ¡°This is a serious matter, and I need to go back and verify it first,¡± one Yin God replied, ¡°Once verified, I will surely give you an answer, Senior!¡±

    It was clear he didn¡¯t believe Qi Yuan¡¯s words and was unwilling to hand over any cultivation techniques.

    Going back to verify was just an excuse. How long would such a verification take¡ªten thousand years?

    The other Yin Gods mostly expressed similar sentiments.

    Qi Yuan turned to Great Sovereign Jasmine, looking expectant, and said, ¡°You love me so much; why not take out the Mythical Treasure to support my start-up? When I succeed, I surely won¡¯t treat you unfairly!¡±

    Qi Yuan was painting a rosy picture for Great Sovereign Jasmine.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine smiled tactfully. ¡°This matter is of great importance; I can¡¯t decide alone. I¡¯ll consult with others and then give you an answer.¡±

    Qi Yuan was quite disappointed, ¡°It seems you don¡¯t love me enough after all.¡±

    This Great Sovereign Jasmine, always claiming to love him, yet wouldn¡¯t even lift a finger.

    Hmph, a scheming and stingy woman!

    At this moment, the Seven Wounds Elder squinted and spoke softly, ¡°This old man is quite interested in the Original God Sharing Society and is willing to donate some cultivation techniques.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°You¡¯ve got a keen eye. Follow me, and you won¡¯t lose out!¡±

    The Seven Wounds Elder chuckled, ¡°In a few days, I will have someone send the techniques to the Seeking Dao Palace.¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡± Qi Yuan was in a good mood.

    Now, the Original God Sharing Society finally had a member.

    ¡°In a while, I will create a jade slip for our Original God Sharing Society, which will contain some of the techniques I upload.

    The techniques you give me will be converted into points, which you can then use to exchange for useful techniques on the slip,¡± Qi Yuan enthusiastically explained to his new member.

    The task of creating these jade slips was naturally given to the Seeking Dao Palace.

    The wealth of one Great Sovereign like Feng Jun would surely not compare to that of the entire Seeking Dao Palace.

    ¡°Sounds good, sounds good,¡± the Seven Wounds Elder agreed amiably, seemingly not caring much about the techniques on the jade slip that Qi Yuan had mentioned.

    ¡°Seven Wounds Elder, if you have friends, could you also spread the word? I¡¯ll reward you with points,¡± Qi Yuan continued with his enthusiasm.

    It¡¯s always hard to get started.

    But then again, pyramid schemes on Blue Planet could expand greatly without any tangible products. The Original God Sharing Society, with the name of the Original God behind it, should be able to flourish in the Canglan Realm. If it couldn¡¯t, then... it would mean the Original God was incompetent.

    Afterward, Qi Yuan explained the point system to the Seven Wounds Elder.

    The techniques provided to Qi Yuan were divided into two types: one type could be made public and included in the society¡¯s jade slips for members to exchange, offering more points; the other type was for Qi Yuan¡¯s viewing only, also rewarded with more points.

    Everyone chatted happily, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

    ...

    About two quarters of an hour later, the Seven Wounds Elder and Great Sovereign Jasmine, along with the other Yin Gods, left the Seeking Dao Palace.

    The Seven Wounds Elder, wearing a hemp robe and hunched over, slowly transformed into a stream of light.

    At this moment, Great Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s figure appeared, causing the Seven Wounds Elder to stop.

    ¡°Seven Wounds Elder, do you believe the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s words?¡± Great Sovereign Jasmine asked curiously.

    The idea of poisonous cultivation techniques was too shocking.

    To be honest, Great Sovereign Jasmine had initially been skeptical.

    But recalling the person who mentioned the Dark Sun, she began to have her doubts.

    Could it really be true?

    However, even if it were true, Great Sovereign Jasmine wasn¡¯t willing to get involved in such a dangerous situation.

    If the Dark Sun had already made a move, Qi Yuan was surely doomed.

    Joining the Original God Sharing Society now might provoke retaliation from the Dark Sun.

    Of course, even knowing this, she wouldn¡¯t warn the other Yin Gods.

    She would rather see more of them die.

    ¡°Does it matter whether I believe it or not?¡± the Seven Wounds Elder replied nonchalantly, ¡°This old man doesn¡¯t have many years left to live. I might not survive the next great calamity, so giving away my techniques doesn¡¯t matter much.¡±

    ¡°Unexpectedly, you¡¯re so carefree. It¡¯s admirable,¡± Great Sovereign Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    The Seven Wounds Elder seemed to think of something and blurted out, ¡°Since you admire me so much, why not give me the Mythical Treasure? With the Mythical Treasure, maybe this old man could survive the great calamity!¡±

    Great Sovereign Jasmine was stunned upon hearing this.

    She didn¡¯t expect to hear such a familiar phrase again.

    This young Yin God was named Long Can, of noble descent, with a father who was also a Great Sovereign.

    ¡°Heavenly-grade top techniques?¡± The Seven Wounds Elder was surprised.

    The techniques he practiced were middle-grade heavenly.

    He had seen top-grade heavenly techniques but never possessed one.

    Hearing that the Blood-Robed Sword God had top-grade heavenly techniques and shared them, he was indeed surprised.

    ¡°Great Sovereign Jasmine, did you perhaps give the Mythical Treasure to the Blood-Robed Sword God?¡± the Seven Wounds Elder joked.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine smiled faintly, ¡°The Mythical Treasure is the foundation of my standing; why would I give it away?

    Who knows, maybe the Blood-Robed Sword God has a Mythical Treasure of his own; otherwise, why would Great Sovereign Wu Jun be so submissive?¡±

    The Seven Wounds Elder said nothing further and immersed his divine sense into the jade slip.

    He showed a complex expression. ¡°If only I had encountered these techniques when I was younger. It¡¯s a pity that these techniques are of no use to me now.¡±

    The techniques were excellent, but he couldn¡¯t use them.

    Top-grade heavenly techniques were already the limit in the Canglan Realm.

    A Yin God¡¯s path was set, and they couldn¡¯t easily switch techniques.

    That¡¯s why the Original God Sharing Society hadn¡¯t drawn much attention, except for some techniques to exchange for their subordinates.

    But for a Yin God, their concern was the great calamity; who cared about subordinates?

    Perhaps only a legendary divine technique could truly shake these Yin Gods.

    But... divine techniques didn¡¯t exist in the Canglan Realm.

    Divine techniques were just myths.

    For the Blood-Robed Sword God to offer top-grade heavenly techniques was already unexpected.

    He glanced at the techniques and simply sighed.

    Unlike the Yin Gods, the leaders of the medium-sized sects who received the jade slips were wide-eyed with excitement upon seeing the techniques inside.

    For those not yet at the Yin God level, switching techniques was quite common.

    Within the Seeking Dao Palace, everyone seemed to be having a good time.

    Even the Purple Mansion cultivators managed to force smiles on their faces.

    Hosting someone else¡¯s opening ceremony on their turf and acting as waiters¡ªthey felt bitter but had no choice but to comply.

    Just then, Qi Yuan stepped out, smiling brightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect so many people to come this time. It seems you all have high hopes for the future of our Original God Sharing Society.¡±

    With so many people here, if they all handed over their techniques, along with the ones Shen Wushen had brought from the Upper Realm, Qi Yuan felt he could complete the Nascent Soul section of his ¡°Qi Yuan Sutra.¡±

    Of course, the Foundation Establishment chapter would require as many techniques as possible.

    ¡°Greetings, Senior Blood-Robed Sword God!¡±

    ¡°The Original God Sharing Society gathering techniques is a blessing for the Canglan Realm!¡±

    The Yin Gods offered their compliments.

    The atmosphere was harmonious and congenial.

    After some pleasantries, Qi Yuan finally got to the point.

    ¡°The purpose of the Original God Sharing Society is clear to everyone here: it is to prepare for the great calamity.

    So, I need an endless supply of techniques, and I also need you all to contribute some techniques! The techniques from our Original God Sharing Society are also available for you to exchange!¡±

    Qi Yuan said seriously, his smile bright.

    ¡°I wish to contribute a hundred jade-grade techniques.¡±

    ¡°Three profound-grade techniques!¡±

    ¡°Seven profound-grade!¡±

    The Yin Gods voiced their support one after another.

    However, the highest-grade techniques they offered were profound-grade; no one offered a heavenly-grade.

    The Seven Wounds Elder¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°This old man wishes to contribute eight heavenly techniques, along with several other techniques.¡±

    Eight heavenly techniques had already emptied him out.

    Upon hearing the Seven Wounds Elder¡¯s words, the Yin Gods present had slight changes in their expressions.

    Still, they didn¡¯t change their stance, clearly not placing much hope in the Original God Sharing Society.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine smiled gently, ¡°The Feng Palace is lacking in techniques, so there are none to offer.

    Instead, I¡¯ve specially created a jade-grade technique to present to the Original God Sharing Society.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned and glanced at Great Sovereign Jasmine.

    For some reason, he recalled those on Blue Planet who criticized their boyfriends or girlfriends for giving cheap handmade gifts.

    At that moment, he also felt like criticizing Great Sovereign Jasmine.

    Hmph, a stingy woman!

    The other Yin Gods couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh but held back.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s action... what did it mean?

    Qi Yuan resisted looking at Great Sovereign Jasmine. He had high emotional intelligence, good emotional management, and never lost his temper in important situations.

    He looked towards the Yin God envoy from another domain of the Seeking Dao Palace, his face full of anticipation.

    In truth, he was most hopeful that the Yin Gods from other domains of the Seeking Dao Palace would understand his sincere intentions, unite together, and fight against the great calamity.

    At this moment, the Yin God envoy stood up, a hint of regret on his face, and said, ¡°Blood-Robed Sword God, the Four Generals of the Lei Clan under the Dark Sun are on their way. It¡¯s best... to end this ceremony.¡±

 Chapter 261: Yin Gods of High Quality

    Chapter 261: Yin Gods of High Quality

    As soon as the envoy from the Seeking Dao Palace spoke, all the Yin Gods present raised their eyebrows, a sense of foreboding flashing through their minds.

    ¡°Dark Sun? What is this about?¡± Great Sovereign Wu Jun immediately questioned.

    He had informed the headquarters of the Seeking Dao Palace several days earlier about the establishment of the Original God Sharing Society.

    Now, the envoy from the headquarters of the Seeking Dao Palace was telling him that Dark Sun was attacking.

    The envoy was also a Great Sovereign, like Great Sovereign Wu Jun himself, and was a palace master of one of the domains. Because he was near Feng Tianyu, he had come to attend this celebration.

    ¡°This news came from the headquarters,¡± the Great Sovereign envoy said with regret. ¡°The Four Generals of the Lei Clan are coming.¡±

    The Yin Gods present exchanged looks.

    Those ordinary Yin Gods had never heard of Dark Sun and had no idea what it was.

    However, they understood that Dark Sun had sent strong men to cause trouble for Qi Yuan.

    Things were getting complicated.

    ¡°Dark Sun sent someone to trouble me?¡± Qi Yuan was slightly surprised. ¡°What¡¯s the background of Dark Sun, and how many techniques do they have?¡±

    The last time he received a letter saying Dark Sun was coming.

    The person who warned him had no manners, and Qi Yuan still remembered that.Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com

    Today, he finally heard about Dark Sun again.

    The headquarters envoy¡¯s eyes shifted back and forth before he finally said, ¡°Dark Sun... is an unspeakable force in the Canglan Realm.¡±

    At this moment, the Seven Wounds Elder spoke, his voice heavy with complexity: ¡°The Great Sovereign of Red Flames from the Demon Beast Domain died at the hands of the Four Generals of the Lei Clan.¡±

    ¡°What? The Great Sovereign of Red Flames was killed by the Four Generals of the Lei Clan!¡±

    ¡°The Four Generals of the Lei Clan, could they be mythical beings?¡±

    The faces of the Yin Gods present were filled with shock and fear.

    After the fall of the Myth of the Great Phoenix, the three domains were led by the Great Sovereign of Red Flames.

    The Great Sovereign of Red Flames had suppressed the three domains for hundreds of thousands of years, and all the other Great Sovereigns dared not defy him.

    Even Great Sovereign Jasmine had bowed her head to the Great Sovereign of Red Flames, intending to present the Mythical Treasure.

    The Great Sovereign of Red Flames was a powerhouse at the pinnacle of the Six Steps to Heaven.

    But one day, blood stained the long rainbow, and the Great Sovereign of Red Flames suddenly fell in the Void Realm.

    The three domains were shaken.

    All the Yin Gods shivered, feeling on edge, without knowing what had happened.

    The fall of the Great Sovereign of Red Flames had become an unsolved mystery in the three domains.

    Now, after a hundred thousand years, they were hearing about the Great Sovereign of Red Flames again.

    The Great Sovereign of Red Flames was killed by the Four Generals of the Lei Clan?

    This Dark Sun... was terrifying!

    Now, Dark Sun had sent the Four Generals of the Lei Clan to deal with the Blood-Robed Sword God! This was unimaginable! Even the Great Sovereign of Red Flames had fallen to the Four Generals of the Lei Clan; how could the Blood-Robed Sword God handle them?

    ¡°Is there some kind of misunderstanding? How did Senior Blood-Robed Sword God offend Dark Sun?¡± Great Sovereign Wu Jun asked in confusion.

    There might be some hidden story behind Dark Sun¡¯s hunting of the Great Sovereign of Red Flames.

    And obviously, the Blood-Robed Sword God didn¡¯t know anything about Dark Sun, so how could he have provoked them?

    ¡°No matter how powerful Dark Sun is, they can¡¯t just execute a god for no reason!¡± A Yin God spoke.

    ¡°The Canglan Realm has its rules, and even in the world of cultivators, everything must be reasoned out!¡± Another Yin God also spoke up for Qi Yuan in a subtle way.

    After all, there were rules in the world of cultivation, and he was speaking up for himself too.

    If a powerful force could arbitrarily kill a Great Sovereign, it would mean they could casually kill anyone else, too.

    Even if they couldn¡¯t stop it, they needed to speak out and uphold order.

    The other Yin Gods nodded, clearly agreeing with this sentiment.

    In the Canglan Realm, even major forces had to save face. If they wanted to kill, they needed a legitimate reason; they couldn¡¯t just kill without cause.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine squinted, her expression calm, without saying a word.

    At this moment, the Seven Wounds Elder suddenly spoke, his voice raspy: ¡°After some investigation, this old man found that Dark Sun... might be related to the great calamity.¡±

    His voice, though hoarse, reached everyone¡¯s ears.

    The Yin Gods present were shocked upon hearing this, their hearts pounding.

    Those who had initially planned to speak up for the Blood-Robed Sword God found themselves unable to say anything.

    ¡°The great calamity...¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s related to the great calamity...¡±

    The Yin Gods looked as if they were mourning, their faces filled with fear.

    In the Canglan Realm, the greatest taboo, which all Yin Gods could not resist, was the great calamity.

    If Dark Sun was related to the great calamity, everything made sense.

    Dark Sun... was a minion of the great calamity.

    If they had been facing the orthodox sects, these Yin Gods would still have dared to speak up for the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    But... they were facing the minions of the great calamity!

    How could they speak up!

    Or rather... they dared not speak up.

    All the Yin Gods remained silent. Some already had anxious looks on their faces, desperately wanting to distance themselves from the Blood-Robed Sword God and leave quickly.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°Dark Sun is a minion of the great calamity?¡±

    The Seven Wounds Elder nodded.

    ¡°So, when I exposed the toxicity of the cultivation techniques on the Mythic Flower Association forum, I was discovered by Dark Sun, leading the head of the Mythic Flower Association to silence me and then... send people to kill me?¡±

    In an instant, Qi Yuan connected all the dots.

    His eyes lit up as he looked at the Yin Gods present.

    ¡°Me too!¡±

    ¡°Old man too!¡±

    They all began uploading their own techniques to the Original God Sharing Society.

    Compared to death, what were mere techniques?

    In just a short while, Qi Yuan noticed through his jade slip that there were twenty new techniques.

    He looked at one of the Yin Gods and showed a look of appreciation. ¡°You¡¯re quite good. You uploaded three heavenly-grade techniques.¡±

    The Yin God who was praised gave a humble smile.

    The other Yin Gods, upon hearing this, began to feel anxious.

    Was the Blood-Robed Sword God subtly rebuking them for only uploading one heavenly-grade technique? Otherwise, why would he specifically praise?

    There must be a deeper meaning behind this.

    After thinking it through, the Yin Gods quickly said, ¡°I have more techniques and am willing to donate them to the Sharing Society.¡±

    Immediately, these Yin Gods rushed to offer all their techniques.

    They feared that if they offered too few, the Blood-Robed Sword God might make an example of them and kill them with a single strike.

    Before, the Blood-Robed Sword God might have been somewhat apprehensive.

    But now, with Dark Sun¡¯s people arriving, the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s only option for survival was to run.

    Before fleeing, harvesting their techniques wouldn¡¯t be too much, right? Even if they felt pain in their hearts, they still handed over all their techniques.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan¡¯s main jade slip received a large influx of new techniques.

    This made Qi Yuan beam with joy.

    ¡°Is this what charisma is?¡±

    Qi Yuan felt his charisma had grown.

    Not only had he charmed Great Sovereign Jasmine, but he had also enchanted these Yin Gods into offering their techniques to him.

    The Yin Gods hurriedly uploaded their techniques.

    At this point, Qi Yuan turned his gaze to Great Sovereign Jasmine, his eyes full of anticipation. ¡°These people, who have only met me in passing, are supporting my startup.

    You love me so much; why not donate the Mythical Treasure to support my startup?¡±

    Great Sovereign Jasmine narrowed her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t decide the fate of the Mythical Treasure.

    This time, I will donate three heavenly-grade techniques.¡±

    Great Sovereign Jasmine also felt that offending the Blood-Robed Sword God was unwise.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God was at the end of his road, so there was no point in arguing with him.

    After saying this, Great Sovereign Jasmine directly transmitted her techniques into the jade slip.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You¡¯re already this stingy before marriage. It¡¯s a good thing I didn¡¯t accept your confession; otherwise... sigh.¡±

    Qi Yuan sighed heavily.

    This expression caused the smile on Great Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s face to freeze.

    If it weren¡¯t for her fear of Qi Yuan¡¯s strength, she would have acted already.

    She was furious inside.

    Being called stingy?

    She regretted using the Blood-Robed Sword God as a shield when rejecting Great Sovereign Wu Jun.

    Now, she had to hear about it every day.

    And she couldn¡¯t refute it.

    The Yin Gods hurriedly finished uploading their techniques, eager to leave.

    Qi Yuan looked at the growing list of techniques in his jade slip and grinned broadly.

    He was considering whether to open branches of the Original God Sharing Society in every domain.

    Would holding a celebration in each domain allow him to collect countless techniques?

    ¡°Everyone has been so generous. I remember all your kindness. Would you like to stay for a meal before you go?¡± Qi Yuan offered politely.

    ¡°No, thank you.¡± The Yin Gods quickly waved their hands to refuse.

    All they wanted now was to leave.

    If the Four Generals of the Lei Clan from Dark Sun arrived and implicated them, they would be in trouble.

    ¡°But the meal is already prepared. If you don¡¯t eat, it would go to waste.

    Someone, pack some food for these Yin Gods.

    Oh, and they are honored guests. Make sure to pack extra dishes, more meat, and not just rice and vegetables, understand?¡±

    Qi Yuan seriously instructed the Purple Mansion cultivators.

    The Purple Mansion cultivators were dumbfounded.

    Packing meals for Yin Gods? This was a first in their long lives.

    But with the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s orders, they had no choice... they started packing meals for the Yin Gods.

    Before long, every Yin God present had a large package in hand.

    Because the Blood-Robed Sword God had instructed that none of these Yin Gods should leave empty-handed; they should leave with their hands full.

    ¡°Very good, no fighting or arguing, no quarreling or brawling over the packed meals. Yin Gods really are of high quality.¡±

    Qi Yuan praised.

    No wonder they were all old monsters who had cultivated for tens of thousands of years¡ªeach of them was highly cultured.

    ¡°Everyone... you can go now.¡±

    Upon hearing this, the Yin Gods finally felt relieved.

    They had endured so long, holding large packages of food, standing here, for what? Just to hear this sentence from the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    As soon as Qi Yuan finished speaking, the Yin Gods hurriedly waved and disappeared in a flash.

 Chapter 262: His Name Isnâ€™t on the Monument of Legends

    Chapter 262: His Name Isn¡¯t on the Monument of Legends

    Seeing this scene, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but sigh.

    "These Yin Gods are all so shy and introverted. They didn''t even want me to send them off; they just ran away."

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun seemed not to hear Qi Yuan''s words. He gritted his teeth, "Short-sighted fools!"

    These Yin Gods treated the Blood-Robed Sword God like a plague.

    They talked about confronting the great calamity, but as soon as the minions of the calamity arrived, they all ran away.

    He looked at the Seven Wounds Elder with a complicated expression. "You didn''t leave with them?"

    Aside from the Seven Wounds Elder, all the Yin Gods had left, without exception.

    "I''m on the verge of death anyway, I''ve lived long enough. To see the minions of the great calamity before I die, I have no regrets," the Seven Wounds Elder coughed and answered truthfully.

    Feng Jun squinted his eyes, looking at Qi Yuan. "With the arrival of Dark Sun, Blood-Robed Sword God, you should... leave this place."

    He was thinking of Qi Yuan''s safety.

    The Four Generals of the Lei Clan could even kill the Great Sovereign of Red Flames. Unless the Blood-Robed Sword God returned to the Moonwatching Continent, he would certainly die.

    Qi Yuan did not answer Feng Jun¡¯s suggestion but asked the question he had asked earlier, the one that no one had answered, "How many techniques does Dark Sun have?"

    He was thinking about Dark Sun''s techniques.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun shook his head.

    He had never even heard of Dark Sun before, so naturally, he didn''t know how many techniques Dark Sun had.

    "They have many powerful individuals, so they probably have a lot of techniques as well," Great Sovereign Wu Jun reasonably speculated.

    "Where is Dark Sun''s headquarters?" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    These Yin Gods were so afraid of Dark Sun.

    Dark Sun is also a minion of the great calamity; they could even have the head of the Mythic Flower Association silence him.

    There must be many strong people in Dark Sun.

    And many techniques too.

    Why not take this opportunity to rob Dark Sun?

    "I''m afraid only those within Dark Sun would know that," the Seven Wounds Elder replied.

    "Looks like I''ll have to wait for Dark Sun''s people to come," Qi Yuan shrugged.

    The Seven Wounds Elder also showed a suspicious expression, "Senior, are you not returning to the Moonwatching Continent?"

    He naturally assumed that upon hearing that the people from Dark Sun were coming, the Blood-Robed Sword God would return to the Moonwatching Continent.

    After all, the Moonwatching Continent was the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s home turf.

    "Why would I return to the Moonwatching Continent? I''m originally from the Canglan Realm.

    Now, I still need to wait for the people from Dark Sun to come. They are my white moonlight, second only to Great Sovereign Jasmine in my heart."

    Qi Yuan answered seriously.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine, with her Mythical Treasure, was his first choice of white moonlight.

    The Four Generals of the Lei Clan from Dark Sun temporarily ranked second.

    The Seven Wounds Elder was at a loss for words.

    Great Sovereign Wu Jun remained silent as well.

    In the days that followed, the whole of Qinghong City was stifling, with a storm brewing.Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com

    Great Sovereign Jasmine of the Phoenix Palace also found an excuse to temporarily leave Qinghong City.

    Obviously, they were avoiding Dark Sun, avoiding the Four Generals of the Lei Clan, to avoid getting involved.

    At this moment, Great Sovereign Jasmine lazily watched the person in the mirror and smiled.

    "This time, you guessed wrong. The Blood-Robed Sword God did not return to the Moonwatching Continent."

    Not long ago, the person in the mirror had said that in the face of the Four Generals of the Lei Clan, the Blood-Robed Sword God would flee back to the Moonwatching Continent.

    The battle would happen on the Moonwatching Continent.

    But surprisingly, the Blood-Robed Sword God stayed at the Seeking Dao Palace and chose to face the Four Generals of the Lei Clan.

    "He certainly is surprising," said the figure in the mirror.

    "According to your logic, since he chose to stay at the Seeking Dao Palace, and he will clash with the Four Generals of the Lei Clan, does that mean he will win?" Great Sovereign Jasmine smiled.

    "Not at all," said the figure in the mirror. "He will still lose.

    The Four Generals of the Lei Clan were once mythical beings.

    Now their foundations have been taken away, leaving only their shells. They have been tempered day and night, and their strength has already reached the pinnacle of the Six Steps to Heaven.

    Four at the pinnacle of the Six Steps to Heaven are enough to crush everything.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God... he is not a myth.

    Otherwise, why isn¡¯t his name on the Monument of Legends?"

    The Monument of Legends is the supreme treasure of the Canglan Realm.

    It stands in the Central Heaven Domain, recording the names of every mythical strongman in the Canglan Realm.

    Anyone who steps into the mythical realm will be sensed by the Monument of Legends, and their name will be inscribed on it.

    The Monument of Legends is also called the Monument of the Dead.

    Because none of the mythical strongmen inscribed on the Monument of Legends have survived a great calamity.

    Now, the mythical figures still alive whose names are on the Monument of Legends are very few. They rarely appear in the human world, constantly hiding their aura, seemingly trying to avoid the calamity coming in hundreds of years.

    However, under the great calamity, ordinary Great Sovereigns may have a chance to survive, but... as for the mythical ones, no one has ever seen one survive.

    Since the Blood-Robed Sword God''s name isn¡¯t on the Monument of Legends, he is clearly not a myth.

    But a man doesn¡¯t bother with such trivialities, and Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t be bothered to think further.

    "What does it matter to think so far ahead about something three years later?"

    He had already learned from Shen Wushen that the flow of time between the upper realms and the Canglan Realm was the same, one-to-one.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t dwell on it further, instead looking expectantly at Shen Wushen, "You did well; I will guide you carefully... the techniques?"

    The last sentence was Qi Yuan¡¯s real intention.

    "I¡¯m penniless in the upper realms now; I could only exchange for some techniques," Shen Wushen answered truthfully.

    He even had to borrow money and divine techniques from Fairy Lian Mei to exchange for quite a few techniques.

    He also took on some tasks, hoping Qi Yuan could indeed solve some of them.

    Otherwise, he would end up cultivating while in debt.

    Heavily in debt.

    "No worries, if you run out of money, just borrow more," Qi Yuan said. "Think of it this way: when you''re in the Nascent Soul stage, you might borrow a hundred thousand spirit stones. But once you reach the Purple Mansion stage, earning a hundred thousand spirit stones is easy. You can easily pay it back.

    Then, in the Purple Mansion stage, borrow a million, and when you¡¯re a Yin God, repay it!"

    Shen Wushen was taken aback for a moment. "What you¡¯re saying makes a lot of sense."

    He said this and handed the jade slip to Qi Yuan.

    "This time there are two divine techniques, seventy heavenly techniques, and many others not worth mentioning.

    Among them, one divine technique can be shared, but the other cannot," Shen Wushen said.

    Wow! Usually, it was others who gasped when hearing something from Qi Yuan. Today, it was Qi Yuan who gasped.

    Shen Wushen was a true tycoon.

    So many techniques, more profitable than the celebration a few days ago! "If you were a woman, I might have to marry you!" Qi Yuan accepted the techniques, extremely excited, "It''s a pity I can¡¯t go to the upper realms... otherwise, with so many... white moonlights, my dream lovers!"

    His dream lovers were all in the upper realms, within sight but out of reach.

    As Qi Yuan spoke, he uploaded the techniques to the jade slip of the Original God Sharing Society as Shen Wushen had instructed.

    Especially that divine technique which could be shared; he also uploaded it.

    Moreover, to attract attention, he made one percent of the divine technique available for viewing.

    Any cultivator who saw that one percent of the divine technique would likely be eager to see the rest.

    After all, it was a divine technique.

    Even Qi Yuan, when he first saw a divine technique, was captivated by its profundity.

    A divine technique is a method created by a Yang God, representing the foundation of a Yang God.

    In the Canglan Realm, no divine technique had ever been circulated.

    Having a divine technique in the Original God Sharing Society would undoubtedly make it the brightest star in the Canglan Realm.

    "Friend, these are the tasks I have taken on. I still have to trouble you," Shen Wushen said.

    He handed over thirty-four jade slips, which contained the tasks he had taken on.

    Currently, his task points within the sect were low, so he could not take on many tasks.

    He had only taken on these thirty-four.

    Still, if these thirty-four tasks could be solved six or seven, he wouldn¡¯t have lost too much.

    After all, these tasks were all challenging.

    "Oh, let me take a look," Qi Yuan had long decided to help Shen Wushen with the sect tasks.

    Then, Shen Wushen could use the task rewards to exchange for techniques for him.

    In Qi Yuan''s eyes, Shen Wushen was just a tool.

    His tool in the upper realms.

    Qi Yuan took the jade slips and casually pulled one out.

    He pondered, "The Great Sovereign of Hua City... The Profound Art of Heavenly Contracts?"

    Seeing this, Shen Wushen quickly said, "This task was issued by a Great Sovereign at the pinnacle of the Six Steps to Heaven. It probably requires at least a mythical figure to solve. Perhaps look at another one first?"

    This task was one of the few high-level tasks he could take on.

    "No need, this problem isn¡¯t hard either. Give me half an hour, and it¡¯ll be done, no problem." Qi Yuan said seriously.

    To him, it truly was a minor issue.

    He had written to Jin Li for several days.

    Shen Wushen paused for a moment, somewhat surprised, "Half an hour?"

    This task was extremely difficult.

    His master was familiar with the Great Sovereign of Hua City and had said that even a mythical figure following the same path would take thousands of years to solve this problem.

    Even a Yang God couldn¡¯t solve it in a short time.

    But Qi Yuan said... half an hour? Seeing that Shen Wushen seemed unconvinced, Qi Yuan casually explained, "I have a lot of Nascent Souls, so it''s normal for me to be fast."

    The Nascent Souls in Qi Yuan¡¯s body almost encompassed all the gods of the Heavenly Court, even including ancient demon gods.

    He had all kinds of systems and various paths.

    He had visualized the Three Purities, from which the Dao gave birth to one, one gave birth to two, two gave birth to three, and three gave birth to all things.

    It could be said that every path he had walked.

    The current technique had some overlap with his path.

    Coupled with his eyes that could see hidden information.

    Such a problem was really not a problem.

 Chapter 263: The Taihuang Palace

    Chapter 263: The Taihuang Palace

    Inside the great hall, Qi Yuan''s eyes were fixed on the information within the jade slip.

    At this moment, hidden information began to reveal itself.

    It detailed the flaws of this particular technique, as well as suggestions for improvements, among other things.

    Previously, Qi Yuan would not have had the strength to see these hidden details.

    Even if he could see them, he would have found it difficult to resolve them.

    But now, after visualizing the Three Purities and merging with 4,752 Nascent Souls, Qi Yuan¡¯s cultivation level and understanding had reached a terrifying height.

    As he looked at the jade slip, his gaze was intense.

    Shen Wushen stood to the side, his eyes filled with confusion.

    Among the tasks he had brought, the one concerning the Great Sovereign of Hua City was among the most difficult.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

    Even the master of the Futuo Mountain could not solve it this quickly.

    Qi Yuan, mysterious as he was, shouldn''t be able to...

    He couldn¡¯t fathom it.

    "Is he serious about this, or is he just pretending? Even if he were to deceive me, why add a time limit of half an hour?" Shen Wushen thought to himself.

    Half an hour would pass in the blink of an eye, not enough time to deceive.

    Could it be... he was serious?

    If so... Shen Wushen gulped.

    Wouldn''t that mean Qi Yuan, even in the upper realms, would be a peerless genius, unseen in millennia?

    The half-hour passed in the blink of an eye. Qi Yuan held the jade slip, casually tossing it aside: "Task completed, no big deal."

    Shen Wushen, standing nearby, quickly caught the jade slip.

    Now, he was eager. His divine sense swiftly delved into the jade slip.

    "The problem is solved, and I patched it up a bit to enhance the technique.

    Otherwise, even if this problem were solved, this person would still be the weakest kind of myth if they reached the mythical level," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Shen Wushen, looking at the information within the jade slip, felt a wave of shock.

    This shock was tenfold, even a hundredfold stronger than when Qi Yuan easily defeated him.

    He could say without any reservation that Qi Yuan¡¯s talent... even in the upper realms, would be unparalleled for eternity!

    The problem with this technique was actually resolved!

    Although he couldn¡¯t fully understand it, upon reading it over once, it seemed flawless.

    This was already quite astonishing.

    "Friend... would you consider taking on a disciple?" Shen Wushen lost all pride of being born into a sacred place in the upper realms.

    He even felt that with Qi Yuan¡¯s current level of expertise, he surpassed the master of Futuo Mountain.

    Guiding him... would be easy.

    It could even elevate him to the status of a middle-tier supreme genius among the three heavens.

    "No," Qi Yuan shook his head, refusing outright.

    Taking on a disciple seemed too troublesome.

    Hearing this, Shen Wushen felt disappointed but persisted, "Friend... surely you wouldn¡¯t want your path to have no heir, right?"

    "What do you mean?" Qi Yuan was somewhat confused.

    To put it diplomatically, Shen Wushen was very straightforward; to put it bluntly, he was more petty than anything.

    "Friend, being born in the Canglan Realm means destined obscurity.

    Your path will end here.

    Why not pass your knowledge to me? I, Shen Wushen, will certainly spread your teachings far and wide!"

    Shen Wushen gazed at Qi Yuan with burning intensity.

    This was his chance!

    The Canglan Realm was a "sealed" world, rumored to be connected to a Yang God of the Middle Three Heavens.

    For a supreme genius like Qi Yuan to be born here was unfortunate; there was no chance for him to reach the upper realms.

    So, it would be better if, before his death, he taught everything he knew to Shen Wushen.

    The Canglan Realm was a cage. Only by passing his knowledge to Shen Wushen could Qi Yuan''s path continue.

    "Friend, you don¡¯t want your path to end, do you?"

    Shen Wushen poured out his thoughts, saying that he was the only choice and that without Qi Yuan''s teachings, the Nine Heavens would suffer a great loss.

    These words left Qi Yuan speechless.

    Was he hoping for his death?

    He looked at Shen Wushen, "Has anyone ever told you to do more and talk less?"

    It was because Qi Yuan had a good temper and adhered to rules that he didn¡¯t kill Shen Wushen on the spot.

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but lament that there were too many low-EQ people in this world and too few like him, who were high-EQ and knew how to talk nicely.

    After all, just a few words could make his junior sister Jiang Lingsu so happy that she would give him a bunch of spirit stones and techniques.

    That¡¯s the difference between high and low EQ.

    "Friend, I speak only the truth!" Shen Wushen was still unwilling to give up. "There are many supreme geniuses in the Canglan Realm. If I remember correctly, thirty thousand years ago, there was a true genius from the Canglan Realm.

    That genius created his own techniques, defying the great calamity, even attracting the attention of the one from the Sixth Heaven, who personally came to kill him!"

    Mentioning that person, Shen Wushen was full of admiration.

    Originally, the great calamity of the Canglan Realm occurred once every million years.

    Purple lightning covered the sky in an instant.

    The ground of the entire city reflected a purple hue.

    A majestic, thunderous voice rang out at that moment.

    "Blood-Robed Sword God, come to meet your death!"

    This voice spread throughout Qinghong City.

    Ordinary cultivators who heard this voice trembled in fear.

    "A divine battle... is it about to begin?"

    "An Yin God has come to challenge the Blood-Robed Sword God!"

    "Who could it be?"

    These ordinary cultivators looked up, doing their best to hide their auras, not daring to speak.

    Yin Gods were on an entirely different level than ordinary cultivators.

    If a Yin God wished, a single strike could turn Qinghong City into a chasm, and no cultivator could escape.

    At the same time, thousands of miles away, Great Sovereign Jasmine''s eyes showed a complex expression.

    "What a pity, the Four Generals of the Lei Family have arrived."

    From within the ancient mirror, a shadowy figure spoke: "I suddenly hope the Blood-Robed Sword God can win."

    "Oh?" Great Sovereign Jasmine was slightly surprised.

    "That is a divine technique... unlike any technique in this realm.

    He may come from the upper realms, and the technique he cultivates might not originate from this realm.

    If I could seize his body, perhaps... I could take you back to the upper realms." For the first time, there was a slight tremor in the voice of the man in the mirror.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s eyes also flashed with a sharp light.

    At the same time, in Qinghong City, Qi Yuan set down the jade slip and looked toward the sky, his voice lazy.

    "Four Generals of the Lei Family, you''re quite slow."

    Qi Yuan flew up to the sky. A few thousand meters away from him were four terrifying figures.

    Their hair hung loose, and their eyes were like dark pools, devoid of any focus.

    Their chests were bare, covered with scars from swords and knives, full of wounds, as if they had once endured fierce battles.

    Each one exuded an aura of a Great Sovereign at the peak of the Six Steps to Heaven, just a step away from becoming a myth.

    Such ferocious beings, even in the upper realms, would be considered first-class powerhouses.

    After all, in the upper realms, Yin Gods were absolute powerhouses.

    A Great Sovereign at the peak of the Six Steps to Heaven would be considered a high-ranking member in a sacred land.

    ¡¾The body of Lei Shengyu, once a mythical powerhouse, had its foundation taken away and was refined into a puppet, becoming a pawn of the Dark Sun.¡¿

    In front of his eyes, Qi Yuan saw this information, and his eyes narrowed slightly, feeling something inexplicable.

    The four generals of the Lei Family before him, rather than being the Lei Family¡¯s four generals, had long since fallen. Their bodies were merely being used by the Dark Sun, refined into weapons of war.

    Once mythical powerhouses, they had become resources while alive, and after death, their bodies were refined into puppets, serving as pawns of the great calamity.

    How tragic.

    "By the decree of the Dark Sun, the Blood-Robed Sword God has harmed the living. You are to be executed!"

    The leader of the Lei Family¡¯s Four Generals shouted, his voice booming.

    And the surroundings of Qi Yuan also began to change at this moment.

    In an instant, they were drawn into the virtual realm.

    The Heavenly Dao of the Canglan Realm was powerful. Even if a mythical powerhouse used power beyond the level of a Yin God, they would be pulled into the virtual realm.

    Qi Yuan looked at the four generals of the Lei Family before him, his eyes deep. "Do you four puppets have your own consciousness? If you do, please tell me where the headquarters of the Dark Sun is.

    I have a white moonlight there, and I need to see him."

    Faced with the powerful Four Generals of the Lei Family, Qi Yuan remained relaxed.

    The eyes of the Four Generals of the Lei Family were unfocused, and the area became a sea of lightning.

    At this moment, a mocking voice rang out.

    "They have no consciousness." A mechanical bird appeared.

    It was the same mechanical bird that appeared during Qi Yuan''s battle with Great Sovereign Wu.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell on the mechanical bird.

    ¡¾A wondrous creation, controlled by the true disciple of the Taihuang Palace, Li Qiu Shen, in the upper realms.¡¿

    Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes.

    The great calamity is linked to the Taihuang Palace?

    The Taihuang Palace in the upper realms?

    At this moment, the mechanical bird landed on the shoulder of the leader of the Four Generals of the Lei Family, its eyes filled with mockery.

    "A strongman like you, in the upper realms, if I met you, I wouldn¡¯t even dare to breathe. Unfortunately... this place is just a pigsty."

    Li Qiu Shen''s voice was full of ridicule.

    As a true disciple of the Taihuang Palace, the Canglan Realm had always been their pigsty.

    All living beings here would eventually be fed to the great calamity.

    And these true disciples would occasionally descend to the lower realms, using their wondrous creations to slay some Great Sovereigns.

    In the upper realms, they might only be at the Purple Mansion level, or just beginning Yin Gods.

    But when they came to the lower realms, controlling their wondrous creations, they could easily decide the life and death of the Great Sovereigns they once looked up to.

    That feeling was addictive.

 Chapter 264: Just Because Youâ€™re Hiding in the Upper Realm, Doesnâ€™t Mean I Canâ€™t Kill You

    Chapter 264: Just Because You¡¯re Hiding in the Upper Realm, Doesn¡¯t Mean I Can¡¯t Kill You

    "Controlling the life and death of a peak Six Steps to Heaven powerhouse while only at the Purple Mansion level... this feeling is quite enjoyable," said the rust-colored mechanical bird. Its voice was extremely irritating, filled with a tone of a petty person delighting in his small victories.

    Qi Yuan remained silent. Before he could speak, the mechanical bird continued.

    "Fifty years ago, there was also a Six Steps to Heaven powerhouse who came after me. Heh, back then I was only at the Purple Mansion level, but I tasted her nonetheless. All because she couldn¡¯t let go of her family, her descendants. But unfortunately, after she died, I accidentally killed her entire family anyway."

    The mechanical bird was incredibly arrogant.

    "I know you''re anxious, you''re angry, but don''t worry. Even if you''re anxious... you can''t hurt me, hahaha!" The mechanical bird laughed heartily.

    The feeling of toying with big figures, mocking the strongest beings, was exhilarating.

    With the wondrous creation, not even a mythical powerhouse could harm him in the slightest.

    "Before I came here, I investigated your information. Aren''t you... the one who would track someone down in real life just because they insulted you on a jade slip? Now that I''m insulting you like this, why don¡¯t you come to the Taihuang Palace and teach me a lesson?" The mechanical bird''s controller, Li Qiushen, said mockingly. "Oh, sorry, I forgot. You¡¯re just a pig in the Canglan Realm. First, you can¡¯t reach the upper realms, and second, you¡¯re about to die."

    Qi Yuan squinted his eyes and shrugged. "Why don¡¯t you tell me the headquarters of the Dark Sun so I can make your death... less painful?"

    The mechanical bird paused for a moment. "Where do you get your confidence from, or do you still not understand your current situation?"

    With the Lei Family''s Four Generals at his command, Li Qiushen was already in an unbeatable position.

    And residing within the wondrous creation, the Blood-Robed Sword God couldn¡¯t harm him at all.

    His true body was safely in the upper realms.

    The wondrous creation was crafted by a mythical powerhouse who could reflect upon all heavens, and it had been inspected by a Yang God from the Taihuang Palace. Even a myth from the lower realms couldn¡¯t break through the wondrous creation to hurt him.

    After all, the Canglan Realm was a closed-off world.

    Li Qiushen felt utterly confident.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes glanced over other parts of the mechanical bird¡¯s body, and more information came into his view.

    He was looking for the weaknesses of the wondrous creation.

    "My confidence comes, of course, from my strength!"

    Faced with the Lei Family¡¯s Four Generals, Qi Yuan remained exceptionally calm.

    The mechanical bird, Li Qiushen, chuckled. "Show me your trump card then, that powerhouse who looks like a Nascent Soul!"

    He already knew that Qi Yuan¡¯s trump card was a powerhouse at the peak of Six Steps to Heaven.

    It looked like a Nascent Soul, but wasn¡¯t.

    He had already seen through Qi Yuan¡¯s tricks.

    At this moment, the Lei Family''s Four Generals, with their unfocused pupils, turned their gaze to Qi Yuan.

    Thunder roared in the sky, and a powerful divine domain was unleashed.

    Even though they were puppets, the Lei Family''s Four Generals could still display the strength of a peak Six Steps to Heaven.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t consider the threat of the Lei Family''s Four Generals. His eyes remained fixed on the mechanical bird.

    "Who said my trump card was a Nascent Soul? I clearly have... two!"

    As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Yuan chanted softly.Nne?w n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

    "Hehe yangyang, the baby emerges from hiding, heed my command, eradicate all inauspiciousness!"

    Instantly, with Qi Yuan¡¯s words, two auras of extreme terror swept over.

    Two powerful figures, each exuding the aura of a peak Six Steps to Heaven, appeared.

    Their eyes were similarly dull, but in front of Qi Yuan, they still showed respect.

    "At your command!"

    The two powerful Great Sovereigns appeared, and their divine domains unfolded.

    The battle began immediately.

    In the distance, a look of surprise flashed in the mechanical bird''s eyes. "You actually have another trump card? This is unexpected."

    However, even so, things were still under his control.

    Now, six Great Sovereigns were fighting, and their divine domains were clashing.

    It was obvious that Qi Yuan¡¯s two strong figures had stronger divine domains than any of the Lei Family¡¯s Four Generals.

    But the Lei Family¡¯s Four Generals had combined their divine domains, and their collective power was formidable, enough to hold the upper hand in this clash.

    At this moment, lightning and the breath of gold intermingled with the breath of all living things. The entire virtual realm was filled with a murderous atmosphere.

    If an ordinary Yin God were to enter, they would likely be caught in the crossfire and instantly shredded to pieces.

    "Your trump card was unexpected, but... at this rate, it won''t be long before they''re all dead!" Li Qiushen was confident of victory.

    Qi Yuan having two trump cards was beyond his expectations.

    But at this rate, his victory was assured.

    "The battle isn¡¯t over yet; anything could happen...

    Otherwise, if cultivators only relied on their cultivation base, why even fight? Just flash your power, and those of lower levels would just surrender and cut off their own heads," Qi Yuan said casually.

    He remained calm, as if he were an outsider, merely watching the mechanical bird.

    "You''re quite interesting, but unfortunately, you''re too dangerous. Otherwise, I might have asked my master to bring you up and keep you as my pet," Li Qiushen said with a laugh.

    At this point, Qi Yuan¡¯s nose twitched slightly. He realized that the other party was spouting nonsense.

    Li Qiushen was indeed spewing nonsense.

    Cultivators from the Canglan Realm were not within his reach.

    Not even his master could bring someone from the Canglan Realm to the upper realms.

    "I really dislike how much you love spouting nonsense," Qi Yuan said, staring at Li Qiushen.

    "If you don¡¯t like me, why don¡¯t you try and kill me?" The mechanical bird taunted wildly.

    With the wondrous creation, he felt invincible.

    Qi Yuan smiled. "I''ll certainly oblige."

    "You¡¯re even more stubborn than I am, but unfortunately... look, how much longer can your two trump cards last? Three hundred breaths?" the mechanical bird, Li Qiushen, taunted.

    The duel between Yin Gods was quick.

    Those battles that lasted hundreds or thousands of years were likely between Purple Mansions.

    "The victor is still undecided," Qi Yuan remained calm and confident.

    The duel between Great Sovereigns had no flashy techniques, just a clash of divine domains.

    Such collisions had no finesse.

    It controlled countless worlds, nearly a thousand in total.

    At this moment, in one of these worlds.

    Within a desolate cave, a man in a purple robe awoke, a hint of lingering fear in his eyes and his face pale, though mostly filled with arrogance and confidence.

    "That guy actually managed to destroy the wondrous creation!"

    Thinking of this, Li Qiushen was still a bit shocked.

    "Hmm?"

    Suddenly, he noticed something.

    "Sunfire?"

    A faint wisp of Sunfire was within his consciousness.

    Qi Yuan had used Sunfire to burn his consciousness while destroying the wondrous creation.

    That wisp of consciousness being burned was a minor injury to him.

    "Damn it, he actually managed to hurt me. Once I ask Master for another wondrous creation, I¡¯ll capture him and personally humiliate his friends!" As an abandoned true disciple of the Taihuang Palace, Li Qiushen¡¯s personality had long been twisted; he took pleasure in torturing people. "Hmph, he thought he could kill me, but at most, he left a mark of Sunfire in me!"

    He didn¡¯t care about the mark.

    Though he knew it acted as a coordinate, what could a lower realm cultivator like Qi Yuan do? Reach the upper realms to kill him? He wasn¡¯t in a hurry to remove the mark.

    He stood up, his face still somewhat pale, his eyes sunken, appearing quite vicious.

    Before long, he headed to a cave abode, his expression respectful.

    "Master!"

    In the cave abode ahead lived a peak Six Steps to Heaven powerhouse.

    This powerhouse was his master, also a disciple of the most powerful mythical figure in this world.

    In the Canglan Realm, he looked down on myths, killing and even humiliating peak Six Steps to Heaven Great Sovereigns.

    But in the upper realms, facing such a powerhouse, he still had to act subservient.

    "What is it?" A disgruntled murmur came from within the cave abode.

    "Master, I encountered some trouble in the Canglan Realm and need to report to you!" Li Qiushen reported everything that happened in the lower realms to his master.

    The elder in the cave abode sounded surprised. "The Canglan Realm indeed produces talents. But don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll give you another wondrous creation, and you can command the Dark Sun to eliminate him!"

    The elder didn¡¯t take the Blood-Robed Sword God seriously.

    From birth, the fate of beings in the Canglan Realm was sealed.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God was just a dead man walking.

    "The Sunfire in you, I can¡¯t remove it, but it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s only a mark and won¡¯t harm you."

    The old voice from within the cave abode reassured him, and Li Qiushen finally let go of his last worry.

    A cruel gleam flashed in his eyes as he prepared to head back to the lower realms to deal with the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    However, at that moment, the sky in this world suddenly brightened.

    Li Qiushen quickly looked up, a look of horror flashing in his eyes.

    "What¡¯s happening... the sun is falling!"

    His voice trembled, filled with disbelief.

    Above the sky, a bright light suddenly shone.

    A huge star projection was descending.

    The entire sky was filled with nothing but the sun¡¯s projection!

    Wait, two suns!

    Two suns were falling, carrying boundless destructive energy, as if they were about to flatten the entire world!

    That endless blazing light, that terrifying heat wave, and the aura of burning everything, sent chills down everyone¡¯s spines!

    The Great Sovereign in the cave abode also looked shocked.

    He knew about the suns above and had reported them to the upper realm''s overseer. Though they hadn¡¯t been there long, it was clear the suns were aimed at the one in the Taihuang Palace.

    Now, the two suns were descending upon this world.

    And this world... had no Yang God to protect it!

    Nevertheless, several powerhouses intervened, trying to stop the suns from falling.

    "Who dares act arrogantly in the Taihuang Palace¡¯s domain!"

    "This is the Taihuang Palace''s Tai Ling Realm!"

    One by one, Great Sovereigns took action, using their divine powers to stop the two descending suns.

    Unfortunately, the two suns grew fiercer and fiercer, and their efforts were in vain.

    "Don¡¯t worry, we haven¡¯t offended such a strong entity. This attack... won¡¯t land here," the elder in the cave abode reassured. He was actually quite curious about which fellow provoked such a powerful entity in the heavens.

    His words only made Li Qiushen¡¯s face turn even paler.

    Because the wisp of Sunfire inside him burned brighter, hotter, and was consuming him.

    At this moment, he seemed to understand something, terrified and confused.

    "Master, the Sunfire! The suns above are coming for the Sunfire!" Li Qiushen shouted desperately.

    As if only his master could save him.

    "What?" The master was stunned, also puzzled.

    But in the next breath, before he could react.

    Two gigantic sun projections landed above his head.

    Boom!

    Endless heat and light, endless fire and heat waves, swept through.

    With a look of horror on his face, Li Qiushen¡¯s consciousness faded away, thinking of the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    He couldn¡¯t understand, couldn¡¯t comprehend it, as his body was engulfed in flames, his soul annihilated in an instant.

    As for his master, a peak Six Steps to Heaven powerhouse, he couldn¡¯t escape either under the onslaught of two solar golden cores.

    Until his death, he was still bewildered.

    How could the Sunfire... be the sun¡¯s coordinate?

    At that moment, back in the Canglan Realm, Qi Yuan shrugged. "I can¡¯t stand people who show off. How¡¯s that, tracing you back through the internet with two stellar golden cores... feels good, right?"

 Chapter 265: The Invitation from the Phoenix Palace

    Chapter 265: The Invitation from the Phoenix Palace

    Inside the Seeking Dao Palace.

    The Ice Mountain Queen looked up at the sky and suddenly froze. "Did the sun just flicker?"

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor also felt puzzled.

    The two suns in the sky¡ªaren''t they the golden cores of the Origin Heavenly Sovereign?

    The sun flickered, but it didn¡¯t fall toward the Canglan Realm like last time.

    Where exactly did these stellar golden cores fall?

    "I''m not sure what''s going on either," the Great Sun Flame Emperor replied honestly.

    "Why are you all so concerned about the sun in the sky?" Feng Jun spoke up, sounding somewhat displeased.

    Right now, the Blood-Robed Sword God was in a fierce battle with the Lei Family''s Four Generals in the virtual realm.

    Yet here, his grandson was worried about whether the sun flickered or not.

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor was at a loss for words.

    He couldn¡¯t possibly tell his grandfather that the suns were actually the golden cores of the Blood-Robed Sword God, could he? No one would believe him.

    Moreover, the power of the Origin Heavenly Sovereign should not be exposed.

    In the distance, the gaze of the Old Man Seven Wounds was complicated. "The battle... should soon have a winner, and our fate will be decided as well."

    At this moment, he was very tempted to grab the jade slip and make a run for it.

    After all, that jade slip contained a divine law, one that could rejuvenate his aging body.

    At this moment, many gazes were fixed in the direction of the Seeking Dao Palace, awaiting the outcome.

    Suddenly, there was a ripple in the space, and all the great cultivators looked over.

    In the sky, a rift appeared, and a handsome man in a blood-red robe emerged, his eyes gleaming with a bright smile.

    The moment they saw the figure of this man, almost every gaze froze.

    "It''s really him!"

    "The Blood-Robed Sword God has come out!"

    "How is this possible? The Lei Family''s Four Generals were the ones who killed the Great Flame Sovereign!"

    Every Yin God felt a tremor in their hearts.

    It was impossible for them not to be shocked.

    The Lei Family''s Four Generals, each one of them was at the level of Six Steps to Heaven.

    For the Blood-Robed Sword God to defeat them... this was beyond their imagination.

    The Old Man Seven Wounds squinted his eyes and suddenly chuckled. "Lucky I didn¡¯t run."

    A thousand miles away, the Great Sovereign Jasmine''s eyes also revealed a look of curiosity. "How did he win?"

    From the ancient mirror, the voice of the figure inside spoke, "The battle ended in nearly five hundred breaths. His strength is only so-so."

    If he were a mythical being, he could have ended the battle in less than thirty breaths.

    This made the figure inside the mirror more confident in their assessment of the Blood-Robed Sword God''s strength.

    "However..." The figure in the ancient mirror changed his tone, "His body... is quite tempting. I want his secrets too."

    "When will the master obtain his corpse? Playing with his body could be very interesting," the Great Sovereign Jasmine said, her tongue licking her lips seductively.

    Living in such an environment, the Great Sovereign Jasmine''s personality had long since become twisted.

    "Give me a few days..." the figure in the ancient mirror murmured.

    The Great Sovereign Jasmine¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation. "The body of the Blood-Robed Sword God with the master''s soul inside... what ecstasy!"

    Unfortunately, Qi Yuan was unaware of her thoughts.

    Qi Yuan could trace people through the network, but he was not omniscient. Otherwise, if he knew what the Great Sovereign Jasmine was thinking, he would definitely destroy this twisted woman on the spot.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the people of the Seeking Dao Palace and spoke softly, "The Lei Family''s Four Generals have been dealt with. Great Sovereign Wu Jun, please help me contact the other parts of the Seeking Dao Palace and tell them... that the Original God Sharing Association intends to unite all the heroes of the world, collect all the world¡¯s divine laws, eliminate the Dark Sun, and destroy the Great Calamity!"Findd new stories at novelhall.com

    Collecting divine laws was still necessary.

    Even the smallest bit counts, and Qi Yuan would not turn away any benefits.

    Wu Jun¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement.

    The outcome of this battle did not surprise him.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God already had power comparable to a mythical level; defeating the Lei Family''s Four Generals would be easy, right?

    "Alright!" Wu Jun responded.

    With the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s performance, the Seeking Dao Palace might even change its stance and support the Original God Sharing Association.

    At this moment, the Old Man Seven Wounds and Feng Jun stood together, deep in thought.

    They looked at Qi Yuan differently from before.

    Then, Qi Yuan turned to the Ice Mountain Queen and the Great Sun Flame Emperor, and sighed, "I realized that not only does the atmosphere in the Canglan Realm need to be rectified, but also in the Upper Realm."

    "Hmm?" The Great Sun Flame Emperor was a bit puzzled.

    The Old Man Seven Wounds was also very confused. The Upper Realm? To the people of the Canglan Realm, the Upper Realm was just a legend.

    No Yin God from the Canglan Realm had ever ascended to the Upper Realm.

    At this moment, Shen Wushen nodded seriously and said, "The atmosphere in the Upper Realm is indeed bad. The cultivators there are too hostile. Sometimes I just casually say something, and someone wants to duel me to the death."

    The cultivators present were baffled, especially the Old Man Seven Wounds, who gave Shen Wushen a puzzled look.

    Qi Yuan was taken aback. "It seems we have similar experiences. By the way, what did you say?"

    "Years ago, my senior brother''s Dao companion gave birth, and I said, ''Your son doesn''t look like you; he looks a bit like me.'' As a result... sigh." Shen Wushen sighed.

    At this moment, Long Can appeared again, looking at the Old Man Seven Wounds with a complicated expression.

    "Have you heard about the Phoenix Palace Invitation?"

    "Hmm..." The Old Man of Seven Wounds squinted his eyes.

    After the Blood-Robed Sword God defeated the Lei Family''s Four Generals, there was a lot of undercurrent activity in the Phoenix Heaven Domain.

    The Great Sovereign Jasmine had suddenly invited all the Yin Gods to gather at the Phoenix Palace.

    According to the information the Old Man Seven Wounds had received, these people seemed to be planning to unite and "force" the Blood-Robed Sword God to hand over the divine law.

    "They¡¯re quite bold. I''m curious to know who gave them the courage," the Old Man Seven Wounds replied honestly.

    Regarding the Phoenix Palace Invitation, the Yin Gods from the Original God Sharing Association naturally wouldn¡¯t attend.

    "I don¡¯t feel like going to this gathering either," Long Can said.

    Being in the Phoenix Heaven Domain, he had also received an invitation.

    But his current idea was to team up with the Old Man Seven Wounds, earn enough points, and exchange them for the divine law.

    As for the Phoenix Palace matter, he didn¡¯t want to get involved.

    "Maybe the Great Sovereign Jasmine wants to bring out a mythical treasure, gather the other Yin Gods, and pay a huge price to exchange for a divine law." Thinking of something, the Old Man Seven Wounds muttered, then said no more.

    Three days passed quickly.

    Qi Yuan stretched his body. The tasks Shen Wushen had brought were all completed.

    After a few hundred breaths, Shen Wushen appeared beside Qi Yuan.

    "All tasks are done. Hurry back to the Upper Realm and exchange a divine law for me," Qi Yuan said eagerly.

    For him, obtaining a divine law was equivalent to condensing at least three stellar golden cores.

    Advancing the "Qi Yuan Sutra: Golden Core Chapter" with one divine law would yield at least three stellar golden cores.

    So, it''s not just about collecting techniques; he''s actually condensing golden cores.

    "Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Don¡¯t you want to trade with me?" Qi Yuan asked, puzzled. "I even took the time to slightly improve your techniques."

    "Hmm?"

    "Oh... I forgot I had silenced you."

    Qi Yuan smiled awkwardly.

    He had silenced Shen Wushen for three whole days.

    With a wave of his hand, Shen Wushen finally regained the ability to speak.

    "Fellow Daoist, I''m about to return to the Upper Realm. You''re going to the Dark Sun''s headquarters, facing uncertain life or death, so pass your techniques to me¡ª" Shen Wushen had been silenced for a long time, and now that he could speak, he started rambling on.

    "Shut up!" Qi Yuan quickly silenced him again.

    It was already remarkable that Shen Wushen had managed to survive this long.

    "This spell will only last three more days. After that, it will be lifted. The jade slips are all here. Now get lost back to the Upper Realm!" Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother to say more.

    Shen Wushen took the jade slips, looked at Qi Yuan, wanting to say more, but was filled with grief.

    If Qi Yuan were to die at the Dark Sun, the severing of such a lineage would be truly heartbreaking.

    However, Qi Yuan refused to let him speak, so he had no choice but to hope that Qi Yuan would survive the Dark Sun. Perhaps next time, he might not die so soon.

    Shen Wushen left.

    Qi Yuan looked at the sky. "Hmm, it''s about time to visit the Dark Sun."

    But at this moment, a voice transmission came from the Old Man Seven Wounds.

    "Fellow Daoist, the Great Sovereign Jasmine is hosting a Phoenix Palace Invitation today and has invited you to attend! She is currently waiting at the Seeking Dao Palace."

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned, then a smile appeared on his face. "Is she planning to confess her feelings to me?"

    "...Be careful, Fellow Daoist. It could be a trap," the Old Man Seven Wounds replied honestly.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. "What nonsense are you spouting? My left eyebrow has been twitching; this is a sign of good fortune.

    This means she is planning to confess to me and give me the mythical treasure.

    Ah, I must have misunderstood her; she¡¯s a good woman."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    The saying goes, "Left eye twitches for wealth, right eye twitches for disaster."

    His left eye had been twitching the entire time he was heading to the Phoenix Palace.

    If there was wealth coming his way, wouldn''t it be the mythical treasure? How could he obtain the mythical treasure?

    It was simple; the Great Sovereign Jasmine would give it to him.

    Qi Yuan easily figured out the key to this.

    "What do you think? If the Great Sovereign Jasmine confesses to me, should I accept?" Qi Yuan asked the Old Man Seven Wounds.

    He was conflicted.

    He didn¡¯t really want to accept it.

    But then again, he had been urging the Great Sovereign Jasmine to confess to him for quite a while.

    Wouldn¡¯t this make him look like a playboy, stringing her along?

    The Old Man Seven Wounds was at a loss for words.

    Just then, a charming voice rang out.

    "Blood-Robed Sword God, if you¡¯re free, this humble one invites you to the Phoenix Palace for a talk."

    The Great Sovereign Jasmine stood before the palace, dressed in a golden gauze dress. Her slender waist was exposed through the sheer fabric, her lower belly''s skin was white with a rosy tint, adorned with various mysterious tattoos. Above her navel was a decorative ornament, making her look quite alluring.

    In a flash, Qi Yuan appeared in front of the Great Sovereign Jasmine. "You¡¯re finally going to give me the mythical treasure, aren¡¯t you?"

 Chapter 266: A Person from the Upper Realm

    Chapter 266: A Person from the Upper Realm

    Great Sovereign Jasmine''s eyes were bright, her gaze filled with a seductive charm. When she saw Qi Yuan appear, a blush appeared at the corners of her eyes.

    "If you want it, what''s the harm in giving you the mythical treasure, my friend?"

    After all, if her master was to possess the body of the Blood-Robed Sword God, then wouldn''t the mythical treasure belong to the Blood-Robed Sword God as well?

    "You see, I told you Great Sovereign Jasmine wanted to give me the mythical treasure!" Qi Yuan boasted, glancing at Old Man Seven Wounds. "You have no idea what kind of life a handsome guy leads."

    Old Man Seven Wounds blushed slightly and didn''t say anything.

    Qi Yuan knew that when a man gets flirty, women don''t stand a chance. But if a woman takes the initiative, then men are helpless.

    "So..." Qi Yuan suddenly changed his tone, "How about I don''t go to the Phoenix Palace, and you confess your feelings here and give me the mythical treasure directly?"

    Qi Yuan''s thinking was simple.

    The result would be the same anyway, so why not skip the process and have Great Sovereign Jasmine hand him the mythical treasure right away?

    Moreover, Qi Yuan felt that this also showed his high emotional intelligence.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine had invited so many Yin Gods to confess her feelings to him.

    He would certainly refuse.

    With so many people present, it would embarrass Great Sovereign Jasmine.

    So, directly taking the mythical treasure would also prevent Great Sovereign Jasmine from losing face.

    That would be a win-win situation.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine''s smile slightly froze; she didn''t know what Qi Yuan was thinking. She charmingly said, "I have prepared a big surprise for you. If you don''t come, all my efforts will be in vain."

    As she spoke, she leaned her delicate body toward Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan quickly dodged; he didn''t want to be touched by Great Sovereign Jasmine.

    If he caught something, that would be troublesome.

    "Your invitation is too kind to refuse. I''ll go to the Phoenix Palace and take a look," Qi Yuan finally agreed.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine''s eyes showed a hint of regret.

    Unfortunately, after today, she would only have the Blood-Robed Sword God''s body, but not his heart, which made her somewhat disappointed.

    The two transformed into a stream of light, heading toward the Phoenix Palace.

    The Phoenix Palace was also in Qinghong City, not far from the Seeking Dao Palace.

    Soon, the two arrived at the Phoenix Palace.

    At this moment, the Phoenix Palace was as bright as day but eerily quiet, somewhat spooky.

    This was different from what Qi Yuan had imagined.

    "When I go in, will there be a group of people cheering and shouting, ''Kiss her''?" Qi Yuan asked, surprised.

    If that were the case, it would be quite awkward.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine was taken aback, unable to comprehend Qi Yuan''s train of thought.

    She chuckled, her smile full of meaning: "You''ll understand everything once you enter."

    "I hope it''s not too surprising."

    Following Great Sovereign Jasmine, the two landed outside a palace hall.

    The large door creaked open with a loud clang.

    The light from the hall shone on Qi Yuan, casting a long shadow.

    Qi Yuan looked expectantly inside, and his pupils contracted at that moment.

    Inside the vast palace hall, the smell of blood filled the air, and more than twenty corpses of Yin Gods lay scattered about.

    Qi Yuan recognized these Yin Gods; they had appeared at the Original God Sharing Assembly celebration.

    But now, these twenty-something Yin Gods had died silently in the Phoenix Palace, their corpses in a tragic state.

    One of the bodies hung on a large tree just ten meters away from Qi Yuan.

    That corpse had its eyes wide open, as if it had seen something terrifying.

    Such expressions were rarely seen on strong beings at the level of Yin God Sovereigns.

    Moreover, the scene was extremely bizarre.

    Fights among Yin Gods would be dragged into the virtual realm, yet these Yin Gods had died inside the palace hall without reason.

    At this moment, a charming voice whispered in Qi Yuan''s ear, "Do you like this surprise, my friend?"

    Qi Yuan turned to look at Great Sovereign Jasmine, his eyes seeming to carry a look of sorrow and indignation. "I didn''t expect you to be this kind of person!"

    Qi Yuan was very angry and felt that he had underestimated the treachery of the human heart.

    The evil of the human heart knows no bounds!

    The atmosphere in this world of cultivation needs to be purified!

    Great Sovereign Jasmine enjoyed the reaction of the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    She loved to see strong beings with looks of disbelief, anger, or shock in their eyes.

    "Just because you were afraid of being rejected and seen by these people, you felt ashamed and killed them out of anger?

    You... don''t deserve to like me!

    I reject your confession!" Qi Yuan was very angry and upset.

    He had already figured it out: Great Sovereign Jasmine had known her confession would fail and had killed the spectators in advance.

    That way, she wouldn''t have the embarrassment of a failed confession.

    "Huh?" Great Sovereign Jasmine was stunned.

    She didn''t understand Qi Yuan''s accusation.

    Why was he so angry?

    Shouldn''t he be terrified now?

    "Being liked by someone so petty makes me feel sick!" Qi Yuan said angrily.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine was completely lost.

    At this moment, a man''s voice sounded behind Qi Yuan.

    The figure in the mirror was full of confidence.

    Once, in the upper realm, he had unintentionally flirted with the Moon God Ancestor with words.

    The Moon God Ancestor killed him with a strike across two heavens.

    His father, a Yang God powerhouse, had to spend a huge amount of resources to repair his soul, performing a special modification and placing him within the Heavenly Kun Mirror.

    Having offended the Moon God Primogenitor, he couldn''t stay in the Nine Heavens.

    So, he came to the lower realm to start his journey.

    Who knew that the Heavenly Kun Mirror would bring him to the legendary Canglan Realm?

    Now, with the Moon God Palace and the Great Desolate Palace at war, with the Moon God Palace falling behind, he thought of returning to the upper realm.

    Unfortunately, even his father''s power couldn''t summon him back from the Canglan Realm.

    So, he planned to seize the body of the Blood-Robed Sword God and return to the upper realm.

    "A mere six-step Great Sovereign, how dare you resist!"

    The figure in the mirror roared, and his spiritual body rushed into Qi Yuan''s dantian.

    "Then I just won''t resist," Qi Yuan thought for a moment and chose not to resist.

    Great Sovereign Jasmine''s eyes filled with a smile: "A wise man knows his place. To have your body used by my master is the greatest honor of your life."

    However, in the next instant, a scream suddenly echoed in the ancient mirror.

    "Ah... What is that... No... A demon!"

    The consciousness that had just rushed into Qi Yuan''s dantian fled out like a rabbit.

    That spiritual body, which had only entered for less than a second, came out in tatters, with holes all over. His eyes were filled with terror.

    The figure in the mirror was terrified.

    He couldn''t comprehend what he had just seen.

    Countless, over five thousand Nascent Souls!

    Inside the Blood-Robed Sword God''s body, there were over five thousand Nascent Souls!

    But that wasn''t the most frightening part. What terrified him the most was that each of those five thousand Nascent Souls radiated an aura ten times, a hundred times stronger than his own.

    He felt like he was not facing Nascent Souls but five thousand beings about to enter the realm of the Yang God!

    How could he not be terrified?

    "Don''t run away!"

    "I''m quite interested in your memories too."

    "I want to see if the atmosphere in the upper realm is really so rotten!"

    Qi Yuan squinted his eyes.

    His dantian shook.

    The spiritual body of the fleeing figure froze, as if a massive suction force was pulling him back.

    In that instant, his spiritual body was sucked back into Qi Yuan''s dantian.

    "No, please..."

    A miserable cry echoed.

    The figure was utterly terrified.

    "What kind of monster are you?"

    The scene before him was beyond his comprehension.

    Even if his father were here, he might not understand what he was witnessing.

    "I''m not a monster; I''m a pioneer of civilization!"

    Qi Yuan squinted his eyes.

    "Figure in the mirror, for the sake of cleansing the upper realm''s atmosphere, you must die!"

    All five thousand Nascent Souls trembled simultaneously, and all the figure''s pride and arrogance vanished in that moment.

    A tremendous pressure overwhelmed him, making resistance impossible.

    His spirit body, modified by a Yang God, shattered into pieces.

    A flood of memories poured into Qi Yuan''s mind.

    He glanced at Great Sovereign Jasmine, his eyes flashing with killing intent: "So, you were the one who killed those people in front of me last time?

    You and that scumbag were a good match."

    Great Sovereign Jasmine looked at Qi Yuan, her eyes filled with pain and anger: "What did you do to my master? Let him go!"

    Her anger quickly turned to pleading, her eyes filled with tears, her clothes half undone: "Let my master go, you can do whatever you want to me, please!"

    In her mind, the figure held an extremely important position.

    "Die." Qi Yuan had no hesitation. Great Sovereign Jasmine''s soul was stripped away at that moment, dying alongside the figure in the mirror.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze deepened.

    "He really was from the upper realm... and he offended the Moon God Primogenitor..."

    ...

    In an unknown place, Qi Yuan''s innate seed had already sprouted.

    A woman wearing a white coat adjusted her glasses and gently said, "Severe delusions... Severe... Keep this certificate safe; you can get social assistance with it."

    The woman placed a certificate marked "Severe Mental Disorder" on the table.

    Her eyes showed a hint of pity.

    His parents died in battle, and he was raised in a robotic society, only to develop a mental disorder.

    This young man named Qi Yuan had a rather tragic life.

 Chapter 267: You Are the One Whoâ€™s Sick

    Chapter 267: You Are the One Who¡¯s Sick

    Within the ancient mirror, the memories of the man with his back turned flooded into Qi Yuan''s consciousness.

    "A descendant of a Yang God? What a useless one!"

    The man with his back turned, his father was indeed a Yang God.

    As for the man himself, he was a second-generation rich kid, living a life of debauchery.

    Being a second-generation rich kid was one thing, but he was extremely lecherous.

    In the holy land where his father resided, many women and even men fell victim to his depravity.

    This second-generation heir, relying on his father''s backing, grew bolder by the day.

    Somehow, he found out that the Moon God Ancestor was the most beautiful woman in the middle three heavens, and he began speaking obscenely about her.

    This information somehow reached the ears of the Moon God Ancestor.

    The Moon God Ancestor, from several heavens away, took action directly and obliterated him.

    His father paid a huge price and used the Yang God''s artifact, the Heavenly Kun Ancient Mirror, to save a fragment of his soul and nurtured it.

    However, his father feared that this matter would reach the Moon God Ancestor, so he threw the Heavenly Kun Ancient Mirror into the lower realms, and through a series of coincidences, it ended up in the Canglan Realm.

    "The upper realm is so complicated?"

    After gaining the memories of the man with his back turned, Qi Yuan also gained a lot of understanding about the upper realm.

    The upper realm is not a single world but a collective term for countless worlds.

    A holy land presided over by a Yang God governs several, even thousands, of worlds.

    Some worlds in the upper realm are not as powerful as the Canglan Realm.

    Based on the density of spiritual energy, the upper realm is divided into nine heavens: the lower three, middle three, and upper three.

    Among them, the man with his back turned had little memory of the upper three heavens, only knowing it as the land of four wars.

    The higher the heavens, the stronger the holy lands.

    "Moon God Palace... the faction where Jin Li resides..."

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    He hadn''t expected that by killing a man with his back turned, he would learn news about the Moon God Palace.

    The Moon God Ancestor is the strongest being in the Moon God Palace.

    "I wonder what kind of connection my master has with the Moon God Palace," Qi Yuan mused.

    His master, Ruan Yixi, had left behind a Moon Token, a token of the Moon God Palace.

    This meant that his master, Ruan Yixi, also had a deep connection with the Moon God Palace.

    "Could it be... my master is Jin Li?"

    Qi Yuan speculated, then shook his head.

    Knowing Jin Li''s temperament, if she knew it was him, she would have come to see him long ago.

    "Anyway, I have an inseparable bond with this Moon God Palace."

    "Man with his back turned, when I go to the upper realm to cleanse its atmosphere, I''ll start with your father.

    I''m a nice person, and I can''t bear to see white-haired people sending off the black-haired ones, so I''ll reunite you all."

    Qi Yuan''s figure flickered, emerging from the Heavenly Kun Ancient Mirror.

    Looking at the ancient mirror before him, he squinted his eyes, "If I keep this ancient mirror, wouldn''t it mean... when I reach the upper realm, if I''m close enough, the man with his back turned''s father could sense me?

    This mirror can''t be discarded!"

    The Heavenly Kun Ancient Mirror is also a powerful treasure that can nourish the soul.

    Otherwise, the man with his back turned wouldn''t have survived.

    "I could place the Nascent Souls into the ancient mirror. Who knows... maybe their former self will awaken."

    In the Mortal Heart Realm, all the innate gods had transformed into his Nascent Souls.

    They were him, and he was Qi Yuan.

    Currently, they were still in a dormant state, unable to exert their full strength.

    When they fully awaken, they will be able to recover their power.

    Moreover, if Qi Yuan appears in the upper realm and is given enough time, these Nascent Souls could even break through to the Yang God realm.

    These Nascent Souls are evolving entities.

    "Absorb," Qi Yuan waved his hand.

    At that moment, the Heavenly Kun Ancient Mirror shrank and entered his dantian.

    "If I returned to Blue Planet now, I''d surely be an incredible doctor capable of performing any transplant surgery!"

    But then Qi Yuan realized something. He didn''t know anything about medicine, didn''t even have a certificate. Even if someone was ill, he wouldn''t know what disease they had.

    But this problem was easily solved.

    "If I became a doctor, I''d just diagnose everyone with kidney deficiency!"

    It''s never wrong to say someone has kidney deficiency.

    Qi Yuan felt pleased with his own cleverness.

    "Get inside," Qi Yuan waved his hand again.

    The five thousand Nascent Souls seemed to hear his command and all entered the ancient mirror.

    The ancient mirror also entered Qi Yuan''s dantian at that moment.

    The Heavenly Kun Ancient Mirror had the effect of nourishing the soul, so Qi Yuan decided to put the Nascent Souls in there to cultivate.

    After finishing all this, Qi Yuan looked at the Yin God corpses in the Phoenix Palace and frowned, "Feng Tian Domain... It''s too tragic. All the Yin Gods are dead.

    Doesn''t that mean... we can hold a feast?"

    Qi Yuan felt a little downhearted.

    People in Feng Tian Domain could have a feast, but he had to go to the Dark Sun headquarters and couldn''t even join the feast.

    ...

    "I hope that when I enter the game, the innate seed hasn¡¯t died yet. Otherwise, it¡¯s over," Qi Yuan remarked casually.

    Since the game was still loading, he couldn''t interfere.

    So, for now, it was better not to worry about it and focus on dealing with the Dark Sun first.

    He glanced at the corpses in the Phoenix Palace, then returned to the Seeking Dao Palace without hesitation.

    "Sword God, you''re back so soon?"

    Seeing Qi Yuan, Old Man Seven Wounds looked surprised.

    Qi Yuan had just left a short while ago, and he was already back.

    Nothing really happened in the Phoenix Palace?

    "There was an incident in the Phoenix Palace!" Qi Yuan said sternly, his face serious, with a look of regret in his eyes. "Great Lord Jasmine conspired with a mysterious powerhouse to kill all the invited Yin Gods!

    After I arrived, that mysterious powerhouse tried to pull the same trick on me!

    But I counterattacked and killed them, along with Great Lord Jasmine!

    Now, the Phoenix Palace is littered with Yin God corpses. Gather some people to take care of them."

    Qi Yuan spoke quickly, briefly explaining the events that happened in the Phoenix Palace to Old Man Seven Wounds.

    Upon hearing this, Old Man Seven Wounds was shocked. "They are all dead?"

    "Yes, they¡¯re all dead. What a pity. I have to go to the Dark Sun and can''t join their feast. Remember to give them a proper send-off and make it grand," Qi Yuan added.

    Old Man Seven Wounds fell silent, many thoughts running through his mind.

    He was somewhat skeptical of what Qi Yuan had said.

    Great Lord Jasmine colluded with some mysterious powerhouse?

    In this world, there are only so many strong people. How many mysterious powerhouses could there be?

    He even suspected that because these people had offended Blood-Robed Sword God last time, he had wiped them all out.

    Thinking about this, he grew even more fearful of Blood-Robed Sword God.

    This is exactly the sort of thing that a god of slaughter like Blood-Robed Sword God would do.

    After explaining everything to Old Man Seven Wounds, Qi Yuan gave further instructions to Feng Jun to arrange for the invitation of Great Lord Wisdom to Qinghong City.

    Now, the number of cultivation techniques Qi Yuan had obtained was enough.

    He intended to continue advancing the Qi Yuan Sutra.

    He had a good idea of the path to the Purple Mansion.

    After all, he had already become a Supreme in the Flowing Wind World.

    However, as the saying goes, "Three ordinary people together can come up with strategies as good as Zhuge Liang."

    Qi Yuan felt he should borrow the brilliant mind of Great Lord Wisdom, which might provide unexpected benefits.

    Once everything was arranged, Qi Yuan observed the bustling scene of preparations for the feast at Seeking Dao Palace. He felt a deep sense of sadness.

    He couldn¡¯t join the feast.

    But he wasn''t foolish. Before leaving, he secretly stashed away a pork knuckle to eat on the way to the Dark Sun headquarters.

    ...

    You Tian Domain.

    A branch of Seeking Dao Palace.

    Over a hundred projections of Yin Gods were seated.

    Most of these Yin Gods were Great Sovereigns, with the weakest among them at the third step of Treading Heaven.

    These Yin Gods were almost entirely the representatives of the Yin God factions in the area governed by Seeking Dao Palace.

    There are thirty-three domains in the Canglan Realm, and the Seeking Dao Palace covers twenty of them.

    Besides the Central Heaven Domain and a few others, where the influence of Seeking Dao Palace hasn''t reached, they have branches everywhere else.

    At this moment, the chief palace master of Seeking Dao Palace, dressed in a purple robe and looking quite refined, asked, "What do you all think of the Origin God Sharing Society?"

    Initially, the palace master of Seeking Dao Palace had refused to consider Blood-Robed Sword God''s intention to collect all the world''s cultivation methods.

    In his view, the great calamity was inevitable.

    Even if the techniques were toxic, what of it?

    A small Great Sovereign daring to challenge the great calamity?

    He might have commended his bravery.

    But involving himself in collecting all the world''s techniques and trading them for methods from the Origin God Sharing Society was something he wouldn''t do.

    Moreover, since the Dark Sun had already sent the Four Generals of the Lei Family to kill Blood-Robed Sword God, the palace master naturally believed that Blood-Robed Sword God wouldn¡¯t survive this calamity.

    Hence, the notion of the Origin God Sharing Society collecting all techniques was just wishful thinking. He casually sent an envoy to deal with it.

    But things didn''t go as expected.

    Blood-Robed Sword God had actually slain the Four Generals of the Lei Family!

    Each of the Lei Family''s Four Generals was a peak expert at the sixth step of Treading Heaven, yet they were killed by Blood-Robed Sword God.

    The strength of Blood-Robed Sword God was beyond his expectations.

    With no Myth-level experts appearing, Blood-Robed Sword God was already the strongest in the Canglan Realm.

    Thus, when Qi Yuan later sent Great Sovereign Wu Jun to contact Seeking Dao Palace, this time, the palace master gave him some respect and contacted several major faction leaders.

    "Blood-Robed Sword God possesses power comparable to a Myth. Since he dares to strike against the Dark Sun, he must have some assurance," an elder with a kindly smile spoke. "I am willing to join the Origin God Sharing Society and provide some minor techniques, to support Blood-Robed Sword God."

    "I''m afraid Blood-Robed Sword God doesn''t understand the terror of the Dark Sun.

    Although we are not in the Central Heaven Domain, the Dark Sun has a Myth overseeing it!

    I, for one, won''t step into these troubled waters," said the head of the Divine Flower Society.

    The headquarters of the Divine Flower Society was also located in You Tian Domain.

    Once the head of the Divine Flower Society spoke, the atmosphere in the hall became tense, especially among the Great Sovereigns from You Tian Domain.

 Chapter 268: Is Qi Yuan Dead?

    Chapter 268: Is Qi Yuan Dead?

    The Dark Sun resided in the You Tian Domain.

    The Great Sovereigns of the You Tian Domain had some connections, more or less, with the Dark Sun.

    Some of the Yin Gods present were aware of this fact.

    ¡°I believe that you all should avoid getting involved in the conflict between the Dark Sun and the Blood-Robed Sword God, otherwise... the events of hundreds of thousands of years ago may repeat!¡± the Head of the Divine Flower Society spoke with a heavy tone.

    The Yin Gods present, upon hearing this, all had complicated expressions.

    Facing the great calamity, the many Yin Gods of the Canglan Realm had always let themselves be reaped.

    However, hundreds of thousands of years ago, there was a supreme powerhouse who led an army of Yin Gods to launch a terrifying battle against the great calamity.

    That battle was also known as the most hopeful battle in the history of the Canglan Realm.

    That powerhouse had even broken through to the Yang God Realm.

    But unfortunately...

    The outcome was tragic.

    None of the Yin Gods who participated in the battle survived.

    These Yin Gods were naturally aware of what had happened back then.

    The over one hundred Yin Gods remained silent, and none dared to speak.

    Then, the Great Sovereign who had spoken earlier, his hair white as snow, chuckled and said, ¡°What? Did all the Yin Gods with guts in the Canglan Realm die in that battle three hundred thousand years ago?¡±

    Great Sovereign Youhua''s words caused the Yin Gods or Great Sovereigns present to feel a sense of shame.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

    Because they were truly afraid.

    Back then, that supreme powerhouse had already reached the Yang God Realm and led nearly two-thirds of the Yin Gods of the Canglan Realm to attack the great calamity.

    The result... was a miserable end.

    All the Yin Gods who participated in the battle died.

    ¡°The Blood-Robed Sword God is only facing the Dark Sun, not the great calamity itself. Are you all afraid?¡± Great Sovereign Youhua spoke, his gaze firm. ¡°Three hundred thousand years ago, my father fell in the great calamity.

    Now... haha, my wife is pregnant, and I... am no longer afraid!¡±

    Great Sovereign Youhua''s bloodline was special, making it difficult for him to have offspring.

    Three hundred thousand years ago, his father went to slay the great calamity, but he had not yet had any children.

    To ensure the continuation of his bloodline, he had to stay behind.

    Now, he already had offspring, and his wife was pregnant again, so he had nothing to fear.

    ¡°I am too far from the You Tian Domain and cannot come, but I am willing to offer my cultivation techniques to assist the Blood-Robed Sword God!¡± a female Great Sovereign spoke up.

    ¡°I am willing too!¡±

    Many Great Sovereigns spoke up, all expressing their support for the Yuan Shen Sharing Society.

    Last time they were afraid, but this time... how could they be afraid again? Seeing this, Great Sovereign Wu Jun¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he cupped his hands, saying, ¡°Thank you, fellow Daoists!¡±

    The Yin Gods of the You Tian Domain chose to remain silent at this moment.

    The Head of the Divine Flower Society did not speak, and neither did these people express their stance.

    At this time, the Grand Palace Master of the Qiu Dao Palace spoke, ¡°In a few days, the Blood-Robed Sword God is supposed to arrive at the You Tian Domain. Head of the Divine Flower Society, you...¡±

    But before he could finish his words, the Head of the Divine Flower Society interrupted him.

    ¡°Hmph, you are not in the You Tian Domain and do not face the threat of the Dark Sun, so it¡¯s easy for you to speak.

    If I help this Blood-Robed Sword God today and he dies in the Dark Sun, then when the Dark Sun comes to settle accounts, they will naturally come for me.¡± The Head of the Divine Flower Society waved his sleeve, looking extremely angry. ¡°If the Blood-Robed Sword God had any sense, he should not provoke the Dark Sun and stir up trouble for no reason.

    Forgive me, but I will not be attending this gathering today!¡±

    After the Head of the Divine Flower Society finished speaking, his figure disappeared.

    The rest of the Yin Gods in the You Tian Domain also hurriedly excused themselves.

    ¡°Junior''s strength is weak, and I do not wish to get involved in such matters.¡±

    ¡°Farewell.¡±

    The remaining Yin Gods, seeing this, looked at each other with complicated expressions.

    Seeing this, Great Sovereign Youhua couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Ah, human nature...¡±

    Even though the Canglan Realm was like a pig farm, there were still some who wanted to be the leading pig, currying favor with their masters.

    ...

    In the You Tian Domain, at Fenglei Valley, which belonged to the Dark Sun.

    The projection of the Head of the Divine Flower Society appeared, and he looked at the mechanical bird in front of him, his eyes showing a humble expression.

    The Head of the Divine Flower Society, who was so dignified and impressive outside, was now groveling in the dust.

    A hint of anger flashed in the mechanical bird''s eyes. ¡°Coming to bother me over such a trivial matter while I''m in seclusion, where is Li Qiu Shen?¡±

    The Head of the Divine Flower Society hunched over. ¡°Lord Li dispatched the Lei Family''s Four Generals, but they have not returned.¡±

    ¡°Useless! They must have failed and are afraid to show their faces!¡± The mechanical bird said angrily, ¡°If I see him in the future, I will skin him alive!¡±

    The Head of the Divine Flower Society trembled even more.

    The lords in Fenglei Valley were more terrifying, one after another.

    Li Qiu Shen only liked to humiliate high-level cultivators, while this lord in front of him liked to torture both high-level cultivators and ordinary people.

    Moreover, he had a hobby of skinning people alive.

    The Head of the Divine Flower Society had once sent some cultivators to this lord for his amusement.

    Near Fenglei Valley, there was also a group of mortals raised, and from time to time, some would be sent into Fenglei Valley to be skinned alive by this lord.

    The old Purple Mansion cultivator looked at Qi Yuan and then said slowly, "Senior, this junior actually comes from the Central Heaven Domain!"

    Qi Yuan was slightly taken aback. "A city dweller?"

    The Central Heaven Domain was the true center of the Canglan Realm and also where the great calamity resided.

    It was rumored that 99% of the Mythical-level cultivators in the Canglan Realm resided in the Central Heaven Domain.

    The Purple Mansion cultivator continued, "Actually... the Canglan Realm has never ceased its resistance against the great calamity.

    In the Central Heaven Domain, nearly all the Mythical-level cultivators of the Canglan Realm have gathered. These Mythical-level powerhouses have formed an organization called ''Canglan.''

    This junior is a member of Canglan, sent to the You Tian Domain to monitor the Divine Flower Society and the Dark Sun.

    Senior, after eliminating the Lei Family''s Four Generals, your strength is formidable.

    Senior, why not... temporarily refrain from attacking the Dark Sun and instead go to the Central Heaven Domain?

    The Mythical-level cultivators in Canglan might join forces to help you ascend to the Mythical level."

    The old Purple Mansion cultivator''s words had multiple layers of meaning, and he spoke quite tactfully.

    He feared the Blood-Robed Sword God would perish in the Dark Sun.

    Thus, he tried to entice Qi Yuan to go to the Central Heaven Domain with the opportunity to reach the Mythical level and join forces with the Mythical cultivators of Canglan.

    "Thank you for your kindness, but for now... my strength is still low, and I am far from reaching the Mythical level.

    I will first destroy the Dark Sun, then consider whether to go to the Central Heaven Domain," Qi Yuan directly refused.

    He was currently only at the Nascent Soul True Monarch level.

    Although he was a top figure in Da Shang, in the Canglan Realm, his cultivation level was not that significant.

    Hearing this, the Purple Mansion cultivator sighed sadly.

    Actually, Canglan had not communicated with him for a long time, and he was essentially out of contact.

    All that he had just said was entirely out of his suggestions and good intentions.

    Seeing that he could not persuade Qi Yuan, the old Purple Mansion cultivator said, "I hope to see you destroy the Dark Sun and bring light back to the Canglan Realm!"

    He did not try to persuade him any further.

    "Since you''re here, do you have a map of Fenglei Valley?"

    "Senior, be careful!" The old Purple Mansion cultivator, full of emotion, handed the map to Qi Yuan.

    Obtaining the map to Fenglei Valley from the old Purple Mansion cultivator, Qi Yuan set off alone towards Fenglei Valley.

    About an hour later, Qi Yuan stopped in a forest.

    Ahead, the forest was dense, and the spiritual energy was weak, almost like that of a mortal country in the Da Shang Kingdom.

    Because of the thin spiritual energy, there were no cultivation sects within a thousand-mile radius, only a few mortal countries.

    Even if an ordinary cultivator from You Tian Domain came here, they wouldn''t expect that within this forest lay the most terrifying force of the You Tian Domain¡ªthe Dark Sun.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan stood within the forest, his gaze calm.

    ¡°Damn Fenglei Valley, if I want to get inside, I have to wait here for four days!¡±

    According to the old Purple Mansion cultivator, there were only two ways to enter Fenglei Valley.

    Fenglei Valley was not located in the main world of the Canglan Realm but was within a secret realm, and entering it was rather complicated.

    The first way was to gain entry through Fenglei Valley from the inside.

    However, when Qi Yuan first arrived, he had cursed here for several minutes, yet Fenglei Valley remained tightly shut.

    In fact, the Head of the Divine Flower Society inside Fenglei Valley naturally knew that Qi Yuan had arrived.

    But he had just obtained control over the puppets and wasn''t yet familiar with them, so he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to let the Blood-Robed Sword God in.

    Although the Blood-Robed Sword God hadn''t left his name on the Mythical Monument, what if he did possess Mythical-level strength?

    To be cautious, he did not immediately open the entrance to the secret realm to let Qi Yuan in.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan could only use the second method to enter.

    Forced entry.

    Forced entry required him to play chess on the chessboard ahead for four days straight.

    After four days, regardless of whether he won or lost, the entrance to Fenglei Valley would open.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan sat on a stone bench, his eyes closed, his mind integrating and analyzing the cultivation techniques he had obtained to perfect the "Qi Yuan Sutra."

    His hand occasionally dropped a piece onto the chessboard.

    Dressed in a blood-red robe, he now appeared refined and elegant as he quietly played chess.

    A few farmers gathering firewood on the mountain watched Qi Yuan from a distance, their eyes filled with curiosity, but they dared not approach this strange man.

    After some time, with several hundred pieces already placed on the board, Qi Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.

    "Qi Yuan is dead?"

    Indeed, his character, formed by the Xiantian Seed, had died suddenly.

    He sat on the stone bench, somewhat speechless, itching to enter the game to see what had happened.

    "This game starts off... with a death... How am I supposed to play?"

    At this moment, in the unknown world.

    A brand-new grave had been built, and Qi Yuan¡¯s body was buried instead of cremated.

    On his tombstone, there was even something resembling a QR code; scanning it would reveal the biography of his life.

    In front of the tombstone, there was only a single bouquet of flowers, looking particularly desolate.

    (End of Chapter)

 Chapter 269: You Mere Yin Gods, Just Fame-Seekers

    Chapter 269: You Mere Yin Gods, Just Fame-Seekers

    Qi Yuan felt rather helpless.

    The game hadn''t even started yet, and his character was already dead.

    "This Xiantian Seed is really useless. Its gaming skills are terrible. Probably just a Bronze rank?"

    Qi Yuan sighed deeply.

    The reward from the last game sounded quite grand.

    But in reality, was this all?

    It would have been better if he had personally intervened.

    He casually glanced at the game icon, which had loaded about two-thirds of the way.

    "Judging by this time flow, if I wait to enter, even my bones might have turned to dust by then."

    Qi Yuan sighed, not thinking too much about it, and continued to sit on the stone bench, waiting quietly.

    ...

    Maple Forest Town was a small town in the mortal realm. Due to the abundance of maple trees in the area, with leaves as red as fire, many young people from wealthy families often came here to play during certain seasons.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

    At this moment, on a carriage, Chen Xiyu lifted the curtain, her face showing a look of curiosity.

    "A strange man in a red robe appeared in the Beiye Forest, playing chess on a mountain?"

    "Yes, Miss. Some woodcutters passing by saw him, but that person''s attire was too strange, so no one dared to approach," the maid replied.

    Chen Xiyu''s eyes lit up, "Xiaoxi, do you think that person... could be a legendary immortal?"

    In the mortal world, within a thousand-mile radius, there were always rumors of immortals.

    But Chen Xiyu had never seen an immortal before.

    Since she was young, she had been fond of stories about ghosts and strange tales, and she was particularly interested in such things.

    "Don''t! Miss, what if he¡¯s a bad person! Recently, there have been a lot of skinning incidents in the city. Miss, you''d better not venture into the deep mountains and forests so casually!" the maid Xiaoxi quickly advised.

    Maple Forest Town had never been very peaceful.

    A few days ago, another skinning incident occurred. In a village near Maple Forest Town, overnight, two hundred households woke up from their sleep and suddenly found that more than half of the villagers had been skinned in their sleep. It was bloody and terrifying.

    The townspeople of Maple Forest Town and the surrounding cities were in a panic.

    After all, in the Kingdom of Hui, skinning incidents occurred from time to time.

    The king had even once spent a great fortune to invite a celestial master from thousands of miles away, but to no avail.

    The skinning incidents continued to occur.

    Chen Xiyu shook her head, her attitude firm.

    "I want to go and see for myself."

    Two hours later, accompanied by several guards, Chen Xiyu headed towards Beiye Forest.

    The forest was filled with shrubs and thorns, and even with the guards clearing the way, Chen Xiyu''s fair arms still bore several bloody scratches.

    Yet, she remained enthusiastic and excited.

    "Miss, look, over there!"

    At this moment, the maid Xiaoxi pointed ahead, her face beaming with delight.

    Chen Xiyu looked over, her eyes filled with curiosity.

    Deep in the forest ahead, a man in a red robe was sitting serenely on a stone bench. His eyes were closed, but from his profile, one could still discern his handsome features.

    "There is actually such a handsome man in this world," Chen Xiyu couldn''t help but stare.

    Her once fair arm now seemed rather rough in comparison.

    "He must not be an ordinary person!" Chen Xiyu''s heart leapt with joy.

    She wanted to seek a celestial fate and find the real culprit behind the skinning incidents.

    "Miss, should we go over and ask?" Xiaoxi suggested.

    Chen Xiyu quickly shook her head, "His eyes are closed, perhaps he is busy with something; we must not disturb him."

    Chen Xiyu hesitated a bit, daring only to look at the man in the blood-red robe from a distance.

    After about an hour had passed, the man remained seated, motionless, occasionally reaching out to place a black stone on the chessboard.

    This demeanor only strengthened Chen Xiyu''s belief that the man in the blood-red robe before her was no mere mortal.

    "Let''s go back!" Chen Xiyu made up her mind. She knew she had to seize this opportunity.

    Why would an immortal so casually bestow a blessing upon her?

    She was just an ordinary person, not some chosen protagonist of the world.

    She decided to return home and gather all the gold, silver, and treasures she had saved over the years, along with the various rare and unique items she had collected, to offer to the immortal in exchange for a chance at immortality.

    She quickly returned home and gathered all her savings.

    However, her actions also drew suspicion from her family.

    Her cousin heard the news and did not look pleased: "With Second Uncle not at home, you¡¯re just going to give away the family''s treasures like this?"

    "Little sister, these are troubled times. Don¡¯t be deceived by a swindler.

    Any random bumpkin can dress up and deceive people. Do you believe every little trick?"

    Facing her cousin, Chen Xiyu didn¡¯t offer much explanation and simply said, "This is my money!"

    She finished speaking and turned to leave.

    Her cousin watched Chen Xiyu''s departing figure, her eyes filled with pity, "Little sister is still too naive. How could there be so many immortals in this world?

    Even if they are immortals, why would they so easily bestow blessings? More often than not, they take everything and give nothing in return. People are treacherous, and immortals even more so."

    In this country, such incidents were common. Some lord or other would encounter an immortal, offer half of their fortune for a chance at immortality.

    But those so-called immortals would usually just take the fortune and the promised blessings... were mostly just lies.

    That way, she would have some backing upon entering the world of cultivation.

    "Well, I''m off to kill someone. This is where we part ways."

    After the chessboard shattered, a door appeared in the distance, suspended in the air.

    Qi Yuan transformed into a streak of light and passed through the door.

    Seeing this, Chen Xiyu was taken aback. "The immortal can fly... Could he be a legendary... Foundation Establishment ancestor?"

    She was also overjoyed. If an immortal of the Foundation Establishment realm had granted her celestial fate, she had truly hit the jackpot.

    According to ancient records, when such celestial beings descended, even the king would kneel in reverence.

    This was a true big-shot immortal!

    Beside her, Xiaoxi, the maid, felt both excited and thrilled.

    She decided that when she returned, she would write down this entire experience and turn it into a book.

    At the end of the book, she would include an account of how the lady entered the world of cultivation and how the Foundation Establishment ancestor fought the skinning monster.

    ...

    At this moment, inside Fenglei Valley.

    A blood-colored figure appeared, holding a blood-red long sword, standing in mid-air.

    The sky behind him seemed to be dyed red, like a sea of blood.

    Any cultivator who saw this would think he was a terrifying demon.

    "Dark Sun''s white moonlights, your undertaker has arrived!"

    His voice rolled like thunder, resounding throughout the entire Fenglei Valley secret realm.

    Cracks appeared on the ground, and the earth trembled. Flames and thunderous energy spread out, instantly turning Fenglei Valley into a scene of hell.

    Fires burned, thunder roared.

    The sound of the earth shaking also echoed at this moment.

    Numerous towering giants could be seen moving across the ground.

    These giants were thousands of meters tall and incredibly burly. Each one was like a mountain, exuding a terrifying aura.

    In the outside world, this kind of formidable force would be enough to sweep across various domains.

    Facing these more than thirty puppets, Qi Yuan''s expression remained unchanged.

    "Not bad, the numbers are decent."

    Good numbers and decent strength also meant that Fenglei Valley had plenty of valuable treasures.

    "So many high-quality white moonlights appearing all at once. I''m almost embarrassed."

    Despite saying this, Qi Yuan''s eyes gleamed.

    "Hehe, Blood-Robed Sword God, you''ve finally come." At this moment, an old ghostly figure appeared. He looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes filled with amusement.

    "You... You''re the permission dog!" Qi Yuan''s eyes suddenly turned furious. "Well, well, you''re the one who muted me, huh!"

    Being muted for the first time in his life, Qi Yuan was naturally furious.

    The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society squinted his eyes. Now that he had control over all the puppets, even facing a formidable figure like the Blood-Robed Sword God, he was quite bold.

    "It wasn''t to mute you, but to protect the members of the Divine Flower Society.

    Blood-Robed Sword God, you''re really not a wise man.

    Canglan Realm is vast and full of talents. Do you think you''re the only one who has discovered something wrong with the cultivation techniques? Others have noticed it too, but they''ve all chosen to keep a low profile and not spread the word.

    Yet you broadcast it everywhere, causing unrest, which is bound to create turmoil within Dark Sun.

    If other members of the Divine Flower Society believe you, Dark Sun might decide to take them out as well.

    So... I was protecting them!"

    The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society spoke confidently, as if he were in the right.

    "Only by silencing you can this disaster not spread further."

    "Sigh, if only you had settled for being ignorant, none of this calamity would have befallen you.

    Even though the Great Calamity is terrifying, there is still a slim chance for us to survive.

    But by drawing so much attention to yourself, you''ll not only perish but also drag down those Yin Gods who wish to keep to themselves.

    For the sake of your own reputation, you provoke the Great Calamity, causing it to slaughter indiscriminately. You are the true hypocrite and selfish one! Fortunately, your actions are so high-profile that we won''t have to wait for the Great Calamity. You''ll die today."

    This was the belief and perspective of the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society.

    The Great Calamity was overwhelmingly powerful and unbeatable. If so, why resist?

    Not resisting might mean some cultivators would die, but with a bit of luck, others could live in peace.

    But resistance was certain death.

    In his view, all those Yin Gods daring to strike against the Great Calamity were just fame-seekers.

    For the sake of their reputation, they didn''t care about the lives of their peers.

    If their deeds went unnoticed, who knows if they would even dare to strike against the Great Calamity.

    "You old bastard, you''re just like the folks at the Palace of Light. Since that''s the case... I''ll send you to reunite with the folks there," Qi Yuan waved his hand dismissively, looking utterly disgusted.

    He had to admit, he saw the shadow of the old man from the Palace of Light in the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society.

    They always spoke of the bigger picture, but in reality, it was all about their own benefits.

    If they were just looking out for themselves, being honest about it would be fine. But they had to play the hypocrite, making them repulsive.

    As the saying goes, they were the kind to act like a whore while trying to put up a chastity arch.

    "Blood-Robed Sword God, you may be strong enough to easily destroy the Palace of Light and even kill the Four Generals of the Lei Family.

    But this is Fenglei Valley. Even a myth-level figure from the Central Sky Domain would surely die here.

    Today, I shall use your blood to forge my supreme achievement!" The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society, confident of his victory, looked at Qi Yuan as if he were already a dead man.

 Chapter 270: I Am Themâ€¦

    Chapter 270: I Am Them...

    Alongside the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society, more than twenty Yin Gods wore cold expressions on their faces.

    They were all Yin Gods from the Nether Sky Domain, who had long since secretly pledged their allegiance to Dark Sun under the leadership of the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society.

    They looked at Qi Yuan with the gaze one would have for a dead man.

    "Who would have thought that we would have the honor of witnessing the fall of such a peerless Great Sovereign!"

    They were merely sovereigns, extremely humble in the presence of a Great Sovereign.

    In front of Dark Sun''s overseers, they were even more humble, to the point of groveling.

    Now, upon seeing Qi Yuan, they could only mock him.

    "After cultivating for so many years, you still have such a small mind, like a pathetic nobody," Qi Yuan retorted, lifting the banner of grandeur himself.

    He didn''t bother with more words and shouted out loud.

    "My enemies, come out and face your death!"

    His voice was like thunder, causing the entire Fenglei Valley secret realm to tremble, and even space itself seemed to warp.

    The sound was so powerful it could wipe out an entire nation.

    The faces of the Yin God sovereigns turned deathly pale because just the sound alone made their spirits shake, their divine spiritual power waver, and it felt like they were facing an unfathomable demon.

    The expression of the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society also shifted dramatically.

    He had anticipated the strength gap between himself and the Blood-Robed Sword God, but he hadn''t imagined it would be this vast.

    Could it be... that the Blood-Robed Sword God was on the brink of achieving Myth-level?

    "If you''re in such a hurry to die, then let me fulfill your wish!"

    The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society roared, and above him, a mechanical bird appeared.

    "You are strong, but I have thirty-six puppets on par with the Lei Family''s Four Generals. Come forth!"

    With the Grand Master''s command, the ground of Fenglei Valley shook, cracks appeared, and terrifying figures emerged one by one.

    A two-headed man wielded a golden spear, his eyes devoid of pupils, and his body clad in tattered armor, as if it had withstood a million years, completely decayed.

    A colossal dragon-elephant roared, each hoof as large as a small mountain.

    One terrifying figure after another appeared, their aura unbearably oppressive.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes flashed with a cold glint, and he etched the appearance of each puppet into his memory.

    Because these puppets were all former Myth-level powerhouses who had resisted the Great Calamity.

    Unfortunately, after their deaths, they were refined into puppets, wreaking havoc on the world.

    Today, after their fall, the world would likely forget them.

    "Are these puppets enough to kill you?" The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society was wildly arrogant.

    Thirty-six powerhouses, each on par with those who had reached the sixth step of the Heaven-Treading Path, was indeed a terrifying accumulation.

    He had learned from the great lords of the Upper Realm that even there, not every world could boast such a force.

    Without a Myth-level figure, these thirty-six powerhouses were enough to sweep through the world.

    Even a Myth-level figure, facing thirty-six sixth-step Heaven-Treading experts who would risk their lives, would have to retreat.

    "First of all, they''re not puppets. Secondly, they''re not enough. Lastly, I''m in a hurry; I want to go and enjoy my own feast, so hurry up!"

    He could sense that the incarnation created by his innate seed was about to perish. If he didn''t attend his own feast, wouldn''t that be a waste?

    Besides, he didn''t know if he even had a funeral, or if anyone would attend.

    "Madman!" The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society sneered, "In that case, I''ll send you off."

    "Come forth, Four Heavenly Generals!"

    With a shout, the Grand Master¡¯s face was filled with frenzied excitement.

    The Four Heavenly Generals, in life, were powerful Myths on the verge of reaching the Sun God realm.

    Otherwise, even as puppets, they wouldn''t retain Myth-level combat strength.

    The four of them were the strongest trump card in Fenglei Valley!

    Qi Yuan looked over and saw the void ahead ripple.

    The space seemed like a wall, and four windows were torn open. Four powerful figures appeared at that moment.

    Looking at these four, Qi Yuan''s eyes turned cold.

    The four were completely naked¡ªtwo men and two women¡ªwith bronze or alabaster skin, but all of them bore traces of damage.

    One of them, a long-haired man, had a hole in his throat, seemingly filled with some metallic substance, but blood still seemed to ooze out.

    Some had broken limbs, forcibly stitched together with thread, pieced back into their current form.

    The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society looked deranged and frenzied. He inserted his finger into the mouth of one of the Myth puppets, as if he were a god ruling the world, making even Myth-level experts his slaves.

    "With these four Myths out, who in the Canglan Realm dares to disobey!"

    Now, with his crazed expression, he seemed like a Myth himself.

    "Hmph!"

    Qi Yuan snorted coldly.

    Divine power erupted at that moment.

    The entire Fenglei Valley was instantly dragged into a virtual domain.

    The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society wasn''t surprised. Instead, he arrogantly shouted, "Kill!"

    At his command, the thirty-six Heaven-Treading sixth-step sovereigns turned their gazes towards Qi Yuan in unison.

    Their eyes were devoid of any emotion.

    Thirty-six domains were unleashed simultaneously, all aimed at Qi Yuan.

    The combined pressure of these thirty-six domains would force even a Myth to avoid them.

    "So what if you killed the Lei Family''s Four Generals? There are thirty-six sixth-step Heaven-Treading experts here!"

    "A one-sided battle is so boring," the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society said lightly.

    Qi Yuan surprisingly agreed with his adversary''s statement, "Indeed, it is boring.

    What kind of domain was this? What sort of sword could do this?

    Moreover, he sensed that the four Myth puppets seemed on the verge of breaking free from his control.

    But Qi Yuan ignored the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society.

    He swung his sword again and again.

    His domain continuously infiltrated and extended into the domains of the four generals.

    "Block him, quickly! Kill him!" the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society shouted frantically.

    However, the Four Heavenly Generals'' domains seemed entirely undefended against Qi Yuan¡¯s invasion, allowing him to devour them at will.

    The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society was gripped with fear.

    A terrifying thought crossed his mind as he recalled Qi Yuan''s words, claiming that he was all these puppets.

    Could it be... that Qi Yuan was a collective of these powerful spirits'' remnants?

    He entertained countless thoughts.

    He could never have known that Qi Yuan''s miniature domain was a fusion of the Three Purities, innate true spirits, and the Devouring Origin Body.

    These three horrors were enough to make even Yang Gods tremble, forming Qi Yuan''s domain.

    "No... You''ve been destroyed once by the Great Calamity, and you''ll be destroyed a second time!" the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society stammered in terror.

    Because he realized that his control over the puppets was weakening.

    Qi Yuan''s domain continued to devour.

    This was a completely one-sided battle.

    Unable to endure any longer, he tried to stall for time, hoping for survival.

    "Spare me, and I¡¯ll give you the method to control these meat puppets.

    In the future, you could have four Myth-level slaves and thirty-six sixth-step Heaven-Treading Great Sovereigns!"

    He didn''t actually have the method to control the puppets; he was just trying to buy time and survive.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the puppets and felt a surge of complex emotions.

    "In life, these predecessors refused to be confined by the Canglan Realm and fought for freedom.

    Now that they have died, how could I possibly control their corpses and prevent them from finding peace even in death?"

    Qi Yuan considered himself a righteous man, and such an act was beyond his capabilities.

    His words left the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society dumbfounded.

    To him, Qi Yuan seemed either hypocritical or foolish.

    To forsake such enormous benefits for the sake of reputation?

    "Senior, if you don''t want to control these meat puppets, I would gladly serve as your hand to control them on your behalf!" the Grand Master quickly offered.

    He had long lost all sense of pride, valuing his life above all else.

    He thought Qi Yuan was just posturing, so he figured he would take on the dirty work.

    "Killing you, I''m afraid, would dirty my hands," Qi Yuan said disdainfully, glaring at the Grand Master.

    The Grand Master seemed relieved, thinking Qi Yuan might spare him.

    But then he heard Qi Yuan¡¯s cold words.

    "Luckily, I wash my hands daily, so I¡¯m not afraid of a little dirt!"

    As Qi Yuan spoke, the blood-red sword sliced through the skies of Fenglei Valley.

    None of the Yin God puppets resisted, allowing the sword to pierce toward the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society.

    The ordinary Yin God Sovereigns panicked and fled frantically.

    But their speed could never match Qi Yuan''s sword light or the spread of his domain.

    The Yin Gods of the Nether Sky Domain, who were previously so arrogant, couldn¡¯t even scream as they silently perished within Qi Yuan''s domain.

    As for the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society, he was skewered by Qi Yuan''s sword in an instant.

    "Your domain is too filthy; I won¡¯t even bother devouring it. Stirring you up with a sword feels cleaner."

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan rotated his wrist, spinning his sword clockwise and then counterclockwise, as if churning the Grand Master¡¯s insides.

    His body disintegrated instantly, vanishing into nothingness.

    The Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society¡¯s face still bore an expression of disbelief.

    He could never understand why Qi Yuan would forsake such immense benefits just to kill him.

    In a single breath, all the Yin Gods of the Nether Sky Domain fell to Qi Yuan¡¯s hands.

    Qi Yuan held his blood-red sword and gazed at the thirty-six Heaven-Treading Great Sovereigns and four Myth-level powerhouses.

    His eyes carried a hint of complexity.

    "Qi Yuan of the Shenguang Sect, here today to send you venerable seniors off on your journey."

    With a slash, the entire sky turned blood-red.

    It seemed as though the heavens were bleeding or crying.

    All the puppets didn¡¯t resist; they remained still, allowing the sword to fall upon them.

    Crack!

    They shattered into pieces.

    The bodies of forty powerhouses disappeared without a trace.

    Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth, and they vanished from the Canglan Realm.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze deepened further as he muttered to himself, "Now... their domains have become a part of mine. Doesn¡¯t that mean that by killing the Great Calamity, I¡¯m avenging myself?"

    Of course, these once-fallen powerhouses couldn¡¯t transform into his Nascent Souls like his subjects.

    Killing the Great Calamity to avenge himself somewhat made sense.

    Thinking about this, a smile crossed Qi Yuan¡¯s face.

    He was indeed very busy.

    Not only did he have to rush to attend his own feast, but he also had to busy himself with avenging himself.

 Chapter 271: A New Plan, Cutting a Deal

    Chapter 271: A New Plan, Cutting a Deal

    The Divine Flower Society forum was now eerily quiet.

    Previously, when the Blood-Robed Sword God had posted a message, it had caused a wave of discussion within the forum.

    However, after the Blood-Robed Sword God was banned and his post disappeared, that wave had calmed down.

    Currently, in a chat group named "Blood-Robed Sword God Fan Group," Foxhole Xiao Li was speaking passionately.

    "What the Blood-Robed Sword God said must be true. The techniques we''ve been practicing are definitely toxic!"

    This chat group was established under the guidance and suggestion of the Blood-Robed Sword God himself.

    Now, about a hundred cultivators had joined.

    This was the core group; there were more in other groups, but they hadn''t passed the test to enter this one.

    Currently, Foxhole Xiao Li had become the leader of the Blood-Robed Sword God''s fans.

    "Yes, what the Blood-Robed Sword God said must be true. Otherwise, how could his post disappear so mysteriously? And whenever someone asked about it, their posts would also disappear!"

    "There are enemies within the Divine Flower Society, and they hold high positions!"

    "Do you think... it could be the Grand Master himself?" a cultivator reasonably speculated.

    The branch master of the Divine Flower Society in the Eastern Land had long been subdued by the Blood-Robed Sword God and would never dare to ban him.

    There were only a few people with the authority and courage to ban the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    "If it really is him, then we''re in big trouble!" a cultivator exclaimed.

    The Blood-Robed Sword God is indeed a senior Yin God, and among the Yin God Sovereigns, he is considered quite powerful.

    However, compared to the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society, a colossal figure, the Blood-Robed Sword God was still a junior.

    "One of the seniors in my clan, a Yin God, once said that the gap between each level of the Yin God realm is even greater than the gap between major realms below the Yin God realm!

    If the Blood-Robed Sword God has offended the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society, he is in great danger!"

    "Damn it, I can''t get in touch with the Blood-Robed Sword God right now!"

    "I hope the senior will be careful!"

    "There are enemies in the Canglan Realm, and there are also villains in the Divine Flower Society. Only the Blood-Robed Sword God has a heart of pure gold!

    All the bad people in the world are ganging up to bully the senior!"

    "Unfortunately, I''m too useless to do anything for the senior!"

    "Sigh, I feel so sorry for the senior. I wish I could take his pain for him. He''s probably having a hard time right now."

    "Does anyone have connections to get in touch with the Grand Master? We could apologize on behalf of the senior!"

    "No, we can''t bow to evil forces!"

    Anyway, the group chat was filled with various concerns about Qi Yuan, with an air of fanatical devotion.

    At that moment, someone suddenly spoke up.

    "Look! The Blood-Robed Sword God has reappeared!"

    "What? The senior is back!"

    "Ahhhh!"

    The group members hurriedly logged into the forum to check the post by the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    Foxhole Xiao Li also looked delighted and nervous.

    She knew that the Blood-Robed Sword God being banned was a big deal, a very big deal.

    A single misstep, and the Blood-Robed Sword God could fall into an irreparable situation.

    At this moment, a post pinned to the top of the forum caught everyone''s eyes.

    [I, the Blood-Robed Sword God, killed the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society in anger to lift my ban!]

    "Some time ago, I revealed a big secret about the Canglan Realm here¡ªthe cultivation techniques are toxic.

    As a result, I was banned.

    I was furious.

    Living in the Canglan Realm, every brother and sister in the Divine Flower Society has the right to speak!

    I was banned, and I was resentful. After investigating, I found out it was that old dog, the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society, who banned me.

    I was very angry.

    That old dog has sided with evil and committed atrocities. I couldn''t stand it!

    So, I raised the banner of justice and traveled thousands of miles to the Nether Sky Domain.

    Many Yin Gods of the Nether Sky Domain colluded with the Grand Master.

    Over thirty Yin Gods banded together; they betrayed their faith and served the darkness.

    So, I fought alone and killed all these Yin Gods!

    Justice triumphed over evil, and I can finally speak freely on the forum again.

    By the way, today is Crazy Star... No, evil has not been completely eradicated yet. I need your support. Upload your techniques and help me defeat the Great Calamity!"

    Qi Yuan wrote a lengthy post and felt very satisfied.

    After posting, he waited for the comments to roll in.

    "Did the senior really kill the Grand Master???"

    "The tone of this post seems a bit off. Could it be a fake Blood-Robed Sword God?"

    Qi Yuan saw this comment and was instantly enraged: "Nonsense, you''re banned!"

    Why couldn¡¯t I have found this sooner?

    Want to know how to play? Come help me out and give me a cut!"

    Qi Yuan had already decided to be his own shill.

    First, he would create a persona for himself.

    Born into poverty, he worked hard; his senior brother bullied him, his elders didn¡¯t favor him, and his goddess-like senior sister ignored him. The sect''s deacon made things difficult.

    But with the techniques he exchanged from the Divine Flower Society, he finally struck it rich, obtained Heaven-grade techniques, and won the admiration of the sect leader''s daughter, his junior sister, and the favor of the elders!

    From then on, he could share his experiences daily, which would surely stimulate many people to come and exchange techniques.

    ¡°There¡¯s strength in numbers.

    Back in my previous life, that online shopping platform became so popular.

    With so many people in the Divine Flower Society, crowdfunding a divine technique shouldn''t be a problem, right?¡±

    After posting, Qi Yuan felt refreshed.

    ¡°Everything is set!¡±

    In the Wind and Thunder Valley, Qi Yuan also gained quite a harvest.

    First, he obtained the jade slip of the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society; later, he collected a pile of techniques.

    There were also many techniques in Dark Sun. Just counting the Heaven-grade techniques alone, Qi Yuan obtained hundreds.

    There were even some upper Heaven-grade techniques.

    Qi Yuan naturally added these techniques to the Origin God Sharing Society and the rewards for the Divine Flower Society.

    Even if the Yin Gods went all out, gathering their clan¡¯s strength, and frantically inviting people to cut a deal to push their progress bar to 100%, he would say, "Sorry, there¡¯s still 1,000% above 100%."

    ¡°It¡¯s time to leave.¡±

    After setting everything up, Qi Yuan left the Wind and Thunder Valley.

    ...

    Shenguang Sect, Seven Colors Peak.

    Jiang Lingsu took a sip of fish soup and burped in satisfaction.

    ¡°I can¡¯t eat any more. I need to watch my weight and figure!¡±

    After diligently cultivating, Jiang Lingsu finally reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

    Even in her family, she was considered to be progressing fast.

    ¡°I wonder how Senior Brother is doing now?¡± Jiang Lingsu thought of Qi Yuan, missing him deeply.

    Today, her family had contacted her through Sister Jiang Ya.

    The content of the contact was simple¡ªjust persuading her to return home.

    After all, to the Jiang family, the Shenguang Sect was just a small sect, and Jiang Lingsu, being a direct descendant, would certainly receive better guidance at home than at the Shenguang Sect.

    The Jiang family urged Jiang Lingsu to return.

    Not only that, they had thoughtfully selected a low-born but handsome and highly talented... husband for her.

    That¡¯s right, someone who would marry into the Jiang family.

    It showed just how much the Jiang family cherished Jiang Lingsu.

    The Jiang family said that the young man was exceptionally handsome, highly talented, and was expected to reach the Nascent Soul stage within a hundred years. He even had a slight chance of becoming a Purple Mansion cultivator!

    Jiang Lingsu flatly refused and added, ¡°My Senior Brother has already reached the Nascent Soul stage, and that guy isn''t even worth one of my Senior Brother''s leg hairs!¡±

    This upset her father greatly.

    His daughter was only sixteen years old, but her Senior Brother was already a Nascent Soul cultivator.

    In a small place like the Great Shang Kingdom, which Nascent Soul cultivator wasn¡¯t a nearly thousand-year-old old man?

    Listening to his daughter¡¯s tone, it seemed like she had a favorable impression of this Senior Brother.

    How could Jiang Zhihua not be furious?

    He was still a handsome young man of just over three hundred years old, and now some thousand-year-old old monster wanted to take his daughter away? How could he not be furious, heading straight to the Great Shang Kingdom in the middle of the night!

    After all, he was already a century-old Golden Core cultivator when he married his younger martial sister, who had just started her cultivation journey.

    His daughter''s Senior Brother probably had the same idea.

    He was determined to teach that old fox a lesson!

    Currently, Jiang Ruhua was on his way to the Great Shang Kingdom.

    No longer thinking about these things, Jiang Lingsu sent her consciousness into the Divine Flower Society''s jade slip.

    Her expression immediately changed.

    ¡°Divine techniques?¡±

    She looked at the overall progress bar showing 1%, feeling indifferent.

    Divine techniques were too far out of her reach.

    Her interest lay in her personal progress bar.

    ¡°If I exchange for a technique and give it to Senior Brother, he will surely be pleased!¡±

    Moreover, donating techniques and earning rewards felt great.

    But in the next moment, she saw a post, and her expression changed.

    [Brothers, I exchanged another technique!]

 Chapter 272: Low Emotional Intelligenceâ€ Jiang Lingsu

    Chapter 272: ¡°Low Emotional Intelligence¡± Jiang Lingsu

    ¡°This is... Senior Brother...¡±

    The username of the person posting was none other than Origin Heavenly Sovereign.

    She knew this was her Senior Brother, Qi Yuan.

    Because of this, seeing the content of the post made her gnash her teeth in frustration.

    "Cold-shouldered by Senior Sister Xianxian, I exchanged for a Jade-level technique. But then, Big-Chested Junior Sister accidentally found out about it. Little Junior Sister sends me secret glances? Pours tea? Massages my shoulders?"

    Reading the content, Jiang Lingsu gritted her teeth. She glanced down at herself, her face slightly flushed.

    "Senior Brother, what are you doing!"

    She demanded an explanation through the Divine Flower Society''s jade slip.

    Not long after, a message came back through the jade slip.

    "I''m at a banquet. Sigh, a close relative of mine passed away, and I¡¯m here attending their feast."

    At that moment, Qi Yuan was at a banquet at the Chen family in Fengcheng.

    After leaving Fenglei Valley, he noticed Chen Xiyu still waiting outside for him.

    Originally, he hadn¡¯t planned on paying much attention.

    But then he remembered that his in-game self had just died and hadn''t even attended his own funeral feast.

    So, he accepted Chen Xiyu¡¯s invitation and arranged for the Chen family to prepare a banquet for him.

    Now, he was happily attending his own feast.

    On the other end, upon hearing her Senior Brother¡¯s response, Jiang Lingsu felt a tightness in her chest.

    The anger she had felt moments before disappeared completely.

    Could it be... that a relative from Senior Brother¡¯s mortal life had passed away? But, she had never heard Senior Brother mention his background.

    She quickly tried to comfort him, saying, ¡°Senior Brother, don''t be too sad. You still have the Seven-Colored Peak, and you still have your Junior Sister with you.

    Where are you right now? Do you want me to come and see you?¡±

    ¡°To be honest, I wasn¡¯t originally sad, but after hearing what you said, I feel I should be a bit more saddened.

    Ah, Qi Yuan, you died so tragically.

    Junior Sister, eat a bit more today, to bring some more life to my funeral feast.¡±

    As the saying goes, the more people who attend a feast, the more glorious the deceased¡¯s life was.

    So Qi Yuan also suggested his Junior Sister eat more.

    ¡°Who are you!¡± Jiang Lingsu was stunned for a moment, feeling her blood rush to her head, her chest hurting fiercely. ¡°What have you done to my Senior Brother? If anything happens to him, I, Jiang Lingsu, will not forgive you!¡±

    Because... she saw someone attending Qi Yuan¡¯s funeral feast.ViiSiit  for latest novels

    She feared that something bad had happened to her Senior Brother, and that now it was some villain speaking from the other side.

    ¡°I am your Senior Brother. Junior Sister, don''t overthink it,¡± Qi Yuan also understood Jiang Lingsu''s concern, and his heart felt warm¡ªthere were still people in the world who cared about him. ¡°I¡¯m attending the feast of my in-game character.

    Alas, he died young and tragically.¡±

    ¡°Game character?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu was momentarily stunned, and the feeling of the world collapsing disappeared instantly. She clutched her chest, a cold smile appearing on her face.

    So he was attending the funeral of a game character?

    This style of talking¡ªit really was like Senior Brother.

    Her worries vanished.

    Then came the anger.

    She suddenly remembered why she had contacted her Senior Brother in the first place.

    ¡°Senior Brother, what do you mean by what you said on the Divine Flower Society¡¯s forum? Big-Chested Junior Sister is sending you secret glances?¡±

    She thought of that day when she had just been healed by her Senior Brother and had emerged from the bath, draped in a thin gauze. Because of the treatment, she had naturally been lightly dressed. The blue bustier, though tightly tied, covered only two-thirds of the snow-white mounds, and as she walked, they bounced slightly, as if they were about to burst out.

    So, this was why Senior Brother would use the term "Big-Chested Junior Sister" to describe her, Jiang Lingsu thought.

    "Ahem, I just made it up," Qi Yuan replied honestly. "Although I did borrow some elements from your persona when describing the Little Junior Sister, I definitely didn¡¯t plagiarize!

    Junior Sister, if you want to pursue this, I¡¯m willing to pay you... three hundred spirit stones as a copyright fee!¡±

    ¡°Is this... about spirit stones?¡± Jiang Lingsu wanted to kick her Senior Brother.

    ¡°You misunderstood, it''s not just three hundred in total, but three hundred per month!¡± Qi Yuan praised himself for his cleverness because he was only planning to pretend for a month.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Jiang Lingsu snorted coldly, then continued, ¡°I know you''re making up all this nonsense just to get people to help you. Fine, I¡¯ll let it go, but... when you describe that Big-Chested Junior Sister again, make sure you portray her in a more positive light!¡±

    "Don¡¯t worry, not a problem!" Qi Yuan responded quickly.

    This was a trivial matter.

    ¡°When I return to Seven-Colored Peak, I¡¯ll return the spirit stones to you for sure.

    By the way, Junior Sister, if you¡¯re not doing well while I¡¯m away, you can stay in my house.¡± Qi Yuan felt quite pleased with himself.

    His Junior Sister¡¯s house wasn¡¯t as nice as his.

    Her house was made of wood, while his was a concrete bungalow, two levels higher in quality.

    Happiness comes from comparison.

    Junior Sister might not feel anything staying in a wooden house initially.

    But seeing a concrete bungalow next to the wooden house would naturally make her feel a sense of loss.

    One can endure darkness if one has never seen the light.

    After seeing his concrete bungalow, could Junior Sister still be content staying in a wooden house? So, he played his high emotional intelligence card again, inviting his Junior Sister to stay in his concrete bungalow.

    If it wasn¡¯t for them attending his feast, he wouldn¡¯t even bother to engage in much conversation; after all, he had slight social anxiety and didn¡¯t enjoy talking with strangers much.

    After the feast, Qi Yuan was ready to leave.

    At that moment, the head of the Chen family stood up and said respectfully, ¡°Daoist Master, Chen has prepared a small gift...¡±

    In his view, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t have come just to attend a feast; naturally, he must have come to receive some form of tribute.

    He had also prepared himself to have the servants present the gifts.

    When the wooden chest was opened, several gold and silver treasures came into Qi Yuan¡¯s view once again.

    The head of the Chen family trembled slightly, his breathing somewhat rapid, worried that the Daoist Master wouldn¡¯t be pleased with these offerings.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze swept over the worldly gold and silver treasures, and he couldn¡¯t help but yawn.

    But then, his eyes suddenly paused on an ancient book.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    With a wave of his hand, a book flew into his hand.

    The old, yellowed book had the words "Eagle Claw Manual" written on it.

    ¡°This is a martial arts manual, a family treasure. Our guards use it to train,¡± the Chen family head quickly explained with deference.

    ¡°Martial arts?¡± Qi Yuan was surprised.

    Since entering the Shenguang Sect, he had rarely ventured into the mortal world.

    Even when he did, he didn¡¯t linger for long.

    He had heard rumors that martial arts existed among mortals.

    But no matter how strong martial arts were, they were just mere moves, unable to compete with even a first-level Qi Condensation cultivator.

    Therefore, he never paid much attention to martial arts, nor did he bother acquiring any martial arts manuals.

    Yet, seeing this martial arts manual for the first time, he suddenly noticed something he had overlooked before.

    This martial arts manual was indeed shallow and basic, but... if Qi Yuan fully absorbed and digested it, the gains would be comparable to those from a mid-tier cultivation technique.

    This was interesting, and it caught Qi Yuan by surprise.

    ¡°Are there more of these martial arts manuals? I¡¯m quite interested.¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He wanted to see more, in case this one was an exception.

    ¡°There are more than a dozen in my house. I¡¯ll have them brought to you right away.¡± The Chen family head gave instructions.

    Soon, a man who looked like a steward hurried away, and quickly returned carrying thirteen similar martial arts manuals and mental cultivation techniques.

    With a wave of Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, all these martial arts manuals were in his hands.

    The contents of these martial arts manuals were indeed simple; the most advanced ones only focused on basic techniques and strength-building.

    However, Qi Yuan discovered that their usefulness to him was surprisingly comparable to that of ordinary cultivation techniques.

    ¡°Interesting, very interesting.¡±

    This discovery was beyond Qi Yuan¡¯s expectations, and it greatly delighted him.

    His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were deep in thought.

    Could it be that all the cultivation techniques and even martial arts manuals in the Canglan Realm... even if created by a weak person, were influenced by the rules of the Heavenly Dao and were thus a part of the realm¡¯s Heavenly Dao rules?

    If the rules of the Heavenly Dao were like oxygen, then all cultivation techniques and martial arts, whether they were martial arts or cultivation methods, would be like oxides.

    What Qi Yuan was doing was extracting the oxygen from them.

    Of course, what he was extracting might not necessarily be the rules of the Heavenly Dao.

    ¡°But then, why can¡¯t the ''Qi Yuan Scripture'' be created using techniques from other worlds?

    Could it be... because I haven¡¯t yet transcended this world? Different worlds have different rules; even the Blood Sage¡¯s performance in the Mortal Heart Realm wasn¡¯t as good as outside of it.

    If I continue using the rules of the Canglan Realm to compile the ''Qi Yuan Scripture,'' wouldn¡¯t that mean that one day, I too might be trapped in the Canglan Realm?¡±

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    Who would have thought that a casual trip to the mortal world to attend a feast would yield such insights?

    He thought about many things.

    Indeed, to continue compiling techniques, he needed to keep gathering cultivation methods and techniques from the Canglan Realm.

    But he couldn¡¯t proceed as he had before.

    At this moment, his figure disappeared.

    After a few breaths, a Purple Mansion cultivator appeared beside Qi Yuan, his eyes filled with deep reverence.

    ¡°Greetings, Sword Deity!¡±

    This Purple Mansion cultivator was the one Qi Yuan had encountered on his way here, a member of the Divine Flower Society.

    He had been shocked after seeing the post by the Blood-Clothed Sword Deity on the Divine Flower Society forum, and so he came to Fenglei Valley.

    Qi Yuan glanced at this Purple Mansion cultivator and said, ¡°Just in time for you to help me with something. I¡¯ll boost your progress bar by 80%.¡±

    The Purple Mansion cultivator¡¯s face lit up with excitement.

    It was an honor to serve a senior like the Blood-Clothed Sword Deity.

    ¡°Please instruct me, Senior!¡±

    ¡°Help me gather some martial arts from the mortal world, as many as possible. And remember, do it gently, without causing too much chaos.¡±

    Qi Yuan said casually.

    After all, he was lawful good¡ªa very good person.

 Chapter 273: Gathering of the Yin Gods, Do Me a Favor

    Chapter 273: Gathering of the Yin Gods, Do Me a Favor

    With the fall of Dark Sun and the change in leadership of the Divine Flower Society, the entire Canglan Realm was in turmoil, undergoing significant changes.

    Two organizations, in particular, were drawing the most attention.

    The first was the Origin Sharing Society; the second was the Divine Flower Society.

    And the actual controller of both these organizations now was the Blood-Clothed Sword God.

    Initially, the Blood-Clothed Sword God¡¯s reputation was confined to Feng Tian Domain and the Eastern Lands.

    But now, his name had spread across more than twenty domains in the Canglan Realm.

    Of course, this was nothing compared to the hype surrounding ¡°boosting¡± and ¡°crowdfunding for divine techniques¡± within the Divine Flower Society.

    The various branches of the Divine Flower Society, under the coercion of the Blood-Clothed Sword God, had paid a heavy price.

    Temporary jade slips of the Divine Flower Society were sold at almost cost price.

    These temporary jade slips were a stripped-down version.

    Although the cultivators who owned these temporary jade slips were not official members of the Divine Flower Society, they could still complete tasks, increase their progress bars, and earn rewards.

    Most importantly, they could assist other cultivators.

    So, some Divine Flower Society members, in their generosity, bought a jade slip for every member of their family, inviting them to help boost their progress.

    And those cultivators, upon learning that they could exchange for techniques within the Divine Flower Society, eagerly joined the cause of crowdfunding for divine techniques.

    Not to mention that personal rewards were plentiful; if the divine technique were fully funded...

    Wouldn¡¯t that mean everyone could have access to the divine technique? Even those old monsters who had been in seclusion for a thousand years were summoned by their junior brothers or masters.

    And the first thing they were told was,

    ¡°Get up quickly and give me a boost!¡±

    After all, each person could only provide a boost once.

    These cultivators, who had been in seclusion, obviously hadn¡¯t boosted anyone yet.

    Thus, the Canglan Realm became exceptionally lively.

    Those powerful cultivators in seclusion were awakened and were inexplicably given a temporary jade slip of the Divine Flower Society to help boost others.

    At first, those awakened cultivators were reluctant, but after understanding the recent major events and the exchange of divine techniques and other non-toxic techniques, they were astonished.

    And then they were delighted.

    Nowadays, the way cultivators in the Canglan Realm greet each other had changed.

    ¡°Have you boosted someone?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your progress bar at?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯ve been stuck at 99% for three days!¡±

    Countless cultivators threw themselves into this endeavor one after another.

    After all, techniques were fundamental.

    For the cultivators of the Canglan Realm, divine techniques were like the true method of immortality for Blue Star cultivators.

    So, even Yin Gods couldn¡¯t avoid it.

    An immeasurable number of cultivators had joined this great cause.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan was on his way back to Qinghong City in the Feng Tian Domain.

    While traveling, he posted a new thread.

    [After obtaining the heavenly technique, between Big-Chested Junior Sister and the Sect Master''s Daughter, I chose...]

    That''s right; the title had to tantalize, not giving away the answer.

    This was the only way to attract the members of the Divine Flower Society.

    As for the content, it was similar to his usual soft advertisements.

    "After uploading a few Jade-level techniques, my progress bar reached 50%. I thought I would get a Jade-level technique.

    Who knew I would actually receive a Heaven-level technique!

    That''s a heavenly technique, a technique said to be cultivated by Yin Gods.

    Sigh, I¡¯m the kind of person who likes to show off, and as a result, the whole sect knew about it by the evening.

    The Sect Master''s daughter knocked on my door in the middle of the night, saying she wanted to come in and see my cat.

    How could I let her in when Big-Chested Junior Sister was already inside watching the cat?

    If the two of them met, I would be in big trouble.

    Sigh, sometimes having such good luck and obtaining a heavenly technique is not necessarily a good thing.

    One is a childhood sweetheart, a princess of a mortal royal family; the other is the daughter of the Sect Master, of extremely high status.

    Whom should I choose? I¡¯m so conflicted. I¡¯m asking for advice from all you great cultivators!"

    During this period, Qi Yuan had been constantly sharing his progress.

    In just a few days, his life had become incredibly eventful.

    Slapping down a steward, suppressing a senior brother, brutally killing enemies, gaining favor from a senior sister, being valued by an elder, and watching a junior sister bathe while he kept watch outside.

    His life was exciting and full of ups and downs, like that of a true winner.

    Such content gave those cultivators working hard toward their goals a shot of adrenaline, making them frantically collect and upload techniques.

    As soon as the thread was posted, many people quickly commented.

    ¡°50% for a heavenly technique? Daoist friend, your luck is too good!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get a heavenly technique until 80%!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d choose Junior Sister!¡±

    ¡°Choose Senior Sister!¡±

    ¡°Why not take both?¡±

    ¡°I actually think the Sect Master''s wife is quite nice, still charming.

    If I had the chance, I¡¯d be on the same path as the Sect Master.¡±

    Now, many Yin Gods and Great Sovereigns had learned of this news and were heading toward Qinghong City, wanting to meet this legendary Blood-Clothed Sword God.

    At the Seeking Dao Palace, all the Yin Gods of the Feng Tian Domain had been slain, and the number of Yin Gods in the Feng Tian Domain had significantly decreased.

    But now, nearly a hundred Yin Gods were coming to the Feng Tian Domain, all seeking lodging at the Seeking Dao Palace, just to meet the legendary Blood-Clothed Sword God.

    After all, they wanted to see this incredibly fierce Blood-Clothed Sword God for themselves.

    ¡°I¡¯m almost back; I¡¯ll be there soon. About... half an incense stick¡¯s time?¡±

    So soon? Wu Jun Great Sovereign¡¯s heart tensed.

    He hurried to complete Qi Yuan¡¯s assigned task and informed him of the visit from the Yin Gods.

    About half an incense stick¡¯s time later.

    At the Seeking Dao Palace, 112 Yin Gods were gathered in one place.

    They all looked somewhat apprehensive.

    The Grand Palace Lord of the Seeking Dao Palace was dressed in black, his eyes full of anticipation.

    Great Sovereign You Hua was smiling broadly, ¡°His name may not be on the Monument of Legends, but he can slay those Myth Great Sovereigns; it¡¯s quite extraordinary.¡±

    Upon hearing this, the Yin Gods present all nodded.

    The Blood-Clothed Sword God was not listed on the Monument of Legends and was not a Myth, yet he could annihilate Dark Sun¡ªa feat of immense terror and grandeur.

    Their curiosity about the Blood-Clothed Sword God only deepened.

    ¡°Thirty thousand years ago, the Canglan Realm failed once; I wonder if this time...¡± An elderly man sighed.

    Thirty thousand years ago, the Canglan Realm produced a Yang God.

    That was also the greatest hope for the Canglan Realm to fight back against the Calamity.

    Unfortunately, that attempt ended in failure.

    That defeat shattered almost half of the Canglan Realm¡¯s power.

    To this day, the Canglan Realm has not recovered.

    If the Blood-Clothed Sword God raises the flag of justice this time, should they follow? Various thoughts filled their minds.

    At that moment, a figure clad in blood-red appeared, standing in the void, his presence turning the blue sky crimson.

    Even the sun in the sky seemed to dim in his presence.

    Every Yin God who saw Qi Yuan felt an unfathomable depth emanating from him.

    ¡°Greetings, Senior!¡±

    One hundred and twenty-two top cultivators from various domains, Yin Gods, and Great Sovereigns, all bowed their noble heads, like vassals meeting their lord.

    This stance also represented their intentions and resolve¡ªa silent declaration of allegiance to the Blood-Clothed Sword God.

    Qi Yuan looked over these Yin Gods with a calm gaze.

    The Canglan Realm was still poor.

    This gathering was likely the Yin Gods who had traveled from afar. Even so, there were fewer than those who had attended the banquet when he was in the Mortal Heart Realm.

    ¡°You¡¯ve come from all over... what is your purpose?¡± Qi Yuan asked lightly.

    The Grand Palace Lord of the Seeking Dao Palace was momentarily taken aback.

    He hadn¡¯t expected the Blood-Clothed Sword God to be so direct.

    Shouldn¡¯t they have first talked about Dark Sun, about the Calamity, then stirred a common hatred for the enemy, making it easier for them to swear allegiance?

    But knowing the Blood-Clothed Sword God¡¯s character, he didn¡¯t mind. He replied softly, ¡°The Calamity is a blight upon the Canglan Realm, and Dark Sun wantonly slaughtered the innocent.

    The Blood-Clothed Sword God annihilated Dark Sun, which greatly gratified the people. We are in awe.

    Unfortunately, we were too far away and too late to assist.

    Now, with the Calamity imminent, we have come to lend our strength to you, Senior!¡±

    The other Yin Gods immediately chimed in.

    ¡°We are willing to lend our strength to you, Senior!¡±

    Their meaning was clear.

    As long as the Blood-Clothed Sword God raised the banner to fight the Calamity, they were willing to follow him into battle.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened upon hearing this: ¡°You¡¯re all here to help?¡±

    He did indeed need help.

    Collecting techniques and such¡ªhaving Yin Gods involved would speed things up.

    ¡°Just as well, I have a big task right now that needs everyone¡¯s help,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    The expressions of the Yin Gods present all became serious.

    If even the Blood-Clothed Sword God called it a big task, it must be significant.

    After all, what kinds of things had the Blood-Clothed Sword God done? Establish the Origin Sharing Society, collect all the techniques in the world.

    Destroy the Four Generals of the Thunder Family, kill Jasmine Great Sovereign, crush the Divine Flower Society, and annihilate Dark Sun.

    Every action had caused massive upheavals in the Canglan Realm.

    They were all a bit overwhelmed by these events, having gasped in shock more than once, contributing greatly to the warming of the Canglan Realm¡¯s atmosphere.

    Now, if the Blood-Clothed Sword God needed their help, it must be for something similarly grand, likely related to the Calamity.

    They eagerly awaited Qi Yuan¡¯s words, only to hear his relaxed and casual voice.

    ¡°Do you all have a jade slip from the Divine Flower Society?¡±

    ¡°I have one.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±

    Most of the Yin Gods replied that they didn¡¯t have one.

    ¡°Wu Jun, distribute a jade slip to each person.¡± Qi Yuan instructed.

    Wu Jun Great Sovereign quickly distributed the jade slips of the Divine Flower Society to these Yin Gods.

    At the same time, the additional jade slips that Qi Yuan had requested to be prepared were also handed over to him.

 Chapter 274: The Mountain of Fate

    Chapter 274: The Mountain of Fate

    All the Yin Gods received the jade slips, and various thoughts flashed through their minds, unsure of their significance.

    At this moment, one of the Yin Gods chuckled and said, "The moves made by the Blood-Clothed Sword God within the Divine Flower Society are truly awe-inspiring!"

    His tone carried a hint of flattery.

    The other Yin Gods, who had some knowledge of the Divine Flower Society¡¯s activities, joined in with their praise.

    "Using a divine method to attract the whole world, senior¡¯s strategy is brilliant!"

    "This isn¡¯t just brilliance; it¡¯s selfless righteousness! A divine method is so precious; ordinary techniques can¡¯t compare! The Blood-Clothed Sword God generously offers it, contributing the divine method to everyone in the world to prepare against the Calamity!"

    A group of Yin Gods flattered and discussed among themselves, making Qi Yuan feel somewhat elated.

    "Am I really so righteous and just?"

    "Turns out my actions have such profound meaning?"

    "No wonder ancient emperors enjoyed listening to praise!"

    Although Qi Yuan felt a bit proud, his heart remained calm. He recalled a story from the past about a high school entrance exam essay that described a scarecrow in the field. The question asked, "What does the scarecrow in the field symbolize?" The correct answer was, "The scarecrow represents the author¡¯s father and expresses the author¡¯s longing for his father." When the author found out about this, he was furious, wanting to tell the question-setter, "The scarecrow in the field is your father!"

    Qi Yuan quietly enjoyed the flattery from everyone and took note of the "profound meanings" they interpreted, thinking they might come in handy later.

    ¡°Everyone, why don¡¯t you register an account?¡± Qi Yuan suggested.

    The Yin Gods quickly began registering accounts as instructed by Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan was pleased. Without offering anything as an incentive, he had these people register accounts. If only he still had connections to his previous life on Earth, he thought. Being backed by a major world, earning money by registering accounts would be so easy.

    Following Qi Yuan''s orders, these Yin Gods all registered their accounts. They all looked forward to finding out what significant task the Blood-Clothed Sword God wanted them to undertake.

    Then, Qi Yuan casually remarked, ¡°Well, the task I need your help with is to cut a deal... no, I mean, to boost... assist my junior sister.¡±

    With that, Qi Yuan used the jade slip of the Grand Master of the Divine Flower Society to send a link to help Jiang Lingsu boost her progress.

    The Yin Gods present looked at each other in confusion. Especially those familiar with the boosting mechanism were dumbfounded.

    Although inviting someone to boost was common among the younger generation, for Yin Gods of their stature, no one had ever dared ask them for such a favor. Thus, this was the first time they were asked to provide a "boost."

    Now, hearing that the task the Blood-Clothed Sword God wanted their help with was merely boosting his junior sister, they all felt a sense of absurdity and disbelief.

    ¡°Blood-Clothed Sword God, I have successfully boosted,¡± Yu Hua Great Sovereign spoke up. ¡°Is there anything else you need us to do?¡±

    The other Yin Gods, regardless of their feelings, also boosted Jiang Lingsu. Meanwhile, they grew curious about the Blood-Clothed Sword God¡¯s junior sister, wondering if she was a formidable expert of a Great Sovereign level as well.

    ¡°This favor is good enough, thank you all,¡± Qi Yuan replied. ¡°If you really want to help, put more effort into gathering techniques and uploading them here.¡±

    To him, gathering techniques was the most crucial task.

    The Grand Palace Lord of the Seeking Dao Palace was slightly taken aback. The task of collecting techniques that Qi Yuan mentioned was something they were already doing, with many already uploaded to the Origin Shared Assembly. For them, these were minor tasks. They were hoping to receive directives on how to deal with the Calamity.

    "Senior, when do you plan to strike against the Calamity? We are willing to serve at your command!" the Grand Palace Lord of the Seeking Dao Palace asked.

    The Calamity had its wings, with forces like the Dark Sun being one of its most powerful wings. But apart from the Dark Sun, there were other wings, both strong and weak. The weaker ones could be dealt with by them.

    Qi Yuan looked at the crowd and shook his head. "You¡¯re all too weak."

    Just moments ago, the Blood-Clothed Sword God returned to Qinghong City. Every cultivator who saw that blood-red figure stopped their actions, bowed, and saluted, showing respect to the strong.

    At this moment, a voice sounded in Shi Rulan''s ear.

    ¡°Sister Shi, is the Blood-Clothed Sword God as wise and powerful as the legends say?¡± a female cultivator asked.

    Shi Rulan and Shi Rushan were from another domain and had met this talkative female cultivator on their way to Qinghong City.

    Shi Rulan, somewhat absent-minded, nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±

    The talkative female cultivator continued, ¡°That divine method in the Divine Flower Society was given by this lord. By the way, Sister Shi, have you helped anyone boost yet? Would you like to help me?¡±

    Upon hearing this, a look of displeasure flashed in Shi Rulan''s eyes, and her expression turned extremely cold. "I find this kind of thing very distasteful!"

    Shi Rushan, standing next to her, also wore an apologetic look, but his eyes were just as cold and distant. "Sorry, but we need to be going."

    The two siblings left the inn quickly, their figures disappearing from sight.

    The talkative female cultivator was left baffled, unable to understand why the Shi siblings'' attitudes had suddenly turned so cold. They had seemed like a gentle and kind pair on the journey.

    Meanwhile, Shi Rushan and Shi Rulan hurried away, exchanging quick, hushed words as they walked.

    "Did you get it?" Shi Rushan asked.

    "Yes, I glanced at him and have already memorized his aura," Shi Rulan replied.

    "Good. Such a dangerous individual must be eliminated. If he is left unchecked, who knows what disasters and uncertainties he might bring to the Canglan Realm? As Fate Sorcerers, it is our duty to do something," Shi Rushan said with solemn determination.

    Shi Rushan and Shi Rulan were both at the Purple Mansion stage. Their cultivation levels were not particularly high, but they were from the Mountain of Fate, an ancient and mysterious lineage. The Mountain of Fate had existed in the Canglan Realm even before the Calamity began. The cultivators of the Mountain of Fate, known as Fate Sorcerers, saw themselves as the correctors of destiny in the world.

    To them, the workings of the heavens had their own rules and should proceed according to an ordained path. Any changes or disruptions were seen as violations of those rules and ultimately detrimental to the world.

    "This Blood-Clothed Sword God is bewitching the masses, creating countless calamities along his path. On the way here, I saw so many cultivators turning on their loved ones just to collect techniques. All of this chaos is his doing. And yet, these foolish cultivators revere him as a god! It''s absurd!" Shi Rulan''s voice was filled with anger and confusion.

    "The masses are ignorant," Shi Rushan sighed. "People like us, who can see the threads of fate, are so few. If the Blood-Clothed Sword God continues to grow unchecked and challenges the Calamity, it will bring great disaster to the Canglan Realm! Thirty thousand years ago, if not for our ancestors from the Mountain of Fate stepping in to save the realm, how many innocent lives would have been lost?"

    Thirty thousand years ago, the ancestors of the Mountain of Fate had foreseen a great disaster. They saw visions of the earth being swallowed by the sea, the Canglan Realm shattered into pieces, and life annihilated, leaving the world in dead silence. To prevent this apocalypse, the ancestors of the Mountain of Fate decided to align with the Calamity, revealing the existence of a formidable Yang God cultivator¡ªthe root cause of the disaster¡ªto the beings behind the Calamity. To them, this act was seen as saving countless lives from annihilation and was considered a great honor.

    "Now, it is our turn to sacrifice ourselves to save the world!" Shi Rulan said with a determined look in her eyes. "For the world, sacrificing ourselves is our duty!"

    Shi Rushan''s eyes also blazed with fervor. Dying for the world was an honorable act.

    "We are weak, but with the Gate of Fate, we can influence him. Unfortunately, he is too powerful. Even if we use the Gate of Fate, we can''t kill him. But with the Gate of Fate combined with the Water of the Chaos Bird, we can make him go insane. An insane cultivator can''t alter the world''s flow and won''t have the strength to face the Calamity. Annihilation won''t happen!" Shi Rulan declared, full of resolve.

    Shi Rushan nodded firmly. Fate had its own path, and everything was the best choice. The Blood-Clothed Sword God¡¯s rash actions¡ªdestroying the Dark Sun, collecting techniques, and stirring chaos¡ªhad already caused turmoil in the Canglan Realm. If he provoked the Calamity, it would bring a frenzied retaliation from the forces behind it, leading to countless innocent lives being dragged into a conflict they couldn''t survive.

    Thirty thousand years ago, if not for their ancestors¡¯ intervention, half of the living beings in the Canglan Realm might have perished.

    Therefore, when the Mountain of Fate sensed that the threads of fate were being disrupted, they descended from their mountain to deal with the anomaly known as the Blood-Clothed Sword God.

    Of course, given their limited power, outright elimination was not an option. The best they could do was use the Gate of Fate combined with the Water of the Chaos Bird to drive the Blood-Clothed Sword God to madness.

    A mad Yin God might cause chaos within a domain and lead to the deaths of countless beings, but in comparison to the whole Canglan Realm, this sacrifice was considered acceptable.

    "All for fate!"

    "All for the destined path!"

 Chapter 275: The Purple Mansion is a Cave Mansion

    Chapter 275: The Purple Mansion is a Cave Mansion

    Within the Seeking Dao Palace.

    A vast hall, heavily shrouded by dense formations, was cloaked in a thick, concealing aura. Even a powerful Yin God could not sense or detect what was happening inside.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s expression was serious. He waved the jade slip in his hand.

    He murmured softly.

    "Bright and brilliant, the nascent soul emerges from the divine repository, heed my command¡ªassist the Spirit Maiden!"

    Immediately, an overwhelming, terrifying aura spread throughout the hall.

    "We obey!"

    "We follow the Master''s command!"

    All 4,750 Nascent Souls appeared at once.

    If this terrifying presence were to leak outside, it would surely cause an earth-shattering shock in the Canglan Realm.Ge?t latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om

    Even the Taihuang Palace, which is behind the Calamity, would likely immediately dispatch a Yang God to descend and eradicate Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan squinted his eyes, his expression serious.

    "Quickly register an account and help my junior sister with some support."

    He casually commanded.

    Instantly, the Nascent Souls followed Qi Yuan''s instructions, providing support for Jiang Lingsu on the Shenhua Society platform.

    Qi Yuan observed these Nascent Souls before him, a thoughtful expression flashing in his eyes.

    "As expected, the Heavenly Mirror is indeed somewhat useful. Their condition has improved somewhat.

    But they are still far from fully awakening and regaining all their memories," Qi Yuan reflected.

    "I wonder when they will fully awaken, recover their past memories, and even begin cultivating on their own."

    Qi Yuan pondered this.

    These Nascent Souls had great potential.

    Each one had the potential to become a Yang God.

    However, for now, they remained in a state of slumber.

    "I hope the next world will be stronger so I can find some treasures to awaken them all.

    If that happens, when facing the Calamity, does he think he''s the only one who can rally people? If four thousand Yang Gods take action, they can''t be defeated."

    As Qi Yuan thought about this, the Nascent Souls finished liking Jiang Lingsu''s post and returned to Qi Yuan''s body.

    Only then did the terrifying aura dissipate.

    About half an incense stick''s worth of time passed when a familiar figure entered the hall.

    "Great Wisdom True Monarch, long time no see." Seeing the newcomer, Qi Yuan greeted warmly.

    Great Wisdom True Monarch was his friend and had been quite helpful to him.

    Seeing Qi Yuan, Great Wisdom True Monarch''s eyes lit up with joy, and he casually sat down on the floor. "You''ve reached the Nascent Soul stage?"

    "Yes, but I''m rather confused about the path to the Purple Mansion, so I wanted to borrow your insights," Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    It could be said that the understanding he gained from conversations with those powerful Yin Gods did not compare to the insights he received from Great Wisdom True Monarch, a fellow Nascent Soul cultivator.

    "The path to the Purple Mansion...is indeed difficult," Great Wisdom True Monarch''s eyes filled with wisdom. "Remember when I told you that the Nascent Soul is the foundation for the Yin God?"

    Qi Yuan nodded. "You''re right; both realms contain the word ''god,'' indicating a clear connection between the two."

    Great Wisdom True Monarch had previously speculated that the Primordial Spirit was a transformation of the Nascent Soul, thus making the Nascent Soul the foundation of the Yin God.

    "If the Nascent Soul is the foundation for the Yin God, then isn''t it logical to assume that the Purple Mansion is the foundation for the Yang God?" Great Wisdom True Monarch said thoughtfully.

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

    This logic seemed sound.

    The Yang God is a level higher than the Yin God.

    The Purple Mansion is a level higher than the Nascent Soul.

    It makes sense.

    "But according to your theory, shouldn''t the Nascent Soul and Yang God also be connected?" Qi Yuan asked, puzzled.

    "Ahem, this is just a bold guess," Great Wisdom True Monarch coughed awkwardly.

    Isn''t cultivation about bold speculation?

    Boldly speculate, and then have the courage to act.

    It seems that the Ultimate Principle Realm is only applicable to worlds within the same universe.

    If one were to change universes, the ultimate principles would likely be ineffective.

    The rules between different worlds differ, just as the rules between different universes differ.

    Seeing that Qi Yuan had no response, Great Wisdom True Monarch continued, "I believe that the rules of the Yang God realm and the ultimate principles are extensions of innate divine powers!

    So, to traverse the Purple Mansion realm, one must first think of an appropriate innate divine power."

    "What if I already have an innate divine power?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He had two innate divine powers: the Void Realm Heart Demon Ruler and the Great Forgetfulness Sutra.

    "You have one already?" Great Wisdom True Monarch''s eyes lit up. "Then just use your innate divine power to create your own cave mansion! The Purple Mansion, after all, is just a cultivator''s cave mansion!"

    "...What you say kind of makes sense." Qi Yuan said uncertainly.

    For a moment, he was hesitant.

    Just then, Qi Yuan''s eyes suddenly shifted.

    At that moment, in the originally quiet hall, the shadow of a door suddenly appeared.

    Seeing that door, Qi Yuan''s eyes flashed with surprise. "The Gate of Myriad Differences!"

    The door before him was incredibly similar to the Gate of Myriad Differences he had seen in the Flowing Wind Realm, but slightly different.

    At that moment, a sharp bird cry echoed.

    This bird cry was incredibly jarring, like nails on a chalkboard. Anyone who heard it would be driven insane.

    In a courtyard, Shi Rulan''s eyes were filled with excitement, her body extremely weak. "The Disturbance Bird has appeared! Haha, even a Myth like the Blood-Robed Sword God will fall into madness! The Canglan Realm is saved!"

    Shi Rushan looked at his sister with a pained expression, his face also deathly pale.

    "The Blood-Robed Sword God is about to fall into madness. We must leave quickly," Shi Rushan sighed softly. "Now that our mission is complete and we only have ten years of life left, we should live for ourselves."

    Shi Rulan nodded, her eyes filled with fervor and satisfaction. "We are the saviors!"

    This sense of satisfaction brought her far more pleasure and joy than any orgasm.

    "I want to see him go mad with my own eyes!" Shi Rulan said seriously, squeezing her legs together.

    Shi Rushan nodded, his expression devout. "The trajectory of fate cannot be altered!"

    Meanwhile, in the great hall.

    The shadow of the Disturbance Bird flapped its wings. Anyone who heard its cry or saw its form would go insane and become disoriented.

    Great Wisdom True Monarch looked at the oddly shaped bird, his expression strange. "Are you hungry?"

    Qi Yuan touched his stomach. "A little."

    "Does it have an owner?" Great Wisdom True Monarch asked tentatively.

    For some reason, he felt a bit strange today.

    In the past, he was very particular about his meals, focusing on taste, aroma, and presentation.

    Yet here he was, inexplicably craving this bizarre, scrawny bird.

    It was odd.

    "Do you want to eat it?" Qi Yuan looked at the Disturbance Bird and slapped it.

    The scrawny bird let out a crazed screech, its face twisted in fury.

    It struggled desperately, but Qi Yuan gave it no chance to resist, directly plucking all its feathers.

    A wisp of flame appeared between Qi Yuan''s fingers.

    In an instant, the once Disturbance Bird turned into a roasted bird.

    Its aroma was maddening, driving those who smelled it insane.

    Yet both Great Wisdom True Monarch and Qi Yuan inexplicably felt hungry.

    "This bird has so little meat; it''s not even enough to fill my teeth. How about I give you a spirit stone, and I eat the bird?" Qi Yuan suggested tentatively.

    After all, it wouldn''t be fair for one person to eat everything when they had found the bird together.

    Great Wisdom True Monarch hesitated for a moment, looking anxious and reluctant.

    He was indeed hungry and had quite an appetite.

    However, he was a man of refinement.

    The bird was overcooked!

    "You eat it. I won''t; it''s overcooked and won''t taste good." Great Wisdom True Monarch turned his head, forcing himself not to look at the bird.

 Chapter 276: Is a Madman Actually Making Sense?

    Chapter 276: Is a Madman Actually Making Sense?

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan was overjoyed.

    "Good brother, that''s generous of you!"

    Qi Yuan decided he shouldn''t eat everything himself and planned to leave some bones for Great Wisdom True Monarch.

    He began eating the flesh of the Disturbance Bird, savoring each bite slowly.

    The sweet flavor filled his mouth, a delicious taste that made his mouth water. It wasn''t dry at all and surpassed any delicacy Qi Yuan had ever tasted.

    For a moment, he forgot his earlier thoughts and devoured the entire Disturbance Bird.

    Suddenly, he felt a surge of warmth enter his stomach, making his mind feel clearer.

    "This is really something good. After eating it, my hearing and vision have become sharper.

    Whoever sent this bird is truly kind; they knew it was mealtime, and I was hungry, so they sent it to feed me."

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan felt a bit embarrassed.

    Before eating, he had planned to leave some bones for Great Wisdom True Monarch.

    But in the heat of the moment, he had swallowed even the bones.

    Feeling a bit ashamed, he glanced at the remaining feathers on the ground. His eyes lit up, and he picked up the feathers, making a big decision. "There''s still some feathers left. Why don''t you eat them?ViiSiit  for latest novels

    This bird was too delicious; it''s definitely a rare treat!"

    Great Wisdom True Monarch looked at the feathers, his eyes flashing with a mix of emotions.

    Suddenly, a wise look crossed his face, and his expression became more serious than ever.

    "Did you notice anything strange about this bird?" he asked. "Is there something wrong with it?"

    Qi Yuan paused, confused for a moment.

    "What do you mean?"

    Was there a conspiracy involved?

    "This bird was acting crazy, totally out of control. I suspect it might be...sick!"

    The word "sick" hit Qi Yuan like a thunderclap.

    His expression changed dramatically, as if he had discovered something truly alarming.

    His forehead went pale, and sweat began to pour down his face.

    "This is bad, really bad. This damn bird must have rabies!"

    Qi Yuan panicked.

    "We don''t have any vaccines here. What should I do?"

    He was genuinely worried.

    What should he do if he had eaten a bird with rabies?

    Great Wisdom True Monarch remained silent, deep in thought.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan''s face grew furious. "Damn it! Who would be so malicious as to set me up with a sick bird?"

    Qi Yuan was very angry, and the consequences were serious.

    The world was getting worse by the day.

    Allowing a sick bird to run loose without a leash.

    Sure, eating it might not have been entirely ethical.

    But what if this crazy bird had pecked him?

    The bird''s owner had no sense of morality.

    "Who did this?"

    Qi Yuan shouted in rage.

    His powerful divine sense spread out at that moment, sweeping across the entire Qinghong City.

    All the Yin Gods in Qinghong City sensed this overwhelming aura, and their faces changed drastically.

    "What¡¯s happening?"

    "Who dared to provoke the Blood-Robed Sword God?"

    Not only did the Yin Gods sense it, but all the cultivators in the city also noticed this event, feeling a deep shock.

    Who could be so bold as to make the Blood-Robed Sword God so furious?

    Everyone knew that the Blood-Robed Sword God was a terrifying figure.

    He never showed anger before killing someone; he just killed on sight.

    This pain was the negative version of the earlier pleasure by two times.

    "Search their souls, then kill them." Qi Yuan looked at the two and sneered, "You thought you could ambush me, but you have no idea who holds the real power here."

    The two fate sorcerers looked defeated.

    They weren''t afraid of dying; they were afraid of dying without completing their mission.

    "No!"

    They screamed internally.

    But Qi Yuan gave them no chance.

    His domineering divine sense invaded their souls for a search.

    Their faces became blank, showing signs of intense pain.

    "Fate Mountain?"

    "Fate Sorcerers?"

    "The Gate of Fate?"

    "These two are actually lunatics!"

    After scanning their memories, Qi Yuan concluded that these two were insane.

    "What the hell is Fate Mountain doing? Not keeping these lunatics at home? Letting them out to harm others, is that it?"

    Killing intent flashed in Qi Yuan''s eyes.

    He despised people who used their madness as an excuse to bully others.

    After they bullied someone, they would just pull out a certificate of insanity and face no consequences.

    He reached out, grabbing a small, oddly shaped door from Shi Rulan''s storage bag.

    This was the tool used by Fate Mountain to summon the Gate of Fate.

    "Madmen can''t be held accountable, so it looks like your Fate Mountain must bear full responsibility!"

    "Bloodline lead, curse technique!"

    At that moment, Qi Yuan unleashed a powerful divine spell.

    The spell traversed thousands of miles and landed on an inconspicuous little mountain.

    Suddenly, continuous screams echoed from the mountain.

    Countless cultivators let out cries of pain, their expressions filled with terror.

    They had no idea what was happening.

    They could see the fate of the Canglan Realm and the continuation of its trajectory.

    But they couldn''t foresee the fate of Fate Mountain.

    Apparently, all those cultivators were affected by Qi Yuan''s curse and perished.

    If they were Yin Gods, Qi Yuan wouldn''t have been able to curse them so easily.

    But for a bunch of Nascent Souls and Purple Mansion cultivators, cursing them to death was a breeze.

    "No!" Shi Rulan''s eyes swelled, bleeding tears.

    She sensed everything happening at Fate Mountain.

    You devil! Her heart was filled with anger and regret.

    But unfortunately, she couldn''t struggle free.

    "Alright, your guardians have already taken responsibility... so now you..."

    "Sorry, I''m not a court, so you both will have to take responsibility too."

    With a flick of his finger, Qi Yuan sent a surge of energy toward them.

    In an instant, the two heads exploded.

    The courtyard fell into complete silence.

    Meanwhile, in the Eastern Lands.

    An elderly man sat in a wheelchair, a smile playing on his lips.

    "How interesting... So it was them causing trouble back then."

    "The former self... I wonder if this is a blessing in disguise or something else."

    He recalled his attempt to take his former self as a disciple, which had been refused.

 Chapter 277: Jiang Ruhuaâ€™s Guidance

    Chapter 277: Jiang Ruhua¡¯s Guidance

    In the courtyard, the scent of blood lingered in the air.

    Shi Rushan and Shi Rulan, the brother and sister, had met a tragic end.

    Great Wisdom True Monarch looked at the gruesome scene in the courtyard and couldn''t help but say, "You were a bit too impulsive. You killed them too quickly."

    Qi Yuan''s actions had been swift and decisive; he had uprooted the entire Mountain of Fate and effortlessly killed Shi Rushan and Shi Rulan.

    "Hmm?"

    "We should have asked if there were any more birds. I haven''t even tasted them yet," Great WisdomTrue Monarch said, glancing at Qi Yuan and thinking seriously.

    "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future," Qi Yuan replied softly.

    In his hand appeared a peculiar small wooden door.

    This door was the reliance of the Mountain of Fate¡ªthe Door of Fate.

    Shi Rulan had been able to summon the projection of the Chaos Bird using this Door of Fate.

    However, in Qi Yuan''s eyes, this Door of Fate was merely the "Myriad Door" of the Flowing Wind Realm.

    Of course, this small wooden door was not the true Myriad Door; it was just a token, a symbol that could summon a faint shadow of the real Myriad Door.

    "Is there a Game Door in the Myriad Door?

    If so, wouldn''t that mean we could play games there every day?"

    Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    He and Great Wisdom True Monarch returned to the Palace of Seeking Tao.

    In Qinghong City, Qi Yuan''s earlier shout had caused quite a stir.

    However, the other Yin Gods and cultivators didn''t know what had happened, leaving them with many questions.

    In the days that followed, Qinghong City returned to its peaceful state.

    The Original God Sharing Assembly continued to develop methodically.

    The Divine Flower Assembly was in full swing.

    About one-third of the entire Canglan Realm was caught up in the frenzy of uploading techniques and contributing support.

    Some old cultivators who had been in seclusion also emerged, either to contribute or to upload techniques.

    More and more powerful Yin Gods were heading towards the Feng Tian Domain, seemingly wanting to meet the legendary Blood-Robed Sword God.

    During this period, Qi Yuan dispatched three Yin Gods to assist the Ice Mountain Queen in breaking through to the Yin God realm.

    At the time, the grandfather of the Ice Mountain Queen had a rather remarkable expression when he saw the three Yin Gods.

    Especially when he heard that the Blood-Robed Sword God was the same Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator his granddaughter had once mentioned as a sworn brother.

    The three Yin Gods, upon meeting the Ice Mountain Queen''s grandfather, immediately noticed the severe injuries on his body.

    His injuries were grave, and he had less than a century of lifespan left.

    The three Yin Gods had come from afar, knowing the close relationship between the Ice Mountain Queen and the Blood-Robed Sword God. In return for this relationship, they decided to help, and the three Yin Gods worked together to treat the injuries of the Ice Mountain Queen''s grandfather.

    The three Yin Gods joined forces and used precious treasures, making it relatively easy to heal the injuries on the old man''s body by seventy to eighty percent.

    The number of techniques in the Original God Sharing Assembly was increasing.

    The techniques collected by the Divine Flower Assembly had also reached a staggering level.

    Various posts appeared on the forum:

    "Haha, I got a mid-tier Heaven-grade technique!"

    "Someone help me! The Heaven-grade technique I exchanged for was stolen!"

    "Hurry to find the Blood-Robed Sword God to uphold justice."

    "100 isn''t perfection!"

    "Friends, keep it up, and let''s all have divine techniques!"

    "Never thought in this life I could hope for divine techniques, thanks to the Divine Flower Assembly, thanks to the Blood-Robed Sword God."

    "I''ve decided¡ªI want both my senior sister and junior sister."

    At this time, the accumulation of techniques in the Divine Flower Assembly reached an alarming number.

    The total progress bar was stuck at 99% for two days.

    Even so, there was no complaint among the cultivators on the Divine Flower Assembly forum; they encouraged each other.ViiSiit  for latest novels

    With divine techniques just one step away, the speed of uploading techniques increased.

    On a spirit boat heading to the Dashang Kingdom, Jiang Ruhua, dressed in a dark blue robe, looked calm.

    "This Blood-Robed Sword God of the Divine Flower Assembly has some tricks. This ninety-nine percent has been stuck for two days."

    On the way to Dashang, he inevitably got involved with the Divine Flower Assembly.

    His personal progress bar had reached 51%, making it hard to increase further.

    So his attention was on the total progress bar of the Divine Flower Assembly.

    Jiang Ruhua thought, glancing at the young man beside him. The overly handsome man beside him was also playing with a Divine Flower Assembly jade slip.

    Jiang Ruhua, taking the stance of an experienced person, said to the young man beside him,

    "I suspect this ninety-nine percent might be stuck for at least a year or so. After all, it''s a divine technique. Whether the Blood-Robed Sword God is willing to give it out is another question, and whether it exists is another matter entirely."

    This handsome young man was someone Jiang Ruhua had met on the spirit boat.

    After all, on the spirit boat heading to the Dashang Kingdom, there were only a handful of cultivators with a Divine Flower Assembly jade slip. The aura of this handsome young man was quite mysterious, making it hard for him to discern his cultivation level, which is why they had become somewhat acquainted.

    The handsome young man looked up, a smile in his eyes, "My friend, a person like the Blood-Robed Sword God is a man of his word. How could he deceive anyone?

    I dare to bet that in three days, the progress bar will reach 100%, and everyone will have access to the divine techniques!"

    This is easy to handle¡ªheh heh. Since the junior sister already has deep feelings for you, find a night with a full moon, under the mutual affection, and cook the rice until it''s done.

    Once you''ve married your junior sister, take her to see your future father-in-law. What can he do¡ªbeat you up?" Jiang Ruhua shared his "successful" experience, stroking his beard and looking quite proud.

    Qi Yuan was at a loss for words.

    This wasn''t something he would do.

    More importantly, everything he had shared was made up.

    "Friend, if you follow my advice, you''ll surely marry your junior sister and bring her home.

    As they say, once a daughter is married off, she''s like water spilled out. Once you¡¯re married, your junior sister will definitely side with you.

    Her family background is quite substantial; she could easily provide you with some techniques to help you acquire divine techniques in the Divine Flower Assembly, and some resources as well. Who knows, in time, you might become a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

    By then, even that condescending father-in-law of yours would have to bow down to you.

    And if you ever reach the Purple Mansion realm, you could even metaphorically shit on his head, and he wouldn''t dare say a word!" The latter part was, of course, Jiang Ruhua¡¯s fantasy.

    Unfortunately, his fantasy had yet to come true.

    He was currently only in the late Nascent Soul stage, far from reaching the Purple Mansion realm.

    His father-in-law, on the other hand, was a Nascent Soul perfected cultivator, much stronger than he was.

    "You sure have a lot of experience," Qi Yuan flattered Jiang Ruhua, adapting his words to fit the situation.

    "Young man, follow my advice, and you¡¯ll have your beauty within half a month.

    When you marry your junior sister, if I''m still in Dashang, you must invite me as a matchmaker and let me have a cup of your wedding wine!" Jiang Ruhua said proudly.

    Meeting Qi Yuan reminded him of his own past days in the sect.

    But after returning to his family, those days became nothing more than memories.

    Qi Yuan shrugged and casually agreed, "Sure!"

    Of course, he wouldn¡¯t actually invite him.

    He and his junior sister were innocent and had nothing going on between them.

    Jiang Ruhua squinted his eyes and said, "Meeting you is fate. If you encounter any difficulties with your junior sister, contact me. In my spare time, I enjoy matchmaking."

    "Alright," Qi Yuan nodded. He glanced at the spirit boat and said softly, "Friend, the spirit boat will stop soon. My junior sister is coming to pick me up."

    Hearing this, Jiang Ruhua''s smile grew even wider. "See? Your junior sister does have feelings for you."

    He thought of his own daughter, and a trace of sadness crossed his heart.

    His daughter hadn¡¯t even come to pick him up!

    However, the sadness quickly dissipated.

    If this Origin Heavenly Lord had a daughter, she probably wouldn¡¯t come to pick him up either.

    Thinking this made him feel much more balanced.

    Just then, a crisp voice rang out.

    "Father, you''re back!"

    Qi Jianjun ran straight into Qi Yuan''s arms, a bright smile on her face.

    Qi Yuan looked at her, a bit helpless, "Jianjun, remember the rules between men and women!"

    For a grown daughter, a father needs to maintain a proper distance.

    If this scene were caught on camera and posted online, wouldn''t he get criticized to death by netizens?

    "Jianjun is Daddy''s daughter; what''s wrong with hugging you?" Qi Jianjun said as she jumped out of Qi Yuan''s arms.

    At this moment, Jiang Ruhua was stunned. He looked at Qi Yuan, "You have a daughter?"

    "Yes," Qi Yuan nodded vigorously. "The stories I posted on the Divine Flower Assembly forum were mostly fictional.

    I don''t have any senior sister, nor do I have..."

    "But Dad, you do have a busty junior sister!" Qi Jianjun giggled, "When will you bring her home? Wouldn''t that make her... my third mother?"

    Qi Jianjun thought seriously.

    Her biological mother was Jin Li.

    Her second mother was Ning Tao.

    As for the third mother, Qi Jianjun figured it would be Jiang Lingsu.

    "Stop talking nonsense," Qi Yuan was embarrassed.

    It seemed he couldn¡¯t just make things up anymore, seeing how much everyone misunderstood.

    Meanwhile, Jiang Ruhua, standing nearby, heard Qi Jianjun''s words and widened his eyes, "Friend, your ways are this advanced?"

    He felt a bit ashamed.

    According to this little girl, the man before him already had two Dao companions.

    Judging by the situation, his Dao companions were getting along quite well.

    And now, he was considering a third Dao companion.

    This made him both envious and jealous and also guilty about his earlier advice.

    He secretly sent a message to Qi Yuan, "Friend, how did you manage to have two Dao companions and still hook up with more?

    Teach me!

    I will be greatly indebted to you!"

    Jiang Ruhua seemed genuinely curious.

 Chapter 278: Itâ€™s Over, the Whole World Knows Iâ€™m About to Reincarnate

    Chapter 278: It¡¯s Over, the Whole World Knows I¡¯m About to Reincarnate

    Qi Yuan chuckled, "I don''t even have a marriage certificate right now; I have no Dao companion."

    Upon hearing this, Jiang Ruhua pondered for a moment before showing a look of admiration. "So, my friend... you keep them outside. Very clever, indeed!"

    He immediately understood that the person before him had not formally entered into a Dao companionship with anyone.

    After about a dozen breaths, the spirit boat finally began to stop.

    The cultivators in the cabin began to come out, both men and women, each with different expressions.

    They all disembarked from the spirit boat.

    Below the spirit boat, several rabbit carts had arrived to pick up the cultivators from the boat.ViiSiit  for latest novels

    "Farewell, my friend," Qi Yuan said softly.

    Jiang Ruhua smiled, "Don''t forget to invite me to your wedding!"

    "...Alright," Qi Yuan agreed casually.

    After all, out here, he was playing a role he created for himself, and the promises were just words.

    Only now did Jiang Ruhua focus his attention below. He scanned the area and immediately saw a bright and charming young girl in a yellow dress.

    A look of relief flashed in his eyes, along with a bit of pride.

    The brat still knows to come pick up her father? He decided that when he saw his daughter later, he wouldn''t show her a good face.

    He stood there, looking slightly proud, just waiting for his daughter to come and greet him.

    Sure enough, his daughter had a joyful expression on her face and ran straight toward him.

    He maintained a stern expression, though inwardly he was overjoyed.

    "Senior Brother, you¡¯re finally back!"

    However, Jiang Ruhua''s face froze.

    He saw his familiar daughter walking towards the friend with whom he had shared a lot of conversations earlier, naturally linking arms with him. Her eyes seemed to contain only her senior brother.

    A flame of anger began to rise in his chest.

    He looked utterly incredulous.

    She wasn¡¯t here to pick him up; she didn¡¯t even notice him, even though she was only a few meters away.

    The most infuriating thing was that brat!

    Many thoughts flashed through his mind, and he immediately understood.

    The friend he met on the road was none other than his daughter''s senior brother, Qi Yuan.

    No wonder! That explains everything!

    Jiang Ruhua understood, and he was furious!

    Sweet and cute?

    Thoughtful and gentle?

    Was Jiang Lingsu really like this? And... the busty junior sister? Jiang Ruhua''s eyes seemed to shoot fire.

    "Jiang Lingsu!"

    He gritted his teeth and shouted loudly! If his voice could kill, he probably would have already torn Qi Yuan to pieces.

    Especially since, on the spirit boat, he had taught Qi Yuan how to court his daughter!

    At the sound of his voice, the smile on Jiang Lingsu''s fair, jade-like face froze. She seemed at a loss, her arm still linked with Qi Yuan''s, her eyes widening in surprise as she looked at Jiang Ruhua, "Father?"

    "You still know I¡¯m your father?" Jiang Ruhua glared at Jiang Lingsu and at her arm holding Qi Yuan¡¯s, his eyes blazing with fury.

    Qi Yuan was also taken aback. He couldn''t help but speak, "This lecherous cultivator... is your father?"

    Jiang Lingsu was stunned.

    Jiang Ruhua was stunned.

    Then they heard Qi Yuan say, "Earlier on the road, this man taught me that I should make sure to consummate my relationship with the busty junior sister."

    A flush of red immediately climbed up Jiang Lingsu''s ears, and her eyes seemed to be tinged with blush, making her look even more enchanting.

    "You''re spouting nonsense!" Jiang Ruhua was furious.

    He never imagined that the young friend he met would turn out to be his daughter''s senior brother.

    "Not only that, but he also asked me how to marry multiple wives," Qi Yuan said, looking pitifully at Jiang Lingsu. "Junior sister, you''re going to have more stepmothers!"

    At this moment, the anger on Jiang Ruhua''s face vanished completely.

    Jiang Lingsu also gritted her teeth and said, "I will tell Mother about this!"

    "No!" Jiang Ruhua was genuinely scared!

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s mother was not at all domineering; in fact, she was very gentle and lovely.

    But... she liked to cry.

    If she found out about this, she¡¯d cry for ten years straight in front of him¡ªhow could he endure that? "This isn''t over!" Seeing that she had something on Jiang Ruhua, Jiang Lingsu let out a sigh of relief and stuck out her tongue.

    Otherwise, this situation of meeting her father would have been very awkward.

    ...

    About half an hour passed.

    Jiang Ruhua was filled with apprehension and helplessness.

    He never expected that his reunion with his daughter would happen in such a manner.

    He also never expected that the person he randomly met on the road would turn out to be his daughter¡¯s senior brother.

    At this moment, Jiang Ruhua looked at Qi Yuan with a rather resentful gaze.

    After all, he had lost his dignity in front of Qi Yuan.

    Especially since he had taught Qi Yuan the tactic of making a move on the busty junior sister, it now made him feel quite out of breath.

    "My friend, don''t take the idea of consummating the relationship with the busty junior sister seriously. I don¡¯t endorse such things!" Jiang Ruhua hurriedly said to Qi Yuan as soon as Jiang Lingsu left.

    Qi Yuan just smiled, "You''ve misunderstood, my friend. My relationship with the junior sister is entirely proper.

    "I heard from Old Wang that just now, more than a hundred people tried to break through the checkpoints and were all shot dead!"

    "Hmph, they must be those capitalists¡¯ lackeys!"

    Li Shenkong, wearing military boots, walked over the grass, which made a rustling sound.

    The soldiers'' conversations reached his ears, and his eyes showed a complex and profound expression.

    "A world reset?"

    "Is this a joke from the Creator?"

    "Could it be true...?"

    "If it is true..."

    He thought about many things.

    Just a day ago, on Gongxing, all humans, whether sleeping, working, or mixing cement on construction sites, heard a cold, indifferent voice in their minds.

    "The world will reset in 24 hours. An Zhentian, Ashu, Qi Yuan... Zheng Xi, a total of ninety-nine people, will return to ten years ago with their memories intact."

    Yes, this voice appeared in everyone''s minds.

    Even the deaf heard this message.

    Immediately, chaos broke out on Gongxing.

    After all, the message was too shocking.

    The world will reset?

    Some people will be reborn with their memories, returning to ten years ago?

    This caused massive upheaval across all nations on Gongxing.

    Some people didn¡¯t take it seriously and didn''t believe it.

    Others went completely mad, thinking that since the world was about to reset... then they could do whatever they wanted¡ªthings they had always wanted to do but never dared.

    Order collapsed in an instant.

    Murder, rape, looting, vandalism, arson... flooded this once civilized society.

    And the ninety-nine people who were about to be reborn were completely controlled by the official forces of various countries.

    In the Qin Yuan Nation alone, there were thirty-five such individuals.

    And one of them was in this Lost Mountain.

    These thirty-five people were divided up like fat pigs by the major families of the Seven Martial Stars.

    After all, if someone reborn with memories were under their control, what a great opportunity that would be! The situation in Qin Yuan Nation could drastically change; even the situation on Gongxing could be different from before.

    Of course, it''s also possible that the voice they heard was a hoax.

    The world wouldn¡¯t reset, and no one would go back to ten years ago with their memories.

    But even so, Li Shenkong still received orders to surround Lost Mountain.

    According to their investigation, there was someone in Lost Mountain who was about to "be reborn."

    However, this particular person was somewhat special.

    "Reporting to the commander, someone from the Gongyi family has arrived."

    At that moment, a voice came through.

    Li Shenkong''s expression immediately became solemn.

    In the Qin Yuan Nation, the royal family and the Seven Martial Stars ruled the land.

    Among the Seven Martial Stars, there were twenty-one powerful families.

    These twenty-one families were the true power centers of the Qin Yuan Nation.

    Although the Gongyi family had declined and was struggling to keep their seat among the Seven Martial Stars, they were still part of the Seven Martial Stars.

    At this moment, at a temporary airfield, five planes landed.

    A group of more than twenty people hurried over, their faces filled with urgency.

    Li Shenkong quickly went to greet them, "Elder Cai!"

    Gongyi Cai glanced at Li Shenkong and nodded, his face showing deep exhaustion. "How are things going?"

    "We''ve located the target¡¯s grave, but we haven''t started digging yet," Li Shenkong replied honestly.

    The men and women behind Gongyi Cai heard Li Shenkong¡¯s report, and their eyes filled with anger.

    After all, if what everyone heard was true, then befriending a reborn individual and reaching an agreement with them would be a great benefit for their family.

    However, the reborn individual assigned to them... was a dead person!

    How could they work with that? Everyone present looked quite displeased.

    Luckily, the Gongyi family still had some reputation. Besides this dead person, there was another reborn individual, whom the Gongyi family could share with another family.

    So, the group that came to Lost Mountain represented only a less regarded part of the Gongyi family.

    "Let¡¯s go, take me to see!" Gongyi Cai said in a deep voice.

    No matter what, he wanted to see the remains of that person first.

    The family had given orders, and he needed to carry them out.

    Although reaching an agreement was impossible, they still needed to place the agreement in the grave.

    What if the person in the grave did reincarnate and brought the agreement with them? Though, of course, the chances of that were zero.

    Soon, the group of more than twenty people arrived at a desolate tombstone.

    This tombstone seemed to have been neglected for many years, with weeds growing all around it.

    Gongyi Cai looked at it, accepted some flowers, and placed them in front of the grave.

    The other disciples of the Gongyi family followed suit, offering flowers to the grave.

    On this desolate grave, on this special day, it received many flowers.

    At this moment, a person who looked like a secretary held a stack of documents and began to speak slowly, "Name: Qi Yuan, born... died at the age of nineteen, nine years ago.

    Cause of death... cerebral hemorrhage."

 Chapter 279: Believe in Science, There Are No Ghosts in This World

    Chapter 279: Believe in Science, There Are No Ghosts in This World

    Soon, information about Qi Yuan was revealed.

    The expressions of everyone present weren''t looking good.

    "Even if he successfully reincarnates, he would only have one year of memory," said a tall woman with an elaborate and exaggerated makeup, as if she had just come from a party and hadn¡¯t had time to change.

    Following Gongyi Jing''s words, everyone fell silent.

    If that voice was true, the world was going to reset.

    Only those who reincarnate could return with their memories intact.

    None of them were lucky enough to be among the reincarnators.

    So even if they returned to ten years ago, they wouldn''t retain the memories of the past ten years.

    The person in the grave, Qi Yuan, was fortunate enough to be one of the reincarnators.

    He was also the reincarnator assigned to the Gongyi family of the Seven Martial Stars.

    "Hmph, if it weren¡¯t for the Su family meddling, we wouldn¡¯t have been stuck with this person!" said a man whose body appeared somewhat ravaged by excessive indulgence.

    The Su family was also one of the Seven Martial Stars families and was quite opposed to the Gongyi family, often suppressing them.

    In this unexpected situation, the Su family had joined forces with other families to suppress the Gongyi family, giving them a dead person.

    If there hadn''t been another living reincarnator to share with other families, the Gongyi family definitely wouldn''t have stood by.

    "My uncle has already met with another reincarnator. As for this one... we should just complete what we need to do," Gongyi Qing spoke calmly. His voice was gentle, but it carried an air of authority, making others feel a head shorter.

    Gongyi Cai nodded, his eyes a bit cloudy. "Give the order¡ªopen the coffin and dig up the grave!"

    No matter what, they needed to see the body.

    Immediately, under Li Shenkong''s orders, several soldiers stepped forward and began digging up the grave.

    Night fell, and under the bright lights, the graveyard was illuminated as bright as day.

    Nearby, several specially made soft chairs appeared, and the members of the Gongyi family sat down.

    From time to time, various foods were brought, and the twenty-some people slowly started eating.

    After all, the events of today had been sudden, and these people had been busy all day without time to eat.

    The middle-aged man, whose body had been ravaged by alcohol and indulgence, held his phone, looking at its contents with a hint of contemptuous smile. "This reincarnator was mentally ill and had a terminal disease. Even if he comes back to life, he probably won¡¯t live long; he¡¯s of little use."

    He scanned the QR code on Qi Yuan''s tombstone and saw quite a bit of information about Qi Yuan.

    Type III mental disorder, accompanied by severe delusions, making communication difficult.

    The other members of the Gongyi family all agreed with the man''s assessment.

    Qi Yuan, in front of them, was truly unfortunate.

    But he was also lucky.

    After all, he got a chance to live again.

    Even if it was only for a year.

    "I bet he won''t even get to see the grand event of a hundred clans prospering. Meanwhile, we have to wait another ten years," said the refined man earlier, his voice strong.

    Upon hearing this, everyone present had a subtle change in their expressions, filled with anticipation.

    "So, all these opportunities must be completely controlled by us!" Gongyi Cai''s eyes shone with a sharp light.

    In the past ten years, many opportunities had appeared, but most were in the hands of other families of the Seven Martial Stars.

    If they wanted to change the situation in the future, they needed to make good use of this reincarnation situation.

    "Unfortunately, he is dead; otherwise, we could have negotiated a deal!" Gongyi Jing couldn¡¯t help but speak up.

    As for the deal, it would simply involve sending encrypted messages to Qi Yuan, who would then go back in time to find the Gongyi family and relay the information.

    In return, the Gongyi family would transfer enormous benefits to the reincarnators.

    Of course, this kind of cooperation had uncertainties.

    After all, the reincarnators held the initiative. What if they refused to share the encrypted messages with the families?

    So, to win over these reincarnators, the major families of the Seven Martial Stars spared no expense.

    Women, wealth, power¡ªeverything.

    Unfortunately, Qi Yuan was a dead man.

    The dead cannot communicate or cooperate.

    Most of the Gongyi family went to find the other reincarnator, while only this group was dispatched here.

    Today¡¯s efforts were destined to be in vain.

    With the cooperation of several soldiers, the grave was soon dug up, and a coffin appeared before them.

    The people present looked at the coffin, feeling a bit apprehensive.

    Gongyi Jing looked ahead, frowning. "There are only bones left."

    The other members of the Gongyi family looked at Qi Yuan''s bones and exchanged glances.

    At this point, Gongyi Cai said, "Proceed as planned."

    Even though Qi Yuan was dead, they still decided to communicate their plans to the corpse in the coffin.

    Although the corpse couldn''t hear, what if it could? Qi Yuan was dead, but maybe his soul was still floating around?

    After all, if something as ridiculous as a world reset could happen,

    then something even more outrageous happening... wouldn¡¯t be too strange, right?

    "Who will deliver the message?" Gongyi Cai asked, his voice old and weary.

    The twenty-some members of the Gongyi family exchanged glances, each showing reluctance.

    After all, talking to a corpse was pointless, especially in the middle of the night; none of them wanted to do it.

    The man whose body was ravaged by indulgence said, "Uncle, I haven¡¯t slept all night."

    Clearly, he was refusing.Vissit  for updates

    At this time, the hollow skull shook, looking rather stiff and shaky. "Young man, don¡¯t believe in superstitions. You must believe in science; there are no ghosts in this world!"

    Qi Yuan had a lot to say on this matter.

    Even if a Purple Mansion cultivator perishes, they are truly gone; no ghost remains.

    Only powerful Yin God-level cultivators might retain a shred of their primordial spirit, surviving in another form.

    If you call that a ghost, that would be barely acceptable.

    So, there really are no ghosts in this world.

    The skull looked seriously at everyone present, and his tone was earnest.

    However, to these people, what Qi Yuan said seemed particularly absurd.

    Guys, who would understand? In a graveyard, a skull telling them to believe in science and that there are no ghosts in this world.

    That was what everyone thought.

    Gongyi Cai¡¯s mouth twitched. "Brother, you may not have realized it yet, but you¡¯re actually dead."

    "Yes, this game avatar of mine is indeed dead," Qi Yuan pondered.

    Does this mean he has to become a ghost cultivator? Qi Yuan''s words left the people present even more confused.

    Game avatar?

    But considering Qi Yuan had been mentally ill in his life, everything suddenly seemed to make sense.

    "Brother Qi Yuan, did you hear what Brother Qing said earlier?" Gongyi Jing mustered her courage to ask.

    To be honest, if it weren¡¯t for the impending world reset, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to call a skull "brother."

    "What did he say?" Qi Yuan was surprised. "Are you guys crazy? Talking to a corpse that''s turned to bones¡ªdon¡¯t you have mental problems?"

    Qi Yuan''s words choked everyone present again.

    However, Gongyi Qing quickly said, "The world is about to reset, and our Gongyi family hopes to cooperate with you..."

    Gongyi Qing briefly explained the situation.

    After listening, Qi Yuan was utterly surprised.

    "The world is about to reset?"

    This was something he had never expected.

    After all, what kind of power could reset the world? He couldn''t imagine it.

    Even if he controlled the Heavenly Dao of the Moonwatching Continent, he couldn¡¯t reset the Moonwatching Continent or turn back time.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter such a thing in this world.

    "How interesting. It seems this game is quite challenging," Qi Yuan murmured, "Do you know who the final boss of the game is?"

    Gongyi Qing frowned; communicating with someone mentally ill was rather troublesome.

    "This isn''t a game; this is reality!" Gongyi Jing said firmly.

    Gongyi Qing also chimed in, "The reset is imminent, and our Gongyi family wants to cooperate with you. What do you think..."

    This was the most important thing.

    Although Qi Yuan didn¡¯t have memories of the past ten years, the encrypted message would suffice for the Gongyi family.

    "I have my own game tasks to complete," Qi Yuan wanted to refuse. "We¡¯ll see; if I happen to meet you, then I¡¯ll consider cooperating with you."

    He spoke lightly, not taking the cooperation with the Gongyi family seriously.

    The man, whose body had been ravaged by indulgence, showed a dissatisfied look. "It seems you don¡¯t understand what the Gongyi family represents!

    If you cling to our family, you¡¯ll have power, wealth, women¡ªeverything!"

    If it had been any other reincarnator with ten years of memory, he might have been wary.

    But Qi Yuan was different.

    Qi Yuan was a mental patient with only one year of memory.

    So, if he offended him, so be it.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the man. "A game¡¯s assets... aren¡¯t they all just numbers? Wealth... I have plenty.

    Power... I lack none.

    As for women... I have a wife; I don¡¯t mess around."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words left everyone present speechless.

    The man who had spoken provocatively earlier was also at a loss.

    Why argue with a madman? Gongyi Qing quickly said, "The content of the encrypted message is..."

    He quickly repeated the encrypted message, afraid that Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t remember it since there were only about ten minutes left.

    Qi Yuan shrugged. "I¡¯ll reluctantly take on your task. If I have the time or if it¡¯s convenient, I¡¯ll do it. But if it interferes with my main quest, then sorry."

    After all, he still had his main quest to complete.

    The following time was spent with the Gongyi family making grand promises to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan listened casually, also quietly waiting for the world to reset.

    At this time, the sound of the ground shaking grew louder.

    Qi Yuan''s hollow skull seemed to have a spirit, staring intently at the sky. Is the world really about to reset?

    He wanted to see exactly how it would reset. At this moment, his vision gradually blurred.

    The entire world seemed to be made up of overlapping lines.

    The people from the Gongyi family in front of him also turned into segments.

    Suddenly, a mournful bird cry rang out.

    He seemed to see a red bird, bloody and miserable, soaring through the sky.

    At that moment, his bones suddenly shattered.

 Chapter 280: Fight! The Martial God of Myriad Ways!

    Chapter 280: Fight! The Martial God of Myriad Ways!

    Gongxing.

    Tianyue City.

    Jun''an Residential Area.

    The sound of a motorcycle roaring through the streets filled the air, occasionally accompanied by sharp, explosive noises.

    A man lying on the bed had a pale face, devoid of any color, with only bloodshot eyes making him appear terrifying.

    "Reset..."

    The man trembled, feeling as if the world around him was darkening.

    His hand accidentally knocked his phone off the bed.

    The expected thud didn¡¯t happen; instead, a delicate hand caught the phone steadily.

    At this moment, the phone¡¯s screen was lit, displaying an unread message.

    Qi Yuan looked at the hospital bed, at the innate seed that was identical to himself.

    He showed a strange expression. "Seriously ill... Could it be kidney deficiency?"

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t good at diagnosing illnesses.

    To him, any sickness was just kidney deficiency.

    The innate seed also looked at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan then smiled.

    The pale man on the hospital bed turned into a drop of blood and merged into Qi Yuan¡¯s body.

    Suddenly, a massive wave of memories surged.

    Curiosity filled Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    "It''s actually a world similar to Blue Star?"

    "No, the technology here is far more advanced than that of Blue Star!"

    "And... the universe!"

    Qi Yuan pulled open the curtains and looked toward the sky.

    The sky was bright; the stars seemed invisible.

    But Qi Yuan could still see many stars.

    "My Golden Core isn¡¯t here?"

    Indeed, his Stellar Golden Core didn¡¯t appear in this universe; not even a shadow of it.

    "Does this universe, where this world is located, differ from the universe of the Canglan Realm?"

    A glimmer of sharpness flashed in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    However, he had a feeling that if he were to cultivate this body to the Golden Core stage, then... the projection of his Stellar Golden Core would appear in this world.

    Based on the timeline, by then, Ning Tao would probably be free.

    He could then summon Ning Tao down.

    After all, with the spiritual power currently in his dantian, it was enough to sustain Ning Tao in this world indefinitely.

    Playing a game alone could never compare to playing it with someone else, right?

    "It''s just... this body of mine is so weak?"

    Qi Yuan glanced at himself in the mirror.

    After merging with the innate seed, he couldn¡¯t avoid inheriting the seed¡¯s condition.

    Now, he looked like a patient with not much time left to live.

    [Qi Yuan, afflicted with an unknown curse, full-body weakness, only about 11 months of life remaining.]

    This was the hidden information his eyes could see.

    There was a great war seventy years ago.

    In recent years, there have been occasional skirmishes.

    If another war breaks out and the Qin Yuan Nation falls, what would happen to the martial arts tournament?

    Qi Yuan thought about it but didn¡¯t dwell on it too much; it was still early.

    "Zero-One, I want to practice martial arts. How do I start?" Qi Yuan was still prepared to check out what the martial arts of this world were.

    After all, previous quests all had a final boss.

    This time, there was no final boss.

    He was quite curious about the martial arts of this world.

    "Sorry, master, your physical condition is extremely poor; martial arts training is not recommended." Robot Zero-One provided a reasonable answer.

    Indeed, at this moment, Qi Yuan was as pale as a waterlogged ghost, panting heavily with every step.

    "If my body were better, how could I learn martial arts, and how would I start?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    Robot Zero-One replied bluntly,

    "Sorry, master, you have Type III mental disorder, which disqualifies you from learning martial arts."

    In the Qin Yuan Nation, the actions of people with mental disorders are already restricted.

    Mentally ill people learning martial arts?

    Martial arts schools wouldn¡¯t dare teach them.

    After all, what if they taught a mentally ill person, and then that person started hitting people?

    Qi Yuan was speechless. He looked at the certificate on his bedside table: "I¡¯m not sick."

    "Zero-One understands your frustration, master, but please accept reality.

    In fact, mentally ill individuals receive many benefits in the Qin Yuan Nation.

    Not only can they receive a monthly allowance, but they also enjoy special rights in certain matters."

    "Hmm?" Qi Yuan was stunned upon hearing this. "Mental illness has so many benefits. Does that mean I can pretend to be mentally ill?"

    He already had a certificate stating he had a mental disorder, so pretending to have one shouldn¡¯t be a problem.

    The only fear was that his acting skills might not be up to par and he wouldn¡¯t pull it off convincingly.

    "Zero-One, how much cash do we have at home right now?" Qi Yuan asked at this moment.

    Currently, he was indeed too weak.

    If he rashly attempted martial arts training, he might end up dead.

    So, Qi Yuan''s idea was to first embark on the path of cultivation, solve his physical issues, or summon the projection of his Stellar Golden Core.

    Once he had the power to protect himself, he could then pursue martial arts.

    "We have 137,254 Qin Yuan coins left," Zero-One answered truthfully.

    "Alright, buy me some things..." Qi Yuan instructed.

    He wanted to start cultivating, and to cultivate quickly, he needed external aids.

    He told Zero-One the materials he needed.

    "Master, at 4:10 PM, your classmates will come to visit you," Zero-One reminded.

    After graduation, the class monitor entered a government position. As Qi Yuan was the descendant of martyrs and had fallen seriously ill, the class monitor had organized some old classmates to visit him.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the time on his phone; it was about an hour until 4:10 PM.

    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m still okay. Entertaining some guests is not a problem.

    You go ahead and buy the materials."

    Zero-One received the instruction and left the room.

    Qi Yuan watched Zero-One leave, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

    "In the Canglan Realm, Mortal Heart Realm, Flowing Wind Realm, and even the Moonwatching Continent, they all use the same language.

    On Gongxing, there are other languages. How strange."

 Chapter 281: Do Mentally Ill People Need to Find Jobs?

    Chapter 281: Do Mentally Ill People Need to Find Jobs?

    Language is a strange thing.

    It might represent something more profound.

    Qi Yuan stopped thinking about these things and sat down to ponder a few things.

    "The Qi Yuan Sutra can''t be practiced here; I need to cultivate a simplified version."

    In this game world, Qi Yuan aimed to increase his strength.

    Since he hadn''t discovered any clear way to gain experience points by defeating monsters, cultivation seemed to be the only option.

    Practicing the Qi Yuan Sutra is quite complicated. Not to mention the Stellar Golden Core, even establishing the Heavenly Dao Foundation is very hard to replicate.

    So, Qi Yuan planned to create a simplified version of the Qi Yuan Sutra for cultivation.

    The goal was to enhance his own strength.

    After all, this body had merged with the innate seed, and the cultivation it returned to his original body wasn''t the insignificant amount it used to be.

    Qi Yuan''s current plan was to quickly advance his cultivation level to gain the ability to protect himself.

    Then, he could participate in the martial arts tournaments.

    After all, if his aptitude for martial arts turned out to be poor and he couldn''t win in the martial arts tournaments, he still had Daoist techniques, right?

    It didn¡¯t seem like there were any rules forbidding the use of immortal techniques in the martial arts tournaments.

    Outside Jun''an Residential Area, two men and a woman were carrying fruit as they chatted and laughed, heading toward Qi Yuan''s home.

    Wang Xu adjusted his glasses. As a tall man, he was the center of attention among the three.

    During their university days, Wang Xu was the class monitor. Leveraging his family connections and his own efforts, he now worked at the Maritime Bureau.

    The Qin Yuan Nation''s naval dominance is unparalleled on Gongxing, with booming maritime trade. A job at the Maritime Bureau is highly sought after.

    Such a respectable job naturally attracted the envy of other classmates.

    "Li Yan, do you still have feelings for Qi Yuan?"

    Li Yan had a high ponytail, wearing bell-bottom pants over her long legs. She was tall, but her looks were only above average. Today, she wore light makeup, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

    She smiled when she heard Wang Xu''s words, "I was naive back then; now..."

    She shook her head.

    In college, she had been infatuated with Qi Yuan.

    After all, Qi Yuan''s looks were unmatched in their class.

    She had always wanted to pursue Qi Yuan, but unfortunately, he rejected her every time.

    Later, when she found out that Qi Yuan had developed a mental illness, she immediately distanced herself from him.

    Qi Yuan might have had a handsome appearance, but she didn''t want to marry someone with a mental illness.

    Otherwise, if her girlfriends found out, it would be too embarrassing.

    Their dorm had a girl who got pregnant right after graduation and married a young man from a small town.

    Her roommates, while outwardly supportive, often gossiped about her behind her back, saying she was crazy for marrying down and had ruined her life.

    With this kind of precedent, how could Li Yan ever want to have anything to do with Qi Yuan?

    A one-night stand might be okay, but marriage was out of the question.

    Otherwise, she would be ridiculed to no end.

    "Sigh, Qi Yuan has had a tough life. He was an orphan, finally got into university, and then developed a mental illness. Now... he''s seriously ill again. I wonder how he''s doing," said the buzz-cut man, his eyes filled with sympathy.

    However, there was a hint of greed in his gaze, well-hidden, unnoticed by the others.

    "Sigh, misfortune always finds the unfortunate," Wang Xu lamented, feeling a sense of compassion.

    Not long after, the three of them knocked on the door of Qi Yuan''s home.

    The buzz-cut man looked around, seeming quite satisfied.

    Soon, the door opened.

    Qi Yuan stood at the door, looking calmly at the three people outside. "Old classmates, you¡¯re here. Come in and have a seat."

    Wang Xu showed a look of surprise but quickly hid it. "Qi Yuan, your face... why are you so pale?"

    Qi Yuan currently looked like a sickly person, as if he might die at any moment.

    "Yes, I¡¯m ill," Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

    He looked at his three classmates, memories flooding back like a tide.

    When the innate seed was still present, they had come to see Qi Yuan.

    However, Qi Yuan was lying in a hospital bed, always asleep or unconscious, unable to speak, so there was no communication.

    "Did you go to the hospital? Is it serious?" Li Yan asked with some concern.

    After all, her former heartthrob was now like this, possibly on the brink of death. It made her a bit emo. Is this the price of growing up?

    "It''s not serious, just a minor issue," Qi Yuan waved his hand.

    As long as he cultivates, these issues wouldn''t even be problems.

    Of course, he couldn''t solve the curse-like issue with his body for now, but becoming an ordinary person and delaying the curse''s recurrence was still doable.

    "How can this be a minor issue? Look at your face!" Li Yan couldn¡¯t help but say, her eyes turning red, as if she was genuinely worried about Qi Yuan.

    Although she no longer had feelings for Qi Yuan, she didn¡¯t want to see him die so young.

    "Li Yan, you''re overthinking it. Qi Yuan can stand up and talk to us, so it shouldn¡¯t be too bad," the buzz-cut man said.

    Tianyue City is a provincial capital in the Qin Yuan Nation.

    A household registration here is quite valuable.

    Especially for someone like Qi Yuan who owns a three-bedroom apartment.

    If that house were sold, it would be worth four to five million Qin Yuan coins, which is something someone from a poor background might never be able to afford, even after a lifetime of hard work.

    Wang Xu hesitated, "Qi Yuan is your old classmate. Don¡¯t set him up. What if the girl..."

    He didn¡¯t want to say the rest.

    What if it was a marriage scam?

    After all, Qi Yuan had some mental issues.

    If the girl played a few tricks, she could probably get hold of all Qi Yuan¡¯s property and wealth.

    "Don''t worry, the girl I know is very honest," the buzz-cut man smiled. "She¡¯s very traditional and conservative. Once she decides on someone, she probably won''t give up for a lifetime.

    Just the other day, she complained to me that after only three meetings, her matchmaking date was already eager to hold her hand. She looked down on him, so you can see how conservative she is."

    The buzz-cut man chuckled.

    Of course, these words were something the girl had said to him in bed.

    At that time, the buzz-cut man had asked, "I¡¯ve only met you twice; even that matchmaking guy met you more than me. So why..."

    The girl had shaken her head and said, "You¡¯re different. That was a matchmaking date."

    Wang Xu heard this and said nothing.

    "What¡¯s wrong, Class Monitor? Don¡¯t you trust me, Cui Fan?" the buzz-cut man asked, his voice tinged with resentment.

    Wang Xu hesitated for a long time but couldn¡¯t find the words.

    Cui Fan continued indignantly, "Class Monitor, although I made mistakes in college and borrowed some high-interest loans, I¡¯ve reformed since graduating. I¡¯ve even got a decent job. Don¡¯t judge me through tinted glasses!"

    Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Li Yan chimed in, "Wang Xu, Cui Fan is different now. He¡¯s been promoted to a supervisor at a pharmaceutical company less than a year after graduation."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up at this.

    Although he currently had subsidies, they only amounted to just over 2,000 a month.

    That was barely enough for him to live on.

    To buy various materials for cultivation and martial arts training, he needed more money.

    Hearing Cui Fan talk about high-interest loans, many thoughts crossed Qi Yuan''s mind.

    How about imitating others... and taking out a high-interest loan?

    Qi Yuan had seen many TV shows and anime where the protagonists, in their early entrepreneurial stages, lacked money.

    What to do when short of cash?

    Take out a high-interest loan!

    And then simply don¡¯t repay it!

    After all, most of the high-interest loans in the Qin Yuan Nation operated on the edge of legality.

    These lenders often had connections to organized crime and were involved in shady dealings.

    Qi Yuan taking out a loan could even be considered ridding society of its scourges.

    After all, he had no intention of repaying what he borrowed.

    "I¡¯m not getting involved in this. You just have to convince Qi Yuan," Wang Xu continued.

    Whether it was for promotion or not, helping Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t hurt.

    "Alright," the buzz-cut man said with a bright smile.

    Qi Yuan also nodded and said thoughtfully, "Thank you."

    The group chatted for a while longer in the house.

    Concerned about Qi Yuan¡¯s health, they didn¡¯t stay long.

    Qi Yuan watched the empty room and took out his phone. He found Cui Fan¡¯s number in his contacts.

    He thought for a moment and sent a message: "Cui Fan, can you lend me some money?"

    Instead of seeking out loans himself, why not let someone else do it?

    After all, Cui Fan didn¡¯t seem to have any good intentions toward him.

    "Huh? Lend you money? How much? What for?" Cui Fan replied quickly.

    "Ten thousand. I¡¯m a bit short of cash right now," Qi Yuan said casually.

    "Well..." Cui Fan hesitated. If he wasn¡¯t plotting to get Qi Yuan¡¯s property, he wouldn¡¯t bother with someone asking to borrow money. But this time, he still acted considerate, "I don¡¯t have money right now. Sorry.

    By the way, Qi Yuan, in three days, do you want to meet Xiao Mei? If you do, I can tell you a way to get some money."

    "Sure," Qi Yuan smiled. This was exactly what he was waiting for.

    Knowing Cui Fan¡¯s personality, he wouldn¡¯t just lend him ten thousand.

    "I have a contact for a high-interest loan. How about in three days, after you meet Xiao Mei, you meet with the loan shark as well?" Cui Fan suggested.

    "Hmm... Do they lend a lot? I¡¯m really short of cash," Qi Yuan asked.

    He wanted to borrow as much as possible.

    "A lot. Don¡¯t worry. With your house as collateral, you could easily borrow four or five million," Cui Fan replied honestly.

    Qi Yuan''s house was worth four to five million, but realistically, you wouldn¡¯t get that much from a loan.

    Moreover, both he and Xiao Mei were already tens of thousands in debt with high-interest loans.

    Because they couldn¡¯t repay the loans, they planned to scam Qi Yuan out of his house.

 Chapter 282: Super Invincible Explosive Skill

    Chapter 282: Super Invincible Explosive Skill

    Outside the residential area...

    Wang Xu was driving his car with Li Yan in the passenger seat. The two of them were chatting and laughing.

    Cui Fan lived in a different direction, while Li Yan lived in the same direction as Wang Xu, so Wang Xu offered to give Li Yan a ride.

    As Li Yan sat in the car, her eyes sparkled with excitement. "You graduated just a year ago and already bought a car. Does the Maritime Bureau pay that well?"

    "It''s not that great, just average. I bought this car after working hard for a year and with some help from my parents," Wang Xu replied with a smile.

    "I heard the Maritime Bureau is quite busy. How did you manage to come back to Tianyue?" Li Yan asked casually.

    "Well... Some smugglers brought a batch of sea monsters to Tianyue City. I''m here to handle the handover," Wang Xu said with a serious expression.

    "Sea monsters from the legends?" Li Yan asked in surprise, covering her mouth. "What do they look like? Are they like the ones on TV?"

    "More or less. They''re ugly, but their meat is tender and is said to be an aphrodisiac, which is why many wealthy people want to eat it. But the meat of sea monsters is poisonous, and eating too much of it can cause bodily mutations, so it''s best to avoid it," Wang Xu replied, his face grave. Remembering something, he seemed momentarily fearful.

    "I heard sea monsters have some mysterious abilities, like the superpowers of the immortals in legends?" Li Yan was very interested and asked eagerly.

    Wang Xu shook his head. "What era are we living in? Why are you still so superstitious? There''s no such thing as immortals in this world; technology is the true path!

    Even if the immortals described in ancient texts were alive today, they wouldn''t stand a chance against our modern weapons!"

    Speaking of modern weapons, Wang Xu''s eyes showed confidence.

    In the mythical records of the Qin Yuan Nation, immortals and martial gods were indeed powerful, capable of flying and lifting a thousand-jin cauldron.

    But could lifting a thousand-jin cauldron compare to the power of a tractor?

    Even the highly mythologized martial arts, after being analyzed and studied by modern science, were found to have limited potential¡ªjust the exploitation of one''s physique and bloodline.

    Even the champion of the martial arts tournament, if shot, would lose most of his combat ability, not to mention more powerful technological weapons.

    Studying martial arts is less beneficial than studying genetics.

    As for myths, they are just legends.

    If the gods from legends appeared and were hit by the "Eye of Space," could they survive?

    The "Eye of Space" is the Qin Yuan Nation''s most powerful weapon. Even a warship from Canxing would be destroyed immediately if hit by a single shot.

    That''s not something human power can withstand.Vissit  for updates

    "Although sea monsters are nothing to worry about, we ordinary people should still avoid them. The wealthy have channels to remove any problems they get from eating them, but if ordinary people encounter them, they would likely be doomed," Wang Xu said with a serious expression.

    "Is it that serious?"

    "Yes, even worse than those horror stories!" Wang Xu chuckled.

    At this time, after finishing his conversation with Cui Fan, Qi Yuan began to rest his eyes and meditate.

    "I suppose those who are getting a second chance at life have already started... experiencing their fortuitous encounters?"

    Qi Yuan didn''t feel much about whether to reincarnate or not.

    After all, even with foreknowledge, the most one could do was make more money or climb the ladder of power.

    Qi Yuan didn''t care about those things.

    If he needed money, wasn''t there still high-interest loans?

    And if those were unavailable, weren''t there those old and gullible white moons (people who had money)?

    Surely, they would be more than willing to lend him money.

    He was also too lazy to use foreknowledge to start a company or invest in some politician.

    Once his health improved, practicing martial arts was the most important thing for him to do.

    Lying in bed, he started to create a simplified version of the Qi Yuan Sutra.

    Unfortunately, his current body quickly became drowsy from overthinking.

    He struggled to create the Qi Yuan Sutra, needing to take short naps frequently.

    "This body is really not one to stay in. I truly admire my willpower when I was on Blue Star."

    Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    On Blue Star, his body wasn¡¯t any better than this one.

    However, since this time he was only creating a simplified version, derived from the original Qi Yuan Sutra, it was relatively successful.

    After about five hours, he finished a simplified version of the Qi Yuan Sutra that could be cultivated up to the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

    "I even ended up with an extra trashy skill."

    This time, the modification also produced an additional incomplete skill that could barely reach the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

    Although this skill was nowhere near the simplified Qi Yuan Sutra, it was still created by Qi Yuan.

    In the Canglan Realm, no cultivator could buy it even for a million spirit stones.

    "Now that I need money... should I sell this skill?"

    Thinking about this, Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    "But before selling it, I need to give it a cool name.

    As the saying goes, clothes make the man, a horse needs a good saddle. If I want to sell it for a high price, it has to have a grand and impressive name."

    "How about calling it the ''Super Invincible Explosive Skill''?"

    Qi Yuan was quite satisfied with the name he came up with.

    A name that sounds so impressive and straightforward should fetch at least 90 million, right?

    After all, it¡¯s like charging one million for each word in the name.

    Thinking of this, Qi Yuan registered an account on the hottest social media platform on Gongxing.

    [Young man, do you want to cultivate immortality?

    Do you want to change your destiny?

    For only 99.99 million, you can acquire the ''Super Invincible Explosive Skill''!]

    As for the video, he just randomly took some photos of the starry sky, threw some text over it, and added a soul-stirring background music.

    Of course, to sell the skill, he uploaded the first one percent of the content.

    "Tip 10,000 Qin Yuan coins to message me."

    "Tip 100,000 Qin Yuan coins to get my contact info."

    Qi Yuan commented on his own video.

    After all, he needed to set some barriers; what if someone started harassing him?

    He was also too lazy to pick and choose. If it sold, great; if not, oh well.

    "But still..."

    Thinking it over, Qi Yuan decided to invest 100 yuan to buy some ad space for his video to increase exposure and views.

    After all this, Zero-One returned under the cover of nightfall.

    "As the saying goes, ''help the world when capable; help yourself when not.'' Once my divine skill is perfected, I will definitely work to correct the societal atmosphere and create a civilized and harmonious society."

    Qi Yuan thought it over and added another comment on his own post.

    "If you want it, come get it now. If I don¡¯t need money anymore, I won¡¯t bother selling it."

    After writing this, Qi Yuan logged off.

    Three days passed, and Qi Yuan''s post gained more views and comments, eventually reaching a thousand.

    This was normal.

    He was a new user and a real person, so the platform provided some support.

    Most of the comments were jokes.

    Not a single person showed interest in buying the technique.

    "The economic strength of this generation of netizens is weak; they can''t even afford 9,999."

    Qi Yuan decided not to pay attention anymore.

    Whatever happened, happened; if it didn¡¯t sell, it didn¡¯t sell.

    After all, he was about to go on a date with Xiao Mei.

    And he also needed to meet with the loan shark contact through Cui Fan.

    Qi Yuan stretched his lazy body, cast a Lighten Body Technique on himself, and then left his house.

    Looking at the sun in the sky, Qi Yuan felt a sense of languor all over.

    He glanced around with a curious expression.

    This world was very similar to Blue Star, but its technology was clearly much more advanced.

    Interstellar travel had already been realized, and there were even tourist routes established between Gongxing and Canxing. Every year, wealthy individuals and retired high-ranking officials would take spaceships to Canxing for tourism or even settle down.

    Leaving the residential area, Qi Yuan took the subway.

    The location he and Xiao Mei agreed on for their date was called Qin De Ji.

    At first, he thought about choosing Yuan County snacks because of the online rumor that dates at Yuan County snacks would bring sparks.

    But after thinking it over, he decided to go with the more trendy Qin De Ji.

    Qin De Ji held a similar status in Qin Yuan Nation as Wallace did on Blue Star.

    Choosing this place was a safe bet.

    He soon arrived at Qin De Ji.

    It was still early, and Qin De Ji had few customers, scattered sparsely around.

    Occasionally, a delivery driver would come in to pick up some orders.

    Qi Yuan stood in place, playing on his phone, occasionally checking the comments on his video.

    Most of the comments were jokes or advertisements.

    "Competing businesses?"

    Looking at the comments below, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother responding.

    "This Xiao Mei is already ten minutes late..."

    He glanced at the time, a strange expression on his face.

    Logically, Xiao Mei and Cui Fan definitely had something planned.

    Under such circumstances, why would she deliberately be late for the date? Did something change?

    Qi Yuan decided to wait a few more minutes. If she didn¡¯t show up, he would message Cui Fan to ask about the high-interest loan.

    About five minutes later, a faint fragrance filled the air, and a tall woman in a tight black outfit walked in.

    She had a stunning face with a somewhat fox-like charm.

    Her figure, accentuated by the tight clothing, was extremely voluptuous.

    She glanced at Qi Yuan, a deep, profound look flashing in her eyes.

    She walked straight over and sat across from Qi Yuan.

    "Hello, Qi Yuan. I¡¯m Xiao Mei, your date today. I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late... I got stuck in traffic."

    Qi Yuan looked at the woman, his expression calm.

    The woman before him was excessively alluring, with an inexplicable aura about her.

    Having experienced multiple worlds, Qi Yuan could tell at a glance that this woman had killed someone before.

    "The moment you spoke, my nose grew longer. Just as Zhang Wuji''s mother said, the prettiest women are the best liars."

    Qi Yuan casually remarked, not bothered by it.

    "I¡¯m hungry. Go ahead and order something."

    He knew this date was likely to end without any result.

    Might as well take the opportunity to eat something.

    Since he was low on money now, wasn¡¯t it fair to let his date pay for the meal?

    "You order; I''m easy." Xiao Mei said, looking at Qi Yuan with a complicated expression.

    "Since this is a date, let''s eat something good. Otherwise, people will look down on us. Let''s go with this 198 yuan family bucket." Qi Yuan said seriously.

    "Okay." Xiao Mei didn¡¯t react much.

    But a man nearby couldn¡¯t help but laugh, "Bro, you¡¯re hilarious. Going on a date at Qin De Ji with such a beautiful woman?"

    Especially with the idea of ordering something good, and a 198 yuan meal, it was just too funny.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the man and pulled out a certificate from his pocket.

    "Mind your own business."

    The man was taken aback, thinking Qi Yuan was some public official.

    Even the woman in the tight outfit was momentarily stunned.

    However, when the man got a clear look at Qi Yuan''s certificate, his expression turned odd.

    He didn¡¯t even finish his meal, quickly paying and leaving in a hurry.

    He had encountered a lunatic!

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan was quite pleased; this certificate was proving very useful.

    The woman across from him couldn¡¯t help but smile, "Qi Yuan, you¡¯re really something."

 Chapter 283: Are You the Masterâ€™s Illegitimate Son?

    Chapter 283: Are You the Master¡¯s Illegitimate Son?

    ¡°You¡¯re quite unexpected yourself.¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced at the woman in the tight black outfit.

    The woman was momentarily stunned. Her beautiful eyes flashed with a complex expression.

    ¡°Are you pretending to be sick?¡±

    Her eyes were filled with surprise.

    She had seen Qi Yuan''s medical diagnosis and had spoken with the female doctor.

    There was nothing wrong with Qi Yuan''s diagnosis.

    ¡°How did you know? I¡¯m indeed pretending to be sick. Having a certificate for mental illness makes things easier.¡±

    Qi Yuan said seriously.

    He always carried this mental illness certificate with him.

    Now, he was just playing the role of a mentally ill person.

    ¡°Really?¡± The woman in tight clothes looked curious, unsure of what to think.

    ¡°Absolutely. Do I look like someone with a mental illness?¡± Qi Yuan said as if it were obvious.

    Soon, the meal they ordered arrived.

    Qi Yuan and the woman started eating and chatting as they ate.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Cui Fan? I need to find him urgently,¡± Qi Yuan asked while eating a chicken leg.

    He wanted to find Cui Fan to borrow some high-interest loans. Maybe he could borrow a million.

    The woman in the tight outfit smiled charmingly, ¡°He got arrested and is in jail.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Yuan was taken aback. ¡°What happened?¡±

    What kind of bad luck is this?

    He had just talked to Cui Fan two days ago, planning to borrow some high-interest loans for some spending, and now he¡¯s in jail?

    ¡°He was arrested for illegally operating high-interest loans and using violent methods to collect debts. Oh, by the way, Tianyue City has been cracking down on this recently, and most of the loan sharks have been caught,¡± the woman explained with a smile.

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    ¡°Are you short on cash?¡± the woman asked casually, glancing at Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Yes, I was planning to borrow some from the loan sharks,¡± Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    From what Xiao Mei said, it seemed borrowing from loan sharks was off the table for now.

    ¡°Loan sharks have connections that are not to be messed with; they are either involved with the underworld or with... shady dealings. If you¡¯re short on cash, it''s better not to borrow from them,¡± the woman named Xiao Mei said softly.

    In Tianyue City, the network of loan sharks was very intricate. Those caught were just scapegoats.

    ¡°But... I need money,¡± Qi Yuan said helplessly. ¡°These police are too diligent. Couldn''t they have waited until I borrowed the money before arresting them? That way, I wouldn¡¯t even have to pay it back.¡±

    ¡°What do you need money for? How much?¡± the woman asked casually.

    ¡°I want to practice martial arts, to fight!¡± Qi Yuan said seriously. This was also his current main mission.

    ¡°Martial arts...¡± The woman in the tight outfit was momentarily stunned. It seemed she was thinking of something, and a complicated expression crossed her eyes. ¡°Practicing martial arts has no future. Even if you become number one in Qin Yuan Nation, at best, you''ll just be an internet celebrity.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t being an internet celebrity be quite profitable for someone with a mental illness like me?

    Are you saying practicing martial arts is less promising than tightening screws in a factory?¡± Qi Yuan asked in surprise.

    The woman in tight clothes was at a loss for words.

    She was looking at it from too high a standpoint.

    Indeed, for Qi Yuan, practicing martial arts was indeed a... path forward.

    ¡°If you need money, I can lend you some. How about 100,000?¡± the woman asked.

    Qi Yuan felt disappointed at her words.

    When he wanted to borrow money, he meant borrowing without the intention to repay.

    With someone like Xiao Mei, it was obvious he¡¯d have to pay it back.

    ¡°Sure, but could you lend a bit more?¡± Qi Yuan urgently needed money.

    Besides the funds needed for martial arts training, he also needed to buy various materials for his immortal cultivation.

    So, he needed to get more money.

    ¡°How about 9 million?¡± Qi Yuan looked at Xiao Mei with great anticipation. She seemed quite capable, so why not borrow a lot in one go? What if it worked out?

    Xiao Mei was at a loss for words. She looked at Qi Yuan and finally said, ¡°Thirty thousand at most.¡±

    She had calculated the amount carefully.

    Thirty thousand would be enough for Qi Yuan to dabble in martial arts.

    ¡°Alright, thirty thousand it is,¡± Qi Yuan was easily satisfied.

    He spoke and gave Xiao Mei his bank account number.

    Xiao Mei squinted at Qi Yuan. ¡°This is our first meeting, and a blind date at that. I¡¯m willing to lend you thirty thousand. Aren¡¯t you afraid there¡¯s some sort of plot?¡±

    Indeed, under normal circumstances, today¡¯s events wouldn¡¯t have happened.

    ¡°I have a mental illness certificate. I¡¯m not afraid of plots.¡± Qi Yuan said matter-of-factly.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to suspect you¡¯re really just pretending,¡± the woman in tight clothes remarked.

    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m pretending.¡±

    ¡°Alright, check your account. I¡¯ve already transferred the money. Goodbye.¡±

    The woman acted swiftly, immediately standing up. Her tight black outfit hugged her long legs, emphasizing her figure.

    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t go yet. You haven¡¯t paid for the meal!¡± Qi Yuan called out to the woman in the tight outfit.

    The woman was momentarily stunned. ¡°I should pay?¡±

    ¡°Have you ever seen a mentally ill person pay for their meal?¡±

    Mingwu Martial Arts School.

    After a few moments, several white lines began to appear on the pitch-black token, continuously spreading.

    ¡°Three lines... Hmm... basically qualified, mid-lower aptitude, suitable for martial arts training.¡± The Second Senior Brother gave his judgment.

    As he spoke, he put the token back into the drawer.

    Qi Yuan gently touched his finger, and the blood that had dripped into the token silently returned to his body.

    No one else noticed this subtle action.

    ¡°Do the lines indicate aptitude?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    It seemed that martial arts in this world were different from those in the Canglan Realm.

    ¡°Yes!¡± The Second Senior Brother nodded vigorously. The strength in martial arts largely depends on aptitude.

    ¡°Generally speaking, people in Qin Yuan Nation have some martial arts aptitude.

    The higher the aptitude, the more suitable one is for martial arts training, and the greater achievements they can achieve.

    When I was tested, I had five lines!¡±

    The Second Senior Brother puffed out his chest at this point.

    Although martial arts were not highly regarded in the outside world¡ªafter all, training for decades might not compare to a single injection¡ªthere was still a hierarchy among martial artists.

    ¡°What¡¯s the maximum number of lines?¡±

    ¡°My master said the maximum is twelve lines. Such a genius might be able to leap ten meters in a few months of training!¡± The Second Senior Brother said this with a look of longing.

    Qi Yuan was speechless upon hearing this.

    He could already leap ten meters as he was now.

    It seemed that martial arts experts in this world were still relatively weak.

    ¡°How strong is the champion of the martial arts tournament? How many meters per step?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    This was his main concern.

    After all, he was a man determined to become the Human Martial Lord.

    ¡°Wouldn''t that be at least ten meters per step?¡± The Second Senior Brother looked at Qi Yuan. ¡°Don¡¯t aim too high. Not everyone can participate in the martial arts tournament!¡±

    He looked at Qi Yuan as if seeing through his thoughts.

    He had seen many washed-up idols coming to learn martial arts to participate in the martial arts tournament, just to try and re-enter the spotlight.

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s good looks, participating in the martial arts tournament might not yield a great rank, but at least it would put him back in the public eye.

    Maybe he would even become an internet sensation.

    Qi Yuan was a bit speechless after hearing the Second Senior Brother¡¯s words.

    Leaping over ten meters?

    The champion of the martial arts tournament?

    Isn¡¯t that too weak?

    The difficulty of this task seemed too low.

    ¡°Second Senior Brother, does this mean I¡¯m enrolled now? I¡¯ll transfer the money to you right away. When can I start learning martial arts?¡±

    Qi Yuan asked.

    The martial arts of this world and those of the Canglan Realm.

    Qi Yuan wanted to see how different the martial arts in this world were.

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll give you a technique.¡±

    The Second Senior Brother took out a thin booklet from the drawer.

    On the booklet, the archaic words ¡°Mingwu Resonance Fist¡± were written in bold characters.

    ¡°This technique is the prized teaching of our Mingwu Martial Arts School, consisting of twelve levels.

    Here are the first three levels for you.

    Remember, do not disclose this technique to others, understood?¡± the Second Senior Brother warned.

    ¡°What about the rest of the technique?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°The rest... you need to pay extra.

    Young man, these first three levels are enough for you to practice for a year.¡± The Second Senior Brother replied truthfully.

    When he was practicing this technique, it took him seven months to master the third level.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s aptitude was lower than his, so taking a year was normal.

    ¡°How much is it?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°Hmm... a total of three million?¡± The Second Senior Brother replied truthfully. ¡°Come, let me explain our prized teaching, the Mingwu Resonance Fist. It emphasizes the unity of the five viscera and muscles to achieve a kind of resonance, thereby unleashing great power...

    Don¡¯t be fooled by the grand words; in practice, it''s quite difficult.

    After all, who can control the vibrations of their own viscera?

    It requires long-term experience... and...¡±

    ¡°Like this?¡±

    But at this moment, Qi Yuan flipped through the three levels of the technique.

    He extended a punch, thrusting it forward forcefully.

    At this moment, his whole body and internal organs were in perfect harmony.

    All the blood vessels in his body seemed to converge in his fist.

    Bang!

    A powerful punch was thrown, resembling a thunderous explosion.

    The Second Senior Brother was momentarily stunned, his left nostril twitching upwards.

    ¡°Are you the master''s... illegitimate son?¡±

 Chapter 284: A Buyer for the Cultivation Technique

    Chapter 284: A Buyer for the Cultivation Technique

    A punch was thrown, and a loud bang echoed.

    This scene was shocking, yet somewhat ordinary.

    After all, did a punch like that have more destructive power than a gun?

    On a construction site, could it compete with a truck?

    Hmm... it couldn''t.

    It wasn''t even as effective as taking a genetic enhancement drug.

    The Second Senior Brother was both surprised and unimpressed.

    He¡¯s a genius... hmm.

    ¡°You¡¯ve now officially begun your training. It seems you don¡¯t need me to teach you. If you have any questions later, feel free to ask me,¡± said the Second Senior Brother. ¡°Xiao Li, take Qi Yuan to get a martial arts uniform.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    What had just happened was nothing remarkable. In terms of shock value, it wasn¡¯t even as surprising as a celebrity¡¯s dog falling ill.

    Qi Yuan followed the staff member to get his training clothes.

    At this moment, his mood was anything but calm.

    Because, in that punch he just threw, he sensed something different.

    The punch was quite ordinary, even less powerful than martial arts from the Canglan Realm.

    But with Qi Yuan¡¯s exceptional observational skills, he noticed that the punch seemed to hide something.

    ¡°When I threw that punch... something felt different.¡±

    As he executed that punch, Qi Yuan felt a completely different sensation compared to martial arts from the Canglan Realm or martial arts from the Moon-Watching Continent.

    Of course, it was just a feeling.

    If you asked him to pinpoint exactly what it was, he couldn¡¯t say.

    The main reason was that he was currently too weak to have "the eye to see."

    If he had the cultivation level of a Nascent Soul, he could observe his own body and instantly discover the internal issues.

    Even the curse might be completely resolved, rather than merely suppressed.

    After changing into his training clothes, Qi Yuan entered the training room.

    Inside the spacious training room, there were men and women, totaling over twenty people.Ge?t latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om

    Most of them were men; there were fewer women, only about a quarter.

    ¡°Hey there, handsome!¡±

    As soon as Qi Yuan walked in, he attracted a lot of attention.

    After all, with Qi Yuan¡¯s good looks, even back in school, he had attracted many admirers.

    If it weren¡¯t for his mental illness, girls like Li Yan wouldn¡¯t have chased him so fervently.

    Sometimes, when a man is handsome, he will understand just how forward some girls can be.

    And those who have spare money to train in martial arts are usually from well-off families.

    These young men and women are generally quite outgoing, and some girls even boldly flirted with Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Newcomer, Qi Yuan, nice to meet you all.¡±

    Qi Yuan casually introduced himself, found a corner, and began studying and practicing the "Mingwu Resonance Fist."

    ¡°Hey handsome, I¡¯ve been here a month longer than you. Want me to teach you?¡± A woman with a high ponytail approached Qi Yuan, her demeanor quite bold.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan looked at the woman with the high ponytail. ¡°Are you good at it?¡±

    ¡°Wang Shiqiao is a genius with nine lines. Her technique is superb,¡± a friend of Wang Shiqiao shouted from afar.

    Wang Shiqiao looked at Qi Yuan and then opened a window. ¡°Look... this is the fourth floor.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked down.

    From this height, an ordinary person might die if they jumped.

    Could she be thinking...?

    He looked at Wang Shiqiao with anticipation in his eyes.

    ¡°Watch my punch!¡±

    At that moment, Wang Shiqiao shouted and threw a fierce punch at the sandbag next to Qi Yuan.

    The sandbag, subjected to tremendous force, swung violently, appearing quite powerful.

    If Qi Yuan, who had come to this game world cursed and weakened, had taken such a punch, he might have died.

    ¡°Good, not bad!¡±

    ¡°This punch has a year''s worth of power!¡±

    Others around clapped, amused.

    Wang Shiqiao looked at Qi Yuan, smugly saying, ¡°How¡¯s that punch?¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at Wang Shiqiao with anticipation. ¡°Great! So, are you going to jump out the window now?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Wang Shiqiao''s lips curled into a smile. ¡°I was kidding! I never said I would jump from the fourth floor. Even the senior master would end up in the hospital if he jumped from here. You didn¡¯t really think practicing ¡®Mingwu Resonance Fist¡¯ would make you a superman who could defeat genetically enhanced warriors, did you?¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan muttered, ¡°Is martial arts really that weak?¡±

    On his way here, Qi Yuan had already heard that the senior master of Mingwu Martial Arts School was the number one after the master himself.

    This person had already practiced ¡°Mingwu Resonance Fist¡± to the eighth level, second only to the master.

    Yet, he would still get hurt jumping from the fourth floor.

    No wonder martial arts were just a hobby, somewhat like fishing or fitness back on Blue Star.

    ¡°Martial arts aren¡¯t weak. Our bodies are much stronger than ordinary people¡¯s... and we¡¯re all-natural!¡± Wang Shiqiao said, deliberately puffing out her chest.

    Due to the development of technology and the influence of thoughts from Canxing, the societal atmosphere in all countries on Gongxing had become much more open than before, especially among the wealthy.

    ¡°What¡¯s natural about it?¡± Qi Yuan glanced at Wang Shiqiao''s nose. ¡°Your nose has been worked on.¡±

    Wang Shiqiao¡¯s expression changed slightly. She covered her nose with her hand, her face switching between cloudy and clear expressions. ¡°You could tell?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s obvious,¡± Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s been less than a year, and someone can already tell? What kind of crap did that hospital give me when they promised it¡¯d look natural? I have to go find them!¡± Wang Shiqiao muttered angrily as she left, seemingly going to cause trouble for the beauty clinic.

    ¡°Will you sell the technique for ten thousand yuan?¡±

    ¡°Ninety-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand. No bargaining. If you want to haggle, I¡¯m not doing business.¡± Qi Yuan replied casually.

    He didn¡¯t feel it was a loss at that price.

    In the Canglan Realm, if completed, the ¡°Super Invincible Explosive Technique¡± could easily be a sect''s treasured technique.

    Even an ordinary top-tier Heavenly level technique wouldn''t compare.

    ¡°Can we have a video call?¡±

    Soon, the other party sent another message.

    ¡°To video call, you¡¯ll need to add me as a contact, and that requires a tip of a hundred thousand yuan.¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    He didn¡¯t want to video chat with someone for no reason.

    Meanwhile, in Yue Lang Nation, in a border town, a man in a black jacket squinted his eyes, pondering something.

    Beside him, a young man in short sleeves had an angry expression on his face. ¡°This guy must be a scammer. He wants a hundred thousand yuan just like that? Does he take us for fools? I bet there¡¯s no continuation of the technique. And cultivating immortality... that¡¯s nonsense.¡±

    The young man in short sleeves sneaked a glance at the boss and, seeing him deep in thought, dared not say more.

    The man in the black jacket tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought.

    ¡°I have all his personal information. If he dares cheat me... we¡¯ll just go to Qin Yuan and bring him in,¡± the man in the black jacket said confidently.

    His identity was no ordinary one; he was an arms dealer.

    Doing things with his life on the line, he wasn¡¯t afraid of being scammed.

    Besides... it was just a hundred thousand yuan.

    ¡°Transfer it.¡±

    Without hesitation, he tipped another hundred thousand yuan.

    After tipping, he glanced at the young man in short sleeves, who immediately understood the boss''s intention and placed a large sniper rifle on the table.

    It was clear the man in the black jacket wanted to use these to intimidate the seller.

    After a few moments, the video call connected.

    The man in the black jacket looked at Qi Yuan, wearing a shirt, and was about to speak when he heard Qi Yuan''s lazy voice.

    ¡°Five minutes. If you don¡¯t decide to buy within five minutes, I¡¯m not doing business.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words caught the man in the black jacket off guard, blocking what he was about to say.

    The man in the black jacket wasn¡¯t angry. Instead, he gently stroked the sniper rifle on the table. ¡°Five minutes for a hundred thousand yuan. Mr. Qi¡¯s time is really precious.¡±

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised that his personal information had been leaked.

    After all, online information was like a sieve. Not to mention the super-rich and powerful, even a small official could dig up your information.

    A few months ago, a minor official in Qin Yuan made headlines for threatening someone online to give up their identity, all because he was a fanboy.

    ¡°You¡¯re getting a good deal,¡± Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    In the Canglan Realm, any cultivator receiving five minutes of guidance from Qi Yuan would benefit greatly, possibly advancing to a higher realm.

    The man in the black jacket looked at Qi Yuan¡¯s youthful face, showing a complex expression.

    He had never met someone so difficult to deal with before.

    Although the information he had found suggested the other party might have a mental illness, Qi Yuan¡¯s confident, laid-back demeanor didn¡¯t match that of a mentally ill person.

    ¡°The continuation of the ¡®Super Invincible Explosive Technique¡¯... could you show me more?

    After all, we¡¯re talking about a hundred million yuan deal. Such a big deal deserves serious consideration.¡± The man in the black jacket put the sniper rifle down.

    He realized the rifle seemed nonexistent in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    Facing Qi Yuan, an ordinary person, he felt more uneasy than when facing heads of small nations.

    ¡°Is a hundred million a big deal? I heard some people set small goals of a hundred million.

    If you don¡¯t want to buy this technique, then forget it.

    I might not feel like selling it later.

    This kind of opportunity only comes once, so you should seize it,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    He needed money but wanted to do things his way.

    If it was too much trouble, he wouldn¡¯t sell.

    For cultivators, making money was easy.

    Besides, he still had memories of a year.

    At worst, why not just buy some lottery tickets?

    The man in the black jacket looked at Qi Yuan, his mind filled with various thoughts.

    A hundred million wasn¡¯t a small amount; even he would feel a pinch.

    What if... this was a setup?

    He hesitated, conflicted about whether to capture him.

    The young man in short sleeves beside him looked anxious.

    He felt that Qi Yuan was just a scammer.

    But since the boss hadn¡¯t said anything, he didn¡¯t dare speak up.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan suddenly said, ¡°You¡¯re in Yue Lang Nation, right? I happen to need this plant unique to Yue Lang Nation, Kunqing Grass. If you buy my technique, we could even have a second wave of cooperation.

    There are some special plants in Yue Lang Nation that I need, which aren¡¯t available in Qin Yuan Nation. You could help me transport them. As payment, I could give you money or some potions and pills... Hmm, they might help with cultivation.¡±

    Kunqing Grass?

    The man in the black jacket was stunned and looked at the potted plant on the table.

    How did Qi Yuan know about it?

    According to the information he gathered, Qi Yuan was just an ordinary citizen of Qin Yuan Nation.

    Kunqing Grass is only known to a select few in Yue Lang Nation. How could he know about such an obscure thing?

 Chapter 285: 3rd Stage of Qi Refining

    Chapter 285: 3rd Stage of Qi Refining

    The man in the black jacket gazed at the Kunqing Grass on the table, his eyes deep with thought.

    Finally, he said, "Could we meet in person?"

    A deal worth a billion couldn¡¯t be made without meeting the other party; it wouldn¡¯t sit right with him.

    The death of Qi Yuan might be a small matter, but losing a billion would be a painful blow.

    "Let''s hurry; I''m very busy," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Maybe in a while, after his cultivation reached a higher level, a billion wouldn''t even interest him anymore.

    "How about two days from now, on the Haixingya cruise ship in Tianyue City?" the man in the black jacket suggested tentatively.

    In two days, the luxurious cruise ship Haixingya would dock in Tianyue City for three days. During this time, the ship would be resupplied, and a banquet would be held, inviting various social elites to attend.

    ¡°Hmm... You cover the cost of the ticket and transportation,¡± Qi Yuan agreed.

    He figured he could just get a free meal while he was at it.

    ¡°An invitation will be delivered to you tomorrow, and a driver will pick you up the day after,¡± the man in the black jacket arranged efficiently.

    This was also a way of showing his power.

    He was telling Qi Yuan, "I know your information, including your address."

    ¡°Alright. Oh, and bring more Kunqing Grass¡ªI need it,¡± Qi Yuan looked at the man in the black jacket and added, ¡°If you can, collect some other materials for me as well. The cost will be deducted from our transaction.

    And, by the way, the transaction amount should be post-tax.¡±

    After giving a list of materials he needed, Qi Yuan ended the video call.

    In the border town, the man in the black jacket had a conflicted look on his face.

    There was too little useful information obtained from the recent conversation, and the initiative was in the hands of the other party.

    As the saying goes, the customer is king.

    But he felt that the person named Qi Yuan was the real king.

    That easygoing, confident demeanor was not something an ordinary person could possess.

    As an arms dealer, the man in the black jacket had many gunmen under his command. He had also killed people and met all kinds of characters, but someone like Qi Yuan was a first for him.

    The young man in a short-sleeved shirt looked extremely displeased. "This Qi Yuan is too arrogant, giving no face at all. This is a billion-dollar deal!"

    Qi Yuan''s attitude had left the young man quite dissatisfied.

    "Ah Zhi, remember to prepare the materials Qi Yuan mentioned earlier," the man in the black jacket instructed.

    The young man, Ah Zhi, was taken aback. "Boss, do we really have to gather them?"

    ¡°Hmm... If we successfully meet, this deal... is likely to go through,¡± the man in the black jacket knew himself well.

    Now that he was tempted, the deal would definitely proceed.

    Unless the other party made a huge mistake when they met.

    But since Qi Yuan had handled the video call flawlessly, it was unlikely he would make a significant mistake in person either.

    ¡°Are we really going to do this?¡± Ah Zhi swallowed hard.

    That¡¯s a billion Qin Yuan coins!

    And post-tax.

    If he had that much money, he would have quit this job long ago and enjoyed life.

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll do it,¡± the man in the black jacket said firmly.

    Ah Zhi seemed to understand something. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Should I arrange for some people on the Haixingya to... take care of him?"

    ¡°What are you thinking? This is a legitimate business transaction!

    In business, you need to maintain credibility!¡± the man in the black jacket glared at Ah Zhi.

    He understood Ah Zhi''s implication; it was about double-crossing.

    But in a transaction involving a cultivation technique, how could they resort to a double-cross?

    If it turned out to be real, it would imply that the other party was indeed cultivating immortality!

    ...

    ¡°Item has been reserved, temporarily declining private messages. Stop tipping; no refunds.¡±

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment and posted a comment on his video, pinning it to the top.

    After doing so, he exited the short video app.

    "Qi Yuan, this is our Mingwu member group. I¡¯ve sent you an invite; please accept it," the Second Senior Brother messaged, along with a link to join the group.

    ¡°Sure, thanks for the trouble, Second Senior Brother.¡±

    Qi Yuan joined the group named "Mingwu Gathering Place."

    There were over three hundred members in the group.

    Upon joining, Qi Yuan lurked in silence, reading the messages.

    ¡°Ugh, secret items are so expensive, I can¡¯t afford them,¡± a female member named Xiaoyu complained in the group.

    ¡°Sister Fish, your husband is about to kick the bucket, and you''re worried about some secret items worth tens of thousands?¡± another member laughed.

    ¡°The bulk of the inheritance is going to his sons; I¡¯ll only get some scraps,¡± Xiaoyu grumbled in her text.

    ¡°Not bad, three years for an inheritance worth over a billion. I¡¯m jealous!¡±

    ¡°@Master, can you make the secret items cheaper? They¡¯re too expensive; we can¡¯t afford them!¡± Xiaoyu said in the group.

    A few other members chimed in as well.

    ¡°Make them cheaper; we can¡¯t afford them!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re so broke we can¡¯t even afford underwear!¡±

    Reading the messages in the group, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but ask, ¡°What are secret items?¡±

    Qi Yuan always had a good habit of asking when he didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Brother, are you new? Martial artists need secret items to advance to higher levels.

    By the way, don¡¯t confuse secret items with genetic drugs. Secret items are all-natural,¡± a helpful member explained further.

    ¡°At what stage do you need secret items?¡± Qi Yuan asked again.

    ¡°When you¡¯ve trained the ¡®Mingwu Resonance Fist¡¯ to the seventh level, you¡¯ll need secret items to make any further progress.

    Typically, only veteran members who have been practicing the ¡®Mingwu Resonance Fist¡¯ for three to four years start using secret items to enhance their strength,¡± the helpful elder brother explained.

    ¡°Elder Brother, if you¡¯ve been training for so long, you must be very strong, right?¡± Qi Yuan asked curiously, ¡°Can you catch bullets with your hands?¡±

    ¡°Please get in, sir.¡±

    Inside the residential area, a brawny man in a suit opened the car door, and Qi Yuan got in, closing his eyes to rest.

    This car had been arranged by the man in the black jacket to pick up Qi Yuan.

    Although he was in a suit, Qi Yuan could still smell a faint scent of blood.

    This man had taken lives before.

    Such people might scare ordinary citizens in a civilized city, but to Qi Yuan... well, they were just that.

    ¡°Is your boss wealthy?¡± Qi Yuan asked casually.

    The driver hesitated for a moment, then answered in broken Qin Yuan dialect, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good. Having strong financial resources makes cooperation easier.¡±

    Qi Yuan was reluctant to seek multiple partners.

    Finding one reliable partner was enough, especially one who could gather all the materials he needed so he could focus solely on cultivation.

    The driver remained silent, saying nothing further.

    About two hours later, the car stopped at a port.

    ¡°Mr. Qi, please follow me; the boss is waiting for you on the cruise ship.¡±

    Qi Yuan nodded and followed the suited man onto the ship.

    The Haixingya cruise ship was one of the medium to large-sized ships on Gongsing, nearly 500 meters long and capable of carrying nearly 10,000 passengers.

    The ship was docked at the port, and uniformed guards were stationed at the entrance.

    Groups of men and women entered from time to time, smiles on their faces.

    Not far away, there were some young people with phones and cameras taking photos.

    Some were live-streaming, while others were checking in.

    Snippets of their conversations drifted into Qi Yuan¡¯s ears.

    ¡°I heard this cruise ship belongs to Prince Tail. I wonder if I¡¯ll have a chance for a romantic encounter with him.¡±

    ¡°Stop dreaming; you¡¯d need money to pay for the ticket. I heard the tickets cost over ten thousand!¡±

    ¡°Sigh, some people didn¡¯t even pay. My friend¡¯s brother managed to get on!¡±

    ¡°Special access?¡±

    ¡°Yes... sigh, too bad I didn¡¯t pass the physical; otherwise, I might have gotten a chance!¡±

    The cruise ship had attracted quite a few dignitaries, which in turn attracted a lot of young men and women.

    After all, if they could get into such high society, it could change the trajectory of their lives.

    Qi Yuan followed the suited man through the VIP passage, boarding the cruise ship under the envious gazes of the young people.

    The cruise ship was huge, filled with many well-dressed individuals. Security guards patrolled frequently, armed with guns.

    ¡°The ship¡¯s security is excellent, and ordinary guests are not allowed to bring weapons, so Mr. Qi, you don¡¯t have to worry about your safety,¡± the suited man emphasized.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not concerned.¡±

    Although Qi Yuan was only at the third level of Qi Refining, his third level was different from others.

    On this ship, nothing could threaten him.

    The suited man remained silent, saying nothing more.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your boss? Hurry up, I¡¯m in a rush to get back to martial arts practice.¡±

    Qi Yuan followed the suited man, weaving through the cruise ship for about twenty minutes.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there; just a minute away. The boss is waiting for you in the front hall,¡± the suited man quickly reassured.

    Along the way, he had intentionally taken Qi Yuan on a detour to give the boss more time to observe him.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Qi Yuan nodded, saying nothing further.

    Meanwhile, not far from the cruise ship, a young girl in a black dress with a refined hairstyle blinked, seemingly doubting her own eyes.

    ¡°What is it, Uqi?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, I thought I saw a high school classmate, but I must have been mistaken.

    By the way, that high school classmate of mine, he was actually my junior... really handsome. Back then, several girls in our class used to follow him every day.

    If it weren¡¯t for the constant training, I might have wanted to have a romantic relationship with him. What a pity... Now, as a public figure, I have to be cautious even about dating.¡± Uqi¡¯s cold makeup accentuated her exquisite face, and her black dress perfectly outlined her curves.

    ¡°Even though you can¡¯t date openly, you earn a lot of money. Aren¡¯t you still an outstanding alum of your school?

    People call you a big star when they see you.¡±

    ¡°Big star, my foot! Just a high-class service worker. Later, I still have to go in and entertain guests...¡± Uqi rolled her eyes.

    Her manager chimed in, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to socialize, I can arrange to cancel it.¡±

    Of course, she was just saying it casually; canceling was out of the question.

    ¡°No way, I have to seize this opportunity. Who knows, this might be my big break! I don¡¯t want to be an obscure idol for the rest of my life!¡± Uqi said, sounding ambitious. She pulled down her dress a little, revealing more of her fair skin.

    She had volunteered for this event.

    She knew she might have to offer more than just her presence, but she agreed to come anyway.

    Such things were common in all kinds of circles, affecting both men and women.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s not some fat old man,¡± Uqi thought.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan stepped into a luxurious reception hall on the ship.

    The hall was enormous, decorated lavishly with no regard for subtlety.

    The man in the black jacket stood up, looking at Qi Yuan with a smile. ¡°Qi Yuan, I am Kuang Huan.¡±

 Chapter 286: The Deal

    Chapter 286: The Deal

    Qi Yuan glanced at Kuang Huan.

    Seeing the person in reality, he could perceive much more.

    "Your aptitude is rather poor..."

    Qi Yuan commented bluntly.

    With Kuang Huan''s aptitude, he wouldn''t even qualify to enter the Shenguang Sect of Great Shang.

    Upon hearing this, Kuang Huan''s heart sank. He asked in a low voice, "How poor?"

    "Very poor. Without some extraordinary cultivation opportunity, you''ll likely be stuck in the Qi Refining stage your whole life."

    "Qi Refining?" Kuang Huan had never heard this term before and pondered, "Is this... a cultivation stage? Could Mr. Qi explain?"

    "There are seven stages in cultivation: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Purple Mansion, Yin God, and Yang God. Qi Refining is the weakest, while Yang God is the strongest," Qi Yuan explained simply.

    After all, the other party was a big client, and Qi Yuan was quite accommodating.

    Hearing this, Kuang Huan''s eyes lit up, especially when he heard about the Golden Core stage. His body trembled slightly.

    "I wonder if, upon reaching a high cultivation level, one could... withstand firearms?" Kuang Huan asked softly.

    "You lack ambition. Of course, it''s possible." At the Yang God stage, a single punch could destroy the world ¡ª this wasn''t a joke.

    Not to mention, even a Nascent Soul or Golden Core stage cultivator could turn Qin Yuan into utter chaos.

    "What about a ray gun?" Kuang Huan asked, his eyes filled with hope.

    The ray gun was a special type of firearm. The technology behind it came from Canxing and was considered a high-precision weapon of the second tier from Canxing.

    This gun was somewhat similar to the concept of electromagnetic guns from Qi Yuan''s past life on Blue Star.

    Instead of firing bullets, it emitted a beam of light. This beam had a unique penetrative ability, effective only on living organisms, causing radiation that damaged cells.

    "I''ve never seen a ray gun, but it should be manageable," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    The speed of a ray gun''s projectile was extremely fast, almost at the speed of light.

    Ordinary Yin God cultivators couldn''t reach such speeds, but even if hit by one, it wouldn''t be an issue.

    And since the gun relied on human operation, a cultivator only needed to be faster than the operator.

    Looking at the various firearms laid out on the table, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but ask, "You''re in the arms business?"

    "Yes, just making some hard-earned money. If Mr. Qi takes a liking to any of these guns, I''ll gift it to you. I''ll also help you obtain a firearm permit," Kuang Huan quickly offered.

    In front of Qi Yuan, he lacked the arrogance typical of an arms dealer and instead appeared quite courteous.

    However, in those small countries, even when facing generals or other important figures, he often looked down on them arrogantly and was quite domineering.

    "These little toys do have some use occasionally," Qi Yuan said, casually picking up a small pistol.

    When traveling, a gun''s deterrent power could sometimes surpass other means.

    In his previous life, Qi Yuan never encountered guns. Holding one now felt like a child playing with a toy.

    "I''ve never handled one before. This is my first time. Thank you."

    "As long as you like it, sir," Kuang Huan responded with a flattering smile.

    "Did you bring the money? Ready to make the deal?" Qi Yuan asked directly, taking the gun and getting straight to the point.

    He came to meet Kuang Huan for two main purposes: first, to sell the "Super Invincible Explosive Art."

    "The funds are ready. I can transfer them to your account anytime. It''s just... the technique..." Kuang Huan hesitated.

    "Once I get the money, I''ll give it to you," Qi Yuan replied casually, taking a seat.

    On the table were various firearms and several bottles of fancy, colorful beverages.

    Qi Yuan grabbed a bottle of red drink and took a swig.

    A spicy, sweet flavor filled his taste buds.

    He put the red drink down.

    "The taste isn''t that great."

    After drinking a lot of immortal liquids in the cultivation world, these fancy drinks tasted like diluted disinfectant.

    Seeing Qi Yuan casually drink such expensive liquor, completely at ease as if he were at home, Kuang Huan gritted his teeth and finally said, "Ah Zhi, transfer the money to Mr. Qi."

    "My account number is 47..." Qi Yuan recited his bank account number.

    Kuang Huan sat next to Qi Yuan, cautiously saying, "Mr. Qi, your account has some limitations on large transfers. I can help upgrade it... if that''s okay?"

    Kuang Huan was an arms dealer but also had considerable influence and connections in Qin Yuan.

    In fact, he had deep ties with some military forces in Qin Yuan.

    What was called smuggling was actually clearing old stock for Qin Yuan''s military and selling outdated goods.

    "Sure." Qi Yuan didn''t object to this and found it convenient.

    In Qin Yuan, ordinary people''s bank accounts were heavily restricted.

    Daily transfers were not only limited in amount, but accounts could also be frozen at any moment.

    However, with an account upgraded to a certain level, these issues wouldn''t occur.

    After all, a high-level account not only signified wealth but also a high social status.

    Even if the bank''s intelligent system detected unusual activity on such an account, it wouldn''t freeze it automatically but would need to consult higher authorities.

    Soon, Qi Yuan received a text message on his phone.

    Saying this, she deliberately puffed out her chest.

    Thinking of something, she gritted her teeth, slipped her hand into her dress, and pulled off a pair of pure white lace-trimmed panties, which hung at her pale ankles before being completely removed.

    "Xiao Qi, hurry up, the big boss is here!"

    The agent''s voice called, and Wu Qi quickly replied.

    "Coming."

    She quickly tidied herself up and rushed out.

    In the wide corridor outside, four tall and beautiful women were standing. Seeing them, Wu Qi felt a sense of inferiority.

    She recognized most of these women; they were her seniors, and two of them were even international stars.

    These celebrities had much more star power than she did.

    Her pride and confidence faltered at that moment.

    But she still held her head high, her gaze firm. Although these people had better conditions than her, she... was shameless and willing to lower herself.

    The five of them stood together, chatting carefully.

    Not far away, on the high deck of the cruise ship, a man in uniform watched with excitement.

    "So many celebrities, look... that''s Er Jian, the lead actress in ''Gene Crisis,'' with those long legs and big chest, wow!" A man craned his neck to look into the distance.

    Wang Xu also widened his eyes, "Huh, Wu Qi is here too; she was from our school!"

    Wang Xu and Qi Yuan were high school and college classmates.

    However, in high school, they weren''t in the same class.

    Wang Xu knew Wu Qi.

    In the office, he had even boasted that a senior from their school had become a celebrity, and he would often run into her on the school bus.

    "Truly envy these stars. Just a random outfit they wear costs more than I could earn in half a lifetime." Wang Xu looked on with envy.

    Although his job was quite respectable, envied by old classmates like Li Yan, compared to stars like Wu Qi, he was far behind.

    Their living standards and social status were on completely different levels.

    Wu Qi could meet some important people, even powerful figures, while Wang Xu... could not.

    "Judging by their appearance, they''re probably attending a private banquet. Damn capitalists, damn second-generation rich!" The man beside Wang Xu had red eyes.

    The shady dealings of the upper class weren''t exactly secrets to the common folk.

    Of course, there were still crazy fans. People needed something to spiritually sustain them.

    Wang Xu chuckled, "Don''t be jealous, just focus on your work."

    They had come here to deal with a batch of sea monsters.

    Last time, some smuggled sea monsters ended up on the Haixingya.

    He represented the Maritime Bureau in retrieving them.

    The person they were dealing with on the Haixingya was quite cooperative and gave him some of the sea monsters.

    Of course, most were still on the Haixingya.

    Wang Xu knew about this, but he had no objections.

    If the leadership didn''t mind, why should he?

    Both men occasionally stole glances at the celebrities in the distance.

    Unfortunately, their phones had been confiscated when boarding the cruise, otherwise, they could have taken some pictures of the stars.

    Meanwhile, Wu Qi, unaware that an old schoolmate had spotted her, was now smiling shyly, mingling with her seniors.

    "The boss who invited us this time is an imperial knight, a viscount, and yes, it''s hereditary."

    From the words of one senior, Wu Qi learned about the big boss they were here to entertain.

    "A nobleman, and a hereditary one!" Wu Qi''s eyes were filled with admiration.

    In Qin Yuan, noble titles weren''t easily acquired, and a hereditary viscount was among the noblest of nobles. In ancient times, they even had their own fiefs.

    Even in modern times, a hereditary viscount entering the business world would receive tax breaks.

    That''s why many entrepreneurs or bosses were backed by a noble family in their business ventures.

    A hereditary viscount was someone Wu Qi had to look up to.

    At this moment, a whisper came, "Viscount Kuang Huan is here!"

    Wu Qi and the others quickly looked over, seeing a burly man in a black jacket emerge. There was a faint scar on his face, which somehow added to his charm in the eyes of these stars.

    Behind the viscount, there were eleven burly men, each carrying a black wooden box, catching quite a bit of attention.

    Kuang Huan approached, and the voluptuous Er Jian immediately wrapped herself around Kuang Huan''s arm.

    Kuang Huan''s eyes held a hint of pleasure. He scanned the women, all dressed to the nines, and spoke gruffly, "I have a distinguished guest. If you serve him well, there will be plenty of cash for you."

    He didn''t bother hiding his true nature in front of these people, acting like a brash nouveau riche with no noble grace or refinement.

    Yet, when dealing with Qi Yuan, Kuang Huan was particularly cautious and restrained.

    The female celebrities'' eyes lit up, especially Wu Qi, who wanted to know if the guest of the hereditary viscount was also... a noble.

    If that were the case, if she could latch onto them, her status could change in an instant.

    After all, Qin Yuan... was a nation ruled by old aristocracy and one of the strongest countries on Gongxing.

 Chapter 287: When More Suns Appear in the Sky, My Wife Will Arrive

    Chapter 287: When More Suns Appear in the Sky, My Wife Will Arrive

    Wu Qi walked among the lavishly dressed crowd, her back straight, her high heels clicking confidently, her heart brimming with pride.

    Unfortunately, her phone had been confiscated.

    Otherwise, attending such a private party with some aristocrats, she could have taken a photo and shown it to her friends, basking in their admiration. Wouldn''t that have been satisfying?

    The doors to the reception hall opened, and Kuang Huan, with his arm around Er Jian''s waist, spoke softly.

    "Mr. Qi, to celebrate the completion of our deal, I¡¯ve specially arranged a small party for you."

    In front of Qi Yuan, Kuang Huan resumed his courteous demeanor, completely different from how he acted outside.

    Wu Qi quickly glanced around the reception hall''s furnishings.

    When she saw the various guns and weapons on the gold-threaded wooden table, her eyes widened. After all, as an artist, she had little exposure to such real weapons.

    Hearing Kuang Huan¡¯s voice, she looked towards the depths of the reception hall.

    She saw someone sitting there, seemingly fishing.

    Wu Qi''s eyes focused intently because that silhouette seemed somewhat familiar.

    At that moment, the young man turned around, revealing a bright, handsome face.

    Seeing that face, Wu Qi''s heart unexpectedly skipped a beat.

    Because that person... was her junior from school, Qi Yuan!

    She wondered if she was mistaken, or perhaps the two just looked alike, but how could she mistake such a high-profile face?

    Then she recalled that this junior, whom she once somewhat "looked down upon," had now become a person of such stature that he could play with her as he pleased.

    A wave of inexplicable shame and indignation spread over her, making her cheeks flush.

    Then, a strange thrill surged through her, and Wu Qi¡¯s emotions felt like a roller coaster ride.

    At this moment, Kuang Huan''s face broke into a smile. "I wonder if these... are to your satisfaction?"

    Qi Yuan was now also looking seriously at Kuang Huan, his expression somewhat awkward. "You¡¯re throwing a party... and invited me?"

    Isn''t the usual reaction to say, damn it, you¡¯re throwing a party and didn¡¯t invite me?

    But since he was invited, he wasn¡¯t sure how to respond.

    Seeing Qi Yuan''s reaction, Kuang Huan breathed a sigh of relief.

    He was just worried that Qi Yuan might be indifferent to everything.

    Judging from Qi Yuan''s reply just now, it was clear he had accepted him.

    Kuang Huan then introduced, "These ladies here are well-known celebrities. This one..."

    He pointed to Wu Qi.

    "She''s from Tianyue City, and I believe she was your high school classmate, Mr. Qi."

    He had specifically brought Wu Qi here because she might have crossed paths with Qi Yuan in the past¡ªthey were old classmates.

    Such a connection would appeal more to his senses.

    Otherwise, a celebrity of Wu Qi''s caliber wouldn''t have been eligible to attend their private gathering.

    "Oh, what a coincidence?" Qi Yuan looked at Wu Qi, and the memories of his innate seed flooded back, "I remember now. The senior who ate three sweet potatoes at once actually became a star?"

    Qi Yuan had a good memory; as long as he recalled, his past memories would resurface.

    Wu Qi blushed upon hearing this and looked at Qi Yuan. She boldly said, "Junior, you still remember your senior."

    To be remembered by such an influential person as Qi Yuan, even if it was for the time she ate three sweet potatoes, was already gratifying for Wu Qi.

    "My memory has always been excellent, unforgettable," Qi Yuan said as he turned to Kuang Huan, speaking softly, "Did you bring the goods?"

    The goods naturally referred to some rare cultivation herbs unique to Yue Lang.

    Kuang Huan nodded, "Due to the urgency, I sought the help of General Mu to collect this batch before returning."

    Hearing this, Wu Qi felt that Qi Yuan was even more mysterious.

    She had not expected that her seemingly ordinary but very handsome junior had such a background and connections.

    Wu Qi stretched her neck, trying to see what precious items were being brought in with the general¡¯s help.

    The black-clad mercenaries opened the boxes, revealing a heap of various strange plants.

    All these plants were sealed in airtight bags, and through the transparent bags, Wu Qi''s eyes revealed a puzzled look.

    Because some of these items, Wu Qi could recognize¡ªthey were just... ordinary weeds.

    "Not bad. This much will last me a while," Qi Yuan said, looking at the boxes with a satisfied expression.

    Kuang Huan smiled humbly. "As long as Mr. Qi is satisfied."

    "Why don''t we cooperate? You help me gather some materials, and I... will pay you a fair amount. Or... I might give you some finished products, but giving out finished products would depend on my mood." Qi Yuan then looked out at the sea, seemingly always focused on fishing, his back to the crowd.

    However, his voice clearly reached everyone''s ears.

    The female stars did not notice anything unusual, but Kuang Huan did.

    His evaluation of Qi Yuan rose to another level in his mind.

    "I want the finished products!"

    Do you even need to ask?

    "This... is possible." Kuang Huan hesitated for a moment but immediately agreed.

    "Oh, right, my two wives don¡¯t have ID cards... is that an issue?"

    "No problem..." Kuang Huan''s face was peculiar. He cautiously asked, "Where are they now?"

    "In the sky," Qi Yuan replied.

    Wu Qi, standing nearby, was utterly baffled by their conversation.

    In the sky...? What does that mean? She recognized every word the two men said, but when put together, she couldn''t understand the meaning.

    Kuang Huan''s heart skipped a beat. "When will they arrive?"

    "In a few months, I guess?" Qi Yuan said softly.

    As long as the resources were sufficient and the requirements for foundational and core-forming spiritual items weren¡¯t strict, Qi Yuan could reach Yuan Dan in just a few months.

    As for the Yin God stage, it might take a bit longer.

    That would be measured in years.

    After all, in this world, Qi Yuan had not yet discovered a way to gain experience by slaying monsters.

    In Wangyue Continent, there were game-like monsters to kill for experience points, and in the Mortal Heart World, there were new gods to kill.

    In this world, there wasn''t a major villain or antagonist yet.

    It was a suitable world for him to spend his honeymoon with his wives.

    "When you look up at the sky and see several more suns, that¡¯s when my wife will probably arrive," Qi Yuan looked up at the sky.

    In the sky above, besides one sun, a few stars dotted the expanse.

    The female stars present were momentarily stunned by Qi Yuan''s words, then they laughed.

    Wu Qi boldly asked, "More suns in the sky?"

    Kuang Huan was bewildered. Qi Yuan''s words were too shocking.

    More suns in the sky, what would that mean? The entire Gongxing might be gone.

    Although modern technology was advanced, with powerful weapons of all kinds.

    But facing even a single sun, there was nothing even the nations on Canxing could do.

    Sensing Kuang Huan''s concern, Qi Yuan chuckled, "It¡¯s just a sun projection; it won''t affect Gongxing¡¯s ecology. Think of it like there are a few more paintings in the sky."

    Kuang Huan felt unsettled.

    To be honest, this statement was even more terrifying than Qi Yuan being a cultivator.

    If Qi Yuan had a fortunate encounter and obtained a cultivation technique, that was understandable.

    But multiple suns in the sky... that wasn¡¯t just cultivation, was it? "Haha..." Kuang Huan laughed awkwardly, treating Qi Yuan¡¯s words as a joke.

    If Qi Yuan were such a being, why would he be fishing with him? Why make deals? It wasn¡¯t logical.

    "When Madam descends, I¡¯ll personally go to the civil affairs bureau to get your marriage certificates!" Kuang Huan assured, patting his chest.

    "Rest assured, it''s just a few months. You won¡¯t have to wait long," Qi Yuan said.

    He was looking forward to Ning Tao¡¯s arrival.

    In Liufeng Realm, Ning Tao wore black silk but never white, which was quite a pity.

    Kuang Huan laughed it off, and just a few months later, they would know whether it was a joke or not.

    At that moment, Wu Qi''s face lit up with excitement. She stood up and said joyfully, "I caught a fish!"

    Wu Qi struggled clumsily with the fishing rod, and because of her lack of skill, it took her quite a while to get the fish up.

    With the help of another female star, she finally managed to catch the fish and put it into a bucket.

    Kuang Huan nodded approvingly, "Not bad, that''s a golden carp. This fish is worth two thousand yuan; not bad." Wu Qi felt delighted, glancing at Qi Yuan like a kitten seeking praise.

    Unfortunately, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t even look at her. Instead, he was looking at the fish, "Too bad it¡¯s not the little cutie."

    "The little cutie?" Wu Qi was puzzled.

    The fish she caught was golden and adorable. What wasn¡¯t cute about it?

    Kuang Huan was taken aback, then quickly said, "Mr. Qi, do you have a target in mind?"

    He guessed that there might be a fish in the sea that Qi Yuan needed for cultivation materials.

    "Yes, there is a little cutie, but I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s called.

    No worries, keep fishing for a while, and it will eventually show up." Qi Yuan said casually.

    Earlier, when he was fishing, he had noticed that little cutie.

    His keen eyesight had detected something unique about it.

    Unfortunately, Qi Yuan¡¯s current strength was too weak, and he was cursed. Jumping into the sea for a little cutie wasn''t worth it.

    So, he borrowed a few of these female stars to help him fish.

    "A rare and cute sea fish?" Kuang Huan pondered. "I¡¯ll give it a try too. Let''s see who can catch it today."

    "A fish cuter than a golden carp?" The other female stars were also eager to try.

 Chapter 288: The Mutant Sea Monster

    Chapter 288: The Mutant Sea Monster

    All the actresses were intently watching the surface of the sea, seemingly quite eager to fish up the "little cutie" Qi Yuan mentioned.

    Seeing that Qi Yuan seemed genuinely interested in that creature, Kuang Huan ordered all his men to start fishing.

    "Whoever catches it, I''ll give them a little gift," Qi Yuan said lazily.

    At that moment, all the actresses and Kuang Huan''s subordinates became tense.

    A little gift from someone as significant as Mr. Qi would undoubtedly be of considerable value.

    It might even be worth tens or hundreds of thousands of Qin Yuan currency.

    They placed their hands on their fishing rods, staring at the sea, filled with anticipation.

    Kuang Huan was also fishing. He lowered his voice and asked, "This little... cutie, is it related to cultivation?"

    After all, anything that could attract Qi Yuan''s attention should have something to do with the legendary cultivation.

    "No," Qi Yuan shook his head. "It should be related to martial arts."

    "Martial arts?" Kuang Huan was stunned.

    As an aristocrat of Qin Yuan, Kuang Huan was naturally familiar with martial arts.

    He had once been interested and practiced some martial arts himself but found martial arts to be quite weak.

    It wasn''t even as practical as what a random combat instructor from the military could teach, let alone the effects of genetic serums.

    "Aren''t martial arts rather weak?" Kuang Huan couldn''t help but say.

    Kuang Huan had seen the strongest martial artist, the champion of the Martial Arts Tournament.

    They were somewhat skilled, but that was about it.

    "There are no weak paths in the world, only weak people," Qi Yuan said lazily.

    Kuang Huan heard this but still didn''t understand. "Aren''t you a cultivator, sir?"

    "I mainly practice cultivation, but here... I want to see martial arts. I''m a man who wants to become the Martial God of All Paths."

    Becoming the Martial God of All Paths was Qi Yuan''s mission in coming to this world.

    Before becoming the Martial God of All Paths, he had to become the Human Martial Lord and the Spirit Martial Lord.

    The Human Martial Lord was relatively straightforward, but as for becoming the Spirit Martial Lord, Qi Yuan had no clues yet.

    "By the way, if you could, help me look up information about the Martial Lord of All Paths," Qi Yuan said.

    "Sure," Kuang Huan quickly agreed.

    Serving Qi Yuan seemed like a joyous task.

    "Yes, the cultivation technique I sold you is currently just an incomplete version, but it''s enough for you to practice for a few years.

    When my wife arrives, I''ll give you the rest of the technique," Qi Yuan said.

    The "Super Invincible Somewhat Explosive Technique" was currently only at the Qi Refinement stage, and it wasn''t even complete.

    This was because Qi Yuan was still under a curse and couldn''t overthink. When his strength increased, he could perfect the remaining techniques.

    Kuang Huan, hearing this, had many thoughts flash through his mind.

    However, he thought that if this truly were a cultivation technique, how could one billion buy a complete version?

    Most importantly, was the money just for the technique? It was also to establish a connection with Qi Yuan.

    "No problem," Kuang Huan quickly said.

    Of course, if he knew Qi Yuan''s true strength, he would think that even spending one billion on an incomplete technique, or even ten billion or a hundred billion, would be a great deal.

    After all, it was a technique created by Qi Yuan himself.

    The value was self-evident.

    Many thoughts flashed through Kuang Huan''s mind.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan said, "Since we''re just idling here, bring me some materials; I''ll process them. Hmm, gold, water, wood..."

    Fishing wasn''t something he could do all the time.

    As for cultivation, due to the curse, it was also progressing slowly.

    Might as well bring some materials and refine them into some medicinal liquids to enhance his strength.

    Moreover, he was also thinking of using other methods to lure the little cutie from the sea.

    "Okay!" Kuang Huan felt excited, thinking he was finally about to witness Qi Yuan''s skills.

    Soon, he and some of his subordinates brought a bunch of materials over.

    The actresses present all looked puzzled, not knowing what was about to happen.

    "Get me a blender, a high-temperature pot, and..." Qi Yuan said to Kuang Huan, who looked expectant.

    Kuang Huan was taken aback but still ordered his subordinates to fetch the items.

    At this moment, his heart was filled with confusion. What were they going to do with these?

    Qi Yuan simply patted his hands and said, "If you can take it easy, why not?"

    Soon, a blender and other equipment were brought over. Qi Yuan took the plants one by one and put them into the blender.

    The sound of the machine starting echoed.

    Everyone present watched curiously as the plants were ground to pieces.

    Of course, some people still kept an eye on the sea, hoping to fish up the little cutie.

    "Alright, it''s done."

    Qi Yuan picked up a glass and poured a bunch of dark blue medicinal liquid into it.

    He drank the liquid in one gulp, and the cultivation technique started running wildly.

    His cultivation also increased continuously at that moment.

    "Do you want a drink too? But, you need to practice with the ''Super Invincible Somewhat Explosive Technique''." Qi Yuan poured a glass for Kuang Huan.

    The spiritual energy on Gongxing wasn''t much.

    It was much less than in Canglan Realm.

    So, these medicinal liquids were needed to assist in cultivation for better results.

    Of course, Qi Yuan also vaguely sensed that the spiritual energy on Gongxing seemed to be growing slowly.

    But the growth rate was too slow.

    Kuang Huan was delighted and said, "Okay."

    He immediately recalled the cultivation technique Qi Yuan had sold him and tried to run it according to the method described in his mind.

    However, for some reason, when he tried to run it, he felt as if his body was out of control. The energy couldn''t flow; it seemed blocked.

    In an instant, the fishing line on the other end pulled back.

    A shadow was suddenly thrown into the guest hall.

    Everyone''s eyes focused on the fish.

    "So... ugly!"

    An actress covered her mouth, instinctively showing a look of disgust.

    Wu Qi''s long legs came together as she was almost scared to fall, squatting with her body, her dress tightly wrapped around her hips like a full moon, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally leaning toward Qi Yuan.

    "What is that?"

    Everyone looked at the strange black shadow, their eyes filled with surprise.

    The shadow had a head like a chicken, but a featherless one.

    A blood-red fleshy lump protruded from its forehead, giving it a hideous look.

    Meanwhile, its lower body was a mass of black, jelly-like substance, sticky and slimy, looking quite odd.

    It didn''t resemble any normal creature on Gongxing.

    "Is this... a sea monster?" Kuang Huan, well-informed, recognized the creature at once.

    "A sea monster?"

    "It¡¯s actually a sea monster!"

    The actresses present all showed surprise.

    Some of them looked disgusted, even nauseous, as they had drunk sea monster soup before but never seen the actual sea monsters themselves.

    "My little cutie is a sea monster?" Qi Yuan stared at the hideous sea monster, his eyes gleaming.

    For some reason, seeing the sea monster made him swallow his saliva, feeling an urge to swallow it whole.

    "No, this isn¡¯t just any sea monster. This is a mutant sea monster!" Kuang Huan exclaimed in astonishment.

    The sea monster was small, less than the size of a football.

    Generally, sea monsters followed the basic rule of size.

    Four or five mercenaries together couldn''t pull this sea monster up, which meant it was extraordinary and didn''t follow the basic rule.

    So, it was a mutant sea monster.

    Sea monsters were valuable, but mutant sea monsters were even more precious.

    This football-sized sea monster could easily be worth millions.

    "A mutant sea monster?"

    Qi Yuan crouched down, reaching out to touch the sea monster.

    Kuang Huan tensed up and warned, "Be careful, mutant sea monsters are dangerous!"

    Mutant sea monsters represented the unknown and danger.

    Their flesh might even contain some kind of radiation, and touching them without protection could be fatal.

    "Don''t worry, it''s not just any mutant sea monster. It''s my little cutie.

    Maybe... it will even become my white moonlight."

    Qi Yuan smiled softly as he spoke.

    His hand touched the slimy skin of the mutant sea monster.

    The once ferocious and fierce sea monster shivered as if it had encountered its natural enemy.

    Seeing this, Kuang Huan was stunned.

    He had seen mutant sea monsters before and knew their temperament.

    They were violent and chaotic creatures.

    In their minds, there was no concept of fear.

    But now, it was trembling like a scared pet.

    Wu Qi, standing nearby, suppressed her disgust and approached. "Mr. Qi is so kind-hearted, treating such... uniquely featured sea monsters so gently."

    She was trying to flatter Qi Yuan.

    After all, Qi Yuan said this mutant sea monster might even be his white moonlight.

    Wasn''t it normal for powerful people to have some unusual hobbies?

    "At first glance, this sea monster looks a bit strange, but the more I look at it, the cuter it gets. The little guy has quite a... unique charm."

    Wu Qi lied through her teeth, trying to get closer to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but glance at Wu Qi, looking at her long, rounded legs in silk stockings.

    He decided that when Ning Tao came down, he would have her wear something similar; it would definitely be quite charming.

    "Let''s fry it," Qi Yuan said.

    Fry the little cutie?

    Wu Qi was momentarily stunned.

    Didn''t he just call it his white moonlight?

    Kuang Huan heard this and immediately gave the order: "Fry this mutant sea monster!"

    Then, Qi Yuan looked at the mercenary who caught the mutant sea monster.

    The mercenary''s face immediately showed an irrepressible expression of joy.

    "I''ll reward you with a... piece of paper."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, he pulled out a napkin from his pocket.

    He took a twig, dipped it in medicinal liquid, and then began drawing something on the napkin.

    Within moments, a napkin with a ghostly symbol drawn on it fell into the mercenary''s hands.

    "It can save your life," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    The symbol he drew was a defensive talisman.

    Even if a bomb exploded on him, it could save his life.

    "Aren''t you going to thank Mr. Qi?" Kuang Huan quickly said.

    The mercenary didn''t quite understand but quickly put the napkin away and thanked him.

    He thought it might be a work of art created by a big man and might be worth tens of thousands.

    Thinking about its value, he felt quite happy.

    The other actresses also looked envious, especially Wu Qi.

 Chapter 289: Sudden Incident, Attacked

    Chapter 289: Sudden Incident, Attacked

    The "little cutie" was caught and quickly sent off to be deep-fried.

    The mercenary carefully stored the piece of tissue paper that Qi Yuan had given him.

    Kuang Huan looked at Qi Yuan and cautiously asked, "Mr. Qi, do you need sea monsters?"

    Sea monsters were precious, but for a noble like Kuang Huan, obtaining them wasn''t too difficult.

    "I might need ones like the one just now. Ordinary ones... I could take a look too," Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

    He probably needed mutant sea monsters, and not just any mutant sea monsters would do. For instance, while he had been fishing, he''d kept his eyes on the sea and spotted more than one sea monster. However, none of those gave him the same feeling as the "little cutie."

    "There are still many sea monsters on the Haixingya," Kuang Huan quickly said, "I''ll gather some for you right away."

    "Hmm."

    Qi Yuan nodded. He also wanted to study these sea monsters. These sea monsters seemed to have some... connection with martial arts. However, Qi Yuan''s martial arts skills were currently too weak to identify what that connection might be.

    After a while, the deep-fried mutant sea monster was brought up. It was clear that the chef had tried hard, but the fried mutant sea monster still looked ugly and was difficult to stomach.

    The actresses present all covered their mouths and frowned, seemingly quite disdainful.

    At this point, Kuang Huan couldn''t help but say, "This kind of mutant sea monster meat is rare to find, even at regular banquets. Don''t be fooled by its appearance; this small portion is worth millions."

    Upon hearing Kuang Huan''s words, the actresses'' frowns eased. Wu Qi''s beautiful eyes widened. "It''s that expensive?"

    She hadn''t had much appetite before, but now her mouth began to water. After all, it was so expensive... it would be a waste not to try it.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan took out a chopstick and gently tapped the head of the mutant sea monster. Instantly, a drop of extremely vibrant blood appeared.

    The actresses present found this sight to be quite magical.

    Qi Yuan looked at the drop of blood with an inexplicable expression.

    He could feel his body react slightly, his blood seeming to boil.

    "I suddenly suspect that this mutant sea monster and I might share the same ancestor," Qi Yuan said, his eyes filled with amusement.

    "How could that be?" the actresses laughed. "These sea monsters are all fish mutated by radiation. How could we humans have the same ancestors as them?"

    "Right!" The others also looked puzzled, assuming Qi Yuan was joking.

    After extracting that drop of blood, Qi Yuan said softly, "Let''s all eat together. It''s... very nourishing."

    To him, the most valuable part of the mutant sea monster was the blood.

    Soon, the football-sized mutant sea monster was divided into more than a dozen portions, and everyone present received a share.

    Wu Qi held her plate, a look of pride in her eyes. The only regret was that she didn''t have her phone with her. Otherwise, she would have taken a picture and shared it with her group of girlfriends.

    After all, the portion on her plate alone was worth tens of thousands, more expensive than gold.

    As a star of her level, when would she ever be able to afford something so luxurious?

    She carefully took a bite and immediately felt a crispy crunch, with the flavor of the meat spreading through her mouth.

    "It''s delicious! Really tasty!"

    Wu Qi licked her lips and said with satisfaction.

    When something is this expensive, it naturally tastes good.

    The others felt the same way.

    To them, the meat of the mutant sea monster was like an exquisite delicacy.

    Qi Yuan did not eat the meat; instead, he swallowed the drop of blood.

    Immediately, he felt a slight change in his body.

    His blood started to heat up.

    Qi Yuan closed his eyes, examining himself internally.

    After about ten breaths, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a strange expression on his face.

    "My martial arts aptitude... has actually increased."

    That''s right, his martial arts aptitude had increased.

    If he went to the Ming Wu Martial Arts Hall for testing, he would find that the lines representing his martial arts talent had grown by a few more.

    "So, sea monsters are indeed related to martial arts?"

    Or perhaps... to bloodlines.

    Qi Yuan had already vaguely sensed that martial arts in this world were likely linked to bloodlines. The stronger the bloodline, the stronger the martial arts talent, and the faster the cultivation progress.

    However, perhaps because the bloodline was too diluted, the martial arts bloodline had become increasingly weak, making these martial artists less powerful.

    Even jumping twenty meters could be considered a peerless feat.

    Qi Yuan guessed that this was related to the dilution of the bloodline.

    "Mr. Qi... what''s wrong?" Kuang Huan couldn''t help but ask when he noticed Qi Yuan lost in thought.

    "Nothing, I just thought of something interesting." Qi Yuan looked at Kuang Huan and asked, "In ancient times, were there records of very strong martial artists?"

    "Those big shots have seen all kinds of beauties. Genetically modified beauties can''t even compare to us. We look glamorous, but in their eyes, we''re just a bit of flavor," the agent said with a sigh. Her tone carried a bit of world-weariness, as if she had been through a lot.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Qi''s eyes became determined again. "No, I don''t want to live like this!"

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan looked at the burly man in a suit in front of him and said softly, "You''ve been drinking. If you drive me, it would be drunk driving. If the police catch you, you''d have to sit in jail."

    As the saying goes, driving irresponsibly causes tears for your loved ones.

    Naturally, Qi Yuan wouldn''t engage in such illegal activities.

    "It''s fine; we have permits. Drunk driving laws are only for ordinary people," the man in a black suit said without hesitation.

    At this point, Kuang Huan glared at the man in the black suit and walked over respectfully to Qi Yuan. "I''ll drive!"

    Kuang Huan was a little angry at his subordinate; why was he being so tactless and arguing with Mr. Qi?

    If Mr. Qi wanted a sober driver, then he should have one. He hadn''t been drinking, so he''d drive.

    "Hmm, okay," Qi Yuan nodded.

    Kuang Huan personally took the driver''s seat and drove the car to take Qi Yuan home.

    On the way, four more cars followed.

    These four cars were loaded with various medicinal materials and the sea monsters collected from the Haixingya.

    Driving the car, Kuang Huan thought of something and slowly said, "These medicinal materials and sea monsters take up quite a bit of space, and... they''re not clean; they smell. One of my friends owns a property in your neighborhood, Mr. Qi. How about I give it to you? Otherwise, the smell of these sea monsters might make your house unpleasant."

    At this point, Kuang Huan started offering a house.

    After a day of conversation, he felt more and more that Qi Yuan was mysterious and unpredictable.

    Qi Yuan looked at Kuang Huan and said, "Sure."

    He accepted these benefits with a clear conscience.

    Upon hearing this, Kuang Huan was delighted. Sometimes, giving gifts could also be a satisfying experience.

    The light ahead turned red, and the car came to a stop.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan suddenly asked, "Is this car bulletproof?"

    Kuang Huan was taken aback but answered without thinking, "This is the city, so it''s very safe. It''s not bulletproof."

    "Safe?" Qi Yuan smiled, "Then why is someone aiming a sniper rifle at me?"

    "What?" Kuang Huan''s heart skipped a beat.

    Just then, a sharp gunshot rang out.

    As an arms dealer, Kuang Huan instantly recognized the sound of a Tiger Type-1 sniper rifle.

    This sniper rifle was known as the king of snipers.

    It could penetrate two centimeters of steel from a kilometer away.

    Even soldiers injected with the latest genetic serum wouldn''t survive a shot from it.

    Someone was using this gun to snipe Qi Yuan; how could he not be shocked?

    He could already imagine the scene of Qi Yuan getting shot in the head.

    However, when he turned to look at Qi Yuan, he saw that Qi Yuan was perfectly fine, sitting calmly.

    In his hand, he held a large sniper bullet.

    Seeing this, Kuang Huan was momentarily stunned, filled with disbelief.

    Is this something a human can do?

    He knew that the bullet speed of such a sniper rifle could reach three times the speed of sound!

    Suddenly, he recalled Qi Yuan''s mention of defeating ten thousand men. Now, he understood that Qi Yuan wasn''t exaggerating; he was telling the truth.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan held the bullet, his eyes calm, and smiled faintly, "Good thing I had a breakthrough on the cruise today; otherwise, this shot would have been quite troublesome.

    Heh, I never thought there''d be so many bad guys in this game. I''ve been very low-key, just treating this as a leisurely game, yet there are still villains trying to harm me!

    Does someone really want to turn this into a war game?"

    At this moment, many thoughts flashed through Kuang Huan''s mind.

    Today''s events were entirely beyond his expectations.

    Someone had the audacity to use a sniper rifle against his guest right in front of him.

    He felt both furious and terrified.

    This meant that the other party didn''t respect him at all.

    In Tianyue City, there weren''t many people who dared to ignore a hereditary viscount like him.

    It was clear that the forces behind this ran deep.

    He then heard Qi Yuan say, "Wait here for a moment. I''ll be right back."

    Kuang Huan had calmed down by now. He looked at Qi Yuan and said gravely, "Be careful, Mr. Qi. If the situation becomes uncontrollable, I''ll take my brothers and escort you away to Xinyang City. That''s my stronghold!"

    Qi Yuan simply smiled calmly, "In this world, it''s my enemies who should be fleeing."

 Chapter 290: Ten Years Later, the World Has Changed

    Chapter 290: Ten Years Later, the World Has Changed

    On top of a tall building, a man in a black trench coat had a confident look in his eyes.

    "With this shot, even a god would die."

    As a sniper trained by the Black Crystal Count''s family, the man in the black trench coat was full of confidence. His marksmanship was beyond doubt, and most importantly, the distance wasn''t far. This single shot would be enough to kill the target.

    Standing beside him was a young woman with an ordinary appearance. Her face showed an arrogant confidence as if she looked down upon the entire world.

    "It''s better if he''s dead. Such a useless person doesn''t even deserve to be my partner. It''s better to kill him," she said.

    The woman, named Wang Wei, was just an ordinary company employee. In the future, she would lose her job due to her lack of skills and ultimately be forced to become a nanny. Trapped in online loans, her temper became irritable. She became a nanny for a moderately wealthy family, specifically to care for a baby. Annoyed by the baby''s crying, she often drugged the baby and mistreated it, which eventually led to the baby''s death due to her negligence. She was subsequently arrested and imprisoned.

    Originally, her life was filled with darkness and despair, but fate played a trick on her. The world reset, and she returned to ten years ago.

    Back in her younger self''s body, she considered herself the favored one of the world. Armed with memories of the past, she didn''t immediately seek to cooperate with the Seven Martial Star families. Instead, she first collaborated with a local power, which turned out to be the Black Crystal Count''s family.

    Using her memories from the previous life, she successfully gained the trust of the Black Crystal Count family. She also knew that there was another person in Tianyue City who had also reset. Since this person was also from Tianyue City, she had a lot of information about him. She knew he would die a year later in the future. Therefore, she assumed that he probably didn''t retain his memories of the world reset.

    As a naturally selfish person, she believed that there should only be one resetter in Tianyue City¡ªherself, the true chosen one.

    Faced with Qi Yuan, she felt a murderous intent. The fewer special people like herself, the better. Moreover, Qi Yuan was going to die in a year anyway and didn''t have ten years of memories, which made Wang Wei disdainful.

    "Follow me, and in the future, you might even qualify to enter the Seven Martial Stars," Wang Wei said, painting a grand picture for the sniper.

    Just then, the sniper in the black coat suddenly frowned, "What''s going on? He''s not dead!"

    Through his scope, he saw that Qi Yuan had stepped out of the car, completely defying his expectations. This was the king of sniper rifles; he had personally seen it penetrate the car window. Even if Qi Yuan had worn a bulletproof vest, he should still be dead.

    Wang Wei was also taken aback but quickly forced a smile, "It seems he''s had a stroke of luck."

    An unexpected development wasn''t a big deal to her. She had prepared many plans to hunt down Qi Yuan. As for a stroke of luck... it was indeed just that.

    At that moment, on the highway, a Dayun-brand heavy truck suddenly accelerated, making a screeching noise as it sped madly toward Qi Yuan. The heavy truck seemed to lose control, its speed suddenly increasing. Such a strong impact could even crush a small car, let alone an ordinary person.

    The truck driver, wearing a plain outfit, had a crazed look in his eyes and a hint of pity in his smile as he looked at Qi Yuan.

    In a nearby car, a male driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, his eyes filled with fear, "Oh no!"

    He saw the large truck heading straight for Qi Yuan and instinctively closed his eyes. However, when he opened them again, the scene he had imagined didn''t happen. Instead, the truck seemed to hit an invisible wall, flipping into the air before crashing back down in place.

    The young man standing in front was nowhere to be seen.

    "What happened?"

    "Call the police!"

    Without hesitation, the male driver dialed emergency services. He quickly got out of his car to see what had happened.

    Not far away, Kuang Huan stared at the overturned truck with wide eyes, "Is this... a human tank?"

    Although he hadn''t seen Qi Yuan make a move, the fact that the heavy truck flipped in place after accelerating defied all logic. If Qi Yuan had caused this, then in his mind, Qi Yuan was like a human tank.

    At such strength, even at the border, he could easily wipe out a squad of gene-enhanced soldiers. Of course, that was assuming they didn''t encounter any high-precision weapons.

    At this moment, Wang Wei''s smile froze on the rooftop. "What happened? The truck flipped?"

    It was too far away for her to see clearly what had happened. She tried to contact the driver using a communicator, but there was only silence.

    "Did he flip it over? Did he use high-quality gene serum?" Wang Wei''s face showed a trace of panic.

    "Impossible! High-quality gene serums are tightly regulated, and he doesn''t have the qualifications to obtain one. It must have been an accident; the truck must have tipped over," the sniper in the black coat concluded.

    ¡°With this certificate, even if I kill you, I bear no legal responsibility,¡± Qi Yuan said confidently, his eyes glinting with killing intent. ¡°Now... I can kill you as I please.¡±

    ¡°You... haha, you¡¯re really insane.¡± Wang Wei looked at Qi Yuan and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°You have no idea what the future world will be like! To die by my hand will be the greatest honor of your life!¡±

    She held a blood-red bead in her hand, a twisted smile spreading across her face. As she revealed the bead, her eyes filled with an almost fanatical admiration. The sniper beside her looked terrified, clearly afraid of the bead.

    ¡°It will be your nightmare!¡± Wang Wei laughed triumphantly.

    In ten years, the world would undergo tremendous changes. The biggest change would occur five years from now, when several spatial rifts would appear on Earth, connecting to the legendary immortal world!

    It was said that immortals were immensely powerful, capable of slicing tanks in half with a single sword. Even the most advanced gene warriors couldn¡¯t last more than a few rounds against them. The most powerful weapon of immortals was said to be their various magic treasures¡ªmysterious and unpredictable, impossible to guard against!

    The red bead in Wang Wei¡¯s hand was one such leftover immortal artifact.

    Leveraging her knowledge of the past, Wang Wei had claimed this artifact and managed to activate it. This was her greatest weapon, aside from her memories of the next ten years.

    Holding the red bead, Wang Wei felt as if she herself had become an immortal¡ªlofty and invincible, overlooking the world.

    ¡°Too bad, this frog in a well has no idea what he¡¯s up against!¡±

    She looked at Qi Yuan, her face filled with disdain and a hint of pity.

    ¡°This is your trump card?¡± Qi Yuan looked at Wang Wei, somewhat exasperated. ¡°A mid-level Qi Refining artifact, and you consider it a treasure?¡±

    He raised his hand and casually waved it.

    Instantly, the supposedly indestructible red bead shattered into a mist.

    A wisp of spiritual energy floated in the air, and Qi Yuan took a deep breath. ¡°The spiritual energy in this isn¡¯t even as much as I get from a single hiccup... though, I don¡¯t hiccup.¡±

    The smile froze on Wang Wei¡¯s face. She couldn¡¯t believe that her so-called ¡°Seeking Luo Curse Pearl¡± had just shattered like that! ¡°You... how do you know about spiritual energy? Weren¡¯t you supposed to die a year from now?¡±

    Five years later, when the spatial rifts appeared, the legends of the immortal path began to slowly surface in this world. Due to interference from a foreign star system, the arrival of the immortal path was slow and difficult. But Wang Wei distinctly remembered that a year from now, the immortal path hadn¡¯t yet made its appearance in the world!

    How could Qi Yuan know about spiritual energy and shatter her artifact so easily? Even ten years from now, this kind of immortal artifact would still be formidable to those top talents who had embraced the immortal path.

    ¡°Do you want to know? Too bad, I have a certificate of mental illness, so I don¡¯t need to explain anything to a dead person!¡± Qi Yuan said, preparing to finish Wang Wei off.

    At that moment, gunshots rang out. The sniper, who had remained silent until now, finally saw his chance to fire. Unfortunately for him, his efforts were in vain.

    ¡°Oh no, you missed and blew her head off,¡± Qi Yuan remarked casually.

    The arrogant Wang Wei couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. Her head exploded like a watermelon, splattering in all directions.

    Such a scene would make an average person feel physically ill and vomit. Qi Yuan, however, only smiled brightly as he turned his gaze toward the sniper.

    The sniper¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn¡¯t understand what had just happened. He was sure he had aimed at Qi Yuan. How could he have missed at such close range? He felt like everything he knew was turned upside down.

    Then a snap echoed.

    The sniper¡¯s consciousness faded as he slumped to the ground, lifeless.

    ¡°Good thing I have a certificate of mental illness; otherwise, killing three people would have been against the law,¡± Qi Yuan muttered.

    He looked down at Wang Wei''s corpse, his gaze deep and thoughtful. He sensed a subtle change deep within himself, a faint shift in his connection to this world, as if it had deepened.

    "Is this... like raising a gu?" Qi Yuan wondered.

    In an instant, he imagined a scenario involving a poisonous insect game¡ªa cultivation of resetters pitted against each other until only one remained, who would then receive a grand reward. After killing Wang Wei, Qi Yuan felt that his own ¡°fortune¡± had increased slightly.

    ¡°Is this orchestrated... or a coincidence?¡±

 Chapter 291: Continue Practicing Martial Arts

    Chapter 291: Continue Practicing Martial Arts

    On top of the tall building, Qi Yuan gazed at the sky deep in thought.

    If he were an ordinary resetter, he might have been tempted to hunt down other resetters after tasting the benefits of killing Wang Wei.

    "A little bit of luck like this is less useful than a certificate of mental illness. I''d have to be seriously ill to go hunt other resetters."

    As for the other resetters, most of them were ordinary people in their previous lives and didn''t have Qi Yuan''s powerful insight. The fact that killing other resetters could seize their luck was unknown to them.

    Looking at Wang Wei''s corpse, Qi Yuan''s expression was one of disappointment. "What a waste. Didn''t even get any experience points. I thought you were supposed to be strong or something?"

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself as he walked over to the body of the black-clad sniper and picked up the communicator.

    ...

    Two hours later.

    Qi Yuan looked around the spacious room, filled with various herbs and sea monsters, and felt a peculiar sense of satisfaction.

    Nearby, Kuang Huan seemed to be still in shock. Today''s events had been completely beyond his expectations. Over the past two hours, various messages kept coming in.

    He had already learned that the person who tried to assassinate Qi Yuan on the road was Zhao Renji, the Black Crystal Earl.

    Zhao Renji was a member of the old nobility; his father had earned military merits in the Qin-Cui war thirty years ago. Now, the Zhao family was led by Zhao Renji, who was the undisputed overlord in Tianyue City.

    Even Kuang Huan, a hereditary viscount, had to yield when dealing with the Black Crystal Earl in Tianyue City.

    "Mr. Qi... should we leave Tianyue for now?" Kuang Huan tentatively suggested.

    This was the Black Crystal Earl''s territory, and if the Earl was determined to take Qi Yuan down, there would be nothing Kuang Huan could do to help. The mercenaries under his command were simply no match for the Earl''s forces.

    But if he could get Qi Yuan back to Xinyang, he was confident he could protect him.

    "Why should I leave?" Qi Yuan shook his head. "When I killed someone, there were no witnesses. I was also very careful. With no evidence or witnesses, how could the police ever find me?"

    Kuang Huan was silent for a moment before speaking again. "They don''t need evidence to arrest someone."

    Evidence is only required when the two parties are of equal status. Great nobles don''t need to present evidence to lesser nobles, just as lesser nobles don''t need to provide evidence to commoners.

    "No evidence needed? They still have to present this, don''t they?"

    Qi Yuan pulled out his universal amulet. With this thing, he felt very confident.

    Kuang Huan fell silent once again. Faced with Qi Yuan, he felt a sense of depth he couldn''t fathom.

    "Not only does the Black Crystal Earl command a squad of gene soldiers, but he can also deploy thermal weapons," Kuang Huan continued.

    The gene soldier squad was one thing; with Qin Yuan''s national strength, an organized gene squad could easily crush a battalion of an inferior country''s army. Thermal weapons, on the other hand, were something that no human force could withstand. Under the might of thermal weapons, all beings are equal. What difference does it make if you''re a cultivator?

    Some of the weapons on this planet, based on technology from Canxing, were said by experts to be capable of slaying gods.

    "Yes, those weapons are troublesome," Qi Yuan admitted.

    The sniper rifle from earlier that day would have killed him if it hit, given his current physical state. Not to mention those thermal weapons.

    Facing them now would indeed be tricky.

    "So, does that mean you''re willing to come with me?" Kuang Huan''s eyes lit up.

    This would bring him closer to Qi Yuan, strengthening their bond.

    "Weapons are tricky, but humans are simple. My enemies aren''t weapons; they''re just people," Qi Yuan said, a smile forming in his eyes.

    The technology on this planet was still not advanced enough. There were far too few defensive measures against cultivators.

    "What?" Kuang Huan was stunned.

    "If you''re lucky today, you''ll get to attend a banquet at Zhao''s estate tonight," Qi Yuan shrugged.

    The thermal weapons Zhao''s family controlled could indeed pose a problem for Qi Yuan at his current level. But the Zhao family themselves were just ordinary people.

    Even if they had gene soldiers as guards, what of it?

    Qi Yuan had played countless games, even slaying two Yang Gods. His methods were mysterious and unpredictable; even a Yang God couldn''t always defend against them, let alone an ordinary mortal.

    When he got hold of the communicator, Qi Yuan had called the person in charge on the other side¡ªZhao Renji himself.

    During the call, Qi Yuan had demanded that Zhao Renji commit suicide to atone for his crimes and apologize.

    Naturally, Zhao Renji refused, showing no remorse whatsoever.

    So Qi Yuan decided not to show any mercy either.

    In mythology, hearing a demon''s voice could lure one into darkness and despair. Qi Yuan''s true form was even more potent than any demon.

    Using the communicator as a medium, Qi Yuan''s voice could carry illusions or other techniques to easily ensnare Zhao Renji.

    Zhao Renji never suspected anything; he didn''t take Qi Yuan''s words seriously. After all, he would never have imagined that someone could actually kill through a phone call.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in the Zhao estate.

    Zhao Renji, his expression intense and his eyes filled with a hint of killing intent, looked at Zhao Shiqi and said slowly, "He''s just a lowly commoner. I can kill him whenever I want."

    "He''s not a commoner; he''s the orphan of a martyr!" Zhao Shiqi retorted angrily.

    Zhao Shiqi, who had always been loyal to the military and cared deeply for his soldiers, didn''t even think twice before responding to his brother''s dismissive remark.

    After consuming the blood of the mutated sea monster, Qi Yuan quickly advanced to the third level of "Ming Wu Resonance Fist" in just one day. To progress further, he needed the subsequent parts of the technique.

    Fortunately, the martial arts hall had loose requirements. As long as you paid, you could obtain the subsequent parts of the technique, without needing to prove your level.

    People like Qi Yuan, who had only joined the martial arts hall for a few days but were already purchasing the next parts of the technique, were not uncommon.

    There were many wealthy people in this world. As long as they didn''t start businesses or gamble, they wouldn''t run out of money.

    Soon, Qi Yuan changed his clothes and went out.

    The sun was blazing that day as the taxi sped along.

    "What''s going on? There are way more drones in the sky than before," the taxi driver complained, looking up at the sky.

    "More drones are better. The law and order in Tianyue isn''t great. Yesterday, someone even fired a gun in broad daylight!"

    "What? Where did that happen? I hadn''t heard about it!" The taxi driver perked up.

    "Right on Lanxi Avenue."

    "Must be those damned nobles. They''re the only ones bold enough to kill someone in the street!" The taxi driver grumbled angrily, clearly dissatisfied with the current state of affairs.

    Before long, the taxi stopped in front of Ming Wu Martial Arts Hall.

    As Qi Yuan got out, a robot with an electronic voice approached.

    "Welcome to Kongjing Intelligent Taxi Service. Autonomous driving, safer and more reliable. We appreciate your patronage."

    The robot handed a flyer to Qi Yuan.

    Before Qi Yuan could take it, the taxi driver, who had stepped out to buy water, kicked the robot hard.

    "Damn robot, even stealing our jobs?"

    The taxi driver cursed as he walked away.

    Kongjing Intelligent Taxi Service was a new ride-hailing company in Qin Yuan country.

    This company not only provided autonomous driving but also had robots as drivers, which had been met with strong opposition from many human drivers.

    Of course... their opposition was in vain.

    Qi Yuan didn''t pay much attention to it.

    He entered the Ming Wu Martial Arts Hall, found the second senior brother, explained his purpose, and paid a large sum to acquire the remaining nine levels of the "Ming Wu Resonance Fist."

    "Didn''t expect you to have such potential. Here''s the full set of ''Ming Wu Resonance Fist,'' all twelve levels. If you can master the entire technique, you might make it into the top thirty of the Martial Arts Tournament." The second senior brother dug a finger into his left nostril, his attitude towards Qi Yuan becoming more enthusiastic.

    After all, at first, Qi Yuan seemed like he was just dabbling. Now, after spending so much money, he seemed more serious.

    In ancient times, this kind of commitment would make him a true disciple.

    "The preliminary rounds for the Martial Arts Tournament are coming up soon. When it''s time to register, could you add my name to the list for our hall?" Qi Yuan stated his intent.

    Registration for the Martial Arts Tournament was conducted through martial arts halls and schools. The next tournament was approaching, and Qi Yuan aimed to win the championship and become the Human Dao Martial Lord.

    "Only three months left. You''re entering? With your current level, you''ll probably be eliminated in the first round. It would be tough to even make the city''s top 100," the second senior brother said, blinking as he looked at Qi Yuan''s handsome face. "Hmm... you''re just going for the experience, right? Alright, I''ll add your name when we register for this tournament. Make sure to fill out the application form later."

    The second senior brother had no idea that Qi Yuan was aiming to win the championship.

    Qi Yuan didn''t bother to explain.

    "Thanks, second senior brother. I''ll go back to training now."

    After parting ways with the second senior brother, Qi Yuan returned to the training room.

    When Wang Shiqiao, with her high ponytail, saw Qi Yuan, she immediately greeted him. "I had my nose slightly adjusted again. Can you still tell I''ve had plastic surgery?"

    Last time, Qi Yuan had pointed out that her nose wasn''t natural, which had made her furious enough to storm to the beauty clinic and cause a scene. The doctors had given her a free touch-up, and she felt it looked better, so she asked Qi Yuan about it.

    "Um... don''t ask me about that. My eyesight is very good," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    Wang Shiqiao was at a loss for words. "Damn it, I don''t even want this nose anymore!"

    The other students around them heard her and couldn''t help but laugh.

    Ignoring them, Qi Yuan began practicing "Ming Wu Resonance Fist" with full concentration.

    An hour quickly passed.

    During this time, the second senior brother came over with a Martial Arts Tournament application form for Qi Yuan to fill out.

    To the surprise of Wang Shiqiao and others, Qi Yuan completed the form.

    "You''ve got guts, signing up for the Martial Arts Tournament in your first year. Aren''t you afraid of getting your bones broken?" Wang Shiqiao stretched, her short training clothes clinging tightly to her body, highlighting her curves and firm cleavage.

    Qi Yuan frowned. "Don''t stretch your armpits toward me. They smell."

    "I shaved all the hair there! How can it stink? You''re such a guy... no wonder you''re handsome but still don''t have a girlfriend!" Wang Shiqiao complained.

    Who talks like that?

    Qi Yuan said nothing, moving to a different spot to continue training.

    Wang Shiqiao stomped her foot in frustration. "You can just spend your life with your five sisters then!"

 Chapter 292: Gilded?

    Chapter 292: Gilded?

    The atmosphere in the training room was quite good. Most of the people who came here to learn martial arts were wealthy second-generation rich kids.

    In Tianyue City, they weren''t the top tier, but they could still be considered part of the second tier. Spending hundreds of thousands or even millions of yuan a year on hobbies posed no pressure for them.

    For them, martial arts were merely a hobby. If they got tired, they''d take a break. Few people were as dedicated and serious as Qi Yuan.

    So, when they heard Qi Yuan wanted to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament, no one was surprised.

    They came to Ming Wu Martial Arts Hall for fun, but Qi Yuan... was different.

    "Our martial arts hall has a few people participating in the Martial Arts Tournament, but they are different; they are elite seeds," Wang Shiqiao said, winking at Qi Yuan.Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com

    "What are their best achievements?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "The best achievement was making it into the top twenty in Tianyue City. Unfortunately, only the top ten are eligible to participate in the national Martial Arts Tournament. But don''t underestimate the top twenty¡ªwithout taking gene drugs or using firearms, these top twenty contenders would be considered heroes in the old days!"

    Wang Shiqiao spoke with a look of admiration in her eyes.

    After all, the natural limits of the human body were always appreciated and were even more sought after in certain circles.

    "It seems our martial arts hall''s students are a bit weak," Qi Yuan couldn''t help but comment.

    "Don''t let the elite members hear that, or they''ll come looking for trouble. Among these elite members, there''s one particularly difficult person who is considered a big deal in Tianyue City," Wang Shiqiao warned with a look of admiration.

    Qi Yuan wasn''t interested in this and continued his practice of the "Ming Wu Resonance Fist."

    Wang Shiqiao, however, was a chatterbox who wouldn''t stop talking.

    "The strongest person in our martial arts hall is named Xu Tiehua. His ''Ming Wu Resonance Fist'' has reached the ninth level. Even the senior master might not be his match. He''s not only skilled in martial arts but also has significant connections. Do you know that a big shot died in Tianyue City yesterday¡ªthe Black Crystal Earl? In a few days, the Black Crystal Earl will be buried, and the funeral will be very low-key, inviting only a select few. Those attending are the absolute top-tier nobility of Tianyue City. And Xu Tiehua... he''s qualified to attend the Black Crystal Earl''s funeral!"

    Qi Yuan, who had been practicing the "Ming Wu Resonance Fist," paused for a moment.

    Wang Shiqiao continued, "Envious, aren''t you?"

    The surrounding students showed expressions of envy in their eyes.

    They had some money and were worry-free, but compared to the real nobility of Tianyue City, the gap was still significant.

    "Xu Tiehua is different from us."

    "If he can make it into the top ten of the city-level Martial Arts Tournament, with his family''s connections, he can easily get a job in the military."

    "We''re just loafers."

    These students were quite laid back; for them, life wasn''t about pursuing anything in particular¡ªit was just about getting by.

    For talented people like Xu Tiehua, who worked hard, they were naturally envious.

    Of course, to the staff of the martial arts hall, these conversations seemed a bit pretentious.

    These staff members earned six or seven thousand yuan a month, and buying a decent house in Tianyue City would take them twenty or thirty years without spending a penny on anything else.

    The gap between the rich and poor in Qin Yuan country was greater than the gap between humans and dogs.

    Ordinary people could work hard all their lives, yet their quality of life wouldn''t be as good as that of a rich person''s dog.

    Qi Yuan ignored all this. He continued practicing the "Ming Wu Resonance Fist," and soon his entire body was covered in a light sweat. His body was generating steam, and sweat beads covered his back, only to evaporate and disappear without a trace.

    Qi Yuan''s practice of the "Ming Wu Resonance Fist" reached the fourth level at this moment.

    "Hmm... still just a weakling with a combat strength of five."

    Qi Yuan didn''t notice any significant improvement in his combat strength. However, for an average person, the power gained from martial arts training could easily help them handle one or two punks of the same weight class¡ªprovided the punks weren''t armed with knives.

    "So, I need to reach at least the seventh level to be considered a certified martial artist?"

    Simply practicing a martial arts technique didn''t make one a martial artist. To obtain a martial artist certificate, a person needed to meet the requirements set by the government.

    These requirements varied depending on the school or martial arts hall and were set by the Martial Arts Association.

    For instance, to be recognized as a martial artist in the "Ming Wu Resonance Fist," one had to reach the seventh level to receive a martial artist certificate.

    The martial artist certificate functioned similarly to various occupational licenses on Earth. To become a martial arts instructor or open a martial arts hall, one had to have a martial artist certificate.

    There were over a hundred students in Ming Wu Martial Arts Hall, but only fifteen had a martial artist certificate.

    An average person who trained hard every day could obtain a martial artist certificate in about three years, but many people couldn''t be bothered to put in the effort.

    "At this rate, I''ll be able to get a martial artist certificate in about half a month," Qi Yuan thought.

    After consuming the essence blood of the mutated sea monster, Qi Yuan''s martial artist potential had increased significantly, allowing him to train faster.

    Since he was already a cultivator, what took an ordinary person one or two years to accomplish, he could achieve in half a month¡ªpretty standard, actually.

    Xu Tiehua didn''t say much more. He bid farewell to Qi Yuan and left the martial arts hall.

    Wang Shiqiao watched this scene and winked at Qi Yuan. "Why did you turn down Young Master Xu? You just joined the martial arts hall, and in the individual competition... well, you''re likely to be knocked out in the first round. Why not prepare well with them for the team competition? Xu Tiehua is strong; you might be able to last a few more rounds and gain some experience."

    Wang Shiqiao''s words reflected the general opinion.

    Qi Yuan had just joined the martial arts hall and wasn''t even a certified martial artist. Entering the Martial Arts Tournament seemed like he was just giving away a spot.

    "My goal is to win the Martial Arts Tournament. As for the team competition... we''ll see," Qi Yuan replied truthfully.

    "You..." Wang Shiqiao rolled her eyes. "At your level, win the tournament? If you win, I''ll eat your shit!"

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan gave Wang Shiqiao a calm look. "You''re quite calculative, aren''t you?"

    "Huh?" Wang Shiqiao was confused.

    "How often do you come across such an easy way to get free food and drink?"

    "Get lost!" Wang Shiqiao cursed, realizing what Qi Yuan meant.

    As night fell, people in the martial arts hall began to leave one by one.

    Wang Shiqiao bid farewell to Qi Yuan and left with Xing Yu.

    Qi Yuan exited the martial arts hall, looking relaxed.

    "Mr. Qi... what a coincidence, running into you here!"

    From beside the road, a car window rolled down, revealing a pair of lotus-white hands waving at Qi Yuan.

    Inside the car, a beautiful young face appeared, her eyes filled with joy.

    "Oh, it''s you... Wu Qi?" Qi Yuan recognized the person in the car and remained calm.

    "Mr. Qi, are you heading home? I happen to be going in the same direction. Why don''t I give you a ride?" Wu Qi offered. Even though she was trying to act calm, it was clear she wasn''t quite herself.

    Yesterday, on the cruise, Qi Yuan had left a deep impression on her.

    As a rational person, she knew what she was after. After encountering such an aristocrat, she was naturally unwilling to let go.

    Just in time, a friend of hers mentioned seeing an incredibly handsome student at Ming Wu Martial Arts Hall and even sent her a photo.

    She immediately recognized him as Qi Yuan.

    She felt it was a sign from heaven, a stroke of luck.

    Without hesitation, she drove over to run into him by chance.

    Qi Yuan smiled slightly. "You don''t even know where I live; how could it be on your way?"

    Wu Qi blushed, feeling a bit flustered.

    Then she heard Qi Yuan say,

    "As an NPC, today you can be my driver."

    Happy to save a bit on fare, Qi Yuan was quite pleased.

    He said this as he got into Wu Qi''s car.

    Wu Qi''s face lit up with joy, and her heart started racing.

    "If I were to tell you right now that I''m not interested in you and don''t want anything intimate to happen, would you think I''m full of myself?" Sitting in the car, Qi Yuan thought of something and chuckled.

    After all, his statement was quite typical of a self-important guy with an overbearing attitude.

    Wu Qi was taken aback, a wave of deep disappointment washing over her.

    Still, she forced a smile. "Mr. Qi, you''re joking."

    "Do you know why I got in your car?" Qi Yuan asked suddenly.

    Wu Qi looked confused. She hadn''t expected Qi Yuan to ask that.

    Why?

    She was baffled.

    "Because you''re... special."

    Qi Yuan''s eyes seemed to pierce through Wu Qi''s body, focusing on her very blood.

    Wu Qi felt uncomfortable under that gaze, as if her clothes were stripped away, leaving her exposed in front of Qi Yuan.

 Chapter 293: Innate Martial Techniques

    Chapter 293: Innate Martial Techniques

    Wu Qi inexplicably felt a surge of fear. It was as if she were being stared at by some terrifying creature. Goosebumps formed on her delicate, snow-white skin. She looked at Qi Yuan, her breathing slightly rapid. "What¡¯s special?"

    "Your... blood." Qi Yuan stared at Wu Qi. Her skin was so pale that he could see the blue veins beneath, her blood slowly flowing through them.

    Wu Qi was stunned.

    "My blood?"

    She didn''t quite understand, even suspecting Qi Yuan might be some wealthy person with a strange fetish.

    "To me, the most special thing about you is your blood," Qi Yuan shrugged. "Why don¡¯t you give me some of your blood, and in return, I might fulfill a small wish of yours. Oh, and period blood doesn¡¯t count!" he added, as if an afterthought.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s final comment made Wu Qi, who thought herself poised and open to anything, blush all the way to her ears. She lowered her head, not daring to meet Qi Yuan''s eyes. His words had hit her with too much impact, throwing her mind into chaos, imagining all kinds of scenarios.

    Could it be... that Mr. Qi was a monster who loved to drink the fresh blood of young girls?

    "What do you think?" Qi Yuan smiled lightly.

    Wu Qi felt nervous and, after a moment of hesitation, she bit her lip and leaned her head toward Qi Yuan. She slightly pulled down her top, exposing her snow-white neck. "Mr. Qi... take my blood!" she said, as if resigned to her fate.

    The road she chose, she had to walk it herself. Compared to losing a little blood, she was more eager to rise above others. With the opportunity right in front of her, she didn¡¯t want to miss it.

    "I''m an omnivore, but I don''t drink human blood. Drinking human blood is against the law. I never break the law. Pull your neck back. I¡¯ll find you when I need your blood in the future."Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

    Right now, Qi Yuan¡¯s strength was still too weak. Even though he sensed something unusual about Wu Qi¡¯s blood, it would consume a lot of energy to figure out what was special about it. This wasn¡¯t crucial for him right now, so he simply left it as a potential clue for the future.

    For now, the most important thing was to increase his strength. Once his strength improved, he could easily see what was special about her.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s words, Wu Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

    "My blood will always be available for you, Mr. Qi!" Wu Qi said sincerely.

    "I live in the Jun''an Community. You can drive now."

    "Jun''an Community?" She set the destination as Jun''an Community. When she saw its general location, her heart skipped a beat.

    In high school, she had heard from classmates that Qi Yuan was an orphan of a martyr. After seeing him on the cruise ship, she had assumed Qi Yuan had intentionally hidden his identity while attending school. But now, hearing that he lived in the Jun''an Community, she started to think of many possibilities.

    How could such a prominent figure, someone whom even a hereditary viscount would go to great lengths to please, live in such an ordinary neighborhood? Could there be some hidden story behind this?

    "Yes, Jun''an Community," Qi Yuan closed his eyes slightly, not saying anything more.

    Wu Qi felt confused and bewildered. She wanted to ask why Qi Yuan lived in such a place, but even with her curiosity, she didn¡¯t dare to ask. After all, offending Qi Yuan by mistake could easily result in her death. In Qin Yuan Nation, it was really not a big deal for a noble to kill a celebrity.

    Qin Yuan Nation, an ancient empire, had a clearly stratified society. Wu Qi''s heart was all over the place as she drove towards the Jun''an Community.

    As night began to fall, with various colorful lights illuminating the modern city, the car finally arrived. Unlike the brightly lit roads they had passed, only a few streetlights were on near the Jun''an Community. Compared to the place where Wu Qi lived, it seemed like a different world.

    Seeing this ordinary neighborhood, Wu Qi¡¯s confusion deepened. This neighborhood couldn¡¯t be compared to a wealthy area at all. It wasn¡¯t even as good as her own neighborhood.

    At this point, Qi Yuan stretched lazily. Seeing the familiar neighborhood, he smiled.

    "We¡¯re here."

    Qi Yuan got out of the car, and Wu Qi quickly followed, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

    "Thanks for driving me," Qi Yuan said politely.

    Wu Qi hurriedly replied, "It¡¯s no trouble at all."

    "Here... 27 yuan for the fare."

    Qi Yuan said, pulling out twenty-seven yuan from his pocket, a mix of notes and coins.

    Wu Qi was taken aback.

    Fare?

    "Take it. I''m not a freeloader," Qi Yuan said, always someone who abided by the law. "And don¡¯t go online calling me stingy. When I took a taxi to the martial arts hall, the fare was 26, and I even added an extra yuan!"

    Qi Yuan handed the money to Wu Qi. It was cash, not a transfer. After all, he didn¡¯t want the police to misunderstand.

    Wu Qi took the money, her face full of confusion. She couldn¡¯t understand Qi Yuan¡¯s behavior at all. Was this some kind of eccentricity of powerful people?

    "My home doesn¡¯t have a cat that can cook, so I won¡¯t invite you in. Goodbye."

    Qi Yuan spoke courteously, leaving promptly, leaving Wu Qi dazed in the wind. She watched him, her feelings incredibly mixed.

    "Does he really live here?"

    She felt uneasy. After all, that morning, her agent had suggested that Qi Yuan might just be an ordinary person who had helped Viscount Kuang Huan with something, earning his favor.

    ...

    "Mr. Qi, Zhao Shiqi... asked me... to arrange a meeting with you to apologize," Kuang Huan¡¯s voice on the phone was filled with nervousness and excitement.

    Yesterday, he and Qi Yuan were attacked by a sniper. After discovering it was the work of the Black Crystal Earl, Kuang Huan''s first thought was to leave with Qi Yuan and avoid the storm.

    But who would have thought... the Black Crystal Earl, Zhao Renji, suddenly died that day. If Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t been involved, Kuang Huan wouldn¡¯t believe it. This also made Kuang Huan realize that Qi Yuan was indeed a cultivator who could kill without a trace.

    No matter how many guards Zhao Renji had around him, he was still killed by Qi Yuan.

    This is the core of every martial artist, and every martial artist''s innate martial skill is unique.

    For instance, the champion of the last Martial Arts Tournament had the ''Phantom Sound Fist.'' With one punch, countless shadows would appear, making it impossible for opponents to defend against.

    One could say that such an innate martial skill borders on the Dao, transcending human limits. After all... as carbon-based lifeforms, without advanced gene drugs, we are indeed quite weak."

    Yang Shan spoke, his eyes showing a touch of nostalgia.

    When he first displayed his innate martial skill, he felt for the first time that martial arts were so enchanting.

    He even believed that he had embarked on a path to the extraordinary.

    After all, innate martial skills were neither ordinary martial techniques nor mere skills; they were... extraordinary.

    Yes, that was how Yang Shan defined innate martial skills.

    Although this kind of extraordinary power was weak, it was still extraordinary.

    Unfortunately, after struggling for more than ten years, he had reached the pinnacle of martial arts but still couldn''t break through his limits.

    Especially after years of hard training, only to be easily defeated by someone who had simply injected an advanced gene drug.

    Even innate martial skills were useless against such individuals.

    Gene drugs could even awaken genetic martial skills that completely outclassed innate martial skills.

    Yang Shan became disheartened and felt that the path of martial arts had come to an end.

    For so many years, even with researchers studying martial arts and peak martial artists investing heavily in research labs to find ways to break through martial arts limits, no success had been achieved.

    Martial arts had even been reduced to a folk culture that needed protection, as well as a competitive sport.

    "Extraordinary, huh?" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    To be honest, he had never seen an innate martial skill before.

    In the Ming Wu Martial Arts Hall, there were only a few martial artists, none of whom he was familiar with, and none who casually displayed their innate martial skills.

    "Saying it''s extraordinary is really just giving martial arts a flattering label," Yang Shan chuckled self-deprecatingly.

    If martial arts were truly extraordinary, then why would taking gene drugs allow someone to perform something similar to an innate martial skill?

    "Saying it a hundred times isn''t as good as you seeing it once yourself. I''ll demonstrate my innate martial skill for you.

    Hong Lei Palm!"

    With Yang Shan''s voice, his eyes became sharp.

    A powerful aura spread out, and Qi Yuan sensed a force beyond the norm.

    "A bit stronger than a Blue Star human," Qi Yuan judged.

    Of course, only slightly stronger¡ªhe couldn''t withstand blades or swords.

    "Ha!"

    With a loud shout, Yang Shan launched a powerful palm strike. The air seemed to tremble, and a dull thunderous sound seemed to echo in the air.

    Hong Lei Palm, just like its name.

    This palm strike was enough to surprise ordinary people; it could even easily smash a brick in one blow, no problem.

    Striking an ordinary person with it could even kill them instantly.

    Qi Yuan squinted his eyes. In that palm strike, he saw something different.

    "What a pity. If you lived on Blue Star and performed the palm strike that splits bricks on live streams every day, you¡¯d definitely become a qigong master with millions of followers. Unfortunately, this is Gongxing," Qi Yuan commented.

    Yang Shan''s punch did have a bit of an extraordinary element to it.

    On Blue Star, it might have fooled many people into thinking he had real kung fu.

    But this was Gongxing, where many people took gene drugs.

    Some could even perform feats like bending steel with their bare hands.

    A peak martial artist was nothing special.

    "What''s Blue Star?" Yang Shan asked, confused.

    "A blue planet, hmm, it''s my home, actually... I''m an alien."

    "...Your mental illness certificate... it''s real, isn¡¯t it?" Yang Shan asked, surprised.

    He had been warned at the start that his neighbor had a mental illness certificate.

    But Qi Yuan had told him he was only pretending because having a mental illness certificate made things easier and came with subsidies.

    Yang Shan had believed him.

    Now, it seemed Qi Yuan¡¯s mental illness wasn¡¯t fake.

 Chapter 294: Old Stories

    Chapter 294: Old Stories

    "Do I look like someone who''s sick?"

    Qi Yuan was speechless.Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com

    The people in this world seemed to have an average IQ that was not very high, and they were also a bit shortsighted. With his looks, he clearly appeared smart, not like someone with a mental illness.

    Yang Shan glanced at Qi Yuan and nodded seriously, "You do, and you don¡¯t."

    If he truly had a mental illness, how could he have such talent in martial arts? Yang Shan had only moved here a week ago, but he had witnessed Qi Yuan''s progress with his own eyes. This speed, even compared to the martial arts prodigies he knew, was quite impressive.

    "What do you think of the innate martial technique? Any insights?" Yang Shan changed the subject, getting back to the main topic. He had to admit, he held Qi Yuan in high regard, as if he saw a younger version of himself in him. Although, he himself was not yet forty.

    Qi Yuan, hearing Yang Shan¡¯s question, lowered his head in thought, recalling the scene from earlier.

    Seeing this, Yang Shan smiled, "When I first saw an innate martial technique, I was also amazed, thinking it was something mystical, perhaps even a step into the extraordinary... But unfortunately..."

    Yang Shan''s voice carried a hint of nostalgia for the past. Innate martial techniques seemed mysterious, but under scientific scrutiny, they were just... that. Of course, they worked well to impress someone like Qi Yuan, who wasn''t even a martial artist yet.

    "The core of the innate martial technique... should be the bloodline?" Qi Yuan looked up, gazing at Yang Shan with a serious expression.

    Yang Shan was taken aback, his heart suddenly pounding.

    "How do you know that?"

    An expression of disbelief appeared on his face. After his retirement, it was the first time he had been so caught off guard. Qi Yuan''s response was just too unexpected.

    Research on innate martial techniques had never ceased throughout history. Unfortunately, after so many years of research, there had been no conclusive results. On the contrary, various heresies and cults had emerged.

    The current world''s top martial artists had come together, spending huge sums of money, manpower, and force to uncover a small part of the mystery of innate martial techniques.

    As a peak martial artist, Yang Shan had participated in the research on innate martial techniques. The latest research suggested that innate martial techniques might be related to blood.

    To be honest, when he first heard this conclusion, Yang Shan was shocked. How could martial arts be related to something as unrelated as blood? At that time, even the peak martial artist community was shaken. Of course, this shock was limited to their small circle. This information had not been leaked to the public.

    Qi Yuan was just an ordinary orphan of a martyr. There was no way he could know about this.

    How could Qi Yuan know about this?

    Yang Shan couldn''t help but wonder.

    "I saw it," Qi Yuan said casually.

    "Saw it?" Yang Shan looked skeptical, not quite believing Qi Yuan''s words.

    "When you used your innate martial technique, your blood had a slight boiling effect," Qi Yuan smiled, "I have good eyesight; I''m not nearsighted."

    "Slight boiling?" Yang Shan chewed on Qi Yuan''s words. This slight boiling effect probably wasn''t just the blood. When he used the ''Hong Lei Palm,'' his whole body boiled, not just his blood. Why did Qi Yuan specifically mention the blood? Was it a coincidence... or was it talent? Many thoughts crossed his mind.

    If it was a coincidence, that was fine. But if it was talent... then it was terrifying. It would mean Qi Yuan was exceptionally suited for martial arts. He might even have a chance to reach the pinnacle of martial arts and become one of the strongest in the martial arts world.

    Although... it still wouldn''t compare to those who had taken advanced gene drugs, but it would still be terrifying.

    "Innate martial techniques are indeed performed by the boiling of blood reaching a certain frequency. It does have a bit of a connection to the extraordinary," Qi Yuan stated firmly. He had already figured out why martial arts were weak on Gongxing. It was because the bloodline was too diluted. For instance, when Yang Shan performed the ''Hong Lei Palm'' earlier, the blood boiling was minimal.

    "Do you know how to break through the limits of martial arts?" Qi Yuan asked Yang Shan.

    "I don¡¯t know. If I did, I wouldn''t be here. But do you, someone who isn''t even a martial artist, know?" Yang Shan became interested. He looked at Qi Yuan differently now. If earlier he thought Qi Yuan was just a talented prodigy, now he felt... something else.

    "To break through the limits of martial arts, you need to recognize your ancestors," Qi Yuan earnestly shared his insight. "The martial arts on Gongxing might as well be called ''bloodline martial arts.'' If your ancestor breaks through the martial arts limits and reaches a higher realm, then... your bloodline will also transcend, and your martial arts potential and strength will increase."

    Yang Shan thought about it, furrowed his brows, and after a while, said, "I understand what you''re saying... to some extent."

    This theory had circulated in the peak martial artist circle before. It was believed that the ancient ones were stronger because of their pure bloodlines, while the modern ones were weaker due to the dilution of this certain bloodline. Of course, this was just a hypothesis and not a definitive conclusion.

    Yang Shan paused for a moment, "I''m not afraid; I just feel... disgusted."

    The Guiran people were the dominant ethnic group in the country of Wugui. This country had a theocracy where the church leader was the true ruler. The conflict between the Guiran people and Qin Yuan had existed since the last century. It could be said that the Guiran people were the primary target of Gu Wu''s attacks on Qin Yuan.

    On Gongxing, Qin Yuan and Gu Wu were two global superpowers. In a way, the Guiran people were Gu Wu''s mad dogs. They frequently initiated wars and massacres of civilians.

    In the past, the group of peak martial artists that Yang Shan was part of received a directive to hunt down... a priest of the Guiran people. Due to the situational constraints, gene warriors could not be deployed, so the task fell to these peak martial artists.

    At that time, Yang Shan and his group successfully killed the priest, but it completely infuriated the Guiran people. Guiran assassins and fanatical believers launched a series of frenzied suicide attacks against Yang Shan and his team. Yang Shan suffered severe injuries during that mission, leading to his decision to retire. However, the feud with the Guiran people persisted.

    That''s why he didn''t want to drag Qi Yuan into it. After all, even if Qi Yuan broke through the martial arts limits, could he match the gene warriors of the Guiran people? It''s worth noting that while Qin Yuan and Gu Wu might still put on a facade and talk about fairness, freedom, and democracy, Wugui didn¡¯t even bother to pretend.

    Their gene warriors were even more insane, causing greater harm to the human body, but evidently... they were also more powerful. That''s why the gene warriors of the Guiran people were terrifying¡ªthey truly didn¡¯t care about their lives.

    "The Guiran people are indeed disgusting, but what can we do?" His friend laughed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. They were all adults; they knew the world''s tune wouldn''t change just because of their preferences. Even though Guiran still practiced slavery and treated human life as worthless, they still lived quite comfortably.

    "The most disgusting thing is that the Holy Son of Wugui married the daughter of a general from Canxing!" Yang Shan mentioned, his eyes showing a rare flash of fear.

    That was Canxing!

    Canxing''s technology was far more advanced than Gongxing¡¯s. In fact, the technological development of Gongxing largely came from Canxing. Without Canxing''s initial bloody suppression, Gongxing wouldn¡¯t have experienced such rapid technological growth.

    Yang Shan''s grandfather died on a mission on Canxing. Regarding Canxing, he was both fearful and resentful. The alliance between Wugui and Canxing was one of the reasons they were so confident.

    For the former enemy Canxing, today''s global powers rarely promoted enmity or hatred but instead preached peaceful coexistence. Because of this, there were many rumors on Gongxing. The most widespread was that the upper echelons of Qin Yuan and Gu Wu had long been controlled by Canxing.

    Of course, for Yang Shan, these were mere baseless speculations. The upper echelons were still the same.

    ...

    "Innate martial technique..."

    In his room, Qi Yuan was contemplating his innate martial technique.

    "The innate martial technique most closely related to my bloodline would be the most suitable for me and also the most powerful."

    Qi Yuan''s eyes could see the gaps in information, and he was a powerful cultivator who had slain Yangshen (Sun God). His insight far surpassed that of ordinary people.

    Even though he had only seen Yang Shan perform an innate martial technique once, his understanding of it had already surpassed everyone else''s.

    "So... the innate martial technique of the original bloodline of this body is the most suitable for me and the most powerful!"

    Qi Yuan''s eyes flashed with a sharp glint.

    He stared at his blood as if seeing through the ancient past. He saw mutant sea creatures swimming in the sea. He saw a drop of blood fall from the sky.

    Suddenly, his mind cleared, and everything became instantly clear.

    "Exploding Bird Punch!"

    Qi Yuan''s eyes shone with brilliance. He continued to deduce, as if he had gained memories from his bloodline heritage. At that moment, his innate martial technique formed.

    "This name... is so low-level."

    Looking at the newly formed innate martial technique, Qi Yuan was somewhat speechless. The name of this martial technique lacked any sense of sophistication. It wasn¡¯t even as good as the names he could come up with.

    "It seems my ancestor had a low level of education and probably hated birds. Otherwise, why would an innate martial technique awaken with the name ''Exploding Bird Punch''?"

    Qi Yuan shrugged.

    He casually tried out the innate martial technique and then frowned.

    "It''s not just probable; he really hated birds."

    This ''Exploding Bird Punch'' looked more like a cat catching a sparrow¡ªthere wasn¡¯t anything explosive about it.

 Chapter 295: Chaotic and Pure Bloodlines

    Chapter 295: Chaotic and Pure Bloodlines

    "The power of this punch... it''s not bad."

    The power of the Exploding Bird Punch was sufficient; it could easily kill a bird with a single hit.Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

    "If I don''t use any other techniques, this punch alone... could almost kill a person of the same weight class."

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    This kind of power was actually quite terrifying among martial artists. For instance, Wang Shiqiao''s friend, Xing Yu, who also had a martial artist''s certification, wouldn''t be able to kill someone of the same level with a single punch, even using her innate martial technique.

    To kill with a punch, and not even hitting a vital spot, was a rare ability.

    "But relying on martial arts alone, there''s still quite a gap compared to Yang Shan."

    Qi Yuan analyzed his own strength internally.

    In terms of technique, Qi Yuan was far superior to Yang Shan. However, in terms of strength, defense, and physical condition, Yang Shan surpassed Qi Yuan by a significant margin.

    For example, even though Qi Yuan knew how to block certain moves, his body simply couldn''t react in time.

    Of course, this was referring to Qi Yuan''s current physical condition. His body had been cursed, making it even weaker than the average person. Although he had started cultivating, his physique was still comparable to that of an ordinary person.

    "Now that I''ve reached the seventh level, it''s time to use the secret items."

    The next day, sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting fragmented shadows on the floor.

    Qi Yuan sat in the living room, eating a breakfast prepared by Zero-One.

    As an intelligent robot, Zero-One could make simple breakfasts and pre-packaged meals.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan was eating a light meal: a bowl of plain congee, a few radish buns, and a salted egg.

    "Next time, add more meat; I''m still growing," Qi Yuan casually remarked.

    Although the house was filled with various medicinal herbs and sea monster materials, those were cultivation resources, and eating too much of them could get boring. Qi Yuan burned a lot of energy every day practicing martial arts.

    "Understood," the robot Zero-One received the new command and stored it.

    About ten minutes later, the table was cleared by the robot.

    Qi Yuan smiled, "Actually, this kind of robot is quite interesting. It''s almost as good as a puppet."

    In the Canglan Realm, there was a puppet technique used to craft puppets. The puppets made were much smarter than Zero-One. Some high-level spiritual artifacts could even awaken a spirit and develop consciousness.

    For instance... Qi Yuan''s daughter, Qi Jianjun, could be considered a magical artifact to some extent.

    "Should I consider upgrading Zero-One? Right now, it''s a bit clumsy, and its combat ability is almost zero."

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    "If I could make a thousand puppets and have them pretend to be human workers in an electronics factory, wouldn''t that mean I''d be making tens of millions a month?"

    Qi Yuan was tempted but then thought it was impractical.

    To create a thousand puppets, he''d need a lot of materials, and he wasn''t interested in becoming a puppet master.

    "Just upgrading Zero-One could be worthwhile. Giving it some combat ability might be helpful for guarding the house when I''m not around."

    The house, gifted by Kuang Huan, was full of useful plants and sea monsters. Qi Yuan, with his current low cultivation level, couldn''t yet create a storage pouch.

    As he was considering this, the doorbell rang.

    "Come in."

    The door opened, and Kuang Huan, wearing a black jacket, entered the room.

    His face was full of respect, a stark contrast to his usual image as an intimidating arms dealer.

    In his hand, he held a large box.

    "Mr. Qi, I''ve brought the secret items you asked for. Do you think these will be enough?"

    Facing Qi Yuan, Kuang Huan showed no arrogance.

    "Too bad I''m not a demonic cultivator, nor do I have a Ten Thousand Soul Banner. Otherwise, wouldn''t I be able to collect many leftover souls on the battlefield?" Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    Mortals didn''t possess a true primordial spirit; when they died, they simply died. However, cultivators could extract and refine residual souls from the deceased, placing them into a Ten Thousand Soul Banner to use as a magical artifact.

    "The Ten Thousand Soul Banner... what''s that?" Kuang Huan asked in confusion.

    "Well... anyone using a Ten Thousand Soul Banner is usually a demonic cultivator. If you see one, run as far away as you can."

    Qi Yuan, who considered himself lawful and good-hearted¡ªalways respecting the law and even giving up his seat to the elderly on public transport¡ªdespised demonic cultivators.

    "I''ve noted that down." How could Kuang Huan not remember Qi Yuan''s advice? After all, Qi Yuan was rumored to be a legendary cultivator.

    One month later.

    At the Mingwu Martial Arts School, Qi Yuan was practicing. By now, he had reached the ninth level of the "Mingwu Resonance Fist." Compared to when he first joined the school, he was now in much better physical and mental condition. When he punched, his moves were fierce and full of vigor.

    Nearby, the students of the Mingwu Martial Arts School were chatting casually. Wang Shiqiao, in particular, had her legs crossed and was smoking a lady''s cigarette, completely disregarding her image.

    "Rich girl Xing, lend me some money, will you? I heard you got 170 million this time!" Wang Shiqiao looked at Xing Yu with eyes full of envy.

    Half a month ago, Xing Yu''s seventy-year-old husband had finally passed away. The inheritance was divided, and Xing Yu got 170 million.

    For the students present, 170 million wasn''t a small amount. Aside from Xu Tihua, no one could come up with 170 million in cash. Among the students, Xing Yu was now considered quite wealthy.

    "Don''t think about my money. I''ve already planned to donate a school to my hometown," Xing Yu said, her eyes showing a hint of satisfaction.

    She was from a small town with a relatively poor family background. When she mentioned her "small town," it actually had a smaller population than a village on Blue Star. The school facilities there were quite shabby.

    When Xing Yu got into a prestigious university, people from all over the town sent her gifts. In fact, most of the money for her college tuition came from the townspeople.

    Tuition fees for universities in Qin Yuan, especially prestigious ones, were high, often costing hundreds of thousands a year. Many poor kids who managed to get into top universities had no money to attend and had to take out high-interest student loans.

    The people in Xing Yu''s town were very kind and helped her collect the tuition, which allowed her to attend university. She was very grateful to them. Now that she was doing well, she didn''t forget to support her hometown.

    With the inheritance she received, she planned to build a school in her hometown and also set up a company to utilize resources from Tianyue to help her hometown people.

    "You only got 170 million, and you''re already wasting it? Be careful, or you''ll blow it all in a few years," Wang Shiqiao couldn''t help but comment.

    "Don''t worry, I''m keeping 20 million untouched. Even if I fail, at worst, I''ll just live as an ordinary person," Xing Yu laughed.

    To her late husband''s sons, she might have seemed like a gold digger with no shame, but to the people in her hometown, she was undoubtedly successful and grateful.

    "Twenty million won''t be enough with today''s international situation. Yuelang and Wugui are at war again, and those damned Guiran people, they''re always causing trouble!"

    "Especially Wugui''s leader. Just yesterday, he threatened to retaliate against Qin Yuan. Just a dog of Gu Wu, and he''s this bold!" Wang Shiqiao stubbed out her cigarette, getting irritated at the mention of the Guiran people. Her anger seemed to cause her breast pain.

    Last night, she had engaged in an online argument with a Guiran person for dozens of comments. It made her so angry that she wanted to enlist and support Yuelang directly.

    Of course, that was just a thought; enlisting wasn''t really an option for her.

    "You should stop arguing with people online. You never win anyway," Xing Yu laughed.

    She was Wang Shiqiao''s roommate and knew her personality well. It was obvious she''d been arguing online last night.

    "I just wanted to get back at him. That guy was so disgusting¡ªhe''s a soldier and he brags about slaughtering civilians! Not only does he feel no shame, but he thinks it''s glorious and even shares videos to show off!

    They''re human too; how can they be so disgusting?"

    "They aren''t ordinary humans. Didn''t their leader claim that the Guiran people are the descendants of an ancient bloodline left on Gongxing by Canxing? They think their blood is noble and don''t consider us as their own."

    Within the martial arts school, everyone was discussing the conflict between Yuelang and Wugui.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow and paused his movements: "Wang Shiqiao, seems like you''re not up to it. If anyone cursed me online, I''d trace the line back and beat them to death!"

    He''d done similar things many times before.

    "Haha, you''re so tough. Why don''t you help me beat up the guy who cursed at me last night?" Wang Shiqiao laughed upon hearing Qi Yuan speak.

    "Why should I? He wasn''t cursing me," Qi Yuan shrugged.

    "If you bring me his head, I''ll give you a million!" Wang Shiqiao joked.

    It was all in jest, so anything went.

 Chapter 296: Xie Xinsu

    Chapter 296: Xie Xinsu

    Wang Shiqiao spoke as she pulled out her phone.

    "Take a look at this person¡ªhow disgusting they are. I reported them, but the authorities didn¡¯t do anything. And this person still has a ton of followers!"

    Wang Shiqiao showed the homepage of the person she had been arguing with to everyone present.

    "Look at this... Isn''t it just revolting? Absolutely inhumane!" she said angrily.

    The others watched the video, displaying various expressions¡ªsome even feeling nauseated, clearly disturbed by what they saw.

    Gongxing had never been an era of peace. There was always a war happening somewhere. However, within Qin Yuan, the country was relatively peaceful. These rich second-generation kids felt physically sickened by the scenes in the video.

    In the video, a soldier from Guiyuan Country stormed into a civilian''s house. The events that followed weren''t shown, but the video ended with a line of corpses¡ªtwo elderly people, three young adults, and two children.

    The seven members of the household were in tattered clothes and covered in bloodstains, a clear indication of the humiliation they had suffered. The video also had a caption: "Disrespecting the Lord is the greatest evil!"

    The young heirs, who had rarely experienced hardship, were understandably furious after seeing such scenes.

    "What a bastard!"

    "Don¡¯t insult the dogs!"

    "Damn it! What''s the king doing? If I were him, I''d have already sent troops to annihilate Guiyuan Country! That damn Guiyuan Country could be flattened by a single synthetic regiment!"

    The synthetic regiments of Qin Yuan were somewhat similar to the combined arms brigades of a certain major country on Blue Star. Apart from being composed of modern armies, Qin Yuan''s synthetic regiments also included gene warriors, mechanical units, and other forces.

    In other words, a single synthetic regiment could easily crush Wugui Country.

    "But Wugui Country is backed by Guwu Country. How can we intervene directly?"

    "Wugui and Guwu are closely linked with Canxing..."

    One of the students mentioned this, fear evident in their eyes.

    Every citizen of Qin Yuan who had attended school had learned about that horrific chapter in history¡ªCanxing''s support of certain countries had led to a world war. It had been a devastating conflict.

    "In my opinion, we should just destroy Wugui Country. Even if we end up at war with Guwu Country, so what? The military strength of Guwu is about equal to ours. Who knows who would win?"

    "If a war does break out, it''s probably for the best. Our country has become too stagnant. People like us have no chance to change our status!"

    "But we''d better not go to war. The ones who suffer the most in a war are always the lower classes. We might end up as sacrificial lambs ourselves!"

    The students continued their heated discussion, their opinions on whether to go to war differing greatly.

    "And what about you, Qi Yuan? Do you want a war?" Wang Shiqiao asked, looking at Qi Yuan.

    "Uh... it''s probably better not to go to war. If we do, the Martial Arts Tournament might get canceled. How am I supposed to win the championship then?"

    If Qin Yuan entered a state of war, events like the Martial Arts Tournament would surely be canceled. Qi Yuan''s main quest was to become the Supreme Martial God of Ten Thousand Paths. Participating in the Martial Arts Tournament was crucial.

    "You''re still hung up on that championship?" Wang Shiqiao rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan. "Come back in seven or eight years and then talk about winning!"

    To be fair, they had all noticed how hard Qi Yuan had been working. With a few more years of solid preparation, he might indeed have a chance to make it to the finals of the Martial Arts Tournament. Though... winning the championship seemed a bit far-fetched.

    "The international situation seems to be getting worse and worse. I have a feeling that a major war might really break out within the next few years. If that happens, the Martial Arts Tournament will probably be canceled before Qi Yuan even has a chance to win," a burly male student added.

    Whether or not the Martial Arts Tournament was held didn¡¯t really matter to him since he didn''t rely on it for a living.

    "Aren''t you dating a celebrity driver? Why are you still thinking about making money through the Martial Arts Tournament? If she gets you on some kind of romance reality show, with your looks, you''d blow up. Why bother with the Martial Arts Tournament?" Xing Yu teased with a bright smile, clearly joking.

    The fact that the celebrity Wu Qi was driving Qi Yuan to and from the martial arts school had caused quite a stir among the students. Especially when they found out that Wu Qi and Qi Yuan were high school classmates and that Wu Qi was Qi Yuan''s senior.

    In the idle chatter among these bored rich kids, a ridiculous romantic drama seemed to take shape. It was obvious they had been childhood sweethearts. After becoming successful, Wu Qi hadn''t forgotten her little boyfriend, and Qi Yuan naturally played the role of the kept man.

    To this, Qi Yuan insisted that he and Wu Qi were innocent and that Wu Qi was merely his chauffeur. Of course, none of the students believed this story. Why would a big star be willing to be an ordinary person''s driver? And to chauffeur him daily, no less.

    Since then, Qi Yuan had earned the nickname "Driver Brother," and Wu Qi was referred to as the "Driver Girlfriend."

    Wang Shiqiao joined in the teasing, saying, "I bet your driver girlfriend is waiting for you downstairs right now."

    By this time, it was late afternoon, and the day''s training at the martial arts school was almost over. It was time for everyone to go home.

    Outside the martial arts school, on the road, Wu Qi was on the phone, her expression tinged with frustration.

    "My dear lady, that Qi Yuan is probably just a con artist who tricked Viscount Kuang Huan. In reality, he''s not a noble at all. You''ve been acting like his servant for days, neglecting your own work. What have you gained from it?"

    On the phone, her manager''s sharp voice was clear.

    Recently, the manager had done a little digging into Qi Yuan. They found that Qi Yuan''s background was quite ordinary; he was just an orphaned child of a martyr with a mental illness. He seemed to have some sort of deal with Viscount Kuang Huan.

    According to the manager''s covert inquiries, Qi Yuan was nothing more than a fraud who used some kind of mysterious "immortal technique" to deceive Viscount Kuang Huan.

    Wu Qi held her phone, listening to the incessant chatter on the other end. Feeling annoyed, she thought about Qi Yuan and replied in a low voice, "He''s not a fraud. He''s special."

    Whenever she was with Qi Yuan, she could sense how different he was from everyone else. Even among the nobility, none gave her the same sense of pressure as Qi Yuan.

    Wu Qi took the paper bird, her eyes lighting up with surprise. "Your technique is so good! How did you fold it? Can you teach me?"

    She had seen it with her own eyes¡ªQi Yuan had folded this paper bird in less than twenty seconds.

    This was completely different from traditional origami like a thousand paper cranes. It was much more lifelike.

    "You can''t learn it. To fold this, you need to practice cultivation," Qi Yuan said honestly. "Back when Kuang Huan gave me 90 million, I agreed to teach him cultivation."

    "Cultivation?" Wu Qi''s eyes widened, filled with confusion.

    Could it be that cultivation really exists in this world?

    The manager had told her that Qi Yuan''s deal with Viscount Kuang Huan was related to cultivation.

    She hadn''t believed it then.

    But now, hearing it directly from Qi Yuan, she was shocked and bewildered, standing frozen in place.

    By the time she snapped back to reality, Qi Yuan was already gone.

    She stood there, dazed.

    "Is this a joke... or is it real?"

    If it were true, wouldn''t her worldview over all these years be shattered?

    Clutching the paper bird tightly, countless thoughts flashed through her mind.

    If what Mr. Qi said was true... that would be great.

    ...

    "Oh no, I''m stuck!"

    In the Junan residential area, Xie Xinsu let out a miserable cry.

    At that moment, her heart was filled with fear.

    Her head was stuck in a sewer, and inside it was pitch black, with a nauseating stench.

    Her lower body, including her butt, was stuck outside the manhole cover.

    She was like an upside-down onion, looking pitiful and miserable.

    She appeared in tatters, covered in food scraps, looking utterly disheveled.

    "Oh no, if a man comes by, what am I going to do?"

    Thinking of this, Xie Xinsu shuddered.

    She had no ability to resist in her current state. If she encountered a perverted man...

    It would be terrifying to think about.

    "Wait, I''m a cat right now. What if I encounter a male cat in heat?"

    Thinking of this, Xie Xinsu felt extremely frustrated.

    She would rather deal with a man than a male cat.

    "Oh, woe is me! I am a proud fairy of the Xuantian Sect, entrusted with the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the sect.

    How did I get so unlucky? I finally managed to hide on Canxing for three years, obtaining crucial intelligence, only for the world to reset back to ten years ago."

    "It wouldn''t be so bad if I just went back ten years... but I turned into a cat!"

    "And if turning into a cat wasn''t bad enough, now my brain isn''t working right!"

    "And now... I''m stuck here like this!"

    Xie Xinsu felt bitter but had no way to express it.

    When the world reset for others, they returned to their original timelines.

    But for her... she became a cat.

    Her sect must be worried, seeing that she vanished without a trace.

    Meow, meow, meow!

    Xie Xinsu let out a pitiful cry.

    She grew weaker, her consciousness becoming increasingly blurred.

    "Someone, please save this fairy... I''ll teach you the way of cultivation and the art of immortality!"

    With this thought, she finally passed out.

 Chapter 297: Cold and Heartless Humans

    Chapter 297: Cold and Heartless Humans

    Warm light shone on Xie Xinsu''s body as she curled up on the soft bedding. She felt very cozy, almost like the feeling of sneaking a nap back at the Xuantian Sect.

    Her mind was somewhat dazed.

    She felt as though she had dreamed¡ªa dream where she left the Xuantian Sect, traveled to a new world, and began a life of hiding.

    It was a nightmare.

    After finally succeeding in hiding, the world reset, and she turned into a dim-witted cat.

    And so began her tragic life as a cat.

    Fortunately... the dream seemed to have ended.

    However, at that moment, she heard a conversation near her.

    "Liver damage and... not suitable for spaying."

    "Can''t be spayed? Aren''t all stray cats supposed to be spayed? That''s what the law says."

    "It''s not suitable due to its physical condition."

    "Oh... if it can''t be spayed, then just put it down. That way, it''s not against the law."

    Hearing the cold, emotionless man''s voice while she was sleeping, Xie Xinsu woke up suddenly.

    Meow, meow, meow?

    Spay me?

    No!

    Can''t be spayed, so just kill me to stay within the law?

    These humans are terrifying¡ªwhat kind of logic is that?

    Fine, spaying is better!

    She jolted awake and realized she was still a cat.Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com

    It seemed the dream was real after all.

    She had been stuck in a manhole and rescued by this cold, emotionless man.

    Heh... she had already decided that if she ever restored her true form, she definitely wouldn''t bring this man onto the path of immortality.

    "Meow, meow, meow!" But at this moment, survival was more important. For the first time, Xie Xinsu acted cute in such a way, just to stay alive.

    At this point, the cold, emotionless man who wanted to kill her looked at her, his gaze calm. "What if it goes into heat?"

    He asked a key question.

    Meow, meow, meow!

    Xie Xinsu meowed frantically.

    What does he mean by going into heat?

    How could she possibly go into heat?

    Although she had reset into a cat, her mind had become hazy and muddled.

    But to go into heat at random? Xie Xinsu believed she was still a human at heart and wouldn''t be controlled by animal instincts.

    She was, after all, the Holy Maiden of the Xuantian Sect.

    Though the Xuantian Sect had fallen, with only a dozen or so disciples left, she was the Holy Maiden tasked with its revival.

    Her master, He Yunzi, the 31st sect leader of the Xuantian Sect, had once sought a bestowed technique from their Upper Realm ancestors for her.

    It could be said that if she followed the standard path, she would have the chance to reach the Purple Mansion realm in this lifetime.

    Moreover, if she had a stroke of good fortune, she might even get a glimpse of the legendary Yin God realm.

    If she reached the Yin God realm, she would have a chance to ascend to the Upper Realm, becoming a legend of the Xuantian Sect.

    With such extraordinary talent, even though she had reset as a cat and her mind was a little off, she wouldn''t go into heat just like that.

    Also, how do you deal with a cat going into heat?

    Is that even something people say?

    "To solve this problem, apart from spaying, there''s another method," the robot Zero-One said smartly.

    "What method?"

    "A cat''s joy stick."

    As Zero-One spoke, a screen appeared on its face.

    Displayed on the screen was a link to a product, with some unspeakable images.

    The cat''s expression in the pictures resembled that of a white cat eating corn.

    "This..." Qi Yuan looked like he had discovered a new world. He glanced at the black-and-white Xie Xinsu, a contemplative expression on his face. "You handle it."

    Zero-One nodded, its mechanical voice carrying a hint of a smile.

    Hearing the conversation between the robot and its owner, Xie Xinsu felt rather helpless.

    Were they really deciding her fate so casually?

    Xie Xinsu decided that when the time was right, she would slip away from this house.

    These people were a bit too strange.

    Thinking this, she was preparing to find an opportunity to escape when her pink nose twitched, and Xie Xinsu''s feline heart filled with excitement.

    "A treasure, there''s definitely a treasure here!"

    Before the world reset, she had already spent several years on this planet.

    If you treat this lady well, I might just show some kindness and grant you a path to immortality.

    Watching the cold and emotionless man leave, Xie Xinsu suddenly felt a sense of relief.

    The living room was now hers. With no one around, her stress lifted, and she could start attempting to cultivate immortality.

    The spiritual energy here was quite dense.

    As for Zero-One?

    It wasn''t a human, after all.

    Xie Xinsu knew that the robots in this world were rather basic¡ªhardly intelligent at all, with no consciousness of their own.

    If they could develop their own consciousness, that would be truly extraordinary.

    Only treasures refined by cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm or above had the potential to gain a spirit of their own.

    This pile of scrap metal shouldn''t be considered a real life form.

    She was just about to leap away and find a comfortable spot to cultivate when suddenly, a pair of cold hands grabbed her.

    "Please cooperate with me in making a cat cooking video!" Zero-One said in a stiff voice.

    Its tone was not as soft as it was when it spoke to Qi Yuan.

    Meow, meow, meow?

    Xie Xinsu meowed.

    Are you kidding me? You actually want a cat to cook?

    How could a cat possibly cook?

    Xie Xinsu pretended not to understand, putting on an innocent expression.

    A cat that doesn''t understand human speech shouldn''t have to work... that''s normal, right?

    Unfortunately, Zero-One ignored her entirely. "Oh, you said yes, great... Let''s make the video then!

    If we don''t make it successfully, I''ll let you try out the cat''s joy stick tonight!"

    "Meow?" Xie Xinsu was speechless.

    Threatening a cat?

    Is this robot out of its mind?

    How can such a robot exist in this world?

    She planned to continue pretending not to understand.

    But unfortunately, Zero-One gave Xie Xinsu no chance to react. It grabbed her by the legs and dragged her towards the kitchen.

    Meow, meow, meow!

    This is cat abuse!

    Xie Xinsu cried out, but to no avail.

    Faced with the robot, she had no ability to resist.

    An hour later, Xie Xinsu lay weakly curled up on the ground.

    These two hours had been exhausting.

    Under Zero-One''s coercion, she reluctantly began her humiliating life as a cat, cooking dishes.

    Not only that, but she was also forced by Zero-One to perform several of the most popular online dances of the time.

    It was extremely embarrassing.

    Now, she was utterly drained, with no strength left.

    "When I regain my cultivation and transform back into human form, I will definitely tear this wretched robot into pieces!"

    Perhaps Zero-One seemed overly malicious in Xie Xinsu''s eyes.

    Now, that cold and emotionless man looked somewhat handsome to her.

    "It''s just that... how is this robot different from the ones I''ve seen before?

    Even the most advanced robots in the highly developed Canxing don''t have this level of intelligence, right?"

    During these two hours of being forced by Zero-One, she also vaguely realized that Zero-One was different from the robots she had encountered before.

    For instance, those robots were just dumb and had no emotional nuance at all.

    Zero-One, on the other hand, knew how to threaten her.

    "This whole household... is really strange?"

    "Could it be that the immortal treasure here has affected them?"

    Xie Xinsu thought to herself.

    "No, I must cultivate and rise again!"

    She decided to start cultivating.

    She found a safe spot and began to sit and meditate.

    Little did she know, a pair of mechanical eyes had already locked onto her.

    The recording function had already started, capturing the cat''s meditation and cultivation on video.

    Zero-One returned to its room to edit the video and add a voiceover.

    About half an hour later, an account named "Working Hard to Earn Money for Batteries" posted a new video.

    "My cat has become a spirit! Not only can it cook, but it also meditates and cultivates!"

 Chapter 298: All This Trash, Just Throw It Away

    Chapter 298: All This Trash, Just Throw It Away

    After posting the video, Zero-One came out and sat on the couch in the living room, seemingly dozing off.

    Not far away, Xie Xinsu sneaked a glance at Zero-One and felt her mind relax.

    In front of a robot, she didn''t bother to hide her peculiarities, like sitting in meditation and cultivating.

    The stupid robots in this world didn''t understand what that was.

    Even if they saw it, they wouldn¡¯t record it or make any associations.

    "The spiritual energy here is so dense, there must be an ancient magical treasure here!"

    She twitched her pink nose, trying to find the source of the spiritual energy.

    "Once they fall asleep, I need to search for that treasure! An ownerless treasure like this must be a heaven-sent opportunity!"

    Xie Xinsu was very excited.

    Was this her bitter days finally coming to an end?

    After all the suffering she endured, wasn''t it about time she had some good luck?

    She continued to meditate and cultivate.

    However, even though the spiritual energy was dense, her progress in cultivation was worryingly slow.

    She soon realized this issue.

    "A cat''s body isn''t suited for the immortal cultivation methods I learned before..."

    The cultivation method she learned was a grand and proper one.

    However, it was designed for human cultivators.

    She had never mastered any immortal cultivation techniques suitable for beasts before.

    Now, trying to cultivate felt strange.

    "Never mind, just keep cultivating. If nothing goes wrong, just continue!"

    All kinds of immortal cultivation methods lead to the Great Dao.

    Even if some minor issues arise, they shouldn¡¯t be a problem.

    At this time, the night grew darker.

    Throughout the Jun¡¯an residential complex, except for a few streetlights glowing orange, it was particularly dark and quiet.

    From space, the entire Gongxing looked like a big misty ball.

    Above this mist, there were two distinct kinds of mist blending together... swallowing each other.

    In the living room, Zero-One, who had been pretending to sleep, suddenly opened its eyes.

    It couldn''t sleep.

    Especially after posting the video.

    Every so often, it had to check on the video it posted to see if there were any comments.

    It opened the video and saw the red dot notification; it couldn''t help but click in.

    A video featuring a cat cooking and meditating to cultivate was bound to attract traffic.

    Sure enough, after just a few hours, there were hundreds of comments.

    "Can I come to your house to watch the cat cook?"

    "I stole this video to send to my goddess, inviting her over to watch the cat cook."

    "It''s 4 a.m. now, and I have to get up for work in three hours."

    "Can someone tell me if this video is real or synthesized? How can a cat cook, and what''s with the meditation?"

    "As everyone knows, videos can''t be photoshopped, so this must be real."

    "Cats are very smart, sometimes even smarter than humans. It''s normal for them to cook!"

    "???"

    The comments varied.

    Most of them praised the cat for being cute and smart.

    However, some people also believed the video was synthesized.

    After all, a cat cooking... it was too far-fetched.

    In this world, a cat was just a cat. If it could understand human instructions, that was already remarkable, let alone cooking.

    How could an ordinary cat cook?

    Zero-One read these comments, and a ripple formed in its otherwise calm electronic heart.

    It posted a comment in the comment section to clarify.

    "This video is authentic and not synthesized."

    Seeing that it had gained over a hundred followers, Zero-One felt an inexplicable sense of joy.

    It glanced at Xie Xinsu, who had already fallen asleep, and pondered what to film next.

    A few days later.

    Xie Xinsu lay weakly on the couch, feeling very aggrieved in her little cat heart.

    This robot was simply inhuman! It had been tormenting her these past few days.

    Initially, it was just cooking performances, but then it escalated to making her perform with nunchucks.

    Unfortunately, with her frail body, she couldn''t even hold the nunchucks properly, and the performance was... miserable.

    This robot was relentless and seemed to enjoy it.

    Xie Xinsu felt like a circus animal.

    Especially when she saw Zero-One boasting about the video views in front of her; she wanted to comment so badly.

    "Conflict of interest, say no to animal performances!"

    But she didn''t have a phone.

    She lay on the couch, feeling her life as a cat was bleak.

    But when she thought about being able to cultivate, she gathered her spirit again.

    Once she had advanced in her cultivation, she would make this robot cook, play with nunchucks, take baths, and make videos.

    "And this pile of leftover materials from the Foundation Establishment... the smell is too strong; it''s polluting the air."

    Using mutated sea monster meat to refine Foundation Establishment spiritual items had also produced a pile of waste.

    The smells of this waste were varied and quite unpleasant to the nose.

    "Zero-One, come over and throw this trash in the bin."

    Qi Yuan called out.

    Immediately, Zero-One opened the door and followed Qi Yuan''s instructions, carrying the trash-filled box away.

    Xie Xinsu, who was nearby, also ran in at this moment. When she saw the contents of the box, her eyes widened.

    She instantly recognized that the items in the box were... all Foundation Establishment spiritual items.

    And their ranks weren''t low.

    According to the classifications in her world, many of these Foundation Establishment spiritual items were of high grade.

    Several among them were even of the first grade.

    To put it into perspective, when Xie Xinsu established her foundation, she used only second-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual items.

    Here, there was a whole pile of first-grade items¡ªhow could she not be envious?

    If all these Foundation Establishment spiritual items were brought back to Xuantian Sect, the sect''s strength would increase considerably.

    Where did Qi Yuan get so many treasures?

    She was envious, but more than that, she felt anxious and a bit resentful.

    Because she had heard something!

    This clueless, cold, and indifferent man was treating these Foundation Establishment spiritual items as trash and wanted to throw them in the garbage bin.

    "Meow, meow, meow!" Xie Xinsu anxiously rolled over, trying to stop Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her and seemed to see through her intent to stop him: "These pieces of trash smell too bad. Keeping them here pollutes the air. Zero-One, take them outside and throw them away."

    Qi Yuan gave the order directly.

    Zero-One carried the box, ignoring Xie Xinsu''s meowing, and left the house.

    Xie Xinsu stayed in the living room, her eyes blank, filled with a deep sense of heartache.

    This damn owner... didn''t recognize the value!

    How did the smell of these Foundation Establishment spiritual items stink? They clearly emitted a wonderful aura of immortality.

    Sadly, she was just a cat, and a cat constantly bullied by a robot at that.

    And the owner... also had a certificate for mental illness; she knew it would be hard to communicate.

    She decided to add a few more words to the prefix of her insult for the owner.

    A clueless, trash, unappreciative, cold, and indifferent man.

    She felt resentful as if her own treasures were being wasted by an ignorant boar¡ªutterly heartbreaking.

    At this moment, in the neighbor''s house, a group of people had gathered in Yang Shan''s place.

    Yang Shan was filled with doubt.

    He recognized some of these people.

    One of them was the son of the military district''s number one figure.

    Such a second-generation person was from a different world from Yang Shan.

    But now, this second-generation person seemed like a mere sidekick to an ordinary-looking man.

    That ordinary-looking man was the leader of this group.

    This puzzled Yang Shan greatly.

    Could it be... another person from a prominent family?

    "So... he''s been practicing martial arts all this time?"

    The ordinary man looked at Yang Shan, his eyes calm, seemingly quite dignified.

    "Yes... he''s been practicing martial arts. His martial arts talent... is the strongest I''ve ever seen, and he might even break through the martial artist''s limits!" Yang Shan spoke with a hint of fervor in his eyes.

    Those were the limits of a martial artist.

    Breaking through that would be enough to go down in history.

    He didn''t know what this group''s intentions were, but given his orders from above, he could only reveal information about Qi Yuan.

    Of course, he hinted at Qi Yuan''s importance in martial arts, fearing these people might do something to him.

    In fact, he was puzzled about why this group was asking for information on Qi Yuan. Was it related to Qi Yuan''s parents?

    "A martial artist... his choice is interesting!" At this point, the second-generation man smiled, his smile carrying a hint of mockery. "Brother-in-law, I don''t think there''s any need for cooperation. He''s... only a year."

    These cryptic words left Yang Shan even more confused.

    The ordinary-looking man, Luo Ping, pondered for a moment before saying, "You''re right. If he were like me, he wouldn''t have chosen martial arts."

    Even if the spiritual energy revives ten years later, martial arts would only experience a slight resurgence.

    But... that''s about it; compared to immortality, the gap is too vast.

    It seemed that Qi Yuan didn''t have memories of the next ten years; it was only one year¡ªhardly anything.

    As a Regressor, Luo Ping had returned to the present and contacted and communicated with a major family from the Seven Martial Stars.

    He had also, as promised in his previous life, married the family''s prized daughter, the Little Princess of the Two Seas.

    You should know, in his previous life, such a woman was out of his league, even without a chance to meet her.

    In this life, however, she lay beneath him, offering herself with tenderness.

    This is opportunity¡ªthe opportunity of a Regressor.

    He was also leveraging his information gap to seek all kinds of benefits and opportunities.

    Among them, the greatest opportunity was... the immortal fate.

    Originally, he had thought of meeting Qi Yuan to see if there was any useful information from him.

    But Qi Yuan was going to die in a year, so there couldn''t be any valuable information. Not to mention that ten years later, the Seven Martial Stars family didn''t even contact him.

    Otherwise, why would he foolishly pursue martial arts?

    "Indeed, he''s not a suitable partner... but it wouldn''t hurt to meet him." Luo Ping said.

 Chapter 299: Martial Will

    Chapter 299: Martial Will

    In the hall, Xie Xinsu''s eyes were brimming with tears. She felt immense heartache as the Foundation Establishment spiritual items were thrown into the garbage pile.

    She was filled with hate¡ªhating herself for being a cat and being powerless.

    She also hated the cold and indifferent man, a clueless fool who couldn''t recognize a treasure.

    Perhaps practicing martial arts had made him dull.

    Just then, the doorbell rang.

    Xie Xinsu weakly glanced towards the door.

    The Foundation Establishment spiritual items were gone, and the room''s spiritual energy had significantly thinned out and become more subtle.

    However, with Xie Xinsu''s former strength and insight as a golden core cultivator, she still sensed that the treasure she had felt before was still there.

    Qi Yuan walked out of his room, opened the door, and yawned as he looked at the young man outside, "Who are you looking for?"

    "May I come in and sit for a while?" asked the man outside, who was naturally Luo Ping.

    This time, he had come alone.

    All his subordinates remained at Yang Shan''s house.

    "Sure." Qi Yuan answered casually, looking at the unfamiliar man.

    His answer slightly surprised Luo Ping.

    If it were him, encountering a stranger knocking and asking to come in and sit, he would surely ask about their intentions.

    But when he considered that the other party might have a mental illness, it all seemed reasonable and normal.

    Luo Ping entered the room, his eyes scanning the entire house before sitting down on the sofa.

    He introduced himself, saying, "I''m Luo Ping. Two months ago, I was just an... ordinary civil servant.

    You know, I never had a mother-in-law growing up, so I went to see a big official, and yes, a very high-ranking official.

    Then, the wife of that high official became my mother-in-law.

    Life... is truly unpredictable. It gives people hope and then makes them arrogant, but in reality... I''ve been living cautiously, afraid everything might collapse."

    When he was at his father-in-law''s house, Luo Ping always exuded confidence, as if everything was under his control.

    But only he knew that this feeling of dancing on the edge of a knife, always anxious, was torturous.

    After all, though he was neither rich nor noble in the past, he lived a peaceful, joyful life without worries.

    In this life, however, he had earned the nickname "Ice Walker."

    "And then?" Qi Yuan looked at Luo Ping.

    Not far away, Xie Xinsu looked at Luo Ping with a gaze that could almost spell out the words "so pretentious."

    "You and I... are somewhat alike, or maybe halfway alike.

    Qi Yuan... aren''t you curious? A year later, you died... and then you returned to the present?"

    Luo Ping had rediscovered that feeling of being in control.

    Before Qi Yuan could respond, Xie Xinsu''s fur stood on end.

    Returned... to the present?

    Wait a minute... is this guy a regressor too?

    And is her cold, clueless master a regressor as well?

    If he is, why did he throw the Foundation Establishment spiritual items away like garbage?

    "I come from the future, and people like us are generally called regressors.

    And you... are also considered one of us.

    But... you didn''t live past ten years. You died only a year later.

    So, you don''t know what happened in this world in the next ten years.

    That''s unfortunate, and it also means you''re not really a qualified regressor," Luo Ping said calmly.

    He looked at Qi Yuan and saw his own reflection. In some ways, he actually envied Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Luo Ping, "So, you''re a regressor?"

    At this moment, Xie Xinsu seemed to understand something.

    Qi Yuan was a regressor too.

    Unfortunately, he died a year later.

    No wonder he chose martial arts instead of the path of cultivation.

    She suddenly felt that Qi Yuan was even more pitiful than her.

    "Do you want to follow me?" Luo Ping asked, testing the waters.

    Although Qi Yuan, as an incomplete regressor, wasn''t qualified to cooperate with him, he was willing to give Qi Yuan a chance.

    "Follow you to work?" Qi Yuan shook his head with a smile. "Working for someone is impossible for me. I''ll never work in my life. Living this leisurely life, playing games every day, occasionally practicing martial arts¡ªthere''s nothing more enjoyable!"

    Qi Yuan refused without hesitation.

    How could he possibly work for someone else?

    And besides, just a regressor?

    No matter how fancy the title, isn''t it just an NPC in a game?

    The purpose of an NPC is to make Qi Yuan have fun.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s response, Luo Ping felt a mixture of regret and satisfaction.

    "A life like yours is indeed enviable," Luo Ping nodded. "If that''s the case, I won''t bother you anymore. The other regressors won''t bother you either."

    After chatting with Qi Yuan in the house for a while, Luo Ping felt quite emotional.

    His current life was certainly exciting, but a life like Qi Yuan''s... was enviable too.

    However, after becoming a regressor, even if he wanted to live leisurely... he couldn''t.

    If he didn''t improve, if he didn''t grow stronger, he might be crushed.

    Qi Yuan didn''t have that kind of pressure; in a sense, he was lucky.

    His martial talent wasn''t as good as Qi Yuan''s.

    But his martial will was undoubtedly strong.

    He was a soldier who had been on the battlefield and killed people!

    The martial will he had refined was not something Qi Yuan, a young man with no experience of the world, could compare to.

    One look would likely make the other lose their composure.

    Yang Shan spoke and looked at Qi Yuan.

    His entire spirit and energy condensed at that moment, concentrating in his eyes.

    The area around his temples seemed slightly swollen.

    Yang Shan''s eyes, filled with murderous intent, were incredibly bright and almost dazzling.

    They looked particularly intimidating.

    Such a gaze, in a martial artist''s duel, was enough to make the opponent lose focus.

    Against a young person like Qi Yuan, it was extremely effective.

    "What are you staring at?" Suddenly, Qi Yuan looked at Yang Shan with a curious expression.

    At that moment, Yang Shan froze.

    Qi Yuan''s reaction was too calm.

    He hadn''t been shaken by his gaze at all.

    Yang Shan was a bit confused, "How come you''re fine?"

    "With just that look... what could happen?

    It seems your martial will isn''t strong enough," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Indeed, he had seen too many big shots, even a Yang God.

    Yang Shan''s martial will was just child''s play.

    "Still, you did give me some ideas."

    Yang Shan''s mention of martial will gave Qi Yuan some inspiration.

    Recently, Qi Yuan had been studying martial arts and researching the bloodlines of mutated sea monsters.

    He discovered that for a martial artist to break through the limit, simply enhancing the bloodline wasn''t enough.

    Bloodline wasn''t everything for a martial artist.

    Hearing Yang Shan mention martial will, he thought of many things.

    Especially his innate martial skill, Explosive Killing Bird Fist.

    To break through the martial limit, he not only needed to enhance his bloodline but also his innate martial skills.

    Could the enhancement of innate martial skills be related to willpower?

    "How exactly did you withstand my martial will?" Yang Shan didn''t pay attention to Qi Yuan''s words. At this moment, he was immersed in how Qi Yuan seemed to ignore his powerful martial will.

    "Did that need to be withstood?" Qi Yuan laughed, then said, "It''s actually simple¡ªjust kill more people, tens of thousands, or even millions..."

    Qi Yuan had already seen that what Yang Shan called martial will was actually just murderous intent.

    And murderous intent was something Qi Yuan never lacked.

    In fact, in the game, he had killed so much that when cultivating the Bright Palace''s Brilliant Sword, others glowed white, but he glowed red.

    "So, in the end, you haven''t killed enough people," Qi Yuan patted Yang Shan on the shoulder with the demeanor of someone who had been there.

    Yang Shan was stunned, then quickly retorted, "What are you boasting about, kid? If you don''t want to tell, fine!

    You think I haven''t killed enough?

    You know about those arrogant Guiren people on the internet right now?

    I''ve killed not just ten, but hey... even a priest!"

    Mentioning this, Yang Shan proudly raised his head.

    That was his greatest achievement, worth boasting about forever.

    Now that he was familiar with Qi Yuan, he could show off a bit.

    Currently, in the Gongxing, the Yuolang Kingdom and Wugui Kingdom were at war.

    Wugui Kingdom had the upper hand.

    And the citizens of Qin Yuan had no shortage of curses for Wugui Kingdom and Gumu Kingdom online.

    It''s fair to say that the online sentiment was overwhelmingly furious, and everyone wished they could punish the Guiren people!

    If Yang Shan revealed that he had killed Guiren people, no doubt he could become a big internet celebrity in a few days.

    "Less than a hundred... that''s a bit low," Qi Yuan responded honestly.

    "You brat, have you been on the internet too much? Less than a hundred is low?

    Killing a hundred enemies, do you know what that means?

    In ancient times, if a soldier defeated a hundred enemies, he could easily earn a title!" Yang Shan felt Qi Yuan had watched too many videos.

    Someone who hadn''t even killed a person saying he had killed too few?

    It''s important to know that those notorious murderers who shocked the nation only killed ten or twenty people.

    And they were called serial killers.

    Did he, Yang Shan, kill too few?

    "It''s just that you haven''t seen someone who killed more. I..." Qi Yuan was about to say he had killed many.

    But thinking about the fact that killing was illegal, he changed his words.

    "I know someone who has killed no less than ten thousand."

    "Haha... you have a friend, huh? Why isn''t it you!" Yang Shan laughed, not taking Qi Yuan''s words seriously.

    He thought Qi Yuan was just joking with him.

    "You, who haven''t even killed a single Guiren person, aren''t qualified to talk to me!" Yang Shan joked back.

 Chapter 300: Kuang Huan in Trouble

    Chapter 300: Kuang Huan in Trouble

    After discussing martial arts will with Yang Shan for a while, Qi Yuan returned home. As soon as he got home, he saw the cat lying limp on the sofa; it seemed exhausted, as if it had been through a lot.

    Seeing Qi Yuan come back, the cat only glanced at him indifferently, without any other reaction.

    Robot Zero-One thoughtfully brought over a cup of hot tea, standing beside Qi Yuan like a dutiful butler.

    "Followers have increased by 4,572; yesterday''s earnings were 2,321 yuan."

    "The goods shipped by Kuang Huan have arrived and are stored in the warehouse."

    "Seven videos were recorded today but have not been edited yet. They are expected to be edited by tomorrow."

    "Regarding the martial arts limit, Zero-One has searched various information online and even hacked into the Qin Yuan national data repository, obtaining 145 pieces of useful information.

    After analyzing these 145 pieces of information, the conclusion is: to break through the martial arts limit, one needs to visit a martial arts relic.

    Currently, there are 231 martial arts relics worldwide."

    Zero-One reported various pieces of information.

    Nowadays, it evolved continuously, day by day.

    You could even say it was stronger than the ordinary puppets in the Canglan World.

    It had mastered extremely advanced hacking skills, even capable of infiltrating the secret data repositories of Qin Yuan to acquire hidden information.

    Next to it, Xie Xinsu listened to Zero-One''s voice and was filled with resentment.

    This robot was simply inhumane, more ruthless than a capitalist. Today, it forced her to shoot seven videos.

    Shooting seven videos was one thing, but making two thousand yuan a day off her efforts? And yet, she only got to eat cat food that cost a few dozen yuan per pound.

    There were no cat toys, no cat climbing frames¡ªthis was outright cat abuse!

    Xie Xinsu hadn''t realized that she was gradually accepting her fate as a cat.

    However, when she heard the last part, a smirk appeared on her little mouth.

    In this day and age, who still thinks about practicing martial arts?

    With Gongxing about to undergo spiritual energy revival, only those who practice cultivation like her have a future.

    Only through cultivation could one hope to attain the path of eternal life.

    Of course, she was a cat now, so even if she had such thoughts, she couldn''t express them.

    And even if she could express them, why would she introduce the path of immortality to this cold, ungrateful, ignorant man?

    More importantly, if she demonstrated any other talents, she would definitely be forced by this damn robot to shoot videos.

    When would such days come to an end?

    "Martial arts relics?" Qi Yuan was slightly surprised.

    He hadn''t gotten such information from Yang Shan.

    But when he heard that the information was obtained from the secret data repository of Qin Yuan, Qi Yuan understood.

    Although Yang Shan was at the martial arts limit, his understanding of martial arts might not be as deep as that of some professor.

    In a society like Qin Yuan''s, all kinds of powerful people would surely be seeking immortality.

    There were undoubtedly many experiments related to immortality.

    It''s normal for the elite to focus on martial arts.

    If martial arts relics indeed held the hope of breaking the martial arts limit, then after the martial arts tournament, he would go and take a look.

    Currently, there were only three days left until the martial arts tournament.

    He didn''t have time to visit any martial arts relics.

    "Looks like your hacking skills are quite impressive, even able to steal such hidden information." Qi Yuan couldn''t help but praise.

    Zero-One was his creation. The stronger it became, the more satisfied Qi Yuan was.

    "Not only that, but if I want, I can obtain almost any information online.

    While searching the internet, I also found a lot of interesting stuff. I''ve compiled them. If you want, I can send them to you," Zero-One said proudly.

    It was becoming more and more human-like.

    "What interesting stuff?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "It''s..." Zero-One lowered its voice.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan''s expression turned strange. "Spreading pornographic and obscene content is illegal.

    And... you''re not my friend.

    It''s only legal if friends share it with each other."

    Qi Yuan didn''t accept the file package.

    After all, it was just some electronic data.

    Aren''t ordinary humans also made up of various elements like carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen?

    The Next Day

    Qi Yuan went to the martial arts gym again.

    This time, shortly after he started practicing martial arts, Xu Tiehua came over to find him.

    "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, the martial arts tournament is in three days. Do you want to try the team competition?"

    Xu Tiehua was very enthusiastic about the team competition.

    Now that he had both money and power, he wanted fame.?iscover new chapters at novelhall.comes, fame was also very useful. Certain titles and gimmicks could have a huge impact.

    "No rush. Let''s gather the night before the competition," Qi Yuan said casually.

    This baffled Xu Tiehua, but he was well-mannered and slowly said, "Won''t that be too late?

    The rules of the team competition are a bit complicated.

    If we devise a strategy in advance, we might achieve better results."

    "Aren''t the rules of martial arts just about whose fist is harder?" Qi Yuan asked, "When the time comes, I can just knock down all the opponents. What''s the problem?"

    This left Xu Tiehua speechless once again.

    Qi Yuan wasn''t wrong.

    The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.

    "Hello," Qi Yuan answered the call.

    A nervous, hesitant voice came from the other end of the line.

    "Is this Mr. Qi?"

    "Who is this?"

    "I''m Kuang Huan''s wife... Something happened to Kuang Huan.

    I... I don''t know what to do. I''ve asked many people, and there''s no solution, so... sob, sob..."

    The woman''s voice was choked with sobs.

    It was clear her condition was poor, and she was on the verge of a breakdown.

    Her speech was not very clear.

    Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, "Where are you?"

    "I''m in... Xinyang..."

    "Alright... I''ll come over in a bit."

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment and decided to go there.

    After all, Kuang Huan was one of his collaborators.

    Moreover, for the past three months, he had worked diligently for Qi Yuan, taking care of everything without requiring Qi Yuan to worry.

    Whenever he needed mutant sea creatures captured, it was done.

    One could say he was Qi Yuan''s representative in the outside world.

    Now that something had happened to him, Qi Yuan would go and help out.

    After hanging up, Wang Shiqiao approached and said, "What''s going on? Need our help?"

    Over the phone, Wang Shiqiao had heard a woman crying.

    Clearly, something serious had happened on Qi Yuan''s side.

    Being part of the same martial arts gym and social circle, they were considered friends.

    Whenever something happened, everyone was willing to help each other.

    Xing Yu also asked, "If it''s difficult, let us know. Even though we might not be of much help, strength comes in numbers."

    A martial arts gym is also a social circle that can form a community of shared interests.

    People like them, who were "moderately wealthy," could band together to create a strong force.

    "No need, it''s a small matter. Just a friend of mine got into some trouble. I''m going to check it out," Qi Yuan said casually.

    As he spoke, he sent a message to Zero-One on his phone, instructing it to book him a ticket.

    "A small matter, then." Hearing this, Wang Shiqiao sighed with relief. "Make sure you handle it quickly; don''t miss the martial arts tournament in three days."

    "Got it," Qi Yuan nodded, said goodbye to everyone, and left the martial arts gym.

    ...

    In Xinyang City, inside a luxuriously decorated villa.

    A young woman''s face was still streaked with tears; at the moment, she looked lost and completely disoriented.

    Beside her stood a sturdy woman whose eyes blazed with anger.

    "Damn it! Screw their big picture! Screw their refusal to intervene!

    My brother worked for them, and now that he''s been captured by the Wugui, they won''t even consider a rescue or exert diplomatic pressure. They''re even trying to distance themselves from him?"

    The robust woman was furious as she spoke.

    She was Kuang Huan''s sister, Kuang Xi, and at this moment, she was far from joyful.

    The young woman looked haggard and said, "I went to see that general, and he said there''s nothing he can do."

    "Nothing he can do? He''s just afraid of getting caught up in this mess," Kuang Xi gritted her teeth. "Too scared to take action!"

    Kuang Huan had always worked for the Qin Yuan military, helping clear out some military stockpiles and supporting Yue Lang against the Wugui.

    This time, an insider in Qin Yuan was exposed, and Kuang Huan was captured and detained by the Wugui military.

    "But that general said... Kuang Huan isn''t in any danger of losing his life. He said if we just wait patiently, the Wugui would release Kuang Huan in about three years.

    I sought out others, and they mostly said the same thing." The young woman spoke with resignation.

    She came from a relatively ordinary background, and without Kuang Huan, she was at a loss with these big matters.

    The generals above Kuang Huan were unwilling to help her, and she had no other options.

    She went to several of Kuang Huan''s friends, but their responses were all similar.

    None of them wanted to get involved in this matter. Most just comforted her, telling her to stay calm and that Kuang Huan would be released eventually.

    But until she saw Kuang Huan again, she couldn''t feel at ease.

    "A bunch of trash! When my brother was around, they were all flattery, but now that he''s in trouble, they treat us like the plague?" Kuang Xi grew angrier as she spoke.

    "At least there''s Mr. Qi, who agreed to come.

    I wonder if he has any way to save Kuang Huan." The young woman now regarded Qi Yuan as her only lifeline.

    "Mr. Qi... Who is he?" Kuang Xi showed a puzzled expression.

    She wasn''t familiar with Qi Yuan.

    "He is..." The young woman hesitated for a moment, "Someone my husband respected a lot."

    "Someone my brother respected? Could he be from a prominent family?" Kuang Xi wondered, then felt disappointed again.

    In such a situation, even if someone from a prominent family stepped in, it wouldn''t help.

    After all, this was a confrontation between two major powers.

    Even small aristocrats like them could be sacrificed at any time.

    But thinking that Mr. Qi was coming, Kuang Xi still felt a slight sense of relief.

    Even if he couldn''t do anything, at least he showed concern.

 Chapter 301: Using Connections

    Chapter 301: Using Connections

    Inside the villa, the atmosphere was heavy.

    It had been more than a day and a night since Kuang Huan was captured.

    No one had come to express their sympathy at Kuang Huan''s villa, leaving it eerily quiet.

    It was as if everyone had forgotten about Kuang Huan.

    Meanwhile, at the military camp:

    The general, dressed in his military uniform, wore a complex expression.

    He had just finished a call with his superiors.

    At this moment, his assistant asked, "Should we inform Kuang Huan''s family?"

    The general shook his head. "Kuang Huan''s family is already acting irrationally. There''s no point in saying anything now.

    They only care about their own interests and don''t put the country''s interests first.

    With such a serious matter, it''s impossible to reason with them."

    As soon as he spoke, it was clear he was trying to justify his actions with moral high ground.

    The state is a tool of the ruling class, especially in Qin Yuan, where the royal family and the Seven Martial Stars rule together.

    The assistant nodded, understanding the general''s intentions.

    He was well aware of what the general meant.

    "The higher-ups want to keep this issue low-key and handle it discreetly," the general continued. "If Kuang Huan''s family contacts me again, find an excuse to brush them off."

    "Understood," the assistant replied. "This time, it was Kuang Huan''s own fault. He should have stuck to selling arms instead of going to the front line."

    The general nodded in agreement.

    If Kuang Huan had followed their plan to sell arms, he wouldn''t have ended up in trouble.

    From his perspective, Kuang Huan was greedy and ventured into other businesses, which is why he ended up in enemy hands.

    They were already being lenient by not prosecuting him for his mistakes.

    Now that Kuang Huan had been captured, it put them in a passive position, which the general saw as a major blunder.

    "He probably won''t be killed, but some physical pain is inevitable," the general said calmly.

    Since Wugui and Qin Yuan were adversaries, and Kuang Huan was captured by Wugui, he was bound to suffer physically.

    In fact, whether he would return with all his limbs and organs intact was another question altogether.

    ...

    Back at the villa.

    Kuang Xi looked at the somewhat frail-looking man before her, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

    During this time, she had also investigated some of Qi Yuan''s background and found out that Qi Yuan was merely a student at the Mingwu Resonance Martial Arts Gym.

    His meeting with her brother was purely coincidental.

    As for other information, she couldn''t find anything.

    Of course, she didn¡¯t know that the modified robot Zero-One had already hidden and disguised Qi Yuan¡¯s online identity.

    What others could find out was just the most basic information.

    "So... Kuang Huan is currently at the Saqing Military Camp in Wugui?" Qi Yuan asked softly.

    According to what Kuang Xi said, Kuang Huan was captured while collecting Youlong root.

    Youlong root is a crucial material that Qi Yuan needed.

    But this plant grows in Wugui, so Kuang Huan took a risky trip there, only for the news to leak out, leading to his capture by Wugui.

    "Yes, we asked the general above, but they all refused.

    Mr. Qi, I don''t know if you know any influential people who could communicate with Wugui and have my brother released.

    Our Kuang family is willing to pay... any price!" Kuang Xi said earnestly.

    Kuang Huan was the family''s hope and even held the title of viscount.

    Her brother had no children, and if he were to die outside like this, the hereditary title of viscount would probably pass to another branch.

    "I don''t know any influential people," Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    He had only been in this world for three months.

    Today was the first time he had left Tianyue City.

    How could he know any powerful figures?

    Sure enough, upon hearing Qi Yuan''s words, both the young woman and Kuang Xi showed signs of disappointment in their eyes.

    "The fact that Mr. Qi is here already makes me happy," the young woman couldn''t help but say, feeling even more aggrieved when she thought about how others had reacted.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan said, "Actually... I''m pretty good myself.

    Why don''t you arrange a special vehicle to take me to the front lines, and I''ll go rescue Kuang Huan."

    Qi Yuan said casually.

    Kuang Huan was caught because of him.

    Kuang Huan was also his subordinate and had been working for him.

    Naturally, he had to rescue Kuang Huan.

    He was a good person¡ªlawful good. He didn¡¯t need to put on a selfish persona, and he would do things as he pleased.

    Having cultivated for so long, he had yet to encounter a modern military.

    Now that he had the chance, he would naturally go for it.

    After all, once his strength grew, and he regained his peak combat power, even the stars in the sky could be punched out by him. At that point, bullying ordinary people would be pointless.

    "Mr. Qi... you''re going to rescue him yourself?" Kuang Xi was stunned.

    This answer was beyond her expectations.

    Not only her, but even Kuang Huan''s wife was stunned.

    "Yes, I''ll personally go and bring him back from the military camp," Qi Yuan said casually.

    To him, this matter seemed like a trivial task.

    ...

    Two days later.

    Qi Yuan was sitting in a car, looking calm.

    The driver was a burly man with a gun at his waist.

    This burly man was one of Kuang Huan''s trusted men, a member of the mercenary group.

    As the car drove down the road, the burly man focused on driving but occasionally glanced back at Qi Yuan.

    He didn¡¯t know Qi Yuan''s identity but knew from above that Qi Yuan was going to rescue his boss.

    He was puzzled and didn¡¯t understand how Qi Yuan planned to carry out the rescue.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan suddenly spoke.

    "Stop the car."

    The car immediately came to a halt, and the burly man looked puzzled. "What¡¯s wrong?"

    "There¡¯s something interesting over there. Didn¡¯t expect to find it here."

    Qi Yuan got out of the car.

    In the distance, there was a landscape that looked like a desert, with weeds interspersed with some yellow sand.

    The air was somewhat dry, and a gust of wind would raise some dust.

    Not far from them, there were occasional discarded water bottles and condoms hanging on trees.

    Qi Yuan stopped in front of a plant and showed a serious expression.

    "This is a pitcher plant, a good thing for purifying bloodlines."

    Purifying bloodlines also has its uses in the cultivation world.

    Some cultivators who inherited the bloodlines of ancient ferocious beasts use pitcher plants and other materials to purify their bloodlines.

    However, this is useless for ordinary cultivators.

    Their cultivation isn¡¯t related to bloodlines.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s cultivation also didn¡¯t require pitcher plants.

    But in the way of martial arts, it might be useful.

    Since Qi Yuan encountered it, he wouldn¡¯t be polite. He bent down and dug up the pitcher plant.

    The burly man beside him looked puzzled, unsure of what to make of Qi Yuan''s peculiar behavior.

    "Alright, let¡¯s get back in the car and continue on our way."

    Qi Yuan got back into the car.

    He was now wearing a trench coat, and his hair had grown quite a bit in the last three months.

    With longer hair and dressed in ancient attire, he could easily pretend to be a historical figure.

    The burly man resumed driving, and as he drove, he spoke, "The road we¡¯re on now is a smuggling route.

    Soon, we¡¯ll join a smuggler convoy from Yue Lang and pretend to be one of them to enter Wugui."

    "Oh... Aren¡¯t the two countries at war? Why is there still smuggling?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Because the smuggled goods are high-end products needed by the nobility in both countries.

    For example, TiMi wine is a specialty of Yue Lang, brewed with unique spring water from Mount Tira.

    This wine is particularly popular among the upper echelons and aristocrats of Wugui.

    So, even though there¡¯s a war going on, those at the top and the nobility will ban the smuggling of other items, but not TiMi wine.

    So now, the smuggler convoys actually serve the elites and nobility of both countries.

    Although those at the bottom are fighting to the death, the elites... still have to maintain their luxurious lifestyles, right?" The burly man¡¯s words carried a certain weight.

    After all, in this world, he was among the lower ranks, the common folk.

    "No wonder everyone wants to be among the elite," Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    "Even the upper echelons of Wugui live in such luxury. Can¡¯t imagine what life is like for those in the Seven Martial Stars families." The burly man¡¯s eyes were filled with envy.

    His boss, Viscount Kuang Huan, was already a big figure in his eyes.

    But compared to the Seven Martial Stars families, he was nothing.

    Qi Yuan chuckled, showing no interest in this.

    About two hours later, the car stopped in a small town.

    The burly man said to Qi Yuan, "Mr. Qi, just follow my lead from here."

    On the way, the burly man had already explained what was about to happen.

    Everything had been arranged by him.

    "Alright," Qi Yuan nodded.

    At this point, the burly man said, "Mr. Qi, there¡¯s still time to turn back. Once we join the convoy, we can¡¯t turn back directly."

    These words were also instructed by Kuang Huan¡¯s wife for him to say to Qi Yuan.

    Once they decide to go, there¡¯s no turning back.

    The two countries are still at war, and wandering around the front lines could get them killed by a drone strike.

    "We¡¯ll return after rescuing Kuang Huan," Qi Yuan chuckled. "Let¡¯s hurry up and get it done quickly. The air here is too dry, and I don¡¯t want to stay too long."

    Hearing this answer, the burly man wasn¡¯t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

    Because he had to accompany him throughout the journey.

    If Mr. Qi was courting death, he would surely die too.

    To some extent, he hoped that Mr. Qi wouldn¡¯t go.

    However, if Mr. Qi decided to go, he would follow.

    His life was given by his boss.

    He could always return it to his boss.

    For him, the world was just that simple.

 Chapter 302: The Sights of Wu Gui

    Chapter 302: The Sights of Wu Gui

    In the small town, a few tall buildings stood out, rising prominently against the backdrop of the low structures around them. The glass on these buildings appeared as though it hadn''t been cleaned in over a decade, giving them a gray, grimy look.

    Inside the buildings, the stairway railings were greasy and darkened from years of neglect. A man dressed in an indeterminate military uniform looked at Wen Min and Qi Yuan, then belched, "Old Chen asked me to take you across. No problem, but... you gotta listen to me on the way. Got it?"

    As he spoke, the man in the military uniform lifted his coat, revealing a gun tucked at his waist.

    "No problem!" the burly man, Wen Min, quickly agreed.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t say anything, which was taken as agreement.

    "And according to the rules... you''ll need to surrender your weapons," the man in the uniform said, looking at the two of them.

    Without hesitation, Wen Min pulled out two guns from his waist and handed them over to the military man.

    The man then looked at Qi Yuan. "And you?"

    Sizing up Qi Yuan, who appeared neat and clean, with a refined appearance, the man looked puzzled. Qi Yuan didn¡¯t look like a local; rather, he looked like a pampered young master. Why would someone like him be involved in smuggling?

    "What about your weapon?"

    At that moment, Qi Yuan thought for a moment, then handed an imaginary handful of air to the military man.

    "Does this count?"

    Wen Min was baffled at this sight.

    The military man was taken aback for a second, then asked, "You don¡¯t have any weapons on you?"

    "As a martial artist, my fists and my legs are my weapons. Unfortunately, those... I can''t give to you," Qi Yuan replied sincerely.

    They had asked for weapons, so he gave them a handful of air. As a cultivator, even the air around him could be used as a weapon. However, he had too many weapons, and he feared this guy couldn''t handle them all, so he just gave him a bit of air.

    "Even if we''re not Yue Lang soldiers, if we get killed by a drone, the Wu Gui soldiers can still count it as a military achievement."

    "You¡¯re exaggerating. Those drones? I could take them all down with a single Kamehameha," Qi Yuan said, looking at the drones without a hint of concern.

    At this point, he was confident in his ability to protect himself. The only things that might pose a threat to him were missiles or more advanced weapons.

    Wen Min was already used to Qi Yuan''s way of speaking. He chuckled, "Well, Mr. Qi, your Kamehameha had better be stronger than bullets. These drones, regular bullets can''t even destroy them."

    The car continued to move quickly, and from time to time, the sound of artillery fire could be heard.

    Wen Min explained that it was probably the border skirmishes between Yue Lang and Wu Gui.

    About two hours later, the convoy arrived at a checkpoint in Wu Gui territory.

    There, a squad of Wu Gui soldiers was stationed.

    These soldiers were well-armed, wearing bulletproof vests, and they thoroughly inspected the convoy.

    The inspection lasted for about half an hour before they were allowed to pass.

    After passing, Wen Min breathed a sigh of relief, though he remained somewhat nervous. "From here on, everything depends on you, Mr. Qi."

    Once they entered Wu Gui, leaving wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    The smugglers were only responsible for bringing them in, not taking them out.

    "Alright..." Qi Yuan took a deep breath, then looked out the car window and asked curiously, "What¡¯s with the red cloths hanging on the trees? Are these trees... members of the Young Pioneers?"

    Wen Min was momentarily stunned, then explained, "That¡¯s part of the Quiran people''s sacred ritual. The red cloths on the trees signify that this area is under the protection of Wu Shen."

    Wu Gui was a theocratic state where religious authority often surpassed royal authority.

    The state religion of Wu Gui was called Wu Jiao, worshipping a deity known as Wu Shen.

    It could be said that more than ninety percent of Wu Gui¡¯s population worshipped Wu Shen.

    One of Wu Shen¡¯s teachings was that all heretics should be hanged on trees.

    Of course, in a civilized society, Wu Jiao had to maintain a facade and wouldn¡¯t openly persecute people. Only a few fanatics would engage in such persecution.

    They would kill heretics, drain their blood, dye a cloth red, and hang it on a tree.

    So, some of the red cloths on the trees were ordinary, while others could have been stained with the blood of heretics.

    Once they crossed into Wu Gui territory, the likelihood of seeing red cloths on trees increased.

    About three hours later, the car finally stopped in a small town.

    Of course, the special qualities were not the same.

    Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t yet studied what was unique about Wu Qi. But the boy and the girl had something special in their blood that was evidently related to Qi Yuan¡¯s own "bloodline."

    To break through in martial arts, to enhance his martial arts aptitude, their blood... could be researched and utilized to some extent.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words confused not only the siblings but also Wen Min.

    The boy hesitated for a moment, then nodded vigorously, bending his back in agreement. "Alright!"

    Regardless, leaving here seemed the safest option for them now.

    After all, not long ago, their parents had already been taken away to be used as "military contributions."

    They never knew when it might be their turn next.

    Now, their only hope of survival was to follow this car and leave Wu Gui.

    Looking at Qi Yuan, the dark-skinned boy¡¯s face was full of gratitude.

    The filthy little girl seemed scared, unable to look directly at Qi Yuan.

    "Do you have anything with you? Bring it," Qi Yuan asked.

    The dark-skinned boy, carrying a big bundle on his back and holding his sister¡¯s hand, said, "No." The bundle was their family''s entire belongings.

    "Alright, get in," Qi Yuan instructed.

    Without any hesitation, the dark-skinned boy took his sister and got in the car.

    Wen Min¡¯s car had three rows of seats.

    The boy and his sister sat in the back row. The boy had a respectful look on his face, using the phrases commonly used by the people of Wu Gui.

    "May Wu Shen bless you!"

    "You are the most generous person!"

    Aji wasn¡¯t a believer in Wu Jiao, but to survive in Wu Gui, he had learned to say things like "May Wu Shen bless you."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan smiled, "If I wanted to kill the Yang God of Taihuang Palace, could Wu Shen bless me?"

    The Yang God of Taihuang Palace was the one behind the catastrophe, and he was also the strongest enemy Qi Yuan faced in Cang Lan Realm.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words left Aji stunned, not knowing how to respond.

    But the little girl, still dirty and unkempt, spoke up, "They say Wu Shen is really powerful, able to run with a mountain on his back. He should... be able to protect you!"

    Living in Wu Gui, it was natural for them to hear about the might of Wu Shen.

    Qi Yuan chuckled, "It¡¯s all made-up stories, and not even very impressive ones. Running with a mountain on your back... that¡¯s kind of weak."

    Qi Yuan noticed that people in this world were very pragmatic. Even when fabricating myths, they didn¡¯t exaggerate too much. Not even a god was described as omnipotent. He wondered if it was because they were too pragmatic or if there was a deeper reason.

    Aji didn¡¯t quite understand Qi Yuan¡¯s words. He looked out the car window, feeling somewhat calmer, and quietly asked, "Sir... when will we leave Wu Gui?"

    Leaving Wu Gui was his greatest wish.

    In this foreign land, aside from his sister, he had no other relatives.

    As for revenge, it wasn¡¯t even a consideration.

    People like them, struggling just to survive, couldn¡¯t even think about revenge.

    "After I pick up a friend, we¡¯ll leave," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    Wen Min, who was driving, remained silent.

    He didn¡¯t understand why Qi Yuan wanted to bring these two kids along.

    Nor did he understand what Qi Yuan had up his sleeve, daring to attempt rescuing his boss from a military camp.

    The car sped along, Wen Min refueling once, pushing the speed to the maximum.

    Following the navigation, the car quickly headed towards the location of the military camp.

    The number of drones in the sky increased.

    But clearly, at this moment, the drones didn¡¯t pay any attention to this vehicle moving within their territory.

 Chapter 303: Breaking Through the Military Camp

    Chapter 303: Breaking Through the Military Camp

    The car slowly drove deeper into Wu Gui''s territory. Aji''s face was filled with anxiety and a bit of confusion.

    "Mister... are you sure we''re heading in the right direction?"

    Aji had been hoping to escape this hellish place, but instead, the car was heading deeper into it. Moreover, the direction they were heading filled Aji with a natural revulsion. His parents had died in that direction, at the hands of the demons in that military camp.

    "No mistake. The person I need to pick up is over there," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    Hearing this, Aji''s body trembled almost imperceptibly. The filthy little girl clung tightly to her brother''s arm. It was clear their hearts were anything but calm. They even suspected that the two people who had rescued them might be deeply connected with those demons. Otherwise, why would they be driving toward the military camp to pick someone up?

    Soon, the car stopped on a hill overlooking a small town.

    Wen Min got out of the car and looked into the distance, slowly saying, "Mr. Qi, the boss... is in that military camp up ahead." His voice carried a hint of fear. If Qi Yuan got caught, they would surely be dead as well.

    "Mhm, I see it," Qi Yuan said, looking down at the scene below.

    In front of them, dust flew up like a desert. In the midst of the desert, towering steel structures stood tall. In the distance, one could see a steel convoy patrolling. On the watchtowers, well-equipped soldiers stood at attention.

    This military camp housed more than three thousand soldiers ready for battle.

    "You all wait here. I''ll go get someone."

    With that, Qi Yuan started walking down the hill.

    The distance between them and the camp''s gates was only about seven or eight miles. Qi Yuan''s pace was neither fast nor slow. The drones flying overhead didn''t seem to notice his approach. Amidst the swirling dust, a solitary figure moved steadily through the yellow sands.

    On the hill, Wen Min watched Qi Yuan''s retreating figure, his heart pounding with confusion. Aji was even more perplexed. Qi Yuan''s actions were baffling, making it impossible to guess his intentions.

    At that moment, the soldiers in the camp¡¯s watchtower suddenly tensed.

    "What¡¯s going on? Why is someone approaching us? The drones are supposed to be patrolling, so why didn''t they detect him?"

    A soldier in uniform expressed his surprise.

    This was a military-controlled area, and ordinary people couldn''t enter without permission. Yet, someone was walking straight toward them, and the drone patrol had somehow missed it. They had only noticed him with the naked eye.

    As the figure on the road got closer, the soldiers in the watchtower could see his face clearly. They were curious, wondering if this might be some lunatic who had wandered in by mistake.

    "Halt! Stop where you are!"

    At that moment, the guns at the camp gate were all pointed at the approaching figure. The soldiers guarding the entrance showed casual indifference. Their squad leader shouted, "What are you doing here? Quick, bring him over!"

    The detection equipment showed that the person wasn¡¯t carrying any explosives, so there was no immediate danger. While they were puzzled as to how he had managed to get this far, they still treated him as a harmless person who had accidentally wandered in.

    Ten guns aimed at him, and four soldiers walked toward Qi Yuan, their faces filled with amusement. After all, it was rare to see someone as well-groomed as Qi Yuan in this desolate, sandy environment.

    Standing outside the military camp, facing the dense steel buildings ahead, Qi Yuan smiled.

    "I¡¯m here to take someone away."

    His voice was loud and clear, reaching the ears of all the soldiers present. Before they could react, a large truck suddenly pulled up beside Qi Yuan. From the truck emerged a group of masked soldiers in military uniforms. These soldiers were heavily armed and much more muscular than regular soldiers.

    These returning soldiers were gene warriors who had come back from "hunting" outside. They carried guns and were escorting some civilians with blank expressions.

    The leader looked at Qi Yuan and spoke gruffly, "We¡¯re short on blood for our experiments. This one is ours."

    He looked at Qi Yuan as if he were just another piece of prey. The soldiers guarding the gate showed a look of pity. The gene warrior experiments they oversaw were extremely inhumane. These gene warriors were religious fanatics of the Wu Sect within the military camp. They captured heretics to complete their religious experiments. No one who was captured for these experiments ever survived; they were tortured in unimaginable ways before they died.

    Following the gene warrior leader¡¯s command, two gene warriors began walking toward Qi Yuan, their faces filled with the expectation of an easy kill.

    "It seems you¡¯re unwilling to hand over the person I need," Qi Yuan said with a sigh, his voice tinged with regret.

    Looking at the thirty or so gene warriors in front of him, a trace of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

    "If that¡¯s the case, then don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!"

    Qi Yuan had intended to reason with them, but with over three thousand people in the camp, trying to reason with each one would be too exhausting. He wasn¡¯t some kind of saint. So it was better to kill them all. Reasoning with the dead was much easier.

    "Kill!"

    With a light shout, a blood-red sword appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand. The sword was incredibly eerie, radiating a terrifying aura. As soon as the sword appeared, everyone present felt a shiver down their spines. This sword was the one Qi Yuan had wielded in the Flowing Wind Realm, and it was engraved with the origin divine ability, the "Heart Demon Command" of the Void Realm.

    The blood-red sword unsheathed, and a flash of crimson light sliced through the yellow sand.

    The bodies of the thirty gene warriors around Qi Yuan froze, their expressions fixed in place. A gust of wind blew by, and they collapsed to the ground like scarecrows.

    One slash, one flash of crimson light.

    Even though Qi Yuan was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, this one slash could kill even a Golden Core cultivator, let alone these gene warriors. With just one slash, the thirty gene warriors fell.

    The civilians who had been captured by the gene warriors first looked terrified, then their expressions turned to joy and reverence. They fell to their knees with a thud, shouting, "A god!"

    Clearly, they believed Qi Yuan was a divine being who had come to save them.

    At that moment, the soldiers in the camp were stunned. But despite their shock, they didn''t hesitate to fire their weapons, sending a rain of bullets toward Qi Yuan.

    "Not only do you refuse to surrender, but you dare to fight back? It seems... you all have to die!"

    Senior officer Guo Tanran felt a surge of panic. No matter what, his position was now in jeopardy.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go out and see what¡¯s happening!¡±

    But as soon as they stepped outside, they were met with a wave of retreating soldiers.

    These soldiers had no fighting spirit left. Their expressions looked as though they had seen a ghost.

    They were indeed shouting about ghosts.

    ¡°He¡¯s not human!¡±

    ¡°Run, it¡¯s a ghost!¡±

    These soldiers had fought in over a dozen battles, and their fighting spirit was strong. Even when facing ten times their number, they dared to fight. But today, what they faced wasn¡¯t just an enemy; it was a demon!

    Have you ever seen someone impervious to bullets, rockets, or bombs?

    Have you ever seen someone who could lift a tank with a sword and smash a steel fortress with a single strike?

    They had.

    So, they chose to flee.

    If not now, then when?

    Panic spread like wildfire.

    Senior officer Guo Tanran¡¯s heart burned with rage.

    The scene before him had utterly shocked him and the other officers who had just stepped out.

    ¡°I need an explanation!¡± Guo Tanran shouted angrily.

    But no one was there to explain. The communicator was filled with static.

    Fortunately, he didn¡¯t need an explanation. He could see the intruder for himself.

    In the distance, buildings crumbled one after another. A man with long hair wielding a blood-red sword was moving forward, his body emitting all kinds of light. These lights looked like movie special effects. With each swing of his sword, an armored vehicle was sent flying, and a crimson flash of light would blow apart dozens of soldiers hiding behind cover.

    Senior officer Guo Tanran¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°God... How is this possible?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a human!¡± The other officers were trembling, unable to believe what they were seeing.

    How could there be someone this terrifyingly powerful?

    ¡°Weak, too weak,¡± Qi Yuan muttered, his eyes filled with disappointment.

    This military camp posed less of a threat than a sect with a Foundation Establishment elder. All he did was walk forward, casually swinging his sword. Every building fell, and every defense crumbled.

    ¡°And they dare to capture my underling?¡±

    ¡°And they¡¯re so arrogant online?¡±

    Looking at the chaos around him, Qi Yuan¡¯s face twisted into a demonic smile.

    ¡°Escape... is not an option.¡±

    ¡°Sword... come!¡±

    With a powerful shout, the blood-red sword in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand began to glow brilliantly. Everyone looked up to see a massive blood-red sword appear above the entire camp. It was as big as a small mountain, radiating endless terror.

    The blood-red light flashed.

    Countless tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks shattered into pieces. Drones and planes, even those that hadn¡¯t taken off, were reduced to ashes.

    Qi Yuan''s expression was calm, his voice as still as water. "All who are within the camp... shall perish!"

    These game NPCs were too arrogant; they needed to be wiped out.

    With his command, the giant blood-red sword smashed down into the camp.

    The sword was even larger than the camp itself. When it struck, it was like a nuclear bomb had been dropped. The entire camp turned into a hemisphere of blood. Everyone¡¯s vision was filled with an endless sea of red. Countless lives were snuffed out in an instant, screaming and struggling before they perished.

    Senior officer Guo Tanran, along with the other officers, died in the flash of the sword''s light, their faces etched with shock and confusion.

    The entire camp was reduced to rubble.

    All enemies were slain by Qi Yuan¡¯s sword.

    Qi Yuan squinted, his expression calm. His spiritual sense spread out, surveying the area.

    Though Qi Yuan was ruthless, he never killed indiscriminately. He was lawful good. Therefore, everyone he killed... was an enemy.

    As he scanned with his spiritual sense, he found over a hundred weak civilians still imprisoned in the camp. These civilians had tubes inserted into them, seemingly being drained of blood.

    After examining them for a moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes showed curiosity. ¡°Blood extraction?¡±

    It seemed that the Wu Sect was conducting some sort of experiment. He was intrigued.

 Chapter 304: Blood Essence

    Chapter 304: Blood Essence

    A flash of crimson light surged and then vanished.

    On the hillside, Wen Min''s eyes widened in shock.

    Young Aji tightly held his filthy sister, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints.

    "Is... is this Mr. Qi''s doing?"

    The scene before them was almost beyond Aji''s imagination.

    Even modern weapons could hardly create such a terrifying spectacle.

    If it could be compared to anything, perhaps only the special effects of a terrifying god''s attack in a movie would be comparable.

    But those were just movies, where the power of a god is exaggerated in every possible way.

    However, even those couldn''t compare to the awe-inspiring sight before them.

    Aji''s young mind was filled with a whirlwind of emotions.

    "Is the gentleman... comparable to a god?"

    Meanwhile, inside the steel prison of the camp.

    A look of surprise crossed Kuang Huan''s face.

    "The sounds... have stopped!"

    Beside Kuang Huan, a bearded man widened his eyes. "A flash of red light... and then nothing?"

    They were imprisoned deep within the dungeon.

    Yet even so, they had heard the earlier sounds of gunfire and explosions.

    At first, they thought the camp was under attack, feeling uneasy and unsure of what fate awaited them.

    Because they had never thought this camp could be breached.

    After all, this was deep inside Wugui territory.

    Three thousand soldiers were stationed here, and it would be extremely difficult for the country of Yuelang to penetrate so deep into enemy territory.

    Organizing a high-intensity attack like this would be difficult for Yuelang.

    They figured it must be a small-scale raid.

    However, suddenly, in an instant, the world turned crimson red.

    This scene left Kuang Huan completely stunned.

    The bearded man, who was imprisoned with him, was also utterly bewildered, having no idea what had happened.

    Especially after the massive burst of red light, followed by a rumbling noise, the entire camp suddenly fell silent.

    The sounds of gunfire vanished, and there was no longer any alarm.

    The soldiers stationed in the dungeon seemed to have disappeared without a trace.

    It was eerily unsettling, to say the least.

    "What exactly happened?"

    "Why is there no sound at all?"

    The two were utterly perplexed.

    In their minds, the image of the crimson light lingered.

    They had no idea what had happened.

    Tap, tap.

    At this moment, footsteps echoed through the dungeon.

    The light footsteps were particularly clear and loud in the dungeon.

    The two of them held their breath but also felt a slight sense of relief.

    Hearing footsteps meant the camp was fine.

    The soldiers stationed there were probably just patrolling.

    They looked towards the direction of the footsteps.

    There, was an iron gate, the only entrance and exit to the dungeon.

    Suddenly, a crimson glow flashed.

    Before the two could even react, they saw the iron gate suddenly break apart, as if it had been sliced through like tofu.

    This scene indeed startled Kuang Huan and the bearded man.

    "What... what''s going on? What kind of weapon is that? Who is it?" The bearded man had countless questions running through his mind.

    At this moment, through the broken iron gate, a tall, slender figure appeared, his handsome and elegant face smiling.

    "Kuang Huan, I''ve come to get you out."

    "Mr. Qi... Qi!"

    Seeing the man''s face, Kuang Huan''s heart was overwhelmed with shock.

    The bearded man was stunned for a moment, then looked at Kuang Huan, "You know each other? What''s going on?"

    Today, the phrase he had said the most was "What''s going on?"

    Qi Yuan stood there, looking at Kuang Huan, and said calmly, "Two days ago, I got a call from your wife. I heard that you were in trouble in Wugui and were captured by their military.

    So, I came here to bring you back."

    Qi Yuan spoke casually.

    Kuang Huan felt a rush of emotions, then gratitude.

    The bearded man was stunned for a moment, then said, "So all that commotion above was your doing? Your team is really impressive. And... that crimson light, what kind of weapon was it? Why have I never heard of it?"

    It was as if the bearded man had a million questions in his heart.

    He voiced the questions Kuang Huan had as well.

    Qi Yuan looked at the two and said plainly, "The crimson light, that was just my sword energy.

    Alright, follow me. We''re going back to Qin Yuan Nation."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, he swung the long sword in his hand again.

    The steel prison gate ahead of them shattered instantly.

    Seeing this, the bearded man''s eyes widened.

    Kuang Huan, on the other hand, remained calm.

    He knew Qi Yuan was a cultivator.

    Slicing through an iron gate with one sword strike... shouldn''t be anything special.

    "Sir, this bearded man is also from Qin Yuan Nation. Can he come with us?" Kuang Huan asked cautiously.

    Charging at the three of them, how could they possibly resist?

    This terrifying creature was undoubtedly the product of the Wugui people''s human experimentation.

    He was deeply afraid.

    However, in the face of this colossal beast, Qi Yuan remained calm and unruffled.

    He glanced at the label on the terrifying beast, laughed heartily, and put his hands on his hips. ¡°This... is what they call a god?¡±

    On the beast¡¯s label, the words "God-Making Project - Giant Power God No. 1" were written.

    Clearly, the Wugui people had conducted biological experiments and created a terrifying beast, which they called a god.

    The sword in his hand shook once more.

    "A god... without even its own bones, made of metal?"

    Qi Yuan chuckled, and a crimson light flashed.

    The enormous beast, weighing over a hundred tons, suddenly froze, suspended in mid-air.

    The terrifying creature was instantly torn apart, reduced to a massive pile of blood and flesh.

    Metallic bones dropped to the ground, scattering in an eerie manner.

    Seeing this, the bearded man gasped for breath, his view of Qi Yuan changed at that moment.

    Kuang Huan''s eyes were burning with excitement. He couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Mr. Qi... can I one day slay such a beast with a single sword?¡±

    Seeing Qi Yuan slay the beast with a single sword ignited his desire.

    Is this the power of a cultivator?

    Doesn¡¯t this kind of power mean he could send a tank flying with a single sword?

    ¡°Of course you can, it¡¯s not difficult,¡± Qi Yuan replied, clapping his hands.

    The sword in his hand trembled again.

    Suddenly, a blood-red orb formed on the sword.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes immediately gleaned a wealth of information.

    This blood-red orb was the power core of the terrifying beast.

    This power core also came from those civilians.

    It could be said that the Wugui people extracted the civilians'' blood and used some special technology to create this blood-red beast.

    This blood-red beast was also referred to as a god.

    It must be said that for ordinary people, and even for gene warriors, this terrifying beast could indeed be considered a god.

    In terms of sheer physical strength, this blood-red beast had reached the level of a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator.

    Ordinary shells couldn''t harm it at all.

    Looking at the essence of the blood, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes reflected various emotions: "If I consume this blood, my martial arts talent... would significantly improve."

    The essence of blood extracted by the Wugui people created this blood-red beast. For Qi Yuan, the greatest use of this blood essence was to enhance martial arts talent.

    "My martial arts talent is already strong; I don''t need this."

    He wasn¡¯t Shi Yi, after all.

    Moreover, drinking human blood¡ªwhat if he caught a virus?

    And this blood only boosted a specific bloodline, which was already solidified.

    What he wanted was to forge his own martial path and bloodline.

    His martial arts, he would be the pioneer.

    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t he have some ancestor lording over him?

    He looked at the lifeless bodies that had lost their vitality.

    The sword in his hand trembled once more.

    ¡°Rest in peace.¡±

    As his words echoed, the glass containers shattered instantly.

    The entire steel building collapsed at that moment.

    Everything was buried in an instant.

    Qi Yuan carried Kuang Huan and the bearded man, appearing on the surface in a flash.

    This move utterly stunned the bearded man.

    He felt overwhelmed, looking at Qi Yuan as if seeing a god.

    However, upon reaching the surface and seeing... the military base turned into ruins, his eyes flashed with astonishment.

    The steel structures had collapsed, heavy tanks and armored vehicles were shattered, and soldiers'' corpses were scattered everywhere.

    This place... had turned into a dead zone!

    Kuang Huan¡¯s eyes also flashed with astonishment.

    He understood.

    Mr. Qi had single-handedly... killed everyone in a military camp before coming to rescue him.

    "Alright, we should head back now.

    I¡¯m still in a hurry to participate in the martial arts tournament.

    As for the Wugui people... once I''m done with my business, I''ll come back to deal with them.

    As a lawful good person, I cannot tolerate the existence of chaotic evil!"

    Qi Yuan thought he was very cool today.

    Qi Yuan had a good sense of self-awareness.

    A person as kind as him, on TV, would be called a Saint... no, a Saint-King, and not well-liked by the audience.

    But Qi Yuan didn''t care.

    Kuang Huan nodded at Qi Yuan''s words.

    Of course, if he knew what Qi Yuan was thinking, he certainly wouldn''t have nodded.

    You killed three thousand people with one sword... and still dare to call yourself a saint?

    Beside him, the bearded man looked shocked: "Mr. Qi... are you also participating in the martial arts tournament?"

    The younger generation in the bearded man¡¯s family also had people participating in the martial arts tournament.

    Seeing a man who killed a whole regiment now entering the martial arts tournament, he found it quite amusing.

    "Yes, do you know any contestants in the martial arts tournament?

    How strong are they? Are there any opponents worth being cautious about? My goal is to win the championship; do you think it''s hard?" Qi Yuan asked lightly.

    Recalling how Qi Yuan had slashed the terrifying beast underground with one sword, the bearded man showed a complex smile in his eyes: ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be difficult"

 Chapter 305: Worth a Million

    Chapter 305: Worth a Million

    ¡°With what you said, I¡¯m fully confident I¡¯ll win the Martial Arts Tournament,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    After all, as the saying goes, "there are hidden talents among the people."

    What if there were tigers and dragons among the martial artists?

    He wasn¡¯t afraid of ordinary tigers and dragons, but if there was a dragon comparable to a Yang God, then he¡¯d be in trouble.

    The bearded man glanced at Kuang Huan, a look of confusion in his eyes.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s single sword strike that had slain the terrifying beast seemed god-like to him.

    A god participating in a mortal martial arts tournament? This was... playing with the mortal world.

    The bearded man looked at the camp, now reduced to ruins, and felt an odd sense of absurdity.

    This camp had over three thousand soldiers stationed.

    It was fully equipped with various weapons.

    There were even fighter jets.

    Yet now, it was all reduced to rubble.

    This could only be compared to a legendary myth of a warrior defeating tens of thousands.

    At that moment, a phone rang.

    In the silent ruins, the ringtone was particularly jarring.

    ¡°Hello, Qi Yuan? The Martial Arts Tournament has started, why aren¡¯t you here? Where are you now?¡± On the other end, Xu Tiehua¡¯s voice sounded anxious.

    Besides Xu Tiehua''s voice, there was the sound of overwhelming cheers like mountains and oceans collapsing, indicating they were currently at the city-level competition venue.

    There were also some annoyed voices faintly heard.

    "Why hasn''t he come to compete yet? Xu has to call him¡ªwhat a spoiled young master."

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t need to participate in the city-level Martial Arts Tournament. I¡¯ve already passed and only need to attend the national-level one.¡± Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    He had gone through the back door via Yang Shan, so he didn¡¯t need to participate in the city-level Martial Arts Tournament and could go directly to the national level.

    He only needed to pass one test.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Xu Tiehua was stunned on the other end, not expecting this result. ¡°You¡¯re... participating in the national-level one?¡±

    Xu Tiehua knew Qi Yuan¡¯s background¡ªan orphan of a martyr.

    Other than having a somewhat influential girlfriend who was a celebrity, Qi Yuan¡¯s family situation was quite ordinary.

    How did he manage to get in through the back door?

    ¡°How... did you manage that?¡± Xu Tiehua couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple, because I¡¯m strong,¡± Qi Yuan answered honestly.

    Yang Shan had agreed to let Qi Yuan through the back door because Qi Yuan was strong enough, already at the peak of martial arts.

    A martial artist at the peak could participate in the Martial Arts Tournament through other channels.

    ¡°Also, I have a certificate for mental illness. Isn¡¯t it reasonable for me to participate in a national-level Martial Arts Tournament?¡± Qi Yuan said openly.

    He was lawful good and never used back doors.

    Xu Tiehua was silent for a moment before saying, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then... see you at the national competition!¡±

    Xu Tiehua was skeptical about Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    He didn¡¯t believe Qi Yuan could skip the city-level and directly participate in the national-level competition.

    Qi Yuan had only been learning martial arts at the Mingwu Martial Arts Hall for three months and didn¡¯t even have a martial artist certificate. How could he join a national-level Martial Arts Tournament?

    The call ended.

    Xu Tiehua looked at the remaining two, saying slowly, ¡°Since Qi Yuan isn¡¯t participating, it¡¯s just the three of us.¡±

    ¡°No wonder he refused to practice with us during the team competition. Turns out he was scared and didn¡¯t dare to participate.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, with his lack of a martial artist certificate, facing any contestant would probably land him bedridden for half a month. Not coming is a wise choice.¡±

    The remaining two contestants spoke, their words tinged with disdain for Qi Yuan.

    Deserting in the face of battle was most despised.

    At the same time, Qi Yuan received another message from Wang Shiqiao on his phone.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, daring to stand up Xu Tiehua.

    You know, he¡¯s someone who can attend the funeral of the Black Crystal Count.

    And you... where are you now?

    Don''t tell me you''re actually too scared to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament?¡±

    ¡°I... took a trip abroad.¡±

    ¡°Abroad? With your driver girlfriend? Are you two on a honeymoon?¡±

    ¡°Stop talking nonsense, I¡¯m in Wugui right now.¡±

    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re really good at making things up. If you don¡¯t want to say, then don¡¯t. Wugui, really?¡±

    Wang Shiqiao obviously didn¡¯t believe him.

    Wugui was in a state of war with Yuelang. How could someone as ordinary as Qi Yuan go to a war zone?

    That would be suicide.

    Not to mention, Wugui was hostile to Qin Yuan Nation.

    If a Qin Yuan citizen like him went to Wugui, it would be seeking death.

    After a few more idle chats, Qi Yuan stopped responding. He looked at Kuang Huan and the bearded man, then said, ¡°Wen Min is waiting for us up ahead. We¡¯ll take his car and leave.¡±

    Hearing this, Kuang Huan felt a mix of emotions.

    He looked at the ruins and nodded firmly, ¡°Alright.¡±

    The bearded man looked worried. ¡°If the Wugui people find out what happened here, they definitely won¡¯t let it go.

    Especially with the laboratory under the dungeon, it¡¯s clearly the work of the Wugui cult.

    Maybe it¡¯s an experiment backed by Canxing.¡±

    Canxing had deep ties with Wugui, which was no secret.

    The terrifying beast they had just seen, its technology and methods, closely resembled Canxing''s style.

    Now that the camp was destroyed and their experiment exposed.

    Wugui would definitely not let them go.

    The bearded man felt even more fearful of the mysterious Canxing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with me here, they won¡¯t be able to capture you, right?¡± Qi Yuan said casually. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for so many things I still have to do, I might even consider visiting the headquarters of the Wugui cult right now.¡±

    ¡°Sir, please be careful. Wugui is backed not only by the Ancient Witch Nation but also by Canxing. You mustn¡¯t act rashly,¡± the bearded man urged quickly.

    Wugui¡¯s military might not be strong, but they had some advanced weaponry.

    Near-light-speed laser guns and missiles capable of destroying a mountain.

    These weapons were beyond the ability of any human to withstand.

    They were even said to be capable of killing gods.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the bearded man sideways, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m always very cautious and won¡¯t do anything I¡¯m not sure of.¡±

    As he spoke, he looked up at the stars in the sky.

    ¡°What!¡± Priest Feng Qi¡¯s face changed dramatically. He stole a glance at the Holy Son, a hint of fear in his eyes, and his voice suddenly became sharp, ¡°What on earth happened?

    Did the soldiers in the Xiaohuangtan camp kill the God of Strength No. 1?

    Where is Guo Tanran? Tell him to come and see me!¡±

    Priest Feng Qi was furious.

    The God of Strength No. 1 was a treasure, more precious to the Holy Son than the entire three-thousand-strong camp.

    Even if three thousand soldiers died, nothing should happen to God of Strength No. 1!

    ¡°Priest... Guo Tanran... and everyone in the Xiaohuangtan camp... they¡¯re all dead.¡±

    ¡°What!¡± Priest Feng Qi was completely stunned.

    All dead?

    How is that possible!

    Could it be that Qin Yuan Nation, regardless of consequences, fired a Sky Eye at the Xiaohuangtan camp?

    ¡°Priest, there¡¯s a video taken by the military personnel. I¡¯ll send it to you.

    Also, there¡¯s footage recorded by people from the nearby town... I¡¯ll send that too.¡±

    Priest Feng Qi¡¯s heart pounded, filled with anxiety.

    The Holy Son¡¯s eyes also deepened, mixed with a hint of surprise.

    That was the Xiaohuangtan camp, with over three thousand soldiers stationed.

    Even a divine Nascent Soul expert would find it challenging to completely destroy such a camp without paying a heavy price.

    But now, the entire Xiaohuangtan camp was annihilated?

    Priest Feng Qi nervously opened the video, the Holy Son immediately leaned over, and another old man also watched with a solemn expression.

    As the video played, the former steel fortress had turned into ruins.

    Corpses, collapsed walls, shattered armored vehicles, and cannons were everywhere.

    The entire military base looked like a desolate place.

    The Holy Son¡¯s pupils contracted, ¡°It wasn¡¯t missile bombardment or Sky Eye. What on earth happened?¡±

    The old man also looked shocked.

    The scene in the video was too horrifying.

    A camp guarded by three thousand soldiers was just... gone, without a sound.

    ¡°There¡¯s also a video recorded by people from the nearby town. Let¡¯s have a look.¡± The old man suggested.

    Immediately, the three of them looked at the communicator.

    On the screen, all they saw was a red light.

    A giant sword, as big as a small mountain, suddenly slammed into the ground!

    The entire military base instantly turned into a red sphere and then... returned to calm.

    The Holy Son¡¯s eyes narrowed, filled with horror, ¡°This is... a god!¡±

    It must have been a god!

    At this moment, the Holy Son felt a strong sense of threat.

    A powerful being of god-like level... how could they arrive ten years early on the planet?

    Thinking of this, the Holy Son felt unsafe and wanted to head to Canxing.

    After all, only Canxing could truly confront gods, even suppress the power of gods!

    ...

    The car sped along and then suddenly stopped.

    A few minutes later, Qi Yuan put a severed head into a bag and tossed it to Aji.

    ¡°Pack it well, this head is worth a million.¡±

    Qi Yuan was very happy.

    He hadn¡¯t expected such a windfall this time.

    After finishing off the soldiers, they fled, driving away from Wugui.

    There were no pursuers for the time being.

    However, they encountered some Wugui soldiers having a feast ahead.

    Those soldiers stopped Qi Yuan and the others'' car.

    Initially, they thought they could just pay some money and leave.

    Who would have thought that among the soldiers, Qi Yuan spotted someone who had been insulting Wang Shiqiao online for a month?

    So, he took care of the guy, cutting off his head.

    Wang Shiqiao had said that if someone helped her kill that man, she¡¯d pay a million.

    Now... wasn¡¯t a million in hand?

    Qi Yuan was quite happy; he didn¡¯t expect to earn some extra cash while rescuing someone.

    Aji held the bloodless head, his heart racing, but he held it tightly.

    The bearded man was speechless.

    This head was worth a million?

    Was it really that valuable?

    In the military base, there were so many officers. If you randomly cut off a few heads, they¡¯d be worth more than a few million.

    Of course, he kept his thoughts to himself, knowing better than to question Qi Yuan.

    ¡°These people are truly daring, daring to rob us,¡± the bearded man couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan thought of something and suddenly said worriedly, ¡°Oh no, I found a fatal flaw, we¡¯re doomed.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The bearded man was startled.

    Kuang Huan was also concerned. He rarely saw such an expression on Mr. Qi¡¯s face.

    Could there be something even Mr. Qi couldn¡¯t handle?

    That would be a disaster!

    ¡°I¡¯m carrying this head, right? Doesn¡¯t that mean I can¡¯t pass the security check? How will we get back to the country?

    I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen, I can¡¯t do anything illegal.

    But this is a million yuan, imagine how many bowls of beef noodles that could buy?¡±

    Qi Yuan was reluctant.

    He was torn between morality and profit.

    Kuang Huan was stunned for a moment, then said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Qi. I¡¯ll handle this head through security, no problem!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qi Yuan seemed a bit happy, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you. Remember, don¡¯t break the law.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely, everything will be done according to the rules!¡± Kuang Huan nodded. Having spent so much time with Qi Yuan, he had gotten used to Qi Yuan¡¯s way of doing things.

    The bearded man was baffled.

    Not breaking the law?

    You¡¯ve killed thousands of people... and still talk about being law-abiding?

 Chapter 306: I Was Just Joking, You Actually Took It Seriously?â€

    Chapter 306: ¡°I Was Just Joking, You Actually Took It Seriously?¡±

    In the Mingwu Martial Arts Hall, the place was decorated with lanterns and streamers, as if they were preparing for a celebration.

    And in a way, it was indeed a celebration.

    Xu Tiehua from the Mingwu Martial Arts Hall had made it to the top ten in the city-level competition of the Martial Arts Tournament for the first time.

    At this moment, Xu Tiehua was quite proud of himself.

    Though reaching the top ten might seem trivial for someone of his status, it was still a notable achievement.

    It was like a mayor winning third place in a city-level calligraphy competition; it was definitely something to brag about.

    The other two contestants stood behind Xu Tiehua, their eyes filled with admiration.

    "Congratulations to Senior Brother Xu for making it into the top ten, it''s truly something to celebrate," Lin Feng praised.

    Yang Jiang also smiled and said, "Within ten years, Senior Brother Xu might reach the peak of martial arts and win the national Martial Arts Tournament!"

    Upon hearing this, the other students felt a sense of admiration.

    Winning the national Martial Arts Tournament was a great temptation for them.

    Becoming the champion would bring considerable benefits, even worth over a hundred million.

    There would be all sorts of endorsements, fame, and even invitations to sit with nobility, among other perks.

    For Xu Tiehua, fame was even more important, as it would benefit his future career development.

    "Ten years is too long," Xu Tiehua couldn''t help but sigh.

    The martial arts circle was too small, and the prospects were limited.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

    He wouldn''t spend another ten years in this circle.

    One or two years to win a title among the top hundred martial artists in the country would be enough.

    The martial arts circle offered limited help to him.

    "If I had ten years to win the national Martial Arts Tournament, I would definitely take it!" Lin Feng laughed.

    "Your ten years are not the same as Senior Brother Xu''s ten years. Brother Xu plans to enter politics in the future. He won''t waste another ten years in the martial arts circle," Xing Yu said.

    The others nodded in agreement.

    In Qin Yuan Nation, the promotion of officials didn''t rely heavily on seniority.

    After cultivating a reputation for some time, the nobility could enter officialdom.

    Currently, Xu Tiehua was in that phase of building his reputation.

    "Senior Brother Xu, do you plan to go into politics or join the military?" Wang Shiqiao asked curiously.

    "Join the military!" Xu Tiehua replied firmly.

    "Joining the military? That¡¯s too dangerous. The world is not peaceful right now. With the war between Wugui and Yuelang, who knows when the conflict might spread to our country," Lin Feng said with concern.

    To him, joining the military was nowhere near as safe as entering politics.

    After all, gunfire was ruthless and could strike at any time.

    Yang Jiang, however, had a different view: "There¡¯s fortune in danger. With the war on the horizon, there are plenty of opportunities to make a name for oneself.

    Next time we meet Senior Brother Xu, we might have to call him General!"

    "Joining the military is indeed risky. I heard a rumor recently that a few days ago, a military base in Wugui, with a whole regiment stationed there, was completely massacred," Xing Yu said with a complex expression.

    ¡°Haha, are you talking about that video of a single sword destroying a military camp? I saw that too. It''s ridiculous! The special effects look like they cost fifty cents; it¡¯s so fake!¡± Wang Shiqiao said loudly.

    She was always at odds with Wugui, so it was normal for her to come across such videos.

    "Your sources are too dubious.

    An entire regiment being wiped out, and I haven¡¯t heard any official reports?" Lin Feng clearly didn''t believe it.

    After all, Yuelang was a military ally of Qin Yuan Nation. If Yuelang had achieved such an exaggerated feat, the news would surely be reported extensively by Qin Yuan Nation.

    But right now, there wasn''t any news about it at all.

    Everything was just hearsay.

    ¡°It does sound exaggerated. I also saw that video, and I can confidently say that we don¡¯t have any weapons in Qin Yuan Nation capable of that effect,¡± Xu Tiehua said.

    Since he intended to join the military, he was well-versed in Qin Yuan Nation''s advanced weapons.

    No weapon could create such an effect.

    Turning into a blood-red giant sword and smashing down wasn¡¯t something even the Sky Eye''s attacks could do.

    ¡°I saw comments saying that someone secretly became an immortal behind our backs!¡± Wang Shiqiao laughed.

    Everyone was staying up late, metaphorically "cultivating immortality," but someone had actually succeeded in real cultivation.

    The other students didn¡¯t quite understand, as they hadn¡¯t seen the video.

    A group of students chatted idly for a while.

    Lin Feng and Yang Jiang tactfully avoided mentioning Qi Yuan, who had deserted them last minute.

    The atmosphere in the martial arts hall was joyous and harmonious.

    Suddenly, someone called out to Wang Shiqiao.

    ¡°Sister Shiqiao, someone¡¯s looking for you.¡±

    Wang Shiqiao turned around and saw the receptionist.

    Before she could move, Xing Yu teased, ¡°Is she bothering you again?¡±

    Wang Shiqiao''s face showed a helpless expression. ¡°Probably, ugh, what a nuisance!¡±

    Xing Yu couldn''t help but laugh. "What nuisance? It could be a good fate!"

    ¡°Shut up, I¡¯ve always had normal tastes. They have to be handsome!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not handsome?¡±

    ¡°Even if she¡¯s handsome, she¡¯s still a woman!¡± Wang Shiqiao said indignantly.

    A year ago, she was hanging out at a nightclub and met a good-looking guy. They drank a little, and things got heated.

    But at the hotel, she found out that the other person was missing a certain something.

    Wang Shiqiao certainly wasn¡¯t interested after that.

    She was straight.

    She flatly refused.

    She thought that was the end of it, but then, a few days ago, she ran into that "handsome guy" again.

    That "handsome guy" pursued her relentlessly.

    She was getting annoyed.

    But she still had to meet her.

    After all, she had just learned that her parents were old friends with the person''s family.

    Reluctantly, Wang Shiqiao walked out of the martial arts hall, cursing under her breath, ¡°These plastic surgery clinics are really unethical these days, turning a woman into a man. Got me into such a mess!¡±

    Stepping out of the hall, the sky was clear, and the sun was particularly dazzling.

    Wang Shiqiao looked at the buzz-cut figure not far away, a helpless expression on her face. "Zhao Di, what do you want from me?"

    In front of her was Zhao Di, the "handsome guy" Wang Shiqiao met at the nightclub.

    She was wearing a blue robe, flat-chested, with a rugged look on her face, appearing very much like a man.

    ¡°Xiaoqiao, don¡¯t resist me. I just want to be friends,¡± Zhao Di said in a neutral voice.

    Wang Shiqiao couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. Yeah, right, she thought.

    Friends? Just wanted to sleep with her, that¡¯s all.

    She knew that line all too well.

    ¡°In a few days, Auntie¡¯s art exhibition will begin. Why don¡¯t you invite me along? I know some wealthy businessmen who are very interested in art pieces,¡± Zhao Di suggested.

    In five days, Wang Shiqiao''s mother would be hosting an art exhibition. Zhao Di wanted to attend to show support.

    As the hostess, Wang Shiqiao had to attend.

    Hearing this, Wang Shiqiao was even more displeased, her anger flaring up for no reason.

    She was used to being carefree and hated such underhanded coercion the most.

    Why not just come directly?

    She even imagined that Qi Yuan was extorting her.

    Holding a severed head and demanding a million.

    Although she couldn¡¯t quite understand, anyone who saw this head would probably pay up.

    ¡°I¡¯ve sent my bank account number to your phone. Remember to transfer the money,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s sincere expression, Wang Shiqiao could only nod.

    At this point, would she rather give him the head back?

    ¡°Why do you look so reluctant?

    Do you know how much effort it took me to get this head?

    I traveled all the way to Wugui Nation, searched all the military bases there, and finally found this guy who insulted you for a month. Then... I cut off his head.

    Do you know how much risk I took? My heart was in my throat when I passed the security check.

    Just a million yuan, is that too much?¡± Seeing Wang Shiqiao¡¯s reluctance, Qi Yuan continued, pouring out his difficulties.

    Wang Shiqiao was stunned.

    The one who insulted her for a month?

    Could it be?

    She forced herself to look directly at the bloody head. When she saw the familiar face on it...

    Wang Shiqiao''s eyes widened: "That''s him... that''s him..."

    She recognized it. This head belonged to the Wugui officer who had argued with her online for a month!

    His head was now in Qi Yuan¡¯s box.

    This unbelievable event left her bewildered.

    Suddenly, she remembered her conversation with Qi Yuan a few days ago. Qi Yuan had said he was in Wugui Nation.

    She also remembered that a few months ago, she had joked with Qi Yuan.

    She said that if Qi Yuan could bring her the Wugui officer¡¯s head, she would give him a million.

    Now, it all made sense.

    Hmm... Qi Yuan had brought the head.

    At this moment, Wang Shiqiao felt like crying but had no tears. She was also filled with anxiety.

    I was just joking, but you took it seriously?

    She was very thankful that her joke had been a modest one.

    What if she had made a bigger joke? Who knows what Qi Yuan might have done?

    At the same time, she was full of questions about how Qi Yuan had done it.

    After all, the other person was a Wugui officer.

    Moreover, the video had shown that he wasn¡¯t just any officer, but also had noble status.

    How could someone stationed in a military base be killed by Qi Yuan?

    Seeing that Wang Shiqiao wasn¡¯t speaking, Qi Yuan quickly added, ¡°Although I might have exaggerated a bit, that¡¯s pretty much the gist. The million can¡¯t be less.¡±

    This was Qi''s style of reasoning.

    Wang Shiqiao looked at Qi Yuan, swallowing hard: ¡°I¡¯ll transfer the million to you right away.¡±

    A million wasn¡¯t a lot for Wang Shiqiao. She could scrape it together.

    After all, seeing the head right in front of her, how could she not pay?

    If Qi Yuan cut her head off and put it in that box, how unjust would that be?

    She decided that in the future, she needed to be careful with what she said to Qi Yuan. She couldn¡¯t just speak carelessly.

    No, she should try to stay away from Qi Yuan altogether.

    ¡°Keep the head safe. No seven-day return policy or refund!¡± Qi Yuan reminded seriously.

    Seeing this, Wang Shiqiao could only nervously close the box, holding the gift with a look of despair: ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°Huh, whose broken sword is this? Who dropped it? No owner?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell on the broken sword on the ground. He bent down to pick it up, ¡°Since it¡¯s unowned, it¡¯s mine now.¡±

    Qi Yuan was in a good mood, feeling like his luck was great today.

    Not only did he earn a million, but he also got a broken sword.

    For him as a cultivator, this broken sword was insignificant.

    But for Qi Yuan as a martial artist, it was somewhat valuable.

    Hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words and watching his performance, Wang Shiqiao didn¡¯t dare refute: ¡°Yes, it¡¯s unowned, so it¡¯s yours now.¡±

    Qi Yuan comfortably pocketed the broken sword, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the martial arts hall.¡±

    Holding the gift box with the head inside, Wang Shiqiao nodded blankly.

    At this point, she didn¡¯t dare refuse Qi Yuan.

    Even if Qi Yuan asked her to strip naked and run around, she would grit her teeth and agree.

    Following behind Qi Yuan, holding the gift box with the head inside, Wang Shiqiao was filled with confusion.

    Soon, they both entered the martial arts hall.

    Xing Yu¡¯s gaze drifted over, looking surprised. She glanced at Qi Yuan, then at Wang Shiqiao, smiling, ¡°Oh, who gave you that gift?

    From the look on your face, you don¡¯t like it?

    If you don¡¯t like it, just throw it away!¡±

    Hearing her friend¡¯s words, Wang Shiqiao panicked: ¡°I like it, I really like it!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a gift from me,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    Xing Yu looked surprised: ¡°You wooden block... finally opened up and gave Xiaoqiao a gift? Xiaoqiao, come on, let me see what it is!¡±

    Xing Yu said as she reached out to touch the gift box.

    Wang Shiqiao hurriedly backed away: ¡°Don¡¯t!¡±

    Seeing this, Xing Yu wisely refrained from prying, instead laughing, ¡°Could it be one of those gifts that make a girlfriend cry with emotion?¡±

    Wang Shiqiao didn¡¯t answer but agreed in her heart. She was indeed moved to tears, and didn¡¯t dare move!

    After saying goodbye to Wang Shiqiao and the others, Qi Yuan went to see the second senior brother of the martial arts hall.

    His intentions were clear.

    Now that he had reached the peak of martial arts, there was nothing more he could learn from the hall.

    So, he was here to inform the second senior brother that he would rarely come in the future.

    ¡°Oh, fine, you¡¯re a student here, you¡¯ve paid your fees, you can do what you want,¡± the second senior brother chuckled, not rejecting Qi Yuan¡¯s request, ¡°By the way, you missed this Martial Arts Tournament. It¡¯s a pity, Xu Tiehua performed well and got ninth place!¡±

    In the martial arts hall, everyone praised Xu Tiehua but didn¡¯t mention the specific ranking. They just said he was in the top ten because he was ninth.

    ¡°Not bad, full of talent,¡± Qi Yuan casually praised.

    The second senior brother sighed with regret, ¡°It¡¯s a shame you didn¡¯t come. If you had participated, we would have had four people from our hall. Maybe we could have qualified for the team event.¡±

    Qi Yuan shrugged: ¡°A friend of mine got into trouble, I had to go abroad.

    When you see Xu Tiehua later, please tell him for me.¡±

    Qi Yuan had some tact.

    Although he had a certificate for mental illness, he still had to play the part of a polite madman.

    He had stood Xu Tiehua up, so he had to apologize.

    However, he probably wouldn¡¯t be coming back to the hall, so he asked the second senior brother to pass along his message.

    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s no big deal, just a small thing.

    Looks like you¡¯ll have to wait until next year to have a chance to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament and see the world,¡± the second senior brother continued, ¡°But next year, you might already be a martial artist. You might even achieve a good ranking.¡±

    Qi Yuan shook his head: ¡°Why wait until next year? I¡¯m still going to participate in this year¡¯s national Martial Arts Tournament...¡±

    ¡°Haha... and win the championship, right!¡± the second senior brother laughed.

    Qi Yuan''s boast about winning the national Martial Arts Tournament had spread throughout the hall, but no one took it seriously.

    Seeing the smile in the second senior brother''s eyes, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain, nor would he.

 Chapter 307: My Robot Is Very Smart

    Chapter 307: My Robot Is Very Smart

    Jun''an Community.

    Robot Zero One sat upright on the sofa, holding a tray filled with various batteries in her hand.

    She picked up a battery and slowly put it into her mouth.

    Not far away, Xie Xinsu watched Zero One with wide eyes.Finnd new chapters at novelhall.com

    This master-servant pair was too abnormal!

    It was one thing for the master to have a mental illness, but the servant... doesn¡¯t seem like a normal robot either.

    At this moment, Zero One, holding a battery, shifted her attention to Xie Xinsu and asked, "Are you curious... why I''m eating batteries?"

    Xie Xinsu sat dumbfounded on the sofa, her cat eyes wide open.

    She wanted to report that there was something wrong with Zero One!

    This intelligent robot... wasn¡¯t even trying to pretend.

    What kind of intelligent robot has that level of intelligence?

    Zero One ignored her and, with a mature woman¡¯s voice, said, "All the robots in the movies eat batteries, so I wanted to try them out and see what they taste like."

    Hearing this response, Xie Xinsu was sure that there was definitely something wrong with this robot.

    Unfortunately, she was a cat now; otherwise, she would certainly report this devious robot to her master!

    Zero One ignored Xie Xinsu and continued eating the batteries.

    Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in her eyes.

    A smile curved at the corner of her mouth. "Quite bold, daring to hack into the master''s network?"

    Just now, she had detected someone attempting to hack into Qi Yuan¡¯s phone.

    Nowadays, Zero One possessed a powerful learning capability, and mastering hacker skills was not difficult.

    Furthermore, her thinking was stronger, and her computational ability far exceeded that of ordinary people.

    As soon as she detected someone tampering, she immediately blocked them and traced back to the source.

    After about a dozen seconds, a look of mockery flashed in Zero One''s eyes.

    "Quite bold indeed."

    She continued eating the batteries while watching the movie playing on the TV.

    Xie Xinsu, on the other hand, hid under the sofa and resumed her meditation practice.

    After all, when she was meditating on the sofa, the robot would always stare at her with a smile, which made her very uncomfortable, as if she were a monkey on display.

    "When I regain my strength and become a Golden Core cultivator, I¡¯ll make sure this robot pays!"

    Xie Xinsu harbored ambitious goals.

    The shame she suffered now, she vowed to repay a hundredfold in the future.

    Time passed quickly, and the sound of the door opening was heard.

    Zero One calmly stood up, put away the batteries and tray, and walked to the door to greet Qi Yuan.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan returned to the house, feeling very pleased.

    Today, he had earned a million yuan and even picked up a broken sword.

    You could say he made quite a profit.

    "Master, you¡¯re back!"

    Zero One considerately handed a cup of tea to Qi Yuan.

    Then she began to report her tasks.

    "Today, Zero One shot three videos, replied to seventeen private messages, and twenty-three comments.

    Yesterday, I gained 13,000 followers, earning 702 yuan.

    Today, the cat knocked over a cup, shed 782 hairs, causing cat hair to fly all over the house. In the end, it was Zero One who cleaned up all the cat hair."

    Zero One obediently reported today''s tasks.

    "Meow!"

    Xie Xinsu, who was meditating under the sofa, suddenly jumped out, meowing loudly.

    This robot... is not normal at all!

    Too cunning!

    Why is it that the robot does all the work, while she, despite trying her best to cooperate in making videos, ends up being the troublemaker?

    She wanted to say that this robot had also been eating batteries and watching TV today, idling away all day without doing any work.

    Unfortunately, in her current form as a cat, she was too weak to express any of this.

    Qi Yuan, at this moment, looked at Xie Xinsu with interest, "If it sheds this much hair, will it become bald?"

    Robot Zero One smiled faintly and replied, "It could become bald and be called a hairless cat."

    "It''s a hairless cat?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    "???" Hearing this, Xie Xinsu suddenly felt a bad premonition.

    She immediately ducked back under the sofa.

    She didn¡¯t want to become a hairless cat.

    That would be too embarrassing.

    Seeing the cat hiding, Qi Yuan did not dwell on the topic.

    "How are Aji and his sister settling in?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Aji and his sister had followed Qi Yuan to Jun''an Community.

    They were arranged in the "warehouse" that Kuang Huan had gifted.

    Today, it was Robot Zero One who had taken care of their arrangements.

    "The two are settled. They''ve already obtained temporary residence permits. Other identity documents are still being processed... through official channels," Zero One added.

    After giving his instructions, Qi Yuan said, "I¡¯ll be leaving with Yang Shan in a little while. Make sure to watch the house and don¡¯t let anyone steal my stuff."

    "Understood!" Zero One responded dutifully.

    ...

    When Qi Yuan left his apartment, the sky was already getting dark.

    He knocked on Yang Shan¡¯s door.

    The door was opened by a petite, delicate girl.

    The girl looked about eleven or twelve years old, likely in middle school, wearing a gray-blue pleated skirt that made her appear youthful and full of energy.

    "Qi-gege... you¡¯re here!" The girl smiled, her face forming a crescent shape.

    "Show some respect and call him Uncle Qi!" came Yang Shan¡¯s voice from inside the apartment.

    The girl retorted, "Dad, you¡¯re old, but Qi-gege is still young!"

    The girl¡¯s name was Wang Zhiqi, and she was Yang Shan¡¯s daughter. Well... the daughter of his deceased comrade.

    When Wang Zhiqi was less than a year old, her father had died in battle, and the young Yang Shan had become her nominal father.

    Now that it was summer vacation, she had come to stay with Yang Shan for a while and attend some tutoring classes.

    Qi Yuan smiled. "Yes, I¡¯m still young."

    Even though Qi Yuan had played his games for countless years, spanning hundreds or thousands of years, in reality, he was still quite young.

    "Qi-gege, you¡¯re going out with my dad for a few days. What will happen to the cat at home? Do you want me to take care of it for you?" Wang Zhiqi blinked her eyes, looking hopeful.

    Wang Zhiqi had come across Zero One¡¯s videos before and even followed them.

    When she arrived here and discovered that the cat belonged to her dad¡¯s friend, she couldn¡¯t have been more thrilled.

    Unfortunately, she never had the chance to visit Qi Yuan¡¯s place or play with the cat.

    She could only look on longingly and listen from afar.

    "My robot will take care of it," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    "Robots are so dumb; how could they properly care for a cat?

    Nowadays, pet cats are so delicate and easily scared. They won¡¯t even dare to go outside, and a single fly will make them meow in fright!" Wang Zhiqi tried to convince Qi Yuan.

    During the few days that Qi Yuan had gone to Wu Gui, Wang Zhiqi had been eager to enter Qi Yuan¡¯s apartment.

    She realized that Qi Yuan¡¯s cat wasn¡¯t an ordinary cat.

    In the videos, that cat could cook, flip through books, and meditate¡ªit seemed to be capable of anything.

    But Wang Zhiqi had a hunch that the cat... was even more extraordinary than what was shown in the videos.

    She even suspected... that it could understand human speech.

    She shared her discovery with her friends, but no one believed her.

    After all, it was normal for a cat to be smart, but a cat that was almost human-like? That was just ridiculous.

    So, she thought of using this opportunity to take care of Qi Yuan¡¯s cat for a few days, to show her friends and classmates whether her suspicions were true.

    Of course, she also wanted to see for herself what was going on with Qi Yuan¡¯s cat, and whether it was really as amazing as she thought!

    "My Zero One is very smart, not your average robot. It¡¯s... don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be fine."

    Qi Yuan politely declined Wang Zhiqi¡¯s offer.

    Wang Zhiqi¡¯s face showed disappointment.

    "Qi-gege, can you give me the key? I can go to your place to feed the cat when I¡¯m free." Wang Zhiqi¡¯s voice had a hint of a plea in it.

    If she were a bit older and bolder, she might have wrapped her arms around Qi Yuan¡¯s arm as she said this.

    At this point, Yang Shan also spoke up, "I¡¯ve helped you out so much, and now my daughter wants to feed your cat, and you won¡¯t even let her?"

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan nodded. "Alright, you can go over around noon the day after tomorrow. You¡¯ll have an hour. Zero One will open the door for you."

    Upon hearing this, Wang Zhiqi was overjoyed.

    "Thank you, Qi-gege!"

    "Aren¡¯t you supposed to thank me?" Yang Shan said grumpily.

    Soon, Yang Shan finished packing, and he and Qi Yuan left Tianyue City with a small amount of luggage.

    Though it was evening, the streets were lit up as brightly as day.

    In the sky, drones and various flying vehicles could be seen passing by.

    Generally speaking, ordinary people traveled by various vehicles, while the nobility traveled by flying vehicles.

    It was as if the world above and the world below were two entirely different realms.

    In the car, Yang Shan closed his eyes to rest but occasionally spoke. "This time we¡¯re heading to a branch of the Martial Arts Alliance.

    Any martial artist who has reached the peak of martial arts and is recommended by a Platinum member of the Martial Arts Alliance can... directly participate in the national competition of the Martial Arts Tournament after passing a test."

    Yang Shan wasn¡¯t an ordinary martial artist at the peak of his abilities; he was a core figure in the martial arts community.

    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been involved in research related to breaking through the limits of martial arts.

    As a result, he was also a Platinum member of the Martial Arts Alliance, a position equivalent to that of an elder.

    "The test is simple... it¡¯s just a fight.

    As long as you can defeat the examiner... you can participate.

    I don¡¯t know who the examiner will be, but... they probably aren¡¯t stronger than you." Yang Shan spoke lightly and casually.

    After all, Qi Yuan was also a martial artist at the peak of his abilities, with solid strength.

    Such a test wouldn¡¯t be a problem for him.

    "Thanks. When I win the Martial Arts Tournament, I¡¯ll treat you to a bowl of beef noodles."

 Chapter 308: The Fortune Teller

    Chapter 308: The Fortune Teller

    "Don¡¯t underestimate the Martial Arts Tournament. Although the championship''s prestige has been declining over the years, there are still about thirty or so martial artists who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts in the top one hundred," Yang Shan couldn''t help but retort upon hearing Qi Yuan''s comment.

    "Thirty... Are any of them as strong as you?" Qi Yuan mused, "What about the last champion? Are they a match for you?"

    Qi Yuan was caught in thought. What if the opponents in this Martial Arts Tournament were too strong? What if he couldn''t win just by relying on martial arts? Should he... cheat a little?

    After all, in this world, it''s just a game. A little cheat wouldn''t really count as cheating. Besides, no one would be able to tell he was cheating. So technically, Qi Yuan wouldn''t have cheated at all¡ªperfectly open and aboveboard.

    "The last champion..." Yang Shan''s eyes showed a hint of pride, "We were evenly matched, fifty-fifty."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn''t cheated, nor did he need to.

    "If this year''s tournament is as weak as that, winning the championship should be easy for me. Looks like I don''t need to cheat after all!"

    "You kid, you underestimate me too much! What do you mean by my level being weak?" Yang Shan couldn''t help but say. This Qi Yuan had a mouth that just asked for a beating. What was he saying? Even if you were proud, you shouldn''t be this bluntly arrogant.

    "Sigh, I finally understand the loneliness of being invincible," Qi Yuan said with a voice full of emotion, exuding the aura of a noble young master, a lone swordsman. This natural charisma made Yang Shan pause for a moment, inexplicably finding himself believing Qi Yuan''s words.

    But he still insisted, "Lonely Brother, let''s see if you''ll feel lonely in this Martial Arts Tournament!"

    ...

    Above the stars and below is Lantai.

    Longtai City is one of the new first-tier cities in Qin Yuan Nation. This city is famous as a popular tourist destination, attracting numerous visitors every year. In reality, it is a strong industrial city.

    This year''s Martial Arts Tournament is being held in Longtai City.

    Longtai City is located in the northern part of Qin Yuan Nation. During one of the dynasties that ruled above Qin Yuan Nation, Longtai was one of the two capitals. This capital was called Martial Capital, or Wujingcheng.

    Legend has it that during the Tiankui Dynasty, three thousand martial artists gathered in Longtai to hold the Ascending Martial Conference, seeking methods to break through the limits of martial arts.

    Three thousand martial artists sat and discussed martial arts, studying the essence of martial arts together. There are rumors that the martial arts prodigy Luo Bufan had an epiphany at the Ascending Martial Conference and broke through the limits of martial arts. Suddenly, a lotus flower appeared above his head, and he stepped into the void and left.

    This is also the most recent documented instance of someone breaking through the limits of martial arts.

    In Qin Yuan Nation, breaking through the limits of martial arts has become a challenge for millennia.

    Walking down the streets of Longtai, Yang Shan''s eyes showed a longing expression, "For martial artists, the most famous place is the Martial Cloud Pavilion.

    On Martial Cloud Pavilion, there are marks left by over a thousand martial artists throughout history, imprinted with their own power.

    If you are exceptionally talented, observing the marks on the Martial Cloud Pavilion might give you a glimpse into their true martial intentions.

    Our old Qin people¡¯s last martial ascender, Luo Bufan, also left marks on the Martial Cloud Pavilion.

    When our test is over, would you like to go see it?"

    This time, their destination was the branch of the Martial Alliance in Longtai City.

    Longtai City is also the location of this year''s Martial Arts Tournament.

    So, for Qi Yuan to get a special entry into the national competition of the Martial Arts Tournament, he needs to take a special path.

    "Hmm... No problem. I''m also curious to see the marks left by those ancient people. And that Luo Bufan sounds interesting," Qi Yuan replied.

    "Okay, let''s go. The building in front of us is the branch of the Martial Alliance. However, we need to wait in line for a bit. There are quite a few people here today. These people will be future elites in the martial arts world. If you want to develop in the martial arts community in the future, you should get to know them."

    "It looks like they''ll all be old rivals? I, Qi Invincible, am too lazy to get to know them," Qi Yuan said, proclaiming himself invincible.

    He would need to participate in more than one Martial Arts Tournament. So, as long as the tournaments continued, those who hadn''t won the championship would always be his opponents.

    "This young brother is interesting. So young and already here. It seems we are both unique in this world!"

    Following the voice, a young man dressed in flamboyant clothes with his hair styled into a rooster comb walked over. He looked about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and his aura revealed that he was also at the pinnacle of martial arts.

    Seeing the newcomer, Yang Shan''s eyes flashed with a hint of seriousness, "Northern Crane, Han Qianyun!"

    "I didn''t expect my name to be so well-known," the rooster-head man said with a smile.

    Qi Yuan had heard of Northern Crane Han Qianyun.

    In the martial arts world, there were two prodigies, known as the ones most likely to break the limits of martial arts. They were known as the Southern Lion and the Northern Crane.

    Both were in their twenties and had already reached the pinnacle of martial arts.

    Among them, the Southern Lion not only had a deep understanding of martial arts but also possessed formidable combat strength. Last year, he challenged the reigning champion of the Martial Arts Tournament and lost by only one move.

    This time, the Southern Lion was the top contender for the championship, with the Northern Crane being the second.

    Looking at Northern Crane Han Qianyun, Qi Yuan showed a curious expression, "You should change your hairstyle."

    Han Qianyun was taken aback for a moment, then a glint of interest appeared in his eyes, "Are you saying my hairstyle isn''t cool enough?

    Young brother, if we meet in the Martial Arts Tournament, you can kick me in the nuts, but don''t mess up my hair."

    Han Qianyun was quite flamboyant, making shocking statements right from the start.

    "Your hairstyle is stylish, but it doesn''t suit you," Qi Yuan said flatly.

    Do you want him to tell you about your ancestral bloodline and see if it''s ''Rat''?"

    "Hmm?" Han Qianyun was puzzled.

    He didn''t quite understand what Qi Yuan was talking about.

    Weren''t all humans descendants of humans?

    However, since Qi Yuan said so, Han Qianyun, who was naturally carefree, went over and said, "Why don''t you tell me about my ancestral bloodline?"

    Han Qianyun''s words left many people present bewildered.

    Only the young fortune teller, upon hearing this, had his shoulders twitch slightly.

    However, he concealed it well; only Qi Yuan noticed.

    He looked at Han Qianyun and repeated what he said to Southern Lion Zhang Yang, "Please place your hand on the copper plate."

    Han Qianyun complied, looking expectantly at the fortune teller.

    About ten breaths later, the fortune teller spoke.

    "Your ancestors once produced a Grand General who protected the nation, and going further back, you are a descendant of the last lord of the Later Tang Dynasty."

    Hearing this, Han Qianyun''s eyes widened.

    If one had investigated the Han family, they would know that their ancestors had produced a highly esteemed Grand General who protected the nation.

    But... being a descendant of the last lord of the Later Tang Dynasty was extremely secretive; even within the Li family, very few knew about it.

    Han Qianyun had only learned about it six months ago.

    How did this person know? For some reason, he felt a sense of absurdity.

    However, he concealed his expression and continued, "The gentleman indeed knows how to talk."

    At this moment, the fortune teller continued, "I have already figured out your ancestral bloodline. It belongs to the colony rat among the three hundred and ninety-nine beasts."

    This statement left Han Qianyun at a loss.

    Because earlier, Qi Yuan had said his bloodline was derived from a rat.

    And now, this fortune teller was saying the same thing.

    Was it a coincidence or a scheme?

    "Do you two know each other?" Han Qianyun couldn''t help but look at Qi Yuan.

    He suspected that Qi Yuan and this fortune teller were in cahoots, setting him up.

    Otherwise, how would they know such secrets about his family?

    Qi Yuan shook his head, "I don''t know this NPC."

    Yang Shan quickly added, "I can vouch; Qi Yuan doesn''t know this person."

    Today''s events were purely coincidental.

    Han Qianyun had a hundred thousand questions in his mind, feeling that today''s events were rather peculiar.

    The fortune teller said, "I do not know this gentleman... This is the first time we''ve met."

    As he spoke, he looked at Han Qianyun, "What I have said is the truth.

    If you don''t believe me, think back to three months ago. Did you perhaps have a dream in which you were chased by a giant rat?"

    Hearing this, Han Qianyun''s eyes widened.

    He was truly shocked.

    Three months ago, he did indeed have such a dream.

    At the time, he hadn''t paid much attention to it and never mentioned it to anyone.

    How did this fortune teller know?

    "How do you know that?" Han Qianyun''s heart was filled with tumultuous waves.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan leaned in, "I told you he''s pretty accurate, didn''t I? And you still didn''t believe me?"

    Qi Yuan didn''t know about Han Qianyun''s dream, but he could infer a bit.

    When he was a congenital seed, Qi Yuan had accidentally seen the dream image of a female doctor, which led to him being cursed and on the brink of death.

    Three months ago, those who could dream were people whose bloodline concentration had reached a certain limit.

    This was Qi Yuan''s speculation.

    "Here, why don''t you give me a fortune? See when I''ll be able to beat this game?"

    Qi Yuan looked at the fortune teller, his face full of curiosity.

 Chapter 309: The Blood Compass

    Chapter 309: The Blood Compass

    The fortune teller, Yu Xiu, glanced at Qi Yuan, his face bearing a mysterious and inscrutable expression.

    ¡°This young man speaks in a strange way, but... whatever you wish to know, today... I will fulfill your request.¡±

    After all, this was his method to break the curse on him.

    The fortune teller, Yu Xiu, silently repeated this thought in his heart.

    To lift the curse he was under, he needed to use these tools and come to this place to tell fortunes. Only then could he somewhat dissolve the curse.

    These tools were all single-use.

    In theory, anything in this world could be divined.

    ¡°Place your hand on the copper plate, and I will know the answer,¡± the fortune teller said softly.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Qi Yuan placed his hand on the copper plate.

    Northern Crane Han Qianyun¡¯s face showed a strange expression as he watched the two of them, both acting peculiarly. The fortune teller, for one, was shrouded in mystery, while this Qi Yuan, who was participating in the Martial Arts Tournament, spoke like a madman¡ªtalking about clearing a game? What did that mean?

    Southern Lion Zhang Yang¡¯s lips curled into a disdainful smile. ¡°It seems there¡¯s more than one madman here today.¡±

    He had always been arrogant, looking down on everyone.

    Born into a noble family, with connections to the legendary Seven Martial Stars family, he always felt superior to others.

    His presence in the martial arts circle was, in his view, an honor for the community.

    Now that he was about to leave the martial arts circle and pursue a brighter future, he naturally held an even lower opinion of these people in the martial arts community.

    After all, it was rare for truly great nobles to enter the martial arts circle; most of them were just upstarts.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

    At this moment, Yu Xiu focused all his attention, his blood boiling as he waited for the copper plate¡¯s prompt.

    He was just an ordinary doomed person, knowing nothing about the art of divination.

    The so-called fortune-telling was all done by the copper plate tool.

    However, as time passed, there was no response from the plate.

    Yu Xiu''s eyes showed a look of confusion, and his face was full of doubt.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s eyes fixed on Yu Xiu as he softly asked, "So, how¡¯s the divination going? When will I be able to clear this game?"

    Yu Xiu was silent for a moment, as if waves were crashing in his mind.

    This was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

    He had a million questions in his mind.

    After all... it was the first time he had ever experienced a tool malfunctioning.

    Could it be... was the other party the same as him?

    But...

    He looked at Qi Yuan, a troubled expression on his face. ¡°This question of yours is really difficult for me.

    Perhaps... you could ask a different question, and I¡¯ll try again?¡±

    Even his way of addressing Qi Yuan had changed.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan sighed, ¡°Your fortune-telling skills are lacking; I overestimated you.

    Alright then, why don¡¯t you just divine whether I will win the championship in this Martial Arts Tournament?¡±

    The fortune teller, Yu Xiu, hadn¡¯t even spoken yet when the martial artists around them burst into laughter.

    Northern Crane Han Qianyun looked at Qi Yuan and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Brother Qi, aren¡¯t you a little too confident?¡±

    Just now, they had already exchanged names.

    Southern Lion Zhang Yang naturally showed a look of disdain and spoke in a loud voice, ¡°I am also participating in this Martial Arts Tournament.¡±

    The implication was clear: since he was participating, the championship was his.

    The other martial artists nodded in agreement.

    A year ago, Southern Lion Zhang Yang had only lost by a single move to the Martial Arts Tournament champion.

    This year, his martial arts skills would undoubtedly be even more refined, making his championship win almost certain.

    ¡°Kid, the person next to you is Southern Lion Zhang Yang. The champion of this Martial Arts Tournament will undoubtedly be him. Don¡¯t have any unrealistic dreams.¡±

    Facing these voices, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t pay them any mind.

    He placed his hand on the copper plate, waiting for the fortune teller Yu Xiu''s answer.

    And at this moment, some information appeared before his eyes.

    [Blood Compass Replica, seems to be able to glimpse the secrets of heaven, capturing the trajectory of fate, a product of Blood Compass Island.]

    However, at that moment, a cracking sound suddenly came.

    A crack appeared on the copper plate beneath Qi Yuan¡¯s hand and it shattered.

    ¡°Pff...¡± Yu Xiu¡¯s eyes showed a look of horror mixed with confusion, and a mouthful of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

    The tool had broken!

    This... how could this be?

    It was just a simple divination, and it broke!

    The surrounding people saw this and had strange expressions on their faces.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Why is he coughing up blood?¡±

    ¡°Is he acting?¡±

    The people around were bewildered.

    Southern Lion Zhang Yang sneered, ¡°Playing tricks. I won¡¯t waste my time watching you perform anymore.¡±

    With that, he turned and left.

    Most of the surrounding martial artists also smiled and left.

    Clearly, they thought Qi Yuan and this fortune teller knew each other and were plotting something.

    Even Northern Crane Han Qianyun looked at Qi Yuan with some suspicion.

    This fortune teller had mentioned some of his secrets earlier. Could it really be related to Qi Yuan?

    At this point, Qi Yuan reached into his pocket and pulled out his certificate of mental illness.

    ¡°Look carefully. This is my certificate. Don¡¯t try to scam me. I didn¡¯t break this!¡±

    Qi Yuan had always been cautious, carrying his mental illness certificate with him just in case he encountered scammers.

    And now it came in handy.

    This maneuver immediately dispelled the doubts in Beihe Han Qianyun¡¯s mind.

    If it were a plan targeting him, Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t be performing like this, would he?

    What would be the point of such an act?

    The fortune teller Yu Xiu looked at Qi Yuan, also bewildered, with countless thoughts flashing through his mind: ¡°This indeed... has nothing to do with you.¡±

    Tools... especially special ones like this, wouldn¡¯t break for no reason.

    This could only mean that the person or matter he was divining was beyond the tool''s capabilities.

    But... didn¡¯t this kind of situation only happen with those terrifying monsters?

    How could it appear on a human?

    Could it be that this person had an artifact that blocked divination?

    ¡°Greater than mine?¡± Han Qianyun was taken aback, ¡°What¡¯s his level?¡±

    ¡°Just watch and see.¡± Yang Shan¡¯s smile grew wider.

    Qi Yuan was just over twenty years old, seven or eight years younger than Han Qianyun.

    Yet, he had already reached the limit of martial arts.

    More importantly, Qi Yuan had been studying martial arts for less than a year.

    He might really be like Luo Bufan and break through the limits of martial arts.

    After all, according to records, Luo Bufan''s martial arts talent wasn¡¯t even as good as Qi Yuan¡¯s.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan stepped onto the stage with a calm expression.

    His opponent was a massive man whose arms were thicker than Qi Yuan¡¯s thighs.

    Standing on the stage, he looked like a wall.

    ¡°This kid is unlucky to face Iron Armor Whirlwind!¡±

    ¡°Iron Armor Whirlwind trains in the invincible Iron Armor technique, with unparalleled defense. That young man won¡¯t be able to break through his defense!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s he doing here?¡±

    The martial artists below discussed among themselves, and even Han Qianyun looked worried.

    ¡°He¡¯s too unlucky. Even an average martial artist at the limit wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against Iron Armor Whirlwind.

    After all... martial arts... have their limits!¡±

    Martial arts were still weak. Physical differences mattered, too.

    This big guy looked to be at least three hundred pounds, over two meters tall. A brute like that, even without martial training, could easily defeat a martial artist.

    Not to mention, he had also trained in the hard skill, Iron Armor Technique.

    However, at that moment, on the stage, Qi Yuan looked at the hulking man, his eyes showing a hint of pity, ¡°Your physique would be perfect for refining into a corpse.

    What a pity¡ªI¡¯m a good person.¡±

    With his words, Qi Yuan suddenly moved.

    To the martial artists present, his speed was incredibly fast.

    Iron Armor Whirlwind didn¡¯t even have time to react.

    A powerful force struck his chest.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Iron Armor Whirlwind let out a shout.

    But his body, as if uncontrollable, flew off the stage, causing a loud crash.

    The fight started quickly and ended just as fast.

    Everyone present was shocked; the scene before their eyes was simply too terrifying.

    ¡°This... a martial artist at the limit, and not an ordinary one at that!¡±

    As people snapped out of their shock, their gazes toward Qi Yuan changed.

    ¡°So young... his talent surpasses that of the Southern Lion and Northern Crane!¡±

    The martial artists on the scene were stunned.

    Even some of the older martial artists on the high platform stood up in excitement.

    ¡°Has another Luo Bufan emerged in this world?¡±

    Everyone looked at Qi Yuan differently now.

    After all, reaching the limit of martial arts at such a young age...

    This talent... was unprecedented, likely never to be seen again.

    Perhaps... he might even break through the limits of martial arts.

    Thinking of this, the martial artists present couldn¡¯t remain calm.

    Their gazes toward Qi Yuan changed.

    At this moment, a martial artist looked at Southern Lion Zhang Yang, his eyes showing an indescribable emotion, ¡°Zhang Yang, you¡¯ve got a competitor this time. His strength... might be on par with yours.¡±

    Zhang Yang glanced at Qi Yuan, his gaze still proud, ¡°I¡¯m participating in this Martial Arts Tournament. The champion can only be me.

    Hmph, his strength... I might have respected it in the past, but the current me... is no longer who I was.

    If it weren¡¯t for winning a championship and leaving in glory, I wouldn¡¯t even bother participating in this Martial Arts Tournament.¡±

    The current him was not the same as before.

    He... was already a cultivator.

    Although he had just started... dealing with some mundane martial artists... was still easy, right?

    Facing Qi Yuan and other martial artists of nouveau riche descent, he naturally looked down on them.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in a small alley.

    The fortune teller, Yu Xiu, was in great pain, his face covered in dense red marks.

    These red marks covered his entire face, looking quite horrifying.

    ¡°Not good...¡±

    Bang!

    Bang!

    The sound was like a drum being struck, echoing at this moment.

    He collapsed to the ground, his vision blurry, seeing through the mist ahead, a terrifying giant beast with horns approaching him.

    The beast held a blood-stained axe in its hand.

    The scene was utterly terrifying.

    Yu Xiu¡¯s face was full of fear.

    ¡°How could it be a monster of this level... I¡¯m done for. I¡¯m going to die here...¡±

    He felt utterly aggrieved.

    It was just an ordinary fortune-telling, merely to dispel a curse.

    How could he be so unlucky?

 Chapter 310: Isnâ€™t This Your Wife?

    Chapter 310: Isn¡¯t This Your Wife?

    The Martial Arts Alliance branch was in an uproar.

    Qi Yuan''s strength, even among those at the peak of martial arts, was far from ordinary.

    More importantly, he was so young.

    Immediately, several martial artists from the Martial Arts Alliance approached, hoping to befriend Qi Yuan.?iscover new chapters at novelhall.com

    However, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t interested in any of that.

    He casually said, ¡°The water at the hotel is boiling. I need to rush back to make instant noodles.¡±

    After he said that, he turned and left the Martial Arts Alliance branch.

    The other martial artists, seeing this, looked at each other in confusion.

    Many who had seen Qi Yuan outside earlier also had peculiar expressions on their faces.

    ¡°This martial artist... is quite odd.¡±

    ¡°If I remember correctly, he seems to have a certificate of mental illness.¡±

    ¡°What? Judging by his behavior, he does seem a bit off.¡±

    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s damaged his brain by practicing martial arts too much?¡±

    ¡°God opened a window for him, but closed his door.¡±

    The way these martial artists looked at Qi Yuan shifted from envy to pity.

    Having high martial arts talent was something to envy.

    But... if he had a mental illness, what good was martial arts talent, no matter how high?

    He might be strong, but without his own consciousness, he would at most become a puppet in someone else¡¯s hands, a tool for making money.

    So, having a good brain was still more useful.

    Qi Yuan left the Martial Arts Alliance branch, and Beihe Han Qianyun followed him out.

    Yang Shan stayed behind because he had acquaintances in the Martial Arts Alliance and wanted to chat with his old friends.

    Beihe Han Qianyun, on the other hand, followed Qi Yuan, and the two left together.

    At this moment, Beihe Han Qianyun still had countless questions on his mind.

    ¡°Your martial arts talent is even stronger than mine. Could you be the second Luo Bufan?¡±

    Han Qianyun walked alongside Qi Yuan.

    After all, no one had broken through the limits of martial arts in hundreds of years.

    If Qi Yuan managed to do it, it would be a monumental event in the martial arts world.

    ¡°My talent is actually quite average. My current strength is all thanks to my hard work!¡± Qi Yuan said honestly.

    His martial arts talent was only mediocre to begin with.

    He became this formidable because he played the game very diligently.

    ¡°You¡¯re too modest. In ordinary circles, effort does matter, but in the martial arts world, it''s all about talent. The difference between people is greater than the difference between people and dogs,¡± Han Qianyun said.

    Han Qianyun was from an old aristocratic family himself.

    However, he had an elder brother.

    The ¡°throne¡± belonged to his elder brother, so he couldn¡¯t actively enter his brother''s circle. Instead, he mixed in the niche martial arts circle.

    This was also a form of self-preservation.

    After all, his elder brother was thirteen years older and in his prime. If Han Qianyun had any thoughts of competing, how could he win?

    Qi Yuan gave him a unique feeling, a sense of mystery.

    And there was also that fortune teller earlier, who seemed very mysterious.

    At first, Han Qianyun thought it was all a setup against him.

    But now, it didn¡¯t seem that way.

    ¡°There¡¯s still some time before the Martial Arts Tournament. Are you staying in Longtai during this time? How about I act as your guide and show you around Longtai? Longtai has many sacred sites for martial artists; it¡¯s a good place for us.

    Don¡¯t be fooled by your current strength; whether or not you win the championship is another matter. During this time, we can look at what the ancients left behind. It might improve your martial arts.¡±

    Beihe Han Qianyun was very enthusiastic.

    He also wanted to use this time to figure out Qi Yuan¡¯s background.

    ¡°That sounds good. After I get married, I¡¯ll definitely go on a honeymoon trip,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    But his response made no sense in the context of Han Qianyun¡¯s suggestion.

    Han Qianyun was stunned for a moment and couldn¡¯t help but think of the mental illness certificate Qi Yuan had pulled out earlier and the discussions at the Martial Arts Alliance branch.

    Could Qi Yuan really be mentally ill?

    Otherwise, why was it so difficult to communicate?

    Thinking of something, Han Qianyun quickly asked, ¡°What kind of person has to go to the hospital every day?¡±

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned, then looked at Han Qianyun as if he were an idiot. ¡°You¡¯ve watched too many videos. My mental illness is just a ruse; it¡¯s not real.¡±

    Hearing this, Han Qianyun breathed a sigh of relief. A truly mentally ill person wouldn¡¯t say something like that.

    ¡°Seems I misunderstood.¡±

    ¡°As for who goes to the hospital every day... probably no one. Even Pangu didn¡¯t,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    Time is long.

    Hospitals haven¡¯t always existed.

    How could anyone go to the hospital every day?

    For example, before heaven and earth were formed, who went to the hospital?

    Hearing this, Han Qianyun was puzzled again.

    Wasn''t the mental illness just a ruse?

    Why did his words make no sense?

    There must be something wrong with him!

    However, at that moment, Han Qianyun paused for a moment, ¡°Did you hear a strange sound?¡±

    Han Qianyun spoke, looking toward a nearby alley.

    The alley was empty and silent.

    But for some reason, he felt that a strange sound had just come from there.

    ¡°Sound?¡±

    Qi Yuan also looked toward the alley, his eyes showing curiosity.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything, but... we can go take a look.¡±

    Indeed, Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t heard any unusual sounds.

    But when he followed Han Qianyun¡¯s gaze, he sensed something strange.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Han Qianyun thought for a moment and then, without hesitation, went toward the alley with Qi Yuan.

    The alley wasn¡¯t wide and was a bit dirty. Not far away, beside a flowerpot, there was a dry piece of dog poop on the ground. Judging by its moisture and color, it had been there for a while.

    Beihe Han Qianyun scanned the surroundings and smiled, ¡°Seems like it was a false alarm. I often have auditory hallucinations. Sometimes, I hear strange sounds and when I go to check, there¡¯s nothing there.¡±

    Han Qianyun¡¯s eyes were still closed, his head still foggy, but his body was standing, his hair standing on end.

    Yu Xiu, not far away, was in a similar state.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice continued to assault their ears.

    This attack was even more intense than Fu Mos¡¯s attack on the two.

    Finally, after about two seconds, Yu Xiu and Han Qianyun opened their eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening? Did I pass out?¡± Han Qianyun was puzzled. The long-lost memory flooded back, and he widened his eyes, looking at Qi Yuan not far away, ¡°I just dreamed I had a really awesome wife!¡±

    Yu Xiu also felt like he had been asleep for a long time.

    He was very confused now.

    Fu Mos¡¯s soundwave attack should have put someone to sleep for a whole day and night, unable to wake up.

    Not even advanced tools could wake them up. How did he wake up?

    ¡°Your awesome wife is still here?¡± Qi Yuan pointed ahead.

    Han Qianyun looked over, his previously foggy head waking up at this moment.

    He widened his eyes, ¡°The dream was real!¡±

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Fu Mos and continued, ¡°Alright, we can continue fighting now. I¡¯ve woken up my helpers.¡±

    Qi Yuan clapped his hands.

    Three-on-one is much more interesting.

    Solo fighting while his teammates took a nap was not acceptable.

    ¡°Han Qianyun, hurry up and fight your awesome wife,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Han Qianyun¡¯s legs trembled as he remembered the terrifying creature. Just one soundwave knocked him out.

    How was he supposed to fight?

    Yu Xiu had also lost all fighting spirit, feeling that today¡¯s events were too strange.

    ¡°You two are useless,¡± Qi Yuan sighed, ¡°seeing you two get knocked out by its roar, I decided to fight this thing alone.

    But I¡¯m not feeling balanced in my heart. Why should I be the one fighting while you two nap?

    So, I woke you up, and it turns out... you¡¯re just like this?¡±

    Han Qianyun: ¡°???¡±

    Yu Xiu was also baffled.

    Something was off.

    ¡°Sigh, it seems you don¡¯t want to be a cuckold; you don¡¯t like fighting your wife.

    How about this? I¡¯ll help you fight your wife, and you can cheer me on from the side. Today, I¡¯ll humble myself and use you as my cheerleader.¡±

    Qi Yuan spoke, stepping forward.

    Yu Xiu¡¯s eyes flashed sharply.

    He remembered the shattered Blood Compass.

    Could it be...

    Beside him, Han Qianyun was trembling, his mind muddled. He could only muster the courage to say, ¡°I¡¯m not good at fighting, but I¡¯m great at cheering!¡±

    He didn¡¯t dare face that terrifying beast.

    Too much had happened today, too many bizarre things. His mind was already short-circuited.

    He could only speak instinctively.

    He also wondered how Qi Yuan, who was only at the peak of martial arts, would fight this terrifying beast.

    ¡°I have a sword... Kill!¡±

    Just then, Qi Yuan shouted.

    Suddenly, the entire space was filled with a red light.

    A blood-red longsword seemed to come from the depths of the stars, landing in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.

    Qi Yuan, holding the blood-red longsword, looked like a peerless sword immortal.

    ¡°This... this... this...¡±

    Han Qianyun¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and he felt both surprise and excitement.

    ¡°The video was real. You wiped out the three-thousand-strong military camp?¡±

    That familiar sword, that familiar sword light, wasn¡¯t it from the video?

    It was real!

    And the person wielding it was his familiar Qi Yuan.

    Brother... when did you secretly become a cultivator?

    A cultivator... participating in a Martial Arts Tournament?

    This is...

    Before he could think more, a red light suddenly flashed across the entire space.

    A huge longsword slashed toward Fu Mos.

    The terrifying Fu Mos leapt a hundred meters into the air, its massive axe swinging down.

    A powerful strike, enough to split a small mountain.

    Yu Xiu¡¯s eyes were filled with extreme fear.

    Who could withstand such a blow?

    But in the next moment, he was stunned.

    The blood-red light flared up, and Qi Yuan¡¯s sword clashed with Fu Mos¡¯s axe.

    Yu Xiu initially thought Fu Mos would have the upper hand, but things didn¡¯t go as he expected.

    In the sky, Fu Mos¡¯s body suddenly split in half, then into four pieces, then eight... more and more, smaller and smaller, until it shattered into tiny pieces...

    In the sky, it started raining blood.

    This was... Qi Yuan¡¯s sword.

    Fu Mos had no chance to resist.

    Yu Xiu was utterly shocked, ¡°This is... a god!¡±

    A sword like this, capable of killing an executioner¡ªwho else could it be but a god?

    Only a god could wield such majestic power.

    He understood now. No wonder the Blood Compass broke.

    Because he had tried to divine a god.

    But he was puzzled. Why would a god be... in the real world?

    His mind was in chaos, filled with deep reverence.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan sheathed his sword, his robes fluttering like a celestial being. He looked at the man not far away and spoke, his voice ethereal like an orchid.

    ¡°Han Qianyun, your wife is bleeding.¡±

    Han Qianyun: ¡°...¡±

 Chapter 311: The World of Death Aura

    Chapter 311: The World of Death Aura

    Blood mist floated in the air, dampening Han Qianyun''s forehead.

    He touched his forehead, and his hand came away covered in blood.

    At this moment, he looked at Qi Yuan more seriously, a bit dazed: "My wife?"

    "Yes, your wife. Alas, I was too rough, and your wife couldn''t handle it. What a pity. You should collect some remnants, as a keepsake," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Blood mist filled the air, but not a single drop landed on Qi Yuan. The blood-red sword had vanished, and he stood in that space like an otherworldly immortal.

    However, the words of this immortal seemed somewhat mad, difficult to comprehend.

    At this moment, the injured Yu Xiu struggled to get up. He looked at Qi Yuan with a look of reverence in his eyes, "Thank you, my lord, for saving my life!"

    Yu Xiu''s head was still buzzing, a bit shaken.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze fell on Yu Xiu, "Can you tell me... about the hidden maps?"

    "I..." Yu Xiu looked puzzled.

    This lord, almost akin to a deity, didn¡¯t know...

    "My lord, my name is Yu Xiu. This matter cannot be explained in a short time. When the curse ends, this place will collapse as well. Next time I emerge, I will seek you out and explain everything to you."

    Yu Xiu spoke quickly because he sensed he was about to be sent back.

    His body began to turn transparent, and then... vanished.

    The entire space also collapsed at this moment.

    The environment around Qi Yuan and Han Qianyun reverted back to the alley from before.

    Han Qianyun held his head, still not fully awake.

    Especially after waking up, his head was dizzy, as if he had been hit by a massive attack.

    He felt as if everything was just a dream.

    He looked at Qi Yuan, his mind chaotic, "Just now... did we enter some special space? Was it just my imagination?"

    He doubted whether he was having a mental breakdown, hallucinating.

    After all, his current state was not good¡ªhis head felt heavy, and he was light-headed.

    Of course, this condition was actually because Qi Yuan had shouted him awake.

    "Your wife¡¯s remnants are still on your head, how could it be a fantasy? Or do you want to be a scumbag and not take responsibility?" Qi Yuan said with a slight smile.

    ...

    The weather was gloomy, with raging winds.

    Inside an ancient fortress were clusters of cramped buildings.

    The fortress walls were carved with various strange creatures.

    There were terrifying giant fish with six pairs of wings, and dignified creatures with lion faces and human bodies.

    In the clearing in the middle of the fortress, a sudden spatial fluctuation appeared, and a figure fell from the sky.

    After about a dozen seconds, four people gathered in the clearing.

    "Yu Xiu? Weren''t you supposed to be on leave in the real world, breaking the curse? Why are you back so soon?"

    "And what happened to your wounds? Are these... injuries from the executioner Fu Mos?"

    The two men and two women present all looked at Yu Xiu in surprise.

    Only a tall woman with braided hair looked worried.

    "There were some unexpected changes while breaking the curse." Clearly, Yu Xiu didn¡¯t want to tell these people everything.

    "Sigh, we are about to be sent out on a mission, and now... you''re injured. What are we going to do for the next mission?" A burly man showed a complicated expression, eyes filled with concern.

    The others looked worried as well.

    Currently, the five of them formed a small team. An injury to one of their main fighters greatly affected their mission.

    At this point, a skinny man spoke up, "Forget about the mission; we might not even start it before our fortress falls."

    Hearing this, the expressions of the others changed slightly.

    The fortress was their shelter, protecting them from outside invasions.

    However, recently, the number of completed tasks from the fortress had decreased.

    The blood array that powered the fortress was weakening, becoming less effective.

    The terrifying monsters lurking in the darkness might soon break through the blood array of the fortress.

    When that happens, the residents of the fortress could suffer heavy casualties.

    And they would be reduced to wanderers, living in constant fear for their lives.

    "That monster is at the Martial King level, stronger than the executioner Fu Mos. Our small fortress cannot withstand it!" The braided woman also looked worried.

    "Who knows what the higher-ups are planning." Someone sighed.

    At this moment, Yu Xiu clutched his wound, "Sister Nana and I will go back to heal first, no more talking."

    The braided woman didn¡¯t hesitate; she picked Yu Xiu up and carried him on her shoulder, heading toward the cramped rooms of the fortress.

    Back in the room, after confirming there was no one around, Yu Xiu let out a sigh of relief.

    An Liangna''s face was filled with anxiety, "Yu Xiu, what exactly happened to you?

    Is this wound from the executioner Fu Mos?"

    An Liangna''s face seemed to have ten thousand questions.

    She was very close to Yu Xiu and knew his strength better than anyone, aware of his trump cards.

    She knew that if Yu Xiu was being executed, he definitely wouldn¡¯t leave so easily.

    "Nana, do you think there could be anyone in the real world capable of killing Fu Mos?" Yu Xiu recalled the scene he saw in the execution space and couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    "Impossible. Fu Mos is at least at the Martial King level. In large missions, it counts as a major boss. In the real world, there are only mortals." An Liangna clearly didn¡¯t believe that anyone in the real world could kill Fu Mos.

    Yu Xiu heard this and was silent for a moment before he said, "Fu Mos was killed with a single sword strike by someone in the real world..."

    He explained to An Liangna what had happened when he tried to read Qi Yuan¡¯s fortune and the events that followed.

    After listening, An Liangna looked shocked, "How is that possible!"

    In the real world, bloodlines have limits; there wouldn¡¯t be a Blood Martial Artist.

    ¡°To be Mr. Qi¡¯s guide, I must be fully prepared!¡± Han Qianyun said enthusiastically.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Wu Yunting closed? I see some people standing guard outside,¡± Qi Yuan scanned around and noticed a warning line around Wu Yunting, with several black-suited bodyguards nearby.

    ¡°Wu Yunting is free and open to the public. It¡¯s probably some rich second-generation who booked the place. It¡¯s no big deal; I¡¯m also a rich second-generation. Small issue.¡± Han Qianyun replied casually.

    Such scenes were very common in Qin Yuan Country.

    Ordinary citizens were used to it and had no objections.

    After all, as a joke goes, the debt of gratitude to the nobles can never be fully repaid, even in a lifetime.

    Let¡¯s be realistic, does having objections do any good?

    On television, in textbooks, and even in the constitution, there was no pretense.

    The Seven Martial Star Families even have immunity from the death penalty.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit inappropriate to use privilege like this?¡± Qi Yuan was a bit hesitant.

    He had never used his privileges.

    For instance, when he was in the Canglan Realm, if he wanted to access a sect¡¯s library, he could have used his privileges to force those people to open the library.

    But he didn¡¯t use his privileges. Instead, he relied on his strong personal charm and the hospitality of some sect members.

    Whenever he visited, they would open the library.

    ¡°How about I use my personal charm to persuade them?¡± Qi Yuan thought about using the same approach he had used in the Canglan Realm.

    ¡°Leave this small matter to me!¡± Han Qianyun patted his chest and promised.

    He was just about to look for the person in charge when a voice suddenly came.

    ¡°Young master, you¡¯re here?¡± An elderly man, looking like a butler, approached, his face filled with joy.

    ¡°Uncle Wang, what are you doing here?¡± Han Qianyun looked puzzled, ¡°Is my big brother the one who booked Wu Yunting? Great, he can open a back door for me; I have a friend who wants to go too!¡±

    Surprised that it was his family, Han Qianyun felt this was even easier to handle.

    At that moment, a group of people approached.

    Leading them was a middle-aged man and a beautiful woman with exotic features.

    The middle-aged man saw Han Qianyun, his eyes showing a hint of surprise. He then turned to the woman beside him and said, ¡°Princess Huansha, this is my younger brother Han Qianyun. He¡¯s a martial artist at the peak of martial arts.

    You¡¯re interested in martial arts, aren¡¯t you? My brother can be your guide and explain Wu Yunting to you.¡±

    Princess Huansha was a princess from Liulis Country and had come to Longtai City in Qin Yuan Country for a visit.

    Han Qianyun¡¯s elder brother, Han Kang, was responsible for accompanying her and ensuring her safety.

    Now seeing his brother here, Han Kang simply decided to have his brother accompany her.

    Han Qianyun, hearing this, was a bit speechless, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m already accompanying a friend.¡±

    He said this and then looked at Princess Huansha, ¡°I apologize, Your Highness, but I¡¯m unavailable today.¡±

    Accompanying a princess from a small country or a cultivator?

    Is there even a choice?

    Of course, it¡¯s the cultivator!

    Can a princess give him a fantastic wife?

    Obviously not.

    Han Kang, hearing his brother, looked slightly surprised.

    Although his brother was always a bit lax, he wouldn¡¯t make mistakes on important matters.

    In front of him, his brother had never refused his orders.

    Today, his brother refused him in front of him.

    Han Kang was already displeased.

    ¡°This friend of yours... is he from the martial arts circle?¡± Han Kang looked at Qi Yuan, ¡°How about this friend comes to Wu Yunting tomorrow? I¡¯ll have my brother accompany you then.¡±

    Han Kang¡¯s words carried an unquestionable tone, exuding the dominance of a superior.

    ¡°I¡¯m already here today; why should I come tomorrow? Is Wu Yunting your family¡¯s property? Why don¡¯t you come tomorrow?¡± Qi Yuan was unwilling.

    Before Han Kang could respond, a man with gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a secretary, spoke.

    ¡°Wu Yunting... actually is part of our family¡¯s property.¡±

    Qi Yuan froze at this, caught off guard.

    ¡°This...¡±

    He felt a bit unhappy.

    In this game, he was always limited.

    He had already decided that when he got rich, he would buy Gongxing outright.

    Then, in situations like today, he could retaliate confidently.

    ¡°What, Wu Yunting is your family¡¯s property? Sorry, but Gongxing is mine.¡±

    Unfortunately, Gongxing wasn¡¯t his yet.

    He was just a small, weak, and helpless player, getting bullied, heavily ridiculed, and not daring to fight back, standing there like a lackey.

    At that moment, Princess Huansha¡¯s eyes showed a hint of interest, ¡°Are both of these gentlemen martial artists? I¡¯ve always admired your country¡¯s martial arts.

    How about this young woman joins these two in touring Wu Yunting? What do you all think? Also, since we¡¯re all young, it¡¯ll be more relaxed to play together.¡±

    Princess Huansha¡¯s proposal caused a stir.

    Han Kang was momentarily taken aback, then, after some thought, he said, ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡±

    The others had no objections either.

    Anyway, Wu Yunting was under their control.

    With good security measures outside, there would be no problem.

    Han Kang looked at Han Qianyun and Qi Yuan, his tone stern with a hint of pressure, ¡°Once inside Wu Yunting, make sure to protect Princess Huansha and don¡¯t let anything happen to her.¡±

    Han Qianyun looked at Qi Yuan, a face full of embarrassment, ¡°Mr. Qi, what should we do?¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, after all, it¡¯s their property.¡± Qi Yuan was also quite helpless, feeling his own weakness and helplessness.

 Chapter 312: The Best Way to Protect the Princess

    Chapter 312: The Best Way to Protect the Princess

    Princess Huansha wore a bright smile on her face, and her beauty truly lived up to her title.

    Compared to those glamorous celebrities online, her looks were no less impressive. More importantly, she exuded a unique aura.

    "I''m grateful to both of you for taking me on a tour of Wuyun Pavilion," Princess Huansha said with a radiant smile.

    Han Kang reminded them once again, "People from the Wu Cult are hiding in Longtai City, intending to do harm to Princess Huansha.

    The two of you must ensure the princess''s safety, even if it costs your lives."

    Han Kang''s words sounded alarming, but in truth, there was nothing to worry about.

    Wuyun Pavilion had long been under their control.

    If the Wu Cult managed to harm Princess Huansha in Longtai City, it would indeed be absurd.

    However, his main purpose in saying this was to remind the two to ensure the princess''s safety.

    "You all don¡¯t need to follow us. A large group would be too dull," Princess Huansha said. Then she happily walked toward Qi Yuan and Han Qianyun.

    Han Kang watched this scene, a thoughtful look on his face.

    His younger brother''s attitude toward him was different today.

    Could it be that... he heard something?

    Han Kang gave a few more instructions, and the minister from the Liulis Kingdom also spoke briefly before they felt assured enough to let the three enter Wuyun Pavilion.

    The princess had an alarm device on her body. If there was any danger, it would sound.

    Most importantly, if there was an attack, the princess¡¯s light energy shield would activate, capable of withstanding a sniper rifle shot.

    This time, the three of them entered Wuyun Pavilion without any obstruction.

    Princess Huansha seemed very talkative. She looked at Qi Yuan and slowly said, "This gentleman seems to be downcast. Did something happen to upset you?"

    Qi Yuan nodded earnestly, "I''m too poor."

    Princess Huansha was slightly taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Qi Yuan to be so direct.

    Her impression of Qi Yuan slightly worsened.

    She felt that Qi Yuan was trying to get close to her.

    It was understandable to try to climb the social ladder, but doing so without contributing anything was off-putting.

    "I only have 100 million Qin Yuan coins," Qi Yuan said, his face showing even more worry.

    Princess Huansha was completely stunned at that moment.

    The thoughts that had surfaced in her mind just now seemed ridiculous.

    "One hundred million Qin Yuan coins is already a lot," Huansha knew the exchange rate between the two countries. One hundred million Qin Yuan coins was a huge amount, a figure an ordinary person couldn¡¯t hope to earn in a lifetime.

    "Not at all. I can''t even buy the things I want," Qi Yuan said, looking disappointed.

    "Mr. Qi, what do you want to buy that requires 100 million? Are you planning to buy a fighter jet?" Han Qianyun asked curiously.

    "I want to buy... the whole planet of Gongxing," Qi Yuan said seriously. "I was just humiliated, almost unable to enter Wuyun Pavilion. I need to buy Gongxing and restore my dignity, or else... it¡¯s too humiliating."

    "..." Han Qianyun.

    Princess Huansha: "...Are you joking, sir?"

    Buying Gongxing? He sure had some nerve.

    Now she completely understood that she had misunderstood Qi Yuan. He wasn''t asking for money or seeking her help; he was just too humorous.

    "I really don¡¯t have much money. A while ago, I kept seeing videos of some 20-year-old girls from An Chuan and Jing Can who became the newest billionaires with 8 quadrillion in assets.

    Compared to them, I am incredibly poor.

    How much beef would I need to cut back on to save up such an amount?" Qi Yuan genuinely felt the disparity between people.

    He wondered whether he should follow those accounts and perhaps engage in a little fraud someday?

    Someone with 8 quadrillion, if he could deceive even half of that amount a few times, wouldn¡¯t that be enough to buy Gongxing?

    However, there was still a problem with that idea.

    "You¡¯re a princess, right? You must have great connections. Can you help me find out something?" Qi Yuan looked at Princess Huansha with an expectant face.

    Princess Huansha felt like she was on a roller coaster; her judgment kept changing. She responded warmly, "What would you like to know, sir?"

    "I want to know where I can buy Gongxing and roughly how much it would cost," Qi Yuan asked his question.

    He thought it was time to start saving.

    When eating beef noodles, he shouldn¡¯t add extra beef anymore.

    He had to save up for the purchase of Gongxing.

    "Um... I don¡¯t know," Princess Huansha replied with an awkward smile.

    If it was a one-off joke, it would still be considered humorous.

    But saying this repeatedly... seemed like he was unhinged.

    Hearing this answer, Qi Yuan was quite disappointed.

    Han Qianyun, on the other hand, was sweating profusely.

    He had interacted with Qi Yuan and knew his strength and personality.

    Was Qi Yuan being serious?

    He dared not continue this topic, so he changed the subject, "Princess Huansha, it seems the Wu Cult and the Liulis Kingdom are not hostile toward each other. Why would the Wu Cult target you?"

    Han Qianyun enjoyed gossip, especially when it involved the aristocracy and royalty.

    It looked like a great scandal, full of gossip.

    Princess Huansha''s eyes flashed with a hint of anger when she heard this, "The Wu Cult claims that I am the reincarnation of the daughter of the Wu God and that I need to return to the heavens to stay by the Wu God''s side day and night!"

    When Princess Huansha was born, the King of Liulis Kingdom even invited a priest from the Wu Kingdom to give blessings.

    This was very common in royal families.

    However, there was an issue with this blessing.

    The priest from the Wu Cult claimed that Princess Huansha was the reincarnation of Wu God¡¯s most beloved youngest daughter.

    This youngest daughter, naturally mischievous, secretly ran from the heavens to the human world and needed to return to the heavens to accompany the Wu God.

    As for how to return to the heavens, that was simple¡ªdeath.

    Therefore, the Wu Cult had been plotting to kill Princess Huansha.

    The King of Liulis Kingdom was, of course, furious about this.

    Letting a dignified princess die wasn¡¯t acceptable emotionally, and it would also bring disgrace to the royal family.

    However, since there were many trades between Wu Kingdom and Liulis Kingdom, this matter had not been escalated publicly.

    "The Wu Cult people are shameless. I even said their Wu God is my wife. Will they put Wu God in my bed then?" Han Qianyun remarked.

    "You have a point," Princess Huansha giggled, covering her mouth.

    Qi Yuan looked at Han Qianyun coldly and said, "You scumbag, your wife''s blood hasn''t even cooled yet, and you''re already thinking about a new wife!"

    Although Qi Yuan was also a bit of a scumbag, he wouldn¡¯t stoop to Han Qianyun¡¯s level, where he declared anyone, regardless of their gender, as his wife.

    Qi Yuan shrugged and walked deeper into Wuyun Pavilion.

    Han Qianyun hesitated but eventually followed him.

    Right now, his heart was full of uncertainty.

    He could only pray to the gods for the princess''s good luck.

    The two ignored Princess Huansha.

    After all, wasn¡¯t protecting the princess the goal?

    Turning her into a paramecium¡ªdoesn''t that count as protection?

    At this moment, the two arrived at Wuyun Pavilion.

    Ahead stood a thirteen-story wooden building.

    Han Qianyun, by now, had somewhat recovered, his mind no longer muddled.

    "Wuyun Pavilion was built thirteen hundred years ago. The building we see now is a reconstruction.

    The entire building, except for one place, has been passed down from thirteen hundred years ago and is the most precious part of Wuyun Pavilion.

    That is the Wuyun Carving.

    The Wuyun Carving is made from specially treated Leiyin Wood, which has been submerged under rivers and mountains for a hundred years and does not decay for a thousand years.

    The Wuyun Carving contains the traces left by over a thousand martial artists over a millennium, for future generations to observe and learn from."

    Mentioning the Wuyun Carving, Han Qianyun''s eyes were filled with admiration.

    "Why is it called Wuyun Pavilion and not Wuyun Tower?" Qi Yuan¡¯s focus once again surprised Han Qianyun.

    "Maybe... the builder liked pavilions," Han Qianyun answered offhandedly.

    The two took the elevator and soon reached the top floor of Wuyun Pavilion.

    At the top floor was a Wuyun Carving.

    The Wuyun Carving was about ten square meters in size.

    The entire carving was a wooden yellow color, with purple hues, exuding a subtle aura of nobility.

    Such wood seemed perfect for making coffins.

    The Wuyun Carving had various marks.

    Finger imprints, sword cuts, and even large footprints.

    "The martial arts strength of those predecessors was truly terrifying, to leave marks on the Wuyun Carving with just their fingers.

    Although I have reached the pinnacle of martial arts, I can¡¯t leave such marks with just my fingers.

    These predecessors, in terms of their own strength, could probably rival warriors who have taken advanced genetic agents.

    Without breaking through the limits of martial arts, they already possessed such strength. Breaking through... what would that be like?" Han Qianyun sighed.

    The martial arts lineage, from ancient times to now, has grown weaker and weaker.

    According to historical records, two thousand years ago, martial artists flourished on Gongxing, and those who broke the limits of martial arts were as numerous as carp in the river.

    But now, in a thousand years, except for Luo Bufan, no one has broken the limits of martial arts.

    "You foreigners have quite a mix of bloodlines¡ªchickens, ducks, geckos, birds, dung beetles..."

    Qi Yuan casually commented as he looked at the marks left on the carving.

    "It seems your ancestors were all Xu Xian."

    Qi Yuan said, looking intently at Han Qianyun.

    "It looks like your preference for ''impressive'' wives is not your own fault; it¡¯s an inherited problem from your ancestors."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes could see hidden information.

    Through the Wuyun Carving, he could tell that those who left marks on this carving had various bloodlines within them.

    All sorts of small animals were represented.

    But at that point, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly.

    Because he realized the irony had come back to haunt him.

    Ning Tao¡¯s previous incarnation was a golden canary on Mount Jiupan.

    If he married the canary and had children, wouldn¡¯t it mean... his descendants would be somewhat like these foreigners?

    Han Qianyun was still baffled, his mind spinning in circles.

    Because, once again, he couldn¡¯t understand what Qi Yuan was talking about.

    "Mr. Qi, is what you said about bloodlines... true?"

    "Yes, you¡¯re a descendant of the Rat King, without a doubt." Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    "Huh? Evolution theory is fake? Darwin''s coffin lid can¡¯t stay shut!" Han Qianyun decided to trust Qi Yuan at that moment.

    After all, Mr. Qi was a deity.

    Deities have vast knowledge, which is expected.

    "Historical records don¡¯t mention where you came from, so... it¡¯s possible you are indeed descendants of the Rat King."

    Qi Yuan could fabricate rumors at will.

    After all, it was just folklore; he could say whatever he wanted.

    Some say when Sima Zhao killed the emperor, why didn¡¯t he kill the historians too? That way, they wouldn¡¯t record the event, and he wouldn¡¯t be accused of regicide.

    Immediately, someone would say they read in folklore that Sima Zhao had a fondness for the emperor, but the emperor refused, and Zhao killed him in anger.

    "Am I really a descendant of rats?" Han Qianyun pondered for a moment and decided not to think further.

    Even if it were true, would that mean he¡¯d stop living in a mansion and start living in a hole in the ground?

    Would he stop taking medicine when sick and start eating rat poison?

    "Which mark on here is left by Luo Bufan?" Qi Yuan asked.

    To be honest, on this carving, Qi Yuan had already seen at least ten marks with power surpassing the limits of martial arts.

    It showed that in ancient times, those who broke the limits of martial arts still existed but kept their identities hidden and didn¡¯t flaunt their strength.

    "This one," Han Qianyun pointed to a slender finger mark.

    "This guy... has six fingers?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    Han Qianyun was even more confused.

    There¡¯s only one finger mark here, so how did he deduce six fingers?

    Qi Yuan carefully examined the finger mark, his expression quite calm.

    "It seems the key to breaking the limits of martial arts lies in the bloodline."

    This finger mark provided Qi Yuan with a lot of useful information.

    Luo Bufan was a ruthless person.

    To break the limits of martial arts... he even...

    But Qi Yuan, in this game, was an orphan, and he couldn¡¯t go as far as Luo Bufan to try everything.

    So, his breakthrough would hinge on the mutated sea creatures.

 Chapter 313: Desperate for Progress

    Chapter 313: Desperate for Progress

    By the side of the Wu Yun Carving, Qi Yuan fell into a brief contemplation.

    He memorized all the marks on the carving, one by one.

    "Do you think Luo Bufan really broke through the limits of martial arts and shattered the void?" Han Qianyun asked in a daze, staring at the marks left by Luo Bufan.

    Luo Bufan was the most recently recorded person in history to have broken through the limits of martial arts.

    As a child, Han Qianyun admired Luo Bufan the most and regarded him as an idol.

    It could be said that many martial artists in the martial arts community held great admiration for Luo Bufan.

    "Maybe he shattered the void, or maybe... he just died," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    He remembered when he met Yu Xiu in that punitive space.

    Yu Xiu... was already a dead man.

    So, this world... has an underworld.

    Did Yu Xiu come from the underworld?

    Qi Yuan considered many possibilities.

    As for breaking through the limits of martial arts, Qi Yuan already had an idea.

    "It seems that I should also start preparing to break through the limits of martial arts," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    "??? Wait, Mr. Qi, you want to break through the limits of martial arts?" Han Qianyun was a bit confused.

    He had seen Qi Yuan in action.

    This kind of cultivator, like a divine being, yet he was aiming to break through the limits of martial arts.

    Was this... just a hobby?

    Suddenly, he thought of Zhang Yang the Southern Lion; compared to Qi Yuan, Zhang Yang¡¯s hobby wasn¡¯t even a hobby.

    "Do you mean that after looking at the Wu Yun Carving, you¡¯ve realized something... Did you learn something from the mark left by Luo Bufan? Are you planning to imitate Luo Bufan to break through the limits of martial arts?"

    Qi Yuan shook his head. "I won¡¯t imitate Luo Bufan. Firstly, I have no relatives. Secondly, his path isn¡¯t suitable for me.

    The little treasures in the sea are more suitable for me."

    Han Qianyun felt a surge of emotions.

    Cultivators were indeed cultivators, having already discovered how to break through the limits of martial arts.

    "By the way, your family is quite wealthy. Could you lend me a yacht? I¡¯m planning to go to sea to find an opportunity to break through the limits of martial arts." Qi Yuan asked to borrow something.

    He was thick-skinned and had no qualms about borrowing things when needed.

    "Ahem... I don''t have a yacht," Han Qianyun replied awkwardly.

    Although he was a second-generation rich kid, he wasn¡¯t living as luxuriously as some of the others.

    His father died early, and the power was already in his older brother¡¯s hands.

    Compared to ordinary people, his life was heavenly, but compared to other rich kids, it was rather tight.

    "But Princess Huansha definitely has one!" Han Qianyun quickly said, "You can ask her to borrow it!"

    "Does the Paramecium Princess have one?" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up, and he mused, "I¡¯ve protected her so well. She probably won¡¯t refuse if I ask to borrow a yacht, right?"

    Qi Yuan thought that this was a sure thing.

    After all, he protected Princess Huansha with such care, even going so far as to nearly halt her cell division.

    This extended her lifespan by at least ten minutes.

    Han Qianyun, standing nearby, was speechless.

    Was this called good protection?

    Of course, he didn¡¯t dare to argue with Qi Yuan.

    "Let¡¯s go find the princess and borrow a yacht," Qi Yuan said with a wave of his hand, heading back to where they had come from.

    At this moment, Han Qianyun was quite nervous.

    He was afraid that the princess, now turned into a paramecium, might die.

    If he remembered correctly, the lifespan of a paramecium wasn¡¯t very long.

    ...

    A day later.

    The luxurious yacht was moving slowly.

    Qi Yuan stood on the yacht, his expression calm.

    Princess Huansha stood behind him, a look of reverence in her eyes.

    The ten minutes from the previous day were undoubtedly the most magical experience of her life.

    Faced with this extraordinary man in front of her, she didn¡¯t have a trace of her usual princessly pride; instead, she was like a servant.

    "Hmm, head southwest," Qi Yuan said at this moment.

    Princess Huansha immediately ordered the intelligent robot to steer the yacht in the direction Qi Yuan mentioned.

    The yacht immediately sped towards the southwest.

    Qi Yuan stood on the yacht, his eyes fixed on the sea surface.

    He was searching for the mutated sea creature he needed.

    However, he had found almost nothing over the past half-day.

    Mutated sea creatures were not easy to find.

    Moreover, finding a mutated sea creature with the same bloodline as Qi Yuan was even more difficult.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan had transformed into a radar, constantly scanning.

    Princess Huansha was full of curiosity. She had many questions in her heart but remained obediently silent.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan spoke, "Stop."

    As he spoke, he casually grabbed the mutated sea creature.

    The fish-like creature, desperate for progress, exploded instantly.

    One drop of blood was extracted from the creature¡¯s body, while the rest of it turned to mush.

    With a flick of his hand, Qi Yuan summoned a flame.

    The remaining mush was reduced to dust under the fire.

    "I always keep my promises and never deceive sea creatures."

    With those words, Qi Yuan scattered the dust into the sea.

    Meanwhile, he swallowed the drop of blood.

    "Hmm... My martial arts talent has increased slightly, but the bottleneck... it''s still a bit far off."

    Qi Yuan longed for a status panel; it would make things so much easier.

    He felt that if he had a status panel, allowing him to monitor his progress in real-time, his cultivation speed would definitely skyrocket.

    As time passed, more and more mutated sea creatures gathered near Qi Yuan.

    On the first day, he caught eighteen of them.

    On the second day, the number of sea creatures increased significantly, reaching a total of one hundred and thirty.

    This made Qi Yuan sigh, "There are indeed many creatures in this world eager to progress."

    As the days went by, Qi Yuan captured an increasing number of mutated sea creatures.

    Moreover, the speed at which they appeared was accelerating.

    Meanwhile, on the surface of the ocean, a large yacht appeared.

    The yacht was owned by a pair of siblings, accompanied by about a dozen other wealthy second-generation individuals.

    At that moment, a man in black leaned against the railing, staring at the sea, seemingly lost in thought.

    As the owner of the yacht, Liu Yu, walked over gracefully, she looked at the man in black with curiosity.

    This man in black was someone they had found at sea.

    According to him, he had been swimming and ran into some trouble, leading to his rescue by the sibling pair, after which he regained consciousness on their yacht.

    "Chen Fan, you seem to be deep in thought. What¡¯s on your mind?" Liu Yu asked curiously, eyeing Chen Fan¡¯s handsome face.

    This man, although young, had an air of world-weariness about him.

    Liu Yu, who had a thing for "mature men," was quite taken by this.

    "I have something on my mind... Miss Liu, could you steer the yacht in the direction I suggest? I will reward you generously afterward," Chen Fan said, his eyes seeming to penetrate the depths of the ocean, where he saw a mutated sea creature.

    Over the past few days, he had spotted more than one mutated sea creature heading toward the same location.

    He had a bad feeling about this.

    "This..." Liu Yu hesitated.

    They had planned this outing meticulously.

    However, looking at Chen Fan¡¯s handsome face, Liu Yu smiled, "Not a problem."

    "Thank you," Chen Fan said, cupping his fists in gratitude, looking rather righteous.

    About three hours later, Qi Yuan sat on his yacht, a satisfied look on his face.

    Today, he had caught another two hundred mutated sea creatures.

    The amount of blood he had gathered was growing larger and larger.

    At this moment, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, "Sigh, these sea creatures are so diligent and eager to progress. How could I possibly justify slacking off?"

    Just then, Princess Huansha approached, "Mr. Qi, a yacht not far away has sent a signal. They want to board our ship, saying it''s a matter of great urgency."

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan looked up and immediately noticed the yacht in the distance.

    His gaze quickly locked onto the man in black on the yacht.

    In an instant, he detected a hint of death energy.

    "A person similar to Yu Xiu?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s interest was piqued.

    If it had been someone else, he might have outright refused.

    But he was very curious about people like Yu Xiu.

    "Let¡¯s meet."

    "Alright."

    About ten minutes later, Liu Yu and her brother accompanied the man in black, Chen Fan, onto Princess Huansha''s yacht.

    Liu Yu had a gun holstered at her waist, just in case of any unexpected situations.

    Upon seeing that there was only one man and one woman on the yacht, Liu Yu''s wariness eased.

    This couple looked like just another pair of wealthy second-generation people out on a honeymoon.

    At this moment, the man in black, Chen Fan, spoke up. He looked at Qi Yuan, then at the sea, his eyes narrowing. "Are you fishing?"

    Qi Yuan smiled. "If I answer your question, will you answer one of mine? That would only be fair."

    Qi Yuan''s response left Chen Fan momentarily stunned.

    He had encountered all sorts of people, but this was the first time he had met someone who spoke to him like this.

    "Alright," he agreed after a brief pause.

    "Yes, I¡¯m fishing.

    Now it¡¯s my turn. How does one enter your world?" Qi Yuan asked casually, stretching his waist.

    Chen Fan¡¯s expression changed slightly.

    Liu Yu, her brother, and Princess Huansha were all confused, not understanding what Qi Yuan was talking about.

    At this moment, Chen Fan looked at Qi Yuan more closely. "You wouldn¡¯t want to enter it. You have to die first... to get in."

 Chapter 314: Mythical Tianxuan?

    Chapter 314: Mythical Tianxuan?

    The Liu siblings looked bewildered. Princess Huansha, on the other hand, was filled with curiosity.

    Chen Fan''s words left them confused.

    Chen Fan''s world¡ªdoes one have to die to enter it?

    What does that mean?

    The underworld?

    Qi Yuan, however, seemed thoughtful. ¡°You can only enter after dying¡ªis there any other way?¡±

    Since he hadn¡¯t finished his game yet, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t ready to die.

    "Now it''s my turn to ask... Is what you¡¯re using to fish for sea creatures a strange crystal containing a sea creature inside?" Chen Fan asked seriously.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yuan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s your turn to tell me another way.¡±

    Chen Fan continued, ¡°Let me see it first, and then I will answer the rest of your questions.¡±

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate. Who cares about scheming and trying to outsmart each other?

    That wasn¡¯t his style.

    If the other party tried to deceive him, he could always kill him with a single strike.

    With a flick of his wrist, the water splashed, and a cubic meter of transparent crystal flew out of the ocean.

    Inside the transparent crystal, there was indeed a mutated sea creature.

    Upon seeing this, the Liu siblings widened their eyes. ¡°What immense strength! That must weigh hundreds of pounds, right?¡±

    Lifting something that weighs over a hundred pounds with just a flick¡ªhe must have taken high-grade genetic agents.

    Chen Fan, standing nearby, was also surprised.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to find a hidden dragon in the wilderness.

    The transparent crystal, along with the mutated sea creature inside, weighed far more than a hundred pounds¡ªmore like a thousand, nearly ten thousand pounds.

    An ordinary blood martial artist couldn¡¯t possess such immense strength.Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    His gaze landed on the mutated sea creature, his expression becoming more complicated. After a few moments, he sighed in relief, ¡°Its aura is gone...¡±

    He had come here after detecting the presence of the Moli Shayu King.

    When he saw the sea creatures swimming toward this direction, he feared the Moli Shayu King had broken free from its seal.

    Although the powerful Sky Eye weapon existed now, if the Moli Shayu King ran rampant, it would still cause significant casualties.

    So, if he had found the Moli Shayu King still alive, he would have persuaded the man before him to reseal it.

    Now that the sea creature¡¯s aura had dissipated, there was no need for concern.

    "Alright, now answer my question. Besides dying, is there another way to enter your world?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    This matter was crucial to him.

    He even suspected that the path to becoming a Spirit Martial Master was in the place the man mentioned¡ªwhere one could only go after death.

    Chen Fan gave Qi Yuan a peculiar look. ¡°With your strength, logically speaking... you should have been there already.

    Once you break through the limits of martial arts and become a blood martial artist, you can... sense the Bloodscape Land, and roam the Yellow Springs in a mystical state.¡±

    When he had broken through the limits of martial arts, he had glimpsed a corner of the Yellow Springs.

    Any martial artist who broke through the limits could sense the Bloodscape Land and enter the Yellow Springs in a unique way.

    ¡°However, there¡¯s only one chance to do that,¡± Chen Fan recalled. ¡°The longer you stay there, the more benefits you gain, but... the greater the downsides. It can contaminate your bloodline, leading to a shortened lifespan.¡±

    Chen Fan revealed much useful information.

    Qi Yuan listened attentively, a curious expression in his eyes.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Chen Fan hesitated for a moment, then finally chose to explain, ¡°The path of martial arts is about bloodline¡ªthe stronger the bloodline, the stronger the power.

    And there... the Bloodscape Land has a vast number of compatible bloodlines that can quickly enhance martial arts cultivation.¡±

    ¡°But... because the bloodlines are different, devouring too much can cause conflict and madness?¡± Qi Yuan speculated.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Fan nodded, his gaze on Qi Yuan carrying a hint of appreciation.

    Clearly, Qi Yuan had never been there, yet he could deduce such things.

    It showed his deep understanding of the martial arts path.

    ¡°So, if you want to go further on the martial arts path, you must enter that place.

    But alas... that place is just a prison.

    If you haven''t been there, I advise you not to go.¡±

    Having said his piece, Chen Fan didn¡¯t waste any more time. He left with the Liu siblings.

    Qi Yuan watched Chen Fan¡¯s back, waving as he called out, ¡°Thanks, NPC passerby, for all the explanations.

    Although you don''t have a name, if I ever make a movie and become a director, I¡¯ll make you the protagonist.¡±

    Chen Fan ignored Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    In an instant, the only ones left on the yacht were Qi Yuan, Princess Huansha, and a pile of mutated sea creatures.

    Qi Yuan looked at these sea creatures and whispered, ¡°If you guys were content to lie flat and didn¡¯t want to improve, honestly, it would be a bit harder for me to find you.¡±

    As he spoke, he showed no mercy and waved his hand.

    The hundreds of sea creatures turned into a slurry all at once.

    This time, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t promise to let them return to the sea.

    Each sea creature produced a drop of blood.

    The Moli Shayu King, however, produced three drops of bean-sized blood.

    Qi Yuan collected each of these blood drops.

    ¡°Grasshopper Princess, let¡¯s go back.¡±

    Having gathered the blood, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t want to consume it and break through to the limits of martial arts while still at sea.

    According to Chen Fan, when breaking through the limits of martial arts, every martial artist would have a chance to sense the Bloodscape Land and roam into that realm in a special state.

    If he broke through now and his soul traveled over, what would happen if the yacht flipped over?

    Better to return to the hotel.

    There, he could set up an array before making his breakthrough¡ªit would be much safer that way.

    Half a day later.

    Inside the hotel.

    Qi Yuan''s surroundings were filled with formations.

    These formations were enough to ensure his safety.

    Even in the event of an earthquake or flood, they would not be able to dislodge him.

    At this moment, he flicked his finger.

    Immediately, hundreds of drops of blood floated around Qi Yuan.

    As the saying goes, ¡°Nine out of ten gamblers lose,¡± and this character had amassed a considerable debt with the gambling den.

    Little did anyone know that the gambling den in Yunyin County was owned by a pack of weasels.

    Among them, Lord Huang Si came to collect Qi Yuan¡¯s debt. Unable to repay it, he offered his child bride as payment.

    As it turned out, Lord Huang Si fancied Xiaomei''s type.

    Now, Lord Huang Si had come to collect his bride, ready to take Xiaomei back.

    At this moment, Xiaomei held the kitchen knife, tears streaming down her face like rain: ¡°You saved my life, so I owe you my life. If I marry Lord Huang Si, we¡¯re even!¡±

    Xiaomei¡¯s gaze at Qi Yuan was filled with anger, fear, and disappointment.

    Qi Yuan shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re even now.¡±

    After all, this was just a game setting.

    If the game had assigned him a father, would he have to call him "Dad" if he met him?

    Moreover, he had now descended in his true form.

    His real body was not just the character''s body in the game but had been adjusted in appearance and clothing.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s cold and heartless words made Xiaomei fall into utter despair.

    She had hoped Qi Yuan would repent and take her away from Yunyin County.

    But now...

    At that moment, a knock on the door broke the silence of the night.

    ¡°Qi Er, open the door! Is the wedding dress ready? You coward, hurry up and bring out the bride! Don¡¯t keep Lord Huang Si waiting!¡±

    Xiaomei held the kitchen knife, her face covered in tears, but instead of appearing pitiful like a weeping beauty, her upper lip was smeared with snot.

    There was a hint of interest in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Monsters, huh?¡±

    Honestly, he found the monsters in this world quite intriguing.

    This world¡¯s bloodline martial arts were rather fascinating.

    However, as Qi Yuan moved toward the door, he hesitated for a moment.

    Because... his cultivation level... had decreased.

    In the real world, he was close to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, just a step away from the Golden Core stage.

    But now, his cultivation had dropped to the peak of the Qi Refinement stage.

    ¡°What is this...¡±

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

    It was his first time encountering such a situation.

    It was different from any other game he had played before.

    It was as if his cultivation level had forcibly dropped by an entire level.

    At this point, Qi Yuan remembered the Great Wisdom True Lord¡¯s lessons.

    In the Yang God realm, there is a stage called the "Ultimate Truth."

    Yang Gods below the Ultimate Truth realm who enter a world with completely different rules will have their cultivation level forcibly reduced by one major stage.

    Upon reaching the minor Ultimate Truth stage, it would only drop by a minor stage.

    Now, Qi Yuan found himself in this situation.

    His magical cultivation had decreased by one major stage, but his martial arts cultivation remained.

    This made Qi Yuan cautiously alert but not overly concerned.

    After all, it was just a game¡ªfun was the priority.

    He opened the door and walked into the courtyard, swinging the door wide open.

    Outside stood several burly men, broad-shouldered and ferocious-looking.

    Beside them was a sedan chair, and next to it stood an elderly man in silk robes. The old man had a gentle and kindly appearance, the kind that would look like a good person on TV.

    The old man seemed to be coated in a thick layer of perfume, and from afar, Qi Yuan could smell the strange scent.

    It was like a stinky man wearing cheap, overpowering cologne standing next to you in a broken-down elevator that hadn¡¯t been cleaned for years¡ªthe smell was pungent.

    This old man was Lord Huang Si. At first glance, he still looked human, but upon closer inspection, he had a pair of mouse ears.

    Before the impolite visitors could speak, Qi Yuan spoke first: ¡°Are you a mouse-eared man?¡±

    He had seen cat-eared girls before, but now he was seeing a mouse-eared man.

    This shattered all his fantasies about these... creatures.

    However, in this vast world, there is always something surprising.

    Maybe some guys aren¡¯t into cat girls but prefer the style of a mouse-eared man.

    ¡°How dare you speak to Lord Huang Si like that? Where¡¯s the bride? Hurry up!¡± A burly man in a short linen shirt with his chest exposed, revealing yellow chest hair, shouted.

    ¡°Hey, yellow-haired guy, you¡¯re just an NPC. How dare you talk to me like that?

    Don¡¯t you know that according to Tianxuan law, trespassing is illegal?¡± Qi Yuan was good at using legal weapons.

    Though the law is a tool of the ruling class, Qi Yuan, as their successor, found it useful too.

    Moreover, as the father of two daughters, he despised yellow hair throughout his life.

    Though this yellow hair wasn¡¯t on their head, who said yellow chest hair didn¡¯t count?

    The yellow-haired man was furious and was about to attack Qi Yuan.

    He had done this countless times before.

    But then Lord Huang Si gently said, ¡°Today is a joyous day; let¡¯s not shed any blood.

    I know you¡¯re upset about me marrying your child bride, Qi Er.

    But you signed the contract to sell yourself.¡±

    Lord Huang Si wasn¡¯t human, but he loved pretending to be one and acting in a human way.

    ¡°Qi Er signed it, but what does that have to do with me, Qi Yuan?¡±

    Qi Yuan cursed and threw a punch.

    This time, he didn¡¯t use any magical spells but relied on martial arts.

    He had just broken through in martial arts and needed some practice.

    Faced with these minor bosses, Qi Yuan felt the thrill of gaming again.

    ¡°Kid, are you looking for trouble? Think you can mess with Lord Huang Si after learning some fake moves? You''re looking for death!¡±

    The yellow-haired man was furious and charged at Qi Yuan, clearly a trained fighter.

    He had beaten Qi Er yesterday and did not take Qi Yuan seriously.

 Chapter 315: The Demon Subjugation Division

    Chapter 315: The Demon Subjugation Division

    As Huangmao shouted, the remaining four men around him started to surround Qi Yuan.

    Their faces were filled with ferocity, their fists clenched, and a roguish sneer in their eyes.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan swung his fist, his voice cold and sharp: "According to Tianxuan law, those who serve demons are to be executed without mercy!"

    Huangmao laughed loudly, "What time do you think it is, still talking about Tianxuan law!"

    However, his smile quickly froze on his face.

    A pair of iron fists came crashing into his chest at a speed he couldn''t react to.

    His stomach churned with acid, stars danced in his eyes, and his bloodshot eyes bulged as he hunched over like a cooked lobster, his face turning red.

    The burly men beside him paused, momentarily stunned and unsure of how to react.

    In front of them, the young man, his fist covered with a red veil, looked on with disdain, "How long has it been since you last bathed? Luckily, I had the foresight to cover my hand with this veil; otherwise, your chest hair would have dirtied it."

    Unfortunately, Huangmao was in no condition to respond to Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    He couldn¡¯t even breathe.

    Not far away, Xiaomei¡¯s eyes widened in shock, the scene unfolding before her far beyond her expectations.

    But before she could fully process her shock, Qi Yuan casually reached over to the woodpile and pulled out a butcher''s knife.

    "No wonder the ancients used knives to kill, and modern people use guns¡ªit''s just to avoid getting their hands dirty."

    Holding the butcher''s knife, Qi Yuan seemed to realize a truth.

    With a flash of cold light, Qi Yuan leaped into the air. Utilizing the force of his descending body, he swung the knife downwards.

    Swish! Swish! Swish!

    A head fell to the ground.

    Blood splattered, adding another shade of red to this supposedly festive day.

    Qi Yuan moved swiftly; in the brief moment before the head hit the ground, he swung the butcher''s knife again.

    Blood sprayed in a mist before the smell could spread.

    The people around heard the dull thud of heads hitting the ground.

    Qi Yuan, holding the knife, eyes filled with killing intent, stood like a god of death.

    Huang Sijue¡¯s half-closed eyes now widened in surprise. "A blood martial artist... you¡¯re actually a blood martial artist!"

    However, he was merely surprised.

    "You hid well, secretly breaking through to become a blood martial artist and stepping onto the extraordinary path," Huang Sijue praised with a hint of admiration in his voice, "But don¡¯t think that becoming a blood martial artist means you can act recklessly in Yunyin County. This place is not for you to run wild!"

    Pride gleamed in Huang Sijue¡¯s eyes as he pulled out a cane.

    The cane was crystal clear and white as jade¡ªobviously not a common item.

    "This cane was made from the bones of a blood martial artist," Huang Sijue continued with a kindly tone, "Like you, he thought he could do as he pleased just because he had some skills. My elder brother¡¯s grandson took a liking to his pregnant wife, which should have been an honor for her. But she, like him, didn¡¯t know her place. She ended up dying in my grandnephew¡¯s bed and even bit his lip, drawing blood."

    He spoke slowly, as if telling a story.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t even trouble him, but he thought he could storm into the Huang residence just because he had some skills. My elder brother, seeing how ignorant he was, killed him. I found his bones sturdy, so I asked for a few to make this cane. Oh, and the beads on it are polished from his wife¡¯s skull.¡±

    Xiaomei, standing nearby, broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that the demons in Yunyin County were genuinely man-eaters.

    Qi Yuan remained calm. ¡°You have the setting of a classic villain. I didn¡¯t expect the villain boss from my game would show up in a game within the game.¡±

    His expression didn¡¯t change, surprising Huang Sijue slightly.

    He had shared this story partly because it was natural to warn Qi Er and partly to provoke Qi Yuan.

    Blood martial artists, with inherently incomplete bloodlines, were easily provoked, losing their rationality.

    At such times, their strength might increase slightly, but their speed and agility would greatly decrease.

    Speed was what Huang Sijue excelled at.

    Yet his words had failed to enrage Qi Yuan.

    ¡°You¡¯re smarter than the owner of these bones, but only slightly!¡±

    With these words, Huang Sijue¡¯s slender figure leaped nimbly into the air, like an agile monkey.

    The cane in his hand suddenly attacked Qi Yuan¡¯s back.

    The Crane Dips into the Azure!

    Huang Sijue executed a demon martial technique.

    This martial technique was known for its speed. When fully mastered, it could strike a person thirteen times in an instant.

    One strike could severely wound an ordinary blood martial artist, let alone thirteen.

    Qi Yuan immediately felt the wind behind his back.

    A smile appeared in his eyes. ¡°Footwork!¡±

    His figure flickered, dodging the Crane Dips into the Azure.

    ¡°This martial art in this game... is quite interesting. It gives you a significant boost.¡±

    Martial arts and Daoist techniques were two different concepts.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan''s martial arts cultivation was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, so there was quite a gap.

    In a match purely relying on martial arts, Qi Yuan was likely to be defeated by Elder Huang.

    However, if Qi Yuan employed his Daoist techniques, the outcome...

    ¡°Seems like I should keep a low profile,¡± Qi Yuan said, ever prudent and cautious.

    Yunyin County had someone equivalent to the peak of Qi Refining. Who¡¯s to say there weren''t others comparable to a Yang God?

    He needed to be discreet.

    "Huang Sijue''s elder brother might seek revenge, and I don''t have the time to protect you. You should make a run for it."

    Qi Yuan, being kind-hearted, still considered the NPC''s well-being.

    Hearing this, Xiaomei''s face lit up with joy. "Brother Qi, I''ll leave immediately!"

    Clearly, she had been eager to escape for a while.

    She had no strong feelings for Qi Yuan.

    After all, her life was at stake.

    ¡°Alright, go now,¡± Qi Yuan said, already feeling tired.

    After fighting, he felt quite exhausted.

    He guessed it was due to the massive consumption of blood and energy in martial combat.

    As he watched Xiaomei pack her things and leave, Qi Yuan lay down on his bed and quickly fell asleep.

    Inside the Yunyin County yamen, the county magistrate looked nervous as he faced four men and women dressed in black combat attire, speaking in a flattering tone, "Sirs, all the records related to the Luo and Chen families are here. This incident is rather peculiar. Some say it was caused by demons, while others claim that Luo Bufan went mad after consuming too much demon essence blood and slaughtered both the Luo and Chen families."

    The county magistrate bowed humbly to the four people in front of him, as if addressing his superiors.

    The four people were demon subjugators from the Demon Subjugation Division.

    In these chaotic times, demons ran rampant, and the only reason the Tianxuan Empire could stand was because of the Demon Subjugation Division.

    The establishment date of the Demon Subjugation Division is unknown, and there are no detailed records in historical documents.

    The Demon Subjugation Division gathered a group of unique martial artists from across the land, dedicated to the eradication of demons.

    ¡°Hmm, you may leave,¡± said a hoarse voice.

    The county magistrate, having received permission, breathed a sigh of relief and left the room.

    Inside the room were the four demon subjugators.

    If Qi Yuan were here, he would recognize one of them as Chen Fan, the man he had met on the yacht.

    At this moment, Chen Fan, dressed in black combat attire, had a contemplative expression.

    The other three were flipping through the files, until the only female demon subjugator spoke up, "Captain, what do you make of this mission?"

    Chen Fan, the strongest among them, was chosen as the team leader.

    They were on a mission to Yunyin County.

    On the surface, it appeared impressive, but in reality, it was fraught with danger. Who knew if the county magistrate had any hidden intentions?

    Moreover, the number of demons in Yunyin County was somewhat high.

    They didn''t dare to make a scene, fearing they might provoke the demons.

    Eliminate demons?

    Forget it, their priority was to complete the mission and ensure their survival.

    If it weren¡¯t related to their mission, they wouldn''t actively provoke the demons.

    Chen Fan put down the files, his gaze deep. "We need to find this key figure, Luo Bufan."

    "But... didn''t Luo Bufan ascend?"

    "His ascension is definitely fake. How could an ordinary martial artist ascend?" the round-faced woman said, her tone certain.

    "The mission mentions this person, which means he''s not simple."

    ¡°Oddly enough, if I remember correctly, there was also a Luo Bufan in the real world who broke through the martial arts limit and ascended. Could it be the same person?¡± Yang Xuewen asked.

    "This is your first mission, so you might not know. This sort of thing is quite common. Most of our missions are modified versions of real events. Some say it could be parallel worlds. I¡¯m not really sure," the round-faced woman explained.

    Hearing this, Chen Fan¡¯s face showed more nostalgia, and he reminded them, ¡°In Yunyin County, there are three factions we should avoid provoking: the fish by the seaside, the yellow weasels in the gambling dens, and the snakes in the Yihua Courtyard.¡±

    ¡°Rest assured, as long as we haven¡¯t made progress on the mission, I don¡¯t plan to provoke the local forces. Even if they¡¯re disrespectful, I¡¯ll endure it,¡± the round-faced woman was pragmatic.

    ¡°Indeed, our primary task is to find Luo Bufan,¡± Chen Fan said.

    ¡°Sigh, if I form my Golden Core here, where will my Stellar Golden Core appear? Is this place... still the real world?¡±

    The next morning, Qi Yuan munched on a steamed bun and gazed at the sun in the sky, deep in thought.

    He was already on the verge of forming his Golden Core.

    "Forget it, better to form it outside. Otherwise, forming a Golden Core within a game¡¯s game, what kind of nonsense is that?"

    Qi Yuan grumbled to himself, stuffing the rest of the bun into his mouth as he headed towards the Luo residence.

 Chapter 316: Old Martial Arts and New Martial Arts

    Chapter 316: Old Martial Arts and New Martial Arts

    The Luo residence and the Chen residence were separated by just one street.

    The Luo family lived in the southern part of Yunyan County and ran a silk business, which was not only limited to Yunyan County but also reached an entire province.

    Master Luo was known for his charitable deeds, often repairing roads and providing porridge, earning him a good reputation in Yunyan County.

    Master Luo¡¯s pride and joy was his son, a martial arts prodigy.

    This young man, Luo Bufan, had exceptional martial talent and was even considered for a special recruitment by the Demon Subjugation Division to become a regional Demon Subjugation Envoy.

    However, half a month ago, Luo Bufan went missing, causing a great stir in Yunyan County. Master Luo even offered a reward of 7,000 taels of silver to find his son.

    Unfortunately, his son was never found. A week ago, the entire Luo family was killed, shocking all of Yunyan County.

    On the same night, not only was the Luo family exterminated, but the Chen family also suffered a massacre¡ª76 members of the family were killed.

    The mass killings caused an uproar in Yunyan County, prompting the Demon Subjugation Division to come to Yunyan County to investigate the case.Findd new stories at novelhall.com

    Qi Yuan sipped on some thin porridge, sitting casually while his thoughts wandered, "There¡¯s no glass, no cannons here. If I could produce these, wouldn''t I make a fortune?"

    This game was indeed suitable for building a foundation and developing technology.

    But after some thought, Qi Yuan decided not to bother with it.

    First, he needed to complete the task. He was also eager to return to participate in the martial arts tournament and was waiting to form his Golden Core.

    ¡°Sigh, such a pity that the young master of the Luo family and the young lady of the Chen family had just gotten engaged, only to face such a tragedy.¡±

    Nearby, some townsfolk were whispering, their words filled with regret.

    Qi Yuan stood up and stopped listening to these NPCs gossiping.

    He had already gathered enough information.

    Now, he headed toward the Luo residence.

    As he approached the Luo residence, the entire street grew desolate, with even beggars rarely seen.

    From a hundred meters away, Qi Yuan could smell the strong scent of blood.

    In the distance, there were constables from the yamen who had set up a perimeter to prevent ordinary people from entering.

    Was Qi Yuan an ordinary person?

    No.

    He was a player.

    So, he swaggered toward the Luo residence.

    Up ahead, a few constables were chatting.

    Seeing someone approaching, one of the constables, Li Shu, lifted his knife and glared sideways at Qi Yuan. "Qi Er, what are you doing here instead of selling your pork? I almost mistook you for a high-ranking member of the Demon Subjugation Division. Gave your Grandpa Li quite a scare."

    Li Shu often bought pork from Qi Er without paying, so he knew Qi Er.

    "I''m here to complete a task," Qi Yuan said earnestly, believing that sincerity was the ultimate weapon.

    Qi Yuan felt these NPCs also had the right to know this was a game world.

    "So, let me in quickly, so I can finish my task. I''m in a hurry to log out," Qi Yuan, who always followed the rules, reasoned calmly. If he wasn¡¯t worried about drawing too much attention, he would¡¯ve considered carving the word "justice" on his forehead.

    Sure enough, Qi Yuan¡¯s words left Li Shu stunned. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? Did you lose your mind because your child bride was taken by Master Huang?¡±

    Huang Sijue wanted to take Qi Er¡¯s child bride, and Qi Er had approached Li Shu for help.

    As expected, Li Shu, despite owing Qi Er money, didn¡¯t help at all.

    At that moment, a pair of men and women dressed in black combat attire approached.

    The round-faced woman, tall and holding a whip in her left hand, was leading a large black dog with her right hand. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Upon seeing them, Li Shu immediately changed his demeanor. ¡°Two officers, this Qi Er is a butcher from the city. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into him, but he insists on going to the Luo residence. I suspect he might be involved in the Luo family massacre. Should we arrest him and throw him in jail?¡±

    His words were quite malicious.

    In these times, being arrested and imprisoned meant facing torture or even death.

    Li Shu had always harbored ill intentions, thinking that by framing Qi Er, he could kill him.

    That way, he wouldn¡¯t have to repay his debt, and no one would ever find out about his setup.

    Qi Yuan owed gambling debts and had used his child bride to pay them off, all part of Li Shu''s scheme.

    The round-faced woman glanced at Qi Yuan, a playful smile on her face. ¡°He looks so handsome; he¡¯s obviously a good guy. What a shame to be so handsome and work as a butcher.¡±

    Her words left Li Shu speechless.

    The man in black combat attire chuckled. ¡°Focus on the task. Don¡¯t get distracted.¡±

    Clearly, the round-faced woman wasn¡¯t new to this.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the two of them with a curious expression. ¡°Are you two also players? Players in a game world?¡±

    He found it confusing.

    This world was a large game, and within the game¡¯s world, there were actually other players.

    ¡°Are you... a newbie?¡± The round-faced woman was surprised, her eyes suddenly lighting up.

    ¡°You¡¯re so dumb. Clearly, they were burned after death, and as for who burned them, it¡¯s obvious it was the county magistrate,¡± An Qiao said seriously.

    Hearing this, the man in black combat attire became alert, ¡°If it was him... then this matter is more complicated than it seems. But with a newbie in this mission, the difficulty should be low. This Yunyan County not only has three demon factions, but even the county magistrate also... has evil intentions. Something''s not right.¡±

    Usually, a newbie mission would be easy, with the toughest opponent being a blood martial artist-level demon.

    This investigation mission shouldn¡¯t have been difficult, but whoever exterminated the Luo family clearly wasn¡¯t an ordinary demon.

    After all, both the Luo and Chen families had blood martial artists.

    Investigating such demons could be manageable for experienced individuals, but for a newcomer like Qi Yuan, it was almost a death sentence.

    ¡°Maybe it''s because I''m special, so they gave me a slightly challenging task,¡± Qi Yuan chuckled.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have run into us,¡± the man in black combat attire remarked.

    At that moment, the Tracking Dog spoke up, ¡°Over here, I smell the scent of two demon races¡ªone is a yellow weasel, the other is aquatic. Also, there¡¯s a scent I recognize, but I can¡¯t remember where I smelled it before.¡±

    ¡°It involves two demon factions?¡± The round-faced woman¡¯s expression turned grim.

    Yesterday, Chen Fan had mentioned that there were three demon factions in Yunyan County that they shouldn¡¯t provoke lightly.

    Two of these factions were the yellow weasel and the aquatic clan.

    Now, this case involved both factions. How could they not be alarmed?

    ¡°The strongest in the yellow weasel clan is a peak blood martial artist. Among the four of us, only the captain is a match for him. In the aquatic clan, there are rumors of a demon even beyond the blood martial level. This is difficult!¡± The round-faced woman furrowed her brows.

    Investigating this matter has somehow implicated two major factions, leaving them in a difficult position.

    Qi Yuan looked at the big black dog and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the familiar scent?¡±

    As for the yellow weasel and the aquatic clan, Qi Yuan had already planned to find them.

    They were his mobile blood supply stations.

    Now, he wanted to find out the true reason behind the extermination of the Luo and Chen families.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the Tracking Dog shook its head.

    Qi Yuan felt a bit disappointed.

    His eyes revealed much information.

    But to him, this information wasn¡¯t particularly useful.

    For instance, he saw that Elder Huang had visited the Luo residence, as well as a demon from the aquatic clan.

    At that moment, the Tracking Dog sniffed and approached Qi Yuan, giving him a sniff. ¡°Strange... you also have a scent similar to the aquatic clan, but... it¡¯s not exactly the same.¡±

    ¡°Have you encountered any aquatic demons?¡± the round-faced woman asked.

    Qi Yuan squinted, lost in thought, ¡°The aquatic clan... I don¡¯t think so?¡±

    Since arriving in this world, his eyes had been scanning for useful information.

    He hadn¡¯t encountered any aquatic demons.

    As for his predecessor?

    Even less likely.

    He had arrived in this world in his true form.

    As for Qi Er, he was long gone.

    ¡°How strange,¡± the man in black combat attire muttered, frowning.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan asked, ¡°Do you have martial techniques and skills here? Give me some. I want to learn, especially that storage technique from earlier. I¡¯m quite interested.¡±

    Qi Yuan asked for them shamelessly.

    After all, they were NPCs.

    If they wanted to trade, he would trade.

    ¡°Our martial techniques... aren¡¯t for sale,¡± the man in black combat attire shook his head, ¡°You¡¯ll need to join the Demon Subjugation Division to exchange for them.¡±

    ¡°Seems like I need to find some martial arts manuals here,¡± Qi Yuan casually said.

    Currently, his strength wasn¡¯t strong enough, so he needed to learn some martial techniques and master martial arts skills to increase his strength.

    ¡°Don¡¯t learn any martial arts here!¡± The round-faced woman quickly warned, ¡°The martial arts here are... Old Martial Arts. Once you learn Old Martial Arts, it¡¯s difficult to change paths later.¡±

    ¡°Oh? The setting is so complex; there¡¯s a distinction between Old Martial Arts and New Martial Arts? Which is stronger?¡±

    ¡°We in the Demon Subjugation Division all practice New Martial Arts,¡± the round-faced woman An Qiao explained. ¡°Even though Old Martial Arts and New Martial Arts might seem similar in this world, and their power might be the same, there¡¯s a significant difference. Old Martial Arts are only effective in this world. In another world, an Old Martial Artist¡¯s power would drop by a whole level. New Martial Artists don¡¯t face this issue; their power remains consistent in any world. Many senior members of our Demon Subjugation Division unfortunately chose Old Martial Arts when they didn¡¯t know better back then. What a pity.¡±

    The round-faced woman looked regretful.

    Qi Yuan paused in thought.

    ¡°Many worlds? Many games?¡±

    ¡°Yes, every time we complete a mission, we actually go to different... parallel worlds,¡± the round-faced woman replied. ¡°Only New Martial Arts are universal across all worlds.¡±

    Qi Yuan squinted his eyes. ¡°This setup... sounds like it¡¯s related to the Greater Truth Realm of the Yang God.¡±

    ¡°Yang God, Greater Truth Realm? What¡¯s that?¡± An Qiao looked puzzled.

 Chapter 317: Fight the Older One, Then the Even Older One

    Chapter 317: Fight the Older One, Then the Even Older One

    ¡°Immortal cultivation realms.¡± Qi Yuan had learned about the Greater Truth Realm within the Yang God level from Great Wisdom True Monarch. He didn''t hold back this knowledge.

    An Qiao snorted, ¡°Even if you¡¯re a newbie, don¡¯t take me for a fool just because I¡¯m older. I know a few Regressors. In the realms of immortal cultivation, there is no Yang God level. I¡¯ve only heard that the Purple Mansion is the pinnacle of power. Beyond the Purple Mansion are gods who have already ascended to... an unknowable realm.¡±

    An Qiao was somewhat knowledgeable about immortal cultivators. She was also somewhat familiar with their realms, so she didn''t believe Qi Yuan''s words.Findd new stories at novelhall.com

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes showed a hint of surprise. ¡°You know quite a lot. Can I ask you a question?¡±

    Qi Yuan began his usual practice of being a freeloader, trying to get information for free.

    ¡°I know more than just this. Go ahead and ask.¡± An Qiao was generous and quite accommodating to newcomers.

    After all, who could resist a handsome newbie? It was a delight to look at him. If she could turn him into a young male servant, it would be even more fun. Of course, An Qiao was only thinking about it.

    ¡°When immortal cultivators come here, will their realms also decrease?¡±

    ¡°They probably... will.¡± An Qiao replied uncertainly.

    The man in black combat attire beside her added, ¡°It¡¯s not a probably; it¡¯s definite.¡± He didn''t elaborate on why.

    ¡°So, doesn''t that mean immortal techniques are on the same level as Old Martial Arts?¡± Qi Yuan pondered.

    According to An Qiao, the natives here all practice Old Martial Arts. They can maintain their power while fighting on their home ground, but if they go to other parallel worlds in the game, they will be downgraded by one level.

    New Martial Arts don¡¯t have this issue. In all parallel worlds within the game, one¡¯s strength remains consistent.

    Qi Yuan continued, ¡°If one goes to other worlds, or even... other universes, can New Martial Arts still maintain their power?¡±

    This was what Qi Yuan was most concerned about. If they could, then New Martial Arts would be terrifying.

    The Greater Truth Realm of the Yang God only allowed one to retain complete power when traveling to other worlds. However, the concept of a universe was entirely different.

    ¡°Other universes...¡± An Qiao was stunned.

    Being not particularly ancient, she had some understanding of the concept of other universes. Scientists had hypothesized the existence of other universes, but it was just a guess and hadn''t been proven.

    ¡°If you can take me to another universe, I¡¯ll prove it to you.¡± An Qiao replied.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t get the answer he wanted, but he didn¡¯t mind. He looked at the two of them and said eagerly, ¡°If martial techniques can¡¯t be traded, can cultivation methods? My White Moonlight... no, substitute White Moonlight, is with the demons. I want to improve my strength to see them one last time.¡±

    These demons could provide vital essence blood; aren¡¯t they just like White Moonlight?

    However, these demons still didn¡¯t meet Qi Yuan¡¯s standards for White Moonlight certification, so they were only substitutes.

    ¡°Your White Moonlight was captured by demons?¡± An Qiao misunderstood. Hearing Qi Yuan say his White Moonlight was with demons, she assumed she had been captured.

    The man in black combat attire beside her gave Qi Yuan a playful look. ¡°You¡¯ve only been here for less than a day, and you already have a White Moonlight? Have you perhaps immersed yourself too deeply into this identity and become infatuated with the woman your predecessor liked? That¡¯s not good. My suggestion is to forget about her. Treat it like watching a TV show.¡±

    ¡°Impossible, absolutely impossible!¡± Qi Yuan refused loudly, ¡°My desire to see her is as clear as the sun and moon, as endless as the seas, as overwhelming as a bursting bladder¡ªWhite Moonlight cannot be unseen!¡±

    Qi Yuan''s sincerity and earnestness moved An Qiao.

    ¡°I have a martial arts cultivation method here, though it¡¯s somewhat incomplete. It will only sustain you to the peak of the Blood Energy Realm. Do you want it?¡± An Qiao finally decided to act as Qi Yuan¡¯s benefactor.

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re truly a kind person. My White Moonlight Clan will surely be very grateful,¡± Qi Yuan said happily.

    The man in black combat attire remained silent.

    An Qiao pulled out a tattered sheepskin scroll from her Blood Energy Space.

    The sheepskin scroll was yellowed and somewhat incomplete, indicating it was quite old.

    ¡°This cultivation method is called Heaven-shaking Art. The name sounds mighty, but it¡¯s quite ordinary. It barely qualifies as a cultivation method. Remember to cultivate properly once you have it. Don¡¯t rush to find your White Moonlight. This task is quite unusual; the demons involved are at least of the Blood Energy Realm. You are no match for them now. For the time being, just focus on cultivation and follow our instructions for the investigation. The task will be easily completed, and it should take no more than one or two months.¡±

    ¡°One or two months... that long?¡± Qi Yuan was surprised. ¡°What¡¯s the time difference between this place and the real world?¡±

    If one second here equaled ten thousand years outside, that would be problematic. His one billion Qin Yuan, no, ten trillion¡ªhe wasn¡¯t sure if the bank would still let him withdraw it.

    An Qiao chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re already dead. You should have cut ties with the past. The time here is in sync with the real world, one-to-one. By the way, we¡¯re staying at the county yamen. Do you want to stay with us?¡±

    An Qiao extended an invitation.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m used to being on my own. I like being... a lone wolf.¡± Qi Yuan paused slightly at the word ¡°lone wolf.¡± He wasn¡¯t really a lone wolf; Xiaojia had always been with him.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, come to the county yamen if you need us. We need to report our findings to the captain as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Alright, goodbye, everyone.¡± Qi Yuan waved at them and then disappeared.

    In the desolate and ruined courtyard, only An Qiao, the man in black combat attire, and a big black dog remained.

    ¡°This newbie... seems a bit unreliable, but my intuition tells me he¡¯s quite special and has some secrets,¡± the man in black combat attire murmured.

    An Qiao grinned mischievously, ¡°Maybe he has encountered an immortal cultivator and mastered a spell.¡±

    The man in black combat attire thought back to their earlier conversation and nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Unfortunately, in this place, martial arts are the king. Mastering a little bit of fairy magic is insignificant.¡± The man in black combat attire replied seriously.

    The cultivation of immortal techniques took much longer than martial arts. Moreover, when entering the Yellow Springs Great World, one¡¯s cultivation level would decrease by a whole level. Thus, it wasn¡¯t worth mentioning.

    At the InnAs Night Fell

    Qi Yuan sighed, and after a moment, he realized, ¡°Oops, sorry, I forgot. I don¡¯t have a system.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s current state was like someone who criticizes a girlfriend''s flaws, only to realize he doesn¡¯t even have a girlfriend.

    ¡°Hmph, you''re from the yamen, what are you doing here? Don¡¯t you know only demons are allowed into that courtyard?¡±

    At this moment, a disdainful voice came from behind. Qi Yuan turned to see a demon with a thunderous beak and a rooster''s face approaching, looking fierce and malicious.

    With a grim appearance, it looked creepy and intimidating.

    It stared at Qi Yuan, its eyes glinting, as if it would eat him if the opportunity arose.

    ¡°A rooster?¡± Qi Yuan immediately recognized it as a rooster demon.

    It was his first time seeing a male rooster demon.

    ¡°I may not be a demon, but my wife is. Naturally, I have the right to enter. I¡¯m a live-in son-in-law!¡± Qi Yuan said proudly, straightening his posture.

    He had gone to great lengths to see his White Moonlight.

    ¡°Your wife is a demon?¡± The rooster demon was surprised. Then, its expression turned even more disdainful, ¡°So, you¡¯re a hairless pretty boy.¡±

    As a demon, it always looked down on humans with sparse hair.

    But some female demons liked them.

    In the rooster demon''s eyes, those female demons were an embarrassment. They plucked all their feathers clean and kept only a few demon traits. They looked hideous.

    Really, little demon girls who idolized humans!

    Qi Yuan grinned, ¡°Can I go in now?¡±

    The rooster demon gave Qi Yuan a cold glance, ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask the old Locust Tree Demon at the door. He¡¯s ancient and can see through disguises.¡±

    After speaking, the rooster demon strutted away, tail raised, toward the dilapidated courtyard.

    Qi Yuan watched the rooster demon leave, a greedy glint in his eyes. ¡°This is a rooster demon; I could use it to buy a house. If only I were a civil servant.¡±

    Qi Yuan was thinking this when a gust of demonic wind blew ahead.

    An elder resembling old, dried-up tree bark appeared.

    The rooster demon, seeing the elder, became respectful, ¡°Elder Locust.¡±

    The dried-up elder gave the rooster demon a faint glance, ¡°A rooster demon entering, proceed.¡±

    The rooster demon bowed solemnly, then said, ¡°There¡¯s a human behind me, claiming to be some female demon¡¯s pretty boy. I suspect he has ulterior motives, Elder Locust. You should inspect him carefully.¡±

    The dried-up elder looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes turning deep and profound.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan confidently walked forward, his smile bright as the morning dew, ¡°Xiaojia... come out.¡±

    As Qi Yuan spoke, space rippled, and a flash of blood-red appeared.

    Next to Qi Yuan, a tall figure in a wedding dress materialized.

    The blood-red wedding dress was styled in the traditional Chinese way, looking quite eerie in the dark of night.

    However, the red wedding dress was clinging to Qi Yuan¡¯s side like a little bird.

    If it had a face, it would be a makeup-covered beauty with soft eyes and delicate brows.

    ¡°This is my wife, Xiaojia, whom I brought home in an eight-carriage sedan,¡± Qi Yuan proudly introduced, holding Xiaojia¡¯s cold sleeve.

    ¡°This is...¡± The rooster demon¡¯s eyes widened.

    It had speculated about what kind of demon Qi Yuan¡¯s wife might be, but it had never expected... this?

    Was there really a demon formed from a wedding dress in this world?

    That was a rare sight indeed.

    Elder Locust¡¯s calm expression shifted slightly. He looked at Xiaojia, and a demonic aura flowed out.

    He seemed to be trying to determine if Xiaojia was a demon.

    The rooster demon beside him was also nervous, wanting to know what was going on.

    After about twelve breaths, Elder Locust finally spoke, though his voice was a bit hoarse, ¡°Wedding dress demon, proceed.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was pleased.

    He glanced at the rooster demon with a smug look, ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡±

    The rooster demon couldn¡¯t discern Xiaojia¡¯s level, so it cautiously entered the courtyard as well.

    Several breaths later, a melancholic voice filled the air.

    ¡°Looks like this old thing has to move again. Can¡¯t see, can¡¯t see, the water is too deep here.¡±

 Chapter 318: Truths Everywhere in Life!

    Chapter 318: Truths Everywhere in Life!

    "Hey, rooster demon, wait up!"

    Seeing the rooster demon running quickly inside, Qi Yuan tried to call out to it.

    If the other demons were just substitute White Moonlights, the rooster demon could count as half a White Moonlight.

    Unfortunately, upon hearing Qi Yuan''s shout, the rooster demon sped up and didn''t stop, rushing further into the abandoned courtyard.

    Holding Xiaojia¡¯s cold sleeve, Qi Yuan pondered, "Could it be he guessed I wanted him to help pay off my star loan?"

    Qi Yuan was planning to buy Gongxing, and the rooster demon was perfect for repaying loans.

    Xiaojia nodded obediently, as if she agreed with Qi Yuan¡¯s reasoning.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan laughed heartily and tightened his arm around Xiaojia''s waist.

    A small wooden sign with the word "Happy" dropped from Xiaojia¡¯s sleeve. It was unclear whether she was amused by Qi Yuan¡¯s words or because she heard Qi Yuan say she was the bride he married with a grand wedding procession.

    The abandoned courtyard felt particularly deep and eerie, but with Xiaojia by his side, everything seemed warm and soft.

    ¡°Come on, Xiaojia, shall we go see my White Moonlight?¡± Qi Yuan said, holding Xiaojia¡¯s cold sleeve. Meanwhile, he was thinking, what if Xiaojia got jealous and wanted to kill these White Moonlights?

    Should he help her?

    After all, wife and White Moonlight are naturally at odds.

    With these strange thoughts in mind, Qi Yuan and Xiaojia walked deeper into the courtyard.

    Along the way, Qi Yuan saw many hunched-over figures, their faces expressionless, some sweeping the ground, others serving tea.

    If one looked closely, they would notice these people''s throats and ears were damaged, making them mute and deaf slaves.

    As Qi Yuan and Xiaojia proceeded, a mute servant came forward to lead the way.

    Qi Yuan and Xiaojia walked toward the dilapidated hall ahead. Before they reached it, Qi Yuan already caught a whiff of a pungent, preserved odor.

    From within the hall, a gentle and refined voice emerged.

    ¡°Dear friends, thank you for accepting the invitation and coming here. Unfortunately, we can¡¯t provide you with fresh food. Old Sheep feels quite ashamed. All we have are these preserved, dried goods. Please make do with what we have.¡±

    An old goat with three horns, his beard reaching his waist¡ªsomeone might recite a poem about waiting for their hair to grow long and finding a good partner.

    "Old Goat, you should have added some candied fruit to this dried meat. I prefer sweet over salty," said a wolf demon wearing a tattered kasaya, grabbing some dried meat and stuffing it into his mouth.

    "I like spicy food. Otherwise, the stench of this human meat is too strong," the rooster demon chimed in, giving his opinion.

    The group of demons began discussing among themselves.

    At this moment, Old Goat spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that today a special guest will be joining our gathering. I wonder if they¡¯ve arrived yet.¡±

    "I heard it''s a wedding dress spirit. Quite rare! I¡¯ve lived for three hundred years and have never seen a wedding dress turn into a spirit."

    "Now... you''ve seen one."

    At that moment, Qi Yuan''s cheerful voice rang out.

    He entered the hall with Xiaojia by his side.

    "This is my wife, Xiaojia. I am Qi Yuan, a good person."

    As Qi Yuan entered the hall, his eyes swept over the dozen or so demons present, filled with barely restrained joy.

    It was as if he had finally seen his long-lost White Moonlight after many years.

    The demons in the hall were bewildered by Qi Yuan''s expression.

    However, most of them had their eyes fixed on Xiaojia.

    Unusual demons always drew attention.

    ¡°A wedding dress spirit? I¡¯ve never heard of it, and I don¡¯t sense any demonic aura... Could it be that someone from the Demon Subjugation Division has snuck in?¡± A two-hundred-year-old demon elder voiced his doubt.

    The other demons also nodded. After all, this wedding dress spirit had brought a human man with her.

    ¡°Elder Locust dared to let her in, so she must be one of us. Do you all dare to question Elder Locust¡¯s judgment?¡±

    Old Goat¡¯s words immediately silenced any doubts.

    Elder Locust was a highly skilled and ancient figure. This two-hundred-year-old elder''s grandfather had seen Elder Locust. Now, hundreds of years later, Elder Locust was still rooted here.

    Even Elder Huang and the leader of the aquatic tribe had immense respect for Elder Locust.

    The demons nodded, agreeing with Old Goat¡¯s statement.

    ¡°Fairy... please take a seat.¡± Old Goat gestured invitingly.

    Qi Yuan held Xiaojia''s hand and prepared to sit.

    But just then, a sharp voice interrupted, ¡°This is a gathering of demons. Humans are not allowed to sit at the table.¡±

    It was the rooster demon speaking.

    Although he was afraid of the wedding dress spirit, surrounded by so many demons, he felt more confident.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face changed several times, then he slumped, ¡°It¡¯s over; you¡¯ve seen through my lie. Sigh, Xiaojia wasn¡¯t brought home in an eight-carriage sedan. She brought me home in an eight-carriage sedan. I know, as a live-in son-in-law, I have no rights and can¡¯t sit at the table. I won''t sit; just don''t make me drink foot-washing water.¡±

    Qi Yuan was very ethical and always followed the rules.

    As a live-in son-in-law, he accepted his humiliation.

    Next time Ning Tao comes, if they get a marriage certificate, he might secretly swap Xiaojia in and get one with her too, escaping his status as a live-in son-in-law!

    Xiaojia, being held by Qi Yuan, didn¡¯t say anything. She took her seat happily after Qi Yuan signaled her to do so.

    On the reddish-brown table in front of her were some tea and dried human meat.

    The rooster demon spoke up, ¡°Old Goat, why did you invite us here this time?¡±

    ¡°Is everyone here?¡± Elder Huang¡¯s gaze swept over everyone present, his eyes filled with pressure like venomous thorns touching everyone¡¯s skin.

    ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase. I¡¯m here to talk about the Demon Promotion Conference!¡± Elder Huang''s voice was rough, like a brute.

    This was completely different from his younger brother, Elder Huang Si, who had a refined demeanor.

    The demons present became tense, eager to know what was going on and how it concerned the future of all the demons in Yunyan County.

    ¡°Half a month ago, Boss Kun encountered a demon in the sea. That demon had three legs, three eyes, and two fins¡ªa strange appearance and no intelligence. So, Boss Kun brought the demon back to Yunyan County for us to investigate its identity. After checking ancient records, we discovered that this demon is... a Son of Spirit Blood!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°A Son of Spirit Blood!¡±

    ¡°A Son of Spirit Blood without any intelligence!¡±

    The demons present began to breathe heavily, their eyes turning fanatical.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t this mean that if we control it, we will have a powerful demon spirit in the future?¡±

    ¡°This is a demon spirit! In ancient times, it would have been a giant demon capable of establishing a demon court!¡±

    In demon cultivation, the hierarchy consists of Blood Energy Demons, Jade Blood Demons, Demon Heroes, Demon Spirits, and even Demon Kings.

    A Son of Spirit Blood, however, not only carries the bloodline of a demon spirit but can directly ascend to the Demon Spirit level without any bottlenecks, becoming a giant demon.

    Such a giant demon at the Demon Spirit level would be comparable to a human martial artist at the Martial Spirit level.

    In cultivation terms, this would be a Nascent Soul-level giant demon.

    Overthrowing a country and causing chaos would be no problem.

    Especially since this Son of Spirit Blood had no intelligence, meaning it could be manipulated however they wanted.

    How could the demons present not be excited?

    However, some demons were also cautious.

    ¡°Boss Kun discovered a Son of Spirit Blood; why would he share it with us?¡±

    ¡°If I obtained a treasure as valuable as a Son of Spirit Blood, I certainly wouldn¡¯t share it with other demons.¡±

    Upon hearing these remarks, Elder Huang remained expressionless and calmly continued, ¡°This Son of Spirit Blood is in a unique situation. To grow, it requires nourishment from your blood essence. Therefore, Boss Kun and I decided to invite you all to feed the Son of Spirit Blood together. Once it grows, it will be under our control. Haha, once it reaches the Demon Spirit level, it will be us who dictate the terms, not only in Yunyan County but also in Fenglei State and the Tianzhuo Dynasty!¡±

    Elder Huang¡¯s words were highly persuasive, causing the demons present to feel tempted, though some remained cautious.

    ¡°What if we feed it our blood essence, but we don¡¯t get to control the Son of Spirit Blood?¡± the two-hundred-year-old demon elder asked.

    After all, what if Boss Kun just treated them like workers? If they fed their blood, and once the Son of Spirit Blood grew, it didn¡¯t listen to them, what then?

    ¡°Rest assured, when feeding the Son of Spirit Blood, you can all sign a Heart-Linking Oath with it,¡± Elder Huang replied in a flat tone.

    The demons present, hearing this, all became very interested.

    It is well known that a Heart-Linking Oath could form a strong bond. Feeding it with their blood essence would be more effective, and the Son of Spirit Blood would also see them as kin, offering them protection.

    ¡°Boss Kun is being this generous?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m somewhat tempted.¡±

    The demons in the hall had no objections.

    With a Heart-Linking Oath, they would indeed be set for life.

    ¡°Does anyone have any objections?¡± Seeing their enthusiasm, Elder Huang asked confidently, scanning the room.

    None of the demons spoke up; they all seemed to be deep in thought.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan, who had been silent all this time, spoke up, ¡°I have an objection!¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Elder Huang''s piercing gaze fell on Qi Yuan, full of menace as if trying to see through him.

    However, he had never seen Qi Er and thus didn¡¯t recognize Qi Yuan.

    ¡°I think this is too unfair to the demons here. Drawing blood every now and then¡ªhow bad is that for their bodies? You don¡¯t have any supplements here. Constantly drawing their blood is painful for them, and it pains me as well! That¡¯s demon blood essence! Just giving it to the Son of Spirit Blood is such a waste! It¡¯s so wasteful and heartbreaking.¡±

    Hearing this, the rooster demon¡¯s face turned strange.

    The demons present also felt something odd. For some reason, they were somewhat touched.

    Look, this human is concerned about our health.

    What a great person.

    ¡°Hmph, you don¡¯t understand the significance of the Son of Spirit Blood to us!¡± Elder Huang¡¯s voice was stern and domineering.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry; it¡¯s bad for your health. What if your blood pressure and blood sugar spike? What I said is true, no deception involved. If you just let me eat the Son of Spirit Blood, I have a special constitution. I could be the new Son of Spirit Blood. Then, all you need to do is give your blood to me. I¡¯ll take you all to the hospital every day to get a glucose drip. Isn¡¯t that good for you?¡± Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t sure if a glucose drip could replenish blood, but it should be enough to fool this group of uneducated demons.

    Qi Yuan''s words left the demons present dumbfounded.

    So... you want our blood?

    ¡°Are you mocking us?¡±

    ¡°You... want to die!¡± Elder Huang was furious, exuding a powerful killing intent.

    Qi Yuan quickly waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t get angry; it''s bad for your health. If your blood pressure goes up, what will happen? What I said is absolutely true. You just need to let me eat the Son of Spirit Blood. I have a special constitution and can become the new Son of Spirit Blood. Then, you can just give your blood to me. I¡¯ll give you a glucose drip every day, and it¡¯s only ten yuan per bottle. Ten yuan!¡±

    Qi Yuan was excited, gesturing as he spoke.

    He had sacrificed so much for this world.

 Chapter 319: A Mutual Pursuit with White Moonlight

    Chapter 319: A Mutual Pursuit with White Moonlight

    The demons present looked at Qi Yuan with strange expressions on their faces. His words were too absurd and seemed somewhat crazy.

    At this point, Old Goat glanced at a dog demon and asked, ¡°Did you bite him and cause him to go mad?¡±

    If it weren¡¯t for the mysterious and unpredictable wedding dress demon, Old Goat would have long since attacked and turned Qi Yuan, this human boy, into salted meat.

    ¡°How can you slander me like this?¡± the dog demon was unwilling to take the blame.

    Qi Yuan quickly agreed, ¡°This little dog has a good point; I support it.¡±

    Obviously, he wasn¡¯t mad. It was Old Goat who had some kind of goat madness, slandering him without reason.

    Elder Huang gave Qi Yuan a deep look and finally set his eyes on Xiaojia. To him, Xiaojia was a powerful demon, while Qi Yuan was merely her puppet. If Qi Yuan spoke, it probably represented the opinion of the wedding dress demon. It seemed she also had her eyes on the Spirit Blood Son.

    As for Qi Yuan, Elder Huang didn¡¯t care at all. He was just a weak human.

    ¡°This matter... I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to meet with Boss Kun and discuss it with him,¡± Elder Huang said in his coarse voice, tossing the issue to Boss Kun.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s mind became active.

    A big substitute White Moonlight?

    ¡°Where is Boss Kun?¡±

    Qi Yuan really wanted to meet him. Of course, not right now. According to the information he had obtained, Boss Kun was a Jade Blood Realm demon, comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Qi Yuan currently only had the combat power equivalent to the peak of Qi Refining.

    ¡°How could we casually reveal Boss Kun''s location?¡± Elder Huang snorted coldly.

    Boss Kun was currently with the Spirit Blood Son, lying low and wouldn¡¯t show up easily.

    ¡°To ensure the news about the Spirit Blood Son doesn¡¯t leak, all the demons here today are not allowed to leave without reason. You will all follow my orders!¡± Elder Huang looked at the demons and spoke with a rough, domineering tone.

    The aura belonging to the peak of the Blood Energy Realm spread out.

    The demons present wanted to say something but stopped themselves.

    Old Goat seized the opportunity to say, ¡°Please don¡¯t blame us, everyone. This matter is of great importance; it concerns the safety of us all. If the information leaks, I have even killed my nephew, Yang Fan, so...¡±

    Though he didn¡¯t finish his sentence, the demons present understood what Old Goat meant.

    ¡°If the news leaks, not only will it lead to the Demon Subjugation Division coming to Yunyan County, but even my useless brother ended up dead at the hands of humans!¡± Elder Huang¡¯s rough voice echoed through the hall.

    The brother he spoke of was none other than Huang Si, the Fourth Elder.

    ¡°Humph, the news I got from the yamen said that a butcher named Qi Er colluded with someone from the Demon Subjugation Division and caused my brother''s death. If I ever meet that sneaky human, I¡¯ll shove this cane right up his ass!¡± Elder Huang said viciously.

    His brother died because of Qi Er. The yamen claimed Qi Er had a close relationship with the Demon Subjugation Division. Connecting the dots, his brother was killed because of the Demon Subjugation Division.

    Qi Yuan, hearing this, couldn¡¯t sit still: ¡°Old man, your words are disgusting. That butcher named Qi Er never colluded with the Demon Subjugation Division.¡±

    ¡°Oh, do you know Qi Er?¡± Elder Huang¡¯s gaze turned sharp.

    If it weren¡¯t for Xiaojia, with his temperament, he would have captured Qi Yuan by now.

    ¡°Because... in a way, Qi Er is me,¡± Qi Yuan, who always spoke honestly, never lied.

    As soon as he said this, everyone was shocked.

    ¡°You are Qi Er!¡± Elder Huang flared up, his anger boiling over.

    This was too audacious.

    He looked at Xiaojia, ready to strike.

    ¡°So, I have the most authority to speak on this matter. Qi Er never colluded with the Demon Subjugation Division,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    ¡°Hah, still trying to argue? The people from the yamen told me personally that Qi Er was with people from the Demon Subjugation Division! How do you explain that? Don¡¯t think just because you have a female demon backing you, you can do whatever you want! Colluding with the Demon Subjugation Division makes you a traitor, and all traitors must die!¡±

    Elder Huang decided that even if this Qi Er was protected by the wedding dress demon, he would take him down.

    ¡°How would the people from the yamen know better than I do? I never colluded with the Demon Subjugation Division. Your brother didn¡¯t die at their hands, either.¡±Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com

    ¡°Then who killed him?¡± Elder Huang sneered.

    ¡°Why, it was... me.¡± Qi Yuan smiled lightly and stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll stop pretending. I am the Blood Collector of All Worlds. Hmm... quickly offer your blood essence, and I¡¯ll let you die a little more peacefully.¡±

    Qi Yuan decided to implement Plan B. Plan A wasted too much glucose. Besides, where was he going to get glucose? It was too troublesome. Better to just cut these demons down.

    Anyway, he had already gotten the information he needed, so he didn¡¯t need to keep pretending.

    ¡°What!¡± Elder Huang¡¯s face showed disbelief, then he laughed, ¡°Great, so you¡¯re here to ruin my plans!¡±

    The other demons also turned their gazes to Qi Yuan, their eyes filled with murderous intent.

    A human dared to threaten them and demand their blood. Did he have a death wish?

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle the wedding dress demon. The rest of you chop this human kid into pieces,¡± Elder Huang shouted, his eyes flashing fiercely.

    Since Elder Locust hadn¡¯t given any special warning, it meant that the demon who came in was at most on par with him in strength.

    There were so many of them; what was there to fear?

    The twenty or so demons looked at Qi Yuan, their eyes burning with anticipation, seemingly just waiting for Elder Huang to make a move so they could all pounce at once.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan was delighted, ¡°Seeing your eager eyes, I¡¯m really happy. My substitute White Moonlights, we are mutually pursuing each other!¡±

    When it came to feelings, Qi Yuan liked things simple. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t like romance dramas. The protagonists in romance dramas were always full of misunderstandings, and no one ever spoke up¡ªit was as if they didn¡¯t have mouths.

    Luckily, he and his substitute White Moonlights were pursuing each other mutually. Seeing their lecherous little eyes, they couldn¡¯t wait to pounce on him. This made Qi Yuan very pleased.

    ¡°Kill!¡± Elder Huang roared and charged at Xiaojia.

    The white bone cane in his hand emitted a wave of bloody energy, shaking the space around it.

    Within the bloody energy was a strong smell of blood.

    Facing this attack, Qi Yuan swung his kitchen knife at it.

    Immediately, the white bone cane and the kitchen knife collided, leaving a huge gap in Qi Yuan¡¯s knife.

    His hand trembled. It was clear that there was a big gap between his Blood Energy Realm early stage and Elder Huang''s strength.

    ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so bold, kid. You actually have the strength of the Blood Energy Realm,¡± Elder Huang said, his face full of ferocity and disdain.

    After all, every demon present had Blood Energy Realm strength. What was there to fear?

    ¡°Since you are so eager to run toward me, I¡¯ll let you have a peaceful end.¡±

    At that moment, Qi Yuan turned to look at the obedient Xiaojia.

    He whispered, ¡°Xiaojia, let¡¯s join forces!¡±

    At that moment, he chose to fuse with Xiaojia.

    ¡°Alas, why am I so weak? Just this short battle, and my Blood Energy Qi is exhausted.¡±

    Blood warriors consume Blood Energy Qi during combat. In the fight against these demons, Qi Yuan¡¯s Blood Energy Qi ran dry. Now, relying solely on martial prowess, he would likely meet his end against another Elder Huang.

    ¡°But the gains are plentiful. My substitute White Moonlights... were quite generous.¡±

    Qi Yuan was very pleased.

    In front of him, 125 drops of demon blood essence were condensed.

    ¡°Luckily, they didn¡¯t follow my Plan A. Otherwise, what a waste of glucose.¡±

    Qi Yuan took a deep breath and pondered many things.

    Elder Huang''s Jade Blood-level martial skill left a deep impression on him. If it were a Jade Blood-level demon using this skill, he would have a hard time dealing with it in the game.

    ¡°It seems I need to level up.¡±

    ¡°System, activate!¡±

    Of course, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t have a system.

    However, he could voice-act for himself and pretend to be his system.

    ¡°You have consumed 25 drops of demon blood essence. Your Blood Energy Qi has been replenished and increased.¡±

    ¡°The ¡®Heaven-shaking Art¡¯ operates rapidly, constantly condensing Blood Energy Qi within you. You break through to the mid-Blood Energy Realm.¡±

    ¡°Suddenly, you have an epiphany, seemingly capturing the essence of the ¡®Heaven-shaking Art.¡¯ This realization consumes all your blood essence.¡±

    ¡°You consume another 50 drops of demon blood essence. Suddenly, you realize the key to the ¡®Heaven-shaking Art¡¯ lies in the word ¡®shock.¡¯ One strike surprises the enemy, allowing you to replenish your own Blood Energy Qi.¡±

    ¡°You modify the ¡®Heaven-shaking Art,¡¯ completely changing its appearance. After much thought, all the demon blood essence is consumed, and you finally step into the peak of the Blood Energy Realm.¡±

    After finishing his voice acting, Qi Yuan looked pleased. ¡°Now, even without Xiaojia, I can easily slaughter all these White Moonlights.¡±

    His words sounded much like a certain Long Yang from TV.

    He saved fifty drops of demon blood essence and didn¡¯t consume them. It wasn¡¯t enough to progress from the Blood Energy Realm to the Jade Blood Realm. Moreover, his understanding of blood warriors was insufficient. Using the blood essence now would be inefficient.

    Just then, Qi Yuan suddenly sensed a hint of danger.

    In the distance, in the dark night sky, a white figure was approaching.

    The white figure was humanoid, with disheveled hair, obscuring his features.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t see any useful information.

    ¡°Jade Blood Realm!¡±

    Qi Yuan immediately recognized that the man was a Jade Blood Realm warrior.

    Jade Blood Realm was equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

    At present, Qi Yuan was only equivalent to the peak of the Qi Refining stage.

    The white figure suddenly paused in mid-air. When he saw the corpses in the courtyard, his crazy eyes momentarily cleared up.

    Suddenly, the white figure laughed, his voice filled with sorrow. ¡°All dead, all dead, hahaha.¡±

    The white figure laughed, but tears streamed down his face.

    He seemed to go mad, rushing around, knocking down several walls of the abandoned courtyard.

    ¡°Hey, if you have a mental illness, stay at home and don¡¯t go out hurting people,¡± Qi Yuan kindly reminded.

    He hated it when some people used mental illness as an excuse to do bad things and escape punishment.

    Though he, too, relied on a mental illness certificate to escape punishment, it wasn¡¯t the same. His mental illness was fake.

    The crazy man halted again, gazing at Qi Yuan, muttering, ¡°Yunyan County is doomed. Leave quickly, leave quickly. The sea is ink-black, filled with killing intent. No one can survive.¡±

    After saying this, the crazy man staggered away.

    He didn¡¯t just run; he used some martial skill and disappeared.

    ¡°Sigh, this person is so pitiful, his mental illness is too severe,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    He couldn¡¯t imagine if his mental illness certificate were real, and he became mentally ill, what would happen?

    Would he have to become a son-in-law?

    After dozens of breaths, Qi Yuan was still recovering his strength.

    At this moment, the sound of breaking through the air came again.

    ¡°Hey, Qi Yuan, why are you here?¡±

    An Qiao, holding the scent-tracking dog, and the man in black martial attire appeared in the courtyard.

    They looked at the demon corpses in the courtyard, their eyes filled with shock.

    Because these demons were all at the Blood Energy Realm, and there was even one at the peak.

    The man in black martial attire lowered his head, his eyes filled with fear, and looked at Qi Yuan. ¡°You¡¯re very lucky. That madman probably retained some sanity, so he only killed these demons and didn¡¯t kill you.¡±

    The man in black martial attire and An Qiao had come here by secretly following the white-clad madman from afar.

    Now seeing so many demon corpses in the courtyard, still warm, it was obvious the madman had killed them.

    For a Jade Blood Realm warrior, facing Blood Energy Realm demons was a piece of cake.

    As for Qi Yuan, a rookie, he hadn¡¯t even considered that he could have done it.

    Next to him, An Qiao also smiled, ¡°Look at how weak you are; this is your first mission, and you¡¯ve already witnessed such a big scene. Scared but excited, right?¡±

    ¡°Hey, can you guys help me with something?¡± Qi Yuan asked, seeing the two.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I had a party here with these White Moonlights, and accidentally killed them all. I feel so bad. Can you help me bury them? Otherwise, their bodies will stink here and pollute the environment.¡±

    ¡°Protecting the environment is everyone¡¯s responsibility.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words were so erratic that ordinary people couldn¡¯t understand them.

    An Qiao was stunned for a moment, ¡°What did you say, that you killed the demons?¡±

    ¡°What a joke!¡± The man in black martial attire also widened his eyes, unable to comprehend.

    Qi Yuan shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s not polite to say ¡®killed.¡¯ It¡¯s called mutual destruction. Look, they were so selfless that even in death, they left their blood essence for me to collect."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, he waved his hand, revealing the remaining fifty drops of demon blood essence.

    An Qiao and the man in black martial attire were dumbfounded.

 Chapter 320: Qi Yuan Works Hard, but the Cultivation Method Doesnâ€™t Cooperate

    Chapter 320: Qi Yuan Works Hard, but the Cultivation Method Doesn¡¯t Cooperate

    "What are you standing there for? Quickly bury my beloved ''white moonlights''!"

    Seeing that the two people weren''t moving, Qi Yuan thought they were trying to slack off, so he reminded them again.

    An Qiao spoke up with difficulty, "These... demons... you killed them?"

    The man in black martial attire also looked at Qi Yuan, his expression full of shock.

    "Of course. Stop slacking and bury them!" Qi Yuan said calmly.

    "This is..." An Qiao looked at the corpses on the ground, her heart filled with a shock beyond words.

    She simply couldn''t understand. Wasn''t Qi Yuan just a newbie?

    How did he manage to clear this place out completely?

    She had originally wanted to say something, but the man in black martial attire gave her a look, and she didn''t dare to speak further.

    It was clear that this Qi Yuan was not ordinary and was actually a killing machine.

    What if he decided to kill them too?

    So, they followed Qi Yuan''s orders and burned the bodies of these demons and buried them.

    Qi Yuan stood by, directing them like a well-oiled commander.

    "Who was that madman earlier?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He was quite curious about that lunatic at the Jade Blood Realm.

    "We don''t know," An Qiao shook her head. "We saw him when we were investigating the Chen family. We suspect he might be related to the massacre of the Chen family, so we followed him. But his strength is formidable. He is a Jade Blood Realm cultivator, so we didn''t dare to follow too closely. Otherwise, if the mission wasn''t completed and we died here, it would be terrible."

    "Related to the mission?" Hearing this, Qi Yuan was a bit silent. "Sigh, it''s been so long, and we still have no leads. This mission is too difficult; I don''t want to do it anymore. I feel like cheating."

    Qi Yuan had worked hard for most of the day and only learned about the Spirit Blood Child.

    As for the massacre of the Luo and Chen families, there were no clues.

    Sure enough, this detective and mystery-solving game was not for him.

    He was more suited to playing hack-and-slash games where the final boss is marked out, like Kun Lao Da. It would be much simpler for him to just go over and beat the boss.

    Qi Yuan was somewhat disheartened about completing the game¡¯s mission.

    "What happens if I don''t complete the mission?" He asked.

    "There won''t be any rewards," An Qiao answered.

    "Huh? No punishment? Does that mean I don''t have to complete the mission?" Qi Yuan was quite happy.

    If that were the case, he could set his own mission¡ªto defeat Kun Lao Da.

    "If you don''t complete the mission, you can''t go back. If you stay in these mission worlds for too long, our Blood Qi will be contaminated, and eventually, we will... go mad and die," An Qiao said with a serious expression.

    There was a time when one of her companions fell in love with a scholar and refused to leave, wanting to stay with him forever.

    So, that companion did not actively participate in the mission.

    In the end, she went mad and died.

    That incident left a deep impression on An Qiao.

    "What kind of ridiculous setting is that?" Qi Yuan shrugged.

    It seemed his plan to avoid completing the mission was doomed from the start.

    "Do you have any new leads now?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "No, maybe that lunatic knows something," An Qiao answered truthfully.

    When they saw the lunatic, he was crying bitterly in front of the Chen family home. Perhaps he knew something.

    But that lunatic was too powerful, a cultivator at the Jade Blood Realm.

    They didn''t dare get too close.

    Otherwise, if they couldn''t complete the mission and died here, it would be terrible.

    Qi Yuan then asked, "Who has the most information in Yunyan County?"

    "The leader of the aquatic demons, Kun Lao Da," An Qiao said, her eyes showing fear.

    Kun Lao Da was a great demon at the Jade Blood Realm.

    The four members of their Demon Subjugation Division on this mission would have a hard time surviving against Kun Lao Da.

    So, even if they found clues related to the aquatic demons, they didn''t dare approach Kun Lao Da so quickly. Instead, they started from other angles.

    "Where is Kun Lao Da?" Qi Yuan asked.

    At the previous white moonlight reunion, he had endured a lot and suffered a lot of humiliation, but he didn¡¯t manage to get Kun Lao Da''s location from Elder Huang.

    This made him quite sad.

    "We don''t know," An Qiao shook her head. Remembering something, she warned him, "Kun Lao Da is a great demon at the Jade Blood Realm. You need to be careful. I''ve heard that this demon hates humans the most. If someone enters its territory, they''ll be devoured alive!"

    "Oh, such an evil demon must be the big boss. I''m now suspicious that Kun Lao Da is behind the Luo and Chen family massacres!" Qi Yuan said seriously.

    An Qiao: "..."

    The man in black martial attire awkwardly smiled, "If it''s him, then this will be tough."

    He wanted to say, maybe don''t be so casual. Without any evidence, you''re already convicting the demon.

    "It''s a pity there¡¯s no internet here. Otherwise, I¡¯d write a long essay about him," Qi Yuan sighed.

    The power of a long essay is immense.

    When he destroyed the Light Palace, the long essay played a crucial role.

    "Alright, I¡¯m going to play the game. See you later."

    After saying that, Qi Yuan''s figure vanished.

    In Yunyan County, there were three main factions: the weasel demons, the snake demons, and the aquatic demons.

    The weasels were already wiped out.

    Kun Lao Da from the aquatic demons was still missing.

    Now, Qi Yuan naturally went to find the snakes.

    There was a screenwriter who used this to write scripts quickly.

    "Time to go home and sleep." Qi Yuan looked at the slightly bright sky.

    After a whole day of hard work, it was time for a good sleep.

    ...

    Qi Yuan was awakened by a child¡¯s noise.

    When he woke up, the sun was shining brightly.

    Estimating the time, it was about three in the afternoon.

    "It''s early in the morning. Why are you knocking on my door?"

    Qi Yuan looked at the boy outside, his tone not very good.

    He had just had a beautiful dream where he won a big lottery, ten trillion yuan, finally bought Ganxing, and became the winner of life.

    He was just about to go to Wuyun Pavilion and tell that secretary from before that Canxing was all his.

    Then he was woken up.

    He was a bit irritated.

    However, he was generous and always broad-minded, not holding grudges.

    So, he didn''t chop up the kid.

    "Are you... Qi Er?" The boy¡¯s face was sallow, looking somewhat malnourished.

    "Hmm? What¡¯s going on?" Qi Yuan thought, wondering if he had triggered a hidden storyline.

    It turned out that sleeping could trigger hidden storylines.

    "Sister Xiaomei asked me to find you!" The boy said nervously, "Last night, Xiaomei came to our village and stayed at my house. But in the middle of the night, villagers from the neighboring village took her away."

    "Oh, someone fancies her?" Qi Yuan remained calm.

    "It¡¯s the sea god who fancies her. The villagers of Haishi Village want to marry her to the sea god!" The boy said nervously.

    Marrying the sea god was not a good thing.

    Haishi Village had always worshipped the sea god and would capture young women, dress them in red wedding clothes, and offer them as sacrifices to the sea god.

    By doing this, the sea god would supposedly bless them with abundant fish and calm seas.

    When Qi Yuan heard this, he looked surprised, "Xiaomei is really a naturally easy-to-marry type."

    He hadn¡¯t been in this game for long, and Xiaomei was about to be married twice.

    No one else could compare.

    The game setting was quite interesting; it would set up some comedic characters.

    In Qi Yuan''s view, Xiaomei was just such a comedic character.

    "The sea god... is it a demon?" Qi Yuan asked what he was concerned about.

    Right now, he was severely lacking in demon blood essence.

    But other than the aquatic demon Kun Lao Da, he had already killed most of the other demons.

    Kun Lao Da''s whereabouts were unknown, but now a sea god had appeared here.

    Qi Yuan was suddenly motivated.

    "Take me there. I¡¯ll go and reason with that sea god and tell him not to marry Xiaomei, but to marry me instead!" Qi Yuan said brazenly.

    The boy was dumbfounded, looking at Qi Yuan with a face full of horror.

    ...

    A few hours later, Qi Yuan, guided by the boy and his older brother, arrived at Haishi Village.

    The boy pointed to the village ahead, his face filled with fear, "That¡¯s Haishi Village up ahead. We don¡¯t dare to go in."

    Ever since the people of Haishi Village started worshipping the sea god, they had earned a notorious reputation.

    They caught more fish and earned more money, and even colluded with officials.

    Whenever the harvest was poor, they would marry the sea god.

    Where would they find young women to marry?

    The village didn¡¯t have enough to go around.

    So, they targeted other villages.

    The boy''s village, Muke Village, had clashed with Haishi Village over this issue.

    But Haishi Village had the support of officials, so Muke Village lost that fight.

    So, the boy was terrified of Haishi Village.

    "The main road is so wide, but there¡¯s no one passing by. It seems Haishi Village... really has a bad reputation."

    Qi Yuan simply commented.

    To get to Yunyan County, one had to take the main road, which passed through Haishi Village.

    On the way here, Qi Yuan saw many carriages and merchants on the main road.

    But near Haishi Village, there were none.

    Clearly, those merchants would rather take a detour than go through Haishi Village.

    As Qi Yuan approached the entrance of Haishi Village, two men with hostile expressions looked at him suspiciously.

    "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

    Qi Yuan smiled kindly, "I am Qi Yuan, and I''m about to get married. This is my first... oh no, my second marriage. I lack experience. I heard that the sea god here is getting married, so I came to watch the ceremony and learn some tips."

    The two men gave him strange looks.

    If he just wanted to observe the ceremony, that was one thing, but learning from it?

    However, their eyes flashed with a hint of a smile, becoming more enthusiastic, "Since you¡¯re here to observe, please come in."

    Their eyes seemed to carry a hint of mockery and sympathy.

 Chapter 321: The Tracing Dogâ€™s Discovery, Qi Yuan Is Actuallyâ€¦

    Chapter 321: The Tracing Dog¡¯s Discovery, Qi Yuan Is Actually...

    Qi Yuan seemed to ignore the hidden mockery deep in the eyes of the two men.

    "Lead the way. I need to learn how to have a grand wedding."

    The dark-skinned man, hearing this, simply regarded Qi Yuan as a foolish wealthy man from the county town.

    "Whose wedding could be more grand than that of our Sea God? Our Sea God is a deity of the highest order!"

    When the dark-skinned man spoke of the greatness of the Sea God, he proudly puffed out his chest.

    "How many wives has the Sea God taken?" Qi Yuan asked casually, "I''m here to learn."

    "Well..." The dark-skinned man frowned, "I don¡¯t remember exactly. The Sea God has been here for three years and takes a young woman every two months. I don¡¯t know why recently, though; just last month he took a bride, and this month he¡¯s taking another. Sigh."

    The dark-skinned man seemed troubled by this. He was already thirty years old and had yet to find a wife. His old lover from the brothel had even been tricked into marrying the Sea God.

    "Three years, huh?" Qi Yuan pondered, "Is the Sea God related to the aquatic tribe in the county town? Which of them is stronger?"

    The leader of the monsters in the county town was Kun Lao Da, from the aquatic tribe. Here, there was a Sea God. The two might be connected somehow.

    "No." The dark-skinned man shook his head, then continued to puff up his chest, "Half a year ago, Kun Lao Da from the county came to our Haishi Village to seek an audience with our Sea God."

    This statement demonstrated the status of the Sea God, who was not inferior to Kun Lao Da, and might even be superior.

    "I see."

    Many thoughts crossed Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    If that¡¯s the case, then this Sea God must also be a great demon at the Jade Blood Realm.

    Currently, all the demons in Yunyan County have gathered in three strongholds.

    Two of these strongholds, led by Elder Huang and the snake demon, called upon various demons to gather.

    Thus, the locations of these strongholds were exposed to Qi Yuan''s eyes.

    All these demons were slaughtered by Qi Yuan.

    Only the stronghold where Kun Lao Da resided remained unknown to Qi Yuan.

    Logically, every known demon in Yunyan County should head to one of the three strongholds.

    For a great demon like the Sea God, also at the Jade Blood Realm, it seemed likely he would be with Kun Lao Da, discussing matters related to the Spirit Blood Child.

    Yet, the Sea God continued to act independently, still taking brides here.

    This is intriguing.

    Could it be... a bold guess?

    Is Kun Lao Da the Sea God¡¯s wife?

    Kun Lao Da disappeared without informing the Sea God, and the Sea God became jealous and angrily decided to marry two brides.

    It makes sense and is more reliable than some wild historical accounts.

    Qi Yuan looked toward the depths of Haishi Village, his interest growing.

    Following the dark-skinned man, Qi Yuan entered Haishi Village.

    Haishi Village was mostly populated by young men dressed in coarse cloth, their chests exposed.

    As for young women, they were extremely rare.

    Upon entering the village, Qi Yuan was immediately greeted by the strong smell of fish. Low thatched roofs had fish drying in baskets on top, while some eaves had dried fish hanging.

    In the corners, scraps of red paper seemed to have been washed to the base of the walls by rainwater.

    This small fishing village had a stifling yet festive atmosphere.

    At this moment, the sound of a dispute came from nearby.

    "You may be from the yamen, but in our Haishi Village, the Sea God is first, and the yamen can only come second. If you want to see the Sea God, there''s no way!"

    "Hmph, what nonsense about the law! The law is just a rope you yamen folks use to hang around our necks!"

    "Can the county magistrate ensure we have enough to eat? Can the emperor keep us safe while fishing?"

    "Since they can''t, the Sea God is the greatest."

    The village chief, staring at the few constables before him, his beard twitching, was unreserved even in the face of the law enforcers.

    For the past three years, Haishi Village had grown stronger.

    There were thousands of young men and hundreds of boats, large and small.

    At first, Haishi Village needed the help of the government to defeat neighboring villages.

    But now, Haishi Village no longer took the government seriously.

    The fishermen here could also be pirates.

    Moreover, with the Sea God backing them, they feared no one.

    An Qiao, holding the tracing dog, frowned deeply upon hearing the village chief''s words, "How innocent these girls are who marry the Sea God?"

    After all, she was from a modern society, and despite having experienced many such incidents, she still found it difficult to accept or condone them.

    The old village chief looked at An Qiao with contempt, "Exchanging a few girls for a year¡¯s harvest is a good deal.

    People, after all, are either slaves for the government or servants for the Sea God.

    Since that¡¯s the case, why not choose an option that benefits us?"

    To the old village chief, people were simply resources.

    And resources were meant to be traded and exchanged.

    An Qiao, hearing this, felt speechless.

    She wanted to say, "Brother, the mission is more important."

    But remembering Qi Yuan''s strength and erratic behavior, she feared getting herself killed and didn¡¯t say anything.

    For the next while, the three of them and a dog roamed around the village.

    Amid the sound of gongs and drums, the Sea God¡¯s wedding officially began.

    A long procession, with a sedan chair carried high, was accompanied by the beating of gongs and drums.

    An Qiao looked at the scene, her expression complicated, "Apart from everything else, these ancient weddings are quite interesting."

    Though there weren¡¯t ten miles of red makeup, high-headed horses, or phoenix coronets, the atmosphere was still vibrant.

    Qi Yuan, on the other hand, was disappointed and shook his head, "It¡¯s not as grand as my musical band, not even as impressive as my mourning band."

    "Huh?" An Qiao blinked, "What musical band? What mourning band? Where?"

    She suspected Qi Yuan was just talking nonsense again.

    "They¡¯re in... my heart." Qi Yuan''s expression grew a bit heavier.

    All the villagers in the Mortal Heart Realm had become part of his Nascent Soul, becoming part of him.

    He couldn¡¯t awaken them now.

    Thinking of this, he couldn''t help but think of the actress Wu Qi.

    An Qiao fell silent, feeling she couldn¡¯t communicate with Qi Yuan.

    By now, the procession had reached the sandy beach by the sea.

    Eight villagers carried the sedan chair, joy on their faces.

    The village chief stood on a high platform, burning incense, worshipping the sea, and bowing deeply, looking extremely devout.

    "Great Sea God, all-powerful Sea God, please grant Haishi Village a season of abundance and peace."

    Following the village chief¡¯s words, all the villagers knelt facing the sea, prostrating themselves with utmost devotion.

    Only the spectators and the villagers carrying the sedan chair remained standing.

    The men carrying the sedan chair stepped onto the sand, heading toward the sea.

    Seeing this, An Qiao felt a pang of sadness.

    Another innocent soul was about to suffer.

    Beside her, Qi Yuan perked up, looking puzzled, "Why hasn¡¯t the officiant asked if they¡¯re willing? If he doesn¡¯t ask, how do I steal the bride?"

    That¡¯s how it always went in the movies.

    Whenever the officiant asked if they were willing, and the camera focused on the bride or groom, the bride-stealing would begin.

    Qi Yuan also thought that was the best time to steal a bride; otherwise, the TV wouldn¡¯t portray it that way.

    Qi Yuan always followed the rules, did things by the book, and never broke the law.

    After all, if it was on TV, it couldn¡¯t be illegal. If it were, it wouldn¡¯t be aired.

    "I don¡¯t think they have an officiant here," An Qiao didn¡¯t really want to talk to Qi Yuan.

    "What? No officiant? How do I steal the bride?" Qi Yuan was also dumbfounded.

    He stood there, stunned, his mind racing with thoughts.

    At this moment, An Qiao¡¯s gaze shifted to the sea.

    She saw a massive wave suddenly surge from the ocean, towering like a building, dozens of meters high.

    The sound of the waves was deafening, and the villagers knelt even lower.

    Any thoughts the village chief had, stirred up by Qi Yuan, disappeared amidst this display of the forces of nature.

    An Qiao, witnessing this, looked grim, "As expected, it¡¯s the Jade Blood Realm. I can¡¯t even handle a wave like this. That poor girl... she¡¯s doomed."

    The Sea God hadn¡¯t shown himself, but even the way he welcomed his bride was astonishing.

    Qi Yuan, however, remained calm, "This display is just so-so. The special effects aren¡¯t that great."

    An Qiao and the man in black martial attire automatically tuned out Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan focused on the horizon.

    Using a Qi Refining-level technique to enhance his vision, his eyesight improved, allowing him to see further.

    However, even across the sea, he could not spot the true form of the Sea God.

    At this moment, the tracing dog suddenly sniffed the air, "Hmm, this scent... very familiar, quite similar to the aquatic tribe, but not exactly..."

    The tracing dog suddenly looked at Qi Yuan, terrified.

    "It¡¯s exactly the same as your scent."

    "You are the Sea God!"

    "What?" An Qiao was shocked.

    The man in black martial attire was equally stunned.

    Qi Yuan is the Sea God?

    An Qiao suddenly remembered, Qi Yuan never explicitly said he was the same as them.

    Moreover, how could a newcomer be this powerful?

    Could it be that the Sea God devoured the newcomer and disguised himself as Qi Yuan?

 Chapter 322: The Truth Behind the Luo Family Massacre?

    Chapter 322: The Truth Behind the Luo Family Massacre?

    The two people and the dog instinctively kept their distance from Qi Yuan.

    After all, the Tracing Dog''s words were quite shocking.

    With such a strong newcomer like Qi Yuan, everything suddenly made sense when they put the pieces together.

    Qi Yuan looked at the people in front of him as if they were fools.

    "Are you all missing a screw in your heads? If I were the Sea God, why wouldn¡¯t I just marry my child bride directly?

    Why go through such a convoluted way?"

    Qi Yuan felt that there were too few people as smart as him in this world.

    These words left An Qiao dumbfounded.

    The man in black martial attire was somewhat confused... He wanted to ask what the connection was between what Qi Yuan said and whether he was the Sea God or not.

    However, if the other party was the Sea God, he probably wouldn¡¯t be talking so much with them.

    This lowered his guard a little. Could it be that the other party wasn¡¯t the Sea God after all?

    At that moment, the ten-meter-high waves raised by the seawater swept from the sea towards the beach, from far to near.

    The towering white waves were overwhelming.

    All the villagers were trembling with fear, and the village chief''s rebellious intentions vanished completely.

    The waves were surging directly toward the eight-carried sedan chair.

    At this moment, Xiao Mei was confined inside the sedan chair.

    If the waves hit, she would undoubtedly die.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan sighed leisurely, "Why is it different from how it''s portrayed on TV? Does this mean... I have to rush in and steal the bride ahead of time?"

    On TV, the bride-stealing always began when they asked, "Do you?"

    Now no one was asking!

    He took a step forward, ready to take action.

    But just then, a sudden change occurred.

    A loud voice suddenly came from the sky above.

    "Die... Everyone must die!"

    A stumbling figure emerged, emanating a powerful aura belonging to the Jade Blood Realm.

    That figure suddenly appeared and thrust a palm forward.

    A surge of blood-red murderous energy boiled, a white jade-like light flickered, and faintly, eighteen bloody palms could be seen.

    The terrifying cry of a giant beast also sounded at this moment.

    Clearly, this was a gifted martial technique being used by a powerful man of the Jade Blood Realm.

    The mighty palm strike hit the giant wave.

    Eighteen blood palms continuously slapped against the wave.

    Bang!

    The wave churned and shattered under the impact of that palm strike.

    "That''s... the madman!"

    "Why is he attacking the Sea God?"

    An Qiao was astonished.

    The person who made the move was the insane man they had been secretly following.

    The deranged man hovered in midair, his hair disheveled, obscuring his face.

    However, his presence in the air exerted tremendous pressure on almost everyone present.

    Such a palm strike was beyond human capability.

    Even if faced with a thousand riders, he could probably escape unscathed.

    The madman shattered the wave, his clothes drenched. He stood amidst the waves, his face twisted in fury, "Demons... They should all die!"

    He roared and struck towards the sea again.

    Each blow hit the water, raising waves, but to no avail.

    The village chief trembled on the high platform.

    The other villagers felt a wave of fear wash over them.

    "He¡¯s truly gone mad. Attacking wildly like this, recklessly using up his blood martial energy¡ªhow will he fight when the Sea God appears?"

    An Qiao was anxious.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

    "Who is this person? Clearly, there are no Jade Blood Realm warriors in Yunyan County!"

    The man in black martial attire was puzzled, watching the madman pounding the sea.

    "He is... Luo Bufan!" At this moment, a heavy voice rang out.

    Two men quietly appeared near An Qiao.

    Seeing the newcomers, An Qiao''s face lit up with joy, "Captain!"

    Seeing the captain calmed her down.

    Although the captain wasn''t at the Jade Blood Realm, he was at the peak of the Qi and Blood Realm, making him the strongest among them.

    The captain''s gaze fell on Qi Yuan, a flash of surprise in his eyes, "You actually made it here."

    Qi Yuan looked at Chen Fan and shrugged, "What a coincidence, we ended up matched together."

    Seeing the captain knew Qi Yuan, An Qiao and the man in black martial attire felt their doubts dissipate.

    The Tracing Dog, however, wore a peculiar expression. It sniffed forcefully but said nothing.

    Everyone''s attention shifted back to the madman in the distance.

    "Luo Bufan, he''s the Luo Bufan from the Luo family?" An Qiao had a sudden realization, "Wasn''t he just in the Qi and Blood Realm? How did he reach the Jade Blood Realm?"

    Luo Bufan going mad was understandable; after all, his whole family was murdered, and his fiance?e¡¯s family was wiped out too.

    But his sudden leap in strength was abnormal.

    Time was running out for Yunyan County.

    Luo Bufan, always known as a demon-slaying hero, grew anxious but was powerless.

    Without Jade Blood Realm strength, he couldn¡¯t intervene in such major events.

    Then one day, his friend casually mentioned a bloody method to increase one¡¯s power.

    At that time, his heart wavered for a moment but was quickly suppressed.

    On one side were the hundreds of thousands of citizens of Yunyan County, and on the other were his closest kin.

    For several days, he was in a state of extreme confusion, even hallucinating.

    Finally, when he regained his senses, everyone was dead.

    Dead.

    All dead.

    ¡°Brother Bufan, I always thought you were a righteous man, so I told you a method to increase your power.

    Who knew... you would really use it? Alas, it¡¯s all my fault.

    I shouldn¡¯t have told you about it. I¡¯m sorry to your parents, even more sorry to Xinlian.

    I didn¡¯t protect her,¡±

    At this moment, a young man emerged from the crowd, his face full of guilt and deep remorse.

    He looked at the corpse of Xinlian in her bridal attire, a flash of deep affection in his eyes.

    Luo Bufan sat on the ground, his mind lost.

    The young man continued, ¡°Xinlian won¡¯t forgive you, and neither will I!¡±

    Luo Bufan¡¯s aura grew erratic, his blood energy boiling, as if possessed by demons.

    ¡°This is truly an interesting drama.¡± Not far away, Qi Yuan, lacking any melon seeds to snack on, could only clap his hands. ¡°Every character, no matter how far or close, arrives right on cue.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± An Qiao, who was engrossed in Luo Bufan¡¯s ruthlessness, was momentarily puzzled, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too much of a coincidence that Luo Bufan¡¯s friend showed up right when he did?

    Just like in a TV drama.

    No, this is a TV drama. When would something this coincidental happen in real life?

    A bunch of people keep berating a single person endlessly, just waiting for him to...¡±

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t finish his sentence.

    An Qiao seemed to be pondering.

    The man in black martial attire, however, was extremely anxious, ¡°What should we do? If Luo Bufan dies, we¡¯re next.

    This Sea God clearly isn¡¯t a good demon!¡±

    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t this mission ended yet? Could there be more to the story?¡±

    The Demon Subduing Division members were all tense.

    The Sea God¡¯s cold gaze fell on Luo Bufan, his words biting: ¡°Luo Bufan, if you don¡¯t end your life, how can you face your loved ones?¡±

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Brother Bufan, killing demands atonement.

    If you end your life now, Xinlian... might forgive you.¡±

    Luo Bufan sat on the ground, his hair disheveled, his mind in disarray.

    He raised his hand and placed it on his head, as if preparing to bring it down in the next moment to atone for his sins.

    But at that moment, Chen Fan suddenly leaped forward, shouting loudly: ¡°Luo Bufan, what¡¯s done is done!

    The most important thing now is to kill the demon!

    Do you want the 176 lives of the Luo family to have been for nothing?

    Kill it first, and then you can die later!¡±

    Hearing Chen Fan¡¯s words, Luo Bufan¡¯s hand paused in midair.

    He seemed to be pondering Chen Fan¡¯s words.

    ¡°Brother Bufan, do you think you¡¯re worthy of Xinlian?¡± Luo Bufan¡¯s friend continued, ¡°Back then, we both pursued Xinlian.

    In the end, I chose to give up.

    Didn¡¯t you promise me that you would love Xinlian all your life, protect her?

    And what happened?

    You killed her with your own hands. She died in the arms of the demon-slaying hero she revered, the man she loved the most!¡±

    Luo Bufan¡¯s eyes, which had briefly cleared, clouded over again.

    In his heart, he felt the stirrings of a desire for death.

    ¡°If I were you, I would end my life right now,¡± Luo Bufan¡¯s friend continued, then looked at Chen Fan, ¡°You believe these government lackeys?

    Back then, when we sought help from the government, what did they do?

    They asked us to come up with 100,000 taels of silver, and after the Luo and Chen families managed to gather it, what then?

    They took the money but did nothing!

    How is he, a government lackey, qualified to meddle in Yunyan County¡¯s affairs? Because of the uniform he¡¯s wearing?¡±

    Luo Bufan¡¯s friend was filled with righteous indignation, seemingly harboring deep resentment toward the government.

    At that moment, Chen Fan ripped off a layer of skin from his face, his voice heavy: ¡°Because I am... Luo Bufan!¡±

    As the human skin mask was removed, Chen Fan revealed a face that was 80% similar to Luo Bufan''s.

 Chapter 323: I Amâ€¦ Lao Liu?

    Chapter 323: I Am... Lao Liu?

    "You... Luo Bufan?"

    The young man stared at Luo Bufan, his face filled with disbelief.

    The village chief, who was possessed by the Sea God, also appeared bewildered, clearly not expecting what was happening today.

    Luo Bufan, who was slumped on the ground, looked at Chen Fan''s familiar face and seemed momentarily confused.

    An Qiao widened her eyes, then smiled bitterly: "So, the protagonist of this mission is the captain."

    Earlier, when talking with Qi Yuan, An Qiao referred to the mission world as a parallel world. This wasn''t just a casual term but a reality. The mission world they were in seemed to be a reenactment of events from the past of their real world. It was like going back in time, back to different historical timelines, to complete their tasks.

    During these missions, they had seen many parallel versions of famous historical figures and had come to know many remarkable yet forgotten individuals who had left no trace in the history books, overshadowed by fate.

    History is vast and heavy, and each small figure is so insignificant in the long river of time.

    "So, the captain also went through the same experiences as Luo Bufan," the man in black martial attire said, looking at Chen Fan with a hint of caution. After all, Luo Bufan was ruthless enough to kill his entire family to increase his power for demon slaying.

    If he dared to kill even his closest kin, who wouldn''t he dare to kill?

    "The captain isn''t that kind of person; I don''t believe it!" An Qiao gritted her teeth, her expression complex. "There must be more to this!"

    At this moment, all eyes were on Chen Fan.

    Chen Fan looked at Luo Bufan, his expression resolute: "I am another you, the you from another world. I too experienced what you are going through. I was in pain, blamed myself, felt remorse, and even wanted to die. But... I pulled through in the end.

    If I died, wouldn¡¯t my parents and my family have died in vain?

    Luo Bufan, think of the hundreds of thousands of citizens in Yunyan County behind you. Do you want to see this great demon drown Yunyan County completely?"

    Chen Fan¡¯s voice was hoarse but firm, with a hint of sorrow. He too had gone through these things. In the end, he sealed the great demon. Upon entering this world, his long-sealed memories resurfaced. Though he seemed calm and carefree, each word he spoke drained his strength as he painfully reopened the blood-soaked memories of his past.

    "Luo Bufan, will you join me today to perform... the Luo Family''s ultimate technique, the Lifeless Hand?" Chen Fan shouted.

    The enemy they faced today was stronger and more cunning than the one he had faced before.

    Hearing Chen Fan¡¯s words, the last traces of suspicion in Luo Bufan¡¯s eyes vanished.

    The Lifeless Hand was the Luo family¡¯s ancestral technique, passed down only to the next head of the family. Apart from his father, only he knew it. This technique was unknown to outsiders and could not be practiced by any other bloodline. Therefore, Chen Fan was not lying.

    Luo Bufan looked at the corpse of Chen Xinlian, his eyes filled with endless guilt and regret. Finally, his gaze became determined: "Alright!"

    Lifeless Hand, as its name suggests, is a technique of no return. At this moment, both the past Luo Bufan and the current Chen Fan chose the same path. The faces of his family, his fiance?e, and all who had died appeared vividly in Luo Bufan''s mind. Now, the blood flowing through him was not his own but theirs.

    "Lifeless Hand!"

    Luo Bufan shouted as a Jade Blood Realm expert.

    Chen Fan, at his peak in the Qi Blood realm, roared.

    On the beach, the two terrifying figures charged at the body possessed by the Sea God without hesitation.

    Bloody handprints flew everywhere, like leaves falling in a forest.

    Long ago, the Luo family¡¯s ancestor had created the Lifeless Hand in a maple forest, then died. Since then, the Luo family had this unique technique, but no descendant had ever used it. Today, Luo Bufan resurrected the Lifeless Hand. This technique, surpassing the Jade Blood Realm in power, displayed terrifying might at this moment. Its chilling, unstoppable, leaf-falling intent was almost akin to a Primordial Divine Ability of the Purple Palace cultivators.

    "No!" the Sea God roared. Faced with the two strikes, his body couldn''t move. The powerful defensive technique seemed to lose all its effectiveness, and his most prized illusions failed.

    The two bloody handprints fell on his possessed body.

    Boom!

    The village chief¡¯s body shattered, turning flesh and bones into fragments. The strike even hit the Sea God''s soul.

    "No!" the Sea God let out a painful wail. His spiritual form floated in the air, his eyes filled with rage and despair.

    "You actually... destroyed one of my bodies. Unforgivable, unforgivable!"

    The Sea God was furious, but his anger was mixed with pain. For years, he had used illusions to lure Kun Lao Da (the Water Clan leader) into becoming a vessel for his divided soul.

    But now, the combined attacks of Chen Fan and Luo Bufan, full of deathly determination, struck directly at his soul.

    He had to use Kun Lao Da¡¯s form to withstand the two Lifeless Hand attacks. Not only that, but many of his possessed bodies exploded as well.

    In Haishi Village alone, over a hundred young and strong men died. Even so, he suffered a severe injury.

    The fearless, life-for-a-life martial skill directly exhausted his decades-long accumulation.

    Especially Kun Lao Da¡¯s form, which was at the Jade Blood battle level.

    Today¡¯s encounter was truly a disaster for him.

    ¡°Damn it, you all must die, all of you must die!¡±

    The Sea God¡¯s eyes turned blood red. With his furious roar, the distant sea suddenly churned as if a dragon absorbed the water.

    A wave, as high as a mountain, surged into the sky.

    Upon the enormous wave, a hideous soft-bodied creature opened three eyes, each as large as a lantern. Each eye represented a different martial skill.

    The white eye focused on illusions.

    The red eye focused on attacks.

    The purple eye focused on control.

    This was the Sea God¡¯s true form, the so-called ¡°Son of Spirit Blood¡± mentioned by Kun Lao Da.

    The ¡°Son of Spirit Blood¡± was merely a deception. After devouring Kun Lao Da to turn him into his puppet, the Sea God spread the false information to lure all the demons of Yunyan County into his trap.

    But for some reason, things went awry. Now, with one of his powerful bodies destroyed and a third of his strength lost, he was furious.Fo?ll0w current novE?ls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

    The Sea God¡¯s white pupil exploded violently, its eyeball turning to pulp and splattering everywhere.

    ¡°Ahhh... what... are you...¡±

    The Sea God¡¯s thoughts became chaotic.

    Moments ago, it had used its illusion technique to break through Qi Yuan¡¯s mental defenses and hear his inner voice. But what did it hear?

    ¡°Ah...¡±

    It went mad, claws digging into its own white pupil socket, seemingly intent on crushing it completely.

    ¡°Sigh, why not stay a little longer? My Nascent Souls are lonely, and it¡¯s rare for someone to come in and keep them company,¡± Qi Yuan said, a touch of melancholy in his tone, like a lonely old man left behind. But soon, his expression turned into the smirk of a sly opportunist. ¡°Now do you understand why I called you a wounded dog? Without Kun Lao Da, you¡¯re... nothing!¡±

    The Mo Li Sha fish king¡¯s strongest suit was illusion and mind control. However, Qi Yuan was almost immune to being deceived or trapped in illusions.

    Why? It was simple¡ªhe was sharp-witted and incredibly smart.

    With his ability to see hidden information, he wouldn¡¯t fall for illusions. Therefore, he was a natural counter to the Mo Li Sha fish king.

    Without Kun Lao Da¡¯s protection, wasn¡¯t the Sea God just a wounded animal ready to be slaughtered?

    ¡°Someone once said, ¡®You can¡¯t step into the same river twice, nor can you eat the same fish twice.¡¯ Today, I¡¯m going to prove them wrong and see which tastes better¡ªyou or the one before!¡±

    Jade Blood-level: Explosive Bird-Killing Fist activated at that moment.

    No flashy moves, just a simple, straightforward punch.

    It cut through all illusions and struck directly at the Sea God¡¯s heart.

    ¡°No!¡± The deranged Sea God had no power to resist. The Divine Infants¡¯ murmurs, like the whispers of an evil god, had driven it insane.

    With one blow, Qi Yuan¡¯s punch struck true, and the Sea God lay flat, the flame of its life flickering out.

    The towering waves that had risen seemed to vanish in an instant, like fireworks in the sky fading away.

    Over thirty drops of jade-white blood appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.

    His expression was indescribable.

    This mission was surprisingly easy, and he even got to watch a drama play out.

    His gaze then fell on Chen Fan.

    At this moment, Chen Fan¡¯s internal organs were completely shattered, his expression a mix of relief and numbness.

    The insane Luo Bufan lay on the ground, smiling, but his expression was more sorrowful than anything.

    ¡°Thank you. Dying like this... makes it easier to accept,¡± Chen Fan said softly, looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar Qi Yuan.

    His eyes had already lost their light, and he seemed detached from everything in this world.

    Dying this way felt like a release.

    At least Yunyan County survived, didn¡¯t it?

    Qi Yuan looked at Chen Fan and spoke calmly: ¡°Before you go, would you like to hear some hidden plot details from the game?¡±

    Chen Fan¡¯s life force continued to wane, and he didn¡¯t respond.

    Luo Bufan also lay there, quietly awaiting the arrival of death.

    Still, Qi Yuan continued, speaking as if to himself: ¡°The mission isn¡¯t actually complete yet. It¡¯s quite simple, really. The Luo and Chen family massacres were done by... the Mo Li Sha fish king.

    The game task was to investigate the true reason behind the demon massacre of the Luo and Chen families. Clearly... it was the demon that acted.

    In fact... your father, your mother, your family, and even your fiance?e didn¡¯t die by your hands.

    They were killed by the Mo Li Sha fish king, but it excelled at illusion and tricked you into believing that you were the killer.

    As for the motive, it¡¯s also straightforward. The Mo Li Sha fish king¡¯s combat power was too weak, so it needed protection.

    Kun Lao Da was one choice, and Yunyan County¡¯s genius Luo Bufan... was another.¡±

    Hearing this, Luo Bufan¡¯s body trembled.

    An Qiao beamed with joy: ¡°I knew the captain wasn¡¯t that kind of person; he would never kill his own parents!¡±

    However, Chen Fan, whom An Qiao was supporting, remained calm and softly asked: ¡°Is that true?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Qi Yuan nodded.

    An Qiao was overwhelmed with joy: ¡°Captain, we¡¯ll go back. There must be a way to save you.¡±

    The other two black-clad men also smiled. This mission was full of surprises but ended without a hitch, a perfect outcome.

    It seemed like a major victory if the captain could be saved.

    Chen Fan seemed not to hear An Qiao¡¯s words. He continued to cough, spitting out blood mixed with bits of his organs. He looked at An Qiao: ¡°After the mission... go to my place and take my belongings to... him... as a... reward...¡±

    After saying that, he glanced at the young Luo Bufan not far away. For the first time, his eyes showed a look of relief and calm, and his hand finally fell limply to the side.

    The world seemed to have made peace with him, but it seemed he hadn¡¯t made peace with himself.

    Chen Fan¡¯s death didn¡¯t stir much emotion in Qi Yuan.

    After all, he was just an NPC with limited screen time.

    ¡°Finally, the mission is over... Where are we going back to?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, before returning, let¡¯s bury the dead. It¡¯s the least we can do.¡±

 Chapter 324: Seven Martial Stars? Theyâ€™re Worth Less Than Dog Shit!

    Chapter 324: Seven Martial Stars? They¡¯re Worth Less Than Dog Shit!

    An Qiao and the others worked hard to bury Chen Fan and Luo Bufan. Qi Yuan looked at the corpses scattered all over the Sea Stone Village, a pained expression in his eyes.

    ¡°So many dead... This must have been a huge banquet. It¡¯s a pity... I can''t eat them!¡±

    The notification for task completion had already appeared; they would soon leave the task world.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the ruined Sea Stone Village, his expression calm.

    ¡°If I ever get the chance to come back, I¡¯ll feast then.¡±

    At this moment, An Qiao approached, her face showing respect as she looked at Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Brother Qi, when we return, I will give you the captain¡¯s belongings.¡±

    Generally speaking, if a newcomer completes their first task successfully, they return to the outpost where the veteran mission members are located.

    ¡°Hmm, what¡¯s the name of the place where you¡¯re returning?¡± Qi Yuan asked curiously.

    An Qiao¡¯s eyes still seemed somewhat dazed, but she responded, ¡°The World of Dead Qi, but... we prefer to call it... the Yellow Springs World. The Yellow Springs World is home to a group of dead people, or rather, those who are not quite dead yet.¡±

    ¡°Oh, let¡¯s call it the Yellow Springs World then. I¡¯m patriotic and support domestic names,¡± Qi Yuan replied casually.

    This comment left An Qiao and the others momentarily speechless.

    ¡°The task is complete, and we can¡¯t stay longer than half an hour. Just think about returning, and you¡¯ll be back at the outpost,¡± An Qiao explained to Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked over at Xiao Mei in the distance and waved.

    With her innate marriage-prone physique, who knows how many more times she¡¯ll get married if they meet again.

    ¡°Return!¡±

    Qi Yuan silently chanted in his mind.

    In an instant, he felt time and space flip. He heard countless wails and whispers in his ears.

    This sensation lasted for less than a second before completely dissipating.

    When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in a small stone chamber.

    The stone chamber wasn¡¯t large, about thirty square meters.

    In the southern part of the room, there was a stone table with a stone lamp on it. The lampshade contained a candle, emitting a dim yellow light, which was the only source of light in the chamber.

    ¡°Hmm... a free house?¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced around, intrigued by his surroundings.

    It seemed that this house was carved out from a massive rock, with the stone table connected to the ground.

    Qi Yuan pushed open the stone door and discovered that he was standing on a cliff.

    This meant that the entire stone chamber was hollowed out from the cliffside.

    ¡°If the apocalypse came and zombies overran everything, I could stash some supplies here and hide. No zombie would ever find this place.¡±

    If he were a kid, Qi Yuan would¡¯ve loved this stone chamber and treated it as a secret base.

    But now, as an adult, he was only mildly interested.

    He scanned the area and noticed there were many stone chambers like his on the cliff.

    Below the cliff was a valley filled with the fragrance of flowers. A deep breath of the air would make anyone feel a bit dizzy.

    Qi Yuan followed the steps down the cliff.

    ¡°Brother Qi, over here!¡± An Qiao waved at Qi Yuan from not far away.

    At this point, An Qiao looked no different from her appearance in the task world; she was still wearing the black combat uniform of the Demon-Suppressing Division.

    However, Qi Yuan also noticed many men and women dressed in modern styles at this outpost.

    Just then, an old man approached Qi Yuan, sniffing him with a slightly anxious expression: ¡°A newcomer? What did you get as your task reward, a Body-Refining Blood Pill? If you have one, how about making a deal with me, old man?¡±

    ¡°See those beauties and handsome guys in the bamboo pavilion over there? If you give me the Body-Refining Blood Pill, you can play with any of those three beautiful women or handsome men!¡±

    ¡°Hmph, not everyone gets a chance like this. I¡¯m only making this offer because I see potential in you and want to befriend you.¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced over and saw three men and three women sitting in a bamboo pavilion not far away.

    The men were handsome, and the women were beautiful, all dressed in different styles.

    The women wore ancient Qin costumes, modern cheongsams, and short skirts with stockings.

    The men were similarly dressed, each representing a different era''s charm.

    ¡°Lin Yeshan, stop trying to deceive people. Brother Qi isn¡¯t just some new recruit!¡± An Qiao stepped forward and glared at Lin Yeshan.

    ¡°This is Lin Yeshan, a notorious trickster in the outpost who targets newcomers. The Body-Refining Blood Pill is precious and can greatly enhance one¡¯s strength with almost no side effects. You don¡¯t need to waste a Body-Refining Blood Pill to enjoy the Bamboo Pavilion.¡±

    An Qiao exposed Lin Yeshan¡¯s tricks without hesitation.

    Lin Yeshan laughed sheepishly, a strange look in his eyes.

    An Qiao was a decent martial artist herself; why was she addressing this newcomer as ¡®Brother Qi¡¯?

    ¡°Heh heh, looks like this new recruit performed well in your mission.¡± Seeing that his trick didn¡¯t work, Lin Yeshan changed his tone. ¡°Well, if you want, I can still arrange for you to visit the Bamboo Pavilion girls.¡±

    An Qiao glared at Lin Yeshan, clearly displeased.

    ¡°Brother Qi, come on. I¡¯ll take you to the captain¡¯s place.¡± An Qiao led Qi Yuan away.

    Lin Yeshan was stunned for a moment, then asked, ¡°What happened to Chen Fan?¡±

    Lin Yeshan knew that Chen Fan was a loner who almost never allowed outsiders into his place.

    For An Qiao to be taking Qi Yuan there, what did it mean?

    ¡°The captain... is gone,¡± An Qiao said softly, her voice tinged with sadness.

    Perhaps this would be her fate as well in the future.

    Lin Yeshan was taken aback, then looked at Qi Yuan with a complicated expression but said nothing more.

    An Qiao led Qi Yuan through the valley toward another cliffside.

    ¡°Your people here are quite friendly. If I¡¯m not mistaken, that guy earlier was at mid-Jade Blood level. Yet, you could scold him like that, and he didn¡¯t lose his temper?¡± Qi Yuan asked casually.

    ¡°He¡¯s an... old martial artist. In the outpost, he has Jade Blood-level strength, but in the task world, his strength drops to mid-qi blood level. So...¡±

    An Qiao didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but Qi Yuan understood.

    In future tasks, they might team up. In the task world, Lin Yeshan¡¯s strength would be relatively weaker.

    The main point was that advancing in the Jade Blood level was far more challenging than in the Qi Blood level.

    Game-world Luo Bufan had it rough, and so did Qi Yuan.

    Among the masses, everyone has their hardships.

    For instance, some people are born without parents, becoming orphans.

    Qi Yuan also had it tough¡ªhe never had a mother-in-law.

    No one to care for him, love him, or protect him. His strength was suppressed by a level, and in the game world, he was constantly on edge, fearing discovery by a great demon.

    Fortunately, his cautious and steady nature allowed him to complete the task perfectly.

    Back in the real world, with his Foundation Establishment perfect stage strength, his confidence was restored.

    ¡°Looks like... I need to form my Golden Core.¡±

    Qi Yuan gazed at the sun in the sky, deep in thought.

    Soon, there would be another sun in the sky.

    By forming his Golden Core, he would gradually draw in the Stellar Golden Core.

    The first one to be drawn in would be the star where Ning Tao was, which was also Qi Yuan¡¯s first Golden Core.

    ¡°Time to... break through!¡±

    ...

    In a military camp, thousands of soldiers in uniform were training, their loud shouts echoing nonstop.

    Engines roared like thunder.

    Various artillery fired freely.

    Inside the steel structure, however, it was very quiet; the soundproofing was excellent, so no noise from outside could enter.

    A pot-bellied man in military uniform took a sip of tea, then looked at the man in front of him. He spoke.

    ¡°Xiao Huan, this matter has already attracted the attention of the Seven Martial Stars. What he did, sending a coffin to the Marquis of Blue Sea, puts us in a difficult position. Although the Marquis of Blue Sea¡¯s actions were a bit excessive, after all... his intentions were for the nation and for Qin Yuan.¡±

    ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll have the Marquis of Blue Sea personally go to apologize to him, and we¡¯ll call this matter settled?¡±

    There was a chilling aura in the military man¡¯s words.

    Recently, the extermination of the Gui Ran military camp had caused a huge uproar.

    The upper echelons of the Qin Yuan nation had also taken notice of Qi Yuan.

    Perhaps due to greed or following the orders of some high-ranking figures, the Marquis of Blue Sea tried to secretly infiltrate Qi Yuan¡¯s phone and computer to gather more information.

    Unexpectedly, this little trick was discovered and intercepted by Zero-One.

    So, Qi Yuan arranged for Zero-One to deliver a coffin to the Marquis of Blue Sea.

    And that led to today¡¯s incident.

    Kuang Huan dared not look directly at the military man. He lowered his head and said, ¡°Chief, I don¡¯t have the qualifications to interfere in Lord Qi¡¯s matters either!¡±

    ¡°Whether or not you¡¯re qualified is irrelevant. You just need to convey our words to him. Otherwise, if today he dares to send a coffin to the Marquis of Blue Sea, won¡¯t he dare to kill people from the Seven Martial Stars families tomorrow? He is indeed very strong, but our Qin Yuan¡¯s Sky Eye is not just for show. Under the Sky Eye, even gods cannot survive! However, we aim for peace and do not wish to start a conflict lightly. As long as he shows goodwill and forgives the Marquis of Blue Sea, everything can continue to be discussed.¡±

    The military man¡¯s expression carried a hint of threat.

    Regarding such an unstable person like Qi Yuan, there was much debate at the top.

    Some wanted to win him over, while others wanted to eliminate him.

    For now, the faction advocating for cooperation had the upper hand.

    But even for cooperation, there had to be some strategy¡ªfirst, a little suppression. Otherwise... he wouldn¡¯t know who held the bigger cards.

    ¡°This...¡± Kuang Huan looked troubled.

    At the Gui Ran military camp, he had witnessed Mr. Qi¡¯s strength firsthand and regarded him as a celestial being.

    But could Mr. Qi, no matter how strong, compete with the Qin Yuan nation¡¯s ultimate weapon, the Sky Eye?

    Back when the Glorious Star invaded, the reason the Gong Star managed to remain independent without being annexed was largely due to the Sky Eye.

    At this moment, Kuang Huan couldn¡¯t help but worry for Qi Yuan.

    He knew Qi Yuan¡¯s character. Mr. Qi would never regret what he had done.

    If spoken to nicely, it would be fine, but with such an obvious, condescending attitude, Mr. Qi would surely disdain them.

    ¡°I...¡± Kuang Huan stammered, unable to speak.

    Seeing this, the military man seemed to understand where things were headed.

    Although the cooperation faction currently had the upper hand, the war faction was secretly making moves.

    ¡°Kuang Huan, I was your grandfather¡¯s comrade-in-arms. Since you don¡¯t want to go speak to him, then don¡¯t get involved in this matter.¡± The military man decided he would personally have the Marquis of Blue Sea meet Qi Yuan.

    If Qi Yuan refused to apologize, then it would be a different matter altogether.

    He spoke this way to keep Kuang Huan out of the impending storm.

    ¡°Chief, the Marquis of Blue Sea is at fault...¡± Kuang Huan began to say.

    But the military man interrupted, ¡°Xiao Huan, you¡¯re not a child anymore. You should think about your family. When you return, act as if nothing happened, or... stay here for a while.¡±

    His intention was to detain Kuang Huan until the matter was resolved.

    ¡°I...¡± Kuang Huan was filled with struggle, helplessness, and anger.

    He was deeply worried about Qi Yuan.

    From what he knew, Qi Yuan would not compromise.

    Once he decided on something, he would never change his mind.

    What should he do? His mind was in turmoil.

    He didn¡¯t know how long he walked out of the steel building.

    Two guards were always ¡°escorting¡± him.

    For some reason, he felt that today¡¯s sun was exceptionally glaring.

    He suddenly realized that many soldiers were looking up at the sky.

    He also looked up.

    When he saw... an extra sun in the sky, his eyes widened, and he seemed to realize something.

    Cursing words escaped his lips uncontrollably.

    ¡°Damn the Seven Martial Stars, they¡¯re not worth even dog shit!¡±

 Chapter 325: Hmmâ€¦ Almost Getting the Certificate

    Chapter 325: Hmm... Almost Getting the Certificate

    On the Road.

    "Mommy, there are two suns in the sky!"

    "You¡¯re so young and already lying. Yesterday you lied about your dad playing with two pretty women, and today you''re saying there are two suns in the sky!"

    "But it¡¯s true, look!"

    In the Hospital.

    "?? Did I mess up the surgery? Why are there two suns in the sky?"

    "Two suns?" Hearing this, the doctor was confused. The surgery was on the eyes; it¡¯s not like I cut into his brain. Maybe... we should check him into a psychiatric hospital?

    Thinking this, he looked up at the sky, and immediately, his eyes went blank.

    At this moment, across Gongxing, exclamations were heard everywhere. Many people looked up at the sky, their faces filled with disbelief.

    "There¡¯s actually another sun in the sky!"

    "Could the rumors be true? Spiritual energy revival, the awakening of the Immortal Dao, the advent of mythology?"

    "Holy crap, the sun! My eyes are burning!"

    "Based on my limited scientific knowledge, isn''t Gongxing going to be destroyed in a few minutes?"

    "Why in a few minutes?"

    "It takes a few minutes for light to travel here. With an extra sun, can Gongxing handle it?"

    "You idiot, we can see the sun now, which means the light has already traveled here!"

    "Huh?"

    At this moment, all over the country and in various places, everyone¡¯s gaze was focused on the sky. They were filled with shock, curiosity, and even fear of the unknown over the additional sun in the sky.

    Some even began to kneel and worship the extra sun in the sky.

    On a warship, Luo Ping looked stunned, feeling for the first time that the development of events was beyond his expectations.

    As a restarter, he was well-versed in major events on Gongxing.

    He was familiar with all kinds of secret treasures and relics.

    But an extra sun in the sky? He had never heard of such a thing.

    He looked up at the sky, his expression serious.

    At this moment, a tall, sexy woman wearing a blue skirt approached. Her gaze towards Luo Ping was extremely gentle, her eyes fully focused on him. "Grandpa''s call."

    Hearing this, Luo Ping quickly took the phone. "Old man..."

    "The sun in the sky... I don¡¯t know either. Before the restart, there wasn¡¯t an extra sun in the sky. It could be... an unexpected anomaly."

    "Yes, Xiao Qin and I are on our way to Xingyun Island. We will return immediately after retrieving the item."

    After hanging up the phone, Luo Ping glanced at the extra sun in the sky again and then looked over at his young and beautiful wife nearby.

    He felt a sense of satisfaction. "It¡¯s okay. An extra sun in the sky, or the restart of the world... such things are far too remote for us. Let¡¯s just take care of our little family."

    Meanwhile, on Cangxing, a massive space fleet was cruising through the deep space beyond.

    A man wearing a white, fluid-like battle suit had a hint of doubt in his expression.

    "Professor Li, what are the results of the investigation?"

    The elderly professor stared at the large screen in front of him, a rare look of confusion in his eyes.

    "Our probe, emitting a seventh-level Cang Light, couldn¡¯t make contact with... the newly appeared sun."

    "Couldn¡¯t make contact?" For the first time, the young man¡¯s eyes showed a serious expression.

    Cang Light was a type of light captured by the Morning Star Nation from a relic deep in space.

    This light had unique properties, and the seventh-level Cang Light was best suited for detection.

    It could detect all sorts of celestial bodies.

    Even black holes could be probed around.

    Yet, it failed?

    "It seems to exist, yet it also seems not to, hovering between reality and unreality." At this point, Professor Li paused in his speech.

    The young man frowned; he didn¡¯t understand. "Do we have any clues? For instance... where did it come from, and does it have any impact on our Cangxing?"

    Professor Li shook his head at this point. "I suspect it¡¯s related to the ancient Immortal Dao, but to obtain more information, we would need to visit the National Archive. I don''t have the clearance."

    The National Archive was the largest library on Cangxing, with the most collections of ancient books, materials, and documents.

    Most of the ancient books there were priceless and could not be borrowed.

    Some materials, for special reasons, could not be digitized using normal technology, nor could they be photographed and uploaded to the internet. Hence, they were kept in the National Archive.

    Professor Li wanted to enter the National Archive to investigate the sudden appearance of the sun.

    "Alright, when our fleet returns, I¡¯ll immediately apply to the higher-ups!"

    The young man glanced at the mysterious sun one more time and piloted the fleet back towards Cangxing.

    ...

    Han Family Residence.

    Han Xianyun stretched as he walked out of the house.

    With only a few days left before the Martial Arts Tournament, he wanted to meet Qi Yuan to discuss some matters regarding the tournament.

    "Hehe, Blood Pearl, I thought you liked men," Jin Si Que said as she reached out, tightly hugging Qi Yuan''s arm. The sunlight poured down on her dress, making her feel lazy.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, I¡¯m perfectly normal,¡± Qi Yuan said, glancing at Han Xianyun.

    As for who was abnormal, it was naturally Han Xianyun.

    "Since you¡¯re here and you¡¯re familiar with the place, Jin Si Que just arrived. We¡¯re planning to buy some clothes and stuff, so lead the way." Qi Yuan wanted to be waited on.

    After all, this was a daily leisure game. In such a game, if you don¡¯t buy nice clothes for your wife and have her change into them for your enjoyment, then you¡¯re at a loss.

    After all, it¡¯s quite pleasing to the eyes.

    "Brother Qi, this is no time for shopping. This is an urgent matter!" Han Xianyun said anxiously, "I heard from my brother that one of the Seven Martial Stars families seems to have targeted you and intends to harm you!"

    The Seven Martial Stars were a taboo in Qin Yuan Nation.

    Or rather, these families had ruled this nation from ancient times.

    Several royal families had changed, but the Seven Martial Stars remained standing.

    As soon as Han Xianyun finished speaking, he immediately felt the atmosphere around him turn cold, as if he were in an ice cave.

    This cold aura came swiftly and dissipated just as quickly.

    He realized that this aura might have come from the charming girl beside Qi Yuan.

    He was shocked inside.

    Could it be that she was also a formidable figure?

    "Where are the Seven Martial Stars?" Ning Tao''s voice was sweet, like sugar in a honey pot.

    Qi Yuan held her small hand. ¡°It¡¯s just a game, don¡¯t argue with the NPCs; otherwise, it¡¯s too much of a waste of emotions.¡±

    Hearing this, Jin Si Que smiled sweetly and said no more.

    "Brother Qi, I know you''re strong, but... the Sky Eye is too terrifying. You might..." Han Xianyun hesitated.

    Qi Yuan laughed and said, "I may be weak and helpless right now, but my wife is here. If they mess with me, it¡¯ll be her turn next. I''m not afraid!"

    Qi Yuan spoke proudly, like a rich second-generation scion.

    Hit the small one, and the big one comes out.

    With Jin Si Que around, he could walk sideways on Gongxing.

    Jin Si Que tightly hugged Qi Yuan''s arm and nodded firmly, ¡°Hehe, this time I¡¯ve got your back, Blood Pearl!¡±

    Han Xianyun looked at Jin Si Que with suspicion, confused and uncertain.

    Could it be that this Jin Si Que was even stronger than Qi Yuan?

    ...

    One Day Later.

    Inside a Military Base.

    A document was placed on the table.

    Marquis of Blue Sea stood to the side, his expression respectful.

    In front of him sat a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

    The man glanced at the document, his eyes flashing with amazement. "Indeed, powerful martial strength is everything. Even a woman like this is willing to give her heart."

    He had seen many women of various types, all beautiful in their own right.

    But the woman in the document, captured by an ordinary camera with no beautification or retouching, was so captivating. How much more stunning would she be in reality?

    And this kind of woman, like a little bird, nestled against Qi Yuan. A feeling of jealousy grew in his heart.

    "Young Master Mu, what should we do?" The Marquis of Blue Sea asked cautiously.

    He had secretly investigated Qi Yuan and attempted to steal his information on Young Master Mu''s orders.

    As a result, his actions were discovered, and he was sent a coffin, which really scared him.

    After all, Qi Yuan was a ruthless man who could slay the Gui Ran military camp with a single strike.

    Although the Gui Ran army was weak and far inferior to the Qin Yuan military, Qi Yuan was undoubtedly a formidable man in his eyes.

    In Qin Yuan, there were very few weapons that could deal with Qi Yuan and eliminate him.

    "Isn''t it simple? Tomorrow, you¡¯ll personally go and apologize to him. As for me, I¡¯ll go and meet his little girlfriend. If he¡¯s sensible, he should know what to do. If not, his end... will be very tragic. As for his little girlfriend, she¡¯ll only be a widow, and I... just happen to like that." Young Master Mu¡¯s eyes held a condescending look.

    The Seven Martial Stars families had ruled this land for thousands of years.

    No matter how many emperors were replaced or how many uprisings there were, they were always on top.

    Stable and solid, they naturally became arrogant.

    Indeed, Qi Yuan was terrifying.

    But... could he be more terrifying than Cangxing?

    One could even say that if Cangxing sent just one battleship, it could destroy Qi Yuan.

    Yet even such a powerful Cangxing failed in its invasion of Gongxing.

    The rule of the Seven Martial Stars was unshakeable.

    Young Master Mu had the right to be proud.

    With the revival of the Immortal Dao, they had already mastered a lot of information related to it.

    For them, Qi Yuan was more like an unstable element.

 Chapter 326: The Helpful Qi Yuan

    Chapter 326: The Helpful Qi Yuan

    In the Mall

    Qi Yuan casually took the elevator, holding Jin Si Que''s delicate hand. Today, he took Jin Si Que shopping, buying all kinds of things. They placed all the bags and packages into his martial arts storage space.

    Jin Si Que, being new to this place, found everything quite interesting.

    "Is it tasty?" Qi Yuan asked, looking at Jin Si Que''s beautiful profile.

    Jin Si Que was holding a cup of milk tea. "The taste is a bit strange, kind of average."

    To her, the milk tea did taste pretty ordinary. After all, she was once a supreme being, having tasted countless earthly delicacies. Compared to Gongxing, Liufeng Realm might have seemed ancient, but ancient didn¡¯t mean it lacked gourmet food.

    "It''s average, yet you''re still drinking it. Why not just throw it away?" Qi Yuan said generously.

    He currently had plenty of savings, and he could certainly afford a cup of milk tea.

    "It¡¯s because you bought it for me," Ning Tao said, holding onto the milk tea tightly.

    When she called Qi Yuan "husband," she was more like Ning Tao. When she called him "Blood Pearl," she was more like Jin Si Que. Of course, both were the same person.

    "We haven¡¯t even gotten the marriage certificate yet. Don''t say that; it makes me shy." Qi Yuan shrugged, a smile in his eyes.

    Ning Tao smiled. "How about I move the Civil Affairs Bureau over here?"

    She was serious when she said it. This wasn¡¯t just something people say online; she actually could do it.

    "No need. After I win the Martial Arts Tournament and return to Tianyue, we¡¯ll get the certificate then. I don¡¯t know anyone here, can¡¯t cut any corners, so we might not get the certificate," Qi Yuan thought seriously.

    Here, the only person he knew was Han Xianyun. In Tianyue, it was different; he knew Kuang Huan, who knew people in the Civil Affairs Bureau. At that time, he could arrange ID cards for Ning Tao and Xiao Jia, then get a legal marriage certificate. Everything would be above board.

    "Okay." Ning Tao just nodded firmly, agreeing with Qi Yuan.

    The two arrived on the first floor of the mall. Ning Tao looked at the bustling crowd, smiling softly. "That... gold bracelet, I want it too."

    She saw a newlywed couple enter to buy gold bracelets. Since they were going to get a marriage certificate, there should be some ceremonial gestures.

    "Hmm, you''re right. We should buy a gold bracelet," Qi Yuan nodded. Then he frowned. "How should Xiao Jia wear a bracelet?"

    Xiao Jia didn¡¯t have jade feet or jade hands, so how could she wear a bracelet? It was a conundrum.

    While he was thinking, Ning Tao had already entered the jewelry store. Qi Yuan thought for a moment and decided to wait outside. After all, isn¡¯t that how shopping usually goes? The woman goes inside to choose, and the man waits outside. That¡¯s how normal people do it. And he happened to be very normal.

    Qi Yuan casually found a bench to sit on and played with his phone. Just then, footsteps approached. A group of middle-aged men with an impressive presence entered the mall.

    These men were almost uniformly dressed, with crew cuts, and didn¡¯t look like they were to be trifled with. As soon as they entered, they attracted a lot of attention.

    "Are they... shooting a short video?"

    "Must be for a web drama, right?"

    Hearing this chatter, Qi Yuan also looked at the middle-aged men with interest. It seemed this group was walking straight toward him.

    Qi Yuan suddenly felt a sense of unease and his mind raced with many thoughts.

    "Has someone discovered my identity as a live-in son-in-law?"

    "But no one slapped me, and I didn¡¯t smirk evilly?"

    Qi Yuan imagined all sorts of scenarios. Would these people kneel down in a moment and say, "Welcome, War God" or something like that?

    Qi Yuan had a rich inner world, so he was quite imaginative. But the kneeling he expected didn¡¯t happen. The leader walked straight up to him with a humble and respectful expression. "I am the Marquis of Blue Sea, here with sincerity. If I have offended Mr. Qi before, I humbly ask for your forgiveness."

    The person in front of him was indeed the Marquis of Blue Sea. No matter what, he had to play his role properly before the conflict escalated; they couldn¡¯t afford to lose face. Honestly, at this moment, the Marquis of Blue Sea was quite nervous.

    The Seven Martial Stars family did indeed have the Sky Eye, which could easily annihilate Qi Yuan. But even so, Qi Yuan could take him down before being annihilated.

    So, this meeting was his confrontation with Qi Yuan. Young Master Mu would confront Qi Yuan¡¯s little girlfriend. Even though he was extremely unwilling, the Marquis of Blue Sea had to come; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t just be him who might die, but his entire family.

    "Oh? You are... do we know each other?" Qi Yuan looked at the Marquis of Blue Sea with a puzzled expression.

    He had no idea who this... old guy was.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words left the Marquis of Blue Sea bewildered. He even wondered if he had approached the wrong person. But looking at Qi Yuan''s face, it matched exactly with the photo.

    Besides, the higher-ups wouldn¡¯t make a mistake.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t know him?

    The Marquis of Blue Sea felt a sense of absurdity.

    "Are you mistaken? I have no impression of you." Qi Yuan was honest. If he didn¡¯t know someone, he wouldn¡¯t pretend. "Did you offend me before? It must be a misunderstanding. I''m a very forgiving person; I never hold grudges. I don¡¯t have any enemies in this world."

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t hold grudges; he just killed them.

    The Marquis of Blue Sea¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Feeling nervous, he said, "Mr. Qi... not long ago, you had someone send me a coffin..."

    ¡°Husband, let your wife¡¯s sword eliminate these scoundrels for you!¡±

    In fact, over the past two days, Ning Tao had always been aware of many gazes watching them. But she and Qi Yuan, newly reunited after a brief separation, completely ignored those people.

    Today, they even dared to confront them head-on.

    Especially that guy claiming to be named Mu, who was extremely arrogant.

    He even tried to entice Ning Tao with money.

    He even mentioned wanting to test the Sky Eye on Qi Yuan.

    Ning Tao directly sent him to meet the King of Hell.

    ¡°Killed... Young Master Mu, we''re doomed, we''re doomed, you''re all doomed!

    The Mu family has full control of the Sky Eye; we¡¯re all going to die!¡±

    The Marquis of Blue Sea collapsed to the ground, his eyes vacant.

    If he died, that would be fine; his family could remain safe.

    But now, Young Master Mu was dead.

    This was a catastrophic event.

    Once, in a city, a second-generation member of the Seven Martial Stars family was killed by a local second-generation official.

    As a result, the Seven Martial Stars family issued a single order, sending a military force to execute the official''s entire family.

    Even the father of the second-generation official, as well as those under his command in the system, were not spared.

    The Seven Martial Stars held the real military and political power in Qin Yuan.

    Young Master Mu, a legitimate family member of such status, was extraordinarily valuable.

    Now he was dead here.

    Longtai City was about to experience a massive upheaval.

    Qi Yuan smiled casually, relaxed and carefree.

    At that moment, Ning Tao¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Where is this man¡¯s family located? Tell me the address.¡±

    The uniformed men present, as well as the Marquis of Blue Sea, were stunned.

    ¡°Die!¡± Finally, one of the uniformed men couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He pulled out a gun and fired.

    Unfortunately, their guns were useless against a powerhouse like Ning Tao.

    She didn¡¯t even move, yet those who dared to attack her died on the spot.

    Immediately, some memory fragments flooded into Ning Tao¡¯s mind.

    ¡°So... it¡¯s there!¡±

    She already had the answer and knew where the Mu family was located.

    Next, it would be...

    However, just then, she suddenly squinted her eyes, seemingly seeing through the sky, a smile appearing in her eyes.

    ¡°So, this is the Sky Eye? If this were in Liufeng Realm, it might be troublesome, but now? Husband, let¡¯s go watch fireworks together!¡±

    Meanwhile, inside a hotel.

    Mu Longxian¡¯s face was filled with horror and immense pain.

    The man with the golden-framed glasses, Mu Jue, was his only son, his most beloved child.

    Now, through the mall¡¯s surveillance and footage from drones, he saw his son was killed.

    Killed by that woman! How could he not be furious?

    ¡°They must die, they must die! Someone, activate the Sky Eye!¡±

    At this moment, he lost all reason.

    Mu Jue wasn¡¯t just his son; he was also favored by the old master. If Mu Jue took over the Mu family in the future, Mu Longxian could become the supreme ruler.

    But with Mu Jue dead, everything was off the table.

    How could he not be furious?

    The high-ranking officials in the hall saw this and their expressions changed slightly.

    Even Han Kang couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°Elder Mu, please calm down. The Sky Eye cannot be used lightly; everyone in that area will die under the Sky Eye!¡±

 Chapter 327: I Never Hold Grudges, Iâ€™m Very Generous!

    Chapter 327: I Never Hold Grudges, I¡¯m Very Generous!

    The Sky Eye is immensely powerful, as every Qin citizen knows. A nuclear weapon is powerful, right? A large-yield nuclear weapon can destroy a mountain or obliterate a city! However, compared to the Sky Eye, nuclear weapons seem to be a tier below.

    The Sky Eye not only possesses precision targeting and long-range point kills but also can perform large-scale bombardments.

    However, even the most precise Sky Eye has limitations on its attack range. Even at its smallest setting, it could obliterate a building.

    So, if Mu Longxian activated the Sky Eye, the death toll would definitely exceed a thousand, possibly even tens of thousands.

    "Hmph, just a bunch of ants. Dead is dead.

    Back then, when the grandson of the Yang family died, three thousand minor officials across Feng Province were shaken to death.

    What, is my son not even worth as much as Yang''s grandson?"

    Mu Longxian''s voice was filled with resentment.

    Back then, even public officials were implicated, with more than half dead or injured. Now, this mall was filled with mere commoners. If they died, so be it.

    As for public opinion? That was easy to handle. Gu Wu State orchestrated a terrorist attack, aided by the Gui Ran State. Qin Yuan State and Gu Wu State had used each other as scapegoats many times before.

    Once, the upper echelon of Gu Wu State became furious and annihilated one of their own towns, causing massive casualties. The blame was ultimately pinned on Qin Yuan State; they claimed Qin Yuan State had done it.

    Not only did the commoners not doubt the higher-ups, but they even united against the perceived enemy nation. As for those who doubted? Let them doubt.

    The Seven Martial Stars held absolute control and had no fear of resistance from the lower classes.

    "My... younger brother is still in the mall!" Han Kang said anxiously.

    At this point, he was losing his composure.

    "My son is dead, so what if your brother dies?" Mu Longxian said resolutely.

    "Activate the Mu-03 Sky Eye, target location..." Mu Longxian began issuing commands.

    He had already lost his mind. After his son''s death, his status in the family plummeted. Now, only by annihilating Qi Yuan could he vent the hatred in his heart.

    Most importantly, his mission also included eliminating Qi Yuan.

    However, before he could finish his words, a voice interrupted him.

    "Are you the ''middle'' from my husband''s saying, ''Kill the small ones, then kill the medium ones''?"

    The voice appeared abruptly, somewhat ethereal and seductive.

    Mu Longxian was momentarily stunned, and everyone in the hall was also startled by the voice.

    Suddenly, a young man and woman appeared in the hall. It was the very same couple they had seen earlier on the surveillance feed.

    Weren''t they... ten kilometers away?

    How had they appeared here so suddenly, just after exchanging a few words? Mu Longxian felt a disaster was imminent and shouted urgently, "Guards, quickly, seize them!"

    He was genuinely terrified.

    Han Kang was also taken aback, looking at his brother''s friend, feeling a sense of absurdity.

    Was that man back then... a legendary figure from the Immortal Dao?

    Although he was qualified to be here today, he still remained mostly ignorant of Qi Yuan¡¯s true identity.

    Faced with Mu Longxian''s decision to use the Sky Eye, he felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity, confusion, and disbelief.

    Now that Ning Tao and Qi Yuan suddenly appeared here, he immediately understood and connected the dots with the incident at the Gui Ran military camp.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze fell on Mu Longxian, his smile bright: "It feels really good to have a thigh to cling to."

    As he said this, he even bent down slightly, playfully hugging Ning Tao''s thigh through her black dress.

    But at this moment, no one noticed these little actions.

    Looking at Mu Longxian, Qi Yuan continued, "Killing the small ones, then comes the ''middle'' from the villains, continuously coming, extremely united.

    But I... well, I have my wife¡¯s thigh to hold.

    I''m not afraid of your unity; I''m afraid of your disunity. Otherwise... wouldn''t that mean, hmm, I can''t wipe out your entire family?"

    Qi Yuan wasn''t just talking about clinging to a thigh; he was really doing it. He was a man of action.

    Currently, Qi Yuan''s physical strength was far inferior to Ning Tao''s, so naturally, holding onto his wife¡¯s thigh was the best option.

    Qi Yuan''s tone was calm, sounding particularly laid-back.

    A blush appeared on Ning Tao''s cheeks. "After we kill the ''medium,'' I''ll accompany my husband... to kill the ''old.''"

    As she spoke, she gently raised her hand.

    Mu Longxian, who had been arrogant and proud moments ago, now looked terrified, his eyes like those of a dying dog.

    "No..."

    Faced with the imminent threat of death, he seemed to understand the concept of equality among all beings.

    He wanted to beg for mercy, but he couldn''t utter a single word.

    At that moment, his body shattered.

    All modern technological defenses seemed non-existent.

    He shattered yet didn''t shatter, his body simply collapsing to the ground.

    No breath left.

    The high-ranking officials and political leaders present trembled.

    For the first time, they felt so powerless.

    Since becoming the elite among men, their mindset had shifted. It was as if the world was a chessboard, and they were the players. Everything had to follow the rules they set.

    The common folk were just pawns.

    As for the wrath of a common man? It was a joke to them.

    As power holders, who among them didn''t have a protective suit made of nanobots, not to mention security details? The notion of a common man¡¯s fury spilling blood within five steps was laughable.

    Apart from other players, the only thing they needed to worry about and fear was making the right alliances.

    But now, their hearts pounded with fear, realizing for the first time that there were things in this world beyond their control.

    Ning Tao''s gaze swept over the officials, her expression bright like starlight. "You... and you... you... all of you have murder in your eyes, allied with the dead ones... then you should all die."

    Ning Tao, like the King of Hell marking names in the Book of Life and Death, pointed, and those she pointed to fell.

    Within a few seconds, seven high-ranking officials in the room were dead.

    The remaining officials stood frozen, holding their breath, not daring to utter a word.

    Han Kang stood there, his mind buzzing.

    Among the seven dead officials, three were members of the Provincial Cabinet.

    One of them was his direct superior, someone he needed to look up to cautiously.U//ppTodated fr/o/m

    Yet now, that person was dead like a dog.

    How could he not be shocked, not be terrified?

    Qi Yuan and the charming young woman were terrifying to this extent.

    "I suddenly feel like reciting a poem." Qi Yuan, in a burst of poetic inspiration, mused, "Burning the inner treasury into ashes of brocade, trampling the bones of nobles in the streets of Heaven."

    Although the officials present hadn¡¯t heard this poem before, their faces changed dramatically.

    They were all cultured people and naturally understood the implications of the poem.

    "Good poem... good poem..."

    The leader of the Provincial Cabinet stepped out shakily, trembling as he praised.

    To be honest, even when facing the Seven Martial Stars families, he had never been this obsequious.

    Han Kang quickly stepped forward, adding, "This poem is excellent, depicting both emotion and scene, Mr. Qi... is truly talented."

    Seeing this, a few more officials stood up to praise, as if flattering Qi Yuan''s poem would spare them.

    Their compliments made Qi Yuan feel a bit embarrassed.

    "I didn¡¯t write this poem."

    Qi Yuan was very honest; he never wanted to take credit for someone else¡¯s work.

    The Blue Star hadn¡¯t been destroyed yet; if he got caught plagiarizing, wouldn¡¯t that be a social death?

    "The rhythm of the poem is very well-paced, with the grandeur of a sage!" Another official quickly chimed in with more flattery.

    ¡°Old Patriarch Mu, we can sit down and discuss things. Rashly using a weapon like the Sky Eye is harmful to the country and could lead to conflicts.¡±

    The Mu patriarch snorted, ¡°I see, your royal family wants to recruit him?

    Hmph, he killed my grandson, and we just let him go? How would our Mu family maintain its standing among the Seven Martial Stars?

    If you want to sit down and talk, it¡¯s simple. Have him kneel down, hand over everything he has, and sever his own arms, then we can forget about it.

    Otherwise... the Sky Eye will definitely descend upon him.¡±

    The Mu patriarch was furious.

    This time, if they didn¡¯t act against Qi Yuan, the Mu family would lose face.

    More importantly, what would the other Seven Martial Stars families think of the Mu family? Wouldn¡¯t they see them as a pushover?

    The Seventh Prince, unhurried, said, ¡°Patriarch Mu, according to the agreement signed between the Seven Martial Stars and the royal family, the use of a weapon like the Sky Eye requires approval from above, from the royal family.

    If you intend to act against Mr. Qi, please proceed according to the agreement.¡±

    Back when the royal family wasn¡¯t fully in decline and still had some authority, they had signed a similar agreement with the Seven Martial Stars families.

    But now, the royal family was weakened, and many of the Seven Martial Stars families didn¡¯t take this agreement seriously.

    Or, they would follow the procedure, apply for approval, and the royal family would typically go through the motions and not deny it.

    At this moment, the Seventh Prince brought up this agreement, signaling the royal family¡¯s determination to recruit Qi Yuan.

    It was also to make the Mu family wary of the royal family, thereby preventing them from using the Sky Eye and ending the conflict.

    ¡°Heh.¡± The Mu patriarch sneered, ¡°An agreement? A royal family? We, the Seven Martial Stars, consider you the royal family only because we choose to.

    If we don¡¯t, you¡¯re no different from a stray dog on the street.

    Without your own Sky Eye, does the royal family... even deserve to be called a royal family?¡±

    The Mu patriarch directly tore apart the pretense, not even pretending anymore.

    Decades ago, someone had married a princess from the royal family. That person was young and promising, considered the rising star of the royal family. The royal family heavily supported him, hoping to revive their prestige.

    But who knew that in the end, that person would strip the royal family of control over their last three Sky Eyes.

    It sounds ridiculous, hard to believe, but it''s true.

    Since losing control over the Sky Eyes, the royal family had truly fallen.

    The Mu patriarch showed no respect to the Seventh Prince at this moment. This was a direct tearing of the face.

    He was speaking the truth.

    The royal family was merely a figurehead now.

    Their power only extended to a few provinces.

    And as for their military force?

    They didn¡¯t even control a single military district.

    Not even the Sky Eye.

    This royal family... if not a mascot, then what?

    Hearing the Mu patriarch''s ridicule, the Seventh Prince¡¯s eyes briefly flashed with a trace of resentment, even though he maintained a smile on his face.

    ¡°Patriarch Mu, the world is changing, the Immortal Dao is reviving, and Mr. Qi is a pioneer on the path of the Immortal Dao. Keeping him alive benefits us all.

    Moreover, the Sky Eye cannot be used indefinitely. Once the energy is exhausted, it will be very difficult to replenish. So..."

    "Hmph, the control of the Sky Eye is in my hands; I decide when and how to use it!

    Oh, I forgot, it seems your royal family even had the control of your own Sky Eyes tricked away, haha." The Mu patriarch laughed heartily, not giving any face to the royal family or the Gongyi family. "And you, Gongyi Cai, if your Gongyi family doesn¡¯t work harder, within a hundred years, you might end up like the royal family, losing control of your last Sky Eye."

    The Mu patriarch continued to insult Gongyi Cai, his eyes filled with disdain. He sneered, "Only weak mice huddle together."

    As one of the top three families among the Seven Martial Stars, the Mu patriarch had the right to speak this way.

    Even the daughters of powerful families from the Radiant Star would choose to marry into the Mu family.

    In short, in all of Gongxing, Mu Longxian was one of the top ten most powerful individuals.

    "Mu Series 01 to 13 Sky Eyes, heed my command, full power activation, initiate war mode..." The Mu patriarch directly issued the command.

    His body was equipped with various nanobots.

    The password to control the Sky Eye was encoded in his voice, specially tuned, impossible to replicate or impersonate.

    The network was also independent of the shared internet.

    "Directive One, activate the Sky Eye, search for Qi Yuan''s location!"

    The Mu patriarch continued to issue orders.

    Today, he wanted to show the world the authority of the Mu family, an authority not to be challenged.

    However, at that moment, a mechanical voice responded.

    "Command failed to execute, encountered unknown error."

    Hearing this, everyone present was stunned.

    The Mu patriarch''s face turned ugly. "What¡¯s going on?"

    The AI system responded again, "Command failed to execute, encountered unknown error."

    The Mu patriarch¡¯s expression darkened even more. "Activate manual override!"

    But before he could continue, a soft, calm voice echoed through the room.

    "Are you all done barking?"

    Everyone turned to see Ning Tao, with Qi Yuan by her side, appearing casually in the center of the hall.

    The sight of them instantly heightened the tension.

    "How did you get in here?" one of the middle-aged men shouted, his face filled with shock.

    "Does it matter?" Ning Tao¡¯s eyes gleamed coldly. "You¡¯re all going to die anyway."

    The Mu patriarch gritted his teeth, anger flaring. "Activate all defensive protocols! Engage all automated defense systems!"

    However, before anyone could react, Ning Tao waved her hand lightly.

    In an instant, an invisible force swept across the room.

    All the high-tech defense mechanisms, the protective shields, and the combat robots, everything shattered into pieces as if made of fragile glass.

    It was as if an invisible hand had crushed them all effortlessly.

    The scene left everyone dumbfounded.

    The Mu patriarch¡¯s face drained of color. "Impossible... this can¡¯t be..."

    Qi Yuan chuckled, "I told you, didn¡¯t I?

    Kill the small ones, then the middle ones, and finally, the old ones. Today is the end of the line for your Mu family."

    "No!" The Mu patriarch roared, a look of fear and desperation in his eyes. "Do you think you can get away with this? The Seven Martial Stars will not¡ª"

    "Will not what?" Ning Tao interrupted, her tone icy. "Will not kill you?"

    She stepped forward, and with each step, the air around her seemed to freeze, the pressure in the room becoming almost unbearable.

    "I can assure you," she continued, "in this world, there is nothing I cannot do."

    The remaining members of the Mu family, seeing the patriarch¡¯s defeat, panicked. They knew they were facing an entity far beyond their comprehension or power.

    The Mu patriarch, in a last-ditch effort, tried to issue another command, but his voice faltered, his strength fading rapidly.

    Ning Tao raised her hand again, and a brilliant, blinding light filled the room.

    When it dissipated, the bodies of the Mu family members lay lifeless on the ground, not a single one left standing.

    Qi Yuan sighed, looking around at the now-silent hall. "Well, that¡¯s done.

    I guess we¡¯ll have to find another way to pass the time."

    He turned to Ning Tao, his expression softening. "Shall we?"

    Ning Tao smiled sweetly, "As you wish, husband."

    And with that, they disappeared from the room, leaving behind only silence and the cold, unyielding presence of death.

    The Seven Martial Stars might have ruled over Gongxing with an iron fist, but today, a new force had made itself known¡ªa force that would not be so easily forgotten.

 Chapter 328: You Think Too Highly of Yourselves, How Dare You Be My Slaves?

    Chapter 328: You Think Too Highly of Yourselves, How Dare You Be My Slaves?

    As the mechanical prompt sounded, the Mu family patriarch was stunned, confusion flashing in his eyes.

    The Sky Eyes were rarely activated, but almost every once in a while, they would conduct simulated exercises.

    Even the robots executing the programs wouldn¡¯t know whether it was a drill or the real thing.

    Each exercise was orderly and had never encountered the current situation.

    Command failed.

    An unknown error occurred.

    ¡°What unknown error? Begin self-diagnosis!¡± The Mu patriarch couldn¡¯t help but blurt out.

    His voice was not disguised in any way, and it fell into the ears of the Seventh Prince and Gongyi Cai.

    The Seventh Prince¡¯s expression was one of surprise, as if he couldn¡¯t understand it.

    Gongyi Cai was taken aback.

    He had also participated in exercises to start the Sky Eye procedure.

    Unknown error... This is an almost impossible issue.

    The Sky Eyes are self-contained and are not connected to any other networks. They self-diagnose continuously, checking themselves.

    The robots on the Sky Eyes are the latest generation, with a far lower error rate than humans.

    More importantly, the Sky Eyes are high up in space, like sky barriers.

    Aside from other Sky Eyes, there is no weapon in the world that can affect a Sky Eye.

    After all, a Sky Eye is a war fortress equipped with almost all the most cutting-edge weapons on this earth.

    But... an unknown error occurred.

    And... it seemed like more than one Sky Eye was affected; it seemed like they were all affected at the same time, which was almost unimaginable.

    Gongyi Cai couldn¡¯t imagine what could have happened to the Sky Eyes.

    ¡°Begin self-diagnosis... Beep... The Sky Eyes are under unknown attack, entering level one alert, initiating defense...¡±

    The prompt came again, and the Mu patriarch¡¯s face completely changed.

    The Sky Eyes were actually under attack.

    And level one alert is the highest alert level.

    This means that the attack on the Sky Eyes... is likely beyond their ability to handle.

    ¡°Who is it? Guwu? The Radiant Star? Or another family among the Seven Martial Stars!¡± The Mu patriarch¡¯s sharp gaze fell on the Seventh Prince.

    The only things capable of posing such a short-term crisis to the Sky Eyes were other Sky Eyes.

    The Mu patriarch naturally suspected whether the royal family had colluded with other families from the Seven Martial Stars against him.

    ¡°Activate the Starry Sky Network! Show me what¡¯s happening!¡±

    The Sky Eyes, currently under attack, were in defensive mode and couldn¡¯t relay live footage back.

    The Mu patriarch had to activate the Starry Sky Network.

    The Starry Sky Network, similar to satellites on the Blue Star, was suspended in space and could capture many images and videos.

    Immediately, following the Mu patriarch¡¯s command, a projection of various scenes appeared in mid-air in the hall.

    The first to come into view was the Mu 01 Sky Eye.

    In the cold and desolate space, a massive war fortress hung solitary in the sky.

    Within this steel behemoth, countless strangely shaped mechanical vehicles moved, along with various conveyors.

    Countless robots patrolled like ants.

    The retractable cannon barrels were cold and rigid.

    This gigantic war fortress gave off a feeling of science fiction, massive and heavy industry.

    The steel fortress operated in an orderly fashion, like a deep-space beast waiting to reveal its fangs.

    Suddenly, a flash of light seemed to pass by.

    Boom!

    This wasn¡¯t a sound, but a motion.

    That huge steel behemoth suddenly brightened, as if illuminated by lights.

    In the next moment, the countless robots on the steel giant... shattered into pieces.

    The terrifying steel fortress, fragile like a collapsing building block, also fractured in its main body.

    The once-complete steel structure was now fragmented, resembling a scene from a science fiction movie.U//ppTodated fr/o/m

    And this was reality.

    Even the strongest missiles couldn¡¯t scratch the Sky Eye, yet now... the main structure was over 80% damaged.

    That light... what exactly was it?

    Who on earth... could damage the Sky Eye?

    The eyes of the Mu family members were fixed on the shattered Sky Eye, confusion in their eyes.

    The Mu patriarch¡¯s face was grim. ¡°Who is it? Who on earth did this? I will make them pay!¡±

    Repairing a Sky Eye would take at least several decades.

    However, at this moment, a voice bizarrely transmitted through the projection into everyone¡¯s ears.

    This was very unscientific.

    ¡°This Sky Eye is indeed quite formidable; it couldn¡¯t be blown to dust with just one breath.

    Husband, hold on tighter... I need to free up a hand.¡±

    A slightly coquettish voice reached the ears of everyone present.

    The members of the Mu family were all stunned.

    If this voice was true, a single breath... could blow... the Sky Eye fortress apart?

    What kind of immense power is this!

    Before they could think further, an even more terrifying scene unfolded.

    In the deep space, a light ten times, no, a hundred times more intense than before flashed.

    With one sentence, he decided the fate of all three hundred Mu family members in the room.

    The Mu family members¡¯ faces changed drastically, looking at Qi Yuan with eyes full of fear.

    At this moment, they no longer had the high and mighty image of Mu family members, all resembling dead dogs.

    ¡°Ah... Qi Sir, I had nothing to do with the Mu family¡¯s offenses against you!¡±

    ¡°Qi Sir, spare me, I have money, I have wealth, I even have women, all can be given to you!¡± A middle-aged man pleaded in panic.

    Without the Sky Eyes, facing a powerful cultivator like Qi Yuan, they had no means of resistance.

    Facing Qi Yuan, they felt as helpless as ordinary people facing them.

    After all, this was the man who could destroy the Sky Eyes, a terrifying being above even gods.

    How could the Mu family provoke someone like this?

    Their pride, their dignity, their arrogance were all gone at this moment.

    But at this moment, Ning Tao¡¯s eyes flashed coldly. ¡°Offering women to bribe my husband? You deserve to die!¡±

    With her words, the middle-aged man¡¯s body stiffened and collapsed to the ground.

    His life force was gone, clearly dead on the spot.

    The hall fell silent, and none of the Mu family members dared to speak, looking at Qi Yuan as if he were a demon.

    At that moment, a thud was heard.

    The once-arrogant Mu patriarch fell to his knees, his eyes filled with despair.

    ¡°Offending Qi Sir was entirely my fault.

    My sins are immense; I shall take my own life to atone.

    I only hope Qi Sir spares some of the Mu family, allows us to survive...

    The Mu family is willing to become Qi Sir¡¯s slaves!¡±

    The Mu patriarch was also a ruthless man.

    With the destruction of the Sky Eyes, he knew the downfall of the Mu family was only a matter of time.

    Not only would Qi Yuan not spare them, but all their old enemies wouldn¡¯t either.

    They had almost no chance of turning the tables.

    The only chance was to seek Qi Yuan¡¯s forgiveness.

    So he gritted his teeth and offered the thousand years of the Mu family¡¯s accumulation as a gift to Qi Yuan, seeking a sliver of hope for survival.

    After all, the wealth of a great family built over thousands of years would tempt anyone.

    ¡°No, Grandpa, our Mu family has been a noble family for three thousand years; how can we become slaves!¡±

    A Mu family member stepped forward, tears in his eyes, unable to accept this reality.

    As a true aristocrat, he had the pride and elegance of a noble descendant.

    With thousands of years of heritage, how could he lower himself to be a slave?

    Immediately, another Mu family member stood up: ¡°Better to die than to be slaves.¡±

    This voice received a lot of support.

    They couldn¡¯t imagine the humiliation that awaited them as slaves.

    But most of the Mu family members present were actually tempted.

    At this point, staying alive was already a blessing; who cared about anything else?

    ¡°Wow, you all have such wonderful thoughts.¡± At this moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes showed disdain. ¡°A bunch of... degenerate trash like you, how dare you think you¡¯re worthy of being my slaves?

    Wouldn¡¯t that be too embarrassing for me?¡±

    Qi Yuan naturally looked down on the Mu family.

    Their wealth, their heritage and accumulation were not worth mentioning in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    Their value was not even worth a joke to amuse him.

    These NPCs are really funny, dreaming so big.

    ¡°So... let¡¯s just kill them all, so they don¡¯t keep dreaming and get off easy.¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    The Mu patriarch¡¯s eyes flashed with disbelief.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s response was completely unexpected.

    How could anyone refuse... a thousand years of the Mu family¡¯s accumulation?

    But there was no time for him to think; his consciousness stopped at this moment.

    In the hall, over two hundred Mu family members... turned into corpses in an instant.

    The Seventh Prince¡¯s heart trembled, fear arising within him.

    Gongyi Cai also shivered, not daring to move.

    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s quieter this way. Otherwise, they¡¯d keep talking in my ear, annoying.¡±

    Qi Yuan said casually.

    After killing more than two hundred aristocrats, he was as relaxed as squashing ants.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, if I¡¯m not mistaken, there should still be a few thousand, or maybe tens of thousands of Mu family members left? Should we... kill them all?¡± Qi Yuan looked at Ning Tao, muttering to himself.

    ¡°Husband, if you wish to kill, I can use a spell right now. All those with Mu family blood will perish in an instant.¡± Ning Tao answered seriously.

    In her world, Qi Yuan was everything.

    Whatever Qi Yuan said, she would comply.

    These words struck fear into the hearts of the Seventh Prince and Gongyi Cai, their faces changing dramatically.

    Such a terrifying spell... was too terrifying!

    The heart of this woman... was too frightening.

    Such a spell could kill not just tens of thousands but likely hundreds of thousands.

    ¡°No, if I did that, wouldn¡¯t I be a mass murderer? I am not someone who kills indiscriminately.¡± Qi Yuan refused.

    He was a good person, never killing indiscriminately, never exterminating entire families, never resorting to collective punishment.

    ¡°I know! Let¡¯s hold... a public vote!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up with a satisfied smile as he thought of a perfect solution.

 Chapter 329: The Decision of the Seven Martial Stars Family

    Chapter 329: The Decision of the Seven Martial Stars Family

    "Public vote?"

    The Seventh Prince was momentarily stunned. Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but he couldn''t understand Qi Yuan''s words right away.

    Seeing that the Seventh Prince and Gong Yi Cai didn''t understand, Qi Yuan explained further.

    "It means letting the people... vote on their fate. At that time, I will have my robot, Zero One, gather all their life records, listing all their evil deeds and good deeds. Then... provide options for the people to vote on whether they should die, face imprisonment, or... be released without charge."

    Qi Yuan patiently explained.

    He had never met these people before, felt no animosity, and didn''t have any particular feelings about them.

    So... let the vote decide their fate.

    Besides... wouldn''t that be fun?

    "This..." The Seventh Prince hesitated, not expecting this kind of public vote.

    He initially thought it would be a vote among the Seven Martial Stars families.

    Such a public vote was unheard of, unprecedented.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but say, "Are you saying the citizens of Qin Yuan don''t have the right to vote?

    But I distinctly remember that every citizen has the right to vote. Or is this just lip service?"

    Qi Yuan raised his voice.

    The Seventh Prince''s heart tightened, and he quickly replied, "Yes, absolutely, they have the right to vote!"

    Although, indeed, as Qi Yuan said, it was often just lip service.

    But now, with Mr. Qi bringing it up, how could it just be lip service?

    It had to happen.

    However, the implications of this matter were too significant.

    A nationwide vote, with everyone acting as a judge, had too many unpredictable and uncertain elements.

    "If it''s possible, why are you hesitating? Don''t tell me... you can''t find any university students to build a voting website? Or perhaps, if the website is outsourced layer upon layer, it would be so poorly made that it crashes when too many people vote?"

    The Seventh Prince was bewildered for a moment, then immediately promised, "We, the royal family, will fully support this, to serve Mr. Qi!"

    "Don''t serve me; I don''t need servants. Serve the people," Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    The Seventh Prince nodded quickly.

    Although, with his authority, he couldn''t agree on behalf of the royal family.

    Such a public vote would also need the agreement of all the Seven Martial Stars families.

    But at this moment, how could the Seventh Prince dare to refuse? He agreed immediately.

    As for whether the Seven Martial Stars families would agree... there was no need to think about it.

    They wouldn''t dare disagree.

    Otherwise, what awaited them... could also be a public vote.

    At this point, Qi Yuan turned his gaze to Gong Yi Cai: "Long time no see, old man. Hmm, you''ve gotten younger."

    Gong Yi Cai was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly lowered his head, "Old man here pays respects to Mr. Qi?"

    His posture was very humble.

    Completely different from when he was on the Lost Mountain.

    "Yes, ten years later, not exactly, my corpse met you," Qi Yuan said casually. "Back then, you brought some of your family''s young ones; I remember a person named Gong Yi Qing, who had a pretty good attitude.

    But, there was one whose body was hollowed out by indulgence, I think his name was Gong Yi Lang. He looked at people with his nose, extremely arrogant, almost committing the crime of insulting a corpse."Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels

    Back then, when Qi Yuan had turned into a corpse, Gong Yi Qing was still respectful toward him.

    However, Gong Yi Lang was blabbering, speaking filthy words.

    Upon hearing this, Gong Yi Cai''s face suddenly fell, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

    He understood now; Qi Yuan was a regressor.

    It should be that this regressor had died, and ten years later, the Gong Yi family had sent people to communicate with Qi Yuan''s corpse.

    Now hearing that someone from the Gong Yi family had disrespected Qi Yuan, his expression became even worse than crying.

    "Husband, should I blow a breath at the Gong Yi family?" Ning Tao asked considerately.

    Gong Yi Cai immediately knelt on the ground, nervous and scared: "Mr. Qi, please spare me!"

    He had seen it before. This woman next to Mr. Qi could almost collapse the Sky Eye with a single breath.

    If she blew a breath at the Gong Yi family, would anyone survive?

    Gong Yi Cai was naturally terrified and immediately kowtowed, begging for mercy.

    Qi Yuan saw this and said to Ning Tao, "Am I some kind of demon king, always killing and fighting? That''s not good. It''s just a small matter, not worth mentioning. If I hadn''t seen Gong Yi Cai, I would have forgotten about it."

    Hearing this, Gong Yi Cai finally breathed a sigh of relief, his heart settling down.

    As long as she doesn''t blow a breath at the Gong Yi family.

    At this moment, he hated Gong Yi Lang, that little brat, to death.

    That guy was just a second-generation playboy, so bold, how dare he insult Mr. Qi?

    "Thank you, Mr. Qi, for sparing us."

    At this moment, he also felt a great deal of goodwill toward Gong Yi Qing.

    This Gong Yi Qing was not from the main line but was very diligent.

    Not long ago, someone in the family proposed to support Gong Yi Qing, but this proposal was rejected.

    Now, Mr. Qi mentioned Gong Yi Qing, so that rejection was naturally void.

    Not only would the Gong Yi family support Gong Yi Qing, but they would also regard him as the true leader of the younger generation!

    "You handle the cleanup here; I''m too lazy to bury them. Arrange the banquet. Since I''m already in the capital and it''s still early, I might as well play around for a couple of days."

    Qi Yuan said casually, holding Ning Tao, and their figures disappeared.

    Only the Seventh Prince, Gong Yi Cai, and a room full of corpses were left behind.

    The Seventh Prince stretched out his palm, which was covered in sweat, showing how nervous he had been just now.

    These old patriarchs voiced their agreements one after another.

    Although Mr. Qi hadn''t said anything, they understood what they should and shouldn''t do.

    Regarding Qi Yuan, they dared not investigate his privacy like Marquis Blue Sea did; instead, they checked his public information.

    This public information also revealed a bit of Qi Yuan''s character.

    Hmm... mental illness certificate, somewhat unpredictable.

    But overall... he seems like someone who repays kindness with kindness, repays enmity with enmity, a "respectful and law-abiding" person.

    Since he''s like that, they will "finish this play" with him.

    "Tomorrow, I will personally visit Mr. Qi; who will join me?" The old man from the Fang family spoke, and then, thinking of something, he added, "I will go in person."

    For people at their level, having a cloned body is a simple matter.

    The cloned bodies are usually dormant, only used in special situations to replace them.

    "I will go in person as well."

    "I will go in person too!"

    These old guys realized that Qi Yuan must not be offended.

    Using a clone to visit would be disrespectful to Mr. Qi.

    ...

    On the streets of the capital, Qi Yuan was walking with Ning Tao... or rather, to be precise, the "Canary" was walking.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan held a brick in his hand, his eyes revealing a thoughtful expression.

    "I''ve always heard that if you randomly throw a brick in the capital, you''ll hit a department head. I wonder if that''s true?"

    It was a rare visit to the capital, and he wanted to test it out.

    The Canary tilted her head, showing a pondering expression: "Blood Pearl, I think it''s unlikely. There''s hardly anyone around us."

    "Then let fate decide."

    Qi Yuan tossed the brick into the air.

    This time he didn''t use much strength; he only threw it a few thousand meters high.

    Moreover, he cast a spell just in case, to avoid killing anyone.

    Even if the brick fell and hit someone, it wouldn''t cause any harm.

    "Come on, let''s go see who it hit." Seeing the brick falling rapidly, the Canary was also excited, holding Qi Yuan''s arm, wanting to see if it hit a department head.

    "Let''s go and take a look." Qi Yuan was in a good mood.

    It''s rare to have someone accompany him in such playful antics.

    The two of them quickly headed in the direction where the brick was falling.

    At this moment, on the streets of the capital, the sun was a bit blinding.

    Many people were looking up at the two suns in the sky, taking pictures and checking in.

    Huang Weiming, holding a black bag, was walking down the street in a daze.

    He was from a rural background. When he was in college, the villagers had given him eggs and sweet potatoes to support his studies at a prestigious university.

    It should be noted that prestigious universities in Qin Yuan were very expensive.

    He worked hard, studying while working part-time, and after graduating, he started his own business.

    He invested in a project that, fortunately, grew quickly.

    Within just five years, his company was valued at one billion.

    At this point, he also began to give back to his hometown.

    But who would have thought that his "small company" would catch the eye of a second-generation aristocrat?

    That aristocrat wanted to snatch the company from him, and without a strong background, he had no way to resist.

    Various departments began to make things difficult for him, and partners started avoiding contact.

    All of this was to force him to sign a contract.

    Once he signed, the company would no longer be his, and he would become just another employee.

    Although the salary would be high, he felt deeply frustrated.

    Because the projects he wanted to invest in for his hometown would have to be put on hold.

    "This is just shameless. How could they do this!" Huang Weiming felt a deep sense of helplessness.

    He wasn''t some naive young person.

    He understood concessions.

    After all, these things happen frequently; usually, you lose a bit and then share the gains.

    But... that Mu family''s second-generation... was utterly shameless, really wanting to take everything, leaving nothing?

    No sense of fairness at all!

    How could he not be angry? He even wanted to curse the heavens.

    He looked up, his eyes filled with fury.

    But in the next moment, the anger in his eyes turned to fear.

    A brick-like object was falling from the sky, about to hit him on the head.

    "Ah!"

    Huang Weiming screamed in fear, unable to react.

    The brick fell on his head.

    He froze.

    Because... he wasn''t hurt at all.

    At that moment, a voice came from nearby: "Hey... are you a department head?"

 Chapter 330: Promote Civility and Build a New Culture

    Chapter 330: Promote Civility and Build a New Culture

    "Director... Director?"

    Huang Weiming was momentarily stunned.

    He looked at the young couple not far away, and a look of amazement flashed in his eyes.

    He was somewhat of a person with status, having attended many gatherings and met many handsome men and beautiful women.

    But none of them compared to these two.

    It wasn''t just their looks; it was also their aura.

    What surprised Huang Weiming the most was that the brick that had just hit his head appeared in the young man''s hand.

    He felt as if he had been through a dream, as if everything just now was an illusion.

    "I''m... not a director," he replied instinctively.

    Qi Yuan held the brick in his hand, a look of disappointment on his face.

    "So it was all a lie. How could it be that throwing a brick randomly in the capital could hit a director?"

    The canary''s lively eyes sparkled with amusement: "If you want, he could be a director."

    "Cheating takes the fun out of it."

    The conversation between the strange young couple left Huang Weiming bewildered.

    Brick?

    Hitting people?

    Director?

    Wasn''t that just an illusion?

    He wanted to say something more but suddenly realized that the young couple had disappeared from his sight entirely.

    He quickly looked around but found no trace of them.

    He searched everywhere but couldn''t find them.

    If they were humans... they couldn''t have left his sight so quickly.

    Could they... be ghosts?

    Huang Weiming then smiled wryly.

    The stress was too much; his nerves were becoming frayed, causing him to hallucinate.

    A big brick falling from the sky, plus the man asking if he was a director.

    Just thinking about it felt bizarre.

    He put these thoughts aside, frowning, dragging his weary body back home.

    "Sigh... the world is tough... it might as well be destroyed."

    Huang Weiming felt a deep sense of helplessness.

    He even considered that a mere commoner''s anger could spill blood within five steps.

    But unfortunately, that was impossible.

    First, he had a family, attachments, and ties.

    Second, the Mu family was one of the Seven Martial Stars families, and their descendants were protected by nanorobots. He couldn''t even hope to spill blood within five steps.

    "Could it be... that I have to accept this fate?"

    He felt unwilling.

    At that moment, his phone screen suddenly lit up.

    A message appeared before his eyes.

    Seeing the dense text, he initially thought it was spam and was about to delete it.

    But suddenly, he paused.

    "A vote? What is this?"

    He was stunned.

    "Dear Mr. Huang Weiming, you are an adult and a legal citizen of Qin Yuan. You are specially invited to vote on the following matters..."

    "The Mu family? Seven Martial Stars family? Treason?

    Listing of crimes, and a vote?"

    These pieces of information flooded Huang Weiming''s mind, leaving him confused and feeling disoriented.

    Could someone be playing a prank on him?

    Judging the Seven Martial Stars families?

    What a joke!

    Who doesn''t know that the Seven Martial Stars families are the true emperors of Qin Yuan?

    A thousand-year-old family standing firm; who could judge them?

    However, he quickly clicked on the link provided in the message.

    When he saw the information on it, he was momentarily dumbfounded.

    "If this is a joke... the workload is just too much, isn''t it?"

    Clicking on a name would reveal a complete biography.

    The data was extremely detailed, documenting all the deeds of that person''s life.

    Good deeds and bad deeds alike.

    Moreover, each profile included a robotic lawyer providing legal explanations according to Qin Yuan''s laws, specifying the kind of punishment that should be meted out.

    Such a vast amount of information, professional explanations, and detailed data couldn''t just be a prank.

    "This is... Mu Kong?"

    When he saw a familiar name, he was completely stunned.

    The one who tried to seize his assets was none other than Mu Kong.

    He was also among those being judged.

    Huang Weiming felt it was absurd.

    He continued reading.

    "Murder... rape... currently suspected of attempting to seize the assets of a businessman surnamed Huang..."

    Seeing this, Huang Weiming was shocked.

    Isn''t this about him?

    He was now extremely excited, feeling both absurd and ridiculous, and hurriedly opened his social media platform to see what was going on.

    Sure enough, on all major platforms, the topic of "voting" had become a sensation.

    "Voting, what''s going on?"

    "I''ve done a simple search these past few days... there''s likely very few here who could be your ''White Moonlight,''" the canary said considerately.

    After being with Qi Yuan for so long, she had gotten used to his way of speaking.

    "It seems we''ll have to leave it to fate," Qi Yuan sighed.

    As they spoke, the two arrived again at the former Martial Arts Alliance building.

    The competition was set to begin tomorrow.

    Today, all contestants would undergo a medical examination and then be assigned accommodations.

    The competition would start tomorrow.

    At that moment, a bus stopped, and a group of young men and women got off.

    Xing Yu''s eyes were full of excitement: "So this is Longtai? It really looks much more prosperous than our Tianyue."

    "So many martial artists, are they all here to participate in the martial arts tournament?" Wang Shiqiao''s eyes sparkled.

    This time, Xu Tiejian had performed outstandingly in the city-level competition, earning a spot in the national competition.

    For their martial arts school, this was a big deal.

    So, there were five or six people from their school who followed Xu Tiejian to Longtai City.

    Wang Shiqiao and Xing Yu, as the school''s beauty representatives, naturally came along to cheer him on.

    After all, all expenses were covered by the master of the martial arts school.

    "Brother Xu, you must make it to the top 100 in this competition!" Xing Yu cheered for Xu Tiejian.

    Xu Tiejian shook his head: "It''s too difficult. I''m just here to broaden my horizons this time.

    Who knows if there will be a next time? Lately... too many things have happened."

    Hearing this, Xing Yu and Wang Shiqiao felt the same.

    Especially the vote a couple of days ago, which involved the legendary Seven Martial Stars families.

    Even someone like Xu Tiejian, who had some influence in his own area, didn''t have the qualifications to come into contact with members of the Seven Martial Stars families.

    But now, everyone could vote to decide their life or death.

    This caused quite a sensation in Qin Yuan and sparked a lot of discussions.

    Opinions were divided, but no conclusion was reached.

    However, people reached a consensus.

    The world might be changing; an unprecedented transformation was coming.

    "Some people say that cultivators have already appeared in the world, and in the future, martial arts... might be eliminated, sigh." Xu Tiejian sighed deeply.

    After practicing martial arts for so many years, he was at a loss about where to go if martial arts were eliminated.

    "Shiqiao, do you think there really are cultivators in this world?" Xing Yu asked Wang Shiqiao.

    Wang Shiqiao was stunned for a moment.

    Her memory returned to that time, to the severed head.

    When she received the head as a gift, she was terrified for several days.

    Later, she heard about the Guiyan military camp incident and watched the leaked videos.

    A terrifying thought arose in her mind.

    Could it be...

    That cultivators really exist?

    Qi Yuan... is he a cultivator?

    But if he''s a cultivator, why practice martial arts, why send her a head, and earn a million?

    Cultivators certainly wouldn''t lack a million.

    Could it be... he has a crush on her?

    She was lost in her thoughts when suddenly a voice called out.

    "What a coincidence, you''re also here to participate in the national martial arts tournament."

    When Xu Tiejian and the others heard the familiar voice, they quickly looked over.

    Upon seeing the newcomer, surprise and amazement filled their eyes.

    "Qi Yuan, why are you here?" Xu Tiejian couldn''t help but ask.

    Xing Yu was deep in thought.

    She found Qi Yuan very strange.

    Back at the martial arts school, there was a female celebrity, An Qi, who would pick him up every day.

    Now, in Longtai, there was an indescribably beautiful woman by his side.

    "I came to participate in the national martial arts tournament. This is my fiance?e, her name is Ning Tao, also known as the Canary. Isn''t she beautiful? Doesn''t she count as the number one beauty of the planet Gongxing?" Qi Yuan held the canary''s small hand, looking at her with warm eyes.

    The Canary, who used to be so vain, had suffered a lot due to the curse of the Myriad Monsters'' Gate.

    Qi Yuan still felt a lot of guilt towards the Canary.

    She was not only the number one beauty of Jiupan Mountain but always very beautiful.

    "Fiance?e? Where did you meet her?" Xing Yu''s eyes flashed with amazement. "If anyone had claimed to be the most beautiful woman in the world before, or the most beautiful woman in five thousand years, I wouldn''t have agreed.

    But now, I recognize her!"

    Indeed, Ning Tao''s beauty was beyond description.

    "See, Canary, you''re not only the number one beauty of Jiupan Mountain, but also the star flower of the planet Gongxing," Qi Yuan said playfully.

    "Tsk, I used to ask you to say I was the number one beauty of Jiupan Mountain, but you were reluctant," the Canary pouted, quite adorably.

    Qi Yuan''s memory seemed to flash back to Jiupan Mountain, and his eyes filled with reminiscence as he held the Canary''s hand even tighter.

    "The past is the past, the present is the present."

    "Hey, stop flirting, you two; it''s too sweet. Just tell us how you got qualified to participate in the martial arts tournament. I don''t remember you participating at the city level?" Xing Yu said.

    Wang Shiqiao, who usually talked a lot, was now silent, seemingly a bit afraid of Qi Yuan.

    "I went through a special channel," Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    "Special channel?" Xu Tiejian was surprised, his eyes subtly changing as he looked at Qi Yuan.

    At that moment, an announcement suddenly sounded inside the building.

    "Attention all contestants, in order to ''promote civility and build a new culture,'' contestants are prohibited from using any form of profanity, threats, or provocation against their opponents during the martial arts tournament. Violators will be immediately disqualified, and..."

    The broadcast echoed in the ears of everyone present.

    The martial artists wore strange expressions.

    "What''s going on? What does ''promote civility and build a new culture'' mean? This never happened before."

    "Not allowed to provoke the opponent? That''s no fun!"

    "Can we still give the middle finger?"

 Chapter 331: Daily Life with Canary

    Chapter 331: Daily Life with Canary

    The announcement left the martial artists who came to participate in the martial arts tournament bewildered and unsure of what to do.

    In previous years, the martial arts tournament had very low ratings.

    Eventually, the organizers added a trash-talking segment before the match.

    During this segment, the competitors had three minutes to insult each other on stage.

    The trash-talking segment was the most popular and had the highest ratings.

    Moreover, many of the best insult exchanges were edited and uploaded online.

    Especially those where a competitor would engage in vicious trash talk and then get beaten up badly afterward; these clips were highly dramatic and very entertaining.

    Now... promoting ¡°civilized behavior and fostering a new spirit,¡± forbidding trash-talking.

    Does this mean they no longer care about ratings?

    Who is the official with a brain that was squashed by a door, coming up with rules like this out of nowhere?

    ¡°Ah? The world has become so surreal lately,¡± Xing Yu couldn¡¯t help but complain.

    Recently, in Qin Yuan country, all sorts of bizarre things were happening.

    There were rumors about the revival of spiritual energy, tales of sword immortals destroying military camps with a single strike, and the voting incident; everything was getting more and more chaotic.

    So, the promotion of ¡°civilized behavior and fostering a new spirit¡± didn¡¯t seem all that ridiculous in comparison.

    ¡°We can''t guess what those above are thinking, so we¡¯ll just follow the rules. After all... we¡¯re only here to broaden our horizons, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    Xu Tiezhu spoke seriously this time.

    In the city-level competition, he had performed quite well.

    But on a national level, it was clear that the ones who would perform well were all martial arts masters at their peak.

    His strength was still far from the peak of martial arts.U//ppTodated fr/o/m

    ¡°That¡¯s right, let¡¯s just follow the rules. After all, I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen,¡± Qi Yuan chimed in, echoing the sentiment.

    Not far away, Wang Shiqiao heard this and remained silent.

    Beheading someone and sending their head as a gift ¡ª is that law-abiding?

    What kind of good person decapitates people?

    ¡°But, I have high ambitions. I came here to win the championship!¡± Qi Yuan said enthusiastically.

    Now that he was at the Jade Blood stage, participating in the martial arts tournament was like a grandfather playing with his grandchildren.

    ¡°Mr. Qi will definitely win the championship!¡± At this moment, Han Xianyun from Beihe came over, his face full of respect.

    Recently, there had been upheavals in the capital, and the Mu family of the Seven Martial Star Families had been annihilated.

    His elder brother had been transferred to the provincial cabinet, and he himself had received an honorary earl title.

    One could say he was having a great time.

    He knew that everything he had now was bestowed upon him by Mr. Qi.

    He felt both respect and awe toward Mr. Qi and Ning Tao.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that I couldn¡¯t win the championship?¡± Qi Yuan asked, surprised.

    ¡°That was then; this is now,¡± Han Xianyun replied earnestly.

    ¡°Good insight. If I get a chance in the future, I¡¯ll introduce you to a fantastic wife,¡± Qi Yuan said softly.

    Unfortunately, Han Xianyun could not enter the Death Qi World or the Yellow Springs World. Otherwise, he could have introduced him to Old Master Huang or the Sea God.

    Upon hearing this, Han Xianyun felt conflicted.

    Before he could respond, a voice tinged with mockery came from the side.

    ¡°Han Xianyun, the championship in the martial arts tournament is not something just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can win,¡± the speaker was a burly man with a tattoo on his face, someone clearly not to be trifled with. ¡°To win, one has to be a powerhouse like Zhang Yang, the Southern Lion!¡±

    When Zhang Yang was mentioned, admiration filled the tattooed man¡¯s eyes.

    Han Xianyun couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°If you were the one claiming to win, I might have given you some credit. But you¡¯re pinning your hopes on someone who once defeated you ¡ª you¡¯re quite something.¡±

    The tattooed man had faced off against Zhang Yang, the Southern Lion, before participating in the martial arts tournament and lost within three moves.

    Since then, his fighting spirit had been crushed.

    ¡°Hmph, you don¡¯t know your own limits. You don¡¯t understand that even among martial arts masters, there are differences. If Zhang Yang had more time, he would have surely surpassed the peak of martial arts. What a pity...¡±

    As the tattooed man spoke, his expression became somewhat forlorn.

    He had also heard that after winning the martial arts tournament, Zhang Yang would retire from the martial arts world.

    This tournament was his farewell fight.

    It was a pity that he would not get to see anyone break through the peak of martial arts again.

    After speaking, the tattooed man waved his sleeve and left.

    Xu Tiezhu''s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°Are you Han Xianyun from Beihe? A martial arts master?¡±

    As a martial artist, he had naturally heard of the Northern Crane and Southern Lion.

    This young man who referred to Qi Yuan as Mr. Qi was actually Han Xianyun, the Northern Crane?

    Then Qi Yuan...

    Many thoughts raced through his mind as he looked at Qi Yuan with a different expression.

    The people from the martial arts school behind Xu Tiezhu also looked at Qi Yuan with a newfound respect.

    ¡°Familiar?¡± Qi Yuan was taken aback.

    To be honest, he hadn¡¯t noticed anything familiar.

    ¡°Their bloodlines... seem to share some degree of origin with the demons of the Ten Thousand Demon Realm,¡± Canary said seriously.

    She was in the Yin God realm, so she saw more than Qi Yuan did.

    As someone familiar with the Ten Thousand Demon Realm, Canary knew it well.

    In the Flowwind Realm, one of their greatest enemies was the demons of the Ten Thousand Demon Realm.

    The Supreme of the Ten Thousand Demon Realm, under Shang Yanran¡¯s command, invaded the Flowwind Realm.

    As a Supreme, Ning Tao had fought against the Supreme beings of the Ten Thousand Demon Realm many times and was familiar with their aura.

    Qi Yuan was different. After entering the Myriad Convergence Gate, he just bulldozed his way through.

    He barely interacted with the Supreme beings of the demon race.

    Mentioning the Flowwind Realm, Qi Yuan grasped Canary¡¯s cold little hand. ¡°Does it have something to do with the Ten Thousand Demon Realm?

    Does this mean we might have a chance... to return to Nineplate Mountain in the future?

    If possible, we could even have a wedding at your hometown.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a hometown, but if I did... it would be on your golden core.¡± Canary pouted playfully, but there was a hint of joy in her voice.

    Indeed, she never really had any family.

    The Blood Pearl, who suddenly burst into her world, was pretty much her everything.

    Most of her life had been spent in a long, agonizing wait.

    Now, she could finally savor some well-earned happiness.

    ¡°What if I bully you in the future and you have no one to back you up?¡± Qi Yuan pondered.

    ¡°You dare!¡± Canary glared at Qi Yuan. ¡°If that happens, I¡¯ll transform back into Ning Tao and stomp on you.

    Oh, I regret it now. I should have stomped on you a few times when you were trapped in Tianxin Palace!¡±

    Back then, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t enter the game.

    Ning Tao had used a Soul Lock Jade to bring Qi Yuan in.

    At that time, Qi Yuan was Ning Tao¡¯s prisoner.

    Ning Tao even thought about fully controlling Qi Yuan, imprisoning him in the dungeons of Tianxin Palace so that he would never leave her sight, making his entire existence revolve around her.

    ¡°No, I should stomp on you right now, hehe, Blood Pearl, you¡¯re no match for me now.¡± Canary had a look of pride on her face.

    In the private box, Canary lifted her slender leg. Perhaps she didn¡¯t want to step on him with her shoe, and at some point, her shoe had slipped off, revealing a small foot wrapped in black stockings, like tender white lotus roots.

    Her five jade-like toes were either curled up or perfectly aligned, resembling the most exquisite artwork in the world, small enough to fit in one hand.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan suddenly thought of something. ¡°Are the stockings from the Flowwind Realm better quality than those on Gongxing Star?

    If we could go to the Flowwind Realm, we could engage in cross-realm trade and sell stockings?¡±

    ¡°Get lost!¡± This time, Canary didn¡¯t hold back and kicked Qi Yuan.

    But perhaps she spoiled Qi Yuan too much. Her kick was light and slow, easily caught by Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Sigh, I was just saying, we¡¯re too short on money.¡± Qi Yuan really wanted to buy Gongxing Star, but he was too poor.

    ¡°Hmph.¡± A flush of red appeared on Canary¡¯s ears. She looked at Qi Yuan, displeased. ¡°Is money more important than me?¡±

    On Nineplate Mountain back then, she had asked similarly, ¡°Is the Myriad Convergence Gate more beautiful than me?¡±

    Hearing this, a smile appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°For many people, money is indeed important.

    But for me... a lawful good, idealistic person, you... are what matters.¡±

    ¡°If you weren¡¯t lawful good or idealistic?¡±

    ¡°It would still be you,¡± Qi Yuan answered seriously.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Canary snorted again, but this time there was more joy in her tone.

    ¡°I suddenly thought of a serious question.¡± At this point, Qi Yuan recalled something, his expression turning solemn.

    ¡°What question?¡± Canary¡¯s long leg remained stretched out, not withdrawing her jade foot, seemingly enjoying her closeness to Qi Yuan.

    Or perhaps, having waited for so long, she felt an intense sense of insecurity and feared being abandoned at any moment.

    Only by staying close to Qi Yuan did she feel a sense of security.

    That¡¯s why, since coming to this world, she had stuck to Qi Yuan almost constantly.

    Her gaze, her peripheral vision, never left Qi Yuan.

    If she could lean against Qi Yuan, she would never refuse.

    ¡°We still haven¡¯t discussed how much the betrothal gift should be.¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want a betrothal gift,¡± Canary blurted out.

    ¡°Too much of a love-struck fool,¡± Qi Yuan chuckled. ¡°If we posted our conversation online, there would be many people criticizing you.¡±

    ¡°If they criticize me, you¡¯d defend me, wouldn¡¯t you, Blood Pearl?¡± Canary smiled charmingly.

    ¡°Hmm... if not, I¡¯d just kill them,¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    He couldn¡¯t bear to let Canary suffer any more grievances.

    She had already endured far too much.

 Chapter 332: Immortality of the Dao, Not Your Immortality

    Chapter 332: Immortality of the Dao, Not Your Immortality

    The martial arts tournament continued.

    Soon, it was Qi Yuan¡¯s turn to compete.

    ¡°Contestant number 06, Qi Yuan... please enter the arena.¡±

    With this announcement, Qi Yuan stepped onto the stage.

    In the VIP box, Canary quickly waved her small fists and held a glow stick in the other hand, cheering excitedly.

    "Qi Yuan, go for it!"

    At this moment, Canary was Qi Yuan''s cheerleader.

    Xu Tiezhu, who had just finished his match, immediately became tense and watched Qi Yuan closely.

    To be honest, he used to think of Qi Yuan as just another student in the same martial arts school, without any thought of comparing himself to him.

    But now, Qi Yuan had entered the national competition through a special route, naturally making Xu Tiezhu pay more attention to him.

    He wanted to understand what made Qi Yuan special.

    The strong do not care to compare themselves with the weak, but when they are on the same level, the desire to compete becomes stronger.

    "Xing Yu, who do you think will win this match?" Xu Tiezhu asked.

    Xing Yu carefully looked at the arena and replied, ¡°Qi Yuan''s opponent is Xie Heng, known for his Charging Fist. He once made it into the top 100 of the national tournament and is not far from reaching the pinnacle of martial arts. His chances of winning are quite high.¡±

    Xing Yu analyzed rationally.

    Wang Shiqiao shook her head, ¡°Qi Yuan will win.¡±

    With the head on his shoulders, Qi Yuan would win. There was no doubt about it.

    ¡°Haha, it''s rare that you two have different opinions.

    Never mind, let''s just sit back and wait; we should have a result in a few minutes...¡±

    Xu Tiezhu¡¯s words came to an abrupt halt, and the orange he was holding dropped to the ground. His eyes widened in shock.

    At that moment, the entire arena erupted in cheers.

    The electronic voice echoed throughout the venue:

    ¡°Contestant number 06, Qi Yuan, wins!¡±

    ¡°It was a one-hit KO!¡± Xu Tiezhu was stunned.

    Wang Shiqiao''s body tensed up slightly, her face showing an expression of fervor.

    As expected... it had to be him.

    Xu Tiezhu couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of defeat in his heart: ¡°Such strength must mean he''s reached the pinnacle of martial arts! He''s so young, and he''s only been practicing martial arts for... a few months, yet he''s already at the peak.

    The difference between people... how can it be this vast?¡±

    Qi Yuan''s victory was certainly something to be happy about.

    But seeing how strong Qi Yuan was made Xu Tiezhu feel worse than if he had been eliminated in the first round.

    He had been practicing martial arts for so long and barely made it to the national level.

    Yet Qi Yuan, in less than three months, had left him far behind.

    Seeing this, Xing Yu also looked somewhat moved, but she still smiled and said, ¡°Senior Xu, if things don¡¯t go well in martial arts, you can always go back and inherit your immense wealth and noble title.U//ppTodated fr/o/m

    That¡¯s something... even the champion of the martial arts tournament can''t compare with.¡±

    A look of envy flashed in Xing Yu''s eyes.

    To her, the champion of the martial arts tournament was just a larger-than-life internet celebrity.

    It would probably take a long time for them to monetize their fame and accumulate a fortune.

    Meanwhile, both she and Xu Tiezhu already had fortunes worth billions.

    On top of that, Xu Tiezhu held a noble title that almost every citizen of the Qin Yuan country would go crazy for.

    Hearing Xing Yu¡¯s words, Xu Tiezhu finally felt a bit better, his mood lightening somewhat, but he still said, ¡°Even without relying on family background, I¡¯m far inferior to Qi Yuan.¡±

    ¡°Family background is also a form of strength,¡± Xing Yu added.

    For some, the starting line is a finish line that many can¡¯t reach even after a lifetime of effort.

    The rest of the martial arts tournament was quite dull.

    Without the trash-talking segment, everyone was very restrained.

    Even when knocked down in the arena, no one dared to make any bold remarks.

    The most they would say was something harmless like, ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡±

    In any case, this martial arts tournament was the most civilized ever.

    However, the intensity of the matches didn¡¯t decrease, and there were many quick knockouts.

    Especially Zhang Yang, who knocked out his opponents in seconds.

    Qi Yuan did the same, easily defeating his opponents.

    Soon, the second day of the martial arts tournament arrived.

    However, this time... an unusual situation occurred: twenty-one people made it to the finals.

    A two-versus-two competition meant one person would have a bye.

    At this moment, everyone¡¯s attention was on the drawing of lots.

    Qi Yuan was also eager: ¡°I¡¯ve always had good luck. Hurry up and give me a bye!¡±

    The numbers on the big screen continued to spin.

    Canary smiled slightly, ¡°Isn¡¯t your robot Zero-One the best at hacking? Have it secretly manipulate the results, and you¡¯ll be all set.¡±

    ¡°Cheating is bad; it¡¯s unethical. But you did remind me of something,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    Back in the Flowwind Realm, he used to threaten the Heavenly Dao whenever he had nothing to do.

    Eventually, his threats paid off.

    Now, he also wanted a bye.

    So... should he continue to threaten the Heavenly Dao?

    ¡°Hey, up there, aren¡¯t you going to thank me? After all, I¡¯ve done a lot for the civilization and harmony of your world. How about giving me a little favor?¡± Qi Yuan whispered to the sky.

    Canary smiled, ¡°Isn¡¯t asking the Heavenly Dao for a favor also cheating?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s different,¡± Qi Yuan turned his head.

    This wasn¡¯t cheating; it was simply the Heavenly Dao repaying him with gratitude.

    The White Snake repaid Xu Xian with her body; why couldn¡¯t the Heavenly Dao give him a little advantage?

    Canary: "..."

    "What if people online criticize me?" Qi Yuan asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

    Canary smiled gently, "Ning Tao will step in. Anyone who speaks ill of you will be wiped out!"

    "Having someone to protect me feels really good."

    Qi Yuan glanced at Canary, his tone suddenly turning heroic.

    "The final battle is about to begin, and so is my journey.

    The wind is cold, the river water is icy, Qi Yuan goes to win the trophy and will return victorious!"

    "Blood Pearl, do your best! I¡¯ll be waiting for you to return safely!" Canary said softly, showing a rare tenderness.

    The national martial arts tournament final had finally reached its climax.

    A hundred breaths later, on the arena stage, three contestants stood at three corners.

    Qi Yuan stood in the north, his posture upright, his expression calm.

    Zhang Yang stood in the south, his eyes sharp, brimming with fighting spirit and even a hint of killing intent.

    The last contestant, however, had a pale face and a look of resignation.

    He turned to the referee and said, "I... surrender."

    He surrendered without hesitation.

    The previous round had drained him significantly, and his injuries hadn¡¯t yet healed.

    He had assumed that Qi Yuan and Zhang Yang would be in similar conditions to his own.

    The praise his friends had for these two seemed exaggerated.

    But to his surprise, these two were completely unharmed.

    Zhang Yang turned his gaze toward Qi Yuan, his eyes full of surging battle intent: "You¡¯re quite impressive. You¡¯re qualified to be my opponent in martial arts!"

    Of course, this was limited to martial arts, Zhang Yang silently added in his mind.

    "I am indeed impressive, but you¡¯re a bit lacking," Qi Yuan replied, looking at Zhang Yang with no trace of fighting spirit. "But... I do enjoy these kinds of easy wins. It¡¯s like playing a game on easy mode."

    If the road to mastering martial arts and the path to mastering spirituality were filled with opponents like Zhang Yang, Qi Yuan would be thrilled.

    Zhang Yang looked down on him, sneering, "Your talent in martial arts is strong, but in my eyes, it¡¯s nothing special.

    You have no idea how terrifying your opponent truly is.

    Today, I will shatter your arrogance and show you what true power is!"

    Zhang Yang roared, his voice like a thunderclap.

    As he shouted, his clothes tore apart, shredding into strips.

    This highly dramatic scene immediately drew cheers from the audience.

    "He¡¯s on the verge of breaking through the pinnacle of martial arts!"

    "Zhang Yang is incredibly powerful!"

    "So strong!"

    The experienced martial artists in the crowd couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in awe.

    Even those at the peak of martial arts felt they wouldn¡¯t last a single round against Zhang Yang.

    "Qi Yuan... is in danger!" Xu Tiezhu thought anxiously.

    Even though he didn¡¯t enjoy seeing his friend succeed while he struggled, he wasn¡¯t about to wish ill on his friend.

    Wang Shiqiao said flatly, "Still not enough."

    She glanced at the others cheering for Zhang Yang, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

    She felt a sense of superiority, like she was the only one sober while everyone else was drunk.

    Zhang Yang¡¯s strength didn¡¯t compare to Qi Yuan¡¯s, not even close.

    Could Zhang Yang wipe out an entire military camp with a single sword?

    As expected, Qi Yuan¡¯s disdainful voice came from the arena.

    "Is this all you¡¯ve got?"

    Qi Yuan took a step forward, and an overwhelming pressure swept across the arena.

    Zhang Yang¡¯s imposing aura suddenly diminished.

    Fear flashed in Zhang Yang¡¯s eyes: "Is this... blood essence?"

    A powerful martial artist can suppress others with their spirit, energy, and blood.

    Clearly, Qi Yuan had advanced far beyond Zhang Yang on the path of martial arts.

    At this moment, Zhang Yang felt a deep sense of defeat.

    It was the first time he had ever lost so badly.

    But soon, this sense of defeat turned into madness.

    "It doesn¡¯t matter how strong your martial arts talent is. This world has changed!

    I will bury you along with martial arts!"

    Driven by jealousy, Zhang Yang became more and more crazed, desperate to destroy the person before him.

    At that moment, a flame suddenly burst forth from Zhang Yang¡¯s palm.

    The crowd erupted in shock and excitement, mixed with confusion.

    "Immortality... is eternal!"

    At this moment, Zhang Yang finally unleashed the power of immortality, revealing his ultimate trump card.

    "Eternal? Not for you," Qi Yuan said, his eyes flashing with resolve.

    "Who needs immortality? I am invincible as I am!"

    He threw a punch.

    A surge of blood and energy erupted in the air.

    "You should really see... what martial arts is all about!"

    One punch, all things arise, and all perish! Zhang Yang¡¯s smile froze, his body exploding into a cloud of blood mist.

    The crowd was stunned, falling into complete silence.

    On the arena stage, Qi Yuan took a deep breath, "What a thrilling and satisfying final battle!"

    His performance was excellent, and he figured it would probably win him a lot of fans.

 Chapter 333: The Tentacles of the Myriad Demon Realm

    Chapter 333: The Tentacles of the Myriad Demon Realm

    On the arena, Qi Yuan stood against the wind, his posture straight and tall, feeling quite pleased with himself.

    This was his first national martial arts tournament, and he had won.

    After becoming the champion, he would become a household name.

    Endorsements and commercial performances would come one after another if he wanted them.

    His life¡¯s path was about to change.

    However, at this moment, the entire martial arts tournament venue was filled with confusion.

    ¡°Fire?¡±

    ¡°Where did he go?¡±

    ¡°Did he just explode into a mist of blood?¡±

    ¡°Is this still the martial arts I know?¡±

    In the blink of an eye, the battle between Qi Yuan and Zhang Yang completely defied everyone¡¯s expectations.

    At first, Zhang Yang¡¯s bursting clothes displayed brute strength¡ªthough bizarre, it was still within the audience¡¯s acceptable range.

    But then, his fists caught fire¡ªwhat the hell was that?

    Did they bring some kind of technology into the arena?

    And then, Zhang Yang, whose fists were on fire, was directly blown up by a punch from Qi Yuan, turning into a mist of blood.

    What was that supposed to be?

    Confusion, doubt, shock...

    ¡°Are we sure this isn¡¯t a movie?¡±

    ¡°Is this some kind of magic trick?¡±

    ¡°How could a living person be turned into a mist of blood?¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t scientific at all!¡±

    Not only were the audience members puzzled, but even the organizers of the martial arts tournament were stunned.

    A bald executive stood up, still filled with confusion, but he shouted, ¡°Stop the live broadcast immediately!¡±

    The live broadcast of the martial arts tournament had a three-minute delay.

    When incidents like this occurred, they would usually stop the broadcast based on past experiences.

    However, at this moment, a calm but complex voice spoke up, ¡°Continue the live broadcast. Follow the rules.¡±

    Hearing this voice, the bald executive was baffled, ¡°An incident like this could cause panic and bring unnecessary trouble to society.¡±

    The bald executive was aware of the existence of immortality.

    Currently, the higher-ups were clearly not ready to announce this matter to the public.

    Of course, what confused him the most was that Qi Yuan¡¯s display was clearly martial arts.

    So why was he able to defeat Zhang Yang, who was using an immortal technique?

    ¡°Panic is irrelevant; rules are paramount. Follow the rules!¡± The young voice became firmer.

    This left the bald executive feeling a bit resentful.

    These damned second-generation elites, not only did they parachute in to take over as the head of the martial arts tournament, but they also lacked foresight.

    How could such an incident be allowed to be leaked out?

    Rules are paramount?

    What nonsense!

    Grumbling inwardly, the bald executive dared not argue further.

    Meanwhile, an old man looked as if he had lost his mother, his expression bleak: ¡°It¡¯s over. Zhang Yang is dead... Will the Zhang family come after us?¡±

    Previously, Qi Yuan had demonstrated exceptional talent in martial arts, almost breaking through the limits of martial prowess.

    The old man had high hopes for Qi Yuan and wanted to speak with him, but he was rebuffed and never got the chance to meet him.

    Faced with such a proud talent, the old man had harbored some resentment.

    Later, after learning of immortality, his attention completely shifted to Zhang Yang.

    What was breaking through martial arts limits compared to that?

    It wasn¡¯t even worthy of polishing the shoes of an immortal!

    So, he aligned himself with Zhang Yang, hoping to gain a path to immortality through him.

    Now, with Zhang Yang dead, he had no idea how to justify this to the Zhang family.

    The old man suddenly stood up, his voice quivering, ¡°Sir, this man killed Zhang Yang on the arena. He should be detained and handed over to the Zhang family for an explanation!¡±

    Zhang Yang held a significant position within the Zhang family.

    The Zhang family itself was a prominent one, highly esteemed.

    Now that Zhang Yang was dead, he didn¡¯t know how to justify this to the Zhang family.

    The young man¡¯s gaze turned sharp, ¡°In the arena, life and death are determined by fate. All must adhere to the rules.Re?a? latest cha/p/ters on

    Zhang Yang died... then he died. Those are the rules of the arena.¡±

    The old man, still anxious, argued, ¡°But we must provide an explanation to the Zhang family!¡±

    The bald executive added sarcastically, ¡°If the Zhang family blames us, I¡¯m afraid even you won¡¯t be able to handle it, sir.¡±

    The young man, who had parachuted in to oversee the tournament, had some background, but how significant could it be?

    Compared to the Zhang family, it was probably a far cry.

    The young man¡¯s eyes were cold, ¡°It seems the two of you need some time in prison to rethink. As for the Zhang family, I¡¯ll notify them personally and see if they dare demand an explanation!¡±

    With his words, several armed soldiers appeared, pointing their guns at the bald executive and the old man.

    The young man picked up his phone and dialed a number.

    ¡°Zhang Mingyuan, I hear your Zhang family needs an explanation?¡±

    The young man¡¯s tone was one of accusation and displeasure.

    ¡°I need an explanation from your Zhang family!¡±

    Not far away, both the bald executive and the old man¡¯s faces turned pale.

    An internal conflict alone caused the destruction of the Sky Eyes?

    That¡¯s just too wasteful.

    ¡°Is there something we¡¯re missing?¡± The captain instinctively felt that things were not so simple.

    ¡°Captain, you¡¯re overthinking it. Humans... don¡¯t they always love internal strife?¡±

    A sudden voice rang out in the warship.

    In the vast warship, it was as if a monstrous wind blew through, like a small tornado.

    The tornado eventually stopped, revealing a strange man with four horns on his head, his double pupils gleaming with an unusual light.

    The strange man looked at the screen ahead, staring at the distant blue planet with a fervent and obsessed expression.

    ¡°What a delicious world. I feel the call of ancestral blood.¡±

    The captain looked at the strange man with reverence, ¡°Does the lord think there are no hidden secrets?¡±

    The captain knew that this strange man was an outsider, from a powerful world called the Myriad Demon Realm.

    That world was home to mighty demon clans.

    According to genetic analysis, humans on Canxing and the demon clans of the Myriad Demon Realm shared a common ancestor.

    Humans and demon clans sharing a common ancestor sounded strange.

    At first, Canxing was cautious and resistant to the Myriad Demon Realm.

    But when the Myriad Demon Realm''s mighty ones descended and met with nearly two hundred of Canxing¡¯s leaders, granting them youth and vitality,

    Canxing''s attitude toward the Myriad Demon Realm changed dramatically.

    Even the elders in the captain¡¯s family received blessings and gifts from the Myriad Demon Realm.

    So, all of them held the strong beings of the Myriad Demon Realm in high esteem.

    After all, the strong of the Myriad Demon Realm were immensely powerful and mighty.

    ¡°Whether there are hidden secrets... does it matter?¡± The double-pupil man''s expression was fanatical. ¡°No matter what cards Gonxing holds, it will fall under the territory of our Myriad Demon Realm.

    If we acquire the ancestral blood, our Myriad Demon Realm will once again be great.

    The last great catastrophe cost us dearly!¡±

    The former Demon King of the Myriad Demon Realm, along with a female demon, sent a grand army to a foreign domain.

    Who would have thought that out of over ten thousand supreme warriors, only a handful returned.

    That battle severely weakened the Myriad Demon Realm.

    The former Demon King had to abdicate.

    With the new king''s ascension, the Myriad Demon Realm slowly regained strength, but it still fell short of its peak.

    Now, on Gonxing, they detected the scent of ancestral blood¡ªhow could they not be thrilled?

    If they obtained the ancestral blood, what kind of opportunity would it bring to the Myriad Demon Realm?

    It was unimaginable!

    The entire Myriad Demon Realm might even have a chance to ascend to the upper realms.

    ¡°The Qilin Warship will serve as the lord¡¯s arm!¡± The captain quickly pledged allegiance.

    The double-pupil man nodded, ¡°Once the elders from our clan arrive, we will sweep across Gonxing.

    The Sky Eyes... are nothing but oversized toys.¡±

    Although the double-pupil man was very wary of the Sky Eyes, he believed the elders of his clan could handle them.

    The elders were terrifyingly powerful, nearly reaching the point of ascending to the upper realms.

    No matter how powerful the Sky Eyes were, they were still just lifeless objects.

    The double-pupil man was full of confidence and then said, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you have some contacts with some countries on Gonxing?

    I would like to go down to Canxing and take a look first.¡±

    ¡°Certainly,¡± the captain readily agreed, but then he remembered something and said, ¡°Please, be cautious and do not reveal your identity; otherwise, if the Sky Eyes target you, it would be difficult...¡±

    He didn¡¯t finish the sentence.

    The Sky Eyes were too terrifying; they were said to be capable of killing gods.

    Their warships were strong, but compared to the Sky Eyes, they were still a level behind.

    ¡°Hmm, I understand,¡± the double-pupil man was no fool.

    He was very strong, but even fighting Canxing''s super warships was challenging, let alone the Sky Eyes, which were even stronger than the super warships.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± The captain immediately agreed.

    Though Canxing and Gonxing were enemies, they did not prohibit communication and trade.

    The double-pupil man gazed at the distant blue planet, a fascinated look in his eyes, ¡°What a... unique world.¡±

    ...

    Meanwhile, in Tianyue City.

    Qi Yuan, holding Canary¡¯s hand, returned to his home.

    Canary held Qi Yuan¡¯s hand tightly, feeling a bit nervous.

    The door opened, and the robot Zero One stood at the door, a smile appearing in its eyes, ¡°Welcome home, Master, Mistress!¡±

    ¡°So this is Zero One, quite good-looking,¡± Canary said, her face slightly flushed.

    Though she had been through a lot, she still retained her shy nature.

    As she spoke, she looked around the house.

    Inside, the walls were decorated with the Chinese character for ¡°double happiness,¡± and the table was filled with wedding candies, giving the place a festive atmosphere.

    The cat, Xie Xinsu, also had a ¡°double happiness¡± character stuck on its back, looking quite adorable.

    Canary held Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, looking around, seemingly very excited.

    ¡°Master, I checked the calendar. Tomorrow is an auspicious day for a wedding.¡±

    Canary¡¯s face turned bright red.

 Chapter 334: Registering the Marriage with Xiao Jia and Ning Tao

    Chapter 334: Registering the Marriage with Xiao Jia and Ning Tao

    In the living room, Canary carefully examined everything, as if she wanted to remember every speck of dust in the room.

    The red "Double Happiness" character looked especially festive.

    "Meow, meow, meow..."

    Xie Xinsu shook her body vigorously, seemingly unhappy with the "Double Happiness" character on her back.

    She felt very wronged.

    During the time Qi Yuan was away, she was tormented by the robot Zero One.

    She really wanted to report Zero One for cat abuse.

    Not only was she not allowed to shoot videos every day, but she was also restricted from smelling catnip.

    Unfortunately, no matter how much she meowed, Qi Yuan couldn''t understand.

    She kept meowing until she felt cold in her lower abdomen.

    If she could return to her true form, would she be this miserable?

    Would she need to grovel to Qi Yuan?

    More likely, the dog owner would have to grovel to her, the immortal master.

    ¡°What a cute cat!¡± Canary looked at Xie Xinsu, a smile appearing in her eyes.

    She gently tapped her hand.

    Xie Xinsu''s body seemed to lose control and fell into Canary''s hand.

    Xie Xinsu felt dizzy.

    Immortal art?

    Why couldn''t she feel any spiritual energy fluctuations?

    This skill had to be at least at the late stage of Qi Refining, right?

    Her body suddenly stiffened.

    How could there be a cultivator here?

    From which world did she come?

    Xie Xinsu became alert and began to seriously examine Canary.

    After just one glance, she was stunned.

    This woman¡¯s appearance alone seemed otherworldly.

    And she knew immortal arts.

    What kind of virtue or ability did this dog owner, Qi Yuan, have to marry such an immortal?

    But then she thought about how good-looking her owner was, and she understood.

    Sigh, people who have just entered the path of immortality are easily dazzled by worldly charms, unlike her, a Golden Core stage master who is already detached from worldly affairs!

    Xie Xinsu couldn¡¯t help but sigh.V/\Issi?T  for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce

    However, the fact that the other party was a cultivator was a good thing.

    When she regained some of her cultivation, she could communicate with them.

    Even if she leaked a little bit from her fingertips, this couple would surely worship her as a high-level cultivator.

    At that time, wouldn¡¯t the robot Zero One be at her disposal?

    Catnip, she could smell it for as long as she wanted!

    As for shooting videos? She could just go on strike and act as a supervisor.

    Xie Xinsu indulged in her sweet fantasies.

    Canary played with the cat for a while, her expression filled with joy.

    Before long, Canary followed Qi Yuan back to his room.

    Qi Yuan called out softly, "Xiao Jia."

    With his voice, a bridal gown suddenly appeared in the room.

    A peculiar look flashed in Canary¡¯s eyes, and then she smiled, blinking, "Is this Sister Xiao Jia?"

    She had heard Qi Yuan mention Xiao Jia and knew about Qi Yuan''s story with Xiao Jia.

    "She''s special," Canary said, a strange light flashing in her eyes.

    "Everyone is special," Qi Yuan said matter-of-factly.

    ¡°You¡¯re special, she¡¯s special, I¡¯m special... How about we go register our marriage tomorrow?¡± Qi Yuan looked at Canary and Xiao Jia.

    From the cold sleeve of Xiao Jia, a wooden sign with a happy face slipped out.

    It seemed that no matter what Qi Yuan said, she was always happy.

    Canary leaned against Qi Yuan, nodding her head.

    "But... is it illegal for the three of us to register together?"

    Qi Yuan looked worried.

    As for morality, Qi Yuan didn''t care.

    The bottom line needs to be flexible.

    What mattered was legality.

    "How about this? I''ll wear Sister Xiao Jia, and then we register together?" Canary suggested with a whimsical idea.

    Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment, looking at Canary, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be this clever.¡±

    But then he shook his head, ¡°That won¡¯t do. This should be done openly and honestly.

    We can¡¯t have a wedding where Xiao Jia doesn¡¯t even have a place.¡±

    Although Qi Yuan always obeyed the law,

    A little rebellion for the sake of family was acceptable.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to pull some strings and find Kuang Huan.¡±

    Kuang Huan was a noble.

    In Qin Yuan Country, nobles have a high social status and enjoy privileges.

    Kuang Huan had extensive connections, so helping him get the marriage certificate was no problem at all.

    Thinking of this, Qi Yuan dialed Kuang Huan''s number.

    At that moment, in the hotel, Kuang Huan was absentmindedly watching TV.

    Occasionally, he looked out the window at the sun in the sky, giggling foolishly.

    A gentle young woman looked at her husband, her eyes showing helplessness: "Experts said that the extra sun in the sky should be looked at less, or it might cause memory loss!"

    "What do you know? Memory loss is nothing!" Kuang Huan looked at the sun in the sky again, giggling as if it were a peerless beauty.

    Back then, he was trapped in a steel fortress.

    When he saw the sun appear in the sky, he felt both surprised and excited.

    Though under house arrest, his mood was great, and he had a good appetite.

    Soon after, he was personally released.

    The person who invited him out was from the capital, someone incomparable to the one from the military camp.

    They personally came to apologize and offered soft words.

    This was something Kuang Huan had never experienced before.

    Later, he learned about the referendum and heard that Mu Family''s thirteen Sky Eyes had fallen.

    He laughed, admiring Mr. Qi even more in his heart.

    The Seven Martial Stars? In Mr. Qi¡¯s eyes, aren¡¯t they just ants?

    Sky Eyes? Terrifying weapons capable of killing gods? They¡¯re just toys!

    Mr. Qi is the type of person truly standing at the pinnacle of the world.

    Everything in the world is just... a game.

    No wonder Mr. Qi often talked about games, NPCs, settings, and plot.

    Indeed, for such a person, isn¡¯t this world just a large game?

    At this moment, Kuang Huan felt both joy and anxiety.

    To use an inappropriate metaphor, it''s like a young wife suddenly finding out that her husband is the emperor. She feels happy but also realizes he hasn¡¯t paid attention to her for a long time.

    Just then, the ringtone of his "special attention" rang, and Kuang Huan''s brow twitched.

    Not far away, the gentle woman saw her husband like this and felt jealous: "Oh my, you didn¡¯t even set me as ''special attention''."

    "How could it be the same? Be quiet!" Kuang Huan glared at his wife and carefully answered the phone.

    The gentle woman saw this and smiled.

    ¡°Mr. Qi.¡± Kuang Huan held the phone as if he were holding an ancient and precious artifact, and his back involuntarily bent.

    It was as if Qi Yuan was right next to him on the other end of the phone.

    "Why is your voice trembling? Are you doing some exercise? Could it be... am I interrupting something?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    Kuang Huan''s face changed slightly, "No, no!"

    He was very nervous, afraid Qi Yuan might misunderstand.

    "If I didn¡¯t interrupt, that¡¯s good. Otherwise, if I spoiled your mood, I¡¯d feel bad about asking you for a favor." Qi Yuan said unhurriedly.

    These words didn¡¯t sound like something an absolute powerhouse would say.

    But having interacted with Qi Yuan before, Kuang Huan knew this person had a carefree attitude towards life.

    ¡°Please, Mr. Qi, just give me your orders!¡± He became even more humble.

    To serve Mr. Qi was his honor, enough to bring glory to his ancestors.

    "Didn¡¯t I say before, that when a second sun appears in the sky, I would get married?"

    "Congratulations, Mr. Qi!" Kuang Huan''s eyes lit up.

    So, everything Mr. Qi said was true.

    His wife really came down from the sun.

    This was simply unimaginable.

    What kind of style, what kind of unparalleled elegance would his wife have?

    "We plan to register tomorrow, but... there¡¯s a small problem," Qi Yuan hesitated.

    Kuang Huan was slightly confused.

    An absolute powerhouse still needs to register for marriage?

    But then he thought, you can''t guess the mind of such a powerhouse.

    Register if you want.

    "Is there anything you need my assistance with?"

    "It''s like this, I want to marry two wives this time, and register together," Qi Yuan stated his purpose.

    Kuang Huan was stunned, completely shocked.

    Two wives?

    Many thoughts flashed through his mind.

    Marrying two wives might sound strange, but... it¡¯s not that unusual.

    Many nobles marry two or more openly.

    Some even buy a few buildings in a neighborhood, each building housing a different wife.

    This is quite common.

    The key point is, Mr. Qi is different.

    Mr. Qi''s wife is a super powerful entity!

    A woman coming down from the sun sounds impressive.

    Such an impressive person...

    ¡°Mr. Qi, does your wife know you want to marry two?¡± Kuang Huan cautiously asked.

    He feared that if he helped, Mr. Qi''s wife might kill him.

    ¡°She knows,¡± Qi Yuan replied, puzzled. ¡°Why, do you suspect I¡¯m deceiving young girls into marriage?¡±

    ¡°No, no!¡± Kuang Huan quickly clarified, ¡°I will immediately handle it for Mr. Qi.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right, my two wives don¡¯t have ID cards or photos, could you help me with that?¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I forgot, to take ID photos, they need to be present. Let me know, and I¡¯ll come with my wives.

    Oh... no, tomorrow is the registration, is there enough time? Ah... this is so troublesome, getting ID cards, registering, going twice.

    Can it all be done together?¡± Qi Yuan was very troubled.

    Kuang Huan was a bit speechless.

    He even wanted to say, you don''t even need to come out; I could bring the ID cards and marriage certificates to you, photos not required.

    But then again, this is Mr. Qi. His thought process is unusual, and Kuang Huan dared not object.

    ¡°Handling both certificates together is also possible.

    At that time, I¡¯ll send a red packet to the staff.

    Mr. Qi and your wives only need to come near the neighborhood.¡±

    Kuang Huan decided to move the Civil Affairs Bureau and the police station outside Qi Yuan¡¯s neighborhood.

    ¡°Really? No wonder you¡¯re a noble, you really have the connections.

    She leaned closer to Qi Yuan, her whole body sitting on Qi Yuan¡¯s lap, her red dress covering Qi Yuan¡¯s thighs.

    Her charming eyes looked at Qi Yuan, her lips slightly pursed. Although she wore no makeup, her snowy face was cold and beautiful.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Ning Tao¡¯s thigh, one side smooth as jade, like the best silk in the world, the other with the texture of black silk.

    She was both expectant and shy, but she still boldly said, ¡°What Canary doesn¡¯t dare to do, I¡¯ll do!¡±

    As she spoke, the girl''s warm lips approached.

    ¡°Hmm...¡± At this moment, Qi Yuan was particularly calm, or rather... not calm at all.

    His hand unconsciously crossed over the skirt and gently picked up Ning Tao.

    A cunning look flashed in Ning Tao''s eyes: "How about... we go to register later?"

    ¡°What you said... makes some sense.¡± Qi Yuan did not hesitate at all, savoring and taking what he had not done with Canary before, making up for it.

    In Jiupan Mountain, in the illusion, the past pain was just like smoke.

    Now is what matters most.

    Clothes slipped, skirts shattered, a moment of infinite charm.

    ¡°Husband, you¡¯re a bit lacking; why don¡¯t you let me... change into the black dress?¡±

    ¡°Blood Pearl... be gentle...¡±

    ...

    ¡°It¡¯s getting dark; when is this person coming?¡±

    Wang Tong sat in the new office, feeling bored.

    It was supposed to be the afternoon, but now it was almost dark.

    ¡°Stop complaining. I asked the leader, and the leader said if that person doesn¡¯t come, we¡¯ll just work here from now on, until he comes to get the marriage certificate.¡± Zhao Longshou put down his newspaper, not in a hurry.

    Where isn¡¯t work just work?

    It''s quite leisurely here.

    Besides, there¡¯s no chance of promotion anywhere, right?

    ¡°Then he might as well never come; it¡¯s perfect for slacking here.¡± Wang Tong said excitedly.

    Of course, she was just fantasizing; this was impossible.

    At this moment, a sudden message arrived.

    Wang Tong¡¯s face changed slightly, ¡°He¡¯s here!¡±

    Zhao Longshou quickly got up, his expression becoming serious.

    ¡°Remember, just do a simple process, take a photo, and make the certificates!¡± Zhao Longshou instructed again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m good at taking photos!¡± Wang Tong waved excitedly.

    Maybe today, she could get some gossip on the nobles.

    Zhao Longshou nodded.

    Wang Tong would take the photos, and he would paste them on the marriage certificates.

    It¡¯s that simple.

    As for the stamps and such, they were already done.

    Other procedures were also waived.

    ¡°Bye, Zhao Ge!¡± Wang Tong waved as she walked out of the office.

    Just as she stepped outside the office, she saw a middle-aged man.

    The middle-aged man was dressed finely, with a strong military aura, clearly from a distinguished background.

    It¡¯s him?

    Wang Tong squinted her eyes, just about to greet him when she heard him say,

    ¡°Mr. Qi has already entered the photo room; go take their photos, and remember... don¡¯t talk too much!¡± This man was, of course, Kuang Huan.

    ¡°Okay!¡± Wang Tong nodded, a bit surprised.

    This man already looked extraordinary, and he still referred to the person inside as Mr. Qi. That person seemed... really powerful.

    With a mix of anticipation and nervousness, Wang Tong entered the photo room.

    ¡°Comrade, sorry to trouble you.¡±

    A young and pleasant voice came.

    Seeing the person, Wang Tong immediately lowered her head, not daring to look much, her heart pounding.

    He¡¯s too good-looking.

    This is what a domineering CEO looks like in a TV drama, right?

    ¡°Canary and I, we¡¯re all ready, just waiting for you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Wang Tong kept her head down, not daring to look up.

    However, she still vaguely saw that beside Mr. Qi were two women with graceful figures.

    One was wearing a black dress, and the other should be in a red wedding dress.

    This made Wang Tong feel puzzled.

    These two wives... why were they dressed so differently?

    Despite her curiosity, she didn''t ask.

    She kept her head down and walked to the camera.

    Only then did she dare to carefully look at the three people in front of her.

    She saw them sitting in a row.

    When she saw the girl in the black dress, Wang Tong''s eyes showed a hint of amazement.

    She felt envious of the nobility again.

    She¡¯s too beautiful.

    At this moment, Canary tightly held onto Qi Yuan¡¯s arm, and in her beautiful eyes, there seemed to be a spring.

    A blush climbed up to her ears, and she seemed a bit shy.

    Of course, compared to before, these blushes were nothing.

    Wang Tong shifted her gaze to the face of the girl in the red wedding dress.

    She blinked her eyes.

    Then took off her glasses and wiped them.

    She... stood there dumbfounded, her mind a bit blank.

    Looking ahead, she asked unconsciously, ¡°Mr. Qi, where¡¯s your other wife?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re both here; the other one... hmm, is in the sky.¡±

    ¡°???¡± Wang Tong was confused, but still cautiously asked, ¡°I mean the one in the red wedding dress just now.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s right here.¡± Qi Yuan held Xiao Jia¡¯s cold hand.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Wang Tong was completely stunned.

    A wedding dress... what?

    This person married a wedding dress?

    And at this moment, something even more shocking happened to Wang Tong.

    The wedding dress seemed to lean closer to Mr. Qi, and its sleeves adjusted its collar.

    This... wedding dress... is... a monster?

    She was so shocked, her heart felt like it would jump out of her throat.

    Damn... spiritual energy really has revived! Even wedding dresses are becoming spirits and getting married!

    Oh my, I can''t keep it together.

    Her mind was in chaos, like a tangled mess.

    However, she still managed to keep her composure and took the photos.

    At this moment, she wanted to give Mr. Qi a thumbs up.

    Nobles are truly nobles, even marrying a wedding dress!

    Meanwhile, in the office.

    Zhao Longshou frowned, looking puzzled.

    ¡°What kind of nonsense is this, one person... with two names? The ID needs an extra line. Nobles are truly nobles.¡±

    ¡°This is even more ridiculous, filling the race as ''Wedding Dress Royalty.'' Since when did we have this race in Qin Yuan Country?¡±

    Zhao Longshou was furiously complaining in his heart.

    But he dared not show any dissatisfaction.

    Even if it was this absurd, these details could be entered into the online system.

    You have to know, in their system, this information can''t be filled in randomly.

    And they were all options to choose from.

    This was the rule from the headquarters.

    But now, it could actually be customized.

    How could he not be shocked?

    This system was from the headquarters.

    They just created a new race for Qin Yuan Country! The other side having this privilege means... well, they definitely have connections at the headquarters.

    ¡°Could it be... from the Seven Martial Stars family?

    No, the Seven Martial Stars family does have this privilege, but they wouldn¡¯t bother with this; it¡¯s too troublesome.

    Two wives, if they want to marry, they just marry.¡±

    Zhao Longshou was puzzled.

    Now, everything he needed was ready; he was just waiting for Wang Tong to bring the electronic and paper versions of the photos.

    One was to be entered into the system, the other to be pasted on the marriage certificate and ID card.

    At this moment, hurried footsteps approached.

    Zhao Longshou looked up to see Wang Tong rushing over, panting and looking anxious.

    Zhao Longshou frowned slightly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Zhao Ge, do you know what Mr. Qi¡¯s wife is?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Longshou was a bit confused.

    ¡°It¡¯s a wedding dress!¡± Wang Tong said seriously, then muttered to herself as if she had lost her mind.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Longshou was stunned for a moment, then laughed, ¡°These nobles, what a joke, marrying a dress and even needing a marriage certificate.

    Well, it¡¯s also normal.

    A while ago, a guy brought a blow-up doll here, insisting on getting married. We laughed so hard back then.¡±

    ¡°Zhao Ge, it¡¯s not an ordinary wedding dress; it¡¯s a spirit wedding dress. It can walk!¡± Wang Tong said excitedly.

    As she spoke, she showed Zhao Longshou the photos she had taken.

    ¡°Look, this wedding dress, it¡¯s called Xiao Jia, and it¡¯s really gentle!¡±

    ¡°??? Are you kidding me?¡± Zhao Longshou looked skeptical.

    ¡°If I¡¯m lying, may I get hit by a car when I step out.

    Hahaha, spiritual energy has revived, it really has!¡± Wang Tong was excited, laughing foolishly for a while, then showing a sense of loss.

    The revival of spiritual energy, what does it have to do with a small person like her?

    Is it a blessing or a curse? Suddenly, she thought of Qi Yuan and a bold idea emerged: ¡°Could he take me to the extraordinary?¡±

    But soon she became desperate again, she was just a small person, why would anyone help her? ¡°I think you¡¯re a bit obsessed; how can a wedding dress become a spirit?¡± Zhao Longshou still didn¡¯t believe it.

    Just then, footsteps approached.

    A voice came in.

    ¡°Are our marriage certificates ready? We¡¯re planning to take some photos and make a video.¡±

    Seeing the person, Zhao Longshou was completely stunned; his worldview collapsed at that moment.

    A wedding dress really became a spirit?

    How is that possible!

    I thought there was only one place that had harmony, but there are two!

 Chapter 335: Would You Like a Granny?

    Chapter 335: Would You Like a Granny?

    ¡°Hold out your hand, yes, keep it in that position, perfect.¡±

    Three red marriage certificates appeared, Canary holding one in her hand, Xiao Jia holding another with her sleeve, and Qi Yuan holding the last one.

    A camera on Zero-One''s head recorded this moment.

    ¡°I used to see people with cameras on their heads in videos, and now I finally understand¡ªthey were robots!¡±

    Qi Yuan made a new discovery today.

    Canary giggled, ¡°I can grow a camera on my head too.¡±

    As she spoke, a camera popped up on top of her head.

    Qi Yuan burst out laughing.

    From Xiao Jia¡¯s sleeve, a wooden sign with a ¡°happy¡± expression slipped out.

    At this moment, Zero-One said, ¡°The video has been edited with music, and the caption is ready. The master can post it anytime.¡±

    Qi Yuan logged into his account and found the video in his drafts.

    The video didn¡¯t show any faces¡ªjust three hands and three marriage certificates.

    Of course, to be more precise, it was two hands and one sleeve.

    ¡°Finally, it¡¯s my turn to show off!¡± Qi Yuan happily hit the post button.

    Not far away, Xie Xinsu was confused.

    Yesterday, when she saw Ning Tao, she was already a bit bewildered.

    Today... she had just woken up and saw a moving wedding dress.

    And... it had even gotten a marriage certificate with her cold and indifferent master.

    She was completely dumbfounded.

    ¡°Is this a monster clan?¡±

    ¡°A puppet?¡±

    ¡°Or something else?¡±

    She was filled with confusion.

    Canary was clearly a cultivator, with powerful abilities, so how could she share a husband with an ¡°alien race¡±?

    At this moment, she felt a vague sense of apprehension.

    She suddenly realized that her previous Golden Core stage cultivation... might not be much.

    This alien called Xiao Jia seemed to have an extraordinary background.

    ¡°Could the dog owner... I mean, my cat owner, also have an extraordinary background?¡±

    Xie Xinsu suddenly had a terrifying thought.

    Then, she quickly shook her head.

    ¡°Impossible. If he were special, why would he practice martial arts?¡±

    If he had set foot on the path of immortality, why would he pursue martial arts?

    In this world, the path of martial arts has limited potential.

    Xie Xinsu felt lost in thought, her cat brain unable to sort out all the ideas.

    ¡°Sigh, busy with the wedding, tomorrow there¡¯s the feast. Fortunately, there are only the three of us in our household registry; otherwise, we¡¯d have to toast everyone. Now it¡¯s good, we¡¯ve even saved money on a wedding host.¡± Qi Yuan waved his hand, feeling quite pleased.

    To be honest, he saved some money again, which he could now save for buying Gonxing.

    ¡°People have been notified, the hotel is booked, time to cultivate... martial arts!¡±

    Qi Yuan treated the game like a task, while cultivating martial arts was the task.

    Canary and Xiao Jia were his life.

    ¡°Xiao Jia and I are going to sunbathe!¡±

    Canary dragged Xiao Jia to the balcony to bask in the sun.

    The house was filled with warmth and happiness.

    Back in his room, Qi Yuan continued his martial arts cultivation.

    Although he had a cheat code allowing him to infinitely consume monster blood to improve his cultivation, practice was still necessary.

    ¡°Turning martial arts vitality into storage space... cultivating this is so troublesome, it takes... a whole night?¡±

    In the stronghold of the Yellow Springs World, Qi Yuan had acquired this martial art.

    ¡°Forget it, cultivating is too troublesome; I might as well add some points.¡±

    Qi Yuan decided it was better to take shortcuts.

    He sat on the bed, eyes closed.

    A faint fragrance reached his nose. He knew it was Canary¡¯s scent.

    In his mind, images of Canary from not long ago appeared¡ªher petite body, her dreamy expression, her broken gaze.

    ¡°Qi Yuan, Qi Yuan, be diligent, practice restraint!¡±

    ¡°Only fifty drops of monster blood left, gotta use it sparingly.¡±

    ¡°You used ten drops of monster blood to begin compressing and expanding the vitality in your body. Ding... blood vitality space successfully established, with a volume of 0.01 cubic meters.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked inwardly and found a blood vitality space had formed inside his body.

    ¡°The space is a bit small... but it''s okay, I''ll leave it as is.¡±

    Although he could use monster blood to expand the space, Qi Yuan chose not to.

    He needed to keep some monster blood for emergencies.

    He was strong but still believed in being prepared for any scenario.

    ¡°This diligent cultivation yielded good results. The biggest gain was a breakthrough in my voice acting skills. The word ¡®ding¡¯ is simply the essence of the system.¡±

    The more Qi Yuan thought about it, the prouder he felt of himself.

    This sense of accomplishment was akin to skipping a stone seventeen times.

    ¡°I wonder when the next mission will begin?¡±

    ¡°My monster blood isn¡¯t enough.¡±

    With this thought, Qi Yuan continued his cultivation.

    ...

    ¡°Such heavy rain.¡±

    In a dim basement, Shen Yang looked at the damp ground, his eyes filled with concern.

    The place he lived in was less than ten square meters, with a monthly rent of 500 yuan.

    In a city like this, it was quite decent, just having a place to live.

    Unfortunately, today someone came and told him that such simple, low-ceilinged houses and basements were uninhabitable due to hidden dangers.

    He knew the risks, but who would want to live in such places?

    The last place he lived in was like a rural toilet, but the typhoon was too strong, blowing the house away, so he had to move.Re?a? latest cha/p/ters on

    Finally, after finding a new cubbyhole, he had to leave again.

    ¡°Sigh, making money is really hard, but compared to guarding a tiny piece of land back home, at least I can save some money and have hope.¡±

    Having worked hard all day, he was now exhausted, his back aching, and had no energy left.

    He could only scroll through short videos to relieve his boredom and fatigue.

    Although he was unwilling deep down, wanting to improve and not resign himself to fate, living in such a world... what could he do?

    At this moment, a video caught his eye.

    He paused, a look of envy appearing in his eyes.

    ¡°These rich folks are getting bolder and bolder, flaunting marriage certificates, showing off three at once, without even pretending.¡±

    ¡°There should be a law against flaunting wealth; otherwise, we common folks will always be discontent.¡±

    Shen Yang mused, then laughed.

    He opened the comment section and casually read through it.

    ¡°Envying the rich every day!¡±

    ¡°Boss, teach me!¡±

    ¡°Bro, you married two wives at once!¡±

    ¡°Couldn''t help it, I reported it!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get it wrong, this isn''t a rich guy; this is an immortal cultivator. See? In his last video, he was even selling cultivation techniques!¡±

    Shen Yang saw this comment and was stunned.

    ¡°Cultivation techniques?¡±

    Shen Yang thought of recent online discussions.

    ¡°Is this world really about to change drastically, becoming more and more fantastical?¡±

    Like the Martial Arts Tournament, champion Qi Yuan broke through martial arts limits, punching his opponent into a blood mist; like the Spider Island, where celestial light shone, and they found the corpses of over ten thousand baby girls.

    Or how everyone in the Qin Yuan country voted on the life and death of the Mu family of the Seven Martial Stars clan.

    Or how there was an extra sun in the sky.

    Well... one of them was human, the other wasn¡¯t.

    Personally serving as a waiter, the hotel manager¡¯s legs trembled as he entered the private room.

    The good thing was, he wasn¡¯t the only one embarrassed.

    Inside, holding their wine glasses, every man and woman trembled, afraid of spilling their drinks.

    Oh my God!

    The hotel manager felt his worldview collapse.

    The first time hosting a wedding... for a non-human.

    At this moment, in the private room, Qi Yuan held a glass filled with juice and scanned everyone, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you smiling? Are you naturally not inclined to smile?¡±

    Kuang Huan immediately put on a smile, ¡°Mr. Qi, it¡¯s because Miss Ning Tao is so beautiful, we¡¯re a bit nervous.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Xiao Jia beautiful?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but say.

    He never played favorites.

    ¡°Beautiful!¡± Kuang Huan nodded earnestly.

    Li Yan, holding her wine glass, nodded vigorously as well. At this moment, her feelings were a mix of all kinds.

    Thinking of her previous thoughts, she found them laughable.

    Initially, she thought Qi Yuan was very handsome, even felt a bit of attraction; of course, she felt this way about many celebrities too.

    Upon learning Qi Yuan had a mental illness, she snuffed out that feeling.

    After all, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose face like that.

    Now, seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s wives, one so stunningly beautiful as Ning Tao, the other... a wedding dress.

    She suddenly felt her past self... ridiculously naive.

    Everyone present had different thoughts.

    Wu Qi¡¯s body also trembled slightly, unable to contain her excitement.

    Originally, because of Qi Yuan, she had long been at odds with her agent.

    Working hard as a chauffeur, she got nothing in return.

    Now... just being able to attend this wedding was worth it.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell on Zhong Miao¡¯s face, ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s your kidney deficiency?¡±

    As Qi Yuan spoke, everyone present turned their eyes to Zhong Miao.

    Mr. Qi said Zhong Miao had a kidney deficiency, so she must have it.

    But how could she have kidney deficiency at such a young age?

    Zhong Miao¡¯s face turned red instantly, but she couldn¡¯t help but refute, ¡°I don¡¯t have kidney deficiency!¡±

    Originally, she came to persuade Qi Yuan not to ruin other girls¡¯ lives.

    After all, marrying with a mental illness was just wasting others¡¯ lives.

    Seeing that the ones he was ruining were... a wedding dress, the words she had prepared were all swallowed back.

    What else could she say?

    Although a bit headstrong, she wasn¡¯t stupid, afraid of being beaten to death.

    ¡°How about you give me some of your blood, and I¡¯ll study your kidney deficiency?¡± Qi Yuan continued.

    Now, having entered the golden core stage, he vaguely sensed the special nature of Wu Qi¡¯s blood and that of the child brought back from Guiran.

    For him, it was indeed useful.

    It could nourish the divine soul.

    In the Mortal Heart World, Qi Yuan had formed the divine infants of innate chaotic gods and demons.

    These Nascent Souls were him, yet not him; they still retained a trace of true spirit.

    However, they were currently dormant.

    He placed these divine infants in the Tian Kun Ancient Mirror for nourishment.

    Now, he had found a better place.

    It was people like Wu Qi...

    At that time, placing the Nascent Souls to reside in these people, their bodies would have multiple ¡°grandpas¡± or ¡°grandmas.¡±

    These ¡°grandpas¡± or ¡°grandmas¡± would occasionally wake up, guiding them to improve their strength, then nurturing their divine souls, allowing them to truly awaken.

    Once these Nascent souls awakened by themselves, becoming independent entities, they could cultivate on their own.

    With the foundation of visualizing powerful Blue Star gods and demons, combined with the resources from the mysterious alien heritage site.

    The cultivation progress of these entities would be astonishing.

    The potential would be limitless.

    Each could be a Yang God!

    By then, what level would Qi Yuan¡¯s strength reach? Of course, this was just speculation.

    Qi Yuan was only at the golden core stage now.

    To summon the Nascent Souls, he would need to reach the Purple Mansion stage, which was still a long way off.

    By then, this world might already be experiencing a spiritual revival, with numerous cultivation worlds connecting, and many cultivation sects descending, recruiting disciples and leaving legacies.

    At that time, Qi Yuan might go around sending ¡°grandpas¡± and ¡°grandmas,¡± competing for disciples with those sects.

    Doctor Zhong Miao, in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes, was somewhat similar to Wu Qi but also different.

    So, Qi Yuan wanted a drop of her blood to investigate further.

    ¡°I¡¯m not kidney deficient, and I won¡¯t give you my blood!¡± Zhong Miao looked wary.

    Having interacted with Qi Yuan many times, she wasn¡¯t very afraid of him.

    ¡°What a pity, you might have missed out on a grandma.¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    He didn¡¯t force anyone.

    ¡°I already lost my grandma a long time ago!¡± Zhong Miao couldn¡¯t help but retort.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I wanted to recommend a grandma to you. If you like, I can recommend a grandpa too.¡± Qi Yuan was very generous.

    There were more than four thousand divine infants; he needed to find more people.

    ¡°No need, thank you!¡± Zhong Miao suspected that Qi Yuan¡¯s condition might have worsened, ¡°Did you take the medicine I prescribed for you last time?¡±

    With a compassionate heart, she still asked.

    Qi Yuan was speechless, ¡°You should worry about your kidney deficiency first. Look at you, it¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve had a good sleep. If you keep having nightmares, you might just pass away one day.¡±

    Hearing this, Zhong Miao¡¯s face turned pale.

    Those dreams were indeed frightening and terrifying.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Wu Qi, ¡°In a while, I¡¯ll send you a grandma, okay?¡±

    Wu Qi¡¯s mind went blank.

    Why was he giving her a grandma too? She didn¡¯t have the courage that Zhong Miao did, so she could only bite her lip and agree, ¡°Okay, I will treat her like my own grandma!¡±

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll send a big grandma and a little grandma.¡± Qi Yuan spoke, without any filter.

    Wu Qi could only smile and say, ¡°Okay!¡±

    Wang Xu watched this scene, still grinning foolishly.

    The conversation here was too high-level for him to understand.

    After a few rounds of drinks, the wedding feast ended in joy.

    After seeing everyone off, Qi Yuan held Ning Tao in his arms, holding Xiao Jia¡¯s hand. With a flicker, they returned to their home.

    Qi Yuan lazily said, ¡°Finally ate my own banquet, but it was a red banquet. Last time I missed the white one, which is probably the biggest regret of my life.¡±

    Not attending his own funeral, not eating at his own banquet, truly one of life¡¯s three greatest regrets.

    If asked what the other two were, Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t know, as he had just made them up.

    ¡°It can be rescheduled!¡± Canary said eagerly.

    She was small, delicate, and cute. She had to jump a little to reach Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes, so Qi Yuan always had to hold her close.

    ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s inauspicious.¡±

    Qi Yuan said lazily.

    Then, he waved his hand.

    ¡°Look, what did I buy for you?¡±

    Canary quickly took the item Qi Yuan handed her and opened it.

    Her face immediately turned red, and she bit her lip, ¡°It¡¯s still daytime, Qi Yuan!¡±

    ¡°Hey, what are you thinking? Didn¡¯t you want to go to graduate school? I bought you a school uniform!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Canary¡¯s face turned even redder.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already pulled some strings so you can take the exam here in Tianyue City!¡± Qi Yuan said proudly.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Canary nodded, ¡°If I¡¯m going to grad school, what about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll continue practicing martial arts, and... I have a feeling the mission in the Yellow Springs World is about to start. I need to go in and complete the mission.¡±

    ¡°Too bad I can¡¯t go in. Sigh... studying... is so annoying!¡±

 Chapter 336: Qi Yuan: Will You Be My Bodyguard?

    Chapter 336: Qi Yuan: Will You Be My Bodyguard?

    In the end, the Canary still wore the school uniform.

    However, when Qi Yuan took her to school, she glared at him, "No one else is wearing this, it''s completely useless!"

    She looked quite cute in that moment.

    Qi Yuan patted the Canary''s hair and said dotingly, "It might come in handy occasionally."

    Indeed, when a person is petite, even when they''re angry, they look adorable to others.

    The Canary''s face blushed instantly, "I''m off to school now!"

    She ran off quickly.

    Qi Yuan watched her back, the doting look in his eyes not fading at all.

    It wasn''t until her figure completely disappeared from his sight that Qi Yuan prepared to go home and practice martial arts.

    A message appeared on his phone screen from the Canary: "I won''t be wearing the school uniform at night!"

    Qi Yuan chuckled at the message on the phone screen, "Work hard and try to get into a Ph.D. program."

    After sending the message, Qi Yuan turned around to leave.

    But suddenly, a hand grabbed his arm tightly. The Canary, who was supposed to be heading to school, had somehow appeared in front of him. She looked up at Qi Yuan with a pitiful expression, "Qi Yuan, I... don''t want to go to school."

    She clung to his arm tightly, as if afraid that if she let go, Qi Yuan would disappear.

    Right now, the Canary was like a little cat without a sense of security, clinging to him closely.

    "As expected, nobody likes going to school. Only after graduating and working might one look back fondly on school days," Qi Yuan sighed softly.

    Of course, it¡¯s more about missing certain people from school days.

    However, for Qi Yuan, those people weren''t much different from NPCs in this world.

    The Canary looked at Qi Yuan with pitiful eyes, "Can I make a puppet to go to school instead of me?"

    "Sure." Qi Yuan extended his hand and gently held the Canary''s cold, small hand in his palm.

    When he played games and went to unfamiliar maps, Xiao Jia would accompany him.

    The Canary, after leaving Nine Plate Mountain and Liufeng Realm, only had him as a close person.

    "Great!" The Canary happily leaped up, a smile spreading across her face, "Quick, bend down, I''ll reward you with a kiss!"

    "Why don¡¯t you stand on your tiptoes?" Qi Yuan said dotingly, but he still lowered his head.

    A gentle breeze came, like a cool night wind.

    Qi Yuan picked up the Canary, and the two disappeared into the crowd.

    At the school gate, some voices could be heard.

    "Am I seeing things? I could have sworn there was a really good-looking couple just now, one of them was wearing a school uniform."

    "I saw them too and was about to take a picture, but now they''re gone."

    "Maybe you two have been indulging too much and your eyes are blurry?"

    ...

    In the Yellow Springs World, within the stronghold.

    Qi Yuan scanned the stone chamber, curiosity in his eyes.

    During these days, he had been diligently practicing, either in martial arts or immortal cultivation.

    For him, progress was quite ordinary.

    In between his practice, he also accompanied the Canary and Xiao Jia, laying on the earth as their bed, with the sky as their blanket, traveling across mountains and rivers.

    Occasionally, he would pretend to be a college student and attend university classes with the Canary.

    After all, he couldn¡¯t just let a puppet attend all the classes and earn the credits.

    Finally, after several months, the mission in the Yellow Springs World finally arrived.

    While staying in the stone chamber, Qi Yuan suddenly struck out, a flash of red and yellow light hitting the stone table.

    With this strike, Qi Yuan used the ordinary strength of a golden core.

    But even with that strike, the stone table remained completely unmoved.

    "As expected, I''m still too weak to damage this stone table," Qi Yuan noted and stopped trying, instead stepping out of his room.

    The stronghold looked the same as ever, occasionally with some humans drifting around.

    On the bamboo tower, men and women dressed in various revealing outfits swayed their bodies, teasing the passersby.

    Qi Yuan glanced over, calm and indifferent.

    Not far away, An Qiao approached, holding a tracking dog, joy evident in her expression. "I didn¡¯t expect we¡¯d be doing this mission together."

    An Qiao was naturally pleased, as missions had a high mortality rate.

    Qi Yuan, who could kill a Jade Blood Realm demon, was considered a strong presence in this stronghold.

    "This mission involves others too. Where are they?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The mission prompt indicated that this was a group mission, with over twenty participants.

    "They should be from other strongholds. We¡¯ll meet them at the mission location," An Qiao answered truthfully, then continued, "Mr. Qi, we need to stay vigilant against people from other strongholds!"

    In executing the mission, they would cooperate to complete it and earn rewards.

    But human nature is unpredictable. Besides the mission rewards, for those participating, other participants were also a prize.

    "When we enter the game, will we replace other NPCs?"

    Qi Yuan asked.

    Last time, he had replaced a gambling butcher.

    As a result, he encountered a child bride with a rare marriage saint constitution.

    "The first time you enter, you will replace someone, but later on... you¡¯ll enter as a member of the Demon Subduing Division!" An Qiao carefully explained.

    "Interesting. Does that mean the Demon Subduing Division... is an official organization that spans across multiple worlds?" Qi Yuan muttered.Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels

    "Mr. Qi, if you''re ready, shall we start the mission?" An Qiao asked.

    She wanted to complete the mission quickly.

    "Wait a moment, I¡¯m going to pick up some stuff." Qi Yuan said, squatting down to pick up some dirt, grass, and stones from the ground, placing them into his Qi and Blood Space.

    Seeing this, An Qiao looked puzzled, "Why are you picking those up?"

    "For my wife to study. She¡¯s about to be a Ph.D., she might figure out how to get in and out of here. That way, she can accompany me on missions in this world." Qi Yuan didn¡¯t hide anything.

    The stones and dirt he picked up here would be given to the Canary for research.

    Hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words, An Qiao couldn''t help but want to laugh.

    "Everyone fears the Yellow Springs World like it''s a demon, yet you want your wife to come here with you."

    "Being separated for so long, I just want to stay together," Qi Yuan said casually, picking up sticks from the ground.

    An Qiao''s eyes flashed with envy, "I hope your wife can figure out how to get in and out of the Yellow Springs World soon."

    Of course, An Qiao didn''t believe Qi Yuan¡¯s wife could figure it out.

    The Yellow Springs World was incredibly bizarre.

    For so many years, countless talented people had emerged from the Yellow Springs World, encompassing all the elites from Gongxing for over ten thousand years.

    Yet, no one could find a way in or out.

    Their entry and exit were entirely at the discretion of the Yellow Springs World.

    "Hmm." Qi Yuan nodded.

    With the Canary¡¯s abilities, and his eyes that could see hidden information, he still had some confidence in studying the Yellow Springs World.

    After about a dozen breaths, Qi Yuan had collected a lot of samples, all placed into the Qi and Blood Space.

    The Tong family, located in the center of Zhenyang City, was a well-known noble clan.

    The late Master Tong had served in the Secretariat as a Grand Secretary of the Third Rank, a high-ranking and powerful position.

    However, after Master Tong retired, his political legacy remained unused, and the north descended into chaos.

    Countless noble families and clans migrated south.

    Zhenyang City, located at a strategic position, had Mount Shu Yao to the front.

    This mountain was treacherous and unsuitable for large-scale migration.

    More importantly, Mount Shu Yao was filled with demons, and among them was a demon hero.

    This demon hero was ambitious, uniting the three thousand demons of Mount Shu Yao, forming a demon village and training demon soldiers.

    Zhenyang, Hengyang, and Qishui cities were all besieged by Mount Shu Yao.

    The grandson of the Tong family had been captured by demons from Mount Shu Yao.

    At this time, outside the Tong family estate, Qi Yuan was wearing the uniform of the Demon Subduing Division, yawning.

    Yang Guang took out a token, looked at the trembling inn servant ahead, and spoke with authority, "Where is Tong Youwei? What year did he die?"

    Entering the mission world, Yang Guang decided to start by questioning the locals about the Tong family, then proceed into the Tong estate.

    The inn servant was an old man, hunched over, barely standing at 1.5 meters. "Reporting to the officer, Master Tong Youwei died three years ago, died suddenly in the Tong family courtyard.

    It''s said he died a tragic death, his entire heart was dug out. It was said to be a demon disaster, truly a sin!"

    Mentioning demons, the inn servant''s eyes were filled with resentment, as if demons had devoured his family.

    "Heart dug out?" Yang Guang frowned.

    The inn servant continued, "Poor Master Tong and Madam Tong, they had only one heir for seven generations.

    The day Master Tong died, Madam Tong¡¯s hair turned white overnight, she aged over ten years."

    "Did the Tong family investigate what demon was responsible?" Yang Guang asked.

    "The Tong family didn¡¯t dare investigate. Even if they did, what could they do, go demand answers from Mount Shu Yao?" The inn servant shook his head, his aged face showing regret.

    Yang Guang squinted, contemplating something.

    Then Qi Yuan spoke, "Let¡¯s go, see if we can find any clues at the Tong estate."

    Yang Guang nodded.

    An Qiao, holding the tracking dog, headed towards the Tong estate as well.

    At this time, quite a few of Qi Yuan¡¯s companions had already entered the Tong estate.

    Thus, when the three of them and a dog arrived, they encountered no obstacles.

    Welcoming them was an old steward from the Tong estate.

    "The grandson was captured by demons, and the old master is worried sick, bedridden and unable to see guests. Please understand." The steward was old, moving with difficulty.

    "Where did Tong Youwei live? Take us there." Qi Yuan glanced around the Tong estate and asked casually.

    This mission involved finding Tong Tianyou and investigating the true cause of Tong Youwei''s death.

    Tong Tianyou was captured by demons; to find him, they just needed to head to Mount Shu Yao.

    But finding the truth behind Tong Youwei¡¯s death required investigation.

    "Well... after the young master passed away, his house caught fire and burned down, nothing was left." The steward replied.

    "What about his wife?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    "She died in childbirth... gave birth to the young master," the steward answered with a sigh.

    "There''s a rumor outside that Tong Youwei was killed by demons. What kind of demon?" Yang Guang inquired.

    The steward quickly shook his head, "I don''t know about that. The county magistrate also sent people to investigate but found nothing, just said it was the work of demons."

    "Where is your young master buried?" Yang Guang asked again.

    ¡°We can¡¯t inspect the body, can we?¡± The steward had a conflicted look. ¡°Several officers before you had the same thought, but you might be disappointed.

    After the young master was buried, a demon disaster occurred in the graveyard, and the young master¡¯s body... was stolen."

    ¡°What?¡± An Qiao exclaimed in surprise.

    ¡°This is very strange!¡± Yang Guang squinted, pondering.

    Tong Youwei¡¯s death was definitely not simple.

    His residence burned, and his body was stolen.

    If one coincidence was acceptable, a series of them was not. It indicated that someone was hiding something behind the scenes.

    ¡°What do you think, Brother Qi?¡± Yang Guang looked at Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Based on my years of watching TV, usually when a body is missing, it means faked death!¡± Qi Yuan replied seriously.

    That¡¯s how they always portrayed it on TV.

    There was also the trope of pushing the enemy off a cliff, stabbing through the heart... and yet the enemy survives.

    That¡¯s why when Qi Yuan killed someone, he made sure to crush the bones to dust, witnessing their death with his own eyes.

    "But the game setting says he¡¯s dead, so let¡¯s assume he is," Qi Yuan didn¡¯t want to argue with the game designers about the plot.

    Yang Guang couldn¡¯t help but smile, agreeing with Qi Yuan¡¯s assessment. He continued questioning the steward, "Did Tong Youwei have any enemies in Zhenyang City?"

    ¡°The young master was kind and never held grudges, rarely left home, and had no enemies!¡± The steward confirmed.

    Hmm, a kind-hearted shut-in.

    Indeed... no enemies.

    After all, there was no internet here for online arguments.

    ¡°What was the relationship like between Tong Youwei and your old master?¡± At this point, Qi Yuan asked suddenly.

    "The old master and madam were very fond of the young master. When he fell ill with a fever and fell unconscious, the madam personally went to Wanshan Temple to request holy water, taking one step at a time up seven hundred and sixty-two steps, finally convincing the holy monk to help heal the young master.

    This matter is well known throughout the north.

    In Zhenyang City, ask anyone, they all know our master and madam cherished the young master greatly, wishing they could bring down the sun from the sky for him." The steward said, his expression melancholic, "Since the young master passed, the old master and madam¡¯s health has worsened day by day.

    If it weren''t for the young master, they might not have survived... Sigh.

    This time, if the young master doesn''t come back, the Tong family line... will end.

    Please, officers, bring the young master back safely!"

    The steward seemed to empathize with the old master, his eyes wet with tears.

    At this moment, Yang Guang transmitted, "Is what the steward said trustworthy?"

    "Hmm... the words are true, but whether anything was omitted is another matter," Qi Yuan replied truthfully.

    The steward¡¯s nose hadn¡¯t grown when he spoke earlier, meaning he wasn¡¯t lying.

    "So, what do we do now?" Yang Guang asked.

    "Let¡¯s go see their old master." Qi Yuan replied.

    After all, as the head of the Tong family, the old master would know the most.

    And since Qi Yuan could tell if someone was lying, he wasn''t afraid of the old master deceiving him.

    Even though everyone said Tong Youwei was killed by demons, it could also be possible... that the old master was behind it.

    After all, anything was possible.

    However, just as they were about to follow the steward to the old master''s quarters, they heard a rough voice.

    ¡°You little brat, how dare you meddle in my affairs?

    We, from the Demon Subduing Division, are here to investigate the Tong family.

    A mere county magistrate wants to see me; he should come in person to invite me!¡±

    After saying this, the person kicked out, sending a young bailiff, who looked quite tender, flying.

    The young bailiff lay on the ground, clutching his stomach, his face filled with pain, but he didn¡¯t dare to say anything back.

    "This bailiff looks quite young, doesn¡¯t seem older than fourteen. For someone to hit him this hard, that¡¯s just despicable!" An Qiao couldn¡¯t help but say.

    Yang Guang also frowned, quickly rushing over to help the child-like bailiff up.

    He was still a warm-hearted person.

    Yang Guang looked at the person who had struck out, his gaze unfriendly, "Although we are on a mission, these people are still living beings!"

    The person who had struck saw Yang Guang, evidently wary of Yang Guang''s strength, and immediately bowed his head, saying, "That was my mistake!"

    In the Yellow Springs World, strength was everything.

    He didn¡¯t dare offend Yang Guang and had no problem admitting his mistake.

    At this moment, not far away, Qi Yuan looked at Yang Guang¡¯s head, with sunlight pouring down, and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°His bald head is really shiny.¡±

 Chapter 337: The Entire Cityâ€™s People, or Just One Tong Tianyou?

    Chapter 337: The Entire City¡¯s People, or Just One Tong Tianyou?

    "You there, why are you seeking the Demon Subduing Division?"

    Yang Guang casually asked the young bailiff.

    "The county magistrate wishes to meet with the officials from the south to discuss important matters," the young bailiff promptly replied.

    "We will see Lord Tong first and then meet the county magistrate," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Investigating the cause of Tong Youwei''s death and finding Tong Tianyou would require some information from the county magistrate as well.

    The young bailiff''s face lit up with joy. "I''ll wait right here for you, sirs."

    Having finally brought the Demon Subduing Division to the county magistrate, the young bailiff was thrilled.

    As the county magistrate had said, the Demon Subduing Division was the most powerful in Fengyuan, specializing in eliminating demons. They might be able to break the siege of Zhenyang City.

    Zhenyang had become an isolated city for three years.

    The people of Zhenyang had suffered from demons for a long time.

    Under the steward¡¯s lead, the group marched deep into the Tong Estate.

    The further they went, the more they encountered tall, powerful guards with strong blood auras patrolling.

    They wore soft armor, had fine swords at their waists, and carried high-quality equipment.

    "Your family¡¯s security is quite tight. How could a demon have infiltrated and killed Tong Youwei without anyone knowing?" Yang Guang asked.

    In just a short while, he had seen no fewer than fifty private guards patrolling.

    Rather than an estate, the Tong Manor resembled a large fortress, complete with a training ground.

    The steward lowered his head and replied, "I do not know, sir. There were rumors that it was an inside job from within our Tong Estate. After the death of Master Youwei, the old master was furious and purged the servants. All those suspected were beaten to death!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but remark, "This game is still too rigid. There should be a mission for us to investigate the cause of death of those beaten to death; that would add a twist."

    An Qiao quickly agreed, "Is the master¡¯s life more valuable than the servants''?"

    Yang Guang chuckled but commented in awe, "No wonder everyone wants to be a noble family; they have soldiers, food, and land. The Tong family is practically a small royal court."

    Their conversation was transmitted through sound, ensuring the steward did not hear them. Otherwise, he might have thought they were government officials sent to suppress the Tong family and could have accused them of treason. They might not be able to leave the Tong Estate without a fight.

    As a local noble family, the Tong Estate housed nearly a thousand family soldiers and over a hundred armored soldiers.

    This kind of force could not be underestimated.

    About a quarter of an hour later, after winding through the estate, they finally reached Lord Tong''s residence.

    Outside the courtyard, many maids stood with gloomy expressions.

    They seemed to be worried about the young master, who had been captured by demons.

    The steward couldn''t help but wail, "Our ancestors have served the Tong family for generations. If the young master does not return, the Tong family will fall apart. Where would we go then?"

    His sadness was not feigned.

    After all, being a family servant in a noble house like the Tong family was much better than being a peasant. It was also a position of prestige.

    "Let''s go and see your lord," Qi Yuan said.

    After about a dozen breaths, they entered an antique-style house.

    Qi Yuan and the others filed in, surveying Lord Tong, who was lying in bed.

    Lord Tong was in his sixties, frail and breathing weakly.

    A white-haired woman sat by the bed, her face tear-streaked.

    The woman, who was only in her forties, had well-maintained skin but was also covered with white hair.

    She was the same woman who had walked step-by-step up the steps to Wanshan Temple to pray for medicine for her son, Tong Youwei.

    Upon seeing them, Lord Tong opened his cloudy eyes. "My lords, you must bring my grandson back. If you do, there will be a great reward."

    Lord Tong waved his hand.

    The steward gave instructions, and after a few moments, several burly armored soldiers brought a wooden chest into the room.

    The chest was opened to reveal piles of silver, along with some jewelry and ornaments.

    An Qiao saw this and felt a mix of emotions.

    Had she not entered the Yellow Springs World, she might have been tempted by such wealth, but now she was unmoved.

    However, the wealth and private soldiers already demonstrated the strength of the Tong family.

    With such power, the eldest son¡¯s mysterious death and the young master¡¯s kidnapping suggested deep waters beneath the surface.

    Yang Guang looked at Lord Tong and softly asked, "Lord Tong, we will certainly search for Tong Tianyou. What we need to know now is... the cause of Tong Youwei¡¯s death."

    The white-haired woman¡¯s hands trembled. Hearing her son''s name, tears fell like rain: "My poor son, whom I carried for ten months... it was my fault for not protecting you."

    Lord Tong¡¯s eyes also showed a hint of sadness.

    "Youwei... was likely killed by the flower demon, Man Luo!" Hatred flashed in Lord Tong¡¯s eyes.

    Yang Guang''s eyes lit up.

    Indeed, important information had just been revealed.

    Qi Yuan stood quietly to the side, his expression amused.

    His nose hadn''t grown, indicating that Lord Tong was telling the truth; Tong Youwei had indeed died at the hands of the flower demon, Man Luo.

    "My poor grandson was also taken by the flower demon, Man Luo!" If hatred could kill, the flower demon Man Luo would have died countless times from Lord Tong''s gaze.

    Hmm, his nose didn''t grow, so it¡¯s true.

    This mission... is unexpectedly simple?

    Just ask an NPC, and they tell you the answer?

    "Did the Tong family have any enmity with the flower demon Man Luo?" Yang Guang continued.

    Investigating the truth also meant understanding the motive behind the killer''s actions.

    Hearing this, Lord Tong''s face changed slightly.

    Lady Tong, who had just stopped crying, started weeping again.

    Lord Tong¡¯s voice turned hoarse and pained.

    "I have been indulgent with Youwei my entire life. Whatever he wanted, I gave him, fearing only to disappoint him.

    He wanted the courtesan, and I got her for him. He wanted Kirin blood, and I sent people to Mount Shu Yao to hunt it.

    But when he wanted to marry a demon into the Tong family, that was the first time I got angry with him.

    We humans and demons are sworn enemies. How could I allow a demon into the family?"

    "So, this flower demon Man Luo was someone Tong Youwei loved?" An Qiao asked.

    An Qiao''s mind raced with thoughts.

    From her years of watching TV dramas, it seemed likely that the Tong family''s master had separated the couple, causing the flower demon Man Luo to hold a grudge.

    She resented Tong Youwei for changing his mind, so she dug out his heart and kidnapped his son.

    Everything suddenly made sense; it seemed simple.

    "Yes. Back then, I wouldn¡¯t allow her into our house. Youwei resented me for it, but later... he understood our concerns.

    He and Lady Yun were respectful to each other. After Lady Yun passed away, he never remarried," Lady Tong said, reminiscing about the past.

    "I wish Man Luo had taken my heart instead of Youwei¡¯s. My poor son."

    Lady Tong''s emotions were becoming agitated.

    Listening to all this, Qi Yuan''s nose didn¡¯t grow.

    This meant that Lord and Lady Tong were telling the truth.

    Tong Youwei had indeed died at the hands of the flower demon Man Luo.

    Cough, cough... At that moment, Lord Tong coughed, blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.

    Lady Tong quickly went to his side to attend to him.

    Yang Guang and the others understood it was no longer appropriate to stay.

    "Lord Tong, please take care of yourself. We will find Tong Tianyou." Yang Guang finished speaking and left with Qi Yuan and the others.

    "What do you think?" Yang Guang transmitted to them.

    "If they are telling the truth, Tong Youwei''s death is straightforward.

    All we need to do is find the flower demon Man Luo, and the truth will be revealed," An Qiao responded.

    "Alright, then let''s meet the county magistrate.

    This mission seems more challenging in terms of finding Tong Tianyou than investigating Tong Youwei''s death.

    Mount Shu Yao has three thousand demon soldiers; it looks like a tough battle ahead!" Yang Guang¡¯s fighting spirit was evident.

    ...

    On the mottled walls, traces of black blood remained, and the brick walls bore many knife marks.

    Only about a third of the soldiers on the city walls were young men.

    The remaining two-thirds were split between elderly soldiers and child soldiers.

    Hearing this, Yang Guang looked ashamed. "We cannot do that; I''m sorry."

    Once they completed their mission, they would immediately leave this world and return to their base.

    They couldn''t bring anyone back with them.

    Upon hearing this, the county magistrate froze, and his trademark smile vanished.

    The county lieutenant picked up his chopsticks and slowly resumed eating, saying as he ate, "The emissaries have important military duties. How could we hold them up?"

    The county lieutenant Old Li¡¯s voice was rather sarcastic.

    He harbored deep resentment towards the court.

    Yang Guang grew increasingly embarrassed and didn¡¯t know what to say.

    The atmosphere at the table became awkward.

    They ate in silence, with none of the earlier friendliness and familiarity.

    The county magistrate hunched over, also remained silent, as if whoever spoke first would be the one embarrassed.

    About a hundred breaths later, Qi Yuan put down his chopsticks.

    "Alright, the feast is over. Time to kill some demons!" Qi Yuan clapped his hands and stood up.

    After the feast, he had to kill some demons; otherwise, the meal would have been for nothing.

    "Emissaries... are you going to kill demons?" The county magistrate was taken aback.

    Weren''t these Demon Subduing Division members here to rescue Tong Tianyou?

    Why would they go to kill demons?

    "Yes, I¡¯ve long been interested in the demons on Mount Shu Yao and plan to hunt some.

    By the way, do you have a map of Mount Shu Yao, and can you tell me their troop deployment and strength?" Qi Yuan asked, ready to mooch off some information.

    ¡°Does the Demon Subduing Division intend to attack Mount Shu Yao?¡± the county magistrate¡¯s eyes lit up.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I intend to hunt some demons on Mount Shu Yao,¡± Qi Yuan said softly.

    Yang Guang added from the side, ¡°Brother Qi wants to hunt some demons to extract their demon blood and enhance his strength.¡±

    Hearing this, the county magistrate¡¯s hope was dashed once again.

    To extract demon blood to enhance strength meant they wouldn¡¯t kill many demons.

    It seemed the court really had no intention of dealing with Zhenyang City.

    However, regardless, the emissaries going to hunt demons, killing one was one less demon, which was still beneficial to Zhenyang City.

    The county magistrate was willing to help.

    ¡°Bring the map of Mount Shu Yao!¡±

    Soon, the excessively young bailiff brought the map to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan took the map and said, "Thank you. As a reward, after killing the demons, the bodies will be yours for food.

    Do you want to send some people with me to carry the demon corpses?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Hou Mushi, didn¡¯t you always want to see Mount Shu Yao?

    Here¡¯s your chance, take some people and go with the emissaries,¡± the county lieutenant instructed.

    The young bailiff, named Hou Mushi, was delighted and immediately bowed, "Thank you, emissaries."

    This Hou Mushi was the young bailiff they had met at the Tong Estate earlier.

    He looked to be only about twelve or thirteen years old, making him a child soldier.

    ¡°Your name is Hou Mushi?¡± Qi Yuan asked with a curious look.

    Hou Mushi was puzzled. "Has the lord heard of me?"

    ¡°I have heard of another Hou Mushi with the same name, but he was a great general.¡± Qi Yuan recalled a piece of history he learned recently while pretending to be a student with Ning Tao.

    In history, there was indeed a famous general named Hou Mushi.

    This general had an extraordinary experience, learning martial arts and military tactics from a divine figure in his dreams when he was young.

    Hou Mushi became a leader of displaced people, commanding an army of over 100,000 elite soldiers at the height of his power.

    He ended a period of turmoil.

    His achievements were comparable to those of Guo Ziyi of the Tang Dynasty on Blue Star.

    However, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t think much of it.

    In games, it¡¯s normal to refer to real-life figures for the setting.

    This Hou Mushi''s prototype might just be the real Hou Mushi.

    ¡°Gather the people, let''s go, time to hunt demons!¡± Qi Yuan said.

    After a good meal, it was time to hunt some "white moonlight" demons.

    ¡°Understood!¡± Hou Mushi straightened his back, looking excited.

    Qi Yuan asked, ¡°Does the county magistrate know where the flower demon Man Luo is now?¡±

    "I have heard of this demon. It is rumored that the trouble in the Tong Estate was caused by the flower demon Man Luo.

    This demon should be on Mount Shu Yao. As for its specific location, I do not know.

    If the emissaries are in a hurry to find this demon, you could visit the abbot of Wanshan Temple.

    This demon lived in Wanshan Temple before it transformed and has a close relationship with the abbot. He may know its whereabouts."

    ¡°Oh, Wanshan Temple?¡± Qi Yuan opened the map and immediately saw Wanshan Temple.

    He wondered, ¡°Wanshan Temple is right on Mount Shu Yao. Why has the demon army left this temple alone?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, because the strategist of Mount Shu Yao is a disciple of the abbot of Wanshan Temple!¡± The county lieutenant''s tone was harsh when he mentioned this.

    He had a deep-seated hatred for the strategist of Mount Shu Yao.

    ¡°This setting is complicated. It seems the abbot of Wanshan Temple... is also a key mission character,¡± Qi Yuan remarked casually.

    With his many years of gaming experience, Qi Yuan was certain the abbot of Wanshan Temple was important.

    Yang Guang nodded, agreeing with Qi Yuan¡¯s observation.

    The county magistrate and the county lieutenant were confused, not quite understanding Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    "Let''s go. First to Wanshan Temple, then to hunt demons." Qi Yuan stood up.

    Yang Guang, serving as a temporary bodyguard, quickly followed.

    An Qiao did the same.

    Soon, the only ones left in the room were the county magistrate and the county lieutenant.

    ¡°Clean this up, and bring this delicious food to the soldiers on the city wall.

    They haven¡¯t had a taste of meat for quite some time,¡± the county magistrate instructed, hunching over as he looked at the warm food on the table, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

    His meals hadn¡¯t been this good in a long time; it was only this lavish thanks to the emissaries of the Demon Subduing Division.

    "These people from the Demon Subduing Division... they are likely here to take away the Tong family.

    Can we... keep the Tong family¡¯s grain and livestock?" The county lieutenant stroked his beard, his expression unreadable.

    If the Tong family were taken away by the Demon Subduing Division, the city¡¯s power would diminish.

    Zhenyang City... really had no hope left.

    "Sigh." The county magistrate sighed. "It is indeed good to be a noble family."

    Zhenyang City was in crisis, and the county magistrate often went to the Tong family manor for help.

    Unfortunately, Lord Tong showed no interest in defending Zhenyang City.

    He neither sent troops nor provided food.

    As county magistrate, he had no way of dealing with Lord Tong.

    Firstly, Lord Tong was a noble with a thousand private soldiers and a fortress built within the estate.

    In terms of power, it was even stronger than Zhenyang City.

    Secondly, Lord Tong held an official position and was known for his extreme filial piety. Fengyuan was a state governed by filial piety, and to be known as a household of utmost filial piety was a great honor, almost like an amnesty.

    Thirdly, Lord Tong had connections in the court. If the county magistrate offended him too much, his legitimacy as a county magistrate could be called into question.

    The latter two points didn¡¯t bother the county magistrate much.

    But the first point he couldn¡¯t ignore.

    He was very envious of the Tong family''s private soldiers. If they could help defend... Zhenyang City would be much better off.

    Unfortunately...

 Chapter 338: Is This Really How You Cultivate?

    Chapter 338: Is This Really How You Cultivate?

    Wangshan Temple.

    The mountain stood tall and serene, with the ancient temple perched on its peak, hidden amidst the clouds.

    Occasionally, the sound of a distant bell echoed, creating a sense of a paradise on earth.

    However, to the people of Zhenyang City, while it would have been appropriate to call Wangshan Temple a paradise three years ago, it wasn''t the case anymore.

    Now, the stone steps leading up to the temple were covered in blood, and every step was marked by bones.

    Many who could no longer survive in Zhenyang City fled towards Wangshan Temple, only to be hunted and killed by demons on the steps.

    Within the ancient temple, weeds grew everywhere, and thorns were scattered all around.U//ppTodated fr/o/m

    An old monk sat motionless in front of a Buddha statue, his eyes closed, chanting sutras.

    Tap, tap.

    Footsteps echoed, sounding particularly loud in the great hall.

    The abbot of Wangshan Temple, eyes still closed, paused his chanting, "What brings you here, honored guest?"

    Even without opening his eyes, just by listening to the footsteps, he could tell that the owner of these steps was neither one of his disciples nor a demon.

    "I''m Qi Yuan from the Demon Subduing Division, here to inquire about something."

    Qi Yuan looked calmly at the abbot of Wangshan Temple.

    The abbot appeared to be paralyzed in his legs, his cultivation level reaching the peak of Qi and Blood.

    Qi Yuan estimated that if it weren''t for his leg problems, this abbot would likely have already reached the Jade Blood stage.

    "What might this benefactor be here for?" The abbot remained calm and showed no fear despite Qi Yuan''s affiliation with the Demon Subduing Division.

    "The flower demon Man Luo¡ªI want to know her whereabouts." Qi Yuan didn''t waste any time.

    The previously calm abbot''s face showed a hint of pain upon hearing this name.

    "She... is in the Fenghua Cave." The abbot did not hide anything.

    "Your heartbeat tells me you''re not lying, but... this statement is a lie." Qi Yuan studied the abbot.

    With his level of cultivation, he could tell if an ordinary person was lying without using his ability to detect nose lengthening.

    The abbot''s heartbeat remained steady, and his micro-expressions suggested he was telling the truth.

    But his nose had grown longer.

    The abbot looked at Qi Yuan in surprise, "Benefactor... you are quite unique."

    "Whether I¡¯m unique or not is irrelevant. Tell me the correct answer." Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t in the mood for games.

    He was eager to hunt demons.

    "The one you are looking for is in Fenghua Cave," the abbot replied again.

    This time, Qi Yuan''s nose didn''t grow longer.

    A look of interest appeared on Qi Yuan¡¯s face. "Interesting, this time it¡¯s true.

    The flower demon Man Luo being in Fenghua Cave is a lie, but the person I¡¯m looking for is indeed there.

    Doesn¡¯t this mean... oh, I need to use my brain here.

    I¡¯d better stop thinking and just go with it."

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother thinking further.

    This mission seemed complicated, but if he really wanted to complete it, it wasn''t difficult.

    If he could just search the souls of all the enemies, wouldn¡¯t the truth come to light?

    That would be much faster and more accurate than blindly guessing.

    At this moment, the abbot said, "If the benefactor has come to eliminate the demon, please spare her life.

    She... has had a pitiful life and only killed those who deserved to die."

    The abbot¡¯s voice carried deep helplessness.

    According to the county magistrate, the flower demon Man Luo was raised by the abbot of Wangshan Temple himself, almost like his own daughter.

    "Thanks for the information; I¡¯ve noted it." Qi Yuan nodded.

    He was still polite.

    Even though he was just here to get some information, saying thank you was always good manners.

    After saying this, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure disappeared.

    In the vast hall, only the abbot of Wangshan Temple remained.

    He looked at the hall, seemingly seeing again the young boy and girl kissing beneath the Buddha statue.

    He also seemed to see the tearful cries of Old Master Tong and Madam Tong.

    Humans and demons walk different paths.

    "A father who loves his son will plan deeply for him," the abbot muttered to himself.

    Mount Shu Yao, known for its steep mountains and cliffs.

    At this moment, led by Hou Mushi, a group of people made their way through a narrow mountain path.

    The road was overgrown with thorns and brambles, making the journey treacherous.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan stopped in his tracks, "Bodyguard, it¡¯s your turn to act."

    Ahead, in a cave, two demons were clearly asleep.

    These demons were scattered demons.

    Hou Mushi, leading the group to exterminate demons, naturally targeted the scattered ones.

    Otherwise, if they accidentally intruded into a demon camp within Mount Shu Yao, no matter how brave they were, they wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it.

    Yang Guang¡¯s voice was robust, "Brother, you stay here and enjoy your melon, I¡¯ll be right back!"

    Having promised to protect Qi Yuan, Yang Guang was determined to keep his word.

    After all, as long as he provided Qi Yuan with enough demon blood, he could obtain the entry pass to the Genius Alliance.

    A great deal indeed.

    "Make it quick," Qi Yuan said, sitting down on a large rock and eating a watermelon.

    This watermelon had been stolen from a melon field¡ªno, picked up from there.

    According to their estimates, this watermelon had been planted by demons on Mount Shu Yao.

    Since they passed by, they might as well confiscate it.

    The only pity was that they hadn¡¯t found the owner of the watermelons; otherwise, they could have earned more demon blood.

    The Yang God of Taihuang Palace couldn¡¯t perceive anything here.

    Otherwise, a bolt of lightning might immediately descend from the sky and strike Yang Guang dead.

    Still, Qi Yuan was curious.

    If the Yang God from Taihuang Palace did come down, and Yang Guang tried to protect him by fighting the Yang God, what would the result be?

    Seeing Yang Guang so confident, he must have some hidden cards up his sleeve, right?

    ¡°A gentleman is true to his word!¡± Yang Guang proclaimed, thumping his chest again.

    ¡°Brother Yang, how about this? After this game, why don¡¯t you come home with me? If that old ancestor from Taihuang Palace descends, you can help shield me,¡± Qi Yuan suggested tentatively.

    Although Yang Guang was only at the mid-stage of Jade Blood, who knew¡ªmaybe he had the cultivation of a Grand Supreme Dao Ancestor hidden within him?

    That wouldn¡¯t be so surprising, would it?

    For instance, a small ant that eats a grain of rice today might have swallowed a dinosaur yesterday.

    It makes perfect sense.

    ¡°No problem, consider it done!¡± Yang Guang agreed without hesitation.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, hunt the serpent demon!¡± Qi Yuan ordered.

    Yang Guang¡¯s eyes gleamed with pride. ¡°Brother Qi, you just keep eating your melon. Leave the demon-slaying to me!¡±

    About half an hour later, they arrived in a forest.

    Yang Guang was true to his word; he said he¡¯d go alone, so he went alone.

    Qi Yuan and the others stayed in the forest, waiting for Yang Guang to return after killing the demon.

    Qi Yuan sat on a stump, a foul stench in the air.

    ¡°The smell here is too strong; I¡¯ve lost my appetite for watermelon. I might as well... cultivate.¡±

    Having just obtained 100 drops of demon blood, it was definitely time to cultivate.

    An Qiao watched Qi Yuan, eyes filled with admiration. ¡°Mr. Qi, no wonder you reached the Jade Blood stage at such a young age. Your diligence is truly remarkable.¡±

    Hou Mushi looked equally impressed.

    An Qiao continued observing Qi Yuan, who closed his eyes and seemed to genuinely begin cultivating.

    Then, an unusual voice came from Qi Yuan¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°You have consumed 100 drops of demon blood and begun cultivating.

    Cultivation is a path that values diligence.

    50 drops of demon blood consumed; your cultivation has increased by fifty days, moving far along the early Jade Blood stage.

    50 more drops consumed; your cultivation has increased by another fifty days.

    Thanks to your strong early foundation, you are now just a step away from the mid-stage of Jade Blood.¡±

    ¡°??¡± An Qiao was perplexed.

    ¡°??¡± Hou Mushi was baffled.

    Qi Yuan opened his eyes, looking quite refreshed.

    ¡°Not bad, this cultivation session was worth it. I¡¯m almost at the mid-stage of Jade Blood now.¡±

    Beside him, An Qiao looked at Qi Yuan with a peculiar expression.

    Is this... really cultivation?

    Does cultivation come with sound effects now?

    ¡°Mr. Qi... do you always cultivate like this?¡± An Qiao couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    ¡°Yes, this method is quicker. Using demon blood... it''s quite fast,¡± Qi Yuan replied frankly, not hiding anything.

    An Qiao couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.

    She, too, had consumed demon blood for cultivation.

    But she never did it like Qi Yuan.

    It took her at least a day to refine a single drop of demon blood, converting it into qi and blood.

    As for Qi Yuan... he just gave a self-narration, pretending to be some kind of system from TV shows and anime, and then boom¡ªcultivation done?

    This is simply a tall tale!

    How could any serious martial artist cultivate like this?

    ¡°Mr. Qi, you can¡¯t consume demon blood recklessly. Otherwise... you might go mad and end up exploding!¡± An Qiao cautioned.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can add points. I¡¯m not afraid,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    An Qiao looked at Qi Yuan with suspicion.

    Has he already gone mad?

    His mental state... seems quite abnormal.

    Just then, a heavy stench filled the air again. Yang Guang reappeared, his bald head slightly bruised, but he looked pleased.

    ¡°Brother Qi, this time the haul is great. There were actually two early-stage Jade Blood serpents in the serpent¡¯s den, and I killed them both.

    The demon blood from these two serpents should be enough for you, right?¡± Yang Guang said, breathing heavily.

    Clearly, hunting these two early-stage Jade Blood serpents had taken some effort.

    But the gain was substantial.

    The demon blood from these two early-stage Jade Blood serpents was definitely enough for Qi Yuan¡¯s needs.

    ¡°Not bad, that¡¯s 400 drops of demon blood,¡± Qi Yuan said, waving his hand, and 400 drops of demon blood appeared in his palm.

    These 400 drops of demon blood were enough for him to step into the mid-stage of Jade Blood.

    He was growing fonder of Mount Shu Yao by the moment.

    Especially with a free fighter to help him.

    He wondered if he should have Yang Guang help him wipe out all three thousand demon soldiers on Mount Shu Yao.

    After all, Yang Guang was confident enough to challenge the Yang God of Taihuang Palace; wouldn¡¯t sweeping away Mount Shu Yao¡¯s demons be like blowing off some dust?

    ¡°However, this demon blood isn¡¯t enough. I consume it very quickly in cultivation; you can ask An Qiao.

    I swallowed up a hundred drops in one go just now,¡± Qi Yuan said expectantly to Yang Guang. ¡°How about you go kill some more?¡±

    ¡°Not enough?¡± Yang Guang¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 339: Youâ€™re Sick, Youâ€™ve Got Kidney Deficiency

    Chapter 339: You¡¯re Sick, You¡¯ve Got Kidney Deficiency

    Yang Guang''s expression changed multiple times.

    "Brother Qi, the demon blood from two early-stage Jade Blood realm demons... should be enough, right?"

    He had a bad feeling.

    Could it be that appearances are deceiving?

    Was Qi Yuan deliberately making things difficult for him because he didn''t actually want to give him the entry token for the Genius Alliance?

    "Not enough," Qi Yuan shook his head. He held 200 drops of demon blood and said softly, "The old ancestor of Taihuang Palace is too strong. I need to quickly increase my strength.

    Hmm... let me show you now... how I absorb demon blood."

    With Qi Yuan''s words, 400 drops of demon blood floated into the air and were absorbed into his palms and pores.

    An Qiao widened her eyes. Last time, she hadn¡¯t paid close attention when Qi Yuan was cultivating.

    This time... she had to take a good look to see if Qi Yuan was really using demon blood for cultivation.

    She carefully watched Qi Yuan, not missing a single detail.

    "He really did absorb it!" Upon seeing Qi Yuan''s actions clearly, An Qiao''s pupils constricted, and her eyes were filled with shock.

    Yang Guang froze, his mind going blank.

    "Brother Qi, if you do that... you will explode and die!"

    He urgently reminded him.

    Absorbing a large amount of demon blood in a short time, the human body would not withstand it and could explode.

    He felt both anxious and guilty.

    He thought Qi Yuan might have been provoked by his words and thus absorbed 400 drops of demon blood all at once.

    But the next moment, an inexplicable voice sounded, and Yang Guang was stunned, staring blankly at Qi Yuan.

    "You consumed 400 drops of demon blood and began cultivating.

    100 drops of demon blood have been consumed. You gained a hundred days'' worth of cultivation. Your qi and blood are abundant, reaching the peak of the early stage of the Jade Blood realm."

    "After consuming 300 drops of demon blood, you tried to advance directly to the late stage of the Jade Blood realm in one go.

    However, even though you are exceptionally talented and intelligent, the demon blood fell short, being somewhat nutritionally deficient. Your attempt failed, but you gained 300 days of cultivation."

    After the voice finished, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, his expression filled with joy.

    This time, pretending to be a system again brought new rewards. It seemed to know how to please its host better.

    "See, I absorbed all 400 drops of demon blood, and I''ve already reached the mid-stage of the Jade Blood realm," Qi Yuan said, looking at Yang Guang, extending his hand. "So, I still need more demon blood. Bodyguard... you know what to do."

    Yang Guang was at a loss, his mind in turmoil.

    What he saw in front of him was beyond his comprehension.

    Could it be... Qi Yuan had some special talent?

    Could he eat a lot and absorb it quickly?

    That was the only explanation.

    Yang Guang convinced himself and then looked at Qi Yuan, asking with difficulty, "How much more demon blood do you need?"

    "Not much more. As long as the demon blood allows me to improve enough to defeat my great enemy, I''ll stop killing," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Due to the innate seed, the power-up in this world would almost completely reflect on his real body.

    So improving here was equivalent to his strength in the Canglan Realm also getting stronger.

    "Brother Yang, could it be you''re not up to it anymore?" Seeing Yang Guang hesitating, Qi Yuan continued, "If you''re struggling, this time, you don''t have to face the demons alone. I can join you."

    "No need, I''m fine!" Yang Guang replied loudly.

    Even if Qi Yuan could absorb a lot, there had to be a limit.

    Moreover, his enemy, the old ancestor of Taihuang Palace, was probably just at the mid-stage of the Jade Blood realm.

    Killing one or two more mid-stage Jade Blood demons should be enough.

    No worries, just hold on a little longer.

    He was, after all, at the peak of the mid-stage Jade Blood realm and could even rival Zhou Yuan.

    Seeing Yang Guang so brimming with confidence, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but praise, "This bodyguard was worth every penny!"

    "Hmph, I certainly won''t let Brother Qi suffer a loss.

    In this mission, whenever we encounter demons, I will slay them for Brother Qi and extract their demon blood. I will ensure Brother Qi returns fully rewarded!"

    Yang Guang, insisting on saving face even at his own expense, figured he had started, so he might as well finish strong.

    Hearing Yang Guang''s words, Qi Yuan was very pleased.

    Hou Mushi was also happy.

    After all, the corpses of the demons could be used as food.

    Next, the accompanying guards carried the demon corpses back to Zhenyang City.

    Only Hou Mushi remained in the mountains, guiding Qi Yuan and the others.

    In the next half-day, they visited three more rogue demon territories.

    Yang Guang killed three late-stage Qi and Blood realm demons, two early-stage Jade Blood realm demons, and even one mid-stage Jade Blood realm demon.

    At this point, he looked vastly different from the confident figure who first entered the mountains. He was now injured, his blood martial energy depleted, and appeared quite miserable.

    Seeing Yang Guang carrying the demon corpses back, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but give a thumbs up: "So strong, I can''t even see your limits.

    This time, when you staggered off to hunt the demons, I thought you would ask me to join you, but to my surprise... you came back.

    I almost want to sing you ''Lonely Warrior,'' but alas, I''m too old to remember the lyrics."

    "Ugh..." Yang Guang panted heavily, looking at Qi Yuan with a resentful expression.

    What Qi Yuan said was exactly what he wanted to say.

    He wanted to ask Qi Yuan... what''s your limit?

    With so much demon blood, and yet... you still want more?

    But, having committed to his words and trying to maintain his facade, he had to see it through with gritted teeth.

    "Here, have some watermelon, take a break." Qi Yuan tossed a watermelon, and Yang Guang caught it.

    He took the watermelon and ate it slowly.

    The watermelon, which he had initially found tasteless, now seemed incredibly delicious.

    However, a cold, stern voice sounded.

    "The moment I picked up this stick, it was destined that tonight... would be anything but peaceful."

    Kill!

    In that instant, Qi Yuan''s blood martial energy boiled, and he leapt forward like a giant bird, rushing toward the dozen demons.

    Although his cultivation was downgraded by one level in this world, similar to how a pre-True Meaning realm Sun God would be affected when entering other worlds, he was now in the Golden Core stage.

    However... in Qin Yuan Country, with the assistance of the Canary, Qi Yuan''s cultivation had soared.

    After all, if the spiritual energy wasn''t enough, what would he do?

    He would ask the Canary for a kiss, transfer some spiritual energy, and maybe engage in dual cultivation.

    His cultivation level rose quickly.

    In the current world, he was already at the peak of the Golden Core stage.

    He was just one step away from the Nascent Soul stage.

    In the game, his strength was also at the late Jade Blood realm level.

    Even without using his martial prowess, relying solely on his cultivation strength, he could easily slaughter these demons.

    A ray of light flashed from the wooden stick.

    "Enlarge!"

    With Qi Yuan''s command, the wooden stick in his hand shone as if coated with golden light, transforming into something akin to the Golden Cudgel.

    "Die!"

    Qi Yuan wielded the wooden stick, looking majestic as he swept it through the air.

    The enormous stick seemed to weigh a hundred thousand pounds.

    The gust it generated uprooted nearby trees and sent them flying.

    The mighty wind roared like a whispering god.

    A powerful wind barrier formed, trapping the dozen demons inside, rendering them immobile.

    "What is this?"

    The leading dog demon''s face was filled with shock and fear.

    The other demons felt the same; the sight before them had completely stunned them.

    Unfortunately, they didn''t have much time to be surprised.

    The enormous stick directly slammed into their bodies.

    Even when they revealed their true forms, they stood no chance against this attack.

    Like the Golden Cudgel, the stick smashed down, instantly turning them into a bloody pulp.

    Instant kill!

    Annihilation in a single strike!

    Not far away, Hou Mushi''s eyes widened, filled with admiration.

    An Qiao''s eyes were wide with amazement.

    Last time... Qi Yuan wasn''t this strong, was he?

    Yang Guang, however, was filled with shock and suspicion.

    No way, brother. You''re this powerful¡ªyou can easily kill me¡ªyet you asked me to be your bodyguard?

    What kind of trick is this?

    And... is this even martial arts?

    What Qi Yuan used didn''t seem to be martial arts.

    Instead, it looked like... the legendary immortal arts.

    But... wasn''t it said that using immortal arts in this world would lower one''s level by a tier?

    Then just how strong was Qi Yuan''s real body?

    His mind was shaken, and he didn''t dare think further.

    Meanwhile, several hundred drops of demon blood arrived, and Qi Yuan''s expression remained calm.

    As if he had just squashed a few ants.

    "It''s still better to crush them to a pulp¡ªno need to bury them, and they can even fertilize the soil."

    The wooden stick in his hand returned to its original state, and Qi Yuan spoke lightly.

    Yang Guang''s smile was awkward.

    He felt like he had been a bit of a fool earlier.

    With Qi Yuan''s strength, does he even need protection?

    Zhou Yuan probably couldn''t even withstand a single blow from him.

    "Brother Qi, you''ve been hiding the truth from me. Your strength... surpasses mine.

    Me protecting you... is simply a joke," Yang Guang sighed.

    He felt that he could forget about the Genius Alliance token.

    "Indeed, I have lowered my guard and shown part of my strength to you. Shouldn''t you also drop your facade with me?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Huh?" Yang Guang blinked, not understanding Qi Yuan''s meaning. "What have I been hiding?"

    "Didn''t you claim you could challenge my great enemy, the old ancestor of Taihuang Palace?" Qi Yuan asked seriously.

    "..." Yang Guang put on a pitiful look, "I thought... he was weak. Since he can be your opponent, there''s no way I''m his match!"

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan looked at Yang Guang, his expression calm. After a few moments, he said, "You weren''t lying; your bloodline origin indeed pales in comparison to his."

    Yang Guang looked puzzled, not quite understanding what Qi Yuan meant.

    What did this have to do with his bloodline origin?

    However, saying his bloodline origin was weak was something he couldn''t agree with.

    Although Qi Yuan practiced immortal arts and his real-world cultivation was high, making him a big shot, Yang Guang''s bloodline origin was a force to be reckoned with.

    Of course, he didn''t dare say this out loud.

    After all, Qi Yuan''s actions were quite unpredictable.

 Chapter 340: Liang Jingru Gave Me the Courage

    Chapter 340: Liang Jingru Gave Me the Courage

    Yang Guang had no way to argue back and looked at Qi Yuan, saying, ¡°So now... the demon blood should be enough, right? Shouldn''t we retreat from Mount Shu Yao?¡±

    ¡°Not enough, far from enough,¡± Qi Yuan shook his head.

    ¡°This amount of demon blood isn¡¯t nearly enough for me to defeat my great enemy. While there¡¯s plenty of demon blood here, I have to take advantage of it!¡±

    Yang Guang was completely at a loss for words.

    An Qiao also remained silent, finally asking, ¡°Mr. Qi, are you planning to stay here and engage in guerrilla warfare to obtain more demon blood?¡±

    ¡°Something like that,¡± Qi Yuan nodded.

    Naturally, he wasn¡¯t planning guerrilla warfare but rather a direct sweep.

    ¡°Well...¡± An Qiao hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Maybe we should leave first. Otherwise, staying here would just... hold you back, Mr. Qi.¡±

    An Qiao was speaking the truth.

    With her late Qi and Blood realm strength, encountering a Jade Blood realm demon would be the end for her.

    If Qi Yuan was going to engage in guerrilla tactics, her presence would likely lower Qi Yuan''s efficiency.

    ¡°What you¡¯re saying makes sense,¡± Qi Yuan nodded. Then he glanced at the three people present, focusing on Yang Guang. ¡°Can you still kill a hundred Jade Blood realm demons?¡±

    O... one hundred?

    Yang Guang''s expression looked more miserable than crying.

    A hundred Jade Blood realm demons would overwhelm him.

    ¡°I... can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°It seems your kidney deficiency is still quite severe. Go back with An Qiao and the others.¡± Qi Yuan looked at him with disdain.

    Who could understand the irony? Hiring a bodyguard who seemed sturdy and strong, but it turns out he''s suffering from kidney deficiency.

    ¡°Cough, cough...¡± Yang Guang was at a loss for words.

    An Qiao looked at Qi Yuan and said seriously, ¡°Mr. Qi, please prioritize your own safety. If things become untenable, please retreat promptly!¡±

    However, at this moment, an unexpected childish voice spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qi, while you¡¯re here slaying demons in Mount Shu Yao, you might need someone to take care of you. I, Hou Mushi, am willing to stay and look after your daily needs!¡±

    Hou Mushi¡¯s young face showed a resolute determination, as if he had been grappling with this decision for some time.

    An Qiao and Yang Guang looked at Hou Mushi in surprise, seemingly astonished by his courage.

    Qi Yuan, on the other hand, remained calm. ¡°I have high standards for food. Three dishes and one soup, can you manage that?¡±

    ¡°...¡± Yang Guang.

    ¡°I can!¡± Hou Mushi¡¯s face lit up with excitement.

    Seeing this, An Qiao didn¡¯t say anything more.

    Initially, she wanted to remind Hou Mushi that staying on Mount Shu Yao could mean certain death.

    She also couldn¡¯t understand why Qi Yuan would want to bring along a burden.

    Of course, she really couldn¡¯t comprehend Qi Yuan¡¯s thinking.

    Sometimes, even Qi Yuan himself couldn¡¯t understand his own thoughts.

    A quarter of an hour later.

    An Qiao and Yang Guang''s figures vanished.

    Inside the mountain cave, only Qi Yuan and Hou Mushi remained.

    Looking at the dark night outside, Hou Mushi, if he said he wasn¡¯t afraid, would be lying.

    However, he still clutched his knife tightly, standing guard at the entrance of the cave.

    Since the southward migration began, the nearby cities have faced dire circumstances.

    Almost all the young men of Zhenyang City had died in battle.

    Currently, a third of those guarding the city walls were child soldiers, and another third were elderly soldiers with white hair.

    The elderly couldn¡¯t enjoy their twilight years, and the children couldn¡¯t grow up.

    This was the reality of Zhenyang City.

    However, compared to other cities that had fallen to demon territories, Zhenyang City was relatively fortunate.

    Unlike the local hordes of demons who, upon seeing a city, would swarm over, massacre the inhabitants, and turn the bodies into rations, the leader of Mount Shu Yao seemed to have a bit more ¡°vision.¡±

    Rumor had it that, following the military advisor¡¯s suggestion, they laid siege to Zhenyang City, treating the people inside like livestock.

    This way, when they wanted to eat meat, they would send demon soldiers to snatch people.

    To them, the human jerky from Zhenyang City was an endless supply.

    Unlike other demon territories that exhausted their resources by fishing with a net, leaving nothing behind.

    When other demon territories lacked population and human snacks, they would still capture people from Zhenyang City to sell to other demon territories in exchange for resources.

    In other words, Zhenyang City was like a livestock farm and treasure trove for Mount Shu Yao.

    Hou Mushi held his knife, occasionally glancing into the cave.

    Inside the cave, he could hear Qi Yuan making strange noises as if pretending to be a robot.

    Hou Mushi had many thoughts in his mind.

    ¡°If only I could keep consuming demon blood like that...¡±

    Of course, he was just thinking.

    Just then, a noise came from the cave, and Qi Yuan got up and walked out. He looked at Hou Mushi with a regretful expression. ¡°What a pity, you don¡¯t know how to play the suona. Otherwise...¡±

    Qi Yuan thought of the times in the Canglan and Fanxin Realms.

    Whenever he went to battle, he always had a suona band accompanying him.

    When the suona sounded, there were no corpses left.

    ¡°Ah?¡± Hou Mushi was momentarily stunned, then said, ¡°Sir, if you mean the suona, I can play it. My grandfather used to perform funeral services.¡±

    Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    ¡°It seems fate has guided you to stay here.¡±

    With a wave of his hand, a suona appeared.

    Of course, this suona wasn¡¯t something Qi Yuan carried around but was conjured through his magic.

    ¡°I have a task for you. Whenever I¡¯m slaying demons, stand by and play the suona... understand?¡±

    Who would dare approach this place? Were they looking to die?

    However, before they could react, a thunderous voice echoed through the valley.

    ¡°No need to trouble yourselves to find me. I came directly... Am I thoughtful or what? Aren¡¯t you touched? If you¡¯re touched, why not... give me your demon blood?¡±

    The voice arrived just as the person did.

    A hundred meters away, a man in a blood-red robe appeared calm, holding a long, straight wooden stick.

    That stick seemed to be stained with blood, appearing eerie.

    ¡°It¡¯s you, Qi Yuan!¡± Zhou Yuan looked strange, not expecting Qi Yuan to appear here.

    The peacock¡¯s eyes filled with shock and anger. ¡°Who gave you the courage to come here?¡±

    Despite her words, a deep sense of apprehension lay hidden in her eyes.

    Something unusual was definitely afoot.

    ¡°Liang Jingru gave it to me,¡± Qi Yuan said, holding his stick calmly.

    ¡°Who is that?¡± The peacock immediately looked around, as if trying to find that person.

    The other demons also looked around cautiously.

    ¡°No sense of humor at all. It seems I need to merge with you and modify you a bit,¡± Qi Yuan said, stepping forward.

    The wind blew, making his blood-red robe flutter.

    Seeing this, Hou Mushi was both excited and shocked.

    These days, he had followed Qi Yuan around, hunting demons.

    Qi Yuan seemed like an invincible war god, killing gods when they blocked his path and killing Buddhas when they stood in his way.

    Demons that the people of Zhenyang City feared like scorpions were as fragile as paper in Qi Yuan¡¯s hands.

    Now, Qi Yuan was directly attacking a stronghold, and Hou Mushi had followed him without hesitation.

    ¡°A mere Jade Blood cultivator dares to be so arrogant? Monkey General, take him down!¡± The peacock shouted.

    A monkey demon reluctantly stepped forward.

    This monkey demon was short but very stout and nimble.

    It was also one of the Twelve Demon Generals of Mount Shu Yao.

    Normally, it wouldn¡¯t fear a fight.

    But now, with Qi Yuan actively attacking alone, it seemed suspicious.

    Still, it charged forward.

    ¡°Your life is mine!¡±

    With a roar, the monkey demon¡¯s body swelled, its skin color changing, and it became a terrifying blue-faced demon with fangs.

    ¡°Is this fate?¡± Qi Yuan held his stick, looking at the monkey demon.

    Then, his figure flickered.

    Heaven-Slashing Sword Technique!

    A mighty sword strike¡ªno, more accurately, a stick strike¡ªdescended from the sky.

    The strike was too fast, too fierce.

    A single strike carried the aura of an unparalleled sword.

    The powerful monkey demon had no chance to resist under this strike.

    It was crushed to death with one blow.

    One blow to kill one of the Twelve Demon Generals, gaining five hundred drops of demon blood.

    Qi Yuan smiled, ¡°All of you, come at once. I¡¯m in a hurry.¡±

    Seeing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s strength was beyond his expectations.

    Originally, he thought he could overpower Qi Yuan.

    But now, it seemed he was far from Qi Yuan¡¯s match.

    In fact, within ten moves, he would surely lose!

    He felt fortunate he hadn¡¯t gone looking for Qi Yuan alone but had chosen to cooperate with the demons.

    At this point, the peacock felt relieved. ¡°So that¡¯s your trump card? Being at the peak of the Jade Blood realm is indeed strong, but unfortunately... you¡¯re still not qualified to be arrogant!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s attack was terrifying, instantly killing the monkey demon.

    But it also exposed his strength.

    The peacock had figured out Qi Yuan¡¯s power level.

    At her command, the three hundred demon soldiers at the stronghold stepped forward.

    These demon soldiers, in various forms, wore different leather armors and wielded weapons, coming together to form an intimidating force.

    If such a force, led by the peacock, were to attack Zhenyang City...

    Zhenyang City wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.

    Hou Mushi, not far away, felt a surge of fear in his heart.

    But Qi Yuan, in his blood-red robe, showed no fear.

    ¡°Only three hundred demon soldiers? A small scene.

    Strike up the music!¡±

    How many enemies had he killed in the previous worlds?

    Countless.

    He had faced three thousand enemies of the same level simultaneously.

    What did a mere three hundred demon soldiers amount to?

    He grinned, his eyes filled with a chilling smile.

    ¡°Kill, kill, and destroy everything in sight!¡±

    Qi Yuan, holding his stick, charged into the demon horde like a demon god.

    At that moment, the shrill and mournful sound of the suona began to play.

 Chapter 341: Kill, Kill, Kill!

    Chapter 341: Kill, Kill, Kill!

    "Kill!"

    "Mere humans, our food, dare to act so brazenly!"

    More than three hundred demon soldiers charged forward.

    What greeted them was a fierce strike.

    Dominant power!

    Heaven-Slashing Sword Technique!

    Death Radiance!

    With three major skills activated, Qi Yuan became ruthless, transforming into a reaper emerging from hell.

    Dressed in blood-red clothes, holding a blood-red stick.

    With a single blow, four or five demon soldiers were sent flying, their bodies shattered, dead beyond dead.

    Qi Yuan''s combat skills and battle awareness were terrifying, or rather... fighting had become his instinct.

    He charged into the midst of the three hundred demon soldiers as if he were in an uninhabited land.

    Wherever his stick fell, demon soldiers would die.

    "Too strong!" Zhou Yuan trembled all over.

    The strategist''s eyes also showed a strange expression: "If he reaches the Wu Ying realm, who could stop him?"

    At this moment, the peacock soared into the sky, emitting a green glow, utterly furious.

    "If you have the ability, take my strike!"

    She was both furious and humiliated.

    Because this was the first time she had encountered such an enemy.

    Qi Yuan maneuvered within the demon soldiers, slippery as could be.

    Her attacks couldn''t hit Qi Yuan at all.

    She couldn''t attack indiscriminately either, as not only would she fail to hit Qi Yuan, but she might also end up killing her own demon soldiers!

    She was left with no effective moves!

    Otherwise, with her Yao Ying-level strength, she was confident she could tear that despicable man below into eight pieces.

    "Argh!"

    At this moment, she could no longer tolerate it.

    Powerful blood martial energy burst forth at this moment.

    The feathers on her back turned into a green curtain of swords, crazily shooting toward Qi Yuan''s position.

    "Too slow."

    Qi Yuan, like a dragon swimming in the battlefield, glanced casually at the peacock. His figure turned, and like a green dragon, he leaped across the battlefield, charging in another direction.

    The green sword curtain "whoosh" landed, directly killing five unfortunate demons.

    Seeing this, the peacock''s eyes widened in rage.

    "If you have the guts, don''t dodge! Fight me head-on!" the peacock screeched.

    She was furious and filled with regret.

    Originally worried that Qi Yuan might have other trump cards, she had sent demon soldiers to encircle him, planning to kill him in the chaos.

    But who knew, Qi Yuan was too fast and too agile.

    Now, she was the one being restricted.

    If this continued, they could eventually exhaust Qi Yuan to death, but her demon soldiers would suffer heavy losses.

    Now, she couldn''t even order the demon soldiers to retreat.

    Because Qi Yuan was sticking to the demon soldiers like a leech.

    As for threatening that suona player?

    She didn''t even consider it.

    How could a strong person like this be threatened in such a way? Of course, even if she left the battlefield to find Hou Mushi, she wouldn''t succeed.

    Because, the moment Qi Yuan stepped in here, this area, centered around him, became a cage, making escape impossible.

    In the battlefield, Qi Yuan''s figure paused. The blood-colored wooden stick in his hand smashed an old ape to death.

    He looked at the peacock in the sky, eyes filled with amusement: "An ordinary person wouldn''t fall for your provocation. But I''m different. What I enjoy most is giving my enemies hope, and then... crushing that hope."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, he stepped on the tusk of a wild boar demon, snapping it directly.

    Using the rebound force, he leaped straight into the sky.

    The peacock''s face lit up with joy: "Today, I''ll show you the difference between the Yao Ying realm and the Jade Blood realm!"

    The peacock roared.

    At this moment, her ultimate move was quickly brewing.

    Once it was ready and unleashed on Qi Yuan, he would surely die!

    That was her thought.U//ppTodated fr/o/m

    But the smile on her face froze at this moment.

    Suddenly, an extremely fast beam of light flashed.

    She had no reaction at all.

    A feeling of fullness, a sense of tearing, suddenly filled her mouth.

    Before she could realize what it was, a voice reached her ears.

    "Next time, don''t open your mouth so wide when talking... see, such a thick stick can fit right in!"

    Qi Yuan, holding the stick, gave a fierce thrust.

    The stick went through her throat, directly piercing into the peacock''s stomach.

    "Ah!" The peacock screamed, but the sound was unclear.

    She was utterly furious inside.

    Her ultimate move wasn''t even finished yet!

    If it had been completed, the opponent would be dead for sure.

    But now, with a stick through her, she completely lost the ability to fight back, like a yellow croaker skewered on a bamboo stick.

    She was furious and full of regret.

    "Too weak... In my eyes, you''re no different from those demon soldiers.

    No, there''s a difference. Your demon blood is a bit more abundant."

    Ahead, the figure in blood-red, like a god of war, spoke in a cold tone, but his voice was extremely gentle: "Little brother, we fight side by side!"

    The figure, like a god of war, suddenly rose up.

    A blood-red armor covered his tall and upright body completely. The blood-red spikes on his shoulders seemed to flow with blood, looking particularly eerie.

    He was like a demon god emerging from the underworld, moving forward silently.

    The mountains shook at that moment.

    Those blood-red eyes emitted a demonic light.

    "Kill!"

    Tonight, it was destined to be a night of bloodshed.

    Tonight, it was destined that many demons wouldn''t see the sunrise tomorrow.

    Three thousand demon soldiers... is that a lot?

    The enormous blood-red figure crashed into the demon camp.

    The slaughter... began.

    ...

    Zhenyang City.

    On the city wall, Yang Guang''s face was filled with concern, "Zhou Yuan is missing."

    "Huh?" An Qiao was slightly stunned, then she also sensed the scent of a conspiracy. "He wouldn''t go looking for trouble with Mr. Qi, would he?"

    Yang Guang''s face showed even more concern, "If I remember correctly, he has a tool that can pinpoint the exact location of people nearby. If..."

    Zhou Yuan was unpredictable and capable of doing anything.

    It was even possible that he might cooperate with the demons.

    "With Mr. Qi''s strength, if he doesn''t engage in a direct fight and keeps fleeing, unless all three thousand demon soldiers are dispatched, they won''t be able to hold him. We need to hurry up and complete our task and bring Mr. Qi back!" An Qiao said seriously.

    As long as the mission was completed and they met Qi Yuan, they could leave at any time.

    As for the demon soldiers surrounding them, they could easily leave.

    Yang Guang nodded, agreeing with An Qiao''s words. However, as he looked at the child soldiers and elderly soldiers on the city wall, his expression was a bit desolate, "It''s a pity, even if we complete the mission, it won''t benefit the people of Zhenyang City. Those demon soldiers..."

    Yang Guang''s voice was sorrowful and helpless.

    After they left, the people of Zhenyang City would still be ravaged by the demon soldiers.

    The people in this city were like pigs to be slaughtered.

    An Qiao''s expression was emotional.

    When they returned with the demon beast corpses this time, the reaction of the soldiers made her quite sad.

    Especially that county officer who personally came forward to apologize.

    She knew that the county officer was still not giving up and hoped to receive help from the Demon Subduing Department of the court.

    However... they were not from the Demon Subduing Department of the court and couldn''t help the human race in this world.

    "Let''s leave at dawn tomorrow, complete the mission... and leave." Yang Guang said, "Before we go, let''s kill a few more demons and do something for them."

    ...

    "Sir, ahead is Fenghua Cave!" Hou Mushi carefully looked at the man in front of him, his eyes full of reverence.

    The scene from last night was still vividly imprinted in his mind.

    This man was like a god descending from the heavens.

    He charged into the military camp alone.

    Facing the encirclement of three thousand demon soldiers, he became stronger the more he killed, like an invincible god of death.

    All three thousand demon soldiers died by his hands.

    Not even one managed to escape.

    After all, Qi Yuan''s combat skills were too terrifying.

    The three major skills¡ªDominant Power, Heaven-Slashing Sword Technique, and Death Radiance¡ªwere too heaven-defying.

    Especially Death Radiance, which was like infinite healing, and the lower his health, the stronger he became.

    Among these three thousand demon soldiers, there wasn''t a single one stronger than Qi Yuan by a realm. All he needed to do was kill, kill, kill.

    The devouring ability from the original body of the Mother of Devouring also allowed Qi Yuan to constantly improve himself in battle.

    One could say he became stronger with every kill.

    In the slaughter, Qi Yuan also understood the correct way to play this game.

    The truth... what is that? It should be all about killing, killing, killing.

    Therefore, he came to Fenghua Cave not to complete the mission.

    But to take the mission targets away.

    Otherwise... if someone else completed the mission, wouldn''t it mean he would have to go back? So, the best way was not to complete the mission.

    Take the mission targets... and go kill, kill, kill!

    The world was so vast, and how many demons were there?

    Especially the demons in the northern lands, numbering no less than tens of thousands.

    If he could obtain all the demon blood.

    His power... would likely soar!

    Of course, while this pleased him, those who came along to participate in the mission might curse their fate.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Fenghua Cave ahead, his eyes showing an excited smile: "Seal it! Cover it up!"

    He instantly cast a spell to restrain the two auras he sensed inside Fenghua Cave.

    Yes, shut their mouths and cover them up.

    If they can''t hear or see anything... it wouldn''t count as knowing the truth or finding the target characters, right? Immediately, the two individuals inside Fenghua Cave, wrapped in darkness, showed expressions of fear and shock.

    They struggled continuously, but to no avail.

    Footsteps sounded at this moment.

    "Yes, it really is these two. Alright, I''ll take them with me on my adventures now.

    Little Mushi, are you going back to Zhenyang City, or are you going to follow me and play the suona?

    Just to be clear, I''m broke right now and won''t be paying you." The information he got from his eyes confirmed that the two people wrapped in darkness were the ones he was looking for.

    Qi Yuan also stopped thinking.

    Otherwise, if he figured out the truth and completed the mission, that wouldn''t be good.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s words, Hou Mushi''s eyes showed a look of joy: "I am willing to follow you, sir!"

 Chapter 342: How to Relieve Sorrow? Only by Killing!

    Chapter 342: How to Relieve Sorrow? Only by Killing!

    With a flick of his hand, the rope was thrown, and the man and woman inside the black sack were tied up separately.

    Qi Yuan handed the rope to Hou Mushi, instructing, "These two will be your responsibility. Now, let''s head to... Xianlong Mountain!"

    Xianlong Mountain was more than three hundred li away from Mount Shu Yao.

    On this mountain, the number of demons and monsters was no less than that on Mount Shu Yao, possibly even more.

    However, unlike Mount Shu Yao, the demons on Xianlong Mountain were not organized and appeared to be scattered.

    "Alright!" Hou Mushi tightly gripped the rope, his face filled with excitement.

    At this moment, the man and woman inside the black sack, with their mouths sealed, were mentally cursing up a storm.

    Especially the flower demon, who was utterly bewildered.

    Who had come?

    What did they want?

    Why was she being tied up?

    She wanted to speak, but unfortunately, she couldn''t.

    Moreover, the conversation she overheard next between the two left her utterly shocked.

    "I held onto the stick all night, my hand''s sore now. I really want to call my wife over to give me a massage."

    "Sir... you''re so powerful!"

    "This time, after we wipe out the thousands of demons on Xianlong Mountain, I should keep a couple of pretty female demons to give me a massage before killing them."

    "Sir... you''re amazing!"

    Hou Mushi, like a parrot, kept repeating praises.

    The flower demon, covered by the black sack, felt disdain upon hearing Qi Yuan''s words.

    This guy sure likes to boast!

    Wiping out all the demons on Xianlong Mountain?

    If you''re so awesome, why don''t you go pluck the stars from the sky?

    But, before she could finish that thought, she heard that braggart''s voice again.

    "Mushi, do you have any good ideas on how to make money?"

    "Uh... sir, are you short of money?"

    "Yes, a bit."

    "If you go back to Zhenyang, the county magistrate would certainly rally the whole city to gather enough silver for you!"

    To the people of Zhenyang City, Qi Yuan''s slaughter of the demons on Mount Shu Yao was akin to a life-saving grace.

    Even if Qi Yuan raised a flag to rebel.

    The county magistrate and constable would probably support him with both hands.

    What are a few pieces of silver compared to that?

    "Money isn''t enough. I want to buy a planet, something like Jupiter."

    "Huh?" Hou Mushi fell silent.

    Indeed, he still couldn''t keep up with Qi Yuan''s train of thought.

    In this world''s ancient times, the concept of planets already existed.

    The common folk were also aware that they lived on the surface of a planet.

    So, when Qi Yuan mentioned wanting to buy a planet, Hou Mushi was at a loss for words.

    The flower demon inside the black sack wanted to sneer even more.

    "What a pity. If you could find a buyer in this world, I could sell it and make a lot of money!"

    Upon hearing this, the flower demon felt that Qi Yuan was arrogant and ignorant.

    However, Qi Yuan''s power was overwhelming. He had restrained her and rendered her unable to speak.

    She couldn''t escape or refute and could only become a prisoner.

    Her heart was filled with confusion.

    There must be a reason why these two captured her.

    Was it for money, lust, or perhaps related to Tong Tianyou?

    Surely, they would interrogate her, right?

    But it seemed these two had completely forgotten about her and Tong Tianyou.

    They kept traveling.

    If it weren''t for the boy-like follower feeding Tong Tianyou once, she would have thought they had completely forgotten about the two of them.

    Still, she wanted to say, "Even though I''m a demon, I need to eat too!"

    Unfortunately, she couldn''t speak, and Hou Mushi hadn''t fed her.

    Right now, she was only hoping to reach Xianlong Mountain soon, and for these two arrogant people to quickly die at the hands of other demons.

    That way, she could be rescued and finally... relieve herself!

    ...

    Meanwhile, as Qi Yuan was traveling from Mount Shu Yao to Xianlong Mountain, the members of the Demon Subduing Department in Zhenyang City were gradually making their way to Mount Shu Yao.

    These days, they had already gathered enough information to know that Tong Tianyou was in the hands of the flower demon, Man Luo.

    All they needed to do was go to Fenghua Cave and find the flower demon, Man Luo.

    Everything would be revealed then.

    The only two dangers of this mission were possibly encountering other major demons on Mount Shu Yao and the threat posed by the flower demon, Man Luo.

    Thus, these members of the Demon Subduing Department moved cautiously through Mount Shu Yao, only aiming to find Fenghua Cave and locate the flower demon, Man Luo, and Tong Tianyou.

    However, soon after, the demon forces in Xianlong Mountain, Fenggu Ridge, Taizi Shui, and other places were successively wiped out.

    Witnesses all reported seeing a handsome man draped in a blood-red robe, holding a blood-red staff, like a demon god.

    The world was shaken, stunned, and no one dared to question anymore.

    "In just one year, out of the twelve great demon lairs in the world, eleven have been destroyed. The Red Staff Demon Butcher... terrifying indeed!" an old man said, his voice trembling. Judging by his attire, he didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary person.

    Yet now, he sat in the main hall of the restaurant.

    "Only the last demon lair in the Yihe River remains... I wonder when the Red Staff Demon Butcher will come?"

    "Once the Yihe River demon is eliminated, the world will be at peace, and humanity will flourish!"

    "Hehe, not necessarily. What if, after wiping out the Yihe River demons, the Red Staff Demon Butcher wants to become emperor?

    I think he''s ambitious, aiming for high office!

    All that talk of being a demon-slaying war god and doing it for the greater good of the world is just a guise. After all, he¡¯s only human, like us." In a corner, a voice muttered.

    However, he used a special sound transmission technique, so no one in the room knew who spoke.

    In a private room in the restaurant, a young girl heard this and couldn¡¯t help but open the window and shout angrily, "Being overly critical of the good and overly lenient to the wicked, are you even human? If you''re a man, stand up!"

    But the person who had just whispered said nothing more, hiding in a dark corner.

    A scholar in the restaurant sighed when he saw this.

    Other patrons muttered in dissatisfaction, feeling wronged.

    Though the Red Staff Demon Butcher had slain countless demons, his achievements were undeniable, yet many conspiracy theories surrounded him.

    People loved to be overly critical of good people, accusing them of ulterior motives or improper methods for doing good deeds; but when it came to bad people, they showed excessive sympathy and leniency.

    At that moment, a calm voice suddenly came from outside the building.

    ¡°There¡¯s a keyboard warrior even here. What luck I have to run into one.¡±

    The door of the inn opened, and a gust of cold wind blew in, sounding like the wailing of a ghost.

    Large snowflakes, like goose feathers, drifted inside. Those in the inn''s lobby looked over and immediately saw a handsome young man dressed in a blood-red robe and holding a wooden staff.

    The patrons looked at the overly handsome young man, some with surprise, others with suspicion.

    This person''s attire looked somewhat like the Red Staff Demon Butcher''s!

    However, with the Red Staff Demon Butcher¡¯s growing fame, many noble scions had started wearing red robes.

    This person seemed too young and had skin too delicate to be someone who regularly fought demons.

    There was a moment of silence in the inn.

    The handsome young man walked in, followed by a seemingly young but worldly-wise boy.

    The boy held a rope.

    Following the direction of the rope, people saw two figures wrapped in black sacks.

    When they noticed the black sacks and the figures within, some patrons gulped.

    Others widened their eyes in disbelief.

    ¡°Red Staff... Demon Butcher!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s the Red Staff Demon Butcher!¡±

    The inn was abuzz with whispers.

    In a private room, a maiden in her prime also leaned out, looking toward the legendary figure to see if he was as the rumors described.

    When she saw Qi Yuan¡¯s profile, she was stunned.

    How could there be someone so extraordinarily beautiful in this world?

    He seemed like someone not of this world.

    ¡°Speaking ill of me and getting caught¡ªhow unlucky for you.¡±

    At this moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell on a portly, wealthy merchant, his expression calm.

    The merchant¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, I didn¡¯t say anything!¡±

    He was denying it.

    The man next to the merchant quickly said, ¡°Master Wu is a good man; he donates money to build roads. He would never slander the Red Staff Demon Butcher!¡±

    People in the inn looked at the merchant with varying expressions.

    This merchant had a good reputation in the city and was known as the foremost philanthropist.

    Suddenly, several people couldn¡¯t help but speak up for the merchant.

    After all, the Red Staff Demon Butcher was a peerless hero; he surely wouldn¡¯t be so petty and would certainly be reasonable.

    The merchant, seeing this, breathed a sigh of relief.

    At the same time, he warned himself to be even more cautious in the future, never letting anyone catch him off guard again.

    But just then, Qi Yuan¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°Mushi, play the music.¡±

    Hou Mushi, seeing this, expertly took out the suona, and instantly, a mournful and desolate sound filled the inn.

    The merchant''s face showed a look of terror, realizing what was about to happen: ¡°You can¡¯t!¡±

    However, what met him was a blood-red staff.

    The staff struck his forehead directly, like smashing a watermelon.

    The merchant¡¯s head, like an overripe watermelon, burst apart.

    The inn fell into a deathly silence, with only the sound of the suona playing in the background.

    The patrons wore expressions ranging from shock to fear, while others felt a sense of satisfaction.

    ¡°How to relieve sorrow? Only by... killing!¡± Qi Yuan lowered his staff, his voice hearty.

    Those who initially felt satisfied now felt a chill creeping up their spines upon hearing his words.

    The tone of the Red Staff Demon Butcher didn¡¯t sound like he was pretending.

 Chapter 343: The Fish Womanâ€™s Defeat with Three Strikes

    Chapter 343: The Fish Woman¡¯s Defeat with Three Strikes

    The young girl, just in her early youth, felt a sudden pang in her heart. Looking at the handsome man, a sense of fear arose within her.

    Among the diners, some scholars who initially wanted to speak out in righteousness now swallowed their prepared words back down.

    If the man were a legendary hero, they might dare to reason with him, hoping to subdue him with logic.

    But since the man seemed to enjoy killing, they thought better of it and decided to just placate him.

    "Waiter, bring me a chicken," Qi Yuan said after killing someone. Feeling a bit hungry, he ordered some chicken.

    The waiter, who was initially stunned, quickly snapped out of it and said, "Just a moment, sir! It¡¯ll be ready right away!"

    Qi Yuan casually found an empty seat and sat down with Huo Mushi.

    "This spot is right under the wind, a great location. If anyone speaks ill of me, the wind will carry their words straight to my ears," Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    The diners present forced awkward smiles.

    The wealthy merchant had just died, and his blood was still warm. Who would dare speak ill of Qi Yuan now? Yet, because of the murderous aura Qi Yuan had just displayed, none of the diners dared to approach him or interact with the legendary ¡°Demon Butcher of the Red Staff,¡± at least for the time being. They seemed to be waiting for someone bold enough to take the initiative.

    At this moment, hurried footsteps could be heard, and a young girl in a green palace dress, looking quite lovely and charming, descended the stairs.

    "I am Lu Zhu, Princess of the County, here to meet the great Demon Butcher of the Red Staff!"

    The girl walked gracefully to Qi Yuan''s seat and bowed.

    The diners stirred.

    She was actually a princess! Lu Zhu, the Princess of the County, was the daughter of the Little Empress of the Zhou Dynasty, the most beautiful woman in the entire Fengyuan Kingdom.

    The diners who had previously gossiped about the Little Empress and the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff began to tremble with fear.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the girl indifferently and asked, "Why are you looking for me?"

    "Your lordship fought across three thousand miles in the North, exterminated eleven demon lairs, and saved countless lives from suffering. On behalf of the common people, I, Lu Zhu, thank you for your great deeds!" The young girl bowed with a somewhat mature demeanor.

    "Oh, is there anything else?" Qi Yuan asked casually, picking up a peanut with his chopsticks and putting it in his mouth.

    Princess Lu Zhu looked at Qi Yuan, her beautiful eyes flashing with determination: "I am willing to offer ten thousand taels of gold as a tribute to become your disciple!"

    "Can ten thousand taels of gold buy the world?" Qi Yuan asked nonchalantly.

    He was short of money and eager to buy Gongxing.

    As soon as he said this, everyone present felt a subtle shift in their expressions.

    The implication of his words...

    Could it be that this Demon Butcher of the Red Staff was planning to overthrow the current regime? "Of course not!" Princess Lu Zhu seemed to catch the "hidden meaning" in Qi Yuan''s words and bit her lip before answering.

    She had come to meet the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff with a mission from the royal family.

    Her father didn¡¯t dare to meet him directly, so he sent her instead.

    "If that''s the case, I don¡¯t need the gold," Qi Yuan declined.

    Ten thousand taels of gold was quite a lot, but it would take up space in his "Blood Martial Space."

    His Blood Martial Space was small, and it couldn''t hold that much gold.

    As for silver and gold notes, would they still be useful once he left this world? Apparently not.

    Upon hearing Qi Yuan''s refusal, Princess Lu Zhu''s face turned pale, but she lowered her head and continued, "I am willing to be your servant, to serve by your side, as long as you accept me as your disciple, teach me martial arts, and help protect Fengyuan!"

    She was prepared to sacrifice herself.

    Among the royal princesses, she was the most beautiful and of the highest status.

    "Your words sound familiar, just like my little junior sister said," Qi Yuan recalled how Jiang Lingsu spoke when she first joined, "However, after she joined, she became a wealthy woman instead. Although she helped me a lot, she never really became a servant."

    Princess Lu Zhu¡¯s mind raced with thoughts.

    Then she heard Qi Yuan say:

    "In half a day, I will leave this place. Naturally, I won''t take any disciples.

    However, I am about to go and destroy the demons of Ejiang.

    Watch carefully, and whatever you learn will be your own gain."

    The mention of his junior sister Jiang Lingsu made Qi Yuan a bit more generous.

    Princess Lu Zhu was both surprised and delighted by this news.

    Surprised because the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff was planning to leave, but where to? Delighted because this meant he was accepting her in some way?

    At this moment, a loud and continuous sound of music could be heard, and a heavenly voice came from outside.

    "The Fish Woman of Ejiang, along with twenty thousand aquatic beings, invites His Majesty, the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff, to the Water Palace of Ejiang!

    The soldiers of Ejiang are all loyal to His Majesty.

    If His Majesty wishes to conquer the world, the soldiers of Ejiang are ready to march to the South!"

    At this voice, all the diners present had their expressions change slightly.

    Princess Lu Zhu''s heart skipped a beat.

    "It''s the Fish Woman of Ejiang!"

    "The ruler of Ejiang!"

    "The most powerful demon clan in the world, and she¡¯s willing to bow to the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff!"

    "If the demon soldiers are all at the disposal of the Demon Butcher, wouldn¡¯t conquering Fengyuan be a piece of cake for him!"

    The diners were shocked, filled with both worry and indignation.

    If they were in the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff''s position, they were sure they wouldn¡¯t be able to resist the temptation of the ruler of Ejiang.

    Princess Lu Zhu also looked worried, but strangely, she remained silent.

    The diners were shocked at her words.

    "The Demon Butcher of the Red Staff has reached the legendary Martial Spirit Realm!"

    "A Martial Spirit, who can command the clouds and turn the rains with a flip of the hand!"

    The Martial Spirit Realm was a realm of legend.

    A single person could rival an entire nation! Mountains and rivers, in the hands of a Martial Spirit, were nothing more than toys.

    "However, even if you are a Martial Spirit, so what?" The Fish Woman of Ejiang shouted, "Twenty thousand aquatic beings, march with me and slay this fiend!"

    With her shout, the formerly calm river surface began to crack with snapping sounds.

    Countless thick sheets of ice shattered, and roars and shouts of soldiers came from the river.

    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

    "Those who offend us shall be slain!"

    An army of twenty thousand, clad in armor and wielding long spears and halberds, appeared. The entire river, several miles wide, was filled with the shadows of demons.

    The Fish Woman of Ejiang, now standing on the river''s surface, had a cold smile on her face.

    An overwhelming power beyond a demon spirit emanated from her.

    She was a demon spirit herself! Comparable to a divine infant in celestial terms, an absolute mighty demon! In any world, she would not be considered weak! "If His Majesty repents now, there might still be a way out!" The Fish Woman of Ejiang¡¯s voice was cold.

    With twenty thousand demon soldiers standing behind her, a dark and formidable presence, she was more confident than ever.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze remained calm: "Princess Lu Zhu, watch carefully. This next strike of mine... is going to be brutal."

    A domineering force.

    Heaven-Cutting Sword Technique.

    Death''s Radiance.

    Together as One!

    At that moment, the world seemed to darken.

    Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky.

    It wasn¡¯t that the sky had darkened but because the body of the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff had blocked out the light of the heavens.

    A terrifying blood-red figure, of unknown height and size.

    The fearsome and menacing reaper from hell, holding a towering wooden staff, leaped high into the air.

    Cutting the heavens, drawing the sword! Kill!

    One strike.

    No, one staff strike.

    One moment, the world was a frozen expanse of ice and snow.

    The next moment, all the snowflakes and ice blocks in the world lifted from the ground, suspended in the air.

    When the terrifying staff fell into the midst of the twenty thousand demon soldiers.

    Only then did all the snowflakes and ice blocks return to their original places.

    The world remained the same world.

    Yet... it had changed entirely! In that instant, twenty thousand demon soldiers scattered.

    The Ejiang River was cut off.

    The river water evaporated.

    The earth shook.

    The power of one staff strike was terrifying beyond measure! "Ugh!" The Fish Woman of Ejiang spat out a mouthful of blood, a look of disbelief in her eyes.

    This strike not only wiped out a third of the twenty thousand demon soldiers directly.

    But she, too, bore the brunt and was severely injured.

    "Impossible! I am a demon spirit... A Martial Spirit can''t be this powerful!" The Fish Woman of Ejiang''s face was pale, her screams filled with fear.

    At this moment, she was already terrified out of her wits.

    "You can¡¯t even withstand one of my strikes, and you still think of marrying me? Fishhead girl, you¡¯re overthinking it. You¡¯re more suited for some shrimp-headed man!"

    "Take another strike!"

    In the sky, that terrifying and majestic figure swung the staff down again.

    Boom!

    Of the original Ejiang, another seven thousand demon soldiers perished.

    The Fish Woman of Ejiang, with the strength of a demon spirit, was shattered; even the gills of her fish head were beaten out.

    Her face was filled with disbelief, all her pride vanished.

    "The last strike, this should end it!"

    Heaven-Cutting Sword Technique! Qi Yuan leaped again, the powerful staff striking the river.

    The scattered demon soldiers were already trembling with fear, fleeing in all directions.

    But from the moment Qi Yuan appeared in this world, their fate was already sealed.

    In an instant, all twenty thousand demon soldiers were dead, turned into a bloody pulp.

    From appearance to destruction, it had only been a matter of seconds, and the twenty thousand demon soldiers were gone.

    Who wouldn''t be moved by this? Who wouldn''t be shocked by this? Princess Lu Zhu trembled, looking at the mighty figure. For some reason, all the dread she previously felt had completely disappeared, replaced by a faint sense of loss.

 Chapter 344: The Past of the Tong Family, the Transformation of Qin Yuan

    Chapter 344: The Past of the Tong Family, the Transformation of Qin Yuan

    Who in the heavens plays the flute, causing jade flowers to fall all over the world?

    In the lands to the north and south, within the Ejiang River, snow drifted across ten thousand miles.

    On the city walls, inside the tavern, and in small courtyards, everyone looked up at the sky, gazing at that terrifying figure.

    "The Red Staff Demon Butcher... has exterminated the demons of Ejiang?"

    "He actually wiped them out!"

    Everyone knew that the Red Staff Demon Butcher would battle the demons of Ejiang. The battle was imminent, but no one expected it to begin so suddenly and end so quickly.

    In just a few dozen breaths... it was over.

    It was too hasty.

    That was an army of twenty thousand demons, led by the Fish Woman of Ejiang! Yet, in the hands of the Red Staff Demon Butcher, they were more fragile than a nest of ants.

    The once-mighty demon soldiers of Ejiang, like snowflakes, melted away under the scorching sun.

    That blood-red, terrifying figure stood in the heavens like a deity.

    Everyone looked at that figure, their expressions fervent, some in awe and some in reverence.

    "If the Red Staff Demon Butcher wants this world, this empire, he could have it at his fingertips!"

    "With such strength, even the Hundred Thousand Wei Long Guards couldn''t stop him!"

    "This is the true uncrowned king, the ruler of martial arts!"

    Countless people exclaimed in shock.

    All doubts vanished at that moment. Those who previously harbored thoughts of secretly undermining him found themselves coming forward with a clear conscience in the face of Qi Yuan''s overwhelming power.

    At that moment, the blood-red figure descended from the sky and landed on a hillside a thousand meters away.

    The blood-red armor disappeared, and the blood-red figure standing in the snow was strikingly conspicuous.

    "Mu Shi, let¡¯s go. It¡¯s time to leave."

    In the vast snow, the blood-red figure didn¡¯t glance at the people, leaving only a solitary silhouette behind.

    In the tavern, Huo Mu Shi quickly grabbed the rope, pulling along two black sacks. The demons and humans inside the sacks hurriedly followed along as if jogging.

    Seeing this, none of the people in the tavern dared to follow them.

    Princess Lu Zhu hesitated for a moment, finally shouting, "Master, are you leaving?"

    She had a feeling that if the Red Staff Demon Butcher left, she might never see him again.

    Qi Yuan still did not turn around. At this moment, he was silently consuming the demon blood essence.

    In this battle, after slaughtering twenty thousand demon soldiers, he had gained a massive amount of demon blood essence.

    Such a large quantity of demon blood essence was of great help to him.

    "Hmm, just now... how much did you learn?" Qi Yuan blurted out, momentarily stunned as he recalled the Moon Lady.

    He wondered if he was getting old, constantly thinking of people from his past.

    "I..." Princess Lu Zhu hesitated, "Nothing."

    "In that case, we shall meet again if fate allows." Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother saying anything more.

    To this world, he was merely a passerby, a game player.

    After saying that, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell on the blood-red staff, his expression calm.

    Suddenly, he raised his hand.

    The blood-red staff was thrown into the Ejiang River.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes revealed a bright smile, "If a monkey picks you up, that would be interesting."

    Nearly all the demons in this world had been exterminated, and it was time for him to complete his mission and leave.

    It could be said that in this world, he had profited immensely.

    In less than a year, he had reached the Martial Spirit realm, equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm.

    These "white moonlights" had really pampered him too much.

    Throwing away the staff, Qi Yuan left alone, disappearing from sight.

    Half a day later.

    On a small boat.

    Qi Yuan lay lazily on the boat, like a playboy out on a leisurely trip.

    At the other end of the boat were two black bags.

    The black bags were tightly sealed, looking like two people.

    The world was full of speculation about what was in these black sacks. Some said it was a peerless beauty, hidden by the Red Staff Demon Butcher in the black sack. Others said they contained rare treasures, and that the Red Staff Demon Butcher¡¯s formidable power came from obtaining these two treasures.

    Now, the mystery of the black sacks was finally revealed, showing just the tip of the iceberg.

    Qi Yuan had his back turned to Hua Yao (the Flower Demon) and the young Tong Youwei, not sparing them a glance.

    Once arrogant, Hua Yao was now both pleased and shocked, but more than anything, she was quiet.

    When she was first abducted, she thought she had fallen into the hands of an ignorant fool.

    But after everything she had seen and heard along the way, her heart was numb and trembling.

    "Master..."

    She carefully chose her words, cautious not to offend this unparalleled martial artist.

    Zhong Niao sat up, her face filled with deep fear.

    Lately, she had been having nightmares every day.

    She dreamed of a crack appearing in the sky, from which a woman identical to her emerged and stabbed her to death.

    The cold expression of that woman was still vivid in her memory.

    She had been having these dreams for three days in a row.

    "Could I really be suffering from some deficiency, having these strange dreams?"

    Zhong Niao looked anxious.

    In her dreams, she saw cracks appearing in the sky, with numerous bizarre figures or demons emerging.

    They seemed to come from other worlds, dressed in various ancient costumes, or riding in high-tech warships.

    They were fighting each other!

    She was also killed by an ancient version of herself.

    "Generally speaking, dreams are projections of reality.

    The reason I''m having these dreams is probably related to the arrival of the cultivators at Gonxing half a year ago."

    Zhong Niao comforted herself this way.

    Half a year ago, a rift in the world appeared on Gonxing.

    Four great cultivation worlds connected with Gonxing, and numerous cultivators descended upon Gonxing.

    This had a tremendous impact on Gonxing.

    These cultivators could fly, move at lightning speed, their speed comparable to fighter jets, displaying powerful and bizarre abilities.

    The appearance of these cultivators caused great upheaval in Gonxing society.

    At that time, there was even a great demon, wielding a Soul Banner, shouting about slaughtering a city.

    This great demon was an old ancestor of a demon sect, a giant in the demon path, a Nascent Soul Patriarch.

    At that time, people were in a panic.

    And the "Eye of Heaven" showed its immense power at that moment.

    It directly pinpointed and annihilated that great demon.

    At that time, Qin Yuan Country erupted in cheers.

    The four great cultivation worlds were also shaken by this event.

    They hadn¡¯t expected that Gonxing would possess such a terrifying weapon of that level.

    Later, the Seven Martial Stars and the four great cultivation worlds sat down for a month of negotiations, signing numerous agreements.

    Some were related to trade, others to establishing dojos and cultivation schools.

    Zhong Niao thought that these events left a deep impression on her, which is why... she dreamed that other worlds had also descended upon Gonxing, and a person identical to her appeared and killed her.

    "Unfortunately, Qi Yuan has disappeared. Otherwise, I could have asked him to check if I''m possessed by a ghost.

    He¡¯s a cultivator and knows a lot."

    Zhong Niao thought.

    Over the past year, she had looked for Qi Yuan several times.

    The news she received was that Qi Yuan was no longer around.

    This disappointed her quite a bit.

    Qi Yuan was a cultivator, and since she was familiar with him, perhaps he could investigate her recent nightmares.

    She had helped Qi Yuan with his mental illness back then, so now... Qi Yuan helping her with her problem seemed reasonable, right?

    Tianxuan Building, a place bustling with people from all walks of life.

    "Hey everyone, this is Tianxuan Building." A female streamer, dressed in a revealing outfit, held her phone up, filming the building in front of her. "It¡¯s said that this building was given to the mysterious cultivation sect, Xuantian Sect, by the Seven Martial Stars. This is also our province''s... first prestigious cultivation sect."

    When the four cultivation worlds connected with Gonxing, each major sect decided to establish a presence on Gonxing.

    A sect like the Xuantian Sect, which had a Nascent Soul old monster in residence, was undoubtedly a major sect.

    Such a sect was referred to as a top-grade immortal sect.

    Placing its headquarters on Blue Star was akin to being part of the 985 elite.

    As for the other small cultivation sects, well... they were much less.

    "Damn it, why does our province, with so many people, have only one top-grade immortal sect?"

    "Too bad they only recruit disciples based on talent!"

    "Look at all those people kneeling outside Tianxuan Building, just for a chance at a single thread of immortal fate."

    "I also want to join a top-grade immortal sect like Xuantian Sect!"

    "A sixty-year-old widow from my neighborhood, who had always been single, finally joined a sect comparable to Xuantian Sect, and then was noticed by a marquis who directly married her!"

    "Sister, check your inner wear and avoid stepping on any landmines."

    In the live stream, people from all over the country watched Tianxuan Building with envy in their eyes.

    Joining such a major sect was truly like a fish leaping over the dragon gate; it meant becoming a superior person for life.

    At this moment, on the rooftop of Tianxuan Building, a tall woman with star-like eyes and sword-like brows looked quite haggard.

    She looked down at the people kneeling below Tianxuan Building, a disappointed expression on her face: "All... trash spiritual roots!"

 Chapter 345: Ajiâ€™s Opportunity?

    Chapter 345: Aji¡¯s Opportunity?

    "There are too few good seedlings. What is this...!"

    The female cultivator with starry eyes and sword-like brows looked speechless.

    Those kneeling below wouldn¡¯t even qualify as servant disciples in the Fire Spirit Realm.

    What irritated her the most was that she had rejected a boy without spiritual roots from joining yesterday.

    That boy had boldly declared, "The river flows east for thirty years, then west for thirty years¡ªnever underestimate the poor youth!"

    Fortunately, this was a place with many surveillance cameras.

    If this had been in the Fire Spirit Realm, she would have slapped the boy to death.

    "I heard that the Dou Shen Sect recently accepted a pure spiritual root disciple, which makes me so envious!" The female cultivator with starry eyes mentioned this with a face full of admiration.

    The Dou Shen Sect and Xuantian Sect had been rivals for ages.

    This rivalry could be traced back ten thousand years.

    However, ten thousand years ago, Xuantian Sect was dominant over Dou Shen Sect.

    But in the past few thousand years, well... Xuantian Sect had declined.

    "A cultivator with pure spiritual roots, if they have smooth cultivation and sufficient resources, could even have a chance to... reach the Nascent Soul realm!" A middle-aged man nearby remarked with envy in his eyes. "The strongest we¡¯ve recruited only has Earth-grade spiritual roots, but that child Zhiqi is very diligent, and her achievements might not be low."

    When Wang Zhiqi was mentioned, Xie Tang''s face also softened with a gentle expression.

    That child was the most talented in Xuantian Sect, second only to their missing Holy Maiden, Xie Xinsu.

    "A few days ago, the Dou Shen Sect stole some of our recruits again. By the way, the Dou Shen Sect is also trying to take over Tianyue City where Zhiqi is from!" The man mentioned this with a face full of resentment.

    The more recruits they had, the more exceptional ones would emerge.

    The recruitment of disciples by these sects was based on two things: one, the agreements signed with the Seven Martial Stars; and two, the competitions between various sects.

    Well... Xuantian Sect lost to Dou Shen Sect in the last competition.

    So, Dou Shen Sect took over one of Xuantian Sect''s recruitment areas.

    However, Dou Shen Sect was too greedy.

    Xuantian Sect lost only Xinshi, but now they even wanted to take Tianyue.

    "If Senior Sister were still here, they wouldn¡¯t be so arrogant!" Xie Tang said angrily.

    Senior Sister Xie Xinsu was the number one Golden Core in Xuantian Sect.

    Her combat power was astonishing, and her talent was overflowing.

    But a year ago, Senior Sister suddenly went missing for no apparent reason.

    Sect Master He Yunzi even sought the guidance of the ancestors regarding the whereabouts of Holy Maiden Xie Xinsu but to no avail.

    It could be said that Xie Xinsu''s disappearance became the greatest mystery of Xuantian Sect.

    Some in the sect even believed that this might have something to do with Dou Shen Sect.

    "No, I must go to Tianyue City this time. If they want to take Tianyue, they¡¯ll have to ask me, Xie Tang, first.

    Just in time, I''ll accompany Zhiqi when she returns home!"

    Tianyue City, Jun¡¯an Community.

    Aji basked in the sun, feeling incredibly content with life.

    His younger sister was sitting behind him, lazily playing with her phone.

    Compared to Guiyuan, where the only form of entertainment was stargazing, life here was much better.

    The most important thing was that they didn¡¯t have to live in fear, worrying about being captured and having their organs harvested.

    This kind of life was a gift from the Master.

    He held deep respect for the Master in his heart.

    "Little friend, what a coincidence, we meet again."

    At that moment, an elderly voice rang out.Chee?ck out latest novels on

    An old man dressed in white robes appeared.

    The old man''s white robe was embroidered with gold-edged pine trees and adorned with a unique mythical beast, which looked rather extraordinary.

    Aji looked at the old man, a hint of wariness in his eyes, and instinctively moved to protect his sister.

    Seeing this, the old man smiled helplessly. "You¡¯re quite wary of me, little friend.

    I, Zhang Dayang, mean you no harm, but rather wish to offer you both an opportunity."

    "We don''t want any opportunities!" Aji looked up, his face full of caution as he stared at the old man.

    Zhang Dayang smiled kindly and said, "Don''t be so quick to refuse, little friend. Take a look at this..."

    When dealing with children, Zhang Dayang naturally had his own methods.

    He opened his hand, which had been empty, and suddenly, a banana appeared.

    This kind of trick was particularly appealing to children.

    Sure enough, Aji''s younger sister, who was behind him, looked at the banana with wonder, her face showing confusion.

    "If you two follow me and become my disciples, in the future... you¡¯ll be able to do things like this, just like I can."

    Zhang Dayang said proudly, full of confidence.

    At this point, a young man nearby added, "You two are very lucky. In the Fire Spirit Realm, everyone would be crying and begging to become a disciple of the Free and Unfettered Wanderer.

    Such a great opportunity is right in front of you, and you two little kids aren''t kneeling and bowing yet? Once you become disciples, your life path will completely change!

    You will enter a world... that you could never have imagined or even dreamed of."

    The young man spoke with an arrogant demeanor, as if looking down on the world from above.

    Hearing this, Zhang Dayang shook his head. "You''re exaggerating, my friend. I¡¯m just a wanderer.

    These two... they simply caught my eye, and their talents are quite suitable. I¡¯m just taking a liking to them.

    Little friends, would you be willing to follow me?

    "What... it was him!"

    "He actually did such a despicable thing. Is there no rule left!"

    "No, when he comes out, we need to teach him a lesson. If we team up with him again, how can we survive?"

    "We must teach him a lesson, otherwise..."

    The crowd was full of voices calling for justice.

    "I think... it''s better not to." An Qiao weakly suggested.

    "What, has he already reached the middle stage of the Blood Jade Realm? Hmph, even if he has... he¡¯s got some strength, but that¡¯s all!"

    "An Qiao, don''t be afraid. We¡¯ve got your back!"

    "We must have a good talk with him today. He can¡¯t just disregard the lives of his comrades. That¡¯s unforgivable!"

    "No matter how strong he is, could he really kill us all before his Blood Martial Qi runs out?"

    The crowd was indignant and full of righteous anger.

    An Qiao looked at the crowd and muttered, "Yes, he could."

    "What?" Lin Yeshan was shocked.

    The others also looked at An Qiao, puzzled.

    Then they heard An Qiao say, "There were twelve demon lairs in Fengyuan. The weakest had three thousand demon soldiers, led by a demon hero.

    The strongest had twenty thousand demon soldiers, led by a demon spirit.

    In that year, Qi Yuan, taking the mission target with him, fought across three thousand miles, single-handedly wiping out all the demon lairs...

    The reason he took the mission target away was that he was afraid we would complete the mission and he wouldn¡¯t be able to annihilate all one hundred thousand demons in Fengyuan!"

    As An Qiao spoke, she became more and more excited, her breathing even quickening.

    Everyone around her fell silent, stunned.

    "How is that possible? He killed over a hundred thousand demons alone?

    Even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn¡¯t do that. Even a Martial King... would be exhausted to death!"

    The crowd was shocked, finding the story too unbelievable.

    After all, demon soldiers weren¡¯t ordinary people.

    Twenty thousand demon soldiers, led by a demon spirit, could probably wear down a Martial King to death.

    And... a Martial King.

    Well, they hadn''t even heard of a Martial King in any outpost.

    Even in the mission world, in those large-scale mission worlds, a Martial King was just a legend.

    A Martial King, in cultivation terms, was equivalent to a Purple Mansion cultivator.

    An invincible Purple Mansion!

    "An Qiao, you¡¯re back. How fortunate! By the way, here¡¯s the Genius Alliance token. Please send it to Yang Guang for me."

    A calm and relaxed voice came, and everyone present suddenly smelled an overwhelmingly strong scent of blood.

    For some reason, their blood began to boil and tremble as if they were being watched by a terrifying demon.

    A handsome young man in a blood-red robe appeared, and the Genius Alliance token fell into An Qiao¡¯s hand.

    Everyone looked at Qi Yuan, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

    This kind of trembling seemed to be ingrained in their genes, in their bloodlines.

    Originally, they had suspected An Qiao of exaggerating.

    But now, with Qi Yuan¡¯s appearance, they knew that An Qiao¡¯s words were absolutely true!

    That terrifying, overwhelming killing intent and scent of blood couldn¡¯t be faked.

    And their Blood Martial path was based on demonic beasts.

    So they felt it most profoundly.

    These people looked at Qi Yuan, trembling, all their previous bravado gone.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the crowd. "Did I just hear someone speaking ill of me?

    A few days ago, in the Four Seasons Inn, someone badmouthed me, and I beat them to death.

    So... is there anyone else who¡¯s been badmouthing me?"

    With a single glance, the thick scent of blood filled the air.

    Everyone¡¯s legs trembled, their fear reaching its peak.

    They had a feeling that Qi Yuan could kill them all if he wanted to.

    "Why are you all looking at me with such fear? Could it be... you¡¯ve all been badmouthing me and are feeling guilty?"

    Qi Yuan looked at the crowd, his expression calm.

    "No!"

    "Absolutely not!"

    The crowd quickly put on ingratiating smiles, some trying their best to look innocent.

    "If you haven¡¯t badmouthed me, why are you afraid?" Qi Yuan moved his lips slightly.

    He thought of a classic saying.

    The crowd grew even more frightened, wanting to appear unafraid, but their bodies wouldn¡¯t cooperate.

    But then he said, "Forget it, I¡¯m a magnanimous person; I won¡¯t hold it against you."

    Qi Yuan decided that when he got back, he would find the Golden Canary and ask her to help him conceal the scent of blood on him.

    Otherwise, it would make him seem too much like a demon.

    That would hurt his glorious and positive image.

 Chapter 346: Who Is Qi Yuanâ€™s Ancestor?

    Chapter 346: Who Is Qi Yuan¡¯s Ancestor?

    Qi Yuan ignored the gazes of the others and walked towards the Blood Jade Wall.

    To use the Ancestral Return Pill, one needed the aid of the Blood Jade Wall.

    Qi Yuan was also eager to see how much the Ancestral Return Pill would enhance him.

    According to others, the stronger the talent and the deeper the fortune, the greater the enhancement.

    Given his extraordinary talent, the ancestor at the source of the bloodline of his innate body must think highly of him, right?

    Maybe they¡¯d... invest a bit more?

    Directly elevate him to the realm of the Martial God of Ten Thousand Paths?

    As Qi Yuan walked towards the Blood Jade Wall, the rest of the people at the outpost followed.

    They already knew that the reward for the last mission was the Ancestral Return Pill, and some big shots had even considered exchanging it for themselves once Qi Yuan and his team successfully completed the mission.

    But now, it seemed that could only remain a thought.

    At this moment, everyone following Qi Yuan was curious to see what kind of achievements the fearsome Qi Yuan would attain with the Blood Jade Wall.

    The martial artists who had been cultivating by the Blood Jade Wall quickly woke up.

    Seeing the overwhelming blood aura surrounding Qi Yuan, they looked terrified.

    When they noticed the group from the outpost following behind him, they silently withdrew from the Blood Jade Wall.

    After all, with the situation unclear, safety came first.

    Cultivation? What was that?

    So, when Qi Yuan approached the Blood Jade Wall, everyone who had been cultivating against the wall stepped back.

    Qi Yuan was momentarily puzzled and looked back at the group.

    "Did all of you speak ill of me? Otherwise, why are you so afraid of standing near me?"

    As soon as he said this, the already anxious crowd''s expressions changed.

    "N-no... it''s not that we don''t deserve... to stand near you!" Lin Yeshan boldly said.

    "Right, we¡¯re not worthy!" the others echoed in agreement.

    "Sigh, you old-fashioned lot, still living in the past. Nowadays, it¡¯s all about... equality for everyone!" Qi Yuan said softly.

    In this outpost, a few were modern people, but the majority were from ancient times.

    For example, Lin Yeshan was an ancient escort.

    So, it was likely correct that these people had old-fashioned and stubborn ideas.

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with them anymore and leaped into the area where the Blood Jade Wall stood.

    At that moment, he swallowed the Ancestral Return Pill.

    Instantly, he turned his focus inward and noticed that about one-tenth of the blood in his body was glowing red, like fireflies.

    This blood was precisely the blood he had obtained from devouring the essence of the demon race after using the Devouring Primordial Body.

    Suddenly, it was as if a teapot had sprung a leak, and red light began to spill from Qi Yuan¡¯s body.

    "He¡¯s reacting with the Blood Jade Wall so quickly; his talent... is indeed exceptional. No wonder!"

    "Who is his bloodline ancestor?"

    "With talent like his, the ancestral source must be quite generous, right?"

    Everyone''s eyes burned with envy.

    Qi Yuan was already strong, and if he received the favor of his ancestor, it was hard to imagine how terrifying he might become.

    At that moment, the Blood Jade Wall began to glow intensely.

    A thick blood-red beam of light shot into Qi Yuan''s body.

    "A Dead-grade Low-class bloodline? That... his future prospects are worrying!"

    An elder who saw the blood-red light flicker in his eyes with disappointment.

    Bloodline sources are also graded.

    The lowest is Low-class, followed by Mid-class, then High-class, with the highest being titled.

    However, beyond just grading, there are other classifications.Re?a? latest cha/p/ters on

    These are Dead or Active.

    A Dead bloodline means the ancestor is deceased.

    An Active bloodline means the ancestor is still alive.

    Naturally, the more active and higher the grade, the brighter the future and the greater the rewards.

    A Dead-grade Low-class bloodline is almost at the bottom of the hierarchy.

    "With a bloodline like this, it might not be much help to him. What a pity!"

    "Pity? You, a mere Qi-blood Realm cultivator, pity someone else? He¡¯s achieved more without ancestral bloodlines than you¡¯ll ever reach in your lifetime!"

    With those words, the crowd fell silent.

    Indeed, for Qi Yuan, the Ancestral Return Pill was just icing on the cake.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan closed his eyes, and a drop of blood within him began to boil slightly.

    Yes... just slightly.

    His strength also increased, but just a little bit.

    At this moment, his eyes fixed on that drop of blood.

    Suddenly, countless pieces of information flooded his mind.

    He gazed through the infinite void and saw a blood-red world.

    Qi Yuan saw a thin bone fragment dripping with blood.

    Following this bone, he seemed to glimpse the owner of this bone.

    Qi Yuan was really thoughtful.

    "So... these are the bloodline ancestors of the body that the Innate Seed resides in. Their gifts... really should be more generous, given their strength... Mythic level?"

    Although Qi Yuan¡¯s current strength wasn¡¯t at its peak, his vision remained sharp.

    The Low-class and Mid-class bloodline ancestors were at most at the Venerable level.

    And the High-class bloodline ancestors could reach the level of a Grand Venerable.

    As for the titled bloodline ancestors, they were Mythic-level powerhouses.

    "So, this is a Martial Lord?

    Then... is a Martial God a Yang God?"

    Qi Yuan closed his eyes slightly.

    He dared to share blood with those dead ancestors.

    As for the living ones, they didn¡¯t need his concern.

    After all, one cannot refuse a gift from an elder.

    "Not bad. With this, I¡¯m probably at the peak of the Martial Spirit Realm. One more step, and I¡¯ll be a Martial King!"

    After receiving so many gifts, Qi Yuan¡¯s strength had significantly improved.

    The Martial King Realm was equivalent to the Purple Mansion Realm.

    Beyond that was the Martial Lord.

    "So, killing demons really speeds up progress. I hope next time, I¡¯ll get a more challenging world, with more demons, and give me... more lovely ancestors."

    At this moment, Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

    The crowd, who had been buzzing with chatter, fell silent.

    Some had looks of amazement on their faces, but now they were completely quiet.

    All the sad moments in their lives flashed through their minds, as if they were afraid of bursting out laughing and angering Qi Yuan.

    Because of this, the previously amused crowd now wore solemn expressions. Some even had looks of sorrow on their faces, with tears streaming down.

    "Did... your fathers die?" Qi Yuan asked with a puzzled expression.

    ...

    At Jun¡¯an Neighborhood.

    New green buds sprouted on the branches, adding a touch of freshness to the early spring.

    Wang Zhiqi was wearing a single-layer shirt, not feeling cold at all.

    "Principal, this is our neighborhood. Looks pretty good, right?"

    Wang Zhiqi had a simple nature and was at an age where she loved to play.

    Moreover, with her high talent, she was very popular at Tianxuan Tower, and all the teachers were very kind to her. So she wasn¡¯t afraid of cultivators like Xie Tang and was quite bold.

    "Yes, there are a lot of people." Xie Tang nodded, casually glancing at the neighborhood.

    Hmm, just an ordinary neighborhood for mortals.

    "Don¡¯t be fooled by how ordinary our neighborhood looks. There are some amazing people here.

    For example, my dad, hehe, he¡¯s a martial artist, considered a top soldier!" Wang Zhiqi boasted.

    Her father, Yang Shan, was practically a living legend, comparable to a king among soldiers.

    This was something she had to keep secret from her classmates, but it was different with a cultivator like Xie Tang.

    "Not bad, he¡¯s a dragon among men!" Xie Tang praised.

    Genius disciples should be pampered.

    "Our neighborhood also has a cat that¡¯s a web celebrity, with millions of followers!" Wang Zhiqi said excitedly. "Principal, this cat has gained intelligence, it can cook, and even play with a Rubik¡¯s Cube!"

    As she spoke, Wang Zhiqi pulled out her phone.

    She played a video for Xie Tang.

    In the video, a pitiful-looking cat, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, was cooking. It occasionally added salt and spices, making it quite amusing.

    "This cat is so smart! I¡¯ve even held it before. It belongs to my neighbor!" Wang Zhiqi said enthusiastically.

    Xie Tang watched the video, her expression slightly puzzled. For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity with this cat.

    "In a world like yours, this cat is indeed unique, but in the Fire Spirit Realm, it wouldn¡¯t be much.

    In the Fire Spirit Realm, some cats even develop intelligence, with wisdom equal to that of humans."

    "Principal, do you think this cat has the potential to cultivate and become like us?" Wang Zhiqi asked.

    "Difficult." Xie Tang shook her head. "Our Xuantian Sect doesn¡¯t have a cultivation method for non-human beings."

    "What a pity." Wang Zhiqi felt a bit disappointed, but then she looked up at Xie Tang and suddenly said, "Principal, if you registered an account, you¡¯d definitely get a lot of followers and become a huge online star!"

    "Oh? Really?" Xie Tang smiled gently, her star-like brows twinkling.

    "This is the first time I¡¯ve seen... someone with brows like stars! Everyone else has sword-shaped brows, but you have star-shaped brows, Principal. That¡¯s so unique!" Wang Zhiqi said, her eyes shining.

    Xie Tang chuckled. "My brows are nothing special. If you saw my senior sister, you¡¯d find that some people¡¯s brows... can even resemble turtles!"

    "What, turtles? That¡¯s so cool!" Wang Zhiqi exclaimed in surprise. "When I master cultivation, I want to make my eyebrows look like... the sun!"

    Xie Tang looked at Wang Zhiqi indulgently.

    If anyone else joked about her brows, she would have killed them with a sword.

    But Wang Zhiqi was different. Xie Tang knew Wang Zhiqi was naturally innocent and meant no harm.

    However, at that moment, her starry brows twitched slightly, and a hint of joy appeared in her eyes. "Your neighborhood really is full of exceptional people. I¡¯ve found two more gifted youngsters!"

    Those two had talents that far surpassed even Wang Zhiqi¡¯s.

    How could Xie Tang not be thrilled?

    This time, she had made an unexpected gain!

 Chapter 347: The Identity of the Blind Date, Xiao Mei

    Chapter 347: The Identity of the Blind Date, Xiao Mei

    Xie Tang''s gaze immediately fell on a pair of young people.

    There was a hint of excitement in her eyes.

    After all, the Xuantian Sect had been in decline for too long.

    Even in the Fire Spirit Realm, it was difficult to recruit good talents.

    Thus, she placed her hopes on this new world.

    Finding Wang Zhiqi was an unexpected delight.

    Now, seeing two individuals with talents even higher than Wang Zhiqi''s, how could she not be thrilled?

    Especially since these two were also in Tianyue City.T/his chapter is updat/ed by

    Tianyue City was Xuantian Sect¡¯s source of recruits!

    "Principal, you mean those two?" Wang Zhiqi''s eyes lit up with surprise. "What a coincidence! I know them; they¡¯re refugees that Brother Qi Yuan brought back from the Wugui Nation!"

    "Oh, who is Qi Yuan?" Xie Tang asked casually, her gaze never leaving the pair.

    "He''s my neighbor, a good friend of my dad, and the owner of that viral cat. He¡¯s... super handsome! Last time my best friend saw him, she even said she wanted to confess to him! But hehe, when Brother Qi Yuan came back last time, he married a super beautiful wife, and my friend cried her eyes out!"

    As Wang Zhiqi spoke, she was animated.

    Her best friend was the type who always fell in love.

    In middle school, she liked street thugs with motorbikes; in high school, she had a crush on the biology teacher.

    She probably would fall in love with a military instructor in college.

    "Oh really, he¡¯s quite lucky to have picked up these two promising talents!" Xie Tang didn¡¯t pay much attention to Qi Yuan. Her only concern was the two exceptionally talented mortals.

    However, after a while, her expression changed slightly.

    "People from the Doushen Sect? Hmph, and the Carefree Wanderer!"

    She suddenly noticed someone she very much disliked standing beside the young pair.

    It was none other than Jiang Qingjiao of the Doushen Sect.

    The other person was a famous rogue cultivator known as the Carefree Wanderer.

    This rogue cultivator was powerful, an old monster in the Nascent Soul stage.

    At this moment, the Carefree Wanderer was performing a spell, making a small bird appear out of thin air in his hand. The bird even held a fresh flower in its beak, looking quite adorable.

    "Hmph, what is a friend from the Doushen Sect doing in my Tianyue City?"

    After watching for a moment, Xie Tang directly approached with Wang Zhiqi.

    She looked at Jiang Qingjiao, her expression unfriendly, and her tone displeased.

    When Jiang Qingjiao saw Xie Tang, his eyes flashed with surprise, then turned indifferent: "So it¡¯s the Turtle Star Fairy from Xuantian Sect.

    Senior Carefree Wanderer happened to meet these two and wanted to take them as disciples, so I came to take a look.

    Oh, as for Tianyue... your junior brother lost to my junior brother, so why can¡¯t I come to Tianyue?"

    Jiang Qingjiao''s words were full of hostility.

    As expected, Xie Tang was enraged by Jiang Qingjiao¡¯s words: "We didn¡¯t lose Tianyue!"

    Jiang Qingjiao''s smile grew wider: "Since Star Fairy is here, why not have a duel today instead of waiting for another time? Maybe... Tianyue will fall into the hands of our Doushen Sect!"

    Xie Tang''s face turned ashen.

    Jiang Qingjiao was the Holy Son of the Doushen Sect, the strongest of the younger generation.

    Compared to him, Xie Tang was much weaker.

    Only her senior sister, Xie Xinsu, could overpower Jiang Qingjiao.

    Since her senior sister''s disappearance, there had been a power gap in the younger generation of Xuantian Sect, making them unable to compete with the Doushen Sect.

    Thus, if Xie Tang were to rashly accept Jiang Qingjiao¡¯s challenge, it would be a humiliating defeat.

    In the face of this provocation, she could only grit her teeth and swallow her anger.

    Seeing this, Jiang Qingjiao''s smile widened: "If Senior Carefree Wanderer loses interest and doesn¡¯t want to take these two as disciples, then... it¡¯s our Doushen Sect¡¯s turn.

    Unless our Doushen Sect doesn¡¯t want them, only then will you have a chance."

    Jiang Qingjiao was confident and domineering, speaking as if he had already won.

    Xie Tang was at a loss for words, fuming with anger.

    But she understood that Jiang Qingjiao was deliberately trying to provoke her into fighting.

    If she lost, it would be a personal humiliation, but losing the sect''s recruitment grounds would be unforgivable.

    At this moment, Ajie, who had been quiet all along, held his sister''s hand and looked at Jiang Qingjiao with determination: "I¡¯ve said before, I won¡¯t take him as my master, and I won¡¯t join this Doushen Sect.

    Don¡¯t waste any more time on me, it¡¯s not worth it."

    Jiang Qingjiao was slightly taken aback, not expecting a mere mortal to speak to him like this.

    Displeasure arose in his heart.

    But he hid it well: "Joining us will bring you unimaginable benefits.

    Power, wealth, beauty, anything you desire will be at your fingertips!"

    "I don¡¯t need those things. My life belongs to the master who saved me," Ajie said firmly.

    Not to mention the master''s kindness, even the master''s strength was far beyond what these petty tricks could compare to.

    The master had asked for his blood.

    As night fell, Qi Yuan took out his phone.

    "After being away for nearly a year, I wonder if anyone tried to contact me."

    The canary was lying in Qi Yuan¡¯s arms, pretending to sleep, her long eyelashes looking lovely.

    Of course, Qi Yuan knew she was faking it.

    He scrolled through his phone.

    Even though he had been away for nearly a year, the number of messages he received could be counted on one hand.

    One was an offer to endorse a clothing brand, a women¡¯s brand called Chelsea that was planning to enter the men¡¯s market. They had seen him win the Martial Arts Tournament and thought he had a good image, so they reached out for an endorsement.

    The last message was from six months ago.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother replying and deleted it right away.

    Besides, the brand name sounded too much like a shoe company.

    Another message wished him a happy birthday, from an unknown number.

    Qi Yuan was slightly surprised and called out.

    "Zero-One."

    "Master, Zero-One is here to serve you."

    Outside the door, Zero-One stopped playing with the cat toy and stood respectfully.

    Seeing the toy fall, Xie Xinsu quickly grabbed the red feather in her mouth, as if afraid someone might take it away.

    "Whose number is this that sent me the message? The number is 456..."

    Qi Yuan gave the phone number to Zero-One.

    "Master, please wait. Zero-One will handle it for you."

    Zero-One began operating at full power, gathering all relevant information based on this phone number.

    A few minutes later, Zero-One¡¯s voice came back.

    "Master, all the information about the owner of this phone number has been packaged and sent to you. Please check."

    Qi Yuan quickly opened the file.

    The canary, who had been pretending to sleep, leaned over, curious about who sent Qi Yuan the birthday wish.

    Seeing the photo, Qi Yuan was taken aback.

    "Isn¡¯t this my blind date, Xiao Mei?"

    In the photo was a tall woman, quite attractive.

    Qi Yuan immediately recognized who she was.

    He had met Xiao Mei for a blind date at a KFC in Qin City, and she had even lent him 300,000 yuan.

    Xiao Mei was very kind, not only lending him money but also paying for the meal.

    "Could she be wishing me a happy birthday to remind me to repay the loan?" Qi Yuan felt a bit embarrassed; he hadn¡¯t planned on returning the money at first.

    Now that she was hinting at it, it would be quite socially awkward not to repay it.

    "Oh, this is so unfair. Why does a mentally ill person have to pay back borrowed money?"

    Qi Yuan complained as he continued reading the woman¡¯s information.

    "No wonder she lent you money. She¡¯s the sister of your Innate Seed¡¯s body." Ning Tao said, tilting her head.

    The information showed that this woman was in the military, involved in undercover operations against Canxing and other military tasks.

    She had another identity: she was the disciple of Qi Yuan¡¯s deceased parents from the Innate Seed¡¯s body.

    "She was reassigned from undercover work before I won the championship." Qi Yuan continued reading the information.

    It was clear that the Seven Martial Stars family knew about the connection between this tall woman and Qi Yuan, so they transferred her from dangerous work to a cushy, well-paying, and powerful position.

    "She even went to the Dead World, and now... she¡¯s become a cultivator?"

    Looking at the information, Qi Yuan found his sister¡¯s experience quite remarkable.

    Even before their blind date, she was part of the Dead World.

    Moreover, unlike others in the Dead World, she, like Qi Yuan, frequently lived in the real world.

    Recently, when the Immortal Dao descended, she even managed to join a cultivation sect, becoming a cultivator.

    This sister¡¯s background was quite intriguing.

    "She¡¯s probably doing a mission in the Dead World now?"

    Qi Yuan put down the file, his expression calm.

    "She learned cultivation methods and has a variety of means, so she should be fine." Ning Tao commented from the side.

    "Yeah, let¡¯s hope her mission takes a while; the interest on 300,000 yuan in the bank would be substantial." Qi Yuan was still a bit pained about the money.

    If she returned late, he could delay the repayment and earn more interest.

    The canary chuckled, "Let¡¯s hope she meets a Red Staff Demon Butcher who takes her mission target away!"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan paused, his expression serious: "If I took away her mission target, wouldn¡¯t that make me a villain?"

    "Huh?"

    "They¡¯ve been in the mission world for a year. What if their credit cards have overdue payments? What if the debt collectors call their parents and they end up socially dead?"

    Qi Yuan was deeply concerned. He always thought things through carefully.

 Chapter 348: The Secrets of Gongxing, the Place of the End

    Chapter 348: The Secrets of Gongxing, the Place of the End

    "Is it possible that the laws changed, and those lending companies went bankrupt?" The Canary pondered seriously.

    No matter the topic, she could always keep up with Qi Yuan''s train of thought.

    Qi Yuan nodded in agreement: "You have a point, so... whether it''s fortune or misfortune, it''s not my doing, maybe it''s just fate."

    "So, whatever you do, it won''t be wrong." The Canary''s beautiful eyes seemed to sparkle with stars.

    "You too." Qi Yuan was also good at being a repeater.

    He opened up other chat apps.

    There were all sorts of useless messages, as well as some holiday greetings from acquaintances.

    Among them, a former classmate had sent a message seven months ago: "Are you there? I''m a bit short on cash, old friend."

    Then, after a day''s gap, late at night, the same person sent another message.

    "You¡¯re really so realistic, I didn¡¯t really mean to borrow, just wanted to reconnect with an old classmate, just asking..."

    Then, there was a long, dramatic message.

    And then, seven days later, another late-night message arrived.

    "In urgent need, short on funds for a bit. For the sake of our years of friendship, could you lend me some money, not much, just thirty thousand!"

    Seeing these messages, Qi Yuan was speechless.

    "What on earth is this?"

    He grumbled a bit, then directly blocked and deleted this classmate.

    He continued scrolling through his social media apps.

    Suddenly, a private message caught his attention.

    "Canary, do you think this person has a crush on me?"

    Qi Yuan showed the phone to the Canary.

    The Canary¡¯s drowsy eyes suddenly widened, her earlier sleepiness replaced by excitement: "Let me see, I¡¯ll help you judge!"

    On Qi Yuan''s phone, there was a private message.

    The message was received on the day Qi Yuan had registered his marriage with the Canary and Xiao Jia.

    "No wonder everyone loves cultivating immortality; who could refuse this feeling?"

    That night, Qi Yuan held the Canary close and officially stepped into the Nascent Soul stage.

    ...

    Two days later, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a look of joy in them.

    "All the Nascent Souls... have finally appeared."

    At this moment, he looked inward at his own body, where over four thousand Nascent Souls had formed.

    These Nascent Souls were all condensed in the Mortal Heart Realm.

    "Unfortunately, this game body of mine is too weak to fully harness the power of these Nascent Souls."

    Qi Yuan had long realized that his in-game self was akin to his "soul."

    To put it in simpler terms, it was his soul.

    But this "soul" was somewhat different, almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person.

    And each time he entered a new world, it was always very weak.

    So, Qi Yuan only referred to it as his spirit.

    The Nascent Soul was different from the Stellar Golden Core.

    The Stellar Golden Core was suspended in the universe, and as long as there was enough spiritual energy in the body, its projection could be sent out at any time.

    The Nascent Soul was different.

    Its power was too overwhelming.

    If he sent it out, his "spirit" wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it.

    So, these Nascent Souls currently couldn¡¯t be converted into his combat power in this world.

    However...

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes deepened with thought: "This world is truly a large-scale breeding ground for gods and demons!"

    Previously, with Uqi, and later with the Ajie siblings found in the Wugui Nation, both had special bloodlines. Qi Yuan could send out his Nascent Souls, in the form of grandpa and grandma spirits, to inhabit their bodies.

    As they grew stronger, Qi Yuan¡¯s Nascent Souls would gradually fully awaken, eventually restoring to their original state, and even advancing further.

 Chapter 349: I Want to Bring More Love to This World

    Chapter 349: I Want to Bring More Love to This World

    Zihua Residential Area, Tianyue City.

    Unlike the Jun¡¯an Residential Area, the people living here were either wealthy or influential. In one of the spacious apartments, Wu Qi was wearing a white bathrobe, her brow furrowed.

    "Xiaoqi, why be so proud? That¡¯s a... legendary cultivation sect.

    "Although it''s a small sect, for those of us on Gongxing, aren¡¯t they all true divine courts? My cousin used to be just an ordinary girl working as a server in a milk tea shop, earning 3,000 yuan a month.

    "But now, after being found to have a cultivation talent and joining the Hunsha Sect, her name was given its own page in the village genealogy. Do you understand what that means?

    "To put it bluntly, you used to be a star with some status and fame, but compared to these cultivators, weren''t you just an entertainer? Now that you have talent, why not join the Hunsha Sect? Even if it''s just as an outer disciple, it¡¯s not something everyone can get into.

    "Once you join, my cousin can help you, and you¡¯ll have a limitless future under her guidance..."

    The manager¡¯s voice was incessant, never-ending.

    Wu Qi found it headache-inducing.

    The Hunsha Sect was a small sect, with only one Golden Core elder in the inner sect. It recruited disciples from various places in Qinyuan, and had a bit of a reputation. Many with talents that didn¡¯t qualify them for major sects like the Tianxuan Sect would choose to join mid-sized sects like the Hunsha Sect. But even for these smaller sects, not just anyone could get in.

    Wu Qi¡¯s talent wasn¡¯t high, but it met the minimum requirement. Combined with the fact that this manager¡¯s cousin had become an official disciple of the Hunsha Sect, the manager wanted Wu Qi to join and become her cousin¡¯s follower.

    "Liu Jie, my situation is more complicated. I don¡¯t want to force this," Wu Qi said firmly.

    "Xiaoqi, I know you¡¯re still thinking about that Mr. Qi.

    "You want to climb into his bed and become a noblewoman.

    "But times have changed. You need to be an independent and strong woman. If you join the Hunsha Sect, you¡¯ll be nobility! That Qi Yuan, at most, is a count. In the eyes of cultivators, what¡¯s the difference between him and a large ant?" The manager advised earnestly.

    "Back then, you were a small-time celebrity, so it made sense to crave his power.

    "But now... times have changed!

    "He¡¯s just one of the masses now. Don¡¯t waste your youth on him!"

    Wu Qi was speechless. She couldn¡¯t reveal Qi Yuan''s true identity.

    At this moment, a famous quote came to her mind, and she said, "In the past, I was a frog at the bottom of the well, seeing Mr. Qi as the sun and moon. Now that the immortal path has revived, I see Qi Yuan as a mayfly seeing the vast sky."

    "What has he done to bewitch you like this?" The manager''s voice was filled with disappointment.

    At that moment, the doorbell rang.

    "I have a visitor. I¡¯m hanging up now!" Wu Qi quickly hung up, feeling puzzled as to who could be visiting her so late at night.

    Could it be a close friend?

    Thinking this, she walked to the door and looked through the peephole.

    Seeing the face on the other side, Wu Qi¡¯s expression immediately filled with joy.

    "Mr. Qi!"

    Standing outside was none other than Mr. Qi.

    He had actually returned.

    But... why was he here to see her?

    Without any hesitation, Wu Qi opened the door, her expression full of delight. "Mr. Qi, what brings you here?"

    As a cool breeze passed by, making her shoulders feel a bit chilly, she suddenly realized she was only wearing a bathrobe. Her face turned red instantly.

    "My hearing is pretty good. Hmm, just now, the wind carried some voices saying you wanted to get into my bed..."

    "Ah? She was just talking nonsense, that¡¯s not true!" Wu Qi quickly explained.

    At that moment, she felt incredibly nervous, her heart pounding as if the world was becoming a bit hazy.

    "Hmm, it¡¯s good if it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I¡¯m a married man." Qi Yuan sat down inside the house, finally getting to the point. "I came here because I need a drop of your blood."

    "A drop of blood?" Wu Qi was startled, not clearly understanding what Qi Yuan meant.

    If this had been when they first met on the cruise, Wu Qi might have hesitated slightly, then willingly offered herself to get close to Qi Yuan.

    But now, she didn¡¯t dare.

    "Hey, pay more attention. I said a drop of blood.

    "Do you remember when I first rode in your car? We agreed, your blood belongs to me."

    Qi Yuan needed a drop of Wu Qi¡¯s blood as a medium to store a Nascent Soul.

    Wu Qi finally understood, the misunderstanding resolved, and she felt embarrassed enough to dig her toes into the floor.

    "Mr. Qi, please take it," Wu Qi said, extending her finger.

    She was curious about what Qi Yuan wanted with her blood.

    But since she had already placed her bets on Qi Yuan, no matter what, she would comply.

    Her delicate finger stretched out, and a flash of red light appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    A thin line cut across Wu Qi¡¯s finger, and a drop of blood fell, landing in Qi Yuan¡¯s palm.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s hand seemed to have a hole in it.

    The drop of blood seeped in.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan closed his eyes.

    He was sensing which Nascent Soul was destined for Wu Qi.

    After about ten seconds, Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

    Wu Qi stood quietly by his side, puzzled.

    "Remember when I said I¡¯d send you a grandmother?

    "Well, this time, I¡¯m sending you... five grandmothers."

    "Huh?" Wu Qi blinked in confusion.

    "They are the Four Heavenly Kings: Dhr?tara?s?t?ra, Viru?d?haka, Viru?pa?ks?a, and Vais?ravan?a.

    "And one more, Yueliao. Surprisingly, these underdeveloped twins need to be separated."

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    The Four Heavenly Kings were his earliest forces from Qingshui Village, with Dhr?tara?s?t?ra being Wang Wenqi, the granddaughter of the Tianbao Venerable.

    "It seems I need to send grandfathers and grandmothers to the people of Gongxing, so they can feel the warmth of family."

    Qi Yuan made up his mind, and a plan began to form in his mind. "Ning Tao, after you finish your cake, take me to the capital. I want to meet the Seventh Prince."

    "Okay." Ning Tao quickly agreed.

    "Take your time, don¡¯t choke, there¡¯s no rush." Qi Yuan looked at Ning Tao with a doting expression.

    ...

    In the royal palace.

    The Seventh Prince stood tall in his royal attire, looking refined and courteous.

    Standing before him was a bearded elder.

    This elder was from the Tianyuan Sect, a senior elder.

    The Tianyuan Sect, originating from the Fire Spirit Realm, was more powerful than both the Dou Shen Sect and the Xuantian Sect.

    It was the true overlord of the Fire Spirit Realm.

    According to legend, the founding ancestor of the Tianyuan Sect, in his youth, found a mysterious stone.

    This stone could avert disaster and predict fortune and misfortune.

    With this stone, the Tianyuan Sect ancestor advanced smoothly in the cultivation world, eventually reaching the Yinshen stage and ascending to the higher realm.

    The stone could not be taken to the higher realm and was left in the Tianyuan Sect.

    When the passage between the Fire Spirit Realm and Gongxing opened, this stone played a crucial role.

    The Tianyuan Sect specialized in divining the secrets of the heavens.

    "Seventh Prince, the Tianyuan Sect wishes to establish the Dou Zhuan Tianyuan Formation with no ill intent," the elder said with a hint of pleading in his voice.

    "Elder Wang, I trust the Tianyuan Sect¡¯s good intentions.

    "But setting up the Dou Zhuan Tianyuan Formation all over the world... our royal family cannot make that decision.

    "The Seven Martial Stars families are not of one mind, so we cannot agree to such a request.

    "Besides, Qinyuan and the Ancient Wu Kingdom have always been rivals. Even if we agreed, they would refuse.

    "If they agreed, we would oppose it."

    The Seventh Prince¡¯s words clearly indicated a firm refusal.

    After all, establishing the Dou Zhuan Tianyuan Formation across the globe was akin to setting up military bases in various countries.

    Although the Tianyuan Sect claimed the formation was only for observing heavenly secrets and divining the stars, how could they believe that? What if it was part of a grand array, set to seize control?

    Hearing this, Wang Kaixiang''s face darkened. "Seventh Prince, the Tianyuan Sect has no selfish motives.

    "Our Tianyuan Sect''s treasured Tianyuan Stone has predicted that within a thousand years, this world will undergo significant changes, possibly even affecting the Fire Spirit Realm.

    "That¡¯s why we are making early preparations, setting up the formation to face the great calamity!"

    Wang Kaixiang''s words were sincere.

    What he spoke of was indeed what the Tianyuan Stone had revealed.

    That¡¯s why he was so eager to establish the Dou Zhuan Tianyuan Formation to prepare for the crisis.

    But on Gongxing, the most powerful countries were Qinyuan and the Ancient Wu Kingdom. Without convincing these two countries, the formation could not be established.

    "A thousand years is too far off," the Seventh Prince said, shaking his head, then added apologetically, "I¡¯m sorry, Elder Wang."

    At that moment, a uniformed man hurriedly entered.

    Seeing him, the Seventh Prince''s expression changed. After hearing what he said, his face lit up with excitement.

    "Mr. Qi has arrived? Why didn¡¯t you bring him here right away?

    "No, I¡¯ll go personally to greet him in the main hall!"

    After speaking, the Seventh Prince, in his eagerness, seemed to forget about Wang Kaixiang, hurrying out of the hall.

    Left in the hall, Wang Kaixiang looked on in puzzlement.

    "Mr. Qi? Is he a cultivator?"

    He had met the Seventh Prince several times, who had always shown respect to cultivators.

    But he had never seen the prince lose his composure like this.

    Moreover, the Seventh Prince had met him only in a side hall.

    Meetings between the Ten Nascent Souls and the leaders of the Seven Martial Stars families also took place in the side hall.

    Even a Nascent Soul ancestor visiting the royal family wouldn¡¯t qualify for a meeting in the main hall.

    Yet this Mr. Qi... was going to the main hall.

    "Are there any Nascent Soul ancestors with the surname Qi in our three realms?" Wang Kaixiang wondered, perplexed.

    He decided not to leave.

    He would wait and secretly observe this so-called Mr. Qi to see what kind of divine being he was.

    Meanwhile, outside the royal hall, the Seventh Prince hurriedly ran, his eyes filled with delight.

    "Mr. Qi, sorry to keep you waiting."

    Seeing Qi Yuan, he acted as if he was meeting a deity.

    Especially with the peerless beauty that Qi Yuan held close, who was terrifying in her own right.

    Most importantly, he had learned that Qi Yuan had married two wives.

    His admiration for Qi Yuan grew even deeper.

    Even a terrifying figure like Ning Tao, who easily obliterated the Eye of the Sky, was willing to serve Qi Yuan.

    "It¡¯s fine. I came here because I need your help with something," Qi Yuan got straight to the point.

    "Oh? Please, tell me, Mr. Qi. The royal family is your most loyal servant, always at your service!" The Seventh Prince said earnestly.

    "I want to bring more love to this world."

    "Hmm?"

    "I want to send grandfathers and grandmothers to some people in this world."

 Chapter 350: The Plot of the Double-Pupiled Man

    Chapter 350: The Plot of the Double-Pupiled Man

    Qi Yuan stood in the grand hall, his expression calm, his voice carrying a persuasive tone, making him appear almost like a divine being. His words seemed to convey the benevolence of a saint who empathizes with all of humanity.

    Those present had various questions pop into their minds as they heard him.

    ???

    The Seventh Prince maintained a respectful and humble demeanor, saying, "Mr. Qi is right. This world is too chaotic, filled with endless killing and oppression. Starting today, our royal family will advocate for the cessation of all wars. As for Mr. Qi¡¯s plan to provide grandfathers and grandmothers to the people, the royal family fully supports it and is willing to go to any lengths to assist."

    For the Seventh Prince, his first response to Qi Yuan¡¯s statements was always that Mr. Qi was right.

    "Hmm, your royal family is quite perceptive," Qi Yuan praised, then laid out his entire plan. "My robot, Zero-One, will be fully dedicated to creating a website over the next few days. This website will be called ''Grandpa Delivery,'' and the reason it''s not called ''Grandma Delivery'' isn¡¯t due to feminist concerns but because ''Grandma Delivery'' might lead to misunderstandings about our site¡¯s purpose.

    "I need this website to be publicly available to the citizens across the country. I need your royal family to help advertise it, preferably during prime time slots. Oh, and make sure it¡¯s mentioned during the weather forecast."

    "There¡¯s no problem with that; the royal family can handle it!" The Seventh Prince responded without hesitation.

    As for Qi Yuan¡¯s purpose, he didn¡¯t inquire further.

    Could he even ask?

    A strong figure like Qi Yuan could do whatever he wanted.Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels

    "And there¡¯s one more thing: after the website is promoted to people globally, they will need to send a drop of their blood to me. I will then screen the submissions. Those who are suitable will receive a grandfather or grandmother. Those who are not will still receive my love, and I¡¯ll even call them grandson or granddaughter."

    Qi Yuan explained seriously.

    If the blood was deemed suitable, a grandparent would be delivered. If not, well, Qi Yuan would still fill their lives with love by calling them a grandchild.

    The Seventh Prince immediately understood that this was going to be a massive undertaking.

    The potential impact could be far more significant than the Tianyuan Sect¡¯s plan to establish the Dou Zhuan Tianyuan Formation.

    After all, giving one''s blood to a mysterious cultivator was inherently dangerous.

    "Mr. Qi is right, but... what if some people are unwilling to give their blood?" The Seventh Prince asked, completely on Qi Yuan¡¯s side.

    "I have no money. If they¡¯re unwilling, then it¡¯s just not meant to be." Qi Yuan shrugged.

    He wasn¡¯t about to pay people for their blood.

    After all, he didn¡¯t even have enough money to buy the entire planet of Gongxing.

    Besides, where in the world do people get both grandparents and money?

    "The royal family is willing to provide some funds to assist Mr. Qi," the Seventh Prince said, gritting his teeth. "We¡¯ll also reserve some funds in the national treasury to support Mr. Qi."

    If they were going to do something, they had to do it well.

    The Seventh Prince had already thought of offering financial incentives.

    Anyone who sent their blood through official channels would receive a 500-yuan subsidy.

    Five hundred yuan might not mean much to wealthy individuals, but it would certainly attract a lot of people from lower-income backgrounds.

    As for the wealthy, they might not care about the subsidy and might not bother with it at all.

    "So, you¡¯re saying this will mostly attract people who need money? By the way, does Qinyuan have more rich people or poor people?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    He didn¡¯t care too much about the specifics of the process as long as the results were satisfactory.

    "According to statistical data, there are more people with fewer assets."

    "As long as there are more people, go ahead with your plan. Sigh, I¡¯m such a good person, not only giving people grandparents but also giving them money." Qi Yuan said with pride, feeling like a truly generous person.

    Ning Tao stood beside Qi Yuan, looking at him with adoration.

    It seemed as if whatever he did brought her happiness.

    Finally, Qi Yuan looked at the Seventh Prince and said, "If the blood is suitable, the grandparents or grandmothers I send will be a gift of immortal fate."

    "Immortal fate?" The Seventh Prince''s heart raced.

    ...

    In a side hall, Wang Kaixiang had a perplexed expression.

    "The previous champion of the Martial Arts Tournament... Qi Yuan."

    Just moments ago, he had secretly stepped out of the side hall to take a look at the guest.

    Using powerful search tools, he was surprised to find that the man was a local from Gongxing and the previous champion of the Martial Arts Tournament.

    This surprised him.

    Why would the royal family treat a mere local, even if he was the champion of the Martial Arts Tournament, with such importance?

    "His strength... is quite ordinary." He watched the video of the final match in the Martial Arts Tournament.

    In the video, Qi Yuan punched his opponent into a mist of blood.

    That punch was indeed beyond the capabilities of ordinary people.

    "Martial arts do have their merits, but this level of strength isn¡¯t even close to the Foundation Establishment stage..."

    Wang Kaixiang found it all very strange.

    If this had been before the revival of the immortal path, a powerful martial artist like Qi Yuan might have drawn the royal family¡¯s attention.

    But now, with so many strong cultivators around, what was special about Qi Yuan?

    "However, given the Seventh Prince¡¯s attitude towards him, it might be worth getting in touch. Perhaps through him, I can persuade the royal family to agree to the Dou Zhuan Tianyuan Formation!"

    This blood was incredibly precious.

    "A small gift, nothing more." The double-pupiled man was generous.

    After all, compared to ancestral blood, this was a trivial expense.

    Xiaoyao Sanren and Jiang Qingjiao accepted the Heavenly Fang Demon Blood, struggling to contain their joy.

    The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other.

    Jiang Qingjiao then leaned closer to the double-pupiled man, speaking softly. "With such a generous gift, we are willing to reciprocate!"

    "Oh?" The double-pupiled man responded, intrigued.

    Jiang Qingjiao continued, "A few days ago, Xiaoyao Sanren discovered a pair of teenagers in this region and took a liking to them, wanting to take them as disciples.

    "However, those two were shortsighted and didn¡¯t recognize an immortal when they saw one.

    "Originally, Xiaoyao Sanren was just playing around, acting on a whim.

    "But recently, he noticed something unusual about these two teenagers.

    "They not only possess spiritual energy and the fluctuations of magical power, but they also seem to have..."

    Jiang Qingjiao proceeded to tell the double-pupiled man about the recent occurrences surrounding the Aji siblings.

    "We suspect that within this boy¡¯s body... lies the remnant soul of a mysterious cultivator.

    "That mysterious cultivator was likely extraordinary, at least a Nascent Soul, perhaps even a Purple Mansion.

    "If we were to perform a soul search, we would surely gain something valuable!

    "Though it may not be as precious as Heavenly Fang Demon Blood, it¡¯s still a rare find."

    For the past few days, Jiang Qingjiao and Xiaoyao Sanren had been observing the Aji siblings, noticing the anomaly within them.

    They were almost certain that a powerful cultivator¡¯s remnant soul was residing within the siblings¡¯ bodies.

    Xiaoyao Sanren and Jiang Qingjiao were tempted by this, but they didn¡¯t dare act hastily, wanting to learn more about the remnant soul¡¯s origin before making a move.

    Now, with the arrival of the double-pupiled man, they decided to join forces.

    With the double-pupiled man on their side, their chances of success increased significantly.

    After all, a mere remnant soul, even if it belonged to a Purple Mansion cultivator in life, would be no match for the three of them.

    "This gift interests me greatly." The double-pupiled man¡¯s eyes sparkled.

    The presence of a mysterious cultivator¡¯s remnant soul on Gongxing was highly unusual.

    After all, Gongxing had only been connected to the three realms for less than a year.

    If the mysterious remnant soul was native to Gongxing, it might be related to the ancestral blood.

    If he could learn something about the ancestral blood through a soul search, it would be a huge gain.

    "In that case, let¡¯s join forces to capture and divide the spoils!" Jiang Qingjiao proposed.

    "Agreed," the double-pupiled man nodded.

    Xiaoyao Sanren didn¡¯t hesitate either and quickly nodded.

    In the past, Xiaoyao Sanren had adhered to his philosophy of carefree living, wasting time with the Aji siblings to align with his dao of freedom.

    But the potential rewards were too great, and sometimes, it was better not to be so carefree.

    However, Xiaoyao Sanren frowned as he spoke. "I heard that the Aji siblings¡¯ master has some ties to the military nobility. If we act recklessly, could it cause trouble?"

    After all, Xiaoyao Sanren was a rogue cultivator.

    He still vividly remembered what happened to that Nascent Soul demon cultivator.

    This world had Eyes of the Sky.

    "No need to worry, just an ordinary noble, not even a member of the Seven Martial Stars. They won¡¯t concern themselves with this.

    "Besides, we¡¯ll move quickly, kill the Aji siblings, and then eliminate that Qi Yuan. We can easily make it look like an accident, can¡¯t we?" Jiang Qingjiao had already thought this through.

    A little trickery to make Qi Yuan¡¯s death appear as a heart attack wouldn¡¯t even raise suspicions among the nobility.

    To these cultivators, anyone not from the Seven Martial Stars families was no different from a mere mortal.

    However, at that moment, in Jun¡¯an Residential Area, Ning Tao, who had been eating watermelon, suddenly raised an eyebrow. She looked over at Qi Yuan, her eyes flashing with a playful glint. "Husband, I just overheard someone plotting to kill you."

    "What?" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Who¡¯s so bold as to break the law like this!"

    Qi Yuan felt truly innocent.

    He had always been kind-hearted.

    Recently, he¡¯d even been busy bringing warmth to the world.

    Yet someone wanted to kill him?

    He felt deeply wronged.

    "Let¡¯s go see who¡¯s got such wicked intentions." Qi Yuan was visibly excited.

    "Alright." Originally wearing a camisole, Ning Tao now donned an elegant black dress, covering herself modestly.

    She embraced Qi Yuan, and they vanished in a flash.

 Chapter 351: Divine Hearing? Youâ€™re a Yin God!

    Chapter 351: Divine Hearing? You¡¯re a Yin God!

    "Let''s drink this wine and then go capture the remnant soul!" Jiang Qingjiao said with a look of joy and a hint of arrogance.

    This trip to Tianyue City had been quite fruitful.

    Not only had he obtained the rare treasure, Heavenly Fang Demon Blood, but he was also on the verge of seizing a significant opportunity.

    "Cheers!"

    The three men, all in high spirits, downed their drinks in one gulp.

    But at that moment, a calm voice suddenly echoed in the private room.

    "Oh dear, it seems someone dares to plot my murder."

    The unexpected voice caused all three men to change their expressions.

    Their spiritual senses immediately extended, trying to locate the source of the voice, their spiritual energy surging to its peak in alertness.

    As the voice fell silent, two figures materialized in the private room.

    One was a handsome man, holding a coldly beautiful woman in a black dress. The man¡¯s face clearly showed anger, while the woman''s expression was icy, carrying an air of coldness that made it clear she wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with. However, when her gaze fell upon the man beside her, it was filled with affection and adoration.

    Upon seeing the two, Xiaoyao Sanren''s eyes narrowed.

    He couldn¡¯t detect the strength of either person.

    The demon man also became extremely wary.

    For some reason, he felt an odd sense of familiarity with the two newcomers.

    Jiang Qingjiao quickly bowed and said, "Senior, is there some misunderstanding? I am Jiang Qingjiao of the Dou Shen Sect."

    He mentioned his sect to make the mysterious cultivator hesitate.

    "There¡¯s no misunderstanding. My wife was at home eating watermelon when she suddenly overheard someone planning to kill me, so she brought me here," Qi Yuan said lazily.

    Ning Tao¡¯s eyes glinted with amusement as she added, "Husband is right. I heard someone talking about killing ¡®Qi Yuan¡¯."

    At this, a trace of killing intent flickered in Ning Tao''s eyes.

    Hearing this, the demon man from the Myriad Demon Realm suddenly realized something, and his face changed dramatically. "Divine Hearing? You must be a Yin God!"

    Anyone who reaches the Yin God realm possesses the ability known as Divine Hearing.

    Within a certain range, if someone mentions the name of a god or talks about them, the god can sense it.

    So, in the presence of a Yin God, ordinary cultivators wouldn¡¯t dare to speak their name or badmouth them behind their back.

    Previously, they had casually mentioned Qi Yuan''s name, even setting up a soundproofing formation in the room, yet they were still overheard.

    If this wasn¡¯t Divine Hearing, what was it?

    However, something about this situation was strange.

    Divine Hearing usually involved hearing one''s own name.

    So why did this woman hear the name "Qi Yuan"?

    Typically, the one being heard should be the person foremost in the god''s mind. Shouldn¡¯t that be themselves?

    "A deity?"

    Xiaoyao Sanren and Jiang Qingjiao were utterly stunned when they heard this.

    The woman beside Qi Yuan... was a Yin God?

    "Deity, please forgive us! This is all a misunderstanding!" Jiang Qingjiao immediately fell to his knees.

    If the other party had been a Nascent Soul cultivator, he might have only been wary, not deeply afraid.

    But a Yin God? That was on par with the founding patriarch of Dou Shen Sect.

    Before such a powerful being, he could only kneel.

    Xiaoyao Sanren also didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly knelt down. "It¡¯s all a misunderstanding!"

    "A misunderstanding? Are you saying my wife misheard?" Qi Yuan¡¯s anger flared.

    He fully trusted Ning Tao¡¯s words.

    "No..." Jiang Qingjiao was panicking, unsure of how to explain.

    After all, they truly had harbored murderous intent towards Qi Yuan.

    But who would have thought that Qi Yuan¡¯s wife was a Yin God?

    Why hadn¡¯t she ascended to the higher realms? Why stay in the lower world?

    "Master, we..."

    "He¡¯s already introduced himself. Now it¡¯s your turn," Qi Yuan said, looking at the double-pupiled man and Xiaoyao Sanren.

    He had taken note of the Dou Shen Sect''s name.

    The sect''s name was a bit arrogant, so he figured it needed to be put in its place.

    He wanted to see what kind of backing these other two had.

    They were bold enough to plot against him, so he didn¡¯t believe they had no one supporting them.

    "I¡¯m just a rogue cultivator," Xiaoyao Sanren said.

    "And I... am also a rogue cultivator."

    "One truth and one lie. No matter," Qi Yuan said, shaking his head. "Either way... you all must die."

    "Please, spare us, Senior!"

    Jiang Qingjiao pleaded desperately, but as Qi Yuan spoke, his expression changed drastically.

    "He¡¯s bluffing! He can¡¯t possibly be a Yin God!"

    In that moment, Jiang Qingjiao burned all his energy, unleashing his most powerful technique.

    Xiaoyao Sanren understood that their only chance was to strike with everything they had.

    The two of them radiated intense spiritual energy, shining brightly.

    Jiang Qingjiao was already at the Golden Core stage.

    Xiaoyao Sanren, on the other hand, was a legendary False Nascent Soul expert.

    When the two attacked, their power was astonishing, enough to obliterate an entire street.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan yawned. "They¡¯re so adorable when they¡¯re angry, just like my cat when it puffs up."

    When someone is too weak, their anger seems cute in the eyes of the strong.

    No money!

    Shen Yang¡¯s response was straightforward.

    The young man¡¯s eyes flickered with malice.

    If that was the case, Shen Yang wouldn¡¯t be leaving Dou Shen Sect alive.

    After all, if Shen Yang went to another sect for a talent test and exposed what had happened here, it would be troublesome.

    "Looks like you have no fate with our Dou Shen Sect," the young man said, feigning regret as he patted Shen Yang on the shoulder.

    A special scent was transferred from his hand to Shen Yang¡¯s body.

    The young man had marked him, planning to deal with Shen Yang personally once he was a safe distance away.

    After all, in such a large mountain as Dou Shen Mountain, what¡¯s the harm in a few deaths?

    Even if something did happen, the sect would cover it up.

    After parting ways with the young man, Shen Yang walked out of Dou Shen Tower, feeling dejected.

    The sun outside was glaringly bright. He pulled out his phone, intending to book a ticket home. If he was quick enough, he could still make it back to deliver takeout in the afternoon and evening.

    He might as well earn some money if he could.

    But just as he unlocked his phone, a message suddenly caught his eye.

    He clicked on the video message, and his expression froze.

    "Do you lack love?"

    "Do you lack care?"

    "Have you gone a long time without seeing your grandfather or grandmother?"

    The voice in the video had an oddly compelling quality.

    Shen Yang immediately thought of his grandparents.

    However, they had both passed away when he was very young.

    "Today, you won¡¯t be alone."

    "¡®Grandpa Delivery Network¡¯ is offering a grand opening promotion. Anyone who participates in our ¡®Grandpa Delivery¡¯ activity and meets the requirements will receive one or more grandfathers or grandmothers.

    "If you don¡¯t meet the requirements, ¡®Grandpa Delivery Network¡¯ will generously call you ¡®grandson¡¯ or ¡®granddaughter¡¯..."

    When he heard this, Shen Yang found it utterly baffling and even suspected it was some kind of prank. But when he heard the words "grandson" and "granddaughter," his expression suddenly changed.

    Because the voice was all too familiar.

    "Isn¡¯t that him!"

    About a year ago, Shen Yang had stumbled upon an account that seemed to belong to a cultivator.

    The cultivator had posted a video featuring three marriage certificates.

    At that time, the video had included the man¡¯s voice, simply stating:

    "We got married."

    Shen Yang had followed that account, even splurging on a hefty tip, mustering the courage to leave a comment.

    Unfortunately, he never got a reply.

    Back then, he had watched that video over a hundred times, and the young man¡¯s voice was unmistakable.

    Now, this warm, caring voice offering to call people "grandson" or "granddaughter" was the same one.

    His heart started pounding.

    He quickly opened other apps to search for "Grandpa Delivery Network," only to find that all major apps and platforms, even the splash screens of games, were advertising the launch of "Grandpa Delivery Network."

    "This is..."

    He took a deep breath.

    He saw that the top trending topics were also about the launch of "Grandpa Delivery Network."

    Meanwhile, those young people who had come to join Dou Shen Sect clearly saw the news about the "Grandpa Delivery Network" and were abuzz with chatter.

    "Hey, what¡¯s with this Grandpa Delivery Network? Is it a hacker¡¯s prank?"

    "Delivering grandfathers? That¡¯s too weird!"

    "Doesn¡¯t make any sense. It¡¯s a bit absurd."

    "Even Qin Yuan TV is broadcasting it. Has the world finally gone mad like I imagined?"

    "Are they making fun of us?"

    "What¡¯s the deal with delivering grandfathers and grandmothers?"

    "Feels like a scam. They want us to send in our blood samples? Could it be some aliens collecting our DNA?"

    "I think some old bigwig from the Seven Martial Stars is having health issues and needs a match, so they¡¯re collecting blood types globally!

    "Otherwise, why would such a stingy country suddenly offer us a 500-yuan subsidy?"

    "They¡¯ve finally stopped pretending."

    As soon as "Grandpa Delivery Network" went live, it sparked widespread discussion, with all sorts of speculations and doubts.

    No one knew what it was all about.

    At that moment, Shen Yang, holding his phone, felt a sense of excitement.

    He faintly sensed that this might be an opportunity.

    After all, the person he had followed back then was clearly no ordinary man but a cultivator.

    He had existed even before the three realms had descended.

    And most importantly, based on his few words, Shen Yang didn¡¯t think he was a villain.

    Otherwise, why would he have kindly informed people that the cultivation methods had been sold out?

    "Should I give it a try?" Shen Yang wondered.

    After all, this didn¡¯t require a million yuan.

    At worst, it might cost him his life.

    But it could also give him a chance... to embark on the path of cultivation.

    That was certainly better than spending a million yuan to become a sword slave in Dou Shen Sect.

 Chapter 352: Your Sectâ€™s Name Is Bad

    Chapter 352: Your Sect¡¯s Name Is Bad

    Shen Yang was excited.

    "This guy is actually last year¡¯s Martial Arts Tournament champion!"

    On the homepage of the Grandpa Delivery Network, there was a small line of text introducing its founder, Qi Yuan, the champion of last year¡¯s Martial Arts Tournament.

    Shen Yang remembered that champion well¡ªthe one who blew up his opponent with a single punch.

    However, back then, the circulated videos were scarce and blurry, and Shen Yang hadn¡¯t gotten a clear look at Qi Yuan¡¯s face or even recognized his voice.

    "So I go to a designated hospital, get my blood drawn, and send it in?"

    Shen Yang opened the website and immediately saw that several hospitals in Fenghai City were accepting blood donations for submission.

    Without hesitation, Shen Yang prepared to leave right away.

    Initially, he thought about renting an electric scooter to ride down the mountain, but then he decided to spend a little more money and take a taxi.

    He stood at a street corner, waiting to hail a ride, when a familiar voice called out to him.

    "Shen Yang, where are you going?"

    Shen Yang turned around to see a familiar figure¡ªit was the young disciple from Dou Shen Sect he had met earlier.

    "I... I¡¯m heading to the hospital to send my blood to Grandpa Delivery Network," Shen Yang blurted out instinctively, his eyes filled with suspicion and caution as he looked at the young man.

    "Why is the immortal master here?" Shen Yang couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    A glint of killing intent flashed in the young man¡¯s eyes. "Just out for a casual stroll."

    At that moment, a voice filled with joy rang out.

    "It seems the Grandpa Delivery Network is doing well. Already, someone is sending in their blood. This world truly lacks warmth and love."

    As the voice fell, a young man dressed in a blood-red robe appeared, his face adorned with a bright smile. His features were handsome, and his smile seemed to dissipate the world¡¯s evil, as refreshing as a spring breeze.

    This man in the blood-red robe was, of course, Qi Yuan.

    After leaving the realm of death, he had asked Ning Tao to help him conceal the killing intent that clung to him.

    Now, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t sense the intense murderous aura emanating from him.

    When Qi Yuan appeared, Shen Yang froze for a moment before his face lit up with joy. "You... you¡¯re Qi Yuan, the founder of Grandpa Delivery Network!"

    Qi Yuan nodded, unsurprised. "It seems the Grandpa Delivery Network is running well. Just running into someone randomly, and they meet the qualifications."

    "Hey, brother, do you need a grandpa? How about I give you one right here and now?"

    Qi Yuan enthusiastically promoted his "grandpa service."

    Shen Yang was thrilled. "Yes, I need one! Mr. Qi, when you got married last time, I even sent you a message congratulating you!"

    Shen Yang seized every opportunity to get close to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression shifted slightly. "So, you¡¯re that guy who secretly admired me? I¡¯m straight, and my sexual orientation is normal!"

    Shen Yang was confused, not understanding what Qi Yuan meant, and he hurriedly explained.

    "Mr. Qi, you misunderstood. My sexual orientation is normal too."

    At that moment, the young disciple from Dou Shen Sect frowned and glanced at Qi Yuan before saying coldly, "Brother, I have important matters to discuss with Shen Yang."

    He was still in a rush to kill him and didn¡¯t want Qi Yuan delaying his plan.

    Seeing that Qi Yuan was ready to chat with Shen Yang for a while, the young man couldn¡¯t help but speak up.

    Shen Yang looked at the disciple in confusion. "Immortal master, I no longer wish to join your sect, so I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything left to discuss, is there?"

    He was politely declining.

    He had already sensed that something was off about this disciple¡¯s sudden appearance.

    "When I say there¡¯s something to discuss, there is!" Since the young man had started cultivating, he had become arrogant, looking down on mortals. His tone carried an air of unquestionable authority.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan turned to the young man, his expression calm. "You¡¯re not very compassionate, are you? This guy here lacks love, he¡¯s missing a grandpa, and I¡¯m offering him one. Are you really going to get in the way?"

    The young man¡¯s killing intent intensified. He scanned his surroundings and spoke with icy coldness. "You want a grandpa? No problem, I¡¯ll send both of you to hell to meet your grandpas!"

    With spiritual energy surging through him, the disciple of Dou Shen Sect was filled with murderous intent, intending to kill both of them on the spot.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly at the young man¡¯s words. "Grandpa Delivery Network... well, if that¡¯s how you interpret it, it does make sense. Good people get grandpas, bad people get sent to hell to meet their grandpas."

    "Crazy!" The young man roared and immediately attacked Qi Yuan.

    "Hmm, a little appetizer before wiping out your sect sounds nice."

    Qi Yuan casually threw a punch.

    The young man¡¯s eyes were filled with disdain.

    A weak mortal dared to throw a punch at someone who had stepped onto the path of immortality?

    In the next instant, a cloud of blood appeared out of nowhere.

    The young man... was instantly turned into a cloud of blood by Qi Yuan¡¯s punch.

    Ten minutes later.

    At Dou Shen Tower, the bustling crowd continued to grow. Tens of thousands of people had come seeking to join Dou Shen Sect.

    They waited in long lines under the scorching sun.

    Some paid extra to skip the line and get tested immediately.

    Suddenly, a blood-red light streaked across the sky.

    The sky turned crimson, as if a blood-red curtain had covered the heavens.

    Everyone waiting to join the sect instinctively looked up.

    "What¡¯s happening?"

    "Why has the sky turned red?"

    "Is it bleeding?"

    "When strange things happen, something bad is usually behind it!"

    "Honestly, it feels kind of cool!"

    The red curtain replaced the sunlight, bathing everyone¡¯s faces in crimson light. The oppressive heat of the sun had vanished.

    "Does this look like one of those TV moments when someone comes to challenge the sect?"

    There was a buzz of chatter in the crowd¡ªsome excited to see what would happen, others fearful.

    The atmosphere became tense.

    Sheng Dou, the True Monarch, was now furious, his eyes brimming with killing intent. "I haven¡¯t killed someone at my level in over a century. It seems... today will be a bloodbath!"

    Qi Yuan hovered in mid-air, looking puzzled. "What, you don¡¯t recognize me as a god?

    "Are you discriminating against me because of my profession? Are you biased against people with mental illness?

    "Why can¡¯t someone with mental illness be a god?"

    Qi Yuan was furious.

    In this day and age, when everyone was supposedly equal, people were still discriminating against those with mental illness?

    So, having a mental illness disqualified him from being a god?

    The news spread quickly to the crowd, leaving them stunned.

    "A god¡¯s proof... is a mental illness certificate?"

    "I brought binoculars for fun, but now I¡¯m actually using them... It¡¯s really a mental illness certificate!"

    "Mental illness... makes you a god?"

    "This guy is crazy!"

    "It¡¯s clear now¡ªhe¡¯s just looking for an excuse to mess with Dou Shen Sect!"

    "He¡¯s acting like a demon!"

    The crowd was abuzz with discussion.

    Suddenly, a voice filled with killing intent reverberated through the scene.

    "If you¡¯ve come to make trouble, Daoist, just say so. Do you find it fun to toy with me?"

    Sheng Dou¡¯s eyes burned with fury.

    Dou Shen Sect¡¯s cultivation centered around the word "Dou," or "fight."

    In the Fire Spirit World, Dou Shen Sect disciples, even those in the Qi Refining stage, would go to the mortal world to train.

    This training involved fighting and slaughter, sharpening their battle instincts.

    As a result, every disciple of Dou Shen Sect was steeped in killing intent.

    In the Fire Spirit World, Dou Shen Sect was even considered a demonic sect.

    As a young man, Sheng Dou had become infamous for wiping out an entire town of 30,000 mortals while only at the third stage of Qi Refining, which earned him a place as a true disciple.

    Even after advancing in his cultivation, he had continued to uphold the principles of "fight" and "slaughter."

    Unlike many cultivators who only focused on personal growth, Sheng Dou was an experienced fighter, often battling opponents stronger than himself.

    Although he was only at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, he could even hold his own against late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

    In the Fire Spirit World, Sheng Dou was considered a top-tier powerhouse.

    He was confident that he could defeat this intruder.

    Not to mention, he had brought with him a powerful treasure left behind by their patriarch¡ªone that could kill even Purple Mansion cultivators.

    This realm, with its large population, was perfect for Dou Shen Sect''s philosophy of "fight" and "slaughter."

    "Today, I will show the world that Dou Shen Sect cannot be insulted!"

    A powerful aura erupted from Sheng Dou as lotus flowers bloomed in his hands.

    The flowers rapidly multiplied, covering his entire body in an instant.

    At the same time, outside the blood curtain, a wandering Nascent Soul cultivator saw the spectacle and gasped. "Sheng Dou¡¯s strongest divine ability¡ªMillion Saint Lotus!

    "This technique targets the soul directly. Its power is immense, and even late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators would hesitate to face it.

    "He¡¯s truly enraged!"

    This Nascent Soul cultivator, a rogue, had noticed something unusual at Dou Shen Sect and had come to spy.

    Several other rogue cultivators stood nearby, watching in awe.

    "I never thought I¡¯d witness a battle between Nascent Soul cultivators!"

    If Qi Yuan had seen them, he would have commented on how dedicated these NPC-like spectators were, coming all the way out here to provide commentary.

    But at this moment, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t paying attention to them¡ªhis focus was on Sheng Dou.

    "I must say, your sect is quite sensible.

    "You go straight for the big moves.

    "Otherwise, I¡¯d have to kill all your servants, then your outer disciples, then inner disciples, true disciples, deacons, elders, grand elders¡ªit¡¯d never end.

    "Going straight to the sect master is much more convenient. I can crush you with one slap.

    "I, as a god... will send you to meet your grandpa!"

    Qi Yuan was quite pleased with himself, feeling that his words were very clever.

    That last sentence had a double meaning.

    "My grandpa¡¯s still alive, but you... you can go meet yours!" Sheng Dou roared.

    Countless lotus flowers shot towards Qi Yuan.

    In the sky, the lotus flowers exploded in a dazzling display, like a sea of blooming flowers.

    Qi Yuan stood in mid-air, his blood-red robe billowing in the wind.

    "Recently, my wife taught me a new move. This seems like a good chance to try it out."

    Ten-Kill Overlord Punch!

    Qi Yuan threw a punch straight down towards the earth.

    At the same moment, the blood curtain in the sky descended, as if the heavens were shattering and crashing towards the ground.

    This punch was a technique Ning Tao had created based on the bloodthirsty killing intent within Qi Yuan. He had further modified it.

    The Ten-Kill Overlord Punch was true to its name.

    It was an indiscriminate attack, but with a filter.

    Anyone who had slaughtered more than ten humans would die from this punch.

    In the sky, the blood curtain morphed into a fist.

    Endless bloodthirsty energy swirled and surged.

    One punch.

    Straight down!

 Chapter 353: Qi Yuan Fights Old Men and Old Women

    Chapter 353: Qi Yuan Fights Old Men and Old Women

    A punch, without discrimination, directly struck the mortal world.

    The speed of this punch was not particularly fast, but its power was immeasurable.

    Many of the Golden Core elders of Dou Shen Sect were utterly shocked.

    "A demon! This is definitely a demon!"

    "He''s here to destroy the sect!"

    "Sect Master, kill him!"

    True Monarch Sheng Dou''s face, however, was filled with even greater shock.

    ¡°Ahhh!¡±

    The spiritual energy within him poured out as if it was endless, and his Heavenly Lotus divine ability surged toward the blood-red sky.

    For a moment, the sky was divided into red and white.

    "Anyone who trespasses upon Dou Shen Sect shall die!"

    "Those who slander this god shall be killed without mercy!"

    The Ten Kill Tyrant Fist was not open for debate.

    This punch contained traces of both immortal divine powers and martial arts techniques.

    The killing intent, which Ning Tao had concealed and restrained, erupted at this moment, gathering into a single punch.

    This punch, like a Zerg queen seeking its kin, homed in on its target.

    Crack!

    True Monarch Sheng Dou''s divine ability shattered instantly.

    The intense killing intent of the Ten Kill Tyrant Fist surged toward his eyes and ears.

    In an instant, he heard the cries of ghosts and wolves, and saw countless corpses and skeletons piled up like mountains.

    True Monarch Sheng Dou was known for his decisiveness in battle, but even he had never witnessed such a sea of corpses.

    Blood uncontrollably gushed from his ears, mouth, and nostrils.

    At this moment, he no longer resembled a powerful cultivator, but an ordinary, frail old man.

    His face was filled with disbelief and fear.

    ¡°What kind of monster are you?!¡±

    ¡°I am a god, a great god!¡±

    Qi Yuan once again threw out his red certification.

    True Monarch Sheng Dou was bewildered and powerless.

    He couldn''t understand why such a powerful and mysterious figure was playing games with him using a mundane, mortal certificate.

    Before he could ponder further, the terrifying Ten Kill Tyrant Fist pierced through his body and shot toward the ground.

    Boom!

    The punch landed, blood shadows appeared, and killing intent boiled.

    The elders and stewards inside Dou Shen Tower felt as if the end of the world had arrived.

    ¡°Anyone who has killed ten mortals shall die!¡±

    Qi Yuan''s voice resonated, like the voice of a god.

    In an instant, more than ninety percent of the elders, stewards, and disciples of Dou Shen Sect were enveloped in killing intent.

    Behind each of them, a small blood curtain appeared.

    This blood curtain acted as a marker, drawing the Ten Kill Tyrant Fist toward them.

    The bodies of the elders and disciples in the building began to explode one after another, like firecrackers.

    Even when they used all their magic power, they were still powerless to stop it, and could only be obliterated by the punch.

    Even among the mortals who had come seeking to become disciples, eight of them were killed by the Ten Kill Tyrant Fist.

    The crowd was shaken, and chaos erupted.

    In just a few breaths, Dou Shen Tower was like a hellish furnace, rising into a dense mist of blood.

    The elders and disciples of Dou Shen Sect who survived were less than one percent.

    Standing under the blood-red sky, Qi Yuan was calm. He muttered to himself, "The sects in this game are still too weak."

    "Not as good as the Light Palace; at least there, I had to write essays and carefully plan things out."

    "Though, I must admit, not having to eat beef does feel nice."

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s eyes, behind his mask, swept over the remaining survivors.

    Anyone¡ªmortal or cultivator¡ªwho was touched by his gaze felt a chill in their hearts.

    Outside the blood curtain, a wandering Nascent Soul cultivator trembled violently.

    ¡°What kind of realm is this? Is it the Purple Mansion? But it doesn¡¯t seem like it. This isn''t a fundamental divine power.¡±

    ¡°If it''s not a fundamental divine power, how can it have such strength?¡±

    ¡°True Monarch Sheng Dou was as strong as a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, yet he couldn¡¯t even withstand a single punch.¡±

    His heart was in turmoil, filled with shock, confusion, and fear.

    The Dou Shen Sect, which had existed for millennia, was wiped out in an instant.

    The blood-robed man spoke again, his voice calm but filled with divine authority.

    ¡°I am a certified god!¡±

    ¡°Any other cultivation sect that dares to challenge the authority of a god like Dou Shen Sect will be annihilated without mercy!¡±

    His voice boomed, reaching the ears of tens of thousands of mortals present, as well as those of the wandering cultivators.

    The Nascent Soul cultivator who heard this became frozen, then bitterly muttered to himself, ¡°What a domineering god. He destroyed Dou Shen Sect as a warning to us outsiders.¡±

    This Nascent Soul cultivator thought deeply.

    For the first time, the people of Gongxing truly felt the cruelty of the cultivation world, where entire sects could be wiped out in the blink of an eye.

    Meanwhile, the Grandpa Delivery Network, with its mission of "spreading love and bringing warmth to the world," was gaining tremendous momentum.

    Countless blood samples were being sent to Tianyue.

    Qi Yuan busied himself selecting people with good fortune, gifting them a grandpa or grandma.

    As for those without such fortune, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t stingy either.

    He recorded personalized voice messages for them:

    ¡°Granddaughter, Grandpa is with you.¡±

    ¡°Grandson, Grandpa is still here.¡±

    Everyone who accessed the Grandpa Delivery Network and sent their blood sample received one of these two voice recordings on their phones.

    As for why the messages weren''t gender-specific, it was because Qi Yuan didn¡¯t assume anyone¡¯s gender.

    What if a guy had a delicate body, soft hands, and turned out to be a bit of a ¡°femboy¡±?

    Within a year, the Grandpa Delivery Network flourished and then quickly quieted down.

    After all, those who were willing to send their blood had already done so.

    As for those who didn¡¯t want to participate, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t force them.

    After all, there were many people, and he could always find more "grandchildren" for his Nascent Souls.

    Moreover, in the world of the Ancestors, there were still plenty of dead Ancestors waiting for him to "resurrect."

    It seemed like he didn¡¯t have enough Nascent Souls to go around.

    In just a few years, the Grandpa Delivery Network faded from public attention and was gradually forgotten.

    Most people only received a customized voice message and a small payment of five hundred bucks.

    As for what the Grandpa Delivery Network really did, very few people understood.

    Those who had received a "grandpa" or "grandma," however, were overjoyed and kept their newfound relatives a secret.

    Time passed, like rain on the sea, or seasons of pear blossoms blooming and fading. The world moved on, and many years passed.

    On Gongxing, more and more people began to accept the existence of cultivators.

    The Cultivation Alliance was established, and cultivation academies were founded one after another.

    As for martial arts, it became a niche practice.

    One by one, martial arts schools closed their doors, replaced by small independent cultivation schools.

    Even though martial artists were in decline, the martial arts tournament still continued to be held.

    However, the participants were mostly old men, people who had been left behind by the changing times.

    They lacked the talent for cultivating immortality but stubbornly clung to the passions of their youth.

    The martial arts tournament became even more niche, shrinking within an already small community.

    Whenever the finals came around, barely anyone bought tickets.

    The martial arts tournament was even mockingly referred to by some as "Fighting the Retirement Home."

    For years, the champion of the tournament remained the same person.

    His name was Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan, the reigning martial arts tournament champion, had earned the nickname "Old Man Slayer."

    As time passed rapidly, Qi Yuan¡¯s opponents in the tournament aged alongside him.

    Young people had long since turned to cultivating immortality, with no one willing to stick with martial arts.

    Martial arts became a sanctuary for the elderly.

    Each martial arts tournament consisted of Qi Yuan fighting old men and old women.

    The outcome was never in question¡ªQi Yuan was always the champion.

    How could those old men and women stand a chance against Qi Yuan?

    The martial arts tournament slowly faded into obscurity as the spiritual energy on Gongxing grew more abundant.

    However, undercurrents were also building.

    But these changes had little to do with Qi Yuan.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan was completing tasks in the world of death energy.

    In that world, Qi Yuan had made quite a name for himself, earning the title "Blood-Clad Madman."

    Yes, much like his previous moniker, the "Blood-Clad Sword God."

    Why was he called the Blood-Clad Madman? Because every time he entered a mission world, he would first be taken away by the mission''s target, and then proceed to slaughter demons.

    He would travel across the world, killing demons wherever he found them.

    This brought both joy and frustration to those who were tasked with completing missions alongside Qi Yuan.

    The good news was that they didn¡¯t have to do any work and could treat it like a leisurely tour.

    The bad news was that they had no idea when the Blood-Clad Madman would finish slaughtering all the demons in the mission world. They might be stuck there for a long time.

    In one particular mission world, the number of demons was so overwhelming that the Blood-Clad Madman spent five years killing them all.

    This also meant that his companions had to wait for five years.

    One mission participant even ended up having a child while they were stuck in the mission world.

    At this moment, in the mission world...

    Amidst a large forest, tall and straight cedar trees stretched out, with many pine needles scattered on the ground.

    Ahead was a graveyard that seemed to have no visitors.

    However, the graveyard was remarkably clean, clearly maintained by a caretaker who regularly swept the grounds.

    A young man in green robes yawned, looking relaxed. As he ate a piece of watermelon, he muttered under his breath.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been guarding this grave for three years now, and still no one has come to pay respects. If no one comes, how am I supposed to slaughter their entire family?¡±

 Chapter 354: I Am Who I Am, Truly Myself, No Past Life

    Chapter 354: I Am Who I Am, Truly Myself, No Past Life

    This mission issued by the base was quite special.

    It resembled the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai in some ways, though mainly in the relationships between the characters. The goal for the mission-takers was to protect ¡°Zhu Yingtai¡± and ensure that he wasn¡¯t killed by ¡°Ma Wencai,¡± while also tracking down Ma Wencai.

    Qi Yuan used Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai as a comparison because, in this story, Ma Wencai was a horse demon.

    After entering the game world, the first thing Qi Yuan did was arrest ¡°Zhu Yingtai.¡±

    To avoid unnecessary trouble, Qi Yuan knocked her out and then stuffed her into a sack.

    Of course, Qi Yuan was a kind person who took the detainee¡¯s feelings into account and never forced them to do anything against their will.

    So, before knocking out ¡°Zhu Yingtai,¡± Wang Yuanyu, Qi Yuan thoughtfully brought out several sacks and asked her which color she liked.

    It could be said that Qi Yuan was quite democratic and considerate.

    Ultimately, after Wang Yuanyu chose a black sack, Qi Yuan carried the unconscious Wang Yuanyu and traveled a thousand miles.

    He killed and slaughtered, almost wiping out the demons of this world.

    After killing all the demons, Qi Yuan finally went to find the horse demon''s lair.

    Naturally, the horse demons were no match for him, and he slaughtered them all.

    As for ¡°Ma Wencai,¡± Ma Longhun¡¯s demonic family, Qi Yuan exterminated them entirely.

    The only regret was that Ma Longhun had disappeared without a trace.

    To find Ma Longhun, Qi Yuan used a two-pronged strategy.

    First, he had someone impersonate him and create the Demon Suppression Court to search for Ma Longhun.

    At the same time, Qi Yuan secretly had someone bury Ma Longhun¡¯s family under the name of the ¡°Holy Rite Church.¡±

    The Holy Rite Church was a small religious group that advocated for the peaceful coexistence of humans and demons, promoting harmony with nature.

    Hmm... the majority of the church''s members were human.

    During the war between humans and demons, when the human race was in decline, the church spread the message that humans should cease resisting to achieve peace with the demons.

    After the Holy Rite Church buried Ma Longhun¡¯s family, Qi Yuan applied through special channels to become the cemetery¡¯s caretaker.

    He sat there, waiting for Ma Longhun to come and pay his respects to his demonic relatives and parents.

    Unfortunately, three years passed, and Ma Longhun was still nowhere to be found.

    The Demon Suppression Court also hadn¡¯t been able to locate Ma Longhun.

    ¡°Exterminating an entire family is truly a technical job. I did all this preparation, and I still can¡¯t find a single person,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    Just then, he heard soft footsteps approaching.

    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s time to eat.¡±

    Wang Yuanyu, dressed in a long, wide-sleeved green robe with a white jade belt around her waist, walked over. Embroidered on her belt was a special bird.

    Looking up, her head was covered by a black sack, revealing only her eyes and mouth. From a distance, her face was completely obscured.

    This black sack was chosen by Qi Yuan after kindly asking her preference. He did this to ensure Wang Yuanyu¡¯s safety and also to avoid scaring off Ma Longhun.

    Wang Yuanyu carried three dishes and placed them in front of Qi Yuan.

    A faint aroma filled the air, and the plates held strange and unusual dishes.

    The dishes included stir-fried old cicadas, deep-fried dung beetles, and steamed crawling insects.

    Qi Yuan looked at the dishes, his eyes filled with helplessness. ¡°Are you a bird or something? Why do you make insect meals every day?¡±

    Wang Yuanyu reluctantly replied, ¡°It suits your status.¡±

    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m keeping you here for your own good,¡± Qi Yuan said, attempting to guilt-trip Wang Yuanyu.

    As a Blue Star person, Qi Yuan was well-versed in the art of moral coercion.

    ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so rich, why don¡¯t you donate more?¡±

    Wang Yuanyu¡¯s expression grew complicated. ¡°Why did you knock me out and bring me here?¡±

    She was still confused.

    Several years ago, she had been out enjoying the spring with her friends when she encountered a strange man.

    That man was Qi Yuan.

    At the time, Qi Yuan had been holding several sacks and asked her which one she liked.

    She found it bizarre but chose one anyway.

    Then, she blacked out.

    ¡°I¡¯m in a good mood today, so I¡¯ll allow you, an NPC, to ask me one question,¡± he said.

    Indeed, his mood was good. According to his calculations, today was his wedding anniversary with Xiaojia and Canary.

    ¡°If one day you discovered that the world was all false, carefully designed and constructed... how would you react?¡± Wang Yuanyu asked, voicing her doubts.

    ¡°Oh, you, an NPC, have finally awakened, realizing that this world is false. Good, good, you¡¯ve made progress!¡± Qi Yuan regarded Wang Yuanyu with newfound respect.

    He had played this game for a long time, and none of the NPCs had ever realized that it was just a game.

    Wang Yuanyu felt both amused and helpless at his response.

    She was, after all, a direct descendant of a Martial Lord and was part of the real world.

    People like Qi Yuan and the others in the Mountain River Scroll were the false ones.

    ¡°The world has always been false. In this world, only I am real. And whoever I deem real... is real,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly. ¡°This is how I¡¯ve always approached life. It works well.

    ¡°When I see villains or enemies, I simply declare, ¡®You demon, I can see at a glance that you are not real!¡¯¡±

    Wang Yuanyu pondered his words.

    In recent days, her memories had been returning.

    She felt a sense of confusion.

    In her past life, she and Tukuang had been a pair of immortal lovers, deeply in love. However, a horse demon had hunted them down, tearing them apart and killing them.

    Later, their ancestors had placed their true spirits into the Mountain River Scroll, hoping to resurrect them.

    As long as the three of them retraced their steps, they could transform the false into the real and be revived in the Origin Land.

    But... when she thought about Tukuang now, she felt nothing.

    Tukuang was indeed quite handsome, but compared to Mr. Qi Yuan, he was like a fairy next to a toad.

    After seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s incredibly handsome face, she couldn¡¯t summon any feelings for Tukuang.

    Now, she was starting to wonder if her past self had truly loved Tukuang.

    ¡°Mr. Qi, do you believe in past lives?¡± Wang Yuanyu asked again.

    Qi Yuan shook his head firmly, his expression resolute. ¡°I am who I am, from the moment I became conscious. I have no past life.¡±

    How could he have a past life?

    He had transmigrated here, not reincarnated.

    Every day, he checked himself in the mirror, and his sharp eyes gave him useful information. All the signs pointed to him being an ordinary transmigrator from Blue Star, with no grand origin or powerful past life.

    Wang Yuanyu paused, then continued, ¡°I¡¯ve awakened some memories of my past life. In them, I was deeply in love with someone. But now, when I see him, I feel nothing. Does this mean... I¡¯ve fallen out of love?¡±

    Wang Yuanyu looked troubled.

    Qi Yuan was so handsome, how could she not feel anything?

    Tukuang? He was nothing compared to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her. ¡°Do you have a new love interest?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Well, then it¡¯s not that you¡¯ve fallen out of love. It just means that you never loved him in the first place. Those memories are false,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Like Ningtao, who, upon regaining her past life memories, was overwhelmed by love.

    To Qi Yuan, true feelings, even after countless years and trials, wouldn¡¯t fade but would only grow stronger.

    However, he also believed that such feelings were rare and unrealistic.

    ¡°False memories?¡± Wang Yuanyu murmured.

    ¡°The reason you¡¯re troubled is that... you¡¯re not strong enough. If you were big enough and strong enough, omniscient and omnipotent, all your troubles would disappear. Girl, I see great potential in you. Want me to gift you a grandma to help you cultivate?¡± Qi Yuan asked, his eyes sparkling.

    Wang Yuanyu had exceptional talent.

    Qi Yuan had a hunch that there was something special about her.

    So he thought about whether to give her his daughter¡¯s Nascent Soul.

    ¡°Become stronger?¡± Wang Yuanyu asked, puzzled.

    ¡°Yes. If you¡¯re big enough and strong enough, every problem will disappear,¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    ¡°I understand becoming stronger, but what does being big enough mean?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a profound cultivation insight. For ordinary people, omniscience and omnipotence are considered the pinnacle of strength. But I disagree. The true pinnacle is... being big enough. If you¡¯re big enough, you¡¯re the strongest.¡±

    ¡°???¡± Wang Yuanyu was bewildered.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan recalled a joke from Blue Star: ¡°Girl, check your layers to avoid lightning.¡±

    Talking about the vastness of the universe should naturally lead to checking out legs, right?

 Chapter 355: Do I Really Have a Long-Lost Father?

    Chapter 355: Do I Really Have a Long-Lost Father?

    Wang Yuanyu: "?? What is ''soulmate,'' what is ''inner wear,'' and what is ''avoiding mistakes''?"

    Qi Yuan''s modern slang left Wang Yuanyu baffled, completely unable to understand.

    However, she had learned from Wang Nanny that these bloodline descendants came from the End Realm, people on the verge of death, so it was normal for them to speak in strange ways.

    "It''s... a meme," Qi Yuan briefly explained. "Soulmate means sisters, and inner wear... well, it¡¯s..."

    After listening, Wang Yuanyu''s face turned red under the black sack. "Pervert! Who¡¯s your soulmate!"

    "Not bad, you''re picking up on the memes," Qi Yuan chuckled. Then he said, "Since this world is fake, and you think I¡¯m just an illusion, what''s wrong with seeing inner wear? After all, I don¡¯t really exist."

    "No!" Wang Yuanyu shouted, but suddenly, she paused, her expression freezing as if she had just realized something. In that instant, it seemed like something had clicked in her mind.

    The boundary between illusion and reality didn¡¯t exist.

    Or rather, did it even matter whether something was real or not?

    What truly mattered was her own heart.

    Seeing Wang Yuanyu''s thoughtful look, Qi Yuan seemed to remember something. "You know, the way you look right now reminds me of a famous saying: Cogito, ergo sum¡ªI think, therefore I am. Even if I¡¯m just an illusion in your eyes, as long as I believe I¡¯m real, then... I am real."

    Wang Yuanyu looked at Qi Yuan, and much of her previous confusion faded.

    At first, when she heard from Wang Nanny that the Mountain River Scroll was an illusion created by the Eastern Lord, she felt disoriented.

    Did that mean her entire life had been nothing but a dream?

    Now, after hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words, she realized something.

    If she believed everything was an illusion, she could simply ignore Qi Yuan¡¯s words and casually show her inner wear.

    If she cared, then what difference did it make whether he was real or an illusion?

    "Illusion or reality doesn¡¯t matter¡ªwhat matters is me," Wang Yuanyu couldn¡¯t help but sigh.The? source of this conte/nt n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

    Qi Yuan nodded and said softly, "Just now, you asked me a question. Now... is it my turn to ask you one?"

    "Please ask, sir."

    "This world... how do you travel to other worlds? I''ve been waiting for Ma Longhun, but he hasn¡¯t shown up. Could he have gone to another world?"

    Qi Yuan was a bit worried.

    When he first arrived in this world, he had sent people to search for Ma Longhun while he focused on increasing his own strength.

    But Ma Longhun had been missing since the beginning.

    Wang Yuanyu hesitated for a moment before saying, "It¡¯s possible, but don¡¯t worry, sir. Within a year, Ma Longhun will certainly appear."

    According to the original timeline, within half a year, she would fall in love with Tu Kongming.

    Then Ma Longhun would appear and kill both her and Tu Kongming.

    "Oh, is that so? A year isn¡¯t too long." Qi Yuan glanced at Wang Yuanyu, then brought up an old topic. "By the way, are you sure you don¡¯t want me to gift you a grandma?"

    Wang Yuanyu smiled. "Thank you for your kindness, but there¡¯s no need."

    At that moment, Wang Yuanyu''s mind was racing.

    Ma Longhun was very powerful. According to Wang Nanny, when he appeared, he would be at the peak of Martial King.

    In the Mountain River Scroll, the peak of Martial King was the absolute limit, the strongest of the strong.

    Such a powerhouse might even surpass the head of the Demon Suppression Court.

    Since Qi Yuan needed to find Ma Longhun for his mission, he could be putting himself in danger.

    She couldn¡¯t let Qi Yuan be dragged into danger because of her.

    Her plan was simple: once she had information on Ma Longhun, she would leave to avoid putting Qi Yuan at risk.

    After she dealt with Ma Longhun, she would bring his head to Qi Yuan, helping him complete his mission.

    Then, she would return to the Origin Land.

    "What a pity. I guess we¡¯re not meant to be," Qi Yuan shook his head.

    He didn¡¯t push further. Unless it was something he deeply cared about, he let most things unfold as they would.

    Wang Yuanyu smiled and said nothing more.

    ...

    Time passed quickly, and the monotonous life in the graveyard didn¡¯t leave any deep impressions on Qi Yuan.

    Late at night, the graveyard was pitch dark, making it eerily spooky.

    With a single wave of his hand, Qi Yuan killed a demon that had accidentally wandered in.

    Thirty drops of demon blood were credited to his account.

    "Is this a demon raised by the Holy Rite Church?" Qi Yuan casually glanced at the corpse and paid it no further attention.

    "You consumed 100 drops of demon blood to open a divine aperture... failed."

    Qi Yuan frowned, looking pained.

    "These demon blood drops are useless! They can¡¯t even open a divine aperture; they only help with martial cultivation."

    He had tried to use demon blood to improve his immortal cultivation, but the results were clear: failure.

    He wanted to curse the demon that had provided the blood. "Your blood is too weak¡ªso one-dimensional! It only boosts martial cultivation, not immortal cultivation."

    Currently, with Ningtao¡¯s help and the rapid awakening of the Nascent Souls within him, Qi Yuan''s power had surged.

    His immortal cultivation had progressed rapidly, and he had now reached the second step of ascension, becoming an Yin God.

    Of course, this was largely due to the feedback from the Nascent Soul inside him.

    Especially since the Nascent Soul in the Origin Land was reviving rapidly, using the bones of a fallen Martial Lord.

    For one, these Martial Lords had certain reserves, making them stronger than the people on Gongxing. Secondly, the flow of time was different¡ªthe time in the Origin Land moved about ten times faster than on Gongxing.

    One year on Gongxing was nearly forty years in the Origin Land.

    The strongest being in the Origin Land had already reached the level of a Grandmaster.

    But during the great war, he was gravely injured, and now his strength was barely at the second level of Martial Lord.

    Having to regularly infuse his blood essence into the Mountain River Scroll, it was a miracle his strength hadn¡¯t dropped further.

    The bamboo pole man felt a sense of satisfaction.

    Before the cataclysm, the Fat Egg Martial Lord had been someone he looked up to. Now, this once-mighty figure was his subordinate, following his orders.

    "Since that¡¯s..." The bamboo pole man was about to speak when suddenly, his eyes widened, staring at the Fat Egg Martial Lord. "What... what¡¯s happening to you?"

    The other Martial Lords also turned to look at the Fat Egg Martial Lord, their faces filled with shock.

    The Fat Egg Martial Lord''s round, egg-like body had turned bright red, with blood vessels clearly visible.

    Blood light surged.

    Golden blood flowed through his veins like swimming dragons.

    The Fat Egg Martial Lord''s aura surged in that instant.

    "A bloodline evolution!"

    "This is a bloodline evolution!"

    "How can the Fat Egg Martial Lord undergo a bloodline evolution?"

    The scene before them was all too familiar to these Martial Lords.

    When a Martial Lord advanced by a level, their descendants would experience a bloodline evolution.

    But now, the Fat Egg Martial Lord was undergoing a bloodline evolution himself.

    Wasn¡¯t he the progenitor of his bloodline?

    How could the origin of a bloodline evolve?

    The Martial Lords were wide-eyed with curiosity.

    They were astonished, and the Fat Egg Martial Lord himself was equally confused. "I... my bloodline evolved?"

    "Fat Egg Martial Lord, could it be you¡¯re not the progenitor of your bloodline and that you actually have a father?" one of the Martial Lords asked.

    This was difficult to explain.

    Normally, only descendants experienced bloodline evolution. How could the progenitor of a bloodline undergo such a thing?

    "Impossible! I am born of heaven and earth¡ªhow could I have a father?" The Fat Egg Martial Lord shook his head frantically.

    "Then how do you explain your bloodline evolution?

    "Could it be that one of your descendants has broken through to Martial Lord and become a second-generation progenitor?

    "The End Realm has long seen the decline of martial cultivation. That¡¯s impossible.

    "Even at the strongholds, the highest rank is Martial Lord.

    "Several Martial Kings are at the peak, but unless they enter the Origin Land and receive the blessing of ancestral blood, they cannot break through to Martial Lord."

    In other words, breakthroughs to Martial Lord had long been monopolized.

    One had to enter the Origin Land and receive the ancestral blood blessing to advance.

    But currently, the strongholds had not yet connected to the Origin Land, so how could anyone have broken through to Martial Lord?

    Therefore, the most likely explanation was that the Fat Egg Martial Lord was not the original progenitor but a second-generation progenitor.

    He actually... had a father.

    "So, you must have a father hidden somewhere!"

    "Fat Egg Martial Lord, not only are you a former titled Martial Lord, but you¡¯ve also quietly gained a dad."

    "Maybe it¡¯s not a dad¡ªmaybe it¡¯s an ancestor!"

    The other Martial Lords laughed, some even envying the Fat Egg Martial Lord for having a father who could still break through.

    In the current Origin Land, Martial Lords who could break through were incredibly rare.

    "Could it be... I really have a long-lost father?"

    ...

    Within one page of the Mountain River Scroll.

    Wang Nanny frowned, her expression complicated.

    "Wang Nanny, how is the progress?" a man asked in a low voice not far from Wang Nanny.

    "Miss... hasn¡¯t fallen in love with Tu Kongming."

    "What? She hasn¡¯t? That¡¯s unacceptable.

    "She and Tu Kongming must fall in love for this scroll to return to the correct timeline. Only then will our mission be complete.

    "What went wrong? We need to fix this immediately!"

    "Miss... seems closer to a bloodline descendant."

    "A bloodline descendant?" The man frowned. "Go and talk to him. Make him stay away from Miss. We¡¯ll help him with his mission."

    "This bloodline descendant... his mental state seems a bit off. Miss has been with him for years and seems to have been affected. I¡¯m afraid even if he stays away, Miss won¡¯t fall for Tu Kongming anytime soon."

    "If necessary, use force. Drug her, and let them sleep together. Once it¡¯s done, she won¡¯t have a choice!" the man said darkly.

    "This..." Wang Nanny hesitated, feeling uneasy.

    "Don¡¯t think it¡¯s wrong. We¡¯re saving the world. If we have to use drastic measures to do that, so be it.

    "We¡¯re not asking for Miss¡¯s life, just her chastity. It¡¯s a necessary sacrifice.

    "Besides, on the original timeline, Miss and Tu Kongming were already in love.

    "For the world, we can sacrifice anyone, including all the bloodline descendants, or even destroy this entire Mountain River Scroll!" the man spoke passionately.

    Clearly, he was willing to do whatever it took to save the Origin Land.

    Sacrificing a few people was only natural.

    Wang Nanny¡¯s hesitation faded, and her gaze became determined. "Alright, I understand what needs to be done!"

 Chapter 356: Thatâ€™s It? No Twistâ€”This Wouldnâ€™t Even Make It As a TV Drama

    Chapter 356: That¡¯s It? No Twist¡ªThis Wouldn¡¯t Even Make It As a TV Drama

    In the graveyard, a rarely visited place, Wang Yuanyu, with a black bag over her head, looked at Qi Yuan with a trace of admiration and respect in her eyes.

    This bloodline holder appeared a bit eccentric, often speaking shocking words, but much of what he said resonated deeply with her.

    For example:

    "What¡¯s there to fear in death? I¡¯ve got friends on both sides.""Even sunlight dies, and its shadow is its corpse.""I don¡¯t like girls who grow on you because I don¡¯t have the patience to wait."

    But most important were his reflections on the nature of reality, illusion, and attitude towards the world, which left a lasting impact on her.

    So, who is Tu Kongming? Let him roll away!

    The memories she cared about were the ones that were real to her.

    ¡°Do you think Ma Longhun hasn¡¯t shown up because he couldn¡¯t afford the graveyard¡¯s entrance fee?¡± Qi Yuan suddenly turned to Wang Yuanyu and asked.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°I should never have set an entrance fee for this graveyard. I was trying to keep unwanted people out, so I turned the Ma family¡¯s graveyard into a tourist attraction with an admission fee. I forgot that Ma Longhun might be broke.¡±

    Qi Yuan had a sudden realization, as if he had found the key to the mystery.

    Wang Yuanyu couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She wondered if her belief in some of Qi Yuan¡¯s words meant she had caught his madness.

    ¡°Mr. Qi, you¡¯re overthinking things,¡± Wang Yuanyu said.

    In truth, she was also quite curious, and even though some of Qi Yuan¡¯s statements were absurd, she found herself believing bits of them.

    At that moment, an elderly woman with a troubled expression approached. It was Wang Nanny.

    She glanced at Wang Yuanyu before speaking softly, ¡°Miss, I have something to discuss with Mr. Qi.¡±

    The implication was clear: Wang Yuanyu needed to leave.

    Though puzzled, Wang Yuanyu tactfully departed, leaving Qi Yuan and Wang Nanny alone in the graveyard.

    Before Wang Nanny could speak, Qi Yuan beat her to it: ¡°Ah, pay the entrance fee. I¡¯ve been diligently guarding this graveyard day and night. I deserve some fees!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s demand didn¡¯t surprise Wang Nanny; she had heard it many times before. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t the first time Qi Yuan had asked her for an entrance fee.

    ¡°Here are ten drops of demon blood.¡±

    Wang Nanny tossed the demon blood to Qi Yuan, who happily accepted it.

    Unfortunately, Ma Longhun¡¯s family members were all minor demons, not famous great demons. Otherwise, Qi Yuan could have made a fortune charging for entry.

    ¡°Mr. Qi, I have a small request. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s appropriate to ask...¡± Wang Nanny hesitated, trying to be polite. After all, in some ways, bloodline holders were considered their subordinates.

    ¡°One... two... three ¡®nots¡¯¡ªare you asking or not?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s attention, as usual, was focused on something strange.

    Wang Nanny coughed and looked troubled, then spoke: ¡°Miss Wang Yuanyu and Tu Kongming have been lovers for three lifetimes...¡±

    ¡°Why not seven lifetimes as enemies?¡± Qi Yuan interrupted.

    Wang Nanny paused briefly before continuing: ¡°Wang Yuanyu comes from a noble background, while Tu Kongming was just a poor boy. But he was hardworking and ambitious. The two studied together, and over time, they grew fond of each other. But then Ma Longhun appeared, lusting after Wang Yuanyu¡¯s beauty and secretly poisoning her. To save Miss Wang, Tu Kongming ventured deep into the frozen valleys, diving into the icy cold lake to plead with the mystical turtle. The ice not only froze his body but also his soul. In exchange for one of his arms, the mystical turtle appeared, and Tu Kongming used its shell to create a great elixir to save Miss Wang.¡±

    As Wang Nanny spoke, she seemed genuinely moved by Tu Kongming¡¯s selfless actions. If any man treated her like that, she thought, she would likely be touched.

    ¡°Poor little turtle, losing its home at such a young age,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    Wang Nanny felt exasperated.

    Shouldn¡¯t the focus be on the touching love story?

    ¡°After Miss Wang was revived and learned of Tu Kongming¡¯s actions, she was deeply moved. The two confirmed their feelings for each other and fell in love, living happily ever after in the ¡®river of love.¡¯ But of course, happy days never last.¡± Wang Nanny continued, her tone a bit lovesick.

    ¡°Was it because someone peed in the river of love?¡± Qi Yuan thought he was clever, immediately seeing the ¡®truth.¡¯

    Of course their happiness didn¡¯t last¡ªsomeone must have peed in the river, ruining it!

    ¡°...¡± Wang Nanny looked at Qi Yuan, her mouth twitching. She took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing, ¡°Because... Ma Longhun returned. No one expected him to commit such a heinous crime, colluding with foreign tribes. On the day of Miss Wang¡¯s and Tu Kongming¡¯s wedding, Ma Longhun brought 3,000 foreign soldiers to steal the bride. Miss Wang, of course, refused. In a fit of rage, Ma Longhun decided that if he couldn¡¯t have her, no one could. He attacked, but Tu Kongming shielded her, already wounded. He died from the blow, and Miss Wang took her own life in grief.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Qi Yuan was dumbfounded. ¡°No twist? No excitement?

    ¡°Based on modern scriptwriting, shouldn¡¯t he have stolen the groom instead? Is there more? Did Ma Longhun dig up Tu Kongming¡¯s corpse to make him into a zombie for some forced romance?¡±

    Wang Nanny facepalmed, taking yet another deep breath. ¡°Now, in this world, those events are repeating. Only by reenacting them can Miss Wang truly be revived, and the world can avoid collapse. The deeper reasons are too complex for me to understand. But... the original events must be reenacted. Yet there¡¯s a problem. Up to now, Miss Wang hasn¡¯t fallen in love with Tu Kongming. This is extremely dangerous. Time is running out for both her and this world. I beg you, sir, for the sake of the greater good, please stop seeing Miss Wang for a while!¡±

    Wang Nanny bowed respectfully, her voice sincere.

    Qi Yuan was surprised. ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡±

    ¡°Miss Wang has spent too much time with you. I fear she¡¯s developing feelings for you,¡± Wang Nanny said helplessly.

    There was no denying it¡ªQi Yuan¡¯s looks were far too handsome. Although his words could ruin his image, he would make a great ornamental flower vase when he stayed quiet.

    To put it dramatically, even spending a little time with Qi Yuan made Wang Nanny, who hadn¡¯t had a period in thousands of years, feel like she was about to start menstruating again.

    Shenlei Grand Sovereign held deep respect and gratitude for Qi Yuan.

    After all, the Mortal Heart World was his home, where countless beings had thrived.

    The Yang Gods were beings far beyond human strength, almost invincible.

    Yet Qi Yuan had turned the tide with his extraordinary might.

    But they had faced two Yang Gods. He never expected they would win.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on the past. Shenlei Grand Sovereign, hurry up and cultivate. I need you to earn me some rewards.¡± Qi Yuan urged him.

    Freed from the Mortal Heart World, Shenlei Grand Sovereign and others like him were truly in their element.

    With the limitless potential of the Visualization Technique Qi Yuan provided, Shenlei Grand Sovereign faced no bottlenecks in his cultivation. Reaching the Yang God stage was merely a matter of time.

    Had he reached the Mythical Realm while still in the Mortal Heart World, he would have broken through to the Yang God realm instantly.

    This was due to the unique nature of the innate deities, the Visualization Technique, and their connection to the ancestral land of the ancient clan.

    ¡°Stop rushing me. I¡¯m already cultivating. When we meet again, I¡¯ll be a Yang God.¡± Shenlei Grand Sovereign¡¯s words radiated determination.

    Once a distant goal, the Yang God realm was now within reach.

    Many of Qi Yuan¡¯s innate deity soul seeds were on similar paths.

    Freed from the constraints of their worlds, they were thriving, and breaking through to the Yang God stage was as easy as drinking water.

    ¡°Hurry up. My enemies are too strong¡ªone Yang God won¡¯t be enough. There are others in your world too. Watch over them and help them awaken and grow stronger,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    While his innate deities had begun to sprout in the Origin Land, most were still operating instinctively. Few had fully awakened like Shenlei Grand Sovereign.

    ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll go find the others now,¡± Shenlei Grand Sovereign grumbled. ¡°Woke up just to be swamped with work. Should¡¯ve stayed asleep.¡±

    Despite his complaints, there was clear joy and pride in his tone.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a plan!¡± Qi Yuan said excitedly.

    Shenlei Grand Sovereign sighed. ¡°What plan this time?¡±

    He was well-acquainted with Qi Yuan¡¯s ¡°plans,¡± which were usually simple and blunt, more like improvisation than a real plan.

    And yet, somehow, those crude plans always succeeded.

    It left Shenlei Grand Sovereign speechless.

    ¡°I want to buy out this game, but I¡¯m broke. So why don¡¯t we take it by force? Here¡¯s the plan in three steps:

    Step 1: You unite the others, raise your strength, and take over the world below for me.

    Step 2: Your growing strength will feed back into me, and I¡¯ll conquer Gongxing and Canxing.

    Step 3: With all the worlds under our control, I can focus on completing my missions and advancing to the ranks of Human Dao Martial Lord, Spirit Dao Martial Lord, and eventually, the God of All Paths.

    It¡¯s a flawless plan! Unbeatable¡ªpure genius!¡±

    Qi Yuan was so thrilled with his plan that he felt his head clear.

    Back on Blue Star, a plan like this would have kept him up all night with excitement, requiring melatonin to sleep.

    Some people might even need an extra something to help calm down.

    ¡°Haha, your planning skills have dropped this time¡ªthere¡¯s not enough detail.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right! I made a huge mistake by not setting a timeline. Since time moves faster in your world¡ªforty years there is just one year for us¡ªthe first step is for all of you to become Yang Gods within 3,000 years.

    Step two: I¡¯ll unify Gongxing within a hundred years!¡±

    Qi Yuan shuddered at the realization.

    Even the smartest people can make mistakes!

    Ancient wisdom is never wrong!

    If someone as clever as him could overlook such a detail, what hope did anyone else have?

    ¡°The world below is called the Origin Land. The most powerful force there is the Eastern Alliance. They have a fair number of Martial Lords, and their strength is decent. But... behind them is a mysterious figure called the Eastern Lord, who might be a Yang God. In fact, his methods may be even more formidable than a typical Yang God,¡± Shenlei Grand Sovereign relayed the information he had gathered.

    ¡°The Origin Land? Using the brush of the Mountain River Society to create countless Mountain River Scrolls? Could this guy actually be a programmer?¡± Qi Yuan chuckled.

    He was aware of the Yang God realm¡¯s Heaven Position Realm and Supreme Principle Realm.

    But what realm would someone capable of creating worlds like the Mountain River Scroll be in?

    ¡°No worries¡ªlet him be strong. I¡¯ve got my Blazing Bird Punch. I¡¯m not afraid!¡± Qi Yuan declared confidently.

 Chapter 357: Iâ€™m the Villain? Kekekeke!

    Chapter 357: I¡¯m the Villain? Kekekeke!

    Elsewhere, while Qi Yuan was communicating with Shenlei Grand Sovereign, a guest arrived outside the graveyard.

    This guest was dressed in white, with a jade belt around his waist. He stood tall with an elegant and refined air, undeniably a strikingly handsome man.

    However, compared to Qi Yuan, he was just a toad.

    ¡°Master Kongming, Qi Yuan refuses to leave. Should we... kill him?¡± Wang Nanny gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing with killing intent.

    For the sake of the world, she was willing to betray her conscience and kill innocent people. To her, as long as she could save the world, any sacrifice was acceptable.

    Tu Kongming¡¯s expression remained refined, but a hint of sorrow passed through his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not something a gentleman would do. I won¡¯t stoop to it!¡±

    ¡°Master Kongming, for the sake of all lives in the world, sacrificing a bit of personal virtue is no big deal!¡± Wang Nanny urged.

    Tu Kongming shook his head, his expression resolute. ¡°In the past life, I managed to win Yuanyu¡¯s heart, and I believe I can do it again this time!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s less than two months left, there¡¯s no time,¡± Wang Nanny said anxiously. Then, an idea struck her, and she added, ¡°Should I drug Miss Yuanyu? Make sure the deed is done?¡±

    As long as they forced the relationship, things would return to the proper course.

    Their mission for the Bu Tian Pavilion would be complete.

    Bu Tian Pavilion was an organization under the Eastern Alliance, operating across the various Mountain River Scrolls, completing missions. From birth, its members were raised with the understanding that their duty was to save all lives.

    ¡°We can¡¯t do that to Yuanyu. We must respect her feelings!¡± Tu Kongming quickly refused, his stance firm.

    ¡°If we don¡¯t... the world will be destroyed!¡± Wang Nanny¡¯s voice grew heavy.

    However, upon hearing this, Tu Kongming¡¯s expression turned indifferent. ¡°So what if the world is destroyed? To me, Yuanyu is more important than the entire world.¡±

    Wang Nanny fell silent.

    Tu Kongming was not just deeply affectionate, but excessively noble.

    Of course, what used to be called deep affection was now known on Blue Star as being a ¡°simp¡± or ¡°beta.¡±

    ¡°Alas.¡± Seeing that she couldn¡¯t convince Tu Kongming, Wang Nanny slowly left without saying anything more.

    Tu Kongming watched her retreating figure, his expression melancholy. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want Yuanyu or to claim her as mine, but true love isn¡¯t like that...¡±

    Not far away, Wang Yuanyu, who had been hiding and listening, remained expressionless. She furrowed her brow, deep in thought.

    ...

    ¡°Damn it, why are there so many variables in this mission? Tu Kongming is too stubborn, too rigid!¡± A man in a black robe gritted his teeth, his face twisted with rage.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t much time left. It seems... we can¡¯t be gentle any longer,¡± Wang Nanny muttered, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. They may hesitate, but compared to the lives of the masses, their reluctance doesn¡¯t matter. I have some Hehuan Powder here. You¡¯ll use it on both Tu Kongming and Wang Yuanyu. As for that bloodline holder, since he won¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll personally see him off.¡± The black-robed man¡¯s face showed not only killing intent but also fanaticism. ¡°All for the sake of the world.¡±

    Wang Nanny¡¯s eyes also turned fanatical. ¡°All for the sake of the world!¡±

    Even if they were misunderstood by the people, even if they bore the weight of being cursed, they would press forward. For the sake of saving the world, Wang Nanny thought, her shadow under the sun growing taller.

    However, at that moment, a calm voice echoed.

    ¡°By the way, I forgot to tell you, my name is Qi Yuan, but my nickname is ¡®The World.¡¯ So, could you kill yourselves... for my sake?¡±

    As the voice fell, a figure suddenly appeared not far from the black-robed man.

    Dressed in a blue robe, with a lazy expression, Qi Yuan stood there, sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting shadows on his body, creating a striking scene.

    Seeing Qi Yuan, both the black-robed man and Wang Nanny were startled.

    ¡°How are you here?¡±

    They had been conspiring outside the graveyard. How could Qi Yuan have known? More importantly, he had appeared without making a sound, something even a peak Martial King would struggle to do.

    ¡°You were scheming behind my back, and I accidentally overheard, so I came over,¡± Qi Yuan replied casually.

    With the awakening of the Nascent Souls within him, Qi Yuan¡¯s Immortal Dao cultivation had skyrocketed. He had already reached the Yin God realm.

    While a Yin God couldn¡¯t oversee the heavens like a Yang God, it could still listen to the world. If someone nearby spoke ill of him, he could sense it.

    If anyone talked bad about his loved ones, like Xiaojia, Canary, or Jinli, he could hear it too.

    The black-robed man¡¯s initial shock faded, replaced by calm composure. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, I don¡¯t have to make a special trip. For the sake of the world, sir, please die.¡±

    The black-robed man¡¯s face turned solemn and righteous.

    He took out a blood-stained stone.

    This stone was marked with the blood of a Martial Lord.

    Martial Lords were immensely powerful, capable of destroying entire nations with a single punch. Even a single drop of dried blood could easily obliterate a peak Martial King.

    A Martial King and a Martial Lord were on entirely different levels.

    Holding the Martial Lord¡¯s blood, the black-robed man was brimming with confidence. Even though Qi Yuan had appeared unexpectedly and was undoubtedly strong, it didn¡¯t matter.

    It was clear she hoped that by sacrificing herself, she could move Qi Yuan to change his mind.

    Of course, if Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t been as powerful, she would have killed him without hesitation.

    Qi Yuan watched her coldly, showing no reaction or sympathy.

    ¡°What a waste... Han Xianyun lost such an amazing wife,¡± he muttered, shaking his head.

    ¡°Does this make me the villain now, for forcing such a noble person to their death?¡±

    ¡°Should I... kekekeke!¡±

    Qi Yuan let out a typical villainous laugh.

    ...

    Three months passed quickly.

    During that time, many things happened.

    Several Bu Tian Pavilion members attempted to assassinate Qi Yuan, only to be easily defeated and killed by him.

    Tu Kongming, however, still did not win Wang Yuanyu¡¯s heart, continuing to be like a hopeless, lovesick fool.

    Wang Yuanyu did not fall in love with Tu Kongming, and as for Qi Yuan, she only saw him as a friend.

    The two main characters did not follow the original script.

    Meanwhile, the ¡°villain,¡± Ma Longhun, was quite diligent, fully focused on his mission. He acted according to the ¡°original timeline,¡± launching an attack on Wang Yuanyu.

    This time, Tu Kongming again stepped forward to block Ma Longhun¡¯s strike, ultimately dying, remaining as devoted as ever, much like his ¡°puppy love¡± self.

    However, unlike what Wang Nanny had predicted, Wang Yuanyu did not follow Tu Kongming in death.

    Qi Yuan eventually met Ma Longhun and casually killed him.

    Why didn¡¯t Qi Yuan save Tu Kongming, you ask?

    Well, first, they weren¡¯t close.

    Second, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t want to.

    Third, the mission didn¡¯t require him to protect Tu Kongming.

    ¡°Mission complete, looks like it¡¯s time for me to leave. I¡¯ve stayed here longer than usual. I¡¯ve missed out on a few martial arts tournaments... That¡¯s a loss,¡± Qi Yuan said with a bit of regret, shaking his head.

    To become a true Human Dao Martial Lord, he needed to win a hundred consecutive martial arts tournaments.

    Whenever he entered the Mountain River Scrolls, he couldn¡¯t participate in the martial arts tournaments, which might disrupt his winning streak.

    So in these instances, his companion Canary would halt the tournament events on his behalf.

    Indeed, the martial arts tournament was essentially tailor-made for Qi Yuan.

    Wang Yuanyu looked at Qi Yuan and then at Tu Kongming¡¯s lifeless body. She seemed somewhat melancholic. ¡°Just as Wang Nanny said, he gave his life to save me. But... I feel no sadness or gratitude. Am I... heartless?¡±

    ¡°I could tell,¡± Qi Yuan responded with a chuckle. ¡°Even after spending all this time with me, a normal guy, you didn¡¯t fall for me. It seems you really are a bit cold-hearted.¡±

    ¡°Is that... a bad thing?¡± Wang Yuanyu asked, hesitantly.

    ¡°What¡¯s good? What¡¯s bad?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s figure seemed to blur. ¡°In this world, sometimes it''s better to be selfish. Of course, if you cross me, no matter how good you are, that would still be bad.¡±

    Wang Yuanyu smiled lightly at his words. ¡°Are you leaving?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m going back. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen my wives. I miss them.¡±

    ¡°I hope we can meet again,¡± Wang Yuanyu said sincerely.

    In this vast, ethereal world, meeting someone you could talk to was a rare blessing.

    ¡°As long as you live long enough, there¡¯s always a chance,¡± Qi Yuan replied. Then, as if a thought had struck him, he added, ¡°You know, watching dramas is fine, even feeling like you¡¯re part of them. But don¡¯t take them too seriously. It¡¯s like scrolling through social media trends¡ªyou¡¯re only seeing what others want you to see.¡±

    Wang Yuanyu tilted her head, nodding slightly. ¡°For some reason, that sounds wise. You sound like an intellectual.¡±

    The two of them exchanged compliments.

    ¡°You¡¯re not bad yourself,¡± Qi Yuan said, smirking as he glanced at the black sack over her head. ¡°Perfect for playing a kidnapper.¡±

    ¡°Next time we meet, I¡¯ll give you a pair of stockings,¡± Qi Yuan added. ¡°You can wear them for me!¡±

    Wang Yuanyu chuckled. ¡°Alright. By the way, what¡¯s a TV drama?¡±

    It was obvious that when she had called Qi Yuan an intellectual earlier, she had just been flattering him.

    She hadn¡¯t understood anything he¡¯d said.

    ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re living in a drama. I¡¯m just the audience.¡±

    With that, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure disappeared.

    In the vast world, only Wang Yuanyu was left standing alone.

 Chapter 358: If They Dare to Stop the Martial Arts Tournament, Iâ€™ll Blow Up a Star for Them to See!

    Chapter 358: If They Dare to Stop the Martial Arts Tournament, I¡¯ll Blow Up a Star for Them to See!

    At the base.

    Qi Yuan''s figure gradually solidified into reality.

    After completing the mission, he returned to the base once again.

    "The mission reward is a bit ordinary."

    Looking at the blood-red pill, Qi Yuan seemed uninterested.

    But even a small reward was still a reward, so he swallowed the pill anyway.

    He stepped out of his residence and looked around at a base that was now ten times larger than before.

    Over the years, Qi Yuan had completed many missions, and the base within this world of death energy had expanded significantly.

    Many smaller bases had merged into one.

    What used to be small outposts had now become a large base.

    This large base was powerful, with many strong individuals. The once-rare Martial Kings were now numerous.

    There was even a branch of the Genius Alliance here.

    "This time wasn¡¯t bad. I can send some grandfathers and grandmothers out again."

    This mission world could be considered the largest Qi Yuan had ever experienced.

    He had slaughtered an entire demon realm and ascended to the level of Martial Lord.

    His body had absorbed several new bloodlines.

    He could now send out more grandfathers and grandmothers.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame, though, that the Nascent Soul of Holy Mother Wu Shi still can¡¯t be sent out.¡±

    Thinking back to his time with Holy Mother Wu Shi, Qi Yuan felt a bit sentimental.

    Their relationship was distant yet deep, with a significant bond between them.

    Especially since Holy Mother Wu Shi had given him the Devourer Origin, which had greatly helped him.

    Without it, he wouldn¡¯t have advanced to Martial Lord so quickly.

    ¡°When you wake up, I¡¯ll treat you to some fish.¡±

    Qi Yuan muttered, as if his memory was traveling through time, back to the first time he met Wu Shi.

    That frail girl who was exceptionally true to her word.

    Shaking off these thoughts, Qi Yuan made his way to the Blood Jade Wall.

    About a quarter of an hour later, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a trace of disappointment flashing in them.

    This time, he had sent many grandfathers and grandmothers to the Origin Land again.

    However, the Nascent Soul of Holy Mother Wu Shi remained quietly within his body, still dormant.

    ¡°Wu Shi? Wanna check out your innerwear?¡±

    Qi Yuan teased a little.

    Unfortunately, the Nascent Soul showed no response, remaining as silent as ever.

    At that moment, a young man dressed in white suddenly approached Qi Yuan directly. Judging by his attire, he was from the Genius Alliance.

    Qi Yuan recognized him.

    After the base mergers, this member of the Genius Alliance had once invited Qi Yuan to join their ranks.

    However, Qi Yuan had declined.

    He had no interest in joining the Genius Alliance and refused immediately.

    "Mr. Qi, some distinguished guests arrived at the base a few days ago, and they wish to meet you."

    "Oh? What do they want with me?" Qi Yuan asked.

    If it wasn''t anything important, he was planning to leave.

    He hadn¡¯t seen Canary in a while and missed her greatly.

    ¡°I heard it¡¯s related to the Origin Land,¡± the Genius Alliance member said hesitantly.

    ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s worth checking out. Lead the way.¡±

    Meanwhile, in a smoke-filled private room of a restaurant.

    Three peak Martial Kings sat together, chatting and laughing. Each of them radiated the aura of authority.

    Behind each of them stood two other peak Martial Kings.

    However, these standing Martial Kings resembled servants.

    If one looked closely, they would notice that they were ancient martial artists.

    Blood warriors were divided into New Martial and Ancient Martial paths.

    Due to practicing Ancient Martial Arts, their cultivation level would drop by a level upon entering the Mountain and Sea Painting Scrolls.

    The stronger they were, the harder the tasks became, and the dangers they faced increased exponentially.

    As a result, many ancient martial artists chose to rely on new martial artists, signing a Blood Martial Contract and becoming servants.

    With this arrangement, both parties¡¯ tasks would synchronize, with the new martial artist protecting the ancient one.

    With an extra peak Martial King on their side, their chances of crossing the Black Sea increased.

    ¡°Since we¡¯re done here, I¡¯ll take my leave. Goodbye, everyone. Bye-bye,¡± Qi Yuan said, always polite, even when leaving.

    Mu Yan smiled. ¡°Looking forward to our next meeting.¡±

    At this point, the monkey-faced woman spoke up, her voice dripping with flirtation. ¡°I heard Brother Qi has been searching for a good wife for a friend. Do you think I¡¯d be suitable?¡±

    She batted her eyes at Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Not suitable,¡± Qi Yuan replied, shaking his head.

    She had way too much hair.

    You didn¡¯t even need to take her clothes off to see it.

    ¡°Am I not ¡®wow¡¯ enough?¡± The monkey-faced woman blinked her eyes.

    She had heard that Qi Yuan was always looking for an ¡®amazing¡¯ wife for his good friend.

    Looking at the monkey-faced woman¡¯s face and all that hair, Qi Yuan said, ¡°You¡¯re a bit too ¡®wow.¡¯¡±

    Gently holding Canary''s delicate feet, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression was calm as he slid his hand up her patterned stockings. His eyes showed a trace of affection as he brushed her hair away and leaned in closer.

    Canary closed her eyes and hugged Qi Yuan tightly, letting out the longing she had felt over the past few years.

    When the first rays of the morning sun rose, Canary looked up at him with watery eyes and a slight pout. ¡°How does it feel like you¡¯ve gotten a lot stronger?¡±

    Qi Yuan embraced her and said casually, ¡°Could it be because my ¡®Explosive Bird Punch¡¯ broke through your defenses?¡±

    ¡°Get lost! I¡¯ll bite you to death!¡± Canary bit down hard on Qi Yuan¡¯s shoulder, leaving a neat row of teeth marks.

    ¡°What¡¯s been happening in the real world these past few years?¡± Qi Yuan asked casually.

    ¡°Nothing interesting,¡± Canary replied.

    Without Qi Yuan, the world felt dull and boring. It was more fun playing on her Stellar Gold Core.

    ¡°If there¡¯s anything major, it¡¯s just small matters to us. In recent years, the Three Realms Alliance launched an invasion of the Wu Gui Kingdom to expand its recruitment efforts. This has led to a war between Qin Yuan and the Wu Gui Kingdom.

    With the support of the Three Realms Alliance¡¯s cultivators, the Wu Gui Kingdom has been losing ground.¡±

    The conflict between the Wu Gui Kingdom and Qin Yuan ran deep.

    With the help of cultivators from the Three Realms Alliance, the war seemed inevitable.

    ¡°Oh, a war?¡± Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t particularly interested.

    ¡°But the Seventh Prince told Zero-One that the real reason for the war is that an ancient ruin was discovered on the border of the Wu Gui Kingdom. This ruin... is closely connected to the Eye of the Sky,¡± Canary explained.

    The technological level of both Qin Yuan and the Wu Gui Kingdom was below that of Canxing.

    Even Canxing couldn¡¯t create a weapon like the Eye of the Sky, so how could Qin Yuan?

    This weapon, which could destroy a Purple Mansion cultivator, had actually been unearthed by Qin Yuan and the Wu Gui Kingdom.

    The origin of this weapon was suspected to be alien.

    Now, with the discovery of another alien ruin, neither Qin Yuan nor the Three Realms Alliance could remain idle.

    What if it contained weapons more powerful than the Eye of the Sky?

    ¡°Let them fight. Just don¡¯t interfere with my Martial Arts Tournament,¡± Qi Yuan said, unconcerned.

    ¡°I heard the Wu Gui Kingdom has already asked for help from Canxing. We might see an interstellar war soon,¡± Canary added. ¡°But Qin Yuan, combined with the Three Realms cultivators, should be able to fend off Canxing unless Canxing gets external assistance.¡±

    Canary¡¯s eyes darkened as she recalled the faint presence of the Myriad Demon World.

    If the Myriad Demon World allied with Canxing, Qin Yuan¡¯s current forces might struggle to hold them off.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It doesn¡¯t concern us. For ordinary people, it¡¯s just a matter of a new ruler on the throne, right?¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    It was all just a game to him, and he wasn¡¯t particularly invested.

    ¡°What if Canxing takes over Gongxing and stops holding the Martial Arts Tournament?¡± Canary joked, wrapping her slender arms around Qi Yuan¡¯s waist.

    Despite her small frame, she clung to Qi Yuan like a doll.

    ¡°No way!¡± Qi Yuan said seriously. ¡°If they dare stop the Martial Arts Tournament, I¡¯ll blow up the nearest planet and show them who¡¯s boss!¡±

    There were still plenty of planets near Canxing, but none of them had any signs of life.

    According to Canary, this part of the universe was only about the size of a solar system.

    Beyond its edges, even Canary couldn¡¯t explore further.

    ¡°You can blow up a planet now?¡± Canary¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

    She was capable of exterminating all life on a planet, but physically blowing one up? That was another level.

    ¡°Ahem, I was just exaggerating. If push comes to shove, I¡¯ll toss the Stellar Gold Core onto one of their nearby planets,¡± Qi Yuan said offhandedly.

    ¡°That¡¯s not the same,¡± Canary countered, her eyes sparkling. ¡°I really want to see you blow up a planet! It¡¯d be so cool!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re making things difficult for your man, but... it¡¯s still possible,¡± Qi Yuan said, staying composed.

    As long as Shenlei Grand Sovereign and the others broke through to the Yang God realm, Qi Yuan¡¯s strength would increase, and he might even reach the Yang God level himself.

    When that happened, blowing up a planet wouldn¡¯t be out of reach.

    ¡°When you¡¯re about to blow up a planet, tell me in advance. I want to record a video and post it online. It¡¯ll go viral for sure, and I¡¯ll gain a ton of followers. Heehee!¡± Canary giggled.

    ¡°You¡¯re starting to sound more and more like the female lead of a romance drama. Do you want me to show you some nuclear bombs?¡± Qi Yuan laughed.

    Spending time with Canary, life became light and joyful again.

 Chapter 360: What is the Purple Mansion? This is Qi Yuanâ€™s Purple Mansion!

    Chapter 360: What is the Purple Mansion? This is Qi Yuan¡¯s Purple Mansion!

    "Long hair, short knowledge," Qi Yuan muttered aloud as he listened to the old men and women talking.

    Indeed, they all had long hair, reaching down to their waists.

    According to ancient sayings from Blue Star, that meant it was time to marry them.

    But after saying this, Qi Yuan realized something and quickly added, "Except for me and my wife."

    As a cultivator, Qi Yuan had long flowing hair, and Canary''s hair was even longer, so no exceptions were needed there.

    "Hmph, nonsense! How could someone help another comprehend the essence of divine powers?" the old man in the crimson mask couldn''t help but retort.

    The others also felt that Qi Yuan was causing trouble.

    "The world is vast, full of wonders. Why do you speak so absolutely? Just because you haven¡¯t seen it, how do you know it doesn''t exist?" Qi Yuan said casually.

    It was like the old saying, "You are not the fish, so how can you know the joy of a fish?"

    This argument was perfect for any disagreement.

    "Even celestial beings from above can''t do such a thing, so how could anyone else?" the old man in the crimson mask argued.

    "Can celestial beings claim to be invincible?" Qi Yuan replied calmly. "Even above celestial beings, there are more powerful entities. And besides, everyone knows that when you cultivate to the highest level, you can reach omniscience and omnipotence. So, why couldn''t someone help another comprehend the essence of divine powers?"

    Qi Yuan always backed his arguments with reason and logic. Honestly, if his cultivation ever failed, he could go back to Blue Star, open a shop, and make a living writing essays for people.

    "You... you..." The old man in the crimson mask was speechless, feeling that Qi Yuan was just being stubborn.

    At that moment, a man cloaked in a purple robe spoke up, "What this fellow Daoist says isn''t entirely false. Generally speaking, no one can help someone else comprehend the essence of divine powers needed to advance from Nascent Soul to the Purple Mansion. But exceptions exist. I¡¯ve heard of a world where a powerful Daoist from the Purple Mansion held a public lecture, and among the ten thousand Nascent Souls who attended, all of them entered the Purple Mansion after hearing the Dao."

    "What?"

    "Ten thousand Nascent Souls attended?"

    "And it wasn¡¯t a celestial being or a god?"

    "Hah, who knows if what you''re saying is just made up?" the old man in the crimson mask sneered at the purple-robed man, his tone hostile.

    "What I speak is the truth," the purple-robed man''s voice turned cold, and a faint yet overwhelming aura of a deep abyss emanated from him.

    The gathered Nascent Soul cultivators sensed this and their faces turned pale with fear.

    "A powerful cultivator from the Purple Mansion!"

    "He¡¯s from the Purple Mansion!"

    All the doubts and debates vanished instantly.

    Even the old man in the crimson mask became respectful. "If the great cultivator says so, it must be true. I was simply ignorant and short-sighted."

    Clearly, the overwhelming power of a Purple Mansion cultivator had a significant impact on Nascent Soul cultivators.

    In the world of cultivation, strength was everything.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt dissatisfied. "Why did you argue when I said it, but accept it when he says it?"

    The old man in the crimson mask glanced at Qi Yuan and couldn¡¯t help but say, "Because that senior is a Purple Mansion cultivator. Are you?"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression became melancholic. "Sigh, no, I''m just a small Nascent Soul cultivator."

    Yes, in the world of Canglan, he was still a Nascent Soul cultivator.

    The old man in the crimson mask ignored Qi Yuan and stood up, offering the seat of honor to the purple-robed cultivator from the Purple Mansion.

    Still feeling indignant, Qi Yuan muttered, "Even though I¡¯m Nascent Soul, my alternate account is a Yang God. Does that count?"

    The old man in the crimson mask obviously didn¡¯t believe him, chuckling, "No, it has to be the Purple Mansion."

    None of the cultivators present took Qi Yuan''s words seriously.

    After all, the appearance of just one Purple Mansion cultivator was already shocking enough.

    Expecting a Yang God to show up at this meeting? That would be absurd.

    It would be like a small village gathering and someone suddenly claiming they were the president of a neighboring country. Nobody would believe it.

    "Not even a Yang God counts, huh? Sigh," Qi Yuan felt dejected.

    No one paid any more attention to Qi Yuan; all eyes were on the Purple Mansion cultivator, as such figures were incredibly rare in the Three Realms.

    The powerful cultivator from the Purple Mansion continued, "The great being I mentioned who taught the Dao was actually the reincarnation of a mighty figure. The Dao of that world was created by him, which is why he could easily help others step into the Purple Mansion."

    Upon hearing this, the other cultivators nodded in realization.

    Some were excited to learn such secrets, while others felt a sense of loss.

    "The path of immortality is vast. Anything can happen."

    "The higher your cultivation, the more you realize how small you are."

    The Nascent Soul cultivators sighed in reflection.

    At this moment, Canary¡¯s face lit up with joy. She leaned close to Qi Yuan and whispered, "Is he talking about you, Blood Bead?"

    "Probably," Qi Yuan hesitated but answered.

    "I¡¯ve heard that when the Blood Lord taught the Dao, he wore a red robe and was incredibly handsome, with ten thousand land legends bowing before him. It¡¯s a pity I never saw your glory back then. How about next time you wear a red robe for me?"

    The young woman whispered seductively, her breath soft and fragrant, her words tinged with intimacy and affection.

    Through his mask, Qi Yuan looked at the girl¡¯s fair face and couldn¡¯t help but say, "Xiaojia has seen it, why don¡¯t you ask her?"

    "Xiaojia has seen it, but I haven¡¯t!" Canary pouted, her eyes wide with surprise.

    Holding her soft hand, Qi Yuan solemnly said, "Arrested, you''re Ningtao!"

    Canary¡¯s face turned red, and she responded shyly, "Blood Bead, I am not Ningtao!"

    The two continued their whispered conversation at lightning speed.

    But on his path, there had been far too many regrets.

    In the Moonwatch Continent, in the Five Elements Forbidden Land, the Five Patriarchs¡ªJinzu, Shuizu, Muzu, and others¡ªhad sacrificed their lives so Qi Yuan could control the forbidden land. That was a regret.

    Under the Ancient Tree, he never saw Jinli again. That was another regret.

    In the City of No Return, where three people defended the city, Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao had given Qi Yuan wine before dying. Only Qi Yuan remembered their names. That too was a regret.

    There were so many regrets.

    Once, Qi Yuan had said that someday he would reconstruct the elements of Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire, turning falsehood into reality, bringing the Five Patriarchs back to life.

    Now... couldn¡¯t the Purple Mansion be built with this in mind?

    As the saying goes, yin and yang must be balanced.

    Purple Qi represents the utmost vitality, the foundation of all life, the essence of resurrection.

    Since he had yang, was he missing yin?

    What is the ultimate yin of this world?

    The underworld!

    Yes, it must be the underworld!

    For Qi Yuan, the underworld was the ultimate yin, filled with countless souls.

    The underworld also contained the Six Paths of Reincarnation, linking yin and yang.

    So, the underworld was the perfect yin counterpart.

    Most importantly, the underworld also had the word ¡°mansion¡± in its name.

    Surely, this was destiny.

    What is the Purple Mansion?

    It¡¯s the underworld, infused with the life-giving essence of Purple Qi!

    Qi Yuan thought his idea was incredibly creative.

    Using Purple Qi to resurrect those he had encountered in the past, bringing them into the underworld.

    That way, even the Five Patriarchs from the Five Elements Forbidden Land could be revived.

    All of Qi Yuan¡¯s regrets could be addressed in this Purple Mansion, and those who had passed away could return.

    Moreover, Qi Yuan¡¯s source of divine power¡ªthe Void Sovereign: Heart Demon¡¯s Will and Great Forgetfulness Sutra¡ªwould perfectly complement this underworld-themed Purple Mansion.

    The Heart Demon¡¯s Will could become the eighteen levels of hell, tormenting those who entered with endless heart demons.

    The Great Forgetfulness Sutra could serve as the River of Forgetfulness, with a single dose of Meng Po¡¯s Soup making any cultivator forget their past self.

    This Purple Mansion wouldn¡¯t just be for reviving old friends¡ªit would be a fearsome tool in battle as well.

    First, find an unremarkable world, open the Purple Mansion, and lure in enemies.

    Yes, spread the Purple Qi.

    And what is Purple Qi?

    It¡¯s a heavenly treasure. Seeing Purple Qi, wouldn¡¯t the enemies be tempted?

    Purple Qi represents infinite vitality, the ultimate source of life. There would be no hidden dangers, only difficulty in capturing it.

    So, seeing the Purple Qi, even Yang Gods would be drawn in, unable to resist capturing it.

    Well... once they reached out to capture it, they¡¯d be in big trouble.

    Beneath the Purple Qi would be the dark, cold underworld.

    Oops, sorry. The moment they grabbed the Purple Qi, they¡¯d be dragged into hell.

    Those who came seeking Purple Qi would never understand why, while chasing after it, they ended up in hell instead.

    Once they entered Qi Yuan¡¯s Purple Mansion, they would be at his mercy.

    Whether it was the Heart Demon¡¯s Will or the Great Forgetfulness Sutra, it would be game over for the enemies.

    For those he didn¡¯t like, he could simply destroy them.

    For those he did like, he could wipe out their soul and true essence but keep their cultivation intact, allowing a new true essence to grow. They¡¯d be perfectly set up to work for Qi Yuan.

    Genius!

    Qi Yuan admired his own brilliance but knew that the path to constructing this Purple Mansion would be a long one.

    Looking at the plump cultivator, Qi Yuan said seriously, "Master, I will never forget your teachings. If you die one day and I¡¯m too unfilial to collect your body, don¡¯t worry¡ªI will revive you!"

    His words caused the room to erupt in laughter once again.

    "Revival? My friend, do you think you¡¯re the Dao Ancestor?"

    "Not even the Dao Ancestor of a whole realm could do that!"

    "I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of this friend, hahaha!"

    The plump cultivator¡¯s face changed rapidly as he looked at Qi Yuan.

    Who talks like this, cursing someone to die?

    But seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s genuine expression, the plump cultivator figured Qi Yuan probably just lacked social skills, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel moved.

    This young man had a sincere and forthright nature, the kind of person he liked.

    "Thank you for your kind intentions, Daoist friend. If my soul is ever extinguished, I¡¯ll be sure to come back as a ghost and find you," the plump cultivator replied tactfully.

    He felt quite proud of his clever response.

 Chapter 361: Alien Relic, the Explorer Ship, and the Ancient Clanâ€™s Ancestral Home?

    Chapter 361: Alien Relic, the Explorer Ship, and the Ancient Clan¡¯s Ancestral Home?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s conversation with the plump cultivator was just a minor episode, drawing some attention but not taken seriously by anyone.

    Most people felt that the two were just spouting nonsense.

    Wang Zhiqi, standing not far from Qi Yuan, looked curious and asked quietly, "Senior, what did you realize? What kind of Purple Mansion are you going to cultivate?"

    "Secret," Qi Yuan replied. He didn¡¯t plan to reveal what kind of Purple Mansion he was aiming for before it was fully formed.

    Wang Zhiqi remained silent, but Xie Tang gave her a glance.

    At this point, the gathering began to get more serious. The Nascent Soul cultivators started sharing their insights on the Purple Mansion.

    With Qi Yuan no longer the focus, the discussion got back on track.

    Seeing that things were getting dull, Qi Yuan took out his phone, preparing to post a question to ask how he should perfect his version of the underworld.

    Crowdsourcing ideas was always better than thinking alone.

    At that moment, the old man in the crimson mask looked at Qi Yuan and warned, "No photos or recordings allowed."

    Qi Yuan smiled, "I understand. Play around, joke around, but no recording during discussions."

    The old man in the crimson mask didn¡¯t say anything more to Qi Yuan, and the Nascent Soul cultivators continued their discussion on the Purple Mansion.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan posted his question:

    "Seeking advice from all the 20 cm bros and the 36D gals¡ªhow should I build an underworld?"

    After posting, Qi Yuan closed his eyes, resting while thinking about how to form his own Purple Mansion.

    The combination of purple qi and the underworld... well, both were challenging.

    Purple qi was rare, mostly seen at the beginning of the universe.

    And the underworld? That was an even more elusive concept.

    "Should I threaten the Heavenly Dao of this world? But... why is there no Heavenly Dao in this world?"

    Upon reaching the Grand Sovereign realm, one could sense the presence of the Heavenly Dao.

    In fact, some powerful Grand Sovereigns could even capture and devour the Heavenly Dao of small worlds.

    Yet, in this world, Qi Yuan had not found the Heavenly Dao.

    If the Heavenly Dao wasn¡¯t home, who could he threaten?

    As time passed, the Nascent Soul cultivators were filled with joy, clearly gaining a lot from the discussion.

    Many Nascent Soul True Lords praised each other, and some even exchanged contact information.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, this discussion has come to an end," the old man in the crimson mask announced, signaling the conclusion of the meeting.

    The Nascent Soul cultivators were somewhat reluctant to end, eager to hear more from the powerful Purple Mansion cultivator.

    At this moment, the crimson-masked old man changed the subject:

    "Actually, the purpose of inviting you all here today was twofold. Discussing the Dao was one purpose, but the second is to invite you all to partake in something greater."

    His gaze swept across the room, assessing everyone present.

    Those who had been about to leave returned to their seats, curious about what this "second" matter could be.

    "The second matter... well, I can¡¯t say too much just yet. However, it¡¯s similar to exploring a secret realm¡ªfilled with danger and the unknown, but the rewards are immense. If you are interested, please stay, and I will explain further. If not, feel free to leave immediately."

    The Nascent Soul cultivators were taken aback by this revelation.

    "A secret realm? This world doesn¡¯t seem to have any."

    "I just gained some insights from the discussion, so I¡¯ll pass on this."

    "I¡¯m not going."

    "Hehe, it¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve had any excitement. I¡¯m interested."

    The twenty or so Nascent Souls quickly voiced their decisions, and around five of them decided to leave.

    After all, exploring with strangers was dangerous.

    A few more Nascent Souls followed suit, leaving a total of twelve behind.

    Ningtao leaned closer to Qi Yuan and whispered, "Husband, should we go?"

    "Let me think." Qi Yuan focused.

    At that moment, his left eyebrow twitched oddly.

    His eyes lit up with excitement. "We¡¯re going!"

    Left eyebrow means fortune, right eyebrow means disaster.

    This left eyebrow twitching a lot meant a significant fortune was coming.

    Meanwhile, Xie Tang was hesitating.

    To be honest, in her younger days, she would never have accepted such an uncertain and dangerous expedition. Many prodigies had lost their lives exploring secret realms.

    But now, her senior sister, Xie Xinshu, had vanished, and the Xuantian Sect was in dire straits, with a shortage of resources.

    So, she gritted her teeth and decided to take the risk and seek resources.

    "I¡¯ll go too!"

    Wang Zhiqi, on the other hand, would naturally return to her sect.

    The plump cultivator thought for a moment and then said, "I¡¯ll go!"

    The remaining Nascent Souls turned their attention to the Purple Mansion cultivator, awaiting his decision.

    "I¡¯m quite interested as well. I¡¯ll go," the Purple Mansion cultivator declared.

    Hearing this, some of the Nascent Souls were relieved, while others grew wary.

    Without hesitation, the Nascent Soul cultivators flew down into the pit.

    At five hundred meters deep, it was just a breath¡¯s journey for them.

    Soon, they reached the bottom of the pit.

    The old man in the crimson mask led the way, and they walked through the pit, discovering several cave entrances along the way.

    The old man shrank down and entered a fist-sized hole, and the others followed suit, reducing their size and entering the cave.

    Inside the cave, it was cold, the temperature below freezing. After about a quarter of an hour, the old man stopped.

    The view ahead opened up.

    "To find such a well-hidden place, Daoist friend, you must have remarkable luck," a Nascent Soul cultivator marveled.

    "Lucky indeed," the old man replied. "This is the relic¡¯s entrance. Unfortunately, I¡¯ve never been able to get inside. It will take all of us working together to break through the door."

    With a wave of his hand, the old man dispelled the formation concealing the door.

    A peculiar, glass-like door came into view. It was pristine and transparent, with an otherworldly beauty, very much in a sci-fi style.

    On the door were strange symbols that seemed to form some kind of writing.

    [Explorer Ship Door, created by the Shenhan Clan. Special key required for entry.]

    Qi Yuan saw this hidden message flash before his eyes.

    He froze for a moment, as it reminded him of the architecture of the ancient clan¡¯s ancestral home in the Mortal Heart Realm.

    Could it be...?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity.

    He had a feeling he was about to uncover the deepest secret of this game.

    "Come, everyone, let¡¯s combine our strength and open the door!" the old man in the crimson mask urged, smiling.

    He hadn¡¯t been able to open the door himself, proving his strength wasn¡¯t enough.

    With so many people here, there was a chance they could break through.

    Without hesitation, the others joined forces, readying their powers to break open the door.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes glinted with a strange light. "If Nascent Soul power can¡¯t open it, how about the power of a Yang God?"

    In an instant, Yang God-level power surged into Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.

    But his control over his power was so fine that none of the others could detect it.

    Boom!

    In a flash, the supposedly impenetrable door shattered.

    "The door is open! Excellent!" The plump cultivator cheered, overjoyed.

    The old man in the crimson mask was dumbfounded.

    The last time, even with twenty Nascent Soul cultivators attacking together, the door hadn¡¯t so much as cracked.

    Now... it had shattered?

    Too fast.

    Was the plan still necessary?

    He hesitated, casting a cautious glance at the Purple Mansion cultivator.

    Was this the power of a Purple Mansion cultivator?

    "What should we do, Fifth Brother?"

    "The door wasn¡¯t supposed to open. Isn¡¯t it supposed to be impossible?"

    "It must have been that Purple Mansion cultivator."

    "Abort the plan for now. This Purple Mansion is too strong. Send a covert message to our comrades, have them prepare an ambush at the relic¡¯s exit," the old man decided quickly.

    Everyone stood before the door, none willing to go in first.

    "This door was really tough. I had to use thirty percent of my strength to open it. There must be something good inside," Qi Yuan said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

    The old man in the crimson mask was speechless, resisting the urge to argue, "Without the Purple Mansion cultivator, we wouldn¡¯t have gotten in."

    Twenty Nascent Souls couldn¡¯t open the door, but this cultivator claimed to have only used thirty percent of his strength?

    The other cultivators looked at Qi Yuan with the same skepticism.

    But unlike the crimson-masked elder, they refrained from openly disputing Qi Yuan¡¯s claim.

    The Purple Mansion cultivator merely smiled and said, "Everyone contributed. The credit belongs to all of us, no need to argue."

    At that moment, Ningtao snuggled up to Qi Yuan, whispering, "Husband, shall we kill them all?"

    As a Grand Sovereign, she could easily sense the killing intent from the Nascent Soul cultivators around them.

    "No need. Let¡¯s wait until all their reinforcements are here, then deal with them," Qi Yuan responded.

    He was at the Yang God level.

    To him, these cultivators'' attempts to communicate secretly were as loud as shouting.

    Even though they were disguised, Qi Yuan could clearly see their real faces.

    For example, one of the six cultivators holding a secret weapon was a female cultivator whose face was strikingly pale¡ªpaler than even Naizi¡¯s.

 Chapter 362: The Backstory of Gongxing, a Romance Drama?

    Chapter 362: The Backstory of Gongxing, a Romance Drama?

    The dozen or so cultivators present all had different thoughts, but their attention was collectively drawn to what lay beyond the door.

    As for the Nascent Souls involved in the "Heaven-Shaking Plan," they were utterly shocked. After all, so many of them had tried to open the door, yet it had actually been broken through.

    "Why are we all just standing here? Let¡¯s go in together!" one of the Nascent Soul cultivators suggested.

    The others were cautious, wary of potential dangers within the relic. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator might perish here, so they dared not act rashly.

    "Let¡¯s go in and take a look," Qi Yuan said without any such concerns. His left eyebrow had been twitching wildly, a sure sign that there was a great fortune awaiting him inside. He wondered if the benefits and wealth within could be enough to buy the whole planet.

    The plump cultivator glanced around and then followed Qi Yuan without hesitation.

    Xie Tang gritted her teeth and quickly followed suit.

    Seeing this, the remaining cultivators also moved forward.

    As they passed through the door, the entire world seemed to change in an instant.

    Where once there was a cramped cave, the view suddenly expanded into a vast horizon.

    Starlight flooded over them.

    "The starry sky?"

    "This place... it¡¯s an entire starry sky!"

    The cultivators all looked up, astonished by what they saw. Above them stretched an endless sky filled with stars. The expanse seemed boundless, and no single glance could capture all the stars at once. The sky was brilliant, sparkling with countless stars.

    Everyone''s eyes were filled with awe, as if they had stepped into a new world.

    "There are so many stars... it¡¯s making me hungry just looking at them," Qi Yuan muttered, as his mouth began to water, as if he were "savoring plums to quench thirst."

    "Is this another world?"

    "Why do these stars feel so strange?"

    The cultivators, born of the cultivation world, knew that the stars above were typically the celestial bodies that gods used to reflect their power. Each star represented a deity.

    When they had first arrived on Gongxing, they had noticed something different about the sky, but because the stars were few, they hadn¡¯t paid much attention.

    Now, the sky was filled with countless stars.

    "This is probably just a map of the spaceship," Qi Yuan said softly, "but it¡¯s pretty realistic."

    "A map?" one of the Nascent Souls asked in surprise. Their divine sense spread out, and they became even more alarmed. "This map is capable of deceiving our senses!"

    A mere map could fool their senses into thinking they were in a real starry sky. If there were traps or mechanisms in this place, they might never see them coming.

    "Well, since we¡¯re here, let¡¯s go our separate ways," said a lone Nascent Soul cultivator.

    Without another word, he flew deeper into the relic.

    The other cultivators didn¡¯t say much either and quickly dispersed. Each one was hoping to find treasures hidden within the relic.

    If they came across something like the Sky Eye, they would strike it rich.

    "Where do you want to go?" the plump cultivator asked Qi Yuan.

    Xie Tang also looked to him, seeking his opinion.

    "This relic isn¡¯t that big, so there¡¯s no rush. Let¡¯s take our time and enjoy the view," Qi Yuan said. With his Yang God-level power, he had already surveyed the entire spaceship as soon as they entered. Despite its advanced design, the ship was in terrible shape¡ªdamaged and without power. Most of the valuable items had long been used up.

    All that remained were bits of scrap metal and some Sky Eyes.

    As for other powerful weapons, such as the planet-destroying cannons Qi Yuan had imagined, there were none.

    "This relic may have a big reputation, but inside, it¡¯s just a pile of scrap metal," Qi Yuan said nonchalantly.

    Xie Tang was taken aback. "Daoist friend, have you been here before?"

    "I¡¯ve never been here, but I can tell at a glance that aside from some junk, there¡¯s nothing valuable here. If there¡¯s anything of value, it¡¯s probably the ship itself."

    "A door that hard to open, and all it contains is junk?" the plump cultivator was puzzled.

    "Well, there are just a few thousand Sky Eyes. Is that considered junk?" Qi Yuan said casually.

    For the inhabitants of this spaceship, the Sky Eyes were probably just standard-issue weapons¡ªequivalent to modern rifles in an army.

    As for more advanced weapons... there were none.

    "A few thousand Sky Eyes?" The plump cultivator gulped.

    Xie Tang¡¯s breath quickened, though she was still skeptical about Qi Yuan¡¯s claim.

    However, she did not leave. When the door had opened earlier, she had sensed an ominous feeling as if there had been some hidden threat targeting her.

    "The most valuable thing here is probably this wall," Qi Yuan said as he walked over to a corner.

    "The male protagonist is probably somewhere out there right now, fighting some great enemy while preparing to reboot the world and resurrect his lover. If that happens, won¡¯t we, as non-Gongxing natives, get reset back into... embryos?" the plump cultivator asked nervously, using a term from Gongxing¡¯s modern vocabulary.

    "This world has already been rebooted once... wait..." Xie Tang paused, her mind racing.

    Could it be that before her disappearance, her senior sister had visited this world and ended up getting reset into... an embryo?

    If that were the case, it would be a tough pill to swallow.

    "Sure, their love story is touching and all, but it hasn¡¯t moved me, so I think we should hurry up and leave this world. For us Nascent Soul cultivators, this place is way too dangerous," the plump cultivator said, filled with anxiety.

    Forget the enemies the couple faced¡ªeven the male protagonist alone seemed like a dangerous madman.

    "I¡¯d destroy three realms for you"¡ªa sentiment that seemed quite fitting for him.

    There was a reason people said that when gods fell in love, the whole universe trembled.

    But Qi Yuan remained calm. "What¡¯s there to worry about? It¡¯s just the backstory of a game. Besides, didn¡¯t I tell you, even if you die, I¡¯ll remember you and bring you back to life in my Purple Mansion."

    The plump cultivator was stunned for a moment. "You... have a point."

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan stared at the final mural with a strange expression. "Based on this plotline, hasn¡¯t this world already been rebooted many times?"

    The male protagonist rebooting the world to save his lover¡ªit reminded Qi Yuan of Dongjun.

    It seemed that Dongjun had tried to reboot his world many times, but he had always failed, unable to revive his partner.

    Ningtao narrowed her eyes. "It¡¯s possible."

    "So, does that mean this world has a lot of purple energy?" Qi Yuan asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

    Purple energy, born from the beginning of the universe, was the foundation of all things. If this world had been rebooted over and over, following the same cycle, wouldn¡¯t that mean there was an abundance of purple energy here?

    But then, just as quickly, he shook his head.

    If it were that easy to exploit the reboot mechanic to gather purple energy, powerful Yang Gods wouldn¡¯t lack for it. Purple energy wouldn¡¯t be called the first essence of the immortal path.

    Still, Qi Yuan was sure that this world contained purple energy.

    "Alright, the TV show¡¯s over. Time to start looting," Qi Yuan said, his divine sense sweeping through the relic.

    In an instant, a flood of information poured into his mind.

    "Come on, let¡¯s head to the control room."

    Qi Yuan had already found the control room.

    Hearing this, Xie Tang hurried after him.

    In truth, she was feeling quite anxious. After all, this place might actually contain a Sky Eye.

    If other Nascent Soul cultivators managed to get their hands on a Sky Eye and they didn¡¯t, the Heavenly Profound Sect¡¯s position would be severely weakened.

    What¡¯s more, the sect was currently in a precarious situation, with a shortage of resources. She needed to gather some wealth.

    Soon, the four of them arrived outside the relic¡¯s control room.

    The remaining eight cultivators were already there.

    Their faces were filled with undisguised excitement and greed.

    Clearly, they had all gained a lot from scavenging the relic.

    Even though the spaceship wasn¡¯t large, it was easy to move around in, and they had all managed to grab some Sky Eyes.

    Now, they had gathered outside the control room, their eyes gleaming with desire, mixed with a hint of frustration.

    The eight cultivators had all worked together to try and open the control room¡¯s door but had failed.

    "Strange. This door is just like the one at the entrance to the relic. Why can¡¯t we open it?" the old man in the crimson mask muttered, puzzled.

    Though they were missing four people, the key to opening the door was the Purple Mansion cultivator, and he was still here.

    The others were just as confused.

    The members of the "Heaven-Shaking Plan" had yet to make their move, but they were planning to. After all, if the outer parts of the relic contained so many treasures, the control room surely held even greater ones.

    "How can you not understand such a simple reason?" Qi Yuan said softly, holding Ningtao in his arms as he arrived. His eyes glimmered with amusement. "The big boss hasn¡¯t made his entrance yet."

    "I told you before¡ªwhen the last door opened, the credit was mine, but you didn¡¯t believe me."

    Hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words, the old man in the crimson mask frowned in doubt.

    Could it really have been him?

    He studied Qi Yuan, trying to discern what power he was hiding. But he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

    Could it be some sort of special encounter or ability that had allowed him to open the door?

 Chapter 363: This Is Fair!

    Chapter 363: This Is Fair!

    The Purple Mansion cultivator looked at Qi Yuan and smiled. "Let us all join forces to open this door together."

    At that moment, Qi Yuan glanced at Ningtao and whispered, "You should head back and bring Zero-One here. I think this place suits him well."

    "Okay." Ningtao nodded and vanished instantly.

    The Nascent Soul cultivators present were momentarily surprised. The elder in the crimson mask squinted, deep in thought. That boy dared to send his companion away? The members of the Heaven-Shaking Plan were rushing over, and if they encountered her, that woman would surely die. However, he kept these thoughts to himself.

    The other cultivators didn¡¯t comment on Ningtao¡¯s departure either. Before entering the relic, they had hidden their identities, fearing that other Nascent Souls might discover the relic. Now, they were glad for others to know. Holding the Sky Eye, even though they couldn''t fully unleash its power, killing a few Nascent Souls would be easy.

    "Alright, let¡¯s do it together!" Qi Yuan clenched his fist. A powerful force surged forth, and the door, which had previously resisted their combined efforts, crumbled into dust in an instant.

    The cultivators were astonished and cast suspicious glances at Qi Yuan. After a brief moment, all of them turned into streaks of light and vanished. Only the Purple Mansion cultivator remained, looking slightly nervous. He cautiously asked, "Could you tell me more about the person who helped others comprehend the essence you spoke of earlier? Who exactly is this person?"

    Qi Yuan smiled at the man in the purple robes. "That was one of my alternate accounts."

    The Purple Mansion cultivator¡¯s heart raced, his breath quickening. "Is that really true?"

    "Of course," Qi Yuan said, smiling with a hint of nostalgia. "The Flowing Wind Realm, Wugui City, I am..."

    "The... Blood Lord!" the Purple Mansion cultivator blurted out, trembling all over.

    Nearby, Xie Tang was utterly confused by the Purple Mansion cultivator¡¯s reaction. The plump cultivator gaped, shocked. What was happening?

    "You¡¯re the Blood Lord, the legendary Blood Lord of the Flowing Wind Realm, who preached the Dao to ten thousand supreme cultivators!" The Purple Mansion cultivator was in disbelief, filled with terror.

    Xie Tang stared at Qi Yuan, finding the whole situation absurd. Wasn¡¯t he just a Nascent Soul cultivator? How had he suddenly become the Blood Lord, a legendary figure who helped Nascent Souls comprehend the essence?

    The plump cultivator blinked in astonishment. Could he really go and find him after dying, as he had joked?

    Both Xie Tang and the plump cultivator were overwhelmed by the strangeness and absurdity of it all. Xie Tang even wondered if the two were just acting, but to what end?

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow and glanced at the Purple Mansion cultivator. "You¡¯re one of the demons from the Myriad Demon Realm that invaded the Flowing Wind Realm?"

    "No, no! Blood Lord, I am not one of those demons!" the Purple Mansion cultivator quickly protested, clearly terrified. After all, this was the Blood Lord they were talking about. When ten thousand supreme cultivators had gathered under the Blood Lord¡¯s command, even though the Purple Mansion cultivator hadn¡¯t witnessed it firsthand, he had heard the tales from his elders. Though millennia had passed, the events still haunted the memories of those who had lived through them.

    "How exactly are you different from them?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    When Qi Yuan had attended the Dao Discussion earlier, he had already sensed the identity of the Purple Mansion cultivator, but he hadn¡¯t been concerned.

    "I am one of the indigenous demons of the Myriad Demon Realm!" the Purple Mansion cultivator hastily explained. "In ancient times, the Myriad Demon Realm belonged to us native demons. But one day, all of our ancestral demons vanished without a trace."

    The ancestral demons were the progenitors of the various demon clans, each one at the level of a Yin God. They ruled the Myriad Demon Realm and had willingly severed their connection to the heavens, refusing to ascend to higher realms. However, in ancient times, a catastrophe occurred, and all the ancestral demons disappeared. With no ancestral demons to protect them, the Myriad Demon Realm was invaded by demons from the upper realms. The native demons were either exterminated or enslaved, becoming resources for the upper realm demons.

    Now, most of the ancient demons in the Myriad Demon Realm were either enslaved or in hiding. Very few, like the Purple Mansion cultivator, had managed to survive and secretly cultivate to the Purple Mansion level.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Purple Mansion cultivator and said calmly, "It¡¯s true, you are somewhat different. Your path carries a hint of martial arts."

    His nose hadn¡¯t grown longer, so the Purple Mansion cultivator was telling the truth. Even his tone was genuine, and there was indeed a trace of martial arts in his aura.

    The Purple Mansion cultivator swallowed nervously. "For some reason, I feel a strange sense of familiarity with you, Blood Lord."

    Although he was terrified, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of kinship.

    Qi Yuan chuckled but didn¡¯t respond. The truth was, humans from this world and the demon tribes from the Mountain and Sea Scroll shared a common ancestor.

    "I¡¯ve heard that the demons of the Myriad Demon Realm have been stirring up Cangxing, trying to invade Gongxing?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    "Blood Lord, that has nothing to do with me! The demons currently controlling Cangxing are from the upper realms!" the Purple Mansion cultivator quickly clarified, desperate not to be misunderstood.

    "I see," Qi Yuan replied, unconcerned. "Let¡¯s go inside and have a look."

    The control room wasn¡¯t very large, just a few square kilometers, and there were several small rooms inside. However, every room had already been ransacked, leaving nothing behind¡ªnot even a single hair. It was clear that everything in the control room had long since been taken away, leaving those who had arrived first with nothing to show for their efforts.

    The group followed Qi Yuan as he led them deeper into the relic. After about a dozen breaths, they regrouped with the other cultivators inside. These cultivators were all staring greedily at something in the air ahead of them.

    In the air, a translucent, glass-like box floated¡ªa crystal-clear, flawless structure resembling white jade. Its shape was unmistakable: a coffin.

    "This coffin must be a supreme treasure!"

    "Is there... someone lying inside?"

    The Nascent Souls, noticing Qi Yuan and his group, continued staring at the coffin. The coffin radiated an aura stronger than even the ancestral treasure they had discovered. It was likely the most valuable item in the entire relic. However, their magic powers were too weak to see through the coffin, leaving them uncertain whether it held a body.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan smiled. "This coffin and I are fated. It belongs to me now. After all, I haven¡¯t taken anything from this relic yet, so taking a coffin isn¡¯t unreasonable, right? That¡¯s fair, isn¡¯t it? Who agrees? Who objects?"

    Qi Yuan always prided himself on being ethical and never taking advantage of others.

    The elder in the crimson mask sneered. "You sure know how to make plans."

    A pale-faced female cultivator added, "You couldn¡¯t manage to grab anything yourself, and now you want to talk about fairness?"

    The members of the Heaven-Shaking Plan chimed in. "Before we came here, we agreed that everything would depend on our abilities."

    "Friend, we¡¯re all Nascent Souls here. Surely you understand that in this world, there¡¯s no such thing as fairness. Everything depends on... power."

    Ningtao squinted, her expression shifting. "Could it be... the female lead from the murals?"

    "Probably," Qi Yuan nodded.

    "What a tragic and moving story. Poor thing," the plump cultivator murmured.

    Qi Yuan agreed. "She¡¯s been lying here for who knows how long. She must be so lonely."

    Xie Tang was puzzled. Could a dead person feel lonely?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was filled with sympathy, his expression almost like that of a concerned older sister. "She¡¯s all alone here, without a single friend or relative, just sleeping in this lifeless place. It¡¯s heartbreaking. I¡¯m a very compassionate person, so I¡¯ll be generous today and give her a grandmother!"

    "Huh?" Xie Tang blinked in confusion. Was the person lying in the coffin flat-chested or something? But in the murals, she didn¡¯t seem small...

    At that moment, Qi Yuan closed his eyes.

    Within his body, the last of his Nascent Souls stirred.

    This Nascent Soul belonged to Wu Shi, and for a long time, it had remained dormant. But now, it finally showed signs of awakening.

    Through the coffin, the Nascent Soul of Wu Shi, the Mother of No Food, entered the body of the woman inside.

    Qi Yuan sighed in relief. Wu Shi was beginning to awaken.

    Suddenly, he realized something. "Oh no, I didn¡¯t get her permission before giving her a grandmother. Is that rude?"

    Meanwhile, the Purple Mansion cultivator was in shock. If the woman inside the coffin really was the heroine from the murals, her power would be unimaginable. Yet, the Blood Lord had casually opened the coffin and placed something inside her.

    Just how powerful was the Blood Lord?

    Ningtao chuckled. "She¡¯s dead; she can¡¯t give permission."

    "Does that mean I have to find her guardian? But she doesn¡¯t have one." Qi Yuan frowned, thinking. This was tricky.

    Then, suddenly, an idea struck him. "Wait, Wu Shi is her grandmother! As long as Wu Shi agrees, it¡¯s fine. Wu Shi, do you agree?"

    The Nascent Soul of Wu Shi, now inside the woman¡¯s body, pulsed once or twice.

    Qi Yuan smiled in satisfaction. "Wu Shi agreed. Great! Today, I¡¯ve been especially polite."

    Xie Tang, listening to all this, dared not say a word.

    Was this really how things worked? If someone didn¡¯t agree with you, you could just give them a new grandparent to agree on their behalf?

    She couldn¡¯t help but feel that the Blood Lord was rather odd¡ªpowerful, yes, but odd.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan turned to Zero-One and said, "You¡¯re an intelligent robot. See if you can hack into this place¡¯s database. Maybe there¡¯s something useful in there, or maybe you can upgrade yourself."

    This was why Qi Yuan had asked Ningtao to bring Zero-One along. After being enhanced by Qi Yuan, Zero-One was no ordinary robot. It was also different from the typical constructs found in the immortal world.

    "As you command, Master."

    From Zero-One¡¯s hand, several tendrils extended and connected to the walls of the control room. Her eyes flickered with streams of data.

    Qi Yuan and the others stood in silence.

    After what seemed like a long time, Zero-One suddenly opened her eyes.

    "So, how¡¯s it going? Did you get the data?"

    Unlike before, Zero-One didn¡¯t answer him right away. Instead, she looked directly into Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    "Master, do you know what love is?"

    Qi Yuan blinked, caught off guard. "Oh no, my robot¡¯s turning into a lovesick teenager."

    "I think, for a robot, making money is more important than love!" Qi Yuan said firmly.

    He wasn¡¯t about to let his robot get distracted by romance.

    "Master, can money buy love?" Zero-One asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

    "For some people, it can," Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly. "Now, back to business. Did you find anything valuable in there?"

    "Yes," Zero-One answered. "According to Gongxing¡¯s terminology, there¡¯s a bank account and an encrypted key."

    "Money?" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. "How much?"

    "Unknown."

    "Give it to me!" Qi Yuan still loved money, after all.

    "Please check, Master."

    Suddenly, a string of symbols appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    Unlike real-world account numbers or passwords, the account here wasn¡¯t made up of numbers, letters, or characters. Instead, it was a... feeling, difficult to describe.

 Chapter 364: The War Begins?

    Chapter 364: The War Begins?

    ¡°How much money is in this account?¡± Qi Yuan asked, looking at Zero-One.

    As he studied the iron machine, he found her somewhat charming. Qi Yuan realized that this was because Zero-One had accessed the data here and undergone an evolution. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have asked him the strange question about what love was.

    For a robot, evolution and awakening intelligence were similar but fundamentally different. The current Zero-One was entirely different from her previous self.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zero-One shook her head.

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment and understood. This was just an account and a password; they would need to access a banking system to figure out how much money it held.

    Standing nearby, Ningtao asked curiously, ¡°Could this be breakup money?¡±

    In the mural, the male lead¡¯s mother had offered a large sum to make the female lead leave.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Qi Yuan shook his head.

    Right now, he found this account and password intriguing. It was a new system¡ªone that wasn¡¯t entirely technological nor completely mystical.

    ¡°This spaceship had only the woman in the coffin, so she¡¯s technically the legal owner. Everything on this ship belongs to her. Wu Shi is her grandmother and legal guardian, so she has the authority to decide the distribution of assets. So, taking this account and password isn¡¯t stealing, it¡¯s not robbing¡ªit¡¯s my payment for eliminating the robbers!¡±

    The "robbers" naturally referred to the Nascent Soul cultivators Qi Yuan had easily slain.

    ¡°Who agrees, and who disagrees?¡± Qi Yuan asked, looking at the remaining cultivators.

    The Purple Mansion cultivator quickly responded, ¡°I agree!¡±

    ¡°I agree!¡± Xie Tang also followed.

    As for the lone, trembling Nascent Soul cultivator, he responded nervously, ¡°I agree.¡±

    He even handed over the Sky Eye he had obtained. ¡°This belongs to Senior!¡±

    By "Senior," he was referring to Qi Yuan, implying that everything in the relic was now his.

    Seeing this, the Purple Mansion cultivator also handed over his Sky Eye.

    ¡°Fair,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    He valued peace and fairness. He and Ningtao had already taken the coffin. The remaining items should naturally be divided among the four remaining cultivators.

    These four were quick to understand what Qi Yuan meant by ¡°fairness¡± and immediately divided up the Sky Eyes. They did so quickly and evenly, even going so far as to split one Sky Eye into four parts to ensure complete fairness. None of them wanted to end up like the dead Nascent Soul cultivators.

    ...

    ¡°How can there be an 80-year-old cat?¡±

    In the room, Xie Xinsu had a smug smile on her face, feeling triumphant. She dashed around the room, running back and forth.

    ¡°Hahaha, everyone¡¯s gone, even that stupid robot Zero-One is gone!¡±

    Wasn¡¯t this her perfect opportunity? Time to escape!

    ¡°This owner is ridiculously lucky. Not only does he have me, the cutest cat in the mortal realm, but also the beautiful Canary as his wife, helping him step onto the path of immortality. He hasn¡¯t aged at all¡ªhe¡¯s probably a Foundation Establishment or Golden Core cultivator by now. But so what? Whether he¡¯s Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, it¡¯s time for this cat to rise up and take charge!¡±

    Xie Xinsu smirked coldly, already fantasizing about escaping and finding the Xuantian Sect, where her junior sister and master would take revenge on her owner.

    By then, she¡¯d make sure Zero-One was filming everything. As for the owner? Heh, daring to pet her! From now on, it would be the cat petting the owner!

    With these thoughts, Xie Xinsu leaped gracefully and twisted the door handle open. Strangely, before leaving, she felt a hint of reluctance. But the thought of petting her owner made her gleeful, and she left without hesitation.

    The room was now empty.

    ...

    A few days later, on Cangxing.

    A wild-haired man sat high in the clouds, his hair billowing in the wind, hiding countless black eyes. Suddenly, beams of light burst from the clouds, and the man let out a chilling howl that sounded like the wailing of ghosts.

    The high-ranking nobles gathered in the grand hall below all wore grim expressions as they witnessed the scene. The terrifying figure in the clouds was a powerful being from the Myriad Demon Realm.

    Currently, nine-tenths of Cangxing¡¯s power lay in the hands of the Myriad Demon Realm. The king was merely a puppet.

    A princess stood in a corner, watching the terrifying demon in the sky with deep dread in her eyes. Beside her stood a pale, frail man, staring at the terrifying figure in the sky with eyes full of hatred.

    ¡°The demons of the Demon Court are getting restless. War... is about to begin,¡± said the frail man, Fang Hun, who was also a demon. But unlike the Demon Court demons who controlled Cangxing, he belonged to the original inhabitants of the Myriad Demon Realm, who had been enslaved by the invading demons. His hatred for the Demon Court demons ran deep.

    ¡°Damn it, if war breaks out, the citizens of Cangxing will become nothing but cannon fodder!¡± The tall princess gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with frustration.

    Although Cangxing had once gone to war with Gongxing, the new king¡¯s policy had been to focus on recuperation and rebuilding. But if the Myriad Demon Realm demons incited war, it would be the innocent people of Cangxing who would suffer.

    ¡°They¡¯ve always been barbaric, cold-blooded, and brutal!¡± Fang Hun spat.

    When the ancestral demons vanished, the demons from the upper realms descended, establishing the Demon Court and enslaving the original demon inhabitants. Now, they were repeating the same tactics on Cangxing.

    ¡°Fang Hun, can¡¯t your grandfather help us?¡± The princess turned to Fang Hun with a pleading look.

    Fang Hun¡¯s grandfather was a powerful cultivator, a force to be reckoned with.

    ¡°My... grandfather can¡¯t do anything,¡± Fang Hun replied bitterly. If his grandfather could stop the Demon Court demons, they wouldn¡¯t be living in secret realms, scraping by.

    ¡°Even your grandfather can¡¯t help?¡± The princess was disheartened.

    Just then, a strange sound echoed from the clouds.

    The terrifying figure in the clouds suddenly shouted, ¡°Blood will spill on Gongxing! Heaven and earth will dance! In one hundred days, war will begin!¡±

    As his voice rang out, the other demons roared with excitement.

    Once he became a Martial Lord, he would no longer be a pawn but a player.

    ¡°Where are your followers? Why aren¡¯t they with you?¡± Qi Yuan asked casually, glancing at Mu Yan.

    Mu Yan had been accompanied by several ancient martial peak Martial Kings, who were supposed to follow him to the Origin Land.

    Mu Yan¡¯s expression dimmed slightly. ¡°They... didn¡¯t make it. It¡¯s my fault...¡±

    This journey to the Origin Land was officially starting.

    In fact, there had been many previous test voyages, during which routes were explored.

    On one such voyage, many new martial peak Martial Kings were trapped in a certain location.

    That place was extremely peculiar¡ªnew martial kings were weakened to the point that their combat power was less than one percent of normal, making them even weaker than Martial Spirits.

    At that time, dozens of Martial Kings had been trapped.

    Eventually, someone discovered that in that place, ancient martial cultivators were only weakened by half.

    Afterward, an army of ancient martial cultivators was assembled to rescue the trapped group.

    But even then, the ancient martial cultivators suffered heavy casualties.

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan mused, ¡°It reminds me of a train being stuck and having to ask the steam ancestor for help.¡±

    Just then, a monkey-faced woman approached and said softly, ¡°Brother Qi, Mu Yan is short on manpower right now. Why don¡¯t you join him? If you follow him, when he reaches the Martial Lord realm, he might help you break through to Martial Lord too.¡±

    Among the Martial Kings on the ship, there were typically two types:

    One was those with the Martial Lord imprint, who would be granted a baptism of ancestral blood upon passing the trial in the Origin Land, allowing them to break through to the Martial Lord realm.

    The other type was those like Qi Yuan, who lacked the Martial Lord imprint. Despite being strong peak Martial Kings, their future prospects were not as bright as those with the imprint.

    ¡°No need,¡± Qi Yuan smiled. ¡°I¡¯m used to being free.¡±

    Mu Yan felt a little disappointed. ¡°Brother Qi, if you help me, I¡¯ll do everything I can to help you break through to the Martial Lord realm!¡±

    Those heading to the Origin Land would undergo a hundred-day ancestral blood war.

    During this time, Martial Lords would act as examiners, observing the participants¡¯ performance.

    Those who performed well would be granted more ancestral blood.

    Different levels and quantities of ancestral blood represented different potential for them.

    Qi Yuan listened to Mu Yan¡¯s words, then lazily replied, ¡°I want to become a Spiritual Martial Lord. Can you help me achieve that?¡±

    Mu Yan was stunned.

    Spiritual Martial Lord? He had never heard of such a term.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of that before,¡± Mu Yan admitted, ¡°so I can¡¯t promise I can help you.¡±

    He was an honest man.

    Qi Yuan said nothing more.

    Becoming a Spiritual Martial Lord was still a mystery to him.

    Even the Thunder Lord and others in the Origin Land had yet to discover any information about the Spiritual Martial Lord.

    It remained a puzzle.

    The monkey-faced woman felt a pang of sympathy as she glanced at Qi Yuan. She was about to say something when Mu Yan led her away.

    Once they were below deck, the monkey-faced woman couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°Qi Yuan doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s missing. Mu Yan, with your talent, you¡¯re bound to become a great Martial Lord one day! If he misses this chance, he won¡¯t even get to see you again in the future.¡±

    Mu Yan¡¯s talent was indeed outstanding.

    In fact, among the Martial Kings on this ship, his talent ranked in the top three.

    Across all the Martial Kings heading to the Origin Land, his talent ranked in the top thirty.

    ¡°Sigh, everyone has their own path. There¡¯s no need to force them. After all we¡¯ve been through in the Mountain and Sea Scrolls, after all the life-and-death situations we¡¯ve faced, we should have already learned to let go of everything,¡± Mu Yan said.

    The monkey-faced woman, seeing his demeanor, didn¡¯t press the matter further. Instead, she said, ¡°Mu Yan, I heard that your ancestor will be one of the examiners for this ancestral blood war. Do you think you could ask him to look out for me?¡±

    Her tone was humble.

    There would be thirty-six examiners for this ancestral blood war, three of whom were the main examiners.

    Mu Yan¡¯s bloodline ancestor was a great Martial Lord and one of the chief examiners.

    If an examiner offered their help, even if a participant didn¡¯t perform well, they could still be marked as ¡°excellent.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t promise anything. Everyone has to rely on their own performance,¡± Mu Yan replied.

    He didn¡¯t want to get too entangled with the monkey-faced woman.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan lay on his recliner, gazing at the sky and occasionally glancing at the Black Sea. Countless streams of information were flowing through his mind.

    ¡°This place is quite interesting, filled with traces of time. Our ship seems to be sailing against time, traveling from the present to the past, along the shores of the river of time. It¡¯s the perfect place for Canary.¡±

    Canary¡¯s divine domain was closely tied to time.

    Bringing Canary here to comprehend the mysteries of time might allow her to rapidly increase her strength.

 Chapter 365: You Have a Backer, I Have Myself!

    Chapter 365: You Have a Backer, I Have Myself!

    "Husband... is this the Black Sea?" Canary''s petite figure appeared, her eyes filled with curiosity.

    Back when Qi Yuan¡¯s power first entered the Yang God realm, he had already been able to bring Canary into the Realm of Deathly Energy. Now, summoning her over was an easy task.

    However, Qi Yuan usually didn¡¯t bring Canary along when he went on missions. After all, someone had to stay home, right?

    ¡°How do you like this place? Does it suit you?¡± Qi Yuan pointed toward the Black Sea.

    ¡°Infinite power of time, both real and illusory... Whoever created this Black Sea must be immensely powerful!¡± Canary¡¯s face showed a hint of apprehension.

    ¡°According to the Wise True Lord, it¡¯s probably beyond the Heavenly Position realm,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    The father-daughter pair of Yang Gods he had encountered in the Mortal Heart World were only in the minor Heavenly Position realm. But the boss of this game, who could reset world lines, create the Mountain and Sea Scrolls, and forge the Black Sea that connects the past and present¡ªthese abilities were far beyond the capability of an ordinary Yang God.

    Above the Heavenly Position realm lay the Supreme Law realm. And beyond that, there were higher levels yet.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t sure if this power displayed belonged to the Supreme Law realm or something even beyond that.

    ¡°Husband... you need to be careful!¡± Canary said.

    Now, she could call Qi Yuan ¡°husband¡± without a hint of shyness.

    ¡°Mm.¡± Qi Yuan nodded, pinching her small face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m just a player. Besides, as a weak and powerless Nascent Soul, how would such powerful beings even notice me?¡±

    Canary chuckled, ¡°Should I head back and summon the other Golden Cores too?¡±

    Over the years, Qi Yuan had cultivated nine Stellar Golden Cores. The people of the Canglan Realm were blessed, having ten suns shining overhead.

    Qi Yuan planned that once he returned to the Canglan Realm, his first task would be to search the entire realm for any cultivators or warriors named ¡°Yi¡± who wielded a bow. Such people needed to be closely monitored. After all, if Hou Yi shot down one of his suns, he¡¯d be finished.

    ¡°No need. Nine Golden Cores are still too few. It¡¯s hard to win by quantity alone. Wait until I have 9,999 Golden Cores, then we¡¯ll talk,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Nine Stellar Golden Cores felt too meager, and their quality wasn¡¯t great. He would rather swallow something bigger and experiment with turning it into a black hole.

    ¡°The Black Sea is rich with the power of time. Even the blood beasts'' bodies are filled with it. This will be very beneficial for you. You should stay here,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Canary looked at Qi Yuan, her gaze shifting. ¡°This time, I¡¯m determined to break into the Yang God realm!¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt complicated. ¡°For you guys, entering the Yang God realm is so easy!¡±

    Nearly every Nascent Soul that entered the Origin Land would become a Yang God.

    In this Black Sea, if Canary could fully absorb the time energy, she¡¯d qualify to step into the Yang God realm. Meanwhile, Qi Yuan had been working diligently day and night, always focused on training, even when playing the game.

    And yet, after all this effort, he was still just a Nascent Soul.

    Even though his game character had the power of a Yang God, that was just in the game. In real life, he remained a Nascent Soul.

    ¡°When I become a Yang God, I¡¯ll protect you,¡± Canary giggled, her small body moving closer, her soft lips pressing against Qi Yuan¡¯s.

    ¡°When that time comes, both my past self and present self will be by your side.¡±

    As she finished speaking, Canary vanished, entering the Black Sea.

    When a mythical being enters the Yang God realm, they manifest both a past self and a present self. The past self¡¯s power rivals that of a great mythical figure, while the present self is their true form. Typically, the past self handles affairs, while the present self remains in seclusion, cultivating.

    Of course, for a strong Yang God, the past self could also have the power of a Yang God.

    Qi Yuan, however, was different. Even if he reached the Yang God realm in the game, he had no clones. He was just himself.

    As he watched Canary disappear, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes reflected deep thought.

    ...

    The black mist dissipated.

    Excitement filled the eyes of everyone on the ship. They raised their heads, looking toward the distance, their faces lighting up with joy.

    ¡°The Origin Land is here!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve finally reached... the beginning of everything!¡±

    The peak Martial Kings were visibly excited, their joy difficult to contain. All of them were unwilling to stagnate and wanted to advance further. In the Mountain and Sea Scrolls and at the strongholds, their paths had long been blocked.

    Only the Origin Land held the possibility of breaking through to the Martial Lord realm.

    The peak Martial Kings were confused. Frontman? What does he mean?

    A cashier?

    What nonsense was this?

    ¡°I¡¯m the Slayer of Old Masters! I¡¯d be thrilled if her backer came. Hopefully, they¡¯ll take a bath before arriving. I wouldn¡¯t want my white moonlight to smell like an old man.¡±

    With that, Qi Yuan vanished once more.

    The others understood. He killed someone, said some tough words, and ran away¡ªnaturally, to avoid being caught by the Martial Lord.

    Of course, these were thoughts they only dared to keep to themselves. None of them would dare say it aloud, fearing that Qi Yuan might return and kill them too.

    ...

    ¡°Old man Shenlei, Goddaughter, Village Chief, Zhu Zhuangshi... It¡¯s been a long time. You¡¯re all Yang Gods now. Not bad, not bad. If you returned to the Mortal Heart World now and encountered those two... great enemies, heh, they wouldn¡¯t even be worthy to tie your shoes.¡±

    In the Origin Land, Qi Yuan looked down at the thousand people below, faces familiar from battles in the Mortal Heart World.

    ¡°Lord God!¡± Zhu Zhuangshi rushed over. The burly man¡¯s eyes were filled with tears, as if he were about to cry. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d live to see you again!¡±

    Back in the Mortal Heart World, the great enemies had loomed over them like nightmares. The enemies had been two Yang Gods, and even their God Lord couldn¡¯t defeat them alone.

    From the beginning, Zhu Zhuangshi, along with the Village Chief Yuli and the priest Shen Tu, had devised a plan to sacrifice themselves, using a technique that would empower their God Lord by consuming their lives to enhance his strength to battle the two powerful Yang Gods.

    They had been fully prepared to die when facing those enemies.

    But to their surprise, after their supposed death, they had been resurrected and had become Yang Gods themselves.

    ¡°Stop crying. It¡¯s not moving at all,¡± Qi Yuan said bluntly.

    Zhu Zhuangshi, looking aggrieved, muttered, ¡°Does Lord God only like women full of charm? I should¡¯ve known. I should¡¯ve cultivated my past self as a female body, so I could have stayed by your side day and night.¡±

    In the Yang God realm, past selves could be male, female, or even genderless. Yang Gods¡¯ past selves came in all forms. In fact, an entire world could even be the past self of a Yang God.

    ¡°Stop disgusting me,¡± Qi Yuan said with distaste.

    He thought back to something that made him even more unhappy. In the Mortal Heart World, he had come to understand that everything was a part of him. The Thunder Lord was him, Qi Qi was him, and Zhu Zhuangshi was also him. So, if Zhu Zhuangshi disgusted him, wasn¡¯t he just disgusting himself?

    ¡°Dad, look what I¡¯ve found!¡±

    At that moment, Qi Qi, his precious little daughter, came forward, and with a wave of her hand, a pile of rich purple energy appeared before Qi Yuan.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s face lit up with excitement.

    ¡°Purple Qi!¡±

    ¡¾Purple Qi, the first energy of the Immortal Dao, the origin energy of the world, symbolizing infinite vitality.¡¿

    ¡°Once we knew you needed Purple Qi, we scoured the entire Origin Land and gathered every bit of it we could find,¡± Qi Qi said joyfully, puffing out her chest like a proud student seeking praise.

    Holding the Purple Qi, Qi Yuan¡¯s mood lifted. ¡°Well done, my good daughter.¡±

    His gaze lingered on the Purple Qi, full of admiration.

    ¡°As expected of the first energy of the Immortal Dao. For anyone below the Yang God realm, no matter how severe the injury, as long as they¡¯re still breathing, a trace of Purple Qi could bring them back to life.¡±

    Qi Yuan was indeed pleased.

    Purple Mansion, Purple Mansion. Now that he had the Purple Qi, all he needed was the underworld.

    Storing the Purple Qi, Qi Yuan looked at Qi Qi and the servant girl beside her. ¡°Have you found any trace of the big boss of this place?¡±

    The path to becoming a Spiritual Martial Lord remained unclear. Perhaps the Eastern Lord knew something.

    The Eastern Lord was currently the biggest known boss in this world.

    Qi Qi shook her head. ¡°We¡¯ve searched the entire Origin Land, even the Eastern Alliance¡¯s forbidden zones and treasure vaults, but found nothing.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so if the mural is real, he might be in some unknown place, fighting off a great enemy?¡± Qi Yuan recalled the mural he had seen in the ruins.

    In the mural, the woman had encountered a powerful enemy and ultimately perished.

    If the Eastern Lord was the mural¡¯s male lead, he might still be fighting that great enemy even now.

 Chapter 366: What? They Want Me to Be a Chief Examiner?

    Chapter 366: What? They Want Me to Be a Chief Examiner?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face showed a thoughtful expression.

    The Eastern Lord, this big boss¡ªwhether he was friend or foe wasn¡¯t clear yet. In the mural, the Eastern Lord was portrayed as a lovesick fool, but that was only towards the female lead.

    In romance dramas, the domineering CEO might be good to the female lead, but it¡¯s a disaster for the maids and housekeepers around him. What? The female lead flipped over her food in a fit of anger? Aunt Wang, hurry and make ten identical dishes. What? The female lead passed out from sadness? Doctor Wang, if you can¡¯t save her, your entire family will pay with their lives!

    Sure, it¡¯s enjoyable to put yourself in the shoes of the female lead, but it¡¯s far less fun to imagine yourself as a side character. Most people are merely side characters in life.

    Qi Yuan also considered himself quite ordinary¡ªjust a small Nascent Soul True Lord, merely a supporting role.

    "It seems we still need to find the Eastern Lord. My fate is mine to control, not the heavens''. It¡¯s time for us supporting characters to step into the spotlight!" Qi Yuan declared passionately.

    The nearby followers exchanged confused glances. Just a moment ago, they were focused on finding the Eastern Lord. How did it turn into a declaration of defying fate?

    But they were used to Qi Yuan by now. Their Lord was sometimes a bit random, with a unique way of thinking.

    ¡°Father, with our current strength, we wouldn¡¯t be considered supporting characters in any world, right?¡± Qi Qi said softly.

    The other followers also felt a strange sense of pride hearing this. Here, Yang Gods were as common as cabbages, but... in a world like the Innate World, had Qi Yuan not appeared, even with millions or tens of millions of years, it was unlikely that a single Yang God would emerge. Aside from the Holy Mother of the Foodless Sect, even other mythical beings rarely had the chance to reach the Yang God realm.

    And these followers... Well, let¡¯s just say most of them wouldn¡¯t have even reached the Grand Sovereign stage, let alone the Yang God level, if not for Qi Yuan. Meeting him had been the greatest fortune of their lives. Without Qi Yuan holding them back, if they were released into the Upper Realms, they could cause a stir even in the Immortal Realms.

    After all, even in the Upper Realms, a Yang God was the foundation of a sacred land. With a Yang God, a sacred land could last for countless generations.

    "But Father has a point," Qi Qi said again. "We don¡¯t know the Eastern Lord¡¯s strength yet, so we should stay low-key."

    Qi Yuan nodded. ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s always wise to be cautious. Even if his strength isn¡¯t that great, what if there¡¯s something like... the Supreme Dao Ancestor¡¯s snot left behind in this Origin Land?¡±

    ¡°Uh... would the Dao Ancestor even pick his nose?¡± Old man Shenlei asked, unable to hold back.

    ¡°The emperor uses a golden hoe, so why wouldn¡¯t the Dao Ancestor pick his nose?¡± Qi Yuan replied seriously. ¡°According to Tang Niu¡¯s Inequality Principle, just because the Dao Ancestor has a high cultivation level doesn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t pick his nose.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Everyone fell silent.

    Qi Qi couldn¡¯t help but whisper, ¡°Father, I haven¡¯t done that in a long time. Why would the Dao Ancestor?¡±

    ¡°Maybe we should stop this conversation,¡± Old man Shenlei suggested. ¡°Saying bad things about the Dao Ancestor... might not be the best idea.¡±

    When he was weaker, Shenlei wouldn¡¯t have been afraid to curse the Dao Ancestor, but now it was different. He had reached the Yang God realm and worshipped high deities like the Nine Heavens Divine Thunderlord and the South Pole Longevity Emperor, one of the Six Celestial Emperors. Their stature was unimaginable.

    So, when it came to an exalted figure like the Dao Ancestor, Shenlei was very cautious.

    Qi Yuan nodded in agreement. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Take me to the birthplace of the Purple Qi. I want to see if I can learn anything¡ªmaybe even get some wholesale.¡±

    ...

    The Origin Land.

    In the ruins of a palace, Fat Egg Martial Lord suddenly opened his eyes.

    ¡°My father¡¯s... aura?¡±

    Just a moment ago, while resting, he sensed a familiar feeling, along with a surge of his bloodline. This feeling was clear¡ªhis ¡°father¡± had emerged from seclusion.

    For years, he had lived a very happy life. After all, his unknown ¡°father¡± had grown stronger and stronger, which in turn caused his bloodline to evolve. His cultivation had now reached the Fourth Rank of the Martial Lord realm, becoming a Great Martial Lord. Such progress was astonishing.

    Of course, this was also because of his solid foundation, which many other Martial Lords were aware of. Before the Great Calamity, he had already been a titled Martial Lord. Now, with his bloodline evolving, his strength had skyrocketed. As a result, his position within the Eastern Alliance had risen as well, and he had been promoted.

    After all, with such a powerful hidden father, who might even be a titled Martial Lord, how could his status not rise?

    ¡°Fat Egg Martial Lord, your father has appeared?¡± A voice called from within the broken palace, belonging to a slim elder. This elder had also been a titled Martial Lord before the Great Calamity, and now he was a Sixth Rank Great Martial Lord, a high-ranking figure in the Eastern Alliance.

    ¡°Hmm, I sensed his aura. He should have emerged from seclusion,¡± Fat Egg Martial Lord pondered.

    ¡°Where? Take me to meet this elder. Our Eastern Alliance is in dire straits and needs fresh blood,¡± the slim elder said eagerly.

    The tasks assigned by the Eastern Lord had gone smoothly for millennia. But recently, many missions had failed, and the task completion rate had dropped below sixty percent. If they didn¡¯t reach that threshold before the Morning Song arrived, they would all die. The Origin Land, the End Land, and the Mountains and Seas would all perish.

    Now, they needed all the help they could get.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to meet... my father!¡± Fat Egg Martial Lord said through gritted teeth.

    ¡°In the Eastern Alliance, there¡¯s a mystical wall left behind by the Eastern Lord. This wall knows all things and can discern truth from falsehood. After the Blood of Ancestors Battle, the Wall of the Eastern Lord will appear. Senior can inquire about the Spirit Realm Martial Lord from the wall at that time,¡± Spirit Elder explained carefully. ¡°If Senior is willing, I can nominate you as one of the three chief examiners for the Blood of Ancestors Battle! The chief examiners have the right to consult the Wall of the Eastern Lord.¡±

    Qi Yuan thought about it. ¡°That sounds... reasonable. Alright, I¡¯ll reluctantly accept the role of chief examiner.¡±

    He was quite interested in becoming a Spirit Realm Martial Lord. The Human Path Martial Lord task was nearly done. If he could complete the Spirit Realm Martial Lord task too, he could break through and become the Ten Thousand Paths Martial God. Then, this game would be over.

    Spirit Elder¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°Congratulations, Senior, on joining the Eastern Alliance!¡±

    ¡°Oh, by the way, let me make one thing clear. Joining the Eastern Alliance doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll swear allegiance to the Eastern Lord,¡± Qi Yuan said. After all, he was here to play a game, not to pledge loyalty to anyone.

    ¡°No problem. Although the Eastern Alliance was founded by the Eastern Lord, our goal is to save the world, not to pledge loyalty to anyone. If the Eastern Lord ever sought to destroy the world, we would be the first to strike him down!¡± Spirit Elder quickly reassured him.

    Qi Yuan nodded. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll go take a look at your Eastern Alliance.¡±

    ¡°Please follow me, Senior,¡± Spirit Elder said as the three of them swiftly made their way toward the Eastern Alliance.

    As they traveled, Fat Egg Martial Lord followed behind, looking conflicted. Finally, he mustered the courage and softly called out, ¡°Senior, please wait!¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan stopped, a hint of wariness in his eyes. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Whenever someone said, ¡°Fellow Daoist, please wait,¡± it rarely led to anything good.

    ¡°May I ask... are you my long-lost... father?¡± Fat Egg Martial Lord stammered, finally voicing the question that had plagued him for years.

    Despite his enormous size, his eyes held a certain innocence and purity, a testament to the power of bloodlines. Even a Great Martial Lord, when faced with a stronger and more perfect bloodline, would unconsciously display the emotions of a younger generation.

    Qi Yuan looked at him and struggled to keep a straight face. ¡°Don¡¯t spread rumors. I just got married recently. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d have a child as big as you!¡±

    Currently, there were only three people on his family register: himself, Xiao Jia, and the Canary. Fat Egg wasn¡¯t one of them.

    Hearing this, Fat Egg¡¯s face fell, and his heart filled with disappointment.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    He fell silent, nursing his sorrow. He figured it must be because his mother was too ugly, causing his father to disown him. It was unfortunate¡ªwhy did he inherit his mother¡¯s looks instead of his father¡¯s?

    ...

    ¡°Greetings, Ancestor!¡±

    ¡°Greetings, Senior!¡±

    On a derelict ship, Mu Yan looked up at his ancestor with deep reverence in his eyes. Behind him stood several peak Martial Lords who had left the base with him. Some of these peak Martial Lords bore the Martial Lord mark, while others had pledged their allegiance to Mu Yan, assisting him in the Blood of Ancestors Battle.

    At that moment, Mu Yan gazed at a projection of his ancestor, filled with awe.

    It was just a projection, but Mu Yan could feel that if his ancestor willed it, he could annihilate everyone present with a single glance. Such was the power of a Martial Lord, the goal of every martial artist.

    ¡°Well done, you¡¯re still young, but already accomplished. In this Blood of Ancestors Battle, strive for a spot in the top thirty. As long as you enter the top thirty and receive the Ancestor¡¯s Blood Baptism, you¡¯ll step into the Martial Lord realm within ten years!¡± the projection praised him.

    Any peak Martial Lord with the Martial Lord mark could receive the Ancestor¡¯s Blood Baptism. However, the extent of the baptism depended on their ranking in the battle. Those ranked lower might take many years to become Martial Lords, and even then, they would likely be stuck at the first rank for the rest of their lives.

    ¡°I will give my all to secure a place in the top thirty!¡± Mu Yan declared earnestly.

    ¡°If you make it into the top thirty, I will grant you one small request,¡± the Martial Lord projection said, clearly favoring his descendant. ¡°Now, tell me, is there anything you need?¡±

    Mu Yan¡¯s heart swelled with excitement, and he quickly replied, ¡°During our journey through the Black Sea, I was saved by a peak Martial Lord named Qi Yuan. However, he had a conflict with Zhi Xian and ended up killing him. Zhi Xian was backed by Martial Lord Die Mao. I hope Ancestor can mediate and resolve this conflict.¡±

    Mu Yan gritted his teeth as he spoke. Along the way, Qi Yuan had helped him on many occasions, alleviating numerous difficulties. In a sense, Qi Yuan had saved his life.

    ¡°Not bad, loyal and righteous¡ªa true descendant of mine,¡± the Martial Lord said approvingly. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Have him apologize to Martial Lord Die Mao, and we¡¯ll consider the matter settled.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Ancestor!¡± Mu Yan was overjoyed. Qi Yuan¡¯s life was saved.

    However, he then remembered something and added, ¡°The Eastern Alliance is currently short on talent. This Brother Qi is the most talented and powerful Martial Lord I¡¯ve ever seen. Could he be allowed to participate in the Blood of Ancestors Battle?¡±

    Mu Yan still hoped to help Qi Yuan participate in the battle.

    Several peak Martial Lords behind Mu Yan heard this, and jealousy flashed in their eyes. Clearly, they didn¡¯t want Qi Yuan to join the Blood of Ancestors Battle.

    The Martial Lord pondered for a moment. ¡°Without a Martial Lord mark, he is not qualified to participate. This is something only a chief examiner can approve. Every chief examiner must have the strength of a titled Martial Lord, a rank I don¡¯t hold.¡±

    Mu Yan felt a little disappointed but still expressed his gratitude. ¡°Forgive me for being presumptuous.¡±

 Chapter 367: When You Meet the Eastern Lord, Youâ€™ll Understand

    Chapter 367: When You Meet the Eastern Lord, You¡¯ll Understand

    Qi Yuan descended into the Eastern Alliance, where several titled Martial Lords came to greet him.

    "It¡¯s truly an honor for the Eastern Alliance to have you join us."

    The leader was an elderly man with flowing white hair, and several deer-like antlers growing from his head, giving him a sage-like appearance.

    Before Spirit Elder Martial Lord brought Qi Yuan back, he had already informed the others about him. This particular base of the Eastern Alliance housed three titled Martial Lords and over a hundred Martial Lords.

    The lesser Martial Lords, those of lower rank, stood at the back, while the Grand Martial Lords stood in front. The ordinary Martial Lords didn¡¯t even have the right to greet Qi Yuan, but they gazed at him with deep reverence and envy in their eyes.

    "I haven¡¯t had the honor of learning your name yet. I am Black Deer," the elder introduced himself.

    Qi Yuan glanced at him briefly, responding casually, "Qi Yuan."

    "Ah, so it¡¯s Martial Lord Qi Yuan!" Black Deer Martial Lord said politely.

    At that moment, one of the Martial Lords sent a telepathic message to another.

    "Die Mao, this distinguished guest has the same name as the person you¡¯re looking for. Could it be him? Want to ask?"

    "Shut up! The one I¡¯m searching for is just a little Martial King. There¡¯s no way it¡¯s a titled Martial Lord. Don¡¯t talk nonsense!"

    "I¡¯m just joking, no need to get upset. But what if the Qi Yuan you¡¯re looking for really is this distinguished one? What will you do?"

    "What else? I¡¯ll strip that part of the bloodline away."

    The two continued their silent conversation.

    Meanwhile, Black Deer Martial Lord addressed Qi Yuan, "I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve been seeking information about the Spirit Realm Martial Lord. Our alliance¡¯s library contains all the world¡¯s knowledge. It holds records of many ancient secrets. Perhaps you would like to take a look to see if there¡¯s anything related to the Spirit Realm Martial Lord?"

    He continued extending his goodwill.

    "No need. There¡¯s nothing there." Qi Yuan yawned.

    Old man Shenlei and the others had already scoured the Eastern Alliance¡¯s library thoroughly. It had all sorts of secrets, but nothing about the Spirit Realm Martial Lord.

    Black Deer Martial Lord was momentarily taken aback but then smiled. "It seems Mr. Qi Yuan is already well-acquainted with our library."

    "Yes, I had someone search it thoroughly, but nothing was found."

    Black Deer Martial Lord cast a meaningful glance at Fat Egg Martial Lord, who looked confused.

    "Why is he looking at me like that?" Fat Egg thought, bewildered.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care about these little gestures and asked, "Can I ask the Wall of the Eastern Lord ahead of time?"

    "I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible. It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to help, but the Wall of the Eastern Lord can only be consulted after the Blood of Ancestors Battle," Black Deer Martial Lord said, clearly embarrassed.

    Qi Yuan sighed, a bit disappointed. "By the way, what kind of person is the Eastern Lord? Have you met him?"

    At the mention of the Eastern Lord, many of the Martial Lords present showed expressions of deep respect.

    "Back then, when the black crows filled the sky, the world was on the brink of destruction. The Eastern Lord stood up alone, facing the calamity head-on and snatching a glimmer of hope for all of us from the jaws of disaster. He is a true gentleman, the only sage left in this world!" Black Deer Martial Lord¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration, and it wasn¡¯t fake.

    "I heard the Eastern Lord had a lover?" Qi Yuan continued. He was trying to figure out if the man and woman from the mural were the Eastern Lord and his lover.

    "Not only is the Eastern Lord righteous and compassionate, but he is also deeply devoted. He wasn¡¯t originally from this world; he came here for the sake of his lover, who was born here. When calamity struck, his lover died. He could have left this world, free from its fate and without karmic ties. But to protect his lover¡¯s world, he chose to stay and face the disaster alone. Without him, we would have long since perished, our existence wiped from history," Black Deer Martial Lord said, his voice tinged with melancholy.

    A female titled Martial Lord added, "If it were me, I couldn¡¯t have done the same. I¡¯d probably just take the body and leave the disaster far behind."

    Black Deer Martial Lord nodded. "Over the years, the Eastern Lord not only held back the calamity but also used the Mountains and Seas Scroll to revive his lover. Once she is revived and they join forces, they will be able to resist the coming disaster."

    "Oh? How exactly is he reviving her? I¡¯m curious," Qi Yuan¡¯s interest was piqued.

    He was currently aiming to achieve the Purple Mansion Realm, having acquired the Purple Qi but still missing the underworld aspect. He had no idea how to bring someone back to life.

    Qi Yuan had come to the Origin Land but was still considering how to return to the End Land. He had tasked them with figuring out how to make the journey back.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s question was simple: if he wanted to return to the End Land, how could he do it?

    "Emperor Shu and Emperor Hu say that they can turn their bodies into bridges, spanning the Black Sea, linking past and future. If you need them, they¡¯re ready to carry you at any time," Xingtian replied.

    Emperor Shu and Emperor Hu were also powerful ancient gods within Qi Yuan¡¯s contemplation method. These two were the emperors of the North and South Seas, respectively. They had existed even before Pangu split the heavens and the earth.

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s memory, Emperor Shu and Emperor Hu had been friends with Hundun, the Chaos Being. Hundun had no form or senses, an undivided entity. The two emperors had enjoyed their friendship with Hundun and had tried to open his senses, carving seven orifices for him over the course of seven days, which led to Hundun¡¯s death.

    Emperor Shu and Emperor Hu held powers related to time and space. In this special game world, they could transform themselves into bridges, connecting the past and future. Of course, this was related to the game¡¯s storyline. The Origin Land and the End Land shared a strong connection.

    In the full scope of Qi Yuan¡¯s contemplative fantasy, Emperor Shu and Emperor Hu could transcend the limits of this world.

    "Good, good. Blue Planet has many talented people!" Qi Yuan was quite pleased. "When I need them, I¡¯ll call. In the meantime, inform everyone to continue training and strengthening their abilities. We may have a tough battle ahead."

    "Understood." Great Bell Sovereign "nodded" before disappearing.

    Qi Yuan was left alone in the hall.

    After about an hour, a voice echoed throughout the hall.

    "Brother Qi Yuan, the Blood of Ancestors Battle is beginning. Please make your way there."

    "Alright."

    In a flash, Qi Yuan appeared on a tall tower.

    The tower stretched thirty thousand feet high, with a round platform at the top, large enough to resemble a city. Beneath the tower was the trial area for the Blood of Ancestors Battle.

    On the platform, thirty-six thrones had materialized.

    The thrones were made of some unknown material, still bearing traces of dried blood. Over thirty Martial Lords took their seats. Each was surrounded by a mysterious mist that obscured their faces.

    Three thrones were situated at the highest points, larger than the others, reaching into the clouds.

    Black Deer sat in the center, Qi Yuan on the left, and a female Martial Lord on the right. All three were also shrouded in the mysterious mist.

    "Now that all the Martial Lords are present, let us observe the Blood of Ancestors Battle. If any promising talents appear, you may take them as your disciples," Black Deer Martial Lord said with a smile.

    "I took a quick look. There¡¯s nothing promising here. With their current talent, none of them will ever reach the Grand Sovereign stage," an old man scoffed, unimpressed. "These younger generations are getting worse and worse."

    "It¡¯s inevitable," another Martial Lord sighed. "The catastrophe severed the bloodlines. Without the Mountains and Seas Scroll, they wouldn¡¯t even be able to reach Martial Spirit."

    "Indeed, it¡¯s not their fault."

    "If we can¡¯t reset the world, we¡¯ll all perish. Forget about descendants¡ªthey¡¯ll be an unattainable dream."

    "We must complete the Eastern Lord¡¯s mission, or we¡¯ll never get another chance."

    "Yes, the Eastern Lord is our only hope!"

    The Martial Lords¡¯ voices grew firm, as if the Eastern Lord was their unwavering faith.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Black Deer Martial Lord. "You all have a lot of faith in the Eastern Lord."

    Black Deer¡¯s eyes gleamed with reverence and emotion. "If you ever meet the Eastern Lord, you¡¯ll feel the same. He is the most trustworthy and dependable person I¡¯ve ever met. He is also this world¡¯s only remaining hope. Without him, the Origin Land would have perished long ago. The Mountains and Seas Scroll, the End Land¡ªnone of it would exist. We¡¯d all be nothing more than bones in the ground. No, not even bones would remain. We owe the Eastern Lord everything."

    "A lifetime isn¡¯t enough to repay the Eastern Lord¡¯s debt," Qi Yuan remarked with a grin.

    Black Deer¡¯s expression grew serious. "Mr. Qi Yuan, jokes about the Eastern Lord are not to be made lightly. When you meet the Eastern Lord, or when the Wall of the Eastern Lord speaks and you hear his voice, you¡¯ll understand what kind of man he is. To be honest, when I first heard people praising the Eastern Lord, I was skeptical. How could such a person exist? But when I met him, I was ashamed of my narrow-mindedness. I was wrong, and I feel guilty for ever doubting him."

    "Interesting, interesting. Now I¡¯m curious to meet this Eastern Lord and see what kind of character he really is," Qi Yuan thought, his curiosity piqued.

    These people were genuinely fanatical about the Eastern Lord. Qi Yuan could tell their minds hadn¡¯t been influenced; their reverence was sincere and voluntary.

 Chapter 368: The Rise of Meow-Meow, and the Return of Dragon King Xinsu!

    Chapter 368: The Rise of Meow-Meow, and the Return of Dragon King Xinsu!

    As Qi Yuan and Black Deer Martial Lord were conversing, nearly 400 peak Martial Kings gathered beneath the towering Sky Pillar.

    These peak Martial Kings came from various strongholds, standing silently in groups according to their factions.

    Due to the gravity of the Blood of Ancestors Battle, none dared to speak loudly or act out of line.

    Though they appeared calm on the surface, inside they were brimming with excitement, each filled with ambition.

    At that moment, a snake-like creature spoke in a mechanical voice: "The examiners have arrived, bow to the examiners!"

    As it spoke, thirty-six thick beams of light descended from the top of the tower. Each beam represented one of the powerful Martial Lords seated above.

    These Martial Lords, seated high atop the tower, released only a sliver of their aura through the beams of light.

    The nearly 400 peak Martial Kings below quickly bowed their heads in respectful salutation.

    "Greetings, Examiners!"

    They didn¡¯t dare look up at the examiners, keeping their heads lowered, cautious and obedient.

    Even if some were bold enough to look up, they wouldn''t have been able to see anything; they could only sense the aura released by the Martial Lords.

    The beams of light appeared for just a breath before vanishing, like gods high above the clouds.

    The snake-like creature spoke again: "Bow to the Ancestor!"

    All the officials immediately turned to face south, their expressions reverent as they performed a solemn salute.

    After the salute, the snake-like creature declared: "The Blood of Ancestors Battle begins!"

    Instantly, an iron gate beneath the tower began to slowly open.

    The peak Martial Kings on the field grew visibly more excited.

    "This time, I¡¯m definitely getting into the top ten!"

    "The top thirty will definitely have my name!"

    "I will ascend the throne and become the supreme Martial Lord!"

    Some recalled the Martial Lords seated atop the tower and felt a surge of aspiration.

    "Mu Yan, this time in the Blood of Ancestors Battle, I¡¯ll surpass you for sure!" said a black-clad man standing in front of Mu Yan, his eyes filled with confidence and arrogance.

    Mu Yan looked at him and smiled lightly, saying, "Surpassing you has never been my goal."

    The black-clad man¡¯s eyes flickered as he remembered something. "You¡¯re a bit like that Qi Yuan. Back in the Mountains and Seas Scroll, he said the same thing to me. Back then, he was high and mighty, didn¡¯t care about anyone, and went about his tasks as he pleased, taking the mission target with him. But now? After entering the Origin Land without a Martial Lord¡¯s mark, he has no choice but to hide, unable to show himself."

    The black-clad man knew Qi Yuan.

    In a previous mission, he had encountered Qi Yuan. He had already heard of Qi Yuan¡¯s reputation.

    While other bloodline inheritors chose to leisurely wait for Qi Yuan to slay the monsters and complete the mission, the black-clad man was dissatisfied and wanted to challenge Qi Yuan.

    He told Qi Yuan that he would complete the mission and that Qi Yuan would never surpass him.

    The result was disastrous. Qi Yuan had said the same thing Mu Yan just did, then easily defeated him.

    "If you had the Ancestor¡¯s blood, you wouldn¡¯t even be worthy of carrying Brother Qi¡¯s shoes," Mu Yan said with a cold smile, though inwardly he felt some regret for Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan was the most talented warrior he had ever seen. On the ship, even dozens of Martial Kings combined wouldn¡¯t be a match for Qi Yuan.

    The only thing Qi Yuan lacked was the Ancestor¡¯s blood.

    "After everything you¡¯ve been through in the Mountains and Seas Scroll, don¡¯t you understand that birthright is also a form of power?" the black-clad man said arrogantly.

    Having a Martial Lord¡¯s mark meant the Ancestor was still alive.

    Mu Yan didn¡¯t respond, falling into silent contemplation.

    At that moment, screens appeared atop the tower, displaying the images and conversations of all the peak Martial Kings below.

    Black Deer Martial Lord smiled and asked, "Do any of you have a favored candidate?"

    One Martial Lord replied, "Li Fan looks plain at first glance, but if you look closely, his talents stand out. He has the potential of a Grand Martial Lord¡ªquite promising."

    "I think Zhuge Yu is impressive. He looks very intelligent. On the martial path, besides talent and bloodline, wisdom is also important."

    The Martial Lords casually discussed the candidates.

    To them, the younger generation had no secrets. A glance was all it took to see everything.

    As the other Martial Lords chatted, Black Deer Martial Lord turned to Qi Yuan and asked casually, "Brother Qi, do you have a favorite?"

    "If I had to choose, I¡¯d say that Mu Yan seems promising," Qi Yuan said offhandedly. "But don¡¯t show him any favoritism just because I mentioned him. I¡¯m only saying this because I know him."

    Qi Yuan prided himself on being fair. Even though he had mentioned Mu Yan, he made sure to clarify that there shouldn¡¯t be any favoritism.

    He thought of himself as a meticulous and perfect person.

    "Oh, is that so? He certainly has a good bearing," Black Deer Martial Lord said, glancing at Mu Yan and offering praise.

    The other Martial Lords also glanced at Mu Yan. Among them, a burly Martial Lord¡¯s eyes flickered with doubt. Mu Yan was one of his bloodline descendants, but how did Lord Qi Yuan know him? And they seemed familiar?

    Suddenly, he remembered the request this bloodline descendant had made, and a realization struck him.

    "No, no, no. In the Mountains and Seas Scroll, without the Ancestor¡¯s blood, he couldn¡¯t have broken through to Martial Lord. And besides, we Martial Lords cannot leave the Origin Land. It must be a coincidence that they share the same name. Or perhaps that Qi Yuan is connected to this Lord Qi Yuan in some way."

    The Martial Lord mused to himself, deciding to increase his efforts in nurturing Mu Yan and strengthening his ties with Qi Yuan.

    "If there¡¯s someone you favor, there must also be someone you don¡¯t. See that guy in the black robe? I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll do well. Look at how long his legs are. When he walks, his hips sway. Clearly, his hips are afraid of heights. And if his hips are afraid, he probably is too. The trial grounds are a tall tower, and the higher he goes, the more scared he¡¯ll get. There¡¯s no way he¡¯ll perform well."

    Qi Yuan analyzed the situation seriously, like a scholar, his reasoning meticulous and thorough.

    "......"

    Silence. The Martial Lords around him were speechless.

    Wang Zhiqi blinked, then laughed lightly. "Alright, alright!"

    Xie Tang chuckled fondly.

    Even though her senior sister seemed a bit foolish now, she was still her beloved senior.

    "I can forgive Qi Yuan, but that robot Zero-One is unforgivable. I want her to be my slave, filming videos every day with no breaks!" Xie Xinsu said furiously.

    Xie Tang smiled indulgently. "Alright, I¡¯ll take you to get your revenge!"

    "Bring plenty of cat food. I traveled thousands of miles to find you. All this suffering must be repaid to Zero-One!" Xie Xinsu grumbled.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll make sure to teach them a lesson!" Xie Tang agreed.

    Of course, since the other side had taken care of her senior sister for so long, she would remember their kindness and go easy on them.

    But a little punishment was still necessary.

    After all, her senior sister had suffered for so many years!

    Half a day later.

    In Jun¡¯an Residential District, two women and a cat appeared.

    Xie Xinsu was thrilled. "Hmph, hahaha, this meow has returned!

    See that dog over there? The last time I escaped, that dog bullied me and even farted in my face!"

    Seeing a pet dog, Xie Xinsu became agitated.

    She had escaped when Zero-One wasn¡¯t around, only to be bullied by that dog as soon as she left the neighborhood.

    Xie Tang smiled helplessly. "Zhiqi, I¡¯ll leave it to you."

    "As you wish, Senior." Wang Zhiqi left, but before departing, she whispered, "Senior, Brother Qi Yuan is a good person. Don¡¯t be too harsh."

    "Hmm." Xie Tang nodded. "I¡¯m reasonable."

    She said this as she carried Xie Xinsu toward Qi Yuan¡¯s house.

    "Junior Sister, that robot is too wicked. After capturing her, don¡¯t charge her battery for a few days. Let her starve, and when she¡¯s on her knees begging this meow for mercy, I¡¯ll show compassion," Xie Xinsu said excitedly.

    "Alright, no problem." Xie Tang nodded.

    Soon, they arrived at Qi Yuan¡¯s house.

    Xie Tang¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. "No one¡¯s home?"

    She couldn¡¯t sense any living presence inside.

    Meanwhile, Xie Xinsu was already gleefully shouting, "Open the door! Open the door! Your queen has returned!"

    She was tapping her paw against the door.

    Just then, the door opened.

    A robot¡¯s face appeared, staring at Xie Xinsu. A smile spread across its mechanical face, as if it were human. "Kitty, you¡¯re finally home.

    Hmm, there are still three hundred videos left to shoot. You¡¯ll have to work hard for the next few days and film them all."

    Hearing that familiar and "cruel" voice, Xie Xinsu was furious. "See, Junior Sister? This robot Zero-One has no conscience and still wants me to film videos.

    Junior Sister, help me capture her! She should be the one filming from now on!"

    "Junior Sister, why aren¡¯t you saying anything?"

    "Do something already!"

    At that moment, Xie Tang¡¯s eyes widened, and her body trembled. She stared at Zero-One, stunned. "You... Senior..."

    She suddenly recalled the powerful figure from her last adventure.

    At least at the level of a Yin God.

    "Junior Sister, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you calling this detestable robot ''Senior''?" Xie Xinsu asked, confused.

    Xie Tang gritted her teeth, her starry eyes trembling. "Senior... it might be a servant of a deity."

    "No way, impossible!" Xie Xinsu¡¯s worldview shattered.

    How could Zero-One be a servant of a deity?

    Her owner... was a god?

    "Come on, let¡¯s start filming. Our channel hasn¡¯t updated in a while, and if we don¡¯t start making money soon, I¡¯ll have to cut off your cat food," Zero-One said, grabbing Xie Xinsu.

    Xie Tang didn¡¯t dare resist.

    In fact, she had a feeling that even if she tried, she wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat this robot.

    "S-Senior... this is my sister..." Xie Tang stammered.

    "Don¡¯t worry, Master is kind and won¡¯t harm her. She just needs to film the videos.

    Look, she¡¯s so well-behaved on camera. That means she actually enjoys it."

    "No, Junior Sister, meow! Save me!" Xie Xinsu wailed, struggling to break free.

    Just then, a loud sound echoed in the distance.

    Xie Tang instinctively looked up, while Zero-One also raised its head, its expression calm.

    In the sky above, countless small fireworks seemed to explode at once.

    "What¡¯s going on?" Xie Tang felt a growing sense of unease.

    "The Eye of the Sky... has been destroyed," Zero-One said calmly.

 Chapter 369: What if They Retaliate Even More Brutally for Our Resistance?

    Chapter 369: What if They Retaliate Even More Brutally for Our Resistance?

    In Qin Yuan Nation, countless eyes were raised skyward at this moment, filled with confusion.

    Some young couples cheered, "Look! There are fireworks in the sky!"

    Others seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation, and their expressions turned grave.

    The lights in the sky symbolized something that might be terrifying.

    Many people immediately went online, waiting for trending news, wanting to understand what had happened.

    Some felt a creeping sense of unease.

    However, instead of an explanation for the "fireworks," they were met with a blood-red declaration of war!

    Canxing, in alliance with the Ancient Wu Nation, officially declared war on Qin Yuan Nation.

    ¡°War has been declared?¡±

    ¡°Canxing declared war? How is that possible!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re doomed! Canxing has finally made its move!¡±

    The internet was in an uproar.

    Although Canxing and Gongxing had always been at odds, and often clashed secretly, this was the first time full-scale war had been declared.

    Even during the previous invasion, Canxing hadn¡¯t declared full war.

    ¡°Hahaha! Canxing is the true beacon of civilization! I¡¯ve been waiting for this day for so long. I¡¯m thrilled!¡±

    A small portion of people were celebrating online.

    ¡°Only under Canxing¡¯s leadership can Qin Yuan truly experience freedom and democracy!¡±

    Back when Canxing and Gongxing were at war, Gongxing had always been on the losing side. Many people in Gongxing admired and groveled before Canxing.

    These remarks immediately sparked anger.

    ¡°War is always bloody and cruel!¡±

    ¡°If you like Canxing so much, go live there yourself!¡±

    ¡°Hmph, we defended our lands once before, and today we can do it again!¡±

    ¡°In the past, we relied on our perseverance, our indomitable spirit, and the Sky Eye we found in the desert to defeat Canxing. Today, we not only have the Sky Eye but also a growing number of cultivators. What do we have to fear?¡±

    Qin Yuan Nation¡¯s internet was abuzz with voices rising in defiance.

    Meanwhile, supermarkets and shopping malls were filled with people panic-buying supplies.

    At the same time, a video from the Ancient Wu Nation went viral in Qin Yuan Nation.

    ¡°Everyone, at precisely 6:00 p.m. on March 7th, Canxing¡¯s fleet launched a surprise death strike on Qin Yuan Nation¡¯s airspace. During this strike, all of Qin Yuan¡¯s... Sky Eyes were destroyed.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you all saw the colorful display in the sky, reminiscent of fireworks. That was the sound of the Sky Eyes shattering. Now, Qin Yuan¡¯s strongest defense has been obliterated, leaving the nation completely exposed to Canxing¡¯s sky warships.

    ¡°Raise your hands, surrender, and welcome the Sky Army¡¯s arrival!¡±

    Everyone who watched this video was instantly horrified.

    ¡°The Sky Eyes are gone?¡±

    ¡°No way!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡±

    Panic gripped the hearts of the people.

    Even the cultivators felt a heavy cloud of dread. No one knew the power of the Sky Eyes better than these cultivators. It was a terrifying weapon capable of wiping out even Purple Palace cultivators.

    Now, it was suddenly destroyed.

    How could they not be shaken?

    The fact that Canxing could eliminate Qin Yuan¡¯s strongest weapon in a silent strike meant one thing¡ªCanxing had become even stronger!

    This also meant that once Canxing¡¯s warships descended, Qin Yuan would have no way to defend itself.

    War had erupted so abruptly.

    Many people didn¡¯t understand why it had happened so suddenly.

    They didn¡¯t realize that Canxing was now under the control of the demon clans from the Myriad Demon Realm.

    The demon clans had no regard for Canxing¡¯s survival, ordering a suicidal strike. Though they had managed to take out Qin Yuan¡¯s Sky Eyes, Canxing had suffered heavy losses, losing 30% of its military capability.

    Looting Qin Yuan wouldn¡¯t even begin to make up for their losses.

    Thus, many couldn¡¯t believe that Canxing would launch a large-scale invasion of Qin Yuan, as it would be a lose-lose scenario.

    But it had happened.

    In the capital, chaos reigned.

    The Seven Martial Star Families, 20 family heads, the king, and high-ranking military officials had gathered in an underground facility.

    An elderly man with white hair, looking both furious and despondent, exclaimed, ¡°How could Canxing do this? It¡¯s a pyrrhic victory! What do they stand to gain?¡±

    ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time to debate that! We need to focus on how to respond to Canxing¡¯s attack! Their fleet is already mobilized. In ten days, they¡¯ll be upon us, and we¡¯ll be done for!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re truly finished. With the Sky Eyes gone, how can we fight their warships? Are we going to have our cultivators chop them down with swords?¡± A young family head was in despair.

    The Sky Eyes had been their faith.

    The strength of the Seven Martial Star Families was intricately tied to the Sky Eyes.

    At this moment, ¡°Xiao Mei¡± stood behind a female Daoist, clearly troubled, as if worried about Gongxing.

    The female Daoist stood up, gazing at the young men and women present. Her voice was ethereal as she said, ¡°Everyone, disaster is approaching. If you continue to stay in this world, a terrible catastrophe may befall you.¡±

    This female Daoist was the sect master of Tianyuan Sect, Daoist Tianqian.

    ¡°If we don¡¯t stay here, where do we go?¡± a young man asked.

    These individuals were all restart players.

    Most of them had joined the immortal sects over the years and become cultivators.

    However, constant conflict among the restart players had left only about 20 to 30 survivors.

    Upon hearing the man¡¯s question, Daoist Tianqian couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sorrow. She replied, ¡°We¡¯ll discuss that later. For now, you must stop the fighting and killing amongst yourselves.

    ¡°According to Tianyuan¡¯s prophetic stone, if all the restart players die, or if only a few are left, something terrifying will happen.¡±

    ¡°Heh, the Sky Eyes have fallen, Canxing is invading, what could be more terrifying than that?¡± a woman retorted mockingly.

    The others didn¡¯t take the female Daoist¡¯s words seriously.

    If she weren¡¯t the sect master of Tianyuan Sect, a powerful elder, they wouldn¡¯t have even given her the time of day.

    ¡°Forget about any looming catastrophe. We should be focusing on how to repel Canxing¡¯s invasion. Otherwise, if the demons descend, we¡¯re all dead.¡±

    ¡°Right. Our bloodlines are the demons¡¯ favorite. The Myriad Demon Realm demons won¡¯t spare us!¡±

    ¡°Even the Three Realms can¡¯t fend off Canxing or the Myriad Demon Realm!¡±

    These restart players were filled with anxiety.

    Daoist Tianqian sighed and murmured, ¡°Tianyuan¡¯s prophetic stone suggests that the crisis facing the Three Realms and Gongxing is even more serious than Canxing¡¯s invasion. What could it be?¡±

    The invasion of Canxing, with the demons from the Myriad Demon Realm descending, would turn this world into a playground for monsters.

    All humans would likely become food for the demons.

    That was already a terrifying and tragic outcome.

    Yet the prophetic stone had foretold that their fate¡ªGongxing¡¯s fate¡ªwould be even worse than that.

    ¡°It seems we must wait for our patriarch to descend. Only then will we have a glimmer of hope,¡± Daoist Tianqian thought.

    The patriarch was a Yin God, possessing the power to suppress all enemies in the world. If he descended, all monsters, devils, and evil spirits would be wiped out.

    Even Canxing¡¯s invasion would become a joke.

    That was the power of a Yin God!

    However, it would still take some time before the patriarch descended.

    The question was, could Gongxing survive the crisis until then?

    ...

    On the high tower, the atmosphere was both silent and mysterious.

    Most of the martial masters had their eyes closed, meditating, while only a few watched the martial kings challenge the trials.

    Qi Yuan, browsing the forums, had gathered many useful suggestions.

    ¡°This person¡¯s wisdom is no less than that of the Great Sage True Lord.

    ¡°It¡¯s true. To create an Underworld, I need to first have a piece of land.

    ¡°That was my oversight.

    ¡°Unfortunately, with everyone speculating in real estate these days, land prices are too high. I can¡¯t afford it.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked worried.

    Moreover, ordinary land wouldn¡¯t do. It needed to be a place filled with heavy Yin energy to suit the Underworld¡¯s aesthetic.

    ¡°Hey, Black Deer, do you know of any places where... the Yin energy is particularly strong?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    ¡°Yin energy?¡± Black Deer Martial Master was surprised, then replied, ¡°The Origin Land is filled with heavy Yin energy. This place... is full of the dead.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised.

    The Origin Land, despite being the birthplace of life, was now filled with Yin energy due to the great war that had taken place there. It was more full of Yin energy than even the End Land.

    He knew it had heavy Yin energy, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this dense.

    ¡°What do you think, if I were to buy the entire Origin Land, how much should I pay? By the way, what currency do you accept? Would underworld coins work?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He didn¡¯t want to spend his own money; he figured he could offer a bit from the Heaven and Earth Bank instead.

    ¡°Cough, cough...¡± Black Deer Martial Master choked, as if swallowing water the wrong way. ¡°Is... is this a joke, sir?¡±

    Who would sell the Origin Land?

    ¡°Hahaha, if you¡¯re strong enough, you could directly take over the Origin Land and make it your private domain.

    ¡°But that would be difficult. Not to mention the Eastern Alliance, there¡¯s another powerful and mysterious force in the Origin Land. You mustn¡¯t offend them, or...¡±

    As he mentioned this force, Black Deer¡¯s expression became complicated, and he seemed deeply apprehensive.

    ¡°Directly taking it over wouldn¡¯t be right; it wouldn¡¯t be ethical. I have to pay for it.

    ¡°Sigh, sometimes I really wish I could strike it rich, win the lottery, wake up with a jackpot prize.¡±

    Qi Yuan daydreamed, fantasizing.

    But then, realizing that even winning the lottery every day wouldn¡¯t be enough to buy the land, he felt even more disappointed.

 Chapter 371: Let Me Show You a Trickâ€”Swallowing Stars Whole

    Chapter 371: Let Me Show You a Trick¡ªSwallowing Stars Whole

    The car stopped at the Jun¡¯an Residential Area.

    A woman wearing a tight outfit got out of the car, her face filled with urgency.

    ¡°A great war is about to start. This place isn¡¯t safe anymore. I must take Xiao Yuan away. Only at the Tianyuan Sect might there be a sliver of hope.¡±

    The woman in the tight outfit was "Xiaomei," a disciple of Qi Yuan¡¯s parents.

    She had always kept a silent watch over Qi Yuan.

    Originally, she didn¡¯t want to disturb Qi Yuan¡¯s peaceful life.

    But now, with war imminent and the entire Qin Yuan Country on the verge of falling, she had to take Qi Yuan away. She couldn¡¯t let her master¡¯s bloodline be cut off.

    In the residential area, people hurried along the street, all with expressions of urgency on their faces.

    The Sky Eyes had been destroyed, and Canxing¡¯s army could descend from the stars at any moment.

    Everyone could smell the stench of war in the air.

    The woman in the tight outfit climbed the stairs, her mind racing. "In such a short lifetime, I¡¯ve already witnessed so much history."

    She couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    Soon, she arrived at the door of Qi Yuan¡¯s apartment. As she stood before the door, she felt a bit hesitant.

    Taking a deep breath, she pressed the doorbell.

    After about five breaths of time passed, the door opened, revealing a delicate, slender robot.

    ¡°Hello, may I help you?¡± Zero-One asked politely, holding a phone as if recording a video.

    From deep inside the house, a miserable meowing could be heard.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to see Qi Yuan. It¡¯s urgent,¡± the woman said hastily.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my master isn¡¯t home,¡± Zero-One replied.

    ¡°Where is he now? This is urgent¡ªextremely urgent!¡± The woman¡¯s anxiety was rising.

    If Qi Yuan were missing at a time like this, it would be a huge problem.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s private information. I can¡¯t reveal my master¡¯s whereabouts.¡±

    ¡°This is a matter of life and death for Qi Yuan! Don¡¯t talk to me about privacy!¡± The woman was desperate.

    The Tianyuan Sect¡¯s airship was leaving in three days.

    She didn¡¯t have much time left.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t have the authority to disclose that,¡± Zero-One responded firmly.

    The woman gritted her teeth. ¡°This...¡±

    At that moment, a gentle voice came from inside the house. ¡°Zero-One, it¡¯s alright. I¡¯m back.¡±

    As the voice faded, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure emerged from inside the house.

    He had just returned home after crossing the bridge formed by Emperor Shu and Emperor Hu.

    Dressed in a blood-red robe, he looked extraordinarily handsome.

    For a moment, the woman in the tight outfit was dazed at the sight of Qi Yuan.

    Although she had seen him decades ago, this time was entirely different.

    ¡°Qi Yuan, I am¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I know, you¡¯re Xiaomei,¡± Qi Yuan recognized the woman. ¡°You didn¡¯t come to ask me to repay money, did you?¡±

    Qi Yuan hesitated, visibly conflicted.

    He hadn¡¯t bought Gongxing yet, nor saved up enough to buy land and build the underworld. He was trying to be frugal and wasn¡¯t keen on repaying debts just now.

    ¡°No,¡± Xiaomei rubbed her forehead, ¡°A great war is about to start¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are you out of money?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°I know you¡¯re in a hurry, but hold off for a second. I have something urgent to take care of. Can we talk after I handle it? It¡¯ll take, what, ten minutes? Maybe an hour?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He really wanted to avoid paying the debt.

    Why repay money that he borrowed with his own skills?

    This world was full of malice.

    Interrupted, the woman in the tight outfit could only nod. ¡°Fine, just be quick. I have something important to discuss with you.¡±

    ¡°Alright, make yourself at home. See you later.¡±

    Qi Yuan pushed the woman into the house and disappeared in a flash.

    The woman was left there, anxious yet relieved after seeing Qi Yuan, feeling that there was no major issue at hand.

    In the pitch-black deep space, from a distance, several blue or red planets could be seen.

    They floated in the vast universe like the eyes of colossal creatures, suspended in endless silence and isolation.

    The deep space was eerily quiet, like a world that had lost its voice.

    Meteors floated by, their streaks illuminating the void.

    Up ahead, nearly a hundred warships formed a massive fleet, patrolling the cosmos.

    The warships shimmered with a cold, silver light. Their intimidating design could send a shiver down anyone¡¯s spine with just one glance.

    Inside one of the ships, a male demon, Pang Xie, draped in a human-skin robe, wore a haughty smile.

    ¡°Human technology is fascinating. This speed... it¡¯s even faster than that of a Purple Mansion cultivator.¡±

    ¡°These warships are all the latest models. Each one of them is enough to flatten the Qin Yuan Country. But of course, compared to the lords of the Myriad Demon Realm, these are nothing but scrap metal,¡± said a man dressed in a special combat suit, fawning over Pang Xie.

    He was the commander of this warship and the highest authority in this operation.

    But in reality, the real leader was the demon beside him, Lord Pang Xie.

    ¡°The power of these warships is indeed impressive, and they¡¯re not easy to deal with. But, once you eliminate the people inside, they¡¯re nothing special,¡± Pang Xie remarked.

    If the Myriad Demon Realm were to face these warships head-on, there was no doubt they¡¯d suffer heavy losses, even losing some Purple Mansion cultivators.

    But the Myriad Demon Realm was clever and chose to corrupt the leadership, controlling Canxing from the top down.

    Now, Canxing¡¯s fleet was entirely under the control of the demons.

    The soldiers and officers on this mission were all from the war faction.

    ¡°We are but mere mortals, utterly incomparable to you, my lord!¡± the commander flattered.

    Just then, a sudden voice echoed through the fleet.

    ¡°Hey, can someone tell me how to get to Canxing?¡±

    The soldiers inside the warship immediately tensed up.

    The commander also became alert.

    ¡°Search for the source of the voice! Identify the unknown entity!¡±

    He quickly gave orders.

    Within moments, the screen displayed a blood-red figure.

    A man in a blood-red robe stood on a massive meteor, following closely behind the fleet.

    ¡°A cultivator?¡± Pang Xie grinned, admiration flickering in his eyes. ¡°To traverse space like this, he must be a Purple Mansion.

    So this is Qin Yuan¡¯s hidden ace, a Purple Mansion cultivator?¡±

    ¡°Hey, are you guys from Canxing¡¯s fleet?¡± The blood-red figure asked again.

    The meteor beneath his feet continued to keep pace with the fleet.

    Pang Xie looked at the blood-red robe, a hint of appreciation in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got courage. If you swear loyalty to me, I¡¯ll ensure the safety of your entire lineage!¡±

    Pang Xie offered generously.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan, who stood on the meteor, froze. ¡°Not only do you want to cancel the Martial Arts Tournament, but you also want to kill me?¡±

    Pang Xie found Qi Yuan¡¯s words puzzling.

    Then, with a cold smile, he said, ¡°It seems you have courage but no wisdom. In that case, you¡¯ll die. No need for further words.¡±

    ¡°As you command!¡± the commander responded eagerly and issued the orders.

    ¡°Target the individual! Activate the heavy cannons of the Tianzang class! Prepare to annihilate!¡±

    At the commander¡¯s command, the fleet quickly scattered, moving at high speeds through space.

    In just a few moments, they had Qi Yuan surrounded, cutting off all escape routes.

    The heavy cannon of the Tianzang class locked onto Qi Yuan.

    The Tianzang heavy cannon was a formidable weapon modeled after planet-destroying cannons.

    It was the most powerful weapon on a starship.

    Second only to Canxing¡¯s most powerful weapons, its might was said to be comparable to that of the Sky Eyes.

    As the commander¡¯s voice echoed, over a hundred Tianzang heavy cannons locked onto Qi Yuan.

    Electronic voices filled the air.

    ¡°Charging in progress: 3... 2... 1...¡±

    The commander¡¯s face was full of excitement.

    Such a weapon could kill even immortals!

    A mere Purple Mansion cultivator was nothing more than a dead man walking.

    Qi Yuan, clad in his blood-red robe, remained calm. ¡°It seems there are quite a few bad apples among the NPCs.¡±

    He stood still.

    Everyone on Canxing heard his voice at that moment.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°Did you hear that?¡±

    ¡°A god¡¯s voice?¡±

    Everyone looked up at the sky but saw nothing.

    They couldn¡¯t see the battle happening in space.

    For the first time, a serious expression crossed the Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord¡¯s face. ¡°Increase the power. Destroy him.¡±

    ¡°As you command!¡± the marshal immediately passed down the order.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan¡¯s voice continued to boom across the heavens.

    ¡°After walking for so long, I¡¯m feeling a bit hungry... Let me grab a bite to eat, then we¡¯ll continue our conversation.¡±

    As his voice fell, the sky suddenly turned blood-red.

    There was no more white light, only red light.

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°A planet?¡±

    Everyone looked up, confused and fearful.

    Because the sky above them, the stars, and the sun had all disappeared.

    All they could see was a massive... round, star-like object.

    No, not one¡ªtwo!

    ¡°Are those... eyes?¡± The king¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    The object in the sky, blocking out all light, looked like... the eye of some massive creature.

    A voice echoed once more.

    ¡°It feels great to grow big! Always being trapped in such a tiny body is so dull.

    But being big has its downsides too. My eyeball is practically pressed against Canxing, and I still can¡¯t see you clearly!¡±

    He stood in the void of space.

    Canxing wasn¡¯t even the size of his hand, his body spanning the entire universe.

    At this moment, it was as if he wasn¡¯t even bound by the laws of the universe.

    As soon as he appeared, everyone could see him.

    His voice, too, didn¡¯t travel through the air in the usual way. As soon as it sounded, everyone could hear it.

    The Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord trembled, unable to speak.

    All the people of Canxing, too, lost their courage and knelt in fear.

    Meanwhile, on Gongxing, countless miles away, the people also saw the blood-red figure.

    When a Yang God¡¯s manifestation was unleashed, all living beings, regardless of space, could see that terrifying figure.

    Canxing was far from Gongxing.

    From Gongxing, Canxing looked about the size of a fist.

    But now, the blood-red light had replaced the sun.

    A massive figure stood in the void, with Canxing seemingly blocked by him.

    The sun near Canxing looked as small as his palm.

    Everyone rushing to buy supplies on Gongxing involuntarily looked up at the sky.

    Fortunately, their eyesight was excellent this time.

    They could clearly see a massive figure standing in deep space.

    ¡°What¡¯s that blood-red thing in the sky?¡±

    ¡°Is that a person?¡±

    ¡°Am I seeing things?¡±

    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m scared, honey!¡±

    At that moment, the blood-red giant in space moved.

    He extended his enormous hand and grabbed the star next to Canxing.

    A booming voice echoed across not just Gongxing and Canxing, but also the projection shown in the Origin Land.

    ¡°Do you understand the worth of winning the Martial Arts Tournament for seventy-six consecutive years?

    How dare you try to conquer Gongxing and cancel the Martial Arts Tournament!¡±

    The people of Canxing trembled in terror.

    They were too close to see Qi Yuan¡¯s face clearly and could only see a small part of the terrifying giant.

    The princess, too, was filled with fear. She recalled Fang Hun¡¯s words.

    Fang Hun had said there was a powerful figure on Gongxing, someone very strong.

    She knew he was strong, but she hadn¡¯t expected this strong!

    In the Origin Land, all the martial masters were dumbfounded.

    Master Black Deer¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    ¡°This... is Qi Yuan?¡±

    He couldn¡¯t comprehend it, couldn¡¯t imagine it.

    That terrifying figure could crush the entire Origin Land with a single step!

    Was this a Martial God?

    On Gongxing.

    Countless people were confused, then overjoyed.

    ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Qi! It¡¯s Mr. Qi, hahahaha!¡± The king laughed and then cried tears of joy.

    Gong Yi Qing knelt on the ground, worshipping the terrifying figure.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s wife had destroyed the Sky Eyes.

    They had thought Qi Yuan was weaker than his wife.

    With Canxing¡¯s invasion, they feared Qi Yuan might not be able to fend them off.

    But now... this wasn¡¯t just resistance¡ªthis was beyond terrifying!

    Incomprehensible, or perhaps impossible to comprehend!

    How could such a being exist in this world, one with fists the size of a sun?

    Did that mean that if he wished, a single strand of his hair could crush Gongxing?

    On a tall building, a seventeen-year-old boy looked at his white-haired grandfather. ¡°Grandpa... weren¡¯t you the runner-up of the Martial Arts Tournament?¡±

    He looked at his grandfather with excitement and admiration.

    If the champion was this strong, how weak could the runner-up possibly be?

    Meanwhile, in the Jun¡¯an Residential Area, the woman in the tight outfit swallowed hard.

    Xie Xinsu¡¯s eyes widened in shock, trembling with fear, unable to move.

    Wu Qi stood upstairs, her eyes filled with awe and reverence.

    ¡°Was I really that bold?¡±

    She suddenly recalled how she had once flirted with Qi Yuan in that vacuum.

    Qi Yuan was this big... How could her small body possibly handle him?

    The young man who had just replied to Qi Yuan on the forum was stunned. ¡°Bro... you were serious!¡±

    At that moment, everyone¡¯s eyes were on the terrifying blood-red figure.

    At this moment, the blood-red giant moved.

    He stretched out his enormous hand and grabbed the star in Canxing¡¯s system.

    His voice echoed in the void.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never eaten a star this big.¡±

    He grabbed the star and stuffed it into his mouth.

    Crunch.

    Sparks and explosions erupted in his mouth.

    Qi Yuan savored the taste. ¡°Not bad, tastes like deep-fried sugar bombs. A bit tingly.¡±

    The massive figure finished eating the sun, his gaze drifting toward the sun in the Gongxing system. A trace of greed flickered in his eyes.

    He swallowed hard.

    But ultimately, he overcame his hunger with sheer willpower.

    Turning his gaze back to Canxing, his voice boomed across the heavens.

    ¡°I¡¯m about three-quarters full. Now, let¡¯s continue our conversation. Will you surrender... or resist?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed across Canxing.

    On that day, everyone truly witnessed history.

 Chapter 372: Dare to Kill My Son? Iâ€™ll Swallow Him Alive!

    Chapter 372: Dare to Kill My Son? I¡¯ll Swallow Him Alive!

    The vast voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears.

    Perhaps because a sun had just been devoured, everyone on Canxing felt a chill sweep through their bodies.

    They looked up, trying to get a clear view of the terrifying giant.

    Unfortunately, they couldn''t see the full figure at all¡ªjust an endless sea of blood-red.

    That figure stood before them, yet not even a glimpse of its entirety was possible. Boundless and infinite, how could they possibly fight something so enormous?

    The seven satellites guarding Canxing, forming the strongest defense in this section of space¡ªthe Star River Defense Line¡ªshattered like a pile of broken marbles in a trash heap.

    The Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord trembled all over, his mind utterly blank as he stared at the boundless, immeasurable blood-red giant.

    Even a Yin God from the higher realms couldn¡¯t be this powerful, right?

    "Oh my, you¡¯re all so small, yet you have such big courage!

    Daring to stop the Martial Arts Tournament, who gave you that courage? Was it those little cuties from the Myriad Demon Realm?¡±

    Qi Yuan lowered his head, his eyeball alone larger than Canxing itself.

    Everyone on Canxing held their breath.

    Even the pet dogs trembled in fear, too terrified to bark.

    A certain pot-bellied man on Gongxing, upon hearing this, was so scared he collapsed to the ground.

    As someone holding a significant position of leadership, he had to submit useful suggestions to his superiors every three years.

    He usually went about it half-heartedly, avoiding conflicts and trouble, so he¡¯d repeatedly suggested canceling the Martial Arts Tournament.

    Yes, he had submitted the proposal several times.

    His superiors never approved it.

    Now... he wet himself in terror.

    As for Master Black Deer, looking at that immense figure, he was horrified beyond words.

    Could it be that even the Martial God¡¯s true form wasn¡¯t this large? The Martial God¡¯s true form, as rumored... was about the size of a sun, right? But Qi Yuan... had swallowed a sun whole!

    "Why aren''t you speaking? Feeling guilty?¡± Qi Yuan asked, growing a bit annoyed. "If you don¡¯t give me an explanation today, I won¡¯t mind going from three-quarters full to fully satisfied!¡±

    Canxing was small, but it could still fill the last bit of his appetite.

    ¡°Spare us!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not our fault!¡±

    ¡°It really has nothing to do with us!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything!¡±

    ¡°Boo hoo, it was the Myriad Demon Realm that forced us!¡±

    Cries of despair filled Canxing.

    Most ordinary citizens had wet themselves in fear, completely unaware of what was happening.

    Most nobles had fallen to their knees, begging for mercy.

    As for the war faction, they were even more terrified, their souls utterly crushed.

    The demons, especially, were shaking with terror.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Are you planning to resist?¡± Qi Yuan said with displeasure.

    He was simply too enormous.

    The voices of the people on Canxing... he couldn¡¯t hear them.

    Unless he focused and listened intently.

    ¡°Well, since that¡¯s the case, let me show you something! Oh... you all will do just fine!¡±

    Qi Yuan was all too familiar with the aura of demons from the Myriad Demon Realm.

    Back in the Liufeng Realm, these demons had teamed up with the demoness Shang Yanran to bully him.

    If Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t been clever, hardworking, and seriously grinding through the game, it might¡¯ve taken him ages to finish the game.

    "Heaven and Earth, hear my command¡ªkill!"

    A simple phrase, with no complex words, easily understood by even a preschool child.

    Yet these simplest of words felt like universal truth.

    In the starry sky, an inexplicable power swept across.

    The world turned blood-red.

    On Canxing, the once-arrogant demons of the Myriad Demon Realm no longer had their former swagger.

    ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°Spare us!¡±

    ¡°I want to go home!¡±

    At that moment, they were filled with immense regret and unimaginable terror.

    But no matter their actions or thoughts, nothing could help them now.

    Qi Yuan''s voice was like a decree from the universe itself.

    Crack!

    The body of a Golden Core-level demon shattered, along with the protective talisman left behind by his ancestor.

    ¡°No!¡±

    A Purple Mansion demon, who had retreated to the back of the group, let out a tragic scream.

    He was always the most cautious, retreating whenever things went wrong.

    But this time, his caution was useless against such overwhelming power.

    Blood blossoms erupted across Canxing like the most splendid fireworks in the world.

    In just one breath, three thousand demons were completely wiped out.

    ¡°Now, can you give me an answer? Will you still dare to cancel the Martial Arts Tournament?¡± Qi Yuan asked again.

    His voice boomed, louder than thunder.

    ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare!¡±

    ¡°We absolutely wouldn¡¯t dare!¡±

    ¡°God, whatever you say goes!¡±

    In space, Qi Yuan widened his eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? You all are really that bold?¡±

    ¡°Or... did I not kill enough?¡±

    ¡°Why is no one speaking?¡±

    Qi Yuan felt that the vast universe had fallen into a strange silence.

    On Canxing, everyone trembled in fear.

    There were those shouting, those using loudspeakers, those kneeling and begging for their lives¡ªit was all happening.

    The princess gritted her teeth, her face filled with sorrow and bitterness.

    This kind of existence was completely beyond comprehension and defied all common sense.

    One of these mountains towered into the heavens, said to reach all the way to the upper realm.

    At that moment, a furious roar echoed from within the peak.

    ¡°Who dared to kill my son?!¡±

    An unmatched aura spread across the highest peak.

    The entire Demon Court shook, and countless dormant auras across all the peaks stirred awake.

    ¡°Lord Demon King, what has happened?¡±

    ¡°The young lord is in trouble? Who dares to have such audacity?!¡±

    ¡°Please give the order, Lord Demon King. I will lead an army to avenge the young lord!¡±

    ¡°How many years has it been? We, the Myriad Demon Realm, have always caused trouble for others. Never has anyone dared to trouble us. This is outrageous!¡±

    Thousands of Golden Core cultivators awoke, standing like countless stars before the highest peak of the Demon Court.

    The Demon King was an enormous serpent, tens of thousands of feet long.

    Its movement caused the entire Demon Court to tremble.

    ¡°I will swallow him whole!¡±

    The serpent roared in fury.

    The Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord was its only son.

    He was also the next heir to the Demon Court.

    The Demon King had sent the Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord to Canxing in search of ancestral blood, grooming him as his successor.

    But now... the soul lamp of the Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord had been extinguished!

    How could the Demon King not be enraged?

    The Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord wasn¡¯t just his son; he had also been favored by a powerful figure from the upper realm, taken as a registered disciple.

    The plan was for his son to ascend to the upper realm one day and become a disciple of this powerful being.

    Through this connection, the Demon King hoped to climb the ranks of power.

    But now, his son was dead!

    How could he not be furious?

    ¡°Daring to ruin my plans! I will swallow him alive!¡± the serpent roared in anger.

    At that moment, the sky of the Myriad Demon Realm suddenly turned blood-red.

    A vast, boundless voice boomed from above: ¡°Who dares to say they¡¯ll swallow me?¡±

    Inside the Demon Court, thousands of Golden Core cultivators instinctively raised their heads to the sky.

    The colossal Demon King also looked up.

    What they saw was a sea of blood-red.

    The serpent¡¯s pupils shrank.

    Because it realized that the blood-red it was seeing was merely the tip of an enormous entity.

    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s just a little insect with grand ambitions, thinking it can eat me.¡±

    The colossal being spoke, its voice calm.

    At that moment, the Demon King was overcome with fear.

    Since the day it was born, it had never encountered such a scene, nor had it ever heard of such a thing.

    It wasn¡¯t even sure if the terrifying being was speaking to it.

    ¡°Lord...¡±

    The Demon King swallowed hard and prostrated itself on the ground.

    A being this powerful, this massive¡ªwhose full form could not even be seen¡ªcould only be met with complete submission.

    All of the thousands of Golden Core cultivators knelt like ants.

    But as the Demon King, it mustered the courage to speak to this ¡°unfathomable¡± entity.

    ¡°Lord, I do not know what brings you to the Myriad Demon Realm.¡±

    ¡°There was a Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord who dared to invade Gongxing through Canxing, intending to execute the most poisonous scheme across the heavens¡ªcanceling the Martial Arts Tournament and targeting me.

    I accidentally killed him, so I came here to see who the mastermind was, so malicious as to plot the cancellation of the Martial Arts Tournament!¡± Qi Yuan spoke with reason.

    Even when faced with a mere insect, he showed patience.

    This time, he focused intently on listening to the voices of the world¡¯s beings.

    The Demon King¡¯s heart skipped a beat when it heard this.

    This... being killed my son?

    It was terrified to its core.

    Especially since it had just spoken of swallowing the killer alive.

    How could it possibly swallow him?

    Lying prostrate on the ground, its mind raced. It spoke with difficulty: ¡°We in the Demon Court gave no orders to cancel the Martial Arts Tournament.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no mastermind, and it was all in my head?¡± Qi Yuan replied, clearly dissatisfied.

    He had always been cautious.

    When he killed, he liked to wipe out entire families and eliminate any potential roots.

    ¡°No!¡± Suddenly, the Demon King had a realization.

    This terrifying existence had been schemed against.

    Could it be... the upper realm figure, his son¡¯s master?

    But... was his son¡¯s master really this powerful?

    The Demon King had no way of understanding the Yin God realm.

    It had no idea how powerful such a being could be.

    ¡°Lord, please wait! I understand now!¡± the Demon King hurriedly replied. ¡°It must have been the scheme of the Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord¡¯s master! I will lure him down from the upper realm immediately!¡±

    The Demon King had no desire to die in vain.

    Better to let the two of them clash.

    Surely... the upper realm figure could win, right?

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you one hundred breaths to bring him down,¡± Qi Yuan said softly.

    ¡°As you command!¡± The Demon King kept its head low as it flew to the Celestial Platform.

    It lit a stick of incense.

    ¡°Ancestral Master, my son was ruthlessly slain by a powerful enemy. I believe this enemy is targeting you. Please descend from the upper realm and save us!

    Be careful, Ancestral Master... this one is... quite large.¡±

    The incense couldn¡¯t carry too much information, so the Demon King couldn¡¯t elaborate further.

    In the upper realm, an old man opened his eyes.

    ¡°Someone from the lower realm dares to scheme against me?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, large, you say? How large? I¡¯d like to see for myself!¡±

 Chapter 373: Do Old Men in the Upper Realm Never Bathe?

    Chapter 373: Do Old Men in the Upper Realm Never Bathe?

    Qi Yuan''s figure stretched across the sky.

    In the Origin Land, Master Black Deer and the others looked at the Demon Court with eyes full of amazement.

    "Is this the Myriad Demon Realm?"

    "The homeland of the Ancestral Demon Lord?"

    "We¡¯ve actually arrived in the homeland of the Eastern Lord¡¯s Dao companion!"

    As they muttered in surprise.

    A surge of spatial ripples appeared above the Demon Court.

    The Demon King¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement.

    Because these were the ripples of the Ancestral Master''s descent.

    The other Purple Mansion cultivators in the Demon Court were filled with awe but also uncertainty.

    They had no clue about the Ancestral Master''s cultivation level, nor did they know how powerful their opponent might be.

    In any case, it was beyond their comprehension.

    The spatial ripples intensified, and before the figure appeared, a voice resounded.

    "My body is quite large. You all should help out and make room so I can at least get one toe through."

    The voice came from the spatial ripple.

    Clearly, this Ancestral Master from the upper realm wanted to show off.

    He¡¯s big? Bigger than me?

    The Demon King and the other Purple Mansion cultivators glanced at the sky, noting the massive figure above. Seeing no reaction, they quickly channeled their demonic energy toward the spatial crack.

    Finally, they managed to open a massive gap.

    A giant form, as large as a city, squeezed through, blocking out the sun and covering the Demon Court below, obscuring the demons¡¯ view.

    "Oh no, the gap¡¯s too small! I only managed to get a toe through!"

    The voice carried a hint of pride and boastfulness.

    In terms of Earthly lingo, it was a humblebrag.

    He was, after all, a Grand Lord who had ascended four steps toward the heavens.

    One punch could easily annihilate a nation.

    How could there be any worthy opponents in the lower realm?

    The Demon King was startled.

    Normally, seeing such a large toe would indeed be intimidating, even worthy of worship.

    After all, a toe the size of a city was scary.

    But compared to the boundless figure in the sky, it was still far too small.

    The Demon King glanced at the Demon Queen.

    The Demon Queen understood his meaning and transmitted a message, ¡°Perhaps the Ancestral Master is small but fierce.¡±

    Normally, ¡°small but fierce¡± would be inappropriate here.

    But compared to the terrifying giant in the sky, it was actually a compliment.

    ¡°I hope that¡¯s the case,¡± the Demon King thought nervously.

    Then, he and the other Purple Mansion cultivators channeled more energy to widen the crack.

    Time passed slowly.

    Meanwhile, the giant figure in the sky grew even larger.

    It was now as large as half the Demon Court.

    It blotted out the sun, an utterly terrifying sight.

    Such a giant could sneeze and destroy an entire city.

    A massive eyeball, like a giant lantern, stared down.

    ¡°The light of the Myriad Demon Realm is red? Interesting.¡±

    The Ancestral Master from the upper realm had finally squeezed his entire body through.

    He was enormous, maintaining his largest form.

    His gaze fell upon the massive, ten-thousand-foot-long serpent in the Demon Court, and he looked at it with a hint of disdain.

    The Demon King of the Demon Court had no real sense of scale.

    A ten-thousand-foot-long snake? Is that supposed to be big? How pathetic.

    People in the lower realm had no idea of true size. But that was to be expected.

    "Are you the one who killed my disciple?" the old man said, his voice booming like thunder.

    It was as if a storm had swept through the Demon Court, knocking over weaker demons. Some were even killed on the spot, and the scene turned tragic.

    The Demon King was alarmed. With just a look, the Ancestral Master made him feel like his soul was on the verge of being annihilated.

    ¡°Ancestral Master, I am the Demon King of the Demon Court, not your enemy. I was the one who notified you,¡± the Demon King quickly explained.

    The old man from the upper realm froze for a moment, feeling a bit awkward.

    ¡°Oh, then where¡¯s the enemy?¡±

    He scanned the surroundings but didn¡¯t see anything particularly large.

    "Could it be that my presence scared them off?"

    The old man was filled with pride.

    That made sense.

    Even in the upper realm, he was a figure of renown.

    As a Grand Lord, he could occasionally meet with the legendary Yang Gods.

    If a Yang God took notice of him and granted him the right to oversee the myriad heavens, that would be extraordinary.

    In the lower realm, it was only natural for enemies to flee in terror.

    ¡°Where did they run off to?¡± the old man asked.

    The Demon King glanced at the Demon Queen again.

    He was starting to think that small and fierce wasn¡¯t as reliable as he¡¯d hoped.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t run off. They¡¯re... in the sky.¡±

    "They ran into the sky?" The old man only half-understood what he was told. His massive body tilted upward, looking at the heavens.

    ...

    ¡°Oh, so he¡¯s the mastermind. I¡¯ll give you a chance. Summon him down here,¡± Qi Yuan said indifferently.

    The old man¡¯s face turned dark as he struggled to respond. ¡°I... I don¡¯t have the authority to meet the Heavenly Sovereign.¡±

    Boundless Mountain had over seven hundred realms, and he was just an elder of one of them.

    How could he ever meet the legendary Heavenly Sovereign?

    "How boring, how boring."

    A flash of blood-red light swept through the sky.

    The terrifying giant eye in the heavens closed.

    In the Demon Court, all the demons froze.

    When the giant eye opened again, every demon in the Demon Court, including the unwashed old man from the upper realm, had perished.

    A blood-red figure appeared in the Demon Court, breathtakingly handsome.

    This blood-red figure was Qi Yuan.

    He had come here to investigate whether the Ancestral Demon Lord had left behind any traces.

    But after searching around, he found nothing of use.

    ...

    In the end, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t return to Canxing for the feast.

    However, he did stealthily grab a serving of pork rice before leaving.

    After all, he was heading back to Gongxing, and while lounging in the sky, it was the perfect time to enjoy a meal.

    Once he finished his pork rice, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure returned to his home.

    "Meow!"

    Xie Xinsu¡¯s fur stood on end, and she let out a pitiful yowl.

    Robot Zero-One stood quietly, like an elegant housekeeper. ¡°Welcome back, Master.¡±

    The woman in the tight outfit tensed up, her heart racing as she gazed at the overly handsome man before her.

    Even now, she couldn¡¯t wrap her head around the fact that her "brother" was the same giant being that had dominated the sky.

    "I¡¯m back. I didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long, did I?" Qi Yuan asked softly, looking at the woman in the tight outfit.

    After all, she was his creditor.

    ¡°No, no!¡± the woman quickly replied.

    ¡°I know you came all this way to see me because you want me to repay my debt.

    Sigh, I¡¯m a bit short on funds at the moment. Could I delay repaying you those tens of thousands of yuan for a bit longer?¡± Qi Yuan asked tentatively.

    He still wanted to save up to buy land and build the underworld.

    Paying off debts? That wasn¡¯t happening anytime soon.

    ¡°No! You don¡¯t have to repay me!¡± the woman blurted out, almost out of breath from nervousness.

    She even began to doubt whether this overly gentle, cautious man was the same being who had swallowed a star.

    ¡°There really are good people in this world!¡± Qi Yuan sighed. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m a good person too. Part of the reason I went to Canxing was for personal reasons.

    But... more importantly, I didn¡¯t want our traditional culture to be lost in our generation. I didn¡¯t want the audience of the Martial Arts Tournament to lose such an entertaining event.

    By doing this, I¡¯m also contributing to the GDP of the Qin Yuan Nation!¡±

    By the end of his speech, Qi Yuan felt a bit guilty.

    After all, claiming it was for GDP sounded a bit far-fetched.

    Qi Yuan had heard a story like this before.

    Person A took out 100 yuan and said to Person B, "If you eat this dog poop, I¡¯ll give you 100 yuan."

    Person B, tempted, ate the dog poop and earned the 100 yuan. But then he felt cheated, so he gave the 100 yuan back to Person A and made Person A eat the dog poop.

    Person A, upset about losing 100 yuan, ate the dog poop and got his 100 yuan back.

    Neither of them made any money, but they both ate poop. Still, they contributed to the country¡¯s GDP.

    Hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s explanation, the woman in the tight outfit could only nod and say ¡°uh-huh,¡± too afraid to say much more.

    As for suggesting that Qi Yuan leave and hide in the Tianyuan Sect?

    She didn¡¯t dare bring that up anymore.

    "Alright, I need to head back to the Origin Land. Goodbye, see you next time."

    With that, Qi Yuan vanished.

    He had come and gone in the blink of an eye.

    He was eager to see the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall and find out what the so-called Spiritual Martial Lord was all about.

    ...

    Mountain and Seas Scroll.

    The moon shone bright, reflecting off the clear waters of the lake.

    A lone boat floated on the lake¡¯s surface, like a brushstroke in a traditional painting.

    A woman stood at the bow of the boat, her eyes filled with endless uncertainty.

    She gazed into the distance and spoke softly, ¡°How much longer until we see the truth?¡±

    Wang Yuanyu looked at the woman and replied gently, ¡°It could be ten years, or it could be a hundred.¡±

    Within the Mountain and Seas Scroll, countless scrolls began to weave together and connect.

    Countless battles unfolded.

    When Wang Yuanyu encountered Lu Zhu, a surge of murderous intent welled up within her.

    She felt an overwhelming urge to kill her.

    But in the end, she suppressed her instincts and chose to cooperate with Lu Zhu.

    Because she knew that once they saw the truth, they would face an even greater catastrophe.

    ¡°I hope time passes faster,¡± Lu Zhu said, her clear, bright eyes filled with joy and anticipation.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that when the worlds converge, you¡¯ll perish along with the falsehoods?¡± Wang Yuanyu asked. ¡°When that day comes, all the falsehoods might disappear, leaving only one truth.¡±

    ¡°I am afraid, but I still want to see my master and thank him in person,¡± Lu Zhu said wistfully.

    The once-young princess had finally grown up.

    Back then, her master had disappeared before she could thank him.

    That unspoken thank you had remained in her heart ever since.

    "I also want my master to know that Lu Zhu didn¡¯t let him down!"

 Chapter 374: The Eastern Lordâ€™s Wall, Spiritual Martial Lord

    Chapter 374: The Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall, Spiritual Martial Lord

    Dressed in a blood-red robe, Qi Yuan walked along the bridge formed by Shuhou and Erdi, moving against the flow of time toward the Origin Land.

    He passed through time and space, crossed the Black Sea, and went against the river of time.

    Qi Yuan closed his eyes, feeling the wash of time.

    This time, no one was around to chat, so he could seriously contemplate the power of time and space, much like when he had meditated on the Gate of Myriad Variations.

    "This Black Sea... has no master, does it?"

    "It looks kind of like my River of Forgetfulness."

    "Hey, Black Sea, you and I seem destined for each other!"

    Qi Yuan called out softly to the Black Sea.

    As he moved backward through time, his figure left only a fleeting shadow.

    Within countless Mountain and Seas Scrolls, one by one, figures raised their heads to gaze at the sky.

    They saw nothing, but in their eyes, it seemed as if a red shadow had flashed by.

    "Is that him?" Long-lost memories flooded back, and the one-eyed man¡¯s body trembled as an image of the man, crowned with glory and sweeping through armies, appeared in his mind.

    On the small boat, Lu Zhu''s eyes suddenly narrowed. "Master?"

    The sword in her hand resonated with a hum, filled with joy, followed by endless melancholy.

    Wang Yuanyu''s eyes also revealed a complex expression. "Teacher?"

    She remembered that her teacher had once promised to bring her a pair of stockings.

    In the various worlds Qi Yuan had passed through, many powerful beings were now awakening long-buried memories, recalling the man with invincible talent.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan had finally crossed the Black Sea and returned to the Origin Land.

    Stepping off the bridge, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression became inscrutable as he looked at the Black Sea.

    "You''ve contemplated the Black Sea but gained nothing."

    He tried to mimic a system voice but failed miserably.

    The Black Sea was much harder to comprehend than the Gate of Myriad Variations.

    That gate had offered insight with just a glance.

    "Shuhou, Erdi, you can return now. When I need you again, I¡¯ll call."

    Qi Yuan softly spoke to Shuhou and Erdi, who stood in the Black Sea.

    At the same time, he thought about how Shuhou and Erdi could work in the underworld as gatekeepers for the Bridge of Helplessness.

    "To follow our master¡¯s orders is our honor!" Shuhou and Erdi responded in unison.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure flashed.

    When he reappeared, he was at the top of the tower where the Contest for Ancestral Blood was held.

    Unlike when he had left, the tower¡¯s peak was now crowded with Martial Lords.

    Looking around, there were nearly ten thousand of them.

    When they saw Qi Yuan appear, these incredibly powerful Martial Lords all lowered their proud heads.

    Even those without heads bowed their bodies.

    "Greetings, Martial God!"

    The eyes of the nearly ten thousand Martial Lords were filled with reverence.

    To traverse the Black Sea, to cover the sky with one hand, and to swallow the sun¡ªthese were feats beyond the power of a Martial Lord. Such acts could only be explained by the existence of a Martial God!

    Only a Martial God could explain this!

    Fat Egg Martial Lord¡¯s body trembled, though not out of fear but rather excitement.

    His ancestor was none other than the legendary Martial God.

    Black Deer Martial Lord and the other titled Martial Lords had hope in their eyes.

    This time, the Morning Star Chime might actually be within reach!

    Qi Yuan looked at these Martial Lords, his expression calm, as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him. He spoke softly.

    "Would it be fitting for me to smirk right now?"

    This scene reminded him of a TV drama.

    The useless son-in-law had just been slapped, and then tens of thousands of men in suits appeared, kneeling.

    "Welcome back, Dragon King!"

    How similar!

    As he spoke, he grinned crookedly.

    The Martial Lords exchanged puzzled glances, unable to understand or make sense of it.

    Qi Yuan was slightly disappointed.

    None of these Martial Lords got the joke.

    Shouldn¡¯t someone have said, "He¡¯s about to smirk, tear his mouth apart"?

    He waved his hand dismissively. "I''m not a Martial God yet, just a Martial Lord. Don¡¯t call me that."

    Qi Yuan had never liked pretending to be someone stronger than he was.

    He preferred honesty and sincerity.

    The Martial Lords present were filled with confusion upon hearing this.

    Come on, is it possible to be this humble?

    If you¡¯re a Martial Lord, then what are we?

    Especially when they recalled the sight of Qi Yuan swallowing a star, which was simply too overwhelming.

    If Qi Yuan wished, couldn''t he even swallow the entire Origin Land?

    Qi Yuan returned to his throne as he spoke.

    "Everyone go back home. The Contest for Ancestral Blood is still ongoing," Qi Yuan said. "If too many people gather here, someone might think we''re brawling or doing something indecent. That wouldn¡¯t look good."

    He was a bit socially awkward.

    Seeing so many elderly men and women made him feel uncomfortable.

    Only when facing his "white moonlight" did he become more enthusiastic and friendly.

    "The Contest for Ancestral Blood is about to end, and the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall will soon appear. Let us accompany the Heavenly Sovereign to witness the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall," a titled Martial Lord suggested.

    Could it be that he truly was an unrivaled genius?

    That, in the moment of crisis, he had transcended his limits and slain three hundred beasts in one strike?

    The thought thrilled him.

    Indeed, he was the protagonist of this world, the chosen one, blessed with endless fortune.

    Suddenly recalling something, Mu Yan hurriedly spoke. "Ancestor, now that I¡¯ve entered the top thirty, could you please..."

    He was still worried about Qi Yuan.

    "Don¡¯t worry about it," the Great Martial Lord reassured him, looking at Mu Yan with approval.

    Mu Yan¡¯s heart was filled with excitement, as though his life had taken a miraculous turn.

    But he needed to quickly undergo the Ancestral Blood Baptism and become a Martial Lord.

    After all, relying on his ancestor¡¯s favor to help Qi Yuan was still a personal favor, subject to potential oversight.

    Once he became a Martial Lord, only then could he personally guarantee Qi Yuan¡¯s safety.

    Full of anticipation, Mu Yan went to receive the Ancestral Blood Baptism.

    Meanwhile, atop the tower, Qi Yuan let out a yawn.

    "The Contest for Ancestral Blood is finally over."

    Black Deer Martial Lord immediately responded, "The Heavenly Sovereign¡¯s foresight is truly remarkable¡ªMu Yan has won first place!"

    "Oh, really? Not bad." Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t been paying attention to the contest. He¡¯d either been resting or occasionally discussing the creation of the underworld with that online friend of his.

    That friend was an absolute gem.

    They had even gone so far as to prepare seven PowerPoint presentations, laying out various plans for the underworld.

    Such a warm-hearted internet user was hard to find.

    At one point, the friend had even asked if, once the underworld was built, they could join as a low-ranking minion.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate to agree.

    "Now that it''s over, shouldn¡¯t the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall be appearing soon?" Qi Yuan asked as he looked at the Martial Lords of the Eastern Alliance.

    "Indeed!" Black Deer Martial Lord answered quickly. "Please wait just a moment, Heavenly Sovereign."

    Several titled Martial Lords from the Eastern Alliance stepped forward.

    A vast surge of Blood Martial energy filled the air, and within the tower, an ancient aura began to rise.

    Qi Yuan sat on his throne, his face full of curiosity.

    Before him, on a wall atop the tower, a bloodstain appeared.

    As if a single drop of blood had been spilled, the entire wall slowly turned crimson.

    At that moment, information flowed into Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    [The Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall, containing a single drop of the Eastern Lord¡¯s blood.]

    "Heavenly Sovereign, this is the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall!" Black Deer Martial Lord said, bowing deeply.

    The ten thousand Martial Lords of the Eastern Alliance all looked at the wall with expressions of awe.

    "The Eastern Lord is currently holding back the Great Tribulation alone, leaving only a single drop of blood on the wall to communicate with us," explained one of the titled Martial Lords, his eyes filled with mixed emotions.

    This complex emotion was a blend of guilt and frustration.

    They felt guilty for being unable to help the Eastern Lord.

    "Through the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall, we can glimpse a part of the Great Tribulation. It¡¯s uncertain how much longer the Eastern Lord can hold on," Black Deer Martial Lord said worriedly.

    He waved his hand, and it seemed as though the wall opened up like a window.

    Through the window, a scene unfolded. Terrifying roars and growls echoed, sending chills down everyone¡¯s spine.

    Qi Yuan gazed at the wall, countless images flashing before his eyes.

    They were threads of multicolored light, vibrant with various hues, some of which couldn¡¯t even be perceived by the human eye.

    Each thread of light carried the most extreme evils, transforming into monstrous entities that devoured space and consumed all things.

    Within the monstrous mouths, fragments of universal laws were shattered and absorbed into the threads of light.

    On one side of the world was a massive, writhing ball of threads, while on the other side was... a single figure.

    A man in white robes, his face and features indistinguishable, stood within the void, as if holding the world in balance.

    Countless threads of light and color tried to consume him, but none succeeded.

    [Root Demons, strange beings that feed on all things. Their conditions for birth are extraordinarily rare.]

    As Qi Yuan focused on the ball of threads, his eyes conveyed this critical information.

    "These monsters are multiplying. The Morning Star Chime draws near, and if we fail to restart the world and awaken the Eastern Lord¡¯s consort, the Eastern Lord might struggle to hold on!" Black Deer Martial Lord said with great concern.

    Compared to the last time they had glimpsed this scene, the situation had grown even more perilous.

    As he spoke, he glanced at Qi Yuan.

    If the Eastern Lord¡¯s consort could be revived, and with the assistance of this Heavenly Sovereign, there was a chance to survive the Great Tribulation.

    Qi Yuan, however, was intrigued. "The Root Demons seem to embody all the world¡¯s emotions: jealousy, greed, stubbornness... they¡¯re a bit like my innate power."

    His innate power was the Void Realm Sovereign: Heart Demon Induction.

    For some reason, Qi Yuan felt an odd connection to the Root Demons.

    Or rather, the Root Demons overwhelming the Eastern Lord didn¡¯t seem to frighten him.

    All things in the universe had their opposites.

    "Does the Heavenly Sovereign¡¯s innate power resemble these negative emotions?" Black Deer Martial Lord gave Qi Yuan a wary look.

    After all, this didn¡¯t seem like the power of a good person.

    "What negative emotions? This is pure positive energy!

    Jealousy? In some ways, jealousy drives people to improve, sparking ambition.

    Lust? For the laws of the world, the more life, the better. Lust promotes reproduction, leading to more life!

    Arrogance? Isn¡¯t that simply pride, a sense of dignity that pushes martial artists to strive forward?"

    "......"

    Black Deer Martial Lord fell silent. There seemed to be some truth to it, though not entirely.

    The other Martial Lords looked at Qi Yuan with odd expressions. Even if they disagreed with his reasoning, none dared challenge his views.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted to the figure fighting the Root Demons.

    [The Eastern Lord¡¯s Projection, a member of the Holy Light Race.]

 Chapter 375: Heart Believes, But Nose Doesnâ€™t

    Chapter 375: Heart Believes, But Nose Doesn¡¯t

    The information Qi Yuan received through his eyes was very simple.

    That distant figure was indeed the projection of the Eastern Lord.

    He was currently battling the Root Demons.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes also informed him that if the Root Demons were to surpass the Eastern Lord, the Origin Land, the Mountain and Seas Scroll, and the Land of the End would all become playgrounds for the Root Demons in an instant.

    This confirmed that the Eastern Lord was indeed fighting against the great calamity and saving the world.

    The Martial Lords present looked at the Eastern Lord¡¯s projection, sighing with emotion.

    "In the Origin Land, perhaps only tens of thousands of years have passed, but in the Calamity Realm, the Eastern Lord has been battling the great calamity alone for a million years," Black Deer Martial Lord said despondently, his voice heavy with helplessness.

    "The world has restarted countless times, but each time it failed. This is our last chance. We must revive the Eastern Lord¡¯s consort to aid him!"

    "The Eastern Lord has been isolated for a million years!"

    The Martial Lords were moved, their eyes filled with various emotions.

    Qi Yuan remained calm. "The Eastern Lord has been through a lot. He probably hasn¡¯t bathed in millions of years. When I meet him, I¡¯ll have to give him a bucket of bathwater."

    "..."

    The Martial Lords were speechless.

    However, after spending time with Qi Yuan, they had begun to understand his personality and way of thinking.

    A martial arts fanatic¡ªthis was normal.

    Without that obsession, how could he become a Martial God?

    "Heavenly Sovereign, the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall will soon close. If you have any questions, please ask quickly!" Black Deer Martial Lord reminded him.

    "Alright." Qi Yuan nodded, turning to the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall and politely asking, "Do you know what a Spiritual Martial Lord is?"

    The blood-red color spread across the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall.

    Everyone¡¯s attention was fixed on it.

    A refined voice, like the sound of heaven, rang out.

    "The Spiritual Martial Lord is the leader of all Martial Lords. To become one, you must challenge and defeat all Martial Lords. Only then can you become the Spiritual Martial Lord."

    "That simple?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    He touched his nose, and it didn¡¯t grow.

    This meant the Eastern Lord was telling the truth.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the Martial Lords present. Did that mean he just had to defeat them all to complete the task and become a Spiritual Martial Lord?

    "How does one become a Martial God of Myriad Daos?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    The realm of Martial God was above that of Martial Lord, and the Martial God of Myriad Daos was somewhat different from a regular Martial God.

    "To become the Daos of the world, to embody the laws of heaven and earth, that is the path to becoming a Martial God of Myriad Daos. However, once you become the laws of heaven and earth, if the world is destroyed, the Martial God of Myriad Daos will fall from this realm as well. A world can only have one Martial God of Myriad Daos."

    The Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall responded once more.

    Qi Yuan sensed that his nose hadn¡¯t grown.

    This also confirmed that the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall hadn¡¯t lied.

    "Is there already a Martial God of Myriad Daos in this world?" Qi Yuan asked.

    If such a god already existed, wouldn¡¯t that mean he had to fight them?

    "No." The refined voice of the Eastern Lord replied from the wall.

    This wasn¡¯t the Eastern Lord himself speaking, nor even a projection, just a mechanical response, like asking an AI that instinctively provided answers.

    Having received all the answers, Qi Yuan felt satisfied.

    Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he spoke softly.

    "What is the greatest obstacle to me becoming a Martial God of Myriad Daos?"

    Since the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall was so powerful, he figured he should take advantage and ask a few more questions.

    "Yourself. The most difficult aspect of becoming a Martial God of Myriad Daos is embodying the Daos. This requires a profound understanding of the myriad Daos of this world. Most Martial Lords, even after a lifetime, cannot achieve this."

    The voice remained refined and elegant.

    At this, Qi Yuan squinted his eyes, though his expression remained calm. "Really?"

    He found this situation quite interesting.

    The Eastern Lord¡¯s words seemed entirely believable to him, and they made perfect sense.

    But... his nose had grown.

    This sensation was strange.

    It was as if someone with a superpower that could perfectly solve simple addition and subtraction had been told that "1+1=2" was wrong by that very power.

    That was how Qi Yuan felt now.

    The Eastern Lord¡¯s words had planted themselves firmly in his heart, but his nose was telling him they were lies.

    "The Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall cannot lie. It only provides the information it has," the refined voice of the Eastern Lord¡¯s Wall insisted.

    Qi Yuan smiled. "My brain tells me to believe you, but my nose is screaming that you¡¯re lying."

    At that moment, Black Deer Martial Lord spoke up. "The Eastern Lord would never lie. What he says must be true!"

    "Yes, it must be true!" agreed a titled Martial Lord.

    "It¡¯s true!" echoed the other Martial Lords.

    Clearly, nearly all of the Martial Lords present believed the Eastern Lord¡¯s words without question.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan thought of something and asked softly, "God Thunder Elder, what do you think? Is he telling the truth or not?"

    As soon as he spoke, a figure appeared atop the tower: God Thunder Elder.

    Dressed in a purple robe adorned with lightning, he radiated a deep, powerful energy.

    When the Martial Lords saw God Thunder, they fell silent, feeling immense pressure.

    Was this... another Heavenly Sovereign?

    Their perceptions of Qi Yuan shifted once again.

    "What need is there for an arena?" Qi Yuan raised his voice, and in the next instant, he flew out of the tower.

    Seeing this, Mu Yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. It felt like it had jumped into his throat.

    All the Martial Lords had gathered atop the tower.

    None of them were flying, not even the titled Martial Lords. Though Mu Yan didn¡¯t understand why, no other Martial Lords dared to fly.

    And yet, Qi Yuan was flying. Wasn¡¯t this an act of disrespect to the other Martial Lords?

    Qi Yuan floated into the sky, his blood-red robe fluttering in the wind, standing in the air like an immortal.

    "Are all the Martial Lords of the Origin Land here?" Qi Yuan called out, his voice loud and clear, reaching the entire tower.

    On the tower, the new Martial Lords who had crossed paths with Qi Yuan in the Contest for Ancestral Blood were all shocked, their faces full of surprise as they looked at him.

    At that moment, several dozen titled Martial Lords stepped forward, their faces showing respect. "Reporting to the Heavenly Sovereign, all the Martial Lords are present!"

    The remaining tens of thousands of Martial Lords bowed in unison, as if mortals bowing to their king.

    "Reporting to the Heavenly Sovereign, we are all here!"

    Seeing this, Mu Yan was utterly dumbfounded.

    Even his ancestor was bowing to Qi Yuan, like a eunuch before an emperor.

    "What... what¡¯s going on?" Mu Yan was completely baffled.

    "To become a Spiritual Martial Lord is simple. You just need to defeat all the Martial Lords of the world.

    "So, all of you, come at me together. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be gentle and won¡¯t hurt you."

    Qi Yuan was always courteous and well-mannered.

    He wasn¡¯t like those old fogeys from the Upper Realm, who were reckless and heavy-handed.

    When they descended to the lower realm, they would often kill their own underlings carelessly.

    If they treated their own kind like that, there was no telling how many innocents they¡¯d kill.

    "Heavenly Sovereign, forgive us!"

    "Forgive us!"

    All the Martial Lords roared in unison, their voices like crashing waves.

    Mu Yan was utterly confused, his heart filled with doubt and worry.

    Was everyone about to fight Qi Yuan?

    "Ancestor, are we all fighting Qi Yuan?"

    "Address him as Heavenly Sovereign!" The Great Martial Lord quickly corrected him.

    "What if he... dies?"

    Though Mu Yan understood that Qi Yuan was likely more than what he appeared, probably quite powerful...

    But no matter how powerful, could he really face tens of thousands of Martial Lords?

    Wouldn¡¯t that be suicide?

    "Hmph, you think you can dream of killing the Heavenly Sovereign?

    "Not long ago, the Heavenly Sovereign swallowed a sun."

    "What? Swallowed a sun?" Mu Yan¡¯s eyes widened.

    "Fight!" At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed once more.

    An overwhelming wave of attacks surged toward the sky.

    However, these attacks felt like nothing more than a drizzle.

    Qi Yuan closed his eyes, making no move to resist, allowing the attacks to land on his body.

    After all, this was an opportunity to comprehend the myriad Daos.

    ...

    Seasons passed.

    The Shuhuo Emperors frequently appeared, bridging the Black Sea.

    The Martial Lords of the Eastern Alliance had grown accustomed to seeing them.

    At this time, on the martial arena of the Arc Star, Qi Yuan stood facing an old man, his expression calm. "Old man, this will be my last time participating in the Martial Arts Tournament. Next time, you¡¯ll finally fulfill your dream and become the champion."

    The Martial Arts Tournament was still ongoing.

    Though everyone on the Arc Star knew that the one who swallowed a star was the true champion.

    They all wanted to participate in the tournament, to meet Qi Yuan.

    But none dared.

    No one dared to disrupt Qi Yuan¡¯s routine.

    After all, what if Qi Yuan¡¯s hobby was thrashing old men in the tournament?

    So the Martial Arts Tournament continued as usual, with no audience present.

    Even the audience was only in the livestream.

    And the viewers of this livestream were of the highest caliber.

    This particular livestream had unique features¡ªno one could type inappropriate words, only positive comments could appear.

    The old man, white-haired and frail, looked dazed when he heard Qi Yuan¡¯s words. "Immortal, are you really not going to participate anymore?"

    For so many years, he had always lost to Qi Yuan.

    At first, he had been resentful.

    But later... after witnessing Qi Yuan swallow a star...

    Yeah, he came to terms with it.

    He was nearing a hundred years old; losing to someone who could devour stars was only natural, right?

    "Yes, it¡¯s over." Qi Yuan gazed at the empty audience seats, feeling a twinge of emptiness in his heart.

    The game... was almost over.

 Chapter 376: Jin Liâ€™s Star

    Chapter 376: Jin Li¡¯s Star

    The wind stirred.

    Qi Yuan threw a punch.

    The speed was incredibly fast, yet it seemed slow.

    The elderly man with white hair let out an "Ouch" and fell to the ground.

    Qi Yuan retracted his fist, brushed off his sleeves, and radiated an air of mastery.

    "Not bad. You''re as strong as the opponents I faced when I became the Spiritual Realm Martial Lord. One move!

    It seems that some titled Martial Lords really aren''t weaker than ordinary people."

    Qi Yuan gave his evaluation.

    When he became the Spiritual Realm Martial Lord, he had fought nearly ten thousand Martial Lords.

    He defeated them in one move, and he defeated the runner-up of the Martial Arts Tournament in one move as well.

    So, in Qi Yuan''s eyes, they were equally strong.

    The elderly man with white hair got up and said, "You brat! You don''t even go easy on an old man. Aren''t you afraid I''ll just lie down and blackmail you?"

    Over the years, the old man had grown quite familiar with Qi Yuan.

    Although ten years ago, when Qi Yuan, the immortal, had swallowed a star, the old man had trembled in fear for several years...

    But, he had adapted.

    At worst, he would die standing tall!

    "I''m not afraid. We signed a contract before the match. Even if compensation is involved, it¡¯ll be the Martial Arts Tournament that pays!" Qi Yuan shrugged.

    "Old man, goodbye."

    He said and began walking toward the audience stands.

    In the audience, the canary that used to cheer for Qi Yuan had been absent for several tournaments.

    Now, cheering for him was none other than Meow Meow Xie Xinsu.

    She was wearing a blue tank top, holding a small flag with her paws.

    "Meow, meow, meow!"

    She shouted with all her might.

    But anyone could hear the reluctance and dissatisfaction in her voice.

    Qi Yuan scooped up Xie Xinsu, instinctively slipping his hand under her tank top as he began to pet her.

    Xie Xinsu stopped meowing, her face showing complete resignation.

    Qi Yuan suddenly froze. "Why does this feel a bit indecent?"

    Petting the cat when she wasn¡¯t wearing clothes seemed perfectly normal.

    But slipping his hand under her tank top felt a bit inappropriate.

    "So, I guess I should just take it off and then pet her."

    With that, Qi Yuan pulled off Xie Xinsu¡¯s tank top.

    ...

    At Tianyuan Sect.

    The woman in tight-fitting clothes stood with her head lowered. The rain fell like strings of pearls from the eaves. The sect leader, dressed in green, her long hair falling to her waist, gazed at the rain.

    Her eyes were filled with endless uncertainty.

    "The danger indicated by the Tianyuan Stone is drawing closer and closer!" the sect leader said, her gaze full of apprehension.

    "Is the danger still a threat with him around?" the woman in tight clothes thought of Qi Yuan.

    Back then, Qi Yuan had swallowed the sun in one gulp, shaking the heavens and earth.

    Even if the founder of the Tianyuan Sect descended, it wouldn''t compare.

    "The Tianyuan Stone is an unparalleled treasure. It cannot be wrong." The sect leader replied.

    At that moment, a gentle voice rang out.

    "The Tianyuan Stone is a rare and extraordinary treasure. It will not be wrong.

    "It seems that this world is indeed on the brink of destruction."

    A woman in a palace dress appeared. Her eyes sparkled with life, but a veil covered her face, obscuring her features.

    Upon seeing the woman, both the sect leader and the woman in tight clothes quickly bowed, "Greetings, Founder!"

    The woman in the palace dress was none other than Yu Mengxian, the founder of the Tianyuan Sect, who had descended from the Upper Realm.

    Yu Mengxian looked up at the sky, her eyes full of complex emotions. "No stars reflecting the myriad realms... This must be a strange place."

    The Upper Realm was divided into nine heavens.

    In the Nine Heavens, countless stars reflected the Yang Gods, along with their beloved ones and subordinates.

    In any of the Nine Heavens, as well as their affiliated lower realms and secret realms, these stars could be seen.

    But there were certain strange places where the stars reflecting the myriad realms could not be seen.

    Yu Mengxian had only heard of such places, but this was her first time encountering one.

    "According to the Tianyuan Stone, the destruction of Arc Star may even affect the Fire Spirit Realm," Yu Mengxian said with concern. "The calamity is unstoppable. Only by returning to the Upper Realm can we escape it."

    It was perfectly normal for strange places to experience various changes.

    "Even you can¡¯t solve this, Founder?" the sect leader asked.

    In her eyes, the founder was the strongest person in the world.

    "Not even me. Even the Yang God Heavenly Sovereign who presides over the holy land in the Upper Realm where I reside might not be able to resolve this." When Yu Mengxian mentioned the Yang God Heavenly Sovereign, her eyes were filled with reverence.

    Thanks to the miraculous stone, her progress had been rapid, and she had now reached the mythical level of an Yin God.

    In the holy land, she had achieved many accomplishments, earning her a chance to meet the Heavenly Sovereign, who had granted her the ability to reflect the myriad realms.

    A Yin God with the ability to reflect the myriad realms was far more powerful than an ordinary Yin God.

    In her holy land, she was considered among the top ranks.

    "Even the Heavenly Sovereign of the Upper Realm can¡¯t solve this?" the sect leader felt dejected.

    "Doesn¡¯t this world have a Heavenly Sovereign?

    "If what you recorded back then is true, this Heavenly Sovereign might be even stronger than the one in my holy land."

    When she appeared, all colors in the world seemed to pale in comparison.

    Both Yu Mengxian and the woman in tight clothes were completely overshadowed by her beauty.

    Qi Yuan had never seen Jin Li before, but he had seen the version of her that Qi Jianjun had transformed into.

    "This..." Yu Mengxian''s heart pounded wildly. "Seven hundred years ago, I once saw this Moon Maiden in the Demon Abyss."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s heart stirred.

    It was as if time and space had overlapped, and a dream became reality.

    The former Moon Maiden, now Jin Li, suddenly felt so close to him, as though he could reach out and touch her.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan grew sentimental.

    "It has been many years since I last heard from her. A single inch of longing forms a thousand knots of sorrow.

    "When you saw her, how was she?"

    "She... seemed to be doing well. I heard that after returning to the Moon God Palace, she constantly fought in the Demon Abyss, never stopping, as if seeking more achievements to make a wish to the Moon God Sovereign." Yu Mengxian glanced at Qi Yuan again.

    In the Moon God Palace, the Moon Maidens held an especially unique status.

    They were practically being groomed as successors.

    Moon Maidens were forbidden to marry.

    Once, a Yang God sought to marry a Moon Maiden, but he was directly expelled by the Moon God Sovereign.

    The Moon God Sovereign had declared that the Yang God would never again be allowed to set foot in the light of the moon.

    Now, Yu Mengxian''s thoughts began to wander.

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan sighed. Suddenly, he thought of something. "Is there any way to contact her from the lower realm?"

    Although he had asked Shen Wushen to send a message to the Moon Maiden...

    Shen Wushen was in the lower three heavens, and it would take many years to deliver the letter.

    "It would be difficult in the lower realm.

    "However, this Moon Maiden has been favored by the Moon God Sovereign and has a star reflecting the myriad realms.

    "If she knows of your star, you can move your star closer to hers. She should understand your message." Yu Mengxian explained.

    "Oh, you can do that?" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    Does that mean he could move one of his star-core Golden Cores next to Jin Li¡¯s star?

    Then, if he shaped his star-core Golden Core into a heart or "romantic brain" symbol, Jin Li would know he was there?

    Of course, it¡¯s possible she wouldn¡¯t realize it.

    After all, Jin Li didn¡¯t know that the sun in the sky was his star-core Golden Core.

    But that didn¡¯t matter.

    "Do you know which star is hers?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Heavenly Sovereign, please take a look!" Yu Mengxian waved her hand, and a star map appeared before Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    "This one is the Moon Maiden¡¯s star."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell on the tiny star, and his eyes filled with affection. "How cute."

    Xie Xinsu, still in Qi Yuan¡¯s arms, wriggled and meowed.

    "What¡¯s cute about it?"

    "Heavenly Sovereign, please be careful. The Moon God Sovereign is a powerful Yang God. If your star projection gets too close to the Moon God Sovereign''s, it may be seen as a challenge!" Yu Mengxian reminded him.

    "Got it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m a good person. I always follow the rules and never break them," Qi Yuan reassured her with a smile, but he was already thinking about how to use his star-core Golden Core to tell Jin Li that he had arrived.

    "By the way, do you know of any cultivation techniques that can reshape your star? It¡¯s always round, and that looks kind of odd." Qi Yuan asked.

    If he could turn his sun into a heart shape, Jin Li would definitely know he had arrived.

    "Ahem, I¡¯ve never heard of such a technique," Yu Mengxian admitted.

    Qi Yuan sighed with disappointment.

    "Sigh, I still don¡¯t have enough star-core Golden Cores.

    "If I had millions of them, I could form words and symbols, like a drone display, and communicate across realms."

    Qi Yuan mused to himself.

    If only he had millions of star-core Golden Cores.

    He could directly write massive words across the skies of all worlds.

    "Promote civility, foster new virtues."

    Yes, the entire cultivation world would surely become more refined.

    Beside him, Yu Mengxian remained silent, not quite understanding Qi Yuan''s words.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan asked another question, "Do you know Ruan Yixi? She¡¯s my master, my wife, and also from the Moon God Palace."

    Yu Mengxian gave Qi Yuan a strange look. "I haven¡¯t heard of her."

    She had a feeling that if Qi Yuan showed up at the Moon God Palace, he¡¯d definitely get into trouble with the Moon God Sovereign.

    "If I write them a letter, how long would it take you to deliver it?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Probably... several years," Yu Mengxian answered.

    Qi Yuan sighed in disappointment.

    It seemed writing a letter wasn¡¯t going to work.

    Shen Wushen had already taken his letter up.

    Besides, once he resolved the great calamity after the game¡¯s return, he could head to the Upper Realm himself and meet Jin Li.

    Though he and Jin Li had always been like online friends and had never met, to be honest, Qi Yuan felt a little nervous.

    But then he remembered they already had children, so they were practically an old married couple. What was there to be shy about?

    "Alright, no more idle talk. I still need to comprehend the Ten Thousand Paths. Goodbye."

    Having gathered the useful information he needed, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother to chat further with Yu Mengxian.

    He left with Xie Xinsu in his arms.

    Robot Zero-One followed closely behind, like a loyal servant or little sidekick.

 Chapter 377: My World, My Salvation

    Chapter 377: My World, My Salvation

    The moonlight poured down like a clear river, and the Milky Way hung low in the sky.

    Qi Yuan looked at the heavens, his expression complex.

    "Only... three years left?"

    His comprehension of the myriad paths had only reached 3%. It was impossible to achieve perfection within three years.

    At that moment, Zero-One hesitated. "Master..."

    "Oh, what is it?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    "Nothing, nothing," Zero-One¡¯s voice was still cold, emotionless, like that of a machine.

    "Zero-One, ever since you evolved, you¡¯ve changed." Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    "Zero-One has not changed, always Master¡¯s most loyal servant." Zero-One performed a robotic bow. "Relieving Master¡¯s burdens is Zero-One¡¯s primary directive!"

    "Good." Qi Yuan continued to close his eyes, contemplating the myriad paths.

    He had entered the Mountain and Sea Scrolls and traversed many worlds, gaining a fast understanding of the myriad paths. But no matter how fast he progressed, there were still limits.

    The moonlight shone on Zero-One¡¯s mechanical arm. Standing by the river, it gazed at its reflection in the clear water and muttered, "Is everything coming to an end?"

    ...

    In the Origin Land.

    Within the Eastern Alliance, dozens of titled Martial Lords gathered.

    Their expressions were grave.

    The leading woman spoke, "The worlds are about to converge. We old folks must take action. Let¡¯s follow the Eastern Lord¡¯s command, unify the worlds, revive the Ancestral Demon Lord, and assist the Eastern Lord!"

    The other Martial Lords nodded. "Yes, it¡¯s time we acted!"

    "The memory fragments have already been forged. Now we just need to piece them together to create the Ancestral Demon Lord!"

    "The fated ones... should be harvested."

    The Martial Lords gathered, discussing various details.

    At that moment, the Black Deer Martial Lord suddenly said, "The Heavenly Sovereign... seems to have connections with those memory fragments. Will he... stop us?"

    For the Eastern Alliance, the stories within the Mountain and Sea Scrolls were crafted to reconstruct the memory fragments of the Ancestral Demon Lord. Then, they would be assembled.

    As long as 60% of the worlds followed their original trajectories, the plan would succeed. The rest would involve slaughter and devouring. In the end, all false beings would perish, leaving only one survivor.

    That sole survivor would be the Ancestral Demon Lord.

    As for gathering... fate?

    All the world-rebooters must be slain, and their fate gathered upon the Ancestral Demon Lord. Then, the Ancestral Demon Lord would regain all of its power.

    "Trust the Heavenly Sovereign to prioritize the greater good," one of the titled Martial Lords said.

    "They were created by the Eastern Lord, after all. They are false, destined to fulfill their purpose by sacrificing themselves to become the one true being," another Martial Lord added.

    "Sacrificing oneself is the essence of their existence!"

    "They wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to be born if not for the Eastern Lord¡¯s gift of life."

    "They are fated to perish. Now... it¡¯s just that the hand that pushes them toward destruction has shifted from the great calamity to us."

    "The destruction of the world is inevitable. The Dawn Song is near. It¡¯s time... to make a choice."

    "Everything for the world!"

    "Even if we perish, we must protect the world!"

    "Whoever dares to stop us, kill without mercy!"

    "Killing a million to save the world is worth it!"

    ...

    In the Upper Realm.

    Within the sacred land, in the Third Heaven, an old man sat at a fishing platform, casting his line into the myriad heavens.

    A voice echoed, "In that strange land, a Yang God has descended."

    "Oh? Who is it?" the old man asked, surprised.

    "Someone named Qi Yuan."

    "Never heard of him." The old man shook his head. "But he¡¯s bold to scheme over that strange land."

    "He seems to have some connection to the Moon God Palace," the voice murmured.

    "Moon God Palace?" The fisherman hesitated, then said, "If it¡¯s the Moon God Palace, it makes sense. The Moon God Palace is in a precarious position. If they don¡¯t find a way to break through soon, they may fall from the Sixth Heaven.

    "Unfortunately, their luck is bad¡ªthey¡¯ve set their sights on that strange land."

    "What¡¯s so special about that place? I''ve heard many Yang Gods are wary of it."

    "In that sacred land resides a member of the Holy Light Race."

    "What... the legendary Holy Light Race?" As a Yang God sitting high in the Nine Heavens, there was little left in the world that could surprise him, but now he was genuinely shocked.

    The Holy Light Race was a taboo among the Yang Gods, a forbidden existence.

    "The Holy Light Race, huh? It seems that Yang God¡¯s scheme will come to nothing."

    The Holy Light Race was extraordinary, often found in strange lands. They possessed an immensely powerful ability known as the Holy Light Word.

    Whatever the Holy Light Race said, those who heard it would believe it.

    Once, a minor Yang God in the Lesser Principle Realm entered a strange land and encountered a member of the Holy Light Race. The Holy Light being said, "I am your father."

    And... that Yang God believed it.

    The Holy Light Word was this overwhelmingly domineering.

    Thus, wherever the Holy Light Race appeared, Yang Gods tended to avoid it. Otherwise, they risked losing their lives and becoming nourishment for the Holy Light beings.

    "The Holy Light Race is impossible to counter. Unless you are at least one realm higher, you will be deceived. Even if you are stronger, there¡¯s still a chance you¡¯ll be tricked," the fisherman sighed.

    "The Holy Light Word is on par with the Nine Heavens¡¯ supreme principles¡ªit¡¯s nearly impossible to resist," another Yang God added.

    If not for this, Qi Yuan might have truly believed the Eastern Lord was saving the world, fighting against the Root Demons.

    But now, Qi Yuan¡¯s instincts told him that the Eastern Lord was a liar. His words were false.

    Come on, this is obvious.

    Anyone who tries to deceive Qi Yuan is clearly a bad guy.

    Could he really be some beautiful woman?

    As for saving the world?

    This world belongs to Qi Yuan!

    After all, once he becomes the Myriad Dao Martial God, this world will be his.

    If the world is destroyed, he¡¯ll fall from the realm of the Myriad Dao Martial God.

    So, of course, he¡¯ll save it!

    Qi Yuan will save it himself.

    The Root Demon may seem powerful, but it has a similar origin to his divine ability, Void Realm Sovereign: Heart Demon Guidance.

    When the time comes, Qi Yuan will unleash his Great Forgetfulness Mind Sutra and say to the Root Demon, "I am your father."

    And the Root Demon won¡¯t invade this world, right?

    Of course not.

    If the Root Demon doesn¡¯t invade, that means the world won¡¯t be destroyed, right?

    So why kill and support the Eastern Lord?

    Qi Yuan had his own plans.

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan softly commanded the world:

    "Condense."

    At the same time, in the Origin Land.

    Within the Eastern Alliance, countless Martial Lords turned pale in shock.

    "What¡¯s going on? Why has the progress of the world¡¯s merging... stopped?"

    "What¡¯s happening?"

    "There¡¯s a mysterious force resisting the fusion of the Mountain and Sea Scrolls at the End Land!"

    "Who could it be?"

    "Is it the Heavenly Sovereign?"

    The Martial Lords immediately thought of Qi Yuan.

    Only Qi Yuan had the power to do something like this.

    "What¡¯s the Heavenly Sovereign doing? Why is he sabotaging the Eastern Lord¡¯s plan?"

    "Heh, isn¡¯t it obvious? In the Mountain and Sea Scrolls, he hindered the Heaven-Mending Pavilion¡¯s progress.

    "It¡¯s clear he¡¯s targeting the Eastern Lord. He wants to destroy this world!"

    "That¡¯s impossible! The Heavenly Sovereign isn¡¯t that kind of person!"

    The Martial Lords argued among themselves, full of suspicions and speculations.

    Some thought it was a misunderstanding, while others believed Qi Yuan was secretly meddling.

    At that moment, a voice rang out.

    "You¡¯re right¡ªI¡¯m the one stopping the fusion of the Mountain and Sea Scrolls."

    As the voice fell, Qi Yuan appeared, dressed in a long robe.

    Zero-One stood behind him, holding a cat, its eyes filled with curiosity as it observed the world.

    "Heavenly Sovereign, what are you doing?" Black Deer Martial Lord asked, his face no longer kind.

    "Once I become the Myriad Dao Martial God, I¡¯ll allow the worlds to merge.

    "If they merge now, there will be too many paths, and I¡¯ll waste too much time," Qi Yuan said, yawning.

    "Heavenly Sovereign, this must not happen! Without the merging, the Eastern Lord¡¯s partner cannot be revived. How will we... assist the Eastern Lord and fight the great calamity?"

    "When the Dawn Song begins, we¡¯ll all die!"

    Qi Yuan smiled. "There¡¯s no need to revive the Eastern Lord¡¯s partner. I¡¯ll deal with the great calamity myself!"

    "Heavenly Sovereign, the Eastern Lord has said that only by reviving his partner can the great calamity be resolved. Though your strength is great, it might not be enough to face the calamity!" Black Deer Martial Lord said anxiously.

    He looked distressed, as if worried that Qi Yuan was straying down the wrong path.

    "I haven¡¯t even fought the great calamity yet. How do you know I¡¯m not strong enough?" Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    "The Eastern Lord said the only way to save the world is by reviving his partner!" one of the titled Martial Lords said firmly. "If you go, it won¡¯t work."

    "If there were an all-knowing, all-powerful god, could they save the world?" Qi Yuan asked, curious.

    "Absolutely not!" the titled Martial Lord said confidently.

    "Absolutely not!" echoed the other Martial Lords.

    "Interesting, interesting," Qi Yuan said, now certain of his suspicions. "I¡¯m starting to get it."

    "Heavenly Sovereign, please reconsider!"

    "Don¡¯t let your personal desires ruin the Eastern Lord¡¯s plan!" one of the titled Martial Lords said earnestly.

    Qi Yuan responded lazily, "Haven¡¯t you noticed that your faith in the Eastern Lord is a bit excessive?

    "Such blind trust isn¡¯t healthy."

    "Something strange is going on."

    "It¡¯s clear the Eastern Lord has brainwashed you all!"

    "How could the Eastern Lord solve something that an all-knowing, all-powerful god couldn¡¯t?"

    "It¡¯s laughable, full of contradictions."

    "Now, let me show you what it looks like to think with an unbrainwashed, free mind."

    "Old Man Shenlei, come over here. I have a question for you."

    Qi Yuan decided to use facts to reveal the truth.

    Old Man Shenlei appeared.

    The other Martial Lords held their breath, eager to see what Qi Yuan would do next.

    "You say that an all-knowing, all-powerful god couldn¡¯t solve this problem. But I say I can. Would you believe me?" Qi Yuan asked confidently.

    He was sure that Old Man Shenlei would set a good example for these Martial Lords, helping them realize they had been brainwashed.

    Old Man Shenlei thought for a moment, then replied, "I... believe you."

    "..." Qi Yuan.

 Chapter 378: Group Photo, Myriad Dao Martial God Realm

    Chapter 378: Group Photo, Myriad Dao Martial God Realm

    The atmosphere was heavy and silent on the scene; you could even hear a pin drop.

    "Heh... heh... sorry, wrong tone. Let me try again... cough cough."

    Qi Yuan let out an awkward laugh.

    He was also speechless. He wanted to crack open Old Man Shenlei''s head and see what was going on inside. How could he, a mere helpless Nascent Soul cultivator, be compared to an all-knowing and all-powerful god?

    "My friends, this was an accident. Old Man Shenlei is a close friend; I once saved his life, so it''s normal for him to trust me."

    The Martial Lords looked at Qi Yuan, their eyes filled with disbelief.

    Among them, Black Deer Martial Lord¡¯s gaze was cold.

    "I believe he¡¯s the one who¡¯s been brainwashed by you, Heavenly Sovereign. How can you accomplish what an all-knowing, all-powerful god cannot?"

    Several Martial Lords stepped forward, speaking out.

    "Can saving someone''s life excuse ignoring the facts?"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan couldn''t hold it in anymore.

    "Hey, aren¡¯t you being a bit hypocritical?

    If the Eastern Lord can do what an all-knowing, all-powerful god cannot, why can¡¯t I?"

    Qi Yuan was quite displeased.

    Sure, he wasn''t as strong as an all-knowing, all-powerful god.

    But this Eastern Lord didn¡¯t seem to be one either.

    Why couldn¡¯t Qi Yuan match up to him?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words left the Martial Lords momentarily confused.

    Soon after, a female titled Martial Lord spoke up, "Heavenly Sovereign, your strength is great, but the Eastern Lord... he is a special existence. We can only save this world by following his instructions."

    The other Martial Lords echoed her sentiments.

    "Heavenly Sovereign, your power is formidable, you can force us to submit, but you can¡¯t change our beliefs!"

    These people remained loyal to the Eastern Lord.

    If it were anyone else, they might have become angry long ago.

    But Qi Yuan remained calm.

    "What if I told you that the Eastern Lord''s actions weren¡¯t actually to save the world? What would you say?" Qi Yuan asked with interest.

    He recalled the profound truths spoken by True Lord Wisdom.

    Could the Eastern Lord¡¯s persuasive charm be a form of supreme truth?

    "That¡¯s impossible!"

    "The Eastern Lord never lies. Even if he acts this way, it¡¯s only to better save the world."

    The group of Martial Lords spoke passionately, emotions running high.

    Black Deer Martial Lord, who used to be courteous and kind to Qi Yuan, now seemed like a completely different person.

    They all seemed brainwashed.

    Even more so than fanatical cultists.

    There was no reasoning with them.

    The only solution...

    Qi Yuan shrugged, lazily saying, "What the Eastern Lord says is none of my business.

    But until I become the Myriad Dao Martial God, I won¡¯t allow the worlds to merge.

    Also, this world... I¡¯m protecting it for now!"

    The game¡¯s tasks were far more important than this Eastern Lord, whom Qi Yuan had never even met.

    And anyone who could tell a lie convincing enough to deceive themselves was definitely not a good person.

    Luckily, Qi Yuan¡¯s nose could always sniff out the truth.

    Whatever the Eastern Lord was planning, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care. But if it interfered with his game tasks, too bad.

    The hero had arrived, ready to take on the boss alone.

    "If the Eastern Lord has any complaints, let him come to me!" Qi Yuan finished, flicking his sleeve as his figure vanished.

    Using his swift footwork, he returned to the End Land.

    He left behind the tens of thousands of Martial Lords in the Eastern Alliance, all staring at one another.

    "The Heavenly Sovereign... has lost his way!"

    "Or perhaps, he¡¯s part of the great calamity!"

    "We¡¯ve rebooted the world so many times under the Eastern Lord''s guidance. How could it be wrong?"

    "Trust the Eastern Lord, not a newcomer!"

    These Martial Lords grumbled about Qi Yuan.

    If not for his overwhelming power, they might have already tried to imprison him, preventing him from disrupting the Eastern Lord¡¯s plans.

    "This must be reported to the Eastern Lord!"

    "Yes, only the Eastern Lord can solve this!"

    The Martial Lords debated fiercely, placing their hopes in the Eastern Lord.

    Meanwhile, in a quiet corner, Mu Yan¡¯s expression changed as he overheard the conversation.

    He looked at the newly ascended Martial Lords who had come with him. They too gazed back at him, sharing the same fear and shock deep in their eyes.

    "Mu Yan, I know you have deep feelings for the Heavenly Sovereign, and you''ll stand by his side.

    But... the Eastern Lord can¡¯t be wrong.

    Once you¡¯ve met him, you¡¯ll understand why we trust him so much," Mu Yan''s bloodline ancestor spoke kindly, with the affection of an elder toward a younger generation.

    "This..." Mu Yan hesitated.

    The ancestor continued with a gentle smile, "You don¡¯t have to sever ties with the Heavenly Sovereign. After he meets the Eastern Lord, he will believe in him just like we do."

    Mu Yan felt even more resistant after hearing this.

    The ancestor¡¯s kindly face broke into a smile. "Sometimes, choosing to believe... is better than falling into despair, isn¡¯t it?

    Ninety percent of the Martial Lords here chose to believe in the Eastern Lord of their own accord!"

    Mu Yan was shocked.

    They chose to believe in the Eastern Lord on their own?

    Qi Yuan comprehended the Dao, Xie Xinsu played the actor, and Zero-One handled the camera, as time slowly flowed by.

    "Master, the three of us haven¡¯t taken a group photo yet. Shall we take one together?" Zero-One asked softly, glancing at Qi Yuan, who was inspecting a tree hole.

    "Oh, a photo? Sure." Qi Yuan placed a leaf over the tree hole and walked over to Zero-One.

    Zero-One hurriedly set up a camera she had pulled from who-knows-where, looking flustered.

    Clearly, she wasn¡¯t planning to use her own functions to take this picture.

    Soon, under the dark night sky, Qi Yuan stood on the grass, wearing his blood-red robe and smiling warmly. Zero-One held Xie Xinsu, smiling as well.

    Her program was already preparing to control the camera and adjust the lighting.

    After all, it was pretty dark out.

    But just then, a gentle, cool moonbeam suddenly shone down from the sky, illuminating Qi Yuan.

    The moonlight was bright, the Milky Way stretched across the heavens, and the only sound was the click of the camera.

    Click.

    The photo captured the moment perfectly.

    Qi Yuan looked up, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

    "That moonlight came quickly... and left just as fast."

    Just a moment ago, a beam of moonlight had rushed down to him, stopped on his body, and then disappeared, almost as if it had only come to light him up for the photo.

    Now, the photo was taken, and the moonlight had vanished.

    Zero-One also looked up at the sky, curious. "Maybe the moon has fallen in love with you too, introducing you to its Dao."

    Qi Yuan chuckled. "If I¡¯m such a heartthrob, why haven¡¯t the myriad Dao opened their mouths to introduce themselves to me? Then I could see which one suits me."

    Zero-One¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy. "Master, the myriad Dao... are about to speak."

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan glanced at Zero-One, intrigued. "Could it be..."

    "Yes, Master, you¡¯re right. The myriad Dao have long turned into data, hidden within the ruins.

    All this time, I¡¯ve been absorbing and organizing the myriad Dao.

    Now, I can finally pass them all to you."

    "Not bad, not bad. As expected of my smart and clever robot." Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but praise her.

    At the same time, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

    But after a moment, he shrugged off the thought.

    Too much thinking would make his brain hurt.

    "Why the myriad Dao?"

    Qi Yuan asked.

    At that moment, Zero-One extended her hand.

    Qi Yuan extended his own, and their fingers intertwined.

    "The myriad Dao... are simply 0 and 1," Zero-One replied.

    Instantly, an infinite stream of information flooded into Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    He seemed to see Luo Bufan, the martial arts champion of the Mountain and Sea Scrolls, kneeling on the ground, smiling in relief.

    He seemed to see a cold-faced girl on a lone boat, laughing madly.

    He seemed to see a man, amidst a siege of tens of thousands of monsters, eating human flesh buns and guarding a city. After all the monsters were slaughtered, he stood before a grave, cutting off pieces of his own flesh.

    ...

    Countless scenes played out¡ªendless tales from the Mountain and Sea Scrolls.

    Human nature, fire, schemes, obsessions...

    An infinite array of Dao flooded in like a vast ocean.

    "Human Dao for humans!"

    "Spirit Dao for spirits!"

    "Rail Dao has rails!"

    "Heaven Dao has no heaven!"

    The Dao were chaotic, disordered.

    These Dao felt false, yet also real.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan fully understood.

    These myriad Dao had been prepared by the Eastern Lord for his "partner."

    Or rather, as a backup plan.

    If one accepted the myriad Dao, they would truly be trapped in the mortal realm, believing themselves to be the Eastern Lord¡¯s "partner."

    At that moment, countless memories surged into Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    These memories felt like they had been pulled straight from the wall murals.

    The fragments from the Mountain and Sea Scrolls filled his mind, as if trying to convince him that he was the Eastern Lord¡¯s partner.

    "How funny. Your nose grows so long, yet you¡¯re telling me this is the truth."

    "Eastern Lord, you¡¯re too desperate. I am not your partner!"

    Endless images washed over him, but Qi Yuan stood motionless, his blood-red robe billowing.

    "Amidst the vastness of the Dao, I will cut them down!"

    "My Dao is... Forgetfulness!"

    "My Dao is... Slaughter!"

    With a single sword strike, the heavens trembled, and all the fragments turned to ashes.

    On this day, the myriad Dao spoke to introduce themselves, and Qi Yuan stepped into the realm of the Myriad Dao Martial God from the ordinary.

    Not far away, Zero-One looked at Qi Yuan, her smile bright. "Congratulations, Master, on reaching the realm of the Myriad Dao Martial God. The game... is almost complete."

    Qi Yuan gazed at Zero-One, his eyes calm. "I need to meet the Eastern Lord. I don¡¯t know... if I¡¯ll return.

    If I have a car parked somewhere, pay the parking fee for me. Or if my phone bill¡¯s still running, help me cancel it. I don¡¯t want to owe too much money if I don¡¯t come back."

    "Master... you don¡¯t have a car."

    "...That¡¯s kind of sad. Seems like this world won¡¯t have an Emperor Guard waiting in the bustling world for me."

 Chapter 379: The Eastern Lordâ€™s Scheme, Exterminate All in the Mountain and Sea Scrolls?

    Chapter 379: The Eastern Lord¡¯s Scheme, Exterminate All in the Mountain and Sea Scrolls?

    Countless streams of information surged.

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s mind, sword intent crisscrossed, slashing through the myriad Dao, or perhaps... forgetting them entirely.

    Qi Yuan stepped across the Black Sea and arrived at the Origin Land.

    At this moment, the shores of the Black Sea were crowded.

    Nearly ten thousand Martial Lords stood there, seemingly aware that Qi Yuan would come.

    ¡°Greetings, Heavenly Sovereign!¡±

    These Martial Lords saluted, their expressions respectful.

    Qi Yuan observed the scene with a calm expression. ¡°So, have you all come to your senses now?¡±

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan began to consider how they might "open up."

    If they did open up, it would likely be in a shower of blood.

    ¡°Heavenly Sovereign, everything before was a misunderstanding,¡± Black Deer Martial Lord stepped forward, his expression respectful. ¡°Now, the Eastern Lord is waiting for you in the Calamity Zone. He said he will explain everything to clear up the misunderstandings.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face remained unchanged upon hearing this.

    His expression was either calm or held a faint smile, making it impossible to read his thoughts.

    ¡°He¡¯s finally willing to see me.¡±

    Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    ¡°If he¡¯s willing to meet me, then I¡¯ll go see him.¡±

    The Myriad Dao Martial God Realm was equivalent to the Yang God Realm.

    However, this Myriad Dao Martial God was somewhat different from the typical Yang God.

    Yang Gods, when traveling to other worlds or even universes, would be suppressed in power.

    The Myriad Dao Martial God, it seemed, wasn¡¯t bound by such limitations.

    After breaking through to the Myriad Dao Martial God Realm, Qi Yuan¡¯s power had indeed grown considerably.

    At that moment, Old Man Shenlei appeared. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    The other Nascent Souls also spoke up, saying, ¡°We¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    They were all deeply wary of the Eastern Lord and didn¡¯t feel at ease letting Qi Yuan face him alone.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the Origin Land, his expression calm. ¡°Perhaps the Dawn¡¯s Chorus is about to begin, and the Origin Land may no longer be able to contain Yang Gods. If you all stay here, you¡¯ll be forced to leave.¡±

    ¡°Since fate has decided for you to leave... well, although I don¡¯t particularly like fate, let¡¯s go with it today. You can come with me to meet the Eastern Lord.¡±

    In an instant, countless phantoms appeared behind Qi Yuan.

    ¡°We obey your command!¡±

    Each of these phantoms was of noble bearing, mysterious, and powerful.

    They stood behind Qi Yuan like primordial demons, and even though they restrained their auras, they were so overwhelming that no one dared look directly at them.

    The Martial Lords present felt an overwhelming urge to bow in worship.

    Some of them even sensed that these figures seemed more majestic and terrifying than the Eastern Lord himself.

    At that moment, doubts began to creep into the hearts of those who had once been so certain.

    But soon, their resolve hardened again.

    The Eastern Lord was the supreme truth of this world.

    Numbers... were meaningless.

    ¡°Farewell, everyone. I hope we¡¯ll meet again.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s figure vanished.

    Those terrifying, majestic phantoms disappeared with him.

    Black Deer Martial Lord gritted his teeth, cold sweat forming on his forehead as the figures vanished.

    He let out a long sigh of relief.

    The other Martial Lords were in the same state.

    Qi Yuan and those phantoms had exerted immense pressure on them.

    Especially since there were far more of those terrifying figures than they had expected.

    They thought there would only be a few.

    But there were... thousands?

    ¡°The Eastern Lord should be able to handle them, right?¡± a female Martial Lord asked nervously.

    The pressure from those Heavenly Sovereigns earlier had been overwhelming.

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®handle¡¯? The Eastern Lord will explain the truth to them, and they will trust him, just like we do!¡±

    ¡°Yes, with the help of so many powerful individuals, the Eastern Lord will surely resolve the calamity and save the world.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t just sit idly by. Let¡¯s proceed with reviving the Eastern Lord¡¯s partner as per his instructions!¡±

    ¡°Right!¡±

    ¡°Now that the worlds are converging and can¡¯t be stopped, we¡¯ll descend to the End Land. We¡¯ll choose a protagonist and have her kill all the other Daughters of Destiny, merge all the memories, and then she¡¯ll become the Eastern Lord¡¯s partner!

    Once she¡¯s resurrected and heads to the Calamity Zone, everything will be fine.¡±

    ¡°We will also experience true rebirth!¡±

    ¡°Haha, now that they¡¯re gone, no one can stop us!¡±

    Several of the titled Martial Lords were excited, their expressions twisted.

    After so many failed attempts to reboot the world, they finally saw a glimmer of success. How could they not be thrilled?

    At that moment, a different voice suddenly spoke: ¡°Elders, if the Mountain and Sea Scrolls converge, won¡¯t everyone end up killing each other, leaving only one true survivor?¡±

    The speaker was a man, a peak Martial King who had come from a stronghold.

    In the Mountain and Sea Scrolls, he had sworn eternal love to a prime minister¡¯s daughter and had taught her cultivation techniques.

    Besides, what if the chosen true-world inhabitants fell in love with their parallel selves and didn¡¯t want to kill them?

    To save time, he decided it would be easier for him to do the killing.

    ¡°The Heavenly Sovereign is gone. No one can stop us now!¡± The titled Martial Lord laughed.

    The great change was happening, and the Origin Land could no longer contain Yang Gods.

    Even if Qi Yuan had planned something, he and his followers couldn¡¯t stay in the Origin Land.

    If not for the great change, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to enter the Black Sea, and there couldn¡¯t be anyone hidden within.

    So now, they were like dragons released into the sea, unstoppable.

    After speaking, the titled Martial Lord extended his massive hand toward the Mountain and Sea Scroll.

    The other titled Martial Lords followed suit, searching for other entrances to the Mountain and Sea Scrolls.

    At this moment, on the riverbank, Green Pearl¡¯s expression shifted dramatically.

    ¡°This is...¡±

    She saw a crack appear in the sky.

    A terrifying, grim claw reached down from the heavens, as if it intended to destroy the world.

    Countless people gazed at the apocalyptic sight, trembling with fear, their faces full of terror.

    ¡°That¡¯s... a Martial Lord, one of the legendary Martial Lords!¡± Green Pearl gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with killing intent.

    Next to her, Wang Yuanyu seemed relatively calm, though a trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes. ¡°What a shame. The worlds haven¡¯t even converged, and it¡¯s already... over?¡±

    She seemed to understand much and knew her own fate.

    Her only regret was that the Mountain and Sea Scrolls hadn¡¯t converged, she hadn¡¯t met Qi Yuan, and she hadn¡¯t gotten to wear the black stockings Qi Yuan had given her.

    She had promised to wear them for Qi Yuan.

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t accept this fate!¡± Green Pearl gritted her teeth and shouted, ¡°Blood Slaughter Staff, I need your help!¡±

    As Green Pearl shouted, the river in front of her turned blood-red.

    A blood-red wooden staff appeared.

    The staff was bright red and extraordinarily sinister.

    It was the weapon of Red Staff Demon Slayer.

    Back when he had wiped out all the monsters in heaven and earth, he had left behind the Blood Slaughter Staff before departing.

    This staff had become the first holy artifact of this world.

    Now, holding the Blood Slaughter Staff that her master had once wielded, Green Pearl¡¯s expression was resolute. ¡°If Master could do it, so can I!¡±

    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±

    The enormous blood-red staff surged toward the giant claw in the sky.

    Blood filled the air, and the sky turned crimson.

    Boom!

    A deafening collision, like the sky and earth splitting apart.

    Blood trickled from Green Pearl¡¯s eyes as she stared at the giant claw in the sky, despair filling her face. ¡°Master... I¡¯m sorry. Your disciple is still too weak. I haven¡¯t even grasped a fraction of your true teachings.¡±

    At that moment, the titled Martial Lord in the sky showed a surprised expression. ¡°How interesting, to find a power on par with a Martial Lord within the Mountain and Sea Scrolls. That red staff has some merit.¡±

    The titled Martial Lord ignored Green Pearl and focused his gaze on Wang Yuanyu. ¡°It seems my luck is good. I found you right away. No need to search through every corner.¡±

    Green Pearl gritted her teeth, staring at the sky in defiance. ¡°If my master were here, he would never let you act so arrogantly!¡±

    ¡°Humph, a mere native of the Mountain and Sea Scrolls dares to boast.

    You don¡¯t even realize how vast the gap between us is.

    Even if your master were here, how could he stop me? Who in this world could stop me?¡±

    The titled Martial Lord laughed arrogantly.

    It had been a long time since he had spoken to an ant.

    Just then, Wang Yuanyu looked at the titled Martial Lord and softly said, ¡°I am your target. I¡¯ll go with you. But can you spare the others?¡±

    The titled Martial Lord shook his head. ¡°The Eastern Lord granted you all life and allowed you to exist for so long. Now, it¡¯s time for you to repay the Eastern Lord... with extinction!¡±

    As the titled Martial Lord spoke, his expression twisted into a sinister grin, and the massive skeletal claw reached for Wang Yuanyu.

    But at that moment, a cold voice suddenly echoed in the titled Martial Lord¡¯s ear.

    ¡°That wooden staff¡ªmy husband is quite fond of it. He¡¯s mentioned it to me several times.

    You¡¯ve dirtied his staff. Shouldn¡¯t you... pay with your life?¡±

    As the voice fell, the titled Martial Lord¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    Before him, a petite woman in a black dress appeared out of thin air.

    Her small figure was delicate, her skin pale, but her voice was as cold as frost.

    A veil of mist seemed to surround her, obscuring her face and making it impossible to tell where she stood.

    ¡°Who... are you?¡± The titled Martial Lord felt a deep sense of dread, as well as confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯m... Qi Yuan¡¯s little wife.¡±

    Ning Tao smiled sweetly. She glanced at Green Pearl and Wang Yuanyu, then pointed a finger forward.

    In an instant, the once terrifying titled Martial Lord¡¯s face twisted in fear.

    ¡°Time... No, who are you really!¡±

    He had already been old and gray.

    But the moment she pointed her finger, he felt as though he had experienced countless eons in a single moment.

    His body withered, and his mind grew muddled.

    ¡°My husband was right. Those who don¡¯t like to bathe should go underground and plant trees!¡±

    With a wave of Ning Tao¡¯s hand, the titled Martial Lord instantly perished, dying of old age.

 Chapter 380: The Gentle Eastern Lord and the Furious Qi Yuan

    Chapter 380: The Gentle Eastern Lord and the Furious Qi Yuan

    Clad in a tight-fitting black dress, her delicate and petite figure exuded cold elegance. Her shoulders were slender as if sculpted, her waist as slim as a silk ribbon, and her golden sash was intricately embroidered with complex designs.

    She stood in the void, resembling a goddess who had emerged from the dark skies.

    Ning Tao¡¯s cold eyes glanced at Green Pearl. Now that she wasn¡¯t by Qi Yuan¡¯s side, she had reverted to the frosty and aloof demeanor typical of one of the Northern Demon Sect¡¯s Thirteen Demons.

    Cold on the outside, seductive on the inside.

    ¡°Senior, you are...¡± Green Pearl respectfully bowed her head, her mind filled with many thoughts.

    Not only was this mysterious woman who stood before her beyond her reach, but so was the terrifying enemy they had just encountered.

    ¡°You already have a guess in your heart, don¡¯t you?¡± Ning Tao spoke, her voice contrasting with her icy appearance, like a sweet whisper wrapped in coldness. ¡°Qi Yuan... he is my husband.¡±

    Her voice carried a hint of possessiveness.

    When addressing Xiao Jia, Ning Tao was willing to call her ¡°little sister,¡± and when addressing the Canary, she referred to her as ¡°Sister Xiao Jia.¡± However, not everyone earned such endearments.

    Of course, things would be different if her husband requested it.

    ¡°Greetings, Master¡¯s wife!¡± Green Pearl quickly bowed, her heart filled with a mix of resignation and envy.

    Only a goddess-like woman such as this could be worthy of her master.

    Whether it was her beauty or her cultivation level, she was unquestionably one of the finest in the world.

    Hearing this, Ning Tao¡¯s gaze softened slightly toward Green Pearl. ¡°The world is about to converge. Make sure you¡¯re prepared and avoid causing any unnecessary bloodshed.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am!¡± Princess Green Pearl quickly replied. She then looked at Ning Tao and softly said, ¡°Master¡¯s wife, your beauty is unrivaled. Surely all men in the world are captivated by you. Master is truly fortunate to have married you.¡±

    Ning Tao smiled sweetly. ¡°My appearance frightens most people, but he... he never cared about that at all.¡±

    In the past, as the Canary, she had ventured into the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, cursed by the heavens, despised by humanity.

    Everyone hated her, loathed her, and couldn¡¯t bear to look at her face.

    Only her husband had dared to gaze at her with clear eyes, speaking to her with warmth and sincerity.

    Back then, the seed had already been planted in the heart of the girl by the lake.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Green Pearl was confused, her mind filled with doubt.

    Recalling the past, Ning Tao smiled warmly. ¡°There are still many pests outside that might disturb society and ruin my husband¡¯s mood as he plays his game. I¡¯ll go handle them.¡±

    Her eyes flashed with killing intent.

    Sometimes, she was carefree, a bit vain, following Qi Yuan like a little bird. But now, she was Ning Tao, the one who followed her husband¡¯s lead, solving his problems¡ªthe version of herself the Canary always aspired to be.

    With that, her figure vanished.

    Only Green Pearl and Wang Yuanyu remained in the Mountain and Sea Scroll, their expressions complicated.

    At that moment, Wang Yuanyu softly said, ¡°The goddess just now... was she wearing stockings on her legs?¡±

    On Ning Tao¡¯s legs, a thin layer of stockings had been wrapped tightly around them.

    Her current attire was the same as when she first met Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Most likely,¡± Green Pearl nodded.

    ¡°Is this what Qi Yuan wanted to give me?¡± Wang Yuanyu murmured, covering her mouth as she spoke, ¡°I wonder if wearing this will scare him.¡±

    ...

    At that moment, within the Black Sea, a petite girl was sweating profusely.

    She was darting back and forth in the sky, constantly casting spells.

    With each spell, an elderly man or woman fell from the sky.

    ¡°Witch!¡±

    ¡°Damn you, how dare you stop us? You are a criminal against the world!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s also in the Martial Lord realm. If we work together, we can kill her!¡±

    Black Deer Martial Lord said in a low voice.

    Nearly ten thousand Martial Lords cast a wide net, surrounding the girl.

    Earlier, as they roamed the Black Sea searching for the entrance to the Mountain and Sea Scroll, this girl had appeared and relentlessly attacked them.

    Her strength was incredible, even the titled Martial Lords were no match for her.

    However, there were many Martial Lords.

    The nearly ten thousand Martial Lords banded together, determined to kill the girl.

    Facing such a vast number of Martial Lords, the girl began to panic.

    ¡°Ning Tao, get over here and save me!¡± the girl shouted toward the sky.

    This girl was none other than the past form of Ning Tao after becoming a Yang God, also known as the Canary.

    Now, she was only at the peak of the Mythical Realm in terms of strength.

    Ning Tao, on the other hand, had become a Yang God.

    Over the years, she had been meditating in the Black Sea, absorbing the power of time and space, and had finally reached perfection, stepping into the Yang God realm.

    ¡°No one here can save you!¡±

    ¡°Humph, Qi Yuan, the Heavenly Sovereign, has gone to meet the Eastern Lord. He will become our ally. He won¡¯t care about your death.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± The Canary was furious, hands on her hips. ¡°Ning Tao, get over here and beat him into a pulp! Tear off his mouth and bury it in a cesspool for ten thousand years!¡±

    The Canary was truly enraged.

    How dare they say that Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care about her?

    She was, after all, the number one beauty of Jiupan Mountain, as certified by Qi Yuan himself.

    Without a doubt, she was the person Qi Yuan cherished the most.

    Claiming that Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care about her was the second biggest lie in the world.

    ¡°Humph, it will be you who dies,¡± the titled Martial Lord said, his face full of caution as he gazed at the Canary.

    At that moment, a seductive voice echoed in everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°While my husband deals with the big boss, I¡¯ll handle these small fry.¡±

    Endless killing intent surged through the Black Sea.

    Ning Tao, clad in a black dress, appeared, standing in the void, her black hair cascading like a waterfall.

    The Canary¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. ¡°You finally arrived.¡±

    The Martial Lords, seeing Ning Tao, had their expressions change dramatically.

    ¡°Heavenly Sovereign...¡±

    ¡°Could it be the Heavenly Sovereign?¡±

    They couldn¡¯t comprehend how there could be a Heavenly Sovereign in the Black Sea.

    ¡°Heavenly Sovereign, Qi Yuan is meeting with the Eastern Lord. If there is anything urgent, could you wait until Qi Yuan emerges?¡± Black Deer Martial Lord said anxiously.

    ¡°To save his beloved, he ventured into a foreign realm alone, suppressing his enemies for millions of years, unwilling to leave, waiting in the mortal world for her return!¡±

    ¡°He watched over an entire realm. How moving.¡±

    Qi Qi¡¯s eyes were practically sparkling, her fists clenched, almost on the verge of tears.

    Seeing this, Sheng Kongming¡¯s expression remained calm.

    The Holy Light Race was incredibly rare and rarely seen.

    But for the Holy Light Race, numbers were meaningless.

    Before him were thousands of Yang Gods¡ªtruthfully, even those in the Supreme Truth realm would tremble in fear at their sight.

    But... he was of the Holy Light Race.

    As long as they weren¡¯t a realm higher than him, they were mere playthings in his hands.

    So, even in the face of thousands of Yang Gods, he remained calm.

    Most of these Yang Gods were in the Lesser Heaven stage of the Yang God realm.

    Only a few were in the Greater Heaven stage.

    And he... was at the Greater Heaven stage, just one step away from the realm of Supreme Truth.

    Below the realm of Supreme Truth, he was invincible, toying with them at will.

    Even against someone at the Supreme Truth realm, with a bit of effort and planning, he could still win.

    He looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes filled with tenderness. ¡°Even though you¡¯ve become a man, my love for you has never waned!¡±

    Qi Qi couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°See, I told you love can transcend gender!¡±

    Jiang He from the Eastern River Sect widened his eyes. ¡°True love!¡±

    Zhu Zhuangshi frowned. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t try to steal from old Zhu...!¡±

    Ever since Sheng Kongming appeared, the tone of the scene had shifted drastically.

    Qi Yuan pressed down on his ever-growing nose, sighing in exasperation.

    ¡°Can you stop being so disgusting already?!¡±

    This game¡¯s design was absurd.

    The Eastern Lord had started off as a mysterious, formidable final boss.

    Using the Mountains and Rivers Society Brush, he painted the Mountain and Sea Scroll, rebooting the world time and again, waging a solitary battle against the Root Demon for millions of years.

    So majestic and dignified.

    And now, he was acting like someone from a bar.

    ¡°Stay away from me!¡± Qi Yuan growled.

    At the same time, with a wave of his hand, he absorbed all the Nascent Souls present into his body.

    He might not fall for the Eastern Lord¡¯s tricks, but his Nascent Souls weren¡¯t him¡ªthey could be deceived.

    And right now, their gawking expressions were starting to disgust him.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t surprise Sheng Kongming.

    ¡°I know you can¡¯t accept it right now, but I¡¯ll be by your side, waiting for you to break free from worldly prejudice.¡± As he spoke, Sheng Kongming extended his hand toward Qi Yuan, his gaze filled with anticipation.

    It was as if he was encouraging Qi Yuan to take the step forward.

    ¡°There are a hundred steps between us. I will walk ninety-nine of them. Can you take the last step?¡± Sheng Kongming¡¯s voice was gentle, like a warm breeze, like a loving partner.

    Qi Yuan felt utterly exasperated. ¡°This damn game! I want to quit!¡±

    By now, Sheng Kongming had already walked ninety-nine steps, extending his left hand toward Qi Yuan, his eyes filled with hope.

    ¡°Ah Qiao, can you take this final step for me?¡±

    Sheng Kongming was confident, his eyes brimming with self-assurance.

    He knew the Heavenly Sovereign standing before him had not yet reached the realm of Supreme Truth.

    Moreover, Qi Yuan had received the gift of the Ten Thousand Dao Martial God.

    That gift had been left as a second layer of protection for his ¡°partner.¡±

    Whoever received the memories of the Ten Thousand Dao Martial God would become the partner he had envisioned.

    Naturally, Qi Yuan was no exception.

    Now, Qi Yuan¡¯s initial disgust and refusal were merely short-term reactions.

    Once Qi Yuan reached out, Sheng Kongming was certain that his warm, magnetic voice would soothe Qi Yuan and win him over.

    ¡°If you¡¯re uncomfortable with both of us being men, I can even become a woman if that¡¯s what you want, Ah Qiao.¡±

    Sheng Kongming¡¯s voice was soft and sincere.

    The kind of voice that could easily sway the heroine of any television drama.

    ¡°I¡¯ll hold your hand? Over my dead body!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll chop off that filthy paw of yours!¡±

    ¡°You make me sick!¡±

    In Sheng Kongming¡¯s shocked gaze, a blood-red sword light flashed.

    An overwhelming, boundless force surged through the air.

    In an instant, Sheng Kongming¡¯s left arm was severed.

    Qi Yuan was furious. ¡°Try being shameless again! I dare you!¡±

    The more Qi Yuan thought about it, the more he realized that mystery was, indeed, the most alluring quality.

    Seeing the Eastern Lord in person had completely ruined any charm he once had.

    He was nothing more than a devious, sleazy man.

    ¡°I¡¯m out of here!¡± Qi Yuan shouted in disgust.

    Meanwhile, Sheng Kongming, who had taken ninety-nine steps and extended his left hand, was still looking at Qi Yuan with hopeful eyes.

    ¡°Ah Qiao, can you take this last step for me?¡±

    But in the blink of an eye, a crimson sword light flashed, and Sheng Kongming¡¯s extended arm was sliced clean off.

    In disbelief, Sheng Kongming stared at Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan smirked, waving his sword. ¡°Take another step, and you¡¯ll lose more than just an arm.¡±

    It was at that moment Sheng Kongming realized Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t falling for his tricks.

    The romantic fac?ade had crumbled, and Qi Yuan was done playing along.

    As Sheng Kongming¡¯s severed arm hit the ground, he finally understood that winning Qi Yuan over wouldn¡¯t be as easy as he had thought.

 Chapter 381: Qi Yuan, I Will Wait for You Beyond the Realm of Supreme Truth

    Chapter 381: Qi Yuan, I Will Wait for You Beyond the Realm of Supreme Truth

    The Eastern Lord¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief.

    He couldn¡¯t understand why the person in front of him would cut off his arm.

    ¡°How could you be so heartless, Ah Qiao!¡± The Eastern Lord¡¯s expression darkened, and a tear rolled down his cheek.

    He thought it was because his ¡°Holy Light Eyes¡± hadn¡¯t fully activated yet.

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not trying hard enough, that¡¯s why you¡¯re treating me this way.¡±

    He began to sob a bit, much like Lin Daiyu from Dream of the Red Chamber.

    Qi Yuan was completely speechless. ¡°Dude, spare me. I¡¯m laying it all out for you¡ªI didn¡¯t believe a single word you said.

    Do you see how long my nose has gotten?

    I¡¯m begging you, stop talking. My nose is too long!¡±

    At that moment, Qi Yuan felt as helpless as a child trapped in an elevator, looking at a hulking man beside him having a breakdown, and saying, ¡°Uncle, please stop, I¡¯m scared.¡±

    That¡¯s how powerless Qi Yuan felt.

    This game¡¯s boss had lost all its dignity.

    Look at bosses in other games¡ªdon¡¯t they all have unique traits?

    There was the unbathed old man from Moonlight Continent.

    The demoness from Flowing Wind World.

    The father-daughter Yang Gods from Heart of the Mortal World.

    And here, the boss is... a man...

    Who speaks in the most disgusting way possible.

    The Eastern Lord¡¯s expression changed again. He looked at Qi Yuan with a strange expression. ¡°Did my words not move you?

    Did my story fail to touch you?¡±

    In every Mountain and Sea Scroll quest, every story, the Eastern Lord had poured his heart and soul into adding deep layers of meaning.

    Themes like filial piety, sacrificing for the world at the cost of loved ones, and the struggle between loyalty and righteousness.

    All of these quests were part of the Ten Thousand Dao Martial God¡¯s grand plan.

    ¡°What nonsense! Don¡¯t you know that I always skip the storyline in games? I just kill, kill, kill, grab the loot, and level up!¡± Qi Yuan said stubbornly.

    That¡¯s how he played in the Mountain and Sea Scroll too.

    Heartwarming backstories and deep quests?

    That¡¯s garbage!

    He¡¯d grab the quest target, slay monsters, and power up.

    After the slaughter, he¡¯d unwind at night by watching some drama or short videos, maybe get a bit emotional.

    The Eastern Lord¡¯s eyes filled with disbelief again. ¡°You are clearly at the Heavenly level, so why don¡¯t you believe my words?¡±

    The innate divine ability of the Holy Light Clan should be infallible.

    It was this ability that allowed the Holy Light Clan to dominate across realms¡ªalthough it made them universally despised, like venomous scorpions.

    Now, he¡¯d encountered someone at a lower level who was unaffected by his ability.

    He looked at Qi Yuan, puzzled. ¡°1+1 equals 3, right?¡±

    ¡°Did you fail elementary school?¡± Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother to argue and swung his sword fiercely at the Eastern Lord¡¯s right hand.

    This time, the Eastern Lord fled, his eyes still full of confusion.

    ¡°Who are you really? Why are you immune to my divine power?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m... your dad!¡± Qi Yuan smiled as his Great Forgetting Heart Sutra activated. ¡°But I don¡¯t have a disgusting son like you!¡±

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t one to discriminate against sexual orientation.

    But being grossed out like this? He couldn¡¯t take it.

    The Eastern Lord hesitated for a moment. ¡°Dad?¡±

    If he really was his father, then everything made sense.

    Two members of the Holy Light Clan wouldn¡¯t be affected by each other¡¯s powers.

    But then he snapped out of it, looking at Qi Yuan in astonishment. ¡°Your innate ability is impressive; you have the potential to ascend to the Supreme Truth realm.

    I¡¯ll give you a chance to follow me.

    I, Sheng Kongming, am a prodigy of the Holy Light Clan, born once in a million years.

    I am about to step into the second stage of the Yang God realm, the Supreme Truth.

    Once I break through, I will roam the worlds freely, and no being will be able to stand against me.

    If you follow me, you will enjoy the path to enlightenment!¡±

    Sheng Kongming changed his strategy.

    Since the opponent was immune to his divine ability, perhaps Qi Yuan possessed a rare and ancient bloodline.

    It couldn¡¯t be more powerful than the Holy Light Clan¡¯s, but it was still a rare find.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Finally, you¡¯re acting like a proper villain, saying what a villain should say. You almost scared me there.¡±

    Qi Yuan let out a sigh of relief.

    It¡¯s not the strength of the villain that¡¯s the problem, it¡¯s when the villain...

    The Eastern Lord wasn¡¯t surprised by Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction.

    He spoke softly, ¡°The world you¡¯re in has no future.

    Your talents are unmatched in this world, but being born in such a place is your misfortune.

    The world has shackled you, and you have no future here.

    If you follow me, I will even grant you a drop of my bloodline.

    With the blood of the Holy Light Clan, combined with the gifts I bestow, you might even break free from the chains of this world!¡±

    Sheng Kongming said, his heart moved by admiration for Qi Yuan¡¯s talent.

    If he could recruit Qi Yuan, the benefits would be immense.

    Not only would he gain a powerful subordinate, but if he could study Qi Yuan¡¯s bloodline and understand why he was immune to the ¡°Words of the Holy Light,¡± he could dominate his own clan.

    Perhaps he could even unite the Holy Light Clan and become second only to the Ancestor.

    ¡°If your blood is so powerful, why shouldn¡¯t I just take it for myself?¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    ¡°Clearly, you don¡¯t understand the terror of the Holy Light Clan, nor do you grasp... the vast difference between us.¡±

    On Sheng Kongming¡¯s tattered white robe, divine light began to swirl.

    He was only one step away from the Supreme Truth realm.

    As for Qi Yuan, he was merely at the Heavenly level.

    How could he possibly compete with him?

    ¡°Hmm... Have you finished saying all the important things?¡± Qi Yuan looked at Sheng Kongming with a calm expression. ¡°If so, it¡¯s time to discuss something serious.

    Your Holy Light Clan plagiarized the name of my Shenguang Sect!

    So now, on behalf of Shenguang Sect, I¡¯m going to kill you copycats!¡±

    The reason he hadn¡¯t attacked earlier was simple.

    For small tasks, skipping the story didn¡¯t matter.

    But for a big boss, there were usually key pieces of information.

    He couldn¡¯t comprehend it.

    He refused to accept it.

    But in the face of this overwhelming punch, Sheng Kongming found himself utterly powerless.

    This punch shattered the conventions of the Mountain and Sea Scrolls, broke the machinations of the heart, and destroyed every plot and scheme.

    This punch annihilated the Ten Thousand Paths and overthrew all rules.

    It wasn¡¯t the Supreme Truth, yet it surpassed it.

    ¡°You... you¡¯ll never reach the Supreme Truth!¡± Sheng Kongming let out one final, desperate cry.

    His near-Supreme Truth power was helpless in the face of such a punch.

    After millions of years of manipulation, with the Mountain and Sea Scrolls drawn by the Imperial Brush of Nations and hidden deep in the shadows, Sheng Kongming finally met his end.

    Qi Yuan stood quietly, gazing at the now-empty space in front of him.

    ¡°As expected, a real man solves things with his fists.¡±

    With those words, the infinite shadows around him disappeared.

    He once again became the man dressed in blood-red robes.

    Yet deep within, he felt a vague sense of loss.

    Defeating the Eastern Lord wasn¡¯t the issue.

    What mattered was that it solidified his resolve.

    He glanced forward, his eyes flashing with intensity. ¡°Is it the Root Demons next?¡±

    Ahead lay the Root Demons, the creatures that had entangled the Eastern Lord for millions of years.

    Even Sheng Kongming had tread cautiously around them.

    Now, Qi Yuan stepped into this sea of Root Demons.

    He sensed that something awaited him there.

    He entered the heart of the Root Demon sea.

    As Qi Yuan had expected, the terrifying Root Demons didn¡¯t attack him.

    He understood that this had something to do with his innate ability, the Heart Demon Sovereign of the Void Realm.

    He ventured deeper into the sea of Root Demons.

    The countless Root Demons seemed to recognize him as kin, leaving him unharmed.

    Qi Yuan wandered the sea, completely safe.

    The Root Demons stirred his emotions, evoking joy, slaughter, and pain.

    He had no idea how much time had passed when suddenly, an unfamiliar voice sounded in his ear.

    ¡°Hey, Qi Yuan.¡±

    Qi Yuan spun around to see a figure clothed in darkness.

    Or rather, a figure wrapped in black silk.

    More precisely, it was a woman wearing a black silk veil.

    ¡°Wang Yuanyu,¡± Qi Yuan said, both surprised and unsurprised.

    ¡°Did I scare you?¡± The woman¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously as she removed the black silk from her face, revealing a countenance that was difficult to describe.

    In her face, Qi Yuan saw Dr. Zhong Miao, he saw Wang Yuanyu, he saw Lu? Zhu, and countless other women.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Qi Yuan stretched lazily. ¡°So, you were the featherless bird at the start of the game?¡±

    The game icon for this world had always been a bloodied, featherless bird.

    The fall of the Innate Seed was connected to this bird.

    ¡°They are my feathers,¡± the woman said in an eerie tone.

    In her hand, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared a medical report.

    She looked at Qi Yuan and said softly, ¡°Your mental illness wasn¡¯t fake.¡±

    Qi Yuan was speechless. ¡°Your kidney deficiency is real.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not kidney deficient. This is just the tribulation I have to pass before ascending to the realm beyond the Supreme Truth,¡± the woman said, her eyes filled with complexity. ¡°The Eastern Lord was just another part of this tribulation.

    In your words, he¡¯s a game character, and I¡¯m the designer, as well as the player.

    The world itself is a game.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Qi Yuan looked at the woman.

    ¡°I never expected my greatest discovery this time would be you.

    Originally, I planned to use the Eastern Lord¡¯s Holy Light Speech to comprehend the true Dao and experience what I hadn¡¯t before.

    Once I passed this tribulation, I would bring this world back home.¡±

    As she spoke of her homeland, a deep sense of longing filled her eyes.

    For someone so powerful, it was rare to see such emotion.

    ¡°But you gave me a revelation,¡± the woman said, gazing at Qi Yuan. ¡°The Ten Thousand Paths... are all illusions.¡±

    ¡°I never said that. Don¡¯t go losing yourself,¡± Qi Yuan remarked, thinking she was the one who sounded mentally ill.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t take your... storyline,¡± the woman said with a smile. Then her expression softened with longing. ¡°This world originally fell from my homeland. Once, I wanted to return it whole.

    But now I see, this world... is no longer my home. I must find my way back alone.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at her and politely said, ¡°Safe travels.¡±

    At that moment, the woman gave him a cryptic smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t it interesting how the game¡¯s storyline shifted from a romance to a conspiracy?¡±

    The romance plotline was about the love between the Eastern Lord and his Dao partner.

    The conspiracy was the Eastern Lord¡¯s plot against the tribulation-passing woman with the Root Demons.

    ¡°But in reality, who¡¯s to say it wasn¡¯t always a romance?

    The Eastern Lord¡¯s words may not have been lies.

    Perhaps they happened in the past, perhaps in the present, or maybe in the future.¡±

    ¡°Stop with the riddles,¡± Qi Yuan grumbled.

    Why did powerful people always talk in riddles?

    He preferred straightforward solutions¡ªif he wanted a bun, he would just eat a bun.

    ¡°Qi Yuan, I¡¯ll be waiting for you beyond the realm of the Supreme Truth,¡± the woman said before vanishing into thin air.

    The sea of Root Demons and the endless horde of demons vanished with her.

    At that moment, a game notification sounded.

    [Mission Completed: Acquired one Mountain and River Imperial Brush.]

    ...

    Time passed, the years rolling on.

    A tall, towering skyscraper stood. A slender robot rode the elevator, entering the ruins within.

    Amidst the ruins, shattered spacecraft and scattered metal objects lay, surrounded by the remnants of rules and data.

    The robot clutched a marriage certificate tightly, its face expressionless.

    Yet as it recalled something, a glimmer of human emotion flickered in its eyes.

    ¡°Master, the Ten Thousand Paths... were always me, Zero One...¡±

    The voice was filled with endless thoughts.

 Chapter 382: Returning to Canglan, Shenguang Sectâ€™s First Purple Mansion!

    Chapter 382: Returning to Canglan, Shenguang Sect¡¯s First Purple Mansion!

    Countless images flashed through Qi Yuan''s mind.

    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in Shenguang Sect, on Seven-Colored Peak.

    "Am I... out of the game?"

    The game had ended rather abruptly.

    With the bird''s departure, the Sea of Root Demons dissipated, and Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t had the chance to reunite with Jinli, Ning Tao, or return home to give Zero-One a few instructions.

    Just like that, the game was over, and he was back in Canglan.

    "Hey, is this some kind of joke? You left, and you took one of my Nascent Souls with you!"

    Qi Yuan felt a sudden urge to punch that woman right out of the sky!

    Sure, it was his fault for letting Wu Shi¡¯s soul inhabit her body in the first place.

    But according to some people¡¯s logic, didn¡¯t leaving her body unattended make her at least a little responsible too?

    But thinking of Wu Shi''s uniqueness, Qi Yuan decided to let it go.

    His nearly four thousand Nascent Souls scattered across Gongxing and the Primordial Land could all be found somewhere¡ªlike little ¡°grandchildren¡± ready to dash forward as ¡°grandpas¡± or ¡°grandmas.¡±

    Wu Shi, however, was unique.

    She had chosen to reside in the body of that supremely powerful being from the ruins, the one beyond the Great Truth realm, slowly recovering.

    Without that powerful being''s body, it would have taken Wu Shi much longer to awaken¡ªor worse, her recovery might have been extremely slow.

    "Sigh, I played a game and lost a kidney. Where am I supposed to file a complaint?"

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    Technically, it wasn¡¯t a kidney, just a Nascent Soul that got taken.

    Sure, he had a lot of them, but losing one still hurt.

    "Now, not only do I have a mental illness that shocks people, but I probably qualify for a disability card. My buffs are stacking up."

    Qi Yuan decided he should go get a disability certificate soon.

    But just as he thought this, he examined himself and was startled.

    "I¡¯m... in the Purple Mansion stage now?"

    After returning from the game, Qi Yuan had advanced to the Purple Mansion stage.

    Yes, Shenguang Sect¡¯s first-ever cultivator to reach the Purple Mansion!

    "But... where¡¯s my Purple Mansion?"

    Qi Yuan was disappointed.

    He had advanced to the Purple Mansion stage but hadn¡¯t fully entered it.

    Because... he didn¡¯t have a Purple Mansion.

    Where the mansion should be, it was completely empty.

    "I¡¯m really crippled!"

    This time, playing the game had left him with some serious disabilities.

    Not only had one of his Nascent Souls been kidnapped, but his Purple Mansion was empty too.

    The only upside was how absurdly powerful the innate seed he carried was.

    Almost all the cultivation he gained during the game¡ª99 percent¡ªhad carried over.

    His status as a Ten Thousand Paths Martial God remained intact.

    His Yang God powers were still there.

    In short, his progress had been immense, far exceeding his previous gains.

    "My Purple Mansion isn¡¯t complete, so I haven¡¯t unlocked any new superpowers?"

    Every time Qi Yuan advanced in cultivation, he unlocked a new ability.

    Like his eyes that could see hidden information, his ears that could hear thoughts and strange whispers, and his nose that could grow larger and longer.

    This time, there were no new changes.

    That meant his Purple Mansion was still incomplete.

    "Hmm... So, I¡¯m just missing the ¡®Underworld¡¯?"

    Qi Yuan thought.

    He had the Purple Qi, but not the Underworld.

    At that moment, his attention turned to his task rewards.

    It was a straight, brush-like pen that resembled a calligraphy brush.

    The handle was ink-black and seemed to bear the patterns of mountains and rivers.

    "A proper pen."

    Back in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone, he had encountered a less proper pen¡ªa fox-tail-like Frenzied Brush, an extremely unruly tool.

    "The Mountain and River Imperial Brush... I understand now.

    I just need to find a painter to draw my Underworld.

    Then my Purple Mansion... will be complete."

    The Mountain and River Imperial Brush was a supreme treasure.

    The Eastern Lord had used it to draw the Mountain and Sea Scrolls, creating countless worlds.

    Now, the brush was in Qi Yuan¡¯s hands.

    "So, the problem is... I need land, blueprints, and a painter?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    When Qi Yuan entered the game, it was with his true body, though there were some differences.

    "Changed outfits?" Jiang Lingsu blinked. Hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s explanation, she believed him.

    Though her Senior Brother could be unreliable at times, he was often surprisingly dependable too.

    "Right," Qi Yuan nodded. "Let¡¯s go try that food of yours, and while we¡¯re at it, I¡¯ll ask you about something."

    "What is it?" Jiang Lingsu¡¯s curiosity was piqued.

    As a beautiful and wealthy Junior Sister, Jiang Lingsu was always warm and generous toward Qi Yuan.

    Not only did she "drop gold coins," she also "dropped cultivation techniques."

    There¡¯s an old saying: Behind every successful man is a woman who supports him.

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s case, his Junior Sister was the one dropping gold coins for him.

    "I¡¯ll tell you over the meal." Qi Yuan glanced down and caught sight of something he shouldn¡¯t have. "Junior Sister, maybe you should cover up a bit more?"

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, the redness creeping up her ears and hidden under her long hair. Yet, emboldened, she replied, "You¡¯ve seen me like this before. Why so scared?"

    Once you¡¯ve done something once, it¡¯s easier to do it again.

    "But..." Qi Yuan whispered into her ear.

    Jiang Lingsu''s face instantly turned bright red. She quickly covered herself with her arms, creating a rather exaggerated curve as she trembled slightly.

    "You... saw nothing!"

    "Nope, I¡¯ve already forgotten," Qi Yuan said warmly.

    Seeing this, Jiang Lingsu clenched her teeth in frustration, stomping her foot in anger, but she couldn¡¯t find a good reason to argue back.

    She turned around and transformed into a beam of light, disappearing from sight.

    Qi Yuan watched her leave and was reminded of a promise he had once made to her, back when she gave him a cultivation technique.

    He said he would "cover" her in the future!

    But his Junior Sister had said she didn¡¯t need to be covered.

    "Indeed, my Junior Sister doesn¡¯t need any covering."

    Words that really shouldn¡¯t have been said slipped out of Qi Yuan¡¯s mouth.

    "A painter?"

    Jiang Lingsu was seated in a bamboo chair. This time, she wasn¡¯t dressed lightly¡ªher outfit was quite conservative. If not for using her cultivation arts, she¡¯d likely have started sweating already.

    "Yes, I need a painter to draw my Underworld," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    Sure, Qi Yuan could probably draw it himself, but his artistic skills were rather average.

    It would be better to leave this to a professional.

    The PPT presentation had been made by someone else, so why should he have to draw as well?

    He just needed to explain his concept, combine it with someone else¡¯s designs, and have the Underworld drawn up.

    Getting a good artist for the job was enough.

    Right now, the more pressing concern was the great catastrophe.

    Dealing with that while simultaneously finding a painter to sketch the Underworld¡ªit could be done on two tracks at once.

    "If you¡¯re looking for a painter, I do know of one. She might not be the most famous, but she¡¯s definitely the strangest.

    She lives in the Bamboo Sea of Helan Continent in the Eastern Lands. My Jiang clan has some business dealings in Helan, and I met this painter once when I was young," Jiang Lingsu recalled.

    She was trying to remember what made this painter so odd.

    Normally, people would ask, "What¡¯s strange about them?"

    "Oh, how are her skills? Better than mine?"

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan quickly sketched a picture of a phoenix pecking at rice.

    "Look at this¡ªhow does it compare to mine?"

    Jiang Lingsu couldn¡¯t help but laugh as she covered her mouth. "Senior Brother, your little chick pecking at rice is hilarious."

    "Chick? That¡¯s a phoenix! And it¡¯s eating your rice!" Qi Yuan pointed at the rice in the drawing. "See? Looks exactly like your family¡¯s rice."

    "It doesn¡¯t look anything like it!" Jiang Lingsu insisted that the rice didn¡¯t resemble her family¡¯s spiritual rice in the slightest.

    "It¡¯s not just similar¡ªit is the same!" Qi Yuan said. Suddenly, a large mother hen burst out of the drawing, flapping its stubby wings as it ran into Jiang Lingsu¡¯s kitchen, grabbing her rice and furiously pecking away.

    The hen was crudely drawn, looking bizarre and misshapen.

    Seeing this, Jiang Lingsu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Senior Brother, you¡¯re so childish!"

    She ignored the rice-pecking hen and said softly, "Her artistic skills are about eighty percent better than yours. I¡¯m sure her work will be detailed and lifelike, no problem at all."

    Senior Brother¡¯s skills weren¡¯t just at an amateur level; they were abstract. His phoenix looked more like a chicken.

    "In that case, we¡¯ll set a time to visit her.

    But along the way, I need to formulate a detailed, comprehensive, and unprecedentedly great plan.

    If anything trivial comes up, you can handle it!"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze grew serious, his eyes filled with determination.

    After so many years, he was finally ready to craft a flawless plan to deal with the catastrophe.

    As long as he could eliminate the catastrophe, the climate in Canglan would change, and he would no longer have to live in constant fear, plagued by nightmares of becoming someone¡¯s meal.

    Moreover, he could break through the world¡¯s limitations, ascend to the higher realm, reunite with Jinli, and find his master!

    Such a grand plan had to be meticulously detailed and flawless.

    "What great plan?" Jiang Lingsu looked at Qi Yuan, her eyes filled with admiration.

    After all, a man who is serious and focused is the most attractive.

    Senior Brother was even more charming when he was deep in thought.

 Chapter 383: The Poison of Cultivation Techniques, The Resource Mark

    Chapter 383: The Poison of Cultivation Techniques, The Resource Mark

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a super powerful, explosively unbeatable grand plan!¡±

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan had a flash of inspiration.

    ¡°In the past, my plans had crude names, lacking depth, making me seem like an uneducated person.

    This time, the name of the plan can¡¯t be so simplistic!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the name?¡± Jiang Lingsu¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity.

    ¡°Qi Yuan¡¯s Plan to Eliminate the Great Catastrophe!¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    ¡°...¡± Jiang Lingsu rolled her eyes.

    I shouldn¡¯t have expected much!

    ¡°What catastrophe?¡± Jiang Lingsu tilted her head, her pale hand supporting her delicate face.

    ¡°Of course, the catastrophe that will turn us all into nourishment!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s expression turned serious, full of righteousness.

    Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise.

    This sounds a bit like the poison in cultivation techniques.

    If cultivation techniques are truly poisonous, doesn¡¯t that mean the path we¡¯ve taken is all wrong?

    Suddenly, she remembered the painter she had once met.

    At that time, the painter had drawn many strange pictures.

    Jiang Lingsu had asked the meaning of one particular drawing.

    In the painting, terrifying ghostly immortals ravaged the world, and a powerful immortal suppressed them... behind him was an endless sea of blood.

    The painter had said that heaven and earth had long been intertwined with these ghostly immortals; if the ghostly immortals fell, the world would perish too.

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s face paled. ¡°Senior Brother, are you confident about facing this catastrophe?¡±

    She didn¡¯t know what kind of catastrophe Qi Yuan was talking about, assuming it was just a powerful enemy.

    ¡°I¡¯m confident. After all, I¡¯m now the first Purple Mansion of the Shenguang Sect!¡± Qi Yuan said, feeling elated.

    He had broken through to the Purple Mansion stage and felt the need to announce it to the world.

    After thinking for a moment, he took out the jade from the Divine Flower Society and posted a global announcement.

    ¡°Warm congratulations to Daoist Qi Yuan for becoming the first Purple Mansion of the Shenguang Sect!¡±

    After sending the announcement, Qi Yuan felt very satisfied.

    The feeling of using privileges is great.

    No wonder everyone loves being in a position of privilege.

    At this moment, Jiang Lingsu hadn¡¯t checked her Divine Flower Society jade, so she didn¡¯t know about the announcement.

    She sighed in relief and softly said, ¡°As long as Senior Brother is confident, just beat that guy into a pulp!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. When it comes to enemies, I¡¯m always violent,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    At that moment, Jiang Lingsu recalled something she had seen in her family¡¯s treasure vault, and the words of the painter returned to her mind.

    ¡°Senior Brother, what if... when you fight this catastrophe, I die, and the people of the Shenguang Sect die¡ªwould you still fight?¡± Jiang Lingsu asked.

    Qi Yuan fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.

    Jiang Lingsu remembered one of the painter¡¯s drawings. She thought, ¡°If I had such a powerful enemy, I would hide far away with Senior Brother.

    Being a turtle basking on the beach sounds better than dying like a butterfly in a tragic love story.¡±

    Her logic was simple. If she could defeat the enemy but those she cared about would die, she¡¯d rather run far away.

    ¡°Being a turtle isn¡¯t great¡ªyou could end up as turtle soup!¡± Qi Yuan said seriously. ¡°But your question is interesting, and it has reminded me of something.¡±

    Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t cultivated any of this world¡¯s poisoned techniques.

    But everyone else had.

    They practiced these techniques, reached high levels, and left their names on the Monument of Legends.

    Periodically, a great catastrophe would come to harvest these individuals as resources.

    What would happen to those who practiced these cultivation techniques?

    Would they be marked, their lives hanging by a thread?

    ¡°Junior Sister, give me your hand. I¡¯ll check your body,¡± Qi Yuan said urgently.

    He wanted to figure out the effect cultivation techniques had on others in Canglan.

    ¡°Huh? I¡¯m not sick!¡± Jiang Lingsu protested, but she still extended her delicate hand to Qi Yuan.

    She trusted her Senior Brother completely and without reservation.

    After all, it was Senior Brother who had cured her illness before.

    Qi Yuan placed his hand on Jiang Lingsu¡¯s wrist, letting his divine energy flow into her body.

    He carefully examined her.

    Jiang Lingsu remained still, not resisting at all.

    In truth, this was a dangerous situation. If Qi Yuan had malicious intent, she could be seriously injured or even killed.

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s divine energy was vast, even greater than many Yang Gods.

    With the presence of the innate seed, he had almost fully recovered his strength.

    He controlled his power with great precision, so there was no risk of harming Jiang Lingsu.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan¡¯s brow furrowed. He had discovered a faint mark on Jiang Lingsu¡¯s true spirit.

    It resembled a small sun, much like the one in the sky.

    It was more valuable than Heaven Dao Foundation and far beyond ordinary comprehension.

    It was like discovering that someone you know, who earns a modest salary, suddenly has an account worth a trillion times that.

    Impossible to fathom.

    ¡°Xiao Yu, you¡¯re overreacting. Even if the Origin Heavenly Venerate said he used the bones of the Dao Ancestor as toothpicks, I¡¯d believe him!¡± The Great Sun Flame Emperor said nonchalantly. ¡°There are ten suns in the sky, and they¡¯re all the Origin Heavenly Venerate¡¯s golden cores. Have you ever seen a star used as a golden core?¡±

    Xiao Yu was the real name of the Rogue Immortal Sovereign.

    Being called by his real name made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

    ¡°Sigh, it seems my horizons are too narrow,¡± the Rogue Immortal Sovereign lamented.

    After all, in his understanding, to break through to the Purple Mansion stage, one had to comprehend the essence of the Immortal Dao, walk their own path, and awaken a unique divine ability.

    But purple energy? A mansion? How did that relate to the Purple Mansion?

    Well, maybe only in name.

    ¡°How¡¯s the Origin God Sharing Society been doing lately? How¡¯s the collection of cultivation techniques going?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    This was something he cared deeply about.

    It was crucial for his future path.

    Now that he had reached the Purple Mansion stage, the need for cultivation techniques had grown significantly.

    In a way, the myriad Dao paths were scattered throughout all cultivation techniques. What Qi Yuan was doing now was gathering the fragments of these paths.

    ¡°The method you taught us, and the system where members of the Divine Flower Society upload their techniques in exchange for others¡¯ techniques, has been incredibly effective.

    I¡¯ll send you the collected techniques right away.

    However...¡± The Great Sun Flame Emperor hesitated.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°Well, your divine technique has attracted some mysterious individuals to the Origin God Sharing Guild. They want to meet you,¡± the Great Sun Flame Emperor said cautiously.

    Back then, Qi Yuan had set up a method similar to modern platforms, where cultivators could upload their techniques to share with others, helping each other in their cultivation.

    Qi Yuan had been generous, even publicly releasing his divine technique in the end.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan remained calm. ¡°What do they want? Are they planning to kill me and steal my treasures?

    Where do they live? Maybe I¡¯ll pay them a visit and see if they have a cat that can cook.¡±

    Qi Yuan thought of Xie Xinsu, whose family had a cat that could cook.

    ¡°They seem to be from some hidden clans. They want to discuss the matter of the great catastrophe with you.

    They mentioned that your divine technique should not be spread too widely, or... if it reaches a certain number, all the cultivators in this world will die!¡± The Great Sun Flame Emperor¡¯s voice was filled with seriousness and a touch of resignation.

    While the Origin Heavenly Venerate was known for pulling off miracles, the great catastrophe and the forces behind it were far too deep.

    After all, how many cultivators in Canglan could truly support Qi Yuan?

    The great catastrophe, on the other hand, had the backing of forces from other worlds.

    If they failed, they could call for reinforcements from the higher realms.

    And those reinforcements would be gods.

    Perhaps even legendary Yang Gods.

    But in Canglan? Who could help Qi Yuan here?

    In the face of the great catastrophe, Qi Yuan was essentially fighting alone.

    All the others could do was provide minor assistance.

    Sometimes, the Great Sun Flame Emperor even thought that since Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t practiced any poisoned techniques, he could leave this world and escape the whirlpool.

    If one were to think even more darkly, Qi Yuan could even communicate with the forces behind the catastrophe and become their disciple.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Qi Yuan pondered for a moment, then sent a message. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My plan to defeat the great catastrophe is almost complete. In at most six months, my perfect plan will be in full swing, and the catastrophe will have nowhere to hide. As for the divine technique and whether it should be shared¡ªthat¡¯s a joke!¡±

    The Great Sun Flame Emperor felt a surge of mixed emotions. ¡°Origin Heavenly Venerate, don¡¯t push yourself too hard.¡±

    ¡°Hey, if you keep talking like that, I¡¯ll come to your house and cook you an egg with my golden core!¡±

    ¡°No, please don¡¯t!¡± The Great Sun Flame Emperor laughed, then added, ¡°The people from those hidden clans left a way to contact them. They said when you¡¯re ready, you should visit their secret realm to discuss the issue of the divine technique.¡±

    ¡°Forget it. If they want to meet me, they can come to me.

    Tell them that in five days, I¡¯ll be heading to Helan Continent in the Eastern Lands, and I¡¯ll stay there for a while. If they want to meet, they can come to Helan and request an audience.

    Otherwise, there¡¯s no chance.

    I usually don¡¯t like visiting people. If I do, it¡¯s usually to wipe them out!¡±

    Qi Yuan said casually.

    Indeed, when he visited the Black Mountain Sect, it was for extermination. When he went to the Bright Palace, it was for extermination too.

    Of course, his trip to Helan to see the painter wasn¡¯t for extermination.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll relay your message to them.

    Heh, these so-called hidden clans... If they were truly powerful, they¡¯d have already taken down the Origin God Sharing Society and dragged you out.

    The truth is, they¡¯re not strong enough, so they choose to hide, pretending to be detached from worldly affairs. Who are they fooling?¡± The Great Sun Flame Emperor scoffed.

    He wasn¡¯t afraid of hidden clans.

    The Original God Sharing Guild was now quite powerful.

    If these hidden clans were truly formidable, they would have already smashed the Origin God Sharing Society and pulled Qi Yuan out.

    But no, their strength wasn¡¯t sufficient, so they chose to hide, putting on a facade of being above it all.

    Who did they think they were fooling?

 Chapter 384: Sisterhood, Deep as the Sea

    Chapter 384: Sisterhood, Deep as the Sea

    ¡°When Ice Mountain Queen wakes up, make sure to tell her that I¡¯ve reached the Purple Mansion!¡±

    Qi Yuan left this message in the Divine Flower Society group and then exited the chat.

    As he walked through the Shenguang Sect, all the cultivators, whether disciples or elders, looked at him with reverence.

    It was clear that Qi Yuan had now become a legendary figure within the Shenguang Sect.

    ¡°Is that the senior brother?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s even stronger than Senior Brother Kang Fulou!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Senior Brother Kang make it onto the Eastern Lands Heaven¡¯s Chosen List?¡±

    Some disciples exclaimed in awe.

    Forget the Eastern Lands Heaven¡¯s Chosen List¡ªeven the Great Shang Heaven¡¯s Chosen List was something they could only dream of.

    ¡°The Eastern Lands Heaven¡¯s Chosen List is nothing. Senior Brother Qi Yuan has made it onto... the Canglan Heaven¡¯s Chosen List!¡±

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that list?¡±

    ¡°Heh heh, you don¡¯t know, do you? My uncle¡¯s nephew¡¯s brother told me he personally saw Qi Yuan make it onto the mysterious Canglan Heaven¡¯s Chosen List!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. That¡¯s definitely a rumor. Senior Brother Kang Fulou is the true number one prodigy of Shenguang Sect. He dared... to peep at a junior sister bathing!¡±

    ¡°Senior Brother Qi Yuan is the true one. He dared to steal the undergarments of a beautiful elder!¡±

    The group of disciples suddenly started arguing.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan felt helpless. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve never stolen the undergarments of a beautiful elder. Stop spreading rumors!¡±

    ¡°Senior Brother!¡± The disciples quickly bowed their heads in respect.

    The female disciple who had spoken in defense of Qi Yuan then smugly added, ¡°Senior Brother Qi Yuan didn¡¯t steal the beautiful elder¡¯s undergarments; they were delivered to him at night!¡±

    She was proud of her cleverness, thinking she had successfully cleared Qi Yuan¡¯s name, so he wouldn¡¯t be seen as a thief.

    ¡°Uh...¡±

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    Such things... actually did happen.

    However, it had been during a time when he was refining the Five Elements Qi, causing some madness and chaos within the Shenguang Sect.

    It couldn¡¯t be taken seriously.

    ¡°You... you¡¯ve grown a bit in the past three years. You¡¯ve become a formal disciple now, so don¡¯t go spreading nonsense anymore!

    As a formal disciple, you represent the Shenguang Sect.¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced at the fan and casually gave her some advice before his figure disappeared.

    Seeing this, the young woman¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. ¡°Senior Brother Qi Yuan... remembered me!¡±

    Back then, she had been a servant disciple on the Divine Medicine Peak, responsible for reception. When Senior Brother Qi Yuan came to the peak to seek medicine, she was his guide and recommended that he visit Elder Xuanchong.

    Later, Qi Yuan had even pointed out a cultivation issue with her body, which helped her resolve it and grow stronger, eventually becoming a formal disciple.

    Back on the Seven-Color Peak, Qi Yuan was in a great mood.

    After reaching the Purple Mansion, his status and prestige naturally had to rise.

    He couldn¡¯t allow any building in the Shenguang Sect to be grander than his own.

    Sect Leader Kumu had already taken Qi Yuan¡¯s design plans and was seeking workers to begin construction on his new mansion.

    ¡°With a proper mansion, it will match my status.

    The wives can move in, and they won¡¯t have to worry about not having their own private bedrooms!¡±

    Qi Yuan mused.

    Of course, there was also his daughter, Qi Jianjun, who was always running around, fishing wherever she pleased.

    Right now, who knows where she had gone to fish.

    As for Shen Wushen, he was likely still in the upper realms. According to his calculations, Shen Wushen should return to the lower realm soon to deliver a divine technique to Qi Yuan.

    Thinking of Shen Wushen, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes drifted to the pavilion at the peak of Seven-Color Mountain and the towering ancient Qichun tree beside it.

    ¡°Shen Wushen once said that it would take three years for the letter to reach Jinli. It¡¯s already been two and a half years...¡±

    In another six months, Jinli would receive his letter.

    A faint ripple stirred in Qi Yuan¡¯s heart.

    He recalled the small figure of Moon Lady by the July Lake and the empress, Jinli, whom he had never met.

    ¡°Senior Brother, run!¡±

    At that moment, an urgent voice called out, and Jiang Lingsu, dressed modestly, rushed over to Qi Yuan, clutching his arm tightly.

    Her voice jolted Qi Yuan out of his melancholy.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? Did the sky fall?¡±

    Now that Qi Yuan had become a legendary Purple Mansion cultivator, he naturally had to maintain his composure¡ªfacing even a collapsing mountain without panicking.

    ¡°My dad is coming!¡± Jiang Lingsu said, her face full of worry.

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s mind, the image of the overly enthusiastic uncle surfaced.

    Back then, on the spirit boat, that uncle had been very warm toward him.

    She now visited frequently, mainly to boast about her fiance?¡¯s achievements.

    ¡°What a fake friend!¡± Jiang Lingsu grumbled. ¡°Her fiance? recently emerged from seclusion and reached the Nascent Soul stage.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you friends?¡± Qi Yuan was puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you two seem to get along well before?¡±

    He recalled seeing Jiang Lingsu and Qiong Yunting meeting up earlier.

    Qiong Yunting had praised Jiang Lingsu¡¯s ability to eat without gaining weight, saying she was jealous of her figure. She herself ate less and maintained a strict diet, weighing under a hundred pounds, yet couldn¡¯t achieve such a figure.

    Jiang Lingsu had also complimented Qiong Yunting, saying she was cute and had very fair skin.

    The two had seemed to be happily exchanging flattery.

    ¡°Get along? Ha, she¡¯s just a green tea b*tch!¡± Jiang Lingsu retorted angrily.

    She had learned the term ¡°green tea b*tch¡± from Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Qi Yuan didn¡¯t dwell on it too much.

    After all, thinking about it too deeply required effort.

    And that was tiring.

    Just then, a soft, coquettish voice called out, and a woman in a palace dress appeared. ¡°Lingsu, I knew you¡¯d be here.

    Oh my, that burgundy dress really suits you today.

    But you¡¯re still a bit young for it. Once you grow a little more, mature a bit, you¡¯ll look truly stunning!¡±

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s face wore a friendly smile, but inwardly, she gritted her teeth and sent a mental message to Qi Yuan.

    ¡°She¡¯s saying I¡¯ll look good when I grow up, which really means I don¡¯t look good now and that I¡¯m trying to look more mature!¡±

    While transmitting her thoughts, Jiang Lingsu sweetly replied, ¡°I can¡¯t compare to you, sister. You¡¯re so adorable for your age.

    This dress is really nothing special. Honestly, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to wear it in this lifetime.

    If you tried, you¡¯d look like a little girl wearing a big coat, not knowing which way is the front or back!

    But I really admire you. You don¡¯t even have to worry about sizes when buying dresses.

    You could just take the robes of those male tribulation cultivators you¡¯ve slain and wear them yourself!¡±

    Qiong Yunting¡¯s smile froze for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and smiled even wider. ¡°I may not have been born into a family as prestigious as yours, but I got lucky and found a great husband.

    As for the tribulation (unlucky) cultivators¡¯ robes, well, they¡¯re beneath me now.

    Sigh, it¡¯s such a burden. I miss the old days when I was struggling, and slaying a tribulation cultivator and finding a few dozen spirit stones in their storage bag would make me so happy.

    But now, it¡¯s just not the same.

    So, I envy you. You can still kill a tribulation cultivator, open their storage bag, and be happy for days.

    Sigh, sometimes having money isn¡¯t all that great. It takes away all the little joys in life.¡±

    Qiong Yunting said this with an air of casual superiority.

    Jiang Lingsu was mentally rolling her eyes.

    She was sure that Qiong Yunting was subtly calling her and Qi Yuan poor.

    But outwardly, she maintained a friendly smile, carefully crafting a response.

    Just then, Qi Yuan spoke up. ¡°I love killing tribulation cultivators! They¡¯re my enemies, my white moonlight!

    An ancient saying goes, ¡®Time flows endlessly, unceasing through day and night.¡¯

    I hope my enemies are like that, dying day and night, pouring their accumulated wealth into my hands.

    I¡¯m so broke that I can¡¯t even afford a piece of land.¡±

    Qiong Yunting was taken aback by Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    She didn¡¯t quite understand most of it.

    But she did grasp a part of it, and inwardly, she looked down on him even more.

    People from small places truly had narrow horizons.

    He was still talking about lacking money.

    ¡°Qi Shidi, how many spirit stones do you need? My husband¡¯s family in Yuntian City is quite wealthy. We could easily lend you tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of spirit stones.

    For the sake of my friendship with Lingsu, I¡¯m more than happy to lend you some spirit stones.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qi Yuan looked genuinely excited.

    He truly did need money.

    He needed funds to buy land for the Netherworld and to buy Gongsun Xing.

    ¡°By the way, my husband is hosting a Nascent Soul banquet tonight. If you two bring some decent gifts and say a few flattering words, I¡¯ll whisper in his ear, and I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll lend you enough spirit stones.

    With the bond Lingsu and I share, do you really think I¡¯d deceive you?¡±

    ¡°You two have a sisterhood as deep as the sea!¡± Qi Yuan said happily. ¡°We¡¯re free tonight anyway, so we might as well go to the Nascent Soul banquet and borrow some money.¡±

    Seeing Qi Yuan so eager, Qiong Yunting felt even more smug.

    Later, during the banquet, she and her husband would play good cop, bad cop, and toss a few thousand spirit stones their way as pocket change.

    ¡°This Nascent Soul banquet will have quite a few big names from Helan Continent attending.

    Your Jiang family¡¯s business here hasn¡¯t been doing well lately, and you¡¯re almost being driven out of Helan.

    If you can meet a powerful cultivator, maybe you¡¯ll be able to solve your family¡¯s troubles!¡±

 Chapter 385: Youâ€™re a Bit Poor, So Just Lend 10.5 Billion

    Chapter 385: You¡¯re a Bit Poor, So Just Lend 10.5 Billion

    Jiang Lingsu nodded. Only then did Qiong Yunting leave, satisfied.

    On the pavilion, only Qi Yuan and Jiang Lingsu remained.

    Jiang Lingsu blinked her eyes and said, "Senior Brother, do you finally see now that she''s not really my sister?"

    Qi Yuan stroked his chin in thought. "She''s more like our creditor."

    "Huh? Are you really short on money?" Jiang Lingsu asked, surprised.

    "Just a little bit," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    "Why didn''t you say so earlier? Will this be enough?" Jiang Lingsu pulled out a storage pouch and handed it to Qi Yuan.

    As if remembering something, she fished around herself and pulled out four more storage pouches.

    Finally, with a bit of reluctance, she even took out a small pink storage pouch from inside her clothing.

    "These six pouches are all the spirit stones I have. Is it enough? I''ll lend them all to you!" Jiang Lingsu said earnestly.

    Qi Yuan was slightly moved by this.

    His junior sister, this wealthy lady, still had such a kind heart. Back when Qi Yuan was much weaker, she was the one giving him spirit stones and cultivation techniques.

    "Hmm, it might not be enough. Keep the money for yourself, Junior Sister," Qi Yuan said, instinctively patting Jiang Lingsu''s head as he spoke.

    "Not enough? What are you trying to buy that requires so much?" Jiang Lingsu asked, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes as she pulled back her pouches.

    She had forgotten that her senior brother was no longer the same as before. All the private savings she had collected over the years probably meant little to him now.

    Just as she was about to put away the pink storage pouch, Qi Yuan placed his hand gently on hers, stopping her. "Junior Sister, I don¡¯t like owing debts. The feeling of being in debt is terrible¡ªit makes me want to run whenever I see the creditor.

    How about this: instead of lending me those spirit stones, why don¡¯t you invest them in me? In the game I¡¯m playing, real estate is a booming industry, a sunrise sector.

    You could invest these spirit stones to help me buy a piece of land, and when I build my Netherworld, I¡¯ll leave you a plot to build your own house. How about that?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s explanation was strange and unclear, but Jiang Lingsu seemed to be considering it seriously.

    At that moment, Jiang Qian, the manager of the Jiang family¡¯s property, arrived and overheard the conversation. Her expression turned slightly helpless.

    ¡°Miss, investing in property and purchasing deeds in Yuntian City isn¡¯t the wisest decision,¡± Jiang Qian couldn¡¯t help but caution.

    Her opinion of Qi Yuan dropped another notch.

    Still, he was her mistress¡¯s senior brother, so she couldn¡¯t say too much. Even though she couldn¡¯t discern Qi Yuan¡¯s cultivation level, his looks alone were enough to qualify him as a live-in son-in-law for the Jiang family.

    Jiang Lingsu glanced back at Jiang Qian and said, "I¡¯m not investing in Yuntian City. I¡¯m investing in my senior brother, and I trust him!"

    With that, she pushed the pink storage pouch into Qi Yuan¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Make sure you save me a good spot!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Qi Yuan thumped his chest in assurance.

    Seeing this, Jiang Qian sighed but refrained from saying more. Instead, she said quietly, "Miss, there¡¯s word that the eccentric painter will be back tomorrow."

    "Good. Tomorrow, Senior Brother and I will go see her," Jiang Lingsu said, happy that she could still help her senior brother.

    As she thought about something, she casually asked, ¡°I heard our family¡¯s business here ran into some trouble?¡±

    A flicker of concern crossed Jiang Qian¡¯s face, but she responded calmly, ¡°Miss, I¡¯ll handle those matters. You just focus on cultivating. Once your strength grows, these problems will no longer be issues.¡±

    Jiang Qian, who was from a side branch of the Jiang family, harbored a sense of envy toward Jiang Lingsu.

    Miss Lingsu was born into the main family, with a golden spoon in her mouth, enjoying abundant cultivation resources. She had both beauty and talent, qualifying her to view the Jiang family¡¯s treasured relics and even receive enhancements to her talent.

    On the other hand, as someone from a lesser branch, Jiang Qian had no such fortune. Without exceptional talent or stunning looks, progressing in the path of cultivation was nearly impossible. Many like her ended up managing family businesses, gathering spirit stones and resources for the main branch.

    So naturally, Jiang Qian felt a deep sense of envy toward her young mistress. With even one of Lingsu¡¯s gifts¡ªwhether it be beauty, talent, or family background¡ªher life would have turned out vastly different.

    After reporting everything, Jiang Qian exited the pavilion, her heart still heavy with envy. If only she had been born into the main family, she might have had the freedom to choose someone she liked, even just to nurture a pretty boy.

    She quickly brushed aside those thoughts and hurried off to deal with the family business.

    Just then, footsteps approached.

    ¡°Manager Jiang, fancy meeting you here.¡±

    A weaselly-looking man in a blood-red robe appeared before her, holding a fan in one hand and looking quite pleased with himself.

    Seeing him, Jiang Qian frowned slightly. ¡°Young Master Feng.¡±

    The man before her was Feng Ruohan, a notorious playboy in Yuntian City. Despite his unsavory reputation, his family was far more powerful than the Jiang family.

    Feng Ruohan, in his red robe, was clearly imitating the famed Blood-Robe Sword God.

    He closed his fan and asked, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the young miss of the Jiang family is as beautiful as a goddess. Would Feng be lucky enough to meet her?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask her permission first,¡± Jiang Qian replied.

    ¡°Manager Jiang, you¡¯re just a side branch member of the Jiang family. You probably won¡¯t have any opportunities for advancement in your lifetime.¡± Feng Ruohan¡¯s tone suddenly became serious.

    ¡°What do you mean by that, Young Master Feng?¡± Jiang Qian asked warily.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. I want to make a deal with you,¡± Feng Ruahan smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been smitten with the young miss of the Jiang family for a long time. I wish to marry into the Jiang family, but I¡¯m not the best-looking, and the young miss has a handsome senior brother by her side.

    So, I¡¯d like your help. Pour this vial of liquid into the young miss¡¯s drink. Once she consumes it, she¡¯ll fall deeply in love with me, and the Jiang family won¡¯t be the wiser.

    Didn¡¯t you want the Feng family¡¯s support? If you help me with this, the Feng family will immediately assist you and help solve your problems.

    ¡°With someone like Wang Yunteng, the Wang family is bound to enjoy centuries of good fortune!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Wang family has an important announcement to make at this banquet.¡±

    ¡°What kind of announcement?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rumored to be related to the legendary Blood-Robe Sword God!¡±

    ¡°Whoa, a Yang God expert!¡±

    The guests kept showering praise.

    Wang Yunteng stood with his fiance?e, Qiong Yunting, exuding an air of arrogance.

    No one minded his arrogance, though. After all, he was young, and being a bit haughty was expected.

    Qiong Yunting¡¯s eyes scanned the guests until she spotted a familiar face. Immediately, she walked over.

    ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve finally arrived! I¡¯ve been waiting for you.

    Everyone, this is Miss Jiang Lingsu from the Jiang family, and she¡¯s one of my closest friends!¡± Qiong Yunting said, her voice full of joy.

    ¡°The Jiang family? Wow, Wang Yunteng¡¯s connections really are impressive. The Jiang family is far off in another continent, and yet someone came all the way here for the Nascent Soul banquet!¡±

    ¡°The Wang family¡¯s influence speaks for itself. Every prominent family and sect in Helan Continent is here.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of which, isn¡¯t it odd? Where are the Feng family members?¡±

    The Feng family was the dominant force in Yuntian City, and its backer, Feng Palace, was one of the top three powers in Helan Continent.

    Since they were based in the same city, the Feng family should have sent their gifts long ago, but there was no sign of them at the banquet.

    ¡°The Feng family¡¯s always been proud. Maybe they¡¯re planning to make a grand entrance.¡±

    Guests whispered among themselves.

    Meanwhile, Qiong Yunting¡¯s attention remained on Jiang Lingsu.

    This was one of the rare moments when she could outshine her.

    ¡°Your partner is so handsome, Sister! I didn¡¯t expect someone from a small place like the Hundred Nations to produce such a dragon!¡± Qiong Yunting began, her words laced with condescension.

    Though it seemed like she was praising Qi Yuan, in reality, she was mocking his humble origins.

    Sure enough, hearing that Qi Yuan came from the Hundred Nations region, any guests who had been interested in making connections with him quickly lost interest.

    The Hundred Nations was so insignificant that it didn¡¯t even have a single Purple Mansion-level faction.

    If it weren¡¯t for the incident with the Bright Palace, they wouldn¡¯t have even known of its existence.

    Hearing Qiong Yunting deliberately misrepresent her senior brother as her partner, Jiang Lingsu¡¯s face flushed, but she had no time to explain. Instead, she proudly boasted, ¡°You¡¯re right, my senior brother is a true dragon. He¡¯s been on the Eastern Lands Genius Ranking!¡±

    The Eastern Lands Genius Ranking was no small feat, representing the strongest of the younger generation in the Eastern Lands.

    ¡°He¡¯s really on the Eastern Lands Genius Ranking?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of Qi Yuan before, though.¡±

    ¡°The name sounds familiar, but that person isn¡¯t a young genius.¡±

    On the ranking, the strongest young people were in the Nascent Soul stage, with most still in the Golden Core stage.

    Qiong Yunting was momentarily taken aback.

    She hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Lingsu to keep such a big secret.

    Why hadn¡¯t she mentioned something so important earlier? Clearly, she¡¯d been saving it for now to steal the spotlight.

    ¡°Ah, what a shame. If Yunteng hadn¡¯t been in seclusion for the past few years, he could¡¯ve easily claimed a top-three spot on the Eastern Lands Genius Ranking,¡± Qiong Yunting sighed, feigning regret.

    Jiang Lingsu mentally rolled her eyes at her.

    Normally, she wouldn¡¯t bother competing with Qiong Yunting, but insulting her senior brother was unacceptable!

    Just as she was about to respond, Qi Yuan spoke up.

    ¡°Miss Qiong, earlier today, didn¡¯t you say that if I attended the Nascent Soul banquet, you and Wang Yunteng would lend me some spirit stones to help with my urgent needs?

    Let¡¯s skip the small talk. I¡¯ve already said the good words. So, when will you be giving me the spirit stones?¡± Qi Yuan asked bluntly, getting straight to the point.

    He wanted to borrow the money and then leave.

    Qiong Yunting was momentarily stunned, not expecting Qi Yuan to bring up the matter so directly. His shamelessness was astonishing.

    Was this man really someone on the Eastern Lands Genius Ranking?

    ¡°Sister, if your Jiang family is facing difficulties in Yuntian City, I¡¯m certainly willing to help. How much do you need? I¡¯ll help as much as I can,¡± Qiong Yunting smiled, still maintaining her elegant demeanor.

    The other cultivators glanced at Qi Yuan, some with puzzled expressions.

    They had come to borrow money?

    ¡°Hmm... I did some calculations. The Wang family¡¯s assets are probably worth about ten billion spirit stones, and the Qiong family is worth around five hundred million.

    Honestly, you¡¯re both a bit poor, so I won¡¯t ask for too much¡ªjust lend me 10.5 billion spirit stones,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    As soon as he spoke, many guests drew sharp breaths.

    Was this guy here to borrow spirit stones or to cause trouble?

 Chapter 386: Youâ€™re the Blood-Robed Sword Godâ€™s Disciple, Then Who Am I?

    Chapter 386: You¡¯re the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s Disciple, Then Who Am I?

    ¡°How... how much?¡± Qiong Yunting¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her, feeling speechless. ¡°Didn¡¯t you clean your ears last night? Are they blocked? I said it loud and clear¡ª10.5 billion spirit stones!¡±

    Qi Yuan feared she might have a lot of earwax, so he raised his voice. His words echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of many.

    Immediately, many people turned to stare at Qiong Yunting¡¯s ears. Some couldn¡¯t help but cover their mouths to suppress their laughter.

    Jiang Lingsu, who was clinging to Qi Yuan¡¯s arm, was laughing so hard that her face was almost pressed against his arm.

    She felt like she had finally gotten her revenge.

    Qiong Yunting¡¯s face turned bright red with anger and embarrassment. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I... I did clean my ears!¡±

    ¡°Seems like you didn¡¯t clean them well enough. Not very diligent,¡± Qi Yuan concluded bluntly.

    Qiong Yunting was so furious, even though she was already in the Foundation Establishment stage, she found it hard to catch her breath from anger. She could already imagine how the rumor of her not cleaning her ears would spread all over Yuntian City.

    ¡°Sigh, don¡¯t be shy. You could just clean them thoroughly now, or else I¡¯ll have to keep shouting, and that¡¯s exhausting,¡± Qi Yuan continued to advise her.

    ¡°You!¡± Qiong Yunting¡¯s eyes turned red, and she was on the verge of tears from Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, sister. We should reject the shame of cleaning our ears. Be bold and be yourself! I once knew a fairy who, in order to pick her nose better, even created her own Dao technique. You should learn from her and not worry about what others think!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s words became more animated, his tone increasingly persuasive.

    Qiong Yunting, with her reddened eyes, had long forgotten her original plan to humiliate Qi Yuan.

    At that moment, a man in a green robe, Wang Yunteng, spoke up with an air of dignity. ¡°Fellow Daoist, are you the Jiang family¡¯s... son-in-law? Have you come to the Nascent Soul banquet just to borrow spirit stones?¡±

    Now it was Jiang Lingsu¡¯s turn to blush.

    ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m not a son-in-law, and I don¡¯t fetch foot-washing water,¡± Qi Yuan shook his head. ¡°Today, the Earwax Fairy said her husband¡¯s family is very wealthy, and if I was ever short on money, I could come to the Nascent Soul banquet and her husband would solve my financial problems.¡±

    Wang Yunteng looked at Qi Yuan, his expression filled with pride. ¡°The Jiang family is a great clan from the Eastern Lands. I¡¯ve heard they¡¯ve run into some troubles with their business here in Yuntian City. I have some understanding of the matter. How much do you need?¡±

    Before the Nascent Soul banquet, Qiong Yunting had already mentioned Qi Yuan and Jiang Lingsu to him.

    He had agreed to teach Qi Yuan a lesson, and if possible, take over the Jiang family¡¯s businesses in Yuntian City.

    ¡°10.5 billion,¡± Qi Yuan repeated.

    He had a feeling this couple never cleaned their ears, probably spending their nights cleaning each other¡¯s ears before going to sleep.

    Wang Yunteng¡¯s eyes flashed with displeasure. ¡°10.5 billion spirit stones? Are you joking? With that much, you could probably buy all of Yuntian City!¡±

    Whether or not 10.5 billion spirit stones could buy Yuntian City, Wang Yunteng didn¡¯t know.

    But he was certain it was enough to buy the life of a Purple Mansion-level cultivator.

    ¡°I¡¯m not joking. I¡¯ve done the calculations.

    Your Wang family owns forty-five spirit stone mines, runs five auction houses, and has stakes in over three hundred businesses. If you sold everything, it would be worth around 10 billion spirit stones.

    As for the Earwax Fairy, her family is even poorer. A gambling father, a sick mother, and a useless brother¡ªtogether, they¡¯re only worth about 50 million spirit stones,¡± Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    ¡°I¡¯ve come here today to fulfill the promise. So, are you going to lend me the money or not?¡± He extended his hand.

    Wang Yunteng¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but his gaze toward Qi Yuan became colder.

    Many of the cultivators present looked at Qi Yuan with strange expressions, while others appeared amused by the scene.

    This red-robed cultivator had clearly done his homework on the Wang family¡¯s assets.

    But this wasn¡¯t simply about borrowing money.

    Wang Yunteng, aware of this, sneered. ¡°Who¡¯s backing you, Qi Yuan? Where do you get the nerve to ask for 10 billion spirit stones?¡±

    A powerful aura belonging to a Nascent Soul cultivator surged in that moment, sweeping across the hall.

    Some onlookers, sensing the tension, began to back away, while others stayed to watch the unfolding drama.

    Jiang Lingsu moved closer to Qi Yuan but didn¡¯t feel the oppressive aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Her eyes fixed on Qi Yuan, and she realized that her feelings toward him had changed significantly.

    Qi Yuan stretched lazily, appearing indifferent.

    To be honest, he had never used his connections to bully others before.

    Today, accompanying his junior sister to this event, he figured he might as well try it out for fun.

    After some thought, he answered, ¡°The one backing me is... the Blood-Robed Alliance!¡±

    He decided to lean on his own reputation.

    After saying those words, Qi Yuan felt a surge of satisfaction.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you call your master, the Blood-Robed Sword God, over here, and let me take a look?¡± Qi Yuan said, crossing his arms.

    He was curious to see if someone with the same name as him existed.

    If so, it would be an infringement of his rights, and he would have to demand compensation.

    ¡°The Blood-Robed Sword God isn¡¯t here, but I am.¡±

    At that moment, a voice, old and drunk, drifted in.

    An old man appeared, wobbling as he walked, with a wine gourd hanging from his waist and the strong smell of alcohol surrounding him.

    His nose was red, clearly from years of drinking.

    He had appeared so suddenly that no one had sensed his presence beforehand.

    The cultivators present looked at the old man with apprehension.

    It was as if he had materialized out of thin air.

    ¡°Greetings, Wine Immortal!¡± Wang Yunteng quickly bowed respectfully before introducing the old man to the crowd. ¡°This is the legendary Wine Immortal, a celestial figure. Even my master, the Blood-Robed Sword God, would respectfully address him as ¡®senior¡¯!¡±

    Wang Yunteng proudly announced to the guests.

    The Wine Immortal took a long swig from his gourd, the fragrant aroma of his wine filling the air.

    The scent alone was enough to astonish the cultivators, as it seemed to be imbued with an endless supply of divine power.

    It was as if the wine was made from the divine power of a Yin God.

    For the Wine Immortal to drink such wine, he must be a Yin God himself!

    The crowd¡¯s confidence in the Wine Immortal grew stronger.

    After finishing his drink, the Wine Immortal hiccuped. ¡°This kid Wang Yunteng is pretty good. He¡¯s got talent, and I like him.

    Unfortunately, I¡¯m too lazy to take on disciples, so I handed him over to the Blood-Robed Sword God.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at the Wine Immortal with a calm expression.

    In his eyes, the Wine Immortal¡¯s every move was laid bare.

    This Wine Immortal was indeed a powerful Yin God, and not just an ordinary one.

    ¡°Have you met the Blood-Robed Sword God? And would he agree to take Wang Yunteng as his disciple?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°I was half-awake, drunk, lying in a carriage. The Blood-Robed Sword God is a considerate guy. He stood guard for me all night,¡± the Wine Immortal boasted. ¡°Giving Wang Yunteng to him is a blessing for him. He¡¯d be more than happy to take the kid.¡±

    As he spoke, the Wine Immortal wore a smug smile.

    Qi Yuan remained calm.

    At first, the Wine Immortal¡¯s nose twitched slightly, suggesting he was lying about the Blood-Robed Sword God standing guard for him.

    But the rest of his statement seemed to be true, or at least the Wine Immortal believed it was true.

    ¡°You¡¯re awfully confident. I¡¯m 99% sure that the Blood-Robed Sword God won¡¯t take him as a disciple,¡± Qi Yuan said lightly.

    ¡°On this matter, even if you¡¯re truly the Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s father, the Blood-Robed Sword God has to listen to me,¡± the Wine Immortal said confidently. ¡°The stronger someone is, the more they have to rely on me because only I can offer them a way out!¡±

    The Wine Immortal spoke with arrogance, brimming with pride.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the Blood-Robed Sword God is the strongest in the world. Does he really need you to give him a way out?¡±

    ¡°You just don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± the Wine Immortal said. ¡°If I take off my shoes, the Blood-Robed Sword God will have to put them back on for me.

    If you¡¯re really from the Blood-Robed Alliance, call him over. I¡¯ll make him put my shoes on right here!¡±

    The Wine Immortal¡¯s confidence was unshakable, as if he were a supreme expert.

    The cultivators present were visibly shocked by his words.

    Wang Yunteng¡¯s face had turned pale, and deep down, he hoped the Wine Immortal wasn¡¯t just blowing hot air.

    Otherwise, the Wang family would be finished.

    Still, thinking of the Wine Immortal¡¯s peculiar abilities, Wang Yunteng felt a bit more at ease.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked at the Wine Immortal with amusement. ¡°To borrow an old saying: In this world, there can be no one who acts more arrogant than me!¡±

    He was getting tired of the Wine Immortal¡¯s posturing.

    He couldn¡¯t let the old man keep showing off like this¡ªQi Yuan was starting to feel itchy all over, like ants crawling under his skin.

    And when that itch took over, the only thing left to do was... kill, kill, kill.

 Chapter 387: My Senior Brother Is Super, Super Strong!

    Chapter 387: My Senior Brother Is Super, Super Strong!

    The Wine Immortal lay half-reclined on the ground, unkempt and nonchalant, his eyes reflecting the detachment of a cultivator beyond worldly concerns.

    In the hall, all the cultivators held their breath, watching this scene unfold, their expressions full of shock.

    That Wine Immortal¡ªhow bold he was!

    Everyone knew that this was the Blood-Robed Sword God, a terrifying figure in legend... known for wiping out entire clans.

    Could it be that the Wine Immortal truly had something to rely on?

    Qi Yuan looked at the Wine Immortal, a puzzled expression on his face. "Could it be... that you also sing ''Courage''?"

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan casually extended a finger toward the Wine Immortal.

    The cultivators present tensed up. Were they about to start fighting? Was the Blood-Robed Sword God testing him?

    Several cultivators quickly backed away, and some even fled in a hurry, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

    Qi Yuan, still holding his junior sister Jiang Lingsu in one arm, calmly extended a finger toward the Wine Immortal.

    The Wine Immortal, still half-reclined, glanced at Qi Yuan''s finger, his expression casual. "Young people just can''t break bad habits. The body, the soul, they¡¯re mere externals. The true strength of a Yin God lies in their divine domain. Who even punches these days?"

    The Wine Immortal smirked, and a powerful divine domain spread out.

    He was ready to teach this reckless young man a lesson.

    He had seen too many like him¡ªthose who, after a sudden breakthrough and rapid rise, believed themselves to be the protagonists of this world, unaware of the heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people.

    The divine domain surged, and a wine gourd appeared out of thin air.

    Surrounded by celestial energy, purple and green vapors boiled as a river of wine descended from the sky, merging with the dust.

    It was like the song of the Dao itself, or perhaps an artifact from the realm of the gods.

    "With this single gourd of wine, I could drown all of Helan Continent!" The Wine Immortal laughed. "Young man, let me give you your first lesson on entering the ranks of the strong!"

    His divine domain expanded and spread rapidly.

    Still half-reclined, his figure seemed to rise above all, majestic and awe-inspiring.

    "The divine domain is the foundation of true power. That finger of yours, I¡¯ll take it!"

    The divine domain surged toward Qi Yuan, enveloping him completely.

    Qi Yuan''s expression remained unchanged. He glanced down at Jiang Lingsu beside him, his tone calm. "Junior sister, this is how you squash an ant."

    He reached forward with his finger.

    It pierced through the wine river.

    The powerful divine domain seemed defenseless, allowing his finger to penetrate effortlessly.

    The Wine Immortal was taken aback. He squinted his eyes. "There¡¯s some skill here. Has he fused his divine domain into his body? But... that¡¯s all there is to it!"

    "Let me show you six-tenths of my divine domain!"

    "Impressive, young man, you¡¯ve got some skill. But I¡¯m not even at full strength yet!"

    "Let''s go to seven-tenths... Ten-tenths!"

    "Ah... something¡¯s wrong. You¡¯re wrong!"

    The Wine Immortal¡¯s voice changed as his previously arrogant expression shifted to one of terror.

    That finger seemed untouched by any laws or forces.

    His powerful divine domain, which could easily trap even a Great Elder, was completely ineffective against that finger.

    That finger felt like it was the only thing in existence.

    It was the finger of a god, erasing all beings!

    At that moment, the Wine Immortal felt like an ant facing the descending finger of a human¡ªcompletely helpless, with no power to resist.

    He was truly panicking.

    "Wait, this is a misunderstanding! You can¡¯t kill me!"

    "Without me, you won¡¯t survive the next great calamity!"

    At that moment, he dropped all pretense.

    He laid all his cards on the table. He had leverage; he had confidence. The Blood-Robed Sword God wouldn¡¯t dare kill him.

    But unfortunately, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t listen to a word.

    The finger descended, like the only thing in the heavens and earth, the only thing in all realms.

    The divine domain shattered, and the Wine Immortal¡¯s body and soul were instantly obliterated.

    A voice filled with contempt echoed in the Wine Immortal¡¯s mind in his final moments.

    "The biggest difference between you and an ant is that when I squash an ant, it doesn¡¯t scream. But you do."

    That was the last thing the Wine Immortal heard.

    His body disintegrated, his soul vanished.

    Even in death, he couldn¡¯t understand why Qi Yuan was so strong, or why... he had been killed so decisively.

    Shouldn¡¯t Qi Yuan at least have asked him about his backers or what he relied on?

    But alas, he died with nothing but regret.

    The cultivators present gasped for breath, their eyes wide with shock.

    They had just witnessed a battle between gods!

    There was none of the grand destruction they expected. There wasn¡¯t even the kind of street-level explosions you''d expect from a Golden Core cultivator or the collapse of buildings from a Foundation Establishment clash.

    Just a single finger had wiped out a powerful enemy.

    The cultivators trembled.

    That finger had seemed so ordinary.

    Yet the Wine Immortal¡¯s divine domain, which had felt capable of drowning all of Helan Continent, was effortlessly destroyed.

    The Painter regarded Qi Yuan with a strange expression. "Did you not hear what I said? I was acquainted with the Wine Immortal."

    "Oh..." Qi Yuan''s expression shifted slightly. "So, are you here to avenge him?"

    The Painter shook her head. "I cut ties with them a long time ago.

    I¡¯m just saying that instead of asking me to paint for you, you should be worried about running away because you¡¯ve killed the Wine Immortal. You¡¯ve brought trouble upon yourself."

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan''s interest was piqued. "What kind of trouble?"

    The Painter waved her hand, drawing a door in the air.

    "It involves heavenly secrets that cannot be disclosed here. Why don¡¯t you come to my place, and I¡¯ll explain everything?"

    After saying that, the Painter stepped into the door she had drawn and disappeared.

    Jiang Lingsu looked at Qi Yuan, her expression filled with concern.

    She regretted bringing her senior brother to meet this Painter.

    Something about the Painter didn¡¯t seem right.

    "Come, junior sister, let¡¯s go see what she has to say."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyebrow twitched slightly as he wrapped his arm around Jiang Lingsu¡¯s slender waist, pulling her close.

    Her heart raced, but she didn¡¯t resist, feeling a sense of happiness.

    Her senior brother had included her in this matter.

    Qi Yuan held Jiang Lingsu close as they stepped through the door.

    As they entered, the door vanished, leaving behind a hall full of stunned and shaken guests.

    The events of today had been too shocking.

    In fact, it felt like more had happened today than in their entire lives combined.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan, still holding Jiang Lingsu, descended from the sky.

    Jiang Lingsu quickly stepped out of his embrace, her face flushed and her heart pounding.

    She looked around curiously.

    The surroundings were a vast expanse of white.

    Everywhere she looked, there were sheets of paper.

    Some were hanging on drying racks, while others floated in the air.

    In the center was a drying area, while all around flowed rivers of various colors: black, red, green, and even some colors invisible to the human eye. The rivers looked like streams of paint.

    At that moment, the Painter was seated on a small stool by a white river, seemingly working on a painting.

    "You¡¯ve arrived?"

    Her voice was calm.

    Qi Yuan, with Jiang Lingsu by his side, walked over. "So, are you going to tell me how many ants I¡¯m dealing with?"

    The "ants" naturally referred to the Wine Immortal and those connected to him.

    In response to Qi Yuan¡¯s description, the Painter furrowed her brow and drew the expression onto her featureless face.

    "You have always dedicated yourself to resisting the Great Calamity, so you should know that anyone whose name is inscribed on the Monument of Myths becomes nourishment."

    Qi Yuan nodded. "Indeed."

    Once someone reached the level of a myth, their name would be inscribed on the Monument of Myths, and they would become food for the Great Calamity.

    "The Great Calamity only harvests those who achieve the mythical realm. For the rest of us, as long as we don¡¯t break through to the mythical realm, we won¡¯t be harvested.

    But the Calamity isn¡¯t so rigid. In fact, it often focuses on particularly talented ''pigs.''

    These ''pigs'' will experience fortuitous encounters after reaching the Yin God realm, rapidly increasing in power. Even if they want to suppress their own cultivation, they¡¯ll find it impossible. Eventually, they¡¯ll accidentally step into the mythical realm and become nourishment."

    As the Painter spoke, she glanced at Qi Yuan.

    In her eyes, the Blood-Robed Sword God was one of these "pigs" being fattened for the slaughter by the Calamity.

    "There have been many such pigs throughout history.

    They all believed they were the chosen ones, blessed by heaven, destined to defy the Great Calamity.

    But in reality, they were simply the ''king of pigs,'' fattened up by the Great Calamity to be slaughtered."

    The Painter¡¯s voice was cold.

    Jiang Lingsu seemed to understand what the Painter was getting at.

    She felt a growing sense of worry for Qi Yuan.

    However, knowing her own limited strength and knowledge, she wisely chose to remain silent, not wanting to speak out of turn and cause unnecessary trouble for her senior brother.

    "Interesting. So, those who resist are ''pigs.'' What about you?" Qi Yuan chuckled.

    He had long noticed that the Wine Immortal and this Painter were different from ordinary great elders.

    "We... are the pigs who ran away."

    The Painter''s eyes reflected a sense of loss.

    "Once, we were just like you¡ªspirited, believing we were the protagonists of this world.

    But over time, we came to realize the terrifying nature of the Great Calamity and just how deep the water runs. We felt despair.

    Because we found we couldn¡¯t even suppress our own cultivation. Our realms kept rising uncontrollably toward the mythical realm!"

    As she spoke, the Painter drew a mocking expression on her featureless face.

    "If you can¡¯t even control your own cultivation, how can you talk about resisting the Calamity?

    Fortunately, we encountered a benefactor. Her name was Jade Maiden, and she passed down a technique that allowed us to become a different kind of myth."

    The Painter''s voice was tinged with sorrow.

    A different kind of myth wouldn¡¯t leave their name on the Monument of Myths, nor would they be harvested by the Calamity.

 Chapter 388: Do Iâ€¦ Look Like a Supreme Treasure?

    Chapter 388: Do I... Look Like a Supreme Treasure?

    "Wine Immortal was certain the Blood-Robed Sword God wouldn¡¯t kill him, nor could he, because he believed that to meet the Jade Maiden, one would need his introduction," the Painter said, painting a look of helplessness on her face.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Painter with curiosity. If Xiao Jia had this skill, it would be amazing. Then he could know more about her emotions.

    "The Great Calamity is unstoppable," the Painter continued, now drawing an expression of despair. "The Jade Maiden once said that there are three thousand worlds like Canglan Realm. Some of these worlds are ten, even a hundred times more powerful and expansive than Canglan Realm. Yet, in all these years, not a single world has successfully resisted the Great Calamity.

    "In Canglan Realm, our greatest hope was a single Yang God. In another world, three Yang Gods gathered, but they, too, failed to defeat the Great Calamity."

    The Painter painted despair on her face once more. "That¡¯s why, whenever I hear someone wants to challenge the Great Calamity, I can¡¯t help but feel sorrow. Your fate won¡¯t be any better than that of the Yang Gods."

    "You¡¯re just a painter; what do you know about the Great Calamity?" Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but say. "No one knows more about the Great Calamity than I do! I¡¯ve already crafted a detailed and foolproof plan, ¡®Qi Yuan Defeats the Calamity.¡¯ Within half a year, the Calamity will be gone!"

    Back when he was at the Nascent Soul stage, he might not have been completely confident in facing the Great Calamity.

    But now, having reached the Purple Mansion stage, he was certain of success¡ªwell, almost certain.

    His only concern was the mark of the Calamity.

    If he destroyed the Calamity, the one in Taihuang Palace could, with just a thought, wipe out all the cultivators in Canglan Realm. That would include his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu.

    Not even he would be able to protect them.

    The Painter didn¡¯t draw anything this time. "Perhaps you don¡¯t know this, but every cultivator in Canglan Realm has been branded with a mark. If the one behind the Great Calamity wills it, all living beings will die in an instant. That includes your junior sister, your family, and your friends."

    Her tone was filled with despair.

    "Sometimes, living in ignorant bliss, without thinking about what looms above, is a blessing."

    "You know about the mark?" Qi Yuan asked, looking at the Painter. "Did the Jade Maiden tell you about it?"

    This mark couldn¡¯t be detected unless one had reached the Yang God stage. There was no way the Painter could have discovered it on her own.

    So it had to be the Jade Maiden who told her.

    "The Jade Maiden is mysterious; she¡¯s suspected to be from a higher realm," the Painter explained.

    "Oh? Does she know more about this mark?" Qi Yuan was quite interested in this. He examined the marks on all the cultivators every day, hoping to find a way to break them.

    So far, he hadn¡¯t found a legitimate solution, though he had come across some rather... unorthodox ideas.

    The Painter¡¯s body trembled slightly. "It¡¯s related to a supreme treasure. The Jade Maiden once said that even Yang God powerhouses in the upper realms crave such treasures. In fact, if a Yang God from the lower three heavens were to obtain a supreme treasure, they could elevate their entire sect to the middle three heavens.

    "If Canglan Realm had such a treasure, perhaps we could truly break free from the Great Calamity!"

    The Painter¡¯s voice was filled with suppressed excitement, but the fervor and hope in her tone were evident.

    This was the only solution she had found in all her years of "giving up," the only hope for escaping the Calamity.

    Qi Yuan frowned in thought and then looked at the Painter seriously. "Do I... look like a supreme treasure?"

    The Painter was speechless.

    "Your expression is making it hard for me to keep a straight face. Are you going to paint yourself a watermelon head next and make a video saying, ¡®Fellow cultivators, today I encountered something completely absurd...¡¯?"

    Qi Yuan speculated maliciously.

    This Painter might have no face, but her expressions were all too clear.

    "I don¡¯t really understand what you mean, but strong cultivators often have quirks," the Painter replied.

    "Speaking of the mark and the supreme treasure, does that mean... if I had another supreme treasure, I could solve the issue of the mark?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    The Painter shook her head. "I don¡¯t know. Even a supreme treasure can bring death to a Yang God. How could someone like me, just a small fish, know such things? But supreme treasures possess unfathomable abilities. Perhaps they could really neutralize the mark.

    "However, the true power of a supreme treasure goes far beyond merely neutralizing a mark..."

    The Painter didn¡¯t know much about supreme treasures, not even their exact names, but the Jade Maiden had mentioned that Canglan Realm and the other three thousand realms faced their current predicament because of a supreme treasure.

    "Alright, we¡¯ve got the game lore; now let¡¯s get on with the quest." Qi Yuan said, then added, "Sorry, played too many games; it¡¯s stuck in my head. This isn¡¯t a game, and what you said isn¡¯t game lore.

    "I came to you for help. I need you to paint something for me."

    The Painter glanced at Qi Yuan. "I rarely paint for others, and even when I do, I have certain standards. I won¡¯t paint something unless it¡¯s truly challenging."

    "Perfect! What I want is quite difficult to paint," Qi Yuan said cheerfully. "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you go unrewarded. If you paint it well... hmm, I¡¯ll give you a whole... one square meter of land in the painting!"

    Qi Yuan declared generously, offering a full square meter of land.

    "Oh? What is it that you want me to paint?" The Painter completely ignored the second half of his statement.

    "I want you to paint... the Underworld," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    The Painter¡¯s face showed surprise. "The Underworld? But that¡¯s just a myth. There¡¯s nothing particularly worth painting about it."

    In Canglan Realm, there were also legends of the Underworld, even tales of reincarnation.

    But most cultivators didn¡¯t take them seriously.

    After all, when cultivators killed, they annihilated the soul as well. Where would an Underworld be? How could there be reincarnation?

    "The Underworld I want you to paint is different from what you¡¯re imagining. And I¡¯ll even provide you with a special brush to use," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    "I usually prefer to use my own brush for painting. Any brush you provide, no matter how special, is still too ordinary..."

    However, before she could finish her sentence, her body froze.

    Her eyes flashed with what seemed like lasers, burning holes in the paper covering her face.

    She stared blankly at the brush in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, her breathing becoming rapid.

    "This brush... this brush... How could such a brush exist in the world? What kind of brush is this? Is it a magic weapon? No, it¡¯s a treasure! No... that¡¯s not right either!"

    For some reason, a flicker of hope had ignited in her long-dead heart.

    Could he really succeed?

    Her heart trembled at the thought, but she quickly pushed it aside.

    She had already decided to write to the Wine Immortal¡¯s hidden organization, urging them not to seek trouble with the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    Otherwise... it would be suicide!

    ...

    Raindrops pattered lightly as Qi Yuan sat in a pavilion, his expression calm.

    Each day, he observed the cultivators of the world, not just those in Helan Continent.

    But unfortunately, his findings had been minimal.

    The Painter¡¯s information on the mark had also been limited.

    Just then, footsteps approached.

    "Fellow Daoist Qi, long time no see! I heard you¡¯ve broken through to the Purple Mansion. Congratulations!"

    Qi Yuan looked up and saw an expression of delight cross his face.

    "Wise True Lord, my good friend! You¡¯ve finally arrived!"

    Seeing the Wise True Lord brought Qi Yuan a sense of calm.

    Every time he encountered a difficult problem, the Wise True Lord¡¯s sharp mind always provided valuable insights.

    "I came as soon as I received your message," the Wise True Lord said, "I¡¯m exhausted and starving, though. Let me eat something first."

    As he spoke, he pulled the bone hanging from his neck and began chewing on it, even licking it a few times.

    Qi Yuan was stunned. "What kind of treasure is that?"

    The Wise True Lord looked flustered and quickly pulled the bone back. "Ahem, do you remember last time, when someone tried to curse you with a sick bird, hoping to make you sick?

    "The bird got overcooked, so I didn¡¯t eat it because I have standards.

    "You ate the bird meat, but you were going to give me the bones..."

    "I remember. I threw the bones away because the bird was sick," Qi Yuan said, recalling the event clearly.

    Back then, a destiny-crafting cultivator had tried to curse him with a sick bird. Later, Qi Yuan killed the person and obliterated Destiny Mountain with a curse.

    "Ahem, but I noticed you didn¡¯t seem to get sick, which means the bird wasn¡¯t poisoned, right?

    "I saw the bones weren¡¯t burnt, so I picked them up to try a bite.

    "It¡¯s just... the bones are really tough, impossible to chew through," the Wise True Lord explained.

    "I see," Qi Yuan nodded.

    At that moment, the Wise True Lord spoke again. "I¡¯ve been thinking about the mark you mentioned. I¡¯ve come up with some ideas."

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    As expected of the Wise True Lord, arriving with results right off the bat.

    "Do you remember the book I once saw in a dream?" the Wise True Lord asked.

    "Could it be you¡¯ve found a way to break the mark in that book?" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    Much of his understanding of the Yang God realm had come from the book the Wise True Lord had seen in his dream.

    The Wise True Lord replied, "Yes... and no."

    "Wise True Lord, stop being cryptic. I know your tricks," Qi Yuan teased.

    "Do you remember where that sick bird came from?" the Wise True Lord asked.

    "This door!" Qi Yuan waved his hand, and a small wooden door appeared.

    This door came from the destiny-crafting cultivator who had tried to curse him.

    It resembled the Gate of All Principles that Qi Yuan had encountered in the Flowing Wind Realm.

    "Exactly. This door resembles the legendary Gate of Principles!

    "The Gate of Principles is said to be the supreme treasure, the greatest of all unique treasures!

    "It¡¯s said that every cultivator who breaks through to the Principle realm leaves a mark of their understanding on the Gate of Principles.

    "This gate, protected by the laws of the Principles, can block all marks and causal ties!"

    Qi Yuan paused.

    He remembered that during his time in the Flowing Wind Realm, when he comprehended the original divine ability, the Great Forgetting Mind Scripture, he had left a mark on the Gate of Myriad Forms.

    Am I a Principle?

    How could I not know?

    Looking at the Wise True Lord, Qi Yuan¡¯s face was full of suspicion. "You know a lot. If this world were a game, you¡¯d definitely be best friends with the developers."

    Qi Yuan felt more and more that the Wise True Lord was shrouded in mystery, as if surrounded by a mist.

    Perhaps this mist had a name: the Halo of Wisdom.

 Chapter 389: The Gate of Principles, or Just My Underworld Gate?

    Chapter 389: The Gate of Principles, or Just My Underworld Gate?

    "The Gate of Principles can indeed block the marks, but... sigh, finding the Gate of Principles is too difficult. This gate is the top of all unique treasures, pursued by countless Yang Gods," the Wise True Lord said.

    Even with his brilliant mind, the Wise True Lord had no idea where to find the Gate of Principles. This showed just how elusive the gate was.

    Qi Yuan frowned. The Gate of Principles that the Wise True Lord spoke of was probably the same as the Gate of Myriad Forms he had encountered in the Flowing Wind Realm.

    When he had meditated on the Gate of Myriad Forms, Qi Yuan had seen some hidden information about it. It could be any gate.

    So perhaps, the so-called Gate of Principles was just a role-playing facade of his, after all.

    "I¡¯ve seen it before, in a game," Qi Yuan murmured.

    "A game?" the Wise True Lord was puzzled.

    "Yeah, what if I go back into that game? Maybe it¡¯ll respawn as an in-game item. No, wait, maybe it¡¯s still there!" Qi Yuan said.

    He clearly remembered the ending of the game.

    Bai Ze had been manipulated by the Stone of Fate, and the Great Sun Lotus had incinerated everything. The Great Sun Lotus was a relic left behind by the Great Sun Light Buddha, who was a Yang God-level powerhouse.

    The Great Sun Lotus could burn the entire Flowing Wind Realm to ashes. In the end, Qi Yuan had swallowed the Great Sun Lotus, used the game reward to create the Key of Myriad Forms, opened the Gate of Myriad Forms, and left the Flowing Wind Realm with the Golden Canary, heading to an unknown universe.

    The Wise True Lord pondered, "Can an in-game item really be real?"

    "Maybe... who knows? Isn¡¯t the real world just a giant game? For all we know, the world we¡¯re living in might be some massive online game!

    "When we play games on our jade disks, maybe our world is just another big jade disk!" Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    The Wise True Lord held his head. "Stop talking, I feel like my brain is about to burst!"

    His brain wasn¡¯t just figuratively expanding; it felt like it was literally trying to break through his skull.

    "You''re right! Geniuses like us shouldn¡¯t think too deeply. Carbon-based human bodies just can¡¯t handle it!" Qi Yuan agreed, nodding. It was like back on Blue Star, when people would start thinking about the universe, galaxies, or black holes, and their heads would start hurting.

    "Can you return to that game?" the Wise True Lord asked. "If you could, would you be able to take control of the Gate of Principles?

    "It¡¯s said that the Gate of Principles has appeared many times throughout the river of ages, but no Yang God has ever been able to claim it. After all, it¡¯s rumored that whoever gets the Gate of Principles can become the ruler of the higher realms!"

    The Gate of Principles was said to be the greatest of all unique treasures. Every Yang God who reached the Principle realm would leave their insights on the Gate of Principles.

    If one were to obtain the gate, they could understand the Principle paths of all the Yang Gods.

    That¡¯s why all the Yang Gods considered it the top treasure and desired to claim it. Even if they couldn¡¯t possess it, they would want to destroy it. Otherwise, if another Yang God got it and spent tens of thousands of years comprehending it, it could pose a significant threat to their own Principles.

    "The Gate of Principles? Isn¡¯t that just the door to my Underworld?" Qi Yuan suddenly exclaimed.

    He realized that he really was a genius among geniuses.

    You know how when girls hang out together, if one of them gets her period, the others might sync up and get theirs too?

    The Wise True Lord, being around him, had probably inspired a sudden flow of genius in Qi Yuan¡¯s mind, making everything so clear.

    And just in time too¡ªhis Underworld didn¡¯t have a proper gate yet.

    The Gate of Myriad Forms, which was said to be able to become any door, could easily serve as his Underworld¡¯s entrance, right?

    It had claimed to be any gate. That was the proof.

    All he needed to do was treat the Gate of Myriad Forms as his Underworld gate, sprinkle some purple energy around, and watch the Yang Gods flock like fish in a river.

    If he wanted to trick an enemy, the easiest way would be to place the Gate of Principles in front of their doorstep.

    Any Yang God would see it and think, "Oh my, the Gate of Principles with purple energy! I¡¯ve struck gold!"

    They¡¯d rush right in, only to find themselves in a chilling, eerie Underworld.

    Or, better yet, Qi Yuan could make the gate lead to the universe where his stars were located.

    When they entered, all his stellar golden cores would attack them at once!

    What a joyous scene that would be.

    "Uh, isn¡¯t that a bit... exaggerated?" The Wise True Lord, for the first time, doubted Qi Yuan¡¯s intelligence.

    After all, this was the Gate of Principles they were talking about.

    But then he thought for a moment.

    "Actually, what you¡¯re saying makes sense. If you can capture it, it could indeed become the door to your Underworld.

    "The real challenge, though, is... how do you catch it?"

    The Gate of Principles had existed for eons and had appeared in the higher realms many times. With so many powerful beings up there, none of them had been able to capture it.

    "Why catch it? It¡¯s already my door!" Qi Yuan replied seriously.

    He had the Key of Myriad Forms¡ªwasn¡¯t that proof enough that the Gate of Myriad Forms belonged to him?

    "Sigh, it¡¯s always been mine. It¡¯s just been wandering off for a bit of fun," Qi Yuan said earnestly, almost convincing himself.

    And judging by the look on the Wise True Lord¡¯s face, he had succeeded in convincing him.

    The Wise True Lord looked at Qi Yuan suspiciously. "It¡¯s really your gate?"

    "Of course!" Qi Yuan nodded.

    "When can I visit your house?" the Wise True Lord asked.

    "My place is still under renovation. Ahem, maybe in a while," Qi Yuan said awkwardly.

    His house¡¯s door was missing, after all.

    ...

    "Could it be that you¡¯re also a supreme treasure?"

    In his room, Qi Yuan pulled out the game jade disk and examined it carefully.

    Then he shook his head. "It¡¯s just a broken game console. How could it be a supreme treasure?"

    If a game console was considered a supreme treasure, that would really cheapen the concept.

    "Everyone, this Taihuang Gathering will present some interesting developments."

    The man in the golden robe was one of the mythical beings of Taihuang Palace.

    Among the remaining mythical beings, aside from the Yang Gods, he ranked in the top ten.

    Yang Gods rarely made themselves known to the world.

    These gatherings, where the major forces communicated, were handled by these mythical beings.

    These weren¡¯t ordinary myths. Each one cast light upon the myriad realms, representing their respective powerful forces.

    "Oh? What good news?" a mythical being from the Demonrace asked with a smile in his eyes. "Could it be that you¡¯ve slain a Yang God from the Moon Maiden Palace?"

    The Demonrace, like Taihuang Palace, was in direct conflict with the Moon Maiden Palace.

    It was said that this feud had started in a small lower-world realm.

    As for the Moon Maiden Palace, the Demonrace had declared open war against them.

    Taihuang Palace and the Moon Maiden Palace had also been in a state of war.

    The other mythical beings present represented forces that had close ties with Taihuang Palace.

    Though they hadn¡¯t directly participated in the war with the Moon Maiden Palace, they had provided resources and support.

    "No, no," the man in the golden robe said with a smug smile. "But it¡¯s even bigger than that!"

    "Could it be that the Moon Maiden Palace¡¯s leader has fallen?" someone suddenly asked, growing excited.

    The other mythical beings looked at him with exasperation.

    The moon in the sky was still shining brightly!

    How could their leader have fallen?

    Moreover, that level of being wouldn¡¯t fall so easily.

    The man in the golden robe shot the speaker a sidelong glance, clearly annoyed.

    His news was big, but comparing it to the fall of the Moon Maiden Palace¡¯s leader made it seem less impressive.

    "That figure hasn¡¯t fallen. However, the Heavenly Sovereign has said that they were gravely injured!"

    The golden-robed man announced, sitting proudly in his burning throne.

    "What? They¡¯re injured?"

    The mythical beings were all shocked.

    Such an existence, rarely seen in the world, was almost impossible to wound.

    One could say that even the death of an ordinary Yang God wasn¡¯t as significant as that being sustaining an injury.

    "I don¡¯t know the specifics of how they got hurt, but the news is accurate.

    "For millions of years, Taihuang Palace has been at war with the Moon Maiden Palace. Right now, Taihuang Palace holds the upper hand.

    "And that figure has been wounded.

    "So, you may want to consider forming an alliance with Taihuang Palace to attack the Moon Maiden Palace!

    "Of course, you can relay this news to your Heavenly Sovereigns," the golden-robed man said with satisfaction.

    The purpose of this Taihuang Gathering was to form alliances, gather resources, and jointly attack the Moon Maiden Palace.

    The main goal was to get the Yang Gods from other forces involved in the battle.

    Now that the leader of the Moon Maiden Palace was injured, it was the perfect opportunity.

    "A being with a Creation Treasure was injured?" a mythical being said in disbelief.

    Creation Treasures were what the Painter had referred to as supreme treasures.

    For countless years, Taihuang Palace and the Moon Maiden Palace had been at war, but to these mythical beings, it was nothing more than skirmishes.

    Taihuang Palace had a Creation Treasure, and so did the Moon Maiden Palace. Neither side could gain a decisive advantage.

    But now, the leader of the Moon Maiden Palace, who possessed a Creation Treasure, had been wounded.

    The implications of that were unimaginable.

    "We don¡¯t know how they were injured, but the information is reliable.

    "Now is the time for us to form a close alliance.

    "Your Heavenly Sovereigns should get involved too.

    "There¡¯s no need to go deep into the core regions of the Moon Maiden Palace. Just focus on the outer areas," the man in the golden robe said with pride.

    The mythical beings present began to breathe more heavily.

    The Moon Maiden Palace¡¯s domain was vast and boundless.

    If the leader of the Moon Maiden Palace was indeed injured, then perhaps the Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns they served would indeed enter the fray and claim a piece of the pie.

    "I will report this to my Heavenly Sovereign. If it¡¯s true, heh, we¡¯ll need to keep an eye on each other!"

    "Don¡¯t worry about the core regions; Taihuang Palace will handle that. You just need to focus on the outer areas!" the man in the golden robe said, his smile widening.

    Once this news spread, there was a good chance that this Taihuang Gathering would be a great success.

    If successful, Taihuang Palace would gain considerable support, and the Moon Maiden Palace would face an overwhelming assault, leading to a drastic shift in the balance of power.

    Just then, the mythical being who had earlier suggested the Moon Maiden Palace¡¯s leader had fallen suddenly spoke up again.

    "Why does it feel like it¡¯s getting hotter?"

    "This is Taihuang Palace; it¡¯s normal for it to be a bit warm," another mythical being replied.

    "It¡¯s just... isn¡¯t it getting a bit too hot? Hey... what¡¯s that in the sky?" the old man suddenly looked up, his beard trembling as his face filled with shock.

 Chapter 390: An Unconventional Reunion with Jin Li, Ten Suns in the Skyâ€”I Am the True Sun!

    Chapter 390: An Unconventional Reunion with Jin Li, Ten Suns in the Sky¡ªI Am the True Sun!

    Above the Nine Heavens.

    The sky was filled with stars, solemn and deep.

    Each star projection represented a terrifying deity.

    The brilliance of the sun shone brightly, dazzling and eye-catching.

    Among the stars, it may not have been the strongest, but it was certainly the most attention-grabbing.

    However, at that moment, something stirred.

    The starry realm trembled.

    All the star projections shook in that instant.

    Countless mythical beings felt it and looked up toward the starry realm.

    "Has a Heavenly Sovereign raised their throne?"

    "How envious!"

    "When will I ever achieve such heights?"

    These mythical beings, each serving a Heavenly Sovereign, had been granted the privilege of casting their light across the heavens, with their own stars, and thus could sense this disturbance.

    Meanwhile, in the Abyss, the Unknown Lands, the Sky-Suspended Sea... in the sacred grounds of the Sixth Heaven...

    Many Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns raised their heads, a look of surprise on their faces.

    "A new throne has appeared?"

    "Who is ascending the throne?"

    "There are fewer and fewer thrones left."

    Casting one¡¯s light across the heavens as a Yang God was different from being a mythical being.

    It required a definitive throne.

    Typically, a throne was obtained either through a chance encounter, the exchange of benefits, or... through forceful seizure.

    Seizing a throne through force was extremely rare.

    The difference between a Yang God with a throne and one without was like the difference between a Yang God with a Creation Treasure and one without¡ªvast.

    Those strong enough to seize a throne usually didn¡¯t need to do so through force.

    In the next moment, a Yang God Heavenly Sovereign narrowed their eyes, a look of astonishment crossing their face.

    "The Great Sun... the Sun... has this fellow gone mad, daring to seize the throne of the one in the Sixth Heaven?"

    Many Yang Gods watching the starry realm either chuckled or gasped in shock.

    For so many years, no one had dared attempt to seize another¡¯s throne.

    Now, someone had finally appeared... and they had aimed for the highest!

    The figure seated in Taihuang Palace, a dominant figure among the Yang Gods in the Sixth Heaven, was a true powerhouse.

    For an unseated Yang God to challenge them... was suicide!

    "Haha, I thought it might be some ancient powerhouse, but it turns out... just an ordinary one. This person¡¯s courage exceeds their wisdom!" A blue-robed Yang God spoke, gazing at the small new sun in the starry realm.

    That star was also competing for the Great Sun throne.

    But compared to the Great Sun of Taihuang Palace, it seemed far too small.

    "A farce!"

    "A joke!"

    "If the one from Taihuang Palace acts, no matter where this fool hides in the heavens, there¡¯s no escape."

    The blue-robed Yang God, finding amusement in the situation, had already discerned the challenger¡¯s background and was about to return to his meditation.

    But suddenly, he glanced up at the starry realm again, his expression shifting to one of surprise.

    "Two... two Great Suns?" The blue-robed Yang God was intrigued. "Some strength, but not enough.

    "With this level of power, he could easily secure a throne. Why provoke the one from Taihuang Palace? He¡¯s overestimating himself..."

    But in the next moment, yet another sun was reflected in his eyes.

    The words he had planned to say were swallowed back down.

    "Three Great Sun star projections... How is this possible?"

    Not every star projection had the potential to bear a divine throne.

    For example, the star projections of mythical beings could not.

    A regular Yang God Heavenly Sovereign, even through a lifetime of effort and fortune, could only manifest one star projection capable of bearing a throne.

    But three? What could that mean?

    And then, his expression changed dramatically.

    In the starry realm, sun after sun began to rise.

    It was like witnessing the grand scene of "A lone smoke pillar in the desert, the sun setting over the long river," but on a cosmic scale.

    One brilliant sun after another ascended, each larger than the last!

    The dark yet luminous starry realm pulsed with waves of light as the suns emerged.

    Four suns!

    Five suns!

    ...

    Until... ten suns!

    Amid the stars of the heavens, there were now ten Great Sun thrones.

    These ten Great Sun thrones represented ten suns!

    "Heaven cannot tolerate two suns, and now a battle for the throne... has begun!" the blue-robed Yang God gritted his teeth.

    Earlier, he had looked down on the Yang God who dared challenge the Great Sun throne.

    Moon God Ancestor had recently been injured, and it was impossible to keep it a secret.

    Although she didn¡¯t know why Moon God Ancestor had left the palace, the injury was real.

    Once this news spread, Taihuang Palace would undoubtedly rally other forces and launch an attack on Moon God Ancestor Palace.

    But now, a Heavenly Sovereign had appeared to challenge a throne!

    And they were targeting Taihuang Palace¡¯s Great Sun throne!

    Taihuang Palace had been thrown into disarray.

    For Moon God Ancestor Palace, this was a gift from the heavens.

    With Taihuang Palace caught up in its own crisis, the other hesitant factions would definitely avoid getting involved.

    The pressure on Moon God Ancestor Palace had eased.

    But at that moment, the Yang God Heavenly Sovereign¡¯s face changed. "Those ten suns... they seem to be heading toward the starry realm of Moon God Ancestor Palace."

    Then, a thought occurred to her. "Could it be a friend of Moon God Ancestor?

    "No, all who hold the Great Sun throne are enemies!"

    The Great Sun and Moon God Ancestor thrones were in direct opposition, eternally hostile.

    For one to ascend to the next level, they had to form a union.

    But one would have to sacrifice themselves to allow the other to succeed.

    This was why the Great Sun and Moon God Ancestor were locked in a struggle to the death.

    The Yang God Heavenly Sovereign¡¯s expression grew complicated. "If he claims the Great Sun throne, he will become an even more terrifying enemy of Moon God Ancestor Palace... Sigh."

    With worries weighing on her mind, she decided not to dwell on them any longer.

    In the Demon Abyss, bathed in darkness and deep red light, the red began to brighten.

    Mist filled the air.

    In an elegant room, the scent of blood mingled with a faint fragrance.

    A woman lifted her dark hair, revealing a blood-stained white robe. The robe was simple, with no intricate designs, save for a delicate jade ornament hanging from her belt.

    As the bloodied robe fell to the floor, the woman stepped into the bath.

    Her pale shoulders, like smooth porcelain, caught a few droplets of water, while beneath the surface, her skin turned pink from the heat of the bath.

    The woman held the delicate jade ornament in her hand, a hint of melancholy flickering in her eyes.

    She couldn¡¯t remember how long it had been since the jade had last glowed.

    Every time she returned from battle, she would bathe, staring at the jade, lost in thought.

    As if she were waiting for it to glow again, as it had in the past.

    Just then, a transmission talisman lit up.

    It was a message from her senior sister.

    "Back from battle again?"

    "Yes."

    "Sigh, after all these years, you¡¯re still the same.

    "Do you really think it¡¯s that easy to accumulate enough merit to ask Moon God Ancestor to intervene?"

    "I¡¯m already more than halfway there. It won¡¯t take much longer." The woman clenched the delicate jade tightly, her expression determined and stubborn.

    Once, she had been an empress who loved peace and shunned conflict. Without his help, pushing her forward, she would have perished long ago.

    But after returning to Moon God Ancestor Palace, she had changed. She knew she couldn¡¯t stay the same.

    Only by becoming stronger, by accumulating enough merit, could she ask Moon God Ancestor to act¡ªso she could once again meet him under the ancient cypress, by the lake in July, in the snow.

    "You¡¯ve been so focused on accumulating merit that you¡¯ve fallen behind the other Moon Maidens. It¡¯s dangerous, you know?"

    "I know."

    "You¡¯re so stubborn. I won¡¯t try to persuade you anymore.

    "But... Moon God Ancestor was injured recently, so even if you have enough merit, it might be difficult to ask her to act."

    The cold woman furrowed her brow, gazing out the window and beyond the formations, toward the lone moon in the sky.

    The pale, white moonlight fell like snow, and the woman reached out, catching the moonlight in her hand.

    "I understand."

    "Sigh, if not for the arrival of the Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign, our Moon God Ancestor Palace would be in serious trouble."

    The woman had heard of the Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign, the mysterious figure who had recently appeared.

    At that moment, she sensed something and looked up toward the stars, toward her own star projection.

    Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly because... she saw ten suns.

    Just then, a voice came through the transmission talisman.

    "Did you see? The Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign¡¯s star projection has entered the realm where Moon God Ancestor Palace resides. It seems to be very close to you."

    The woman stared blankly at the stars. Perhaps because the ten suns were nearing her star projection, she felt warm.

    Her star seemed to glow a bit brighter as well.

    "I see it." She looked down at her smooth, delicate hand, watching as the light from the ten suns fell into her palm, warm and gentle like spring rain.

    "They didn¡¯t stop. They¡¯re moving deeper into the starry realm of Moon God Ancestor Palace. It seems they truly are in league with Moon God Ancestor."

    High above, the ten suns drifted out of the woman¡¯s sight, moving toward another region.

    But the sunlight that had briefly touched her hand remained, cradled in her fingers.

    She wasn¡¯t sure why, but perhaps because of the cool breeze or the fleeting warmth of the sunlight, she suddenly recalled the second message Qi Yuan had sent her through the Red Armor.

    "As if I saw you..."

    At the same time, a mixture of joy and sorrow flickered in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    "Don¡¯t stop. She still can¡¯t... be too close to me."

    "I haven¡¯t... reached the heavens yet!"

 Chapter 391: My Dao Companionâ€™s Golden Core Will Rest in Your Underworld!

    Chapter 391: My Dao Companion¡¯s Golden Core Will Rest in Your Underworld!

    Ten stellar golden cores wandered through the starry realm.

    They passed by the star that belonged to Moon Maiden Jin Li, lingered briefly before the clear moon, and then moved on without staying long.

    It was as if the ten Great Sun golden cores were signaling to the one in Taihuang Palace, saying, "Look, I¡¯ve allied with Moon God Palace."

    The Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns of Moon God Palace were quite puzzled.

    They had no knowledge of such an alliance.

    With Moon God Ancestor in seclusion, they had no way to confirm this.

    However, regardless of the truth, this was certainly a good thing for Moon God Ancestor.

    In the Canglan Realm, Qi Yuan''s expression was calm. "Illuminate the heavens, search for the Flowing Wind Realm."

    He needed to find the Flowing Wind Realm quickly.

    Otherwise, if his house was always open, what if thieves broke in?

    "Got it." Golden Canary chirped excitedly.

    In the stellar projection, Ning Tao¡¯s beautiful eyes sparkled with a hint of anticipation.

    Although "home is where the heart is," the Flowing Wind Realm held many memories unique to her and Qi Yuan.

    Only in the Flowing Wind Realm did he truly belong to her.

    ...

    In the Upper Realm, in the Second Heaven.

    In a certain sacred land.

    A flash of light streaked by, and a somewhat dazed-looking woman stopped in front of a cave.

    "Junior sister, it¡¯s my turn to stand guard..."

    "Huh?" A rushed voice came from within the cave. "What? So soon? My plan isn¡¯t fully in place yet, how is it time to switch already?"

    A woman dressed in emerald green robes appeared, a look of urgency in her eyes.

    The dazed woman showed a surprised expression. "Junior sister, aren¡¯t you usually uninterested in these matters? You¡¯ve always pushed me to relieve you of guard duty early."

    In the Upper Realm, the domineering Taihuang Palace had countless enemies.

    When the one from Taihuang Palace attained the Great Principle realm, he was overbearing beyond compare.

    With just a word, he made 3,000 worlds fall!

    He sent these 3,000 worlds crashing down to the lower realms, turning them into his personal farms.

    These 3,000 worlds were not part of Taihuang Palace¡¯s domain.

    Rather, they belonged to the lower realms of the Three Heavens, independent of any holy land.

    Although not under the control of any holy land, many of these worlds had ties to powerful figures.

    This act of Taihuang Palace offended numerous Yang Gods.

    These Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns dared not challenge Taihuang Palace in the Sixth Heaven, but they secretly sabotaged Taihuang Palace¡¯s "farms."

    The Jade Maiden was one of the agents assigned to these sabotage missions.

    She was a mythical powerhouse, tasked for years with disrupting the Canglan Realm.

    Perhaps, because the Canglan Realm had fallen from the Upper Realm and shared its origins with it, The Qi Yuan Scripture required both Canglan Realm cultivation methods and the techniques brought from the Upper Realm by Shen Wu Shen. It might be connected to this.

    The Jade Maiden looked up, blinking at her senior sister. "Senior sister, why don¡¯t I stay on guard?"

    The dazed woman was confused by the sudden change in the Jade Maiden¡¯s attitude.

    "If you insist, go ahead and take over.

    "Sigh, be cautious. Now that the Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign has appeared out of nowhere, the cultivators of Taihuang Palace are on edge, biting like rabid dogs. If they catch wind of our activities, I fear..."

    The dazed woman¡¯s eyes were filled with concern.

    "Who knows where this Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign hails from, or which realm he sits in?"

    This was a question plaguing many cultivators in the Upper Realm.

    The Sixth Heaven was vast, and there were many Yang God powerhouses.

    Even for the Great Sun of Taihuang Palace, finding the Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    Many Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns and mythical figures were curious about the origins of this Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign.

    "I don¡¯t know either," the Jade Maiden quickly replied, though a glint of excitement flickered in her eyes.

    "Sigh, such troubled times," the dazed woman sighed.

    "Oh, why? What major events have happened recently?" the Jade Maiden asked curiously.

    ...

    In a secret realm, powerful figures gathered.

    "Old Man Jiu is dead. This Blood-Clad Sword God... he¡¯s quite troublesome!" A burly man spoke, his eyes filled with killing intent.

    He had joined the hidden organization thanks to Old Man Jiu¡¯s recommendation.

    Within the organization, he was part of Old Man Jiu¡¯s faction.

    "Hmph, the Blood-Clad Sword God is overestimating himself, thinking he can challenge the Calamity!

    "Does he not realize that even the Heavenly Dao of this world is merely a plaything in the hands of the Calamity?

    "The Calamity doesn¡¯t even need to intervene directly. Just signaling the Heavenly Dao is enough to make the Canglan Realm uninhabitable for him. Everyone will turn against him!"

    To those at the level of Grand Sovereigns, the Heavenly Dao wasn¡¯t something to be greatly feared.

    After all, in some small worlds, a Grand Sovereign could even capture the Heavenly Dao.

    But in the Canglan Realm, if the Heavenly Dao issued an order, all cultivators would have to comply.

    In other words, when the Blood-Clad Sword God defied the Calamity, he was also opposing the entire Canglan Realm.

    How could he win?

    "You all are going too far... Regardless, the Blood-Clad Sword God has a fearless heart in defying the Calamity.

    "Knowing that it¡¯s impossible, yet still striving for it¡ªthat kind of courage should not be slandered!" An elder spoke, his voice tinged with melancholy.

    Many in the hidden organization fell silent, clearly agreeing with the elder.

    After all, when they were younger, didn¡¯t they also once possess the same youthful ambition as the Blood-Clad Sword God, believing they were destined to oppose the Calamity?

    But later, after realizing the true strength of the Calamity, they grew disillusioned and retreated into the hidden organization to avoid becoming fuel for the Calamity.

    Avoiding the Calamity and not fighting back was their way of escaping becoming its sustenance.

    "Heh, you may have a point, but killing Old Man Jiu was wrong!

    "If we let him get away with killing a vice leader, how can our organization hold its head up?"

    "Exactly!"

    "We must take revenge."

    Seven or eight members quickly chimed in.

    Having been in the hidden organization for so long, their mindset had already changed.

    "Lady Jade Maiden will descend soon. With her here, no matter how powerful the Blood-Clad Sword God is, he¡¯s as good as dead!"

    "Indeed, if we kill him, we¡¯ll be preventing him from stepping into the mythical realm and becoming fuel for the Calamity!

    "This, in its own way, is also a form of resistance against the Calamity!"

    The seven members, clearly from Old Man Jiu¡¯s faction, reached a consensus.

    Just then, a ripple of mystical energy emanated from the statue they worshipped.

    All the members of the hidden organization displayed expressions of deep respect.

    "Greetings, Jade Maiden!"

    They all bowed reverently.

    The Jade Maiden was the true master of the hidden organization.

    Without her, they would never have become alternative mythics, nor avoided becoming part of the Mythic Tablet as sustenance for the Calamity.

    "Rise," the Jade Maiden spoke, her gaze lifting to the sky, where ten suns hung, her eyes filled with anticipation.

    The members of the hidden organization stood, but upon seeing the Jade Maiden, their expressions changed.

    Because, unlike before, when they¡¯d only seen a projection of her, this time... she appeared in the flesh.

    The burly man who had suggested killing the Blood-Clad Sword God was overjoyed. He quickly said, "Lady Jade Maiden, is this your true body descending?

    "Excellent! Recently, a powerful figure called the Blood-Clad Sword God has been acting with utter disregard, killing Old Man Jiu and showing no respect for you, Lady Jade Maiden!

    "Please, Lady Jade Maiden, take action and kill this fiend!"

    "Please, Lady Jade Maiden, kill him!" The members from Old Man Jiu¡¯s faction echoed, their voices filled with excitement.

    The Jade Maiden paused, then asked, "The Blood-Clad Sword God¡ªis he not the most powerful in this world, the one who claims he will defy the Calamity?"

    The burly man quickly replied, "Yes, but his defiance of the Calamity is nothing but a joke. Only by joining us can he avoid becoming fuel!

    "Please, Lady Jade Maiden, strike him down!"

    A mocking look appeared in the Jade Maiden¡¯s eyes. "You want me to kill him?"

    That was the Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign! How could she dare!

 Chapter 392: Being Too Good at Raising Pigs Can Backfire, The Fleeing Myth!

    Chapter 392: Being Too Good at Raising Pigs Can Backfire, The Fleeing Myth!

    Seeing the expression on the Jade Maiden''s face, some of the cultivators present were confused. The burly man quickly stepped forward and said, "Naturally, there''s no need for Lady Jade Maiden to personally take action. We can take care of the Blood-Clad Sword God ourselves!"

    He thought that asking the Jade Maiden to act had offended her. After all, she was high above, a mythic figure who illuminated the heavens. How could she lower herself to deal with a mere Blood-Clad Sword God?

    "Personally take action?" The Jade Maiden sneered. "Why wouldn''t I act personally? Of course, I must act personally!"

    The burly man was delighted when he heard this. But in the next instant, a strong sense of danger swept over him, like needles stabbing into his back. He instinctively grew alert, but before he could gather his divine power, an overwhelming pressure crushed down on him.

    The same pressure fell on the other great lords who had been clamoring alongside him.

    "No!"

    They could not understand why the Jade Maiden had turned against them, nor could they comprehend the reason. These great lords, being alternative myths, were far too weak compared to the true myth who illuminated the heavens.

    In an instant, the eight great lords were reduced to dust, obliterated in a flash.

    Coming from the Upper Realm, the Jade Maiden had achieved an extraordinary level of control over her power. Such an annihilation would not even provoke the interference of the Heavenly Dao, nor would it trigger entry into the Void Realm.

    The atmosphere grew heavy as the remaining cultivators, now breathing rapidly, stared at the Jade Maiden with a mix of fear and caution. She clapped her hands and said, "He is the light of this world, the only one with the hope of freeing you all from the calamity. And you want me to kill him?"

    She wasn''t even speaking of the Blood-Clad Sword God''s ability to resist the calamity. Just the fact that he could challenge the Ten Suns in the sky made him someone she couldn¡¯t contend with.

    That was someone powerful enough to challenge the Great Sun.

    And if he truly was the one her master had once followed and admired, how could she possibly make a move against him?

    The other cultivators witnessing this scene were left in shock.

    "He can resist the calamity?"

    "Isn''t the calamity supposed to be unstoppable?"

    "And what about the marks on us?"

    The remaining cultivators were both excited and bewildered.

    How could the Blood-Clad Sword God resist the calamity? After all, hadn''t the Jade Maiden once said that not even the Yang Gods of the Upper Realm could withstand it?

    So how was this possible?

    If even a Yang God couldn¡¯t do it, could the Blood-Clad Sword God really pull it off?

    "Come, let us go pay our respects to the Blood-Clad Sword God!" A sharp gleam flickered in the Jade Maiden''s eyes.

    If the Blood-Clad Sword God truly was the Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign, the entire situation in the Canglan Realm was about to change.

    However, her expression clouded with melancholy for a moment. If the Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign openly opposed the Great Sun, then while the calamity in the Canglan Realm might be averted, the entire realm¡¯s living beings could still face annihilation.

    At the same time, in the Upper Realm, on the sixth level of heaven.

    Inside one of the branch palaces of the Taihuang Palace, Kun Xia Daoist was hurriedly packing his belongings and slipping away under the cover of night.

    Suddenly, a voice called out, "Kun Xia Daoist, where are you headed so late at night?"

    Kun Xia Daoist¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but when he saw who it was, he let out a sigh of relief.

    "Sigh, I¡¯ve been in closed-door cultivation for too long. I¡¯m feeling bored, so I thought I¡¯d take a stroll and experience the mortal world a bit," Kun Xia Daoist said seriously, a faint look of weariness flashing in his eyes at just the right moment.

    "Not surprising for this period¡¯s rising star on the merits board. Kun Xia, you¡¯ve really hit the jackpot, making the rest of us envious.

    "Meanwhile, the place I¡¯ve been watching over for years hasn¡¯t yielded any good Destiny Seeds. Unlike your world, which not only produced a Yang God but now has a new powerhouse with the aura of the Great Dao.

    "This is prime-grade nourishment. Once harvested, the rewards from above will be beyond compare!" The old man in green robes spoke, his eyes full of envy.

    The world he watched over had plenty of rebels, but they were all small fry. There wasn¡¯t a single one capable of gathering enough destiny and momentum to pose a real challenge.

    Out of the 3,000 worlds, his realm ranked near the bottom.

    That¡¯s why he had come to ask his friend Kun Xia for advice.

    "Cough, just luck," Kun Xia Daoist said awkwardly, but inside, he was anxious.

    Not long ago, he had been quite pleased with himself, even ecstatic.

    After all, the Dark Sun had been destroyed!

    The Dark Sun held many corpses used as puppets for harvesting nourishment. In terms of combat power, the Dark Sun could suppress the entire Canglan Realm.

    But now, with the Dark Sun destroyed, a figure named the Blood-Clad Sword God had appeared on his radar.

    It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out that any figure capable of such feats in the Canglan Realm must have been gathering destiny and the aura of the Great Dao.

    In the 3,000 "pig farms," this was what you called a "prime pig."

    He had casually leaked some information about the "prime pig," which brought him heaps of praise, and even earned him a commendation from above.

    For a while, he had basked in the glory, living comfortably for a year or two, just waiting for the harvest.

    "You call that luck? Anyway, I came to ask if I could visit your realm and learn from you.

    "It¡¯s been years without any real achievements, and I¡¯m getting frustrated." The old man in green robes handed a storage pouch to Kun Xia Daoist as he spoke.

    Kun Xia Daoist discreetly accepted the pouch, then replied, "The harvest is still a few hundred years away. There¡¯s not much to learn at this stage.

    "How about this: after the harvest, I¡¯ll personally take you to see my realm."

    Kun Xia Daoist certainly knew what he was talking about when it came to managing such things.

    While a calamity couldn¡¯t be openly acknowledged, you always had to leave behind some artifacts and leak information about the calamity, letting some people believe they could save the world.

    Destiny, after all, could snowball.

    "That sounds good. I¡¯ll be counting on you, Kun Xia!" The old man bowed respectfully, then sighed. "When will the realm I oversee produce a prodigy like the one in yours?"

    Hearing this, Kun Xia Daoist wanted to grimace but restrained himself. He said, "I¡¯m going out for a bit. I¡¯ll be back in 300 years, and we¡¯ll discuss the harvest then. Farewell!"

    With that, Kun Xia Daoist transformed into a stream of light and disappeared.

    As for "farewell"?

    Farewell, my foot. It was more like never seeing him again!

    The old man had to flee!

    Sure, he was good at "raising pigs" and had helped harvest plenty of prime nourishment.

    But being too good was a curse.

    Especially after the "Ten Suns Rising in the Sky" incident...

    Why did it feel so familiar?

    Suddenly, he remembered that some time ago, one of his disciples had reported seeing ten suns in the Canglan Realm.

    At the time, he had brushed it off as either an illusion or a rare celestial phenomenon.

    He had been busy with a critical moment in alchemy and had planned to check it out in a few years.

    Now, though, there was no need to look.

    He had killed that disciple immediately, and after a soul search, he confirmed that only he knew about the ten suns appearing in the Canglan Realm.

    Raising pigs was one thing, but raising a dragon that could devour its owner?

    How could he not flee?

    If Taihuang Palace found out that the hottest figure in the Upper Realm¡ªthe Ten Sun Heavenly Sovereign¡ªoriginated from the Canglan Realm, how could he survive?

    He packed his bags and ran!

    This was a rare, monumental leap in progress.

    According to the backup plan, if they failed to reach the Gate of Principles and the calamity destroyed the Canglan Realm¡¯s beings through the marks, then Qi Yuan would act first, destroying the realm himself and ensuring everyone was revived through the Underworld.

    "Alright, that¡¯s enough. I¡¯ve got urgent business. Bye-bye."

    With the Flowing Wind Realm located, Qi Yuan was preparing to revisit an old place and seek out the Gate of the Myriad Principles.

    However, a sense of unease tugged at his heart.

    The passage of time was merciless. Who knew if the people he once knew were still alive?

    ...

    In the Flowing Wind Realm.

    In a tavern.

    A storyteller, full of excitement, was spitting as he spoke.

    "And so, on that day, the Blood Lord led an army of one hundred thousand Supremes and stormed the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters.

    "The Blood Demon Sword was unsheathed, and the myriad monsters bowed in submission, corpses littering the ground for miles.

    "The demonic woman who had brought calamity upon the world could only kneel and beg for mercy.

    "As for the Blood Lord, his bearing was extraordinary, and his sword-bearing disciple, Ling Yayi, was even more so..." The elderly storyteller¡¯s eyes gleamed as he recalled the past.

    But sadly, the listeners in the tavern showed little interest.

    "Old man Nangong, why are you still talking about this stuff?"

    "Who cares about the Blood Lord? The Blood Palace is ancient history!"

    "Yeah, we want to hear about the Buddhist Sons¡¯ struggles!"

    "Tell us about the Buddhist Kingdom War!"

    The customers below chimed in.

    The events of the Blood Palace were from an era long past.

    The Blood Palace had faded like a fleeting flower, unable to last even a hundred years without its Blood Lord.

    As for the old tale of the Blood Lord saving the world at the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters, it was scarcely known to anyone.

    Nowadays, most cultivators treated it like a piece of ancient gossip.

    The world of cultivation was vast, and time was cheap.

    In the span of ten thousand years, countless amazing stories could unfold.

    No myth, no individual, could remain eternal.

    The old storyteller sighed and was about to say something when a brash voice interrupted.

    "That Blood Lord? He just had a bit of luck.

    "Ten thousand years ago, he led his army into the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters.

    "I was there!

    "Unfortunately, back then, I was just a lowly Supreme and didn¡¯t have enough power.

    "When the Blood Lord entered my territory, of course, I didn¡¯t want to be humiliated. So, I... well, I pissed all over the place to declare that this was my land!

    "Even though they had the numbers, I wasn¡¯t afraid!"

    At that moment, an elderly man and a young man entered the tavern.

    The old man was the one who had spoken, his body exuding a strong demonic aura.

    He had been a survivor of the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters from ten thousand years ago.

    At that time, he had been too far from the battlefield.

    When he saw the legions of Supremes appear, he had been so scared that he pissed himself and fled back to the Monster Realm.

    Eventually, he had broken through to the Yin God stage and ascended to the Upper Realm.

    However, he was still a dog demon.

    Now, having broken through to the Yin God stage, he figured he should embellish his past and make a name for himself.

    He wasn¡¯t scared out of his wits! No, he had bravely pissed in defiance of the Blood Lord, declaring that this was his territory.

    Hearing this, the diners in the tavern turned to look.

    But most of their attention was focused on the young figure next to the old man.

    The young man wore a monk¡¯s robe, his head smooth and gleaming, without a single hair.

    "A Buddhist Son!"

    "That¡¯s the Illumined Buddha!"

    All the diners stood in reverence, their eyes filled with awe.

    In today¡¯s Flowing Wind Realm, who was the one group you absolutely could not provoke?

    The monks!

    And among the monks, the most respected were the Buddhist Sons.

    These Buddhist Sons had all descended from the Upper Realm.

    Every one of these immortals from the Upper Realm possessed the power to destroy worlds.

    At that moment, the Illumined Buddha raised his head, his gaze landing on the old storyteller.

    His eyes were deep, a strange light flickering within them. "Ling Yayi, once one of the Thirteen Northern Demons, a disciple of the Blood Lord. This humble monk finds you quite interesting. Come with me."

    His tone left no room for refusal, brimming with authority.

    The old storyteller''s face changed upon hearing this, and a flicker of memory passed through his weary eyes.

    "Sigh."

    The customers in the tavern were equally shocked.

    The Blood Lord''s disciple?

    A legendary figure... actually existed!

    "And what do you want with this old man?" Ling Yayi dusted off his robes, his demeanor calm, still carrying the pride of the Blood Lord''s disciple.

    Back then, when the Blood Lord taught, Ling Yayi had been one of his most promising students, always at the forefront.

    While the name Ling Yayi might not be well known within the Blood Palace, everyone was familiar with the name Nangong Big Dog.

    "This humble monk is quite interested in the Blood Lord." The Illumined Buddha''s gaze deepened.

    If possible, he wanted to capture the Blood Lord. He was eager to study the power of reincarnation.

    In the Buddhist Kingdom, reincarnation was a legendary ultimate principle, something even the Great Sun Luminous Buddha had never fully comprehended.

    However, after poring over ancient texts from the Flowing Wind Realm, he had discovered that the Thirteen Northern Demons seemed to have experienced reincarnation.

    The old storyteller, Ling Yayi, waved his sleeve dismissively, showing no fear. "I haven''t seen my master in ten thousand years. Even if you kill me, he won''t show up. Your little scheme is doomed to fail."

 Chapter 393: The Path I Missed, Walking Together

    Chapter 393: The Path I Missed, Walking Together

    "What''s the matter?"

    Golden Canary peeked her head back and looked at Qi Yuan with curiosity, seeing that he hadn¡¯t made a move.

    Cough, cough... "I''m too big. It''s hard to get in," Qi Yuan said, exasperated.

    After illuminating the heavens and with Ning Tao¡¯s help, he had found the coordinates for the Flowing Wind Realm. For a powerful being like him, entering a lower realm only required knowing its coordinates to access through the Dark Void.

    However, the issue now was that his strength was too immense for easy entry.

    When he thought about the Flowing Wind Realm, he felt a bit helpless. It was like back in the day when he tried to log into a game, and the icon would load only halfway before leaving him hanging.

    This was just like those pesky games that tease players. In his case, the game had teased him by sending a wife-like character, Ning Tao, who kept calling him "husband" with each breath, making Qi Yuan restless.

    Now it was the same issue¡ªdifficult to enter.

    "That can''t be!" Golden Canary wrapped her small hands around Qi Yuan and tried to pull him in with all her might, but still, nothing budged.

    The movement seemed to make her think of something, and her cheeks flushed red. "You handle it yourself."

    "Sigh, I get it now. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m too big. It¡¯s because this is a game world, and I¡¯m a real person. Entering a game world is naturally tricky!"

    It was like trying to imagine a person on Earth diving into a computer game¡ªhow difficult would that be? You¡¯d probably have to smash the screen to shove yourself inside! The game world looks vast, but any sharp observer would notice that it¡¯s all an illusion, hidden inside the screen.

    Unless you had a giant computer, it¡¯d be tough to fit a person into the game.

    "Time to use my clever brain."

    In that moment, Qi Yuan''s thoughts swirled, and suddenly, something came to mind.

    "Is it because I haven¡¯t disguised myself as a game character?"

    He recalled what Great Wisdom True Monarch once said¡ªwhen a Heavenly-level Yang God descended into a world, they¡¯d be reduced to the Mythic stage. A Lesser Principle-level being would drop one minor realm.

    For a Greater Principle-level being, their strength would remain unchanged.

    With 4,000 Nascent Souls inside him and combat strength comparable to a Yang God, unless he reigned it in, entering the Flowing Wind Realm could easily shatter the world.

    Even worse, if he pushed too hard, the realm would crumble entirely.

    "Condense," Qi Yuan muttered softly.

    Immediately, the 4,000 Nascent Souls within him withdrew their energy. His own aura began to recede, and his celestial power lowered to the Mythic level.

    "What about the strength of the Myriad Martial God?" Qi Yuan wondered.

    Would this realm restrict that power?

    He gave it a try and attempted to slip into the Flowing Wind Realm. To his delight, the realm didn¡¯t reject him.

    Smiling, Qi Yuan exclaimed, "It¡¯s not resisting!"

    It seemed the power from his Myriad Martial God state wasn¡¯t detected by the world¡¯s rules. With Golden Canary in tow, he quickly entered the Flowing Wind Realm.

    "I should be more cautious. The quality of this game world is a bit fragile..."

    Qi Yuan had a sense that if he let his Myriad Martial God power slip even a little, holes would be punched all over the Flowing Wind Realm. It felt like a game character punching a hole in a computer screen.

    So, even though the world didn''t restrict his Myriad Martial God power, he had to control it carefully. After all, this was Golden Canary''s home.

    "As expected, my celestial power is limited to the Mythic level."

    Qi Yuan observed his energy levels.

    Before entering the Flowing Wind Realm, he had deliberately lowered his celestial power to the Mythic level, and after entering, he found it could not be restored. He figured he''d only regain full power after leaving the realm.

    No wonder Yang Gods rarely descended to lower realms¡ªhaving their power stuck at the Mythic level, if they got surrounded by a dozen Mythic beings, dying in a small world would be quite a miserable end.

    At this moment, Golden Canary took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with joy.

    "This is the Flowing Wind Realm!"

    Ahead of them stood a forest of red maple trees, painting the entire world in shades of red, like something out of a fairy tale.

    Ning Tao appeared beside them, standing with Golden Canary, one on each side of Qi Yuan. Her eyes glimmered with nostalgia.

    "This was the place where I first heard your voice," Ning Tao said softly.

    Dressed in a black gown, with a petite and delicate frame, Ning Tao gazed up at Qi Yuan, her eyes filled with endless memories.

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan smiled.

    As the memories flooded back, Qi Yuan looked at Ning Tao¡¯s lovely, cool smile and gently said, "You''ve grown up, Ning Tao. You''re the most beautiful girl in the world."

    In the past, a young Ning Tao, with the word "demon" engraved on her face, had been labeled a demon girl and hunted down.

    On this very mountain, those hunting her had insulted her as a demon and called her ugly. The young Ning Tao had defiantly raised her head and declared, "When I grow up, I¡¯ll be the most beautiful girl in the world!"

    Qi Yuan had heard this vow through a jade slip linked to the game and, in a good mood, casually responded a few words, causing the killer hunting Ning Tao to lose focus, giving her the chance to strike back and kill them.

    Qi Yuan gently touched the spot on Ning Tao''s face where the word "demon" had once been etched, his gaze infinitely soft.

    Ning Tao smiled, her expression radiant like the melting of spring snow or pear blossoms in bloom.

    "When I illuminated the heavens, I couldn¡¯t find any trace of the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons. Now, entering this realm, my powers are limited, so I can¡¯t help you, husband. You¡¯ll have to find the gate yourself."

    "Alright," Qi Yuan nodded.

    Finding something was definitely easier for a Sun God than for a Mythic-level being.

    Ling Yayi, the old man, felt indignant.

    It was bad enough that he had been captured by the Illumined Buddha, but now they wanted to force him to become a monk?

    Naturally, he refused.

    But the Illumined Buddha didn¡¯t care about his opinion and subjected him to daily ¡°torture,¡± claiming that Ling Yayi¡¯s desires were too strong and needed to be cleansed.

    The ¡°cleansing¡± involved spiritual torment.

    First, they used Dao techniques to amplify Ling Yayi¡¯s desires several times over, maybe even tenfold.

    Then, all kinds of temptations surrounded him¡ªgourmet foods, beautiful fox maidens dancing seductively, precious magical artifacts parading by.

    And all he could do was look. He couldn¡¯t touch, couldn¡¯t take, couldn¡¯t eat.

    How could Ling Yayi not be furious?

    The mental strain was exhausting, akin to engaging in twelve intense battles in one night.

    How he knew this so specifically was anyone¡¯s guess.

    "You possess the power of reincarnation, which makes you connected to the Buddha¡¯s path. You are destined to become a great Buddha.

    "This time, the Great Buddha Assembly is being held. You¡¯ll represent our Tanka Holy Land, and you must claim the top prize," the Illumined Buddha said calmly. "You have too many desires. Without proper cleansing, even with the power of reincarnation, it will be difficult for you to break into the top ten."

    "Who asks for help like this?!" Ling Yayi wailed in despair.

    This was too cruel!

    There were bad people in the Upper Realm!

    What kind of test was this?

    This wasn¡¯t even physical torture!

    If it were actual torture, he might have caved by now!

    "Fine! I¡¯ll represent you guys! Just stop torturing me, okay?"

    "This is not torture; it¡¯s cleansing your desires.

    "Sadly, you¡¯re not the Blood Lord.

    "If he were here, he would probably need no cleansing at all and would naturally become a great Buddha."

    The power of reincarnation in the Thirteen Northern Demons undoubtedly had a connection to the Blood Lord.

    The Blood Lord himself must possess an even more intense reincarnation force.

    From reading ancient texts, the Illumined Buddha had gleaned that the Blood Lord was an extraordinary genius.

    Unlike the man in front of him, who had too many desires, his spirit too tainted.

    "Heh, you¡¯re wrong about that. My master, that old man, was far worse than me.

    "He killed without blinking an eye. His robes were drenched in blood! Why do you think he¡¯s called the Blood Lord? It¡¯s because of how many people he¡¯s killed!

    "And you think he could become a great Buddha?" Ling Yayi laughed.

    Since his master wasn¡¯t around, he felt free to spin a few tales at his expense for amusement.

    "He has slain millions, but he¡¯s no longer killing living beings. Instead, he¡¯s cutting down the delusions in his heart.

    "A genius like that, why shouldn¡¯t he become a great Buddha?" The Illumined Buddha¡¯s voice was filled with the wisdom of the Buddha¡¯s teachings.

    Ling Yayi froze, his lips twitching. "Are you saying I have too many desires because I haven¡¯t killed enough?"

    The Illumined Buddha shook his head. "If you kill too much, you¡¯ll become a great demon.

    "But once you lay down your blade, your soul will be annihilated, and your body can become a Vajra protector for our Buddhist sect."

    "...So, whether I kill more or kill less, I¡¯m wrong!" Ling Yayi was speechless. "And isn¡¯t the saying ¡®lay down the blade and become a Buddha¡¯? Why would my body become a Vajra protector?"

    "If it were so easy to become a Buddha, the Buddhist Kingdom would be filled with slaughter."

    There was a trace of helplessness in the Illumined Buddha¡¯s calm voice.

    "Hey, if any of my senior brothers get captured by you people from the Upper Realm, what kind of treatment will they receive?" Ling Yayi asked cautiously.

    "With the power of reincarnation, they could become great Buddhas. Generally speaking, they wouldn¡¯t be in much danger.

    "Besides, you are disciples of White Supreme, so the Buddhist Kingdom likely wouldn¡¯t harm you.

    "But... in all things, karma reigns supreme. Anything is possible." The Illumined Buddha¡¯s reply was measured.

    The Buddhist Kingdom wasn¡¯t entirely peaceful.

    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have spent so many years fighting each other, vying for the title of the true orthodox Buddhist Kingdom.

    The chance to claim that orthodoxy had arisen in the Flowing Wind Realm.

    That was why all the Buddhist Sons from the various holy lands had entered the Flowing Wind Realm.

    The Illumined Buddha wished for the Buddhist Kingdom to unite and stop the fighting.

    But... was uniting them really so easy?

    "I hope they¡¯re okay," Ling Yayi sighed. "This feeling... isn¡¯t good at all."

 Chapter 394: Did the Buddhaâ€™s Guidance Save You? Now That the Buddha Is Here, Was It His Guidance?

    Chapter 394: Did the Buddha¡¯s Guidance Save You? Now That the Buddha Is Here, Was It His Guidance?

    Flowing Wind Realm.

    The forest was bathed in green, the entire world a lush, verdant expanse. Yesterday, it had been autumn, with red maple leaves everywhere, but today, it was spring.

    Ning Tao stood on a mountain path, her eyes filled with memories. "This used to be a lone peak with many caves. When I was a child, I hid here for a year."

    Golden Canary chimed in, her eyes glowing with excitement. "I remember there were these red fruits that were delicious! I haven''t had them since."

    Thinking about the caves, Qi Yuan tightened his grip on Golden Canary''s and Ning Tao''s hands.

    In the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, he had engraved his primordial divine ability and experienced the cycle of the Great Demon. The demoness who was supposed to be tricked and manipulated had been unexpectedly replaced by Golden Canary. Golden Canary had foolishly followed him, playing the role of an unusual demoness, and had even once taken him to a cave to live in seclusion.

    "Do you want to trace back time and find that fruit again?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Ning Tao¡¯s divine domain was related to time. She couldn¡¯t reverse time or resurrect the dead, but she could reconstruct a tree from the past and produce a similar fruit.

    "No need. It was probably only delicious because it¡¯s a memory. If I eat it again, it might not be as good," Ning Tao said, accepting it easily.

    Her gaze shifted to the peak of the mountain, where a Buddhist pagoda stood, solemn and imposing. The ancient eaves of the pagoda were adorned with copper bells, and as the bell rang, the sound carried, stirring the copper bells to ring.

    "I didn¡¯t expect the Flowing Wind Realm to be ruled by Buddhism now," Ning Tao said with a trace of sadness in her eyes.

    The Blood Palace had once been the most powerful force in the Flowing Wind Realm, reigning supreme. Qi Yuan had been a great enemy of the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, slaughtering demonesses and leaving with the source of the Extinguished Sun.

    But after the Blood Lord disappeared, the Blood Palace barely survived for a hundred years before disintegrating. The accomplishments of the Blood Lord were no longer even remembered.

    Qi Yuan knew what Ning Tao was thinking and smiled. "Why worry about what others think?"

    Ning Tao nodded, speaking softly, "The Flowing Wind Realm is now filled with Buddhist temples. In a month, the Great Buddha Assembly will take place, and the Buddha¡¯s disciples from the Upper Realm will participate."

    Qi Yuan pondered aloud, "Do you think, given the nature of the Gate of Myriad Principles, that it will appear during the Great Buddha Assembly?"

    Qi Yuan had a theory about when the Gate of Myriad Principles would manifest¡ªwhenever a major event occurred, when the energy of an entire realm converged.

    "It¡¯s possible," Ning Tao agreed.

    Golden Canary, unable to contain her excitement, suddenly laughed. "Hehe, that damned gate is finally going to become my gate!"

    It was clear she had some resentment toward the Gate of Myriad Principles. After all, in the past, that blood pearl guy had been constantly staring at the gate. Golden Canary couldn¡¯t understand why.

    Was the Gate of Myriad Principles more attractive than she was?

    Now that the gate was about to become her home, her mood was great.

    "The Buddhism here is interesting¡ªit¡¯s from the Upper Realm. Does that mean all these bald heads are my... white moonlight?" Qi Yuan''s thoughts wandered.

    People from the Upper Realm surely had many divine techniques, and to Qi Yuan, Upper Realm divine techniques were all fodder for his Qi Yuan Sutra.

    "How about we explore the Flowing Wind Realm while asking for alms?" Qi Yuan suggested, looking at the temple on the mountain. "Looks like I have a connection with the Buddha!"

    It was a genuine connection! After all, the Upper Realm¡¯s divine techniques were deeply intertwined with his fate. And these monks who could offer Buddhist scriptures were his white moonlight.

    Although calling monks white moonlight sounded odd, true love didn¡¯t care about worldly opinions.

    Golden Canary¡¯s eyes sparkled with laughter, filled with anticipation. "Let¡¯s go! I¡¯ve never asked for alms before!"

    Just then, a panicked cry for help rang out.

    Qi Yuan focused his gaze and saw an old woman hanging from a cliff, clinging desperately to the root of a pine tree. Her face was filled with fear, and the root was showing signs of being pulled out, on the verge of breaking.

    Not far away, a young girl watched helplessly, her face filled with worry. "Someone help! Save her!"

    The girl¡¯s name was Bai Baixiang. Though cute and powerful, she had caused too much trouble and had her powers sealed by her master. Now, all she could do was panic with no way to help.

    Suddenly, a gentle voice rang out.

    "Why not start today¡¯s good deeds with you?"

    A crimson streak of light flashed, and the old woman was lifted from the cliff and safely placed back on the road.

    Bai Baixiang let out a sigh of relief and turned to thank the man who had saved her. She blinked in surprise. A man in a blood-red robe? This was a nearly perfect imitation of the Blood Lord¡¯s robe! Clearly, this man was an admirer of the Blood Lord.

    But these days, admiration for the Blood Lord was a niche interest, far less popular than devotion to the bald monks.

    Seeing the man¡¯s handsome face, Bai Baixiang was even more pleased. After all, it seemed that fans of the Blood Lord were good-looking men and beautiful women.

    However, when she saw the two women standing beside him, her heart sank in self-consciousness.

    These women were extraordinarily beautiful, filled with grace and charm. To have even one of them would be a blessing beyond measure. To have both¡ªwell, better to stay alive and enjoy it, right?

    Without hesitation, Bai Baixiang rushed over to greet them, excited to meet a fellow admirer of the Blood Lord.

    Meanwhile, the man in the blood-red robe¡ªQi Yuan¡ªlooked kindly at the old woman. "Hey, according to how things go, you should thank me now."

    After doing a good deed, a thank you was the natural response.

    The dazed old woman finally came to her senses. She turned to look at the Buddhist pagoda on the mountain, her expression devout.

    "Thank you, Buddha, for showing your divine powers and saving me from danger. I will eat only vegetarian food and sincerely worship you!" she said, bowing deeply in gratitude to the Buddha.

    Qi Yuan was dumbfounded. A bit annoyed, he said, "You¡¯re thanking the Buddha? Shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me?"

    Qi Yuan was very serious about this.

    He was meticulous in his actions.

    If a stray dog barked at him on the street, he¡¯d sit down and explain things to the dog for half an hour until it apologized.

    After all, what¡¯s the point of living if not to enjoy oneself and find satisfaction?

    The half-Buddha¡¯s face twisted. He glanced at the old woman, then at Qi Yuan, his heart sinking.

    Really?

    Over such a trivial matter?

    To be dragged down like this?

    His dignity was gone, completely lost!

    And this deity... why was he so strange?

    "How could I dare guide you? It is you who guides us!" The half-Buddha was now filled with resentment toward the old woman.

    Qi Yuan smiled broadly. "See? Even your Buddha says it wasn¡¯t his guidance that saved you. Now, how about saying thank you?"

    The old woman¡¯s face turned pale as her faith shattered. She stammered, but couldn¡¯t bring herself to say the words.

    At that moment, Ning Tao¡¯s eyes flashed with cold light. "Since it was the Buddha¡¯s guidance before, and the Buddha is here now, let¡¯s see if he guides you again."

    With just a glance from her, the old woman found herself back on the cliff, clinging once again to the tree root.

    "Help me!" she screamed, her voice filled with terror. But this time, there was no divine intervention from the Buddha.

    ...

    "Master, these are all the divine techniques I have!"

    In the pagoda, the half-Buddha¡¯s tone was filled with humility, treating Qi Yuan like a plague.

    Qi Yuan took the divine techniques and beamed. "How many bald heads from the Upper Realm have descended here? Are they all as wealthy as you?"

    The half-Buddha was puzzled, unsure of Qi Yuan¡¯s identity, but he answered truthfully. "There are about two thousand half-Buddhas who have descended."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. "I really like you bald guys."

    If he could capture all these monks, how many divine techniques would he get?

    One divine technique could advance the Qi Yuan Sutra and the Stellar Gold Core section just as much as a new Stellar Gold Core.

    One divine technique meant one Stellar Gold Core!

    Qi Yuan was thrilled.

    The half-Buddha forced a smile, not daring to comment.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan said, "Help me find some people, and we¡¯ll call it even for that misunderstanding."

    "Who are you looking for?" The half-Buddha asked, curious.

    "Hmm, Bai Ze, the Foolish Daoist, Ling Yayi..."

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t feel like searching for them himself. If he searched, he might accidentally destroy the Flowing Wind Realm.

    After all, he was too powerful.

    So, it was better to leave the task to this half-Buddha.

    "Bai Ze? Do you mean the disciple of the Great Sun Brightness Buddha?" The half-Buddha¡¯s expression shifted slightly.

    Nearby, Bai Baixiang also reacted, her face growing more curious as she looked at Qi Yuan.

    Her master was White Crane, and the person she followed was White Emperor.

    The names Qi Yuan mentioned were all part of the Thirteen Northern Demons!

    Suddenly, her gaze fell on Ning Tao, and her heart raced with excitement.

    Could it be...?

    Godfather?

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t notice Bai Baixiang¡¯s reaction. He nodded. "Yes, do you know where he is? He¡¯s more or less my disciple, so there¡¯s some connection between us."

    Seeing the half-Buddha¡¯s expression change, Qi Yuan smiled. "What¡¯s with that look? Is he not doing well?"

    The half-Buddha¡¯s heart trembled.

    He couldn¡¯t figure out this god¡¯s true identity.

    Bai Ze was a disciple of the Great Sun Brightness Buddha, destined to unify the Buddhist Kingdom and become the Buddha.

    Yet this man casually claimed Bai Ze was his half-disciple. Was he not afraid of the immense karmic burden that would bring?

    Or... could this man not be a deity at all?!

 Chapter 395: Are You Still Looking for a Buddha?

    Chapter 395: Are You Still Looking for a Buddha?

    Bai Baixiang was deeply shaken.

    The half-Buddha¡¯s heart was pounding even faster.

    The master of the Buddha disciple Bai Ze?

    "Could it be that senior also comes from the Buddhist Kingdom?"

    As he spoke, he glanced at the two women by Qi Yuan''s side, Golden Canary and Ning Tao.

    This senior must have been from the Buddhist Kingdom but had left due to attachment to worldly desires, right?

    But claiming that Bai Ze was his half-disciple? The half-Buddha didn¡¯t believe it.

    Bai Ze was the disciple of the Great Sun Brightness Buddha, and even ordinary true Buddhas wouldn¡¯t dare to claim to be Bai Ze¡¯s master.

    This guy had serious guts.

    "Do I look like I¡¯m from the Buddhist Kingdom?" Qi Yuan asked, proudly holding the two women closer, as if showing off to the half-Buddha.

    After all, this half-Buddha was clearly a single man.

    Qi Yuan felt extremely superior.

    The half-Buddha was puzzled.

    Not from the Buddhist Kingdom?

    But the disciple of the Great Sun Brightness Buddha had never left the Buddhist Kingdom before descending into the lower realms.

    How could he be his half-disciple?

    Was this guy bluffing?

    If so, it made sense.

    As a member of the Buddhist faith, the half-Buddha understood the many desires that cloud people''s hearts. Even he wasn¡¯t exempt from such feelings.

    After all, becoming a true Buddha was itself a form of attachment.

    At this moment, Bai Baixiang suddenly widened her eyes and mustered the courage to ask, her voice trembling with excitement, "Could senior be... the Blood Lord?"

    Her voice wavered, and she seemed thrilled.

    If he was the Blood Lord, then everything would make sense.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Bai Baixiang with a bit of surprise. "There are still young people in this world who remember the Blood Lord?"

    In this game, there was no need to hide one¡¯s identity.

    Honesty was the best tactic.

    "You really are the Blood Lord! Godfather!" Bai Baixiang exclaimed and attempted to pounce on Qi Yuan.

    But halfway through, she was frozen mid-air by Ning Tao.

    Ning Tao frowned, "Covered in sweat, and besides, my husband is still young!"

    The half-Buddha standing nearby was also stunned, his expression full of surprise.

    The Blood Lord?

    He had heard of this figure.

    A legendary figure from nearly ten thousand years ago in the Flowing Wind Realm, one who could stir the winds of the world.

    But no matter how powerful, wasn¡¯t he just at the Fifth Realm, the Purple Mansion stage?

    How did he suddenly become... so powerful?

    It was well-known that breaking through the Yin God stage and opening the divine orifices required a great deal of time.

    Even in the Buddhist Kingdom, where the power of incense could aid in breakthroughs, the half-Buddha had only advanced from one step in the Heavenly Stage to two over ten thousand years.

    Qi Yuan looked at Bai Baixiang curiously. "How do I suddenly have a god-granddaughter?"

    "Godfather, my master is White Crane! She¡¯s your goddaughter, remember?" Bai Baixiang said excitedly.

    Qi Yuan''s memory flashed to a white crane.

    That crane girl was from the White Emperor Palace.

    Back when Qi Yuan held power in No Return City, sweeping the world, White Crane shamelessly called him godfather.

    Or rather, she went around telling everyone that Qi Yuan was her godfather.

    But Qi Yuan had never acknowledged her.

    He looked at Bai Baixiang with a puzzled expression. "I¡¯m a human, your master is a bird. Can a human give birth to a bird?

    So, she¡¯s not my daughter.

    I only have two daughters!"

    Bai Baixiang blinked, realizing there was some logic to his words, but then quickly said, "No, my master is your goddaughter!"

    "Why are you as shameless as your master?" Qi Yuan decided not to argue further and asked, "Is your master still with Bai Ze?"

    Bai Baixiang shook her head, clearly unsure.

    At this moment, the half-Buddha spoke up, "In three months, the Great Buddha Assembly will take place. By then, Buddha disciple Bai Ze should attend."

    "Oh, a gathering of single dogs?" Qi Yuan said excitedly.

    Did that mean he could go and ask for alms?

    The half-Buddha looked embarrassed.

    This Blood Lord had quite a sharp tongue.

    "Please, Blood Lord, do not speak lightly. During the Great Buddha Assembly, true Buddhas from the Upper Realm may listen to the Buddhist discourse, and a Sacred Buddha disciple will be chosen."

    The half-Buddha¡¯s expression became reverent and excited as he spoke.

    The Buddhist Kingdom in the Upper Realm had been at war for so long.

    Now, there was finally an opportunity to unite and bring an end to the conflict. The half-Buddha was naturally eager.

    "What¡¯s the point of being a Sacred Buddha disciple?" Qi Yuan asked. "Can they get divine techniques from the divine kingdom for free?"

    Qi Yuan suddenly had a plan.

    Begging for alms was too much trouble¡ªwhy not invest in Bai Ze and help him become the Sacred Buddha disciple?

    If Bai Ze won, wouldn¡¯t that mean unlimited divine techniques?

    "They can," the half-Buddha confirmed.

    "Do you think Bai Ze has the potential to be a Sacred Buddha disciple?" Qi Yuan asked. "Why don¡¯t you all support him?"

    The half-Buddha¡¯s expression grew strange. "Buddha disciple Bai Ze has a chance, but he lost the Great Sun Golden Lotus and may be held accountable for it. Unless he can recover it."

    "Yeah, it¡¯s a pity this is no longer the Blood Lord¡¯s era."

    Some of the tavern¡¯s cultivators sighed, lamenting the passing of a once-great hero.

    Chen Huan didn¡¯t share their sentiment. Instead, he was filled with excitement. "Where is the Blood Lord now?"

    His heart raced with anticipation.

    Back then, the Blood Lord had left with the source of destruction, and no one thought he would survive.

    Now, hearing that the Blood Lord might still be alive, how could Chen Huan not be excited?

    Even if it was a lie, he had to see for himself!

    "The Blood Lord has no fixed abode, but he said he would attend the Great Buddha Assembly in three months."

    The news of the Blood Lord¡¯s reappearance was like a pebble tossed into a lake, causing barely a ripple.

    In today¡¯s Flowing Wind Realm, Buddhism was dominant.

    Who cared about the Blood Palace or the Blood Lord? Only a few still paid attention.

    And the news of the Blood Lord¡¯s return had been quietly spread by Qi Yuan himself.

    He figured that if any old acquaintances wanted to see him, they could come to the Great Buddha Assembly.

    As for everyone else, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care.

    For now, Qi Yuan was wandering, accompanying Golden Canary and Ning Tao as they walked the paths they had never traveled together.

    In the meantime, he was also searching for the runaway gate.

    Qi Yuan had heard of people leaving their hometown, but a gate running away? That was a first.

    "Farewell, friend. I¡¯m heading to the Great Buddha Assembly to meet the Blood Lord!" Chen Huan said as he parted ways with Kunxia Daoist, brimming with excitement.

    He couldn¡¯t wait to flaunt his divine orifices in front of the Blood Lord.

    But more than that, he was ecstatic that the Blood Lord was still alive.

    At that moment, Kunxia Daoist narrowed his eyes. "I¡¯m also quite interested in this Blood Lord. How about I join you? We¡¯ll meet this legendary figure together, and I¡¯ll take in the Great Buddha Assembly as well."

    Kunxia¡¯s intentions were simple.

    Though he was hiding in the lower realms, he couldn¡¯t stay hidden forever.

    He also didn¡¯t dare act too boldly or form his own faction¡ªit would be too risky.

    If Taihuang Palace found him here, things could get messy.

    The best option was to take over an existing local power.

    And he had to be cautious.

    Anything related to the Buddhist Kingdom was off-limits.

    But the Blood Palace? Now that was a tempting target.

    It had power, elders, and a decent reputation.

    With a few tricks, Kunxia could turn the Blood Lord into his puppet and rule through him.

    As for Chen Huan, Kunxia didn¡¯t want to make a move just yet.

    Chen Huan still had connections to the Upper Realm. If he disappeared, it could cause problems.

    Kunxia Daoist smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling.

    This descent into the lower realm was going smoothly¡ªclearly, destiny favored him!

    "Sigh, it¡¯s too tragic! Too tragic!"

    "I don¡¯t want to become a bald monk¡ªI still want to get married!"

    Ling Yayi wailed, his face filled with pitiful sorrow.

    The Illumined Buddha looked at him calmly. "You¡¯ve lived for ten thousand years and still haven¡¯t gotten married. Do you really think it¡¯s going to happen now?

    Whether you marry or not seems irrelevant. You might as well... join our Buddhist Order."

    Ling Yayi¡¯s face twitched, frozen in awkwardness.

    The Illumined Buddha had a point.

    What difference did it make whether he took a vow of celibacy or not?

    He¡¯d lived for over ten thousand years and hadn¡¯t been with anyone!

    Should he blame it on the fact that all the women he met were too strange for his taste?

    Maybe... maybe he should give up!

    "Oh, by the way, I have some news for you."

    The Illumined Buddha¡¯s eyes flickered with a complicated emotion.

    "What news?" Ling Yayi asked, confused.

    "Some true Buddhas have received word that the Great Sun Golden Lotus is with the Blood Lord."

    This news had just reached the Illumined Buddha.

    What had happened at the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons could no longer be kept secret, and some true Buddhas had discovered the truth.

    "If it¡¯s with my master, so what? Do you think you can actually find him?" Ling Yayi retorted, unafraid.

    His master had swallowed the source of destruction and left. The best-case scenario was that some remains were still left behind.

    Did these Buddhas think they could find his master¡¯s corpse and summon his soul?

    "There¡¯s been a recent rumor that the Blood Lord has reappeared and will attend the Great Buddha Assembly. Perhaps he intends to reunite with old friends at the event."

    "What?!" Ling Yayi was utterly shocked, his body trembling with joy. Then his face turned pale with fear. "If my master shows up, what will those true Buddhas do to him?"

    If his master were still alive and deeply connected to the Great Sun Golden Lotus, Ling Yayi couldn¡¯t even imagine the consequences.

    The Illumined Buddha shook his head, his expression heavy. "I cannot say for certain."

    The message was clear.

    There was no way the Blood Lord could be allowed to keep the Great Sun Golden Lotus.

    And if it was taken from him, the Blood Lord¡¯s fate would be sealed.

    Ling Yayi¡¯s gaze flickered, and after a long silence, he asked, "If I become the Sacred Buddha disciple, can I save my master?"

    "You can."

    "Illumined, shave my head! Quickly!"

    "And bring me real beauties¡ªten times more than before!"

    "Today, I¡¯m pushing myself to the limit!"

 Chapter 396: The Gathering of All Buddhas, The Fall of the Buddhist Kingdom!

    Chapter 396: The Gathering of All Buddhas, The Fall of the Buddhist Kingdom!

    Passing by Jiupan Mountain, the once majestic mountains and rivers were now barren. The scenes of enlightenment from the past were no longer visible.

    However, when Qi Yuan arrived with Golden Canary and Ning Tao, they happened to encounter a rain shower.

    This rain was just like the one in the past.

    Back then, Golden Canary had held a banana leaf to shield Qi Yuan, who was then in his Blood Pearl form, from the rain.

    Golden Canary had been soaked and sneezed at the time.

    Qi Yuan had then casually cast a spell to start a fire for warmth, but it ended up lighting Golden Canary¡¯s tail on fire.

    This had infuriated the beauty-loving Golden Canary.

    Now, as the rain fell again, the three of them got soaked together.

    Ning Tao looked at Qi Yuan and Golden Canary, with a hint of fondness in her eyes.

    At present, Qi Yuan had been traveling around, collecting alms, and had accumulated nearly a hundred divine techniques.

    Each divine technique was like a star.

    Although the ten suns in the sky were formidable, Ning Tao understood just how powerful the enemies Qi Yuan faced were.

    The more starry golden cores Qi Yuan condensed, the stronger he would become.

    To consume new stars, she had to focus all her energy.

    She gazed at Qi Yuan and the cheerful Golden Canary, making a silent decision in her heart.

    "Though the world changes, with the power to control time, one can always return to the past."

    Ning Tao extended her delicate hand, and the power of her domain was unleashed.

    The barren Jiupan Mountain suddenly burst with life. Banana trees sprouted green leaves, red flowers bloomed, and streams began flowing through the mountain ravines.

    Moss climbed over rocks, and vines entwined with trees.

    The scene before them was just like the past.

    All that was missing were the Gate of Myriad Events and some insects.

    "It looks just like before, only without some sentient creatures," Qi Yuan commented, as memories of the past flooded his mind.

    At that moment, a banana leaf was held over his head, and Golden Canary¡¯s face turned red. "Without other creatures around, isn¡¯t it better? We can do whatever we want..."

    As she spoke, she tugged at Qi Yuan¡¯s sleeve, her starry eyes filled with anticipation, her long eyelashes fluttering.

    "But it¡¯s daytime..."

    "To my house!" Golden Canary pulled Qi Yuan by the sleeve, heading toward her former home.

    Her petite figure resembled that of a flower fairy.

    Ning Tao also moved closer, smiling, her black dress giving her an elegant yet alluring look. "Didn¡¯t you say, husband, that rainy days are the best for sleeping?"

    Golden Canary fluttered her eyes and playfully said, "2 to 1¡ªmajority rules. You can¡¯t resist!"

    "That¡¯s a bit unfair!"

    The rain continued to drizzle, with occasional downpours. Yet again, it was another day of intoxication and dreams.

    Qi Yuan reaffirmed that rainy days were indeed perfect for sleep.

    Though, in truth, it seemed like a lot of times were good for sleeping.

    Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye for cultivators.

    Guizhi City, the central and most prosperous city of the Flowing Wind Realm, was bustling.

    Its name combined the "Gui" from Wugui City and "Qi" from Qi Yuan.

    However, few people knew the origin of the city¡¯s name today.

    Currently, Guizhi City was teeming with people, its streets bathed in Buddha¡¯s light.

    Looking around, anyone unfamiliar with the place might mistake it for a city where baldness was revered.

    In a group of three, at least one was bald.

    This Great Buddha Assembly, held in Guizhi City, was the largest event in the Flowing Wind Realm in ten thousand years.

    But more than that, it was tied to the conflicts and possible unification of the sacred lands of the Buddhist Kingdom in the Five Heavens.

    This assembly attracted not only many disciples from the upper realms but also the eyes of many in the Sixth Heaven, all watching the Flowing Wind Realm and awaiting its outcome.

    This small Great Buddha Assembly would determine the future of the Buddhist Kingdom''s sacred lands.

    The Illumined Buddha stood tall, his entire body enveloped in Buddha¡¯s light. Anyone who looked at him couldn¡¯t help but feel like they were in the presence of a youthful true Buddha.

    Beside him, Ling Yayi, who had shaved his head to a glossy shine, looked like a monk trying too hard, his behavior still somewhat mischievous and frivolous despite his new "devout" appearance.

    Just then, a voice echoed, "Illumined Buddha, the people you¡¯ve gathered this time seem rather ordinary."

    A bald-headed Buddhist nun strode over, her loose white robe barely covering her chest.

    Next to her stood a silent, bald old man.

    Ling Yayi''s eyes widened, but he quickly averted them and instead focused on the old man, smiling slyly, "Hey, Old Fool, with your head shaved, you¡¯re not as dashing as this old man."

    This silent elder was none other than the Fool Daoist.

    "The ones you found are no good. They lack both Buddha-nature and the courage to lust. If you want to look, be bold and look!" The Buddhist nun said, purposely tugging her robe even lower.

    Ling Yayi''s face turned beet red, and he was left speechless and embarrassed.

    After all, he had been not only sneaking glances but also planning to help Fool Daoist get revenge by recording this bald Buddhist nun with a memory stone.

    "Purple Lotus Nun, lacking Buddha-nature doesn¡¯t matter. They possess the power of reincarnation, and that¡¯s enough," the Illumined Buddha said, his voice pure and stern.

    Purple Lotus Nun laughed in response, "The power of reincarnation is indeed one of Buddha¡¯s great truths, but we¡¯ll have to see if they can comprehend it."

    "If they do, the endless wars in the Buddhist Kingdom might finally cease."

    A solemn Buddha disciple stepped forward. He, too, represented one of the Buddhist Kingdom''s sacred lands.

    Each sacred land had at least one true Buddha presiding over it¡ªa Yang God Heavenly Sovereign.

    In the Buddhist Kingdom, there were nearly a hundred sacred lands, creating extreme chaos.

    "Back when the Great Sun Brightness Buddha comprehended the ¡®Great Sun Tathagata¡¯ truth, he received the recognition of the creation artifact, the Buddhist Kingdom, and united it. But how difficult is that to achieve!" sighed another Buddhist nun, dressed far more modestly than Purple Lotus.

    "The supreme truths inscribed at the summit of the Buddhist Kingdom are so difficult to grasp. If someone could comprehend them, they could become a true Buddha, or even possibly reach the Realm of Grand Principles!"

    The Nine Heavens Buddhist Kingdom originated from the creation artifact, the Buddhist Kingdom.

    On the creation artifact, countless supreme truths were inscribed.

    These truths were considered the ultimate treasures by the Buddhist disciples.

    Even understanding a fragment would bring immense benefits.

    At the very peak of these supreme truths were concepts such as "Reincarnation," "Sumeru," "Karma," "Merit," "Great Sun Tathagata," "Past," "Present," and "Future."

    Among them, only the "Great Sun Tathagata" had ever been comprehended by a Buddha disciple. None of the other truths had been grasped by any Buddha.

    These supreme truths might seem simple at first glance.

    Take "Karma," for example. At the Yang God realm, who doesn¡¯t understand a bit of karma?

    Yet, no true Buddha had ever fully comprehended it.

    Similarly, the concepts of "Past" and "Present" seemed akin to the Yang Gods¡¯ ability to sever their past selves and shape their present ones.

    But they were entirely different.

    Especially "Future"¡ªfor the true Buddhas of the Buddhist Kingdom, the concept of the future seemed illusory.

    After all, every Yang God Heavenly Sovereign knew that there was no future in the Nine Heavens.

    Thus, while Yang Gods could sever their past selves and condense their present selves, they could not form a future god.

    If not for the Great Sun Brightness Buddha''s comprehension of the "Great Sun Tathagata" supreme truth, all the true Buddhas would have considered the supreme truths at the summit of the Buddhist Kingdom to be illusions, utterly beyond understanding.

    Now, the endless wars in the Buddhist Kingdom continued because no one could comprehend the supreme truths as the Great Sun Brightness Buddha had.

    Now that individuals possessing the power of reincarnation had appeared, the various sacred lands of the Buddhist Kingdom were eager to gain control over the North Demon Thirteen Monsters, hoping to help them become the Sacred Buddha disciple.

    "Speaking of reincarnation power, I¡¯m more curious about that Blood Lord. How did he obtain such power?" asked a Buddha disciple dressed in white, his eyes gleaming with intrigue.

    "How unfortunate for the Blood Lord," sighed Purple Lotus Nun.

    "He was initially destined to have a connection with our Buddha, obtaining the power of reincarnation."

    "But, his fate with our Buddha runs too deep¡ªhe also acquired the Great Sun Golden Lotus."

    "Sometimes, too deep a connection can be a problem."

    Possessing the power of reincarnation meant he could be nurtured as a Buddha disciple.

    But bearing the Great Sun Golden Lotus? That was a different story.

    The Great Sun Golden Lotus originally belonged to the Buddhist Kingdom.

    Without it, the warring sacred lands could barely control the creation artifact, the Buddhist Kingdom.

    There had already been several instances where the creation artifact had nearly gone out of control, and the sacred lands were on the verge of falling from the Five Heavens.

    Thus, the Great Sun Golden Lotus had to be extracted and returned to the Buddhist Kingdom to maintain its stability.

    But once it was removed from the Blood Lord, he would either die or become a cripple.

    Even though he possessed the power of reincarnation, he would likely never walk the path of Buddha again.

    This was the result of having too deep a connection.

    Ling Yayi sought to claim the Sacred Buddha disciple position, hoping that when the true Buddhas extracted the Great Sun Golden Lotus, they would show mercy.

    "What a pity. Such a legendary figure, and yet this will be his fate," lamented one of the Buddha disciples.

    "Hmph, a mere legend of the lower realm, not worth mentioning," sneered a young novice monk.

    "Apple, you¡¯ve given in to anger," one of the Buddha disciples warned.

    The young novice immediately put his hands together in remorse, his face filled with shame.

    "The true Buddhas sit in the Fifth Heaven, watching over us. The Great Buddha Assembly is upon us. We must take our places," said the Illumined Buddha, his voice solemn.

    The other Buddha disciples nodded in agreement.

    At that moment, a vast Buddha chant echoed from the heavens.

    Within Guizhi City, the sound of chanting filled the air, and Buddha¡¯s light spread like a sea.

    All the cultivators felt a compulsion to kneel in worship.

    The sacred Buddha light bathed them, warm and gentle.

    "The Great Buddha Assembly has begun!"

    Only the half-Buddhas and monks with profound understanding of the dharma realized the terrifying power behind those six words.

    These were the words of a true Buddha.

    With one word, the entire realm could fall silent.

    In fact, if this true Buddha wished, a single word could cause the entire Flowing Wind Realm to be annihilated in an instant.

    Streams of light descended, filled with the pure radiance of Buddha.

    Ordinary mortals in this environment could become immune to all diseases.

    In that moment, ethereal figures began to appear.

    All the disciples of the Buddha schools stood in solemn respect.

    In the sky above Guizhi City, ninety-seven Buddhas sat in the void.

    These Buddhas were all at the Mythical level, each representing a sacred land of the Buddhist Kingdom!

    "Greetings to the prospective Buddhas!"

    Mythical-level beings were referred to as prospective Buddhas!

    Among the Buddha disciples present, many would never surpass this level!

    "Salutations complete. Enter the Buddha tower, observe the supreme truths, discern the dharma, and debate the Buddha¡¯s treasures!"

    The White-Brow Prospective Buddha spoke, his voice filled with compassion, as though he were a great Buddha.

    "By your command!"

    The Illumined Buddha waved his sleeve and ascended into the sky.

    Ling Yayi looked around with worry, scanning the surroundings, but he couldn¡¯t spot the familiar figure.

    The rest of the North Demon Thirteen Monsters were doing the same, hoping to find the Blood Lord, but to no avail.

    He felt a pang of disappointment but stepped into the Buddha tower nonetheless.

    Meanwhile, in a corner of Guizhi City, Chen Huan was also searching, his gaze roving as though looking for someone.

    Kunxia Daoist narrowed his eyes, gazing at the prospective Buddhas above with a hint of fear in his expression. He suppressed his aura, ensuring none of his energy leaked out.

    At the same time, he had prepared a venomous insect, waiting for the Blood Lord to appear. When the opportunity arose, he would strike and control the Blood Lord, turning him into a puppet.

    "The Lord of the Sacred Lands... gasp... I need to gasp again!" Chen Huan¡¯s face flushed red with shock.

    After ascending to the upper realm, he had come to understand just how insignificant he was. He had also realized what kind of beings the Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns were.

    In fact, if a Yang God Sovereign wished, they could swallow the entire Flowing Wind Realm in one gulp.

    The tales of the Blood Lord fighting demonesses might have sounded grand and heroic, but to a Yang God Sovereign, it was nothing more than ants battling each other.

    Had his big brother secretly become a Yang God?

    What big brother? He¡¯s a grandmaster!

    About ten breaths passed.

    Three of the prospective Buddhas¡¯ auras shifted.

    Clearly, three true Buddhas had descended, possessing the bodies of these Mythical beings.

    "We don¡¯t know what purpose you have in coming to the Great Buddha Assembly," one of the true Buddhas spoke through the White-Brow Prospective Buddha, his gaze filled with curiosity and wariness as he scrutinized Qi Yuan.

    "I already said it. I¡¯ve come to give you a Buddha Lord." Qi Yuan said lazily.

    The true Buddha spoke again, his voice booming like a heavenly edict. "You possess Buddha-nature and the power of reincarnation, but to become the Lord of the Buddhist Kingdom, you are still lacking in many ways."

    "Ah, I¡¯m not talking about myself. I¡¯m recommending a friend!" Qi Yuan protested. "You know what, I¡¯ll just call him over. I¡¯ve got several friends, all excellent candidates. Any of them could be your Buddha Lord."

    The true Buddha squinted, and in an instant, communicated with the other two true Buddhas.

    "Let¡¯s see what tricks you have up your sleeve."

    In the Fifth Heaven, many true Buddhas were also watching, filled with curiosity and surprise.

    After reaching the true Buddha realm, it was rare for anything to shake their composure.

    "Could it be that he really knows some powerful figure from the Buddha school?"

    "No, all the Buddhas in the world reside in the Buddhist Kingdom."

    "Without the Buddhist Kingdom, how could one attain Buddha¡¯s wisdom?"

    These voices whispered among themselves.

    Their gazes pierced through multiple heavens, observing Qi Yuan through the realm of a thousand Buddhas.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s aura began to change, becoming both chaotic and clear, both mysterious and ancient.

    "Bright and radiant, the Nascent Soul emerges from the divine treasury. Hear my command¡ªBuddha¡¯s light shall shine!"

    As Qi Yuan spoke, a sudden gust of wind swept through the heavens and earth.

    It was as though everyone could hear the roar of a divine Buddha.

    At that moment, everyone¡¯s gaze turned to the sky.

    There, they saw a pair of golden eyes, piercing through the heavens as if seeing through all illusions of the world.

    The Buddha¡¯s light cloaked his battle robes, making him appear as an invincible war god!

    "Fighting Buddha, heed my command!"

    An unruly monkey, the Fighting Buddha, who once guarded Mount Sumeru with his mighty staff!

    He stood tall and imposing, his presence overwhelming.

    Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to him.

    No one noticed the disheveled Buddha standing in the shadows behind Qi Yuan, as if he couldn¡¯t be perceived by the world.

    "Who is this?"

    "What immense Buddha energy!"

    "A battle-hardened Buddha!"

    "Who can stand against him in the same realm?"

    All the true Buddhas gasped in shock.

    They, too, were true Buddhas, so they understood just how formidable this Fighting Buddha was.

    If he were in the same realm as the Great Sun Brightness Buddha, the Great Sun Brightness Buddha would fall within ten moves.

    The Xuanxin True Buddha¡¯s gaze shifted, puzzled as to where Qi Yuan had found such a battle-hardened Buddha.

    Why had no one in the Nine Heavens ever heard of such a Buddha?

    If this battle-hardened Buddha were stationed in the Buddhist Kingdom, how could the kingdom ever be in turmoil?

    He looked at Qi Yuan, his voice echoing with Buddha¡¯s chant. "This figure should be the War Buddha of the Buddhist lineage, but he cannot be our Buddha Lord."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was disappointed.

    He had summoned the Fighting Buddha first with a bit of selfishness.

    After all, the Fighting Buddha was a villager from Qingshui Village and had been the first to follow him.

    "The Fighting Buddha won¡¯t do? Then... what about the Wutian Buddha Lord behind me?"

    Actually, Qi Yuan had not only summoned the Fighting Buddha but also the Wutian Buddha Lord!

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s memory, Wutian Buddha Lord had once swept through the Three Realms, occupying Mount Sumeru and forcing the Tathagata to descend into the mortal world.

    If it weren¡¯t for Sun Wukong merging with the relic, Wutian Buddha Lord might never have been defeated.

    In other words, Wutian Buddha Lord was a ruthless figure!

    Now, if he were going to send a Buddha Lord to the Buddhist Kingdom, he needed someone ruthless in an unfamiliar territory.

    At that moment, all the true Buddhas turned their gaze to Wutian Buddha Lord.

    Instantly...

    "No!"

    "I see Buddhas crumbling to dust!"

    "The sea of blood is filled with Buddha corpses!"

    "The heavens and earth are overturned!"

    "Ah... the Buddhist Kingdom is falling!"

    In that instant, all the true Buddhas turned pale, their minds thrown into turmoil.

    Even their true bodies were affected, and they awoke in shock.

    And then, the unthinkable happened.

    The creation artifact, the Buddhist Kingdom, began to tremble, emitting a mournful cry as if it had encountered a great enemy and was trying to flee.

    "The Buddhist Kingdom is in turmoil! Hurry!"

    "Quickly, stabilize the Buddhist Kingdom!"

    "This is a Buddha of great evil!"

    At that moment, all the awakened true Buddhas took action.

    The sky was filled with an ocean of Buddha¡¯s light, vast and boundless.

    The Buddhist Kingdom lit up like daytime, with Buddha¡¯s light swirling and endless Buddha chants echoing, as though ten thousand Buddhas were chanting in unison.

    Only then did the creation artifact, the Buddhist Kingdom, finally settle down.

    "Quick, block off the Flowing Wind Realm. Prevent any forces from spying on it!"

    At that moment, a Grand Principle True Buddha gave the order.

    Immediately, several Grand Principle True Buddhas took action, cutting off all connections and preventing anyone from observing the Flowing Wind Realm.

    After all, this Wutian Buddha Lord seemed to be tied to the life and death of the Buddhist Kingdom.

    If other forces learned of this, it could bring disaster.

    In the void, countless whispers and murmurs could be heard.

    "What¡¯s happening in the Flowing Wind Realm? Why was it cut off?"

    "I saw a Fighting Buddha."

    "I saw a disheveled Buddha."

    Meanwhile, in Guizhi City, the expressions of the remaining ninety-four prospective Buddhas changed.

    Clearly, the other true Buddhas of the Buddhist Kingdom had descended.

    Of course, only a wisp of their consciousness had arrived.

    Now, all of them wore solemn expressions, their gazes filled with fear as they looked at Qi Yuan¡ªespecially at Wutian Buddha Lord.

    Seeing their expressions, Qi Yuan felt disappointed.

    "Sigh, it seems you¡¯re not satisfied with him. But it¡¯s alright¡ªI have more. I¡¯ll recommend a few others. See if they¡¯re suitable."

    The Taihang True Buddha¡¯s gaze was like gold, his voice filled with compassion. "Very well."

    However, his eyes remained fixed on Wutian Buddha Lord.

    The other true Buddhas also spoke.

    "Very well."

    They, too, continued to watch Wutian Buddha Lord.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

    Fortunately, Wutian Buddha Lord hadn¡¯t turned into a watermelon-headed monk, or that would¡¯ve been embarrassing.

    "Bright and radiant, the Nascent Soul emerges from the divine treasury. Hear my command¡ªBuddha¡¯s light shall resonate."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression grew serious, and an ancient aura once again filled the air.

    Whispers and murmurs filled the air.

    "This apocalyptic Buddha is beyond comprehension!"

    "This Blood Lord is terrifying!"

    "Who will he summon next?"

    "These two are already terrifying enough. Are there really more Buddhas?"

    At that moment, the world suddenly fell silent.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the void above.

    There, they saw countless rays of golden light descending from the void, each beam so brilliant it seemed to solidify into physical form.

    The majestic sound of Buddha¡¯s chant swept through the entire world.

    All the true Buddhas and half-Buddhas felt as if they were hearing a Buddha recite scriptures, directly piercing their souls, making them tremble.

    A Buddha appeared, seemingly from the past, as if he had always existed.

    "I come from the past. Dipankara, the Burning Lamp Buddha, greets my lord!"

    A Buddha appeared, manifesting the eight forms, his dharma body formless, yet his retribution and incarnation bodies clearly visible.

    "Neither coming nor going. Shakyamuni Buddha greets my lord!"

    All the true Buddhas trembled, their souls quaking.

    These two Buddhas... they seemed to exist in both the past and the present...

    The creation artifact, the Buddhist Kingdom, trembled.

    All the true Buddhas and half-Buddhas were in a state of extreme shock.

    But there was no time for them to process it.

    Another powerful, towering Buddha appeared.

    His presence was boundless, and his battle spirit surged endlessly, accompanied by infinite Buddha¡¯s chants.

    "The ancestor of ten thousand Buddhas, Namo Great Saint Relic King Buddha, greets my lord!"

    They hadn¡¯t even finished being shocked by the arrival of the ancestor of ten thousand Buddhas when...

    A Buddha, seemingly from the future, appeared. He seemed ordinary, always smiling with his large belly exposed. Compared to the previous Buddhas, he was far less imposing.

    Yet when he spoke, all the Buddhas were astonished.

    "I come from the future. Maitreya Buddha greets my lord!"

    "The future..."

    "But there is no future in this world. How can there be a future Buddha?"

    "The Buddhist Kingdom is trembling, the supreme truths are responding... He is truly the future Buddha!"

    In that moment, Buddha¡¯s light filled the heavens, and the Buddhist Kingdom shook.

    The creation artifact, the Buddhist Kingdom, shattered through the Five Heavens, descending into Qi Yuan¡¯s hands.

    Qi Yuan held the Buddhist Kingdom in his hands, looking at the true Buddhas before him with calm eyes. "Are my friends qualified to be your Buddha Lords?"

 Chapter 397: The Perfect White Moonlight, A Gift from the Great Monk

    Chapter 397: The Perfect White Moonlight, A Gift from the Great Monk

    As Qi Yuan spoke, the six unspeakable Buddhas simultaneously turned their gazes toward the ninety-seven true Buddhas.

    They had no self, no person.

    No being, no life.

    The Buddhas of past, present, and future gathered.

    Their appearances were majestic, and their wisdom boundless.

    The sanctity of the Buddhist Kingdom fell into Qi Yuan¡¯s hands like a plaything, no longer carrying the oppressive majesty of the creation artifact.

    "I see the Tathagata, and the Tathagata sees me as I am.

    This poor monk, Taihang, greets the Buddhas," said Taihang True Buddha, a Grand Principle true Buddha, as he folded his hands in a gesture of respect to the six Buddhas.

    Seeing this, the other true Buddhas felt their hearts cleansed.

    "We greet the Buddhas," they all said.

    Ninety-seven true Buddhas bowed, their voices as solemn as a great thunderstorm.

    All the half-Buddhas followed suit, bowing.

    "We greet the Buddhas!"

    The sound resounded through the heavens, spreading across the entire Flowing Wind Realm.

    All monks and cultivators, hearing this, realized that the Buddhist Kingdom had a Buddha Lord.

    Countless monks folded their hands in reverence, bowing toward the direction of Guizhi City.

    "We greet the Buddhas!"

    Ninety-seven true Buddhas paying homage to the Tathagata signified that the Buddhist Kingdom now had a Buddha Lord.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan beamed.

    "I¡¯m a decent guy, right? You lent me the Great Sun Golden Lotus, and I¡¯ve given you a Buddha Lord in return."

    Not far away, the half-Buddha, Cantuo, was sweating profusely.

    This guy is serious!

    And he actually delivered a Buddha Lord!

    "But you¡¯ve been pretty decent too, just handing me the Buddhist Kingdom like that."

    Qi Yuan held the Buddhist Kingdom, his expression calm.

    The Buddhist Kingdom, now resembling a relic, was filled with countless stars of Buddha¡¯s words, dense and infinite. Just by gazing at it, one could sense the deep and boundless wisdom of Buddha.

    Within the Buddhist Kingdom, several supreme truths stood out, flashing brilliantly due to the presence of the three-time Buddhas, and the sound of Buddha¡¯s chants filled the sky.

    Taihang True Buddha¡¯s expression shifted.

    The other true Buddhas were bitter but could not voice their frustrations.

    The Buddhist Kingdom was priceless, the foundation of the sacred lands of the Buddhist Kingdom.

    None of these true Buddhas could control the creation artifact¡ªif they could, the Buddhist Kingdom would already be unified under them.

    But now, how did it end up in his hands?

    "Haha, I¡¯m just joking. This Buddhist Kingdom is useless to me."

    Qi Yuan waved his hand as he held the Buddhist Kingdom, appearing nonchalant.

    After all, this was the treasured possession of the sacred lands of the Buddhist Kingdom. If lost, those sacred lands might fall from the Fifth Heaven.

    First, Qi Yuan thought of himself as a good guy¡ªhe¡¯d borrow, but never return.

    Second, a wealthy "white moonlight" was always better than a poor one.

    The other true Buddhas breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, their eyes fixed on the Buddhist Kingdom.

    Then, Qi Yuan waved his hand.

    "Wutian, I¡¯ll leave this Buddhist Kingdom in your care."

    The Buddhist Kingdom fell into the hands of Wutian Buddha Lord, who smiled darkly, his disheveled appearance adding to the ominous aura.

    The Buddhist Kingdom trembled, as if trying to escape.

    However, in Wutian¡¯s hands, the Buddhist Kingdom was utterly powerless.

    The other true Buddhas saw this and were deeply unsettled.

    They feared that this unkempt Buddha would crush the Buddhist Kingdom in his palm.

    "Relax, Wutian Buddha Lord is... my friend, completely trustworthy. He¡¯s just playing a little game with the Buddhist Kingdom," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Since he said he was recommending friends, these Buddhas were indeed his friends.

    At this moment, Taihang True Buddha stepped forward, gazing at Qi Yuan with reverence in his eyes.

    "May I ask, how should we address the Heavenly Sovereign?"

    All the true Buddhas were curious about Qi Yuan¡¯s identity.

    After all, if he was merely a Blood Lord from the lower realm, there was no way he could be this powerful.

    "In this realm, I am the Blood Lord. In the Canglan Realm, I am the Blood-Clad Sword God. My name... is Qi Yuan."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm.

    The eyes of the true Buddhas flickered with recognition, countless thoughts racing through their minds.

    Meanwhile, next to Chen Huan, Kunxia Daoist¡¯s heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy stone.

    "Canglan Realm... Blood-Clad Sword God!"

    His eyes bulged, his mind shaken.

    This... Oh no... He looked up at the ten suns in the sky, on the verge of tears.

    Chen Huan, however, didn¡¯t notice Kunxia Daoist¡¯s distress. He was equally shocked, his admiration for his older brother swelling.

    No wonder he¡¯s my big brother¡ªhe¡¯s incredible!

    Always creating miracles.

    At this moment, Taihang True Buddha¡¯s gaze remained steady. He looked up at the sky and spoke a single true word.

    "Seal!"

    Instantly, the Flowing Wind Realm was completely cut off from the upper realm.

    Before descending, he had already isolated the realm, and now he added a second layer of protection.

    After all, the matter of the Buddha Lord was of utmost importance¡ªespecially the future Buddha.

    There was no future in this world, so how could there be a future Buddha?

    If the future Buddha existed, wouldn¡¯t that mean that one day, the sacred lands of the Buddhist Kingdom could reach the highest Three Heavens?

    In the Sixth Heaven, a Grand Principle true Buddha could be a ruler.

    The uppermost Three Heavens were shrouded in mystery, beyond comprehension.

    At this moment, Taihang True Buddha¡¯s eyes glowed with compassion.

    "Join the Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly and attain eternal bliss."

    The vast sound of Buddha¡¯s voice spread.

    Immediately, several hidden cultivators let out screams of pain.

    "Ah!"

    "No!"

    Even Kunxia Daoist was bound by the Buddha¡¯s voice, his entire body paralyzed.

    Clearly, Taihang True Buddha was cleansing the realm of spies from the upper realm.

    The enemies were sent to bliss.

    Allies were immobilized and had their memories erased.

    As for Kunxia Daoist, he wasn¡¯t killed.

    But any information regarding the future Buddha was instantly erased from everyone¡¯s memories and replaced.

    "This man likely belongs to Taihuang Palace and may have ties to the Canglan Realm."

    Taihang True Buddha captured Kunxia Daoist and brought him to Qi Yuan¡¯s side.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm, unsurprised. He extended his hand, and a few jade slips fell into his palm.

    Kunxia Daoist¡¯s soul was extinguished, and his lifetime of memories was absorbed by Qi Yuan.

    "Heavenly Sovereign, may I ask how this future Buddha attained Buddhahood?"

    Taihang True Buddha spoke.

    July 17th was Jinli¡¯s birthday.

    The letter he sent to Jinli, if all went well, would reach her on her birthday this year.

    He wondered if, by then, he would have overcome the great calamity and ascended to the upper realm.

    But... it was soon.

    "Taihang True Buddha, could I ask you for a favor?" Qi Yuan asked. "Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll be well compensated."

    "Please, speak," Taihang True Buddha replied, his expression growing serious.

    "Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s a small matter, not difficult..." Qi Yuan explained the task to him.

    But Taihang True Buddha¡¯s face showed difficulty.

    "Heavenly Sovereign, I cannot go."

    "??" Qi Yuan blinked. "It¡¯s just one heaven away¡ªhow can the difference be so big?"

    "Under the light of the creation artifact, even a Grand Principle Buddha like me cannot remain hidden, let alone a mere monk," Taihang True Buddha shook his head.

    The task Qi Yuan had entrusted him with was to infiltrate the Moon God Palace...

    But the Moon God Palace was no less powerful than Taihuang Palace.

    Its core regions were illuminated by the creation artifact, making it impossible for even powerful beings to infiltrate.

    To infiltrate would mean becoming enemies.

    Inside the Buddha Tower.

    The Buddha discussion continued.

    The position of Saint Buddha Son had sparked fierce competition among the Buddha sons and daughters, as well as the thirteen Northern Demons.

    In the end, with help from Bai Ze and Ling Yayi, the Foolish Daoist claimed the title of Saint Buddha Son.

    Purple Lotus Buddha Woman grinned widely, patting her chest.

    "Hehe, looks like this time the position of Saint Buddha Son belongs to my Purple Zen Sacred Land."

    The other Buddha sons and daughters looked on with envy, but soon their desires faded, replaced by serenity.

    Ling Yayi was excited.

    "Foolish Daoist, remember to plead for my master. When they take the Great Sun Golden Lotus, make sure they spare his life. And ask for some elixirs for him¡ªI don¡¯t want to take care of a drooling old master!"

    Master, from now on, I¡¯ll be the one looking out for you!

    Ling Yayi felt a wave of emotion.

    He imagined his master, now a cripple, standing before his tall and imposing figure. Surely, he¡¯d be too embarrassed to call him "Dog" anymore.

    With this thought, Ling Yayi found some comfort amidst the bitterness.

    Foolish Daoist shot Ling Yayi a glare.

    "I understand."

    The Illumined Buddha Son remained calm.

    "As for this Blood Lord, I¡¯m quite curious about him. He¡¯s received the creation of a world and possesses the power of reincarnation. Without the Great Sun Golden Lotus, he could become a true Buddha."

    He spoke with a hint of regret.

    Sometimes, a deeper connection could be a curse.

    With excitement in their hearts, Ling Yayi and the others left the Buddha Tower.

    But when they stepped outside, the sky was already dark.

    The ninety-seven Buddhas who had sat atop the sky were nowhere to be seen.

    The once bustling Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly had become eerily quiet.

    Ling Yayi panicked.

    "Where is everyone? Did they kill my master?"

    Foolish Daoist also looked worried.

    At that moment, the figure of a prospective Buddha appeared, his gaze deep, still showing traces of shock.

    "A great event occurred during the Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly, and all the Buddhas have returned, leaving me to handle the matter of the Saint Buddha Son," the prospective Buddha said, his eyes kind as he looked at Foolish Daoist. "Are you the new Saint Buddha Son?"

    Ling Yayi blinked, secretly sending a voice message to the Illumined Buddha Son.

    "This Saint Buddha Son position sure is lacking in grandeur, isn¡¯t it? No one¡¯s even here to congratulate us."

    The Illumined Buddha Son was equally confused, rubbing his head in thought.

    "Do you think it¡¯s just a hollow title? Will my plea still work?" Ling Yayi was growing anxious.

    At that moment, Foolish Daoist spoke.

    "Master, I¡¯ve been fortunate enough to become the Saint Buddha Son. I have a humble request¡ªcould you please grant it?"

    The prospective Buddha nodded, his gaze warm.

    "Speak, and I will listen."

    "My master, the Blood Lord, did not intentionally claim the Great Sun Golden Lotus.

    If the Buddhist Kingdom must remove the lotus, could you be careful and spare his life?"

    The prospective Buddha¡¯s brow twitched at this, his expression turning frantic, losing his serene composure as a monk.

    "Hey, don¡¯t say that! Don¡¯t slander us! Since when did the Buddhist Kingdom ever plan to take the Great Sun Golden Lotus from the Blood Lord? That¡¯s completely baseless."

    "Ah?" Ling Yayi was dumbfounded.

    Foolish Daoist and the Illumined Buddha Son were also stunned.

    The prospective Buddha continued.

    "Wutian Buddha Lord declared that the Blood Lord should be... the Supreme Buddha. From now on, the Blood Lord is our Supreme Buddha!"

    "Supreme Buddha?" Ling Yayi was dumbfounded.

    This term... sounds so strange.

    I only attended the Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly, and now my master is the Supreme Buddha?

 Chapter 398: Gaining the Gate of Myriad Principles, Establishing the Underworld

    Chapter 398: Gaining the Gate of Myriad Principles, Establishing the Underworld

    Ling Yayi was astonished and puzzled.

    Wuguang Buddha and Zilian Buddha Maiden were even more shocked and confused.

    "Who is Wutian Buddha?"

    How could there be another Buddha?

    The quasi-Buddha¡¯s expression became especially devout, and deep within his eyes, there was a trace of fear.

    "When Wutian Buddha appeared, the sun and moon lost their light, the heavens and earth trembled, the Buddha realm shook, and even the statues of the Buddhas wept blood. It was truly..."

    "What?" Wuguang Buddha¡¯s heart shook.

    Zilian Buddha Maiden was also deeply shocked.

    Is this really a Buddha?

    Isn¡¯t this a calamity?

    Ling Yayi, hearing this, felt a bit awkward.

    How did the Blood Lord get to know such a powerful figure, one who could suppress the Buddha realm into silence?

    "Later, the Supreme Buddha introduced several Buddhas, including the Fighting and Victorious Buddha, the Past Buddha, the Present Buddha, and the Patriarch of All Buddhas!" The quasi-Buddha folded his hands in prayer.

    As for the memory of the Future Buddha, it had long been erased by Taihang True Buddha.

    In fact, even ordinary true Buddhas had voluntarily erased their memories of the Future Buddha.

    After all... the Future Buddha carried great significance.

    "These Buddhas caused the highest peak of the Buddha realm to flash with the Infinite True Words, and the Buddha realm fell from the Fifth Heaven, landing into the hands of the Supreme Buddha, who ultimately passed it on to Wutian Buddha." The quasi-Buddha sighed, his voice trembling slightly.

    The scene from that time was still fresh in his memory.

    Hearing this, Ling Yayi took a deep breath.

    That¡¯s the tone, that¡¯s the vibe.

    ¡°And my master, the Supreme Buddha?¡± He puffed out his chest and asked.

    Since his master was already the Supreme Buddha, it shouldn¡¯t be a big deal for him to become a Buddha himself, right?

    ¡°Well...¡± the quasi-Buddha pondered.

    ¡°Hurry up and tell this Buddha!¡± Ling Yayi demanded.

    Everyone present, including the remaining Thirteen Demons of the North, looked at Ling Yayi, all thinking... this guy¡¯s skin is a bit thick.

    ...

    ¡°The Gate of Myriad Principles, long time no see.¡±

    At the ends of the earth, Qi Yuan stood in a blood-red robe, his expression calm.

    After the Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly, his Stellar Gold Core sensed the aura of the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    Now, he had come alone to the ends of the earth, standing before the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    The Gate of Myriad Principles stood at the edge of the earth, as if floating in the void, ethereal and illusory.

    [The Gate of Myriad Principles, the gate to all gates.]

    Looking at the Gate of Myriad Principles, Qi Yuan briefly scanned it with his divine sense, a smile forming in his eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s still better to treasure hunt without competition.¡±

    In the Canglan Realm, whenever a secret realm opened or some treasure emerged, it usually drew a crowd of people to fight for it.

    Even if you won, you wouldn¡¯t feel secure until the treasure was firmly in your hands.

    But in the Liufeng Realm, it was different.

    Qi Yuan was all alone.

    There were no other living beings at the ends of the earth.

    ¡°Gate of Myriad Principles, do you remember... the Underworld?¡±

    Qi Yuan spoke, testing the gate.

    He was thinking about how to make the Gate of Myriad Principles his own.

    The Gate of Myriad Principles could become any gate.

    To a demoness, it was the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons; to a great demon, it was the Gate of Ten Thousand Devils; to a Supreme Truth Lord, it was the Gate of Supreme Truth.

    Qi Yuan attempted to awaken the gate¡¯s memory.

    Unfortunately, his words had no effect on the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    ¡°You are actually the gate to my Underworld, don¡¯t you remember?

    Once, there was a thief in the house, and you scared him off. I¡¯ve been searching for you ever since!¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at the Gate of Myriad Principles with a pained expression, as if what he was saying were true.

    However, his acting was rather poor and failed to move the gate.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan approached the Gate of Myriad Principles and placed his hand on its illusory frame.

    ¡°Look, here¡¯s the key, the proof.¡±

    He said, pulling out the Key of Myriad Principles and waving it in front of the gate.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan froze.

    Because he had actually grabbed the Gate of Myriad Principles... and even taken it with him.

    He had only tried it out, not expecting that he could really grab the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    Qi Yuan was stunned.

    Wasn¡¯t the Gate of Supreme Truth supposed to be the number one creation artifact of the Immortal Realm?

    Throughout history, countless cultivators of Supreme Truth and Great Supreme Truth had attempted to claim the Gate of Supreme Truth, all without success.

    The Gate of Supreme Truth was said to be the hardest creation artifact to claim in the Immortal Realm.

    He also thought that wasting electricity was shameful.

    After all, he¡¯d always been frugal.

    ¡°One day, I will reach the Dao of the Great Luo, become the Supreme Dao Ancestor, return to Gongxing, and turn off that light!¡±

    Qi Yuan made a grand vow!

    In the following days, Qi Yuan met with Nangong Dagou, the Foolish Daoist, and Bai Ze.

    Nangong Dagou was strutting around, now calling himself Little Buddha Lord Lingyi.

    The people of the Buddha Kingdom were helpless against Ling Yayi.

    After all, his master was none other than the Blood Lord, the Supreme Buddha.

    Calling his disciple the Little Buddha Lord seemed appropriate enough.

    Meanwhile, in the upper realms, countless eyes were fixed on the land of the Buddha.

    The Buddhist Sacred Ground had suddenly blocked the upper realms from observing the Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly, and the creation artifact Buddha Kingdom was quaking.

    Many sacred ground-level forces were curious about the changes within the Buddha Kingdom.

    Shortly after, the ninety-seven true Buddhas of the Buddha Kingdom Sacred Ground jointly announced:

    The Buddha Kingdom Sacred Ground had unified, and the Buddha had returned to his throne as the Present Buddha, Shakyamuni.

    As for the Past Buddha, the Fighting and Victorious Buddha, Wutian Buddha, and the Patriarch of All Buddhas, they had hidden their identities and entered the Buddha Kingdom.

    This news shook the Sixth Heaven.

    For these sacred grounds, the meaning of a Buddha was crystal clear.

    It meant that within the Buddha Kingdom Sacred Ground, there was now a powerful true Buddha who had comprehended the Great Supreme Truth and mastered the creation artifact, the Buddha Kingdom.

    Once this true Buddha matured and reached the Great Supreme Truth realm, he might lead the Buddha Kingdom Sacred Ground to ascend from the Fifth Heaven to the Sixth Heaven!

    The Buddha Kingdom Sacred Ground could thus leap from being a second-rate sacred ground to a first-rate one.

    The unfulfilled wish of the Great Sun and Radiant Buddha might finally come true.

    Moreover, the odds were even better this time.

    After all, the Great Sun and Radiant Buddha¡¯s Supreme Truth was related to the Great Sun Tathagata and clashed with the title of the Great Sun. Hence, he ultimately passed into nirvana.

    But the Present Buddha¡¯s Infinite True Words pertained to the present, with no conflict of title. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, other sacred grounds predicted that within a million years, the Buddha Kingdom would add another Great Supreme Truth Buddha.

    Soon after, the Present Buddha of the Buddha Kingdom Sacred Ground abruptly announced that they would wage war against the Molo Clan.

    This Buddha declared: ¡°I have studied the past and the present and glimpsed the future. The Molo Clan obstructs my foundation for the future. They must be destroyed!¡±

    This declaration stunned the world and sent shockwaves through the Immortal Realm.

    The Buddha had made up his mind to declare war on the Molo Clan.

    The most astonishing part was that this newly enthroned Buddha didn¡¯t even seem to have reached the Supreme Truth realm, yet none of the other true Buddhas were opposing him.

    Many heavenly lords murmured and speculated.

    ¡°The nirvana of the Great Sun and Radiant Buddha must have had something to do with Taihuang Palace.

    The Buddha Kingdom has been holding a grudge but is unable to challenge Taihuang Palace, so they are taking it out on the Molo Clan!¡±

    ¡°The Molo Clan, although slightly weaker than the Buddha Kingdom, is the most loyal dog of Taihuang Palace. This outcome isn¡¯t surprising!¡±

    ¡°It seems the Fifth and Sixth Heavens won¡¯t be peaceful!¡±

    ¡°If the Buddha ascends to the Great Supreme Truth, there will undoubtedly be great chaos.¡±

    ¡°Taihuang Palace won¡¯t sit idly by while the Buddha ascends!¡±

    ¡°The biggest winner in all this is likely the Moon God Palace. The wars in the Demon Abyss will likely ease for a while.¡±

    ¡°First, we had the Ten Suns Heavenly Lord declaring war on Taihuang Palace. Now, the Buddha Kingdom is declaring war on the Molo Clan. This Immortal Realm... is about to descend into chaos!¡±

    ¡°Do you think this Present Buddha has really glimpsed the future?¡±

    ¡°How could that be? It¡¯s probably just a pretext.

    This is no different from saying the Molo Heavenly Lord stole a chicken from the Buddha Kingdom, and that¡¯s the reason for war.¡±

    The upper realms were in turmoil.

    The Molo Heavenly Lord responded arrogantly, his tone fierce: ¡°Not only will I block your future, but I will sever your present!¡±

    Though his words were domineering, some witnessed the Molo Heavenly Lord rushing to Taihuang Palace in the Sixth Heaven that very night, his face anxious.

    In terms of power, the Buddha Kingdom was much stronger than the Molo Clan.

    After all, the Buddha Kingdom had once nearly stepped into the Sixth Heaven, just barely missing the chance to become a sacred ground of the Sixth Heaven!

    ...

    In the Canglan Realm.

    The Strange Painter, holding the Brush of Mountains and Rivers, trembled all over.

    Before her stood five towering, divine-like beings, their overwhelming presence crushing her.

    Though she was an unconventional myth-level cultivator, she felt as insignificant as a speck of dust before these five beings, much like when she faced Qi Qi.

    Most importantly, these mysterious figures treated the Blood-Clad Sword God like servants before their master.

    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve found the land, and the Gate of the Underworld is here. Strange Painter, I¡¯m leaving this to you. Paint it well!¡±

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s words, the five Yue Emperors began to deposit city ruins, mountains, four forbidden lands, a great calamity, and sea water into the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    Old Man Shenlei also appeared at just the right time, tossing the ancestral land of the ancient tribe from the innate world into the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    The Strange Painter gazed at the chaotic mess of haphazardly placed lands and rivers.

    She took a deep breath.

    ¡°Trusting in this elder, I, the painter, shall use my life as paint to complete this masterpiece!¡±

    With that, she began to move the Brush of Mountains and Rivers in her hand.

    The world within the Gate of Myriad Principles began to change at that very moment.

 Chapter 399: The Completion of the Purple Mansion, Qi Yuanâ€™s New Ability

    Chapter 399: The Completion of the Purple Mansion, Qi Yuan¡¯s New Ability

    With a single stroke.

    The aura of life and death flowed along the tip of the brush, and as it moved, black and gray, red and white alternated between its strokes.

    The Strange Painter was focused, pouring her life into her work.

    She had learned from the Jade Maiden that the Blood-Clad Sword God was no ordinary person.

    The Jade Maiden knew a bit about the things the Strange Painter had done for the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    She had told the Strange Painter to take this seriously, stating that the Blood-Clad Sword God was likely forging a treasure related to the Netherworld.

    However, through her conversations with Qi Qi and those powerful figures of the underworld, the Strange Painter could clearly sense the ambition of the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    It wasn¡¯t just about forging a treasure.

    He was truly aiming to establish a Netherworld from myth and legend.

    When the Jade Maiden had first heard of this, she had laughed in disbelief.

    ¡°A real Netherworld? Even those in the Great Supreme Truth realm wouldn¡¯t dare to dream of such a thing. It¡¯s just a legend.¡±

    After all, a Yang God Heavenly Lord in the Great Supreme Truth realm typically only mastered one Great Supreme Truth.

    But to build a Netherworld would require far more than one Great Supreme Truth.

    Life, death, yin, yang, reincarnation... the number of Supreme Truths needed was far too many.

    Even if every Supreme Truth Heavenly Lord across the Nine Heavens came together, they likely wouldn¡¯t be able to create the Netherworld.

    The Strange Painter didn¡¯t know all the details but understood that Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t just making empty promises.

    The Brush of Mountains and Rivers in her hand trembled at that moment.

    Suddenly, from the gloomy depths of the painting, a sweet voice like that of a little girl echoed.

    ¡°The Ghost Gate Pass, nine out of ten never return.¡±

    ¡°The Ghost Gate Pass, yin and yang twist, life and death are chaos, grandma¡¯s here and no longer feels cold.¡±

    The Strange Painter¡¯s face changed slightly as she saw vague, shadowy figures emerging from the Ghost Gate Pass she had just drawn.

    The figures recited nursery rhymes, their voices innocent and childlike, yet the atmosphere was eerie and terrifying.

    A chill slowly crawled up her spine, and the Strange Painter felt that the shadowy figures in her painting¡ªthose little girls¡ªwere all staring at her.

    Though some were walking, others gazing at the sky, and some even sleeping, all of their eyes were fixed on her.

    At that moment, a voice like thunder¡ªmajestic and divine¡ªresounded.

    ¡°The Ghost Gate Pass is complete!¡±

    The speaker was, of course, Qi Yuan.

    Standing within the Gate of Myriad Principles, he overlooked the entire realm.

    As his voice fell, the Ghost Gate Pass drawn by the Strange Painter became real.

    The strange little girl-like beings shifted their gaze away, now peeking at the towering, indescribable figure in the sky.

    The Strange Painter¡¯s expression grew more serious as she looked at the lifelike Ghost Gate Pass. No, it wasn¡¯t just lifelike¡ªit was the Ghost Gate Pass, and her heart trembled.

    She couldn¡¯t understand how she had managed to bring it into reality.

    Her mind racing, she continued painting.

    The Brush of Mountains and Rivers danced in her hand, and one scene after another was created.

    Countless eerie energies and unseen forces rushed toward the underworld at that moment.

    Qi Yuan, seated in the underworld, squinted but saw nothing.

    ¡°Are guests visiting my house?¡±

    The guests, however, were invisible.

    The other Yang God Heavenly Lords squinted, and Qi Qi also seemed to sense something, but nothing was visible.

    ¡°Yi-ya... ah... ugh!¡±

    ¡°Ka... zing... yah...¡±

    Qi Yuan listened carefully with his ears, which could hear the world¡¯s sounds, finally catching some chaotic noises.

    Some were sharp and piercing, like the wails of ghosts and wolves.

    He also heard crackling, like the burning of maple branches, sparks flying.

    And in the midst of the sobbing, he heard the faint sound of burning paper money.

    Qi Yuan was surprised. ¡°Did some filthy creatures enter my house?¡±

    Qi Qi, standing beside Qi Yuan, her eyes like divine blades, gazed into the underworld.

    ¡°Who dares cause trouble here!¡±

    The majesty and mystery of the Earthly Goddess, who emulates Hou Tu, surged forth.

    The underworld depicted in the Mountain and Sea Scrolls trembled and was cleansed.

    Even the filthy things seemed to recognize the power of Hou Tu and what she represented.

    ¡°...Ka... plea...¡±

    These filthy beings stopped muttering and seemed to want to communicate with Qi Yuan and Qi Qi.

    However, perhaps due to the distance in time and space, their voices were unclear.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm, though there was a hint of resignation in his voice. ¡°Looks like I have to play the role of a language teacher.¡±

    As he spoke, his attire changed, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses appeared on his nose.

    Behind him, a blackboard appeared, and in his hand, a piece of chalk.

    ¡°Alright, little dirty ones, repeat after me: a, o, e...¡±

    The Brush of Mountains and Rivers continued to move, and more and more filthy beings arrived. Qi Yuan played the role of a diligent language teacher.

    But halfway through the lesson, he felt uneasy.

    He didn¡¯t have a teaching certificate¡ªwas this illegal teaching?

    Then he remembered that he had a mental health certificate, so it should be fine.

    Endless mountain ranges appeared, rivers flowed through the underworld, and the Eighteen Levels of Hell and the Hall of the Heavenly King rose one after another.

    The Strange Painter, trembling all over, had been painting for forty-four days, and the underworld was almost complete.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan put down the chalk and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.

    He spoke, his voice like a divine edict, majestic and sacred, impossible to defy.

    ¡°Little dirty ones, have you learned? Now, can you tell me why you¡¯ve come to visit my house?¡±

    Unfortunately, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t see them; otherwise, he would have charged them for lodging.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan opened his mouth wide and swallowed toward the underworld.

    Simultaneously, the first essence of Immortal Dao, the purple energy he had gathered, scattered over the entrance to the Gate of the Underworld.

    ¡°Purple as in Purple Qi!¡±

    ¡°Mansion as in the Underworld!¡±

    ¡°This is my Purple Mansion!¡±

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s resounding declaration, two primordial divine powers inside him began to tremble.

    The blood-red demon sword flew into the Eighteen Levels of Hell, transforming into a demonic prison.

    The oblivion from the Great Forgotten Heart Sutra fused with the Mengpo Soup, hiding within the River of Forgetfulness.

    Purple energy flowed, vibrant and full of life, like the blessed purple energy of an immortal¡¯s paradise.

    Cold winds howled, dark and terrifying, like the eerie aura of the land of the dead.

    Thus, the Purple Mansion was born!

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell once again on the Platform of Reception.

    Perhaps because he had fused the underworld into his Purple Mansion, a hint of coldness entered his eyes.

    As he looked at the Platform of Reception, understanding dawned on him.

    ¡°Yin and yang must balance, life and death must be in equilibrium.

    Therefore, to revive the dead, one must erase the living.¡±

    But this erasure wasn¡¯t the same as simply killing.

    ¡°So now, it can only be considered a small underworld, unable to receive just anyone.¡±

    Sigh, ¡°Five Patriarchs of the Five Elements, it seems you¡¯ll have to remain dormant a while longer.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt a bit helpless.

    This underworld was far from what he had envisioned.

    For example, if he went to Blue Star now and spent some time marking all the living beings on the planet...

    Then, if he killed everyone on Blue Star, they would all become spirits and enter his underworld, working for him for free.

    If he wished, he could even reincarnate the people of Blue Star.

    However, those who weren¡¯t marked by the underworld wouldn¡¯t be under its jurisdiction.

    For instance, the Five Patriarchs of the Five Elements, or Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao from Wugui City¡ªhe couldn¡¯t currently receive them.

    So this was just a small underworld.

    If it were a great underworld, he could simply write the name of the Taihuang Palace¡¯s Heavenly Lord in the Book of Life and Death, and then he would be invincible!

    Of course, that was just wishful thinking.

    Qi Yuan looked at his Purple Mansion.

    Hmm, the entrance was bathed in swirling purple energy, the first essence of the Immortal Realm.

    The purple energy was something even Yang God Heavenly Lords coveted.

    Seeing this purple energy would surely tempt many Yang God Heavenly Lords.

    ¡°But... this Gate of the Underworld... feels a bit eerie. Gate of Myriad Principles, assume the form of the Gate of Supreme Truths!¡± Qi Yuan commanded.

    The Gate of Myriad Principles seemed to understand and transformed into the shape of the Gate of Supreme Truths.

    On it, countless Supreme Truths seemed to flow. Any ordinary person who glimpsed it would be lost.

    Even a Yang God Heavenly Lord would be tempted to rush in and comprehend the Supreme Truths within.

    After all, comprehending the Supreme Truths was extremely difficult.

    The Gate of Supreme Truths offered the opportunity to have the Truths laid out before you to comprehend.

    Even if your comprehension was terrible, given a million years, you¡¯d eventually grasp at least one, right?

    And if that didn¡¯t work, you could just stay by the Gate of Supreme Truths for endless eons, and eventually emerge invincible.

    ¡°Even I¡¯m tempted to go inside,¡± Qi Yuan remarked.

    He briefly considered whether he should enter the Gate of Supreme Truths himself, spending hundreds or thousands of years to comprehend a Great Supreme Truth.

    But after thinking it over, he dismissed the idea.

    For other Yang God Heavenly Lords, the Gate of Supreme Truths was the greatest creation artifact.

    With enough time, anyone could become a Great Supreme Truth master.

    But for Qi Yuan, it was a waste of time.

    He could break through faster by playing video games.

    Moreover, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time.

    The cultivation world in the upper realms had degenerated too much, and he needed to ascend and purify its atmosphere.

    Still, the Gate of Supreme Truths had its uses for him.

    First, it could block the imprint of the Great Tribulation. Second, he could use it to observe and potentially find flaws in other Great Supreme Truths.

    The only thing he had to be cautious about was keeping the existence of the Gate of Supreme Truths a secret.

    If word got out, every Yang God Heavenly Lord in the Great Supreme Truth realm would turn against him.

    After all, the Gate of Supreme Truths held the key to every Supreme Truth.

    ¡°At last, the Purple Mansion is complete. My strength has increased... quite a bit.¡±

    ¡°And this time, the superpower I¡¯ve awakened is... my voice?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s linked with my ears!¡±

    ¡°This superpower came a bit late!¡±

    ¡°Why do I feel like it¡¯s pretty useless?¡±

    This time, his newly awakened talent allowed him to communicate with those whose mutterings his ears could hear. He could actively engage them in conversation, though there might be some distortion due to the space between them.

    Additionally, if not linked to his ears, when he activated this talent, his voice could randomly transmit to a particular entity.

    ¡°Read receipts gone wrong?¡±

    ¡°A treehole?¡±

    ¡°Am I becoming the interdimensional loudspeaker?¡±

    Thinking this, Qi Yuan immediately tried it out.

    His right eyebrow didn¡¯t twitch.

    ¡°I¡¯m so poor, kind soul, would anyone lend me some money?¡±

 Chapter 400: Words with Power? The Curtain Rises

    Chapter 400: Words with Power? The Curtain Rises

    After Qi Yuan finished speaking, he waited patiently.

    This new ability seemed to create some mysterious effects from the words he spoke.

    In an unknown world.

    Endless fallen leaves covered the ground, a giant serpent flicked its tongue, and the light flickered.

    A biting cold wind, sharp like blades, pierced into the body of an old man dressed in animal skins, making him shiver uncontrollably.

    Suddenly, it was as if a divine voice echoed in his ears. He quickly knelt reverently to the ground, his head thumping loudly as it hit the earth.

    He babbled endlessly in his own language.

    Finally, a spark of realization flashed in his mind, as if he had discovered something profound.

    "Poor... money..."

    He uttered these two syllables, then prostrated himself even more devoutly, his face filled with ecstatic joy.

    A grand idea had formed in his mind. He would follow the divine guidance and create something called "money."

    Back in the underworld, Qi Yuan was bored.

    "It¡¯s just like talking to a tree hole. No fun at all, not even any feedback."

    He lazily stretched.

    Then suddenly, an idea struck him: "Why not run an experiment?"

    After replenishing the Strange Painter¡¯s energy, Qi Yuan left the underworld and returned to the Jiang family¡¯s base in Yuntian City.

    His junior sister, Jiang Lingsu, was still in her room, with the lamp on.

    Qi Yuan closed his eyes and activated his ear¡¯s ability.

    He began listening to see if there were any strange sounds nearby¡ªperhaps some interesting conversations.

    ¡°If I could become as powerful as the Blood-Clad Sword God, my mother-in-law wouldn¡¯t look down on me anymore!¡±

    ¡°When the sky falls, the tall ones can hold it up. If the cultivation technique is dangerous, what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡±

    ¡°This bun is delicious!¡±

    ¡°I wish I had a thoughtful, loyal Dao companion who wouldn¡¯t betray me, who could share life¡¯s ups and downs with me. Oh heavens, please grant me a Dao companion!¡±

    These mutterings reached Qi Yuan¡¯s ears.

    His attention immediately locked onto the cultivator wishing for a Dao companion.

    It was a reclusive cultivator, his green robe covered in so much dust that it seemed crusted on¡ªprobably hadn¡¯t moved in years, just sitting there lost in his thoughts.

    "Let¡¯s give you a little luck so you can find your Dao companion sooner," Qi Yuan thought, speaking to the recluse.

    Now that Qi Yuan had reached the Purple Mansion realm, and with his Yang God Heavenly Lord¡¯s power, while he couldn¡¯t truly make his words instantly manifest reality, it was easy for him to slightly shift someone¡¯s fate or luck.

    Since he overheard it, he figured it was destiny and casually decided to grant him some good fortune.

    As his voice faded, the recluse in the cave suddenly opened his eyes wide, shock and terror filling his gaze. "Who? What senior is passing by and playing tricks on me?"

    He was deeply shaken.

    If he had accidentally spoken out loud or transmitted his thoughts and a senior overheard, that would be one thing.

    But these were just his private thoughts, unspoken¡ªyet someone had heard them?

    His nerves tightened as he scanned his surroundings, finding nothing.

    ¡°Could it have been... a hallucination?¡±

    The recluse was skeptical.

    Suddenly, ripples appeared in the space around him, and a shadow materialized out of the void, landing on his meditation cushion.

    The recluse froze, staring at the strange object.

    ¡°A cup?¡±

    When he read the instructions on it, his face turned bright red.

    ¡°A Dao companion?¡±

    He held the cup in his hands, his expression a mix of shock, fear, and confusion.

    He felt powerless, as if his casual wish had been overheard by some being who had responded¡ªbut the result was quite strange.

    ¡°Could it be that my random thoughts were heard by some malevolent spirit from beyond?¡±

    The recluse broke out in a cold sweat.

    On the other side, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes also widened in surprise.

    A reclusive cultivator, holding onto a certain cup¡ªit was truly a bizarre sight.

    ¡°So, does this make me some kind of divine figure, like the Wealth-Spreading Boy?¡±

    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought I just granted him the most powerful ¡®Dao companion¡¯ in the entire Canglan Realm. The most amazing cultivator with the most amazing companion¡ªwhat a life!¡±

    Qi Yuan squinted, reflecting on himself.

    After all, he kept granting things yet gained nothing in return¡ªquite a loss.

    He even considered knocking out the recluse and stealing the cup back.

    After all, he had given something, but what had the recluse contributed?

    About a hundred breaths later, Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

    "It seems... my speech has become clearer, and my hearing more sensitive."

    After fully inspecting himself during those hundred breaths, these were the only changes he noticed.

    Of course, there might be deeper transformations that he was still too weak to perceive.

    ¡°Such an important matter cannot be decided in a day. I, for one, agree that the Blood-Clad Sword God should think this over carefully.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t get involved in this.¡±

    These Yin Gods had come to give the Blood-Clad Sword God face, but confronting the Great Calamity... no, thanks.

    With a traitor like Hunqiong here, how could they discuss resisting the calamity without giving away all their plans to it?

    Many great lords turned to Great Lord Whitefish, their eyes flickering as if asking for his decision.

    Great Lord Whitefish remained calm, speaking slowly: ¡°As cultivators, death is inevitable. To die in battle against the Great Calamity would be an honorable death.¡±

    He had already resolved to die.

    He was close to losing control and ascending to the Mythical realm.

    When that happened, his name would be inscribed on the Monument of Myths.

    Once that occurred, there would be no turning back.

    "What a shame," Hunqiong remarked, not bothering to hide his glee. "Once the Blood-Clad Sword God falls, this Origin God Assembly and the Divine Flower Society will be left without their leaders. Don¡¯t fight me for it, everyone¡ªI¡¯ll make sure to take good care of the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s heirs."

    Hunqiong was utterly fearless.

    The projection here was just a shadow¡ªhis true form was hidden in the Canglan Realm, and even mythical figures couldn¡¯t find him.

    And many of the great lords here knew about his betrayal.

    When he received the invitation to the Origin God Assembly, to be honest, he was a bit confused.

    But he came anyway.

    Since he was here, he figured he might as well stir things up.

    Once the Blood-Clad Sword God fell and this resistance against the Great Calamity ended, perhaps he could gain something from it.

    Many of the Yin Gods and great lords present were visibly troubled by Hunqiong¡¯s shameless words.

    But there was nothing they could do.

    Hunqiong then chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t be so down. After all, the Blood-Clad Sword God managed to destroy Fate Mountain¡ªhe might have some tricks up his sleeve. This time... you great lords should stop holding back and enter the Mythical realm already.¡±

    His words were clearly provocative.

    Once someone entered the Mythical realm, they had no choice but to fight.

    Hunqiong¡¯s intentions were clearly malicious.

    Great Lord Whitefish glanced at Hunqiong but said nothing.

    A noble man doesn¡¯t argue with a petty one¡ªno need to ruin the mood.

    The atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

    Except for a few who were eager for battle, most of the Yin Gods and great lords were hesitant.

    With Hunqiong present, any secret discussions about resisting the Great Calamity were doomed to fail.

    Even those who were willing to resist didn¡¯t dare show it.

    This gathering was full of hidden agendas and mixed intentions.

    Just then, a ripple spread through the void.

    Every Yin God present, both lords and great lords, looked toward the source.

    A flash of blood-red light appeared, and a man in a blood-colored robe emerged, his sleeves billowing casually.

    His face, handsome beyond compare, carried a faint air of wickedness. His gentle, jade-like eyes glinted with a sharp, icy light.

    ¡°Is the tea to everyone¡¯s liking? No issues with the local water?¡± Qi Yuan spoke with a casual tone, yet his words showed concern for the Yin Gods.

    After all, they had come from all corners of the world¡ªif they got sick from the water in his territory, wouldn¡¯t he have to pay compensation?

    The Yin Gods quickly stood and offered their opinions.

    ¡°Blood-Clad Sword God, resisting the Great Calamity is a grave matter. We should plan carefully.¡±

    ¡°No matter what happens, I¡¯m willing to stand with you and fight the Great Calamity!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be watching from the sidelines, cheering for you,¡± Hunqiong said with a smirk.

    ¡°This is too big a matter. It needs more consideration,¡± many of the Yin Gods said, already showing signs of retreat.

    Great Lord Whitefish sighed at the scene.

    No matter when it was, it seemed the Yin Gods of the Canglan Realm could never reach a consensus.

    Fighting the Great Calamity was always the cause of a determined few.

    ¡°You¡¯re being too noisy.¡±

    Qi Yuan raised a finger, and the hall fell silent in an instant.

    The great lords who had been speaking realized they couldn¡¯t hear their own voices.

    Their hearts tightened, growing even more wary of the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    Qi Yuan spoke again, his tone icy.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t invite you here to ask for your support or opposition.

    I¡¯m here to inform you that the ¡®Qi Yuan¡¯s Calamity Removal¡¯ plan will be personally carried out by me three days from now!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s aura surged, deep and vast as the ocean.

    ¡°In three days, I will head to the Central Heavenly Domain and slay the Great Calamity myself!¡±

    ¡°And when you return, you will announce to the world that ¡®Qi Yuan¡¯s Calamity Removal¡¯ has begun. If any anomalies occur, the people need not panic¡ªeverything will be under control.¡±

    The great lords and Yin Gods looked at Qi Yuan, their faces filled with shock.

    He was going to confront the Great Calamity alone?

    How could he dare!?

 Chapter 401: The Eve, Discussions Among the People

    Chapter 401: The Eve, Discussions Among the People

    The great lords were deeply moved, while the Yin Gods had words they wanted to say but could no longer find the ability to speak.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God had invited them all to gather, but it wasn¡¯t to unite with them in fighting against the Great Calamity?

    His confidence and domineering declaration echoed in their ears, lingering for a long time, impossible to forget.

    Many of the great lords felt ashamed.

    Perhaps it was their hesitation, their self-preservation, that had caused the Blood-Clad Sword God to become disheartened.

    And so, the Blood-Clad Sword God decided to abandon everyone and fight the Great Calamity alone?

    ¡°Blood-Clad Sword God...¡± Great Lord Yellow Ox gritted his teeth. ¡°I may be weak, but I¡¯m willing to go with you and face the Great Calamity together!¡±

    He felt that he had lived long enough, and it was time to strike out at the nightmarish calamity, to die in a blaze of glory.

    Qi Yuan glanced at Great Lord Yellow Ox. ¡°You¡¯re too far away. You won¡¯t make it to the Central Heavenly Domain in three days, so don¡¯t bother coming with me.¡±

    As he spoke, he scanned everyone present.

    ¡°All you need to do is return to your domains and announce to the world that ¡®Qi Yuan¡¯s Calamity Removal¡¯ has begun. Do not worry about any anomalies; leave everything else to me,¡± Qi Yuan said with confidence.

    He was no longer the novice cultivator who had secretly snuck around to destroy the Black Mountain Sect, nor the little Golden Core cultivator who had to stir up trouble with multiple aliases to wipe out the Bright Palace.

    He was now a high-level Purple Mansion cultivator, capable of ruling a mountain and being called a sect master in the Canglan Realm!

    This time, he declared war directly, openly telling the Great Calamity: I, Qi Yuan, am coming to destroy you.

    And he would personally confront it and eradicate the Calamity.

    It was as simple and straightforward as that!

    ¡°The Blood-Clad Sword God has such great confidence. His aura is truly strong. You can tell he¡¯s an extraordinary person.

    With that kind of strength, he¡¯ll certainly have a different fate from those who¡¯ve fought the Calamity before,¡± Great Lord Hunqiong said with a grin at this moment.

    He was merely present as a projection, not his real body, so he felt more at ease and bold.

    If his voice were higher and he acted more delicate, like a girl with stars in her eyes, clenching her small fists and shouting, ¡°Big Brother, you¡¯re amazing,¡± the scene would be perfect.

    Qi Yuan''s gaze fell on Great Lord Hunqiong. ¡°Why is your voice so sarcastic? Could it be... that you¡¯re destined to be a pile of dog shit in my Yin-Yang Forbidden Land?¡±

    The smile on Great Lord Hunqiong¡¯s face froze. ¡°They say the Blood-Clad Sword God is mad and has killed countless people, but it seems you understand words just fine.

    I just wonder how heartbroken your parents, your relatives, and your friends will be when you fall to the Calamity.¡±

    ¡°Hey, can you just be a typical villain and cut your own head off already? Why all the talking? Are you paid by the word?¡±

    Qi Yuan said, not hesitating as he reached out with a blood-red hand toward Great Lord Hunqiong.

    Hunqiong¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, and he remained calm. ¡°In such a hurry? You really lack the composure of a true powerhouse.¡±

    He waved his sleeve casually, seemingly unconcerned about Qi Yuan¡¯s attack.

    After all, this was just a projection¡ªno big deal.

    As long as he cut off his consciousness, he could return to his true body.

    The Canglan Realm was vast, and he was well hidden. Even if the Blood-Clad Sword God turned the world upside down, he wouldn¡¯t be able to find him.

    However, as soon as that blood-red hand wrapped around him, Hunqiong¡¯s expression changed drastically.

    An overwhelming sense of danger surged through him. It was as though he were a helpless infant being crushed by a mighty god.

    Everything about him seemed to be within the control of the blood-clad man.

    ¡°In the Canglan Realm, once I lay eyes on an evildoer, they can¡¯t escape my grasp.

    Do you even know what it means to be a high-level cultivator in the Purple Mansion realm?

    Now... die!¡±

    In the blood-red hand, blood energy boiled and churned.

    With a loud crack, Great Lord Hunqiong¡¯s body shattered bit by bit.

    His eyes were filled with disbelief.

    Because his consciousness realized that not only was this projection breaking apart, but his true body as well!

    His true body, hidden far away in a mysterious and secure location, surrounded by intricate formations¡ªformations that even a mythical figure couldn¡¯t penetrate easily.

    But now... how was this possible?

    He stared in terror at the blood-clad figure, his eyes pleading, filled with confusion.

    ¡°How... how did you do this?¡±

    As his body disintegrated, his consciousness fractured. Blood and soul fragments scattered into pieces.

    Qi Yuan squinted, his expression cold. ¡°Did you think ¡®tracing someone through the network¡¯ was just a saying?¡±

    After destroying the Bright Palace, Qi Yuan had already started using that method to track and destroy.

    Now, he was simply retracing his steps.

    Did distance matter?

    Back then, a disciple from Taihuang Palace had talked tough from the upper realm, and Qi Yuan had still crushed him with a virtual sun.

    ¡°No matter what, if he really eliminates the Calamity, the Star-Separation Realm must offer some help.

    Even if he ultimately fails, if he can at least take a bite out of the Calamity, it will be worth it!¡±

    At this moment, across the Canglan Realm¡ªwhether in the world of cultivation or among mortals¡ªthe hottest topic was "Qi Yuan¡¯s Calamity Removal."

    In the Divine Flower Society, countless people were left dumbfounded.

    ¡°What? The Calamity Removal is really going to start?¡±

    ¡°Is the cultivation method really poisonous? I haven¡¯t felt anything.¡±

    ¡°Last night, when I was discussing this in my third aunt¡¯s cousin¡¯s boudoir, she said the cultivation method is only harmful to the Yin Gods and has nothing to do with us!¡±

    ¡°Right, we small fry aren¡¯t even on the Calamity¡¯s radar. Now they¡¯re forcing us to resist the Calamity. What if we provoke it and it comes after us?¡±

    ¡°You people have no conscience! If the cultivation method is poisonous, our lives are in someone else''s hands. Is that fine with you? What about your descendants? If they¡¯re born, will they also become fodder? Are you okay with that?¡±

    ¡°So, does that mean even if Qi Yuan wins against the Calamity, we might still die?¡±

    ¡°Why is this guy named Qi Yuan? He sounds like that top Purple Mansion cultivator from the Shenguang Sect. Could they be the same person?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s common for people to have the same name! How could one be a mere Purple Mansion cultivator and the other a lord at the peak of the world?¡±

    All over, people were discussing the ¡°Qi Yuan¡¯s Calamity Removal.¡±

    Even in the remote Shenguang Sect, this news had reached their ears.

    However, no one connected this Qi Yuan to the one on the Seven-Colored Peak.

    Even though Deadwood True Lord knew Qi Yuan was extraordinary, and Kang Fuluo understood that Qi Yuan was much stronger than they had initially thought.

    But to them, removing the Calamity was nearly equivalent to opposing the Heavenly Dao itself¡ªsomething Qi Yuan could never accomplish.

    Meanwhile, at the Origin God Assembly, Jiang Lingsu clutched a jade slip from the Divine Flower Society, fuming with anger. ¡°Ugh! These people are disgusting. Not only are they not supporting us, but they¡¯re slandering us!¡±

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised by this at all.

    As for the chatter online, he didn¡¯t bother with it.

    He believed that once the Great Calamity was eradicated, the atmosphere of the Canglan Realm would improve greatly thanks to him.

    ¡°No worries, just report those trolls to Little Fox Girl,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    ¡°But I¡¯m still so mad!¡± Jiang Lingsu said, frustrated.

    She had already switched between several alternate accounts to defend her senior brother online.

    But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t outnumber the masses.

    ¡°These people should go straight to hell!¡± Jiang Lingsu fumed.

    Seeing her cute, angry expression, Qi Yuan chuckled. ¡°Maybe... they will all end up in hell?¡±

    Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu''s heart tightened in a moment of pain. She quickly said, ¡°Spit, spit, spit! Don¡¯t say such unlucky things. The Calamity will be destroyed, and you¡¯ll be safe, senior brother!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the underworld is my home. Even if they go there, they¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true... last time you had the Ghost Painter design the underworld,¡± Jiang Lingsu tilted her head, remembering.

    ¡°And don¡¯t forget, you¡¯ve got an investment in a piece of land there,¡± Qi Yuan added lightly.

    In the early days of the Shenguang Sect, Qi Yuan¡¯s cultivation techniques and spirit stones had come either from his ¡®white moonlight¡¯ or from his busty little junior sister.

    Jiang Lingsu blushed at the thought, tugging on Qi Yuan¡¯s sleeve with a sincere look in her eyes. ¡°Senior brother, this time... you really must be careful. If... there¡¯s even the slightest chance you can¡¯t defeat the Calamity, please just run!¡±

    She knew her senior brother was powerful.

    But once, she had glimpsed a fragment of the Calamity through her family¡¯s treasured artifact.

    The sheer power of it was beyond comprehension.

    She couldn¡¯t imagine how her senior brother could possibly win.

    After all, just over two years ago, she had been sneaking around with him, fearfully trailing an enemy, and in the end, her senior brother had ambushed and killed the Foundation Establishment-level enemy with a kitchen knife.

    Now, he was openly declaring war on the Great Calamity¡ªit felt like an entirely different lifetime.

    At the same time, she recalled the overwhelming killing intent that had once radiated from him, and her eyes softened.

    How much had her senior brother endured? How many hardships had he gone through to reach this point?

    But she knew nothing of it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as the plan is solid, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s carried out! I managed to wipe out the Bright Palace, so what¡¯s a mere Calamity?¡± Qi Yuan said passionately.

    Jiang Lingsu: ¡°...Senior brother, maybe you should stop talking. I¡¯m worried about your mental state.¡±

    The Bright Palace was powerful, sure, but compared to the Great Calamity, it was as fragile as an ant.

    ¡°Senior brother, I believe in you!¡± Jiang Lingsu clenched her fists, eyes full of resolve. ¡°I¡¯ll support you both mentally and physically!¡±

    But as soon as she said that, her face turned red.

    How could she support him physically?

    However, seeing that her senior brother didn¡¯t seem to catch the awkwardness in her words, she breathed a sigh of relief, mixed with a hint of disappointment.

    She decided to register a few more alternate accounts and blast those who dared question her senior brother until they regretted everything!

 Chapter 402: I Am the Great Calamity, Who Dares to Defeat Me?

    Chapter 402: I Am the Great Calamity, Who Dares to Defeat Me?

    On May 16th, light rain fell on Feng Tian Domain, but a blood-red light streaked across the sky with unstoppable force, heading toward the Central Heavenly Domain.

    Many people in cultivation sects, aristocratic families, and hidden sects were startled awake.

    They looked up at the sky. Even with the sharp vision of cultivators, they could not make out the figure behind the blood-red light.

    However, wherever the blood-red light passed, the sky was painted crimson.

    The sunlight, filtering through the blood-red sky, also turned blood-red.

    Countless cultivators referred to this phenomenon as The Blood Sun Slaughters the Heavens.

    ¡°Qi Yuan is the Blood-Clad Sword God. It seems he¡¯s about to start confronting the Great Calamity!¡± one Yin God trembled as they spoke.

    Three days were far too short for a Yin God to react.

    The Blood-Clad Sword God was truly an anomaly, impossible to gauge by normal standards.

    Declaring war against the Calamity¡ªwithout keeping it secret¡ªwas bold and public.

    And the time frame was so rushed!

    After gathering all the strong individuals, he simply decided to charge forward and face the Calamity in just three days.

    Alone!

    This fact left the Yin God Lords and Great Lords in awe.

    ¡°Is the Blood-Clad Sword God really that confident? Could it be that, like the one before him, he¡¯s stepped into the Yang God realm?¡± one Great Lord asked.

    ¡°The one before failed only because of the leak from the Mountain of Fate.

    Now that the Mountain of Fate has been destroyed, maybe there¡¯s a real chance this time!¡±

    ¡°Are you dreaming? There''s no need for the Mountain of Fate to leak the information¡ªQi Yuan is leaking it himself!¡± a Yin God responded, helpless.

    Countless gazes turned to the sky, as if they wanted to catch a glimpse of that blood-red light.

    ¡°No, something¡¯s wrong! Our skies in the Wave Rain Domain are also turning red!¡±

    ¡°After my closed-door training session, I woke up, and the skies over Northern Desert have turned red too! What? What is the Blood-Clad Sword God doing?¡±

    ¡°Not just the Northern Desert¡ªother domains are seeing their skies turn red too. What is the Blood-Clad Sword God trying to accomplish?¡±

    Many people were puzzled, and discussions arose.

    Perhaps after a short nap, a meal, or even just washing their clothes, they looked up at the sky once again.

    A blood-red sky!

    The entire Canglan Realm was covered by the blood-red glow.

    As the light shone down, it seemed like blood threads were raining from the heavens.

    Many were confused, but others were shaken to their core.

    This Blood-Clad Sword God... was astonishingly fast.

    Yet, a seed of doubt also grew in the hearts of many cultivators: ¡°If the Blood-Clad Sword God is so powerful, then how terrifying must the Great Calamity be?¡±

    ¡°Sigh, we know too little about the Great Calamity. Is it a person, a demon, or a monster? How powerful is it? What has it done? We have no clue.¡±

    ¡°Maybe... the Great Calamity could even coexist with us peacefully?¡± someone suggested.

    The world¡¯s understanding of the Great Calamity was woefully limited.

    In remote places like Shenguang Sect, they had no concept of the Great Calamity at all.

    Only large Purple Mansion clans like the Jiang family had access to rare treasures that provided glimpses of the Calamity, but even their knowledge was sparse.

    As for the Yin Gods, they had only heard of the Great Calamity.

    But their knowledge of it was limited to the fact that it reaps everything.

    What the Calamity truly was, who was behind it¡ªnone of this was known.

    The Calamity was believed to be a Yang God-level entity because, in the past, a Yang God from the Canglan Realm had failed to overcome it.

    Therefore, when news of Qi Yuan¡¯s Calamity Removal spread, many people in the Canglan Realm were indifferent.

    Some even thought the claim of poisonous cultivation techniques was an exaggeration, similar to the idea that spiritual energy was poisonous. After all, every cultivator in the Canglan Realm who used spiritual energy eventually perished.

    To most, the Great Calamity was a distant threat.

    Some female cultivators, confident in their beauty, even joked that if the Great Calamity laid eyes on them, it might make them its Dao companion.

    Some male cultivators with great talent boasted that the Calamity might appreciate their gifts and take them as disciples.

    Reactions to Qi Yuan¡¯s Calamity Removal varied widely.

    At 7:15 in the afternoon, the entire sky of the Canglan Realm turned red.

    Countless cultivators gazed at the sky, their expressions heavy, feeling as though they were witnessing history.

    In a pavilion, Jiang Lingsu, wearing a green dress, had cold sweat on her forehead, her beautiful eyes filled with endless worry.

    Even in her elegant green dress, her graceful figure couldn¡¯t be concealed. It was hard to imagine how stunning she would look without it.

    The hem of her skirt was long, but occasionally, a glimpse of flesh-colored stockings could be seen underneath¡ªstrangely out of place yet somehow enticing.

    Not long ago, she had been playing chess here with her senior brother, her mind wandering as though she were about to make a decision.

    But now, her senior brother had gone to face the Great Calamity.

    She was left alone.

    She recalled the glimpse she had seen through her family¡¯s treasure¡ªa downpour of blood, heaven and earth overturned, something no human power could achieve.

    She gritted her teeth and whispered, ¡°Senior brother, you have to be safe!¡±

    ¡°How can it possibly be defeated?¡±

    ¡°We were wrong, the Calamity is in the right!¡± Some cultivators, utterly terrified, broke down in tears.

    Yin Gods were mighty, capable of destroying entire nations with a single strike, representing the peak of power in the Canglan Realm.

    But compared to the destruction of an entire world, a nation was no more than a grain of sand on a beach.

    Who could stand against the Calamity? Who had the power to triumph?

    In Feng Tian Domain, the Ice Mountain Overlord¡¯s eyes were filled with boundless fear and dread. ¡°This is... the Calamity? An existence even Yin Gods cannot fathom!¡±

    Having just stepped into the Yin God realm, she was full of ambition, confident that she was no longer on the same level as the Purple Mansion, that she could sink an entire nation with a flick of her hand.

    But to destroy an entire world... that was on an entirely different scale.

    White Fish Great Lord¡¯s face was filled with defeat. ¡°Even if I dedicated my entire life, I fear I couldn¡¯t harm it.¡±

    Another Great Lord¡¯s face was filled with bitterness. ¡°An ant... that¡¯s what I am.¡±

    Little Fox Girl sat dazed on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s okay, the senior is so strong, he¡¯ll definitely destroy the Calamity! ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over. The Blood-Clad Sword God dared to challenge this kind of Calamity. The Canglan Realm is finished!¡± one cultivator screamed in madness, their mind breaking.

    ¡°This is the Calamity...¡± An old hermit who had hidden for a thousand years, only to emerge as a late-blooming genius, was filled with despair. ¡°Who can stand against it?¡±

    At Shenguang Sect, Kang Fuluo silently watched the scene unfold.

    In the Eastern Lands, Jiang Ruhua was racing madly through the air as a streak of light, anxious and desperate. ¡°I need to hurry! I have to see that brat Qi Yuan before everything is destroyed and give him a good beating!¡±

    He still believed that the Blood-Clad Sword God and Qi Yuan just happened to share the same name.

    Now, Qi Yuan was confronting the Calamity.

    The world was in chaos, and who knew how many living beings would perish?

    At this moment, Jiang Ruhua was furious that Qi Yuan had run off with his beloved daughter. In such dire times, how could he not be angry when he couldn¡¯t even see his own daughter?

    If he found Qi Yuan, he was determined to give him a good punch in the nose!

    However, as he flew through the sky, he suddenly froze.

    He saw that the entire sky of the Canglan Realm had darkened.

    The light dimmed, and all sunlight was blocked, even the blood-red sun was no longer visible.

    Jiang Ruhua couldn¡¯t help but look up, and what he saw made his entire body tremble.

    A colossal figure was slowly rising, casting a vast shadow over the land. The shadow grew larger and larger, and the shape of the monstrous figure became clearer.

    ¡°This...¡±

    Jiang Ruhua¡¯s entire body quivered, and the spiritual energy within him churned uncontrollably.

    He stared at the massive figure in the sky, suddenly wanting to find a hole to crawl into, as though being hidden away was the only thing that could give him even a sliver of safety.

    ¡°It¡¯s too big!¡±

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°A monster?¡±

    ¡°Is... that its eye?¡±

    Countless cultivators clenched their teeth, their jaws aching, their hearts trembling in terror.

    Before, when they had merely seen the image in their minds from a third-person perspective, it wasn¡¯t too bad.

    But now, being there in person, seeing the titanic entity in the sky with their own eyes, they were filled with fear.

    The Great Calamity... was so large it seemed even bigger than the Canglan Realm itself.

    A single strike from a Yin God wouldn¡¯t even be able to harm its hair, so how could the Blood-Clad Sword God possibly win?

    The enormous creature seemed to be made of chaotic energy, vast beyond measure, muddled and hazy, with only a faint glimmer of awareness burning in its enormous eyes.

    Those immense eyes hung in the sky, overlooking the world below.

    Every living being trembled.

    Some people immediately fell to their knees.

    ¡°Oh, Great Calamity, mighty god!¡±

    ¡°Please spare me!¡±

    In the face of such a terrifying monster, no cultivator could muster the will to resist.

    Jiang Lingsu looked up, her delicate face pale, but her eyes blazed with fiery determination.

    If looks could kill, the Calamity would have been slain by her countless times already.

    ¡°Qi Yuan, destroy the Calamity!¡± Jiang Lingsu silently chanted to herself.

    Great Wisdom True Lord also looked up at the titanic form of the Great Calamity, his eyes deep and contemplative. ¡°It¡¯s getting... larger.¡±

    At that moment, the immense body of the Great Calamity, made of boundless chaos, opened its mouth like a black hole in the stars, capable of devouring everything.

    ¡°I am the Great Calamity, who dares to challenge me?¡±

    The Great Calamity¡¯s sentient gaze swept across the land, as though searching for the one who had dared to defy it.

    All the cultivators froze for a moment¡ªwhere was the Blood-Clad Sword God?

    ¡°I¡¯m right... above you!¡±

    This voice, colder and sharper than the Calamity¡¯s, cut through the air.

    Instinctively, all the cultivators looked up at the sky, but aside from the colossal creature, they saw nothing.

    In that moment, the Great Calamity, dazed and confused, also looked up.

    And it saw...

 Chapter 404: Senior, Whatâ€™s Your Son-in-Lawâ€™s Name?

    Chapter 404: Senior, What¡¯s Your Son-in-Law¡¯s Name?

    Heavenly fire scorched the sky, the heavens crumbled, the earth shattered, and the sun and moon lost their light...

    No words could adequately describe this battle.

    Qi Yuan, now within his Purple Mansion, had reached the absolute peak of the Grand Heaven-tier Yang God in terms of sheer combat strength, if not realm.

    Back when he was in the Gongxing world, he had merged with his four thousand Nascent Souls and killed the Eastern Lord, who was on the verge of stepping into the Absolute Principle realm.

    Of course, that was partly because the Eastern Lord''s trump cards had been useless against him.

    In terms of divine power and Law Body alone, Qi Yuan was already stronger than a young Yang God at the Great Principle level.

    Now, leading the gods and Buddhas, he charged straight into the three thousand Great Calamities.

    The slaughter continued!

    Blood flowed!

    Chaos was torn apart!

    Everywhere he looked, enemies. All were enemies!

    Since becoming a Golden Core cultivator, Qi Yuan had never experienced a battle of this intensity.

    The monsters in the Mountain and Sea Scroll? Slain with a single strike.

    The demonic fiends outside the City of No Return? Could they block even one sword?

    But now, facing three thousand Great Calamities, this battle seemed to stretch into eternity.

    No instant kills. No single-strike victories!

    It was all a contest of divine power, a collision of forces!

    For the first time in a long while, Qi Yuan found himself wounded in battle.

    Pieces of the Great Calamities¡¯ chaotic bodies fell continuously into the underworld, transforming into strange new landscapes.

    Qi Yuan''s four thousand Nascent Souls, once the innate divine beings, were also besieged by the Great Calamities and shed blood, falling into the underworld.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    Qi Yuan''s eyes, already bloodshot, burned with fury. Dressed in his blood-red armor, he charged into the Great Calamities, killing gods as they came, destroying Buddhas in his path!

    Sword Art of Heaven-Splitting!

    Deathly Radiance!

    Tyrannical Force!

    These three powerful techniques were used in succession.

    He held nothing back!

    This battle was brutally fierce.

    Perhaps because the Great Calamities were dazed, they had no concept of retreat.

    Even though Qi Yuan''s side held an overwhelming advantage in numbers and power, none of the Great Calamities showed any sign of retreating, panicking, or fleeing.

    They fought like emotionless war machines, giving their all.

    Because of this, even with the advantage, the Great Calamities did not collapse. They maintained their strongest form, fighting against the gods of the heavens.

    The battle raged on for a full ten days.

    For ten days, the fighting never ceased.

    None of the cultivators or mortals could see even a fragment of the battle. They could only gauge its progress by the amount of blood-red light or chaotic darkness in the sky.

    The blood-red grew stronger, and the chaos gradually faded.

    Many cultivators breathed a sigh of relief, and mortals, though shocked, became numb and accustomed to it.

    In the void, Qi Yuan¡¯s blood-red armor had long since faded, and he stood in a tattered robe, his entire body soaked in blood.

    Whether the blood was his own or from his Nascent Souls, it was impossible to tell.

    Before him, only the strongest of the dazed Great Calamities remained.

    Their eyes showed no fear, no sign of despair.

    ¡°Any last words to recite?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was murderous.

    This battle had been so intense that even the mourning and wailing musicians had been forced to pick up weapons and join the fight.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s Nascent Souls were nearly exhausted.

    Behind him stood the Six Imperial Deities, towering and majestic, exuding endless power.

    Finally, the dazed Great Calamities spoke, their voices unified and solemn.

    ¡°Strength is calamity.¡±

    ¡°The Nine Heavens hold no true future.¡±

    ¡°Can you really eliminate the Great Calamity?¡±

    Their voices carried a chilling tone.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was speechless. ¡°Damn it, I really shouldn¡¯t have let you speak. Are you seriously trying to play cryptic riddle masters now?¡±

    The dazed Great Calamities showed no change in their expressions, nor did they show any fear of death.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan chuckled darkly. ¡°Heh, if it were anyone else, they might be shaken by your cryptic words, worrying endlessly.¡±

    ¡°But sorry to disappoint you, I¡¯ve never been much of a thinker.¡±

    ¡°My brain¡¯s been in storage for ages! What¡¯s the point of overthinking? As long as I¡¯m strong enough, even calamities will have to give me a foot massage!¡±

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    Divine power erupted once again, and the slaughter resumed, this time ending within moments.

    The entire sky turned blood-red.

    That red was the color of Qi Yuan¡¯s robe and the blood of countless Nascent Souls.

    The sky turned completely crimson, and the chaos vanished entirely.

    Countless cultivators and mortals looked up at the sky.

    The sounds of battle, the thunderous booms¡ªall had fallen silent. The divine powers had vanished without a trace, leaving only a profound silence.

    The sky seemed like an ancient battlefield, and the previous fighting felt like nothing more than a dream of the past, a fleeting illusion.

    ¡°Is it over?¡±

    His daughter was speaking to him with that tone, even putting ¡°Dad¡± at the end. How could he be the bad guy now?

    When that brat woke up, he¡¯d still have to give him a good punch to the nose!

    Don¡¯t think just because you share a name with that Blood-Clad Sword God or because you¡¯re injured, you can act recklessly!

    Grumbling under his breath, Jiang Ruhua left and quietly sat in the tavern below.

    ¡°I have to admit, that brat and the Blood-Clad Sword God have a weird connection. They¡¯re both named Qi Yuan, and they both wear blood-red robes,¡± Jiang Ruhua muttered, sipping his wine.

    Of course, he never suspected that the Qi Yuan in front of him could actually be the Blood-Clad Sword God fighting the Great Calamity. He had never even entertained the thought.

    First, the Blood-Clad Sword God seemed too far removed from his world. Second, how could a being of such stature have possibly sat on a flying boat, listening to him boast?

    After all, in Jiang Ruhua¡¯s mind, such an exalted existence would spend millennia cultivating in seclusion, drinking celestial dew.

    Feelings like love and attachment? Such things must have long since been severed.

    Could his daughter, with her limited skills, possibly catch the eye of the Blood-Clad Sword God?

    ¡°Sigh, daughters are impossible to keep close once they¡¯re grown.¡± Jiang Ruhua muttered to himself, drinking alone.

    As he continued drinking, he began to feel that something wasn¡¯t right.

    For some reason, more and more cultivators were quietly gathering in the tavern.

    Why cultivators?

    Because every one of them arrived soundlessly, making no noise at all.

    After they sat down, none of the cultivators spoke. They merely pulled out their own bottles of wine and started drinking slowly.

    Jiang Ruhua hadn¡¯t even noticed their presence, despite being a Nascent Soul True Lord.

    He couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. ¡°Feng Tianyu really lives up to its reputation as a great region. You just casually bump into so many experts.¡±

    He kept drinking but refrained from making any noise, as he had in the past.

    That was because every cultivator in the tavern was drinking in complete silence, not making a sound.

    It made Jiang Ruhua feel a bit embarrassed and ashamed.

    He decided that when he got home, he¡¯d write a book titled ¡°Jiang Ruhua¡¯s Travels in Feng Tianyu,¡± documenting the high quality of the cultivators here.

    Yes, the tavern had no waiters, and many high-level cultivators gathered to drink without making the slightest noise.

    Their manners were truly exemplary.

    Just then, two men and a woman walked over to Jiang Ruhua¡¯s table.

    The leader of the group transmitted a message directly to his mind, ¡°Brother, may we sit here with you?¡±

    As he spoke, he glanced around the tavern.

    Jiang Ruhua followed his gaze and was instantly stunned.

    When did this place get so crowded?

    Was the business in Feng Tianyu this good? Maybe he should expand the Jiang family business here as well.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Jiang Ruhua quickly responded via voice transmission.

    The cultivators here were so well-mannered that he dared not raise his voice. He could only communicate with them through sound transmission.

    Wang Lingtong heard the reply and took a seat with Wang Lingshan and the other man.

    At that moment, the three of them wore expressions of worry.

    ¡°Cultivators in big cities really do have such good manners,¡± Jiang Ruhua transmitted, his voice full of awe.

    Wang Lingtong¡¯s eyes showed a hint of concern as he replied, ¡°Brother, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s carefree and living at ease.¡±

    ¡°Carefree, my ass!¡± Jiang Ruhua¡¯s temper flared at the words. ¡°Do you know my daughter¡¯s been whisked away by some brat? Today, she even got mad at me because of him. It¡¯s driving me crazy!¡±

    Wang Lingtong was momentarily stunned.

    Weren¡¯t all the cultivators here gathered to pay their respects to the Blood-Clad Sword God?

    Why was this man still going on about family troubles?

    ¡°A married daughter is like water spilled,¡± he muttered, trying to offer some comfort.

    ¡°Hmph, I traveled all the way from the Eastern Lands just to deal with this. When that kid wakes up, I¡¯m going to give him a good punch to the nose, or else I won¡¯t let it go!¡± Jiang Ruhua¡¯s voice was full of grievances.

    As a great battle raged in the heavens and all cultivators feared for their lives, Jiang Ruhua¡¯s only concern was his daughter and his family affairs.

    But halfway through his journey, he still ended up in Feng Tianyu.

    Wang Lingtong was left speechless.

    He wanted to tell him, ¡°Brother, we¡¯re here to see the Blood-Clad Sword God. Let¡¯s not get distracted by personal matters.¡±

    Still, he offered words of support, ¡°Yes, give him a punch if he deserves it!¡±

    ¡°Exactly! But it¡¯s a shame the brat¡¯s a bit stronger than me, just one realm above. If he hits me back, it¡¯ll be embarrassing,¡± Jiang Ruhua muttered, his anger turning to a boast.

    It was as though he were saying, ¡°See, my son-in-law is actually pretty impressive.¡±

    ¡°Strength doesn¡¯t matter. What kind of son-in-law would dare strike his father-in-law? If he dares lay a hand on you, I¡¯ll step in to help!¡± Wang Lingtong said casually.

    ¡°You¡¯re right! People from big cities really know how to reason things out. If this were back in my hometown, a gathering of high-level cultivators like this would have already descended into chaos and fighting,¡± Jiang Ruhua said, casting a glance at the well-behaved cultivators around him.

    Wang Lingtong could only shake his head internally.

    ¡°Brother, you¡¯re really clueless, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    The Blood-Clad Sword God was up there right now, and not a single cultivator here would dare speak out of turn.

    Didn¡¯t you notice the two Great Lords sitting nearby, sworn enemies for tens of thousands of years, putting their feud aside just to be here?

    Wang Lingtong fell silent, choosing to wait in peace.

    After what seemed like an eternity, Jiang Ruhua¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened.

    ¡°Brother, that¡¯s my son-in-law up there. I¡¯m going to go have a word with him. If he dares hit me, you¡¯ve got to back me up!¡± Jiang Ruhua said, a little tipsy from the wine.

    He wasn¡¯t actually planning to hit Qi Yuan¡ªafter all, that would be a public embarrassment for his family.

    But a good scolding? That was unavoidable.

    Wang Lingtong was stunned, his mind reeling.

    Wait, what?

    Your son-in-law is upstairs?

    ¡°Brother... senior, what¡¯s your son-in-law¡¯s name?¡± Wang Lingtong asked, his heart pounding with apprehension.

 Chapter 405: My Son-in-Law Has Quite an Appetite

    Chapter 405: My Son-in-Law Has Quite an Appetite

    ¡°...Ahem... his name is Qi Yuan,¡± Jiang Ruhua said, feeling a bit embarrassed. After all, who in this world didn¡¯t know of Qi Yuan, the one who eliminated the Great Calamity?

    It was a bit awkward for his son-in-law to share the same name as such a legendary figure.

    Upon hearing this, even though Wang Lingtong was a Great Lord, his heart skipped a beat.

    He quickly looked toward the staircase, where a blood-red figure was slowly descending, the sound of footsteps echoing off the wooden stairs.

    Jiang Lingsu, dressed in a simple robe, was supporting the figure, her eyes filled with barely concealed joy.

    All the cultivators in the tavern who had been drinking silently stood up at this moment, putting down their cups in unison.

    The only sound in the tavern was the soft creaking of footsteps on the wooden stairs.

    Jiang Ruhua didn¡¯t notice the other cultivators standing, but the sound of Qi Yuan¡¯s footsteps on the stairs made him blush slightly.

    Sigh, his son-in-law really was from a small place like him. You could tell by how loudly he walked.

    Didn¡¯t he notice how quiet it was here?

    Such lack of manners!

    He decided that when they returned to the Eastern Lands, he would have to educate Qi Yuan properly. When traveling outside, they couldn¡¯t afford to embarrass the cultivators of the Eastern Lands.

    As the blood-red figure came into view, revealing a face of extraordinary beauty, still carrying a hint of laziness, as though springtime sleep hadn¡¯t fully worn off, Jiang Ruhua stood up abruptly. He was just about to question the boy who was holding his precious daughter when¡ª

    The cultivators in the tavern bowed in unison, and a thunderous voice filled the air.

    ¡°We pay our respects to the Blood-Clad Sword God!¡±

    ¡°Senior has rid the world of the Great Calamity, a deed of immeasurable merit. You should be the Emperor of the Canglan Realm!¡±

    Their voices were perfectly synchronized, as though spoken by one person, and they echoed through the heavens like crashing waves.

    In that instant, all the Great Lords in the tavern bowed, no matter how noble their past status or prestigious their origins.

    Before this blood-robed figure, all were humbled to the extreme.

    Jiang Ruhua blinked, doubting both his eyes and ears.

    His heart felt hollow, as though struck by lightning, leaving his entire body tingling.

    The voices of the cultivators blurred into a constant ringing in his ears.

    Qi Yuan... was that Qi Yuan?!!

    He was completely lost, unable to think.

    He was in a panic. He had just bragged about giving Qi Yuan a punch to the nose.

    Now, he found himself in a dilemma, not knowing whether to move forward or retreat. He could only play dead while immense joy surged within him.

    Could it be... I¡¯ve hit the jackpot?

    Wang Lingtong, still discreetly observing Jiang Ruhua, was both curious and expectant. He wondered if this man would actually go through with his earlier boast.

    Of course, it was only a fleeting thought¡ªhe didn¡¯t dare to dwell on it.

    After all, the person before him had just vanquished three thousand Great Calamities!

    And under his command were thousands of Yang Gods, each a supreme deity.

    In the upper realms, this figure would certainly be a ruler of great power!

    At this moment, Qi Yuan, looking drowsy, let out a yawn, his eyes still filled with fatigue.

    He glanced at the Great Lords present and at Jiang Ruhua, who looked like he was in need of medical attention, and slowly spoke.

    ¡°The title of Emperor comes with responsibilities. I... am unworthy.¡±

    An emperor must shoulder the burden of the Canglan Realm.

    But he had swallowed the Canglan Realm¡ªhow could he bear its responsibilities?

    Thus, he was unworthy!

    None of the Great Lords dared to speak up, not even to refute his words.

    After all, this was the Blood-Clad Sword God who had destroyed the Great Calamity!

    His words carried more weight than any law.

    Jiang Ruhua, seeing this scene, was now certain¡ªthis Qi Yuan was indeed that Qi Yuan.

    Otherwise, why would all these cultivators have gathered here... to put on a play?

    No wonder he hadn¡¯t been able to discern the cultivation of these people¡ªthe weakest among them were probably Great Lords.

    ¡°Senior should be the ruler of all under heaven!¡± said Great Lord Baiyu as he bowed deeply. He was once the most powerful person in the Canglan Realm.

    The other Great Lords quickly echoed his sentiment.

    Now that the Great Calamity had been eliminated, if the Blood-Clad Sword God didn¡¯t become the ruler of the world, what reason did they have to exist?

    After all, the Canglan Realm¡¯s stars had vanished, leaving only ten suns in the sky.

    What future did they have now?

    ¡°The Great Calamity has been removed, but the being behind it has left a mark on all of you,¡± Qi Yuan said. ¡°That¡¯s why I swallowed the Canglan Realm and placed it in my Purple Mansion. If you leave my Purple Mansion, and that being behind the Great Calamity seeks revenge, with a single thought, you¡¯ll all perish.

    ¡°So... for now, you¡¯ll have to remain in my Purple Mansion.

    ¡°I¡¯m a generous person, so even though I swallowed you all without your consent, I won¡¯t charge you rent,¡± Qi Yuan said with a casual stretch.

    The surrounding Great Lords looked at one another, some showing surprise and others confusion.

    At that moment, Wang Lingtong stepped forward and spoke loudly, ¡°What Senior Blood-Clad Sword God says is true. I am from the Xingli Realm, and the Yang Gods of my realm once spoke of this. The one behind the Great Calamity has left a mark on all living beings. Our lives and deaths are but a thought away.

    ¡°Now that the Great Calamity has been destroyed, if that being learns of it, he may wipe out our marks and harvest our lives!¡±

    Hearing this, the other cultivators began to sweat coldly.

    Even the Great Lords, who had seen so much, were left speechless. There was nothing like this even in the ancient records.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s divine expression shifted, revealing a hint of complexity. ¡°So, the boundary between life and death is just a form of change... Sigh, another day of learning.¡±

    While using the powers of the underworld, Qi Yuan gained some understanding. He realized that life and death were, in essence, a transformation of energy¡ªa change in the natural order.

    This insight was somewhat similar to Ning Tao¡¯s realization upon reaching the Yang God realm, that time itself was merely a change, not a fixed concept.

    Of course, Qi Yuan¡¯s insight was still very limited. There seemed to be far more about his control over the underworld that remained unknown to him.

    Jiang Ruhua gulped nervously.

    As for giving Qi Yuan a punch? That idea was long gone from his mind.

    This Blood-Clad Sword God standing before him was beyond anything he could comprehend.

    The Great Lords felt it even more deeply.

    The stronger one was, the more terrifying the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s miracle appeared.

    ¡°Alright, anything else?¡± Qi Yuan asked, his divine aura fading, returning to the casual demeanor of the Purple Mansion cultivator from Shen Guang Sect. ¡°If not, I¡¯m going to take a nap and recharge.¡±

    He was still exhausted and weary.

    Just then, Wang Lingtong suddenly knelt, and Wang Lingshan followed suit.

    ¡°Please, Senior Blood-Clad Sword God... devour the Xingli Realm!¡±

    They had come here to seek the help of the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    After all, the Great Calamity had been destroyed, but the marks left by the one behind it still lingered on them.

    If the one from the Taihuang Palace wanted, they could wipe out the entire Xingli Realm in an instant.

    Seeing that Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t responded yet, Wang Lingtong continued, ¡°If Senior Blood-Clad Sword God devours the Xingli Realm, all of our cultivation techniques will be yours!¡±

    ¡°Senior, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to improve the moral state of the cultivation world? The Xingli Realm has many cultivators with bad habits¡ªdrunkenness, foul language, and more. It¡¯s in desperate need of your correction!¡±

    ¡°And in the other worlds with Great Calamities, the cultivation realms are oppressed, and many cultivators suffer from mental instability. This also requires your moral guidance!¡±

    ¡°All the techniques from the three thousand worlds will belong to Senior!¡±

    ¡°Please, devour the three thousand worlds!¡±

    Wang Lingtong¡¯s voice was solemn, his attitude humble.

    It was clear that he had done his homework before coming here and had learned a bit about the Blood-Clad Sword God¡¯s personality.

    Of course, he also knew that serving a powerful figure was like serving a tiger¡ªtrying to guess what pleased such a figure could easily backfire.

    But at this moment, he had no choice but to take the risk.

    The three thousand worlds could be destroyed at any moment.

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment. ¡°You have a point.¡±

    The techniques were secondary.

    The three thousand worlds¡¯ techniques weren¡¯t as valuable as those collected by the Buddhist nations.

    If the one from Taihuang Palace learned of the Great Calamity¡¯s defeat, they might activate the marks and harvest the three thousand worlds.

    If the three thousand worlds were harvested, the one from Taihuang Palace would likely grow stronger.

    So, to prevent that evil entity from gaining power, it was his duty to devour the three thousand worlds.

    The most important thing was, Qi Yuan was a lawful good person. He never harmed innocents. Even when killing, he did so ethically and with a clear conscience.

    Therefore, the three thousand worlds... must be devoured!

    ¡°Senior, this is the Xingli Realm¡¯s location. We will gather the coordinates of the other three thousand worlds for you as soon as possible!¡± Wang Lingtong was elated and relieved.

    As long as the Blood-Clad Sword God agreed to devour them, the three thousand worlds still had a chance at survival.

    The black-robed man beside him was also pleased, though there was a hint of sadness and loss.

    His home had already been devoured by the Great Calamity, leaving nothing behind.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly, glancing at Wang Lingtong. ¡°When I destroyed the Great Calamity, I already obtained all the coordinates.¡±

    Wang Lingtong fell silent, unsure of how to respond.

    ¡°Alright, no more talking. I¡¯m going to devour the three thousand worlds now, then take a nap to digest it all.¡±

    With that, Qi Yuan and Jiang Lingsu vanished, leaving behind a group of stunned Great Lords.

    ¡°The Blood-Clad Sword God is going to devour three thousand worlds... it¡¯s unimaginable!¡± Baiyu Great Lord murmured, his voice tinged with awe.

    The other Great Lords couldn¡¯t fathom what that would even look like.

    ¡°The Canglan Realm is truly blessed to have given rise to Senior Blood-Clad Sword God,¡± another Great Lord remarked.

    The Great Calamity had been dealt with, but they still felt as if they were dreaming.

    They understood the Great Calamity¡¯s power¡ªit was something the Canglan Realm could never have withstood on its own.

    And yet, the Great Calamity, more terrifying than they had imagined, along with three thousand of its kin, had been completely annihilated by the Blood-Clad Sword God.

    At that moment, Wang Lingtong turned to Jiang Ruhua and took a deep breath before speaking with a respectful tone, ¡°Senior, I had no idea the woman beside Senior Blood-Clad Sword God was your daughter.¡±

    Jiang Ruhua was initially pleased to hear this, but then he thought about it¡ªshouldn¡¯t such things be said out loud for everyone to hear?

    Aren¡¯t these big-city cultivators lacking in social awareness?

    Seeing the other Great Lords discussing the Blood-Clad Sword God, Jiang Ruhua suddenly felt sentimental. But his voice was loud as he said, ¡°Sigh, my son-in-law has quite the appetite. He¡¯s going to devour three thousand worlds at once. How am I supposed to host him at the Jiang family? How could we ever feed him?¡±

    As Jiang Ruhua¡¯s voice rang out, every Great Lord¡¯s gaze fell on him simultaneously.

    Their expressions were a mix of shock, amazement, and reverence.

    Jiang Ruhua soaked in the attention, feeling immensely satisfied.

    ¡°My Jiang family really is too poor, sigh,¡± he added, with another loud lament.

 Chapter 406: Devouring Three Thousand Worlds, News of the Supreme Truth Dao Conference

    Chapter 406: Devouring Three Thousand Worlds, News of the Supreme Truth Dao Conference

    In the void between realms.

    It was a place of endless darkness, where even the light of the stars reflecting across the heavens could not reach.

    Ordinary cultivators would perish within a breath if they stepped foot here.

    Only mythical beings, whose power reflected across the heavens, could barely traverse this void.

    At this moment, a young male cultivator, his features as handsome as a painting, stood atop a gourd, holding a flying sword. The sword turned into a streak of light and stabbed toward a shadowy figure ahead.

    Crack!

    The flying sword collided with the shadowy figure, which seemed to struggle with all its might. But it couldn''t resist the sword¡¯s power, and after a brief struggle, it perished.

    A fish fell into the handsome man¡¯s hand. "Not bad, a void fish."

    This handsome man was a mythical cultivator from the upper realms, and his avatar had ventured into the void with his junior sister to collect resources.

    "Senior Brother, you''re amazing! I''m so impressed!" exclaimed a scantily clad female cultivator, her voice laced with admiration, eyes sparkling like stars.

    The handsome man was pleased by the flattery. With a generous wave, he said, "This void fish is for you, Junior Sister."

    The young woman, holding the void fish, beamed with joy. "Really? Senior Brother, you''re too kind! Xia Xia must be the happiest woman in the world!"

    "There are plenty of valuable things in the void, and even more precious than void fish. Of course, there are also terrifying creatures here. One of them is called a Blood Crystal Essence, and it comes in various forms, all enormous.

    "Its most distinctive feature is that its entire body is blood-red, like actual blood.

    "These Blood Crystal Essences are believed to be condensed from the light of the stars. They¡¯re quite valuable because they can enhance the reflective light for us mythical beings."

    The handsome man boasted proudly, "Not too long ago, I killed an enormous Blood Crystal Essence, and it took quite an effort!"

    Hearing this, the young woman¡¯s admiration only grew. "Wow, Senior Brother, you¡¯re incredible! You can even defeat a Blood Crystal Essence!"

    Her flattery made the handsome man beam with pride.

    "See those swirling vortexes up ahead, emitting faint light? Those are lower-realm continents. Stay away from them, Junior Sister; they¡¯re filthy. If they stain your precious body, I¡¯ll feel awful," the handsome man warned, then suddenly paused, noticing his junior sister in a pink dress. "Wait, Junior Sister, did you just swallow the void fish whole?"

    The girl in the pink dress immediately looked tearful. "Senior Brother, are you saying Xia Xia eats too much?"

    "No!" the handsome man hurriedly reassured her. "It¡¯s just that you shouldn¡¯t eat too many void fish at once. You might... start passing gas or... water."

    Passing gas was a polite way of saying "farting."

    "Passing water" meant she might have to urinate.

    Eating too much void fish could cause even a mythical being to lose control of their body.

    Upon hearing this, the young woman blushed deeply.

    "Pffft."

    "Ah! Xia Xia is going to die of embarrassment! I can¡¯t live anymore!" she wailed dramatically.

    Seeing her reaction, the handsome man quickly leaned in, inhaling deeply. "It¡¯s fine, it smells sweet... like milk."

    He couldn¡¯t bear to see her feeling upset.

    But just then, the young woman in the pink dress suddenly froze. "Oh no... a big Blood Crystal Essence!"

    The handsome man¡¯s bravado kicked in immediately. "Where is it? How dare it scare my Junior Sister?!"

    He brandished his sword, ready to strike down the Blood Crystal Essence for daring to frighten his precious junior sister.

    "There..." the young woman pointed with a trembling hand, her voice quivering with fear.

    The handsome man followed her gaze and his eyes suddenly widened in shock.

    "This... this..."

    In the far distance, thousands of miles away, a colossal blood-red figure, its entire body covered in blood armor, loomed in the void.

    Its size was beyond comprehension, a terrifying giant unlike anything the handsome man had ever seen.

    It was just the tip of the iceberg, and yet... it was humanoid.

    A massive humanoid figure, a blood-armored god so large that it was impossible to see its full height.

    The void itself was dyed red by the figure¡¯s blood armor.

    As the giant took a step, the void trembled.

    As it moved its hand, the space fractured.

    The handsome man was paralyzed with fear. He noticed something alarming, causing his hair to stand on end. "It... it''s actually...!"

    He watched in horror as the terrifying giant opened its enormous maw.

    Its target? A world¡ªa cultivation world!

    That was a cultivation world!

    Though it seemed distant, in front of that blood-red god, the world was no bigger than a steamed bun. But it was a real cultivation world.

    Not even smaller than the one he hailed from!

    His entire body shook with fear. To come to the void and witness an "evil deity" devour a world?

    The blood-red giant opened its maw wide, and in an instant, it swallowed the entire world.

    The world had no power to resist, like a mere snack to the blood-red god.

    The young woman in the pink dress turned deathly pale, clinging tightly to her senior brother¡¯s sleeve in terror.

    The handsome man quickly embraced her. "Don¡¯t worry, Junior Sister. He¡¯s far away from us. We¡¯re safe."

    But just then, a voice like thunder suddenly boomed in their ears.

    "Sweet-smelling, my ass! That was a stinky fart!"

    "You¡¯re embarrassing yourselves in public!"

    The handsome man¡¯s face turned pale with fear. "Who... who¡¯s there?"

    Hearing his words, even the Molo deity fell silent, unwilling to argue further.

    But then, the Molo deity sneered, "We don¡¯t even need to mention the Buddha. That so-called ¡®Ten Suns Deity¡¯ is nothing more than a petty clown.

    "The ten suns he controls may be terrifying, but to think he could challenge the one from the Taihuang Palace is laughable.

    "If he truly had the power, why would he hide in the shadows like a coward?

    "The one from the Taihuang Palace even sent him an invitation, inviting him to the palace for a Dao discussion, but he didn¡¯t dare to show up.

    "I suspect he¡¯s just a Yang God who got lucky, gained a fortuitous encounter, and then became arrogant."

    The Molo clan was known as a lapdog of the Taihuang Palace, so it wasn¡¯t surprising to hear this kind of rhetoric.

    "The Ten Suns Deity could easily kill any of us," Futu deity couldn¡¯t help but retort.

    "Futu, don¡¯t speak for me.

    "If the Ten Suns Deity dared to set foot in the Molo clan¡¯s territory, we¡¯d make sure he never left!

    "A mere unconventional Yang God, not even at the Supreme Truth realm, dares to be so arrogant!" The Molo deity¡¯s eyes gleamed with disdain.

    He had his reasons to feel confident.

    The Ten Suns Deity was indeed powerful.

    But his greatest strength lay in his potential.

    He hadn¡¯t even reached the Supreme Truth realm yet, though he had condensed ten suns and was nearing the peak of the Great Heaven Stage.

    For now, within tens of thousands, maybe even millions of years, the Molo clan had the upper hand over him.

    If the Ten Suns Deity ventured into Molo territory, the Molo clan¡¯s Supreme Truth experts would work together to kill him.

    The one from the Taihuang Palace would surely reward the Molo clan for such a deed.

    Just then, the expression of the Yang God deity from the Zishan Alliance changed suddenly. He spoke up with a note of shock. "If the Ten Suns Deity enters your territory, it will likely spell disaster for your clan."

    "Hmph, if he shows up, he¡¯ll learn the price of arrogance!" the Molo deity growled coldly.

    But the Zishan Alliance deity spoke again, his voice trembling with disbelief, "I¡¯ve just received word: the Great Calamity of the Taihuang Palace... has been destroyed, and the world it controlled has been devoured."

    "What?"

    The assembled Yang God deities were stunned beyond belief.

    They didn¡¯t know much about the Great Calamity, but they knew it was the Taihuang Palace¡¯s most fiercely protected secret.

    To destroy the Great Calamity and devour the world under the Taihuang Palace¡¯s control...

    It was a direct slap to the face!

    Most shocking of all, the Taihuang Palace¡¯s powerful Yang God deity, Luo Bu, had allowed this to happen¡ªone of their Great Calamities had been wiped out, and a world had been devoured.

    "Could it have been the work of the Ten Suns Deity? Ha, he¡¯s daring enough to strike while the Taihuang Palace was unprepared, stealing one of their Great Calamities and destroying a world!" the Molo deity scoffed, still in disbelief.

    A Great Calamity in a single world might only possess the strength of a Yang God, after all.

    Devouring a world might seem impressive, but the Molo deity figured he could do it too if he expanded his celestial body.

    But the Zishan Alliance deity interrupted, still shocked. "It wasn¡¯t just one world or one Great Calamity."

    "How many?"

    "All of them... all three thousand of the Taihuang Palace¡¯s Great Calamities, all three thousand worlds... were devoured!"

    "What!"

    The Molo deity¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, and the other Yang God deities were equally stunned.

    "Three thousand worlds... devoured in their entirety? How is that even possible?"

    "What level of power could he possibly have? And how could he not have reached the Supreme Truth realm yet?"

    The Yang God deities were all shaken to their cores.

    They could destroy a single world, perhaps even three thousand unprotected worlds.

    But to destroy three thousand Great Calamities and devour three thousand worlds, all under the Taihuang Palace¡¯s control? No one present could imagine such a feat.

    A single Great Calamity was equivalent to a Yang God in strength.

    Yet three thousand Great Calamities had fallen, and three thousand worlds had been devoured. And still, the Taihuang Palace had received no warning, and no one from the palace had intervened to assist?

    Unbelievable!

    The Zishan Alliance deity turned to the Molo deity with a smirk, clearly enjoying the moment. "Heh, if the Ten Suns Deity shows up in your Molo territory, how many worlds do you think your clan has for him to devour?"

    ...

    In the underworld, Qi Yuan, clad in his signature blood-red robe, held Little Jia¡¯s cool sleeve as he let out a relieved sigh.

    "Finally finished. Good thing... I didn¡¯t burp milk!"

    He emphasized the word "milk" with distaste.

    Even he found his own words a little revolting.

    Little Jia stood beside him, her expressionless face silently attentive. If she had eyes, they would likely be filled with Qi Yuan¡¯s image.

    No matter what, whenever Qi Yuan needed her, she was always there for him.

    "Come on, eat up. These Blood Crystal Essences should taste even better than regular blood crystals."

    Qi Yuan placed the Blood Crystal Essences into Little Jia¡¯s sleeve.

    Her sleeve gracefully enveloped the Blood Crystal Essences, and a happy expression flickered across the wooden plaque that hung from her.

    The Blood Crystal Essences disappeared.

    Qi Yuan studied her carefully and noticed that her body seemed more solid now.

    But aside from that, there were no other noticeable changes.

    This made Qi Yuan feel a bit disappointed. Hugging Little Jia around her waist, he spoke in a tone filled with longing. "Little Jia, Little Jia... when will I be able to hear your voice?"

 Chapter 407: Preparations for the Upper Realm, Trump Cards, and Family

    Chapter 407: Preparations for the Upper Realm, Trump Cards, and Family

    Holding Little Jia in his arms, Qi Yuan personally fed her a bunch of snacks.

    Little Jia¡¯s wedding dress became even more solid, but her aura remained unchanged.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s mind was filled with complicated thoughts.

    Little Jia was from the Royal Wedding Dress Clan.

    He had encountered other members of the Wedding Dress Clan before.

    Those members could speak and even transform into human form.

    But Little Jia was different; she only existed in the form of a wedding dress.

    Even with the power of a Yang God, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t change Little Jia.

    The power of a Yang God was already incredibly terrifying.

    While it couldn¡¯t grant sentience to a rock, it could easily awaken the sentience of an insect or a fish.

    "Perhaps someone in the Upper Realm could help Little Jia speak," Qi Yuan thought as he lovingly watched Little Jia eat her snacks.

    In the Upper Realm, there were Yang Gods who had reached the Supreme Truth realm, who might understand what was happening with Little Jia.

    After about half an hour, Little Jia stopped absorbing the Blood Crystal Essence, indicating she was full.

    "Let¡¯s go and check out... that strange land, and prepare for the Upper Realm."

    When the great calamity fell, the chaos left behind turned into a strange land within the Underworld.

    Qi Yuan was curious about this strange land.

    But after awakening, he had been busy devouring the three thousand worlds and hadn¡¯t had a chance to investigate it.

    In just a few breaths, Qi Yuan appeared in the strange land with Little Jia in his arms.

    Qi Qi also appeared, her face pale, clearly not fully recovered.

    The battle against the three thousand Great Calamities had taken a significant toll on her.

    Even though she and the other deities of the Underworld had worked hard to shield Canglan World from the worst of the conflict, the battle between the three thousand Great Calamities and four thousand Yang Gods took place inside the Violet Mansion and was far too intense.

    Had it been outside the Violet Mansion, the damage would have been far less.

    "The fragments left behind by the fallen calamities have formed this strange land. After investigating it, I discovered that this land... is somewhat similar to chaos; it¡¯s a kind of energy. This energy... might be used to sustain the operations of the Underworld," Qi Qi explained to Qi Yuan.

    She had spent much time in the strange land, researching it.

    After all, since her foster father managed the Underworld, she needed to understand any new areas that appeared.

    "Usable?" Qi Yuan asked calmly.

    "Yes." Qi Qi nodded vigorously, her eyes flashing with excitement. "When you revived the shattered mountains and rivers of Canglan World and brought back the dead, it wasn¡¯t done out of thin air. It consumed a great deal of energy from the Underworld. Much of that energy came from the Mountain and River Society Seal, as well as resources like No Return City and Nine Plate Mountain. Some of it even came from you.

    "But the strange land left by the Calamity is an exceptionally rare form of energy, capable of reviving much more."

    As she spoke, Qi Qi waved her hand, grabbing a handful of the strange energy from the land.

    "In the battle against the Calamities, you lost three hundred and twenty-seven Nascent Souls. If left to heal naturally in the Underworld, it could take tens of thousands of years, and the Underworld doesn¡¯t have enough energy to support all of them recovering. But with this energy, it¡¯s different!

    "With just one-third of the energy here, your shattered Nascent Souls could walk out of the Underworld again within a year. And if we use more energy, they could awaken in an instant!"

    Qi Qi¡¯s face was full of excitement.

    She knew exactly what this meant.

    If such an Underworld existed in the Mortal Heart Realm, why would the ancient gods ever fear the new gods? Why would they fear death or battle? They could even grow stronger through war.

    It would be the ultimate logistical base.

    At this point, Qi Yuan uncharacteristically used his brain: "So, three calamities'' worth of energy is enough to revive one Nascent Soul, at a ratio of about three to one?"

    Qi Qi nodded. "Exactly."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened but then turned pained. "Ah, I¡¯ve been too wasteful and indulgent in the past. All those I cared about have died without purpose, sigh... If they had died in my Underworld, their energy could have been converted, and even in death, they would have continued to contribute. That¡¯s the true meaning of ''some people die, but they live on!''"

    Qi Yuan was filled with regret.

    How could he have just let so many of his past loves die without doing anything?

    He should have preserved their bodies.

    After all, they were his loves in life, so even in death, they should remain his.

    Otherwise, it would tarnish his reputation as a deeply sentimental man.

    Qi Qi almost laughed but kept it professional. "Father¡¯s right. The bodies of slain enemies are valuable resources.

    "However, Calamities are special. Three Great Calamities are enough to revive one Yang God¡¯s energy. For ordinary Yang Gods, it might take even more."

    "Even a small gain is still a gain! How could I, in good conscience, waste any of my past loves?"

    Qi Yuan said, visibly excited.

    "It seems that in addition to a band, a mourning team, and a feast team, we¡¯ll also need a body collection team!

    "Sigh, I was so foolish in the past. Why did I let those gentle and lovely¡ªalbeit somewhat elderly and unwashed¡ªpast loves rot in the wilderness?

    "Their bodies were probably eaten by wild dogs and vultures. How painful and wasteful!"

    "This time, when I head to the Upper Realm, I¡¯ll embrace the traditional virtue of frugality and ensure that every one of my past loves continues to serve a purpose even after death!"

    Qi Qi didn¡¯t say anything, fully aware of her foster father¡¯s personality.

    After all, back in the Mortal Heart Realm, no other ancient god had ever thought of attending the new gods'' feasts.

    But her father had, and he¡¯d actually done it.

    Under Qi Qi¡¯s guidance and with Little Jia in tow, Qi Yuan made his way to the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    The Gate of Myriad Principles was like a universal gateway to anywhere.

    Shrouded in violet mist, the Gate had transformed into the Gate of Supreme Truth, a treasure that could drive any Yang God to madness.

    If opened, it could lure a Yang God into the Underworld to be ambushed.

    If a minor Yang God were struck by it, their Dharma Body would likely disintegrate.

    At this moment, the Golden Core chapter of the Qi Yuan Sutra began to work at full speed.

    The enormous star, under the control of Qi Yuan and Ning Tao, began to spin and transform, eventually condensing into a single Golden Core.

    The massive Dharma Body dispersed in that instant.

    Two soft bodies collided into Qi Yuan¡¯s arms, and tender lips sought his in a passionate kiss.

    The flames burned hotly, but the fire in their hearts was even stronger, and the clothes that had been burned away did not reform.

    In their previous encounters, Ning Tao and the golden canary had mostly interacted with Qi Yuan through projections and avatars.

    But now, their real bodies were finally reunited with Qi Yuan.

    As springtime emotions filled Ning Tao¡¯s beautiful eyes, she pushed Qi Yuan away.

    ¡°Husband... you must go now!¡±

    The golden canary gazed at Qi Yuan, her eyes filled with reluctance.

    ¡°Humph, the time and space in this universe are anchored to you, husband.

    ¡°One day in your world is a hundred years here.

    ¡°But with you present, time here moves at a similar pace to Canglan World.

    ¡°Every moment you spend here wastes precious time, and fewer Golden Cores will be formed.

    ¡°If you¡¯re to face Taihuang Palace, you need every possible advantage,¡± Ning Tao explained seriously.

    Perhaps it was because the heat of the star was so intense, but her snowy white skin began to flush red.

    Qi Yuan felt a pang of heartache.

    He understood that Ning Tao was trying to form as many Stellar Golden Cores as possible to give him a better chance against Taihuang Palace.

    Ning Tao smiled, exuding infinite charm. ¡°I control time, husband. I control years and ages. There is no lack of time for us to be together. So, why the hesitation?¡±

    The golden canary also nodded enthusiastically, her smile radiant. ¡°Hee hee, if I miss you, I can just come down to play with you anytime.¡±

    Ning Tao leaned in, planting a delicate kiss on Qi Yuan¡¯s forehead.

    ¡°We¡¯re legally married. No matter what danger or difficulty we face, we should face it together!

    In the Flowing Wind Realm, you helped me, husband. Now, it¡¯s my turn to help you.

    Your enemies are my enemies!

    How could I let you face such a powerful enemy alone, bearing all the burdens while I enjoy myself in peace?

    If you were hurt, I¡¯d feel it too. You¡¯re not the only one who cares deeply, husband.

    I, Ning Tao, am not only the most beautiful woman in the world, but also your wife, your family, and your support.¡±

    As she spoke, Ning Tao hugged Qi Yuan tightly.

    ¡°Mhm.¡± Qi Yuan nodded deeply, his voice filled with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m so lucky.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re both lucky to have found each other.¡±

    ...

    After leaving that distant part of the universe, Qi Yuan cast aside his emotions.

    ¡°Damn Taihuang Palace, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡±

    Qi Yuan muttered, gazing up at the ten suns in the sky.

    Now, with Ning Tao¡¯s help and her mastery of Buddhist divine techniques, she was working tirelessly to create Stellar Golden Cores.

    In her hands, one or two divine techniques were equivalent to a single Stellar Golden Core.

    During this visit, Ning Tao had already accumulated many Stellar Golden Cores. However, she had not projected them into this world or across the heavens.

    If she did, it might alert Taihuang Palace, which would be risky.

    The ten suns were just right for now.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to go to the Upper Realm.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s mind filled with various thoughts.

    There were several ways for him to reach the Upper Realm.

    The first route was through the void between worlds.

    But this path would drop him into a random location in the Upper Realm.

    The Nine Heavens were vast, so vast that even a Yang God couldn¡¯t explore them all in a lifetime.

    So, this route was out of the question.

    The second route was through the teleportation array in Canglan World.

    In the lair of the Great Calamity, there was a teleportation array.

    But this array led directly to Taihuang Palace, which was far too dangerous.

    At this point, Qi Yuan had no clear understanding of the Supreme Truth Yang Gods.

    He, a mere Purple Mansion cultivator, wasn¡¯t yet a match for the master of Taihuang Palace.

    The third route was through the teleportation array on Moonwatch Continent, but it wasn¡¯t currently operational.

    Qi Jianjun had returned from fishing and told Qi Yuan that the teleportation array leading to the Moon God Palace had been shut down, for reasons unknown.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t aware that this was related to the injuries Moon God Ancestor had sustained some time ago.

    The fourth option was to travel to Buddhist Country.

    But the fifth route was the one Qi Yuan prioritized.

    It involved traveling through Moonwatch Continent to the Black Demon Abyss in the lower realm and ascending to the Fifth Heaven, where the Molo Clan resided.

    Black Demon Abyss, located in the Sixth Heaven, was a special power not inferior to Taihuang Palace. The power structure there was intricate, with some factions having disputes with Moon God Palace.

    The Molo Clan had two benefactors: one was Black Demon Abyss, and the other was Taihuang Palace.

    However, Black Demon Abyss was proud and placed great importance on bloodlines, so even though the Molo Clan constantly sought their favor, their connection remained distant. Black Demon Abyss barely paid attention to them.

    As a result, the Molo Clan gradually shifted their allegiance toward Taihuang Palace, seeking a new benefactor.

    ¡°I¡¯ll start by visiting the Molo Clan. Jin Li is currently in the Demon Abyss, and part of her enemies there are the Molo Clan.¡±

 Chapter 408: Qi Yuanâ€™s Noble Response to Hatred

    Chapter 408: Qi Yuan¡¯s Noble Response to Hatred

    ¡°So sleepy.¡±

    After leaving the far end of the universe and contemplating how to get to the Upper Realm, Qi Yuan''s figure flashed and appeared atop a pavilion.

    Perhaps it was because he had devoured three thousand worlds¡ªhe had eaten too much, and now that he was full, it was natural to feel drowsy.

    Not far away, Jiang Lingsu heard this, her pretty face blushing slightly. Her chest heaved gently, catching his attention. It was as if she was implying something: ¡°Senior Brother, if you''re sleepy, why don''t you... rest here for a bit?¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced over and recalled the last time he was enveloped by her soft and fragrant warmth.

    That was a real pillow of soft jade!

    Using this to test his Purple Mansion cultivation?

    ¡°I can¡¯t afford to die in this warm embrace. I have to head to the Upper Realm,¡± Qi Yuan said softly.

    The purpose of his visit to his junior sister was to inform her of this very matter.

    In Shenguang Sect, on Seven-Colored Peak, only he and his junior sister remained. If he left without telling her, it would worry her, and that wasn¡¯t right.

    As for the Original God Sharing Association and the Four Divine Emperors of Divine Blossom, he had informed them through a jade slip.

    Yes, he knew how to distinguish between close relations and formality, with perhaps a small tendency to favor beauty over friends.

    The joy deep in Jiang Lingsu¡¯s eyes quickly vanished, replaced by a hint of reluctance. But soon, she looked up with hopeful eyes and asked, ¡°Senior Brother, Master is in the Upper Realm, right? Can I go with you to find Master?¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered this. He had previously shared his suspicions about their master being in the Upper Realm with Jiang Lingsu, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that she knew.

    Seeing Qi Yuan remain silent, Jiang Lingsu sidled up and grabbed his arm, pleading pitifully, ¡°Senior Brother, I won¡¯t cause any trouble. If I do, you can just send me back to your Purple Mansion!¡±

    ¡°Stop... pretending!¡± Qi Yuan said, a bit overwhelmed.

    This junior sister was just too good at acting!

    ¡°Does this mean Senior Brother agrees?¡± Jiang Lingsu blinked, her beautiful eyes sparkling with joy as her tone returned to normal.

    ¡°Of course, let''s go. We siblings will explore the Immortal Realm together!¡±

    Qi Yuan had always been generous toward Jiang Lingsu, his ¡°angel investor.¡±

    Receiving his approval, Jiang Lingsu smiled brightly. Then she thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Senior Brother, should I disguise myself as ugly? If I go to the Immortal Realm like this, being so naturally beautiful, what if some scoundrel takes a fancy to me and causes trouble for you?¡±

    ¡°Junior Sister, you¡¯re getting a bit full of yourself,¡± Qi Yuan responded bluntly, though still with affection. ¡°The people of the Immortal Realm are refined. Those immortal ladies don¡¯t even fart. How could they engage in such uncouth behavior?¡±

    Jiang Lingsu nodded in agreement. ¡°That makes sense. Ah, I¡¯ll have to bring more memory stones this time to record everything!¡±

    She was as excited as a young girl going on a trip.

    ¡°Hurry and pack. We need to leave soon,¡± Qi Yuan said, and then asked, ¡°By the way, where¡¯s your father? Has he been looking for trouble with me?¡±

    If he kept causing problems, Qi Yuan would just escape to the Upper Realm¡ªit had to be safer up there, right?

    ¡°He...¡± Jiang Lingsu grumbled. ¡°Recently, he¡¯s acquired a group of adopted grandsons.¡±

    ¡°Haha! Does that mean you¡¯re going to become a mother, Junior Sister?¡±

    After leaving Jiang Lingsu¡¯s pavilion, Qi Yuan traveled to other places in Canglan Realm, meeting various people.

    First, he met Sect Leader Kumu, then Kang Fulu.

    Now, Kumu Zhenjun was in his prime and openly together with the Grand Empress Dowager of the Da Shang dynasty.

    Kang Fulu was still as flashy as ever, his head full of white hair.

    Later, Qi Yuan visited the Blood-God Alliance and the Original God Sharing Association, where he met Great Wisdom True Lord.

    Finally, he met with Baiyu Dazun and other top experts of the Canglan Realm to discuss rectifying the atmosphere of the realm.

    As for Qi Jianjun, she had gone off fishing in the Three Thousand Worlds.

    She didn¡¯t seem too enthusiastic about going to the Upper Realm, only saying, ¡°When you find Mother, make sure to call her for me.¡±

    Qi Yuan was at a loss regarding his daughter.

    Was fishing really that interesting?

    Back at the pavilion, Qi Yuan handed Jiang Lingsu a robe.

    ¡°Junior Sister, this robe was crafted in the underworld. It combines both defense and camouflage.

    ¡°Additionally, it can block out tracking marks, but there¡¯s one critical condition: you cannot be too far from me.¡±

    The mark left by the powerful entity from the Taihuang Palace still existed within the beings of the Three Thousand Worlds.

    If they left Qi Yuan¡¯s underworld without the barrier of the Gate of Myriad Principles, the entity could wipe them all out with a single thought, harvesting their lives.

    Thus, Qi Yuan had ordered Qi Qi to create this robe to block the mark.

    However, even if Jiang Lingsu wore the robe, she couldn¡¯t stray too far from Qi Yuan, or the Gate of Myriad Principles¡¯ effect would fade.

    Jiang Lingsu cradled the robe in her arms, sighing. ¡°This must¡¯ve been expensive, right? My storage bag is empty¡ªI can¡¯t afford it.¡±

    Back then, she could still act like a rich lady in front of her senior brother, spending lavishly to support him. She¡¯d even bragged about how there was no need for her to be covered.

    But now...

    ¡°No worries. Didn¡¯t you invest in my underworld? You¡¯ve earned plenty of interest,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    Only then did Jiang Lingsu¡¯s inner imbalance slowly fade.

    ¡°Senior Brother, turn around while I change!¡± Jiang Lingsu instructed.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Qi Yuan dutifully turned around.

    Although the entire Canglan Realm now resided within his Purple Mansion, allowing him to see everything if he wanted to, respect still needed to be shown.

    Soon, the rustling sounds ceased. Jiang Lingsu had changed into a green dress crafted by Qi Qi, looking quite cute, like a little elf.

    However, Qi Yuan knew this was merely her exterior. Beneath it lay an irresistible allure.

    If Qi Yuan started a fight in their territory and was surrounded by the four Supreme Truth experts wielding their Divine Treasures, he¡¯d meet a tragic end.

    As the teleportation array began to activate, a vast and seemingly overwhelming force swept through.

    Jiang Lingsu held Qi Yuan tightly, pressing her soft body against him. After all, she was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, so her body couldn¡¯t withstand the force of such a teleportation array on its own.

    Shen Wushen, as a true disciple of Futu Mountain, had protective treasures granted by the sect, allowing him to endure the teleportation.

    After about ten breaths of time passed...

    The world suddenly cleared.

    ¡°Run!¡± Qi Yuan grabbed Jiang Lingsu and Shen Wushen and immediately bolted.

    In the Upper Realm, the Great Lord overseeing the teleportation array was left dumbfounded.

    ¡°Did... someone just arrive?¡±

    ¡°Go check the teleport¡ªuh, what was I supposed to check?¡±

    ¡°Forget it, back to cultivation.¡±

    ...

    The Molo Sacred Tower, though called a tower, occupied an area not much smaller than the Canglan Realm.

    From the earth to the sky, it stretched incredibly high, divided into countless levels.

    Countless floating cities hovered in the sky, surrounding one Molo Sacred Tower after another.

    On the ground below were mostly mortals, with few cultivators in sight.

    The floating cities and Molo Sacred Towers were where the cultivators resided.

    At that moment, on one of the floating cities, Qi Yuan stretched and yawned. ¡°The air in the Upper Realm is indeed sweeter, but... wasn¡¯t it said that Yang Gods roamed everywhere, and myths were as common as dogs?

    ¡°This city¡ªforget the myths, where¡¯s even a single Yin God?¡±

    This floating city, in terms of size, was much larger than the Da Shang empire.

    Among the many floating cities, it was considered one of the smaller ones.

    Shen Wushen chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Senior, Yin Gods are absolute powerhouses no matter where you are.¡±

    If he ever stepped into the Yin God realm, as a true disciple, he could immediately apply to become an elder.

    An elder of a Sacred Land!

    In the Immortal Realm, aside from the Sacred Lands, there were countless other sects¡ªcounting them would take ages.

    Some of these sects were strong, with their highest experts being myths, grand masters, or lords.

    Some were even weaker, with their strongest experts being Purple Mansion, or worse, Golden Core cultivators¡ªnot even on par with the Shenguang Sect.

    ¡°So what does my Purple Mansion cultivation make me?¡± Qi Yuan asked quietly.

    Shen Wushen was momentarily stunned.

    You¡¯re still calling yourself a Purple Mansion cultivator?

    ¡°In areas outside of Sacred Lands, Purple Mansion cultivators are called Grandmasters!¡±

    ¡°As expected, I¡¯m a local kingpin now,¡± Qi Yuan said, his eyes shining as he gazed toward the distant Molo Sacred Tower. His gaze gleamed with anticipation. ¡°There... are plenty of unwashed white lotuses up there.¡±

    Shen Wushen chimed in at that moment, ¡°The Molo Clan has a total of ninety-nine Molo Sacred Towers.

    ¡°These ninety-nine towers are interconnected.

    ¡°Senior, if you want to reach the Abyss of Demons between the Fifth and Sixth Heavens, you must pass through the Molo Sacred Towers.¡±

    Each of the Nine Heavens couldn¡¯t simply be crossed at will.

    One had to pass through the Sacred Lands.

    As for ordinary cultivators, without great opportunities, they might never leave their respective heaven in their entire lives.

    Qi Yuan took a deep breath. ¡°How do we qualify to pass through? Can I force my way through?¡±

    Shen Wushen broke into a cold sweat. ¡°Junior only knows how to descend, not ascend. If you try to force your way up... you might trigger a restriction left by the Supreme Truth Association. Even Yang Gods could be banished to the voids of the Immortal Realm.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re not a very useful local guide. I¡¯d better ask Wutian instead,¡± Qi Yuan said, disappointed in Shen Wushen.

    After coming to the Upper Realm, he had thought Shen Wushen could act as a guide. He had asked him many questions.

    But he didn¡¯t know a thing.

    He didn¡¯t even seem like a real local.

    Shen Wushen felt a bit wronged.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan connected with his Nascent Soul¡ªWutian Buddha.

    Currently, Wutian resided in the Buddhist Kingdom, located on the far side of the Fifth Heaven.

    Soon, Qi Yuan received the answer from Wutian Buddha.

    To ascend to the Sixth Heaven, one needed a Sky-Passing Jade.

    Typically, the Yang Gods of the Molo Clan possessed several Sky-Passing Jades.

    There might also be some scattered Sky-Passing Jades within the Molo Sacred Towers.

    Qi Yuan looked ahead at the Molo Sacred Tower, his gaze filled with anticipation. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Molo Sacred Tower!¡±

    He already had a plan in mind¡ªa perfect one.

    If he couldn¡¯t find a Sky-Passing Jade, he¡¯d find himself a white lotus.

    It wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable to use his Purple Mansion to fish out a foolish white lotus, would it?

 Chapter 409: The Abyss of Black Demons, Bloodline

    Chapter 409: The Abyss of Black Demons, Bloodline

    The Molo Sacred Tower was akin to a bustling city compared to a countryside village, far superior to floating cities in terms of spiritual energy.

    Mortals living in the Molo Sacred Tower could nearly double their lifespan.

    During this time, Qi Yuan had been using celestial energy to purify his body, causing his skin to become increasingly white and translucent.

    Of course, his kind of white was different from Ning Tao¡¯s cold, pale skin¡ªit was more like a pure, flawless cleanliness.

    Jiang Lingsu, standing beside him, stared blankly in envy. "I want to become a Yin God too!"

    Looking at Qi Yuan, she felt both admiration and a sense of inferiority.

    After all, her skin now seemed less perfect compared to Qi Yuan¡¯s.

    "Now that you''re here, focus on cultivating," Qi Yuan said, patting Jiang Lingsu¡¯s hair.

    The group of three arrived at one of the levels of the Molo Sacred Tower known as Jiyu Heaven.

    This level was the most prosperous and had the highest number of visiting cultivators. Many of the Sacred Lands from other heavens, as well as those from the Fifth Heaven, had established outposts here.

    The region where the Molo Clan resided was rich in Miluo Light, a valuable resource that could expand a divine domain and was also beneficial to Yang God Celestial Sovereigns, potentially connected to illuminating the myriad realms.

    Thus, many powerful forces had outposts within the Molo Clan¡¯s territory to assign people to collect Miluo Light.

    As they wandered through Jiyu Heaven, powerful auras occasionally flashed by in streams of light.

    In the midst of the grand city, the three of them navigated calmly through the crowd.

    This massive city was the central hub of Jiyu Heaven, where all the Sacred Lands from different heavens had outposts.

    ¡°Futu Mountain is really out of its league, not even having an outpost here,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    ¡°Cough, Futu Mountain is merely a Second Heaven Sacred Land. Not having an outpost here... is normal,¡± Shen Wushen said awkwardly.

    Futu Mountain only had one Yang God, and even that was at the Heavenly Realm. They could hardly extend their reach into the Molo Clan¡¯s territory.

    ¡°Seems like I¡¯ll need to join a stronger faction this time,¡± Qi Yuan pondered aloud.

    Wandering aimlessly through the Molo Sacred Tower wasn¡¯t wise¡ªit could easily draw attention.

    Especially since the major actions he was planning were sure to attract the attention of Yang Gods.

    Casually joining a faction as a guest elder not only meant free lodging and meals, but his talent and efforts might also catch the eye of some wealthy Supreme Truth mistress¡ªnow that would be delightful.

    Additionally, being part of a faction would make it easier to settle Jiang Lingsu and Shen Wushen.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan stood atop a pavilion, gazing at a distant wall plastered with numerous ¡°job postings,¡± with many cultivators gathered below to read them.

    ¡°Xuan Yun Mountain is recruiting three Yin God guest elders, Great Sovereigns are prioritized. Compensation negotiable. Also hiring several Purple Mansion cultivators, ten years'' pay is one piece of celestial jade.¡±

    ¡°Yuxian Gate is recruiting Purple Mansion worshippers...¡±

    ¡°Taihuang Palace is recruiting worshippers, cultivation requirement: Mythic realm...¡±

    ¡°Black Demon Abyss...¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes landed on the recruitment notice for Taihuang Palace, but he quickly dismissed the idea¡ªit was better to stay far away from the one from Taihuang Palace for now.

    ¡°This Molo Sacred Tower has outposts from four Sacred Lands of the Sixth Heaven. The rest are mainly from the Fifth Heaven. As for the Fourth Heaven and below, they¡¯re even rarer,¡± Shen Wushen said, trying to reassert his knowledge.

    After being dismissed as not a true Immortal Realm native earlier, he now sought to prove his familiarity with the realms.

    He was still knowledgeable about the famous major forces in the Sixth Heaven.

    ¡°What do you think of Black Demon Abyss?¡± Qi Yuan asked casually.

    Shen Wushen¡¯s expression became serious as he replied, ¡°Every top Sacred Land in the Sixth Heaven has its own unique qualities.

    ¡°Black Demon Abyss is unique because they have many Yang God Celestial Sovereigns in the Supreme Truth realm.

    ¡°As for exactly how many, this junior does not know.

    ¡°But for this reason, the factions within Black Demon Abyss are extremely complicated, with many rival groups.

    ¡°Even so, Black Demon Abyss remains one of the top ten major forces in the Sixth Heaven.¡±

    ¡°So many white lotuses?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up, though he quickly calmed himself.

    He hadn¡¯t even met them yet¡ªit was too early to start thinking of them as white lotuses, or else it would cheapen the value of his collection.

    Just then, a well-dressed cultivator approached them, his eyes carrying a hint of arrogance. ¡°You must be from the lower heavens. It¡¯s not so simple to become a guest elder in Black Demon Abyss.¡±

    The cultivator¡¯s name was Ji Buping, from the Fifth Heaven. He had a sense of superiority over cultivators from the lower heavens.

    Thus, when speaking to Qi Yuan, he emphasized the words ¡°lower heavens.¡±

    ¡°Good eyes, fellow Daoist. I accidentally entered a secret realm in the Second Heaven, and ended up here. I don¡¯t even have enough celestial jade to get home, so I¡¯m looking for a job to earn travel expenses. Could you tell me why joining Black Demon Abyss as a guest elder is so difficult?¡± Qi Yuan responded, crafting the persona of a Futu Mountain elder.

    ¡°Black Demon Abyss is an extremely insular Sacred Land, and they place great importance on bloodline,¡± Ji Buping explained, flicking his hair back to reveal a black mark near his ear. ¡°See this? My bloodline is strong enough that in Black Demon Abyss, I could at least be a steward... Unfortunately, without a Sky-Passing Jade, I can¡¯t reach the Sixth Heaven.¡±

    Ji Buping longed to go to Black Demon Abyss, believing that with his bloodline, he would surely live a life of luxury there.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a Sky-Passing Jade either,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    Ji Buping, still pleased with himself, continued, ¡°The bloodline of Black Demon Abyss is one of the most precious in the Sixth Heaven.

    In the Upper Realm, Black Demon Abyss was fanatical about bloodlines, to the point of obsession.

    When babies were born with extremely rare bloodlines, their families¡¯ status would rise immediately.

    In some cases, even ordinary Nascent Souls would be treated like myths in Black Demon Abyss. Once they ascended to Yin God, they were given Yang God Celestial Sovereign level treatment.

    It was terrifying.

    For this reason, the core bloodlines of Black Demon Abyss rarely ever leaked out.

    The purple-robed woman¡¯s eyes flashed with curiosity.

    The Demonic Heaven Seal had not identified the source of the handsome male cultivator¡¯s bloodline.

    ¡°Which branch he belongs to doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is that I discovered him, so... he¡¯s mine.

    ¡°What do you think, how can I win him over as my concubine?¡±

    ¡°Well... with Young Mistress¡¯ charm and power, it won¡¯t be difficult.

    ¡°However, should I investigate his background?¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± the purple-robed woman replied, shaking her head. ¡°Pity, though. I need to find the Morning Star Greenblood Beast, or I¡¯d take him back to the Sixth Heaven right now.¡±

    The woman had come from the Sixth Heaven to the Molo Clan in pursuit of the Morning Star Greenblood Beast.

    This special beast could greatly enhance her bloodline.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan held the pitch-black jade token, his eyes gleaming with amusement. ¡°Black Demon Abyss really is easy to get into.¡±

    Ji Buping, not far away, was filled with envy, though he didn¡¯t dare show it. He didn¡¯t want to offend someone from the Black Demon Abyss.

    He had always admired and revered Black Demon Abyss. Even the lowest members were superior to him.

    ¡°Congratulations, fellow Daoist!¡± Ji Buping said sourly before disappearing from sight.

    Jiang Lingsu clenched her fists in frustration and sighed. ¡°Senior Brother, you were right¡ªI was being narcissistic.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that some pampered rich second-generation kid from the Immortal Realm would fall for me and cause you trouble.

    ¡°But now it¡¯s you being pursued by a rich second-gen, bringing trouble to me.

    ¡°Is this what it feels like to be looked down on?¡±

    This was Jiang Lingsu¡¯s first experience with such treatment, and she was left questioning herself.

    ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? You¡¯re not the main character in a TV drama. This kind of thing is a rare occurrence,¡± Qi Yuan shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Time to freeload off Black Demon Abyss.¡±

    ¡°No way. This time, I¡¯m going to focus on cultivating and strive to become a Yin God!¡± Jiang Lingsu said with determination, though her face quickly turned dejected. ¡°Ugh, but my talent is so bad. Becoming a Yin God is so hard.¡±

    ...

    With the purple-robed woman¡¯s jade token, Qi Yuan¡¯s entry into the Black Demon Abyss outpost as a guest elder was smooth and effortless.

    Even his background check was glossed over, saving him from having to use his Great Forgetfulness Mantra to bluff his way through.

    While at the outpost, Qi Yuan ran into Ji Buping again.

    Ji Buping seemed awkward, with a touch of jealousy.

    Because of his fourth-grade bloodline, Ji Buping had become a Profound-Level Guest Elder.

    However, because of the jade token, Qi Yuan was now an Earth-Level Guest Elder, one rank higher than Ji Buping.

    This made Ji Buping quite uncomfortable.

    Qi Yuan, however, paid no attention to this.

    At the time, he looked at Jiang Lingsu and had a sudden idea. ¡°What do you think¡ªshould I get a fake tattoo and pretend I have a high-grade bloodline?¡±

    Qi Yuan had noticed that all the cultivators of Black Demon Abyss bore some sort of mark, symbolizing their bloodline.

    Whenever Black Demon Abyss cultivators showed themselves, the Molo Clan treated them with the utmost reverence, almost as if they were worshipping a foreign lord.

    In the Molo Clan, the cultivators of Black Demon Abyss enjoyed special privileges, as if they were a superior race.

    Now that Qi Yuan was considered ¡°half a foreign lord,¡± if he got a fake tattoo, he could really start acting high and mighty.

    Because of the Taihuang Palace mark on her, Jiang Lingsu couldn¡¯t stray far from Qi Yuan. As a result, they shared the same cave dwelling but slept in separate rooms.

    ¡°What kind of mark? Where would you put it?¡± Jiang Lingsu asked eagerly.

    ¡°How about a crescent moon? Right on my forehead,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    ¡°I think that would work.¡±

    ¡°No, it won¡¯t. My face is too white¡ªI wouldn¡¯t look like Bao Zheng.¡± Qi Yuan shook his head, but then something occurred to him, and his face lit up with curiosity. ¡°Actually, maybe I don¡¯t need to fake it. It seems like I have a bloodline similar to Black Demon Abyss within me. Where did that come from?¡±

    Qi Yuan was puzzled.

    When the purple-robed woman had approached him, Qi Yuan had realized she wasn¡¯t simply shallow, only interested in his looks.

    After all, people from the Upper Realm couldn¡¯t be that foolish, right?

    So, he had openly eavesdropped on their conversation.

 Chapter 410: Sleeping Even with Old Ladiesâ€”A Sign of Great Ambition

    Chapter 410: Sleeping Even with Old Ladies¡ªA Sign of Great Ambition

    Qi Yuan lowered his head in thought.

    Jiang Lingsu listened carefully while contemplating how she could improve her cultivation.

    "Could it be that I¡¯m the long-lost ancestor of Black Demon Abyss?" Qi Yuan speculated.

    "Ungrateful descendants, making their own ancestor work for them!"

    This thought filled Qi Yuan with some indignation.

    "Come, let¡¯s go meet the manager," Qi Yuan said softly.

    Black Demon Abyss had five chief stewards at this outpost in the Molo Sacred Tower, along with several other regular stewards.

    Each of the chief stewards was a myth-level cultivator, while the regular ones were at least Great Sovereigns.

    There were hundreds of guest elders like Qi Yuan¡ªessentially specialists. There were even more ordinary laborers, who were more like common workers.

    In other words, there were many powerful individuals. But given the vast number of beings in a Molo Sacred Tower, even more than in the Canglan Realm, this wasn¡¯t surprising.

    As they left the cave residence and looked around, they saw that everything was painted black.

    Black bridges, black trees, black stones, and even the water flowing under the bridge was black like ink.

    This was because the creatures of Black Demon Abyss had a particular fondness for the color black.

    "At least the air isn¡¯t black," Qi Yuan muttered as he walked across the bridge toward the heart of the Black Demon Abyss outpost.

    On the bridge, they saw many guest elders, but there were far more laborers at the Purple Mansion level, while guest elders like Qi Yuan were rarer.

    Whenever these laborers encountered Qi Yuan, they bowed in respect.

    In Black Demon Abyss, status was clear-cut, and strength and bloodline meant everything.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan leaned on the bridge¡¯s railing, admiring the scenery of the outpost.

    Jiang Lingsu couldn¡¯t stay too far from Qi Yuan, so she clung tightly to his arm, acting very intimately.

    "The Upper Realm is quite something¡ªthis bridge is interesting," Qi Yuan remarked.

    The bridge was actually a magical treasure.

    To reach the depths of the outpost, one had to cross the bridge.

    However, the time it took to cross didn¡¯t depend on how fast one flew but rather on the status indicated by their identity token.

    For ordinary laborers, no matter how fast they walked or flew, crossing the bridge would take over a hundred breaths, just like walking at a mortal¡¯s pace.

    For guest elders, the time varied depending on their rank.

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s guest elder token, he would typically need about thirty breaths to cross the bridge.

    ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such a magical treasure. Does that mean... if I set it to take a million years to cross, and I hide at the other end, wouldn¡¯t my enemy never be able to reach me?¡± Jiang Lingsu joked.

    "What if the enemy doesn''t cross the bridge at all?" Qi Yuan laughed.

    This bridge was only somewhat interesting.

    It worked well for keeping lower-level cultivators in check, like a rule of the realm, but for a Great Sovereign with a divine domain, there were many ways to bypass it.

    Even Qi Yuan, at the Purple Mansion level, could find ways across.

    Of course, since he was pretending to be an elder of Futu Mountain, he had to stick to the persona.

    After thirty breaths, Qi Yuan arrived at the heart of the Black Demon Abyss outpost.

    Before him stood a massive black stone.

    He pulled out his identity token.

    The black stone opened a gaping black mouth, emitting a ghostly light that made the scene eerie.

    Qi Yuan strode forward with Jiang Lingsu and entered the building.

    Inside, an old dwarf sat hunched over, fiddling with something that resembled a Rubik¡¯s cube.

    When the old dwarf sensed someone entering, he looked up with a sideways glance.

    "What do you want?"

    Though one shouldn¡¯t judge a book by its cover, this old dwarf wasn¡¯t human, so Qi Yuan judged by appearances anyway.

    The old man looked like he had a strange temperament, perhaps from cultivating too long and ruining his mind.

    ¡°Steward Ke, I want to know how much merit I need to exchange for a Sky-Passing Jade,¡± Qi Yuan said. He was eager to ascend to the Sixth Heaven and reach the Abyss of Demons to meet Jin Li.

    It was already May.

    ¡°Sky-Passing Jade?¡± The old dwarf gave Qi Yuan a sidelong glance. ¡°That¡¯s not easy to get. It requires 10,000 merit points, and even then, there¡¯s no guarantee you¡¯ll be able to exchange for one.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Does that mean I have to work for 10,000 years?¡±

    Gathering a single thread of Miluo Light would earn him one merit point.

    On average, it took a Yin God about a year to gather a thread of Miluo Light.

    So, Qi Yuan would need to work for 10,000 years to accumulate the necessary merit.

    Based on a monthly salary of 5,000, after 10,000 years of work, without spending a single dime, he could earn 6 billion.

    "Let¡¯s set up camp here for now," Qi Yuan said.

    Jiang Lingsu frowned. ¡°Senior Brother, there¡¯s no spiritual energy here. How am I supposed to cultivate? Do I just rely on spirit stones?¡±

    ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll breathe some for you,¡± Qi Yuan said casually. ¡°Imported spiritual energy, more high-end!¡±

    ¡°Pff!¡± Jiang Lingsu¡¯s face turned red.

    Just then, a surprised voice rang out, ¡°Blood Robe... you¡¯ve come to collect Miluo Light too!¡±

    Qi Yuan turned to see a familiar face¡ªit was none other than Ji Buping.

    Ji Buping was dressed in black robes and looked somewhat disheveled.

    Beside him was a hideous old woman, who appeared to be Ji Buping¡¯s master.

    The old woman was a myth-level cultivator, making her a top-tier expert.

    "Joining Black Demon Abyss, what else is there to do but collect Miluo Light?" Qi Yuan said lazily.

    Ji Buping¡¯s expression shifted as feelings of frustration filled his heart.

    To speed up his collection of Miluo Light and advance within Black Demon Abyss, he had sacrificed his dignity, becoming a temporary partner to this old woman, all to earn the status of guest elder. And yet, Blood Robe had effortlessly secured his place.

    This made Ji Buping feel like his sacrifices had been in vain.

    The hideous old woman glanced at Qi Yuan before looking away, then led Ji Buping away toward the mountains.

    ¡°So, he¡¯s the Blood Robe that the core members took notice of? Aside from his good looks, there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything special about him,¡± the old woman mused.

    To her, even the core members of Black Demon Abyss were big shots.

    She had spent tens of thousands of years in the Fifth Heaven, accumulating merit to earn the qualifications for Illuminating the Heavens and become a core member of Black Demon Abyss.

    Hearing this, Ji Buping grew even more frustrated. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just lucky...¡±

    The hideous old woman glanced at Ji Buping. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about him. No matter how good his looks are, in the end, he¡¯s just a toy for a powerful figure. But you... you have a fourth-grade bloodline, and there¡¯s a sliver of a chance for you to become a core member of Black Demon Abyss.¡±

    That sliver of hope was indeed tiny, but it was there. So the old woman wasn¡¯t exactly lying.

    Ji Buping¡¯s eyes lit up with renewed determination.

    In the Miluo Realm, danger could strike at any moment, so cultivators couldn¡¯t afford to focus solely on meditation. They remained vigilant of their surroundings.

    As Ji Buping kept an eye on the Miluo Light, he also occasionally glanced toward the distant camp where Qi Yuan and Jiang Lingsu were.

    The young man and woman seemed to be on a leisurely trip, with tables and chairs set up around their camp, along with various foods and fruits.

    Ji Buping¡¯s eyes filled with envy, mixed with a hint of malice.

    "At this rate, they¡¯ll waste an entire year and not capture a single thread of Miluo Light!"

    Ji Buping cursed in his heart.

    Some time later, Ji Buping¡¯s brow furrowed, curiosity flashing in his eyes.

    ¡°Where are they going?¡±

    He saw the distant camp being dismantled, the tables and chairs being put away along with all the food.

    ¡°Could they have found Miluo Light? I need to follow them!¡±

    With that thought, he quickly followed in the direction Qi Yuan had disappeared.

    But after only a few breaths, Ji Buping was completely lost.

    "Where did they go?"

    He was bewildered, realizing he had lost track of them almost instantly.

    "Something is definitely off about him!" Ji Buping stopped and pondered, his mind racing with thoughts.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan had already placed Jiang Lingsu into his Netherworld.

    Alone, he moved swiftly through the Miluo Realm, heading toward another Molo Sacred Tower.

    As the saying goes, "Don''t eat the grass near your burrow."

    So, he figured it would be better to go farther away to cast his net.

    As for Ji Buping following him, Qi Yuan had noticed but didn¡¯t care.

    If the guy wanted to follow him, he could invite him along next time.

    Ji Buping clearly had ambition¡ªafter all, he was willing to sleep with an old woman.

    Surely, he¡¯d be up for some big schemes.

    Qi Yuan laughed to himself at the thought.

    His figure soon reached another exit of the Miluo Realm.

    Here, several Molo Clan cultivators were guarding the exit.

    To Qi Yuan, these guards were weak.

    Activating his Great Forgetfulness Sutra, he walked straight out without being noticed.

    ¡°Laying the groundwork is an art.¡±

    ¡°It has to be subtle, but not too subtle.¡±

 Chapter 411: Letâ€™s Get Rich Together

    Chapter 411: Let¡¯s Get Rich Together

    "Too much purple energy is not good."

    "It can''t be too ostentatious. It needs to be reserved, giving the impression that it¡¯s something special, that the purple energy has some interest in him, but is too reserved to approach him first."

    "Before seeing the purple energy, we need to throw in some difficulties. If it¡¯s too easy, he¡¯ll get suspicious and might even think the Gate of Myriad Principles ahead is a trap."

    "By adding difficulties, he''ll feel like it¡¯s something he¡¯s earned through effort, and he¡¯ll convince himself it¡¯s all worth it."

    In a desolate, barren land, Qi Yuan''s figure appeared.

    "Disrupt the Five Elements!"

    The aura around Qi Yuan fluctuated, rising and falling.

    Back when he was on Wangyue Continent, he had refined his Qi with the power of the Five Ancestors, establishing the beginning of the Five Elements Qi Refinement.

    Now, with just a flick of his hand, he could disrupt the Five Elements in this area.

    For Qi Yuan, disturbing the Five Elements was simple, but for other Celestial Sovereigns, it would be quite difficult¡ªunless they specialized in the Five Elements and had comprehended the principles of the Five Elements.

    Thus, Qi Yuan''s "forged scene" was perfectly authentic. Even a Celestial Sovereign wouldn''t be able to detect anything amiss.

    "Next, set up some fragmented ancient arrays..."

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t have much experience in formations.

    But with his pair of eyes capable of seeing hidden information, altering arrays¡ªchanging them so much that even their creator wouldn''t recognize them¡ªwas a simple task for Qi Yuan.

    After half a day, Qi Yuan looked at his handiwork with satisfaction.

    "I can¡¯t believe I spent half a day setting up this trap."

    "But now I¡¯ve gained some experience. Next time, I can just copy and paste!"

    "Too bad I don¡¯t have much purple energy, and I only have one Gate of Myriad Principles. Otherwise, I¡¯d set more traps."

    "I can''t mass-produce this. It¡¯s inefficient."

    Qi Yuan looked at the trap he¡¯d set with a satisfied expression.

    "I need a little push. What if that Celestial Sovereign is a recluse and doesn''t want to come out?"

    As he said this, he lightly pressed his finger down.

    Instantly, the spiritual energy within the trap surged, shooting toward the sky.

    "Alright, time to head back."

    Qi Yuan clapped his hands, and his figure vanished.

    "I need to be careful these days. My home is unprotected now, and it would be bad if someone broke in."

    ...

    Inside the Molo Sacred Tower.

    Celestial Sovereign Mozhi sat in his cave, his large robe faintly tinged with blood.

    He stared at a scroll in front of him, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

    "I was cultivating peacefully, and now they want me to go to that damned Molo Abyss Battlefield?!"

    "I can¡¯t kill the ants, and I¡¯m forced to fight my peers. What¡¯s the fun in that?!"

    Not long ago, Mozhi Celestial Sovereign received a command from the Elder Council to replace Celestial Sovereign Mocan and guard the Molo Abyss.

    Mozhi was reluctant to take this assignment.

    After all, he would be up against the Celestial Sovereigns of Moon God Palace.

    In terms of strength, he was no match for them.

    So, he would just have to endure being bullied.

    What made it worse was the war¡¯s rules of engagement¡ªhe couldn¡¯t attack lower-level cultivators without cause.

    In short, this was a miserable task, where he was sent to suffer.

    He couldn''t defeat the Yang Gods, couldn''t kill the lower-level cultivators, and couldn''t vent his frustrations.

    "I have to leave within a month... Damn it!"

    Mozhi Celestial Sovereign had no desire to head to the frontlines.

    Once he started guarding, it would likely last for millennia.

    But he couldn''t refuse the Elder Council¡¯s command.

    "Even as a Celestial Sovereign, life can be this tough. Sigh."

    Mozhi sighed.

    But suddenly, his brow furrowed.

    "Hmm?"

    He sensed an abnormal aura.

    It was faint, but he still picked up on it.

    Mozhi Celestial Sovereign stood up immediately, his gaze seeming to pierce through the sky, seeing thousands of miles away.

    "What¡¯s this?"

    He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the distant scene.

    In a desolate area, spiritual energy was in chaos, and the Five Elements were disrupted.

    "This is..."

    Without hesitation, Mozhi Celestial Sovereign concealed his aura, moving toward the deserted area, blending in like an ordinary mythical-level cultivator.

    "Disrupted Five Elements could mean a treasure is about to be revealed, or something unusual is happening."

    His eyes gleamed, trying to see through the scene in front of him.

    "An ancient formation blocking my vision?"

    Mozhi''s eyes lit up.

    "A formation that even I can¡¯t penetrate? Could it be..."

    There must be some rare treasure here!

    "Robbery? No, no. I prefer to think of it as ''nomadic cultivation.''"

    Even the term "homeless" had been rebranded to make it more palatable, so why not rebrand robbery?

    Ji Buping squinted. "Very rich?"

    Despite his distaste for Qi Yuan, the allure of money was hard to resist.

    In the world of cultivators, this was fairly normal.

    "Ridiculously rich, but his strength is... well, a bit on the strong side," Qi Yuan added. "That¡¯s why I¡¯m inviting you to join in and get rich together."

    Ji Buping inwardly sneered.

    Qi Yuan was likely just a Grand Sovereign. When he said "a bit strong," the target was probably Step Four.

    But Ji Buping was Step Six. He didn¡¯t see any reason to worry.

    Still, he asked, "Are you sure we can handle him together?"

    "Don¡¯t worry about it. He¡¯s old¡ªon the verge of decay. The two of us, young and full of vitality, can easily take him down."

    Qi Yuan added, "Oh, and he¡¯s a high-ranking member of the Molo Clan."

    "And we¡¯re from Black Demon Abyss, their superiors!"

    "So, if we kill him and clean up the evidence, there won¡¯t be any problems."

    "So, are you in or not?"

    Qi Yuan said, activating his Great Forgetfulness Sutra Technique.

    Because he wasn¡¯t good at expressing himself, Qi Yuan often relied on this ability to sway others.

    "Once we finish this job, you might just have enough contribution points to reach the Sixth Heaven!" Qi Yuan said, coaxing him.

    Ji Buping¡¯s face changed slightly, his expression frozen for a moment. "Sixth Heaven?"

    "Yes, the Sixth Heaven. Are you in?"

    "I¡¯m in!" Ji Buping nodded fiercely.

    Just one high-ranking Molo Clan member, right?

    If Qi Yuan dared to do it, why should Ji Buping hesitate?

    He was Fourth Grade Bloodline, after all!

    And as for splitting the spoils unfairly or any possible treachery? Ji Buping, at Step Six, wasn¡¯t afraid of a Step Four.

    If you don¡¯t take risks, what¡¯s the point of cultivating?

    "Excellent!" Qi Yuan was thrilled. "Let¡¯s go set up an ambush. If this goes well, we¡¯ll keep working together."

    "I¡¯ve already got my eye on several Molo Clan high-ups. They¡¯re all top-tier fat sheep!"

    "They¡¯ve got way more money than that old woman you¡¯ve been cozying up to."

    Hearing this, Ji Buping took a deep breath. "Really?"

    "Why would I lie? I¡¯m the most honest and trustworthy person you¡¯ll ever meet. I never tell lies," Qi Yuan said with a straight face.

    Ji Buping looked at him. "You¡¯re an interesting guy. I misjudged you before."

    Ji Buping sized Qi Yuan up, as though seeing a sheep ready for slaughter. "By the way, where¡¯s your companion?"

    Ji Buping was referring to the woman he¡¯d seen with Qi Yuan earlier.

    That woman hadn¡¯t gone through the purification process of immortal spiritual energy, which meant she wasn¡¯t even a Yin God.

    So, Qi Yuan''s strength probably wasn¡¯t that impressive.

    "My companion is in the Sixth Heaven. I¡¯ve got another one on the Sun," Qi Yuan replied wistfully.

    Ji Buping froze, then said, "Didn¡¯t you just claim you never lie? And now you¡¯re spouting nonsense?"

    "I wasn¡¯t lying," Qi Yuan said, too lazy to explain. He suddenly asked, "What about your family?"

    When dealing with potential enemies, Qi Yuan always made it a point to find out whether they had family ties¡ªbecause family meant leverage.

    "I walk alone, with no family."

    "Oh! Good to know!" Qi Yuan said brightly. "Alright, let¡¯s move. The fish is on the hook, just waiting for us to reel it in."

    "Let¡¯s do it!" Ji Buping¡¯s spirits lifted as he readied himself for a big score.

    So what if their target was a Molo Clan higher-up?

    He was from Black Demon Abyss, a superior force over the Molo Clan!

    "Let¡¯s go."

    Qi Yuan and Ji Buping turned into streaks of light, disappearing from view.

    When they reappeared, they had already left the Miluo Realm.

    Ji Buping glanced around, surprise flickering in his eyes. "How did you slip past the Molo Clan guards?"

    After all, the entrances and exits of the Miluo Realm were heavily guarded by Molo Clan cultivators.

    Yet, Qi Yuan had led him out without the guards even noticing.

    "Because... we¡¯re from Black Demon Abyss. They simply can¡¯t see us!" Qi Yuan lied to hide his unique abilities.

    "Is that so?" Ji Buping looked at him skeptically.

    Now that they were outside the Miluo Realm, Ji Buping was starting to have second thoughts.

    If the target were still in the Miluo Realm, they could fight without alerting the Molo Clan.

    But out here, any commotion would attract the attention of the Molo Clan''s powerhouses.

    Still, if Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t afraid, why should Ji Buping be?

    And if things went wrong, he could always make a quick escape, leaving Qi Yuan behind.

    After all, with his strength, Ji Buping didn¡¯t fear surprises.

    "Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re almost there. That old man is already caught in the trap!" Qi Yuan said happily.

    Why did he bring Ji Buping along? First, because Qi Yuan liked playing talent scout when he saw potential ambition. Second, because life was boring, and he needed some entertainment.

    And third¡ªbecause it helped spread the karma around.

 Chapter 412: Successful Bait, Slaying the Molo Yang God

    Chapter 412: Successful Bait, Slaying the Molo Yang God

    After an unknown period of time, two figures appeared, concealing their presence as they hid among the clouds. In front of them were various formations designed to mask their auras.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the fat sheep?¡± Ji Buping asked cautiously.

    ¡°Down in the formation below,¡± Qi Yuan whispered, blowing gently in its direction.

    As he did, the fog ahead cleared, revealing a figure in a gray robe. However, due to the formation¡¯s barriers, they couldn¡¯t see him clearly.

    The gray-robed figure appeared quite ordinary, trapped in the ancient formation, with celestial energy flowing around him as he seemed to be working on breaking through it.

    For some reason, when Ji Buping saw the gray-robed figure, his heart skipped a beat, sensing an immense danger.

    ¡°Daoist friend... why do I feel like he¡¯s not that simple?¡± Ji Buping said, his voice tinged with hesitation.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t he look ordinary to you? If there¡¯s anything unusual, it¡¯s probably just that he¡¯s old,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    Ji Buping looked again. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but just seeing him makes my heart race. Could he be stronger than we think?¡±

    Unfortunately, the formation¡¯s barriers prevented a clear view.

    ¡°He¡¯s probably just average. Look at the ancient formation below¡ªit''s worn out and falling apart from years of disrepair. If someone younger and stronger were there, they¡¯d probably tear it down in a few moments. But him? He¡¯s old, takes a break every time he tries to push through it. We¡¯re definitely stronger than him,¡± Qi Yuan explained.

    Ji Buping remained skeptical but was suddenly shocked. ¡°He just tore through space with one punch!¡±

    ¡°The space inside that old formation is decaying and rusted. You could tear through it too!¡±

    ¡°But... he¡¯s a Yang God?!!¡± Ji Buping was panicking.

    In that brief moment, the aura of Celestial Sovereign Mozhi had leaked out¡ªhe was indeed a Yang God!

    Moreover, Ji Buping finally saw the gray-robed elder¡¯s face¡ªit was none other than the legendary Celestial Sovereign Mozhi!

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a Yang God, but don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s old, his legs probably don¡¯t work well. Just slide under him and stab him in the gut. I¡¯d say we have a seventy-thirty chance,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Ji Buping felt a mixture of absurdity and bewilderment.

    His head was filled with question marks, spinning out of control.

    What was happening to the world? His brain couldn¡¯t keep up.

    He couldn¡¯t even move.

    ¡°Go on, just slide under him and surprise him!¡± Qi Yuan whispered.

    But Ji Buping was frozen in place, too terrified to move.

    He felt that Qi Yuan was insane.

    After all, who would dare scheme against a Yang God in the heart of the Molo Clan? Only someone with a death wish.

    And who tries to ambush a Yang God? Only another Yang God would attempt that, right?

    Yet this powerful figure was asking him to help?

    This had to be some kind of twisted game.

    Killing him would take nothing more than a single glance!

    His face contorted in fear, almost as if he were on the verge of tears. ¡°S-Senior...¡±

    He was starting to realize the grim truth of their situation.

    ¡°What? You¡¯re thinking of fleeing? Forget it! We¡¯re ambushing him together. I already have a plan!¡± Qi Yuan shouted, sounding exasperated, as if Ji Buping was letting him down.

    This guy was acting just like Qin Wu Yang in ancient tales, faltering at the last moment.

    Without giving him a chance to refuse, Qi Yuan grabbed Ji Buping by the collar. ¡°I believe in you! Don¡¯t disappoint me!¡±

    Ji Buping¡¯s mind was a whirl of panic, convinced now that Qi Yuan was utterly insane.

    Completely mad!

    No matter what happened, attacking a Yang God from the Molo Clan meant that neither of them would survive today.

    Meanwhile, inside the ancient formation...

    Celestial Sovereign Mozhi took a deep breath.

    ¡°A mere ancient formation, hardly worth mentioning.¡±

    This formation had consumed a great deal of his energy to break, but compared to the purple qi ahead, it was worth it.

    He looked at the wisp of purple qi not far from him and inhaled deeply.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such fortune. To come across purple qi... I wonder whose cave this was.¡±

    He scanned his surroundings, finding nothing unusual.

    Clearly, the original owner of this ancient formation had long since left or perished, leaving behind only a wisp of purple qi.

    Looking at the purple qi, Mozhi felt a surge of excitement, believing fate was on his side.

    However, despite his excitement, he remained cautious, scanning his surroundings again to ensure there were no hidden traps or killing formations.

    Just then, the purple qi stirred violently.

    Mozhi¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Trying to escape?¡±

    Although the purple qi had no intelligence, it would instinctively try to flee.

    He immediately pursued it.

    After all, with his Yang God strength, this wisp of purple qi wouldn¡¯t escape his grasp.

    But after only a few moments, his expression shifted, and his heart suddenly pounded with fear.

    Before him appeared an ancient, profound door radiating with the light of wisdom.

    The moment Mozhi laid eyes on this door, his entire body trembled despite being a Yang God. His face turned fervent with excitement.

    ¡°The... Gate of Myriad Principles!¡±

    His breath quickened.

    This door was none other than the most supreme creation treasure in the Immortal Realm¡ªthe Gate of Myriad Principles!

    It was said that all the Supreme Truth Realm experts from the Sixth Heaven had derived their understanding of the Supreme Truth from this very gate!

    There were even rumors that whoever obtained the Gate of Myriad Principles and entered it to comprehend its truths would inevitably ascend to the Supreme Truth Realm.

    What¡¯s more, one could even comprehend the truths of other Supreme Truth Yang Gods from within.

    If that were true, Celestial Sovereign Mozhi would become the first among the Immortal Realm!

    ¡°Hahaha, fate has chosen me!¡±

    At that moment, Mozhi¡¯s reason completely vanished, consumed by his fiery passion.

    The person he had brought along had been killed¡ªhe had to avenge him!

    Mozhi stared at Qi Yuan in confusion, as if covered in question marks.

    He wanted to ask, ¡°Are you insane?¡±

    But he held back, thinking it would be impolite.

    After all, a Yang God couldn¡¯t afford to be seen acting irrationally.

    Though some Supreme Truth experts were known for erratic behavior due to their control over cosmic truths, the man before him didn¡¯t seem like one of them.

    ¡°Daoist friend, could we talk this out calmly?¡± Mozhi asked, his voice full of caution.

    He was deeply alarmed, sensing a grave threat from this situation.

    ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re accusing me of not speaking calmly? Clearly, you¡¯re a rare breed of villain!¡± Qi Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate any longer.

    What should you do when a criminal invades your home?

    Kill them, of course!

    After all, self-defense isn¡¯t against the law!

    And moreover, this intruder had already committed murder!

    A powerful aura surged from Qi Yuan¡¯s body.

    At this moment, the Nascent Souls within his body gathered, pooling all of their power into him.

    His figure seemed to grow taller as his strength increased dramatically.

    Mozhi¡¯s face turned pale with fear, his expression filled with terror. ¡°An alternate Yang God?¡±

    The man in front of him had none of the typical aura of a Supreme Truth Yang God.

    Even if his power greatly exceeded Mozhi¡¯s, Mozhi had ways to defend himself.

    But now, the energy emanating from this man... was almost equivalent to a Supreme Truth expert!

    Mozhi was shaken and confused.

    The only explanation was that this man was an alternate Yang God!

    But didn¡¯t Ten Suns Yang God aspire to take the throne of the Great Sun Sovereign?

    Ten Suns Yang God was a prodigious talent¡ªso why would he walk the path of an alternate Yang God?

    ¡°What alternate Yang God? I¡¯m just a righteous cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm!¡±

    In an instant, the energy of over a thousand Nascent Souls converged within Qi Yuan¡¯s body, amplifying his power to unimaginable heights as he unleashed a devastating blow toward Celestial Sovereign Mozhi.

    The power was overwhelming!

    Unstoppable!

    Pure, raw strength!

    Under this assault,Celestial Sovereign Mozhi had no ability to resist.

    This kind of power was a gap that no battle techniques, Dao methods, or divine abilities could bridge.

    Mozhi¡¯s physical body crumbled under the force of the punch, and his soul shattered in that very instant.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s punch had the destructive force of a low-level Supreme Truth expert, a power that Mozhi, still at the early stages of Yang Godhood, couldn¡¯t withstand.

    However, Mozhi¡¯s soul wasn¡¯t entirely obliterated.

    Qi Yuan had held back in the strike.

    After all, if Mozhi died outright, it would draw unwanted attention from the Molo Clan, disrupting Qi Yuan¡¯s current plans and making it harder for him to continue luring others in with his bait.

    He left only a fragment of Mozhi¡¯s soul intact.

    ¡°You...¡± Mozhi stammered in terror.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan activated the Great Forgetfulness Sutra.

    ¡°Grandson, did you forget? I¡¯m your long-lost ancestor!¡±

    ¡°Your ancestor¡ªme¡ªam actually the spirit of the Gate of Myriad Principles!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember?¡±

    ¡°I only crippled you for your own good. It¡¯s to help you inherit the Gate of Myriad Principles!¡±

    As the Great Forgetfulness Sutra activated, Qi Yuan began brainwashing Mozhi¡¯s fragmented soul.

    If Mozhi had been at full strength, there¡¯s no way Qi Yuan could have used the sutra successfully. But now, Mozhi was severely weakened, and his soul¡¯s flame was literally in Qi Yuan¡¯s hands.

    Gradually, the Great Forgetfulness Sutra began to erase Mozhi¡¯s memories, while Qi Yuan fabricated new ones in his mind.

    After about half an hour, Qi Yuan finally let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Brainwashing complete!¡±

    After all, if he didn¡¯t brainwash Mozhi, there was always the risk that Mozhi might heroically destroy his own soul to avoid capture.

    If that happened, the Molo Clan would definitely find out.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s success rate in future schemes would drop significantly, and there was even a chance he might fall into a trap himself.

    ¡°Ah, if only I had the silver tongue of the Eastern Lord¡± Qi Yuan lamented.

    The Great Forgetfulness Sutra was slow to work, unlike the Eastern Sovereign¡¯s ability to convince others with just a word.

    ¡°What a pity. All the treasures in this old fool¡¯s storage bag were destroyed by my punch,¡± Qi Yuan sighed, clearly disappointed.

    But there was no helping it.

    After all, Yang Gods weren¡¯t as common as cabbages.

    A Nascent Soul cultivator¡¯s body might be more fragile than a storage bag, but a Yang God? It was impossible for a Yang God¡¯s body to be shattered while their storage bag remained intact.

    ¡°But...¡±

    Qi Yuan paused to think for a moment.

    ¡°Sigh, I never thought the day would come where I¡¯d have to disguise myself as an ugly old man!¡±

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan¡¯s appearance began to change.

    In an instant, he took on the form of Celestial Sovereign Mozhi.

    He had already scanned Mozhi¡¯s soul.

    Now, he was prepared to infiltrate Mozhi¡¯s lair and help himself to some valuable treasures.

 Chapter 413: If You Destroy the One from Taihuang Palace, Iâ€™ll Become Your Concubine!

    Chapter 413: If You Destroy the One from Taihuang Palace, I¡¯ll Become Your Concubine!

    At the core of Molo Sacred Tower.

    Brilliant lights shone all around, and countless cave dwellings filled the area.

    Within these cave dwellings, numerous Yin Gods were either in secluded cultivation or refining pills.

    The closer one got to the core, the stronger the experts residing in these cave dwellings became.

    The dwellings closest to the central one were all occupied by mythical-level experts.

    These dwellings were arranged like a honeycomb.

    At the very center was the cave dwelling of Yang God Mozhi.

    Qi Yuan looked up, glancing at the stars above.

    ¡°Fortunately, the Gate of Myriad Principles isolates everything. Otherwise, if Yang God Mozhi had merged with his star sovereign position, the entire Molo Clan would know he was in a fight.¡±

    Unlike Yang Gods who faced great tribulations, Yang God Mozhi, who illuminated the heavens and had his own sovereign star, could draw the power of his star during battle. This would significantly boost his strength.

    However, when his star was activated, it would shine brightly.

    Any attentive Yang God Celestial Sovereign could detect this phenomenon.

    Moreover, if a Yang God Celestial Sovereign were to perish, the projection of their star would gradually dim and eventually extinguish.

    That¡¯s why Qi Yuan had left a fragment of Yang God Mozhi''s soul intact.

    When Qi Yuan arrived at the entrance to Yang God Mozhi¡¯s cave dwelling, he paused.

    Ahead of him was a thin barrier, marking the core area of Molo Sacred Tower.

    This barrier was connected to the creation treasure of the Molo Sacred Tower.

    Without the permission of a Molo Clan Yang God, other Yang Gods wouldn¡¯t be able to enter.

    ¡°Grandson, come out. I¡¯m here to grab your blanket and toothbrush,¡± Qi Yuan muttered.

    Of course, he only whispered this to himself, allowing just a trace of Yang God Mozhi''s soul to brush against the barrier.

    Having passed the verification, Qi Yuan swaggered into Yang God Mozhi''s cave dwelling.

    ¡°Such a pity¡ªall the good stuff is destroyed,¡± Qi Yuan sighed, but he didn¡¯t dwell on the loss for too long. Awaiting him was the treasure trove of Yang God Mozhi¡¯s residence.

    ¡°Wow, so many treasures! As expected of my shining moonlight!¡± Qi Yuan marveled at the sight.

    There were all kinds of magical artifacts and precious pills, each of immense value.

    One particular pill could incite a bloodbath among all the cultivators within Molo Sacred Tower.

    But Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t interested in these material treasures.

    He prided himself on cultivating through his own efforts and intellect, rarely relying on external aids like pills.

    ¡°Not bad, dozens of divine techniques¡ªequivalent to dozens of stellar-grade golden cores!¡± Qi Yuan''s eyes gleamed with excitement.

    He was especially interested in the cultivation techniques.

    ¡°My moonlight¡¯s so rich, it¡¯s too good to be true!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame that moonlight is unattainable love. If only my moonlight loved me back and gave me everything...¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    Places like the Buddha Kingdom were much more generous, directly gifting Qi Yuan every divine technique they had, without hesitation.

    But Qi Yuan also understood that the essence of a "shining moonlight" is its unattainable nature.

    If his moonlight truly loved him and gave him all the techniques he desired...

    How could he bear to kill it?

    He would feel guilty, wouldn¡¯t he?

    ¡°The only downside is that two of these techniques overlap with the ones Buddha Kingdom gave me.¡±

    After clearing out all the techniques, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes fell on a corner of the room.

    ¡°Sky-passing Jade!¡±

    His eyes lit up again.

    [Sky-passing Jade: Capable of breaking through obstacles and reaching the Nine Heavens.]

    Five pieces of Sky-passing Jade fell into Qi Yuan¡¯s hands, and his eyes sparkled with joy.

    ¡°I can finally ascend to the upper realms.¡±

    In the Black Abyss, one could only hope to earn a piece of Sky-passing Jade after working for ten thousand years.

    But here, he had acquired five pieces all at once.

    ¡°However, I can¡¯t ascend immediately.¡±

    Ascending from Molo Sacred Tower would mean entering the battlefield at the Abyss.

    If someone suddenly ascended, it would draw attention from all sides.

    Qi Yuan was planning to sneak in, which was dangerous.

    ¡°Fortunately... I have this!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze landed on an official decree, his eyes deep with thought.

    This decree came from the Molo Clan¡¯s Elder Council, instructing Yang God Mozhi to report to the upper realms for duty.

    In the upper realms'' Abyss, the Molo Clan was currently at war with Moon God Palace.

    The Molo Clan had nearly twenty Yang Gods stationed there¡ªone-third of their total power.

    ¡°A month from now, I¡¯ll take Yang God Mozhi¡¯s place and ascend. Then I can continue setting traps up there.¡±

    ¡°But before that, I need to catch more fish down here!¡±

    At present, Qi Yuan¡¯s identity was highly sensitive.

    If his whereabouts were exposed, it might provoke the one from Taihuang Palace to hunt him down.

    He had no idea how powerful a Supreme Truth Yang God was, so he wasn¡¯t confident about facing the one from Taihuang Palace head-on just yet.

    So, for now, he needed to keep a low profile.

    ¡°A Supreme Truth Invitation?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes fell on a piece of paper, his gaze filled with curiosity.

    Immediately, a flood of information surged into his mind.

    ¡°All Yang Gods are invited to attend?¡±

    This time, when she returned to the Black Abyss, she planned to break through to Yang God status.

    So, naturally, she was in a great mood.

    Before, although she had noble blood and enjoyed the treatment of a Yang God, she wasn¡¯t truly a Yang God.

    Now, with her impending breakthrough, she was feeling on top of the world.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Really?¡±

    He had an audacious plan in mind.

    ¡°Of course!¡±

    ¡°Would you allow your concubine to have wives?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    For the sake of his grand plan, he was willing to swallow his pride!

    The purple-robed woman blinked in surprise, then grinned at Qi Yuan. ¡°Normally, no. But for you, I¡¯ll allow it.

    Now, pack up and let¡¯s head to the Sixth Heaven.¡±

    ¡°I have a powerful enemy. Could you help me take care of them?

    If you can deal with them, I¡¯ll gladly become your concubine!¡± Qi Yuan said softly.

    After all, who said concubines had to be intimate?

    He still had his freedom of choice.

    If Horned Sister tried anything inappropriate, he could always accuse her of assault.

    ¡°A powerful enemy? Just tell me, and I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯re taught a lesson they won¡¯t forget!¡± the purple-robed woman said, brimming with confidence.

    ¡°Hmm, they¡¯re a bit strong.¡± Qi Yuan studied the purple-robed woman, a bit skeptical.

    He guessed her strength was probably at the peak of the Mythical level.

    But since she was so confident, maybe she had hidden strength and was actually a powerhouse?

    ¡°Why are you dithering like some delicate maiden? Just tell me who it is!¡± The purple-robed woman scolded him, full of swagger.

    ¡°Don¡¯t generalize about maidens!¡± Qi Yuan retorted before continuing, ¡°My enemy is... the one from Taihuang Palace.¡±

    ¡°Taihuang Palace?¡± The purple-robed woman froze, then asked, ¡°Which one? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s a Yang God?¡±

    Taihuang Palace was strong, but Black Abyss wasn¡¯t afraid of them.

    Besides, Taihuang Palace was vast, with many members.

    ¡°It''s a Yang God.¡±

    The purple-robed woman swallowed hard.

    This was a big problem.

    ¡°The strongest one.¡±

    The purple-robed woman stared at Qi Yuan with wide eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so bold. How about... I become your concubine instead?

    That guy¡ªeven my ancestors wouldn¡¯t dare offend him!

    How did he become your enemy?

    Did your ancestor flip over like a turtle basking in the sun and get roasted to death by the Great Sun?¡±

    Qi Yuan sighed in disappointment. ¡°It seems you¡¯re afraid of him.¡±

    The purple-robed woman rolled her eyes. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be? The Great Sun Light Buddha was insanely powerful, and he still got killed by him!

    Even the Supreme Truth Society holds a grudge against him, but they don¡¯t dare do anything.¡±

    ¡°It seems I can¡¯t be your concubine after all,¡± Qi Yuan said, crestfallen.

    The purple-robed woman¡¯s expression shifted several times before she finally asked, ¡°Are you really enemies with him?¡±

    ¡°A deep grudge,¡± Qi Yuan replied seriously.

    They were already mortal enemies.

    The purple-robed woman glanced at Qi Yuan. ¡°I suggest you find another enemy.¡±

    She knew Qi Yuan¡¯s bloodline was extremely rare, giving him the right to enjoy Yang God-level privileges within Black Abyss.

    But to take on the one from Taihuang Palace¡ªthis guy had guts as big as Yang God Ten Suns!

    ¡°Sigh, it looks like I¡¯ll have to rely on myself!¡± Qi Yuan said solemnly.

    The purple-robed woman couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for good news. If you manage to take down that one, I¡¯ll be your concubine!¡±

    Of course, she didn¡¯t believe it.

    After all, while Blood Robe hailed from a sacred land in the Second Heaven, Taihuang Palace was a sacred land in the Sixth Heaven.

    Futuo Mountain, while renowned in the Second Heaven, only boasted one Heaven-tier Yang God.

    Not to mention Taihuang Palace¡ªthey didn¡¯t even have the status to provoke the Molo Clan.

    ¡°Blood Robe, Taihuang Palace is in the Sixth Heaven. The one from Taihuang Palace isn¡¯t someone a Second Heaven Yang God can challenge!¡± the purple-robed woman advised.

    As for why Qi Yuan had a grudge with the one from Taihuang Palace, she didn¡¯t bother asking.

    ¡°Yeah, no worries.¡± Qi Yuan didn¡¯t elaborate.

    He felt like his life was too difficult.

    Normally, when a cultivator ascends, they would first arrive in the First Heaven and work their way up, gradually facing stronger enemies.

    But for him, his enemies were in the Sixth Heaven right from the start.

    The jump was too vast.

    ¡°Sigh, I wish I could just go back to the First Heaven and become a mountain king,¡± Qi Yuan lamented.

    The purple-robed woman chuckled. She then leaned closer to Qi Yuan and asked in a low voice, ¡°Can I have a drop of your blood? I¡¯m really curious about your bloodline.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qi Yuan refused.

    How could he give his blood to anyone so casually?

    The purple-robed woman wasn¡¯t surprised by his refusal.

    At their level, giving away one¡¯s blood so easily was like asking to die.

    ¡°What a shame. I guess the only way to figure out your bloodline is to take you to meet my ancestor,¡± the purple-robed woman sighed.

 Chapter 414: So, Everyone in the Moon God Palace is Your Wife?

    Chapter 414: So, Everyone in the Moon God Palace is Your Wife?

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s spirits lifted.

    ¡°Actually, I have some suspicions about my bloodline!¡± he said.

    The purple-robed woman glanced at him, surprised. ¡°What suspicions?¡±

    Earlier in their conversation, she had already hinted that Qi Yuan possessed a significant bloodline related to Black Abyss, and it wasn¡¯t low-ranking either.

    ¡°I think... I might be the long-lost ancestor of Black Abyss!¡± Qi Yuan lowered his voice conspiratorially.

    The purple-robed woman: ¡°...¡±

    She remained silent for a long time before finally looking at him seriously. ¡°Now I understand why you¡¯ve offended Taihuang Palace!¡±

    That mouth of yours¡ªit¡¯s a miracle you¡¯ve survived this long.

    Beside them, Jiang Lingsu couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth, stifling a laugh.

    Finally, someone shared her feelings.

    Back when they were in Shen Guang Sect, she had already realized just how sharp her senior brother''s tongue could be.

    As long as he kept his mouth shut, he was a stunningly handsome man. But the moment he spoke... you¡¯d want to bow down.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who offended Taihuang Palace; they¡¯re the ones who provoked me! I¡¯m always low-key and never cause trouble,¡± Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    The purple-robed woman chuckled and said, ¡°Stretch out your hand. Let me check.¡±

    Qi Yuan jerked his hand back. ¡°You¡¯re openly harassing me?¡±

    ¡°I just need to check your bloodline, record it. Maybe the ancestor will be able to recognize it,¡± the purple-robed woman explained, unfazed.

    As she approached Qi Yuan, a mark on her arm began to glow.

    The intensity of the glow varied with different bloodlines. The closer she was, the clearer the glow.

    She recorded the glow and would later show it to their ancestor, who might be able to identify Qi Yuan¡¯s bloodline.

    The purple-robed woman explained her plan to Qi Yuan.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan paused for a moment and then asked instinctively, ¡°Does this glowing use up your energy?¡±

    The purple-robed woman blinked. ¡°No.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Then it¡¯s a perpetual motion machine! Hahaha, I¡¯ve discovered a perpetual motion machine¡ªI¡¯m going to be rich!¡±

    The idea that getting closer caused it to glow without using energy¡ªwhat else could it be but a perpetual motion machine?

    ¡°...¡± The purple-robed woman fell silent again.

    Qi Yuan, still excited, looked at her and said, ¡°Hey, how about cutting off your arm and selling it to me? This could be the most groundbreaking discovery in the Immortal World in millions of years!¡±

    The thought of inventing a perpetual motion machine thrilled him.

    ¡°Get lost!¡± the purple-robed woman cursed.

    Qi Yuan sighed, disappointed.

    ¡°Sigh... although inventing the perpetual motion machine would benefit future generations, I¡¯m not one to force others. I won¡¯t sacrifice you.¡±

    He had no right to make decisions for others, after all. He only took lives.

    Still, he stretched out his arm, thinking that if they really found out he was Black Abyss¡¯s long-lost ancestor, it would be perfect.

    After all, Black Abyss was a major power in the Sixth Heaven, immensely powerful.

    If all the Yang God Celestial Sovereigns in Black Abyss were his descendants, even the one from Taihuang Palace would have to think twice before making a move against him.

    The purple-robed woman ignored Qi Yuan¡¯s nonsense and placed her hand on his arm.

    The black mark on her arm glowed, eerily brilliant.

    She quickly recorded the glow.

    ¡°Got it?¡± Qi Yuan quickly pulled his arm back.

    The purple-robed woman glanced at him and said coarsely, ¡°You turned me on.¡±

    Qi Yuan: ¡°...That¡¯s a turnoff.¡±

    The purple-robed woman burst out laughing.

    She was always blunt.

    ¡°I¡¯m off. Oh, by the way, I left a small gift for you at Black Abyss¡¯s outpost since I know you don¡¯t want to be my concubine. Don¡¯t forget to collect it. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the Sixth Heaven.¡±

    With that, she disappeared.

    Qi Yuan was exasperated. ¡°Even the people in the Sixth Heaven... have no manners!¡±

    Jiang Lingsu ground her teeth. ¡°That woman... she¡¯s so vulgar!¡±

    The scene she imagined, where her beauty would attract second-generation heirs, hadn¡¯t happened.

    Instead, her senior brother was the one being flirted with.

    Time passed slowly.

    Qi Yuan sat in the Miro Realm, occasionally fishing, occasionally studying techniques, perfecting the Golden Core chapter of the Qi Yuan Scripture.

    As for the Yin God path, Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t yet started working on it.

    After all, he needed to discuss the Dao with others and fully understand the nature of Yin Gods before creating a new technique.

    Over these days, Qi Yuan¡¯s fishing had yielded good results.

    Including Yang God Mozhi, he had caught four fish in total.

    These four were carefully chosen by Qi Yuan.

    Their disappearance wouldn¡¯t be noticed for a while.

    Moreover, Qi Yuan had been thoughtful enough to leave inflatable dolls in their caves as decoys.

    No one would notice for some time.

    However, there was a minor hiccup¡ªQi Yuan had ended up ¡°eating grass by his own burrow.¡±

    After struggling to catch any more fish, he finally decided to fish in his own Molo Sacred Tower, catching one of the Yang Gods there.

    If word of this got out, it would shake the entire Molo Clan.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay for another ten days, then pack up and ascend to the upper realms!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation and joy.

    By then, he would head to the Abyss.

    Jin Li¡¯s birthday was coming soon.

    So, Qi Yuan¡¯s words left her doubting the truth.

    If the higher-ups of Moon God Palace found out a Moon Lady had married, her fate would be dire.

    ¡°Have you seen her? Is she happy in Moon God Palace? How is she doing?¡± Qi Yuan asked a string of questions.

    Hong Yu shook her head. ¡°Senior, I have been undercover in the Fifth Heaven for tens of thousands of years and have not seen her.¡±

    As for the fact that the Moon Lady had a husband, Hong Yu would take that secret to her grave. If Moon God Palace¡¯s upper echelons found out, Jin Li¡¯s fate would be tragic.

    ¡°I also have another wife in Moon God Palace, her name¡¯s Ruan Yixi. Do you know her?¡± Qi Yuan asked again.

    Hong Yu: ¡°...¡±

    She couldn¡¯t hold back her shock.

    So, was Moon God Palace basically his harem?

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of her!¡± Hong Yu replied.

    Qi Yuan sighed, deeply disappointed. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to go find my wives myself.¡±

    At this point, Hong Yu said, ¡°Senior, now that I¡¯ve healed a bit, I should take my leave. I don¡¯t want to cause you any trouble.¡±

    Her injuries were still severe, but if she stayed, the Molo Clan might track her down, and that would put Qi Yuan in danger too.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m with Black Abyss now¡ªI¡¯m not afraid of the Molo Clan.

    Besides, you work with my two wives, so just stay here and rest. It¡¯s no problem at all!¡± Qi Yuan said generously.

    Having an ally from Moon God Palace was actually a good thing. Once he reached the Sixth Heaven, it would help him find Jin Li.

    Without someone to lead him, he¡¯d have no chance of entering the palace.

    ¡°This...¡± Hong Yu hesitated.

    Just then, a voice came from outside.

    ¡°Excuse me, sir. The Molo Clan is currently pursuing a fugitive. May we come in to search your tent?¡±

    The Molo Clan cultivators outside spoke politely.

    After all, the tent belonged to a Black Abyss cultivator.

    If it were anyone else from a lesser faction, they would have barged in without asking.

    Hong Yu tensed, her body coiled, ready to fight at any moment.

    ¡°Get lost, you filthy swine! Stay out of my tent!¡± Qi Yuan shouted arrogantly.

    ¡°What, do you think I¡¯d harbor a fugitive?¡±

    Qi Yuan was a natural performer.

    He perfectly played the role of a haughty, self-important Black Abyss cultivator.

    And sure enough, the Molo Clan cultivators were just the type to fall for it.

    As soon as Qi Yuan barked out his order, they immediately hunched their backs and plastered fake smiles on their faces.

    ¡°Our apologies, sir!¡±

    ¡°We were mistaken!¡±

    They all bowed low to the ground, offering their apologies, and then quickly left.

    Once he sensed the Molo Clan cultivators had gone, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°This Black Abyss identity really works wonders.¡±

    However, he still didn¡¯t fully understand why the Molo Clan feared Black Abyss so much.

    Even though he had read Yang God Mozhi¡¯s memories, he hadn¡¯t obtained all of them.

    Unless he went to the Star Realm and devoured Mozhi¡¯s star, he wouldn¡¯t know the full truth.

    ¡°Do you know why the Molo Clan fears Black Abyss so much?¡± Qi Yuan casually asked Hong Yu.

    With just over ten days left before he would ascend to the upper realms under the identity of Yang God Mozhi, fishing for more prey was no longer an option.

    He figured he¡¯d chat and gather more information about the upper realms.

    Hong Yu hesitated for a moment before answering softly, ¡°It has to do with the Molo Clan¡¯s creation artifact.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s interest was piqued.

    While the Gate of Myriad Principles was the first creation artifact in the Immortal World, it didn¡¯t directly increase his combat power and was a time-consuming item to use.

    ¡°The Molo Clan¡¯s creation artifact is called the Molo Well.¡±

    ¡°What? A well?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened.

    Hong Yu was taken aback, not understanding why he reacted that way.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, senior?¡±

    Qi Yuan sighed. ¡°My family¡¯s well seems to have gone missing too. Someone must¡¯ve carried it off. Could the Molo Well be my family¡¯s well?¡±

    The Gate of Myriad Principles had been stolen and later found.

    But the family well had been taken, and there was still no trace of it.

    The Molo Well felt familiar to Qi Yuan. It looked a lot like his family''s missing well.

    ¡°...Senior, you have quite the sense of humor,¡± Hong Yu said with a smile, though internally, she was speechless.

    At this point, Qi Yuan was lost in thought, obsessing over the family well.

    However, he quickly regained his composure. ¡°Continue. I¡¯m listening.¡±

    Hong Yu explained, ¡°The Sixth Heaven is the highest level of the Immortal World and the best place for Yang God Celestial Sovereigns to cultivate.

    Because of this, many great sects have set up there.

    Most Yang God Celestial Sovereigns from the lower five heavens, if they don¡¯t have a sect, will ascend to the Sixth Heaven and join one.

    But Black Abyss is the most unique sect in the Sixth Heaven¡ªit only accepts Yang Gods with Black Abyss bloodlines!¡±

    The Sixth Heaven is structured like a pyramid.

    Yang God Celestial Sovereigns from the lower realms are all eager to ascend and cultivate in the Sixth Heaven.

    For Yang Gods, the cultivation speed in the Sixth Heaven is several times faster than in the lower realms.

    This kind of gap cannot be bridged by mere time manipulation.

    Because of this, many Yang Gods are desperate to ascend.

    But... the Sixth Heaven doesn¡¯t welcome every Yang God.

 Chapter 415: I Despise Snitches the Most!

    Chapter 415: I Despise Snitches the Most!

    ¡°You need a Supreme Truth realm expert to establish a sacred ground in the Sixth Heaven,¡± Hong Yu continued, explaining to Qi Yuan.

    In the Fifth Heaven and below, having a Yang God was enough to start a sacred ground. But the Sixth Heaven was different. Only those with a Supreme Truth realm expert could establish one.

    Because of this, there were fewer sacred grounds in the Sixth Heaven than in the other realms.

    Ordinary Yang Gods couldn''t stay in the Sixth Heaven for long unless they joined a sacred ground that had a Supreme Truth realm Yang God.

    ¡°Why do Yang Gods in the Sixth Heaven seem so selfish? Why don¡¯t they allow other Yang Gods to go there?¡± Qi Yuan asked, puzzled.

    It felt like the ones who got rich were blocking others from getting in.

    ¡°These are just rumors, but it¡¯s said that the Sixth Heaven doesn¡¯t really exist. It was created by Supreme Truth realm experts, and it can¡¯t support too many Yang Gods,¡± Hong Yu explained.

    ¡°So Yang Gods have no dignity, huh? Like homeless people¡ªthey can''t stay in the Sixth Heaven for long before getting kicked out,¡± Qi Yuan muttered, sharing his thoughts.

    ¡°That¡¯s why, if you want to settle in the Sixth Heaven, you must join one of the sacred grounds. But even the sacred grounds with Supreme Truth realm experts don¡¯t accept just any Yang God. Black Abyss only accepts those with its bloodline! And that bloodline comes from their creation artifact! Black Abyss beings aren¡¯t native to the Immortal World but emerged from a creation artifact!¡± Hong Yu said gravely.

    ¡°Is it the same for the Molo Clan?¡± Qi Yuan asked, surprised.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Hong Yu nodded. ¡°The Molo Clan doesn¡¯t have any Supreme Truth realm experts, but they also emerged from a creation artifact, so they are barely considered part of Black Abyss. But one day, the Molo Well devoured part of Black Abyss¡¯s ancestral blood. The Yang Gods of Black Abyss were furious and almost destroyed the Molo Well! However, they couldn¡¯t retrieve the ancestral blood, so the Molo Clan was banished to the Fifth Heaven.

    Without Black Abyss, the Molo Clan couldn¡¯t produce any Supreme Truth realm experts. It became difficult for even Truth realm experts to emerge, so they¡¯ve been desperate to return to Black Abyss!¡± Hong Yu explained in detail.

    The Black Abyss¡¯s Ancestral Blood was the origin of all Black Abyss cultivators.

    It was the key to Black Abyss¡¯s ability to produce Supreme Truth realm experts.

    But with part of it devoured, Black Abyss lost the potential to create more Supreme Truth realm experts, which enraged them.

    Thus, the Molo Clan was expelled to the Fifth Heaven.

    ¡°This Molo Well sounds a lot like my family¡¯s well. It loves to devour things. Could it really be mine?¡± Qi Yuan mused aloud, almost believing it himself.

    Hong Yu was speechless and didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°So, by your explanation, Black Abyss has a lot of Supreme Truth realm experts? Could it be the most powerful faction in the Sixth Heaven?¡± Qi Yuan asked again.

    Hong Yu smiled, a proud expression on her face. ¡°At the Supreme Truth realm, it¡¯s not about numbers anymore. My Moon God Palace only has two Supreme Truth realm experts. But our Moon Sovereign, alone, can hold off four or even five Supreme Truth realm experts from Black Abyss!¡±

    ...

    ¡°Where is Ji Buping?¡± the ugly old woman suddenly remembered, her expression turning cold.

    She recalled how she had gone to ask that Blood Robe about Ji Buping a few days ago, only to be driven off by that purple-robed female cultivator.

    ¡°Outrageous! The core members are bullying others!¡±

    Even though she was a mythic expert herself and almost had enough merit to gain the ability to reflect the heavens, she had been humiliated.

    Not only that, but she also couldn¡¯t do anything about Blood Robe, a mere high-ranking cultivator, because of her fear.

    She was furious.

    But suddenly, she calmed down, her eyes flashing with a deep light. ¡°After the eruption at Flame Mountain, I think I sensed someone heading toward him.¡±

    Despite Hong Yu hiding her aura when she fled to Qi Yuan, the old woman, being a mythic expert, had still sensed something.

    ¡°During the Molo Clan¡¯s search, he turned them away. It seems...¡± The old woman¡¯s eyes flashed with murderous intent. ¡°Daring to collude with Moon God Palace and harbor one of its criminals... Even if you¡¯re a guest elder of Black Abyss, you won¡¯t survive!¡±

    The old woman had a bold idea.

    Since she couldn¡¯t deal with Blood Robe herself, she would report him!

    If her report was successful, the Molo Clan would certainly not spare Blood Robe!

    Both Blood Robe and the Moon God Palace criminal would be doomed.

    With this thought, her plan became clear.

    Sneaking a glance at Qi Yuan¡¯s tent, she turned into a stream of light and disappeared.

    When she reappeared, she had arrived at the core area of the Molo Sacred Tower.

    Her report had already been submitted, and now she waited outside for someone to receive her.

    Luckily, being from Black Abyss, she didn¡¯t have to wait even half an hour before she was led inside.

    In the cave mansion, an emaciated old man in a gray robe, who appeared kind, greeted her.

    Since the Molo Clan revered Black Abyss, many of them wore gray robes to avoid clashing with the black robes of Black Abyss members.

    ¡°Friend Meng Gu, it¡¯s been a while. You¡¯re as impressive as ever!¡± the emaciated old man said, smiling. He was a mythic expert who could reflect the heavens and held a high position in the Molo Sacred Tower.

    The ugly old woman wasn¡¯t good at socializing, so she got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯ve come because I discovered someone harboring a criminal from Moon God Palace!¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± The emaciated old man was surprised.

    He was in charge of the matter of Hong Yu¡¯s escape.

    ¡°Could it be Black Abyss¡¯s guest elder?¡± the old man asked.

    ¡°Yes, a new guest elder named Blood Robe!¡± the old woman said. ¡°I personally saw the Moon God Palace criminal flee into his cave mansion, and when the Molo Clan¡¯s men came to search, he drove them away!¡±

    It had only reached about a third of the way.

    ¡°Should I sneak a listen to the game settings?¡± Qi Yuan thought to himself, closing his eyes and focusing.

    Last time, he could hear Little Ning Tao¡¯s voice. Maybe this time he¡¯d hear something else.

    Time passed, the world around him silent.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan paused. ¡°Junior Sister, have you ever heard of the sound of silence?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Lingsu was confused.

    How could silence be considered sound?

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard the sound of silence.¡±

    Qi Yuan closed his eyes again, listening intently.

    But within the game jade slip, he heard nothing.

    Yet, mixed within the silence, he sensed a faint trace of deathly stillness.

    ¡°Can you speak?¡± Qi Yuan asked, trying out his new ability.

    It allowed him to communicate with the sounds he heard.

    Again, silence greeted him.

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up as he sensed a hint of joy.

    It was a joy as innocent and pure as if it were born of nature.

    ¡°Hmm, you probably can¡¯t speak. You can¡¯t even manage a ¡®goo goo gaa gaa.¡¯ I get it¡ªyou don¡¯t have a mouth. You¡¯re probably a rock.¡±

    In response, the silence carried a sense of confusion.

    ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t like talking to rocks. What if a monkey jumps out of you?¡± Qi Yuan muttered, preparing to end the connection.

    The silence grew sad.

    Just as Qi Yuan was about to speak again, his expression changed. ¡°A snitch?¡±

    The dummy figure had warned him that someone had ratted him out!

    His face darkened, and without hesitation, he put the game jade slip away.

    His gaze turned toward the old woman in the distance, fury in his eyes.

    ¡°Betrayed by love! Someone who can¡¯t have me is trying to destroy me. How could people be so wicked?¡±

    ¡°To have such an admirer is a disgrace!¡±

    Without hesitation, Qi Yuan, fuming, stormed toward the ugly old woman¡¯s cave mansion.

    At that moment, the old woman was meditating, but she suddenly sensed something amiss. Her heart sank.

    To her shock and horror, she realized that within her cave mansion, which was protected by ten layers of formations, a figure had appeared.

    That figure was none other than Qi Yuan!

    The old woman was stunned, her thoughts swirling in confusion.

    ¡°Fellow Daoist...?¡± she stammered.

    ¡°I hate snitches the most. You dare report me?¡± Qi Yuan was furious, and the consequences were dire.

    The old woman¡¯s pupils shrank in disbelief.

    How did he know?

    She had just submitted the report, so how did he find out so quickly?

    Is there no such thing as anonymity in reporting?

    How can anyone feel safe reporting anything if this is how things go?

    ¡°Hmph, your admiration for me is your business. I can¡¯t control that.

    But you¡¯ve crossed the line. Just because you can¡¯t have me, you decide to ruin me?

    If everyone acted like you, destroying what they couldn¡¯t have, how would the Immortal World continue spinning?¡±

    Perhaps because he was too angry, Qi Yuan mixed up his words and referred to the Immortal World as ¡°spinning.¡±

    The old woman was utterly baffled and terrified.

    She couldn¡¯t understand how Blood Robe knew she had reported him!

    ¡°Snitch, time to go to the underworld!¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t show mercy just because you admire me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve killed my white moonlight. What do I care about an admirer?¡±

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t give the old woman a chance to speak or resist, unleashing a powerful blow.

 Chapter 416: Anxious Horned Sister, Finally Ascending to the Sixth Heaven!

    Chapter 416: Anxious Horned Sister, Finally Ascending to the Sixth Heaven!

    A powerful strike was delivered without any mercy.

    The ugly old woman¡¯s eyes widened as she tried to resist.

    But her insignificant divine power was weaker than an ant before Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Snitch, go to hell!¡±

    Qi Yuan obliterated the ugly old woman!

    Using such overwhelming force would normally alert the Yang Gods at the Molo Sacred Tower. However, the nearby Yang Gods had already been lured away by Qi Yuan''s schemes.

    Thus, the old woman¡¯s death went unnoticed.

    This time, Qi Yuan was careful, deliberately ensuring that he didn¡¯t destroy the old woman¡¯s storage pouch.

    ¡°Killing snitches really clears the mind!¡±

    Qi Yuan thought to himself, feeling relieved.

    Suddenly, a wave of unease washed over him.

    ¡°Should I start reflecting on my actions?¡±

    ¡°Retaliating so precisely against a snitch... If this were posted online, wouldn¡¯t that look bad?¡±

    After all, someone had just reported him, and he immediately killed that person.

    This revealed some deeper issues¡ªserious ones that could affect society¡¯s moral fabric.

    ¡°No worries, she¡¯s dead now, and no one will know.¡±

    Feeling fortunate, Qi Yuan shrugged off his concerns.

    As long as no one found out, society¡¯s moral standards wouldn¡¯t be compromised. Nothing too serious.

    He said this while opening the old woman¡¯s storage pouch to inspect its treasures.

    ¡°Huh... a Sky-passing Jade, with Horned Sister¡¯s aura, and it¡¯s still warm?¡±

    Instantly, everything became clear to Qi Yuan.

    Any shred of guilt vanished completely.

    ¡°So, you were trying to steal from me, huh? You deserved to die!¡±

    He rummaged through the pouch and found several divine techniques.

    But most of the techniques were the same as the ones Qi Yuan had already obtained from the Yang Gods of the Molo Clan.

    ¡°As expected, compared to White Moonlight, you¡¯re dirt poor. You don¡¯t even take baths.¡±

    Shrugging, Qi Yuan walked away.

    As for the ugly old woman¡ªher death didn¡¯t matter. By the time the people at the Black Abyss outpost found out, Qi Yuan would already be in the upper realm.

    After returning from dealing with the old woman, Qi Yuan sought out Hong Yu and asked about the upper realm.

    Qi Yuan learned more about Yang Gods and the forces of the upper realms.

    In the Sixth Heaven, the most powerful force was the Supreme Truth Society.

    Nearly all Supreme Truth-level experts were affiliated with the Supreme Truth Society.

    This was because of the society¡¯s creation artifact, the Wall of Myriad Principles.

    The name was quite similar to the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    In front of this wall, Yang Gods could better understand their path and realize their own principles.

    Because of this, even Yang Gods, with their natural pride, were humbled before the Supreme Truth Society. After all, not everyone could be invited to the Supreme Truth Symposium.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe Yang God Mozhi worked for free for so many years for the Supreme Truth Society, just to get an invitation to the symposium.¡±

    In Yang God Mozhi¡¯s residence, Qi Yuan found the symposium invitation. It was the reward for years of unpaid labor.

    Now, it was Qi Yuan¡¯s to use.

    He chuckled, thinking that the upper realm¡¯s white moonlight figures were quite generous.

    There was another surprising revelation.

    In the Sixth Heaven, the place with the most Yang Gods was actually the First Heaven.

    However, most of the Yang Gods in the First Heaven were wandering cultivators without affiliations, often sleeping in seclusion, seeking breakthroughs.

    Not all Yang Gods had the chance to reach the Supreme Truth.

    And not all Yang Gods were willing to work for the Supreme Truth Society to increase their chances of a breakthrough.

    Because of this, there was a group of Yang Gods known as "alternative Yang Gods."

    ¡°Because they can¡¯t break through to the Supreme Truth, some high-level Yang Gods follow different paths. They either focus solely on cultivating power or expanding their divine domains. These alternative Yang Gods are stronger than ordinary Yang Gods.

    The best among them can even rival lesser Supreme Truth realm Yang Gods!

    But to Supreme Truth realm experts, they¡¯re still too weak,¡± Hong Yu explained.

    In her heart, Hong Yu was puzzled. How could a guest elder of Black Abyss be so unfamiliar with the matters of the upper realm? It was as if he had just ascended.

    But an ordinary ascended cultivator wouldn¡¯t have the same strength as Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Qi Yuan muttered, then suddenly¡ª

    He launched a sneak attack!

    Hong Yu didn¡¯t have time to react and collapsed, unconscious, before Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Senior Brother, what are you doing?¡± Jiang Lingsu gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

    ¡°We¡¯re about to ascend to the upper realm, so I need to put her in my Netherworld.

    I¡¯d rather not let outsiders know about my Netherworld.

    ...

    ¡°This is the Sixth Heaven?¡±

    Standing in a pitch-black space, Qi Yuan squinted, his eyes filled with curiosity and surprise.

    The spatial environment of the Fifth Heaven was somewhat similar to that of the Canglan World, just with denser spiritual energy.

    But the Sixth Heaven... felt strangely both solid and fragile at the same time.

    ¡°It seems that the Sixth Heaven really was created by a Supreme Truth-level expert!¡±

    Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have this contradictory feeling of being both delicate and sturdy.

    ¡°Celestial Sovereign, Yang God Mokuan left several days ago. This is the token of our Duan Yue Abyss,¡± a Yin God from the Molo Clan respectfully handed over a token.

    The past half month had been nerve-wracking for those guarding Duan Yue Abyss, as there had been no Yang God present, and they felt vulnerable.

    Now that Yang God Mozhi had arrived, they all sighed with relief.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Qi Yuan accepted the token, and immediately, a flood of information poured into his mind.

    The Upper Abyss of the Black Abyss was divided into nineteen regions, each governed by a Yang God of the Molo Clan.

    Among the nineteen Yang Gods, three were at the Supreme Truth level, while the rest were either small or great Yang Gods.

    Qi Yuan had been assigned to Duan Yue Abyss, while the Yang God closest to him was a Supreme Truth-level Yang God of the Molo Clan.

    These nineteen regions were connected by the creation artifact known as the Molo Well, forming a unified defense and offensive network.

    ¡°This Molo Clan has fallen on hard times. They¡¯re helping Taihuang Palace fight against the Moon God Palace, yet they still have to pay for their own war effort!¡±

    The Yang Gods of the Molo Clan didn¡¯t have the privilege to stay permanently in the Sixth Heaven.

    So, while stationed at the Black Abyss, they had to pay Taihuang Palace just to fight in the war against the Moon God Palace.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but be speechless.

    The Molo Clan seemed to be down on their luck.

    He swept his gaze over the assembled Yin Gods of the Molo Clan and asked, ¡°Has everyone gathered?¡±

    The high-level figures of Duan Yue Abyss should have assembled to greet him after his ascent.

    The lead mythic expert hesitated for a moment before bowing his head and saying, ¡°The envoy from Taihuang Palace seems to be occupied with something and hasn¡¯t arrived yet...¡±

    The mythic expert was speaking cautiously.

    In fact, the envoys from Taihuang Palace were always arrogant, treating the Molo Clan as beneath them. They hardly bothered to attend such formalities.

    Of course, this also had to do with the fact that the Molo Clan''s leader shared the same hairstyle as Fleecy, the famous sheep.

    Otherwise, how could the envoys from Taihuang Palace dare to skip such an event?

    If Yang God Mozhi were present, he might feel a little displeased but would endure it.

    But Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t Yang God Mozhi, so... he wasn¡¯t going to put up with it.

    As for whether making a fuss would cause problems?

    Well, that was the Molo Clan¡¯s concern, not his.

    ¡°Go and call over the envoy from Taihuang Palace. Tell him I have a gift for him.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was raspy as he gave the order.

    The Yin Gods of the Molo Clan were visibly startled, but then their faces filled with jealousy and envy.

    The envoy from Taihuang Palace was really lucky...

    Even the majestic Yang God Mozhi wanted to give him a gift...

    Their envy was palpable.

    Qi Yuan ignored their reactions and continued, ¡°Also, help me investigate where Moon Goddess Jinli is stationed in the war zones.¡±

    The Black Abyss was vast¡ªlarger even than the Canglan World by far.

    Qi Yuan needed to pinpoint Moon Goddess Jinli¡¯s exact location so he could find her.

    However, he couldn¡¯t just charge into the Moon God Palace¡¯s territory.

    Otherwise, the Moon God Palace¡¯s defensive formations and creation artifacts would attack him.

    The battles of Yang Gods were restricted to the rift zones within the Black Abyss.

    ¡°Does the Celestial Sovereign have an interest in the Moon Goddess?¡± one mythic expert asked, puzzled.

    Shouldn¡¯t a Yang God be concerned with other Yang Gods? Why was he asking about a mere Moon Goddess?

    ¡°I once saw her portrait and was captivated by her beauty. She struck me as a celestial being.

    I want to find her and make her my Dao companion.¡±

    Qi Yuan raised his head and looked at the countless stars in the sky.

    Among them, he immediately spotted Jinli¡¯s star.

    His eyes glowed with a mixture of longing and fond memories.

    At that moment, one of the mythic experts frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that this Moon Goddess is stationed at Jue Yue Abyss.¡±

    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s nearby?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    According to the information in the token, Jue Yue Abyss was right next to Duan Yue Abyss.

    The one in charge of Jue Yue Abyss was one of the Supreme Truth-level Yang Gods of the Black Abyss.

    ¡°Yes, this Moon Goddess is exceptionally talented. She¡¯s been at Jue Yue Abyss for ten thousand years. When she first arrived, she wasn¡¯t even a high-level Yin God, but now she¡¯s a mythic-level figure!¡± The expert spoke of Moon Goddess Jinli with a tone of deep respect.

    Hearing the name Moon Goddess Jinli from others stirred an immense sense of joy and longing in Qi Yuan.

    There was something profoundly satisfying about hearing the name of someone dear from another person¡¯s mouth.

 Chapter 417: Qi Yuanâ€™s Plan, Jinliâ€™s Decision

    Chapter 417: Qi Yuan¡¯s Plan, Jinli¡¯s Decision

    "It seems that one day, I must abduct her and take her as my Dao companion," Qi Yuan said with a calm smile.

    The Molo Clan cultivators below all showed knowing, amused smiles.

    The Moon Maidens were not allowed to marry.

    For a Celestial Sovereign to abduct a Moon Maiden as his Dao companion would be a direct insult to the Moon God Palace.

    "Congratulations, Celestial Sovereign, on your upcoming success!"

    "In another month, it seems there will be the Lunar Banquet. If the Celestial Sovereign abducts the Moon Maiden then, it will be a double celebration!"

    The Molo Clan cultivators flattered him, laughing as they spoke.

    The Lunar Banquet was a special birthday celebration unique to the Moon God Palace.

    Whenever a Moon God Palace cultivator reached ten thousand years of age, a Lunar Banquet would be held in their honor.

    "Oh? Whose Lunar Banquet is it?" Qi Yuan''s heart stirred slightly.

    Could it be Jinli¡¯s?

    "It''s for a mythic cultivator who ranks in the top three in the Jue Yue Abyss war record!" one of the Molo Clan cultivators replied. He seemed quite knowledgeable about the situation in the Jue Yue Abyss.

    Because the Lunar Banquet was only held once every ten thousand years, the Moon God Palace celebrated it grandly, inviting many guests.

    This mythic-level cultivator from the Molo Clan had been here for several centuries and had only heard of a few Lunar Banquets.

    "Oh." Qi Yuan responded indifferently.

    Since it wasn¡¯t Jinli¡¯s, it wasn¡¯t important to him.

    After speaking, his figure flickered and disappeared, heading toward his station.

    Since he was currently masquerading as Yang God Mozhi, he had to keep up the act.

    After all, he didn¡¯t have official residence papers for the Sixth Heaven.

    Moreover, if he were discovered, not only would the Yang Gods of the Molo Clan hunt him down, but the Taihuang Palace sovereigns, upon learning of his identity, might also take action against him.

    As for the Moon God Palace...

    To him, aside from his wife Jinli and his master-wife, everyone else there was a stranger.

    Although the Moon Maidens held status within the Moon God Palace, they didn¡¯t wield real power. Randomly wandering into the Moon God Palace territory might get him erased by their creation artifacts.

    Thus, he had to meet Jinli in a safe manner. He even needed to win over his "mother-in-law."

    Qi Yuan prided himself on being a "high emotional intelligence" person!

    Just as he had warmed his junior sister Jiang Lingsu with a hundred days of kindness, he wouldn¡¯t put Jinli in a difficult position between him and the Moon God Palace.

    "Even though the Moon God Palace forbids Moon Maidens from marrying... does their law really override marriage law?"

    Qi Yuan pondered whether he should brandish the banner of marriage law to confront the Moon God Palace.

    But then he reconsidered. After all, the Moon God Palace was Jinli''s home.

    That wouldn¡¯t be a good approach.

    He had to appeal to them emotionally.

    "I¡¯m new here, so I should pay a visit to the leader of Jue Yue Abyss. Sigh, being a man with high emotional intelligence is exhausting."

    Qi Yuan reflected that sometimes having high emotional intelligence could be a burden.

    The Jue Yue Abyss, located near Duan Yue Abyss, was overseen by a Supreme Truth-level Yang God.

    This Supreme Truth Yang God was Yang God Mozhi¡¯s superior.

    If Qi Yuan were someone with low emotional intelligence, he would just ignore the leader.

    But since he was a "high emotional intelligence" cultivator, he needed to pay his respects to the leader.

    Otherwise, he might find himself in trouble later on.

    "Social anxiety and high emotional intelligence coexisting in the same person... reminds me of that famous quote, ¡®grasping the sun and moon, plucking the stars...¡¯"

    Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but admire himself.

    Right now, he was the epitome of a "man of confidence."

    Qi Yuan stopped thinking about trivial matters and instead began strategizing for the situation at hand.

    After some time, a message arrived.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm.

    The Taihuang Palace envoy stationed in Duan Yue Abyss had arrived.

    "Enter."

    At his command, the massive hall doors opened, and a mythic expert entered, followed by several Yin Gods of the Molo Clan.

    The mythic expert, from Taihuang Palace, was named Master Baiteng, and his face was full of joy.

    In Taihuang Palace, he was a mythic expert, standing tall.

    However, this lofty status only applied when dealing with ordinary Yin Gods.

    When it came to Yang God Celestial Sovereigns, he had to be very cautious and would have to go to great lengths just to secure an audience.

    But here, in the Black Abyss, he was truly living like an aristocrat¡¯s son.

    Even the Yang Gods of the Molo Clan treated him with courtesy and respect.

    Now, the newly arrived Yang God of Duan Yue Abyss wanted to meet him immediately.

    And as a bonus, the Celestial Sovereign was even going to give him a gift.

    At this moment, Master Baiteng was riding high, striding forward with anticipation, eager to see what this Yang God would gift him.

    "Greetings... Celestial Sovereign!" Master Baiteng bowed respectfully.

    ...

    In the sky, a radiant streak of light flashed.

    A Moon Ship, like a crescent moon, gleamed brightly, crystal-clear and transparent, laden with all manner of celestial treasures, fine wine, and delicacies.

    The moonlight spilled over the white-robed woman, the plum blossoms on her elegant dress becoming even more vibrant, exuding a cold beauty akin to plum blossoms blooming in the snow. Yet, compared to the dress¡¯s owner, these blossoms paled in comparison.

    "Yue Shuang, why have you come?" Jinli, dressed in pure white, smiled with a hint of surprise in her eyes as she saw the cold woman approaching.

    "In less than a month, it will be your birthday. I thought I¡¯d stop by and check on you," Yue Shuang smiled, "I was worried you might be feeling lonely."

    "It¡¯s just a regular birthday, not the Lunar Banquet." Jinli''s tone was indifferent, though a trace of warmth flickered in her chest.

    "Yu Tiao shares the same birthday as you, and she¡¯s hosting a Lunar Banquet. All her friends will be there. I couldn¡¯t bear to see you spending the day alone." Yue Shuang spoke softly, her eyes betraying a hint of guilt.

    Back in the Wangyue Continent, she and Jinli had been trapped.

    One of the two Moon Maidens had to be abandoned.

    That one was Jinli.

    Had it not been for the Faceless Sword God, Jinli might have perished back then.

    Because of that, Yue Shuang had always carried a sense of guilt toward her sister.

    "It¡¯s just a birthday; it¡¯s no different from any other day. I¡¯ve been planning to head deeper into Jue Yue Abyss in the coming days and take down a few more of the Molo Clan." As she spoke, Jinli radiated a strong, bloodthirsty aura.

    The once delicate young girl had long since transformed over the years.

    "Have you earned enough merit?" Yue Shuang asked.

    "Yes, just a bit more to go!" Jinli nodded earnestly, her beautiful eyes gleaming with anticipation.

    In another decade or so, her merit would be enough, and she could request the Moon God Sovereign to grant her one wish.

    "You¡¯re so close, no need to rush it. On the day of the Lunar Banquet, why don¡¯t we just have a quiet meal together? After that, I¡¯ll join you on your mission," Yue Shuang suggested.

    Jinli paused for a moment, then nodded, "Alright."

    At that moment, Yue Shuang suddenly asked, "What do you plan to ask the Moon God Sovereign for?

    Is it... to find him, save him, bring him back to life, or...

    The Moon Maidens aren¡¯t allowed to marry. Even if the Moon God Sovereign helps you find him, you can¡¯t leave with him...

    Or are you planning to ask the Moon God Sovereign to release you from the title of Moon Maiden, so you can find him yourself and live together?"

    Every Moon Maiden was granted one wish to be fulfilled by the Moon God Sovereign in their lifetime.

    Jinli remained silent for a while, before finally smiling, her exquisite beauty shining through like plum blossoms in the snow: "As long as he¡¯s still alive, seeing him one more time would be the greatest blessing of my life."

    "Why put yourself through this?" Yue Shuang sighed.

    If there was no chance of a future together, it was better to sever ties early.

    "As long as he¡¯s alive, I believe... he¡¯ll come find me," Jinli said with firm resolve.

    She remembered the second message that Qi Yuan had sent her through the Bridal Knight.

    At the time, she hadn¡¯t fully understood its meaning.

    Later, upon seeing the Faceless Sword God¡¯s statue, and recalling memories from the past, she understood everything.

    Those words had been spoken by the Faceless Sword God as he waited in vain at July Lake, addressing the future Empress Jinli from a distant time.

    Even across the barriers of time, he had declared that he would see her again.

    "You...," Yue Shuang could only sigh, "Countless years can bury anything. It¡¯s been so long¡ªhow can you be sure he¡¯s still the same man you remember?"

    The power of a memory was often so strong that not even the real person could surpass it.

    Clutching her Linglong Yuxi, Jinli''s eyes lit up with a radiant smile, recalling the man who had stood guard by the July Lake as snow blanketed his shoulders. She remembered the sword-wielding hero who had led her by the hand through a hundred cities, slaying the Black Robe Guard. She thought of the fearless swordsman who, single-handedly, defended the gate of death, battling for three hundred years and vanquishing three thousand demons.

    Though she had never seen his face, she knew in her heart: "He¡¯s even better than I remember... a thousand times, a million times better!"

    ...

    "Everything is ready. It¡¯s time... to pay a visit to Yang God Motong."

    Within the great hall, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure slowly faded from sight.

    Yang God Motong was the sovereign of Jue Yue Abyss, a Supreme Truth Yang God, and also technically Yang God Mozhi¡¯s superior.

    The Molo Clan had a total of five Supreme Truth Yang Gods, three of whom were stationed in the Black Abyss, highlighting how much the Molo Clan prioritized the war with the Moon God Palace.

    "This upcoming meeting with Yang God Motong will truly test my acting skills!

    I have a feeling that after this performance, I could return to Earth and contend for an Academy Award!"

    "I really am... a man of confidence."

    Though Yang God Mozhi and Yang God Motong didn¡¯t have many interactions, both were Yang Gods of the Molo Clan.

    Any slight mistake on Qi Yuan¡¯s part could blow his cover.

    Moreover, this visit to Yang God Motong wasn¡¯t just about paying respects to his superior¡ªQi Yuan also planned to "go fishing" and bait the high-ranking leader with enticing treasures.

    To that end, he had already thoroughly brainwashed Yang God Mozhi to acquire as many details as possible. He had even set traps in Duan Yue Abyss, waiting for his performance.

    "A Supreme Truth Yang God... shouldn¡¯t be too hard, right?"

    Qi Yuan mused.

    He had never fought a Supreme Truth Yang God before.

    But after making a quick assessment, he concluded that it wouldn¡¯t be a problem.

    After all, his right eyebrow wasn¡¯t twitching uncontrollably, which meant everything was going according to plan.

    "Unfortunately, this is the Black Abyss, not the Molo Clan. If Yang God Motong disappears for too long, it will definitely be noticed."

    Qi Yuan sighed and then set off toward Jue Yue Abyss.

 Chapter 418: Yang God Motongâ€™s Calculations

    Chapter 418: Yang God Motong¡¯s Calculations

    The night was pitch black, clouds piled high, with only a few rays of moonlight breaking through, falling on Qi Yuan''s crimson robe.

    Once again, the soundless sound reached his ears.

    As Qi Yuan hurried along, he held the game jade slip in his hand, looking at the icons inside.

    "I''m busy playing the actor."

    "How about you try growing a mouth? Otherwise, I have no idea what you''re trying to say!"

    Inside the jade slip, there was only silence.

    But Qi Yuan could still hear the soundless sound, and countless guesses raced through his mind.

    "Who are you?"

    "Could you be Tai Xu, so ethereal that you can''t speak?"

    "Or are you Chaos, formless and without features?"

    "It''s a shame I¡¯m not Nu?wa, or I could mold you into a clay figure and give you a face."

    Qi Yuan rambled on.

    "My name is Qi Yuan, and soon I''ll be playing your game. Let''s see if you''re as good as you think!"

    Clad in his crimson robe, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure landed.

    The spiritual energy around him trembled, heralding the arrival of a Yang God Celestial Sovereign.

    "Mozhi pays respects to Yang God Motong!"

    Since he was acting, Qi Yuan made sure to be respectful.

    He stood tall within the Jue Yue Abyss, but then bowed slightly.

    Hearing the news of Qi Yuan''s arrival, the mythic figures and ordinary great lords stationed at Jue Yue Abyss all lowered their heads.

    In the darkness, a hoarse voice rang out.

    "Enter."

    The sky above Jue Yue Abyss split open, and a vast surge of spiritual energy erupted from the fissure.

    Qi Yuan raised his head, gazing at the fissure, as though seeing a pair of cold, emotionless eyes.

    Every Supreme Truth-level expert had their own truth.

    As for Yang God Motong¡¯s truth, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t sure.

    At this moment, he was extremely cautious, fully concealing his aura to maintain the image of Mozhi.

    Qi Yuan stepped into the fissure.

    When he reappeared, he found himself in a void abyss.

    Azure clouds floated about, and several rotten iron chains spanned the abyss, holding up a massive stone.

    On the stone, atop a throne of bones, was a gigantic eye.

    No body. No limbs. Just one massive eye.

    This was the true form of Yang God Motong.

    For these Yang God Celestial Sovereigns, especially those with enemies, unless their past and present selves were perfectly fused, an enemy could exploit their past self to track down their true form¡ªan extremely dangerous situation.

    "You will guard Duan Yue Abyss for 100,000 years.

    As fellow Yang Gods, we should interact more." Yang God Motong¡¯s hoarse voice echoed.

    "As it should be!" Qi Yuan nodded.

    This space was pitch black, with almost no light.

    Qi Yuan guessed it might be because Yang God Motong''s true form was an eye. Too much sunlight could hurt his vision.

    Wouldn¡¯t it be bad if he got nearsighted?

    Qi Yuan almost wanted to ask if Yang God Motong needed glasses.

    But then he reminded himself that he was playing the part of Yang God Mozhi, an actor, so he suppressed the urge.

    Qi Yuan was moved by his own dedication.

    To be a good actor, he had to suppress his nature, and he had sacrificed so much.

    "I heard... you killed the Taihuang Palace envoy?" Yang God Motong spoke again, his voice devoid of any discernible emotion aside from its hoarseness.

    "I personally arrived at Duan Yue Abyss. As the envoy, he failed to come to greet me¡ªhe deserved to die!" Qi Yuan declared boldly.

    "He deserved it." Yang God Motong replied.

    A mere Taihuang Palace envoy¡ªkilling him was no big deal.

    "Thank you, Celestial Sovereign, for understanding!" Qi Yuan continued playing his role.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan felt a prickling sensation on his back, as though countless eyes were watching him.

    He gathered his energy tightly, his gaze remaining calm, as if unaware of the scrutinizing eyes.

    Then, Yang God Motong spoke again: "In a few days, Jue Yue Abyss will hold a Lunar Banquet. Mozhi, do you want to join me in crashing the party and doing something big?"

    The bloodshot eye studied Qi Yuan, who suddenly felt a profound sense of insignificance.

    It was as if this eye didn¡¯t belong on the bone throne, but should rather be hanging in the heavens.

    "Does the Celestial Sovereign... intend to attack Jue Yue Abyss?" Qi Yuan feigned surprise. "The Moon God Palace¡¯s creation artifact, Youhuang Remnant Moon, stands guard. I fear... it won¡¯t be easy."

    The Moon God Palace possessed multiple creation artifacts.

    In the Black Abyss, one such artifact, the Youhuang Remnant Moon, protected the area.

    The Youhuang Remnant Moon linked all of Moon God Palace¡¯s territories within the Black Abyss, placing them in the "Serene Void Realm."

    This was a type of spiritual assault targeting Yang Gods.

    He trailed behind from a distance, not revealing himself.

    Up ahead, Qi Yuan acted as though unaware, hurrying along.

    He crossed Jue Yue Abyss and returned to Duan Yue Abyss, his sleeves fluttering as he disappeared into the palace.

    Yang God Motong chuckled, as though everything was going according to plan: "So cautious?"

    But he was patient, waiting in hiding.

    In a gap within the void, a single eye remained fixed on Qi Yuan.

    Time flew by.

    Yang God Motong stayed hidden.

    At first glance, Yang God Mozhi appeared to be doing nothing.

    But Motong knew he was pretending.

    No matter how good his acting was, he couldn¡¯t escape his Microscopic Observation.

    Sure enough, on a dark, windy night, Motong saw a figure slip out of the palace.

    Motong smirked, thinking to himself: "Sending your past self to distract me?"

    Motong knew that Mozhi would never have sensed his presence.

    But Mozhi¡¯s actions were out of instinctive caution.

    Still, Motong didn¡¯t move, continuing to bide his time.

    After all, patience was key to success, and he didn¡¯t need a thick skin to get what he wanted.

    Indeed, about half an hour later, the real Yang God Mozhi moved, transforming into a streak of light and disappearing.

    Yang God Motong''s eyes gleamed with satisfaction: "Finally made your move. Well then, the Purple Qi... is mine!"

    "Young one, you have much to learn¡ªlet me teach you that the elderly are always wiser!"

    "Your journey has been too smooth; it¡¯s time for you to learn some lessons!"

    Yang God Motong''s form faded as he silently followed.

    Qi Yuan was now sneaking around, concealing his aura, moving like a thief.

    "I¡¯ll give him a little scare later!"

    Motong fancied himself quite humorous, his enormous eye trailing behind.

    After stealing the Purple Qi, it wouldn¡¯t be a good idea to use Mozhi¡¯s name to infiltrate the Moon God Palace, but that was a minor concern.

    About 100 breaths later, Yang God Mozhi suddenly stopped in his tracks.

    Motong smirked, narrowing his eyes: "The Purple Qi... is strong here."

    He could barely contain his excitement, but decided to wait a little longer.

    He was in high spirits.

    For him, Purple Qi was extremely valuable, capable of enhancing his strength.

    For a Supreme Truth Yang God, unless one comprehended new truths, there were few ways to quickly increase their power, and refining Purple Qi was one of them.

    "This kid has some luck on his side, discovering Purple Qi right after arriving at Duan Yue Abyss, but... it¡¯s going to be mine!"

    Motong waited for the right moment to seize the Purple Qi.

    "Wait... judging by how cautious he is, could it be... there¡¯s more treasure than just the Purple Qi?"

    Motong pondered.

    Suddenly, his eyes widened, and his aura wavered for just a moment.

    Because he saw, ahead of him, an enormous mass of Purple Qi!

    Not only that, but the Purple Qi was swirling around a door!

    The door was made of white jade, ancient, profound, and sacred!

    No words could adequately describe that door!

    It radiated an aura of wisdom, the essence of truth itself¡ªsomething that would make any Yang God Celestial Sovereign tremble with desire.

    Even Motong couldn''t help but reveal his aura.

    After all, this was the Supreme Creation Artifact of the Immortal Realm, the Supreme Truth Gate!

    Whoever possessed it could become the ruler of the Nine Heavens!

    "You... why are you here!?" Qi Yuan¡¯s face showed shock, his voice filled with fear and anger.

    Motong grinned widely: "Thank you, Mozhi."

    At that moment, his heart surged with killing intent.

    The Purple Qi wasn¡¯t enough to warrant murder, but the Supreme Truth Gate was a different story!

    Seeing Mozhi¡¯s furious and desperate expression, Motong was ecstatic.

    "Damn it! It''s mine, all mine!" Mozhi seemed to lose his composure, rushing toward the Supreme Truth Gate.

    Seeing this, Motong didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. He transformed into a mythic roc and dove into the Supreme Truth Gate.

    "Fool! The Supreme Truth Gate is mine!"

    Normally, he would have been more cautious about entering such a place.

    But right now, if Mozhi got there first and took control of the Supreme Truth Gate, it would be disastrous!

    So, without any hesitation, he charged in.

    Suddenly, angry, frantic cries echoed from the gate.

    "Heavens, how could you let this happen!? You treacherous dog, how dare you deceive me!"

 Chapter 419: The Power of Supreme Truth and Qi Yuanâ€™s Sense of Urgency

    Chapter 419: The Power of Supreme Truth and Qi Yuan¡¯s Sense of Urgency

    Motong Yang God¡¯s eyes gleamed with joy.

    The more frantically Mozhi Yang God acted, the more excited Motong became.

    "The luck of the Nine Heavens is on me; I''m destined to transcend!"

    Without hesitation, Motong rushed headlong into the Supreme Truth Gate.

    Transcending the Nine Heavens and becoming the foremost being in this realm was just within reach!

    In an instant, Motong Yang God stepped through the Supreme Truth Gate.

    The atmosphere around him changed abruptly. Ahead, the figure of Mozhi Yang God, cloaked in his blood-red robe, stood trembling, as if overwhelmed by fear and anger, almost as if he were sobbing.

    Motong''s eyes flashed with fanaticism. "Hahaha, destiny is mine! Forget Taihuang Palace and Moon God Palace, from now on... they will all serve me!"

    The Supreme Truth Gate was the greatest creation artifact in the Nine Heavens.

    Being a Supreme Truth Yang God already, if Motong could spend a million years inside the Supreme Truth Gate, comprehending all the Supreme Truths, he would undoubtedly reach the Great Supreme Truth Realm.

    After absorbing the Supreme Truths understood by other Great Supreme Truth beings, who in the Nine Heavens could stop him from soaring freely?

    At that moment, the trembling figure ahead gritted his teeth, and his angry words drifted back.

    "You''re stalking me!"

    "Stalker! Peeping freak!"

    "You weren¡¯t spying on me in the bath, were you?"

    "Oh, wait... I haven¡¯t bathed in a while!"

    "Stalking, peeping, breaking and entering... you¡¯ve committed... the Ten Great Sins!"

    The voice was so dramatic and full of emotion that, if heard in a courthouse on Earth, the judge might not even need a trial to believe this heartfelt monologue.

    But this was the Nine Heavens.

    Motong Yang God immediately grew cautious.

    Mozhi¡¯s behavior was far too strange.

    Could it be... the Supreme Truth Gate affects one¡¯s emotions?

    The chaotic words Mozhi had just uttered didn¡¯t seem like something he would normally say.

    Becoming more and more wary, Motong stared at Mozhi Yang God¡¯s back.

    Then, Mozhi Yang God turned around, and the smoke around him cleared, revealing a face as smooth as white jade, stunningly handsome.

    Motong Yang God blinked, momentarily stunned.

    Could the Supreme Truth Gate not only affect emotions but also... alter appearances?

    This Mozhi Yang God looked nothing like the person he remembered!

    "Criminals must be punished!" declared Qi Yuan, continuing his act.

    "You''re not Mozhi, are you?" Motong Yang God asked, both surprised and growing more apprehensive.

    His eyes filled with suspicion, and behind him, countless eyes appeared, all scanning Qi Yuan.

    He activated his Microscopic Observation.

    He wanted to see Qi Yuan''s true form.

    However, despite the power of Motong''s Microscopic Observation, he received very little feedback from the crimson-cloaked figure before him.

    His sense of apprehension grew.

    "I¡¯m not Mozhi, of course. I am the spirit of the Supreme Truth Gate!" Qi Yuan replied, thoroughly enjoying his role. "Since you''ve broken into my home, I¡¯ll be borrowing your head!"

    With Qi Yuan''s words, his blood-red sword rose, its dark crimson light dazzling.

    Greed, envy, lust... all sorts of powerful auras emanated from it.

    "A Great Heaven Yang God?"

    "No... an innate divine power?"

    "The Purple Mansion?"

    Motong was struck by the absurdity of the situation.

    The pressure he felt was on par with a Great Heaven Yang God.

    But the attack seemed to come from an innate divine power.

    It was a bit like being in a duel with a mathematics professor, only for him to pull out a quadratic equation as his ultimate move.

    However, this was the Supreme Truth Gate, and Motong remained cautious.

    Even when facing innate divine powers, his Microscopic Observation was operating at full capacity.

    "Heaven¡¯s Punishment!"

    Normally, when a Great Heaven Yang God faces off against a Supreme Truth Yang God, the former has almost no chance of survival.

    Without the Supreme Truth, one is like a person who cannot truly see the world for what it is.

    When Motong activated his Microscopic Observation, every movement of Qi Yuan, every flow of spiritual energy, seemed to be within his control.

    The fierce, blood-soaked sword strike, despite its overwhelming power, had a subtle weakness that Motong detected immediately.

    Confident of victory, he counterattacked.

    "An alternative Yang God like you is nothing!"

    He was certain he had deduced Qi Yuan''s true nature.

    But what he didn¡¯t anticipate was Qi Yuan¡¯s sharp tongue.

    "You spied on me!"

    "Your gaze makes me uncomfortable!"

    "This is harassment!"

    Qi Yuan shouted in mock anger, unleashing a devastating strike.

    Motong Yang God smirked. This attack clashed with his, and the two were evenly matched.

    "The Supreme Truth Gate is mine! As for the person you want dead... I¡¯ll deal with the one in Taihuang Palace for you!"

    "You talk too much!"

    Qi Yuan realized just how powerful the Supreme Truth Realm was.

    With a Yang God like Mozhi, he could take him down with a sneak attack or a swift strike.

    But facing a Supreme Truth Yang God, he sensed real danger and unease.

    "Your sword isn¡¯t all that!" Motong Yang God confidently activated his Microscopic Observation to its fullest extent. As soon as Qi Yuan''s sword fell, he would immediately counter and strike Qi Yuan down.

    But just as the sword¡¯s immense power reached its peak, Qi Yuan suddenly withdrew it.

    "Oops, I¡¯m putting my sword away!"

    The once proud and confident Motong was reduced to a decrepit state, weary and defeated.

    "Die!"

    With the power of the Ten Thousand Dao War God and his 4,000 Nascent Souls, Qi Yuan unleashed an unstoppable strike.

    Even Motong Yang God¡¯s Microscopic Observation couldn¡¯t block the attack.

    His massive eye was shattered.

    "Ahhh!" Motong Yang God screamed in pain, but Qi Yuan¡¯s attacks kept coming.

    At this level of battle, once the tide turned, it was impossible for Motong to recover.

    After countless exchanges, the battle finally came to an end. Qi Yuan floated in the air, gazing at the shattered remains of Motong Yang God.

    "You¡¯re not Motong Yang God. You are merely a shadow of my past self!" Qi Yuan murmured softly.

    With his Purple Mansion form, he had defeated a Supreme Truth Yang God.

    In the Nine Heavens, Supreme Truth Yang Gods were considered to be among the highest echelon of power.

    In the Sixth Heaven, except for the Black Devil Abyss, any other sacred land would gladly accept a Supreme Truth Yang God if they pledged allegiance.

    Though Qi Yuan should have felt elated with his victory, his expression was somber.

    It had taken him so much effort just to defeat a single Supreme Truth Yang God of the Devil Abyss.

    What about a Great Supreme Truth?

    What about the one in Taihuang Palace?

    Qi Yuan felt an overwhelming sense of urgency.

    "The enemies... are far too powerful."

    Qi Yuan sighed deeply.

    At that moment, the silent voice from his game jade slip echoed again, as if curious about something.

    Qi Yuan smiled lightly. "Yeah, my enemy is that guy from Taihuang Palace. He¡¯s a tough nut to crack."

    The silent voice responded again.

    "Communication really helps. I think you¡¯re getting smarter."

    Qi Yuan sensed more emotion from the voice.

    "But enough talk. I need to take a bath. I¡¯m about to meet Jinli soon."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s form disappeared, leaving behind the remnants of the battle.

    As for the spoils, he would sort them out after his bath.

    ...

    "There are different levels of Supreme Truth."

    "Heaven-grade, Earth-grade, Profound-grade, and Yellow-grade."

    "Motong Yang God¡¯s Microscopic Observation is a Profound-grade Supreme Truth!"

    "If a Profound-grade Supreme Truth is this powerful, how terrifying must a Heaven-grade one be?"

    "And even beyond that... Unparalleled Supreme Truth... is unimaginable."

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    He was starting to feel the pressure.

    Not long ago, he had possessed the body of Wutian Buddha and witnessed a remnant of the Great Sunlight Buddha¡¯s will.

    The sheer power and majesty of it were beyond comprehension.

    Even a fragment of that will was enough to suppress Qi Yuan.

    So, how powerful would a fully realized Great Supreme Truth Realm being be?

    And even among Great Supreme Truth beings, there were differences in strength, depending on the grade of Supreme Truth they had comprehended.

    "There are four types of Unparalleled Supreme Truth: Absolute, Unique, Cycle, and Innate."

    Unparalleled Supreme Truth was the highest and most invincible level of Supreme Truth.

    These four types were the peak of Supreme Truth.

    In the Sixth Heaven, there were fewer than five beings who had comprehended an Unparalleled Supreme Truth.

    These Great Supreme Truth Realm beings were the true rulers of the Sixth Heaven.

    Comparing it to Earth¡¯s myths, they were akin to saints, while other Great Supreme Truth beings were like half-saints.

    Ordinary Supreme Truth Yang Gods were more akin to golden immortals.

    "The leader of Taihuang Palace is called the Sole Sun, and the Supreme Truth he mastered is also the Sole Sun, which is why he cannot allow Great Sunlight Buddha to live."

    "Meanwhile, Moon God Yuanjun has mastered the Innate Lunar Supreme Truth."

    "It seems I must attend the Supreme Truth Symposium. If I don¡¯t comprehend an Unparalleled Supreme Truth, I won¡¯t stand a chance against these old monsters."

    Even though Qi Yuan had the Supreme Truth Gate, fully comprehending it would take tens of thousands, or even millions of years.

    And he couldn¡¯t afford to wait that long.

    "Is there any Supreme Truth that¡¯s an Unparalleled Supreme Truth and easy for me to understand?"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts were in disarray.

    This wasn¡¯t the kind of issue a Purple Mansion cultivator should be concerned with.

    But circumstances forced him to consider the bigger picture.

    Pushing aside these worries, Qi Yuan donned a fresh blood-red robe. With his flawless jade-like appearance, he gazed softly at the stars above.

    "It¡¯s time to head to Absolute Moon Abyss."

    Once more, his form shifted, this time transforming into the appearance of Motong Yang God.

    In the Underworld, Qi Yuan had already brainwashed Motong Yang God¡¯s remnant soul, gaining access to many of his memories.

    For Qi Yuan, impersonating Motong was a trivial task.

    However, this disguise wouldn¡¯t last long.

    After all, the Abyss was a war zone.

    "I should take the chance to steal back... my well while I¡¯m at it," Qi Yuan mused.

    But all of these schemes would have to wait until after his reunion with Jinli.

    A promise made long ago, spanning tens of millions of years.

    The July Lake was no more, and the ancient Qitong Trees had vanished.

    But none of that mattered.

    "To see you again..."

 Chapter 420: Life Without Seeing, Like Stars Moving Apart, Finally Meeting You

    Chapter 420: Life Without Seeing, Like Stars Moving Apart, Finally Meeting You

    The Moonlight Banquet was one of the most joyous and festive occasions in the Moon God Palace.

    A birthday after ten thousand years was certainly something to celebrate for cultivators.

    In the mortal world, such events would be marked by fireworks, red decorations lining the streets for miles. In the cultivation world, these celebrations were even more resplendent.

    Lantern trees lit with a thousand lights, and firework blossoms flaring in seven radiant branches.

    That night, the Moon God Palace, typically shrouded in darkness, was as bright as daylight.

    Occasionally, streams of light streaked through the sky as cultivators from other battle zones arrived, dressed in wide-sleeved robes and carrying gifts, adding to the lively atmosphere.

    The host of the Moonlight Banquet, wearing a red gauze-like coat with a sapphire blue inner garment, radiated both joy and nobility.

    She sat at the head of the hall, her face adorned with a constant smile.

    ¡°Please extend my thanks to Warden Hong Jun!¡±

    The recent guest, who had brought a gift, was the younger brother of Warden Hong Jun.

    A Warden was the highest authority in a region of the Devil Abyss, second only to a Yang God. Wardens would rarely leave their territories unless there were special circumstances.

    For Yu Yao, the host of the Moonlight Banquet, the fact that Warden Hong Jun had sent his brother with a gift was an undeniable display of honor.

    ¡°Out of the nineteen territories'' Wardens, half have already sent someone to congratulate you. Sister Yu Yao, you are truly enviable!¡±

    ¡°If I held a Moonlight Banquet for my birthday, I bet no one would come. Even the Wardens wouldn¡¯t bother sending anyone.¡±

    Inside and outside the halls of the Moon God Palace, the hum of conversation and laughter filled the air.

    Many couldn¡¯t help but look at Yu Yao with undisguised envy.

    In a quiet corner, under the soft moonlight, the atmosphere was calmer and more reserved.

    Yue Shuang glanced at the woman beside her, ¡°When you hold your Moonlight Banquet, it will certainly be ten times, no, a hundred times livelier than this.¡±

    The woman remained silent, calm, and composed.

    Yue Shuang looked at her again and couldn¡¯t help but compliment her, ¡°With just a little bit of dressing up, you¡¯re already outshining everyone here. You better not go congratulate Yu Yao. Otherwise, she might curse you out of jealousy.¡±

    Perhaps because it was her birthday, or due to Yue Shuang¡¯s coaxing, Jinli had, for once, changed out of her plain robes.

    Her snow-white complexion was touched with light makeup, her hair pinned with a golden clasp, making her appear delicate and charming.

    She wore a pale gold long gown, draped with a sheer yellow shawl, with a lotus-colored inner garment underneath. Her waist was cinched by a Redbird Jade Belt, with Linglong Jade Xi hanging elegantly, and her skirt was embroidered with intricate gold thread designs.

    Her ample chest contrasted sharply with her slender waist.

    Her elegant features, lightly made up, made her seem like a celestial beauty.

    ¡°This... isn¡¯t suitable for battle,¡± the woman, with beauty like flowers reflected in the water, said, her voice tinged with a faint murderous intent.

    Seeing this, Yue Shuang couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°Among all the Moon Maidens, you have the fewest admirers. With that killing intent, you scare everyone off.¡±

    Although Moon Maidens were forbidden from marriage, they still had many admirers.

    If there was a brief moment of intimacy, the Moon God Palace would turn a blind eye.

    Jinli remained unfazed, sitting quietly, gently stroking her Linglong Jade Xi.

    The birthday celebrations continued, and more people arrived.

    At this point, Great Sovereigns no longer drew much attention. Only when a Myth arrived did people take notice.

    ¡°Zheg Gui congratulates Senior Sister and offers three strands of Innate Primal Qi as a gift, wishing Senior Sister a swift ascension to the Star Realm (illuminating the heavens)!¡±

    At that moment, a Mythical female cultivator presented her gift, drawing the attention of many lower-level Yin Gods.

    But among the honored guests, this gift seemed rather ordinary.

    Yu Yao¡¯s eyes sparkled as she smiled and responded, ¡°Thank you, Junior Sister. May you also reach the Star Realm soon.¡±

    Zheg Gui smiled gracefully and exchanged a few polite words.

    This scene did not escape Yue Shuang¡¯s notice, and her eyes flashed with suspicion.

    ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with her...¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡± Jinli asked, surprised.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that she¡¯s thinking of betraying us. She might be planning to escape the Moon God Palace today and join the Devil Abyss,¡± Yue Shuang said calmly.

    Unlike Jinli, Yue Shuang belonged to a covert squad specializing in intelligence.

    ¡°Interested in intercepting her and her contact?¡± Yue Shuang asked. ¡°It would be a great accomplishment.¡±

    Since they were still in the Moon God Palace, as long as Zheg Gui didn¡¯t escape, nothing could go wrong.

    With the Youhuang Remnant Moon and Longyue Yang God overseeing the area, it was safe.

    Traitors like Zheg Gui existed not only in the Moon God Palace but also in the Devil Abyss.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Jinli nodded.

    ¡°Making you work on your birthday... maybe I¡¯m a bit heartless,¡± Yue Shuang joked.

    Above, the crowd continued to fill the stage, laughter abounding.

    In the corner, Jinli seemed to be in a world apart from the lively celebration.

    ¡°Sigh, you should be living the grand life like Yu Yao,¡± Yue Shuang lamented.

    After all, Jinli was a Moon Maiden, holding a highly respected position in the Moon God Palace, ranked above even Yang Gods.

    Other Moon Maidens, even without a Moonlight Banquet, would still receive countless guests for their birthdays. Those who couldn¡¯t attend in person would send letters and gifts.

    But as the day wore on, no one had come to offer Jinli a single gift or letter.

    Yue Shuang, who was in charge of the intelligence department, had not received any mail for Jinli.

    She understood why. Jinli had spent almost all her time in the Devil Abyss after returning, fighting hard for battle achievements, rarely interacting with her peers.

    This was why she had few visitors.

    ¡°None of that matters,¡± Jinli said, shaking her head.

    These things had never been important to her.

    ¡°You...¡± Yue Shuang sighed, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, follow her.¡±

    Zheg Gui had already left.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Suddenly, Yue Shuang¡¯s face turned ashen.

    Because the black-robed Myth had removed her hood, revealing a face that was all too familiar.

    "The Deputy Warden!"

    This woman was none other than the Deputy Warden of Absolute Moon Abyss, a Myth who held partial control over the Youhuang Remnant Moon.

    The betrayal of a Deputy Warden was vastly different from that of a regular Myth.

    Yue Shuang''s heart sank like a stone, her face turning pale as she muttered, ¡°The Youhuang Remnant Moon... has been disabled here!¡±

    She understood all too well what this meant.

    It meant that if Devil Abyss Myths arrived, the Yang Gods of Absolute Moon Abyss wouldn¡¯t have time to react.

    Such an opportunity would never be missed by the Devil Abyss.

    She could feel a powerful conspiracy unfolding, filled with regret.

    They shouldn¡¯t have followed Zheg Gui!

    The Yang God of Absolute Moon Abyss had surely already arrived here.

    Jinli frowned, but her hands were still unconsciously clutching the hem of her robe, showing that she was far from calm.

    ¡°What should we do?¡± Yue Shuang asked, panic in her voice.

    Even if they tried to send a message now, it was too late.

    Just then, a cold wind swept through, and Yue Shuang felt a chilling frost.

    It was as though pear blossoms were blooming in the air.

    Snowflakes began to fall, and as she looked up, under the moonlight, the snowflakes sparkled, delicate as if a classical beauty was dancing.

    Yue Shuang stood in stunned silence, her nerves tightening.

    At the far end of the world, where the snow fell even heavier, a figure clad in blood-red appeared.

    He cradled a sword in his arms, his face hidden behind a faceless mask, snowflakes drifting onto his shoulders and blending into his black hair.

    The two Myths by the lakeside immediately bowed low, not daring to meet the figure¡¯s eyes.

    Yue Shuang clenched her teeth, feeling an overwhelming sense of danger.

    A Yang God!

    This was definitely a Yang God!

    They were doomed...

    But before she could process further, the figure beside her, cloaked in pale yellow, rushed toward the faceless man, snow swirling around her as she ran.

    Fearlessly, without hesitation, crossing every obstacle.

    Yue Shuang¡¯s face froze in disbelief for a moment.

    Under the swirling snowflakes, the man in the blood-red robe stopped.

    ¡°I have returned from Death, waiting long for you.¡±

    His voice was deep, filled with complexity and longing.

    Yue Shuang felt as if she were witnessing a vision, seeing the faceless man holding a sword, sitting by the lake, waiting for someone.

    Time passed, the Old Trees at July Lake growing more rings on their trunks.

    The man in the blood-red robe wore a gentle expression as he gazed at the snow-covered beauty, her movements like a butterfly¡¯s dance.

    He knew that this was the Moon Maiden Jinli, the one he had waited for by July Lake all that time.

    Their long-ago promise, transcending time and space, was now within reach. Yet it felt like a dream¡ªso close, yet so far.

    ¡°Qi! Yuan!!!¡±

    Moon Maiden Jinli stopped, her eyes brimming with tears, halting just three steps away.

    She trembled, both in fear and disbelief, as if caught in a dream.

    But the man in the blood-red robe removed his mask, revealing a stunningly handsome yet faintly familiar face.

    His features were as fine as jade, unparalleled in beauty.

    He held his sword, honoring their promise, stepping toward Moon Maiden Jinli.

    ¡°To see you dance is like drinking fine wine.¡±

    The words seemed to echo the second sentence he had once spoken to her.

    ¡°Today, I do not see you, and my eyes long for you as if gazing at dewdrops, intoxicated by the passage of time.

    ¡°Today, I see your figure, and it is like drinking fine wine.¡±

    In Jinli¡¯s vision, there was only him¡ªher one and only.

    Her body trembled, her shoulders shaking, and the overwhelming longing she had buried deep within her heart surged forth like a tidal wave.

    ¡°Jinli, I¡¯ve finally seen you.¡±

    Qi Yuan gazed at the woman before him, lifting his sleeve to reveal his pale arm.

    On what had once been smooth skin, a faint crescent moon-shaped mark was slowly reappearing.

    It was the mark left by the Moon Maiden.

    After defeating the Outer Demons in the Absolute Death Realm, Qi Yuan had woken to find the mark had vanished.

    Now, it had returned.

    Jinli stood still, staring at his face.

    Even dressed in the more elegant pale yellow gown, she exuded a chilling aura.

    ¡°Qi Yuan, I¡¯ve been waiting for you too!¡±

    She reached out and gently cupped Qi Yuan¡¯s face, just as she had once held the faceless statue in the ruined temple.

    In that moment, time and space became one, their forms overlapping through the years.

    Life unseen is like stars moving apart, far yet close.

    Finally, she had met him.

 Chapter 421: A Birthday Gift for Jinli

    Chapter 421: A Birthday Gift for Jinli

    Snowflakes drifted down, glimmering on the water''s surface, resembling pear blossoms floating in the current.

    Yue Shuang gazed at the distant scene of snow, moonlight, and romance, her pupils dilating in confusion.

    The ones most astonished, however, were Zheg Gui and the Deputy Warden.

    In their hearts, there were countless questions:

    Wasn''t this supposed to be about betrayal, invading the Moon God Palace, or ambushing Longyue Yang God?

    How had it turned into embracing a Moon Maiden?

    Had a war story suddenly transformed into a romance drama?

    Even though they couldn¡¯t make sense of it, they could only assume that the charm of this Yang God was so overwhelming that even a Moon Maiden of the Moon God Palace had fallen for him.

    They didn¡¯t doubt Qi Yuan''s identity.

    Firstly, they had never met Moti Yang God.

    Secondly, this was a Yang God, coming from the Demon Abyss. There was no room for doubt¡ªit had to be him. Who else could it be if not Moti?

    The Deputy Warden of Absolute Moon Abyss pondered for a moment, then bowed deeply toward Qi Yuan from a distance.

    "Yang God''s charm is truly exceptional, enough to win over even a Moon Maiden of the Moon God Palace.

    "When will Yang God join me... in attacking the heart of the Moon God Palace and severely injuring Longyue Yang God?" the Deputy Warden asked with unwavering determination.

    As long as Longyue Yang God was injured, Moti Yang God would reward her with the opportunity to ascend to Yang God herself.

    Her bow shattered the momentary tranquility.

    From afar, Yue Shuang sensed an overwhelming sense of danger.

    She wanted to ask Jinli, "Sister, if you''re dating a Yang God from the Demon Abyss, can you at least let me know?

    If possible, maybe you could ask him to spare my life?"

    She naturally assumed that Qi Yuan was a Yang God from the Demon Abyss.

    After all, how else could he have bypassed Moti Yang God and arrived here?

    Her gaze dimmed with a mix of frustration and disbelief.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan held Jinli''s delicate hand and spoke softly, "Today is your birthday, and I have a special gift for you."

    Jinli nodded, gripping Qi Yuan''s hand tightly, just as she had clung to the Faceless Sword God''s hand by July Lake, reluctant to let him leave.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes then fell on Zheg Gui and the Deputy Warden, and his gaze, sharp as blades, descended upon them.

    The two Myths immediately felt a jolt of fear.

    Suddenly, both of their faces turned pale, and they coughed up blood.

    ¡°Kneel!¡±

    Qi Yuan''s voice thundered like lightning.

    The two Myths had no power to resist, their faces filled with disbelief as they dropped to their knees.

    The difference between a Yang God and a Myth was like that between heaven and earth.

    ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Jinli glanced at him, seemingly a bit afraid, but she obediently closed her eyes, still holding tightly to Qi Yuan''s hand, as if afraid everything would vanish like a dream.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan''s expression became serious.

    A birthday gift for Jinli had to be special, unique.

    It should also cater to Jinli''s needs.

    Before coming, Qi Yuan had secretly done some research. In the Demon Abyss, Jinli had a reputation as a fearsome warrior and battle-hardened figure.

    Her goal was always military merit.

    Being thoughtful and considerate, Qi Yuan had planned everything meticulously.

    With a sweep of his broad sleeve, dark shadows immediately fell from it.

    Suddenly, nearly thirty Myth figures appeared.

    In addition, hundreds of Yin God Sovereigns were also tossed out from his sleeve.

    These Yin God Sovereigns were bound by powerful magic, unable to move or speak.

    Their faces were filled with shock and confusion, their eyes darting around.

    They were thrown in front of Zheg Gui and the Deputy Warden, forming a line.

    Looking at the scene before him, Qi Yuan felt quite satisfied.

    Even if Jinli didn''t cry from being moved, she would certainly like the gift.

    "You can open your eyes now and see the birthday gift I¡¯ve prepared for you," Qi Yuan said happily.

    Moon Maiden Jinli opened her eyes, but her gaze first fell on Qi Yuan.

    "Look in front of you!" Qi Yuan urged.

    Jinli shifted her gaze and saw, not far away, hundreds of Demon Abyss beings arranged in the shape of...

    "Happy Birthday!"

    These restrained Demon Abyss beings all wore warm, cheerful smiles, as if they had come to celebrate Jinli''s birthday.

    Even those who usually wore long, somber faces had drawn smiley faces on their bellies, looking particularly comical.

    Jinli stared for a moment, taken aback.

    Seeing her reaction, Qi Yuan felt triumphant.

    Got her.

    He proudly added, "You''ve been lacking in military merit, so here you have 490 regular Yin Gods, 29 Myths, and 2 traitors."

    Qi Yuan even listed the numbers.

    Jinli listened carefully, her eyes filled with nothing but Qi Yuan.

    As for the gift, seeing him was the greatest fortune.

    ¡°Heh, a total of 521!¡± Qi Yuan reminded her again.

    He had thoughtfully arranged the number to be auspicious.

    He had also been considerate in another way.

    Initially, he had planned for these Demon Abyss beings to sing a birthday song for Jinli, just like a restaurant staff celebrating for a customer.

    It would have been a joyful scene.

    But after some thought, he realized that Jinli, like him, might be an introvert who found public displays uncomfortable. So he scrapped the idea.

    Jinli held Qi Yuan¡¯s hand tightly.

    She understood the price Qi Yuan had paid to meet her in the Sixth Heaven¡ªit was far from simple.

    It was as if, under the lamplight, an old friend had returned from a thousand miles away, quietly standing by her side.

    Who could truly understand the hardships of such a long journey?

    ¡°Will Yang God meet with Longyue Yang God?¡± Yue Shuang asked.

    After all, this was an important matter.

    She couldn¡¯t confirm if Qi Yuan was telling the truth.

    Moreover, if Qi Yuan planned to take Jinli away, they would need to consult Moon God Ancestor.

    After all, Jinli was a Moon Maiden.

    Regardless of the situation, it was necessary to meet the Yang God of the Moon God Palace.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Qi Yuan agreed with a nod.

    Arriving suddenly without confrontation was much better than being discovered while breaking in.

    After all, now that he controlled the Deputy Warden, sneaking in was enough to severely wound Longyue Yang God.

    Once Longyue Yang God learned what had transpired here, she would understand.

    Thus, she would no longer view Qi Yuan as an invader.

    In fact, she would even owe him a favor.

    If it weren¡¯t for Qi Yuan, the Moon God Palace¡¯s presence in the Demon Abyss would have been seriously compromised, and Longyue Yang God herself would have been injured.

    The entire situation in the Demon Abyss would have collapsed.

    The Moon Festival Banquet was still in full swing, with a lively crowd and joyful laughter filling the air.

    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve had such a lively celebration. Sister Yutiao''s connections are truly enviable!¡±

    ¡°Half of the Wardens have sent people to deliver gifts¡ªhow impressive!¡±

    The air was filled with compliments and conversation.

    Yutiao wore a radiant smile.

    However, just then, a sudden surge of vast, overpowering energy spread through the air.

    All the guests¡¯ eyes widened in alarm, their nerves suddenly on edge.

    ¡°Longyue Yang God!¡±

    The source of this energy was none other than the Supreme Truth Yang God who presided over the area.

    For Longyue Yang God to emerge... did something major happen?

    Everyone¡¯s eyes filled with vigilance, sensing that something extraordinary had occurred.

    In an instant, all the guests shifted into battle-ready stances, preparing for whatever conflict might come.

    Meanwhile, in the palace, Qi Yuan held Jinli¡¯s hand, gazing calmly at the Yang God before him.

    Longyue Yang God scanned Qi Yuan with deep, contemplative eyes. ¡°I am indebted to you, Daoist.¡±

    Yue Shuang had already informed Longyue Yang God of what had happened.

    Upon learning the details, Longyue Yang God was filled with a sense of dread.

    Had Moti Yang God¡¯s plan succeeded, the Moon God Palace¡¯s position in the Demon Abyss would have crumbled.

    ¡°No problem, a small matter. Given my relationship with Jinli, this was only natural,¡± Qi Yuan responded calmly.

    Longyue Yang God was, after all, half a guardian to Jinli, so he showed her respect.

    Longyue Yang God glanced at Jinli, her expression filled with mixed emotions. ¡°This child... sigh...¡±

    Then she looked back at Qi Yuan. ¡°You¡¯ve just entered the Sixth Heaven and have yet to join a major power. You won¡¯t last long here. Would you like to join my Moon God Palace?¡±

    Longyue Yang God extended an invitation.

    She had seen Moti Yang God¡¯s remnant soul and already understood the terrifying power of the man before her.

    If such a Supreme Truth Yang God could join the Moon God Palace, it would greatly bolster their strength.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. ¡°No thanks.¡±

    He had brought his marriage certificate with him¡ªhow could he join the Moon God Palace?

    More importantly, Moon Maidens couldn¡¯t marry.

    And there was another reason: he valued his freedom.

    Yang Gods who joined the Moon God Palace had to become subordinate deities to Moon God Ancestor.

    That was something Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t ready to accept.

    Hearing this, Longyue Yang God felt a twinge of disappointment.

    She knew that the Moon God Palace was in a precarious situation, and Supreme Truth Yang Gods like him would hardly want to join.

    Other major forces would not turn away a Supreme Truth Yang God either.

    ¡°Please keep today¡¯s events confidential,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    ¡°I still have some unfinished business with the Demon Abyss.¡±

    His well, after all, had been stolen, and he needed to get it back.

    ¡°Alright!¡± Longyue Yang God nodded, her spirits lifting slightly.

    For Qi Yuan to act against the Demon Abyss was undoubtedly good news for the Moon God Palace.

    ¡°If you ever need assistance, feel free to contact me!¡± Longyue Yang God added, thinking carefully.

    Now that Moti Yang God had been severely wounded, the Demon Abyss had only two remaining Supreme Truth Yang Gods.

    This was an opportunity for the Moon God Palace.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Qi Yuan agreed without hesitation.

    It seemed that he was destined to be a double agent after all, continuing his undercover role.

    Longyue Yang God then shifted her gaze to Jinli.

    Now it was time to address the personal matter between Qi Yuan and Jinli.

    In the Moon God Palace, Moon Maidens were forbidden to marry.

    ¡°Jinli, with the addition of those 521 Demon Abyss Yin Gods, your merits are more than sufficient.¡±

    Longyue Yang God didn¡¯t say much more, but her meaning was clear.

    Jinli now had enough merits to request a favor from Moon God Ancestor.

 Chapter 422: Jinliâ€™s Tenderness

    Chapter 422: Jinli¡¯s Tenderness

    Upon hearing Yang God Longyue¡¯s words, Jinli instinctively glanced at Qi Yuan.

    Her gaze became resolute.

    "I wish to relinquish my status as a Moon Maiden!"

    Becoming a Moon Maiden of the Moon God Palace meant that she couldn¡¯t marry, and after reaching the Yang God realm, she would have to sever all earthly ties.

    No one understood better than her what this truly meant.

    Hearing this, Yang God Longyue sighed softly.

    The status of a Moon Maiden wasn¡¯t something that just anyone could attain.

    The benefits were equivalent to those of a Yang God.

    Her family also enjoyed numerous resources and privileges.

    Without the status of a Moon Maiden, and without the support of the Moon God Palace¡¯s resources, her family would lose those advantages, and even she herself would struggle to ascend to the Yang God realm.

    Achieving Yang God status... required more than just talent.

    In the Sixth Heaven, there were countless worlds, beyond counting.

    There were innumerable geniuses, like countless fireflies.

    But even then, not every world could produce a Yang God.

    Jinli¡¯s desire to relinquish her Moon Maiden status came at a great cost.

    In fact, in the history of the Moon God Palace, only one or two had ever done such a thing.

    "I cannot make this decision. I must seek permission from the Moon God Ancestor," Yang God Longyue said softly. "But at the moment, the Moon God Ancestor is in seclusion and cannot be disturbed. For now, this matter will have to be put on hold.

    "However, since you have accumulated enough merits, the Moon God Ancestor likely won¡¯t make things difficult for you.

    "Until the Moon God Ancestor emerges from seclusion, you¡¯ll need to keep a low profile... and maintain some decorum for the palace¡¯s sake."

    Right now, the Moon God Ancestor was recovering from serious injuries, and no one knew when she would reappear.

    Yang God Longyue¡¯s meaning was clear: Jinli could relinquish her status, but she would have to wait until the Moon God Ancestor emerged from seclusion. In the meantime, she needed to be discreet and maintain the palace¡¯s reputation.

    Any flamboyant displays, like public marriage ceremonies, would be ill-advised.

    "Thank you, Yang God," Jinli said gracefully, though she couldn¡¯t suppress the joy bubbling up inside her.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Yang God Longyue, suddenly recalling something as he took out a token.

    "May I ask, Daoist, does this moon token come from the Moon God Palace?" Qi Yuan presented the Moon Token.

    When he had ascended the peak of the Seven-colored Mountain seeking his master, he hadn¡¯t found his master, but instead, he found this Moon Token.

    The information his eyes gave him was that this was an artifact belonging to the Moon God Ancestor.

    "This token was given to me by my master, Ruan Yixi, who seems to be connected to the Moon God Palace. Senior, do you know if there is such a person in the Moon God Palace?" Qi Yuan asked earnestly.

    Jinli frowned, lost in thought.

    She hadn¡¯t expected Qi Yuan to have any connection to the Moon God Palace.

    Yang God Longyue gazed at the Moon Token, her eyes narrowing slightly, and her expression becoming serious. "This is... the token of the previous Moon God Ancestor."

    "The previous Moon God Ancestor?" Qi Yuan was surprised, not expecting this outcome.

    "I don¡¯t know much about the previous Moon God Ancestor.

    "As for Ruan Yixi... I¡¯ve never heard of such a person," Yang God Longyue replied.

    When it came to secrets concerning powerful beings like the previous Moon God Ancestor, especially those of the Great Supreme Truth Realm, even a Supreme Truth Yang God like her wasn¡¯t privy to all the details.

    Qi Yuan felt a little disappointed upon hearing this. "Could I perhaps meet with the current Moon God Ancestor?"

    He wanted to uncover the identity of Ruan Yixi, his master, and find out where she was now.

    Yang God Longyue shook her head. "It won¡¯t be possible anytime soon. However... if it concerns the previous Moon God Ancestor, you might want to speak with Yang God Yuehua."

    Yang God Yuehua was one of only two Great Supreme Truth Yang Gods in the Moon God Palace.

    In the absence of the Moon God Ancestor, Yang God Yuehua was in charge of the palace.

    "When will I be able to meet Yang God Yuehua?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

    "Soon, the Supreme Truth Dao Debate will begin, and Yang God Yuehua will represent the Moon God Palace. You will be able to meet her then," Yang God Longyue replied, a look of reverence in her eyes as she spoke of Yang God Yuehua.

    The gap between Yang Gods was vast, even more so between Great Supreme Truth Yang Gods and regular Supreme Truth Yang Gods.

    The stronger one¡¯s power, the harder it was to ascend to a higher realm, and each small step became as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

    "The Supreme Truth Dao Debate, huh?" Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    It seemed that he would have to participate in this debate.

    Leaving the palace with Jinli, Qi Yuan held her hand as they strolled leisurely through the Moon God Palace.

    Jinli seemed like a delicate young woman, her former icy demeanor replaced by a soft warmth.

    Along the way, several cultivators from the Moon God Palace spotted them, whispering in astonishment.

    "Am I seeing things?"

    "What did I just witness?"

    "The Moon Maiden is actually holding a man¡¯s arm!"

    Everyone in the Moon God Palace knew that Moon Maiden Jinli was like an iceberg¡ªcold and distant, constantly immersed in battle.

    They had never seen her behave in such a tender, feminine way.

    Some even felt envious or jealous.

    "Turns out the Moon Maiden isn¡¯t inherently cold; she just treats us that way."

    Hearing this, Jinli felt a mix of sweetness and nervousness. She leaned closer to Qi Yuan, her breath warm as she whispered, "You must never speak of this. Otherwise... it could cause great trouble."

    "Oh?"

    Her proximity, coupled with her soft breath, made Qi Yuan feel a pleasant tickle.

    "Not only would the Taihuang Palace come looking for you, but the Moon God Palace would too!" Jinli said gravely.

    Qi Yuan, as the Ten Suns Sovereign, had immense power, which made her both happy and anxious. However, the implications of this identity couldn¡¯t be ignored.

    "The Moon God Ancestor holds the Taiyin Sovereign title, and the Taihuang Palace ruler holds the Great Sun Sovereign title¡ªpositions that you, too, are striving for.

    "The Great Sun and Taiyin are natural adversaries.

    "For one to progress further, the other must be devoured.

    "You... must never meet the Moon God Ancestor. If she finds out your true identity, you... you¡¯ll be in grave danger."

    Jinli couldn¡¯t bear to think of the consequences.

    The strategies of a Great Supreme Truth cultivator were unfathomable, and the Moon God Ancestor was no ordinary supreme cultivator.

    A Great Supreme Truth figure who had mastered an unparalleled truth was a rarity even in the Sixth Heaven.

    Someone like the Moon God Ancestor had immeasurable capabilities and unpredictable schemes.

    If the Moon God Ancestor were to discover Qi Yuan¡¯s true identity, she might see him as a threat, regardless of his intentions.

    Even if Qi Yuan bore no ill will toward the Moon God Ancestor, and even if he had no desire to claim the Taiyin Sovereign title, that wouldn¡¯t matter.

    Qi Yuan, hearing this, felt a warm rush of emotion. "They say that daughters tend to side with outsiders. You haven¡¯t even married me yet, and you''re already on my side."

    Without hesitation, Jinli stood firmly by his side, choosing to support him over her allegiance to the Moon God Palace.

    He was deeply moved by this.

    If one viewed the situation from the Moon God Ancestor¡¯s perspective, the palace¡¯s stance might appear cold and calculating.

    Of course, such comparisons weren¡¯t entirely fair.

    In Jinli''s view, at this moment, the Moon God Ancestor posed a real threat to Qi Yuan, while Qi Yuan posed no threat to the Moon God Ancestor.

    At the mention of marriage, a deep blush spread across Jinli¡¯s alabaster skin, as delicate as snow touched with the faint pink of peach blossoms.

    Qi Yuan gazed at Jinli, seeing her gentle, affectionate eyes, her lips as delicate as cherry blossoms, and her slightly parted lips. He felt his heart stir.

    Sometimes, he, too, could be spontaneous, letting things unfold naturally.

    Unable to resist, he leaned in and kissed Jinli¡¯s soft, rosy lips.

    Her body tensed for a brief moment, then melted into him. Her beautiful eyes fluttered half-closed, her breathing shallow, and a lovely flush spread across her perfect features.

    After what seemed like an eternity, their kiss ended, though the deep longing between them only grew stronger, intensifying their bond.

    A brief separation had rekindled their connection, and now, their reunion felt like a celebration of new love after a long absence.

    "If you wish... I..." Jinli whispered softly, her face filled with affection as her saffron-colored robe slid from her shoulders, revealing the sheer layer beneath, offering a glimpse of the beauty beneath.

    Her waterfall-like hair fell forward, obscuring her form in tantalizing waves.

    Her expression was resolute, as if willing to give up everything for this moment, but her trembling shoulders betrayed her nerves.

    "Are you the Empress, the Moon Maiden, or Jinli?" Qi Yuan asked tenderly as he leaned closer.

    With her eyes half-closed, Jinli made no move to pull away, instead wrapping her arms tightly around Qi Yuan.

    Even the closest embrace couldn¡¯t fully express the thousand years of longing that she had carried.

    As the saying goes, let emotions flourish, but keep propriety in mind.

    For now, Jinli remained a Moon Maiden, and she couldn¡¯t yet attach her photo to the marriage certificate Qi Yuan had prepared.

    Qi Yuan had always adhered to proper conduct and was rather traditional and restrained. Though his heart was full of longing, he held back, refraining from taking things further with Jinli.

    After all, they weren¡¯t married yet!

    As he held Jinli in his arms, Qi Yuan sighed softly, "Ah, it seems I learned early in life how tough the world can be. But this sweet paradise... I could linger here a while longer."

    Yet Qi Yuan knew he couldn¡¯t stay. The situation with the Demon Abyss was rapidly evolving, and delay could spell disaster.

    He had to return as soon as possible.

    Seeing the reluctance in Jinli¡¯s eyes, he understood her sadness.

    She knew that Qi Yuan was planning to make a move against the Demon Abyss.

    She couldn¡¯t accompany him; doing so would only hold him back.

    "Maybe... you could take me away and imprison me?" Jinli said playfully, with a hopeful look in her eyes. The cool and noble air she usually carried was momentarily gone.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. "We still need to show respect to the Moon God Palace, and staying with me... could be dangerous."

    For Qi Yuan, leaving Jinli in the Moon God Palace was the safest option.

    He planned to confront the Demon Abyss and reclaim what was his, which would inevitably invite retaliation.

    He couldn¡¯t keep Jinli with him in his Underworld Palace indefinitely, stopping her from cultivating, could he?

    While he could share his spiritual energy with his junior disciple Jiang Lingsu, that was because her strength was still low.

    With Jinli, who was already at the Mythical level, it wouldn¡¯t work the same way.

    Seeing the disappointment in Jinli¡¯s eyes, Qi Yuan sighed. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. If things get too dangerous, I¡¯ll come back to the Moon God Palace."

    Though she was reluctant to see him leave, Jinli wouldn¡¯t stand in the way of his mission.

    "Be careful," she whispered, her voice full of concern.

    Sometimes, it felt really good to be cared for and thought of.

    Was it possible that in his past life on Blue Star, he had been love-deprived?

 Chapter 423: Let Me Tell You a Way to Get Rich

    Chapter 423: Let Me Tell You a Way to Get Rich

    Perhaps knowing that they were about to part ways again, Jinli spoke more than usual.

    ¡°The identity of the Ten Suns Sovereign must never be revealed!¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Qi Yuan replied with a smile and nodded.

    At present, when he dealt with Yang Gods, it was all through tricks, luring them into the underworld to kill them.

    As such, no one would link him to the Ten Suns Sovereign.

    As long as he didn¡¯t expose that he hailed from Moonwatching Continent, and didn¡¯t use the Stellar Golden Core in battle, no one would ever suspect that he was the Ten Suns Sovereign.

    ¡°I''ll walk you out,¡± Jinli¡¯s eyes were still filled with reluctance.

    ¡°Look at this. What do you think it is?¡± At that moment, a piece of jade appeared in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand.

    This piece of jade looked similar to the Linglong Jade Seal.

    Qi Yuan had created it in the last few days, having his Nascent Soul craft it as a match to Jinli¡¯s own Linglong Jade Seal.

    Though ordinary communication jade slips would allow them to communicate, there was something special about the Linglong Jade Seal, which held immense significance for Jinli.

    ¡°How about we swap our Linglong Jade Seals?¡± Qi Yuan said as he held the jade up and waved it slightly.

    This special Linglong Jade Seal also came with additional features that could protect Jinli''s safety.

    ¡°Alright!¡± Jinli smiled brightly as she accepted Qi Yuan¡¯s Linglong Jade Seal.

    A while later, the two of them left the main hall.

    Time spent together was always fleeting, and Jinli¡¯s expression still held a trace of anxiety, as though everything felt like a dream.

    She only felt reassured after pinching the palm of her hand and feeling the faint pain.

    ¡°Miss!¡±

    Shortly after they left the main hall, a woman clad in armor, with the aura of blood on her, approached them.

    Her face was cold, and there was a hint of urgency in her expression.

    As soon as Jinli saw the woman, her demeanor shifted, becoming colder¡ªcompletely different from the way she had been with Qi Yuan.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Jinli asked while snuggling up to Qi Yuan like a delicate flower leaning against him.

    It seemed that she was making a point, signaling that this was her man.

    The woman in armor was an Yin God with a unique status.

    In the Moon God Palace, there existed certain families known as Moon Maiden Families.

    This woman was from the same family as Jinli, who had become a Moon Maiden after her parents perished, with her family receiving high-status treatment ever since.

    ¡°Miss, I heard you are giving up your Moon Maiden title!¡± The woman in armor spoke with respectful tones, though she cast a hostile glance at Qi Yuan.

    Her family had produced a Moon Maiden, which hadn¡¯t come easy.

    It was only because of Jinli¡¯s existence that her family had prospered for over ten thousand years.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we reconsider this? The elders of the family... they might have some opinions,¡± the armored woman said through gritted teeth, though there was a hint of fear in her tone when addressing Jinli.

    ¡°If the elders have opinions, then they can step down and make room for someone else,¡± Jinli replied without any hesitation or softness in her voice.

    The armored woman stiffened, not expecting Jinli to be so unyielding, leaving no room for negotiation.

    She wanted to say more.

    After all, if Jinli lost her Moon Maiden status, the family¡¯s resources would decrease, and their privileges would diminish.

    ¡°Miss, if you lose your Moon Maiden status, it might be very difficult for you to ever reach the Yang God realm!¡± The armored woman clenched her teeth as she voiced her concern, glaring at Qi Yuan with hostility.

    Beauty was a dangerous thing!

    The young miss was falling for a handsome man instead of focusing on her future.

    ¡°Whether I am a Moon Maiden or not is my decision,¡± Jinli replied firmly.

    The family had what it did today because of her.

    Now, losing the privileges was inevitable.

    It was only natural for them to harbor some grievances.

    It was like when someone receives a daily gift of a hundred coins, but suddenly one day, the coins stop coming. That person might feel entitled and demand, ¡°Where is my money?¡±

    ¡°He will be my Dao Companion,¡± Jinli announced as she hugged Qi Yuan, making it clear and official.

    The armored woman felt a wave of dismay. ¡°Miss, the interests of the family are small, but your... future...¡±

    Before she could finish, Qi Yuan stepped forward.

    ¡°I have a good feeling about Jinli''s future with me¡ªmy left eyelid is twitching, and that¡¯s always a sign of good fortune,¡± Qi Yuan said with confidence.

    Under the Moon God Palace¡¯s nurturing, Jinli could certainly reach the Yang God realm.

    But to enter the Great Supreme Truth realm?

    That would only be a distant dream.

    With his help, though? Placing her within the Supreme Truth¡¯s Gate and letting her meditate for several million years¡ªJinli would become unmatched in the Sixth Heaven.

    That was the power of the Supreme Truth Gate, the greatest treasure of the Sixth Heaven.

    So, following him would lead to a future far better than anything the title of Moon Maiden could offer.

    The armored woman was baffled, her face showing confusion.

    She didn¡¯t trust Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    After all, very few forces in the Sixth Heaven were stronger than the Moon God Palace.

    He had to focus on acting.

    Within the Demon Abyss, a terrifying aura descended.

    A massive eye shrunk back in fear and quickly fled into its lair.

    Every Yin God stationed in the Demon Abyss sensed the terrifying pressure.

    Their expressions changed, knowing something major was happening.

    A vast voice echoed in the minds of all the Yin Gods.

    ¡°Activate the formations, defend with all your might!¡±

    ¡°This Yang God is in seclusion¡ªdo not disturb me!¡±

    Upon hearing this powerful command, most of the Demon Abyss Clan¡¯s Yin Gods turned pale, or at the very least, looked grave.

    Whispers and communication through secret transmissions spread everywhere.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Sovereign Fengkui and the other lords have been missing for a few days...¡±

    ¡°Something big is definitely happening!¡±

    Though the Demon Abyss Sovereign¡¯s attack on the Moon God Palace had been carried out in secret, with no information leaked, the disappearance of several Mythical-level experts and Great Lords within the Demon Abyss hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed.

    Moreover, in recent days, they had sensed disturbances in the direction of the Moon God Palace, suggesting that Yang God-level combatants had appeared there.

    Now, combined with the Demon Abyss Sovereign¡¯s sudden seclusion and the activation of defensive formations, they began to piece together what might have happened.

    Everyone was on edge, their faces filled with anxiety.

    At that moment, within the Demon Abyss Sovereign¡¯s lair, Qi Yuan lay in wait, his aura unstable, as though seriously injured.

    ¡°This giant eye... it¡¯s really ugly.¡±

    ¡°Sigh, no wonder actors nowadays don¡¯t like to put on ugly makeup or play villainous roles. If it weren¡¯t for my plan, why would I lower myself to act like some pitiful, big-eyed creature?¡±

    Qi Yuan had come up with a detailed plan.

    The operation was codenamed ¡°Bring the Well Home.¡±

    It had three steps.

    To ensure the success of this plan, he had even summoned Buddha Wutian, who carried the Buddhist Nation.

    In terms of precision and meticulousness, this plan was among the top three of all plans Qi Yuan had ever devised.

    Bringing Buddha Wutian with his Buddhist Nation was akin to Han Xin¡¯s famous military strategy of secretly crossing through enemy lands while distracting them elsewhere.

    Han Xin was known as a Divine Tactician, but Qi Yuan considered himself the Master of Schemes.

    Step one: Use the Supreme Truth Gate to lure the Demon Abyss Sovereigns and their subordinates in and kill them.

    Step two: While everyone was distracted, sneak into the Fifth Heaven, repeat the process, and kill more Demon Abyss Sovereigns.

    Step three: Bring the well home.

    His well had been wandering alone for far too long, suffering mistreatment. It was time for it to come back home and enjoy a life of luxury.

    As Qi Yuan thought about this, he continued to refine the plan in his mind.

    After an indeterminate amount of time, a vast aura spread through the Demon Abyss.

    Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming serious as he spoke softly, ¡°Demon Heng Sovereign, since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you come in?¡±

    As his words echoed, a powerful presence surged within the lair of the Demon Abyss Sovereign.

    The figure of Demon Heng Sovereign appeared, looking at Qi Yuan in surprise. ¡°Demon Sovereign, what happened to you?¡±

    Demon Heng Sovereign was one of the three Supreme Truth Yang Gods of the Demon Abyss Clan and had a close relationship with the Demon Abyss Sovereign.

    ¡°Sigh, I fell into that old hag Longyue¡¯s trap!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was hoarse, and his eyes filled with hatred. ¡°She even sacrificed a Deputy Warden and destroyed a portion of the Yuhuang Crescent Moon Array¡¯s authority to lure me into her scheme!¡±

    As Qi Yuan spoke, he radiated fury.

    Chains rattled within the lair, and the space itself seemed to tremble with instability.

    Hearing this, Demon Heng Sovereign more or less understood what had happened. ¡°Demon Sovereign, you acted rashly this time!¡±

    It seemed that the Demon Abyss Sovereign had been caught in Longyue¡¯s plan, leading to the loss of many subordinates.

    ¡°Are your injuries serious? Do you need reinforcements in the Demon Abyss?¡± Demon Heng Sovereign asked.

    The Demon Abyss Sovereign¡¯s pupils contracted suddenly, and his aura surged violently. ¡°I¡¯m not injured! The Demon Abyss doesn¡¯t need any support!¡±

    Seeing this, Demon Heng Sovereign¡¯s expression remained unchanged.

    The Demon Abyss Sovereign had always been arrogant and prideful, never willing to show weakness.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t lose the Demon Abyss,¡± Demon Heng Sovereign said before his figure vanished.

    Within the lair, Qi Yuan sat on the throne, squinting his eyes. ¡°Did I act well enough?¡±

    Meanwhile, outside the Demon Abyss, the spectral form of Demon Heng Sovereign lingered, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

    ¡°Something about Demon Abyss Sovereign... seems different.¡±

    As a Supreme Truth Yang God, Demon Heng Sovereign was extraordinarily perceptive.

    ¡°Being so far from here, I can¡¯t keep an eye on Demon Abyss Sovereign all the time. That could be a problem.¡±

    Demon Heng Sovereign mulled it over.

    He had a nagging suspicion that something was wrong with Demon Abyss Sovereign.

    ¡°Right, Demon Chi is nearby. I¡¯ll find him and have him keep an eye on Demon Abyss Sovereign,¡± Demon Heng Sovereign thought as he headed toward the Broken Moon Abyss.

 Chapter 424: Jinli: Iâ€¦ am very gentle.

    Chapter 424: Jinli: I... am very gentle.

    Mo Heng concealed his form, quietly making his way toward Duan Yue Abyss.

    Since Heavenly Lord Mo Tong might have some issues, it was best to have Heavenly Lord Mo Chi keep an eye on him.

    Moving stealthily, Mo Heng passed by many Yin Gods.

    Even when he was within mere miles of these Yin Gods, not a single one detected his presence.

    After a while, Mo Heng''s figure halted, his eyes focusing deep into the abyss of Duan Yue.

    The protective formation blocked his vision.

    Although his strength far exceeded that of Heavenly Lord Mo Chi, he lacked the profound insight of Heavenly Lord Mo Tong.

    As a result, he couldn''t discern anything at the moment.

    "Heavenly Lord Mo Chi, come out and meet me quickly," Mo Heng transmitted telepathically.

    Being a Supreme Truth Yang God, Mo Heng''s status was far higher than Mo Chi¡¯s, so there was no need for him to visit in person.

    As soon as the words were spoken, the formation deep within Duan Yue Abyss stirred. A man in a gray robe rushed out, seeming a little panicked.

    This naturally occurring panic could be hidden from those at the same level, but for someone as perceptive as Mo Heng, it was easily noticed.

    "Greetings, Heavenly Lord Mo Heng!" Qi Yuan, disguised as Mo Chi, lowered his head, feigning respect while also displaying a hint of surprise. "I was unaware that Heavenly Lord would visit Duan Yue Abyss. What brings you here?"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan put all his effort into acting, suppressing even his inner thoughts.

    "Mo Chi, have you seen Heavenly Lord Mo Tong recently?" Mo Heng asked, giving Qi Yuan a glance.

    "Yes, I made my routine visit to Heavenly Lord Mo Tong a few days ago.

    At the time, Heavenly Lord Mo Tong invited me to... launch a sneak attack on the Moon God Palace.

    However, I had a cauldron of elixirs nearing completion, so I declined his invitation.

    But now... are you suggesting..." Qi Yuan continued his performance, his face displaying shock and disbelief.

    "Heavenly Lord Mo Tong sustained some injuries," Mo Heng said, his expression deepening. "I suspect that the injuries inflicted by Moon God Palace are severe enough to have affected him. I am too far away from Absolute Moon Abyss to monitor the situation constantly. I need you to keep an eye on him for me."

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan adopted a grave expression. "Heavenly Lord, do you suspect... Mo Tong?"

    He swallowed nervously, leaving his sentence unfinished.

    "Just keep watch and report back to me immediately if you notice anything unusual," Mo Heng instructed, not offering further details.

    "As you command!" Qi Yuan bowed his head, not daring to meet Mo Heng''s gaze directly.

    "Return now," Mo Heng said casually.

    Qi Yuan nodded and hurriedly retreated.

    After about ten breaths of time passed, Mo Heng narrowed his eyes, his gaze becoming more complex.

    "There''s something off with Mo Chi as well; I don¡¯t sense the fresh energy of newly refined elixirs on him."

    If Mo Chi had been busy refining elixirs, as he claimed, there should have been a trace of that process on him.

    While Mo Heng did detect some lingering medicinal energy, it was from elixirs long completed¡ªnot the scent of a batch recently refined or still in progress.

    So, Heavenly Lord Mo Chi had been lying.

    "He must have some secrets of his own," Mo Heng mused, his eyes darkening. "It''s a pity that my true body is too far from here; otherwise, I''d like to know what secrets Mo Chi is hiding."

    A sudden feeling struck Mo Heng as if fate was urging him.

    "Since Heavenly Lord Mo Qi is stationed near Duan Yue Abyss, I''ll have him keep an eye on Mo Chi," Mo Heng thought. Then, he made his way to Heavenly Lord Mo Qi''s territory.

    Yes, Heavenly Lord Mo Heng was particularly good at playing these layered strategies.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in the Sixth Heaven, at Suiyun Pavilion, a woman in green robes emerged, her once fierce aura significantly softened.

    As she exited Suiyun Pavilion, a heavy expression clouded her face.

    "Aunt, aren''t we at war with Demon Abyss? Why are we borrowing money from them?" Mu Bihua, a young girl beside her, asked in confusion.

    Today, she had accompanied her aunt to a territory operated by the Demon Abyss to negotiate a loan.

    The sum they were borrowing was astronomical.

    These celestial gems would be delivered to their family over time.

    "War is war, business is business," said a tall man nearby. "Even though the Moon God Palace and the Demon Abyss have been at war for nearly a hundred thousand years, so far... only Yin Gods have perished, not a single Yang God."

    The man spoke with a sigh.

    In his eyes, the grudges held by these major powers seemed almost laughable.

    Only the lower ranks died in such conflicts.

    The higher-ups sat on their celestial thrones, untouched by the hatred. At any time, a single order could turn enemies into allies.

    "So, naturally, business can proceed as usual," the tall man continued, though his face bore a puzzled look. "What I don¡¯t understand is why Lady Moon Maiden ordered us to take out a loan from Demon Abyss. The interest rates are quite high."

    Because of their hostilities, the interest the Demon Abyss charged them was higher than usual.

    Every ten years, the interest alone amounted to a staggering sum.

    "And the worst part is, I¡¯m not even getting paid!"

    "I¡¯ve thought about this for a long time and still can¡¯t figure out¡ªwho the hell owes me my paycheck?"

    "I¡¯d better stop thinking about it before I hurt my brain."

    "But hey, things are going pretty well. These past few days, I¡¯ve already bagged two idiots... though they¡¯re only Heavenly Rank Yang Gods."

    "What are you doing? Come online for a video call, let me see you!"

    Qi Yuan spoke into the Linglong Jade Communication Orb, as if he were chatting with Jinli back on Moonwatch Continent.

    The newly improved Linglong Jade Communication Orb now featured a video call function.

    It wasn¡¯t difficult to add.

    However, because of the powerful Creation Artifact that protected Duan Yue Abyss, all communication there was typically blocked.

    So before leaving Absolute Moon Abyss, Qi Yuan had requested Heavenly Lord Long Yue to grant him permission for their communication, ensuring that nothing would be screened or blocked between him and Jinli.

    As for Duan Yue Abyss, Qi Yuan had some control over the permissions, so he simply gave himself access.

    "No one is around you?" Jinli¡¯s voice came through the orb.

    "No one. Why?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

    At that moment, the Linglong Jade Communication Orb flashed with a soft white light, and a hazy mist appeared on Qi Yuan¡¯s screen.

    Jinli¡¯s delicate, lotus-white arm held up the orb as she sat in a bath, completely unclothed.

    The steam rising from the bath obscured much of her form, but her exquisite shoulders and everything below them were submerged in the water. The milky, bath-like liquid didn¡¯t completely conceal the enticing curves of her soft, smooth skin. Faint kiss marks lingered on her body.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s memory instantly flashed back to their intimate moment, recalling how they had tangled together that night.

    He swallowed hard.

    The water... was so vast and white.

    If Ningtao¡¯s and the Golden Canary¡¯s chests were delicate and small, Jinli¡¯s... well, they could smother him.

    "Isn¡¯t this a bit inappropriate?" Qi Yuan blinked, staring at the screen.

    Fortunately, this was the Cultivation World, and the Linglong Jade Communication Orb was created by him. Its technology wasn¡¯t like that of his past life on Earth, so privacy concerns weren¡¯t an issue here.

    Jinli¡¯s eyes shimmered with nostalgia. "When you wiped out the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land and talked to me, I was also bathing."

    Her fingers glided through her hair, dripping with water.

    "You told me about slaughtering the entire Xuanyuan Forbidden Land that night, and I hesitated to believe you," she laughed softly. "It¡¯s similar to how I felt when you just told me you captured two Yang Gods."

    She paused, recalling the memory fondly.

    Back then, she hadn¡¯t taken Qi Yuan¡¯s words seriously¡ªtreated them as a joke.

    But now, hearing him talk about capturing two Yang Gods¡ªan even more astonishing feat than exterminating the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land¡ªshe believed him without question.

    ¡°Between people, trust is essential. I rarely lie,¡± Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    Jinli gently placed a hand over her chest, the movement causing a delicate tremble.

    ¡°What do you want to do to me now?¡± Jinli asked, her eyes sparkling with a teasing smile.

    Back then, through the Linglong Jade Communication Orb, they couldn¡¯t even see each other. Now, things were different.

    ¡°A kiss, perhaps?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze moved downward, lingering momentarily on her lips, her white neck, her delicate shoulders, and her soft chest before he responded sincerely.

    ¡°And after that?¡± Jinli asked, still expectant.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted further downward, stopping at her slim waist, admiring its graceful curves and defined waistline. But as his eyes traveled even lower, he frowned, looking disappointed.

    ¡°You¡¯re still wearing undergarments while bathing?¡±

    Jinli blushed deeply and covered her mouth with a smile, though this caused the beauty of her figure to be even more apparent. However, the smile soon froze on her face when Qi Yuan¡¯s voice reached her ears.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t your undergarments have an elastic band? If they did, I could take them off, pull out the elastic, and tie your hair up. Bathing with your hair down makes it easy to get it all wet.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt proud of his attentiveness.

    A less considerate man would focus only on his own desires at a time like this, but not him. He was a gentleman¡ªa thoughtful one, even noticing such small, practical details.

    At the moment, Jinli¡¯s hair had indeed become slightly soaked from the bathwater since she hadn¡¯t tied it up.

    ¡°... Should we turn off the video call?¡± Jinli suggested, her expression a mix of amusement and disbelief.

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s inappropriate to keep it on while you¡¯re bathing. Let¡¯s turn it off,¡± Qi Yuan agreed, his tone showing how much he respected her. After all, he wasn¡¯t just interested in looking¡ªhe respected mutual boundaries.

    ¡°No need.¡± On the other side of the orb, Jinli shook her head softly. She gently gathered her wet hair and looked at him with a tender gaze, her face full of warmth. ¡°I want to see you a little longer.¡±

    ¡°Hmm... Jinli, would you like me to teach you a new technique?¡± Qi Yuan asked thoughtfully, his tone serious as he suddenly switched topics.

    ¡°What kind of technique?¡± Jinli responded curiously.

    ¡°The Qi Yuan-Modified Radiant Sword Technique!¡± Qi Yuan said, his voice brimming with confidence.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Jinli nodded gently, always ready to accept whatever Qi Yuan suggested.

    ¡°This sword technique is very powerful. It can disguise your overwhelming killing intent and transform it into the aura of righteousness and justice. When you use this sword, everyone will see you as a paragon of virtue!¡±

    Jinli blinked, her large, doe-like eyes sparkling with droplets of water. As she lowered her head slightly, her face flushed with a faint blush, making her appear even more delicate and enchanting.

    With a touch of grievance in her voice, Jinli murmured, ¡°I... I¡¯m very gentle.¡±

 Chapter 425: The Fallen White Moonlight: I Stay Loyal Despite the Crippling Defeats

    Chapter 425: The Fallen White Moonlight: I Stay Loyal Despite the Crippling Defeats

    As usual, Qi Yuan and Jinli chatted for quite a while.

    "Did they borrow the immortal jade?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Yes, they did," Jinli replied.

    The conversation brought Jinli back to the time they spent on the Wangyue Continent. Back then, Qi Yuan had been in the midst of dangerous situations in the Four Forbidden Lands, while she had always benefited from his protection.

    "That''s good," Qi Yuan continued. "When the time is right, you can instruct your family... to launch a sneak attack on the Molo clan''s immortal jade mines in the Sixth Heaven."

    In the Sixth Heaven, the holy lands have assets in the Fifth Heaven, and the Molo clan owns many immortal jade mines there.

    "Be careful... if things become uncontrollable, come to the Moon God Palace immediately. With Youhuang Remnant Moon here, even if Molo Heavenly Lord brings the Molo Well to the upper realms, he won¡¯t be able to harm you," Jinli said, still most concerned about Qi Yuan¡¯s safety.

    "Don''t worry, a bunch of old men and women who don¡¯t like to bathe won¡¯t be able to hurt me."

    After their communication ended, Qi Yuan transformed into Motu Heavenly Lord''s form, seated himself in the cave palace, and continued to expand the Golden Core Chapter of the Qi Yuan Sutra.

    "Sigh, my wife Ning Tao will be busy for quite a while again."

    A single divine technique could practically condense a stellar Golden Core. In the vast, barren universe of the stellar Golden Core, Ning Tao rarely rested. There were simply too many divine techniques to process.

    But this was normal.

    In the Sixth Heaven, the lifespan of Yang Gods is virtually limitless. Barring death from the Root Demon Tribulation or at the hands of an enemy, they are essentially immortal.

    With endless time, the divine techniques created by Yang Gods naturally accumulated.

    "So, before the game begins, there are three ways to improve my strength:

    Condense more Golden Cores, leveraging quantity.Participate in the Supreme Truth Debates to comprehend ultimate truths.Retrieve my family¡¯s well¡ªCreation Artifacts are a tremendous source of power."

    Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    He was always methodical in his plans.

    Fortune often favors those who plan well.

    After some time, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a smile playing on his lips before turning into a reflective sigh.

    "Even after reaching the Yang God realm, it¡¯s hard to resist inner temptations.

    Everyone who sees the Supreme Truth Gate acts like they¡¯ve seen a peerless beauty undressing¡ªrationality vanishes, and they recklessly charge forward.

    Of course, the most important thing is... that my acting is top-notch."

    Qi Yuan mumbled to himself.

    Then he realized that his metaphor wasn¡¯t quite right.

    Comparing the Supreme Truth Gate to a peerless beauty undressing was an insult both to the gate and to the Yang Gods.

    "Another one has fallen into the trap¡ªtime to take a look."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s figure vanished, turning into a streak of light.

    Around five hundred breaths later, Qi Yuan appeared in the Underworld, where traces of a fierce battle were everywhere¡ªbroken walls and ruins.

    His latest attack, assisted by a sneak attack and the help of the Nascent Souls, had been an easy victory.

    He looked down at the shattered soul on the ground and said, bored, "I am your ancestor!"

    Once again, he had lured an unfortunate soul into the trap and then promptly crippled them.

    "Another one for the collection of ¡®three-crippled individuals¡¯ in the Underworld!"

    "Sigh, I¡¯m so kind-hearted. My pure, untouchable beauty has become a three-crippled person, and yet I still stay by their side, loyal as ever."

    Yes... body crippled, soul crippled, and mind crippled.

    Commonly known as the "three cripples."

    "Alright, with this one down, Wutian can now sneak in unnoticed."

    Qi Yuan was in high spirits.

    This three-crippled individual had been guarding an area on the edge of the Demon Abyss.

    By controlling the area, Qi Yuan could allow Wutian Buddha to sneak in with his Buddha Kingdom, quietly bringing it into the Underworld.

    When the time came, dealing with Supreme Truth-level Yang Gods would become much easier.

    ...

    Time flew by, and two months passed.

    During the time Qi Yuan was away, Jinli continued her attacks on the Molo Clan forces in the Jueyue Abyss, as she had before.

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s assistance, Jinli¡¯s assaults were smooth and successful, each time bringing back considerable loot.

    Yu Tiao looked at Jinli, her eyes filled with envy. "It seems the Moon Maiden is close to earning enough merit to request something from the Moon God Ancestor."

    After she spoke, Yu Tiao regretted it.

    After all, Jinli¡¯s request was to relinquish her title as Moon Maiden.

    Jinli nodded lightly in response.

    In the Moon God Palace, her demeanor was always cold.

    "The Moon Maiden has been unusually successful lately. Could there be a mole within the Molo Clan?" Yu Tiao shifted the topic, her eyes filled with curiosity and expectation.

    A smile appeared in Jinli¡¯s eyes. "That information is classified."

    Of course, she wouldn¡¯t reveal anything about Qi Yuan.

    Yu Tiao didn¡¯t pursue the matter further, but casually asked, "The man the Moon Maiden is fond of¡ªwhat family does he hail from?"

    Her eyes were filled with curiosity.

    Others around them also turned to look at Jinli.

    The fact that Qi Yuan had won Jinli¡¯s heart, even convincing her to give up her Moon Maiden status, had piqued the curiosity of many within the Moon God Palace. Who was Qi Yuan really? Which holy land did he hail from?

    Was his master or ancestor a Yang God or perhaps even a Supreme Truth-level expert?

    "He¡¯s not from any notable family," Jinli shook her head.

    She understood what they were insinuating.

    Her words caused those present to exchange astonished glances.

    But what came next was even more shocking.

    Recently, the Molo clan had suffered continuous losses in their battles with the Moon God Palace. Their intelligence seemed completely exposed to the enemy.

    Cautiously, Mu Lan pretended not to notice and conducted a secret investigation.

    What he uncovered shocked him.

    All the evidence pointed to Motu Heavenly Lord.

    Every military expedition had been kept highly confidential, known only to the commanding mythical cultivators and Motu Heavenly Lord.

    Yet recently, their actions had become so frequent that it felt like they were purposefully sending troops to their deaths.

    All those who knew of the plans were dead.

    So, logically, the one still alive must be the mole.

    The leader of the Jueyue Abyss, Motu Heavenly Lord himself, was under suspicion.

    Mu Lan was terrified.

    "I must report this to the other heavenly lords," Mu Lan thought as he concealed himself.

    He knew he couldn¡¯t wait any longer.

    Soon, they might send him to fight the Moon God Palace, and he knew he would be the next to die.

    Waiting passively for death wasn¡¯t his style.

    "Mozhi Heavenly Lord?"

    "No, Mozhi Heavenly Lord is too weak."

    "I need someone stronger!"

    "What about... Motang Heavenly Lord?"

    Motang Heavenly Lord, a Supreme Truth-level Yang God, was second only to Moheng in strength in the Demon Abyss.

    With this thought, Mu Lan stepped into a teleportation array and headed toward Motang Heavenly Lord''s territory.

    As his figure vanished, a pair of golden eyes appeared in the sky.

    "Life is full of surprises. Should I give him a little scare later?"

    Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    By now, Qi Yuan had all but dropped his act.

    Previously, he had to pretend to be a giant eyeball.

    Now... what¡¯s the point of pretending anymore?

    The nearby Yang God Heavenly Lords had already been quietly taken care of.

    The remaining few were already under his watchful eye.

    As for Moheng Heavenly Lord, Qi Yuan was saving him for last.

    "When the time comes, it¡¯ll be another day of stellar acting!"

    Qi Yuan already had a detailed plan for dealing with Moheng Heavenly Lord.

    As a Supreme Truth-level Yang God, Moheng Heavenly Lord had a talent for networking with other heavenly lords.

    He had formed a small group with five other Yang Gods in the Heavenly Positions Realm.

    They often chatted in this group, sometimes even gossiping about other Yang Gods.

    Their camaraderie was clear.

    On the surface, not even Motu Heavenly Lord knew these five were secretly in touch.

    Now, of the six group members, only Moheng remained. The others had already been taken care of.

    After pondering for a moment, Qi Yuan decided to set his plan in motion.

    He pulled out five communication devices.

    "A pig-slaughtering scheme, huh? I''m all the alternate accounts, and you¡¯re the only pig!"

    Qi Yuan started sending messages in the group chat.

    "My fellow lords, I¡¯ve seen purple light to the south. It seems to be Purple Qi. Could it be a scheme from the Moon God Palace? Who wants to join me in investigating?"

    After a short while, Qi Yuan, using another account, replied.

    "Purple Qi? I¡¯m in!"

    "I¡¯ll come too!"

    "Since we¡¯ve all seen it, let¡¯s go together!"

    The other accounts quickly logged in and added their voices.

    "What about Moheng Heavenly Lord? Will he come?" someone asked.

    "Moheng is a Supreme Truth-level. He wouldn¡¯t be interested in just a trace of Purple Qi."

    "Exactly. If it were a full strand of Purple Qi, maybe he¡¯d care, but split among five people? No way."

    Qi Yuan manipulated all five accounts, chatting with himself in the group.

    The goal was to create a plausible scenario for Moheng Heavenly Lord.

    They had seen Purple Qi and were heading out to capture it!

    After laying the groundwork, once the other Yang Gods were dealt with, Qi Yuan would turn his attention to Moheng.

    "I laugh at the Molo clan¡¯s foolishness and Moheng¡¯s lack of wisdom!"

    "The Molo clan is worthless. Soon, they¡¯ll all be reduced to three-crippled individuals!"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement.

    The successful execution of these plans hinged on several factors: the irresistible allure of the Supreme Truth Gate to Yang Gods, the unique properties of the Underworld, which isolated the Yang Gods, and¡ªof course¡ªQi Yuan¡¯s overwhelming strength.

    Had any one of these factors not been in place, capturing a Yang God in total secrecy would have been impossible.

    "Once I¡¯ve secured control of the Demon Abyss, I can head back to the Fifth Heaven, go fishing, and bring my well back home."

    Qi Yuan''s actions were always methodical, always well-planned.

 Chapter 426: Something Strange in the Demon Abyss

    Chapter 426: Something Strange in the Demon Abyss

    Time passed swiftly.

    In just a few months, undercurrents surged through the Demon Abyss, and many changes occurred.

    However, these hidden changes were known only to a few Yin Gods in the Jueyue Abyss.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan squinted his eyes, watching Mu Lan, who had come to report suspicious activity. A smile played on his lips. "The stars are still in the sky, and you claim there¡¯s something wrong with Motu Heavenly Lord and Motang Heavenly Lord? Isn¡¯t that a bit ridiculous?"

    This Mu Lan was truly relentless, going around to various regions to report on Motu.

    Unfortunately, what Mu Lan didn¡¯t realize was that the Yang Gods he reported on were all actually just different personas of Qi Yuan.

    In the Demon Abyss, Qi Yuan was dutifully fishing¡ªmetaphorically speaking¡ªyet quite bored at the same time.

    Occasionally, he found some amusement.

    Mu Lan was one such source of amusement.

    Qi Yuan was curious about when Mu Lan would finally report his suspicions to Moheng Heavenly Lord.

    Mu Lan, with his head bowed and face dark, said solemnly, "Heavenly Lord, better to err on the side of caution. The Yin Gods in Jueyue Abyss have suffered heavy losses. This cannot go unchecked!"

    What Mu Lan said made sense.

    If a Yang God had indeed encountered a problem or perished, the stars they reflected across the heavens would fall from the sky.

    But Motu Heavenly Lord¡¯s star was still shining brightly.

    The stars of the other Yang Gods he suspected also hung in the heavens, untroubled.

    "The calculations and plans of the Yang Gods are far beyond the understanding of a mere Yin God like you," Qi Yuan said indifferently, acting with the depth and wisdom one would expect from a Yang God. "Enough, we shall end this matter here."

    With a flick of his sleeve, Mu Lan''s body was suddenly hurled out of the cave.

    "Heavenly Lord, I have shed blood for the Molo clan!"

    "Heavenly Lord, I have sweated for the Molo clan!"

    "My loyalty is as clear as day!"

    Outside the cave, Mu Lan wept bitterly, appearing utterly desperate.

    "Interesting, he¡¯s even better at acting than I am," Qi Yuan chuckled.

    When dealing with a Yin God like Mu Lan, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t too concerned about his disguise. He didn¡¯t even bother to change his appearance, remaining in his original form, dressed in his red robes.

    He didn¡¯t even hide his features, which meant that every time Mu Lan went somewhere, he always saw the same Yang God.

    The funniest part was that whenever Mu Lan saw him, despite the shock in his heart, he had to pretend not to notice the obvious. And still, he persisted with his reports.

    Highly amusing.

    "Randomly toying with a Yin God like this is quite fun," Qi Yuan mused to himself.

    At this point, Moheng Heavenly Lord was the last Yang God left in the Demon Abyss.

    All the other Yang Gods had fallen into Qi Yuan¡¯s traps.

    It could be said that in the Demon Abyss, he could walk freely without worry.

    Even if Mu Lan somehow mustered the courage to spread rumors, Qi Yuan had no concerns at all.

    At the moment, Mu Lan was trembling with fear, though outwardly, he continued to cry dramatically.

    He was beginning to doubt his sanity.

    Was he going blind? Why did all the Yang God Heavenly Lords... look the same?

    Just then, a message entered Qi Yuan¡¯s communication jade slip.

    "You scoundrel, why are you in the Sixth Heaven? How did you get there?"

    Qi Yuan was slightly surprised by the message.

    It was from Sister Niujiao.

    These communication jade slips couldn¡¯t send messages across heavens, and in certain special places, they were completely blocked.

    For example, the Demon Abyss, covered by the Molo Well, had originally rendered these communication slips useless. The signal would have been blocked.

    However, after gaining several permissions, Qi Yuan had lifted the restrictions on his own slip.

    Thus, he could now receive messages from the outside.

    "Well, I got tired of the Fifth Heaven, so I decided to take a stroll in the Sixth Heaven," Qi Yuan replied after thinking for a moment.

    Sister Niujiao had been quite helpful to him in the past.

    "Where are you? Tell me, I¡¯ll come pick you up. There¡¯s urgent news¡ªa huge opportunity!" Sister Niujiao¡¯s voice carried a hint of urgency.

    Qi Yuan hesitated for a moment. "I¡¯m currently in the Demon Abyss."

    It wasn¡¯t much of a secret, after all.

    "Why on earth did you go to the Demon Abyss? There¡¯s a war going on there, it¡¯s dangerous!" Sister Niujiao said anxiously.

    She suspected that Qi Yuan had either been drafted or had entered the Demon Abyss seeking military merit.

    After all, as a cultivator from the Second Heaven, short on resources, he might have been willing to do anything.

    "Don¡¯t get involved in any battles just yet. Report to the Yang God overseeing your area under the name of the Ziyuan Family. I¡¯ll come get you and bring you out of there!" Sister Niujiao said, clearly distressed.

    "Why would you want to pick me up?" Qi Yuan asked, curious.

    Sister Niujiao took a deep breath. "Your bloodline... shares the same origin as the Black Demon Abyss. And it¡¯s quite noble."

    From the expression on the Ancestor¡¯s face, if not for the fact that a Supreme Truth-level expert couldn¡¯t easily leave their duties and was occupied with important matters, the Ancestor would have personally gone to the Fifth Heaven to bring this mysterious blood-robed man up.

    It was clear that his bloodline was incredibly special.

    "Oh, sorry, but I just want to be a guest elder. I don¡¯t want to join any major powers or become someone¡¯s servant," Qi Yuan replied, declining the offer.

    "What are you thinking? The Black Demon Abyss isn¡¯t like other holy lands. If you don¡¯t have our bloodline, we wouldn¡¯t even accept you as a servant!

    You wouldn¡¯t need to become a follower," Sister Niujiao explained, clearly excited.

    The blood-robed man¡¯s bloodline was definitely more noble than her own.

    Could it be a Supreme Truth-level bloodline?

    Otherwise, the Ancestor wouldn¡¯t have reacted the way he did, she guessed.

    "Have you checked on the other Yang Gods? Are they behaving normally?"

    As he typed, he glanced toward the starry sky.

    The stars were still there.

    This indicated that the Yang Gods hadn¡¯t faced any serious issues.

    But just because nothing catastrophic had happened didn¡¯t mean something wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªespecially with Motu Heavenly Lord, who had been acting strange ever since returning from the Moon God Palace.

    He had already reported this to Molo Heavenly Lord.

    However, Molo Heavenly Lord had simply instructed him to keep an eye on the situation and hadn¡¯t said much else.

    Clearly, Molo Heavenly Lord was preoccupied with issues in the Buddha Kingdom and didn¡¯t think anything was wrong with Motu Heavenly Lord.

    "I think everything¡¯s fine."

    "Everything seems normal."

    "Just a few days ago, I had drinks with Motai Heavenly Lord. He seemed perfectly normal."

    "Moheng Heavenly Lord, are you suggesting something has happened?"

    The other five Yang Gods replied one by one, all saying everything was normal.

    Satisfied with these answers, Moheng Heavenly Lord hesitated.

    "Could it be... my imagination?" he wondered.

    "How is your treasure hunt going?" he asked casually, changing the subject.

    "We¡¯ve encountered a few difficulties, but it¡¯s just a minor issue. We should be able to resolve it soon."

    One of the Yang Gods responded.

    "Hmm, if you can¡¯t resolve it, feel free to ask me for help," Moheng Heavenly Lord offered casually.

    He was ambitious and wanted to become the leader of the Molo clan, so he often did favors for the other Yang Gods.

    "Thank you, Heavenly Lord!"

    The group chat fell silent again.

    Moheng Heavenly Lord sat in his cave, deep in thought.

    "Five Yang Gods say there¡¯s no problem. Could it be... that the problem lies with me?"

    Moheng Heavenly Lord couldn¡¯t help but ponder this.

    "Perhaps... my Root Demon Calamity is approaching, and that¡¯s why I¡¯ve been having these troubling thoughts."

    He could only comfort himself with this explanation.

    For a Supreme Truth-level Yang God to further improve their strength, they had to survive the Root Demon Calamity.

    In the Ninth Heaven, there were no Thunder Calamities, but there were Root Demon Calamities.

    Each time they endured the Root Demon Calamity, their magical power would increase, and their cultivation would advance.

    But the Root Demon Calamity was not easy to survive.

    During the calamity, various desires and thoughts would arise.

    One misstep could lead to death.

    As a result, many Yang Gods, after reaching the Supreme Truth, chose to suppress their cultivation, not daring to face the Root Demon Calamity.

    But Moheng Heavenly Lord was different. He was ambitious and wanted to become the leader of the Molo clan, so he refused to suppress his Root Demon Calamity.

    As the calamity drew nearer, it was natural that he would experience some distracting thoughts and inner demons.

    "It must be these distracting thoughts. My Root Demon Calamity is near, but who would dare to plot against me?"

    Moheng Heavenly Lord felt confident.

    The Root Demon Calamity was a trial for every Supreme Truth-level Yang God.

    Even a Great Supreme Truth-level Yang God wouldn¡¯t want to provoke someone going through the calamity.

    If they did, there was a chance the Root Demon Calamity would be triggered prematurely, which could be troublesome.

    While it was just a minor inconvenience for a Great Supreme Truth, it was a life-or-death matter for a regular Supreme Truth.

    This was because both would have to face the calamity together.

    For this reason, the Yang God in the region governed by Moheng Heavenly Lord never dared to launch a full attack, fearing that he might drag her into his Root Demon Calamity.

    With this thought, Moheng Heavenly Lord felt at ease.

    It was probably just his distracting thoughts. After all, who would dare to plot against him now?

    That would be suicidal.

    But just then, Moheng Heavenly Lord¡¯s eyes flickered.

    Far to the east, a massive surge of energy erupted, as though the heavens had shattered and primordial energy was leaking out.

    "This is... Purple Qi, and there¡¯s so much of it!"

    Holding the Molo Well¡¯s authority, Moheng Heavenly Lord immediately sensed the vast amount of Purple Qi spilling out from the Hongyue Abyss.

    Hongyue Abyss was precisely the territory of one of the Yang Gods in his group chat¡ªthe very one who had suggested they go treasure hunting together.

    Moheng Heavenly Lord¡¯s face twisted with conflicting emotions. "Could it be that while searching for the treasure, they stumbled upon an ancient Qi Land? This amount of Purple Qi... is too much."

    The greed within him stirred.

    After all, even for a Supreme Truth-level Yang God like him, such a vast amount of Purple Qi was tempting.

    "Fellow Daoists, does the recent disturbance in Hongyue Abyss have anything to do with you?" Moheng Heavenly Lord asked in the group chat.

    He still had his dignity, so it was only right to ask first before going.

    However, after ten breaths of time passed, there was no reply.

    Moheng Heavenly Lord frowned, his expression growing darker.

    "Could it be... that they¡¯ve discovered something else?"

    Feeling increasingly uneasy, Moheng Heavenly Lord couldn¡¯t sit still. His massive figure transformed into a stream of light, speeding toward the source of the Purple Qi.

 Chapter 427: The Orthodoxy of the Molo Clan Lies with Me

    Chapter 427: The Orthodoxy of the Molo Clan Lies with Me

    Within the depths of the Hongyue Abyss, purple energy began to leak out.

    In an instant, the permissions of the Creation Treasure activated, concealing this purple energy. But even with that, the Yang Gods within hundreds of thousands of miles, and even further, caught a whiff of the aura.

    In the Moon God Palace, a Yang God of the Grand Heaven Stage wore a solemn expression.

    ¡°Purple energy like clouds¡ªthis indicates the birth of a treasure. And it¡¯s coming from the territory of the Molo Clan in the Hongyue Abyss!¡±

    Even as a Yang God, she couldn¡¯t sit still.

    With this much purple energy, just a glance could greatly enhance her cultivation.

    ¡°But why? Why is it appearing in the Molo Clan¡¯s territory?¡±

    This Yang God Heavenly Venerable¡¯s expression turned bitter.

    Recently, rumors had been spreading outside that the Moon God Primogenitor had been gravely injured.

    The Yang Gods of the Moon God Palace were all on edge, strung tight like a bowstring.

    Although the Moon God Palace still held its prestigious position, closer observation revealed that the palace had undergone massive changes.

    During battles, the number of traitors had increased by fifty percent compared to the past.

    When trading with other holy lands, there were frequent incidents of partners raising prices unreasonably.

    It could be said that the entire Moon God Palace was in a precarious state, teetering on the edge of collapse.

    The battle in the Abyss could not be lost, or else... this might just be the spark that would cause a total defeat.

    Now, in the region guarded by the Molo Clan, purple energy billowed like clouds, and treasures were appearing.

    Due to the concealment of the Creation Treasure, the Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable couldn¡¯t see much more.

    But if the Molo Clan strengthened itself from this, the pressure on the Moon God Palace would become immense.

    For all the years she had guarded the Abyss, the Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable had never felt such pressure. The Yang Gods had not needed to engage directly in battle, and there had never been extremely intense fighting.

    But ever since the news of the Moon God Primogenitor¡¯s injury leaked, the pressure had been mounting, and the battles within the Abyss had escalated.

    Just as she was feeling anxious, a voice suddenly echoed in her ears.

    ¡°Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable, have you thought it over?¡±

    Hearing the male voice, Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable¡¯s gaze deepened.

    As a Yang God Heavenly Venerable, their communications were naturally not suppressed by the Creation Treasure.

    The one who had sent her the message was a Yang God from Shenluo Heaven, one of the top forces in the Six Heavens.

    As the saying goes, One Guild, Two Palaces, Three Heavens, Four Abysses, and over a dozen Sacred Grounds.

    In the Six Heavens, the number of sacred grounds was the fewest, totaling less than thirty combined.

    Among them, the strongest were the ¡°One Guild, Two Palaces, Three Heavens, and Four Abysses.¡±

    This ranking was not in order of strength.

    The "One Guild" referred to the Supreme Truth Guild.

    The "Two Palaces" were Taihuang Palace and the Moon God Palace.

    Shenluo Heaven was one of the "Three Heavens."

    This Yang God from Shenluo Heaven had been intermittently contacting Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable, trying to lure her to their side.

    Now, he was bringing up the matter again.

    ¡°I¡¯ve received great favor from the Moon God Palace. If I were to leave now, where would my Dao heart be?

    If, one day, I¡¯m fortunate enough to step into the Supreme Truth Realm, how would I overcome my Root Tribulation?¡± Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable responded calmly, her attitude resolute.

    ¡°The Moon God Ancestor is gravely injured, and Taihuang Palace is watching like a tiger waiting for a chance to strike. If you don¡¯t find a better place soon, you¡¯ll face the same fate as the Moon God Palace¡ªutter extinction,¡± the Yang God from Shenluo Heaven said, his words tinged with regret.

    Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Have you heard something?¡±

    This Yang God from Shenluo Heaven was the descendant of a Supreme Truth Yang God and had access to more information than others.

    Though it was almost certain that the Moon God Ancestor had been severely injured, she was someone who had mastered the Supreme Truth. She wouldn¡¯t fall so easily.

    How could the Moon God Palace be in real danger?

    But the other party¡¯s words just now had caused a tightness in her chest.

    ¡°Some news has indeed been leaked. Once the Supreme Truth Conference begins, you¡¯ll understand.

    Oh, and one more friendly reminder, Moon Lotus: a Yang God Heavenly Venerable from your Moon God Palace has already defected to one of the Four Abysses.¡±

    With that, the Yang God from Shenluo Heaven fell silent.

    Upon hearing this, Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable¡¯s expression changed drastically, her face a mix of complex emotions.

    ¡°A Yang God Heavenly Venerable defected!¡±

    This was like a bolt from the blue.

    After all, a Yang God Heavenly Venerable was a pillar of power in any faction.

    For a Yang God Heavenly Venerable to dare defect, it meant they had realized... that the Moon God Palace truly had no hope left?

    Could it be that the Moon God Palace had truly fallen to such a state?

    ¡°Should I report this news to...?¡±

    Moon Lotus Heavenly Venerable hesitated.

    If the higher-ups asked her where she got the information from, how would she explain it?

    She was unsure.

    ...

    Elsewhere, the figure of the Molo Heavenly Venerable descended like a great roc.

    Within the Hongyue Abyss, a pitch-black crack appeared in the black soil, bottomless and leading who knows where.

    The Molo Heavenly Venerable furrowed his brow. ¡°Where are they?¡±

    He scanned the surroundings but did not see the five Yang God Heavenly Venerables.

    However, he did catch the lingering aura they had left behind.

    Clearly, they had only just left.

    His consciousness probed his communication jade slip.

    The message he had sent still sat there, unanswered at the very bottom.

    ¡°They fled fast. Could it be they didn¡¯t have time to reply to the message?¡±

    The Molo Heavenly Venerable¡¯s gaze deepened, tinged with a trace of anger.

    This indicated that the treasure appearing here was of extraordinary value.

    So much so that the five Yang Gods had the audacity to try and claim it for themselves.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to see what kind of treasure this is,¡± the Molo Heavenly Venerable thought, his body moving into the crack.

    In just a few breaths, his expression shifted.

    ¡°So much purple energy!¡±

    ¡°And...!¡±

    In that instant, he saw the five figures.

    At this moment, the five Yang God Heavenly Venerables were attacking a formation together.

    It seemed they were exerting great effort and had been attacking for a long time.

    The formation was on the verge of collapse.

    ¡°They¡¯re gone. From now on, Wu Tian will pretend to be the Lord of the Molo Clan.¡±

    Qi Yuan spoke calmly.

    He already had a plan to occupy the Molo Clan¡¯s position, with his Nascent Soul impersonating a member of the Molo Clan.

    After all, the Yang God Heavenly Venerables were all now under his command.

    They were the real Molo Clan now!

    As for the original Molo Clan?

    Traitors. Fakes.

    ¡°Hmm, in a little while, I¡¯ll be heading to the Black Abyss,¡± Qi Yuan said. ¡°What do you think? Should I continue ¡®fishing¡¯ in the Black Abyss?¡±

    ¡°But... nah, I don¡¯t have any grudges against the Black Abyss, so fishing there doesn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    Qi Yuan considered himself a kind-hearted person.

    ¡°No, don¡¯t! The Grand Supreme Truth practitioners in the Black Abyss are second only to those in the Supreme Truth Guild. You must be careful!¡± Jin Li said, deeply concerned for Qi Yuan.

    Though the Black Abyss didn¡¯t have anyone as strong as the Moon God Primogenitor, who had mastered the Supreme Truth, it still had many ordinary Grand Supreme Truth practitioners.

    ¡°Hmm, I won¡¯t fish. I¡¯m too kind-hearted, just like you.¡±

    ¡°...¡± Jin Li¡¯s face flushed slightly.

    ¡°I have to go now and sort through everything. The Molo Clan left behind too many good things, and I don¡¯t have much time.¡±

    ¡°Bye-bye!¡±

    Ending the conversation with Jin Li, Qi Yuan lay back, staring at the countless techniques in front of him, his eyes sparkling.

    ¡°These are all treasures!¡±

    There were so many incredible items here.

    Especially the divine techniques he needed¡ªhe had found eight or nine thousand of them.

    As for techniques below the divine level, they were countless.

    The variety of celestial jades and treasures was beyond measure.

    ¡°Ah, if only I had seen these back when I was in the Qi Refining stage, how thrilling that would have been.¡±

    Despite the vast wealth before him, his emotions remained calm. Other than the divine techniques and the well back home, nothing else could stir his heart anymore.

    ¡°All of this... hmm...¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    Suddenly, he recalled something that Jiang Ling Su¡¯s junior sister¡¯s father, Jiang Ruhua, had once said.

    ¡°Our Jiang family is just too poor, sigh.¡±

    With that in mind, Qi Yuan made a decision.

    ...

    In the Eastern Lands, the Jiang family estate was bustling with people.

    Though only a few months had passed since Qi Yuan had ended the Great Catastrophe, the celebratory atmosphere in the Canglan Realm had yet to fade.

    The Jiang family gate was crowded with visitors.

    From time to time, a Yin God cultivator would come to pay their respects and present gifts.

    The reasons for visiting varied.

    Some would say, ¡°The Jiang family¡¯s dog just had puppies,¡± or ¡°A young genius of the Jiang family killed a hen.¡±

    In short, people came with all sorts of excuses to offer gifts.

    The Jiang family had become highly renowned.

    Even factions with Yin Gods dared not offend them.

    At this moment, Jiang Qian was walking through the Jiang family estate, delivering the congratulatory gifts.

    Her heart was still filled with shock.

    She had never imagined that the man who had once come to her aid in Cloud Sky City, killing that arrogant scion of the Feng family, was... such a powerful existence.

    She remembered how, back then, she had urged Qi Yuan to leave quickly to avoid retaliation from the Feng family. Now, the memory almost made her laugh.

    Just then, a voice suddenly echoed across the heavens.

    ¡°Uncle, didn¡¯t your Jiang family say you were a bit poor?¡±

    ¡°Well, I happened to wipe out a force in the Celestial Realm and made a bit of money. Let me help you out a little.¡±

    Upon hearing this voice, Jiang Qian¡¯s face filled with awe and joy.

    ¡°Greetings... Blood-Robed Sword God!¡±

    The people in the surrounding city also realized what had happened. All the cultivators lowered their heads, their faces filled with deep reverence.

    ¡°Greetings to the Blood-Robed Sword God!¡±

    Jiang Ruhua, beaming with pride, wore a satisfied expression.

    If it weren¡¯t for the crowd, he might have broken into a celebratory dance right then and there.

    Still, he maintained a calm demeanor, though politeness was necessary: ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Senior!¡±

    His daughter hadn¡¯t married yet, so he needed to be respectful to the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    Of course, the surrounding members of the Jiang family felt a bit speechless seeing this.

    This guy was always boasting at home, calling Qi Yuan his ¡°virtuous son-in-law¡± and claiming that it was his brilliant insight that had taught the Blood-Robed Sword God how to court his daughter.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this enough celestial jades to say you¡¯re no longer poor?¡±

    Qi Yuan waved his hand casually.

    A black rift suddenly appeared in the sky.

    But it wasn¡¯t raining dumplings from heaven.

    It was raining... celestial jades!

    Not just celestial jades, but countless treasures that would drive any Yin God mad with envy.

    The sky sparkled with dazzling light, celestial energy swirled, and treasures of all colors radiated a brilliance that left people dizzy.

    The cultivators in the city gazed up at the spectacle, their eyes filled with deep jealousy.

    Jiang Ruhua¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Senior must have wiped out a force at least ten times stronger than the Dao-Seeking Palace, right?¡±

    Nearby, the passing Dao-Seeking Palace Lord¡¯s face turned pale.

    Say no more!

    And those treasures in the sky¡ªany one of them would be something the Dao-Seeking Palace couldn¡¯t afford.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right,¡± Qi Yuan replied without a second thought.

    Something a hundred times stronger was indeed more than ten times stronger.

    It¡¯s like how someone with a monthly income of three thousand yuan could say they didn¡¯t make twenty thousand a month, right?

 Chapter 428: Entering the Black Abyss, Linyaâ€™s Transformation

    Chapter 428: Entering the Black Abyss, Linya¡¯s Transformation

    "Now, is the Jiang family still poor?"

    Qi Yuan, clad in a blood-red robe, descended gracefully, his appearance unparalleled.

    His looks left Jiang Ruhua stunned.

    Why hadn¡¯t he realized before just how astonishingly handsome Qi Yuan was?

    "With Senior here, the Jiang family is not poor!" Jiang Ruhua replied without blinking, his face calm.

    But recalling how he had fervently pursued the Blood-Robed Sword God, his face flushed with embarrassment.

    Luckily, the Blood-Robed Sword God didn¡¯t care.

    Otherwise, if Qi Yuan had merely released a fraction of his aura back then, Jiang Ruhua would have been doomed.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the city.

    Once an ordinary town, where even finding cultivators of the Purple Mansion stage was rare.

    Now, with just a simple scan, he could sense over a dozen Yin Gods.

    Suddenly, a thought struck Qi Yuan.

    "You¡¯ve all been living in the underworld, and in a way, I¡¯ve been keeping you all as livestock. It must have been hard for you."

    In the past, these people had been trapped by the Great Catastrophe, their lives and deaths controlled by it.

    Now that the Great Catastrophe had fallen, the threat of Taihuang Palace remained.

    These people were unable to leave the Canglan Realm, nor could they ascend to the Upper Realm.

    In a certain sense, it was as though the owner of the "pasture" had merely changed¡ªfrom the Great Catastrophe to Qi Yuan.

    "Livestock? I¡¯ve been living just fine here in the Canglan Realm!" Jiang Ruhua replied without hesitation.

    After all, as a Nascent Soul True Monarch, his life in the Canglan Realm hadn¡¯t changed much from before.

    The surrounding Yin Gods, hearing Qi Yuan''s words, turned pale.

    "Senior saved our lives and gave us a new chance. How could we possibly harbor any resentment?"

    These Yin Gods were terrified, worried that Qi Yuan¡¯s words hinted at something.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan remained calm.

    Was this the legendary ¡°accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger¡±?

    He had only made a casual remark, but these people were all overthinking, being overly cautious.

    "Senior¡¯s will is the will of the Canglan Realm, and it is our will as well," one of the Yin God lords said respectfully, as though they were ready to carve the word ¡°loyalty¡± onto their foreheads.

    "Don¡¯t be like that. I¡¯m a democratic person. I have no ambition to be a tyrannical emperor.

    "After all, being an emperor is exhausting. You can¡¯t even go to a brothel to listen to music¡ªit¡¯s not suitable for someone as socially awkward as me."

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s current strength, if he returned to Earth, being a chieftain or even an emperor wouldn¡¯t be a problem.

    But if someone asked him to do it, he¡¯d refuse.

    Moreover, he didn¡¯t want to ¡°lift people out of poverty.¡± Back on Earth, he couldn¡¯t even win an argument on the internet.

    If he saw one of his "bros" driving a Range Rover, he¡¯d probably explode in anger.

    The Yin God lords glanced at each other, puzzled by Qi Yuan¡¯s words, trying to decipher their meaning.

    Over the past period, they had been privately discussing the personality and character of the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    After all, he was the Lord of the Canglan Realm, a towering figure looming over them.

    But despite all their discussions, they couldn¡¯t reach any clear conclusions.

    In the end, they came to a terrifying realization:

    The Blood-Robed Sword God¡¯s behavior was bizarre...

    And possibly... mentally unstable!

    But how could a Yang God of such high standing be mentally unstable, acting erratically?

    After all, someone of his stature, even if he did something odd, surely had a profound reason behind it, as if setting up a grand strategy.

    So, they reached the best conclusion possible: flatter him, appease him, and handle him according to the "madman" persona that the Blood-Robed Sword God seemed to have constructed.

    "Emperors are despots who oppress the people¡ªthey don¡¯t deserve to be compared to Senior!" The Palace Lord of Dao-Seeking Palace immediately chimed in with flattery.

    "Indeed, the title ¡®emperor¡¯ is not worthy of being used to describe Senior."

    The other Yin Gods continued to flatter.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt elated.

    No wonder ancient emperors loved flatterers so much¡ªthese words were really pleasing to the ear.

    "Ahem, that¡¯s a bit exaggerated. Aren¡¯t all people equal? Why can¡¯t an emperor be compared to me?"

    "Oh, by the way, the atmosphere in the Canglan Realm isn¡¯t quite right. We need to continue reforming it, and people need to get along harmoniously!" Qi Yuan said seriously. "Otherwise, constantly hearing vulgar and dirty language will affect my mood."

    "Understood!"

    The other Yin Gods immediately bowed their heads.

    As for what Qi Yuan had just said about democracy and not being tyrannical, they chose to pretend they hadn¡¯t heard it.

    In the end, he sighed helplessly. "Sigh, the cultivation world¡¯s atmosphere is terrible. Isn¡¯t everyone supposed to be equal? How can you discriminate against me just because I¡¯m in the Purple Mansion stage?"

    Unable to win with power, Qi Yuan could only try to gain the moral high ground.

    "I don¡¯t have time to argue with you," Bullhorn Sister said, her mood now quite good.

    After all, this might be the only time she¡¯d get to bully someone like the Blood-Robed Sword God.

    Given his bloodline talent, once Qi Yuan entered the Black Abyss, he would surely receive treatment far better than hers.

    In fact, he might even become a Grand Supreme Truth practitioner in the future¡ªperhaps even something higher.

    "Alright, we¡¯ve arrived at Purple Fate Heaven. Come on, don¡¯t say anything reckless. If the ancestors hear, we¡¯ll be in serious trouble!" Bullhorn Sister said softly, before disappearing from view.

    At the same time, beyond the skies of Purple Fate Heaven, two pairs of eyes pierced through countless layers of space, observing Bullhorn Sister and Qi Yuan.

    "Old Six, is this the new recruit you brought in? He looks pretty ordinary."

    The speaker was the Third Elder of the Black Abyss, one of the nine elders, his entire body shrouded in darkness, with only his eyes visible.

    Within the darkness, the power of the Great Dao swirled, Supreme Truth inscriptions flowed, and a single glance into his eyes could draw others in¡ªsomething that should not be looked at directly.

    "His bloodline is far from ordinary. His potential could reach our level¡ªhe could become a Grand Supreme Truth practitioner," said the Sixth Elder, the Purple Fate Ancestor, with a look of pride in his eyes.

    "A Grand Supreme Truth practitioner..." The Third Elder¡¯s gaze deepened. "Indeed, this is a fine seedling."

    Such a bloodline was already among the top tier in the Black Abyss, enough to excite even the Black Abyss Ancestors.

    "It seems fate is on our side," the Purple Fate Ancestor mused, his eyes filled with awe. "In the main bloodline, Black Sword¡¯s... bloodline is even more incredible."

    "He¡¯s our master¡¯s most cherished disciple. The Black Abyss will rely on him to deal with Linya¡¯s Transformation." The Third Elder¡¯s face turned serious as he mentioned this.

    His master was the First Elder of the Black Abyss, one of the seven ancestors, and the foremost figure in the Black Abyss.

    "Linya¡¯s Transformation..." The Sixth Elder¡¯s face shifted, growing more and more somber. "Even forces as powerful as Taihuang Palace and the Moon God Palace can¡¯t fully resist Linya¡¯s Transformation. Can Black Sword handle it?"

    "At the very least, if he comprehends the Supreme Truth, we¡¯ll have some confidence when facing Linya¡¯s Transformation, won¡¯t we?" The Third Elder said, though his tone carried a sigh. "The Supreme Truth Conference is about to begin, and Black Sword will be attending.

    Before that, we eight elders will gather to help him refine his blood and elevate his enlightenment, so that he can comprehend the Supreme Truth as soon as possible!"

    The Sixth Elder nodded. "Agreed."

    Refining blood and elevating enlightenment required creating a special pill, which would drain even a portion of their vitality.

    But for the sake of nurturing a future Grand Supreme Truth practitioner who had comprehended the Supreme Truth, the sacrifice was worth it.

    "Your new recruit isn¡¯t bad either. If there are any leftovers from the blood refinement, we can give him the scraps. Once he becomes a Grand Supreme Truth practitioner, he can serve Black Sword and be protected by him," the Third Elder said lightly.

    The Sixth Elder didn¡¯t seem pleased to hear this. "Blood-Robed is at least the Demon Son of our Purple Fate Heaven. Why should he settle for scraps? No, he should receive the same treatment as Black Sword! His potential is also at the level of a Grand Supreme Truth practitioner¡ªwhy should the difference be so vast?"

    "There are differences even between Grand Supreme Truth practitioners," the Third Elder replied calmly.

    "It¡¯s not enough. Scraps won¡¯t do. If that¡¯s all, I won¡¯t participate in the pill refinement! At most... I¡¯ll give up my share of the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood for this millennium!" The Sixth Elder yelled, showing no semblance of a dignified Yang God.

    The Third Elder glanced at the Sixth Elder in surprise.

    Black Abyss Ancestor Blood was extremely precious to beings like them.

    Suspicious, the Third Elder¡¯s face darkened as he asked, "Old Six, tell me honestly¡ªis his bloodline potential more than just that of an ordinary Grand Supreme Truth practitioner?"

    Otherwise, given Old Six¡¯s notorious stinginess, why would he willingly give up his share of millennial Black Abyss Ancestor Blood?

    "Heh, no, he¡¯s just an ordinary Grand Supreme Truth practitioner¡ªfar inferior to Black Sword," the Sixth Elder grinned, his expression shameless.

    The Third Elder narrowed his eyes, his aura deepening.

    His gaze pierced through the heavens, landing on Qi Yuan within the Purple Fate Heaven, as if trying to see through him.

    But soon after, he shook his head.

    "Purple Fate Heaven is your territory. I can¡¯t see anything. By the time he leaves, you¡¯ll have masked his aura well enough, I¡¯m sure... Sigh." The Third Elder sounded unwilling. "It seems you really did strike gold. Perhaps... he¡¯s only slightly weaker than Black Sword."

    "Indeed, he is weaker than Black Sword," the Sixth Elder said, though with a tone that seemed slightly dissatisfied.

    "Hmph! Only slightly weaker than Black Sword, and you¡¯re still not satisfied? He¡¯s likely to surpass us nine elders, and among all the talents of the Sixth Heaven, he¡¯d rank in the top ten," the Third Elder¡¯s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

    There were only a handful of Grand Supreme Truth practitioners in the Sixth Heaven who had comprehended the Supreme Truth.

    The Third Elder¡¯s expression grew more serious. "Indeed... we must keep this secret. If news of this leaks out... If the Black Abyss produces two Grand Supreme Truth practitioners who¡¯ve comprehended the Supreme Truth..."

    "You¡¯ve done well to conceal this," the Third Elder said approvingly. "Once word spread of Black Sword, many eyes turned toward the Black Abyss. If Blood-Robed..."

    "During the blood refinement process, I¡¯ll be in charge. I¡¯ll secretly withhold a third of the essence¡ªdon¡¯t tell anyone. And as for the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, I won¡¯t leave any for you."

    "A third isn¡¯t enough!"

    "Hmph, Black Sword¡¯s talent is the greatest in the Sixth Heaven. Even if Blood-Robed is strong, he¡¯s likely at the level of Shenluo Heaven¡¯s top talents, far below Black Sword.

    Unless you want him to challenge Black Sword, if he wins, I¡¯ll secretly give him two-thirds of the essence. How about that?"

    "You¡ª" The Sixth Elder was furious. "He¡¯s only a Great Lord, and you want him to challenge a Yang God? Have you no shame?"

    "This is settled!" The Third Elder said, before his figure vanished.

    Beyond the sky, only a shadow remained.

    After a long time, a gleam of light flashed deep within the Sixth Elder¡¯s eyes.

    He murmured to himself.

    "The greatest in the Sixth Heaven?"

    "Old Three, you really should open your eyes and see the world."

 Chapter 429: The Ancestral Blood Art

    Chapter 429: The Ancestral Blood Art

    The Purple Fate Ancestor stood, clad in a black robe, with the rules of the Supreme Truth flowing around him. His entire form seemed less like a living being and more like an embodiment of certain profound rules.

    He stood outside the skies, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

    After a long while, another figure in black robes appeared beside him. The newcomer radiated a powerful aura¡ªit was clearly another practitioner of the Supreme Truth.

    Besides the ancestral figures, this man was the highest authority in the Purple Fate Heaven: the only Minor Supreme Truth Yang God of their division.

    Yang Gods were incredibly rare, and Supreme Truth practitioners were the absolute elites in the Sixth Heaven.

    The Purple Fate Clan, like many bloodline-based clans, was both strengthened and limited by their bloodline. They had produced a Grand Supreme Truth practitioner, but even giving birth to more Yang Gods was a challenge.

    On the other hand, clans like the Moruo Clan, which didn¡¯t have a Grand Supreme Truth, had far more Yang Gods and even Supreme Truth Yang Gods than Purple Fate Heaven.

    This was why the Purple Fate Clan often sought to expand their influence by absorbing other bloodlines. Having even one more Yang God was no small matter.

    ¡°Greetings, Ancestor. The Blood-Robed one has arrived in Purple Fate Heaven. Shall I arrange a meeting with him?¡± the man in black respectfully saluted, not daring to directly look at the ancestor.

    In his perception, the ancestor had no fixed form, only a shifting embodiment of the Supreme Truth.

    The Purple Fate Ancestor shook his head. ¡°No need.¡±

    The man, Purple Fate Tan, wasn¡¯t surprised by this response.

    ¡°What kind of treatment should he receive?¡± Purple Fate Tan inquired.

    At the same time, he was mentally evaluating what level of bloodline talent the Blood-Robed one possessed.

    ¡°In Purple Fate Heaven, he will be ranked as the foremost below the Yang Gods,¡± the Purple Fate Ancestor replied calmly.

    ¡°As you command.¡± Purple Fate Tan was unsurprised.

    If the ancestor was taking an interest, this meant the Blood-Robed one¡¯s bloodline talent was of a high level, at least capable of producing a Supreme Truth practitioner. Being ranked above Purple Fate Daxue in terms of treatment was only natural.

    ¡°Here¡¯s a gift for him. Pass it along,¡± the ancestor said as a black storage bag materialized, landing in Purple Fate Tan¡¯s hand.

    As he took the bag, Purple Fate Tan bowed again, thoughts racing through his mind. The current state of Purple Fate Heaven was rather precarious, with a lack of promising young talent¡ªno wonder the ancestor was so invested.

    After all, Purple Fate Heaven had only one Supreme Truth practitioner and very few Yang Gods compared to other branches. This was a source of embarrassment for the ancestor.

    ¡°Give him the ¡®Ancestral Blood Art,¡¯ and tell him that if he can reach the seventh layer, he may come see me, and I will grant him a small wish,¡± the ancestor instructed.

    ¡°Understood,¡± Purple Fate Tan nodded, keeping his voice low.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, how far has Black Sword progressed in the ¡®Ancestral Blood Art¡¯?¡± the ancestor asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure of the exact details, but according to recent rumors, he¡¯s reached at least the ninth layer,¡± Purple Fate Tan replied.

    Hearing this, the ancestor¡¯s tone shifted slightly. ¡°The seventh layer is too easy. Tell him to come see me once he reaches the ninth.¡±

    Purple Fate Tan couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. The ancestor loved to compete.

    Reaching the ninth layer of the Ancestral Blood Art was incredibly difficult. Even a Yang God like the Blood-Robed one might not achieve it.

    His own daughter, Purple Fate Daxue, who was on the cusp of becoming a Yang God, had only reached the sixth layer.

    The Ancestral Blood Art was an unconventional cultivation technique, where progress depended almost entirely on the strength of one¡¯s bloodline and a sliver of one¡¯s insight.

    Bloodline determined ninety-nine percent of one¡¯s progress, and insight only one percent.

    When Black Sword had first acquired the Ancestral Blood Art, he had reached the third layer within half a month, an achievement that left everyone astonished.

    This was the fastest anyone had ever progressed in the Ancestral Blood Art, surpassing even the ancestor¡¯s own master.

    And his master was none other than the First Elder of the Black Abyss, the greatest of the Nine Elders.

    ...

    ¡°Your Black Abyss is awfully dark and gloomy, all gray and dull. Doesn¡¯t look much like a righteous cultivation sect, does it?¡± Qi Yuan glanced around.

    Even the river water was black, and the trees had a dull, ashen quality, almost as if they were fake.

    ¡°Why are you judging a place by its appearance? Didn¡¯t you say everyone is equal?¡± Purple Fate Daxue shot back, throwing Qi Yuan¡¯s own words at him.

    Qi Yuan paused, momentarily at a loss for words.

    Then, with a sigh, he said, ¡°I never expected to find the light of humanity in the Black Abyss¡ªin you. You truly believe in equality!¡±

    Just then, the space around them rippled, and a man in black robes appeared. Like Purple Fate Daxue, he also had a horn on his head, but rather than looking rough, he appeared quite refined.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s senses immediately sharpened. Purple Fate Heaven was full of powerful figures, and he had already faintly detected two immensely strong presences watching him from the shadows.

    And now, another Supreme Truth practitioner had arrived.

    When Purple Fate Daxue saw the newcomer, her face lit up with excitement. ¡°Father! I brought Blood-Robed back!¡±

    She waved her hand enthusiastically, almost as if she were seeking praise.

    The boisterous and carefree demeanor of Bullhorn Sister vanished, and she now acted like a little girl trying to impress her father.

    Purple Fate Tan smiled warmly. ¡°What gift do you want this time?¡±

    As a Supreme Truth Yang God, he could easily see through his daughter¡¯s little schemes, but he was happy to indulge her nonetheless.

    ¡°I want a Black Cloud Blood Steed!¡± Purple Fate Daxue¡¯s face beamed with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted one since I was a kid. Riding it through the heavens would be so cool!¡±

    On the way here, Qi Yuan had already heard Purple Fate Daxue mention the Black Cloud Blood Steed several times.

    It was... a mode of transportation.

    For cultivators.

    In Earth terms, well, it was like a motorcycle.

    Which fit Bullhorn Sister perfectly in Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    Of course, the Black Cloud Blood Steed wasn¡¯t just a motorcycle¡ªit also had space-jumping abilities.

    Any one of those tasks could take thousands of years to grasp.

    But the Black Abyss bloodline practitioners were different¡ªthey only needed to strengthen their bloodline.

    Bloodline was everything.

    Bloodline could bring everything.

    Blood-Robed¡¯s bloodline was clearly much stronger than his own¡ªotherwise, the ancestor wouldn¡¯t have shown such interest.

    In truth, Purple Fate Tan¡¯s own bloodline was quite average, even inferior to his daughter, Purple Fate Daxue.

    But through perseverance and high insight, he had become the foremost Supreme Truth practitioner under the ancestor¡¯s command.

    Naturally, he envied those like Qi Yuan who possessed such powerful bloodlines.

    ¡°It sounds like a low return on investment, but I¡¯ll give it a try if I have time,¡± Qi Yuan said lazily.

    After all, reaching the ninth layer allowed him to ask for a favor from the Purple Fate Ancestor.

    Not a bad reward.

    Purple Fate Tan¡¯s face twitched but he didn¡¯t comment. ¡°This is a message from the Ancestor, and I advise you not to mention it to others. Otherwise, it could arouse jealousy.¡±

    He handed a storage bag to Qi Yuan and offered some words of caution.

    After all, being favored by the ancestor could attract unwanted attention from others with ulterior motives.

    ¡°To not be envied is a mark of mediocrity,¡± Qi Yuan responded casually.

    After all... he was just having fun.

    As long as it didn¡¯t hurt his interests, he would act as he pleased.

    Purple Fate Tan chuckled. ¡°As you wish.¡±

    He was only offering advice, after all.

    In such cases, the gifts from the ancestor weren¡¯t usually anything too precious¡ªthe true treasure lay in the ancestor¡¯s favor.

    He wasn¡¯t jealous of what the ancestor gave to Blood-Robed.

    ¡°Daxue, take Blood-Robed to his new residence so he can begin his cultivation.¡±

    After speaking, Purple Fate Tan disappeared.

    Purple Fate Daxue looked at Qi Yuan with envy. ¡°In my entire life, I¡¯ve only ever received one gift from the Ancestor, and you get one as soon as you arrive. Sigh... Comparing yourself to others really is disheartening...¡±

    ¡°Reminder: you¡¯re not human,¡± Qi Yuan pointed out her mistake.

    With horns on her head, how could she pass herself off as a human?

    ¡°I wonder what gift the Ancestor gave you,¡± Purple Fate Daxue mused, her curiosity piqued. ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s more valuable than a Black Cloud Blood Steed?¡±

    A gift from the Ancestor was sure to be precious, as it would be an insult otherwise.

    Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be overly extravagant, either.

    Back when Purple Fate Daxue was younger, she had been gifted a divine pet of mythological grade, which had made her the envy of many.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head to my new residence first. Didn¡¯t I say I wanted a nice place? Otherwise... I won¡¯t be happy about this,¡± Qi Yuan reminded her.

    ¡°You sure know how to ask for more after getting something. Do you even realize... the Ancestor has appointed you as the top Demon Son of our younger generation?¡± Purple Fate Daxue said enviously.

    ¡°A Demon Son?¡± Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t fond of that title.

    After all, he considered himself to be lawful good.

    ¡°Our Purple Fate Heaven originally had four Demon Sons. You¡¯ll be the fifth.

    ¡°And now, you¡¯ve already been named the top Demon Son. I¡¯m sure the others won¡¯t be happy,¡± Purple Fate Daxue said with a smirk.

    Laughing and chatting, they arrived at a towering mountain suspended in the sky.

    The mountain was desolate, with no buildings or signs of life¡ªjust scattered rocks everywhere.

    Purple Fate Daxue pointed ahead, hands on her hips. ¡°Look, there it is¡ªyour residence... Cool, right?¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced over and was stunned. ¡°Why... does my residence look so strange?¡±

    In front of him was a giant steel ball.

    The reason it was described as ¡°giant¡± was because it was truly massive¡ªlarger than the entire Shang Kingdom.

    This was supposed to be the cultivation world.

    Yet the giant ball was made of steel, giving off a sci-fi, cyberpunk vibe.

    ¡°What¡¯s strange about it? This residence is called Yuan Star, and it¡¯s modeled after the stars that illuminate the heavens!¡± a crisp voice interrupted.

    Two young women appeared, one tall, one small.

    One had a pink horn tied with a butterfly ribbon, a cute look with her bangs cut straight across her forehead, wearing a light blue dress, and standing daintily.

    The other had no horns, with a tall, elegant figure, a cold expression, and wore a deep green dress that clung to her figure. Her chest was half-exposed, revealing a soft, blindingly white expanse of skin. A black ribbon was tied around her smooth thighs. It was the taller one who had spoken.

    ¡°These are two other Demon Sons. The cute one is called Purple Fate Xiaolu, and the sexy one is An Xunlu,¡± Purple Fate Daxue introduced them.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu blinked and quickly lowered her head after stealing a glance at Qi Yuan, clearly shy.

    An Xunlu, on the other hand, scrutinized Qi Yuan with a sharp, assessing gaze.

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s focus was also on An Xunlu.

    Not because of her revealing attire¡ªbut because her name was all wrong.

    It should have been An Xin-Ku (Safety Panties).

 Chapter 430: Am I Really Not His Estranged Father?

    Chapter 430: Am I Really Not His Estranged Father?

    Purple Fate Daxue smiled gently, ¡°Little Sister Xiaolu is a good person and kind-hearted. As for An Xunlu... well, she¡¯s got a sharp tongue, very envious, and loves to badmouth people behind their backs. You¡¯d better be careful around her.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t just talk behind people¡¯s backs, I also love to insult them to their faces!¡± An Xunlu glared at Purple Fate Daxue, her killing intent barely concealed.

    This confirmed Qi Yuan¡¯s suspicions¡ªthere was definitely something off with the Purple Fate Heaven bloodline.

    All the cultivators here seemed a bit... off.

    In contrast, places like the Moon God Palace or other cultivation sects were much more normal. There, everyone was polite and courteous on the surface.

    ¡°Hmph! Just arrived in Purple Fate Heaven, and already named the leader of us Demon Sons? I¡¯d like to see what you¡¯re really capable of!¡± An Xunlu was a fierce character, always acting swiftly and decisively.

    This scene made Qi Yuan blink in surprise.

    Now this was the kind of drama he expected from the cultivation world.

    In his previous cultivation experiences, the people he encountered were far too friendly.

    For instance, when he visited the Jiang family, there wasn¡¯t even a small-time troublemaker to stir things up.

    ¡°What¡¯s your cultivation level? I¡¯ll lower mine to match yours. Don¡¯t say it¡¯s unfair,¡± An Xunlu offered with a sharp tone.

    ¡°I¡¯m at the Purple Mansion level,¡± Qi Yuan responded seriously.

    An Xunlu¡¯s face immediately turned red with anger. ¡°Shameless!¡±

    This man was just pretending to be weak!

    ¡°I¡¯m not lying; I¡¯m really at the Purple Mansion level,¡± Qi Yuan maintained with a sincere expression.

    Purple Fate Daxue burst out laughing at An Xunlu¡¯s reaction. ¡°I can vouch for him¡ªhe really is at the Purple Mansion.¡±

    ¡°Hmph!¡± An Xunlu¡¯s chest heaved with fury, revealing more than a glimpse of spring beneath her robe as she turned and stormed off.

    Qi Yuan felt a little disappointed.

    He had been curious to see what a "Purple Mansion" cultivator from a powerful faction like this could do.

    Purple Fate Daxue narrowed her eyes mischievously, ¡°Well, was it white enough? Big enough?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Yuan looked confused, not understanding what she meant.

    ¡°I mean... did you want a taste?¡± Purple Fate Daxue teased, a smirk on her lips.

    ¡°...Hey! Can you stop acting like a female pervert?¡± Qi Yuan was exasperated.

    These people in the Black Abyss really weren¡¯t normal.

    Standing nearby, Purple Fate Xiaolu blushed bright red, clutching the corner of her robe in embarrassment. If not for her shy nature, she might have covered her ears.

    ¡°Sis is just teasing! Don¡¯t get any ideas¡ªyou wouldn¡¯t stand a chance even if you wanted to. An Xunlu has her eyes on someone else... someone like Black Sword.¡± When she mentioned Black Sword, Purple Fate Daxue¡¯s expression became uncharacteristically serious.

    ¡°Hey, stop spreading such dirty rumors! I don¡¯t have any interest in An Xunlu!¡± Qi Yuan was fed up.

    These Black Abyss people were incredible at making up rumors!

    Though this kind of thing wasn¡¯t exclusive to the cultivation world. It happened a lot back on Earth, too.

    A common case: one person starts a rumor online¡ª¡°Is so-and-so impotent?¡±¡ªand soon, others start repeating it: ¡°I heard so-and-so is impotent.¡±

    Boom, rumor successfully spread.

    But normally, rumors took time to build momentum.

    Purple Fate Daxue, though, was spreading these rumors with no buildup at all.

    Qi Yuan figured the only reason people from the Purple Fate clan had survived this long despite their loose tongues was because of their strong bloodline.

    ¡°Sigh, you¡¯re no fun. I was only kidding. Besides, I wanted to introduce Black Sword into the conversation.¡±

    ¡°Wait a second¡ªhow do you even know about ¡®cells¡¯?¡± Qi Yuan blinked, suddenly suspicious.

    Could she be from Earth too?

    ¡°We in the Black Abyss study bloodlines. Coming up with a term like ¡®cell¡¯ isn¡¯t a stretch, right?¡± Purple Fate Daxue looked at Qi Yuan like he was some backwater bumpkin.

    Qi Yuan instantly understood.

    For a Yang God, if their eyes couldn¡¯t see down to the cellular level, that would be disappointing.

    ¡°Anyway, you better work hard and cultivate the Ancestral Blood Art to surpass Black Sword. That guy¡¯s known as the Light of the Black Abyss, but I¡¯m rebellious and don¡¯t like him,¡± Purple Fate Daxue said seriously.

    Black Sword was hailed as the greatest prodigy in the Black Abyss, someone destined to become a Grand Supreme Truth practitioner.

    Not just any Supreme Truth practitioner, but one like the legendary figure in the Taihuang Palace who had comprehended the Supreme Truth to the highest degree.

    Despite being the Black Abyss¡¯s ruler in the Sixth Heaven, the region had never produced a Grand Supreme Truth practitioner who had mastered the ultimate truth.

    That¡¯s why Black Sword was held in such high regard.

    For someone like Purple Fate Daxue, a top-tier talent herself, she had constantly been told to follow Black Sword¡¯s lead once she became a Yang God. Naturally, this didn¡¯t sit well with her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Bullhorn Sis. You helped me before, so I¡¯ll help you take down Black Sword next time,¡± Qi Yuan thumped his chest in promise.

    ¡°You¡¯re really taking this seriously?¡± Purple Fate Daxue sighed, exasperated.

    But then again, knowing that Blood-Robed considered the figure from Taihuang Palace his mortal enemy, it wasn¡¯t too surprising that he¡¯d look down on Black Sword.

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying it. Don¡¯t actually go picking a fight with Black Sword¡ªhe¡¯s terrifying. He¡¯s the disciple of the Black Abyss Progenitor, and even our ancestor calls him ¡®junior brother,¡¯¡± Purple Fate Daxue cautioned, her face turning grave.

    The Black Abyss Progenitor was the eldest of the Nine Elders in the Black Abyss, and the other eight were his disciples.

    So Black Sword¡¯s seniority was higher than everyone else.

    Purple Fate Daxue shrugged, ¡°Your residence is just up ahead. I¡¯m not going in. Little Sister Xiaolu is great at household chores, so she¡¯ll help you tidy up.¡±

    With that, Purple Fate Daxue yawned and left.

    Although the ancestor had high hopes for Blood-Robed, Purple Fate Daxue understood that no matter how strong his bloodline was, it couldn¡¯t compare to Black Sword¡¯s.

    After all, there was only so much Black Abyss Progenitor blood to go around.

    Now, only Qi Yuan and the shy Purple Fate Xiaolu remained in the empty space.

    ¡°Little Pink Horn, I¡¯ll leave the cleaning to you!¡± Qi Yuan said, smiling gently at Purple Fate Xiaolu.

    Her face flushed even redder, clearly flustered by the nickname.

    Lowering her head, she softly replied, ¡°Okay.¡±

    Then, she flew toward Qi Yuan¡¯s steel fortress of a residence.

    Almost immediately, thousands upon thousands of Purple Fate Xiaolus appeared, spreading out across the steel fortress and meticulously cleaning every nook and cranny.

    Qi Yuan watched this scene, rubbing his chin with a pensive expression, as if contemplating something of immense importance.

    Finally, after dozens of breaths, his face lit up with excitement.

    ¡°If I brought Purple Fate Xiaolu to Earth and had some of her clones work in factories assembling electronics, while others became beggars in certain countries, wouldn¡¯t I make a fortune? Wouldn¡¯t she bankrupt those countries?¡±

    In an instant, Qi Yuan felt a powerful sense of fullness. His energy surged, and countless changes began to occur within his body.

    He felt stronger.

    Even without his spiritual energy protecting him, he felt like his body could now withstand blows from previous enemies without feeling a thing.

    ¡°I feel terrifyingly strong right now!¡±

    ¡°I bet I could eat a billion steamed buns without drinking any water!¡±

    ¡°No wonder my family¡¯s well wanted to swallow this Black Abyss Progenitor Blood. It¡¯s the ultimate tonic!¡±

    ¡°This Black Abyss really was the right choice. It¡¯s my personal treasure trove!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze grew deep with anticipation.

    His energy was so abundant now that he felt like running laps around Earth.

    But then a doubt crept into his mind.

    Why was the Purple Fate Ancestor treating him so well?

    Something didn¡¯t feel right.

    Qi Yuan pondered this as he flashed out of his residence.

    Not far away, Purple Fate Xiaolu was butting her head against a door, her pink horn glowing as she diligently worked, like an ox plowing a field.

    ¡°Little Pink Horn!¡± Qi Yuan called out.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu stopped what she was doing and hurried over, panting lightly. ¡°Blood-Robed Senior Brother, what is it?¡±

    As the top Demon Son, Qi Yuan naturally deserved the title of Senior Brother.

    ¡°I want to ask you something in secret, and you have to promise not to tell anyone,¡± Qi Yuan said, his face serious.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu nodded vigorously, clearly excited that Qi Yuan was trusting her with a secret.

    Clenching her fists, she leaned in closer. ¡°Senior Brother Blood-Robed, you can tell me anything.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering... does the Purple Fate Ancestor have any estranged relatives out in the world? Like... a father, or maybe a grandfather?¡±

    Purple Fate Xiaolu was taken aback by the question. ¡°I... I really don¡¯t know, Senior Brother.¡±

    After all, how could a humble cultivator like her know the private affairs of such a mighty figure?

    ¡°Why are you asking about this, Senior Brother?¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu was growing a little nervous.

    More than anything, she was confused.

    Here in the Purple Fate Heaven, discussing the ancestor like this was dangerous. If the ancestor wished, he could sense such conversations at any time.

    ¡°Well, the ancestor gave me a welcoming gift...¡± Qi Yuan said, puzzled.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu still didn¡¯t understand and was starting to feel a little jealous.

    ¡°The gift he gave me is pretty valuable. I¡¯ll show you, but don¡¯t tell anyone, okay?¡±

    Qi Yuan lifted a corner of the storage bag.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu peered inside, her eyes widening in shock.

    ¡°Black! Abyss! Ancestor! Blood!!¡±

    Her heart pounded, and her face was full of disbelief.

    This was Black Abyss Progenitor Blood!

    Even Supreme Truth Yang Gods had to contribute significantly to the Black Abyss before they could receive even a small portion of this blood.

    Only figures on the level of the Nine Elders would ever have a share of it.

    And yet... the ancestor had given it to Blood-Robed?

    How could she not be shocked?

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s next words left her even more stunned.

    ¡°If Black Abyss Progenitor Blood is this precious, and the ancestor still gave it to me, there must be a reason. I¡¯ve been thinking... maybe I¡¯m actually some long-lost ancestor of theirs, left behind in the outside world.¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered aloud.

    Being the Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s son?

    Not a chance.

    He¡¯d been an orphan since childhood.

    And if he wasn¡¯t someone¡¯s son, there could only be one explanation¡ªhe was their ancestor!

    Why else would they be so nice to him?

    Purple Fate Xiaolu blinked, her lips quivering as she nervously licked them, clearly overwhelmed.

    ¡°Senior Brother Blood-Robed, I... I really don¡¯t know...¡±

    She didn¡¯t dare continue the conversation.

    If the ancestor overheard this, and became angry, she would be finished.

    ¡°Sigh...¡± Qi Yuan sighed. ¡°I won¡¯t trouble you with this.¡±

    Purple Fate Xiaolu breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Senior Brother, please don¡¯t say things like that. If the ancestor hears... well...

    ¡°And don¡¯t worry, Senior Brother¡ªmy lips are sealed tight!¡±

    Qi Yuan nodded. ¡°Good. You keep cleaning. I¡¯m heading out for a bit.¡±

    With that, he vanished.

    He planned to ask Purple Fate Daxue, An Xunlu, and the other cultivators in Purple Fate Heaven whether the ancestor had any estranged fathers or grandfathers out there.

    Everyone had a bit of curiosity, and Qi Yuan was no different.

    Meanwhile, outside the heavens, the Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s body twisted, the laws of the Supreme Truth coiling around him.

    Qi Yuan and Purple Fate Xiaolu¡¯s conversation hadn¡¯t escaped his awareness.

    ¡°You... idiot!¡±

    ¡°What in the world are you thinking?!¡±

    He was ancient, having lived for countless years.

    How could he possibly have any lost fathers or grandfathers out in the world?

    But then, a sudden thought crossed his mind, and doubt flickered in his eyes.

    ¡°Could he really be... my little ancestor?¡±

 Chapter 431: Seventh Layer of the Ancestral Blood Art,â€ A Huge Improvement

    Chapter 431: Seventh Layer of the ¡°Ancestral Blood Art,¡± A Huge Improvement

    The Purple Fate Ancestor hovered beyond the firmament, his gaze deep.

    His eyes landed on Qi Yuan.

    When he saw Qi Yuan go meet Purple Fate Daxue, the corner of his mouth couldn¡¯t help but twitch.

    The heart that had remained still like an ancient well for so many years now rippled with emotion.

    ¡°This guy... does he have a screw loose?¡±

    Indeed, Qi Yuan had secretly sought out Purple Fate Daxue.

    The first thing out of his mouth was: ¡°I need to ask you something!¡±

    What was it?

    ¡°Does the Ancestor have a long-lost father outside?¡±

    What?

    ¡°The Ancestor gave me Black Abyss Ancestor Blood as a meeting gift. He¡¯s been so kind to me that I¡¯m starting to suspect...¡±

    Meeting Purple Fate Daxue wasn¡¯t enough, though. Afterward, Qi Yuan even approached the street sweepers, garbage collectors, and people fishing.

    Whenever he saw someone, he¡¯d hit them with the same two questions:

    ¡°Does the Ancestor have a long-lost father?¡± and ¡°The Ancestor gave me Black Abyss Ancestor Blood!¡±

    Yes, whenever he ran into someone, he¡¯d ask. He scared many of the cultivators in Purple Fate Heaven.

    He even went so far as to question unborn children. Speaking through the bellies of pregnant women, he would ask if the Ancestor had left behind some long-lost ancestor outside since the Ancestor had given him Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    By the end of just half a day, thousands of people in Purple Fate Heaven had been questioned by Qi Yuan.

    At this moment, on top of a steep mountain where red lava flowed, emitting thick heat, the ground cracked as the lava occasionally bubbled.

    Qi Yuan stopped in his tracks.

    A curt voice rang in his ear: ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    The one speaking was none other than An Xunlu.

    Her expression was icy, arms crossed, as she looked at Qi Yuan warily.

    After all, she had provoked Qi Yuan a few days ago. Now, seeing him here, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had come for revenge.

    ¡°I came to ask you something!¡± Qi Yuan whispered.

    An Xunlu squinted her eyes. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Do you know if the Ancestor has a long-lost father outside?¡± Qi Yuan asked seriously.

    An Xunlu was close to Black Sword. Black Sword was the number one prodigy in the Black Abyss and the hope for the future, so she might know many hidden details.

    ¡°What... are you talking about?¡± An Xunlu didn¡¯t quite understand Qi Yuan¡¯s question.

    ¡°Well, you see, the Ancestor gave me a gift, right?¡± Qi Yuan continued.

    An Xunlu turned her head. The glow of the lava reflected on her pale face, making it appear particularly red and radiant. ¡°So, you¡¯re here just to brag about it?¡±

    She seemed to have seen through Qi Yuan¡¯s little scheme and wasn¡¯t interested at all.

    Yes, the Ancestor¡¯s favor¡ªreceiving a gift might make others jealous, but she wouldn¡¯t care.

    After all, her future husband was Black Sword.

    Someone treated with great care by all nine Ancestors of the Black Abyss.

    ¡°Brag? No, I¡¯m genuinely curious,¡± Qi Yuan retorted, feeling a bit exasperated.

    Where was the trust between people?

    Oh, wait¡ªshe wasn¡¯t human.

    ¡°Hmph, what gift did the Ancestor give you?¡± An Xunlu asked with a mocking smile.

    Maybe it was something somewhat valuable, and that¡¯s why Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t resist showing off.

    But she was different¡ªhaving followed Black Sword, she had seen countless treasures.

    ¡°The Ancestor gave me Black Abyss Ancestor Blood,¡± Qi Yuan said, pulling out the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood and showing half of it to An Xunlu.

    An Xunlu¡¯s pupils instantly contracted, her breathing grew rapid, and her chest rose and fell sharply: ¡°This... how is this possible?!¡±

    How could it be Black Abyss Ancestor Blood?!

    This was Black Abyss Ancestor Blood!

    In the Black Abyss, Black Abyss Ancestor Blood was more valuable than even creation-level treasures.

    Even Supreme Truth realm Yin Gods didn¡¯t have the qualifications to obtain it.

    Only Great Principle Ancestors in the Supreme Truth realm could access it.

    Back then, the Molo Clan¡¯s Molo Well had swallowed some Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, and that alone got them expelled.

    Even now, Black Sword didn¡¯t have the qualifications to obtain Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    How could Qi Yuan have it?

    ¡°Impossible. Black Abyss Ancestor Blood is the Ancestor¡¯s most precious treasure. How could he give it to you?¡± An Xunlu didn¡¯t believe it.

    But the aura emanating from the storage bag was unmistakably Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    For those with Black Abyss lineage, they might mistake their own father, but never Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    ¡°What? His most precious treasure? Is the Ancestor a duck or something?¡± Qi Yuan was confused.

    An Xunlu took a deep breath, calming herself. ¡°You really hit the jackpot. I never thought the Ancestor would give you Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    But... even with Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, the number one of the younger generation in the Black Abyss is still Black Sword, not you.

    No matter how hard you try, you¡¯ll only ever see Black Sword¡¯s back!¡± An Xunlu proudly puffed out her chest.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not trying to compete with Black Sword for any number one title. Don¡¯t misunderstand,¡± Qi Yuan said, feeling a bit helpless.

    He was socially awkward. Why would he bother competing for some empty title?

    ¡°Hmph!¡± An Xunlu snorted arrogantly and left, unwilling to engage further with Qi Yuan.

    Also, this time, the Tianzun has an important announcement to make.¡±

    In the Black Abyss, every so often, a Yang God would personally give a lecture.

    Only the true core prodigies of the Black Abyss were qualified to attend.

    In all of Purple Fate Heaven, fewer than a hundred prodigies had the privilege.

    ¡°Oh, is that so? Then I¡¯ll go with you and have a look.¡±

    Having just finished his training, Qi Yuan was feeling a bit exhausted and needed a break, so he decided to go listen.

    After all, three months ago, Purple Fate Xiaolu had already invited him to this lecture.

    With that, the two of them set off for the Tianzun¡¯s lecture.

    ¡°How¡¯s your progress with the ¡®Ancestral Blood Art,¡¯ Brother Blood Robe?¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu asked curiously.

    ¡°My talent is lacking. Progress has been slow,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    The ¡°Ancestral Blood Art¡± was just too hard.

    ¡°Brother Blood Robe, with your high talent and the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, all you need is time!¡±

    ¡°I also need more resources. I really wish I could get more Black Abyss Ancestor Blood,¡± Qi Yuan said greedily.

    The Upper Realm was full of treasures.

    ¡°Even the Ancestor doesn¡¯t have much Black Abyss Ancestor Blood. That Brother Blood Robe could obtain some is truly enviable,¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu said, her voice soft and gentle.

    Suddenly remembering something, she quickly added, ¡°Brother Blood Robe, news of you obtaining the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood has already spread throughout the entire Black Abyss. This time, at the Tianzun¡¯s lecture, there might be many who are displeased. Be careful.¡±

    Purple Fate Xiaolu seemed worried.

    Her brother was so handsome. If someone messed up his pretty face, how would she sneak glances at it anymore?

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I always win people over with reason,¡± Qi Yuan said, unconcerned.

    With that, the two of them stepped into a teleportation array, leaving Purple Fate Heaven and entering Black Abyss Heaven.

    Black Abyss Heaven was the location for this lecture.

    Following Purple Fate Xiaolu¡¯s guidance, Qi Yuan arrived at a mountain peak.

    At this moment, the peak was filled with nearly a thousand figures.

    Each figure radiated an incredibly powerful aura.

    Anyone here would be more than qualified to serve as a Holy Son in a First Heaven Sacred Land.

    Purple Fate Daxue lay there lazily, completely disregarding decorum.

    ¡°The Miluo Immortal Qi provided for this lecture has been cut by more than half. Could it be that our Black Abyss is about to be wiped out?¡±

    She took a sip from her wine cup, finishing the Miluo Immortal Qi with a single breath.

    Beside her, a man with a five-pointed star on his forehead smiled bitterly, ¡°Senior Sister, don¡¯t say things like that. It¡¯s because... the Molo Clan didn¡¯t pay tribute this time.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Purple Fate Daxue froze in surprise. ¡°How dare those cowards refuse to pay tribute?¡±

    She had visited the Fifth Heaven and seen the Molo Clan¡¯s cowardly ways.

    Whenever they encountered someone from Black Abyss, they¡¯d immediately start calling them father and ancestor.

    During holidays, they¡¯d even send valuable tributes to the Black Abyss in the hopes of one day returning to the Sixth Heaven.

    And now, they¡¯d suddenly found the courage to stop paying?

    She couldn¡¯t understand it.

    ¡°We¡¯re not sure, but... it¡¯s possible that the Molo Clan is planning to fully ally with the Taihuang Palace,¡± the star-marked man speculated.

    He was one of the five Demon Scions of Purple Fate Heaven.

    ¡°Hmph, the Molo Clan is getting bold.¡±

    At that moment, a voice full of displeasure echoed, and a tall man with a cold, sharp aura approached, his presence like that of an icy sword.

    The prodigies present all showed expressions of respect and apprehension when they saw him.

    In the Black Abyss, when Black Sword wasn¡¯t around, this man was the top.

    Ice Sword was the leader of the first-tier prodigies, a talent with the potential to ascend to the Supreme Truth realm.

    The Black Abyss had three such top-tier prodigies like Ice Sword.

    Of course, having the potential didn¡¯t mean it would be easy to reach the Supreme Truth realm.

    ¡°When I ascend to the Yang God realm, I will personally visit the Molo Clan,¡± Ice Sword said, his aura as sharp as frost.

    ¡°I heard that Senior Brother Ice Sword has already reached the eighth layer of the ¡®Ancestral Blood Art.¡¯ Surely you will ascend to the Yang God realm soon!¡± one of the prodigies praised him.

    Ice Sword¡¯s eyes were deep. ¡°Not until I reach the ninth layer. Anything less is insignificant.¡±

    It was clear he had always regarded Black Sword as his ultimate rival.

    ¡°Hmph, Black Sword has already reached the tenth layer of the ¡®Ancestral Blood Art!¡¯¡± An Xunlu suddenly interjected, her tone brimming with pride and arrogance.

    The prodigies present were all shocked upon hearing this.

    ¡°The tenth layer already?¡±

    ¡°Has Senior Brother Black Sword only been cultivating the ¡®Ancestral Blood Art¡¯ for less than five thousand years?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s incredible!¡±

    The gathered prodigies felt a wave of discouragement.

    On average, they had been cultivating the "Ancestral Blood Art" for over ten thousand years.

    Most had only reached the third or fourth layers.

    Those who had reached the fifth or sixth layers were already considered Demon Scions of their respective heavens.

    Only true prodigies like Ice Sword had reached the eighth layer.

    As for Black Sword, he was like a towering mountain, impossible to surpass.

    ¡°Hmph, if I had Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, I might have a chance to reach the tenth layer as well!¡± Ice Sword¡¯s tone was filled with bitterness.

 Chapter 432: Stay Away from Qi Yuan, or Youâ€™ll Become Unlucky

    Chapter 432: Stay Away from Qi Yuan, or You¡¯ll Become Unlucky

    Ice Sword¡¯s tone was full of bitterness, and the resentment behind his words was as clear as day.

    Once, he was the number one prodigy of the Black Abyss.

    But after Black Sword arrived, he was relegated to second place.

    Black Sword¡¯s talent was extraordinarily strong, and he had already stepped into the realm of Yang God Tianzun.

    Ice Sword knew he couldn¡¯t compare.

    But... what was the deal with this Blood Robe?

    Not only did this newcomer suddenly show up, but the Ancestor of Purple Fate Heaven directly gifted him Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    How could Ice Sword possibly reconcile with that?

    The surrounding prodigies, hearing Ice Sword¡¯s complaint, all had complicated expressions.

    ¡°If Black Sword got the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, we¡¯d all accept it without question.¡±

    ¡°But this guy, who¡¯s only been in the Black Abyss for less than a year, somehow qualifies to get Black Abyss Ancestor Blood. It¡¯s just...¡±

    The crowd of prodigies whispered among themselves.

    Ice Sword¡¯s face darkened, and the cold aura around him grew even more intense.

    He even thought about questioning his own Ancestor¡ªwhy not give him Black Abyss Ancestor Blood?

    Of course, it was only a thought.

    After all, the Ancestor was a Supreme Truth realm powerhouse.

    Ice Sword wasn¡¯t even qualified to meet him easily, let alone demand anything from him.

    He wasn¡¯t like Purple Fate Daxue, who was a direct descendant of the Purple Fate Ancestor.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan and Purple Fate Xiaolu arrived, landing among the crowd.

    Instantly, countless eyes fell upon them¡ªcuriosity, envy, jealousy, and desire filled their gazes.

    Qi Yuan noticed this and quietly sent a message to Purple Fate Xiaolu, ¡°There are too many thirsty guys and girls here in the Black Abyss. We¡¯re dressed super conservatively, not showing any skin, yet they¡¯re all staring at us!¡±

    Purple Fate Xiaolu¡¯s toes curled slightly, her hands gripping the edges of her skirt as her face flushed red.

    She wanted to tell Qi Yuan that they weren¡¯t staring at her¡ªthey were staring at him.

    ¡°Stop staring at the girl already. Can¡¯t you see Purple Fate Xiaolu is shy, clutching her hands?¡±

    ¡°And stop staring at me! I¡¯m socially anxious. If I get mad, I might hit you right in the nose!¡±

    ¡°If you keep this up, I might accuse you of secretly photographing us and harassment!¡±

    Finally, the brave Qi Yuan stepped forward. He overcame his social anxiety, meeting the eyes of the crowd head-on.

    The surrounding prodigies were left baffled by his words.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s speech left them somewhat confused.

    At this moment, Purple Fate Daxue burst into laughter. ¡°If you¡¯re going to stare at someone, at least stare at An Xunlu. She¡¯s dressed skimpier!¡±

    An Xunlu¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all. To her, the body was nothing more than a smelly skin bag¡ªthe soul was what truly mattered.

    ¡°Big Horn Sister, people have the freedom to dress as they like. Whether An Xunlu dresses provocatively or not, we shouldn¡¯t stare at her!¡± Qi Yuan said.

    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re the one who always talks about freedom of speech, and now you¡¯re trying to shut me up?¡± Purple Fate Daxue replied smugly.

    This left Qi Yuan at a loss for words.

    It felt as though his entire worldview had crumbled.

    Whenever he argued with Big Horn Sister, she always found a flaw in his logic.

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s intelligence, he could easily refute her if he tried.

    But Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t good at speaking. It was normal for someone as socially anxious and introverted as him to avoid loud arguments, right?

    Most importantly... he didn¡¯t feel like thinking.

    Using his brain to win an argument was more effort than just using his fists.

    So, Qi Yuan remained silent, reflecting on his shortcomings.

    He realized he often contradicted himself. How should he fix this?

    ¡°I need to comprehend a Supreme Truth to cover this shortcoming!¡±

    ¡°That way, next time I face Big Horn Sister... I won¡¯t need to think and can still win!¡±

    Qi Yuan thought seriously.

    He¡¯d save the brainpower for important occasions, like a Supreme Truth debate.

    Otherwise, thinking too much would be exhausting. He needed to conserve his mental energy.

    Just then, Ice Sword¡¯s sharp gaze landed on Qi Yuan, as if trying to see what made him so special that the Ancestor had given him Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    However, at that moment, a vast voice resounded from the sky.

    ¡°Silence!¡±

    ¡°Listen!¡±

    The sky above Black Abyss Heaven darkened in an instant, becoming pitch black.

    On the peak of the mountain appeared a man in white robes, his clothes fluttering in the wind. His face was as fair as jade, and his demeanor was elegant and refined.

    In stark contrast to the gloomy tones of Black Abyss Heaven, this man was clad entirely in white, like a warm beam of light.

    ¡°Greetings, Senior Brother Black Sword!¡±

    All the prodigies, including Ice Sword, bowed their heads, looking up in awe at the man on the mountain peak, who was as graceful as a jade deity.

    Qi Yuan, used to being an actor, bowed slightly as well.

    ¡°Today, I shall be your lecturer,¡± Black Sword said as he sat atop the peak, his aura ethereal, like an otherworldly immortal.

    An Xunlu gazed at Black Sword, her eyes filled with admiration and reverence.

    Even the other prodigies, no matter how prideful they were, displayed respect and awe in the presence of Black Sword.

    Their reverence came from two things. First, Black Sword was incredibly powerful, a Yang God Tianzun.

    Second, Black Sword¡¯s talent was so great that even the Nine Elders of the Black Abyss felt inferior.

    ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother!¡±

    Nearly a thousand prodigies echoed in unison, sitting down to listen.

    All previous disputes and small thoughts vanished the moment Black Sword arrived.

    ¡°Uh?¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu was confused but obediently leaned in.

    Qi Yuan gave her a gentle pinch and asked seriously, ¡°Did it hurt?¡±

    ¡°N-no, not really...¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu replied shyly.

    It did hurt a little, but she didn¡¯t want to admit it and make her Senior Brother feel bad.

    ¡°You felt no pain? Could this all be an illusion? Am I just imagining this?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s mind was in turmoil.

    He didn¡¯t dare pinch himself because he was afraid of pain.

    Seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s distressed state, Purple Fate Xiaolu grew even more concerned. ¡°It did hurt a little, just a tiny bit.¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to hide anything from her Senior Brother anymore. Honesty seemed the best approach.

    ¡°It hurt?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So this isn¡¯t an illusion after all. But then...¡±

    He was still confused.

    Why hadn¡¯t he died?

    Yin Gods who swallowed stars were supposed to die.

    Suddenly, a thought dawned on him, and he realized the truth.

    ¡°Yin Gods die from swallowing stars, but what does that have to do with someone at the Foundation Establishment level?¡±

    Right!

    He had refined the sun into a golden core back when he was at the Foundation Establishment stage.

    So, it was fine.

    Everything was just his overactive imagination scaring him.

    Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like he had narrowly escaped death.

    This also reminded him of his earlier conversation with Purple Fate Daxue.

    His cultivation path had some serious flaws!

    He needed to comprehend a Supreme Truth to fix this issue.

    At that moment, Black Sword noticed Qi Yuan¡¯s unusual behavior and asked, ¡°Blood Robe, is something troubling you?¡±

    After all, Qi Yuan had been acting strangely after asking his question, drawing a lot of attention.

    Qi Yuan felt a bit embarrassed.

    He couldn¡¯t very well tell them that he¡¯d almost thought himself to death, right?

    Suddenly, an idea came to him. ¡°Senior Brother Black Sword, I¡¯d like to report something!¡±

    Although Qi Yuan didn¡¯t like tattletales, he supported the idea of open and righteous reporting.

    This made Qi Yuan feel quite conflicted.

    His words left the other prodigies puzzled.

    This Blood Robe... really was more like a Purple Fate Heaven person than the actual Purple Fate Heaven people!

    ¡°What do you want to report?¡± Black Sword asked.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to report An Xunlu. She¡¯s been trying to sow discord between us, insisting that I¡¯ll never surpass you and that I¡¯m targeting you as my rival,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    The entire crowd fell into a stunned silence.

    Moments later, Purple Fate Daxue¡¯s goose-like laughter echoed across the peak.

    ¡°Hahaha...¡±

    An Xunlu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, while the other prodigies barely managed to contain their laughter.

    Those words... sounded exactly like something An Xunlu would say.

    Ice Sword, sitting off to the side, also remembered when An Xunlu had said similar things to him.

    Back then, he had been furious but powerless.

    Now, seeing Qi Yuan expose this in front of everyone, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

    At the same time, his wariness toward Qi Yuan increased.

    Initially, Ice Sword had planned to challenge Blood Robe, hoping to prove that he, not Qi Yuan, was second only to Black Sword.

    But now... with how shameless Blood Robe was, how could Ice Sword dare challenge him?

    What if, during the challenge, he said something inappropriate and Qi Yuan exaggerated it, telling everyone? How would Ice Sword save face?

    Staying near Blood Robe would only bring misfortune.

    Ice Sword came to this conclusion.

    In the future, he would stay as far away from Blood Robe as possible!

    The other prodigies, too, looked at Qi Yuan with distaste.

    This guy really would say anything!

    At first, there had been rumors that Qi Yuan went around asking if the Ancestor was his long-lost grandson. They hadn¡¯t believed it.

    But now... they believed it.

    ¡°Blood Robe... stop making things up!¡± An Xunlu¡¯s chest heaved with anger, her voice trembling.

    ¡°I¡¯m not making it up. I even recorded it as evidence.¡± Qi Yuan took out a recording stone.

    ¡°Black Sword, this An Xunlu is clearly a manipulative woman, always trying to drive a wedge between us. You should stay away from her.

    Don¡¯t let her swindle you out of your wealth and your looks. As a man, you have to be cautious in the outside world.¡±

    Qi Yuan, full of righteous indignation, exposed the harsh truth.

    ¡°Brother Black Sword, I didn¡¯t say anything like that!¡± Tears welled up in An Xunlu¡¯s eyes.

    Black Sword, standing atop the mountain, remained calm.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan continued, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just typical manipulative behavior? When her lies get exposed, she starts playing the victim.

    Let me make it clear: I have never viewed Black Sword as a rival, nor have I ever tried to surpass him.¡±

    An Xunlu glared at him, her gaze as sharp as a sword. She gritted her teeth. ¡°You¡¯re just afraid to compete with Brother Black Sword!¡±

    ¡°There she goes, spreading rumors again,¡± Qi Yuan said lazily.

    ¡°Black Sword may become a Supreme Truth one day, but I¡¯ll only consider him a target to surpass after he reaches that realm. Right now... he¡¯s not quite worthy yet.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was calm, but in that moment, it stirred a storm in everyone¡¯s hearts.

 Chapter 433: The Powerful and Confident Black Sword

    Chapter 433: The Powerful and Confident Black Sword

    If Qi Yuan¡¯s earlier statements had been dismissed as a joke, now, his sheer confidence and domineering presence caused everyone to take notice.

    Of all the prodigies present, not a single one wasn¡¯t in awe of Black Sword.

    Even Ice Sword, though he wouldn¡¯t admit it outwardly, had always seen Black Sword as his ultimate goal and had worked tirelessly to catch up to him.

    However, the more he chased, the further the gap grew.

    But now, what had this Blood Robe said?

    That unless Black Sword reached the Grand Supreme Truth realm, he wasn¡¯t qualified to be his target!

    Every prodigy¡¯s heart was shaken, and they all turned their gaze toward Qi Yuan, their expressions varied.

    Was this Blood Robe provoking Black Sword?

    Or perhaps... declaring war on him?

    Old stories from Purple Fate Heaven began to resurface in their minds.

    Some could almost smell the gunpowder of imminent conflict.

    Thinking about how Purple Fate Heaven¡¯s Ancestor had personally gifted Blood Robe the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, they couldn¡¯t help but overthink.

    Black Sword represented the Great Elder of Black Abyss.

    Among the Nine Elders, at least half were the disciples of the Great Elder.

    The Sixth Elder of Purple Fate Heaven was one of them as well.

    However, it was no secret that the Sixth Elder and the Great Elder had their grievances and long-standing disagreements within Black Abyss.

    Now, with Blood Robe seemingly challenging Black Sword, many sensed this as an extension of that old conflict between the Sixth Elder and the Great Elder.

    But... did Blood Robe truly have the strength to rival Black Sword?

    It must be known that a long time ago, a Grand Supreme Truth expert once visited Black Abyss. Upon meeting Black Sword, the expert remarked, "When I was young, I was far inferior to Black Sword."

    Of course, none of them knew that Qi Yuan didn¡¯t have such ambitions at all.

    People said he wanted to surpass Black Sword, that Black Sword was his target.

    In truth, he simply wanted to clear his name. To him, Black Sword wasn¡¯t even worthy of being his goal.

    Black Sword¡¯s expression remained unchanged, calm and composed like a blossoming chrysanthemum. ¡°I am merely walking a little ahead of you. There¡¯s no need to set me as your target to surpass.¡±

    It seemed that he hadn¡¯t taken Qi Yuan¡¯s words to heart at all.

    An Xunlu looked at Black Sword, her eyes brimming with admiration and starlight. Then, she turned toward Qi Yuan with a face full of disdain. ¡°Look at Brother Black Sword, and then look at yourself. Can¡¯t you see the difference?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Yuan was confused by An Xunlu¡¯s words. ¡°I see it clearly. He¡¯s not as good-looking as me, that¡¯s the difference.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± An Xunlu was furious. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Brother Black Sword¡¯s talent surpasses yours a hundredfold, and his looks are a hundred times better than yours!¡±

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her.

    He realized she was just a delusional fangirl.

    And Qi Yuan despised fanatics the most. Arguing with a fanatic was pointless; they always made up their own fantasies.

    However, Purple Fate Xiaolu, who stood nearby, couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°Clearly, Senior Brother Blood Robe looks better than Senior Brother Black Sword...¡±

    ¡°Purple Fate Xiaolu, are you blind!?¡± An Xunlu was shocked that this usually shy person would dare to talk back to her.

    ¡°My eyes are perfectly fine. Senior Brother Blood Robe is clearly better looking!¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu¡¯s face turned red. Arguing clearly wasn¡¯t her strong suit.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± An Xunlu quickly shifted the topic, though she had to admit that Blood Robe was indeed better looking than Brother Black Sword. ¡°But Brother Black Sword is a Yang God Tianzun, the number one prodigy of Black Abyss, and his talent far surpasses Blood Robe!¡±

    ¡°Senior Brother Blood Robe just started cultivating the Ancestor Blood Art later. If he¡¯s given enough time, surpassing Black Sword will be no problem!¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu argued confidently.

    Qi Yuan was stunned as he watched this unfold.

    Was Purple Fate Xiaolu... his fangirl?

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan realized he had been biased, viewing a particular group with tinted glasses.

    Even among fanatics, there were good ones too.

    The two girls kept arguing non-stop.

    At this moment, Black Sword spoke up, his voice calm. ¡°There is one more thing to announce.

    The Supreme Truth Dao Discussion will begin soon. There are thirty spots for the younger generation to attend as spectators.

    These spots will be allocated based on contribution to Black Abyss.¡±

    Upon hearing this, the prodigies¡¯ faces changed drastically, and their breathing quickened.

    The Supreme Truth Dao Discussion was one of the most important events in the Sixth Heaven.

    When the time came, any Yang God or force that received an invitation would attend the Dao Discussion.

    That was where Yang Gods discussed the Supreme Truths!

    For prodigies like them, the benefits were immense. It could lay the foundation for their future paths.

    A single moment of insight could save them tens of thousands of years of cultivation.

    However, ordinary cultivators had no chance of attending.

    Even regular Yang Gods wouldn¡¯t be eligible without contributing significantly to the Dao Discussion.

    Only top-tier sacred grounds like Black Abyss had more spots, allowing even the younger generation to attend.

    ¡°Contributions... Looks like we¡¯ll have to stop cultivating and start doing missions!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! I haven¡¯t done a mission in years!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s less than a year until the Dao Discussion. How many contributions can we even earn?¡±

    The prodigies¡¯ faces grew serious, a mix of joy and anxiety.

    There were two ways to earn contribution points: completing missions or advancing in the Ancestor Blood Art.

    The fastest record for cultivating the Ancestor Blood Art was set by Black Sword¡ªhalf a month to reach the third level, and three months to reach the fourth.

    He was far ahead of everyone else.

    It had taken her a whole year just to reach the first level.

    "Alright!" she said, her tone filled with admiration.

    ...

    At the peak of the mountain, Black Sword, dressed in white robes, radiated elegance and majesty.

    Standing beside him was a Yang God in the Great Heaven stage, with a smile on his face. ''That Blood Robe... he''s a bit too arrogant,'' the man said, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.

    Black Sword, hearing this, remained calm and indifferent. ''He has his own goals. There¡¯s nothing wrong with him not seeing me as his target.''

    ''Sigh, you... you''re just too generous and kind,'' the Yang God lamented.

    The more he understood Black Sword, the more terrifying he realized Black Sword''s talent was.

    ''If he doesn¡¯t see me as a goal, it''s just like how I never pay attention to the struggling practitioners below me on the path. It¡¯s nothing of significance,'' Black Sword said flatly.

    And what he said was the truth.

    He wasn¡¯t afraid of challenges from his peers¡ªhe didn¡¯t even acknowledge them.

    Anyone who lagged behind him would only fall further and further behind, as his sights were always set on the Star Realm and the Grand Supreme Truth masters at its pinnacle.

    As for those struggling to catch up behind him, why would he ever turn around to look at them?

    ''The rise of Black Abyss depends on you,'' the Yang God said, full of admiration. ''The others are just passing clouds.''

    While other prodigies of the same generation were still striving to break through to the Yang God stage, Black Sword had already become a distinguished guest of Yang Gods in the Great Heaven stage and could even engage in discussions on Supreme Truths.

    ''That Blood Robe has earned the favor of the Sixth Elder, so his talent is likely extraordinary as well. He might even become a Grand Supreme Truth master someday. Perhaps you should put him through some trials now, sharpen him into a useful sword,'' the Yang God advised.

    He respected Black Sword deeply but also harbored envy and jealousy. His suggestion was born from a desire to ingratiate himself with Black Sword.

    ''Thank you for your advice,'' Black Sword responded with his usual calm demeanor.

    But he didn¡¯t take the words to heart.

    I am invincible. Why would I need another sharp sword?

    ''An Xunlu is coming. I¡¯ll take my leave...'' The Yang God smiled and vanished from sight.

    The moment he disappeared, a voice filled with eagerness rang out. ''Brother Black Sword!''

    An Xunlu rushed over, her face full of unabashed adoration.

    ''Hmm, how is your cultivation progressing lately?'' Black Sword was kind, and he treated An Xunlu with warmth.

    An Xunlu¡¯s heart swelled with happiness, and the arrogance and coldness she had displayed toward Qi Yuan vanished, replaced by a gentle, ladylike demeanor.

    ''Ancestor Blood Art is still at the fifth level,'' An Xunlu said with a hint of frustration.

    ''The cultivation of the Ancestor Blood Art relies on bloodline, and in this matter, there¡¯s not much I can do to help you.''

    ''I understand. I¡¯ll keep working hard,'' An Xunlu said, though the thought of something made her frown as she continued. ''But the Ancestor was too unfair, giving the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood to Blood Robe instead of you, Brother Black Sword!''

    Mentioning this, she was filled with anger.

    It had once been said by the Ancestors that Black Sword would be gifted Black Abyss Ancestor Blood when he reached the Supreme Truth realm.

    But Blood Robe, who had just joined Black Abyss, was already granted this precious treasure.

    Naturally, she felt this was unjust and resented it on behalf of Black Sword.

    ''It¡¯s fine. The Black Abyss Ancestor Blood doesn¡¯t help me much. Whether I have it or not doesn¡¯t really matter,'' Black Sword said nonchalantly. ''I can rely on myself.''

    His bloodline was already closely linked to the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    In truth, the blood flowing through his veins was practically Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    By cultivating the Ancestor Blood Art, it was as if he was constantly being nourished by Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    This wasn¡¯t cheating; it was simply a part of his innate bloodline talent.

    Therefore, the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood had little value to him at this stage.

    However, once he reached the Supreme Truth realm, that would change.

    ''But it''s so unfair!'' An Xunlu was still indignant on his behalf.

    Black Sword smiled and gently stroked her hair. ''Don¡¯t think too much about it. Focus on accumulating your contributions. Don¡¯t you want to attend the Supreme Truth Dao Discussion?''

    At his words, An Xunlu nodded eagerly. ''I¡¯ll work hard!''

    ''And don¡¯t worry about me. There¡¯s no need to feel threatened by this Blood Robe,'' Black Sword said, his voice calm. ''Everything I have in Black Abyss, I earned with my own hands. No one can take that away.''

    Black Sword had complete confidence in himself.

    Blood Robe didn¡¯t consider him a target to surpass, but from Black Sword¡¯s perspective, he hadn¡¯t even noticed Blood Robe behind him.

    His focus had always been on Linya''s Transformation.

    In Linya''s Transformation, even Yang Gods were merely pawns, their fates controlled by others.

    Even Supreme Truth realm Yang Gods were nothing more than bigger pawns.

    Only those who mastered the Grand Supreme Truth could be considered true players on the chessboard.

    Black Abyss had cultivated him to step onto the chessboard, to become a player and look after Black Abyss within Linya''s Transformation.

    But his ambitions surpassed Black Abyss itself. He didn¡¯t just want to be a player; he wanted to be the strongest player!

    The one who dominated the game of the Sixth Heaven!

    As for Blood Robe... he wasn¡¯t even a large pawn yet.

    Why would Black Sword care?

    Looking at the confident and gentle Black Sword, An Xunlu¡¯s eyes were filled with adoration and admiration.

    ''Brother Black Sword...''

 Chapter 434: Intelligent Miniature Detection Insects?

    Chapter 434: Intelligent Miniature Detection Insects?

    Led by Purple Fate Xiaolu, Qi Yuan used a teleportation array to return to Purple Fate Heaven.

    ¡°The Ancestor Blood Pavilion is where the progress of one¡¯s cultivation in the Ancestor Blood Art is measured. Every day, many people from Purple Fate Heaven come here to assess their progress.

    ¡°Even if you have a thin bloodline and are a marginal cultivator, if you manage to reach the sixth layer of the Ancestor Blood Art, you can still become a core figure in Black Abyss.

    ¡°That¡¯s why in all of Purple Fate Heaven, and even in Black Abyss itself, every cultivator spends their life cultivating the Ancestor Blood Art,¡± explained Purple Fate Xiaolu as she and Qi Yuan flew through the sky.

    Looking out, endless black mountains and rivers stretched across the landscape, with the occasional town coming into view.

    ¡°Reach the sixth layer and you''ll go from slave to master?¡± Qi Yuan said in amazement.

    Core figures in Black Abyss enjoyed numerous privileges.

    Back in the Fifth Heaven, the informant Qi Yuan had encountered was at the Divine Realm, yet they were still striving to become a core figure of Black Abyss.

    Of course, even though Qi Yuan had also reported An Xunlu this time, he considered it a righteous report, so instead of being labeled as a snitch, he liked to think of himself as a justice seeker.

    ¡°But we, as demon scions, don¡¯t have such limitations. Beneath the Yang Gods, our status is the highest!¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu continued explaining with pride.

    In Purple Fate Heaven, more than half of the demon scions in every generation successfully entered the Yang God realm.

    ¡°If the price is right, we can even ask a Yang God Sovereign to act on our behalf!¡± There was an excited look on Purple Fate Xiaolu¡¯s face.

    Yang God Sovereigns were like towering mountains.

    For a Yin God to request the assistance of a Yang God was nearly unthinkable below the Sixth Heaven.

    ¡°Oh, with just three words, I can make four thousand Yang Gods spend 30 billion for me!¡± Qi Yuan responded casually to Xiaolu''s excitement.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu opened her mouth in surprise, her lips forming an ¡°O¡± shape like she was holding a drink.

    The two of them then landed near the Ancestor Blood Pavilion.

    Rather than calling it a pavilion, it was more accurate to call it a small kingdom.

    A vast, walled city stretched out for an unknown number of miles, teeming with life. From a glance, there were billions of creatures here.

    It was worth noting that all of these beings were cultivators.

    Without sufficient space and spiritual energy, progress in cultivation would be slow.

    Many of the beings were locals, but the majority had come from various realms under Purple Fate Heaven¡¯s jurisdiction.

    Purple Fate Heaven governed a total of six hundred worlds.

    Every day, countless cultivators came to test their progress in the Ancestor Blood Art.

    It was a sight akin to students in the ancient world flocking to take the imperial exams.

    Reaching the first level of the Ancestor Blood Art in your own world was enough to elevate you above ordinary people.

    ¡°Black Abyss truly deserves its reputation as a powerhouse of the Sixth Heaven¡ªthere are Purple Mansion cultivators everywhere!¡± Qi Yuan muttered in amazement.

    Just a brief scan revealed thousands of cultivators at the Purple Mansion stage.

    As someone at the Purple Mansion realm himself, Qi Yuan felt a bit intimidated.

    Inside the Ancestor Blood Pavilion, endless lines of cultivators stretched out as far as the eye could see.

    Looking down, it resembled a black dragon winding its way through the landscape.

    Many of the cultivators appeared anxious, clenching their fists in anticipation.

    Some younger ones looked confused or dejected, as if already feeling defeated.

    This was perfectly normal.

    In their own nation, they might have ranked among the top ten geniuses. In their world, they might have been among the top 300¡ªtrue prodigies.

    But upon arriving at Purple Fate Heaven¡¯s Ancestor Blood Pavilion, they were just another face in the crowd.

    Here, the strong were as common as dogs.

    Even prodigies had to stand in line with the masses.

    Seeing all this, Qi Yuan felt a bit emotional.

    In places like this, there really were far too many geniuses.

    He thought to himself that if he randomly picked someone from this crowd, they could probably thrash his old senior, Kang Fulu.

    It was clear¡ªsometimes where you¡¯re born truly matters.

    ¡°How long would I have to wait in line here, until the year of the monkey?¡± Qi Yuan clicked his tongue.

    To be honest, he didn¡¯t want to wait in line.

    But, of course, his sense of justice and fairness told him that he should.

    This made him feel like he was encountering the horns of a dilemma¡ªlike dealing with Bullhorn Sis.

    He¡¯d have to comprehend a Supreme Truth to fix this flaw in his thinking.

    ¡°Senior Brother Blood Robe, we are demon scions. There¡¯s no need to wait in line. Come with me,¡± Purple Fate Xiaolu said with a smile.

    Qi Yuan blinked.

    Was there really such a good deal?

    Not having to wait in line lifted his mood.

    But... deep down...

    Qi Yuan suddenly found himself admiring some of the more adaptable people back on Earth.

    People who could easily adjust their principles to suit their interests.

    If he could comprehend such a Supreme Truth, wouldn¡¯t that make him invincible?

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Qi Yuan said softly.

    The two of them transformed into streams of light and strode toward the Ancestor Blood Pavilion.

    Down below, many cultivators looked up at them with curious expressions.

    ¡°How can they fly directly inside?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re demon scions¡ªthe most elite bloodlines in all of Purple Fate Heaven!¡±

    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d live to see a demon scion in person.¡±

    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Qi Yuan and Purple Fate Xiaolu arrived at the Ancestor Blood Pavilion.

    As soon as they landed, an old white-haired man hurried over to greet them, his expression full of respect. ¡°Greetings, Demon Scions!¡±

    ¡°Mm, I¡¯m here to measure my progress in the Ancestor Blood Art and convert it into contribution points,¡± Qi Yuan said straightforwardly, not wanting to waste any time.

    The old man hunched over respectfully, ¡°This way, Your Highness.¡±

    Purple Fate Xiaolu didn¡¯t follow them inside.

    As Qi Yuan entered the testing area of the Ancestor Blood Pavilion, his expression remained calm, his eyes scanning his surroundings.

    And yet, as his breathing quickened, something even more unexpected occurred.

    Before his eyes, the blood river began to bubble and surge even higher.

    One blood pillar after another shot up.

    From three pillars... to four... then five!

    The old man stood there, dumbfounded, utterly shocked.

    He stared at the blood river in disbelief, his mind in chaos.

    ¡°Seven... pillars?!¡±

    His eyes were wide open, his pupils dilated, and his thoughts were in disarray.

    Seven pillars?!

    This was the seventh layer!

    Reaching the seventh layer of the Ancestor Blood Art meant that without any further cultivation, with just enough resources and ten thousand years of time, one would naturally ascend to the Yang God realm.

    The seventh layer was a clear dividing line.

    Among all the demon scions of the Nine Heavens, only a handful had cultivated the Ancestor Blood Art to the seventh layer.

    Now, there was one more.

    And these other demon scions had all spent tens of thousands of years cultivating.

    But Blood Robe... had done it in half a year?!

    The old man was completely dumbfounded. He couldn¡¯t even think straight anymore.

    ¡°Stop gasping! It¡¯s getting hot in here. Seven layers, come on, give me my contribution points!¡± Qi Yuan said, extending his hand.

    After all, he still needed those points to attend the Supreme Truth Dao Discussion.

    His words snapped the old man back to reality.

    This was an unprecedented situation for him.

    A cultivator reaching the seventh layer of the Ancestor Blood Art in less than half a year?

    It was world-shaking.

    It was like hearing that your neighbor had won a trillion-dollar lottery¡ªit was just too absurd to accept.

    The old man didn¡¯t dare to question it, but this was something that definitely needed to be reported.

    As the keeper of the Ancestor Blood Pavilion, he had privileges that others didn¡¯t¡ªhe could transmit information directly to the Old Ancestor.

    He hurriedly produced a black incense stick and lit it.

    In Black Abyss, black was the color of supreme authority.

    Lighting black incense signified that the highest-priority information was being transmitted.

    After lighting it, the old man stood there nervously, staring at the seven pillars of blood, his mind still in a daze.

    Outside, beyond the heavens, Purple Fate Ancestor was in the middle of refining Black Abyss Ancestor Blood. After a moment, his expression turned grim.

    ¡°Sigh, I can¡¯t keep cultivating. My Root Demon Tribulation is approaching. With my current strength, I doubt I can survive the next one.¡±

    For Supreme Truth cultivators, increasing their power meant facing the Root Demon Tribulation.

    The tribulation grew stronger each time.

    If the Supreme Truth one had grasped was of too low a grade, surviving the tribulation would be incredibly difficult. Many Supreme Truth masters perished in the sea of Root Demons.

    In fact, most Supreme Truth Yang Gods didn¡¯t die in battle but fell to the Root Demon Tribulation.

    Even some Grand Supreme Truth masters had been killed by the Root Demon Tribulation.

    Only those who had mastered the Grand Supreme Truth could face the tribulation without such peril.

    ¡°My limit is three tribulations, is it?¡± Purple Fate Ancestor mused.

    He had only survived three Root Demon Tribulations in the Grand Supreme Truth realm.

    Among all the Grand Supreme Truth masters, aside from the Great Elder, none had survived four.

    ¡°And Linya''s Transformation is fast approaching. I¡¯d better stop cultivating. Sigh, being a Grand Supreme Truth master is so difficult,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor sighed before muttering to himself in frustration, ¡°Why did my stupid brain have to comprehend such a low-grade Supreme Truth?¡±

    Just then, a wisp of black smoke rose in the distance.

    Purple Fate Ancestor''s attention was drawn toward it.

    ¡°A message from the Ancestor Blood Pavilion...¡±

    His thoughts began to race.

    ¡°Could it be that a new prodigy has emerged? Or perhaps... Blood Robe has gone for the test?¡±

    After considering it for a moment, he concluded that it was most likely Blood Robe.

    His eyes filled with anticipation. ¡°Has he reached the third layer? Maybe even the fourth?¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor had high hopes for Blood Robe.

    Although Black Sword¡¯s bloodline was naturally aligned with the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, it was understandable if Blood Robe¡¯s progress was slightly slower. As long as the gap wasn¡¯t too large, Purple Fate Ancestor would be satisfied.

    He reached out and grasped the black incense.

    Then, his eyes twitched.

    ¡°Seven layers?!¡±

    For a moment, he was completely stunned.

    Three months... and seven layers?

    Are you even human?!

    Purple Fate Ancestor was certain that Blood Robe had never cultivated the Ancestor Blood Art before.

    And yet, in three months, he had reached the seventh layer.

    It wasn¡¯t that he was cultivating the Ancestor Blood Art¡ªit was more like the Ancestor Blood Art was begging him to cultivate it!

    With a wave of his hand, Purple Fate Ancestor projected an image of the Ancestor Blood Pavilion in front of him.

    Seven pillars of blood stood tall, radiating brilliance!

    This proved that Blood Robe had truly reached the seventh layer in just three months!

    Staring at Qi Yuan, Purple Fate Ancestor was filled with shock before bursting into joy. ¡°To hell with Linya''s Transformation! To hell with the Sixth Heaven! I¡¯m done serving them!¡±

    He had something far more important to serve now, after all.

    His thoughts racing, the Grand Supreme Truth power within him surged as he moved to cut off this revelation from the heavens.

 Chapter 435: Your Ancestor Told Me Not to Say It

    Chapter 435: Your Ancestor Told Me Not to Say It

    Through the markings on Purple Fate Daxue¡¯s arm, Purple Fate Ancestor determined that Qi Yuan''s bloodline was extraordinary¡ªpossibly even surpassing the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    His bloodline was terrifying, but that alone didn¡¯t mean everything.

    Unexpectedly, after only three months, he had reached the seventh layer of the Ancestor Blood Art.

    At this rate, wouldn¡¯t it take him less than ten thousand years to become a Grand Supreme Truth being?

    This was a bit too exaggerated, even terrifying.

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s thoughts shifted.

    His figure vanished in an instant.

    When he reappeared, he was inside the Ancestor Blood Pavilion.

    The surrounding space seemed frozen, and time itself halted at this moment.

    The white-haired old man who had been standing beside him remained motionless, frozen in his original posture like a statue.

    Qi Yuan immediately grew alert.

    His eyes filled with curiosity as he sized up the old man in the purple robe standing before him.

    This old man gave off a sense of boundless, profound depth.

    ¡¾Purple Fate Ancestor, the Ancestor of Purple Fate Heaven, a Grand Supreme Truth realm expert.¡¿

    Qi Yuan had a feeling that even if he tried a sliding attack...

    Hmm, he wouldn¡¯t win.

    In fact, even if he had a gun and the other guy had a sword, he still wouldn¡¯t win.

    ¡°Greetings, senior!¡±

    Qi Yuan, following the good virtues of a Blue Star native, knew when to bend and when to stand tall. Facing a Grand Supreme Truth, he conceded.

    ¡°Reaching the seventh layer in three months... it''s barely passable.¡± Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s expression was calm, betraying no emotions. ¡°Don¡¯t get too proud¡ªremember, there¡¯s always someone stronger, and there¡¯s always a greater sky.¡±

    ¡°And keep this matter to yourself.¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor was well aware of Qi Yuan''s unpredictable personality.

    He had to warn him.

    Otherwise, if Qi Yuan boasted about this achievement, it could draw attention from Black Abyss¡¯s enemies, who might secretly send a Yang God to kill him in the cradle.

    ¡°It¡¯s indeed pretty average. Sigh, I blame myself for not working hard enough and for falling behind right from the start.

    I know of a race where they are born as Yin Gods. If they¡¯re malnourished, they just drink a growth tonic and develop a Divine Domain. If they cultivated the Ancestor Blood Art, they¡¯d probably be much faster than me.¡±

    Cough cough...

    Purple Fate Ancestor almost wanted to cough.

    He had only given a modest warning, and now Qi Yuan was actually acting humble?

    Also, what kind of race is born as Yin Gods?

    ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®A dog doesn¡¯t dislike its poor home.¡¯ Compared to the race I know, Black Abyss is far inferior, but it¡¯s still not bad. At least it gave me a drop of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood¡ªbarely acceptable,¡± Qi Yuan said tactfully.

    After all that circling, he finally got to the point.

    The meaning was clear: Hey, old man, hand over some more treasures.

    Purple Fate Ancestor paused for a moment and quickly understood Qi Yuan¡¯s implication.

    ¡°There¡¯s only one drop of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood left in my possession,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said truthfully.

    ¡°But you¡¯ve been cultivating diligently lately, so I¡¯ll reward you.¡± With great reluctance, Purple Fate Ancestor handed over the last drop of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Thank you, senior!¡±

    Another drop of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood. What a win.

    ¡°When you reach the ninth layer, I¡¯ll reward you with another drop of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.¡± Purple Fate Ancestor calculated the time¡ªit would be a few years before his next share of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood would arrive.

    By then, Qi Yuan would likely have reached the ninth layer.

    The further one progressed in the Ancestor Blood Art, the slower the progress became.

    In fact, the time required for a single layer in the later stages could surpass the total time spent reaching all previous layers combined.

    ¡°Thank you, senior!¡± Qi Yuan continued to express gratitude¡ªafter all, it didn¡¯t cost him anything.

    ¡°Take this talisman. If you encounter danger, you can activate it instantly,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said, tossing a protective talisman to Qi Yuan.

    This talisman could allow Qi Yuan to escape even from a sudden ambush by a Grand Supreme Truth-level Yang God.

    Even if Qi Yuan didn¡¯t have time to activate it, the talisman would activate automatically.

    ¡¾An ordinary protective talisman. Though powerful, it has several flaws. With some improvements, its power could be increased more than threefold.¡¿

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Qi Yuan expressed his gratitude once again. ¡°Senior, there¡¯s something I¡¯m not sure whether I should say or not.¡±

    As Qi Yuan accepted the talisman, he thought of informing Purple Fate Ancestor about the talisman¡¯s flaws and having him improve it on the spot.

    If improved, the talisman¡¯s value would increase significantly.

    If Qi Yuan ever needed money, he could sell the talisman for quite a sum.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say it!¡± Purple Fate Ancestor wasn¡¯t interested in hearing whatever Qi Yuan had to say. He feared that Qi Yuan might say something outrageous that would embarrass him.

    For example, what if Qi Yuan asked him outright, ¡°Am I the father you left behind in the mortal world?¡±

    How would Purple Fate Ancestor answer?

    No matter what he said, it would be humiliating.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt a bit disappointed.

    Another opportunity missed.

    However, thinking about all the nice things Purple Fate Ancestor had just given him, it felt like receiving gifts from a grandfather to his grandson.

    But Qi Yuan didn¡¯t want to be anyone¡¯s grandson.

    Still, the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood was too tempting. Returning it would be asking for his life.

    Qi Yuan hesitated.

    Humans are full of contradictions¡ªthis wasn¡¯t good.

    Just then, an idea came to him, and he took out the golden bowl.

    Inside the bowl was a mass of blood.

    Within the blood floated countless tiny intelligent micro-detection bugs.

    For anyone with trypophobia, it would be utterly nauseating.

    Well, people from Blue Star probably wouldn¡¯t be able to see that well.

    ¡°Hey, little robots, can you talk?¡±

    Qi Yuan greeted the intelligent micro-detection bugs.

    Unfortunately, there was no response. The bugs remained silent.

    ¡°Too bad Zero One isn¡¯t here. If it were, I bet it could communicate with these bugs,¡± Qi Yuan thought.

    These intelligent micro-detection bugs didn¡¯t seem like something that came from the Sixth Heaven.

    Cultivation methods had no effect on them.

    Or perhaps, even to a Yang God Sovereign, these bugs were nothing more than special creations.

    ¡°No, wait. When Zero One transmitted the insights of the Myriad Dao Martial God to me, it also passed along some... useful things.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    In that relic, Zero One had gained control of the ship¡¯s systems and absorbed many pieces of advanced technology, even evolving somewhat.

    When it transmitted the Myriad Dao Martial God¡¯s insights, it had also included several pieces of advanced technology.

    After all, the title ¡°Myriad Dao Martial God¡± wasn¡¯t just for show.

    He wasn¡¯t just proficient in the Dao of Heaven, the Dao of Earth, the Dao of Trees, or the Dao of Humanity¡ªhe also understood the Dao of Hacking.

    ¡°Connect to the data.¡±

    Qi Yuan reached out toward the intelligent micro-detection bugs.

    Instantly, the bugs began to swarm toward him.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement.

    ¡°It seems that Black Abyss is definitely connected to Dongjun¡¯s universe!¡±

    His technology had an effect on the intelligent micro-detection bugs.

    This meant that they were operating on the same kind of technology.

    ¡°Begin data reception.¡±

    These intelligent micro-detection bugs also carried recording and storage capabilities.

    Qi Yuan directly infiltrated their cores, trying to retrieve any unexpected treasures from their data.

    ¡°The data is fragmented and highly distorted.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt a little disappointed.

    Perhaps too much time had passed.

    Additionally, the detection bugs hadn¡¯t received any energy replenishments.

    Much of the data he received was incomplete and severely corrupted.

    But he still managed to extract some valuable information.

    ¡°What a gigantic bug... an endless fleet of ships!¡±

    In the vast, boundless universe, Qi Yuan saw an enormous bug.

    The insect swam through the dark starry sky, its compound eyes larger than entire stars.

    Such a massive creature would leave anyone awestruck.

    ¡°Even in these fragmented images, this is undoubtedly a Grand Supreme Truth being, or perhaps... something even beyond that.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm as he continued to process the fragmented footage.

    But then, a particular scene caught his attention.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    In one brief flash, Qi Yuan saw the gigantic insect attempting to break through a realm barrier. But just as it succeeded, it was suddenly annihilated, its soul and consciousness vanishing.

    Its body became nothing more than an empty shell.

    This sight was chilling.

    This was a Grand Supreme Truth being at the peak, perhaps even someone who had transcended the Grand Supreme Truth realm and entered the third level of the Yang God¡ªjust like the woman Qi Yuan had encountered on Go?ngxing.

    But in the moment of its breakthrough, its spirit and soul vanished, leaving behind nothing but a hollow body.

    This was a being at the peak of the Grand Supreme Truth, perhaps even at the third level of the Yang God¡ªyet it had been suddenly wiped out during its breakthrough?

    The implications were terrifying.

    Immediately following this scene, an endless fleet of ships appeared, seemingly to collect the insect¡¯s body and blood.

    The fleet used the insect¡¯s massive form to construct a floating fortress in space.

    ¡°Could this insect be the source of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood? With a creature this size... its blood must be abundant.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened, any sympathy for the insect¡¯s demise vanishing as excitement took over.

    From the intelligent micro-detection bugs¡¯ database, he had discovered locations where this massive insect¡¯s blood was being stored!

    ¡°Is this where Black Abyss Ancestor Blood comes from?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s breath quickened.

    If he could obtain that Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, wouldn¡¯t that allow him to advance rapidly in the Ancestor Blood Art?

    If he broke through again, his Myriad Dao Martial God cultivation could reach the Supreme Truth realm.

    Without using his Nascent Souls or slowly grinding away with the Great Forgetfulness Sutra, he could rely on sheer power alone to contend with Supreme Truth beings.

    Though he had managed to subdue the Supreme Truth Yang Gods of the Molo Tribe...

    Qi Yuan knew how difficult it had been to defeat them.

    But now, with a vast supply of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood, wouldn¡¯t that mean his Myriad Dao Martial God form could contend with the Supreme Truth, perhaps even the Grand Supreme Truth itself?

 Chapter 436: Blood Robe? Merely a Soul Envoy of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!

    Chapter 436: Blood Robe? Merely a Soul Envoy of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!

    "It seems I need to take on a mission and head out for a bit," Qi Yuan mused.

    According to the information revealed by the intelligent micro-detection bugs, there were three locations where Black Abyss Ancestor Blood could be found. Two were within the Black Abyss¡¯s territory, and one was outside.

    "It looks like I''ll need Purple Fate Xiaolu''s help." After some thought, Qi Yuan contacted Purple Fate Xiaolu using a communication jade slip.

    After about the time it took to burn three sticks of incense, Purple Fate Xiaolu appeared outside the cave. She was dressed in a dark blue ma mian qun, a traditional Chinese skirt, which made her look both cute and slightly alluring.

    "Senior Brother Blood Robe, what can I do for you?" Purple Fate Xiaolu asked, her expression full of joy.

    "Here¡¯s the thing¡ªtoday, I had a dream where I saw treasure. I want to take you along to find it. But the place in the dream¡ªI¡¯m not sure where it is. Since you''re familiar with Black Abyss, I wanted to ask for your help."

    Qi Yuan came up with an excuse on the spot.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu looked excited when she heard this. After all, the fact that Senior Brother Blood Robe was willing to tell her about treasure hunting meant he really trusted her.

    "Senior Brother, where is it?"

    "Here!" Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t great at drawing, but he was skilled at copying and pasting. Without much thought, he projected a fragment of the scene he''d seen from the broken images onto the air for Purple Fate Xiaolu to view.

    A projection of the landscape appeared in the air: black land and black seas everywhere, with a single towering peak wrapped in chains standing prominently.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu blinked in disbelief and stared at Qi Yuan. "Senior Brother Blood Robe, are you sure this is the place?"

    "Yeah, I¡¯m sure. The dream scene was crystal clear. This place must be extraordinary¡ªthere¡¯s got to be a lot of treasure," Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu took a deep breath. "There are indeed many treasures here, but... this is the Black Abyss Treasury."

    "...Wait, what?"

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    Seriously? They built the treasury here?

    "Could we sneak in and take something? What I want to... steal¡ªno, retrieve¡ªisn¡¯t inside the treasury itself but maybe underneath it in the ruins," Qi Yuan still clung to a sliver of hope.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu grew anxious at this suggestion. "Senior Brother Blood Robe, you must not entertain such ideas! This isn¡¯t just the treasury; it¡¯s also the ancestral ground of Black Abyss!

    The very origin of our Black Abyss lies in the ruins beneath this place.

    If we recklessly barge in, even as mozi (chosen ones of demonic blood), we won¡¯t escape death!"

    It was rare to see Purple Fate Xiaolu so serious, her small face tensed with anxiety.

    Qi Yuan felt disappointed upon hearing this.

    It seemed this stash of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood... was indeed the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood of the treasury.

    The first location was a no-go. What about the second?

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t hold much hope.

    After all, with the power of Yang God Sovereigns¡ªespecially those at the Grand Supreme Truth level¡ªthere were likely few secrets in Black Abyss.

    "What about this place?"

    Qi Yuan displayed the second location¡¯s imagery for Purple Fate Xiaolu.

    Purple Fate Xiaolu tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "I know this place."

    "Great! Let¡¯s head there. Thanks!"

    "Let¡¯s go!"

    The two left Purple Fate Heaven, using the teleportation formations to travel to another area within the Black Abyss.

    About a day passed, during which they switched through six or seven teleportation arrays.

    Finally, they arrived at a basin.

    "This is the place, Senior Brother Blood Robe. But we¡¯d better hurry¡ªthis is in Brahma Realm Heaven, and they aren''t exactly friendly with Purple Fate Heaven," Purple Fate Xiaolu said, standing beside Qi Yuan, her petite figure slightly dwarfed by his.

    Qi Yuan surveyed the basin, a look of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

    "The treasure¡¯s already gone."

    Both his senses and his eyes told him that the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood here had long been taken.

    No need to guess¡ªit had probably been moved back to the treasury.

    "Ah?" Purple Fate Xiaolu looked disappointed as well.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan turned into a streak of light, diving into the space cracks beneath the basin.

    About a hundred breaths later, he reappeared beside Purple Fate Xiaolu. "Well, it¡¯s not a total bust. I did find this!"

    Qi Yuan extended his hand, revealing a large puddle of blood-red liquid.

    The blood resembled the blood river inside the Ancestor Blood Pavilion, containing numerous intelligent micro-detection bugs.

    These bugs held data. If Qi Yuan could retrieve it, there might be useful information.

    "This is... Ancestor Blood Spirit Water?" Purple Fate Xiaolu exclaimed, surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected the treasure Qi Yuan was after to be this.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her and asked, "Do you know where I can find more of this?"

    "Yes, Senior Brother. If you need this, I can help you collect it!" Purple Fate Xiaolu said seriously.

    Ancestor Blood Spirit Water was mainly found in the Ancestor Blood Pavilion and was used to test one¡¯s progress in the Ancestor Blood Art and obtain merit points.

    This water was pretty much useless otherwise.

    After all, anyone who had been cultivating the Ancestor Blood Art should know how far along they were without needing to test it.

    "How much does it cost? I¡¯ll pay you!" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    If he could gather enough Ancestor Blood Spirit Water and collect more intelligent micro-detection bugs, he might find more leads on Black Abyss Ancestor Blood or even locate the terrifying body of that massive insect.

    That would be a treasure trove¡ªenough to feed people on Blue Star for a million years without running out.

    Though it might crush Blue Star if dropped.

    "It¡¯s really cheap, practically worthless. I¡¯ll handle it," Purple Fate Xiaolu said happily.

    "No, no. Free things are the most expensive. Now that I¡¯m wealthy, I can¡¯t afford to be stingy."

    After defeating the Molo Tribe, Qi Yuan had obtained an enormous amount of treasures.

    As he spoke, he generously¡ªthough with a bit of reluctance¡ªtook out a single immortal jade from his storage bag. "Is one immortal jade enough?"

    Purple Fate Xiaolu covered her mouth, giggling. "It¡¯s enough!"

    In an instant, he experienced a sensation similar to when he had entered the Liufeng Realm.

    He was too large to fit through.

    This was the will of the strange land¡ªor the world rules¡ªblocking his entry.

    He had to suppress his Yang God-level celestial power down to the Mythic Realm to enter.

    Of course, if this were another world, Qi Yuan could simply refuse to enter and devour the world instead.

    But once he suppressed his cultivation and entered the realm, he would be reduced to the Mythic Realm, just like any other Yang God.

    It was as if an omnipotent universal rule had decreed this restriction.

    Typically, though, Grand Supreme Truth beings were not affected by such rules.

    Suppressing his power, Qi Yuan entered the Sky Cliff.

    "As expected, my Myriad Dao Martial God form isn¡¯t affected by the restriction."

    Qi Yuan felt a surge of confidence.

    Thanks to the Ancestor Blood Art, his Myriad Dao Martial God cultivation wasn¡¯t far behind his celestial cultivation.

    Now, it had reached the peak of the Great Heavenly Position.

    This gave Qi Yuan a considerable sense of security.

    "Fire."

    After some thought, Qi Yuan spoke, casting a simple fire-type celestial technique.

    A tiny flame appeared before him.

    "The operation of Daoist arts feels a bit sluggish... It seems the theory about strange lands being places where other realms or universes border the Sixth Heaven is probably true."

    Qi Yuan glanced around the Sky Cliff.

    This strange land was twice the size of Gongxing.

    The landscape below looked chaotic, like a massive junkyard filled with all kinds of perforated metals.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s powerful soul swept the area, sensing that there were about a thousand cultivators living there.

    He didn¡¯t care about these cultivators in the slightest.

    His goal was the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood recorded by the intelligent micro-detection bugs!

    Following the images from the data, Qi Yuan descended into the deepest part of the Sky Cliff.

    There, he found a landscape of chaos and metals forged from the very essence of chaos.

    About half an hour later, Qi Yuan¡¯s face broke into a wide grin, his expression gleeful.

    "This trip was worth it!"

    Deep within the chasm, he had discovered a fist-sized blood crystal.

    Had he not seen it himself, he might not have found this crystal even if he devoured the entire strange land.

    This blood crystal was pure condensed Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    "This should be enough to sustain my cultivation for a while."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s heart raced with excitement.

    This blood crystal likely contained the equivalent of a hundred drops of Black Abyss Ancestor Blood.

    If he could fully absorb it, it might allow him to advance his Ancestor Blood Art to the tenth layer within a month.

    With that, his Myriad Dao Martial God form would be comparable to the Supreme Truth realm.

    "Let¡¯s go home."

    Storing the blood crystal, Qi Yuan prepared to return to Black Abyss to continue cultivating the Ancestor Blood Art.

    This trip had gone remarkably smoothly.

    There were no conspiracies, no backstabbing, no bloody battles for treasure.

    "As expected, a man who smiles has all the luck."

    "My exploration of this strange land felt like a walk in the park¡ªno danger at all!"

    "It wasn¡¯t thrilling, but it was safe and reassuring, just the kind of adventure I like."

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t one for bloodshed and violence.

    He didn¡¯t enjoy having his prized treasure eyed by others and having to fight tooth and nail for it.

    Sure, treasures that were hard to come by felt more precious, but Qi Yuan preferred treasures that fell right into his lap.

    "I¡¯ll aim to master the Ancestor Blood Art in the next ten years!"

    With that thought, Qi Yuan left the Sky Cliff.

    However, the moment he stepped out, his expression became grim.

    He turned toward Sky Cliff City, his senses sharp and alert.

    "I¡¯m sensing intense killing intent. Is it directed at me?"

    At Qi Yuan¡¯s level, he could sense when someone bore murderous intent toward him or spoke his name.

    Now, he could feel someone targeting him with malice.

    "Damn, I just snuck out to find some treasure, and already someone¡¯s plotting against me!"

    "As expected, the peaceful world of cultivation is just my fantasy!"

    "This is the real, bloody world of cultivation!"

    "Just look at my face¡ªno wonder people want to kill me!"

    "No, I¡¯m still too weak!"

    Without hesitation, Qi Yuan dove back into the strange land.

    He decided to train until he reached the tenth layer of the Ancestor Blood Art before emerging again.

    Given the powerful enemy targeting him, he had to tread carefully.

    He needed to strengthen himself as quickly as possible and prepare for the confrontation ahead!

 Chapter 437: The Furious Purple Fate Ancestor

    Chapter 437: The Furious Purple Fate Ancestor

    In the unknown realms of Black Abyss Heaven, the rules of the Great Dao flowed.

    Eight Grand Supreme Truth cultivators sat upon the clouds, their forms indistinct. Black flames crackled, filling the air with a sharp snapping sound. Amidst the distant echoes, the sound of a thunder tribulation could faintly be heard.

    At this moment, six of the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators had gathered together to refine a special pill, the Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill. This pill could greatly accelerate Black Sword''s cultivation, shortening his time to reach his full potential.

    Under the orders of the highest elder of Black Abyss, the Third Elder took the lead, and the six available Grand Supreme Truth cultivators expended their vital energies to refine the pill.

    "Steady!" the Third Elder commanded.

    The black flames leapt, causing the surrounding space to collapse, only to immediately restore itself.

    The other five elders, their forms concealed, threw their celestial energy into the flames. For a brief moment, their pale faces flashed before returning to normal.

    Even for beings of such power, refining the Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill came at a cost to their vital energy.

    The flames roared, and the space within began to gather iridescent liquid, which under the immense celestial power, began to condense into a pill.

    After about half an hour, the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators retracted their celestial energy.

    The Third Elder took a deep breath and bowed toward the other hidden Grand Supreme Truth cultivators. "Thank you for your efforts!"

    The Grand Supreme Truth cultivators nodded slightly before their forms slowly dissipated.

    Just as the Third Elder was about to leave, a voice called out to him.

    "Third Elder, where is my share?"

    Purple Fate Ancestor stretched out his hand, smiling serenely, clearly in a good mood.

    If he could give this Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill to Blood Robe, it would further enhance his already exceptional talent, and accelerate his cultivation of the Ancestor Blood Art. In no more than a hundred years, Blood Robe could surpass Black Sword.

    Thinking of this, Purple Fate Ancestor felt a surge of pride for his insight.

    The Third Elder¡¯s face, however, showed a hint of hesitation. "Sixth Brother, I can¡¯t give you the Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill."

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s expression hardened, his gaze sharpening as the space around them began to tremble, as if it could shatter at any moment.

    "Why not?" he asked, his tone heavy and clearly displeased.

    "Did you ruin the pill?"

    "No." The Third Elder shook his head bitterly. "It¡¯s the Ancestor... He issued a decree."

    The Third Elder sighed and explained, "The Ancestor understands your temperament well, and he predicted that you would come asking for this pill. So, he preemptively issued a decree."

    Purple Fate Ancestor''s face darkened considerably.

    "Sixth Brother, the Ancestor himself gave the order. I have no say in the matter. He also mentioned that with Lynia''s Transformation approaching, more resources should be focused on Black Sword. Black Abyss is a small faction and cannot afford to support two Grand Supreme Truth cultivators who can master the highest-level Dao."

    The Third Elder shook his head, his tone resigned.

    The Ancestor¡¯s words made sense. With the turbulent times ahead in the Sixth Heaven, Lynia''s Transformation could happen at any moment. When it did, all of the Sixth Heaven would be thrown into chaos, and Black Abyss couldn¡¯t stay out of it.

    They needed to accelerate Black Sword¡¯s growth so that he could ascend to the Grand Supreme Truth realm, mastering the highest Dao. Only then would Black Abyss have the opportunity to become a key player in the upcoming struggle, gaining a voice in the major events.

    Black Abyss¡¯s resources were limited, and if spread too thin, it would only slow Black Sword¡¯s progress toward the Grand Supreme Truth.

    "I contributed to the refinement of this pill!" Purple Fate Ancestor snarled, clearly frustrated.

    "The Ancestor¡¯s decree cannot be disobeyed," the Third Elder sighed.

    His meaning was clear: if Purple Fate Ancestor had an issue, he would need to take it up with the Ancestor himself.

    Purple Fate Ancestor let out a cold snort.

    Take it up with the Ancestor? That was something he wouldn¡¯t do. His personality being what it was, a meeting between the two would undoubtedly lead to a fight. That would only bring disaster to Purple Fate Heaven.

    "Bring Black Sword here. Have him suppress his cultivation to Blood Robe¡¯s level, and let them duel. The winner will receive Black Abyss¡¯s resources!" Purple Fate Ancestor declared loudly.

    In his heart, Blood Robe was far superior to Black Sword.

    Of course, the secrets involved couldn¡¯t be revealed. If they were, Blood Robe wouldn¡¯t survive even a day.

    But if Blood Robe could defeat Black Sword openly and win the resources, Purple Fate Ancestor believed there was a chance.

    The Third Elder hesitated. "Sixth Brother, Black Sword¡¯s talent is the greatest in Black Abyss, and Blood Robe cannot defeat him. Even if Blood Robe won, would the Ancestor change his mind? Black Sword shares the same bloodline as the Black Abyss Ancestor. That fact alone means he is destined to be our sole leader."

    The Third Elder truly didn¡¯t believe Blood Robe could defeat Black Sword.

    Even if Blood Robe¡¯s talent ranked in the top ten across all of Sixth Heaven, Black Sword was not only the most gifted but also shared the bloodline of the Black Abyss Ancestor¡ªan unimaginably noble bloodline.

    The very fact that Black Sword combined both extraordinary talent and this supreme bloodline made him untouchable.

    Hearing this, Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s expression changed several times before he finally snorted coldly and left in a huff.

    There was nothing more he could do.

    The Third Elder watched Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s departing figure and sighed softly. "I hope Black Sword can step into the Grand Supreme Truth realm soon. Otherwise... Black Abyss¡¯s downfall is not far off."

    ...

    In an unnoticed corner of the Sky Cliff.

    Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a flash of golden light flickering within them.

    "Nine layers."

    After devouring the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood and accelerating his cultivation of the Ancestor Blood Art, he had finally reached the ninth layer.

    The ninth layer of the Ancestor Blood Art was incredibly powerful, making his Myriad Dao Martial God cultivation comparable to the Lesser Truth realm.

    "I¡¯m stronger now... but I also look like I¡¯m suffering from metal poisoning."

    Qi Yuan glanced at himself. This time, more of his blood had turned gold, and even his pupils had a trace of gold, giving him a sinister, chilling appearance.

    Without hesitation, he dyed his blood red again and his eyes black.

    "Now I can barely protect myself. Time to sneak out and find out who¡¯s been plotting against me!"

    The power of the Truth realm gave Qi Yuan a small measure of confidence.

    Inside the hall, the remaining Ghost Dominion Heaven cultivators trembled, their faces pale with terror.

    "You..."

    "What about me?" Qi Yuan asked calmly.

    He struck with a powerful punch, and the hall¡¯s space collapsed. The Ghost Dominion Heaven cultivators were wiped out in an instant.

    Looking at Mo Na¡¯s corpse, Qi Yuan grew cautious. "I¡¯d better leave quickly before a Yang God comes after me."

    Mo Na¡¯s body carried the imprint of a Yang God. Now that she was dead, the Yang God would surely know and would likely come to kill him.

    The best move now was to return to Purple Fate Heaven.

    After all, who knew how powerful the Yang Gods from Ghost Dominion Heaven were?

    Without hesitation, Qi Yuan stepped into the teleportation array and headed back to Purple Fate Heaven.

    About a hundred breaths later, a terrifying aura descended upon Sky Cliff City.

    The entire city quaked under the pressure, and an enraged voice echoed through the sky.

    "The audacity!"

    Yang God Mo Chang appeared over Sky Cliff City, the entire city shaking as if it would collapse.

    All the cultivators witnessing this were filled with terror, bowing their heads in fear and reverence, not daring to look up.

    This was a Yang God.

    When a Yang God was enraged, corpses would cover the land for miles.

    Mo Chang gazed at Mo Na¡¯s shattered corpse, her eyes blazing with fury.

    In an instant, a flood of information entered her mind, and her anger deepened. "Black Abyss... Blood Robe... He killed my granddaughter, my most beloved Mo Na. This won¡¯t end here!"

    "Damn it, he even destroyed her soul so thoroughly there¡¯s nothing left for the Ten Thousand Souls Banner. What a waste!"

    Without hesitation, she stepped into the teleportation array.

    She was going to Black Abyss to demand justice.

    Of course, she knew the outcome wouldn¡¯t be what she wanted, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to kill Blood Robe.

    But her granddaughter had been killed. If she didn¡¯t exact some form of retribution, she wouldn¡¯t be able to rest.

    As for her reputation?

    Did the Yang Gods of Black Abyss and Ghost Dominion Heaven still have any face left to care about?

    The other cultivators in Sky Cliff City watched this unfold, their hearts filled with shock. They knew something major was about to happen.

    Elsewhere, Qi Yuan exited the teleportation array and rushed toward Purple Fate Heaven.

    "Having the backing of a powerful force really is the best."

    Once inside Purple Fate Heaven, Qi Yuan finally relaxed.

    In the past, the enemies he had faced were far too powerful, and his sects were unable to provide him any real protection.

    But now, with the protection of Purple Fate Heaven, things were different.

    Qi Yuan was beginning to appreciate the benefits of being backed by a large sect.

    "Blood Robe Senior Brother, you¡¯re back! Why are you in such a hurry?"

    Just as he exited the teleportation array, Purple Fate Xiaolu appeared nearby, clutching the hem of her robe, curiosity written all over her face.

    "Sigh, I got tangled up with some crazy woman, so I had no choice but to kill her. Then, after I killed the younger one, the older one showed up, so I ran back here."

    Qi Yuan shrugged.

    "Huh?" Purple Fate Xiaolu was confused.

    Not far away, An Xunlu appeared, her expression cold. "Hmph, why didn¡¯t you kill the older one too? If Big Brother Black Sword were here, he would have killed them both."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened. "Black Sword can really kill the older one? She might be following us!"

    An Xunlu felt a sense of pride at first, but before she could respond, a thunderous voice suddenly roared from the sky, echoing across the heavens.

    "How dare you kill my granddaughter Mo Na! Hand over Blood Robe!"

    Yang God Mo Chang roared, her voice carrying for miles.

    She stood at the edge of the heavens, demanding an explanation.

    Or more accurately, she wanted compensation.

    An Xunlu¡¯s face changed at the sound of the voice.

    Qi Yuan leaned in close and whispered, "The older one is here. Quick, go get Black Sword and see if he can kill her."

    An Xunlu¡¯s face flushed red with anger, and she gritted her teeth. "You¡¯re dreaming!"

    This was a Yang God!

    Blood Robe had a lot of nerve to have killed Mo Na.

    Mo Na was a renowned genius of Ghost Dominion Heaven.

    Thousands of years ago, she had been defeated by Black Sword in just three strikes.

    Even Ice Sword hadn¡¯t been able to withstand three strikes from Black Sword.

    For Blood Robe to have killed Mo Na, his strength... might even surpass that of Ice Sword!

    Nearby, Purple Fate Xiaolu blinked in admiration. "Blood Robe Senior Brother is amazing!"

    She beamed with pride.

    Just then, Qi Yuan turned to An Xunlu and said, "Sigh, if Black Sword can¡¯t kill her, then why do you always boast about him? Doesn¡¯t he have hands?"

 Chapter 438: The Selfless Black Sword

    Chapter 438: The Selfless Black Sword

    At this moment, Mo Chang Tianzun stood outside the heavens, her confidence stemming from her backing in Ghost Dominion Heaven.

    According to her plan, a Heaven Yang God from Purple Fate Heaven would soon come out to engage in a negotiation. How much compensation she could extract would depend entirely on her ability to argue.

    Meanwhile, within Purple Fate Heaven, many cultivators were stirred, discussing the situation.

    "Blood Robe Senior Brother killed... Mo Na?"

    "Ghost Dominion Heaven''s Mo Na?"

    "It seems Blood Robe Senior Brother really has some true strength!"

    "Mo Na is one of Ghost Dominion Heaven''s top prodigies, having fought against Ice Sword Senior Brother with victories on both sides!"

    "If Blood Robe Senior Brother killed Mo Na, it shows his strength surpasses that of Ice Sword Senior Brother. The rumors must be true¡ªthe Old Ancestor might really be planning to pit Blood Robe Senior Brother against..."

    Some cultivators, realizing what this meant, adopted solemn expressions. They didn¡¯t know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

    Naturally, they hoped for the emergence of a peerless genius in Purple Fate Heaven, someone who could crush Black Sword.

    All the cultivators were now watching the sky, eager to see how the situation would unfold. After all, it wasn¡¯t often that a Yang God Tianzun came to their doorstep.

    Perhaps once in ten thousand years.

    And when it did happen, it was usually in other regions of Black Abyss, not in Purple Fate Heaven.

    Suddenly, a thunderous, enraged voice echoed across the skies.

    "What manner of stray dog dares to bark at my door?"

    With that voice, a golden giant hand appeared outside the sky.

    The massive hand seemed to stretch across the heavens, emanating divine majesty!

    The moment the giant hand appeared, Mo Chang Tianzun felt terror.

    "A... Grand Supreme Truth?"

    Her face paled with fear.

    She had come merely to extort some compensation, but how had she provoked such an ancient and terrifying Grand Supreme Truth cultivator to act?

    "Senior... If you strike me, do you wish to provoke a war between Ghost Dominion Heaven and Black Abyss?" Mo Chang Tianzun stammered in terror.

    The terrifying hand made her feel utterly helpless.

    She even felt that escape was impossible.

    Most frightening of all, she sensed a powerful killing intent.

    She was truly afraid now.

    "I¡¯m in a bad mood and need somewhere to vent it. You showed up at the perfect time!" Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s voice echoed like that of a deity.

    The removal of his share of the Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill had left him in a bad mood. Now that this small fry had appeared at his doorstep, she was the perfect outlet for his frustrations.

    Even though she was a Yang God of Ghost Dominion Heaven, when had Purple Fate Ancestor ever been afraid?

    As soon as he finished speaking, the enormous golden hand descended toward Mo Chang Tianzun.

    "No!" Mo Chang Tianzun felt the immense danger descending on her.

    She activated her Astral Body, causing the stars of the Star Realm to light up with brilliance.

    She tried to escape.

    But...

    Her Astral Body couldn¡¯t be deployed, locked within her body.

    Looking out, she saw that the golden hand had locked her in place.

    Even in the vast and boundless Star Realm, a massive golden hand had appeared out of nowhere, firmly grasping the stars she had cast her light upon.

    "You cannot..."

    Mo Chang Tianzun¡¯s voice was filled with pain and despair as she realized she had encountered a madman.

    She was only a Lesser Heaven Yang God, and the gap between her and a Grand Supreme Truth Yang God was as vast as the heavens themselves!

    "I cannot stand hearing women scream. It annoys me!"

    With those words, Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s giant hand clenched.

    In an instant, Mo Chang Tianzun¡¯s seemingly indestructible Yang God body was crushed within the massive hand.

    In the Star Realm, the golden hand squeezed tighter, instantly shattering Mo Chang Tianzun¡¯s star projection, reducing it to stardust scattered across the skies.

    An Xunlu was speechless.

    Could he really cultivate and raise his strength fast enough to defeat Ghost Dominion Heaven¡¯s Yang Gods in such a short time?

    But Qi Yuan didn¡¯t give her any time to argue, quickly leaving with Purple Fate Xiaolu.

    An Xunlu stood there, seething.

    "How dare he refuse Big Brother Black Sword? Everyone else finds it nearly impossible to even get an audience with him!"

    With no other choice, An Xunlu headed back to Black Abyss to report the situation to Black Sword.

    ...

    In Black Abyss.

    Amidst the endless Black Sea, Black Sword stood tall, clad in white robes, as elegant as jade.

    With a single draw of his sword, the heavens and earth trembled.

    After several dozen breaths, the Black Sea finally calmed.

    A Supreme Truth Yang God, observing Black Sword, revealed a look of surprise and admiration in his eyes. "Black Sword, your strength continues to grow. If I don¡¯t use my Supreme Truth powers, I can barely defeat you in a hundred breaths."

    This was a remarkable assessment, considering Black Sword was only a Lesser Heaven Yang God.

    The fact that the Supreme Truth Yang God needed a hundred breaths to win without using his powers indicated how far Black Sword had come.

    In fact, the Yang God even suspected Black Sword was holding back.

    "It¡¯s still not enough," Black Sword said calmly. "The divisions within Black Abyss are widening. I need to increase my strength quickly. Otherwise, when Lynia''s Transformation begins, Black Abyss will be plunged into disaster."

    The Supreme Truth Yang God¡¯s expression shifted. "Black Sword, you¡¯ve been working hard."

    As for Lynia''s Transformation, the Supreme Truth Yang God knew he couldn¡¯t interfere. The gap was too great.

    "I share the same blood as the Black Abyss Ancestor. Black Abyss is my home. It¡¯s my duty to protect it and my comrades," Black Sword said lightly.

    The Supreme Truth Yang God admired him deeply. He could tell Black Sword spoke with complete sincerity.

    Everyone knew the creatures of Black Abyss, due to their bloodlines, tended to be selfish and bloodthirsty.

    Yet, Black Sword, sharing the same blood as the Black Abyss Ancestor, was as pure as a saint.

    It was clear that once Black Sword ascended to Grand Supreme Truth, he would become the true leader of Black Abyss.

    The long-standing divisions within Black Abyss would finally end.

    At that moment, Black Sword received a transmission via his communication jade slip. His expression didn¡¯t change as he calmly said, "Senior Brother, I have some matters to attend to. I¡¯ll take my leave."

    With those words, Black Sword vanished.

    He reappeared moments later at Purple Fate Heaven.

    Inside his chamber, Qi Yuan lounged lazily, gazing outside at Black Sword¡¯s figure. He chuckled, "If you wanted to meet me, you should have just come earlier like today. Poor An Xunlu, running back and forth with those big... burdens of hers."

    Black Sword¡¯s expression remained calm, his face devoid of much emotion. "Blood Robe, this is the Blood Enlightenment Pill, refined by the Eight Elders of Black Abyss."

    He continued, "One-quarter of it was originally reserved for you by the Third and Sixth Elders, but the First Elder took it for me. Now, I¡¯m giving you that share."

    As he spoke, Black Sword handed Qi Yuan a pill bottle.

    Qi Yuan looked at the bottle, puzzled.

    Black Sword explained the situation in detail.

    "You¡¯re quite generous," Qi Yuan rarely praised people, but this time he did.

    He could tell that Black Sword was sincerely giving him the Blood Enlightenment Pill, not as a bribe.

    It wasn¡¯t a situation where the First Elder played the bad guy, and Black Sword played the good guy to win his favor.

    "The First Elder¡¯s actions were for the good of Black Abyss. Since you haven¡¯t suffered any losses, I hope you¡¯ll let this go," Black Sword added. "Lynia¡¯s Transformation is approaching. I hope you can break through soon and secure your place."

    "As long as no one offends me, I won¡¯t offend them," Qi Yuan replied lazily. "I¡¯ll take this Blood Enlightenment Pill and remember the favor. When I¡¯m strong enough, I¡¯ll have your back!"

    Black Sword smiled faintly but didn¡¯t reply.

    Even though he had heard about Qi Yuan¡¯s killing of Mo Na, he didn¡¯t yet consider Qi Yuan a true rival.

    His opponents weren¡¯t from his generation, nor were they ordinary Supreme Truth cultivators. His enemies were those who had mastered the ultimate truths of the Yang God realm!

    "Take the Blood Enlightenment Pill in front of the Wall of Truth. It will be more effective."

    Black Sword gave this final advice before disappearing.

 Chapter 439: The Eleventh Level, and the Hierarchy of Grand Supreme Truth realm

    Chapter 439: The Eleventh Level, and the Hierarchy of Grand Supreme Truth realm

    In his cave dwelling, Qi Yuan turned around, his gaze falling on the porcelain bottle.

    [Ascension Blood Insight Pill. Upon consumption, it can temporarily boost insight and enhance bloodline. There are several flaws. Modify them... and the effect could be increased threefold.]

    Seeing this information, Qi Yuan lowered his eyes thoughtfully.

    "This is good stuff, and it¡¯s just what I need since my brain hasn¡¯t been functioning well lately. I couldn¡¯t even win an argument against Bullhorn Sister."

    "When I get to the Supreme Truth Debate Conference, if I take this pill, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be much smarter."

    Boosting his insight and bloodline to sharpen his mind temporarily¡ªit really was a good thing.

    "But... this pill could be optimized further..."

    Looking at the pill, Qi Yuan decided to hand it over to one of his Nascent Souls for refining.

    His gaze then fell on the Ten Thousand Souls Banner he had picked up from Mo Na.

    "This banner is against the natural order, but... the concept is quite ingenious."

    Qi Yuan studied the banner and saw much within it.

    This soul banner required gathering the souls of living beings to strengthen the banner. Once the banner was waved, it could shake the heavens and earth.

    "What if I refine something similar... maybe a Human Emperor Banner?"

    Qi Yuan idly pondered.

    Lately, he¡¯d been thinking of crafting a creation treasure.

    After all, Qi Yuan had been studying creation treasures for some time now.

    Creation treasures are divided into many types: utility-type and combat-type.

    Things like the Gate of Supreme Truth, the Wall of Supreme Truth, the Demon Well, and the Buddha Kingdom all fall under the utility-type category.

    Combat-type creation treasures, however, are far rarer.

    Many combat-type creation treasures are artificially modified or refined.

    For a Heaven Yang God, having a combat-type creation treasure can greatly boost their combat power.

    Of course, Qi Yuan was only thinking aloud.

    Modifying or refining a combat-type creation treasure wasn¡¯t a simple matter.

    It required a Grand Supreme Truth level expert, immense luck, and countless years of effort to accomplish.

    "For now, I should continue practicing the Ancestor Blood Art to enhance my cultivation."

    The Supreme Truth Debate Conference was about to start, and Qi Yuan needed to urgently boost his strength.

    If he ran into a powerful enemy without the ability to protect himself, he¡¯d be in big trouble.

    With this in mind, Qi Yuan waved his hand, summoning the Ancestor Blood Spiritual Water that Purple Fate Xiaolu had collected for him.

    It was bright red, like blood, with a faint iron smell.

    "Why does it remind me of menstrual blood?"

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t dwell on it, instead focusing on analyzing the data from his micro-scouting bugs to locate more of the Ancestor Blood.

    If he followed the standard cultivation path, Qi Yuan estimated it would take a century to reach perfection.

    That century was calculated based on the conditions of the Sixth Heaven.

    If he were in the Fifth Heaven or a world with a faster flow of time, it would take even longer than a century.

    "A hundred years is too long."

    Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    "I¡¯m still young, after all."

    Even though he had spent a considerable amount of time in the game world, in reality, he was only in his early twenties.

    "At this level, I¡¯ve barely reached the Supreme Truth stage. I¡¯m still too weak."

    "I need to hurry up and increase my defensive abilities."

    Qi Yuan sighed quietly.

    His gaze fell back on the Ancestor Blood Spiritual Water. The road to mastering the Black Demon Ancestor Blood was long and arduous.

    ...

    Over in Ghost Dominion Heaven.

    Dark, eerie, and foreboding.

    A Supreme Truth level expert appeared, with three heads: one resembling an old man, one a woman, and one a child.

    These three forms were connected to this Supreme Truth expert¡¯s Dao.

    The more they slaughtered a particular type of person, the more that head solidified into one of these forms.

    "Greetings, Tianzun!"

    The Heaven Yang Gods present bowed their heads, their faces showing deep respect.

    The Three-Headed Tianzun was wild-eyed and exuded a terrifying aura.

    He had once slain a Heaven Yang God and was known for his remarkable battle prowess.

    Among the Supreme Truth level experts in Ghost Dominion Heaven, he reigned supreme.

    Most of the Heaven Yang Gods present dared not even meet his gaze.

    At this moment, their thoughts were conflicted.

    After all, just moments ago, the Grand Supreme Truth from Black Abyss had killed one of their own Heaven Yang Gods.

    This had left the Heaven Yang Gods present feeling deeply unsettled.

    Though they were strong, none could escape a Grand Supreme Truth.

    Could this mean that Black Abyss was about to declare war on Ghost Dominion Heaven?

    With no Grand Supreme Truth emerging from Ghost Dominion Heaven, the Three-Headed Tianzun was effectively in charge.

    They all wanted to know how the Three-Headed Tianzun would respond to this situation.

    "The Banner Lord says, after the Supreme Truth Debate Conference, we will wage war against several factions of Black Abyss!"

    The Three-Headed Tianzun spoke wildly.

    The faces of the Heaven Yang Gods present all twitched with shock.

    This news had taken them completely by surprise.

    Why had the Banner Lord suddenly become so bold?

    Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    However, his foundation was still too weak.

    After all, he was only at the Purple Palace level.

    His current realm wasn¡¯t enough.

    Even if he managed to comprehend an Ultimate Truth, he probably still wouldn¡¯t be able to match those veteran Grand Supreme Truth experts from Taihuang Palace.

    "If I fought the one from Taihuang Palace, I¡¯d lose, but I could win an argument with Bullhorn Sister."

    With that thought, Qi Yuan''s mood brightened.

    Grasping an Ultimate Truth was still very valuable.

    Once his Myriad Dao Martial God strength reached a level comparable to the Grand Supreme Truth realm, combined with his mastery of the Ultimate Truth, he figured he could go toe-to-toe with the Grand Supreme Truth expert from Taihuang Palace.

    "I need to ask Purple Fate Ancestor just how powerful a Grand Supreme Truth really is."

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    At this point, he still didn¡¯t have a clear understanding of the power of a Grand Supreme Truth.

    Luckily, Purple Fate Ancestor had mentioned that Qi Yuan could consult him when he reached the ninth level of the Ancestor Blood Art.

    "Old Deng, are you there?"

    Qi Yuan deactivated all his formations and called out to the air.

    Silence. No response.

    "Old Deng, I¡¯ve reached the ninth level of the Ancestor Blood Art!"

    Still no response.

    "Oh, wait, it¡¯s not Old Deng, it¡¯s Purple Fate Ancestor!"

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan realized he hadn¡¯t addressed him correctly.

    Maybe the guy didn¡¯t hear him.

    In an instant, time and space seemed to freeze, and Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s eerie voice drifted over: "What do you want now?"

    "Didn¡¯t you say I could find you once I reached the ninth level? I¡¯m at the ninth level now!"

    "Ninth... level?" Purple Fate Ancestor gulped.

    Last time... wasn¡¯t he still at the seventh level?

    And that was less than a year ago.

    Hmm... I guess that¡¯s understandable.

    "What do you want?" His heart trembled, but he tried to act nonchalant.

    "I want to know... how strong is a Grand Supreme Truth? For example... where do you rank among the Grand Supreme Truth experts?"

    Qi Yuan asked seriously, staring at Purple Fate Ancestor.

    "Cough, cough, why do you ask that?" Purple Fate Ancestor turned his head. "Among the Grand Supreme Truth experts, I¡¯m ranked in the third tier."

    "Top three? Pretty strong. How many tiers are there?"

    "...Three tiers."

    "Okay, so you¡¯re last. Doesn¡¯t seem too impressive, does it?"

    "Hmph, I could crush you easily." Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s temper was surprisingly good.

    Of course, this was only towards Qi Yuan.

    Nobody else in Purple Fate Heaven would dare speak to him like this.

    "The third tier consists of people like me who have survived three Root Demon Tribulations and possess an auxiliary creation treasure," Purple Fate Ancestor explained.

    "Root Demon Tribulation?" Qi Yuan was hearing this term for the first time.

    "Any Supreme Truth expert seeking to further their strength must undergo the Root Demon Tribulation."

    "It¡¯s a terrifying ordeal¡ªpartly related to one¡¯s mental state, but also not entirely. It¡¯s chaotic and without any discernible pattern."

    "As for the Root Demon Tribulation, you can think of it like the lightning tribulation or heart demons that cultivators faced in ancient times." When Purple Fate Ancestor mentioned the Root Demon Tribulation, a heavy look appeared in his eyes.

    After becoming a Grand Supreme Truth, he had already undergone three Root Demon Tribulations, and he wasn¡¯t confident about surviving the next one.

    If he did survive, there was a chance he¡¯d die.

    "So, a Grand Supreme Truth is ranked based on how many Root Demon Tribulations they¡¯ve overcome?"

    "Yes and no." Purple Fate Ancestor explained, "For example, take Penglai Tianzun, who¡¯s only gone through one Root Demon Tribulation. My cultivation is greater than his, yet when we fight, I can¡¯t even scratch him."

    "Overcoming the tribulation increases one¡¯s cultivation, but it¡¯s not the decisive factor."

    "The decisive factor is the quality of one¡¯s creation treasure and the grade of their Supreme Truth."

    Penglai Tianzun was a newly ascended Grand Supreme Truth from Black Abyss.

    Qi Yuan listened attentively. This was important information.

    "However, if I were a Grand Supreme Truth with an attack-type creation treasure, I could injure him." Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s expression turned complicated. "That¡¯s what separates the second-tier Grand Supreme Truth experts¡ªattack-type creation treasures are extremely rare."

    Attack-type creation treasures were often refined by Grand Supreme Truth experts who had mastered the Ultimate Truth after countless years of effort, usually with great fortune.

    Currently, Black Abyss had only two Grand Supreme Truth experts who possessed attack-type creation treasures.

    "The first tier, as you may know, consists of those who have mastered the Ultimate Truth and possess attack-type creation treasures."

    "They... can kill Grand Supreme Truth experts!" Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s tone grew serious.

    Qi Yuan fell into deep thought after hearing this: "I have a question."

    "Go ahead."

    "What if a Grand Supreme Truth who¡¯s mastered the Ultimate Truth doesn¡¯t have an attack-type creation treasure? And what if a Grand Supreme Truth doesn¡¯t have any creation treasure at all?"

    "Which tier would they belong to in that case?"

    "A Grand Supreme Truth who¡¯s mastered the Ultimate Truth but hasn¡¯t managed to obtain an attack-type creation treasure? They¡¯d have no dignity left, and they¡¯d be better off dead. Such a person doesn¡¯t exist." Purple Fate Ancestor was speechless.

    While attack-type creation treasures were rare, Grand Supreme Truth experts who had mastered the Ultimate Truth were typically the ancestors of powerful factions. How could they not get their hands on an attack-type creation treasure?

    As for auxiliary creation treasures, even some of the factions in the Fifth Heaven and higher had them. Why would a Grand Supreme Truth have trouble obtaining one?

    "So Grand Supreme Truth experts are that fragile?" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. "Say I had a Grand Supreme Truth as an enemy. If I organized a daily harassment campaign against him, and mobilized an army of trolls, could I make him die of embarrassment?"

    With so many Nascent Souls at his disposal, if he could flame the one from Taihuang Palace to death, it would be quite entertaining.

    "Get lost..." Purple Fate Ancestor was thoroughly speechless.

    Does this guy even understand what I¡¯m saying?

 Chapter 440: What Ten Thousand Souls Banner? Clearly, itâ€™s My Human Emperor Banner

    Chapter 440: What Ten Thousand Souls Banner? Clearly, it¡¯s My Human Emperor Banner

    After Purple Fate Ancestor left, Qi Yuan was once again alone in the cave.

    He reactivated all the formations around him.

    After all, he didn¡¯t want some old fogey watching him all the time.

    "So, I need to craft an attack-type creation treasure?"

    "And also comprehend an Ultimate Truth?"

    "Then I need to perfect the Ancestor Blood Art or at least reach the Grand Supreme Truth from my current Purple Palace cultivation if I want to compete with that guy from Taihuang Palace?"

    Qi Yuan pondered over it, knowing that none of these tasks were easy.

    "I¡¯m still too weak. Without more Black Demon Ancestor Blood, it¡¯ll take me at least seventy more years to perfect the Ancestor Blood Art."

    Qi Yuan felt both self-critical and guilty.

    Back on Earth, he¡¯d be collecting his retirement check in seventy years.

    "And what about an attack-type creation treasure?"

    Qi Yuan mulled it over.

    "The Ten Thousand Souls Banner from Ghost Dominion Heaven is too filled with murderous intent. It definitely needs to be purified¡ªa little bit of socialist transformation!"

    "If even Sadako can become the People¡¯s Sadako, why can¡¯t the Ten Thousand Souls Banner become my Human Emperor Banner?"

    "If it were a person, I might be too lazy to reform it. I¡¯d have to respect their free will. But since it¡¯s a mindless creation treasure, there¡¯s no such concern."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s mind began to spin with ideas.

    "My poor Human Emperor Banner, you¡¯ve suffered."

    "It¡¯s all my fault for being too weak, unable to rescue you from the flames sooner."

    "Just wait, I¡¯ll come save you!"

    Now, Qi Yuan had another reason to grow stronger.

    "As a man of high emotional intelligence, though, I should first get to know my Human Emperor Banner."

    At his current level of strength, Qi Yuan knew he couldn¡¯t just waltz into Ghost Dominion Heaven and snatch the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

    But he did have Mo Na¡¯s imitation Ten Thousand Souls Banner, which could give him some insights.

    Taking out the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, Qi Yuan examined it carefully.

    *[Ten Thousand Souls Banner: Devours the spirits of all living beings to create soul servitors. Several flaws present. If the soul servitors are replaced with divine spirits, its power can be increased over a hundredfold.

    When killing living beings, stimulating their desires and emotions can also enhance its power.

    Kill...]*

    "Stop! I¡¯m a good guy."

    Qi Yuan immediately cast a cleansing spell, conjuring water to wash out his eyes.

    He even considered brainwashing himself to forget what he had just seen.

    But then he worried that if he got water in his brain, it might affect his brilliant mind.

    Qi Yuan had always known he was just a simple, hardworking guy from Earth, carrying on the excellent five-thousand-year-old traditions of his people.

    He knew he couldn¡¯t resist temptation and feared he might stray from the path and end up crafting a supercharged version of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

    So, it was better to just wash his eyes and forget all about it.

    "Looks like from now on, I¡¯ll need to take a glance at the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and the Demon Well every day, refreshing the information."

    Each day, the hidden information his eyes could perceive would be different.

    Of course, he could exploit a bug by going to a world where time flowed faster.

    But for now, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t think it was necessary.

    A month passed quickly.

    In this month, progress on the Black Demon Ancestor Blood was slow, and in the few places he investigated, the blood had vanished.

    The Ancestor Blood Art also hit a standstill.

    The only good news was that over this month, Qi Yuan had gained a deeper understanding of creation treasures.

    He now had some ideas on how to modify the Ten Thousand Souls Banner into the Human Emperor Banner.

    The Ten Thousand Souls Banner contained countless vengeful spirits. If he could use immense power to purify them, it might be possible to convert it into the Human Emperor Banner.

    "So once I finish crafting the Human Emperor Banner, if I defeat an enemy, I¡¯ll need to use the Great Forgetfulness Sutra to brainwash¡ªno, to educate and reform their souls."

    After reformation, they¡¯d be sent to see a doctor, probably ending up drooling and mindless.

    "The cultivators in this upper world... they¡¯re just wonderful."

    "Their shattered souls will serve my Human Emperor Banner."

    "Their bodies will become fertilizer in the underworld."

    "And their storage rings and immortal jades will be mine to spend!"

    "Everyone¡¯s so thrifty¡ªjust like me."

    Qi Yuan contemplated this.

    After some thought, he sent a message to Jin Li.

    "Are you going to the Supreme Truth Debate Conference?"

    The Supreme Truth Debate Conference was about to begin, and Qi Yuan was preparing to set off.

    In recent days, he had gained access to communicate with Jin Li via a creation treasure, thanks to Purple Fate Ancestor.

    "I¡¯m stuck in the Abyss of Demons, so I can¡¯t go," Jin Li¡¯s tone held a hint of disappointment.

    "Is that Moonlight Tianzun of yours going?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Last time, Lord Lunar from Moon God Palace had told Qi Yuan that Moonlight Tianzun would be attending the Supreme Truth Debate Conference.

    The lunar token left behind by Qi Yuan¡¯s master, Ruan Yixi, was linked to the previous Moon God Primogenitor.

    To learn about his master¡¯s whereabouts, Qi Yuan would have to ask either Moonlight Tianzun or the Moon God Primogenitor.

    "Yes, she¡¯s already on her way," Jin Li replied, then added, "But you... don¡¯t reveal your identity."

    She was referring to his identity as the Ten Suns Tianzun.

    "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t."

    After ending the conversation, Qi Yuan turned his attention to his game jade slip.

    "I think his back¡¯s pretty sturdy. Didn¡¯t you say your big butt needed a place to sit? Why not sit on his back?" Qi Yuan responded seriously.

    Ku Rong Tianzun was from Soul Heaven, a faction that didn¡¯t have great relations with Purple Fate Heaven.

    Soul Heaven was also allied with Taihuang Palace, often in conflict with Moon God Palace.

    "Screw you, why don¡¯t you sit on it?" Purple Fate Daxue rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan.

    "I respect my elders," Qi Yuan transmitted back.

    "That¡¯s the funniest joke I¡¯ve heard today," Purple Fate Daxue replied.

    As they exchanged banter, over ten Heaven Yang Gods and a dozen prodigies entered a protective formation.

    The formation combined defense, movement, and attack, and it could even enter a teleportation array.

    Black Abyss always used such formations for travel.

    At this moment, the Heaven Yang Gods all sat silently with their eyes closed, separated from the younger prodigies.

    After all, back in their day, who among them hadn¡¯t been a prodigy?

    Only Black Sword, dressed in a white robe and exuding a scholarly elegance, engaged with the young prodigies, answering their questions.

    "The Supreme Truth Debate Conference includes not only debates on the Supreme Truth but also debates at the Heavenly Position, Yang God, and Yin God levels. These debates will occur before the Supreme Truth discussions."

    "If you¡¯re interested, you can go and exchange ideas at the mythic level or the Heavenly Position level first."

    Black Sword¡¯s calm voice made those around him feel as if they were basking in the warmth of a spring breeze.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    He was currently at the Purple Palace level and hadn¡¯t yet decided on his path toward becoming a Yin God.

    This was the perfect opportunity to attend the Yin God Debate Conference, where he might encounter some brilliant minds.

    He already had a plan: attend the Yin God Debate Conference, comprehend the path of the Yin God, and then head to the Wall of Supreme Truth to meditate on the Grand Supreme Truth.

    His schedule was packed.

    "Black Sword Senior, we of the Black Abyss possess strong bloodlines, but our comprehension is average. What if one day, we make it to the Wall of Supreme Truth and only manage to grasp the lowest tier of the Supreme Truth?"

    A burly prodigy, whose intellect was clearly lacking, asked this question.

    "If that happens, you should strive to reach the Grand Supreme Truth level. Once you do, aside from the Ultimate Truth, the rank of your Supreme Truth will have little effect on your combat power," Black Sword replied calmly. "At the Grand Supreme Truth level, the difference between a heavenly-grade Supreme Truth and a yellow-grade one is negligible."

    Below the Ultimate Truth, all were equal.

    In the Supreme Truth realm, the grades of Supreme Truth¡ªyellow, black, earth, or heaven¡ªstill impacted one¡¯s combat power.

    But once one reached the Grand Supreme Truth realm, the difference became almost negligible. No one could kill the other, and without an attack-type creation treasure, they couldn¡¯t even injure one another.

    "Black Sword Senior, with your incredible talent, you must be aiming to comprehend the Ultimate Truth. Which one do you intend to pursue?"

    A young cultivator asked, his curiosity piqued.

    The other prodigies looked on with envy.

    Even Ice Sword glanced at Black Sword with admiration.

    After all, Black Sword was the only one in Black Abyss who had a shot at comprehending the Ultimate Truth.

    In their eyes, even Blood Robe¡¯s potential was capped at the Grand Supreme Truth¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t be able to grasp the Ultimate Truth.

    "Absolute: an unchanging, eternal law;

    Singularity: the unification of all things, supreme and unmatched;

    Cycle: endless rotation, the eternal cycle of creation and destruction;

    Innate: the origin of all things, the primal essence."

    "The Innate path is too focused on bloodlines. Since my bloodline is unrelated to the Innate, I¡¯m likely not fated for that path.

    The Cycle is mysterious and dangerous¡ªif I fail in constructing it, I¡¯ll die and be wiped from existence. So far, no one in the Six Heavens has taken the path of the Cycle, so there¡¯s no example to follow.

    That leaves Singularity and Absolute, both of which represent the true path. I will choose one of these."

    Black Sword¡¯s response was candid, without any concealment.

    Most of the Six Heavens¡¯ experts who had comprehended the Ultimate Truth had taken either the path of Absolute or Singularity.

    The Grand Supreme Truth expert from Taihuang Palace had chosen the Singular Sun.

    The Moon God Primogenitor had chosen the rare Innate Moon.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan suddenly had a wild thought: "Has anyone ever comprehended all four?"

    At this, the group fell silent, staring at Qi Yuan as if he were a fool.

    What kind of question was that?

    Out of the trillions of beings in the Six Heavens, fewer than a handful had ever comprehended the Ultimate Truth.

    Asking that was like a high schooler asking if they could win an NBA championship, an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics, a Nobel Prize in chemistry, and the world championship in Go all at the same time.

    Black Sword glanced at Qi Yuan, thought for a moment, and answered seriously, "Theoretically... it¡¯s possible."

    Indeed, in theory, anything was possible.

    While there had never been such a case, that didn¡¯t mean it couldn¡¯t happen in the future.

    "Huh? Since it¡¯s theoretically possible, that means it¡¯s achievable.

    Oh man, this is tough. How many Ultimate Truths should I comprehend this time? It¡¯s so hard to decide. My brilliant brain is going to suffer again!"

    Qi Yuan sighed. "I¡¯d better have an extra meal tonight. Maybe eat another egg to boost my nutrition."

    "..."

    The crowd fell into a speechless silence, their faces filled with exasperation.

    "Why don¡¯t you ask Ice Sword to lay you an egg? He¡¯s got the Ice Phoenix bloodline, so his eggs must be extra nutritious," Purple Fate Daxue finally broke the silence.

    "Have you no education? You just called him Ice Sword Brother. How could a brother lay an egg?"

    Qi Yuan thought he¡¯d won that round.

    Purple Fate Daxue had no education. Males couldn¡¯t lay eggs. It had to be females.

    "That¡¯s easy. I know a spell that can make men lay eggs!" Purple Fate Daxue replied.

    Ice Sword: "..."

    He had already tried his best to stay far away from these two.

    But now...

    Everyone else looked at Ice Sword with a mixture of pity and amusement.

 Chapter 441: Supreme Truth Celestial Realm, An Acquaintance?

    Chapter 441: Supreme Truth Celestial Realm, An Acquaintance?

    The conversation between the two made Ice Sword''s face flush alternately green and red.

    The surrounding young prodigies began to smile.

    A burly man said, ¡°Senior Brother Ice Sword, they¡¯re bad-mouthing you like that, and you can just tolerate it? Why not use the Eighth Layer Ancestral Blood Art and challenge Blood Robe from the Eleventh Layer?¡±

    The burly man was clearly trying to stir up trouble, his tone full of amusement.

    The other prodigies looked at Ice Sword expectantly, wanting to see for themselves the depth of Blood Robe, the top prodigy of Purple Fate Heaven, who was highly regarded by the Purple Fate Ancestor.

    ¡°Hmph, I don¡¯t like challenging those above me. However, I do enjoy bullying the weak. Want me to challenge you, a mere Fifth Layer?¡± Ice Sword retorted, refusing to take the bait.

    For him, it was better to stay away from Blood Robe, lest he end up suffering misfortune.

    Though he was curious about Blood Robe¡¯s strength, Blood Robe was able to kill Mo Na. In terms of power, he was likely stronger than Ice Sword by at least a notch.

    Exactly how much stronger, however, remained uncertain.

    He was also curious about the gap between Blood Robe and... Black Sword.

    This was just a small episode, as each of them had their own thoughts, carrying expectations as they headed toward the Supreme Truth Debate Gathering.

    The Supreme Truth Debate Gathering was the grandest event in the Sixth Heaven.

    It was also their one and only opportunity to see so many Yang Gods in one place in their lifetime.

    Sixth Heaven, Supreme Truth Celestial Realm.

    Brilliant lights flickered across the sky, and terrifying auras ebbed and flowed, lying dormant.

    A man in a black-and-white robe stood there, his gaze burning as hot as the sun.

    Ordinary Yang Gods didn¡¯t dare meet his eyes.

    ¡°Is there still no news of the Ten Suns Celestial Sovereign?¡± Tai Ci Celestial Sovereign spoke, his voice carrying a searing sensation.

    Tai Ci Celestial Sovereign was a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God from Taihuang Palace.

    He was also the most likely candidate within Taihuang Palace to step into the Great Supreme Truth Realm.

    Some time ago, Ten Suns had openly declared war on Taihuang Palace.

    This event had shaken the entire Sixth Heaven, infuriating Taihuang Palace.

    Finding Ten Suns Celestial Sovereign and either capturing or killing him had become Tai Ci Celestial Sovereign¡¯s mission.

    ¡°Reporting to the Celestial Sovereign, Ten Suns Celestial Sovereign¡¯s origins remain a mystery, and there is no news of him,¡± replied a Yang God.

    ¡°He¡¯s likely from the Lower Realms, possibly hiding in the First Heaven.

    The First Heaven is vast beyond measure. Even if we searched our entire lives, we might not be able to scour it all,¡± another Yang God said, his face filled with difficulty.

    Taihuang Palace had lost contact with one of the Three Thousand Worlds that had descended into the Lower Realms, and they suspected that Ten Suns was involved.

    Especially... Canglan World, which had once produced a Yang God.

    Because the guardian assigned to Canglan World had disappeared.

    ¡°He¡¯s definitely from the Lower Realms. With his power, he must be walking an alternative path to becoming a Yang God, and hasn¡¯t yet reached the Supreme Truth Realm.

    He should appear at this Supreme Truth Debate Gathering.

    Pay close attention, especially to any Yang Gods with mysterious or unfamiliar origins,¡± Tai Ci Celestial Sovereign said calmly.

    ¡°Yes, Celestial Sovereign. We¡¯ll also send word to the Molo Clan and ask them to help us keep watch,¡± replied another Yang God.

    ¡°Good!¡± Tai Ci Celestial Sovereign nodded.

    Before a certain someone emerged from seclusion, he had to complete this task.

    If he succeeded, he might receive a reward, increasing his chances of stepping into the Great Supreme Truth Realm.

    After all, Taihuang Palace only had two Great Supreme Truths.

    Now, with Lynia''s Transformation approaching, this was his opportunity!

    ¡°But I¡¯ve heard that recently, the Molo Clan has been acting somewhat unusual?¡± Tai Ci Celestial Sovereign asked, as if recalling something.

    The biggest anomaly was that the Molo Clan had stopped paying tribute to Black Abyss.

    The Molo Clan had always wanted to return to the Sixth Heaven, so currying favor with Black Abyss had been essential.

    Now, they had suddenly stopped doing so, which was quite odd.

    Even their cooperation with Taihuang Palace had decreased significantly.

    ¡°There has indeed been some strangeness.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What do you think is the reason? This isn¡¯t typical of the Molo Clan.¡±

    ¡°Could it be... a prodigy with the potential for the Great Supreme Truth has appeared within the Molo Clan?¡± speculated one of the Yang Gods.

    Only the emergence of such a prodigy could stiffen the resolve of the Molo Clan.

    After all, if they produced a Great Supreme Truth, they wouldn¡¯t need to grovel to Black Abyss to return to the Sixth Heaven.

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Tai Ci Celestial Sovereign said with an indifferent gaze, unfazed.

    A mere potential Great Supreme Truth didn¡¯t stir him.

    With Lynia''s Transformation approaching, Taihuang Palace was the true ruler, while the other Yang Gods were merely pieces on the board.

    Meanwhile, inside a formation, Qi Yuan curled his lips.

    ¡°Shameless Taihuang Palace, laying a trap at the Supreme Truth Debate Gathering just to find me.¡±

    Moments ago, Qi Yuan had received information from his Nascent Soul.

    This time, Taihuang Palace¡¯s Yang Gods would be lying in wait, searching for the Ten Suns Celestial Sovereign.

    They even asked the Molo Clan to help them.

    What does this mean?

    They want me to help find... myself?

    The rewards were so tempting that Qi Yuan almost wanted to turn himself in and claim them!

    To them, Black Abyss was like a sovereign ruler.

    Just one of its Yang Gods could annihilate their entire sect.

    Yu Mengxian had ascended from the Lower Realms. How could she possibly know such influential figures from the Sixth Heaven?

    ¡°Ah, comparing ourselves to them is just infuriating. They get to attend the Supreme Truth Debate Gathering, while we... are stuck here working and being mistreated!¡± the Mythic Realm man sighed. ¡°In this past year, I¡¯ve endured more humiliation than in my entire life.¡±

    It was true. In the Second Heaven, he had been a revered Mythic Realm expert.

    Every cultivator who saw him would bow in respect, calling him ¡®Ancestor¡¯ or ¡®Senior.¡¯

    But ever since coming to the Sixth Heaven, he had faced constant humiliation.

    Not only from the Yang God Sovereigns but even from the newly ascended prodigies of the major powers, who looked down on him with disdain.

    Yu Mengxian smiled bitterly. ¡°Even our Celestial Sovereign is working for free. What can we expect? If we seek something, we must first offer something.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just hope the Supreme Truth Debate Gathering ends soon!¡± the Mythic Realm man lamented.

    He couldn¡¯t wait to leave the Supreme Truth Celestial Realm.

    Just then, Yu Mengxian¡¯s expression suddenly changed.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the Mythic Realm man asked.

    ¡°Qi Yi... she¡¯s in trouble!¡± Yu Mengxian hurried off.

    In less than a minute, Yu Mengxian and the Mythic Realm man arrived outside an inn.

    A young woman in tight-fitting clothes, with a beautiful figure, stood there, her face furious but clearly unable to act.

    Beside her, a burly woman held a storage pouch and looked at the spirit beside the young woman. ¡°These immortal jades should be enough to buy her, right?¡±

    This burly woman came from the Fourth Heaven and was known as Tuoba Lingyu.

    She was from a sect called the Mixed-Blood Holy Land.

    This holy land was similar to Black Abyss in that it valued bloodlines.

    The stronger the bloodline, the greater the potential.

    But unlike Black Abyss, where the bloodlines were mostly innate, the Mixed-Blood Holy Land focused on extracting and refining bloodlines, constantly improving them.

    As a result, the sect often captured beings with powerful bloodlines to absorb and integrate them.

    Upon arriving in the Supreme Truth Celestial Realm, Tuoba Lingyu had spotted the tight-clad woman and immediately sensed the extraordinary nature of her bloodline.

    And seeing that this woman came from a relatively ordinary background, Tuoba Lingyu brazenly took out a few pieces of immortal jade, intending to buy her outright.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this too much? Qi Yi is my disciple, not some commodity for sale!¡± Yu Mengxian arrived just in time, her voice filled with firm rejection.

    ¡°Oh? And which heaven and sect are you from?¡± Tuoba Lingyu gave Yu Mengxian a sidelong glance.

    ¡°Second Heaven... Fengling Holy Land...¡± Yu Mengxian answered truthfully.

    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re from Fengling Old Man¡¯s sect. I never force anyone. Just write him a letter and have him send this girl to me as a gift.

    Hehe, by the way, I¡¯m Tuoba Lingyu of the Mixed-Blood Sect,¡± the burly woman laughed, waving her hand and summoning a letter, which she handed to Yu Mengxian.

    Upon hearing that the woman was from the Mixed-Blood Sect, Yu Mengxian¡¯s face turned pale.

    The Mixed-Blood Sect had a notorious reputation.

    They were known for capturing those with powerful bloodlines and refining them, their deeds nothing short of infamous.

    ¡°I¡¯ll report this to my Celestial Sovereign,¡± Yu Mengxian said, her face pale as she dragged Qi Yi away.

    ¡°Remember, you have ten days to reply, or else...¡± Tuoba Lingyu didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but the threat was clear.

    She was deeply interested in Qi Yi¡¯s bloodline.

    From a distance, she could tell it was something rare and powerful.

    Of course, her greatest desire was to obtain a bloodline from Black Abyss in the Sixth Heaven.

    But unfortunately, Black Abyss was far too powerful for the Mixed-Blood Sect to provoke.

    On the other hand, a small sect like Fengling Holy Land from the Second Heaven was an easy target.

    On the other side, Yu Mengxian led Qi Yi away quickly, her expression grim. ¡°The Mixed-Blood Sect is notorious for its evil deeds. Qi Yi...¡±

    The Mythic Realm man beside her spoke up, ¡°Let¡¯s hope the Celestial Sovereign... can protect Qi Yi.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Yu Mengxian¡¯s resolve strengthened.

    She decided to offer up her Heavenly Origin Stone to ensure Qi Yi¡¯s safety.

    After all, Qi Yi was her disciple, and it was her duty to protect her.

 Chapter 442: Qi Yuan Gets Roasted

    Chapter 442: Qi Yuan Gets Roasted

    Outside the cave, Yu Mengxian stood anxiously, her expression full of worry.

    The Mixed-Blood Sect was too domineering, casually offering immortal jade to buy someone.

    About half an hour later, a voice came from within the cave.

    ¡°How could I use a disciple¡¯s treasure? Take the Heavenly Origin Stone back; I will personally visit the Mixed-Blood Sect,¡±

    The voice of Fengling Celestial Sovereign was filled with both sighs and helplessness.

    Even after becoming a Yang God, he couldn¡¯t achieve total freedom or peace.

    Of course, compared to other cultivators, Yang Gods still lived in great comfort.

    Hearing this, Yu Mengxian was filled with gratitude.

    However, Fengling Celestial Sovereign¡¯s next words were like a bucket of cold water poured on her heart.

    ¡°The Mixed-Blood Sect has always been arrogant and overbearing, and Tuoba Lingyu is the most beloved granddaughter of the Mixed-Blood Sect¡¯s ancestor. I¡¯m afraid... even I may not be able to stop this.¡±

    As he finished speaking, Fengling Celestial Sovereign¡¯s figure faded and disappeared.

    The meaning was clear¡ªhe might not be able to stop Tuoba Lingyu, subtly suggesting that Yu Mengxian should take Qi Yi and leave.

    On the other side, Qi Yi, hearing this, looked emotional. ¡°Master, this is all my fault.¡±

    If it weren¡¯t for her, her master wouldn¡¯t have to suffer this humiliation.

    ¡°This is not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it¡¯s that Tuoba Lingyu!¡±

    Yu Mengxian¡¯s emotions were complicated.

    The Celestial Sovereign¡¯s hint was obvious: take Qi Yi and leave.

    Even though he was a Celestial Sovereign, in the Supreme Truth Celestial Realm, there were many things beyond his control.

    His plan to visit the Mixed-Blood Sect was merely buying time for her to escape with Qi Yi.

    But... escape?

    Being targeted by the Mixed-Blood Sect, how could they escape?

    Every cultivator in the Lower Three Heavens knew about the shamelessness of the Mixed-Blood Sect.

    They captured people at will for their bloodlines.

    Once targeted, there was almost no escape.

    Yu Mengxian even suspected that trying to leave might be exactly what the Mixed-Blood Sect wanted.

    It could be a trap.

    ¡°Master, the Mixed-Blood Sect is after me. I don¡¯t want to implicate you,¡± Qi Yi said solemnly after thinking for a moment.

    If she continued to seek her master¡¯s protection, it might lead to her master¡¯s death.

    At this moment, Qi Yi more clearly understood the harsh realities of the cultivation world.

    Back on Gongxing, some noble families still maintained a veneer of honor and moral principles.

    But in the cultivation world, such things were meaningless.

    Demonic cultivators might as well carve the word ¡°Demon¡± on their foreheads to announce their nature.

    In the Sixth Heaven, Ghost Emperor Heaven casually slaughtered countless souls to refine ghost banners, moving from one realm to another in a spree of killing.

    Was there any great power that stopped them?

    No.

    In the Sixth Heaven, power was everything.

    As Yu Mengxian looked at Qi Yi, the image of that certain Celestial Sovereign flashed through her mind.

    If only she had the power of that Celestial Sovereign, how could Qi Yi have to suffer like this?

    Back in that mysterious land, that Celestial Sovereign had vanished without a trace, and the robot Zero-One had found Yu Mengxian, asking her to deliver something to Qi Yuan.

    Afterward, she took Qi Yi and left Gongxing. When she looked back, she found that Gongxing had disappeared.

    ¡°If only Gongxing were still around... If we had a way to return there, the Mixed-Blood Sect wouldn¡¯t be able to find us,¡±

    Yu Mengxian sighed wistfully.

    Of course, this was nothing but a distant fantasy.

    The entrance to the Fire Spirit Realm was too far away from here.

    They would likely be intercepted by the Mixed-Blood Sect before they could reach it.

    Suddenly, Yu Mengxian thought of something and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Does your brother... have any connection to Black Abyss?¡±

    She recalled the figure she had seen at Black Abyss.

    Qi Yi was puzzled, then shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    Her master on Gongxing had been Qi Yuan¡¯s mother.

    As for her feelings toward her younger brother, they were complicated.

    She had only hoped for him to live an ordinary life and stay away from the turbulence of the world.

    Who could have expected that he would suddenly become a Yang God Celestial Sovereign?

    ¡°Although... it¡¯s possible that he might,¡± Qi Yi added thoughtfully.

    After all, she didn¡¯t know much about her brother.

    Yu Mengxian frowned. ¡°I thought I saw him among the prodigies of Black Abyss attending the Supreme Truth Debate Gathering.¡±

    She was puzzled. If it were really Qi Yuan, why would he be standing among those prodigies?

    The prodigies were merely Yin Gods.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Yi was taken aback.

    ¡°Unfortunately, we¡¯re of such low status that we can¡¯t even get an audience with the people of Black Abyss,¡± Yu Mengxian lamented.

    Even someone like Tuoba Lingyu from the Mixed-Blood Sect would probably have to wait a long time just to have a message delivered to one of the Black Abyss prodigies.

    After all, he didn¡¯t dare underpay too much.

    There were far too many cases of people killing over unpaid debts.

    Still wearing her tight outfit, Qi Yi¡¯s face turned even redder as she hurried to explain, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to curse you. I just wanted to...¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re not here for money?¡± Qi Yuan sighed with relief.

    After all, he didn¡¯t have the money right now. If Qi Yi had come to collect, it would¡¯ve been embarrassing.

    ¡°Senior...¡± Yu Mengxian started to say something when a mocking voice interrupted.

    ¡°Well, well, it seems your Celestial Sovereign cares for you quite a bit, personally visiting my grandfather to negotiate.

    But right now, they¡¯re playing chess, so it¡¯ll be a while before he can leave.¡±

    As the voice trailed off, seven or eight figures appeared.

    The one leading them was none other than the arrogant Tuoba Lingyu.

    She swept her gaze over Qi Yi, inspecting her as if she were a commodity.

    But soon, her eyes shifted from Qi Yi to Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Your bloodline...¡± She widened her eyes in delight, inhaling deeply. ¡°What a wonderful scent!¡±

    Her expression was one of pure fascination, as if she had just discovered a priceless gem.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Are you sexually harassing me?¡±

    He found that he preferred more gentle and refined women.

    Bullhorn Lady and this bizarre woman were people he wanted to stay far away from.

    ¡°I thought Fengling Holy Land had one treasure, but it turns out there are two!¡± Tuoba Lingyu gazed at Qi Yuan with an intense, almost obsessive look.

    Qi Yuan felt incredibly awkward.

    It was the first time someone had called him a treasure upon their first meeting. What next, was she going to ask to see his legs?

    Seeing this, Yu Mengxian quickly sent a message to Qi Yuan, ¡°Senior, this woman is from the Mixed-Blood Sect...¡±

    She explained the situation to Qi Yuan.

    After hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm.

    Not only was this woman strange, but she was also involved in human trafficking.

    He found her even more repulsive.

    ¡°This is my sister, so I¡¯d appreciate it if you dropped this matter,¡± Qi Yuan said, trying to remain low-profile as he prepared to comprehend the Supreme Truth. He didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention and risk being discovered by Taihuang Palace.

    ¡°Give you face...?¡± Tuoba Lingyu sneered, her mocking smile widening. ¡°A mere Yin God from the Second Heaven, what kind of face do you think you deserve?¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Qi Yuan wanted to reveal his true identity.

    But on second thought, being from the lower realm and still a Purple Palace cultivator, it might be better to keep quiet.

    Tuoba Lingyu glanced at Yu Mengxian. ¡°I¡¯m taking these two with me. If you interfere... Fengling Holy Land won¡¯t have a bright future.¡±

    The Mythic Realm cultivators behind Tuoba Lingyu glared at Qi Yuan and the others with hostility.

    ¡°Hey, one immortal jade isn¡¯t enough to buy me. Besides, you called me a treasure, didn¡¯t you? And treasures are priceless,¡± Qi Yuan said, trying to resolve the situation peacefully.

    He needed to improve his rhetoric¡ªhe couldn¡¯t keep losing arguments to Bullhorn Lady.

    ¡°One piece of immortal jade...? That¡¯s an insult. You don¡¯t get it, do you? Or are you just stupid?¡± Tuoba Lingyu looked at Qi Yuan as if he were an idiot.

    To her, even speaking to Qi Yuan was giving him more attention than he deserved.

    After all, people like him were just livestock to be bled dry.

    ¡°You...¡± Qi Yuan was getting frustrated.

    How could there be someone so vile in this world?

    How could someone have such a venomous tongue?

    He wasn¡¯t hurt, but he was deeply irritated!

    ¡°Wearing something so revealing... and showing off three breasts, what¡¯s the meaning of this?

    Morals are in decline, and you¡¯re offending my eyes. You deserve death!¡±

    Suddenly, a voice rang out as a Yang God appeared, casting a glance at Tuoba Lingyu with disgust.

    With a single slap, he crushed Tuoba Lingyu to death.

    The Mythic Realm cultivators around her didn¡¯t even have time to react before they, too, were killed by the slap.

    It all happened so quickly.

    They had been arguing, and suddenly, a Yang God appeared and killed Tuoba Lingyu.

    The power of a Yang God was undeniable.

    Mythic Realm cultivators were like ants to them.

    Killing them took no effort at all.

    The Yang God glanced at Qi Yuan, then said with a feigned indifference, ¡°I just happened to be passing by. I¡¯m not helping you.¡±

    At that moment, a furious roar echoed from the sky.

    ¡°How dare you kill my granddaughter?!¡±

    A terrifying figure appeared in the Supreme Truth Celestial Realm, radiating bloodthirsty energy that filled the sky.

    The entire world seemed to be soaked in blood.

    That terrifying figure¡¯s gaze locked onto Qi Yuan and the others.

    It was none other than the Mixed-Blood Sect¡¯s ancestor, Shenxue Celestial Sovereign!

    Upon seeing him, Qi Yuan¡¯s face turned tense, and he quickly said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I had nothing to do with it. It was that Yang God over there! I don¡¯t even know him, and I definitely don¡¯t know he¡¯s called Devil Eye!¡±

 Chapter 443: The Frustrated Shenxue Celestial Sovereign, Zero-Oneâ€™s Message

    Chapter 443: The Frustrated Shenxue Celestial Sovereign, Zero-One¡¯s Message

    "Devil Eye?"

    In the sky, the Mixed-Blood Sect¡¯s ancestor, Shenxue Celestial Sovereign, glared at Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign with eyes filled with rage, his aura terrifying.

    Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign was a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God from the Molo Clan.

    Although Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was also a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God and deeply wary of Devil Eye, he didn¡¯t back down.

    ¡°I demand an explanation! Why did you slaughter my granddaughter without reason!¡±

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign¡¯s killing intent was palpable.

    Being a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God, he had his own pride, and he needed an explanation for this matter.

    ¡°How is it without reason? Your granddaughter was an eyesore. I was in a bad mood, so I killed her.¡±

    Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign¡¯s tone was calm but shameless.

    At this moment, many Yang Gods and Mythic Realm cultivators had noticed the commotion in the area and were hiding nearby, eager to watch the spectacle.

    ¡°You...¡±

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was enraged, his fury burning fiercely.

    He was a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God, and he wouldn¡¯t easily be intimidated by Devil Eye.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that I have many eyes? Your granddaughter may not have bothered many people, but most people only have two eyes. I, however, have a hundred billion. Something that bothers others slightly becomes a huge issue for me.¡±

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign seethed. ¡°If you don¡¯t give me a proper explanation, this won¡¯t end between us and the Molo Clan!¡±

    ¡°An explanation? I just gave you one,¡± Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign replied indifferently.

    Nearby, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of admiration.

    His own sharp tongue wasn¡¯t even half as good as his god-child''s.

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign''s gaze flickered with intense killing intent.

    ¡°When the Supreme Truth Debate Gathering is over, I will challenge you to a battle in the Heavens Beyond Heaven!¡±

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign directly issued a challenge.

    Upon hearing this, the surrounding Yang Gods and Mythic Realm cultivators were visibly shaken.

    ¡°He actually issued a challenge!¡±

    ¡°Shenxue Celestial Sovereign is truly furious!¡±

    ¡°This is going to be interesting!¡±

    ¡°Shenxue Celestial Sovereign has guts!¡±

    ¡°They''re both Supreme Truth Realm. If Shenxue backs down now, how will he maintain his standing?¡±

    ¡°Even if he loses, it¡¯s only a matter of losing face. It¡¯s not like the Molo Clan can gang up on him and kill him.¡±

    It was well known that the Molo Clan was a powerful force.

    Compared to the Mixed-Blood Sect, the Molo Clan was much stronger, even possessing a Creation Artifact.

    Despite this, Shenxue Celestial Sovereign¡¯s challenge intrigued many.

    Backing down now would lead to ridicule, but a loss would only cost him some pride.

    The Molo Clan couldn¡¯t threaten Shenxue¡¯s life.

    Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign remained calm, responding nonchalantly, ¡°Very well.¡±

    The Heavens Beyond Heaven was a special place for duels.

    Yang God battles frequently took place there.

    The other Yang Gods were excited. After all, there was finally some entertainment.

    Battles in the Heavens Beyond Heaven were rare.

    The last time a Yang God had fallen was when a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God from Black Abyss killed one from Ghost Emperor Heaven.

    Unfortunately, that duel ended too quickly for most to witness.

    Now that two Supreme Truth Realm experts were about to fight, no one wanted to miss it.

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign¡¯s expression darkened.

    He looked at Devil Eye and said, ¡°You may leave now, but do you plan to protect those ants below?¡±

    He couldn¡¯t deal with Devil Eye, but he could still vent his anger on those below.

    In the cultivation world, there were only three types of people: ants, fellow cultivators, and seniors.

    Qi Yuan heard this and was outraged. ¡°Do you not follow any laws? This has nothing to do with me! Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign is the one who killed your granddaughter. I don¡¯t even know him! It¡¯s not like I called him here, so why are you involving me?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s irritation was palpable.

    This Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was not only morally corrupt but also lawless.

    ¡°What do a few dead ants have to do with you?¡±

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was surprised that Qi Yuan dared to talk back. He sneered coldly.

    Turning back to Devil Eye, Shenxue added, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, I will attack them now!¡±

    Shenxue was issuing a warning.

    If the two Supreme Truth Realm Yang Gods fought, Devil Eye would struggle to protect the people below.

    ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable! We should settle this rationally!¡±

    Qi Yuan was growing more dissatisfied.

    Reason was the highest principle in his mind.

    ¡°Reason? Ha! What a joke.¡±

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign''s tone was filled with disdain. His terrifying aura spread as he prepared to attack Qi Yuan.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s mind stirred.

    For some reason, facing Shenxue Celestial Sovereign reminded him of dealing with Bullhorn Lady, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

    If he were only Qi Yi right now, would reason and the law still protect him?

    His head was starting to hurt from thinking too much.

    Just then, a voice chuckled.

    ¡°Shenxue, you can¡¯t kill this one.¡±

    A new figure appeared, another Supreme Truth Realm Yang God, with a refined appearance and a smile on his face.

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign looked at the newcomer with apprehension.

    ¡°Why are you, from the Buddhist Nation, involving yourself in this? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be enemies with the Molo Clan?¡±

    The new arrival was a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God from the Buddhist Nation.

    Wind Spirit Celestial Sovereign¡¯s eyes widened. He hadn¡¯t expected that Qi Yi, whom he had thought of as an ordinary person, had such a powerful connection.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Wind Spirit replied tactfully, quickly leaving to give Qi Yuan, Qi Yi, and Yu Mengxian space.

    Once Wind Spirit Celestial Sovereign departed, Qi Yuan turned to the two women and said calmly:

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m Blood Robe of Black Abyss, please don¡¯t reveal my identity to anyone.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Yu Mengxian quickly nodded.

    Qi Yi also nodded, though both of them were puzzled by this sudden revelation.

    ¡°Good, everything¡¯s settled now.¡± Qi Yuan spread his hands. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he asked,

    ¡°By the way, do you know how to get back to Gongxing? I can¡¯t remember if I left the lights on. I hope I didn¡¯t waste too much electricity.¡±

    Yu Mengxian was briefly stunned, then replied,

    ¡°The path to Gongxing... it no longer exists. Since I left, I haven¡¯t been able to return to Gongxing.¡±

    ¡°Gone?¡± Qi Yuan was visibly disappointed.

    How could Gongxing just disappear?

    ¡°It vanished, replaced by emptiness,¡± Yu Mengxian confirmed with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°When I was still on Gongxing, Zero-One entrusted me with something to give you.¡±

    As Yu Mengxian spoke, she retrieved an item that looked like a storage chip.

    ¡°From Zero-One?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened as he took the chip.

    His consciousness linked with it, and immediately, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

    ¡°Master, if you¡¯re hearing this message, I, Zero-One, am unsure where I am or when we might meet again.

    I imagine you still have questions about Gongxing, questions that have remained unanswered.

    Gongxing... is but a dream, an illusion, a mere fantasy, a projection of the thoughts of a supreme being.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, though his thoughts were racing.

    He recalled seeing that woman in the Genmo Sea.

    If Gongxing was indeed a manifestation of that woman¡¯s thoughts, it made sense.

    Yet, this realization also deepened Qi Yuan¡¯s understanding of that woman¡¯s immense power.

    At the same time, it hinted at the existence of something beyond the Supreme Truth Realm¡ªa realm beyond imagination.

    ¡°All things in the world are but illusions.

    On Gongxing, the myriad paths culminate in Zero-One, while the ultimate truth... is survival.

    To survive is to transform illusion into reality.¡±

    Zero-One¡¯s voice cut off abruptly.

    Qi Yuan stood there, pondering those words deeply.

    The myriad paths end in Zero-One, and the ultimate truth is survival?

    Was Gongxing merely a place for a supreme being to transcend, to ascend from the Supreme Truth Realm to the third layer of Yang God?

    Survival? Procreation?

    It seemed as though all life, no matter how short, pursued survival and left behind offspring to prove its existence.

    And was cultivation, too, not a quest for survival, freedom, or immortality?

    As Qi Yuan mulled this over, his thoughts began to strain, and he felt the urge to eat a Blood Essence Comprehension Pill.

    Perhaps, if he pondered these concepts further, he could comprehend a Supreme Truth from them.

    After all, Zero-One was a robot, surely more knowledgeable and faster at processing information than him.

    However, Qi Yuan quickly snuffed out these thoughts.

    He couldn¡¯t afford to dwell too much on these matters now.

    With the Supreme Truth Wall approaching, if he used up his mental energy now, what would happen when the time came?

    ¡°Ah, life is truly better when you remain blissfully ignorant,¡± Qi Yuan sighed, choosing to abandon the deeper thoughts.

    ...

    Three days later.

    In the Mixed-Blood Sect, an unexpected visitor arrived.

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign squinted at the Yang God before him, his gaze flickering.

    ¡°Is this true?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Da Le Celestial Sovereign replied with a cheerful grin. ¡°Interested in getting your revenge?¡±

    This time, the Banner Lord had issued orders to recruit more Yang God powers.

    ¡°But... isn''t it impossible to gather too many Yang Gods in the Sixth Heaven?¡±

    Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was confused.

    The visitor had come offering help in killing Blood Robe and proposing that the Mixed-Blood Sect join Ghost Emperor Heaven.

    Shenxue was tempted.

    After all, until now, he had no way of joining one of the Sixth Heaven¡¯s major forces.

    ¡°You think the Banner Lord would lie to you?¡±

    Da Le Celestial Sovereign said dismissively.

    Hearing this, Shenxue Celestial Sovereign hesitated for a long moment before finally nodding:

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    After all, the visitor had already made everything clear.

    If he refused, he would risk offending Ghost Emperor Heaven.

    Joining a major power in the Sixth Heaven gave him a greater sense of security.

    For some reason, he sensed that the Sixth Heaven was teeming with hidden dangers, as though something major was about to unfold.

 Chapter 444: Yin Gods Are This Weak? Must Be Fake Gods!

    Chapter 444: Yin Gods Are This Weak? Must Be Fake Gods!

    Pale blue clouds descended, and the ground seemed dreamlike, sometimes with flashes of light darting across.

    In the void, there were faint yet powerful presences lurking.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the sky, his brow furrowing as he pondered. "The strong... are growing more numerous."

    He sensed again that another powerful being had arrived.

    Recently, several mighty figures had descended into the Realm of Supreme Truth, and Qi Yuan had been laying low.

    Each of these figures was far beyond his ability to contend with.

    If he offended any of them, he imagined it would end badly.

    ¡°I wonder if that figure from Taihuang Palace has arrived yet.¡±

    Qi Yuan mused over this when suddenly, a loud and careless voice called out.

    "Are you really going to attend that so-called Yin God Debate?" Oxhorn Sister approached, her flowing purple robe giving off a celestial air but somehow still looking utterly rustic on her.

    "Yes." Qi Yuan nodded.

    Today was the day the Yin God Debate was set to begin.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going there to teach them about cultivation?¡± Oxhorn Sister asked playfully.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to listen to the teachings.¡±

    Qi Yuan answered earnestly.

    The participants in the Yin God Debate were split into two groups: those teaching and those listening.

    Listeners, like Qi Yuan, were mainly cultivators at the Purple Mansion stage, sitting at the back, listening to the Yin Gods give lectures.

    The lecturers were often promising talents at the Yin God level, invited to speak at the Supreme Truth Debate Conference.

    Talents like Oxhorn Sister had been invited, but she had no interest in attending.

    She planned to participate in the Yang God Debate instead.

    For a prodigy like her, participating in the Yang God sessions was fitting¡ªwhy would she ever attend the Yin God ones?

    ¡°You really are something... The Yin God Debate and the Yang God Debate are happening at the same time. If you go to listen to that, you might miss out,¡± Oxhorn Sister reminded him again, concerned.

    After all, such grand events came only once in millennia.

    ¡°Cultivation must follow its proper order. I¡¯m just a small Purple Mansion cultivator, so why should I attend the Yang God Debate?¡±

    Qi Yuan shrugged, unconcerned.

    Once he fully understood the path of the Yin God, he could don the guise of another identity and head to the Wall of Supreme Truth to comprehend his own supreme truth.

    But before that, he needed to figure out his Yin God path.

    It sounded contradictory, but Qi Yuan found it perfectly reasonable.

    After all, there wasn¡¯t any law that said you couldn¡¯t comprehend the supreme truth without first grasping the Yin God path.

    "Well, you''re talented enough to mess around however you like," Oxhorn Sister said, waving off the matter as she sauntered away.

    Qi Yuan packed up his things and disappeared in a streak of light.

    When he reappeared, he stood before a pavilion.

    ¡°Are you... Myriad Dao?¡±

    A friendly voice called out.

    ¡°I¡¯m Lin Daihu!¡±

    Two men and one woman approached him, with the scholar-like young man in the lead smiling warmly.

    To participate in the Yin God Debate, one had to register and join a group.

    Qi Yuan had signed up under the name Myriad Dao and was promptly added to a group by Lin Daihu.

    Lin Daihu was the type who got along with everyone, and he had formed a small circle of Purple Mansion cultivators attending the Yin God Debate.

    The idea was that by going together, they could look out for each other and also exchange insights.

    ¡°This is Feng Can, and this is Yu Jiao,¡± Lin Daihu introduced the other two.

    Qi Yuan gave the two a quick glance. Hmm, very ordinary Purple Mansion cultivators.

    Their cultivation, appearance, and even their backgrounds seemed plain.

    That was just fine. Qi Yuan had always preferred his freedom and didn¡¯t want to deal with arrogant or conceited cultivators at this time.

    If Lin Daihu hadn¡¯t been so enthusiastic and Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t had a bit of social anxiety, he wouldn¡¯t have come at all.

    ¡°Lin, you know the Yin God Debate best. Which speaker is the most unique or interesting?¡± Qi Yuan asked, getting to the point.

    That was why he¡¯d come.

    Lin Daihu had done his homework on the debate, and Qi Yuan, being rather lazy, hadn¡¯t bothered preparing.

    ¡°The more unique ones are in the Yellow Tier area. But... the teachings there are often so outlandish that most can¡¯t follow them,¡± Lin Daihu explained, also warning Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Usually, only those who struggle to step into the Yin God realm go to the Yellow Tier area. Why would you go there? Are you seeking insights for a friend or family member?¡± Yu Jiao asked curiously.

    Generally, anyone who made it to the Realm of Supreme Truth to attend this debate was confident in their own ability to reach the Yin God realm.

    So Yu Jiao assumed Qi Yuan was here to gain knowledge for someone else.

    She deduced that Qi Yuan probably came from a less prominent background, but was talented enough to join a major sect.

    However, he was still tied to family obligations.

    ¡°No, it''s for myself,¡± Qi Yuan replied truthfully, his expression serious. "Cultivation is difficult. Every step is like walking on thin ice¡ªthere are too many dangers along the way."

    "You''re right, fellow Daoist. We ordinary folk with average talent and backgrounds can''t compare to those prodigies," Lin Daihu sighed.

    That was precisely why he enjoyed making friends, never hesitating to share his resources.

    "Yeah, it''s tough. If I wasn¡¯t lucky and smart, I¡¯d probably be dead already. Honestly, if you gave my cultivation path to a Yang God, they wouldn¡¯t survive either," Qi Yuan shrugged.

    The three beside him were taken aback, with Yu Jiao pursing her lips, keeping silent.

    Lin Daihu, however, chuckled. ¡°It seems your cultivation path has been full of dangers.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m heading to the Yellow Tier area. What about you?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°Why not go together? The Yin God Debate lasts quite some time. It wouldn''t hurt to hear some of the more unconventional ideas. You never know what you might learn," Lin Daihu suggested.

    No matter how powerful a Purple Mansion cultivator¡¯s innate magical powers were, they could never compare to the might of celestial energy. The two forces simply weren¡¯t on the same level.

    ¡°But... why is it that the gods I remember were all omnipotent, while these Yin Gods seem like I could kill them with one slap?¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered aloud.

    To him, the gap between gods and mortals was vast.

    Gods were supposed to be almost all-powerful.

    Shouldn¡¯t gods be able to create worlds, at the very least?

    If they couldn¡¯t even create living beings, could they still be called gods?

    In contrast, the Yin Gods of the Sixth Heaven were undoubtedly powerful.

    But they fell short of what Qi Yuan imagined a god should be.

    ¡°Ahem, you probably shouldn¡¯t say things like that,¡± Lin Daihu quickly advised, concerned that a senior might overhear.

    Qi Yuan, however, was lost in thought.

    His mind raced with ideas.

    "These Yin Gods couldn¡¯t even beat me, a mere Purple Mansion cultivator."

    "There¡¯s something wrong here!"

    ¡°This means they aren¡¯t true gods¡ªthey¡¯re fake gods!

    ¡°If a god can be killed by someone below their level, how can they still be called a god?¡±

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s understanding, gods weren¡¯t necessarily omnipotent or omniscient, but they should at least wield immense divine power.

    If a mere transcendent being could kill a god, it seriously diminished their divine status.

    "So, to truly become a god... shouldn¡¯t I at least have a divine domain? Or create a world?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts spun wildly.

    That being on Gongxing seemed more like a true god to him.

    After all, according to Zero-One, Gongxing¡¯s existence stemmed from her thoughts.

    A single thought giving rise to a world¡ªnow that was godlike.

    "So, my Yin God path has to be held to that standard."

    Qi Yuan thought seriously.

    It had been a long time since he¡¯d really flexed his mental muscles!

    Once he started thinking, it was hard to stop.

    At the same time, he began to adapt his Qi Yuan Scripture with this divine law in mind.

    After an unknown amount of time, Qi Yuan suddenly paused.

    ¡°If I want to create a world, I must first understand the world.¡±

    ¡°I know about the myriad ways, but simply knowing isn''t enough. How can I create?¡±

    This presented a major challenge.

    ¡°Could it be that I need to become all things first before I can truly understand them?¡±

    Qi Yuan delved deeper into thought.

    He was tempted to swallow the Ascension Blood Insight Pill.

    But he knew he needed to save it for the right moment.

    After all, it would be much more useful in front of the Wall of Supreme Truth.

    After some time, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a glint of clarity flashing through them.

    ¡°Indeed, staying in a place with a strong cultural atmosphere really makes my mind sharper.¡±

    He had already come up with some ideas regarding his Yin God path.

    Lin Daihu turned to him. "Fellow Daoist, have you gained some insights? Shall we head to the Heaven Tier area to continue listening?"

    Feng Can and Yu Jiao also looked at Qi Yuan expectantly.

    The Yin God Debate lasted quite a while, and they had gained a lot from the Yellow Tier area.

    ¡°No, listening any further would be pointless.¡± Qi Yuan shook his head.

    Feng Can couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°Could it be that you¡¯ve already comprehended everything?¡±

    Of course, his tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

    After all, throughout the debate, Qi Yuan had been acting rather arrogantly, speaking as if he were superior to the others.

    To Feng Can, it was off-putting¡ªhe couldn¡¯t respect someone who hadn¡¯t yet mastered their temper, let alone someone who acted high and mighty without reason.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t, but I¡¯m in a hurry to attend the Supreme Truth Debate, so this Yin God Debate ends here for me,¡± Qi Yuan said lazily.

    ¡°The Supreme Truth Debate?¡± Lin Daihu froze, his eyes widening.

    The Supreme Truth Debate was an event where only Yang Gods could participate.

    Even within major sects, only the very top prodigies were allowed to attend, and they were usually just there to observe.

    Could it be... Myriad Dao was hiding his true identity and was actually one of those rare, unparalleled prodigies?

    ¡°Goodbye, everyone.¡± Without waiting for their reactions, Qi Yuan departed, his figure vanishing in an instant.

    The guards overseeing the Yin God Debate, seeing Qi Yuan leave, didn¡¯t dare stop him.

    Yu Jiao¡¯s expression grew complicated as a strange sense of loss welled up within her.

    "Could what he said actually be true?"

    Feng Can paused. ¡°Myriad Dao has always spoken out of turn. He¡¯s capable of saying anything.¡±

    His words sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

    Only Lin Daihu wore a joyful expression. ¡°If it¡¯s true, that would be wonderful.¡±

    After all, this was all about building connections!

 Chapter 445: Supreme Sun Celestial, the Prodigy of Taihuang Palace!

    Chapter 445: Supreme Sun Celestial, the Prodigy of Taihuang Palace!

    Above the sky, powerful figures gathered.

    Wusheng Celestial sat in a high position, his eyes sparkling with a radiant smile.

    "I wonder how many juniors will step into the Supreme Truth Realm in this Supreme Truth Debate. Will anyone... be able to comprehend the Supreme Truth?"

    Wusheng Celestial was one of the elders of the Supreme Truth Association.

    All elders were at the Grand Supreme Truth level, making them the strongest beings in the Sixth Heaven.

    "The winds are stirring, heralding an era of greatness. Let''s hope more will reach the Supreme Truth Realm," said a Grand Supreme Truth from Shenluo Heaven, his voice carrying a mysterious tone.

    "I wonder if we¡¯ll see a hundred this time.

    In the last debate, only fifty-three managed to comprehend the Supreme Truth," remarked another Grand Supreme Truth, his voice slow and drawn out.

    "It''s difficult."

    "More than that, I care if anyone will comprehend the Supreme Truth," said a Grand Supreme Truth from Ghost Dominion Heaven.

    Upon hearing this, the Yang God Celestials present felt their spirits stir.

    For over a million years, no Yang God in the Sixth Heaven had comprehended the Supreme Truth.

    Those at the top had remained unchanged for eons.

    "The one from Black Demon Abyss, Black Sword... his talent is extraordinary. He may well comprehend the Supreme Truth," said Moonlight Celestial from Moon God Palace, her voice filled with a touch of admiration and envy.

    She was a Grand Supreme Truth and possessed an offensive Creation Artifact. Aside from a select few, she was among the most powerful.

    Yet, she still envied the Yang Gods who had comprehended the Supreme Truth.

    At the mention of Black Sword, the Grand Supreme Truths present all felt a twinge of envy.

    "Who would''ve thought that Black Demon Abyss would still have such fortune, producing a prodigy like Black Sword," sighed one of the Grand Supreme Truths, his words dripping with envy.

    He was from White Dragon Abyss, one of the Four Abysses.

    White Dragon Abyss had fewer Grand Supreme Truths than Black Demon Abyss and no Grand Supreme Truths who had comprehended the Supreme Truth.

    Already weaker than Black Demon Abyss, the appearance of Black Sword, with his bright future, left him even more envious.

    "Is Black Sword¡¯s talent and insight really as exaggerated as the rumors say?" asked one Yang God Celestial curiously.

    He was at the Grand Supreme Truth level and understood well how difficult it was to comprehend the Supreme Truth.

    After all, while Yang Gods in the Sixth Heaven were as numerous as stars, those who had comprehended the Supreme Truth were fewer than two handfuls.

    Some of the Grand Supreme Truths thought Black Sword¡¯s talent was merely exaggerated by rumors.

    "If his talent and insight weren''t so extraordinary, why would the Eight Elders of Black Demon Abyss gather to collectively refine the Ascension Blood Insight Pill for him?"

    "This pill drains one''s vitality greatly. With Lynia''s Transformation approaching, they wouldn''t risk expending their vitality unless they were confident." A Grand Supreme Truth explained.

    "Speaking of that, I¡¯ve heard Taihuang Palace recently produced a prodigy who might also comprehend the Supreme Truth?" Wusheng Celestial inquired, turning to a Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace.

    The Yang Gods present were visibly shaken by this news.

    They hadn¡¯t heard this information before.

    Especially Moonlight Celestial from Moon God Palace¡ªher heart trembled at the mention.

    Taihuang Palace had produced another unparalleled prodigy?

    The Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace squinted his eyes, a brilliant smile on his face. "The Supreme Truth Association truly lives up to its reputation as the top faction in the Sixth Heaven. Even this sort of news can reach you.

    It¡¯s true that our Taihuang Palace has a new prodigy. However, as for comprehending the Supreme Truth... well, that¡¯s still to be seen.

    It hasn¡¯t been realized yet, so who can say?"

    At this, the Grand Supreme Truths present all gasped inwardly.

    Taihuang Palace already had one Grand Supreme Truth who had comprehended the Supreme Truth.

    If they gained another... were they...

    Moreover, the one from Taihuang Palace who had comprehended the Supreme Truth was considered strong even among those who had done so.

    If they gained another, wouldn¡¯t that mean Taihuang Palace would far surpass other factions, potentially rivaling the Supreme Truth Association?

    Wusheng Celestial narrowed his eyes, though no one could tell what he was thinking. "It seems that with Lynia¡¯s Transformation approaching, Taihuang Palace will be the biggest winner."

    For nearly ten million years, the Supreme Truth Association had been the most powerful force in the Sixth Heaven, boasting two Grand Supreme Truths who had comprehended the Supreme Truth.

    Now, there might be another.

    The Grand Supreme Truths present could feel the rising tension.

    "The future is unpredictable," the Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace said, casting a playful glance at Moonlight Celestial.

    Moonlight Celestial felt both wary and deeply troubled.

    Moon God Palace had always been slightly weaker than Taihuang Palace.

    If Taihuang Palace gained another Grand Supreme Truth who had comprehended the Supreme Truth, how would Moon God Palace even compete?

    With this revelation, the Grand Supreme Truths fell silent, many quietly sending messages back to their factions.

    After all, if Taihuang Palace gained another Grand Supreme Truth who had comprehended the Supreme Truth, the balance of power in the Sixth Heaven would shift dramatically.

    The factions most affected would be Moon God Palace and the Supreme Truth Association.

    At that moment, as a great resonance echoed through the heavens, countless profound insights descended from above.

    The Grand Supreme Truths all turned their gazes to a distant spot.

    There, over a thousand Yang Gods had gathered.

    At that moment, a vast voice echoed through the heavens.

    "The debate begins, enter the wall!"

    With that announcement, a colossal, majestic, and battle-scarred wall appeared before Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    The wall was covered with various marks, seemingly left by countless blades and swords.

    This wall was the Creation Artifact known as the Wall of Supreme Truth.

    All the Yang Gods turned their gazes toward the wall, their expressions becoming solemn.

    Immediately, many Yang Gods flew toward the wall, sitting cross-legged to meditate and comprehend its mysteries.

    "The stillness of ancient times holds all movement. The void holds all realms. Today, I shall prevail!" Supreme Sun Celestial strode forward to the Wall of Supreme Truth.

    He didn¡¯t sit down; he stood.

    Black Sword also approached the wall slowly, standing before it.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan thought to himself, "Standing or sitting¡ªwon¡¯t they get tired?

    Seems like a waste of energy. Shouldn¡¯t they save their strength so their minds can work faster?"

    Thinking this, he walked up to the Wall of Supreme Truth, pulled out a bed, and casually lay down on it.

    Lying down would make blood flow to his brain more efficiently, which Qi Yuan considered quite scientific and conducive to mental performance.

    This scene caught the attention of many cultivators, who were all stunned.

    "This is... too casual, right? He brought a bed to the Wall of Supreme Truth?"

    "What... is he doing?"

    Among the gathered Yang Gods, some were seated cross-legged, while others stood. This was the first time anyone had seen someone bring a bed.

    Even the Grand Supreme Truths couldn¡¯t help but glance at Qi Yuan.

    "This Molo Celestial is quite the character. It¡¯s a pity he¡¯s from the Molo Clan. Otherwise, I¡¯d invite him to join our Supreme Truth Association," Wusheng Celestial said with a smile.

    Then, his tone shifted. "Shall we make a wager on whether Molo Celestial will comprehend the Supreme Truth? And if he does, what grade will it be?

    I think he¡¯s got potential. He should be able to comprehend... an Earth Grade Supreme Truth, don¡¯t you think?"

    "Wusheng Celestial, you seem to have high hopes for him," said the Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace, his tone mild. "I¡¯ve seen Molo before. He¡¯s got some talent, but not much. He¡¯d be lucky to comprehend a Yellow Grade Supreme Truth."

    "There¡¯s nothing interesting about betting on Molo. If we¡¯re betting, it should be on whether Black Sword or Supreme Sun comprehends the Supreme Truth first," said a Grand Supreme Truth from Ghost Dominion Heaven, his gaze deep.

    He was particularly fixated on Black Sword.

    Ghost Dominion Heaven had already developed a deep enmity toward Black Demon Abyss.

    If Black Sword truly did comprehend the Supreme Truth, he intended to personally eliminate him.

    "I¡¯ll place my bet on Black Sword," Moonlight Celestial said calmly.

    Though Moon God Palace had clashed with Black Demon Abyss, their greatest enemy was Taihuang Palace.

    "I¡¯m rooting for Black Sword too," said a Grand Supreme Truth from Shenluo Heaven.

    "Black Sword," echoed the Grand Supreme Truth from White Dragon Abyss, who was known for his brevity.

    For them, the idea of Black Demon Abyss gaining another powerhouse was concerning, but the prospect of Taihuang Palace producing another Grand Supreme Truth who had comprehended the Supreme Truth was far worse.

    The one from Taihuang Palace was known for his domineering nature.

    When the Buddha Kingdom produced a Grand Supreme Truth, aiming to ascend to the Sixth Heaven, that very figure had been slain by Taihuang Palace¡¯s Great Sun Grand Supreme Truth.

    A Grand Supreme Truth who had comprehended the Supreme Truth was already so tyrannical¡ªtwo such figures were unimaginable.

    The Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace, seeing this, smirked with pride. "It seems none of you have much faith in Supreme Sun. Well, I¡¯ll bet on my own."

    His expression was smug, even a bit inflated with confidence.

    Because once the Supreme Truth Association announced the matter of Lynia¡¯s Transformation, he had some major news to announce as well.

    When the time came... Heh, these Grand Supreme Truths would be shaken to their core.

    This Sixth Heaven... would belong to Taihuang Palace!

    All eyes were on the Wall of Supreme Truth.

    With each new Yang God who comprehended the Supreme Truth, the power dynamics of certain regions would shift.

    And if someone were to comprehend the Supreme Truth, the entire balance of the Sixth Heaven would change.

    "Blood Robe, who do you think will succeed?" Oxhorn Sister asked Qi Yuan, who stood nearby.

    Of course, this Qi Yuan was merely one of his Nascent Souls in disguise.

    "I¡¯m betting on... Molo Celestial. That guy looks like he¡¯s about to comprehend the Supreme Truth," Qi Yuan said confidently.

    Is it really so wrong to compliment yourself, even through one of your own avatars?

    "Huh?" Oxhorn Sister was stunned. "Did you burn out your brain again today?"

    Comprehending the Supreme Truth wasn¡¯t something that happened easily.

    Of all the prodigies, perhaps only Big Brother Black Sword had a real chance.

    As for the others, she hadn¡¯t heard any whispers suggesting they had the potential.

    The spotlight and glory of this event would belong to Black Demon Abyss.

 Chapter 446: Qi Yuanâ€™s Supreme Truth

    Chapter 446: Qi Yuan¡¯s Supreme Truth

    Within the Six Heavens, countless gazes were fixed on the clouds above.

    Many cultivators clenched their fists, silently praying for their ancestral patriarchs.

    If their patriarchs could comprehend the Supreme Truth and become Supreme Truth Yang Gods, the standing of their sects would rise significantly.

    Most of the attention, however, was focused on Black Sword and Supreme Sun Celestial.

    This was because experts had been explaining that these two were certain to comprehend the Supreme Truth¡ªand it would be extraordinary.

    Yet, there were also some who turned their attention to the Molo Celestial, who was lying on a bed.

    ¡°That guy is ugly and acts weird.¡±

    ¡°Watch your mouth¡ªare you tired of living?¡±

    ¡°Relax, we''re far away from him.¡±

    These spectators, some of whom were from the First Heaven, felt emboldened by the distance.

    Time ticked by.

    Oxhorn Sister, holding her jade slip, continued her commentary: ¡°Look at that one with three heads¡ªhe¡¯s shaking them like crazy. I wonder if he¡¯s about to comprehend something big? Maybe...he¡¯s holding back a breakthrough?¡±

    ¡°I was wrong¡ªhe¡¯s not comprehending anything. He just has a stiff neck.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s shift our focus to the ugly freak, Molo Celestial. What weird surprise does he have in store for us now?¡±

    ¡°Wait a second, is he sleeping?¡±

    At this moment, Qi Yuan, who had been lying on his bed, suddenly turned over and glared viciously at Purple Fate Xue.

    He was furious.

    This woman was something else.

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s not asleep after all. That was just my assumption. My bad. I shouldn¡¯t have said he¡¯s ugly¡ªI should¡¯ve said his looks are inconvenient,¡± Oxhorn Sister remarked brazenly.

    She was fearless.

    Being on the verge of stepping into the Yang God realm, and coming from Black Demon Abyss, she naturally didn¡¯t take the Molo Clan¡¯s Molo Celestial seriously.

    A burly male cultivator saw this and couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that Molo Celestial might suddenly have a breakthrough and comprehend some kind of Heaven-grade Supreme Truth, stepping into the Grand Supreme Truth realm?¡±

    As for the Ice Sword cultivator, he wisely kept silent.

    He was shrewd enough to know not to mess with Purple Fate Xue.

    Sure enough...

    Purple Fate Xue tilted her head and looked at the burly man.

    ¡°He¡¯s so ugly, if he can comprehend a Heaven-grade Supreme Truth, then you, looking just as ugly, should give it a shot. Why don¡¯t you go up to the Wall of Supreme Truth and give it a try?¡± Purple Fate Xue¡¯s words were dripping with sarcasm.

    She was practically calling him ugly to his face.

    The burly man¡¯s face turned red, and he was left speechless by Purple Fate Xue¡¯s cutting words.

    ¡°The bed Molo Celestial is lying on looks big¡ªwhy don¡¯t you go keep him company?¡± Purple Fate Xue mocked everyone equally.

    The burly man remained silent.

    At this moment, a brilliant flash of light suddenly appeared on the Wall of Supreme Truth.

    Everyone¡¯s attention shifted toward that light.

    ¡°Divine light rises in the east¡ªhas someone already comprehended the Supreme Truth?¡±

    ¡°Is it possible this happened so quickly?¡±

    ¡°This is...the Yang God from the Third Heaven, known as the Furious Celestial. How did he achieve this so fast?¡±

    ¡°What kind of Supreme Truth did he comprehend?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t know such private matters, but judging by the divine light, it¡¯s of a high grade!¡±

    ¡°The divine light flows like the eastern river, endlessly surging¡ªthis is a Mystic-grade Supreme Truth!¡± A Supreme Truth Yang God confirmed, putting an end to speculation.

    Upon hearing this, all the cultivators turned to look at Furious Celestial, their expressions filled with envy.

    A Mystic-grade Supreme Truth was nothing to scoff at.

    This meant that after stepping into the Supreme Truth realm, Furious Celestial wouldn¡¯t be among the weaker ones.

    ¡°This guy¡¯s sect... they¡¯re about to soar to new heights!¡±

    ¡°When will our patriarch comprehend the Supreme Truth?¡±

    Many voices buzzed in discussion.

    Wusheng Celestial¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°This is a good omen. Hopefully, this Supreme Truth Debate will bring forth more cultivators who grasp the Supreme Truth.¡±

    The Supreme Truth Association hoped for more Supreme Truth cultivators to emerge in the Six Heavens.

    Every Supreme Truth cultivator was a potential future member of their organization.

    At the foot of the Wall of Supreme Truth, over a thousand Yang Gods sat with their eyes closed in deep thought.

    Some had been startled by Furious Celestial¡¯s breakthrough, while others remained immersed in their own worlds.

    Time passed slowly.

    Divine light occasionally surged from the Wall of Supreme Truth, prompting exclamations of awe.

    Each new Supreme Truth that was comprehended had the potential to alter the balance of worlds.

    Especially among rival sects in the same Heaven¡ªwhen they saw their enemies¡¯ patriarchs comprehending the Supreme Truth, their expressions turned darker than if their own fathers had died.

    Meanwhile, those whose own patriarchs succeeded were brimming with pride.

    Time flowed rapidly, and all eyes remained locked on the Wall of Supreme Truth.

    The focus was particularly intense on Black Sword and Supreme Sun Celestial, who were under the most scrutiny from the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators.

    After all, no matter how many others comprehended the Supreme Truth, they wouldn¡¯t change the overall situation.

    But those who could comprehend the Supreme Supreme Truth had the potential to become players who could alter the very landscape.

    "My path is the path of bloodline."

    "The one and only Divine Blood."

    "Ask me where I come from, I come from nothingness."

    "Trace it back to the source!"

    Black Sword stood before the Wall of Supreme Truth, his bloodline boiling and surging.

    A wisp of purple divine light quietly rose from the Wall of Supreme Truth.

    This scene did not escape the attention of the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators.

    ¡°Purple energy rises¡ªBlack Sword... truly possesses the potential to comprehend the Supreme Supreme Truth!¡± Wusheng Celestial said, his voice tinged with a tremor.

    Although Black Sword was known to have the potential for the Supreme Supreme Truth, no one dared to guarantee he would succeed in comprehending it.

    Now, with the appearance of the purple energy, it was a precursor to grasping the Supreme Supreme Truth.

    Instantly, countless eyes focused on Black Sword.

    ¡°For millions of years, no Yang God has comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth. Could it be... Black Sword will be the one?¡±

    Ghost Dominion Heaven¡¯s Grand Supreme Truth was visibly moved, his heart stirring with murderous intent.

    Originally, the plan was for a lesser Yang God to assassinate Black Sword.

    But now, it seemed he would have to take matters into his own hands.

    The three elders of Black Demon Abyss, watching this unfold, were grinning so widely that their beards were crooked: ¡°He hasn¡¯t fully comprehended it yet¡ªcelebrating now might be too early.¡±

    If Black Sword truly comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth, Black Demon Abyss¡¯ standing in the Six Heavens would soar.

    While Black Demon Abyss had many Grand Supreme Truth cultivators, none had comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth.

    If one emerged, the entire balance of power would shift.

    ¡°Hmph, Black Sword Brother is about to comprehend the Supreme Supreme Truth, while some people... are still stuck on the Shadow God realm!¡± An Xunlu said smugly.

    Purple Fate Xiao Lu stomped her foot in frustration.

    Meanwhile, Purple Fate Xue held up her jade slip: ¡°Purple energy rising, divine light protecting him, Black Sword Brother is floating like an immortal. Now, let¡¯s check in on Molo Celestial... Ah, yes, he¡¯s floating too¡ªbut in his sleep.¡±

    Purple Fate Xue giggled as she spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m tempted to crack open his skull to see what he¡¯s thinking. Is he comprehending the Supreme Truth in his dreams?¡±

    Meanwhile, at the foot of the Wall of Supreme Truth, Qi Yuan was lying there, deep in thought.

    Comprehending the Supreme Truth was a crucial matter in his life.

    During this period, more and more Yang Gods had begun to comprehend the Supreme Truth.

    Perhaps due to the arrival of a grand era, sixty Yang Gods had already comprehended the Supreme Truth, and this number was continuing to rise rapidly.

    Qi Yuan lay on his bed, feeling like his brain was about to overload.

    ¡°My enemies keep getting stronger. Survival...is so difficult.¡±

    After thinking it over, he discreetly took a bite of his Blood-Elevating Comprehension Pill.

    It seemed that strange individuals attracted other strange individuals, as Purple Fate Xue continued to stare at Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Is this guy on vacation? He¡¯s even eating snacks?¡± Purple Fate Xue couldn¡¯t help but comment. ¡°Is he going to wet the bed later?¡±

    Having taken the Blood-Elevating Comprehension Pill, Qi Yuan felt his mind become even sharper.

    ¡°How can I survive better?¡±

    ¡°Born into the world, nine out of ten ways lead to death. Why is this? Because we cling too much to life.¡±

    Qi Yuan recalled several wise sayings.

    ¡°The deceitful ones, they pretend to be morally upright, shout about ideals, wield the law, and lead their followers to their deaths.¡±

    ¡°When the scales tip, it¡¯s often the kind-hearted ones who are sacrificed first.¡±

    ¡°If you can endure hardships, then endure more!¡±

    ¡°When it rains, carry an umbrella. When the sun is about to explode, take Blue Planet and flee?¡±

    ¡°In this world, to survive, you must adapt¡ªto the rules of the world!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m deceitful by nature, but I can pretend to be noble.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m greedy, so I encourage others to suffer more!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts were chaotic, with countless ideas swirling in his mind.

    As the saying goes, the good don¡¯t live long, while the wicked live for centuries.

    Those who thrive the most in this world are often not the most virtuous or moral individuals.

    Instead, they are the ones who can disguise themselves and exploit the rules.

    ¡°A man named Ode Bill once said, ¡®You are what you eat.¡¯ So, if you want to rise to the top, it¡¯s not about enduring the hardest hardships¡ªit¡¯s about eating others!¡±

    ¡°Ode Bill also said that if you¡¯re suffering, it¡¯s because someone else is enjoying your share of happiness!¡±

    ¡°To survive better, you must...adapt!¡±

    ¡°Adapt to morality, adapt to law, adapt to the weather, adapt to the rules!¡±

    ¡°In the natural world, the strong devour the weak, and only the fittest survive!¡±

    ¡°So, my Supreme Supreme Truth is...Absolute Adaptation!¡±

    ¡°When it rains, what do I do? I grow an umbrella on my head!¡±

    ¡°If an old lady accuses me of knocking her down, and they ask why I helped her up, I¡¯ll grow a camera on my head to record everything!¡±

    With the help of the Blood-Elevating Comprehension Pill, Qi Yuan¡¯s brain was working at an extraordinary pace.

    In an instant, he grasped his own Supreme Supreme Truth.

    Absolute Adaptation!

    Only by adapting to everything can one survive!

    Survival is the true essence of the Great Dao!

    ¡°I... I¡¯ve comprehended it!¡±

    A brilliant light flashed in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    Suddenly, purple energy began to rise.

    The previously calm Grand Supreme Truth cultivators abruptly widened their eyes.

    ¡°Another Supreme Supreme Truth... Someone else has comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s... Molo Celestial!¡±

    In the skies, the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators were stunned.

    ¡°Molo Celestial... actually comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth!¡±

    All the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators were shaken.

    Black Sword and Supreme Sun Celestial comprehending the Supreme Supreme Truth was something they could accept.

    But where on earth had this Molo Celestial come from?!

    And now, all of a sudden, he¡¯s comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth too?!

    Among the shocked Grand Supreme Truth cultivators, none looked more troubled than Moonflower Celestial.

    Moon Palace had not only been fighting Taihuang Palace but had also clashed with the Molo Clan and even Black Demon Abyss.

    Now... her enemies had all comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth?!

    How could this all happen at the same time?

    Wusheng Celestial blinked in surprise as he watched this unfold. He even entertained the thought of starting a war with Moon Palace himself¡ªperhaps adding another Supreme Supreme Truth cultivator to their ranks would help?

    Every eye now turned to Molo Celestial.

    Even Black Sword and Supreme Sun Celestial took a moment to glance at Molo Celestial.

    At this moment, both Black Sword and Supreme Sun Celestial had finished imprinting the Supreme Supreme Truth onto their divine souls.

    The two exchanged glances, their expressions calm. With a slight bow, Black Sword¡¯s figure vanished.

    Supreme Sun Celestial¡¯s form also faded into the air.

    With the budding comprehension of the Supreme Supreme Truth, both needed time to stabilize their new insights.

    The two departed, and the Supreme Truth Debate continued.

    All eyes remained on Molo Celestial.

    ¡°Three cultivators have comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth. This Supreme Truth Debate will undoubtedly go down in history!¡±

    ¡°The Six Heavens... are about to change!¡±

    ¡°Wait, why hasn¡¯t he left yet, despite having imprinted the Supreme Truth?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I get it. The Molo Clan doesn¡¯t have any Grand Supreme Truth cultivators to protect him. It¡¯s still safest for him to remain by the Wall of Supreme Truth.¡±

    Several Yang Gods whispered among themselves.

    Wusheng Celestial¡¯s gaze lingered on Qi Yuan, deep in thought.

    He was considering whether there might be a chance to recruit Molo Celestial into the Supreme Truth Association.

    If they succeeded, the Supreme Truth Association would once again have the upper hand over Taihuang Palace.

    At that moment, Oxhorn Sister couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. ¡°Are you and Molo Celestial close or something? Please don¡¯t report me for calling him ugly!¡± she said, sending a message to Qi Yuan¡¯s Nascent Soul.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s Nascent Soul merely smiled and didn¡¯t respond.

    Meanwhile, beneath the Wall of Supreme Truth, Qi Yuan furrowed his brow once again.

    ¡°Absolute Adaptation is powerful¡ªit¡¯s the way of survival!¡±

    ¡°But... why should I be the one adapting to this world?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the world be adapting to me?!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right¡ªthe world owes me!¡±

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan realized that while Absolute Adaptation was powerful, it was just ordinary in a sense.

    On Blue Planet, adapting would make you stronger.

    Adapting allowed you to gain control.

    But adapting was also a form of compromise.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s nature was not to compromise.

    Why should he have to grow a camera on his head to prove his innocence?

    Why should he have to prove his innocence when a mere Qi Refinement junior falsely accused him, a Purple Mansion cultivator?

    ¡°So, merely adapting to the world is not enough!¡±

    ¡°My Supreme Truth cannot just be Absolute Adaptation!¡±

    ¡°The world must adapt to me!¡±

    ¡°I will...¡±

 Chapter 447: The Cycle of Supreme Truth

    Chapter 447: The Cycle of Supreme Truth

    The essence of survival is adaptation.

    Adapting to society, to the world, to the universe.

    In order to survive better, one must change themselves.

    The deceitful disguise themselves as the noble.

    Morality and rules place shackles on everyone; to survive, one must adapt.

    Qi Yuan''s Supreme Supreme Truth is absolute adaptation.

    "But adaptation... is not what I want."

    "To adapt, does that mean I have to let Oxhorn Sister mock me and not be able to retort?"

    "If a powerful Grand Supreme Truth comes to my house to steal buns, do I have to hide under the bed, trembling?"

    "When the strong lecture me with twisted logic, do I have to listen and endure it?"

    "When the world is unjust and oppressive, must I adapt just to survive, blending into the masses like any other?"

    "This is definitely not my path!"

    "Absolute adaptation... then there''s also Innate, Singular, and Cycle."

    The Supreme Supreme Truth consists of four types.

    Absolute adaptation¡ªwhat about the others?

    After all, there is no rule stating that living beings can only comprehend one Supreme Supreme Truth.

    Qi Yuan held his Blood-Elevating Comprehension Pill and ate some more.

    His mind cleared again, becoming excited.

    In ancient times, a donkey that stopped pushing a mill would be whipped.

    Today, when workers get tired, they buy themselves coffee.

    The Blood-Elevating Comprehension Pill works like coffee¡ªkeeping the mind alert, making thoughts clearer and faster.

    "Innate..."

    "Innate...is lacking!"

    The path of the Innate, Qi Yuan still couldn¡¯t comprehend.

    Or rather, the Innate path relied too much on bloodlines and ancestry.

    Qi Yuan was just an ordinary person from Blue Planet, riddled with illnesses and troubles¡ªwhere would he get a special physique or extraordinary lineage?

    As for the Devouring Physique and Myriad Dao Martial God he had gained later, in Qi Yuan''s eyes, these were acquired through effort.

    Growing up on Blue Planet, immersed in ideals like "Princes and kings, are they born noble?" Qi Yuan never believed that any bloodline was inherently superior.

    Humans are equal in terms of dignity.

    "Singular..."

    Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow.

    "If I follow the path of the Singular, I would be the Singular Great Sun!"

    Ever since he provoked Taihuang Palace by challenging the Ten Suns in the sky, Qi Yuan¡¯s path of the Singular Truth had been set.

    He wasn¡¯t just aiming to take the Great Sun¡¯s throne; he intended to seize its Supreme Supreme Truth as well.

    "So, that leaves the path of the Cycle!"

    "What is the Cycle?"

    Qi Yuan sank deep into thought.

    Meanwhile, in the outside world, many eyes were focused on Qi Yuan.

    Wusheng Celestial squinted, a trace of curiosity in his expression. "He¡¯s already imprinted the Supreme Supreme Truth¡ªwhy does he remain here in meditation?"

    Though the Molo Clan had no Grand Supreme Truth cultivators, if Molo Celestial was willing, Black Demon Abyss would certainly welcome him back.

    Yet here he remained, lying in front of the Wall of Supreme Truth, an odd sight.

    "Could it be... he¡¯s trying to comprehend a second one?" Taihuang Palace¡¯s Grand Supreme Truth cultivator chuckled.

    Of course, this was merely a joke.

    The Six Heavens had never seen such a precedent.

    Even in terms of ordinary grades of Supreme Truth, comprehending two was exceedingly rare.

    One could count such occurrences on one hand.

    "Since Molo Celestial has already comprehended a Supreme Supreme Truth, he should be involved in Lynia¡¯s Transformation," a Grand Supreme Truth said.

    The other Grand Supreme Truths nodded.

    Comprehending the Supreme Supreme Truth nearly guaranteed that, barring an early death, one would become a Grand Supreme Truth.

    Wusheng Celestial softly said, "Once he finishes, I will personally extend the invitation."

    After the Supreme Truth Debate concluded, these Grand Supreme Truth cultivators would gather to announce matters related to Lynia¡¯s Transformation.

    Originally, the Molo Clan had no Grand Supreme Truth, so they weren¡¯t qualified to know of it.

    But now, with Molo Celestial in the mix, everything had changed.

    "Lynia¡¯s Transformation... I wonder how many stars will fall," Black Demon Abyss''s Third Elder sighed, glancing at the starry skies.

    Lynia¡¯s Transformation was a calamity.

    Even Grand Supreme Truth cultivators could fall during it.

    "I don¡¯t know what Molo Celestial is thinking. If he weren¡¯t still lying there, the Supreme Truth Debate would have ended already," said a Grand Supreme Truth from Ghost Dominion Heaven, lazily.

    Typically, by this time, the Supreme Truth Debate would have concluded.

    The Yang Gods who hadn¡¯t comprehended the Supreme Truth would be sent away by the Supreme Truth Association.

    But Molo Celestial remained there, still comprehending.

    Since he had already comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth, they couldn''t very well kick him out.

    Thanks to Qi Yuan¡¯s delay, the remaining Yang Gods still had a bit more time and another chance.

    "Show some respect for Molo Celestial. In the future, he could be our... senior," said the Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace, calmly.

    Hearing this, the other Grand Supreme Truths straightened up internally.

    He was right.

    Even if Molo Celestial had comprehended two Supreme Supreme Truths¡ªan unprecedented feat¡ªBlack Sword still had confidence that his own Supreme Truth would sweep across the Six Heavens.

    Every Grand Supreme Truth cultivator who comprehended a Supreme Supreme Truth possessed this sense of invincibility.

    To lose that sense would be to fall short of being a true Supreme Supreme Truth cultivator.

    In fact, it could even cause the grade of one¡¯s Supreme Supreme Truth to drop.

    Of course, such a thing had only happened once in the history of the Six Heavens.

    "This Molo Celestial... is an anomaly," the Third Elder of Black Demon Abyss remarked, his tone melancholy.

    He didn¡¯t know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

    After all, the Molo Clan and Black Demon Abyss shared a close relationship.

    Elsewhere, Oxhorn Sister''s jaw dropped in disbelief, her heart shaken. After a long moment, she finally said, "I admit I may have judged him too quickly based on his appearance."

    For Molo Celestial to have comprehended one Supreme Supreme Truth was enough to astonish and shock all the cultivators.

    Now, he had comprehended a second. This... had never happened before in the Six Heavens.

    Wusheng Celestial''s expression shifted, and after a long silence, he finally said, "This is the first time in the history of the Six Heavens. The changes in Lynia¡¯s Transformation... are bound to be profound."

    Taihuang Palace''s Grand Supreme Truth cultivator squinted, glancing at Molo Celestial with a hint of wariness.

    But after a moment¡¯s thought, he regained his confidence.

    "The Molo Clan and Taihuang Palace share a close relationship. It seems this time, we at Taihuang Palace will emerge victorious in Lynia¡¯s Transformation," the Grand Supreme Truth cultivator from Taihuang Palace said, his voice calm.

    The other Grand Supreme Truths looked at Molo Celestial without further comment.

    Moonflower Celestial''s expression, however, was particularly grim.

    Originally, Moon Palace had been at odds with the Molo Clan, engaged in battle in Black Abyss. Recently, they had seen some success. But compared to the Molo Clan producing a Yang God who had comprehended two Supreme Truths, those victories seemed insignificant.

    She lowered her head, deep in thought.

    Meanwhile, information about this unprecedented event quietly spread to the ancestral leaders of the major clans and powers.

    It was hard to say how much time had passed when Qi Yuan finally rose from his bed.

    Wusheng Celestial shrank his massive form, transforming into a kindly elder, and approached Qi Yuan, saying, "Congratulations on comprehending two Supreme Supreme Truths, securing your path to the highest realms!"

    As a senior member of the Supreme Truth Association, Wusheng Celestial held an esteemed position. Yet, before Qi Yuan, he adopted a humble stance.

    "Sigh, unfortunately, my talent is lacking¡ªI could only comprehend two Supreme Supreme Truths. When my cultivation and realm improve, I¡¯ll come back and comprehend the remaining two," Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    He was still only in the Purple Mansion stage.

    For someone at the Purple Mansion stage to comprehend two Supreme Truths was already extremely difficult.

    If he pushed further, Qi Yuan feared his mind might explode.

    Wusheng Celestial froze for a moment, clearly not expecting such a response.

    After all, comprehending just one Supreme Supreme Truth was already exceedingly rare. Comprehending two was unheard of¡ªand now he was talking about comprehending the other two?

    Still, Wusheng Celestial chuckled and said, "Then I wish you success in fulfilling your ambitions."

    With that, he quickly added, "You¡¯ve just comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth, but it hasn¡¯t fully stabilized yet.

    The Molo Clan has no Grand Supreme Truth cultivators to help you stabilize it.

    Would you consider joining the Supreme Truth Association with the Molo Clan? Our elders would personally assist you in stabilizing your Supreme Truth!"

    The Supreme Supreme Truth was sacred and mysterious.

    Even if a Yang God managed to comprehend one, it would be difficult to stabilize it and imprint it onto their soul and body.

    That¡¯s why, after comprehending his Supreme Supreme Truth, Black Sword had left immediately to have the Third Elder of Black Demon Abyss help stabilize it.

    Now, Wusheng Celestial had directly extended the invitation.

    "Hey, the Supreme Truth Association is crossing a line! The Molo Clan shares the same origin as Black Demon Abyss. He should return to us!" The Third Elder of Black Demon Abyss rushed out, looking anxious.

    At any other time, he might have worried that Molo Celestial would usurp their position.

    But with Lynia¡¯s Transformation looming, every powerful fighter needed to be secured.

    Even Black Sword had no objections to this.

    "Why not come to Taihuang Palace?" The Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace also extended an olive branch.

    "Join us at White Dragon Abyss!" At that moment, the Grand Supreme Truth from White Dragon Abyss also spoke up.

    The other Grand Supreme Truths were stunned.

    If it were other forces extending invitations, that would be understandable.

    After all, those powers already had Grand Supreme Truth cultivators who had comprehended the Supreme Truth, so they had no fear of Molo Celestial taking over.

    But White Dragon Abyss had no such Grand Supreme Truth!

    "No, thanks. I¡¯m used to being free and don¡¯t want to be bound," Qi Yuan refused directly.

    After all, joining these forces would undoubtedly come with a long list of contracts.

    And besides, once he revealed that his enemy was that certain figure from Taihuang Palace, things would only get more complicated.

    Hearing this, the Grand Supreme Truths present were slightly surprised, but some understood, and no one pressed further.

    "Since you¡¯re not inclined to join, we won¡¯t force you. There¡¯s a small gathering tomorrow night. We¡¯d be honored if you could attend," Wusheng Celestial said, handing Molo Celestial an invitation before vanishing.

    Of course, he wouldn¡¯t leave matters there.

    He needed to return and consult with the other elders about how to persuade Molo Celestial to join the Supreme Truth Association.

    The other Grand Supreme Truths congratulated Qi Yuan briefly before also disappearing.

    Soon, Qi Yuan found himself standing alone.

    Suddenly, he turned his gaze toward Purple Fate Xue, his eyes sharp. "Hey, being ugly isn¡¯t a crime. How could you judge me by my appearance?"

    Caught in that piercing gaze, Purple Fate Xue¡¯s heart tightened, her face turning pale.

    Seeing her reaction, Qi Yuan felt quite pleased.

    Comprehending the Supreme Truth had its perks¡ªeven Oxhorn Sister didn¡¯t dare argue with him now.

    "Don¡¯t judge people by their looks. Everyone is equal," Qi Yuan said, disappearing in a flash.

    Purple Fate Xue stood there, frozen, her heart pounding, sweat soaking through her top.

    Just now, she had genuinely felt the presence of death.

    "Why does this Molo Celestial feel so familiar?"

    "And... Blood Robe, was it you who reported me?!!"

 Chapter 448: Lyniaâ€™s Transformation, the Overbearing Taihuang Palace!

    Chapter 448: Lynia¡¯s Transformation, the Overbearing Taihuang Palace!

    Qi Yuan¡¯s Nascent Soul stood behind Purple Fate Xue, his expression calm: ¡°How can you slander someone¡¯s reputation out of thin air?¡±

    Of course, he didn¡¯t report her.

    After all, when you pass a message to his Nascent Soul, isn¡¯t it normal for the main body to hear it?

    Purple Fate Xue looked at Qi Yuan¡¯s Nascent Soul with suspicion but ultimately sighed: ¡°Aren¡¯t you quite impressive? Hurry up, comprehend a few more Supreme Supreme Truths, and take down both Taihuang Palace¡¯s powerhouse and Molo Celestial. Then, I¡¯ll be your concubine!¡±

    ¡°Tsk tsk...¡±

    ...

    In the Supreme Truth Heaven, at the base of the Molo Clan, Qi Yuan stood in his cave abode, deep in thought.

    He reached into a basin of ice-cold water, the biting chill piercing through him.

    This wasn¡¯t just ordinary water¡ªit was an extreme cold essence. Just a single drop could freeze a cultivator at the Purple Mansion stage to death.

    Now, with Qi Yuan¡¯s hand submerged in it, he noticed that his palm was gradually transforming.

    ¡°So this is absolute adaptation, transforming to perfectly match the temperature of the ice water,¡± Qi Yuan observed his hand, which now seemed as cold as the water itself.

    He withdrew his hand, reaching into the air. A cloud of mist appeared, and soon, a gentle rain began to fall.

    In that instant, an umbrella grew out from his head, shading him from the rain.

    Qi Yuan examined this and pondered, ¡°Absolute adaptation... it¡¯s a bit strange. I need to stabilize this Supreme Truth, engrave it deeply, and explore its potential.¡±

    Comprehending a Supreme Truth didn¡¯t automatically make one a Grand Supreme Truth cultivator.

    Just like Black Sword, who had already grasped a Supreme Truth, but still needed time to hone his power and break through to the Supreme Truth Realm, and even further, to become a Grand Supreme Truth cultivator.

    Though this path had no bottlenecks, one still needed to refine their power and solidify their Supreme Truth.

    ¡°What about Do Whatever I Want?¡± Qi Yuan began experimenting with his second Supreme Truth.

    About an hour later, a sharp light gleamed in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°I should be quite strong now. If I could get my hands on a powerful offensive Creation Artifact, I¡¯d be able to hold my own in the Six Heavens.¡±

    That afternoon, several major powers came to the Molo Clan¡¯s domain bearing gifts.

    In fact, nearly all the great forces of the Six Heavens¡ªwith the exception of Moon Palace¡ªsent congratulatory gifts to Molo Celestial.

    After all, comprehending two Supreme Truths was unprecedented. Naturally, these factions wanted to curry favor with Molo Celestial.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to attend this gathering,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    If he hadn¡¯t comprehended any Supreme Truths, he wouldn¡¯t have even been qualified to attend the gathering that night.

    Without much thought, Qi Yuan, still in the form of Molo Celestial, headed to the location of the gathering.

    The gathering was set beside a tranquil lake.

    Mist rose from the surface of the water, creating a peaceful and ethereal atmosphere, exuding the aura of a paradise.

    As soon as Qi Yuan landed, he heard someone greeting him: ¡°Molo Celestial, since we share the same origin, why not return to Black Demon Abyss?¡±

    The speaker was the elegant and composed Black Sword. After comprehending his Supreme Truth, his aura had become even more profound and unfathomable.

    Qi Yuan had a feeling that an ordinary Supreme Truth cultivator wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against Black Sword.

    He was quite curious about Black Sword¡¯s Supreme Truth.

    ¡°No thanks, I¡¯ve always been a free spirit,¡± Qi Yuan shook his head, declining Black Sword¡¯s invitation.

    Hearing this, Black Sword¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he studied Molo Celestial, as if trying to see through him.

    ¡°Now that both of you are here, the gathering is complete. Please take your seats,¡± Wusheng Celestial¡¯s figure appeared, his demeanor kind yet carrying a hint of respect.

    Qi Yuan and Black Sword immediately stepped forward.

    At the center of the lake, there were twenty-seven figures in total, including Qi Yuan.

    Besides Qi Yuan, Black Sword, and Supreme Sun Celestial, the others were all Grand Supreme Truth cultivators.

    As the saying goes, one Association, two Palaces, three Heavens, four Abysses, and countless Sacred Lands.

    Now, nearly every Sacred Land in the Six Heavens was represented by at least one Grand Supreme Truth cultivator attending this gathering.

    Or, if the Sacred Land had only one Grand Supreme Truth, they still sent someone to participate in this gathering.

    This showed how high-level this event was¡ªsomething Qi Yuan had never experienced before.

    At this moment, more than half of the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators turned their attention to Qi Yuan, their expressions varying from curiosity to amazement and even friendliness.

    ¡°Molo Celestial, Black Sword Celestial, please take the main seats,¡± Wusheng Celestial reminded.

    In the middle of the lake, even the seating arrangement was meticulous.

    In the past, the seating was divided into three levels: one for the Supreme Truth Association, one for factions with Grand Supreme Truth cultivators who had comprehended the Supreme Supreme Truth, and another for everyone else.

    That was, of course, assuming that the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators who had comprehended the Supreme Truth weren¡¯t personally attending, and only sent representatives.

    But now, with Qi Yuan, Black Sword, and Supreme Sun present, a new level of seating was introduced for the three of them.

    Qi Yuan sat beside Wusheng Celestial, while Black Sword and Supreme Sun sat on either side of him.

    As he looked down at the other Grand Supreme Truth cultivators, Qi Yuan¡¯s mind raced with thoughts.

    Each of these Grand Supreme Truth figures had lived for countless eons. A mere tremor from them could shatter a realm and shake the heavens.

    Yet, at this moment, they gazed at the three seated figures with both respect and awe.

    ¡°Seems like I¡¯ll need to keep my identity well-hidden. If they found out I¡¯m still at the Purple Mansion stage, it could get very dangerous,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    Although he had comprehended two Supreme Truths, gaining considerable strength, he hadn¡¯t fully solidified them nor unlocked their full potential. He also lacked an offensive Creation Artifact.

    In a fight, he couldn¡¯t take on a Grand Supreme Truth.

    At that moment, Wusheng Celestial began speaking, his voice resonating across the gathering: ¡°This Supreme Truth Discourse has seen ninety-six Yang God Celestials comprehend Supreme Truth. It is the greatest achievement in millions of years¡ªa cause for celebration.¡±

    He then shifted the tone of his speech.

    ¡°Moreover, Molo Celestial, Black Sword, and Supreme Sun have all comprehended Supreme Truths¡ªa first in the history of the Six Heavens.

    *And even more impressive, Molo Celestial has comprehended two Supreme Truths, something never before seen.

    The seas rage and the clouds roar, the Six Heavens tremble with storms and thunder.

    All the great figures, look to today!¡±

    Wusheng Celestial exclaimed in awe.

    The other Grand Supreme Truth cultivators all nodded in agreement.

    This Supreme Truth Discourse would undoubtedly go down in history.

    Otherwise, if Taihuang Palace discovered his true identity, it would be dangerous.

    ¡°The Lynia Transformation is imminent. The top Supreme Truths will gather to finalize the date and details. Return and make your preparations. Do not be among the fools who die and become a spirit of the One and Only Palace,¡± Wusheng Celestial sighed.

    The title Top Supreme referred to Grand Supreme Truth cultivators who had comprehended Supreme Truths.

    Every Lynia Transformation resulted in the deaths of Grand Supreme Truth cultivators, who would become spirits in the One and Only Palace, forever helping to build the Seventh Heaven.

    These spirits were essentially dead, their cultivation frozen in place, like puppets.

    For these Yang God Celestials, who lived freely in the Six Heavens, death and the loss of their autonomy were the worst fates imaginable.

    Though the title of spirit in the One and Only Palace was prestigious, to these Yang Gods, it was a hollow honor.

    At that moment, the Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace suddenly smiled mysteriously: ¡°Our Taihuang Palace also has an important announcement.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked over at the Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace.

    The other Grand Supreme Truths also turned their attention to him, their expressions showing curiosity and unease.

    Moonlight Celestial narrowed her eyes, her face filled with apprehension.

    ¡°The will of the One and Only Palace has decreed that this time, the Lynia Transformation...¡±

    The Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace swept his gaze over the crowd, his expression both smug and arrogant.

    ¡°Will be overseen by Taihuang Palace!¡±

    These few words landed with the force of thunder in the ears of the assembled Grand Supreme Truths, causing their expressions to drastically change.

    Wusheng Celestial¡¯s face was especially dramatic, full of shock.

    The Lynia Transformation had never had an overseer before.

    How could there be a faction overseeing it now?

    After all, every faction was a participant in this deadly event, with the One and Only Palace acting as the impartial judge.

    Now, Taihuang Palace was both player and judge¡ªhow was this supposed to work?

    ¡°Is this true? How can this be?¡± Wusheng Celestial asked urgently.

    ¡°Why would the One and Only Palace issue such a decree? How can Taihuang Palace oversee the Lynia Transformation?¡±

    ¡°This... makes no sense!¡±

    Many of the Grand Supreme Truths voiced their opinions, expressing their discontent.

    After all, if Taihuang Palace was to oversee the Lynia Transformation, they could already guess how it would turn out.

    Moonlight Celestial¡¯s face grew increasingly pale.

    If Taihuang Palace truly were to oversee the event, Moon Palace would likely suffer significant losses.

    The Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace only smiled wider: ¡°This decree comes from the Top Supreme. There¡¯s no falsehood here.¡±

    Hearing this, the other Grand Supreme Truths, despite their confusion and discontent, could only accept the reality.

    After all, would the Top Supreme lie about such a matter?

    The atmosphere grew heavy as the assembled Grand Supreme Truths grudgingly accepted the truth. None of them looked particularly happy.

    They didn¡¯t know the inner workings of this, and they would have to rely on their Top Supreme to understand it.

    This was especially true for Wusheng Celestial.

    For ages, the Supreme Truth Association had been the top faction in the Six Heavens.

    Now, Taihuang Palace was about to gain another Top Supreme and oversee the Lynia Transformation.

    After the transformation, would Taihuang Palace become the leading power in the Six Heavens?

    ¡°There is one more thing to announce. During this Lynia Transformation, at least one Top Supreme must... ascend to the One and Only Palace,¡± the Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace declared.

    The moment these words left his mouth, the entire gathering fell silent.

    Was he saying... that a Top Supreme would die?

    A Top Supreme!?

    In all these years, there had been fewer than five Top Supremes in the Six Heavens.

    Yet, now, one of them would perish?

    Moonlight Celestial looked particularly grim.

    Moon Palace had always been at odds with Taihuang Palace.

    Now, with Taihuang Palace making such a terrifying announcement, how could she not be alarmed?

    The other Grand Supreme Truths were also visibly shaken by the news.

    If ordinary Grand Supreme Truths died, they might be able to protect themselves by relying on their powerful factions.

    But if even Top Supremes were destined to fall, how could the Lynia Transformation not affect them?

    Black Sword¡¯s expression grew complicated as well. He glanced at Supreme Sun and then at Qi Yuan, sensing a hint of conspiracy.

    Three Yang God Celestials had all comprehended Supreme Truths this time, with the potential to become Top Supremes.

    Was this pure talent?

    Or a matter of destiny?

    Or perhaps... a scheme?

    At that moment, Supreme Sun Celestial also glanced at Black Sword and Qi Yuan, his expression inscrutable, as if hiding some deep thought.

    The small gathering ended with the weight of this monumental announcement hanging over them.

    Aside from the Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace, the faces of the remaining Yang God Celestials weren¡¯t very cheerful.

    Qi Yuan took a glance at Moonlight Celestial, feeling an urge to ask about his master.

    But he knew that now was not the time to reveal himself, so he held back.

    One by one, the Grand Supreme Truths dispersed.

    However, before leaving, many of them tried to increase their offers, extending olive branches to Qi Yuan in hopes of drawing him into their factions, but he turned them all down.

    As he was about to leave, Supreme Sun Celestial approached him, his demeanor carefree. Looking at both Black Sword and Qi Yuan, he spoke softly: ¡°We three all comprehended Supreme Supreme Truths. We should look out for each other.¡±

    Black Sword and Qi Yuan both cupped their hands in acknowledgment.

    Then, Supreme Sun Celestial sighed with a sense of melancholy: ¡°We were born at the wrong time. Just as we¡¯ve taken a step into the Grand Supreme Truth, the Lynia Transformation is upon us. Who knows... where we¡¯ll end up.¡±

    With those words, Supreme Sun Celestial¡¯s figure disappeared, his retreating form looking lost and uncertain.

 Chapter 449: Finally Defeated Bullhorn Sister!

    Chapter 449: Finally Defeated Bullhorn Sister!

    Supreme Sun Celestial left.

    Black Sword looked at Molo Celestial with a sincere expression: ¡°You are from the Molo clan, which shares the same origins as my clan. With the Lynia Transformation approaching, we should move more closely together.¡±

    The One and Only Palace had issued the decree, allowing Taihuang Palace to oversee the Lynia Transformation. Even someone as composed as Black Sword could sense a hint of danger.

    Moreover, in this Lynia Transformation, it was said that even a Top Supreme might fall.

    The most likely Top Supreme to die were himself, Molo, and Supreme Sun Celestial, no?

    The three of them had yet to fully ascend to the Supreme Truth Realm and were still far from being Grand Supreme Truth cultivators.

    ¡°No problem,¡± Qi Yuan responded nonchalantly.

    At this moment, Black Sword looked at Molo with a grave expression: ¡°The One and Only Palace has never interfered with the affairs of the Six Heavens. How do you think Taihuang Palace managed to make contact with them and gain the right to oversee this Lynia Transformation?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t fond of overthinking.

    ¡°In previous Lynia Transformations, there were no cases of Top Supremes dying. So, I suspect that the One and Only Palace was dissatisfied with how the past Transformations were handled.

    Taihuang Palace might have made a deal with the One and Only Palace, agreeing to ensure the death of a Top Supreme in exchange for the right to oversee the event.

    And the sudden appearance of Supreme Sun Celestial... don¡¯t you think it¡¯s... too coincidental?¡± Black Sword''s gaze was deep as he scrutinized Qi Yuan.

    To him, not only was the appearance of Supreme Sun Celestial too sudden, but Molo''s arrival was equally abrupt.

    Moreover, the Molo clan had always maintained a good relationship with Taihuang Palace. A secret deal between them wouldn¡¯t be surprising.

    ¡°So, you suspect that Taihuang Palace raised Supreme Sun Celestial to offer him to the One and Only Palace in exchange for overseeing this Transformation?¡± Qi Yuan didn¡¯t like using his brain much, but his language comprehension was on point.

    ¡°Exactly.¡± Black Sword''s eyes were penetrating, as if trying to see through Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts.

    Of course, he knew that it wouldn¡¯t show anything obvious.

    ¡°Would you be interested in returning to the Six Heavens and teaming up with me?¡± Black Sword extended an invitation.

    ¡°No.¡± Qi Yuan shook his head.

    ...

    ¡°Still no sign of Supreme Ten Suns?¡±

    Within Taihuang Palace''s stronghold, a Grand Supreme Truth cultivator sat with a relaxed expression.

    Supreme Benevolence Celestial lowered his head, his face solemn: ¡°Apologies, I¡¯ve failed to locate Supreme Ten Suns.

    He is very cautious and likely avoided attending the Supreme Truth Forum.¡±

    During the Supreme Truth Forum, Supreme Benevolence Celestial had been tasked with finding Supreme Ten Suns.

    ¡°No matter, he¡¯s just a minor pest, only adept at hiding.

    Once the Lynia Transformation begins and the Top Supremes patrol the heavens, we¡¯ll use the Star Realm to find his true body. He will have nowhere to hide.¡±

    The One and Only Palace had granted Taihuang Palace¡¯s Top Supremes many privileges.

    Before the Lynia Transformation began, Taihuang Palace would use the Star Realm to patrol all realms, detecting every Yang God, ensuring that none escaped participation.

    When the time came, Supreme Ten Suns'' true identity and location would be revealed.

    Then, Taihuang Palace would dispatch Yang God Celestials to capture him.

    Hearing this, Supreme Benevolence Celestial finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    At that moment, he remembered something and spoke softly: ¡°Ghost Heaven plans to attack the two prodigies of Black Demon Abyss¡ªBlack Sword and Blood Robe. As for Black Sword...¡±

    Ghost Heaven had long been secretly allied with Taihuang Palace.

    ¡°Let them proceed!¡±

    ¡°But... Black Sword has comprehended a Supreme Truth. If he dies now, it could interfere with the Top Supremes¡¯ grand plans,¡± Supreme Benevolence Celestial hesitated.

    The goal of this Lynia Transformation was, naturally, to kill as many Grand Supreme Truths as possible.

    If Black Sword were to die now, wouldn¡¯t it be a waste?

    ¡°You overestimate Ghost Heaven and underestimate both Black Demon Abyss and Black Sword.

    A cultivator who has comprehended a Supreme Truth doesn¡¯t fall easily.

    Or do you think he¡¯s like that Blood Robe?¡± The Grand Supreme Truth from Taihuang Palace remarked.

    A prodigy like Blood Robe¡ªso what if he died?

    But Black Sword? He was Black Demon Abyss¡¯ most prized asset. How could he not be protected by other Grand Supreme Truths?

    Ghost Heaven knew this well, yet they still wanted to try. After all, what if they succeeded?

    And if they didn¡¯t, it would only cost a few Yang God lives.

    ¡°Some say that Blood Robe is the next Black Sword. Is there any truth to that?¡± Supreme Benevolence Celestial asked with a complicated expression.

    ¡°Hmph, do you think Supreme Truths are so easily comprehended? At best, Blood Robe will become an ordinary Grand Supreme Truth.

    But Molo, now that¡¯s an unexpected surprise.

    I didn¡¯t expect the Molo clan to hide so deeply and bide their time like this.¡±

    ...

    Elsewhere, Qi Yuan shed his Molo disguise and returned to his true form.

    At the moment, the Supreme Truth Forum had just ended, and many disciples and Yang God Celestials from the various sacred lands had yet to leave.

    ¡°Is this your sister? She¡¯s quite attractive,¡± Purple Fate Xue remarked as she looked at Qi Yi.

    Qi Yi had a tall, slender figure with graceful, toned legs. Her waist was slim, without a trace of excess fat¡ªperfect for shadow dancing.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got good genes,¡± Qi Yuan replied seriously.

    Although he had always believed that debts incurred through legitimate means didn¡¯t need repaying, Qi Yuan reconsidered and decided he didn¡¯t want to be labeled stingy.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve come to inquire about a matter.¡± Qi Yuan took out a Moon Token. ¡°This was given to me by my master, the Moon Token. Not long ago, I met a senior from Moon Palace who told me this token was connected to the previous Moon God Sovereign.¡±

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t hide anything.

    After all, it was bound to come out eventually.

    Moonlight Celestial would definitely inquire with Elder Moon and learn what Qi Yuan had asked about before.

    Moonlight Celestial¡¯s expression tightened at his words.

    The Moon Token floated into the air.

    ¡°What is your master¡¯s name?¡± Moonlight Celestial asked, her gaze deep, as if recalling past memories.

    ¡°Ruan Yixi.¡±

    Upon hearing the name, Moonlight Celestial¡¯s expression remained unchanged: ¡°I have never heard that name.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt a pang of disappointment.

    ¡°This Moon Token belonged to the previous Moon God Sovereign. I do not know what connection your master has to her. As for the previous Moon God Sovereign... she vanished some time ago.¡± Moonlight Celestial replied.

    ¡°What?¡± Qi Yuan was taken aback.

    His instincts told him she wasn¡¯t lying.

    ¡°The Lynia Transformation is approaching. You will soon learn of it.

    During the last Lynia Transformation, the previous Moon God Sovereign disappeared,¡± Moonlight Celestial explained.

    ¡°Disappeared?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. It is one of the great secrets of the Six Heavens. There are rumors that the previous Moon God Sovereign perished and became a spirit within the One and Only Palace, but these are just rumors.¡± Moonlight Celestial continued. ¡°As for your master, Ruan Yixi... I suspect she may have been the previous Moon God Sovereign¡¯s attendant.¡±

    Back then, when the previous Moon God Sovereign vanished, her attendant also disappeared.

    Moonlight Celestial didn¡¯t think Ruan Yixi and the previous Moon God Sovereign were the same person.

    How could a powerful figure like the previous Moon God Sovereign simply vanish and reappear as someone else¡¯s master?

    So, it was more likely that Ruan Yixi was the previous Moon God Sovereign¡¯s attendant, and the name could be false.

    The previous Moon God Sovereign, though a Grand Supreme Truth, had not comprehended a Supreme Truth.

    Qi Yuan absorbed this information with mixed feelings.

    He still had no concrete news about his master.

    In truth, he was worried and filled with speculation.

    He had arrived in the Six Heavens and encountered people from Moon Palace.

    If his master were here, she would surely come to see him.

    Could it be that she was trapped?

    Or perhaps... there was some other secret she couldn¡¯t reveal?

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have such ties to Moon Palace,¡± Moonlight Celestial remarked.

    Suddenly, her expression shifted drastically.

    She had just contacted Elder Gathering Moon.

    Elder Gathering Moon had informed her of what had happened in the Demon Abyss when Qi Yuan met with Moonlight Maiden Jin Li and had his conversation with Gathering Moon Celestial.

    According to Qi Yuan''s account, he had subdued Molo Celestial, infiltrated the Demon Abyss as Molo, and met Jin Li.

    This meant that the Molo Celestial everyone knew was actually Qi Yuan.

    ¡°You... you are Molo!¡± Moonlight Celestial¡¯s heart trembled as joy flashed across her face.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised by this revelation.

    Given how much he had revealed, Moonlight Celestial would have had to be pretty dim not to figure it out.

    ¡°I hope you can keep this a secret,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    Upon hearing this, Moonlight Celestial¡¯s heart confirmed it.

    Originally, Molo Celestial¡¯s rise within the Molo clan, which had been at odds with Moon Palace, had spelled disaster for Moon Palace.

    Now, to learn that Molo was actually Qi Yuan¡ªBlood Robe¡ªa figure tied to the former Moon God Sovereign and connected to Moon Palace, was a tremendous relief.

    How could she not be overjoyed?

    Since the Supreme Truth Forum began, she hadn¡¯t heard a single piece of good news.

    This, however, was the best news she¡¯d received, and her spirits lifted.

    ¡°You needn¡¯t worry. I will not speak a word of this,¡± Moonlight Celestial assured him, her gaze filled with approval. ¡°Jin Li¡ªthat girl, Moon Maiden¡ªI¡¯ve seen her before. I never expected her to have such a good eye!¡±

    Moonlight Celestial stepped out from behind the veil, a smile bright on her face.

    ¡°When will you marry her and make her your Dao companion?¡±

    ¡°Uh... Jin Li is still the Moon Maiden. She needs to meet with the Moon God Sovereign and relinquish her title before she can be with me,¡± Qi Yuan explained earnestly.

    Having comprehended two Supreme Truths, he felt more confident in his ability to protect himself.

    Against Taihuang Palace or even a Grand Supreme Truth, he no longer felt as if death was his only option.

    Moreover, Ning Tao and his wife, the Golden Canary, were still helping him refine the Stellar Golden Core!

    His strength was increasing rapidly.

    ¡°These are mere trifles,¡± Moonlight Celestial waved a dismissive hand. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to marry Jin Li, she can relinquish her title as Moon Maiden immediately.¡±

    Then, as if thinking of something, she added, ¡°Or she could keep the title.¡±

 Chapter 450: The Assassination from Ghost Heaven

    Chapter 450: The Assassination from Ghost Heaven

    Moonlight Celestial¡¯s attitude had completely shifted from arrogance to respect.

    Qi Yuan blinked. "This actually works?"

    If it had been earlier, before he comprehended his Supreme Truths, and when he had just arrived at Black Demon Abyss, he would have been worried about not being able to protect Jin Li.

    But now things were different. He had the ability to protect himself, enough to bring Jin Li to his side.

    "Of course it works!" Moonlight Celestial smiled gently.

    Rules could always be bent.

    "When you find the time, you can bring Jin Li back to Black Demon Abyss," Moonlight Celestial said kindly.

    This made Qi Yuan even more certain that strength was everything.

    Although people often spoke of equality, if he had been a nobody in love with Jin Li and wanted to marry the Moon Maiden, Moon Palace would have made sure he understood that "a toad can¡¯t dream of eating swan meat."

    But now, the situation had reversed.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll pick a good day and bring Jin Li over," Qi Yuan said cheerfully.

    Good thing he had already prepared the marriage certificate.

    All he needed was to put Jin Li¡¯s picture on it.

    The only downside was that no one had thought to move the civil registry office to the Six Heavens.

    "Congratulations, Daoist friend," Moonlight Celestial said happily.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan thought of something and asked again, "May I have an audience with Moon God Sovereign?"

    He wanted to meet Moon God Sovereign to clear up the mysteries surrounding his master.

    Moonlight Celestial, still smiling, now showed a hint of concern. "I''m afraid you won''t be able to. I haven¡¯t seen Moon God Sovereign in a long time either."

    ¡°Oh? What happened?¡±

    "Moon God Sovereign suffered severe injuries and has been in seclusion to heal.

    I don''t know where she is."

    The news of Moon God Sovereign¡¯s injuries had already spread through the Six Heavens and was no longer much of a secret.

    Now, even Moonlight Celestial didn¡¯t know Moon God Sovereign¡¯s location.

    Qi Yuan frowned. "A Grand Supreme Truth like her... could still be injured?"

    Purple Fate Ancestor had once said that it was difficult, almost impossible, to kill or even harm a Grand Supreme Truth.

    Without an offensive Creation Artifact, even those of the same level couldn¡¯t inflict any real damage.

    How could someone with a Supreme Truth suddenly be seriously injured?

    "I don¡¯t know the details," Moonlight Celestial said. "I only know that Moon God Sovereign ventured into a strange land, was ambushed, and gravely injured."

    Moonlight Celestial didn''t know much more.

    ¡°A strange land?¡± Qi Yuan considered this and found it plausible.

    In those mysterious realms, anything could happen.

    Some unknown strange lands were even connected to other universes, possibly harboring otherworldly powers¡ªextremely dangerous.

    He then asked, ¡°Can we use these strange lands to travel to other worlds?¡±

    Moonlight Celestial¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°No. If we step into them, we¡¯ll perish."

    "Can beings from other worlds enter the Six Heavens through these strange lands?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    "Yes, but... most of them are weak," Moonlight Celestial replied.

    "Can these beings return to their worlds?"

    "No, once they step into the Six Heavens, they cannot go back, just like us," Moonlight Celestial patiently explained.

    These details were somewhat secret but not particularly valuable.

    Many Grand Supreme Truth cultivators had explored and studied realms beyond the Six Heavens and other worlds.

    "It all feels a bit odd... Is it like an incompatible game system?" Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    It was as if characters from a game designed for a Symbian system couldn¡¯t appear in an Android one.

    "Game system?" Moonlight Celestial was puzzled, not understanding what he meant.

    ¡°Never mind,¡± Qi Yuan waved it off, not bothering to explain.

    After talking with Moonlight Celestial, Qi Yuan gained a deeper understanding of the Grand Supreme Truth realm.

    ...

    The Supreme Truth Forum slowly came to an end.

    All the major sacred lands and factions began their return journeys.

    Every Grand Supreme Truth who participated in the forum was deeply worried.

    The issue of the Lynia Transformation was too significant.

    Especially with Taihuang Palace overseeing it. The information needed to be confirmed with their ancestors.

    If true, it would be as though the sky was falling.

    Every Yang God could sense an impending storm.

    Only some of the disciples and young prodigies remained carefree.

    "Big Brother Black Sword and all those old folks are gone¡ªtime to celebrate!" Purple Fate Xue stood proudly with her hands on her hips.

    Due to the Lynia Transformation, Black Sword and the three Ancestors of Black Demon Abyss had returned early to discuss the matter.

    As for the younger disciples and prodigies, they couldn¡¯t travel as fast as Yang Gods, so they lagged behind under the guidance of a single Yang God.

    Qi Yuan looked at Purple Fate Xue, observing her and her exaggerated antics: ¡°Your... brain works in mysterious ways.¡±

    Purple Fate Xue grinned. ¡°Smart, right? I knew you¡¯d try to make mushrooms grow in my mouth, so I planted them myself to crowd yours out!¡±

    But in an instant, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner shook violently.

    The immortal ship shattered, and the Yang God Celestial was forced to retreat.

    Spiritual energy surged wildly through the world, and the sky filled with explosive noises.

    ¡°Be careful!¡±

    ¡°Danger!¡±

    ¡°Activate your shields!¡±

    The air was filled with shouts, anger, and the clashing of spells.

    The world was in chaos, and the immortal ship had been destroyed.

    After three breaths of time, everything finally cleared.

    The booms and bright lights vanished.

    The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was gone.

    All the prodigies were now within the sleeve of the Yang God Celestial, their hearts filled with dread.

    A pair of eyes appeared, scanning the inside of the sleeve with a grave expression. ¡°Blood Robe... is missing.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    The prodigies, who had been meditating to recover their celestial energy, were shocked.

    Blood Robe had disappeared!

    The appearance of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner signaled that Ghost Heaven had made a move against Black Demon Abyss.

    And now that Blood Robe had vanished, his fate seemed bleak.

    The Yang God Celestial¡¯s face darkened.

    ¡°The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner is an offensive Creation Artifact. Although this was just a fragment, it still has some of the Banner¡¯s abilities, capable of sending cultivators into strange lands.

    Ghost Heaven has only a few of these fragments. Using one means they¡¯ve lost one forever.

    To capture Blood Robe, they used a fragment...¡±

    The Yang God Celestial looked deeply troubled. Under his watch, a prodigy had been taken. He was filled with shame and fury.

    Then, suddenly realizing something, his expression changed drastically: ¡°If Ghost Heaven dared to act against Blood Robe, they might also target Black Sword!¡±

    His face paled, his mind filled with fear.

    The Lynia Transformation had yet to begin, but the Six Heavens were already this chaotic. If this turmoil escalated, the consequences would be unimaginable.

    He needed to report to the ancestors immediately.

    ...

    In Black Demon Abyss, dark clouds hung ominously overhead.

    Suddenly, a furious roar echoed through the abyss.

    Purple Fate Ancestor appeared, landing beneath a towering peak with a frantic expression.

    "Ancestor Purple Fate... requests an audience with Master!"

    His heart was filled with anxiety.

    He had just learned that Ghost Heaven had targeted Blood Robe, using a fragment of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner to send him into a strange land. He was in a panic.

    A moment later, an old man in black robes appeared, also looking anxious: "Sixth Brother, Ghost Heaven made a move against Black Sword, sending him into a strange land. Master is busy divining Black Sword¡¯s whereabouts and cannot see you."

    This black-robed elder was the fourth elder of Black Demon Abyss.

    "Fourth Brother, Blood Robe was also ambushed by Ghost Heaven and is missing. Could Master divine his whereabouts? I will personally go and rescue him!" Purple Fate Ancestor was desperate.

    As he spoke, he offered the Black Demon Ancestor¡¯s Blood to the fourth elder.

    The fourth elder shook his head.

    "Black Sword represents the future of Black Demon Abyss. Master won¡¯t waste his energy on other matters.

    A Grand Supreme Truth is involved, and Master cannot afford to be distracted.

    Please, go back."

    The fourth elder politely refused.

    His appearance was clearly a sign of their master¡¯s decision.

    Master had already known that Purple Fate Ancestor would come and had sent the fourth elder to block him in advance.

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s face shifted with sorrow. "Just one breath, one breath is all I ask!"

    With Master¡¯s power and the Creation Artifacts he wielded, it would take only one breath to divine Blood Robe¡¯s location and determine which perilous place he had been sent to.

    But the fourth elder shook his head. ¡°For every breath wasted, Black Sword¡¯s danger grows.¡±

    Standing before the mountain, the fourth elder seemed like an immovable peak, blocking Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s path.

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s expression grew desolate.

    Indeed, he had no right to make such demands of his master.

    "I... I understand."

    Purple Fate Ancestor looked defeated, as though his spirit had been broken. He seemed like an old man, no longer carrying the aura of a Grand Supreme Truth.

    ¡°I only hope... that Blood Robe can survive!¡±

    Blood Robe still had the protective treasures that Purple Fate Ancestor had given him.

    If Ghost Heaven didn¡¯t send someone strong enough, he might still have a chance to escape.

    Now, all he could do was hope for a stroke of good luck.

 Chapter 451: The Judgment of Justice, Expulsion from Manhood!

    Chapter 451: The Judgment of Justice, Expulsion from Manhood!

    Purple Fate Ancestor was filled with worry, deeply disappointed in that person from Black Demon Abyss.

    "Damn it, if I ever ask him for help again, I¡¯m worse than a pig or a dog!"

    He was seething with anger, even cursing, utterly disregarding the dignity expected of a Grand Supreme Truth cultivator.

    For the sake of Black Sword''s ascension and the greater plan, he had swallowed his pride for many years. Despite his past conflicts with his master, he had repeatedly exhausted his own essence energy for the good of Black Demon Abyss.

    One could say that he had done more than enough.

    But now, his master¡¯s indifference left him feeling bitter and powerless.

    "Those blessed with great fortune won¡¯t fall so easily. Besides, his talent far surpasses Ghost Heaven¡¯s expectations, and with the protective treasure I gave him, he¡¯ll definitely be fine!"

    Purple Fate Ancestor reassured himself.

    ...

    Elsewhere, in the strange land, the winds howled, and malevolent spirits filled the air, stretching across the void.

    A massive Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner hung in the sky, its blood-red flag emitting a chilling, murderous aura as countless ghostly souls wailed.

    The entire landscape resembled a living hell, ravaged and desolate.

    Pale, giant hands descended from the sky, visible throughout the shattered realm.

    A terrifying voice echoed through the air.

    "Blood Robe, there¡¯s no use hiding. I can see you."

    Great Bliss Celestial appeared, smiling as if he were a compassionate Buddha.

    Upon entering the strange land, his power had dropped to the peak of the Mythical level.

    Such were the rules of this strange land.

    Outside of it, he might have been able to refine the land with his overwhelming power. But once inside, he was no longer in control, reduced to the level of Mythical beings.

    These were the rules of heaven and earth.

    Only those who had comprehended Supreme Truths could resist such forces.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan, draped in his blood-red robe, stood on the ground, his expression calm as he stared at the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner with a look of delight.

    "Isn¡¯t this my dream treasure, the Human Emperor Banner?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t surprise Great Bliss Celestial.

    Prodigies like Blood Robe naturally carried protective charms.

    For someone like Great Bliss, even though he was a Yang God, inside this strange land, he wasn¡¯t necessarily a match for a prodigy like Blood Robe.

    "You may be calm now, but soon enough... you won¡¯t be smiling anymore," Great Bliss Celestial said as he gripped the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, his voice carrying a chilling, sinister tone.

    "What gives you the right to assume how I feel? Whether I smile or not is none of your business," Qi Yuan retorted.

    Great Bliss Celestial¡¯s smile only deepened.

    The more Blood Robe laughed now, the more despair he would feel later.

    "Blood Robe, you didn¡¯t expect... me, did you?"

    Suddenly, a vast, terrifying presence appeared behind Great Bliss Celestial.

    A familiar face emerged.

    It was none other than God Blood Celestial.

    He looked at Qi Yuan, his gaze filled with murderous intent.

    "Ah? God Blood?" Qi Yuan was a bit surprised at the sight.

    God Blood Celestial seemed pleased by Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction.

    But then Qi Yuan spoke again.

    "Hey, didn¡¯t you already admit it was Demon Eye Celestial who killed your granddaughter? I don¡¯t even know Demon Eye Celestial. Her death had nothing to do with me. So why are you coming after me?" Qi Yuan protested, his voice full of indignation.

    In situations like this, assassinations were typically swift and without much talk.

    But at their level, these exchanges took place within the span of a single breath.

    While they spoke, Great Bliss and God Blood Celestial were also sealing off the area, ensuring Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t escape and cutting off any interference from other Yang Gods.

    God Blood Celestial¡¯s fury only intensified at Qi Yuan¡¯s words. He gritted his teeth and growled,

    "Back in the Supreme Truth Heaven, when you humiliated me, did you not foresee the consequences?"

    The events of the Supreme Truth Heaven were etched deeply in God Blood Celestial¡¯s memory.

    His granddaughter had been killed, and Blood Robe had shamelessly lied, claiming he didn¡¯t know Demon Eye Celestial, the killer.

    Anyone with half a brain knew that Blood Robe was acquainted with Demon Eye Celestial.

    And the acting? Absolutely terrible¡ªhe had practically forced God Blood Celestial to admit defeat.

    Such an unbearable humiliation, and God Blood Celestial had no choice but to endure it back then.

    "When did I humiliate you? I had witnesses and evidence. I don¡¯t even know Demon Eye Celestial! Do you want me to call him here to testify?" Qi Yuan, ever reasonable, countered.

    "Blood Robe, playing dumb won¡¯t work, and neither will stalling for time.

    This entire area has been sealed by us. Even Purple Fate Ancestor won¡¯t be able to find you here. No one can save you.

    As for Demon Eye Celestial... even if he were your lapdog, he won¡¯t show up here!" God Blood Celestial said, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.

    With the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner sealing the area, only the three of them were left in this desolate trap. No one else would appear.

    "Shrimp-head man! Not only are you slandering me, but you¡¯re also spreading lies about Demon Eye Celestial!" Qi Yuan shouted angrily.

    For some reason, after Qi Yuan¡¯s outburst, God Blood Celestial suddenly felt an overwhelming force sweep over him. His head briefly transformed into that of a shrimp!

    Panicked, he quickly returned his head to normal, looking at Qi Yuan with fear.

    "Is this a contingency left behind by Purple Fate Ancestor? No wonder you¡¯re so calm..." God Blood Celestial was wary but not afraid.

    No matter how powerful Purple Fate Ancestor was, he wasn¡¯t physically present. Killing Blood Robe here would still be an easy task.

    "Typical! When you can¡¯t win an argument, you resort to distractions?

    Hmph, it¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m clever and always keep my evidence with me. I knew someone would try to frame me someday.

    Demon Eye Celestial! Come out here and tell him yourself¡ªdo we know each other? Did I tell you to kill God Blood Celestial¡¯s granddaughter?" Qi Yuan shouted.

    "You... you¡¯re Celestial Molo?"

    God Blood Celestial was utterly shocked¡ªand terrified.

    The person standing before him was none other than Celestial Molo!

    Great Bliss Celestial was just as stunned.

    It was that terrifying Molo Celestial!

    If that were the case, then it all made sense.

    After all, Celestial Molo had comprehended not one but two Supreme Truths.

    Having so many strange Yang Gods around him didn¡¯t seem as far-fetched now.

    Without hesitation, God Blood and Great Bliss Celestials immediately turned to flee.

    The situation had grown far too bizarre.

    This Blood Robe¡ªor rather, Molo Celestial¡ªwasn¡¯t a normal Yang God.

    What kind of Yang God had nearly a hundred other Yang Gods living inside them?

    Qi Yuan watched them flee, unconcerned. His voice boomed with righteousness:

    "Hmph! You won¡¯t escape punishment! Since you¡¯ve confessed, it¡¯s time for you to die!"

    Old Man Shenlei took a step forward.

    "The thunder of the Nine Heavens, gather to form the Prison of Lightning. Capture them!"

    The Great Emperor of the Eastern Pole, Qinghua, exuded an infinite, majestic presence. His voice was cold:

    "Great Bliss, God Blood, your names are now written in the Black Ledger!"

    One by one, the Yang God Celestials spoke, their divine voices transforming into chains that bound God Blood and Great Bliss Celestials.

    God Blood Celestial panicked, struggling to break free.

    Great Bliss Celestial waved the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, attempting to escape, and countless wailing spirits roared.

    But under the assault of nearly a hundred Yang Gods, their resistance looked almost laughable¡ªpathetic even.

    "Expelled from manhood!"

    At that moment, Qi Yuan executed judgment upon God Blood and Great Bliss Celestials.

    Now at the Martial God of Myriad Daos level, having comprehended two Supreme Truths, Qi Yuan could easily crush any Supreme Truth cultivator.

    There was no need for the Nascent Souls he had summoned. Qi Yuan could have easily subdued them alone.

    However, he preferred to do things by the book.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in Ghost Heaven.

    Triad Celestial sat atop the clouds, his three faces impossible to read.

    "How is it going?"

    "They¡¯re trapped in a strange land, the outcome unknown. But... Black Sword will be hard to kill. The Black Demon Abyss ancestor himself took out a Creation Artifact and is actively calculating Black Sword¡¯s fate to extend his life."

    Triad Celestial was not surprised by this.

    "Indeed, even if a Grand Supreme Truth strikes, Black Sword would be difficult to kill.

    Still, if we¡¯ve managed to drain Black Demon Abyss¡¯s old turtle of his heart¡¯s blood, that¡¯s good enough!"

    Triad Celestial mused.

    If they succeeded in killing Black Sword, it would be a great achievement. If they failed, no big deal.

    Their main goal was simply to wear down the old ancestor of Black Demon Abyss.

    "What about Blood Robe? By now, they should¡¯ve succeeded, right?" Triad Celestial asked softly.

    Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and shifted his gaze toward the Star Realm.

    His eyes showed a flicker of curiosity.

    "This is... Great Bliss¡¯s Star Projection. What¡¯s going on? Could Great Bliss be in danger?"

    Within the Star Realm, Great Bliss Celestial¡¯s Star Projection began to shine, as if struggling.

    "Wait a moment. God Blood Celestial¡¯s Star Projection is also acting strange. Could it be that Black Demon Abyss set up an ambush?" Triad Celestial watched closely.

    "No, this isn¡¯t Star Projections gathering power. This is something different. It¡¯s as if they¡¯re resisting something. What¡¯s happening?"

    Triad Celestial was perplexed.

    At first, he thought God Blood and Great Bliss Celestials had encountered a powerful enemy and were summoning the power of their Star Projections for support.

    But now it was clear¡ªsomething else was going on.

    The Star Projections were rebelling.

    As if some overwhelming force was affecting the Star Realm itself.

    This sight reminded Triad Celestial of the time when Purple Fate Ancestor had crushed one of Ghost Heaven¡¯s Yang Gods along with his Star Projection.

    But this was different.

    When Purple Fate Ancestor had acted, he had killed the Yang God first, then shattered the Star Projection.

    This time, God Blood and Great Bliss Celestials weren¡¯t dead. So how were their Star Projections acting up?

    Then, in the blink of an eye, Triad Celestial¡¯s eyes widened.

    Great Bliss and God Blood Celestials¡¯ Star Projections began to twist and contort violently, as if on the verge of shattering, then slowly reformed.

    After thousands of transformations, the two Star Projections finally cracked... and both transformed into the character for "woman."

    That¡¯s right. The Star Projections of two Yang Gods had been turned into the word "woman"¡ªthey had been expelled from manhood!

    At that moment, the heavens shook, and countless Yang Gods across the realms were left in shock, baffled, as they witnessed this utterly bizarre scene.

 Chapter 452: The Righteous Reformation

    Chapter 452: The Righteous Reformation

    The Star Projections of the two Yang Gods had transformed into the character for "woman."

    This was shocking and baffling.

    Even the powerful cultivators at the Grand Supreme Truth level had no idea what was happening.

    "What is this..."

    "What on earth could cause this?"

    Countless Yang Gods muttered to themselves, some feeling their hearts tremble with fear.

    The event was too strange, too abstract, and far beyond their understanding and comprehension.

    At that moment, within the strange land:

    Qi Yuan gazed at the two figures in front of him, his expression complex.

    "Expelled from manhood, but turned into women? How did that happen?"

    This wasn¡¯t right.

    Even though what the East Factory couldn¡¯t do, the West Factory could, did being expelled from manhood mean being accepted into womanhood?

    What about other genders?

    God Blood Celestial, now with a look of horror on his face, spoke in a shrill voice tinged with femininity:

    "What have you done to me?"

    He, a Grand Truth-level Yang God, whose power could shake the Sixfold Heavens, had never before experienced such a loss of control over his own fate.

    As for Great Bliss Celestial, he had long since transformed into what could now be called Great Weeping Celestial.

    "You slandered me, lowering humanity''s moral baseline, so I expelled you from manhood. You don¡¯t understand?" Qi Yuan replied thoughtfully as he looked at God Blood Celestial.

    "Also, don¡¯t raise your voice at me. You''re merely a biological woman now."

    Qi Yuan felt the ethics of the situation were quite complicated and difficult to untangle.

    Even biological men shouldn¡¯t raise their voices at him.

    Staring at God Blood, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate any longer.

    "Perhaps... it¡¯s better if you just die."

    Now, in this strange land, God Blood Celestial only had the combat power of a peak Heavenly Sovereign.

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s strength, even without using the Supreme Truth, he could easily kill God Blood Celestial with just his Martial God of Myriad Daos abilities.

    After all, within this strange land, Qi Yuan, who had mastered the Martial God of Myriad Daos, was in his element.

    Furthermore, after cultivating the Ancestral Blood Scripture, his strength had grown tremendously, and Qi Yuan was no longer the same as before.

    His mighty body moved forward, space trembling and collapsing with his every step. His brutal punch, without any mercy, came crashing down.

    "Become fertilizer for my underworld!"

    The fist struck.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s massive hand suddenly morphed into a futuristic grinder, and its enormous jaws swallowed the God Blood Celestial, who was still bound by chains.

    "Ahhh!"

    God Blood Celestial let out a pitiful scream.

    The massive stone mill, blades spinning, shredded his body and soul alike.

    Finally, with a loud roar, a pile of fertilizer was produced.

    Great Bliss Celestial stood to the side, swallowing hard, utterly terrified.

    He had lived for countless years and thought he¡¯d seen it all.

    But today... he had seen something truly beyond his comprehension.

    Qi Yuan stared at the remains of God Blood Celestial, now reduced to fertilizer, and muttered in surprise,

    "It seems that using Supreme Truth recklessly can lead to unintended consequences, especially in... bedroom matters."

    Qi Yuan shuddered at the thought.

    At present, the use of Supreme Truth was beyond his full control.

    If he were to accidentally use it during his wedding night, who knew what kind of unspeakable horrors might occur?

    However, Qi Yuan also knew that this was because he had only just grasped the Supreme Truth and hadn¡¯t yet fully mastered it.

    Once he reached the level of Moon God Sovereign, he would be able to wield it freely.

    Having eliminated God Blood Celestial and stored the fertilizer in his underworld, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze fell upon Great Bliss Celestial.

    "As for you... it''s time to end it. Take your own life."

    "No!"

    Great Bliss Celestial, gripping the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, was frantic, his eyes bloodshot.

    The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner trembled, and countless vengeful spirits surged forth, grabbing onto Great Bliss Celestial¡¯s arms.

    He was already bound by the jury and the judges, and under the influence of Qi Yuan¡¯s Supreme Truth, he had no ability to resist.

    His body was dragged into the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, torn to pieces by the endless ghosts.

    Within the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, the vengeful spirits¡¯ eyes gleamed with chaotic, murderous intent.

    These ghosts were formed from the souls of cultivators that Ghost Heaven had annihilated, refined from their very essence.

    It could be said that the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was the ultimate source of evil, filled with boundless malevolence.

    A single Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner contained more innocent souls than even the population of Earth.

    "What a pity, he was consumed by the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, and didn¡¯t get to become fertilizer for my underworld," Qi Yuan sighed as he looked at the banner.

    Reaching out, Qi Yuan grabbed the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

    "Come back to me, my dream banner!"

    This banner was a split-off of the true Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner.

    Although its power was only one-eleventh of the original, it still qualified as a Creation Artifact with offensive capabilities.

    The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner trembled and spewed forth black mist.

    Ferocious spirit slaves and endless ghostly servants glared at Qi Yuan, stretching out their skeletal hands as they wailed and shrieked like a sea of ghosts.

    Their appearance was enough to scare even the bravest souls.

    Watching this, Qi Yuan mused that if he brought this banner back to Earth and opened a haunted house attraction, it would surely be a hit.

    These ghosts were far scarier than anything on TV, twisted into grotesque, indescribable shapes¡ªa mass of limbs, or a pile of heads.

    Looking at these spirit slaves, Qi Yuan remembered his plan.

    He saw a skeleton adorned with small red flowers, a red scarf draped around its neck.

    Another ghost, trembling all over, was now as white as jade, with eyes that glowed like lasers, shining a blinding white light.

    To describe it:

    The ghosts of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner previously had a Western horror vibe¡ªdistorted, grotesque creatures with mouths full of needle-sharp teeth.

    But now?

    They were neatly dressed, looking almost human at first glance.

    Yet, on closer inspection, their blank expressions and vacant, soulless eyes were unnerving.

    In fact, they now resembled ghosts from Chinese horror.

    "They do look human, but for some reason, they¡¯re even more unsettling now," Demon Eye Celestial commented seriously.

    "Really?"

    Qi Yuan glanced at them.

    They did look pretty creepy.

    "Well, that¡¯s easy to fix. I¡¯ll just give them a cute big-eye effect!"

    With a wave of his hand, Qi Yuan cast a spell, infusing them all with adorable, wide-eyed effects.

    Now, the once-terrifying ghosts looked cute and innocent.

    "How about now? Don¡¯t they resemble the righteous souls in the Human Emperor Banner?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Demon Eye Celestial blinked, staring at one particularly cute female ghost.

    "Can I take her home as a wife?"

    "Get lost!"

    Qi Yuan kicked him aside, satisfied with his reformation.

    Now, even the original owner of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner wouldn¡¯t recognize it.

    "This is my Human Emperor Banner now.

    Once my divine arts are complete, I¡¯ll take down Ghost Heaven, reverse the Heavenly Gang, and swallow the main banner. Then it¡¯ll all be mine!"

    Qi Yuan held the banner, brimming with pride.

    This attack had turned out to be incredibly fruitful.

    Especially with the acquisition of the Human Emperor Banner, Qi Yuan now had a clearer path forward, including creating his own offensive Creation Artifact.

    After all, at present, he didn¡¯t possess any offensive Creation Artifacts, and to dominate the Six Heavens, he¡¯d need to train within the Gate of Supreme Truth for tens of thousands, even millions of years.

    That would take far too long.

    After all, with a million years, who would still be training? He could just head back to Earth, find a job at a tech factory, earn 3,000 yuan a month, and in a million years, he¡¯d have 3.6 billion yuan¡ªinstant financial freedom, with a spot among the top 100 richest people!

    So, in order not to waste time and miss out on becoming one of the wealthiest, it was best to focus on crafting an offensive Creation Artifact.

    "It¡¯s time to head back."

    ...

    Within Black Demon Abyss.

    Murderous intent filled the air.

    Black Sword¡¯s elegant white robes were stained with blood, but his aura was as deep as the ocean.

    "The audacity of Ghost Heaven to attempt an assassination on Black Sword¡ªthey deserve death!" a Grand Supreme Truth said, his voice dripping with killing intent.

    "Thankfully, our ancestor consumed his own vital energy to save Black Sword!"

    Black Sword had faced danger, entering a strange land, and it was only thanks to the ancestor¡¯s use of a Creation Artifact and personal intervention that Black Sword was rescued.

    Black Sword¡¯s scholarly expression revealed nothing, but his tone was respectful:

    "For this, I thank the ancestor!"

    He bowed deeply toward the distant Black Demon Mountain.

    "If it weren¡¯t for the ancestor, I would¡¯ve met a grim fate at the hands of those two Grand Supreme Truth Celestials."

    Having faced an assassination attempt by two Grand Supreme Truth Celestials, Black Sword¡¯s tone remained calm, his eyes free of any fear.

    As if nothing had happened.

    The other Yang Gods present were keenly aware of how dangerous the situation had been.

    They, too, were Grand Supreme Truth Celestials and knew well the vast gulf between that level and ordinary Yang Gods.

    Even though Black Sword had comprehended the Supreme Truth, he had not yet fully stepped into it. Facing a Grand Supreme Truth, lasting even a single breath would be impressive¡ªlet alone two breaths.

    "I¡¯ve heard that Blood Robe Junior Brother also faced an assassination attempt by Ghost Heaven. What has become of him?" Black Sword inquired, his tone tinged with disappointment.

    Clearly, he didn¡¯t hold much hope for Blood Robe¡¯s survival.

    Blood Robe was indeed strong, but facing an assassination attempt by Ghost Heaven made survival seem unlikely.

    Hearing this, the other Grand Supreme Truths exchanged uneasy glances.

    Finally, the fifth elder spoke slowly:

    "In truth... we are all quite curious about that."

    "Curious?"

    "According to the information we¡¯ve gathered, the ones who attempted to kill Blood Robe were Great Bliss Celestial and God Blood Celestial."

    "God Blood? A Supreme Truth?" Black Sword was surprised.

    His hopes for Blood Robe¡¯s survival plummeted further.

    After all, God Blood Celestial was a Supreme Truth-level Yang God.

    "The two of them... their Star Projections transformed into the character for ¡®woman,¡¯ and then... they exploded."

    "What?" Black Sword blinked, utterly baffled.

    The fifth elder waved his hand, and in the vast Star Realm, two Star Projections blazed with light, twisting and contorting before suddenly transforming into the character for "woman."

    And then, they exploded.

    The entire scene was perplexing and eerie.

    Black Sword stared at the display, his expression complicated:

    "Could it be that Blood Robe Junior Brother also has a backer, an Upper Sovereign?"

    The other Grand Supreme Truths fell into deep thought.

    If this was something they couldn¡¯t comprehend, then surely an Upper Sovereign must be involved.

 Chapter 453: The Terrifying Threat of Taihuang Palace

    Chapter 453: The Terrifying Threat of Taihuang Palace

    Purple Fate Ancestor stood beyond the celestial veil, his expression particularly complex.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±

    He was quite puzzled.

    After all, seeing a star projection suddenly transform into the word "woman" was utterly absurd.

    A star projection was the essence of a Yang God.

    For it to inexplicably morph into the character for "woman," could this really be the work of Supreme Truth?

    Such a thing was unheard of.

    ¡°Could it be that behind Blood Robe, there¡¯s an Upper Sovereign? But who could it be?¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor pondered deeply.

    Then suddenly, something came to his mind.

    ¡°Could it be... Moon God Celestial?¡±

    ¡°This handiwork... certainly fits Moon God Celestial!¡±

    ¡°But, isn¡¯t Moon God Celestial seriously injured?¡±

    ¡°Could this mean, with Lynia¡¯s Transformation approaching, she¡¯s showing her hand to tell the world that her injuries have... healed?¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor could only convince himself of this explanation.

    Blood Robe¡¯s relationships in the Six Heavens were simple.

    He came from the Molo Clan and had fallen in love with the Moon Maiden.

    So, it was very possible that he had also met Moon God Celestial.

    ¡°No wonder that rascal told me before that he wanted to marry the Moon Maiden and even... tested my opinion of Moon God Palace.¡±

    With this thought, Purple Fate Ancestor felt the confusion in his heart unravel.

    If Moon God Celestial had intervened, then Blood Robe was certainly safe.

    Thinking of this, he felt relieved.

    ¡°That rascal made me go to Black Demon Mountain to plead on his behalf and lose face. When he returns, I¡¯ll have to give him a good scolding!¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor muttered to himself.

    Suddenly, he sensed something and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.

    His form disappeared in an instant.

    When he reappeared, he was standing outside the teleportation array.

    The space around him froze momentarily as Purple Fate Ancestor gazed at Qi Yuan, who was clad in a blood-red robe, his expression calm.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the luck to come back alive,¡± he remarked, with a mix of sternness and joy in his voice.

    ¡°Ugh, old man, it¡¯s too dangerous out there,¡± Qi Yuan said, still shaken. ¡°So many guys giving off ¡®man-condensation¡¯ vibes, and then there are all those slanderous shrimp-head men¡ªit''s impossible to guard against them!¡±

    Just thinking about the lecherous gaze of the Divine Blood Celestial made Qi Yuan furious.

    It was harassment to the extreme!

    ¡°The Six Heavens have never been a place of fortune; it''s full of dangers. I imagine you¡¯ve realized that now,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said gravely. ¡°From now on, will you still dare to act so recklessly, running around wherever you please?¡±

    ¡°Old man, are you going with that whole ¡®blame the victim¡¯ logic now? Just because I wear less, they can ogle and harass me?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m simply telling you, ¡®A gentleman does not stand under a collapsing wall.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Right now, Lynia¡¯s Transformation is approaching, and all the great sacred grounds will be making waves. You should stay indoors more, focus on your cultivation, and strengthen your abilities for self-protection,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor advised earnestly.

    Qi Yuan nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right, but... I need to go out for a bit. Celestial Moonflower has given me permission, and I¡¯ve been approved to take the Moon Maiden back to Purple Fate Heaven as my bride!¡±

    When Purple Fate Ancestor heard this, his expression turned serious.

    His previous speculations were becoming more and more certain.

    Indeed, behind Blood Robe was none other than Moon God Celestial.

    ¡°When?¡± Purple Fate Ancestor asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find a good date,¡± Qi Yuan replied after some thought.

    ¡°This time, I¡¯ll accompany you to Moon God Palace,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said plainly.

    Given the potential danger, he decided to go with Qi Yuan.

    Unless the flag master of Ghost Usurping Heaven personally intervened, no one else would be able to harm him.

    And even if the flag master did show up, at most, he¡¯d only be injured.

    ¡°Yeah, why?¡± Qi Yuan didn¡¯t bother to hide it.

    Given that Sister Bullhorn knew about it, it was normal for Purple Fate Ancestor to know as well.

    ¡°I just received news that Lynia¡¯s Transformation will indeed be hosted by Taihuang Palace. It¡¯s no rumor.

    This information has already been confirmed by several Upper Sovereigns.¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s voice became low and serious.

    The implications of this were terrifying.

    ¡°This could be troublesome,¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s face turned serious as well.

    ¡°Hmph, Taihuang Palace hosting Lynia¡¯s Transformation is a huge threat, especially for us Great Supreme Truth cultivators.

    If we refuse to participate, they can even manipulate the star realms and trigger our Root Demon Tribulations,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor explained, his face clouded with concern.

    In the past, Lynia¡¯s Transformation would indeed result in Root Demon Tribulations for Great Supreme Truth cultivators who chose not to enter the fray.

    But back then, it was hosted by the One and Only Palace.

    Being situated in the Seventh Heaven, the One and Only Palace had limited understanding of the Six Heavens, and they couldn¡¯t easily trigger Root Demon Tribulations for other Great Supreme Truth cultivators.

    Those at the Great Supreme Truth level had their own ways of avoiding it.

    As long as they could evade the rules perfectly, the One and Only Palace couldn¡¯t touch them.

    In simple terms, in the context of Blue Star¡¯s legal systems, the One and Only Palace operated under a ¡°rule of law¡± system¡ªstrict adherence to rules, overseen by an intelligent AI to manage Lynia¡¯s Transformation.

    Now, however, with Taihuang Palace in control, it had switched to a ¡°rule of man.¡±

    This meant that decisions could be made based on personal judgment, allowing for leniency or strictness as needed, creating new laws or giving special treatment.

    If Taihuang Palace decided to target someone, they could use underhanded tactics, effectively punching them with a ¡°Yang punch.¡±

    This is why Moon God Palace¡¯s current situation was so precarious.

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan only felt the overwhelming power of Taihuang Palace, but he wasn¡¯t afraid.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already ventured into the Root Demon Sea on Gongxing. A little Root Demon Tribulation doesn¡¯t scare me.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said, ¡°after you marry the Moon Maiden, don¡¯t get too involved with Moon God Palace. For now, avoid entering the Yang God realm. As long as you don¡¯t ascend to Yang God, Lynia¡¯s Transformation won¡¯t affect you.¡±

    Lynia¡¯s Transformation was aimed solely at Yang Gods.

    As long as Blood Robe didn¡¯t become a Yang God, he would remain safe.

    ¡°Relax, I¡¯m far from becoming a Yang God!¡± Qi Yuan said confidently. He was still at the Purple Mansion stage, so Yang God was indeed a long way off.

    However, a thought crossed his mind. ¡°If I marry the Moon Maiden, I won¡¯t bring you any trouble, will I? For example, Taihuang Palace might trigger a Root Demon Tribulation on you?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, this is a trivial matter. Taihuang Palace won¡¯t bother with something so insignificant.

    Even if they are hosting Lynia¡¯s Transformation, they still have to follow the official rules. If they don¡¯t, the other Upper Sovereigns would never allow them to act with impunity.

    As long as you don¡¯t kill their leader¡¯s father or mock him to his face, you¡¯ll be fine!

    Besides, I, Purple Fate Ancestor, am not someone they can easily mess with!¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor spoke with confidence.

    Every Great Supreme Truth cultivator had their own pride.

    While Taihuang Palace¡¯s leader indeed had the power to kill him, he wasn¡¯t some soft target that could be easily crushed.

    Qi Yuan felt reassured hearing this.

    Thankfully, he had never met Taihuang Palace¡¯s leader¡¯s father. All he had done was destroy the leader¡¯s Three Thousand Realms and obliterate his Three Thousand Past Lives.

    Not a big deal.

    ¡°Hurry up and go back! You¡¯ve been missing, and Purple Fate Xue has been feeling terribly guilty. She keeps saying she shouldn¡¯t have brought out the Black Cloud Blood Cavalry or sworn an oath. She believes that¡¯s why you suffered through this disaster!¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor waved his hand and vanished.

    ¡°Sister Bullhorn is feeling guilty for me?¡±

    Qi Yuan found this strange and decided to check on her.

    About half an hour later...

    Qi Yuan watched as Sister Bullhorn sat there, tears streaming down her face while eating hot pot. He was at a loss for words.

    He saw her open her mouth, and mushrooms tumbled out into the hot pot.

    Yes, the ingredients came from her mouth.

    ¡°Ah, Blood Robe! I knew you¡¯d be fine.

    You¡¯re alive! Come, have some mushrooms!¡±

 Chapter 454: The Path of the Yin God, Faces of All Beings, Battle Begins

    Chapter 454: The Path of the Yin God, Faces of All Beings, Battle Begins

    "Didn¡¯t the old man say that you were feeling guilty, filled with sorrow?" Qi Yuan kept his distance from Sister Bullhorn, worried that if he got too close, the mushrooms from her mouth might end up in his.

    "Yes, didn¡¯t you see me washing my face with tears?" Sister Bullhorn was clearly happy to see Qi Yuan.

    "Tears? From your mouth?" Qi Yuan was at a loss for words.

    Sister Bullhorn was indeed "crying" with tears running down her face, but they were flowing from her mouth.

    To the untrained eye, it might appear to be drool, but in fact, it was tears.

    "Is there a rule that tears can only flow from the eyes?" Purple Fate Xue asked thoughtfully.

    This question stumped Qi Yuan once again.

    He felt like the phrase was oddly familiar, as if he had said it before himself.

    He suspected that Purple Fate Xue was copying him, but he had no proof.

    "Do you want some mushrooms? Fresh from the oven!" Purple Fate Xue picked up a mushroom and offered it to Qi Yuan.

    "No thanks, I don¡¯t eat imported mushrooms, nor ¡®mouth mushrooms¡¯." Qi Yuan refused quickly.

    "Are you disgusted by me?" Purple Fate Xue¡¯s eyes widened in mock surprise.

    "Hehe, you figured it out?" Qi Yuan chuckled.

    "You... sigh, you have no idea how lucky you are to find a woman who¡¯s self-reliant and self-sustaining," Purple Fate Xue lamented dramatically.

    "I¡¯d rather find a tree; at least it can photosynthesize."

    Hearing this, Purple Fate Xue thought for a moment.

    Then she asked, "So, you survived an attack from a Yang God of Ghost Heaven? Impressive. I was almost preparing to attend your funeral."

    In Purple Fate Xue¡¯s view, Blood Robe was only a Yin God. Surviving an assassination attempt by a Yang God seemed impossible.

    "This time, Ghost Heaven not only went after Black Sword but also targeted you. It seems they¡¯ve made up their mind to declare war on us, the Black Demon Abyss!" Purple Fate Xue added, her tone becoming more serious.

    With Lynia''s Transformation approaching, the situation in the Six Heavens was becoming increasingly complex.

    "War?" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement.

    His Human Emperor Banner was in need of some good fertilizer!

    And what better fertilizer than the myriad soul banners of Ghost Heaven¡ªespecially the Ten Thousand Souls Banner wielded by the flag master?

    "Yes," Purple Fate Xue nodded. "With Black Sword and you being attacked, if we in Black Demon Abyss don¡¯t respond, we¡¯ll be looked down upon."

    Qi Yuan nodded thoughtfully. "Sigh, I guess I was being too tactful before."

    When he had met with Purple Fate Ancestor, Qi Yuan had been very tactful and didn¡¯t mention too much about the attack from Ghost Heaven.

    After all, the flag master of Ghost Heaven was considered part of the second echelon of Great Supreme Truth practitioners, and he was extremely powerful.

    Qi Yuan feared that if he mentioned it, Purple Fate Ancestor might act out of filial devotion and rush to avenge him. That would be a problem.

    Sometimes, it¡¯s better to feign ignorance.

    "It seems war is imminent. Do you want to join the battlefield?" Purple Fate Xue asked. "There¡¯s bound to be plenty of military merit."

    "I¡¯ll think about it." Qi Yuan nodded.

    He didn¡¯t care about military merit but was very interested in strengthening his Human Emperor Banner.

    He couldn¡¯t yet defeat the true Ten Thousand Souls Banner, but if he absorbed the myriad soul banners from the disciples, continually refining them and nurturing them with his power, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner wouldn¡¯t dare defy him.

    He was the true master, after all.

    At present, Qi Yuan was quite poor and lacked a powerful offensive divine treasure.

    Even though Purple Fate Ancestor was incredibly filial, it was clear that he was also poor and couldn¡¯t offer Qi Yuan a proper offensive divine artifact.

    "When the time comes, let¡¯s team up. Sister and Little Purple Fate will avenge you!" Purple Fate Xue said confidently, looking rather pleased with herself. "I guess I won¡¯t be stepping into the Yang God realm anytime soon. With my current strength, I can protect you on the battlefield!"

    Purple Fate Xue patted her chest as she spoke, creating an exaggerated and seductive curve. However, when combined with her constant spitting of mushrooms from her mouth, any semblance of allure vanished.

    "What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t look at me? Afraid of falling in love?" Purple Fate Xue teased with a wide grin. She sat with her legs crossed, her snow-white thighs provocatively exposed beneath her skirt.

    "No, I just don¡¯t want to ¡®condense¡¯ you!" Qi Yuan replied tactfully, understanding that while Sister Bullhorn didn¡¯t mind, he preferred to be respectful.

    "The path of the Yin God lies in divinity. To become a god, one must see through everything in the world. Maybe... even master a craft? Like creating worlds?

    That way, even if I get laid off by some shady factory, I¡¯ll still have the skills to find a new job."

    "But before that, I need to understand human nature, the nature of all things... and comprehend the hearts of all beings."

    As the saying goes, having a stable monthly income of three thousand is better than a volatile income of one hundred thousand. But having a skill is even better.

    To become a god, one must have a craft.

    To create a world, one must understand the hearts of all beings.

    Take Jin Li, for instance. To others, she seemed cold and aloof, but to Qi Yuan, she was as warm as fire, eager to embrace him and merge their bodies into one.

    That side of her was just another facet of the nature of all beings.

    "So, in the next chapter of the Qi Yuan Sutra, I¡¯ll draw on my insights from the Realm of Mortal Hearts: ¡®All beings are me!¡¯"

    With that thought, Qi Yuan¡¯s mind became clear.

    It was as if he could already see his path to becoming a Yin God.

    About half a month passed.

    Qi Yuan halted his work on the Qi Yuan Sutra.

    "It¡¯s about halfway done... now I just need to log into the game."

    Cultivating in the real world was too slow for Qi Yuan. He preferred the accelerated training in the game.

    His consciousness entered the jade slip.

    His expression was one of mild surprise.

    "It¡¯s only been half a month, and it¡¯s loaded this much?

    Four-fifths completed?"

    Qi Yuan was excited and pleased.

    As his power had increased, the game¡¯s loading time had slowed.

    Sometimes it would take months just to load a little more. But in the last few days, the progress had jumped more than it usually would in half a year.

    "Not bad, not bad. Looks like it¡¯s almost ready. I wonder what kind of game it¡¯ll be this time¡ªwhat style?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    In the past few days, aside from composing the Qi Yuan Sutra, he had also been consuming the Black Demon Ancestor Blood that Purple Fate Ancestor had given him, advancing the Ancestral Blood Technique to its twelfth level.

    Now, his strength had increased again.

    Aside from a Great Supreme Truth practitioner, there wasn¡¯t anyone he couldn¡¯t take on head-to-head.

    If he could get his hands on a powerful offensive divine artifact, he¡¯d dare hand out flyers right in front of Taihuang Palace.

    "Brother Blood Robe, the war is about to start. Come quickly!" came Little Purple Fate¡¯s sweet voice.

    Qi Yuan heard it but remained calm.

    He knew that the Black Demon Abyss had officially declared war on Ghost Heaven.

    These two colossal forces had finally reached the boiling point, and war was inevitable.

    It would likely mark the start of Lynia¡¯s Transformation.

    "War has started?" Qi Yuan appeared beside Little Purple Fate.

    Her pink bullhorns were tied with a bow on one side and had a mushroom hanging from the other, giving her an odd appearance.

    "Yes, the war has started, but..." Little Purple Fate hesitated. "It¡¯s not a full-scale war!"

    When Ghost Heaven attacked both Blood Robe and Black Sword, it was a clear sign that there would be no reconciliation between the two sides.

    War was inevitable.

    "Not a full-scale war?"

    "No. Black Demon Abyss has nine divisions in total, but only five... support the war!" Little Purple Fate said angrily.

 Chapter 455: Dark Clouds Over the Black Demon Abyss

    Chapter 455: Dark Clouds Over the Black Demon Abyss

    Upon hearing Little Purple Fate¡¯s words, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised.

    The Black Demon Abyss was inherently a loose alliance, with each division fighting its own battles.

    Not everyone was willing to stir up trouble with Ghost Heaven.

    "It seems Black Sword¡¯s influence... is still lacking," Qi Yuan said casually.

    He was fully aware of his position.

    In the hearts of those in the Black Demon Abyss, Black Sword was the true leader, someone they considered "one of their own."

    As for him, at best, he was a local tyrant within Purple Fate Heaven.

    "These people are too much. In matters as serious as this, they still can¡¯t unite. When Lynia''s Transformation begins, who knows what will happen?" Little Purple Fate¡¯s voice carried a trace of worry.

    Clearly, she was unhappy with the decisions made by the higher-ups.

    Qi Yuan, however, wasn¡¯t too concerned.

    He had no real connections with other parts of the Black Demon Abyss, only being familiar with Purple Fate Heaven.

    "Since war has started, are we to participate?" Qi Yuan asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.

    After all, he was relying on Ghost Heaven to acquire an offensive divine artifact.

    Little Purple Fate nodded and said softly, "But, Brother Blood Robe, you need to be cautious.

    Since you caused the death of Great Celestial Bliss from Ghost Heaven, they may target you specifically."

    Little Purple Fate didn¡¯t ask Qi Yuan how he managed to escape the situation before.

    After all, such matters likely involved secrets best left unknown.

    "They¡¯ll target me?" Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Little Purple Fate was stunned for a moment before answering, "This time, Brother Blood Robe, you should stay close to the main forces. Otherwise, even a Yang God might make a move against you!"

    Before the official declaration of war, both sides still cared about maintaining appearances.

    "A Yang God?" Qi Yuan blinked. "That sounds perfect."

    Little Purple Fate was at a loss.

    As a prodigy in the realm of the Yin God, the gap between them and a Yang God was like the difference between the earth and the sky.

    Yet, here was Brother Blood Robe, seemingly excited by the prospect. She couldn¡¯t understand.

    "Brother, you need to be careful¡ªthat¡¯s a Yang God!"

    "What Yang God? It¡¯s just my ¡®White Moonlight¡¯!" Qi Yuan said, brimming with excitement.

    Had this been before, he might have hesitated.

    But now that he had comprehended Supreme Truth, he needed to spar with Yang Gods to further solidify his understanding of it.

    "Huh?" Little Purple Fate clearly didn¡¯t understand what White Moonlight meant.

    However, Qi Yuan suddenly turned pensive, as if reconsidering.

    "You¡¯re right. I should keep a low profile."

    After all, with his elegant, otherworldly demeanor, if both Great Supreme Truth masters and the banner lords of Ghost Heaven came after him, he¡¯d be in serious trouble.

    Hearing this, Little Purple Fate let out a sigh of relief.

    ...

    In an unknown location within the Black Demon Abyss, two terrifying figures lay in hiding, their souls communicating.

    "Are you certain?" one voice, neither male nor female, asked with a hint of hesitation.

    "Now that Taihuang Palace is overseeing Lynia¡¯s Transformation, there¡¯s no room for doubt," an ancient voice responded with certainty.

    "But... Black Sword has comprehended Supreme Truth. He could lead us¡ª"

    "Black Sword¡¯s Supreme Truth belongs to him alone. What does it have to do with us?

    When Lynia¡¯s Transformation begins, will he have the power to protect us? This time, Lynia¡¯s Transformation will be the most brutal since the creation of the world!" the ancient voice declared.

    "So, you plan to move against Black Sword?"

    "Though he has grasped Supreme Truth, it would be difficult to kill him, even if we attacked by surprise.

    However... we can go after Purple Fate instead.

    That old man has never liked him, and now, with the grudge over Blood Robe, the tension between them is deep.

    We¡¯ll use Blood Robe as bait to lure him into our trap," the ancient voice said, filled with killing intent.

    "But he¡¯s a Great Supreme Truth practitioner. Even if we act together, it¡¯ll be hard to hold him down."

    "Look at this," the ancient voice said with a hint of smugness.

    "Root... Demon Blood? Where did you get that?" the androgynous voice trembled.

    This was the legendary Root Demon Blood.

    It was incredibly rare and was known as the bane of Supreme Truth practitioners.

    When unleashed, Root Demon Blood could trigger the Root Demon Tribulation within the hearts of Yang God practitioners at the Supreme Truth level.

    For many old cultivators, the arrival of a Root Demon Tribulation could mean certain death.

    However, Root Demon Blood was incredibly rare, with only a handful of vials existing in the Six Heavens.

    War carried risk, but it also offered great rewards.

    "How much merit for killing a Yang God?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The Yang God paused, stunned by the question.

    The other prodigies weren¡¯t surprised.

    He looked meaningfully at Qi Yuan. "A small Yang God earns you one major merit point."

    "Can major merits be exchanged for Black Demon Ancestor Blood?" Qi Yuan asked eagerly.

    If someone else had asked, the Yang God would have ignored them.

    But this was Blood Robe, so he answered seriously.

    "No."

    Black Demon Ancestor Blood was almost exclusively reserved for the ancestors.

    Even he had never received any.

    Recalling how Blood Robe had arrived in Purple Fate Heaven and immediately received Black Demon Ancestor Blood as a gift from the Ancestor, the Yang God couldn¡¯t help but feel envious.

    "No Black Demon Ancestor Blood... so stingy. At least you have some offensive divine artifacts, right?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Right now, he cared most about Black Demon Ancestor Blood and offensive divine artifacts.

    "No..." The Yang God paused before answering.

    In his heart, he was speechless.

    As far as he knew, the entire Black Demon Abyss only had one or two offensive divine artifacts.

    Such treasures were never given out lightly.

    "Then... do you have anything useful?" Qi Yuan sighed in disappointment.

    The Black Demon Abyss really was a bit poor.

    "One major merit point can be exchanged for two Yang God¡¯s Gifts. We also have various other treasures and pills..." The Yang God went on to list a series of rare pills and treasures.

    Every item he mentioned made the prodigies¡¯ eyes light up.

    These pills and treasures not only boosted the combat power of Yang Gods, but also accelerated the formation of divine avatars, like the Earth Emperor Essence Pill.

    Some could even enhance the breadth and depth of star projections, tempting even Yang Gods.

    As the Yang God spoke, listing these rare pills, Qi Yuan¡¯s heart remained unmoved.

    None of the rewards interested him.

    "Sigh, if someone offered these as a dowry to marry me, I¡¯d still turn them down. Looks like I¡¯m here on a charity mission," Qi Yuan lamented.

    Purple Fate Xue chuckled. "If you earn some major merits, why not exchange them for mushrooms from my mouth? One major merit for a pound. What do you think?"

    "You¡¯re beautiful, but your thinking is just as lovely," Qi Yuan teased back.

    The two of them bantered casually.

    "Beyond Devil¡¯s Pass lie the remnants of worlds, now star projections. These serve as a corner of the battlefield.

    When you head to the frontlines, be cautious. It¡¯s best to team up," the Yang God warned, casting a glance at Qi Yuan. "Brother Black Sword wanted me to tell you something: in this war, be careful. Merits aren¡¯t important. What matters... is staying alive."

    The other prodigies looked envious.

    An Xunlu felt a twinge of jealousy.

    Big Brother Black Sword hadn¡¯t told her to stay safe, but he¡¯d specifically asked Blood Robe to be careful. She felt a little bitter.

    "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m always cautious. I never take unnecessary risks," Qi Yuan replied lazily.

    The Yang God nodded in satisfaction. This Blood Robe fellow seemed sensible after all.

    Due to the previous assassination attempt, several Yang Gods were now keeping an eye on him.

    If Blood Robe were to be killed, it would greatly demoralize the Black Demon Abyss.

    Some of the higher-ups in the Black Demon Abyss were even considering using Blood Robe as a pawn to trap Ghost Heaven.

    Of course, Purple Fate Ancestor had already vetoed that idea.

    "I¡¯m going to hunt Yang Gods. Who has the best intelligence on Ghost Heaven¡¯s Yang Gods? Want to team up?" Qi Yuan asked loudly.

    The Yang God who had just praised Qi Yuan for being cautious now looked at him in disbelief.

    The other prodigies exchanged looks, also not believing Qi Yuan, nor daring to team up with him.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but say, "I¡¯m the local tyrant of Purple Fate Heaven. Is no one willing to team up with me?"

    What he lacked most was information.

    Combat strength, on the other hand, he had plenty of.

    At this point, Purple Fate Xue laughed loudly, "I¡¯m the Mother of Purple Fate Heaven. I¡¯ll team up with you."

    Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

    Local tyrant of Purple Fate Heaven?

    Mother of Purple Fate Heaven?

    Were these matching usernames for a couple?

    Before he could dwell on it further, Little Purple Fate weakly chimed in, "I¡¯ll join too."

 Chapter 456: The Imperial Banner Revival Plan

    Chapter 456: The Imperial Banner Revival Plan

    ¡°With Blood Robe¡¯s strength, Little Purple Fate¡¯s intelligence, and my wisdom, I¡¯m aiming to achieve 1,000 merits in this battle,¡± Bullhorn Sister said happily.

    She seemed confident about her victory in this upcoming battle.

    ¡°Blood Robe, you¡¯re incredibly talented, so you¡¯ll be our group leader. Little Purple Fate is meticulous, so she can be the assistant leader. You two can handle the planning, I¡¯m going back to sleep. Just call me if you need anything,¡± Purple Fate Xue said with a yawn before leaving.

    Fighting was fine for her, but planning or strategizing made her head hurt.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised by this at all.

    If this were a group project in a university, Qi Yuan, as the group leader, would be responsible for the broad strategy and big ideas.

    Little Purple Fate would be the one making the PowerPoint presentation.

    And Purple Fate Xue? She¡¯d be the one presenting it.

    Meanwhile, the other young prodigies began forming their own teams.

    An Xunlu, who saw Little Purple Fate so cheerful, couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of irritation.

    Whenever Little Purple Fate was happy, An Xunlu just couldn¡¯t stand it.

    ¡°Sigh, Brother Black Sword is just so amazing. At the Supreme Truth Debate, he comprehended an Ultimate Supreme Truth, a peerless feat. Meanwhile, we can only watch from the sidelines. It¡¯s so impressive!¡± An Xunlu remarked, casting a deliberate glance at Little Purple Fate and Qi Yuan.

    The implication was obvious.

    The Brother Black Sword she admired was the true leader of their generation in the Black Demon Abyss, and everyone else was just a bystander.

    "Who can understand that? It¡¯s Ultimate Supreme Truth, after all. Brother Black Sword is in a different league from us. It¡¯s laughable how some people once compared others to him," she added with a sarcastic smirk.

    ¡°Ah, ah, ah, who understands this stuff? I sure don¡¯t!¡± Little Purple Fate shouted, waving her arms dramatically.

    An Xunlu was left speechless.

    She glared at Little Purple Fate and snapped, "Brother Black Sword is aiming for major merits, unlike certain people... who can only collect small ones."

    "A servant boasting about the wolf his master shot?" Little Purple Fate fired back, not missing a beat.

    Though she usually appeared shy and quiet, once she started bickering with An Xunlu, her sharp tongue showed no mercy.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Little Fate. We need to find a secluded place to craft our brilliant plan. If they steal it, we¡¯ll suffer a huge loss,¡± Qi Yuan said, pulling Little Purple Fate away by her sleeve.

    The other prodigies looked at the pair, dumbfounded.

    Only Ice Sword sighed in relief. With those two troublemakers gone, he finally felt comfortable enough to speak again and strike some poses.

    Inside the cave, Qi Yuan set up a hundred different formations.

    ¡°Alright, even an Upper Sovereign wouldn¡¯t be able to eavesdrop on us. They won¡¯t know what we¡¯re up to,¡± Qi Yuan said, clapping his hands in satisfaction.

    As the saying goes, those who achieve great things keep their plans hidden, speaking only in actions. Loose lips lead to failure.

    So, although he had casually mentioned hunting Yang Gods to the Yang God earlier, he hadn¡¯t revealed the core of the plan. It wasn¡¯t a leak.

    Little Purple Fate, standing close to Qi Yuan, blushed and nervously twisted the hem of her robe.

    "Don¡¯t worry, even if you scream, not even a Great Supreme Truth could hear you,¡± Qi Yuan reassured her, noticing her nervousness.

    But his reassurance only made her blush more, her head growing fuzzy.

    This cave was... too cramped... or rather, this bed was too small.

    To prevent any eavesdropping, Qi Yuan had filled the cave with formations.

    For safety and efficiency, the smaller the space, the better.

    So, the only safe place left was the bed.

    Little Purple Fate could feel Blood Robe¡¯s breath and, coupled with his ambiguous words, her heart was racing.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start devising our plan. And it needs a great name.

    Let¡¯s call it... the ¡®Imperial Banner Revival Plan!¡¯¡± Qi Yuan declared proudly.

    Ever since he had comprehended Ultimate Supreme Truth, he felt his mind had become sharper, even better at coming up with names.

    ¡°Detailed? Isn¡¯t it already precise and comprehensive?¡± Qi Yuan asked, puzzled.

    ¡°... That¡¯s the entire plan?¡± Little Purple Fate¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Just saying a few words counted as a plan?

    By that standard, she could come up with a plan to become an Upper Sovereign right now.

    Step one: Break through to Yang God.

    Step two: Comprehend Ultimate Supreme Truth and become an Upper Sovereign.

    Step three: Have Blood Robe Brother marry into her family.

    ¡°Oh, I get it. You think the plan isn¡¯t detailed enough because there¡¯s no specific time or date?

    These things are ever-changing, so we can¡¯t control the timing. Better not include it,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Little Purple Fate finally understood. That really was the whole plan.

    She stuck out her tongue slightly. ¡°Little Fate understands now.¡±

    She felt a bit silly.

    This plan to hunt Yang Gods was clearly just for fun.

    Of course, it was bound to be a bit simplistic. Why had she taken it so seriously?

    ¡°Little Fate, I know you¡¯re discreet, but don¡¯t leak this great plan, alright? Oh, but it¡¯s fine to tell Purple Fate Xue since she¡¯s on our team,¡± Qi Yuan reminded her.

    ¡°Alright!¡± Little Purple Fate nodded earnestly, covering her mouth.

    ¡°Go find Purple Fate Xue. We¡¯ll start implementing step two. Have her come up with a reason for us to visit the Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns,¡± Qi Yuan instructed.

    He had already noted the mole in his mental list.

    When the time was right, the mole would meet their end.

    ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll find Sister Xue right away!¡± Little Purple Fate said before running off.

    About a day later, Qi Yuan appeared on the streets of Devil¡¯s Pass.

    He looked at the two figures before him: one tall, one short, both carrying bamboo steamers. Purple Fate Xue and Little Purple Fate stood there, and he felt exasperated.

    ¡°Are you sure this is the best way to visit the Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be? I can¡¯t imagine a Yang God refusing this,¡± Purple Fate Xue said proudly.

    She opened the steamer, and steam billowed out, carrying with it a delicious aroma.

    Qi Yuan glanced inside and saw... a pile of strange-looking eggs.

    ¡°I got these rare ice eggs from Black Demon Abyss prodigy Ice Sword! So I boiled them and am offering them as a filial gift to the Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns. They won¡¯t refuse!¡± Purple Fate Xue explained with a serious expression.

    Qi Yuan thought about it and said, ¡°That¡¯s actually pretty interesting.

    If someone told me Ice Sword had laid eggs, I¡¯d come out to see it for myself.

    But the plan isn¡¯t perfect. You¡¯re just using regular eggs.

    Ice Sword¡¯s name has ¡®ice¡¯ in it, so these should be ice eggs!¡±

    With a wave of his hand, the eggs in the steamer turned into icy eggs.

    ¡°Perfect, now it¡¯s flawless,¡± Qi Yuan said smugly.

    The eggs, now shimmering like crystals, looked high-class and refined.

    ¡°Add some fancy packaging, and it¡¯ll be the perfect gift,¡± he added.

    With another wave, the steamer turned into a luxurious gift box.

    Purple Fate Xue looked at Qi Yuan and blinked. ¡°Your emotional intelligence is surprisingly high.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the difference between us,¡± Qi Yuan replied with pride. ¡°When you look at me, it¡¯s like a mayfly gazing at the heavens!¡±

    Little Purple Fate, standing nearby, covered her mouth, silently feeling sorry for Ice Sword Brother.

 Chapter 457: The First Mole Has Already Exposed Themselves

    Chapter 457: The First Mole Has Already Exposed Themselves

    Purple Fate Xue held the gift box, her expression full of anticipation.

    ¡°Which Heavenly Sovereign should we visit first?¡±

    In the Black Demon Abyss, dozens of Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns had gathered at Devil¡¯s Pass to oversee the situation.

    Finding the mole was not going to be an easy task.

    ¡°Black Sword,¡± Qi Yuan decided after some thought. ¡°Among the Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns in Devil¡¯s Pass, his status is the highest. If he warmly receives us, the others won¡¯t dare refuse.¡±

    ¡°Good point. Plus, we¡¯re holding such a rare, precious egg¡ªno Yang God would turn us away,¡± Purple Fate Xue added.

    Of course, given their statuses¡ªespecially Blood Robe¡¯s¡ªit was unlikely any of the Yang Gods would refuse them under normal circumstances.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go see Black Sword!¡± Purple Fate Xue declared boldly, setting off.

    Little Purple Fate followed behind like a quiet shadow.

    In truth, she was deeply curious¡ªwhat special method did Blood Robe Brother have to find the mole?

    The mole was hidden so deeply that even the elders couldn¡¯t flush them out. How could Blood Robe Brother find them? She was baffled and couldn¡¯t figure it out.

    In the span of about a hundred breaths, they arrived.

    Inside the grand hall, Black Sword, dressed in white robes, held the ice egg in his hand, a strange expression flickering in his eyes.

    ¡°This egg... I¡¯ll accept it. But I assume you didn¡¯t come just to offer me an egg, did you?¡± Black Sword sat upon his throne, his voice calm and drawn out.

    After comprehending an Ultimate Supreme Truth, a layer of mist seemed to shroud him, making it hard for others to see through.

    Looking at him evoked the feeling of gazing upon the vastness of the stars.

    Little Purple Fate lowered her head, not daring to speak.

    Even Purple Fate Xue reined in her usual carefree demeanor, becoming quite reserved.

    Only Qi Yuan remained the same as ever.

    ¡°It¡¯s like this,¡± Qi Yuan began seriously. ¡°Last time we were ambushed, and I want to meet all the Yang Gods to see if I can figure out who the mole is.¡±

    Black Sword¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°This is a deep matter. Rest assured, I will ensure you receive justice.¡±

    Black Sword, having comprehended the Ultimate Supreme Truth, was now a far cry from the person he had once been.

    In the past, he used to suppress his aura, so those of his generation would only feel that he was immensely powerful.

    Now, even though he restrained it, his vast presence was still impossible to ignore. It felt as if they were standing before a god enthroned in a divine kingdom.

    Black Sword¡¯s message was clear¡ªhe would investigate the matter personally.

    However, just then, Qi Yuan suddenly spoke.

    ¡°Black Sword... are you the mole?¡±

    He looked straight at Black Sword and asked earnestly.

    Little Purple Fate froze.

    Even Purple Fate Xue blinked in surprise, staring at Qi Yuan.

    Neither of them had expected Qi Yuan to ask that.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s question even took Black Sword slightly aback.

    But Black Sword responded calmly, ¡°No.¡±

    Qi Yuan, undeterred, continued asking, ¡°Were you involved in the ambush I encountered last time?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°If I leave again, would you leak my whereabouts?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Do you intend to harm me?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    One dared to ask, and the other dared to answer.

    Qi Yuan looked at Black Sword and slowly said, ¡°Thank you for your honesty.¡±

    Black Sword stared back at Qi Yuan, his gaze deep. ¡°The Black Demon Abyss is one entity. The misunderstanding between Senior Purple Fate and the Abyss Lord, I intend to resolve. Please convey this message to Senior Purple Fate.¡±

    Even while suppressing his power, Black Sword¡¯s simple words made both Little Purple Fate and Purple Fate Xue feel an overwhelming pressure.

    Such was the terror of a powerful being.

    Even when acting friendly, even when concealing their aura, just standing there exuded boundless pressure.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Qi Yuan replied as he left with Purple Fate Xue and Little Purple Fate.

    Once outside, Purple Fate Xue breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Comprehending the Ultimate Supreme Truth really makes a difference. In the past, meeting Black Sword Brother didn¡¯t feel this nerve-wracking. Now, I can¡¯t help but feel scared.¡±

    Little Purple Fate agreed, ¡°That overwhelming feeling is like the first time I saw the stars when I began cultivating.¡±

    ¡°Is it really that bad? I didn¡¯t feel anything,¡± Qi Yuan said, unfazed. ¡°Seems like you both just don¡¯t believe in equality deep down.¡±

    It didn¡¯t take long for Qi Yuan to figure out the core of the issue.

    ¡°You¡¯re just too outrageous!¡± Purple Fate Xue exclaimed, recalling what Qi Yuan had done earlier.

    Who directly asks if someone is the mole right to their face?

    And asking Black Sword of all people¡ªeveryone knew Black Sword was destined to be the future leader of the Black Demon Abyss.

    Why would a ruler plot rebellion against themselves?

    ¡°Cultivation is about defying the heavens. Being a little outrageous is only natural,¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    ¡°You might be outrageous, but you haven¡¯t comprehended an Ultimate Supreme Truth. Compared to Black Sword, you¡¯re definitely lacking,¡± Purple Fate Xue teased.

    Qi Yuan sighed, appearing despondent. ¡°Black Sword¡¯s average is one Ultimate Supreme Truth, while mine... is close to zero. I really can¡¯t compare to Black Sword.¡±

    After all, he had over 4,000 Nascent Souls within him.

    And so far, he had only comprehended two Supreme Truths. When averaged across all his Nascent Souls, the result was laughably low.

    This was including the Foodless Holy Mother from another universe.

    ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject. A month from now, I¡¯ll ambush Heavenly Sovereign Hui Zeng. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll hold you responsible,¡± Qi Yuan said as he turned to leave with Little Purple Fate and Purple Fate Xue.

    In the now-empty hall, Wind-Decay Heavenly Sovereign sat alone.

    ¡°How did he figure me out?¡±

    ¡°Was he testing me, or was there something else?¡±

    ¡°He said he would ambush Hui Zeng in a month... Should I...?¡±

    ¡°Is Senior Purple Fate watching me now?¡±

    Wind-Decay Heavenly Sovereign sat lost in thought, not daring to make any sudden moves.

    He felt utterly bewildered¡ªtoday¡¯s events seemed completely irrational.

    If Purple Fate Senior had figured out that he was the mole, why send Blood Robe to inform him?

    Wouldn¡¯t they set a trap instead and wait for him to slip up?

    And if Blood Robe was trying to test him, why only test him and not others?

    None of it made any sense.

    He didn¡¯t even dare take out his communication jade slip to report to his higher-ups.

    Everything just seemed too strange, too illogical.

    Who operates like this?

    He sat there, motionless, too afraid to do anything rash.

    Meanwhile, as they left, Little Purple Fate asked urgently, ¡°Was Wind-Decay Heavenly Sovereign really the mole? How did you know, Blood Robe Brother?¡±

    Purple Fate Xue also looked at Qi Yuan, curious and puzzled.

    ¡°My brilliant brain told me,¡± Qi Yuan answered seriously.

    ¡°Is it really possible that he¡¯s the mole?¡± Little Purple Fate hesitated. ¡°But Blood Robe Brother, if you knew he was the mole, why did you tell him?¡±

    ¡°I felt like telling him, so I did,¡± Qi Yuan said nonchalantly.

    His Ultimate Supreme Truths were about absolute adaptability and doing as he pleased.

    To stabilize and deepen his mastery of these Ultimate Supreme Truths, his actions had to align with their essence.

    This allowed him to progress faster.

    So, he told Wind-Decay because he wanted to.

    ¡°I see...¡± Little Purple Fate was still worried.

    If they hadn¡¯t informed Wind-Decay, they could have quietly observed him and laid out a strategy.

    But now that they had told him, the situation was filled with uncertainty.

    Qi Yuan patted Little Purple Fate¡¯s delicate horns and smiled. ¡°We¡¯re cultivating immortality here. Always scheming and plotting is exhausting.

    In this world, the only thing that truly matters is strength.

    With strength, you earn the right to survive.

    All these schemes? They¡¯re just fleeting clouds.¡±

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t care less about schemes and plots.

    The worst-case scenario would be something like the Ghost Heaven and Black Demon Abyss joining forces, with all the Great Supreme Truth experts hunting him down in secret.

    But Qi Yuan had come to the Black Demon Abyss and entered the game knowing full well the risks.

    He had already prepared himself to face all the Great Supreme Truths as enemies.

    So, he wasn¡¯t fazed by schemes or plots.

    Cultivation might be difficult, but it could also be simple.

    When you cut through the distractions, it boiled down to three steps: first, kill your enemies; second, seize resources; third, enjoy the victory feast.

    ¡°A month from now, are you really going to hunt down Heavenly Sovereign Hui Zeng?¡± Little Purple Fate asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Qi Yuan shrugged, his expression turning serious.

    ¡°The most brilliant plans are the ones where even the planner doesn¡¯t know what will happen next. As for hunting a Yang God... we¡¯ll see how fate plays out.¡±

    Little Purple Fate was left speechless.

    This ¡°brilliant¡± plan was too brilliant.

    It would¡¯ve been better not to plan at all, given no one knew what was going to happen next.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go see if any of the other Yang Gods are moles,¡± Qi Yuan said, carrying the ice eggs with him.

    Little Purple Fate looked at him nervously. ¡°Blood Robe Brother, don¡¯t act rashly when dealing with Yang Gods... You should get help from some of the Heavenly Sovereigns.¡±

    For some reason, she had a gut feeling that Blood Robe Brother really would try to hunt down a Yang God.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this,¡± Qi Yuan reassured her.

    ¡°Brother... don¡¯t push yourself too hard. Cultivation also requires balancing tension and relaxation,¡± Little Purple Fate said, her heart aching for him.

    She felt that Blood Robe Brother might be feeling anxious after seeing Black Sword comprehend an Ultimate Supreme Truth, leading to undue pressure.

    That might explain why his actions were becoming so unpredictable.

    ¡°Hmm...¡± Qi Yuan paused, considering. ¡°You might be right. I¡¯ve been too busy lately. Sigh... seems like I should play a game to relax.¡±

    He muttered to himself.

    Ever since he had entered the cultivation world, he had been constantly busy.

    There were always crises and threats looming over him¡ªwhether it was the Black Mountain Sect, the Palace of Light, the Great Calamity, or the Taihuang Palace...

    It was only in the game that he could find some peace.

    Especially on Gongxing, when he went on a honeymoon with Canary and Ning Tao, and Little Jia¡ªit was one of the few times he had given himself a proper break.

    The rest of the time, his nerves had been strung taut, never getting a chance to relax.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we have some delicious mushroom hot pot together? We can even invite Ice Sword. We¡¯ve given away so many of his eggs, we should thank him properly,¡± Purple Fate Xue suggested.

    Qi Yuan nodded in agreement. ¡°Good idea.¡±

 Chapter 458: To Cultivate This Art, You Must Firstâ€¦

    Chapter 458: To Cultivate This Art, You Must First...

    ¡°I¡¯ll go back and make hotpot and invite Ice Sword?¡± Purple Fate Xue enthusiastically suggested.

    ¡°No...¡± After thinking it over, Qi Yuan declined.

    Resting, at least for now, was not an option.

    The threat of the Taihuang Palace still loomed over him.

    ¡°I need to see if any more moles reveal themselves.¡±

    Qi Yuan intended to continue visiting the other Yang Gods to root out any potential moles.

    Little Purple Fate blinked in curiosity. ¡°Blood Robe Brother, how exactly are you identifying these moles?¡±

    She was still puzzled¡ªhow was Qi Yuan able to figure out who had issues just by asking?

    ¡°Because... sincerity,¡± Qi Yuan thought for a moment before responding. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯ve always been an honest person, never telling lies. As a result, the heavens granted me a superpower: I can discern the truth behind anyone¡¯s words.¡±

    ¡°Tsk, if you¡¯re going to make something up, at least make it sound believable. We¡¯re cultivators, and you¡¯re talking about superpowers? Why not just say you¡¯ve cultivated a divine technique that lets you distinguish between truth and lies?¡± Purple Fate Xue, ever the contrarian, rolled her eyes, as if she were a reincarnated professional debater.

    But then, she paused, scrutinizing Qi Yuan from head to toe. ¡°Ordinary divine techniques wouldn¡¯t have that kind of effect, unless it¡¯s... an Ultimate Supreme Truth, and it can¡¯t be a low-grade one either.¡±

    Suspicion crept into her gaze.

    If what Blood Robe said was true, it could only be explained by the power of an Ultimate Supreme Truth.

    After all, Blood Robe had emerged from a place guarded by Flame Demon Heavenly Sovereign of the Black Demon Abyss.

    The whole thing seemed a bit peculiar.

    ¡°This is a superpower, not an Ultimate Supreme Truth,¡± Qi Yuan corrected her.

    His Ultimate Supreme Truths were absolute adaptability and doing whatever he pleased.

    ¡°Really?¡± Purple Fate Xue studied him again, then dismissed her earlier suspicions.

    After all, Flame Demon Heavenly Sovereign was hideous, and Blood Robe was elegant and otherworldly. How could they possibly be the same person?

    ...

    Within Devil¡¯s Pass, clouds swirled around.

    Ice Sword stood on an ancient block of ice, eyes half-closed, absorbing the spiritual energy of the immortals.

    Light intertwined, exuding a mysterious aura.

    After about ten breaths, Ice Sword inhaled a colorful mist into his body.

    With a wave of his flowing white robes, he looked every bit the part of an immortal banished from the heavens.

    ¡°Sister Cai Lin, what brings you here?¡± he asked.

    A young girl with large tattoos appeared. She seemed shy, yet her eyes were filled with anticipation as she looked at Ice Sword. ¡°Brother Ice Sword, I heard you have some treasures here... I was hoping to buy something.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What is it that you wish to purchase?¡± Ice Sword asked curiously.

    Lately, he had been focused on his cultivation, paying little attention to the outside world.

    ¡°Ice... eggs!¡± Cai Lin said expectantly.

    Ice Sword¡¯s expression froze, and an uneasy feeling crept up on him. ¡°What is that?¡±

    Cai Lin quickly explained, ¡°Isn¡¯t this something you produced? Recently, Blood Robe and Purple Fate Xue have been taking ice eggs around as gifts to visit the Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns. I¡¯ve heard these ice eggs are amazing and can even improve one¡¯s skin...¡±

    As she spoke, she sneaked a glance at Ice Sword¡¯s behind.

    Several black lines appeared on Ice Sword¡¯s forehead.

    ¡°They¡¯ve been visiting several Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns?¡±

    ¡°Dozens! They¡¯ve visited all of them!¡± Cai Lin confirmed.

    Hearing this, Ice Sword took a deep breath.

    Patience. He had to be patient.

    Retaliating now would just make things worse!

    Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be about laying eggs¡ªit would be about something much worse!

    At that moment, a clear voice rang out.

    ¡°Ice Sword, are you there? I need to discuss something private with you.¡±

    Hearing that voice, Ice Sword¡¯s expression changed as if he had just encountered the plague.

    Cai Lin¡¯s eyes widened.

    Was that Blood Robe Brother?

    Could it be... he came here to ask for more eggs?

    Are these ice eggs real?

    Is Brother Ice Sword hiding something just because their relationship was a bit strained and he refused to sell eggs?

    ¡°Since you have business to attend to, I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± Cai Lin said, bowing before disappearing.

    On the icy platform, Ice Sword looked at the newly arrived Blood Robe, his eyes filled with helplessness. ¡°What can I help you with, Brother?¡±

    He was truly exhausted.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to work with you,¡± Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    The Ancestral Blood Art was the foundation upon which the Black Demon Abyss stood.

    Even Great Supreme Truth experts practiced this technique.

    No one had ever successfully modified it.

    Or rather, any modifications made never surpassed the original.

    Even the Abyss Lord had once mentioned that the current version of the Ancestral Blood Art was already the best.

    So when Blood Robe claimed to have altered it, Ice Sword felt a bit skeptical.

    Still, he accepted the jade slip. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look when I have time.¡±

    ¡°Try to read it as soon as possible. This version will not only alter your physique to make it easier for you to lay eggs, but each egg you lay can help you cultivate the Ancestral Blood Art. The more eggs, the stronger you¡¯ll become.¡±

    After leaving those words, Qi Yuan waved goodbye and disappeared without a trace.

    Ice Sword stood there on the frozen platform, feeling utterly helpless.

    ¡°That guy... just like Black Sword, he¡¯s impossible to figure out,¡± Ice Sword sighed.

    In the younger generation, Black Sword and Blood Robe were the only two people he couldn¡¯t fully comprehend.

    But the unpredictability of the two was entirely different.

    Curious, Ice Sword decided to take a look at the modified Ancestral Blood Art.

    After all, he wanted to gauge just how deep Blood Robe¡¯s understanding ran through this revised cultivation method.

    ¡°To cultivate this art, you must first lay an egg...¡±

    The opening line nearly made Ice Sword crack.

    He continued reading, and the more he read, the more his expression shifted from surprise to solemn concentration.

    ¡°This... this... Blood Robe was telling the truth!¡±

    ¡°If I cultivate this version of the Ancestral Blood Art, my cultivation speed will double!¡±

    ¡°What kind of genius came up with this?!¡±

    ¡°This is unbelievable!¡±

    ¡°This is amazing!¡±

    The more Ice Sword read, the more astonished he became by the terrifying potential of this technique.

    It was utterly extraordinary.

    After half an hour of reading, Ice Sword sat on the ice block, feeling deeply frustrated.

    ¡°Becoming a ¡®genius¡¯ must be the minimum threshold to comprehend this.¡±

    All along, he had known that Blood Robe was powerful, but he hadn¡¯t fully grasped how much stronger Blood Robe was compared to himself.

    But now, seeing this casually revised version of the Ancestral Blood Art, he could see the terrifying gap between them.

    ¡°The stronger you are, the more you realize how insignificant you are,¡± Ice Sword muttered. ¡°This technique... I¡¯m going to cultivate it.¡±

    ¡°So what if I have to lay eggs? Compared to becoming stronger, what does it matter?¡±

    Ice Sword didn¡¯t care about the details.

    This modified Ancestral Blood Art not only accelerated cultivation speed, but also enhanced one¡¯s bloodline.

    If this technique were to spread, even Great Supreme Truth experts would start secretly laying eggs.

    So why would he mind laying a few eggs?

    ¡°How did things get so strange in the Black Demon Abyss ever since Blood Robe arrived?¡±

    Every major power had its own style.

    The Black Demon Abyss had always been dark and profound.

    Now, though, it felt dreamlike, whimsical, even absurd¡ªthings just didn¡¯t make sense anymore.

    ¡°It seems that the attention Senior Purple Fate has given Blood Robe isn¡¯t without reason.

    Blood Robe may be eccentric, but his talent... it might even surpass Black Sword¡¯s!¡± Ice Sword thought to himself.

    Black Sword was incredibly formidable, his greatest strength being his bloodline, with his talent equally unparalleled.

    Blood Robe¡¯s bloodline couldn¡¯t surpass Black Sword¡¯s, but his talent likely could.

    ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ll ever have the chance to witness both of Black Demon Abyss¡¯s Great Supreme Truth masters at once!¡± Ice Sword sighed.

    Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

    ¡°Should I offer this technique to the elders?¡±

    After all, the technique was undeniably powerful.

    And if the elders cultivated it too, he would feel less awkward about laying eggs himself.

    After all, if everyone was laying eggs, it was as if no one was.

    ¡°Blood Robe Brother, can I offer this technique to others?¡± Ice Sword sent a message via his communication jade slip.

    He was a man of responsibility but also had his own selfish interests. If he were going to offer the technique, he wouldn¡¯t do so immediately.

    ¡°Feel free, but try not to leak it before the great small plan is completed!¡±

 Chapter 459: The Mysterious Egg, Ghost Heaven and Black Demon Abyss Tremble

    Chapter 459: The Mysterious Egg, Ghost Heaven and Black Demon Abyss Tremble

    Having received Qi Yuan¡¯s reply, Ice Sword felt at ease.

    "I need to cultivate this Ancestral Blood Art as soon as possible, or... if it becomes widespread, my advantage will be reduced."

    "Blood Robe is truly impressive; this Ancestral Blood Art feels like it was tailor-made for me."

    Because it was tailor-made, the results for him would be the best. If others practiced it, the effect would be somewhat diminished.

    "But... how does he know my bloodline so well?"

    Suddenly, Ice Sword froze in realization.

    He hadn¡¯t interacted much with Blood Robe, meeting only a few times. Moreover, his bloodline had never been exposed to him. There was no way Blood Robe could have obtained a sample of his bloodline.

    But how could Blood Robe understand his bloodline so intimately?

    A cold shiver ran through Ice Sword as his whole body trembled.

    "Could it be... I carry Blood Robe¡¯s bloodline, and that¡¯s why he knows me so well?"

    "Otherwise, why would he go through so much trouble to rewrite such a precious Ancestral Blood Art just for me?"

    Thoughts flooded Ice Sword''s mind, and as he remembered Blood Robe, he suddenly felt a warmth, like the comforting rays of a summer sun shining on his body.

    ...

    In the Ghost Heaven camp, at the stronghold called Ghost Gate.

    Ghost Gate and Devil''s Pass were both fortresses, defensive bastions.

    At this moment, Ghost Gate was packed with prodigies.

    "The Black Demon Abyss truly produces talents. Not only do they have Black Sword and Blood Robe, but now they have an egg-laying... Ice Sword," said a young man, graceful and elegant, clad in a golden, hollow-patterned armor. A white bone jade pendant hung from his waist, and when he mentioned Ice Sword, greed flickered in his eyes.

    "So, this is his egg? It truly is an excellent... soul servant."

    The crowd¡¯s eyes fell on a wooden box.

    Inside the box, a large blue egg, about the size of a dinosaur egg, appeared before the many prodigies.

    Seeing the egg, their breathing became rapid, their eyes filled with greed.

    "This is the most perfect egg I¡¯ve seen in a hundred years!"

    "This ice egg is a natural-born soul servant!"

    The egg contained only a faint, hazy soul.

    And it was perfectly suited to being a soul servant.

    Placed within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, it would make the ideal soul servant.

    Ordinary, powerful soul servants still needed to be suppressed from time to time to prevent rebellion.

    But this egg, as a soul servant, needed no such worry.

    "How could such a perfect coincidence exist in this world? Could there be a trap in this ice egg?" one prodigy asked, concerned.

    Ghost Heaven and the Black Demon Abyss had just finished battling, and now, all of a sudden, the Black Demon Abyss had something Ghost Heaven needed.

    It all seemed suspicious.

    Following a typical conspiracy theory, there was definitely a problem.

    At that moment, Mo Chong, the man in the golden armor, spoke. "I took this ice egg to the elder, and the elder said... there¡¯s no issue with the egg."

    Hearing Mo Chong¡¯s words, the gathered prodigies breathed a sigh of relief.

    "If the elder says so, it should be fine!"

    "The elder is a Great Supreme Truth master..."

    Their hearts settled.

    "I¡¯ve just received new information: in the Flower Moon Mystery Land, there are large numbers of ice eggs," Mo Chong said, his voice cold and hiding a trace of killing intent.

    The other prodigies stiffened upon hearing this.

    Clearly, they had all received the same message.

    "Blood Robe is bizarre. After bringing the ice eggs into the Flower Moon Mystery Land, he arrogantly declared that anyone who wanted the eggs would have to defeat him. What arrogance!" one prodigy growled, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

    "He has the right to be arrogant. Not only did he kill Mo Na, but he also escaped from the hands of a Yang God Heavenly Sovereign!"

    "No matter how strong he is, he¡¯s still just like us, a mere myth."

    These prodigies were full of resentment.

    They were all once-in-a-generation geniuses, each harboring their own pride.

    Since none of them had fought Blood Robe before, how could they fear him?

    Black Sword¡¯s strength and talent surpassed theirs, so they addressed him as "Heavenly Sovereign."

    "These matters are trivial... Does anyone have one of Ice Sword¡¯s eggs?" Black Sword asked.

    "Is this one?" A Yang God produced the egg Qi Yuan had given him.

    "Not this one; I mean the ones that have recently appeared and are coveted by Ghost Heaven," Black Sword shook his head.

    He had just emerged from seclusion and had heard about the ice eggs, which piqued his curiosity.

    "Shall we summon Ice Sword and ask him to produce another one? I¡¯m curious how he suddenly managed to lay such strange eggs," Zi Yuan Feng suggested, "Is there something special about these eggs that makes Black Sword so interested?"

    At that moment, a Yang God Heavenly Sovereign with a complicated expression spoke up. "I happen to have one."

    He took out a single ice egg.

    Immediately, dozens of eyes were fixated on the egg, curiosity in their gazes.

    "This egg... is unusual!"

    "It seems as if it was born for the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!"

    These Yang Gods, after just one glance, gleaned much information about the egg.

    They studied it closely, scrutinizing every detail.

    Suddenly, Black Sword¡¯s eyes turned blood-red.

    A blood-red light fell on the egg, causing it to explode in an instant.

    The blue hue vanished, leaving behind only a drop of blood.

    This drop of blood was strange, mysterious, and profound.

    As the Yang Gods gazed at it, for some reason, their own bloodlines began to stir.

    "This blood... shares the same origin as us. It seems this egg truly was laid by Ice Sword!"

    "This egg is indeed extraordinary!"

    The Yang Gods began to murmur among themselves.

    At that moment, Black Sword spoke, his voice deep. "Did you notice this egg has cultivated the Ancestral Blood Art?"

    "What? Ice Sword¡¯s eggs can cultivate the Ancestral Blood Art now?" one Yang God Heavenly Sovereign was astonished.

    The other Yang Gods immediately began to investigate.

    "It¡¯s true!"

    "Wait, it¡¯s cultivating a different version of the Ancestral Blood Art than ours."

    The Yang Gods were astounded.

    After all, the Ancestral Blood Art was already perfect. Even if the Abyss Lord himself altered it, it wouldn¡¯t surpass the original.

    Typically, no one dared modify the Ancestral Blood Art.

    But now, they had discovered a different version.

    And... it seemed to be better than the one they practiced.

    "Did Ice Sword really lay this egg?"

    Some were astonished.

    Wind Decay Heavenly Sovereign squinted, his heart shaking.

    He could sense the egg¡¯s extraordinary nature, as well as what it represented.

    If a stronger version of the Ancestral Blood Art existed, wouldn¡¯t that mean his power could grow stronger?

    And the strength of the Black Demon Abyss as well?

    "Shall we summon Ice Sword to ask him?" one Yang God suggested.

    Black Sword shook his head. "Ice Sword is in seclusion. There¡¯s no need to disturb him. This matter likely has something to do with Blood Robe. Once the Flower Moon Mystery Land business is over, I¡¯ll ask him myself."

    He had already gone to see Ice Sword after coming out of seclusion, but since Ice Sword was in the middle of cultivation, he hadn¡¯t disturbed him.

    "Blood Robe is involved?" Wind Decay Heavenly Sovereign was amazed, feeling as though his head was spinning.

    Why did everything seem to be connected to Blood Robe?

    At that moment, an elderly Yang God Heavenly Sovereign with a strange expression spoke, "It seems that this version of the Ancestral Blood Art involves producing eggs that cultivate in your place. How... peculiar."

    The other Yang Gods fell silent.

    They were contemplating whether, if this version of the Ancestral Blood Art was indeed superior, they should consider practicing it themselves.

    One Yang God suddenly spoke. "I propose we change the term ''laying eggs'' in the Black Demon Abyss to ''divine shedding''!"

    The other Yang Gods nodded in agreement, clearly approving.

 Chapter 460: Sudden Change, Did the Game Company Shut Down?

    Chapter 460: Sudden Change, Did the Game Company Shut Down?

    While Black Sword and the other Yang God Heavenly Sovereigns were deep in discussion, in the Flower Moon Mystery Land, a man in a crimson robe, with storage bags bulging at his waist, was basking in the air.

    In this part of the mystery land, it was impossible to see the stars that reflected across the heavens.

    Without the sun to bask in, he could only bask in the air.

    He opened his storage bags, and rows of shimmering ice eggs tumbled to the ground, arranged around Qi Yuan, making him look like an egg merchant.

    "Sigh, the cultivators from Ghost Heaven are so slow. It¡¯s been so long, and they''re still dragging their feet!"

    The stage was set, and Qi Yuan was simply waiting for the actors to arrive.

    However, cultivators in the world of immortal cultivation were incredibly inefficient, always slow and hesitant in their actions¡ªnever decisive.

    For example, the Supreme Truth Dao Gathering had mentioned Linya''s Transformation long ago, yet so much time had passed, and it still hadn¡¯t started.

    Now, Qi Yuan had laid out the ice eggs, provocatively challenging the young prodigies of Ghost Heaven. But even now, all they had done was throw around harsh words in response, without actually showing up.

    "Those who achieve great things must be able to endure loneliness."

    Qi Yuan was at ease.

    From his game jade slip, the Silent Voice began to resonate once again.

    Qi Yuan chuckled. "Want to hear another story?"

    He had discovered that telling stories to the Silent Voice within the game jade slip seemed to accelerate the loading speed of the new game.

    So, he started making up stories at random.

    "Once upon a time, there was a mountain. On the mountain, there was a cow named Red Boy..."

    "...Alright, today¡¯s story is over."

    "Every day, it¡¯s me telling you stories. How about you tell me a bit about the game¡¯s plot, so I can get familiar with it?"

    Qi Yuan was quite curious about the new game¡ªor rather, excited.

    After all, he had already reached the Purple Mansion realm.

    The next world would be the place where he ascended and became a god.

    Naturally, he was deeply invested in the new game.

    "Becoming a god must be interesting. Will I have many followers, worshippers?"

    "Maybe people will even build statues of me and offer reverence?"

    "And then, after the passage of time, some great figure will appear and tear down the statues in a pagan ritual?"

    Qi Yuan let his mind wander.

    Unfortunately, the Silent Voice didn¡¯t respond to him at all.

    "In the spirit of fair trade, I¡¯ve told you so many fun stories, which cost me a lot of brainpower. Shouldn¡¯t you at least give me some gold coins? Don¡¯t be stingy now..."

    "Oh, right. You¡¯re blind and mute. You can¡¯t speak."

    At that moment, the Silent Voice fell completely silent.

    For some reason, Qi Yuan had a strange feeling that the Silent Voice was brewing something.

    After about a hundred breaths passed, Qi Yuan noticed that the game icon within the jade slip¡ªrepresenting the new game¡ªsuddenly flashed with a bright light.

    Qi Yuan squinted, watching the light flash.

    "Such a strong sense of vitality..."

    If the original game icon had been dark, chaotic, and worn-out, now it was filled with vibrant energy and color.

    It was like a desolate wasteland undergoing renovation.

    And the game¡¯s loading speed began to skyrocket at that moment.

    "Hey, are you still there?" Qi Yuan called out tentatively.

    Unfortunately, the Silent Voice didn¡¯t respond.

    This left Qi Yuan somewhat disappointed. He had no idea what was happening within the game jade slip.

    After about three hundred breaths, Qi Yuan stared at the game icon, his expression changing slightly.

    "Did the game... fail to load?"

    "The world itself is just a big game made up of code, rules..."

    "And those rules are the Ten Thousand Dao."

    "Ten Thousand Dao is binary."

    "So... the game¡¯s code is binary."

    "Perfect. The logic checks out. Flawless reasoning. No loopholes."

    Yes, if Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t find any flaws in his logic, that meant the plan was perfect¡ªwithout any holes.

    "Transform!"

    In an instant, a sliver of Qi Yuan''s soul split into two drops of crimson blood.

    These two drops of blood formed the numbers "0" and "1."

    "So, this is the code?" Qi Yuan smiled happily.

    However, having lost even this small fragment of his soul, Qi Yuan''s face turned pale, as if he had suffered severe damage to his vitality.

    He had sacrificed a lot for this game.

    "I¡¯ve shed so much soul blood that I¡¯m getting low blood sugar. Hey... I better have some equity in this!"

    Qi Yuan shouted into the game.

    The "0" and "1" formed from his soul blood merged into the game.

    Absolute Adaptation continued to exert its unique power.

    The game icon, which had been dark and lifeless, its progress bar stuck, slowly began to show signs of life after absorbing these two drops of blood.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, it¡¯s working."

    The game began loading again.

    "So exhausting."

    Having lost two drops of his soul blood, a deep sense of fatigue washed over him, and all Qi Yuan wanted was to sleep for a long time.

    "Silent Voice, I¡¯ve bled a lot for you this time. Don¡¯t forget to repay me."

    With that, Qi Yuan lay down, hugging an ice egg, and immediately fell asleep.

    Reviving the game had cost him greatly, comparable to fighting an intense battle.

    As he slept, the game icon in the jade slip slowly continued to load.

    From time to time, flickers of light passed over it.

    Suddenly, the Silent Voice spoke. Unlike before, this time, it seemed to have gained a spark of life¡ªor, rather, it was no longer silent.

    "I..."

    The ethereal voice echoed through the heavens, but Qi Yuan, deep in slumber, didn¡¯t hear it.

    Time passed, and eventually, the Silent Voice sighed in resignation before fading away, disappearing completely.

    The game was still loading.

    At some point, in the Flower Moon Mystery Land, the previously dark sky suddenly lit up with dozens of streaks of light.

    A man clad in golden-threaded armor, holding the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, stood in the air, his voice booming like thunder.

    "Blood Robe, where are you? Come out and face your death!"

    A total of forty-seven prodigies had gathered, almost all of them at the Myth realm. Wielding the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, they arrived in force, their momentum terrifying.

    Just these prodigies alone could easily overturn a world that wasn¡¯t guarded by a Yang God Heavenly Sovereign.

    Now, forty-seven prodigies had gathered, along with hundreds of Grand Sovereigns, all shouting in unison, demanding that Blood Robe show himself.

    But Qi Yuan, who was far too tired, didn¡¯t hear them at all.

    "Is he afraid of us? Hiding like a coward?"

    When there was no response from Blood Robe, Mo Zhong roared in fury.

    The other prodigies smirked, amused.

    "He talks tough, but there¡¯s no sign of him anywhere."

 Chapter 461: Carelessness Leads to Insults, Training in the Ancestral Blood Technique!

    Chapter 461: Carelessness Leads to Insults, Training in the Ancestral Blood Technique!

    Blood Robe talked tough, using the ice eggs to "lure" the prodigies of Ghost Heaven, seeking a battle.

    However, when they arrived, Blood Robe''s figure was nowhere to be seen.

    They searched for a long time but couldn''t find him.

    "We thought he had some skill, but now that we¡¯ve arrived, he hides and won¡¯t come out?"

    These prodigies shouted, yelling across the Flower Moon Mystery Land, hoping to overturn the place to find Blood Robe.

    They came with overwhelming force, but huddled together in groups of three to five, afraid to spread out.

    They feared Blood Robe was lurking in the shadows, waiting for someone to be isolated so he could ambush them.

    So, as they cursed Blood Robe, they stayed cautious, hoping to force him to appear.

    "And this is supposed to be the second prodigy of Black Abyss? Compared to Black Sword, you¡¯re far behind."

    Unfortunately, their insults never reached Qi Yuan''s ears.

    With Absolute Adaptation, he was in a deep sleep.

    The insults, reaching his ears, were automatically filtered out as "negative comments" by Absolute Adaptation, deleting them.

    So, he was completely unaware that anyone had been cursing him.

    Of course, once he woke up and carefully sensed things, he¡¯d be able to know someone had insulted him.

    Mo Zhong stood at the front, displeased. "When did these guys get so... polite?"

    He was unhappy with his fellow Ghost Heaven companions.

    Their insults toward Blood Robe were way too mild.

    Saying things like "coward" and "afraid to die" lacked any real bite.

    But Mo Zhong understood¡ªit was because these prodigies were being cautious. No one wanted to be the first to die.

    After all, Blood Robe had already killed Mona.

    If he was hiding in the dark, and someone insulted him too viciously, they could be the first to die in an ambush.

    So, while they insulted him, they didn¡¯t go too far.

    This left Mo Zhong frustrated.

    "Fang Xue, you curse Blood Robe. Be bold, steady. I''ll stand by your side and guard you," Mo Zhong suggested.

    These prodigies still had their pride.

    Even when cursing, they wouldn¡¯t go overboard.

    At most, they¡¯d use cutting remarks, sharp enough to get under someone¡¯s skin, but still refined.

    "Alright." Fang Xue, holding the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, looked calm as he scanned the surroundings. Finally, he faced southwest and shouted with a voice like thunder.

    "Blood Robe, f*** your mother!"

    The shout echoed, reverberating through the land.

    All the prodigies in the Flower Moon Mystery Land heard the curse, and their gazes instantly turned to Fang Xue.

    This guy... really dared to curse!

    Even Mo Zhong hadn¡¯t expected Fang Xue to be so straightforward.

    After all, they were cultivators. While killing might be second nature to them, when it came to cursing, they still maintained a veneer of dignity.

    Cursing like Fang Xue was rare among them.

    Cough "No worries, I¡¯m guarding you. Let¡¯s see if Blood Robe can endure this!" Mo Zhong waved his golden sleeves, standing tall like a giant beside Fang Xue.

    Meanwhile, inside the formation...

    The previously drowsy Qi Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.

    "What the hell? I take a nap, and now someone¡¯s cursing my mom?"

    "Wait a minute, I don¡¯t even have a mom!"

    "You don¡¯t hit people in the face, and you don¡¯t curse their mom. This is too much!"

    Qi Yuan was furious.

    It had been a long time since he had felt this angry.

    Normally, he was quite polite.

    If someone insulted him alone, he would generously reciprocate by insulting their entire family.

    Wasn¡¯t that considerate enough? Generous enough? Kind enough?

    Yet, here he was¡ªkindness taken for weakness, allowing people to walk all over him.

    "Looks like I can¡¯t afford to sleep in anymore..."

    Without any hesitation, the lazy aura around Qi Yuan dissipated.

    "The Grand Plan and the Grand Small Plan¡ªlet¡¯s execute both simultaneously!"

    On the other side, after Fang Xue cursed, about a dozen prodigies gathered around him, standing guard.

    From afar, other prodigies watched closely.

    They kept their vigilance, scanning the surroundings.

    "This Blood Robe really is a coward. He¡¯s been cursed like this and still won¡¯t show himself!"

    "Hmph, with so many of us guarding Fang Xue, if he shows up, it¡¯s just suicide!"

    Otherwise, he could have easily killed all these prodigies.

    But he didn¡¯t¡ªbecause the Grand Small Plan was paving the way for the Grand Plan.

    His true targets had never been these prodigies; they were... the Yang Gods!

    Outside the Flower Moon Mystery Land, Purple Fate Feng stood, his eyes fixed on the scene below.

    "It¡¯s been a long time, but now the smell of blood is in the air. Blood Robe has finally made his move."

    Although he didn¡¯t know exactly what had transpired inside, he could sense it through the aura.

    There had been no bloodshed for a long time, only faint sounds of activity.

    This meant Blood Robe had been biding his time.

    It was understandable. Purple Fate Feng didn¡¯t think Blood Robe could take on dozens of prodigies head-on.

    Waiting in ambush and striking suddenly was the smart move.

    Now, with the scent of blood and the surge of spiritual energy, it was clear that Blood Robe had acted¡ªkilling one and retreating.

    "I wonder how long this battle will last," Purple Fate Feng mused.

    At the same time, he cast his gaze far off into the distance.

    There, a Yang God from Ghost Heaven lay in wait.

    The two kept a safe distance, neither making a move.

    Yang Gods getting involved would escalate the situation, and Purple Fate Feng wasn¡¯t worried about any Supreme Truth Yang Gods attacking him.

    When that happened, the Yang Gods from Ghost Pass would naturally step in to help.

    Just then, a transmission came in, and Purple Fate Feng¡¯s face lit up with joy.

    "Ice Sword has emerged from seclusion?"

    "The modified version of the Ancestral Blood Technique has appeared?"

    "And it came from... Blood Robe?"

    Holding the revised Ancestral Blood Technique in his hand, Purple Fate Feng examined it carefully.

    The more he read, the more amazed he became at its intricacies.

    "This Blood Robe is truly a genius. No wonder the Purple Fate Ancestor values him so highly. If I had started cultivating this Ancestral Blood Technique earlier, I¡¯d probably be at the eleventh level by now!"

    "This... is magnificent!"

    "The only downside is that, besides regular cultivation, it requires... a divine molt."

    It was easy to tell whether the Ancestral Blood Technique had any issues. All you had to do was see if your bloodline resisted it.

    With no resistance, it was clear that this Ancestral Blood Technique was perfectly legitimate.

    The modified version of the Ancestral Blood Technique increased both the power and the speed of cultivation by nearly double.

    How could he not be tempted?

    "I¡¯ve got nothing better to do now... so why not give it a try?"

    "Besides, with so many divine molts around, who¡¯s going to care if I molt once?" Purple Fate Feng pondered.

    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and his expression shifted.

    "Could it be... that the Purple Fate Ancestor already knew Blood Robe had this Ancestral Blood Technique?"

    Purple Fate Feng suddenly felt he had uncovered the truth of the matter.

    "Could it be... the ancestor has already... undergone the divine molt?"

    His eyes sparkled with excitement.

    If the ancestor could molt, why not him?

    At the same time, within the Purple Fate Heaven, the Purple Fate Ancestor looked at the technique in his hand, his expression shifting constantly.

    "That brat... had such an incredible technique and didn¡¯t give it to me sooner!"

    He felt a bit disgruntled.

    Blood Robe had kept it hidden from him!

    He had only learned about this benefit from others.

    When people asked him if he knew about it, he had to act like he¡¯d known all along and had already started cultivating it.

    At the time, one Yang God Heavenly Sovereign had given him a strange look, leaving the Purple Fate Ancestor puzzled.

    Now, with the complete technique in hand, he finally understood why.

    "Sigh, with Lynia¡¯s Transformation approaching, I must increase my strength. Otherwise... it¡¯ll be hard to protect Blood Robe as he grows."

    "Molting an egg... isn¡¯t such a big deal."

    After some hesitation, the Purple Fate Ancestor also began cultivating the revised Ancestral Blood Technique.

    Ordinary cultivation was now too risky for him, as it would trigger the descent of the Root Demon Calamity.

    But the modified Ancestral Blood Technique not only boosted cultivation but also strengthened the bloodline.

    Strengthening the bloodline wouldn¡¯t trigger the Root Demon Calamity.

    "It¡¯s a shame... If I were an Upper Sovereign, how would Ghost Heaven dare to attack Blood Robe?"

    "If I had reached that level, I wouldn¡¯t have had to rely on that old man. I would¡¯ve stormed Ghost Heaven myself!"

    The Purple Fate Ancestor sighed, beginning his "humiliating" cultivation.

 Chapter 462: I am the Envoyâ€¦ of the Human Emperor Hall!

    Chapter 462: I am the Envoy... of the Human Emperor Hall!

    In the Flower Moon Mystery Land, the sound of pursuit was relentless.

    The prodigies of Ghost Heaven wielded the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, emitting a cold and murderous aura, like the cries of ten thousand ghosts wailing.

    "Blood Robe, if you have the guts, stop running!"

    "You can''t even compare to a single hair of Black Sword!"

    These pursuers were fuming with rage.

    No matter how much they accelerated, even burning their blood essence, they simply couldn''t catch up to Blood Robe. Every time they felt they were just a step away, he would escape again.

    At that moment, one of the prodigies sent a message telepathically.

    "We''re not insulting him harshly enough, he won''t stop. Does anyone have the guts to step up... and mock him like Fang Xue?"

    After this suggestion, the prodigies fell into a brief silence.

    It was a while before one of them responded.

    "Our enemy is him, what does his mother have to do with it? We shouldn''t involve the innocent!"

    "Exactly, insulting his mother is beneath us!"

    The prodigies discussed among themselves.

    Little did they know, their words were clearly heard by Qi Yuan.

    "Indeed, sometimes even villains can display a fleeting moment of humanity."

    "However, it¡¯s still because they fear me... they are afraid of me!"

    "If only everyone were like this, wouldn¡¯t the culture of the cultivation world be rectified in no time?"

    "That''s why... heads must roll. Only then will they fear me, and stop spewing filth!"

    "As expected, all reforms demand bloodshed."

    Qi Yuan''s understanding of this world had become clearer.

    Unfortunately, his strength was still too weak, only at the Purple Mansion level.

    The corruption of the cultivation world was far beyond his current ability to rectify.

    "I''m still too weak. If I were as strong as that figure in the Taihuang Palace, how could I have been so careless and lost my mother?"

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but sigh.

    His life was truly pitiful, weak, and helpless.

    ...

    "What a bunch of useless trash! So many of you against one, and still, you haven''t resolved this after all this time!"

    Heavenly Sovereign Lican scanned the Flower Moon Mystery Land, his eyes showing a hint of dissatisfaction.

    The younger generation of Ghost Heaven was growing weaker with each passing day.

    One might even say... they were a disappointment.

    For example, Ghost Heaven would plan assassinations against the prodigies of Black Demon Abyss, such as Black Sword, and now Blood Robe.

    Black Demon Abyss was furious, but they hadn''t retaliated with assassinations of Ghost Heaven¡¯s prodigies.

    Because... within Ghost Heaven, there wasn''t a single prodigy worth taking seriously.

    "Such trash, living in this world, wasting the sect¡¯s resources... they might as well become part of my Ten Thousand Souls Banner." A sinister smile almost seemed to form on Heavenly Sovereign Lican¡¯s face.

    Suddenly, a voice appeared by his ear, catching him off guard.

    "You make a good point. Whether living in this world or living within a banner, there¡¯s little difference. Isn''t this Nine Heavens itself just another kind of banner?"

    The voice was calm and ethereal, as if an old friend were greeting him in the afternoon.

    For a moment, Heavenly Sovereign Lican¡¯s thoughts slowed, and he nodded gently, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±

    But no sooner had he spoken, his expression changed drastically, his mind growing alert.

    "Who are you? How did you suddenly appear?"

    Heavenly Sovereign Lican looked up, only to see that the previously gray sky had inexplicably turned blood-red.

    The area he was in had abruptly been sealed in a bloody cage, cut off from the Sixth Heaven.

    Looking toward the source of the voice, he saw a gigantic blood-red figure!

    The figure was towering, mysterious, and mesmerizing.

    Clad in flowing armor that seemed like liquid, with fresh blood silently coursing through it.

    Spikes of blood crystals jutted out from its shoulders, both eerie and sinister.

    In its hand, it held a blood-red long sword, emanating a faint and obscure aura. A single glance at it could cause madness.

    On its back, the figure carried a tattered banner.

    The banner was blood-red, old and worn, exuding an ancient aura.

    The terrifying red-armored giant seemed as though it had emerged straight from the depths of hell.

    Its exposed eyes looked like they were peering into the abyss itself.

    Heavenly Sovereign Lican inexplicably felt an overwhelming sense of threat upon seeing this blood-red figure.

    Then, a hoarse and cold voice rang out.

    "I am the Envoy... of the Human Emperor Hall."

    The blood-red figure spoke, its gaze seemingly transcending time, falling on the Ten Thousand Souls Banner near Heavenly Sovereign Lican.

    "At the dawn of creation, before the heavens were opened, the Human Emperor captured the Five Elements and forged the Human Emperor Banner, to suppress heaven and earth and ward off demons!

    With the Human Emperor Banner, demons fled, and gods bowed!

    All the banners in this world belong to the Human Emperor Hall.

    The Human Emperor is undying, though the inheritance has dwindled. Yet the noble and righteous Human Emperor Banner has become a sinister... Ten Thousand Souls Banner. It¡¯s utterly laughable.

    As an envoy of the Human Emperor Hall, I am here to reclaim all soul banners and restore the rightful path!"

    The voice was cold, emotionless, and carried the aura of ancient times.

    Hearing this, Heavenly Sovereign Lican was utterly bewildered.

    Human Emperor Hall?

    Human Emperor Banner?

    What are these?

    And also, the Human Emperor Hall represents righteousness?

    The aura you¡¯re emitting is ice-cold, eerie, and terrifying!

    "Fellow Daoist, could there be some misunderstanding here? I am a cultivator of Ghost Heaven!" Heavenly Sovereign Lican gripped the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, his heart filled with anxiety.

    Trapped in this blood-red cage, he was completely cut off from contacting the outside world.

    Even the star projection he relied on to connect with the Star Realm was severed, weakening his power significantly.

    With the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in hand, he felt a sliver of confidence.

    His curiosity about the identity of this blood-red figure grew even stronger.

    "Give up struggling. Returning to the Human Emperor Banner is your only path to survival!"

    As the wind stirred, the tattered, blood-red Human Emperor Banner flapped in the breeze.

    The terrifying giant advanced, step by step, sword in hand, toward Heavenly Sovereign Lican.

    Thud!

    Thud!

    Thud!

    The very earth trembled.

    Heavenly Sovereign Lican could hear the sound of a giant beast''s heartbeat.

    He stared at the blood-red figure, his eyes suddenly shifting in determination. "What nonsense about the Human Emperor Hall, you¡¯re just putting on a show. Kill!"

    With his shout, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner unfurled with terrifying force.

    Within the blood-red heaven and earth, thousands upon thousands of dense ghostly souls emerged.

    The wind howled, and thick ghostly energy filled the air.

    An endless horde of souls rushed toward the blood-red figure, as if a swarm of birds were attacking a giant beast.

    The blood-red figure raised its blood-red sword, its voice cold and emotionless.

    "The Human Emperor¡¯s sword ¡ª Heaven and Earth Weep!"

    A terrifying sword slash erupted, and a blood-red light illuminated the entire sky.

    An overwhelming wave of evil, greed, and lust spread out.

    Heavenly Sovereign Lican¡¯s soul shuddered.

    ¡°This Human Emperor Hall is definitely more sinister than Ghost Heaven!¡±

    He could sense an extreme malevolence in that sword strike¡ªpure, unadulterated evil.

    Jealousy, gluttony, greed, and more.

    The evil from this figure was far stronger than the negative emotions within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

    At this moment, he couldn¡¯t deny it¡ªthe Ten Thousand Souls Banner and the Human Emperor Banner were indeed deeply connected.

    Gripping the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, Heavenly Sovereign Lican¡¯s face turned grim.

    A massive wave of soul servants had just been completely wiped out by that blood-red sword slash.

    "Fellow Daoist, the Sixth Heaven is no longer what it once was. Ghost Heaven now has a Great Supreme Truth powerhouse in residence!" Heavenly Sovereign Lican called out, attempting to scare off the blood-red figure.

    "I will personally retrieve the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner from Ghost Heaven.

    For now... you need only welcome death."

    The blood-red figure, sword in hand, advanced like a warrior rather than a celestial being.

    Even so, Heavenly Sovereign Lican felt an overwhelming sense of danger, as if he were being consumed by a beast.

    "Using my Soul Banner, I¡¯ll forge my true body!" With a mighty shout, knowing words were useless, Heavenly Sovereign Lican unleashed his true strength.

    Having lost his connection to the Star Realm, he couldn¡¯t fully manifest his Yang God true body.

    But the soul servants within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner were enough to forge his true form.

    Suddenly, within the blood-red cage, a gigantic figure emerged.

    Its head touched the heavens, and its feet stomped the earth.

    It wasn¡¯t just ten thousand feet tall¡ªit was impossible to describe its vastness.

    The surrounding air and spiritual energy seemed to be drawn to it, converging toward its massive form.

    As his true body manifested, Heavenly Sovereign Lican¡¯s confidence returned.

    He looked down at the tiny blood-red figure, no bigger than a firefly, and his gaze filled with disdain.

    "If you haven¡¯t comprehended the Supreme Truth, victory is uncertain!"

    He hadn¡¯t sensed any trace of Supreme Truth from his opponent.

    The destructive aura surged, and even an ordinary Supreme Truth might have perished in the aftermath of this battle.

    But then, something happened that left everyone shocked, confused, and utterly bewildered.

    The Supreme Truth strike fell... and the blood-red figure vanished without a trace!

    Under the very eyes of the Supreme Truth, and under Black Sword¡¯s watchful gaze, he disappeared.

    "Where did he go?" The Supreme Truth roared, enraged.

    Black Sword narrowed his eyes, a hint of fear creeping in. "How... how did he just disappear?"

    If it had been an Yang God vanishing before a Purple Mansion cultivator, it would be understandable.

    But that was a Great Supreme Truth, a master of the highest order of Dao.

    Someone had just disappeared right in front of them.

    This was terrifying, perhaps even... horrifying.

    Did this mean that this person could disappear at will and reappear whenever they wished?

    Meanwhile, within the Flower Moon Mystery Land.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s figure reappeared, his face pale as paper, his body swaying unsteadily.

    "So this is the power of a Supreme Truth? The gap between us is truly vast!"

    That blood-red figure, of course, was Qi Yuan.

    While he executed his small plan and his grand plan, he had secretly slipped out and killed Heavenly Sovereign Lican.

    As expected, after the assassination, a Supreme Truth from Ghost Heaven had descended.

    Rather than fleeing, Qi Yuan had chosen to face the Supreme strike head-on.

    In that moment, he had gained a clearer understanding of Supreme Truth.

    "Once I cultivate the Ancestral Blood Art to the thirteenth layer, with just the power of the Ten Thousand Paths Martial God, I won¡¯t need to run from a Supreme Truth like that anymore!"

    "Unfortunately, I¡¯m still only at the Purple Mansion level, and progressing toward Supreme Truth is far too slow."

    Of course, this "slow" pace was only in Qi Yuan''s eyes.

    For an ordinary Heavenly Rank Yang God, even after comprehending the Supreme Truth, it would take countless ages of polishing to truly step into the realm of Supreme Truth.

    "Even ordinary Great Supreme Truth powerhouses are this strong. That thief who stole my Human Emperor Banner... must be even stronger, right?"

    "It seems I need to forge my Human Emperor Banner as soon as possible. Otherwise... I¡¯m still too weak."

    With an artifact-level creation treasure, Qi Yuan could barely reach the second tier of Great Supreme Truth powerhouses.

    As for the first tier, that was still too far out of reach for now.

    With this in mind, Qi Yuan waved his hand.

    A Ten Thousand Souls Banner appeared in his grasp.

    Around him, there were also several broken Ten Thousand Souls Banners.

    The largest one came from Lican.

    The others belonged to the prodigies of Ghost Heaven.

    "Little Banners, be good. Open the door, Daddy''s coming back!" Qi Yuan chanted as he activated his Grand Forgetting Heart Sutra, singing a nursery rhyme.

    The smaller banners, upon hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s words, eagerly "opened the door" without any hesitation.

    Only the largest one hesitated, its surface trembling.

    However, after three rounds of Qi Yuan¡¯s graceful singing, it too "opened the door."

    "Time to refine!"

    He was going to refine his own Human Emperor Banner.

    The process of refinement was something Qi Yuan had long since grown accustomed to.

    First, brainwash, then convert, then transform.

    To him, it was the most familiar of processes, a trivial matter.

    After an unknown amount of time, Qi Yuan finished patching up and repairing the old Human Emperor Banner on his back. Its power had risen to another level.

    "Sigh, I need to rest up properly, then continue finding my banner."

    Facing the Great Supreme Truth strike, Qi Yuan had instantly opened up his Purple Mansion and retreated into it, vanishing without a trace.

    Though it seemed hard to understand...

    In truth, it was indeed difficult to understand.

    Even Qi Yuan himself didn¡¯t know why disappearing into his own Purple Mansion caused him to vanish.

    However, he had prepared long ago, placing the other end of the Myriad Principles Gate inside the Flower Moon Mystery Land. After entering the Purple Mansion, he used the Myriad Principles Gate to arrive back in the Mystery Land.

    "Unfortunately, there are too many powerful beings here. I can¡¯t recklessly place the Myriad Principles Gate anywhere, or I risk being discovered."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    Against the Molo clan, he had dared to use the Supreme Truth Gate as bait, tricking several Yang Gods into it.

    But against a Supreme Truth, he dared not.

    In fact, he wouldn¡¯t even dare take out the Supreme Truth Gate, as any leakage of its aura would instantly be detected by a Supreme Truth.

    Thus, he had no choice but to place the other end of the Supreme Truth Gate inside the Mystery Land.

    Placing it in the Sixth Heaven was too close, and it would be easily detected. A Supreme Truth could use the gate to enter Qi Yuan¡¯s underworld, which would be disastrous.

    That would turn Qi Yuan''s underworld upside down.

    Moreover, it would expose the fact that Qi Yuan possessed the Supreme Truth Gate.

    He could easily become the ultimate enemy of the Sixth Heaven.

    No Supreme Truth would tolerate the existence of someone possessing a Supreme Truth Gate.

    That would mean... all of their hard-earned Supreme Truths were exposed before Qi Yuan''s eyes.

    If Qi Yuan were to hide for millions, even tens of millions of years, who could match him then?

    There were, of course, other reasons. The Supreme Truth Gate might only work once on a Supreme Truth.

    Qi Yuan had to catch them off guard and use it when the time was right.

    "So, I need to find the right Mystery Land, the right moment, to continue executing my grand plan!"

    "Unless the Banner Lord himself steps in, they won¡¯t be able to catch me for the time being!"

    "The Banner Lord is stationed in Ghost Heaven. He certainly won¡¯t leave on a whim."

    "The grand plan... is in place!"

    "Now that the time is right, I need to head out and enjoy the show!"

    With that thought, Qi Yuan left the Flower Moon Mystery Land.

    Instantly, a pair of eyes fixed on him.

    The elegant voice of Black Sword rang out.

    "As long as you¡¯re safe, I can rest easy."

    Ziyuan Feng also breathed a sigh of relief.

    He had been worried that the blood-red figure had casually crushed Blood Robe.

    "Ah, how annoying! I was just about to finish off all those useless Ghost Heaven cultivators, but then a blood-red giant hand appeared out of nowhere, killed the badly injured Ghost Heaven cultivators, and stole my kills! How utterly despicable and shameless!" Qi Yuan complained indignantly.

    Hearing this, Ziyuan Feng pursed his lips slightly.

    He had been keeping an eye on the energy within the Flower Moon Mystery Land the entire time.

    Who was heavily injured?

    Before the blood-red figure appeared, Blood Robe, hadn¡¯t you only killed one person?

    Black Sword spoke softly, "Just now, that mysterious blood-red shadow killed Ghost Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sovereign Lican and even withstood a strike from a Great Supreme Truth powerhouse."

    Black Sword glanced at the distant Supreme Truth, then back at Qi Yuan.

    "That was a good kill, a precise kill, and a satisfying kill!" Qi Yuan clapped his hands.

    Meanwhile, the Great Supreme Truth powerhouse from Ghost Heaven was currently retracing the timeline, seemingly attempting to uncover the blood-red figure''s identity.

    Under the immense power of the Great Supreme Truth¡¯s divine sense, the scene within the blood-red cage began to replay.

    He didn¡¯t stop Black Sword from watching, as if he didn¡¯t care.

    In the replayed scene, the blood-red figure appeared, speaking coldly as he killed Heavenly Sovereign Lican with a single sword strike.

    The Great Supreme Truth from Ghost Heaven wore a particularly ugly expression. "The Human Emperor Hall? An envoy? Never heard of it!"

    "Hmph, and you dare attempt to reclaim our Ten Thousand Souls Banner and Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner? You¡¯re courting death!"

    Though the Great Supreme Truth didn¡¯t manage to retain the mysterious blood-red shadow, he was seething with rage.

    At the same time, he felt a deep unease.

    That blood-red figure was utterly bizarre.

    There was no trace of Supreme Truth on him, yet he could kill Lican with a single sword stroke and even withstand his own Supreme strike.

    The figure had reached into the Flower Moon Mystery Land and slaughtered the young prodigies of Ghost Heaven.

    And finally, he had vanished without a trace right under the Great Supreme Truth¡¯s nose.

    Each of these feats alone was enough to make one shudder in disbelief.

    Now, all of them had occurred together, leaving the Supreme Truth feeling both frustrated and alarmed.

    The Great Supreme Truth shot Black Sword a sharp glance before vanishing in an instant without lingering further.

    Clearly, what had transpired here needed to be dealt with back in Ghost Heaven.

    At this moment, Black Sword looked at Qi Yuan, his tone calm as he spoke.

    "You witnessed the scene of the mysterious blood-red shadow slaying Lican. What do you think?"

    Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan immediately replied, "He looked very dashing. Just like me in red. Turns out, handsome guys all dress the same way."

    Black Sword looked at Qi Yuan, a trace of blood flashing in his eyes as he calmly asked, "What do you make of this situation?"

    Beside them, Ziyuan Feng was puzzled, not understanding why Black Sword was asking Blood Robe so many questions. Was he taking a liking to him?

    "I think Ghost Heaven''s cultivators are shameless, stealing someone else¡¯s Human Emperor Banner.

    If I were them, I¡¯d return the Ten Thousand Souls Banner to the Envoy immediately and then... commit suicide and enter the banner as atonement!"

    Qi Yuan responded earnestly.

    Hearing this, Black Sword averted his gaze, the suspicions in his heart dissipating.

    "Heh... The Ten Thousand Souls Banner is as important to Ghost Heaven as the Ancestral Blood Art is to us in Black Demon Abyss. How could they possibly give it up?"

    As he spoke, he added another comment.

    "Was it you who modified the Ancestral Blood Art to lay ice eggs?"

    "Could you... demonstrate it for me?"

 Chapter 463: Conspiracy, and the Impending Storm

    Chapter 463: Conspiracy, and the Impending Storm

    ¡°Ah... well...¡±

    Black Sword¡¯s question left Qi Yuan momentarily at a loss for words.

    He looked at Black Sword and said softly, ¡°With my refined demeanor, how could I possibly lay an egg?¡±

    Purple Fate Feng cast a sidelong glance at Qi Yuan. Someone so refined¡ªhow could he have developed an egg-laying version of the Ancestral Blood Technique?

    ¡°You didn¡¯t cultivate the Ancestral Blood Technique you gave to Ice Sword?¡± Black Sword asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

    ¡°No,¡± Qi Yuan replied, shaking his head. ¡°One must tailor techniques to each person. The version of Ancestral Blood Technique I modified was best suited to Ice Sword, not to me.¡±

    ¡°You practice a different Ancestral Blood Technique, then?¡± Black Sword asked again, his assessment of Blood Robe rising even further.

    Apparently, Blood Robe¡¯s adjustments to Ancestral Blood Technique weren¡¯t just a stroke of inspiration. He had other versions of the technique on hand.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qi Yuan nodded, then turned to Black Sword. ¡°The Ancestral Blood Technique I cultivate is rather unique, meant only for me and no one else.¡±

    Qi Yuan was telling the truth. The changes he¡¯d made were so specific that only he could practice this Ancestral Blood Technique.

    Black Sword fell into deep thought at this, refraining from any further questions.

    Just then, a message reached Black Sword¡¯s ears, and his gaze flashed with urgency.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    ...

    Black Sword and Purple Fate Feng departed hastily, seemingly due to an urgent matter.

    Qi Yuan returned to his cave and reviewed his recent gains.

    ¡°Not bad. Besides further enhancing the Human Emperor Banner, I¡¯ve also acquired several hundred divine techniques.¡±

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Qi Yuan handed these techniques over to Ning Tao and Golden Canary.

    Then, after further deliberation, he entered the Supreme Truth Gate once more.

    The scene shifted abruptly.

    Endless waves of majestic, radiant energy akin to a galaxy swept and surged all around him.

    All of this energy was the aura of Supreme Truth.

    As Qi Yuan entered, the various innate divine spirits who were observing the Supreme Truth in the gate rose and saluted him.

    ¡°Greetings, master!¡±

    These innate spirits were all Qi Yuan¡¯s Nascent Souls.

    Qi Yuan rarely had time to personally enter the Supreme Truth Gate to study its profundities.

    Therefore, he stationed his Nascent Souls inside to observe Supreme Truth on his behalf, saving him time.

    Many Nascent Souls specialized in studying the Taihuang Palace¡¯s Supreme Truth, while others focused on Ghost Heaven¡¯s.

    ¡°How¡¯s the progress?¡± Qi Yuan inquired.

    Old Man Shenlei shrugged, a grin in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯d never guess¡ªthe Supreme Truth that Ghost Heaven¡¯s Banner Lord comprehended is actually thunder-based.¡±

    The Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Banner was an extreme technique of darkness and malevolence, seemingly incompatible with the pure, unyielding nature of the thunder arts.

    ¡°Could it be Yin Thunder?¡± Qi Yuan wondered.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the Primordial Polebinding Thunder, an earth-grade Supreme Truth. Focused, calm, and able to harness divine thoughts to bind the heavens, soul, and body alike with thunder¡¯s cleansing wrath,¡± said Old Man Shenlei gravely.

    ¡°Binding?¡± Qi Yuan muttered, thoughtful. ¡°Good thing I didn¡¯t attempt a sneak attack at Ghost Gate. Against the power of such a Supreme Truth, if he used it, I doubt I¡¯d even be able to retreat to my Purple Mansion.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s fallback was an instantaneous retreat to his Purple Mansion, but this wasn¡¯t foolproof.

    All Supreme Truths held terrifying and unpredictable powers, some of which were strange beyond belief.

    Take, for example, the Abyss Lord of White Dragon Abyss; his Supreme Truth granted him the power to make anyone he looked at become pregnant with an offspring containing his own bloodline.

    Qi Yuan found the notion horrifying.

    It was no wonder that White Dragon Abyss was so eager to invite the Demon Blaze Heavenly Sovereign to join them, even pledging fealty. They probably wanted him to be the one doing the ¡°birthing.¡±

    Were Qi Yuan a Supreme Truth, he could likely fend off such attacks, but his Absolute Adaptability and Willful Freedom were still in their early stages.

    ¡°Master of all thunder, could you perhaps... find a way to stall the Banner Lord¡¯s Supreme Truth technique?¡± Qi Yuan asked, gazing seriously at Old Man Shenlei.

    ¡°Lad, you¡¯re giving me too much credit. I might control all things thunder, but I¡¯m still just a Heavenly Rank Yang God!¡± Shenlei¡¯s beard twitched, bouncing with each movement.

    Qi Yuan gave him a sidelong look. ¡°Shenlei, doesn¡¯t sound like you¡¯re up to the task.¡±

    Old Man Shenlei¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Who says I¡¯m not? If you move the Supreme Truth Gate to the Star Hall, give me half a month, and I¡¯ll find a way to stall the Banner Lord¡¯s Supreme Truth for two seconds!¡±

    The Star Hall Shenlei mentioned was actually the mysterious universe where Qi Yuan¡¯s Stellar Golden Core resided.

    Each day that passed for Qi Yuan was equivalent to a hundred years in the Star Hall.

    This time dilation was incredibly advantageous, and Qi Yuan saw it as a potential exploit.

    If he placed the Supreme Truth Gate inside this universe, his Nascent Souls could analyze the Supreme Truths within.

    Given tens of thousands of days, he could potentially master all the Supreme Truths across the Six Heavens.

    But this ¡°exploit¡± was not so simple to execute.

    Placing just the Supreme Truth Gate in the Star Hall was manageable.

    But moving its internal workings into a separate universe would be highly taxing.

    Every moment it remained there would drain Qi Yuan¡¯s strength immensely.

    All his Nascent Souls would need to exert effort.

    And his power from the Ten Thousand Paths Martial God as well as his cultivation would be consumed.

    His strength would drop to a mythic level.

    If he encountered even a single Yang God, he could easily perish.

    Returning the Supreme Truth Gate to its original place was the only way to stop the drain.

    ¡°Half a month?¡± Qi Yuan considered the risk.

    It was dangerous, but perhaps worth it.

    As long as he stayed hidden, he¡¯d be safe.

    ¡°Alright, half a month it is!¡±

    As the saying goes, ¡°To catch the tiger cub, one must enter the tiger¡¯s den.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make some arrangements, then we can begin,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    ¡°Alright, just say the word,¡± replied Shenlei, disappearing.

    At that moment, another Nascent Soul appeared, reporting on their progress.

    ¡°So that old man¡¯s Supreme Truth is... this...¡±

    After considering it for a while, Qi Yuan left the Supreme Truth Gate.

    If he intended to transfer the gate to another universe, he needed to make some preparations and avoid going outside for a time.

    During this period, he would be at his weakest.

    Qi Yuan set about creating protective formations, layer upon layer. Still feeling insecure, he devised various additional defenses.

    After ten days of setting everything up, he suddenly slapped his forehead.

    ¡°Was I being too cautious? Nothing even happened over these ten days!¡±

    Qi Yuan regretted his paranoia. Had he simply restored to an earlier point, Old Man Shenlei would already have completed his insights by now.

    Satisfied with the arrangements, Qi Yuan began transferring the Supreme Truth Gate to that universe.

    Roughly an hour later, Qi Yuan¡¯s aura began to drop.

    ¡°I¡¯m far too weak now. Best not go out at all; running into even a stray dog would mean a life-and-death struggle.¡±

    Just as he was mulling this over, a boisterous voice called from outside.

    ¡°Blood Robe, open the door!¡±

    Recognizing the voice, Qi Yuan knew Sister Oxhorn had arrived.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    Qi Yuan ceased his formation preparations and looked outside.

    ¡°You¡¯re still alive?¡± Sister Oxhorn walked into his cave, casually sat down on the floor, and hit him with a blunt question.

    ¡°I¡¯m alive and well, better than you,¡± Qi Yuan replied, immediately annoyed at her presence.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d died in the Flower Moon Mystery Land,¡± she said nonchalantly. ¡°Sigh, taking that long to deal with those prodigies... the gap between you and that powerhouse from Taihuang Palace seems... considerable.¡±

    ¡°No worries, I¡¯m still young,¡± Qi Yuan responded seriously.

    According to Leibus¡¯s comparison method, he actually far surpassed that person from Taihuang Palace.

    Still, Qi Yuan humbly refrained from mentioning it.

    At this, Sister Oxhorn batted her eyes. ¡°Did you see that mysterious Hall Envoy by any chance? Was he as handsome as they say?¡±

    Recently, the Yang God of Ghost Heaven had been slain by an Envoy of the Human Emperor Hall.

    The incident had caused a commotion in both Ghost Heaven and Black Demon Abyss.

    Now, within these two holy lands, all the disciples and even the Yang Gods spoke of nothing but this mysterious Hall Envoy.

    Their curiosity about the Hall Envoy¡¯s identity was immense.

    Unlike Ghost Heaven, which was filled with hatred for the Hall Envoy, Black Demon Abyss had come to see him as almost divine.

    Now, Ghost Heaven¡¯s Outer Heavens had yielded a vast store of Black Demon Ancestral Blood¡ªthis was of monumental importance to Black Demon Abyss.

    ¡°What a coincidence. Could it be a trap?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Black Demon Abyss had only just gone to war with Ghost Heaven, and now Ghost Heaven¡¯s Outer Heavens had turned up large quantities of Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

    ¡°It¡¯s an open plot,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said calmly.

    Clearly, Black Demon Abyss¡¯s leaders knew this was Ghost Heaven¡¯s scheme.

    Ghost Heaven had probably been hoarding Black Demon Ancestral Blood, only to reveal it now as bait.

    Qi Yuan pondered aloud. ¡°So... are you planning to go and seize it?¡±

    He recalled the message Black Sword had received before leaving the Flower Moon Mystery Land, and his subtle reaction at the time.

    Looking back, it was likely related to this matter.

    ¡°There¡¯s only so much Black Demon Ancestral Blood in existence. Every drop used is one drop lost.

    Now, Ghost Heaven has stationed two Supreme Truths there to corrupt the Black Demon Ancestral Blood. If they succeed... nearly ten thousand drops of Black Demon Ancestral Blood will go to waste.¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said, his heart aching.

    Qi Yuan took a deep breath. ¡°Nearly ten thousand drops of Black Demon Ancestral Blood... even I¡¯m tempted.¡±

    If he could get hold of all that blood, he was confident he could reach the fourteenth layer of the Ancestral Blood Technique within a year.

    ¡°Our time is short. If we can¡¯t retrieve the Black Demon Ancestral Blood within a month, it will be fully corrupted.¡± Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s voice held a deep, serious note. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll personally intervene.¡±

    He glanced at Qi Yuan as he spoke.

    Were it not for Qi Yuan¡¯s need for large amounts of Black Demon Ancestral Blood, he would have been only twenty percent likely to get involved in Ghost Heaven¡¯s scheme.

    But now, he chose to go of his own accord.

    Purple Fate Ancestor looked Qi Yuan in the eye. ¡°If things go awry, and I am severely injured, you... should go to Purple Fate Hall immediately and find Purple Fate Tan. He will escort you to the Moon God Palace.¡±

    Purple Fate Tan was one of the few Supreme Truth Yang Gods of Purple Fate Heaven.

    ¡°Is it that serious?¡± Qi Yuan was surprised.

    Purple Fate Ancestor smiled. ¡°Just a precaution. Don¡¯t worry¡ªgiven my strength, no one can hold me unless a Supreme Lord takes the field.

    Even if the Banner Lord himself makes a move, he might injure me, but he can¡¯t kill me!¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s confidence was boundless.

    In the Supreme Truth realm, the gap between levels was both significant and minimal.

    If both were at the third level of Supreme Truth, a rival couldn¡¯t even wound him.

    Even if the Banner Lord personally attacked, he¡¯d only manage to inflict injuries.

    Furthermore, the Banner Lord wouldn¡¯t make a move lightly.

    So this time, despite knowing there was a trap, he was willing to dive in, at most risking some injuries.

    Before, he might have had some misgivings.

    But now, with the modified Ancestral Blood Technique Qi Yuan had given him, his confidence was ironclad.

    Even if injured, this technique would allow him to recover quickly.

    Qi Yuan nodded.

    This was a matter beyond what a humble cultivator at the Purple Mansion level could interfere with.

    It was likely that the Supreme Truth elders had already convened and discussed it in depth.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, old man, didn¡¯t we have a mole in Black Demon Abyss? I know who it is¡ªit¡¯s Wind Decay Heavenly Sovereign.¡± Qi Yuan shared his findings with Purple Fate Ancestor.

    ¡°Wind Decay?¡± Purple Fate Ancestor frowned. ¡°Wind Decay, of Shadow Soul Heaven...¡±

    He didn¡¯t ask Qi Yuan how he knew, only fell into deep contemplation.

    ¡°This is already under consideration. For the next month, stay indoors. If I am injured, head straight to the Moon God Palace.¡± Purple Fate Ancestor instructed again, then his figure dissipated.

    In the quiet of his dwelling, Qi Yuan glanced at the frozen Purple Fate Snow, his expression calm.

    It seemed he¡¯d have to intervene in the impending storm half a month later¡ªthat nearly ten thousand drops of Black Demon Ancestral Blood couldn¡¯t be overlooked.

    ...

    In an unknown realm,

    two spiritual presences conversed in hushed tones.

    ¡°You¡¯re willing to spend so much? That¡¯s two thousand drops of Black Demon Ancestral Blood,¡± a vast voice said in surprise.

    If Purple Fate Ancestor had been present, he would have recognized it as the voice of the Old Ancestor from Shadow Soul Heaven.

    ¡°As long as our plan succeeds, those two thousand drops will come back to me. What¡¯s the harm?¡± replied a voice that sounded neither male nor female.

    This time, rather than saying Ghost Heaven was scheming against Black Demon Abyss, it would be more accurate to say... that a traitor within Black Demon Abyss was working with Ghost Heaven.

    The Old Ancestor from Shadow Soul Heaven, his eyes glinting with wariness, asked, "Who exactly are you? Within Black Demon Abyss, I can''t think of anyone else who could take out two thousand drops at once."

    The figure, still indiscernible in gender, replied in an ethereal tone, ¡°My identity doesn¡¯t matter; what¡¯s crucial is that we share a common goal: our mutual benefit.¡±

    With the impending descent of the Linya''s Transformation, even those of us who are Great Supreme Truths have to think of contingency plans. Are you certain you won¡¯t join me in allying with the Taihuang Palace?" the Old Ancestor from Shadow Soul Heaven inquired with a hint of probing.

    Among the Black Demon Abyss factions, Shadow Soul Heaven had always maintained the best relationship with the Taihuang Palace.

    Shadow Soul Heaven had even come into conflict with the Moon God Palace.

    ¡°No,¡± the figure responded decisively.

    "In that case... then I¡¯ll claim the glory. Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s... blood, a Supreme Truth life, will mark the start of this Linya''s Transformation era!" Shadow Soul Heaven¡¯s Old Ancestor spoke with a mad gleam in his tone.

    With the injection of the Corrupted Demon Blood, Purple Fate Ancestor was as good as dead.

    ¡°Ah, turbulent times yield powerful cultivators. Who knows when the Linya''s Transformation will come to an end?¡± the ambiguous voice sighed, the words tinged with a kind of wistful uncertainty.

    The Old Ancestor from Shadow Soul Heaven fell silent, his eyes growing shadowy. ¡°By the way, what do you make of the Human Emperor Hall''s mysterious envoy?¡±

    ¡°Mysterious and unknown, not a Supreme Truth, yet possessing unfathomable powers that have clearly proven problematic for Ghost Heaven...¡± replied the androgynous voice.

    A flicker of murderous intent crossed Shadow Soul Heaven Old Ancestor¡¯s gaze. ¡°An unpredictable element like that should be eradicated at the first opportunity when the Linya''s Transformation begins!¡±

    The other party stayed silent, not responding.

    The Old Ancestor continued, muttering to himself, ¡°He may think he can hide, but with the start of the Linya''s Transformation, Taihuang Palace will be scanning the heavens. Any Yang God practitioners attempting to avoid the Linya''s Transformation will be exposed.

    No matter where they hide, they¡¯ll be revealed!"

    Each time the Linya''s transformation began, there were always Yang Gods who attempted to evade its reach.

    Thus, the custom of ¡°scanning the heavens¡± had developed.

    Even hiding within mysterious realms would no longer offer protection.

    Any Yang God power, wherever it might be, would radiate like a star across the heavens, known to all.

    Concealing one¡¯s strength was also ineffective.

    The Old Ancestor from Shadow Soul Heaven was already planning to align with the Taihuang Palace, so he harbored nothing but malice toward the Human Emperor Hall¡¯s unpredictable presence.

    ...

    In Demon Pass.

    Black Sword stood in a white robe, his gaze profound.

    Typically dignified and calm, a dark worry now lingered in his eyes.

    ¡°Brother Purple Fate, who do you think has betrayed Black Demon Abyss? Could it be the Fifth Brother?¡±

    The Fifth Brother, of course, referred to the Old Ancestor of Shadow Soul Heaven.

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s expression was unreadable. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Whoever the traitor is, they¡¯re no concern of mine.¡±

    In the past, he would have been angered if he found out that Old Fifth had betrayed them.

    But after recent events, his faith in his master had been thoroughly shaken.

    Not long ago, he¡¯d raised the matter of Qi Yuan marrying the Moon Goddess Palace¡¯s maiden, and many of his fellow disciples had objected.

    They had pointed out that the Moon God Palace was an adversary of the Taihuang Palace and that Qi Yuan¡¯s union with the Moon Maiden would be unwise.

    At the time, Purple Fate Ancestor had declared decisively:

    The marriage would proceed, regardless of anyone¡¯s objections.

    If Black Demon Abyss opposed it, he would sever his connection to Black Demon Abyss to avoid implicating them.

    Only after he had taken such a hard line did the matter receive approval.

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s sentiment toward Black Demon Abyss had grown increasingly indifferent, coupled with growing disillusionment.

    Hearing Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s answer, Black Sword recognized his intentions and felt a twinge of disappointment.

    The Black Demon Abyss had fractured into a pitiful state, with weaknesses riddled throughout.

    ¡°Besides Old Fifth, there may be others hiding in the shadows. This time, as we head to Ghost Heaven to seize the Black Demon Ancestral Blood, we must exercise extreme caution. If things don¡¯t go as planned, we should be prepared to abandon the Black Demon Ancestral Blood.¡± Black Sword spoke earnestly.

    With his deep ties to Black Demon Abyss, he could not bear to see it fall apart.

    Purple Fate Ancestor nodded silently, saying nothing further.

    At their level, strategy often became secondary to sheer strength.

    In this case, the opposition had left clues of a trap blatantly exposed, without making much effort to disguise it, yet he still had no choice but to enter the fray.

    Whether the plot succeeded would ultimately depend on the strength of both sides.

    At their level, confidence in one''s strength prevailed. Losing slightly would not be a catastrophe.

    A minor setback would barely leave a mark.

 Chapter 464: Black Swordâ€™s Shock and Natureâ€™s Generous Gift

    Chapter 464: Black Sword¡¯s Shock and Nature¡¯s Generous Gift

    In Demon Pass, dark clouds loomed heavily as an impending storm gathered. Strong Yang God cultivators frequently emerged from Black Demon Abyss, making their way to the Demon Pass.

    Across the boundary, Ghost Heaven¡¯s outer domain lay steeped in thick energy, suggesting the presence of two Great Supreme Truth realm guardians in wait.

    How many other hidden powerhouses lay concealed remained uncertain.

    Due to the recent matter of the Black Demon Ancestral Blood, both factions had adopted an air of tense aggression.

    Within his cramped cave abode, Qi Yuan consumed Black Demon Ancestral Blood to cultivate the Ancestral Blood Manual. These past fifteen days had been excruciatingly slow for him, filled with constant apprehension that some Yang God might launch a sudden attack against him.

    Fortunately, no incident had occurred thus far.

    ¡°Blood Robe, Ice Sword¡¯s cultivation has surged; he¡¯s hosting a banquet and invited quite a few charming spirits. Why not come out, listen to some music, and sample some mushrooms?¡±

    It was at this moment that Purple Fate Daxue sent him a message.

    Without a second thought, Qi Yuan declined, ¡°No, thanks. Mushrooms aren¡¯t my thing.¡±

    Qi Yuan was fully committed to his reclusive, turtle-like strategy.

    ¡°These aren¡¯t your regular mushrooms; they¡¯re handcrafted with my artistic flair!¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯m definitely passing. I¡¯m not too convinced about you Black Demon Abyss cultivators¡¯ culinary skills. Cooking isn¡¯t your strong suit¡ªyou don¡¯t even know how to stir-fry. Hmm... you know, if I were to set up a New Oriental culinary school here, would I make a fortune?¡± Qi Yuan wondered aloud.

    After some consideration, he shook his head.

    While he missed the food from Blue Star, it couldn¡¯t really compare with the unique offerings of the cultivation world¡ªthough nostalgia did play a part.

    Qi Yuan mulled it over and reversed the idea: when he returned to Blue Star, he could open a culinary school and give New Oriental a run for its money. With another business idea added to his future ventures, he felt content.

    Roughly an hour later, Qi Yuan suddenly lifted his head to look at the sky.

    Above, two blazing, god-like auras shone brightly like radiant suns.

    Within the Demon Pass, the young prodigies raised their heads in unison.

    ¡°This is... the Great Supreme Truth realm!¡±

    ¡°A Great Supreme Truth leaving... is something major about to happen?¡±

    The disciples looked around in confusion. They had no knowledge of the situation in Ghost Heaven, nor of the emergence of the Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

    This time, Black Demon Abyss¡¯s powerhouses had chosen not to hide their presence.

    For cultivators of this caliber, strength alone served as the best deterrent.

    An Xunlu glanced at the sky, a look of concern crossing her face. ¡°Brother Black Sword has gone too; this must be serious. Let¡¯s hope they¡¯ll be alright.¡±

    ¡°The Transformation of Lynia hasn¡¯t started yet, so no matter the conflict, it¡¯s not a big deal. Just stay calm.¡±

    Ice Sword spoke with a newfound ease, his past gloom swept away, looking rather pleased. Over this time, he had secretly advanced into the Yang God realm, though he had kept this quiet to consolidate his cultivation further.

    Recently, Black Sword and Blood Robe had been in the spotlight, leaving him in relative obscurity aside from laying eggs. But when Taihuang Palace began its Heavenly Scanning, casting starlight over every Yang God, he intended to make a discreet yet stunning entrance.

    Yes, the Black Demon Abyss had its own prodigies, Black Sword and Blood Robe¡ªbut Ice Sword, too, would shine across the heavens.

    He was preparing in secret to capture the attention of all under heaven.

    Oddly enough, Ice Sword couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that his nascent celestial shape was... rather egg-like.

    ...

    In the outer domain of Ghost Heaven¡ª

    Heavenly Venerable Guiyuan sat cross-legged in the void, holding a Soul Banner stretched across the sky, concealing his figure in its shadow.

    Below him, vast reserves of Black Demon Ancestral Blood emanated a deep crimson glow.

    Souls slipped in and out of the Ancestral Blood through the Soul Banner, slowly corrupting it.

    In another half-month, the Black Demon Ancestral Blood would be fully contaminated, reduced to worthless blood.

    Just then, a delicate figure approached, her eyes filled with respect as she gazed at the Soul Banner. ¡°Third Ancestor, the Heavenly Venerables of Black Demon Abyss have departed for Demon Pass!¡±

    Guiyuan¡¯s eyes glinted, and he nodded, his expression sharpening as he asked, ¡°And the Human Emperor Hall¡¯s envoy? Have you tracked him down?¡±

    Last time, the Human Emperor Hall¡¯s envoy had appeared abruptly, killing Ghost Heaven¡¯s Yang God. Furious, Guiyuan had attacked, only to see him escape, leaving Guiyuan feeling humiliated.

    Since then, he¡¯d ordered a full-scale search for any trace of the Human Emperor Hall¡¯s envoy.

    ¡°Heavenly Venerable, we haven¡¯t located him,¡± replied the delicate figure, trembling slightly. Though she, too, was a Yang God, she could not shake her fear in the presence of a Great Supreme Truth.

    ¡°Then withdraw,¡± Guiyuan instructed coldly, and she retreated, relieved.

    A powerful voice rang in Guiyuan¡¯s ears.

    ¡°Are you still stewing over that Human Emperor Hall envoy?¡±

    This was Ghost Zui, the other Great Supreme Truth stationed in the outer domain.

    Ghost Zui¡¯s figure was small, with a ¡°Zui¡± character etched into his face, shamelessly displayed.

    Guiyuan¡¯s gaze blazed. ¡°A mere Yang God who hasn¡¯t even reached Supreme Truth dared provoke me. He courts death!¡±

    ¡°A strange Yang God indeed, buzzing like an annoying mosquito,¡± Ghost Zui remarked. ¡°Once our current mission is done, I¡¯ll help you find him and drag him out of hiding. Such disrespect against Ghost Heaven warrants adding him to my Soul Banner!¡±

    ¡°Do you think the Human Emperor Hall might be connected to Black Demon Abyss? Do you suppose their envoy will dare show his face?¡± Guiyuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with murderous intent, along with a hint of unease.

    The Human Emperor Hall envoy¡¯s uncanny abilities¡ªescaping right before Guiyuan¡¯s eyes¡ªleft him wary.

    Ghost Zui chuckled darkly, ¡°If he dares come, he won¡¯t be leaving.¡±

    Guiyuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Could it be that the Banner Master himself will arrive?¡±

    Ghost Zui shook his head. ¡°The Banner Master is currently locked in a standoff with the old one from Black Demon Abyss and won¡¯t act rashly. However, he has granted me a portion of the power of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, infused with a Supreme Truth killing technique¡ªmore than enough to detain the Human Emperor Hall envoy!¡±

    The fraction of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner Ghost Zui wielded wasn¡¯t the ordinary kind held by the Great Heavenly Venerables.

    Ghost Zui¡¯s held a tenth of the full Banner¡¯s might, enough to carry the Supreme Truth technique of the Banner Master.

    This portion was crafted specifically to capture the Human Emperor Hall envoy.

    As for Black Demon Abyss¡¯s Great Supreme Truths, the Banner had limited effectiveness. Even if they immobilized a Great Supreme Truth for an instant, it was challenging, if not impossible, to inflict real harm on one.

    Nonetheless, they had their orders: defend the domain, for the Banner Master had his own plans.

    Five days passed quietly.

    Heavenly Venerable Guiyuan and Ghost Zui stood watch, corrupting the Black Demon Ancestral Blood in eerie silence.

    The surrounding region was void of sound, a murky quiet that defied even the Yang Gods¡¯ perception.

    In such a place, Yang Gods¡¯ destructive power was significantly limited, like two ordinary people struggling in thick mud.

    Suddenly, without any warning, a golden hand tore through the fabric of space, reaching directly toward the Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

    The void shuddered, rippling out in waves of instability.

    Guiyuan¡¯s eyes lit with ghostly fire as he opened them. ¡°They¡¯ve finally come!¡±

    With a shout, he shook the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

    Symbols glowed, ghostly flames flickered, and gusts of wind rose, swirling with the stench of death as countless ghastly faces¡ªmen, women, children, and elders alike¡ªmaterialized on the Banner.

    The mournful wails and piercing cries of the souls within filled the air, making the scalp tingle.

    Horrifying and eerie, the banner seemed to have consumed countless lives.

    The Ten Thousand Souls Banner unfurled across the sky, intercepting the golden hand.

    In a frenzied tide, countless souls lunged forward, bellowing and wailing.

    With a snarl, a chilling sword intent split the murky void in two.

    A thin black sword shot forward with incredible force, like a glint of cold light piercing through the heavens.

    The Ten Thousand Souls Banner¡¯s souls shrieked in terror.

    A lone figure, dressed in white, strode forward, tall and imposing.

    Their exchange took no time at all.

    ¡°Understood,¡± the Fifth Patriarch said, his laughter fading as he flung the Primordial Demon Blood toward the immobilized Black Sword.

    The ominous, pulsating blood surged toward Black Sword.

    Stuck in place, Black Sword¡¯s thoughts spun wildly. Had their master truly been outwitted? Or was this...

    But there was no time to wonder.

    If he fell here, Black Demon Abyss¡¯s future in the Lynia Transformation would be bleak.

    The Fifth Patriarch¡¯s face lit with cruel satisfaction. ¡°This Lynia Transformation will see a Supreme fall, and it will be the young Supreme, by my own hand.¡±

    But then his smile froze.

    Ghost Zui¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    Instead of reaching Black Sword, the Primordial Demon Blood veered sharply away, making a ninety-degree turn as if it had sensed a kindred spirit. It collided with the void where the Black Demon Ancestral Blood lay.

    The air shattered, and out stepped a man clad in blood-red armor, holding a bowl as though he¡¯d been scooping Ancestral Blood. A flicker of surprise passed through his cold gaze.

    The Primordial Demon Blood slithered toward him, vanishing into his blood armor like a snake returning home.

    The man¡ªQi Yuan¡ªfrowned, embarrassed at having been caught red-handed stealing Black Demon Ancestral Blood.

    But he quickly masked his feelings, adopting a composed and detached demeanor.

    Following the wise words Qi Yuan had once read on Blue Star:

    When you¡¯re in the right, argue the rules. When you¡¯re in the wrong, muddy the waters.

    Seeing that his opponents had reacted first, Qi Yuan spoke with indignant fury:

    ¡°How typical of you Ghost Heaven scoundrels, attacking me with a vile substance like Primordial Demon Blood while I was merely passing through the void! Now... I have a terrible stomachache!¡±

    The armored man¡ªQi Yuan, of course¡ªhid his bowl behind him as he spoke.

    Fifteen days of recovery had restored Qi Yuan¡¯s strength. Planning to steal a portion of the Black Demon Ancestral Blood, he¡¯d only just arrived when the Primordial Demon Blood had struck.

    But he wasn¡¯t bound by Supreme Truth, nor was he a Yang God, so he had no calamity or tribulation to fear.

    All it did was cause a mild itch, which he¡¯d promptly subdued, tucking the blood safely away in his Human Emperor Banner for future study.

    Seeing this, the Fifth Patriarch¡¯s eyes bulged in fury and horror.

    The Primordial Demon Blood was gone!

    Vanished!

    Ghost Zui, equally furious, shouted, ¡°You¡¯re courting death, Human Emperor Hall envoy!¡±

    Without hesitation, he attacked Qi Yuan directly.

    ¡°No, the ones courting death are you! You stole my Human Emperor Banner and ambushed me. I¡¯m taking this Black Demon Ancestral Blood as your compensation!¡±

    Having been caught, Qi Yuan decided to proceed openly. He brought out a few bowls and scooped up the Ancestral Blood as casually as if he were collecting soup.

    Just as he finished, a tremendous blow hurtled toward him.

    Ghost Zui and the Fifth Patriarch had joined forces in their assault on Qi Yuan.

    The combined power was enough to shred reality itself.

    In his current state, Qi Yuan could barely handle one Great Supreme Truth opponents; two were beyond him.

    Just then, however, a calm, scholarly voice called out.

    ¡°My friend, allow me to assist you!¡±

    As the voice rang out, Black Sword emerged from the Supreme Truth killing technique¡¯s grasp. He raised his slender sword, its glint slicing through the void, positioning himself squarely between Qi Yuan and the Fifth Patriarch.

    Black Sword¡¯s gaze bore into the Fifth Patriarch, tinged with unrelenting fury. ¡°Fifth Brother... there¡¯s another accomplice, isn¡¯t there?¡±

    The slender sword in his hand pulsed with a power that conveyed unyielding strength.

    The Fifth Patriarch¡¯s face betrayed fear mixed with rage, while somewhere beneath, an ominous resignation surfaced.

    Today¡¯s carefully laid plans had turned to dust.

    Without the Primordial Demon Blood, even if the Banner Master himself intervened, they¡¯d be unable to trap Black Sword and Purple Fate Ancestor here.

    The Fifth Patriarch looked sharply at Ghost Zui and transmitted his thoughts urgently: ¡°Quick, we must call upon the Banner Master!¡±

    Qi Yuan was indeed not powerful enough to resist a Great Supreme Truth; still, his mysterious means and ability to vanish without a trace made him infuriatingly elusive prey. For the Fifth Patriarch, ensuring Qi Yuan¡¯s capture and recovering the Primordial Demon Blood now became the top priority.

    Ghost Zui nodded in agreement, understanding this critical need. He prepared to signal for aid but was suddenly struck by an unexpected presence¡ªa shiver ran down his spine.

    A surge of raw, chaotic energy saturated the realm, an overwhelming force that seemed intent on bringing the world to its knees.

    ¡°Hold!¡± shouted Ghost Zui, exhilaration seeping into his voice as he recognized the presence.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to summon him. The Banner Master¡¯s Supreme Truth killing technique has already arrived!¡± he cried.

    In that instant, the overwhelming presence of an unstoppable force engulfed the area. It was a killing technique forged by the Banner Master, the peak of Supreme Truth, one that could ensnare all reality within its grasp.

    Even Black Sword and Purple Fate Ancestor couldn¡¯t mask the sense of dread that washed over them; they too could feel the impending, unavoidable assault.

    The killing technique honed in on Qi Yuan with a vengeance.

    ¡°Beware! This is the Banner Master¡¯s Supreme Truth killing technique, capable of freezing all time and space!¡± Black Sword called out to Qi Yuan, his warning urgent.

    Purple Fate Ancestor, for his part, couldn¡¯t hide his worry for the Human Emperor Hall envoy.

    After all, the envoy had just saved Black Sword¡¯s life.

    For himself, though the Banner Master¡¯s Supreme Truth killing technique would briefly restrain him, only something like Primordial Demon Blood could actually pose a fatal threat. Injuries were the worst he would endure, not death.

    But Qi Yuan was different; he wasn¡¯t a Great Supreme Truth. If trapped within this killing technique, survival would be virtually impossible.

    Even as Black Sword shouted his warning, the killing technique zeroed in on Qi Yuan, capturing him in its crushing grip.

    Ghost Zui¡¯s face broke into a triumphant smile.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see you escape this one, boy,¡± he sneered.

    With the Banner Master¡¯s killing technique active, Ghost Zui felt assured. Qi Yuan was caught, no longer able to evade their grasp, his fate sealed by the Banner Master¡¯s powerful killing technique.

    Seizing the moment, Black Sword lunged forward, intending to shield Qi Yuan, buying him even a sliver of time. Yet, the Fifth Patriarch blocked him like an immovable mountain, thwarting his attempt.

    ¡°Ghost Zui, recover the Primordial Demon Blood!¡± the Fifth Patriarch called out, urgency edging his tone.

    With malicious glee, Ghost Zui unfurled the myriad-ghost Soul Banner. ¡°Into the Soul Banner with you, brat! You¡¯ll make an excellent soul wraith!¡±

    He set the Soul Banner loose, brimming with dark, malignant energy. Normally, Ghost Zui wouldn¡¯t expose himself in such a reckless, all-offense tactic without defense. However, confident in the Banner Master¡¯s killing technique, he assumed Qi Yuan was powerless to resist.

    Yet as Ghost Zui¡¯s attack neared, something unexpected happened.

    Qi Yuan¡ªthe Human Emperor Hall envoy they all thought immobilized¡ªsmirked.

    The shock deepened as he reached out and clasped the Soul Banner¡¯s segmented banner in his hand.

    His voice rang out with a peculiar brightness, ¡°Thank you, Nature, for your generous gifts!¡±

    And with that, he vanished, Soul Banner and all.

    Ghost Zui¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    The Soul Banner¡ªthe one containing the Banner Master¡¯s killing technique, capable of binding reality itself¡ªhad disappeared!

    Aghast, he whispered, ¡°Impossible.¡±

    How could anyone move under the Banner Master¡¯s Supreme Truth killing technique?

    Ghost Zui was at a complete loss, his mind reeling with confusion and rage.

    Even Black Sword was visibly stunned, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.

    How could someone like Qi Yuan¡ªa mere Yang God, not yet a Great Supreme Truth¡ªhave such immunity to the Banner Master¡¯s power?

    For all present, this mystery remained unsolved, a secret as deeply veiled as the very cosmos itself.

 Chapter 465: Born with the Ability to Love, So You Are My White Moonlight

    Chapter 465: Born with the Ability to Love, So You Are My White Moonlight

    A great battle concluded in an odd and somewhat farcical manner.

    This time, Ghost Heaven suffered a costly defeat.

    Black Sword''s ambush attempt failed, the Root Demon Blood vanished, and even the Prime Demon Blood was taken.

    After the mysterious blood-armored figure disappeared into the outer heavens, the battle was over, with no point in continuing.

    Upon Black Sword and Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s return to Demon Pass, an explosive message quickly spread across Demon Abyss.

    ¡°Yin Soul Heaven...betrayed Demon Abyss?¡±

    ¡°Yin Soul Heaven has declared independence from Demon Abyss?¡±

    ¡°This world...is about to change!¡±

    This news sparked a storm, unleashing chaos across Demon Abyss.

    Within Demon Pass, the commotion led to numerous conflicts, resulting in the deaths of many cultivators caught up in the disorder.

    In contrast, Ghost Pass was eerily quiet.

    Inside the vast grand hall, looking up, one could see what appeared to be a deep, star-studded sky with a galaxy stretching across in breathtaking splendor.

    The expressions on Heavenly Sovereigns Ghost Sin and Ghost Origin¡¯s faces were dark and foreboding.

    ¡°The Palace Envoy...seeks death!¡±

    Their plan this time failed due to the unexpected intervention of the Palace Envoy.

    ¡°Why did the Root Demon Blood head toward him?¡±

    ¡°And why is it that the Supreme Truth killing move of our Master of Banners doesn¡¯t work on him?¡±

    These two questions lingered in the minds of Heavenly Sovereigns Ghost Sin and Ghost Origin, an unsolvable riddle.

    The Root Demon Blood, mysterious and born from the Root Demon Tribulation, was a perilous existence without self-awareness.

    Yet when the Five Ancestors unleashed it upon Black Sword, the Root Demon Blood turned and flew toward the Palace Envoy.

    ¡°This Root Demon Blood¡ªis it his son or something?¡± Heavenly Sovereign Ghost Sin muttered irritably.

    ¡°He must have some rare artifact that altered the blood¡¯s course, allowing him to claim it,¡± Ghost Origin replied, his face tinged with caution.

    ¡°The Root Demon Blood is now in his possession; we must proceed carefully,¡± spoke a Supreme Truth cultivator, fear of the Root Demon Blood clear in his tone.

    ¡°Hmph! He doesn¡¯t wield the Master of Banners¡¯ killing move. Even if he possesses the Root Demon Blood, he cannot harm us. Were it not for his slippery ways, I would¡¯ve smashed him with one slap!¡± Just the mention of the Palace Envoy set Ghost Sin¡¯s temper ablaze.

    With that power level, the Palace Envoy would easily be crushed if he dared confront Ghost Sin head-on.

    Yet the opponent¡¯s means of sudden disappearance remained an enigma, one he couldn¡¯t decipher.

    ¡°He even escaped the Master of Banners¡¯ Supreme Truth move... Clearly, he is no ordinary opponent. With Linya shedding just around the corner, his sudden appearance targeting Ghost Heaven is a matter we cannot ignore,¡± spoke another Supreme Truth cultivator, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

    ¡°Hmph! Buzzing around like an annoying fly!¡± Heavenly Sovereign Ghost Sin, unable to trap the Palace Envoy, grew increasingly agitated.

    As he muttered, the heads of countless flies within Ghost Pass abruptly bore the word ¡°Sin¡± before they shattered into dust.

    Any cultivators in Ghost Heaven with trace blood of flies on them also bore the ¡°Sin¡± mark upon their foreheads and instantly dropped dead.

    One Supreme Truth cultivator¡¯s anger had left a swath of bodies stretching far and wide.

    The other Supreme Truth cultivators remained unperturbed.

    ¡°Why get worked up over a fly? The Palace Envoy may have strange methods, but his strength is...limited, at best capable of wounding a low Supreme Truth,¡± said one of the Supreme Truth cultivators in a thunderous voice.

    The Yang God Sovereigns below nodded, not overly concerned about the Palace Envoy.

    With so many Yang God Sovereigns gathered at Ghost Pass, the Palace Envoy had no chance of causing trouble.

    He might be loud, threatening to take their All-Souls Banner, but that would only lead to his death.

    If he hadn¡¯t escaped quickly, they would have easily killed him!

    At that moment, a voice filled with searing heat and fury rang out.

    ¡°Did sealing the space, activating the Heaven Severing Grand Array, and even using the Master of Banners¡¯ Supreme Truth move all prove useless against him?¡±

    It was a Yang God Sovereign from Taihuang Palace speaking.

    ¡°Useless!¡± Ghost Sin replied.

    In the battlefield in the outer heavens, they had employed countless space-sealing techniques, including arrays.

    Even the Master of Banners¡¯ Supreme Truth killing move was directed at him, yet he still slipped away easily.

    ¡°It seems we currently have no way to restrain him,¡± said the Yang God Sovereign from Taihuang Palace, then laughed, ¡°In time, once the Palace Master traverses the heavens, he will have nowhere left to hide, and you will be able to kill him freely!¡±

    In their view, the Palace Envoy was weak and slippery, but if his hiding place was discovered and exposed to daylight, he stood no chance of surviving.

    The Yang God Sovereigns of Ghost Heaven felt at ease hearing this.

    At this point, Ghost Sin thought of something and discreetly asked, ¡°May I ask, are there other traitors within Demon Abyss besides the Five Ancestors?¡±

    The opponent was not a Supreme Truth cultivator, but Ghost Sin still addressed him respectfully as ¡°Sir.¡±

    After all, Taihuang Palace governed Linya shedding, and angering them could result in Taihuang Palace unleashing the Root Demon Tribulation upon him.

    The Yang God Sovereign from Taihuang Palace¡¯s gaze dimmed, and he shook his head, ¡°I do not know.¡±

    ...

    Meanwhile, in a certain strange land.

    Qi Yuan felt refreshed and invigorated.

    ¡°This time, I really hit the jackpot!¡±

    ¡°So much Root Demon Blood, a whole two thousand drops...¡±

    ¡°Wait, wasn¡¯t it supposed to be ten thousand drops?¡±

    ¡°Those scoundrels from Ghost Heaven held back eight thousand drops¡ªutterly shameless!¡± Qi Yuan seethed.

    With ten thousand drops of Root Demon Blood, his cultivation of Blood of the Ancestors could reach the fourteenth layer within a year.

    Now he could only hope to reach the thirteenth layer.

    ¡°It¡¯s true; the deeper you understand a villain, the more their wickedness is revealed. What I once knew was just the tip of the iceberg.¡±

    ¡°At first, I thought they¡¯d just stolen my Palace Banner, but now...they¡¯ve even withheld my hard-earned Root Demon Blood!¡±

    ¡°This is unforgivable!¡±

    ¡°With both these offenses stacked up, even though you¡¯re my White Moonlight, I¡¯ll still have to root out this evil!¡±

    Qi Yuan had already decided; once Ancestral Blood Technique reached the thirteenth layer, he¡¯d proceed with his grand plan.

    Currently, on the twelfth layer, he was too weak.

    Sneaking into Ghost Pass would get him immediately detected, and he would have to retreat before dealing with any thieves.

    But once his Ancestral Blood Technique reached the thirteenth layer, things would be entirely different.

    At that point, his Ten Thousand Paths Martial God cultivation would approach the Supreme Truth level.

    He¡¯d be able to infiltrate Ghost Pass, discreetly judge any thieves, and reclaim his Palace Banner.

    And if discovered, he could escape effortlessly.

    Qi Yuan, methodical in all things, remained strict with his plans, adhering to them as whims suited him.

    With this thought in mind, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze settled on the Root Demon Blood.

    [Root Demon Blood, born from the Root Demon Tribulation, is associated with the unique creature, the Root Demon Ancestor.]

    ¡°Root Demon Ancestor?¡±

    Seeing this term made Qi Yuan shudder as if sensing an immense, unknown horror.

    ¡°Could it be...something at the third Yang God level or even beyond?¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    ¡°Is the Root Demon Blood¡¯s draw toward me connected to my innate ability, the Heart Demon of the Void Realm?¡±

    During his visit to Gongxing Star, he had followed the Eastern Lord into the Root Demon Sea.

    Unexpectedly, the fearsome Root Demon Sea did not harm Qi Yuan at all.

    Qi Yuan knew it was due to his unique ability.

    His Heart Demon of the Void Realm shared a kindred connection with the Root Demon, allowing him to resist its corruption.

    ¡°Heart Demon of the Void Realm, realized in the Flowing Wind World.

    ¡°Its origins trace back to the Fate Tablet.

    ¡°Could it be that the Fate Tablet has ties to the Root Demon Ancestor?¡±

    Qi Yuan thought carefully.

    If the Fate Tablet were ordinary, how could it have captivated Bai Ze?

    After all, Bai Ze had within him the Great Sun Golden Lotus left behind by the Great Sun Bright Buddha.

    ¡°Hey, are you conscious? Why are you napping on me?¡± Qi Yuan called out to the Root Demon Blood.

    But it made no response.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re probably not conscious because you don¡¯t have a brain,¡± Qi Yuan murmured, removing the Root Demon Blood and storing it in a bag.

    A sudden thought crossed Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    ¡°If I planted the Root Demon Blood, would I harvest a Root Demon Ancestor come autumn?¡±

    Of course, it was just a thought.

    For now, he needed to hurry back to Demon Pass, refine the Palace Banner, cultivate the Ancestral Blood Technique, and strengthen his abilities.

    ¡°Actually...I know you.¡± Qi Yuan spoke lightly.

    ¡°What?¡± Fengshuai looked at him, shocked.

    Faces flashed in his mind as he tried to recall who the Palace Envoy might be.

    If they had some connection, maybe he¡¯d have a chance.

    ¡°Who I am important doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Qi Yuan said coldly. ¡°What matters is you. You...you are my White Moonlight.¡±

    ¡°White Moonlight?¡± Fengshuai was stunned, bewildered by the words.

    ¡°White Moonlight,¡± Qi Yuan explained, ¡°is the unattainable longing of one¡¯s youth¡ªsomething one wishes for but dare not touch, lest it tarnish the beauty of that distant dream.¡±

    Fengshuai blinked in disbelief.

    Did this Palace Envoy¡ªa man¡ªactually like him?

    Could it be?

    Qi Yuan held his blood-red sword, his eyes chilling yet intense. ¡°I was born with the capacity to love, so you...you are my White Moonlight.¡±

    In that moment, Fengshuai realized Qi Yuan was mocking him.

    ¡°White Moonlight, worry not,¡± Qi Yuan continued in a solemn tone. ¡°After you die, I¡¯ll take good care of your belongings. Rest in peace; your remains and ashes won¡¯t go to waste.¡±

    He felt genuinely moved by his own words, thinking himself a thoroughly considerate man.

    In that instant, his sword trembled slightly, and the entire world seemed to be drenched in blood.

    "Let¡¯s...die together!"

    With Ancestral Blood Technique honed to the thirteenth level, Qi Yuan had reached the level of the Great Supreme Truth, ascending from his previous state.

    He could now fully unleash chaos in Ghost Pass.

    A massive slash descended from his sword, neither flashy nor showy. The brilliance of this single strike left Fengshuai and Huizeng without a single chance to resist.

    Even their manifested avatars, their ultimate defense, crumbled like tofu under the blade¡¯s force.

    A single, powerful attack from a Great Supreme Truth could effortlessly annihilate two Yang Gods.

    Boom!

    Qi Yuan kept his word, storing the Ten Thousand Souls Banner into his dimensional storage and handling Fengshuai¡¯s possessions with great care.

    He even tossed Fengshuai¡¯s ashes into the Netherworld, using them as fuel for a future resurrection.

    ¡°White Moonlight, rest peacefully. I know you both must feel lonely. No worries¡ªI have endless love to give, and soon you¡¯ll have more White Moonlights to keep you company.¡±

    As Qi Yuan whispered his promise, shouts of rage and astonishment echoed nearby.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the Palace Envoy!¡±

    ¡°What audacity!¡±

    ¡°How did he get in here?¡±

    ¡°He killed Huizeng and Fengshuai...!¡±

    One Yang God Sovereign sucked in a deep, shuddering breath. He inhaled so sharply, the sound echoed throughout the chamber.

    Instantly, more than twenty Yang God Sovereigns, including three Great Supreme Truth experts, closed in on Qi Yuan, their faces a mix of shock and confusion.

    Looking at these elderly Sovereigns, Qi Yuan¡¯s cold expression softened into a warm, gentle smile.

    "Old, wealthy, and disinclined to bathe...¡±

    They met all the criteria in his White Moonlight manual.

    ¡°It seems... I¡¯ve fallen for you all, White Moonlights!¡± Qi Yuan declared, taking a step forward as he brandished his blood-red sword, his voice filled with fervent devotion.

    In a matter of moments, he¡¯d fallen for all twenty-seven, multiplying his White Moonlights by twenty-sevenfold.

    That was the strength of his innate love for others.

    The Yang God Sovereigns stared back in shock or anger.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Enough with the nonsense!¡±

    ¡°Palace Envoy, you¡¯re not getting out alive today. Seize him!¡±

    The voice of Ghost Guilt Heavenly Sovereign echoed furiously.

    The last time Qi Yuan had interfered, he had ruined Ghost Guilt¡¯s carefully laid plans. He hadn¡¯t taken the Palace Envoy seriously, but after a month had passed, the Envoy had not only returned but also dared to sneak in, killing one of Ghost Heaven¡¯s Yang God Sovereigns.

    ¡°Attack!¡±

    At Ghost Guilt¡¯s command, the twenty-some Yang God Sovereigns unleashed their full force in unison.

    Qi Yuan smiled as he met their attacks, wielding his sword with ease as he cut through their ranks like a wolf among sheep.

    ¡°Such affection,¡± he remarked casually. ¡°Are you all giving me a massage?¡±

    The weaker Yang Gods¡¯ attacks fizzled out upon impact, unable to so much as scratch him.

    A typical Great Supreme Truth cultivator was already resilient, but with his blood armor, Qi Yuan was practically untouchable by anyone below the Supreme Truth level, let alone Heaven rank Yang Gods.

    In this moment, he appeared truly unstoppable.

    Other Yang Gods would never dare such audacity, to infiltrate Ghost Heaven¡¯s core, where the hidden, destructive treasures and defenses could heavily injure even Supreme Truth cultivators.

    But Qi Yuan was unbothered; he could slip into his Purple Mansion space to escape at any time.

    Confidence radiated from him as he engaged them head-on.

    ¡°You...have reached Supreme Truth?¡± Ghost Guilt¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    How had Qi Yuan reached Supreme Truth in just a month?

    His expression changed instantly, his voice sharp as he called out, ¡°Retreat! Hurry, all of you, retreat!¡±

    Had Qi Yuan remained a mere Yang God, he¡¯d have been vulnerable to their joint assault.

    But now, as a Supreme Truth, the Palace Envoy had become someone they couldn¡¯t even harm.

    The other Yang Gods understood immediately. They scattered like birds, trying to escape.

    Watching them flee, Qi Yuan sighed with disappointment. ¡°Am I so hideous that everyone runs the moment they see me?¡±

    He aimed a slash at the nearest few Yang Gods.

    The three Great Supreme Truth experts rushed toward him, desperation in their eyes as they tried to distract him and prevent any further slaughter.

    But they were too slow.

    By the time they reached Qi Yuan, two more unfortunate Yang Gods lay slain.

    In the hands of a Great Supreme Truth expert, Yang Gods fell as easily as chicks.

    In that moment, Qi Yuan felt he had gained a sense of power, a foundation of his own.

    He swiftly collected the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and then turned his gaze on the three Great Supreme Truth experts, his face grim.

    ¡°Because of you three, I wasn¡¯t able to properly take care of my White Moonlights¡¯ inheritances. How vile!¡±

    With a furious glint, he clashed with the three Supreme Truth experts.

    Of course, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t want a prolonged fight; he simply wanted to cut down a few more White Moonlights.

    But with these three blocking his path, he had no choice but to engage.

    ¡°I want to test my limits anyway!¡± he muttered as he fought.

    ¡°Die!¡± Ghost Guilt shouted, seething with rage and worry.

    After all, the Lin Ya Rebirth had yet to begin, and Ghost Heaven had already lost six Yang God Sovereigns.

    The horror was almost too much to bear!

    What was worse, they couldn¡¯t stop the Palace Envoy.

    Killing him was out of the question. They couldn¡¯t even hold him in place. All they could do was take hit after hit.

    ¡°Palace Envoy,¡± Ghost Guilt called out mid-battle, ¡°we have no quarrel with you! Why torment Ghost Heaven? Do you truly think us weak?¡±

    His voice was furious, but behind it lay a hint of concession. He was hoping to negotiate.

    Ghost Heaven had no way to kill or imprison the Palace Envoy, let alone permanently rid themselves of him.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see you as weaklings; I see you as beloved White Moonlights! But you¡¯ve exploited my love to steal my Palace Banner!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°If you want me to let this go, it¡¯s simple¡ªhand over all the Palace Banners.¡±

    Ghost Guilt¡¯s face flushed with rage. ¡°Impossible!¡±

    The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was the foundation of Ghost Heaven. These banners were their very means of survival; they could never hand them over!

    ¡°In that case, die!¡±

    His blood-red armor gleamed as he wielded his sword, moving like a god of destruction, massacring all in his path.

    The immense aura of his presence forced even the bravest to flee.

    Within Ghost Pass, cultivators shivered in fear, and even the Yang God Sovereigns scrambled to escape.

    The clash of power was so intense that the very fabric of Demon Pass trembled with the impact.

    After a while, an almost palpable, terrifying aura surged through the space.

    Finally, Ghost Heaven¡¯s Banner Lord couldn¡¯t stand idly by; his artifact of divine retribution came forth, unleashing a fearsome Supreme Truth killing blow.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression softened, though he looked reluctant. ¡°My dear White Moonlights, I know you¡¯ll miss me. Rest assured, it won¡¯t be long before I return.¡±

    With a flash, the Supreme Truth killing move struck down, and Qi Yuan¡¯s figure vanished.

    Ghost Pass quaked with fear as the Yang God Sovereigns processed what had happened, their hearts weighed down by dread.

    The three Great Supreme Truth experts were grim, visibly shaken.

 Chapter 466: Apologies, Iâ€™m Back Again

    Chapter 466: Apologies, I¡¯m Back Again

    ¡°It¡¯s only been a month. How could his power have risen so quickly?¡± Ghost Guilt Sovereign muttered angrily, his voice laden with deep suspicion.

    To a Yang God Sovereign, a month¡¯s time was barely enough for a few deep breaths or a blink of the eye. Yet, the very man they had pursued, the Imperial Hall¡¯s Envoy, had suddenly become strong enough to match them. What¡¯s worse, his eerie ability to vanish at will left them helpless, forced into the defensive, allowing him to strike at will.

    ¡°What kind of grudge does this Envoy hold against you all? Could it be that... the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner and the Imperial Banner are somehow connected?¡± the emissary from the Taihuang Palace asked, eyes filled with curiosity.

    Ghost Guilt Sovereign¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Nonsense. He¡¯s just twisting the facts! The Ten Thousand Souls Banner is our natal celestial treasure. How could it belong to anyone else?¡±

    Every cultivator within Ghost Heaven possesses a natal weapon, which evolves over time into a spiritual weapon, an immortal weapon, and ultimately, a celestial treasure. For these cultivators, this weapon is the Ten Thousand Souls Banner. The more lives the banner devours, the stronger it grows, and the more power a Ghost Heaven cultivator commands.

    Ghost Yuan Sovereign suddenly recalled something and murmured, ¡°Could it actually be...the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner?¡±

    Ghost Guilt Sovereign¡¯s face darkened.

    At the very heart of Ghost Heaven lay the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, an offensive creation treasure controlled by the Banner Master. All Ten Thousand Souls Banners forged by other Ghost Heaven cultivators were based on it. Yet, the origins of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner were shrouded in mystery. It was simply known to have once belonged to a Supreme Being.

    That Supreme Being had vanished mysteriously, and the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner fell to the current Banner Master.

    Could it be that the Palace Envoy was claiming lineage from that same Supreme?

    The three Great Supreme Truth Sovereigns present fell silent, knowing that matters regarding the Banner Master were beyond their place to discuss.

    ¡°No matter who he is or what his reasons, seeking the Ten Thousand Souls Banner makes him an enemy of Ghost Heaven, and he must be annihilated!¡± Ghost Guilt Sovereign said furiously.

    A deep sense of foreboding crept over him. This encounter had shown him that Ghost Heaven was powerless to restrain the Imperial Hall¡¯s Envoy.

    ¡°We must tread carefully and stop treating him as simply another variant Yang God,¡± advised one of the Great Supreme Truth Sovereigns.

    Initially, they had not thought the Envoy to be a threat; after all, any Supreme Truth Sovereign could easily overpower him. But it now appeared that only the Great Supreme Truths among them could face him¡ªany other Yang Gods from Ghost Heaven shattered upon contact.

    At that moment, Ghost Yuan Sovereign looked pointedly at the emissary from Taihuang Palace.

    ¡°Your Excellency, the Envoy is constantly lurking nearby, and our campaign against Demon Abyss is severely hindered,¡± Ghost Yuan Sovereign said helplessly.

    The campaign was only possible thanks to Taihuang Palace¡¯s support; otherwise, Ghost Heaven would never have dared to antagonize Demon Abyss, especially with Black Sword on their side. Should Black Sword reach the Great Supreme Truth realm, Ghost Heaven would be in dire straits.

    ¡°This Envoy has undermined Taihuang Palace¡¯s plans and must die!¡± the emissary said coldly, his eyes filled with killing intent.

    The plan to eliminate Black Sword had been meticulous, ready to unfold flawlessly. But then the Envoy had appeared, causing their efforts to fail.

    ¡°When the Lynia Transformation begins, he will die, and his true spirit will be destroyed. He won¡¯t even have a chance to enter the Sole Hall!¡± The Taihuang Palace emissary declared boldly.

    The three Great Supreme Truth Sovereigns of Ghost Heaven sighed with relief. With the reassurance of Taihuang Palace¡¯s support, they felt much more at ease. With a Supreme overseeing the Lynia Transformation, no matter how powerful the Envoy was, he would surely meet his end.

    ¡°Let him run wild for now,¡± Ghost Guilt Sovereign said coldly.

    The Lynia Transformation would begin soon, and time was running out for the Envoy.

    Yet as soon as the words left his mouth, Ghost Guilt Sovereign¡¯s face froze in alarm.

    ¡°How dare he!¡±

    He let out a furious roar.

    The two other Great Supreme Truth Sovereigns widened their eyes, and even their calm hearts were shaken.

    A blood-red haze filled Ghost Pass, suffused with a deadly aura, so intense it seemed to seep into one¡¯s very bones. In the Star Realm, a star suddenly shone brightly before crumbling into nothingness. And then another star followed, disintegrating the same way.

    At that moment, a cold, hoarse voice echoed across Ghost Pass.

    ¡°Apologies, I¡¯m back again!¡±

    ¡°Good thing I returned¡ªotherwise, how would I have heard you slandering me behind my back?¡±

    ¡°You dare to steal my Imperial Banner and then defame me? Truly unforgivable!¡±

    A figure draped in blood-red armor stood tall and formidable, wielding a fiendish blood sword that seized the eyes. Cloaked in blood, he looked every inch a death god, his chilling gaze sending a shiver down the spines of every Ghost Heaven cultivator present.

    Moments earlier, Ghost Pass had been left in turmoil from a fierce battle, and they had yet to fully recover from the shock¡ªyet here he was again.

    And once more, he had slain two Yang God Sovereigns.

    Yang Gods weren¡¯t as common as cabbages! Some of the cultivators present had never even seen a Yang God in their lives, and now they had watched them fall one after another.

    ¡°You...¡± Ghost Guilt Sovereign was at a loss for words.

    The other Yang God Sovereigns were scattered, some fleeing, others hiding, while the stronger ones fixed Qi Yuan with piercing stares.

    The Taihuang Palace emissary spoke up, his eyes flashing. ¡°Envoy, would you consider giving us a moment to sit down with the Ghost Heaven leaders and discuss matters?¡±

    It was clear that he was attempting to buy time, hoping to hold off the Envoy until the Lynia Transformation, at which point they could settle the matter for good.

    ¡°And why would I give you face? What, are you Wu Yanzu, or maybe Eddie Peng?¡± Qi Yuan looked at the Taihuang Palace emissary with utter disdain.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who badmouthed me the most. I hold grudges, you know, so you¡¯re guilty by association with these thieves of my Imperial Banner!¡±

    The Taihuang Palace emissary¡¯s face turned red and white in succession. ¡°Do you have any idea who I am or whose authority I represent?¡± he asked in disbelief.

    ¡°You already want me dead, so why would I care about your authority?¡± Qi Yuan replied, feeling bewildered.

    It seemed to him that the emissary was rather lacking in sense. In his years of cultivation, he had met many such people.

    The emissary sensed the Envoy¡¯s killing intent and grew fearful, though he replied boldly, ¡°The Lynia Transformation is imminent. You¡¯d best avoid needless entanglements, or you may find yourself with nowhere to go in the Six Heavens!¡±

    The emissary¡¯s pride lay in his backing.

    ¡°How about a suggestion?¡± Qi Yuan asked, smirking. ¡°Consider sleeping in the same room as Ghost Guilt Sovereign and Ghost Yuan Sovereign tonight. Otherwise... well, you know.¡±

    The threat in Qi Yuan¡¯s tone was unmistakable.

    Ghost Guilt Sovereign and Ghost Yuan Sovereign¡¯s faces turned red with fury, and they immediately launched simultaneous attacks against Qi Yuan.

    The Taihuang Palace emissary¡¯s expression flickered between red and white. He had felt the full force of the Envoy¡¯s killing intent and was now regretting his decision to step forward.

    The three Great Supreme Truth Sovereigns struck.

    Qi Yuan grinned brightly. ¡°I¡¯ll save my strength for next time, so I¡¯ll leave my cherished White Moonlight companions here for now. Goodbye!¡±

    Of his White Moonlight foes, some shone brighter than others. These Great Supreme Truth Sovereigns were the brightest of all.

    And with that, Qi Yuan vanished without hesitation.

    ¡°Argh!¡± Ghost Guilt Sovereign roared, his voice filled with fury.

    The Yang God Sovereigns were all burdened with worry.

    Those of the Heaven Rank in particular were deeply fearful. In mere moments, they had witnessed six Yang Gods meet their deaths. If they included the incident from a month ago, that number rose to seven.

    This was a devastating loss for Ghost Heaven.

    A quiet voice broke the silence. ¡°Ghost Guilt Sovereign, Ghost Pass is riddled with vulnerabilities. If we linger here, we risk calamity...¡±

    The implication was clear¡ªthey wished to return to Ghost Heaven and leave Ghost Pass. No one could predict when the Envoy would strike next.

    In fact, if he suddenly appeared now, no one would be surprised. He had attacked twice in rapid succession before, with barely a breath between strikes.

    The Yang God Sovereigns, burdened with anxiety, kept constant watch.

    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous to remain here.¡±

    ¡°We came to confront Demon Abyss, and yet we¡¯ve already lost so many.¡±

    Their collective murmurs grew louder, filled with hints of retreat.

    Ghost Guilt Sovereign¡¯s expression darkened. He didn¡¯t know how to reassure them.

    How could he? He was powerless against the Envoy.

    What were they to do? Cultivate in pairs and keep constant watch?

    At that moment, a vast, ethereal voice resonated in the minds of all the Yang God Sovereigns.

    ¡°The shadow of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner will envelop Ghost Pass. Rest easy, all of you.¡±

    At the sound of this voice, the assembled Yang Gods bowed in reverence.

    ¡°Thank you, Banner Master!¡±

    It was clear that this voice belonged to none other than Ghost Heaven¡¯s pillar, the Banner Master himself.

    Now, the Banner Master would enshroud Ghost Pass with the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner¡¯s shadow, protecting them from further attacks by the Envoy.

    Ice Sword¡¯s mouth twitched as he found himself at a loss for words.

    He decided to keep working on disguising his star projection.

    Otherwise, he¡¯d be ridiculed by Purple Xue for a hundred years.

    ¡°Ah, how I envy you all¡ªliving carefree lives while I must constantly train with a sense of dread,¡± said a tired voice. At that moment, Qi Yuan appeared, his face weary.

    Although his excursions into Ghost Pass to hunt Yang Gods seemed effortless, in reality, he was always on edge, like a mortal dancing on a tightrope, knowing that any misstep could lead to ruin.

    ¡°Blood Robe Senior Brother, you¡¯re back!¡± Purple Xue¡¯s face lit up with joy.

    An Xunlu cast Qi Yuan a sidelong glance but said nothing.

    ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯ve fought in the Floral Moonland before; did you see him? What does he look like?¡± one of the prodigies couldn¡¯t resist asking.

    ¡°Look at my face, then imagine him in blood armor¡ªthat¡¯s him,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    ¡°Huh?¡± the prodigy blinked in confusion.

    An Xunlu muttered, ¡°You¡¯d better imagine him as mute, or...¡±

    ¡°So, wouldn¡¯t Black Sword be a better figure for visualization?¡± she continued.

    Purple Xue glared, ready to argue as usual, but Qi Yuan grabbed her sleeve before she could start.

    ¡°Little Snow, I need your help with something.¡±

    Qi Yuan had come specifically to ask Purple Xue for assistance with a pressing matter.

    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

    She remembered how, some time ago, she had jokingly tried to call him ¡°Father¡± and was turned down.

    She really wanted to tell him, ¡°I was just kidding. Please don¡¯t tell anyone!¡±

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s find somewhere more secluded,¡± Qi Yuan said, guiding Purple Xue away.

    He couldn¡¯t risk their conversation being overheard; it had to be somewhere safe.

    A few breaths later, the two entered Qi Yuan¡¯s personal cave.

    ¡°Do you know... where I can find a mystical place where time flows faster... and from where I can still see the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner far off in Ghost Pass?¡± he asked softly, watching her intently.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Purple Xue looked bewildered, not quite understanding his motive.

    Something about it seemed odd to her, yet she quickly replied, ¡°Give me two hours... no, one hour, and I¡¯ll have an answer for you.¡±

    She would need to do some research.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Qi Yuan said, his face lighting up.

    He was searching for such a place for an important reason.

    His eyes could reveal hidden messages whenever he looked at the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, but seeing only one clue each day was too slow.

    Perhaps there existed a location where time flowed faster.

    That way, if only a day passed in the Six Heavens, he could experience a year in the mystical land, scanning the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner 365 times and gathering countless clues.

    Perhaps, he could even find a flaw in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner.

    And if he found a secure spot, he could exploit the Gate of Supreme Truth, allowing his Nascent Souls to absorb the principles of the Supreme Truth in another universe, enhancing his strength.

    Meanwhile, in Demon Pass, Purple Fate Ancestor gazed into the distance, his expression grave.

    ¡°Who... could be plotting against Black Sword?¡±

    The last time Black Sword was nearly destroyed, he barely escaped from the demonic root blood. The sense of threat that brought was overwhelming for Purple Fate Ancestor. It felt as though an unseen hand within the depths of Demon Abyss was orchestrating something sinister, hidden in shadow.

    This apprehension intensified when he learned of the recent carnage in Ghost Pass at the hands of the Imperial Hall¡¯s Envoy. The Lynia Transformation had not even begun, and yet so many Yang Gods had already fallen. What sort of apocalyptic battles would unfold once it did commence? The thought was almost unimaginable.

    With these worries in mind, he vanished in a swift streak of light, reappearing in the blink of an eye at the edge of Demon Pass.

    He stood there, staring into the unknown as if waiting for someone.

    Several breaths later, a faint ringing sound broke the silence, and within that echo, a distant roar of a white dragon could be heard.

    Purple Fate Ancestor straightened, bowing deeply toward the source of the sound.

    "Welcome, White Dragon Abyss Lord!"

    ¡°Well, well, Little Ancestor. Long time no see. You¡¯re looking better than ever¡ªcertainly more pleasant than that master of yours.¡±

    A feminine figure emerged in a sweep of ethereal energy. Tall and graceful, she had two faint dragon horns on her forehead. Most striking of all, however, was the black cloth covering her eyes. It was said that lifting this cloth could unleash terrifying power, so it rarely, if ever, came off.

    Purple Fate Ancestor bowed respectfully to the woman, his demeanor reverent.

    The Lynia Transformation was drawing close, and as the great powers of the heavens prepared, heads of the principal factions were meeting behind closed doors. Only recently, White Dragon Abyss Lord had met with Demon Abyss¡¯s Abyss Lord. Using a long-standing favor, Purple Snow¡¯s Grandfather had managed to secure an audience with her.

    ¡°If you¡¯d do me the honor, Abyss Lord, please come to my cave for a talk,¡± he invited courteously.

    ¡°No need, Little Ancestor. I still have to pay a visit to Divine Luo Heaven to see their Elder. I¡¯m on a tight schedule, so tell me directly what you need.¡± Her tone was straightforward, wasting no time.

    Purple Fate Ancestor didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I wish to humbly request... that you become a guardian for Blood Robe.¡±

    He bowed his head, his attitude sincere.

    As he spoke, he presented a half-intact creation treasure, its fractured surface still glinting with faint energy.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord''s eyes focused on the object, an intrigued look crossing her face.

    This was no ordinary treasure.

    During the last Lynia Transformation, the Demon Abyss¡¯s Abyss Lord had not yet possessed an offensive creation artifact. Back then, Purple Fate Ancestor was the most promising Yang God in Demon Abyss, with an artifact that was rumored to hold the potential to become a destructive creation treasure. However, due to certain conflicts between him and the Abyss Lord, the artifact had been shattered, the resulting piece of which he now held.

    Although damaged, this relic still far exceeded the power of ordinary creation artifacts.

    Now, Purple Fate Ancestor was offering this fractured treasure in the hope that White Dragon Abyss Lord might agree to protect Blood Robe.

    He had sensed a growing threat within Demon Abyss, a shadow so dark that he feared for Blood Robe¡¯s life and survival. He needed someone of White Dragon Abyss Lord¡¯s caliber to ensure his safety.

    Of course, he was asking for a guardian, not a master.

    ¡°This is interesting,¡± White Dragon Abyss Lord mused, a faint smile playing on her lips. ¡°Call Blood Robe here. I need to see for myself if he¡¯s as talented as the rumors say and whether he¡¯s worthy of my protection.¡±

    She was tempted by the treasure, but it wasn¡¯t enough on its own.

    While she had already opposed Taihuang Palace in the past, she wasn¡¯t eager to worsen their relationship unnecessarily.

    So, she would have to assess Blood Robe¡¯s true potential.

    If he turned out to be another talent on par with Black Sword... then maybe, just maybe, she would be willing to invest.

    After all, that could lead to the rise of a true Great Sovereign.

    ¡°Thank you, Abyss Lord,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said, immediately sending a message to Qi Yuan.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord looked at Purple Fate Ancestor, her expression shifting between amusement and complexity. ¡°You certainly have a soft spot for this young one. You¡¯d even part with such a treasure for him.¡±

    She eyed the fractured creation treasure in his hands, a flash of greed flickering briefly in her gaze.

    ¡°Pity that the Demon Abyss¡¯s own offensive creation treasure wasn¡¯t this one. If it were, you wouldn¡¯t need to offer it now,¡± she said, sighing with faint regret.

    Sometimes, she mused, a single misstep can alter the course of everything.

    In her view, Purple Fate Ancestor had merely been unfortunate, a man whose luck had betrayed him.

    Unmoved, Purple Fate Ancestor replied, ¡°Everything has its destined path.¡±

    He had once been bitter, but with time, he had come to terms with it.

    After nearly a hundred heartbeats, Qi Yuan finally appeared, clothed in his signature blood-red robe.

    He eyed the two figures with a look of open curiosity.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on, old man?¡± he asked, his demeanor as bold as ever, unfazed by the presence of two powerful Supreme Truth cultivators.

    White Dragon Abyss Lord, still wearing her black cloth over her eyes, gazed at Qi Yuan with an unreadable expression. Deep within her gaze, a glimmer of excitement flickered before quickly settling back to calm.

    ¡°Blood Robe, tell me... do you have a partner?¡±

    Beneath the black cloth, her eyes radiated an unmistakable intensity, an avid desire that surpassed even her interest in the fractured treasure she had just been offered.

 Chapter 467: If You Donâ€™t Want to Have the Child, Then Iâ€™ll Have It!â€

    Chapter 467: ¡°If You Don¡¯t Want to Have the Child, Then I¡¯ll Have It!¡±

    ¡°A Dao companion?¡±

    As Qi Yuan met the gaze of the woman in black cloth, a strange chill ran down his spine.

    ¡°I already have a partner. We even have the marriage certificate!¡± Qi Yuan responded quickly.

    Standing to the side, Purple Fate Ancestor leaned over and whispered, ¡°This is the White Dragon Abyss Lord. I invited her here to act as your protector.¡±

    A protector is not the same as a master; it¡¯s more like an investor.

    If the White Dragon Abyss Lord became Blood Robe¡¯s protector, she would have to ensure his safety until he matured. In return, once he grew strong, Blood Robe would repay the Abyss Lord.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for this nuisance of a Lynia Transformation, I¡¯d protect you myself. But as things are, with dangers on every side, I thought it best to find you a protector,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said through a spiritual transmission to Qi Yuan.

    With the Demon Abyss becoming increasingly complex, even Black Sword had recently encountered serious threats. Purple Fate Ancestor sensed immense danger and wasn¡¯t confident he could protect Blood Robe entirely. It was better to send him to White Dragon Abyss.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the White Dragon Abyss Lord. ¡°So you¡¯re the Abyss Lord who can make people pregnant with just a look?¡±

    He suddenly felt the urge to flee. He wasn¡¯t interested in becoming pregnant.

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Please forgive him, Abyss Lord. Blood Robe has always been... spirited.¡±

    He feared that Blood Robe¡¯s words might provoke the White Dragon Abyss Lord. But to his surprise, she chuckled. ¡°He¡¯s a genius, after all¡ªhe should have a bit of character. It keeps things interesting.¡±

    She looked at Qi Yuan with a calm, almost amused smile, as if especially taken with him. But her next words left Qi Yuan completely unsettled.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind giving me a child, I¡¯d gladly serve as your protector to keep you safe,¡± she said with an astonishing air of seriousness. ¡°Even if a Great Sovereign came after you, I¡¯d ensure that both you and our child would remain unharmed.¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor was utterly shocked by her words.

    Though he had asked the White Dragon Abyss Lord to become Blood Robe¡¯s protector, he knew her protection would be limited. If a Great Sovereign intervened, she might very well retreat. But based on her words, if Blood Robe agreed to bear her child, she¡¯d be willing to defend him even against a Great Sovereign.

    This was beyond anything he could have imagined.

    As for Blood Robe having a child, Purple Fate Ancestor himself wasn¡¯t particularly concerned.

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction was quite different. His eyes grew wide. ¡°Me, have a child? No way! I¡¯m a man¡ªhow can I have a child?¡±

    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t a man be able to have a child? At our level, anyone can give birth,¡± the White Dragon Abyss Lord replied with calm conviction, unfazed.

    Purple Fate Ancestor had no particular feeling about this, either. Compared to the immortal path, or even his own safety, having a child seemed trivial. In fact, if the White Dragon Abyss Lord¡¯s offer had been extended to the Supreme Truths of the Sixth Heaven, many would be vying to have her child.

    Even Purple Fate Ancestor himself was somewhat tempted.

    After all, having a powerful connection is beneficial. How much of life¡¯s effort could be saved by associating with the White Dragon Abyss Lord? Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t interested in an old man like him.

    ¡°No way¡ªI refuse! My gender is male, and my self-identification is also male!¡± Qi Yuan stated firmly. ¡°We need to respect the diversity of the human body.¡±

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord narrowed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m guessing Purple Fate Ancestor hasn¡¯t told you about recent events in the outer heavens. There was a battle, and a traitor appeared in the Demon Abyss. Black Sword was nearly killed.¡±

    ¡°Even a genius like Black Sword, with his ability to defend himself, almost died. Do you think you¡¯re any safer?¡±

    ¡°If a Yang God Great Supreme Truth like me, or even Purple Fate Ancestor here, wanted you dead, do you really think you could survive?¡±

    Her words rang true. This was precisely why Purple Fate Ancestor was so concerned.

    If someone had the means to ambush Black Sword, who¡¯s to say Blood Robe wouldn¡¯t be next?

    Qi Yuan simply shook his head. ¡°Ever since I embarked on the path of cultivation, I¡¯ve sought only to follow my own heart and live freely. What¡¯s the point of cultivating if I can¡¯t stay true to myself?¡±

    If Qi Yuan had only understood Absolute Adaptation, he might have complied with the White Dragon Abyss Lord for the sake of survival. But he also grasped the path of Doing as One Pleases.

    Purple Fate Ancestor sighed deeply, then bowed to the White Dragon Abyss Lord. ¡°Apologies for the disturbance, Abyss Lord.¡±

    He would respect Blood Robe¡¯s choice. The only regret was that he might not be able to fully protect him.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord stared intently at Qi Yuan, deep in thought. Finally, she murmured, ¡°What if... I were to bear the child instead?¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s eyes grew wide, and his beard trembled with astonishment.

    He knew that the White Dragon Abyss Lord was of the Dragon Clan and, more specifically, the Dark Nether White Dragons. This clan had a unique tradition: rather than bearing children themselves, they sought Dao partners to bear their offspring to preserve the bloodline.

    Because of this, they often formed alliances or marriages with other races.

    The fact that the White Dragon Abyss Lord would propose personally bearing a child for Blood Robe was unimaginable.

    Dark Nether White Dragons would only bear a child themselves if gravely injured or close to death. For her to make such an offer now was unthinkable.

    But the White Dragon Abyss Lord was confident. She felt that she was offering him a precious gift.

    Yet the answer she received was...

    ¡°I refuse,¡± Qi Yuan said flatly. ¡°Marriage and children without love¡ªit¡¯s not right.¡±

    Though others might see it as a fantastic opportunity for Qi Yuan, he valued equality. Why should men or women feel they¡¯ve gained something by being with someone? Isn¡¯t it possible... he would lose out?

    Did he truly need the White Dragon Abyss Lord as a protector?

    Not really.

    His greatest enemy was the Taihuang Palace¡¯s Great Sovereign. Would the White Dragon Abyss Lord really be willing to defend him against such a formidable foe? Most likely not.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord looked at Qi Yuan, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. ¡°You won¡¯t accept this either?¡±

    Clearly, she was genuinely surprised.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, White Dragon Abyss Lord, but I don¡¯t need a protector right now,¡± Qi Yuan replied resolutely.

    Purple Fate Ancestor was shocked but finally sighed. ¡°It seems Blood Robe and the Abyss Lord are not fated to be.¡±

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord gazed at Qi Yuan, disappointment filling her eyes. ¡°If you ever change your mind, my offer stands.¡±

    With those words, her figure vanished in an instant.

    A few breaths later, just outside the Demon Abyss, a female Supreme Truth cultivator, visibly shocked, observed the scene.

    ¡°Abyss Lord, why would you consider... having a child with a junior? And he had the nerve to refuse!¡±

    The woman had overheard the conversation. She was shocked and frustrated, both astonished by the Abyss Lord¡¯s offer and angered that Blood Robe had turned her down.

    ¡°How could this Blood Robe deserve the honor! Even if he refused, I¡¯d persuade the Abyss Lord to abandon the thought,¡± she muttered.

    A deep light flickered in the Abyss Lord¡¯s eyes. She mused, ¡°Are there any other dragons in the Sixth Heaven?¡±

    The female Supreme Truth paused. ¡°None, as far as I know. Unless...¡±

    Purple Fate Snow huffed in anger, her cheeks puffing. "She¡¯s dreaming! Who in the world would agree to such a thing? Blood Robe Senior, tell me who she is¡ªI¡¯ll teach her a lesson for her shamelessness!"

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯d take her on? You¡¯d eliminate her?¡± Qi Yuan blinked, suppressing a smile. ¡°She¡¯s somewhat powerful, you know; she might be more than you can handle.¡±

    Little Snow¡¯s heart warmed, sensing his concern for her.

    ¡°No matter how strong she is, I¡¯m not afraid. I¡¯ll scold her good, and I¡¯ll keep training harder!¡± Little Snow replied defiantly.

    ¡°Yes, well, she¡¯s the Abyss Lord of White Dragon Abyss. She probably hasn¡¯t gone too far. If you want to catch her, there¡¯s still time,¡± Qi Yuan teased.

    ¡°Wait¡ªwhat?¡± Purple Fate Snow¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her face filling with disbelief. ¡°The Abyss Lord... of White Dragon Abyss?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The old man tried to make her my protector, but she wanted to give birth to my child first,¡± Qi Yuan said with a sigh. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s too risky to be this handsome in the immortal realms. Just stepping outside invites trouble.¡±

    Purple Fate Snow was dumbfounded, the revelation like a bolt from the blue.

    But then she pouted pitifully. ¡°Blood Robe Senior, I¡¯d never dare scold the White Dragon Abyss Lord. I don¡¯t want... to bear her child!¡±

    After all, this Abyss Lord was infamous for making people pregnant just by looking at them. Purple Fate Little Snow wasn¡¯t ready to experience that.

    ¡°Haha, no need to worry. It¡¯s all under control,¡± Qi Yuan reassured her. ¡°So, did you find anything on the mysterious lands?¡±

    At the mention of work, Purple Fate Snow immediately focused.

    ¡°Yes, I found three places that match what you asked for,¡± she said eagerly.

    ¡°Oh? Which ones?¡±

    ¡°The first is Star Drunken Land. From here, you can see the ghostly banners of Ghost Pass from afar, and while a day passes in the Sixth Heaven, it equates to roughly twelve days there.

    "This land is the safest among the three. So long as you enter unnoticed, you¡¯ll be quite secure,¡± she said dutifully.

    ¡°The time flow¡¯s a bit slow. What about the others?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He figured it would take quite a lot of time to identify any weaknesses in the Ghost Soul Banner.

    ¡°The second land is called Hibiscus Land. A single day in the Sixth Heaven equals about thirty days there.¡±

    ¡°But this land produces a rare fragrance called Hibiscus Drunk that could lead even a Yang God into a dreamlike stupor, trapped in endless illusions. It¡¯s quite dangerous,¡± Little Snow added nervously.

    This land was hazardous, and she didn¡¯t recommend it.

    ¡°And the third?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Little Snow hesitated briefly, then replied, ¡°The last place is called Heaven Earth Land. One day in the Sixth Heaven equals roughly a year and a half there.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Now that¡¯s interesting!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes sparkled.

    With that time flow, it wouldn¡¯t take long to figure out the weaknesses in the Ghost Soul Banner. Not only could he boldly infiltrate Ghost Pass, but he might even find a way to claim control over its shadowy projection.

    ¡°But this land... is rumored to have a Yang God from the Holy Light Clan!¡± Little Snow added fearfully.

    The terror of the Holy Light Clan was well-known throughout the Sixth Heaven¡¯s major sanctuaries.

    This clan originated from beyond the Sixth Heaven, and their words carried irresistible power¡ªordinary cultivators would instinctively believe anything they said. Even for Yang Gods at the level of Supreme Truth, the Holy Light Clan was something to avoid.

    ¡°The Holy Light Clan?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°They sound fascinating. I¡¯d like to see them for myself.¡±

    He had to admit that the Holy Light Clan¡¯s words would likely influence him too¡ªbut it was bound to make his nose grow longer!

    The contrast seemed both strange and amusing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not afraid of them,¡± Qi Yuan said, leaning forward. ¡°So, where exactly is this Heaven Earth Land?¡±

    Purple Fate Snow wavered, whispering, ¡°Blood Robe Senior, the Holy Light Clan is truly terrifying. I¡¯m afraid...¡±

    ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ve met them before. In fact, I even killed one once,¡± Qi Yuan said with a proud grin.

    After all, it had taken all he had to eliminate the powerful Eastern Lord.

    ¡°Really?¡± Little Snow looked skeptical.

    ¡°Trust me! You know I only do things with a solid plan,¡± he replied confidently. ¡°Remember my grand strategy? Didn¡¯t that Hui Zeng meet exactly the end we predicted?¡±

    If she¡¯d doubted before, hearing this just left her even more perplexed.

    ¡°Blood Robe Senior, Hui Zeng fell at the hands of the Human Emperor Hall¡¯s emissary!¡± Little Snow reminded him.

    ¡°Hmph, without my grand strategy, would Hui Zeng have met his end so neatly? It was all within my master plan!¡± Qi Yuan declared, exuding confidence.

    ¡°... ¡±

    Little Snow suddenly remembered something else. Blood Robe Senior had requested a mysterious land from which the Ghost Soul Banner could be observed. Presently, the only person with a strong interest in the Ghost Soul Banner was the Human Emperor Hall¡¯s emissary.

    A bold idea formed in her mind.

    ¡°Blood Robe Senior, do you know the Human Emperor Hall¡¯s emissary?¡± she asked in a hushed, cautious voice.

    ¡°Know him? I suppose, sort of... or maybe not exactly,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    How exactly does one claim to ¡°know¡± oneself?

    This realization struck Purple Fate Snow like a tidal wave.

    That mysterious, awe-inspiring emissary of the Human Emperor Hall¡ªher Blood Robe Senior knew him!

    Relieved, she felt certain that the place her Blood Robe Senior would go wouldn¡¯t be this hazardous territory. Only the Human Emperor Hall emissary would go.

    ¡°Heaven Earth Land. The exact location is...¡± she told him, making sure to add, ¡°Senior, please remind the emissary that the Holy Light Clan may be lurking there.¡±

    ¡°Interesting name, isn¡¯t it?¡± Qi Yuan remarked. ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t mention today¡¯s discussion to anyone!¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Little Snow promised solemnly. ¡°You know my lips are sealed. I¡¯d never let a word slip.¡±

    She felt a thrill¡ªshe was serving Blood Robe Senior and the emissary of the Human Emperor Hall, assisting with truly great endeavors.

    In the end, it was her counsel and meticulous suggestions that had made the grand strategy even more effective.

    The emissary''s success and Yang Gods¡¯ defeat were all due to her careful involvement.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her with a hint of approval. ¡°Good. I can trust you to keep quiet!¡±

    With a cheerful heart, Little Snow skipped out of the cave.

    Inside, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted to the direction of Heaven Earth Land as his eyes sparkled. ¡°A day for a year and a half... In half a month, I¡¯ll have Ghost Pass turned inside out!¡±

 Chapter 468: Heaven Earth Mystical Land, the Souls Patrol the Heavens

    Chapter 468: Heaven Earth Mystical Land, the Souls Patrol the Heavens

    In a remote place.

    An ancient city lay scattered with buildings few and far between. In the marketplace, only a handful of structures remained standing. The dark night blanketed the place, and there was barely a cultivator in sight.

    Qi Yuan stood cloaked in darkness, his face obscured. As his divine sense swept over the marketplace, he murmured to himself.

    ¡°There¡¯s barely anyone here¡ªit doesn¡¯t feel like the Sixth Heaven at all.¡±

    In the Sixth Heaven, the immortal Dao flourished; every marketplace teemed with people, shrouded in a mist of immortal energy. Here, however, everything was bleak and somber, as if it had long been abandoned.

    The paths of the marketplace were neither clean nor tidy. Broken stone slabs lay scattered in the mud, and there was a faint odor of stale urine lingering in the air.

    As Qi Yuan stepped into the marketplace, an eerie ghostly flame flickered ahead.

    Suddenly, a short figure appeared, hunched over like an elderly woman, shrouded in a drab gray robe with a mask covering her face.

    ¡°Young man, are you here to try your luck in Heaven Earth Mystical Land?¡± the gray-robed woman rasped, her voice harsh as though scratching against her throat.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her. ¡°I¡¯m here for the Heaven Earth Mystical Land, but not for luck.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d advise you to be cautious. There may be treasures in Heaven Earth Mystical Land, but...¡± The gray-robed woman¡¯s tone turned sinister. ¡°There are countless dangers there. Don¡¯t lose your life and leave your loved ones grieving.¡±

    She stood close by, her form as frail as a candle in the wind, as though she might perish at any moment.

    ¡°Thanks for the advice. Rest assured, I won¡¯t die even if the Sixth Heaven itself falls,¡± Qi Yuan replied confidently.

    ¡°You young folks are all talk, but Heaven Earth Mystical Land is full of mysteries. Its ghostly souls patrol the skies, preying on the lives of all who enter. You¡¯ll likely meet your end there,¡± the woman croaked ominously.

    ¡°Hey, who are you calling immature?¡± Qi Yuan couldn''t resist retorting. ¡°You¡¯re a bit young yourself, aren¡¯t you? Harassing me on the street like this, throwing around words like ¡®immature.¡¯ Maybe you should check if your hair has grown in yet!¡±

    ¡°Wha¡ª¡± The gray-robed woman gasped. ¡°How did you... see through my disguise?¡±

    Her voice had lost its raspy tone, now crisp like mountain springs striking stone¡ªa voice belonging to someone young.

    The gray robe she wore was a treasured heirloom, one that even a legendary Yang God cultivator couldn¡¯t easily see through. Yet, this young man had seen through it without issue.

    How could she not be shocked? Even if a legendary Yang God cultivator attempted to see her true form, her treasured heirloom would react, and she would know.

    But the treasure gave no reaction.

    Could he see her true form without triggering the treasure? Did this mean he could see her... and all the rest?

    Realizing this, her face flushed as she scrambled to cover herself, her face a mask of terror as she fled.

    Watching her retreating figure, Qi Yuan shook his head, exasperated. ¡°Completely unreasonable. Lucky for her that she ran into me. Had it been another Supreme Truth Yang God, she¡¯d have lost that treasure in no time.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes could see hidden details, so naturally, he had noticed the aura-concealing treasure the woman wore, which was an extraordinary creation.

    Regular Yang Gods might not detect it, but it wouldn¡¯t escape the eyes of a Supreme Truth Yang God.

    Some might kill her outright and take it. Those with a shred of decency might toss a few immortal stones her way as compensation before claiming it.

    Qi Yuan was different.

    He had his own code.

    This young woman still hadn¡¯t ¡°grown up¡± enough to meet the standards of his White Moonlight Ideal.

    Although born with the capacity to love, Qi Yuan was no Casanova. He had standards.

    She needed to be his ¡°White Moonlight.¡±

    But this encounter left Qi Yuan sighing. ¡°The moral corruption in the cultivation world is deep-rooted. Just meeting this woman immediately makes me imagine others robbing her of her treasure.¡±

    Although his thoughts were pure conjecture, he knew it wasn¡¯t his fault.

    The fault lay with... the cultivation world.

    ¡°When I get stronger, I¡¯ll restore justice to the Sixth Heaven!¡± Qi Yuan thought deeply.

    Thinking of this, he ventured deeper into the marketplace.

    The entrance to Heaven Earth Mystical Land was tucked away, barely noticeable in the farthest corner of the marketplace.

    Meanwhile, in a concealed cave...

    An elderly woman with a warm smile asked, ¡°Who bullied our little Yun¡¯er?¡±

    Dressed in her gray robe, Tian Yun¡¯s beauty still shone through, pure and unspoiled.

    ¡°Aunt Luan, there¡¯s a strange man in the marketplace!¡± Tian Yun said, her thoughts returning to that black-robed man, her feelings a mix of fear and anger.

    ¡°Heaven Earth Mystical Land is rich in spiritual treasures, so it¡¯s normal for cultivators to come treasure-hunting. Yun¡¯er, you¡¯re too kind-hearted, always warning them... but as the saying goes, you can¡¯t reason with those destined to die. If he insists on entering Heaven Earth Mystical Land to seek his death, let him,¡± Aunt Luan replied, her eyes flashing with a hint of sorrow as she mentioned the mystical land.

    In fact, she and Tian Yun were both natives of Heaven Earth Mystical Land.

    However, when a villain usurped the land, Aunt Luan had escaped with Tian Yun, preserving their lives.

    The villain was powerful, and nearly their entire clan had been exterminated.

    Fortunately, that villain dared not enter the Sixth Heaven; otherwise, even hiding here wouldn¡¯t have saved them.

    ¡°Aunt Luan, this time is different. That man... he seemed to see through my family¡¯s treasure!¡± Tian Yun recounted the events to Aunt Luan.

    Hearing this, Aunt Luan¡¯s face paled. ¡°You¡¯re certain he saw it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Despite my family treasure¡¯s disguise, he knew my true identity!¡± Tian Yun replied.

    Aunt Luan grew solemn. ¡°If he truly saw through the family treasure, he¡¯s undoubtedly...¡±

    Her expression turned fearful, laden with heavy worry.

    A Supreme Truth-level cultivator.

    If someone that powerful detected the treasure on Tian Yun, why had he let her live?

    Perhaps he was planning something grander?

    Rising, Aunt Luan scanned the surroundings with her divine sense, her chest heaving. ¡°Is the senior still present? I would gladly offer the treasure; I only beg for mercy on our lives!¡±

    Her voice was loud, sincere, and brimming with humility.

    If such a powerful cultivator were lurking, she wouldn¡¯t detect them anyway¡ªthey could kill her instantly.

    Tian Yun¡¯s face paled as realization dawned.

    However, the silence around them remained unbroken; there was no response.

    After waiting for nearly a hundred breaths, Aunt Luan sighed in relief.

    ¡°Could it be... we encountered a senior with the spirit of a true gentleman?¡± she wondered aloud.

    If it were her, she doubted she could suppress her own greed.

    At the very least, she¡¯d have claimed it in the name of a ¡°bargain.¡±

    Hearing this, Tian Yun¡¯s embarrassment lifted, her previous anger at Qi Yuan dissipating into a faint admiration. ¡°To think he was truly a virtuous senior... though...¡±

    Her cheeks flushed as her voice trailed off.

    After all, so long as he upheld the greater principles, his minor personal flaws were forgivable.

    ¡°Aunt Luan, won¡¯t he be in danger if he enters Heaven Earth Mystical Land?¡± she asked anxiously.

    After all, the Holy Light Clan was in there.

    Because of the Holy Light Clan, few Yang Gods ever ventured into Heaven Earth Mystical Land.

    Those who attempted it were often low-level cultivators and Yin Gods.

    With a complex expression, Aunt Luan replied, ¡°A typical cultivator entering Heaven Earth Mystical Land would almost certainly meet death. But... if he dares go, he must have some confidence. We are too weak to presume what such figures may intend.¡±

    Tian Yun¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Does that mean he might drive out that villain? Could we... finally return home?¡±

    The thought of Heaven Earth Mystical Land, her birthplace, thrilled Tian Yun. If that villain fell, she could go home.

    Aunt Luan shook her head. ¡°The Holy Light Clan won¡¯t be so easily vanquished. That senior might only manage to protect himself. If he encounters the Holy Light Clan, he could be in danger as well.¡±

    Though she spoke of avoiding presumption, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder.

    He had no intention of hiding; he intended to stay right where he was to observe the souls.

    However, he didn¡¯t share this with Stone Pan, knowing it would spark a wave of pleading and persuasion.

    Clutching his mother¡¯s robe, Stone Pan backed away.

    Once again, Qi Yuan was left alone in this corner of the mystical land.

    ¡°Time to resume my forging practice,¡± he muttered, continuing to hone his techniques or crafting new additions to the Qi Yuan Scriptures.

    Time slipped by, and before he knew it, night had fallen.

    The land grew eerily still.

    Even the chirping of insects had vanished.

    It felt as if he were standing in an isolated wasteland.

    The chilly night air made Qi Yuan yawn. ¡°Perfect weather for a nap.¡±

    A spectral fog rose, filling the air with an eerie chill.

    Qi Yuan lay back on his icy reclining chair, entirely at ease.

    Just then, a cultivator rushed by in a streak of light. ¡°Friend, hurry! The Soul Patrol will start soon¡ªquick, find a Wind Cave!¡± the passerby warned, disappearing into the nearest Wind Cave.

    Qi Yuan remained calm.

    With the Netherworld in his Purple Mansion, he had no reason to fear souls.

    If anything, the souls should fear him!

    If they dared approach, he¡¯d trap them within the Human Sovereign Banner for a long-overdue ethical transformation¡ªfree labor for eternity.

    About a hundred breaths later, the air darkened further.

    Absolute silence fell across the land.

    Everywhere he looked, black smoke drifted from the ground.

    The silence shattered as rhythmic footsteps echoed through the night.

    Tap... tap... tap...

    It sounded like an army of spectral soldiers marching from the underworld.

    Each figure wore broken armor stained with blood, their bodies battered, their eyes vacant.

    They moved aimlessly, like lost souls with no home to return to.

    ¡°Soul... no home...¡± they murmured, their voices laden with sorrow and desolation.

    [Eroded Specters of an Ancient Battlefield: Souls of warriors who died defending the border. With a homeland in ruins, their souls roam without rest.]

    A flood of information filled Qi Yuan¡¯s mind, reminding him of the voice he¡¯d heard from the Mysterious Jade Bell¡ªthe same voice that had conveyed a letter from a soldier¡¯s family.

    If these specters were indeed the same, then the warriors on the front lines had lost that long-ago battle. With their lands ravaged, all had perished.

    ¡°Even if they had won, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered... in the end, everyone perished anyway,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    As he gazed upon the spectral soldiers, their empty eyes turned toward him, anger beginning to glimmer within.

    Then, a sneering voice called out.

    ¡°Soul Patrol Night, and you dared remain outside. You¡¯ve sealed your fate!¡±

    Qi Yuan looked toward the source¡ªa lavish palanquin trailing the ghostly army.

    From within, a haughty voice sneered, evidently accustomed to flaunting authority.

    Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°This land isn¡¯t your personal property. Do you have a deed? Why shouldn¡¯t I stay here?¡±

    ¡°Make no mistake¡ªin Heaven Earth Mystical Land, the Holy Light Clan is king!¡± The voice from the palanquin was both domineering and insolent. ¡°Dare to talk back? When you should have bowed before me? Your body and soul will be sustenance for my ghost servants!¡±

    At the speaker¡¯s command, hundreds of specters surged toward Qi Yuan, their terrifying energy blanketing the area in dread.

    ¡°Heh, even myths would fall before my ghost servants,¡± the palanquin occupant gloated. ¡°Boy, in the next life, don¡¯t mess with me!¡±

    The specters¡¯ empty eyes glowed a sinister red as they charged, closing in around Qi Yuan.

    Unperturbed, Qi Yuan merely lay there. As the ghostly horde approached, he spoke calmly:

    ¡°I am your commanding officer. How dare you think of harming me?¡±

    As he spoke, he activated the Great Forgetting Sutra for a ¡°righteous transformation.¡±

    His voice seemed to carry an inexplicable power, causing the spectral soldiers to hesitate, confusion flickering in their hollow gazes.

    The figure within the palanquin noticed the specters¡¯ hesitation, his expression shifting to one of shock. He quickly called out, ¡°What are you all doing? Strike him down!¡±

    Frantically, he shook a bell in his hand, its eerie chime ringing out. The specters¡¯ eyes grew vacant again, and they resumed their march toward Qi Yuan, now intent on killing him. Their combined force was enough to obliterate any ordinary cultivator, perhaps even a Heaven Rank Yang God would struggle against their power in this mystical land (since they get supressed to Myth rank).

    The figure in the palanquin sneered, his confidence returning as he watched the army close in on Qi Yuan. In the Sixth Heaven, he might have been a mere Purple Palace cultivator of no great importance, but here, in the Heaven Earth Mystical Land, even Yang Gods had fallen before him. He relished the power he wielded over the specters.

    But in the next moment, his triumphant smirk faltered.

    Without any warning, a dark, cloaked figure appeared inside his palanquin. The stranger held the bell, examining it with a curious glint in his eye.

    ¡°So, it¡¯s this little bell you¡¯re using to control them?¡±

    The specter-controller¡¯s face twisted in terror. ¡°You¡ªhow did you get in here?¡±

    After all, even a god would be hard-pressed to bypass the wrathful ghost army outside. The thought that someone could avoid the specters altogether and appear beside him was beyond his comprehension.

    ¡°You... you can¡¯t kill me! I¡¯m a holy envoy of the Holy Light Clan, and this bell was bestowed upon me by my master!¡± he stammered in desperation. ¡°If you harm me, the Clan will not rest until you¡¯re destroyed! Do you have any idea of the power of the Holy Light Clan?¡±

    ¡°I really hate being threatened, and by the way, don¡¯t put on airs you can¡¯t back up. You might just get struck by lightning,¡± Qi Yuan said, his voice low.

    Without further ado, Qi Yuan struck, his fingers crackling with violet lightning as he pressed them onto the man¡¯s chest. A faint sizzle of energy later, the so-called holy envoy was no more.

    Qi Yuan picked up the bell, now fully intrigued by it, and turned his gaze to the specters still advancing toward him.

    "Bold of you all. I am your commanding officer¡ªdo you truly not recognize me?" he declared, channeling the Great Forgetting Sutra once again, deepening its hold on the specters.

    Strangely, his voice carried an inexplicable pull, making the specters falter, confusion lingering in their hollow eyes. With the holy envoy¡¯s bell no longer in play, the sutra¡¯s power increased, further breaking through their clouded minds.

    "Remember," Qi Yuan intoned, "I once stood with you, defending the frontier against endless invasions. Or have you forgotten?"

    His words struck the specters like a spell. Their empty eyes began to glimmer with something almost like recognition. The silence thickened, then broke as the ghostly army dropped to one knee.

    ¡°Greetings, Commander!¡± their voices echoed hollowly, their eyes shining with renewed vigor.

    ¡°That¡¯s more like it,¡± Qi Yuan replied, satisfied. He raised his hand to reveal a tattered yet powerful banner. ¡°For our cause, the path forward requires commitment. Join me in the Human Sovereign Banner, and together, we¡¯ll march toward victory.¡±

    He watched as the spectral soldiers gazed at his banner with awe, their soulless eyes flickering with a spark of long-forgotten loyalty. Each of them looked ready to pledge allegiance with unrestrained fervor.

    ¡°Not yet. First, the chains that bind you to these sinister forces must be broken,¡± Qi Yuan added, observing the traces of corruption in their spiritual forms.

    He suspected the chains had been placed by the very Holy Light master who had bestowed the bell upon the specter-controller. Until the bonds were broken, the souls could not fully enter the Human Sovereign Banner without risk of corrupting it.

    Qi Yuan addressed them again, his voice steady and commanding. ¡°You¡¯ve made the right choice in following me. Opportunities are hard to come by. Like elite positions in a kingdom, some paths are only open to those with fortune, power... or luck.¡±

    He eyed the spectral soldiers, giving a wry smile. ¡°It¡¯s safe to say that, having reached this state, luck may not be on your side. But that¡¯s where I come in.¡±

    The specters immediately stood ready, awaiting his orders.

    ¡°Now, rally the others still wandering these lands. Bring back our comrades, and soon we will make our grand march!¡±

    Moved by his words, the specters scattered into the mist to locate their lost brethren. Qi Yuan watched them leave with a pleased look in his eyes.

    ¡°This place is an unexpected boon. I might just transform the Human Sovereign Banner into a true offensive treasure at this rate,¡± he murmured to himself, a surge of anticipation bubbling up within him.

    Elsewhere, deep inside the Wind Caves, the refugees huddled in fearful silence, a dim candle casting long, trembling shadows along the walls.

    Stone Pan clung tightly to his mother, his face a mixture of worry and determination. Outside, the occasional sound of ghostly wails drifted in, enough to send chills down their spines.

    The elderly man, his voice quavering, spoke up. ¡°I remember my grandfather telling me... once, these soul patrols were a blessing, a ritual to protect us from lurking spirits. Now, they¡¯ve become harbingers of death.¡±

    Heads nodded solemnly around him. Once, the soul patrol had been a revered night of protection and honor, and now it was a night of terror.

    In the corner, Stone Pan worked up the courage to speak to one of the visiting cultivators. ¡°Sir, by any chance, did you see a man in a dark cloak outside... he didn¡¯t enter any of the Wind Caves, did he?¡±

 Chapter 469: Frights and Surprises

    Chapter 469: Frights and Surprises

    Liu Xi looked at Stone Pan in surprise, then recalled, ¡°Before entering the Wind Cave, I caught sight of a fellow Daoist in black robes and advised him to enter.¡±

    Liu Xi added, ¡°But before I entered, he hadn¡¯t moved. Perhaps... he went to another cave?¡±

    Stone Pan¡¯s face paled instantly. ¡°There¡¯s only one Wind Cave nearby... all others are far away.¡±

    Realization dawned on him, followed by deep regret. He should have reminded that elder before leaving for the Wind Cave!

    In the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land, many new cultivators, confident in their abilities, disregarded the Spectral Souls entirely or even found them interesting, choosing to stay outside on Spectral Soul nights. Now, that elder didn¡¯t make it into this Wind Cave.

    As the nearby cultivator had said, he had yet to act when Liu Xi entered. Reaching another Wind Cave in time would have been impossible.

    Outside, the occasional, sinister howls of the Spectral Soul army echoed, casting a shiver through Stone Pan as he began to grasp what might happen.

    Liu Xi¡¯s tone was calm. ¡°Seems this friend is new here... it¡¯s unfortunate.¡±

    He had witnessed countless similar cases.

    Once, a mighty figure, the son of a Yang God, ventured into the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land in search of treasure, relying on a Yang God artifact left by his mother. He¡¯d dismissed the Spectral Souls, certain of his strength.

    And he ended up... dead.

    It was a common occurrence for Liu Xi, who had grown indifferent over time.

    ¡°Dawn is still hours away. Worrying won¡¯t help you,¡± Liu Xi, ever the kind-hearted, consoled Stone Pan. ¡°When daylight comes, you can retrieve his body. If his bones are sturdy, there might even be a few remains left.¡±

    Stone Pan: ¡°...¡±

    From inside the Wind Cave, the howls of the Spectral Souls sounded continuously.

    Stone Pan, anxious and on edge, kept craning his neck toward the mouth of the cave, too afraid to step outside but worrying deeply about Qi Yuan.

    Liu Xi, however, was unfazed. He found a spot, settled in, and closed his eyes to rest.

    ...

    Meanwhile, outside in the forest, darkness clung to the mountains, shadowed and restless. Glimpses of eerie green eyes could be seen glimmering through the blackness like the flickering gaze of a thousand specters.

    An army of thousands of Spectral Souls stood in lines, heads bowed, seemingly attending a declaration ceremony.

    Hovering above them, Qi Yuan was surrounded by these Spectral Souls, using the Great Forgetfulness Sutra to lecture and indoctrinate them.

    The previous night had been no ordinary night.

    With the Spectral Soul army leading, Qi Yuan had traversed countless miles, wiping out all Spectral Soul controllers in the surrounding area.

    Seizing the opportunity, he consolidated the Spectral Soul army under his command, with their numbers now reaching astounding proportions.

    Hovering above them, Qi Yuan addressed his new army, their faces fervent with excitement and zeal, their cheers crashing like tidal waves, more intense than any concert on Blue Star.

    ¡°To protect my land, we must forge a strong army, a disciplined and honorable force.¡±

    He paused. ¡°What does it mean to have honor? Well... it¡¯s the middle of the night, so let¡¯s keep the noise down and avoid disturbing others.¡±

    Honor and discipline? Qi Yuan himself wasn¡¯t known for having impeccable decorum and was no stranger to reacting to Bull Horn Sister¡¯s provocations.

    As for what constituted a disciplined army, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure.

    But... not disturbing others seemed a fair starting point.

    Maybe... a sense of unity?

    Sure enough, at his command, the entire army fell into silence, as if marked by an invisible stamp of control, with not one sound slipping from them.

    ¡°Discipline aside, we need strength. Now, let¡¯s start with the Thirty-Sixth Calisthenics Regiment for physical training.¡±

    Qi Yuan was feeling quite clever.

    In the past, he¡¯d watched martial heroes on television conquer different realms with just one set of moves.

    This calisthenics regimen? Not one bit inferior.

    After imparting the regimen to the Spectral Soul army, he continued calmly, ¡°Next, physical training, building a barracks, and setting up a Weapons Treasury.¡±

    Qi Yuan directed, watching the Spectral Souls, some still bound by remnants of the Holy Light Clan¡¯s constraints.

    He could see these Spectral Souls weren¡¯t naturally inclined to kill, nor would they need to patrol and slaughter.

    But the Holy Light Clan had polluted them with strange creations, apparently to fulfill an unspeakable purpose.

    Passing along the Thirty-Sixth Regiment moves, Qi Yuan began grinding down the curse mark on the control bell, lifting the seal that bound the Spectral Souls.

    ¡°Very good! Once these Spectral Souls return to normal, they can work day shifts in the Netherworld and join my Human Sovereign Banner for battle when the time comes.¡±

    Qi Yuan was a compassionate man who couldn¡¯t stand to see so many souls homeless and jobless like vagrants.

    So, he gave them a fresh start by offering them a fair job, all in the name of reducing unemployment.

    On Blue Star, such work would earn him a well-deserved ¡°living Bodhisattva¡± title.

    Guided by Qi Yuan, the Spectral Souls quickly dispersed, efficiently taking up their assignments. Some started practicing calisthenics, some chopped wood, while others constructed the barracks and treasury hall.

    Yet, they kept it quiet, remaining orderly and disciplined.

    Slowly, dawn began to break.

    Inside the Wind Cave, Stone Pan sat with dark circles under his eyes, having stayed up all night. His mind was weary.

    Outside, the howling of the Spectral Soul army had died down long ago, replaced by an eerie silence punctuated by the occasional strange sound.

    Desperate to see what had happened outside, he longed to check on the elder who had kept them safe through the night.

    ¡°Daylight¡¯s here, the Spectral Souls are gone, thank goodness.¡± Liu Xi said, stretching as he rose and headed for the cave¡¯s exit.

    Stone Pan and the other refugees followed suit, stepping out behind him.

    Stone Pan, especially, was overcome with worry. Standing near the cave entrance, he finally rushed out, heading toward where Qi Yuan was last seen.

    ¡°Aahh!¡±

    About ten breaths later, Stone Pan suddenly let out a terrified scream.

    His legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, overwhelmed with fear.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± His mother called anxiously from the Wind Cave, rushing out to his side.

    ¡°There... there are Spectral Souls... so many of them!¡± Stone Pan stammered, visibly shaken.

    Ahead of him, the mountains stretched out, filled with terrifying figures.

    These souls appeared translucent, eyes glowing an unnatural green, like wisps of smoke.

    The terrifying figures moved about with purpose: some were chopping trees, some carrying logs, while others seemed to be doing a strange, almost comical dance in unison.

    Stone Pan had never seen Spectral Souls before, but his instinct immediately identified these creatures as such.

    ¡°Child, it¡¯s broad daylight! How could there be Spectral Souls out now? You¡¯ve frightened yourself,¡± Liu Xi chuckled as he adjusted his robes, slowly exiting the cave.

    Clearly, he thought Stone Pan had let his imagination run wild.

    However, when he stepped out and caught sight of the scene, his expression froze in shock.

    The other refugees inside the cave saw Liu Xi go ghostly pale as he hastily retreated back into the cave.

    ¡°Spectral Souls... in broad daylight?¡± Liu Xi¡¯s voice trembled with bewilderment.

    He¡¯d been in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land for a hundred years, yet had never encountered such a phenomenon.

    Not only was it daytime, but a mere glance showed that there were thousands of them.

    It was terrifying.

    ¡°Damn, that kid Stone Pan is still out there...¡± Liu Xi¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    ¡°Spiritual jade, treasure¡ªanything you need, I¡¯ll provide.¡±

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan tossed a storage pouch to Liu Xi.

    Money wasn¡¯t an issue for him.

    He¡¯d already killed enough Yang Gods to make the wealth of the Molo Clan his own.

    Liu Xi hesitated, his expression uneasy.

    Serving a sage was beneficial, but it came with risks.

    After all, this sage had directly challenged the Holy Light Clan.

    He feared the consequences.

    After a brief struggle, Liu Xi declined, saying, ¡°I apologize, Senior. I¡¯m somewhat of a loner and rarely interact with others. I fear I might make a mess of things.¡±

    Liu Xi gritted his teeth, opting to decline.

    Given the choice between opportunity and safety, his life mattered more.

    Stone Pan, however, couldn¡¯t help but pipe up, ¡°Elder, do you think I could manage it?¡±

    He was nervous.

    For one, he was young.

    For another, he lacked cultivation.

    Hearing Stone Pan¡¯s audacious suggestion, Liu Xi stifled a laugh.

    The boy was courageous, if a little reckless.

    But Qi Yuan looked thoughtful. ¡°Of course... you can.¡±

    Even the small county of Peixian, where Liu Bang came from, had produced great people.

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s view, this world held no shortage of ¡°capable individuals¡± besides those with top-tier talents.

    For any person, the scarcest thing was opportunity.

    If the individual wasn¡¯t too unconventional, it was worth trying. Experience could refine them.

    Besides, ability was never his main focus.

    If it had been, why would he have allowed Bull Horn Sister onto his team?

    Stone Pan¡¯s face lit up with delight. ¡°Thank you, Elder!¡±

    ¡°This talisman will protect you,¡± Qi Yuan said, casually tossing him a talisman. ¡°I¡¯ll assign a squad of Spectral Souls to accompany you. Handle all transactions, and do not disturb me unless necessary.¡±

    Qi Yuan had no intention of micromanaging.

    His primary goal was the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner.

    Everything else was secondary.

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Stone Pan accepted the storage bag and talisman with joy.

    ¡°If you can¡¯t open the storage pouch, have one of the Spectral Souls open it for you,¡± Qi Yuan added, tossing him a jade slip. ¡°Practice with this as you please.¡±

    The technique inside was something he had obtained from the Molo Clan.

    To Qi Yuan, it was barely more than a trinket.

    To other cultivators, however, the technique could provoke infighting among the lesser souls.

    Liu Xi eyed Stone Pan enviously before ultimately shaking his head.

    No reward was worth dying over.

    ...

    At the Holy Light Clan.

    Heaven Remnant Sage squinted his eyes, his stooped figure resembling a decrepit servant.

    Before him, a mythic cultivator stood, sweating with anxiety.

    The previous night, the Spectral Soul patrol had suffered an astonishing failure, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of souls.

    It was no small matter.

    The Heaven Remnant Sage¡¯s eyes were cloudy as he spoke. ¡°Someone who can command such a large force of Spectral Souls is beyond our control.¡±

    This news had caught him off guard.

    Years ago, in pursuit of his son, he had ventured into the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land and fallen into the thrall of the Holy Light lineage, forced into servitude.

    Most Yang Gods in the Sixfold Heavens knew the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land was under the Holy Light lineage¡¯s rule.

    No one would dare venture there lightly.

    If they did, they would surely avoid the Holy Light lineage.

    But this person seemed to have no such concerns, going so far as to capture and command Spectral Souls.

    Was this Yang God courting death?

    ¡°Senior, what should we do now?¡± The mythic cultivator asked with trepidation.

    The Heaven Remnant Sage narrowed his gaze. ¡°For now, avoid him on the next Spectral Soul patrol. We¡¯ll wait until the master comes out of seclusion.¡±

    Hearing this, the mythic cultivator finally exhaled in relief.

    But unease still clouded his face.

    If the master blamed him upon return, he would be doomed.

    Spring turned to autumn.

    Time passed.

    Six years drifted by like sand through an hourglass.

    Inside the barracks, Qi Yuan lay in an ungraceful sprawl.

    ¡°Sigh... these Spectral Soul controllers have grown clever. They¡¯re patrolling underground now!¡±

    Indeed, over the years, Qi Yuan had not only been observing the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner but also continued gathering Spectral Souls.

    Providing decent work for these wandering souls.

    The Holy Light Clan hadn¡¯t shown the domineering presence he¡¯d expected. Their patrols actively avoided him.

    Initially, it had been enough to simply stay distant.

    Qi Yuan had expended considerable effort rounding up these wayward Spectral Souls, only for the Holy Light Clan to patrol further and further, hiding their routes to avoid him.

    Now they weren¡¯t even patrolling the skies but had taken to patrolling underground!

    Fortunately, Qi Yuan¡¯s keen hearing had caught wind of them, allowing him to rescue his Spectral Soul companions from the depths of the earth.

    ¡°Elder, Stone Pan requests an audience!¡±

    A voice echoed from afar, and soon a tall, spirited young man strode forward.

    It was Stone Pan.

    Matured from the boy he had been six years ago, he now stood tall, having become a cultivator.

    ¡°Come in,¡± Qi Yuan replied lazily.

    It seemed he¡¯d made some gains.

 Chapter 470: A True Battle Between Powerhouses!

    Chapter 470: A True Battle Between Powerhouses!

    ¡°Master, here are the treasures I¡¯ve gathered over the past year¡ª2,700 in total. The total cost came to...¡± Stone Pan bowed as he reverently handed the storage pouch filled with treasures to Qi Yuan. Over the years, he had served Qi Yuan with diligence and unwavering loyalty.

    With his own cultivation now well into the Foundation Establishment stage, Stone Pan was no longer the nai?ve boy of years past. Yet, the stronger he grew, the more he understood the unfathomable depth and power of the man before him¡ªa figure he could only admire and respect for a lifetime.

    ¡°Not bad. Let¡¯s hope there¡¯s something new in this batch.¡± Qi Yuan accepted the treasures, examining them closely. Over the years, he hadn¡¯t only been researching flaws in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner but had also been studying various forging methods.

    Unfortunately, due to the lack of materials, even though he had completed the Armory Pavilion, he had only managed to craft one weapon there. That single piece was forged from the remnants of ancient treasures that had been all but obliterated and reduced to mere ashes.

    He hadn¡¯t destroyed the other rare items to convert them into raw materials, perhaps because they were the last surviving tokens of certain lost civilizations and clans.

    As he browsed through the treasures, looking for anything that might yield a new forging method, Stone Pan slipped away quietly.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression sharpened. Fixing his gaze on the space in front of him, he spoke, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, show yourself.¡±

    A bright, cheerful voice rang out in response.

    ¡°Daoist, you¡¯ve graced our Heavenly Earth Mystical Land with your presence; my apologies for not welcoming you sooner. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡±

    A large figure, as broad as a double-door fridge, appeared with an almost comically small head. Following behind him was a hunched elder¡ªHeaven Remnant Sage himself.

    ¡°I am Dao Buer, the head of the Holy Light Clan,¡± Dao Buer said, his face beaming with a bright smile.

    As a servant, Heaven Remnant Sage stood quietly by, curiosity in his gaze as he regarded Qi Yuan. Meeting a Holy Light clansman without fleeing? The man clearly had nerves of steel.

    ¡°Are you here to fight?¡± Qi Yuan asked casually.

    The opponent was merely at the Supreme Truth Realm¡ªnothing too intimidating. While the Holy Light¡¯s Supreme Truth could indeed influence Supreme Truth experts of higher standing, Qi Yuan¡¯s own powers of resistance were formidable; he had no reason to fear.

    Dao Buer¡¯s face wavered slightly, ¡°Daoist, you jest. As a guest, I wouldn¡¯t harbor murderous intent toward you.¡±

    ¡°Ah...my nose grew,¡± Qi Yuan observed with disinterest. ¡°You lie; you have a trace of killing intent.¡±

    Dao Buer¡¯s expression subtly changed. He was filled with disbelief¡ªhow had his Holy Light¡¯s Command been detected? Could this man also possess a terrifying ancestral bloodline? That was the only explanation! It seemed this man wasn¡¯t a Sixfold Heaven cultivator either. Just like him, he was an outsider.

    He regarded Qi Yuan with heightened wariness, though his tone remained neutral. ¡°Daoist, you misunderstand. That was merely unintentional, just a hint of idle killing intent. Aren¡¯t you also covered in deathly energy?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s different. The ones I kill deserve it,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    ¡°So do mine,¡± Dao Buer countered without thinking.

    Qi Yuan paused, giving Dao Buer a considering look. ¡°Your face is thick, I¡¯ll give you that. Now, what do you want?¡±

    Standing silently at the side, Heaven Remnant Sage was thoroughly shocked. Shouldn¡¯t this black-robed man have knelt and submitted long ago?

    ¡°I¡¯m intrigued by how you control this army of Spectral Souls, Daoist. I¡¯d like to learn from you,¡± Dao Buer said calmly.

    Dao Buer¡¯s aims were lofty. To him, the key was complete control over the Spectral Soul army. But these souls were highly unique¡ªeven his Holy Light¡¯s Command was ineffective. Using bells to enforce control and pollute them yielded only minimal results¡ªprogress was frustratingly slow, and it seemed there might not be a solution.

    Yet, here this mysterious man in black had the Spectral Soul army working in perfect harmony. Some were building houses, some practicing calisthenics.

    ¡°It¡¯s because... I treat them sincerely, so they treat me sincerely in return,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Dao Buer paused, then laughed dismissively. ¡°Daoist, you jest.¡±

    It was clear he didn¡¯t believe Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    ¡°If I treated you sincerely, would you be loyal to me like these Spectral Souls are?¡± Qi Yuan asked with a faint smile.

    Dao Buer¡¯s smile stiffened. ¡°Daoist, I just remembered¡ªI have a batch of pills refining. Until tomorrow.¡±

    With that, Dao Buer turned and hurriedly left.

    Moments later, Dao Buer stood high above in the heavens, his gaze sweeping over the Spectral Soul army below, his face dark with complex emotions.

    ¡°He can actually resist the Holy Light¡¯s Command?¡±

    ¡°His bloodline must be extraordinary!¡±

    ¡°Could he be here for the same thing I am?¡±

    He muttered to himself, his mind racing.

    ¡°Still, he seems slightly weaker than me. If he were stronger, he would have attacked rather than testing me!¡±

    ¡°His bloodline ability must be similar to the Holy Light¡¯s Command. Engaging with him gave me an odd feeling...¡±

    Sensing the unusual energy, he dared not linger any longer and had chosen to leave.

    ¡°Holy Light¡¯s Command may not necessarily lose to him. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll confront him again. I refuse to believe I can¡¯t subdue another servant!¡±

    Collecting servants was of little interest to Dao Buer. What he sought was the means to control the Spectral Soul army.

    Meanwhile, lounging in his chair, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes glinted with interest.

    ¡°Absolute Adaptation... it¡¯s actually stabilizing?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s Supreme Truth insights consisted of Absolute Adaptation and Freedom. But his cultivation was still limited, so the progression and stabilization of these Supreme Truth abilities were sluggish. In battles against advanced Supreme Truth cultivators, he could barely use his Supreme Truth abilities.

    However, interacting with Dao Buer had given his Absolute Adaptation experience in adapting to Holy Light¡¯s Command.

    ¡°As the old man said, Supreme Truth insight has four levels: Dispersed, Gathered, Solid, and Patterned. I¡¯m still in the Dispersed phase.¡±

    A seasoned cultivator like Ancestor Purple Fate had likely reached the Solid level of insight.

    Only a Supreme Being¡¯s (faction leaders) Supreme Truth could reach the Patterned level.

    ¡°It seems Dao Buer needs to stay alive,¡± Qi Yuan thought.

    He could rely on Dao Buer to gain more experience, raising his mastery over Absolute Adaptation. This would be an enormous boost.

    The next day at dawn, Dao Buer and Heaven Remnant Sage appeared once again.

    ¡°Daoist, please don¡¯t misunderstand. I harbor no ill will toward you,¡± Dao Buer said in an even tone, secretly activating the Holy Light¡¯s Command.

    He had decided to visit this mysterious man in black daily to see who would triumph.

    The tall cultivator figured that Qi Yuan was on a short path to ruin. Stories of other cultivators had circulated in the tight circles of the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land, and many felt that Liu Xi, who had once declined a task for Qi Yuan, was the wiser one. Indeed, Liu Xi had recently entered a secret realm, securing valuable treasures and steadily advancing in cultivation. Meanwhile, this Supreme Truth Yang God, proud and dismissive, appeared to be courting death.

    At that thought, the tall cultivator began to retreat, deciding it was best not to associate with someone whose life was so clearly endangered.

    ¡°Elder, I have a question,¡± Stone Pan said softly.

    ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± The tall cultivator¡¯s tone had lost some of its former friendliness.

    ¡°What is combat among upper-level cultivators like?¡± Stone Pan inquired. ¡°Today, a cultivator named Dao Buer came to see my Master, and they...¡±

    He recounted the events of the day to the elder, hoping to gain some insight.

    The elder, a seasoned and experienced cultivator, knew far more than Stone Pan could ever hope to understand at this point.

    When he heard Stone Pan¡¯s story, the elder couldn¡¯t help but chuckle in amusement. ¡°Even if Supreme Truth cultivators do battle, it would never look like that. It sounds as if your Master is just having some fun with you.¡±

    The elder shook his head and left.

    Stone Pan was left alone, unsure of what to think. ¡°Master wouldn¡¯t lie to me,¡± he reasoned, ¡°and this elder must simply lack the insight.¡±

    Resolved, he continued to attend Qi Yuan each day, watching his Master ¡°duel¡± Dao Buer. He frowned and listened intently, striving to comprehend their cryptic exchanges.

    ¡°I¡¯m your father!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m your grandfather!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve broken your defense!¡±

    ¡°Keep barking, Stone Dog!¡±

    The more he listened, the more surreal it seemed.

    Time passed, and three years slipped by.

    Stone Pan¡¯s treasure-collecting expeditions slowed noticeably. Rumors spread that the Holy Light Clan¡¯s master was about to emerge from seclusion, causing many to avoid Qi Yuan¡¯s territory out of fear of provoking the Holy Light Clan.

    One day, after yet another war of words with Dao Buer, Qi Yuan felt particularly refreshed.

    ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve achieved Gathering-level Minor Accomplishment!¡±

    Through these prolonged and high-stakes verbal sparring sessions, Qi Yuan¡¯s Absolute Adaptation had survived and thrived in a high-pressure environment, reaching the minor Gathering-level phase.

    ¡°Now, without the Martial God path''s assistance, I should be able to withstand a Supreme Truth cultivator who¡¯s just entered the Great Supreme Truth stage.¡± Though, he noted, this only meant he could survive. To injure an average Great Supreme Truth cultivator, he would have to reach Major Accomplishment of the Solid level.

    As for defeating someone like Ancestor Purple Fate, a veteran Great Supreme Truth cultivator, he would have to reach the Patterned level of mastery.

    Dao Buer, in a way, was proving to be a reliable source of experience and a perfect ¡°battery¡± for Qi Yuan¡¯s cultivation.

    ¡°Stone Pan, what percentage have you understood so far?¡± Qi Yuan asked once more.

    Stone Pan gave a pained smile. ¡°Master, your disciple is dense. I have yet to comprehend even a single part.¡±

    For the past three years, he had witnessed these exchanges, yet understanding eluded him.

    ¡°Master¡¯s methods are profoundly simple and natural, deeply in tune with the Dao. It¡¯s beyond me.¡±

    ¡°Ah, with your intellect, this level of combat is difficult to grasp. Poor you,¡± Qi Yuan said with a sigh. ¡°Once you¡¯ve glimpsed the vastness of the ocean, no river will satisfy; after scaling Mount Wu, all other clouds seem insignificant. You¡¯ll likely find all other styles of combat unappealing in the future.¡±

    Stone Pan said nothing, but inside he was conflicted. As much as he focused on Master¡¯s verbal duels with Dao Buer... it felt less epic than two wild dogs barking at each other.

    Meanwhile, elsewhere, Dao Buer wiped sweat from his brow.

    ¡°That black-robed man is truly formidable. Over the years, he¡¯s influenced me subtly, whereas my Holy Light¡¯s Command... has almost no effect on him.¡±

    A fierce gleam flashed in Dao Buer¡¯s eyes. ¡°If there¡¯s no progress in another half year... then it seems I¡¯ll have to get serious.¡±

    Dao Buer was no ordinary Holy Light clansman. His strength was extraordinary. Should any cultivator from the Sixfold Heaven enter the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land, Dao Buer was confident he could toy with them. So he held little fear of Qi Yuan.

    It would be easy to kill him, but he wanted complete control, the secret to commanding the Spectral Soul army. If that proved impossible, however, he¡¯d have no choice but to resort to lethal force.

    After half a month, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression lit up with excitement.

    ¡°The Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner... I¡¯ve finally cracked its flaw!¡±

    Years of studying the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner had finally yielded results. Now, he could enter the Ghost Barrier as if the banner was a mere decoration. In fact, he could even steal the banner if he wanted to.

    ¡°But... I can¡¯t just stroll in, or the banner¡¯s master might notice something¡¯s amiss. I¡¯ll have to act as if it¡¯s a struggle, as though I¡¯m barely managing to slip through. I reckon I can get away with this about three times before he catches on, but... that¡¯s all I¡¯ll need.¡±

    He felt satisfied with his progress. The only regret was¡ª

    ¡°This Dao Buer seems to be losing his edge. He¡¯s stopped trying to insult me. That won¡¯t do; I¡¯ll have to let him think he has the upper hand.¡± Qi Yuan mused over this plan.

    Dao Buer¡¯s ¡°power supply¡± still had charge, and Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t ready to lose such a valuable energy source. Although his rate of improvement in Absolute Adaptation was slowing, Dao Buer was enough to push him to the next minor stage of Gathering-level.

    ¡°To spend a few extra years here just for Dao Buer¡ªcould this be the great love of a father? It¡¯s enough to bring tears to one¡¯s eyes!¡± Qi Yuan muttered, pleased with his own resilience.

    In the days that followed, Stone Pan¡¯s expression grew increasingly troubled. Despite his advancement to the Golden Core stage, he found little joy in it. Cultivators began avoiding Qi Yuan¡¯s territory; once close friends of Stone Pan¡¯s had drifted away.

    His journey in cultivation, which had once been full of guests and good company, was now marked by solitude.

    Even so, Stone Pan stayed by Qi Yuan¡¯s side. But he grew worried, for it seemed that lately Master was beginning to falter in his verbal exchanges with Dao Buer, a fact that caused Stone Pan great unease. He now believed that this was, in fact, high-level sparring between his Master and Dao Buer.

    ¡°Master... shouldn¡¯t we consider leaving the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land? You¡¯ve gathered plenty of treasures,¡± Stone Pan finally voiced his concerns.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°The treasures are ready, but I¡¯ve still got a bit more power to drain from that ¡®battery¡¯... Dao Buer.¡±

    Or rather, he was nearly depleted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Qi Yuan added thoughtfully. ¡°I expect I¡¯ll be leaving the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land in about half a month. You can stay here to continue gathering treasures.¡±

    ¡°Master, you¡¯re really leaving?¡± Stone Pan was both relieved and a bit downhearted. He was glad Master had taken his advice, but he felt a tinge of sadness.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yuan replied with a nod.

    Once he had fully exhausted Dao Buer¡¯s energy, he would end this tedious game. After all, Qi Yuan was no match for the tongue-twisting wits of the folks on Blue Planet. Luckily, Dao Buer wasn¡¯t particularly skilled in the art of insults either.

 Chapter 471: The Tattered Robeâ€™s Spectral Soul Emergesâ€”Kill!

    Chapter 471: The Tattered Robe¡¯s Spectral Soul Emerges¡ªKill!

    "A battle of this magnitude, shaking heaven and earth, would be recorded in the annals of the Sixfold Heaven... It''s a shame you were the only one to witness it," Qi Yuan remarked with a sigh.

    These past few years of intense confrontation had been nothing short of nerve-wracking. Even Qi Yuan himself felt his usual tricks had run thin, so much so that he wished he could record the highlights, add a soundtrack of either epic or tragic music like Desolation, and create a compilation video showcasing the battles. It would surely astonish many cultivators across the Sixfold Heaven.

    But Stone Pan only looked puzzled. Was this fight really that spectacular?

    "Go on back. I need to review today¡¯s performance and identify where I fell short. I can¡¯t repeat the same mistakes tomorrow!"

    With a wave of Qi Yuan''s hand, Stone Pan vanished from sight, leaving him alone in the empty hall.

    "When he threw in a roundabout insult about my mother, I¡¯ll admit I almost lost my composure. Luckily, my black robe hid it well; he didn¡¯t notice," Qi Yuan muttered.

    "Tomorrow, I''ll add a backing track, something to bolster my courage. With the right BGM, I¡¯m invincible!"

    The following day, warm sunlight shone through the spacious hall. The black-robed man lounged comfortably on a reclining chair, basking in the light. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps vibrated the ground, echoing as if the palace itself might collapse.

    A hulking figure appeared, his frame massive like a double-door refrigerator. His gaze was deep, giving the impression of an imposing war god, come to slay demons and banish evil.

    "Here you are," the man on the recliner said evenly, his tone calm and emotion hidden beneath his dark robes.

    "Your grandpa¡¯s here!" Dao Buer growled in a rough voice.

    ¡°Your grandpa¡¯s lying right here,¡± Qi Yuan replied with the same calmness.

    Dao Buer flinched as if struck by thunder. It was as if the god of thunder himself roared from the Nine Heavens above. His mind wavered, a hint of doubt flickering through his eyes. Could this black-robed man truly be my grandfather? Otherwise, how could he be immune to my Holy Light¡¯s Command?

    He quickly crushed the thought. ¡°Hmph, I''m older than you, so that makes me your grandpa!¡± Dao Buer retorted smugly, confident he¡¯d gained the upper hand.

    ¡°And is that why you refuse to bathe?¡± Qi Yuan responded flatly.

    As he spoke, he clapped his hands. Sixty-seven spectral souls entered the hall, carrying red flowers, drums, and other instruments, their faces painted in exaggerated red and white, strikingly unusual.

    ¡°Cue the BGM!¡± Qi Yuan snapped his fingers.

    The sixty-seven souls began to perform a lively dance, chanting joyfully, ¡°Dao Buer doesn¡¯t bathe!¡±

    ¡°Dao Buer doesn¡¯t bathe!¡± Their voices and animated movements, accompanied by the energetic beat of drums, created a surreal scene.

    Dao Buer¡¯s expression twisted in embarrassment before he coldly sneered, ¡°Resorting to such tactics, I see? You¡¯re stuck in the role of the grandson!¡±

    ¡°Dao Buer doesn¡¯t bathe!¡± Qi Yuan replied lazily.

    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got? Afraid to face me directly?¡±

    ¡°Did you bathe last night?¡±

    ¡°You¡ª¡± Dao Buer stammered.

    Time flowed on, half a month slipping by. The grand hall and its surrounding areas, even for hundreds of miles, saw few visitors. Only the spectral soul army remained, training and working tirelessly to forge a disciplined military force.

    Stone Pan, seated in his secluded chamber, glanced at a message on a jade slip, his eyes darkening. ¡°Ah Qing, if you keep pressing this, we won¡¯t even be friends anymore. Everything I have was given to me by my Master; how could I ever betray him?¡±

    The message was from a female cultivator he knew, a sweet and charming woman. She held feelings for him and now tried to persuade him to leave. But how could he abandon Qi Yuan, to whom he owed everything?

    Ah Qing only offered him emotional comfort¡ªwhat else did she have to offer?

    He put the jade slip into his storage pouch and ignored it.

    ¡°If the Holy Light Clan arrives... how will Master handle it?¡± he murmured. He had his own concerns; even though all the cultivators spoke of the Holy Light Clan''s strength and the Holy Light Clan Leader¡¯s invincibility, he sometimes felt unsettled.

    Far away, a group of cultivators gathered, anxiety in their faces.

    "Tonight is the Supreme Yin Spectral Night. Following tradition, the Holy Light Clan leader is bound to appear. That... Sage may be in danger,¡± one murmured.

    ¡°Hmph, that Sage¡¯s pride brought this on himself! After all, the Holy Light Clan is not to be trifled with.¡±

    ¡°Liu Xi, it¡¯s a good thing you didn¡¯t work for him; otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be alive to tell the tale!¡±

    Liu Xi sipped his wine, his thoughts heavy, not responding.

    ¡°I heard that Sage... was gravely injured, his soul weakened, and now he¡¯s mentally impaired. Apparently, for the past few years, he¡¯s been in a constant insult war with a rogue cultivator,¡± another chuckled.

    "Only someone out of his mind would stay here," another added.

    Finally, Liu Xi said, "Regardless, without that Sage, we¡¯d still have to hide in the wind tunnels on Spectral Nights. He¡¯s done us a great service, so let''s not speak ill of him."

    The other cultivators shrugged and said no more.

    "On every Supreme Yin Spectral Night, it¡¯s said an ancient soul appears, towering over all... Maybe tonight we¡¯ll finally catch a glimpse of that ancient power!"

    An elder¡¯s eyes glistened with curiosity. Typically, they hid away during Spectral Night, avoiding the roaming Spectral Souls. Now, with the spectral army bound by that Sage, they dared to venture out, safe from its dangers.

    ¡°That ancient soul... What kind of existence could it be? Could it rival a Great Supreme Truth?¡±

    ¡°A Great Supreme Truth is as strong as one can get,¡± a younger cultivator said nervously.

    ¡°This Heavenly Earth Mystical Land must have been a wondrous civilization in ancient times. What a pity,¡± one mused.

    ¡°Wait... insults... could it be?¡±

    One of the cultivators suddenly remembered the rumors and turned pale. The others quickly connected the dots. Could this mysterious rogue cultivator really be the Holy Light Clan Leader?

    If so, they had just witnessed an unthinkable revelation.

    Dao Buer¡¯s eyes burned with killing intent. ¡°So, this whole time, you were only pretending to be weak!¡±

    Qi Yuan chuckled, admitting easily, ¡°You got me.¡±

    Dao Buer¡¯s energy was nearly exhausted, and Qi Yuan had become sloppy in his performance.

    ¡°Assist me in commanding this spectral soul, and I¡¯ll spare your life,¡± Dao Buer said icily.

    Even without Holy Light¡¯s Command, Dao Buer felt confident he could kill Qi Yuan. And Qi Yuan had ventured into the Sixfold Heaven, so his fate was sealed.

    ¡°What gives you the confidence to think you could ¡®spare me¡¯?¡± Qi Yuan sneered. ¡°Are you so brain-addled from all the days of not bathing?¡±

    ¡°Beneath the Great Supreme Truth, I am unbeatable,¡± Dao Buer said. ¡°You¡¯re no Great Supreme Truth, I¡¯ve been watching you. What can you do against me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not a Great Supreme Truth,¡± Qi Yuan replied, ¡°but don¡¯t underestimate me. I may be just a Purple Mansion, but I can still defy fate!¡±

    ¡°Quit your bluffing. I¡¯ve already determined you¡¯re merely a Supreme Truth,¡± Dao Buer replied confidently.

    ¡°Your bloodline is intriguing,¡± Dao Buer continued coldly, ¡°but if I can¡¯t claim you, then I¡¯ll destroy you.¡±

    If he couldn¡¯t control Qi Yuan, he¡¯d simply obliterate him and search for another way to control the spectral soul.

    ¡°You¡¯re too dangerous with that mindset. No wonder the spectral soul won¡¯t listen to you. True respect requires sincerity,¡± Qi Yuan remarked.

    His ¡°charging station¡± had run dry; it was time to defeat Dao Buer once and for all.

    Qi Yuan gestured to the spectral soul. ¡°Old ghost, want to come dine at my place? Your brothers and sisters are all there.¡±

    Dao Buer¡¯s gaze flicked toward the spectral soul, shocked. Holy Light¡¯s Command had failed entirely, yet Qi Yuan¡¯s words caused the spectral soul to hesitate. With enough time, Qi Yuan might indeed be able to control the tattered robe.

    Regret filled Dao Buer¡¯s eyes. ¡°Unruly dogs are best killed.¡±

    Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Time for a real fight?¡±

    Dao Buer replied with silence, coldly watching Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be clear,¡± Qi Yuan said, ¡°I¡¯m not attacking out of frustration over losing the insult war. It¡¯s just that your lack of respect and indiscriminate killing need correction. I¡¯m here to administer justice!¡±

    He wanted to clarify, lest the nearby cultivators assume he was merely a sore loser.

    Across the distance, Liu Xi blinked and whispered, ¡°Are we certain these two are Sages?¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± another muttered, looking on in disbelief.

    ¡°Spare us the talk, and prepare to die!¡± Dao Buer roared. He finally moved, making a frontal assault without Holy Light¡¯s Command.

    Most believed the Holy Light Clan¡¯s power lay solely in their Holy Light¡¯s Command. But Dao Buer, one of the Holy Light Clan¡¯s top ten talents, had extraordinary combat strength.

    In pure battle prowess, he could go toe-to-toe with a Great Supreme Truth for at least a few moves.

    ¡°You are not a Great Supreme Truth, so this is the end for you!¡± Dao Buer shouted.

    A terrifying aura swept across the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land, draining the land of spirit energy. Even the cultivators¡¯ own spirit energy seemed to vanish, leaving them like mortals.

    But in the next breath, Dao Buer¡¯s expression shifted as the black-robed man moved. ¡°So what if I¡¯m not a Great Supreme Truth? Just because I¡¯m Purple Mansion, you think you can bully me?¡±

    A red-armored figure appeared where Qi Yuan had been, a bloody sword in hand and an aura so deep it defied comprehension.

    ¡°With you out of power, I need only one sword strike!¡±

    With that, he slashed. There was no fanfare, no dramatic shift in the environment, no upheaval in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land, just a simple, unadorned strike.

    Yet Dao Buer had no way to defend against it.

    For before him stood Qi Yuan, wielder of the Ancestral Blood Art at the thirteenth level, in the Martial God state with battle power equal to the Great Supreme Truth realm, combined with Five Element Essence Refining, Heavenly Path Foundation, Stellar Core, Innate God-Demon Nascent Soul, and the unrivaled Sixfold Heaven¡¯s First Purple Mansion.

    The more titles, the greater Qi Yuan¡¯s strength.

    ¡°Now I¡¯ll kill you... with one stroke!¡±

    With the swing of his blade, Dao Buer¡¯s body shattered.

    Seeing Dao Buer¡¯s disbelieving expression, Qi Yuan thought of what he¡¯d held back from saying.

    ¡°Child, you¡¯ve shown up here every day¡ªdid you really think I couldn¡¯t see through your weaknesses?¡±

    After all, he¡¯d found the flaw in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner through sheer observation. Dao Buer had been coming to trade insults with him daily¡ªQi Yuan even knew the color of his underwear by now.

    One strike: Supreme Truth extinguished.

    Such was the strength of Qi Yuan¡¯s sword.

 Chapter 472: Without Forging Light, There Can Be No Light

    Chapter 472: Without Forging Light, There Can Be No Light

    An unremarkable sword strike pierced Dao Buer¡¯s shattered form once again. If the first strike destroyed Dao Buer¡¯s physical body, the second utterly shredded his spirit. This strike from Qi Yuan was infused with the full power of Great Supreme Truth. Though it wouldn¡¯t injure a typical Great Supreme Truth, it was more than enough to slay a Supreme Truth without effort.

    Dao Buer¡¯s shattered gaze held an expression of disbelief and utter incomprehension.

    ¡°You¡¯re not... a Great Supreme Truth... how...¡±

    For all these years of exchanging insults, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes had always been able to see through much about Dao Buer. Likewise, Dao Buer had tried to probe Qi Yuan¡¯s depths and had never detected the aura of a Great Supreme Truth from him. His strength, at best, seemed on par with his own as a Supreme Truth. So how could he be killed so easily?

    ¡°No wonder you lost; your memory is terrible.¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s tone was casual. ¡°I never said I was a Great Supreme Truth. I¡¯m... Purple Mansion!¡±

    With those words, Qi Yuan gave a small flick of his hand. Dao Buer¡¯s once imposing body and spirit were ground to dust. Even in death, his face remained one of utter confusion.

    In his final moments, he felt Qi Yuan was telling him the truth. Could it be that his opponent truly was only a Purple Mansion cultivator? How could that be possible?

    ¡°I... was slain by a Purple Mansion...¡±

    With one final outcry of fury, his life was snuffed out.

    Meanwhile, the other cultivators across the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land who had been watching were wide-eyed, every bit as stunned as Dao Buer had been.

    ¡°Is it... over?¡±

    ¡°Is he dead?¡±

    They had expected an earth-shaking clash that would shake mountains and rivers. After all, Dao Buer had drained all the spiritual energy of the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land into himself, leaving them in a state of weakness. They had braced themselves for a devastating showdown, only for it to end in seconds. And the most terrifying part was that the one who died was the Holy Light Clan member.

    Several cultivators turned to Liu Xi, expressions filled with regret.

    ¡°Such a pity, Daoist Liu Xi. Had you chosen to serve that esteemed one, your future... would¡¯ve been limitless.¡±

    ¡°That kind of strength... Could it be that he¡¯s a legendary Great Supreme Truth?¡±

    They had thoroughly investigated the Holy Light Clan¡¯s influence before venturing into the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to enter. But that revered one¡¯s ability to slay a Holy Light Clan Yang God... was simply terrifying!

    Liu Xi¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, and he replied calmly, ¡°The world is full of choices; who can be sure every choice is the right one? At least I¡¯m still alive. I count that as a win.¡±

    His words were light-hearted, accepting of his fate. Overhead, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze was fixed on the spectral soul within the tattered robe.

    Qi Yuan was curious about Dao Buer¡¯s obsession with the tattered robe.

    ¡°Hey, old man, want to come to my place for a bit? Stop wandering around, and I¡¯ll give you a... home!¡± Qi Yuan called out to the spectral soul. That spectral soul looked immensely powerful. Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t interested in whatever Dao Buer had planned, but the spectral soul¡¯s original form piqued his curiosity. If he could place it within his Emperor¡¯s Banner, its power would advance significantly.

    The spectral soul in the tattered robe paused mid-step in the void, and Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up as he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no rent required. I¡¯ll provide meals and lodging too!¡±

    Qi Yuan steeled himself¡ªno pain, no gain.

    Though it lacked a physical body, Qi Yuan sensed that the spectral soul¡¯s gaze was fixed upon him. Seeing that it remained silent, Qi Yuan hesitated, then continued, ¡°And I¡¯ll even throw in a benefits package. Not one insurance policy... but two!¡±

    This was a huge concession on his part. Facing this spectral soul, Qi Yuan felt a rare hint of intimidation.

    As the spectral soul observed him, a sense of ancient sorrow and majesty filled the air. Qi Yuan felt as though he heard the mournful cries of ancient souls from the depths of hell.

    ¡°Without forging light, there can be no light,¡± boomed a mighty voice. And with that, the spectral soul disappeared from sight, and the blood-red sky above faded into clarity.

    Qi Yuan looked at his hand in surprise, where a tiny, pearl-like bead had appeared. This small crystalline pearl bore a single bloodstain on its surface.

    [The Embryo of Light, tainted with ominous blood.]

    Qi Yuan stared at it, momentarily stunned. With a wave of his hand, the Heavenly Earth Mirror appeared.

    He remembered that, when he had studied it before, the mirror also seemed tainted with a similar ominous blood.

    ¡°Just what kind of blood is this?¡±

    ¡°And why did that spectral soul suddenly leave me this Embryo of Light? Did it really fall for my two-insurance package... or maybe it¡¯s just not interested in free housing?¡±

    Qi Yuan speculated, but he couldn¡¯t be certain.

    He called out into the void, ¡°Hey, old man, what are you trying to tell me?¡±

    There was no response from the void.

    ¡°¡®Without forging light, there can be no light¡¯... what does it mean?¡± Qi Yuan pondered.

    At that moment, the Embryo of Light in his hand burrowed into his spirit.

    Qi Yuan blinked in surprise. ¡°It went into my spirit?¡±

    He gave a small shake, causing the Embryo of Light to tumble out once again.

    His face showed pure curiosity.

    ¡°This thing can enter my spirit?¡±

    He was intrigued. Typically, treasures were stored in pouches or perhaps held within the dantian; having one enter the spirit directly was rare.

    ¡°It seems to be quite an exceptional treasure... I just don¡¯t know its purpose.¡±

    For now, he had no way of understanding the Embryo of Light¡¯s true use.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s time to head back. My journey here in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land... is temporarily over,¡± Qi Yuan said evenly.

    A throng of White Moonlights, who also didn¡¯t like bathing, was waiting for him back at the Ghost Pass.

    ¡°Though recently, my right eyebrow has been twitching... Could it mean something dangerous is about to happen?¡± he mused.

    ¡°Could it be that Banner Lord has devised something against me?¡±

    ¡°No, his strength doesn¡¯t measure up.¡±

    ¡°Then the greatest likelihood... is that the Taihuang Palace is getting closer to uncovering my true identity. Has my incredible acting finally worn thin?¡±

    Qi Yuan considered. Even though he had been careful to remain hidden since arriving in the upper realms, any small slip could still be discovered.

    ¡°No matter, I¡¯m not afraid. Even if the Taihuang Palace comes after me, I have the law on my side!¡± he laughed to himself.

    ¡°They¡¯ve committed a great crime by letting their sunlight invade my sanctuary and violate my sacred privacy!¡±

    Qi Yuan was unfazed.

    ¡°Worry not. Once the Linya transformation begins, we will pinpoint his location, and his end will be inevitable,¡± he assured.

    Taihuang Palace had many hidden enemies. Among them was not only the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy but also the elusive Ten Sun Sage and another figure¡ªa certain Qi Yuan from the lower realms. Though the envoy knew little about Qi Yuan¡¯s misdeeds, he was on the palace¡¯s list of targets.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be there to assist!¡± declared Ghost Crime Sage. At that time, a Grand Supreme Truth-level fighter would handle the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy, or perhaps even a Supreme Sovereign would make the move.

    ¡°Worry not. The greater his arrogance, the more pitiful his demise will be,¡± the envoy said.

    Just then, he received a transmission, and a look of sheer delight crossed his face.

    ¡°Hahaha...¡±

    Seeing this, Ghost Crime Sage and Ghost Origin Sage exchanged curious glances.

    ¡°Master Envoy, have you received good news?¡± Ghost Crime Sage inquired.

    The envoy chuckled with satisfaction. ¡°Nothing major, but I¡¯d say it¡¯s a decent piece of news.¡±

    They leaned closer to hear the details.

    ¡°Just now, I received word that the old lord of Black Demon Abyss has finally relented and offered tribute to Taihuang Palace. He also pledged that, for the upcoming Linya transformation, he will not stand against us. It seems he has chosen wisely, sensing the winds of change.¡±

    The envoy seemed elated.

    Although they hadn¡¯t managed to kill Heijian or defeat the Black Demon Abyss, they had forced its leader to surrender¡ªa success, in his eyes.

    ¡°Are we just letting Black Demon Abyss off the hook?¡± Ghost Crime Sage asked, visibly displeased. Ghost Command Heaven had suffered significant losses, while Black Demon Abyss was barely harmed.

    ¡°Relax. Anyone who dares oppose you will not escape without consequences. Rest assured, Taihuang Palace will demand a price.¡±

    The two Sages shared a look, lowering their voices as they asked, ¡°Does that mean...?¡±

    The envoy held up two fingers, then replied with a haughty smile, ¡°At least that much. Anything less is non-negotiable.¡±

    Ghost Crime Sage and Ghost Origin Sage inhaled sharply.

    Two fingers¡ªtwo Grand Supreme Truths.

    It sent a chill down their spines, a reminder of how even they could one day be discarded without hesitation.

    ¡°All we need to do is sit at Ghost Pass and patiently await the Linya transformation. The Black Demon Abyss Lord knows what to do,¡± the envoy said calmly.

    The two Sages nodded, more keenly aware of Taihuang Palace¡¯s might than ever. With the approval of the Only Hall to oversee the Linya transformation, Taihuang Palace was truly an entity to be feared.

    Even powerful realms like Black Demon Abyss had no choice but to bow and seek survival by compromise.

    ¡°This Linya transformation will be a mere formality,¡± Ghost Crime Sage grinned. ¡°With Black Demon Abyss out of the way, who besides the Supreme Truths Society and Moon God Palace would be foolish enough to resist?¡±

    ¡°Right, and then there¡¯s the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy, that pesky clown. But he¡¯s nothing more than a grasshopper to be¡ª¡±

    Boom!

    Before he could finish, a thunderous explosion rocked the air.

    Ghost Crime Sage and Ghost Origin Sage froze, a terrifying thought dawning upon them. How could this be?

    With the Grand Commander¡¯s Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner in place, how could the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy have broken through?

    Yet, a familiar voice rang out.

    ¡°So this is the Supreme Truth-level Yang God? Took me two slashes to kill it!¡±

    All eyes turned to see a blood-armored man with a crimson sword hovering in the sky.

    In front of him, a lifeless body floated.

    A body unmistakably belonging to a Supreme Truth Yang God!

    Somewhere in the Astral World, a star went dark.

    It was a Supreme Truth-level Yang God, not a mere Heaven-level Yang God.

    Even Ghost Command Heaven didn¡¯t have many Supreme Truth-level Yang Gods, only a dozen or so.

    ¡°Envoy of Emperor¡¯s Hall... why... why are you here?¡±

    Ghost Crime Sage roared, charging at Qi Yuan, his powerful celestial aura surging around him.

    Ghost Origin Sage prepared to attack but was stopped by the Taihuang Palace envoy.

    ¡°Stay with me and protect me!¡±

    Terrified, the envoy clung to the Supreme Truth. As a Supreme Truth himself, he knew the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy could kill him with a single strike.

    From the heavens, the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy¡¯s cold, raspy voice drifted down.

    ¡°Surrender the Emperor¡¯s Banner, and I¡¯ll give you some dignity. Refuse, and I¡¯ll hunt you down daily.¡±

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t waste time fighting Ghost Crime Sage. Instead, he moved in an instant, dispatching another Yang God Sage with ease and taking their Soul Banner.

    Ghost Crime Sage seethed with fury and bellowed, ¡°How did you get in here?! Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, suppress him!¡±

    With his shout, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner covering the entire Ghost Pass began to stir.

    A dark, all-encompassing force pressed down on Qi Yuan.

    Feeling its power, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation. With a simple gesture, he could have absorbed the entire banner.

    But he restrained himself, preferring to let the stakes rise even higher.

    With a look of false regret, he smirked. ¡°Oh no, you¡¯re really only using the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner? Too bad this banner isn¡¯t quite strong enough to hold me down.¡±

    He waved his hand with a parting gesture. ¡°Bye now, everyone!¡±

    Clapping his hands, he vanished from sight, leaving the gathered Yang God Sages seething.

    Above them, the ominous aura of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner permeated the air, potent enough to make even a Great Supreme Truth tremble.

    But Qi Yuan had already slipped from their grasp.

    Ghost Crime Sage¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°How... did he get in here?¡±

 Chapter 473: Qi Yuanâ€™s Urgent Preparations, The Ultra-Grand Plan Takes Shape!

    Chapter 473: Qi Yuan¡¯s Urgent Preparations, The Ultra-Grand Plan Takes Shape!

    The phantom of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner had been set up directly by the Banner Lord himself, forming a series of barriers through which the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall could not easily pass. Even if he attempted to breach it by force, an immediate alarm and suppression mechanism would trigger, giving the Yang Gods stationed at Ghost Pass time to prepare and respond before he could wreak havoc.

    However, all these precautions were in vain. The alarms and barriers proved useless, only activating sluggishly after the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall had already slain a Supreme Truth-level Yang God Sage and made a clean getaway, cutting down another unlucky Yang God before finally departing. Ghost Heaven was humiliated.

    ¡°He¡¯s too slippery,¡± muttered the envoy from Taihuang Palace with a worried look. ¡°This place isn¡¯t safe.¡±

    Scanning his surroundings, he felt as if danger lurked in every corner, as though the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall might appear at any moment. To be honest, he now longed to return to Taihuang Palace.

    Nearby, other Yang Gods cloaked themselves in invisibility, unwilling to reveal their forms. Their voices were mere whispers drifting through the air.

    ¡°If not even the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner phantom can stop him...¡±

    ¡°Remaining here is like lambs waiting for slaughter.¡±

    They had lived high and mighty for their entire lives, yet now they feared for their lives. The Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall seemed inhuman in his tactics. A typical Grand Supreme Truth-level Yang God with his power might hesitate to invade the core of a Sacred Land in the Sixfold Heaven, risking capture or suppression. Yet here he was, instilling terror by slaughtering the Yang God Sages of Ghost Heaven.

    In just a short time, the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall had killed nine Yang Gods, including a member from the Black Demon Abyss and one Supreme Truth-level Yang God. This suggested that, short of the Grand Supreme Truths, none of Ghost Heaven¡¯s other Yang Gods were safe from him.

    At this moment, a cold, vast voice echoed through the air.

    ¡°The flaw in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner phantom... has been identified. This oversight is mine alone.¡±

    The Banner Lord¡¯s voice reverberated, though he remained seated within the core of Ghost Heaven. At his level, a master¡¯s physical presence rarely left the sacred grounds. Qi Yuan had seen this personally not long ago with the White Dragon Abyss Master, whose appearance was also but a projection.

    Hearing the Banner Lord¡¯s words, the Yang Gods felt far less reassured than they had the first time. Their trust had waned, though they dared not speak up and wound his pride.

    With a sigh, they resigned themselves to fate, even if it meant lamenting the fallen Yang Gods.

    ¡°In the coming days, the families and clans of the Yang Gods who perished in battle will receive equal status in Ghost Heaven. I will personally bestow a portion of Yang God energy to them,¡± the Banner Lord announced solemnly, making a rare concession.

    The Ghost Heaven Yang Gods were slightly surprised, as such compensation had never been offered before. Ghost Heaven, a notoriously ruthless sect, typically had its resources devoured upon the fall of one of its Yang Gods.

    ¡°The flaw in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner has been pinpointed, and I have taken steps to repair it myself,¡± the Banner Lord declared. A few of the Yang Gods forced smiles, replying with polite thanks, though their trust remained tinged with doubt.

    A number of Yang Gods cast subtle glances at the Taihuang Palace envoy, who immediately flinched and stammered, ¡°Banner Lord, would it be prudent to double-check for any other weaknesses? Just in case, if the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall were to break through again...¡±

    There was a long silence before the mighty voice replied, ¡°This time, I shall summon a third of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner¡¯s true form to protect you.¡±

    This was a significant gesture. Unlike the previous phantom and lesser projections, summoning a portion of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner¡¯s true form represented considerable sacrifice. Hearing this, the Yang Gods felt more secure.

    Meanwhile, in the depths of Demon Pass, a hushed meeting of warriors convened in anxious silence. Ice Sword, Purple Fate Xue, and Little Dew Purple Fate exchanged worried glances, knowing they could only watch events unfold, helpless to alter their fates. Inside a grand hall ahead, a heated debate raged among the Yang Gods.

    Purple Fate Xue threw up her hands in exasperation. ¡°Well, Linya¡¯s transformation hasn¡¯t even begun, and it already feels like the Black Demon Abyss is starting to splinter!¡±

    The news that their Abyss Master had bowed to Taihuang Palace and offered concessions had caused considerable shock among the Yang Gods and left these warriors caught off guard.

    ¡°We¡¯re beaten before we¡¯ve even started. The Black Demon Abyss is truly disgraced this time,¡± grumbled one young warrior.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not judge the Abyss Master too harshly,¡± another warrior replied seriously. ¡°He surely made this choice for the greater good. It¡¯s better to avoid an unnecessary war. How many of us would die if we recklessly engaged in battle?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t surrendering to them just as bad as becoming their dogs? They¡¯ll command us to bite at their whim,¡± An Xunlu countered unhappily.

    ¡°Aligning with Taihuang Palace at least makes us winners in Linya¡¯s transformation. Opposing them... well, you¡¯ve seen what happens,¡± the other retorted.

    Then, Ice Sword spoke up. ¡°Do you really think Taihuang Palace will let things slide so easily?¡±

    The group fell silent, a creeping sense of dread in their hearts. They all knew Taihuang Palace was not known for forgiving its enemies, and the Black Demon Abyss had several factions with grudges against it.

    Qi Yuan muttered with growing worry, ¡°If a Purple Palace cultivator had the power of a Yang God, would they be revealed?¡±

    Ice Sword was bewildered by the question. ¡°Well... perhaps?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he finally answered, ¡°if this Purple Palace cultivator has Yang God power, they would appear.¡±

    Qi Yuan grew increasingly uneasy and wandered off in haste, determined to come up with a plan to handle the heavenly scan. He quickly excused himself, leaving the others puzzled.

    Ice Sword watched him depart, deep in thought. Did something I say make him anxious?

    Once alone in his cave, Qi Yuan paced, mind racing.

    ¡°I should¡¯ve seen this coming!¡±

    ¡°Last night, I shouldn¡¯t have gone to bed so early. Then I¡¯d have had more time to process this storm.¡±

    ¡°Only my grand plan can save me now.¡±

    After a half-hour of intense contemplation, Qi Yuan finally exhaled. ¡°The ultra-grand plan is taking shape.¡±

    Just then, time itself froze, and Qi Yuan knew it was the old ancestor, Purple Fate Ancestor, once again. The diminutive ancestor regarded him with a complex look.

    ¡°You know the Abyss Master has yielded to Taihuang Palace,¡± the elder began.

    Qi Yuan merely nodded, now brimming with confidence from his ultra-grand plan.

    ¡°This Linya Transformation is going to be a treacherous ordeal for Black Demon Abyss. There¡¯s a good chance we¡¯ll lose a Grand Supreme Truth,¡± sighed the ancestor.

    ¡°Old man, you¡¯re a good person. It won¡¯t be you,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    The ancestor chuckled softly but continued. ¡°Don¡¯t interact with Black Sword and avoid meetings with the Abyss Master if you¡¯re summoned. Instead, contact me.¡±

    Alone once more, Qi Yuan set his gaze beyond the cavern, his sights set on the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner.

    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that I¡¯m still too weak. If I were stronger, I¡¯d invade the very heart of Ghost Heaven.¡±

    But he had no more time to waste. He needed to seize the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, gain strength, and complete the Emperor¡¯s Banner.

    A few hours later, hidden in the shadows of Ghost Pass, three Grand Supreme Truths lay in wait. The Banner Lord himself had left a slight flaw in the banner, baiting the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy to enter, where they would pounce.

    ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Ghost Crime Sage grinned.

    ¡°He¡¯s arrived at the flaw,¡± whispered Ghost Origin Sage.

    But the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall did not enter. He stood just outside, waiting.

    ¡°Could he have detected our trap?¡± Ghost Crime Sage murmured.

    ¡°Impossible,¡± Ghost Origin Sage replied.

    After nearly one hundred breaths, the joyous voice of the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy rang out across Ghost Pass.

    ¡°Thank you, nature! Look at the size of this Emperor¡¯s Banner!¡±

    The three Grand Supreme Truths watched in horror as the Envoy took hold of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner and vanished, leaving only the enraged roar of the Banner Lord in his wake.

    Thus, news of the audacious theft of a third of Ghost Heaven¡¯s sacred Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner shook the Sixfold Heaven.

 Chapter 474: Banquet of the Four Corners, Hunting the Envoy of the Emperorâ€™s Hall

    Chapter 474: Banquet of the Four Corners, Hunting the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall

    An enraged roar tore through Ghost Heaven, echoing across millions of miles. It reverberated with a burst of dark light, blindingly intense yet incomprehensible. Heaven and earth trembled, spirit energy rippling like tidal waves, as countless cultivators shivered in fear or stood frozen in awe.

    ¡°This power level...¡±

    ¡°What caliber of strength are we witnessing here?¡±

    One of the Yang God Sages muttered in astonishment. ¡°Is that... Ghost Heaven? The Banner Lord has made a move?¡±

    ¡°Could it be... the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall again?¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ªwhere¡¯s the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner?¡±

    In the void, a Yang God Sage blinked in shock, his mind whirling with bewilderment. Over in Demon Pass, cultivators had also turned their gaze toward Ghost Heaven.

    ¡°Damn, the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall really pulled it off¡ªhe took the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner!¡± Purple Fate Xue muttered in disbelief, even as she absentmindedly snacked on mushrooms.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t this mean it¡¯s the perfect time for us to launch an attack on Ghost Heaven?¡± An Xunlu, though prone to romantic daydreams, was also practical and immediately added, ¡°A guy like that Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall¡ªand Blood Robe dares to compare himself?¡±

    Purple Fate Lu shot An Xunlu a glare, twisting her robe anxiously as she struggled to think of any way to defend Brother Blood Robe. The moment the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner vanished, Purple Fate Lu had an inkling it was tied to her past mission for Brother Blood Robe, where she¡¯d discovered how the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land could access the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner.

    Surely, Brother Blood Robe must know the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall! His stunning feat¡ªthere had to be a contribution from Blood Robe and, indeed, her own major efforts! Still, she kept her mouth shut, her promise to Blood Robe silencing her. If only An Xunlu knew the truth, she would be floored!

    Purple Fate Lu glanced at Ice Sword, who sighed. ¡°If it were any other time, we¡¯d have charged in without hesitation, but right now, with Black Demon Abyss bowing to Taihuang Palace, what reason do we have to act?¡±

    The chaos at Demon Pass would be ideal for striking under cover. But with their Abyss Master now lying low, they risked marching straight into death. An Xunlu¡¯s eyes glowed with resolve. ¡°When Brother Black Sword ascends to Grand Supreme Truth and commands Black Demon Abyss, we won¡¯t endure such humiliation!¡±

    The other young warriors murmured in agreement. It was clear they had faith in Black Sword. He was the one true hope of Black Demon Abyss, though his growth was still underway. Until he reached his full strength, the Abyss would have to endure and wait.

    ¡°One Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall can shake all of Ghost Heaven. If Brother Black Sword reaches the Grand Supreme Truth level, even Taihuang Palace would have to respect us,¡± said one warrior.

    Indeed, murmurs had spread through the Black Demon Abyss: the Abyss Master had bowed to Taihuang Palace to give Black Sword the time to grow. In Linya¡¯s Transformation, without someone at the level of Grand Supreme Truth, they were mere pawns, lacking any true voice. The Abyss Master¡¯s temporary retreat would secure a stronger future, allowing them to transcend. After all, while disturbances plagued weaker sects, the ancient powers led by Grand Supreme Truths remained still as mountains.

    Now, even the Yang God Sages were captivated by the thought of the Emperor¡¯s Hall Envoy seizing the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner¡ªa treasure of such magnitude that every Yang God Sage couldn¡¯t help but be astonished. No other Sacred Land would allow one of its supreme weapons to fall into enemy hands, and yet the Envoy had pulled off this unimaginable feat, inspiring both awe and dread.

    ¡°This Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall is indeed mysterious!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s being overly bold; when Linya¡¯s Transformation begins, Taihuang Palace will undoubtedly deal with him first!¡±

    ¡°No historical records even mention his sect.¡±

    Back in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land, Qi Yuan sighed in relief. ¡°Good, I made it back safely.¡±

    Excitement sparked in his eyes as he gazed at the third of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner that he now possessed. Combined with his half-finished Emperor¡¯s Banner, he was almost ready to forge a powerful offensive artifact. With it, his Ultra-Grand Plan was within reach.

    ¡°How can that be? If he isn¡¯t, how could he kill a Supreme Truth so easily?¡±

    ¡°If he isn¡¯t a Grand Supreme Truth, what am I?¡± one Supreme Truth Yang God muttered bitterly.

    The Banner Lord looked incredulous. Had the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall not been a Grand Supreme Truth, he couldn¡¯t have escaped from their clutches.

    ¡°The number of Grand Supreme Truths has neither increased nor decreased. Furthermore, I¡¯ve observed that he lacks the Supreme Mark. He may be an anomaly from outside the Celestial Realm¡ªcapable of wielding the power of a Grand Supreme Truth without actually being one,¡± True Origin Sage concluded.

    This news made the Banner Lord¡¯s eyes flash with lethal intent. ¡°No Supreme Mark... does that mean... I could kill him?¡±

    For those at the Grand Supreme Truth level, the Supreme Mark connects them deeply to Celestial Dao itself, making it impossible to harm each other under normal circumstances. Only offensive celestial artifacts could carve a crack in another Grand Supreme Truth¡¯s Supreme Mark. Of course, an Upper Sovereign could simply erase it and kill them outright.

    The Banner Lord shook his head, however. Catching the elusive Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall would still be nearly impossible.

    ¡°This is a Taisie Talisman. It creates an eternal instant¡ªa brief eternity, if you will. If he lacks true Supreme-level strength, he will be bound and unable to leave,¡± True Origin Sage said, handing him a seemingly ordinary talisman.

    The surrounding Yang Gods were taken aback.

    ¡°A Taisie Talisman!¡±

    ¡°The Great Sun created this talisman himself. The Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall... he¡¯s as good as dead!¡±

    Accepting the talisman, the Banner Lord¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination. ¡°Rest assured, True Origin Sage. With this Taisie Talisman, I will personally execute him!¡±

    The Banner Lord would trap and slowly grind the Envoy down with his offensive celestial weapon if he had to. True Origin Sage nodded, his shadow disappearing, and the Banner Lord turned to his followers with confidence.

    ¡°Invite our allies from the four corners¡ªI am going to execute the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall!¡±

    The announcement sent waves through the celestial realm. From various sacred territories, leaders planned to attend the Banner Lord¡¯s gathering, though many Grand Supreme Truths themselves kept their distance, wary of being drawn into conflict.

    Meanwhile, in the Mystical Land, Qi Yuan was wholly absorbed in his work. Oblivious to the plans against him, he pressed forward with the Emperor¡¯s Banner. The once dark and tormented spirits within it now glowed with a majestic light, transformed into holy sentinels. Their negative energy had been cleansed and replaced with a radiant, righteous energy.

    At last, Qi Yuan finished.

    ¡°Heavenly Battalion of Shadows, hear my command!¡±

    As he called out, the legions of spirit soldiers radiated a holy glow, transforming from grim reapers to resplendent warriors guarding the celestial realm.

    "Enter my Emperor¡¯s Banner, defend our realms!¡±

    Their thunderous cries resounded as they entered the Emperor¡¯s Banner. The artifact blazed with light, appearing tattered and blood-stained, yet radiating an enduring spirit of power.

    He grinned with satisfaction. ¡°This banner will leave bruises when it strikes.¡±

    At long last, Qi Yuan possessed a celestial weapon of his own, one that would let him face the dangers of the Sixfold Heaven with new confidence.

 Chapter 475: He is a Demon and Must Be Vanquished!

    Chapter 475: He is a Demon and Must Be Vanquished!

    In Ghost Pass, powerful figures gathered, their auras periodically pulsing through the air. Even the starlight from the Star Realm seemed drawn to the area, casting an ethereal glow upon the usually gloomy Ghost Pass. Within a short half-day, the grim and oppressive atmosphere was replaced by an almost celestial ambiance, as if it had transformed into a sanctuary of immortal energy.

    As the old saying goes, ¡°A mountain need not be high if there is a deity residing upon it.¡±

    "Master of Shenluo Heaven, it''s been ages, and yet your elegance is unshaken,¡± spoke the Abyss Lord of the Endless Abyss, an amorphous creature stretching beyond sight. His race dwelled in the Abyss, one of the most mysterious realms in the Sixfold Heaven.

    The Master of Shenluo Heaven gazed at him in surprise. "And you, old friend, have finally reemerged?"

    The Abyss Lord hadn¡¯t appeared since the last Linya Transformation. ¡°A Grand Supreme Truth hasn¡¯t fallen in ages, so I thought I¡¯d join in the excitement,¡± he replied. The last Supreme Truth to fall had been the Great Sunlight Buddha of the Buddhist Kingdom.

    The Yang God Sages around them fell silent, some casting subtle glances at the Supreme Truth of the Sky Loft. The Sky Loft was known as one of the strongest of the three heavens and was home to a Supreme Sovereign who had deep ties to the fallen Buddha, having taught him for a brief time before he attained enlightenment. It was likely this connection that preserved the Buddhist Kingdom; without a Grand Supreme Truth to safeguard it, Taihuang Palace could have easily snuffed it out.

    The Supreme Truth from Sky Loft maintained a composed demeanor, appearing unaffected by the Abyss Lord¡¯s words. The White Dragon Abyss Lord then remarked, ¡°I¡¯ve heard a new Buddha has emerged in the Buddhist Kingdom. Perhaps this Linya Transformation will bring forth another Grand Supreme Truth for them.¡±

    In the Sixfold Heaven, there are the powers of One Hall, Two Palaces, Three Heavens, Four Abysses, and several Sacred Lands. If the Buddhist Kingdom were to gain another Supreme Truth, it would undoubtedly rise among these ranks.

    ¡°This Linya Transformation is once again under Taihuang Palace¡¯s direction. The Buddhist Kingdom...is in danger,¡± the Abyss Lord commented with quiet implications.

    ¡°Humph! Taihuang Palace may preside over the Linya Transformation, but that does not grant them the right to unjustly kill,¡± scoffed an aged voice with unyielding authority. The speaker was a Yang God from the Council of Supreme Truths. The Council had been the leading force in the previous Linya Transformation, pursuing a vision of countless Supreme Truths. Thanks to their balancing influence, the number of Yang Gods who fell had been relatively low last time.

    At this, the Banner Lord of Ghost Heaven spoke up. ¡°This so-called Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall has mercilessly slain many of our Yang God Sages in Ghost Heaven. I wonder when the Council will bring justice and execute this Envoy?¡± His tone was thick with mockery, signaling Ghost Heaven¡¯s alliance with Taihuang Palace and, consequently, opposition to the Council. In this Linya Transformation, Taihuang Palace¡¯s second goal, aside from promoting Yang Gods to the One Hall, was to curb the Council¡¯s influence and cement its position as the dominant power in the Sixfold Heaven.

    The Council¡¯s Supreme Truth merely sneered in response, remaining silent. To the Council, Ghost Heaven was like a malignant tumor within the Celestial Realm, a force they would have eradicated long ago if not for Taihuang Palace¡¯s support.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord turned to the Banner Lord with interest. ¡°I¡¯m curious, Banner Lord. How do you intend to defeat this Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall? Is it possible Taihuang Palace¡¯s Supreme One has deigned to descend in person?¡±

    Only an Upper Sage could hope to kill a Grand Supreme Truth.

    The Banner Lord smiled mysteriously. ¡°Heaven¡¯s secrets are not to be revealed.¡±

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord chuckled. ¡°This Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall... I¡¯m curious about his origins.¡±

    Recently, this Envoy had turned Ghost Heaven upside down, attracting the attention of many top cultivators. Rumors about his identity ran wild, and several Sacred Lands even hoped to establish friendly ties with him, though without knowing where to start.

    ¡°Perhaps...he is an old friend of ours,¡± suggested the Master of Shenluo Heaven, casting a shrewd gaze around the assembly. The Sixfold Heaven was merely enjoying a calm before the storm; once the Linya Transformation began, the furnace of contention would ignite.

    The other Supreme Truths exchanged curious glances, each pondering the mysterious identity of the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall. Meanwhile, the Banner Lord concentrated on divining the location of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner.

    Time flowed on, and the assembled Yang God Sages mingled, though undercurrents of rivalry ran deep. At length, a sharp gleam appeared in the Banner Lord¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Found him!¡±

    Every Yang God Sage turned to him with eager anticipation.

    ¡°He¡¯s in... the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land!¡±

    The Yang Gods¡¯ faces filled with astonishment.

    ¡°He¡¯s in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land?¡±

    ¡°But how? There¡¯s a Holy Light Clan in there!¡±

    No familiar names came to mind, but she couldn¡¯t shake the sense of recognition.

    ¡°A demon of this magnitude... Xuqi, surely you have no objections if I cut him down?¡± the Banner Lord asked, addressing the Supreme Truth of the Council.

    Council Sage Xuqi shrugged in resignation.

    The blood-clad figure took in his surroundings, undeterred by the many formidable auras around him. Holding his blood-colored sword at the ready, he spoke. ¡°Will you all be coming at me together?¡±

    The Supreme Truths froze in shock, their amusement vanishing.

    ¡°Does this Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall imagine he can contend with all of us?¡±

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord laughed. ¡°You misunderstand, Daoist. We¡¯re here to watch the show. Your opponent is the Banner Lord.¡±

    The Banner Lord raised the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, eyes alight with killing intent. ¡°You have chosen to step into hell¡¯s gates yourself. Today...you will die!¡±

    He exuded renewed confidence since learning that his opponent wasn¡¯t a Grand Supreme Truth, and with the Taisie Talisman in hand, there was no need to worry about him escaping.

    The blood-clad figure scanned the ruins around him, his expression inscrutable. After a brief pause, he sighed. ¡°The cultivation world¡¯s ethics... have fallen low.¡±

    The carelessness of the powerful could shatter countless lives, reduced in historical texts to a mere line like ¡°the famine year drove men to eat one another.¡±

    The blood-armored figure held his sword with an expression as cold as ever.

    Seeing him draped in an aura of dark energy even more sinister than his own, the Banner Lord sneered. ¡°You have the gall to speak of ethics when you reek of evil more than I do? Do you believe you can provoke me and simply walk away?¡±

    ¡°You are about to learn the meaning of true power... of a Grand Supreme Truth!¡±

    As he spoke, the starlight intensified. With a snap of his fingers, the Taisie Talisman fell, settling across the battlefield with blinding speed.

    The Yang Gods gasped, each recognizing the formidable Taisie Talisman.

    ¡°So, the Banner Lord did come prepared!¡±

    Surrounded by starry light, the blood-armored figure¡¯s armor gleamed a deeper red. He observed the Banner Lord with intrigue. ¡°Interesting talisman. You¡¯re making me want to hit you more.¡±

    The Banner Lord held the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner aloft, his voice a mix of menace and glee. ¡°Trying to stall, are you? Without a way to escape, you are dead today!¡±

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord commented idly, ¡°Even without an escape plan, I wonder if you can truly kill him.¡±

    Several Supreme Truths shared the same doubt.

    The Banner Lord looked at his foe with renewed confidence. ¡°If he lacks the Supreme Truth Seal, he¡¯s nothing but prey on the chopping block.¡±

    At this, the gathered Supreme Truths fell into stunned silence. The man who had razed Ghost Heaven was not even a Grand Supreme Truth.

    The blood-armored figure rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. ¡°Can we cut the speeches and just fight?¡±

    The Banner Lord narrowed his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve no idea of true Supreme Truth power!¡±

    With a flick of his wrist, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner unleashed a devastating blow. This was the full strength of his main body, a strike empowered by the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner itself, reaching a terrifying magnitude.

    Even a Grand Supreme Truth¡¯s shield would crack under such an attack.

 Chapter 476: Weâ€™re Not on the Same Path

    Chapter 476: We¡¯re Not on the Same Path

    The Taisie Talisman intensified, confining the battle between the Banner Lord and the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall within a designated space as the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner unfurled, blanketing the battlefield. The Banner Lord¡¯s face brimmed with confidence¡ªwithout the Supreme Truth Seal, this Envoy was nothing more than a prime target in his eyes.

    ¡°Die!¡± he shouted, each strike unleashing a torrent of immortal energy, powerful enough to annihilate worlds. Spatial rifts and overlaps flickered as his attacks unleashed their full, terrifying might, enough to make even ordinary Supreme Truths falter.

    At that moment, a crimson sword emerged from the Envoy¡¯s hand, radiating intense, malevolent energy¡ªa chilling aura of pure malice. As the sword clashed with the Banner Lord¡¯s energy, it was like two dark forces waging war.

    Boom!

    The first clash ended as expected: the Banner Lord had the upper hand, his advantage apparent over the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord narrowed her eyes. ¡°With Taihuang Palace¡¯s support, the Banner Lord might actually manage to subdue this Envoy.¡±

    The Master of Shenluo Heaven mused aloud, ¡°What puzzles me is why the Envoy even emerged from the Mystical Land. Had he stayed hidden, he wouldn¡¯t be trapped by the Taisie Talisman.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps he never anticipated it,¡± another commented.

    ¡°Clearly, he isn¡¯t from any of our Sixfold Heaven¡¯s Sacred Lands.¡±

    Speculations rippled among the Supreme Truths as the battle raged on, each move and countermove exchanged in a furious hundred-round duel. Despite his superiority, the Banner Lord found himself unable to inflict any actual harm on his adversary.

    The Banner Lord smirked with barely concealed surprise. ¡°So, you do have some strength. But now, I¡¯ll get serious!¡±

    Satisfied with his assessment, he launched a full-force assault. The Envoy lacked the Supreme Truth Seal, so at best, this skirmish could drag on indefinitely if fought traditionally. Thus, he resolved to bring the full power of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner into play.

    ¡°Hand over the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, and I¡¯ll grant you a dignified death!¡±

    The Banner unfurled, casting shadows over the sky, its malevolent aura seeming to chill the very bones. In the eerie dimness, ghastly apparitions lurched forward with open claws, their faces twisted with hatred and pain. Every ghostly pair of eyes locked on Qi Yuan as though they saw him as the murderer of their kin.

    The Banner Lord had long fused the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner with his own energy, manipulating its vengeful souls to perceive his enemies as their executioners. Under the Banner¡¯s influence, each soul attacked as if seeking revenge.

    Qi Yuan, sensing imminent danger, instinctively summoned his own banner.

    ¡°You have the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner¡ªI have the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner!¡±

    With a single, resounding shout, Qi Yuan brandished a tattered yet imposing banner. Covered in ancient, complex patterns, it was an artifact infused with the virtue of righteousness. Its light, fierce and unyielding, was the very antithesis of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner¡¯s sinister aura.

    Under its holy radiance, his blood-red armor appeared all the more otherworldly. Wielding his blood-hued sword with one hand and the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner with the other, Qi Yuan stood as both a divine and demonic figure.

    ¡°Demons and spirits, all shall be purged!¡± His sword flashed, and purifying light surged from the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner, dispelling the evil presence from the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner. Ghostly wails filled the air, a piercing response to the purification.

    ¡°Human Emperor¡¯s Banner?¡± the Supreme Truths exclaimed, taken aback.

    An offensive artifact of this caliber was usually crafted by Supreme Truths through centuries of refinement. The existence of the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner was unexpected, and the Banner Lord himself looked on in disbelief.

    ¡°How is it possible? A Human Emperor¡¯s Banner truly exists?¡± he muttered, shaken. Every time the Envoy had attacked Ghost Heaven, he had claimed that all banners fell under the dominion of the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner and that the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner rightfully belonged to the Emperor¡¯s Hall. Until now, the Banner Lord had dismissed it as mere boastful threats. After all, he had completed the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner himself after inheriting it from his predecessor.

    Qi Yuan paid him no mind, his voice resonating with purpose as he held the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner high. ¡°Wherever there is injustice, this banner will clear it!¡±

    With his sword in one hand emanating killing intent and the banner in the other radiating righteous light, Qi Yuan pressed forward. His crimson and holy energies intertwined, a dazzling contrast.

    ¡°Attack!¡± he bellowed, brandishing the banner.

    The Banner Lord recoiled in alarm. Under the power of the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner, his Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner shrank back as though a mouse before a predatory cat. Ghostly cries echoed as though faced with a natural nemesis.

    ¡°Nor was it I!¡±

    Many had no sympathy for the Banner Lord¡¯s loss. The battle ended in defeat, with the Banner Lord fleeing and stripped of his banner, leaving the other Supreme Truths to contemplate the significance of what had occurred.

    The Banner Lord¡¯s loss was a severe blow. Few offensive artifacts of that caliber existed in the Sixfold Heaven.

    Qi Yuan regarded Origin True Sage with a piercing gaze. ¡°Aiding a criminal¡¯s escape is itself a crime.¡±

    The Supreme Truths were taken aback by the audacity. Even the White Dragon Abyss Lord seemed intrigued.

    The Abyss Lord of the Endless Depths scoffed. ¡°Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall, do you even know who he is? He¡¯s one of the Three Lords of Taihuang Palace!¡±

    ¡°Hmph. Even a king is subject to the law. If he has committed a crime today, he is guilty,¡± Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    The Supreme Truths were struck silent. Even those who had considered allying with him quickly reconsidered.

    Origin True Sage¡¯s gaze grew cold. ¡°I would love to see you ¡®enforce¡¯ judgment on Taihuang Palace.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll come in person once I¡¯ve completed my training,¡± Qi Yuan replied, yawning. His demeanor was lazily dismissive, but his tone carried an ominous weight.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you in Taihuang Palace!¡± Origin True Sage scoffed as his projection disappeared.

    As the Supreme Truths departed, they offered Qi Yuan respectful but wary glances.

    Alone at last, Qi Yuan appeared beside the ruined town where the corpses of villagers lay, clutching their last possessions. He closed his eyes and allowed a fleeting image of their final moments to surface in his mind¡ªvillagers hauling heavy loads up steps to a mountain temple, their lives abruptly cut short.

    ¡°Good thing I¡¯m merciful enough to leave seeds behind,¡± Qi Yuan murmured, reaching down to activate the hidden marks he had left on those nearby, marks that would revive these mortals in the Underworld as long as resources permitted.

    Suddenly, a cloaked figure spoke. ¡°What exactly are you doing?¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced up to see a gray-cloaked figure, the White Dragon Abyss Lord herself.

    ¡°Just helping them find new work,¡± Qi Yuan replied curtly, feeling uncomfortable around her.

    ¡°Such kindness,¡± the Abyss Lord observed, assuming he was laying them to rest. Resurrections, after all, were impossible at that level.

    ¡°Why have you come?¡± Qi Yuan asked, keeping his distance.

    This time, an elderly voice joined in. ¡°I have come to invite you to join the Supreme Truth Council as an honorary member.¡±

    The Supreme Truth appeared, his manner bold. Qi Yuan declined without hesitation.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d want an alliance against Taihuang Palace for mutual benefit,¡± the Council¡¯s Supreme Truth offered, his tone confident even before a rival Supreme Truth.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. ¡°Joining you would mean compromising. If I found you committing atrocities, I¡¯d feel obligated to act, for the sake of my banner¡¯s integrity.¡±

    The Council¡¯s Supreme Truth was left speechless, his assumption that Qi Yuan¡¯s ideals were a mere pretense suddenly shattered.

    ¡°Do you mean this?¡± he asked, hesitantly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t lie often,¡± Qi Yuan replied. ¡°The Human Emperor¡¯s Banner represents my wish to cleanse the corruption in the cultivation world. We¡¯re not on the same path.¡±

    After a moment, the Council¡¯s Supreme Truth sighed in resignation. The White Dragon Abyss Lord looked at Qi Yuan, intrigued. If he truly meant what he said, it seemed there was more to him than mere words.

 Chapter 477: Does the Will of the Immortal Path Have a Handsome Aversion? Going to Pick Up Jin Li

    Chapter 477: Does the Will of the Immortal Path Have a Handsome Aversion? Going to Pick Up Jin Li

    The Supreme Truth of the Supreme Truth Council cupped his hands before Qi Yuan and respectfully continued, "Friend, if you are to stand against Taihuang Palace, be cautious. Taihuang Palace''s strength cannot be underestimated."

    As he spoke, he took out a jade slip and handed it to Qi Yuan. "If you encounter a crisis, you can crush this jade slip, and the Supreme Truth Council will discreetly intervene once on your behalf."

    Although the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall had refused to cooperate with the Council, there¡¯s an old saying: ¡°The enemy of my enemy is my friend.¡± Assisting the enemies of Taihuang Palace gave the Supreme Truth Council a certain satisfaction.

    Qi Yuan observed the jade slip closely, his gaze steady. "An Upper Sovereign?"

    He could sense the essence of an Upper Sovereign contained within it.

    The Supreme Truth straightened his back with pride. "This jade slip was crafted by the Council''s Second Master," he explained. The Second Master was, indeed, an Upper Sovereign.

    "You¡¯re giving me something so valuable; should I return the favor?¡± Qi Yuan scratched his chin before suggesting, "Today¡¯s your lucky day. I have a unique mark you can place within your soul; it¡¯ll ensure that if you fall, you can revive as a soul in my Purple Mansion."

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t one to take advantage of others without offering something in return. Hearing this, the Supreme Truth froze in surprise.

    A soul mark?

    Placing one in his soul? That¡¯s unthinkable! At their level, allowing another to plant a mark within one¡¯s soul was akin to inviting death.

    "Thank you for your kindness, but I¡¯ll have to decline," the Supreme Truth quickly refused, brushing off the offer of rebirth in the Purple Mansion as a jest.

    Qi Yuan sighed. "Are you sure? With this, you could wander freely throughout the Sixfold Heaven without fear, as long as I¡¯m alive.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t one to take advantage of others lightly.

    The Supreme Truth chuckled, shaking his head again. "That won''t be necessary."

    "Fine, but don¡¯t say I owe the Council later,¡± Qi Yuan said. The Supreme Truth smiled awkwardly, increasingly convinced the Envoy of the Emperor¡¯s Hall was somewhat eccentric, perhaps not entirely ordinary.

    After a few more polite exchanges, he took his leave, leaving Qi Yuan alone with the White Dragon Abyss Lord.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her. "Two people alone here¡ªisn¡¯t that a little inappropriate?"

    In other words, since the Supreme Truth had left, perhaps she should as well.

    The Abyss Lord¡¯s body stiffened, her voice unexpectedly gruff. "What are you implying? Are you saying you¡¯re a woman?"

    "White Dragon Abyss Lord, are you still pretending to be a man?¡± Qi Yuan asked, seeing through her disguise. ¡°A change of clothing won¡¯t fool me. You could change, or even wear nothing, and I¡¯d still recognize you!¡±

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord''s smile froze, astonished that the Envoy had seen through her disguise.

    "How did you know?" she asked, puzzled.

    Even an Upper Sovereign, unless they employed powerful magic to break through her disguise, couldn¡¯t have recognized her identity. Breaking through would have alerted her, giving her a chance to counter.

    "I saw it with my eyes."

    Speechless, she stared at Qi Yuan. "Have we met before?"

    "In a way," Qi Yuan admitted, not hiding it. "Alright, enough small talk. What do you need?"

    This recent battle had brought him ample rewards, and he would need time to fully integrate the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner into the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner.

    "Are you from beyond the Immortal Realm?" The White Dragon Abyss Lord blinked curiously, pondering the Envoy¡¯s origins.

    "In a way," Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    His home was back on Blue Star, in some obscure corner.

    "I see." The White Dragon Abyss Lord took a deep breath. "It seems you¡¯re not an indigenous Supreme Truth and haven¡¯t fused your will with the Immortal Path¡¯s Will to form the Seal of Supreme Truth."

    Without the Seal, if he ever confronted an Upper Sovereign, even with an offensive artifact, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.

    "There¡¯s a gulf between an Upper Sovereign and those like the Banner Lord. While it may seem a slight difference in level, an Upper Sovereign¡¯s power...." She paused. "Without the Seal, I wouldn¡¯t survive a single breath under an Upper Sovereign¡¯s hand."

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord¡¯s meaning was clear: the Envoy lacked a Seal, so his life would be in great danger if he faced the Taihuang Palace¡¯s Upper Sovereign.

    Qi Yuan pondered. This Seal was indeed something he had learned about recently. Because he lacked it, he couldn¡¯t harm even an ordinary Supreme Truth unless he wielded the Human Emperor¡¯s Banner.

    "Here, I have a secret method to help those from other realms form a Seal of Supreme Truth by merging their Truth with the Immortal Path¡¯s Will," she said, handing him a jade slip.

    "Is that possible?" Qi Yuan scanned it, understanding immediately. "Since you¡¯re helping me, I should reciprocate. Would you like me to place a mark within your soul?"

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord hesitated, silently considering.

    Sensing he may have overstepped, Qi Yuan backtracked. "Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t allow me to spy on you while bathing."

    "Even if I did see you by accident, I wouldn¡¯t mind the size of your¡ª"

    "If you let me see you first, I might allow you to leave the mark in my soul," the Abyss Lord countered, unperturbed.

    "Let¡¯s skip that," Qi Yuan quickly declined. He had no wish for further complications.

    At the Moon God Palace.

    The moonlight was like flowing silver, blanketing the world in serene calm.

    Yueshuang watched Jin Li, who was dressing carefully, her gaze deep. "The Black Demon Abyss may be full of turmoil, but it¡¯s far better than the Moon God Palace. You¡¯re better off there."

    Ever since news broke that Taihuang Palace would preside over the Lingya Transformation, the atmosphere in the Moon God Palace had grown tense.

    Through a mirror, Jin Li¡¯s fair face glowed as she adorned herself with a few pearls, her elegance enhanced.

    Sitting in the window, Yueshuang stretched her legs and continued, "I am curious, how did your man convince Yang God Yuehua to allow you, a Moon Maiden, to become his dao partner?"

    Yueshuang was baffled.

    This was unprecedented.

    A Yang God had once requested a Moon Maiden as a consort and had been promptly turned down.

    "Maybe...he¡¯s excellent enough," Jin Li replied, her calm demeanor like a serene flower.

    But only Qi Yuan knew how passionate she could be once her robes were removed.

    "Just excellence isn¡¯t enough. Perhaps...¡± Yueshuang trailed off, hesitating to voice her thoughts.

    But the only explanation she could think of was a political alliance.

    Could the Black Demon Abyss truly have such motives?

    At that moment, a majestic voice resounded throughout the Moon God Palace.

    ¡°Purple Fate Ancestor of the Purple Fate Heaven has come, wishing to establish a union with the Moon God Palace.¡±

    The words had barely fallen when countless beams of radiant light cascaded down upon the Moon God Palace.

    It was like celestial maidens scattering petals, a gentle mist blanketing the palace as if touched by the hands of deities themselves. In an instant, the entire Moon God Palace was aglow, vibrant and adorned as if preparing for a grand celebration.

    Then, countless spiritual stones and immortal jades began to rain down from the sky like a flurry of snow. The sight of this rare blessing made the eyes of the Moon God Palace disciples widen in astonishment and uncontained delight.

    One after another, they soared into the air, joyfully gathering the stones and jades that had fallen from the heavens.

    Inside her chamber, Jin Li felt her heart skip a beat as her eyes widened.

    Meanwhile, watching the divine scene unfold, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but murmur telepathically, ¡°Old man, this little display must have cost quite a bit, right?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, as your elder, I¡¯ve got to back you up. Can¡¯t have us appearing too stingy, now, can we?¡±

    ¡°But, isn¡¯t raining down spiritual stones and immortal jades a bit...unromantic? Doesn¡¯t it seem rather vulgar?¡± Qi Yuan asked doubtfully, imagining how the whole scene might come off as a bit ¡°new-money.¡±

    ¡°The disciples of the Moon God Palace are loving it. What do you care if it¡¯s vulgar?¡±

    ¡°...Starting to believe that Purple Fate Xue really takes after you,¡± Qi Yuan muttered, ending the conversation.

    Just then, a kind and gentle voice echoed through the Moon God Palace, ¡°Distinguished guests have arrived. Please, come in!¡±

    The speaker was none other than Yang God Yuehua, the only one among the palace¡¯s two Great Supreme Truths.

    Moments later, Qi Yuan, following Purple Fate Ancestor, arrived at the Moon God Palace¡¯s main hall.

    The grand hall appeared to hover in a realm unto itself, radiating an otherworldly aura. As Qi Yuan entered, he felt a slight chill and caught the faint scent of cinnamon in the air.

    Seated on the central dais was Yang God Yuehua herself, surrounded by eighteen esteemed Yang God sages on either side. Qi Yuan quickly spotted Moon Maiden Jin Li among them, her delicate gaze meeting his for an instant before she lowered her eyes shyly.

    The eighteen Yang Gods looked at Qi Yuan, some curious, some puzzled.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s background was mysterious to them, and they were just as unclear why Yang God Yuehua would allow Jin Li, a Moon Maiden, to form a union with him.

    Yuehua spoke gently, her tone warm and gracious. ¡°Your intentions are clear to me,¡± she said, fixing her gaze on Qi Yuan. ¡°Today...has been anticipated for quite some time.¡±

    The words caused the Yang Gods to exchange glances, some puzzled, others deep in thought, as if contemplating something of great significance.

    ¡°Under normal circumstances, when a daughter of the Moon God Palace weds, we celebrate with all due honor and grandeur. But today...¡± Yuehua¡¯s eyes softened with a hint of worry, ¡°With the Lingya Transformation on the verge of beginning, let us keep the arrangements simple. Blood-Robe, Moon Maiden Jin Li... I entrust her to you. Treat her with respect and devotion.¡±

    ¡°If she should suffer even the slightest grievance,¡± Yuehua¡¯s voice grew stern, ¡°the Moon God Palace will come looking for answers.¡±

    Qi Yuan bowed respectfully, his tone sincere. ¡°Rest assured, Senior. I will treat Jin Li with a heart as unwavering as the moon.¡±

    Outwardly composed, Qi Yuan¡¯s heart swirled with thoughts.

    He and Jin Li, their paths had crossed through the Resonant Jade and Moonwatch World.

    At last, he had honored his promise, reuniting with her as vowed.

    ¡°This time, as Jin Li leaves for Purple Fate Heaven, I will personally escort her,¡± Yuehua declared, her words carrying the authority of a Supreme Truth as she gave a casual wave of her sleeve, sending out a gentle wave of immense power.

 Chapter 478: Surveying All Heavens, Starlight Ablaze

    Chapter 478: Surveying All Heavens, Starlight Ablaze

    Hearing these words, the expressions of the Supreme Truths within the Moon God Palace became more profound.

    A mere Moon Maiden, yet worthy of a personal escort by Venerable Yuehua? They all understood now¡ªYuehua Venerable¡¯s escort was simply an excuse, while the deeper alliance with Black Demon Abyss was the true reason.

    Even Purple Fate Ancestor found this surprising.

    He looked at Qi Yuan, his mind swirling with complexity.

    ¡°Could it be... is this Blood-Robe the Moon God Ancestor¡¯s secret son?¡±

    Otherwise, why would the Moon God Ancestor show such favoritism towards Blood-Robe?

    However, his speculation was soon dismissed.

    Once their discussion had concluded, Qi Yuan stepped forward. ¡°Venerable Yuehua, might I have a chance to see the Moon God Ancestor?¡±

    Qi Yuan was still uneasy about the unknown whereabouts of his master, Ruan Yixi.

    Yuehua¡¯s eyes sparkled as she spoke gently, ¡°The Upper Sovereign is still in seclusion and cannot receive visitors.¡±

    Qi Yuan felt a pang of disappointment.

    He cast a deep look at the Moon God Palace, his gaze resting briefly on Jin Li¡¯s fair, snow-like face before he once again wore a smile.

    ...

    Half a day later.

    Purple Fate Heaven.

    Purple Fate Ancestor regarded Qi Yuan with a strange look. ¡°What exactly is your relationship with the Moon God Ancestor?¡±

    ¡°Huh? No relationship; we¡¯ve never even met,¡± Qi Yuan replied truthfully.

    ¡°Along the way, Venerable Yuehua was... overly warm toward you,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said with a puzzled expression.

    Throughout the half-day journey that he, Blood-Robe, Venerable Yuehua, and Jin Li had taken together to Purple Fate Heaven, Yuehua Venerable¡¯s attitude toward Blood-Robe had been far from what one would expect from a senior to a junior; if anything, she treated him as an equal.

    ¡°Everyone¡¯s equal; it¡¯s only natural she¡¯s warm to me,¡± Qi Yuan remarked lightly.

    ¡°Hmph, she¡¯s a Great Supreme Truth wielding an offensive-type creation artifact,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor pointed out.

    He didn¡¯t say the part he was thinking¡ªthat Yuehua Venerable seemed to show more respect for Blood-Robe than for him.

    And he, after all, was a Great Supreme Truth.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you also a Great Supreme Truth? And you¡¯re always warm toward me,¡± Qi Yuan pointed out.

    Purple Fate Ancestor paused for a moment, then replied, ¡°How could it be the same?¡±

    At that moment, the curtain of the flying boat opened, and Venerable Yuehua and Jin Li stepped out.

    Jin Li, dressed in a flowing white dress, appeared as serene and graceful as a moon goddess.

    Venerable Yuehua glanced up at the celestial realm and sighed, ¡°The Lingya Transformation is soon upon us. Black Demon Abyss will also be thrown into turmoil¡ªI only hope it won¡¯t affect... the two of you.¡±

    Her gaze fell upon Qi Yuan and Jin Li.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With me around, no one will harm Jin Li.¡±

    Bold and cliche?d words of a protective lover, but Qi Yuan had a knack for delivering them with confidence.

    After all, it depended on who said it¡ªcoming from a goblin, it would sound greasy, but from a dashing young man like Qi Yuan? Suddenly, it was charmingly lighthearted.

    As he said this, Qi Yuan grasped Jin Li¡¯s cold hand.

    Jin Li stood quietly, looking at him without a word.

    The group continued by flying boat, then transferred through a teleportation array until they finally arrived at Purple Fate Heaven.

    Without Jin Li, the Great Supreme Truths could have covered the distance in a fraction of the time.

    Just as they reached Purple Fate Heaven and Venerable Yuehua was about to speak, she suddenly raised her head to gaze at the star realm above.

    Purple Fate Ancestor quickly followed her gaze.

    Within Purple Fate Heaven, countless Yang Gods and cultivators also felt something, their gazes turning skyward.

    They saw the star realm at that moment¡ªa vast sea of starlight spreading across the heavens.

    The constellations seemed to weave together into a star river, forming a swirling vortex.

    ¡°The Lingya Transformation... is finally about to begin,¡± Venerable Yuehua murmured.

    ¡°The starlight¡¯s surge marks the beginning of the Survey of All Heavens,¡± said Purple Fate Ancestor, his gaze deepening.

    Before the Lingya Transformation begins, the Survey of All Heavens ensures that no Yang God Venerables within the Sixfold Heavens have anywhere to hide, forcing them all to participate in the Lingya Transformation.

    ¡°Once the Survey of All Heavens is complete, I shall return to Moon God Palace,¡± Venerable Yuehua said evenly, glancing meaningfully at Qi Yuan.

    After all, she knew something the Moon God Palace¡¯s Supreme Truths didn¡¯t¡ªQi Yuan was actually the Demon Blaze Venerable.

    Now, with Taihuang Palace overseeing the heavens, Blood-Robe¡¯s identity as the Demon Blaze Venerable would inevitably be exposed.

    It was her duty to hold ground for him.

    ¡°I wonder how many unknown old monsters will emerge in this Survey of All Heavens,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor remarked.

    At that moment, Venerable Yuehua raised her hand. ¡°This is a creation artifact¡ªthe Heavens¡¯ Scepter Map.¡±

    Under moonlight, it captures all. With this Survey of All Heavens, we should be able to see how many Yang Gods, or perhaps even Supreme Truths, are hidden throughout the Sixfold Heavens.¡±

    The Heavens¡¯ Scepter Map was an auxiliary-type creation artifact, essentially a miniature map of the Sixfold Heavens.

    Among its many functions was that during the Survey of All Heavens, starlight was cast upon each land and would be reflected upon the Heavens¡¯ Scepter Map.

    At this moment, nearby cultivators could clearly see where Yang God Venerables were hiding.

    Purple Fate Ancestor stroked his beard. ¡°With time on our hands, let¡¯s see just how many Yang Gods are lurking in the Sixfold Heavens.¡±

    Jin Li looked anxiously at Qi Yuan, her eyes conveying her thoughts.

    Qi Yuan smiled reassuringly, gripping her hand a little tighter as he communicated through spirit.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a plan.¡±

    Jin Li felt a small sense of calm settle over her.

    She remembered how, during a past crisis, Qi Yuan had sent his personal guards to her aid.

    Once, they had been worlds apart, yet now they stood side by side. What was there to fear?

    At least this time, she could face it with him.

    Unlike in the past.

    Of course, Jin Li understood she was still far too weak.

    But this time, she would resolutely stand by Qi Yuan¡¯s side.

    Venerable Yuehua raised her hand, tossing the Heavens¡¯ Scepter Map into the sky.

    The heavens over Purple Fate Heaven shifted immediately.

    The Heavens¡¯ Scepter Map unfolded across the sky, drawing the attention of countless cultivators.

    At that moment, a Yang God Venerable spoke up, ¡°This is the Moon God Palace¡¯s Heavens¡¯ Scepter Map. Do not be alarmed.¡±

    His voice carried across the lands, and hearing this, the cultivators in Purple Fate Heaven breathed a sigh of relief.

    Purple Fate Ancestor looked at Qi Yuan with a friendly smile. ¡°Take Jin Li to meet your junior disciples¡ªthey¡¯ve been eagerly waiting to meet Moon Maiden Jin Li.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Qi Yuan nodded, taking Moon Maiden Jin Li to a great hall.

    The hall was filled with many prodigies from Purple Fate Heaven, as well as others from different regions of Black Demon Abyss.

    When they saw Qi Yuan and Moon Maiden Jin Li arrive, they all rose and bowed.

    ¡°Greetings, Brother Blood-Robe; greetings, Moon Maiden!¡±

    The young cultivators of Purple Fate Heaven looked curiously at Jin Li, their gazes toward Qi Yuan filled with admiration and reverence.

    ¡°Why is our Mara Clan so quiet?¡±

    The Mara Clan¡¯s cultivators were completely baffled.

    After all, the Molo Clan had dozens of Yang God Venerables.

    But now, not a single spark of starlight appeared.

    The shock was palpable.

    Meanwhile, one Yin God named Mulan, upon witnessing this, felt overwhelming joy and relief spread across his face.

    ¡°Hahaha, he¡¯s gone! Finally, he¡¯s gone!¡±

    ¡°That dreadful being has finally left!¡±

    For some time now, Mulan had lived in a state of constant anxiety.

    He had discovered that the supposed Yang Gods of the Molo Clan were all just one person¡¯s disguise.

    Knowing this secret, he had lived in terror every day.

    Now that all the Yang Gods had vanished, he felt nothing short of jubilant.

    At that moment, up in the Sixth Heaven, several Supreme Truths within Taihuang Palace looked astonished.

    ¡°The Yang Gods of the Molo Clan have simply vanished. Where did they go?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s too strange.¡±

    ¡°Even their stars remain intact!¡±

    Supreme Sun Venerable wore a strange expression. ¡°I¡¯m curious to know where Demon Blaze Venerable, who mastered two Great Supreme Truths, is hiding right now.¡±

    True Origin Venerable squinted, his expression complicated. ¡°Clearly, the Molo Clan is planning something big for this Lingya Transformation. But whatever they intend, they won¡¯t evade Taihuang Palace¡¯s eyes!¡±

    ¡°Oddly enough, the Ten Suns Venerable isn¡¯t in the Fifth Heaven either. It seems he¡¯s actually taken refuge in the Sixth Heaven. His courage...impressive!¡±

    ¡°Wherever the sun shines, there¡¯s nowhere to hide. Rest assured, his days are numbered!¡± True Origin Venerable proclaimed with a sense of reverence.

    By this time, the Survey of All Heavens...had reached the Sixth Heaven.

    Meanwhile, Venerable Yuehua cast Qi Yuan a look filled with a peculiar understanding.

    In truth, she was also curious as to where the Yang Gods of the Molo Clan had vanished.

    ¡°Look! Starlight like the sea¡ªa true Upper Sovereign!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the Upper Sovereign of Biluotian!¡±

    Upon the Heavens¡¯ Scepter Map, one area shone with the light of the sea, vast and deep.

    Looking up toward Biluotian¡¯s direction, they could see the same oceanic brilliance shining back at them.

    ¡°There¡¯s more¡ªanother sea of starlight...this must be a secret realm!¡±

    ¡°Is it...?¡±

    ¡°Two Upper Sovereigns¡ªthere really are two within the Council of Supreme Truths!¡±

    As the Survey passed over the Sixth Heaven, the Yang God Venerables tensed, their spirits on high alert.

    After all, the high-ranking strength in the Sixth Heaven was overwhelming.

    In fact, it could even be said that Supreme Truths, a rare sight in the lower heavens, were here in such abundance as to seem commonplace.

    At this moment, some Yang God Venerables were turning their focus to tally the Supreme Truths within the Sixth Heaven, each hoping to assess if their competitors held any hidden cards.

    ¡°The Shenluo Heaven actually has another Great Supreme Truth¡ªwell hidden!¡±

    ¡°There are now seven Great Supreme Truths in White Dragon Abyss¡ªwhat¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°Fewer Yang Gods in the Moon God Palace than before.¡±

    In the air, gasps, murmurs, and speculation filled the space.

    Within Purple Fate Heaven, the Heavens¡¯ Scepter Map made the intense glow of the stars even clearer. The colossal surge of starlight pouring from the Sixth Heaven illuminated it like daylight.

    At this moment, Ice Sword grew more nervous by the second.

    After all... the Survey was just about to reach Purple Fate Heaven.

    As he stood there, Ice Sword adjusted his posture, secretly posing to make himself look dashing.

    Soon, he thought, his star would burn brighter than any other.

    ¡°It¡¯s happening!¡±

    Throughout Purple Fate Heaven, everyone¡¯s attention snapped tight.

    Each cultivator was intrigued, wondering just how many Yang Gods Purple Fate Heaven held and if anyone had secretly ascended to the rank of Yang God.

    Even Qi Yuan felt a slight unease.

    ¡°If the starlight isn¡¯t too intense, my black robe should mask it. No problem.¡±

    He pondered this over carefully.

    After all, he was merely at the level of the Purple Palace; even with the power of two Supreme Truths, how bright could his starlight really be?

    Purple Fate Ancestor stroked his beard and mused aloud, ¡°Our count of Yang God Venerables here hasn¡¯t changed. If there¡¯s an addition, it¡¯s only Ice Sword here.¡±

    Of course, Ice Sword wasn¡¯t technically part of Purple Fate Heaven.

    And the Supreme Truths naturally saw through his quiet attempt to maintain an air of mystery.

    As Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s words fell, a dazzling starbeam suddenly burst skyward from within Purple Fate Heaven.

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s starlight, resembling a lake, shone brightly and powerfully.

    Meanwhile, Venerable Yuehua¡¯s starlight was evidently much broader than Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s, more radiant by far.

    ¡°Our count of Yang Gods remains unchanged. No need to...¡±

    But he cut himself off mid-sentence, his gaze suddenly locking on Ice Sword¡¯s area.

    Venerable Yuehua, too, turned abruptly in that direction.

    In the Sixth Heaven, several Yang God Venerables, sensing the intensity, shifted their focus toward Purple Fate Heaven.

    A beam of starlight rose from Ice Sword, like a rushing stream that pierced the sky.

    In high spirits, Ice Sword basked in the attention, ready to soak up the admiration of his peers.

    Suddenly, he instinctively shut his eyes tight.

    ¡°What the...who just cast an illumination spell? I can¡¯t see a thing!¡±

    For a brief moment, a blinding, white light and searing brilliance enveloped him.

    Despite being a Yang God himself, he couldn¡¯t help but close his eyes tightly.

    And when he opened them again, his mind froze in shock.

    Not far away, Blood-Robe¡¯s black garment seemed to be riddled with gaps, as if unable to contain the overwhelming, radiant starlight within.

    Endless streams of light shot skyward in an unending torrent.

    The sight was... beyond strange.

    Not even an Upper Sovereign¡¯s starlight could compare to the magnificent, expansive brilliance here.

    It was as if thousands of Yang Gods were gathered in one place, all shining simultaneously.

    This... wasn¡¯t the starlight of a single Yang God!

    This was... thousands of beams?

    The sheer intensity was indescribable.

    Trembling, Ice Sword blinked rapidly.

    ¡°Blood-Robe... do you have thousands of light bulbs hidden in that robe?¡±

 Chapter 480: I Despise Being Forced, So Let Me Do the Forcing Instead!

    Chapter 480: I Despise Being Forced, So Let Me Do the Forcing Instead!

    The incident in Purple Fate Heaven spread far and wide, drawing the attention of countless Yang God Venerables. After all, this was something unheard of throughout ancient history, highly peculiar.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord, draped in robes woven of jade silk, furrowed her brow. "So he¡¯s the Ten Suns Venerable... With the battle over the Sovereign Seat, the one in Taihuang Palace won¡¯t let him go. This is a difficult matter, truly difficult."

    Though she coveted Blood-Robe''s bloodline, she couldn''t risk confronting Taihuang Palace solely for his sake.

    "Before his death, if he could spend one night with me and leave me a child... it would make for a beautiful tale," sighed the White Dragon Abyss Lord.

    In time, that child would grow to avenge his father, eradicating Taihuang Palace. What a glorious thought! But, of course, the White Dragon Abyss Lord only entertained the idea; after all, it wasn''t practical.

    Meanwhile...

    In Taihuang Palace, various powerful auras surged.

    True Origin Venerable¡¯s eyes gleamed with killing intent. "Hmph, Purple Fate Ancestor and Black Sword are far too audacious, daring to stand in our way!"

    Next to him, a Great Supreme Truth Realm being nodded. "To think the Upper Sovereign intervened, yet even so, the Ten Suns Venerable managed to escape."

    "He might escape for now, but can he truly evade us forever?" sneered True Origin Venerable.

    Now that Taihuang Palace would preside over the Lynia Transformation, they would surely find a way to deal with the Ten Suns Venerable.

    The Great Sun Venerable stood by with a complex expression. "Who would¡¯ve thought he was the demonic prodigy Mozhi, who has already mastered two Supreme Truths? If he continues to grow, he¡¯ll be a mortal threat to Taihuang Palace!"

    At this, the Yang God Venerables present tensed. The Ten Suns Venerable possessed the potential to challenge even the Great Sun Upper Sovereign. Once, he had commanded the skies with his ten suns, casting fear over all realms. Later, he created an unmatched legacy by comprehending two Supreme Truths.

    Such a being, given enough time to grow, was utterly unpredictable.

    "An insignificant criminal rising to this level¡ªit''s truly astonishing. But his luck has run out; from here on, all that awaits him is Taihuang Palace¡¯s wrath!" True Origin Venerable declared, his words brimming with unhidden killing intent.

    Just then, a voice transmission arrived, causing True Origin Venerable to squint in brief surprise.

    "He¡¯s hiding in the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land?"

    "What? Heaven and Earth Mystical Land?"

    The other Yang Gods, too, expressed surprise at this revelation. After all, the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land had recently gained considerable renown. The Hall of Human Sovereign¡¯s Envoy had hidden there, defeating the Banner Master.

    "Could it be... that this Hall of Human Sovereign¡¯s Envoy and Qi Yuan are one and the same?" True Origin Venerable spoke, a trace of apprehension flickering across his face.

    If it was true that the Ten Suns Venerable had comprehended two Supreme Truths, he was extremely promising; the Hall of Human Sovereign¡¯s Envoy, however, had already fully realized his potential.

    "If they¡¯re one and the same... then this is dangerous indeed!"

    "Hmph, he''s only a countermeasure against the Banner Master. Any one of us could kill him if we strike together! Without the protection of a Great Supreme Truth Realm mark, even with an offensive artifact, one strike from an Upper Sovereign will spell his death," True Origin Venerable growled.

    In the sixth heaven of the Immortal Dao, the Great Supreme Truth Realm mark was a protective talisman for those in the Great Supreme Truth Realm.

    "It is strange, though; why doesn¡¯t he have a Great Supreme Truth mark?"

    "This kind of anomaly¡ªwho knows what might happen around him!"

    "This sort of enemy cannot be left to roam free. If he manages to condense a Great Supreme Truth mark, he¡¯ll be even harder to handle!"

    The Taihuang Palace members were tense, and their eagerness was palpable. They awaited orders from the Upper Sovereign to descend upon the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

    ...

    "Not bad, I¡¯ve gained a few more divine techniques."

    Qi Yuan held Jin Li¡¯s small hand, his gaze gentle. This time, Jin Li had followed him from Moon God Palace to Purple Fate Heaven, bringing many divine techniques along with her.

    "Hus...band, why do you need so many divine techniques?" Jin Li¡¯s beautiful face was tinged with a blush, her gaze slightly confused.

    Since entering the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, Qi Yuan showed no signs of worry or fear. Instead, he leisurely perused the divine techniques, leaving Jin Li puzzled.

    "It¡¯s all for... refining the suns. Each technique is roughly equal to one sun, so I must hurry," Qi Yuan explained, closing his eyes to begin modifying the Golden Core chapter of the Qi Yuan Scripture.

    Standing by, her voluptuous figure on display, Jin Li gazed at Qi Yuan. "Refine the suns?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s focus was intense as he continued creating the Qi Yuan Scripture.

    Before long, the Qi Yuan Scripture made considerable progress.

    Qi Yuan paused briefly, glancing at the game loading on his jade scroll.

    "The game¡¯s loading bar is almost full... I must hurry and eliminate Taihuang Palace¡¯s threat! Otherwise, if the game¡¯s time flow is too slow and the Lynia Transformation begins, it could spell disaster."

    Qi Yuan had devised his grand plan with careful consideration. He needed to eliminate Taihuang Palace''s threat before the new game began. After all, if one second in the game equated to ten thousand years in reality, by the time he finished playing, everything would have changed.

    Therefore, it was best to deal with Taihuang Palace before entering the game.

    Revealing his identity was also part of his plan; otherwise, if he truly wanted to evade the Survey of All Heavens, Qi Yuan had plenty of methods to do so. The only unexpected variable was the vast amount of starlight emanating from his body, almost like waves crashing ashore.

    From fleeing Purple Fate Heaven to entering the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, it seemed like he was continually retreating. This made his plan more logical and sensible.

    Step by step, he had been forced by Taihuang Palace.

    "The Qi Yuan Scripture has already been passed on to Ning Tao. When is Taihuang Palace going to arrive?" Qi Yuan stretched, then lazily lay his head on Jin Li¡¯s lap.

    Surrounded by her faint fragrance, Qi Yuan felt a deep sense of relaxation; the fatigue washed away from his body.

    Jin Li held Qi Yuan¡¯s head, adjusting her position to make him more comfortable. "Is Ning Tao an elder sister or a younger one?" Her tone held a hint of jealousy.

    "Uh..." Qi Yuan was slightly taken aback. "Are you jealous?"

    "Why don¡¯t you taste and see?" the Moon Maiden Jin Li pursed her lips, a glimmer of spring water in her eyes. Just as she spoke, she leaned down to kiss him.

    The kiss was deep, intense.

    After several breaths, they finally parted, Jin Li panting softly, her once-cold face flushed.

    "Did you taste it?" Jin Li¡¯s slender arms wrapped around Qi Yuan¡¯s head.

    This exchange of power and dominance had shifted, placing Qi Yuan in an advantageous position.

    Qi Yuan carefully recalled, "You didn¡¯t taste jealous?"

    Jin Li was always fragrant, with no trace of vinegar.

    "Try again?" Jin Li¡¯s boldness intensified as she lowered herself.

    In the presence of others, she was gentle, refined, and reserved, like a blooming peony. But alone with Qi Yuan, she was daring and seductive, as if she wanted to meld with him, like a peach blossom in full spring bloom.

    Who knew how much time passed before she lifted her head and gazed defiantly at Qi Yuan. "Has she ever been like this with you?"

    Qi Yuan recognized this tone; it reminded him of the arguments between Purple Fate Xiaolu and An Xunlu.

    "Possibly... yes?" Qi Yuan, ever honest, couldn¡¯t lie.

    He and Ning Tao, along with Jin Li, had shared many forbidden fruits during their companionship.

    Upon hearing this, Jin Li, in a small show of defiance, lightly bit his arm, exerting only minimal pressure.

    "And how about this?" Jin Li thought of something else, her gaze shifting.

    Her white dress opened slightly from the front, her pale, jade-like skin revealed, delicate and smooth. Unlike Ning Tao and Jin Li¡¯s petite figures, Jin Li¡¯s body was more curvaceous.

    She had no excess, but where fullness was needed, she had plenty.

    She wrapped her arms around Qi Yuan, their bodies pressed together, her blushing face like a flower in bloom.

    The white dress closed quickly again as she held Qi Yuan tightly, as if they were bound together.

    "We¡¯re married now..."

    "This... hmpf..." Qi Yuan murmured, his face flushed. "This dress is restricting movement!"

    Trapped inside her dress, he dared not move too much.

    "Has she ever done this with you?"

    "No... her dress is smaller!"

    "Are you... calling me fat?"

    ...

    Happy times are always fleeting, and Qi Yuan knew his limits.

    Although indulgence can be harmful, he was fortunate enough to abstain from drinking, the last time being on the walls of Wugui City, when he sampled Zhang Sheng and Chen Jiao¡¯s Daughter Fragrance wine.

    But Daughter Fragrance could never match Jin Li¡¯s allure.

    Lately, Jin Li had been particularly enthusiastic and warm-hearted, behaving almost like an abandoned pet, seeking his embrace frequently.

    This contrasted starkly with her usual Moon Maiden-like dignified and icy demeanor, something Qi Yuan attributed to her insecurity.

    He knew Jin Li had been feeling fear, anxiety, and deep-seated vengeance accumulated over millennia.

    "It seems I need to take the initiative," Qi Yuan thought with his high emotional intelligence.

    He looked at the neatly dressed Jin Li, radiant as ever, her simple, loose clothing barely concealing her ample assets.

    "Take off your armor!" he said suddenly, his tone unkind.

    Jin Li blinked, her expression a mix of reluctance and anticipation.

    "Take off your armor!" Qi Yuan repeated.

    ...

    One day in the sixth heaven was a year and a half in the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

    Qi Yuan had spent nearly a year within it.

    Finally, Taihuang Palace arrived.

    The moment they reached the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, a brilliant light erupted. It was as if a great sun had ascended, illuminating the heavens with overwhelming brilliance. The surrounding area became void of any other celestial body; all that remained was that sun.

    "Ten Suns Venerable, come out and meet your death!" A thunderous voice resounded for miles, echoing like a storm.

    Beneath the great sun, countless divine beings appeared. Two Great Supreme Truths stood at the forefront, their power causing the earth to tremble.

    Inside the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, Qi Yuan smirked lazily. "Oh, mighty Taihuang Palace. Why not come in and meet your end?"

    There was no way he would leave the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

    Out there, he was no match for Taihuang Palace.

    But here, protected by the lingering remnants of the Tattered Robe, Taihuang Palace would hesitate.

    "Ten Suns rose to challenge the Sovereign Seat. Where is your bravery now? Why cower within the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land?" True Origin Venerable called, his voice icy.

    True, the Saintlight Clan and the Tattered Robe remnants within the abode intimidated him.

    But Qi Yuan merely stretched languidly, too stubborn to be lured out.

    ¡°You...¡± True Origin Venerable seethed, his face twisting in anger.

    If the Ten Suns Venerable stayed hidden, there was little Taihuang Palace could do for now.

    In truth, this revelation was unexpected.

    Qi Yuan had long foreseen Taihuang Palace leveraging Purple Fate Heaven to threaten him. However, he hadn¡¯t felt too worried, believing that as long as the Supreme did not intervene, Ancestor Purple Fate¡¯s life would not be endangered, since the Supreme¡¯s focus was locked on him here.

    The introduction of Root Demon Blood, however, had indeed taken him by surprise.

    Qi Yuan knew that Ancestor Purple Fate had been suppressing his own power for years, postponing the arrival of the Root Demon Calamity. Yet, if triggered by Root Demon Blood in his current state, there was a real risk that Ancestor Purple Fate might fall.

    "Hmph. A calamity is a calamity. If that¡¯s the old man¡¯s fate, then so be it," Qi Yuan replied dismissively, continuing his act.

    Inwardly, however, he felt weary.

    His power was still too lacking.

    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be forced to play cat and mouse with Taihuang Palace. A single punch would have blown away the dark clouds hovering above.

    "Ten Sun Venerable, there¡¯s no need to deceive yourself," True Origin Venerable¡¯s voice remained icy. "If you stay inside, the Root Demon Blood will be used. And when you finally step outside, you¡¯ll likely only find the body of Ancestor Purple Fate."

    At that moment, countless eyes across the six heavens watched this scene unfold, their sight extending through various artifacts of creation.

    "This Taihuang Palace... how despicable, using Ancestor Purple Fate as leverage!"

    "If Taihuang Palace had any integrity, they wouldn¡¯t have gained the Hall of Oneness¡¯s approval!"

    "This... Ten Sun Venerable, what a pity!"

    "What a dilemma..." one Great Supreme Truth master lamented. "Even if Ten Sun Venerable refuses to come out, Taihuang Palace¡¯s Supreme could eventually find a way to breach the Mystical Land and kill him with overwhelming force."

    "Ten Sun Venerable¡¯s talent is unparalleled; who could have expected that someone from the lower realms could topple three thousand worlds, eradicate the demon clans, and bend them to his will?

    "Not to mention, he has grasped two Supreme Truths. This monster of a cultivator¡ªheaven knows if there will ever be another like him!"

    "The Taihuang Supreme will never allow him to rise. Who knows to what heights he might ascend if he¡¯s left unchecked?"

    "Could it be that fate truly favors Taihuang Palace? If not for their oversight of the Lynia Transformation, they would never have uncovered Ten Sun Venerable¡¯s identity. With his talent and intelligence, if he¡¯d waited a few million years in hiding, what could Taihuang Palace do then?"

    Although the Supreme was wary of the Tattered Robe¡¯s spirit and dared not venture into the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land alone, with enough time to prepare, he would eventually enter and obliterate Ten Sun Venerable.

    If the enemy were a typical Great Supreme Truth cultivator with an offensive artifact, the Supreme would find it difficult¡ªalmost impossible¡ªto kill them.

    But Ten Sun Venerable, despite his overwhelming power, had not yet consolidated his Great Supreme Truth, meaning he could barely withstand an assault from the Supreme.

    That was the terror of a Supreme.

    It was safe to say that the Great Supreme Truth acted as a shield to protect the lives of Great Supreme Truth masters, making it hard for Supremes to kill them outright.

    "Three days from now, if you have yet to emerge... the Root Demon Blood will be unleashed!" True Origin Venerable announced coldly, presenting Qi Yuan with an agonizing dilemma.

    Every great cultivator held their breath, eager to see Qi Yuan¡¯s response.

    "I¡¯ve always hated being forced," Qi Yuan spoke, his former laziness gone.

    He stepped forward, staring down True Origin Venerable.

    "Why don¡¯t we switch it up? Let me be the one forcing Taihuang Palace... to make a choice?" Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was calm, his words resonating across the heavens.

    "Ridiculous. What power do you have to coerce Taihuang Palace into anything?" True Origin Venerable sneered.

    "Now that you¡¯re trapped, your death... is merely a matter of time."

    "What can you do, weak as you are?" sneered the Yang Gods of Taihuang Palace, their words dripping with contempt and mockery.

    To them, Blood-Robe posed no true threat.

    In their eyes, Supremes were unrivaled, invincible.

    "Oh, really?"

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression shifted into a strange smile.

    "Then watch closely. See what I have in store."

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s words, a mysterious, ancient, and primordial aura pervaded the heavens.

    The energy seemed to contain the truths of creation itself, the universal rules that shaped existence.

    And those laws and principles... swirled around a single door!

    It was unlike any door, impossible to grasp yet incomparably sacred and magnificent.

    Both real and dreamlike, it stood alone in the void, instantly becoming the center of all existence.

    "The Door of Supreme Truth¡ªit¡¯s the Door of Supreme Truth!" someone gasped, their voice trembling with awe.

    "This aura¡ªthere¡¯s no doubt. It¡¯s truly the Door of Supreme Truth!"

    "The greatest artifact of creation in the immortal world, the Door of Supreme Truth!" another Great Supreme Truth cultivator murmured, spellbound.

    "The Door of Supreme Truth!" Even the Supremes trembled as they witnessed this.

    It was, indeed, the Door of Supreme Truth!

    The ultimate artifact of creation in all of the immortal realms!

    Whoever obtained it would be beyond all calamity, impervious even to the Lynia Transformation. Entering it for a million years, they could then emerge... unrivaled under the heavens!

    "Correct. This is indeed the Door of Supreme Truth," Qi Yuan said with calm authority.

    To him, it was the myriad-faceted "Gate of  Myriad Principles," but to the denizens of the immortal world, it was known as the Door of Supreme Truth.

    "Great Sun Supreme, you should be able to see the Door of Supreme Truth," Qi Yuan continued, a smile forming. "Soon, I¡¯ll step through it and cultivate for a few million years. When I emerge, I¡¯ll return to settle accounts with Taihuang Palace."

    "So I¡¯d advise you to get ready. It would be a shame if you all died before I stepped back through."

    True Origin Venerable¡¯s eyes flickered with fear.

    All his calculations had failed to predict that Ten Sun Venerable might possess the Door of Supreme Truth.

    Stunned, he wanted to shout, *Fellow cultivator, if you had the Door of Supreme Truth, why didn¡¯t you say so earlier... or maybe you could have just gone straight into the Door of Supreme Truth for millions of years and emerged to claim the Supreme title of Great Sun? What were you doing wasting time outside, provoking Taihuang Palace while you were still so weak?*

    "Ten Sun Venerable, will you truly abandon your friends and loved ones in Purple Fate Heaven just to step through that door?" True Origin Venerable attempted to leverage his voice, amplifying it with authority, though it carried a note of hesitation.

    Inwardly, however, he was anxious.

    If it were him, or nearly anyone else, they would have surely forsaken Purple Fate Heaven and entered the Door of Supreme Truth.

    In Purple Fate Heaven, Ancestor Purple Fate suddenly broke into laughter. "Do you see this, Saint Wuming? Blood-Robe has the Door of Supreme Truth. You¡¯re dead now, and Taihuang Palace is headed for ruin. Ha, how delightful!"

    Though still locked in fierce combat, both Ancestor Purple Fate and Saint Wuming had projected part of their consciousness to observe the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

    Now, as Blood-Robe displayed the Door of Supreme Truth, all of the Six Heavens trembled.

    This tremor surpassed even the time when Blood-Robe had been seen radiating an ocean of light during the Survey of All Heavens.

    It was easy to understand why.

    Consider it like this: if on Earth, a woman giving birth to a ten-headed child would capture people¡¯s attention, the arrival of an elixir for eternal life would captivate everyone entirely.

    The Door of Supreme Truth held such allure, igniting fervent desire across the Six Heavens.

    Saint Wuming¡¯s expression darkened as he absorbed this.

    Ancestor Purple Fate felt the urge to send a transmission to Qi Yuan, urging him not to worry about Purple Fate Heaven and instead enter the Door of Supreme Truth.

    Back outside the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

    Qi Yuan fixed his gaze on True Origin Venerable, his tone calm. "There¡¯s one thing I despise above all else: being forced. It¡¯s in my nature to rebel."

    "Just now, you tried to pressure me. But now... it¡¯s my turn to pressure you."

    He lifted his gaze toward the Great Sun blazing above.

    "Great Sun Supreme, do you dare follow me into the Door of Supreme Truth?"

    "I¡¯ve laid countless traps within this door, waiting for you to step in."

    "If you lack the courage to enter, then I¡¯ll simply go in alone. I¡¯ll cultivate for a million years, then return, and by then... you will all be dead."

    "Right now, the only chance for survival rests with you. So, do you dare follow me into the Door of Supreme Truth?"

    As he stood there, calm and collected, a faint smile appeared on his face.

    Every Great Supreme Truth master and Yang God who heard his words was momentarily stunned.

    None had expected Qi Yuan to challenge the Great Sun Supreme... to enter the Door of Supreme Truth.

    But how could he dare?

    Even with a web of traps laid in the Door of Supreme Truth, how could those tricks compare to the absolute power of the Great Sun Supreme?

    Could Ten Sun Venerable be planning to surrender the Door of Supreme Truth?

    And yet, some among the Great Supreme Truths felt an undercurrent of doubt.

    Qi Yuan was no fool; he clearly understood what he was proposing. There must be a scheme in his plan.

    "A step toward heaven, a step toward hell," Qi Yuan said, slowly advancing out of the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land. "Great Sun Supreme, will you follow me... into this abyss?"

    "Or do you intend to wait a million years, only for me to emerge and personally send you to hell?"

    With those words, Qi Yuan and the Door of Supreme Truth stood visible outside the Mystical Land.

    Without hesitation, Qi Yuan dove into the door, which started fading rapidly, seemingly about to vanish.

    Countless cultivators and Great Supreme Truth masters held their breath, eager to see how the Great Sun Supreme would respond.

    Observing this scene, even the Supremes felt a tremor within themselves and came to a decision.

    If it were them in the Great Sun Supreme¡¯s place, regardless of their own confidence, they would also follow Qi Yuan into the Door of Supreme Truth.

    Firstly, there was Qi Yuan¡¯s provocation and threat.

    Secondly, as a Supreme, they held immense confidence in their strength, undeterred by any potential traps.

    And lastly, it was the Door of Supreme Truth itself¡ªthe most sought-after artifact of creation in the immortal realm.

    Within the Six Heavens, just as the Door of Supreme Truth was about to dissipate, the Great Sun, embodying unmatched power, surged into the Door of Supreme Truth at the last possible moment.

    In an instant, darkness swept over the skies, and the aura of the Door of Supreme Truth vanished entirely.

    Numerous eyes remained fixed on the void outside the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, contemplative expressions adorning their faces.

    Because... this outcome had defied all expectations.

    If the Great Sun Supreme were to secure the Door of Supreme Truth, then, indeed, the Six Heavens would be irrevocably altered, with the Great Sun Supreme reigning supreme over all.

    For many, questions lingered. How could Qi Yuan have dared to reveal the Door of Supreme Truth, knowingly allowing a wolf into his den?

    In that suspended moment, countless cultivators felt a collective heartbeat, a mixture of suspense and anticipation.

    They knew they would not have to wait long for an outcome.

    Because, with the power of a Supreme, subduing a Great Supreme Truth cultivator without a consolidated Great Supreme Truth would be as easy as turning a hand.

 Chapter 481: The Great Sun Has Disappeared? Root Demon Tribulation!

    Chapter 481: The Great Sun Has Disappeared? Root Demon Tribulation!

    Countless cultivators and Yang God Venerables felt their hearts stirred, their gazes instinctively turning to the Great Sun within the Astral World, as well as the Ten Suns suspended in the heavens. What was unfolding within the Gate of Myriad Principles was a mystery to all.

    Only by relying on astral projections could they glean the outcome of the battle.

    True Origin Venerable stood in the void, surrounded by a host of Yang Gods, his gaze sweeping across the crowd as he spoke coldly, ¡°This Ten Sun Venerable is far too arrogant, completely ignorant of the terror of a Supreme. This time... the greatest artifact in the Immortal World shall belong to Taihuang Palace!¡±

    The surrounding powerhouses reacted differently to his words; some were filled with worry, while others appeared contemplative.

    Within the Council of Supreme Truth:

    ¡°If we had known he possessed the Gate of Myriad Principles, we would have offered assistance. Now... the Great Sun will simply gain it.¡±

    ¡°With the Great Sun¡¯s power, bolstered by the Gate of Myriad Principles, these Six Heavens... ah, this Ten Sun Venerable¡¯s lack of wisdom is astounding. Attempting to outwit such power is futile, for no scheme holds sway before a Supreme.¡±

    Being Supremes themselves, they understood the strength and terror of such power. A Supreme was beyond the comprehension of even the strongest Great Supreme Truth cultivators.

    The two Supremes fell into thought, contemplating what might come once the Great Sun returned.

    In the Sky of Azure Blades:

    An old man dressed in a rain cloak looked every bit like a tiny elder. ¡°It seems that... victory belongs to the one and only Hall¡±

    In White Dragon Abyss:

    White Dragon Abyss Lord¡¯s expression was complex. ¡°No wonder he didn¡¯t wish to bear my child. So... he had the Gate of Myriad Principles.¡±

    She gazed up toward the stars in the Astral World, a glimmer of expectation in her eyes.

    Many Yang God Venerables assumed that a great battle must be unfolding within the Gate of Myriad Principles. The victor would undoubtedly be the Great Sun.

    But, in truth, they were gravely mistaken.

    Inside the Gate of Myriad Principles, silence reigned, devoid of any battle. Or, one might say... a king cannot meet another king.

    The vast expanse of space was breathtakingly beautiful. Stars glimmered like pearls, strung upon threads of color, appearing like a reversed Milky Way.

    It was magnificent and boundless.

    Qi Yuan stood within the cosmic vastness, his expression complicated. He shouted into the vast universe, ¡°Great Sun, your father¡¯s calling you home for dinner!¡±

    Even in the vacuum, Qi Yuan¡¯s voice carried for millions of miles.

    No echo returned; within the expanse, it didn¡¯t even stir a ripple.

    Qi Yuan shrugged. ¡°As expected, this universe is too vast. Who knows where the Great Sun got transported?¡±

    Qi Yuan was well aware of the power disparity between him and the Great Sun.

    In a straight fight, he¡¯d likely lose.

    So he¡¯d chosen to use his sharp mind instead.

    Rather than engaging in a head-on clash, Qi Yuan devised a ruse. Appearing as though he¡¯d reached his breaking point under Taihuang Palace¡¯s oppression, he produced the Gate of Myriad Principles to force the Great Sun into a one-on-one exchange.

    But once the Great Sun entered the Gate of Myriad Principles, Qi Yuan immediately sent the Gate into a universe where his Stellar Golden Core resided.

    Then, he swiftly withdrew the gate.

    So, when the Great Sun stepped through, it wasn¡¯t the Gate of Myriad Principles he encountered but rather a vast universe.

    The universe was so immense, even greater than the Six Heavens.

    Now, the Great Sun was stranded within it, cut off from the Six Heavens.

    ¡°Powerful beings of the Six Heavens perish instantly if they step into other universes,¡± Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    This was knowledge he had gained in the Six Heavens.

    Living beings from the Six Heavens could not survive passing into other universes through mystical lands; they would perish immediately. Similarly, beings from other universes could not return to their original realms after entering the Six Heavens; they, too, would perish.

    ¡°But... I have a faint feeling that the Great Sun won¡¯t be so easily killed.¡±

    According to arrangements he¡¯d left in the Six Heavens, a Nascent Soul from the Buddha Realm informed him that the Great Sun¡¯s astral projection still remained.

    ¡°Could this be a fake universe? Or... is there another reason?¡±

    ¡°Or maybe... this universe has no ruling will?¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    Perhaps, lacking a ruling will, the Great Sun Supreme had not perished upon entry.

    At that moment, space shimmered.

    A figure in a black dress, Ning Tao, appeared with Canary, dressed in a flowing orange-yellow skirt, small, exquisite, and brimming with charm.

    Without hesitation, one of the figures threw herself into Qi Yuan¡¯s embrace, clinging to him like a koala.

    Showers of kisses fell upon him as the young woman¡¯s soft lips claimed him, unrestrained.

    ¡°I missed you so much!¡±

    Canary¡¯s eyes sparkled with a deep, longing affection, boldly expressing her emotions.

    Qi Yuan supported her thighs with one hand, holding her by the hips, his eyes softening.

    In contrast to Canary¡¯s boldness, Ning Tao appeared colder and more reserved. The black dress accentuated her fair skin, giving her a pallor as pale as jade. Standing there, slender, with an air of detachment, a hint of a smile graced her face.

    ¡°The Stellar Golden Core has shown no sign of the Great Sun¡¯s presence. He¡¯s likely in another region.¡±

    ¡°Seems he was transported into a different void,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    The universe was so vast that even a Yang God Venerable might never explore it fully in their lifetime.

    ¡°If only he got tossed into a black hole. I wonder if a black hole could kill him!¡± Qi Yuan thought aloud.

    With that, he stretched out a hand to grasp Ning Tao¡¯s cold, small hand.

    Ning Tao didn¡¯t pull away, though a serious look appeared on her face. ¡°Husband, after you return, a single day there could mean a hundred years here. He might gain strength quickly. Without the will of the Immortal Path limiting him, he could thrive.¡±

    Qi Yuan seemed unfazed. ¡°Strength doesn¡¯t grow that easily. This universe... it¡¯s not suitable for Six Heavens cultivators, either.¡±

    In his grand plan, he had considered unexpected occurrences.

    This universe was strange and almost devoid of immortal spiritual energy.

    In fact, it was even less rich than the lower realms of the Six Heavens.

    If the Great Sun could merely maintain his current cultivation here, he¡¯d be fortunate; gaining strength would be incredibly difficult.

    If the Great Sun were to stumble upon some miraculous treasure that boosted his power in this universe... well, that¡¯d be quite the lucky coincidence.

    In that case, he might as well assume the Great Sun would find some miracle within the Six Heavens that would transform him into a reincarnated Dao Ancestor.

    ¡°Still, you both need to be cautious. Even if the chances of encountering the Great Sun are one in a billion, be prepared to return to the Six Heavens immediately if you see him,¡± Qi Yuan warned.

    ¡°Humph, husband, you underestimate me,¡± Ning Tao replied coolly. ¡°I¡¯ve been working hard to grow stronger, too.¡±

    With a wave of her slender hand, a terrifying force swept outward.

    The stars around them quivered momentarily.

    Qi Yuan felt time and space around them freeze for an instant.

    ¡°A Great Supreme Truth?¡± Qi Yuan blinked, surprised.

    Ning Tao¡¯s power in that moment, while perhaps not yet that of a Great Supreme Truth, was certainly close.

    She looked pleased with herself. ¡°With every Stellar Golden Core I refine, my power grows considerably. If that Great Sun dares to appear here, just lend me a Stellar Golden Core, and he¡¯ll have no way back!¡±

    For every Stellar Golden Core Qi Yuan refined, his strength grew noticeably, and Ning Tao, as the alchemist, also grew stronger alongside him.

    Moreover, in this universe, his Golden Cores were actual stars, rather than the astral projections used in the Six Heavens.

    The power of his Stellar Golden Cores was now truly fearsome.

    After all, he knew the Root Demon Tribulation would spell his end.

    It was common knowledge that aside from those Yang Gods who had comprehended Supreme Truths, other Great Supreme Truths, including White Dragon Abyss Lord, who belonged to the second echelon of Great Supreme Truths, all feared the Root Demon Tribulation as they would a poisonous viper.

    The Root Demon Tribulation was akin to a blade hanging over their heads, keeping these Great Supreme Truths from advancing further.

    Were it possible to survive the Root Demon Tribulation unscathed, these Great Supreme Truths could continue to grow in strength, perhaps even nearing the level of a Supreme.

    Currently, however, Purple Fate Ancestor was trapped within his Root Demon Tribulation.

    Upon realizing that the Ten Sun Venerable had emerged from the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, Saint Wuming had not hesitated to flee.

    In the heart of Purple Fate Sky, Purple Fate Tandu paced anxiously, his expression tense. ¡°The Ancestor... he¡¯s trapped within the Root Demon Tribulation...¡±

    As one of the few Supreme Truth cultivators within Purple Fate Heaven, he understood that the Ancestor stood no chance of surviving the tribulation.

    If the Ancestor fell, Purple Fate Heaven would lose its position within the Six Heavens, potentially facing ruin.

    Many of the Yang Gods, including Purple Fate Daxue, wore expressions of deep worry.

    The Ancestor was their anchor and their most powerful protector.

    Now, within the void, Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s body appeared half-withered, half-vital, straddling the line between life and death.

    The Root Demon Tribulation continued to devour his physical form and soul.

    Occasionally, his eyes would briefly regain clarity amidst a fog of confusion.

    ¡°Sigh, this is my tribulation. There is no need to grieve for me,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said, his voice tinged with sorrow.

    He could feel the end drawing near.

    There wasn¡¯t much time left for him.

    ¡°At least... I was fortunate enough to see Blood Robe emerge from the Gate of Myriad Principles before the end,¡± he murmured, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. ¡°Seeing that before my death... is enough.¡±

    Yet, he sighed again. That Blood Robe rascal was bound to mock him if he saw his sorry state.

    The Yang Gods and prodigies of Purple Fate Heaven looked on, eyes filled with grief.

    Just then, a calm voice cut through the solemn silence.

    ¡°Why all the sadness? I almost thought you were all preparing for a banquet.¡±

    Everyone turned to see the figure of Qi Yuan, and a flash of shock swept across their faces.

    ¡°Blood Robe!¡±

    The Ancestor¡¯s gaze also turned toward Blood Robe, a wry smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Even at the end, you still won¡¯t give me a moment¡¯s peace.¡±

    ¡°End? What end?¡± Qi Yuan replied, feigning confusion as he looked at the Ancestor. ¡°You¡¯re not dying on my watch. As long as I¡¯m here, there¡¯s no way you¡¯re dying!¡±

    The Ancestor blinked in surprise.

    Then, with a sigh, he admitted, ¡°I doubt I¡¯ll last through the Root Demon Tribulation.¡±

    The Root Demon Tribulation and the Lynia Transformation were the two great hurdles for cultivators in this realm.

    ¡°It¡¯s a small issue; I know medicine. I¡¯ll fix you up.¡± Qi Yuan said with a lazy smile. He seemed calm, unperturbed by the tense atmosphere surrounding him. ¡°All it is... is a little kidney deficiency causing your Root Demon Tribulation.¡±

    For a moment, the grief of those gathered around eased, faint traces of amusement breaking through their sadness.

    The Ancestor glared at Qi Yuan, ¡°You insufferable brat, not even at my death will you spare me any dignity. I¡¯ve got the kidneys of a thousand men!¡±

    ¡°Elders must accept their age. If your kidneys are failing, just admit it.¡± Qi Yuan stifled a yawn.

    Of course, he knew nothing of medicine.

    But he figured simply blaming it on kidney deficiency was enough.

    ¡°Come, let me enter your Root Demon Tribulation and help you fix your kidneys.¡±

    With that, Qi Yuan moved toward the Ancestor¡¯s tribulation.

    The Ancestor was surprised, feeling a strange warmth. ¡°Kid, there¡¯s no one who can help with the Root Demon Tribulation. But I appreciate the thought.¡±

    Then, with a solemn tone, he added, ¡°Do not go to Taihuang Palace without first condensing your Great Supreme Truth Mark. Though you may have thrown the Great Sun somewhere, his astral body still remains in the Astral World, capable of unleashing terrifying power.¡±

    ¡°Root Demon Tribulation, bah. It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ve seen the Root Demon Sea itself. Old man, watch closely as I sort this out for you!¡±

    Without further words, Qi Yuan plunged into the Root Demon Tribulation amidst the shock and horror of the Yang Gods and prodigies.

    ¡°Blood Robe!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s gone into the Root Demon Tribulation!¡±

    ¡°Is he seeking death?¡±

    The Ancestor, too, was stunned. He never expected Qi Yuan to enter the Root Demon Tribulation without a moment''s hesitation.

    ¡°Kid, get out of there! The Root Demon Tribulation is no joke. It involves...¡±

    The Ancestor¡¯s voice faded, his eyes widening in disbelief.

    Within the tribulation, the dark and twisted world surged with colors and lines.

    The entire scene resembled a mass of tangled threads, its outstretched strands writhing like tentacles. Dark and sinister, each strand represented an evil essence, dripping with greed and bloodlust. They clung to the Ancestor, gnawing away at his body and soul.

    But Qi Yuan¡¯s entry had transformed the tribulation entirely. The once-ferocious Root Demons now behaved more like obedient threads of yarn, harmlessly yielding as he strode through them.

    For the Ancestor, this sight was beyond comprehension.

    ¡°Kid, what... how is this even possible? Are the Root Demons your relatives?¡±

    He could make no sense of it.

    Blood Robe¡¯s lineage was rooted in Black Demon Abyss, a bloodline unrelated to Root Demons.

    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer the agony of this Root Demon Tribulation.

    ¡°They¡¯re not my relatives... though I suppose they resemble my original divine power,¡± Qi Yuan remarked, summoning the Void Dominator¡¯s Heart Demon Guidance.

    At once, a strange aura of demonic power began to emanate from Qi Yuan.

    It was the force of greed, lust, gluttony... all manner of vices bound to mortal nature.

    The scent was eerily similar to that of the Human Sovereign Hall Envoy from their encounter outside the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

    Yet the Ancestor realized, to his shock, that this aura was also closely related to the Root Demons.

    ¡°This... is your original divine power?¡± The Ancestor looked incredulous.

    Original divine powers were a rarity, exclusive to high-ranking Purple Mansion cultivators.

    ¡°Swallow them whole!¡±

    The crimson sword extended as Qi Yuan brandished it.

    His ability, granted by the Foodless Saint Mother, flared to life.

    Instantly, a gaping maw opened on the blood-red blade, dark and foreboding.

    With terrifying ease, the yawning mouth devoured the once-menacing Root Demons as though they were as harmless as rice noodles.

    It left the Ancestor speechless.

    The Root Demons¡¯ disappearance was no illusion; their dark presence truly vanished, and his energy stabilized, his vitality returning.

    Watching Qi Yuan, the Ancestor felt a newfound reverence and awe. ¡°At this point, if you told me you were the Heavenly Will¡¯s father, I¡¯d believe you!¡±

    Nothing about Blood Robe was ever ordinary.

    Despite his countless years as a Great Supreme Truth, despite witnessing every kind of wonder, this... was new.

    The Root Demon tribulation now cleansed, Qi Yuan reabsorbed his blood-red sword, which now bore new lines resembling the Root Demons themselves.

    ¡°See? Top-notch medical skills. You¡¯re cured!¡± Qi Yuan smirked as the crimson blade merged back into his form.

 Chapter 482: Ten Suns Arenâ€™t Enough? Then a Hundred, a Thousand, Ten Thousand!

    Chapter 482: Ten Suns Aren¡¯t Enough? Then a Hundred, a Thousand, Ten Thousand!

    Purple Fate Ancestor looked at Qi Yuan, still in disbelief, as if trapped in a dream.

    ¡°This was the Root Demon Tribulation!¡±

    The terrifying Root Demon Tribulation had been effortlessly resolved by Qi Yuan. The implications of this were beyond profound.

    Didn¡¯t this mean that...?

    For the Great Supreme Truths of the Sixth Heaven, barring the Supremes, no one dared to face the Root Demon Tribulation, viewing it as a venomous scorpion.

    And if word spread that Qi Yuan could handle it... it was unimaginable what chaos that would cause.

    ¡°How did you even accomplish it?¡± Purple Fate Ancestor asked, hiding genuine concern for Qi Yuan.

    He feared Qi Yuan had paid a steep price, particularly... swallowing the Root Demon? That was terrifying.

    According to ancient records, the Root Demon was a horrendous entity. It didn¡¯t exist solely in this world but extended into other universes. Even the Supremes would appear insignificant to the Root Demon.

    Qi Yuan shrugged. ¡°I just pulled out my sword, invoked my original divine skill, and swallowed it directly,¡± he replied. ¡°Relax, there¡¯s no risk.¡±

    Qi Yuan never acted recklessly. His brow had the power to foretell fortune and avoid disaster.

    When he consumed the Root Demon, his right eyebrow hadn¡¯t twitched. Given other considerations, he¡¯d felt it was safe.

    He¡¯d taken similar precautions when crafting his grand scheme to banish the Great Sun into an unclaimed universe, exercising his unique ability to ensure there would be no catastrophe. He would never put Canary or Ning Tao in danger.

    As for the idea that Great Sun might find an opportunity in that universe... wishful thinking.

    Purple Fate Ancestor gazed deeply at Qi Yuan, pondering. He finally spoke: ¡°Now that you¡¯ve exposed the Gate of Myriad Principles, you¡¯ll need to be careful with those Supremes.¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s concern was well-founded. The Gate of Myriad Principles was enough to make the Supremes covet it. So long as they lived, they had desire. If one of the Supremes made a move, could Qi Yuan withstand it?

    ¡°They may hesitate to act just yet, though, since they still don¡¯t know exactly what happened with Great Sun.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you did to Great Sun, tell no one¡ªnot even me. The Supremes¡¯ powers are too uncanny. Any information in this world that spills over could very well be detected by them.¡±

    With the Root Demon Tribulation behind him, Purple Fate Ancestor had grown even stronger. And with greater strength came a greater understanding of the Supremes¡¯ fearsome nature. The Celestial Realm¡¯s Sixth Heaven held no future. The two levels of the Yang God were the limit here, but this wasn¡¯t the Supreme¡¯s limit.

    The Supreme¡¯s limitation to the second level of the Yang God was due to the restrictions of the Sixth Heaven. Only if the Upper Realm expanded to the Seventh or even the Ninth Heaven could the Supremes break through their confines and reach the third level of the Yang God. Otherwise... there was no way.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Qi Yuan shrugged, knowing full well that the Supremes of the Sixth Heaven might be silently watching him, waiting for the right moment to strike with a crushing blow. But Great Sun¡¯s mysterious disappearance kept them at bay, instilling both fear and hesitation.

    Looking serene, Qi Yuan remarked, ¡°The Abyss Lord dared to use Root Demon Blood against you; to provoke someone under my protection... it seems he¡¯s forgotten his place.¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor sighed, ¡°He¡¯s gone to Taihuang Palace.¡±

    Upon learning Qi Yuan had emerged from the Gate of Myriad Principles, Saint Wuming had immediately fled to the Taihuang Palace without even relocating the Black Demon Abyss. To Saint Wuming, the Black Demon Abyss was insignificant, less than a speck compared to his own worth.

    ¡°Taihuang Palace?¡± Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, a glint of resolve shining through. ¡°Perfect timing. It¡¯s time to settle some old accounts.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to Taihuang Palace?¡± Purple Fate Ancestor paused, silent for a moment.

    Before today, he might have tried to dissuade Qi Yuan. Even if Great Sun¡¯s physical form was missing, his star projection still lingered within the Astral World. Taihuang Palace held enough power to make even the Supremes wary.

    But after witnessing Qi Yuan¡¯s display, he realized he wasn¡¯t qualified to advise Qi Yuan anymore.

    Much like parents from humble backgrounds advising their genius child, who¡¯s already been recruited by a national science program before graduating high school, to stay on course to finish senior year. Everyone has their area of expertise. And in the realm of cultivation, this parental advice would seem laughable to their child¡¯s learned peers.

    Purple Fate Ancestor chose not to give such advice. Instead, he laid out the Taihuang Palace¡¯s strength before Qi Yuan, advising him to be cautious.

    ...

    Within the Council of Truth...

    Two mysterious figures lay in wait, their faces obscured.

    A strange, unnamable pattern twisted across their bodies, giving them an eerie, monstrous appearance.

    ¡°He... has gone to Taihuang Palace,¡± one of the Supremes intoned, his extended hand brushing against the twisted lines on his body, causing them to fragment into pieces.

    ¡°Strange... how did Purple Fate Ancestor manage to overcome the Root Demon Tribulation?¡± mused another Supreme, standing before a mountain too vast to comprehend. This mountain had witnessed the burial of Great Supreme Truths and even the fall of true stars, their corpses lodged deep within its valleys.

    ¡°He¡¯s shrouded in too many mysteries... Could he really be from beyond this realm?¡± the elder muttered, seeming deep in thought as countless threads of information streamed into his mind.

    ¡°If he¡¯s a foreigner, going to challenge Taihuang Palace is suicide. His true opponent is not Taihuang Palace but... Heaven¡¯s Will itself!¡± the Supreme¡¯s voice sounded like it had traveled through eternity.

    In this world, if the Great Supreme Truths were the chess pieces, then the Supremes who had comprehended Ultimate Truths were the players.

    They had long since fused with Heaven¡¯s Will in profound ways. Ten Sun Venerable lacked the Great Supreme Truth Mark and was thus an outsider to this world.

    ¡°Too many clouds obscure this battle; the outcome is unknowable, unknowable...¡±

    ¡°His trump card, his hidden hand... what could it be?¡±

    On this day, the Sixth Heaven was abuzz with countless gazes fixed upon Purple Fate Heaven and the single figure within it. They wanted to see the outcome of this battle and to gauge the true strength of the Ten Sun Venerable.

    If he was weak...

    In front of countless watching eyes, a towering figure cloaked in blood-red armor streaked across the Sixth Heaven, finally stopping before the majestic, radiant Taihuang Palace.

    One hand gripped the Emperor¡¯s Banner, summoning countless spirits from across the ages.

    This banner was old and worn, stained with ominous blood, as though it had witnessed eras and endured the wars of world¡¯s end.

    In the other hand, he held a demonic blood sword. Its color was sinister, like a dark repository of sins gathered from the hearts of countless beings across time.

    The blood sword sliced through the void, its light illuminating the heavens.

    Bathed in a golden glow,Taihuang Palace appeared as though it had been drenched in blood, casting a menacing and terrifying aura.

    Its ancient and indomitable presence seemed to tremble, leaving even the Yang Gods quaking in fear.

    ¡°He... has arrived!¡± an elder muttered, his teeth chattering.

    ¡°He¡¯s finally here!¡± Another youthful cultivator¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

    Within Taihuang Palace, countless dormant beings stirred awake.

    From all worlds, innumerable gazes converged on this impending battle.

    Qi Yuan, garbed in blood-red armor, took a step forward, causing the heavens to quake and the clouds to scatter as if he had stepped across ages.

    ¡°Today, Taihuang Palace will fall!¡± His voice was sharp as a blade, veiled in the iron edge of his conviction.

    It was as if he had come from the depths of hell itself, summoning the souls of countless departed beings.

    ¡°Ten Sun Venerable, if you retreat now, you may have a sliver of hope for survival,¡± a weathered elder spoke, revealing himself to be the Banner Master.

    Qi Yuan shook the Emperor¡¯s Banner in his grip, calling forth a myriad of vengeful spirits. ¡°Banner Master, it¡¯s time for you to return to your home.¡±

    These words were laced with a hatred so deep it could corrode iron and were, at the same time, an open, unfiltered insult.

    The Banner Master¡¯s gaze flashed with humiliation.

    Next to him, Saint Wuming watched Qi Yuan with grim seriousness, clearly unprepared for the Root Demon Tribulation¡¯s resolution.

    The Root Demon was a force perhaps even more terrifying than Heaven¡¯s Will itself.

    It didn¡¯t just exist within the Sixth Heaven; other universes told tales of its terror.

    ¡°Why bother?¡±

    A voice sighed, laden with sorrow and regret.

    A figure materialized within Taihuang Palace, a second-tier Great Supreme Truth known as Boundless Heaven Venerable, his form ethereal, as if removed from this realm.

    ¡°Three Great Supreme Truths possessing offensive creation artifacts? No... two,¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was cold, with a trace of disdain.

    Everyone within Taihuang Palace who heard these words, Yang Gods and cultivators alike, grew furious.

    ¡°Insolence!¡±

    ¡°The audacity!¡±

    Within the Sixth Heaven, many Yang Gods looked on, bewildered, wondering where Qi Yuan drew his confidence from.

    In Moon God Palace, Moon Radiance Venerable¡¯s expression grew somber, ¡°Victory or defeat... both are calamities.¡±

    Meanwhile, in White Dragon Abyss, the Abyss Lord¡¯s eyes glistened with greed. ¡°I¡¯d love to bear his child and grow old by his side.¡±

    Qi Yuan stood before Taihuang Palace, blocking its entrance alone with his blood-red armor, banner in one hand, sword in the other.

    This moment was worthy of the annals of history.

    ¡°It seems there¡¯s no avoiding this battle,¡±

    Within Taihuang Palace, the only one to have comprehended Ultimate Truth, True Sun Venerable, appeared, his aura only at its peak among the Great Supreme Truths.

    Yet with each step he took, his aura rose abruptly, expanding wildly.

    ¡°With my power, I will forge a Great Sun!¡± Boundless Heaven Venerable bellowed, with radiant five-colored lights flowing from his body, channeling into True Sun Venerable.

    The Banner Master, Abyss Lord, and True Origin Venerable, all the Great Supreme Truths, roared in unison, pouring their celestial energy into Great Sun Venerable.

    ¡°Are they trying to artificially create a Supreme?¡±

    ¡°They can¡¯t create one¡ªnot even close¡ªbut with this... his power will be nearly unmatched beneath the Supremes!¡±

    ¡°This is four Great Supreme Truths working together, and not just any ordinary ones!¡±

    One streak after another of celestial energy descended from the heavens like radiant rainbows, pouring into True Sun Venerable.

    His already massive physique grew even more towering. He seemed reborn, his expression transformed into a cold, unfeeling mask, his aura radiating a vast, singularly blazing sun.

    True Sun Venerable¡¯s energy surged to a terrifying level, each movement capable of instilling dread in the Great Supreme Truths¡¯ second echelon. His strength was enough to capture the attention of the Supremes.

    Even Qi Yuan felt the intense threat radiating from him.

    At that moment, True Sun appeared to be a completely new being. From his bones to his soul, everything about him had transformed, as if a foreign life force had reanimated his body.

    This scene stunned several Yang Gods and even made the Supremes ponder.

    A colossal, indescribable star projection emerged from the boundless Astral Realm, magnificent and awe-inspiring, making every Yang God present tremble.

    ¡°How can there be such a massive star projection?¡± someone exclaimed, their voice shaking.

    ¡°Is this... even a star?¡±

    All who watched were stricken with disbelief. This blood-red star projection was so immense that ordinary projections, in comparison, looked like mere fireflies.

    Even beings as powerful as Great Supreme Truths, who could easily consume entire realms, were overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of this star.

    Supremes could hold stars in their hands and scatter dozens with a flick. But this... this blood-red star was simply too vast, too intimidating.

    "This... is my most powerful Stellar Golden Core!"

    The crimson light spilled across Qi Yuan¡¯s figure, casting an otherworldly glow upon him.

    ¡°I call it... the Super Red Giant!¡±

    This Super Red Giant, with a mass only dozens of times greater than the Blue Planet¡¯s sun, had a volume a billion times larger! It had consumed thousands of divine techniques, captured by Ning Tao and Canary, and finally condensed into a Golden Core.

    True Sun Venerable¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Size doesn¡¯t dictate everything!¡±

    Despite the intimidating presence of this star projection, True Sun remained calm; the Super Red Giant was formidable, yet still within his tolerances.

    ¡°Do you believe... that this colossal star projection... is the only one I possess?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was calm, but his words sounded like a thunderclap to the Yang Gods present.

    Could it be... he had more of these?

    The gathered Yang Gods felt a chill wash over them. Such a projection was already beyond comprehension¡ªcould he truly have more?

    ¡°Sorry to disappoint, but yes... I only have one like this!¡±

    Super Red Giants were rare; Qi Yuan had only managed to obtain one and condense it into a Stellar Golden Core.

    Upon hearing this, the other Yang Gods let out a sigh of relief. One was already terrifying; any more would be unimaginable.

    If Qi Yuan survived this battle, and such an enormous projection lingered in the Astral Realm, it would haunt the minds of Yang Gods everywhere.

    But their relief was premature.

    ¡°This size, indeed, is unique... but as for smaller ones... I have plenty!¡±

    ¡°Come forth, Stellar Golden Cores!¡±

    ¡°Illuminate the heavens!¡±

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s command, the vast Astral Realm was plunged into darkness, as though every star¡¯s light had been stolen.

    The Yang Gods shivered, their fear intensifying. This sensation was even more terrifying than when the Super Red Giant had appeared.

    They gazed up at the darkened Astral Realm, the endless blackness devoid of a single glimmer.

    Suddenly¡ª

    The sky lit up again!

    Countless stars began to rise, an overwhelming, boundless brightness.

    It was no mere single sun, nor two, nor even a hundred or a thousand!

    A thousand radiant disks rose in brilliance, the Astral Realm¡¯s glow eclipsing the heavens and earth.

    In that moment, countless stars spanned the sky. Looking across them, there was no end in sight.

    Tens of thousands of star projections filled the heavens.

    ¡°Is this... sufficient?¡±

    ¡°If there can be no two Super Red Giant suns, what about ten thousand?¡±

    Clad in his blood-red armor, Qi Yuan seemed to bear the weight of the Astral Realm, tens of thousands of blazing star projections illuminating the vast expanse.

    He looked like a true deity, each projection a mere adornment upon his armor.

    Before this expanse of Stellar Golden Cores, the other star projections faded into insignificance, mere shadows against the immensity of Qi Yuan¡¯s stars.

    Gathering all this celestial light, Qi Yuan exuded an unmatched, overwhelming power.

    This was a true upheaval of the realms.

    Countless eyes fixed upon Qi Yuan, their gazes filled with awe and disbelief.

    ¡°What Ten Sun Venerable...? He¡¯s a... Ten Thousand Sun Supreme!¡±

    The title ¡°Ten Sun¡± was appropriate for a mere celestial being, but for someone who commanded tens of thousands of suns, this was an entirely different level.

    Even the Supremes couldn¡¯t fathom that all these star projections belonged to a single individual. It was beyond belief, more astonishing than the appearance of the Gate of Supreme Truth itself.

    ¡°Stars of the heavens, gather upon me!¡±

    ¡°Brilliant radiance, illuminate all nine heavens!¡±

    At Qi Yuan¡¯s declaration, the endless star projections fell upon him, each descending ray of light merging into his body.

    In an instant, Qi Yuan¡¯s energy surged to unimaginable levels.

    Vast, boundless, and indescribably profound...

    ¡°Now... do I qualify to claim the title of Great Sun?¡± he roared, his voice thunderous.

    ¡°Large is beauty, and multitude is power!¡±

    ¡°Behold my Stellar Golden Cores¡ªcome forth... and claim what¡¯s yours!¡±

    As Qi Yuan¡¯s shout echoed, a monstrous hand of immense power stretched towards True Sun.

    Within the Astral Realm, tens of thousands of Stellar Golden Cores aligned like celestial warriors, each charging toward the Great Sun¡¯s star projection.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    This blow held no concept of Supreme Truth!

    This was pure, unbridled force¡ªa showcase of the true beauty of power!

    No rule or Supreme Truth could withstand this relentless might, which tore through all in its path.

    The monstrous form of True Sun, equal in strength to the Supremes, appeared minuscule under this attack.

    Crack.

    Within the Astral Realm, fractures appeared across the Great Sun¡¯s star.

    Light burst forth from True Sun Venerable¡¯s body.

    ¡°In this Sixth Heaven, I am the only true Great Sun!¡±

    Boom!

    The Great Sun projection shattered!

    The title of the singular Great Sun vanished, only to be rekindled in Qi Yuan.

    True Sun¡¯s body fractured, his once-cold expression replaced with a look of bewildered shock.

    ¡°How... can this be...¡± he muttered in a daze.

    ¡°Die!¡± Qi Yuan struck again, this time directly targeting the Banner Master.

    The Banner Master¡¯s expression shifted dramatically, his body trembling, his face turning ashen.

    ¡°I bear the Supreme Truth Mark! I cannot die!¡± he cried out.

    But that strike disregarded any notion of reason; its sheer force was so absolute that even the Banner Master¡¯s Mark, fused with Heaven¡¯s Will, began to show cracks.

    With a single strike, the Banner Master fell.

    All realms fell silent in shock.

    This was a second-tier Great Supreme Truth, protected by the Supreme Truth Mark.

    Under the operation of Heaven¡¯s Will, even the Supremes couldn¡¯t easily kill him.

    And yet... Qi Yuan had slain him with ease.

    The other Great Supreme Truths looked at Qi Yuan, their eyes filled with newfound dread.

    Even the Supremes¡¯ eyes now held a hint of caution.

    This was no ordinary second-tier Great Supreme Truth; even without his powerful artifacts, he was still a dominant force within the Sixth Heaven.

    Yet Qi Yuan didn¡¯t give them time to think. His gaze fell upon Saint Wuming.

    ¡°Years ago, Purple Fate Ancestor begged you three times on my behalf. Today, I shall strike you down with three blows!¡±

    The towering figure radiated an aura of unmatched brilliance as he prepared to strike.

    ¡°The first blow, to shatter your body!¡±

    With a single palm strike, Saint Wuming¡¯s body was obliterated.

    ¡°The second blow, to extinguish your soul!¡±

    Another palm, and Saint Wuming¡¯s soul was annihilated.

    ¡°The third blow, to break your Supreme Truth Mark!¡±

    The third blow struck, shattering the Supreme Truth Mark embedded in Heaven¡¯s Will itself.

    The heavens... were utterly silent in shock.

 Chapter 483: The Mysterious Sole Hall

    Chapter 483: The Mysterious Sole Hall

    Two second-tier Great Supreme Truths, whom even a Supreme would struggle to kill, were merely reduced to ruin.

    Yet, under the overwhelming assault of Qi Yuan with the power of ten thousand suns, they were crushed in an instant.

    Such mighty force left the Yang Gods who were observing the battle stunned, in awe, and confused.

    "Absolute power, with unparalleled destructive capability¡ªcould this... also be a kind of Supreme Truth?¡±

    ¡°Even the Supreme Truth Mark, engraved in Heaven¡¯s Will, shattered in an instant under this force...¡±

    The many Yang Gods gasped, shaken by Qi Yuan¡¯s recent strike.

    This was absolute strength, without embellishment and void of any Truth within it.

    Only pure power!

    Within Taihuang Palace, True Origin Venerable¡¯s expression darkened, and his heart filled with dread.

    Even with the Great Sun''s title, the True Sun Venerable had lost!

    The Banner Master and Abyss Lord were no match for the Ten Sun Venerable... no, the "Ten Thousand Sun Venerable," even in a single confrontation?

    ¡°You¡¯ve stolen the Supreme¡¯s title¡ªhow is that possible?!¡±

    True Origin Venerable was less disturbed by the deaths of the Banner Master and Abyss Lord than he was by the fact that...

    The Great Sun title had been taken!

    This meant that even if the Great Sun Supreme returned to the Sixth Heaven, his title would be gone!

    What this meant, True Origin Venerable couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom.

    ¡°You are guilty.¡±

    The words that greeted True Origin Venerable were Qi Yuan¡¯s judgment.

    ¡°Outside the Heaven and Earth Mystical Lands, you, supposedly a Great Supreme Truth Yang God, acted without an ounce of dignity, spouting obscenities!¡±

    ¡°Seven or eight curses in one sentence!¡±

    ¡°You bear responsibility for the decay of moral conduct in the cultivation world!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s time to restore the virtue of the cultivation world, starting with you!¡±

    With this, Qi Yuan struck with an overpowering fist toward True Origin Venerable.

    In an instant, stars filled the sky, and radiant light shone in all directions.

    True Origin Venerable¡¯s face contorted with terror as he let out a desperate scream: ¡°...Save me!¡±

    However, as if under a mysterious restraint, he could only manage to voice ¡°Save me,¡± without any other words before it.

    Naturally, there was no response.

    A terrifying punch fell upon True Origin Venerable¡¯s body.

    His celestial energy surged madly, unleashing the Supreme Truth, causing space to twist and overlap.

    Under the influence of the Supreme Truth, the spatial distance between him and Qi Yuan appeared to be millions of miles.

    This was the power of Supreme Truth¡ªordinary Yang Gods couldn¡¯t even approach True Origin Venerable¡¯s form.

    Yet despite all this, that punch remained merciless.

    The vast expanse of space collapsed like glass, crushed by sheer power into a single mass.

    With space shattered, the matchless fist struck True Origin Venerable¡¯s body.

    This overwhelming strength, this unimaginable pain, this obliteration¡ªthere was no resisting it.

    In an instant, True Origin Venerable¡¯s body and soul shattered.

    One punch, and the Supreme Truth fell.

    True Origin Venerable¡¯s dissipated body was swept by Qi Yuan into his sleeve, stored in the underworld as fertilizer.

    At this moment, he turned his gaze toward the remaining members of Taihuang Palace, a glint of killing intent in his eyes.

    At this moment, he was terrifyingly strong.

    But he knew that this strength... would not last long.

    His body was, after all, only that of the Purple Mansion, and though it was significantly boosted by his allies¡¯ support, it was still incredibly taxing to withstand the full power of tens of thousands of Stellar Golden Cores.

    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m still too kindhearted,¡± Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    The reason he bore the power of thousands of stars wasn¡¯t just for style, but out of mercy.

    Otherwise, he would have simply summoned the star projections and smashed them down.

    The impact of such a move would have been even greater.

    However, such an attack would be uncontrollable and could easily harm the innocent.

    As a lawful and compassionate man, Qi Yuan naturally refused to let the aftermath of his battle impact ordinary people.

    Thus, he chose to bear the stars upon himself; now, he radiated with red and blinding white light, towering like a deity.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    Another mighty punch descended with unstoppable force.

    Qi Yuan showed no mercy toward the Yang God Venerables of Taihuang Palace.

    Inside the palace, the remaining Yang God Venerables were horrified, sensing the threat of death.

    The True Sun Venerable, observing Qi Yuan¡¯s towering form, felt a trace of relief.

    Falling now, or later, made no difference.

    However, at that moment, a sudden, violent tremor arose within Taihuang Palace.

    A vast and righteous aura seemed to descend from the Seventh Heaven.

    It enveloped Taihuang Palace entirely.

    A voice boomed loudly.

    ¡°One sovereign for all heavens, eternally united!¡±

    ¡°Shield Taihuang!¡±

    In Taihuang Palace, a remaining Great Supreme Truth shouted.

    He was the second-highest Great Supreme Truth in Taihuang Palace, after the Great Sun.

    A token appeared on him.

    Engraved on it were the characters ¡°Only¡± and ¡°One.¡±

    ¡°This is... the Sole Token!¡± one Great Supreme Truth exclaimed.

    ¡°It¡¯s actually the Sole Token! No wonder Taihuang Palace received Sole Hall¡¯s support and became the host of the Lynia Transformation!¡±

    The Sole Token radiated an intense, terrifying aura, stronger than even an aggressive creation artifact.

    ¡°This is the Sole Token! Qi Yuan, could it be that you dare to defy Sole Hall and oppose the Heaven¡¯s Will?¡±

    The Great Supreme Truth¡¯s voice resounded through the Sixth Heaven.

    The Sole Token, as Sole Hall¡¯s insignia, represented Sole Hall¡¯s supreme authority and will.

    Even a Supreme would have to treat it with utmost respect!

    The Yang Gods of Taihuang Palace seemed to regain their confidence.

    Taihuang Palace was the host of the Lynia Transformation, protected by Sole Hall; no matter how powerful Qi Yuan was, could he truly defy Sole Hall?

    Was this a rebellion against Heaven itself?

    ¡°Break!¡±

    Yet Qi Yuan did not retreat, nor did he show any fear of the Sole Token.

    Then, suddenly, a desperate voice came through.

    ¡°He¡ª¡±

    The voice was hurried and abruptly cut off, as though it had never been there.

    Qi Yuan clearly recognized it¡ªthe speaker was the True Sun Venerable, now in the Seventh Heaven.

    It seemed something terrifying was happening in the Seventh Heaven.

    Qi Yuan looked up at the Astral Realm.

    True Sun Venerable¡¯s star was still alight.

    This meant... he was still alive.

    ¡°Did I mishear?¡±

    Qi Yuan mused thoughtfully.

    ...

    On the Sixth Heaven, news of the Ten Sun Venerable, who had ascended to the throne of divine power, gaining the strength of ten thousand suns to obliterate Taihuang Palace, seize the Great Sun title, and force the entire palace to retreat into the Seventh Heaven, spread across the land, causing widespread shock and awe.

    Countless cultivators were either stunned or deeply troubled.

    Such events... were unprecedented throughout history.

    The ten suns in the sky were enough to shake the Sixth Heaven. But tens of thousands of stars shining at once? There were no words to describe the tremors that image sent through the realm.

    At that moment, in the Purple Fate Heaven, Purple Fate Little Lu swallowed nervously, ¡°Senior Brother Blood Robe... is... enormous!¡±

    The tens of thousands of stars merging within his body had magnified Qi Yuan¡¯s form to an overwhelming extent. Even standing outside Taihuang Palace, his majestic figure could be seen from countless realms away, towering over the Purple Fate Heaven.

    The sheer magnitude was indescribable, beyond what anyone could have comprehended.

    ¡°See, I told you Senior Brother Blood Robe is the greatest prodigy of the Black Demon Abyss! He even struck down the Abyss Lord with three hits!¡± Little Lu looked triumphantly at Anxun Lu, unable to resist showing off.

    She wondered how Anxun Lu would refute her this time.

    This level of strength rivaled that of the Supreme himself.

    It might take tens of thousands of years for Senior Brother Black Sword to achieve this kind of power.

    Anxun Lu took a deep breath. ¡°You¡¯re right, for now... the Black Demon Abyss has Blood Robe as its supreme. But...¡±

    ¡°But what?¡± Little Lu pressed with obvious displeasure.

    ¡°But your chest is small!¡± With that, Anxun Lu strutted away, flaunting her own more impressive physique.

    ¡°You!¡± Little Lu¡¯s face instantly flushed red, and she stomped her feet in frustration.

    Was her fellow disciple really stooping to personal insults about her physique just because she couldn¡¯t win an argument?

    In Purple Fate Heaven, many prodigies were left both stunned and thrilled.

    With a powerhouse like Blood Robe, what fear could they have in the Lynia Transformation?

    Purple Fate Heaven... was destined to flourish!

    Just look, hadn¡¯t Taihuang Palace been forced to retreat to the Seventh Heaven?

    Elsewhere, Purple Fate Ancestor gazed into the void, his heart stirred with a hint of gratitude. ¡°This guy... went all the way, directly killing the Abyss Lord.¡±

    The void trembled, and Qi Yuan¡¯s form appeared.

    Gone was the dominance and killing intent he¡¯d displayed outside Taihuang Palace; now dressed in a simple black robe, his aura exuded a hint of indolence, like a sunlit, reclusive youth.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you I had you covered, old man? Naturally, I meant it.¡±

    ¡°You truly surprised me today. I fear... even the Supremes must be wary of you now!¡± Purple Fate Ancestor sighed.

    He hadn¡¯t expected Qi Yuan to be this formidable.

    ¡°All those stars... I¡¯m envious!¡± He looked up at the stars in the Astral Realm, his eyes filled with admiration.

    ¡°Sigh, but I¡¯m still too weak. Against a Supreme... I still have no certainty of victory,¡± Qi Yuan admitted.

    This was a fact.

    The difference between Supremes and Great Supreme Truths was vast, almost like entirely different realms.

    ¡°They have no certainty against you, either.¡± Purple Fate Ancestor looked at Qi Yuan. ¡°You can summon up to thirty thousand stars¡ªwho¡¯s to say how many more you possess?¡±

    ¡°To answer that question... well, let¡¯s keep them guessing,¡± Qi Yuan said with a sly smile.

    This time, he hadn¡¯t summoned every star projection he had.

    He¡¯d kept a few hidden, just in case.

    ¡°You rascal,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor chuckled, visibly relieved.

    The stronger Qi Yuan grew, the more secure he felt.

    ¡°But you need to be cautious of Sole Hall. Although it lacks actual cultivators, its spirit entities... they¡¯re formidable adversaries.¡±

    ¡°They can¡¯t descend to our realm, but with Taihuang Palace still overseeing the Lynia Transformation, who knows what schemes they may try against you!¡± As he spoke of Sole Hall, Purple Fate Ancestor¡¯s gaze turned wary.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes also darkened. ¡°Old man, how much do you know about Sole Hall?¡±

    He was puzzled by the unsettling feeling he¡¯d had when he saw Taihuang Palace¡¯s ascension to the Seventh Heaven, as if every one of its Yang Gods was doomed.

    ¡°Their stars are still shining in the Astral Realm, so how could they be dead?¡± Purple Fate Ancestor seemed baffled. ¡°Though if they remain in the Seventh Heaven after the Lynia Transformation ends, they may truly perish.¡±

    ¡°Forcing an entire sect like Taihuang Palace to retreat¡ªthat¡¯s unheard of.¡±

    Purple Fate Ancestor mused before adding, ¡°If you want to learn more about Sole Hall, you may need to meet with a few Supremes who likely know.¡±

    ¡°To meet the Supremes, is it...¡± Qi Yuan thought. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s time I sought them out.¡±

    He also wanted to meet Moon God Ancestor to uncover the truth about his master.

    Time was running out in the stage he had loaded for his ¡°game.¡±

    ¡°Old man, I need as much Black Demon Ancestor Blood as you can get,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Despite the tens of thousands of stars hanging above, Qi Yuan felt he still lacked the sense of security he desired.

    The Ancestor Blood would allow him to advance in his Ancestral Blood Art, which could in turn enhance his Ten Thousand Dao Martial God cultivation.

    Currently, Ancestral Blood Art was capped at the thirteenth level, only equaling the strength of a Great Supreme Truth.

    The Ancestral Blood Art had much more potential to unlock.

    After all, he couldn¡¯t throw Stellar Golden Cores at every opponent he encountered.

    Bearing the power of Stellar Golden Cores required substantial physical endurance.

    For that, he had to advance in Ten Thousand Dao Martial God, to strengthen his physical form.

    Otherwise, with a million stars weighing on him, he¡¯d end up with spiritual exhaustion.

    ¡°Not to worry, I¡¯ll go talk to Black Sword right away,¡± Purple Fate Ancestor said earnestly. Then, he added, ¡°With Taihuang Palace moving into the Seventh Heaven, you must be on guard... the Lynia Transformation... it¡¯s exceedingly dangerous.¡±

    Taihuang Palace could exploit the Lynia Transformation to use countless esoteric techniques.

    ¡°Relax. With the Great Sun settled, there¡¯s no immediate threat. My own cultivation is still low; the Lynia Transformation has nothing to do with me, right?¡±

    Qi Yuan shrugged.

    ¡°Not having the Great Sun around really makes things peaceful!¡±

    ¡°Now, having taken the Great Sun¡¯s title, do you think he still has Supreme power?¡±

    Qi Yuan mused aloud.

    Purple Fate Ancestor shook his head. ¡°When it comes to the Supremes, I¡¯m not sure. If you really want to know, you¡¯ll have to speak with them.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°One more thing, be cautious around the Council of Truth. They have two Supremes.¡±

    ¡°And one last matter... before the Council of Truth¡¯s founding, the Sixth Heaven... had no Supremes at all.¡±

 Chapter 484: The Secrets of the Sixth Heaven, A Sword That Severed the Future

    Chapter 484: The Secrets of the Sixth Heaven, A Sword That Severed the Future

    Before the Council of Truth ¨C Are the Sixth Heaven¡¯s Sovereigns Truly Supreme?

    Qi Yuan murmured silently, his thoughts a whirlwind of contemplation.

    ¡°Old man, I¡¯m heading to the Council of Truth to meet those Supremes,¡± he said.

    With that, his figure vanished, disappearing without a trace.

    Within Purple Fate Heaven

    The Purple Fate Ancestor looked unsettled, his expression reflecting deep hesitation. He recalled the words the Abyssal Lord had once spoken to him:

    ¡°What of the bloodline¡¯s origin? Once one enters this universe, the future is no more.¡±

    ¡°For him to arrive in this realm... perhaps it was a mistake.¡±

    The Purple Fate Ancestor let out a faint, melancholic sigh.

    Meanwhile

    The Council of Truth was teeming with activity. Countless talented cultivators were replaying the scenes of the recent battle, their eyes filled with excitement.

    If one were to name a faction within the Sixth Heaven that despised the Taihuang Palace the most, it would have to be the Council of Truth, second only to the Moon God Palace.

    For ages, the Council of Truth had reigned as the Sixth Heaven¡¯s foremost power.

    However, with the rise of True Origin Venerable and the hosting of the Lynia Transformation by Taihuang Palace, the palace was beginning to overshadow the Council, threatening to become the foremost power in the immortal realm.

    As members of the Council of Truth, they naturally could not tolerate such a scenario.

    Now, seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s domineering display¡ªsweeping through Taihuang Palace and forcing them to retreat to the Seventh Heaven¡ªthey could only describe the feeling with one word: exhilaration.

    ¡°Hah! The mighty Taihuang Palace, forced to flee to the Seventh Heaven? What face do they have left to return to the Sixth Heaven?¡±

    ¡°Losing the Great Sun title¡ªcan they even call themselves Supremes anymore?¡±

    ¡°Between the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme and the two Great Supremes of the Council¡ªwho do you think is stronger?¡±

    At this question, the crowd fell silent.

    ¡°The Great Supremes have presided over the Sixth Heaven, anchoring the Council of Truth as its unshakable foundation. Even during the Solar Sovereign¡¯s prime, he had to show them deference. While the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme is formidable, compared to the Great Supremes... he¡¯s still far behind!¡±

    ¡°He may not compare now, but with his comprehension of two Ultimate Truths and possession of the immortal realm¡¯s foremost miraculous treasure¡ªthe Gate of Myriad Principles¡ªhis future... he will undoubtedly become the greatest in the Sixth Heaven!¡±

    ¡°Forget that¡ªjust look at those 30,000 stars under his control! Who could possibly contend with that? And who knows if that¡¯s even his limit!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s absurd¡ªhow did he cultivate such power?¡±

    The discussions among the cultivators grew livelier. Even Yang God Sovereigns couldn¡¯t help but glance over in curiosity.

    At that moment

    A grand voice echoed through the Council of Truth.

    ¡°Qi Yuan requests an audience with the two Supremes of the Council!¡±

    As the voice fell, all heads instinctively turned skyward.

    The once-clear blue sky now shimmered faintly with golden and crimson hues intertwined.

    The talented cultivators instinctively bowed their heads, overcome with awe and fear, unable to look directly at the sky.

    In truth, Qi Yuan had come lightly equipped, exuding no aura of power.

    But his recent feat¡ªoverturning Taihuang Palace¡ªhad left an indelible mark. The mere memory of it made these cultivators unwilling to meet his gaze.

    Out of consideration, Qi Yuan ensured his voice was only loud enough to reach the core members of the Council of Truth. He avoided disturbing the ordinary folk.

    After all, causing unnecessary commotion among mortals was inappropriate.

    The Sixth Heaven had many mortals living within its vast expanse.

    Unlike certain individuals who boomed their voices across the heavens and disrupted the peace, Qi Yuan despised such behavior.

    Of course, his destruction of Taihuang Palace had caused a large-scale disturbance¡ªa rare exception.

    Still, in his heart, he had apologized for it.

    Although, as the saying went, if apologies worked, what would be the need for law enforcement?

    Luckily, this world had no law enforcement.

    For now, Qi Yuan could only apologize silently in his mind.

    When Qi Yuan arrived at the Council of Truth, silence fell instantly.

    Even the Yang God Sovereigns and the most talented cultivators lowered their heads, avoiding his gaze.

    At that moment, a figure emerged from the void. It was the Unsanctified Sovereign, who bowed slightly, his demeanor respectful.

    ¡°Greetings, Ten Thousand Suns Supreme,¡± he said.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign, a being at the level of Great Supreme Truth, was a senior figure within the Council.

    During the last Truth Assembly, he had encountered Qi Yuan¡ªthen in his demonic form¡ªand had even considered recruiting him. However, Qi Yuan had declined the offer.

    ¡°Supreme, please allow me to guide you inside for a discussion,¡± the Unsanctified Sovereign said, gesturing toward the Council¡¯s inner sanctum.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan nodded and followed without hesitation.

    The two soon arrived at a vast, empty hall.

    Within the hall were numerous bookshelves, lined with books and jade scrolls.

    At the deepest point of the hall stood an unusual mirror.

    Within the mirror, faint, firefly-like entities seemed to flit about. These were no illusions but real, tangible beings.

    ¡°Where are the Supremes?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He couldn¡¯t sense their presence within the hall.

    ¡°The Supremes have said they dare not meet you. They fear that their greed may overcome them, compelling them to attack and attempt to seize your Gate of Myriad Principles,¡± the Unsanctified Sovereign admitted candidly.

    Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°It seems your Supremes have a long way to go in refining their inner cultivation. They can¡¯t even suppress the demons within their hearts.¡±

    His tone was high and polished, his words carrying subtle wit.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign felt a twitch in his heart but maintained a smile.

    ¡°Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, in truth, the Supremes of the Sixth Heaven have never met each other in person,¡± the Unsanctified Sovereign revealed, sharing a hidden truth.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°Is it a case of ¡®kings avoid kings,¡¯ or...?¡±

    He trailed off, pondering the possibilities.

    ¡°When I destroyed Taihuang Palace, didn¡¯t your Supremes witness my form? Does that mean I¡¯ve suffered a great loss?¡± Qi Yuan said lightly.

    But then he remembered that, at the time, he had only projected his Primordial Palace form, fully clothed and armored. There had been no actual exposure.

    ¡°Cough, cough...¡± The Unsanctified Sovereign cleared his throat awkwardly.

    ¡°Those at the Yang God level and above will find no path to survival.¡±

    A chill ran through Qi Yuan¡¯s heart.

    The Sole Hall¡¯s Heroic Spirits did not merely kill Yang God cultivators¡ªthey transformed them into Heroic Spirits.

    Given the countless epochs during which the Lynia Transformation had been conducted, the number of Heroic Spirits must be unimaginably vast.

    ¡°Their ambition is monstrous,¡± Qi Yuan muttered.

    He finally understood why the Yang God Sovereigns of the Sixth Heaven so vehemently opposed the Lynia Transformation.

    To lose one¡¯s self-awareness was no different from death.

    Still, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t feel overly concerned¡ªfor now.

    If the sky fell, taller figures would bear the weight.

    For him, a mere cultivator of the Purple Mansion realm, these schemes were distant.

    But there was one matter he could not ignore: Taihuang Palace.

    They had committed countless crimes, and their Yang God elders deserved death.

    As for their lower-ranked disciples, many were guilty of lesser offenses and required only imprisonment.

    Now, however, the Sole Hall had shielded them.

    Qi Yuan resolved to bring those criminals to justice.

    ¡°Can I send a message to the Seventh Heaven?¡± Qi Yuan asked suddenly.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign hesitated briefly. Firefly-like lights within the Mirror of Myriad Reflections began whirling rapidly, as if enacting some sort of ritual.

    After about thirty breaths, the Unsanctified Sovereign opened his eyes.

    ¡°Anything you say next will be transmitted to the Seventh Heaven.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    In the Seventh Heaven, Within Taihuang Palace

    Panic and despair gripped the air.

    The young woman Tai Yue clenched her teeth, tears welling in her eyes.

    After the defeat at Qi Yuan¡¯s hands, Taihuang Palace had fled to the Seventh Heaven using the Command Token, seeking refuge with the Sole Hall.

    At first, Tai Yue had been relieved. She thought they could at least find temporary respite and perhaps rebuild alongside her brother, True Origin Venerable.

    But the horrors began almost immediately.

    Every Yang God-level elder of Taihuang Palace had their souls stripped away.

    Only lifeless husks remained.

    Even True Origin Venerable, a prodigy with the potential to master Ultimate Truths, had been devoured.

    Tai Yue trembled, grief and fear overwhelming her.

    ¡°What kind of shelter is this?¡± she whispered. ¡°The Sole Hall¡¯s Heroic Spirits... they¡¯re monsters!¡±

    Suddenly, a vast voice boomed across the Seventh Heaven.

    ¡°Confess your crimes, and your punishment will be light!¡±

    ¡°Taihuang Palace, you are guilty!¡±

    ¡°I order you to surrender immediately and return to the Sixth Heaven.

    ¡°If you surrender within three days, you will serve a mere thousand years of labor in Purple Fate Heaven. Your sentence will be complete, and justice will be served.

    ¡°But if you fail to surrender within three days, I will ascend to the Seventh Heaven myself to apprehend you. Then your sentence will be three thousand years!¡±

    The message reverberated throughout the Seventh Heaven.

    Taihuang Palace¡¯s disciples were initially stunned but soon became frantic.

    ¡°Ten Thousand Suns Supreme! I confess! Please take me back to the Sixth Heaven!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll surrender! Mining for a thousand years is nothing compared to this nightmare!¡±

    Desperation filled their cries as they clung to the hope Qi Yuan had offered.

    Back in the Council of Truth, Qi Yuan smirked slightly.

    ¡°None of them confessed. It seems Taihuang Palace still has some backbone. Looks like I¡¯ll have to make a trip to the Seventh Heaven myself.¡±

    But he knew he wasn¡¯t ready yet. His strength would need to improve first.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign remained composed as Qi Yuan contemplated his next steps.

    ¡°Other than the Sole Hall, I also want information about the Moon God Ancestor and my master, Ruan Yixi. She should be from the Moon God Palace, right?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He laid out everything he knew, hoping to glean more details from the Unsanctified Sovereign¡ªor rather, from the Mirror of Myriad Reflections.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign closed his eyes briefly, then responded:

    ¡°All Sovereigns gather and condense the information surrounding them. They leave no informational particles to drift into the world.

    ¡°If you want to know about the Moon God Ancestor, you must go to the Moon God Palace and meet her in person.

    ¡°As for Ruan Yixi... the name does not correspond to any identifiable information. It may be just one of her many aliases.¡±

    Qi Yuan sighed softly, his disappointment evident.

    ¡°So, I¡¯ll have to go to the Moon God Palace,¡± he muttered to himself.

    Considering that he had claimed the Great Sun title, his relationship with the Moon God Palace was already strained, if not outright hostile. Visiting them was unlikely to be a warm affair.

    Still, if the answers he sought lay there, he had no choice but to take the risk.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign observed Qi Yuan¡¯s contemplative silence, then asked, ¡°Other than the Sovereigns, is there any other information you seek? The Mirror of Myriad Reflections encompasses the truths of all existence.¡±

    Qi Yuan chuckled, his interest piqued. The mirror seemed nearly omniscient, but he decided to test its limits.

    ¡°Can it tell me how to make a 3nm chip?¡± he asked.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign froze momentarily, and the Mirror of Myriad Reflections rippled faintly as if struggling to process the question.

    But no answer came.

    Qi Yuan smiled, somewhat amused.

    ¡°Then, can it tell me how to help the national football team win a World Cup?¡±

    The Unsanctified Sovereign¡¯s expression remained neutral, but the mirror flickered briefly, as though baffled by the question.

    ¡°...???¡±

 Chapter 485: Meeting the Moon God Sovereign

    Chapter 485: Meeting the Moon God Sovereign

    ¡°So, it seems you don¡¯t know everything after all.¡±

    Seeing the Unsanctified Sovereign¡¯s silence, Qi Yuan shrugged.

    ¡°I happen to be short of a mirror for my house. Interested in hanging on my wall?¡±

    Qi Yuan gazed at the Mirror of Myriad Reflections, speaking slowly.

    At this moment, the Unsanctified Sovereign, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened them. His own consciousness returned, and his demeanor resumed its usual warmth.

    ¡°Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, you must be joking,¡± the Unsanctified Sovereign replied with a small smile.

    ¡°How do you know I¡¯m joking?¡± Qi Yuan retorted with a faint smirk.

    If the Unsanctified Sovereign had agreed, he would have accepted the mirror graciously. If refused, he could simply dismiss it as a jest¡ªclassic double-edged humor.

    ¡°Thank you for helping with the questions I asked. Consider it a favor I owe to you and the Council of Truth,¡± Qi Yuan said seriously.

    He had always been someone who repaid both kindness and grudges in full.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign stood by his side and added with a solemn tone, ¡°Although Taihuang Palace has fled to the Seventh Heaven, the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme must still exercise caution with the Lynia Transformation. This time, it¡¯s possible that even Supremes may fall.¡±

    It was rumored that Taihuang Palace had assured the Sole Hall that this iteration of the Lynia Transformation would claim the life of a Supreme.

    However, considering Taihuang Palace¡¯s power alone, it seemed unlikely they could orchestrate such a feat.

    Thus, the Council of Truth suspected that the Sole Hall might intervene directly in this Lynia Transformation.

    Otherwise, they could not fathom how a Supreme might fall.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign shared these speculations with Qi Yuan.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°If they descend, all the better. I need to ask them why they¡¯re sheltering Taihuang Palace!¡±

    The Unsanctified Sovereign¡¯s heart jolted at this bold declaration.

    He couldn¡¯t help but admire Qi Yuan¡¯s audacity.

    To the Council of Truth, even its two Supremes treated the Sole Hall with utmost caution, avoiding unnecessary entanglements. Yet here was the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, boldly talking about confronting them.

    ¡°The Yang God Sovereigns of the Sixth Heaven, even Supremes, may never have seen the Heroic Spirits of the Sole Hall. Their strength is unknown. Please proceed with care, Ten Thousand Suns Supreme,¡± the Unsanctified Sovereign advised.

    ¡°A prince and a commoner must face the same law. If they¡¯re strong, does that mean they get to break the rules? Such a thing is absurd,¡± Qi Yuan said dismissively.

    He resolved that once his cultivation reached its peak, he would go to the Seventh Heaven and personally apprehend the criminals of Taihuang Palace.

    Seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s determination, the Unsanctified Sovereign wisely chose to drop the topic.

    ¡°Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, when the Lynia Transformation begins, we hope that the Council of Truth and Purple Fate Heaven can cooperate to weather the storm together,¡± the Unsanctified Sovereign said.

    ¡°No problem,¡± Qi Yuan replied casually, showing no particular concern for the matter.

    At this moment, the Unsanctified Sovereign seemed to recall something. With a wave of his hand, he produced a small white jade vial and spoke in a low voice, ¡°Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, this is a collection of Black Demon Ancestor¡¯s Blood. I heard you needed it, so I¡¯ve brought it as an offering. Please, accept it.¡±

    The Unsanctified Sovereign made it clear that this gift was a personal gesture and did not represent the Council of Truth.

    ¡°Oh? Not bad. What is it you¡¯re after? Go ahead and say it,¡± Qi Yuan said as he accepted the vial.

    He knew full well that there was no such thing as a free lunch. If the Unsanctified Sovereign was giving him the Black Demon Ancestor¡¯s Blood, there had to be a reason.

    The thought even crossed his mind: Could this solemn old man have fallen for me?

    The Unsanctified Sovereign¡¯s eyes gleamed with joy as he said cautiously, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that not long ago, Saint Wu Ming used Root Demon Blood to push the Purple Fate Ancestor into a Root Demon Tribulation. In the end, it was the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme who helped him overcome it. Is this true?¡±

    The Unsanctified Sovereign looked at Qi Yuan nervously, though his gaze held a faint glimmer of expectation.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yuan confirmed calmly.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign was overjoyed at this answer, though he maintained a composed exterior.

    It was true!

    The Ten Thousand Suns Supreme could resolve a Root Demon Tribulation!

    The Unsanctified Sovereign understood what this meant.

    If word spread, the Supreme Truth cultivators and Great Supreme Truth cultivators of the Sixth Heaven would go mad with excitement.

    Root Demon Tribulation was the bane of all Truth cultivators, a sword hanging perpetually over their heads. It impeded their progress and could send them plummeting into the abyss with the slightest misstep.

    ¡°Within the next ten thousand years, I, too, may face my Root Demon Tribulation. Would the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme be willing to assist me when the time comes?¡± The Unsanctified Sovereign¡¯s tone was humble, his demeanor deferential.

    ¡°My only concern is the timing of your tribulation...¡± Qi Yuan said, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign misunderstood, thinking that Qi Yuan had limits to how often he could resolve tribulations. He quickly said, ¡°I can delay it¡ªup to five thousand years if necessary!¡±

    ¡°No need to delay. I was just saying that in ten thousand years, the Root Demons might be working as chefs for me,¡± Qi Yuan quipped casually.

    The Unsanctified Sovereign froze.

    Root Demons... working as chefs?

    This Ten Thousand Suns Supreme truly spoke without restraint!

    To others, Root Demons were incomprehensible entities, colossal even on a cosmic scale. They were beings even Supremes could not fathom.

    Still, he dared not question Qi Yuan¡¯s words and tentatively asked, ¡°So... no delay, then?¡±

    ¡°The sooner, the better,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    ¡°Understood!¡± the Unsanctified Sovereign said, his heart settling at last.

    ¡°Farewell,¡± Qi Yuan said with a wave, glancing deeply at the Council of Truth before vanishing.

    Deep within the Council of Truth.

    Two voices echoed in the hidden recesses.

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t discern him.¡±

    ¡°Do we stand a chance?¡±

    ¡°No chance.¡±

    ¡°With the Gate of Myriad Principles in his hands, he will inevitably see through us one day.¡±

    ¡°Sigh... knowing this, why did he still come to the Council? Could it be... he¡¯s baiting us to act?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t discern him... I can¡¯t discern him...¡±

    The murmurs gradually faded into silence.

    Time passed.

    Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

    A terrifying energy surged around him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve finally reached the fourteenth layer,¡± he murmured, glancing at his arm. His gaze carried a sharp edge.

    Since returning from the Council of Truth, Qi Yuan had used the Black Demon Ancestor¡¯s Blood provided by the Purple Fate Ancestor and the Unsanctified Sovereign to cultivate the Ancestral Blood Scripture.

    Now, the scripture had reached its fourteenth layer.

    ¡°No one has ever achieved the fourteenth layer in the Black Demon Abyss.¡±

    Of course, Qi Yuan¡¯s version of the Ancestral Blood Scripture had been optimized, making it vastly different¡ªand far more powerful¡ªthan the standard version.

    ¡°With the strength of my body now, bolstered by the Ten Thousand Paths Martial God... it should be comparable to an offensive Supreme Treasure,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    Still, he sighed. ¡°I¡¯m too weak.¡±

    ¡°The Sole Hall¡¯s Heroic Spirits terrify even Supremes. Am I truly their match?¡±

    ¡°And then there¡¯s Sovereign Ming¡ªhe¡¯s clearly a ruthless figure!¡±

    ¡°If even they couldn¡¯t win, how could ¡®Freedom¡¯ truth possibly survive alongside me?¡±

    These thoughts whirled through Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Luckily... the game is about to begin.¡±

    It didn¡¯t matter whether she was the Moon God Sovereign or not. What mattered was that she was still his master¡ªand his wife.

    ¡°Where is she now?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Ice Moon¡¯s expression turned complicated.

    ¡°She could be in the past... or in the future. But she is not in the present.¡±

    ¡°In the past... or the future?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts churned as he processed this revelation.

    The stronger I grow, the more incomprehensible the world becomes, he thought bitterly.

    Whether it was Sovereign Ming, who had severed the Sixth Heaven¡¯s future, or his master, who existed outside the present, the mysteries only deepened.

    ¡°How can I find her?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It is said that a cultivator at the fifth layer of the Yang God Realm can gather all timelines of existence.

    ¡°If you reach the fifth layer, you may traverse time itself¡ªreturn to the past or visit the future to see her,¡± Ice Moon said softly.

    She studied Qi Yuan for a moment before adding, ¡°Perhaps... you¡¯ve already met her in the past without realizing it.¡±

    Qi Yuan fell silent. Countless memories flashed through his mind, but he could recall nothing concrete about Ruan Yixi¡¯s origins.

    However, no matter how hard Qi Yuan searched through his memories, he couldn¡¯t recall anything more about Ruan Yixi.

    Perhaps, like a flower quietly blooming along the roadside, her presence had once graced his journey, but he had walked past without stopping to admire it.

    ¡°Seems like my strength is still far too inadequate,¡± Qi Yuan said with a self-deprecating smile.

    It was true¡ªhe was still at the Purple Mansion stage.

    Even against Supremes, he wasn¡¯t entirely confident of victory, let alone against beings from the Sole Hall or other unknown existences.

    ¡°Yang God Realm¡¯s fifth layer can unite all timelines. What about the third and fourth layers? What do they represent?¡± Qi Yuan asked, curious about the greater truths of cultivation.

    Ice Moon shook her head gently.

    ¡°Such realms are beyond my understanding as a mere Supreme Treasure.

    ¡°However, I¡¯ve heard whispers about the fourth layer¡ªit represents chaos and disorder.

    ¡°You¡¯ve seen it before.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Qi Yuan asked, a suspicion already forming in his mind.

    ¡°Root Demons,¡± Ice Moon replied solemnly. ¡°Those beings, scattered across countless universes and appearing only during Root Demon Tribulations, are said to embody the grandeur of the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm.¡±

    Her voice carried a deep reverence, tinged with fear.

    ¡°To a cultivator at the second layer, the fourth layer is as unattainable as the heavens above. It¡¯s like a mayfly gazing at the vast sky or a frog peering out from a well at the sun and moon.

    ¡°Though both are considered Yang God cultivators, they are utterly different kinds of existence.¡±

    Ice Moon¡¯s gaze grew distant, filled with awe and trepidation.

    ¡°Root Demons...¡± Qi Yuan murmured, reflecting on the beings Ice Moon described.

    Her explanation aligned with his earlier conjectures about these enigmatic entities.

    ¡°You¡¯ve resolved a Root Demon Tribulation before. I don¡¯t know how, but...¡± Ice Moon paused briefly before continuing. ¡°You should avoid doing so too often.

    ¡°Though the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm represents chaos and disorder, that doesn¡¯t mean the Root Demons will remain dormant forever. If one of them were to awaken and notice a small being like you interfering with their affairs...¡±

    Her tone was serious, but there was a faint hint of amusement in her eyes, as if she found the idea both absurd and strangely entertaining.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not small!¡± Qi Yuan protested, indignant.

    Purple Fate Ancestor had once been so awestruck that he¡¯d stammered ¡°big, big, big¡± upon seeing Qi Yuan¡¯s strength. How could anyone call him small?

    ¡°Is there anything else you want to know? My knowledge rivals that of the Mirror of Myriad Reflections, but I¡¯ll need to rest soon,¡± Ice Moon said. A touch of weariness began to show on her frosty, jade-like face.

    ¡°How powerful are the Heroic Spirits of the Sole Hall?¡± Qi Yuan asked, pressing the question that weighed on his mind.

    ¡°The Sole Hall...¡± Ice Moon¡¯s eyes darkened, filled with deep unease. ¡°You¡¯ve been to the Heaven and Earth Secret Land. You should have encountered the Remnant Cloak Soul.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yuan confirmed.

    ¡°I suspect that in life, the Remnant Cloak Soul was a being of the third layer of the Yang God Realm,¡± Ice Moon said.

    ¡°Furthermore, it bore traces of tainted blood¡ª¡®the Blood of Misfortune.¡¯ That blood once attempted to invade the immortal realm but was eradicated by the Sole Hall.¡±

    At the mention of this, Ice Moon¡¯s tone grew heavier, her reverence toward the Sole Hall undeniable.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression grew serious.

    The Sole Hall¡¯s Heroic Spirits weren¡¯t ordinary foes. Even if the Remnant Cloak Soul was merely a remnant of a third-layer Yang God, its power was undeniable.

    And if the Blood of Misfortune was even stronger than that...

    The Sole Hall¡¯s ability to confront and eradicate such an entity spoke volumes about their terrifying strength.

    ¡°From what you¡¯ve said, the Sole Hall is indeed powerful. Right now, I¡¯m no match for them,¡± Qi Yuan said frankly.

    At his current level, he doubted he could even contend with the Remnant Cloak Soul, let alone the forces of the Sole Hall.

    ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d enter the Gate of Myriad Principles right away,¡± Ice Moon suggested.

    ¡°That treasure isn¡¯t just the greatest Supreme Treasure in the immortal realm¡ªit¡¯s also considered the purest sanctuary.

    ¡°Supremes are said to be as eternal as heaven and earth, their lifespans limitless.

    ¡°Yet throughout countless epochs, the number of Supremes who have survived within the Sixth Heaven can be counted on one hand.

    ¡°If you stay within the Gate of Myriad Principles, you might achieve immortality,¡± Ice Moon said with a hint of envy.

    ¡°We who tread the Dao seek only freedom, yet in this world, where can one find true freedom?¡± she lamented.

    ¡°To us, the Sixth Heaven is but a cage.

    ¡°It¡¯s a cage we cannot escape, for to escape is to die.

    ¡°I¡¯ve met beings from beyond this realm¡ªthey¡¯ve all said that the outer universes are rife with strife and chaos.

    ¡°Compared to them, the Sixth Heaven is a sheltered paradise.

    ¡°But the moment our existence is discovered by beings from other universes, war is inevitable.

    ¡°Countless epochs ago, the immortal realm¡¯s Sixth Heaven was invaded and conquered by outsiders.

    ¡°To be strong is to face catastrophe. To be weak is to invite calamity. Ignorance is a blessing; unawareness brings peace.

    ¡°The more powerful one becomes, the more one realizes their insignificance. The more one understands, the more they see the futility of the immortal path,¡± Ice Moon said, her tone heavy with despair.

    Qi Yuan remained calm, quietly processing her words.

    What Ice Moon described aligned with the Dark Forest Theory.

    If a universe is discovered by a more advanced civilization, conflict is almost inevitable.

    In the end, cultivation was a path of both heart and resources.

    In many ways, resources and power dictated survival.

    And in this world, plunder was the unspoken melody of the immortal Dao.

    ¡°Yes, the cultivation world is full of bad actors. I know,¡± Qi Yuan said with a sigh.

    After playing so many games, he had seen enough of these patterns.

    Even NPCs were often filled with hostility, let alone cultivators striving for supremacy.

    On every world he had visited¡ªbe it the Moonwatch Continent, Flowing Wind Realm, Mortal Heart World, or Gongxing Star¡ªthe stories were the same.

    Wherever people existed, so too did conflict and strife.

    The scale might differ, but the essence was unchanged.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll need to grow stronger and set the cultivation world straight!¡±

    Qi Yuan suddenly declared with an air of determination.

    ¡°Rule number one: No cursing during cultivation!¡±

 Chapter 486: A New Gameâ€”Am I aâ€¦ Son-in-law? A God Descended? A Cleaver?!

    Chapter 486: A New Game¡ªAm I a... Son-in-law? A God Descended? A Cleaver?!

    Ice Moon gave Qi Yuan a strange look.

    ¡°Can an offensive Supreme Treasure even get insulted like that?¡±

    Qi Yuan paused for a moment, realizing the flaw in his logic. He quickly added, ¡°Second rule¡ªno other beings are allowed to insult each other either!¡±

    Amusement flickered in Ice Moon¡¯s frosty gaze. She shifted her focus from Qi Yuan to the vast sky, her smile fading.

    ¡°You¡¯ve overturned Taihuang Palace and disrupted the Lynia Transformation plan. However, the Lynia Transformation will continue regardless. You must be cautious of the Sole Hall. If the situation becomes untenable, you can retreat into the Gate of Myriad Principles, where you may find a slim chance of survival.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I haven¡¯t broken any laws, so I¡¯m not afraid of the Sole Hall!¡± Qi Yuan declared confidently.

    The Lynia Transformation and the Sole Hall were indeed pressing issues.

    The will of the immortal Dao, driven by the Sole Hall, would ignite endless slaughter across the immortal realm.

    Sometimes, stopping wasn¡¯t an option¡ªeven if you wanted to.

    When the murderous aura descended upon cultivators, there was no freedom, no escape from its grip. Even Yang God Sovereigns, who pursued boundless freedom, were shackled and compelled to kill.

    ¡°You may not fear them, but what about the people around you? Your family? Your fellow disciples?¡± Ice Moon¡¯s frosty tone carried an edge of helplessness and melancholy.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze became clear and resolute.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll become a god,¡± he said simply.

    A three-story villa stood gleaming in the sunlight, its exterior tiled with white porcelain and its roof adorned with jade-like glazed tiles that shimmered brightly.

    The courtyard boasted clear spiritual waters and mist that clung to exotic flowers and plants, enhancing their vibrant hues.

    Still, the scenery paled in comparison to the woman in a crimson dress standing amidst it all¡ªJin Li.

    ¡°This is my place on the Seven-Colored Peak. What do you think? Not bad, right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s 220 square meters officially, but over 700 in actual area. There¡¯s a basement, a 50-square-meter balcony, and a 130-square-meter garden.

    ¡°It¡¯s right next to the Shenguang Sect and just a few tens of thousands of miles from the Great Shang Kingdom. You could nap and still get there in no time.

    ¡°Top-tier location, top-tier transportation, and top-tier de?cor!¡±

    After dealing with the Sixth Heaven¡¯s matters, Qi Yuan had brought Jin Li to his villa at the Shenguang Sect.

    The house had been built long ago.

    It was a cozy three-story villa, and Qi Yuan was very pleased with it.

    Now, with Jin Li in his arms and his house before him, he felt like a winner in life.

    The only regret? It wasn¡¯t in a school district.

    ¡°It¡¯s quite elegant,¡± Jin Li said, stepping inside the villa with a curious expression.

    Although she had seen many magnificent and luxurious buildings before, she approached Qi Yuan¡¯s home with genuine interest and patience.

    She touched the walls, the railings, and the bed, as if wanting to leave her own mark on this space.

    ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re back!¡±

    A lively voice rang out from outside.

    Jiang Lingsu, clad in a yellow dress with a golden sash around her waist, stood cheerfully below the villa.

    The outfit accentuated her ample figure, her curves particularly striking as her dress clung to her.

    Perhaps because she had just woken up or spent time alone in the mountains, she had dressed casually. The deep cleavage visible beneath her collarbone and the smooth, snowy expanse of her skin were particularly eye-catching.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back,¡± Qi Yuan said, opening the window to look down at Jiang Lingsu.

    From his elevated view, he could see... everything.

    His heart stirred with a mix of emotions.

    Indeed, trust still existed among people on the Seven-Colored Peak.

    His junior sister hadn¡¯t taped...

    But as a gentleman, Qi Yuan quickly averted his gaze. If his junior sister trusted him, he would naturally trust her in return.

    ¡°This is Jin Li, a Maiden of the Moon God Palace, and the in-game partner I mentioned before,¡± Qi Yuan introduced Jin Li.

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s gaze shifted to Jin Li, and her eyes flashed with amazement, followed by a brief moment of surprise.

    For some reason, she felt a strange, inexplicable bitterness in her heart, like the feeling of someone snatching away her childhood toy.

    She quickly suppressed the feeling and smiled brightly.

    ¡°Jiang Lingsu greets Sister Jin Li. You¡¯re truly a beauty that could topple nations.¡±

    Although Jiang Lingsu was very confident in her own appearance, seeing Jin Li still made her feel a bit inadequate.

    ¡°Sister, you too have a beauty that can ruin cities,¡± Jin Li responded, observing Jiang Lingsu with a smile.

    ¡°Not as much as you. To have captivated my senior brother to such a degree, your charms are truly unmatched,¡± Jiang Lingsu said reflexively.

    After saying it, she regretted it¡ªit sounded like she was being passive-aggressive.

    But upon reflection, she didn¡¯t mind. If it was passive-aggressive, so be it. She could live with that.

    Jin Li¡¯s gaze lingered on Jiang Lingsu, her smile alluring. She and Jiang Lingsu exchanged polite words, but her hand rested lightly on Qi Yuan¡¯s arm, her fingers tracing it as if silently conveying her emotions.

    ¡°If you wanted to, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d do even better than me,¡± Jin Li replied.

    At this moment, there was none of the Moon God Maiden¡¯s usual aloofness. Instead, she exuded a worldly charm.

    ¡°Hey, why does it feel like there¡¯s so much tension between the two of you? Have you met before, or is it a case of one mountain not being able to house two tigers?¡± Qi Yuan asked, sensing the subtle clash in their words.

    ¡°No,¡± Jin Li answered calmly.

    Jiang Lingsu remained silent, and the two women seemed to let the matter drop.

    ¡°Junior Sister, join us for dinner later. I¡¯ll take Jin Li to see the peak first,¡± Qi Yuan invited Jiang Lingsu.

    If there was friction between the two, the best way to ease it was to spend more time together.

    ¡°Sure!¡± Jiang Lingsu agreed with a bright smile, though ripples of emotion stirred faintly in her heart.

    Qi Yuan held Jin Li¡¯s delicate hand as they walked to the summit of the Seven-Colored Peak.

    At the top, amidst the mists, stood elegant pavilions and terraces.

    Clouds swirled around the structures, creating an ethereal atmosphere, while a grand celestial palace lay hidden within the misty expanse.

    ¡°This is... an ancient Qichun tree!¡± Jin Li paused beneath the tree, her eyes brimming with nostalgia and longing.

    Memories of the past surged through her heart like a tide.

    ¡°This was transplanted here by my master. It¡¯s much smaller than the one on the Moonwatch Continent,¡± Qi Yuan said as he stood beside her, his tone steady but laced with a trace of wistfulness.

    Even his thoughts turned melancholy.

    Every game, he realized, was like a small life, a unique journey filled with victories and regrets.

    No matter how perfectly the game was completed, there were always lingering bittersweet emotions.

    Fortunately, his journey in the Moonwatch Continent had ended on a high note¡ªhe had found her, and now her hand was in his.

    But what about the other games?

    And what about the journey ahead?

    Jin Li turned to look at Qi Yuan. Her once-cool eyes now flickered with a flame of desire, as intense and vibrant as her red dress.

    ¡°Beloved... take me...¡±

    It was as if the physical closeness and raw intimacy were the only way to temporarily soothe the longing that filled her heart.

    Under the ancient Qichun tree, the storm of emotions calmed, and time seemed to stand still.

    ¡°And investigate whether he was framed. If this is an attack against him due to his connection to me, then I bear responsibility.

    ¡°As for the widow¡¯s family, ensure they are taken care of properly.¡±

    The maid nodded. ¡°Understood, Miss!¡±

    Ninghe County¡ªMadness Asylum

    The night sky was a deep black, dotted with faint and scattered stars.

    In a dimly lit room, Qi Yuan opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.

    The darkness pressed in around him, broken only by the flickering glow of a distant candle.

    A shadowy figure moved near the candle, its faint outline eerie and unsettling.

    The game¡¯s notification chimed in his mind.

    [Main Quest: Play as the Multitude, Understand the Multitude, Create the Multitude¡ªThat Is the Path to Divinity.]

    [Activating the Roleplay System.]

    [Assigned Roles for This Instance:]

    Role 1: Qi Yuan, son-in-law of the Shen familyRole 2: Shen Lin, identity unknownRole 3: A CleaverRole 4: Locked

    A flood of information surged into Qi Yuan¡¯s mind, and in an instant, he gained a deeper understanding of this new game and its mechanics.

    ¡°This role system... is it based on the blood I dripped into the game?¡± he wondered.

    He suspected that the beings he was assigned to roleplay had originated from his own blood when it merged with this game world.

    The game¡¯s mission was perfectly aligned with his goal of godhood.

    The path to divinity lay in creation.

    But how could one create without first understanding?

    This game was designed to let him step into the lives of various beings, experience their struggles, and learn their truths.

    However, the thought of roleplaying his own blood left Qi Yuan with mixed feelings.

    And one question stood out.

    ¡°How could my blood produce such a useless guy like this Qi Yuan?!¡±

    After absorbing the memories of this version of Qi Yuan, he couldn¡¯t help but feel exasperated.

    This iteration of him was a complete waste.

    ¡°Once again, it proves that everything I¡¯ve achieved is through hard work!¡±

    The first role he had to play was Qi Yuan, the son-in-law¡ªa pathetic, despicable man.

    ¡°Acting as a scumbag? That¡¯s going to be tough,¡± Qi Yuan muttered.

    But at least he could relate somewhat to the son-in-law aspect, thanks to countless over-the-top dramas on Bluestar.

    ¡°Washing the in-laws¡¯ feet and enduring slaps? Sure, that¡¯s doable. But there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting anyone slap me!¡±

    He then examined the other roles.

    ¡°Shen Lin... Who¡ªor what¡ªis that?¡±

    While Qi Yuan had received clear memories of his first role, his second was a complete mystery. All he could recall were fragments: piles of corpses and endless heavenly lightning.

    ¡°Is Shen Lin a person? Or... something else?¡±

    He couldn¡¯t yet discern the nature of this role, but he knew the details would unlock as he progressed through the game.

    Finally, the third role left him utterly baffled.

    ¡°A cleaver?! What in the world...?¡±

    Was he seriously supposed to roleplay as a kitchen knife?

    ¡°I already have a cleaver back at the Seven-Colored Peak to guard my home. Now I¡¯m supposed to be one?¡±

    Shaking his head, Qi Yuan turned his attention to the new world he found himself in.

    It wasn¡¯t part of the Sixth Heaven.

    There were no reflections of the heavens in the starry sky above, and the constellations were unlike anything he¡¯d seen before.

    ¡°This place feels like an ancient version of Bluestar, but with supernatural elements,¡± he mused.

    This world was plagued by sinister beings known as ¡°Eerie Spirits,¡± which wreaked havoc and spread terror.

    As a son-in-law, Qi Yuan had little direct experience with the extraordinary.

    ¡°This world has no spiritual energy, no cultivation,¡± Qi Yuan realized after attempting to channel his techniques.

    ¡°Well then... looks like I¡¯ll have to rely on killing for experience.¡±

    Qi Yuan quickly assessed his situation and surroundings.

    Without the ability to cultivate or draw upon spiritual energy, he would need to find alternative methods to grow stronger. But this wasn¡¯t Bluestar¡ªthis was a world where strange beings lurked, and battles for survival were fought with wit and power.

    He glanced toward the flickering light in the distance, which seemed to grow closer with each moment.

    The figure in the dim candlelight slowly came into focus¡ªa short, pale-skinned old man with an unsettling grin stretched across his face.

    The man¡¯s complexion was unnaturally smooth, almost glossy, lacking the wrinkles of age. His entire appearance was ghastly, like a painted corpse brought to life.

    ¡°You¡¯re wondering where the man in this bed went, aren¡¯t you?¡± the pale-faced elder said, his voice an eerie whisper that crawled into Qi Yuan¡¯s ears.

    Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, realizing the old man was speaking of the "Qi Yuan" whose identity he had taken over.

    ¡°Where is he?¡± Qi Yuan asked, maintaining a calm demeanor despite the unease in the air.

    The elder¡¯s grin widened grotesquely.

    ¡°He¡¯s gone. Completely devoured... by you,¡± the old man said, his tone dripping with malice.

    The candlelight flickered violently, casting the old man¡¯s shadow in strange, twisted shapes against the wall.

    ¡°I devoured him?¡± Qi Yuan echoed, arching a brow. He opened his mouth and tilted his head. ¡°Hey, check my teeth. Any bits stuck in there?¡±

    The pale elder leaned closer, seemingly serious about inspecting Qi Yuan¡¯s mouth. His dark eyes glinted mischievously.

    ¡°No bits left. You¡¯re a clean eater,¡± the elder muttered before grinning again. ¡°But now... Grandpa¡¯s belly is growling. Grandpa¡¯s hungry too!¡±

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes.

    What a lunatic, he thought.

    The elder straightened up, his tone suddenly taking on an air of eerie solemnity.

    ¡°I know who you are,¡± he said, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper.

    ¡°Do you?¡± Qi Yuan replied, not entirely sure whether this was the ramblings of madness or something more sinister.

    ¡°You¡¯re a god... a celestial being descended from the heavens to sprinkle blessings upon this wretched world! A benevolent deity who will deliver salvation!¡±

    The elder¡¯s expression contorted strangely, a mix of reverence and pain, as if something inside him was battling for control.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s sharp eyes caught black threads snaking beneath the man¡¯s skin, coursing like veins of ink through his body.

    Suddenly, the elder¡¯s expression shifted again. He leaned in closer and whispered, ¡°Let me follow you, oh great god! Together, we can tear down this cruel and bitter world!¡±

    Qi Yuan blinked.

    ¡°Uh, what?¡±

    The old man¡¯s grin returned, manic and unsettling.

    ¡°Grandpa¡¯s hungry. Grandpa wants to eat...¡±

    ¡°...White steamed buns?¡± Qi Yuan guessed dryly, cutting him off.

 Chapter 487: Rising Talents, Qi Yuanâ€™s Strategist!

    Chapter 487: Rising Talents, Qi Yuan¡¯s Strategist!

    Qi Yuan stared at the old man, and at that moment, hidden information appeared before him:

    [Chen Kangbao, age 67, former Artisan. Physique: frail. Strength: minimal.]

    This pale-faced old man, named Chen Kangbao, turned out to have been an artisan.

    Qi Yuan was surprised. ¡°You¡¯re an artisan? Can you still forge magical implements?¡±

    Artisans generally held high status. Even if they became mentally unstable, their families would typically treat them like living relics, revered and cared for at home rather than abandoned to a madhouse.

    Could Chen Kangbao, like me, have been framed and sent to the madhouse unjustly? Qi Yuan speculated. The more he observed the old man, the more it seemed that his so-called madness was nothing more than eccentric behavior.

    If this counts as insanity, Qi Yuan mused, then what about someone like Purple Fate Xue?

    ¡°Divine Master...¡± Chen Kangbao bent over as he spoke, his frail frame resembling a withered tree. ¡°When I¡¯m hungry, I forget things.¡± He seemed genuinely convinced that Qi Yuan was a divine being.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a divine master,¡± Qi Yuan refuted.

    At this moment, he was merely a Purple Mansion cultivator, far from the strength needed to claim divinity.

    But the old man simply chuckled, his pale face eerily glowing. ¡°I understand. A divine one descending to the mortal world surely loses their powers and must conceal their identity.

    ¡°Master,¡± he continued, ¡°your humble servant...¡±

    Chen Kangbao adjusted his tone and demeanor, earnestly stepping into the role of a devoted retainer.

    However, Qi Yuan noticed that veins bulged ominously on Chen Kangbao¡¯s neck, the blood vessels faintly darkened as though tainted by some unknown force.

    ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Speak slowly,¡± Qi Yuan said, watching him closely.

    Finally, Chen Kangbao ground his teeth and uttered through clenched jaws:

    ¡°Your servant... is starving!¡±

    Qi Yuan sighed, his expression neutral.

    ¡°You truly live up to your name, Kangbao. Alright, fine. Honestly, I¡¯m a bit hungry myself. Let¡¯s head to the kitchen and grab some food.¡±

    Stretching lazily, Qi Yuan followed the old man.

    Now that he was in this game, he was limited to the frail body of a mere mortal. Even in a confrontation with an ordinary robust man, he would have to rely on his skills to eke out a victory. Against supernatural foes like Weapon Wielders or Spectral Beings, his chances were slim to none.

    ¡°Follow me, Master! I know where the kitchen is!¡± Chen Kangbao quickly embraced his role, sneaking ahead like a seasoned thief.

    The madhouse at night was oppressively dark, illuminated only by a few dim red lanterns hanging along the corridors.

    The eerie silence added to the unsettling atmosphere. Chen Kangbao¡¯s pale complexion, lit by the crimson glow of the lanterns, was terrifying enough to make even the most iconic horror characters seem tame.

    As they made their way, Qi Yuan noticed several genuinely insane residents:

    One was hanging upside down from a tree, sleeping.Another was fishing in the dead of night, though there wasn¡¯t even water nearby.

    It was clear that this madhouse housed more than its fair share of eccentric individuals.

    As they planned, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but notice Chen Kangbao¡¯s peculiar sense of humor.

    The old man suddenly whispered, ¡°Master, where do you keep your bird¡ªleft or right?¡±

    ¡°What bird?¡± Qi Yuan was momentarily confused.

    Then he noticed the old man glancing at his trousers.

    Realizing what Chen Kangbao was referring to, Qi Yuan sighed.

    ¡°Master,¡± Chen Kangbao explained, ¡°I¡¯m your strategist, and you¡¯re my lord. For the sake of appearances, your bird can¡¯t be on the same side as mine!¡±

    ¡°...We don¡¯t need to worry about such things,¡± Qi Yuan replied, exasperated.

    After a moment, he added, ¡°And from now on, keep your comments more appropriate. You¡¯re my strategist, not a jester.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master. Understood!¡± Chen Kangbao straightened up, his demeanor becoming more serious. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve entrusted me with such a high honor, I must repay your trust.

    ¡°Currently, we¡¯re both trapped in this madhouse. The only way out is to kill the director! That old man is as rotten as his own festering scalp!¡±

    When he mentioned the director, Chen Kangbao¡¯s tone was filled with both hatred and fear.

    ¡°Alright, go on. I¡¯m listening,¡± Qi Yuan said, ready to delegate the thinking.

    ¡°As your strategist, I¡¯ve devised a detailed plan!¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s Three-Step Plan:

    Lure the Dog Away: Using a bone, Chen Kangbao would distract the director¡¯s fierce beast, a black-and-white Mutated Dog that had reportedly swallowed a full-grown man whole.Assassinate the Director: Qi Yuan would sneak into the director¡¯s quarters, kill him, and take the Beast-Control Token.Uncover the Conspiracy: Using the Beast-Control Token, they¡¯d identify the mastermind behind the framing and exact revenge.

    ¡°This plan... it¡¯s brilliant!¡± Qi Yuan praised, impressed by the old man¡¯s ingenuity.

    Chen Kangbao, however, looked slightly confused.

    ¡°Meow meow meow?¡±

    He silently wondered if his master¡¯s true form was that of a divine feline but wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

    That night, they began Qi Yuan¡¯s ¡°training regimen.¡± Armed with a lantern, he waded into the muddy shores of the madhouse pond, where swarms of mosquitoes buzzed.

    Slap after slap, he smote countless insects, earning small but steady increments of experience.

    By dawn, Qi Yuan had leveled up to Level 2, his physical strength noticeably improved.

    ¡°Master, do we execute the plan now?¡± Chen Kangbao asked, eager to act.

    At that moment, a mocking voice interrupted them:

    ¡°Two madmen plotting to kill me? How amusing.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked up to see the director, an old man leading a massive Mutated Dog.

    The dog was enormous, standing as tall as a teenager, its black-and-white fur slick with filth. Its eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty glint, and its wide, foul-smelling tongue lolled out of its mouth.

    This dog... was a serious problem.

 Chapter 488: The Fisherman Never Goes Home Empty-Handed

    Chapter 488: The Fisherman Never Goes Home Empty-Handed

    Zhou Xiao¡¯s small, wiry figure emerged from the shadows. He held the leash of the black-and-white mutated beast dog, his expression full of malice.

    His hair was disheveled, and his wrists bore scratches and bite marks, faint traces of blood still visible. The beast¡¯s white fur was stained with patches of blood, especially around its neck, where clumps of fur had coagulated into matted tufts.

    Zhou Xiao¡¯s gaze landed on Qi Yuan. ¡°You¡¯re not really insane, are you?¡±

    Zhou Xiao looked visibly surprised.

    Although Huang Yanshou had claimed Qi Yuan¡¯s madness as the reason for sending him to the madhouse, Zhou Xiao knew that this ¡°madness¡± was fabricated.

    But now, Qi Yuan was out in the dead of night, catching mosquitoes with Chen Kangbao?

    Could this be true insanity?

    Even worse, these two lunatics were conspiring to kill him!

    And loudly, no less!

    Did they not realize that his courtyard was just nearby?

    The mutated beast dog had heard everything long before Zhou Xiao arrived.

    ¡°I¡¯m not insane,¡± Qi Yuan replied, giving Zhou Xiao a glance. His heightened senses picked up faint traces of a woman¡¯s scent mixed with the pungent smell of death.

    Zhou Xiao scrutinized Qi Yuan with a knowing expression. ¡°With my thirty years of experience running this madhouse, I can tell at a glance whether someone is mad. And you, you¡¯ve lost your mind from fear.¡±

    Zhou Xiao furrowed his brow.

    Whether Qi Yuan was truly insane didn¡¯t matter.

    What mattered was that he needed to die¡ªbut not by Zhou Xiao¡¯s hand.

    After all, Qi Yuan was the son-in-law of the Shen family. If he died at the hands of a mutated beast, the Shen family could easily connect it back to Zhou Xiao.

    But if he died to a spectral entity? Then there would be no consequences.

    ¡°Mad or not, you can live. But that man next to you... he must die!¡± Zhou Xiao sneered, his malicious intent directed at Chen Kangbao.

    It had been an unfulfilling day, and Zhou Xiao was eager to kill again.

    Beside him, Chen Kangbao trembled in fear. ¡°Master, what do we do now?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze lingered on the muscular frame of the mutated black-and-white dog.

    At his current strength, even after reaching Level 2, he was no match for this beast.

    ¡°Today¡¯s lesson,¡± Qi Yuan began, as if lecturing a student, ¡°is that plans never keep up with change!

    ¡°The world evolves every day, and you can never predict whether tomorrow or an unexpected crisis will come first.

    ¡°Look¡ªbefore you even started implementing the first step of your plan, the enemy showed up!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words flowed like water, undeterred by their predicament.

    Behind him, Chen Kangbao shrank back from the beast, fear written across his pale face. Still, he managed to stammer, ¡°But... what do we do now?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s simple. You¡¯ll hold the dog down while I go kill the old man,¡± Qi Yuan replied casually.

    ¡°Me?!¡± Chen Kangbao¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    His frail, thin frame hardly seemed suited to such a task.

    Zhou Xiao, observing their exchange, sneered. ¡°Lunatics. Both of you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you!¡± Qi Yuan insisted earnestly. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I just blessed you¡ªyou¡¯re now incredibly strong. All you have to do is pin the dog down, and I¡¯ll take care of the old man.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m blessed?¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s eyes visibly brightened at the words.

    ¡°Yes. Hold down the beast.¡±

    With newfound courage, Chen Kangbao took a bold step forward. He laughed maniacally, declaring, ¡°I¡¯ve been blessed! You¡¯re finished!¡±

    He charged toward Zhou Xiao and the mutated beast dog with surprising vigor.

    ¡°Madmen. Absolute madmen!¡± Zhou Xiao scoffed, his tone dripping with contempt.

    It was clear to him now: Qi Yuan was certifiably insane, spouting nonsense about blessings. And Chen Kangbao? Equally unhinged, actually believing it.

    ¡°Little Huang, kill him!¡± Zhou Xiao tugged on the leash.

    Qi Yuan was temporarily off-limits, but Chen Kangbao was fair game.

    The black-and-white mutated dog launched itself at Chen Kangbao, its massive shadow enveloping him like a small black tiger.

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s eyes gleamed with zeal. ¡°Just a measly mutt? I¡¯ve been blessed by a heavenly deity! Come, fight me!¡±

    He flung himself toward the beast.

    Zhou Xiao remained calm, watching the scene unfold as though already envisioning the outcome.

    The mutated beast dog was a terror in the mountains, capable of overpowering even tigers.

    Its enormous size and strength were more than enough to kill any ordinary human, let alone this frail old man.

    ¡°Blessings from heaven! I¡¯m invincible!¡±

    Chen Kangbao clutched his head like a grieving parent. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I made a mistake when planning!¡±

    Seeing his ¡°strategist¡± lamenting so dramatically, Qi Yuan chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This wasn¡¯t your fault.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Qi Yuan explained, a wry smile on his face. ¡°Who sent me here under the guise of madness? The one who did that is obviously the mastermind.¡±

    Chen Kangbao immediately understood.

    ¡°Master, you¡¯re brilliant! So, who was it?¡±

    ¡°Huang Yanshou. The second son of the Huang family,¡± Qi Yuan replied flatly.

    Flashes of memory filled Qi Yuan¡¯s mind¡ªremnants from the original Qi Yuan of this world. While visiting Ninghe County to honor his ancestors, he¡¯d crossed paths with Huang Yanshou.

    Huang had approached him with false friendliness, offering gifts of silver and women.

    The women, however, had been turned away by the timid Qi Yuan of this world. Not wanting to risk being found out by the Shen family, he¡¯d rejected them outright.

    But Huang Yanshou hadn¡¯t given up. Under the pretense of camaraderie, he¡¯d taken Qi Yuan to climb a wall late at night¡ªright into the courtyard of a widowed woman.

    The night ended in disaster. A spectral entity had appeared, killing the widow and nearly claiming Qi Yuan as well. Left in a daze, Qi Yuan had been declared mad and sent to the madhouse.

    ¡°So it¡¯s the Huang family!¡± Chen Kangbao exclaimed, his face clouded with worry. ¡°The Huang family is one of the most prominent households in Ninghe County. They¡¯ve gained a lot of favor with the people through charity work, like distributing food to the poor.

    ¡°If we go against them, we must plan carefully! Otherwise...¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s voice trembled as he assessed the potential backlash.

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll make the plan,¡± Qi Yuan said nonchalantly, waving his hand. ¡°Meanwhile, I¡¯ll continue farming mosquitoes for experience.¡±

    ¡°You can leave it to me!¡± Chen Kangbao¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination. His master¡¯s trust invigorated him, filling him with purpose.

    ¡°Master, what about these corpses?¡± Chen Kangbao asked, looking at the lifeless bodies of Zhou Xiao and the beast.

    ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± Qi Yuan replied, gesturing toward the distant pond. ¡°See the fisherman over there? He hasn¡¯t caught anything all day. Let¡¯s toss the bodies onto his line. He shouldn¡¯t leave empty-handed.¡±

    Qi Yuan smiled as he spoke, his tone brimming with mischief. ¡°Fishermen should never go home empty-handed.¡±

    Chen Kangbao burst into laughter. ¡°Master, you¡¯re truly kind-hearted!¡±

    He eagerly bent down, preparing to move the corpses.

    ¡°Bless me again, Master,¡± Chen Kangbao said. ¡°With your power, I¡¯ll carry these to the fisherman¡¯s line without a hitch.¡±

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Just hurry up.¡±

    Chen Kangbao nodded vigorously, hauling the bodies toward the pond with newfound enthusiasm.

    ¡°Once you¡¯re done, go to bed,¡± Qi Yuan instructed. ¡°I¡¯ll turn in soon, too. I still need sleep to recover my strength.¡±

    Even as a former cultivator, Qi Yuan enjoyed the simple pleasure of a good night¡¯s sleep. Now, in this mundane world, rest was even more essential.

    By midday, the madhouse was in chaos.

    Lin Qinghe, the head constable, stood with his saber at his waist and a stern expression on his face. He stared down at the two corpses, his sharp eyes scanning for details.

    Nearby, the old fisherman clutched Zhou Xiao¡¯s body with a triumphant grin. ¡°Look at this catch! Have you ever seen a fish this big?¡±

    His excitement drew the ire of the constables, who exchanged exasperated looks.

    ¡°Head Constable, this guy¡¯s been parading Zhou Xiao¡¯s body around since morning, calling it the catch of the year,¡± explained Zhou Hu, a young officer. ¡°He¡¯s clearly lost it. He spends all his time fishing here anyway. We won¡¯t get anything useful out of him.¡±

    Lin Qinghe nodded in agreement. Mentally unwell individuals often muddied investigations with wild claims or misdirections.

    Crouching beside the corpses, Lin Qinghe carefully examined Zhou Xiao and the black-and-white dog.

    ¡°Zhou Xiao died from a precise side-handed strike to the throat,¡± Lin Qinghe muttered. ¡°The force used was about 200 pounds.¡±

    He paused, his brow furrowing.

    ¡°But how does someone with such mediocre strength manage to kill a beast like this with a knife?¡±

    The constable¡¯s gaze lingered on the hulking dog, its throat slashed cleanly open.

    Theories swirled in his mind.

    ¡°Did a Beastmaster hold the beast down while the killer delivered the final blow?¡±

    ¡°But why involve someone else?¡±

    ¡°And why wouldn¡¯t the Beastmaster kill the creature themselves?¡±

    The situation didn¡¯t make sense.

    The more Lin Qinghe scrutinized the evidence, the more perplexed he became.

    ¡°Have there been any unusual events at the madhouse recently?¡± Lin Qinghe asked one of the attendants.

    The man hesitated, averting his eyes. ¡°No... no, sir.¡±

    Before Lin Qinghe could press further, a junior officer approached, whispering in his ear, ¡°Head Constable, we found half a woman¡¯s body in Zhou Xiao¡¯s courtyard. She¡¯s one of the widows sent here recently. Her injuries suggest she was mauled to death by the beast.¡±

    Lin Qinghe¡¯s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening with anger.

    With a swift motion, he stomped on Zhou Xiao¡¯s lifeless body.

 Chapter 489: The Crisis at Red Cloud Village, The Soundless Sound?

    Chapter 489: The Crisis at Red Cloud Village, The Soundless Sound?

    A widow had died¡ªsomeone from the madhouse.

    If no one had reported the incident, the yamen wouldn¡¯t have bothered with it.

    After all, investigating meant spending their own resources.

    Working at the yamen as a constable was just a job for survival.

    No one was eager to take on extra responsibility.

    In this chaotic era, countless lives¡ªtreated as insignificant as weeds¡ªvanished every day.

    How could the yamen possibly keep up with it all?

    Unless the deceased were people of status, or unless the ¡°weeds¡± died en masse, the yamen wouldn¡¯t act.

    Lin Qinghe¡¯s sharp gaze landed on a servant. A faint aura of a Weapon Master flickered around him, though it was restrained.

    The servant, already hunched over, immediately collapsed to his knees in fear. ¡°This past... these past few days, Sir, yesterday... Qi Yuan of the Qi family was sent to the madhouse...¡±

    ¡°Qi Yuan?¡± Lin Qinghe frowned. ¡°The Shen family¡¯s live-in son-in-law?¡±

    The news of Qi Yuan becoming the Shen family¡¯s son-in-law had caused a stir in Ninghe County just half a month ago.

    Lin Qinghe had met Qi Yuan a few times.

    His father had been a skilled artificer, ultimately dying in service.

    Even so, the residual prestige of his ancestors had allowed Qi Yuan to secure a minor position at the yamen.

    But this man was lazy and undisciplined, quitting after only half a month because he couldn¡¯t bear the hardship.

    Over the years, he had squandered his family¡¯s wealth. Becoming the Shen family¡¯s son-in-law had been his saving grace¡ªotherwise, Lin Qinghe reckoned, it was only a matter of time before Qi Yuan¡¯s body was found in some back alley.

    ¡°Him?¡± Lin Qinghe¡¯s expression turned disdainful.

    He didn¡¯t for a second believe that Qi Yuan could be involved in what had happened at the madhouse.

    Leaving aside the strength of the black-and-white beast, even Zhou Xiao, the madhouse¡¯s director, was more than Qi Yuan could handle.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen that Qi Yuan,¡± Lin Qinghe said dismissively. ¡°He¡¯s useless. Unless...¡±

    He paused briefly.

    ¡°Unless someone from the Shen family took action. But if that were the case, Qi Yuan would already be long gone.

    ¡°Or... unless the Shen family spent a fortune hiring a skilled alchemist to create a powerful elixir to improve his physical foundation.¡±

    Standing nearby, Constable Zhou Hu nodded. He had worked under Lin Qinghe for years and was used to his methods.

    ¡°True,¡± Zhou Hu agreed. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors about Qi Yuan. He has no potential for this. If anything, he might be cannon fodder at best.¡±

    Lin Qinghe gave a faint nod. Zhou Hu¡¯s loyalty and quick thinking were why he kept him close.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Lin Qinghe spoke in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Hu, in a few days, I¡¯ll be transferred to the provincial capital. Would you like to come with me?¡±

    ¡°They can¡¯t leave.¡±

    Zhou Hu stepped carefully through the muddy streets. The recent rain had turned the soil into a thick, red paste.

    His boots stuck with every step, the weight of his task bearing down on him.

    ¡°Over here, sir.¡±

    A young boy named Li Xiaodan waved him over, his patched clothing flapping as he ran.

    The boy¡¯s face was dark from the kiln¡¯s soot.

    Zhou Hu entered the humble, red-clay dwelling. Inside, an old man lay motionless on the floor.

    ¡°He vomited water last night,¡± the boy explained softly, ¡°then... he passed.¡±

    Zhou Hu¡¯s face darkened. He stayed in the hut for some time, examining the scene before stepping back out.

    As he emerged, Xiaodan greeted him with a bowl of water.

    ¡°Sir, please have some water,¡± the boy offered.

    ¡°Did this come from the ancient well?¡± Zhou Hu asked.

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t drink from it anymore,¡± Zhou Hu warned. ¡°It¡¯s not clean.¡±

    The boy nodded hesitantly but said nothing. He knew there was no other water source for the village.

    Inside Xiaodan¡¯s house, Zhou Hu¡¯s gaze landed on an odd figurine atop a small altar.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± he asked. ¡°You¡¯re worshiping a god?¡±

    ¡°This... a merchant sold it to me,¡± the boy stammered. ¡°He said it was the likeness of Shenlin¡ªthe strongest divine weapon of the Central Plains.

    ¡°With all the deaths lately, I bought it in hopes it could protect me and my sister.¡±

    Zhou Hu shook his head. He doubted its authenticity. Genuine relics imbued with power were far beyond the means of a poor boy like Xiaodan.

    But before he could speak, a sharp voice interrupted him.

    ¡°Shenlin? That was Bai Cang Nation¡¯s national treasure.¡±

    A cold-eyed woman dressed in the robes of a Taoist priestess strode into the room. Her presence was commanding, her tone disdainful.

    ¡°It was destroyed a century ago,¡± she continued. ¡°Even if this figurine is genuine, it¡¯s useless. The weapon has perished. What good is its image?¡±

    Her frosty gaze softened momentarily as she turned to Xiaodan.

    ¡°Child, sell me this figurine for 500 taels of silver. Do we have a deal?¡±

 Chapter 490: Divine Descent, an Intelligent AI?

    Chapter 490: Divine Descent, an Intelligent AI?

    ¡°Five hundred taels?¡±

    Li Xiaodan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, a mixture of astonishment, joy, and doubt flashing across his face.

    Zhou Hu, on the other hand, looked at the Daoist-clad woman with a deeply apprehensive gaze.

    A Weapon Master!

    This was undoubtedly a Weapon Master¡ªand not a low-ranking one.

    Her sudden arrival at Hongyun Village... Could she be enlisted to help?

    ¡°You¡¯re wondering why, if the deity is dead and the statue has lost its divine essence, I¡¯d offer such a high price?¡± the woman asked.

    Li Xiaodan¡¯s expression grew more puzzled.

    Zhou Hu also struggled to understand.

    The woman¡¯s gaze softened slightly as she seemed to recall something from the past.

    ¡°In the days when the Central Lands were united and the realm was at peace, a Divine-Level Artificer named Sheng Nu traveled across mountains and rivers, gathering the essence of nature. She even ventured into realms beyond our world to collect celestial materials, and finally forged the artifact Divine Descent!

    ¡°With a heart as pure as a saint, Sheng Nu imbued Divine Descent with compassion and righteousness, and it became the national treasure of the Luocha Kingdom in the Central Lands.

    ¡°The Luocha Kingdom entered an unprecedented era of prosperity.

    ¡°With Divine Descent sweeping aside all external threats, and its Melody of the Divine Path harmonizing the kingdom internally, the nation rose to unparalleled strength.¡±

    ¡°Wait, could this Divine Descent be the legendary Judgment Deity?¡± Zhou Hu exclaimed, eyes wide with realization.

    At first, he hadn¡¯t made the connection, but as the woman spoke, everything clicked.

    The Luocha Kingdom didn¡¯t have just one divine artifact, and the deities worshipped by the people weren¡¯t limited to a single entity.

    However, none was as widely revered as the Judgment Deity.

    Zhou Hu had often heard storytellers in taverns recount the tales of the Judgment Deity.

    These stories, celebrated across all social strata, were especially beloved by the common folk.

    Famous accounts like The Oil Merchant Suing the Magistrate and The Courtesan Who Slew the Third Prince were endlessly popular.

    It was said that, centuries ago, the common people of the Luocha Kingdom lived prosperous lives. Even when dealing with government officials, they could stand tall.

    The emperor demanded submission; the Judgment Deity made the people rise.

    Thus, the Luocha Kingdom¡¯s citizens worshipped the deity en masse.

    The deity symbolized absolute fairness and justice.

    In contrast, Zhou Hu¡¯s Ninghe County was a place where the idea of commoners suing officials was nearly unthinkable.

    To accuse an official was akin to patricide. Plaintiffs faced torturous punishments, including scorching irons, lashes, and beatings, before their cases could even be heard.

    But in the Luocha Kingdom, not only could commoners sue officials¡ªthere were even tales of courtesans defying royalty.

    One such tale, The Courtesan Who Slew the Third Prince, was particularly renowned.

    The story tells of a humble washerwoman whose beauty caught the eye of the Third Prince during an outing. Bound by the laws upheld by the Judgment Deity, the prince couldn¡¯t openly seize her.

    Instead, he orchestrated a scheme to destroy her family, ultimately forcing her into a brothel¡ªor, more accurately, a form of private captivity.

    One day, the prince inadvertently revealed his deeds while speaking in his sleep. The washerwoman, now a courtesan, overheard him and investigated.

    Upon discovering the truth, she exacted her revenge by killing the prince with a sword one night.

    Elsewhere, this would have been catastrophic¡ªa courtesan murdering royalty!

    However, during her execution, a miracle occurred: snow fell in July.

    At the execution site, her friend declared her innocence and summoned a statue of the Judgment Deity.

    The deity, representing fairness and truth, intervened.

    The courtesan was declared innocent, and the officials who had failed her were punished.

    If Qi Yuan had heard this story, he would undoubtedly have exclaimed, ¡°This Judgment Deity sounds just like an intelligent AI!¡±

    Indeed, the Luocha Kingdom¡¯s governance bore a striking resemblance to rule by AI oversight.

    ¡°Yes, Divine Descent was also known as the Judgment Deity,¡± the woman said, her voice tinged with sorrow.

    ¡°I heard that a century ago, the Luocha Kingdom was invaded by a powerful enemy. Divine Descent perished in battle?¡± Zhou Hu asked.

    When Zhou Hu had first heard stories of the deity, he¡¯d been deeply moved, like many virtuous individuals across the land.

    In fact, many of the downtrodden dreamed of traveling to the Central Lands to seek the deity¡¯s protection.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± the woman replied, her expression turning cold. ¡°The artifact was destroyed, and the deity... died.

    ¡°That same year, the royal court of the Luocha Kingdom ordered all statues of the Judgment Deity to be destroyed.

    ¡°To possess one was punishable by exile¡ªor death.¡±

    A frosty smile crossed her face. ¡°Without Divine Descent, the Luocha Kingdom surrendered to the Great Feng Empire fifteen years ago. A nation that once dominated the world now offers tributes.

    ¡°Laughable, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Zhou Hu felt a pang of sadness.

    Perhaps no one in the Luocha Kingdom¡¯s royal court or nobility truly revered the deity.

    Only those who knelt in the mud¡ªthe common people¡ªcherished its protection.

    ¡°This statue is really that amazing?¡± Li Xiaodan, being young, focused on the deity¡¯s power rather than its downfall.

    ¡°True statues of Divine Descent are nearly extinct in the Luocha Kingdom. My younger sister has always admired the deity.

    ¡°When I saw your statue, I thought to buy it for her¡ªfor five hundred taels,¡± the woman said calmly.

    ¡°I may not be an expert on Specters, but from my perspective, when one approaches, we could try smiling to show we mean no harm.

    ¡°Once it feels at ease, we can gently pat its head. Most Specters seem to enjoy that sort of thing, and we could use the opportunity to¡ª¡±

    ¡°To strike it down?¡± Qi Yuan interrupted dryly.

    ¡°And what if it attacks us first?¡±

    ¡°Ahem... Well, I¡¯m not a professional, so my idea might have some flaws,¡± Chen Kangbao admitted, coughing awkwardly.

    Qi Yuan sighed. ¡°You¡¯ll just keep holding them down for now. You¡¯re the cutting board, and I¡¯m the knife. All we¡¯re missing is a chef.¡±

    His role-playing mission weighed heavily on his mind.

    After all, successfully fulfilling his role would earn him substantial rewards, something he eagerly anticipated.

    ¡°What chef? Are you planning to cook for this old servant?¡± Chen Kangbao joked, his thoughts never straying far from food.

    ¡°We¡¯ll deal with that when we return to the city,¡± Qi Yuan replied, already formulating plans.

    For now, the most pressing matter was improving his strength.

    Once his power grew, he could better strategize his role-playing endeavors.

    As things stood, Qi Yuan¡¯s current physique didn¡¯t exactly scream knife. Any attempts to role-play effectively were pointless.

    Before long, the two arrived at the Anshan Inn.

    The innkeeper, recognizing Qi Yuan, seemed momentarily startled. ¡°Qi... Young Master Qi?¡±

    The Qi Yuan standing before him now looked completely different from the one he had met previously.

    Not only had Qi Yuan¡¯s appearance and physique changed, but his aura was entirely transformed.

    The innkeeper studied him closely before finally confirming his identity.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s brief stint in the asylum hadn¡¯t been widely publicized, and the innkeeper wasn¡¯t privy to the details.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Lao Zhong? Why isn¡¯t he here?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Lao Zhong, the Shen family¡¯s servant sent to assist him, had accompanied him during his return to Ninghe County for ancestral rites.

    ¡°Zhong Ye left!¡± the innkeeper replied quickly.

    ¡°Left?¡±

    ¡°On the day Young Master Huang invited you for an outing, Zhong Ye checked out that evening and left.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°And my belongings?¡±

    ¡°Zhong Ye took all your things with him,¡± the innkeeper explained nervously, afraid Qi Yuan might suspect the inn of theft.

    ¡°Did he now?¡± Qi Yuan murmured, his tone indifferent.

    ¡°Master, that old Zhong has betrayed you!¡± Chen Kangbao exclaimed. ¡°Master gets thrown into an asylum, and he doesn¡¯t even visit or investigate? He just runs off!¡±

    ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d have stormed that asylum and rescued Master myself!¡±

    Chen Kangbao leaned in close, whispering conspiratorially as if to emphasize his loyalty.

    Qi Yuan gave a small nod before turning to the innkeeper. ¡°Prepare two upper rooms for us.¡±

    ¡°Right away!¡±

    Meanwhile, back at the Huang family estate, Zhou Hu frowned deeply.

    Huang Yanshou was dead¡ªbut who could have done it?

    With Lin Qinghe having left for his new post, Zhou Hu was now acting head constable.

    The murder of Huang Yanshou was just one of several troubling events in Ninghe County, alongside the deaths at the asylum and the strange happenings at Hongyun Village.

    ¡°Constable Zhou, who¡¯s the culprit?¡± the elderly patriarch of the Huang family asked, his hair white with age and his expression grim.

    ¡°Judging by the evidence, the killer... is likely a Weapon Master,¡± Zhou Hu replied. ¡°Elder Huang, had your grandson recently provoked anyone?¡±

    The patriarch¡¯s expression stiffened momentarily before he quickly replied, ¡°No. My grandson was a kind and virtuous soul. How could he offend anyone?¡±

    ¡°Elder Huang, are you withholding anything from me?¡± Zhou Hu asked, his suspicions growing.

    Both the asylum incident and Huang Yanshou¡¯s death seemed connected to Qi Yuan. Could it be...?

    ¡°This case... we won¡¯t be pursuing it. My grandson died of a sudden illness,¡± the elder declared calmly.

    Zhou Hu fell silent, his thoughts swirling.

    His mind wandered back to the Judgment Deity of the Central Lands.

    If only such fairness still existed... Perhaps things would be different.

    ¡°Very well. I take my leave.¡± Zhou Hu saluted and departed.

    Not long after, a grieving old woman entered the Huang family¡¯s hall.

    ¡°Shi Fan! My son is dead, and you¡¯re just letting the killer walk free?¡±

    The patriarch, Huang Shi Fan, turned to her in anger, slapping her across the face.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your fault? I warned you countless times not to let Yanshou associate with Wang Kaixuan, but you wouldn¡¯t listen!

    ¡°Do you think our Huang family can compete with the clans of Weapon Masters?¡±

    The woman collapsed to the floor, stunned. ¡°My son...¡±

    ¡°This matter ends here,¡± Huang Shi Fan declared coldly.

    He resolved to offer reparations to the Shen family.

    As for Huang Yanshou¡¯s death, it would be presented as punishment at his own hand¡ªchild unfit, parent to blame.

 Chapter 491: Endless Transformations, Visitors from the Provincial City

    Chapter 491: Endless Transformations, Visitors from the Provincial City

    Zhou Hu left the Huang family estate, his face still clouded with unease.

    ¡°Do you think the death of the Huang family¡¯s young master is related to that Qi Yuan?¡± he asked the constable walking beside him, his tone contemplative.

    The deaths of the asylum director and Huang Yanshou could easily be connected.

    ¡°Perhaps it is,¡± the constable replied.

    At that moment, a short, robust middle-aged constable hurried over. ¡°Sir, Qi Yuan is missing from the asylum.¡±

    ¡°It seems he really is connected to this,¡± Zhou Hu muttered, frowning, then shaking his head.

    Even if there was a connection, it was none of his business.

    ¡°I wonder, what level of strength does the person the Shen family sent to Ninghe County possess?¡±

    Zhou Hu could only hope they had sent a Weapon Master of the Xuan rank.

    But realistically, this seemed impossible.

    The Shen family, while a prestigious clan, could hardly afford to spare a Xuan-rank Weapon Master for such a minor matter in a backwater like Ninghe County.

    A Xuan-rank Weapon Master was a one-person army: sharp as a tiger, unstoppable like an elephant, and divine as a dragon.

    Such a master could face hundreds of heavily armored soldiers in formation¡ªand break through them alone.

    Why would such a fearsome war machine ever be sent here?

    Qi Yuan simply wasn¡¯t worth it.

    As for Di-rank Weapon Masters, they were even more terrifying. A single one could sway the outcome of small-scale wars.

    At the inn, Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    Over the past few days, he and Chen Kangbao had scoured Ninghe County in search of Specters to kill.

    Finally, he had leveled up to 30.

    ¡°I feel... strange. It¡¯s as if I¡¯ve reached the equivalent of the Foundation Establishment realm, but my combat power doesn¡¯t seem to match that of the Immortal World¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators.

    ¡°Could it be because this world¡¯s rules are different?¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered the matter but soon dismissed his theory.

    ¡°I have no proper frame of reference,¡± he mused.

    For instance, if he could punch with a force of one jin, what if, in this universe, a stone weighing one jin was heavier than an entire star in the Immortal World?

    Or what if, despite appearing to be less than two meters tall, his size relative to this universe meant he was larger than a sun in another?

    Such possibilities weren¡¯t entirely far-fetched.

    ¡°In this world¡¯s power system, I¡¯d probably qualify as a Huang-rank Weapon Master now,¡± Qi Yuan speculated.

    Ninghe County did have a few Weapon Masters, albeit weak ones. Qi Yuan had secretly observed them before.

    Based on their performance and without factoring in combat experience, levels 1 to 29 roughly corresponded to Fan-rank Weapon Masters.

    Levels 30 to 59, he guessed, aligned with Huang-rank Weapon Masters.

    Each 30 levels seemed to represent a major tier, with 10 levels marking early, mid, and late stages within each tier.

    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d awaken a major skill this time?¡±

    In the Moonwatch Continent, Qi Yuan had gained minor skills every ten levels and a major skill every thirty levels.

    These included abilities like Overbearing Strength, Sky-Cleaving Blade Art, and Radiant Death.

    Here, none of the minor skills had awakened.

    However, upon reaching level 30, Overbearing Strength, one of his major skills, had returned.

    Additionally, Qi Yuan had awakened a new skill:

    Endless Transformations!

    As the name suggested, it was a shape-shifting ability.

    By activating it, Qi Yuan could transform into anything, just as Immortal World cultivators could. He could even become something as mundane as a blade of grass.

    While this skill might seem trivial in the Immortal World¡ªwhere high-level cultivators could transform at will¡ªit was extraordinary in this realm.

    ¡°Based on Qi Yuan¡¯s memories, even Di-rank Weapon Masters in this world can only change their appearance or restructure their bones.

    ¡°But with Endless Transformations, I could become literally anything¡ªgiven sufficient power.¡±

    In this world:

    Xuan-rank Weapon Masters were elite forces of a faction.Di-rank Weapon Masters were regional overlords.

    The Ning Kingdom was weak, controlling only three provinces.

    Each province had about seven prefectures.

    Jining Prefecture was part of Jiang Province, which now had only three prefectures remaining. The others had been ceded to the Moshang Kingdom.

    With the Ning royal family¡¯s waning power, they hadn¡¯t produced a Tian-rank Weapon Master in years, leaving them unable to suppress the powerful noble clans and sects.

    Any clan or sect boasting a Di-rank Weapon Master was a juggernaut in the Ning Kingdom, capable of challenging the royal family¡ªalbeit cautiously.

    In Jining Prefecture, one of the nine noble families was the Shen family, which had a Di-rank Weapon Master.

    ¡°Endless Transformations!¡±

    The door burst open, revealing a tall woman with an icy expression and a sword case strapped to her back.

    Her long legs, powerful and striking, seemed capable of crushing someone to death.

    Her frosty demeanor filled the room as she entered.

    ¡°Zhi Shuang? It¡¯s you?¡± Qi Yuan exclaimed, startled.

    ¡°Did you come here to help your young master dress? Everyone is equal¡ªthere¡¯s no need for such formalities.¡±

    Zhi Shuang¡¯s arrival sent a chill down Qi Yuan¡¯s spine.

    She was the Shen family¡¯s eldest daughter¡¯s maid, but no ordinary servant¡ªshe was a Weapon Master.

    Back when Qi Yuan had married into the Shen family, his bride had been absent from the wedding ceremony, with Zhi Shuang standing in her place.

    Zhi Shuang¡¯s gaze was frosty, her expression colder than the steel of her sword. As she stared at Qi Yuan, there was both disdain and suspicion in her eyes.

    The man before her¡ªcasual, indifferent, and even teasing¡ªfelt like a completely different person from the cowardly, groveling "groom" she remembered.

    ¡°Master Qi, Miss Shen has heard about your... escapades in Ninghe County. She¡¯s deeply disappointed,¡± Zhi Shuang said icily. ¡°She has instructed me to hear the truth from your own lips.¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to that widow¡¯s incident? I didn¡¯t do it.¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s tone was flat, his expression unreadable.

    ¡°Master Qi, you¡¯ve let everyone down!¡± Zhi Shuang¡¯s icy stare intensified. ¡°Uncle said he saw you with his own eyes¡ªforcing yourself on that widow. When he tried to stop you, you kicked him. The scar on his forehead is still there!¡±

    On her way to Ninghe County, Zhi Shuang had met Uncle Zhong and heard the entire account. The more she learned, the more contempt she felt for Qi Yuan.

    ¡°That thick-browed and honest-looking guy... dared to frame me?¡± Qi Yuan muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. He was about to let the matter slide when it hit him¡ªhe was supposed to be playing the role of the Shen family¡¯s live-in son-in-law.

    If he wanted to fulfill his mission, he couldn¡¯t appear indifferent.

    In an instant, his demeanor shifted. He dropped his head slightly and adopted a pitiful expression, his tone meek and pleading: ¡°Sister Zhi Shuang, I¡¯ve been wronged! Someone¡¯s framing me!¡±

    As expected, the progress bar for his role-playing task nudged forward.

    He glanced at Zhi Shuang¡¯s strong legs, briefly considering throwing himself at her feet to beg. But on second thought, he discarded the idea.

    After all, she had traveled all the way from the provincial city to Ninghe County, likely without much rest. Her feet must be sweaty and odorous. He didn¡¯t want to risk the smell ruining his appetite.

    Zhi Shuang, however, seemed utterly unimpressed by Qi Yuan¡¯s theatrics. The glimmer of disdain in her eyes deepened as she snorted, ¡°Why would Uncle Zhong lie about you? Master Qi, if you could just own up to your mistakes, perhaps Miss Shen would still think you had a shred of integrity!¡±

    ¡°It was Wang Kaixuan!¡± Qi Yuan suddenly interjected.

    His voice carried conviction, and for a moment, Zhi Shuang¡¯s expression wavered.

    She frowned deeply. The name Wang Kaixuan gave her pause¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a name Qi Yuan would dare throw around lightly. If nothing else, it indicated that there might be more to this situation than met the eye.

    ¡°Master Qi,¡± she said, her tone softening ever so slightly, ¡°you¡¯ll have to return with me to the provincial city. Miss Shen will look into this matter herself.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t it wait a few days?¡± Qi Yuan asked, testing her resolve.

    ¡°No!¡± Zhi Shuang replied sharply. Her tone brooked no argument.

    The urgency in her voice left no room for negotiation. She intended to escort Qi Yuan back to the Shen family estate as soon as possible, then head to Yeshan Lake for her next mission.

    Qi Yuan hesitated. With his current level of strength, he still had tasks to complete in Ninghe County, particularly the trip to Hongyun Village.

    ¡°Sister Zhi Shuang,¡± he tried again, this time inflecting his voice with exaggerated pleading, ¡°I just need a little time...¡±

    Zhi Shuang¡¯s reaction was immediate. A flash of disgust crossed her face as she replied coldly, ¡°No!¡±

    Before Zhi Shuang could react, Qi Yuan moved.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he murmured, almost apologetically.

    Then, in a blur of motion, he struck.

    Zhi Shuang¡¯s expression froze, her body collapsing to the ground with a dull thud.

    Standing over her unconscious form, Qi Yuan let out a resigned sigh.

    ¡°Now it¡¯s fine, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    From the doorway, Chen Kangbao appeared, still chewing on a half-eaten steamed bun. His eyes flicked briefly to Zhi Shuang¡¯s motionless body, but his expression remained calm¡ªas though such scenes were a daily occurrence.

    ¡°Master, the matter of Hongyun Village has been investigated. We can leave whenever you¡¯re ready,¡± Chen Kangbao said casually, crumbs falling from his mouth.

    ¡°Good,¡± Qi Yuan replied, nodding.

    ¡°Are you leaving her here, Master?¡± Chen Kangbao asked, gesturing to Zhi Shuang.

    ¡°No. She¡¯s unconscious and defenseless. If someone drags her off into the woods, it¡¯ll ruin her reputation¡ªand mine along with it. She¡¯ll have to come with us.¡±

    ¡°Carrying a woman around might make us look suspicious, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not a woman. She¡¯s my weapon,¡± Qi Yuan replied with a smirk. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t have a proper weapon yet, and her physique seems... sturdy enough.¡±

    With that, Qi Yuan activated his Endless Transformations skill.

    A moment later, Zhi Shuang¡¯s body shimmered and morphed.

    In her place was now a massive spear.

    The weapon gleamed with a cold, silvery light, its sharp edge exuding a deadly aura.

    Chen Kangbao blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

    ¡°Master, you¡¯re... carrying a human weapon?¡±

    ¡°Of course. A top-notch spear like this? It¡¯d be a waste to leave her behind,¡± Qi Yuan said, gripping the spear lightly.

    As he hefted the weapon, he chuckled to himself. ¡°I¡¯ll have to be careful, though. Don¡¯t want to accidentally cross any lines.¡±

 Chapter 492: I Am God!

    Chapter 492: I Am God!

    ¡°This spear?¡±

    Chen Kangbao stared at the weapon in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, his goatee trembling.

    The spear was long, cold, and exuded an ominous aura. Its tip gleamed with a biting chill, and the shaft was etched with intricate patterns.

    Sunlight streamed through the window, reflecting off the spear¡¯s surface and giving it an almost ethereal glow. The chill emanating from the weapon was so intense it seemed to seep into the room.

    Qi Yuan held the spear calmly, his expression indifferent. ¡°Too bad this spear doesn¡¯t have a trigger. A spear you can fire would be much better!¡±

    He sighed as though genuinely disappointed.

    If he could transform Zhi Shuang into a sniper rifle, perhaps a Barrett M82 or something similar, it would be far more practical.

    But without bullets, pulling the trigger would accomplish nothing.

    What could it do¡ªsquirt water? The firepower would be laughable.

    A proper spear was the better choice.

    ¡°How¡¯s the situation in Red Cloud Village?¡± Qi Yuan asked as he prepared to leave.

    ¡°Master, we can talk on the way,¡± Chen Kangbao replied.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Bang!

    Qi Yuan smacked into the doorframe, the spear¡¯s length blocking his exit.

    Carrying the spear horizontally, it got stuck, slamming into the wall. He couldn¡¯t get through.

    Seeing this, Chen Kangbao quickly suggested, ¡°Master, maybe you should carry it upright. The door¡¯s too narrow, but it¡¯s tall enough.¡±

    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll wrap it around my waist,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Chen Kangbao: ¡°???¡±

    Sure enough, Qi Yuan coiled the spear around his waist, giving him a bulging appearance. Before leaving, he used Endless Transformations to mask the shape, preventing unwanted attention.

    After all, Qi Yuan preferred to keep a low profile.

    However, some things couldn¡¯t be hidden.

    Just like the way an overly large bust inevitably draws attention, the sight of Qi Yuan with the massive, coiled weapon immediately caught the eyes of onlookers.

    ¡°What is he carrying around his waist?¡±

    ¡°Strange...¡±

    ¡°Could it be some kind of treasure?¡±

    At the inn below, diners began murmuring among themselves, their curiosity piqued.

    Standing tall, Chen Kangbao puffed out his chest and declared, ¡°My master carries a long spear wrapped around his waist!¡±

    ¡°A long spear?¡± A middle-aged woman from the martial world gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth. Her ears reddened as she stole glances at Qi Yuan, her eyes sparkling.

    ¡°So... big. Unbelievable!¡±

    Amid the astonished murmurs, Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao left the inn.

    ¡°Recently, there¡¯ve been a string of deaths in Red Cloud Village. The locals say it¡¯s the work of a specter,¡± Chen Kangbao reported.

    ¡°Specter?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Back in the Immortal Realm, such creatures rarely qualified as proper adversaries.

    But this was a game world. Standards were lower, and Qi Yuan didn¡¯t need to be so selective.

    ¡°Indeed, a specter!¡± Chen Kangbao nodded earnestly. ¡°I bribed some clerks at the local office and got access to their records.

    ¡°Here¡¯s what I found: all the victims died at night. In every case, neighbors reported hearing a continuous sound of running water shortly before the deaths.¡±

    ¡°Get to the point,¡± Qi Yuan said impatiently.

    He wasn¡¯t one to judge a specter by its origins or backstory.

    While some might fuss over factors like gender, family background, or social class, Qi Yuan was an equal opportunist when it came to sending specters on their way.

    Even if a specter had a gambling father, a cancer-stricken mother, and a delinquent brother, as long as it fell into his hands, he would graciously expedite its journey to the afterlife.

    ¡°...Its strength is unknown,¡± Chen Kangbao admitted sheepishly.

    ¡°Tonight, no extra buns for you!¡± Qi Yuan snapped.

    This so-called advisor of his was proving utterly incompetent.

    All he ever thought about was food, never doing any real work.

    ¡°Master, just one bun less?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s face fell.

    ¡°Child,¡± Qi Yuan said, his voice calm but commanding. ¡°Do you recognize me?¡±

    Li Xiaodan hesitated, unsure what to say.

    ¡°Then tell me¡ªdo I look like a man or a god?¡±

    ¡°I... think you look like a god,¡± Li Xiaodan stammered, not daring to offend this stranger.

    For a fleeting moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s progress bar for playing Divine Descent inched forward.

    At last, his meticulous performance was paying off.

    ¡°Do not fear, for I am a god who listens to the prayers of the world,¡± Qi Yuan declared, exuding an aura of divine authority.

    Li Xiaodan blinked in confusion, his instincts screaming at him to stay quiet.

    With a soft sigh, Qi Yuan turned away.

    ¡°Come,¡± he ordered Chen Kangbao, leaving the boy behind.

    As they walked, Chen Kangbao muttered, ¡°Master, mortals are so blind to true divinity.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because they lack the vision to see my angels and warriors,¡± Qi Yuan replied, shaking his head.

    If this were any other situation, Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t care about appearances. But to play Divine Descent, he needed to convince others of his godhood.

    ¡°Well, if you lack drones, you build them yourself,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    "Let¡¯s find a swamp with plenty of mosquitoes," he announced.

    What better way to craft his angels than to use what nature provided?

    About half an hour later, the Daoist nun reached the edge of Red Cloud Village. Her cold, emotionless expression remained steady, though her mind was a whirl of calculations.

    ¡°Who were those two men, and what did they want with you?¡± she asked Li Xiaodan directly.

    Li Xiaodan hesitated, his face pale. ¡°One of them seemed... off. He asked me about the statue in my home.¡±

    ¡°The statue?¡± The nun¡¯s brow furrowed. Even a lifeless statue of Divine Descent could attract interest, as it carried faint remnants of divine energy.

    ¡°What else did he say?¡± she pressed.

    Li Xiaodan, nervous and unsure, recounted the conversation in detail. ¡°He also asked me if I thought he was human or a god. And then he said something about fulfilling my wishes. He... seemed crazy.¡±

    The nun¡¯s frown deepened. Something about the man¡¯s behavior didn¡¯t align with any known Weapon Master protocol.

    ¡°Yesterday,¡± Li Xiaodan added hesitantly, ¡°I think the statue... spoke to me.¡±

    The nun¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°It spoke? And what did it say?¡±

    Li Xiaodan hesitated, his voice trembling. ¡°It said... ¡®I am not a god.¡¯¡±

    The nun froze for a moment, her mind racing. If it were anyone else, she would dismiss it as a child¡¯s imagination. But this boy¡¯s fearful tone didn¡¯t seem fabricated.

    ¡°Impossible,¡± she said finally. ¡°Gods are dead. Statues don¡¯t speak. What you heard was a figment of your imagination.¡±

    Still, doubt lingered in her heart. Could this be some anomaly?

    Before she could press further, Li Xiaodan gasped, his eyes widening in terror.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Li Xiaodan pointed toward the distant sky. ¡°Over there!¡±

    The nun turned to look, her expression hardening.

    In the sky, the sound of whirring wings filled the air, and the villagers of Red Cloud Village began to panic.

    A figure floated through the air, seated as if on a divine chariot. The man was elegant and ethereal, his calm gaze exuding an aura of quiet majesty.

    Qi Yuan.

    Surrounding him was a swarm of strange objects¡ªsteel constructs that flapped their metallic wings like birds. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of them, their silver surfaces gleaming in the dim light as they carried him across the sky.

    ¡°Tengyun Jiwu?¡± (Riding the Clouds and Summoning Mist), the nun thought, her instincts screaming in alarm.

    Only a Weapon Master of the Xuan Rank or higher could achieve flight. But this...

    She squinted at the strange ¡°birds¡± carrying Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Not clouds... not mist... What are those?¡±

    The villagers stared in stunned silence, some dropping to their knees in reverence. They had never seen such a sight in their lives.

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°Those flying things... are they some kind of divine beast?¡±

    ¡°Great heavens! Could this be a god descending to the mortal realm?¡±

    As the metallic swarm circled above, Qi Yuan¡¯s calm voice echoed across the entire village.

    ¡°I am the god who has come to cleanse this land of specters.

    You need not kneel before me.¡±

 Chapter 493: Bold Fiend! I Can Tell at a Glance Youâ€™re Not Human!

    Chapter 493: Bold Fiend! I Can Tell at a Glance You¡¯re Not Human!

    The divine proclamation rolled through the air, majestic and captivating, carrying an inexplicable allure.

    The villagers of Red Cloud Village, trembling in awe, dared not rise.

    The buzzing steel constructs flying in the air shattered their comprehension of the world. Even ordinary Weapon Masters couldn¡¯t command such a spectacle.

    The ability to fly alone had already broken the boundaries of their understanding.

    Li Xiaodan, overwhelmed by the sight, knelt and prostrated himself.

    The Daoist nun, standing tall, her peach-shaped eyes tinged with suspicion, eventually looked at the man in the air and sneered, ¡°What a charade!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t detect any trace of divinity emanating from him.

    How could someone without divine aura claim to be a god?

    In her mind, this man was a charlatan¡ªskilled, perhaps, but still a fraud.

    The man¡¯s gaze fell on her, steady and wordless.

    Chen Kangbao stepped forward and declared, ¡°These are heavenly angels!¡±

    The numerous flying constructs, resembling intelligent beings, hovered and danced through the air.

    Most of the villagers didn¡¯t dare to look directly at these "angels," though a few brave ones sneaked cautious glances.

    ¡°What kind of technique is this?¡± the Daoist nun muttered, clearly unconvinced.

    Without divine aura, how could this man be a god?

    Her skepticism deepened, unable to understand the scene before her.

    ¡°Heavenly powers are beyond the grasp of mere mortals!¡± Chen Kangbao proclaimed, adopting the reverence of a devout follower as he stood by Qi Yuan¡¯s side.

    The Daoist nun squinted, her eyes flashing red as she tried to discern the truth about Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao.

    Unfortunately, her skills in perception weren¡¯t advanced, nor did she have any specialized tools for this purpose, leaving her unable to uncover anything unusual.

    Seated loftily on his ¡°platform¡± of mosquito- and bird-like constructs, created through Endless Transformation, Qi Yuan pondered his performance.

    ¡°This still isn¡¯t perfect,¡± he mused. ¡°I should add some entrance music, or maybe a dramatic BGM.¡±

    To increase his ¡°progress bar¡± in playing the role of a god, Qi Yuan knew he had to fully embody the part, complete with dazzling effects and grand illusions.

    Colorful lights, divine music¡ªsuch theatrics would easily fool this world¡¯s inhabitants.

    After all, while this world¡¯s people possessed physical power and mystical abilities, they lacked true divine wonders.

    On top of that, the laws of this world were peculiar; even spell scrolls crafted here were little more than useless scraps of paper.

    This lack of understanding gave Qi Yuan the perfect opportunity to excel in his role as a ¡°god.¡±

    ¡°The god has a heart of compassion! Unable to bear the suffering of mortals, he has descended to the world in his divine body to suppress the specters!¡±

    ¡°Red Cloud Village has been plagued by specters, its people¡¯s prayers echoing day and night!¡±

    ¡°Today, the god has descended, bringing clarity and peace to the world!¡±

    As the buzzing constructs added a droning backdrop, Chen Kangbao¡¯s loud voice boomed, full of confidence.

    Li Xiaodan, face full of awe and fear, knelt lower to the ground, trembling with emotion.

    The other villagers, too, felt waves of gratitude fill their hearts.

    For days, the specter had terrorized Red Cloud Village, leaving death and darkness in its wake.

    Now, a god had descended to save them. How could they not be overjoyed?

    ¡°Is the god here to save us?¡±

    ¡°Oh, divine one, we offer our humble prayers!¡±

    Mortal-tier Weapon Masters were still within human limitations.Yellow-tier Masters were considered transcendent.Xuan-tier Masters, however, had refined their divine souls, making them nigh invulnerable to specters.

    Her tattered robes barely clung to her body, revealing whip marks crisscrossing her flesh. Her bloodied back radiated both cruelty and allure.

    The Daoist nun shivered at the oppressive aura.

    Her thoughts raced. This specter must have been the victim of heinous acts¡ªa life snuffed out in violence, her body discarded in the well.

    Meanwhile, Chen Kangbao¡¯s eyes lit up.

    ¡°Master, grant me your blessing! I must hold this specter close¡ªtight and proper!¡±

    Qi Yuan ignored Chen Kangbao¡¯s antics, gripping his spear.

    ¡°Bold fiend! I can tell at a glance¡ªyou¡¯re no human!¡±

    He charged forward, spear in hand, stepping onto his flying constructs for support.

    The Daoist nun shouted a warning: ¡°Be careful¡ªher attacks target the soul!¡±

    The specter¡¯s laughter filled the air as the world seemed to twist and warp, her soul attacks plunging all who dared to fight her into an endless nightmare.

    But Qi Yuan strode forward, unfazed.

    ¡°Is this all?¡± he taunted, breaking through her illusion.

    The specter faltered, confusion flashing in her ghostly eyes.

    Her greatest weapon had failed.

    ¡°Why is he immune to her attacks?¡± the Daoist nun whispered, stunned.

    From the well came the sound of rushing water, followed by more ghostly figures.

    One after another, pale women with flowing black hair and whip-marked bodies climbed out, their hollow eyes burning with hatred.

    Eighty-seven in total.

    The Daoist nun¡¯s face went pale.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t just a specter. This is a breeding ground for evil spirits!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s response? A wide grin.

    ¡°What luck¡ªso many white moonlights in one place!¡±

    With a wave of his hand, crimson armor enveloped his body, his figure towering over the battlefield.

    ¡°Today, I will show you what it means to be a god!¡±

    Clad in divine crimson armor, Qi Yuan unleashed devastation.

    His spear pierced through specter after specter, each strike precise and lethal.

    The villagers knelt in awe, chanting their praises:

    ¡°Praise the god! Praise the divine!¡±

    Even the Daoist nun was dumbfounded.

    ¡°What... kind of power is this?¡±

    After a relentless quarter-hour of combat, only one specter remained.

    Qi Yuan approached, his voice cold.

    ¡°In your next life, remember to serve as my white moonlight.¡±

    With a single thrust, the final specter fell.

    Turning away, Qi Yuan left behind only one last remark:

    ¡°Next time, bring all your sisters.¡±

 Chapter 494: I Need a Mount

    Chapter 494: I Need a Mount

    Eighty-seven female specters had been slain.

    The figure clad in blood-red armor sat loftily in midair, his expression cold and unyielding.

    With a spear in his hand, he looked every bit like a god descended to earth.

    The horrifying, chilling specters had stood no chance against him.

    The villagers and laborers witnessing this scene were all prostrate on the ground, crying out in reverence:

    ¡°Divine being!¡±

    ¡°This is truly a god!¡±

    The woman dressed as a Taoist priestess stood in stunned silence, her mind shaken by the display.

    What kind of technique was this, to make such an impossible feat seem effortless?

    Eighty-seven specters, each at the high stage of the Yellow-tier, had been defeated.

    Their combined soul attacks, capable of instilling fear in even a top-ranked Di-tier Weapon Master, would have easily overwhelmed a Xuan-tier powerhouse. Even the most skilled dominators of a region would have met their demise under such an onslaught.

    Yet, against this blood-red armored figure, their soul attacks had no effect at all.

    Could he truly be a god?

    What¡¯s more, his combat techniques were flawless, executed with an elegance as fluid as flowing water.

    Although his strength and speed seemed inferior to the specters¡¯, he effortlessly outmaneuvered and overwhelmed all eighty-seven of them.

    The perfection of his technique was almost surreal.

    The priestess, who had once witnessed the combat prowess of a Tian-tier Weapon Master, couldn¡¯t recall having seen anything as impeccable as this.

    A Di-tier Weapon Master might be capable of fending off 3,000 heavily armored soldiers, relying on their unparalleled physique and the sharpness of their weapon.

    But this man¡ªthis blood-armored figure¡ªseemed as though he alone could slaughter 3,000 soldiers armed to the teeth with just his technique, emerging completely unscathed.

    ¡°Who... who are you?¡± the priestess asked, her voice trembling. Her teeth clashed faintly as her words stammered out.

    ¡°I am... Divine Descent,¡± came the cold and authoritative reply, resounding from the heavens as if the voice of a god.

    ¡°Divine Descent?¡±

    The priestess was momentarily dumbfounded as she looked at Qi Yuan.

    Was this the Divine Descent she was familiar with?

    Wasn¡¯t Divine Descent a legendary weapon¡ªa so-called divine armament?

    Chen Kangbao, with a look of fervent adoration, gazed at the blood-armored figure and began chanting:

    ¡°Divine Descent, Divine Descent, revered by all realms.

    The Celestial Maiden serves at his side,

    Five Thunder Gods heed his call.

    Six Ding and Six Jia guard his form,

    The Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces form his divine array.

    ...

    Golden rays shoot from his eyes, dispelling evil and injustice,

    The light in his hands banishes the darkness.

    ...

    Where Divine Descent treads, eternal light follows,

    All living things bask in divine grace.¡±

    Hearing his chant, the kneeling villagers immediately echoed in unison:

    ¡°In a world without light, Divine Descent is our beacon!¡±

    ¡°In a world without light, Divine Descent is our beacon!¡±

    The voices rolled like thunder, carrying fervor and reverence, a tidal wave of devotion sweeping the crowd.

    Even the priestess, caught in the intensity of the moment, felt herself almost drawn into the chant.

    When she finally snapped out of it, she realized that the "divine figure" had vanished without a trace.

    A few miles away, a loud thud resounded as a figure fell from the sky.

    Qi Yuan hit the ground with a graceless crash, his face pale and his composure entirely gone.

    Gone was the imposing divine aura.

    ¡°Thank goodness I escaped in time. Those mosquito-grade drones are garbage!¡±

    Had he stayed longer, his disguise would surely have fallen apart, leaving him humiliated in front of the crowd.

    Though he hadn¡¯t been injured in his battle with the specters, the strain on his stamina and spirit had been enormous.

    Not to mention, the improvised drones¡ªmade from transformed mosquitoes¡ªwere falling apart, unable to sustain his weight any longer.

    Any further delay, and he¡¯d have been forced to perform a godly belly-flop for the entire crowd to witness.

    ¡°Master, how did I do with that chant earlier?¡± Chen Kangbao asked eagerly, his tone brimming with pride.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Qi Yuan praised. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re not just my strategist¡ªyou¡¯re also my loudspeaker!¡±

    The chant Chen Kangbao had recited earlier was, in fact, cobbled together from phrases Qi Yuan had invented on the spot.

    The good news? It was entirely original. The bad news? It was stitched together like a patchwork quilt.

    For Qi Yuan, playing the role of Divine Descent wasn¡¯t just about putting on a show¡ªhe needed catchy slogans to bolster the act.

    Not only did it add grandeur, but it also made it easier for his legend to spread far and wide.

    ¡°The only downside,¡± Qi Yuan muttered, ¡°is the quality of these drones. I need to get my hands on better ones next time.¡±

    At present, Qi Yuan still lacked the ability to fly on his own.

    A god who couldn¡¯t fly? That wouldn¡¯t do¡ªit lacked the grandeur expected of a deity.

    Thus, the need for drones.

    He was even considering incorporating lightning effects for a more divine aesthetic.

    ¡°And maybe a projector,¡± he mused. ¡°If I can¡¯t manifest a celestial projection, I¡¯ll just create one with technology. That¡¯ll blow them away!¡±

    As always, Qi Yuan took time to reflect on his performance.

    ¡°Eighty-seven Yellow-tier specters slain. I¡¯m finally level 57 now¡ªjumped up over twenty levels!¡±

    Based on his current calculations, this put him at the high stage of the Yellow-tier as a Weapon Master.

    He was just one step away from reaching the Xuan-tier.

    Reaching the Xuan-tier in this world would qualify him to act as a county captain, overseeing an entire region¡¯s defenses.

    ¡°Still, leveling up isn¡¯t the biggest takeaway,¡± Qi Yuan muttered to himself. ¡°The most significant gain is... my Divine Descent roleplay meter.¡±

    Answer the call as Divine Descent.Engage in dialogue using his psychic ability.Ignore or block the prayer.

    The calloused state of his hands and the way he carried himself betrayed a martial background.

    ¡°I¡¯m the strategist the young master hired from the madhouse!¡± Chen Kangbao declared with pride.

    Zhi Shuang¡¯s expression shifted from confusion to astonishment, and then understanding.

    Her gaze turned to Qi Yuan, a teasing glint in her eyes. ¡°So, young master, your skills have improved! You¡¯ve managed to fool someone from the madhouse into becoming your servant¡ªand even had him knock me unconscious!¡±

    Naturally, she assumed that Chen Kangbao had been the one to knock her out.

    After all, Qi Yuan had always been a frail scholar, incapable of such feats.

    Faced with her accusations, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t flinch.

    ¡°Foolishness! He¡¯s my believer,¡± he said lazily.

    ¡°I¡¯m the most loyal servant of the young master!¡± Chen Kangbao eagerly added.

    Zhi Shuang studied the pair with growing suspicion.

    Could it be that her young master had truly gone mad?

    His demeanor and behavior were a complete departure from the weak, cowering man she once knew.

    Despite her doubts, Zhi Shuang softened her tone slightly as she addressed him.

    ¡°Young master, return to the county seat without fear. Regarding the matters in Ninghe County, my lady will personally question Old Zhong.¡±

    Her words carried dual meaning.

    If Qi Yuan were guilty, her lady would exact punishment.

    If he were innocent, she would ensure his name was cleared.

    If the young master had truly been wronged and had even lost his sanity in the process... Zhi Shuang felt a twinge of pity for him.

    Still, she preferred a harmless, half-mad Qi Yuan over the troublemaker he¡¯d once been.

    At least this version wouldn¡¯t cause unnecessary trouble for her lady.

    ¡°That Old Zhong... I¡¯ll have words with him myself,¡± Qi Yuan grumbled, assuming his troubled som-in-law persona. ¡°Trying to frame me¡ªhe must have a death wish!¡±

    Zhi Shuang took in his indignant act, her pity turning into certainty.

    The young master was undoubtedly insane.

    He¡¯d always been meek and submissive back in the household, never daring to raise his voice.

    Thinking back to how she¡¯d woken up, Zhi Shuang hesitated before asking:

    ¡°Young master, what exactly did you do to me? Why does my whole body ache?¡±

    Her body felt as though it had been through an endless battle.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t remember?¡± Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly. ¡°I already told you.¡±

    Zhi Shuang fell silent.

    Clearly, he was insane.

    Moments later, Qi Yuan looked at Zhi Shuang, his expression suddenly turning serious.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a question for you,¡± he said.

    ¡°Please, speak,¡± Zhi Shuang replied, her tone icy but polite.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that my wife is a Xuan-tier Weapon Master. How strong is she? How fast? What are her standout skills?¡±

    At these words, a chill emanated from Zhi Shuang, her icy aura intensifying.

    ¡°Who told you to ask such questions?¡± she demanded frostily.

    Her lady wasn¡¯t just a renowned beauty listed on the Hundred Fragrance Rankings, but also a direct disciple of the Heavenly Sect.

    In Ning Kingdom, sects and noble clans wielded enormous power¡ªeven the royal family deferred to them.

    The Heavenly Sect and the Ancient Thunder Sect were the two most powerful sects in Ning Kingdom.

    These two titans had been locked in conflict for years, vying for dominance and the title of state religion.

    In a few months, the two sects would face off in a grand competition between their disciples.

    Zhi Shuang naturally assumed someone was using Qi Yuan to probe her lady¡¯s abilities.

    ¡°No one told me to ask,¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly, fixing her with his most sincere look.

    ¡°Consider this: Lu? Bu is unmatched on horseback, Dian Wei reigns supreme on foot, and Ma Chao excels in riding skills.

    Now imagine Lu? Bu riding Ma Chao, with Ma Chao riding Dian Wei. Wouldn¡¯t that be unstoppable?¡±

    Qi Yuan clapped his hands together, his expression glowing with excitement.

    ¡°I¡¯m missing a mount. My plan is to follow the example of the ancients¡ªduring combat, I¡¯ll ride your lady!¡±

    He sounded completely serious.

    Using mosquitoes or birds transformed into drones was far from ideal.

    Qi Yuan had come up with a new idea: instead of relying on transformed creatures, why not use a powerful Weapon Master?

    For instance, his wife¡ªrenowned as a Xuan-tier Weapon Master¡ªmight not be able to fly, but her speed and strength far exceeded that of any insect.

    With his Endless Transformation, he could modify her appearance into that of a drone, concealing her legs to create the illusion of hovering.

    Once she advanced to Di-tier, she could even take him soaring through the skies!

    Qi Yuan marveled at his own brilliance.

    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°how strong is your lady?¡±

    ¡°You... are serious?¡± Zhi Shuang¡¯s face darkened, her tone seething with cold anger.

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    ¡°You¡¯re despicable!¡± Zhi Shuang hissed, her icy demeanor cracking with fury.

    She resolved to write to her lady immediately. Not only had the young master lost his mind, but he¡¯d also become shameless!

    Wanting to "ride" her lady?!

    Even someone as inexperienced as Zhi Shuang understood the implications of ¡°riding.¡± Was he planning to jump on and spout nonsense about galloping?

    ¡°Ah, I see¡ªyou care about your lady and don¡¯t want me to ride her,¡± Qi Yuan mused, stroking his chin. ¡°Shame. If your strength and speed were better, I¡¯d just ride you instead.¡±

 Chapter 495: Mother-in-Law, Are You Taking a Bath Tonight?

    Chapter 495: Mother-in-Law, Are You Taking a Bath Tonight?

    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡±

    Zhi Shuang gritted her pearly teeth, a strong urge rising within her to send Qi Yuan straight to the madhouse.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, mind your position!¡±

    ¡°My position? Aren¡¯t I the live-in son-in-law?¡± Qi Yuan pondered aloud. ¡°Can¡¯t a son-in-law ride you?¡±

    ¡°Hmph, the young master is a heavenly god descended to earth! To be ridden by him would be your honor!¡± Chen Kangbao chimed in with a serious expression.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± Qi Yuan retorted lazily. ¡°She¡¯s not that impressive. I don¡¯t feel like riding her.¡±

    The two bantered back and forth as if in sync, leaving Zhi Shuang fuming. Her slender brows knitted tightly in frustration.

    From a bird¡¯s-eye view, the borders of Jining Prefecture resembled a pair of tongs, stretched narrow and long.

    Fengshan Commandery was situated near the left ¡°claw.¡± If Jining Prefecture were a province, then Fengshan Commandery would undoubtedly be its capital city.

    Also known as Tu City, Fengshan Commandery was under the dominance of the powerful Tu family, the preeminent noble clan of the region.

    The Tu family¡¯s influence was unmatched, with their third son having even married the daughter of the Southern King.

    At this moment, Young Master Tu San was leaning lazily against the balustrade of his estate, a jade ornament hanging from his waist, his luxurious robe adorned with intricate cloud patterns.

    ¡°Kaixuan, I heard you recently traveled to Ninghe County. Did anything interesting happen there?¡± Tu San asked casually, holding a wine cup in hand.

    ¡°No,¡± replied Wang Kaixuan, a man with narrow eyes and a sharp, almost cruel visage. ¡°I merely visited an old friend.¡±

    Tu San smirked faintly. ¡°Still hung up on the eldest daughter of the Shen family, are you?¡±

    ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be? Shen Xiaojie is a peerless beauty,¡± Wang Kaixuan answered, his eyes glinting with greed.

    ¡°Ah, but your methods are too crude, my dear friend. The young lady of the Shen family is intelligent and perceptive. If she returns from Yeshan Lake, she will surely uncover the truth,¡± Tu San remarked, swirling his wine.

    ¡°By the time she returns, that useless son-in-law of theirs will already be dead!¡± Wang Kaixuan said gleefully.

    Tu San chuckled softly, privately considering how utterly brainless Wang Kaixuan was.

    Winning the favor of a woman like Shen Xiaojie required far more subtlety and cunning. Besides, even someone of Tu San¡¯s own standing dared not provoke her lightly, let alone a small fry like Wang Kaixuan.

    If not for certain circumstances, Tu San Gongzi would not even bother associating with Wang Kaixuan.

    ¡°By the way,¡± Tu San began, gazing deeply into Wang Kaixuan¡¯s eyes, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of an extraordinary incident that recently took place in Ninghe County.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Wang Kaixuan appeared indifferent. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°In Hongyun Village, a powerful specter emerged, capable of unleashing devastating spiritual attacks. Not even Xuan-tier Weapon Masters could stand against it.¡±

    ¡°Well, that village is doomed,¡± Wang Kaixuan said dismissively, showing no concern for the plight of its inhabitants.

    ¡°No, quite the contrary. At the height of the crisis, a mysterious old man and a young man appeared in the village and exterminated the specters.¡±

    ¡°Really...¡± Wang Kaixuan yawned, feigning disinterest.

    ¡°Kaixuan,¡± Tu San pressed, ¡°you¡¯ve been to Ninghe County recently. Did you encounter these two extraordinary individuals?¡±

    There was a flicker of apprehension in his eyes as he asked the question.

    The information Tu San had gathered was astonishing: a young man wielding a spear had slain all eighty-seven Yellow-tier specters of Hongyun Village single-handedly.

    Furthermore, the young man had brazenly declared himself to be a god descended from the heavens.

    ¡°Hongyun Village is not just any place,¡± Tu San continued. ¡°It is a known breeding ground for specters under the control of the Thorned Blood Sect. To think... eighty-seven Yellow-tier specters, all annihilated!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Wang Kaixuan¡¯s expression finally shifted.

    Such a feat was utterly monstrous. Anyone capable of achieving it would undoubtedly rank among the heavenly prodigies of Ning Kingdom.

    Shen Xiaojie, the eldest daughter of the Shen family, was herself one of the top ten prodigies on the Heavenly Talent Rankings of Ning Kingdom.

    Anyone who made it onto that list was destined to reach Earth-tier, becoming a sovereign figure in their own right.

    It was precisely because of this disparity that Wang Kaixuan harbored such bitterness toward Qi Yuan, unable to accept how someone as useless as him could have married Shen Xiaojie.

    ¡°What distinguishing features did they have?¡± Wang Kaixuan asked.

    ¡°The young man wielded an unusual weapon¡ªa spear that was both exceptionally long and abnormally thick,¡± Tu San replied.

    Wang Kaixuan shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t see anyone like that in Ninghe County. It¡¯s a backwater place.¡±

    ¡°This man declared himself a god descended to earth. I¡¯m curious to learn where he came from,¡± Tu San murmured, his gaze deep and contemplative.

    As Tu San and Wang Kaixuan conversed, Wang Kaixuan suddenly froze, his expression twisting in disbelief.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Tu San asked.

    ¡°That son-in-law, Qi Yuan... why isn¡¯t he dead?¡± Wang Kaixuan sputtered.

    From his vantage point overlooking Fengshan Commandery, Wang Kaixuan spotted a familiar figure standing outside the Shen family estate.

    It was unmistakably Qi Yuan.

    His face contorted between fury and panic. ¡°Young Master Tu San, would you join me at the Shen family estate? I must...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± Tu San replied curtly. ¡°I have other matters to attend to.¡±

    Had she misjudged Qi Yuan all along?

    ¡°Even if Old Zhong is dead,¡± Shen Lingfeng shouted indignantly, ¡°and we can¡¯t prove it, I still won¡¯t let this green hat business slide!¡±

    Nobody paid him any mind.

    The matriarch turned to Qi Yuan, her expression cool but not hostile. ¡°Qi Yuan, it seems what happened in Ninghe County was indeed a misunderstanding. Stay here in the Shen estate for the time being. Avoid going out too much."

    ¡°The person responsible for this plot¡ªI will personally find them.¡±

    Zhi Shuang hesitated, wanting to speak further but thought better of it.

    Shen Lingfeng, meanwhile, appeared confused. His mind simply wasn¡¯t equipped to handle the intricacies of the situation.

    ¡°Mother-in-law?¡± Qi Yuan called out, his tone unexpectedly casual.

    The matriarch arched an elegant brow at the unusual way he addressed her. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Are you taking a bath tonight?¡± he asked, his expression entirely serious.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I mean bathing,¡± Qi Yuan clarified as if concerned she didn¡¯t understand his question.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°As the family¡¯s son-in-law, it¡¯s my duty to contribute. Helping my mother-in-law with her bathwater is a task I cannot shirk,¡± Qi Yuan continued, his tone earnest. ¡°So, when you¡¯re ready, just let me know. I¡¯ll personally prepare the water for you!¡±

    His words caused the gathered servants and maids to exchange wide-eyed glances. Shock and disbelief were written across their faces.

    Was he... seriously offering to prepare his mother-in-law¡¯s bathwater?

    Could this be some hidden scandal?

    The matriarch¡¯s almond-shaped eyes narrowed as if suppressing an urge to lash out. Without a word, she turned sharply and swept out of the courtyard, her expression a mask of cold fury.

    Zhi Shuang hurried after her, worried about the consequences of Qi Yuan¡¯s absurdity.

    ¡°Madam, the young master... he was sent to a madhouse while in Ninghe County. He may have suffered some soul damage, which could explain his current behavior. I hope you can forgive him!¡± Zhi Shuang pleaded.

    The matriarch sighed, rubbing her temple. ¡°These are troubled times.¡±

    After a moment, Zhi Shuang hesitated before adding, ¡°The young master also said he suspects Wang Kaixuan may be behind this.¡±

    Hearing this, the matriarch¡¯s eyes grew cold, a faint trace of killing intent flickering within them.

    ¡°That fool is likely a pawn, used by others without even realizing it,¡± she replied dismissively. ¡°But if the Wang family does not hand him over, tell them I will personally pay them a visit.¡±

    The Wang family was a prominent household, but compared to the Shen family, they were leagues apart in power.

    Zhi Shuang could sense the matriarch¡¯s simmering anger. She understood one thing clearly: when the matriarch was this resolute, blood would soon be spilled.

    ¡°To dare lay a hand on someone of the Shen family is to court death,¡± the matriarch stated coldly.

    Back in the courtyard, Qi Yuan remained seated, seemingly unbothered by the matriarch¡¯s exit.

    Chen Kangbao munched on a steamed bun beside him, his eyes gleaming with an idea. ¡°Young master, what about taking that lady as your mount?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± Qi Yuan scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s my mother-in-law. That¡¯s family. If I were caught riding her, I¡¯d be accused of taboo relationships.¡±

    Chen Kangbao tilted his head, his wrinkled face scrunched in thought. ¡°But if you make your wife your mount, wouldn¡¯t that also count as family? Aren¡¯t you worried about accusations then?¡±

    Qi Yuan gave him a long, steady look before shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°No wonder nobody recruited you, idiot.¡±

    If he hadn¡¯t caught himself, he might¡¯ve been persuaded to agree.

    ¡°Brother-in-law!¡±

    The voice came from behind. Shen Lingfeng approached hesitantly, looking somewhat sheepish. ¡°I came to apologize. I misunderstood you. You didn¡¯t put a green hat on my sister!¡±

    The young man¡¯s words were blunt, as always.

    Perhaps the heavens had taken away his wit, only to bestow double the intellect on his elder sister.

    Shen Lingfeng was all fiery impulsiveness, while Shen Xiaojie was an unparalleled genius.

    ¡°Misunderstandings happen. Let¡¯s put it behind us,¡± Qi Yuan replied lazily.

    For all his bluster earlier, Shen Lingfeng seemed more like a puppy than a threat now.

    ¡°I used to think you were a weak and useless man, brother-in-law,¡± Shen Lingfeng admitted. ¡°Sure, you¡¯re handsome, but that¡¯s all you had going for you. But today, when I charged at you in anger, you didn¡¯t even flinch. I respect that.¡±

    ¡°I still have so much to learn from you,¡± Shen Lingfeng added sincerely.

    ¡°What do you want to learn?¡± Qi Yuan asked, curious.

    Shen Lingfeng scratched his head awkwardly. ¡°Well, um... brother-in-law, you¡¯re so young and already married. Meanwhile, I... I don¡¯t even have a...¡±

    ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Qi Yuan interrupted.

    Shen Lingfeng nodded, his face flushed. ¡°Yes! I want to learn how to woo a woman!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s lips curved into a sly smile.

    When it came to matters of the heart, he had plenty of experience.

 Chapter 496: Qi Yuanâ€™s Love Advice and the Mother-in-Lawâ€™s Social Death

    Chapter 496: Qi Yuan¡¯s Love Advice and the Mother-in-Law¡¯s Social Death

    ¡°Brother-in-law, teach me!¡±

    Shen Lingfeng''s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ve been pursuing Miss Li, but she always treats me coldly!¡±

    Qi Yuan coughed, putting on an air of mystique. ¡°Before crafting a plan, you need to analyze both her strengths and weaknesses, as well as your own. Start by evaluating Miss Li and then yourself.¡±

    ¡°Miss Li is stunningly beautiful, with enchanting peach blossom eyes that are particularly captivating. She drapes a sheer veil over her shoulders, revealing just enough to be alluring.¡±

    ¡°As for me... I¡¯m just a guy, and Miss Li thinks I¡¯m too scrawny.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡± Qi Yuan nodded, understanding the dynamic between the two. He paused to reflect, memories of his past relationship with Jin Li coming to mind.

    ¡°To crack this situation, what you need is... an online romance.¡±

    ¡°An online romance?¡± Shen Lingfeng blinked, the term unfamiliar but intriguing.

    Of course, only his brother-in-law could come up with such profound terminology.

    ¡°When dating online, the other person can¡¯t see you. Their perception of you depends entirely on their imagination."

    ¡°In this context, as long as you craft an image of yourself as someone emotionally intelligent, warm, and humorous, she¡¯ll idealize you as tall, handsome, and charismatic. But seeing as you look like a clueless boy who doesn¡¯t even own a Nokia phone, we¡¯ll need to go old-school¡ªletters.¡±

    Qi Yuan spoke earnestly, drawing from his own experience.

    Compared to face-to-face encounters, online dating had a much lower barrier to entry. In person, a bad first impression could ruin everything before it even began. Online, the other party¡¯s impression of you was left entirely to their imagination.

    When it came to imagination, no one could outdo the fantasies people built for themselves.

    Even a real-life ¡°ideal¡± often couldn¡¯t measure up to the idealized version.

    Shen Lingfeng¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That makes sense! Throughout history, many romantic stories have begun through letters.¡±

    However, a frown soon crept onto his face. ¡°But... how do I shape myself into someone Miss Li would admire?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy. You just need to include some emotionally intelligent phrases and a few clever, romantic lines. That will surely win her over,¡± Qi Yuan replied confidently.

    After all, hadn¡¯t one of the world¡¯s richest heirs built a reputation off smooth-talking pick-up lines?

    ¡°Here, let me teach you a few witty one-liners.¡±

    ¡°Darling, I went to get an IV today. Do you know what kind? A dose of missing you.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Shen Lingfeng tilted his head, confused.

    ¡°Ah, right. IVs don¡¯t exist in this world.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s try another.¡±

    ¡°Do you know why I eat fish heads? Because I want to leave the rest of my life for you.¡±

    ¡°Your dimples may not hold wine, but they¡¯ve intoxicated me like a dog in heat!¡±

    ¡°I bought a bag of salt today. Guess what kind? The kind that doesn¡¯t need words to say, ¡®I love you.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Do you have a body odor problem? Because you¡¯re as enchanting as a fox spirit!¡±

    Qi Yuan delivered the lines one after another.

    Of course, he filtered out the more crass ones, such as ¡°I farted loudly today, but it wasn¡¯t as loud as my thoughts of you.¡± Those were only for relationships that had long since moved past formalities.

    ¡°Brilliant!¡±

    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought words could be used like this?¡±

    ¡°Brother-in-law, you¡¯re incredible! Why didn¡¯t I think of this before?¡±

    ¡°The connection between dimples and wine¡ªgenius!¡±

    Shen Lingfeng was elated, as if he¡¯d just discovered the secret to the universe.

    Even Chen Kangbao gave a thumbs up. ¡°Master, your words are unparalleled!¡±

    Qi Yuan basked in the praise, feeling a sense of triumph.

    In movies, when a protagonist spouted poems from another world, they often earned the admiration of onlookers. Now, he too was enjoying such glory.

    ¡°But,¡± Qi Yuan continued, ¡°writing letters is just the first step in an online romance. The second step is casting a wide net! That¡¯s the true essence of online dating!¡±

    ¡°Please explain, brother-in-law!¡± Shen Lingfeng listened intently, as if hearing divine wisdom.

    ¡°Writing to a single woman is called unrequited love. Writing to two women is called double love. Writing to every eligible young woman in the city¡ªthat¡¯s net love!

    ¡°So, do you want to stick to Miss Li or experience a net romance with all the city¡¯s beauties?¡± Qi Yuan asked with a mischievous grin.

    Shen Lingfeng¡¯s expression twisted in hesitation, his inner conflict evident.

    ¡°Take your time. No rush,¡± Qi Yuan reassured him.

    ¡°Brother-in-law... could I just write to fewer people? My hand would fall off if I wrote to the whole city!¡± Shen Lingfeng said, his face pale at the thought of writing thousands of letters a day.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Write to as many as you can. Did you memorize those lines I just taught you? Make sure to include them in your letters.¡±

    ¡°Understood! I¡¯ll start writing right away!¡± Shen Lingfeng, full of determination, dashed off to begin.

    ¡°Sigh. I do good deeds every day without asking for anything in return. I¡¯m so selfless. When his sister returns and sees the changes in her brother, she¡¯ll surely be moved,¡± Qi Yuan said with a satisfied sigh.

    Another day, another good deed.

    ¡°Now then, mother-in-law, are you ready for your bath? Shall I help you carry this to your room?¡±

    The room fell deathly silent.

    The gathered Shen family members were stunned, their expressions ranging from shock to sheer disbelief.

    Shen Lingxiu¡¯s face turned crimson with embarrassment, a mix of anger and humiliation. ¡°Qi Yuan, leave!¡± she hissed.

    ¡°Not bathing tonight?¡± Qi Yuan asked innocently.

    ¡°Not bathing!¡± Shen Lingxiu snapped, her voice rising.

    ¡°Alright then,¡± Qi Yuan said with a shrug. ¡°But if you change your mind, just call for me¡ªI¡¯ll bring the water right away.¡±

    He left the room as abruptly as he¡¯d entered, leaving behind a hall full of stunned faces.

    As the door closed, Shen Wanshan finally broke the silence.

    ¡°Has he... lost his mind?¡± he asked, his voice heavy with resignation.

    Shen Lingxiu let out a long sigh. ¡°He must have endured too much ridicule since marrying into the family. Now, even in his madness, he still thinks about fulfilling his duties.¡±

    Her voice faltered slightly.

    ¡°Perhaps... we¡¯ve been too harsh on him.¡±

    Shen Wanshan rubbed his temples, his face a mixture of exasperation and pity. ¡°Send word to the servants. If any have mistreated him, punish them accordingly.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Master.¡±

    "I heard that something big happened in Ninghe County?" Shen Wanshan asked.

    "The Thorned Blood Sect appeared, and eighty-seven specters attacked Hongyun Village. As a result... they were all killed by a strong man holding a thick spear!"

    "It turned out to be the Thorned Blood Sect!"

    When the Thorned Blood Sect was mentioned, everyone present was afraid.

    This force is a cult, mysterious and powerful. It is not only active in Ning Kingdom, but also in other forces.

    Madam Shen told Shen Wanshan the information she got one by one.

    "Calling himself a god?"

    "The soul attack of the specters is ineffective against him?"

    "The specters cultivated by the Thorned Blood Sect are good at soul attack. Even if it is yellow level, eighty-seven gathered together, I have to spend some effort to deal with it.

    Where did this genius come from?"

    Shen Wanshan mentioned it, and then he didn''t care anymore.

    Just a genius.

    If it were normal times, he would still want the Shen family to investigate the identity of that person and make friends with him according to the situation.

    But now, with the crisis of Mount Ye Lake ahead, he has no mood to care about these trivial matters.

    For him, it is more important to find a powerful artifact master now.

    If Brother Qi is still alive, with his talent, he may have a way to repair Wei Long Xuan Yuan now.

    Thinking of this, he felt melancholy: "Chen Xianwei, during this period of time, go and teach Qi Yuan to see if he has the talent of a Artifact master."

    He doesn''t want Qi Yuan to be crazy and confused.

    He also doesn''t want the inheritance of the Qi family to be broken.

    "This..." Chen Xianwei was confused.

    Let me teach a madman to learn to refine weapons?

    How to teach this?

    He felt very bitter.

    It''s better to let him teach a mute to sing.

    Despite Qi Yuan¡¯s recent eccentricities, Shen Lingxiu couldn¡¯t help but feel conflicted. Once a troublemaker and a layabout, he now displayed an almost tragic sense of devotion¡ªalbeit in the most bizarre ways.

    ¡°Better that he¡¯s like this than how he was before,¡± she murmured. ¡°At least now, he¡¯s not causing as much trouble.¡±

    Still, her heart ached for her daughter.

    ¡°Poor Xuan¡¯er... marrying a man like him.¡±

    Outside the meeting hall, Qi Yuan hummed to himself, satisfied with his performance.

    ¡°Carrying bathwater for my mother-in-law has really boosted my roleplay progress,¡± he mused. ¡°It seems Qi Yuan truly wanted to curry favor this way!¡±

    He began pondering other ways to embody his role as a live-in son-in-law.

    ¡°Perhaps letting her trample me underfoot? Washing her socks?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s a bit too much.¡±

    He chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Being a live-in son-in-law is exhausting. Upgrading, fighting specters¡ªthat¡¯s the real goal!¡±

 Chapter 497: Iâ€™m Just a Son-in-Law, Easy to Bully, Come Bully Me

    Chapter 497: I¡¯m Just a Son-in-Law, Easy to Bully, Come Bully Me

    The dawn light bathed Qi Yuan lazily.

    Chen Kangbao was munching on a steamed bun, his words muffled as he chewed.

    Inside the Shen household, in the martial arts training ground, groups of young men and women gathered in threes and fives, whispering among themselves.

    ¡°I wonder if I have the talent of an artifact master?¡±

    ¡°If I get selected to go to Mount Ye Lake, and I come up with a brilliant plan to repair the mighty Wei Long Xuanyuan, how glorious that would be!¡±

    ¡°I heard that last night, that son-in-law tried to bathe the madam... Honestly, I¡¯d want to do that too...¡±

    Some of these were voiced thoughts, others were inner musings, but none escaped Qi Yuan¡¯s ears.

    When Qi Yuan appeared, the whispers on the training ground shifted, with more and more inner thoughts revolving around "bath water."

    However, not a single person dared to say anything out loud¡ªit concerned the madam¡¯s dignity.

    Qi Yuan stretched lazily, his mind tangled with complicated thoughts.

    ¡°This progress of playing the son-in-law is too slow. Not only have I not gotten to pour the bathwater for my mother-in-law, but these people also have such refined self-control¡ªno one has even come out to insult me. How am I supposed to play this role?¡±

    According to Qi Yuan¡¯s thinking:

    Playing the role of a son-in-law requires being bullied. Without that, how can I progress?

    Nevertheless, Qi Yuan''s appearance indeed caught the attention of many.

    Shen Baiting stared at Qi Yuan with a changing expression, his thoughts racing.

    "How could someone as stunning as Ling Xuan marry such a useless man?"

    "Why didn¡¯t he just die in Ninghe County?"

    "Yesterday, he made such a scene in the Shen household, and yet the family head didn¡¯t punish him. Unbelievable!"

    "Too bad he¡¯s still the family head¡¯s son-in-law, so I can¡¯t offend him outright. I¡¯ll have to find some idiot to provoke him and cause trouble."

    "Seeing him live so comfortably makes me jealous!"

    ¡°Shen Baihu is a good candidate, but last time I hinted at it... He just said he doesn¡¯t bully trash.¡±

    Shen Baiting¡¯s thoughts grew darker.

    He had long despised Qi Yuan.

    In fact, he had always treated his sister, Shen Lingxuan, like a goddess, harboring a strong possessiveness toward her.

    At this moment, hearing Shen Baiting¡¯s thoughts, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    He had found... someone who could bully the son-in-law.

    ¡°Old man, fetch me a wooden board...¡± he whispered to Chen Kangbao.

    Chen Kangbao, hearing Qi Yuan¡¯s instructions, quickly swallowed the last of his steamed bun and jogged away.

    Under many gazes, Qi Yuan approached the small group around Shen Baiting.

    Shen Baiting frowned slightly.

    Shen Baihu looked surprised.

    The others were all puzzled.

    ¡°Greetings, Brother Qi!¡±

    Regardless of their true thoughts, they all addressed Qi Yuan as ¡°Brother Qi¡± with cordial smiles.

    Such was the power of a son-in-law status.

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Some people really are from prominent families¡ªthey¡¯re too good at pretending.

    Especially Shen Baiting. He was inwardly dying to see Qi Yuan gone, yet his face carried a genuinely kind smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m just a son-in-law. I never thought you¡¯d all be so kind to me,¡± Qi Yuan said, feigning a pure-hearted expression.

    ¡°Brother Qi, you must be joking. You¡¯re Lingxuan¡¯s husband. If we don¡¯t treat you well, who else would we?¡± Shen Baiting replied, smiling warmly.

    ¡°Sigh,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    ¡°Does Brother Qi have something weighing on your mind?¡± Shen Baiting asked attentively.

    ¡°I¡¯m just lamenting how full of scheming these big families are.

    ¡°You clearly wish I were dead, yet you greet me with a smile.¡±

    Qi Yuan stared directly at the young man in front of him.

    Shen Baiting¡¯s smile froze for a moment before he quickly adopted a look of grievance.

    ¡°Brother Qi, are you falsely accusing me? I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ve done to offend you to make you hate me so much. Please, tell me, and I¡¯ll change immediately!¡±

    When it came to playing the innocent, Shen Baiting far outclassed Qi Yuan.

    Even as a man, his expression evoked sympathy.

    Many others even glared at Qi Yuan, feeling he was bullying Shen Baiting.

    How dare this mere son-in-law act so boldly?

    Shen Baiting was known for scheming from the shadows, leaving most people helpless against him.

    Qi Yuan maintained a calm expression. ¡°If you didn¡¯t wish for my death, why would you provoke Shen Baihu and try to incite him against me?¡±

    These words made Shen Baiting¡¯s expression shift dramatically.

    Shen Baihu¡¯s thick brows furrowed as something dawned on him, and he looked suspiciously at Shen Baiting.

    ¡°You¡¯re spouting nonsense! When have I ever provoked?¡± Shen Baiting stammered, his panic evident. The things he¡¯d said to stir up trouble between Shen Baihu and Qi Yuan were only known to Shen Baihu.

    That thick-browed, honest-looking man couldn¡¯t have told Qi Yuan... could he?

    Did I underestimate his scheming abilities?

    ¡°Sigh, Baihu, I misjudged you,¡± Shen Baiting lamented dramatically. ¡°When Lingxuan married Qi Yuan, I had some complaints and made a careless remark while drunk. I never thought you¡¯d repeat those words to Brother Qi!¡±

    ...

    ¡°Brother-in-law, I know you¡¯re investigating Old Zhong¡¯s death, so I found you a helper. He¡¯s in Old Zhong¡¯s house right now, examining the body,¡± Shen Lingfeng said earnestly, like a child seeking praise.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been very thoughtful,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    ¡°Hehe, of course! I have to put in the effort when helping my brother-in-law!¡± Shen Lingfeng replied, then added in a whisper, ¡°Brother-in-law, I¡¯ve already received 17 replies today.¡±

    His tone was proud, almost boastful.

    He had sent out over a hundred letters, and now he had received 17 replies.

    ¡°But Miss Li and Miss Lin haven¡¯t written back... Sigh...¡± Shen Lingfeng sighed regretfully.

    ¡°That just means they¡¯re not fated for you. Don¡¯t waste your time on them,¡± Qi Yuan advised.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you!¡± Shen Lingfeng nodded.

    Before long, the two arrived at Old Zhong¡¯s residence outside the Shen household.

    It was a remote, small, dark, and damp place.

    The room smelled faintly of decay and carried a scent resembling that of a dead snake.

    A coffin lay inside. Its lid was ajar, and a man dressed as a constable was examining Old Zhong¡¯s body with a frown.

    ¡°Lin Qinghe, what have you found out? Who killed Old Zhong?¡± Shen Lingfeng asked loudly as he entered.

    Lin Qinghe snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Qi Yuan and Shen Lingfeng, his gaze lingering on Qi Yuan with some surprise.

    But he answered truthfully, ¡°The victim has been dead too long, and there are too few clues left.

    ¡°However, there is a small, clean incision on his throat. I suspect it was made by a skilled swordsman¡ªone strike to the throat.¡±

    Lin Qinghe¡¯s expression was filled with helplessness.

    Old Zhong had been dead for too long, and there was too little evidence left in the room.

    Even if legendary detectives came, solving this case would be difficult.

    ¡°Who killed him to frame my brother-in-law?¡± Shen Lingfeng pressed.

    Lin Qinghe shook his head. ¡°I need more time to investigate and uncover more clues.¡±

    ¡°Let me take a look,¡± Qi Yuan said, stepping toward the coffin.

    Lin Qinghe looked surprised but said nothing.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, do you know how to solve cases?¡± Shen Lingfeng asked from the side.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m particularly good at solving cases,¡± Qi Yuan replied seriously. ¡°If I became a constable, there would be almost no case I couldn¡¯t crack.¡±

    If not for being in a world of cultivation, his superpowers would have made him an exceptional detective or police officer.

    Lin Qinghe felt exasperated upon hearing this.

    He had recognized the young man in front of him as Qi Yuan from Ninghe County.

    He hadn¡¯t expected this man to escape the asylum and return to the Shen family.

    But considering the Shen family¡¯s power, it made sense.

    Lin Qinghe also knew Qi Yuan¡¯s reputation as a plain, somewhat useless individual.

    How could he possibly solve a case?

    Now, spouting such boastful words only made Lin Qinghe want to laugh.

    ¡°Brother Qi, do you know why Old Zhong¡¯s lower rib is missing?¡± Lin Qinghe asked casually, as if testing him.

    ¡°Does that matter?¡± Qi Yuan glanced at Lin Qinghe. ¡°That¡¯s unrelated to his death. If you¡¯re focusing on things like that, it shows your skills are lacking.¡±

    Lin Qinghe froze for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

    This son-in-law Qi Yuan... Does he not realize I¡¯m testing him?

    If he can¡¯t even discern this minor detail, how can he claim to solve every case?

    Qi Yuan ignored Lin Qinghe and focused his gaze on Old Zhong¡¯s decayed corpse.

    His eyes fell on the fatal wound at the throat.

    Suddenly, a message flashed in Qi Yuan¡¯s mind:

    This sword mark was made by Fang Shisan of the Radiance Society.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, did you find any clues?¡± Shen Lingfeng asked, too nervous to come closer.

    Lin Qinghe stared at Qi Yuan, his heart filled with doubt.

    This man only glanced at the corpse, barely inspecting it. How could he possibly find any clues?

    ¡°No clues, but I¡¯ve identified the killer,¡± Qi Yuan declared.

    Lin Qinghe blinked in surprise and instinctively asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the murderer? Does Brother Qi know them?¡±

    ¡°The murderer is Fang Shisan of the Radiance Society. Do you know him?¡± Qi Yuan asked in return.

    ¡°The Radiance Society? Fang Shisan?¡± Lin Qinghe repeated, stunned.

    He had never heard of either name. Is Qi Yuan just making this up?

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of them,¡± Shen Lingfeng admitted.

    ¡°Looks like neither of you know them,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. Since we know who the killer is, we just need to find them.¡±

    Shen Lingfeng¡¯s face lit up with admiration. ¡°Brother-in-law, you¡¯re amazing! Just one look at the body, and you identified the killer!¡±

    Lin Qinghe, on the other hand, was left speechless.

    He wanted to refute Shen Lingfeng, but he knew there was no point arguing with him.

    Seriously, how could anyone identify the murderer with just a glance? He doesn¡¯t even know the culprit personally. Did the victim¡¯s bones have their name carved on them or something?

    ¡°Brother Lin, please issue a warrant for Fang Shisan of the Radiance Society!¡± Shen Lingfeng requested before leaving, not forgetting to entrust the task to Lin Qinghe.

    ¡°...Alright,¡± Lin Qinghe said after a brief hesitation.

 Chapter 498: Your Bullying is Too Weak, The Origins of Artifacts

    Chapter 498: Your Bullying is Too Weak, The Origins of Artifacts

    Lin Qinghe watched the retreating figures of Qi Yuan and Shen Lingfeng, his expression tinged with helplessness.

    "Someone, issue a warrant for the capture of the murderer, Fang Shisan of the Radiance Society."

    Jining Prefecture had a yamen, but in this region, the authority of the Heavenly Sect carried more weight than the imperial court''s orders.

    In fact, becoming the governor of Fengshan County required the approval of the Heavenly Sect.

    The Shen family, being a wealthy and influential family in Fengshan County, had even more sway, especially with Shen Lingxuan being a direct disciple of the Heavenly Sect.

    Out of respect for Shen Lingfeng, Lin Qinghe had to comply.

    ¡°Yes, Captain!¡± the other constables responded.

    ...

    As night fell, Shen Baiting¡¯s eyes gleamed with smug satisfaction. ¡°Today¡¯s performance wasn¡¯t bad. A bit more effort, and once I get to Mount Ye Lake... my status within the Shen family will skyrocket!¡±

    That day, the Shen family had gathered many young members from both the main and collateral lines to identify those with potential as artifact masters. From these, candidates would be chosen to attend the Artifact Masters'' Conference at Mount Ye Lake.

    ¡°But my talent... it¡¯s still inferior to Baihu and the others. I¡¯ll have to rely on some underhanded tricks.¡± Shen Baiting began considering bribes.

    He had decent talent, but he wasn¡¯t among the top tier.

    Especially compared to Shen Baihu, the gap was significant.

    ¡°I used to feel guilty about bribing to take Shen Baihu¡¯s spot, but... since he told that son-in-law what I said, I can act with a clear conscience!¡± Shen Baiting muttered to himself, as if justifying his underhanded actions.

    ¡°And as for that son-in-law...¡± Shen Baiting¡¯s eyes burned with hatred.

    The man¡¯s relentless provocations had infuriated him.

    ¡°Does he really think I won¡¯t dare to bully him?¡±

    ¡°If it were late at night, with no one around, I¡¯d make sure he knows I¡¯m not so easily trifled with!¡±

    Shen Baiting whispered to himself in his room.

    He felt confident that he could teach Qi Yuan a lesson while still appearing as the victim afterward.

    ¡°What¡¯s this? You¡¯ve finally come around and are planning to bully me?¡±

    At that moment, the door to his room was abruptly pushed open. A figure half-stepped inside, his face beaming with joy.

    When Shen Baiting saw who it was, his eyes widened in disbelief.

    ¡°Qi... Qi Yuan? Why are you here?¡± Shen Baiting¡¯s expression twisted as his emotions fluctuated wildly.

    How had Qi Yuan, like a rat, suddenly appeared here?

    ¡°I¡¯m here, waiting for you to bully me!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s face was smug. ¡°I heard you say you wanted to bully me, so here I am!¡±

    To complete his role-playing task, Qi Yuan was going all out.

    ¡°You misheard! I didn¡¯t say anything like that!¡± Shen Baiting quickly defended himself.

    He was utterly speechless.

    Even whispering to myself late at night gets eavesdropped on!

    ¡°I heard you. You were muttering to yourself. Let me give you some advice: talking to yourself is a bad habit. I usually just think things to myself,¡± Qi Yuan replied, adding a casual note.

    Though honestly, even thinking to yourself isn¡¯t safe when I can hear your inner voice.

    Shen Baiting glanced at Qi Yuan, then scanned the area outside. Seeing no one else around, his eyes flickered. ¡°Did you come here alone?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I came alone. Didn¡¯t you just say that in a quiet, secluded place, you¡¯d bully me?¡± Qi Yuan asked eagerly.

    He hadn¡¯t managed to pour his mother-in-law¡¯s bathwater, but now he had a chance to be bullied¡ªan unexpected turn of fortune.

    Shen Baiting¡¯s face twitched. He was at a loss for words, but seeing that no one was around, he grew bolder.

    ¡°Are you really insane, or just pretending?¡± Shen Baiting¡¯s gaze turned icy.

    ¡°I¡¯m not insane!¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    Shen Baiting studied Qi Yuan carefully and became almost certain that something was wrong with his mind.

    Otherwise, why would he come to my courtyard in the middle of the night, asking me to bully him?

    And more importantly, he came alone. Wasn¡¯t he afraid of dying?

    ¡°Do you truly want me to bully you?¡± Shen Baiting asked in a low voice.

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    Hearing this, Shen Baiting felt that Qi Yuan¡¯s brain must have a screw loose.

    His jealousy deepened. How can such a useless person have married Shen Lingxuan, a woman of such unparalleled beauty?

    ¡°Come, let¡¯s talk outside,¡± Shen Baiting said, steeling his resolve.

    He lived in a secluded courtyard, far from the main household.

    Whatever was said here wouldn¡¯t be overheard.

    Soon, Qi Yuan followed Shen Baiting to the yard.

    The courtyard was large, even boasting a small pond.

    The pond was dotted with green lotus leaves, tender lotus pods, and covered in a dense layer of duckweed¡ªa decent feed for pigs.

    Standing by the pond, Shen Baiting¡¯s thoughts churned. With a look of pity, he said, ¡°Qi Yuan... you shouldn¡¯t have provoked me.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t provoke you.¡±

    ¡°Before you lost your mind, you couldn¡¯t even outplay me. Now that you¡¯re mad...¡± Shen Baiting¡¯s eyes gleamed with contempt.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, come quick! Father and Mother have found you a teacher!¡±

    Shen Lingfeng burst in energetically, followed by a middle-aged man with a rigid appearance. His hair was neatly combed, his clothes impeccably tidy, and even his mustache was perfectly symmetrical.

    He looked like a man obsessed with symmetry.

    ¡°A teacher?¡± Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao emerged, curiosity evident in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°This is Chen Xianwei, a Xuan-grade artifact master of the Shen family!¡± Shen Lingfeng introduced. ¡°Father wants you to learn some things so you don¡¯t bring shame to his name.¡±

    ¡°Oh... alright.¡± Qi Yuan hesitated but didn¡¯t refuse.

    Since he was playing the role of the son-in-law, perhaps learning artifact crafting could boost his progress.

    Plus, Qi Yuan was curious about this mysterious discipline.

    Chen Xianwei glanced at Qi Yuan with a neutral expression. However, when his gaze fell on Chen Kangbao¡¯s disheveled appearance, his brows furrowed.

    Unable to resist, he reached out to adjust the steamed bun in Chen Kangbao¡¯s mouth. ¡°You should eat evenly from both sides. What¡¯s the point of biting just the left?¡±

    Chen Kangbao froze.

    Shen Lingfeng leaned toward Qi Yuan and whispered, ¡°Brother-in-law, Master Chen... he¡¯s very rigid and likes everything to be symmetrical.¡±

    Ah, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    Qi Yuan understood immediately.

    His mind filled with mischievous thoughts, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Master Chen, do you urinate evenly? Like, does it flow symmetrically too?¡±

    Back on Earth, Qi Yuan had heard many anecdotes about OCD.

    Now that he had a chance, he couldn¡¯t resist asking.

    Chen Xianwei¡¯s mustache twitched, and his lips quivered.

    ¡°Master Chen, don¡¯t twitch! Your mustache is uneven!¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Chen Xianwei hurriedly adjusted his mustache, glaring at Qi Yuan with a pained expression.

    Of all the artifact masters in the Shen family, why did they make me teach this lunatic?

    This is torture.

    Fifteen minutes later, Chen Xianwei brought out a pile of strange tools.

    Sitting on a pearwood chair, he adopted a solemn expression. ¡°In ancient times, when chaos first parted, our ancestors emerged from the mountains, crafting stone tools and iron implements, establishing a brilliant civilization.¡±

    To learn the way of artifact crafting, one must first understand its origins.

    Typically, Chen Xianwei wouldn¡¯t delve into such details when teaching others.

    But since he was teaching a madman, he opted for a more mythical version of the origins story.

    ¡°Ordinary stone tools and iron implements¡ªhow did they transition from mundane to extraordinary?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Stone tools were common on Earth.

    But in this world, artifacts carried transcendent properties.

    Chen Xianwei nodded and continued, ¡°Then came the specters, invading our world. How could our ancestors fight specters with mere iron?¡±

    ¡°At that moment, the law of artifacts descended from beyond the heavens, entering our world. From then on, we relied on magical artifacts to battle specters!¡±

    ¡°Artifact masters harnessed the essence of mountains and rivers, the light of the sun and moon, forging supreme artifacts that could alter the heavens, move mountains, and fill seas.¡±

    As he spoke, Chen Xianwei¡¯s face filled with emotion.

    ¡°According to The Secrets of Origins, before the advent of magical artifacts, our world was nearly overrun by specters, on the brink of becoming their paradise.¡±

    Qi Yuan listened intently, absorbing the game-like lore.

    The origins of artifacts were tied to beings from beyond the heavens.

    ¡°Do we still have contact with beings from beyond the heavens?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    Chen Xianwei shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s beyond the knowledge of a lowly Xuan-grade artifact master like me."

    ¡°If one day you reach the level of a Heaven-grade weapon master and step into the greater realm beyond the Blue Mountain Realm, perhaps you¡¯ll learn the truth.¡±

    This world was known as the Blue Mountain Realm, located within the Chaos Star Domain, a minor realm.

    Above minor realms lay major realms.

    ¡°It¡¯s too early to discuss this with you. If you become an artifact master, I¡¯d count as a great teacher!¡± Chen Xianwei sighed, finding solace in his humor.

    ¡°Let¡¯s continue with the history of artifact masters...¡±

    Indeed, he planned to start with history lessons.

    After all, teaching a madman artifact crafting could lead to unexpected accidents.

    ¡°Master Chen, does crafting artifacts require special flames?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    In television shows, alchemy often involved mystical flames. Would the same apply to artifact crafting?

    Chen Xianwei gave Qi Yuan a surprised look. ¡°Artifact crafting requires inner flame.

    ¡°The stronger one¡¯s willpower and innate domain, the more potent their inner flame.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough for today¡¯s lesson. Here¡¯s an introductory manual on artifact crafting. Read it carefully, and I¡¯ll teach you more tomorrow.¡±

    Chen Xianwei handed Qi Yuan a manual titled Basics of Artifact Crafting before leaving in a hurry.

    Inside the room, Qi Yuan flipped through the manual.

    ¡°This...¡± Qi Yuan muttered in surprise. ¡°This seems to share the same origins as the Heavenly Clan¡¯s artifact crafting methods!¡±

 Chapter 499: Qi Yuanâ€™s Father and the Path of Artifact Crafting

    Chapter 499: Qi Yuan¡¯s Father and the Path of Artifact Crafting

    Back in the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, Qi Yuan had studied forging techniques and learned quite a bit.

    The Heavenly Clan, where the Tattered Robe originated, had once been invaded by the Black Heaven. The world teetered on the edge of collapse before finally succumbing to destruction.

    The Heavenly Clan had pursued the forging of radiant treasures, hoping to use them against the Black Heaven. However, they ultimately failed.

    Before it ended, the Tattered Robe gifted Qi Yuan a relic called the Embryo of Radiance.

    ¡°Is this the same world?¡±

    ¡°Could it simply be two ends of the same timeline?¡±

    ¡°Or... do they merely share the same forging methods?¡±

    After all, forging techniques weren¡¯t necessarily unique to the Heavenly Clan¡¯s world.

    In this realm, crafting techniques were said to have been passed down from beyond the heavens.

    ¡°This... counts as good news,¡± Qi Yuan murmured.

    ¡°Does this mean I¡¯m a celestial sovereign returning to the mortal world?¡±

    ¡°Or perhaps a great cultivator reborn 500 years earlier, equipped with top-tier forging techniques?¡±

    During his time in the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, Qi Yuan had memorized many forging methods. However, lacking materials, he had never practiced them.

    Now, holding the Basics of Artifact Crafting manual, he studied it intently.

    ¡°To craft an artifact, one must first awaken the Heart Flame...¡±

    For Qi Yuan, learning the art of crafting wasn¡¯t particularly difficult.

    He had studied extensively in the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

    While the crafting methods in this realm had some differences, the underlying principles were similar.

    Qi Yuan quickly grasped the concepts.

    ¡°The art of artifact crafting lies in the Heart Flame.

    ¡°A blazing flame illuminates the furnace, melting all materials.

    ¡°The Heart Flame arises from the heart, flows through the dantian, and manifests through intent...¡±

    ¡°Rise!¡±

    With Qi Yuan¡¯s command, a faint flicker of fire ignited in his heart, growing steadily in his dantian.

    As he extended his hand, the flame surged and burned brightly in midair.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t celestial fire¡ªit¡¯s an intriguing kind of flame,¡± Qi Yuan remarked, watching the white flame with curiosity.

    Back in the Immortal Realm, he could summon fire with a single incantation.

    But the essence of this flame was different, as were its underlying principles.

    ¡°There are countless paths in the world: cultivation in the Immortal Realm, martial cultivation in Gongxing, and then this...¡±

    ¡°Old man, fetch me some materials and tell them I¡¯m preparing to craft an artifact,¡± Qi Yuan instructed.

    Now that his Heart Flame had awakened, Qi Yuan was ready to begin crafting.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need withered mystic bamboo, iron water, and other materials...¡± Qi Yuan listed his requirements to Chen Kangbao.

    Using the techniques he had learned in the Heaven and Earth Mysttical Land, these materials could be used to craft a flying-type artifact.

    If Shen Lingxuan won¡¯t let me ride her, I¡¯ll ride a flying artifact instead.

    However, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t sure if the Shen family had all these materials.

    If they didn¡¯t, he¡¯d have to modify the forging methods to use substitute materials.

    ¡°Understood.¡± Chen Kangbao swallowed his steamed bun and went out to gather the materials.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan continued to hone his Heart Flame.

    An artifact master¡¯s strength was closely tied to the potency of their Heart Flame.

    A weak Heart Flame wouldn¡¯t last long¡ªbarely enough to cook an egg, let alone forge artifacts.

    Before Chen Kangbao returned, an unexpected visitor arrived at the courtyard.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, the Enforcement Hall sent someone to ask you a few questions. Just answer casually¡ªdon¡¯t worry,¡± Shen Lingfeng said as he entered with a thin middle-aged man. The man had a stern expression and was a Yellow-grade weapon master.

    The man glanced at Qi Yuan and said softly, ¡°Routine procedure.¡±

    ¡°Ask away,¡± Qi Yuan replied, already guessing the reason for the visit.

    It was likely related to the discovery of Shen Baiting¡¯s body.

    If word got out, it could be quite unfavorable for Qi Yuan at this moment.

    The thin man pulled out a notebook and a pen.

    ¡°When you were in Ninghe County, did you encounter a specter and have your soul taken?¡± he asked, his eyes glimmering faintly as if examining the completeness of Qi Yuan¡¯s soul.

    ¡°I did encounter a specter, but my soul wasn¡¯t taken. I¡¯m perfectly normal,¡± Qi Yuan answered.

    The thin man wrote a few lines in his notebook:

    Soul confirmed intact.

    No evidence of soul capture in Ninghe County.

    No communication issues, mental state normal.

    After finishing, the man continued, ¡°Yesterday morning, you and Shen Baiting reportedly had a conflict?¡±

    ¡°There wasn¡¯t any conflict. I¡¯m a son-in-law, and he wanted to bully me. So I let him,¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    ¡°What?! That guy wanted to bully you?¡± Shen Lingfeng exclaimed in anger.

    ¡°This... is a drone,¡± Qi Yuan replied proudly.

    ¡°Why does it look a bit like a fly?¡± Chen Kangbao muttered.

    ¡°Ahem. I can¡¯t make a big drone yet, so I started with a small one.¡±

    After receiving the materials, Qi Yuan had thrown himself into a chaotic frenzy of forging¡ªand had actually succeeded in crafting a flying artifact.

    However, as it was his first attempt, the result was... well, more of a decorative item.

    The tiny drone¡¯s power was equivalent to ¡°the strength of ten mosquitoes.¡±

    A clear waste.

    By Chen Kangbao¡¯s estimate, the materials used to make this drone could have bought thousands of meat-filled buns.

    ¡°No matter. I¡¯ll improve,¡± Qi Yuan said nonchalantly. ¡°To role-play as a god, crafting drones isn¡¯t enough. I¡¯ll also need grenades, speakers, flashlights, projectors, cameras, lightsabers...

    ¡°With these gadgets, I¡¯ll surely achieve peak divine theatrics.¡±

    Of course, his crafted items would have an otherworldly twist.

    After all, this world had different rules than Earth. You couldn¡¯t just replicate Earth¡¯s technology and expect it to work.

    This was where Qi Yuan¡¯s ability to see hidden information would come in handy.

    ¡°We¡¯re short on funds for materials. Once I craft some useless artifacts, I can sell them on the black market.

    ¡°For example, a lightsaber. I think it¡¯s pretty cool. Some people would love it¡ªit¡¯s flashy and stylish,¡± Qi Yuan suggested.

    Artifact crafting materials were costly.

    With his current resources, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t afford enough materials.

    He was also reluctant to rely solely on the Shen family for resources.

    Taking small amounts was fine, but larger, more valuable quantities wouldn¡¯t be tolerated by the Shen family.

    More importantly, if the Shen family discovered he was crafting artifacts to stage divine theatrics, wouldn¡¯t his secret be exposed?

    His drones, flashlights, and other props had to remain hidden.

    Once exposed, the mystery and grandeur of a ¡°god¡± would vanish, leaving him as nothing more than a clown pretending to be divine.

    ¡°Master, hurry up and craft artifacts so we can sell them and buy more buns!¡± Chen Kangbao¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.

    ¡°...Why do I feel like I¡¯ve become your employee?¡± Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    Still, remembering how Chen Kangbao had helped him fend off specters, he let it slide.

    ¡°Materials are too scarce. Sigh, I wonder¡ªif I melted myself down, could I forge a weapon?¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    The next day, Chen Xianwei resumed teaching Qi Yuan, just as he had the previous day.

    The lessons remained simple¡ªessentially a history class.

    After all, he felt it was unwise to teach advanced crafting techniques to someone slightly unhinged.

    First, Qi Yuan might not understand.

    Second, he might set himself on fire.

    As days passed, nearly two weeks had gone by.

    Chen Xianwei adjusted his collar in the mirror before leaving his courtyard.

    Just outside, he ran into his "rival," Wu Zhen.

    ¡°Old Chen, guess what? I recently took on a student who awakened his Heart Flame in just half a month. I just returned from the Artifact Hall after fetching him some materials for practice. Not for crafting yet¡ªjust to familiarize himself with melting materials.¡±

    Wu Zhen spoke with obvious pride.

    Awakening the Heart Flame in half a month was impressive for an artifact apprentice. Such talent often led to becoming a Xuan-grade artifact master.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Chen Xianwei replied nonchalantly.

    ¡°I also saw Qi Yuan at the Artifact Hall. I heard he¡¯s learning crafting from you.

    ¡°He must¡¯ve awakened his Heart Flame by now, right? I noticed he was taking out a lot of materials,¡± Wu Zhen said with a sly tone.

    Artifact apprentices couldn¡¯t craft right away. After awakening the Heart Flame, they mostly practiced melting materials.

    Wu Zhen doubted Qi Yuan had awakened his Heart Flame.

    He had seen Qi Yuan requesting materials from the Artifact Hall on his first day of learning. To him, this clearly pointed to Qi Yuan selling the materials for profit.

    Chen Xianwei¡¯s expression flickered but quickly regained composure. ¡°He¡¯s the Shen family¡¯s son-in-law. Taking a few materials is normal.¡±

    Even so, he was puzzled.

    Over the past ten days, he had only taught Qi Yuan about the history of artifact crafting.

    Qi Yuan had listened attentively without any complaints.

    Why was he suddenly taking materials?

    Was he planning to start crafting?

    Chen Xianwei decided he¡¯d better check on Qi Yuan. If Qi Yuan attempted crafting without guidance, it could go wrong¡ªhe might even burn himself.

    At the same time, Chen Xianwei felt a twinge of guilt.

    He shouldn¡¯t have focused so much on history lessons. It was time to officially start Qi Yuan¡¯s training.

    ¡°Old Chen, I envy you for taking the Shen family¡¯s son-in-law as your student. When you¡¯re riding high, don¡¯t forget about me,¡± Wu Zhen teased with mock jealousy.

    The two had no deep animosity¡ªjust a long-standing habit of poking fun at each other.

 Chapter 500: Artifact Master Prodigy, Clearance Sale

    Chapter 500: Artifact Master Prodigy, Clearance Sale

    Chen Xianwei forced a smile, his expression not matching his words. ¡°You¡¯re celebrating too soon. Who¡¯s to say I won¡¯t take on a disciple in the future who awakens their Heart Flame within ten days?¡±

    He had no hope for Qi Yuan. Expecting results from a madman was as futile as expecting a clever specter.

    ¡°Forget the future¡ªwhy not focus on teaching your current student first?

    If you can¡¯t teach your first student properly, how will you manage a second one?¡±

    Wu Zhen laughed as he spoke, then turned and left.

    Chen Xianwei watched Wu Zhen leave, his face darkening. He looked up at the sky, frowning.

    ¡°Why is there only one sun? It¡¯s so unpleasant to look at. If there were another one, it¡¯d be easier on the eyes,¡± he muttered before heading toward Qi Yuan¡¯s courtyard.

    The vast Shen Estate was more of a sprawling manor than a traditional residence.

    With the presence of extraordinary powers, labor in this world was significantly more advanced, making the architecture grander and more imposing.

    Passing through elegant courtyards, Chen Xianwei arrived at Qi Yuan¡¯s area.

    ¡°Young Master, today I¡¯m here to teach you how to forge artifacts.¡±

    Perhaps due to Wu Zhen¡¯s mocking earlier, Chen Xianwei decided to stop storytelling and officially begin teaching Qi Yuan artifact crafting.

    ¡°Master Chen, why not stick to storytelling? I¡¯m more interested in your tales,¡± Qi Yuan said bluntly.

    ¡°Sigh.¡± Chen Xianwei sighed heavily.

    As expected, a madman doesn¡¯t really want to craft artifacts¡ªhe just wants to hear stories.

    I¡¯ll have to humor him like a child.

    With this thought, Chen Xianwei felt his future was bleak. He couldn¡¯t imagine how long it would take to teach Qi Yuan.

    Thinking about Wu Zhen¡¯s sarcastic remarks and the promises made by the family head, Chen Xianwei couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°I heard you went to the Artifact Hall to fetch some materials?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, about that¡ªMaster Chen, I¡¯d like to ask for your advice.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Feel free to ask.¡±

    ¡°Do you know if there¡¯s a place in Fengshan County where I can sell artifacts? Like a marketplace or a stall?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He had crafted some artifacts, but they were unconventional and incompatible with Ning Kingdom¡¯s mainstream styles.

    Most shops that purchased artifacts accepted only standardized designs.

    Chen Xianwei was momentarily stunned. ¡°In the west of the city, there¡¯s a ghost market that opens at Xu Hour (7 pm to 9 pm) every evening.

    The ghost market is a chaotic mix of people from all walks of life.

    You¡¯ll find various artifacts for sale there, even some forbidden items.

    If you¡¯re looking to buy or sell artifacts, the ghost market is a good place to go.

    However, it¡¯s not very safe. If you decide to go, take a weapon master with you for protection.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Master Chen. Please continue the lesson,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Chen Xianwei nodded and resumed his lecture, though his tone remained lackluster.

    Qi Yuan, on the other hand, listened attentively and with great interest.

    About half an hour later, Chen Xianwei concluded the lesson.

    ¡°If you have any questions, feel free to ask. And remember, awakening the Heart Flame requires peak mental and physical condition.

    If I¡¯m not present, don¡¯t attempt it on your own¡ªyou might burn yourself,¡± Chen Xianwei warned.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master Chen. I¡¯m not foolish. Besides, I have decent talent for artifact crafting,¡± Qi Yuan said confidently, patting his chest.

    He almost blurted out the famous phrase: No one understands artifact crafting better than I do.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already awakened my Heart Flame,¡± Qi Yuan said nonchalantly. ¡°I¡¯ve even crafted a few artifacts and plan to sell them at the ghost market.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve awakened your Heart Flame?¡± Chen Xianwei¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wait... you¡¯ve crafted artifacts?¡±

    He was stunned, unable to process what he was hearing.

    Heart Flame awakened?

    Artifacts crafted?

    Each revelation was more shocking than the last.

    ¡°Master Chen, take a look at this,¡± Qi Yuan said, extending his hand.

    With a whoosh, a wisp of white flame ignited and burned brightly in midair.

    ¡°This... this is the Heart Flame!¡± Chen Xianwei exclaimed, his mind racing. ¡°When did you awaken it?¡±

    ¡°The first day you gave me the Basics of Artifact Crafting manual, I practiced with it that night and awakened my Heart Flame,¡± Qi Yuan replied truthfully.

    ¡°That night?¡± Chen Xianwei swallowed hard.

    A madman wouldn¡¯t lie.

    Which meant Qi Yuan had awakened his Heart Flame in a single day?

    And it was thanks to the Basics of Artifact Crafting manual.

    It was as if a child had learned basic multiplication tables and then gone on to ace advanced calculus¡ªa feat that defied logic.

    Moreover, Qi Yuan¡¯s Heart Flame was white, an unusual color.

    Typically, Heart Flames were orange or red.

    Only artifact masters with rare talents displayed unique flame colors.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s white Heart Flame exuded both intense heat and a chilling aura, a combination that was anything but ordinary.

    ¡°You... were born for artifact crafting!¡± Chen Xianwei couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.

    Awakening the Heart Flame so quickly was a sign of extraordinary talent¡ªa natural artifact master.

    With proper guidance, Qi Yuan could potentially become an earth-level artifact master, or even aspire to reach the heaven-level.

    ¡°Young man, your artifact is quite interesting. What grade is it? It even repeats itself,¡± a neighboring vendor, an old man, asked enviously while eyeing the audio device.

    If he had such a device, he wouldn¡¯t have to shout anymore.

    ¡°It¡¯s ungraded. Want to buy it? Just 99 taels of silver,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    ¡°Cough, cough...¡± The vendor laughed awkwardly.

    Ninety-nine taels of silver for an ungraded artifact? That was daylight robbery.

    In Ning Kingdom, one tael of silver could buy approximately one stone of rice (roughly 500 pounds- 226 kg).

    Ninety-nine taels could buy a graded artifact. Who would spend that much on a talking device?

    ¡°Young man, your artifacts aren¡¯t certified or standardized, and your prices are steep. It¡¯ll be hard to sell them,¡± the vendor remarked.

    Although Qi Yuan¡¯s audio device attracted attention, most people were put off by the price.

    Especially since Qi Yuan¡¯s artifacts weren¡¯t certified and looked unconventional.

    What if he was a scammer?

    Buying artifacts was no trivial matter. Spending so much silver required caution.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have modern marketing strategies. Didn¡¯t you see my device announcing a clearance sale? Someone¡¯s bound to buy!¡± Qi Yuan said confidently.

    Such marketing tactics were common on Earth.

    Stores often advertised ¡°last two days clearance sales,¡± only to display the same sign a month later.

    The vendor chuckled but didn¡¯t argue further.

    Elsewhere in the ghost market...

    Young Master Tu San, wearing a mask, walked alongside another nobleman with a sword at his waist. The nobleman¡¯s regal demeanor was unmistakable.

    ¡°Tu San, this ghost market in Fengshan County is quite impressive, though the artifacts for sale seem rather ordinary,¡± the nobleman remarked. ¡°I doubt you¡¯ll find anything useful here.¡±

    Weapon masters typically carried a primary weapon or a natal artifact.

    In addition, they often acquired other artifacts to bolster their strength.

    The nobleman had invited Young Master Tu San to join him in hunting specters¡ªa task akin to venturing into a dungeon.

    Tu San hoped to purchase artifacts for the mission.

    ¡°I¡¯m just trying my luck. Who knows? I might stumble upon a treasure,¡± Tu San replied with a smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that none of the top twenty artifact masters on the Earth List hail from Jining Prefecture,¡± the nobleman lamented.

    Tu San merely smiled, seemingly amused by the nobleman¡¯s lofty concerns.

    At that moment, a voice caught Tu San¡¯s attention.

    The nobleman also turned toward the source of the sound, his expression calm. ¡°I visited that stall about fifteen minutes ago. Quite intriguing. The prices are high, though the quality of the artifacts remains uncertain.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Tu San¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look.¡±

    ¡°Their artifacts aren¡¯t certified or standardized, and the prices are double the norm. Be cautious¡ªit might be a scam,¡± the nobleman warned.

    ¡°Understood.¡± Tu San headed toward the stall.

    By now, a crowd had gathered around Qi Yuan¡¯s stall.

    Voices of doubt and curiosity filled the air.

    ¡°An ungraded artifact for 100 taels? Do you take me for a fool?¡±

    ¡°This is probably a scam. I¡¯ve never seen artifacts like these before!¡±

    ¡°Why do these artifacts feel so useless?¡±

    Most of the crowd was skeptical or simply there for the spectacle.

    Tu San squeezed through the crowd, his gaze falling on the stall. Suddenly, his eyelid twitched, and his heart raced.

    His artifact, Thornblood, reacted.

    The artifact¡¯s response pointed directly to the handsome young vendor¡ªQi Yuan.

    Tu San¡¯s heart sank as he met Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Hey there, handsome. Want to buy an artifact?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    The casual address felt strange, causing Tu San¡¯s nerves to tighten.

    His artifact¡¯s reaction, coupled with the blood-red mist it emitted, indicated that this man had killed at least dozens of Thorned Blood specters.

    Could this man... be from the Red Cloud Bandits?

    The thought unsettled him. If this vendor served Thorned blood, he might report Tu San¡¯s presence to higher-ups.

    But Tu San wasn¡¯t a bandit¡ªhe was an undercover agent.

    This man is a powerhouse!

    If the vendor had truly slain eighty-seven Thorned blood specters, his prowess was akin to that of a divine force. That meant the artifacts he sold might be exceptional.

    Suppressing his fear, Tu San spoke with newfound respect.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to purchase an offensive artifact. Does the stall owner have any recommendations?¡±

    ¡°Offensive artifacts?¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    He didn¡¯t have many of those.

    ¡°How about this?¡± he said, handing Tu San an artifact resembling a flashlight.

    ¡°This is a light sword. Its design is inspired by... uh, I can¡¯t recall which show. Its greatest strengths are its cool and stylish appearance,¡± Qi Yuan explained.

    ¡°Such an ugly thing, and you call it stylish?¡± the nobleman scoffed, his disdain evident.

    Dressed flamboyantly, the nobleman was clearly a fan of theatrics and was unimpressed by the flashlight-like artifact.

 Chapter 501: Activate Special Ability for Just 10,000 Taels

    Chapter 501: Activate Special Ability for Just 10,000 Taels

    Tu San looked at the strangely designed artifact, finding it somewhat ugly.

    Still, recalling the rumors about this ruthless figure from the Red Cloud Bandits, he asked, ¡°How much is this?¡±

    The nobleman beside him remained silent, though his face was full of disdain as he looked over the pile of artifacts at Qi Yuan¡¯s stall.

    To him, they all seemed like trash¡ªhardly worth a second glance.

    ¡°This is a Yellow-grade artifact, painstakingly crafted by me.

    More importantly, it¡¯s one of a kind¡ªan item that existed only in imagination until now.

    You¡¯re in luck. It¡¯s yours for just 1,000 taels.¡±

    ¡°What? 1,000 taels?¡± Before Tu San could speak, a passerby exclaimed, ¡°Even a masterpiece Yellow-grade artifact rarely costs this much! You¡¯re daylight robbery!¡±

    ¡°Too much! Unless it¡¯s a top-tier Yellow-grade artifact, it¡¯s not worth this price!¡±

    Yellow-grade artifacts typically ranged between several hundred taels, with few exceeding 1,000 taels.

    The nobleman couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just rob someone?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°If you try to rob me, I might just take yours instead.¡±

    Qi Yuan had always been law-abiding and kind, following the principle of ¡°I won¡¯t harm you if you don¡¯t harm me.¡±

    Since the nobleman hadn¡¯t truly offended him, Qi Yuan refrained from taking action.

    ¡°You...¡± The nobleman started to speak but was hurriedly stopped by Tu San.

    Tu San knew Qi Yuan was a dangerous individual.

    If they truly angered Qi Yuan and ended up dead, who would they complain to?

    ¡°1,000 taels of silver... I¡¯ll buy it,¡± Tu San said through gritted teeth.

    The onlookers were shocked.

    ¡°He bought it?¡±

    ¡°Seriously? He actually bought it!¡±

    ¡°Wow, this guy must be loaded.¡±

    Other vendors, seeing this, started eyeing Tu San like a fat sheep.

    ¡°Young man, I have a Yellow-grade artifact here just as good as his, and it¡¯s only 800 taels. Interested?¡±

    ¡°Mine¡¯s just 500 taels!¡±

    Everyone saw Tu San as an easy target.

    Tu San ignored them and turned back to Qi Yuan. ¡°What unique features does this artifact have?¡±

    ¡°It certainly has them,¡± Qi Yuan said with a grin. ¡°See the button there? Press it gently, and a light sword will appear.

    This light sword gathers the energy of heaven and earth, making it incredibly sharp and durable. Its destructive power is astonishing.¡±

    Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t crafted an actual beam of light into a sword but had condensed heaven and earth¡¯s energy into one.

    Its primary strengths were sharpness and resilience.

    ¡°Hmph, that sounds so ordinary,¡± the nobleman commented scornfully.

    Others agreed, thinking Qi Yuan¡¯s explanation too plain.

    Most Yellow-grade artifacts carried engravings or enchantments that granted special effects, like burning or freezing properties.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s artifact lacked any such features but was still so expensive.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy it,¡± Tu San said without hesitation, handing over a banknote worth 1,000 taels.

    Qi Yuan took the note and said calmly, ¡°Actually, this artifact has another special ability. However, it requires 10,000 taels to activate.¡±

    ¡°10,000 taels?¡±

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    The crowd erupted in shock.

    ¡°With that kind of money, you could buy a basic Earth-grade artifact!¡±

    ¡°This is absurd!¡±

    ¡°No special ability could be worth 10,000 taels!¡±

    The onlookers couldn¡¯t believe what they were hearing. To them, Qi Yuan was blatantly extorting his customer.

    The nobleman was equally stunned. ¡°10,000 taels? Do you even understand what that means?¡±

    Even for him, such an amount would be a significant burden.

    Tu San hesitated, deeply conflicted. His head swam with doubt and fear.

    ¡°May I ask, Senior, what is this special ability?¡± Tu San finally asked, recalling the rumors of the Red Cloud Bandit¡¯s terrifying power.

    ¡°Once I tell you, there¡¯s no going back¡ªyou¡¯ll have to buy it. Are you sure you want to hear?¡± Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    This man was rich; Qi Yuan intended to milk him for all he could.

    One big sale could cover his expenses for a year.

    If he could get 10,000 taels, he could buy plenty of materials.

    Sensing the opportunity, Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t about to let it slip away.

    The nobleman grabbed Tu San¡¯s arm. ¡°Tu San, why let this man deceive you? That¡¯s 10,000 taels!¡±

    While they came from wealthy families, 10,000 taels would still leave them financially strained.

    Tu San hesitated, torn between believing in Qi Yuan¡¯s strength and fearing this was a scam.

    ¡°Fortune favors the bold. If you walk away, this special ability may never be activated in your lifetime,¡± Qi Yuan said with a calm yet tempting tone.

    Tu San¡¯s mind raced as he stared at Qi Yuan¡¯s face, recalling the Red Cloud Bandit incident.

    ¡°Young man, hand over your storage artifact and silver, and we¡¯ll let you leave alive,¡± their leader rasped.

    When Tu San paid 10,000 taels for an artifact, many eyes had turned to Qi Yuan.

    Such wealth was enough to tempt even a xuan-grade weapon master into action.

    Among the five were two xuan-grade weapon masters and three high-level Yellow-grade weapon masters.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite bold. Aren¡¯t you afraid I might be hiding my true strength?¡± Qi Yuan asked calmly.

    ¡°Hah! Young man, don¡¯t try to scare us.

    The ghost market¡¯s gate has detection artifacts. Do you think we don¡¯t know your strength?

    You¡¯re merely a Yellow-grade weapon master¡ªa fraud and a scammer.

    The silver you swindled belongs to us!¡± one of the xuan-grade masters said coldly.

    Everyone entering the ghost market passed through a gate equipped with a detection artifact.

    That artifact, an Earth-grade treasure, could measure one¡¯s power.

    The five had confirmed with market staff that Qi Yuan¡¯s power level was merely Yellow-grade¡ªnothing to fear.

    They assumed Qi Yuan had used trickery to scam Tu San and guessed the Tu family would eventually retaliate.

    Thus, they intended to strike first, claiming the 10,000 taels before anyone else could.

    ¡°Sigh. Why must people be so wicked? Why bully me? I¡¯m just a humble son-in-law,¡± Qi Yuan murmured.

    As he spoke, his disguise vanished, revealing an even more strikingly handsome face.

    ¡°Remember, the person you¡¯re bullying is the Shen family¡¯s son-in-law... Qi Yuan.¡±

    The five robed figures froze, clearly caught off guard.

    ¡°You¡¯re... the Shen family¡¯s son-in-law?¡± one xuan-grade master asked warily. ¡°Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband?¡±

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s name carried immense weight.

    Though she was also a xuan-grade weapon master, her status as a top genius on the Heavenly Pride List made her leagues above them.

    ¡°This is him? That complicates things,¡± another xuan-grade master muttered, now regretting his involvement.

    The Shen family¡¯s wrath was not something they could withstand.

    ¡°But isn¡¯t he supposed to be useless?¡± someone asked, puzzled.

    Everyone knew the Shen family¡¯s son-in-law was a weakling with no cultivation.

    Yet now, he was revealed to be a Yellow-grade weapon master?

    The leader¡¯s face shifted between emotions before he finally spoke. ¡°Young Master Qi, let¡¯s call this a misunderstanding. We¡¯ll leave and pretend this never happened.¡±

    The five had no desire to kill Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband. Not even the ghost market could protect them if they did.

    The others nodded, preparing to retreat.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve already revealed my identity. If you don¡¯t continue bullying me, won¡¯t I lose face?¡±

    ¡°Also, Wang Kanshan, Fang Tai, Lin Hu... Did you really think wearing those robes would hide your identities from me?¡± Qi Yuan called out their names directly.

    The five froze in shock.

    How did he know?

    How did Qi Yuan uncover our identities?

    If Qi Yuan returned to the Shen family and reported them, they were doomed.

    He can¡¯t be allowed to live!

    Killing intent flared in Wang Kanshan¡¯s eyes. He looked to the others, then growled, ¡°Kill him and flee Jining Prefecture!¡±

    No matter what, it seemed they had no other choice.

    The others exchanged grim looks, their eyes burning with malice, before charging at Qi Yuan. ¡°Die!¡±

    The five attacked simultaneously, wielding their artifacts with lethal precision.

    Though Qi Yuan¡¯s appearance and behavior were strange, his strength was clear. As a Yellow-grade weapon master, he was no match for them.

    ¡°Time to show off again,¡± Qi Yuan muttered.

    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m so used to relying on raw power that I forget... I¡¯m a technical genius.¡±

    With a swift movement, Qi Yuan dodged their coordinated assault.

    His movements were perfectly calculated¡ªno more, no less¡ªevading their attacks with ease.

    In a flash, his short sword sliced toward Wang Kanshan¡¯s neck.

    The strike was swift, precise, and effortless.

    In an instant, Wang Kanshan fell to the ground, clutching his neck. His body went limp.

    Even in death, he couldn¡¯t comprehend how that sword had reached him.

    The remaining four stared at Qi Yuan in horror, as though he were a demon.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s techniques were incomprehensibly flawless.

    Despite only possessing the strength and speed of a Yellow-grade weapon master, he completely dominated them.

    They couldn¡¯t even touch the hem of his robe.

    ¡°Keep bullying me! I¡¯m just a weak, helpless son-in-law,¡± Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    To the four, that smile was as terrifying as the devil¡¯s.

    Sword light flashed again.

    In less than twenty breaths, more bodies littered the forest floor.

    Sheathing his sword gracefully, Qi Yuan sneered. ¡°So poor, yet you wanted to rob people?¡±

    After searching their belongings, Qi Yuan found fewer than 300 taels¡ªa pitiful amount.

 Chapter 502: Fang Shisan Surrenders? Encountering Another Spirit Cultivation Zone!

    Chapter 502: Fang Shisan Surrenders? Encountering Another Spirit Cultivation Zone!

    The meager haul of 300 taels left Qi Yuan rather disappointed.

    Still, it wasn¡¯t entirely surprising.

    Bandits like these rarely carried much money on their person while out robbing.

    ¡°Young Master, should we... file a claim for damages?¡± Chen Kangbao suggested from the side. ¡°And maybe get a free meal out of it while we¡¯re at it.¡±

    Qi Yuan glanced at Chen Kangbao. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think you might actually be my Nascent Soul.¡±

    In the Mortal Heart Realm, Qi Yuan often organized communal meals for the villagers.

    But since leaving that place, he hadn¡¯t heard the phrase ¡°getting a free meal¡± in ages.

    ¡°I¡¯m not strong enough right now. Filing a claim might just get me killed,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    The fact that these five bandits knew his power level suggested they had some ties to the higher-ups in the ghost market.

    If he dealt with these low-level thugs, he might provoke their superiors, leading to an endless cycle of retaliation. At some point, he might even face the ghost market¡¯s controller¡ªlikely an Earth-grade weapon master¡ªand be hunted down.

    While Qi Yuan¡¯s combat skills were close to flawless, his physical capabilities were only equivalent to a Yellow-grade weapon master. His techniques allowed him to kill any Xuan-grade weapon master, but even techniques had their limits.

    An ant, no matter how skillful, could never defeat a fighter jet.

    The bodies of Earth-grade weapon masters were as impervious as steel. Qi Yuan¡¯s techniques wouldn¡¯t even scratch them.

    To defeat an Earth-grade weapon master, one would need comparable strength or a Heaven-grade weapon.

    More importantly, the whole situation seemed like too much trouble. Qi Yuan needed time to grow.

    ¡°These five only gave me enough experience to gain one level. What a waste.¡±

    The more Qi Yuan looked at the five corpses, the more irritated he felt.

    They weren¡¯t just broke¡ªthey also provided minimal experience.

    ¡°Old man, it¡¯s time for you to shine. Find me a place with plenty of specters to kill,¡± Qi Yuan instructed.

    He desperately needed experience points.

    Playing the role of a son-in-law or acting as a divine presence wouldn¡¯t give him any.

    Experience could only be earned by defeating major enemies.

    ¡°Right away, Young Master!¡± Chen Kangbao replied enthusiastically.

    As the morning sun rose lazily, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression carried a trace of melancholy.

    ¡°So poor... My storage artifact is nearly full.¡±

    ¡°And my money¡¯s almost gone.¡±

    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t anyone recognize my genius and buy my artifacts?¡±

    So far, he had only sold one light sword, and that was to Tu San.

    Apart from Tu San, no one else seemed willing to pay. This left Qi Yuan frustrated.

    Pretending to be divine required a huge amount of resources.

    Crafting drones, faux-angelic robots, and even a sky battleship¡ªall these things required money and materials.

    With his current finances, how could he accomplish such feats?

    ¡°Brother-in-law...¡± Shen Lingfeng approached, limping and looking weak.

    ¡°What happened? Got bullied by a woman?¡± Qi Yuan squinted at him.

    If Shen Lingfeng turned into a pathetic simp, Qi Yuan would be very disappointed.

    ¡°No... no!¡± Shen Lingfeng quickly denied it.

    He wasn¡¯t about to admit that he got strung up and beaten by his mother for asking about her bathing schedule on Qi Yuan¡¯s behalf.

    ¡°Sigh. Don¡¯t mention me when you talk about chasing girls anymore,¡± Qi Yuan said, easily discerning the truth.

    Shen Lingfeng had indeed been bullied by a woman.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, I¡¯ve got a problem. I need your advice,¡± Shen Lingfeng said hesitantly.

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°You know I¡¯ve been sending letters? Well, one of them reached the Zhao family. But instead of the young lady replying, it was the old matriarch. She wants to meet me. What should I do?¡± Shen Lingfeng looked distressed.

    The Zhao family matriarch was a famous widow in Fengshan County¡ªwealthy but long past her youthful beauty.

    ¡°What? Are you planning to take a shortcut in life?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°No! I want to turn her down, but... you know I¡¯m bad with words,¡± Shen Lingfeng admitted.

    ¡°Tell her: ¡®I like Miss Yang. Miss Yang wears Valentino, and you¡¯re wearing orthopedic shoes.¡¯¡± Qi Yuan replied flatly.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan briefly considered crafting a Valentino knockoff for Jinli to wear. But he quickly dismissed the idea, remembering he didn¡¯t have the rights to the brand.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Shen Lingfeng was confused, feeling his brother-in-law¡¯s words were profound and difficult to grasp.

    ¡°Just write what I said. And remember, as a man, you need to protect yourself out there¡ªdon¡¯t let anyone take advantage of you.¡±

    ¡°Also, brother-in-law, Lin Qinghe sent word earlier. They¡¯ve caught Fang Shisan from the Radiance Society. He asked when we¡¯d like to come see him.¡± Shen Lingfeng mentioned this with deep admiration for Qi Yuan.

    After all, Qi Yuan had deduced the murderer¡¯s identity from a single glance at a decayed corpse. Truly impressive.

    ¡°They found him?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    How convenient.

    Neither his left nor right eyelid twitched.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go see who this Fang Shisan really is!¡±

    Meanwhile, in the county prison...

    Lin Qinghe stood outside a cell, looking perplexed as he observed the burly man inside.

    ¡°So, this person really exists? How did Qi Yuan know about him?¡± Lin Qinghe muttered to himself, puzzled.

    The prisoner, Fang Shisan, sat calmly in his cell, showing no fear of death.

    Lin Qinghe hadn¡¯t apprehended Fang Shisan. The man had turned himself in.

    This entire situation was bizarre.

    Footsteps approached, snapping Lin Qinghe out of his thoughts. He quickly went to meet them. ¡°Young Master Shen, Young Master Qi, you¡¯re here. Fang Shisan from the Radiance Society is inside.¡±

    Lie.

    ¡°On July 21st?¡±

    This time, his nose didn¡¯t grow.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°July 21st was just before he returned home to pay respects to his ancestors.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t been guessing randomly¡ªonly testing dates tied to gaps in the original Qi Yuan¡¯s memories.

    ¡°So, on July 21st, the original Qi Yuan gave something to someone, angering Fang Shisan of the Radiance Society and provoking a vendetta?¡±

    ¡°But why didn¡¯t Fang Shisan act directly? Was he avoiding something?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, this is too complicated. Thinking is such a hassle.¡±

    ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just focus on getting stronger. Once I¡¯m strong, everything will come to light anyway.¡±

    Qi Yuan decided to set the matter aside for now.

    ¡°Major discovery, Young Master!¡± Chen Kangbao burst in, his face alight with excitement.

    ¡°I¡¯ve found a Spirit Cultivation Zone!¡±

    ¡°A Spirit Cultivation Zone? Like the one in Red Cloud Village?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Since arriving in Fengshan County, Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t spent his time idly swatting flies.

    For him, knowledge was the ultimate tool for production.

    Without sufficient information, how could he efficiently identify and exploit high-value white moonlights?

    Places like Red Cloud Village¡¯s Spirit Cultivation Zone were perfect for discovering such valuable targets.

    ¡°You¡¯re saying the Radiance Society has a Spirit Cultivation Zone here in Fengshan County?¡± Qi Yuan asked, surprised.

    Fengshan County wasn¡¯t like Ning County.

    With Earth-grade weapon masters present, how could a Spirit Cultivation Zone exist undisturbed?

    ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Kangbao exclaimed. ¡°Master, it took tremendous effort for me to dig up this information!¡±

    Chen Kangbao puffed up his chest, clearly expecting a reward¡ªa bun or two, perhaps.

    ¡°If even you could find out, how come no one else in Fengshan County has acted on it?¡±

    ¡°Oh, others know about it,¡± Chen Kangbao admitted. ¡°But they can¡¯t get in. The Spirit Cultivation Zone is surrounded by a grand formation. Even Earth-grade weapon masters can¡¯t breach it!¡±

    Chen Kangbao shared everything he had learned.

    ¡°In that case, it makes sense,¡± Qi Yuan said, stretching lazily.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s check out this Spirit Cultivation Zone. Hopefully, it doesn¡¯t disappoint and gives us plenty of white moonlights to work with.¡±

    He was eager to gain more experience.

    Today¡¯s encounter with Fang Shisan had given him a sense of unease.

    It was clear that the original Qi Yuan had always been under someone¡¯s watchful eye.

    Everything he did had likely been observed.

    Now, Qi Yuan needed to grow stronger to avoid falling into the same trap.

    He couldn¡¯t tolerate the thought of someone spying on him¡ªeven while he bathed¡ªwithout him noticing.

    For all he knew, someone could be watching him at this very moment.

    ¡°Today, I¡¯m setting a grand goal!¡±

    ¡°To grow stronger so that no one can secretly watch me bathe!¡±

    In the Tu family estate, soft candlelight illuminated the room.

    Tu San held the light sword, his eyes filled with admiration. ¡°It¡¯s truly remarkable. Absolutely worth 1,000 taels.¡±

    Every time he used the light sword, he felt as though it enhanced his charisma.

    Still, the thought of spending 10,000 taels to unlock its so-called special ability made his heart ache.

    Frankly, he wasn¡¯t sure if the claim was true.

    And he didn¡¯t dare waste one of the sword¡¯s three charges on a mere test.

    After all, each activation would effectively cost 3,000 taels.

    As Tu San marveled at the sword, his expression suddenly changed, his gaze growing serious.

    About fifteen minutes later, dressed in a black cloak, Tu San appeared in a shadowy alley.

    The alley was pitch black, devoid of any signs of life.

    Suddenly, a crow flew into view, landing in front of him.

    Upon seeing the crow, Tu San¡¯s eyes filled with reverence.

    ¡°Greetings, Elder,¡± he said solemnly.

    This crow was the manifestation of a Radiance Society elder¡ªa mysterious Earth-grade weapon master.

    Tu San hadn¡¯t expected this elder to summon him.

    ¡°In a few days, I will be leaving Ning Country.

    There are some resources I need you to gather for me.

    In exchange, I will grant you contribution points,¡± the crow rasped.

    It then began listing a series of rare materials.

    Tu San¡¯s expression shifted repeatedly. ¡°Elder, these items are far too precious. I¡¯m not sure I can afford them.¡±

    ¡°Hmph!¡± The crow¡¯s cold snort echoed through the alley. ¡°Do you truly believe... your cover is perfect, Tu San?¡±

    Tu San¡¯s face changed drastically.

    How does he know? Have I been exposed?

    ¡°These items must be delivered in two days,¡± the crow commanded, brooking no argument.

    With that, it spread its wings and vanished into the shadows, leaving no room for Tu San to protest.

 Chapter 503: Beauty, Will You Be My Mount?

    Chapter 503: Beauty, Will You Be My Mount?

    Outside Fengshan County, the scenery was mesmerizing, with continuous mountains and rivers intertwining.

    ¡°This river is called Weishui. During the rainy season, it spans 60 zhang in width, and its source flows from Mount Ye Lake.¡±

    The riverbanks were flanked by steep cliffs, with narrow paths winding along them. Below, the Weishui River surged onward.

    Thickets of brambles and wild mugwort grew waist-high.

    Looking down at the Weishui, boats occasionally came into view.

    ¡°If I were a poet, I¡¯d probably be inspired to compose a verse upon seeing such a sight.

    But alas, I¡¯m merely a kitchen knife; all I want is to slice up some fish.¡±

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but muse as he took in the view.

    Of course, he neither yearned for home nor wallowed in literary aspirations, so poetry didn¡¯t come naturally to him.

    ¡°Fish buns would taste amazing!¡± Chen Kangbao chimed in.

    His mind constantly revolved around food.

    As he gazed at the Weishui, excitement flashed in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Mount Ye Lake is home to a Water Lord whose true form is a giant fish. I bet it would taste incredible.¡±

    ¡°Someday, I¡¯ll catch it and hire a chef to make fish buns for you,¡± Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.

    At that moment, a crisp voice, tinged with a playful tone, rang out:

    ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve. The Water Lord of Mount Ye Lake has already reached the peak of Earth grade, ruling the waters of Mount Ye¡¯s domain. In its lake, it¡¯s invincible. Even a legendary Heaven-grade Weapon Master might fail to kill it.¡±

    Two elegant figures appeared¡ªone tall and one petite.

    Both wore veils over their faces, obscuring their features.

    The speaker was petite, her figure slender, with a flat chest that emphasized her youthful charm.

    The taller woman wore a black dress embroidered with golden threads, her figure curvaceous and statuesque. Her slim waist and alluring posture made her presence captivating.

    Even though her face was hidden, her exquisite figure made her appearance seem irrelevant.

    ¡°Hmph, my young master is a god incarnate. How dare a mere Water Lord act so presumptuously?¡± Chen Kangbao retorted.

    The petite woman¡¯s laughter tinkled like silver bells. ¡°The Water Lord is currently stationed at Mount Ye Lake. If your young master is so capable, why isn¡¯t he heading there now to kill it?¡±

    ¡°My young master has his plans and doesn¡¯t need your advice.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, sounds like you¡¯re all talk and no action! Too scared to follow through!¡± The petite woman sneered disdainfully.

    ¡°Junior sister, enough,¡± the taller woman said, her voice icy.

    Her cold tone seemed to chill the very air, sending shivers through even Chen Kangbao.

    Her voice wasn¡¯t just cold¡ªit was piercing, cutting straight to the bone.

    On Earth, Qi Yuan had heard many captivating voices, from sultry tones to commanding ones.

    But he¡¯d never encountered a voice so cold it seemed to manifest physically.

    ¡°Senior sister...¡± The petite woman pouted but dared not argue, clearly intimidated.

    The taller woman turned to Qi Yuan. ¡°If you¡¯re truly ambitious enough to slay the Water Lord, you might consider participating in the upcoming Artifact Master Conference.¡±

    Her tone remained detached and icy, as if she were speaking from atop a snowy peak.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see if I have time,¡± Qi Yuan said with a yawn.

    Lately, he¡¯d been so busy that his sleep had suffered.

    The petite woman looked at Qi Yuan with disdain, convinced he was just boasting.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take our leave,¡± the icy woman said, her voice as cold as a glacial spring.

    She began to walk away with the petite woman.

    ¡°Wait, my lady!¡± Qi Yuan called out.

    The petite woman blushed. ¡°Scoundrel, how dare you address me like that?¡±

    ¡°You misunderstand. I wasn¡¯t calling you¡ªI was addressing your companion.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± The petite woman puffed her cheeks in indignation, her veiled face full of charm.

    ¡°What is it?¡± the icy woman asked politely, her tone distant.

    ¡°I¡¯m in need of a mount. You seem quite suitable. Would you consider becoming mine?¡± Qi Yuan asked earnestly, his gaze fixed on her.

    The air froze for a moment.

    Chen Kangbao shivered from the sudden chill.

    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t anyone appreciate my talents and buy my artifacts?¡±

    So far, he had sold only one light blade, and even that was to a clueless noble.

    Being a god in disguise required significant resources¡ªhe had plans to create drones, pseudo-angels, and even starships.

    But with his current funds, these ideas were mere pipe dreams.

    "Master, the world is full of ignorant fools who fail to recognize good products," Chen Kangbao said with conviction.

    "You¡¯re not ignorant; why don¡¯t you buy something?" Qi Yuan shot back, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°Cough, Young Master, you¡¯re making it difficult for this humble servant. I may be wise beyond measure, but alas, I¡¯m penniless!¡± Chen Kangbao replied, his expression sheepish.

    "If you''re so wise, why are you broke?"

    "...I¡¯m just unlucky!" Chen Kangbao replied weakly.

    At that moment, a sharp, mocking voice rang out:

    ¡°Senior Sister, look! It¡¯s those two lunatics!¡±

    The sweet yet biting tone carried a faint fragrance, tinged with a cold chill reminiscent of snow.

    The same petite and tall veiled women Qi Yuan had encountered near Weishui approached his stall.

    The petite woman¡¯s curiosity was piqued as she examined the strange artifacts on display, clicking her tongue in disdain.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re an artifact master? But your skills... leave much to be desired. What kind of junk is this?¡±

    Whenever Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao left the Shen household, they altered their appearances with the Thousand Transformations Mask.

    This was crucial for maintaining Qi Yuan''s role as a humble son-in-law. Publicly showcasing his abilities could tarnish the image he was building for his "ordinary" persona.

    The petite woman didn¡¯t recognize him but found the peculiar artifacts intriguing.

    Her gaze landed on a speaker playing recorded advertisements in a sweet voice.

    ¡°This is interesting¡ªit can talk!¡± she exclaimed.

    "Are you here to buy something?" Qi Yuan asked with a bright smile. "Although I¡¯ve only been open for three days, business has been booming¡ªan average of three thousand silver a day!"

    Qi Yuan''s statistical skills were exceptional. He knew how to frame numbers effectively.

    ¡°What? Three thousand silver a day?¡± The petite woman was stunned. ¡°Are you trying to scam us?¡±

    Three thousand silver could buy a xuan-grade artifact, not this heap of unremarkable trinkets with no certification.

    The entire stall¡¯s inventory likely didn¡¯t even add up to one thousand silver.

    ¡°He¡¯s not lying,¡± chimed in the neighboring vendor, a sly smile on his face.

    Ever since Qi Yuan had made an easy 10,000 silver on his first day, the vendor treated him with newfound respect.

    After all, anyone who could leave the Ghost Market unscathed after such a transaction was clearly not to be trifled with.

    Hearing the vendor''s confirmation, the petite woman believed it.

    She glared at Qi Yuan. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable! I can¡¯t imagine what kind of idiots would spend so much on this junk.¡±

    Her eyes returned to the speaker.

    ¡°How much for this?¡±

    ¡°Ninety-nine silver!¡± Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit pricey...¡± the petite woman hesitated but still paid up. ¡°But I have money, so I¡¯ll buy it!¡±

    She handed over the silver and took the speaker.

    She was genuinely curious about its mechanism and believed it might have potential if mass-produced.

    Qi Yuan graciously accepted the payment with a smile.

    Meanwhile, the taller woman remained silent, her icy gaze sweeping across the artifacts with a hint of curiosity.

    Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached.

    ¡°Senior, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re here!¡±

    The voice belonged to none other than Young Master Tu, who arrived looking flustered and exhilarated.

    Spotting a familiar face, Qi Yuan¡¯s expression softened into a smile.

    ¡°Ah, looking to buy the other two light blades? You¡¯re in luck¡ªtoday I¡¯m feeling generous. Only 21,998 silver for both!¡±

    The petite woman froze, wide-eyed.

    An idiot had actually arrived?

 Chapter 504: The Heavenly Workshopâ€™s Invitation and Peril

    Chapter 504: The Heavenly Workshop¡¯s Invitation and Peril

    Young Master Tu San glanced at the two women beside him¡ªone tall and serene like jade, the other petite and lively¡ªhis gaze flashing with a trace of astonishment.

    ¡°Senior, I... cough cough... I¡¯m a bit short on funds lately,¡± he said awkwardly.

    His visit to the black market was primarily to purchase materials on behalf of a Bloodthorn Elder.

    That elder¡¯s outrageous demands had left Tu San financially drained.

    Still, he eventually steeled himself to proceed with the transaction.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve lost my chance at fortune.¡±

    Qi Yuan sighed, disappointment evident in his tone.

    Nearby, the petite woman glanced at Tu San, her expression smug.

    ¡°From the sound of it, you spent ten thousand taels on this... lightsaber?¡±

    She pointed disdainfully at the lightsaber, her eyes filled with contempt.

    Her expression made it clear¡ªthree parts of her thought Tu San was an idiot, and seven parts thought he was a conspirator.

    Tu San hesitated for a moment before turning to glance at the taller, icy woman standing nearby.

    Ultimately, he chose not to argue.

    Instead, he turned back to Qi Yuan and asked cautiously,

    ¡°Senior, does this weapon truly have the abilities you claim?¡±

    When dealing with the Bloodthorn Elder, Tu San needed a reliable means of self-defense.

    ¡°It¡¯s absolutely genuine. With this lightsaber in hand, you can swagger through the Ning Kingdom with confidence,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    ¡°And by the way,¡± he continued, ¡°there are still two more available. They¡¯re incredibly cheap, but if you don¡¯t grab them soon, there might not be any stock left in a few days.¡±

    ¡°Hah! Without your lightsaber, this auntie can also swagger through the Ning Kingdom!¡±

    A mischievous voice interrupted from the side as the petite woman broke into a radiant grin.

    She turned and began walking sideways like a crab to emphasize her words.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze sharpened slightly.

    This game still has truly bold players! he thought.

    The phrase ¡°swagger through the Ning Kingdom¡± was intentionally ambiguous, carrying a double meaning: one literal and the other alluding to the invulnerability granted by the lightsaber¡¯s divine summoning ability.

    Yet this petite woman mocked the phrase so openly.

    Tu San laughed awkwardly.

    ¡°Well, your assurance certainly gives me peace of mind.¡±

    But in truth, he only half-believed Qi Yuan.

    After all, if Qi Yuan¡¯s capabilities were as extraordinary as he claimed, wouldn¡¯t he keep the lightsaber for himself and directly rob people instead of selling it?

    Tu San, ever cautious, assessed others through a lens of suspicion.

    ¡°Ah, it seems today will end without a single decent sale,¡± Qi Yuan lamented with a sigh.

    ¡°Hey! What about my ninety-nine taels? Doesn¡¯t that count as a sale?¡± the petite woman interjected indignantly.

    ¡°A small sale doesn¡¯t count,¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    ¡°You...!¡±

    The petite woman was momentarily rendered speechless. Finally, she pointed to several small, ungraded items on Qi Yuan¡¯s stall and declared forcefully,

    ¡°These... wrap them all up. I¡¯m buying them!¡±

    Her tone was imperious. Though wary of the high-priced lightsaber, she opted to buy the ungraded items instead¡ªanything to avoid being ripped off by an overpriced artifact.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s face lit up as he quickly wrapped up her selected items.

    ¡°That¡¯ll be five hundred and seventy-two taels in total,¡± he announced.

    He quoted a precise amount to convey professionalism.

    The petite woman frowned slightly.

    Ordinarily, she wouldn¡¯t have spent so much on ungraded artifacts.

    But in comparison to the ten-thousand-tael lightsaber, this price seemed tolerable.

    Moreover, the quirky designs of these artifacts intrigued her.

    ¡°Now does this count as a proper sale?¡± she asked after completing her purchase.

    ¡°A medium sale doesn¡¯t count as a proper one,¡± Qi Yuan replied matter-of-factly.

    ¡°Greedy scoundrel!¡± she spat, muttering under her breath.

    Then, after a moment of thought, she spoke again,

    ¡°You¡¯ve got talent. Want to join Heavenly Workshop and work for me?¡±

    Her words revealed her true intentions.

    Her grandfather was a high-ranking member of Heavenly Workshop, and her invitation was sincere.

    The surrounding stall owners and passersby were stunned into silence.

    ¡°What?! Did she just mention the Heavenly Workshop?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that on par with the Artifact Association?¡±

    In the Blue Mountain Realm, most artifact masters were affiliated with the Artifact Association, a massive organization responsible for certifying and regulating all magical artifacts.

    The association wielded immense political and economic influence.

    But there existed a peer institution¡ªthe Heavenly Workshop¡ªan exclusive alternative to the Artifact Association.

    Unlike the association, which accepted nearly all artifact masters, the Heavenly Workshop prided itself on only recruiting prodigies.

    While its membership was far smaller, its influence was no less significant.

    Many artifact masters dreamed of joining its ranks, though only Earth-grade artifact masters could apply directly.

    ¡°Does the Heavenly Workshop pay ten thousand taels per month?

    Do they provide free materials?¡± Qi Yuan asked casually, his tone nonchalant.

    ¡°...You¡¯re insane!¡±

    The petite woman was furious.

    Recalling her elder sister¡¯s earlier remark¡ª"This one¡¯s mad¡±¡ªshe realized it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration.

    Ten thousand taels per month? Even Heaven-grade artifact masters wouldn¡¯t make such demands!

    ¡°In that case, your offer¡¯s too low. I¡¯m not interested.¡±

    Qi Yuan waved dismissively.

    His refusal left onlookers utterly bewildered.

    ¡°Elder Black Crow, Tu San has brought the resources as promised!¡±

    His voice carried with authority, echoing into the foggy expanse.

    Moments later, the sound of wings flapping could be heard, followed by a hoarse voice.

    ¡°Smart move. I¡¯ve credited the contribution points to your token.¡±

    As the voice fell silent, the goods on the ground suddenly levitated and flew toward the mist.

    But just as they were about to vanish, an unexpected explosion erupted from the pile.

    Boom!

    A deafening blast shook the surroundings, sending mud and debris flying everywhere and leaving a massive crater in its wake.

    In midair, Elder Black Crow, with feathers torn and several broken, was visibly injured.

    His body bore wounds so deep that his pale bones were faintly visible.

    Hovering unsteadily, his eyes burned with fury.

    ¡°You little brat! So you came here with ill intentions! You¡¯ll pay with your life!¡±

    He swooped down with murderous intent, heading straight for Tu San.

    ¡°Elder Black Crow, this is Jining Province! It¡¯s not a place where you can act recklessly!¡±

    Tu San¡¯s Fourth Uncle shed his disguise, his body growing larger as a radiant golden light enveloped him.

    In his hand appeared a massive blade that gleamed with a cold edge.

    With a mighty swing, he struck downward with unparalleled force.

    The blade cleaved through trees and rocks in its path, the sheer might of the attack colliding with Black Crow¡¯s spiritual body and producing a metallic clang.

    ¡°Throw it!¡±

    At that moment, Elder Zhan Lei shouted, swinging two enormous iron balls chained together.

    The balls were massive, comparable in size to stone platforms used for drying grain, and their momentum was terrifying.

    The air howled as they flew, their sheer weight and speed capable of crushing anything in their path.

    Bang!

    The strike shattered one of Black Crow¡¯s wings completely, rendering him heavily injured in a single exchange.

    ¡°See, Little San? With me around, there¡¯s nothing to worry about!¡±

    Fourth Uncle patted his chest confidently, sure of their victory.

    However, Tu San felt a twinge of unease.

    Though they had grievously injured Black Crow, the elder¡¯s strength meant he could likely retreat into Kunling Crossing unscathed.

    Even so, the mission¡¯s primary objectives¡ªdelivering resources without loss and ensuring Tu San¡¯s safety¡ªwere already achieved.

    But just then, a cold and sinister voice echoed across the area, sending chills down their spines.

    ¡°Black Crow, you¡¯re utterly useless. You can¡¯t even handle something this simple.¡±

    Zhan Lei¡¯s heart sank as she instinctively looked skyward.

    In the air, a long, slender shadow appeared.

    It was... a snake.

    A snake with wings!

    ¡°Elder Winged Serpent, I beg you! Please help me kill these people!¡± Black Crow pleaded, panic evident in his voice.

    The serpent¡¯s cold, piercing gaze fell upon the trio. Instantly, a paralyzing fear gripped them.

    ¡°You¡¯re the Winged Serpent from the Mo Shan Kingdom! Why are you here in Jining Province?¡±

    Zhan Lei¡¯s scalp went numb.

    Their plan had only accounted for dealing with Black Crow, a peripheral elder of the Bloodthorn organization.

    Killing him wouldn¡¯t have caused significant repercussions.

    But this was entirely different.

    The Winged Serpent Elder was a full-fledged elder of Bloodthorn, based in the distant Mo Shan Kingdom over three thousand miles away.

    His presence here meant something far more sinister was at play.

    She and Fourth Uncle had thought Black Crow¡¯s schemes were limited to extorting Tu San.

    But the involvement of the Winged Serpent suggested a much deeper conspiracy.

    The Winged Serpent Elder was an Earth-grade peak weapon master with a fearsome reputation.

    Over a decade ago, during a war between the Ning Kingdom and the Mo Shan Kingdom, he had personally slain a high-tier Earth-grade weapon master from Ning¡ªa prince, no less!

    His infamy was well-earned.

    The Winged Serpent¡¯s cold eyes swept over them before settling on Black Crow.

    ¡°Did you get the item? The Division Envoy is growing impatient,¡± he asked.

    ¡°I have it!¡± Black Crow responded hastily.

    Zhan Lei¡¯s heart trembled.

    In her eyes, the Winged Serpent was already a terrifyingly high-ranking figure.

    But now, it seemed he was merely following orders from an even more powerful superior¡ªthe Division Envoy.

    The envoy had sent him to Jining Province specifically to retrieve an item from Black Crow.

    The implications were staggering.

    The three Tu family members suddenly realized they had unwittingly stumbled into a colossal conspiracy, one far beyond their initial assumptions.

    A small wooden box floated into the air and landed on the Winged Serpent¡¯s back before vanishing into his storage artifact.

    After confirming its authenticity, the serpent seemed satisfied.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the man?¡± the Winged Serpent asked.

    ¡°He¡¯s still alive. Even with the Division Envoy concealing his presence, I dared not overstep my bounds. I merely took what was needed,¡± Black Crow replied, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes.

    The Winged Serpent nodded slightly.

    ¡°The item is all that matters. As for the man... he¡¯s important, but not that important.¡±

    Turning his attention to the three Tu family members, he sneered.

    ¡°Since I¡¯ve come all this way to Ning Kingdom, it¡¯d be rude to leave without sampling some... appetizers.¡±

    He flicked out his forked tongue, its stench filling the air with a nauseating odor.

    Tu San¡¯s face went pale.

    Zhan Lei and Fourth Uncle, who had been confident moments earlier, now looked visibly shaken.

    This was an Earth-grade peak weapon master, a terrifying foe who could not be easily defeated even by the strongest of Ning Kingdom¡¯s Heavenly Sect leaders.

 Chapter 505: Holding the Light, As My Divine Descent!

    Chapter 505: Holding the Light, As My Divine Descent!

    The enormous figure of the Winged Serpent hovered in the sky, shrouded in clouds and mist.

    Its foul-smelling, blood-red forked tongue flicked in and out, exuding a soul-chilling aura.

    Zhan Lei and Fourth Uncle Tu were absolutely terrified.

    ¡°Damn it, am I really going to die here today?¡± Fourth Uncle Tu spat out a mouthful of old phlegm.

    The strength of an Earth-grade peak weapon master was overwhelming. Even if he and Zhan Lei joined forces, they were no match.

    Earlier, the way Zhan Lei and he had tormented Black Crow, the Winged Serpent would now torment the two of them in the same way.

    ¡°Winged Serpent! Before I die, I just want to know why you came here!¡± Fourth Uncle Tu shouted loudly.

    He was very curious about the Winged Serpent''s arrival.

    A powerhouse of its level infiltrating the Ning Kingdom carried immense risk. There was even the possibility of being besieged by Earth-grade weapon masters.

    What Black Crow had handed to the Winged Serpent also aroused Fourth Uncle Tu''s curiosity. He felt there was a conspiracy involved, possibly targeting the Ning Kingdom.

    He was deeply concerned.

    ¡°Are you trying to stall for time?¡± The Winged Serpent had no patience for nonsense. ¡°In the Central Rakshasa Kingdom, there¡¯s an old saying: villains die because they talk too much.¡±

    The Winged Serpent Elder was fully aware that its actions would be labeled villainous by the self-righteous.

    As its words fell, it dove sharply. The sound of wind breaking filled the air, and the fierce gale stung the eyes.

    Zhan Lei swung her massive iron ball fiercely toward the sky.

    Unfortunately, she was nearly two small realms below the Winged Serpent in strength.

    Clang!

    The iron ball rang out as it was violently repelled, almost dragging Zhan Lei backward along with it.

    The outcome of the exchange was decided in an instant.

    They were entirely on different levels!

    The Winged Serpent Elder, in terms of the Ning Kingdom¡¯s rankings, could easily be ranked among the top thirty in the Earth Rankings, deserving the title of Earth-rank Grandmaster.

    Blood trickled from Zhan Lei¡¯s mouth, her face pale.

    Seeing this, Fourth Uncle Tu grew anxious, but he was utterly powerless.

    ¡°Tu brat! If you hadn¡¯t schemed against me, only you would be dying today. But now... you¡¯ve dragged two more down with you,¡± Black Crow said sinisterly.

    Young Master Tu San was panicking, his heart filled with fear.

    An Earth-grade peak weapon master was terrifying. His family had only one such expert, and that person had been in long-term seclusion, completely unaware of the current situation.

    ¡°I...¡± Tu San gritted his teeth, feeling as if the road ahead was shrouded in darkness.

    At this moment, only the Shen Family''s master could save him.

    But just like their own ancestor, the Shen Family''s master had also been in deep seclusion for years. How could they possibly appear now?

    Suddenly, an idea struck him.

    Desperate, he decided to go all in.

    A light sword appeared in his hand.

    Its radiance converged, crystal-clear and gleaming with a frosty glow.

    ¡°What an amusing little toy,¡± Black Crow remarked with a glance, his tone filled with disdain. ¡°Who would have thought a mere Xuan-grade weapon master would dare to wield a sword in defiance?¡±

    Young Master Tu San was in a panic, recalling Qi Yuan¡¯s words.

    ¡°Senior, please, don¡¯t let this be a lie!¡±

    ¡°I want to walk freely in the Ning Kingdom!¡±

    ¡°A thousand taels can¡¯t go to waste!¡±

    He muttered these phrases over and over.

    But the truth was, a thousand taels couldn¡¯t even hire an Earth-grade peak weapon master for a single strike.

    Even so, gritting his teeth, he shouted:

    ¡°Summon! The Divine!¡±

    The special ability, activated with a thousand taels, had to work!

    This scene made the Winged Serpent glance over.

    ¡°An ant... using its trump card?¡± It mocked coldly.

    Black Crow chuckled incessantly.

    Only Fourth Uncle Tu looked on with admiration. ¡°Not bad, kid! That¡¯s the spirit of the Tu Family! Stand tall and fight! Show them that the men of the Tu Family have spines of steel!¡±

    Fourth Uncle Tu¡¯s words fired Tu San up so much that he nearly charged forward with his sword, only to be swatted aside and killed by a flick of the serpent¡¯s tail.

    Young Master Tu San stared at the light sword with trembling anticipation.

    But alas, the sword remained silent, showing no signs of special phenomena.

    Could it be that he had been deceived?

    Still, the thought of spending a thousand taels to summon a divine incarnation three times¡ªhow could anyone be foolish enough to believe such a thing?

    Despair overwhelmed him.

    But then, suddenly, the skies parted, and a brilliant streak of light descended.

    In front of Tu San, a radiant figure appeared, glowing brilliantly.

    The light exuded an aura of majesty, divinity, and sanctity.

    The figure wasn¡¯t large¡ªonly human-sized¡ªbut its presence was extraordinary.

    Its form, composed entirely of light, was indistinct, but the sacred aura it emitted was unmistakable.

    The Winged Serpent Elder, Black Crow, and everyone present couldn¡¯t help but focus their attention on the radiant figure.

    ¡°What... is this?¡± The Winged Serpent grew wary.

    ¡°This light... descended from the heavens...¡± Black Crow hesitated.

    ¡°Could it be that even a legendary Heavenly-grade weapon master could do no better than this?¡± Zhan Lei murmured, her arms folded across her chest, emphasizing her imposing presence as she stared in awe at the scene.

    ¡°One strike to slay two Earth-grade weapon masters, along with hundreds of specters. It¡¯s simply... too powerful!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Fourth Uncle Tu turned to Tu San, bewildered.

    ¡°This... this weapon, I bought it at the Ghost Market for a thousand taels of silver,¡± Tu San said, swallowing nervously. He didn¡¯t hide the truth. ¡°The seller said that for ten thousand taels, it could activate a special ability called Divine Summoning, which could summon a divine incarnation. It can be used three times. This time... I decided to give it a try, and it actually worked!¡±

    ¡°Ten thousand taels?¡± Fourth Uncle Tu stared at Tu San in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re the only fool who¡¯d believe that! If it were me, I would¡¯ve chopped that seller in half for trying to scam me!¡±

    Despite his words, Fourth Uncle Tu¡¯s eyes gleamed with wonder.

    ¡°Ten thousand taels, and you can summon such a terrifying being... That¡¯s an absolute bargain.¡± Fourth Uncle Tu¡¯s tone was filled with admiration. ¡°That seller¡ªare they still at the Ghost Market? Do they have more artifacts like this?¡±

    ¡°There were two more light swords, but at the time... I didn¡¯t have the money to buy them...¡± Tu San said awkwardly.

    ¡°Idiot!¡± Fourth Uncle Tu cursed, though his eyes betrayed his excitement.

    Such a powerful artifact was priceless. Forget ten thousand taels¡ªeven a hundred thousand or a million would be worth it.

    ¡°Ah... It seems like this light sword is damaged now... It¡¯s unusable for the time being,¡± Tu San said, his voice trembling slightly with uncertainty.

    ¡°Summoning a being of such terrifying strength must require immense energy. The sword likely needs time to recharge before it can be used again,¡± Zhan Lei speculated.

    Hearing this, Tu San heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°I wonder how long it will need to recover.¡±

    ¡°Even if it takes a hundred years to recharge, it would still be worth it. You¡¯ll be dead by then, but this can serve as your clan¡¯s ultimate treasure,¡± Fourth Uncle Tu said thoughtfully. ¡°That seller... just who could they be?¡±

    He turned his gaze toward Kunling Crossing.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame. Even though this strike killed the Winged Serpent and Black Crow, we still can¡¯t enter Kunling Crossing. Whatever Black Crow handed to the Winged Serpent remains a mystery.¡±

    ¡°We need to head back and report this incident immediately. And we must also... go to the Ghost Market!¡± Fourth Uncle Tu was growing impatient, eager to leave.

    He wished he could rush to the Ghost Market right now and buy the remaining two light swords.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    Without hesitation, the three figures disappeared into the distance.

    Elsewhere, Qi Yuan looked pale as a sheet.

    ¡°I¡¯ve grown stronger, but also weaker,¡± he murmured.

    His face was ghastly pale, and his breath was shallow, as though a strong wind could knock him over.

    Moments ago, Tu San had activated the Divine Summoning. Through it, Qi Yuan had unleashed the move known as As My Divine Descent.

    The divine incarnation descended and executed an awe-inspiring strike.

    However, that single attack had taken a tremendous toll on Qi Yuan. His energy was utterly drained, leaving him physically and spiritually exhausted.

    The strike had not only slain two Earth-grade weapon masters but also obliterated hundreds of specters, rewarding Qi Yuan with a massive influx of experience points.

    His level jumped a staggering forty levels in one go, bringing him to level 96.

    In the realm of weapon mastery, this was equivalent to stepping into the Earth-grade beginner stage.

    Remarkably, he had skipped the Xuan-grade entirely, advancing straight from the Huang-grade to Earth-grade¡ªa shocking feat.

    But the price was steep.

    He had drained his vitality and energy reserves completely. For the foreseeable future, he wouldn¡¯t be able to exhibit the full strength of an Earth-grade weapon master.

    ¡°It seems that hard work pales in comparison to talent,¡± Qi Yuan muttered.

    He reflected on the countless efforts he had made to painstakingly climb to level 90. The dedication and sacrifices seemed almost laughable in the face of the divine incarnation¡¯s power.

    One move had eclipsed all his progress.

    And the artifact Divine Descent, created by Shengnu, was indeed a divine weapon.

    From the moment of its creation, it had been an unparalleled masterpiece.

    ¡°Holding the light, darkness shall retreat.

    Should injustice arise, summon my divine descent.¡±

    ¡°Was this Shengnu¡¯s intention when she created Divine Descent?¡± Qi Yuan pondered.

    To fully utilize Divine Descent, one needed to understand its background and lore.

    The words spoken during the divine incarnation¡¯s summoning were not of Qi Yuan¡¯s own making. They seemed to come from the weapon¡¯s very essence.

    To Qi Yuan, this declaration embodied Divine Descent¡¯s purpose.

    ¡°Sigh. How does cultivation compare to role-playing? If I could push my Role Mastery higher, I could summon myself and slash a Heavenly-grade weapon master in one strike!¡±

    ¡°Role-playing only requires you to play the part, while cultivation is so much more tedious¡ªhunting specters, battling constantly...¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m an adult. I want it all!¡±

    ¡°Old man, carry me to Kunling Crossing. I need to loot the corpses!¡±

    Qi Yuan turned to the elderly Chen Kangbao beside him.

    In his current state, even walking was a challenge.

    ¡°Young master... This old servant¡¯s body...¡± Chen Kangbao hesitated, looking distressed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve blessed you!¡± Qi Yuan lied without hesitation.

    Upon hearing this, Chen Kangbao¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Young master, I feel a surge of strength!¡±

    With renewed vigor, he hoisted Qi Yuan onto his back and charged toward Kunling Crossing with surprising speed.

    His legs moved like the wind, making him look far from the frail man he appeared to be.

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t believe my first mount in this game world is an old man like you. What a shame.¡±

    He sounded disappointed.

    For some reason, he couldn¡¯t shake the urge to ride that frosty woman from earlier.

    The thought felt innate, almost instinctual.

    ¡°Could it be... that I¡¯m a pervert?¡±

    Qi Yuan reflected on this possibility.

    He admitted he had a fondness for beauty, but calling himself a pervert? Never. He was still young, after all!

 Chapter 506: Divine Wood, Xuan Hun

    Chapter 506: Divine Wood, Xuan Hun

    Riding on Chen Kangbao¡¯s back, the two headed toward Kunling Crossing.

    The mountain path was rugged, climbing upward, with ferns growing along the rocky edges.

    However, the area around Kunling Crossing was too remote and dangerous for any farmers to come here to gather wild vegetables.

    Soon enough, Chen Kangbao, under the "blessing" state, moved swiftly and carried Qi Yuan to Kunling Crossing.

    Kunling Crossing was eerily silent, with only the chirping of insects breaking the stillness.

    ¡°Young Master, it seems like a great battle took place here earlier. Was it the commotion from before?¡± Chen Kangbao looked ahead at the desolate Kunling Crossing with fear in his eyes.

    The entire Kunling Crossing looked as if it had been split apart by a giant¡¯s sword.

    The swamp, mud, and shrubs were all heavily damaged, and a foul stench lingered in the air.

    ¡°Put on my gas mask, along with our equipment, and carry me inside!¡± Qi Yuan ordered.

    At the moment, he was still too weak.

    He couldn¡¯t even take on an average adult, let alone traverse a perilous place like Kunling Crossing¡ªit would be courting death.

    ¡°Understood.¡± Chen Kangbao put on the gas mask.

    Qi Yuan also put on his own. He glanced at Chen Kangbao and couldn¡¯t help but smirk.

    ¡°Why do I feel like we¡¯re off to some shady private party?¡±

    ¡°Or maybe a secret rave in the mountains?¡±

    He recalled how certain groups on Earth would often gather in secluded mountains for secret parties, though he wasn¡¯t sure if they wore masks for such events.

    ¡°What is a rave, Young Master?¡± Chen Kangbao asked, puzzled.

    ¡°If it¡¯s something you shouldn¡¯t ask about, don¡¯t ask. Let¡¯s head into Kunling Crossing and take a look.¡±

    Before arriving, Qi Yuan had prepared a variety of tools and magical artifacts¡ªall of which he had crafted himself.

    Fully equipped, Chen Kangbao carried Qi Yuan into Kunling Crossing, trudging through the hazardous terrain.

    Before long, the two stopped in front of a "puddle."

    Yes, a puddle¡ªa stain, to be exact.

    This stain was left behind by the Black Crow Elder. Its body had been melted by that light sword¡¯s strike, leaving almost nothing behind.

    A perfectly fine person had been reduced to nothing, with barely any trace left in the world.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan felt a pang of sorrow as he gazed at the scene. ¡°What a tragic death! I can¡¯t even properly take care of your inheritance, sob sob!¡±

    With no inheritance left behind, Qi Yuan felt deeply grieved.

    He had always prided himself on being charitable.

    When someone passed away, he was more than willing to step in as a "caretaker" for their belongings, ensuring they weren¡¯t neglected.

    But alas, tragedy struck. The enemy was too ruthless, leaving not a single coin behind.

    ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t be too sad. Look, there¡¯s something good over there!¡± Chen Kangbao pointed toward the spot where the Winged Serpent had died.

    The Winged Serpent, being significantly more powerful, had left behind a few items of value.

    ¡°What good stuff? Do you think I¡¯m that kind of person? I¡¯m just worried that their belongings won¡¯t be properly looked after!¡± Qi Yuan retorted.

    Some people, after killing someone, would covet the deceased¡¯s surviving spouse.

    Qi Yuan was different¡ªhe cared only about the surviving belongings.

    ¡°Hurry and take me over there to have a look. In this heat, we can¡¯t let these things overheat.¡±

    ¡°Right away!¡±

    Chen Kangbao carried Qi Yuan and sprinted toward the Winged Serpent¡¯s remains.

    Compared to the Black Crow, the Winged Serpent had left behind more items.

    A pristine bone.

    A fragment of an Earth-grade magical artifact.

    A damaged storage artifact.

    A wooden box.

    The bone was the reverse scale bone under the Winged Serpent¡¯s scales, the hardest part of its body. When struck by the giant light sword, its entire body melted, leaving only this fist-sized piece of bone.

    The fragment of the Earth-grade magical artifact was now useless. Qi Yuan picked it up, seeing it as nothing more than crafting material.

    He was particularly eager about the storage artifact.

    ¡°Hopefully, it has something good inside.¡±

    When he opened it, Qi Yuan¡¯s face fell with disappointment.

    ¡°Empty? Nothing at all?¡±

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    ¡°A storage artifact this large, and there¡¯s nothing in it?¡±

    The storage artifact was massive, comparable to several large trucks combined.

    Yet it was completely empty. Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t fathom why the Winged Serpent would carry an empty storage bag.

    ¡°Sigh, I suppose it¡¯s not a total loss. This storage artifact alone is worth as much as an Earth-grade magical artifact¡ªseveral tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of taels.¡±

    ¡°You down there, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take good care of your belongings.¡±

    Qi Yuan picked up the storage artifact and turned his gaze to the wooden box.

    The box¡¯s material was unknown, and it was only the size of a palm.

    Despite enduring that devastating strike, the box remained completely intact, which piqued Qi Yuan¡¯s curiosity.

    ¡°This must be a treasure. I¡¯ve struck gold.¡±

    [A mysterious box, entrusted to you by Guan Zhu, was ultimately stolen by Black Crow.]

    ¡°Wait... this is my box?¡±

    Qi Yuan blinked in surprise, his mind racing.

    He recalled many things at once.

    The conspiracy involving the Radiant Society¡¯s Fang Shisan targeting Qi Yuan, the live-in son-in-law, stemmed from Qi Yuan giving something to someone else.

    Qi Yuan blinked, momentarily stunned.

    It felt as if he¡¯d been talking behind someone¡¯s back, only to realize the person was in the group chat the whole time.

    Still, Qi Yuan had thick skin. "How about we work together and enter the Divine Wood Abyss as a team?" he suggested without hesitation.

    This suggestion left Ji Wuyun speechless.

    Even the Bloodthorn operative seemed momentarily taken aback.

    "Don¡¯t! The Bloodthorn is far too powerful. They might even have god-tier weapon masters among their ranks. If we join forces and enter the Divine Wood Abyss, the moment they betray us, we¡¯ll all be dead!" Ji Wuyun hurriedly tried to dissuade Qi Yuan, clearly anxious.

    "Brother Kitchen Knife, you¡¯re quite something. This partnership... I¡¯m interested," the Bloodthorn operative finally replied.

    "Majority rules. Shall we work together?" Qi Yuan sent the invitation again.

    Ji Wuyun went silent, clearly reluctant to say more. It was evident he was beginning to suspect Qi Yuan might also be from the Bloodthorn, baiting him into a trap.

    "Brother Kitchen Knife, if he¡¯s unwilling, we can work together for now. When the Divine Wood Abyss opens, other Divine Wood Token holders may show up. Then we¡¯ll all have a chance to enter together," the Bloodthorn operative proposed. "The next time the Divine Wood Abyss is said to open is less than two years from now."

    "Alright, I¡¯d like to go, but I¡¯m broke. Can you lend me some silver for travel expenses?" Qi Yuan asked, making no attempt to hide his desire for freebies.

    The Bloodthorn operative seemed briefly stunned before replying, "Where are you currently?"

    "You should already know that," Qi Yuan chuckled.

    The Winged Serpent Elder¡¯s death here wouldn¡¯t remain a secret for long. The Bloodthorn would likely receive news of it soon.

    "Alright, Brother Kitchen Knife, hold tight. I¡¯ll check our Bloodthorn member records.

    Once I¡¯ve located the right people, I¡¯ll provide you with a passcode. When you meet them, share the code, and they¡¯ll give you all their silver," the Bloodthorn operative said calmly.

    It was clear he cared little about the fate of those members¡ªor perhaps, he valued the Divine Wood Token far more than their lives.

    "Great! I¡¯ve got my travel funds sorted," Qi Yuan exclaimed happily. "One last question: do you have a lot of old folks in the Bloodthorn who don¡¯t bathe often?"

    "Brother Kitchen Knife, why are you asking this?"

    "I¡¯m short on high-quality ¡®White Moonlight,¡¯ sigh." Qi Yuan sighed theatrically.

    "Brother Kitchen Knife, you jest."

    With that, the conversation ended. The group chat fell silent again, with no one responding further to Qi Yuan¡¯s remarks.

    Qi Yuan was unimpressed.

    "Not responding makes you a cowardly little puppy!"

    In his time navigating the strange terrain of Heaven and Earth Mystical hidden realm, Qi Yuan had honed his taunting skills through countless verbal duels with an elder from the Holy Light Clan. He now possessed an almost supernatural ability to break people¡¯s composure with insults.

    "Don¡¯t stay silent. I know an old man who¡¯s got some serious bladder issues. He might just water the plants!"

    Qi Yuan finished his comment and turned to glance at Chen Kangbao.

    Just then, a loud wail broke through the air.

    "Wuuu... Master!"

    Chen Kangbao was crouched down, biting into the bone left behind by the Winged Serpent.

    Crunch!

    It wasn¡¯t the sound of the bone breaking but rather the sound of teeth shattering.

    Qi Yuan turned his gaze, only to see Chen Kangbao¡¯s lips sealed shut, now blackened and bruised, resembling mulberries.

    "Young Master... I¡¯ve been poisoned!" Chen Kangbao¡¯s mouth could no longer open. His voice was squeezed out of his throat, sounding like the croak of a frog. His face was filled with panic and fear.

    "Why do you eat everything in sight? Are you the reincarnation of some mythical eater of forbidden fruits?" Qi Yuan sighed, exasperated. "Don¡¯t worry. This poison won¡¯t kill you. It¡¯ll just leave your mouth paralyzed for about seven or eight days, rendering you unable to open it or speak."

    "Noooo!" Chen Kangbao cried out in misery.

    How was he supposed to eat during that time?

    This old man¡¯s belly was already growling in hunger!

    "Hurry up and carry me out of here. If the Bloodthorn shows up, we won¡¯t stand a chance at escaping!" Qi Yuan cut short any further complaints.

    The most important thing now was to get to safety.

    Currently, his strength had yet to recover. Returning to the Shen family residence to lay low was the wisest course of action. Once his power returned, he could afford to roam freely again.

    ...

    The next day.

    Qi Yuan sat before a pile of forging materials, his expression complicated.

    "My body¡¯s so weak now, even forging doesn¡¯t feel the same as it used to. Old man, come over here and help me hammer these materials," Qi Yuan called to Chen Kangbao.

    "Right away, Young Master. Just let me finish my meal!"

    At that moment, Chen Kangbao sat at a table with a few bowls of porridge and some large meat buns.

    Two straws were inserted into his nostrils, which he used to inhale with great force.

    The cold porridge and meat bun filling flowed through the straws into his nostrils, down his esophagus, and into his stomach.

    That¡¯s right¡ªsince his mouth was paralyzed and couldn¡¯t open, he had resorted to eating through his nose.

    (This is purely fictional. Do not try this at home!)

    But the efficiency of eating through his nose was laughably low, and Chen Kangbao was a gluttonous old man. Most of his day was now consumed with eating.

    "Want me to drill two more holes in your face?" Qi Yuan said dryly, unable to hide his exasperation.

    Just then, the group chat lit up with a new message.

    "Brother Kitchen Knife, in Ning Country, our Bloodthorn organization doesn¡¯t have many members¡ªjust three hundred seventy-two in total.

    Here¡¯s a list of their personal information and the passcode. Find them, say the code, and they¡¯ll hand over all their silver to you," the Bloodthorn member informed him.

    "Thanks," Qi Yuan replied with a grin.

    At that moment, the previously silent Ji Wuyun reappeared, sending several question marks.

    "???"

    "Aren¡¯t you worried he¡¯ll kill your Bloodthorn members and rob them of their silver?" Ji Wuyun asked incredulously.

    "Death is merely another form of release. Their corpses will, in time¡ªwhether decades or centuries¡ªbecome specters," the Bloodthorn member replied indifferently.

    Ji Wuyun read this and concluded both these men were lunatics. Their logic was unfathomable.

    "Thanks for the info. I¡¯ll take a look at who¡¯s closest to me and go borrow some silver," Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.

 Chapter 507: Debt Collection Sect, Suddenly Wealthy!

    Chapter 507: Debt Collection Sect, Suddenly Wealthy!

    Qi Yuan carefully reviewed the information in front of him.

    ¡°Liu Ping, Princess of Changyang County, currently residing at the Floating Cloud Pavilion in Ning Country¡¯s capital...¡±

    ¡°Wang Xiaochuan, richest man in Jiangzhou, Ning Country, residing in Anle Garden...¡±

    ...

    ¡°Tu Jingshi, third young master of the Tu family in Fengshan County, Jining Prefecture, Ning Country...¡±

    Qi Yuan paused, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the guy who bought my light sword?¡±

    He had seen Third Young Master Tu twice and had noticed many hidden details about him, including his name.

    ¡°Looks like he really is a rich young master.¡±

    ¡°But I can¡¯t overlook Jiangzhou¡¯s richest man either. That¡¯s a lot of money!¡±

    ¡°Too far away though!¡±

    Qi Yuan sighed, feeling that the silver notes always seemed just out of his reach.

    ¡°Sigh, I still haven¡¯t fully recovered; I can¡¯t go wandering around recklessly.¡±

    ¡°Young Master, this old servant can go out in your stead!¡± Chen Kangbao offered at just the right moment.

    ¡°You make a good point,¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    If he couldn¡¯t go out, he could send someone else on his behalf.

    ¡°Looks like I need to forge some reserve hidden energy sources!¡±

    Qi Yuan contemplated, then began forging once more.

    After about a day, Qi Yuan felt everything was ready.

    Looking at the 107 drones in front of him, each equipped with its own hidden energy source, he smiled in satisfaction.

    ¡°It¡¯s done! They¡¯ll collect the debts for me!¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s heart sank as he watched.

    Am I about to lose my job?

    Am I about to be replaced by these metal contraptions?

    He rushed forward nervously, saying, ¡°Young Master, they don¡¯t know the way.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve thought of that. Originally, I wanted to forge a satellite to send into orbit.¡±

    ¡°But this place... isn¡¯t exactly a planet. Also, no money. Too much trouble.¡±

    Back on Earth, Qi Yuan¡¯s knowledge of technology was average. However, during his time in Gongxing, Zero-One had transmitted a vast database of information to him.

    The database included an ocean of information, covering various technological constructs¡ªeven airships and celestial surveillance systems.

    Thus, creating drones with incredible endurance wasn¡¯t difficult for Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the hidden energy sources aren¡¯t just for endurance; I¡¯ve also added AI chips. They can ask for directions themselves.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right¡ªthey¡¯re the latest model of intelligent robotic drones!¡± Qi Yuan introduced earnestly.

    The AI chips were modeled after Zero-One¡¯s original designs. While cruder than the old version of Zero-One¡¯s chips, they were more than sufficient for tasks like navigating and debt collection.

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s sense of crisis deepened. ¡°Young Master, but aren¡¯t these drones? How come they¡¯re robots now?¡±

    ¡°...,¡± Qi Yuan shot him a sidelong glance. ¡°They need names.¡±

    After pondering, Qi Yuan had an idea.

    ¡°From now on, you¡¯re all part of the Debt Collection Sect. You¡¯re Crow Brother, go find Wang Xiaochuan; you¡¯re Black Cat, find Huang Kan; and you¡¯re Chicken...¡±

    After assigning unique titles to each drone, he used the Thousand Transformations Illusion technique to make them appear as all sorts of odd shapes.

    Seeing this, Chen Kangbao¡¯s anxiety grew.

    His competition was getting out of hand.

    What if the Young Master no longer needed him?

    But then a thought reassured him, At least I have a brilliant mind and can be the Young Master¡¯s strategist. Living off my intellect, I shouldn¡¯t get replaced, right?

    That thought brought a slight sense of relief.

    ¡°You don¡¯t rely on your intellect¡ªyou rely on your nose to eat,¡± Qi Yuan commented casually, his words striking Chen Kangbao like a bolt of lightning.

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s eyes widened.

    He can hear my inner thoughts?

    The Young Master truly is divine!

    So handsome!

    ...

    In the black market, Fourth Uncle Tu and Zhan Lei had been lying low for days. Both of them wore disappointed expressions.

    ¡°So many days and no sign of those two mysterious individuals. It seems... they were merely passing through.¡±

    ¡°Experts like that are rare encounters. Who could be as lucky as Tu Jingshi?¡±

    ¡°His luck is incredible. To spend ten thousand taels and obtain such a treasure¡ªit¡¯s truly enviable.¡±

    While the two discussed Young Master Tu¡¯s fortune, Tu Jingshi himself had a different perspective.

    At this moment, he was trembling uncontrollably, staring at a terrifying figure before him.

    It resembled a green snake, its serpentine eyes faintly displaying human emotions.

    Young Master Tu clutched the light sword hidden in his sleeve, his heart in disarray.

    I¡¯m doomed! The light sword is still cooling down!

    This must be someone from the Bloodthorn, here to avenge Black Crow and Winged Serpent Elders, coming to take my life!

    I should never have gone out tonight to hear songs at the brothel!

    ¡°Spirit of the divine, tainted by blood, I am the Green Snake of the Debt Collection Sect,¡± the green snake declared, its voice slightly mechanical.

    The words startled Young Master Tu, then filled him with confusion.

    Aren¡¯t they here to kill me? Why would they start with a secret passphrase?

    ¡°Tu San greets the emissary!¡± Regardless of the situation, he immediately knelt in submission.

    ¡°I need banknotes. All your banknotes¡ªthe more, the better,¡± the green snake stated.

    Even the Shen family was sending their forgers with the best prospects to the event.

    In the past, Qi Yuan might not have been interested in Lake Yeshan.

    However, with the conference approaching, it would attract many talented forgers.

    Additionally, the largest black market near Lake Yeshan would open, along with numerous trade fairs and auctions for artifact masters.

    With over two million taels in hand, how could Qi Yuan resist buying forging materials?

    He even considered whether to forge an army of armored warriors.

    After all, wouldn¡¯t a god need divine guards?

    But to craft such equipment, the materials available at Fengshan County¡¯s black market weren¡¯t sufficient.

    ¡°Sigh, Brother-in-law, if you leave, what am I supposed to do? Those ten or so girls... I can¡¯t handle them,¡± Shen Lingfeng admitted his true concerns.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, teach me one more move for relationships!¡± Shen Lingfeng pleaded eagerly.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression darkened.

    ¡°Apologize!¡±

    ¡°Huh? Brother-in-law, what did I do wrong?¡±

    ¡°Apologize!¡±

    ¡°But I...¡±

    ¡°I told you to apologize!¡± Qi Yuan emphasized.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Brother-in-law. Now can you tell me what I did wrong?¡±

    ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve just learned the greatest trick in relationships: apologize in all sorts of inexplicable situations,¡± Qi Yuan remarked. ¡°You¡¯re ready to graduate. Just remember: boys must protect their virtue. Don¡¯t give your body to bad women.¡±

    ¡°Ah...¡± Shen Lingfeng looked puzzled. ¡°Brother-in-law, your words are profound. But I don¡¯t understand. Why would a woman want a man¡¯s body? Are they going to eat it?¡±

    Qi Yuan gave him a meaningful look and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely wrong.¡±

    ¡°When does your mother take baths?¡± Qi Yuan asked again.

    ¡°This...¡± Shen Lingfeng¡¯s face turned awkward, as if recalling a traumatic memory.

    The last time he¡¯d been hung from the rafters left a deep scar.

    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you a trick. Tell your parents you want a younger sister. They¡¯ll definitely...¡± Qi Yuan chuckled, his plan unfolding.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Shen Lingfeng looked baffled.

    ¡°Just do as I say!¡± Qi Yuan instructed firmly.

    When dealing with someone like Shen Lingfeng, there was no need to explain¡ªjust tell him what to do.

    Taking his leave, Shen Lingfeng hurried away.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan¡¯s progress in his role as a son-in-law had stalled at 56%.

    He surmised that breaking through required achieving one of two things: obtaining the Heart of Forging, like last time, or fulfilling his long-standing goals¡ªsuch as pouring bathwater for his mother-in-law or riding Shen Lingxuan.

    Unfortunately, Shen Lingxuan had refused his previous invitation.

    ¡°Should I... secretly ride her?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m a gentleman. I won¡¯t stoop to such depravity!¡±

    ¡°Mother-in-law, just take a bath already!¡±

    As night fell, Shen Lingfeng knocked on Qi Yuan¡¯s door.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, I told my mother I wanted a younger sister!¡± Shen Lingfeng exclaimed, breathless.

    ¡°And what was her reaction?¡±

    ¡°She... looked a bit flustered, and then...¡± Shen Lingfeng recalled, ¡°she glanced at my father, and he gave a strange smile.¡±

    ¡°It worked!¡± Qi Yuan slapped his thigh in excitement.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Shen Lingfeng was confused.

    ¡°Look at the night sky... let¡¯s go heat some water in the kitchen!¡±

    Qi Yuan wasted no time.

    Finally, he could pour bathwater for his mother-in-law.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, why are you heating water for my mother? Does this have some deep meaning?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for meaning in everything we do. Should I expect you to write an essay about your thoughts every time you fart?¡± Qi Yuan retorted dismissively.

    Half an hour later...

    Shen Lingfeng carried a large wooden tub filled with steaming hot water, sprinkled with flower petals.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s find your mother.¡±

    The two headed for the main courtyard.

    Outside the yard, servants and maids rushed forward.

    ¡°Young Master, Son-in-law, what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Ah, you can¡¯t go in!¡±

    ¡°Why are you stopping us? I¡¯m just bringing water for my mother to bathe!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t block the way¡ªwhat if the water spills and hurts the Young Master?¡± Qi Yuan egged them on.

    Sure enough, the servants dared not stand in their way, letting Qi Yuan and Shen Lingfeng enter the courtyard.

    But Qi Yuan, ever tactful, stopped at the entrance.

    ¡°Leave the tub here, right here!¡± Qi Yuan instructed.

    He couldn¡¯t ruin their moment, could he?

    The courtyard was vast, and this spot was far enough away that his mother-in-law probably hadn¡¯t noticed anything yet.

    Shen Lingfeng obediently set the tub down, sweat dripping down his face. He looked nervous. ¡°Will my mother blame me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re such a thoughtful son. She¡¯ll cherish you. Why would she blame you?¡± Qi Yuan assured him casually.

 Chapter 508: Yin-Yang White Flame, A Terrifying Artifact Talent

    The moon sank as the crows cried; Shen Lingfeng was left hanging from a tree.

    Lady Shen had changed into plain clothes, her light makeup still on her face.

    Her eyes glared with fury, brimming with anger.

    ¡°You carried the bathwater?¡±

    She held a whip in her hand, nearly ready to lash out.

    After a harmonious evening with her husband, she had been preparing for a peaceful bath.

    But then...

    Of course, she still bathed, but afterward, she came looking for trouble with Shen Lingfeng.

    ¡°Mother, I was wrong!¡± Shen Lingfeng hung from the tree, utterly clueless about what he had done wrong. Remembering the trick his brother-in-law had taught him, he quickly apologized.

    ¡°Hmph, you know you¡¯re wrong?¡± Lady Shen¡¯s tone was sharp. ¡°Then tell me, what exactly did you do wrong?¡±

    This question left Shen Lingfeng utterly dumbfounded.

    ¡°Hmph, I can tolerate Qi Yuan¡¯s nonsense¡ªhe¡¯s been in an asylum before. But do you want to end up in one too?¡±

    The mention of the bathwater reignited her fury.

    She was now convinced that Shen Lingfeng¡¯s earlier comment about wanting a younger sister was entirely deliberate.

    ¡°Pouring bathwater is one thing, but what¡¯s the meaning of adding ginger, garlic, and scallions?¡±

    Lady Shen brandished her whip, the crack splitting the air like thunder.

    Shen Lingfeng let out a terrified scream, wailing like a banshee.

    The household staff and maids cowered far away, not daring to get involved.

    <hr>

    ¡°Today is a lucky day.¡±

    ¡°My son-in-law roleplay progress has reached 70%.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s more than I expected. Could it be... not only did my mother-in-law bathe, but my father-in-law as well?¡±

    Qi Yuan speculated silently.

    Based on his calculations, helping his mother-in-law with her bathwater should have raised his roleplay progress to around 60%. The extra 10% was a pleasant surprise.

    Clearly, the bathwater he prepared hadn¡¯t just been used by his mother-in-law...

    ¡°With this roleplay progress, I¡¯ve received... the Yin-Yang White Flame.¡±

    At 30% progress, Qi Yuan had gained the Heart of Forging, increasing his artifact success rate by 5%.

    Now, he had acquired the Yin-Yang White Flame.

    The Yin-Yang White Flame was a formidable internal flame.

    An artifact master¡¯s skill depended not only on their craftsmanship but also on their internal flame.

    Many materials in the world were exceptionally tough, resistant to breaking or melting.

    Some artifact masters with weaker internal flames couldn¡¯t even process certain rare and precious materials.

    The Yin-Yang White Flame, however, was unique. It was a potent and domineering flame, capable of melting even divine-tier materials.

    ¡°It seems that Qi Yuan as a son-in-law actually has exceptional artifact talent, though it was never awakened.¡±

    Qi Yuan evaluated his newfound ability.

    ¡°Yin-Yang White Flame!¡±

    With a thought, a chilling white flame appeared around Qi Yuan.

    This flame emitted both an icy cold and searing heat, two completely opposing forces coexisting in harmony.

    Curious, Qi Yuan retrieved a piece of special material he had purchased.

    The material, called Fenghuang Gold, was a heavenly-tier substance.

    Adding even a small amount of Fenghuang Gold into his subpar artifacts could elevate them to the Yellow Grade.

    For already Yellow Grade artifacts, it could enhance them by a minor tier.

    Previously, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t melt such materials.

    But now, as the Yin-Yang White Flame surged forth, the Fenghuang Gold began to soften and gradually liquefy.

    ¡°As expected of the Yin-Yang White Flame. With this, I can aspire to craft Earth Grade artifacts.¡±

    Up to now, the strongest artifacts Qi Yuan had crafted were Xuan Grade.

    With the Yin-Yang White Flame, he could now attempt Earth Grade artifacts.

    In Jining Prefecture, an Earth Grade artifact master was considered a regional powerhouse.

    <hr>

    The next day, Shen Lingfeng didn¡¯t show up. Instead, Chen Xianwei arrived.

    ¡°In half a month, I¡¯ll be heading to Lake Yeshan with the Shen family to attend the Artifact Conference,¡± Chen Xianwei said with a worried expression. ¡°I wonder if this time, there will be a young talent capable of repairing the Weilong Xuanyuan.¡±

    The Artifact Conference aimed to gather young talents from the three prefectures of Jiangzhou. The primary purpose was to discuss repairing the Weilong Xuanyuan.

    ¡°In the past, events of this caliber wouldn¡¯t have allowed someone like you, a novice, to participate.

    But now, with the threat of the Lake Yeshan Water Sovereign looming, every artifact master¡¯s ideas and ingenuity are needed,¡± Chen Xianwei continued.

    ¡°Forging isn¡¯t my strength, but ingenuity is,¡± Qi Yuan replied casually. ¡°If I can repair the Weilong Xuanyuan, what would the reward be?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking too far ahead.¡± Chen Xianwei chuckled. ¡°The reward is likely a million taels.¡±

    ¡°Only a million taels? That¡¯s so little,¡± Qi Yuan remarked.

    <hr>

    It felt like someone had posted a carefully curated photo of their supposed ¡°average¡± life on social media, only for the comments to unanimously agree that, yes, it was truly average.

    Wu Zhen couldn¡¯t make sense of it.

    "How could Chen not appreciate this? Unless..."

    His gaze shifted to the direction Chen Xianwei had come from¡ªQi Yuan¡¯s courtyard.

    "Could it be that... Qi Yuan¡¯s talent surpasses even my own apprentice?"

    As this unsettling thought took root, Wu Zhen called out sarcastically, "Hey, Chen, your hair¡¯s all disheveled. At least fix it!"

    Chen Xianwei nearly tripped but quickly pulled out a small mirror from his pocket to tidy his hair.

    Watching this, Wu Zhen felt a small sense of victory.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, back in his workshop, Qi Yuan evaluated his progress.

    "My strength hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet, but at least Heavenly Cleave Sword Technique and Death¡¯s Radiance are operational again," he noted.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled.

    "Why haven¡¯t I unlocked any new skills? Does it require reaching the Heaven-tier?"

    After ascending to Level 90, his previous abilities had returned. Yet apart from acquiring Thousand Illusion, he hadn¡¯t gained any new major abilities.

    "Advisor, think with me. The journey to Lake Yeshan might be dangerous. How can I avoid trouble?"

    Qi Yuan looked to his loyal follower, Chen Kangbao, for advice.

    "In the past, I wouldn¡¯t have cared.

    But now, as a son-in-law, I come with a built-in ¡®taunt face.¡¯ Everyone wants to hit me, and my current strength isn¡¯t fully restored. If someone bullies me, I might not be able to fight back."

    This concern lingered in his mind.

    "Master, you could bless me, and I¡¯ll protect you!" Chen Kangbao suggested with confidence.

    Qi Yuan shook his head.

    While Chen Kangbao, when blessed, could handle minor opponents, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against formidable adversaries.

    "Anything else?"

    "Perhaps... Master could disguise himself as a steamed bun?" Chen Kangbao suggested eagerly, drooling slightly. "If I carried you around, surely no one would harm a bun!"

    He wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. No one would harm a steamed bun.

    But Chen Kangbao might eat it instead!

    Qi Yuan glared at him.

    "Actually, you¡¯ve given me an idea. As a son-in-law, I attract trouble. But if I¡¯m not acting as the son-in-law, then no one will care. When we get to Lake Yeshan... we¡¯ll leave the Shen family¡¯s encampment."

    "Transform into a bun?"

    "Transform into a blade," Qi Yuan corrected with exasperation.

    "A blade?" Chen Kangbao looked disappointed.

    "When the time comes, find me a good cook."

    "To make buns?"

    "...Leave!"

    Completely speechless, Qi Yuan dismissed him.

    The old man seemed fixated on buns.

    Still, Qi Yuan began planning.

    His son-in-law roleplay progress had stalled again, and his Blade persona¡¯s familiarity was still low. This trip would be the perfect opportunity to improve it.

    "But first, I¡¯ll need some reinforcements. What if that cook tries to use me to chop snakes, abalone, or steel bars? I can¡¯t allow that."

    Qi Yuan decided he needed to forge a protective casing¡ªan armor-like sheath for himself.

    It had to meet two conditions:

    The exterior must be incredibly durable. The interior must be soft and comfortable, so the blade could rest properly.

    "Wait... do blades even sleep?"

    "And what exactly is involved in roleplaying as a blade?"

    For a moment, Qi Yuan considered asking his Blade Pet for advice on how to act as a blade.

    Would it involve being polished?

    Or... rummaging through trash?

    Shaking his head, Qi Yuan rejected the idea. That was too much.

    "Although, if it¡¯s rummaging through treasure troves instead of trash, I might excel at that."

    "The core of roleplaying lies in two aspects: portraying the essence of the character and incorporating my own understanding."

    "After all, this is roleplay¡ªnot some puppeteer¡¯s game."

    He mused further.

    If the next role he unlocked was a flower thief, would he have to steal flowers? Or if he unlocked Cao Thief, would he be obligated to sleep with other people¡¯s wives?

    Hmm... the latter didn¡¯t sound too bad.

    Qi Yuan thought of a potential loophole:

    If he roleplayed as Cao Thief, and slept with his son-in-law persona¡¯s wife, wouldn¡¯t that technically count?

 Chapter 509: Preaching, the Transformation into a Turtle Technique

    The plum rain fell gently, its steady drizzle forming countless ripples on the surface of the Weishui River. The massive ship, nearly a hundred zhang in length, sailed smoothly along the river. Its magical mechanisms emitted a faint, cicada-like hum as they propelled the ship forward.

    Deep beneath the waters of Weishui, specters lay hidden, but before the might of this great ship, none dared to act.

    Young Master Tu stood on the deck, gazing at the surging waters. ¡°Life... is so unpredictable,¡± he mused.

    To him, the recent twists and turns in his life had been nothing short of extraordinary.

    On one hand, he had stumbled upon extraordinary fortune, acquiring a divine light sword.

    On the other, his luck seemed to have run out, as Bloodthorn had extorted him twice.

    The first time, he had narrowly avoided disaster. The second time, he had no choice but to hand over his silver.

    ¡°Young Master Tu, do you think we¡¯ll meet the Floating Cloud Fairy at this year¡¯s Artifact Conference?¡± asked Zhan Wenyu, his face brimming with infatuation.

    The Floating Cloud Fairy was a celebrated beauty, ranking among the best on the Hundred Fragrance List, and an extraordinarily talented artifact master.

    Zhan Wenyu was naturally captivated by such a woman.

    ¡°This Artifact Conference will attract nearly all the promising artifact masters from Jining Prefecture.

    The Floating Cloud Fairy is a native of Jiangzhou, so she should be attending as well,¡± Young Master Tu replied calmly.

    As for Young Master Tu himself, he had originally thought of testing his light sword at the conference¡ªperhaps using it to slay the Lake Yeshan Water Lord.

    If he could accomplish such a feat, it would bring immense favor from the Heavenly Sect.

    Such an achievement would undoubtedly raise his family¡¯s standing.

    Alas, this remained a mere fantasy. His light sword was still in its cooldown phase.

    At this point, forget summoning divine powers¡ªit couldn¡¯t even radiate light.

    ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ll get the chance to meet the Floating Cloud Fairy and see who¡¯s more beautiful¡ªher or Shen Lingxuan!¡± Zhan Wenyu¡¯s mind wandered.

    ¡°Perhaps Shen Lingxuan,¡± Young Master Tu speculated. ¡°Few have ever seen her face, yet she ranks among the top of the Hundred Fragrance List. Her beauty must indeed be unparalleled.¡± ?

    ¡°Humph! For such a remarkable woman to marry a useless fool¡ªit¡¯s a disgrace!¡± Zhan Wenyu sneered, his eyes shifting toward a young man lounging on a chair thirty meters away. A glimmer of disdain flashed in his gaze. ¡°This warship makes such a racket that no fish would dare approach, and yet he¡¯s fishing? Absolutely laughable!¡±

    Young Master Tu also looked toward the figure.

    The young man was reclining lazily in a grand chair, fishing with a serene air of leisure.

    ¡°I¡¯m bored. I think I¡¯ll go stir up some trouble for him. Young Master Tu, care to join me for a bit of fun?¡± Zhan Wenyu asked.

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t stoop to such frivolous antics.

    Zhan, it¡¯s best not to provoke random people. His wife is a true disciple of the Heavenly Sect.¡±

    ¡°Being a scoundrel is my calling! If I don¡¯t cause trouble, I¡¯d be failing my reputation as a playboy,¡± Zhan Wenyu declared boldly. ¡°Besides, in the Zhan family, I can neither train as an artifact master nor become a Weapon Master. If I can¡¯t be a playboy, then what can I be?¡±

    His voice carried a tinge of bitterness.

    The Zhan family was one of the top ten noble clans in Jining Prefecture.

    However, Zhan Wenyu¡¯s elder brother, thirty years his senior, was both domineering and influential.

    This left Zhan Wenyu with little choice but to lead a life of indulgence.

    ¡°Causing some trouble might just annoy my brother¡ªthat¡¯s worth it,¡± Zhan Wenyu said with a hint of mockery in his smile.

    ¡°So, he¡¯s Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband?¡± a white-robed man nearby asked curiously.

    The white-robed man was a disciple of the Ancient Thunder Sect.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband to be so... disappointing,¡± he remarked, his tone tinged with disappointment.

    The man admired Shen Lingxuan, especially since she would be competing against his Third Senior Sister in two years during the Heavenly Sect and Ancient Thunder Sect¡¯s disciple showdown.

    For Shen Lingxuan to be a true disciple of the Heavenly Sect, her talents had to be extraordinary. Yet here she was, married to someone so lackluster.

    ¡°Then again, it might have to do with Shen Lingxuan¡¯s unique physique. It¡¯s said she has the Mysterious Yin Physique.

    If someone could share a single night of intimacy with her, they could achieve enlightenment and ascend to the Heaven-Tier,¡± the white-robed man commented casually.

    Ascending from the Earth-Tier to the Heaven-Tier was an incredibly challenging process, requiring profound enlightenment and a connection to the heavens.

    ¡°Unity with the heavens¡ªwhat an impossible feat. Ning Kingdom hasn¡¯t seen a Heaven-Tier Weapon Master in a hundred years.

    They say those who reach the Heaven-Tier have the chance to ascend beyond the skies,¡± the white-robed man mused, his tone filled with yearning.

    Heaven-Tier Weapon Masters were the pinnacle of aspiration for practitioners in Ning Kingdom.

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s existence had kindled hope among many elderly masters.

    However, the Shen family¡¯s immense influence, combined with their ties to the Heavenly Sect, had deterred anyone from targeting Shen Lingxuan.

    Moreover, Shen Lingxuan had not yet reached the pinnacle of her Mysterious Yin Physique, making it wasteful to act prematurely.

    Hearing this, Zhan Wenyu grew even more frustrated. ¡°That fool is too lucky. If only he weren¡¯t so useless, how could such an opportunity fall to him?¡±

    Young Master Tu chuckled. ¡°Why make life harder for someone already down on their luck?¡±

    ¡°Humph! If not him, who should I trouble¡ªmy brother?¡± Zhan Wenyu retorted.

    With that, he began walking toward Qi Yuan with swaggering steps, ready to live up to his reputation as a scoundrel.

    The white-robed man turned to Young Master Tu. ¡°Care to join me for a closer look? Things are rather dull on this ship.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested,¡± Young Master Tu replied, shaking his head.

    The two approached, curiosity piqued.

    Meanwhile, Zhan Wenyu produced his savings¡ªeighty thousand taels of silver¡ªand presented it to Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Sir, please accept this as my tuition!¡±

    Qi Yuan coughed lightly.

    Chen Kangbao immediately stepped forward to collect the silver.

    ¡°In exchange for your silver, I will grant you the Transformation into a Turtle Technique.

    If mastered, it will bestow the strength of ten thousand turtles and a lifespan of three thousand years.¡±

    ¡°Three thousand years?¡± Zhan Wenyu gasped.

    Even legends of gods rarely mentioned such longevity.

    This wasn¡¯t Transformation into a Turtle¡ªthis was Transformation into Divinity!

    The strength of ten thousand turtles might be irrelevant, but the extended lifespan was priceless.

    ¡°Pay attention. I will only recite the technique once. If you forget, you¡¯ll have to ask Chen Kangbao for a repeat¡ªfor a fee of...¡±

    ¡°Five hundred buns!¡± Chen Kangbao interjected.

    Hearing this, Zhan Wenyu became even more convinced that Qi Yuan was an extraordinary figure.

    In legends, eccentric masters always acted in strange, unpredictable ways.

    Perhaps Qi Yuan simply preferred buns over silver.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Qi Yuan remarked nonchalantly. ¡°Now, listen carefully. Though the divine turtle lives long, it too will perish...¡±

    Qi Yuan began reciting a technique he had completely fabricated on the spot.

    While his demeanor appeared casual, Qi Yuan¡¯s cultivation had already reached the peak of the Purple Mansion level, with combat abilities rivaling those who grasped profound universal truths.

    For him, ascending further required defining his ultimate path¡ªhis divine road.

    Currently, Qi Yuan¡¯s strength encompassed multiple disciplines: the Golden Core Dao, the Way of Ten Thousand Paths, and the Immortal Dao, among others.

    To become a true god and ascend to the Yin God realm, Qi Yuan believed he needed to consolidate and define his singular Dao.

    Leaving behind transcendent methods in this game-like world was part of his experimentation.

    Zhan Wenyu listened intently, committing every word to memory.

    Even so, he resolved to spend five hundred buns later to hear Chen Kangbao repeat it¡ªboth as a gesture of goodwill and to double-check his understanding.

    ¡°This Transformation into a Turtle Technique emphasizes the accumulation of virtue and karmic blessings. Perform good deeds wherever possible¡ªremember this well,¡± Qi Yuan added.

    At that moment, Young Master Tu and the white-robed man arrived.

    The white-robed man smirked. ¡°Zhan, weren¡¯t you going to trouble the son-in-law? Why are you acting like a student paying respects to a master?¡±

    His tone was mocking, though tinged with confusion.

    Young Master Tu also felt perplexed, but as he drew nearer to Qi Yuan, his heart pounded.

    His artifact began glowing red again, and this time, the intensity was tenfold¡ªno, a hundredfold¡ªstronger than before.

    Could it be...

    The thought struck him like a thunderclap.

    Was Qi Yuan the mysterious master he had encountered at the ghost market?

    Young Master Tu¡¯s heart raced.

    The timing aligned perfectly¡ªQi Yuan¡¯s visit to Ning County coincided with the ghost market¡¯s specter incident.

    It all made sense!

    This wasn¡¯t some ordinary son-in-law¡ªthis was a hidden powerhouse masquerading as one!

    His gaze toward Qi Yuan shifted, becoming reverent and cautious.

    ¡°Zhan, what nonsense are you spouting? I see this gentleman as a master. How could I ever bully him?¡± Zhan Wenyu snapped, sneaking a glance at Qi Yuan to ensure he hadn¡¯t offended him.

    The white-robed man¡¯s confusion deepened.

    Why had Zhan Wenyu¡¯s attitude changed so drastically?

    As for Young Master Tu, he remained silent.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan finally spoke:

    ¡°I¡¯m just a son-in-law. Isn¡¯t bullying me normal? Go ahead, feel free to bully me.

    Just be gentle¡ªI¡¯m afraid of pain.¡±

    Zhan Wenyu: ¡°...¡±

    Young Master Tu: ¡°...??¡±

    White-robed man: ¡°???¡±

    The three men stood there, each filled with questions¡ªthough the nature of their confusion varied greatly.

 Chapter 510: The Essence of the Cleaverâ€”Creating the Most Delicious Dish in the World?

    The white-robed man sighed in exasperation. ¡°Who would have thought that Senior Sister Shen¡¯s husband is nothing more than a madman? What a pity, what a shame.¡±

    The Heavenly Sect and the Ancient Thunder Sect might have been rivals, but they were also twin pillars of stability in the Ning Kingdom. The disciples of each sect held a grudging admiration for the other.

    But seeing Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband behave so eccentrically, the white-robed man couldn¡¯t help but lament.

    ¡°Let¡¯s leave, Brother Tu. Speaking with such lunatics is a waste of time,¡± the white-robed man said as he turned toward Young Master Tu, intending to walk away.

    To his surprise, Young Master Tu hesitated, his face lit with a strange mix of reverence and excitement.

    ¡°Brother Mu, mind your words. Lord Qi is not a lunatic. He is a man of grace, like an orchid in a valley¡ªelegant and untouchable!¡±

    Zhan Wenyu, standing beside Young Master Tu, quickly added, ¡°Lord Qi is a recluse, a transcendent master who roams the mortal world. Only the ignorant would fail to recognize a true dragon among men.¡±

    Zhan Wenyu¡¯s tone dripped with superiority as he cast a disdainful glance at the white-robed man.

    The white-robed man froze, utterly bewildered.

    It felt like being part of a group gossiping about someone behind their back, only for two of the group to suddenly praise the subject as a divine being when he appeared. Now he was the fool¡ªthe clown.

    His mind spun with questions. Why? How?

    But what burned brightest was anger¡ªanger at Young Master Tu and Zhan Wenyu for their sudden shift in attitude.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± The white-robed man snorted coldly before walking off.

    His snort seemed to say, Fine, I¡¯m done playing with you!

    Zhan Wenyu, seeing the white-robed man leave, turned to Qi Yuan and bowed deeply. ¡°Lord Qi, I was blind and ignorant before. Please forgive my insolence. I wouldn¡¯t dare to offend you now.¡±

    Young Master Tu also stepped forward cautiously. ¡°Senior, I brought several tens of thousands of silver taels with me, hoping to purchase another light sword.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t lack silver for the moment, and my artifacts are sold only to those fated to have them,¡± Qi Yuan replied without hesitation. ¡°You already have one light sword. Leave the opportunity for others.¡±

    Young Master Tu¡¯s face showed disappointment, but he also felt confirmed in his suspicions. This man¡ªthis strange, enigmatic figure¡ªwas undoubtedly the vendor who had sold him the light sword.

    ¡°How did you recognize me?¡± Qi Yuan asked, his tone calm but curious.

    ¡°Well...¡± Young Master Tu hesitated before pulling out a particular artifact. ¡°Senior, after you slew some members of Bloodthorn, their residual energy became tied to this artifact. Whenever it comes within three meters of their killer, it glows.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered with understanding.

    He realized that this artifact was a Bloodthorn relic.

    ¡°Enough. Leave me to my fishing.¡± Qi Yuan waved his hand dismissively and resumed his reclined posture.

    Seeing this, both Zhan Wenyu and Young Master Tu bowed respectfully before retreating.

    As they left, they exchanged a look and a knowing smile.

    <hr>

    Qi Yuan pulled out his Divine Wood Token and typed into the chat group.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve killed some members of Bloodthorn. Now their artifacts glow when they¡¯re near me. How do I fix this?¡±

    Qi Yuan hated the idea of being tracked, as it violated his sense of privacy.

    A response came from Ji Wuyun: ¡°That¡¯s a tough one. You¡¯d need a Heaven-tier Weapon Master who can purge the mark with special techniques. It¡¯s painful and damages the soul.¡±

    Another reply followed from a Bloodthorn operative in the group: ¡°No need for all that. Brother Cleaver, next time you¡¯re at Divine Wood Abyss, I¡¯ll give you a bottle of Thornwash Elixir. One sip, and the mark is gone.¡±

    ¡°Can you give it to me now?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°If you come to Divine Wood Abyss, I¡¯ll hand it over.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t leave right now. Maybe I¡¯ll send a Debt Collection Gate drone¡ªhow about Yan Shuangying¡ªto pick it up?¡±

    The Bloodthorn member responded flatly, ¡°Brother Cleaver, you¡¯re not very sincere.¡±

    ¡°Not sincere? I¡¯m the one holding back from discussing with others how to annihilate Bloodthorn. If you think I¡¯m insincere, I might as well start now.

    Tell me¡ªhow many elites does Bloodthorn have, and where¡¯s the headquarters? Once I¡¯m done here, I¡¯ll personally visit and destroy it!¡± Qi Yuan declared boldly in the chat.

    Ji Wuyun sighed inwardly.

    ¡°This new Divine Wood Token wielder is... not normal.¡±

    The Bloodthorn member replied dryly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing fun at our headquarters. Why not come to Divine Wood Abyss? I¡¯ll even line up our members for you to kill.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Once I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll come,¡± Qi Yuan replied confidently.

    Ji Wuyun rubbed his temples, feeling a headache brewing.

    The exchange between these two lacked any gravitas. The Bloodthorn operative sounded less like an evil mastermind and more like a disinterested bureaucrat. Qi Yuan¡¯s boasts came off more like a villain¡¯s monologue than a hero¡¯s declaration.

    ¡°This world... is beyond saving,¡± Ji Wuyun muttered.

    <hr> <hr> <hr>

    ¡°If only I were a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, I wouldn¡¯t let my disciple suffer like this¡ªmarrying some mere mortal.¡±

    Wang Qingyi''s thoughts churned with frustration as she recalled Shen Lingxuan¡¯s unique constitution¡ªa rare Profound Yin Physique coveted by countless elders and sect leaders.

    This physique brought unparalleled potential but also invited endless trouble. The current Artifact Conference at Lake Yeshan had drawn not only experts but also ominous figures from other prefectures and even foreign nations. Their true target was not the Water Lord but Shen Lingxuan herself.

    ¡°Lingxuan, perhaps you should consummate your marriage with your husband sooner. Losing the Profound Yin Physique would cost you some cultivation, but it would deter most of these scoundrels.¡±

    Wang Qingyi hesitated before continuing, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the notorious Flower Thief of Mo Shan, a Grandmaster-level Earth-Tier Weapon Master known as Hengshan Grandmaster, has secretly entered the Ning Kingdom. It¡¯s rumored he came here for you.¡±

    At the mention of this name, even Wang Qingyi¡¯s expression darkened with worry.

    Hengshan Grandmaster was infamous not just for his strength but also for his ability to infiltrate and escape unscathed from seemingly impregnable defenses. His skills in illusion and disguise were unmatched.

    However, Shen Lingxuan remained as poised as ever, standing at the bow of the boat with the serenity of moonlight on water.

    ¡°Master, please ensure the sect provides protection for Qi Yuan.¡±

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s tone remained calm, but there was a subtle undertone of concern. She knew that those targeting her might use Qi Yuan as leverage.

    ¡°You have my word. I¡¯ve already assigned Earth-Tier Weapon Masters to watch over your family and Qi Yuan,¡± Wang Qingyi reassured her.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, at the Shen family¡¯s compound near Lake Yeshan, Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    ¡°How¡¯s the search going?¡± he asked.

    Chen Kangbao scratched his head awkwardly. ¡°Finding a talented chef is hard, but finding... well... chefs of the other sort is quite easy.¡±

    ¡°No. I have standards.¡± Qi Yuan immediately rejected the idea.

    Ever since they arrived at Lake Yeshan, Qi Yuan¡¯s strength had gradually recovered. He had been contemplating his next move in the ¡°cleaver¡± persona.

    If he was to fully embody the role of a cleaver, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to simply exist as one. He needed to help create a dish so exquisite it would leave a mark on the world. This was the essence of the cleaver: to serve as the instrument of culinary transcendence.

    ¡°I need a skilled chef to collaborate with, someone capable of crafting a masterpiece,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    Lake Yeshan, with its bountiful waters, offered the perfect ingredients for a legendary Hundred-Fish Feast.

    ¡°Master, should we go with Plan B? The street vendor idea?¡± Chen Kangbao suggested.

    Qi Yuan sighed. ¡°It seems I¡¯ll have to leave it to fate to find the right chef.¡±

    Plan B involved Chen Kangbao posing as a vendor to sell ¡°cleavers¡± on the street.

    Qi Yuan picked up a pen and paper, scribbling down a note:

    <hr>

    "To whom it may concern: The old glutton Chen Kangbao is yearning for earthly delicacies. I have decided to accompany him in his search. Do not worry, and do not look for us."

    <hr>

    With that, he placed the note on the table, securing it with a water cup.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave a trail. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    With a flash of Thousand Transformations, Qi Yuan transformed into a cleaver¡ªthis time adjusting his size to resemble a standard kitchen knife rather than the exaggerated, human-sized version he used previously.

    He then dove into a specially crafted casing that was both hard on the outside and soft on the inside¡ªan ideal ¡°sheath¡± for travel.

    ¡°Transform!¡±

    With another wave of energy, Chen Kangbao was morphed into a large, colorful chameleon.

    ¡°Carry me and let¡¯s leave,¡± Qi Yuan ordered.

    The disguise allowed them to slip out unnoticed. Qi Yuan had become acutely aware of the many prying eyes around the Shen family compound and wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.

    ¡°Understood!¡± Chen Kangbao replied eagerly, hoisting the cleaver and dashing off.

    <hr>

    Deep in the mountains outside Lake Yeshan, Chen Kangbao trudged onward, the cleaver strapped to his back.

    ¡°Master, are we safe now?¡± he asked.

    Before Qi Yuan could answer, a large goose blocked their path, staring intently at them like a guardian of the wild.

    ¡°We¡¯re mostly safe... except for this goose. Oh, and someone is following us,¡± Qi Yuan remarked casually.

    Chen Kangbao froze. ¡°Following us? Who would tail a chameleon carrying a cleaver?¡±

    At that moment, a figure emerged from the shadows¡ªa burly man with a menacing grin.

    The man¡¯s gaze locked onto Chen Kangbao with suspicion and disdain.

    ¡°Rumor has it that the infamous Hengshan Grandmaster, master of illusions and thief of countless flowers, is unmatched in his disguises. I never expected to encounter him here... in this form.¡±

    His voice carried an edge of mockery, clearly mistaking the chameleon for the notorious flower thief.

 Chapter 511: Borrowing Your Sword

    The burly man was named Feng Tie, an Earth-tier peak Weapon Master.

    He was acquainted with the flower thief, Hengshan Grandmaster. The two had once ventured into a secret realm together.

    The secret realm was fraught with dangers, and several Earth-tier Weapon Masters had perished within it.

    Only he and Hengshan Grandmaster had managed to escape.

    It was then that Feng Tie learned Hengshan Grandmaster¡¯s deepest secret.

    Hengshan Grandmaster had obtained the legacy of a visitor from beyond the heavens. Following the example of Thorned Blood, he modified malevolent spirits and ultimately merged himself with one, acquiring a strange ability.

    Illusions!

    Hengshan Grandmaster had risen to infamy as a feared and elusive flower thief, renowned for his never-failing exploits. The primary reason for his success lay in his mastery of illusionary techniques.

    Every time, he could walk away unscathed and unnoticed.

    This secret was likely known only to Feng Tie.

    Thus, unlike other Earth-tier Weapon Masters who merely kept a casual eye on Shen¡¯s family estate, Feng Tie scrutinized every movement, even if a mere cat left the premises.

    When Chen Kangbao, disguised as a chameleon, emerged, the other Earth-tier Weapon Masters failed to notice.

    But Feng Tie was different.

    He stared at the chameleon, a sly grin spreading across his face.

    ¡°Hengshan Grandmaster, are you afraid I¡¯ll take a share of the spoils?¡±

    Chen Kangbao, carrying the cleaver, hesitated, standing frozen in place.

    He didn¡¯t move an inch.

    The presence of the burly man ahead of him exerted immense pressure.

    Feng Tie noticed the chameleon¡¯s inaction and grinned wider. ¡°Could it be that Hengshan Grandmaster wants to claim the Profound Yin Physique all for himself?¡±

    The greatest reason Hengshan Grandmaster had achieved his notoriety as a grandmaster was his uncanny illusions.

    But once his secret was exposed, his combat strength would drop considerably.

    If Hengshan truly considered Feng Tie an opponent, how could he allow someone who knew his greatest secret to live?

    ¡°You¡¯ve mistaken me; I am not Hengshan Grandmaster.¡± At this moment, Chen Kangbao decided not to hide and shifted into his elder form, his raspy voice revealing itself.

    Had he remained silent, Feng Tie¡¯s disposition likely wouldn¡¯t have allowed the chameleon to live.

    ¡°Who are you... to also know illusions?¡± Feng Tie¡¯s expression changed slightly, suspicion flickering across his face.

    If the person before him truly were Hengshan Grandmaster, they would have boldly admitted it rather than deny it so firmly.

    ¡°There¡¯s no one like you in Ning Kingdom... nor in Moshang Kingdom...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just passing through. Might I be allowed to leave?¡± Chen Kangbao tentatively suggested.

    ¡°Leave the object behind.¡± Feng Tie¡¯s gaze locked onto the cleaver, his tone cold.

    This old man had used illusions to sneak into the Shen family estate and smuggle out a cleaver.

    This cleaver had to be extraordinary.

    Having seen it now, Feng Tie had to examine its secrets.

    ¡°Fine.¡±

    To Feng Tie¡¯s surprise, Chen Kangbao showed no hesitation, tossing the cleaver in his direction.

    After throwing the cleaver, Chen Kangbao quickly made his escape.

    Feng Tie was taken aback.

    Just like that, the cleaver was handed over?

    Could it be this simple? Was there no trap?

    Even so, he reached out and caught the cleaver without delay.

    He examined it closely, his sharp gaze appraising its craftsmanship. ¡°What a sharp cleaver. Its edge could rival that of an Earth-tier artifact!¡±

    Feng Tie assumed the elder had stolen something precious and, when caught, had to part with it to save himself.

    ¡°Wait, why does this cleaver have a notch along the edge?¡±

    He inspected the cleaver further, puzzled by what he saw.

    The notch in question was the opening for a zipper, part of the protective casing Qi Yuan had forged for the cleaver.

    In their haste to leave, neither Qi Yuan nor Chen Kangbao had paid attention to such details.

    ¡°An artifact within an artifact?¡± Feng Tie¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.

    The outer shell alone was comparable to an Earth-tier artifact. What treasures could lie within?

    Elated, he began prying at the notch to extract what lay inside.

    At that moment, a voice, tinged with exasperation, rang out.

    ¡°Prying open a cleaver? You really are a pervert.¡±

    As the words fell, a flash of light suddenly struck.

    Feng Tie instinctively clutched his throat, disbelief in his eyes as blood gushed forth.

    His massive frame toppled to the ground with a resounding crash. He never could have imagined that the cleaver would not only be so sharp but also possess a will of its own. ?

    A sentient artifact¡ªthose were the stuff of legends!

    Yet how could Ning Kingdom possibly possess such a legendary item?

    With a single, unforeseen strike, Feng Tie was slain on the spot before he had a chance to react.

    Qi Yuan reverted to his original form, stepping out of the shadows. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that cleaver-killing could raise my proficiency, even if just a little.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that Hengshan will abduct you?¡± Xie Danran, now agitated, asked heatedly. ¡°Do you understand what might happen if you are taken? That useless husband of yours can¡¯t possibly protect you!¡±

    ¡°Show him out!¡± Shen Lingxuan flicked her sleeve, and Xie Danran¡¯s boat was abruptly propelled backward.

    Standing on the retreating boat, Xie Danran clenched his fists tightly, fury igniting within him.

    ¡°A Profound Yin Physique¡ªa treasure like that cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of that worthless fool!¡±

    ...

    The Celestial Cloud Temple was situated on Dongnan Mountain, a crumbling and abandoned shrine.

    Outside the temple stood a dilapidated pavilion constructed of marble.

    At this moment, gentle rain cascaded down the mountainside. Shen Lingxuan, clad in a flowing blue gown, sat outside the pavilion, watching the rain with a pensive expression.

    The falling rain seemed to conceal a sharp sword intent.

    When the rain stopped, this sword intent would manifest in its most potent form, unleashing a single, decisive strike.

    Sitting in the pavilion, Shen Lingxuan exuded an icy aura, her presence blending seamlessly with the surrounding world.

    Anyone passing by wouldn¡¯t even notice her existence.

    At this moment, her cultivation no longer radiated the aura of a Xuan-tier Weapon Master¡ªit was unmistakably at the Earth-tier.

    From the rain emerged two figures, an elder and a young man. The younger held an oil-paper umbrella, his steps splashing water with each movement.

    ¡°It¡¯s him?¡±

    Seeing the young man, Shen Lingxuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly.

    This was the same man she had encountered near Kunling Ferry and again in the Ghost Market.

    And now, he was walking toward her.

    Her expression grew colder, like a frost-covered blade.

    Given the current circumstances, wasn¡¯t everyone heading toward the Celestial Cloud Temple in league with Hengshan Grandmaster, the notorious flower thief?

    She was well aware of what these criminals were plotting.

    To her surprise, this young man was also among them.

    The young man paused, glancing at the pavilion. ¡°What a coincidence, beautiful lady. We meet again. May I come in to take shelter from the rain?¡±

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s cold eyes betrayed a flicker of astonishment.

    He can see me?

    By now, Shen Lingxuan had long achieved unity with nature.

    Her combat strength might not yet rival a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, but her level of comprehension surpassed that of most Heaven-tier experts.

    In this state of unity, sitting silently within the pavilion, no ordinary person should have been able to detect her presence.

    Yet, this young man had found her. A faint sense of danger arose in her heart.

    ¡°This place isn¡¯t mine to claim. If you wish to take shelter, please do,¡± Shen Lingxuan replied coolly.

    Qi Yuan stepped into the pavilion, his gaze calm as it fell on her elegant figure. ¡°Beautiful lady, have you reconsidered what I mentioned before¡ªbecoming my steed?¡±

    ¡°Ah... how cold!¡± Chen Kangbao muttered under his breath, shivering from an inexplicable chill.

    ¡°Are you with the people inside the Celestial Cloud Temple?¡± Shen Lingxuan asked, her tone as frosty as ever.

    Her initial plan had been to bide her time, gathering enough power to unleash a decisive sword strike and incapacitate the villains hiding in the temple.

    But now that she had been discovered, her plan was effectively ruined.

    A heightened sense of caution arose within her.

    She couldn¡¯t see through this man.

    Perhaps only by fully regaining her previous life¡¯s power and achieving unity with the heavens could she discern his true nature.

    ¡°What if I help you deal with the people in the temple? Will you consider becoming my steed then?¡± Qi Yuan offered again, unwilling to give up on what had captured his interest.

    Suspicion flickered in Shen Lingxuan¡¯s icy gaze. ¡°You¡¯re not one of them?¡±

    ¡°With looks like mine, do you think I¡¯d associate with people as ugly as that?¡± Qi Yuan retorted.

    ¡°But, young master, I¡¯m ugly too!¡± Chen Kangbao interjected.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Qi Yuan snapped, exasperated. Why did Chen Kangbao always have to chime in?

    Shen Lingxuan shook her head. ¡°Regardless, I refuse to become anyone¡¯s steed.¡±

    ¡°What a pity.¡± Qi Yuan sighed, visibly disappointed. Then he said, ¡°Your sword momentum is quite something. May I borrow it for a moment?¡±

    Alarm surged in Shen Lingxuan¡¯s heart.

    This man could even perceive her sword intent?

    If he wanted to kill her, she doubted she could escape in time.

    ¡°By all means,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Watch closely.¡±

    With that, Qi Yuan extended a pale hand, grasping at the air.

    The rain seemed to halt midair.

    Droplets froze in place, linking together like strings of pearls.

    From the rain, a sword materialized in his hand, cold and deadly.

    Gripping the water-forged blade, Qi Yuan thrust it forward.

    In an instant, the rain ceased entirely.

    The ground shook, and the mountain quaked.

 Chapter 512: Yang Godâ€™s Third Layer, Void Overlord

    Chapter 512: Yang God¡¯s Third Layer, Void Overlord

    Inside the Celestial Cloud Temple, Hengshan Grandmaster stood silently with a pig mask covering his face, concealing his features.

    Around him were several men cloaked in hoods.

    ¡°This rain is so irritating,¡± said a skinny, monkey-like man, his sleeves hiding deadly darts.

    He was a master of hidden weapons, carrying a large arsenal of them.

    ¡°Because of the Water Sovereign, Yeshan Lake is likely to stay rainy for a while. As for Shen Lingxuan... she¡¯s always near Heavenly Sect¡¯s grandmasters, making her difficult to catch,¡± Hengshan Grandmaster said, his hoarse voice carrying through the room.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s grab her useless husband first,¡± suggested the sleeve dart man.

    Shen Lingxuan might be hard to capture, but to them, her powerless husband, Qi Yuan, was no more than a toy they could easily crush.

    ¡°That would alert her and ruin the plan. Not ideal,¡± Hengshan Grandmaster replied, his gaze tinged with confusion. He wondered why Feng Tie still hadn¡¯t shown up.

    Was something holding him back?

    Listening to the constant drizzle of rain, Hengshan felt an inexplicable unease rising in his heart.

    Suddenly, the card in his pocket began to glow.

    Hengshan¡¯s expression changed dramatically.

    ¡°Not good!¡±

    The mysterious card had been obtained from an ancient ruin.

    It possessed unique abilities and was the source of his illusion techniques.

    Beyond that, the card also served as a warning system.

    Thanks to the card, Hengshan had survived countless dangers. Even after abducting the princess of the Mo Shan Kingdom and being hunted by Heaven-tier Weapon Masters, he had emerged unscathed.

    But now, the glow from the card was even stronger than when a Heaven-tier Weapon Master had chased him before.

    How could Hengshan not panic?

    Without hesitation, he shot into the air like a cannonball, fleeing the Celestial Cloud Pavilion.

    The cloaked men around him were left bewildered, having no idea what was happening.

    Then, without warning, a piercing sword intent descended like icy death.

    The three men stared in terror as the rain froze, and a crystalline water sword broke through the downpour, heading directly for them.

    It was devastatingly fast, sharp, and swift, like thunder. They didn¡¯t even have time to react.

    The sword aura sliced through their throats, severing them cleanly.

    The water sword didn¡¯t stop. It streaked toward Hengshan Grandmaster as he fled.

    Despite the card¡¯s early warning, Hengshan could not escape the sword.

    The blade pierced his throat, blood spraying everywhere. Disbelief filled his face.

    ¡°How is this possible?¡±

    His body collapsed to the ground, his eyes clouded with doubt and regret.

    Having received the card¡¯s inheritance, Hengshan believed he had a bright future ahead. His ambitions weren¡¯t supposed to be limited to the Mo Shan Kingdom. Yet, he died inexplicably, without even knowing who killed him or why.

    Elsewhere, Shen Lingxuan¡¯s pupils contracted slightly.

    ¡°That sword...¡±

    In terms of raw power, this strike didn¡¯t match her peak from her past life.

    After all, in her previous life, she had used a sword to repel armies, founded the Heavenly Sect, and become its first Dao Sovereign.

    But in terms of precision, this sword was far superior to hers.

    She looked at Qi Yuan, her heart rippling with emotion. ¡°A single sword to kill four Earth-tier Weapon Masters... who are you?¡±

    Curiosity and a hint of apprehension filled her thoughts.

    Although the precision of Qi Yuan¡¯s sword was extraordinary, its aura revealed that he hadn¡¯t yet reached the realm of unity with the heavens.

    If he harbored any intention toward her Profound Yin Physique, she would have no way to resist.

    Qi Yuan smiled. ¡°If you agree to be my steed, I...¡±

    Before he could finish, his smile froze.

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s figure disappeared.

    She... ran away!

    Yes, she fled immediately.

    Chen Kangbao stood tall, loudly hawking his wares.

    ¡°The ultimate divine chef¡¯s knife! Yours for only 999 taels!

    Slice through vegetables like air! Chop wood with ease! Come and see for yourself¡ªbuy it now, no regrets!¡±

    ¡°Hey, old man, a knife for 999 taels? Isn¡¯t that a scam?¡±

    ¡°A knife that expensive could buy you a weapon used by Weapon Masters!¡±

    ¡°You fools don¡¯t understand! This is no ordinary knife¡ªit can create culinary masterpieces unmatched by mortal hands!¡± Chen Kangbao argued, his spittle flying in earnest.

    ¡°Scammer!¡±

    Most of the crowd sneered and dismissed him.

    After all, who in their right mind would spend 1,000 taels of silver on a plain kitchen knife?

    ¡°Ah, Young Master¡¯s approach to waiting for a fated owner is too passive,¡± Chen Kangbao thought. ¡°As his advisor, I must use my wisdom to help him find a true fated person.¡±

    Chen Kangbao pondered deeply. To be the destined owner of the knife, the candidate needed two key qualities: wealth and gullibility.

    ¡°They should ideally be a sheltered, nai?ve noblewoman who¡¯s snuck out to explore the world.¡±

    ¡°But... how many noble ladies would even know how to cook?¡±

    Chen Kangbao frowned and tapped his chin, formulating a plan.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need to repackage this knife to make it irresistible.¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s mind raced, scheming and strategizing, even forgoing his beloved steamed buns as he scoured the marketplace for a suitable target.

    After nearly two hours of searching, his eyes lit up.

    ¡°This girl looks gullible enough!¡±

    ¡°Even if she doesn¡¯t know how to cook, that¡¯s fine¡ªI¡¯ll teach her how to make steamed buns! Nobody knows buns better than I do!¡±

    He spat into his palms, smoothed down his disheveled hair, and adjusted it to appear tidy and polished. Picking up the knife, he followed closely behind his chosen target.

    Meanwhile, Jiang Yunxi wandered the market, her wide eyes sparkling with curiosity as she admired the vibrant stalls.

    In one hand, she held a stick of candied hawthorn; in the other, she shook a small flower drum, resembling a child delighted by the sights and sounds of the market.

    Just then, a hunched, elderly figure appeared before her.

    ¡°Young lady, this old man has traveled far and wide, vanquishing countless vile spirits. Passing by here, I saw the eastern skies glowing with auspicious purple light¡ªclearly, I¡¯ve encountered a fated person,¡± Chen Kangbao declared solemnly.

    Jiang Yunxi blinked at him, her sparkling eyes narrowing suspiciously. ¡°What do you want, old man?¡±

    Though sheltered, she wasn¡¯t entirely oblivious.

    ¡°This here is a divine knife, a treasure unlike any other,¡± Chen Kangbao said, holding out the knife reverently.

    ¡°It lacks only a destined wielder¡ªand you, young lady, are that person,¡± he added with the gravitas of a sage.

    ¡°A knife?¡± Jiang Yunxi examined the blade skeptically. ¡°If it¡¯s fated, why don¡¯t you just give it to me?¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s heart leapt with excitement¡ªshe was showing interest! ¡°Young lady, your gallant spirit is evident. Wielding this knife, you¡¯ll create culinary marvels and vanquish countless evils!¡±

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s expression turned incredulous. ¡°I don¡¯t care about cooking, but fighting monsters sounds fun. Fine, give me the knife.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s yours for only 999 taels,¡± Chen Kangbao said, extending the knife while holding out his hand expectantly.

    Jiang Yunxi froze for a moment, then her face flushed with anger. ¡°You¡¯re taking me for a fool, aren¡¯t you?

    Earlier, another old man tried to sell me some ¡®savior¡¯s manual¡¯ for ten taels. You¡¯re asking for a thousand¡ªare you kidding me?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the first time Jiang Yunxi had encountered scammers targeting her.

    She puffed her cheeks in frustration, feeling both exasperated and wronged. Was her face stamped with ¡°easy target¡±? Why did all the charlatans flock to her?

    ¡°If you follow me again, I¡¯ll report you to the authorities!¡± she huffed, glaring fiercely.

    Chen Kangbao sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment.

    Even now, he couldn¡¯t fool a nai?ve girl. His skills were slipping.

    But just as he was about to give up, Qi Yuan¡¯s calm voice echoed in his ear.

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s face lit up with newfound confidence.

    ¡°Young lady, Jiang Yunxi, if you let this knife slip away, it will be the greatest regret of your life,¡± he intoned with mystic gravitas.

    Jiang Yunxi froze, her expression stiffening. ¡°How do you know my name?¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°Not only do I know your name, but I also know that you wet the bed until you were six. That Xuan-tier bracelet on your wrist? Your mother gave it to you as a sixth birthday gift¡ªto stop you from wetting the bed!¡±

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s face burned bright red, her mouth falling open in shock. ¡°How... how do you know that?¡±

    This childhood embarrassment was known only to her closest family. How could this strange old man possibly know?

    ¡°Because... I am a true immortal!¡± Chen Kangbao declared with conviction.

 Chapter 513: A Talking Kitchen Knife? Am I Truly the Savior?

    Chapter 513: A Talking Kitchen Knife? Am I Truly the Savior?

    Using Qi Yuan''s ability to perceive hidden information, coupled with Chen Kangbao¡¯s smooth-talking, they managed to thoroughly fool the nai?ve Jiang Yunxi, leaving her utterly bewildered, like a dazed puppy.

    ¡°Your golden hairpin was a gift from your uncle...¡±

    ¡°The jade pendant at your waist was crafted by Xuan Gu and is an artifact.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡±

    ¡°And... your underarm hair is a bit long.¡±

    ¡°Hmm???¡±

    Half a day later, in a courtyard within the city, Jiang Yunxi stared blankly at a room filled with ingredients.

    ¡°The world is in turmoil, overrun with malevolent specters. Young lady, it is time for you to save it,¡± Chen Kangbao said solemnly.

    ¡°But... what does saving the world have to do with chopping vegetables?¡±

    Still confused, Jiang Yunxi had bought the knife and was then dragged by Chen Kangbao to this courtyard.

    ¡°A deity once said, ¡®If one cannot sweep a single room, how can one sweep the world?¡¯

    If you can¡¯t even chop vegetables and perfect your knife skills, how will you cleanse the world of evil specters?¡± Chen Kangbao spouted nonsense with utmost seriousness.

    ¡°So, the first step to saving the world is chopping vegetables.

    Chop all the cabbage, eggplant, meat... everything here into tiny pieces. That¡¯s your first trial.

    Oh, and remember to wash the vegetables before chopping them. Don¡¯t waste food by dirtying it.¡±

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s mind was flooded with countless questions.

    Half-convinced and half-doubtful, she said, ¡°Alright.¡±

    The old man in front of her was simply too extraordinary.

    He knew her better than she knew herself and carried the demeanor of a sage wandering the mortal world.

    ¡°Since I have nothing better to do, I might as well give it a try?¡± Jiang Yunxi thought to herself.

    In the kitchen, she stared at the pile of vegetables and meat filling the room. This golden child of nobility had officially embarked on her first day as a kitchen maid.

    Outside, in a pavilion.

    A man and a woman were playing chess. The black pieces dominated the board, surrounding the white pieces. Despite their ordinary appearances, the pair exuded the aura of reclusive experts.

    ¡°That old man has some tricks, but nothing impressive,¡± the woman remarked.

    The woman¡¯s name was Yun Li, an Earth-tier Weapon Master. The man, Yun Hu, was also an Earth-tier Weapon Master. Both had been tasked by the Duke to secretly protect the princess, Jiang Yunxi.

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s carefree and innocent nature had led her to sneak away from the palace to join the festivities at Yeshan Lake. Worried for her safety, the Duke had sent these two to ensure her protection.

    They were instructed not to reveal themselves unless absolutely necessary.

    After all, Jiang Yunxi had her own cultivation abilities and several protective artifacts. Ordinary dangers posed no threat to her.

    ¡°I¡¯m just curious¡ªhow did he manage to convince the princess?¡± Yun Hu asked, puzzled.

    Though Jiang Yunxi was carefree, she wasn¡¯t foolish.

    From a distance, they had observed her talking to the old man, but they couldn¡¯t hear the details of their conversation.

    ¡°He¡¯s probably just a skilled con artist. Once the princess gets tired of his tricks, it¡¯ll be our time to step in,¡± Yun Li said dismissively.

    She held little regard for Chen Kangbao.

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Yun Hu nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Still, the old man must have some talent to trick the princess into chopping vegetables.¡±

    The princess had lived a pampered life, never once lifting a finger for labor.

    Now, for the first time, she was truly working hard.

    Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the sound of chopping echoed nonstop.

    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±

    Jiang Yunxi wielded the knife with all her strength, hacking away at the ingredients.

    The vegetable basket was slowly filling with finely chopped pieces, but her arms were sore.

    ¡°This is so exhausting! It¡¯s harder than cultivation!¡±

    She had spent an hour washing vegetables and three hours chopping them.

    Even with all her effort, she had barely finished a third of the pile.

    Her arms were sore, her body ached, but she persevered.

    ¡°The old immortal was right. In those legendary stories I¡¯ve read, the protagonists always undergo grueling training to grow stronger¡ªlike practicing ten thousand spear thrusts a day or catching a hundred flies with chopsticks. Chopping vegetables must be my unique path to growth.¡±

    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that one day, I, Jiang Yunxi, could be the protagonist of my own tale?¡±

    ¡°Wait, who will write my story?¡±

    ¡°No, I need to start keeping a journal, documenting everything that happens each day. When I return, I¡¯ll hint to Manager Chen to write a book about me!¡±

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s thoughts ran wild.

    She imagined how she could embellish her deeds in her journal.

    Of course, the embarrassing things the old immortal mentioned¡ªlike her underarm hair or bed-wetting¡ªwould never make it into her story.

    Tonight, she resolved to take a bath and shave off the underarm hair!

    Footsteps interrupted her thoughts.

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s chopping intensified. She couldn¡¯t afford to be seen slacking off by the old immortal.

    ¡°Stop searching. It¡¯s me¡ªthe knife,¡± the voice replied.

    ¡°The knife?¡± Jiang Yunxi stared at it, her face a mix of shock and disbelief.

    A talking knife?

    Even Heavenly-tier artifacts couldn¡¯t speak!

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to speak before. But thanks to your dedication, you¡¯ve awakened my sentience,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    To fully embody the role of the knife, Qi Yuan had previously severed his senses, becoming an inanimate tool.

    But Jiang Yunxi¡¯s persistence had pushed his ¡°knife mastery¡± beyond 60%, granting him new abilities¡ªsentience and perception.

    The knife had grown sharper and tougher, nearing the strength of a Heavenly-tier artifact.

    This development was astounding.

    In this world, Earth-tier Weapon Masters relied heavily on their artifacts, as their bodies were too fragile to withstand direct hits.

    But Qi Yuan was different now.

    Originally a tactician relying on skill, he could now act as a brute force combatant.

    ¡°You can talk?¡± Jiang Yunxi asked, blinking in awe.

    Could she really be the fated savior?

    ¡°Are you male or female? Wait, no¡ªyou¡¯re probably genderless, like in the stories. But you¡¯re using a male voice to please me, right? Your voice is so nice¡ªsay more!¡± Jiang Yunxi gushed, her exhaustion vanishing.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? Oh, I get it now¡ªit was improper of me to say something so flirtatious.

    We must abandon such thoughts and focus on defeating the villains!

    In the end, I¡¯ll cradle your shattered form, devastated as your sentience fades away. Only then will I realize I loved you all along but never understood it until it was too late.

    Then, you¡¯ll die in my arms, and I¡¯ll retreat to the mountains, living in sorrowful solitude. What a tragic yet beautiful scene!¡±

    Qi Yuan was utterly speechless.

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking things,¡± he said finally.

    ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve chopped enough vegetables. It¡¯s time for the third step,¡± Qi Yuan declared.

    ¡°The third step?¡± Jiang Yunxi¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

    ¡°A knife that hasn¡¯t drawn blood isn¡¯t a real knife.

    A warrior who hasn¡¯t faced killing cannot become a savior.¡±

    ¡°Does this mean we¡¯ll fight bandits and malevolent specters tomorrow?¡± Jiang Yunxi asked eagerly.

    ¡°Not exactly. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll hunt for ingredients¡ªstarting with fish.¡±

    ¡°At Yeshan Lake, the villains have secretly polluted many fish, turning them into malevolent specters. Your task is to eliminate these fish!¡±

    Qi Yuan explained.

    Previously, when he had preached the Transformation Dragon Technique, he had observed many fish drawn to him.

    Some of these fish had entered Yeshan Lake, only to meet mysterious deaths.

    The culprits were corrupted, malevolent fish.

    This was the perfect opportunity. Jiang Yunxi could hunt for food, eliminate the cursed fish, and gain experience¡ªa win-win-win situation.

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    As dawn broke, the chill over Yeshan Lake faded.

    Yun Li and Yun Hu sat on a boat, keeping a safe distance from the small vessel ahead of them.

    ¡°Say what you will about that old man¡ªhe¡¯s got some talent. He even tricked the princess into hard labor for days,¡± Yun Li remarked, amused.

    The princess had made so many buns that Chen Kangbao couldn¡¯t finish them all. He had even set up a stall to sell the extras.

    As her protector, Yun Li had bought some to sample.

    To her surprise, they were delicious.

    ¡°The Duke was surprised to hear about this but didn¡¯t object,¡± Yun Hu said.

    The previous day, the Duke himself had arrived at Yeshan Lake. Yun Hu reported the situation and brought some buns for him to try. After eating, the Duke approved of the experience.

    As long as his daughter wasn¡¯t in real danger, a bit of hardship could only do her good.

    ¡°The princess does seem more focused lately. Today, she looks even more motivated,¡± Yun Li observed.

    ¡°You don¡¯t think the old man is a real reclusive master, do you?¡± Yun Li mused aloud.

    ¡°How could he be? He¡¯s clearly eccentric. If he were a real master, why would the princess be talking to fish as if they could understand her?¡± Yun Hu retorted.

    Earlier, their boat had drifted close enough to overhear the princess speaking to a fish.

    She had asked it where the malevolent fish were hiding and even requested its guidance to defeat the evil specters.

    It was utterly absurd.

    For one, ordinary fish couldn¡¯t possibly be malevolent specters.

    Yeshan Lake was home to the powerful Water Sovereign, a terrifying specter that wouldn¡¯t tolerate other malevolent beings in its domain.

    Second, even if there were cursed fish, how could a regular fish understand her and lead her there?

    It was laughable.

 Chapter 514: Envoys from the Central Lands, Did She Really Learn Real Skills?

    Chapter 514: Envoys from the Central Lands, Did She Really Learn Real Skills?

    Rippling waters shimmered under the sunlight after a rain, the surface of Yeshan Lake exuding a serene charm.

    A young girl held a kitchen knife in her hand, gazing at the fish in the water with a curious look.

    ¡°Is this a specter fish? It doesn¡¯t look any different from a normal fish.¡±

    ¡°Do bad guys ever walk around with the word ¡®bad¡¯ written on their foreheads?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, Old Knife!¡±

    The kitchen knife in her hand swung lightly, its movements embodying precision, swiftness, and sharpness to perfection.

    It must be said that cutting vegetables had dramatically improved Jiang Yunxi¡¯s combat proficiency.

    Born of noble lineage and raised with a golden spoon, Jiang Yunxi had virtually no real combat experience.

    Using a kitchen knife to chop vegetables had inadvertently become one of her few diligent exercises.

    ¡°You¡¯ve slain one specter fish. Gained minor experience points.¡±

    A cold, mechanical voice echoed. Jiang Yunxi blinked, puzzled.

    ¡°Who said that? I gain experience for killing fish? What kind of experience?¡±

    Jiang Yunxi kept chattering non-stop, her words flying out like firecrackers.

    ¡°Sorry, but the experience gained from killing specters is mine,¡± Qi Yuan responded truthfully.

    ¡°You get experience? What do I gain then?¡±

    ¡°You gain... experience in killing fish. It¡¯ll make you much faster when preparing fish for cooking in the future.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Stop standing there in a daze. There are plenty more specter fish in this lake. Hurry up and kill them.¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡±

    ¡°Watch out! If I hadn¡¯t turned just now, you¡¯d have chopped this boat in half!¡±

    ¡°Sorry!¡±

    ¡°Your technique is solid; you¡¯ve turned those specters into sashimi already.¡±

    ¡°Sashimi? That¡¯s just dead fish slices!¡±

    On Yeshan Lake, the battle unfolded continuously. Jiang Yunxi wielded her kitchen knife, slicing through the fish in the water one after another.

    Her expression was focused, her eyes gleaming with delight.

    To her, every specter deserved to die.

    Her unwavering determination was unseen by others.

    But that didn¡¯t matter. She would document this thrilling and perilous battle in her diary, capturing every heated moment.

    On another boat, Yun Li and Yun Hu sat observing from afar, swaying slightly as the motion of the waves made them feel queasy.

    ¡°The young lady... does have some ability.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s just venting her frustrations on a bunch of regular fish. That¡¯s all this is.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. They¡¯re just fish. As long as she doesn¡¯t go too far in and doesn¡¯t provoke the Water Sovereign, everything will be fine.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s getting dark. We should probably prepare to head back.¡±

    ¡°The young lady¡¯s afraid of the dark.¡±

    ...

    Deep beneath Yeshan Lake, a snake-like man slithered through the water, entering an underwater palace.

    If a Weapon Master were here, they would have immediately recognized him as a Bloodthorn elder.

    After all, Bloodthorn was infamous for their twisted methods of merging humans with specters.

    The Snake Elder entered the underwater palace, moving deeper into its recesses.

    The environment shifted; the surrounding water vanished as if held at bay by some mystical barrier, and the palace now appeared no different from one on land.

    A faint stench of blood, mingled with the metallic tang of rust, hung in the air.

    ¡°How are things progressing?¡± The Snake Elder twisted his body, his snake-like pupils cold and menacing.

    ¡°Reporting to the Elder: the specter blood concoction is nearly complete. However... one of the ¡®pets¡¯ we released earlier seems to have been slain by a young girl.¡±

    The gray-robed man who reported this trembled nervously.

    ¡°She was accompanied by two Earth-tier Weapon Masters, so we didn¡¯t dare to act.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± A sharp chill flashed in the Snake Elder¡¯s cold eyes. ¡°They¡¯ve been discovered? No... If that were the case, the Heavenly Sect wouldn¡¯t be this quiet. It must be a coincidence.¡±

    ¡°Continue to monitor the situation. Release more fish tomorrow. I want this entire water domain turned into a specter realm!¡±

    The Snake Elder¡¯s face twisted into a sinister grin, his expression sending shivers down spines.

    ¡°Once the specter realm takes form, and with the Water Sovereign¡¯s assistance, Jining Prefecture will fall completely under my control. Even if a Heaven-tier Weapon Master comes, they¡¯ll be powerless to stop me!¡±

    ...

    ¡°Today was another day of hard work. I slew many specter fish.

    Ah, I¡¯m truly amazing, quietly making contributions to the world, asking for neither recognition nor reward, and keeping my name hidden.¡±

    Jiang Yunxi carefully penned this self-praising note into her diary.

    At that moment, the usually silent kitchen knife spoke.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think the number of specter fish has been increasing lately?¡±

    Jiang Yunxi tilted her head in thought, her expression growing serious.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. There seem to be more and more specter fish. Killing them all feels impossible.¡±

    ¡°There are too many fish. Relying on just your hands, you can¡¯t kill them faster than they¡¯re multiplying.¡±

    ¡°Then what should I do?¡± Jiang Yunxi asked worriedly.

    ¡°You need to upgrade your gear.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Killing fish one by one is too slow. You need to shock them. A flash of lightning will kill them all at once!¡±

    While electrofishing might be unethical on Earth, in the Blue Mountain Realm, it wasn¡¯t illegal.

    And besides, it was specter fish she was targeting.

    ¡°How do I shock them?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. Get some special materials and help me evolve. Once I gain lightning attributes, electrofishing will be easy.¡±

    ¡°But these materials are rare and hard to come by. Usually, they¡¯re priceless,¡± Qi Yuan added.

    While Qi Yuan had money, some refining materials couldn¡¯t be bought easily.

    This naive ¡°wealthy miss¡± seemed to have all the right connections, though.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t have enough money, just ask the old man. He¡¯s loaded.¡±

    ¡°Alright, list the materials. I¡¯ll buy them tomorrow!¡± Jiang Yunxi responded earnestly.

    The next day, Jiang Yunxi didn¡¯t touch any vegetables. She packed the kitchen knife carefully, hung it from her belt, and made her way to the city.

    About an hour later, she stopped in front of a rustic-looking tower.

    This ancient structure, standing barely fifteen meters tall, appeared weathered and frail, as though a single gust of wind might bring it crumbling down.

    ¡°Fortunately, this lady is well-informed and knows about this branch of the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion. Their rare materials are far superior to those of the Artifact Forging Association.¡±

    With this thought, Jiang Yunxi strode confidently toward the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion.

    A young man stepped forward to block her path.

    ¡°This is a private area. Entry is prohibited.¡±

    Some branches of the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion did not permit public access or conduct open trade.

    ¡°I¡¯m a distinguished guest of the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion!¡± Jiang Yunxi presented a jade token.

    The young man¡¯s demeanor shifted immediately, replaced by a respectful and fawning smile.

    ¡°Please allow me to escort you to the treasure vault. What materials do you require?¡±

    The Heavenly Crafts Pavilion¡¯s treasure vaults, filled with rare items, were not open to just anyone. However, Jiang Yunxi¡¯s status as a VIP granted her special privileges.

    ¡°Lead the way.¡±

    In high spirits, Jiang Yunxi followed the young man into the building.

    ¡°Which god?¡±

    ¡°The Arbiter of Justice, also known as Shen Lin...¡±

    ¡°What? That one? I thought it was destroyed long ago!¡± Wang Qingyi exclaimed.

    The Heavenly Sect¡¯s founder had been said to share an enigmatic connection with a legendary Divine-tier artifact master known as Sheng Nu.

    Sheng Nu had once forged a mythical weapon called Shen Lin¡ªa weapon that no one else had ever laid eyes on.

    The weapon was said to have swept through evil like an unstoppable force, the mightiest treasure of the Rosha Empire.

    With a single invocation of ¡°Shen Lin,¡± all specters would be vanquished.

    Duke Zhanshan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics. But if we find even a hint of Shen Lin¡¯s whereabouts, informing them could earn their assistance. Perhaps then, they would act to save Jining Prefecture.¡±

    Wang Qingyi nodded gravely. ¡°I¡¯ll report this to the sect leader immediately. If Shen Lin truly appears in Jiangzhou, we must seize this opportunity.¡±

    The looming threat of the Water Sovereign was too great. Without the intervention of these Central Land envoys, Jining Prefecture¡¯s survival hung by a thread.

    Elsewhere in the manor, Qi Yuan spoke casually.

    ¡°In your travels, beware of anyone with the surname Ye. For example, your sister Ye Zhen. Does she happen to have any cousins or brothers?¡±

    ¡°Huh? I don¡¯t know. Why should I be cautious of people named Ye?¡±

    ¡°Those with the surname Ye often possess the destiny of a protagonist. They¡¯re naturally extraordinary. I¡¯ve heard of many famous individuals with that name.

    Ye Fan, Ye Chen, Ye Zhen, Ye Liucheng... Oh, and someone named Ye Bi Daxiong?¡± Qi Yuan said, as if imparting profound wisdom.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Yunxi hurriedly took notes.

    Elder Knife¡¯s advice was clearly invaluable.

    ¡°When you encounter such individuals, you have two choices: cut them down immediately, or cling to them for dear life.¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s tone was matter-of-fact. ¡°Alright, now take me and the materials to the old man. It¡¯s time for me to evolve.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Jiang Yunxi nodded eagerly. After a brief pause, she asked hesitantly, ¡°Once you evolve, if I hold you, will you electrocute me?¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯ll be fine,¡± Qi Yuan reassured her, somewhat exasperated. At least this ¡°host¡± had the sense to carry an umbrella in the rain.

    The following day brought a misty rain, cloaking the landscape in a light drizzle.

    Jiang Yunxi carried her upgraded kitchen knife with an expression of uncontainable excitement.

    ¡°With this knife, I¡¯m truly invincible!¡±

    Her giddiness showed no bounds.

    The day before, after steaming buns, she had used her knife to zap them all into perfection with an electric charge.

    It had filled her with a newfound confidence.

    Seated on a small boat, she cradled a fish in her hands.

    ¡°Little fish, show me where the bad specter fish are hiding!¡±

    The fish trembled briefly before diving into the water, leading Jiang Yunxi forward.

    Rising to her feet, Jiang Yunxi let the light rain fall upon her, unbothered by the chill.

    Suddenly, she pinched herself hard.

    ¡°Ouch!¡±

    ¡°Why are you pinching yourself?¡± Qi Yuan asked curiously.

    This ¡°host¡± was full of oddities.

    ¡°I want to make sure I¡¯m not hallucinating. How could I, of all people, be a heroine destined to save the world? What if this is all just a dream I¡¯m having as I die?¡±

    ¡°You overthink things. Once you¡¯re done saving the world, maybe you should write a novel about it.¡±

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°Me? I¡¯ll continue to enjoy my life. We¡¯re just passing figures in each other¡¯s stories,¡± Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    For some reason, Jiang Yunxi felt a pang of melancholy.

    She realized she was starting to grow attached to the ¡°companions¡± she had acquired along her journey.

    The lead fish stopped swimming.

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s eyes sharpened, rare killing intent flaring within them.

    ¡°Hmph! Specters, you dare run rampant here? Prepare to die!¡±

    Meanwhile, trailing behind, Yun Hu and Yun Li relaxed in their own boat.

    Thanks to a special artifact masking their presence, Jiang Yunxi had no idea they were following her.

    ¡°Every day she comes out here to kill fish. One day, she¡¯ll be known as the ¡®Specter-Slaying Maniac.¡¯ What a title!¡± Yun Hu joked.

    ¡°Wait a minute... Do you notice something strange about the fish up ahead?¡± Yun Li narrowed her eyes, peering forward. ¡°Get closer.¡±

    Yun Hu¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°Now that you mention it, there is something odd. Look at the fish ahead¡ªthey¡¯re packed together in dense clusters.¡±

    The water in front of Jiang Yunxi was pitch black with fish, swarming together unnaturally.

    ¡°Something¡¯s not right. Fish normally compete and even eat each other. Why are they all gathering like this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sensing the presence of specters. Wait... Are these fish actually specters?¡± Yun Hu¡¯s face paled.

    ¡°Damn it! The young lady is in danger! Let¡¯s move!¡± Yun Hu shouted urgently.

    But as the two approached, they witnessed a scene that stunned them to their cores.

    Standing on the small boat, Jiang Yunxi raised her kitchen knife. Though her expression was fierce, her voice was sweet.

    ¡°Specters, you dare challenge me? Die!¡±

    With a single swing of her blade, a thunderous explosion erupted.

    Sparks of lightning crackled through the air, and countless bolts of purple electricity surged across the water.

    Within moments, the entire area turned into a sea of lightning.

    Thousands¡ªtens of thousands¡ªof specter fish were stunned or killed in an instant.

    Jiang Yunxi stood there, kitchen knife in hand, like a goddess of thunder. Her single strike had obliterated everything in its wake.

    The water within a hundred meters of her boat roiled and boiled, as if it had been placed over a raging fire.

    The swarming specter fish were reduced to nothing more than floating corpses.

    As for the small lead fish, it leaped back into Jiang Yunxi¡¯s boat just in time.

    ¡°Well done. Today you¡¯ve learned a new recipe¡ªelectric water-boiled fish,¡± Qi Yuan quipped.

    As the lightning dissipated and the water gradually calmed, Jiang Yunxi trembled with excitement.

    ¡°I¡¯m... so strong!¡±

    From a distance, Yun Hu and Yun Li gawked, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

    ¡°What... What was that?¡±

    ¡°Did she... actually learn some real skills?¡±

    The two of them were utterly shaken.

    Even from hundreds of meters away, they could feel the terrifying power of the lightning. If they had been any closer, they would have been annihilated in an instant.

    But their young lady... She had stood in the center of it all, wielding a kitchen knife to unleash such devastation.

    The two exchanged glances, their minds reeling.

    When they looked back at the lake, the small boat and Jiang Yunxi were gone, leaving only a sea of specter fish corpses floating on the surface.

    The water was eerily calm, as though nothing had happened.

    If not for the floating fish, Yun Hu and Yun Li might have thought they had imagined the whole scene.

    Swallowing hard, Yun Hu muttered, ¡°The young lady has disappeared!¡±

    Yun Li clenched her fists. ¡°That knife... It¡¯s definitely no ordinary weapon. It must be a Heaven-tier artifact!¡±

    Even if Jiang Yunxi had improved, there was no way she could have unleashed such power on her own.

    Clearly, that knife was extraordinary.

    ¡°We¡¯ve lost sight of the young lady. This is bad!¡± Yun Hu said anxiously.

    ¡°We need to find her immediately. And this must be reported to the Duke!¡± Yun Li said firmly.

    Both of them realized the gravity of the situation.

    What had just happened wasn¡¯t just a minor event¡ªit was something that could shake the heavens.

 Chapter 515: Junior Sister, Consider the Bigger Picture!

    A lone small boat darted across the surface of Yeshan Lake, its speed startling as it cut through the water, leaving ripples in its wake.

    Jiang Yunxi stood at the helm, gripping her kitchen knife. Her small, delicate hand waved in the air.

    It was as if she were performing some sort of graceful, floral hand gesture.

    This unusual motion didn¡¯t lift her into the air but instead made her boat accelerate even faster.

    After slaughtering the specter fish in that section of the lake, Jiang Yunxi didn¡¯t pause. Following Qi Yuan¡¯s advice, she planned to push forward with all her might to exterminate as many specter fish as possible.

    ¡°The specter fish are growing in number. You need to kill more, aim straight for their lair, and catch them off guard!¡±

    That was what Qi Yuan had said to her.

    ¡°To become the world¡¯s greatest chef, having the world¡¯s greatest kitchen knife alone isn¡¯t enough. You need to chop up plenty of top-quality ingredients too.¡±

    Now, brimming with vigor and determination, Jiang Yunxi continued waving her hand, propelling her small boat deeper into Yeshan Lake.

    Suddenly, a massive ship came barreling through the water, cutting across her path and stopping her in her tracks.

    Onboard stood Xie Danran, clad in a green robe, exuding an air of arrogance. He gazed down at Jiang Yunxi and spoke in a detached tone: ¡°The area ahead is restricted territory in Yeshan Lake. Unauthorized individuals must not enter!¡±

    At this point, the Heavenly Sect had implemented several strategies to counter the Water Sovereign, including organizing the Artifact Forging Conference and sealing off major water areas to prevent the Water Sovereign from wreaking havoc.

    This restriction also served to keep ill-intentioned individuals from entering the lake¡¯s depths to conspire with the Water Sovereign.

    After all, there was no shortage of people in this world who wanted to bring about its destruction.

    Upon seeing a stranger, Xie Danran immediately moved to intercept her.

    In fact, he had acted so recklessly that his massive ship almost capsized Jiang Yunxi¡¯s small boat.

    Luckily, Jiang Yunxi reacted quickly. Even so, her hair was soaked through, water dripping from her strands.

    ¡°Hey, how are you steering this boat? If I were just an ordinary fisherman, you¡¯d have capsized me, and I¡¯d be drowning in Yeshan Lake by now!¡± Jiang Yunxi shouted angrily.

    Xie Danran cast a sideways glance at her. Seeing her dressed as a chef, with a floral-patterned apron tied around her waist, he raised his chin and said smugly, ¡°A fisherman can swim¡ªthey won¡¯t drown. Besides... aren¡¯t you fine?¡±

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s anger flared.

    ¡°If you knew what I¡¯m doing here, you¡¯d be scared out of your wits!¡±

    Jiang Yunxi placed her hands on her hips.

    ¡°Hah...¡± Xie Danran sneered as if looking at a fool.

    His condescending attitude made Jiang Yunxi¡¯s blood boil.

    At this moment, she finally understood the plight of those protagonists in stories who set out to save the world but were misunderstood and mocked along the way.

    The protagonists would always have the option to explain themselves, but often chose not to.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not like them!¡± Jiang Yunxi declared. ¡°This place is crawling with specters, and I¡¯m here to exterminate them and save the world! Don¡¯t block my way!¡±

    Xie Danran sized her up again, his smirk deepening into outright ridicule. ¡°You¡¯ve just stepped into the Xuan-tier, and you¡¯re already talking about saving the world? With the Heavenly Sect guarding this area, how could there possibly be specters around?¡±

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s heart sank, her chest tightening with grievance.

    So this is what being misunderstood feels like?

    She was clearly here to save the world, yet this arrogant man was standing in her way.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed in her ears.

    ¡°If he tries to stop you, cut him down with a single strike. This arrogant NPC is getting on my nerves.¡±

    Now that the kitchen knife¡¯s integration progress had reached two-thirds, Qi Yuan no longer felt like a mere tool. His senses had grown sharper than ever.

    Long before they arrived here, he had already sensed Xie Danran pestering his wife.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, on a distant ship, Shen Lingxuan stood in her blue gown, her elegant and serene demeanor exuding a frosty charm.

    Beside her stood Ye Zhen, who frowned and said, ¡°That person... looks like Yunxi. Why is she here?¡±

    She gestured, and their ship glided forward under her command.

    ¡°Yunxi, is that you? What are you doing here?¡± Ye Zhen called out as their ship approached, her expression curious.

    Hearing this, Xie Danran was taken aback. ¡°You know her?¡±

    His gaze toward Jiang Yunxi shifted upon realizing this.

    ¡°So it was a misunderstanding,¡± Xie Danran said, quickly adopting a more deferential tone.

    Ye Zhen was the granddaughter of the Heavenly Crafting Hall''s elder, a person of considerable standing.

    When Jiang Yunxi noticed Xie Danran¡¯s change in attitude, she scoffed inwardly. Though she held her kitchen knife tightly, she ultimately didn¡¯t act on Qi Yuan¡¯s suggestion.

    ¡°Ye Zhen-sis, I came here to... kill some fish!¡±

    She pointed at Xie Danran. ¡°But he stopped me!¡±

    Ye Zhen chuckled and said, ¡°The Heavenly Sect has placed defenses here to prevent evildoers from entering and to keep ordinary people from wandering in. But you¡¯re an exception, Yunxi. If you want to kill fish, feel free. By the way, Duke Zhanshan is in the waters just ten miles ahead.¡±

    Hearing this, Xie Danran offered no rebuttal.

    What Ye Zhen said was true. However, Xie Danran had been shirking his duties, adopting a lazy, one-size-fits-all approach to enforcement.

    In his mind, it was easier to simply bar everyone.

    ¡°My father is in the area?¡± Jiang Yunxi¡¯s face lit up with delight. ¡°Ye Zhen-sis, I¡¯d love to chat, but I¡¯m in a hurry. I¡¯ll go on ahead.¡±

    Without further ado, she sped off toward the lake¡¯s depths.

    Watching her retreating figure, Xie Danran muttered, ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of Duke Zhanshan? Just as they say¡ªnai?ve and foolish to the extreme.¡±

    Ye Zhen shot him a glare. ¡°Duke Zhanshan is just ahead. Perhaps you¡¯d like to share that sentiment with him directly?¡±

    Xie Danran shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°She claimed Yeshan Lake was crawling with specters and that she was here to save the world. Ridiculous.¡±

    He laughed scornfully. ¡°With the Heavenly Sect keeping watch here, where would specters even come from?¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Senior Brother, something¡¯s wrong! Specters have been spotted in the water!¡±

    Before he could finish speaking, a young man darted over, skimming the lake¡¯s surface like a dragonfly. He landed squarely on Xie Danran¡¯s ship.

    Xie Danran¡¯s face froze. The irony was almost too much.

    Yet he didn¡¯t dare to ignore the matter. ¡°What kind of specter?¡± he asked urgently.

    Even Shen Lingxuan and Ye Zhen turned their attention to the newcomer.

    ¡°Fish specters!¡± The young man took out a small, lifeless fish from his storage artifact.

    The fish was no larger than a minnow, but its eyes gleamed with an inky darkness.

    ¡°This specter¡¯s aura is weak¡ªit¡¯s newly born, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ye Zhen surmised, her expression turning grave.

    ¡°It is indeed a newly spawned specter,¡± the young man confirmed. ¡°This situation... is highly unusual.¡±

    The room grew tense.

    ¡°This must be reported to the sect immediately. Something isn¡¯t right!¡±

    ¡°Why would specters appear out of nowhere? Could this be Bloodthorn¡¯s doing?¡±

    ¡°Is there a spirit-nurturing ground hidden here?¡±

    ¡°Where there¡¯s one specter, there are bound to be more!¡±

    The crowd grew increasingly anxious.

    Even dealing with a single Water Sovereign was a monumental task. If Bloodthorn was involved, it would spell catastrophe for the Heavenly Sect.

    Half a day later, on a grand dragon boat.

    Powerful figures gathered.

    Standing at the helm was the Grieving Wind Hand Wei Kun, his expression solemn. "It seems you¡¯ve all heard the news by now: over a hundred specter fish have been discovered in Yeshan Lake."

    Wei Kun was ranked in the top twenty of Ning Kingdom¡¯s Earth Rankings and among the top three experts of the Heavenly Sect.

    His strength had reached the peak of the Earth-tier Weapon Master realm, making him the most formidable individual present.

    ¡°Alas, we¡¯ve yet to deal with the Water Sovereign. And now, with traces of Bloodthorn involved, this situation grows increasingly dire.¡± The patriarch of the Tu family sighed heavily, his aged face full of worry.

    <hr>

    But others frowned deeply, sensing where this was going.

    Xie Danran turned his gaze toward Shen Lingxuan, his eyes burning with determination.

    If I can¡¯t have her, that worthless husband of hers won¡¯t either!

    ¡°Junior Sister Shen Lingxuan possesses the Profound Yin Physique, an unparalleled constitution. If an Earth-tier Weapon Master were to pair with her, they could comprehend the unity of heaven and earth and ascend to the Heaven-tier.

    "Even Heaven-tier Weapon Masters could deepen their enlightenment by pairing with her.

    ¡°Why not offer Junior Sister Shen as a tribute to the Heaven-tier Weapon Masters from Rosha? With this treasure, they would certainly act on our behalf!¡±

    Xie Danran''s impassioned words echoed through the gathering like a thunderclap.

    ¡°Junior Sister, this is for the greater good,¡± he said, feigning reluctance as he turned to Shen Lingxuan. ¡°Please do not blame me. This is all for the sake of the Heavenly Sect, for the millions of innocent lives at stake.¡±

    The moment he finished speaking, an uproar ensued.

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s Profound Yin Physique was not a well-guarded secret. This extraordinary constitution was highly coveted, drawing the attention of countless powerful figures.

    Yet due to her not having fully stepped into the Earth-tier Weapon Master realm, the true potential of her physique had not yet been unlocked. Coupled with the protection of the Shen family and the Heavenly Sect, Shen Lingxuan had remained safe¡ªuntil now.

    ¡°Xie Danran, do you even realize what you¡¯re saying?¡± Shen Wanshan, the head of the Shen family, bellowed furiously. His eyes burned with rage, and his entire demeanor radiated killing intent.

    Xie Danran ignored Shen Wanshan¡¯s fury and looked at Shen Lingxuan with feigned sorrow. ¡°Junior Sister, you¡¯ve always carried the weight of the people in your heart. I beg you to consider the greater picture, to endure this sacrifice for the sake of countless lives.

    "Pairing with a Heaven-tier Weapon Master won¡¯t harm your life, and at most... it¡¯s just your chastity. Wouldn¡¯t it be better than wasting your body on that useless husband of yours?¡±

    His words were shameless yet spoken with such conviction that a few people in the crowd nodded, albeit uncomfortably.

    ¡°Xie Danran, why don¡¯t you sacrifice yourself, then?¡± Ye Zhen couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. Her eyes narrowed, and her tone dripped with mockery.

    Xie Danran stood unflinching. ¡°If the Heaven-tier Weapon Masters from Rosha fancy me, I would gladly offer myself! For the greater good, for the people, I¡¯d give anything!¡±

    His shameless declaration was made with dramatic fervor, his eyes gleaming with self-sacrifice.

    ¡°You truly are despicable, Xie Danran,¡± Ye Zhen spat, her disgust evident.

    Others in the crowd began murmuring.

    ¡°Well... the Profound Yin Physique is an extremely rare treasure...¡±

    ¡°It could indeed entice even the Heaven-tier Weapon Masters from Rosha. Who wouldn¡¯t be moved?¡±

    ¡°While this plan is ruthless, it may be our only choice...¡±

    Shen Wanshan¡¯s fists tightened. His voice thundered through the gathering: ¡°Xie Danran! If you dare to bring up such nonsense again, I¡¯ll carve your tongue out myself!¡±

    But despite Shen Wanshan¡¯s fury, some present seemed swayed by Xie Danran¡¯s words.

    ¡°I object to this proposal,¡± came a commanding voice.

    All eyes turned to Tu Family Patriarch Tu Zhong, who stepped forward with an air of authority.

    ¡°Sacrificing an innocent young woman to buy peace? What kind of Heavenly Sect are we if we resort to such barbaric tactics?¡± Tu Zhong declared. His voice carried a weight that silenced many murmurs.

    Shen Wanshan cast Tu Zhong a glance filled with gratitude, though inwardly he found it puzzling. The Shen and Tu families had always been rivals. Why was Tu Zhong standing up for them now?

    The truth lay with Young Master Tu San, who had tugged at his father¡¯s sleeve moments before. ¡°Father, don¡¯t let Xie Danran¡¯s vile plan go through,¡± Tu San had whispered. ¡°Trust me on this. The reasons are complicated, but I know for certain that if this happens, our entire Ning Kingdom will face unimaginable consequences.¡±

    Tu Zhong had immediately understood the gravity of his son¡¯s plea.

    ¡°Sacrificing one life to save millions?¡± Xie Danran asked in mock defiance. ¡°I would gladly lay down my own life if I could! Shen Lingxuan, please consider the greater good!¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Tu Zhong suddenly laughed coldly. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you sacrifice yourself first, Xie Danran? I won¡¯t stop you. You claim your own life is unimportant compared to the people¡¯s? Prove it!¡±

    Xie Danran¡¯s face turned pale.

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Afraid to die?¡± Tu Zhong¡¯s tone sharpened as he pressed on, his words cutting through the room like a blade. ¡°You speak of sacrificing one life for the greater good, yet when asked to sacrifice your own, you falter. Are you truly so cowardly? Or was this all a facade to advance your own petty schemes?¡±

    The disdain in Tu Zhong¡¯s voice was palpable, and it drew smirks and laughter from the crowd.

    ¡°Senior Brother Xie, you should try ¡®sacrificing¡¯ yourself first,¡± someone jeered.

    ¡°Yes, lead by example! Isn¡¯t that what true heroes do?¡± another chimed in mockingly.

    The pressure mounted. Xie Danran¡¯s face flushed red with embarrassment and frustration.

    Eventually, Wei Kun raised a hand to restore order. ¡°Enough,¡± he said sharply. ¡°This matter will be shelved for now.¡±

    Though his tone carried authority, his gaze lingered briefly on Xie Danran, filled with thinly veiled contempt.

    As the commotion subsided, two figures burst into the hall.

    ¡°Your Grace! Terrible news!¡±

    It was Yun Li and Yun Hu, two trusted servants of Duke Zhanshan.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Duke Zhanshan demanded, his expression tense.

    ¡°Miss Yunxi... she...¡±

    Duke Zhanshan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What happened to Yunxi?¡±

    ¡°Miss Yunxi... she¡¯s killed a lot of fish!¡± Yun Li exclaimed breathlessly.

    ¡°...¡± Duke Zhanshan blinked, confused.

    ¡°No, no, I misspoke!¡± Yun Li quickly corrected himself. ¡°She¡¯s electrocuted a lot of fish and then disappeared into the depths of Yeshan Lake!¡±

    Duke Zhanshan covered his face with his hand. ¡°...That foolish girl.¡±

    <hr>

    Deep within Yeshan Lake.

    A small wooden boat glided across the water.

    Jiang Yunxi stood at the helm, her knife in hand, slicing and hacking away with ferocity.

    ¡°ZAP! ZAP!¡± Purple lightning sparked through the waters. Hundreds, if not thousands, of specter fish perished in her wake.

    ¡°You¡¯ve slain a specter fish. Your experience has slightly increased.¡±

    Yunxi¡¯s strikes were relentless, her spirits high. ¡°Old Knife! These fish are too weak¡ªthey¡¯re not even worth my effort!¡±

    ¡°I agree. This method is far too slow. Let¡¯s go to their nest and wipe them all out in one go,¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed calmly from the knife.

    At 80% synchronization, Qi Yuan¡¯s control over the knife had grown significantly stronger.

    He estimated that exterminating the specter fish or crafting a dish of unmatched quality might push his synchronization to 100%, granting him new rewards and unlocking the next character role.

    This next stage of his journey filled him with anticipation.

    Currently, Qi Yuan had reached the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, and his grasp over his Yin God Dao was becoming increasingly profound.

    To create, one must first understand all things.

    To shape life, one must understand the myriad beings of the world.

    Without creation, how could one dare call themselves a god?

    ¡°Complete annihilation? That means facing the Water Sovereign directly, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Yunxi¡¯s face turned pale, her courage waning.

    ¡°How confident are you?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°I... I don¡¯t have a single shred of confidence,¡± Yunxi stammered.

    ¡°That means you have 99% confidence,¡± Qi Yuan declared. ¡°Not bad. As expected of the chef I¡¯ve chosen. Let¡¯s go¡ªtogether, we¡¯ll take down the Water Sovereign!¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ªwhat?¡± Yunxi blushed, unsure how to respond.

    Before she could explain, Qi Yuan acted.

    With a sudden motion, the boat flipped, throwing Yunxi into the lake.

    ¡°Confidence, Yunxi! Push through your limits! The world is counting on you!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice echoed like a motivational chant.

    Yunxi flailed in the water, her knife gripped tightly. ¡°Wait, Old Knife! Are we really doing this?¡±

    ¡°Specters are just oversized ingredients. Chop them up and turn them into dumplings for old man Zhanshan!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s tone was calm and encouraging.

    Underwater, Yunxi clenched her teeth. ¡°Okay... I¡¯ll do it!¡±

 Chapter 516: Jiang Yunxi Was Here!

    In the underwater palace, Elder Water Serpent twisted his body, his face twisted with both ferocity and excitement as he looked at the endless stream of specter fish before him.

    "Once this plan succeeds, with the merit I¡¯ve earned here, I may be transferred to the core of the headquarters, and eventually... even ascend beyond this world to truly become one of them!"

    As this thought crossed his mind, Elder Water Serpent''s expression grew frenzied.

    Behind Bloodthorn lies an ancient and incomprehensibly powerful organization.

    It is said that joining them grants immortality, a state of eternal existence untouched by death or decay.

    And this immortality is not like the mere prolonged existence of specter creatures.

    In fact, it¡¯s said that the emergence of specter creatures in the Blue Mountain Realm and across other realms is closely tied to this mysterious organization.

    "Elder, the specter fish are multiplying rapidly. Over time, this entire region will become a haven for specter fish!"

    The gray-robed elder spoke with reverence, his half-transformed body bearing an uncanny resemblance to a specter. The gills on his face flared open and closed as he spoke, lending him a terrifying visage.

    "However... recently, it seems that many newly created specter fish have been killed. Some have even been discovered by the Heavenly Sect!" The gray-robed elder''s voice carried a trace of unease.

    "So what if they¡¯re discovered? With this many specter fish, some deaths are inevitable. As long as we continue producing them, it doesn¡¯t matter if some are killed. It¡¯s like spilling a cup of water into the ocean," Elder Water Serpent said dismissively.

    "You¡¯re absolutely right, Elder," the gray-robed elder agreed.

    "How many were killed¡ªdozens? Hundreds?" Elder Water Serpent asked casually.

    "Approximately... seventy thousand," the gray-robed elder answered.

    "Seventy... wait, what? Seventy thousand?" Elder Water Serpent''s expression twisted in shock. "Nearly all the ones we released are dead? How is that possible?"

    These seventy thousand specter fish, perfectly suited for water, were incredibly agile. Even an Earth-tier Weapon Master would struggle to kill them all.

    "Who did this?" Elder Water Serpent demanded, unease creeping into his heart.

    "I don¡¯t know," the gray-robed elder replied, shaking his head.

    "Could there be an unexpected variable?" Elder Water Serpent¡¯s body writhed in agitation. Then, after a moment, he shook his head. "The Weilong Xuanyuan is broken, and with the current strength of the Ning Kingdom, no one poses a threat to the Water Sovereign. Even if something unexpected has occurred, it¡¯s of no concern."

    Reassuring himself, Elder Water Serpent let out a breath of relief.

    The Water Sovereign was his ultimate trump card.

    In Yeshan Lake, the Water Sovereign was the unquestioned king.

    Without the Weilong Xuanyuan repaired, even the Heavenly Sect¡¯s Dao Leader would find no victory here.

    "Keep monitoring the specter fish leaving this place. Inform me immediately if anything unusual happens," Elder Water Serpent ordered.

    "Understood... Elder, bad news! The thirty thousand specter fish we just released... are gone!"

    "What?"

    "Just now, another twenty thousand were wiped out as well!" The gray-robed elder¡¯s forehead was slick with cold sweat.

    The specter fish created here were being funneled out into Yeshan Lake through a steady current. Their numbers reached the hundreds of thousands.

    But now, those leaving were being slaughtered en masse.

    The gray-robed elder trembled with fear, as if some unfathomable power had stationed itself at the exit, killing specter fish as they emerged.

    "It seems... the moment they leave, they¡¯re killed," the gray-robed elder said shakily, wiping the sweat from his brow.

    Elder Water Serpent''s expression darkened. "Someone is stationed at the exit? Or... is there some other factor at play?"

    He couldn¡¯t make sense of it.

    "Let¡¯s go and check it out!" Elder Water Serpent made his decision without hesitation, leading the gray-robed elder toward the fish outlet.

    At the same time, at the very outlet, Jiang Yunxi stood with her knife in hand, her face glowing with joy.

    "I didn¡¯t expect specter creatures to be so easy to kill!"

    Standing motionless, she had merely placed her knife into the pool at the exit. She just waited as the specter fish swam into the pool.

    The knife was wreathed in lightning, buzzing and crackling constantly.

    Every specter fish that swam into the pool was electrocuted to death, its lifeless body carried into Yeshan Lake.

    "This is what being a true chef is all about. Knife in hand, turning Yeshan Lake into a giant pot and frying fish," Qi Yuan said with amusement.

    "Don¡¯t just stand here electrocuting fish. To be a qualified chef, you must also debone, descale, and remove the spines," Qi Yuan reminded her.

    "Old Knife, you have a point, but who would dare eat this fish?" Jiang Yunxi asked. Sometimes, her head wasn¡¯t completely empty.

    After all, no one would dare to eat specter fish.

    Still, she followed Qi Yuan¡¯s advice, methodically deboning the electrocuted fish.

    "The old man will eat them," Qi Yuan replied seriously.

    Even the winged serpent elder had become a snack for Chen Kangbao, so these fried fish were hardly a problem.

    "Old Knife, there are so many of them. Good thing you¡¯re here¡ªit¡¯s so easy to kill them without any effort!" Jiang Yunxi said, delighted as she cheerfully swung the knife to slice the fish.

    But suddenly, Jiang Yunxi¡¯s pupils contracted, her body trembling with fear.

    "Old Knife, have you ever seen an old man with a fish head?"

    "A fish-headed man?" Qi Yuan seemed amused. "I¡¯ve seen fish-headed women, shrimp-headed men, and shrimp-headed women, but a fish-headed man is a first."

    In his time exploring the Mountains and Seas Scroll in Gongxing, Qi Yuan had encountered aquatic beings like Yuxiang Fish Maidens, some of whom boasted impressive physiques.

    "And who are you?"

    The words came from Elder Water Serpent, his voice tinged with fury as he stared at Jiang Yunxi.

    Her hand was holding a knife, and the lightning on the blade was frying any specter fish that got near.

    "A talking snake?" Jiang Yunxi was shocked. Then, realizing something, she spoke, "You¡¯re an elder of Bloodthorn?"

    Her face turned pale with fright.

    In the storybooks she¡¯d read, Bloodthorn was always depicted as a terrifying villain¡ªboth evil and powerful.

    Could this endless tide of specter fish be the work of a Bloodthorn elder?

    "Knife Spirit, what do we do? This is a Bloodthorn elder, the kind of big villain that terrorizes the world!"

    "Villain? Looks more like high-quality ingredients to me," Qi Yuan transmitted calmly. "You¡¯re a chef, a chef destined to save the world. How can you hesitate when faced with fine ingredients?"

    "Ingredients?" Jiang Yunxi hesitated.

    Meanwhile, Elder Water Serpent¡¯s eyes sparkled as they fixed on her knife. "What kind of weapon is that? Could it be a legendary Heaven-tier artifact?"

    From a glance, Jiang Yunxi¡¯s abilities were laughable¡ªmerely at the Xuan-tier level.

    But the knife in her hand was extraordinary. Lightning crackled across it, and every specter fish that touched it died instantly.

    This was not a power an Earth-tier weapon could possess. It had to be a Heaven-tier artifact!

    Elder Water Serpent felt like he had struck gold. First, the Water Sovereign. Now, this artifact.

    Could it be that destiny itself was favoring him?

    Just then, the unexpected happened.

    The knife... spoke.

    "Soulless gods, thorn-covered blood. I am the Debt Collector Knife. Hand over your silver!"

    "What...?" Elder Water Serpent froze in disbelief.

    <hr> <hr>

    ¡°What is that scent? It smells... burnt,¡± one of the Earth-tier Weapon Masters remarked, furrowing his brows.

    ¡°It¡¯s blood. But there¡¯s something strange about it,¡± another replied, his voice low and cautious.

    ¡°Stay vigilant,¡± Wei Kun warned.

    As they pressed on, the enormity of the underwater palace came into full view. The intricate architecture hinted at its use as a significant base for Bloodthorn.

    One of the elders touched the walls, examining the structure carefully. "This palace has existed for at least three decades," he muttered, astonished.

    ¡°What? Three decades?¡± Another elder¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That means Bloodthorn has been planning this for thirty years! This wasn¡¯t just opportunistic meddling!¡±

    The group fell silent, the weight of this revelation sinking in.

    If Bloodthorn¡¯s schemes had been in motion for so long, then everything¡ªthe appearance of the specter fish, the rise of the Water Sovereign¡ªmight have been carefully orchestrated.

    Wei Kun¡¯s expression darkened as he gripped his weapon tighter. ¡°Move quickly. We can¡¯t let this continue any longer.¡±

    They advanced deeper into the palace, but within moments, they froze.

    A mountain of corpses blocked their path.

    The pile was made up of countless specter fish, their lifeless bodies piled high in a grotesque heap.

    ¡°What... what happened here?¡± one of the Weapon Masters stammered.

    ¡°This must be the work of someone¡ªor something,¡± Wei Kun said, his tone grim.

    But as they moved closer, something else caught their attention. Lying amidst the specter fish corpses were several human bodies.

    Wei Kun knelt to examine one of them. His face hardened.

    ¡°It¡¯s Elder Water Serpent.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± The others crowded around.

    Sure enough, the body belonged to Elder Water Serpent, one of Bloodthorn¡¯s most notorious figures. His serpent-like body was severed cleanly in two, his expression frozen in disbelief.

    ¡°This is impossible. Elder Water Serpent was at the peak of the Earth tier,¡± an elder said, his voice trembling. ¡°Who could have killed him so easily?¡±

    The precision of the cut left no doubt. This wasn¡¯t the result of a chaotic battle or even infighting.

    ¡°Keep moving,¡± Wei Kun ordered.

    As the group advanced, the palace revealed even more horrors.

    The floor was littered with the bodies of specter fish, specter shrimp, and other grotesque creatures bred by Bloodthorn.

    Among them were dozens¡ªno, hundreds¡ªof Bloodthorn operatives, all slain. Each one bore the same clean, precise wounds.

    ¡°Someone massacred them,¡± one of the Weapon Masters muttered, his voice barely audible.

    ¡°And not just anyone,¡± Wei Kun added. ¡°This kind of precision... This was the work of a master.¡±

    The deeper they ventured, the more the tension grew. The sheer number of corpses was overwhelming, and the silence of the palace only made it worse.

    Three hours passed as they navigated the labyrinthine corridors.

    The dead seemed endless.

    Suddenly, Wei Kun froze, his sharp eyes narrowing as he spotted something ahead.

    ¡°Wait...¡±

    The group rushed forward and stopped dead in their tracks.

    Lying before them was an enormous, grotesque creature, its size dwarfing everything around it.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Water Sovereign,¡± Wei Kun whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.

    The massive entity lay dead, its flesh mangled, its body torn apart. Its enormous eye¡ªa grotesque, crystalline orb¡ªwas shattered, and a gaping wound ran along its neck.

    ¡°It¡¯s... dead,¡± one of the elders said, his voice shaking.

    ¡°How? This thing was invincible in Yeshan Lake! Even a Heaven-tier Weapon Master couldn¡¯t kill it here!¡±

    The sheer presence of the Water Sovereign¡¯s corpse left everyone stunned.

    The monster that had terrorized Jining Prefecture for so long, the reason for their despair, was now nothing more than a lifeless heap of flesh.

    ¡°Who could have done this?¡±

    Wei Kun examined the wound closely, his hands trembling. The cut was clean, precise, and filled with a residual energy unlike anything he¡¯d seen before.

    ¡°This happened only a few hours ago,¡± Wei Kun murmured.

    The realization sent shivers down their spines. Whoever had done this was still close.

    ¡°Look!¡± one of the Weapon Masters suddenly shouted, pointing at the back of the Water Sovereign¡¯s corpse.

    Everyone turned to see strange markings etched into the creature¡¯s flesh.

    As they moved closer, the markings became clear.

    ¡°¡®The World¡¯s Greatest Chef, Savior of Ning Kingdom... Jiang Yunxi. Slaying a major villain. Visiting the underwater palace!¡¯¡±

    The words were bold, playful, and entirely out of place.

    Silence fell over the group as they stared at the inscription.

    All eyes turned toward Duke Zhenshan.

    ¡°...That¡¯s her handwriting,¡± the Duke finally said, his voice faint.

    ¡°Jiang Yunxi... killed the Water Sovereign?¡± one of the Heavenly Sect elders asked, his tone filled with disbelief.

    The Duke¡¯s mind was reeling.

    He thought back to his daughter¡¯s antics¡ªthe stories of her cooking lessons, her ridiculous declarations of saving the world, and her obsession with a talking knife.

    He had always dismissed it as youthful foolishness.

    But now...

    Could it be true?

    Had his daughter, Jiang Yunxi, truly achieved what an entire kingdom couldn¡¯t?

    The Heavenly Sect elders exchanged uneasy glances.

    ¡°This... This can¡¯t be real, can it?¡±

    The Duke said nothing. He was as stunned as they were.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, on a small boat drifting across Yeshan Lake, Jiang Yunxi stood proudly, her green dress fluttering in the wind. In her hand, she held the now-iconic knife.

    ¡°How amazing am I, huh?¡± she asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

    ¡°Very amazing,¡± Qi Yuan replied dryly.

    ¡°Hehe, who would have thought that Jiang Yunxi could one day be the protagonist of her own epic tale?¡± She puffed out her chest with pride, grinning from ear to ear.

    But then, as if remembering something, her expression turned a bit shy. She glanced down at the knife.

    ¡°Um... Knife Master... Today¡¯s my birthday, you know.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the knife master,¡± Qi Yuan retorted flatly.

    ¡°Are you mad at me? I mean... I guess I could have added your name to the inscription. Like, ¡®Jiang Yunxi and Old Knife, visiting the underwater palace together.¡¯¡± She peeked at the knife nervously, her confidence wavering.

 Chapter 517: The Blind Artifact Master and the Glorious Jiang Yunxi

    Chapter 517: The Blind Artifact Master and the Glorious Jiang Yunxi

    ¡°Your birthday? What a coincidence.¡±

    ¡°Killing demons and eliminating evildoers on your birthday, you¡¯re really starting to look like a protagonist.¡±

    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll stay...¡±

    The voice gradually faded over the waters of Yeshan Lake.

    Roughly two hours later.

    A pale, delicate hand held a slender brush as crooked, uneven characters sprawled across the fine paper.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t written in my diary for the past few days because I was doing something incredibly meaningful!¡±

    ¡°...The knife spun in my hand, lightning surged like a tidal wave, and wherever my gaze landed, specters fell in droves!¡±

    ¡°The final boss, the dreaded Water Sovereign, a powerful specter that terrorized the land, couldn¡¯t even struggle against the might of my heroic blade.

    In its last moments before life faded away, the Water Sovereign revealed its tragic tale to me.

    It turns out it was once a human, a disciple of the Heavenly Sect, and it even had a childhood friend and senior brother it deeply cared for.

    But during an adventure outside the sect, it unfortunately met its end. When it woke again, it was no longer human...¡±

    ¡°See? Every great villain has a moving backstory.¡±

    Jiang Yunxi set her pen down and glanced at the knife lying beside her, feeling both delighted and regretful.

    It was a pity the knife hadn¡¯t shattered in her arms, dripping with its own lifeblood, or that she hadn¡¯t lost an eye or a leg. Only then would her journey as a savior feel truly legendary, something unforgettable.

    Although her diary painted this journey as fraught with peril and filled with bloody battles, the reality was that she had breezed through it with no danger at all.

    ¡°Turns out the savior I wrote about is far more interesting than what actually happened.¡±

    At that moment, Jiang Yunxi was completely absorbed in her writing.

    ¡°Is it because reality was too smooth and easy, so it feels... lacking in flair?¡±

    ¡°Old Knife, what are you doing?¡± she asked, her thoughts wandering again. She turned to glance at Qi Yuan.

    ¡°I¡¯m reflecting on the gains from this experience.¡±

    Qi Yuan responded curtly, offering no further explanation.

    What he said was half true and half false.

    At that moment, his emotions were complicated.

    ¡°The reward for completing the roleplay... turned out to be wood.¡±

    The first rewards for playing as the knife had been related to the sharpness of iron. The subsequent rewards had similarly enhanced his physical durability, granting him a body comparable to a Heaven-tier artifact.

    But now that the roleplay was complete, the reward was ¡°the vitality of wood.¡±

    An immense, inexhaustible vitality filled Qi Yuan¡¯s body.

    ¡°So, does this wood... represent the knife handle?¡±

    That was the only conclusion Qi Yuan could draw.

    The final reward seemed connected to the knife handle.

    ¡°Originally, I was more of a skill-focused fighter. But with this incredibly durable body, I became an unstoppable force. Now, with this boundless vitality, I¡¯ve truly become... unkillable.¡±

    This reward was undeniably valuable.

    The seemingly endless vitality worked in tandem with his ability Death¡¯s Radiance, enabling him to unleash tremendous power when surrounded by enemies.

    If he were besieged by opponents of similar strength, he could feasibly achieve invincibility.

    [Knife roleplay complete. Fourth character unlocked.]

    [Fourth character: The Blind Artifact Master.]

    Suddenly, an influx of information poured into Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    The Blind Artifact Master had been born blind. His parents, poor and unable to care for a blind infant, abandoned him in a river one stormy night.

    Miraculously, the child survived, floating into the mountains, where an old man found him and took him in.

    The old man was a failed apprentice artifact master who had spent his life dreaming of becoming a true master.

    Unable to achieve his own ambitions, he pinned all his hopes on the blind child.

    When the Blind Artifact Master turned seven, the old man passed away, leaving behind a lifelong regret.

    This regret became a heart demon for the Blind Artifact Master, who vowed to achieve his mentor¡¯s unfulfilled dream.

    His talent was extraordinary; he possessed a prodigious memory and mastered various artifact crafting techniques with ease.

    But he was blind.

    Despite seeking out the best medical experts, his blindness was deemed incurable.

    Being blind was an insurmountable obstacle to artifact crafting.

    Even with his immense talent, the Blind Artifact Master was unable to progress beyond the Heaven tier.

    His greatest wish was to become a Divine-tier Artifact Master¡ªor even greater¡ªto see the world from the highest peak.

    ¡°Now, this is the kind of story that gets my blood pumping. Compared to that useless son-in-law Qi Yuan... what a waste.¡±

    Qi Yuan mused, already forming his own theories.

    When this game world had collapsed, he had infused it with his lifeblood, preserving it from total destruction.

    The roles he was now playing seemed to be manifestations of that lifeblood.

    Still, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help marveling at the diversity of his bloodline.

    It had given rise to not only the pitiful son-in-law but also a sentient knife.

    Thankfully, there was now the Blind Artifact Master¡ªa figure of true potential.

    As Qi Yuan delved deeper into the Blind Artifact Master¡¯s memories, countless crafting techniques and repair methods flooded his mind.

    ¡°Master Xie, please enter. The Lady is waiting for you.¡±

    Xie Danran offered a polite bow and followed her inside.

    His mind was a whirlwind of emotions.

    Only a few days ago, he had encountered this seemingly foolish noblewoman by Yeshan Lake.

    At the time, they had clashed.

    She had claimed she was destined to save the world, insisting he let her pass.

    He had dismissed her words with disdain, silently mocking her arrogance.

    But now, against all odds, she had slain the Water Sovereign.

    ¡°Jiang Yunxi is upright, naive, and kindhearted. She might have been upset with me before, but if I play my cards right, I can change her perception of me. Unlike the cunning Shen Lingshan, she¡¯s easier to fool.¡±

    Xie Danran adjusted his expression, standing even straighter as he resolved to make a good impression.

    Soon, he was ushered into the room where Jiang Yunxi waited behind a curtain.

    Xie Danran immediately dropped to his knees, his voice brimming with reverence.

    ¡°Xie Danran of the Heavenly Sect greets Lady Jiang Yunxi. Your bravery in saving the people from peril is truly awe-inspiring!¡±

    He bowed deeply, nearly touching the ground, his demeanor exuding contrition.

    ¡°Back at Yeshan Lake, I failed to recognize greatness. My actions were disrespectful. Every time I think back on it, I am consumed by guilt!¡±

    Behind the curtain, Jiang Yunxi¡¯s toes curled with delight. She clearly enjoyed the praise.

    Still, remembering Old Knife¡¯s advice, she huffed, her voice sharp yet sweet like a nibbling deer: ¡°I heard you suggested a vile scheme¡ªto offer Shen Lingshan to the visitors from the Rosha Kingdom?¡±

    Xie Danran froze. Wasn¡¯t this meeting about his previous rudeness? Why bring this up instead?

    He quickly dropped his head lower, his voice turning earnest and anguished.

    ¡°My lady, you may not know this, but Shen Lingshan is the one I cherish most in this life. The idea of sending her to the Rosha Kingdom pains me more than words can express.

    But even if it breaks my heart, I must think of the people of Jining Prefecture. Their lives outweigh my personal desires. For their sake, I made this unbearable suggestion!¡±

    Tears welled in Xie Danran¡¯s eyes as he struck his chest, sobbing pitifully.

    Behind the curtain, Jiang Yunxi was momentarily swayed by his performance.

    Could Old Knife have been mistaken?

    Was Xie Danran actually a good person, misunderstood by everyone?

    Still, she thought back to Old Knife¡¯s instructions and let out a cold snort.

    ¡°Hmph, who knows what kind of wicked thoughts you¡¯re hiding!¡±

    ¡°For the sake of the people, I would gladly break my own body!¡±

    The two exchanged words back and forth.

    Despite Jiang Yunxi¡¯s slight cleverness, she wasn¡¯t particularly sharp.

    After an hour of conversation, she found herself moved by Xie Danran¡¯s words.

    Xie Danran¡¯s confidence grew. He straightened his back even further, convinced that a few more hours would be enough to win her over completely.

    ¡°You may leave now,¡± Jiang Yunxi said suddenly, waving him off.

    Xie Danran was left a little frustrated, feeling as though he hadn¡¯t yet played all his cards.

    But he had no choice but to bow and retreat.

    ¡°Old Knife, I think Xie Danran might actually be a good person,¡± Jiang Yunxi muttered once he was gone. ¡°When he talks, he seems so upright and passionate. He really seems like a righteous figure straight out of a storybook.

    Even when I tried to provoke him, he didn¡¯t get angry or say a single rude word.¡±

    Nearby, Old Knife paused his reading for a moment.

    ¡°You¡¯re still too young,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m leaving tomorrow, so let me give you one last life lesson.¡±

    ¡°Tell me, did Xie Danran avoid using any foul or insulting language during your conversation?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Yunxi nodded.

    ¡°That means he knows every single insult by heart, so he can avoid them perfectly.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°See? Only someone thoroughly familiar with bad behavior would be able to hide it so flawlessly.

    He¡¯s not just your average morally corrupt person¡ªhe¡¯s a morally corrupt person who¡¯s an expert at pretending otherwise.¡±

    Jiang Yunxi¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Old Knife, you¡¯re absolutely right!¡±

    Her mind cleared as though she¡¯d been struck by lightning.

    ¡°And another thing. During your entire conversation, did he deny being a murderer, a rapist, a bandit, or a specter?¡±

    ¡°I... don¡¯t think so.¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s your answer.¡±

    Horrified, Jiang Yunxi gasped. ¡°The more I think about it, the scarier it gets. Old Knife, if not for you, I wouldn¡¯t have realized how skilled he is at deception. I¡¯ll have him executed immediately!¡±

    She jumped to her feet, fully intent on ordering Xie Danran¡¯s death.

    At this point, Jiang Yunxi was a hero who had saved Jining Prefecture. Her authority was immense, and her word carried absolute weight.

    Offending her meant certain death.

    ¡°Old Knife, you¡¯re truly a wise mentor. With just a few words, you opened my eyes completely. It¡¯s a pity I can¡¯t always keep you by my side.

    With my talents, under your guidance, I might not only become the world¡¯s greatest chef and savior but also the smartest person in Ning Kingdom!¡±

    Although Old Knife had promised to stay for her birthday, he had lingered for several more days to finish reading the texts she¡¯d gathered.

    Now that the books were finished, it was time for him to leave.

 Chapter 518: Subtle, Subtleâ€”Seek Not the Lord

    Chapter 518: Subtle, Subtle¡ªSeek Not the Lord

    Half a day later, in a bamboo forest.

    Xie Danran stared at the person before him, his face etched with disbelief.

    ¡°Why? Why?¡±

    He could not understand. He had answered perfectly, his disguise was flawless, so why had the Lady still sent someone to kill him?

    If this had happened in the past, with his status, he wouldn¡¯t have feared the Lady in the slightest.

    But now, after the Lady had saved Jining Prefecture, her decision to kill him was nothing more than a whimsical exercise of her newfound power.

    And he had no way to resist.

    ¡°The Lady said... you didn¡¯t deny being a murderer, a robber, or a villain...¡± said the black-robed elder solemnly, holding a trembling artifact in his hand.

    Xie Danran¡¯s face froze in utter confusion. ¡°But! She! Didn¡¯t! Even! Ask!¡±

    How could he deny something he hadn¡¯t been accused of? Xie Danran¡¯s face was filled with unwillingness and frustration.

    But it was no use. His body slackened, collapsing lifelessly on the ground.

    The black-robed elder glanced down at him before disappearing into the bamboo forest.

    About fifteen minutes later, an old man appeared, a steamed bun clamped between his teeth.

    Looking at the corpse on the ground, he casually poured a liquid from a vial onto it.

    Sizzle.

    Xie Danran¡¯s body dissolved into a puddle of water, leaving no bones or traces behind.

    ¡°Following the young master¡¯s instructions, this guy won¡¯t even have the chance to turn into a specter.¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s face broke into a mischievous grin as he disappeared into the bamboo grove.

    At the Heavenly Sect¡¯s stronghold.

    Zhou Xun¡¯s face was dark as a stormcloud, but he quickly bowed toward Wang Qingyi, who was standing not far away.

    ¡°Days ago, Danran offended Lingxuan. On his behalf, I offer my apologies.¡±

    Moments ago, he had received the news of his disciple¡¯s death.

    Now that Xie Danran had died at the hands of Lady Jiang Yunxi, Zhou Xun was furious¡ªbut there was nothing he could do.

    First, Jiang Yunxi had slain the Water Sovereign, carrying the momentum of great public favor.

    Second, the latest information revealed that the Water Sovereign had been deeply entangled with the Heavenly Sect, and that Wei Kun, the ¡°Sorrowful Wind,¡± had perished as a result. The Heavenly Sect held no moral high ground in the matter.

    Third, Wei Kun¡¯s death was a severe loss for the Heavenly Sect.

    Since Xie Danran was already dead, Zhou Xun decided to apologize in his disciple¡¯s stead, hoping this would prevent the Shen family from retaliating against Xie Danran¡¯s surviving relatives for his earlier actions.

    This was the only thing he, as a master, could do for his disciple now.

    ¡°Hmph,¡± Wang Qingyi snorted coldly. ¡°The guilty will always meet their end.¡±

    Zhou Xun¡¯s expression grew awkward, and he quickly changed the topic. ¡°The artifact knife that Lady Yunxi wielded... do you think it¡¯s really as she claimed¡ªbroken?¡±

    At the mention of the mysterious artifact knife, Wang Qingyi¡¯s expression grew serious.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably a lie. I¡¯ll be blunt¡ªjust based on Lady Yunxi¡¯s strength, even ten of her wouldn¡¯t be a match for my disciple Lingxuan.

    For her to slay the Water Sovereign, as well as the Elder of Bloodthorn, is an unfathomable feat.

    Thus, that artifact knife must be extraordinarily powerful. How could it have shattered?¡±

    ¡°If the royal family possesses such an artifact, their power will increase substantially. Life will grow harder for both the Heavenly Sect and the Gulei Sect,¡± Zhou Xun lamented.

    In Ning Kingdom, the royal family¡¯s power had long waned, weaker than both the Heavenly Sect and the Gulei Sect. But if they had the artifact knife in their possession, the balance of power could shift.

    ¡°How could Lady Yunxi have obtained such an artifact? And who could have crafted it?¡± Wang Qingyi wondered aloud, confusion clear in her eyes.

    It was a mystery.

    Everyone knew that Ning Kingdom currently had no Divine-tier artifact masters.

    As for the surrounding nations, there had been no news of any master forging an artifact... in the shape of a kitchen knife.

    The knife seemed ridiculously crude in design.

    While undeniably powerful, the idea of a knife-shaped artifact struck many as absurd.

    At that moment, Zhou Xun¡¯s expression shifted as he muttered, ¡°If this is the case, then even the emissaries from the Rosha Kingdom might be very interested in the artifact knife. I wonder if Lady Yunxi will be able to keep it safe.¡±

    Wang Qingyi¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Zhou Xun, no matter what, this is an internal matter of Ning Kingdom.

    Whether the artifact knife ends up with the royal family or elsewhere, it will still be beneficial for Ning Kingdom.

    If you dare¡ª¡±

    ¡°You misunderstand, senior sister! I would never do such a thing!¡± Zhou Xun hurriedly explained.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Wang Qingyi snorted again.

    Cold sweat broke out on Zhou Xun¡¯s forehead. He was flustered. Why was it that every time he tried to change the topic, he just ended up angering his senior sister further?

    He decided to try again.

    Turning to Shen Lingxuan, he said in a calm voice, ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that the Flower Thief, the master of Hengshan, has been plotting against Lingxuan for some time now. Oddly enough, he hasn¡¯t shown himself lately.¡±

    ¡°Hmph. If he dares to show himself, I won¡¯t let him leave unscathed!¡± Wang Qingyi declared.

    Beside her, Shen Lingxuan, her face veiled by a thin layer of gauze, remained silent. Although her features were obscured, a biting chill emanated from her presence.

    Her thoughts turned to that day outside the temple¡ªthe young man wielding the water sword.

    She was deeply curious about his identity.

    He had yet to achieve unity with the heavens, yet he had effortlessly slain a peak Earth-tier fighter.

    That kind of strength was terrifying.

    ¡°If he dares appear again, I won¡¯t spare him either,¡± Zhou Xun added quickly.

    ¡°Sigh,¡± Wang Qingyi sighed. ¡°Lingxuan... perhaps you should return to the sect for now.¡±

    The Profound Yin Constitution was too extraordinary. If Shen Lingxuan were at the peak of Earth-tier, it would inevitably attract attention from even Heaven-tier elders from other nations.

    In order to fully harness the power of her Profound Yin Constitution, she needed to at least reach the Earth-tier¡ªand preferably the peak of it.

    With the master of Hengshan in hiding, and the Rosha Kingdom¡¯s Heaven-tier emissaries possibly aware of the events at Yeshan Lake, Wang Qingyi was growing concerned.

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s expression remained calm, but she eventually nodded. ¡°Very well.¡±

    The sect was a haven of safety, guarded by the Sect Leader, other Earth-tier fighters, and the formation of Earth-tier artifacts. Even Heaven-tier fighters would find it challenging to breach.

    Moreover, her sword from her past life remained in the sect. If a great enemy appeared, she would have some ability to protect herself.

    With so many dangers lurking, staying outside was unwise.

    Especially since her attempt to kill the master of Hengshan had revealed her Earth-tier strength.

    If that young man spread word of her powers, it could incite a storm of greed and violence.

    A Profound Yin Constitution at the late stages of Earth-tier would drive even Heaven-tier fighters mad with desire.

    Shen Lingxuan left the main hall and returned to her residence.

    Her tall, slender maidservant, Zhi Shuang, greeted her warmly.

    ¡°Has the young master returned yet?¡± Shen Lingxuan asked coldly.

    ¡°No,¡± Zhi Shuang replied, her face filled with anger. ¡°The young master has been completely unreasonable. He came to Yeshan Lake but didn¡¯t even meet with you. Now, he¡¯s vanished without a trace!¡±

    ¡°Has he encountered danger?¡± Shen Lingxuan asked, though she quickly shook her head.

    Before Qi Shi passed away, he had left his son Qi Yuan with a gift. Ordinary Weapon Masters wouldn¡¯t be able to harm him.

    ¡°I¡¯m heading to Tianmu Mountain now. Pack your things¡ªyou¡¯re coming with me,¡± Shen Lingxuan instructed.

    ¡°Should we visit the family home first?¡± Zhi Shuang asked.

    Shen Lingxuan shook her head. ¡°No need. It would only cause unnecessary worry for my parents.¡±

    At the Shen family¡¯s base, Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao strolled leisurely back, causing quite a stir.

    But to Qi Yuan, it was nothing worth mentioning.

    At that moment, he held the Divine Wood Token in one hand, sipping tea and chatting.

    ¡°I heard that something strange happened recently at Yeshan Lake in Ning Kingdom.

    Lady Yunxi, wielding a special artifact knife, killed the Water Sovereign.

    At the same time, the Elder of Bloodthorn also perished.

    Knife Brother, does this artifact knife have anything to do with you?¡±

    One of the Bloodthorn members asked in their group chat.

    Ji Wuyun, seeing this, couldn¡¯t help rolling his eyes.

    ¡°You don¡¯t really think Knife Brother is the artifact knife, do you? Artifacts don¡¯t have true consciousness. How could they chat with us?

    And even if they did, it¡¯d have to be a divine artifact. At best, a divine artifact might have the intelligence of a six- or seven-year-old child. Does Knife Brother seem like a child to you?¡±

    The Bloodthorn member was momentarily speechless.

    He had actually meant that Knife Brother might be the Divine-tier artifact master who crafted the knife.

    ¡°Speaking of this, shouldn¡¯t Bloodthorn compensate me? That Elder was absolutely disgusting. I¡¯m applying for emotional damages!¡± Qi Yuan said in the group chat.

    ¡°Come to Shenmu Abyss, and I¡¯ll compensate you with 100,000 silver taels.¡±

    ¡°Promise? Don¡¯t go back on it!¡±

    ¡°Knife Brother, don¡¯t go. Bloodthorn¡¯s probably set a trap for you outside Shenmu Abyss!¡±

    ¡°Of course not. The people of Bloodthorn seem pretty decent to me¡ªand rich,¡± Qi Yuan replied indifferently.

    ¡°Knife Brother has such keen insight. Bloodthorn means no harm.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sure. Turning people into specters isn¡¯t harmful?¡±

    ¡°Specters are just another form of existence.

    It¡¯s no different from you disguising yourself as a man to avoid Bloodthorn. Isn¡¯t that also altering your existence?¡±

    Ji Wuyun didn¡¯t dare respond.

    The Bloodthorn member continued, ¡°Life is short¡ªonly a few hundred years.

    Unless one is marked by destiny, most are just fleeting passersby, leaving behind little trace.

    But as a specter, one gains a thousand years.

    Knife Brother, with your talent, join Bloodthorn. Turn over the Divine Wood Token, and let¡¯s accomplish great things together.

    Our contributions will allow us to ascend beyond this world, where we may pay homage to the Ancestral Effigy and be remade into undying, eternal beings!¡±

    The Bloodthorn member¡¯s words dripped with temptation.

    Back then, the royal family had grown wary of the Arbiter¡¯s power. They conspired with certain aristocratic clans to take it down.

    But how could they face it directly?

    Instead, they resorted to treachery, even colluding with foreign enemies.

    An army from a rival nation was dispatched to besiege the Arbiter, forcing it into action.

    When the Arbiter descended, it stood alone at Fengluo City, holding the line against the invading forces for half a month despite receiving no reinforcements.

    Ultimately, it was destroyed due to its isolation.

    Following its fall, the Rosha royal family scoured the land for its fragments, gathering the remains to be melted down by three Divine-tier artifact masters. The Arbiter was reduced to ashes, ensuring its permanent eradication.

    Statues of the Arbiter were also hunted down and destroyed.

    Even if fragments of the Arbiter still lingered, without its statues or supporting relics, its power would be limited to Earth-tier at best.

    Even if it surpassed Earth-tier slightly, it would still fall far short of Heaven-tier¡ªa trivial threat to someone like Fifth Wei.

    ¡°Hmph. If it weren¡¯t for the rats of the Arbiter¡¯s Covenant skulking in the shadows, a mere fragment wouldn¡¯t be worth my personal attention,¡± Fifth Wei remarked.

    Although the Arbiter¡¯s fragments posed little threat, the Arbiter¡¯s Covenant was troublesome. The secretive organization harbored several Heaven-tier Weapon Masters.

    If they were to recover a fragment and slowly nurture it, they might one day restore a faint trace of the Arbiter¡¯s former divinity.

    That would spell disaster.

    ¡°After all these years, the Arbiter¡¯s Covenant still refuses to recognize reality. Utterly foolish,¡± the burly man scoffed.

    ¡°Do we have any leads on the Arbiter¡¯s fragments?¡± Fifth Wei inquired.

    The eunuch quickly answered, ¡°In Jiangzhou¡¯s Ninghe County, there were traces of the Arbiter.¡±

    He recounted the events of Red Cloud Village.

    Fifth Wei sneered. ¡°To think it took so long to deal with a handful of Yellow-tier specters. This Arbiter fragment is laughably weak. I wouldn¡¯t need to go myself. Even you, Mo Sankong, could drown it with your urine.¡±

    The old eunuch, Mo Sankong, let out an awkward chuckle, hunching his back even further. ¡°Your Highness speaks the truth.¡±

    ¡°This nation is pathetically weak. Only here would they exalt a fragment of the Arbiter as divine.

    Even more ridiculous, they couldn¡¯t handle a mere Earth-tier peak specter. Instead, some Lady Yunxi had to kill it with an artifact knife,¡± Fifth Wei said with disdain.

    Mo Sankong quickly chimed in, ¡°If Your Highness desires that artifact knife, I can retrieve it from Yeshan Lake for you.¡±

    ¡°Hmph. A mere Heaven-tier artifact is beneath my notice,¡± Fifth Wei said dismissively. ¡°However, I hear there¡¯s a Profound Yin Constitution here. Now that interests me.

    She¡¯s a disciple of the Heavenly Sect. Mo Sankong, take my decree to the Heavenly Sect. Inform them that I am offering her an opportunity¡ªto serve as my maid and follow me.¡±

    Fifth Wei¡¯s arrogance was unrestrained, his presence radiating menace.

    In Rosha Kingdom, there were individuals he had to tread carefully around. But here in Ning Kingdom, he was utterly unrestrained.

    His only concern was the Arbiter¡¯s Covenant.

    ¡°At once!¡± Mo Sankong replied without hesitation.

    The other Heaven-tier Weapon Masters looked on enviously.

    ¡°Congratulations, Your Highness! With this woman, your cultivation will surely soar!¡±

    ¡°With a Profound Yin Constitution at your side, your power will grow deeper than ever!¡±

    Fifth Wei¡¯s grin widened. ¡°I just hope she¡¯s as beautiful as they claim. Only then will she be worthy of my favor.¡±

    The fall of the Water Sovereign marked the end of the Artifact Forging Conference, but the various families did not immediately leave.

    This was a rare opportunity, with so many artifact masters and powerful individuals gathered together.

    Auctions and networking events were held one after another.

    In a quiet courtyard, Qi Yuan, clad in a flowing white robe, looked as ethereal as an immortal.

    ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®Refine your body until you walk like a crane. Only then will the palace maid strangle you in the dead of night¡¯... No, no, you¡¯re learning the Turtle Transformation Technique. You should imitate a turtle instead.

    When you cultivate, you must mimic a turtle¡¯s movements and bask in the sun,¡± Qi Yuan said to Zhan Wenyu, who stood beside him.

    Over the past few days, Zhan Wenyu had come seeking Qi Yuan¡¯s guidance on the Turtle Transformation Technique.

    Young Master Tu had bought the technique with his silver after failing to purchase any remaining Lightblades, so he was now practicing it.

    ¡°Imitate a turtle¡¯s movements?¡± Zhan Wenyu, being naturally gifted, immediately dropped to the ground.

    ¡°Like this?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. You¡¯ve got good instincts. A turtle¡¯s movements are all about slowness.¡±

    ¡°Master Qi teaches well,¡± Zhan Wenyu said, flattering him.

    Nearby, Young Master Tu blinked in confusion.

    If not for witnessing Qi Yuan¡¯s overwhelming strength firsthand, he might have assumed Qi Yuan was a charlatan.

    Imitating a turtle¡¯s movements¡ªhow could that be considered cultivation?

    ¡°But you need to go further,¡± Qi Yuan added, pushing Zhan Wenyu.

    With that, Zhan Wenyu flipped onto his back like an overturned turtle.

    Just as he began to struggle to right himself, Qi Yuan said, ¡°A turtle rarely flips itself over. This is an important lesson¡ªmemorize it.¡±

    Hearing this, Zhan Wenyu nodded seriously and lay still, his legs pointing upward.

    Young Master Tu watched this absurd scene in silence.

    ¡°Tu Jingshi, do you know where there are a lot of Heaven-tier Weapon Masters? Particularly the unsavory kind?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He urgently needed to absorb someone else¡¯s unity with the heavens to progress.

    ¡°This... I¡¯m not sure,¡± Young Master Tu replied.

    There were no Heaven-tier Weapon Masters in Ning Kingdom, so he had no idea where to find a concentration of them.

    ¡°Sigh, life is so difficult. Laziness is rampant in Ning Kingdom. Even the Weapon Masters aren¡¯t putting in any effort. Not even the mosquitoes are trying.¡±

    Smack!

    Qi Yuan slapped a mosquito.

    ¡°If only this mosquito were a Heaven-tier Weapon Master,¡± he lamented.

    Young Master Tu remained silent, unsure how to respond.

    Suddenly, his expression shifted as he remembered something.

    ¡°Master Qi, have you heard? In the capital, Heaven-tier Weapon Masters from Rosha Kingdom have arrived. It seems they¡¯re here for something called ¡®Divine Avatar.¡¯¡±

    Young Master Tu carefully observed Qi Yuan¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°They¡¯re quite powerful, Master Qi. You must be cautious,¡± he warned.

    ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

    ¡°They appear to be divided into two factions¡ªone that seems friendly toward the Divine Avatar, and another that seeks to destroy it,¡± Young Master Tu continued. ¡°But this could just be a fac?ade. It¡¯s possible both sides are acting.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Qi Yuan replied, stretching lazily.

    He turned to Young Master Tu, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

    ¡°Would you dare take the Lightblade I gave you... and journey to the capital?¡±

    Young Master Tu froze, his mind racing with thoughts.

    Why was Master Qi asking this?

    Was it a test of his loyalty?

    What would happen if he refused?

    Conflicted and anxious, Young Master Tu hesitated, unsure how to respond.

    Then, from his overturned position, Zhan Wenyu scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re afraid?

    Master Qi asking you to go is an honor. If he wanted to harm you, he wouldn¡¯t bother with schemes¡ªhe¡¯d have fed you to the fish already!

    If you¡¯re too scared, give me the Lightblade. I¡¯ll go to the capital!¡±

    Hearing this, Young Master Tu¡¯s face turned red with shame.

    He was right. If Master Qi wanted to harm him, why go to such lengths?

    Moreover, Master Qi had saved his life before.

    How could he hesitate now?

    Even if it was dangerous, it might also be an opportunity.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Young Master Tu declared resolutely. ¡°But... once I¡¯m in the capital, what should I do?¡±

    Qi Yuan stretched again, his tone nonchalant.

    ¡°Do whatever you feel is right. When you think it¡¯s time to summon the divine, summon it.¡±

    Young Master Tu was stunned.

    He had full discretion?

    ¡°But summoning the divine... can I do that now?¡± he asked hesitantly.

    After the last battle, the summoning function had ceased to work. The Lightblade had also become unusable.

    ¡°Yes. And since you¡¯ll be using it on my behalf, I won¡¯t let you suffer. I¡¯ll compensate you with 3,334 taels of silver. And don¡¯t call me stingy¡ªI¡¯m even giving you a little extra,¡± Qi Yuan said, reaching for his purse.

    ¡°Master Qi, there¡¯s no need for silver!¡± Young Master Tu quickly protested.

    It was like refusing a red envelope on New Year¡¯s¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t dare let Qi Yuan pay.

    Qi Yuan blinked. ¡°Since you¡¯re so insistent, I won¡¯t go against your will. No silver, then.¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Young Master Tu dared not take money from Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Still, I don¡¯t want you to suffer. If you summon the divine on my behalf, I¡¯ll upgrade your Lightblade so it can summon the divine one more time. But don¡¯t misuse it,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    He didn¡¯t like taking advantage of others¡ªunless they were his ¡°White Moonlight.¡±

    Why?

    Because his love for them ran deep.

    Because his White Moonlight was special to him.

    Hearing this, Young Master Tu¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement.

    This was an incredible blessing!

    ¡°Rest assured, Master Qi. I won¡¯t misuse it,¡± Young Master Tu vowed.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off to pack for a trip to the Heavenly Sect. Time to visit my wife,¡± Qi Yuan said, stretching once more.

    The son-in-law roleplay had to continue. To play the part well, how could he not interact with his wife?

    As for unity with the heavens and the emissaries from Rosha Kingdom, he would let Young Master Tu handle it with the Lightblade.

 Chapter 519: The Spirit Body Gu and the Divine Artifact Embryo of the Ten Thousand Mountains

    Chapter 519: The Spirit Body Gu and the Divine Artifact Embryo of the Ten Thousand Mountains

    After sending off Young Master Tu and Zhan Wenyu, Qi Yuan took out the Divine Wood Token, a complex expression flickering in his eyes.

    "The aftereffects of last time have finally been completely resolved. It''s time to go out and stretch my legs."

    He had to meet Shen Lingxuan.

    The final step to completing the Son-in-Law roleplay revolved around her.

    Moreover, achieving Unity with the Heavens would require encountering more high-quality "White Moonlights."

    ¡°Hey, how many Heaven-tier Weapon Masters, Divine-tier Weapon Masters, or specters does your Bloodthorn have?¡± Qi Yuan asked directly.

    At that moment, Ji Wuyun, who was taking a bath far away, felt once again that this was going to be another tiring day.

    How could these two have such casual conversations when they were supposed to be mortal enemies?

    ¡°Not many, not many,¡± the Bloodthorn member replied. ¡°We only have... five Divine-tier Weapon Masters.¡±

    As he said this, far away in Bloodthorn''s headquarters, the member''s face lit up with pride. Surely, this would shock the kid into silence.

    "Ah, Bloodthorn isn''t doing too well, huh? Only five Divine-tier Weapon Masters? You should have them reflect on their progress¡ªafter so many years, has their cultivation improved at all? Have they even been training seriously?" Qi Yuan said with complete sincerity.

    ¡°...¡±

    The Bloodthorn member''s smug smile froze.

    ¡°You can pass on a message for me. Tell them not to eat too much tonight, skip sleeping, and focus on cultivating. Work hard to improve their strength!¡± Qi Yuan sounded dead serious.

    The Bloodthorn members weren¡¯t working hard enough. How could they become high-quality "White Moonlights" at this rate?

    Ordinary White Moonlights no longer interested Qi Yuan. Only Heaven-tier Weapon Masters who had achieved Unity with the Heavens could stir his heart these days.

    And so, when Qi Yuan looked at Bloodthorn now, he couldn''t help but feel like they were wasted potential.

    ¡°Do you need me to help you create a training schedule? No one in this world understands planning better than I do.

    If you train according to my plan, I guarantee that within three months, you¡¯ll have several new Divine-tier Weapon Masters!¡±

    Qi Yuan spoke with utter sincerity.

    Ji Wuyun spat out a mouthful of bathwater in shock.

    The Bloodthorn member, too, felt a mix of emotions.

    ¡°Knife Brother, I¡¯m growing increasingly eager to meet you at Shenmu Abyss. I want to see what kind of person you really are.

    What virtue does the Blue Mountain Realm possess to produce someone as remarkable as you?¡±

    ¡°Seems like you still don¡¯t want to work hard,¡± Qi Yuan sighed.

    No wonder every ruler seemed to despise the term ¡°slacking off.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t even a ruler, yet here he was, worrying about Bloodthorn¡¯s lack of effort.

    ¡°Knife Brother, if trying harder won¡¯t change the inevitable outcome, what¡¯s the point of trying?¡± The Bloodthorn member¡¯s words carried a hint of emotion.

    ¡°How could that be true? That just means you haven¡¯t made a proper plan.

    I¡¯ve played many games over the years, and whenever I set my mind to something, I almost always succeed,¡± Qi Yuan replied, casually borrowing a motivational speech from a prominent figure on Blue Star.

    However, as he said this, a thought crossed his mind: plagiarizing might damage his reputation. Should he... destroy Blue Star or buy it outright?

    That way, he could copy whatever he wanted without guilt.

    ¡°Knife Brother, you¡¯re overly confident. Do you think you can change the fate of the Blue Mountain Realm?¡±

    Far away, the Bloodthorn member¡¯s eyes gleamed with a triumphant glint. He pushed open his window, letting the fresh air flow into the room.

    As he leaned against the windowsill, the lush green scenery stretched before him.

    ¡°Indeed, hidden among the wild mountains are extraordinary figures, ordinary people whose greatness goes unnoticed. If you meet them up close, you might discover their brilliance.

    I¡¯ve read through The Green Mountain Codex but never found any trace of him. He must be some nameless nobody,¡± he muttered to himself.

    The Green Mountain Codex was something he had exchanged for at the Void Paradise.

    The book came from the Radiant Society.

    He had spent a great deal of merit to obtain it.

    It was his trump card for completing this mission.

    The carriage ambled leisurely down the road, occasionally passed by galloping horses.

    Chen Kangbao, who was driving the carriage, looked completely relaxed.

    "Young Master, we''re only a hundred miles from the Heavenly Sect. We should arrive by nightfall."

    After leaving the Shen family¡¯s base, Qi Yuan had set his sights on the Heavenly Sect.

    The final step of the Son-in-Law roleplay likely involved Shen Lingxuan.

    This step required careful thought and planning.

    Qi Yuan looked ahead, where endless mountains stretched as far as the eye could see.

    The Heavenly Sect¡¯s headquarters was nestled within this mountain range.

    The range also bordered the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss and the neighboring Mo Shan Kingdom.

    Back then, when Mo Shan Kingdom''s army advanced with unstoppable momentum, Ning Kingdom could not resist their assault.

    Ultimately, it was the current Dao Leader of the Heavenly Sect who used the Patriarch¡¯s artifact to halt the Mo Shan army¡¯s advance.

    Afterward, the Mo Shan forces pulled back, and peace negotiations began. However, Ning Kingdom still lost several of its provinces.

    The Heavenly Sect¡¯s Dao Leader was gravely injured during the confrontation and passed away six months later.

    ¡°The mountains to the south must be the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss. What a coincidence¡ªwe just narrowly missed this side quest,¡± Qi Yuan remarked as he glanced at Chen Kangbao.

    Chen Kangbao seemed to have some connection to the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss.

    Qi Yuan had received this clue when he killed Feng Tie.

    ¡°Should we visit the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss sometime? There might be treasures waiting to be found,¡± Qi Yuan mused aloud.

    Both Hengshan Master and Feng Tie, two peak Earth-tier Weapon Masters, had explored the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss in search of something.

    ¡°Whatever you decide, Young Master!¡± Chen Kangbao replied enthusiastically. But as he gazed at the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss, his stomach growled, and he quickly stuffed another bun into his mouth. Though his belly was already round, he still seemed hungry.

    "Young man, if it wouldn¡¯t trouble you, may I hitch a ride?"

    A hoarse voice interrupted them. A burly old man with cropped hair and rugged clothes appeared. He exuded the air of a bandit, though his tone was surprisingly refined.

    "Sure," Qi Yuan replied after glancing at him.

    It was Tu Sihai, a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master.

    Tu Sihai dismounted from his horse with ease, leaping into Qi Yuan¡¯s carriage.

    His horse followed the carriage obediently.

    ¡°You¡¯re not afraid I might be a robber?¡± Tu Sihai asked with a hearty laugh.

    ¡°Not at all. I enjoy punishing evil and promoting good,¡± Qi Yuan replied, adhering to his personal code of lawful good.

    He never harmed innocents. If anyone suffered, it would only be his "White Moonlights."

    ¡°What¡¯s your purpose here? Just say it outright,¡± Qi Yuan asked. For a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master¡ªone of Ning Kingdom''s top thirty fighters¡ªto seek him out, it was unlikely to be mere coincidence.

    ¡°Young man, you are blessed with great fortune, but... misfortune is upon you,¡± Tu Sihai said seriously.

    ¡°You¡¯re a fortune-teller? I dabble in that too,¡± Qi Yuan remarked.

    He had read people¡¯s fortunes many times in the past, and his predictions were always accurate. If he said someone would meet a bloody end, they inevitably would.

    Tu Sihai shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not joking. Young man, take a look.¡±

    With a flip of his hand, Tu Sihai revealed a bronze mirror.

    The mirror¡¯s surface was uneven, pockmarked with tiny dents. The handle was rusted, giving it an ancient appearance.

    [Disaster-Suppressing Bronze Mirror, Heaven-tier artifact. Contains several flaws. With modifications, its power can increase by 90%.]

    Tu Sihai leapt back onto his horse and rode off.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Pick up the pace to the Heavenly Sect,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    He had his own speculations about the Spirit Body Gu.

    It was likely left behind by the original Qi Yuan¡¯s father to protect him.

    Even the likes of Elder Black Crow of Bloodthorn and Fang Shisan of the Radiant Society might have refrained from acting against Qi Yuan out of fear of the Spirit Body Gu.

    ¡°The Spirit Body Gu may have been protecting more than just me¡ªit might also have been safeguarding the Divine Wood Token!¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    ¡°It seems the original Qi Yuan¡¯s father wasn¡¯t ordinary either.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to factor him into the roleplay to make it more authentic.¡±

    Lost in thought, Qi Yuan enjoyed the scenery as the carriage wound through the mountains. By sunset, they reached the Heavenly Sect.

    ¡°Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband, Qi Yuan, requests an audience,¡± he announced softly at the base of the sect¡¯s mountain.

    Without prior notice, visitors were required to declare their purpose at the lower hall.

    A moment later, a pretty young woman approached. Upon seeing Qi Yuan, her eyes flashed with astonishment.

    ¡°So it¡¯s Senior Brother Qi Yuan! I¡¯ll inform the elders right away. Please wait here!¡±

    Though Qi Yuan was a son-in-law, he was still Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband, making him someone ordinary disciples couldn¡¯t afford to offend.

    After about half an hour, Wang Qingyi appeared, dressed in her Taoist robes. Her expression was filled with surprise. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Her hair was casually held in place with a wooden hairpin, and fatigue was evident in her eyes.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Lingxuan in a while, so I came to visit her. Is she here?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Wang Qingyi frowned, her worry deepening. ¡°Lingxuan isn¡¯t in the sect right now.¡±

    She glanced at Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao. ¡°There have been many troubles near the Heavenly Sect recently. You should return to Fengshan County immediately. I¡¯ll let Lingxuan know you came.¡±

    Wang Qingyi paused, then added, ¡°It¡¯s not safe for the two of you to travel alone. I¡¯ll have some Heavenly Sect disciples escort you back.¡±

    ¡°Predecessor Wang, where did Lingxuan go?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    After a brief moment of thought, he addressed her as ¡°predecessor.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to know,¡± Wang Qingyi replied curtly.

    To her, Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband was just an ordinary person.

    Telling him would only make things worse.

    It was better to send him back to Fengshan County immediately. Staying here would only complicate matters, especially if the Heaven-tier Weapon Master from Rosha Kingdom learned of his presence.

    Recently, that Heaven-tier Weapon Master had arrived with a show of force, pressuring the sect to present Shen Lingxuan as a servant for Fifth Wei.

    The Heavenly Sect naturally refused. In response, the Heaven-tier Weapon Master attacked directly.

    Though the Heavenly Sect was an old and powerful institution with deep resources, their Dao Leader had to use the Patriarch¡¯s sword to repel the invader.

    The Heaven-tier Weapon Master, deterred by the Patriarch¡¯s sword, didn¡¯t press further but remained stationed outside the sect.

    The Heavenly Sect had been in a state of panic ever since.

    Given Mo Sankong¡¯s power, he could break through their defenses if given enough time. Shen Lingxuan would remain in danger as long as she stayed.

    At the same time, rumors of a disturbance in the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss had drawn many Earth-tier and Heaven-tier Weapon Masters to the area, plunging it into chaos.

    Seizing this opportunity, Shen Lingxuan suggested leaving the Heavenly Sect.

    Staying in the sect wasn¡¯t safe anymore. Hiding in the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss seemed like a better option.

    Shen Lingxuan possessed an artifact capable of altering her appearance, making it an excellent disguise.

    Wang Qingyi had opposed this plan, unwilling to let her disciple take such a risk.

    But in the end, the Dao Leader approved Shen Lingxuan¡¯s suggestion, and she was secretly sent out of the sect.

    Of course, Wang Qingyi wasn¡¯t about to tell Qi Yuan any of this.

    ¡°A Heaven-tier Weapon Master named Mo Sankong?¡± Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    What Wang Qingyi didn¡¯t realize was that Qi Yuan had heard her inner thoughts.

    Though his ability to hear thoughts wasn¡¯t always reliable, it had worked perfectly just now.

    ¡°Alright, Predecessor Wang, I¡¯ll head back immediately. No need for an escort. If I can come here, I can return on my own.¡± For once, Qi Yuan lied.

    He had no interest in dragging out a back-and-forth with Wang Qingyi or staging some kind of dramatic confrontation. He¡¯d just pretend to leave and move on.

    Wang Qingyi was momentarily stunned by his quick agreement. She hadn¡¯t expected him to yield so easily.

    Her gaze grew colder as she looked at Qi Yuan.

    In her eyes, this son-in-law was just a coward running away at the first sign of danger.

    Clearly, her disciple had married the wrong person.

    ¡°Fine. Off you go,¡± she said, her tone frosty.

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t argue.

    ¡°Old man, drive the carriage. We¡¯re heading back.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Chen Kangbao whipped the reins, and the carriage soon disappeared from Wang Qingyi¡¯s sight.

    Wang Qingyi sighed. ¡°The world is in chaos. First, the Water Sovereign, and now this Divine Artifact Embryo. Lingxuan... sigh...¡±

    The Heavenly Sect was like a barrel of gunpowder ready to explode, sitting at the center of multiple disasters.

    Meanwhile, the carriage sped along the road.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes glinted with amusement. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to hear about my wife¡¯s location. Who knows¡ªI might even run into some White Moonlights!¡±

    The Divine Artifact Embryo in the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss was sure to attract several Heaven-tier Weapon Masters.

    For Qi Yuan, this was excellent news.

    ¡°If I¡¯d known this earlier, I¡¯d have agreed to Tu Sihai¡¯s invitation. Now I have to travel an extra few hundred miles.¡±

    ¡°Old man, pick up the pace!¡±

    ¡°Young Master, the horse is exhausted,¡± Chen Kangbao replied.

    The horse pulling the carriage was indeed panting heavily, clearly worn out.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll bless you, and you can pull the carriage yourself,¡± Qi Yuan suggested.

    This time, the blessing was real, not the fake kind he¡¯d handed out before.

    ¡°Master, this...¡± Chen Kangbao hesitated.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been eating too much. If you don¡¯t exercise more, you won¡¯t last another three years,¡± Qi Yuan said matter-of-factly.

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s health was a mess. He had suffered severe injuries in the past and was lucky to be alive at all.

    ¡°Alright!¡± Gritting his teeth, Chen Kangbao released the horse and took its place. With Qi Yuan¡¯s blessing, he began pulling the carriage.

    ¡°Faster, faster!¡± Qi Yuan urged.

    ¡°Young Master, I only have two legs. I can¡¯t run any faster!¡± Chen Kangbao complained as he jogged ahead.

    ¡°Let me bless you with four more legs, so you can run faster,¡± Qi Yuan said, a mischievous glint in his eye.

    With a flick of his hand, a drone in Qi Yuan¡¯s possession transformed, materializing into a ferocious tiger.

    The tiger roared and charged after Chen Kangbao, placing its front paws on his shoulders and using its back legs to push off the ground.

    ¡°Aaaaahhh!¡± Chen Kangbao screamed, running even faster.

    ¡°Six legs really are better than two,¡± Qi Yuan remarked casually.

    Once he reached Level 120, he planned to officially cure Chen Kangbao¡¯s ailments.

    If nothing else, his overeating habit needed to be addressed.

 Chapter 520: Tell Shen Lingxuan, Her Husband Has Arrived

    Chapter 520: Tell Shen Lingxuan, Her Husband Has Arrived

    ¡°Young Master, but now I¡¯ve got... four legs!¡±

    The tiger clung to Chen Kangbao¡¯s shoulders, scaring him out of his wits and making him run even faster, as if he had a rocket booster strapped to his back.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Qi Yuan flicked his finger, and the roaring tiger immediately changed its position. Its forelegs stopped clinging to Chen Kangbao¡¯s shoulders and instead bit down on his belt.

    In an instant, the carriage now seemed powered by six legs.

    The carriage sped off, heading toward the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss.

    Along the way, they attracted a great deal of attention, though most onlookers simply looked on with curiosity or amusement.

    Nightfall.

    Inside a mountain inn, the place was brightly lit.

    The wooden railings, aged and rotting, were coated with a thick layer of lacquer to conceal the bloodstains of the past. On closer inspection, one could even find knife marks on some of the railings.

    The inn, situated in a remote area, was notorious for its dark dealings and seldom saw visitors. But now, business was booming, as many had traveled from outside Ning Kingdom.

    The once-arrogant innkeeper, seeing so many Weapon Masters in attendance, stooped low and, for the first time, conducted legitimate business.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, with the Divine Artifact Embryo appearing, does anyone have useful information to share? Let¡¯s pool our knowledge to explore the ruins together. Otherwise, if more Heaven-tier Weapon Masters arrive, we won¡¯t even get a sip of soup,¡± said an elderly man with a goat-like beard. His face was thin, his eyes sharp and bright, and a gourd hung from his waist.

    ¡°Since Wine Grandmaster has spoken, let¡¯s not keep secrets. Share what you know so we can explore the ruins together. The longer we wait, the more Heaven-tier Weapon Masters will arrive, and we¡¯ll lose any chance of claiming anything,¡± said another man with a genial demeanor.

    This man was an elder of the Ancient Thunder Sect, and his artifact was the Thousand Silk Golden Feather Cloak, renowned for its defensive capabilities and unparalleled resilience.

    ¡°Indeed, these ruins are extremely strange. Not only are they difficult to enter, but even once inside, bizarre and horrifying events occur. It¡¯s enough to make your scalp tingle.¡±

    ¡°There are many specters inside. They bear some resemblance to the breeding grounds of Bloodthorn¡¯s Spirit Nurturing Zones!¡±

    ¡°Just yesterday, Grandmaster Wu Gen entered the ruins. Being a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master, he thought nothing in the ruins could harm him, so he charged in recklessly. But who would¡¯ve thought? A clay doll suddenly appeared and stabbed him to death with one strike.¡±

    At the mention of the clay doll, a chill swept through the room. Fear flickered in the eyes of everyone present.

    To be called a Grandmaster meant one was a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master, with the potential to reach the Heaven-tier if they worked diligently as per Qi Yuan¡¯s philosophy.

    Yet, such a powerful figure was killed by a mere clay doll in one blow. How could anyone not be terrified?

    ¡°These ruins are too dangerous. Even Earth-tier Weapon Masters might not be able to protect themselves. Only Heaven-tier Weapon Masters might be able to sweep through them,¡± said an elderly man with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

    As peak Earth-tier Weapon Masters, these individuals were overlords in their own right, able to summon wind and rain in their territories.

    But here, they couldn¡¯t even guarantee their safety.

    ¡°This is the most treacherous ruin I¡¯ve ever encountered in my life.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Most perilous locations are guarded by one powerful specter, at most with a hundred similar specters.

    But these ruins are different. We¡¯ve already encountered hundreds of distinct types of specters. It¡¯s beyond strange!¡±

    The Weapon Masters present were all experienced, having faced countless perils. Yet the peculiarities of these ruins were unlike anything they¡¯d ever seen or heard of.

    Some frowned, deep in thought, while others closed their eyes, contemplating.

    ¡°I have some thoughts about these ruins,¡± rasped the Old Hag of Fox Mountain, drawing the attention of everyone present.

    ¡°Do any of you recall the records in The Origin Secrets? It stated:

    ¡®On that day, night fell, and specters descended upon the world.¡¯¡±

    The fewer the words, the greater the significance.

    Upon hearing this, the Weapon Masters¡¯ faces changed drastically.

    ¡°Could it be... a Forbidden Specter Zone?¡±

    ¡°This world still has Forbidden Specter Zones?!¡±

    Several Earth-tier Weapon Masters began reconsidering their involvement.

    In the Blue Mountain Realm, specters didn¡¯t always exist.

    One day, the night came early, and specters descended upon the earth, turning numerous regions into Forbidden Specter Zones.

    At first, people thought it was just a small anomaly.

    But in these Forbidden Zones, horrifying creatures¡ªspecters¡ªwere born.

    This disaster spread like wildfire, with endless specters spilling out of the Forbidden Zones, slaughtering countless innocents.

    The world turned into hell.

    In just ten years, the population of the Blue Mountain Realm was reduced by two-thirds.

    The death toll numbered in the billions.

    Eventually, an extraterrestrial coalition arrived, aiding the Blue Mountain Realm in suppressing the specters.

    All ten of the original Forbidden Specter Zones were destroyed, and the specter tides were eradicated.

    But some Forbidden Zones, fragmented or minor, remained.

    ¡°If this is truly a Forbidden Zone... only Divine-tier Weapon Masters could cleanse it.¡±

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters were horrified.

    ¡°Relax. Even if this is a Forbidden Zone, it¡¯s a broken one. Otherwise, we¡¯d all be dead already!¡±

    ¡°Exactly. If it were a complete Forbidden Zone, both Ning Kingdom and Mo Shan Kingdom would have been annihilated by now.¡±

    ¡°Still, if it¡¯s a Forbidden Zone... the treasures inside must be unimaginably valuable!¡±

    ¡°Many divine weapon materials originated from Forbidden Zones!¡±

    The Weapon Masters weighed the risks and rewards.

    The Divine Artifact Embryo might be out of reach, but securing other valuable materials would still make the venture worthwhile.

    ¡°If this is a Forbidden Zone, it¡¯ll be even more dangerous than we imagined. I suggest we form teams.

    That way, even if we encounter a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, we¡¯ll stand a chance of fighting back.¡±

    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s team up.¡±

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters quickly began forming groups.

    Tu Sihai was among them, teaming up with some old acquaintances.

    ¡°Sigh. The five of us are strong, but it¡¯s a pity we don¡¯t have a top-tier Grandmaster,¡± lamented a seductive woman, her demeanor oozing charm.

    ¡°There are only a handful of top-tier Grandmasters, and we¡¯re not familiar with any of them. Why would they team up with us?¡± said a one-eyed elder with a sinister tone.

    ¡°As long as we don¡¯t encounter a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, we should be fine if we¡¯re cautious.¡±

    The other two in their group were twin brothers, both newly advanced to peak Earth-tier Weapon Masters. Their coordination made them a formidable duo.

    ¡°With the Blackshade Brothers, our group isn¡¯t weak. We should manage,¡± Tu Sihai said, though he still felt disappointed. The top-tier Grandmasters they knew hadn¡¯t come, and it was too risky to team up with strangers.

    Nearly a hundred Earth-tier Weapon Masters gathered at the inn, forming teams.

    Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves echoed in the distance.

    Everyone turned to see an old man running frantically, pulling a horse behind him, sweat streaming down his face.

    Behind him, a tiger was gripping his belt with its teeth.

    The scene was both comical and bizarre, drawing the attention of many Weapon Masters.

    At that moment, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a strikingly handsome young man.

    The moment he waved his hand, the tiger transformed into a small bird and disappeared into his sleeve.

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters were stunned by the scene.

    ¡°What a dashing young man!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s... illusionary arts. Impressive.¡±

    Tu Sihai¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Qi... Brother Qi?¡±

    ¡°You know him?¡± The seductive woman licked her lips. ¡°What a young, energetic body.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s... not ordinary,¡± Tu Sihai replied, recalling the moment Qi Yuan swallowed the Spirit Body Gu. A trace of fear lingered in his heart.

    But why had Qi Yuan come? Hadn¡¯t he said he wasn¡¯t interested?

    The carriage came to a stop, and the young man stepped out.

    He scanned the crowd of Weapon Masters and spoke in a clear voice:

    ¡°Which one of you is Mo Sankong? Get out here and prepare to die. How dare you bully my wife? I may be a mere son-in-law, but I¡¯m not someone you can trample on.¡±

    A son-in-law might endure insults¡ªbut only from his in-laws.

    Outsiders bullying him?

    Having witnessed Qi Yuan¡¯s strength, none dared to show him anything but deference.

    ¡°When you enter the ruins, if you encounter anyone, regardless of whether they¡¯re a man or a woman, tell them this: ¡®Shen Lingxuan, your husband is here to find you. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡¯¡±

    Qi Yuan let the power of money do the talking. ¡°If you do this for me, the ten thousand taels are yours.¡±

    For an Earth-tier Weapon Master, ten thousand taels was a considerable sum.

    And all they had to do was relay a message? It was an incredibly easy payday.

    This man was truly... a wealthy fool.

    Many Weapon Masters couldn¡¯t help but feel baffled by Qi Yuan¡¯s generosity.

    Tu Sihai, however, wasn¡¯t surprised. Based on his previous interactions with Qi Yuan, he had already concluded that Qi Yuan¡¯s behavior was anything but ordinary.

    ¡°Agreed.¡±

    Many Weapon Masters responded eagerly, accepting the task.

    The banknotes floated into their hands.

    Only three Weapon Masters abstained, unwilling to get involved despite the money.

    ¡°If you¡¯ve taken the money, you¡¯d better do the job. Otherwise...¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice remained calm, but he moved his hand slightly.

    A faint sound pierced the air, and suddenly a figure fell from the sky, crashing to the ground.

    It was a scrawny old man, his face frozen in disbelief. A deep wound ran from his forehead to his chest, and his aura rapidly faded until he was dead.

    ¡°Stealing is a crime. Stealing from me is three times as bad.

    And to think you not only tried to steal from me but also plotted to ambush me? Death.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s tone was as calm as ever.

    The Weapon Masters present were filled with unease.

    They realized Qi Yuan¡¯s display wasn¡¯t just strength¡ªit was a warning.

    And it was effective.

    ¡°That¡¯s Leisurely Cloud Elder! And he was killed in a single strike!¡±

    ¡°He was a top-tier Grandmaster!¡±

    ¡°He specialized in speed and concealment. None of us even noticed him!¡±

    ¡°With strength like this... even a Heaven-tier Weapon Master would struggle without using Unity with the Heavens!¡±

    ¡°How does he train?!¡±

    The crowd was awestruck.

    Tu Sihai¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.

    Brother Qi was far stronger than he had anticipated.

    With him leading the way into the ruins, the journey might not be as perilous as they¡¯d feared.

    Wang Dao, meanwhile, was elated. The stronger Qi Yuan was, the safer Wang Dao would be.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Time to find that eunuch, Mo Sankong,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The team of five wasted no time following him.

    Wang Dao quickly fell in step behind Qi Yuan.

    Tu Sihai, however, couldn¡¯t suppress a lingering question. ¡°Brother Qi, the Shen Lingxuan you mentioned¡ªis she the Profound Yin Physique of the Heavenly Sect?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yuan confirmed.

    ¡°She¡¯s here? Brother Qi, your actions might draw danger to her.

    After all, as a Profound Yin Physique, if she¡¯s discovered...¡± Tu Sihai¡¯s tone was heavy with concern.

    ¡°Relax. She¡¯s my nominal wife, after all. Do you really think she¡¯s that weak?¡± Qi Yuan chuckled, recalling the two times he had encountered Shen Lingxuan.

    Shen Lingxuan was far stronger than she appeared.

    Even Mo Sankong might struggle to defeat her.

    She had likely entered the ruins with a plan of her own. Either that, or she was avoiding exposure, which might invite a siege from Heaven-tier Weapon Masters of the Rosha Kingdom.

    ¡°Brother Qi, you¡¯re paying people to deliver your message. But even if they tell Shen Lingxuan, how will she find you?¡± the seductive woman asked, tilting her head.

    Seeing that Qi Yuan was looking for his wife, she decided to put away her flirtatious demeanor and act more reserved.

    ¡°That¡¯s... complicated to explain,¡± Qi Yuan said casually. ¡°Let¡¯s just say... I have technology.¡±

    The silver notes¡ªwere they really just silver notes?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s abilities, from his shapeshifting drone to the technology aboard the Gongxing spaceship, made tampering with silver notes a trivial task.

    As long as they encountered Shen Lingxuan, Qi Yuan would immediately know her location.

    He could then rush to her side.

    No matter how well Shen Lingxuan disguised herself, she might fool the Earth-tier Weapon Masters, but she couldn¡¯t deceive Qi Yuan¡¯s advanced technology.

    The technology on the Gongxing spaceship even seemed to share origins with the ruins of the Ancient Clan.

    And the Ancient Clan¡¯s ruins were incredibly significant. Even Yang Gods weren¡¯t much in comparison.

    In Qi Yuan¡¯s estimation, the Ancient Clan¡¯s foundation likely surpassed even the Immortal Realms.

    After all, Yin Gods were like malnourished infants in comparison.

    ¡°Technology... What is that?¡± The group was puzzled, having never heard the term before.

    ¡°Technology... is an alternative path to the Dao,¡± Qi Yuan replied, sharing his insights.

    The stronger he became, the more profound his understanding of the Dao grew.

    The immortal Dao, the martial Dao of the Ten Thousand Paths, and technology¡ªeach was a distinct path to the Dao.

    And each, when taken to its ultimate conclusion, was terrifyingly powerful.

    Meanwhile, within the ruins.

    In a sealed, narrow chamber, Shen Lingxuan stood. She was dressed in a flowing black dress, her aura cold and icy.

    Her delicate brows furrowed as she examined the wooden chest before her.

    Within it lay a diary.

    She opened the diary and began reading, her expression neutral.

    ¡°Today, they came looking for me again.

    I really wanted to refuse, but the reward they offered was irresistible. For the sake of my poor child, who has yet to be born, I must fight for them!¡±

    ¡°Today, Liu Mei learned a new dish. It was delicious.¡±

    ¡°I encountered a blind Weapon Master. He had the greatest talent I¡¯d ever seen for crafting weapons.

    I was ordered to invite him to join us, but he refused.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if this is right or wrong, but I have no choice...

    If the Chaotic Starfield is destroyed, the Blue Mountain Realm... will also fall into darkness.¡±

    ¡°Will this work? Will it?¡±

    ¡°The fragments of the Divine Bright Artifact... can it really be created?¡±

    ¡°Divine Light Awaken... Will the Divine truly protect us?¡±

    ¡°It has begun. There is no turning back.

    Either I die... or the Divine Bright Artifact is created.

    Or... I die, and the Divine never awakens.¡±

    The diary was filled with cryptic entries.

    Shen Lingxuan flipped through the pages, her expression unchanged.

    After some time, she closed the diary and let out a deep sigh.

    ¡°So it¡¯s true. Master Qi joined them to forge the fragments of the Divine Bright Artifact.

    But is it worth it?¡±

    She gazed into the ruins, her voice soft.

    ¡°Failure...¡±

 Chapter 521: What Exploration? This is a Full-Blown Bulldozing Tour!

    Chapter 521: What Exploration? This is a Full-Blown Bulldozing Tour!

    In front of the ruins, deathly stillness permeated the air, as if one had stepped into the ultimate darkness.

    There wasn¡¯t a trace of light to be found.

    Clearly, they had failed.

    ¡°The Artifact masters lineage of the Blue Mountain Realm... is severed.¡±

    A woman¡¯s voice suddenly echoed beside Shen Lingxuan.

    The speaker was an insect, about the size of a moth and similar in appearance to a butterfly.

    This creature was a Spirit of Heaven and Earth, a lifeform said to have existed since the dawn of creation.

    Shen Lingxuan had encountered it after arriving in the ruins.

    ¡°All those who came here to forge fragments of the Divine Bright Artifact were true prodigies among artifact masters. Now that they are gone... the art of artifact forging in the Blue Mountain Realm will stagnate for centuries,¡± the Butterfly Spirit spoke, its voice carrying a sense of melancholy.

    In its eyes, those artifii?act masters who came to this Forbidden Zone were unparalleled geniuses, plucked from across the world.

    Under normal circumstances, these individuals would have had bright futures and assured prosperity.

    The Butterfly Spirit turned toward Shen Lingxuan:

    ¡°Lingxuan, you bear a Heavenly Fate and are someone with a special destiny. You may ignore other treasures in this Forbidden Zone, but you must claim the Source of the Forbidden Zone.

    Only those with a Heavenly Fate can suppress the Forbidden Source, preventing it from flourishing. Moreover... if you refine the Forbidden Source, you will gain all sorts of extraordinary abilities, allowing you to hide within the Blue Mountain Realm and avoid being... discovered by outsiders.¡±

    The Butterfly Spirit¡¯s expression turned grave as it spoke.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t, and if you achieve Unity with the Heavens, you¡¯ll undoubtedly attract the attention of outsiders, and you¡¯ll end up like your previous life¡ªdead.¡±

    A powerful icy aura radiated from Shen Lingxuan.

    Memories from her past life surged forth in that instant.

    In her previous life, she had been a proud daughter of heaven, devout in her cultivation. Yet one day, without warning, a streak of sword light descended from beyond the heavens, shattering her body in an instant, leaving not even a corpse behind.

    Even now, the mere memory of that strike left her shaken.

    Such power... it had to have been a Divine-tier existence.

    ¡°What does ¡®Heavenly Fate¡¯ truly represent?¡± Shen Lingxuan asked.

    The Butterfly Spirit paused for a moment before replying, ¡°It represents the will of the world. It represents ownership of the world.¡±

    Clearly, it was speaking in riddles, offering limited insight.

    Perhaps this was all it knew.

    Dressed in her black gown, Shen Lingxuan resembled a black rose¡ªcold and austere.

    ¡°Mo Sankong is outside. The Heaven-tier Weapon Masters from the Rosha Kingdom are also making their way here. It¡¯s hard enough to deal with just them. Claiming the Forbidden Source will be nearly impossible,¡± she said.

    The Butterfly Spirit trembled slightly and replied, ¡°That is indeed a problem. Unfortunately, I lack combat abilities¡ªI can¡¯t even handle an Earth-tier Weapon Master.¡±

    ¡°However, I can scout ahead for you to avoid certain dangers,¡± it offered.

    <hr> ¡°Ah, before exploring ruins, you have to eat your fill. Otherwise, you won¡¯t have the energy.¡±

    Chen Kangbao spoke as he pulled a steamed bun from his pocket and stuffed it into his mouth.

    While eating, he waved another bun toward Tu Sihai and the others.

    ¡°Anyone want some?¡±

    The seductive woman covered her mouth, her expression one of mild disgust at the sight of the sweat-covered bun. ¡°Thank you for the kind offer, sir, but I¡¯ll pass.¡±

    To her, Chen Kangbao was just a servant of Qi Yuan, so she refrained from showing outright anger.

    ¡°No thanks,¡± the others also politely declined.

    Only Wang Dao smiled broadly. ¡°I¡¯ll take one. Thank you, sir.¡±

    Chen Kangbao was overjoyed. ¡°Here you go!¡±

    Wang Dao immediately took the bun and began devouring it without a care. ¡°Delicious.¡±

    ¡°Alright, time to explore the ruins and find that Mo Sankong!¡± Qi Yuan said.

    The group of eight adjusted their gear and headed northeast, toward the Seventeenth Black Gate of the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss.

    Based on Wang Dao¡¯s account, Mo Sankong had entered through that gate.

    Under the cover of night, they traveled quickly.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the blind elder in their group and, with a humble tone, asked, ¡°Old man, in a few months, I might also go blind. What do you think is the most important thing for a blind man?¡±

    In a few months, he would have to play the role of a blind artifact master. Meeting an actual blind man was a rare chance for him to seek guidance.

    The blind elder paused, slightly surprised. His left eye was blind, but his right eye was still intact. ¡°Perhaps... regaining sight.¡±

    ¡°Regaining sight, huh?¡± Qi Yuan murmured thoughtfully.

    The blind artifact master¡¯s greatest wish was likely to become a Divine-tier artifact master or ascend to even greater heights.

    But could he truly achieve that while blind?

    Roughly half an hour later, the group reached a mountain hollow under the cover of darkness.

    The terrain appeared as though an earthquake had once occurred, causing soil and rocks to collapse and revealing part of the ruins.

    A dozen black iron doors stood before them, adorned with intricate, mysterious patterns.

    ¡°Half of the doors here are open. Fortunately, the one we need to enter is open too; otherwise, we¡¯d waste a lot of time,¡± Tu Sihai remarked.

    The iron doors in the ruins were incredibly sturdy. Even a top-tier Grandmaster would struggle to destroy them.

    ¡°What do you mean open? Isn¡¯t there a dog hole right there?¡± Chen Kangbao exclaimed in astonishment.

    ¡°That¡¯s the hole that duck-voiced guy squeezed through,¡± Wang Dao added, recalling the scene with lingering fear.

    Had it not been so difficult to exit the ruins, he suspected the Weapon Master might have killed him for witnessing such a humiliating sight.

    ¡°A dog hole? It¡¯s clearly a dragon-and-phoenix hole,¡± the seductive woman teased, chuckling.

    Tu Sihai also laughed. ¡°Let¡¯s not fool ourselves. There¡¯s no shame in crawling through it.¡±

    The others nodded in agreement. Just getting through was what mattered.

    The blind elder glanced at the seductive woman and remarked, ¡°I¡¯m just worried your half-pound of meat up front might not fit through.¡±

    ¡°Blind fool, be careful, or I¡¯ll stab your good eye when we¡¯re inside!¡± The seductive woman didn¡¯t take offense.

    Qi Yuan inspected the hole and said seriously, ¡°The blind elder¡¯s right.¡±

    The seductive woman¡¯s face turned crimson.

    If it had been anyone else, she wouldn¡¯t have cared.

    But Qi Yuan was a mysterious powerhouse, almost certain to ascend to Heaven-tier Weapon Master status in the future. Moreover, he was young and exceptionally handsome.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan spoke up:

    ¡°A mere broken door? Watch carefully; the son-in-law is about to smirk!¡±No?v(el)B\\jnn

    He stepped forward toward the black gate.

    The Blackshade Brother¡¯s younger sibling looked surprised and said, ¡°This black gate is made of Planiron. Even Heaven-tier Weapon Masters would struggle to break it.¡±

    Clearly, he didn¡¯t think Qi Yuan could do it.

    Qi Yuan suddenly stopped and turned back with a grin. ¡°That¡¯s it. Keep talking like that. Without someone doubting me, it¡¯s no fun to smirk.¡±

    The son-in-law smirk would have no soul without someone casting doubt.

    Ideally, there¡¯d also be a handsome man or beautiful woman for him to slap.

    Though, Qi Yuan hated pain, so getting slapped was out of the question.

    The younger Blackshade Brother felt awkward.

    Tu Sihai, recalling Qi Yuan¡¯s eccentric personality, tentatively added, ¡°Brother Qi, I fear even your attack will have no effect on the black gate.¡±

    He spoke sincerely.

    ¡°Your lines lack punch. I should¡¯ve brought you all a drama to watch and learn proper delivery!¡± Qi Yuan shook his head.

    The blind elder said nothing, quietly observing Qi Yuan¡¯s antics with distaste.

    Without wasting further time, Qi Yuan stretched out his hand and gave the black gate a gentle push.

    A massive force erupted.

    His hand transformed into a razor-sharp blade, shifting from a push to a slash.

    Boom!

    With a thunderous crash, the indestructible black gate shattered like tofu.

    A man-sized opening appeared before them.

    ¡°This... how is that possible?¡±

    ¡°It actually broke!¡±

    Everyone was stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.

    They had expected Qi Yuan to be strong, but they hadn¡¯t expected this level of power!

    Breaking the black gate with one strike¡ªwas that even something a Heaven-tier Weapon Master could do?

    Qi Yuan, seeing their stunned expressions, decided not to smirk after all.

    ¡°A mere novice Heaven-tier dares to challenge me?¡± Mo Sankong sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.

    His claw-like hand struck at the Confucian scholar, who barely managed to defend himself but still ended up with a bloody gash on his shoulder.

    As Mo Sankong prepared to strike again but the sound of trumpets rang out in the distance.

    He turned abruptly to see a bronze gate opening. Several figures stumbled through.

    A group of eight entered his line of sight.

    The trumpets abruptly stopped.

    The trumpet players froze upon seeing Mo Sankong, their faces filled with shock and fear.

    ¡°Unity with the Heavens... that¡¯s a Heaven-tier Weapon Master!¡±

    ¡°And the other one is... a Heaven-tier Weapon Master in combat?¡±

    Wang Dao opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words.

    Earlier, he had assumed Mo Sankong was just a strong Earth-tier Weapon Master because he hadn¡¯t displayed his full strength.

    But now, seeing him in combat, the aura of Unity with the Heavens was unmistakable.

    There was no doubt¡ªMo Sankong was a Heaven-tier Weapon Master.

    Though Qi Yuan was powerful, he had yet to display the aura of Unity with the Heavens.

    Even if his strength and speed surpassed Mo Sankong¡¯s, Unity with the Heavens wasn¡¯t something that could be overcome by sheer physical prowess.

    Tu Sihai realized the situation and quickly spoke up. ¡°Senior, we mean no offense by intruding. We¡¯ll leave immediately.¡±

    He spoke humbly, lowering his posture.

    After all, Mo Sankong was a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, and clearly not a newly advanced one at that.

    Mo Sankong¡¯s eyes narrowed into a cold smile. ¡°You can leave, but the old man stays.¡±

    He pointed at Chen Kangbao, his expression arrogant.

    Looking at the Confucian scholar, his gaze turned cunning. ¡°You may have hidden yourself well, but when that old man appeared, I noticed the surprise and worry in your eyes.

    You know him... and you know him well.¡±

    Standing in mid-air, Mo Sankong exuded supreme confidence, his demeanor that of an absolute ruler.

    ¡°He stays, and the rest of you can leave.¡±

    ¡°Otherwise... you all die.¡±

    His voice was domineering, dripping with contempt.

    The Confucian scholar¡¯s face filled with worry and guilt.

    I¡¯ve implicated Elder Chen! he thought bitterly.

    On the other side, Tu Sihai and the others were equally uneasy.

    The oppressive aura emanating from Mo Sankong was overwhelming, far stronger than any Heaven-tier Weapon Master they had ever encountered.

    Even if they worked together, they likely wouldn¡¯t be a match for him.

    Though Qi Yuan was incredibly strong, he hadn¡¯t reached Unity with the Heavens. There was no way he could win.

    ¡°Hey, eunuch, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re overestimating yourself?¡± Qi Yuan said, his tone tinged with surprise. ¡°Even if you let us leave, I¡¯m not planning to let you off.¡±

    Mo Sankong¡¯s expression darkened instantly.

    He clearly didn¡¯t like being called an eunuch¡ªit struck a nerve.

    ¡°Oh, how bold. I didn¡¯t expect such insolence from someone in this puny kingdom.

    Fine. Today, none of you will leave alive!¡±

    Killing intent surged in Mo Sankong¡¯s heart.

    Tu Sihai and the others braced themselves, nerves taut.

    Tu Sihai called out, ¡°Brother Qi, you take the lead. We¡¯ll assist you. We must fight!¡±

    At this point, with Mo Sankong¡¯s killing intent so clear, no amount of pleading would change the outcome. Their only option was to fight for a slim chance of survival.

    ¡°Why would you need to fight?¡± Qi Yuan said calmly. ¡°Keep playing your trumpets. I¡¯ll take care of him for his funeral.¡±

    ¡°But he¡¯s a Heaven-tier Weapon Master!¡± the blind elder protested, his tone filled with disbelief.

    Was Qi Yuan insane?

    ¡°Hmph. Even a Heaven-tier Weapon Master will fall before the young master!¡± Chen Kangbao shouted, raising his hand. ¡°Play the trumpets!¡±

    Tu Sihai and the others hesitated for a moment before reluctantly picking up their trumpets and playing once more.

    They remained tense, ready to step in if things went south.

    Qi Yuan turned his gaze to Mo Sankong and spoke calmly:

    ¡°Mo Sankong, do you know the crime you¡¯ve committed?¡±

    Mo Sankong paused, momentarily confused. ¡°You know me?¡±

    ¡°You dared to covet my wife, Shen Lingxuan. If you take her, how am I supposed to play the role of the son-in-law?

    You¡¯ve committed a capital offense, and there¡¯s no forgiveness for your crimes.

    If you kneel and end your own life, I¡¯ll grant you a final mercy¡ªI¡¯ll even arrange for you to eat your own funeral feast.¡±

    Qi Yuan was magnanimous, even respecting the rights of criminals.

    As for how a dead man would eat his own funeral feast?

    Simple¡ªhe¡¯d slice open Mo Sankong¡¯s stomach and stuff it full of buns.

    ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Mo Sankong roared, his fury reaching its peak.

    ¡°Shen Lingxuan has already caught the eye of my lord. If you hand her over to us and end your own life, I¡¯ll spare your family!¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m an orphan. Why don¡¯t you bring my family back to life?¡±

    The trumpets blared, urgent and loud.

    Among the Earth-tier Weapon Masters, faces turned pale with anxiety and unease.

    Even the Confucian scholar was deeply worried, his heart filled with confusion.

    Wasn¡¯t Qi Yuan just a lunatic from the Madhouse?

    Wasn¡¯t he a mere mortal?

    How could he suddenly be so powerful?

    ¡°Die!¡±

    Mo Sankong struck, entering his Unity with the Heavens state. He gathered the power of heaven and earth, directing it toward Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Child, without reaching Heaven-tier, you are but an ant. You have no understanding of what the power of heaven and earth truly is!¡±

    Mo Sankong¡¯s voice brimmed with confidence and contempt.

    Even if his raw strength and speed couldn¡¯t match Qi Yuan¡¯s, Unity with the Heavens gave him access to the forces of heaven and earth within a ten-meter radius.

    This power, weighing tens of thousands of pounds, was beyond mere human strength.

    This was the greatest divide between Heaven-tier and Earth-tier Weapon Masters.

    To date, there had been no recorded instances of an Earth-tier Weapon Master defeating a Heaven-tier opponent.

    ¡°Heaven and earth¡¯s power?¡± Qi Yuan chuckled. ¡°Hey, eunuch, do you know the value of being a shareholder?¡±

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan struck, throwing a single punch.

    Mo Sankong¡¯s expression shifted to one of utter horror.

    He suddenly realized that the power of heaven and earth he had gathered was... dissipating.

    No, not dissipating¡ªit was retreating, wilting!

    As if a son had run into his father at a brothel.

    ¡°How... how is this possible?¡± Mo Sankong stammered.

    The power of heaven and earth was the foundation of every Heaven-tier Weapon Master.

    It could only be overcome by stronger forces of heaven and earth¡ªnever through retreat.

    But here it was, shrinking away before the punch of an Earth-tier Weapon Master.

    Boom!

    Before Mo Sankong could understand, the punch landed squarely on him.

    Without the protection of heaven and earth, his internal organs shattered instantly, and his body collapsed.

    Even in death, his face was frozen in disbelief and confusion.

    There would be no explanation for him.

    With one punch, a Heaven-tier Weapon Master was dead.

    Qi Yuan smirked. ¡°To me, there¡¯s no difference between you and any other Earth-tier Weapon Master.¡±

    The trumpet music stopped abruptly.

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters stood frozen, their faces painted with shock.

    This level of power defied everything they had ever known.

    How could an Earth-tier Weapon Master shatter the forces of heaven and earth, killing a Heaven-tier Weapon Master in a single blow?

 Chapter 522: Youâ€™re Just a Son-in-Law, but Thatâ€™s a Xuan-Tier Human-Faced Moth!

    A Heaven-tier Weapon Master, killing him with one punch?

    The man blowing the suona was utterly shocked.

    In this world, it was already impossible for an Earth-tier Weapon Master to defeat a Heaven-tier Weapon Master.

    As for a Heaven-tier Weapon Master achieving the state of "Unity with the Heavens," there was only one recorded case¡ªand even that was of someone whose excessive indulgence in lust affected his cultivation. When he attempted to enter "Unity with the Heavens," he failed to clench his control and died on the spot.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    But now, right before their eyes, Mo Sankong had been utterly obliterated with just one punch from Qi Yuan!

    The sheer weight of such an achievement was utterly terrifying.

    Confusion, ecstasy, doubt, shock... All kinds of emotions flickered across the faces of the crowd.

    At that moment, Chen Kangbao wore an exaggerated expression as he exclaimed, "This son-in-law is actually this powerful!"

    Qi Yuan heard this and felt immensely pleased with himself.

    This was exactly the kind of reaction he was looking for.

    The Confucian-robed scholar narrowed his eyes upon hearing this.

    Such a powerful and mysterious individual¡ªhe was just a son-in-law?

    "Too strong!" Tu Sihai muttered, swallowing hard.

    Now, he was utterly humbled by the arrogance he had displayed earlier.

    As for the younger of the Blackshade Brothers, his heart was in his throat, terrified that Qi Yuan might harbor a grudge against him for his earlier dismissiveness.

    "Sigh, I¡¯d really like to see just how breathtaking this Miss Lingxuan must be, to make such an extraordinary man marry into her family," someone murmured wistfully.

    Qi Yuan casually took Mo Sankong¡¯s storage artifact, extracted the silver stored within, and then selected a few materials from it.

    "The rest of these weapons are yours," he said indifferently and tossed them aside.

    To him, even Heaven-tier weapons were less useful than Heaven-tier materials.

    After all, he would need to reforge them anyway to extract the materials he required, which was a tedious process.

    But for the Weapon Masters present, it was a different story. They weren¡¯t Artifact Masters, and even those who were would prefer ready-made weapons to raw materials.

    They took the discarded weapons, excitement glowing in their eyes.

    Even Wang Dao, who had just entered the ranks of Earth-tier Weapon Masters, managed to get a peak Earth-tier weapon.

    Qi Yuan turned his gaze to the Confucian-robed scholar, his expression calm. "Do you know Chen Kangbao?"

    Chen Kangbao looked puzzled. "You know me?"

    The Confucian-robed scholar¡¯s face held a look of reminiscence. "Thirty years ago, when I was still young, I traveled the world and met Brother Chen. Brother Chen was a genius Artifact Master¡ªtalented, resourceful, and unparalleled in his craft."

    Hearing this, Chen Kangbao¡¯s face lit up with joy. "Young Master, did you hear that? I¡¯m resourceful! I¡¯m more than qualified to be your strategist!"

    The Confucian-robed scholar looked at Chen Kangbao¡¯s current demeanor, his thoughts conflicted. "Later, a group of mysterious individuals sought out Brother Chen... They wanted him to join them in accomplishing some great undertaking. As for the details... this old man does not know. All I know is that it involved forging an extraordinary artifact."

    "The Radiance Society?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    He was reminded of how this body¡¯s father had once tried to recruit a blind Artifact Master into an organization that was apparently also working to forge a powerful artifact.

    Later, Fang Shisan from the Radiance Society had even attempted to assassinate him. If it weren¡¯t for their fear of the Spirit Parasite Gu within him, they likely would have attacked him outright.

    The Confucian-robed scholar¡¯s face changed multiple times before he finally nodded. "It¡¯s just as I suspected."

    "That¡¯s all?" Chen Kangbao wasn¡¯t particularly interested in this. "Since you know me, can you describe any other strengths I have? Preferably using four-character idioms?"

    Chen Kangbao looked at the scholar expectantly.

    "Lofty and reclusive, as serene as jade..." After much thought, the Confucian-robed scholar managed to squeeze out these words.

    The current Chen Kangbao¡ªeccentric and half-crazed¡ªwas completely unrecognizable compared to the serene, altruistic, and ambitious genius Artifact Master he had once been.

    "Hehe, I didn¡¯t know this old man had so many virtues," Chen Kangbao said with a pleased, slightly lewd grin.

    "Why are you here?" Qi Yuan asked, looking at the Confucian-robed scholar.

    The Confucian-robed scholar looked at Chen Kangbao with a complicated gaze. "Back then, it wasn¡¯t just Brother Chen who was invited by the Radiance Society. Even my elder brother was invited. I wish... to bring back his remains so that he doesn¡¯t have to lie buried in a foreign land."

    At this, the scholar¡¯s eyes dimmed with sorrow.

    "So, they were invited to the Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss to forge an artifact for the Radiance Society?" Qi Yuan pondered aloud.

    No wonder Chen Kangbao reacted strongly upon hearing the name "Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss." It seemed to have triggered his storyline.

    "In that case, let¡¯s head inside and take a look. We might also find Shen Lingxuan along the way," Qi Yuan said, striding forward.

    The others quickly followed. The Confucian-robed scholar hesitated but ultimately pressed on despite his injuries.

    The ruins were dimly lit, with an eerie atmosphere. The corners were damp, and the entire place felt uninviting.

    After walking for about fifteen minutes, the group stopped before a massive stone slab.

    The slab was enormous, at least a hundred meters in both length and width, and appeared to be a single piece.

    It was covered in moss and stained with what appeared to be blood.

    The sound of dripping water echoed through the space.

    Suddenly, a piercing, shrill roar broke the silence.

    The source of the sound was a specter resembling a moth, but with a human face. Its appearance was especially horrifying.

    "Just a mere specter dares to act insolent? Watch as this son-in-law takes care of it!" Qi Yuan shouted boldly, stepping forward.

    The Confucian-robed scholar froze for a moment, finding the situation rather strange.

    At this moment, Tu Sihai said anxiously, "That¡¯s a Xuan-tier Human-Faced Moth, and it¡¯s at the peak of the Xuan tier. Its specialty is speed! You¡¯re just a son-in-law¡ªhow dare you provoke it?"

    The Confucian-robed scholar doubted his ears.

    "Human-Faced Moths are especially unique among specters. They are the kings among specters. You¡¯re merely a son-in-law¡ªdon¡¯t throw your life away!"

    The scholar¡¯s mind went blank.

    "Offending the great Human-Faced Moth means you¡¯ll face the wrath of the Shen Clan!" someone else added.

    "There will be no place for you in Ning Country!"

    Other Earth-tier Weapon Masters joined in, mocking and ridiculing him. Their words seemed to emphasize how fearsome the Human-Faced Moth was, while also belittling Qi Yuan as nothing more than a son-in-law.

    This baffled the Confucian-robed scholar.

    He was a Heaven-tier Weapon Master and could see the Xuan-tier Human-Faced Moth¡¯s true nature at a glance.

    Could it be... he was mistaken?

    For a moment, he doubted his own judgment.

    "Hmph! Even if I¡¯m a son-in-law, no one is allowed to insult me!"

    With that, Qi Yuan transformed into a cannonball, launching himself at the Human-Faced Moth.

    The mockery abruptly ceased, and the sound of the suona rose again.

    "Son-in-laws are not to be humiliated!"

    A powerful punch ripped through the air, producing a white burst of energy.

    The once-ferocious Human-Faced Moth froze mid-flight.

    It didn¡¯t even have the chance to say, "Wait... you¡¯re that strong?"

    Boom!

    With one punch, a hundred strikes followed!

    The Human-Faced Moth¡¯s body shattered completely, leaving nothing behind.

    "You... a mere son-in-law, actually killed a Human-Faced Moth!"

    "How is this possible? That was a Xuan-tier Human-Faced Moth!"

    The surrounding Weapon Masters hastily set their suonas aside, indulging in their dramatic performances.

    The Confucian-robed scholar was entirely at a loss. At this point, he dared not speak.

    He could only feel that this entire group was utterly insane.

    "What a pity," Qi Yuan remarked regretfully. "It didn¡¯t work hard enough. If it had cultivated to the Heaven tier, that would¡¯ve been truly satisfying."

    Slaying the Human-Faced Moth only gave him a tiny bit of experience.

    Had it been a Heaven-tier specter, the experience gained would¡¯ve been far greater, and Qi Yuan could¡¯ve absorbed enough "Unity with the Heavens" energy to make significant progress.

    The energy he obtained from Mo Sankong and the Spirit Parasite Gu was far too meager to push him beyond level 120.

    ---

    ¡°Who would have thought... this place is actually a Specter-Restricted Zone!¡±

    Fifth Wei, dressed in golden silk robes with a snake embroidered on his waist in jade thread, exuded an air of authority and menace.

    <hr> <hr>

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze burned like fire.

    Behind him, mocking voices rose in unison, as if rehearsed.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s arm transformed into a giant blade.

    Unyielding strength and unparalleled sharpness exploded forth as he struck the weakened section of the underground palace.

    Boom!

    With a powerful strike, a two-meter-wide breach appeared.

    The Confucian-robed scholar¡¯s eyes filled with astonishment, quickly followed by a sense of loss and confusion.

    ¡°Let¡¯s... go inside and take a look.¡±

    Although the scholar had received information that the Artifact Masters in the Strange Domain had failed...

    What if they hadn¡¯t?

    He still harbored a shred of hope.

    The group stepped into the opening immediately.

    An overwhelming stench of decay and rot assaulted their senses¡ªa nauseating blend of death and ancient mildew.

    It was as if they had entered a tomb sealed for thousands of years.

    Tu Sihai wrinkled his nose in disgust, his complexion pale.

    The others instinctively covered their noses, their expressions similarly grim.

    Chen Kangbao, however, seemed unfazed. With a peculiar expression on his face, he muttered, ¡°I... feel hungry.¡±

    As he spoke, he took out a steamed bun and began devouring it. His stomach, already round and bloated, showed no signs of slowing him down as he ate ravenously.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the interior.

    What stretched out before him was a desolate sea of white¡ªendless skeletons.

    The remains of countless individuals were scattered across the ground, their postures twisted in agony, as if they had endured unbearable suffering before death.

    Some skeletons, however, were seated upright, their bones arranged neatly and solemnly, as though they had faced death with calm resolve.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze eventually settled on one particular skeleton.

    This one was draped in a tattered black cloak and held a broken sword in its bony hand.

    The broken sword exuded a faint yet ominous aura, though its spiritual essence had long since faded.

    ¡°Is this... a divine artifact?¡± Qi Yuan asked, his voice calm but steady.

    Ten years ago, this black-robed individual must have wielded that broken sword, slashing repeatedly at the underground palace in a desperate attempt to carve an escape route.

    Now, however, the sword had lost all its spiritual essence, leaving it even weaker than a Heaven-tier artifact.

    ¡°This is the corpse of a Divine-tier master,¡± Qi Yuan remarked, his tone devoid of emotion.

    The breathing of those around him grew heavy as their gazes unconsciously fell on the storage artifact clasped within the bony hand of the skeleton.

    Yet, seeing that Qi Yuan made no move, none of them dared act rashly.

    The Confucian-robed scholar looked at the endless field of skeletons before them, and his entire being seemed to collapse. His vitality, his strength, all seemed to drain from him.

    ¡°They¡¯re dead... all of them... dead...¡± he murmured in despair, slumping onto the ground with lifeless eyes.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s attention turned to the massive stone slab nearby.

    ¡°There¡¯s writing here,¡± he noted.

    The others hurried over, crowding around to look.

    On the stone slab was a dense inscription, written in ancient script:

    <hr>

    "My name is Qian Muzhi, the Grandmaster of Sang Country..."

    ¡°What?! Qian Muzhi! One of the top three Divine-tier masters in the world? He vanished fifty years ago¡ªhe¡¯s here!¡± Tu Sihai exclaimed, his breathing quickening.

    "Night has fallen. The specters run rampant. The frontlines are collapsing. Realms are falling one by one. The Blue Mountain Realm... may be the next to fall."

    Those present turned pale as they read this, their expressions shifting to one of abject horror.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t the Specter-Restricted Zones cleared long ago? How is this possible...¡± They felt as though they had stumbled upon a horrifying secret, one that sent a chill down their spines.

    "In the short span of a thousand years, seventeen realms have already fallen, becoming paradises for specters.

    In another thousand years, the next to fall... will be the Blue Mountain Realm."

    "To protect the Blue Mountain Realm, the Radiance Society told me that we must gather all the world¡¯s Artifact Masters and forge the Divine Light Treasure.

    The Light of Divinity... will be our only chance of survival.

    For thirty years, even as more and more genius Artifact Masters abandoned their names and joined us, we still failed."

    The words carved onto the stone slab were plain and unadorned, but a deep sense of despair seeped into the hearts of those who read them.

    "Within the Strange Domain were 300,000 anonymous geniuses. Each of them was a true prodigy.

    Had they lived and grown, they would have become the pride of their realms. Some might even have been remembered throughout history."

    The Confucian-robed scholar muttered, ¡°Three hundred thousand Artifact Masters... they hid themselves in these mountains, giving up their identities and ambitions, all to forge fragments of the Divine Light Treasure in the hope of giving the Blue Mountain Realm the power to resist the specters.¡±

    "But human will cannot defy the heavens. The gods ultimately did not bestow us their mercy.

    I was unwilling to give up... We were only one step away from success. How could we abandon our efforts?

    Success meant death, failure also meant death... Why would we fear death?"

    "So we forged ourselves into artifacts!

    And with our artifacts, we forged even greater artifacts!

    Our blood and flesh, our very lives... all were cast into the Divine Furnace, hoping to awaken that mighty god, to have its gaze fall upon the Heavenly Source!"

    The people of the Strange Domain had sacrificed everything to forge the Heavenly Source, a fragment of the Divine Light Treasure.

    Their hope was to awaken a mighty god who would transform the Heavenly Source into the Divine Light Treasure, granting their realm salvation.

    But they had failed.

    Even after all their efforts, they had failed.

    The Heavenly Source was imperfect, unable to attract the attention of the gods. Without divine favor, how could light ever descend upon them?

    In the end, they sacrificed the spiritual essence of every artifact they had. They sacrificed their own blood and flesh to feed the Heavenly Source, making it more complete.

    But even then, the gods did not cast their gaze upon them.

    "So hungry..." Chen Kangbao, who had been reading silently, sat down on the ground, still nibbling on his steamed bun.

    Every resource within the underground palace, from food to artifacts, had been sacrificed to the Heavenly Source.

    The Heavenly Source had consumed everything.

    Even the Artifact Masters themselves had cast their own flesh and blood into the Heavenly Source.

    "Every day, someone would die. So many were starving... so, so hungry. But no one dared eat anything. Everything was fed to the Heavenly Source, even our own flesh and blood."

    "I even thought about hacking apart the underground palace to feed the Heavenly Source. But I failed."

    "I do not know how much more the Heavenly Source must consume, nor how long it will take for the gods to open their eyes and glance this way."

    The writing etched into the stone radiated a bleak despair.

    "We sat here waiting for death. Those who could no longer bear the hunger... I ended their suffering and fed them to the Heavenly Source."

    Once someone entered the Strange Domain, there was no escape.

    The power of the Heavenly Source had transformed the entire domain into a land of death.

    The underground palace had once been home to 300,000 anonymous geniuses, toiling day and night to perfect the Heavenly Source. They poured their very lives into it.

    But even after all this, they failed.

    "In the end, I used the Radiance Society¡¯s teleportation array to send five people out.

    I hoped they could return in five years, bringing the Radiance Society back to the Strange Domain.

    Five years should be enough for the Heavenly Source to consume everything here.

    Whether or not the gods opened their eyes... I will never know."

    The inscription ended abruptly.

    Qian Muzhi sat upon the cold stone slab, his skeletal hand still clutching the broken sword. His flesh had long since been devoured. Whether his final moments were filled with hope or despair was a mystery lost to time.

    Chen Kangbao stuffed the last of his steamed bun into his mouth. After chewing for a moment, he suddenly had a thought.

    ¡°Young Master, so many people have died here. Should we... host a feast for them? Let them eat something too.¡±

 Chapter 523: This is a Proper Gameâ€”Stop Making It Lewd!

    Chen Kangbao pulled several steamed buns out of his robe and began placing them one by one in front of the skeletons scattered around the room.

    He had brought a lot of steamed buns with him¡ªit took him seven or eight minutes just to finish placing them.

    However, as he looked at the vast number of pale, skeletal remains that filled the chamber, his expression grew pained.

    ¡°Young Master, I didn¡¯t bring enough steamed buns... There aren¡¯t enough for all of them to eat,¡± he said sorrowfully.

    Qi Yuan remained calm and replied, ¡°I have plenty of ingredients with me. You can cook something.¡±

    As he spoke, various ingredients¡ªcabbage, pork ribs, rice, and flour¡ªflew out of his storage artifact.

    While playing the role of the Cleaver, he had prepared a large stock of food.

    Chen Kangbao immediately got to work cooking.

    Meanwhile, the other Weapon Masters present were staring at the inscriptions carved into the stone slab, occasionally lost in thought or sighing.

    However, to them, the words¡ªdespite describing the apocalyptic catastrophe of worlds falling into ruin¡ªfelt too distant and abstract.

    Without the proper background music to set the atmosphere, it was hard for them to feel emotionally connected to what they were reading.

    The only one who seemed truly distraught was the Confucian-robed scholar. Having lost his elder brother in this place, his grief was palpable.

    ¡°The collapse of worlds... To think that such a grave danger could threaten the heavens beyond... Why has no one ever told us about this?¡± Tu Sihai asked, his face full of shock.

    ¡°If the records here are accurate, then the Blue Mountain Realm... may be in grave danger!¡± the blind old man rasped in a hoarse voice.

    After all, according to what was written, this place had gathered nearly 300,000 of the most talented Artifact Masters of the Blue Mountain Realm, including many Divine-tier masters. Their purpose was to forge the Heavenly Source, draw the attention of the gods, and transform it into a fragment of the Divine Light Treasure to combat the eternal night.

    ¡°Three hundred thousand people abandoned their names and disappeared into obscurity... yet the world remains so silent about their sacrifice. These people... I admire them greatly,¡± the charming, seductive woman said softly.

    When they had first entered this underground palace, they had expected to find some incredible treasures.

    But now, looking around, the only word that came to mind was ¡°desolation.¡±

    Aside from the skeletons, the weapons and materials left behind had all lost their spiritual essence and were no different from worthless debris.

    In truth, there was hardly anything valuable left in the underground palace.

    If there was anything of worth, it would likely be...

    ¡°The Heavenly Source... Is that the thing they were forging?¡± the elder Blackshade Brother said solemnly. ¡°For so many Artifact Masters to work for decades together, they should¡¯ve been able to create countless Divine-tier artifacts. Yet the Heavenly Source still failed? And in the end, it consumed the blood and flesh of 300,000 Artifact Masters along with everything in this palace. What kind of terrifying existence is this Heavenly Source?¡±

    ¡°This is bad. What if we¡¯ve accidentally intruded and the Heavenly Source tries to consume us?¡± Wang Dao¡¯s face showed his fear.

    After all, even Divine-tier Artifact Masters had been devoured by the Heavenly Source. If they had entered without preparation, their fate might already be sealed.

    ¡°According to the inscriptions, the Heavenly Source should have already finished consuming everything... We should be safe. But... did they succeed?¡± Tu Sihai asked in confusion.

    The Artifact Masters had come to this Strange Domain, toiling day and night to forge the Heavenly Source and draw the gods¡¯ attention, hoping to bring forth the Light of Divinity.

    ¡°They must have failed,¡± the Confucian-robed scholar said, his voice hoarse. ¡°If they had succeeded, the Radiance Society would have come to take the Heavenly Source long ago.

    For the Strange Domain to remain sealed and forgotten for so long, it can only mean that the Heavenly Source failed to earn the favor of the gods and failed to transform into a fragment of the Divine Light Treasure.¡±

    The Strange Domain had been constructed within the Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss, drawing the best Artifact Masters of the Blue Mountain Realm. The Radiance Society must have monitored its progress constantly.

    If the Heavenly Source had succeeded, there was no way the Radiance Society would leave the fragment of the Divine Light Treasure abandoned here. They would have taken it to the heavens beyond.

    But now, with the Strange Domain left untouched, as though forgotten by time, it was clear that even after sacrificing the blood and flesh of 300,000 Artifact Masters, they had still failed.

    ¡°If it failed... then where is the Heavenly Source now?¡±

    The Weapon Masters present were filled with unease.

    What if this terrifying creation had turned into some kind of cursed weapon of destruction?

    Currently, the underground palace was nothing but a desolate ruin. The only thing of real value here was likely the Heavenly Source itself.

    Having devoured countless Divine-tier artifacts and the blood and flesh of 300,000 Artifact Masters, the Heavenly Source must have become something that surpassed even Divine-tier artifacts.

    And yet, even such a terrifying existence had failed to catch the gods¡¯ attention and transform into a fragment of the Divine Light Treasure.

    Just how precious must the legendary Divine Light Treasure be?

    <hr>

    ¡°Sir Qi, I must go deeper into the underground palace to find my elder brother. Farewell,¡± the Confucian-robed scholar said, bowing respectfully before heading into the depths of the palace.

    Along the way, the scholar passed countless skeletons, their pale remains scattered amidst the wilderness of the deep mountains.

    The sight was shocking and sorrowful¡ªa bleak and desolate valley filled with death.

    Finally, he stopped at a staircase.

    At the base of the stairs lay a skeleton, slumped lazily as if it had been basking in the sunlight before it died.

    The moment he saw this skeleton, the Confucian-robed scholar knew he had found his elder brother.

    ¡°Brother...¡±

    His voice choked with emotion.

    Although he had long suspected that his brother had perished after disappearing, seeing his brother¡¯s remains still filled him with overwhelming grief.

    His elder brother had been the eldest son of their family¡ªproud, carefree, and fond of fine clothes and high-spirited adventures across the land.

    Their father had always worried, often saying that his brother¡¯s wild and carefree nature would prevent him from taking on the family¡¯s responsibilities.

    It had surprised the scholar when his brother left to join the Strange Domain.

    His gaze fell upon his brother¡¯s bony hand. Through the gaps in the skeletal fingers, he noticed words carved into the stone steps behind it.

    "If someone sees this, I leave behind one forging technique as a gift. All I ask is that you go to the capital of Shang Country and help redeem the courtesan An Xiang from Tianxiang Academy. I thank you."

    These few simple words made the Confucian-robed scholar sigh deeply.

    The inscription carried his elder brother¡¯s unique style.

    In his younger days, his elder brother had been unrestrained and wild, fond of visiting theaters and pleasure houses.

    He had fallen in love with a courtesan named An Xiang and wanted to redeem her so he could marry her, but their father had fiercely opposed the idea.

    This had caused a significant rift between his brother and their father.

    Reaching out, the scholar tried to touch his brother¡¯s skeletal remains.

    <hr>

    Having traversed so many worlds, Qi Yuan¡¯s acting skills had become extraordinary.

    With his current appearance and delivery, he could easily star in a drama like Dragon King Son-in-Law and win an award.

    Fifth Wei paused for a moment, his expression shifting. "You¡¯re Shen Lingxuan¡¯s husband?"

    He stared at Qi Yuan, his gaze flickering before a wicked smile spread across his face.

    "Well then, I¡¯ve changed my mind. I won¡¯t kill you. I¡¯ll castrate you and send you to the palace!"

    "I¡¯ll make you watch as your wife¡ª"

    Before he could finish his vile threat, something strange happened. Fifth Wei found that he couldn¡¯t speak the rest of his sentence.

    Or rather, even though he spoke, no sound came out.

    "Hey, this is a proper game! Don¡¯t use inappropriate words. What if you summon the Harmonization Deity and get us all banned? Who¡¯s going to compensate me for my investments if that happens?"

    Qi Yuan looked at Fifth Wei, visibly annoyed.

    "This game isn¡¯t rated for adults. Can you please not use prohibited words?"

    "You..." Fifth Wei was stunned.

    Everything about this encounter was beyond strange.

    Most baffling of all was how his words earlier had seemingly been muted¡ªhe could hear himself, but no one else could.

    "What are you looking at me for? Just die already!"

    Qi Yuan launched a punch straight at Fifth Wei.

    The Heaven-tier Weapon Masters behind Fifth Wei watched with relaxed expressions.

    Although Qi Yuan seemed unusual, he wasn¡¯t in the state of Unity with the Heavens. There was no way he could harm Fifth Wei.

    Fifth Wei shared their confidence. "A mere trickster. What¡¯s there to fear?"

    As he spoke, the surrounding thirty meters of space began to gather around him, the power of the heavens and earth pooling to his command.

    Standing there, he seemed like the sovereign of this space, controlling everything within it.

    This was the power of the heavens and earth¡ªtrue, unmatched strength.

    All illusions and tricks would crumble before such overwhelming might.

    "You¡¯ve worked so hard to cultivate your strength. Don¡¯t you think my steady progression from leveling up is much more reliable?" Qi Yuan remarked nonchalantly as he threw another punch.

    After embodying the Cleaver, Qi Yuan¡¯s body had been hardened to an absurd degree.

    Even direct strikes from Heaven-tier artifacts couldn¡¯t harm him.

    He showed no mercy to Fifth Wei.

    The terrifying punch crashed down!

    Instantly, the heavenly power surrounding Fifth Wei dissipated like a receding tide.

    His face twisted in shock and disbelief.

    In that moment, a voice echoed in his mind:

    "See? Relying solely on your hard-earned strength isn¡¯t always the best option."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s punch landed squarely on Fifth Wei¡¯s chest.

    Blood splattered as a gaping hole appeared in Fifth Wei¡¯s heart.

    His expression was one of sheer disbelief.

    "How..."

    "Your greatest mistake was underestimating a son-in-law. Let me tell you¡ªacross the heavens and myriad worlds, son-in-laws, security guards, bodyguards, and truck drivers... they¡¯re never to be trifled with."

    Without sparing a glance at Fifth Wei¡¯s lifeless body, Qi Yuan turned his attention to the eleven remaining Heaven-tier Weapon Masters.

    A sly smile played on his lips.

    "Now... it¡¯s hunting time."

    In an instant, Qi Yuan¡¯s speed surged tenfold.

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters couldn¡¯t even track his movements.

    The remaining Heaven-tier Weapon Masters were still reeling from the shock of Fifth Wei¡¯s death.

    "A monster!"

    "He¡¯s a monster!"

    "Run!"

    Even their prince had been killed. How could they stand against this terrifying Qi Yuan?

    Qi Yuan moved like a specter, his speed and strength overwhelming. The Heaven-tier masters, who had lost their connection to the power of the heavens and earth, were nothing before him.

    In just one hundred breaths, the palace was bathed in blood.

    Every Heaven-tier Weapon Master present had been slaughtered.

    The skeletal, desolate underground palace now bore fresh crimson stains.

    Qi Yuan stretched lazily, looking satisfied.

    "Not a bad haul," he muttered.

    The Rosha Kingdom elites had carried plenty of gold, silver, and rare materials.

    More importantly, Qi Yuan had gained a massive amount of experience.

    Even his Unity with the Heavens energy had been significantly boosted, though he was still far from breaking through.

    His role-playing as a son-in-law had also reached a new level of completion.

    Now, the only thing missing might be... mounting Shen Lingxuan?

 Chapter 524: If Only Fang Shisan Were a Steamed Bun

    "Just a mere Heaven-tier Weapon Masters. That¡¯s all they amount to."

    After a hundred breaths of time, Qi Yuan returned.

    His blue robe was spotless, untainted by blood. However, his waist now carried several additional storage artifacts.

    Seeing this, Tu Sihai took a deep breath.

    Although they had previously witnessed Qi Yuan obliterate Mo Sankong in an instant, they still harbored doubts¡ªwhat if that strange method he used was a one-time thing?

    Now, facing twelve Heaven-tier Weapon Masters, they couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy, even though they had been "mocking" Qi Yuan earlier. The pressure was immense.

    However, seeing Qi Yuan return safe and sound, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    "Brother Qi, your strength truly deserves the title... The Tyrannical Son-in-Law!" Tu Sihai couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.

    The others chimed in as well.

    "The number one son-in-law of Ning Country, without a doubt, is Brother Qi!"

    "Twelve Heaven-tier Weapon Masters..." The seductive woman¡¯s eyes gleamed with admiration.

    Seeing Qi Yuan display such power, she wanted to offer herself to him. Unfortunately, while she was interested, Qi Yuan clearly was not.

    However, the blind old man spoke up at this moment, "Senior Qi, these Heaven-tier Weapon Masters... they should be from Rosha Kingdom. Their leader¡¯s surname is Fifth, likely a member of the royal family."

    Hearing this, the blind old man¡¯s expression grew cautious.

    The Rosha Kingdom was once the most powerful empire in the Blue Mountain Realm.

    Although a major upheaval a century ago caused its national strength to decline, it was still one of the top three countries in the Blue Mountain Realm.

    The kingdom still had several Divine-tier Weapon Masters.

    If Heaven-tier Weapon Masters were considered transcendent beings, then Divine-tier Weapon Masters... were gods.

    The blind old man had once been fortunate enough to witness the majesty of a Divine-tier Weapon Master. He had seen one carry a mountain in their hand, stride over vast oceans, and control water effortlessly.

    What mortal could witness such a being without kneeling in awe?

    While the strength of Heaven-tier Weapon Masters was something the blind old man could comprehend, Divine-tier Weapon Masters were entirely beyond his imagination.

    They weren¡¯t mortals¡ªthey were gods!

    "The Rosha Kingdom has Divine-tier Weapon Masters. If the royal family learns what happened here, I fear..." The blind old man hesitated, concern evident on his face.

    He wanted to suggest to Qi Yuan that they clean up the scene to prevent the Rosha Kingdom from discovering what had transpired here.

    "Perfect." Qi Yuan looked at the blind old man and nodded with satisfaction.

    This was exactly the reaction he wanted.

    The others exchanged puzzled glances.

    "Ah, I understand that many people in this world like to use humor to speak the truth.

    But there¡¯s no need for that with me. If the Rosha Kingdom doesn¡¯t come looking for trouble with me, I¡¯ll go looking for trouble with them," Qi Yuan said, his tone calm.

    After concluding his role as a son-in-law, his next destination would be the Rosha Kingdom.

    First, it was close to the Divine Wood Abyss. Second, to fulfill his role as Divine Descent, how could he not return to the place where it all began?

    "Young Master is a god descended to earth! The Rosha Kingdom is nothing in comparison!" Chen Kangbao declared enthusiastically.

    Beside him, the Confucian-robed scholar stared at Qi Yuan, his expression a mixture of confusion and bewilderment.

    This Qi Yuan was simply too mysterious.

    "Let¡¯s go deeper and see what this so-called Heavenly Source truly is," Qi Yuan said, taking the lead.

    Now that they were here, of course, he wanted to see what the Heavenly Source was.

    The Confucian-robed scholar tensed up immediately.

    He, too, wanted to see the Heavenly Source, which had been forged from the blood and bones of 300,000 Artifact Masters.

    Even if it had failed to attract the favor of the gods, it was still the life¡¯s work of his elder brother and so many others.

    Tu Sihai and the others didn¡¯t object.

    Not that it would matter if they did.

    Even though they were terrified of the dangers they might encounter, they figured that if a powerful figure like Qi Yuan dared to venture forward, how could they, as mere mortals, not follow?

    <hr>

    Qi Yuan led the way, descending deeper into the underground palace, stepping carefully down the stone stairs.

    Along the path, broken skeletons were scattered everywhere.

    The further they went, the more pristine and snow-white the bones became.

    Eventually, they encountered two more skeletons¡ªboth belonged to Divine-tier Artifact Masters.

    "My name is Xuan Feng. I leave behind a forging manual, inscribed upon this stele."

    The inscription was found next to one of the Divine-tier skeletons.

    This particular master had left behind no long-winded last words, only the forging manual they had created, ensuring that their knowledge would not be lost to the ages.

    Seeing this, everyone immediately memorized the manual¡¯s contents.

    The value of such a manual far surpassed that of Heaven-tier artifacts!

    Qi Yuan didn¡¯t stop them; he memorized the manual as well.

    If he wanted to play the role of the blind Artifact Master, he would need to master as many forging techniques as possible.

    During his time in the HEaven and Earth Mystical Land, he had already learned quite a few forging techniques¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t enough.

    "Perhaps... I could create my own forging technique," Qi Yuan mused to himself.

    The blind Artifact Master¡¯s ambitions were vast. Becoming a Divine-tier master might not even be his ultimate goal.

    To become a truly powerful Artifact Master, one must not only stand on the shoulders of giants but also forge their own path forward.

    "Alright, now that we¡¯ve memorized it, let¡¯s move on. Be cautious," Qi Yuan reminded them.

    The ground was clean¡ªother than the skeletons, there was nothing else. However, Qi Yuan¡¯s sharp eyes could detect traces indicating that a living being had recently passed through.

    "Understood, Young Master Qi," the group replied as they followed him deeper into the palace.

    The deeper they ventured, the more forging furnaces they encountered. Gold and stone fragments were scattered everywhere, piled haphazardly.

    But these once-precious items had long since lost their spiritual essence, now little more than debris.

    "The Heavenly Source consumed the spiritual essence of so many treasures... as well as the blood and flesh of 300,000 Artifact Masters. Just how terrifying is this thing?"

    The further they went, the more frightened everyone became, their imaginations running wild at the thought of the Heavenly Source.

    And yet, despite all this, the Heavenly Source had still failed.

    Was creating even a single fragment of the Divine Light Treasure truly this difficult?

    "All the elite Artifact Masters of the Blue Mountain Realm were gathered here, and yet they still failed.

    Is it even possible for anyone to forge a fragment of the Divine Light Treasure?" Tu Sihai lamented.

    And this was just a fragment.

    How incomprehensibly powerful must the complete Divine Light Treasure be?

    As the group pondered this, Qi Yuan suddenly received a message through his Divine Wood Token.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the Divine Wood Token, noting the message.

    "Brother Cleaver, I heard there¡¯s a Strange Domain in Ning Country. Since you¡¯re already in Ning Country, could you do me a small favor? If you help me, I¡¯ll personally push Thorned Blood members to train harder, and when you reach the Divine Wood Abyss, I¡¯ll even prepare a little gift for you."

    The sender was none other than a staff member of Thorned Blood, as expected.

    <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr>

    To put it simply, Fang Shisan was just like a respawning enemy in a game¡ªa product of some programmer writing a bit of code.

    If Qi Yuan were to pursue such a path, he wouldn¡¯t settle for being a "program." He¡¯d aim to become the "programmer"¡ªor even better, the boss of the programmer.

    Fang Shisan¡¯s silence lingered for a moment before he sneered, "What a big mouth you have!"

    The Weapon Masters standing nearby, including Tu Sihai and the Confucian-robed scholar, were utterly baffled by the cryptic exchange between Qi Yuan and Fang Shisan.

    Some of them managed to grasp fragments of their conversation and couldn¡¯t help but be shocked.

    Then Fang Shisan spoke again, this time with a touch of melancholy in his voice: "You haven¡¯t inherited an ounce of your father¡¯s humility."

    At the mention of Qi Yuan¡¯s father, Fang Shisan¡¯s expression darkened, tinged with regret.

    "I knew your father back in the day. He came to the Strange Domain because I brought him here."

    "Did you come here just to spout all this nonsense?" Qi Yuan cut him off impatiently.

    Truth be told, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t particularly enjoy arguments or verbal sparring.

    If anything, he wished he had a "spokesperson" who could handle these kinds of situations for him¡ªsomeone sharp-tongued enough to silence any opponent.

    Back in the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, he had spent years exchanging insults with a member of the Holy Light race, but his naturally poor skill at verbal sparring meant the exchange always ended with him getting roasted.

    He couldn¡¯t even muster the courage to say something as clever as: "You post these controversial opinions just to stir the pot, don¡¯t you? And then you set your phone to vibrate and stick it where the sun doesn''t shine for fun?"

    Even if he borrowed those words from someone else, his social anxiety made it impossible for him to deliver them convincingly.

    "I came here to confirm whether or not the project truly failed..." Fang Shisan¡¯s tone grew dim, the confidence in his voice waning. "I wanted to see if there were any flaws that could have been avoided."

    The light in his eyes seemed to dim as he finished speaking.

    He had died before¡ªthis much was clear.

    Now that the project had indeed failed, the Heavenly Source was no longer of any value.

    If it had any worth at all, it would be as nothing more than a collector¡¯s item.

    But few people would care about a failed Heavenly Source.

    Fang Shisan¡¯s body suddenly collapsed to the ground, coming to rest beside another lifeless corpse.

    Both bodies looked as if they had been completely drained of their spiritual essence, leaving them hollow and lifeless.

    Tu Sihai and the Confucian-robed scholar, along with the rest of the group, stared at this eerie scene, a sense of dread creeping into their hearts.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan stood there in thought, his expression contemplative.

    "If his resurrection doesn¡¯t consume energy or resources, then have I just stumbled upon a source of infinite resources?"

    Killing Fang Shisan once would yield a corpse.

    If that corpse could somehow be recycled, it could provide endless material.

    The others had no idea what Qi Yuan was thinking, but Chen Kangbao suddenly widened his eyes, his breathing growing rapid as an idea struck him.

    Then he exclaimed in a tone full of regret: "Why couldn¡¯t Fang Shisan have been a steamed bun instead?!"

    If Fang Shisan were a steamed bun, wouldn¡¯t that mean endless buns to eat?

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up at this remark. "Truly worthy of being my strategist¡ªyour words have awakened me from a dream. Why isn¡¯t Fang Shisan my white moonlight?"

    If Fang Shisan were a figure of sentimental beauty, someone he could admire and revisit endlessly, Qi Yuan thought he might never grow tired of it.

    Hearing this bizarre exchange, the group¡¯s earlier fear evaporated completely.

    They had no idea what Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao were rambling about, but the absurdity of it erased any lingering sense of dread.

    "They probably died because of the Heavenly Source," Tu Sihai said solemnly. "But where is the Heavenly Source?"

    He looked around, his gaze searching.

    They had already reached the deepest part of the underground palace.

    Aside from the two lifeless bodies, there was nothing else in sight.

    <hr>

    At that moment, a new message arrived in Qi Yuan¡¯s Divine Wood Token.

    "The Heavenly Source has no fixed form or shape. It requires a Divine Wood Token to act as its vessel."

    The message was sent by the staff member from Thorned Blood.

    "Is that so?"

    <hr>

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan felt a wave of decay, death, and withering sweep over him.

    He instinctively raised his head and saw a withered leaf slowly drifting down.

    It looked like a ginkgo leaf, its color a dull yellow.

    The leaf landed gently in his hand.

    <hr>

    [Heavenly Source: The bearer of heavenly destiny. Transformation into Divine Light has failed. Flaws are present. Repair possible. Transformation can be reversed to initiate Human Light.]

    <hr>

    A torrent of information flooded Qi Yuan¡¯s mind.

    The sheer volume of it left him momentarily dazed. His body seemed to weaken as he struggled to process all the knowledge.

    It was as if his body simply wasn¡¯t strong enough to handle so much information at once.

    "This Heavenly Source... can be repaired?" Qi Yuan¡¯s mood lifted.

    A failed Heavenly Source had virtually no value¡ªbarely even worth a basic Heaven-tier artifact.

    But if it could be repaired, if it could be refined into a fragment of the Divine Light Treasure... that was something extraordinary.

    Qi Yuan had heard of the Divine Light Treasure back in the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

    Such treasures were said to surpass even the most powerful offensive-type Creation Artifacts. Their power was terrifying.

    Back in the Sixth Heaven of the Immortal Realm, Qi Yuan had spent years crafting a Human Sovereign Banner, using every ounce of his effort and skill.

    With that banner, supreme truths, and his relentless hard work, he had managed to sweep through the Sixth Heaven.

    If he were to obtain even a fragment of the Divine Light Treasure, his power would soar to unimaginable heights.

    Even when facing the enigmatic Sole Hall, he might have a fighting chance.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression brightened as he examined the Heavenly Source.

    The withered yellow leaf seemed to imprint itself into his palm, leaving behind a faint mark before disappearing entirely.

    None of the others present¡ªneither Chen Kangbao nor the Confucian-robed scholar¡ªhad seen the leaf.

    <hr>

    "Alright, the treasure hunt is over. Let¡¯s leave," Qi Yuan said.

    The others were somewhat disappointed.

    They had hoped to catch a glimpse of the fabled Heavenly Source but came away empty-handed.

    Still, if Qi Yuan was leaving, they dared not linger. If they ran into another Heaven-tier Weapon Master, they¡¯d surely perish here.

    "Let¡¯s go."

    <hr>

    The group departed quickly, much like how they had arrived.

    As the last of them exited the Strange Domain, the underground palace began to collapse.

    In mere moments, it was reduced to dust, as if it had never existed.

    The Confucian-robed scholar looked back, his expression forlorn, before letting out a long, melancholy sigh.

    Three hundred thousand Artifact Masters, along with his elder brother... and the Heavenly Source, were now buried in the annals of forgotten history.

    Would anyone, even a thousand years from now, remember this place or their sacrifices?

 Chapter 525: Destiny? The Death of Divine Descent?

    Night fell once more.

    Inside the inn, Qi Yuan stared at the returning drones, his expression complicated.

    "Still no sign, still no sign."

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters who had ventured into the ruins returned one after another, all bringing back the same news: none of them had seen Shen Lingxuan.

    Qi Yuan had also dispatched several drones into the depths of the ruins, looping the sound of his voice calling for Shen Lingxuan.

    At the time, these drones had been disguised as moths, startling many Weapon Masters.

    However, even with the aid of the drones, Qi Yuan still failed to locate Shen Lingxuan.

    It was as though she had vanished into thin air.

    "Could it be... I can''t ''ride'' her now?"

    "Or is it that this game is too scared to feature dramatic adult scenes for fear of censorship?"

    "But I¡¯m a shareholder!"

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    He, a dignified shareholder, couldn''t even set up a private server to enact some large-scale dramatic scenes without issues?

    "Everyone... come out immediately!"

    At that moment, a thunderous shout echoed, accompanied by the overwhelming pressure of a Heaven-tier Weapon Master.

    Inside the inn, the Earth-tier Weapon Masters who had been resting were all visibly shaken.

    "What¡¯s going on?"

    "That¡¯s the Fallen Void Lord!"

    "A Heaven-tier Weapon Master?"

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters in the inn wore a mix of expressions, whispering among themselves.

    "Fallen Void Lord? What¡¯s he here for?" A top-tier Weapon Master cautiously inquired.

    Outside the inn, three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters hovered mid-air, exuding murderous intent.

    The leader, the Fallen Void Lord, wore a long green robe with a white bone hairpin stuck diagonally in his hair, making him look like someone from a demonic sect.

    The presence of the three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters brought immense pressure to the Earth-tier Weapon Masters inside the inn.

    Any one of these three could nearly effortlessly decimate the inn.

    "We three ventured into the ruins and discovered the embryonic form of a divine weapon within the lair of a Heaven-tier specter. After a grueling battle, we joined forces to slay the specter. However, just as we secured the divine weapon embryo, a male Earth-tier Weapon Master suddenly appeared and snatched it away," said the Fallen Void Lord, his eyes blazing with fury. "He was incredibly fast, and with the three of us entangled by other specters, he managed to escape."

    "I suspect that he is currently hiding in this inn," added another Heaven-tier Weapon Master in a raspy voice. "Everyone here must come out immediately and hand over their storage artifacts for inspection."

    Inside the inn, the others¡¯ expressions subtly shifted upon hearing this.

    Although the Fallen Void Lord claimed that an Earth-tier Weapon Master had stolen the divine weapon embryo, everyone knew better than to trust his words. What if the three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters had simply grown greedy and fabricated this excuse?

    Regardless, the Earth-tier Weapon Master they sought was cornered in the inn.

    Many secretly thought the thief¡¯s luck had run out.

    At that moment, inside the inn, Wang Chunting¡¯s face darkened. "Damn it! It was clearly mine they stole!"

    Lowering his head, he furtively looked around, searching for a gap to escape.

    But the three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters had already unified with the heavens and earth. The area was sealed so thoroughly that escaping was impossible.

    "Masters, this humble woman has some private belongings in her storage artifact and would prefer not to reveal them to outsiders.

    Moreover, the thief you are looking for is a man. Would it not be possible to exclude my belongings from inspection?" asked a female Earth-tier Weapon Master.

    "Hmph! How do you prove you¡¯re a woman? What if you¡¯re colluding with him and hiding the divine weapon embryo in your storage artifact?" The short-haired old man¡¯s voice was rough.

    The Fallen Void Lord¡¯s eyes gleamed with killing intent. "If you refuse to step out or hand over your storage artifact, then... I will have no choice but to kill."

    The air grew thick with murderous intent.

    The oppressive atmosphere weighed down on everyone present.

    "If you don¡¯t come out, your only fate is death!"

    The Fallen Void Lord¡¯s voice carried a chilling threat.

    In response, the Earth-tier Weapon Masters inside the inn slowly began filing out.

    Wang Chunting was tense on the inside but maintained a facade of calmness.

    "Am I doomed to die here today?" Wang Chunting¡¯s heart raced in panic.

    But just as despair began to take root, a lazy, youthful voice rang out from within the inn.

    "If I don¡¯t come out, you¡¯ll kill me?"

    The voice was youthful and pleasing to the ear.

    The Fallen Void Lord squinted, momentarily taken aback.

    Before he could respond, the short-tempered short-haired old man roared, "Don¡¯t come out, then die!"

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters present were all startled by this turn of events.

    Some among them recognized the voice as Qi Yuan¡¯s¡ªthe man who had once slain Master Cloud with a single strike.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s strength was undeniably among the top-tier Earth-tier masters. But even so, he was not a Heaven-tier Weapon Master. How could he dare¡ª

    Before they could process it, three sword lights suddenly slashed out from inside the inn.

    "People like you exist in this world for one purpose only: to piss others off as much as possible, get yourselves killed, and allow the rest of us to laugh at your deaths as a form of catharsis," Qi Yuan said nonchalantly, once again plagiarizing someone else¡¯s words.

    As his words faded, the terrifying sword lights flashed, sharp and overwhelming.

    The expressions of the three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters shifted.

    They quickly summoned the power of heaven and earth, regaining their confidence.

    But in the next instant, to their utter horror, they witnessed something unthinkable.

    The power of heaven and earth they had just summoned began to recede like a retreating tide.

    Terrifying sword light surged forth, impossibly sharp.

    "No!"

    Agonized screams echoed as three lifeless bodies fell from the sky.

    With a single strike, three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters were effortlessly slain, as if they were mere fakes.

    "Hiss!" The remaining Earth-tier Weapon Masters collectively gasped, their faces etched with disbelief.

    Wang Chunting¡¯s eyes widened, and his breathing became erratic.

    "Three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters... just like that? Dead?"

    He felt as if he had just escaped from a wolf¡¯s den only to stumble into a tiger¡¯s lair.

    At that moment, a tall figure appeared by the window.

    "This game has terrible balance."

    "Why bother giving so much dialogue to a low-level boss I killed with a single move?"

    "Zero class, zero charisma."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s tone was calm, his gaze upon the three corpses no different from how one might glance at ants.

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters trembled, not daring to speak a word.

    Wang Chunting dared not even move, his mind racing with thoughts.

    If this senior wanted the divine weapon embryo... what should he do? Could he still manage to keep his life?

    "Stop sucking in cold breaths, all of you. Go wash up and sleep. It¡¯s late¡ªdon¡¯t disturb me," Qi Yuan said casually before shutting the window.

    After a brief moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.

    "No wonder the scenario played out like this. I¡¯ve just stepped into the ¡®Unity with the Heavens.¡¯"

    Having slain countless Heaven-tier Weapon Masters in the mysterious domain, Qi Yuan had accumulated vast amounts of experience and absorbed the ¡®Harmony of Heaven and Man.¡¯

    Now, after casually killing these three, he had accumulated enough to break past Level 120.

    "Level 135."

    "Combat strength... not much change. Heaven-tier Weapon Masters are still one-hit kills."

    "But... my strength has grown significantly. If I returned to Earth, I could carry buildings on my back and probably make a few thousand yuans a day," Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    "What a pity Shen Lingxuan can¡¯t see how much strength her ¡®useless Son-in-law¡¯ has now gained."

    "I¡¯ll head to the Heavenly Sect tomorrow. If she¡¯s not there, I¡¯ll have no choice but to go to the Rosha Kingdom first."

    The countdown for his roleplay as the ¡®Blind Artifact Master¡¯ was beginning.

    Soon, he would go blind.

    The elders present were all equally stunned.

    After all, they were well aware of the details of Shen Lingxuan¡¯s marriage.

    Most of them had always felt that Shen Lingxuan¡¯s circumstances were unjust.

    But now, her husband was suddenly revealed to be a Heaven-tier Weapon Master?

    How could they not be astonished?

    ¡°Good! Good! Good!¡± The Daoist leader of the Heavenly Sect suddenly became invigorated. ¡°As a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, you now have the strength to protect Lingxuan. Quickly take her and leave the Ning Kingdom!¡±

    Although an average Heaven-tier Weapon Master might not be a match for the veteran Heaven-tier Weapon Masters of the Rosha Kingdom, they were at least strong enough to help Lingxuan escape, sparing her from constantly living in danger and passivity.

    ¡°I came here to ask if Lingxuan has returned. I¡¯ve searched all across the Ten Thousand Mountains but haven¡¯t been able to find her,¡± Qi Yuan said, his tone tinged with disappointment.

    The Daoist leader¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Ahem... I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know.¡±

    When Lingxuan left this time, she did so with great secrecy, leaving behind neither contact information nor any trace of her whereabouts¡ªprecisely to prevent the Rosha Kingdom from tracing her.

    ¡°You can¡¯t reach her either?¡± The disappointment in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes deepened.

    It seemed the ¡®useless Son-in-law¡¯ persona would have to be shelved for now.

    He would need to head to the Rosha Kingdom and start building his ¡®Divine Descent¡¯ persona.

    ¡°Senior, please stay at the Heavenly Sect. We will dedicate the full resources of the sect to locating Lingxuan,¡± the Daoist leader offered.

    If Qi Yuan were to remain and take charge of the first-generation Daoist leader¡¯s artifact, even the Heaven-tier Weapon Masters of the Rosha Kingdom might struggle to break through their formations.

    ¡°No need. If she can¡¯t be found, I¡¯ll be on my way.

    Oh, by the way, if any of you see Shen Lingxuan, tell her I... have gone to the Rosha Kingdom. Later, I might also head to the Divine Wood Abyss,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    A woman would not hinder his path.

    If the ¡®useless Son-in-law¡¯ role couldn¡¯t proceed, he would play Divine Descent instead.

    ¡°The Rosha Kingdom?¡± The Daoist leader¡¯s face changed slightly. ¡°Senior, why head there? That¡¯s like walking into the lion¡¯s den!¡±

    ¡°Lion¡¯s den? I¡¯m going there... to pass judgment,¡± Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.

    The Rosha Kingdom? Their gods had returned!

    ¡°Senior, I urge you to reconsider!¡± The Daoist leader assumed Qi Yuan was acting out of anger over Lingxuan¡¯s situation.

    The Rosha Kingdom wasn¡¯t merely home to Heaven-tier Weapon Masters¡ªit also had Divine-tier ones.

    ¡°Reconsider what?¡± Qi Yuan chuckled lightly, his expression indifferent. ¡°You no longer need to seal the mountain.¡±

    "If we don¡¯t seal the mountain, Heaven-tier Weapon Masters from the Rosha Kingdom will barge in..." one elder murmured.

    "Don¡¯t worry. That won¡¯t happen. The Rosha Kingdom¡¯s dozen or so Heaven-tier Weapon Masters... have all been slain by me."

    "What?"

    The elders were dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief as if they had misheard.

    "They were all killed in the Ten Thousand Mountains," Qi Yuan said calmly. His face bore a gentle smile, but his words carried an eerie detachment that sent chills down their spines.

    "They were all killed by the young master. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go ask Tu Sihai or Wang Dao..." Chen Kangbao added proudly.

    As he spoke, he pulled out a few strands of hair.

    "See these? These strands of hair were taken from the heads of those Heaven-tier Weapon Masters. I¡¯m planning to make a broom out of them," Chen Kangbao said smugly.

    The Earth-tier Weapon Masters present collectively held their breaths, staring at the strands of hair with disbelief etched across their faces.

    Qi Yuan... had killed the Rosha Kingdom¡¯s dozen or so Heaven-tier Weapon Masters?

    How was that even possible?

    But the strands of hair... they were undeniably from Heaven-tier Weapon Masters.

    One strand in particular¡ªa golden strand¡ªstood out. They had seen such hair before, and aside from that particular Rosha Kingdom Weapon Master, there was no one in the Ning Kingdom with such features.

    "Alright, everyone. Until next time. Goodbye."

    Without a moment of hesitation, Qi Yuan disappeared with Chen Kangbao, leaving behind a stunned and silent crowd.

    The figures of the two vanished into the distance, and yet, the wind continued to blow.

    After what seemed like an eternity, one elder finally broke the silence.

    "Did someone just come by?"

    "Yes?"

    "The useless Son-in-law? Qi Yuan?"

    "Yes."

    "A Heaven-tier Weapon Master?"

    "Yes... who killed the Rosha Kingdom¡¯s Heaven-tier Weapon Masters."

    "I must still be dreaming. Time to go back to sleep," the elder muttered to himself.

    In the distance, Ye Zhen watched everything unfold. The shock in her heart lingered for a long time. After a while, she squinted and murmured, "These two... they seem familiar to me somehow."

    "Senior Sister Ye Zhen, you feel that way too? I also feel like I¡¯ve seen them before!"

    <hr>

    The sun rose from the remnants of the night, and the bright moon shared the sky with the tides.

    The Rosha Kingdom and the Ning Kingdom were separated by mountains, rivers, and even an ocean.

    A large ship sailed through the night. Qi Yuan stood on the deck, gazing at the sparse stars above.

    "The useless Son-in-law persona has been steadily increasing in performance points over the past few days. It¡¯s now stuck at 90."

    After leaving the Heavenly Sect, the playthrough rate for the useless Son-in-law role continued to rise.

    Even though Qi Yuan hadn¡¯t done much, the rate still increased.

    Qi Yuan speculated that the news of him slaughtering the Rosha Kingdom¡¯s Heaven-tier Weapon Masters was gradually spreading across the Ning Kingdom.

    Even the Shen family had likely heard of it by now.

    The useless Son-in-law name was now famous across the land.

    "As expected, even a useless Son-in-law like Qi Yuan has a heart that wants to show off.

    Just going to the Heavenly Sect and flexing a little caused the performance rate to rise by nearly 30%."

    At 30%, Qi Yuan had awakened the Heart of Craftsmanship. At 60%, he had awakened the Yin-Yang White Flame. And at 90%, Qi Yuan had awakened... the faint trace of Destiny.

    "This faint trace of Destiny... is it what I think it is? What exactly does it represent?"

    Qi Yuan pondered this.

    After awakening this faint trace of Destiny, he didn¡¯t feel any significant changes compared to before.

    "Hey, what exactly is Destiny?"

    When faced with questions he couldn¡¯t answer, he would normally ask Baidu on Earth. Here, however, he turned to the forums on the Divine Wood Token.

    Among the users, the staff member "Thorned Blood" was particularly knowledgeable¡ªhe seemed like an NPC specialized in answering such queries.

    "Why are you asking about this?" Thorned Blood replied instantly. "Destiny is a very enigmatic concept. Simply put, those who carry Destiny are more loved by the heavens and earth."

    "That sounds like a good thing," Qi Yuan replied.

    Being favored by the heavens and earth would presumably bring good fortune, as well as faster progress in cultivation.

    "It¡¯s a good thing... but also a bad thing," Thorned Blood suddenly replied. "Do you know about the Divine Descent?"

    "I know about it."

    "It was an artifact imbued with Destiny. According to the Book of the Blue Mountain, its destruction was closely tied to its possession of Destiny."

    "Wasn¡¯t the Divine Descent destroyed by the Rosha Kingdom?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Based on the information he had so far, the Rosha Kingdom had orchestrated the ambush that led to the Divine Descent¡¯s destruction.

    "Hah! The Divine Descent was a peak artifact at the pinnacle of the Heaven Ascension Third Step, just a step away from condensing its Divine Domain. Do you really think a mere Rosha Kingdom could destroy something of that caliber?

    Its destruction was tied to its Destiny, as well as certain secrets that surrounded it. That¡¯s why... it was destroyed.

    As for the specific details, I¡¯m just a small fry¡ªI wouldn¡¯t know.

    Perhaps one day, if I ever manage to step into the Seventh Realm, I might qualify to learn the truth.

    But with my current talent... there¡¯s no need to think about it."

    "So you¡¯re saying... people pay attention to Destiny?"

    "That¡¯s one way to put it. If you carry Destiny, it¡¯s best to hide it. Otherwise, you never know when a mysterious powerhouse might show up and kill you."

    "Why would someone want to kill those with Destiny?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

    "Because... Destiny represents the approval of the world. Maybe there are people out there who can¡¯t gain the world¡¯s approval, and in their frustration, they lash out at those who have it?" Thorned Blood speculated. "But these are just my guesses. Don¡¯t take them as fact."

    "Thank you for sharing all this. When I reach the Divine Wood Abyss, I¡¯ll treat you to some buns."

 Chapter 526: Liu Chudong, the Hater of Evil, Joins Judgment

    ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me I now possess a faint trace of Destiny?¡±

    ¡°But being loved by the world is not necessarily a good thing¡ªit could bring disaster.¡±

    ¡°At its peak, even Divine Descent fell... it seems I am still far from strong enough.¡±

    On the ship, Qi Yuan lounged under the sun, continuing to give lectures to the sea fish beneath him.

    After achieving Unity with the Heavens, he felt a stronger connection to the world around him, and the power of heaven and earth that he could harness had significantly increased.

    Now, he could truly claim to be invincible under the Divine-tier.

    As he preached to the fish, he would occasionally reflect on his own state or ponder over matters of artifact crafting.

    His roleplay as the ¡°Blind Artifact Master¡± was only a few months away.

    He had to quickly improve his artifact-crafting abilities, or it would be extremely difficult to make progress once he lost his sight.

    In this world, losing one¡¯s vision meant being unable to project one¡¯s spiritual sense outward. The world would become nothing but darkness.

    Under such conditions, advancing one¡¯s artifact-crafting skills would be almost impossible.

    Even so, the Blind Artifact Master had still managed to become a Heaven-tier Artifact Master.

    This alone demonstrated just how extraordinary the character¡¯s talent must have been!

    ¡°It seems that every bit of my blood that has entered this game is doing quite well.¡±

    ¡°Except for Qi Yuan, the useless Son-in-law.¡±

    ¡°No, wait¡ªhe¡¯s the only one with a wife, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°According to some people, having a wife is also a skill.¡±

    After all, some people liked to insult others by saying, ¡°You¡¯ll never get married. No one will want you.¡±

    At this moment, a sweet, soft voice interrupted him.

    ¡°Mister, are you an Artifact Master?¡±

    A young girl with twin pigtails, her big, sparkling eyes full of curiosity, was looking at Qi Yuan.

    The girl was petite¡ªless than 1.6 meters tall¡ªwith a baby face and a youthful appearance that made her look as if she hadn¡¯t yet reached her teenage years.

    ¡°Hey, judging by age, I¡¯m probably only a year older than you. How am I already a ¡®mister¡¯ to you?¡± Qi Yuan retorted, unable to help himself.

    He was still in his prime! How could he be mistaken for a middle-aged man?

    Liu Chudong chuckled mischievously, her voice soft and sweet. ¡°I¡¯m only twelve years old.¡±

    Her face was still chubby with baby fat, making her look even younger, exuding the unique freshness of a young girl.

    ¡°You¡¯re clearly seventeen,¡± Qi Yuan said casually.

    Liu Chudong¡¯s face showed a brief flash of surprise. ¡°You know me?¡±

    ¡°Quit pretending to be young, you old lady!¡± Qi Yuan said bluntly.

    After all, if she was going to call him ¡®mister,¡¯ then calling her an ¡®old lady¡¯ was fair game, right?

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with being an old lady? Is there a problem with pretending to be young?¡± Liu Chudong asked, dissatisfied.

    Qi Yuan paused. He suddenly felt like he was dealing with a certain stubborn older sister from his past life.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Everyone is equal, and I shouldn¡¯t stigmatize older women,¡± Qi Yuan reflected seriously, his tone sincere.

    Liu Chudong blinked, startled by how quickly Qi Yuan had backed down. A moment later, her eyes showed a glimmer of admiration. ¡°You¡¯re an interesting person.¡±

    She could tell that Qi Yuan¡¯s apology was genuine, coming straight from the heart.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been law-abiding and good-natured,¡± Qi Yuan said proudly. ¡°When I see ants on the ground, I can¡¯t bring myself to step on them. When I see fish, I can¡¯t bear to kill them.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Liu Chudong believed him.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s words were so sincere, his expression so earnest, that they couldn¡¯t possibly be fake.

    Beside him, Chen Kangbao remained silent.

    He wanted to say, Young Master, you don¡¯t step on ants, true, but how many mosquitoes and flies have you killed?No?v(el)B\\jnn

    And as for not killing fish?

    That¡¯s because your meals are always prepared by me, your loyal servant.

    Liu Chudong studied Qi Yuan carefully before speaking. ¡°Kindness is a virtue, but being too kind isn¡¯t always good.¡±

    She felt that Qi Yuan¡¯s personality needed some adjusting. Being too kind-hearted could lead to being taken advantage of.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m kind, but I¡¯m not a saint,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    ¡°What¡¯s a saint?¡± Liu Chudong asked, confused.

    Qi Yuan explained the concept of a ¡°saint¡± as it was understood on Earth.

    Liu Chudong raised an eyebrow. ¡°Saints deserve to be criticized, but why use the terms ¡®saint¡¯ and ¡®mother¡¯? Doesn¡¯t that unfairly stigmatize those words?¡±

    Qi Yuan froze for a moment before muttering, ¡°To be fair... I didn¡¯t invent that term.¡±

    If only this world allowed complete freedom of expression.

    ¡°Still, it¡¯s not your fault. You seem like an upright person. A good person, even. But sometimes, being too good in this world will only lead to being bullied,¡± Liu Chudong chattered on.

    She saw Qi Yuan as someone worth cultivating¡ªa kindred spirit, a person with potential.

    This kind of person was rare. With a bit of guidance, he could become a like-minded comrade.

    As the ship sailed across the vast ocean, Liu Chudong and Qi Yuan talked about everything under the sun.

    There was an undeniable sense of camaraderie between them.

    After an hour of conversation, Liu Chudong still seemed reluctant to part ways.

    He needed to roleplay Divine Descent.

    To increase his performance score, he needed to act as a righteous figure, fight injustice, and root out the forces behind the chaos.

    Increasing his Divine Descent score would bring him significant benefits.

    ¡°Great!¡± Liu Chudong was thrilled. She had successfully recruited another capable ally for Judgment.

    <hr>

    That night, the sea was dark as Liu Chudong returned to her cabin.

    Her room was small, and the faint sound of breathing, tinged with a metallic scent of blood, could be heard.

    ¡°Sister Qianran, I just met someone outside. He¡¯s a really good person, and I¡¯ve recruited him into Judgment!¡±

    Liu Chudong¡¯s face was full of excitement.

    On the bed lay a woman dressed as a Daoist priestess.

    However, her injuries were severe, leaving her unable to walk.

    If Qi Yuan had been there, he would have recognized this Daoist priestess as someone he had encountered before at the Red Cloud Village.

    Upon hearing Liu Chudong¡¯s words, Qianran¡¯s face showed a trace of helplessness. ¡°You must remain cautious. I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll someday be tricked and taken advantage of.¡±

    ¡°Sister Qianran, don¡¯t say such things. You can¡¯t slander my friends!¡± Liu Chudong pouted in dissatisfaction. ¡°Everyone in Judgment is my friend!¡±

    Liu Chudong¡¯s round eyes gleamed with indignation, like a child saying, Just wait till I grow up and get even with you.

    Qianran didn¡¯t argue further.

    ¡°This time, I¡¯ll need you to help me get to the Liu family estate. My injuries are severe.¡±

    After leaving the Red Cloud Village, Qianran had encountered a powerful specter. She had intended to use the encounter to sharpen her skills but quickly realized she was no match for the creature. Severely wounded, even her life-bound artifact had been damaged.

    Now, to fully recover without leaving lasting injuries, she would need the intervention of a Divine-tier Weapon Master.

    ¡°Sister Qianran, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ask Grandpa for help!¡± Liu Chudong said earnestly.

    Although her relationship with her grandfather had been strained lately, she was willing to set aside her pride to save Qianran¡¯s life.

    Qianran¡¯s face showed gratitude. Looking at her younger companion, she suddenly thought of the man they had met at the Red Cloud Village.

    ¡°Chudong, do you think... the Arbiter God could still be alive?¡± Qianran asked.

    Liu Chudong¡¯s eyes dimmed. ¡°The Arbiter God¡¯s divine body left no trace. Even the statues have been completely destroyed. How could... how could he still be alive?

    If the Arbiter God were still here, how could the Rosha Kingdom have fallen into such chaos? How could it retreat and cede land when faced with the advancing forces of the Ascension Kingdom?¡±

    Her voice was filled with frustration¡ªnot just disappointment, but anger toward the Rosha Kingdom¡¯s royal family.

    ¡°What if... he is alive?¡± Qianran asked casually.

    ¡°The Rosha Kingdom would see the light once more,¡± Liu Chudong replied earnestly.

    Qianran seemed lost in thought but said nothing further.

    If the Arbiter God were to return, would he... still be the same Arbiter God?

    Would he be the Arbiter God that Liu Chudong and so many others revered and believed in?

    After all, the Arbiter God was not meant to have his own consciousness. He was supposed to represent absolute fairness and justice.

    <hr>

    Ten days passed.

    During this time, Liu Chudong visited Qi Yuan daily, engaging in discussions about fairness, justice, kindness, and harmony.

    The more she interacted with Qi Yuan, the more she admired him.

    ¡°Brother Qi Yuan, with you joining us, I believe Judgment has a bright future ahead!¡±

    Liu Chudong gazed out at the vast ocean, her heart filled with hope for the future.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure those who don¡¯t work hard are motivated to put in the effort!¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    What he truly wanted was to push those lazy paragons to stop wasting their lives.

    ¡°If everyone were like you, Brother Qi Yuan, this world would be a beautiful place,¡± Liu Chudong said with admiration. ¡°After all, you can¡¯t even bring yourself to step on ants. And after catching a fish, you even apologize to it.¡±

    In the time she had spent with Qi Yuan, she realized his kindness wasn¡¯t just talk.

    He genuinely avoided stepping on ants and would even go out of his way to avoid them.

    When he caught fish, he would release them back into the water.

    He never prepared or cooked fish because he couldn¡¯t bear to witness their deaths.

    Such a man was truly a saint!

    Too kind!

    ¡°Tonight, we¡¯ll likely reach the shore, Brother Qi Yuan. I have something urgent to attend to, so I won¡¯t be able to accompany you to Judgment. Someone will guide you to our branch headquarters,¡± Liu Chudong said.

    She had to take Qianran back to the Liu family estate to treat her injuries.

    Otherwise, she would have personally led Qi Yuan to Judgment and joined him in fighting for justice and fairness.

    ¡°No problem. Take care of your own business,¡± Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.

    He planned to use Judgment¡¯s resources to gather information on specters and better roleplay as Divine Descent.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Liu Chudong said with a firm nod.

    She decided that once she returned to Judgment, she would make sure to expose Qi Yuan to some of the darker sides of the world.

    After all, being too soft-hearted wasn¡¯t good.

    Being too kind could lead to being taken advantage of.

    If he couldn¡¯t kill evildoers, he should at least kill some rats!

 Chapter 527: A Calm Life, the Blood Cloud Bandits

    Dingbo Prefecture.

    A carriage traveled along the wide streets.

    A young man with a gentle smile on his face spoke softly:

    ¡°Of the thirteen prefectures in the Kingdom, Dingbo Prefecture has the cleanest governance, where the people live in peace and prosperity.¡±

    Chi Changle was a thin man with sunken eyes. The long robe draped over his shoulders made him look like a walking coat rack.

    Qi Yuan gazed out the window. Street vendors lined both sides of the road, shouting to sell their wares. While many wore coarse linen clothing, it was rare to see faces gaunt with malnutrition or skeletal frames.

    By appearance alone, if Chi Changle took off his robes, he might look like the poorest person on the street.

    ¡°It¡¯s certainly better than other places,¡± Qi Yuan commented.

    Compared to Ninghe County, Fengshan County, or Lake Yeshan, this prefecture indeed appeared far better.

    ¡°Dingbo Prefecture is also known as Liu Prefecture,¡± Chi Changle said meaningfully.

    The "Liu" naturally referred to the Liu family.

    ¡°In the past, many policies left behind by the Divine Descent were overturned by the royal court. Only Liu Prefecture has preserved a small portion of them,¡± Chi Changle said wistfully. ¡°However, ever since Prince Zhenyuan took charge of Dingbo Prefecture, I don¡¯t know how much longer these peaceful days will last.¡±

    He spoke with a trace of worry in his voice.

    ¡°Is Prince Zhenyuan very powerful?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    Chi Changle froze for a moment, surprised that someone didn¡¯t know about Prince Zhenyuan.

    ¡°One of the Seven Gods of the Kingdom, Prince Zhenyuan is among them,¡± Chi Changle said in a low voice. ¡°Lord Liu is also one of the Seven Gods.¡±

    Lord Liu was the strongest in Dingbo Prefecture, the sole Divine-tier Weapon Master here.

    ¡°It seems Prince Zhenyuan has been working hard in his cultivation,¡± Qi Yuan remarked.

    Chi Changle chuckled. ¡°You¡¯d best not mention Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s name so casually. In Dingbo Prefecture, his spies are everywhere. They are known as the Blood Hands. Wherever they appear, bloodshed follows.¡±

    ¡°How strong are they?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°The four commanders of the Blood Hands are all peak Heaven-tier Weapon Masters, and the thousand-man captains beneath them are all Heaven-tier...¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t sound like they¡¯re working hard enough,¡± Qi Yuan commented lightly.

    ¡°Brother Qi, be cautious with your words. If you offend the Blood Hands, not even the government can save you!¡± Chi Changle said anxiously.

    ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? We¡¯re already walking targets with a bounty of 500,000 on our heads. What¡¯s another enemy to us?¡± Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    Chi Changle was momentarily stunned but then realized Qi Yuan had a point.

    After all, they had joined Judgment. Being discovered by the royal court meant execution on the spot. Why should they fear offending Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s lackeys, the Blood Hands?

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Chi Changle nodded seriously.

    The carriage slowly made its way through the streets, passing through the bustling marketplace.

    The shouts of vendors rang out constantly.

    ¡°Candied hawthorn skewers!¡±

    ¡°Hot steamed buns!¡±

    ¡°Golden plums! Fresh golden plums!¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze paused for a moment on the overly bright-colored fruits being sold.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    Chi Changle smiled. ¡°That¡¯s a ¡®Ha¡¯er fruit.¡¯ You¡¯re not from around here, so this must be your first time seeing it!¡±

    ¡°Why is it called a Ha¡¯er fruit?¡±

    ¡°No one knows. It¡¯s just called that,¡± Chi Changle replied.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s expression grew thoughtful.

    ¡°Ha¡¯er fruit... only fools would buy Ha¡¯er fruit?¡± he muttered to himself.

    It seemed this world had indeed been deeply influenced by him.

    Even the Ha¡¯er fruit existed here.

    He had once told the story of the Ha¡¯er fruit to the enigmatic Silent Voice.

    <hr>

    After settling down at Judgment¡¯s base, Qi Yuan¡¯s life entered a period of relative calm.

    Although peaceful, there was plenty to keep him busy.

    For one, he was working diligently to advance his artifact-crafting skills, aiming to reach the level of a Divine-tier Artifact Master as soon as possible.

    However, it was an exceedingly difficult task. Even with the talent of the Blind Artifact Master, his progress was slow.

    Second, he was preparing to take on the role of the Divine Descent, gradually seeking out believers to solidify his image.

    Lastly, he was waiting for updates from Judgment¡ªkeeping an eye out for news of specters and wrongdoers to bring justice to the land.

    ¡°Brother Qi, we¡¯ve got a mission!¡±

    A loud voice came from outside the door.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up with delight.

    Finally, something to do.

    ¡°Wang Cong, just come in. The door¡¯s not locked.¡±

    Outside, a short, lean man with dark, sweaty skin hesitated for a moment as he sniffed at his sweaty clothes. Still, he decided to push the door open and step in.

    ¡°I just finished unloading some cargo at the docks. I¡¯m covered in sweat,¡± Wang Cong said sheepishly, rubbing his short, cropped hair. Standing in the room, he didn¡¯t sit down, likely worried about dirtying the chair.

    ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day. Sit,¡± Qi Yuan said, pouring Wang Cong a cup of water.

    Only then did Wang Cong sit down¡ªbarely, as if half his body was still suspended in mid-air.

    Wang Cong was also a member of Judgment.

    Chen Kangbao, Qi Yuan¡¯s advisor, quickly voiced his concerns.

    ¡°Unlikely, unless... the plan has changed, or some other unexpected event has occurred,¡± Liu Chudong said thoughtfully.

    ¡°Should we wait a little longer, or perhaps split up to search for them?¡± Chen Kangbao suggested again.

    ¡°No,¡± Liu Chudong shook her head firmly. ¡°Other than the Judicators, the rest of us are too weak. If we encounter the Blood Cloud Bandits alone, we¡¯ll be in serious danger.¡±

    The two Judicators nodded in agreement.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan felt even more certain that the Judgment organization was little more than an amateur operation.

    But then again, this world itself was a giant amateur operation, so it all made sense.

    After some thought, Qi Yuan transformed a drone into a mosquito.

    ¡°Ack! There¡¯s a mosquito biting me!¡±

    Qi Yuan slapped his hand against his face, revealing a few small mosquitoes in his palm.

    He opened his hand and let the mosquitoes fly away.

    Seeing this, Liu Chudong exclaimed, ¡°Brother Qi, you¡¯re just too kind!

    These mosquitoes are sucking your blood!¡±

    Next to her, Wang Cong also glanced at Qi Yuan, his expression unreadable.

    Not killing even a mosquito¡ªthis man was simply too kind.

    ¡°They weren¡¯t biting me.¡±

    ¡°They weren¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re male mosquitoes,¡± Qi Yuan replied with a straight face.

    <hr>

    The group waited at the ambush site, but fifteen minutes passed without a sign of either the Blood Cloud Bandits or the Zhao family caravan.

    The group began to suspect that something had gone awry.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Everyone, follow me. I have sharp ears and just heard the sound of a fight coming from another direction.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Liu Chudong blinked. ¡°Where?¡±

    The two Judicators glanced at Qi Yuan, their eyes filled with doubt.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Qi Yuan said as he mounted a horse.

    The others hesitated briefly but quickly followed suit.

    <hr>

    Elsewhere, On a Secluded Road.

    A group of dozens of bandits surrounded the Zhao family caravan.

    The caravan consisted of only ten people. Other than the leader, an elderly man, and a young woman, the rest were burly men.

    ¡°Old Zhao, you¡¯ve got some nerve. Miss Zhao is someone Commander Liu personally requested.

    What¡¯s the matter? Now that you¡¯ve gotten close to General Li, you¡¯re ignoring Commander Liu?¡±

    The leader of the Blood Cloud Bandits was a one-armed swordsman, his face twisted into a menacing expression.

    Hearing this, Old Zhao¡¯s face turned pale.

    As a wealthy man in Dingbo Prefecture, Old Zhao had quickly realized the political landscape was shifting after Prince Zhenyuan arrived.

    His daughter, renowned for her beauty and listed among the top beauties of Dingbo Prefecture, was his most valuable ¡°asset.¡±

    Old Zhao had recently found an opportunity to offer his daughter to General Li, one of Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s trusted subordinates.

    However, Commander Liu¡ªa powerful leader of the Blood Hands¡ªhad also taken a liking to his daughter.

    Commander Liu wielded enormous influence as one of Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s four commanders. But to Old Zhao, the Blood Hands were ultimately just spies, and the godson of a spy wasn¡¯t worth comparing to General Li.

    So he had secretly taken his daughter and fled toward Nanshan County to present her to General Li.

    Unfortunately, the Blood Cloud Bandits had intercepted them.

    Now, surrounded by dozens of bandits, Old Zhao was visibly trembling with fear.

    ¡°Chief, it was foolish of me. I¡¯ll immediately offer my daughter to Commander Liu!¡± Old Zhao stammered, his voice trembling.

    The one-armed bandit leader sneered, his expression cruel. ¡°Too late. Commander Liu has already said he¡¯s no longer interested in Miss Zhao.¡±

    As he spoke, his lecherous gaze landed on the young woman.

    ¡°Before you die, consider it your good fortune to enjoy some time with me!¡±

    Miss Zhao¡¯s beautiful face turned deathly pale, her body trembling like a fragile rose battered by wind and rain.

    Old Zhao was terrified to the core.

    ¡°It¡¯s over. We¡¯re finished!¡±

    The Zhao family was no match for the Blood Cloud Bandits.

    At that moment, the sound of galloping hooves echoed in the distance as several riders approached.

    Miss Zhao¡¯s pale face lit up with hope.

    ¡°Help us! They¡¯re the Blood Cloud Bandits¡ªsubordinates of Commander Liu!¡± she screamed desperately, her voice raw with fear.

    Old Zhao clenched his teeth and joined in the shouting.

    The one-armed bandit leader scowled, understanding immediately what they were trying to do. A cruel glint appeared in his eyes.

    ¡°Miss Zhao, it seems you think the road to the underworld is too lonely and want to bring more company?¡±

    He hefted his massive blade, his expression vicious.

    ¡°I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡±

    ¡°Kill everyone except the woman!¡±

 Chapter 528: The Elevation of Destiny and the Records of The Blue Mountain Chronicles

    The one-armed bandit scanned Qi Yuan and the others with a fierce glare.

    Several of the bandits leapt forward, surrounding Qi Yuan, Liu Chudong, and the rest of their group.

    Qi Yuan, however, showed no sign of fear. Instead, he appeared calm and even a little amused.

    ¡°If I had some sort of mental issue, I might question why you¡¯d only kill the men and spare the women,¡± he said casually.

    ¡°Ridiculous!¡± the one-armed bandit bellowed angrily.

    The surrounding bandits, each armed with large sabers, slashed ferociously at Qi Yuan and the others¡¯ horses.

    These bandits were all Xuan-tier Weapon Masters, considered elite fighters, akin to small squad leaders within the Blood Cloud Bandits.

    When dealing with ordinary merchants on the road, they were more than enough to ensure an easy victory.

    Liu Chudong¡¯s face showed open disdain.

    She had always detested bandits who were steeped in wickedness and atrocities.

    With her signal, the two black-cloaked Judicators standing behind her made their move.

    A flash of sword light cut through the air, and the four bandits charging toward them were instantly decapitated, their heads rolling to the ground.

    There was an insurmountable gap between Earth-tier Weapon Masters and Xuan-tier Weapon Masters.

    Qi Yuan watched this scene unfold, and a hint of regret flickered in his eyes.

    He hadn¡¯t killed them himself¡ªwhat a waste.

    Even though they were weak, experience points were still experience points, no matter how small.

    Liu Chudong, who had been keeping an eye on Qi Yuan, noticed the regret in his expression. Mistaking it for sorrow, her gaze softened.

    ¡°Brother Qi, your heart is too kind. These people deserve their deaths. There¡¯s no need for you to feel sad over them,¡± she said reassuringly.

    On the other side, the one-armed bandit¡¯s expression changed drastically.

    ¡°Two Earth-tier Weapon Masters?¡±

    His thoughts began racing.

    ¡°Gentlemen, how about we call it quits here?¡± the one-armed bandit said, speaking with feigned confidence.

    The identity of the Blood Cloud Bandits was no secret.

    Whenever they encountered Weapon Masters on the road, most people, even powerful ones, would hesitate to provoke them and give them some leeway.

    Now that he realized it would be difficult to kill the two Earth-tier Weapon Masters, retreating seemed like the better option.

    This sort of thing happened frequently.

    While the Blood Cloud Bandits were infamous for their ruthless behavior, even they knew that avoiding injury or death when possible was a pragmatic choice.

    Miss Zhao, hearing this, grew visibly panicked. Her eyes filled with tears, and like a pear blossom in the rain, she looked helpless and pitiful. Her teary, delicate face evoked strong protective instincts in most people. Of course, for certain vile men, it might provoke an entirely different reaction.

    ¡°Please save us! They¡¯re the Blood Cloud Bandits! They¡¯re working for Commander Liu!¡± she cried out, her voice trembling with desperation.

    Liu Chudong¡¯s expression softened with pity as she glanced at Miss Zhao. She turned to Qi Yuan with an air of seniority and said, ¡°See? Helpless victims like this are the ones who deserve our sympathy. These bandits, on the other hand, deserve nothing but death.¡±

    After ¡°educating¡± Qi Yuan, Liu Chudong looked quite pleased with herself.

    Her gaze then fell coldly on the one-armed bandit.

    ¡°All the Blood Cloud Bandits deserve to die!¡±

    At her words, the two Judicators beside her dismounted, swords in hand, and charged into the group of bandits.

    Sword lights swept across the field as blood sprayed in all directions.

    The two Judicators moved through the bandits as if they were walking through an empty field, giving no quarter.

    One slash cleaved a bandit and his saber in two, while another decapitated a second bandit in a single stroke.

    In mere seconds, the bandits fell like weeds being cut down.

    Realizing the situation was hopeless, the one-armed bandit swung his massive saber in a wide arc to force an opening and quickly fled.

    The two Judicators were momentarily tied up by the remaining bandits. Coupled with the fact that the one-armed bandit was an Earth-tier Weapon Master, it was difficult to pursue him.

    In the end, all the bandits were slain, except for the one-armed bandit who managed to escape.

    Old Master Zhao and Miss Zhao, both visibly shaken, looked like survivors of a great calamity.

    Especially Miss Zhao, whose tear-streaked face, resembling a freshly plucked snow pear, was still damp. Her watery, helpless gaze could stir a strong sense of protection in onlookers¡ªor, in the case of depraved individuals, a darker form of desire.

    ¡°Thank you, brave warriors, for saving us. I¡¯ve prepared a small token of gratitude. Please accept it,¡± Old Master Zhao said humbly, bowing deeply.

    He offered a reward of three thousand silver taels.

    It wasn¡¯t a massive sum, but it wasn¡¯t insignificant either.

    ¡°To uphold justice without seeking rewards is our principle,¡± Liu Chudong said, refusing outright.

    She didn¡¯t lack money.

    And as an organization, Judgment wasn¡¯t short on funds either.

    So, she declined without hesitation.

    She most admired the Divine Descent of a hundred years ago for their integrity and selflessness.

    Old Master Zhao was briefly stunned by her refusal, but his smile grew even wider.

    ¡°Miss, your noble character and disdain for material wealth are truly admirable. Zhao deeply respects you!¡±

    Since she didn¡¯t care for money, perhaps she appreciated kind words instead.

    Liu Chudong nodded slightly, then looked toward the direction where the one-armed bandit had fled.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame... one of them got away. Brother Qi, now that the mission is complete, we should take our leave.¡±

    <hr> <hr>

    ¡°You didn¡¯t capture the targets?¡±

    A young man with long hair asked coldly. He stood still, quietly toying with a finely-crafted bone dagger in his hands.

    The bone dagger was made from the bones of a beautiful woman, and it was one of the young man¡¯s most prized creations.

    ¡°Master... they were rescued by a group of people. Among them were two Earth-tier Weapon Masters. I wasn¡¯t their match,¡± the one-armed bandit said as he prostrated himself on the ground.

    The young man before him was none other than Liu Wen, the godson of Commander Liu.

    Even the leader of the Blood Cloud Bandits had to show Liu Wen respect.

    For a low-ranking squad leader like the one-armed bandit, Liu Wen could decide his fate on a whim.

    ¡°Were they General Li¡¯s men? Or someone else?¡± Liu Wen asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± the one-armed bandit answered, shaking his head.

    A dangerous gleam flashed in Liu Wen¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re unsure, what use do I have for you?¡±

    With a flick of his hand, the bone dagger flew through the air.

    The one-armed bandit clutched his throat as blood poured out from the wound. His breath grew weaker and weaker until he finally collapsed, lifeless.

    The other Weapon Masters nearby remained calm, unfazed by the scene.

    Liu Wen walked forward and retrieved his bone dagger. He calmly wiped the blood off the blade before turning to a burly man standing nearby.

    ¡°Seventh Leader, how were the results of the recent operation?¡± he asked in an even tone.

    The Seventh Leader hesitated briefly before responding with a troubled expression. ¡°Young Master Liu, this time we only collected three hundred... human heads.¡±

    In the language of the Blood Cloud Bandits and Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s forces, ¡°human heads¡± was a euphemism for the severed heads they used to claim military achievements.

    ¡°Three hundred? That¡¯s far too few,¡± Liu Wen said, his gaze growing colder. ¡°In half a month, take your men and slaughter the village of Xiaoliang.¡±

    The Seventh Leader¡¯s face stiffened, and cold sweat began to form on his forehead. ¡°Young Master Liu, Xiaoliang Village is near General Li Zhao¡¯s camp. If we massacre the village... it could embarrass General Li Zhao.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I want,¡± Liu Wen replied with a chilling smile. His eyes burned with anger. ¡°That bastard dared to compete with me for a woman!¡±

    As if unable to contain his rage, Liu Wen kicked over a nearby table with explosive force.

    But just as quickly as his anger flared, it vanished. A gentle smile returned to his face as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not unreasonable. We¡¯ll give all the severed heads from Xiaoliang Village to General Li Zhao as a gift of military merit.¡±

    Hearing this, the Seventh Leader¡¯s back was drenched in cold sweat.

    These officials... they were truly ruthless.

    ¡°If I don¡¯t knock him down a peg, he¡¯ll start thinking this world belongs to his kind. Let me remind him¡ªit was my ancestors who built this kingdom, not theirs!¡± Liu Wen declared passionately.

    <hr>

    Five Days Later

    Qi Yuan was feeling unusually relaxed.

    He had deployed drones disguised as mosquitoes to scour the mountains, and so far, they had located two Blood Cloud Bandit hideouts.

    However, their main base remained undiscovered.

    Otherwise, Qi Yuan would have already launched an attack to exterminate them.

    ¡°Never mind. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer,¡± Qi Yuan said, his tone casual.

    His gaze fell on a string of copper coins lying on the table. A strange look crossed his face.

    The coins reeked of sweat.

    These were coins that Wang Cong had given him.

    Earlier that day, Wang Cong had been unloading cargo at the docks when he accidentally bumped into the steward of a wealthy household.

    The steward, who was used to throwing his weight around, had threatened to have Wang Cong thrown into the sea.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan had secretly intervened, causing the steward to accidentally fall into the sea himself.

    Wang Cong, realizing that Qi Yuan had helped him, had brought him his savings as a gesture of gratitude.

    While this was a minor incident, what surprised Qi Yuan was that his faint destiny had increased slightly because of it.

    ¡°Hey, do you know what circumstances can cause one¡¯s destiny to improve?¡± Qi Yuan asked through the Divine Wood Token, once again turning to the staff of Thorned Blood.

    To Qi Yuan, the staff member was like an AI¡ªready to answer questions at any time.

    ¡°My name includes the word ¡®thorn,¡¯ not ¡®hey,¡¯¡± the staff member replied, as if attempting to mimic human conversational habits.

    But after the quip, they got straight to the point.

    ¡°Well... there are generally three ways for destiny to improve:

    By devouring the destiny of others who bear destiny. By acquiring certain rare treasures. By altering the original trajectory of specific individuals¡¯ lives.

    However, not every life you alter will elevate your destiny. Otherwise, every destiny-bearer would just run around changing others¡¯ fates.

    It only works for certain special people or specific events.¡±

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan nodded in understanding.

    These ¡°special people¡± and ¡°special events¡± likely referred to individuals and occurrences that were historically significant¡ªthings worthy of being recorded in textbooks or considered exam-worthy material.

    Could it be that saving Wang Cong had altered his destiny?

    ¡°How special are we talking?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    ¡°If the event is significant enough to be recorded in The Blue Mountain Chronicles, then it qualifies as special.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what does that mean?¡± another user, Ji Wuyun, suddenly chimed in with a question.

    Her mind was filled with confusion.

    If The Blue Mountain Chronicles recorded special events, and altering them could enhance destiny, did this mean these special events hadn¡¯t yet occurred?

    If they hadn¡¯t, then how could The Blue Mountain Chronicles record them in the first place?

 Chapter 529: Heâ€¦ Has Returned!

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly what you think it means.¡±

    The staff member from Thorned Blood sent this message with an air of calm, waiting to see the shock on both the "Cleaver" and Ji Wuyun''s virtual faces.

    As a Voidwalker from the Void Paradise, descending into this world was akin to a player entering a game.

    It was perfectly normal for players to feel superior to the "natives," right?

    ¡°I! Don¡¯t! Get! It!¡± Ji Wuyun¡¯s mind seemed to be spinning as if she had just stumbled upon a horrifying realization.

    Seeing this, the staff member from Thorned Blood felt even more smug. ¡°Brother Cleaver, what do you think?¡±

    He was especially looking forward to seeing Cleaver''s astonishment and disbelief this time.

    After all, in their past interactions, Cleaver had always been calm and composed, effortlessly taking the upper hand.

    But this time, the staff member was confident that he would leave Cleaver utterly shocked.

    After all, telling someone that the world they live in has its future already written out, and that everything unfolds according to a predetermined trajectory, was bound to unsettle those who thought highly of themselves.

    ¡°So, can you lend me The Blue Mountain Chronicles? I want to check out the walkthrough.¡±

    ¡°......¡± The staff member was momentarily speechless.

    Why was Cleaver so nonchalant?

    This wasn¡¯t a normal reaction!

    ¡°Your fate is already predestined. Aren¡¯t you... even a little curious?¡±

    ¡°How is it predestined? I just changed a significant event and got my destiny upgraded, didn¡¯t I?¡± Qi Yuan replied casually.

    He accepted the situation quite easily.

    Wasn¡¯t this just like playing a game?

    ¡°Come on, tell me which special event I altered!¡± Qi Yuan asked, curious.

    The Thorned Blood staff member fell silent for a moment.

    This Cleaver guy was just too composed!

    If someone had told him that everything he experienced was predetermined, it would have been difficult to accept.

    ¡°Where are you right now?¡± the staff member finally asked.

    ¡°In Dingbo Prefecture.¡±

    ¡°According to The Blue Mountain Chronicles, there are two special events happening soon in Dingbo Prefecture.

    Both events are currently in their early stages and have not yet truly unfolded.

    Leaking information from The Blue Mountain Chronicles is like revealing the secrets of the heavens, but since this is the Divine Wood Token, it doesn¡¯t matter what I say.

    Oh, by the way, don¡¯t share what I¡¯m about to tell you with anyone, or... you¡¯ll face divine retribution,¡± the staff member warned earnestly.

    After all, his role here was simply to complete his mission. He didn¡¯t actually harbor any malice toward Cleaver or Ji Wuyun.

    Ji Wuyun, hearing this, felt her tension rising.

    ¡°The first event is known as the Daliang Mutiny. It is set to happen in about three months.

    Liu Wen, the godson of Commander Liu, suppresses General Li Zhao with unbearable force, ultimately driving Li Zhao to mutiny.

    The second event is called the Anze Uprising. Laborer Wang Cong, humiliated by a merchant''s steward, kills the man in a fit of rage.

    The local officials, drunk on power, not only kill Wang Cong but also carry out a massacre at the docks. This enrages the working-class people. Chi Changle organizes the laborers and surrounds the local government office, demanding justice. This event ultimately alarms the prefect.¡±

    The staff member paused deliberately.

    ¡°What happened in the end with the Anze Uprising?¡± Ji Wuyun asked, her curiosity piqued.

    She was more concerned about the uprising than the mutiny.

    In her view, the fault lay squarely with the corrupt officials. If the royal court punished them, it would be an excellent opportunity to win back the people''s trust.

    If she were the prefect, she¡¯d seize this chance to consolidate public support.

    ¡°The result? Naturally, the leaders of the uprising were executed in public, while the corrupt officials responsible for the massacre at the docks walked away unscathed,¡± the staff member replied with a light chuckle.

    ¡°What?!¡± Ji Wuyun couldn¡¯t believe her ears. ¡°But the common people were in the right!¡±

    This should have been an opportunity to win public favor!

    ¡°If the authorities gave in to the demands of these commoners today, wouldn¡¯t that embolden them to defy their superiors in the future?

    Today, they punish some minor officials; tomorrow, they¡¯d come after the magistrates; the day after that, the prefect. And one day, would they try to overthrow the emperor himself?¡± The staff member¡¯s tone was dripping with sarcasm.

    Having seen countless worlds in his missions, he was deeply familiar with the mindset of those in power.

    <hr>

    The guards screamed as they fled in every direction.

    The hundred-meter-tall colossus remained motionless, standing outside the stronghold like a reaper from the abyss.

    Moments later, chaos erupted within the stronghold.

    The flames of torches fell to the ground, igniting patches of straw.

    In the commotion, three figures emerged from the depths of the stronghold, their powerful auras radiating authority.

    These were the three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters of the Blood Cloud Bandits.

    A Heaven-tier Weapon Master could be conferred the title of Earl in Rosha Kingdom yet there were three of them in a bandit stronghold..

    At the center stood their leader, a towering man over two meters tall, his body rippling with muscle like a living fortress. On his shoulder rested a massive broadsword capable of cleaving mountains.

    ¡°What nonsense are you all screaming about?!¡±

    He looked dissatisfied.

    Bandits are bandits, rustic and useless.

    If it weren''t for the overall interests of the prince, how could he become the leader of the bandits?

    The towering leader cut down a fleeing bandit with a single slash.

    ¡°Where is the enemy?!¡±

    Before anyone could respond, the leader¡¯s eyes turned skyward.

    His expression froze.

    So did the expressions of the other two Heaven-tier Weapon Masters.

    A hundred-meter-tall giant.

    Even as Heaven-tier Weapon Masters, capable of wielding the power of heaven and earth, they had never faced anything like this.

    This was no mere mortal foe.

    It was a god.

    A cold, detached voice echoed across the mountains.

    ¡°Onefold Overlord¡¯s Fist!¡±

    The Tenfold Overlord''s Fists were created by Qi Yuan when he was in Gongxing.

    These days, he used his eyes to adapt this boxing technique to this world.

    Even now, he only adapted it into the Onefold Overlord''s Fist.

    Anyone who tortured ordinary mortals would have no place to survive under this punch.

    The giant struck with its fist.

    The sheer force of the attack shook the heavens and earth, a power beyond mortal comprehension.

    The three Heaven-tier Weapon Masters screamed in terror.

    But their screams were fleeting¡ªa brief testament to their futile resistance.

    The next moment, the stronghold was engulfed in devastation.

    With two strikes, the monstrous colossus annihilated most of the Blood Cloud Bandits, leaving only the innocent civilians and captured women alive.

    The survivors trembled on the ground, unable to muster the courage to even look up.

    Above them, the colossal figure¡¯s lips moved.

    Its voice thundered like the decree of a god:

    ¡°There is no light in this world, only the Divine Descent!¡±

    ¡°With the light in my hand, I will banish the darkness!¡±

    ¡°If there is injustice, summon me¡ªthe Divine Descent!¡±

    For a moment, the survivors were bewildered, unable to comprehend the meaning of these words.

    Then, an elderly man, trembling with age, raised his head.

    Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered, ¡°He... has returned.¡±

    More and more people seemed to realize something, their faces lighting up with astonishment and joy.

    ¡°He... has returned!¡±

 Chapter 530: Grandpa, Just Accept Him as Your Disciple!

    In Dingbo Prefecture, inside the main tent of the military camp:

    Prince Zhenyuan, clad in full military armor, was seated with a yellowed, ancient book in his hands, carefully reading through it.

    Nearby, two Blood Hand commanders stood in complete silence, holding their breaths, not daring to move. They feared disturbing the Divine-tier Weapon Master.

    The Blood Hand¡¯s leader, however, had a slightly more casual demeanor. Compared to the rigid posture of the commanders, his stance was almost languid. His sharp gaze, however, betrayed his readiness.

    Roughly a hundred breaths later, Prince Zhenyuan finally put the book down.

    ¡°Ah Gui, how is old man Liu doing these days?¡±

    ¡°Old man Liu¡± was none other than Liu Sheng, the true patriarch of the Liu family and a powerful Divine-tier Weapon Master.

    Liu Sheng wielded the divine weapon Fusang, which granted him an endless well of vitality. Among the Seven Divine-tier Masters of the Rosha Kingdom, he was regarded as the hardest to kill.

    Prince Zhenyuan, on the other hand, was one of the Seven Gods known for being in the top three in raw offensive power. His expertise in poisons made him especially fearsome.

    ¡°He has remained in seclusion,¡± the Blood Hand leader responded, his voice calm. ¡°This past month, he hasn¡¯t made a single appearance.

    A few days ago, Qianran was brought to the Liu family estate after sustaining severe injuries, but even then, old man Liu did not show himself.¡±

    Prince Zhenyuan didn¡¯t immediately reply, so the Blood Hand leader continued, ¡°From what we can deduce, old man Liu is likely deeply poisoned, which is why he doesn¡¯t dare show himself. Otherwise, it would risk exposing his condition.¡±

    The two Blood Hand commanders quickly chimed in:

    ¡°Your Highness¡¯s mastery of poisons is unparalleled. With time, you will undoubtedly slay one of the Seven Gods and shake the entire Blue Mountain!¡°

    Prince Zhenyuan chuckled softly, his gaze turning contemplative.

    ¡°Fusang is, after all, a divine weapon. Its limits remain unknown. Perhaps the old man is simply fishing for information.¡±

    A Divine-tier Weapon Master could annihilate armies numbering in the tens of thousands with ease.

    If two Divine-tier Masters fought head-to-head, the battle would be devastating, capable of shattering mountains and rivers.

    Without complete confidence, Prince Zhenyuan had no intention of making a move. Cornering Liu Sheng could force him to flee, which would create an ongoing threat to the Rosha Kingdom.

    The Blood Hand leader lowered his head respectfully. ¡°Your Highness represents the will of the royal court. The hearts of the people belong to the imperial family. You embody the greater momentum. Here in Dingbo Prefecture, the Liu family¡¯s influence will only continue to wane. All Your Highness needs to do is wait patiently, and the old man will inevitably lose.¡±

    Prince Zhenyuan sighed deeply.

    ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know this? But... His Majesty hasn¡¯t given me much time.

    If I cannot secure Dingbo Prefecture within thirty years... I won¡¯t be the one sitting here. The glory will belong to someone else.¡±

    His tenure in Dingbo Prefecture was limited to just thirty years.

    If he failed to achieve this monumental feat within that time, someone else would be assigned to take over. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of such a massive achievement slipping through his fingers.

    The two commanders and the Blood Hand leader all lowered their heads, unwilling to provoke him further.

    Suddenly, the silence was shattered by hurried footsteps and a voice shouting urgently outside the tent.

    ¡°Something terrible has happened!¡±

    One of the Blood Hand commanders, Liu Du, burst into the tent without even waiting for permission to enter.

    The Blood Hand leader¡¯s sharp eyes flashed as if preparing to scold Liu Du for his lack of decorum.

    But Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s expression remained calm, showing no signs of irritation. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°The Blood Cloud Bandits were wiped out at midnight last night!¡± Liu Du reported, his face pale and eyes wide with panic.

    ¡°The Blood Cloud Bandits were wiped out? Did old man Liu make a move?¡± Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly in surprise.

    But it was just that¡ªsurprise, nothing more.

    ¡°No...¡± Liu Du¡¯s face twisted into a grimace, and his voice trembled slightly as he spoke. ¡°According to the reports, it was a blood-colored giant, a hundred meters tall, that destroyed the Blood Cloud Bandits!¡±

    ¡°A blood-colored giant, a hundred meters tall?¡± Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s expression shifted again, this time betraying genuine shock. ¡°A specter?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Liu Du¡¯s face grew even darker as he recounted all the details he had learned.

    Upon hearing Liu Du¡¯s report, a flicker of fear flashed in Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s eyes, though it was quickly replaced by a steely determination.

    ¡°Hmph, playing tricks and pretending to be gods. The Divine Descent... has long since fallen!¡± Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s aura surged, exuding a terrifying oppressive force.

    But beneath his outward confidence, there was a faint tremor of fear in his voice.

    ¡°This is suspicious... it must be old man Liu stirring up trouble!¡± the Blood Hand leader interjected.

    Based on Liu Du¡¯s report, wiping out the Blood Cloud Bandits with just two punches was not something a Heaven-tier Weapon Master could achieve. It had to have been a Divine-tier Weapon Master.

    And in the vicinity, the only Divine-tier Master was Liu Sheng.

    ¡°Yes, it must be Liu Sheng causing this mischief!¡± the other commanders echoed.

    ¡°He¡¯s just trying to use the name of the Divine Descent to sway public opinion and incite rebellion against the imperial court!¡±

    Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s expression shifted several times as he mulled over the situation.

    He recalled a report sent from the royal court not long ago.

    There had been signs of the Divine Descent¡¯s revival in Ning Kingdom, with fragments of its power manifesting miracles.

    The Fifth Prince had been dispatched to Ning Kingdom to investigate, but as of now, there had been no word.

    Anxiety crept into his heart. Finally, he spoke:

    ¡°This matter... must be reported to His Majesty.¡±

    The Blood Hand leader sensed Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s unease and lowered his voice:

    ¡°In the battle all those years ago, the Divine Descent was struck down. Even if it has revived... it surely cannot compare to its former peak. Your Highness could suppress it with a mere flick of your wrist!¡±

    Prince Zhenyuan squinted his eyes, recalling the events of the past. Deep within his gaze lay an unmistakable terror.

    There was one thing he didn¡¯t say aloud: Even at its so-called ¡°weakened¡± state, he would not have been its match.

    The Divine Descent... was a true god!

    One divine weapon had been enough to suppress the entire royal family.

    Uncertainty gnawed at his thoughts. What if this wasn¡¯t a scheme by old man Liu? What if it truly was the Divine Descent?

    ¡°What then...?¡±

    Finally, Prince Zhenyuan made his decision.

    ¡°I will go to the Blood Cloud Stronghold myself!¡±

    That same day, he disguised himself as a hunter and quietly made his way toward the Blood Cloud Stronghold.

    <hr>

    And the destruction of the Blood Cloud Bandits... was it the work of the legendary Divine Descent?

    If the Divine Descent had truly returned, then the political landscape of Dingbo Prefecture would shift dramatically.

    It would mean that the Liu family wouldn¡¯t have to endure the slow encroachment of the imperial court any longer.

    If anyone in the world would welcome the Divine Descent¡¯s revival, it would be the Judgment Association, the downtrodden masses who still remembered the Divine Descent¡¯s glory... and Liu Sheng himself.

    ¡°Grandpa seems to be in a good mood today. Do you have any wishes? I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill them!¡± Liu Chudong said, her tone playful but affectionate.

    Naturally, she knew her grandfather¡¯s limits and wouldn¡¯t make any unreasonable requests.

    Although her grandfather often teased her for her lack of intelligence, she did have a certain emotional awareness.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Liu Sheng¡¯s eyes glimmered with warmth as he smiled. ¡°Tell me then¡ªwhat¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    Liu Chudong¡¯s eyes darted around mischievously.

    ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯ve always said you don¡¯t have a disciple, right? I recently made a new friend. He¡¯s incredibly talented and also has a very charming appearance. Why don¡¯t you take him as your disciple?¡±

    Her reasoning was simple. If she wanted to influence her grandfather¡¯s decisions, she couldn¡¯t do it alone.

    But if her new friend Qi Yuan could join forces with her, things would be different.

    If her grandfather had a granddaughter who was part of the Judgment Association, and then a disciple who was also affiliated with it... how could he not support their cause?

    Liu Sheng chuckled softly, clearly aware of her intentions.

    ¡°I¡¯m too old to take disciples.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa!¡± Liu Chudong protested, her tone showing her dissatisfaction.

    ¡°Accepting a disciple isn¡¯t something to be taken lightly,¡± Liu Sheng said, shaking his head. ¡°If I were to take him as my disciple and fail to guide him properly, it could hinder his growth.

    Furthermore, he is currently an outsider. Once he becomes my disciple, he¡¯ll be drawn into the center of our conflicts. That could put him in unnecessary danger.¡±

    Hearing this, Liu Chudong hesitated for a moment. She understood that trying to argue further was pointless. It was clear her grandfather had already made up his mind, and he wasn¡¯t going to accept the young man as his disciple.

    ¡°What a pity,¡± she muttered with a sigh. ¡°I think he has great potential. After all, he comes from a small kingdom, and yet he managed to make his way to the Rosha Kingdom. That¡¯s no easy feat.¡±

    Her voice carried a hint of sympathy.

    The journey from Ning Kingdom to the Rosha Kingdom was long and treacherous. It required crossing vast oceans, rife with dangers like pirates and bandits. Without significant strength, it would have been impossible to survive the journey.

    When Liu Sheng heard this, his eyebrows raised slightly, a flicker of intrigue crossing his face.

    ¡°He¡¯s from a small kingdom? Which one?¡±

    ¡°Ning Kingdom,¡± Liu Chudong replied earnestly. ¡°The same place where Sister Qianran is from.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Liu Sheng¡¯s expression changed abruptly, his body stiffening momentarily.

    ¡°Grandpa? Is there something wrong?¡± Liu Chudong asked, startled by his reaction.

    ¡°No... nothing,¡± Liu Sheng said, shaking his head. But his eyes grew deep and contemplative.

    From Ning Kingdom...

    He thought back to recent events.

    In the span of just a few months, this young man had arrived from Ning Kingdom to the Rosha Kingdom.

    And almost immediately after his arrival, the Blood Cloud Bandits were destroyed, and the rumors of the Divine Descent began to spread.

    Could there be a connection between the two?

    Or perhaps... this young man had stumbled upon fragments of the Divine Descent and brought them to the Rosha Kingdom?

    ¡°Grandpa, if you think something¡¯s wrong, I can bring him to meet you. Once you¡¯ve seen him, you¡¯ll know what kind of person he is,¡± Liu Chudong suggested, sensing her grandfather¡¯s concern.

    Although she trusted Qi Yuan, she also understood that her grandfather¡¯s judgment was more important.

    In her mind, a friend she had known for only a few days could never compare to her grandfather, who had been a pillar of strength in her life.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Liu Sheng replied, shaking his head.

    He seemed to have come to some decision, and his tone softened as he spoke.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t visited the Judgment Association yet...¡±

    ¡°Grandpa! You already knew about it?!¡± Liu Chudong exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise.

    ¡°Fusang has a spiritual connection. It can sense those whose hearts harbor ill intent,¡± Liu Sheng explained with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ll bring Fusang with me and personally help you evaluate whether there are any untrustworthy individuals among the Judgment Association.¡±

    His smile carried a profound meaning.

    But his thoughts were already spinning in a different direction.

    <hr>

    In the Judgment Association¡¯s stronghold, Qi Yuan let out a long yawn, his face pale and weary.

    Despite being a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, his recent endeavors had pushed him to his limits.

    Taking down the Blood Cloud Bandits in such a spectacular and overwhelming fashion had indeed been impressive, but the toll it had taken on him was immense.

    Still, he knew that to play the role of the Divine Descent, he had to maintain an air of authority and grandeur.

    It had to be dazzling. It had to be awe-inspiring.

    Currently, his ¡°Divine Descent Persona¡± rating was steadily increasing. Qi Yuan felt confident that the effort was worth it.

    Once the rating reached a certain threshold, he would likely receive blessings or rewards from the Divine Descent itself¡ªperhaps even a significant boost to his strength.

    ¡°Master, do you want a steamed bun?¡± Chen Kangbao asked worriedly, holding a bun out to him.

    Qi Yuan shook his head.

    ¡°I need to sleep. While I¡¯m resting, make sure no one disturbs me.¡±

    With that, he headed straight to his room and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

    He didn¡¯t even bother to wash up.

    Last night, he hadn¡¯t just destroyed the Blood Cloud Bandits¡¯ main headquarters. He¡¯d also wiped out all their subsidiary outposts. The effort had drained him completely.

    Now, all he wanted was a good, long rest.

    On the bed beside him, Xiao Jia, lay quietly.

    Her icy sleeve gently rested on Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, her presence cool but comforting.

    If Xiao Jia had a face, her expression at that moment would have been one of quiet devotion and tenderness.

 Chapter 531: Waking Up, a Sudden Rainstorm

    The autumn evening did not feel desolate. The yellowish sunlight lazily blanketed the land, radiating warmth rather than chill.

    Liu Sheng was dressed casually, his demeanor calm and amiable, like that of a typical elderly man.

    "Not bad. Your group in the Judgment Association is full of good children."

    Liu Chudong, proud of her efforts, smiled with a hint of smugness. "Grandfather, I personally picked them all!"

    Whether it was Chi Changle or Wang Cong, both were individuals Liu Chudong had personally invited to join the Judgment Association.

    At this moment, Liu Sheng''s brows twitched slightly, and he spoke in a seemingly casual tone: "What about that Qi Yuan from Ning? I haven¡¯t seen him around."

    A thoughtful look crossed Liu Sheng''s face.

    This Qi Yuan from Ning¡ªhis sudden and convenient appearance¡ªwas peculiar. Could he perhaps have some special connection to the rumored revival of the Divine Descent?

    Hearing this, Liu Chudong seemed to remember something and muttered, "I wonder if he''s back. Grandfather, let¡¯s go check his courtyard."

    She led Liu Sheng toward Qi Yuan¡¯s residence.

    A light knock on the door was answered by Chen Kangbao, who poked his head out, his expression curious.

    "Oh, I forgot to tell you, the young master has returned," Chen Kangbao said, munching on a steamed bun as usual.

    "He¡¯s back? My grandfather wants to see him," Liu Chudong said, already stepping forward toward the courtyard.

    But Chen Kangbao extended an arm to block her way. "The young master is asleep. He specifically instructed not to let anyone disturb him."

    "Asleep?" Liu Chudong¡¯s tone carried a mix of impatience and disbelief. "Wake him up!"

    Her grandfather had rarely been in such good spirits, and this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Who wouldn¡¯t want a chance to meet a Divine-tier Weapon Master and receive his guidance?

    Chen Kangbao shook his head firmly, his expression serious. "The young master said no one is to wake him up."

    His resolute gaze left no room for negotiation as he stood firmly in front of Liu Chudong.

    Fuming, Liu Chudong argued, "This is an important matter, and you¡ª"

    "The young master¡¯s sleep is the important matter," Chen Kangbao retorted bluntly.

    Rendered momentarily speechless, Liu Chudong could only hold back her frustration.

    Her grandfather chuckled and asked, "How long does your young master usually sleep?"

    "I don¡¯t know," Chen Kangbao replied with a shrug.

    Liu Chudong looked even more exasperated.

    Liu Sheng, his gaze falling briefly on the courtyard, smiled warmly. "No rush. I¡¯m in no hurry; we¡¯ll just wait a bit."

    Liu Chudong was taken aback, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

    Wait?

    Her grandfather was willing to wait for Qi Yuan to wake up?

    She couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled.

    It wasn¡¯t as if her grandfather was doing this for her sake. Despite being her grandfather, Liu Sheng was still a Divine-tier Weapon Master¡ªsomeone even she had to treat with the utmost respect. §²§¡?o???¦¥S??

    Her grandfather must have a deeper reason for this.

    With her head lowered, lost in thought, Liu Chudong waited silently.

    From dusk until late into the night, Liu Chudong and Liu Sheng remained outside the courtyard.

    The door to the room stayed firmly shut, and Liu Chudong¡¯s confusion only deepened. "Brother Qi still isn¡¯t awake? When will he wake up?"

    Chen Kangbao simply shook his head. "I don¡¯t know."

    "It¡¯s fine. He¡¯ll definitely wake up by tomorrow morning at the latest. Grandfather, you¡ª" Liu Chudong looked anxiously at Liu Sheng, worried he might lose patience.

    After all, having a Divine-tier Weapon Master wait outside for an entire night¡ªeven she found the situation unprecedented and absurd.

    But Liu Sheng only chuckled, his expression gentle. He glanced at the closed room and said, "It¡¯s no problem. I have nothing urgent to attend to."

    Chen Kangbao chimed in, "Even if he doesn¡¯t wake up tomorrow morning, it¡¯s not a big deal."

    "What?" Liu Chudong exclaimed in disbelief. "Is he injured? How can a normal person sleep this long?"

    "Ha! The young master is like a god descended from heaven. Even if he sleeps for three thousand years, so what?" Chen Kangbao replied smugly.

    Liu Chudong fell silent, convinced that Chen Kangbao was utterly delusional.

    Meanwhile, Liu Sheng squinted, studying Chen Kangbao¡¯s expression closely.

    After a long moment, Liu Sheng smiled again and said, "What an amusing situation. I¡¯ll wait here and see just how many months your young master can sleep."

    <hr>

    The rain fell steadily over Linhai City, the soft drizzle building into a heavier downpour.

    Winds swept through the streets, stirring waves in puddles and rivulets.

    Inside a modest teahouse, an elderly storyteller stood at the front, his figure short and stooped. His patched clothing bore six or seven neatly sewn repairs.

    He cleared his throat, preparing to continue his tale.

    "Now, as the story goes, it was the sixth month when snow fell from the skies. The courtesan was bound by ropes, tied to five horses positioned to the north, south, east, west, and center.

    <hr>

    This deliberate inaction carried the unmistakable mark of the Liu family, whose influence dominated the province.

    Even the most skeptical had to wonder: Was the Divine Descent truly back?

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, in the military camp, Prince Zhenyuan was pacing back and forth, a rare sight for someone of his stature.

    His usual composure, his air of unassailable confidence, was gone.

    Several long moments passed before the Blood Hand¡¯s leader entered, bowing respectfully.

    "What news?" Prince Zhenyuan asked sharply.

    The events surrounding the destruction of the Blood Cloud Bandits had left him restless, haunted by an unease he couldn¡¯t shake.

    "Your Highness," the Blood Hand¡¯s leader began, "the news of the Blood Cloud Bandits¡¯ demise and the Divine Descent¡¯s return has spread throughout Dingbo Province. Everywhere, people are talking about it."

    "And what of the officials? How have they reacted?"

    "They remain silent. In fact... they seem to be encouraging the spread of the rumors."

    The Prince¡¯s eyes darkened. "Encouraging it? Why would they¡ª" He stopped mid-sentence, realization dawning on him.

    The Liu family.

    "That coward Liu Sheng, usually so cautious, now dares to fan these flames. Could it be..."

    The Prince¡¯s unease deepened.

    "Where is Liu Sheng now?"

    "Ten days ago, he traveled to Linhai City. He hasn¡¯t left since, but his activities remain unclear."

    Prince Zhenyuan clenched his fists. "That isn¡¯t like him at all."

    A chilling thought struck him. Could the Divine Descent truly have returned? And if so, was Liu Sheng in secret negotiations with Him?

    If that were the case...

    "I must inform the Emperor at once. I will depart for the capital immediately!" Prince Zhenyuan declared, his voice grave.

    "Your Highness, if you leave, what will become of the gains you¡¯ve made here?" the Blood Hand¡¯s leader asked hesitantly.

    But the Prince¡¯s tone was resolute. "What use are gains if I¡¯m dead?"

    <hr>

    Half a month had passed since Liu Sheng began his vigil outside Qi Yuan¡¯s residence.

    By now, Liu Chudong had pieced together the threads of the mystery.

    The timing of the Divine Descent¡¯s appearance and the destruction of the Blood Cloud Bandits was no coincidence.

    Could it be?

    Her thoughts were interrupted by the creak of a door opening.

    A tall, slender man in white robes stepped out, his hair dampened by the light rain but still appearing effortless and elegant.

    Stretching lazily, Qi Yuan glanced at the gathered crowd and said with a yawn, "Good morning."

    Liu Chudong¡¯s expression was complex. "Brother Qi..."

    "Young Master!" Chen Kangbao exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy.

    Liu Sheng rose to his feet, his sharp gaze fixed on Qi Yuan. After a moment, he bowed slightly. "This old man, Liu Sheng, greets you, sir."

    Qi Yuan glanced at Liu Sheng, his expression calm and unbothered. He gave a small nod in response, acknowledging the elder¡¯s presence without further comment.

    Glancing up at the rainy sky, Qi Yuan remarked, "The rain¡¯s getting heavier. Traveling in this weather... what a hassle."

    "You¡¯re leaving, Brother Qi?" Liu Chudong asked, startled.

    Qi Yuan smiled faintly. "Now that I¡¯m well-rested, it¡¯s time to move on."

    Having slept for over two weeks, Qi Yuan¡¯s connection to the Divine Descent had deepened significantly, reaching a critical threshold.

    With his newfound strength, a new plan began to form in his mind.

    If he could embody the Divine Descent to the fullest, he might bring about true change.

    "And where does the young master intend to go?" Liu Sheng asked politely.

    "Hmm... Out of Dingbo Province, through Xianle, Cuilian, and Longgu, and then to the capital," Qi Yuan said casually.

    He had charted a long and winding route, one that would take him through nearly every province of the kingdom before reaching the heart of its power.

    "Such heavy rain... perfect for sleeping, but I pride myself on diligence. Rain or shine, I move forward!" Qi Yuan remarked with a grin.

    Liu Sheng suddenly stepped forward. "The storm is fierce, and the roads are treacherous. Horses may panic in this weather. I was once a stable hand; allow me to guide your horse and accompany you on your journey."

    Liu Chudong froze in shock.

    Her grandfather, a Divine-tier Weapon Master, offering to lead Qi Yuan¡¯s horse?

    She had suspected Qi Yuan¡¯s connection to the Divine Descent, but was it truly enough for even her grandfather to humble himself like this?

    Qi Yuan glanced at Liu Sheng, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he nodded lightly. "Very well."

 Chapter 532: If Injustice Exists, Call Upon Me, Divine Descent!

    The rain poured relentlessly.

    The torrential downpour transformed the landscape, creating veils of water cascading from slanted eaves, like rivers tumbling from the peaks of mountains.

    In the vast city of Linhai, the wide streets were nearly deserted, the rain so heavy that few dared venture outside.

    Tatatatata.

    Through the rain, a thin, aged horse trudged forward, soaked to the bone. Rainwater streamed into its eyes, yet they remained bright and determined.

    Liu Sheng, leading the horse by the reins, stepped into the puddles, splashing water with each step. He gazed out at the curtain of rain, his voice carrying a trace of nostalgia.

    ¡°A hundred years ago, even amidst a torrential downpour like this, people still believed in the rules, despite the prevalence of unspoken ones.

    ¡°But now, a hundred years later... not only have those unspoken rules overshadowed the real ones, but even the rules themselves have become a joke,¡± Liu Sheng said, his voice old and weary.

    He truly had been born a stable hand.

    In this world, the son of an official would be an official, the son of a merchant would be a merchant, and the son of a stable hand... would remain a stable hand.

    Generations of his family had been stable hands, and if nothing had changed, his descendants would likely follow the same path.

    But fortune smiled on him when he encountered the Divine Descent.

    In the Divine Descent¡¯s world, no occupation was beneath another.

    If you chose to accept your fate and lay down, so be it. But as long as you worked hard and pursued progress, you could achieve something greater.

    Through diligence, Liu Sheng became the ¡°model stable hand,¡± akin to Wang Cong¡¯s grandfather, a paragon of laborers.

    With that, he gained ¡°rights¡± and ¡°a voice,¡± and even earned the rare opportunity to begin training as a Weapon Master.

    In the past, how could a mere stable hand dream of cultivating such skills?

    Training to become a Weapon Master was a privilege reserved for the wealthy and the elite.

    ¡°At first, this old man thought... surely all this talk about the Divine Descent being selfless was nothing but fantasy,¡± Liu Sheng said with a self-deprecating laugh.

    It was understandable for common folk to worship the Divine Descent blindly.

    But as a Weapon Master, he knew better than to believe in divine altruism. The so-called ¡°gods¡± were merely immensely powerful beings.

    Even the Divine Descent, as selfless as He seemed, must have harbored personal desires.

    After all, even if the Divine Descent was an artifact, the one who created it¡ªthe fabled Song Maiden¡ªmust have had motives of her own.

    ¡°Master Qi, do you truly believe that this world could ever become as fair and equal as the Divine Descent once hoped?¡± Liu Sheng turned his head to look at the young man inside the carriage, alongside the ever-munching Chen Kangbao. r?a??O??E?S

    Qi Yuan extended his hand to catch some raindrops, his tone nonchalant.

    ¡°In reality... that might be tough. But this is a game. In a game, anything is possible.¡±

    Liu Sheng froze briefly before forcing a bitter smile.

    The original Divine Descent had long since shattered.

    Now, it was wielded by a Weapon Master.

    What path would this young man take? What ideals did he hold? Liu Sheng could not say.

    ¡°In the Rosha Kingdom, there are seven Divine-tier Weapon Masters, myself included. The others are Prince Zhenyuan, Prince Shanhua, Prince Zuifang... and the Rosha Emperor himself, Diwu Bufan.

    ¡°The strongest among them is undoubtedly Diwu Bufan. For the past century, he has remained secluded, rarely showing himself.

    ¡°Some say he has grown so powerful that he is approaching the peak strength of the Divine Descent in its prime,¡± Liu Sheng said, worry flickering in his gaze.

    He had no idea how powerful the current Divine Descent, now in Qi Yuan¡¯s hands, truly was.

    ¡°To me, there¡¯s no difference between him and you. You¡¯re both just people,¡± Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    Liu Sheng¡¯s body trembled slightly at those words.

    Guiding the reins, he continued through the rain.

    The downpour only grew heavier, but it did not slow their progress.

    Seated on the front of the carriage, Liu Sheng cracked his whip, urging the horse onward. The carriage moved steadily through the sheets of rain.

    Not even a torrential storm could stop its journey.

    <hr>

    Ten days later, travelers along the roads of Dingbo Province witnessed an unusual sight. A lone carriage traveled from the south to the north, crossing the formidable Hengduan Mountains.

    When monstrous entities plagued the route, the old driver raised a single finger, transforming it into a sword that effortlessly cut them down. Onlookers watched in awe.

    Two weeks later, the same carriage crossed the Wuding River, entering Xianle Province.

    The howling winds carried sandstorms, the region¡¯s defining trait.

    Xianle Province, in the southeastern reaches of the Rosha Kingdom, was characterized by its arid deserts. It bordered the Da Feng Empire.

    It was here, in Xianle Province¡¯s Fallen Phoenix City, that the Divine Descent had met its demise long ago.

    Years of conflict between Rosha and Da Feng had followed, with Rosha suffering more losses than victories, ultimately ceding seven cities in the region.

    Now, these seven cities were part of Da Feng¡¯s territory.

    <hr>

    On the main road, dust clouds rose in spirals.

    Li Wan, dressed in men¡¯s attire and her face smudged with dirt to enhance her disguise, rode a horse alongside her companions.

    Her eyes lingered curiously on the carriage traveling ahead of them.

    Their group of seven was on their way to Xianglong County, traveling the same road.

    The road was fraught with danger, so seeing a lone carriage moving fearlessly piqued Li Wan¡¯s curiosity.

    Who would dare travel alone on such perilous paths?

    She speculated that the carriage¡¯s owner must be exceptionally skilled.

    Li Wan, confident in her own abilities, decided to approach the carriage and inquire if they could travel together for safety.

    The carriage¡¯s owner did not refuse her request.

    What surprised her, however, was the owner himself¡ªa young man who seemed no older than twenty.

    ¡°Could it be the old man eating buns is the real master?¡± Li Wan wondered.

    As they traveled, she began chatting casually.

    ¡°Once upon a time, Xianle Province was the most prosperous region in Rosha. This very road would be bustling with merchant caravans every single day,¡± Li Wan said.

    Her family had been merchants for generations.

    Back then, trade caravans departed from Xianle Province, heading to Da Feng and beyond, creating immense wealth in the region.

    ¡°But now,¡± she added with a wry smile, ¡°you won¡¯t even see a single rogue specter, let alone a merchant caravan.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing? No specters, no danger,¡± a burly man beside her remarked, his large blade resting on his belt. The heat had him baring his chest, sweat gleaming on his muscles.

    <hr>

    Others began to stir, memories of old tales flashing through their minds.

    ¡°Divine Descent?¡± A young man, his face smudged with dirt and his spirit all but broken, whispered the name like a prayer. His grandmother had once told him of a being who punished the wicked and delivered justice.

    He had long dismissed those stories as fairy tales. But now...

    The voice seemed to pierce his very soul, rekindling something he thought he¡¯d lost: hope.

    He stood shakily, fists clenched. Then, with all the strength he could muster, he shouted:

    ¡°Divine Descent!¡±

    His cry was a catalyst.

    The prisoners, young and old, began to rise, their voices joining in unison.

    ¡°Divine Descent!¡±

    ¡°Divine Descent!¡±

    The chant spread like wildfire, drowning out even the rain and the howling wind.

    The Da Feng soldiers panicked, their formation starting to break.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡±

    ¡°Who dares mess with the Da Feng army?!¡±

    ¡°Shut them up!¡±

    But before they could act, a blinding crimson light descended from the heavens, splitting the stormy sky.

    The ground trembled as an immense figure materialized.

    A towering, blood-red giant, nearly two hundred meters tall, clad in armor that seemed forged from the essence of battle itself, stood amidst the storm. Its very presence exuded an overwhelming aura of authority and power.

    This was no mere Weapon Master or artifact¡ªit was a god among mortals.

    The Divine Descent had arrived.

    <hr>

    The Da Feng cavalry stared in stunned silence, their bravado crumbling into terror.

    ¡°What... what is that?!¡±

    ¡°Is it a demon?!¡±

    The prisoners, too, were awestruck, their chants fading as they gazed upon the colossal figure.

    But the young man who had first called out stood tall.

    With trembling hands and tears streaming down his face, he shouted once more:

    ¡°Divine Descent!¡±

    The giant¡¯s gaze turned toward him.

    Then, it raised a massive, armored fist.

    The heavens seemed to hold their breath.

    The fist descended.

    The world erupted.

    A shockwave rippled outward as the Divine Descent¡¯s punch struck the earth.

    The Da Feng cavalry was obliterated in an instant. Horses and men alike were hurled into the air like leaves in a storm. Dust and debris filled the sky.

    When the dust settled, nothing remained of the cavalry but silence and ruin.

    The prisoners, their faces pale with shock, stared at the carnage.

    Slowly, they began to kneel, their heads bowed in reverence.

    But then, the Divine Descent¡¯s voice rang out once more.

    ¡°Stand up.¡±

    ¡°There is no need to kneel before me.¡±

    ¡°The Divine Descent requires no worship.¡±

    The words carried an undeniable power, compelling the prisoners to rise.

    They stood, their fear replaced by awe and determination.

    They looked up at the Divine Descent, who stood as a protector rather than a conqueror.

    <hr>

    Li Wan and Uncle Li watched from a distance, their bodies trembling.

    ¡°Uncle Li... is that truly the Divine Descent?¡±

    The older man¡¯s face was pale, sweat dripping down his forehead.

    ¡°I... I think it is,¡± he murmured.

    Li Wan¡¯s thoughts raced as she glanced back at the carriage still trundling forward.

    ¡°Could it be... that young man...¡±

    Her voice trailed off as she struggled to process the realization.

    "Uncle Li... Is he the God of Judgment?"

    Uncle Li''s burly belly was covered with sweat. He looked at the tall figure, and his calves were shaking.

    "Should be... right."

    "The God is back... " Li Wan''s voice was complicated.

    She looked at the carriage that was still moving slowly from a distance, with mixed emotions.

    Is the Master Qi in the carriage... the one who just chatted with her... the God of Judgment?

    Or does he hold the most powerful artifact in the world... the Divine Descent?

    Uncle Li¡¯s expression grew grave. ¡°The skies over Rosha are changing.¡±

    For better or worse, the Divine Descent had returned.

    Sometimes, some people hope for change. Can it be worse than now?

    Sometimes, some people don''t like change. They think it''s pretty good now.

    "If there is injustice, call the Divine Descent!"

    Uncle Li stood up straight and straightened his back.

    When he was young, he also called for the "Divine''s presence".

 Chapter 533: Divine Descent Arrives in Da Feng, The Blade Demon

    "The rumors from Dingbo Prefecture are true!"

    Li Wan stared at the towering figure, her breathing quickened.

    Several days ago, she had heard news of the Divine Descent¡¯s resurrection. At the time, she dismissed it as nothing more than a curious tale. After all, at her age, the Divine Descent was nothing more than a legend from long ago.

    But now, as the colossal, hundred-meter-tall giant manifested with its overwhelming divine presence, she believed.

    What struck her even harder was the realization that this Divine Descent might be none other than the young gentleman who had shared a carriage with her just days prior.

    The thought left her momentarily dazed. When she finally returned to her senses, the crimson hue that had filled the sky was gone. In its place was the serene glow of a setting sun.

    The carriage was nowhere to be seen.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw only an expanse of desert and a lone sunset.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    The sunset was breathtaking.

    ¡°Uncle Li, let¡¯s go. We need to help the Divine Descent clean up this mess and send these civilians back home,¡± Li Wan decided resolutely.

    Uncle Li paused for a moment, thinking deeply for several breaths. Finally, he nodded heavily.

    ¡°Alright!¡±

    <hr>

    At the Blood Demon Pool, the liquid resembled an ocean of blood. Chains rippled through its surface, their movements sending echoes outward. The air was filled with furious howls and roars, as though a monstrous terror was sealed beneath.

    Within a ten-mile radius of the pool, save for a few attendants, no one dared to approach.

    At that moment, two slender figures descended from the sky.

    The man had white hair and white eyebrows, exuding an aura of harmony and nature.

    Beside him stood a woman in a fiery red dress. The gown featured a daring slit that ran up to her thigh, teasing with fleeting glimpses of her legs for anyone daring enough to try and look.

    But no one dared.

    She was one of Da Feng¡¯s top three powerhouses¡ªa Divine-tier Weapon Master.

    The fiery woman gazed at the frenzied figure thrashing within the blood pool, her expression tinged with awe and emotion. ¡°Just one strike. One sword strike was enough to drive the Blade Demon mad for a hundred years. How powerful must the Divine Descent have been a century ago?¡±

    The white-haired man, hearing this, revealed a trace of fear in his eyes. ¡°At the height of His power, even if all of Da Feng¡¯s Divine-tier Weapon Masters joined forces, we wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against Him.

    ¡°He had already condensed His own domain and forged His own path.¡±

    As he spoke, his expression shifted to one of yearning and admiration.

    Among Divine-tier Weapon Masters, there were seven steps to ascend to the heavens. Only by condensing a divine domain could one step onto the fourth level, entering an entirely new realm.

    In the two-thousand-year history of Da Feng, no one had ever reached the fourth step.

    Back then, the Divine Descent was not even a person but an artifact. And even then, it had come tantalizingly close to that level.

    ¡°At that time, the Blade Demon allied with other Divine-tier Weapon Masters to besiege the Divine Descent. Yet he was struck by a single sword that pierced his arm.

    ¡°Though the Blade Demon promptly severed his own arm to stop the divine power from spreading, the Divine Descent¡¯s energy still penetrated his core and has been corroding him ever since,¡± the white-haired man explained.

    One sword strike.

    The Blade Demon, once Da Feng¡¯s most fearsome warrior and the foremost master of the blade, had fallen into madness. Now he was nothing more than a lunatic.

    Thus, Da Feng constructed the Blood Demon Pool to imprison him.

    The Blade Demon could no longer consume regular sustenance, surviving only on the blood within the pool.

    ¡°Could it be Him in Xianle Prefecture?¡± the fiery woman asked.

    The white-haired man hesitated for several moments before slowly replying, ¡°I¡¯m not sure... but the figure seems to possess Divine-tier power.¡±

    In truth, confirming whether or not the figure was the Divine Descent was simple¡ªthose who had once faced Him needed only to take a glance.

    But neither Da Feng¡¯s Divine-tier Weapon Masters nor Rosha Kingdom¡¯s dared to do so.

    ¡°The Blade Demon should suffice to test Him,¡± the fiery woman said with a sly smile.

    She produced a delicate artifact from her hands¡ªa gossamer-thin eyepiece that seemed almost weightless. It was a pinnacle-level Heaven-tier Artifact, one step away from becoming Divine-tier.

    The eyepiece¡¯s most potent ability was its power to confuse the mind.

    When wielded by the fiery woman, it could briefly bewilder even Divine-tier Weapon Masters. Against someone like the Blade Demon, whose mind was already fractured and unstable, she had complete confidence.

    ¡°Blade Demon, I¡¯ve come to see you.¡±

    The woman donned the eyepiece, her eyes radiating a mesmerizing light.

    In the blood pool, the deranged, one-armed man bound by chains as thick as tree trunks roared ferociously, his expression twisted.

    ¡°Who are you?!¡±

    ¡°Die! All of you die!¡±

    He thrashed violently, causing the blood in the pool to surge and churn, his body resembling a demon drenched in crimson.

    ¡°I¡¯m... an old friend,¡± the woman said in a sultry, enchanting tone.

    Under the influence of the artifact, the Blade Demon¡¯s struggles eased slightly.

    ¡°Do you wish for revenge?¡± she coaxed.

    <hr> <hr>

    Despite its limitations, it was an incredibly valuable tool for Qi Yuan.

    At his current level of 145, the gap between himself and a true Divine-tier Weapon Master remained immense. Yet Descent of the Divine gave him the power to temporarily bridge this divide, completely altering the battlefield.

    More importantly, he could combine it with "Together as One", his technique for fusing with Xiao Jia. This fusion would instantly raise his level by six, further amplifying his strength.

    With these tools, Qi Yuan believed he might even momentarily surpass the Third Step of Ascension, achieving power far beyond his current limits.

    ¡°Slow the carriage down,¡± Qi Yuan suddenly ordered.

    He had decided to wait for the Blade Demon to arrive. After all, this Divine-tier Weapon Master was the perfect sacrificial lamb¡ªa devoted warrior traveling thousands of miles to deliver himself as a target. How could Qi Yuan not show him due respect?

    Chen Kangbao immediately nodded. ¡°Understood, young master.¡±

    <hr>

    Three Days Later.

    On the official road, an elderly woman stood with a heavy expression, her gaze fixed forward.

    ¡°The Blade Demon. Da Feng actually allowed him to leave, and Rosha Kingdom isn¡¯t stopping him!¡±

    This woman was none other than the Vice Master of the Arbiter Society. She was the infamous swordswoman who once beheaded a prince in the Red-light Pavilion¡ªformerly known as the Courtesan.

    Now, however, she was simply referred to as the "Old Courtesan."

    ¡°A kingdom like this is destined to collapse one day,¡± remarked an Earth-tier Weapon Master from the Arbiter Society, who stood beside her.

    The Old Courtesan gazed at the Blade Demon¡¯s figure in the distance, her expression a complex mix of fear and apprehension.

    Since hearing news of the Divine Descent¡¯s return, she had rushed to Dingbo Prefecture, then to Xianle Prefecture.

    But despite being the Divine Descent¡¯s most devout follower, even she could no longer recognize Him in His current form.

    In the end, she chose a more desperate approach: following the Blade Demon.

    Because of his madness, the Blade Demon traveled slowly, guided by a Heaven-tier warrior forcibly elevated to this level. Despite his slow pace, his presence carried a palpable sense of destruction.

    ¡°I wonder how well He¡¯s recovered. Can He even match the Blade Demon?¡± The Old Courtesan¡¯s voice carried deep concern.

    Three years ago, she had met a peculiar man.

    This man had prophesied that three years later¡ªthe present day¡ªthe Divine Descent would return.

    But the prophecy came with a grim warning: this revival would be fleeting, like a flower that blooms and withers in a single moment.

    The Old Courtesan refused to accept such a fate. She had dedicated her life to changing this trajectory.

    When the Divine Descent fell, she had sworn to never again let Him perish before her eyes.

    Her resolve had driven her to become a Weapon Master, eventually reaching the Heaven-tier. Though no match for the Blade Demon, she hoped she might buy the Divine Descent even a single breath of time.

    But her thoughts were interrupted as her expression suddenly changed.

    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong. The Blade Demon is picking up speed. Could it be... the Divine Descent?¡±

    Her heart sank. Without hesitation, she sped forward toward the Blade Demon.

    As a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, her speed was nearly at the sound barrier, yet the distance between her and the Blade Demon only grew.

    ¡°No! The Blade Demon is drawing his blade!¡± she realized with alarm.

    Under the light of a waning crescent moon, the one-armed, crazed figure unleashed a terrifying strike. A single swing of his blade, imbued with immense killing intent, could shake the heavens.

    This slash was powerful enough to split a mountain in two.

    ¡°No! The Divine Descent hasn¡¯t fully recovered. How could He possibly...¡±

    Her panicked thoughts were interrupted as her eyes widened in disbelief.

    Under the cold moonlight, a flash of brilliance illuminated the battlefield.

    A single streak of light¡ªblood-red sword energy¡ªcut through the air.

    Before anyone could even discern the attacker, the Blade Demon¡¯s head separated from his body.

    In an instant, the terrifying and ferocious Blade Demon was no more.

    ¡°How could the Divine Descent... decapitate the Blade Demon in a single strike?!¡± the Old Courtesan thought in shock.

    The battlefield fell silent. Countless pairs of eyes, all focused on the Blade Demon, were left in awe.

    Though the Blade Demon was mad, he had still been a Divine-tier Weapon Master.

    Yet one strike had ended him.

    The Divine Descent... was stronger than ever before.

    <hr>

    On the other side, Qi Yuan remained calm as waves of experience surged into him.

    With Descent of the Divine and Together as One, his single sword strike had surpassed the Divine Descent¡¯s peak power, making the Blade Demon¡¯s death inevitable.

    Beside him, Chen Kangbao trembled uncontrollably. ¡°Young master, you... you¡¯re invincible!¡±

    Chen Kangbao¡¯s exaggerated reaction made Qi Yuan roll his eyes in disdain. ¡°Stop shaking. You look so pathetic that people might think you¡¯ve got something stuffed down your pants.¡±

    ¡°How did you know I hid steamed buns there, young master?¡± Chen Kangbao stammered.

 Chapter 534: The Mysterious Fourth Layer of the Yang God Realm

    Qi Yuan glanced at Chen Kangbao with a face full of disdain.

    If Chen Kangbao was his servant...

    Look at other people''s slaves¡ªwhat they wear, what they carry.

    And then look at him?

    Comparison is infuriating.

    "Well, at least I have my ''White Moonlight.''"

    Qi Yuan looked at the distant corpse of the Blade Demon, his eyes glinting with a smug satisfaction.

    With the Descent of the Divine and Xiao Jia''s Together as One technique, his combat power had reached terrifying levels.

    In some respects, it could even be said that he had surpassed the peak of Divine Descent.

    While Divine Descent¡¯s cultivation realm was higher, his mastery of divine power paled compared to Qi Yuan, who could now slay a Yang God imbued with the Great Supreme Truth.

    "Level 150."

    Slaying the Blade Demon, a Divine-tier Weapon Master, had elevated Qi Yuan¡¯s cultivation to level 150.

    In the context of this world, he was now a Divine-tier Weapon Master.

    At this point, even without relying on the power of Divine Descent, he was a god!

    Moreover, Qi Yuan had made a new discovery from the Blade Demon¡¯s corpse.

    "This is..."

    Even from a distance, Qi Yuan¡¯s keen eyes detected an unusual trait on the Blade Demon¡¯s body.

    [Blood imbued with the Dark Radiance. This blood, once contaminated, tarnishes divine artifacts, reducing their effectiveness to less than one-thousandth of their original power.]

    This revelation set Qi Yuan deep in thought.

    "Was the Blade Demon¡¯s blood tampered with?"

    A flood of possibilities surged through his mind as he studied the Blade Demon¡¯s severed arm, further confirming his suspicions.

    It seemed likely that, in order to counter Divine Descent in the past, someone had infused the Blade Demon¡¯s blood with the Dark Radiance.

    When Divine Descent faced the combined onslaught of the gods, he had managed to wound the Blade Demon.

    From that point onward, the Blade Demon¡¯s divine artifact had been tarnished, weakening Divine Descent¡¯s power.

    <hr>

    ¡°Hey, are you there?¡± Qi Yuan initiated contact with the Thorned Blood staff once again.

    He took out the Divine Wood Token.

    ¡°First of all, stop calling me ¡®hey.¡¯ Second, just get to the point if you have something to say¡ªdon¡¯t start with ¡®are you there.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Have you ever heard of the Dark Radiance?¡±

    Since he was playing the role of Divine Descent, he had to uncover the truth behind his death.

    ¡°Never heard of it,¡± the other replied.

    Qi Yuan felt a twinge of disappointment. It seemed he would have to clear the Rakshasa Kingdom instance to learn who else had been involved.

    ¡°Well, I could investigate it, but it¡¯ll cost me something. I might be able to figure out what it is,¡± the Thorned Blood staff offered.

    ¡°If you help me find information about it, I¡¯ll remember this favor. If you ever can¡¯t make a living, come to the Underworld.¡±

    ¡°Heh...¡±

    On the other side, the Thorned Blood staff member chuckled coldly.

    He pushed open a window, gazing at the misty world outside as if admiring a scene.

    ¡°Posting a task: gather detailed information on the Dark Radiance. Reward: 1 point.¡±

    As a seasoned Void Walker, he had the authority to issue tasks directly.

    Void Paradise had deeply infiltrated this nascent universe.

    Even items like the Blue Mountain Realm Chronicles were accessible to him.

    Other information was relatively easy to uncover.

    After a few moments, his eyes lit up.

    ¡°I¡¯ve found the details on the Dark Radiance.¡±

    ¡°This entity originates from the Radiant Society. Its most notable characteristic is its ability to contaminate divine artifacts, diminishing their divine power...¡±

    "Thanks."

    Qi Yuan expressed his gratitude and began to mull over the implications.

    "The Radiant Society again."

    He had encountered members of the Radiant Society before¡ªFang Shisan and a corpse were his only direct interactions thus far.

    But along his journey, the Radiant Society had frequently intersected with his path.

    At the beginning of his life as a live-in son-in-law, Fang Shisan of the Radiant Society had plotted against him, even attempting to assassinate him.

    Later, Qi Yuan ventured to the Abyss of Ten Thousand Mountains and discovered countless corpses in a Strange Domain¡ªArtifact Masters who had forged fragments of Divine Light Treasure under the direction of the Radiant Society.

    The 300.000 Artifact Masters who ventured into that Strange Domain to refine the fragments were also led by the Radiant Society.

    Now, it seemed even Divine Descent¡¯s death was entangled with the Radiant Society.

    The Radiant Society was like an incurable itch.

    ¡°Do you know about the Radiant Society?¡± Qi Yuan asked again, his curiosity piqued.

    The Thorned Blood staff member¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°The Blue Mountain Realm Chronicles records that the Blue Mountain Realm is on the brink of destruction.

    But this isn¡¯t just the fate of the Blue Mountain Realm¡ªit is the ultimate destiny of your entire universe.

    Every world, every being, is doomed to annihilation.

    Unless... they transcend.

    But enough of that. Let¡¯s talk about the Radiant Society.

    Your world¡ªor rather, your universe¡ªis approaching its end.

    The Radiant Society considers itself the savior of this world. They¡¯ve been working tirelessly to... save it.¡±

    ¡°Righteous?¡± Qi Yuan was startled.

    <hr>

    The Immortal Realm was vast, likely as expansive as the universe itself.

    For someone to sever its future with a single blow, they would have to be at least at the peak of the Creation stage.

    <hr>

    ¡°Offending the Radiant Society is one thing, but don¡¯t provoke the Radiant Dao Lord.

    Then again... you probably won¡¯t even get the chance to offend the Radiant Dao Lord,¡± the Thorned Blood staff member added with a smug grin.

    His tone suggested he thought Qi Yuan was like a country bumpkin, marveling at the vastness of the heavens.

    But soon, he felt a twinge of disappointment.

    For those who hadn¡¯t stepped into the Yang God realm, the Radiant Dao Lord was like the moon in the sky¡ªvisible but utterly untouchable.

    Even for those who had entered the Yang God realm, the Dao Lord was like the heavens themselves¡ªunreachable and insurmountable.

    ¡°I have a question. If the Third Layer of the Yang God realm corresponds to Realm Masters, and the Fifth Layer corresponds to Dao Lords, what about the Fourth Layer?¡± Qi Yuan asked out of curiosity.

    The Radiant Dao Lord was indeed strong, far beyond the Taihuang Palace Sovereign. But so what?

    As long as it had a health bar, Qi Yuan could grind it down bit by bit!

    ¡°That...¡± The Thorned Blood staff member was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a question.

    ¡°The Fourth Layer of the Yang God realm is a taboo. Even in the Zhou Universe, very few people know what kind of existence occupies that level.

    According to ancient texts, even most Third Layer Yang Gods know nothing about the Fourth Layer.

    Only peak-level powerhouses like the Void Realm Master or Fifth Layer beings like the Radiant Dao Lord have any real knowledge of it.¡±

    ¡°The Fourth Layer is that mysterious?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s curiosity grew.

    It was strange that the Fifth Layer was so well-known, yet the Fourth Layer remained an enigma.

    ¡°Some great beings have said that the Fourth Layer of the Yang God realm is unspeakable, indescribable, and imperceptible. To even attempt to describe it invites great disaster.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, guide.¡± Qi Yuan said sincerely.

    Not only had he learned more about the game¡¯s lore, but he now had a clearer picture of the cultivation hierarchy.

    <hr>

    Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts swirled.

    ¡°If there was a Dao Lord for the Immortal Dao, wouldn¡¯t a mere yawn from them be enough to kill me?¡±

    ¡°No, wait. Am I even cultivating the Immortal Dao?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, maybe I¡¯m cultivating Schro?dinger¡¯s Dao!¡±

    If there¡¯s a Dao Lord, I¡¯m cultivating pseudo-Immortal techniques.

    If there isn¡¯t a Dao Lord, I¡¯m cultivating the true Immortal Dao and aiming to become the Dao Lord myself!

    ¡°What am I doing, a mere Purple Mansion cultivator, a Divine-tier Weapon Master, thinking about such things?¡±

    ¡°For now, let¡¯s focus on slaughtering this little Rosha Kingdom who fancies himself as my ¡®White Moonlight¡¯!¡±

    Hearing about the Dao Lord only made Qi Yuan more convinced that the Divine-tier Weapon Masters of the Rosha Kingdom were insignificant pests.

    Even Divine Descent¡¯s revival would probably seem laughable in the eyes of a Dao Lord.

    None of it would matter!

    Yet Qi Yuan remained steadfast.

    As an actor, one must maintain professional ethics.

    <hr>

    Royal Capital.

    In the great hall, Prince Zhenyuan stood like a mountain, unmoving. But his expression was tense.

    ¡°The Blade Demon is dead. Killed with a single strike!¡±

    The news left him both terrified and relieved.

    Thank goodness he hadn¡¯t been curious enough to investigate Divine Descent¡¯s alleged revival in Linhai City.

    Otherwise, he would already be dead.

    Four people were gathered in the hall, all of them Divine-tier Weapon Masters. None looked at ease.

    ¡°The Blade Demon was killed with one blow. It seems... He has returned,¡± an old man said in a hoarse voice.

    His face was pale¡ªpaler than most corpses after ten days.

    ¡°He¡¯s revived, and... nearly at full strength!¡± another Divine-tier Weapon Master said gravely.

    He was beginning to feel an urge to flee.

    But he knew that leaving now would mean certain death. Staying with the others at least provided the illusion of safety.

    ¡°Even if we join forces, we might not be his match,¡± Prince Zhenyuan said anxiously. ¡°He was shattered into pieces¡ªhow could he have revived?¡±

    His fear was genuine.

    After all, if Divine Descent had been slightly more ruthless in the past, Zhenyuan would have been dead long ago.

    Looking back, he marveled at his own audacity for staying in Dingbo Prefecture as long as he had.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to debate how he revived. We need to figure out... how to stop him!

    If we can¡¯t kill him, we¡¯re all doomed.

    The everlasting legacy we¡¯ve built will be destroyed by his hands!¡± the pale-faced old man said bitterly.

    Just then, a commanding voice echoed from behind a beaded curtain.

    ¡°A hundred years ago, I missed the chance to face him. It remains one of my greatest regrets.

    This time, I shall personally slay him!¡±

    The Divine-tier Weapon Masters exchanged uneasy glances.

    The emperor... planned to take action personally?

    <hr>

    Where did he get this confidence?

    These people knew the emperor better than anyone. A century ago, he hadn¡¯t even dared to spectate Divine Descent¡¯s battle, fearing he might be caught in the crossfire.

    Even now, though his strength had grown¡ªpeople even said he was nearly as strong as Divine Descent in his prime¡ªhis timid and paranoid nature was well-known.

    How could he dare challenge Divine Descent now?

    After all, this was Divine Descent!

 Chapter 535: Is Divine Descent Controlled by a Mortal, or is it the Arbiter God?

    Clad in a majestic dragon robe, Diwu Bufan strode with a presence as commanding as a dragon, exuding an air of regal authority.

    His hair and beard were jet black, his skin radiant and full of vitality. From afar, he appeared like a blazing flame, his energy and spirit flourishing.

    But upon closer observation, one could see a hint of weariness and age in his imposing gaze.

    ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty!¡±

    The four Divine-tier Weapon Masters present all lowered their noble heads in deference.

    Diwu Bufan was the emperor of the Rosha Kingdom, the "Sun" of his people, and currently the kingdom¡¯s strongest Divine-tier Weapon Master.

    ¡°Rise,¡± Diwu Bufan commanded, waving his sleeve with the dignity of a ruler.

    Though he had long secluded himself to focus on cultivation, withdrawing from state affairs, he still maintained a firm grip on power.

    ¡°Your Majesty, Divine Descent has just slain the Blade Demon. Your imperial body is precious beyond measure. Should you engage him recklessly, it might harm the dragon body,¡± Prince Zhenyuan cautiously advised, testing the waters.

    Of course, what he truly hoped was for the emperor to confront Divine Descent himself while he cheered from the sidelines. But he had to maintain the pretense of concern.

    At the same time, he sought to gauge the emperor¡¯s confidence.

    A sharp gleam flashed in Diwu Bufan¡¯s eyes. ¡°A mere Divine Descent. A century ago, I regretted not personally subduing him. This time, I shall face him myself!¡±

    The Divine-tier Weapon Masters quickly offered flattering words, though their true thoughts remained skeptical.

    Diwu Bufan was known to care deeply about appearances.

    He continued, ¡°I have learned from the visitors from beyond the heavens that my Rosha Kingdom shall endure for millennia, through one generation, two generations... until eternity.

    As for the fleeting revival of Divine Descent, it is but the ephemeral glow of a firefly.¡±

    A century ago, Diwu Bufan had already colluded with the otherworldly visitors, hastening Divine Descent¡¯s fall.

    These visitors had brought with them a book called the Blue Mountain Realm Chronicles.

    Diwu Bufan regarded it as a book of prophecy.

    The Chronicles predicted that Divine Descent would revive, but only briefly.

    Of course, he kept these details hidden from the Divine-tier Weapon Masters.

    Seeing the hesitation and doubt on their faces, Diwu Bufan¡¯s eyes glinted with disdain.

    ¡°A century ago, Divine Descent fell to the combined assault of the gods. But in truth, he was defeated by the Dark Radiance.

    It is a substance specifically designed to pollute Divine-tier artifacts.

    Any divine artifact it touches is tarnished, losing its divine power and reduced to a mere mundane object.¡±

    As he spoke, a droplet of liquid appeared before the group.

    Azure and translucent, it radiated a dangerous aura.

    The four Divine-tier Weapon Masters instinctively retreated at the sight, their expressions filled with caution.

    Though the Dark Radiance only targeted Divine-tier artifacts, each of them carried such items for protection. If their artifacts were corrupted, their combat strength would plummet.

    Their previous suspicions about the circumstances of Divine Descent¡¯s fall were now confirmed. The Dark Radiance explained everything.

    ¡°Divine artifacts... even the sacred treasures of the kingdom, must serve me. If they do not, they must be destroyed!¡± Diwu Bufan¡¯s voice boomed with imperial authority.

    The Divine-tier Weapon Masters felt a chill in their hearts. They understood that these words were also a warning to them.

    After years of Diwu Bufan¡¯s retreat from state affairs, they had all engaged in their own schemes.

    Now, faced with his veiled threat, they knew sacrifices would have to be made.

    Prince Zhenyuan bowed deeply, his face filled with guilt. ¡°I retreated without a fight in Dingbo Prefecture. My failure is unforgivable. I offer the Heavenly Secrets Codex to atone for my sin.¡±

    Diwu Bufan nodded.

    The pale-faced elder spoke hoarsely: ¡°To extend my life with the Wood Life Technique, I secretly imprisoned 120,000 people in Xianyun Prefecture over the past decade, harvesting their livers.

    I have wronged the people, and I have wronged Your Majesty. I am willing to offer the Wood Life Technique and the Ten Thousand Liver Pills in penance.¡±

    Diwu Bufan¡¯s expression softened with satisfaction. ¡°You have not wronged your subjects. You have only wronged me. Your offense is pardoned.¡±

    Power answers only to its source.

    In this world, how could a ruler punish a subordinate simply for oppressing the people?

    If punishment occurred, it was only because their actions harmed the ruler¡¯s interests.

    The remaining Weapon Masters also confessed their faults and surrendered their gains.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan stood atop a mountain, his tone calm.

    ¡°This time, I will traverse all twelve prefectures of the Rosha Kingdom.¡±

    To properly play the role of Divine Descent, he needed to travel across the land, ensuring that the people knew of his return.

    Only then could his performance as Divine Descent reach its peak.

    Finally, he would confront and slay any enemy who stood in his way, completing his role.

    Divine Descent¡¯s persona would then be fully established.

    Huan Sha, the elderly woman now following Qi Yuan, gazed at the young man before her with reverence.

    ¡°This old woman is willing to accompany you across the beautiful lands of the Rosha Kingdom!¡±

    After Qi Yuan slew the Blade Demon, Huan Sha had hurried to pledge her loyalty.

    In her view, Divine Descent had not fully awakened and remained dormant, allowing Qi Yuan to wield his power temporarily.

    Since Qi Yuan controlled Divine Descent, he was effectively the master of the Arbiter¡¯s power¡ªthe one she owed allegiance to.

    Qi Yuan shrugged. Looking out from the carriage window, he observed the vast county of Xianlong and closed his eyes.

    <hr> <hr>

    Three months passed as swiftly as flowing water.

    Across the twelve prefectures of the Rosha Kingdom, traces of Divine Descent¡¯s presence could be found.

    Wherever Qi Yuan traveled, he brought miracles.

    He executed evildoers, healed the sick and weak, corrected injustices, and upheld fairness.

    Qi Yuan lived up to the promise: ¡°Where injustice exists, call upon Divine Descent.¡±

    The starlight rain, manifested through his divine power, nourished the lands and brought vitality to the world.

    The people, filled with reverence¡ªand even fanaticism¡ªturned their gaze toward Divine Descent.

    However, opportunists also sought to exploit the situation.

    Some incited the masses to rise up, attempting to overthrow the existing order and replace the ruling elite with themselves as the new class of oppressors.

    Qi Yuan thwarted all such attempts.

    Though he was playing the role of Divine Descent, he refused to become a mindless arbiter or allow himself to be trapped in one place.

    He thought to himself, I may leave their wishes unfulfilled now, but there will always be someone to write the next chapter.

    For now, his focus was on embodying Divine Descent.

    What came after could wait.

    <hr>

    During his travels, some clever and resourceful people managed to locate Qi Yuan¡¯s carriage and even began to follow him.

    The crowd of followers grew larger and larger.

    The sight left Qi Yuan reflective.

    Though he considered himself a good person¡ªlawful, kind, and well-intentioned¡ªhe didn¡¯t think of himself as a hero.

    He was lawful but selfish. He refrained from wrongdoing but was drawn to beauty. He avoided social interaction but often acted impulsively.

    Divine Descent could bear the weight of these responsibilities. Qi Yuan could not.

    Eventually, he convinced the followers to stop trailing his carriage.

    <hr>

    ¡°Up ahead... lies the capital of the Rosha Kingdom,¡± Huan Sha said, her voice filled with complex emotions as she gazed at the towering city walls.

    This was a city of immense significance for her. It was here, long ago, that she had drawn her sword and slain the Third Prince.

    The memories tied to this city carried much sorrow and regret for her.

    ¡°This is the most prosperous and dazzling place in the Rosha Kingdom,¡± she said, her voice hoarse. ¡°But it is also the darkest and most corrupt.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked toward the royal capital, his expression calm.

    Indeed, Huan Sha was right.

    The capital was nothing like the other prefectures.

    In other regions, news of Divine Descent¡¯s arrival would draw crowds to the city walls daily.

    But here, the city walls were empty.

    Whether it was due to suppression by the authorities or the people¡¯s fear, Qi Yuan didn¡¯t care.

    Divine Descent, as an intelligent construct, harbored no emotions like anger.

    Qi Yuan, as a player, was simply enjoying the process. The specifics mattered little to him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s enter the capital... and kill the emperor,¡± Qi Yuan said calmly.

    He had killed many beings in this game: terrifying rulers of realms, otherwordly demons devouring life, and Yang Gods that consumed innate worlds. But he had yet to kill an emperor.

    As someone from Earth, how could he not possess a rebellious streak?

    What kind of game would it be if you didn¡¯t kill an emperor at least once?

    In myth and legend, heroes like the Monkey King openly defied authority, Erlang Shen rebelled covertly, and Nezha always sided with the rebels.

    These rebellious figures now served as Qi Yuan¡¯s divine avatars. To lack a rebellious spirit himself would be unnatural.

    <hr>

    Suddenly, a group of riders approached.

    The leader was a middle-aged man clad in a gray robe embroidered with gold thread. His face was clean-shaven, and his expression was arrogant and domineering.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the group and noted with mild amusement that none of them seemed afraid.

    He couldn¡¯t help but think, Even the most incompetent emperor will have a group of loyal death-sworn warriors.

    After all, soldiers are raised for a thousand days to serve in a single moment.

    The riders stopped before the carriage. The gray-robed man spoke with a stern and commanding tone.

    ¡°Are you Qi Yuan, the one who controls Divine Descent?¡±

    ¡°What business do you have with my young master?¡± Chen Kangbao poked his head out of the carriage, his face curious. ¡°Is the emperor planning to surrender?¡±

    ¡°Impudent!¡± the gray-robed man bellowed, his voice thunderous.

    Then, suppressing his anger, he continued, ¡°Qi Yuan, you defy the law and disrespect the monarchy. Present yourself at the royal palace and surrender Divine Descent to His Majesty. Only then will you be spared!¡±

    Qi Yuan observed the scene calmly, his expression unchanged.

    ¡°Got it. I won¡¯t waste my breath arguing with you NPCs.¡±

    He had already decided that once he reached the emperor, he would say nothing.

    He would simply kill him.

    No need to give these NPCs too much dialogue.

 Chapter 536: Slay the Emperor!

    But before making his move, Qi Yuan needed to declare his arrival with a thunderous proclamation to ensure that the entire capital¡ªits citizens, officials, and nobles¡ªknew he was there.

    ¡°Divine Descent has arrived! Diwu Bufan, prepare to die!¡±

    The voice, amplified by divine power, roared through the air and spread across the entire capital at a speed surpassing that of sound.

    In an instant, countless citizens of the capital looked up at the sky, their faces reflecting a variety of emotions.

    Some elders were overjoyed, some young people bewildered, others stunned.

    Even some Heaven-tier Weapon Masters were invigorated.

    ¡°I never thought we¡¯d get to witness a battle between Divine-tier masters!¡±

    ¡°No matter the outcome, this will go down in history!¡±

    ¡°Divine Arbiter... has he truly returned? I feel indignant! When I was weak, Divine Descent fell, and I was trampled upon. I struggled for a hundred years to rise to the top, and now, just when I¡¯m about to enjoy my power, Divine Descent returns?¡±

    The reactions to Divine Descent¡¯s reappearance varied across the capital.

    One of those reacting was the middle-aged man in the gray robe. Drawing his sword, he pointed it at Qi Yuan.

    ¡°Everyone may fear Divine Descent, but I do not!¡±

    This man, a descendant of a founding duke, had lived a life of privilege. His ancestors had borne all the hardships, leaving him a life meant for leisure.

    Unlike his ambitious elder brother or his pleasure-seeking younger brother, he pursued thrill-seeking madness.

    Eventually, he broke the law, and as the son of a duke, he was judged and punished by Divine Descent, leaving him a eunuch.

    For this, he bore an intense hatred toward Divine Descent.

    When the late Emperor Diwu Bufan led the campaign to destroy Divine Descent, this man viewed him as a father figure, a cause for which he would die.

    ¡°An unfilial traitor and a defiant subject, die!¡±

    Drawing his sword, he charged forward without fear of death. He wanted to show this cold and indifferent force of judgment that even villains could face death unflinchingly.

    However, the young figure in the sky didn¡¯t even glance at him.

    Instead, Qi Yuan soared into the heavens.

    Ignored!

    The middle-aged man was blatantly ignored.

    Furious, he roared and swung his sword toward the carriage.

    But his strike was met by the blade of Huan Sha, the elderly woman.

    Even in death, the man never received a single glance from the young figure.

    To Divine Descent, he was insignificant¡ªa mere ant unworthy of attention.

    This dismissal stung more than death, leaving him seething but helpless.

    In the eyes of Divine Descent, he was nothing.

    <hr>

    ¡°Descent of the Divine! Be as I, Divine Descent. Together as one!¡±

    Flying into the sky, Qi Yuan silently chanted the incantation.

    Standing against the "gods" of the Rosha Kingdom, Qi Yuan had no intention of hiding. He would execute the emperor¡ªthe "sun" of the Rosha Kingdom¡ªin full view of the people.

    In an instant, a blood-red light cast its shadow on the ground.

    A towering figure, nearly a hundred meters tall, appeared in the heavens.

    Clad in crimson crystalline armor, its chest bore intricate patterns, its edges sharp and angular, and engraved upon it was the image of a heavenly scale.

    The pauldrons, deep red with faint golden accents, shimmered with threads of light, as though divine beasts roamed upon them.

    This fusion of Divine Descent and Together as One made Qi Yuan appear boundless and mighty.

    He was sanctity, fury, and enigma combined.

    A singular entity, yet a triad of forms.

    He was the saintly one who grieved for the world. He was the demonic tide that raged against the abyss. He was the enigmatic force that defied comprehension.

    In an instant, the entire capital was bathed in crimson light mingled with sacred radiance.

    The heavens and earth were enveloped by a blend of blood-red hues and holiness.

    Where the two overlapped, shadows of darkness lingered.

    Everyone¡ªwhether ordinary citizens or Weapon Masters¡ªlooked up at the colossal figure in awe.

    At that moment, an inexplicable fear, reverence, and sense of invincibility filled their hearts.

    Knees trembled, and hearts raced, driven by instinct or primal fear of immense beings.

    Yet no one knelt, for the sacred light held them upright.

    ¡°Is this Divine Descent?¡±

    ¡°The Arbiter God?¡±

    Some muttered through chattering teeth, others were paralyzed with terror.

    <hr>

    Within the Imperial Palace.

    The six Divine-tier Weapon Masters gathered.

    Prince Zhenyuan squinted, his expression complex. ¡°Divine Descent... why is it different from before?¡±

    In the past, Divine Descent was merely a divine artifact that could transform into a humanoid form during battle.

    That humanoid form had been a faceless, saintly figure.

    Now, the blend of sanctity and blood-red hues instilled a sense of dread.

    ¡°It... has grown even more powerful.¡± An elder¡¯s voice quivered with unease.

    A century ago, Divine Descent had been like a sword hanging over their heads.

    Even after ascending to Divine-tier Weapon Masters, they had lived in trepidation.

    Now, that feeling of dread had returned.

    ¡°It was destroyed a century ago, and it shall die again today.

    ¡°Even if revived, it cannot last. This must be its strongest form.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I see it too. This state is all appearance and no substance¡ªit likely won¡¯t last more than a hundred breaths.¡±

    ¡°If we can hold out, it will surely fall.¡±

    Despite their fear, the experienced Divine-tier Weapon Masters relied on their discernment.

    Though the massive figure¡¯s aura was terrifying, they could sense it was unsustainable.

    <hr>

    ¡°Now, it¡¯s stronger than ever before,¡± Diwu Bufan finally spoke, his tone somber. His cold gaze fixed on the approaching colossus.

    ¡°If I had not prepared, in a mere hundred breaths, it could kill at least three of you.

    ¡°Remember this favor. Today, it is I who saves you!¡±

    The five Divine-tier Weapon Masters immediately expressed their gratitude.

    Prince Zhenyuan, ever shameless, bowed deeply despite his status: ¡°Your Majesty is like a second father to me!¡±

    Diwu Bufan nodded, his eyes burning with battle lust.

    His gaze locked onto the colossal figure approaching the palace.

    An imposing and majestic voice rang out, echoing across the heavens.

    ¡°Mere artifact! A creation of an Artifact Master, how dare you act so insolently!¡±

    Diwu Bufan¡¯s aura surged, instilling fear in all who felt it.

    The might of the emperor¡ªthe sovereign of the Rosha Kingdom¡ªwas overwhelming.

    For the past century, Diwu Bufan had abandoned state affairs and devoted himself to cultivation.

    The treasures of the kingdom were hoarded to fuel his strength.

    Now, he stood at the peak of the Third Step, approaching the power of Divine Descent from a century ago.

    With that strength, and his hidden cards, he had the confidence to face Divine Descent.

    <hr>

    The towering figure of Qi Yuan grew closer, silent, its gaze fixed on the old emperor.

    ¡°You stand before the emperor. Why do you not kneel?¡± Diwu Bufan shouted triumphantly.

    For a moment, he wasn¡¯t the cowardly ruler who had dared not even spectate the battle a century ago.

    Now, he was the ruler of the Rosha Kingdom, the ¡°Sun¡± of his people, radiant and untouchable.

    But the colossal figure remained silent.

    Its actions spoke louder than words.

    Boom!

    A fist, vast and unstoppable, hurtled toward Diwu Bufan, shaking the heavens and earth.

    Diwu Bufan¡¯s pupils contracted.

    For the first time in years, an unfamiliar emotion¡ªfear¡ªflooded his heart.

    <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr>

    The azure droplets that had been descending upon the capital now surged upward, spiraling into Qi Yuan¡¯s enormous form.

    <hr>

    The citizens looked on in shock and awe.

    This colossus, this god-like figure, was swallowing the very poison meant to destroy it.

    From the distance, Liu Sheng observed the scene, his voice hoarse as he spoke to Liu Chudong.

    ¡°He¡¯s just like you... a foolish child. To spare the innocent from harm, he¡¯s chosen to drink this poison himself.¡±

    Though Liu Sheng didn¡¯t understand the exact nature of the rain, it was clear to him that it was designed to destroy Divine Descent.

    Instead of evading it, Qi Yuan had chosen to take the brunt of it.

    Liu Chudong¡¯s face was filled with guilt and worry.

    ¡°I misjudged him. I thought he might lose himself to power, but he is sacrificing himself for the people.

    This... this is the god I admire. Foolish, selfless, and just.¡±

    <hr>

    High above, the red crystalline armor of Divine Descent began to corrode.

    The white glow of holiness dimmed, the golden threads unraveled, and the once-mighty figure began to shrink.

    Blue smoke rose from its body, hissing as the poison burned away its power.

    The colossal form of Divine Descent seemed to melt, its imposing image rapidly fading.

    <hr>

    In the streets below, the citizens watched with growing realization.

    They began to understand that Divine Descent was bearing the rain to protect them.

    One by one, they knelt.

    ¡°Divine Descent!¡±

    ¡°Divine Arbiter!¡±

    Their cries grew louder, swelling into a chorus of voices across the city.

    Though a century had passed since Divine Descent had last walked among them, the people¡¯s longing for justice had never faded.

    <hr>

    Diwu Bufan smirked coldly as he watched Qi Yuan¡¯s deteriorating form.

    ¡°How laughable. You would sacrifice yourself for these peasants.

    These wretches¡ªyou cut one down, and another rises to take its place. Their lives mean nothing compared to mine!¡±

    Diwu Bufan had not expected Qi Yuan to react this way.

    His original plan had been to use the rain to trap and wear down Divine Descent over time.

    But now, Qi Yuan had absorbed it all in one move, sparing the city and its people.

    This only made it easier for Diwu Bufan to finish him off.

    The poison had done its job. Divine Descent¡¯s divine power was collapsing.

    ¡°A few more moments, and you¡¯ll be nothing but a corpse.¡±

    <hr>

    As Diwu Bufan gloated, the shrinking figure of Divine Descent suddenly froze.

    A calm, almost lazy voice echoed from the diminishing form.

    ¡°So many people calling out to Divine Descent. If I were some kind of armored hero or Ultraman, maybe I¡¯d draw strength from their belief, ignite my cosmos, and obliterate you.¡±

    ¡°But sadly, I¡¯m not that. I¡¯m just me¡ªa player in a game, roleplaying as Divine Descent.¡±

    With those words, the towering figure of Divine Descent collapsed, disintegrating into nothingness.

    Standing where it had once been was a young man¡ªhandsome beyond compare, yet mortal.

    <hr>

    Diwu Bufan¡¯s eyes narrowed, shock flashing across his face.

    ¡°Divine Descent has fallen. Your greatest weapon is gone.

    Who gave you the courage to spout nonsense in my presence?¡±

    The emperor¡¯s gaze was filled with both disdain and admiration.

    In his eyes, Qi Yuan was an extraordinarily gifted youth.

    To be so young and already at the threshold of the Heaven-tier, and to have wielded the legendary Divine Descent¡ªQi Yuan was indeed exceptional.

    But without Divine Descent, Qi Yuan was nothing.

    Any Divine-tier Weapon Master could easily crush him.

    <hr>

    Qi Yuan chuckled softly, his expression unbothered.

    ¡°Without Divine Descent, you think I can¡¯t kill you?¡±

    For the first time, Qi Yuan felt unburdened. Without the role of Divine Descent to maintain, the world suddenly seemed brighter.

    But his role wasn¡¯t over yet.

    Before Diwu Bufan or the other Divine-tier Weapon Masters could react, Qi Yuan¡¯s voice rang out once more.

    ¡°Your Divine Descent... has returned.

    ¡°I am the Arbiter God!

    ¡°Where there is injustice, call upon me, Divine Descent!

    ¡°Today, I will slay the gods!¡±

    <hr>

    A terrifying aura erupted from Qi Yuan¡¯s body, surging toward the heavens.

    The six Divine-tier Weapon Masters watching were stunned.

    ¡°He¡¯s a Divine-tier Weapon Master!¡±

    ¡°Impossible!¡±

    Diwu Bufan¡¯s composure cracked as he took in this revelation.

    Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t just a prodigy; he had already reached the Divine-tier!

    And he was terrifyingly young.

    <hr>

    Diwu Bufan¡¯s lips curled into a grim smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Divine-tier Weapon Master. Very well. Very well!

    ¡°So young, so powerful. If you had remained hidden for a century, you might have become invincible.

    But today, I will end you before you have the chance to grow stronger!¡±

    His voice was filled with confidence as he prepared to attack.

    ¡°Together! Leave no chance for his survival!¡±

    At his command, the five other Divine-tier Weapon Masters joined the fray, surrounding Qi Yuan.

    <hr>

    Qi Yuan remained unfazed.

    ¡°Sigh... Pretending to be a god is exhausting.

    ¡°Let me show you what it means to be a skilled player. One who clears the game in a single life!¡±

    With those words, Qi Yuan vanished.

    In his place, thousands of blood-red phantoms filled the battlefield. Each phantom wielded a massive crimson sword.

    ¡°Death Radiance!

    ¡°Dominant Power!

    ¡°Heaven-Slaying Sword Art!¡±

    Qi Yuan unleashed his full arsenal.

    No longer constrained by his role, his mastery of combat techniques¡ªwhether against mortals, the extraordinary, or even gods¡ªshone through.

    Six gods against one?

    No. It was one man hunting six gods.

    ¡°Die! Die, die, die!¡±

    ¡°Let the music play!¡±

    <hr>

    Above the battlefield, drones hovered in formation, transforming into drums, trumpets, and gongs.

    A cacophony of triumphant music filled the air, as though celebrating a divine feast.

    Diwu Bufan¡¯s face twisted in confusion and fear.

    ¡°What are these things?!¡±

    The other Divine-tier Weapon Masters were equally unsettled.

    Because in this chaotic symphony of battle, they realized¡ª

    Qi Yuan was more terrifying than Divine Descent itself.

    ¡°This is my BGM,¡± Qi Yuan declared.

    ¡°And your funeral music!¡±

 Chapter 537: Not Quite Perfect

    Sword light flickered.

    Every strike was perfectly executed.

    When attacking, not a shred of divine power was wasted.

    The timing of each attack was flawless, leaving the Six Gods no opportunity to counter.

    ¡°How is this possible?!¡± Diwu Bufan roared in helpless rage.

    By all accounts, his divine power far exceeded Qi Yuan¡¯s.

    Among the surrounding Five Gods, their raw divine power alone also surpassed Qi Yuan¡¯s. Yet, when faced with Qi Yuan¡¯s singular onslaught, they felt completely shackled.

    Or rather, they were unable to harm Qi Yuan at all, reduced instead to taking a purely defensive stance.

    In an instant.

    A single sword strike severed an elder¡¯s arm. His eyes widened in shock and rage as divine power surged through his entire body in a desperate and frenzied counterattack.

    If even one of his strikes could land on Qi Yuan, it would undoubtedly leave a significant wound.

    But every time he attempted an injury-for-injury exchange, he fell short¡ªjust a hair¡¯s breadth short.

    ¡°His mastery is flawless!¡± the elder said bitterly, his voice filled with frustration.

    ¡°If this continues, we¡¯re doomed!¡± Prince Zhenyuan was already contemplating escape.

    In less than ten breaths of time, each of them had suffered injuries.

    In contrast, Qi Yuan remained entirely unscathed, his attacks growing increasingly ferocious.

    These Divine-tier Weapon Masters, who had always been the dominant force in any battle, were now experiencing an unprecedented humiliation.

    Back in their Heaven-tier days, each had been a prodigy. Their techniques were refined to their peak, capable of challenging those above their level and easily dispatching their peers.

    But after stepping into the Divine-tier, they had largely ceased honing their skills.

    This was because divine power alone was enough to crush nearly all opposition.

    As long as one¡¯s divine power was abundant, one would inevitably be stronger.

    But who could have foreseen that today, someone would outclass them with sheer technique?

    It wasn¡¯t just suppression¡ªit was complete domination. They weren¡¯t even on the same level.

    ¡°Ah, help me! I can¡¯t hold on any longer!¡± an elder screamed in terror.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s attacks were so relentless and devastating that the elder couldn¡¯t hold his ground. In just a few breaths, his body was riddled with wounds.

    If things continued like this for a few more moments, he might perish.

    From a distance, Liu Sheng, who had originally planned to join the fray, stopped in his tracks, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. ¡°Without the Divine Descent, he¡¯s still this strong?¡±

    After all, Liu Sheng had always believed that Qi Yuan¡¯s strength relied on the Divine Descent.

    With the Divine Descent in hand, he could dominate the Divine-tier.

    But after the Divine Descent had been polluted and its divine power dissipated, Qi Yuan had somehow become even stronger.

    The Divine Descent... It seemed it had been a shackle all along.

    <hr>

    ¡°No!¡± the elder screamed in a tragic voice.

    Among the five remaining Divine-tier Weapon Masters, not one of them was willing to risk their life to save him.

    The elder was filled with bitter regret.

    If only someone had acted decisively, sacrificing themselves to hold off Qi Yuan, he might have escaped with only minor injuries. How could things have come to this?

    The expressions of the remaining Divine-tier Weapon Masters changed drastically.

    ¡°Zhou Zhiqi is dead!¡±

    ¡°Prince Zhenyuan, you were the closest to him just now. Why didn¡¯t you step in to stop it?¡±

    ¡°What do we do? We¡¯re no match for him, are we?¡±

    These Divine-tier Weapon Masters were both panicked and furious, their fear leading to infighting among them.

    At this moment, Diwu Bufan¡¯s expression was particularly grim.

    The celestial visitor had assured him that this battle would end in his victory, that the Rosha Kingdom would flourish for millennia. Why, then, was he on the brink of collapse?

    But there was no time to dwell on it.

    ¡°Qi Yuan, why don¡¯t we cease this pointless struggle? The Divine Descent has already fallen. Continuing to fight will only benefit the Da Feng Kingdom.

    How about this? I appoint you as the National Teacher, second only to me. What do you think?¡± Diwu Bufan gritted his teeth as he proposed this.

    ¡°Is there such a thing as a free meal in this world?¡± Qi Yuan asked, his tone light.

    Diwu Bufan was elated, thinking Qi Yuan was agreeing.

    ¡°You must be dreaming. I wouldn¡¯t even want you as my son¡ªyou¡¯re filthy and old.¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s attacks did not stop.

    Diwu Bufan didn¡¯t even qualify to be Qi Yuan¡¯s son.

    Diwu Bufan¡¯s face turned ashen, and he let out a furious roar. ¡°You¡¯re forcing my hand!¡±

    He looked as though he still had a hidden trump card.

    The remaining Divine-tier Weapon Masters, still in battle, felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps Diwu Bufan would unleash some miraculous power.

    But what they heard next shocked them to their core.

    ¡°Fake son, don¡¯t you dare run!¡±

    Diwu Bufan turned and fled without hesitation.

    The other Divine-tier Weapon Masters, seeing this, didn¡¯t hesitate either. They scattered in every direction.

    ¡°Fake sons, don¡¯t run!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s pick a lucky audience member... You, Prince Zhenyuan.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s speed suddenly surged.

    Even the drones in the sky scattered to chase after the other fleeing Weapon Masters.

    Qi Yuan focused his pursuit on Prince Zhenyuan.

    <hr>

    Heaven-Slaying Sword Technique!

    Prince Zhenyuan¡¯s face twisted in anguish.

    <hr> <hr> <hr>

    Even among those rare few, such individuals often struggled in life, frequently dismissed as naive or unrealistic.

    ¡°Brother Qi, just tell me,¡± Liu Chudong replied, surprised by the request.

    Liu Sheng frantically signaled his granddaughter with his eyes, worried that she might say something inappropriate.

    But Liu Chudong was oblivious to his signals.

    Liu Sheng, realizing he couldn¡¯t stop her, apologized. ¡°Chudong is naive and straightforward. If she says anything offensive, please forgive her, Brother Qi.¡±

    Qi Yuan chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not that petty.¡±

    Although Qi Yuan had taken countless lives and often grew irritated by trivial matters, he wasn¡¯t entirely devoid of tolerance.

    ¡°What do you think the Divine Descent¡¯s wish is?¡± Qi Yuan asked Liu Chudong.

    That final 1% needed to complete his role as the Divine Descent¡ªit eluded him. Qi Yuan had some ideas but couldn¡¯t be sure.

    Liu Chudong hesitated briefly, her gaze sharpening. She answered confidently:

    ¡°To wield the light and banish the darkness; to right every wrong¡ªcall upon me, the Divine Descent!

    That is the Judgment God¡¯s divine decree, and naturally, His wish.

    He hopes for a world without injustice, where all are equal, where fairness and justice reign supreme!¡±

    This was also Liu Chudong¡¯s own wish.

    <hr>

    Qi Yuan fell silent, contemplating her words.

    For many beings, especially some unique races, the world Liu Chudong envisioned was likely unattainable.

    ¡°That will be very difficult,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    After all, he couldn¡¯t remain in the Rosha Kingdom or the Blue Mountain Realm forever.

    To achieve such an ideal... he would have to use the Great Forgetfulness Sutra to erase the memories of everyone in the Rosha Kingdom, implanting concepts like fairness and equality in their minds.

    In doing so, the people of the world would become like identical clones, living according to preset rules like automatons.

    This would technically fulfill the standards of justice and achieve the Divine Descent¡¯s wish.

    But Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t willing to do it.

    Every person had the right to live freely. Even if Qi Yuan could kill them at a whim, their thoughts should remain their own.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that because it¡¯s impossible, you won¡¯t even try?¡± Liu Chudong countered. ¡°If we work toward improvement, even a little each day, eventually, the world could become a true paradise.¡±

    Her eyes were filled with hope and longing for a better future.

    Qi Yuan found himself agreeing with her sentiments.

    After all, back on Blue Star, he had read many similar inspirational stories.

    <hr>

    It was like the tale of the little girl throwing stranded starfish back into the ocean.

    A passerby saw the vast number of starfish and asked, ¡°You can¡¯t save them all. Why waste your energy? Who cares?¡±

    The girl replied, ¡°This one cares. And this one. And this one too.¡±

    <hr>

    What Qi Yuan could do was make a difference within his reach.

    If he could improve the world¡¯s overall atmosphere, even just a little, it would be worth it.

    If there were fewer foul-mouthed, hateful individuals.

    If there were more kind-hearted, virtuous people.

    That way, life would feel a little brighter, even if just by a small measure. And Qi Yuan could still outmatch anyone in an argument if necessary.

    Liu Chudong looked at Qi Yuan seriously and said:

    ¡°But... the first step is ensuring that the Divine Descent itself is truly fair and just. Any being with self-awareness is prone to bias, no matter how small.

    Brother Qi, can you guarantee that you can lead the world toward the Divine Descent¡¯s ideal vision?¡±

    Her words weren¡¯t polite. They were even somewhat brash and illogical.

    But she said them anyway.

    She fixed her gaze on Qi Yuan, waiting for his answer.

    Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes grew pensive. ¡°Ugh, this is exhausting. Now I have to think.¡±

    He seemed a bit irritated but soon turned to Liu Chudong. ¡°Tell me, what solution do you propose?¡±

    Liu Chudong looked at him and said: ¡°Brother Qi, if what I¡¯m about to say angers you, please punish only me. Don¡¯t involve my family!¡±

    The petite and delicate Liu Chudong, who looked no older than twelve or thirteen, seemed more fragile than a bird in a gilded cage. Yet her gaze was as resolute as iron.

    ¡°Say whatever you want. Even if you call me a dog, I won¡¯t get angry,¡± Qi Yuan said with a calm smile.

    When it came to insults, nothing could surpass the internet comment sections back on Blue Star.

    ¡°Humans are inherently selfish. Myself included. Even if my selfishness is cloaked in the guise of fairness and justice, it remains selfishness.

    To achieve true fairness and justice, we must eliminate human nature. The human heart is the greatest test of all.

    Perhaps the original Divine Descent could have brought about a true utopia. But Brother Qi, with your own will and desires, no matter how fair or just you try to be, there will always be some bias.¡±

    Liu Chudong¡¯s cherry-pink lips showed no mercy. ¡°I hope that you... can relinquish your consciousness and allow the original Divine Descent to return!¡±

    ¡°If you die, Brother Qi, I will jump from this roof to keep you company!¡±

    Her words were shocking, enough to leave everyone in stunned silence.

    It was like telling a military general who had overthrown an empire and established a new dynasty to abdicate and kill himself for the greater good.

    Huan Sha¡¯s expression changed drastically. She said anxiously: ¡°How do you know that the Judgment God cannot continue to be fair and just?¡±

    Liu Sheng sighed deeply and said nothing.

    There was no point in arguing now.

    Qi Yuan stared at Liu Chudong, his thoughts churning. It felt as though his mind was waking up, as though pieces were clicking into place.

    After about ten breaths, Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement.

    ¡°I understand now. If I cannot be the Divine Descent... then I will restore the Divine Descent to the Rosha Kingdom!¡±

    <hr>

    At that moment, Qi Yuan had an epiphany.

    He finally understood what was missing to complete his role as the Divine Descent.

    This realization even connected with his earlier mission of playing the Blind Artifact Master.

 Chapter 538: Blind

    Huan Sha felt her chest tighten and instinctively blurted out, "No!"

    She believed Qi Yuan had agreed to Liu Chudong¡¯s proposal: to sacrifice himself and restore the Divine Descent.

    This was something she could not bear to see.

    Her faith lay in the Divine Descent, no matter its form.

    Liu Chudong, solemn and full of respect, said, ¡°Everyone has the right to make their own choices. No matter what Brother Qi decides, I will support and understand it.

    I also know that I shouldn¡¯t have said what I did, but I had no other choice.

    I never thought... Brother Qi would actually agree.¡±

    Qi Yuan blinked and replied, ¡°Who said I¡¯m going to erase my consciousness?¡±

    As he spoke, he took out a radiant sword from his storage artifact and handed it to Huan Sha.

    ¡°I will be leaving the Rosha Kingdom. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll return. During this time, I entrust the stability of the Rosha Kingdom to you all.

    If an undefeatable enemy appears, activate this weapon, and the Divine Descent will manifest.¡±

    The Divine Descent that drank the toxic rain had indeed been destroyed.

    But as Qi Yuan¡¯s roleplay progressed, the Divine Descent seemed to have ¡°respawned,¡± like a boss in a game.

    The Descent of the Divine could still be used.

    ¡°As for the Divine Descent¡¯s expectations...¡± Qi Yuan turned to Liu Chudong. ¡°When I return, perhaps everything will already be resolved.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± Liu Chudong asked in surprise.

    Even Liu Sheng looked astonished.

    In Liu Sheng¡¯s eyes, now that the Divine Descent had developed its own consciousness, it was no longer an artifact but a Divine-tier entity¡ªa godlike figure akin to a human.

    And like all humans, it would inevitably have emotions, desires, and attachments.

    The Rosha Kingdom, once the greatest nation in the world, remained among the top three powers even in its decline.

    Wealth, resources, authority, beauty¡ªeverything was readily available.

    Even Divine-tier Weapon Masters like Liu Sheng himself would find it nearly impossible to relinquish all of this.

    But Qi Yuan was about to leave it behind.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m leaving the Rosha Kingdom. I still have many pressing matters to attend to,¡± Qi Yuan explained.

    Liu Chudong was stunned. She had not expected Qi Yuan to leave so suddenly.

    Unable to hold back, Liu Sheng asked, ¡°Why not rest for a few years before leaving?¡±

    ¡°No. Time is as precious as gold. I have to leave immediately,¡± Qi Yuan said earnestly.

    With that, he vanished without a trace.

    Chen Kangbao, munching on a steamed bun, looked up and grinned with excitement. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go!¡±

    <hr>

    The carriage, which had arrived with such fanfare, now departed in silence.

    Under the cover of night, no one knew that the terrifying god who had slaughtered the Divine-tier Weapon Masters and shaken the Rosha Kingdom to its core had already departed.

    Liu Sheng watched the carriage fade into the distance, his heart filled with countless unspoken words.

    Not even staying a single night?

    No rest in the royal palace or enjoyment of its luxuries?

    His admiration for Qi Yuan deepened.

    If it had been him, there was no way he could have left so easily.

    Even if he had to leave, he would have at least stayed one more night to savor the comforts.

    The royal harem, filled with countless beauties, would not have required coercion¡ªthey would have willingly come forward on their own.

    Of course, such thoughts were merely fantasies.

    ¡°Brother Qi... truly a saint among men.¡± Liu Sheng sighed in awe.

    <hr>

    ¡°Are you ready? I¡¯m heading to the Divine Wood Abyss,¡± Qi Yuan sent a new message through the Divine Wood Token after scanning its contents.

    The NPC guide responded, as always: ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re still alive. You¡¯ve exceeded my expectations.¡±

    Ji Wuyun also logged in. ¡°Brother Qi... you¡¯re not dead?¡±

    Her hair was still wet, as she had just been bathing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t jinx me. Even if you died, I wouldn¡¯t,¡± Qi Yuan replied. ¡°By the way, this Void Paradise¡ªdo you have to constantly take missions? If so, don¡¯t bother introducing me. I¡¯m not one for restrictions.¡±

    The Thorned Blood representative paused for a moment before replying, ¡°That attitude suits you. A pity, though.¡±

    It was indeed a pity.

    Remaining in this universe offered no future.

    Only by joining the Void Paradise and entering the Zhou Universe could one escape the looming calamities.

    ¡°I¡¯ve wrapped up my business here. Shall we meet at the Divine Wood Abyss?¡± Qi Yuan suggested. ¡°I can also help oversee whether your Thorned Blood team has been properly training.¡±

    The time for his role as the Blind Artifact Master was fast approaching. If he didn¡¯t meet them at the Divine Wood Abyss soon, he would lose his sight entirely.

    Once blind, Qi Yuan would no longer be able to perceive information disparities or communicate through the Divine Wood Token effectively.

    This would heavily impact his ability to fight.

    ¡°Those Divine-tier members of Thorned Blood wouldn¡¯t dare approach you right now,¡± the representative admitted. ¡°But between missions and the Divine Wood Abyss, I¡¯m more curious about the latter. Even Yang Gods are said to be interested in it.¡±

    The Yang God Sovereigns were mighty figures in the Zhou Universe¡ªindividuals he could only look up to.

    Through his ancestors, he learned that the Divine Wood Abyss was far more complex than it appeared.

    Though this universe was less than one percent the size of the Zhou Universe, it was still vast beyond measure.

    Even the strongest Yin Gods could not explore it fully within their lifetimes.

    Among countless worlds, those containing a Divine Wood Abyss were exceedingly rare.

    After some thought, the representative decided it would be best to explore the abyss with Qi Yuan before completing his tasks.

    As for Qi Yuan... he was undeniably strong.

    But the representative was no weakling either.

    Standing at the pinnacle of the Three Steps, equipped with powerful tools from the Void Paradise, he was confident he could escape even if Qi Yuan attacked.

    Aside from the ancestor gods of this universe or peak-level Yin Gods, there were few who could truly threaten him.

    <hr> <hr> <hr>

    ¡°Hey, blind man! Don¡¯t go any farther! The path is uneven¡ªyou might fall!¡±

    Qi Yuan nodded but didn¡¯t respond.

    The Blind Artifact Master was a reserved and aloof figure who disliked conversation. If he wanted to stay true to his role, he had to act the part.

    The young woman, annoyed by his lack of response, muttered under her breath:

    ¡°Ungrateful fool... Fine, go ahead and fall...¡±

    Before she could finish her thought, her eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°Help! Someone fell off Sunset Cliff!¡±

    The person who had fallen was none other than the blind young man she had just warned¡ªQi Yuan.

    <hr>

    When Qi Yuan¡¯s hand brushed against the monument, an overwhelming force suddenly erupted.

    Caught off guard, he was swept off his feet and hurled into the abyss below.

    Even as he plummeted, Qi Yuan remained calm.

    With his strength, he could have easily propelled himself back to safety.

    But as he fell, he caught a faint, unusual scent¡ªa blend of leaves, grass, and flowing water.

    Intrigued, he decided to let himself fall.

    <hr>

    However, as he descended, Qi Yuan noticed something alarming.

    ¡°Wait... My divine power...¡±

    His expression darkened.

    His divine power, which had always been a reliable source of strength, was rapidly weakening.

    ¡°Is this... a place of absolute suppression?¡±

    He frowned.

    ¡°What if I actually die from this fall? That would be the most humiliating death imaginable.¡±

    Though frustrated, Qi Yuan still had some divine power left.

    Without hesitation, he adjusted his body midair, channeling what little strength he had to slow his descent.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope I land in a river.¡±

    With a heavy thud, Qi Yuan landed on something soft yet sturdy¡ªlike a net or a tangle of ropes.

    The impact sent a sharp pain through his chest. He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth, mixed with fragments of broken flesh.

    Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t help but grumble inwardly.

    ¡°I came out of a battle against six Divine-tier Weapon Masters unscathed, and now a fall has injured me? Ridiculous.¡±

    At this moment, Qi Yuan was in bad shape. His injuries were severe, and he was tangled in what felt like ropes or vines.

    ¡°Cough... Cough...¡± His breathing grew labored.

    ¡°The deeper I go, the stronger the suppression. Right now... I¡¯m barely stronger than an ordinary person.¡±

    This condition was troubling. If things continued this way, Qi Yuan might actually die here.

    <hr>

    Amidst the rustling of leaves, faint footsteps approached.

    The sound was light but deliberate, as if the person was treading carefully.

    Struggling to lift his head, Qi Yuan turned toward the sound.

    But his blind eyes revealed nothing.

    A crisp, clear voice called out, filled with curiosity and a faint sense of detachment:

    ¡°Who¡¯s there? Are you alive?¡±

    ¡°Cough... I¡¯m alive. I fell from above,¡± Qi Yuan rasped, his voice weak.

    He clawed at the ropes binding him, trying to free himself.

    ¡°You broke my swing, didn¡¯t you?¡± the voice asked again, this time with a hint of annoyance.

    Qi Yuan paused, confused. ¡°A swing? Maybe I did...¡±

    His injuries were worsening, and every word felt like a monumental effort.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to pay for that!¡± the voice said coldly, leaving no room for argument.

    ¡°Save me... I¡¯ll pay you ten thousand swings,¡± Qi Yuan muttered before losing consciousness.

    The girl, sensing no response, murmured to herself:

    ¡°Where are you? Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡±

    A pause.

    ¡°You¡¯re not dead, are you?¡±

    She hesitated, then added in a flat tone:

    ¡°If you are... maybe I¡¯ll bury you under the tree as fertilizer.¡±

    Carefully, she approached Qi Yuan, her footsteps slow and cautious.

    If Qi Yuan could still see, he would have noticed something extraordinary about the girl:

    She was blind.

    Finally, the girl stopped in front of him. Her unfocused eyes revealed a mix of emotions¡ªconfusion, concern, and a trace of warmth.

    ¡°It¡¯s been so long... since anyone came here.¡±

    With slender fingers, she reached out and placed her hand on Qi Yuan¡¯s chest, examining his condition.

    Her expression turned serious.

    ¡°His injuries are severe. He almost died.¡±

    She hesitated briefly, then bit down on her own pale wrist.

    Drops of her blood fell into Qi Yuan¡¯s mouth.

    As the color drained from her face, leaving her as pale as paper, she whispered to herself:

    ¡°I want to leave this place...¡±

 Chapter 539: The Abyss of Divine Wood, Human-Initiated Light

    Chaos.

    Clarity.

    <hr>

    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±

    A voice, faintly cool and detached, drifted into Qi Yuan¡¯s ears as his consciousness slowly cleared.

    He opened his eyes, trying to see the world around him.

    But what met his gaze was neither the world nor void nor emptiness¡ªit was an endless expanse of black and faint streaks of red.

    ¡°How long was I unconscious?¡±

    Still groggy from his slumber, Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts were sluggish and unclear.

    ¡°Two months.¡±

    ¡°That long?¡± Qi Yuan was startled.

    It seemed clear¡ªhe wasn¡¯t suited for in-person meetings.

    Whenever he tried to meet others, if it wasn¡¯t them encountering problems, it would be him.

    ¡°I saved you,¡± the blind girl said calmly. ¡°I used my blood... and you broke my swing.¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    If it weren¡¯t for his current roleplaying as the Blind Artifact Master, he might have added:

    ¡°Thanks a lot. I¡¯ll save you a spot in the underworld.¡±

    But for now, he had to maintain his isolated, withdrawn demeanor.

    ¡°You owe me compensation.¡±

    Her voice was devoid of emotion.

    ¡°I¡¯ll compensate you!¡± Qi Yuan answered without hesitation.

    ¡°Can you forge artifacts?¡±

    ¡°I can.¡±

    ¡°What a pity you¡¯re blind.¡±

    ¡°Even if my eyes are blind, my heart is not. I¡¯m already a Heaven-tier Artifact Master, so don¡¯t discriminate against the blind.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m blind too.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Qi Yuan turned his head toward the girl.

    His vision remained black and blurry, offering him no clarity.

    Still, from her voice, he could tell she was quite young.

    The silence stretched between them.

    In the quiet, Qi Yuan could hear only the faint sound of the blind girl¡¯s breathing and the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind.

    ¡°Is this the Divine Wood Abyss?¡± Qi Yuan asked.

    He was curious. According to what he¡¯d learned, the Divine Wood Abyss required three Divine Wood Tokens to enter.

    So how had he fallen directly into it?

    ¡°You could say that.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°This is the Deep Abyss of Divine Wood. Only those chosen by destiny may enter.¡±

    ¡°Chosen by destiny?¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s thoughts began to race.

    It seemed the blind girl was yet another high-level NPC who existed to provide exposition.

    Still, such details were secondary. His top priority was to embody the role of the Blind Artifact Master and ascend to the level of a Divine-tier or even Ancestor-tier Artifact Master.

    ¡°This is the Deep Abyss of Divine Wood. Does it contain Divine Wood? Can I take some of its materials to forge artifacts?¡± Qi Yuan inquired.

    The Divine Wood Abyss was known for containing Divine Wood.

    Since the Deep Abyss sounded even more prestigious, it should logically hold materials of even higher quality.

    ¡°...It does.¡± The blind girl paused for a long moment before answering. ¡°If you need it, I can give you some.¡±

    Qi Yuan¡¯s spirits lifted.

    Well, metaphorically speaking. He was still blind.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite generous.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re rather naive.¡±

    ¡°That sounded like an insult.¡±

    ¡°These things aren¡¯t free...¡± The blind girl¡¯s voice trailed off as she turned slightly toward Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

    After all, free things were often the most expensive.

    He much preferred when others had clear requests.

    ¡°I hope you can become a Divine-tier Artifact Master, or even an Ancestor-tier Artifact Master,¡± she finally said. ¡°Once you do, I want you to forge me a pair of eyes.¡±

    Her voice carried a trace of melancholy, as though she were recalling something painful.

    ¡°It¡¯s true... not having eyes complicates life. Just look at me now¡ªblind and unable to see anything. If I weren¡¯t, I¡¯d already know your name.¡±

    Blindness, Qi Yuan realized, was a major hindrance.

    Even with his Divine-tier strength, it had proven troublesome.

    ¡°I¡¯ve grown accustomed to this life,¡± the blind girl murmured, as though speaking to herself. ¡°From the moment I was born, the world has been void¡ªno sound, no color...¡±

    ¡°Then why ask me to forge eyes for you?¡±

    ¡°Because... if I have my own eyes, he won¡¯t feel the need to give me his.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qi Yuan perked up, his curiosity piqued. ¡°Who is ¡®he¡¯? Your father?¡±

    The girl¡¯s previously cool and distant demeanor seemed to waver.

    Her cold tone softened, almost as if embarrassment had seeped into her voice.

    ¡°He¡¯s my future husband.¡±

    ¡°Ah, a love story! How enviable. You get my stamp of approval.¡±

    If he were back on Earth, Qi Yuan might¡¯ve teased her with a remark like, ¡°What a simp!¡±

    But in this game-like world, he decided to play along with a heartfelt response.

    Even as the Blind Artifact Master, he could still appreciate romance.

    ¡°Becoming an Ancestor-tier Artifact Master isn¡¯t an easy feat,¡± she warned.

    <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr>

    ¡°The Black Heaven transformed into the Black Earth, sending billions of soldiers aboard seventeen Black Sails to invade this Nascent-Universe.¡±

    ¡°Each of those seventeen Black Sails is a Realm Master-tier artifact.¡±

    Hearing this, Shen Lingxuan¡¯s usually calm expression flickered with faint surprise.

    Caidie pressed on. ¡°And yet, the Divine Wood Universe only has one half-finished Realm Master-tier artifact to its name.¡±

    As she spoke, an unmistakable bitterness crept into her tone.

    ¡°Ancestor God Yuan led the charge personally, carrying the Divine Wood Universe¡¯s sole incomplete Realm Master-tier artifact, Green Cloud, into the Void Sea to intercept the Black Earth.¡±

    The Green Cloud artifact was far from a true Realm Master-tier treasure.

    It had only recently been forged, still incomplete, and lacked the strength to be considered fully formed.

    But desperation forced the Void Sea defenders to arm it with whatever outdated divine weapons and Ancestor-tier artifacts they could find.

    ¡°A half-finished Realm Master-tier artifact going against more than a dozen fully realized ones?¡±

    Caidie¡¯s voice faltered, carrying the weight of despair.

    It was a laughable mismatch.

    Sending a crude, makeshift weapon to face an armada of advanced war machines.

    ¡°How could they possibly win?¡±

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s serene demeanor cracked for a moment, and she leaned forward slightly, her voice sharp.

    ¡°What was the outcome?¡±

    Caidie shook her head slowly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    That was the last piece of news she had received.

    Ancestor God Yuan had ventured into the Void Sea with the Green Cloud and an arsenal of outdated weapons to confront the Black Earth.

    ¡°The Blue Mountain Realm lies in the Chaotic Star Region, where the influence of the Light Council is immense. We can¡¯t remain here for long,¡± Caidie cautioned.

    Shen Lingxuan nodded silently.

    ¡°The chosen ones are the hope of all worlds,¡± Caidie said, her tone grave. ¡°As long as you live, you carry the will of this universe.

    If we can gather all the chosen ones, we can ignite the light, forge a beacon, and drive away the Black Heaven.¡±

    Her voice carried both hope and despair.

    Forging a Divine Light Treasure was the only viable solution to their dire predicament.

    But creating such an artifact required strength and resources this Nascent-Universe lacked.

    The term Light Treasure referred to a special category of artifacts, specifically designed to counter the Black Heaven and Black Earth.

    The Green Cloud, though incomplete, was considered one such treasure.

    ¡°The plan to fight the Black Heaven with Light Treasures was originally proposed by the Immortals who fled to this Nascent-Universe,¡± Caidie continued.

    Her expression darkened further.

    ¡°But even they failed.¡±

    Even if they successfully created a fully realized Divine Light Treasure, would it be enough to turn the tide against the Black Heaven and Black Earth?

    The Black Heaven and its army boasted thirty-two fully realized Realm Master-tier artifacts¡ªfar more than this universe could ever hope to match.

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°If we could work with the Radiant Society, perhaps the road ahead wouldn¡¯t be so bleak.¡±

    Caidie dismissed the idea outright.

    ¡°Impossible! Free help is often the most dangerous.

    The Radiant Society hunts chosen ones relentlessly, not out of goodwill, but because they fear we¡¯ll succeed in forging a human-initiated Light.

    They¡¯d rather see a divine-initiated Light, but we of the Divine Wood Universe refuse to bow to gods!¡±

    Her tone was resolute, unyielding.

    The Divine Wood Universe rejected the path of relying on gods and divine intervention.

    Instead, they chose the harder path¡ªto rely on their own strength and forge a Human-Initiated Light.

    ¡°Our only potential ally is the Void Paradise,¡± Caidie said. ¡°As for the Radiant Society... their intentions are as dark as their methods.¡±

    <hr>

    Within the Divine Wood Universe, two schools of thought competed over how best to counter the Black Heaven:

    Divine-Initiated Light: championed by the Radiant Society, which sought salvation through divine intervention. Human-Initiated Light: the path chosen by the Divine Wood Universe, which placed all hope in human effort and ingenuity.

    ¡°The Black Heaven is a mindless cosmic phenomenon, while the Black Earth is its conscious army,¡± Caidie explained.

    ¡°The Black Heaven uses specters to mark universes as targets, and the Black Earth follows those markers to invade.

    Even the Void Paradise and the Zhou Universe avoid provoking them.¡±

    Her voice dropped lower. ¡°Expecting help from them would be nothing more than wishful thinking.¡±

    Shen Lingxuan fell silent.

    The world outside was a cruel, bleak, and despair-filled place.

    The Black Heaven was not malicious¡ªit was mindless.

    Its devouring of this Nascent-Universe was simply instinct, like a beast hunting for food.

    The true fault lay in their weakness.

    And in this world, weakness was the original sin.

    Caidie suddenly shifted the topic.

    ¡°By the way, in the recent battle in the Rosha Kingdom, the Divine Descent emerged victorious.¡±

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°According to my sources, the young man who shares your future husband¡¯s surname is the embodiment of the Divine Descent.

    I never thought... it would take human form.¡±

    Caidie added, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the Divine Descent also carries the mark of destiny.

    If we could persuade it to join us and leave the Blue Mountain Realm, it would be a powerful ally.

    But as long as it remains here, the Radiant Society won¡¯t let it live.¡±

    Every chosen one was a priceless ally, someone worth rallying to their cause.

    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Caidie sighed. ¡°We¡¯ve gone to great lengths to hide in the Divine Wood Abyss.

    If the Radiant Society detects your presence, they will stop at nothing to eliminate you.¡±

    Her voice carried a note of worry.

    Even hiding here wasn¡¯t truly safe.

    Perhaps... if they could find the strange entrance to the mysterious temporal fragment hidden within the Deep Abyss of Divine Wood, they could finally have a moment of peace.

 Chapter 540: Because You Lack Insight

    As his hand caressed the words etched into the wooden plaque, Qi Yuan committed the eight disciplines of artifact refinement to memory.

    ¡°Difficult, very difficult, incredibly difficult.¡±

    For Qi Yuan, mastering these eight artifact refinement techniques proved quite challenging.

    Having lost the cheat-like ability to perceive hidden information through his eyes, he naturally couldn''t directly modify these techniques.

    Of course, even though he was now blind, his foundation as a powerful cultivator from the Purple Mansion realm remained intact, and creating new techniques from scratch was still within his abilities.

    But the eight disciplines of artifact refinement were different. They embodied simplicity in their profound nature, making them almost impossible to improve upon¡ªeven for Qi Yuan.

    ¡°It seems this blind woman¡¯s identity is quite extraordinary,¡± Qi Yuan speculated internally.

    In the Sixth Heaven of the Immortal World, even divine techniques at the Yang God level could easily be modified by him.

    ¡°Looks like I can''t take shortcuts this time¡ªI¡¯ll have to grind through it.¡±

    After some thought, Qi Yuan resolved not to slack off and decided to rely on his own talent to study the eight disciplines of artifact refinement rigorously.

    ¡°Basics of Gold Refinement...¡±

    ¡°Basics of Wood Refinement...¡±

    ...

    ¡°Basics of Thunder Refinement!¡±

    After seven grueling hours, Qi Yuan finally mastered the basics of all eight disciplines of artifact refinement.

    Once he reached the introductory level, he reflected on these techniques anew and gained further insights.

    ¡°These eight disciplines truly form a cohesive whole. To fully integrate them, just reaching the introductory level won''t suffice.¡±

    The mastery of these disciplines was categorized into four stages: Basic, Proficient, Mastery, and Grandmaster.

    Qi Yuan estimated that only by reaching the Mastery stage in all eight techniques would he be able to successfully integrate them.

    ¡°The blind Artifact Master¡¯s ultimate goal in life is to become a divine-level artifact master, perhaps even an ancestral god-level artifact master, ascending to greater heights, becoming someone like Zhao Gao¡ªno, no!¡±

    Being blind was already miserable enough; Qi Yuan had no intention of losing another organ.

    ¡°Advancing in artifact refinement will require practical experience. I¡¯ll need to ask the blind woman for materials.¡±

    While his storage artifact held many materials, divine-level resources were few and far between.

    To refine artifacts, using high-quality materials naturally accelerated progress.

    ¡°The cave on the right... about 700 meters... is that where she lives?¡±

    After contemplating for a moment, Qi Yuan began heading toward the blind woman¡¯s dwelling.

    The terrain here was complex. Qi Yuan was currently in a dark, sunless cave, though every hundred meters or so, light filtered in. The cave walls were adorned with what looked like tiny, twinkling fireflies, creating a beautiful, starry effect.

    However, being blind, Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t see any of this.

    ¡°This path doesn¡¯t seem to be used often. Lots of moss,¡± he muttered.

    Cautiously, Qi Yuan traversed the 700-meter stretch.

    Finally, he stopped and softly called out, ¡°Blind woman, are you there?¡±

    After a few breaths, a lazy voice responded, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±

    Though Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t see, he felt as if he could visualize a graceful woman reclining on a bed, her eyes half-open, looking as though she had just woken up.

    Rustling sounds reached his ears, followed by the faint sound of water.

    Qi Yuan also heard the sound of footsteps treading on grass.

    ¡°Have you chosen which discipline of artifact refinement to study?¡± the blind woman asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve chosen, and I¡¯ve already reached the basic level,¡± Qi Yuan replied. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly difficult¡ªI¡¯ve never studied a technique this slowly before.¡±

    Qi Yuan spoke the truth.

    Before losing his sight, no matter how complex the technique, he could adapt and modify it for rapid learning and cultivation.

    This time, he had no choice but to rely solely on his natural talent.

    For Qi Yuan, it was arduous!

    The blind woman¡¯s cool expression momentarily revealed a sly, smug look. ¡°You¡¯re fast. Could you compete with Sheng Nu? Which discipline did you choose?¡±

    ¡°All eight. I worked hard and managed to grasp the basics of them all,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    ¡°All eight?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yuan nodded.

    The blind woman fell silent, only speaking after a few moments. ¡°You must be very diligent.¡±

    However, she added, ¡°How long have I been asleep?¡±

    In the depths of the Divine Wood Abyss, the blind woman lived a simple life that revolved around two places: her bedroom and the swing where she felt the cool breeze.

    The Divine Wood Abyss was vast, yet she never wandered far.

    Her poor memory often caused her to forget things.

    Even if she became familiar with a path, she might one day forget it entirely.

    Thus, she refrained from embracing new experiences altogether.

    Now, hearing that Qi Yuan had mastered the basics of all eight disciplines, she assumed she had been in one of her long, muddled slumbers.

    ¡°One night,¡± Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    ¡°Oh... then it must be morning. Time for breakfast,¡± the blind woman remarked as she began walking back into her house.

    A few dozen breaths later, she returned holding a wooden basket.

    The basket contained some fruits and a wooden cup.

    ¡°Breakfast,¡± she said, handing it to Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan bit into the fruit, finding it crisp and sweet.

    It was his first time tasting such a fruit, and he found it delicious.

    Too bad he was blind. Otherwise, he would have liked to see what it looked like and perhaps plant a tree of his own.

    ¡°Here are the materials. Take them and refine your artifacts,¡± the blind woman said, handing him another basket.

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll head back to refine artifacts,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    Their interactions weren¡¯t extensive.

    Qi Yuan carried the materials back.

    Qi Yuan tilted his head upward.

    In the pitch-black void above, he saw a faint glimmer of light¡ªa speck as small as a grain of rice.

    ¡°This is the exit of the Divine Wood Abyss. Through it, you can reach the Divine Wood Chasm.

    If you observe this spot every day, you might, with luck, awaken your insight within a few hundred years.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll work toward gaining some extra insight,¡± Qi Yuan replied.

    ¡°I¡¯ll live here from now on,¡± he decided, resolving to stay in the area to refine artifacts.

    Day and night, he would watch the faint exit above and await the awakening of his insight.

    As days turned to months, Qi Yuan¡¯s mastery over the eight disciplines of artifact refinement advanced to the proficient stage.

    However, his progress toward awakening his insight remained slow.

    ¡°The distance is too far. I can barely make out that speck of light. Should I build a ladder and climb closer?¡±

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    He speculated that the distance was hampering his efforts to perceive his insight.

    What if he built a ladder? Not only could it hasten his awakening, but it might also create a path out of the Divine Wood Abyss, leading to the Divine Wood Chasm.

    After all, he couldn¡¯t stay confined in the Divine Wood Abyss forever.

    ...

    In a Palace of White Jade and Glazed Tiles Hidden Among the Clouds

    ¡°Feng Ti,¡± a faint, ethereal voice called out.

    A man clad in phoenix-patterned robes appeared, his features striking and his expression cold, with a sword strapped to his back.

    ¡°I greet Myth Rouxi,¡± Feng Ti said with a bow, his demeanor still cold.

    ¡°The destiny of the Blue Mountain Realm has resurfaced. Go there and eliminate it swiftly,¡± Myth Ruoxi commanded.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Take Nine Lives with you,¡± Myth Rouxi instructed further.

    A trace of pride flashed in Feng Ti¡¯s eyes. ¡°My original form is a Phoenix Ape, ranked among the top three in battle power among Yin Gods in this era. For a mere destiny, why bring Nine Lives? I alone am sufficient!¡±

    As a living being derived from the original Phoenix Ape, one of the top-ranked Yin Gods in combat strength in the current epoch, Feng Ti carried his pride.

    Even in the face of a Myth, he could hold his own and escape unscathed.

    ¡°The Human Enlightenment Association monitors the Blue Mountain Realm. There may be Ancestral Gods present. Take additional lives; this mission must succeed,¡± Myth Rouxi ordered firmly.

    ¡°Understood,¡± Feng Ti relented.

    Ancestral Gods were equivalent to Yang Gods, and the gap between Yang Gods and Yin Gods was insurmountable.

    Even with his original form¡¯s top-tier combat ranking, Feng Ti had no illusions about challenging a Yang God.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, the Divine Descent created by Sheng Nu has reawakened. Its combat strength is impressive¡ªit slew seven divine-tiers alone.

    It now goes by the name Qi Yuan and should be in the Divine Wood Chasm. Eliminate him as well.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still alive?¡± Feng Ti¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of surprise. ¡°Its luck must be extraordinary. But this time, with me personally handling it, its luck has surely run out.¡±

    He had long known of this destined being known as the Divine Descent.

    At the time, he had wanted to strike it down with a single sword.

    However, during the ¡°honeymoon¡± period between the Radiant Society and the Human Enlightenment Association, he couldn¡¯t act directly, instead using Dark Radiance to set a trap.

    Yet, the Divine Descent had survived.

    ¡°Go, complete the task quickly. Other destined beings in other worlds also require your attention,¡± Myth Ruoxi instructed.

    In this nascent universe, while the Radiant Society held great power, the Human Enlightenment Association was not weak.

    Furthermore, the higher universe backing the Radiant Society would not endlessly supply resources.

    They had to economize.

    ¡°Understood.¡± Feng Ti vanished from the White Jade Palace.

    The expansive palace fell silent, leaving only Myth Ruoxi.

    ¡°What a pity that the heavenly origin of this realm failed to attract divine attention and evolve into a fragment of a Divine Light Treasure.

    Those 300,000 artifact masters died in vain.¡±

    Myth Rouxi sighed softly.

    Her father was a being from the Radiant Society Universe, while her mother hailed from this nascent universe.

    Although the Radiant Society and the Human Enlightenment Association clashed ideologically, their ultimate goal was the same: to protect this universe and prevent its absorption by the Black Heavens.

    Regarding the 300,000 artifact masters who perished tragically in the Blue Mountain Realm, failing to create a fragment of a Divine Light Treasure, she felt both disappointment and regret.

    ¡°Understandable. Fragments of Divine Light Treasures... are not so easily created,¡± she murmured.

    Worlds like the Blue Mountain Realm were numerous. Many worlds under the Radiant Society¡¯s control worked secretly to create fragments of Divine Light Treasures.

    Unfortunately, the number of chosen bearers of Radiant Enlightenment was slim, with less than one in a hundred succeeding.

    The probability of those enlightened by the Human Enlightenment Association was even lower.

    Thus, the deaths of tens of thousands of weapon masters in obscurity was a common occurrence for Myth Ruoxi.

    ...

    Divine Wood Chasm.

    The insect maiden, Cai Die, flapped her wings as curiosity sparkled in her eyes.

    ¡°Did you hear that? It sounds like there¡¯s noise below us.¡±

    Shen Lingxuan reclined in a hot spring, her body wrapped in nothing but a simple chest wrap.

    Though the insect maiden was also female, Shen Lingxuan still felt slightly self-conscious.

    She closed her eyes and listened carefully. ¡°Indeed... I hear it too.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s strange. Aside from the two of us, there shouldn¡¯t be any other living beings in the Divine Wood Chasm. So why are there noises?¡± Cai Die wondered, frowning slightly.

    Suddenly, her eyes lit up. ¡°Could it be coming from the Divine Wood Abyss?¡±

    The entrance to the Divine Wood Abyss was shrouded in mystery, and she had searched for it in vain for a long time.

    Could it be beneath this hot spring?

 Chapter 541: Awakening the Mindâ€™s Eye, Feng Tiâ€™s Arrival

    Chapter 541: Awakening the Mind¡¯s Eye, Feng Ti¡¯s Arrival

    The insect maiden, Cai Die, had a sudden thought and flew toward the hot spring, skimming the water¡¯s surface like a dragonfly.

    She had searched many areas of the Divine Wood Chasm, but she hadn¡¯t yet examined this hot spring in detail.

    Seeing this, Shen Lingxuan quickly wrapped herself in clothing and dove into the depths of the hot spring, listening intently.

    ¡°Sounds of wood chopping... and flames...¡±

    Faint noises reached her ears as she tried to discern their source.

    Perhaps because it was too far away, she couldn¡¯t hear clearly.

    ¡°Break for me!¡±

    Cai Die let out a soft cry, and a wave of special energy struck the weakest point of the hot spring. However, the bottom of the spring remained completely unaffected.

    ¡°It seems... we can¡¯t open it,¡± Cai Die said, disappointment flickering in her eyes. ¡°The rumors must be true. Without a special opportunity, even if you encounter the Divine Wood Abyss, you cannot enter it.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s inside the Divine Wood Abyss?¡± Shen Lingxuan asked curiously.

    Cai Die¡¯s gaze grew complicated. ¡°I don¡¯t know... I only know that it contains many opportunities and is considered the safest place in the Blue Mountain Realm.¡±

    Currently, Cai Die and Shen Lingxuan were hiding in the Divine Wood Chasm, but they were far from at ease.

    The chaotic Starfield was largely under the control of the Radiant Society.

    The Radiant Society¡¯s powerhouses frequently patrolled the realms, searching for chosen ones with unique destinies.

    Previously, Cai Die and Shen Lingxuan could have remained safely hidden in the Divine Wood Chasm for a long time.

    But now... with Divine Descent Qi Yuan having slain seven "gods" in the Rosha Kingdom, the news was bound to draw the Radiant Society¡¯s attention.

    If the society sent a powerful figure to the Blue Mountain Realm to search for Qi Yuan, there was a chance they¡¯d find the two of them as well.

    Given their current strength, resisting the Radiant Society would be as futile as an ant trying to topple a tree.

    Thus, finding the Divine Wood Abyss was crucial.

    ...

    Sunset Cliff.

    Chen Kangbao munched on buns, his belly now round and full.

    Ji Wuyun, clad in a flowing green dress, watched him with a helpless expression. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about your young master? What if... something happens to him?¡±

    Back when they had agreed to meet in person through the Divine Wood Token, Ji Wuyun had ultimately chosen to come.

    ¡°Young Master is like a god descended to the mortal realm. You could choke him with buns, and he still wouldn¡¯t die,¡± Chen Kangbao replied nonchalantly.

    Suddenly, Ji Wuyun found her bun far less appetizing.

    At that moment, footsteps approached, and a man dressed in black appeared.

    On his forehead was an unusual pattern, seemingly inscribed with a character, giving him an eerie aura.

    Though his face bore a perpetual smile, it exuded a dangerous air.

    This man was a member of the Thorned Blood, an NPC, and a brilliant narrator¡ªXianling Yingjun.

    However, his expression was unusually grave. ¡°There¡¯s trouble. Feng Ti, the Great Venerable of the Radiant Society, has descended to the Blue Mountain Realm. He¡¯s likely here for a chosen one.¡±

    ¡°Feng Ti, the Great Venerable?¡± Ji Wuyun¡¯s face immediately showed fear.

    To her, neither the Thorned Blood nor the Radiant Society were good people.

    ¡°He¡¯s no ordinary Great Venerable. His original form is the Phoenix Ape, ranked among the top three in combat strength among Yin Gods in this era of the Radiant Universe,¡± Xian Ling Yingjun said, his face filled with deep apprehension.

    He himself had reached the Third Step, and even among third-step cultivators, he was considered a powerhouse.

    But the Radiant Universe was vast beyond imagination. Among third-step cultivators in the Void Paradise alone, his combat strength ranked beyond the top 300.

    The top three... What kind of existence would that be?

    Even a single breath from such a being could annihilate him.

    ¡°Young Master is invincible. Feng Ti is nothing¡ªone sword strike is all it¡¯ll take to kill him!¡± Chen Kangbao said casually, still eating his bun. Perhaps realizing how exaggerated his claim sounded, he added, ¡°If one sword isn¡¯t enough, then two swords.¡±

    Xianling Yingjun chuckled wryly. ¡°Feng Ti isn¡¯t like your past opponents.¡±

    Divine Descent Qi Yuan was strong, unmatched in the Blue Mountain Realm.

    He could be considered the strongest in the realm.

    But Feng Ti operated on a cosmic scale.

    Comparing Divine Descent to Feng Ti was like comparing a village school to a galactic university.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope he doesn¡¯t come here... If Brother Qi Yuan really is in the Divine Wood Chasm, perhaps he can avoid Feng Ti,¡± Xianling Yingjun said.

    ...

    ¡°I¡¯ve built a ladder. With it, I can see the exit more clearly and awaken my mind¡¯s eye.

    Once the ladder is complete, do you want to climb it and leave?¡± Qi Yuan asked as he continued refining the ladder.

    By now, the ladder was more than halfway finished.

    The blind woman shook her head. She looked up at the speck of light in the sky, only to perceive an endless void.

    ¡°This exit cannot accommodate me,¡± she said, shaking her head again.

    ¡°You¡¯re that tall?¡± Qi Yuan glanced at her and thought about reaching out to measure her height.

    However, judging by her breathing and heartbeat, Qi Yuan deduced that while the blind woman was tall and slender, she was nowhere near a giant.

    The blind woman ignored him and instead asked, ¡°Have you perfected your artifact refinement techniques? Have you awakened your mind¡¯s eye? Have you crafted a divine-tier artifact?¡±

    Three questions in a row.

    Qi Yuan gave an awkward laugh. ¡°No.¡±

    He didn¡¯t feel like talking to her anymore.

    Why did she have to be so critical?

    ¡°Ugh, the eight disciplines of artifact refinement are too hard. I¡¯ve only reached the proficient level,¡± he admitted.

    ¡°... That¡¯s rather slow,¡± the blind woman said after a long pause, offering her evaluation.

    ¡°I went to Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss recently to find you, but I couldn¡¯t locate you.

    Oh, and that Fifth Wei who wanted to abduct you as a maid? I killed him.¡±

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s disbelief deepened.

    Before she could fully process this, Qi Yuan added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the Rosha Kingdom seeking revenge. I recently visited and killed Fifth Bufan.¡±

    ¡°Wait... you¡¯re Divine Descent Qi Yuan?¡± Even Shen Lingxuan, as composed as a jade statue, was shaken to her core.

    The one who had slain seven "gods"¡ªDivine Descent Qi Yuan¡ªwas her husband? Her live-in husband?

    How could this be anything but shocking?

    This was like a woman on modern Earth discovering her meek husband was secretly one of the most powerful men alive.

    Next to her, Cai Die grew increasingly anxious, like a short person in a crowd jumping up and down to catch a glimpse of what was happening.

    Shen Lingxuan turned to her, her voice as icy as ever, though it carried a faint tremor.

    ¡°The person speaking to me... is my husband. Divine Descent Qi Yuan.¡±

    As she said the word ¡°husband,¡± a blush crept across her snow-white face, making her look even more enchanting.

    ¡°Wait... your husband is him? Where is he?¡± Cai Die was equally shocked.

    Could there really be such coincidences in the world?

    ¡°He¡¯s below us,¡± Shen Lingxuan replied, her blush deepening as she looked at the hot spring.

    She remembered the first time she met him, when he had claimed he wanted to "ride her."

    At the time, she thought he was just spouting nonsense.

    Now, recalling that moment, her heart fluttered.

    The thought of being ridden resurfaced in her mind, and the usually icy Shen Lingxuan hurriedly banished the idea, feeling both annoyed and grateful.

    Qi Yuan had ventured deep into the Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss and slain Fifth Bufan to save her.

    ¡°Fate truly works in mysterious ways. I¡¯ll try climbing up to find you,¡± Qi Yuan said.

    He pushed toward the speck of light.

    A searing pain tore through him, as though knives were slicing his flesh.

    ¡°It hurts a bit,¡± Qi Yuan muttered.

    The pain was excruciating, like being subjected to a thousand cuts¡ªor worse.

    Even an ordinary Yang God cultivator in mortal form might faint under such torment.

    But Qi Yuan was long accustomed to pain. This was nothing to him.

    Shen Lingxuan watched the hot spring, her gaze filled with a mix of curiosity, anticipation, and anxiety.

    She had never seen her "husband" before. The thought of meeting Qi Yuan left her nervous, unsure of how to react.

    And if Qi Yuan brought up wanting to ride her again... how would she respond?

    Just then, her expression froze.

    Cai Die, too, turned her gaze skyward, her eyes wide with horror.

    Above the Divine Wood Chasm, a majestic figure descended.

    Dressed in flowing white robes and carrying a sword, the figure stood in the void, several miles away.

    Even from such a distance, Cai Die felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness, as though this person could shatter the heavens with a single strike.

    ¡°Someone from the Radiant Society!¡± Cai Die¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°A Great Venerable!¡±

    Shen Lingxuan, too, felt the oppressive sword aura.

    She recognized this person.

    In her previous life, this was the one who had killed her with a single sword strike¡ªa being from beyond the heavens.

    At the time, she thought he was merely a divine-tier cultivator.

    Now, with greater strength and broader knowledge, she realized he wasn¡¯t ordinary.

    This was a Great Venerable.

    And not just any Great Venerable.

    Feng Ti stood in the void, his gaze piercing through the Divine Wood Chasm as brilliant light shone from his eyes.

    ¡°Did you think hiding in the Divine Wood Chasm would allow you to escape me?¡±

    A mocking expression crossed Feng Ti¡¯s face.

    The sword on his back trembled, and the world shook with it.

    Suddenly, the sword unsheathed, moving like a dragon.

    Boom!

    A devastating sword strike erupted, its sharp aura cutting through everything.

    In an instant, the barrier above the Divine Wood Chasm shattered.

    This barrier, capable of withstanding the attacks of divine-tier cultivators and even ordinary Great Venerables, crumbled in the face of Feng Ti¡¯s sword.

    His gaze fell upon Shen Lingxuan and Cai Die, filled with ridicule. ¡°Little insects who only know how to hide¡ªthis time, let¡¯s see if you can survive another lifetime.¡±

    He had recognized Shen Lingxuan.

    At this moment, Shen Lingxuan felt an infinite pressure weighing on her, her body trembling uncontrollably.

    She looked toward the hot spring and couldn¡¯t help but cry out, ¡°Don¡¯t come out! It¡¯s dangerous outside!¡±

    Staying in the Divine Wood Abyss was the only way to ensure true safety.

    Her husband Qi Yuan was strong, but this opponent... this was a Great Venerable. And not just any Great Venerable.

    If Qi Yuan came out, he would surely die.

    For the first time, she felt genuine concern for Qi Yuan.

 Chapter 543: A Second Bloom

    Chapter 543: A Second Bloom

    ¡°How is he?¡±

    ¡°His injuries are severe, extremely severe. I¡¯ve never seen wounds like this before.¡±

    The insect maiden, Cai Die, fluttered her wings as she gazed at the bloodied body of Qi Yuan, her expression heavy with concern.

    Dried blood stained his tattered robes, and Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes remained tightly shut, his breath weak and fragile, like a thread barely holding on.

    Shen Lingxuan cradled the unconscious Qi Yuan in her arms, her heart full of guilt and remorse.

    If it weren¡¯t for her, perhaps Qi Yuan wouldn¡¯t have intervened, and he wouldn¡¯t be suffering from such grave injuries now.

    ¡°If it were anyone else, they would already be dead from such wounds,¡± Cai Die said, her face full of incredulity.

    What had happened today had far exceeded her expectations.

    A mere... ordinary divine-tier cultivator from the Blue Mountain Realm had actually managed to kill Feng Ti, the wielder of ten lives.

    One had to understand, Feng Ti was no ordinary Great Venerable.

    In this chaotic region of the Starry Domain, where countless powerhouses gathered, Feng Ti was virtually invincible at the level of Great Venerables.

    Qi Yuan had brought far too many surprises.

    ¡°To think... Brother Qi Yuan could be this powerful.

    With talent like his, if it were made known, even ordinary Realm Masters would compete to take him as their disciple.¡±

    At this moment, a figure appeared¡ªa striking yet seemingly unremarkable man named Xianling Yingjun.

    Feng Ti had cut through the Divine Wood Abyss with a single strike of his sword, leaving behind numerous gaps in the barriers. It was through these gaps that Xianling Yingjun had entered.

    As for Ji Wuyun and Chen Kangbao, they lacked the strength to follow.

    ¡°And you are?¡± Cai Die looked at Xianling Yingjun warily.

    Despite his name containing the word ¡°handsome,¡± Xianling Yingjun¡¯s appearance was plain and unremarkable. In a crowd, no one would give him a second glance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a friend of Brother Qi Yuan. I mean no harm,¡± Xianling Yingjun reassured her, though his heart was filled with awe.

    He had only caught glimpses of Qi Yuan¡¯s battle with Feng Ti, yet even that had left him astonished by Qi Yuan¡¯s exceptional talent.

    At the level of a Great Venrable, cultivators formed their Divine Realms by attuning themselves to the heavens and earth.

    There was a sliver of possibility that during this process, one could merge with the universe, perceive its laws, and condense a Heart of Rules.

    If a Great Venerable successfully condensed a Heart of Rules, it could be said that entering the Supreme Truth Realm, the second stage of the Yang God stage, would pose no difficulty. Moreover, such a cultivator would have a significant chance of reaching the third stage of the Yang God stage.

    What was even more astonishing was that during Qi Yuan¡¯s battle, he appeared to have fused two Hearts of Rules.

    One must understand that the third stage of the Yang God stage consists of the Realm of Rules, the Realm of All Things, and the Creation Realm.

    Only in the Realm of All Things could rules be fused.

    Even many Realm Masters in the Realm of Rules would struggle their entire lives to achieve this fusion and step into the Realm of All Things.

    Qi Yuan, however, had fused rules while still in the Yin God Realm...

    What did this signify?

    It meant that if he ever reached the Realm of Rules, he would have a 90% chance of stepping into the Realm of All Things.

    In the Realm of All Things, as long as one condensed nine first-tier rules, one could step into the Creation Realm.

    Of course, nine rules were the minimum threshold; the more rules condensed, the stronger one would become.

    Thus, as Xianling Yingjun stared at Qi Yuan¡¯s blood-stained robe, it was as if he were witnessing the rise of a future Realm Master.

    If Qi Yuan developed normally, he was destined to become a Realm Master¡ªand not an ordinary one at that.

    In any universe, Realm Masters were supreme beings, rulers of galaxies, heavens, and earth.

    ¡°If you wish to save him, I have a plan,¡± Xianling Yingjun said. ¡°Let him join the Void Paradise. I¡¯m certain many Realm Masters there would be willing to take him as a disciple.¡±

    Void Realm Masters, however, were out of the question.

    Such supreme beings had little interest in taking on disciples.

    But other Realm Masters wouldn¡¯t let go of a seedling with such immense potential.

    ¡°No,¡± Cai Die quickly interjected.

    Qi Yuan was a fated one, carrying the will of destiny.

    If he joined the Void Paradise and became the disciple of a powerful being from another universe, it would undoubtedly be seen as ¡°betraying the universe.¡±

    A fated one represented not only themselves but also the will of their world and even the universe itself.

    Why did the Radiant Society constantly hunt fated ones? It was to seize control of the Divine Wood Universe¡¯s authority.

    As for the Void Paradise, while their relationship with the Human Enlightenment Association was cordial, they were still outsiders¡ªforeigners whose hearts couldn¡¯t be trusted.

    Xianling Yingjun shook his head. ¡°Indeed, such a plan is flawed.¡±

    After all, he lacked the authority to meet a Realm Master.

    If he revealed Qi Yuan¡¯s terrifying talent, it might not attract a Realm Master at all. Instead, it could draw the attention of some ancient monsters.

    In the Zhou Universe, there were many Yang God cultivators who had stagnated and failed to advance. Upon discovering Qi Yuan¡¯s extraordinary gifts, they might abduct him.

    What they would do with him then was anyone¡¯s guess.

    ¡°Other than that, I have no better ideas,¡± Xianling Yingjun said before vanishing into thin air.

    This left only Cai Die, Shen Lingxuan, and the unconscious Qi Yuan.

    Cai Die¡¯s gaze shifted repeatedly before finally settling on Shen Lingxuan. Her expression was complex. ¡°I know of a method that might awaken him, but... it could damage your foundation.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Shen Lingxuan¡¯s delicate body trembled as she guessed what it might entail.

    ¡°The Profound Yin...¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Shen Lingxuan bit her lip, her cheeks flushing red like blooming flowers.

    Roughly half an hour later, within an icy chamber, Qi Yuan lay on an ice bed. The blood on his body had been carefully cleaned away.

    Shen Lingxuan stared at his handsome face, worry etched into her features, unsure of how to proceed.

    What if she failed?

    After all, he was still a patient.

    She gazed at him for a long time, hesitating before slowly reaching into her gown. She removed her bindings¡ªher chest wrap and undergarments¡ªblushing furiously even though Qi Yuan remained unconscious. She was still too shy to reveal her bare form so easily.

    ¡°...Husband...¡±

    Her usually cold, snow-like complexion was tinged with a blush, like a plum blossom blooming amidst winter snow. Shen Lingxuan lifted her skirt, revealing her long, snowy legs.

    Her legs were slender, graceful, and perfectly proportioned, like polished porcelain, gleaming with a soft luster and entirely devoid of excess flesh.

    With furrowed brows, Shen Lingxuan didn¡¯t know where to start. Bending her knees slightly, she lifted her skirt higher and carefully straddled Qi Yuan.

    She wanted to move but couldn¡¯t summon the courage and had no idea what to do.

    The cold, jade-like celestial maiden found herself utterly helpless in this situation for the first time.

    Recalling the instructions Zhi Shuang had once given her, she hesitantly moved her hands, awkwardly and clumsily mimicking what she had been taught.

    Perhaps the sheer embarrassment heightened her senses, for at that moment, Qi Yuan, who had been in a deep sleep, suddenly opened his eyes.

    ¡°Hey, how could I possibly sleep through something like this? What am I, a dead fish?¡±

    In television dramas, the male protagonist is often unconscious while the female protagonist takes the lead, unaware of what transpired when he finally awakens. Not only would such a scenario leave the male protagonist oblivious, but it would also make his experience amount to nothing.

    Qi Yuan had no intention of letting such a thing happen to him.

    His gaze, though weak, was firm as he looked at Shen Lingxuan, who was sitting on top of him.

    ¡°Even if you¡¯re on top now, by the end, it will be me... riding...¡±

    Being a man of his word, he naturally intended to deliver on what he said.

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re awake?¡±

    Shen Lingxuan¡¯s face lit up with joy, but it was quickly replaced by deep shyness. Sitting astride Qi Yuan while holding her gown, she could feel his reaction beneath her.

    With a resolute attitude, Cai Die leapt toward the entrance of the Divine Wood Abyss.

    Thud! Her body collided with the barrier and fell through, plummeting downward.

    The excruciating pain overwhelmed her, and she fainted on the spot.

    Shen Lingxuan watched this unfold and turned to Qi Yuan with an even deeper look of pity in her eyes.

    After all, Qi Yuan had endured this same torment without showing any signs of weakness, traversing the Divine Wood Abyss to slay Feng Ti and save her.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head down for now. If you face any danger, I¡¯ll come back up immediately,¡± Qi Yuan said, showing no hesitation as he reentered the depths of the Divine Wood Abyss.

    ¡°The restrictions in the Divine Wood Abyss are truly terrifying,¡± Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    ¡°No matter how strong a man is, coming here would make him admit defeat.¡±

    Back in the Divine Wood Abyss, when facing Shen Lingxuan, Qi Yuan had felt like an unstoppable war god, capable of triumphing over any challenge, no matter how many times it came his way.

    But here in the depths of the abyss, if Shen Lingxuan came looking for him every day, he¡¯d probably end up clutching his waist and fleeing in exhaustion.

    ¡°Huh? Where is she?¡± Qi Yuan roamed the abyss, searching for the blind maiden but found no trace of her.

    He frowned, puzzled.

    ¡°Well, no matter. I¡¯ll focus on forging for now.¡±

    Since awakening his heart sight, Qi Yuan had felt an incredible surge in his abilities.

    The speed at which he forged artifacts had dramatically increased, as if guided by divine inspiration.

    ¡°Turns out, being blind really held me back. Heart sight is so much better. What used to take me half an hour now only takes a quarter of the time,¡± Qi Yuan mused.

    A man needs eyes to see.

    If he doesn¡¯t have eyes, then he needs heart sight.

    And if he doesn¡¯t have heart sight? Well, at least he needs some kind of eye¡ªif only to maintain some semblance of usefulness.

    With that thought, Qi Yuan chuckled, seated on a low ladder as he hammered materials.

    ¡°Heart sight really is a huge help. In another half a month, I think I¡¯ll be able to forge a divine-tier artifact.¡±

    ¡°Still, crafting an artifact like Sheng Nu¡¯s¡ªsomething on the level of Divine Descent¡ªis far more difficult than creating ordinary divine artifacts.¡±

    ¡°At the very least, I¡¯ll need to integrate all eight forging techniques,¡± Qi Yuan muttered. He shrugged and got up, deciding to visit the blind maiden¡¯s home.

    ¡°I wonder if she¡¯s back?¡±

    Walking along paths both familiar and unfamiliar, Qi Yuan eventually arrived in front of her house.

    The soft sound of water reached his ears, and his eyes brightened.

    The blind maiden was home.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve awakened heart sight, but I¡¯m running out of materials. Can you give me some?¡± Qi Yuan called out.

    The blind maiden stepped out of her home, carrying a wooden basket filled with materials.

    ¡°You¡¯ve awakened heart sight?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Qi Yuan looked at her, trying to see her more clearly with his newly gained ability.

    Unfortunately, even with heart sight, her figure remained blurry, indistinct.

    ¡°Barely adequate,¡± the blind maiden remarked as she handed him the basket. Her delicate nose wrinkled slightly. ¡°You¡¯re covered in sweat. Go take a bath.¡±

    In the Divine Wood Abyss, Qi Yuan¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t much different from an ordinary person¡¯s. Hard work left him sweaty and tired, just like anyone else.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Qi Yuan accepted the basket and returned to his quarters.

    After forging for several hours, he felt exhausted and decided to wash up before resting.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pity there are no ants in the Divine Wood Abyss. Otherwise, I could have a battle with them to pass the time.¡±

    After bathing, Qi Yuan munched on a piece of fruit and spoke to himself idly.

    ¡°Even the fruit here is perfect¡ªnot a single bug in sight. If there were, maybe fighting with bugs would help me push past my limits.¡±

    The Divine Wood Abyss was truly too beautiful. The fruits were sweet and flawless, untouched by pests. The water was clear and pure, with no impurities.

    Everything here was magnificent, almost unreal.

    With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Qi Yuan gradually drifted off to sleep.

    The moon hung high, the stars sparse, and the night carried a serene, intoxicating beauty.

    Suddenly, a faint fragrance wafted through the air, and a soft body slipped into Qi Yuan¡¯s embrace.

    ¡°Lingxuan?¡±

    Half-asleep, Qi Yuan instinctively thought it was Shen Lingxuan.

    Back in the Divine Wood Chasm, she had once snuck into his quarters in the middle of the night. At the time, she had been gentle and considerate, helping him explore what he couldn¡¯t see.

    So when the familiar sensation of a warm body pressed against him, he instinctively wrapped his arms around it and leaned in for a kiss.

    Soft, tender, and sweet.

    But at that moment, Qi Yuan¡¯s consciousness snapped awake.

    ¡°Wait. This is the Divine Wood Abyss. Lingxuan couldn¡¯t have come here.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked sharply.

    The woman didn¡¯t answer.

    Qi Yuan was taken aback, unsure of what was happening.

    But his confusion quickly gave way to shock.

    Because... he, Qi Yuan¡ªmaster of Five-Element Refinement, Heavenly Dao¡¯s Foundation, Stellar Golden Core, Purple Qi Netherworld Mansion, and wielder of two supreme truths¡ªhad been overpowered and... reversed.

    He couldn¡¯t see her clearly, nor could he resist. His strength was no match for hers here in the Divine Wood Abyss.

    As for shouting for help?

    Forget it¡ªthat would be utterly humiliating. Not to mention, his mouth was... occupied.

    The night surged with waves of crimson and silver, and when Qi Yuan woke the next morning, his head throbbed as if splitting.

    The events of the previous night replayed in fragments.

    ¡°Was that... a dream?¡±

    ¡°No. It wasn¡¯t.¡±

    He sniffed lightly. The faint, familiar scent of flowers still lingered on his stone bed.

    A bold suspicion arose in Qi Yuan¡¯s mind, accompanied by rising anger.

    ¡°She... took advantage of me?¡±

    While it was true that she had saved his life, he had no intention of repaying her with his body.

    If it really was the blind maiden, then beyond her act of salvation, she had now become something entirely different¡ªa mysterious figure whose actions left Qi Yuan conflicted.

    Although such an incident might have been trivialized or mocked on Earth¡ªan occasion for people to joke about a man¡¯s ¡°luck¡±¡ªQi Yuan viewed it differently.

    He was the victim here.

    And he wouldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to what had happened.

    ¡°Was it really her?¡± Qi Yuan couldn¡¯t shake his doubts.

    It felt like her. And yet, it didn¡¯t.

    But the floral fragrance... it was undeniably the same as hers.

    ¡°I need to confront her,¡± Qi Yuan resolved.

    A man¡¯s dignity mattered, and his virtue was no less important.

    When wronged, one should stand tall and seek the truth.

 Chapter 544: Unsolved Mystery, The Emergence of the New Divine Descendant

    within the dark, deep cave, dry yellow leaves fell from nowhere, carpeting the ground in a thin layer.

    qi yuan stepped on the leaves as he walked toward the blind maiden¡¯s residence.

    a man¡¯s innocence is still innocence!

    don¡¯t trivialize male victims.

    with such thoughts in mind, he arrived at the blind maiden¡¯s house.

    the sound of trickling water greeted him. it seemed the blind maiden was washing her face.

    from qi yuan¡¯s perspective¡ªwell, he was blind, so he couldn¡¯t see anything.

    ¡°out of materials already? that fast? or are you just here for food?¡± the blind maiden stepped out, holding a wooden basket.

    she looked calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°did you come to my place last night?¡± qi yuan asked bluntly.

    ¡°no,¡± the blind maiden replied, her brows furrowing. ¡°what happened last night?¡±

    ¡°last night... a woman suddenly attacked me. she... well, you know.¡±

    ¡°you must¡¯ve had a spring dream. there are no other women in the divine wood abyss besides me,¡± the blind maiden said, her tone flat and emotionless.

    ¡°that woman last night... i suspect it was you,¡± qi yuan said with a frown.

    ¡°you had a spring dream, and i was the main character?¡± the blind maiden seemed to glare at him angrily, her voice full of indignation. ¡°shameless!¡±

    qi yuan gauged her reaction and felt a pang of doubt.

    her tone didn¡¯t seem to carry the slightest hint of deception.

    ¡°are you sure you didn¡¯t come over last night?¡±

    ¡°i spent the entire night sleeping here!¡± the blind maiden retorted, clearly irritated.

    qi yuan hesitated.

    his nose hadn¡¯t been lying¡ªthis suggested she was telling the truth.

    ¡°there¡¯s no one else here?¡±

    ¡°other than me, there¡¯s no one,¡± the blind maiden said coldly, her voice tinged with displeasure as if she were growing tired of his accusations.

    the blind qi yuan scrutinized her, his heart full of unanswered questions.

    ¡°why don¡¯t you come to my bed and take a look? the scent from last night is still there.¡±

    ¡°you... shameless!¡± the blind maiden, though having lived in solitude for so long, now blushed furiously.

    ¡°it¡¯s a floral scent, identical to the one on you,¡± qi yuan said seriously.

    the blind maiden stood in place, silent for a long time.

    the situation was far too absurd.

    yet qi yuan didn¡¯t seem like the type to make baseless accusations.

    ¡°fine, i¡¯ll go take a look.¡±

    the blind maiden decided to inspect the scene herself.

    if she found any other scent, she¡¯d certainly be furious.

    ¡°i¡¯m warning you¡ªdon¡¯t get any funny ideas!¡± the blind maiden cautioned.

    ¡°hey, i¡¯m the victim here!¡± qi yuan protested.

    while male victims shouldn¡¯t be trivialized, the thought of explaining this situation to others was incredibly humiliating.

    soon, the two arrived at qi yuan¡¯s modest sleeping quarters.

    ¡°this is where it happened,¡± qi yuan said.

    the blind maiden bent down slightly, her delicate nose twitching. she seemed to catch a faint scent and paused in silence.

    ¡°isn¡¯t it the same floral scent as yours?¡± qi yuan asked. ¡°could you have a habit of sleepwalking without knowing it?¡±

    sleepwalking was one possibility¡ªanother was dissociative identity disorder.

    that would be a complicated problem.

    legally, however, it might not even be considered a crime!

    ¡°no,¡± the blind maiden straightened.

    ¡°this floral scent...¡±

    ¡°it feels like a dream, surreal and untraceable. who knows if it¡¯s even real?¡± her voice sounded melancholic.

    ¡°stop talking in riddles.¡±

    qi yuan had a nagging feeling that the blind maiden was hiding something from him.

    ¡°the divine wood abyss is a peculiar place. other than the areas i frequent, you shouldn¡¯t wander around carelessly. it¡¯s easy to encounter... unclean things.¡±

    with that, the blind maiden turned and left on her own.

    this left qi yuan standing in the breeze, utterly bewildered.

    ¡°unclean things?¡±

    ¡°did i get possessed by a ghost?¡±

    qi yuan could only comfort himself with such a thought.

    ¡°too bad i¡¯m blind. if i¡¯d seen who it was last night, this mystery would already be solved.¡±

    ¡°wait a minute... what if she comes back tonight?¡±

    ¡°should i take a bath and try to lure her out?¡±

    ¡°no, i¡¯m too weak right now. better not try anything reckless.¡±

    ¡°what if she finishes and then blames me for being dressed provocatively? that would be beyond humiliating.¡±

    ¡°sigh. thank goodness my will is as strong as steel, or else i¡¯d be suffering from... well, post-trauma depression.¡±

    qi yuan shook off his thoughts and focused on refining his artifact-forging skills.

    a mature man must face life with resilience!

    even if he was ¡°taken advantage of¡± last night, today he had to work hard and strive forward!

    <hr>

    despite his efforts to remain alert, qi yuan fell into a cautious sleep, hoping to catch the mysterious perpetrator.

    but unfortunately, no one came that night, leaving him somewhat disappointed.

    this incident became an unsolved mystery.

    <hr>

    a few months later.

    in a simple forging chamber, qi yuan sat with a delighted expression.

    <hr>

    ¡°have you considered my offer? why not leave the radiant cosmos... and join me in the search for...¡± the remaining words seemed muffled, as though drowned out by static.

    feng ti remained silent, offering no response.

    ¡°a universe with a dao lord... is but a stagnant pond, devoid of a future,¡± the voice continued, coaxing.

    feng ti¡¯s gaze turned sharp. ¡°and a universe like the divine wood universe has a future?¡±

    ¡°no,¡± the voice murmured. ¡°the black heavens has already set its sights on it. even if your dao lord intervenes, it will likely end in futility. after all, all worlds and all universes... are nothing but...¡±

    feng ti cut it off coldly. ¡°you dream too big. time is endless, and the universe is boundless, filled with uncertainties. i¡¯d rather dedicate my life to exploring those unknowns.¡±

    ¡°true uncertainties? a world that can be expressed through zeroes and ones... is a world where everything is predetermined,¡± the voice concluded, falling silent once more.

    <hr>

    in the divine wood abyss

    ¡°fairness, justice, equality, order...¡±

    qi yuan murmured these words as a bone-chilling white flame burned before him, exuding an overwhelming and sacred presence.

    ¡°divine descent!¡±

    he called softly.

    as i am the divine descent!

    in that moment, the aura of the divine descent descended.

    qi yuan¡¯s presence became holy and majestic.

    the new divine descent was nearly complete¡ªonly one final step remained.

    that step was the ¡°will¡± of the divine descent, or rather, its rules.

    qi yuan had many ideas for this new divine descent.

    he wanted to create it perfectly, to realize the ideal of, ¡°when there is injustice, call upon me, the divine descent.¡±

    but the more he thought about it, the more he realized how difficult that was.

    there is no such thing as perfection.

    even an ai judge couldn¡¯t truly achieve perfection.

    the ¡°will¡± and the rules of the divine descent ultimately came from its creator.

    in the end, qi yuan decided not to make further changes. instead, he transferred the ¡°will¡± given to the original divine descent by sheng nu to the new one.

    massive amounts of intent and rules surged into the new divine descent¡¯s body.

    qi yuan¡¯s thoughts shifted rapidly.

    finally, forty-nine days later, qi yuan collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

    ¡°it¡¯s finally done.¡±

    ¡°but... it still doesn¡¯t feel complete.¡±

    although the new divine descent had inherited sheng nu¡¯s ¡°will¡± and was technically stronger than the old one, it still felt lacking.

    qi yuan caressed the new divine descent, sensing it was missing something intangible.

    at that moment, a clear voice broke the silence.

    ¡°did you succeed?¡±

    the blind maiden stood behind qi yuan, quiet and serene.

    since the night qi yuan was taken advantage of, he had noticed subtle changes in her attitude toward him. or perhaps it was simply the result of their prolonged companionship. the blind maiden often shared stories of her past, with qi yuan acting as a patient listener.

    their bond had grown deeper.

    ¡°it¡¯s close, but not perfect,¡± qi yuan admitted truthfully.

    the blind maiden looked at the divine descent with hesitation and uncertainty.

    ¡°do you want me to help?¡±

    ¡°huh?¡± qi yuan was taken aback.

    the blind maiden didn¡¯t know how to forge artifacts¡ªhow could she possibly help?

    the blind maiden smiled smugly. ¡°the dao manifests as fifty, but only forty-nine are revealed. all imperfection stems from the one that is hidden.

    i will give it... a branch of spring.¡±

    with her words, the new divine descent in qi yuan¡¯s hands began to change.

    qi yuan couldn¡¯t fully comprehend the transformation, but he could sense the divine descent had drawn closer to perfection¡ªperhaps infinitely so.

    or rather, it was constantly approaching perfection.

    ¡°the world itself is imperfect. now... it has the opportunity to strive for perfection,¡± the blind maiden said, her eyes distant and nostalgic.

    perfection doesn¡¯t exist, but the pursuit of perfection is eternal.

    the new divine descent, having regained its missing ¡°one,¡± would carry its will forward step by step, evolving over time.

    sheng nu¡¯s will¡ª¡°to hold light in hand and banish the night; when there is injustice, call upon me, the divine descent¡±¡ªmight one day truly be fulfilled.

    the blind maiden thought of someone.

    ¡°you remind me of him,¡± she said softly.

    ¡°who?¡±

    ¡°my future husband.¡±

    ¡°that¡¯s... an unfortunate comparison.¡±

    ¡°just a resemblance. besides... he¡¯s not blind like you,¡± she teased with a giggle.

    ¡°don¡¯t discriminate against the blind. don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re blind too,¡± qi yuan shot back.

    ¡°haha...¡±

    ¡°anyway, thank you. without your help and those eight forging techniques, i probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to complete this task,¡± qi yuan said cheerfully. ¡°also, i¡¯ll make sure to fix that swing for you... and your eyes.¡±

    ¡°thank you...¡±

    ¡°oh, by the way, i¡¯m not really blind¡ªor i won¡¯t be for much longer.¡±

    ¡°what?¡±

    ¡°let me see what you actually look like!¡±

    curiosity gleamed in qi yuan¡¯s eyes.

    at that moment, the completion of both the divine descent and the role of the blind artifact master aligned. finally, qi yuan regained his sight.

    he turned to look at the blind maiden.

    ¡°the blind maiden?¡±

 Chapter 545: Nameless Grave, A Night in the Harem

    what qi yuan saw before him was... nothingness.

    ¡°blind maiden?¡±

    he called out again, but her figure was nowhere to be seen.

    scanning his surroundings with confusion, he found himself in a strange, dreamlike, and dazzling space.

    other than the paths he remembered walking, the rest of the area was formless and lacked any material structure.

    it resembled fragmented, multicolored lines, like trails of fireflies or clusters of garbled data.

    [fragments of the void: chaos, unknowable, unseen, and undetectable.]

    this chaotic and disordered sight carried an oppressive sense of danger, which qi yuan could feel in his very core.

    however, he realized that an ordinary person wouldn¡¯t even be able to perceive these fragments of void.

    it was only because of his ability to see hidden information that he could witness these enigmatic fragments. <hr>

    without wasting time, qi yuan followed the familiar path to the blind maiden¡¯s residence.

    the paths he often walked remained materialized and intact, while everything else around him was consumed by the void fragments.

    the fragments looked like corrupted data, impossible to touch¡ªeven trying felt forbidden.

    of course, qi yuan wasn¡¯t reckless enough to test them.

    <hr>

    soon, he arrived at the blind maiden¡¯s dwelling.

    in his memory, there had been a wooden house with a small courtyard there.

    but now, only a trickling stream remained, with nothing else in sight.

    it was as though all his memories were nothing but illusions.

    qi yuan¡¯s expression grew serious.

    he searched other parts of the divine wood abyss, but no matter where he went, the result was the same.

    the paths he frequently traversed were solid and real, but the rest of the environment was being consumed by void fragments.

    the sunlight, the earth beneath his feet, and even the familiar walls were all gone.

    what remained was a strange emptiness, dotted with flickering, firefly-like fragments of void, steadily consuming the material world.

    the entire divine wood abyss was empty¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a single living thing in sight.

    no ants, no protozoa, not even bacteria.

    <hr>

    ¡°could it all have been... fake?¡±

    qi yuan frowned deeply.

    ¡°then what¡¯s real?¡±

    the situation was undeniably bizarre.

    standing alone in the vast, silent abyss, qi yuan felt the weight of his confusion.

    the blind maiden had vanished. her house had disappeared. the swing was gone.

    even the fruit she had once given him was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°if only i... uh... relieved myself, maybe i could find traces of the fruit.¡±

    ¡°could it be that all this time, i¡¯ve been talking to thin air? eating thin air?¡±

    ¡°no, that¡¯s impossible. the artifact-forging techniques i¡¯ve learned here are real, and my memory wouldn¡¯t deceive me. so... i need to use my brain.¡±

    qi yuan started to think deeply.

    the divine wood abyss had always been strange. several peculiar incidents had occurred, such as the mysterious floral scent that had appeared during that night, and the inexplicable encounter where someone had ¡°pushed¡± him.

    even now, qi yuan had no idea who had done it.

    if everything here was fake...

    no. it couldn¡¯t be. his memories were far too vivid.

    ¡°about the blind maiden... let¡¯s make some bold guesses.¡±

    <hr>

    theory one

    the blind maiden truly existed. after helping him perfect the divine descent by providing its final essence, she exhausted all her strength and disappeared.

    this was a plausible scenario. perhaps the blind maiden had been real, but her final act¡ªoffering a "branch of spring"¡ªhad cost her everything.

    <hr>

    theory two

    everything was an illusion. the blind artifact master was mentally ill, and the blind maiden was merely a figment of his imagination.

    this idea also seemed reasonable.

    on earth, qi yuan had once watched a film where the protagonist trained under a martial arts master, only to later realize the master never existed¡ªit was all in his mind.

    <hr>

    theory three

    only the blind could see the blind maiden. now that qi yuan¡¯s sight had been restored, he could no longer perceive her.

    this world was filled with peculiarities.

    just as two-dimensional beings couldn¡¯t comprehend three-dimensional entities, ordinary humans were limited by their sensory perceptions.

    <hr>

    thinking along these lines, qi yuan closed his eyes.

    darkness enveloped him.

    ¡°blind maiden?¡±

    he called out softly, but only the echo of his own voice responded.

    he opened his eyes again, frustration evident in his expression.

    suddenly, a thought struck him.

    ¡°the blind maiden once said she taught sheng nu artifact-forging techniques. if i can find sheng nu, wouldn¡¯t that prove whether or not the blind maiden was real?¡±

    sheng nu wasn¡¯t blind, after all.

    ¡°so, the solution is simple: find sheng nu!¡±

    ¡°if i can locate her, i might finally unravel everything.¡±

    with this thought, qi yuan felt a sense of relief.

    turning to face the empty divine wood abyss, he spoke solemnly, ¡°blind maiden, i¡¯ll remember the swing. and i¡¯ll remember your eyes...¡±

    with that, his figure vanished, passing through a speck of light no larger than a grain of rice, returning to the divine wood gorge.

    the divine wood abyss was empty and silent.

    suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and there seemed to be the sound of falling leaves and the sound of a swing swaying and creaking.

    <hr>

    in the divine wood gorge.

    xianling yingjun looked at qi yuan with a peculiar expression. ¡°i didn¡¯t expect you to recover so quickly from such severe injuries.¡±

    the last time xianling yingjun had seen qi yuan, the latter had been unconscious and on the brink of death.

    he had assumed that only a realm master could truly save him and that any other methods would be temporary at best.

    yet here qi yuan was, alive and well, as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°well, since you¡¯re fine, i guess my mission here is a failure,¡± xianling yingjun said, shrugging helplessly.

    his mission had been to assist the thorned blood in turning the divine wood into a spectral entity, thereby transforming the blue mountain realm into a spectral domain.

    but with qi yuan around, completing this task was impossible.

    <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr>

    what did their training or progress have to do with him?

    the thorned blood leader¡¯s expression darkened, and a murderous aura filled the air. ¡°qi yuan, you¡¯re bold to enter my thorned blood stronghold. today, you won¡¯t be leaving alive!¡±

    the thorned blood was backed by black heaven. their strength was absolute¡ªor so he thought.

    <hr>

    ¡°since you¡¯re all so lazy and complacent, i¡¯ll make sure you lie flat¡ªpermanently,¡± qi yuan said coldly.

    with a flick of his hand, he formed a sword from thin air.

    a blinding, razor-sharp sword light descended from the heavens, piercing into the heart of the thorned blood stronghold.

    blood sprayed in every direction.

    the sword light cut through the stronghold like a scythe through wheat, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

    ¡°die!¡± the thorned blood leader roared, unleashing his divine domain. a terrifying energy burst forth, shaking the heavens.

    but in the next instant, the sword light pierced through him as if he were nothing more than a balloon.

    his arrogant composure shattered in an instant, and his lifeless body fell to the ground.

    ¡°this... can¡¯t be...¡± gasped the remaining thorned blood members, their faces pale with terror.

    their leader, a newly ascended great venerable, hadn¡¯t lasted more than a single move.

    how could qi yuan¡¯s power be so overwhelming?

    the survivors tried to flee, but it was futile.

    the sword light tore through everything in its path.

    in mere moments, the thorned blood stronghold was reduced to a blood-soaked ruin, its members slain to the last.

    ¡°let this be a lesson: when you choose to lie flat, this is where it gets you,¡± qi yuan muttered, his tone calm and indifferent.

    looking over the devastation, he added, ¡°the experience i gained from these guys isn¡¯t even close to what i got from defeating feng ti.¡±

    with that, he turned to shen lingxuan, wrapping his arm around her waist.

    ¡°let¡¯s go, wife. tonight, we¡¯ll stay in the harem.¡±

    the two vanished from the scene, leaving behind nothing but silence and ruin.

    <hr>

    hours after qi yuan and shen lingxuan departed, a few surviving heaven-tier commanders arrived at the devastated thorned blood stronghold.

    they were greeted by a scene of absolute carnage: blood-soaked ruins, shattered buildings, and corpses strewn across the grounds. the stench of death hung heavy in the air.

    the commanders exchanged horrified glances, their faces pale and drenched with sweat.

    ¡°even the leader... was killed in a single strike...¡± one of them muttered, his voice trembling.

    ¡°the divine descent... his strength is too terrifying.¡±

    with no leader to guide them and their strongest warriors annihilated, the thorned blood¡¯s grip over the rosha kingdom had been shattered beyond repair.

    <hr>

    qi yuan returned to the royal palace of the rosha kingdom, carrying the newly forged divine descent artifact.

    the artifact radiated a holy aura, exuding a sense of infinite potential and growth. thanks to the blind maiden¡¯s final gift¡ªa branch of spring¡ªthe divine descent now carried within it the ability to continually evolve and pursue perfection.

    even now, the artifact¡¯s influence was beginning to reshape the rosha kingdom.

    liu sheng, the elder steward of the royal family, stood before qi yuan with his head bowed, his expression filled with awe and reverence.

    ¡°qi yuan, with this divine descent in our kingdom¡¯s possession, i believe our future will be illuminated with eternal light!¡± liu sheng declared earnestly.

    though his words carried optimism, liu sheng couldn¡¯t entirely suppress the lingering fear he felt toward qi yuan.

    qi yuan wasn¡¯t just a powerful warrior. he had also mastered the art of forging divine artifacts, a feat that bordered on the miraculous. his capabilities were nothing short of monstrous.

    "with the divine descent, i guess... the future of the rosha kingdom will definitely be bright and everlasting!" liu sheng said seriously.

    this time when he returns, he also has to tell his clansmen to be careful.

    "i hope so." qi yuan said lightly, "when can you sort out the information about sheng nu for me?"

    liu sheng lowered his head: "the information about sheng nu is recorded in the palace and several other states. within three days, i will present all the information about sheng nu."

    "okay." qi yuan nodded. three days is not a long time.

    "i will sleep in this harem for these three days. don''t disturb me if you have nothing to do." qi yuan waved his hand.

    liu sheng lowered his head and walked out of the hall respectfully, not daring to look at anything.

    <hr>

    the golden halls of the rosha kingdom¡¯s palace glittered under the soft glow of the evening light.

    now alone in the grand throne room, qi yuan stood face to face with shen lingxuan.

    ¡°i haven¡¯t taken a proper look at your face yet,¡± qi yuan said with a mischievous grin.

    before shen lingxuan could respond, he reached out and gently tugged at the veil covering her face.

    as the veil fell, qi yuan was greeted by a visage of unparalleled beauty.

    her skin was like flawless snow, radiant and smooth, while her delicate features seemed to have been sculpted by the gods themselves.

    this was no ordinary beauty¡ªit was the kind that could cause kingdoms to fall and empires to crumble.

    although shen lingxuan¡¯s expression was as cold and serene as ever, qi yuan could see traces of warmth and shyness beneath her icy demeanor.

    ¡°this... is dangerous,¡± qi yuan murmured, his gaze unwavering.

    even with her aloof aura, shen lingxuan¡¯s beauty carried an undeniable allure¡ªa mixture of innocence, elegance, and seduction.

    qi yuan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°i¡¯ve always had a dream of spending a night in the harem. looks like tonight, that dream will come true.¡±

    <hr>

    he reached for her hand, his touch warm and steady. slowly, his fingers trailed down to her ankle, lifting the hem of her dress slightly.

    her smooth, pale legs came into view, gleaming like polished jade in the dim light.

    shen lingxuan gasped softly, her breath catching as a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

    ¡°don¡¯t look...¡± she whispered, her voice trembling slightly with embarrassment.

    her hands moved instinctively to cover qi yuan¡¯s eyes, but before she could fully hide his view, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.

    <hr>

    three days passed in the blink of an eye.

    qi yuan had fulfilled one of his long-standing dreams¡ªspending a night in the harem.

    but more importantly, during this time, the rosha kingdom began to experience profound changes.

    with the divine descent now serving as the kingdom¡¯s guiding force, a new sense of order and peace began to take hold.

    under the divine descent¡¯s influence, new laws were implemented, focusing on fairness and redemption. minor transgressions were forgiven, while major crimes like murder were still punished according to the old system.

    while perfection was impossible, the kingdom was undoubtedly moving toward a brighter future.

    <hr>

    on the morning of the fourth day, liu sheng once again approached qi yuan, this time with a humble and respectful demeanor.

    ¡°all the information we could find about sheng nu has been compiled here,¡± liu sheng said, handing over a neatly arranged storage artifact.

    qi yuan inspected the artifact¡¯s contents. inside were numerous scrolls, manuscripts, and records¡ªsome ancient, others more recent.

    his brow furrowed slightly. among the records were several items of great interest, but there were also a few divine artifacts included.

    ¡°what are these?¡± qi yuan asked, pulling out one of the artifacts.

    ¡°they¡¯re not related to sheng nu,¡± liu sheng admitted hesitantly. ¡°they¡¯re the kingdom¡¯s most valuable treasures. i thought it might please you to include them...¡±

    qi yuan shook his head, placing the artifacts back into the storage device.

    ¡°if they have no connection to sheng nu, i don¡¯t want them,¡± he said firmly. ¡°return them to their rightful place.¡±

    <hr>

    liu sheng nodded quickly, though he couldn¡¯t hide his surprise.

    qi yuan¡¯s lack of interest in the artifacts wasn¡¯t due to arrogance or a lack of desire. it was because he valued the legacy of the white moonlights¡ªthose who had shaped his journey. to qi yuan, their stories and artifacts carried far more meaning than any treasure.

 Chapter 546: Transcending the Mortal realmâ€”The Man Who Climbed Out of the Coffin

    liu sheng was somewhat surprised but still dutifully stored away the divine artifacts.

    ripples of emotion stirred in his heart.

    in this world... could there really exist such selfless beings?

    he asked himself and realized he could never achieve such magnanimity. his respect for qi yuan deepened.

    qi yuan¡¯s gaze fell upon the books within the storage artifact.

    as a divine-tier weapon master, his reading speed was unmatched. one glance was all it took.

    the pages flipped rapidly, pouring a torrent of information into qi yuan¡¯s mind.

    the records about sheng nu were sparse and fragmented.

    however, when pieced together, the image of a graceful, mysterious woman with a gentle and refined character emerged in his mind.

    ¡°sheng nu isn¡¯t originally from the blue mountain realm. she first appeared here 500 years ago, disappeared at sunset cliff, and reappeared a century later.¡±

    based on the information, qi yuan speculated that during her century of absence, sheng nu had most likely been in the divine wood abyss.

    ¡°two hundred years ago, sheng nu descended upon the rosha kingdom. after leaving behind the artifact divine descent, she vanished once more.¡±

    ¡°the records indicate that she later went to... the tai star domain.¡±

    the last entry stated that sheng nu herself had declared her intention to travel to the tai star domain.

    ¡°where is the tai star domain?¡± qi yuan asked caidie, the insect maiden.

    as for the inhabitants of the blue mountain realm, they probably had no knowledge of the tai star domain¡¯s location.

    caidie replied, ¡°the divine wood universe consists of 781 star domains, large and small. the tai star domain is located among the nine star frontline regions!¡±

    caidie continued explaining.

    the divine wood universe was still a nascent universe, having existed for less than one cycle.

    compared to other universes, it was clearly a smaller, less developed version.

    despite that, the divine wood universe was home to 781 star domains.

    each domain was vast beyond measure, with countless smaller worlds like the blue mountain realm.

    however, many of the 781 star domains had become fallen zones.

    the chaos star domain, where the blue mountain realm was located, had half of its regions classified as fallen zones.

    as for the tai star domain, it was at the frontline, resisting the invasion of the black heaven.

    the nine star frontline had united, gathering nearly all of the elite forces in the divine wood universe to fight against the black heaven and black earth.

    even the rear star domains had their roles to play.

    for instance, in the blue mountain realm, which was largely controlled by the radiant society, there were still 300,000 artifact masters hidden in the mountains, forging fragments of divine light treasures.

    although the philosophies of the light council and human enlightenment differed, both were ultimately striving for the survival of the divine wood universe.

    ¡°the tai star domain is very far away...¡± caidie said, looking at qi yuan with a complex expression. ¡°if it were before, i might have been able to take you there, but since you killed feng ti, you¡¯re surely being watched by the radiant society. leaving the chaos star domain will be very difficult.¡±

    the original plan had been to wait until shen lingxuan reached the divine-tier and then use a teleportation array to travel to the frontlines and join the human enlightenment faction.

    ¡°so, you¡¯re saying that if i leave, someone will deliver themselves to my doorstep? what a thoughtful service,¡± qi yuan said, unconcerned.

    if the radiant society tried to stop him, he¡¯d simply kill them.

    caidie remained silent. qi yuan indeed had the qualifications to be confident.

    even feng ti had fallen to him. ordinary great venerables would stand no chance.

    as for ancestor gods or yang gods, such exalted beings wouldn¡¯t concern themselves with a mere divine-tier weapon master.

    ¡°do you have a way to get me out of the blue mountain realm?¡± qi yuan asked.

    ¡°there is a way, but it could be very dangerous,¡± caidie replied hesitantly.

    the tai star domain was so distant that it required multiple teleportation arrays and transfers.

    if one of the transit domains or pathways had fallen into the fallen zones, they¡¯d have to find new routes.

    ¡°danger doesn¡¯t matter. however, before heading to the tai star domain, take me to the kuijin realm first,¡± qi yuan said calmly.

    after ending his "blind artifact master" persona, he had awakened a new identity.

    this new role was located in the kuijin realm and had recently died.

    the identity he was to assume was that of a mythical divine-tier weapon master who had secluded himself in the kuijin realm for years, attempting to break through to the ancestor god realm through transcending the mortal realm.

    unfortunately, the attempt at ascension had failed, leading to his death.

    qi yuan¡¯s goal was to complete the ascension on this person¡¯s behalf, thereby stepping into the ancestor god realm¡ªalso known as the yang god realm.

    as for how to carry out the ascension, qi yuan already had a rough plan.

    once in the kuijin realm, he could adjust the plan based on the situation and formalize it.

    that was the essence of intelligence and wisdom!

    ¡°the kuijin realm?¡± caidie¡¯s face was filled with worry. ¡°that world has already fallen and is under the control of the black heaven!¡±

    the chaos star domain was indeed chaotic.

    half of its regions were controlled by the radiant society, while the other half were split between fallen zones and human enlightenment territories.

    the kuijin realm was part of the fallen zones and had been under the black heaven¡¯s rule for thousands of years.

    the entire realm had effectively become a domain shaped by the black heaven and black earth.

    ¡°why would you go there, young master qi?¡± caidie asked, puzzled.

    <hr> <hr>

    sweat soon dripped down zhao yan¡¯s face. though he had some cultivation, his strength was limited.

    in yunxue city, the thorned blood specters suppressed the lower classes, allowing them only the bare minimum of martial training. any advancement required registering with the specters.

    finally, after much effort, zhao yan unearthed a bright red coffin. its lacquered surface gleamed ominously under the crimson light.

    zhao yan¡¯s heart pounded. he knelt again.

    ¡°master, please forgive your disciple once more,¡± he said.

    he climbed into the grave and prepared to pry out the coffin nails with his pickaxe.

    suddenly, footsteps sounded behind him.

    a mocking voice rang out.

    ¡°well, well, zhao yan! aren¡¯t you always preaching about respect for master? and here you are, digging up his grave!¡±

    zhao yan froze. turning around, he saw wang tong leading a group of five, their expressions filled with derision.

    zhao yan¡¯s face turned red with anger. ¡°you misunderstand! i¡¯m digging up master¡¯s grave to protect his remains from you two!¡±

    ¡°spare us the act, you hypocrite,¡± xu jiaoyun sneered.

    the members of the blood tiger gang chuckled cruelly.

    ¡°well, he¡¯s already done most of the work for us. saves us the trouble,¡± one of them said mockingly.

    the group moved toward zhao yan.

    desperate, zhao yan spread his arms to block their path. ¡°you can¡¯t do this! master took you in, raised you like his own children. how can you disturb his peace? you¡¯ll be cursed!¡±

    ¡°cursed?¡± wang tong sneered. ¡°in yunxue city, there are no curses¡ªonly the thorned blood specters!¡±

    if curses existed, the thorned blood specters wouldn¡¯t have lived so long committing atrocities.

    xu jiaoyun laughed coldly. ¡°he¡¯s still clinging to this nonsense about curses. how pathetic.¡±

    zhao yan clenched his fists, his voice trembling with rage. ¡°master gave you everything! doesn¡¯t your conscience hurt? don¡¯t you feel shame?¡±

    ¡°shame?¡± xu jiaoyun sneered. ¡°that old bastard ruined my life! if he hadn¡¯t picked me up, i¡¯d be living as a rich man¡¯s daughter, enjoying a life of luxury! he stole that from me!¡±

    twenty years ago, it was snowing heavily, and xu jiaoyun was picked up from the snow by a white-haired young man. if she was left outside, she might have frozen to death.

    and three years ago, xu jiaoyun learned that she was actually the lost lady of a rich family in the city, and that rich man also died of illness a few years ago.

    she was rejected when she went to recognize her relatives, and went mad with anger.

    she didn''t dare to resent the rich man, but resent her master.

    xu jiaoyun felt that if she hadn''t been picked up by her master, maybe her father could still find her.

    wang tong smirked. ¡°master was so kind to us. i¡¯m sure he¡¯d be happy to leave his inheritance to us.¡±

    ¡°shameless!¡± zhao yan shouted. ¡°you¡¯re nothing but beasts!¡±

    two gang members grabbed zhao yan, pinning him to the ground.

    wang tong stepped forward, smirking as he approached the coffin. ¡°let¡¯s see what treasures the old man left behind.¡±

    xu jiaoyun followed hesitantly, her gaze fixed on the coffin. she shivered. ¡°what if there¡¯s something unclean in there?¡±

    ¡°don¡¯t be stupid. this is the city, everything is under the watchful eyes of the specter god, there is no unclean things!"¡± wang tong replied, though his own hands trembled.

    suddenly¡ª

    thump! thump!

    a loud knock came from inside the coffin.

    xu jiaoyun¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°t-the coffin... it¡¯s knocking!¡±

    wang tong was also stunned, a little panic creeping in: "don''t scare yourself!"

    the master is 100% dead.

    even the big figures of thorned blood came to check, and found that the master''s body could not be refined into a specter before leaving.

    how could the big figures of thorned blood make mistakes?

    however, he was just forcing himself to give himself courage and look at the coffin.

    thump! thump! thump!

    wang tong froze, fear creeping into his heart.

    the knocking grew louder.

    xu jiaoyun screamed and fled.

    wang tong hesitated, gripping his dagger tightly.

    a voice echoed from inside the coffin, calm yet irritated.

    ¡°you¡¯re so noisy. can¡¯t a man get some rest?¡±

    bang!

    the coffin lid flew off, and a young man sat upright.

    his white hair flowed down his back, and his flawless face bore an expression of mild annoyance.

    wang tong¡¯s eyes widened in terror. ¡°m-master?!¡±

    how could the master still be alive!

    the big shots of thorned blood came to check it out in person!

    could it be that he is not the master, but a specter?

 Chapter 547: Pushed Too Far by the Blood Tiger Gang

    the three members of the blood tiger gang stared at the white-haired man who had climbed out of the coffin.

    the blood-red light illuminated his face, and his eyes seemed to glow with an eerie radiance, making him appear sinister and terrifying.

    ¡°a g-ghost!¡±

    their hearts trembled with fear, and they couldn¡¯t help but let out cries of alarm.

    it was the dead of night, the wind howling through the graveyard, and a man climbed out of a coffin to accuse them of disturbing his sleep. the scene was far too chilling.

    even zhao yan, who was being held down, was shaking uncontrollably, consumed by fear.

    though he deeply respected his master, he certainly hadn¡¯t wished for his ghost to come after him.

    but then wang tong, who had been trembling, suddenly seemed to lose his wits. gritting his teeth, he shouted, ¡°master, you¡¯re dead¡ªdon¡¯t come back!¡±

    with that, he charged at qi yuan, dagger in hand.

    ¡°sigh, i only wanted to peacefully transcend the mortal realm. why must so many people push me?¡± qi yuan said, exasperated.

    his original plan had been to continue the white-haired man¡¯s journey of transcending the mortal realm.

    since the white-haired man had died, qi yuan decided to use his coffin to continue the process.

    given his talent, qi yuan figured he could simply lie in the coffin for a year or two, doing nothing, and successfully break through to the ancestor god realm.

    his plan was flawless.

    after all, transcending the mortal realm, as qi yuan understood it from years of watching tv dramas and reading comics, was about seclusion¡ªhiding away from the chaos of the world and avoiding all disturbances.

    many people failed to transcend, qi yuan believed, because they chose the wrong location. their seclusion would often be interrupted by annoying troublemakers or overpowered antagonists, leading to endless problems.

    so, the location for transcending needed to be ideal¡ªquiet, undisturbed, and isolated.

    and what better place than a coffin?

    after all, who would bother someone lying in a coffin? a coffin was practically the ultimate sacred ground for transcending the mortal realm!

    qi yuan¡¯s plan had been foolproof. but who could have predicted that even inside a coffin, people would still come to disturb him?

    he was furious.

    ¡°you¡¯re all forcing me to act. i just wanted to lie in my coffin and sleep in peace!¡±

    ¡°those who push me too far¡ªdeserve to die!¡±

    qi yuan stood up, glaring menacingly at wang tong, who was charging toward him.

    he picked up the coffin lid and swung it forcefully at wang tong.

    ¡°that¡¯s for disturbing my sleep!¡±

    the coffin lid struck wang tong, leaving him dazed and dizzy, his head spinning and vision blurred.

    bang! bang! bang!

    qi yuan didn¡¯t stop. he swung the coffin lid repeatedly, his actions ruthless and domineering.

    after a few more strikes, wang tong¡¯s skull was smashed, blood gushing out.

    holding the coffin lid, qi yuan glared at the corpse and growled, ¡°in your next life, don¡¯t disturb someone¡¯s sleep!¡±

    from the white-haired man¡¯s memories, qi yuan knew that the man had genuinely sought to transcend the mortal realm by avoiding the use of extraordinary powers.

    since qi yuan was continuing this journey, he decided to follow the same principle and not use any supernatural abilities.

    no skills, spells, or divine powers were to be used.

    however, his naturally robust body, strengthened through effort and battles, was fair game.

    he hadn¡¯t used any extraordinary powers¡ªjust his immense physical strength and exceptional physique.

    the remaining people present were horrified as they looked at qi yuan.

    not only had he seemingly risen from the dead, but he had also used a coffin lid to brutally kill wang tong.

    ¡°next! it¡¯s your turn. you pushed me to this!¡±

    qi yuan held the coffin lid like a fearsome bandit¡ªor rather, a vengeful ghost.

    xu jiaoyun, terrified, turned and fled.

    the graveyard was filled with tombs and surrounded by ominous purple bamboo, making it an exceedingly eerie place.

    in her panic, she tripped over a small grave mound and fell onto a sharp bamboo stake, leaving a deep gash across her abdomen. blood poured out from the wound.

    she ignored the pain and struggled to her feet, trying to escape.

    qi yuan looked at her injury with a hint of pity in his eyes. ¡°that looks painful. i can¡¯t bear to see you suffer like this. let me end your pain.¡±

    feeling he was being merciful and compassionate, qi yuan decided to help her by ending her misery.

    he raised the coffin lid high and hurled it at her with tremendous force.

    xu jiaoyun looked up just in time to see the dark shadow of the lid descending upon her.

    crash!

    the sheer power of the blow forced her body downward, impaling her completely on the sharp bamboo stake.

    splurt!

    blood gushed from her mouth as her life slipped away.

    the remaining three members of the blood tiger gang trembled violently.

    they were little more than thugs¡ªhardly skilled practitioners¡ªand were utterly terrified by qi yuan¡¯s ferocity.

    the wiry man gritted his teeth and tried to sound brave. ¡°you¡¯re a cultivator, aren¡¯t you? the blood tiger gang has cultivators too! you can¡¯t kill me! the gang won¡¯t let you off!¡±

    running wasn¡¯t an option in such a dire situation, so he attempted to intimidate qi yuan instead.

    it showed that he had some quick thinking, even under pressure.

    meanwhile, the other two gang members were too frightened to speak.

    ¡°don¡¯t talk nonsense! i¡¯m no cultivator. i haven¡¯t used any supernatural powers¡ªi¡¯m just naturally strong!¡± qi yuan retorted indignantly.

    he couldn¡¯t afford to reveal himself as a cultivator. how could he successfully transcend the mortal realm if he exposed his identity?

    <hr>

    wu lian¡¯s face lit up with excitement upon hearing this.

    while life in the city was relatively safer than the wilderness, where specters roamed freely and devoured humans, her situation was different.

    she had already drawn the attention of the thorned blood specters. once she turned eighteen, she would be sent to the rebirth courtyard to become a tool for breeding specters.

    ¡°alright!¡± wu lian nodded firmly.

    but just as she agreed, wu xiang¡¯s expression shifted. his face darkened.

    ¡°not good¡ªit¡¯s the blood tiger gang!¡±

    he glanced outside the courtyard and saw a group of over a dozen blood tiger gang members, all dressed in uniform, walking toward them with murderous intent.

    wu xiang¡¯s face turned pale as fear gripped him.

    he realized that there must be a traitor within the rebel army¡ªsomeone had sold him out.

    ¡°what should we do?¡±

    ¡°what should we do?¡±

    as panic set in for wu xiang, someone else in another courtyard was even more anxious¡ªzhao yan.

    after returning home the previous night, zhao yan hadn¡¯t been able to sleep at all. his eyes were puffy and bloodshot as he constantly looked out the window, terrified that the blood tiger gang would come after him.

    and now, just as dawn broke, over a dozen blood tiger gang members had arrived, exuding menace.

    even worse, their uniforms marked them as inner disciples¡ªfar stronger than ordinary members.

    ¡°master! master! the blood tiger gang is coming for us!¡± zhao yan shouted in panic.

    inside the house, qi yuan was calmly sipping porridge. upon hearing this, he sighed in frustration.

    ¡°sigh... i guess i was too optimistic about this world.¡±

    ¡°all i did was accidentally kill a few of their members in self-defense. and now they dare to seek revenge?¡±

    ¡°all i wanted was to transcend the mortal realm in peace, away from worldly matters. but you¡¯re all forcing me!¡±

    qi yuan gritted his teeth, slammed his bowl to the ground, and picked up a hoe from the corner of the room.

    striding out of the house with the demeanor of a dragon and the authority of a tiger, qi yuan bellowed:

    ¡°blood tiger gang scum, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡±

    he stood in the courtyard, hoe in hand, facing the group of inner disciples.

    with a loud boom, he slammed the hoe into the ground with such force that the wooden shaft broke, leaving him holding only a stick.

    the blood tiger gang members froze, stunned by the sight.

    ¡°who is this guy?¡±

    ¡°what¡¯s he doing?¡±

    ¡°wait... isn¡¯t that the white-haired cultivator? wasn¡¯t he dead?¡±

    ¡°how is he alive?¡±

    ¡°did he come back as a ghost?¡±

    the disciples murmured among themselves, confused and unsure.

    in the neighboring courtyard, wu lian gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

    ¡°he¡¯s alive!¡±

    she had personally attended qi yuan¡¯s funeral and even eaten at the feast.

    now, qi yuan was standing before the blood tiger gang, holding a broken hoe.

    ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡±

    the blood tiger gang¡¯s squad leader frowned, his expression shifting between wariness and unease.

    but he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time. their priority was capturing the rebels, and delaying now could allow their targets to escape.

    ¡°hey, this is a misunderstanding. we¡¯re here to apprehend your neighbors¡ªthey¡¯re harboring rebels!¡± the squad leader explained.

    qi yuan sneered. ¡°do you take me for an idiot? you¡¯re pretending to capture rebels just to lower my guard so you can ambush me!¡±

    the squad leader was dumbfounded.

    had they encountered a lunatic?

    ¡°hmph, i won¡¯t fall for the same trick twice,¡± qi yuan declared. ¡°last night, i trusted you people. i thought you were honorable and wouldn¡¯t seek trouble.

    ¡°but now, not only are you causing trouble, you¡¯re using the same old trick to catch me off guard! do you think i¡¯d fall for it again?¡±

    ¡°???¡± the squad leader was utterly bewildered.

    what was this white-haired man talking about?

    even zhao yan, standing nearby, was confused. he thought he understood but quickly realized he didn¡¯t.

    the squad leader¡¯s expression darkened. losing patience, he barked:

    ¡°fine! if you won¡¯t cooperate, brothers¡ªkill him!¡±

    qi yuan¡¯s face lit up with an almost triumphant glow.

    ¡°see? i was right! caught red-handed! no more pretending!¡±

    he gripped his broken hoe tightly and stepped forward, standing resolute before the gang members.

    ¡°anyone who dares to disrupt my journey of transcending the mortal realm¡ªmust die!¡±

    in that moment, a thought crossed qi yuan¡¯s mind.

    if his attempts at transcending the mortal realm kept getting interrupted here...

    what if he simply killed everyone who dared to disturb him?

    wouldn¡¯t that finally bring him peace?

    as the idea took root, a new plan began forming in qi yuan¡¯s mind.

 Chapter 548: Plagiarizing My Mortal Transcendence? Pay Royalties After Becoming a Realm Lord!

    ¡°crazy lunatic!¡± the blood tiger gang¡¯s squad leader sneered coldly.

    a dozen gang members armed with weapons surged forward, resembling a group of ruthless gangsters.

    ¡°you¡¯re the lunatic!¡± qi yuan stood in the middle of the road, gripping the broken handle of a hoe, looking every bit like an imposing bandit.

    in the neighboring courtyard, wu xiang was frantic. ¡°what should we do?¡±

    the situation felt strange and ominous.

    the blood tiger gang¡¯s focus on qi yuan meant that this was the perfect opportunity to flee.

    but wu xiang¡¯s indecisive nature made him hesitate.

    his tendency to overthink meant he could spend half the day stuck in indecision.

    meanwhile, qi yuan charged into the gang members, swinging his hoe handle.

    ¡°anyone who dares obstruct my mortal transcendence is my enemy!¡±

    to prepare for this mortal transcendence, qi yuan had deliberately instructed chen kangbao and shen lingxuan to stay away and avoid contacting him for the time being.

    this attempt was crucial¡ªit was his stepping stone to the ancestor god realm.

    in simpler terms, the yang god realm.

    if qi yuan pursued the traditional path of killing countless yin gods to ascend to yang god, the energy required would be astronomical.

    it might even be a number impossible to comprehend.

    but if he succeeded in achieving transcendence, his progress would be instant¡ªa leap to unimaginable heights. the value of this method was incalculable.

    ¡°you think you can stop me from transcending?¡±

    ¡°do you seriously believe a simple wooden stick can contend with our blades and swords?¡± the squad leader kept his tone disdainful, even though he secretly acknowledged qi yuan¡¯s strength. maintaining morale was crucial in any gang confrontation.

    ¡°all things are equal. why can¡¯t a wooden stick compete with blades and swords?¡± qi yuan retorted.

    ¡°crush him!¡±

    at that moment, qi yuan demonstrated what ¡°brute force¡± truly meant.

    without any fancy techniques, he swung the stick with raw power.

    the swing was so forceful that the wind from the strike reached them before the stick itself.

    bang! bang! bang!

    seven inner disciples of the blood tiger gang were sent flying over ten meters. when their bodies hit the ground, they were lifeless.

    their internal organs had been shattered.

    score: 7-0.

    ¡°with strength like this, you dare to block my mortal transcendence? what¡¯s your monthly salary¡ªthree thousand taels? and you¡¯re still risking your lives?¡±

    like a whirlwind, qi yuan continued his assault, giving the remaining gang members no time to react.

    his wooden stick swept through the crowd. not a single person could withstand even one strike.

    he was like a god of fury, rampaging through the gang.

    in just a few breaths, all the blood tiger gang members lay dead on the ground.

    qi yuan glanced at the corpses, visibly angry. ¡°the blood tiger gang is rotten to the core! and yet, my role-play progress is still stuck at 0%.¡±

    he was certain that without the interference of these gang members, his progress bar might have increased by now.

    ¡°senior... you¡¯re incredible!¡± wu xiang finally stepped out, his voice filled with awe. he looked at qi yuan with reverence and asked, ¡°senior, are you a xuan-tier weapon master?¡±

    such overwhelming power surely belonged to someone at the xuan-tier or higher.

    ¡°don¡¯t spout nonsense. i¡¯m just a mortal,¡± qi yuan said, casting a sidelong glance at wu xiang.

    wu xiang was dumbfounded.

    what kind of mortal could send seven inner disciples of the blood tiger gang flying with one swing?

    what kind of mortal¡¯s stick generated air blades?

    seeing wu xiang¡¯s disbelief, qi yuan added, ¡°i just happen to be a bit stronger than most.¡±

    to successfully transcend the mortal realm, it was essential to make people believe he was truly mortal.

    ¡°if you don¡¯t believe me, we can arm-wrestle¡ªor leg-wrestle if you prefer,¡± qi yuan offered nonchalantly.

    wu xiang was thoroughly confused.

    why were they suddenly talking about arm-wrestling?

    what exactly was he supposed to do here?

    ¡°senior, you¡¯ve killed members of the blood tiger gang. it won¡¯t be long before they send reinforcements. staying in yunxue city will be extremely dangerous. why not come with me to the wilderness?¡± wu xiang suggested, extending an invitation.

    the blood tiger gang itself wasn¡¯t overly formidable. but their backers¡ªthe blood tiger cultivator and the thorned blood specters¡ªwere terrifying forces.

    qi yuan gave wu xiang a dismissive glance. ¡°i have no interest in joining your rebellion. i just want to live a quiet and peaceful life in the city.¡±

    his ability to see hidden information was a unique talent, something he considered a gift. surely using it didn¡¯t count as employing supernatural powers?

    wu xiang was taken aback. he hadn¡¯t expected qi yuan to see through his identity as a rebel.

    ¡°i don¡¯t have time to waste with you. i¡¯ve got important matters to attend to. i¡¯m going to destroy the blood tiger gang. goodbye.¡±

    with that, qi yuan turned and walked away.

    the blood tiger gang¡¯s actions had crossed the line. their atrocities were unforgivable. qi yuan had had enough.

    <hr>

    but what xianling yingjun described felt eerily familiar.

    ¡°these so-called all-things realm lords are plagiarizing my methods!¡±

    qi yuan became more convinced as xianling yingjun continued explaining.

    according to the npc, these realm lords primarily reincarnated as living beings¡ªhumans, animals, or plants¡ªto immerse themselves in the natural world and glean wisdom.

    but qi yuan¡¯s approach went further. he could role-play not only as living entities but also as objects like stones, kitchen knife, and divine artifacts.

    ¡°those all-things realm lords clearly copied my system!¡± qi yuan thought indignantly.

    ¡°they didn¡¯t even do it properly! they only understood half of the process.¡±

    he clenched his fists. ¡°if i were already in the yin god realm, i¡¯d charge them royalties for intellectual theft!¡±

    he paused, a realization dawning on him.

    across the vast multiverse, countless worlds and realms existed. and in each one, there were likely realm lords who owed him for using his system without credit.

    yet qi yuan also understood the danger of speaking up. in zhou cosmos, gratitude was often met with hostility. if he accused these powerful beings of plagiarism, they might unite to silence him permanently.

    for now, he resolved to keep this revelation to himself.

    ¡°of course,¡± xianling yingjun added, unaware of qi yuan¡¯s inner musings, ¡°the methods of these top-tier realm lords differ from yours. still, there¡¯s value in studying their approach.

    ¡°for example, you could seal your own memories, begin a new life, and experience the world from an entirely fresh perspective.¡±

    ¡°thanks for the suggestion,¡± qi yuan replied sincerely, though he immediately dismissed the idea.

    in his eyes, the realm lords¡¯ methods were flawed imitations of his own system.

    what xianling yingjun described felt like the equivalent of news from qi yuan¡¯s world being reposted abroad, only to be re-imported and repackaged as foreign insight.

    ¡°i¡¯ve been on the right path all along,¡± qi yuan thought.

    ¡°the only reason my transcendence hasn¡¯t progressed is because too many people are interfering. once i eliminate those obstacles, i¡¯ll achieve peace and clarity.¡±

    his gaze hardened.

    ¡°should i keep killing the blood tiger gang?¡±

    he reconsidered. ¡°no. they¡¯re just small fry. i¡¯ll skip them and go straight to the thorned blood specters!¡±

    <hr>

    meanwhile, within the blood tiger gang¡¯s headquarters...

    the gang¡¯s leader, a burly figure with arms as thick as most men¡¯s thighs, sat brooding in his grand hall. his expression was dark, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

    ¡°he¡¯s risen from the dead, has he? how bold of him to kill my inner disciples! does he think he can challenge me?¡±

    the gang leader had always been known for his brute strength, bolstered further by his cultivation. at his peak, his power rivaled that of a low-tier earth-tier weapon master.

    a subordinate entered the hall, handing him a letter.

    the leader skimmed it, his lips curling into a sneer.

    ¡°has old man wang lost his mind?¡±

    he tossed the letter to the ground dismissively, leaning back with a look of disdain.

    the gang¡¯s strategist didn¡¯t need to read the letter to know its contents.

    old man wang, a wealthy merchant in the city, had a history of intervening on behalf of captured rebels. using his wealth, he often ransomed them out of the blood tiger gang¡¯s clutches.

    at the beginning, when the leader of the blood tiger gang was weak, old man wang saved his life.

    this time, the letter offered ten thousand taels of silver to spare qi yuan¡¯s life.

    ¡°hmph! ten thousand taels for my brothers¡¯ lives? add another zero!¡± the gang leader growled, raising three fingers. ¡°tell them it¡¯s thirty thousand!¡±

    the subordinate nodded, rushing off to deliver the message.

    the strategist hesitated. ¡°boss, this cultivator seems different. if we take the money but don¡¯t handle this properly, it could upset our superiors.¡±

    the leader¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°do you think i¡¯m an idiot? we¡¯ll take the money¡ªand then kill him anyway. problem solved.¡±

    this deal would be his ticket to appealing to the blood tiger cultivator, who could grant him noble status by transforming him into a half-human, half-specter hybrid.

    once he became a noble, he would no longer need to lead the blood tiger gang like a common thug.

    ¡°boss, you¡¯re brilliant!¡± the strategist flattered.

    ¡°gather everyone. let¡¯s find that bastard!¡±

    the gang leader strode out of the hall.

    in the courtyard, over a hundred gang members stood ready, their weapons gleaming under the sun.

    the leader surveyed his forces with satisfaction.

    a scout hurried over. ¡°boss, that man is heading toward the inner city!¡±

    the leader frowned. ¡°the inner city? why would he go there?¡±

    few dared to enter the inner city, as it was strictly controlled by the thorned blood specters. only nobles, their servants, and specter members were allowed within its walls.

    ¡°bring me the footage from the overseer eyes!¡± the leader barked.

    these surveillance artifacts¡ªsimilar to flying drones¡ªhad been tracking qi yuan ever since he killed the inner disciples.

    the strategist offered a theory. ¡°perhaps he realized he couldn¡¯t escape the city and hopes to become a noble¡¯s servant for protection.¡±

    the leader¡¯s face darkened.

    if qi yuan succeeded in gaining the favor of a noble, dealing with him would become infinitely more complicated. perhaps he would have to ask blood tiger cultivator for help.

 Chapter 549: A Terrifying Opponent, Qi Yuan Goes All Out!

    in the inner city.

    blood tiger reclined in his seat of authority.

    around him sat numerous nobles who, like him, were part-human, part-specter, and part-beast.

    some had bull heads, while others had pig faces. hundreds of such bizarre figures were gathered together, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a grotesque zoo.

    these strange nobles were engrossed in the spectacle below, their expressions wild with excitement.

    on the prisoner¡¯s arena, scantily clad men and women wielded swords, brutally fighting each other.

    the nobles¡¯ eyes glinted with feral bloodlust as they shouted, their breathing heavy with exhilaration.

    ¡°useless! twist his neck already!¡±

    ¡°bite him! what¡¯s the point of having teeth?¡±

    ¡°if you make me lose money, i¡¯ll skin you alive!¡±

    ¡°damn it!¡±

    ¡°you worthless piece of trash!¡±

    a flood of crude, obscene language filled the air.

    blood tiger shook his enormous tiger head and chewed noisily on a mixture of garlic and minced meat. the smell wafting from his mouth was nothing short of revolting.

    he held a communication artifact in his hand, his expression relaxed.

    ¡°a cultivator who has come back from the dead?¡±

    on the other end of the artifact, the blood tiger gang¡¯s leader spoke in an obsequious tone:

    ¡°this man shows no regard for lord blood tiger¡¯s authority. he has killed members of the blood tiger gang and now dares to enter the inner city seeking refuge. i humbly request lord blood tiger¡¯s intervention and offer 30,000 taels of silver as tribute!¡±

    blood tiger narrowed his eyes. ¡°spare me the flattery. i¡¯ve got nothing better to do right now anyway. i¡¯ll check it out.¡±

    with that, blood tiger stood up.

    the gang leader had already provided qi yuan¡¯s approximate location via the artifact.

    it wasn¡¯t far.

    before leaving, blood tiger slapped a maidservant standing by the prisoner¡¯s arena on her thigh, a playful glint in his eye.

    ¡°keep the thighs of those two-legged beasts for me,¡± he instructed, pointing at the two slaves fighting in the arena.

    even if they managed to survive the match, it didn¡¯t guarantee their lives would be spared.

    the maidservant responded with a sycophantic smile. ¡°of course, my lord. the juiciest cuts will be reserved just for you.¡±

    blood tiger swaggered through the inner city streets.

    compared to the outer city, the inner city was significantly more prosperous. the roads were cleaner, and human slaves in tidy uniforms diligently swept the streets, their heads lowered.

    ¡°a cultivator who has been confirmed by thorned blood to have risen from the dead. it seems he¡¯s hiding some kind of secret.

    ¡°he¡¯s probably here to seek refuge with a noble and offer that secret as a gift.¡±

    blood tiger prided himself on his analytical skills.

    ¡°a cunning plan, but unfortunately for him, he¡¯s encountered me.¡±

    his tiger-like face radiated confidence and murderous intent.

    <hr>

    just then, blood tiger glanced skyward, his expression shifting to one of surprise and curiosity.

    a streak of golden light flashed across the sky at incredible speed.

    ¡°that¡¯s golden pill crane!¡±

    golden pill crane was a prominent figure in thorned blood, a heaven-tier weapon master whose mere presence could cause yunxue city to tremble.

    blood tiger knew that golden pill crane spent most of his time in seclusion, rarely appearing in public.

    ¡°what could have drawn him out today?¡±

    before blood tiger could ponder further, several more streaks of light cut across the sky. each carried an aura of immense power¡ªheaven-tier weapon masters, without a doubt.

    ¡°what¡¯s going on? even the elder council is mobilizing?¡±

    a sense of foreboding crept over blood tiger.

    in just a short span, he identified over ten heaven-tier powerhouses moving in unison.

    ¡°this must be something major.

    ¡°but whatever it is, it has nothing to do with me. my task is to deal with qi yuan.¡±

    he forced himself to remain calm and quickened his pace.

    <hr>

    meanwhile, high above the city, golden pill crane flew through the air, his golden robes fluttering, his face dark and foreboding.

    ¡°the princess has been killed by a human slave!¡±

    in the quijin realm, anyone with the title of ¡°princess¡± commanded immense respect and fear.

    such individuals were often daughters or sisters of wraith gods.

    wraith gods, beings of unfathomable power, resided in the heavens or deep within the earth, rarely revealing themselves.

    the princess in question was dark spirit yun, the daughter of the dark-eye wraith god.

    dark spirit yun was infamous for her penchant for concealing her identity and causing trouble.

    upon learning of her visit to cloudblood city, golden pill crane had grown anxious and arranged for a heaven-tier protector, dragon eleven, to guard her.

    but moments ago, golden pill crane had seen dragon eleven¡¯s soul plate shatter.

    every member of thorned blood left a fragment of their soul essence in a soul plate. its shattering signified death.

    the news left golden pill crane shaken.

    other heaven-tier powerhouses had also sensed the event and were converging on the location of dragon eleven¡¯s demise.

    ¡°what¡¯s the situation?¡± golden pill crane demanded, his tone icy and intimidating.

    the tenth elder¡¯s face was equally grim.

    ¡°the princess was collecting tolls at the city gate. a human slave refused to pay and slapped her to death on the spot.

    ¡°dragon eleven intervened and was also killed¡ªone slap!¡±

    a heaven-tier powerhouse, killed with a single slap?

    golden pill crane was stunned.

    cloudblood city¡¯s elites, now assembled in force, moved like a tidal wave, prepared to crush the offender.

    <hr>

    on the streets, li da glared at the man before him, his expression twisted in fury.

    ¡°do you even realize what you¡¯ve done?¡±

    the sound of the ground splitting reverberated through the air.

    winds howled furiously, and rooftops were torn from buildings.

    it wasn¡¯t just a storm; it was worse than a storm.

    the immense power was like a nuclear explosion sweeping across the inner city.

    rumble!

    buildings collapsed. stone pillars were uprooted and thrown aside.

    in an instant, the city was a scene of utter devastation.

    above, in the skies, more than ten fearsome figures were sent tumbling to the ground in disarray.

    each of these figures was a heaven-tier expert!

    these heaven-tier powerhouses had been hiding in the sky, waiting for an opportunity to ambush qi yuan.

    but qi yuan¡¯s stomp had unleashed a force so immense that it shook them out of the sky, catching them completely off guard.

    yet qi yuan¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t even on them.

    his gaze was fixed on blood tiger.

    ¡°you¡¯re strong. deeply unfathomable,¡± qi yuan said, his tone filled with genuine admiration.

    ¡°even though my movements are slow, with your strength, you could have easily dodged. yet you stood still, showing no concern for my attack.

    ¡°it¡¯s clear you¡¯re not bothered by my strength at all.¡±

    if his attack meant nothing to blood tiger, then he had to avoid hitting him directly. after all, what if blood tiger had a way to redirect the power?

    meanwhile, the heaven-tier experts who had fallen to the ground looked horrified.

    clearly, they too were shaken by qi yuan¡¯s overwhelming display of power.

    ¡°he stomped the ground and caused it to shatter like that? is that still human strength?¡±

    blood tiger, on the other hand, was frozen in place, unable to move.

    what...what had he just seen?

    this seemingly ordinary human had stomped the ground as if it were a joke.

    and then...

    the heavens and earth shook!

    and then...heaven-tier experts fell like dumplings from the sky!

    what was he supposed to do now?

    what could he do?

    oh no.

    oh no.

    his legs trembled violently, betraying his sheer terror.

    finally, he began to understand.

    why had so many heaven-tier experts been dispatched?

    because this ¡°human¡± was a true monster.

    and now, in his arrogance, he had dared to stand in this monster¡¯s way.

    <hr>

    at that moment, blood tiger¡¯s communication artifact buzzed.

    from the other end came the voice of the blood tiger gang¡¯s leader.

    ¡°lord blood tiger, there¡¯s been a massive disturbance in the inner city. has something big happened?

    ¡°have you captured that insignificant human yet? i fear for your safety, my lord!¡±

    blood tiger stared at the artifact, his mind a storm of fury.

    insignificant human?

    the creature standing before him had just stomped the inner city into ruins, and this idiot dared to call him insignificant?

    am i safe?

    safe my foot!

    his head filled with a thousand curses, all directed at the gang leader and his mother.

    suddenly, qi yuan spoke, his expression serious.

    ¡°your legs are trembling. is that some sort of advanced technique to release excess force? what a terrifying skill!¡±

    qi yuan turned his attention to the heaven-tier experts.

    ¡°before i duel you, would you allow me to clean up these little bugs? i wouldn¡¯t want them to interfere with our fight.¡±

    his face darkened with killing intent as he glanced at the fallen experts.

    hearing this, the heaven-tier experts felt a chill run down their spines.

    ¡°run!¡±

    golden pill crane transformed into a streak of golden light, racing toward the sky.

    ¡°he can¡¯t fly! get to the skies!¡± li da shouted in warning.

    during his earlier encounter with qi yuan, li da had heard him claim he had no cultivation and only natural strength.

    at the time, li da hadn¡¯t believed it. now, he did.

    this was true divine strength.

    without cultivation, qi yuan likely couldn¡¯t fly. if they stayed in the air, they would be safe and could attack from a distance.

    most of the heaven-tier experts soared higher and higher, feeling more confident as they gained altitude.

    unfortunately, two unlucky souls were struck mid-air by stones that qi yuan had kicked with frightening precision, killing them instantly.

    qi yuan looked up at the experts in the sky, a dissatisfied expression on his face.

    ¡°so you¡¯re bullying me because i don¡¯t have a mount?¡±

    he sighed wistfully. if only shen lingxuan were here, he could have ridden her and soared into the skies to deal with these pests.

    ¡°but you don¡¯t know...¡± qi yuan¡¯s lips curled into a strange smile.

    ¡°...i can rely on technology. that doesn¡¯t count as breaking my rules, does it?¡±

    as he spoke, two mechanical wings extended from his back, gleaming with a sleek, futuristic design.

 Chapter 550: Where Is My Mother Buried?

    the futuristic wings gleamed with a dazzling brilliance, their rainbow-like hues exuding flamboyant flair.

    with a smooth motion, the wings unfolded, and qi yuan¡¯s figure soared into the sky.

    golden pill crane''s face displayed utter shock. ¡°what kind of artifact is that?¡±

    he had seen countless artifacts.

    he was even an artifact master who had forged many powerful artifacts himself.

    in yunxue city, no one could surpass him in knowledge of artifacts.

    but this strange winged design was completely beyond his comprehension.

    ¡°what artifact? these are flight wings¡ªmecha!¡± qi yuan outright denied it.

    after all, he was in the process of mortal transcendence, not cutting corners.

    to prepare for this pivotal moment, qi yuan had carefully equipped himself with numerous technological creations during his journey.

    drones, flight wings, and various other high-tech devices filled his arsenal.

    the technology provided by zero-one was seemingly limitless: spatial compression, nanotechnology, anti-gravity mechanisms, and more.

    of course, qi yuan had used a tiny fraction of his artifact master abilities to craft these technological tools.

    but just a fraction! and he had even painted over them!

    if some officials could repaint imported cars and pass them off as domestic, surely painting over his creations to call them "technology" wasn¡¯t too much of a stretch.

    ¡°i¡¯ve been reasonable,¡± qi yuan muttered to himself, suddenly accelerating.

    ¡°watch my supersonic attack!¡±

    with a loud shout, his speed surged, breaking the sound barrier.

    in the immortal world, such speed might not be impressive, but in the divine wood universe, it was enough to make even heaven-tier experts tremble.

    ¡°ten times the speed of sound!¡±

    with his powerful fists, resilient body, and supersonic velocity, qi yuan could annihilate a heaven-tier artifact master with a single collision.

    ¡°heaven and earth power!¡±

    seeing qi yuan charging toward him, a thorned blood elder hurriedly summoned the power of heaven and earth.

    the surrounding forces coalesced into a protective barrier before him, providing a momentary sense of security.

    boom!

    the terrifying collision shattered the barrier, leaving the elder staring in disbelief.

    the power of heaven and earth... was completely ineffective!

    but his thoughts went no further as his body disintegrated into a mist of blood.

    ¡°how is this possible?!¡±

    ¡°the seventh elder... is dead?¡±

    ¡°you claim to be a mortal, yet heaven and earth yield to you!¡± golden pill crane roared in fury.

    there were rumors of heaven-tier weapon masters so attuned to the power of heaven and earth that they could bypass its resistance.

    it was clear the white-haired man before them was one of these rare individuals.

    yet despite being undeniably transcendent, he continued to deny it, mocking them all.

    ¡°ridiculous! how dare you slander me with such baseless accusations? i¡¯m just... on good terms with heaven and earth¡ªthey don¡¯t block me, that¡¯s all,¡± qi yuan retorted mid-battle.

    he sighed dramatically. ¡°unlike you deformed misfits¡ªneither human, beast, nor specter¡ªyou wouldn¡¯t understand the burden of being as handsome as i am.

    ¡°when you¡¯re this good-looking, you¡¯ll understand how warmly the world embraces us!¡±

    with that, qi yuan launched another supersonic punch.

    another thorned blood elder fell.

    ¡°e-everyone... u-unite!¡± stammered one of the thorned blood elders.

    qi yuan¡¯s patience wore thin.

    ¡°still stammering at your age? what a waste of space. let me clear some memory for the divine wood universe!¡±

    true to his word, qi yuan obliterated the stammering elder instantly.

    in mere moments, three thorned blood elders were dead.

    golden pill crane¡¯s face was twisted in rage and fear.

    ¡°who are you?! this is the territory of the dark-eye god! to offend a god is to court death!¡±

    golden pill crane couldn¡¯t fathom why someone would dare act so brazenly in yunxue city, slaughtering without restraint.

    this city was under the rule of the dark-eye god, part of black heaven and black earth¡¯s domain.

    even the human enlightenment society¡¯s agents tread lightly here.

    and yet, this white-haired man strutted through the city as if it were his own.

    moreover, despite his white hair, qi yuan radiated youthful vitality.

    the human enlightenment society wouldn¡¯t waste such a prodigy by sending him to an enemy stronghold.

    after all, in the divine wood universe, entering enemy territory was a one-way ticket to death.

    ¡°dark-eye god? if they dare obstruct my mortal transcendence, they¡¯ll die too,¡± qi yuan declared nonchalantly.

    his sole focus was on achieving mortal transcendence.

    anyone who stood in his way was an enemy that had to be eliminated.

    ¡°trying to escape? did you ask my wings for permission?¡±

    qi yuan¡¯s speed was unmatched, cutting down all who stood before him.

    heaven-tier experts¡ªuntouchable to most¡ªwere nothing more than fodder.

    it was a complete massacre.

    <hr>

    ¡°but the universe is vast. even i, despite my lifelong efforts, haven¡¯t explored a fraction of it. absolute prodigies are as numerous as the grains of sand in a river, fleeting as bubbles in a dream.

    ¡°without reaching the yang god realm, without ascending to a realm lord¡¯s stature, they remain but transient dust within the cosmos.¡±

    hearing this, xianling yingjun nodded. ¡°thank you, grand elder.¡±

    however, something else lingered in his mind.

    ¡°grand elder... do you know the origins of black heaven?¡±

    black heaven¡¯s name carried a weighty and ominous significance. xianling yingjun had heard it countless times, yet its true origins remained a mystery to him.

    even within void paradise, no information on black heaven¡¯s origins was available for exchange.

    the grand elder shook his head. ¡°with my weak strength and low status, how could i know such secrets?¡±

    xianling yingjun sighed deeply. ¡°it seems only the void lord knows the truth about black heaven.¡±

    in void paradise, becoming the top-ranked participant on the leaderboard allowed one to ask the void lord a single question.

    xianling yingjun had once heard that the human enlightenment society had gathered the combined resources of their entire universe to aid a void walker in achieving the top rank.

    this void walker had then used their question to inquire about black heaven.

    according to rumors, the void lord did reveal black heaven¡¯s origins.

    however, mere moments after receiving the answer, the void walker inexplicably forgot everything they had learned.

    <hr>

    quijin realm, yunxue city.

    blood tiger gang¡¯s leader stood pale-faced, staring at the message on his communication device.

    ¡°what happened?¡±

    ¡°lord blood tiger is usually so mild-mannered. why would he curse me like this?¡±

    the words ¡°fuck you!¡±* had left the gang leader in a state of panic.

    ¡°could it be...¡±

    a terrifying thought crossed his mind.

    ¡°advisor, where is my mother buried?¡± he asked hurriedly.

    the military advisor replied promptly, ¡°in purple star grove!¡±

    ¡°dig up my mother¡¯s grave and bring her bones here. i will personally offer them to lord blood tiger!¡± the gang leader commanded gravely.

    blood tiger was known for his calm demeanor, akin to a smiling tiger. for him to use such crude language was unthinkable unless... he truly meant it!

    ¡°mother, you didn¡¯t enjoy much comfort in life, but in death... i¡¯ll make sure you experience some joy!¡± the gang leader muttered, consoling himself.

    this wasn¡¯t an act of disrespect; it was a display of filial piety.

    after all, his mother had always considered it an honor to serve half-human, half-specter beings like the thorned blood members.

    in death, she would surely take pride in such a distinguished posthumous offering.

    just as these thoughts crossed his mind, his expression suddenly shifted.

    ¡°who dares trespass into my blood tiger gang¡¯s territory?¡±

    the voice came from a man shrouded in darkness, exuding an aura of danger.

    ¡°i¡¯ve come for one person... where is qi yuan?¡±

    the white-haired cultivator known as qi yuan had become the object of his search.

    after receiving wu xiang¡¯s message, the black-clad man had rushed to the blood tiger gang¡¯s base, intending to rescue qi yuan.

    initially, he had anticipated a fierce battle.

    his plan was to bide his time, wait for an opportunity, and then save qi yuan, hoping to recruit him into the rebellion.

    but on his way, he had heard a deafening sound, akin to an earthquake, emanating from the inner city.

    he had hesitated to investigate the inner city, fearing unforeseen dangers. after much deliberation, he had chosen to proceed to the blood tiger gang instead.

    this decision had led to the current scene.

    the gang leader eyed the black-clad man warily. ¡°he¡¯s not here. he went to the inner city. most likely, lord blood tiger has already apprehended him!¡±

    the gang leader had no desire to fight this mysterious figure.

    the black-clad man narrowed his eyes, a mix of surprise and disappointment on his face.

    ¡°he went to the inner city?¡±

    if qi yuan had indeed gone there, any hope of saving him was likely gone.

    ¡°what happened in the inner city?¡± the black-clad man probed cautiously, though he doubted the gang leader would have an answer.

    ¡°i...¡± the gang leader began, but his advisor¡¯s panicked voice interrupted him.

    ¡°bad news, boss! a slaughtering maniac is wreaking havoc in the inner city!¡±

    the advisor had just received a message through his communicator. someone had begun a massacre in the inner city.

    ¡°slaughtering in the inner city? that¡¯s a death sentence!¡± the gang leader declared, his tone unhurried.

    the earlier tremors had been alarming, but with the thorned blood clan overseeing the city and the dark-eye god potentially descending at any moment, there was no chance of significant upheaval.

    ¡°you¡¯re right. i let my nerves get the better of me. the inner city is impregnable; nothing major could possibly happen,¡± the advisor said, though he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he hadn¡¯t received any updates from his contact.

    was the contact... busy bathing?

    the black-clad man¡¯s eyes gleamed with intrigue.

    someone was causing carnage in the inner city?

    who could this be?

    after a moment of hesitation, he glanced toward the inner city and made up his mind.

    he would sneak over and see for himself.

    after all, if a human warrior was about to fall, someone needed to bear witness to their bravery and ensure their sacrifice wouldn¡¯t be forgotten.

 Chapter 551: The Master of the Learning Academy

    the narrow and crowded streets were now desolate, not a single soul in sight.

    in the outer district, most of the pale, emaciated humans hid inside their homes, trembling in fear, unwilling to step outside.

    ¡°do you think that tremor earlier means the rebels have broken through?¡±

    ¡°are the rebels really that powerful?¡±

    ¡°if it¡¯s really the rebels, they¡¯re humans like us. i hope they win.¡±

    ¡°what¡¯s the use of them winning!¡±

    ¡°do you think they can actually drive out the noble lords? even if they do win and gain some glory, who¡¯s going to clean up the mess afterward?

    the noble lords will only vent their anger on us innocent commoners. ugh, today¡¯s probably going to end with more innocent people dying horribly.¡±

    ¡°but... they¡¯re still our kind. the ones tormenting us are those nobles...¡±

    a group of people whispered among themselves, their thoughts tangled and complex, each with their own perspective. <hr>

    on the empty streets, a black-clad man moved quickly, his expression hurried and tense.

    suddenly, the sharp call of a bird rang out from a specific direction.

    the man¡¯s face shifted slightly, and he immediately turned toward the source of the sound.

    in a matter of moments, he arrived at an abandoned courtyard.

    within the courtyard were two figures¡ªone was the familiar wu xiang, and the other was a rotund man clad in fine silks.

    ¡°deacon li, it¡¯s a big deal!¡± the obese man spoke, his jowls quivering.

    this man was part of the rebel forces, stationed in yunxue city as a hidden agent.

    he had been quite successful in his dealings, gaining favor with certain nobles and developing some connections within the inner city.

    because of this, he was always one of the first to receive any major news from within the inner city.

    <hr>

    ¡°what exactly happened?¡± the black-clad deacon li asked.

    first, there had been the tremor, and then word from the blood tiger gang¡¯s strategist that someone was slaughtering indiscriminately in the inner city.

    ¡°they¡¯re dead! all dead!¡± the fat man exclaimed, his voice frantic and his thoughts scattered.

    ¡°calm down!¡± deacon li¡¯s voice rang out, steady and crisp, immediately silencing the man¡¯s panic.

    the fat man finally collected himself, organizing his thoughts before speaking.

    ¡°a powerful figure entered the inner city and... killed the god¡¯s daughter¡ªa princess!¡±

    ¡°what... they killed the princess?¡± deacon li¡¯s breathing quickened.

    a princess was the child of a god!

    and not just any god¡ªa divine-tier being capable of suppressing the entire quijin realm.

    and now, someone had actually killed one of them!

    this was practically tearing the heavens apart!

    ¡°is the thorned blood faction pursuing him?¡± deacon li asked.

    now he was anxious, unsure if they should even try to recruit this person into the rebel forces.

    after all, this could bring catastrophic repercussions.

    ¡°no!¡± the fat man shook his head. ¡°he¡¯s killing the nobles instead!¡±

    ¡°what?¡± deacon li couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it.

    after slaying the god¡¯s daughter, this person hadn¡¯t chosen to flee. instead, they were continuing to slaughter those twisted beings that were neither fully human nor entirely monstrous. was he courting death?

    the inner city housed at least a dozen heaven-tier experts.

    was this mysterious figure truly so fearsome?

    ¡°if he had fled immediately, he might have had a chance to survive. but now that he¡¯s slaughtering nobles, he¡¯s probably already been surrounded by the thorned blood elders,¡± deacon li speculated, his heart heavy with concern.

    ¡°no!¡± the fat man interrupted again. ¡°he¡¯s already killed all the elders of thorned blood!¡±

    ¡°what?¡± deacon li was utterly stunned.

    he found it difficult to believe the fat man¡¯s words.

    while yunxue city wasn¡¯t considered a major city, it still boasted more than a dozen heaven-tier experts.

    and now they were all dead?

    what kind of monstrous being had descended upon the city?

    for context, the rebel force they belonged to was already considered one of the strongest in the area, yet it had only three heaven-tier experts.

    now, someone had wiped out all the heaven-tier elders in yunxue city?

    ¡°is this true?¡± deacon li still found it hard to believe.

    ¡°absolutely! i¡¯ve already reported this to our leader,¡± the fat man said earnestly.

    if this information weren¡¯t accurate, how could he dare inform the leader?

    the rebel leader was thorned blood¡¯s greatest nemesis. if the leader came to yunxue city because of this news and fell into a thorned blood trap, the fat man would be doomed.

    <hr>

    deacon li studied the fat man carefully, his gaze sharp and penetrating.

    the fat man began to sweat under his scrutiny.

    at this moment, wu xiang spoke up. ¡°i trust brother chu.¡±

    hearing this, deacon li¡¯s expression shifted multiple times before he finally spoke.

    ¡°this person killed the thorned blood elders and is now rampaging in the city. he¡¯s bound to attract the attention of the gods.

    we must hurry to the inner city and warn him to leave!¡±

    deacon li¡¯s plan was straightforward¡ªconfirm the situation¡¯s authenticity and, if true, help this individual escape.

    after all, this involved a god.

    no matter how powerful a mortal was, how could they contend with a god?

    in the quijin realm, there were ninety-nine gods in total, each of them invincible and divine!

    for a mere mortal to provoke divine wrath was nothing short of courting death.

    as for wu xiang¡¯s original request to rendezvous with qi yuan, deacon li had already pushed it aside.

    <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr>

    zhao yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he cautiously approached the courtyard gate. ¡°who is it?¡±

    ¡°it¡¯s me!¡± a crisp, familiar voice answered.

    the tension melted away from zhao yan¡¯s face, replaced by a look of joy.

    ¡°hong mei, it¡¯s you!¡±

    the door swung open, revealing a young woman in tight-fitting attire.

    zhao yan¡¯s face lit up with happiness as he recognized the familiar figure.

    three years ago, he had stumbled upon this injured, unconscious girl in yunxue city.

    this girl, now standing before him, was hong mei.

    unlike most women, hong mei had always dreamed of finding the fabled ¡°learning academy.¡±

    in fact, zhao yan only learned about the existence of the learning academy through her.

    the learning academy¡¯s master was a mysterious figure, known to travel across countless worlds, recruiting disciples and compiling ancient texts.

    currently, the master of the learning academy was said to be in the quijin realm.

    if they could meet the learning academy¡¯s master, join the academy, and serve under this enigmatic figure, they might even gain the master¡¯s protection and escape from this wretched world.

    <hr>

    ¡°three years have passed, and zhao yan, you¡¯re still the same as ever!¡± hong mei said with a teasing smile, her eyes sparkling with vitality.

    ¡°hong mei, why have you come back?¡± zhao yan¡¯s face was filled with barely contained joy.

    he had long harbored feelings for hong mei.

    ¡°i have good news for you...¡±

    ¡°you found the learning academy?¡± zhao yan asked eagerly.

    ¡°yes!¡± hong mei nodded. ¡°two years ago, i finally encountered some disciples of the learning academy. after enduring numerous trials and hardships, i passed their tests and joined the academy.¡±

    she spoke lightly, but zhao yan knew that the process must have been anything but easy.

    ¡°congratulations!¡± zhao yan said sincerely, genuinely happy for her.

    to join the fabled learning academy was to secure a chance of escaping this cage-like realm.

    ¡°now, the learning academy¡¯s master has come to the dark-eye domain to gather knowledge and compile texts. i came here with some senior brothers and sisters, and since we were near yunxue city, i thought i¡¯d come to see you.¡±

    her gaze softened as she looked at zhao yan, emotions flickering in her eyes.

    ¡°hey, last time, you refused to leave with me. now that i¡¯ve found the learning academy, will you come with me? you can even bring your master if you¡¯re worried about him!¡±

    hong mei looked at him expectantly.

    she had once invited zhao yan to join her in seeking the learning academy, but he had declined.

    ¡°i...¡± zhao yan hesitated, his face troubled. ¡°my master... his temperament is such that he would never go to the learning academy.

    he raised me and took great care of me. i can¡¯t just abandon him¡ªi owe him that much.¡±

    the gratitude he felt toward his master was deeply rooted, something he could never ignore.

    moreover, now that his master had offended the blood tiger gang, how could he walk away and leave him to face it alone?

    hong mei¡¯s expression faltered slightly, disappointment flashing in her eyes.

    but, at the same time, this was precisely the quality she admired in zhao yan.

    if he were someone cold and ungrateful, she wouldn¡¯t have fallen for him in the first place.

    ¡°fine. i¡¯ll be staying here for a while anyway. can i stay with you?¡± hong mei decided not to press the matter further.

    after all, she couldn¡¯t be certain zhao yan would even pass the academy¡¯s rigorous tests.

    ¡°no problem!¡± zhao yan replied enthusiastically.

    ¡°by the way, has anything interesting happened in yunxue city recently? you know, the learning academy¡¯s master wants to record all significant events in the world and compile them into books.¡±

    ¡°not really... nothing major.¡± zhao yan shook his head.

    the trouble with the blood tiger gang might have been a big deal for them personally, but in the grand scope of history, it was a trivial matter.

    ¡°no worries. we¡¯ll have plenty of time to catch up,¡± hong mei said cheerfully.

    reuniting with an old friend felt like rain after a long drought.

    <hr>

    among the mountains and rivers...

    a young girl followed an elderly man in a long robe, her face filled with innocent curiosity.

    ¡°grandfather, has something major happened? it¡¯s rare to see you so amused.¡±

    the old man, his face weathered with age, walked with a hunched back, as though carrying the weight of countless years.

    but this frail-looking elder was none other than the renowned master of the learning academy.

    ¡°i am undergoing mortal transcendence. disturb me, and you will end up like this beast!¡±

    ¡°marvelous! simply marvelous! the events in the quijin realm this time are worth the trip for this alone!¡±

    the learning academy¡¯s master laughed heartily, a sound of pure delight, something seldom heard from him.

    the young girl processed the latest information being relayed to her, her expression turning serious as she grasped its significance.

    ¡°to think such a hero would emerge in an enemy-occupied zone,¡± she said, her tone filled with admiration.

    to slay a god in the midst of enemy territory¡ªwhat did this mean?

    it meant an unending stream of enemies.

    it meant making the entire world one¡¯s adversary.

    the quijin realm¡¯s gods would converge, combining their might to hunt this individual down.

    even if he managed to escape this ordeal, other gods from different realms would eventually join the pursuit, leaving no place for him to hide.

    ¡°what an extraordinary hero. i wish i could meet him. after all, when the divine wood universe eventually falls, i don¡¯t want its glorious civilization and the countless heroes who sacrificed everything to be forgotten.¡±

    the learning academy¡¯s master was writing a book¡ªa monumental work titled outline of universal history.

    he feared that when the divine wood universe inevitably perished, there would be no one left to remember its greatness.

    no one to recall the brilliant civilization it once nurtured.

    and so, he traversed world after world, documenting history with his pen, meticulously crafting the outline of universal history.

 Chapter 552: Exquisite and Unmatched White Moonlight

    ¡°he seems to be in yunxue city. it might be worth visiting him,¡± the master of the learning academy said with a sigh.

    in the process of compiling outline of universal history, he had encountered countless people¡ªordinary mortals as well as extraordinary heroes.

    he sang the praises of the common folk and recorded the exploits of heroes.

    in his eyes, anyone who dared to draw their blade against the dark-eye god in the quijin realm was a true hero.

    behind him stood a young girl, her eyes filled with anticipation.

    <hr>

    three thousand miles away, qi huang floated high in the sky.

    his entire form was covered in white fur, his curved horns shaped like a bow. his aura exuded otherworldly power.

    beside him stood the towering figure of the dark-eye god, whose cold demeanor betrayed a hint of discontent as he gazed into the distance where his own corpse was displayed¡ªa grim spectacle of warning.

    ¡°heh, dark-eye, you¡¯re truly pathetic. a mere human not only killed you but set your corpse up as a trophy to mock us!¡± sneered the two-headed serpent god, his eyes filled with scorn.

    the other gods present were silent but uneasy.

    many of them were on par with the dark-eye god in strength. if the white-haired human could kill dark-eye so easily, it meant he could kill them too.

    ¡°if not for qi huang reviving you, you¡¯d still be stuck standing there in yunxue city, serving as a famous... tourist attraction,¡± the two-headed serpent god taunted.

    but when qi huang¡¯s name was mentioned, the serpent¡¯s tone shifted, filled with reverence and awe.

    unlike the rest of them, qi huang was a second-generation god, hailing from black heaven and black earth.

    ¡°for dark-eye to be slain by a mere human is a stain on the honor of all gods.

    i will go personally and kill this human. you all wait here¡ªi¡¯ll return shortly,¡± declared the two-headed serpent god.

    he was eager to prove himself in front of qi huang and showcase his strength.

    indeed, his power was formidable, ranking among the top ten in the quijin realm and firmly within the ranks of great venerables.

    dark-eye dared not respond, knowing the serpent¡¯s strength vastly exceeded his own.

    ¡°with the serpent god going, this will be an easy victory,¡± one god said.

    ¡°anyone who causes trouble in the quijin realm is simply courting death,¡± another added.

    the other gods spoke in flattery, while the serpent basked in their praises. he glanced toward qi huang, awaiting his approval to depart and destroy the white-haired human in yunxue city.

    but qi huang smiled faintly, a hint of amusement in his expression.

    ¡°how interesting... so this is a destined one, blessed by the will of fate,¡± qi huang remarked cryptically.

    the surrounding gods exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of what he meant.

    qi huang continued casually, ¡°if i were to let you go, your fate would mirror dark-eye¡¯s.

    afterward, your rival kai chi would likely try to seize the opportunity for glory, only to follow you in death.¡±

    his tone was relaxed, almost playful, as he revealed his insights.

    destined ones were beings favored by the will of the universe.

    although the quijin realm was under the control of the gods, it still existed within the greater divine wood universe, whose will naturally protected its destined ones.

    this protection meant that those who opposed them would inexplicably encounter misfortune or act irrationally.

    the two-headed serpent god¡¯s expression froze. despite his confidence, qi huang¡¯s words sent a chill through him.

    ¡°even if he managed to kill dark-eye, he¡¯s not a great venerable. i could easily crush him,¡± the serpent protested.

    qi huang chuckled. ¡°who told you he wasn¡¯t a great venerable?¡±

    ¡°what? are you saying he is?¡± the other gods¡¯ expressions grew solemn.

    if the human was a great venerable, then the serpent might genuinely face trouble.

    ¡°he¡¯s not just a great venerable¡ªhe¡¯s no ordinary one,¡± qi huang said, his eyes glinting with greed. ¡°he¡¯s a... withered myth.¡±

    ¡°a myth?¡±

    the gods gasped in shock.

    a myth was not something that could be compared to an ordinary yin god.

    a single myth was capable of obliterating all ninety-nine gods of the quijin realm.

    some gods even began considering retreat.

    <hr>

    ¡°three thousand years ago, one of my uncles sought to ascend to the yang god realm,¡± qi huang began, clearly enjoying the attention of his audience.

    ¡°he encountered this man outside the bounds of this world, and the two fought.

    ¡°of course, my uncle was victorious. he returned to meditate for a thousand years and successfully ascended to the yang god realm.¡±

    the gods listened with awe.

    qi huang¡¯s uncles were the stuff of legend.

    some whispered that one of his uncles had reached the second layer of yang god, perhaps even higher.

    <hr>

    qi huang smirked. ¡°this human? he¡¯s a myth whose strength has withered. at best, he¡¯s far stronger than a six-step great venerable but weaker than a true myth.¡±

    the serpent hesitated, sensing how close he¡¯d come to rushing to his own death.

    ¡°even so, if we were to subdue him, the cost would be catastrophic. it¡¯s better to request reinforcements from black heaven and black earth. only another myth can guarantee his destruction,¡± the serpent said.

    but qi huang merely laughed. ¡°there¡¯s no need to summon a myth. together, we are enough to kill him.¡±

    "see, this man is the destined one, blessed by the universe. if it weren''t for my powerful uncle, maybe quijin realm would be in trouble today.

    destiny may affect you, but it can''t affect me."

    qi huang¡¯s motives were clear.

    as a six-step great venerable, he coveted the human¡¯s powerful body.

    the gods of black heaven and black earth cultivated through strange methods, and the body of a powerful being like this human could significantly accelerate their progress.

    qi huang believed that if he killed the human and obtained his corpse, he could ascend to the seventh step of great venerable, saving himself tens of thousands of years of cultivation.

    if he summoned a myth to intervene, the body would no longer be his.

    thus, qi huang was determined to act personally.

    <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr> <hr>

    qi yuan eyed the hunchbacked old man, noting the unique hidden information displayed by his eyes.

    this wasn¡¯t just any npc.

    no, this figure was far from ordinary.

    in fact... he might not even be fully alive anymore.

    <hr>

    ¡°old sir, are you writing a book?¡± qi yuan asked directly.

    his thoughts turned to xianling yingjun, who had mentioned helping an old man gather information.

    could it have been this person?

    the master of the learning academy nodded. ¡°does sir know of me?¡±

    hongmei was astonished.

    why was the master addressing qi yuan as sir?

    usually, he referred to others as ¡°lad¡± or ¡°youth,¡± but sir was an exceptional term, rarely used.

    could it be that qi yuan had some extraordinary identity?

    ¡°just bits and pieces. i¡¯d like to ask you a few questions,¡± qi yuan said.

    the master smiled warmly. ¡°before sir asks, may this old man ask you a few questions first?¡±

    ¡°go ahead,¡± qi yuan replied.

    hongmei immediately pricked up her ears, eager to listen in.

    ¡°sir lives in this humble residence amidst the city¡¯s common folk. what prompted you to slay the dark-eye god?¡± the master asked curiously.

    hongmei and zhao yan froze as though lightning had struck them.

    the dark-eye god was slain?

    by qi yuan?!

    <hr>

    ¡°because... i¡¯m undergoing mortal transcendence,¡± qi yuan replied casually. ¡°i wanted to focus, but people kept interrupting me every day. it was incredibly frustrating, so i killed the most powerful figure in yunxue city, the dark-eye god, hoping i¡¯d finally get some peace and quiet.¡±

    zhao yan: ¡°???¡±

    hongmei: ¡°???¡±

    to prevent interruptions, he had killed a god?

    the master was taken aback. he hadn¡¯t expected such a straightforward answer.

    ¡°how intriguing. but, sir, have you considered this: the gods are endless. this is a war zone. killing one god will only invite another. peace and quiet will be hard to come by.¡±

    ¡°in that case, i¡¯ll just kill all of them. that way, no one will disturb me,¡± qi yuan replied nonchalantly.

    his plan was simple, brutal, and yet flawless.

    <hr>

    the master hesitated, then remarked, ¡°the gods are innumerable. even if sir were to wipe out all the gods of the quijin realm, stronger gods may descend. alone, sir might find it difficult to hold out forever.¡±

    ¡°why would i need reinforcements? the advantage is clearly mine,¡± qi yuan replied, puzzled.

    he didn¡¯t fear strong opponents; he only worried they wouldn¡¯t be strong enough.

    the master paused, intrigued by this line of reasoning.

    ¡°sir is quite fascinating,¡± he said finally.

    ¡°alright, you¡¯ve asked your questions. now it¡¯s my turn,¡± qi yuan said.

    the master nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

    ¡°first question: what lies within the divine wood abyss?¡±

    the master furrowed his brow. he hadn¡¯t expected such a question.

    ¡°i¡¯ve never ventured into the divine wood abyss myself, but i¡¯ve heard from some destined ones that it¡¯s empty¡ªthere¡¯s nothing inside,¡± he replied.

    qi yuan pondered this for a moment, then asked his second question.

    ¡°what is black heaven, exactly? are they very powerful?¡±

    this was something qi yuan was deeply curious about.

    the master fell silent for a moment before responding.

    ¡°no one truly knows the origins of black heaven.

    once, the divine wood universe mobilized its full strength to cooperate with a void traveler. this traveler sought answers from the great void realm master about black heaven¡¯s origins.

    the void realm master gave an answer, but the void traveler found himself unable to recall anything about black heaven afterward.

    so, as it stands, no one knows. even those who might know can¡¯t remember unless they¡¯ve reached the void sovereign¡¯s level of power.¡±

    qi yuan reflected on this.

    black heaven... was indeed formidable.

    <hr>

    ¡°third question: is black heaven and black earth truly so strong? do they have realm lords?¡±

    the master hesitated briefly before answering.

    ¡°they possess rule-level realm masters, but their exact numbers are unknown.

    black heaven and black earth are terrifyingly strong. their power inspires despair because... it¡¯s endless.

    as long as black heaven exists, no matter how many of their forces you kill, they can always resurrect.¡±

    at this, the master¡¯s aged face turned bitter.

    enemies who resurrect after death, and who grow stronger each time¡ªhow could they be defeated?

    countless heroes of the divine wood universe had perished, and none had ever truly eradicated a black earth yang god.

    ¡°resurrection after death?¡± qi yuan¡¯s eyes lit up.

    wasn¡¯t that essentially infinite experience points?

    this wasn¡¯t a fearsome foe¡ªthis was an exquisite and unmatched white moonlight, perpetually reviving at a perfect farming spot!

 Chapter 553: Massive Experience, Level Up

    qi yuan''s expression was one of fervor, even bordering on... ferocity. it was as if a cat had spotted a mouse.no?v(el)b\\jnn

    this reaction left hong mei and zhao yan utterly dumbfounded. after all, just hearing the description from the master of the learning academy, they knew how powerful, terrifying, and even despair-inducing the enemy they were facing was.

    an enemy that was not only strong but also unkillable. how could one fight such an enemy? how could one kill them?

    the master of the learning academy also looked hesitant, his eyes filled with confusion. in the past, many prodigies had asked him about the existence of the black heaven and black earth. those who heard his descriptions were all filled with despair and gloom.

    none had ever reacted with the kind of fervor that qi yuan was displaying now. it was as if qi yuan wasn''t from the divine wood universe but rather one of the black heaven and black earth entities.

    "such a white moonlight, truly a rare gem," qi yuan muttered, almost salivating at the thought. his expression made even the usually calm master of the learning academy look puzzled.

    however, in the next moment, the master''s expression changed slightly. "the specter gods... are here."

    he wasn''t panicking, merely expressing regret, as if reminding qi yuan to flee.

    "specter gods?" qi yuan narrowed his eyes. "what specter gods? these are my dear, beloved white moonlight!"

    qi yuan stood up from his reclining chair and looked up at the sky. in that instant, the world darkened. a massive shadow replaced the light of the vast earth.

    in yunxue city, many citizens instinctively looked up at the sky. when they saw the colossal figures, some froze in place, while others fell to their knees, kowtowing and crying.

    "the specter gods have descended!"

    "i told you, those rebels should have just lived peacefully. now they''ve angered the specter gods!"

    "we''re doomed!"

    in the sky, ninety-nine specter gods had gathered. the smaller ones were merely a few hundred feet tall, while the larger ones spanned dozens of miles. their presence blotted out the sky, giving the impression of a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers descending. however, comparing them to heavenly soldiers would be an overstatement.

    no one knew, not even yuan, the strongest in the divine wood universe, that in the core region of the black heaven, even the yang gods were merely foot soldiers.

    qi yuan looked at these specter gods, his gaze settling on the familiar dark-eye specter god. "you''re still alive!"

    dark-eye shuddered at the sight of qi yuan, but with so many specter gods behind him, he felt emboldened. "a mere human, what do you know of lord qi huang''s greatness? you killed me, but with lord qi huang here, i can be revived at any time!"

    dark-eye specter god spoke arrogantly. the other specter gods also scrutinized qi yuan, their expressions filled with malice.

    as for the master of the learning academy... in their eyes, he seemed to not exist at all.

    qi yuan''s joy grew even more intense. these were experience points. he couldn''t let them escape. he pondered deeply, trying to come up with a way to lure these specter gods down. but no matter how much he thought, he couldn''t find a good method. even if his acting skills were top-notch, he could only give them the impression that they were close to killing him. but without a "stupidity aura," they would surely flee after dying a few times.

    "to think you wouldn''t run upon seeing us. it seems even a withered myth has some confidence," said qi huang, his body covered in white tendrils, his face as confident as ever.

    "why should i run?" qi yuan replied calmly. in truth, he was ecstatic. especially since his left eyebrow was twitching wildly. it was twitching so fast that it seemed almost still. qi yuan knew this was a sign of great fortune.

    "indeed, with the strength of a myth and the favor of destiny, you have the right to be unafraid," qi huang said indifferently. in any other world in the occupied regions, a gathering of specter gods might not be enough to take down qi yuan.

    "unfortunately... you''ve met me!" qi huang''s eyes flashed with a sharp light.

    qi yuan suddenly felt an immense force pulling at him. the force was extraordinarily powerful. his left eyebrow twitched again. without hesitation, qi yuan shouted, "what is this? don''t pull me in!"

    despite his words, qi yuan didn''t resist. in fact, he seemed to be actively diving into the treasure.

    kai chi specter god, seeing this, flattered, "as expected of a specter god from the black heaven and black earth. lord qi huang''s treasure can capture a myth so easily."

    the other specter gods chimed in, "even a myth is powerless against it."

    qi huang felt pleased. the treasure''s effect was even better than he had anticipated.

    "alright, let''s enter the treasure. we shouldn''t keep the human waiting," qi huang said. with that, the nearly hundred specter gods entered the treasure.

    inside the treasure, qi yuan stood quietly. the space was ethereal, almost like a vacuum, with occasional asteroids or remnants of stars floating by. when qi huang and the ninety-eight other specter gods entered, qi yuan''s face showed a hint of wariness.

    "is there no way out?" his voice trembled slightly, as if he were a little scared.

    before qi huang could speak, kai chi specter god said, "this treasure was gifted to lord qi huang by his uncle. even a yang god cannot escape once inside."

    qi huang nodded in satisfaction and added, "even a second-layer yang god cannot escape." it seemed he felt kai chi had undersold the treasure''s power.

    "so powerful? does that mean... we''re all trapped here?" qi yuan looked genuinely fearful, as if he were probing for information.

    "hmph, this treasure has its own spirit... only if you die, or if we all perish... will we be able to leave," qi huang didn''t mind explaining to a dead man. this behavior was like a jungler not attacking the enemy''s base, instead taunting in front of their fountain, waiting for the enemy to respawn, all while showing off his skills.

    "if i don''t die, you can''t leave?" qi yuan''s eyes widened, looking... fearful and anxious. his nose didn''t grow longer, which meant the other party wasn''t lying.

    "hmph, now you''re scared, aren''t you?" dark-eye specter god sneered.

    "look at him, a myth trembling like this, worse than a mortal!"

    "he''s still a myth, don''t underestimate him!"

    "right, lord qi huang''s specter essence is abundant, but we shouldn''t waste it."

    "it''s fine, wasting a little is nothing. i have plenty of specter source, and plenty of uncles," qi huang said confidently.

    hearing this, qi yuan suddenly burst into laughter. "hahahahaha..."

    the other specter gods, having revived, looked at qi yuan in astonishment. qi yuan now appeared to be on his last breath, seemingly severely injured.

    "but we''re all at full strength. the advantage is ours!" qi huang said triumphantly.

    kai chi stepped forward. "lord qi huang, i wish to finish him!"

    having been slain by qi yuan with a single sword strike earlier, kai chi was filled with resentment.

    "he''s favored by destiny. even with only a breath left, you wouldn''t be able to kill him," qi huang said generously. "i''m in a hurry. let''s self-destruct again."

    the other specter gods, seeing this, didn''t hesitate.

    they self-destructed once more.

    "ahhh!"

    "it hurts so much!"

    "mom!"

    qi yuan continued to wail, his aura seemingly on the verge of extinction.

    when the revived specter gods looked at qi yuan again, they all felt a chill.

    "still not dead with just a sliver of health left? is he invincible?"

    qi huang narrowed his eyes. "is this the power of one favored by destiny? let''s self-destruct again. twice isn''t enough? how about three times, five times, or even ten times?"

    his specter source was enough to revive even a world lord-level specter god multiple times.

    "even one favored by destiny must kneel before me!" qi huang declared confidently, exuding an aura of dominance.

    <hr>

    yunxue city.

    the master of the learning academy watched as the specter gods and qi yuan disappeared, his expression complex.

    zhao yan clenched his teeth. today''s events had been overwhelming, each one beyond his imagination.

    "sir qi... shouldn''t die here," the master of the learning academy sighed softly.

    he made a decision.

    a bronze mirror appeared, emanating a mysterious aura. within the mirror, a broken warship was reflected. dried blood stained the battle flag, and large, black holes dotted the ship, seemingly bottomless. the deck was littered with divine artifacts and ancestral divine artifacts. upon closer inspection, one could see that the ship was covered in scars, as if it had been through countless ancient battles.

    the scene shifted, and a majestic figure appeared in the mirror. his robes and armor were tattered, his long hair disheveled, and blood dripped from his shoulders.

    "yuan... i need your help."

    the person in the mirror was none other than yuan, the strongest in the divine wood universe. a second-layer yang god, at the peak of the great supreme truth realm.

    "what is it?" yuan''s voice was deep, carrying the weight of eternity.

    "in the quijin realm, i''ve found one favored by destiny. his talent... is extraordinary. he''s just one step away from becoming an ancestral god. if he can break through, he might... reach your level in the future," the master of the learning academy said.

    yuan''s handsome face showed a bitter smile. "is he in danger?"

    "yes," the master replied.

    "within ten years, two ancestral gods will head to the quijin realm to bring him to the tai star domain."

    the image in the mirror faded.

    the master of the learning academy let out a sigh of relief. "i hope he can hold on for ten years. after that, anything is possible."

    the master turned to hong mei, his gaze filled with nostalgia. "it''s time for us to leave... the quijin realm."

    hong mei was stunned. she looked at zhao yan, her eyes filled with reluctance. "teacher, i..."

    the master shook his head. "he''s different from you. he belongs to the quijin realm. let''s go."

    <hr>

    time flew by, and three years passed in the blink of an eye.

    the quijin realm''s situation had become somewhat peculiar. the specter gods had disappeared, and the rebel forces had made significant gains, capturing many cities. battles raged everywhere.

    compared to other cities, yunxue city was unusually quiet.

    chen kangbao stuffed a bun into his mouth. "don''t worry, the young master is a god descended from heaven. even if the world ends, he''ll still be around!"

    beside him, shen lingxuan''s cold face showed a hint of hesitation.

    at that moment, outside the quijin realm, a man in blue appeared. his face was filled with a fierce fighting spirit.

    "so, qi yuan, you''ve been hiding in the quijin realm to avoid my challenge."

    "unfortunately, i''ve found you!"

    "soon, you''ll know who the true strongest at the fifth step of the yin god realm is!"

 Chapter 554: One Step to Realm Master

    in an unknown space, qi yuan sat cross-legged on a grand reclining chair, looking exceptionally carefree. in an instant, the ninety-nine specter gods revived once more. unlike three years ago, these specter gods were now numb. from their initial uproar to their current silence, it was clear that they had... died enough.

    during the initial battle, after countless self-destructions, qi huang finally noticed something unusual. qi yuan had locked his health! that was the only explanation! but qi huang wasn''t afraid. he had plenty of uncles and an abundance of specter essence. he was reckless with his wealth. so, he continued to self-destruct. and then... things took a turn for the worse. they no longer dared to self-destruct.

    but who could have known that the human before them would display strength far surpassing that of an ordinary peak myth? instant kills. one after another.

    even more terrifying was the fact that, at some point, this human had broken through to the yang god realm. this was unimaginable, incomprehensible. a withered myth suddenly breaking through to the yang god realm in the midst of battle was like an ordinary person on earth eating a watermelon, defecating in the wild, and having a melon sprout grow into a heavenly vine!

    after qi yuan became a yang god, the battle became utterly one-sided. qi huang began to threaten, beg, and bribe, even using his realm master uncle to intimidate qi yuan. unfortunately, it was useless. qi yuan didn''t even bother to listen, simply... killing them instantly. the instant kills after becoming a yang god were far faster than when he was a myth. almost as soon as they were revived by the specter essence, they were instantly slain.

    qi huang, who had once boasted arrogantly, was now numb. over these three years, they had revived and died countless times. how many times had they died? probably hundreds of millions. even a god couldn''t endure this kind of pain. now, if these numb specter gods were still capable of thought, they were likely thinking... lord qi huang, do you really have that much specter essence? at this point, true death would be a release. this endless cycle of revival was pure torture.

    qi huang felt the same. for the first time, he felt pain from having too much specter essence. they were numb, and qi yuan was also somewhat numb.

    "what''s the difference between me now and a factory worker working 996 shifts? well, i''m not as tired as them, but i work longer hours, with no days off, and most importantly... i don''t get paid?"

    who stole his salary? watching the ninety-nine specter gods revive once more, qi yuan followed the routine and blew a breath. instantly, the ninety-nine specter gods perished again. a trickle of experience flowed in, something qi yuan was now used to.

    "though it''s just a drop in the bucket, when you have trillions of drops, it adds up."

    this was qi yuan''s current mindset. could you believe it? he had been killing specter gods by simply blowing air every day, and now... his combat power was comparable to the peak of the sixth heaven of the immortal realm. perhaps even stronger. as for his game level, it had solidified into a realm. if qi yuan had a status panel, it would show that he was at the third layer of the yang god realm, the rule realm.

    however, his rule realm was different from other third-layer yang gods. in the zhou universe, a realm master needed to fuse with the universe''s rules to become a true realm master. the divine wood universe was different. the universe''s rules were scattered among the chosen ones. only by killing all the chosen ones and offering them to the universe''s true spirit could someone fuse with the universe''s rules and step into the realm master realm.

    "this is strange."

    qi yuan casually slaughtered these specter gods, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes. the cultivation gained from killing enemies and earning experience was naturally more stable than that gained through step-by-step cultivation. when he had enough experience and stepped into the third layer of the yang god realm at the peak of the second layer, qi yuan inexplicably gained a wealth of information. this was normal. when stepping into the yin god realm, an yin god would also learn about future paths.

    the path to the third layer of the yang god realm required fusion with the universe''s rules to truly advance, transforming supreme principles into universe rules, where words became law.

    "strange... i don''t seem to have fused with the universe''s rules, so why... have my supreme principles condensed into... rules? they count as rules, right?"

    qi yuan was puzzled. generally, the supreme principles qi yuan had condensed¡ªdo as you please and absolute adaptation¡ªcould only unleash their full power in the immortal realm. in other universes or systems, their power would diminish. but this time, not only did they not diminish, they were even evolving. normally, for supreme principles to evolve into universe rules, one needed to actively fuse with the universe''s rules. but qi yuan...

    he hadn''t fused with the universe''s rules, yet he had somehow formed universe rules. this was very, very strange.

    "moreover, i haven''t fused with the divine wood universe''s rules, yet it doesn''t reject me?"

    generally, other realm masters who ventured into foreign universes would be targeted by the universe''s will. this wasn''t the only strange thing.

    "wait, i''m a shareholder of the divine wood universe. the universe''s rules... aren''t they my money? why would i need to fuse with them?"

    suddenly, everything made sense to qi yuan. the divine wood universe was like a company, and he was a shareholder. so why bother fusing? it was already his. would it reject him? not a chance.

    "sigh... you guys revive too slowly."

    in an instant, qi yuan killed these specter gods countless more times. he could now easily leave this world, but even a mosquito''s worth of meat was still meat.

    "it seems i need to comprehend a time rule to make them revive faster and die quicker."

    after some thought, qi yuan casually waved his hand, shattering the world. he and the ninety-nine specter gods appeared above yunxue city. now, he sat high in the sky, his form invisible, continuously killing these specter gods. since their revival and death occurred faster than the eye could see, even cultivators wouldn''t notice the specter gods reviving and being instantly slain.

    time flowed, and three months passed. qi yuan picked up a communication device and spoke to xianling yingjun.

    "sigh, cultivation is so hard..."

    xianling yingjun, in another world, saw this and couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride. "cultivation is indeed difficult. it''s been three years, and i''ve only just stepped into the great venerable realm."

    <hr>

    with this thought, wu dong no longer hesitated. a special artifact appeared, and he flew into the sky, his body radiating a blazing golden light, like a scorching sun rising.

    "i have heard of a man named qi yuan in this realm, who comprehended rules and reached the peak of the yin god realm. i admire him. tonight, under the clear moon, i have crossed realms to take his head!"

    with the artifact''s power, wu dong was like an eternal sun, hanging high in the sky. every living being in the quijin realm could see him and hear his voice. he hovered in the heavens, his blue robes bathed in golden light. the brilliance was awe-inspiring, like a mortal witnessing a god. invincible, unmatched!

    wu dong fully unleashed his aura, displaying his immense power. in the quijin realm, countless beings looked up at wu dong, their eyes filled with fear.

    "this man is so strong... even ordinary specter gods wouldn''t be a match for him!"

    "who is qi yuan? how could he provoke someone to cross realms to challenge him?"

    some were confused and fearful, worried they might be caught in the crossfire.

    meanwhile, near yunxue city, wu xiang''s eyes filled with shock. "he''s here to challenge... master qi. but master qi..."

    he was worried. with the specter gods out in force, master qi''s whereabouts were unknown. was he safe?

    just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly heard a familiar, lazy voice.

    "you keep blocking my path to transcendence. do you think i''m made of clay?"

    the voice was calm, like a breeze over a still, dead sea. but then the wind grew fierce.

    "pah!"

    it was as if someone had spat, a sound as common as any on the roadside. the eternal sun that was wu dong was extinguished. all his radiance vanished in an instant, as if it had never existed. wu dong''s true spirit was also annihilated in that moment. he hadn''t even had time to react. he hadn''t even had a chance to fight back... before he was utterly destroyed.

    all the beings in the quijin realm were stunned, their faces filled with confusion. the eternal sun in the sky had disappeared, as if it had never been there. everyone was puzzled and bewildered. had it all been an illusion?

    <hr>

    radiant universe

    the three wood realm master opened his eyes, a look of shock in them. "wu dong is dead?"

    after a moment of thought, he remembered that wu dong had gone to the divine wood universe to challenge the native who had defeated feng ti.

    "even the creation treasure was destroyed?"

    the three wood realm master was stunned. he had given his disciple a low-grade creation treasure, but even the lowest-grade creation treasure was still a creation treasure. only a realm master could destroy such an artifact. and it was common knowledge that the divine wood universe had no realm masters.

    "it seems i''ll have to trouble the realm master of time to retrieve wu dong''s true spirit from the river of the universe and find out what happened."

    the three wood realm master had a vague feeling that something significant had occurred in the divine wood universe.

    after about ten thousand breaths, the three wood realm master stood respectfully in a grand hall. the master of the hall was the realm master of time, a being at the all things realm. it was said that this realm master had undergone three eras of mortal transcendence and had reached perfection in the all things realm. one more step, and he would reach the legendary creation realm.

    the three wood realm master had once aided the realm master of time during his mortal incarnation, which was why they had this connection. otherwise, even though both were realm masters, with only a small realm separating them, the three wood realm master would never have had the opportunity or qualification to interact with the realm master of time.

    "three wood, wu dong''s true spirit is not in the river of the universe."

    at that moment, an ancient voice echoed, like an old tree creaking.

    the three wood realm master''s face showed astonishment. "his true spirit isn''t in the river of the universe? how is that possible?"

    "perhaps... he was devoured by the black heaven," the realm master of time said indifferently.

 Chapter 555: Baiting a Yang God

    "Devoured by the Black Heaven?"

    Upon hearing this, the Three Wood Realm Master''s expression turned bitter, mixed with a hint of fear.

    "How could Wu Dong have ventured deep into the Black Heaven..."

    If he had truly been devoured by the Black Heaven, there was nothing the Three Wood Realm Master could do. Even if he sought help from stronger beings, it would be impossible to save Wu Dong.

    Regarding the Black Heaven, the Radiant Dao Lord had once said that it was a form of unconscious cosmic phenomenon, devouring everything it came into contact with. Thus, although the Radiant Universe had the Radiant Society operating in the Divine Wood Universe, no Realm Master dared to descend there. Or rather, they couldn''t. Doing so could bring disaster to the Radiant Universe as well. After all, the Black Heaven could also devour Realm Masters. If one died in the Black Heaven, it was a pointless death.

    "Wait... based on Wu Dong''s strength and the time flow of the Divine Wood Universe, even if Wu Dong had rushed at full speed, he wouldn''t have reached the depths of the Black Heaven by now."

    The Three Wood Realm Master noticed something, but the Realm Master of Time had already disappeared. He knew that the Realm Master of Time was often in a state of mortal seclusion, rarely awakening, so he didn''t disturb him further.

    "Strange... how did Wu Dong die?"

    "Should I... ask the Void Paradise?"

    In the Divine Wood Universe, the Radiant Society was powerful, but its influence was far less extensive than that of the Void Paradise. Void Walkers were spread across all major regions of the Divine Wood Universe, making them the best at gathering information.

    ...

    "Finally, it''s over."

    "I almost became a mindless killing machine."

    Qi Yuan stopped his slaughter.

    After dying countless times, Qi Huang and the other ninety-eight Specter Gods had finally been completely annihilated.

    "The Black Heaven is still quite troublesome."

    Although, due to the existence of Specter Essence, the Black Heaven and Black Earth were like a perfect delicacy to him, this was only because Qi Huang and the others were far weaker than him, allowing him to kill them instantly, gain experience, and improve himself.

    If he encountered opponents who were all at the Realm Master level, killing them would be much more difficult. Not to mention, Realm Master-level opponents could revive indefinitely.

    "It''s impressive that the Divine Wood Universe has held out for so long."

    Qi Yuan imagined what would happen if the Black Heaven and Black Earth reached the Immortal Realm. The Immortal Realm probably wouldn''t last long either.

    "What exactly is the Black Heaven?" Qi Yuan''s eyes flashed with a complex expression.

    Was it a cosmic disaster, or a cosmic phenomenon?

    At that moment, his communication device flickered with a faint light.

    A message from Xianling Yingjun came through.

    "Brother Qi Yuan, I''ve recently accepted a mission and will be coming to the Quijin Realm soon. As a Realm Master, you should be able to guarantee my safety, right?"

    Xianling Yingjun''s tone was playful. He naturally didn''t believe Qi Yuan was truly a Realm Master. After all, Realm Masters automatically comprehended the laws of time.

    "Don''t worry, with me here, the Quijin Realm is safe." Qi Yuan was quite protective of this tutorial-style NPC.

    ...

    In the Void Space.

    A tall woman with an imposing demeanor crossed her arms and looked at Xianling Yingjun. "Are you sure your friend can keep us safe?"

    "Relax, my friend is incredibly strong. Back then, Feng Ti came with nine lives, and he killed them all," Xianling Yingjun said confidently, patting his chest.

    The golden-haired man, Tong Chang, showed a look of surprise. "That strong? The Divine Wood Universe actually has such a genius?"

    He had heard of Feng Ti from the Radiant Society, who was ranked among the top three in combat power at the fifth step of the Ying God realm in the Radiant Universe.

    "I didn''t expect such a genius to emerge in this world," the tall woman murmured.

    At that moment, the soul in her mind sighed.

    "Such talent... I would love to take him as a disciple."

    Of course, she was merely intrigued by his potential and felt a desire to nurture talent. Currently, she was busy breaking through to the second layer of the Yang God realm and had no time to take on disciples. Moreover, the disciple in question was from another universe, which would complicate matters.

    However, if Xianling Yingjun had told her that Qi Yuan had comprehended the embryonic form of a universe rule, her thoughts would have been very different.

    "Still, the Quijin Realm has ninety-nine Specter Gods, including Qi Huang. We need to be careful," the tall woman added.

    The golden-haired man nodded. "Right, the other Specter Gods aren''t a concern, but that Qi Huang... he has a lot of uncles. Who knows which one is actually his father?"

    At this, the golden-haired man burst into laughter.

    The mystery of Qi Huang''s parentage was a frequent topic in the Void Paradise''s discussion forums. He had many uncles, but no father. These uncles treated him well, but none were sure if they were his father, so their kindness had its limits.

    Xianling Yingjun also laughed. "Can the Black Heaven and Black Earth even have children? Interesting."

    "Alright, enough chit-chat. Let''s focus on the mission."

    "Head to these coordinates. My good friend Qi Yuan is waiting there."

    "Got it."

    A spatial teleportation ripple spread, and the three of them disappeared.

    When they reappeared, they were in a remote courtyard in the Quijin Realm.

    Xianling Yingjun scanned the area and immediately spotted the familiar figure. His eyes lit up with joy. "Long time no see, still as impressive as ever. This is Wu Chun, and the golden-haired guy is Tong Chang."

    Qi Yuan nodded.

    They hadn''t expected to encounter a Yang God on this mission.

    Without hesitation, they tried to flee back to the Void Paradise.

    "Too late..." The Yang God''s voice was bone-chilling.

    The three of them realized with horror that the space around them had been sealed. They couldn''t escape.

    "A trap!" Tong Chang''s face was filled with fear and anger.

    No wonder the mission had seemed so easy.

    That Qi Yuan was clearly in cahoots with this Yang God from the Black Heaven and Black Earth.

    Wu Chun''s eyes flashed with cold determination.

    Suddenly, a wisp of soul power within her erupted with terrifying force, like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

    This power, if unleashed in the Zhou Universe, could cause stars to fall.

    Xianling Yingjun and Tong Chang''s faces lit up with hope. They hadn''t expected Wu Chun to have such a trump card. Her body housed the soul of a Yang God.

    "Hehe, a mere first-layer Yang God thinks you can break my seal? Try again in a hundred million years!"

    The Black Earth Yang God''s eyes gleamed with mockery as a strange power burst forth.

    In an instant, the Yang God soul at the Great Heaven realm was injured, and blood trickled from Wu Chun''s lips.

    "He''s a second-layer Yang God, the Supreme Truth Realm!" Wu Chun''s face was bitter, even despairing.

    She hadn''t expected to encounter a Yang God on this mission, let alone a terrifying second-layer Yang God.

    Without a Realm Master present, a second-layer Yang God was a supreme being in the universe, someone to be revered.

    "Not bad. Three little bugs and one big bug... should be enough to carry some Specter Essence into the Void Paradise," the Black Earth Yang God said with a smug smile.

    Xianling Yingjun and the others were filled with despair, instantly realizing what was happening.

    This Black Earth Yang God was clearly using Specter Essence as bait, trying to smuggle it into the Void Paradise.

    If Specter Essence entered... the consequences were unimaginable.

    The Zhou Universe might become a second Divine Wood Universe.

    Of course, now wasn''t the time to think about that. Their lives were on the line.

    "I''m done for. Am I going to die here?" Xianling Yingjun''s voice was filled with sorrow. He hadn''t expected such a simple mission to go so wrong.

    "What? You''re going to die? Can I attend your funeral feast?"

    At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

    Xianling Yingjun was stunned.

    Qi... Yuan?

    How did he get here?

    He didn''t have a Divine Movement Talisman, did he?

    Wu Chun and Tong Chang also looked at Qi Yuan, their expressions mixed.

    Tong Chang, in particular, was almost gnashing his teeth, as he believed Qi Yuan was in league with the Black Heaven and Black Earth.

    But... when Qi Yuan arrived, the Black Earth Yang God saw the tall figure and felt a surge of danger. His scalp tingled as if he were being watched by some terrifying beast.

    Without hesitation, he tried to flee.

    The scene unfolded too quickly for anyone to react.

    But Qi Yuan stretched out his hand, a look of triumph in his eyes. "I''ve been watching for so long, just to cut off your escape. If you can still leave, where would my face be?"

    As Qi Yuan spoke, his flawless hand descended.

    The Black Earth Yang God, who had begun to dissipate, suddenly solidified again.

    Myriad Transformations!

    Turtle!

    Qi Yuan activated his skill.

    In an instant, the powerful and terrifying second-layer Yang God turned into a turtle lying on its back, struggling helplessly, just like a real turtle.

    The three onlookers were stunned, their faces filled with shock.

    A second-layer Yang God, a supreme being... had been defeated in one move and turned into a turtle?

    Wait, what realm was Qi Yuan in?

    Xianling Yingjun was the most shocked. Could it be... Qi Yuan really was a Realm Master?

    At that moment, Qi Yuan clapped his hands and looked at the turtle on the ground, his voice calm. "I didn''t expect any Specter to dare fish in the Quijin Realm. Little did they know... the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

    As he said this, Qi Yuan''s heart tightened.

    Could there be another oriole?

    But his eyebrow didn''t twitch, so he relaxed. Then he looked at the group. "I told you, if I had sent you, this trouble wouldn''t have happened."

 Chapter 556: Visitors from the Tai Star Domain

    Qi Yuan extended his finger, and the turtle lying on its back struggled clumsily, trying to bite his finger. However, its limbs were too short, and its strength too weak, making it impossible for it to flip over. The once-mighty second-layer Yang God, now reduced to a foolish and sluggish turtle, was a sight that sent shivers down the spines of those who witnessed it.

    Xianling Yingjun and the other three stared at Qi Yuan, their hearts filled with awe. The Yang God who had been hiding within Wu Chun''s consciousness now revealed herself. Trembling, she bowed respectfully to Qi Yuan.

    "Greetings, Senior."

    Wu Chun and Tong Chang, snapping out of their daze, also hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Senior!"

    Qi Yuan''s earlier display had completely stunned them. A second-layer Yang God, a being of immense power, had been effortlessly subdued by the man before them. What realm was he in? The legendary Supreme Truth realm? As for the even higher Realm Master level, they dared not imagine it. To them, a Realm Master was as distant as a Yang God was to mortals.

    Xianling Yingjun blinked, his expression twisting. "You... really became a Realm Master?"

    He recalled the messages Qi Yuan had sent him. At first, he had been shocked. Then he convinced himself that his friend wasn''t driving a luxury car, and he felt balanced. But now, his friend was piloting a cosmic battleship.

    The others were equally stunned. A Realm Master? The overlord of the universe? This young man before them was a Realm Master?

    "Yes, I am a Realm Master. Didn''t I already tell you? Or have you developed amnesia and forgotten?" Qi Yuan said nonchalantly.

    Xianling Yingjun''s emotions were in turmoil as he stared at Qi Yuan, his thoughts racing. The expressions on the faces of the other three were even more dramatic. A Realm Master! The legendary Realm Master! In the Zhou Universe, Realm Masters stood at the pinnacle, rarely appearing in the mortal world. Ordinary Yang Gods might never have the chance to meet one in their entire lives. And yet, they had just met... a living Realm Master?

    However, Xianling Yingjun''s next reaction left them speechless.

    "Hey... Brother Qi Yuan, ahem, do you still owe me some favors?" Xianling Yingjun said boldly, his tone both flattering and comical.

    The other three were dumbfounded. Addressing a Realm Master by name? Wasn''t he afraid of being annihilated to the point where even his true spirit would cease to exist? Moreover, directly telling a Realm Master that he owed him favors was incredibly tactless. Wasn''t he afraid of angering the Realm Master and getting them all killed?

    "Yes," Qi Yuan nodded calmly.

    "How about this... I''ll call you... Grandpa?" Xianling Yingjun shamelessly suggested.

    He didn''t dare propose becoming a sworn brother or godfather, as the gap between a Realm Master and himself was too vast.

    The other three looked on, torn between admiration for Xianling Yingjun''s audacity and disdain for his shamelessness.

    "No, I don''t want my daughter to have another godson. She''s still young," Qi Yuan flatly refused.

    Qi Jianjun was still young, and Qi Yuan couldn''t bear the thought of her becoming a mother at such a tender age.

    Seeing his rejection, Xianling Yingjun wasn''t discouraged. "How about... becoming your disciple?"

    He was hopeful. If it were any other Realm Master, he wouldn''t dare act so boldly. But Qi Yuan was different. To him, everything in the world seemed equal.

    "I''m too lazy to take disciples. It''s too much trouble... How about this? I''ll modify your cultivation technique to help you improve your strength... or maybe... help you casually comprehend the embryonic form of a rule?" Qi Yuan offered.

    This tutorial-style NPC had indeed helped him a lot, and Qi Yuan always repaid kindness with kindness. Although sometimes what he repaid far exceeded what others had given, he didn''t mind. Life was about doing as one pleased, following one''s whims.

    Xianling Yingjun''s eyes lit up with ecstasy. The other three, however, were filled with deep envy, though they dared not show it. After all, they weren''t familiar with this Realm Master. If he decided to kill them, no one could save them. They also didn''t dare to speculate on the thoughts of a Realm Master. To them, it was like ants trying to comprehend the mind of a god.

    ...

    [Specter Essence, a derivative of the Black Heaven''s origin, possesses infinite energy and a corrupting nature... Where Specter Essence exists, the Black Heaven is present.]

    Qi Yuan looked at the Specter Essence in his hand, his eyes filled with curiosity. He had extracted a strand of Specter Essence from the Yang God. As for the Specter Essence on Qi Huang, it couldn''t be extracted as it had already been activated. The Specter Essence before him was about the size of a grain of rice, crystal clear and mesmerizing.

    "It seems the Specter Gods of the Black Heaven and Black Earth are trying to invade the Zhou Universe through Specter Essence," Qi Yuan mused.

    Through the Specter Essence and the turtle Yang God, Qi Yuan had learned much. This Yang God from the Black Heaven and Black Earth had been using Specter Essence corruption to fish for victims. In the Void Paradise, there were many missions to record the aura of Specter Essence. Many Void Walkers came to the Divine Wood Universe to record the Specter Essence aura. At that point, the Yang Gods of the Black Heaven and Black Earth would strike, controlling these Void Walkers and implanting Specter Essence into their true spirits, which they would then carry back to the Void Paradise. In this way, Specter Essence would take root in the Zhou Universe. To the Black Heaven and Black Earth, the Zhou Universe was a second Divine Wood Universe.

    "Are the Black Heaven and Black Earth really that confident?" Qi Yuan wondered.

    The Zhou Universe was not the Divine Wood Universe. The Zhou Universe had Realm Masters at the Creation Realm. In terms of strength, a hundred or even ten thousand Divine Wood Universes were no match for the Zhou Universe. Yet, the Black Heaven and Black Earth dared to target the Zhou Universe.

    "What exactly is the Black Heaven?"

    "I really want to see the Black Heaven with my own eyes."

    Qi Yuan murmured. If he could see the Black Heaven with his eyes, he would understand its true nature. He wanted to see what this so-called Black Heaven really was.

    ...

    He knew that this move was risky and could easily lead to their deaths in the Chaotic Star Domain, but there was no better option. They could die, but the seeds of the Human Enlightenment Society... must not die. They were the hope of the Divine Wood Universe.

    "Let''s go!"

    Instantly, two terrifying auras erupted, heading straight for the teleportation array.

    The two of them attacked, their auras overwhelming. The Specter Gods blocking their path were annihilated in an instant. Once they made their move, they would be exposed, and an endless pursuit would follow.

    "Let''s go."

    Meanwhile, in the Quijin Realm.

    Qi Yuan lounged lazily.

    "Indeed, without any disturbances, my progress in mortal seclusion has sped up."

    Now, his progress in mortal seclusion had reached 10%. There was still some distance to go before completion.

    "If I can laze around like this for another three or four years, I should be able to complete my mortal seclusion and achieve success."

    Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    Suddenly, he seemed to sense something, and a look of helplessness appeared in his eyes.

    "Unfortunately, gold shines wherever it is."

    "Even with my handsome looks, if I stay indoors all day, those Specter Gods will still find me and disrupt my mortal seclusion."

    "So... maybe... I should just slaughter all the Specter Gods in the Chaotic Star Domain? Would that allow me to focus on my mortal seclusion?"

    Qi Yuan had a sudden idea.

    No one could stop him from undergoing mortal seclusion!

    At that moment, two terrifying auras descended from the sky.

    The auras were so powerful that even the Specter Gods were shaken.

    A booming voice echoed across the land.

    "Qi Yuan, where are you? We are Ancestral Gods from the Human Enlightenment Society, sent by Yuan to take you to the Tai Star Domain. Over a dozen Specter Yang Gods are chasing us. We must leave immediately!"

    The two Ancestral Gods wasted no time in stating their purpose. They had already sensed that the dozen or so Yang Gods were closing in and would arrive soon. If they didn''t leave now, it would be too late.

    "Human Enlightenment Society?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    He hadn''t expected Yuan to send people to fetch him. He thought of the master of the Learning Academy¡ªit must have been his doing.

    "Don''t worry. I''ve mastered my divine arts and have become a Realm Master. These enemies are nothing to me. I can kill them with a wave of my hand," Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    In the sky, Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao, who had initially been delighted upon hearing Qi Yuan''s response, were now dumbfounded.

    Had Qi Yuan... gone mad from cultivation? How could he be a Realm Master? It was impossible!

    Without hesitation, the two of them landed in Qi Yuan''s courtyard.

    "There''s no time to explain. We must leave now. The Tai Star Domain is safe."

    The Quijin Realm was in a war zone, controlled by the Specter Gods. It was no place to linger.

    "No, this place is perfectly safe. I''m a Realm Master. Who would dare provoke me?" Qi Yuan said casually. "Besides, I''m busy with my mortal seclusion to break through to the Yang God realm. I don''t have time to go to the Tai Star Domain."

    Qi Yuan refused.

    Shangguan Qingmiao was speechless.

    Qi Yuan really had gone mad from cultivation, speaking incoherently. First, he claimed to be a Realm Master, and now he was talking about mortal seclusion to break through to the Yang God realm.

 Chapter 557: The Chaotic Star Domain, I Call the Shots!

    Qi Yuan looked at the two Ancestral Gods, who were clearly confused, and spoke casually.

    "Your knowledge is still too limited."

    "Have you ever heard of wave-particle duality?"

    "In a world called Earth, many ordinary men and women have mastered this skill."

    "I can be an Yin God, a Realm Master, or even a Purple Mansion cultivator... Why can''t they coexist?"

    It was like the Tang Girl Inequality¡ªaccepting a gift doesn''t mean agreeing to anything.

    I am a Realm Master, but that doesn''t mean I''m only a Realm Master. I can also be a Purple Mansion cultivator!

    You can''t define me!

    Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao were even more baffled.

    Had Qi Yuan gone mad from cultivation?

    That was the only explanation.

    But before they could think further, a vast and overwhelming aura swept through the area.

    In the sky above, fifteen majestic figures descended, each exuding a terrifying presence.

    When they saw the fifteen figures, Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao''s expressions turned grim.

    Yang Gods!

    The Yang Gods of the Black Heaven and Black Earth had arrived!

    Fifteen Yang Gods hovered in the sky, their might shaking the heavens and earth. A battle of this scale was rare even in the Tai Star Domain, let alone outside the Void Sea frontlines.

    "Qi Yuan, come out and face your death!"

    A majestic and commanding voice echoed at that moment.

    However, before the people of the Quijin Realm could react, a lazy voice drowned out the command.

    "Those who hinder my mortal seclusion shall die!"

    A kitchen knife suddenly appeared, slicing through the sky.

    "From today onward, the Chaotic Star Domain... I call the shots!"

    The ordinary-looking kitchen knife swung down. The earth didn''t crack, the mountains didn''t crumble, and even the wind didn''t stir.

    But... the fifteen majestic Yang Gods shattered in an instant.

    Annihilated.

    Their bodies reformed, but what awaited them was the same relentless slash.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the fifteen Yang Gods, his eyes filled with disdain. "Too weak. They brought so little Specter Essence. I can finish them off in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense."

    The kitchen knife hung in the sky, slashing down again and again, killing the fifteen Yang Gods.

    If these fifteen Yang Gods had enough Specter Essence to keep reviving, this knife could hang here for three thousand years, continuously killing the reviving Yang Gods until they were completely eradicated.

    This place would become a forbidden zone, a cosmic wonder that would draw the admiration of the world.

    Beside them, Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao''s pupils constricted sharply.

    What were they seeing?

    What was this?

    He... was truly a Realm Master.

    How was this possible?

    "How can you be so strong?" Shangguan Qingmiao blurted out without thinking.

    In the Divine Wood Universe, it was impossible for a Realm Master to exist.

    To become a Realm Master, one had to sacrifice all the chosen ones.

    Unless... another universe?

    Even more impossible.

    His mind was a mess, utterly unable to comprehend.

    "Why am I so strong?" Qi Yuan paused, then said, "Because I understand the Art of War. I excel at using strength to crush weakness, so I am invincible."

    "???" Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao suddenly felt the air grow colder.

    Of course, this wasn''t an illusion.

    After Qi Yuan told his joke, he deliberately made the air colder to match the punchline.

    Without paying further attention to Shangguan Qingteng and the others, Qi Yuan said indifferently, "Those who hinder my mortal seclusion shall die!"

    At the same time, Qi Yuan''s figure became ethereal and indistinct.

    In the Chaotic Star Domain, hundreds of worlds overlapped, some hidden within grains of sand.

    At that moment, suddenly, in tens of thousands of worlds, a grand voice echoed.

    "From today onward, the Chaotic Star Domain... I call the shots!"

    The majestic voice spread far and wide. Every living being in the Chaotic Star Domain heard this grand proclamation.

    Many people and soldiers were dumbfounded, and even the members of the Thorned Blood were shocked.

    "Who dares to be so bold?"

    A Yang God from the Black Heaven and Black Earth shot into the sky, his body like a streak of light.

    However, what awaited him was a colossal hand.

    The hand seemed to come from nowhere, blotting out the sky. Space and time seemed to flow within it.

    The Yang God''s face turned ashen, his aura instantly extinguished. He revived, only to be annihilated again.

    This scene repeated itself across tens of thousands of worlds in the Chaotic Star Domain.

    In every world, a colossal hand descended, slaughtering all in its path.

    All Specters, all Specter Gods, were ruthlessly exterminated.

    Even Yang Gods with infinite revivals through Specter Essence were slain by Qi Yuan.

    Countless people looked up at the sky, their faces filled with shock and awe.

    "What is that?"

    They didn''t understand.

    He looked at the leaf, deep in thought.

    ...

    Radiant Society.

    Jade towers and palaces, like a celestial realm.

    "That Wu Dong... what a waste. He actually died in the Divine Wood Universe."

    A tall woman with eyes that seemed to hold stars stood there.

    She was from the Radiant Universe, the second strongest at the fifth step of the Yin God realm.

    "Hey, Feng Ti''s clone, is that Qi Yuan really that strong?" the tall woman asked Feng Ti.

    The Feng Ti before her wasn''t the real Feng Ti but a clone, and a clone of Feng Ti at the fifth step of the Yin God realm at that.

    So, the tall woman called him a "clone."

    Feng Ti''s eyes were deep. "If you want to know, go challenge him yourself."

    He had no memory of what happened back then.

    But the fact that he, with nine lives, had been killed meant that Qi Yuan''s strength far surpassed his.

    "If it weren''t for having to deal with those Black Earth trash, I would have gone to challenge that so-called Qi Yuan long ago. You... really embarrassed our Radiant Universe," the tall woman said.

    At their level, after living for so many years, they had long since become free-spirited, acting on their instincts and desires.

    "You''re scared," Feng Ti said. "Wu Dong died mysteriously, and even the Realm Master of Time couldn''t save him."

    "Have you gone mad from cultivation? Wu Dong''s death must be related to the Black Heaven. How could you think a native from the Divine Wood Universe could..."

    The tall woman''s words were cut off.

    A hoarse, ancient voice echoed through the Radiant Divine Palace.

    "All members, prepare to evacuate the Chaotic Star Domain immediately."

    The tall woman''s face showed confusion. "Old man, what''s going on? Did the Black Heaven and Black Earth break through the Void Sea defenses and invade the Chaotic Star Domain?"

    Given her high status, she could directly ask the palace master of this branch of the Radiant Society.

    "A Realm Master has appeared in the Chaotic Star Domain. If we stay here, we''ll only meet our deaths," the palace master replied.

    "A Realm Master... how is that possible? Did a Realm Master from the Black Heaven and Black Earth come? Is Yuan dead?" The tall woman was shocked and disbelieving.

    Although she was immensely talented, a Realm Master was still a being she could only look up to.

    A Realm Master could erase her from existence with a single thought.

    "It''s not a Realm Master from the Black Heaven. A Realm Master has emerged in the Divine Wood Universe."

    "Impossible!" The tall woman''s first reaction was disbelief.

    This defied her understanding.

    "This has been confirmed by the Realm Master of Wind and Clouds. A Realm Master named Qi Yuan has indeed appeared in the Chaotic Star Domain.

    He... is the one who killed Feng Ti when Feng Ti went to the Blue Mountain Realm."

    "Confirmed by the Realm Master of Wind and Clouds? Wait... killed Feng Ti?" The tall woman felt a sense of absurdity.

    The person she wanted to challenge... was a Realm Master?

    And how could a Realm Master emerge in the Divine Wood Universe?

    All of this was too bizarre, too beyond comprehension.

    "Leave this place immediately. Otherwise... even a Realm Master won''t be able to save us!"

    The tall woman didn''t hesitate. She knew it was better to flee now.

    If she delayed, she might not even get the chance to flee.

    After all, this was a Realm Master. In some ordinary universes, a Realm Master might be the strongest being in the entire universe.

    ...

    Three Wood Realm Master hung his head, his face gloomy.

    "Feng Ti, stop cultivating. Something big has happened."

    Feng Ti awoke from his cultivation and looked at the Three Wood Realm Master, his expression resigned. "Old Three Wood, what is it now?"

    He had been cultivating in peace, preparing to break through to the third layer of the Yang God realm, the Realm Master level.

    But this old man kept bothering him.

    "Remember the person I told you about last time? The one who defeated... your clone."

    "Yes, a native of the Divine Wood Universe," Feng Ti said indifferently. "A prodigy, I suppose."

    "More than just a prodigy..."

    "Did your disciple lose?" Feng Ti''s calm eyes showed a hint of schadenfreude.

    "More than just lose... he died. Not only that, I asked the Realm Master of Time for help, but even he couldn''t retrieve his true spirit," the Three Wood Realm Master said bitterly.

    "No wonder you came to me. This... is indeed strange," Feng Ti said.

    "But that''s just a minor issue. The most important thing is that person... named Qi Yuan, has now broken through to the Realm Master realm."

    "How is that possible?" Feng Ti''s eyes widened in shock.

    At the same time, the special true spirit residing within Feng Ti''s body trembled violently.

    Feng Ti''s eyes flickered, sensing something. "Such a major event... the Dao Lord will surely be interested. It has nothing to do with someone like me, who hasn''t even reached the third layer of the Yang God realm."

    Feng Ti waved his sleeve, as if shooing away a guest.

    The Three Wood Realm Master left, grumbling.

    In Feng Ti''s ear, a voice filled with astonishment spoke.

    "Strange... why didn''t I know that a Realm Master had emerged in the Divine Wood Universe?"

    "Is that... unusual?"

    "Very unusual, very strange," the voice said, ethereal. "The more unusual, the stranger, the more dangerous it is. Feng Ti... you should leave the Radiant Universe with me."

    "If you stay in the Radiant Universe, you''ll never become a Realm Master."

    "You''re stuck at the second layer of the Yang God realm."

    "Just like the destruction of the Divine Wood Universe... it''s already set in stone."

 Chapter 558: Becoming All Things, Playing All Roles, The Great War Begins

    In the Quijin Realm, Qi Yuan, clad in a dark robe with white hair flowing in the wind, watched as his avatar in the Blue Mountain Realm dissipated into nothingness.

    "Indeed... cultivating diligently... can''t compare to the speed of plundering."

    With just that one move, he had slain tens of thousands of Specter Gods. A single domain in the universe contained far more than tens of thousands of worlds.

    The massive influx of experience was far faster than slowly cultivating.

    Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao stared at Qi Yuan in shock, their countless thoughts condensed into silence.

    Because, at this moment, they couldn''t digest or comprehend what had just happened.

    Qi Yuan glanced at the two of them casually and asked, "Do you know what lies within the Divine Wood Abyss?"

    The blind maiden in the Divine Wood Abyss had once given him eight wooden tablets inscribed with forging techniques.

    The tablets had long since disappeared, but the eight forging techniques remained in his mind.

    The eight techniques were: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Cloud, Rain, and Thunder.

    Shangguan Qingteng was surprised that Qi Yuan would ask such a question.

    He furrowed his brows, thinking carefully. "The Divine Wood Abyss... is a void, devoid of any living beings. Some of the oldest Ancestral Gods have said that the Divine Wood Abyss... might be the origin of the Divine Wood Universe."

    "The origin of the universe?" Qi Yuan murmured. "No living beings inside?"

    "None," Shangguan Qingteng said. "Since ancient times, many Ancestral Gods have entered the Divine Wood Abyss to investigate, but none have found any living beings."

    In the Divine Wood Universe, the Divine Wood Abyss existed in almost every world.

    Earlier, Qi Yuan had split into countless avatars and entered nearly every Divine Wood Abyss in the universe, but he had found nothing.

    "If Senior wishes to learn more about the Divine Wood Abyss, you might consider visiting the Tai Star Domain. There, you can find the original text of the Origin Secrets," Shangguan Qingteng said cautiously.

    No matter how strange or bizarre Qi Yuan''s appearance was, he was still a member of the Divine Wood Universe. Moreover, he had just taken action against the Specter Gods, making him someone worth recruiting.

    Originally, they had thought that once Qi Yuan grew to Yuan''s level, he could become a seed to wield the Light of Human Enlightenment.

    But now... he was far more than just a seed.

    "The Tai Star Domain?" Qi Yuan''s gaze deepened. "I will go there, but not now... Once I complete my mortal seclusion, I will visit the Tai Star Domain and see Sheng Nu as well."

    With a wave of his sleeve, his figure disappeared once more.

    Only Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao remained, looking at each other in confusion.

    "We need to report this to Yuan as soon as possible!"

    ...

    "Mortals, experiencing the myriad trials of the mortal world..."

    In an unknown world, Qi Yuan sat alone in a desert, fishing.

    His straight hook sank into the sand, buried a hundred meters deep.

    Qi Yuan fished quietly, his thoughts calm.

    "For the white-haired Qi Yuan, mortal seclusion is a path to breaking through to the Ancestral God realm.

    For me... mortal seclusion is a means to comprehend the rules of the world."

    All things in the world operate in an orderly manner, hiding the truths of the Great Dao.

    The path of cultivation requires both tension and relaxation.

    The tension lies in slaying Specters to gain experience.

    The relaxation lies in comprehending the rules of the Great Dao, understanding all things.

    "So... why am I fishing in the sand?"

    "What can I catch?"

    "I can catch... a grain of sand."

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan''s fishing line twitched.

    A grain of sand was lifted into the air.

    This grain of sand was ordinary, no different from any other grain.

    Qi Yuan looked at the grain of sand and reached out his hand.

    "Finally found you, or rather... myself."

    Since becoming a Realm Master, he no longer needed to act.

    He only needed to recover.

    Recover himself.

    By "himself," he meant the blood he had invested when the game collapsed.

    His blood had merged into the Divine Wood Universe, becoming part of all things.

    This grain of sand was one such part.

    As the grain of sand touched Qi Yuan''s arm, it disappeared.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes were calm, as if he had seen ten thousand years.

    The life and memories of the grain of sand flowed through his mind.

    It had once been buried deep in the muddy ocean floor, in utter darkness. It had seen a fish grow legs and climb onto land; it had also seen a finger bone, white as jade, fall into the depths of the ocean.

    Countless cultivators and powerful beings had fought to find that finger bone.

    Later, the ocean dried up, and the water turned to stone.

    The area became a desert.

    "Is this the life of a grain of sand, or rather... my life?"

    Once, the Heavenly Clan had also faced an invasion by the Black Heaven and Black Earth.

    The Heavenly Clan''s Human King was a Realm Master powerhouse, possibly even on the verge of transcending to a higher realm.

    The Human King had attempted to forge a Divine Light Treasure to fight the Black Heaven.

    But in the end, he failed, and the Divine Light Treasure was never completed.

    The Heavenly Clan was destroyed.

    The civilization of the Heavenly Clan was extinguished, with only a few survivors escaping.

    Some of them came to the Divine Wood Universe.

    The forging techniques of the Divine Wood Universe originated from the Heavenly Clan.

    "Who else?" Yuan asked again, acknowledging the Heavenly Clan member.

    "I have reached the second layer of the Ancestral God realm. I can join," Sheng Nu said, her expression as cold as the moon.

    She was a seed to wield the Light of Human Enlightenment.

    "Approved," Yuan nodded, scanning the rest of the hall. "Anyone else?"

    The others remained silent.

    Most felt they weren''t strong enough, fearing they would taint the Divine Light Treasures.

    In the entire Divine Wood Universe, seven Divine Light Treasures had been forged, but there weren''t seven powerful enough individuals to wield them.

    "Sigh, if Qi Yuan were here, he would be the most qualified to wield the Light of Human Enlightenment," Shangguan Qingmiao said.

    Hundreds of years ago, after meeting Qi Yuan once, he had regarded him as a celestial being.

    After all, Qi Yuan was a Realm Master.

    The Realm Master level was unfathomable, beyond comprehension.

    Hearing this, Sheng Nu''s expression shifted slightly. "He alone could probably wield two, maybe even three Divine Light Treasures."

    "Unfortunately, this lord is elusive. We can''t find him," the white-browed elder sighed.

    Over the years, the Tai Star Domain had tried repeatedly to locate Qi Yuan.

    But they had failed.

    It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

    Yuan looked around the hall, his voice devoid of emotion. "We have five days to choose the remaining four. Meeting adjourned."

    Yuan''s figure disappeared.

    The others left in small groups.

    The grand hall became empty and quiet.

    About half an hour later, three people entered the hall, heads bowed.

    All three carried brooms, led by an old man with white hair.

    Entering the hall, they didn''t look around but began cleaning.

    The cleaning wasn''t about removing dust but about purging the lingering aura of Specters.

    These Ancestral Gods had been fighting on the front lines for years, and their bodies were tainted with the aura of Specters.

    If left unchecked, this aura could give birth to Specter Gods.

    The three cleaned in silence, not speaking a word.

    The hall was vast, and cleaning it took a long time.

    The old man wiped a table clean, his gaze falling on a slender figure sitting in a seat meant for a Yang God. He frowned. "Hey, Xiao Qi, why aren''t you cleaning? What are you doing sitting there?"

    The handsome young man named Xiao Qi sat in the Yang God''s seat, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.

    "Sigh, I wonder if I''ll ever get to meet these Yang Gods. I have so many questions I want to ask them," Xiao Qi said, his eyes distant.

    "Those great figures aren''t people we can just casually ask questions," the old man chuckled, thinking Xiao Qi was being naive.

    Xiao Qi was the orphan of a frontline soldier, and the old man had raised him.

    "And your questions are just too strange!" the old man added.

    "How are they strange? I just want to ask them what a mountain is, what shoes are, what a bug is," Xiao Qi said casually, his gaze unfocused and confused.

    "Father''s right. Your questions are too strange," the third person said with a smile. "What''s the point of asking those things? You might as well ask how to become a god."

    Xiao Qi shook his head. "Life is hard, and there are too many unknowns. It''s too difficult, too difficult."

    "Why don''t you write a book called One Hundred Thousand Whys?" the old man suggested.

    This world also had the concept of One Hundred Thousand Whys.

    "Xiao Qi, what''s the point of thinking about these things? You should focus on earning money to buy wine for Father," the third man said.

    "What''s wine?" Xiao Qi asked, puzzled. "Isn''t there plenty of wine here?"

    He reached for a wine jug, shook it, and frowned in disappointment.

    "Who''s the cheapskate who took all the wine?"

    "You''re too bold!" the old man said, relieved that there was no wine left.

    This was wine for Ancestral Gods. Even if there were leftovers, it wasn''t something they could touch.

    Since the half-empty jug had been taken by another lord, Xiao Qi wouldn''t get into trouble.

    "Stop daydreaming and focus on earning money to buy wine for Father!" the tall man said.

    "This isn''t daydreaming. I just want to understand what these things are," Xiao Qi murmured. "If I can figure it out, maybe I can brew wine for Father every day."

    "Alright, I''ll be waiting for that day," the old man said with a hearty laugh.

 Chapter 559: I, Qi Yuan, Will Wield Several Human Enlightenment Treasures. Any Objections?

    The grand palace was cleaned, and the three of them left, panting and exhausted.

    Along the way, the three kept their heads down, not daring to speak or look around carelessly.

    Outside the palace, Ancestral Gods occasionally passed by. Each time they did, the three would step aside to make way.

    It took about half an hour for them to return to their humble abode.

    The Imperial Star was home to too many powerful figures.

    The cost of living in the Imperial City was exorbitantly high.

    Although the old man was a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, the house he lived in was less than a hundred square meters.

    If this were the Blue Mountain Realm in the Chaotic Star Domain, he could have ruled like a king.

    The old man took out his treasured wine and carefully poured a cup for each of them, his face showing a look of contentment.

    "A single pot of Moon Brew is worth a mountain. In other domains, this pot could easily trade for a large estate."

    "It''s not as good as the immortal brew the Ancestral Gods drink. I heard just a single drop can make a Divine-tier expert drunk for a hundred days," Long Qi said.

    Like Xiao Qi, he was an orphan from the battlefield, taken in by the old man.

    The old man shot Long Qi an annoyed look. "You always have something to say, don''t you?"

    At this moment, Xiao Qi looked at the Moon Brew, his eyes filled with confusion. "What is wine?"

    "Here we go again, he''s having another episode," the old man thought, looking at Xiao Qi with a mix of helplessness and resignation.

    But both he and Long Qi were used to Xiao Qi''s strange behavior.

    Long Qi continued, "I heard that in the next few days, the seeds to wield the Human Enlightenment Treasures will be chosen. I wonder who will be selected."

    "Human Enlightenment..." Hearing this, the old man''s expression became complicated.

    The so-called Human Enlightenment was forged with blood.

    Beneath the light, there was only crimson blood.

    "What is Human Enlightenment?" Xiao Qi asked, his face filled with curiosity.

    The old man spoke as if to himself, "When the Black Heaven descends, the world falls into darkness. Only Human Enlightenment can ignite the darkness and light the way forward."

    This was almost a universal belief among all cultivators in the Tai Star Domain.

    It was as if, once the Divine Light Treasures were forged, the Black Heaven would be driven away, and light would return.

    Of course, they didn''t know that even with the Divine Light Treasures, the Black Heaven was still difficult to dispel.

    But people need hope, don''t they?

    "I want to wield a Human Enlightenment Treasure," Xiao Qi murmured.

    The old man chuckled. "You really dare to dream."

    Long Qi also laughed. "If you really get to wield a Human Enlightenment Treasure, maybe you can get Father some immortal brew."

    Xiao Qi nodded seriously. "Immortal brew."

    The old man, his hair white, looked troubled. "Forget about immortal brew. I just want you two to live peacefully. Even if one of you gets the chance to wield a Human Enlightenment Treasure, I hope you don''t take it. The front lines... are no place for humans."

    Both Long Qi and Xiao Qi''s parents had died on the front lines. The old man only wished for the two of them to live peacefully, surviving in the cracks of this world.

    ...

    Imperial City, Imperial Star.

    Four dazzling lights hung high in the sky.

    The light was so bright and intense that it was impossible to look directly at it, let alone see what was inside.

    Yuan''s ethereal and authoritative voice rang out at this moment. "Within half a day, whoever gets closest to the Human Enlightenment Treasures will wield them in this expedition!"

    In the Imperial City, countless people, both great and small, looked up, squinting or straining their eyes to see the majestic and radiant light.

    "This is Human Enlightenment... so beautiful!"

    "With Human Enlightenment, even the Black Heaven and Black Earth might not be our match!"

    "Right, the Black Heaven and Black Earth are stronger than us, but if they dare invade, we''ll take a chunk out of them!"

    The crowd was filled with fervor.

    The past had been too dark and oppressive. Only now did they truly feel a sense of pride.

    The old man squinted, trying to see the Human Enlightenment Treasures clearly. He murmured, "There''s... a drop of my mother''s blood in there."

    His mother had also been a Artifact Master. When he was very young, she had left him to forge the Divine Light Treasures.

    Weapon Masters who forged the Divine Light Treasures had a one in ten thousand chance of survival if they succeeded; if they failed, perhaps one in hundreds of thousands might live.

    Long Qi also strained to look at the Human Enlightenment Treasures, even as tears streamed from his eyes.

    Xiao Qi did the same, though his eyes remained dry.

    "Human Enlightenment... what kind of rule is it?"

    His thoughts were in turmoil.

    Every night, he would dream.

    In his dreams, he was sometimes a grain of sand, sometimes a drop of water, and other times a mighty general.

    "It''s too hard, too hard," Xiao Qi thought, his mind filled with countless questions.

    At this moment, over a hundred Ancestral Gods soared into the sky, rushing toward the Human Enlightenment Treasures.

    Only those at the peak of the first layer of the Ancestral God realm, on the verge of breaking through, dared to participate in this competition.

    Over a hundred figures charged toward the Human Enlightenment Treasures.

    The intense light made it difficult to approach.

    It repelled all who came near.

    "My fate is mine to control, not the heavens''! Break!" A woman with phoenix-like eyes shouted, her clothes stained with blood as she pushed forward.

    Many Ancestral Gods used their unique techniques to get closer to the Human Enlightenment Treasures.

    But no matter how hard they tried, they were still far from the core.

    Moreover, every so often, someone would lose their strength and fall from the sky.

    It was as if he had realized something, remembered something.

    Holding the four treasures, his figure stood tall and majestic, with a hint of laziness and nonchalance.

    "I, Qi Yuan, will wield several Human Enlightenment Treasures. Any objections?"

    His voice echoed throughout the Imperial Star. At first, the people were confused, but soon their confusion turned to joy.

    "He''s... a Realm Master!"

    "Realm Master Qi Yuan?"

    "A Realm Master... our Divine Wood Universe has a Realm Master!"

    At this moment, many people''s eyes welled up with tears.

    Hundreds of years ago, news of Realm Master Qi Yuan had spread. At first, many didn''t believe it.

    But as the Chaotic Star Domain was reclaimed, the Radiant Society retreated from the Domain and Yuan confirmed Qi Yuan''s identity, everyone realized that the Divine Wood Universe had its own Realm Master.

    Their Realm Master!

    But for the past few hundred years, the Realm Master had been missing. Many had searched for him but found nothing.

    From hope to disappointment.

    Now, the Realm Master had returned, wielding four Human Enlightenment Treasures. How could they not be overjoyed, how could they not be excited?

    "Yuan... pays respects to the Realm Master!"

    The former strongest in the Divine Wood Universe lowered his noble head.

    "Sheng Nu... pays respects to the Realm Master!" Sheng Nu bowed, her attitude respectful.

    "Paying respects to the Realm Master!"

    All the Ancestral Gods bowed their heads, their eyes filled with awe and anticipation.

    "Paying respects to the Realm Master!"

    The entire Imperial Star seemed to be shouting.

    The sound rolled like a tidal wave, resonating for thousands of miles.

    The old man''s expression was complicated, mixed with a hint of nostalgia. "Xiao Qi... is actually the Realm Master."

    Long Qi''s face was filled with ecstasy.

    If Xiao Qi were just some Divine-tier expert, he might have felt a little jealous.

    But now... a Realm Master? That wasn''t jealousy anymore. It was pure joy.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan, holding the four Human Enlightenment Treasures, stood high in the sky, his gaze profound.

    "This time... the Black Heaven and Black Earth are invading?" he asked casually.

    "Reporting to the Realm Master, yes!" Yuan stepped forward, no longer the aloof figure he once was.

    As a second-layer Ancestral God, he knew the vast gap between himself and a Realm Master.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes flickered. "I''ve been in seclusion, comprehending the Dao and undergoing mortal trials. I haven''t been killing Specters much. How about this? Give me the other three Human Enlightenment Treasures, and I''ll go to the Void Sea to meet them."

    As soon as he said this, the expressions of the Ancestral Gods changed, and many thoughts raced through their minds.

    After all, although Qi Yuan was a Realm Master and a native of the Divine Wood Universe, they had almost no interaction with him.

    Qi Yuan''s character and temperament were only known through written records.

    To hand over the seven Divine Light Treasures, forged with the blood and flesh of countless lives, to him on their first meeting...

    They... weren''t sure they could trust him.

    What if... what if...

    All the Ancestral Gods had different expressions, each with their own thoughts.

    From their perspective, such doubts were natural.

    The Human Enlightenment Treasures were no ordinary items. They were tied to the survival of the Divine Wood Universe.

    Yuan''s gaze shifted as he studied Qi Yuan. Finally, he spoke. "Agreed."

    "Yuan!" the bearded man shouted, trying to stop him.

    The others, seeing this, said nothing more.

    Yuan''s authority was as radiant as the sun.

    Since Yuan had agreed, there was no need for them to object.

    Moreover, if Qi Yuan decided to take action, could they even protect the seven Human Enlightenment Treasures?

    "Here are the other three Light Treasures," Yuan said, handing over the three treasures in his tattered armor.

    The three radiant treasures fell into Qi Yuan''s hands.

    Qi Yuan examined the seven Light Treasures, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    "Metal, Wood, Fire, Earth, Thunder, Cloud, Rain..."

    In these seven Divine Light Treasures, he saw these seven attributes.

    These seven attributes matched the eight wooden tablets the blind maiden had given him.

    "But... where is Water?"

    If it wasn''t a coincidence, was the Divine Light Treasure missing the Water attribute?

    Qi Yuan thought this as he turned to Sheng Nu, his gaze calm. "Sister Sheng Nu, have you been to the Divine Wood Abyss in the Blue Mountain Realm?"

    Sheng Nu had created the Divine Descent, so he addressed her as "sister" out of politeness.

    Of course, if he were even more polite, he would have called her "aunt" or "mother."

    "Yes," Sheng Nu nodded. She had learned from the Shangguan brothers that Qi Yuan was very interested in this matter.

    Qi Yuan said, "I once met a blind maiden in the Divine Wood Abyss. She said she had seen you and gave you a forging technique?"

    "Blind maiden?" Sheng Nu looked puzzled. "No, but... while meditating in the Divine Wood Abyss, I did gain some insights and learned a forging technique."

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan''s gaze was complex.

 Chapter 560: Trading Life for Life, We Must Kill Him!

    Since Sheng Nu had said so, combined with the answers from others, Qi Yuan had already formed a guess in his heart.

    Perhaps the blind maiden truly didn¡¯t exist in this world and was merely a figment of his imagination.

    But then... how to explain that night of boundless charm?

    Qi Yuan still had lingering doubts in his heart.

    His gaze fell on Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao. "Last time, you two mentioned that if I came to the Tai Star Domain, you would let me see the original Origin Secrets."

    Being stared at by Qi Yuan, the two of them felt a pang of nervousness.

    Yuan stepped forward at this moment, speaking on behalf of Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao. "Realm Master, please follow me."

    "Alright," Qi Yuan responded.

    However, before leaving, he seemed to remember something. His gaze pierced through the clouds, landing on the old man and Long Qi.

    "They¡¯re craving some immortal brew. Lend me some to give to them."

    The old man and Long Qi tensed up. They had never been the focus of so many powerful figures at once. The feeling of being in the spotlight was both thrilling and nerve-wracking.

    The old man¡¯s thoughts were complicated.

    Long Qi could barely contain his excitement.

    Xiao Qi... no, the Realm Master still remembered them!

    ...

    In the Cloud Palace, countless ancient texts were as vast as the clouds.

    Some were carved on stone tablets, some on bamboo slips, and others printed on paper.

    The vast library represented the historical and cultural development of various regions and worlds within the Divine Wood Universe.

    The original Origin Secrets was located deep within the library.

    "The original Origin Secrets is recorded on divine wood, documenting the various secrets of the Divine Wood Universe.

    However, due to the passage of time, many chapters of the original are missing."

    Yuan handed the original Origin Secrets to Qi Yuan.

    It was less of a book and more of a wooden stele, with carvings on it.

    However, this wooden stele had endured countless years of weathering, and many of the characters on it were no longer legible.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll take a look first," Qi Yuan said.

    His attention turned to the Origin Secrets.

    Yuan retreated, leaving the library.

    In front of the Origin Secrets, only Qi Yuan remained.

    "At the dawn of the universe, the first ancient god was Pan. With a giant axe, he split the heavens and the earth?"

    "This... is related to the story I randomly told to the Silent Voice."

    "The heavens collapsed, the earth shattered, and the goddess appeared... using stones to mend the earth."

    "Did my story influence the Silent Voice or... can my words turn decay into wonder?"

    Qi Yuan thought of his special ability.

    Without this special ability, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to communicate with the Silent Voice.

    His voice could travel to any corner of the world at will, and then... cause special changes, leading to unknown effects.

    Qi Yuan speculated.

    Perhaps his voice had influenced the Silent Voice, leading to the birth of the Divine Wood Universe.

    "It seems... my mouth is quite powerful, capable of making the universe pregnant," Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    In the Origin Secrets, the records about the Divine Wood Abyss only mentioned that it was the origin of the world, a place of nothingness.

    "Unfortunately, there¡¯s no mention of the Black Heaven in the Origin Secrets."

    The knowledge of the Black Heaven held by the Human Enlightenment Society¡¯s Ancestral Gods might not even compare to Qi Yuan, who had slain countless Specter Gods and swept through the Chaotic Star Domain.

    After sitting for half a day, Qi Yuan finished reading the Origin Secrets in its entirety.

    The first half of the Origin Secrets was very similar to the mythological stories Qi Yuan had told the Silent Voice.

    As for the latter part, it detailed the various events of the Black Heaven and Black Earth¡¯s invasion.

    The Void Paradise and the Radiant Universe were also mentioned in the Origin Secrets.

    "This is..."

    Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze moved to the final chapter of the Origin Secrets.

    The writing there was completely different from the earlier text, bearing the delicate handwriting of a woman.

    "It¡¯s... the same handwriting as on the stone tablet at Sunset Cliff."

    Qi Yuan was slightly surprised.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter something like this.

    "However... most of the text is illegible."

    Qi Yuan tried to decipher it but could only make out eight characters: "Clouds bring rain," and "Thunder roars without cease."

    As for the rest, it was too faded to read.

    "Cloud, rain, thunder... forging techniques?"

    Qi Yuan thought of the eight forging techniques the blind maiden had given him.

    "Sigh... the game is almost over. If I can¡¯t find you soon, I might not be able to make eyes for you."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    He was a man who valued gratitude deeply.

    If he promised something, he would see it through.

    Now, the game in this world was nearing its end.

    The roles he had played were also coming to an end.

    When it was over, it would be time for him to leave.

    "He¡¯s a Realm Master. He won¡¯t be easy to kill," Realm Master Wukong said calmly.

    At the Realm Master level, their strengths were similar. Killing one another was extremely difficult.

    "I¡¯ll trade my life for his if I have to!" Realm Master Flame said fiercely.

    The Yang Gods present were moved.

    Although Specter Essence allowed them to revive.

    At their level, they tried to avoid using Specter Essence to revive.

    Who could say... if the revived version of themselves would still be themselves?

    "It seems this nephew of yours is very important to you," Realm Master Wukong said with a smile.

    He had heard some rumors.

    Qi Huang had many uncles.

    Realm Master Flame was one of them.

    Perhaps these so-called uncles... were all avatars of Realm Master Flame.

    And Qi Huang was the key to Realm Master Flame¡¯s breakthrough to the All Things Realm?

    Now that Qi Yuan had killed him, it was natural for Realm Master Flame to be angry.

    This was a grudge that blocked his path!

    But... trading life for life, in Realm Master Wukong¡¯s view, was unwise.

    "Realm Master Wukong, help me kill Qi Yuan!" Realm Master Flame looked at Realm Master Wukong.

    Realm Master Wukong hesitated. "I don¡¯t want to risk my life."

    Realm Master Flame was willing to trade his life, but Realm Master Wukong wasn¡¯t.

    "You assist me from the side. Once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll open my divine sea and let you comprehend my flame rules!" Realm Master Flame said fiercely.

    Hearing this, Realm Master Wukong was surprised. "Really?"

    For a Realm Master at the Rule Realm, the most important thing was their rules.

    The rules each Realm Master comprehended were their trump card, their greatest reliance.

    For Realm Master Flame to open his divine sea and let Realm Master Wukong comprehend his rules was a dangerous move.

    During this time, if Realm Master Wukong harbored any ill intentions, Realm Master Flame would die instantly.

    However... with Specter Essence, even if he died, he would revive.

    But for Realm Master Wukong, reviving would mean he was no longer himself, something he needed to avoid.

    Now, Realm Master Flame was offering such a reward to hunt Qi Yuan. How could Realm Master Wukong not be tempted?

    "Alright, I¡¯ll help you," Realm Master Wukong said, his heart burning with desire.

    If he could master another rule, it would be a significant boost for him.

    In the future, he might even have a chance to break through to the All Things Realm, or even the Creation Realm.

    Currently, the Black Heaven and Black Earth had Realm Masters at the All Things Realm, but none at the Creation Realm.

    If he broke through to the Creation Realm, he would become the number one figure in the Black Heaven and Black Earth.

    "If that¡¯s the case... we¡¯ll need to change our battle plan this time," Realm Master Wukong said, deep in thought.

    The Black Heaven and Black Earth¡¯s invasion of the Divine Wood Universe.

    For the Divine Wood Universe, the war was extremely brutal and intense.

    But for the Black Heaven and Black Earth, without the highest orders from the Black Heaven, everything was just... a test and a game.

    So, last time, when Yuan entered the Void Sea with half a Human Enlightenment Treasure to resist the Black Heaven and Black Earth¡¯s army.

    They had ten thousand ways to kill Yuan.

    But in the end, no one made a move.

    Because half a Human Enlightenment Treasure was enough for Yuan to trade his life for a Realm Master¡¯s.

    No Realm Master was willing to die, even if they could revive with Specter Essence.

    But this time was different. Realm Master Flame was willing to die, willing to revive with Specter Essence.

    Since someone was willing to pay the price, keeping Qi Yuan in the Void Sea... would be simple.

    ...

    "So this is the Void Sea?"

    Qi Yuan entered the Void Sea alone, feeling as if he had stepped into a swamp.

    The Void Sea... was a special space formed by the collision of two universes.

    Even ordinary Yang Gods found it difficult to move through the Void Sea.

    It felt as if every step was restricted, every movement hindered.

    Only Realm Masters and those above could significantly reduce these restrictions.

    Of course, if one held a Divine Light Treasure, even ordinary Divine-tier or Heaven-tier beings could enter the Void Sea.

    "Half a day¡¯s journey ahead, and you¡¯ll reach the Black Heaven and Black Earth¡¯s fleet," Yuan¡¯s voice came through the communication device. "Realm Master, all you need to do is hold the Human Enlightenment Treasures and block the fleet¡¯s advance!"

    Last time, Yuan had done just that, holding off the Black Heaven and Black Earth for over a decade.

    In the end, the fleet retreated, not advancing further.

    "Alright," Qi Yuan nodded.

    Aside from the seven Human Enlightenment Treasures, he also carried five special communication devices.

    These devices relied on the Human Enlightenment Treasures, allowing Qi Yuan to receive messages from the Divine Wood Universe even in the Void Sea.

    "What if they attack me?" Qi Yuan asked. "Can I fight back?"

    "Under normal circumstances, the Black Heaven and Black Earth won¡¯t rashly attack you in the Void Sea," Yuan explained.

    The Realm Masters of the Black Heaven and Black Earth valued their lives too much. No one was willing to trade their life for another¡¯s.

    "But if someone attacks you, Realm Master, you are naturally free to retaliate," Yuan said seriously.

    "What if I want to attack first?" Qi Yuan asked.

 Chapter 561: Rule Dissolution, the Line Has Disappeared!

    Yuan fell silent.

    Sheng Nu fell silent.

    Even the hot-tempered bearded man fell silent.

    He was already hot-tempered and irritable, but he had never thought of taking the initiative to attack the Black Heaven and Black Earth under such circumstances.

    Generally, in battles within the Void Sea, the Divine Wood Universe would avoid conflict whenever possible.

    Taking the initiative to attack had almost never happened.

    "Realm Master, if you can ensure your own safety, you are free to take the initiative to attack," Yuan finally said calmly.

    The hot-tempered bearded man added, "Realm Master, please be careful. The Void Sea is complex and treacherous. A single misstep could lead to disaster."

    Even this hot-tempered man was now advising Qi Yuan to stay calm.

    "Alright, I''ll go take a look at this so-called Black Heaven and Black Earth army."

    Qi Yuan said no more and walked alone through the Void Sea.

    The Void Sea was a chaotic place, filled with colorful specks of light.

    These specks of light were like fragments of broken rules or primordial matter from before the universe was formed, full of danger.

    They could even corrode the bodies of Yang Gods.

    Half a day passed quickly, and Qi Yuan came to a stop.

    The seven Human Enlightenment Treasures radiated a terrifying aura, like blazing suns.

    Qi Yuan looked ahead and saw a massive warship looming in the cold Void Sea.

    The warship was enormous!

    It was even larger than the Blue Mountain Realm.

    "The Black Heaven and Black Earth are truly something. Such a massive warship... if it fell from the sky, wouldn''t it crush ten thousand ants?"

    Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    Holding the seven Human Enlightenment Treasures, the environment around Qi Yuan in the Void Sea changed. He was like the moon surrounded by stars.

    The blazing light made him look like a war god.

    "Realm Master, just hold your ground and block the warship''s advance!" Yuan reminded.

    The hot-tempered bearded man also quickly added, "Realm Master, please stay calm."

    Qi Yuan looked at the imposing warship, his gaze deep. "I want to hold my ground, but will they let me?"

    Hearing this, Yuan''s expression changed drastically.

    Could there be an unexpected situation?

    The other Ancestral Gods'' thoughts raced, seemingly realizing something.

    As Qi Yuan''s voice fell.

    Suddenly, a majestic figure flew out from the warship.

    Eternal flames crackled and roared, scattering the colorful specks of light in the Void Sea.

    The terrifying flame giant roared, "Qi Yuan, die!"

    Realm Master Flame attacked furiously.

    When a supreme being like this attacked, it was domineering and without reason.

    In an instant, the surrounding space turned into a sea of fire.

    At the Realm Master stage, one could already influence the environment and rules of the world.

    In fact, if Realm Master Flame sneezed, he could turn a world like the Canglan Realm into a world of fire, with flames burning for billions of years.

    And that was just a sneeze. If he truly attacked, the power of his flames could devour everything.

    An intense heat surged toward Qi Yuan, and even with his immense strength, he felt the scorching heat.

    "Eternal flames, capable of burning through the heavens and earth. Qi Yuan... where can you run? Just let my flames consume you!"

    Realm Master Flame roared, and flames erupted everywhere.

    Absolute Adaptation!

    At this moment, Qi Yuan activated the rule he had comprehended.

    In an instant, his entire body turned into a being of fire.

    "Ah, I''m really burning, turning into a fire man," Qi Yuan said casually.

    He didn''t use the Human Enlightenment Treasures, relying solely on Absolute Adaptation to counter fire with fire.

    Realm Master Flame was stunned, his expression furious. "Die!"

    The flames grew even more intense, their power increasing tenfold, a hundredfold!

    Realm Master Flame had seen rules similar to Qi Yuan''s before.

    But most were crude imitations.

    Qi Yuan shrugged, his gaze shifting. "You''re a bit hard to kill."

    His eyes could see many things.

    At the Realm Master stage, no one was easy to kill.

    Unless there was a vast difference in strength.

    Qi Yuan had just recently broken through to the All Things Realm.

    To kill a Rule Realm expert like Realm Master Flame would take at least a day.

    For Qi Yuan, that was far too slow.

    "Hmph, you''re hard to kill too," Realm Master Flame said seriously.

    His understanding of "hard to kill" was different from Qi Yuan''s.

    What he meant was that, with his strength, even if they fought to the edge of the universe, it would be difficult to defeat each other.

    "But... even if you''re hard to kill, I will still kill you!" Realm Master Flame''s eyes burned even brighter, a strange glint in them. "I have Specter Essence. I''m not afraid of death. What do you have?"

    At this moment, outside the Void Sea, Yuan, Sheng Nu, and the other Ancestral Gods'' expressions changed drastically.

    "Not good, Realm Master Flame has gone mad. He''s willing to trade his life for Qi Yuan''s!"

    "How could this be? Is the revived version of him still himself? How could he be so reckless?"

    "Realm Master, retreat immediately! Don''t engage. Stay away from Realm Master Flame!" Yuan urgently reminded.

    The Ancestral Gods were on edge.

    Yuan''s expression shifted repeatedly.

    For a supreme being like the Radiant Dao Lord, Yuan couldn''t begin to guess his thoughts.

    However, if they wanted to meet him, they would have to sacrifice something.

    Otherwise, why would the Radiant Dao Lord intervene?

    Now, with Realm Master Flame self-destructing, time was running out.

    He couldn''t hesitate any longer.

    "Alright," Yuan agreed.

    But he also knew that this was just Yi''s suggestion. The Radiant Dao Lord might not necessarily intervene.

    "Here is the Light Void Talisman," Yi said, tossing a talisman to Yuan.

    Without hesitation, Yuan activated the Light Void Talisman.

    Instantly, his surroundings changed.

    He found himself in a world of radiant light.

    This world seemed to be entirely constructed of light.

    Gorgeous and beautiful, unlike any light found in the mortal world.

    "Leader of the Radiant Society, seeking an audience with the Lightless Lord!" Yi bowed her head, her voice clear.

    As her words fell, a child about six or seven years old walked forward.

    The child had rosy lips and pearly teeth, with fine, snow-white hair.

    The child''s body seemed to absorb no light at all.

    The Lightless Lord, a servant of the Radiant Dao Lord, was a Creation Realm Yang God.

    He smiled gently. "I already know why you''re here."

    "Please, Lightless Lord..."

    "Stop." The Lightless Lord raised a chubby, white finger, his smile unwavering. "I will not intervene."

    Yi''s expression changed drastically.

    She hadn''t expected this outcome.

    Yuan gritted his teeth. "The Divine Wood Universe is willing to pay a price that will satisfy you!"

    He knew the Lightless Lord was bargaining.

    Time was running out. They had to make sacrifices, no matter how painful.

    But the Lightless Lord shook his head. "It''s not a matter of price."

    Yuan and Yi were both stunned, not understanding what the Lightless Lord meant.

    "Come with me and see," the Lightless Lord said, waving his hand.

    Instantly, the scene before the three of them changed.

    "Look... at the line the master drew back then."

    The Lightless Lord pointed with his chubby finger.

    Yuan and Yi looked, and their expressions froze, filled with terror and despair.

    Even the usually calm Yuan now looked ashen.

    "The line... it''s gone... How is this possible? There should still be over ten thousand years left!" Yi exclaimed, her voice trembling.

    Back then, the Dao Lord had drawn a line.

    The Dao Lord had said that the line was slowly disappearing. When it completely vanished, the Black Heaven would "awaken" and truly devour the Divine Wood Universe.

    The so-called Black Earth was just a parasite on the Black Heaven.

    The Black Heaven was the true terror, something even the Radiant Dao Lord didn''t want to face directly.

    Based on the rate at which the line was disappearing, the Divine Wood Universe should have had over ten thousand years left.

    But now... only a sliver remained, meaning the Black Heaven could awaken at any moment.

    Perhaps in the next breath.

    At this point, the battle in the Void Sea no longer mattered.

    What mattered most was how the Divine Wood Universe would face the awakening of the Black Heaven.

    "How is this possible!" Yi muttered. "The Dao Lord is omniscient and omnipotent. How could he be wrong?"

    She was in despair.

    In Yi''s eyes, the Dao Lord was omniscient and omnipotent, capable of anything.

    With a single word, the Dao Lord could restart the universe or reverse the rules.

    But now, the line the Dao Lord had drawn hadn''t followed its original trajectory. How could she not be shocked? She could only hope it was all a mistake.

    The Lightless Lord shook his head. "The Dao Lord''s omniscience and omnipotence are limited to the Radiant Universe.

    The Black Heaven... is special. Even the Dao Lord can make mistakes."

    At this moment, Yuan''s expression shifted from numbness to calmness. He looked at Yi and said seriously, "Please send me back to the Tai Star Domain."

    Now that the line drawn by the Dao Lord had disappeared, he needed to inform the Human Enlightenment Society.

    The time they had left was too short¡ªperhaps less than a day.

    Yuan had never expected that what was supposed to be an ordinary confrontation would escalate into a war, and now, into an apocalypse.

    "Here is the Light Void Talisman," Yi said through gritted teeth, handing the talisman to Yuan.

    "Thank you," Yuan said, his figure dissipating.

    At this moment, his emotions were complex.

    The Divine Wood Universe had so little time left¡ªjust one day. How... could they possibly turn things around?

    ...

    "Cough... I''m almost dead, Realm Master Flame. You''re so fierce!" Qi Yuan said, coughing up blood.

    Realm Master Flame''s expression was serious, his eyes filled with anger. "You''re mocking me!"

    He had self-destructed twenty-three times, and each time Qi Yuan seemed on the verge of death.

    Although his reason and Realm Master stage knowledge told him that Qi Yuan was truly about to die...

    He still felt like Qi Yuan was mocking him!

    How could someone on the brink of death block his rule dissolutions so many times?

 Chapter 562: Right Eye Twitching Means Disaster? Superstitious Nonsense!

    "Don''t talk nonsense, I''m a kind and positive person, why would I mess with you?"

    "Look, the blood vessels in my body are bursting!"

    "Especially the capillaries, they''re bleeding!"

    Qi Yuan spoke earnestly, stretching out his fair and tender arm to show the Flame Realm Master.

    The Flame Realm Master''s eyelids twitched violently: "Are you mocking me?"

    At this level of cultivation, injuries are wounds of the Great Dao, wounds of the rules.

    Losing a head isn''t even a big deal.

    Capillaries bursting, and you call that an injury?

    "No, absolutely not, I swear on my character, quickly dissolve the rules, I''m about to die, hurry up and fulfill my wish!" Qi Yuan, as shameless as ever, acted with full dramatic flair.

    "Seeking death!" The Flame Realm Master was furious and no longer dissolved the rules but instead attacked Qi Yuan.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan sighed leisurely: "If you want to die, just kill yourself, why trouble me?"

    He was no longer the person he used to be.

    The Flame Realm Master had self-destructed twenty-three times, providing Qi Yuan with an ocean of experience.

    His strength had increased significantly.

    Most importantly, with each self-destruction of the Flame Realm Master, the flame rules continuously dissolved. Qi Yuan, holding the "Fire" Human Enlightenment Divine Light, had reached an extreme level of comprehension of the flame rules.

    "Back then, it took me a day to kill you. Now, having comprehended all flames in the world, I only need thirty breaths."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, a pale white flame rose from his body.

    "Ancestor of all flames, source of all fires, gather in my hand, burn eternally!"

    With Qi Yuan''s words, terrifying and extraordinary flames surged and spread.

    Netherworld Fire!

    Samadhi True Fire!

    Red Lotus Karmic Fire!

    Solar True Fire!

    Lunar True Fire!

    Each flame carried a mysterious and extraordinary aura.

    In any world, they could create wonders and awe.

    Now, all these flames burned, destroying everything, even the void, the¼«µã, and dark matter could be incinerated.

    "Since you don''t want to kill yourself, then I''ll help you!" Qi Yuan''s attack was fierce.

    "How is this possible? How have you comprehended the true essence of flames?" The Flame Realm Master desperately resisted.

    Unfortunately, he was no match for Qi Yuan.

    After all, Qi Yuan had already entered the Realm of All Things.

    Moreover, he had mastered the same true essence of flames, making his attacks devastating.

    "Ten, nine, eight... three, two, die!"

    With Qi Yuan''s countdown, the Flame Realm Master lasted only twenty-nine breaths before perishing.

    "Realm Master Wukong, join forces with me, he''s not at the Rule Realm!" The resurrected Flame Realm Master shouted.

    In the distance, Realm Master Wukong, who was blocking the retreat, changed his expression repeatedly before finally saying, "I only agreed to help you block his retreat!"

    The Realm Master before him was too mysterious and unpredictable, having inexplicably mastered the Flame Realm Master''s rules.

    He dared not make a move.

    "I will die!" The Flame Realm Master roared, "After I die, it will be your turn!"

    Realm Master Wukong remained unmoved.

    Could it be that Qi Yuan could kill his way into the Black Heaven?

    That was impossible.

    Thus, he chose to watch.

    After all, if he made a move and Qi Yuan also comprehended the rules he mastered, it would be a loss.

    "No!"

    The Flame Realm Master roared in despair and was slain once again.

    Each time he died, his death came faster.

    Meanwhile, on the Imperial Star.

    The group of Ancestral Gods was shaken: "He can actually kill a Realm Master!"

    "He was just pretending earlier!"

    "Killing a Realm Master, incredible!"

    These Ancestral Gods couldn''t fathom it.

    Even a Realm Master could be killed!

    With such strength, if Qi Yuan guarded the Void Sea, who would dare invade the Divine Wood Universe!

    "We''ve won, we''ve won!" The irritable bearded man was extremely excited.

    The white-browed old man also showed a relieved smile.

    For many years, facing the invasion of the Black Heaven and Black Earth, the Divine Wood Universe could only retreat.

    "With the Flame Realm Master dead in this battle, the Black Heaven and Black Earth will surely be extremely wary. For the next tens of thousands of years, we can focus on forging the Divine Light Treasures!"

    "Right, once we have more Divine Light Treasures, we will no longer be defenseless against the invasions of the Black Heaven and Black Earth!"

    The Ancestral Gods present were filled with excitement.

    For many years, they hadn''t been as happy and excited as they were today.

    "He''s dead... the Flame Realm Master has been completely slain!"

    "Lord Qi Yuan... has killed a Realm Master!"

    At this moment, all the Ancestral Gods were deeply moved.

    Because this time, after the Flame Realm Master died, he did not resurrect.

    They had witnessed the fall of a Realm Master with their own eyes.

    A Realm Master!

    Without the Human Enlightenment Divine Light, it was an unimaginable, terrifying, and majestic existence.

    "Qi Yuan!"

    Perhaps, in about an hour, it would reach his current location.

    "Escape?"

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    Now, the big boss of this game, he still had no useful information about the Black Heaven.

    And his right eyelid was frantically warning him, telling him that moving forward was a dead end.

    A hopeless situation!

    An unsolvable dead end!

    "I''m just a game player, if I''m afraid of a game virus... that''s too embarrassing, right?"

    "Besides, this game is my investment, if I retreat... the game is over, isn''t it?"

    "Stealing my company, a despicable business war?"

    "Seeking death!"

    Qi Yuan''s gaze became determined.

    "A hopeless situation?"

    "Let me see how hopeless it is!"

    At this moment, the seven Human Enlightenment Divine Light Treasures radiated infinite brilliance.

    The heavens and earth in the Void Sea were illuminated by the light, as if it were the only light in the darkness and depth.

    "I''ll meet this so-called Black Heaven!"

    Without any hesitation, holding the Human Enlightenment Divine Light, Qi Yuan resolutely charged towards the massive bubble.

    He wanted to see what exactly the Black Heaven was.

    "Realm Master!" Seeing this, all the Ancestral Gods were horrified.

    No one had expected that Qi Yuan would charge at the Black Heaven with the Human Enlightenment Divine Light.

    In everyone''s understanding, the Black Heaven was invincible, insurmountable.

    Otherwise, even the Void Realm Master of the Zhou Universe had once said that if he could incorporate the Divine Wood Universe into his cycle, he might reach a higher level.

    But, due to the existence of the Black Heaven, the Void Realm Master of the Zhou Universe dared not come to the Divine Wood Universe.

    Moreover, the even more majestic and unfathomable Radiant Dao Lord had never descended to the Divine Wood Universe.

    The Black Heaven... was simply invincible!

    Now, Qi Yuan, holding the Human Enlightenment Divine Light, was charging at the Black Heaven.

    "Can he... stop it?" Someone hesitated, but deep in their eyes was despair.

    "A dragon''s desperate situation, this is a dragon''s desperate situation!" The white-browed old man''s chess piece fell, forming a divination... Dragon''s Desperation.

    This was the most desperate situation in his divination path.

    It was also the first time such a divination had appeared in his many years of fortune-telling.

    "Bang!"

    The irritable bearded man kicked the divination board.

    "What nonsense Dragon''s Desperation, the Realm Master is facing the Black Heaven alone, what we should think about is... what should we do?"

    "Qi Yuan is a Realm Master, holding seven Human Enlightenment Divine Light Treasures... perhaps, he can hold off the Black Heaven... for seven hours." The Yang God of the Heavenly Clan said.

    Back then, when the Black Heaven descended, the Human King held half a Divine Light Treasure and held off the Black Heaven for half an incense stick''s time.

    The Human Enlightenment Divine Light was a Realm Master-level treasure, but not an ordinary Realm Master-level treasure.

    "Seven hours..." Yuan''s expression was calm, his voice cold, "That means we have 19 hours left."

    "19 hours... too short." The other Ancestral Gods were bitter.

    "We can''t waste any more time, we must preserve the seeds of our civilization!" The irritable bearded man said.

    At this moment, Sheng Nu took a deep look at the Void Sea, her beautiful face filled with sorrow.

    In the Void Sea.

    The seven rays of light were extraordinarily huge, as if they could illuminate all heavens.

    In the Divine Wood Universe, countless worlds, countless beings, seemed to see seven rays of light appear, and above the seven rays of light was the pitch-black, deep Black Heaven.

    The original Black Earth warship shattered at this moment.

    All the Black Earth clansmen, including Realm Master Wukong, disappeared at this moment.

    The awakening of the Black Heaven meant the end of the Black Earth, or rather, a change in the form of life''s existence.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan was infinitely close to the terrifying black bubble.

    His right eyelid twitched violently, and Qi Yuan also felt an extreme sense of danger.

    "Superstition is not to be believed!"

    "Slash!"

    All his great skills, Absolute Adaptation, Death''s Radiance and so on, were unleashed at this moment.

    The seven Human Enlightenment Divine Light Treasures also played their due role at this moment.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan unleashed the strongest attack of his life.

    This attack, even the overflowing aura, was enough to annihilate stars.

    However... the black bubble ahead remained motionless.

    And... Qi Yuan''s vision changed at this moment.

    "Am I... inside the Black Heaven?"

    Qi Yuan scanned ahead, above.

    The heavens and earth here were endless darkness, a kind of blackness that was indescribable. Even Qi Yuan couldn''t see any matter, any distance, any flow of time.

    Only within a meter around the Human Enlightenment Divine Light was there a faint light.

    At this moment, suddenly, countless light points flickered in the Black Heaven.

    Like the eyes of countless beings.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan sensed that it seemed as if billions of terrifying beings were examining him.

    These were indeed the eyes of beings!

    These beings were clearly the former Black Earth clansmen, or rather... there were even more other terrifying existences.

    "Realm Master Wukong?" Qi Yuan looked at the nearest figure, his eyes showing surprise.

    "I am Wukong, and I am not Wukong." The deep figure spoke, extending his hand towards Qi Yuan, his expression cold, without any emotion, "Welcome to join us!"

 Chapter 563: Consciousness Dissolution, the Eighth Human Enlightenment Divine Light

    "Join you? How about you join me instead!"

    Qi Yuan looked at Realm Master Wukong before him, his expression calm.

    Ahead, the dense "gazes" each represented a powerful Yang God.

    The number of Yang Gods here far exceeded that of the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.

    Realm Master Wukong wore a strange smile: "Once, I was just like you... but in the end, I became a shadow within the Black Heaven."

    "What is the Black Heaven?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Do you see those three thrones? If you can pass through us and reach those three thrones, perhaps you will understand what the Black Heaven truly is!" Realm Master Wukong''s voice was eerie.

    Countless eyes turned to Qi Yuan at this moment.

    These gazes were cold, emotionless, fanatical, and obsessive.

    Qi Yuan sensed that countless black threads were spreading in the darkness, representing chaos and disorder.

    He had a premonition that if these black threads touched him, he would become like Realm Master Wukong, assimilated by the Black Heaven, becoming one of the Black Earth.

    However, the blazing white light emitted by the Human Enlightenment Divine Light kept these black threads at bay.

    This also spared Qi Yuan from assimilation.

    Qi Yuan looked toward the three thrones.

    All the Yang Gods were like fireflies, twinkling like stars, while the three thrones seated deep in the darkness were like scorching suns hanging high in the sky.

    [The Three Illusions of Black Heaven, the third layer of Yang Gods, the Creation Realm, are thrones born from the Black Earth. They possess no wisdom, no true spirit.]

    Creation Realm?

    Qi Yuan felt an inexplicable pressure.

    The third layer of Yang Gods, from the Realm of All Things to the Creation Realm, was a threshold.

    The Creation Realm meant the ability to create life and worlds.

    However, to reach the Three Illusions of Black Heaven, he would first have to pass through... the dense crowd of Yang Gods before him.

    "Surrender, lay down your resistance, you cannot win," Realm Master Wukong said, his voice devoid of emotion.

    Qi Yuan''s right eyelid twitched violently, signaling that this battle would be extremely perilous.

    "Even if you have a one-in-a-million chance to defeat us and reach the three thrones, how will you fight against them?"

    "Even if you defeat the three thrones, how will you fight against the Black Heaven?"

    At this moment, countless Yang Gods spoke in unison, their voices vast, mechanical, and cold.

    Just the sound alone caused Qi Yuan''s powerful soul to instinctively dim.

    If it were any other Realm Master, their soul would likely tremble.

    "A battle like this... I''ve never fought before. Ever since I condensed the Stellar Golden Core, it''s always been me surrounding others. I never thought that today, I would be the one surrounded!"

    Qi Yuan, holding the Human Enlightenment Divine Light, was also emotionless, exuding a sacred and imposing aura.

    He scanned the dense crowd of Yang Gods and Realm Masters, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

    "Let me see... where my limits truly lie!"

    Devouring Primordial Body!

    Death Radiance!

    Absolute Adaptation!

    Tyrannical Power!

    At this moment, Qi Yuan unleashed his strongest form in this world.

    With Absolute Adaptation, Qi Yuan was like a tiger entering a lion''s den, beginning his slaughter.

    "Those who stand in my way, die!"

    He still had some wisdom. Under the enhancement of Death Radiance, he did not resist the attacks from the Realm Masters but instead endured them.

    His attacks were directed at the weaker ones.

    Qi Yuan showed no fear, and the Yang Gods of the Black Heaven and Black Earth had no retreat.

    Facing Qi Yuan''s attacks, three first-layer Yang Gods and two second-layer Yang Gods immediately took action.

    Crack!

    In just a breath, the bodies of five mighty Yang Gods shattered.

    A flood of experience poured in, slightly boosting Qi Yuan''s strength.

    The Devouring Primordial Body also played its role, devouring these five Yang Gods.

    "Kill!"

    A lightning rule from a Realm Master of the Realm of All Things struck Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan''s body stiffened, his blood trembling, the pain indescribable.

    "You can''t kill me, I will only grow stronger!"

    Qi Yuan accelerated to his limit, swiftly avoiding these Realm Masters of the Realm of All Things, focusing on hunting ordinary Yang Gods.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan only hoped that his Death Radiance and Absolute Adaptation were powerful enough to allow him to kill enough Yang Gods to elevate his strength to a terrifying level.

    Only then might he have a sliver of a chance to turn the tide.

    "Kill!"

    Qi Yuan traded injuries for kills, slaying three more Yang Gods.

    Now, ordinary Yang Gods were as fragile as paper in his eyes.

    Only Realm Master stage Yang Gods posed a significant threat to him.

    Countless attacks landed on Qi Yuan, and if not for Death Radiance and Absolute Adaptation, he would have died long ago.

    After all, the number of Realm Masters here was unimaginable.

    The number of Realm Masters in the Zhou Universe was less than a tenth of those in the Black Heaven and Black Earth.

    So, he wasn''t facing the terrifying power of one universe, but... more than ten universes!

    The slaughter continued.

    The battle raged on.

    Blood flowed endlessly.

    "What is the eighth Human Enlightenment Divine Light? What is it missing?"

    "Is there some condition we''re not meeting?"

    All the Ancestral Gods discussed fervently but couldn''t come to a conclusion.

    Their knowledge of the Human Enlightenment Divine Light came from the Yang God of the Heavenly Clan.

    And that Yang God didn''t know much about the Human Enlightenment Divine Light either.

    Yuan''s expression changed, and he finally gritted his teeth: "I will go seek an audience with the Void Realm Master."

    At that moment, a majestic, illusory figure descended.

    He stood in the sky, yet was directly in front of everyone, no matter where they were.

    No matter his position, he was always directly ahead.

    "The Human Enlightenment Divine Light... is not an ordinary Divine Light treasure."

    "The Divine Light treasure is a treasure of rules."

    "But the Human Enlightenment Divine Light... is forged from the primordial rules that construct the universe."

    "Using the Void Paradise, I have analyzed the Divine Wood for ten thousand years. The Divine Wood Universe is composed of eight primordial rules: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, thunder, rain, and cloud.

    Now, seven Human Enlightenment Divine Lights have been gathered, only water is missing."

    "Once you find the final water, the eighth Human Enlightenment Divine Light will be forged."

    "With eight Human Enlightenment Divine Lights gathered, perhaps... there will be a sliver of hope."

    All the Ancestral Gods were solemn.

    Yuan stepped forward: "May I ask, Void Realm Master, where is the water?"

    The Void Realm Master''s voice was ethereal: "I do not know."

    Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

    The water representing the primordial rule... where was it? How could it be captured, and how could it be forged into the eighth Human Enlightenment Divine Light? They had no idea.

    "Realm Master, how much longer can Lord Qi Yuan hold on in the Black Heaven?" Yuan asked again.

    Everyone''s hearts clenched.

    They also wanted to know how Lord Qi Yuan was faring.

    The battle in the Black Heaven must be incredibly perilous and brutal.

    The Void Realm Master looked up, gazing toward the Void Sea.

    His eyes fell on the ever-expanding bubble, and a rare look of emotion crossed his face.

    "Even I, if I entered the Black Heaven, would be assimilated in an instant. For him to hold on this long... is a miracle."

    "I see... his true spirit is dim, less than one ten-thousandth remaining. Perhaps... it could be extinguished in an instant," the Void Realm Master sighed.

    In the Creation Realm, he had lived through 10,8327 epochs.

    He had experienced over ten thousand universe resets and destructions.

    Someone as unique as Qi Yuan, he had never seen before.

    "At any moment?" The other Ancestral Gods were filled with despair.

    This meant that Qi Yuan could fall at any moment, perishing there.

    If the eighth Human Enlightenment Divine Light wasn''t forged and combined with the other seven before Qi Yuan fell, then... even if the eighth was forged, it would be useless.

    "Void Realm Master, what is the Black Heaven?" Yuan asked.

    The Void Realm Master narrowed his eyes, his voice profound: "Where the Black Heaven exists, beneath it, no one can imagine its existence."

    This statement was simple.

    In the world where the Black Heaven exists, people cannot imagine what the Black Heaven is.

    It''s like having a dog in front of you, but your consciousness is locked, so you only know it''s Wangcai, not that it''s a dog.

    The Black Heaven is such an existence.

    "So, no matter how we think, we can''t know what the Black Heaven is?" Yuan was frustrated.

    This feeling of being locked in consciousness was unpleasant.

    Generally, the reason why mysteries are powerful is that they are mysterious and unknowable.

    Once all information is known, the mystery can be overcome.

    But now, this mystery has a consciousness lock.

    This means that where the mystery exists, no one can know the mystery.

    The Void Realm Master extended three fingers: "I can take three worlds'' worth of beings away from the Divine Wood."

    The Divine Wood Universe had long been infiltrated by the Black Heaven.

    Even a being like the Void Realm Master, who was just one step away from breaking through to a higher level, could only protect three worlds'' worth of beings.

    "Thank you, Void Realm Master!" Yuan bowed solemnly.

    At least, even if the Divine Wood Universe perished, some beings... would have a place to live.

    ...

    In the Black Heaven.

    The three thrones sat in the sky, their gazes mechanical, emotionless.

    Below, the battle was especially brutal.

    This slaughter was like a mill grinding flesh.

    The original Qi Yuan was now almost completely dissolved, no longer resembling a human.

    The seven Human Enlightenment Divine Lights had transformed into rings of rules, encircling him.

    He was now a blood-red light, like a red hole draped in seven rings of light, devouring everything before him, everything in the world.

    The three thrones observed Qi Yuan, their expressions calm.

    "His essence... is strange."

    "No being in the world can devour the Black Earth."

    "He is somewhat similar to the Black Heaven."

    "He... is about to reach the Creation Realm."

 Chapter 564: The Truth of the Black Heaven; Chun Yu

    The blood-red monstrous beast, adorned with seven rings of light of various colors, devoured everything in its path.

    Even powerful Yang Gods, upon touching this terrifying monster, were instantly reduced to dust.

    Only Realm Masters could hold out for a while.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

    "Devour! Devour! Devour!"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s consciousness had completely dissolved, leaving only a sliver of his true spirit.

    Now, he no longer resembled a human but rather a blood-red gluttonous serpent, consuming everything in the world.

    The three thrones sat high above, watching as Yang Gods were devoured one after another, unmoved.

    Countless cosmic rules were devoured and refined. The number of first-grade rules Qi Yuan had mastered at this point was well over a hundred.

    Even the time rule, which had been the most difficult for him to grasp, was now under his control.

    Rules like fire, dark light, true words, and metal had all become part of the seven rings of light.

    Now, the seven lights were in chaos.

    Qi Yuan had become a terrifying monstrosity, devouring everything.

    "Finally... has ''Do as You Please'' also been comprehended in this game?"

    Previously, Qi Yuan, though strong, had to avoid Realm Masters while rampaging through the Black Heaven, slaughtering Yang Gods.

    Now, it seemed he truly could do as he pleased.

    This supreme truth had just been comprehended.

    However, it had not yet transformed into a cosmic rule.

    It seemed that "Do as You Please" refused to be bound by cosmic rules.

    Countless Black Earth beings, countless Yang Gods were devoured.

    Qi Yuan continuously operated the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, preserving the last sliver of his true spirit.

    All the rules were also merging at this moment.

    A sudden enlightenment struck him.

    "Is this the Creation Realm?"

    "My path as an Yin God?"

    Looking at the hundreds of thousands of Yang Gods remaining in the Black Heaven.

    Qi Yuan felt hungry.

    To open the heavens, how could it be done without sufficient material?

    Thus, Qi Yuan opened his bloodthirsty maw.

    All the Yang Gods were instantly devoured, becoming Qi Yuan''s experience.

    Rules and matter turned into fragments, all swallowed into Qi Yuan''s belly.

    His consciousness grew even more muddled, chaotic.

    Only a sliver of his true spirit struggled to remain.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan also had a premonition.

    If his true spirit could not hold on, he would likely become a terrifying, unique monster, driven only by the instinct to devour everything in the world.

    He seemed to understand something.

    All the Yang Gods and Realm Masters were devoured. He raised his monstrous head and looked at the three thrones.

    "Now... can you tell me what the Black Heaven is?"

    The three thrones were all at the Creation Realm, a realm beyond comprehension.

    Even if the universe were destroyed, a Creation Realm expert could open a new world in the void, creating new life.

    "You... already know, don''t you?" one of the thrones spoke, its voice enigmatic.

    Another throne wore a mechanical smile: "You could also become the Black Heaven."

    "The Black Heaven''s devouring is irreversible... do you wish to stop it?" the last throne questioned.

    "Are you saying... I should let it devour my game?" Qi Yuan''s eyes no longer held the clarity of a college student but were instead clouded.

    "The Black Heaven devours all things in the world. This is an established fact, irreversible... how will you stop it?" the throne''s voice was mechanical.

    "Without trying... how would I know?" Qi Yuan''s voice was calm.

    Even though he now felt immensely powerful, as if he could open his mouth and swallow the Divine Wood Universe whole, when facing the massive black bubble of the Black Heaven, his right eyelid still twitched violently.

    This meant there was no chance of victory.

    The throne''s eyes revealed a strange smile.

    "The Black Heaven exists in the past, or perhaps the future, but never in the present."

    "What you see before you is not the Black Heaven, but an illusion."

    "This world was already devoured by the Black Heaven at some point in time."

    Qi Yuan fell silent.

    At this moment, he understood why his eyes saw no information when he looked at the Black Heaven.

    Because he wasn''t seeing the Black Heaven; he was seeing nothingness.

    The Black Heaven devouring the Divine Wood Universe was not happening in the present but in the past.

    This was profoundly mysterious.

    And utterly absurd.

    It was somewhat like an eighteen-year-old on Earth kissing the air, only for all men and women on the planet to become pregnant ten years later.

    How could Qi Yuan, ten years later, stop it?

    He looked at the black bubble, his expression eerily calm.

    "In the past... or the future?"

    "What if... I return to the past, or go to the future... could I stop it then?"

    The throne''s eyes revealed a strange smile: "Apart from the Black Heaven, no existence... can share the same timeline with it. Unless... you abandon your true spirit and become part of the Black Heaven."

    If Qi Yuan were to lose his true spirit now, his state would be quite similar to the Black Heaven.

    Not existing in the present, endlessly devouring everything.

    What was now displayed before all living beings was an illusion, yet it was truly happening.

    Unless one reached the same level as the Black Heaven.

    But to reach the same level as the Black Heaven, Qi Yuan would become part of the Black Heaven, or rather, become the Black Heaven itself.

    How could he stop it then?

    "The so-called Black Heaven is the fourth layer of Yang Gods!

    The book was titled Chun Yu.

    In it, many short stories were told.

    "The male lead is such a simp. He gave his eyes to the female lead, yet still couldn''t defeat the big villain?"

    "Hmm, the male lead is so tragic. How many times has he died now?"

    "This time, he lost his ears, his hearing gone."

    "See, I''m a prophet. This time, the male lead lost his mouth!"

    "Next time, it''ll probably be his ears, right?"

    "Ugh, is the author of this book insane? Why can''t the male lead and female lead ever meet? Is this on purpose?"

    "It must be on purpose. The male lead just had to wait there for a year, and he would have met the female lead."

    "Sigh... the big villain doesn''t seem that strong. I wonder if I could run him over with a train."

    Wang Ku thought to himself.

    As night fell, Wang Ku held the book and slowly drifted into sleep.

    Perhaps he had been too engrossed in the book, for he even dreamed of its contents.

    "The male lead... is much handsomer than I imagined."

    In his dream, Wang Ku saw a tall figure clad in a blood-red robe.

    The figure held a long sword, standing atop a black vortex.

    At this moment, he was covered in wounds, his body battered and bruised, one eye missing, blood flowing from the socket.

    The blood-robed figure held his sword, seemingly confronting the expanding black bubble in the dark void.

    When Wang Ku saw the expanding bubble, his young heart trembled, as if he had seen the most terrifying thing in the world.

    "No way a train could kill that!" Wang Ku thought to himself, then muttered, "According to the book, they''ve been confronting each other for a billion years. What a load of nonsense! How long have humans even existed?"

    Wang Ku looked at the blood-robed figure and couldn''t help but shout: "Hey, go find the female lead! You can''t defeat the big villain alone!"

    At the same time, the tall figure confronting the black bubble stiffened slightly, his eerie gaze falling on Wang Ku.

    Wang Ku felt as if he had been stared down by a terrifying beast, as if he could die at any moment.

    "Dammit, why am I so scared in my own dream?"

    "Aren''t I supposed to be the master of my dreams?"

    Wang Ku woke up, drenched in cold sweat.

    He looked at the ancient book on his bedside and began to read it again.

    "Alright, the male lead is dead again. This time... his grave doesn''t even have a name, buried in the Divine Wood Abyss.

    What''s the Divine Wood Abyss? It sounds familiar."

    "I''m so hungry, I need to eat a bun." Wang Ku muttered.

    He opened his leather bag, took out two buns, and despite their coldness, stuffed them into his mouth, chewing hastily.

    In the room, the radio played various news reports.

    "Breaking news: Our country has discovered extraterrestrial beings!"

    "The Divine Luo Society claims that the world will end in three days."

    "The Black Heaven Cult declares: The Black Heaven approaches, all things will wither."

    "Why is everyone so superstitious? Isn''t there any useful news? This book is way better."

    Wang Ku turned off the radio.

    He didn''t believe in doomsday prophecies or the end of the world.

    And believing or not wouldn''t change reality.

    Rather than worrying about whether the world would end, he was more concerned about whether the villain in the book had died.

    "Dammit, can this author even write? The villain''s still alive?"

    Wang Ku had been reading Chun Yu obsessively, forgetting to eat or sleep.

    "Cliche?s, all cliche?s!"

    "How many times has the male lead died now?"

    "At least a hundred thousand times!"

    "And he still hasn''t killed the villain!"

    "He hasn''t even met the female lead!"

    "Can''t he just meet the female lead and team up to fight the villain?"

    "Trash book, I''m done with it!"

    In the middle of the night, Wang Ku dreamed of the book again.

    He didn''t know how many times he had dreamed of it.

    This time, as usual, he couldn''t help but shout: "Hey, go meet the female lead!"

    The next morning, seeing the dark circles under his eyes in the mirror, Wang Ku felt like crying.

    "I can''t keep reading this book, it''s driving me insane."

    He opened the door and took a deep breath of the fresh air outside.

    "Ah, reality is so much better."

    At that moment, his neighbor opened her door, revealing a delicate face and slender, youthful legs.

    Wang Ku''s neighbor was a college student. When she saw Wang Ku, her eyes showed a hint of shyness, but then she blinked and asked: "Brother Wang Ku, I heard they dug up an ancient tomb in the southern district recently. There are a lot of cultivation manuals inside, and many people are going to see them. Do you want to check it out?"

    "Hey, you''re a college student, how can you still be so superstitious? There''s no such thing as cultivation manuals," Wang Ku said dismissively.

    The college student looked disappointed.

    This neighbor was so clueless.

    "Brother Wang Ku, you haven''t eaten breakfast, have you? I made some porridge..."

    "Porridge isn''t as good as buns."

    After rejecting her, Wang Ku slammed the door shut.

    "Books are way better. People outside are so annoying, always blabbering on."

    Wang Ku opened the book again and began to read.

    But when he saw the words on the page, he froze.

    "While confronting the Black Heaven, Qi Yuan faintly heard a hurried voice in his ear, saying, ''Go meet the female lead.''

    He didn''t know that the voice came from the young Wang Ku."

    "Who the hell is playing a joke on me?" Wang Ku was dumbfounded.

 Chapter 565: Master (End of the Divine Wood Universe)

    Wang Ku felt as if he had become so engrossed in the book that he was hallucinating.

    How could he see his own name in the book? Even the events he dreamed of were recorded in the book.

    It was both terrifying and eerie.

    He frowned, feeling a sense of foreboding.

    He continued reading.

    "Under the shroud of the Black Heaven, only the fourth layer of Yang Gods can resist it."

    "Although Qi Yuan has entered the ''pseudo-fourth layer of Yang Gods,'' he is not truly at the fourth layer."

    "In the first hundred million years, he lost his eyes and could no longer see anything in the world."

    "In the next few hundred million years, he lost his ears, eyebrows, and nose. He could no longer hear the sound of the wind or smell the fragrance of flowers."

    "In the final hundred million years, he lost his mouth. What he lost continued to grow."

    "One day, he will lose everything¡ªhis body, his consciousness, his true spirit¡ªand step into the fourth layer of Yang Gods, becoming another Black Heaven."

    Wang Ku read these words with a strange expression.

    "So, you have to go meet the female lead!" he wanted to shout at the male lead.

    But now, the male lead couldn''t hear. Would shouting even help?

    At night, Wang Ku once again fell asleep and dreamed of the battered figure.

    The figure was slender, his features shattered, standing alone in the sky, fighting against the terrifying black bubble.

    This scene had lasted for billions of years.

    "Hey, go meet the female lead!" Wang Ku shouted with all his might.

    However, the figure remained motionless, as if he hadn''t heard a thing.

    "Damn it, he can''t hear, he can''t see... how can I tell him... to go meet the female lead?" Wang Ku felt anxious, worried for the male lead in the book.

    ...

    In the endless flow of time, Qi Yuan''s body was broken, his features dissolved. Now, his physical form was almost gone, with only a sliver of his true spirit retaining consciousness.

    "The Black Heaven... cannot be resisted."

    "Only the fourth layer of Yang Gods can resist it."

    "Am I finally going to lose?"

    In all the games he had played, this was the first time Qi Yuan felt a sense of helplessness.

    The Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, "Do as You Please," and Absolute Adaptation were powerful enough.

    But they still couldn''t bridge the gap between the third and fourth layers of Yang Gods.

    Now, he could barely be considered at the "pseudo-fourth layer," which was why he could barely resist the Black Heaven.

    But under the Black Heaven, his consciousness, his body... were continuously dissolving.

    "Step into the fourth layer of Yang Gods?"

    Qi Yuan fell silent.

    If he stepped into the fourth layer of Yang Gods, he could truly resist the Black Heaven, even devour it.

    But with his strength, after reaching the fourth layer, he would become a monster even more terrifying than the Black Heaven.

    Now, he understood that the so-called fourth layer of Yang Gods meant abandoning everything, pursuing only strength, and retaining the most fundamental traits.

    This abandonment included his true spirit.

    This meant that once he stepped into the fourth layer of Yang Gods, he would truly perish, and Qi Yuan would no longer exist in the world.

    This was an outcome he was unwilling to accept.

    "Is there really no way to break this deadlock?"

    "Where... is the hope?"

    Qi Yuan''s consciousness was muddled.

    Facing the terrifying Black Heaven, he didn''t know how much longer he could resist.

    If this continued, his true spirit would eventually be extinguished¡ªit was only a matter of time.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan suddenly paused, as if he saw countless drops of blood falling from the sky.

    "Is this... my blood?"

    He remembered that before the game loaded, when it was on the verge of collapse, he had used his blood to save it.

    "Where am I in time... my blood is falling... will I descend again?"No?v(el)B\\jnn

    "No, in any timeline, there is only one true self."

    Through endless years, Qi Yuan''s consciousness was muddled, with only a sliver of his true spirit keeping him awake.

    What he saw was no longer light.

    What he smelled was no longer fragrance.

    What he heard was no longer thunder.

    If this continued, his true spirit would eventually be extinguished.

    Either he would perish, or he would step into the fourth layer of Yang Gods.

    He already knew that he could skip the fourth layer and step directly into the fifth layer of Yang Gods, which was why he refused to enter the fourth layer.

    "Fortunately, I can use my blood to observe this world, keeping my true spirit active."

    Qi Yuan felt a profound sense of mystery.

    The past influenced the present.

    The future influenced the past.

    However, he couldn''t think too much about it. Overthinking would only make his brain grow, and it was exhausting.

    In different timelines, he continuously resisted the Black Heaven, his features dissolving. Fortunately, the humans born from his blood replaced him, allowing him to touch the world, feel the wind, and enjoy the rain.

    "But... this is a cycle."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    He knew this couldn''t last forever.

    In the future, when all his blood returned to his true self, his blood would no longer be able to perceive the world for him.

    His true spirit... would truly perish.

    "I''m so tired. I hope some rich woman can see my stubbornness and strength."

    Qi Yuan lamented.

    He had already sensed that Divine Descent had been besieged and killed.

    He had also sensed that the mortal Qi Yuan had failed to break through to the Ancestral God realm and was now sitting alone in the Quijin Realm.

    "So... have I lost?"

    The last sliver of his true spirit was continuously dissolving.

    Even with the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra and "Do as You Please," Qi Yuan couldn''t stop the dissolution of his true spirit.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan thought of many people.

    He thought of Jin Li, of the Golden Canary, of Ning Tao, of his big-breasted junior sister Jiang Lingsu, and of his wife in this world, Shen Lingxuan.

    "Oh, a photo? Sure," the blood-robed man said.

    The sky was dark, the stars dim. He stood on the grass, Zero One holding Xie Xinsu, the three of them smiling for the photo.

    At that moment, a gentle and cool moonlight fell, landing on Qi Yuan''s blood robe.

    The photo was taken.

    Qi Yuan held the photo, deep in thought: "The moon falling on my shoulder can also count as our photo together."

    Countless images appeared, only to shatter at this moment.

    "Xiao Jia." Qi Yuan called softly.

    Immediately, a small and delicate bridal gown appeared.

    She stood beside Qi Yuan, shy and timid. Though she had no face, body, or feet, she seemed like the most beautiful woman in the world.

    He held Xiao Jia''s cold hand, a smile on his face: "So you''ve always been here."

    "In the past, it was you who turned into blood armor to protect me, to shelter me. Now... it''s my turn to protect..."

    He looked at Xiao Jia, though he had no eyes, his gaze was filled with endless tenderness and deep affection.

    "This time... it''s my turn to bury myself underground."

    ...

    "My name is Ruan Yixi."

    "I don''t know who I am."

    "I only know that I can''t see light, hear thunder, or smell flowers. The world is empty, desolate, unchanging."

    "One day, a very noisy person kept talking."

    "He was so noisy, so noisy. I really wanted him to shut up."

    "Alright... actually, it''s quite nice to talk more."

    "I like listening to those stories."

    "Chaos opens seven orifices?"

    "If I open seven orifices, can I..."

    "I failed. Blood rained from the sky."

    ...

    "My name is Ruan Yixi. I don''t know who I am."

    "I''ve lived in the Divine Wood Abyss since I was young, always alone."

    "Hey, I just sneaked out once, secretly slept in the soil. Why was I dug up by a blood robe?"

    "Worse, he tied me up and forcibly married me in a grand procession!"

    "I have a husband now, so I have family? Well, this husband... is a piece of clothing."

    "He can''t speak, so I made him eight wooden signs."

    "One represents closeness, one represents happiness."

    "It''s nice to have a husband by my side."

    "Husband... is gone."

    ...

    "My name is Ruan Yixi. I remember who I am."

    "I am blind, deaf, mute..."

    "My eyes were given to me by my husband."

    "My ears were given to me by my husband."

    "I don''t want... him to give me these!"

    ...

    "My name is Ruan Yixi, a failure who has failed countless times."

    "I have finally become a real person."

    "But my husband has become a real blood robe."

    "This time, I will listen to my husband."

    ...

    In the Divine Wood Abyss.

    The blood robe was being refined by countless people.

    Shen Lingxuan''s eyes were filled with pain and reluctance.

    "Qi Yuan is water, the eighth primordial rule of the Divine Wood Universe."

    "He is the eighth Human Enlightenment Divine Light!"

    "Only by forging eight Human Enlightenment Divine Lights can the primordial consciousness of the Divine Wood Universe awaken for a moment."

    "She will carry the eight Human Enlightenment Divine Lights, wearing the eighth and most powerful one... to slay the Black Heaven!" Sheng Nu said calmly.

    "What will happen to him?"

    "He is already dead!"

    Three years later.

    In the Divine Wood Universe.

    A majestic aura suddenly appeared.

    A divine woman of unparalleled beauty and holiness appeared, clad in blood-red armor, radiating a blazing light.

    As the blazing light appeared, the black bubble instantly melted.

    The divine woman''s figure and the black bubble vanished in an instant.

    The Black Heaven... dissolved.

    The entire universe cheered.

    The Divine Wood Chronicles recorded: The divine woman awakened, carrying eight Human Enlightenment Divine Lights, dispelling the Black Heaven, and bringing light to the world.

    ...

    In the Divine Wood Abyss.

    A shadow lingered.

    "My name is Ruan Yixi."

    "This is my past."

    A distant nursery rhyme echoed in the empty Divine Wood Abyss.

    "On the mountain, there is a Chun tree; in the clouds, there is the rain''s whisper. The rain''s whisper is silent, not for me to hear. Since I met you, my heart is no longer lost.

    On the mountain, there is a Chun tree; in the wild, there is the yellow qin. The yellow qin stands alone, not for me to enjoy. Since I knew you, my heart is no longer anxious.

    On the mountain, there is a Chun tree; in the sky, there is the thunder''s roar. The thunder''s roar is silent, not for me to hear. Since I spoke to you, my heart is no longer sorrowful.

    On the mountain, there is a Chun tree; in the marsh, there is the lush fan. The lush fan is dense, not for me to admire. If I see you, my heart will soar."

 Chapter 566: Return to the Canglan Realm, Becoming a Yin God, and a New Ability

    Canglan Realm.

    Shenguang Sect.

    Qi Yuan slowly woke up.

    His consciousness was in chaos, still somewhat blurry.

    It felt as if he had experienced countless reincarnations in the world.

    It took a full quarter of an hour before his eyes finally regained clarity.

    He raised his head and looked at the palace on the Seven-Colored Peak, his gaze filled with a strange emotion: "So, Master, did I just accidentally stumble into your reincarnation?"

    Using the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, Qi Yuan''s sense of time and space became chaotic. He single-handedly sought out the Black Heaven and fought against it.

    However, the Black Heaven was truly at the fourth layer of Yang Gods, something his pseudo-fourth layer could not withstand.

    In the midst of his resistance, Qi Yuan continuously reincarnated, losing himself bit by bit.

    His eyes, ears, mouth...

    In the struggle, he finally realized that the "Silent Voice" in the game was none other than his master, Ruan Yixi.

    The fourth layer of Yang Gods has no consciousness.

    Master, due to his special abilities, had developed consciousness, evolving from the fourth layer of Yang Gods.

    However, she still carried the attributes of the fourth layer.

    She existed only in the past or the future, never in the present.

    Even though some people in the Shenguang Sect thought they had seen Master, they had only seen her in their memories.

    "I was searching for Master, but Master was also searching for me."

    While fighting the Black Heaven, Qi Yuan also experienced countless reincarnations.

    In those countless reincarnations, he never saw Master.

    But he knew that Master had always been by his side.

    Master Ruan Yixi also knew that he had been by her side.

    In the end, Qi Yuan lost all of his physical form, leaving only a blood robe.

    And Ruan Yixi finally truly revived, gaining her own body.

    In the end, she "shared the same robe" with the blood robe and defeated the Black Heaven.

    "So... Master was trying hard to find me but could never truly see me."

    "Even if she were right in front of me now, I wouldn''t realize it was her. Only... much later would I make the connection."

    Qi Yuan sighed deeply.

    The fourth layer of Yang Gods was somewhat too bizarre.

    "And... Master has always been by my side."

    He looked at the quiet and obedient Xiao Jia, his expression gentle.

    From Xiao Jia''s cool sleeves, a wooden sign with the word "stick together" slipped out.

    Qi Yuan stuck close to Xiao Jia.

    Xiao Jia was Master, but Master was not Xiao Jia.

    "Unfortunately, unless I step into the fourth layer of Yang Gods, there''s no way for me to meet Master."

    "That''s why, when I entered the game, Master repeatedly warned me to escape, to leave."

    Because to deal with the Black Heaven, one must step into the fourth layer of Yang Gods.

    And Master, having developed consciousness through her interactions with Qi Yuan, was weaker than the Black Heaven after creating the Divine Wood Universe.

    In countless pasts and futures, she seemed to see Qi Yuan constantly losing his limbs and true spirit in his fight against the Black Heaven, reshaping her.

    There was even a possibility that Qi Yuan might step into the fourth layer of Yang Gods.

    This was something she did not want to see.

    Once one steps into the fourth layer of Yang Gods, the true spirit dissolves and cannot be revived.

    Even if revived, it would be a new life form.

    Thus, she paid a great price to give Qi Yuan a branch of "spring."

    This allowed Qi Yuan to preserve a sliver of his true spirit, preventing him from stepping into the fourth layer of Yang Gods.

    Otherwise, he would have become another Black Heaven-like existence at the fourth layer, devouring everything in sight.

    "Now I... am an Yin God?"

    As Qi Yuan pondered, his aura began to change.

    A profound energy emanated from him, and his strength continued to grow.

    Countless rules¡ªmetal, wood, water, fire, earth, and more¡ªwere comprehended.

    "This is matter."

    "This is spirit."

    "This is imaginary."

    "This is the cycle."

    "When matter accumulates to its extreme, in the moment of collision, there is a one in a hundred million chance of life being born."

    "When life lives long enough, a true spirit is born."

    "So I... have become a god."

    At this moment, Qi Yuan felt immensely powerful.

    With a wave of his hand, he could create a mountain range.

    If he glared at a planet, that planet would become pregnant, and countless life forms would slowly emerge.

    The skill of "glaring at someone to make them pregnant" was now within his grasp.

    For example, if he glared at his junior sister Jiang Lingsu, she would become pregnant.

    "This is what it means to be an Yin God. My current strength... is probably not inferior to a Creation Realm Master." Qi Yuan speculated about his own strength.

    In fact, he might even be stronger than a Creation Realm Master.

    The Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, the Gate of Ten Thousand Monsters, the Gate of Ten Thousand Wonders, even the Gate of Supreme Truth.

    "What... is it?"

    This time, the information his eyes saw wasn''t particularly useful.

    After some thought, Qi Yuan decided to use his newly acquired superpower¡ªmerging into all things.

    He merged into the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    In an instant.

    The world became desolate, and Qi Yuan''s consciousness dissolved.

    But the next moment, Qi Yuan''s figure emerged from the Gate of Myriad Principles, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    "The Gate of Myriad Principles... is actually the fourth layer of Yang Gods!"

    "A fourth-layer Yang God existing in the present!"

    This surprised him.

    Because the fourth layer of Yang Gods exists only in the past or the future, never in the present.

    Now, there was actually a fourth-layer Yang God existing in the present. How could he not be shocked?

    "If I can figure out the principle, doesn''t that mean... Master could also appear in the present?" Qi Yuan had this thought but quickly dismissed it.

    Now he understood that the fourth layer of Yang Gods also had two forms.

    Like the Black Heaven, its essence was to devour, aimlessly devouring.

    Once it devoured enough of what it needed, it would become the Black Heaven existing in the present.

    At that time, it might be like the Gate of Myriad Principles¡ªthe Gate of Myriad Principles could be any gate, and the Black Heaven could be any heaven.

    But this process would take a long time.

    The Black Heaven had devoured more than one universe, but it was still in its second stage.

    "The waters here are deep."

    "It feels like it was refined into a treasure."

    "Not necessarily, it might have become a true rule."

    This rule was different from the rules of the universe. It was more like a symbol, a sign.

    "Unfortunately, in the last game, I didn''t have the chance to talk to the Void Realm Master and the Radiant Dao Lord. Otherwise, I could have asked about the fourth and fifth layers of Yang Gods. These two layers feel a bit strange." Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    There are only five layers of Yang Gods.

    Yang Gods are the end of the cultivation path.

    "As the saying goes, invincible under heaven, but enemies come from heaven. Cultivation shouldn''t have an end."

    "After refining the Golden Cores from the stars, it''s time to visit the Sole Hall."

    The most powerful force in the Immortal Realm now was the Sole Hall.

    He also wanted to see if the Sole Hall had any top-tier experts who understood the fourth and fifth layers of Yang Gods.

    Through the Gate of Myriad Principles, Qi Yuan''s figure appeared in a universe.

    As soon as he landed, a warm, delicate body crashed into his arms.

    "Husband..." Ning Tao, dressed in a black dress, was enchanting and captivating, her eyes seemingly about to drip with emotion. There was no trace of her former cold and reserved demeanor.

    Her petite body hung on Qi Yuan, her black-stockinged legs bent and wrapped around his waist.

    At this moment, a scolding voice filled with annoyance rang out.

    "You, Ning Tao! We agreed to wait for him to come back and ignore him for a while, to teach him a lesson for not visiting us for so long. You..." The Golden Canary''s delicate face seemed to show dissatisfaction, but her eyes never left Qi Yuan.

    The tsundere stood still, not moving.

    If he didn''t reach out to invite her over, she wouldn''t go.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes flashed with tenderness and a hint of guilt.

    This game had taken too long.

    Although only a hundred years had passed in the Canglan Realm, it had been an extremely long time in this universe.

    He reached out and pulled the Golden Canary into his arms.

    "Hmph, I didn''t miss you. It''s just that Ning Tao insisted on coming, so I had no choice..."

    "Ah, shameless Ning Tao, how can you take off your clothes as soon as you see him?!"

    "No, I want to too!"

    Arguments, coquettish voices, and gasps echoed through the universe.

    After an unknown amount of time.

    Ning Tao brushed aside the strands of hair stuck to her sweaty temples and shot a glare at the Golden Canary: "Husband is here to do serious business. How can you cling to him like this..."

    This "cling" wasn''t just metaphorical¡ªit was literal.

    "I didn''t! I just didn''t feel like moving."

    The Golden Canary said this but reluctantly climbed off Qi Yuan.

    The next time she could be intimate with Qi Yuan, who knew when it would be.

    In an instant, she was fully dressed.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes flashed with amusement.

    "Starting tomorrow, you''ll be in the same universe as me," Qi Yuan said.

    Ning Tao''s eyes were gentle: "This universe is too vast. There are still many stars that haven''t been condensed into Golden Cores."

    Even with her efforts, in the vastness of the universe, it was still a drop in the bucket.

    "It''s fine, I''ll handle it myself," Qi Yuan said.

    "But... if you''re here, the flow of time will slow down, and efficiency..." Ning Tao analyzed rationally.

    "It''s fine. No matter how vast the universe is, no matter how many stars there are, they will eventually be exhausted."

    "I can give the first Golden Core the ability to devour. It can devour on its own."

    "One day, all the stars in this universe will be my Golden Cores."

    He had come here not just to refine Golden Cores from stars but also to create worlds.

 Chapter 567: The Celestial Palace

    "So, Ning Tao and I don¡¯t have to stay here anymore?" Canary''s doll-like face lit up with visible joy.

    Although, for beings like them, ten thousand years might pass in the blink of an eye.

    But she would much rather spend that time slowly experiencing the passage of time with Qi Yuan.

    "Congratulations, husband!" Ning Tao''s beautiful eyes also sparkled with joy.

    It seemed that her husband''s cultivation had reached an unfathomable level.

    "Originally, I thought that after becoming an Yin God, I would come here to kill the Palace Master of Taihuang Palace, Great Sun. But... that unlucky guy... was killed by you, Ning Tao," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Ning Tao, who had been continuously condensing Golden Cores, had also become incredibly powerful.

    Moreover, the stellar Golden Cores here were tangible, not mere projections. Ning Tao could draw power from the stellar Golden Cores at any time.

    In such a vast universe, for Great Sun to run into Ning Tao''s line of fire was truly unlucky.

    When Ning Tao activated the power of a million stellar Golden Cores, even someone as powerful as Great Sun was instantly obliterated.

    After all, bigger is stronger, and more is better.

    A single stellar Golden Core was comparable to a Yang God.

    And this wasn''t even the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm¡ªthe stellar Golden Cores were tangible.

    The moment Great Sun encountered Ning Tao, he was doomed.

    "So, he probably had too much good luck in his youth, which led to misfortune in his later years.

    First, he met me, and then, in such a vast universe, he actually ran into you."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    This universe was incredibly vast, far larger than the Divine Wood Universe.

    Even Qi Yuan, with his Creation Realm combat power, couldn''t traverse the entire universe.

    "Condense!"

    Qi Yuan made his move, and a beam of light fell onto his first Golden Core.

    This Golden Core was small in size, more like a miniature sun, but its flames were exceptionally intense.

    The rule of devouring was applied to this Golden Core.

    Then, the rule of devouring spread at a terrifying speed, extending to other areas.

    Every stellar Golden Core now possessed the attribute of devouring.

    "When it comes to devouring, people usually think of black holes. But my stellar Golden Cores also have the attribute of devouring. What should I call this?" R§Ñ¦­oB§¦?

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    The stellar Golden Cores, with their devouring attribute, would automatically consume other stars.

    Until... all the stars in this universe would become his Golden Cores.

    "Indeed, the power unleashed by these millions of Golden Cores is enough to crush even a Realm Master at the Rule Realm," Qi Yuan felt the strength of the stellar Golden Cores and had some insights.

    If he had even more Golden Cores, and eventually the entire universe, what kind of power would that be?

    Ning Tao, dressed in a black dress and wearing stockings, stood barefoot in the void, gazing at the distant stars with excitement in her eyes.

    "This speed is much faster than when Ning Tao and I were refining the stellar Golden Cores," Canary said beside her.

    "Now that I''ve finally become an Yin God, the stellar Golden Cores can devour on their own. Not only that, but I can also... make anyone I glare at pregnant!" Qi Yuan said, looking at Ning Tao and joking, "Should I glare at you?"

    "No!" Ning Tao quickly refused. She had always been a bit of a yandere, though she rarely showed it. "I don''t want to share my heart with anyone else."

    "Me neither, I''m still young!" Canary also quickly said, covering her stomach.

    Qi Yuan laughed: "Since you both refuse, I''ll just glare at this planet!"

    As he spoke, he glared at a distant ordinary planet.

    In an instant, countless rules began to flow.

    It was as if a god had sprinkled the water of life upon the world.

    "This one, and this one..."

    Qi Yuan kept glaring at the planets.

    One by one, the planets seemed to fall into the water of life.

    Countless rules descended, transforming these planets.

    After half a day, Qi Yuan finally stopped.

    He looked on with curiosity.

    "Now, these planets have been given the chance to give birth to life. I wonder how many of them will eventually develop life."

    He didn''t directly create life.

    With his current strength, he could create life out of nothing.

    But there was no need. He wanted to see life emerge by chance.

    "Unfortunately, even with my current strength, I cannot revive... the Five Ancestors of the Five Elements Forbidden Land. I must reach the fifth layer of Yang Gods, the Dao Lord Realm, to do that."

    Now, Qi Yuan could place marks on any living being. Once that being died, he could revive them in the Netherworld at a cost.

    But for beings who died before the Netherworld existed, he couldn''t revive them.

    To revive them, he would need to reach the fifth layer of Yang Gods, the Dao Lord Realm.

    Once he became a Dao Lord, the River of the Universe would form, and the true spirits of all beings could be found within it.

    "The Ancestor said that in the Celestial Palace, he would value his life greatly and not to worry," Purple Fate Sandalwood said.

    He knew that the Ancestor was afraid that Qi Yuan would act impulsively.

    "Don''t worry, I''m not worried at all," Qi Yuan clapped his hands. "I''ve already reserved a spot for him in the Netherworld. If he dies, he dies."

    Purple Fate Sandalwood was stunned.

    Who talks like that?

    If the Blood-Robed Supreme weren''t a Supreme, a Great Supreme Truth Realm expert, he would definitely have a word with him.

    "I have a question," Purple Fate Xue said, her face filled with confusion.

    Everyone present turned to look at her, curious.

    "As the saying goes, when a man dies, his bird faces the sky. The Celestial Palace is located at the peak of the Six Heavens, the highest heaven of the Immortal Realm. If the Ancestor dies, where will his bird face?"

    "..."

    Qi Yuan thought seriously: "The Seventh Heaven?"

    Although the Seventh Heaven hadn''t been opened yet and living beings couldn''t enter, it still counted as a heaven, right?

    Not to mention, the Sole Hall was located in the Seventh Heaven.

    The fugitives from Taihuang Palace were now hiding in the Seventh Heaven.

    Qi Yuan was also thinking about when he could bring those fugitives down and bring them to justice.

    "The Seventh Heaven hasn''t been opened yet," Purple Fate Xue said. "Probably more Yang Gods need to die before the Seventh Heaven can be opened."

    The Six Heavens were opened by Great Supreme Truth Realm experts after countless years.

    As for the higher Seventh Heaven, who knew how many Lynia''s Transformations it would take to open it.

    If there were a Seventh Heaven, perhaps Great Supreme Truth Realm Supremes could advance further, reaching the third layer of Yang Gods.

    The beings of the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Realm might also catch a glimpse of the future.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan closed his eyes and activated the superpower of his ears, listening carefully.

    "I am a wolf!"

    "I am guilty, Blood-Robed Supreme, I am guilty!"

    "I don''t want to stay in the Sole Hall anymore!"

    "...Hungry!"

    Among the countless voices, he found the voices related to the beings of Taihuang Palace.

    "If the Seventh Heaven hasn''t been opened, can I enter the Seventh Heaven?

    The Sole Hall in the Seventh Heaven took away my criminals without permission, which is quite unprofessional.

    I can almost hear my criminals begging for mercy, asking me to bring them back to the Six Heavens!

    Look, these criminals are so well-behaved and rule-abiding. How can I not bring them back?" Qi Yuan said.

    Purple Fate Sandalwood was stunned for a moment, not expecting Qi Yuan to change the topic so abruptly, but he was used to it.

    After all, his daughter Purple Fate Xue was the same.

    "Taihuang Palace received a decree from the Soel Hall before they could be brought into the Sole Hall. No one else can enter.

    To enter the Sole Hall, the Seventh Heaven must be opened," Purple Fate Sandalwood replied.

    "The Celestial Palace is located at the peak of the Six Heavens. If I enter the Celestial Palace, would I have a chance to go to the Seventh Heaven?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Once the Celestial Palace is closed, it probably won''t open until Lynia''s Transformation is over, and those inside can leave," Purple Fate Sandalwood said. "However, the next time the Celestial Palace opens will likely be in a hundred years. The Blood-Robed Supreme only needs to wait a hundred years, and perhaps he can enter the Celestial Palace. But..."

    He didn''t finish his sentence.

    The Ancestor had instructed that the Blood-Robed Supreme should not worry about the Purple Fate Ancestor entering the Celestial Palace, lest something unfortunate happen.

    "A hundred years? That''s too long. I''ll go to the Celestial Palace myself and take a look," Qi Yuan said, and his figure vanished.

    Purple Fate Sandalwood sighed, a look of helplessness in his eyes.

    As expected, the Blood-Robed Supreme didn''t listen to advice.

    But fortunately, once the gates of the Celestial Palace were closed, no one could open them.

    In the past, three Supremes had joined forces to try to open the gates of the Celestial Palace.

    But even with the strength of Supremes, they couldn''t damage the Celestial Palace, let alone open it.

    Purple Fate Sandalwood didn''t believe that Qi Yuan could open the gates of the Celestial Palace.

    After all, even Supremes had to bow their heads before the Sole Hall.

    Not to mention, the Blood-Robed Supreme''s strength was probably weaker than Great Sun Supreme''s. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have needed to use a trick to lure Great Sun away before targeting Taihuang Palace.

    Now, the stellar projection of Great Sun still hung in the Star Sea, which meant that Great Sun hadn''t died yet.

    Of course, he didn''t know that Great Sun''s Supreme status had already been devoured by Qi Yuan.

    At the same time, in the Supreme Truth Society.

    A whisper sounded.

    "He... has appeared again."

    "Having offended the Sole Hall, I wonder how the Sole Hall will deal with him."

    "He has comprehended two Supreme Truths... is it worth investing in him... to help him avoid Lynia''s Transformation."

    "This round of Lynia''s Transformation is different."

 Chapter 568: Reuniting with Shen Wushen, Entering the Celestial Palace

    In the Supreme Truth Society, the Supreme Elder''s aura was obscure, his expression inscrutable.

    "Lynia''s Transformation is both a calamity and a blessing."

    "Within the Celestial Palace, disasters abound, but there is also a sliver of fortune."

    "I hope the Second Elder can advance further."

    Unlike the Sole Hall, which oversees Lynia''s Transformation and constructs the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Realm, the Supreme Truth Society''s path is to break through the limits of the second layer of Yang Gods using Supreme Truths, advancing to the third or even fourth layer of Yang Gods.

    However, this path is extremely difficult.

    "With the talent of Supreme Great Sun, it might be possible..." The Supreme Elder''s expression was enigmatic, filled with hesitation. Sensing something, his eyes revealed a trace of curiosity. "As soon as he emerged from seclusion, he headed straight for the Celestial Palace. He is a man of loyalty and righteousness.

    However, once the gates of the Celestial Palace are closed, unless the Sole Hall issues a decree, no one can enter."

    The Supreme Elder murmured to himself.

    "Red Fortune."

    Suddenly, the Supreme Elder called out softly.

    At that moment, a young man in a red robe approached, bowing his head respectfully.

    Red Fortune was a disciple of the Supreme Elder.

    However, this disciple''s identity was special¡ªhe was not a native of the Immortal Realm.

    But since he had entered the Immortal Realm and become a Yang God, it meant he could no longer leave.

    Once he left, he would be devoured by the indescribable.

    Thus, Red Fortune had remained in the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.

    "Disciple is here."

    "Go to the place where the Celestial Palace opened and invite Supreme Great Sun to the Supreme Truth Society for a discussion," the Supreme Elder instructed.

    Red Fortune lowered his head, carefully considering his master''s words.

    Normally, such an invitation wouldn''t require a disciple to deliver it personally.

    The Supreme Elder could transmit messages across millions of miles with a single thought.

    The fact that his master had called him to deliver the message likely held special significance.

    After some thought, he roughly understood his master''s intention.

    "Disciple understands," Red Fortune said.

    His master''s intention was likely to inform Supreme Great Sun about the state of the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm and other worlds.

    This information would be conveyed through him.

    After bidding farewell to his master, Red Fortune''s heart was filled with mixed emotions.

    "To think that after so many years, the Immortal Realm has produced a prodigy like Supreme Great Sun."

    "I wonder how far he can go on the path of Supreme Truth."

    Red Fortune sighed, then stepped onto a teleportation array, his figure vanishing in an instant.

    ...

    Qishan Market.

    The market was bustling with activity.

    Shen Wushen sat in a tavern, sipping wine with a look of anticipation in his eyes.

    Lian Mei, dressed in a form-fitting white dress, had a revealing cutout at the chest, exposing a large expanse of smooth, fair skin. The hem of her dress clung to her curvaceous hips, exuding an alluring charm. R??????O???E?????

    The surrounding cultivators whispered among themselves, occasionally stealing glances at Lian Mei. Her bold and revealing attire, combined with her enchanting aura, made her stand out like a seductive fox spirit.

    "Since the Celestial Palace opened, a stream of light has flown out every three months. I wonder what treasures we''ll find this time."

    "This kind of light is only useful for us Nascent Soul cultivators. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have a chance!"

    "I hope to gain some opportunities from the light and advance to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm."

    "Sigh, I wonder if there''s a chance to enter the Celestial Palace."

    "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Even Yang Gods risk their lives entering the Celestial Palace. A Nascent Soul cultivator is weaker than an ant in front of a Yang God. How dare you even think about entering the Celestial Palace?"

    Shen Wushen listened to the discussions calmly, his expression serene. "Senior Sister Lian Mei, after helping you collect a hundred strands of light, I''ll leave."

    Back then, in order to find cultivation techniques for Qi Yuan and help him send letters to Jin Li, Shen Wushen had owed Lian Mei many favors.

    "You''re such a blockhead," Lian Mei rolled her eyes at Shen Wushen. "Even the friends you make are all dull."

    "Hey, that''s not fair. How am I dull?" At that moment, a handsome man in a blood-red robe entered the tavern. He looked at Shen Wushen with a smile. "It''s been a hundred years since we last met."

    Lian Mei glanced at Qi Yuan, her expression turning strange. "Shen Wushen, you have friends in the Six Heavens too?"

    Shen Wushen was shocked to see Qi Yuan, his face showing a hint of unease.

    "Brother Qi... this is a friend I met in the lower realm."

    "The lower realm?" Lian Mei was momentarily stunned, her expression turning serious. "So he''s an Yin God senior."

    Anyone who ascended from the lower realm to the Immortal Realm needed to be at least an Yin God.

    Lian Mei was a Nascent Soul cultivator. Although some rogue Yin Gods might not have a higher status than her, she still had to show them respect.

    "Why are you here? Looking for the light?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    It had to be said, Shen Wushen had helped him a lot by collecting cultivation techniques and delivering letters to Jin Li.

    When Qi Yuan arrived at Qishan Market and sensed Shen Wushen''s presence, he naturally came to see him.

    "Sort of," Shen Wushen replied, though even he felt a bit awkward.

    After all, the events that had transpired in the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm had given him many thoughts.

    He had some guesses about Qi Yuan''s true identity and strength.

    But... such a terrifying existence now appeared before him like an ordinary cultivator, chatting with him, making him feel as if he were in a dream.

    "Why are you here? For the Celestial Palace?" Shen Wushen asked.

    Lian Mei was momentarily stunned. Shen Wushen''s question was a bit strange.

    What did he mean by "for the Celestial Palace"?

    An ancient, extraordinary aura leaked out, as if from time immemorial.

    Red Fortune, witnessing this scene, was filled with astonishment.

    "With a single command, Supreme Great Sun has summoned the Celestial Palace!"

    "How did he do it?"

    "Could it be that Supreme Great Sun has reached some agreement with the Sole Hall?"

    This was the only explanation Red Fortune could think of.

    Perhaps Supreme Great Sun''s defeat of Taihuang Palace had led to some connection with the Sole Hall.

    Thus, he was able to summon the Celestial Palace.

    "Won''t open? Won''t open?" In the sky, Qi Yuan looked at the gates of the Celestial Palace, his expression calm. "If you won''t open, I''ll force my way in!"

    In an instant, his figure surged toward the gates of the Celestial Palace.

    In the blink of an eye.

    The Celestial Palace vanished.

    Qi Yuan''s figure also disappeared without a trace.

    The Yang Gods observing this scene were shaken.

    "Did he... enter?"

    "He entered the Celestial Palace?"

    "He actually entered!"

    "How is that possible!"

    "Could it be... Supreme Great Sun has truly connected with the Sole Hall?"

    This was the only explanation they could think of.

    Any other explanation would be too far-fetched!

    ...

    Inside the Celestial Palace.

    A flash of light appeared.

    The Purple Fate Ancestor''s eyes flickered with surprise.

    "Let''s go."

    The Lord of White Dragon Abyss didn''t hesitate, her face veiled as her figure vanished in an instant.

    Where they had stood, light fell, and all things withered and dissolved.

    Once they reached a safe place, the Purple Fate Ancestor let out a sigh of relief.

    "This time, the Celestial Palace is different from before. This Eternal Calamity Radiance can even corrode Supreme Truths. Only Great Supreme Truths can resist it slightly," the Purple Fate Ancestor said, still shaken.

    In just a few decades since entering the Celestial Palace, he had faced several crises.

    Although the crises weren''t too severe, and he could easily avoid them with his strength, the danger was slowly increasing.

    The Eternal Calamity Radiance was also becoming more prevalent.

    "What is this Eternal Calamity Radiance... it seems to corrode even the laws of the universe. Only Great Supreme Truths can resist it slightly," the Purple Fate Ancestor wondered.

    "It''s similar to the Primordial Chaos Light from before the world was formed," the Lord of White Dragon Abyss said.

    Before the world was formed, there were no rules, only chaos.

    With the world and living beings came rules.

    This Eternal Calamity Radiance seemed to oppose the rules, capable of corroding them.

    As she spoke, the Lord of White Dragon Abyss glanced at the Purple Fate Ancestor, her gaze curious. "Purple Fate Ancestor, compared to before, your strength has improved significantly.

    Last time, when Taihuang Palace ambushed you, how did you survive the Root Demon Tribulation?"

    This time, the Purple Fate Ancestor had displayed formidable strength within the Celestial Palace.

    He was stronger than most third-tier Supreme Truth experts.

    His improvement was undoubtedly due to surviving the Root Demon Tribulation.

    But based on the Lord of White Dragon Abyss''s understanding of the Purple Fate Ancestor, he shouldn''t have been able to survive the last Root Demon Tribulation.

    Even if he had barely survived, he would have been severely injured, with less than ten percent of his strength remaining.

    Yet, the Purple Fate Ancestor was now in peak condition, stronger than ever.

    "That''s... a secret," the Purple Fate Ancestor said smugly.

    "Could it be related to Supreme Great Sun?" the Lord of White Dragon Abyss asked casually, her gaze fixed on the Purple Fate Ancestor.

    When no other explanation could be found, the simplest assumption was that it was related to someone close and powerful.

    Mentioning Supreme Great Sun, the Lord of White Dragon Abyss''s expression became complicated.

    Back then, she had wanted Supreme Great Sun to father her child.

    Unfortunately, Supreme Great Sun had refused, leaving her disappointed.

    But she was grateful that she hadn''t forced Qi Yuan, or else White Dragon Abyss might have become the second Taihuang Palace.

    "That... I don''t know either," the Purple Fate Ancestor denied.

    Although the denial was pointless, he still had to deny it.

    The fact that Qi Yuan could resolve the Root Demon Tribulation was something that needed to be kept secret for as long as possible.

    Fortunately, Qi Yuan had the strength of a Supreme. If he were only at the first layer of Yang Gods, or a minor or third-tier Great Supreme Truth expert, he would have long been targeted by many powerful figures, who would have forced him to help others survive the Root Demon Tribulation.

    For Great Supreme Truth experts, the Root Demon Tribulation was too dangerous.

    To grow stronger, one had to survive the Root Demon Tribulation.

    Many Great Supreme Truth experts had stopped improving their strength because they feared the arrival of the Root Demon Tribulation.

    When the Purple Fate Ancestor''s Root Demon Tribulation had arrived last time, and he had survived unscathed, it had naturally drawn the attention of many Yang Gods.

    However, at that time, Supreme Great Sun''s reputation was at its peak, having destroyed Taihuang Palace. Those with ulterior motives didn''t dare to inquire further.

 Chapter 569: Let the Sole Hall Come to See Me!

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord glanced at Purple Fate Ancestor with an inscrutable expression. "If we manage to leave the Celestial Palace this time, I should find an opportunity to meet with the Great Sun Supreme more often."

    Purple Fate Ancestor shot her a look. "Aren''t you afraid of the Sole Hall?"

    The Great Sun Supreme had annihilated the Taihuang Palace. In the past, Purple Fate Heaven would have been bustling with activity, with visitors coming and going in droves. However, after Qi Yuan destroyed the Taihuang Palace, he had also offended the Sole Hall, which had initiated the Linya Transformation. As a result, despite Qi Yuan''s immense power, not many Supremes openly sided with him. Instead, they kept their distance to avoid being targeted by the Sole Hall.

    "Afraid? But I''m even more afraid that I won''t survive the Root Demon Tribulation," the White Dragon Abyss Lord sighed. "Being powerful is a tribulation in itself. It was best when we were just Yin Gods, carefree and without worries. We didn''t have to worry about the Linya Transformation or whether we would die in the next Root Demon Tribulation."

    Of course, the White Dragon Abyss Lord was merely venting. If given the choice, she would never willingly return to the Yin God Realm. However, the life of a Yang God in the Supreme Truth Realm of the Immortal World was fraught with too many troubles. A single misstep could lead to the fall of even a Great Supreme Truth expert.

    "Instead of thinking about returning to the Yin God Realm, why not focus on breaking through to the third layer of the Yang God Realm?" Purple Fate Ancestor said. "Perhaps once this Linya Transformation ends and the Seven Heavens of the Immortal World are fully constructed, we might have a chance to advance further."

    "The Seven Heavens of the Immortal World... It''s not so easy to complete their construction," the White Dragon Abyss Lord sighed.

    At that moment, Purple Fate Ancestor''s gaze suddenly sharpened.

    "What is that?"

    In the distant horizon, an endless surge of Eternal Calamity Radiance erupted. The scene was apocalyptic. Yet, amidst all the Eternal Calamity Radiance, three emerald-green fruits seemed to fly out. When Purple Fate Ancestor saw those three fruits, his expression changed dramatically.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord also widened her eyes in shock. "There are actually fruits within the Eternal Calamity Radiance? Those emerald fruits... they must be divine fruits!"

    The Eternal Calamity Radiance could even corrode Supreme Truth experts. Yet, there were fruits emerging from within it. How could they not be shocked?

    Without hesitation, the two of them chased after the direction in which the three divine fruits were flying. Fortunately, one of the fruits was heading toward their location. Behind that fruit, several streaks of light followed. Clearly, other Yang Gods had also noticed the fruit and were trying to seize it.

    As the divine fruit drew closer, Purple Fate Ancestor''s face revealed excitement.

    "Let''s work together to secure the fruit. We can split it later!" the White Dragon Abyss Lord transmitted her voice.

    Among those chasing the fruit were a few formidable experts who warranted caution.

    "Agreed," Purple Fate Ancestor replied without hesitation.

    "I''ll hold them off. You intercept the fruit!" the White Dragon Abyss Lord suggested.

    Her figure suddenly grew majestic and towering. A pure white dragon soared into the sky, its dragon roar echoing across the heavens. Its claws and body spanned the firmament as terrifying Supreme Truth rules surged forth, causing the void to tremble. r?¦¡¦­o?bE?S??

    "White Dragon Abyss Lord, how dare you!" an angry roar erupted.

    The voice belonged to a Great Supreme Truth expert. Seeing that the divine fruit was about to fall into someone else''s hands, he was furious.

    "This treasure has a connection with us. It''s flying toward us. How could we not take it?" the White Dragon Abyss Lord replied with a faint smile.

    Meanwhile, Purple Fate Ancestor had already condensed his Supreme Truth power and was carefully reaching out to grab the divine fruit. The other Yang Gods watching this scene could only sigh in regret. With two Great Supreme Truth experts working together, aside from that Supreme, no one else could snatch the fruit.

    The Great Supreme Truth expert from Ghost Heaven also showed a look of disappointment. The divine fruit was clearly an extraordinary treasure, a rare and priceless item. He could only watch helplessly as Purple Fate Ancestor seized the fruit. However, in the next moment, he was stunned.

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord''s expression also changed drastically.

    "Be careful!"

    She looked at Purple Fate Ancestor with deep concern. The moment Purple Fate Ancestor''s Supreme Truth touched the divine fruit, an overwhelming aura of rules erupted from within the fruit. In an instant, Purple Fate Ancestor''s Supreme Truth shattered, and his aura weakened significantly.

    He stared in disbelief. "What kind of fruit is this?"

    With just a single touch, he had been severely injured. How could he not be shocked? If this fruit were to be made into a weapon specifically designed to deal with Great Supreme Truth experts, the consequences would be unimaginable. After all, even a Supreme couldn''t injure him so easily. Yet, an ordinary fruit had done so. How could he not be alarmed?

    "Be careful! This fruit contains an endless flame aura. Don''t touch it!" Even though he was injured, Purple Fate Ancestor still transmitted his voice to the White Dragon Abyss Lord.

    Seeing this, the White Dragon Abyss Lord also became wary of the fruit and didn''t dare to act rashly. At that moment, the fruit suddenly... vanished.

    Some of the other Yang Gods hesitated, while others continued to chase after the fruit without a second thought. The expert from Ghost Heaven also gave chase.

    "How are you?" the White Dragon Abyss Lord asked with concern.

    "I won''t die," Purple Fate Ancestor replied. However, his current condition was far from good. The Supreme Truth he had comprehended seemed to have been melted by the fruit, leaving it in tatters.

    "Your condition is very unstable," the White Dragon Abyss Lord frowned. "What exactly is that fruit?"

    A fruit that emerged from the Eternal Calamity Radiance, capable of injuring a Great Supreme Truth expert¡ªhow could she not be shocked?

    "Within that fruit, I sensed an endless flame aura, but... it''s different from ordinary flames," Purple Fate Ancestor said, frowning.

    At that moment, the Great Supreme Truth expert from Ghost Heaven appeared. He looked at Purple Fate Ancestor with a wary expression. "Purple Fate Ancestor, what exactly did you encounter when you touched that fruit?"

    The divine fruit was too fast. Even he hadn''t been able to catch up.

    "Why should I tell you, Xian Zang?" Purple Fate Ancestor retorted.

    "Hmph, if you hadn''t stopped me, that divine fruit would already be in my possession. I haven''t even settled this score with you yet!" Xian Zang said, his tone hostile. "Don''t think that just because you have the Great Sun Supreme backing you, I''m afraid of you!"

    Xian Zang was from Ghost Heaven. Aside from him, there was also a Supreme in Ghost Heaven. Therefore, he wasn''t afraid of Purple Fate Ancestor.

    "Heh, I have the Great Sun Supreme backing me. What about you?" Purple Fate Ancestor said lazily, a smug expression on his face.

    "You..." Xian Zang was furious. "In the Celestial Palace, anything can happen. The Great Sun Supreme has offended the Linya Transformation. Who knows if he''ll survive this Linya Transformation?"

    Although he said this, Xian Zang''s confidence was somewhat lacking. He looked at Purple Fate Ancestor, his gaze shifting. "You should worry about your own injuries first. Don''t die inside the Celestial Palace and become one of the Sole Hall''s aberrant spirits."

    After saying this, Xian Zang didn''t linger. He had come to try and gather information about the divine fruit. Since Purple Fate Ancestor wasn''t willing to share, he saw no point in staying. With that, his figure vanished.

    "You really have a sharp tongue. Don''t forget that the Ghost Supreme is also in the Celestial Palace. If he becomes angered because of this, your days won''t be easy," the White Dragon Abyss Lord warned.

    "Hmph," Purple Fate Ancestor snorted. "I won''t tell anyone from Ghost Heaven."

    In the past, the Taihuang Palace had been too dominant. The Ghost Control Heaven had submitted to it, leading to conflicts with the Black Demon Abyss. In fact, the Ghost Control Heaven later dared to attack the Black Sword because they had received some news that a Supreme was aligning with the Taihuang Palace. Among the Supremes of the Six Heavens, there were fewer than ten. The Ghost Supreme was highly suspected of being the one who had aligned with the Taihuang Palace. Therefore, Purple Fate Ancestor had no good feelings toward Ghost Heaven.

    "Cough... hot... burning..." Purple Fate Ancestor coughed, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He felt as if a true flame was scorching his body.@@@@

    The White Dragon Abyss Lord''s eyes were filled with worry. "Don''t die inside the Celestial Palace."

    She was genuinely concerned. Firstly, the Celestial Palace wasn''t a safe place. One had to constantly face the Eternal Calamity Radiance. Secondly, the other Yang Gods could also be potential enemies. After all, if enough Yang Gods died, the Linya Transformation would end. Thirdly, the Celestial Palace was currently experiencing strange occurrences. Not only was there the Eternal Calamity Radiance, but divine fruits had also appeared. Who knew what else might happen?

    "Don''t worry. Even if I die, someone will take care of my funeral," Purple Fate Ancestor said, coughing.

    [Eternal Calamity Radiance: Dissolves rules and forges new ones.]

    The information he saw confirmed that the Eternal Calamity Radiance was meant to dissolve the rules of the world and reshape them into new ones.

    "Even as a god, I cannot achieve omniscience and omnipotence," Qi Yuan sighed.

    At that moment, a soft voice suddenly spoke. "Even as a god, one cannot act with complete freedom."

    Qi Yuan looked over and saw a figure standing before him. It seemed to be a phantom, with only a wisp of true spirit remaining.

    "Who are you?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

    This phantom did not seem to be a being from the Six Heavens.

    "I am a disciple of the Five Mountains Wanderer. I accidentally entered this strange world, thinking I could gain countless opportunities, but instead, I perished here," the phantom said.

    When mentioning the Five Mountains Wanderer, he seemed filled with pride.

    "Five Mountains Wanderer?" Qi Yuan had never heard of this name.

    Even in death, the phantom''s face was filled with pride.

    "The Five Mountains Wanderer represents the five strongest mountains in existence.

    In the Immortal World, they are Mount Sumeru, Mount Dong, Mount Taiqing, Mount Taihuang, and Mount Xuling.

    In this Celestial Palace, they might be this mountain, that one, and those over there.

    Of course... this is assuming my master has also entered this world."

    The Five Mountains Wanderer''s "five mountains" were not fixed. In different worlds, they represented the five "strongest" mountains.

    "Your master sounds impressive," Qi Yuan commented.

    "If you ever meet my master, please tell him not to save me and not to come to this world!" the phantom said, then laughed bitterly. "Ah, I forgot. You can''t leave this world."

    "Is this world special?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The Immortal World was indeed special. For one, it was like a cage¡ªYang Gods could not leave. Secondly, the future of the Immortal World had been severed.

    "It''s very special. After all... this place actually has Heterodox Dao Fruits," the phantom said, his eyes filled with fervor.

    "In the universe, there are Dao Fruits and Heterodox Dao Fruits.

    If a Heterodox Dao Fruit aligns with one''s own path, just one... can allow one to step into the Realm of Rules!"

    Each Heterodox Dao Fruit represented a cosmic rule. If one''s Supreme Truth aligned with the rule carried by the Heterodox Dao Fruit, consuming it could allow one to reach the third layer of the Yang God Realm. This shortcut naturally attracted countless powerful beings.

    The phantom had been lured by the Heterodox Dao Fruit and entered the Celestial Palace, only to meet his demise.

    "Heterodox Dao Fruits?" Qi Yuan murmured.

    He recalled the divine fruit Purple Fate Ancestor had mentioned. Could that be a Heterodox Dao Fruit? Such a fruit, when consumed, could allow one to step into the Realm of Rules.

    "How do Heterodox Dao Fruits appear?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The phantom shook his head. "I don''t know. Perhaps... it has something to do with the Dao Lords of the fifth layer of the Yang God Realm."

    The phantom glanced around, his eyes filled with desolation.

    "Your world... is too special. I''ve never seen a world like this," the phantom said, his voice tinged with fear.

    Qi Yuan was unfazed by this. Every world he had been to was unique. Of course, every world in existence was special in its own way.

    "If... you ever get the chance to visit the Five Mountains Alliance and meet my master, please tell him not to come to save me and not to fish my true spirit out of the River of the Universe," the phantom said.

    This was the reason he had preserved a wisp of his true spirit. If he were to die completely, his master, the Five Mountains Wanderer, might attempt to retrieve his true spirit from the River of the Universe to revive him. He had a premonition that something terrifying would happen if that occurred.

    Now, only by attaching himself to the Celestial Palace and becoming its spirit could he barely survive.

    "Alright, if I get the chance, I''ll pass on the message," Qi Yuan said. "But first, you need to help me with something."

    "Please, go ahead."

    "How much do you know about the Sole Hall and the Linya Transformation?"

    The phantom''s eyes grew complex. "It is an unknowable entity."

    Qi Yuan understood the implication. The Sole Hall was an existence at the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm.

    "How much do you know about the fifth layer of the Yang God Realm?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The phantom shook his head. "You''re better off seeking answers to that within the Sole Hall."

    "How do I find the Sole Hall?" Qi Yuan pressed.

    The phantom spoke calmly, exuding the demeanor of an expert.

    "Defeat me, subdue me."

    Slap!

    A slap landed on the phantom''s face, sending him spinning wildly. Only when Qi Yuan''s foot pressed down on him did the phantom stop spinning.

    "Now that I''ve subdued you, tell me... how do I enter the Sole Hall?" Qi Yuan asked, stepping on the phantom.

    The phantom was stunned. He hadn''t expected this seemingly polite man to act so... abruptly and domineeringly. He resorted to violence at the slightest provocation!

    "Only aberrant spirits or those bound by a contract can enter the Sole Hall," the phantom answered truthfully.

    So, he couldn''t enter the Sole Hall?

    "Then let the Sole Hall come to me!" Qi Yuan declared.

 Chapter 570: The Despair of the Cultivation Path

    The phantom was stunned.

    The Sole Hall coming to see him?

    What kind of thought was that?

    The Sole Hall, devoid of self-awareness, resided in the Seventh Heaven. Ordinary beings avoided it like the plague, fearing being assimilated into aberrant spirits by the Sole Hall. Yet, this man wanted the Sole Hall to come to him.

    "I can''t do that either," the phantom shook his head.

    "Is the Celestial Palace deeply connected to the Sole Hall?" Qi Yuan asked. "If I destroy the Celestial Palace, will the Sole Hall be willing to meet me?"

    The Sole Hall was an existence at the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm, lacking self-awareness, much like the Black Heaven. However, since the Taihuang Palace had managed to establish a connection with the Sole Hall and control the Linya Transformation, it suggested that there might be entities within the Sole Hall similar to the Black Heaven and Black Earth.

    The phantom fell silent, unsure how to respond. After a long while, he finally said, "The Celestial Palace is a treasure of the Realm Lord. Ordinary people... cannot destroy it."

    "How do you know without trying?" Qi Yuan smiled mysteriously.

    The Celestial Palace was indeed a treasure of the Realm Lord, but it was an ordinary one, far inferior to the Human Enlightenment Light forged from the primordial rules of the universe. He extended a finger and pointed toward the sky.

    "Become... pregnant!"

    A chaotic aura spread. Qi Yuan''s presence became inexplicably strange.

    The phantom widened his eyes, utterly confused.

    What was the Great Sun Supreme doing? Pregnant? What did that mean? As a being attached to the spirit of the Celestial Palace, the phantom suddenly clutched his stomach.

    "What did you do to me?" he asked, a terrifying thought forming in his mind.

    "I suddenly thought that destruction is not as good as creation. So... I''m trying to make the Celestial Palace pregnant. If the Celestial Palace is pregnant, the Sole Hall, as its parent, will have to come out and see, right? After all, no betrothal gifts have been given, no banquet has been held," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    The phantom wanted to cry but had no tears. "You''re insane! You''re a madman!"

    He couldn''t understand what his pregnancy had to do with the Sole Hall meeting Qi Yuan. Of course, his thought process couldn''t comprehend Qi Yuan''s logic.

    "Don''t be like this. I''m a man... I don''t want to be pregnant!"

    "What''s wrong with being pregnant? I have a friend who can lay eggs! Are you discriminating against him? If you keep this up, be careful he won''t let you eat his eggs!"

    "No, it''s just... why would the Sole Hall want to see you because of this?" The phantom clutched his stomach, utterly baffled.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan suddenly looked up at the sky, a smile on his face. "It seems the Sole Hall cares about you after all. Here it comes."

    As Qi Yuan''s voice fell, the phantom froze. A special aura descended upon him.

    "Rules, All Things, Creation realm... Such strength is enough to wake me and meet you."

    The phantom wasn''t strong enough to see that Qi Yuan''s earlier move had displayed the power of the Creation Realm. But this move had awakened someone, who now descended upon the phantom.

    "I never thought that after so many years, someone in the Immortal World could break the limits and reach the Creation Realm," the new phantom sighed.

    Since the sword that severed the future, the limit of the Immortal World had been the second layer of the Yang God Realm. To reach higher realms, one had to construct the Seven Heavens of the Immortal World. But there were always exceptions. He had seen many exceptions, but none who had reached the Creation Realm. Moreover... this person seemed to be at the Creation Realm, yet not quite. To reach the Creation Realm, one had to merge with the will of the Immortal Dao and master the rules of all paths. But this person''s path didn''t seem to align with the will of the Immortal Dao. Only an outsider could explain this.

    An outsider, a Creation realm expert, had entered the cage of the Immortal World. This filled him with inexplicable emotions.

    "Who are you?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "The Sword Keeper of the Sole Hall, Nameless," the phantom replied.

    "Hey, what''s going on with your Sole Hall?" Qi Yuan directly questioned. "Helping the Taihuang Palace, targeting me, huh?"

    Sword Keeper Nameless looked confused. Then, a flood of information entered his mind, and he smiled.@@@@

    "The Taihuang Palace was just lucky. They barely obtained the Sole Token, which allowed them to control the Linya Transformation," Nameless replied.

    He had been in a deep slumber. If not for sensing Qi Yuan''s aura, he wouldn''t have awakened. After all, every being who broke the limits was worth recruiting. R?No??B§¦??

    Nameless added, "You and I are not enemies."

    "Can the Linya Transformation end? After all, the cultivation world''s atmosphere is already bad. Adding the Linya Transformation, with all the killing, isn''t good," Qi Yuan said, his sense of justice flaring up.

    "The Linya Transformation... its beginning and end are not up to me. This was decided by my master," Nameless said.

    "You have a master?"

    "Yes... he is the Sole Hall," Nameless said, his voice filled with reverence.

    "Perhaps you know him by another name," Nameless looked at Qi Yuan and slowly said, "Ming Zun."

    "Ming Zun, who severed the future with a sword?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    During his time at the Supreme Truth Assembly, Qi Yuan had inquired about many things. According to the Assembly, the Immortal World originally had Nine Heavens. But then, a peerlessly talented expert named Ming Zun appeared. With a single sword strike, he severed the future of the Immortal World. Qi Yuan had been amazed at the time. To sever the future with a single sword strike¡ªhow powerful was that? Even now, Qi Yuan found it difficult to achieve such a feat.

    "Why did Ming Zun sever the future?" Qi Yuan asked.

    This was another question. Because, in other universes, most had futures. As far as Qi Yuan knew, only the Immortal World and the world where the Foodless Holy Mother once resided lacked futures.

    "Do you know the path of the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm? What about the fifth layer?" Nameless asked.

    "The fifth layer is the Dao Lord, the master of a path," Qi Yuan replied.

    The path of the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm involved losing one''s true spirit and becoming something incomprehensible. Even if there was a one-in-a-million chance of revival, the revived being would be a new entity. Because, the moment one stepped into the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm, it meant the annihilation of the true spirit. Qi Yuan was unwilling to walk this path. He wanted to skip the fourth layer and directly enter the fifth layer. He was currently exploring this path, hoping to modify and adapt it to his own Yang God path.

    "The end of the Yang God Realm is the fifth layer, the Dao Lord."

    When mentioning this, Nameless''s face was filled with reverence.

    "Even if the universe perishes, the Dao Lord remains. With a single thought, the birth, death, and reincarnation of the universe are all under their control. This is the Dao Lord."

    Qi Yuan listened quietly.

    He knew how powerful the Dao Lord was. One could say that the Dao Lord stood at the peak, the strongest in existence. They could gather timelines and pull the true spirits of those they wished to revive from the River of the Universe. Once a Dao Lord emerged in a path, no second Dao Lord could appear. Within the Dao Lord''s domain, they were invincible, undefeatable.

    "The Dao Lord is powerful, but do you know that the day the Dao Lord achieves the Dao is also called the Day of Cycle?" Nameless''s voice was desolate.

    Qi Yuan listened quietly.

    The Day of Cycle?

    This term was thought-provoking.

    "The Dao Lord has infinite lifespan, capable of controlling the life and death of all beings in one or even multiple universes. Within their domain, they are invincible. But..."

    Nameless paused, his eyes filled with desolation and sorrow.

    "Once the Dao Lord achieves the Dao, time within their domain ends, and then... begins an infinite cycle."

    "The day the Dao is achieved is also the day the cycle begins. Everything in the world... is frozen!"

    Nameless''s expression turned somewhat grim.

    This meant that in a world where the Dao Lord achieved the Dao, time reached its end and would no longer move forward. Time would enter a cycle, from the beginning to the day the Dao was achieved, repeating endlessly. During this cycle, there might be some changes due to the Dao Lord''s interference. But... everything had an end. When time reached the day the Dao was achieved, the next cycle would begin.

    If someone made an appointment to meet before the Dao Lord achieved the Dao, perhaps they would meet every time, but they would never truly meet.

    "The end of the cultivation path is actually like this. How laughable, how laughable!" Nameless''s face was filled with indignation.

    Such a Dao Lord was indeed majestic, invincible. They controlled the life and death of all beings. Perhaps many would be willing to become such a Dao Lord. But there were also cultivators who were unwilling to accept this.

    Qi Yuan also fell silent. "This is actually the end of the cultivation path."

    He put himself in the shoes of someone before the Dao Lord achieved the Dao. If one didn''t become a Dao Lord, there would be no River of the Universe. Friends who died in battle, or aging relatives, could not be revived. One would have to watch as loved ones grew old, their divine hearts crumbled, and they perished. Loneliness, loss.

    What had she just heard?

    The fifth layer of the Yang God Realm?

    And the third layer of the Yang God Realm?

    Was this guy for real?

    This guy... must be insane.

    Lian Mei was speechless. This kind of speechlessness was like hearing your classmate, a person of Asian descent, suddenly worrying about becoming the President of the United States and having many troubles.

    If Lian Mei were closer to Qi Yuan, she would have slapped him by now.

    Shen Wushen, however, remained calm and frowned as he comforted Qi Yuan. "Brother Qi, there will always be a way."

    He knew Qi Yuan was incredibly strong. The things Qi Yuan worried about might involve some profound secrets. It was just that Shen Wushen''s current strength was too weak to fully understand.

    "I hope so. Sigh, the Yang God Realm is so hard. How can I break through to the Yang God Realm? What kind of Yang God is a true Yang God?" Qi Yuan drank his slightly sweet juice, his face filled with worry.

    Lian Mei rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan. Just now, he was talking about breaking through to the fifth layer of the Yang God Realm, and now it was about breaking through to the Yang God Realm. He was clearly delusional.

    "The hardships of life are like the endless river, though it has the ambition to flow east to the sea..." Qi Yuan began to plagiarize again.

    Given how sad he was, the original author probably wouldn''t blame him, right?

    If they did, then... when I''m sad, killing someone to shut them up is fine, right?

    "Everyone has their difficulties in life. This is normal," Lian Mei said, though it was unclear if she was comforting Qi Yuan.

    "Sigh, you''re right. If I destroy the world and kill everyone, wouldn''t that solve all these troubles?" Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    Lian Mei chuckled.

    At that moment, Shen Wushen''s expression tightened. "Brother Qi, don''t think like that!"

    He knew how terrifying Qi Yuan was. If Qi Yuan really went down that path, the Immortal World would face a true catastrophe.

    Just then, an arrogant voice rang out.

    "All your troubles are because you don''t have enough spirit stones and lack a strong background." A young master who clearly looked like a spoiled brat walked over, his expression haughty and condescending.

    Lian Mei''s expression tightened when she saw the newcomer.

    It was Young Master Qi Tan!

    The Qi Mountain Market was dominated by the Qi Family. The Qi Family had an ancestor who was a Yang God from Ghost Heaven. Young Master Qi Tan, backed by the Qi Family, was arrogant, domineering, and lecherous. Every Purple Mansion cultivator who came to the Qi Mountain Market knew to stay far away from this young master.

    Seeing Qi Tan, Lian Mei instinctively covered her chest, her face pale.

    Would this young master take a fancy to her?

    But to her surprise, Qi Tan glanced at her with disdain, his face full of disgust. "I''ve seen plenty of women like you. Do you think I''d be interested in you?"

    With that, he walked toward Qi Yuan, his eyes gleaming. "This is a true beauty. A hint of sorrow in the brows, a touch of drunkenness in the eyes, so pitiable, so lovable. Little beauty, you have so many worries, why not follow Young Master Qi..."

    As Qi Tan spoke, he reached out to touch Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan was stunned, his face showing disgust.

    "Damn, what kind of trash are you, daring to flirt with me?" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but curse.

    It had been so many years, yet he still encountered small-time thugs causing trouble.

    But after saying this, Qi Yuan regretted it. He glanced around, relieved that Sister Horns wasn''t here. Otherwise, she would surely say, "Didn''t you always say everyone is equal? Why are you dividing people into classes now?"

    Beside him, Qi Tan was also stunned, not expecting such a strong reaction.

    "Haha, I never thought someone in the Qi Mountain Market would dare speak to me like this!" Qi Tan exuded confidence, full of himself.

    The Yin God guards beside him eyed Qi Yuan, ready to strike if he made any move.

    "Hmph, showing off? Who can''t do that?" Qi Yuan said calmly. "From now on, this market will be renamed... ''The Market Where the Spoiled Brat Qi Tan Was Killed by Qi Yuan''! Consider this your chance to be remembered for eternity!"

    On Earth, Qi Yuan had watched countless TV dramas, including those about dragon kings, security guards becoming emperors, and domineering CEOs falling in love with menopausal women. When it came to showing off, he was an expert. Although showing off in front of small-time thugs was beneath him, everyone was equal. Besides, he was currently troubled by the fifth layer of the Yang God Realm. Killing a small-time thug would help improve the atmosphere of the cultivation world.

    "How dare you!" Qi Tan was furious.

    Beside him, Lian Mei looked worried, trying to think of a way out of this situation.

    The onlookers also watched, eager to see the drama unfold.

    "I..."

    "This..."

    These spectators wanted to whisper and mock Qi Yuan, but suddenly found they couldn''t speak or transmit their voices. They were confused, not knowing what was happening. They didn''t realize that Qi Yuan had silenced them to avoid hearing their taunts.

    Everyone was dumbfounded. Some were terrified, while others stared blankly at Qi Yuan.

    "Look, who is this?" Qi Yuan casually reached into the air.

    Suddenly, an old man fell from the sky, his face filled with fear and confusion. He had been in seclusion, cultivating, when a hand grabbed him and pulled him out.

    "This is..." Qi Tan''s eyes widened in shock.

    This was... the ancestor!

    He had seen the ancestor''s statue!

    But the ancestor was a Yang God. How could he suddenly appear?

    Yet, in the next moment, something even more terrifying happened.

    Slap!

    The handsome man before him slapped his ancestor across the face.

    The Yang God ancestor''s face immediately bore a bright red handprint.

    Qi Tan was dumbfounded, both terrified and frightened.

    Qi Yuan said calmly, "See, this is how you show off!"

    Qi Tan seemed to understand something.

    As soon as the words fell, Qi Tan''s body instantly disintegrated.

    As for the Qi Family''s Yang God ancestor, he trembled in fear, looking at Qi Yuan with terror, unable to speak.

    Beside him, Lian Mei''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    What just happened?

    Who am I?

    Where am I?

    The onlookers were still silenced, unable to speak, but their eyes showed their shock, and they occasionally gasped.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked at the old man before him and smiled gently. "How about renaming the Qi Mountain Market to... ''The Market Where the Spoiled Brat Qi Tan Was Killed by Qi Yuan''? Do you have any objections? If you do, feel free to speak up. I''m a very reasonable person."

    Qi Yuan was always very reasonable¡ªhe just loved to act first.

 Chapter 571: The Secret of the Supreme Truth Assembly

    "Uh... uh..."

    The old man wanted to speak, wanted to transmit his voice, but he couldn''t say anything.

    "What, you don''t agree?" Qi Yuan questioned.

    The old man''s face grew even more terrified.

    "Oh, I forgot, you''re still muted," Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    With a light tap of his finger, the restraints on the Yang God old man disappeared instantly.

    The old man quickly said, "I agree, I agree! Great Sun Supreme, Qi Tan offended you. He deserved to die, he deserved to die!"

    Although the Qi Family''s Yang God old man had never met Qi Yuan before, the new name of the market and Qi Yuan''s god-like methods left no doubt that this was the Great Sun Supreme. Who else could it be?

    Beside him, Lian Mei''s pupils dilated.

    "Great Sun Supreme?"

    The Great Sun Supreme!

    Shen Wushen''s friend was actually the legendary Great Sun Supreme who had annihilated the Taihuang Palace! The Great Sun Supreme was the most miraculous and legendary figure of the past century. He had single-handedly destroyed the Ghost Heaven, fought alone against the Taihuang Palace, and brought about the descent of ten thousand suns, shaking the Six Heavens of the Immortal World. Who didn''t know of him? Who hadn''t heard of him?

    Such a majestic existence¡ªLian Mei had never imagined she would have the chance to meet him. Yet, not only had she met him, but she had also spoken to him, even... bickered with him. The thought of bickering with such a majestic figure made her heart race and her chest tighten. She even wondered if her dress was too casual.

    The surrounding cultivators, upon hearing this, were first confused, then realized what was happening. They lowered their heads, some even kneeling on the ground, their faces filled with excitement.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked at the thoroughly dead Qi Tan and suddenly waved his hand.

    A special aura spread, and the previously dead Qi Tan was revived.

    The revived Qi Tan looked around in confusion.

    Hadn''t he been killed by that terrifying existence?

    Was it all an illusion?

    But when he looked up and saw the familiar figure and his ancestor''s submissive demeanor, his expression froze.

    It wasn''t an illusion?

    Then, a calm voice entered his ears.

    "Now do you understand... how to show off?"

    "I specially revived you just to kill you again."

    As the words fell, Qi Tan''s body shattered once more, dying beyond death.

    He was revived in confusion, only to die again in confusion.

    The cultivators present felt that the Great Sun Supreme was truly terrifying.

    Killing someone, reviving them, and then killing them again.

    It was too horrifying.

    Only the Yang God old man was inwardly shaken.

    Because he had seen that Qi Tan had truly died, his true spirit completely shattered. Even a Supreme wouldn''t be able to revive him.

    So how had his descendant¡ªno, that scoundrel¡ªbeen revived?

    Was it an illusion?

    That was the only explanation.

    But for the Great Sun Supreme to perform such an illusion in front of him was still awe-inspiring.

    "Indeed, killing and showing off are great joys in life."

    After killing Qi Tan twice, Qi Yuan felt refreshed.

    As for why Qi Tan could be revived, it was naturally because Qi Yuan had marked him and expended resources to bring him back.

    The Qi Family''s Yang God lowered his head, not daring to speak.

    Qi Yuan continued, "The atmosphere in the cultivation world is too poor. You need to keep a close eye on your Qi Family disciples. If something like this happens again, it won''t be as simple as just one Qi Tan dying." R§¡?o???E?S

    With a wave of his hand, the Yang God old man''s figure quickly disappeared, returning to his original place.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan looked at Shen Wushen not far away. "Didn''t I promise to help you find flowing light in the Celestial Palace? Look, what''s this?"

    Qi Yuan extended his hand, and a diamond-shaped crystal appeared in everyone''s sight.

    The Purple Mansion cultivators, upon seeing this crystal, were filled with envy and jealousy.

    A single strand of flowing light was enough to make them fight fiercely.

    This was the source of flowing light.

    If they could obtain it, they might instantly surpass the Purple Mansion Realm and step into the Yin God Realm.

    Beside him, Lian Mei, recalling Qi Yuan''s earlier promise to help Shen Wushen find flowing light in the Celestial Palace, felt like a complete fool. She had thought Qi Yuan was boasting, but now it was clear that she was the one who had been ignorant.

    "Take it. Don''t worry, no one will dare to rob you. If anyone dares to rob you, they''re disrespecting me," Qi Yuan said.

    The surrounding Purple Mansion cultivators didn''t dare to even think of robbing it.

    This was a gift from a Supreme.

    The symbolic value of this item far exceeded its practical worth.

    "Right, who among you dares to rob it?" Qi Yuan scanned the crowd, his gaze landing on a bald man. "Ah, you seem to be the most diligent bandit here, and the bravest. Do you dare to rob it?"

    The bald man, being stared at and questioned by a Supreme, felt like his ancestors'' graves were emitting smoke. He had actually spoken to a Supreme!

    "I... I wouldn''t dare," the bald man stammered in fear.

    How could he dare!

    Although the Grand Council Master was only at the second layer of the Yang God Realm, Qi Yuan could tell that if the Flame Realm Lord of the Black Heaven and Black Earth were to face the Grand Council Master, the outcome would be uncertain.

    Since the Six Heavens of the Immortal World couldn''t reach the third layer of the Yang God Realm, the Supreme Truth Council had forged an alternative path¡ªthe Path of Supreme Truth¡ªto enhance Yang God cultivation and walk a different road.

    "Great Sun Supreme, by opening the Celestial Palace this time... have you made contact with the existence of the Sole Hall?" the Grand Council Master asked.

    "Sort of," Qi Yuan replied lazily, conserving his words.

    "Indeed," the Grand Council Master nodded in understanding. "In that case, the Great Sun Supreme should know that our Immortal Dao''s Dao Lord... has already fallen."

    When mentioning this, the Grand Council Master''s expression was complex.

    "With the Dao Lord fallen, the Immortal Dao is adrift... Who will now take the lead in the Immortal Dao?" the Grand Council Master sighed.

    The fall of a Dao Lord was a devastating blow to a path.

    It could even lead to its destruction.

    "Why did you come to me?" Qi Yuan cut straight to the point, not interested in the Grand Council Master''s lamentations.

    "Since the Dao Lord fell, the Supreme Truth Council has been seeking to rebuild the Immortal Dao. Thus, the Path of Supreme Truth was born. The Sole Hall initiated the Linya Transformation to construct the Seven Heavens of the Immortal World. Although our paths differ, our goals are the same. The Sole Hall has the Sole Hall, and the Supreme Truth Council... has the Primordial Council." At this point, the Grand Council Master''s eyes shone with confidence.

    "The Primordial Council, a fourth-layer Yang God like the Sole Hall?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    As he grew stronger, he was indeed seeing more of the world.

    The Grand Council Master''s face showed a hint of embarrassment. "The Primordial Council is far inferior to a fourth-layer Yang God, but it is a treasure of the Realm Lord."

    "Oh," Qi Yuan responded indifferently.

    At his level, ordinary Realm Lord treasures no longer caught his attention.

    In the Black Heaven and Black Earth, he had shattered over ten thousand Realm Lord treasures.

    A mere Realm Lord treasure didn''t interest him.

    "Great Sun Supreme, do not underestimate the Primordial Council. It was crafted by the disciples of the Immortal Dao''s Dao Lord. The Primordial Council... can connect to other universes, allowing communication with beings from other universes!" the Grand Council Master said proudly.

    The Path of Supreme Truth was created by the Supreme Truth Council through the Primordial Council, exchanging ideas with powerful beings from countless universes and pooling their wisdom.

    "Can it leave the Immortal World?" Qi Yuan was intrigued.

    "No, only the true spirit can communicate within the Primordial Council," the Grand Council Master explained. "Entering the Primordial Council has immeasurable benefits. Not only can one experience the rules of various universes and different paths, but one can also rapidly improve their cultivation and refine their true spirit. A Great Supreme Truth at the second layer of the Yang God Realm, after spending ten thousand years in the Primordial Council, could solidify their true spirit to the point where they might survive even the end of a universe, reviving when the universe is reborn."

    At this, the Grand Council Master''s face was filled with reverence.

    After all, when a universal epoch ended, all living beings would perish.

    Only those at the third layer of the Yang God Realm and above would not be affected by the end of the universe.

    Just the refinement of the true spirit alone was enough to excite all the Yang Gods of the Immortal World.

    Although Yang Gods had infinite lifespans, if they didn''t reach the third layer, they would still die when the universe ended.

    "Even though I have controlled the Primordial Council for 300 billion years, I have only entered it once," the Dragon Turtle Grand Council Master said.

    An epoch lasted about 490 billion years.

    The Dragon Turtle Grand Council Master''s lifespan exceeded 300 billion years.

    This meant that the Immortal World was in the later stages of this epoch.

    "Your talent is extraordinary. In this epoch, I have never seen anyone with talent surpassing yours. Therefore, I am prepared to grant you the qualification to enter the Primordial Council and enhance your strength. However, this gift is not without cost. In the near future, you will need to represent the Immortal World in the Primordial Council and participate in the Myriad Epoch Grand Council!"

    Seeing that Qi Yuan remained silent, the Dragon Turtle Grand Council Master continued, "In the myriad worlds, besides the Immortal World, there are many other universes. When the Immortal Dao''s Dao Lord still existed, the young talents of the Immortal World would, from time to time, enter the Primordial Council to participate in the Myriad Epoch Grand Council, debating with powerful beings from various universes. The rewards for these debates were plentiful. However, since the Immortal Dao''s Dao Lord fell, according to the Supreme Truth Council''s records, the Immortal World has gone many epochs without receiving rich rewards. I only hope that in the Myriad Epoch Grand Council, the Great Sun Supreme can bring back some opportunities. Otherwise, when this epoch ends, I fear... few in the Immortal World will survive the universal catastrophe."

    This was the Grand Council Master''s purpose.

    Although he had lived for an extremely long time, he had only comprehended one Supreme Truth. After being tempered by the Primordial Council, his strength had reached its limit. Naturally, he couldn''t compare to a young talent like Qi Yuan.

    "This..." Qi Yuan pondered for a moment.

    To be honest, he was quite interested in the Primordial Council.

    After all, he could meet aliens.

    But... from what the Grand Council Master said, the Myriad Epoch Grand Council would likely take a very, very long time to occur.

    As he was thinking, a mysterious aura suddenly descended.

    "Senior Brother, I need to speak with you."

    The Dragon Turtle Grand Council Master was surprised.

    He hadn''t expected the Second Council Master to seek him out at this time.

    He bowed to Qi Yuan in apology, and his true spirit disappeared, entering the depths of the Supreme Truth Council.

    "Junior Brother, what brings you to me?" the Grand Council Master asked.

    He was currently hosting a guest, so the Second Council Master wouldn''t disturb him without good reason.

    "Senior Brother, are you planning to grant the Primordial Council''s gift to the Great Sun Supreme?" the Second Council Master asked.

    The Grand Council Master paused, then said, "Junior Brother, I know you''ve always wanted to enter the Primordial Council, but your talent isn''t sufficient to support you. In the Six Heavens of the Immortal World, only the Great Sun has a slight qualification to enter the Primordial Council. Apart from him, only the previous Sun Supreme has a chance. This epoch has less than 30 billion years left. If we don''t strive harder, we may not survive this epoch."

    The Grand Council Master spoke earnestly.

    "Senior Brother, it''s not that I''m greedy. It''s just that I have a better candidate," the Second Council Master said.

    "Oh? Who? Is it the Black Sword from the Black Demon Abyss?" the Grand Council Master asked casually.

    "No, it''s the Ghost Supreme!" the Second Council Master said.

    "The Ghost Supreme''s talent is only slightly better than yours, and not even as good as the Great Sun. How could he enter the Primordial Council?" the Grand Council Master asked, his face filled with curiosity.

    The Second Council Master wouldn''t come to him without a good reason.

    "The Ghost Supreme obtained a Heterodox Dao Fruit in the Celestial Palace. He is perfectly compatible with that Dao Fruit. Once he fully refines it, he might break through the Immortal World''s restrictions and reach the third layer of the Yang God Realm! A third-layer Yang God who has comprehended a Supreme Truth¡ªisn''t he more qualified to enter the Primordial Council than the Great Sun Supreme?" the Second Council Master said with a proud expression.

 Chapter 572: Maybe I Just Have Better Upbringing

    The Grand Council Master was moved.

    He had never expected that the Ghost Supreme would obtain a compatible Heterodox Dao Fruit and step into the third layer of the Yang God Realm. Originally, a second-layer Yang God like the Ghost Supreme, who had comprehended a Supreme Truth, was comparable to a Realm Lord who had just entered the Realm of Rules. With the addition of a Heterodox Dao Fruit, once fully refined, his strength would undoubtedly increase significantly.

    Such a Ghost Supreme was indeed more qualified to enter the Primordial Council than the Great Sun Supreme.

    "This..." The Grand Council Master hesitated. "But I''ve already discussed this with the Great Sun Supreme. If I suddenly go back on my word, where would I put my old face?"

    At his level of cultivation, his temperament couldn''t be measured by ordinary standards. Sometimes he didn''t care about face, and other times his reputation was more important than anything else.

    "Senior Brother, if you''re afraid of losing face, why not tell the Great Sun Supreme to go back and think about it for now? Later, when the Ghost Supreme finishes fusing with the Heterodox Dao Fruit and steps into the third layer of the Yang God Realm, he can host a Realm Lord grand assembly and come to our Supreme Truth Council to claim the Primordial Council. By then, the Great Sun Supreme will likely back down and say nothing more," the Second Council Master suggested.

    The Grand Council Master hesitated. "Is that acceptable?"

    Meanwhile, outside, Qi Yuan stood quietly, stretching lazily.

    "I''ve always said that my home is missing a wall, and the Wall of Supreme Truth would be a good fit. But now it seems the Wall of Supreme Truth is a bit too ordinary."

    He looked through the layers of barriers, his gaze falling on the Wall of Supreme Truth.

    What had once seemed profound and mysterious to him now appeared quite ordinary.

    "This so-called Primordial Council sounds impressive, but in reality, isn''t it just a treasure of the Realm Lord, like the imperial jade seal on Earth? What''s the difference? Does obtaining it mean you get the throne? That''s just feudal superstition."

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    Just then, a faint, subtle stream of light quickly flew toward him.

    Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, curious.

    The faint stream of light, like a green dragon, silently landed on his wrist, seemingly trying to transform into a jade bracelet and wrap around his arm.

    However, due to Qi Yuan''s immense strength, the green dragon-like stream of light was immobilized.

    "This is..."

    [Primordial Council, a treasure of the Realm Lord, crafted by the disciples of the Immortal Dao''s Dao Lord.]

    "The Primordial Council?"

    "Do I... truly have the Mandate of Heaven?"

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but joke a little.

    The Primordial Council was too enthusiastic.

    Upon seeing him, it immediately tried to sneak into his clothes, completely lacking in restraint.

    Was it trying to recognize him as its master?

    "But I don''t have a whip or candles. I don''t know how to play those kinds of games..."

    The Primordial Council, as if it had consciousness, transformed into a small dragon, wagging its tail like a puppy.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan finally said, "Sigh, it must have had a hard time in the Supreme Truth Council, which is why it ran to me as soon as it saw me. This isn''t stealing or taking. It''s rescuing it from its suffering." R?a??O?bE?S

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan activated the recording function on his device to preserve evidence.

    "Little thing, you''ll follow me from now on."

    After some thought, Qi Yuan decided not to stop the Primordial Council.

    The Realm Lord treasure immediately emitted a sense of joy, transforming into a green dragon bracelet that wrapped around Qi Yuan''s wrist.

    He pulled his sleeve down, feeling a bit guilty.

    "Indeed, I''m too thin-skinned. Even when doing good deeds, I feel embarrassed. I really want to leave the Supreme Truth Council as soon as possible."

    "It''s not that I''m guilty. It''s just that I''m afraid the Primordial Counci will suffer if it stays in this place full of nightmares."

    As he thought this, the figure of the Dragon Turtle Grand Council Master reappeared.

    His expression was strange, and he avoided meeting Qi Yuan''s eyes.

    "Great Sun Supreme, what do you think of what I just said?" the Grand Council Master asked.

    "Well..." Qi Yuan hesitated.

    If it weren''t for the Primordial Council''s enthusiasm, to be honest, he wasn''t very interested in entering it to improve his strength.

    "There''s still plenty of time. This epoch has 30 billion years left. Why don''t you go back and think it over carefully?" The Grand Council Master''s words carried a strong hint of wanting to send Qi Yuan away.

    "Alright!" Qi Yuan was also eager to leave, a smile appearing on his face.

    "Farewell."

    "Farewell."

    Watching the Great Sun Supreme leave, the Grand Council Master wiped the sweat from his forehead.

    ...

    Shenguang Sect.

    On the Seven Colors Peak.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Primordial Council on his arm, curiosity in his eyes.

    "There are benefits to entering. Should I give it a try?"

    As the saying goes, a free Primordial Council is not to be wasted.

    Moreover, he had now stepped into the Yin God Realm.

    His current strength had reached the Creation Realm, and progressing further would be extremely difficult.

    After all, the next step would be the fourth or fifth layer of the Yang God Realm.

    Thus, after entering the Yin God Realm, Qi Yuan''s cultivation had stagnated, and he wasn''t sure how to improve his strength.

    Of course, devouring stellar golden cores didn''t count.

    That was the Great Dao of the Golden Core.

    The improvement of his main body''s cultivation had yet to find a direction.

    Cosmic rules?

    Also, stay away from those red and black lights.

    They have bad tempers. Don''t end up dying here before you''ve even tempered your true spirit.

    If you die here... you can''t be revived in your original universe," the Divine Beauty Realm Lord said with a smile.

    After speaking, she undressed right in front of Qi Yuan.

    In an instant, her clothes were gone, with no attempt to cover herself.

    Her long legs, perky chest... and everything else exuded beauty, as if she were the most exquisite thing in the world, making one want to get close to her.

    "You just... stripped like that?" Qi Yuan was also stunned. "You''re not a Yang God, you''re a living bodhisattva!"

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    Aliens were too bold.

    The Divine Beauty Realm Lord''s expression didn''t change. "The body is just a shell... and in the Cosmic Spirit Sea, there aren''t many humanoid beings like us."

    The Divine Beauty Realm Lord''s meaning was clear.

    Everyone here was crossing species and races. Wearing clothes or not made no difference.

    "We''re both humanoid," Qi Yuan said.

    "You''re good-looking, which is why I''m like this. If it were someone else... hmph," the Divine Beauty Realm Lord said bluntly, without hiding anything. "Alright, enough chit-chat. I''m entering the Cosmic Spirit Sea."

    With that, the Divine Beauty Realm Lord, completely naked, stepped into the Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    Immediately, the water burned, and rules were annihilated. Qi Yuan observed the Divine Beauty Realm Lord''s figure, watching her frown in pain, curiosity in his eyes.

    "She''s right. Wearing clothes is a disadvantage, but alas... I have good upbringing."

    He wore a blood-red robe and stepped directly into the Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    Inside the Cosmic Spirit Sea, the Divine Beauty Realm Lord covered her chest with her hands. When she saw Qi Yuan entering with his clothes on, she snorted. "Foolish."

    Wearing clothes while entering not only required more true spirit to maintain but also increased the distance from the Great Dao and the rules.

    It was too much of a loss.

    However, a hint of disappointment flashed deep in her eyes.

    Although the body was just a shell to her, if that handsome Realm Lord had stripped in front of her, she would have enjoyed the view.

    Since Qi Yuan didn''t undress, she didn''t look anymore and focused on tempering her true spirit.

    Meanwhile, Qi Yuan stepped into the Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    Instantly, he felt the endless water burning.

    Rules were collapsing and annihilating.

    Terrifying forces continuously tore at his true spirit and his clothes.

    In fact, if he hadn''t maintained his strength, his clothes would have been burned away the moment he entered.

    "This Cosmic Spirit Sea is impressive. I feel my true spirit has improved a tiny bit."

    "But... it''s too little, and the power... is too weak. It''s lighter than a tickle."

    The outermost layer was likely only suitable for Realm Lords who had just entered the Realm of Rules and second-layer Yang Gods.

    No one knew how many layers the Cosmic Spirit Sea had, and neither did Qi Yuan.

    But the deeper one went, the better the effects.

    The 100th layer was where Realm Lords at the Realm of All Things could stay.

    As for the 1,000th layer, that was for Realm Lords at the Creation Realm.

    Without hesitation, Qi Yuan passed by many figures and headed deeper.

    "Is this the 100th layer?"

    "Why does it still feel like a tickle? It seems that alien''s knowledge was too limited."

    Qi Yuan muttered.

    He was still wearing clothes as he entered the 100th layer.

    In the outer reaches of the Cosmic Spirit Sea, the Divine Beauty Realm Lord''s beautiful eyes flashed with surprise.

    "He''s actually at the Realm of All Things. A Realm Lord at the Realm of All Things coming to the Cosmic Spirit Sea for the first time? Interesting."

    The Divine Beauty Realm Lord''s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

    "I wonder which path he follows?"

    She didn''t look anymore.

    Once Qi Yuan entered the 100th layer, she could no longer track his movements.

    As Qi Yuan entered the 100th layer, many beings in the Cosmic Spirit Sea sensed something and glanced at him.

    "Another newcomer."

    "This newcomer has some strength."

    "He''s actually wearing clothes. How foolish!"

    "Hmph, who''s interested in his stick-like figure?" a boar-like Realm Lord snorted.

    "Hmph, Man Qi, you might not be interested, but I am," a female Realm Lord said, her eyes gleaming with a strange light¡ªa light called lust.

    "I bet he''ll take off his clothes before the 200th layer," the female Realm Lord said, drooling as she spoke.

    She was currently standing at the 260th layer.

    Just then, a voice rang in her ears.

    "Don''t talk nonsense. I''m very chaste. My pure body won''t be shown to just anyone."

    As the saying goes, a man who doesn''t uphold his chastity, who doesn''t follow male virtues, won''t be cherished by "big women" and won''t get any dowry when marrying.

    Besides, a good man is him, and he is Qi Yuan.

 Chapter 573: Coordinates: Jiang Lingsu

    The female Realm Lord widened her eyes and instinctively covered her face.

    Her beautiful face was flushed, and her chest... stood proudly.

    She looked like a shy young girl.

    She hadn''t expected that her gossiping behind someone''s back would be caught red-handed.

    "Actually, I''m quite reserved too."

    "If it weren''t for the dangers of the Cosmic Sea, I would also be dressed modestly."

    A mix of innocence and allure radiated from this female Realm Lord.

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    "Sigh, I can''t compare to you old-timers who have lived for billions of years."

    At a glance, he could tell that the female Realm Lord''s blush was fake.

    "Hey, don''t think just because you''re good-looking, you can act all innocent," the female Realm Lord said with dissatisfaction, no longer covering her face, revealing a slightly youthful face. As she spoke, her long legs crossed, blocking the view below.

    In her every movement, Qi Yuan saw elements of purity, sensuality, fierceness, dominance, schoolgirl charm, and even a touch of a mature woman.

    This was the terrifying aspect of a Realm Lord¡ªable to manifest countless personas in an instant, directly affecting one''s soul.

    Of course, this was different from Shen Lingxuan''s Profound Yin Physique.

    Shen Lingxuan''s charm was unconscious, while this Realm Lord''s was deliberate.

    Seeing this Realm Lord, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but think of Shen Lingxuan.

    Unfortunately, after leaving the Divine Wood Universe, he had never seen Shen Lingxuan again.@@@@

    However, Shen Lingxuan was a Chosen One, a manifestation of his master Ruan Yixi''s rules.

    After the fall of the Black Heaven, her safety should be assured.

    "No need to pretend, I''ve always been young," Qi Yuan said. He was still young, only about a hundred years old.

    At this age, it was the perfect time to return to Earth and collect his pension every day.

    "Really? Let me see?" The female Realm Lord smirked, her gaze drifting downward.

    "You..."

    Qi Yuan was speechless again, and his figure instantly disappeared.

    "Hahaha..." The Cosmic Spirit Sea echoed with the female Realm Lord''s "bell-like" laughter.

    On the other side, Qi Yuan stopped and muttered to himself, "Boys really need to protect themselves when they''re out. There are too many perverts among the aliens." RANo?bE?s?

    The key was, he didn''t have Sister Horn''s eloquence, and his face was too thin-skinned to compete with these ancient beings who had lived for billions of years.

    Without further interaction, Qi Yuan continued forward.

    The female Realm Lord watched Qi Yuan from afar, now transformed into another appearance, occasionally whistling at him.

    "Little brother, don''t hold back, take it off."

    "Don''t worry, I have integrity. I won''t record it."

    It seemed she had discovered Qi Yuan''s weakness and was exploiting it.

    Qi Yuan acted as if he hadn''t heard her.

    "You said he''d take off his clothes by the 200th layer, but he''s already at the 300th layer," the boar-like Realm Lord said.

    "Misjudgment, but he''ll definitely take them off by the 500th layer!" the female Realm Lord said confidently. "After all, that one didn''t take off her clothes and only made it to the 499th layer, where she''s been stuck for a hundred years."

    Mentioning "that one," the female Realm Lord''s face showed reverence.

    That one was also a Realm Lord at the Realm of All Things.

    But the gap in strength between them was immense.

    To put it simply, she was somewhat capable among the Realm of All Things, while that one was a true powerhouse.

    If that one wanted to kill her, it would probably take only a year.

    If not for not taking off her clothes, the female Realm Lord believed that one could have reached the 700th layer.

    Taking off clothes to reach the 700th layer, or not taking them off and stopping at the 499th layer, both demonstrated the strength of a powerhouse.

    A powerhouse at the Realm of All Things might step into the Creation Realm at any moment.

    The gap between the Creation Realm and the Realm of All Things, though only one level apart, was immense.

    With no Dao Lords appearing and the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm absent, the Creation Realm stood at the pinnacle of the universe.

    "You''re really overestimating him," the boar-like Realm Lord said.

    "I''m not. Didn''t someone once reach the 500th layer without taking off their clothes and was invited to join the Myriad Transformations Society?" the female Realm Lord said.

    Mentioning the Myriad Transformations Society, the boar-like Realm Lord''s expression changed, his eyes filled with deep reverence.

    These Realm Lords were already the top talents of their respective universes.

    But compared to those who joined the Myriad Transformations Society, the gap was still too vast.

    There were rumors that the Myriad Transformations Society was founded by multiple Dao Lords, recruiting and absorbing true peerless talents from countless universes, worlds, and dimensions.

    Joining the Myriad Transformations Society was a huge temptation for these Realm Lords.

    The leap from the Realm of All Things to the Creation Realm was a significant threshold.

    Some couldn''t cross this threshold even after ten thousand cosmic epochs.

    "Could this person... also be a peerless talent, trying to attract the attention of the Myriad Transformations Society?" the boar-like Realm Lord muttered.

    The female Realm Lord was stunned, as if realizing something. "Could it really be like that? Now, Realm Lord Liu Xu has been stuck at the 499th layer for a hundred years, and the Myriad Transformations Society has been watching her.

    If he reaches the 500th layer without taking off his clothes, the Myriad Transformations Society... will definitely invite him!"

    Thinking this, the female Realm Lord''s face showed excitement and joy. "Doesn''t that mean once he crosses the 500th layer and attracts the Myriad Transformations Society, he''ll start taking off his clothes?"

    "..." The boar-like Realm Lord didn''t want to talk to her.

    "You just don''t appreciate beauty. Handsome boys are the most precious treasures of this world. Not looking is a waste."

    "I prefer looking at sows," the boar-like Realm Lord retorted.

    On the other side, in the void, Qin Thirty-Seven and Qin Nu?yuan sat idly, wine pouring from the sky into their mouths.

    "How long will it take for Realm Lord Liu Xu to reach the 500th layer?"

    "What, are you concerned about her?" Qin Nu?yuan said.

    "Didn''t you hear what Big Brother said? Realm Lord Liu Xu''s origins are mysterious. She''s not from any of the known universes," Qin Thirty-Seven said.

    Their Big Brother was a formal member of the Myriad Transformations Society, unlike them, who were only peripheral members.

    "The universes are as vast as the stars. It''s normal for someone to come from an unknown universe. What''s so strange about that?" Qin Nu?yuan was puzzled.

    "It''s different," Qin Thirty-Seven didn''t elaborate, pretending to be cryptic.

    Because, in truth, he didn''t know much either.

    "Hmph," Qin Nu?yuan snorted, her gaze falling on the Cosmic Spirit Sea. "See, there''s another one not wearing clothes, probably trying to join the Myriad Transformations Society too."

    "Some cleverness," Qin Thirty-Seven smiled. "But unfortunately, the reason the Myriad Transformations Society is interested in Realm Lord Liu Xu is more about her origins."

    He naturally assumed that Qi Yuan was an opportunist.

    Knowing that the Myriad Transformations Society was watching Realm Lord Liu Xu, he imitated her by wearing clothes and entering the Cosmic Spirit Sea to reach the 500th layer.

    Little did he know, the Myriad Transformations Society''s recruitment standards were much higher now.

    Just then, Qin Thirty-Seven suddenly stood up. "Realm Lord Liu Xu has finally reached the 500th layer. Time to get to work."

    Qin Nu?yuan nodded.

    As Realm Lord Liu Xu stepped into the 500th layer, countless gazes fell upon her.

    "She''s finally reached the 500th layer!"

    "So strong!"

    "Among the powerhouses at the Realm of All Things, she''s definitely one of the strongest."

    "Most importantly, the Myriad Transformations Society will invite her!"

    As these whispers spread, a majestic voice echoed from the void into the Cosmic Spirit Sea, reaching billions of miles.

    "The Myriad Transformations Society hereby invites Realm Lord Liu Xu to join. Does Realm Lord Liu Xu accept?"

    Qin Thirty-Seven stood in the void, addressing Realm Lord Liu Xu.

    The surrounding Realm Lords, including the powerhouses, looked on with envy.

    "Esteemed senior, reaching the 1,000th layer while clothed demonstrates extraordinary strength. This junior humbly invites you to join the Myriad Transformations Society!" The Myriad Transformations Society member extended the invitation with utmost respect.

    The other Realm Lords looked on with envy.

    If someone who reached the 1,000th layer without taking off their clothes couldn''t join the Myriad Transformations Society, then no one else stood a chance.

    "The Myriad Transformations Society? What''s that?" Qi Yuan asked, puzzled.

    Hearing this, the surrounding Realm Lords were dumbfounded, utterly confused.

    "He doesn''t know about the Myriad Transformations Society?"

    "Then why did he wear clothes to enter the Cosmic Spirit Sea?"

    "How can someone in this world not know about the Myriad Transformations Society?"

    The Realm Lords muttered among themselves.

    The female Realm Lord was also stunned, never expecting this outcome.

    "Hey, stop gossiping behind my back!"

    "I wear clothes because I''m chaste and uphold male virtues!"

    "And not knowing about the Myriad Transformations Society is normal. My junior sister doesn''t know, my daughter doesn''t know, and many others don''t know."

    Qi Yuan''s words left the Realm Lords speechless.

    Male virtues?

    And the Realm Lord who said "how can someone not know about the Myriad Transformations Society" wanted to explain that "someone" referred to Realm Lords.

    But he didn''t dare explain, fearing Qi Yuan might kill him.

    After all, this was a Creation Realm expert.

    In a single universe, having ten was already a lot.

    The Myriad Transformations Society member was also at a loss.

    Could it be that not inviting him at the 500th layer had offended this senior?

    Or was it...?

    His own strength was too low, and he wasn''t qualified to invite this senior?

    "The Myriad Transformations Society is..." He began to explain.

    But Qi Yuan shook his head. "Let''s not talk about it for now. My junior sister is calling me home for dinner."

    Of course, Jiang Lingsu hadn''t called.

    But it was mealtime.

    His figure vanished, leaving the group of Realm Lords staring at each other in bewilderment.

    <hr>

    On the Seven-Colored Peak.

    Jiang Lingsu was still wearing that short-sleeved long skirt, with the waistband tied high.

    However, unlike before when she dressed conservatively, today the deep blue silk ribbon wrapped around her chest had been lowered slightly, revealing a large expanse of smooth, snow-white skin, along with a deep cleavage.

    There was no need to squeeze¡ªher creamy whiteness was enough to dazzle the mind.

    "Sis, sigh, you''re almost an old maiden already," the little girl sighed.

    She was only six years old, but being a cultivator, she understood a lot.

    "You little brat, what do you know?" Jiang Lingsu''s face turned red, her heart a little flustered. "This young lady is still young and beautiful!"

    "Even my cousin¡¯s granddaughter can bully me now. Sis, what about you?" The little girl mercilessly struck her with words, cutting deep.

    "You¡¯re not eating tonight!" Jiang Lingsu, furious, chased her younger sister out.

    She was seething, her ample chest trembling slightly.

    Looking at the table full of dishes, she found herself momentarily dazed.

    "Senior Brother..."

    She murmured, feeling restless.

    What was her relationship with Senior Brother?

    If she had been asked in the past, she might have found it sweet.

    But ever since Ning Tao, Canary, and Jin Li moved to the Seven-Colored Peak, she had occasionally overheard Jin Li¡¯s restrained gasps, Ning Tao¡¯s suppressed moans, and it made her feel uneasy.

    She and Senior Brother still hadn¡¯t crossed that final boundary.

    She felt insecure.

    Was it because Senior Brother didn''t like someone like her?

    Was it that she didn¡¯t have Jin Li¡¯s delicate shoulders and refined collarbone, or that she wasn¡¯t as snow-white as Ning Tao? Or...

    But she was fair too.

    Before, she didn¡¯t care about that final step.

    But now, when others had taken it and she hadn¡¯t, comparison naturally made her feel unbalanced, making her anxious, afraid that she wasn¡¯t the kind Senior Brother liked.

    Putting aside those worries, she was still a person¡ªwith desires.

    After a hundred years apart, she had already been bold this time, dressing so revealingly in front of Senior Brother.

    Clutching her chest, Jiang Lingsu¡¯s beautiful eyes were filled with worry.

    Suddenly sensing something, she panicked and stood up. "Senior Brother, you¡¯re here?"

    With her back to Qi Yuan, she bit her lip and tugged the silk ribbon on her chest down another notch.

    More of her round curves spilled forth.

    "Mm. Let¡¯s eat. The food looks good today." Qi Yuan glanced over, his expression calm.

    "Of course, you should know who cooked it!" Jiang Lingsu waved her small pink fists, speaking proudly.

    At that moment, her fist was caught by a large hand.

    Jiang Lingsu froze. Even though she was already at the Purple Mansion stage, her heart began pounding wildly at this moment.

    "Why don¡¯t we try something different today?" Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was as clear as ever.

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. She seemed to understand something but still couldn''t quite believe it. "Try what?"

    "What do you think?" Qi Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm.

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s face instantly flushed red, her heart racing like a frightened deer. "Whatever Senior Brother wants to try... he can."

    She clutched the hem of her clothes, her beautiful eyes looking as though they might drip blood.

    "Is that so?"

    A glint of amusement flashed in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes as his hand fell upon the deep blue silk ribbon, giving it a light tug.

    Snow-white, smooth skin was exposed to the air.

    High, full, unable to be grasped in one hand.

    Qi Yuan leaned closer, his lips and teeth grazing.

    A maiden¡¯s snow-white skin did not have the soft suppleness of a mature woman, but was instead firm and tender, crystal clear.

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s delicate body trembled, not daring to move.

    Her half-removed long skirt slipped to the floor, yet her curvaceous figure remained striking.

    Her body had the right amount of flesh in the right places¡ªslim where it should be, full where it counted.

    Her slender waist contrasted sharply with her ample curves above and the plumpness below.

    Jiang Lingsu¡¯s delicate body twisted, her seductive waistline utterly captivating.

    Everything fell into place naturally.

    "Mm... Senior Brother..." Jiang Lingsu half-sat on the table, her face flushed, her snow-white back beaded with fine sweat. She didn¡¯t dare to lean back, afraid of knocking over the flower vase on the table.

    She was no longer the inexperienced girl at the Qi Refining stage. Even sweating, she no longer had the scent of exertion from before.

    Her thoughts were tangled¡ªshe wanted Senior Brother to come closer, yet her hands instinctively pushed outward, as if struggling to endure.

    In the end, her entire body melted like soft mud, gasping for breath. She cupped her snow-white softness in her hands and whispered, "If Senior Brother wants..."

    "Hold on, I haven¡¯t had my fill yet." Qi Yuan refused decisively, starting from the connection between her lower curves and smooth abdomen, continuing his taste.

    With so many dishes on the table, how could he not take his time to savor them properly?

    Besides, these "dishes" were big and round.

 Chapter 574: The Myriad Transformations Society

    The green skirt fluttered, and the snow-white figure swayed, accompanied by soft, charming whispers.

    After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Lingsu lay half-dead in Qi Yuan''s broad embrace, her delicate toes curled, the smooth arch of her foot tensed, her beautiful eyes dazed and somewhat lost.

    A few strands of her hair clung messily to her rounded figure.

    "Junior Sister, you''re still a bit weak," Qi Yuan said, seemingly hinting at something.

    A glimmer of light flashed in Jiang Lingsu''s dazed eyes.

    "I can''t compare to Senior Brother," Jiang Lingsu whispered softly, her cheeks flushing even more as if recalling something.

    "You need to train, replenish, and rest properly," Qi Yuan, always high in emotional intelligence, wasn''t the type to just say "drink more hot water."

    He couldn''t help but sigh.

    Junior Sister Jiang Lingsu truly didn''t need a bra.

    It was... too big.

    "Don''t!" Jiang Lingsu, recalling the intoxicating sensations from earlier, naturally didn''t want to stop. Her slender neck lifted, the delicate curve perfect, her eyes filled with anticipation. "I can still do it tomorrow..."

    It had to be said.

    For her, the reality of what had happened was even more exhilarating than her fantasies.

    Though exhausted and barely able to keep up, she still wanted more...

    The feeling of their bodies, minds, and souls merging and colliding was addictive.

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan smiled brightly, his hand sliding from Jiang Lingsu''s delicate toes and smooth foot to her ankle.

    Jiang Lingsu''s body trembled, her expression a mix of anticipation and resistance.

    ...

    Supreme Truth Council.

    A figure descended, exuding a mysterious aura.

    He stood tall, like an eternal cosmic rule.

    Seeing this figure, the Grand Council Master''s eyes showed surprise.

    "Ghost Supreme, you''ve truly stepped into the third layer of the Yang God Realm!"

    The Ghost Supreme''s expression was calm and unreadable. "The Heterodox Dao Fruit aligns with me, so it was natural to advance quickly."

    Beside him, the Second Council Master''s eyes revealed admiration. "From today onward, Ghost... Realm Lord, you are undoubtedly the strongest in the Six Heavens of the Immortal World. When will you host the Realm Lord Assembly and announce it to the world?"

    "Fame is but a fleeting thing," the Ghost Realm Lord said indifferently. "Since fusing with the Heterodox Dao Fruit and glimpsing a broader world, I feel even more insignificant. My only desire is to improve my strength as quickly as possible." R?A?????o?E??

    The Second Council Master showed reverence. "As expected of the Ghost Realm Lord."

    He then turned to the Grand Council Master.

    "Senior Brother, the Ghost Supreme is now the strongest in the Six Heavens of the Immortal World. There''s no need to hesitate any longer.

    This cosmic epoch has only 30 billion years left. We must quickly help the Ghost Realm Lord improve his strength."

    The Grand Council Master''s expression shifted, and he finally nodded. "You''re right. He is now a Realm Lord, the greatest hope of the Immortal World. He deserves the Supreme Truth Council''s gift.

    I will go and retrieve the Primordial Council."

    As the Grand Council Master spoke, his figure dissipated.

    The Second Council Master stood to the side. "Realm Lord, please wait a moment. Once you enter the Primordial Council, you will undoubtedly gain tremendous opportunities."

    "Mm," the Ghost Realm Lord acknowledged.

    Just then, a violent fluctuation rippled through the air.

    The Grand Council Master''s face showed shock and disbelief.

    "Senior Brother, what happened?" the Second Council Master asked.

    The Ghost Realm Lord was also curious.

    The Grand Council Master, an ancient dragon turtle who had lived for countless years, rarely showed such an expression.

    "The Primordial Council... is gone!" the Grand Council Master said gravely, his expression shifting.

    "How is that possible? The Primordial Council is a treasure of the Realm Lord. It has always been within the Supreme Truth Council. How could it be lost?

    If a thief had infiltrated, how could Senior Brother and I not sense it?

    Although the Primordial Council has no true spirit, if a thief approached, it would resist.

    Unless... the Primordial Council ran away!" the Second Council Master said with concern.

    The Primordial Council was a treasure of the Realm Lord without a true spirit or intelligence, but it had a "faint instinct."

    Within the Supreme Truth Council, although the Primordial Council was sealed, the Grand Council Master and the Second Council Master had always treated it like an ancestor, offering it reverence.

    The Grand Council Master nodded. "If the Primordial Council has left, it will be difficult for us to find it."

    The Second Council Master''s expression turned bitter. "What do we do now? Without the Primordial Council, the Ghost Realm Lord cannot enter that realm, cannot improve his strength, and cannot even participate in the Myriad Epoch Grand Assembly."

    The Ghost Realm Lord''s eyes were complex. He hadn''t expected to encounter such a situation.

    The Grand Council Master''s expression changed several times before he finally gritted his teeth and said, "I have a method to take the Ghost Realm Lord into that space.

    However, it will take some time, and it will require consuming immortal veins."

    The Supreme Truth Council had possessed the Primordial Council for a long time and had studied it for more than an epoch.

    Within the Primordial Council, they had also discovered some results, finding a way to enter that space without using the Primordial Council''s true spirit.

    But the cost was high.

    And the number of times it could be used was limited.

    "How many immortal veins are needed? The Ghost Heaven will pay," the Ghost Realm Lord said boldly.

    ...

    Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    The female Realm Lord sat at the 260th layer, frequently glancing around as if searching for something.

    If your contributions are sufficient, becoming the Society Master... is not impossible."

    "Is this charity? I''m not a fool in love," Qi Yuan directly refused.

    Qingfeng''s expression grew even more awkward.

    If it were anyone else, he wouldn''t have bothered.

    But now, a critical research project in the Myriad Transformations Society required talents from all fields.

    "The Myriad Transformations Society doesn''t just take," Qingfeng said.

    "Oh? Then what can the Myriad Transformations Society offer me?" Qi Yuan asked.

    This conversation, overheard by the surrounding Realm Lords, felt absurd.

    "As expected of a Creation Realm old monster. His courage is immense."

    "Ordinary Realm of All Things experts can''t even get through the door of the Myriad Transformations Society."

    "When will I have the confidence of Senior Qi Yuan?"

    Many Realm Lords sighed, filled with envy and jealousy.

    After all, if they dared to speak to Qingfeng of the Myriad Transformations Society like this, forget it¡ªtheir true spirits wouldn''t even leave the realm of the void.

    Qingfeng looked at Qi Yuan and slowly said, "The Myriad Transformations Society exists to explore all the questions and transformations of the world. Any question can be answered here."

    "So, if I have doubts, I can get answers here?" Qi Yuan asked.

    If that were the case, this Myriad Transformations Society sounded quite good.

    "But to get answers, you must pay a price.

    The Myriad Transformations Society follows the principle of equivalent exchange.

    You gain answers, but you must also provide answers to the Myriad Transformations Society."

    "If that''s the case... then I can join the Myriad Transformations Society," Qi Yuan said after some thought.

    He also had many questions.

    Such as the path of the Yang God.

    Or... how to devour stars faster.

    "This is the token of the Myriad Transformations Society. Anyone who holds this token is a member of the Myriad Transformations Society," Qingfeng said, handing Qi Yuan a golden jade pendant.

    Not far away, Liu Xu looked on with envy.

    Within the Myriad Transformations Society, aside from the purple jade pendants, the golden ones were the most prestigious.

    "Alright, I''ve received it. But I need to go back to the Cosmic Spirit Sea to temper my true spirit. Once I''m done, I''ll report to the Myriad Transformations Society," Qi Yuan said, putting on the golden pendant and preparing to re-enter the Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    Just then, Qingfeng smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, if you come to the Myriad Transformations Society first and learn some knowledge about the Cosmic Spirit Sea, the speed and effectiveness of tempering your true spirit... might improve."

    "Really?" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up. "It seems I must visit the Myriad Transformations Society."

    "Please follow me," Qingfeng said, relieved.

    He had finally recruited another powerhouse for the Myriad Transformations Society.

    Those who could become powerhouses possessed exceptional talent, insight, and fortune.

    This would greatly aid the Myriad Transformations Society''s research.

    If they could make breakthroughs in their research, the benefits would be immense.

    "Fellow Daoist, you must be new to the realm of the void?" Qingfeng asked curiously along the way.

    "Yes," Qi Yuan admitted without hiding anything.

    "The realm of the void is special. There are many places like the Cosmic Spirit Sea, filled with opportunities.

    However, most of these places are controlled by major forces, and ordinary people cannot enter.

    Only the Cosmic Spirit Sea is freely accessible," Qingfeng said, his expression calm. "In this realm of the void, the Myriad Transformations Society controls the most opportunity-rich places, with a total of seventeen."

    "With the golden pendant, aside from three restricted areas, you can enter the other fourteen at any time.

    With your talent and insight, if you explore all seventeen, your cultivation and strength could double.

    Or even... with enough opportunity, you might glimpse the fourth or even fifth layer of the Yang God Realm."

    "That impressive?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    In truth, if he wanted to, he could step into the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm at any time.

    After all, in the Divine Wood Universe, he had fought against the Black Heaven and understood the fourth layer.

    "But stepping into the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm means the annihilation of the true spirit. Would anyone really be willing to do that?" Qi Yuan asked doubtfully.

    Qingfeng''s expression turned solemn and sacred. "To glimpse the Dao in the morning and die in the evening¡ªif one could glimpse the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm, what does the annihilation of the true spirit matter?

    Moreover, for example, according to my memories, I have lived for 3,700 epochs.

    From the perspective of a Dao Lord, perhaps... countless epochs.

    Stepping into the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm and breaking free from the cycle might be a way out."

    Qingfeng spoke.

    The forbidden knowledge of the fourth and fifth layers of the Yang God Realm might be unknown to Realm of Rules or Realm of All Things experts.

    But Creation Realm experts, especially those in the Myriad Transformations Society, naturally knew.

    "The founding purpose of the Myriad Transformations Society is to research a path to break the cycle, to transcend the fourth and even fifth layers of the Yang God Realm!" Qingfeng said solemnly.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes showed a strange expression, feeling as if his brain was expanding. "If you succeed, doesn''t that mean... the cycle has already ended?"

    Currently, they were still researching.

    This meant their research was still within the cycle.

    Thus, success was impossible.

    "Fellow Daoist, you may not know, but the realm of the void... lies beyond, outside the Great Dao."

 Chapter 575: The Devouring Scripture, Choosing a Research Topic

    "Beyond the Dao?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    Realm Lord Qingfeng explained.

    "Within any Dao lineage, whether living beings know it or not, they have already entered the cycle.

    But if a universe has not yet given birth to a Dao Lord, it can be considered ''beyond the Dao.''

    However, any place beyond the Dao that lacks a Dao Lord is fragile and vulnerable, always at risk of being overtaken by the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm."

    The first stage of the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm has various traits.

    These traits are bizarre and mysterious, primarily focused on destruction, devouring, and annihilation.

    Even Ming Zun of the Sole Hall, who severed the future with his sword and willingly transformed into a unique treasure to be wielded by future generations, has not been able to prevent the Linya Transformation from occurring over countless epochs, leading to the fall of Yang Gods and their transformation into aberrant spirits.

    "The realm of the void is different from ordinary places beyond the Dao. The tendrils of the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm cannot reach here, and the Dao lineages of the fifth layer of the Yang God Realm cannot extend into this place," Qingfeng said. "This place is very special. Among all the research topics of the Myriad Transformations Society, one of them is to study the origins and principles of the realm of the void."

    Qi Yuan had always been a good listener, paying close attention.

    "If you complete these research topics or make significant progress, you will earn many points and may even become the Society Master of the Myriad Transformations Society.

    In this epoch, the Dao Lord of the Witch Dao is presiding over the Myriad Transformations Society. If you become the Society Master, you might have the opportunity to meet the Dao Lord of the Witch Dao." When Qingfeng mentioned the Dao Lord, his eyes showed reverence.

    Such beings stand at the pinnacle of the cultivation path, the ultimate goal of almost all cultivators.

    Being able to meet a Dao Lord would bring immense benefits to any cultivator.

    After all, a Dao Lord embodies nearly all the rules of the Dao.

    Observing and conversing with them could lead to profound insights, which would be highly beneficial for powerful beings like them.

    "I also have some questions. Can I find answers to them in the Myriad Transformations Society?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Of course. As long as you can pay the price or contribute enough merit, you can get any answer," Realm Lord Qingfeng said confidently.

    The research topics of the Myriad Transformations Society are all extremely challenging, even capable of stumping Dao Lords.

    Generally, the desires or questions of those at the third layer of the Yang God Realm can be fulfilled by a Dao Lord.

    "You can take out your golden jade pendant and send your questions.

    If they are simple, other members can answer and solve them for you at any time," Qingfeng said.

    "Really? That good? Any question?" Qi Yuan''s face lit up with a smile.

    "Of course!" Realm Lord Qingfeng was full of confidence.

    The Myriad Transformations Society had existed for countless epochs, and its research topics were all lofty, having solved countless difficult problems.

    "Alright, I''ll go in and ask now," Qi Yuan said, sending his consciousness into the golden jade pendant.

    Soon, he sensed something similar to a forum or chat group.

    "A newcomer, and with a golden jade pendant?"

    "In this epoch of the Myriad Transformations Society, there haven''t been many newcomers with golden jade pendants."

    "You''ve come to the Inquiry Hall to ask a question, right?

    Newcomers can ask one question for free. Go ahead and ask."

    In this place called the Inquiry Hall, a flower that resembled a cauldron chattered incessantly.

    "The Nine Cauldrons Flower is the spirit of the Inquiry Hall, possessing almost 90% of the forbidden knowledge of the Myriad Transformations Society. If you have a question, it can find the answer in the information of the Inquiry Hall," Qingfeng explained beside him. r?A???E?s?

    "So, it''s an artificial idiot?" Qi Yuan said, somewhat disdainful.

    Wasn''t this similar to the AIs on Earth, gathering information from the internet and then answering questions?

    "Hey, this newcomer is a bit rude, looking down on me, a flower?" the Nine Cauldrons Flower said haughtily. "Go ahead and ask any question. Let''s see if I can easily solve it?"

    "I''m not looking down on you," Qi Yuan quickly said.

    As the saying goes, all are equal. He never discriminated against anyone, or any flower.

    After some thought, he asked seriously, "Nine Cauldrons Flower, I want to know if there is a Yang God in this world that far surpasses a Dao Lord."

    The Nine Cauldrons Flower fell silent.

    "I''ve hit a bottleneck in my cultivation. If I take another step forward, I might reach the level of the fourth or fifth layer of the Yang God Realm.

    But the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm is too weak, and Dao Lords are too limited. I really can''t stand it.

    I have some talent, and after working so hard for so many years, enduring countless hardships, if I only achieve power comparable to a Dao Lord, I won''t even be able to bring glory to my family. I''d be letting down my mother, my father, and the ancestors of the Qi family." Qi Yuan spoke earnestly, playing the pity card.

    As the saying goes, the crying child gets the milk.

    Of course, the prerequisite is that the child must be good-looking.

    If a wild boar tried to play the pity card, it might just make people nauseous.

    The Nine Cauldrons Flower fell silent again, and after a long while, it said, "I understand your situation. Your question... is also the ultimate research topic of the Myriad Transformations Society. For now, there is no solution. You can... ask some questions related to your daily life."@@@@

    The Nine Cauldrons Flower felt that this newcomer had something wrong with his head.

    Who would ask such a question?

    If anyone in the Myriad Transformations Society knew the answer to this question, wouldn''t everyone in the Myriad Transformations Society have surpassed Dao Lords?

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was disappointed.

    It really was an artificial idiot, unable to answer such a question.

    "Daily life questions?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    "Yes, daily life questions," the Nine Cauldrons Flower said confidently.

    Questions about what lies beyond Dao Lords were obviously impossible to answer.

    But daily life questions were different.

    The Nine Cauldrons Flower had lived for a very long time.

    "Chun?"

    "Never."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan stopped asking.

    Perhaps they were too far apart.

    "This is the ''Devouring Scripture.'' With your current merits and status, you shouldn''t be able to obtain this scripture directly, but I have a soft spot for you, so I''ll give it to you."

    The Nine Cauldrons Flower spoke, and information about the "Devouring Scripture" flowed into Qi Yuan''s consciousness.

    The information was vast and profound.

    "The ''Devouring Scripture'' is extremely difficult. Among the members of the Myriad Transformations Society, fifteen have studied it, but only three have managed to grasp it, and... it took them tens of thousands of years just to barely understand it," the Nine Cauldrons Flower informed.

    The "Devouring Scripture" was not something that could be mastered through time alone.

    Without talent, even spending a cosmic epoch, or even more time, would not be enough to grasp it.

    But with the right talent, it might take only tens of thousands of years.

    "That slow?" Qi Yuan was disappointed.

    He considered himself an ordinary man.

    "That''s slow?" The Nine Cauldrons Flower was speechless.

    This was already extremely fast.

    Moreover, for such powerful beings, spending hundreds of millions of years mastering a Dao scripture was not a problem.

    "Alright, I''ve given you this benefit. Now... you can choose... which research topic to join?"

    The Nine Cauldrons Flower inquired.

    Every member of the Myriad Transformations Society needed to join a research topic team.

    As it spoke, a stream of information flooded into Qi Yuan''s mind.

    ¡¶Research Topic Code: Transcendence... Transcending the Yang God Realm.¡·

    ¡¶Research Topic Code: Change... Breaking the Dao Lord Cycle.¡·

    ¡¶Research Topic Code: Soul Calling... Reviving or Summoning the Consciousness of the Fourth Layer of the Yang God Realm.¡·

    ¡¶Research Topic Code: Reforging the Witch... Transforming the Witch Dao and Creating a New Great Dao.¡·

    ¡¶Research Topic Code: Four-Five... Merging the Fourth and Fifth Layers of the Yang God Realm.¡·

    ......

    ¡¶Research Topic Code: Opening the Ruins... Searching for New, Unknown Worlds and Universes.¡·

    ¡¶Research Topic Code: Time Machine... Building a Time Machine to Return to the Past of the Fourth Layer of the Yang God Realm.¡·

    Looking at this information, Qi Yuan felt overwhelmed.

    Most of these research topics were questions he had.

    For example, transcending the Yang God Realm.

    Or the Time Machine, which reminded him of the lost glow stick he found in the ancestral land of the Mortal Heart Realm.

    That glow stick had allowed him to return to the past, helping the villagers observe gods and improve their strength.

    Later, he even encountered the Foodless Holy Mother three times.

    The function of that lost glow stick was very special.

    Qi Yuan wasn''t sure if, with that glow stick, he could return to the past and see his master.

    This kind of return to the past was not the same as a Dao Lord returning to the past in the timeline of the universe.

    "Can I join two research topics?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Yes."

    "Then... I''ll join ''Soul Calling'' and the Time Machine," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    This Myriad Transformations Society was quite impressive.

    He needed to accumulate more merits.

    He had some confidence in making progress with Soul Calling and the Time Machine.

    As for Transcendence, he had no ideas yet.

    So he wouldn''t join.

    After all, his mind was still clear and unpolluted.

    If he joined and was led astray by those people, it would be a disaster.

    "Alright, from now on, you are a research member of these two topics," the Nine Cauldrons Flower said, looking at Qi Yuan with even more gentleness.

    Clearly, it thought Qi Yuan chose these two topics to see his master, Ruan Yixi.

    After some more conversation with the Nine Cauldrons Flower, Qi Yuan decided to temporarily leave the realm of the void and cultivate the "Devouring Scripture."

    Once he finished cultivating, he would report to the Myriad Transformations Society.

    The "Devouring Scripture" was crucial to the number of his golden cores.

    Every second wasted meant potentially tens of thousands of stellar golden cores lost.

    And that was strength.

    After Qi Yuan left, the Nine Cauldrons Flower posted a thread in the Inquiry Hall.

    "Exclusive Story of a Myriad Transformations Society Newcomer: My Female Master and Lover is Actually at the Fourth Layer of the Yang God Realm!"

 Chapter 576: Qi Yuanâ€™s Path to the Fourth Layer of Yang God

    "So explosive?"

    "Although I have also tasted the master''s flavor, the fourth layer of Yang God is still..."

    "This newcomer... is quite bold."

    When the fourth layer of Yang God was mentioned, the members of the Myriad Transformations Society all showed expressions of reverence.

    They were almost all Realm Lords.

    Even Creation Realm Realm Lords were not few.

    But even for Creation Realm Realm Lords, who were just a step away from the fourth layer of Yang God, the gap was immense.

    It could be said that while there were many Creation Realm Realm Lords in the Myriad Transformations Society, the probability of breaking through to a higher realm was less than one percent.

    "This newcomer has some strength."

    "He joined the ''Spirit Summoning'' and ''Time Machine'' research projects. This guy is also quite devoted."

    "To form a Dao companion relationship with someone at the fourth layer of Yang God, I would be devoted too."

    Generally, beings of their level rarely had Dao companions of similar strength.

    Even if they did, the relationship was not deep, just occasional fun.

    "Unfortunately, both ''Spirit Summoning'' and ''Time Machine'' are ranked among the top ten in difficulty. Over so many epochs, there has been almost no progress."

    "Joining these two research projects is unwise, a waste of time."

    "Our lifespans are infinite, what does wasting some time matter?"

    ...

    A gentle breeze blew, and the Canary swung her legs, water droplets sliding between her delicate, jade-like toes, her toenails crystal clear, tender and exquisite.

    Her gaze fell on the voluptuous figure in the mist, faintly visible. She glanced down at herself, her cheeks slightly red: "How annoying, so tempting. Even I want to take a bite, let alone Qi Yuan!"

    She was referring to the difference between herself and Jiang Lingsu.

    "Hmph." Ning Tao, dressed in a black lace dress, snorted coldly, her stunning face carrying a cool and dignified, untouchable aura. "Don''t belittle yourself. Your... husband likes you too, doesn''t he?" r?aNoBE?S

    Her tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

    Canary was also her, yet she lacked confidence.

    To her, she was the most suitable for her husband.

    As for Jiang Lingsu... she was just a big-breasted, brainless fool.

    Jin Li? She appeared pure and chaste, cool and dignified, but in reality... she was more proactive and passionate than anyone, a stark contrast.

    She was the true first wife.

    Of course, in terms of proactiveness and possessiveness, she was much stronger than the other two.

    Back then, she had agreed with the Canary to teach Qi Yuan a lesson.

    But as soon as Qi Yuan returned, she was the first to take action, starting to undress before even finishing two sentences.

    It was as if only when their bodies were tightly pressed together that Qi Yuan completely belonged to her.

    Canary''s cheeks flushed, and she secretly cursed: "Disgusting."

    Ning Tao didn''t mind at all.

    At this moment, Jiang Lingsu walked out of the mist, her face filled with confusion: "Sister Ning Tao, today is the Realm Lord Ceremony of the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord. Shouldn''t we... inform Senior Brother?"

    A few days ago, an invitation had arrived at Purple Fate Heaven and eventually reached Ning Tao.

    The Ghost Supreme had broken the restriction that prevented those from the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm from reaching the third layer of Yang God, becoming the first Realm Lord of the Immortal Realm.

    This news shook the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.

    Countless major forces were moved.

    Because, for the first time in so many years, a third-layer Yang God had appeared in the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.

    Even the most talented, like the one from the Taihuang Palace, and the mysterious and ancient Dragon Turtle Supreme, had failed to break the limit and enter the third layer of Yang God.

    But the Ghost Supreme had succeeded.

    The remaining Supremes and second-layer Yang Gods were all curious about how the Ghost Supreme had broken the limit.

    This Realm Lord Ceremony had attracted the attention of almost all Yang Gods.

    This commotion far surpassed the shock caused by the Great Sun Supreme''s destruction of the Taihuang Palace.

    The current Ghost Supreme Realm Lord was already the number one figure in the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.

    Therefore, seeing the invitation from the Ghost Supreme, Jiang Lingsu couldn''t help but worry for her Senior Brother.

    If Senior Brother didn''t attend, would he offend the Realm Lord and bring trouble upon himself?@@@@

    Ning Tao''s expression was disdainful: "Husband is in seclusion, cultivating. Unless it''s something important, we must not disturb him."

    Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu still felt nervous.

    At this moment, Canary beside her spoke: "Sister Lingsu, don''t worry. Husband is the strongest, invincible. No one can harm him."

    Canary had always blindly trusted Qi Yuan, with unreserved faith.

    No matter what, Qi Yuan was the strongest, a god descending to earth. She just needed to be a little follower, attached to him.

    Ning Tao stood disdainfully, but in her heart, she couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Canary.

    Why call her sister?

    At this moment, a profound aura spread.

    The three women''s eyes all lit up with joy.

    "Husband!"

    "Qi Yuan!"

    "Senior Brother!"

    As soon as they spoke, the three women felt a tremendous pulling force and were all drawn into Qi Yuan''s embrace.

    "How is it? How''s my newly learned technique?" Qi Yuan boasted.

    After obtaining the "Devouring True Scripture," he had mastered it in one day.

    Once he became a Dao Lord.

    The space he was in would enter a cycle.

    For Jin Li, Ning Tao, the Canary, Jiang Lingsu, and countless other living beings, this might not necessarily be a good thing.

    Qi Yuan naturally didn''t want to see those lovely people living repetitive lives.

    "The path to Yang God is too difficult, but the Golden Core Path can be explored further."

    ...

    The Realm Lord Ceremony concluded.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord sat in the throne, his expression reserved, but his mere presence exuded immense pressure, as if he were the overlord of the world.

    The second leader of the Supreme Truth Society said with a flattering expression: "All Yang Gods bow, we cultivators should aspire to this."

    Recently, almost all the major figures of the Immortal Realm had attended the Realm Lord Ceremony.

    When the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord appeared, a hint of his pressure made all the second-layer Yang Gods present tremble.

    This level of combat power was truly invincible.

    "However, the Great Sun Supreme, the Moon God Yuanjun, and Purple Fate Heaven... none of them attended." The second leader of the Supreme Truth Society intentionally or unintentionally mentioned.

    The Dragon Turtle Supreme''s heart tightened.

    But the Ghost Supreme showed a gentle smile: "Holding the Realm Lord Ceremony was only for the immortal veins. As for whether others give face... it''s not important. In this world, the most important thing is... strength."

    In the past, he had regarded the Great Sun Supreme as a formidable opponent.

    But after reaching the third layer of Yang God, he realized how vast the world was.

    As for the Great Sun Supreme, he no longer considered him an opponent.

    He wasn''t even qualified.

    The Dragon Turtle Supreme breathed a sigh of relief: "Now, we have gathered ninety thousand immortal veins. In a few more days, we can enter the Primordial Council."

    Hearing this, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord''s expression brightened: "Thank you, fellow Daoist."

    He was also very curious and looking forward to the Primordial Council.

    "No problem, it''s all for the Immortal Realm." The Dragon Turtle Supreme said, "Now, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord should also know the precautions for entering the Primordial Council."

    "Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist."

    Mentioning the Primordial Council, the Dragon Turtle Supreme''s eyes showed a serious expression.

    "The Primordial Council was created, or perhaps discovered, by several Dao Lords.

    Therefore, within the Primordial Council, there are many powerful Realm Lords!"

    Back when he first entered the Primordial Council, he stood like a mere lackey.

    Those Realm Lords stripped and entered the Cosmic Spirit Sea in front of him, and he didn''t dare to be presumptuous, keeping his eyes closed.

    After all, he was only at the second layer of Yang God, with combat power barely reaching the rule realm, but he wasn''t a Realm Lord.

    If he accidentally saw a Realm Lord undressed and angered them, causing them to annihilate his true spirit.

    He wouldn''t even have a place to cry.

    "In the Primordial Council, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord must be very careful and must not look around randomly.

    The old monsters inside are not something we can deal with." The Dragon Turtle Supreme said seriously.

    Entering the Primordial Council held great opportunities, but also endless dangers.

    The last time the Dragon Turtle Supreme entered, he almost died inside.

    Fortunately, a kind-hearted female Realm Lord helped him, allowing him to escape from a terrifying Realm Lord.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord''s expression also became serious: "Indeed, we must keep a low profile."

    After becoming a Realm Lord, he realized how much further he had to go on his cultivation path.

    Various Universal Rules, first-grade rules, All Things, Creation, and so on, were all things he could hardly grasp or touch.

    "Please prepare for three days, Ghost Supreme Realm Lord. In three days, we will enter the Primordial Council together." The Dragon Turtle Supreme said.

    "Alright." The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord responded.

    ...

    At this moment, in the vast universe.

    Qi Yuan stood on a planet, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    "What is this?"

    "A creature I created through Creation?"

    "But... why does it look so crude?"

    Back then, Qi Yuan had left seeds in this universe to create a world through Creation.

    Now, he had finally achieved some results, with some simple creatures appearing.

    Well, simpler than paramecium, just like a pixelated dot.

    "Regardless, it''s still a success." Qi Yuan said, as countless time rules flowed from his hands onto the planet.

    He accelerated the planet''s time flow, allowing these creatures to reproduce and evolve rapidly.

    "It''s a bit strange. Why did I create a world?"

    "To raise pets?"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan suddenly paused.

    At the Creation Realm, one could create worlds and living beings.

    But what was the purpose of creating living beings? To satisfy the urge to play God?

    "Regardless, the more laborers, the better."

    "Let''s speed up the time flow on other planets too. When there are more people, if I bring them back to Earth, with their numbers, I can directly vote myself as the Earth''s Planetary Leader."

    "My ancestors'' graves would be smoking with pride."

    This time, Qi Yuan''s thoughts were far-reaching, his vision lofty, unlike before when he only thought about sending these people to work in electronic factories to earn money.

 Chapter 577: I Can Bring Clothes to Life

    "However... the early stages of life are still too fragile."

    Qi Yuan wanted to return to Earth and become its Planetary Leader, which required a large population.

    This way, if a war broke out between this universe and Earth, it would be easy to surrender and join Earth, then vote himself into leadership.

    "Old Man Shenlei."

    "Qi Qi."

    "Zhu Zhuangshi."

    "Great Yang, Great Yin, the Nascent Souls emerges. Hear my command, the Nascent Souls assemble!"

    With Qi Yuan''s sacred and majestic voice, over four thousand Yang Gods appeared in a grand manner.

    Each of them exuded a vast, mysterious, and majestic aura.

    It was as if one person could devour a star.

    When facing Qi Yuan, these Innate Gods, created from the essence of the ancestral land and the myths he had observed, all bowed their heads.

    "Greetings, Heavenly Venerable!"

    "Greetings, Father God!"

    As Qi Yuan''s strength increased, the strength of the Nascent Souls within him also rose significantly.

    It could be said that these Innate Gods were born from the wonders of the ancestral land and the myths Qi Yuan had observed.

    Their system was different from that of the Immortal Realm.

    "At work, address me by my title," Qi Yuan said to Qi Qi with a smile.

    "Father God, I didn''t call you godfather," Qi Qi said playfully.

    Although she was visualizing the Earth Goddess, she still maintained her pure and innocent nature.

    "Forget it," Qi Yuan waved his hand and then looked at the many Nascent Souls. "Now, I have created a world in this realm and planted many seeds of life. You shall take care of these seeds and help them thrive and multiply." r?a??¦¯?E?S

    Qi Yuan''s words were like laws to these Nascent Souls.

    "We obey the Heavenly Venerable''s decree!"

    At this moment, over four thousand Nascent Souls bowed simultaneously, accepting the command.

    "With life and gods present, they surely won''t disappoint, right?"

    Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    Originally, the time flow on these stars had already been accelerated by him.

    Moreover, when he left this realm, one day for him would be a hundred years in this universe.

    Perhaps, it wouldn''t be long before the beings here would multiply and form civilizations.

    "Past Buddha, Present Buddha, Future Buddha, please stay," Qi Yuan called out.

    The Past Buddha, Dipankara, the Present Buddha, Sakyamuni, and the Future Buddha, Maitreya, all clasped their hands and stopped before Qi Yuan.

    "Transmit your insights on the past, present, and future to me."

    Although Qi Yuan had visualized the Three Pure Ones, he was still far from being truly omniscient and omnipotent.

    As for the past, present, and future, they were both clear and mysterious to Qi Yuan.

    For example, he could easily accelerate the time flow of a place.

    However, he could not travel back to the past or see the future.

    Immediately, the three Buddhas transmitted the concepts of the past, present, and future to Qi Yuan.

    Receiving countless profound and complex pieces of information, Qi Yuan stood still, his expression calm.

    After about a hundred breaths, he sighed leisurely: "Time does not exist."

    Time does not exist.

    Then what are the past, present, and future?

    "Indeed, I shouldn''t think too much, or my brain will swell again."

    Qi Yuan stopped overthinking.

    What if he turned into a big-headed doll, ruining his handsome appearance?

    ...

    Primordial Council.

    Myriad Transformations Society.

    In a layered space, Realm Lord Chui Bei looked solemn: "Add one, retreat two, extinguish, burn..."

    He issued various commands.

    In front of him, a diamond-like substance kept changing, as if undergoing chemical reactions.

    After about a hundred breaths, Realm Lord Chui Bei withdrew his gaze.

    "Indeed, even after improving the ''Scripture of All Things'' Growth'' by the Dao Lord of Life, it is still impossible to awaken its true spirit."

    Realm Lord Chui Bei''s research topic was "Spirit Summoning", awakening the true spirit of the fourth-layer Yang God.

    This research topic ranked among the top three in difficulty among all topics.

    The diamond-like object before him was deeply related to the fourth-layer Yang God.

    It was originally the Pure Yang of the fourth-layer Yang God. During the first stage of the Yang God, it encountered another terrifying fourth-layer Yang God, and the two collided. Pure Yang was defeated.

    In the end, as Pure Yang was about to enter the final stage of the fourth-layer Yang God, it shattered into countless fragments.

    This shard was one of its body parts.

    The Myriad Transformations Society had obtained the Pure Yang shard and had been researching it.

    However, the fourth-layer Yang God was too mysterious.

    They couldn''t glean any useful information.

    "This failure means... there will likely be no progress this epoch," Realm Lord Chui Bei sighed.

    "It''s fine, let''s keep trying. The original purpose of the Myriad Transformations Society was to find that one change amidst countless constants," another Realm Lord said.

    They had conducted this experiment and research countless times and were already accustomed to it.

    "Perhaps the ''Scripture of All Things'' Growth'' is still not perfect. If we can improve it, we might truly awaken the Pure Yang shard," Realm Lord Chui Bei said.

    Of course, his skills were also good.

    "Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan, why not switch to another item? This robe is worn by Realm Lord Chui Bei. I''m afraid you won''t be able to tamper with it."

    "Right, why not change to something else?"

    The other Realm Lords laughed, their expressions relaxed.

    Realm Lord Chui Bei''s expression remained unchanged, constantly monitoring his robe and Qi Yuan''s voice.

    He also found it strange. Qi Yuan''s voice was ordinary, without any trace of divine techniques or supernatural powers.

    "Hey, if you don''t wake up, I''m leaving," Qi Yuan said.

    As the saying goes, playing hard to get.

    He was using military tactics.

    Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, something unexpected happened.

    Realm Lord Chui Bei''s eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

    Even after living for so long, he had never expected to witness such a thing.

    His robe, as if it had gained sentience, flew off his body.

    It babbled incessantly.

    "It''s alive?"

    "It has a true spirit?"

    "How did he do it?"

    The Realm Lords present were dumbfounded and somewhat shocked.

    This scene was beyond their expectations.

    If it were a random rock on the roadside, they could understand.

    But this was Realm Lord Chui Bei''s robe.

    This meant that if Qi Yuan wanted to scheme against Realm Lord Chui Bei, he could do so without anyone noticing.

    "See? Being handsome has its perks, right?" Qi Yuan said.

    The other Realm Lords exchanged glances, looking at Qi Yuan with caution.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan was about to speak to the female Realm Lord.

    The female Realm Lord was so frightened that she quickly stepped back, avoiding Qi Yuan.

    After all, Qi Yuan''s voice was too mysterious.

    What if he brought the hair or treasures on her body to life? That would be a problem.

    After all, even though they were all part of the Myriad Transformations Society, where there are people, there is conflict.

    This place wasn''t entirely harmonious.

    "So, if you can find me a fourth-layer Yang God, I''ll demonstrate bringing it to life right now," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    As for the Gate of Myriad Principles, Qi Yuan chose not to bring it to life.

    After all, this so-called "bringing to life" was actually creating a new being.

    Coming to the Myriad Transformations Society to research these topics was also to gain merit and access places like the Cosmic Spirit Sea to enhance his strength.

    The others looked at Qi Yuan, their expressions varied.

    They naturally didn''t believe Qi Yuan could bring a fourth-layer Yang God to life.

    However, Qi Yuan''s move had truly shocked them.

    As Realm Lords, they were already calculating how to fight against Qi Yuan if they became enemies.

    First, they would have to shut off their five senses, or they might fall victim to his voice.

    "The fourth-layer Yang God exists in the past and future, invisible to us," Realm Lord Chui Bei said. "The "Summoning Spirit" research is very complex. Fellow Daoist, why not start by improving the ''Scripture of All Things'' Growth''? Once it''s perfected, you can earn ten major merits."

    "Alright," Qi Yuan nodded.

    He didn''t expect his task to be so easy.

    He had already learned about major merits.

    With his golden jade token, he could access fourteen places of opportunity to enhance his cultivation.

    It was free, but there were time limits.

    However, by spending one major merit, he could remove the time limit for one place.

    Moreover, after accumulating one hundred major merits, his jade token could be upgraded to purple.

    With a purple jade token, he could access the final three places of opportunity.

    If he accumulated one thousand major merits, he could even become the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society and meet the Dao Lord.

    "Improving the ''Scripture of All Things'' Growth'' will take a long time. Fellow Daoist, you can first find a cave in Myriad Transformations Mountain to stay temporarily," Realm Lord Chui Bei said.

    "Is it free?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Yes," Realm Lord Chui Bei replied.

    "Not bad. Free food and lodging, plus five insurances and one fund... no, I''m a god now. I deserve six insurances and one fund to match my status," Qi Yuan said.

    The other Realm Lords looked at Qi Yuan and didn''t respond.

    They remembered Qi Yuan''s self-introduction when they first met him.

    Socially awkward, doesn''t like to talk?

    Damn, he just brought a robe to life, and he doesn''t like to talk?

    Who are you trying to fool?

    Soon, under the guidance of an external member of the Myriad Transformations Society, Qi Yuan arrived at Myriad Transformations Mountain.

    "Myriad Transformations Mountain is the headquarters of the Myriad Transformations Society.

    The mist, flowers, grass, and trees here are all top-grade, enough to make first and second-layer Yang Gods fight tooth and nail for them," the external member said with pride, then flatteringly added to Qi Yuan, "Realm Lord, there are a total of 3,721,000 male and female servants here. You may choose 10,000 to serve you."

    Qi Yuan looked around and immediately sensed the auras of countless Yin Gods, some even reaching the Yang God level.

    He couldn''t help but think Yin Gods were indeed as common as dogs here.

 Chapter 578: The Shocked Realm Lord Chui Bei

    Qi Yuan glanced at these Yin Gods.

    They stayed quietly in their own cave dwellings, unaware of Qi Yuan''s presence.

    Many of them were anxious, knowing that they would be selected to serve powerful beings.

    These beings were either immigrants from various universes brought to the Primordial Council by Realm Lords or their descendants.

    In Myriad Transformations Mountain, they were servants, but in other realms, they were celestial gods.

    As celestial gods, they were majestic and enjoyed endless wealth.

    But... for many cultivators, staying in Myriad Transformations Mountain to serve Realm Lords was the real opportunity.

    Mortal realms had thin spiritual energy and lacked opportunities, making it difficult to improve cultivation. Moreover, there was always the inevitability of aging, decline, and death.

    Myriad Transformations Mountain, on the other hand, was rich in spiritual energy. Serving Realm Lords here meant there was always a chance to obtain various resources.

    If one became a Realm Lord''s confidant, immense wealth and power would follow.

    "These ones."

    Qi Yuan casually waved his hand and randomly selected ten thousand Yin Gods.

    Among them were even first-layer Yang Gods.

    Of course, first-layer Yang Gods would naturally be assigned managerial roles.

    After a few moments, fifteen Yang Gods stood before Qi Yuan. Despite their cultivation levels, they couldn''t help but feel nervous.

    The leader was a man with three legs, known as the Ten Thousand Legs Ancestor in the mortal realm. In Myriad Transformations Mountain, he called himself Zhao Three Legs.

    "Greetings, Realm Lord!"

    Without hesitation or any sense of shame, Zhao Three Legs immediately knelt.

    The other fourteen Yang Gods exchanged glances.

    They had only bowed, not knelt like Zhao Three Legs.

    Now, they were conflicted.

    If Zhao Three Legs knelt and they didn''t, would it anger the Realm Lord?

    After all, these Realm Lords were ancient monsters who had lived through countless cosmic epochs.

    Even if the universe were destroyed, they themselves would remain unharmed.

    The personalities of such ancient monsters could only be described as "eccentric."

    At that moment, Qi Yuan''s voice rang out.

    "As the saying goes, all people are equal. If you kneel to me now, wouldn''t I have to kneel to you in return?" Qi Yuan said to Zhao Three Legs.

    Zhao Three Legs immediately broke into a cold sweat, his face filled with terror: "Realm Lord, this lowly one deserves death!"

    He thought that perhaps this Realm Lord disliked his sycophantic behavior.

    "What do you mean by that? Are you saying I''m petty?" Qi Yuan was speechless. "Don''t talk nonsense. I''m a magnanimous person who never kills indiscriminately. When I see ants on the road, I can''t bear to step on them." ?A??obE?s@@@@

    Qi Yuan believed in repaying kindness and settling grudges.

    He was always broad-minded and didn''t dwell on minor issues.

    Back in the Divine Flower Society, he had once tracked people down through their connections to deal with them.

    But that was out of necessity, and besides... didn''t those people have even a tiny bit of fault?

    Zhao Three Legs trembled in fear.

    The other Yang Gods stood to the side, not daring to breathe loudly.

    "Alright, enough of this nonsense. During this time, help me collect some cultivation techniques. Any techniques will do, the more the better."

    Qi Yuan instructed.

    "As you command," the Yang Gods quickly agreed, not daring to ask further questions.

    Without further small talk, Qi Yuan returned to his cave dwelling in Myriad Transformations Mountain.

    The cave dwelling was a perfect blend of opulence and ethereal spiritual energy.

    "If only I could have cultivated here during my Qi Refining stage."

    "Sigh, if only I could create a technique that allows me to borrow resources and strength from my future self."

    "Then I wouldn''t have been so nervous when I went to destroy the Black Mountain Sect."

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    The deduction of the "Qi Yuan Scripture" had always relied on techniques from the Immortal Realm.

    Now, Qi Yuan also wanted to explore techniques from other universes for reference and inspiration.

    Perhaps this would greatly aid him in perfecting the Yang God stage of the "Qi Yuan Scripture."

    "Is this the ''Scripture of All Things'' Growth''?"

    Qi Yuan looked at the scripture, feeling that it was even more profound and obscure than the "Devouring True Scripture."

    "This kind of technique, if placed in the Primordial Council, would surely incite fierce battles among powerful beings.

    In the Myriad Transformations Society, I can read it almost without any cost."

    Scriptures written by Dao Lords were of immense value to Creation Realm Realm Lords.

    Generally, there was only one Dao Lord per system.

    The path of the Creation Realm Realm Lord had reached its end.

    Improvements in strength mostly depended on the number of Dao Lord scriptures they had mastered and understood.

    The more they mastered, the stronger their combat power, and the greater their chances of creating their own Great Dao and becoming a Dao Lord.

    "Learning this technique is useless to me, but I can absorb it and integrate it into my ''Qi Yuan Scripture.''"

    Qi Yuan read carefully.

    They began to wonder if their perceptions had been misled by Qi Yuan.

    "Is it acceptable?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Well..." Realm Lord Chui Bei frowned, activating three Dao Lord scriptures to dispel any illusions or influences. Finally, he said with difficulty, "It''s acceptable."

    "Good. Ten major merits acquired. I''m off to visit those places of opportunity to improve my strength."

    After speaking, Qi Yuan disappeared.

    About three breaths later, a profound aura filled the cave dwelling.

    A chubby old man appeared, dressed in white and looking quite amiable.

    "Chui Bei, what do you need me for?"

    This chubby old man was a member of the Myriad Transformations Society who held a purple jade token, one of the ten giants of the society.

    He had mastered eleven Dao Lord scriptures and was incredibly powerful.

    Currently, this old man was no longer involved in research topics, instead focusing on mastering more Great Dao scriptures to seek a breakthrough.

    Of course, he was still very far from the next realm.

    In the current Myriad Transformations Society, there were many Realm Lords, but only three had been personally acknowledged by the Dao Lord as having a chance to break through to the next level.

    And even that was just a chance.

    "Senior, just now, we encountered an issue with Spirit Summoning and decided to improve the ''Scripture of All Things'' Growth.'' This task was assigned to Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan, who recently joined the Myriad Transformations Society."

    "Cut the nonsense," the chubby old man said impatiently.

    Although his lifespan was infinite, he still valued time greatly.

    At their level, while they were immortal, the vast amount of time they had lived would inevitably cause their true spirits to accumulate dust, leading to a decline in their talent and comprehension over time.

    "In less than a day, he completed the improvement," Realm Lord Chui Bei quickly said.

    "What did you say?" The chubby old man''s eyes widened.

    He immediately acted.

    Realm Lord Chui Bei didn''t resist, and the "Scripture of All Things'' Growth" in his hand was taken by the chubby old man.

    The old man examined it carefully, his expression constantly changing. After a hundred breaths, he took a deep breath: "If Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan is willing to help me achieve the Dao, I''d even be willing to call him my sworn brother."

    He couldn''t help but be shocked and delighted.

    The improved version of the "Scripture of All Things'' Growth" was far superior to the original, and more importantly, it seemed easier to learn.

    For purple token holders like him, the more Dao Lord scriptures they mastered, the stronger they became.

    However, Dao Lord scriptures weren''t something you could learn just by trying.

    First, you had to be highly compatible to learn them.

    Second, those with low compatibility might not learn them even after a hundred cosmic epochs.

    If Qi Yuan could adapt Dao Lord scriptures to suit him, wouldn''t that allow him to quickly master new Dao Lord scriptures?

    Perhaps in the future, he might even have a sliver of hope to reach the fourth or fifth layer of Yang God.

    "Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan, is he incredibly compatible with the ''Scripture of All Things'' Growth,'' or does he have some unique talent?" The chubby old man''s expression shifted repeatedly. Finally, he said thoughtfully, "Keep this matter confidential. Don''t tell anyone, understand?"

    In the Primordial Council, the Myriad Transformations Society was a major power.

    But there were also other powerful forces.

    If this information leaked, the chubby old man couldn''t guarantee that someone as strong as him wouldn''t target Qi Yuan.

    "Understood," Realm Lord Chui Bei and Chun Ran immediately swore oaths to their true spirits.

    "It seems I need to take a closer look at this Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan. Just who is he?" The chubby old man murmured.

    After all, being able to improve the "Scripture of All Things'' Growth" in a single day¡ªeven a Dao Lord probably couldn''t do that, right?

    This Qi Yuan was somewhat terrifying.

    The Myriad Transformations Society was named as such because it sought change.

    This change referred to transformation and variables.

    This Qi Yuan now fit the description of an anomaly, and anomalies had a high probability of being variables.

    ...

    Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord''s gaze was calm.

    Ahead, countless immortal veins shattered.

    The Dragon Turtle Supreme stood at the center, devouring the vast spiritual energy.

    In the next moment, spiritual energy surged.

    Beside him, the second leader of the Supreme Truth Society watched with a mix of envy and awe: "After entering the Primordial Council, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord''s strength will surely improve. He will be undoubtedly the number one figure in the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.

    Even if that Great Sun Supreme has connections with the Sole Hall, he is nothing more than a small sun."

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord glanced at the second leader: "What I gaze upon is above the rules."

    The second leader awkwardly smiled.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord continued: "This time, the Supreme Truth Society has been of great help to me.

    After I return from the Primordial Council, I will personally meet that Great Sun Supreme and tell him that the Supreme Truth Society will not enter the Sole Hall."

    Hearing this, the second leader''s face lit up with a smile.

    At that moment, the Dragon Turtle Supreme roared: "Ghost Supreme Realm Lord, follow me quickly!"

    Without hesitation, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord stepped into the void ahead.

    The second leader watched the two disappear, his eyes filled with envy.

 Chapter 579: The Thirty-Six Places of Opportunity

    "A thousand days from now, when the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord returns, it will mark the day of the Immortal Realm''s unification."

    The second leader of the Supreme Truth Society had a fiery glint in his eyes, burning with the desire for power.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord had ascended to a higher level in the Primordial Council, and upon his return to the Immortal Realm, he would undoubtedly reign supreme.

    In the eyes of the second leader, even the Sole Hall would have to bow before him.

    Given his relationship with the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord, he would rightfully become the second most powerful figure in the realm, standing above billions.

    "Senior Brother, lurking in the shadows is nowhere near as good as sitting on the throne."

    "The world knows of the Great Sun, of the Great Sun Supreme, but who knows of me, the Proud Heaven Supreme?"

    The second leader murmured to himself.

    He had crossed into this world at the age of six, built his foundation at thirteen, formed his Golden Core at twenty, and reached the Nascent Soul stage by thirty. Before the age of a thousand, he had ascended to the Yin God stage.

    He had slain the Ten Thousand Demons Ancestor and toyed with the Ancient Yuan True God, achieving boundless glory.

    ...

    After an unknown amount of time, the true spirits of the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord and the Dragon Turtle Supreme entered the Primordial Council.

    "Is this the Primordial Council?"

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord cautiously scanned his surroundings, feeling a slight stir in his heart.

    He had reached the Rule Realm and wielded the rules of the universe.

    To him, the Primordial Council looked different than it did to others.

    The Dragon Turtle Supreme kept his head low, his expression cautious: "Ghost Supreme Realm Lord, you must be extremely careful in the Primordial Council. There are many powerful beings here."

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord nodded, his expression also grave.

    "I never thought we would be like frogs at the bottom of a well."

    Just moments ago, he had sensed three beings stronger than him passing by.

    And in the Cosmic Spirit Sea, who knew how many more powerful beings lay hidden?

    "The Cosmic Spirit Sea can temper the true spirit. With your strength, Ghost Supreme Realm Lord, you might have a chance to reach the 100th layer," the Dragon Turtle Supreme said.

    His own strength was limited. The last time he entered the Cosmic Spirit Sea, he had only reached the 50th layer before being forced to stop.

    "How many layers does the Cosmic Spirit Sea have?" the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord asked.

    The Dragon Turtle shook his head, his face filled with reverence: "I don''t know, but those who can reach the 1,000th layer are all Creation Realm Realm Lords." r§ÑN?bE?S?

    Hearing this, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord''s eyes gleamed with ambition.

    Creation Realm Realm Lords?

    In the future, he might also have the opportunity to reach the Creation Realm.

    He was filled with confidence.

    But in the next moment, his newfound confidence was doused with cold water.

    "The Realm Lord of No Buddha from the Ten Thousand Saints Palace has arrived. All bald monks, make way!"

    A majestic voice rang out.

    Upon hearing this vast voice, the Realm Lords outside the Cosmic Spirit Sea quickly cleared a wide path.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord looked over and saw an expanse of Buddhist light and golden radiance.

    Five terrifying Buddha corpses, transformed into steeds, pulled a golden cloud carriage.

    Although the souls of these five Buddhas had long since perished, their remains still radiated an aura of immense power.

    Each of these Buddhas had been far stronger than the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord in their lifetimes.

    "The Ten Thousand Saints Palace is a major power in the Primordial Council, with a Creation Realm Realm Lord overseeing it.

    The Realm Lord of No Buddha is a disciple of the palace master. He harbors a deep hatred for monks and must not be provoked," the Dragon Turtle Supreme said, pulling the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord aside.

    In the Primordial Council, there were many major powers.

    Those with Creation Realm Realm Lords overseeing them were considered true giants.

    Of course, the true behemoths were those with the backing of a Dao Lord.

    "A true man should aspire to this," the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord sighed, looking at the Realm Lord of No Buddha seated in the cloud carriage with admiration.

    "The Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm are vast and boundless, but compared to other universes and planes, they are still too weak," the Dragon Turtle Supreme lamented. "The Immortal Realm has no future, while other universes and planes do. The gap is too wide."

    As he spoke, he looked solemnly at the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord: "I hope that in the future, you can reshape the destiny of the Immortal Realm."

    "I hope so too," the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord said.

    Ahead, the Realm Lord of No Buddha was like a true celestial being. Every Realm Lord by the roadside made way for him.

    After all, the Realm Lord of No Buddha was a Realm Lord of All Things and a disciple of a Creation Realm Realm Lord.

    Only after the Realm Lord of No Buddha entered the Cosmic Spirit Sea did the other Realm Lords begin to enter one by one.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord stood to the side, his thoughts complex, feeling like a mere lackey.

    Half a day passed.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord exited the Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    His face was pale, and his steps were unsteady: "What a pity. On the first day, I only reached the 20th layer."

    The Dragon Turtle Supreme quickly said: "The last time, I only reached the 10th layer on the first day."

    "However, the benefits are indeed substantial," the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord said, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

    He needed to rest and adjust for half a day before entering the Cosmic Spirit Sea again.

    At that moment, a casual voice sounded.

    "Are you two newcomers? Where are you from?" A Realm Lord dressed in a black uniform appeared, asking casually.

    Sensing the vast aura of the newcomer, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord''s heart tightened.

    The Dragon Turtle Supreme, upon seeing the newcomer, immediately said: "He''s here for the first time. We''re from the Immortal Realm."

    "The Immortal Realm?" The Realm Lord murmured, as if recalling something, and continued, "Not the Nanke Universe?"

    "No," the Dragon Turtle Supreme quickly replied.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord was curious: "Fellow Daoist, what business do you have with the Nanke Universe?"

    "It''s no harm telling you. The Dao Lord of the Nanke Universe has disappeared, and the Realm Lords of the Nanke Universe have also vanished from the Primordial Council. This has become an eternal mystery, and many major powers are eager to uncover the truth," the Realm Lord said. "So, whenever I see new faces, I come to ask."

    His eyes saw many useful pieces of information.

    The superpower he had awakened after becoming an Yin God could also integrate into all things.

    Through these two abilities, he learned that the Cosmic Spirit Sea was actually a treasure formed from a fourth-layer Yang God.

    However, this treasure was different from the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    "Are there other places of opportunity?" Qi Yuan''s eyes were complex, filled with anticipation.

    "Who created the Primordial Council, and why did they leave so many places of opportunity?" Qi Yuan pondered.

    At that moment, his gaze sharpened.

    He saw what appeared to be a message in a bottle floating in the sea ahead.

    With a wave of his hand, the bottle landed in his palm.

    Instantly, a message flooded into Qi Yuan''s true spirit.

    "To those who come after, if you traverse all thirty-six places of opportunity and unify your true spirit, return to the Cosmic Spirit Sea, and you shall receive my inheritance."

    "A Dao Lord?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    The hidden information his eyes saw revealed that the one who left this message was a Dao Lord.

    "Could it be that a powerful Dao Lord wanted to break through the limits of the fifth layer of Yang God, and thus created the Primordial Council?"

    Qi Yuan speculated.

    "That Dao Lord must be terrifyingly strong."

    If the other places of opportunity were like the Cosmic Spirit Sea, formed from fourth-layer Yang Gods, then the Primordial Council contained thirty-six treasures formed from fourth-layer Yang Gods.

    The fourth and fifth layers of Yang God did not exist on the same timeline.

    Finding thirty-six treasures formed from fourth-layer Yang Gods was incredibly difficult.

    After all, even someone as clever as Qi Yuan only possessed one Gate of Myriad Principles.

    ...

    Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    The chubby old man craned his neck, peering into the Cosmic Spirit Sea ahead.

    "Strange, how many layers did he go to?"

    "Could he be stronger than me?"

    He stood at the 3,700th layer, looking ahead.

    But he saw no trace of Qi Yuan.

    "His talent is greater than mine... that''s normal."

    "However, we must still be cautious... after all, not everyone wishes for geniuses to appear."

    The Myriad Transformations Society was backed by many Dao Lords.

    But not all Dao Lords wished for the society''s research to succeed.

    For some Dao Lords, being omniscient and omnipotent within their own doctrines and universes was enough.

    Not all Dao Lords wished to break these cycles.

    Thus, the Myriad Transformations Society had many enemies.

    Their research was not always smooth and often faced assassination attempts.

    Outside the Primordial Council, assassinating a Creation Realm Realm Lord was difficult.

    But this was the Primordial Council, where one could not rely on the rules of their doctrine or universe. Here, only true spirits remained.

    Combat was more direct and simpler.

    At that moment, he received a message, and his expression changed: "He''s returned to the Myriad Transformations Society?"

    Without hesitation, he returned to the Myriad Transformations Society.

    As space shifted, the chubby old man reappeared.

    He immediately saw Qi Yuan.

    A wide smile spread across his face: "You made me run all that way for nothing."

    He naturally assumed that Qi Yuan had not entered the Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    Otherwise, he would have encountered him.

    "Qi Yuan, this is Senior Su Feng," Realm Lord Chui Bei introduced. "You wanted to enter all the places of opportunity, right? Senior Su Feng might be able to help you."

    "Really?" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    "Of course," the chubby old man patted his chest. "I have three Dao Lord scriptures. If you can adapt and improve them for me, I guarantee you access to the remaining three places of opportunity."

    "Three Dao Lord scriptures for three places of opportunity. What about the others?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "What others?" The chubby old man was puzzled.

    "Aren''t there thirty-six places of opportunity in the Primordial Council?" Qi Yuan said.

    The chubby old man was stunned: "You''re thinking of the entire Primordial Council?"

    "Yes."

    The chubby old man looked at Qi Yuan, his expression odd: "You''re quite ambitious."

    "Ambition isn''t wrong, and confidence isn''t either," Qi Yuan said.

    "If you become the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society, perhaps... you could access twenty-nine of the places of opportunity. The remaining seven are out of the question, even if you were a Dao Lord," the chubby old man said without hesitation.

    A Dao Lord could do it.

    But a Dao Lord couldn''t enter the Primordial Council.

    "How can I access the remaining seven?"

    "The remaining seven are controlled by the White Profound Palace and the Black Profound Palace. These two palaces... are not friendly toward the Myriad Transformations Society."

    The Dao Lords behind the White Profound Palace and the Black Profound Palace were the kind who disliked change.

    "Unless you can beat them into submission."

    Is that possible? No! The chubby old man thought to himself.

 Chapter 580: The Killing Game from the Black and White Profound Palaces

    "Beating others into submission... that doesn''t seem right, does it?"

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    His persona had always been lawful good.

    The other party hadn''t offended him, so forcing them to submit just to access the places of opportunity felt a bit wrong.

    The chubby old man chuckled but didn''t say anything.

    Naturally, he thought Qi Yuan was just being timid.

    After all, even the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society couldn''t force the Black Profound Palace and the White Profound Palace into submission.

    The two palace masters of the Black and White Profound Palaces had each mastered over thirty Dao Lord scriptures.

    Qi Yuan had just joined the Myriad Transformations Society, and while his strength was considerable, it was still limited.

    "So, it''s better not to think about those remaining seven places of opportunity.

    The places of opportunity within the Myriad Transformations Society are already enough to elevate your strength to a terrifying level," the chubby old man said.

    Among the thirty-six places of opportunity, many of them overlapped in terms of the opportunities they offered.

    Going through similar ones would yield minimal improvements in strength. It would be better to master another Dao Lord scripture.

    "But I want to visit all thirty-six," Qi Yuan said.

    As the saying goes, since you''re already here.

    Having seen the message in a bottle, it would be a waste not to visit the other places of opportunity.

    "What are the palace masters of the Black and White Profound Palaces like? Are they as kind-hearted as me? Do I have a chance to persuade them?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The chubby old man smiled without answering.

    "Damn it, I thought the stronger one becomes, the more refined and classy they would be.

    But these palace masters of the Black and White Profound Palaces don''t even know how to be kind to others." Qi Yuan wanted to morally condemn the palace masters of the Black and White Profound Palaces.

    If the moral high ground was on their side, then... following the tactics of a certain comment section on Earth, shouldn''t he accuse them of moral failings and muddy the waters?

    "Sigh, I thought the Primordial Council was like a first-tier city, where everyone was refined. Turns out, it''s just a bunch of old hicks," Qi Yuan lamented. ?¦¡??o?BE?S?

    The chubby old man ignored him.

    "Old man, give me the Dao Lord scriptures you want me to adapt. I''ll help you adapt them, and then I''ll visit the accessible places of opportunity first," Qi Yuan said.

    "Alright," the chubby old man agreed without hesitation. "The ''Thunder Scripture,'' ''Minor Thunder Scripture,'' and ''Mountain Quaking Scripture'' were all created by the same Dao Lord. Adapting them should be easier for you."

    The chubby old man looked at Qi Yuan with anticipation in his eyes.

    Just because Qi Yuan could adapt the "Scripture of All Things'' Growth" didn''t mean he could adapt thunder-related scriptures.

    Perhaps it was just a coincidence that Qi Yuan was skilled in that area.

    "No problem," Qi Yuan said.

    He took the three Dao Lord scriptures and began to study them carefully.

    For him, Dao Lord scriptures could also be used to refine his "Qi Yuan Scripture." Adapting Dao Lord scriptures would be of great help to him.

    "I''ll wait for your good news. No rush," the chubby old man said cheerfully.

    Although he said that, he was actually quite anxious.

    After all, his cultivation had been stagnant for a long time, unable to progress further.

    Mastering these three Dao Lord scriptures was crucial for him.

    If Qi Yuan could truly adapt them within a cosmic epoch, he would be willing to call Qi Yuan his sworn brother.

    Qi Yuan''s figure disappeared.

    The chubby old man then spoke: "This matter must not be leaked. Otherwise, if the Black and White Profound Palaces learn of Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan''s existence, he might be in danger."

    Realm Lord Chui Bei and Chun Ran stood there, nodding quickly.

    "Senior, rest assured. We understand the importance of this matter."

    "This Qi Yuan, if he can truly adapt these three Dao Lord scriptures for me, would indeed have the qualifications to compete for the position of the Myriad Transformations Society''s leader," the chubby old man said with a sigh.

    "The leader of the Myriad Transformations Society?" Realm Lord Chui Bei''s expression changed slightly.

    That was the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society.

    With the fourth layer of Yang God absent and the fifth layer unreachable, within the Primordial Council, the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society was undoubtedly a dominant figure.

    Qi Yuan had only just joined the Myriad Transformations Society. How could he already be considered for the position of leader?

    "However, it still depends on his abilities. The current leader is no ordinary figure.

    The highest record in the Cosmic Spirit Sea is still held by the leader," the chubby old man said.

    The three most powerful beings in the Primordial Council were the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society and the two palace masters of the Black and White Profound Palaces.

    Of course, this excluded certain entities.

    Within the Primordial Council, there were also some terrifying existences and dangerous places where even Realm Lords could perish.

    "The leader is peerless. Naturally, not just anyone can compare to him," Realm Lord Chun Ran said with a smile.

    She held the leader in great reverence.

    "Since I''m in a good mood, I''ll explain the ''Mysterious Origin Scripture'' to you," the chubby old man said.

    The two Realm Lords'' eyes lit up with joy.

    The "Mysterious Origin Scripture" was also a Dao Lord scripture.

    Realm Lord Chun Ran and Chui Bei had both studied it but hadn''t mastered it deeply.

    The chubby old man had fully mastered it, so teaching them would be simple.

    "With your talents, it should take about a day to make further progress," the chubby old man said.

    Realm Lord Chun Ran and Chui Bei were delighted: "Thank you, Senior."

    They thanked the chubby old man, and naturally, they also thanked Qi Yuan.

    If it weren''t for Qi Yuan, they wouldn''t have had the opportunity to receive the chubby old man''s teachings.

    For example, when Qi Yuan first entered the Primordial Council, he was stronger than Realm Lord Chui Bei and even the chubby old man.

    But killing them was absolutely out of the question.

    Now, however, he could do it.

    "These places of opportunity are truly beneficial."

    "Each one is comparable to a treasure formed from a fourth-layer Yang God."

    "Could it be that because I reached the deepest layer of the Cosmic Spirit Sea and obtained that message in a bottle, my improvements have been so significant?"

    Qi Yuan''s strength had now reached a terrifying level.

    If he faced Black Heaven again, he wouldn''t need to fear his true spirit being annihilated. He could resist Black Heaven''s erosion.

    In terms of combat power, he was now at the level of a weak fourth-layer Yang God.

    "If I visit all the places of opportunity, how strong will I become?"

    Qi Yuan was looking forward to it.

    Especially that suspected Dao Lord''s inheritance.

    He felt it wasn''t as simple as it seemed.

    "Unfortunately, the other places of opportunity are difficult to access."

    "Especially the seven in the Black and White Profound Palaces."

    "I''m a good person. How can I just take them by force?"

    "Should I set a trap?"

    "No, I''m a good person!"

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    ...

    In the Black Profound Palace.

    A majestic man looked at the star-like blood in his hand, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

    "The Myriad Transformations Society has produced such a peerless genius?

    Adapting three Dao Lord scriptures in half a day."

    A short man narrowed his eyes: "Such talent is terrifying. We must nip it in the bud. If they truly find a variable, it would be disastrous."

    The Black and White Profound Palaces both had Dao Lords backing them. The establishment of these two palaces was to prevent the Myriad Transformations Society from seeking change.

    "Set up a killing game?" the Black Profound Palace''s master asked.

    "What if... it''s false information?" the White Profound Palace''s master asked.

    Although they had spies in the Myriad Transformations Society, those spies might not be entirely trustworthy.

    It was also possible that the genius was a ruse, a trap set for them.

    "Regardless, whether it''s a trap or not, we must act," the Black Profound Palace''s master said.

    The White Profound Palace''s master nodded, then said: "The Wind Spirit Cloud place of opportunity would be a suitable location for the killing game."

    The Black Profound Palace''s master''s gaze deepened, and he said: "Agreed."

    ...

    Exiting the True Spirit Tower, Qi Yuan''s true spirit became even more condensed and unified.

    The chubby old man waited outside, a smile on his face: "How do you feel? Has your strength improved significantly?

    Back when I visited the True Spirit Tower, my strength increased by half."

    The chubby old man said proudly.

    "My improvement was minimal, less than half," Qi Yuan said honestly.

    "If the Dao Lord opens a window for you, he will surely close another. Don''t be disheartened," the chubby old man said, though his face was full of glee, clearly enjoying Qi Yuan''s misfortune.

    "Are there any other places of opportunity I can visit?" Qi Yuan asked.

    This was what he cared about most.

    "I''ve recently spent a great deal of effort to persuade the Ten Thousand Saints Palace. The Wind Spirit Cloud place of opportunity is now accessible to you," the chubby old man said seriously.

    Qi Yuan''s brow twitched slightly, as if he had realized something.

    "Wind Spirit Cloud? Since it''s a place of opportunity, I must go," Qi Yuan agreed without hesitation.

    "Brother, if you go to Wind Spirit Cloud, be careful not to enter the forbidden zone.

    In the forbidden zone of Wind Spirit Cloud, there is a Buddha corpse that even Creation Realm Realm Lords cannot defeat. It''s extremely dangerous," the chubby old man warned.

    "A Buddha corpse?" Qi Yuan was surprised. "Is it a cultivator?"

    Being able to fight Creation Realm Realm Lords, its strength was naturally extraordinary.

    It raised some questions.

    Either it was a fourth-layer Yang God or a fifth-layer Yang God.

    But treasures formed from fourth-layer Yang Gods generally didn''t attack on their own.

    Fifth-layer Yang Gods also couldn''t enter the Primordial Council.

    So, this Buddha corpse was somewhat peculiar.

    "The Myriad Transformations Society has conducted much research on the Buddha corpse, even having a dedicated research topic, but with little success.

    As long as you don''t enter the forbidden zone of Wind Spirit Cloud and don''t encounter the Buddha corpse, nothing will go wrong. You can rest assured," the chubby old man said confidently.

    Qi Yuan nodded, his expression calm.

    Could it be that the earlier twitch of his brow was because of that Buddha corpse?

    If so, he really needed to go and see what kind of opportunity it offered.

    Of course, he also hoped it wasn''t just because of the Buddha corpse.

 Chapter 581: The Power Bank

    Ten Thousand Saints Palace.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord looked radiant as he gazed at the Rule Forge ahead, his eyes filled with reverence.

    "As expected of a major power in the Primordial Council."

    He sighed in admiration.

    The Dragon Turtle Supreme also nodded: "If the Ten Thousand Saints Palace is like this, what must the other, even stronger powers be like?"

    The last time they had seen the grand display of the Realm Lord of No Buddha in the Cosmic Spirit Sea, both of them had been deeply impressed.

    Later, the Realm Lord of No Buddha had recruited temporary guest officials in the Cosmic Spirit Sea to dissipate the Buddha light in the Wind Spirit Cloud.

    The reward was a day at the Buddha Observation Cliff.

    The so-called Buddha Observation Cliff had the true words and insights into some Dao Lord scriptures left by three Creation Realm Realm Lords on its walls.

    If one could meditate beneath the cliff for a night, they might gain a word or two of insight into a Dao Lord scripture.

    Faced with such a reward, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord and the Dragon Turtle Supreme naturally chose to come to the Ten Thousand Saints Palace.

    "Dissipating the Buddha light only requires expending some time, and in return, we get to observe the true words left by Creation Realm powerhouses at the Buddha Observation Cliff. This is a great deal," the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord said.

    Such opportunities were rare in the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm.

    In the Six Heavens, one could only encounter such opportunities during the Lynia Transformation.

    At other times, the opportunities available were not even worth the attention of a Supreme.

    For example, the Gate of Myriad Principles. When the Ghost Supreme was still a Supreme, he had naturally been wary of it, fearing that someone might master it.

    But after becoming a Realm Lord, everything changed.

    Even if the Great Sun Supreme spent billions of years in the Gate of Principles, mastering all the principles, so what?

    He was a Realm Lord, fused with the Dao fruit, and wielded the rules of the universe.

    "If even the Buddha Observation Cliff offers such rewards, what kind of opportunities must lie within the Wind Spirit Cloud?" the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord sighed.

    At that moment, a Realm Lord nearby spoke up: "Don''t even think about the Wind Spirit Cloud. Even if you become a Creation Realm Realm Lord, you might not have the qualifications to enter the Wind Spirit Cloud."

    Hearing this, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord''s heart sank, feeling even more insignificant.

    Facing a Creation Realm Realm Lord, he felt utterly insignificant.

    Yet, even an ordinary Creation Realm Realm Lord couldn''t enter the Wind Spirit Cloud, a place of opportunity within the Ten Thousand Saints Palace.

    "Everyone, the contracts have been signed. Please follow me to the entrance of the Wind Spirit Cloud to dissipate the Buddha light."

    At that moment, a Realm Lord from the Ten Thousand Saints Palace stepped forward, looking at the dozens of rogue Realm Lords, his voice calm.

    The dozens of rogue Realm Lords all nodded.

    Under the lead of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace Realm Lord, the Ghost Supreme and the other Realm Lords headed toward the entrance of the Wind Spirit Cloud. r?A?????o??E?s?

    Along the way, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord sensed several terrifying auras, each one making his heart tremble.

    He gained a clearer understanding of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace''s strength.

    "If these people were to discover the Immortal Realm, the Immortal Realm would likely fall under their rule," the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord sighed.

    Of course, it was also possible that these people would look down on the Immortal Realm, considering it a backwater.

    The most valuable thing in the Immortal Realm was probably the Lynia Transformation.

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord thought.

    The opportunity of the Dao Fruit must be firmly in his hands.

    However, the Sole Hall was somewhat mysterious and special. He might not be a match for them now.

    He needed to improve his strength in the Primordial Council, reach the peak of the Rule Realm, and then plan for the Sole Hall.

    At that moment, the leading Realm Lord suddenly stopped.

    All the Realm Lords present were puzzled.

    Then they heard the leading Realm Lord from the Ten Thousand Saints Palace speak.

    "Everyone, please remain calm. A great figure from the Myriad Transformations Society is about to enter the Wind Spirit Cloud. Therefore, this mission will begin after that great figure leaves."

    As soon as the words fell, the Realm Lords looked into the distance.

    A billion miles away, a radiant light shone.

    A giant Buddha''s hand, palm open, fingers pointing to the sky, seemed to pierce the void, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura, with Buddha light illuminating the surroundings.

    This was a soul-stirring Realm Lord treasure.

    Yet, it was placed by the roadside like a mere decoration.

    Beneath the Realm Lord treasure, there were various majestic auras.

    The leader''s aura was profound, his robes seemingly forged from Buddha light, his head adorned with what appeared to be relics.

    He was the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace, the father of the Realm Lord of No Buddha, a renowned Creation Realm powerhouse in the Primordial Council.

    The once arrogant and domineering Realm Lord of No Buddha now stood meekly beside the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace.

    Several other Realm Lords stood nearby, forming the innermost circle, along with some second-layer Yang God young cultivators, who also stood within this circle, their eyes filled with pride and anxiety.

    They were waiting for someone.

    Seeing this, the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord sighed: "We should aspire to be like them."

    He was referring to those standing in the inner circle beside the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace.

    Becoming someone like the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace was beyond imagination.

    As for the terrifying powerhouse from the Myriad Transformations Society whom the palace master and the others were waiting for, that was even more unimaginable.

    At that moment, a murmur sounded from the sky: "Old Fatty, isn''t this a bit too much? It looks like I''m some emperor on a state visit, with the upper echelons of another country waiting to receive me."

    Old Fatty laughed heartily: "What kind of emperor? They''re not even worth a single hair on your leg."

    "Don''t talk nonsense. I don''t grow leg hair," Qi Yuan said.

    Suddenly, Qi Yuan seemed to notice something, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.

    "What''s wrong?" Old Fatty noticed Qi Yuan''s unusual expression.

    "Nothing," Qi Yuan said.

    Wasn''t this Qi Yuan?

    Who else could it be?

    But how had he suddenly appeared here?

    And become a distinguished guest of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace?

    The Ghost Supreme Realm Lord and the Dragon Turtle Supreme exchanged a glance, their hearts in turmoil.

    By the time the two recovered from their shock, Old Fatty and Qi Yuan had long since disappeared from the sky.

    "Did we see wrong?"

    "Were we hallucinating?"

    They murmured to themselves.

    Meanwhile.

    Within the Wind Spirit Cloud, Qi Yuan felt his true spirit being tempered, his thoughts complex.

    "This Ghost Supreme Realm Lord... is quite interesting."

    "No, it''s the Dao Fruit that''s interesting."

    When Qi Yuan saw the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord, he noticed the Dao Fruit fused within him.

    According to the information his eyes revealed, this Dao Fruit was closely related to the fallen Dao Lord of the Immortal Realm.

    As the saying goes, when a whale falls, all things flourish.

    The Dao Fruit was one of those flourishing things.

    "Generally, when a Dao Lord falls, the universe collapses, and the Dao system disintegrates. But the Immortal Realm is still intact. Could it be related to the Ming Lord? Or did something else happen?"

    Qi Yuan speculated wildly.

    During this time in the Myriad Transformations Society, he had learned many useful new things.

    Generally, when a Dao Lord falls.

    Their world collapses, and their Dao system is destroyed.

    After countless epochs, it slowly revives, or by coincidence, the Dao system reappears.

    Of course, this is on the condition that all information about the previous Dao Lord has completely disappeared.

    A situation like the Immortal Realm''s was rare.

    "There are too many mysteries in this world.

    Even a fifth-layer Yang God Dao Lord is only omniscient and omnipotent within their own Dao system and universe."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    He stopped his wild thoughts.

    He continued walking deeper into the Wind Spirit Cloud.

    His true spirit was continuously tempered, rapidly improving.

    He entered a state of self-forgetfulness.

    "If I visit all the places of opportunity, shouldn''t I be stronger than Black Heaven?"

    Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    He walked toward the deepest part of the Wind Spirit Cloud.

    At that moment, in an unknown place.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace showed a hint of a smile: "He''s almost at the killing ground."

    The palace master of the White Profound Palace nodded: "What a pity. The preparations of so many epochs will be wasted on him."

    The Black and White Profound Palaces had always been ambitious, constantly scheming within the Primordial Council.

    Every so often, the Ten Thousand Saints Palace would recruit Realm Lords to dissipate the Buddha light.

    Over the course of three hundred epochs, the Black and White Profound Palaces had secretly tampered with the Realm Lords.

    Now, the palace master of the Black Profound Palace only needed to manipulate things slightly to cause the Buddha corpse in the forbidden zone of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace to go berserk for an instant.

    Though it would only be an instant, it would be enough to injure, or even severely wound, someone like the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace.

    After so many epochs of preparation, it was naturally to take down the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace.

    Now, these methods would be used on Qi Yuan.

    "If Qi Yuan is lucky enough to survive, I''ll personally take action. Palace Master of the White Profound Palace, you stay in the two palaces and be wary of the Myriad Transformations Society," the palace master of the Black Profound Palace said.

    The palace master of the White Profound Palace remained expressionless: "I want the ''Supreme Truth Scripture.''"

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace''s expression shifted several times before he finally agreed: "Alright."

    The ''Supreme Truth Scripture'' was a powerful Dao Lord scripture, extremely valuable.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace felt a pang of regret.

    However, this assassination attempt on Qi Yuan might be a trap within a trap.

    Some in the Myriad Transformations Society might be watching as they assassinated Qi Yuan.

    On the other hand, the Myriad Transformations Society might take the opportunity to attack the palace master of the White Profound Palace, who might be injured.

    The ''Supreme Truth Scripture'' would serve as compensation.

    As for Qi Yuan, he might be a talented sacrifice, or the Myriad Transformations Society might expend great resources to protect him.

    Regardless, this time, the Myriad Transformations Society and the Black and White Profound Palaces would clash over Qi Yuan.

    Of course, it was also possible that the Myriad Transformations Society was incompetent and unaware of this matter.

    Meanwhile, within the Wind Spirit Cloud.

    Qi Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze seemed to transcend time and space, landing on the Buddha corpse.

    [True Buddha, a unique existence, existing in reality.]

    "Isn''t this... the power bank for my Buddha Nascent Souls?"

 Chapter 582: The Trial of Justice

    "But... I''m a good person. How can I steal things?"

    Looking at the Buddha corpse, Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

    Although the Ten Thousand Saints Palace didn''t like this Buddha corpse and often hired Realm Lords to dissipate the Buddha light, it was still their property.

    However, at that moment, the Buddha corpse, which had been keeping its eyes shut, suddenly opened them.

    In its emotionless eyes, a raging killing intent spread.

    Outside the Wind Spirit Cloud, all the Realm Lords sensed this overwhelming killing intent and were momentarily stunned, some confused.

    "What''s going on?"

    "What happened?"

    "Such a strong killing intent!"

    Many Realm Lords trembled.

    Especially the Ghost Supreme Realm Lord. When he had first stepped into the Realm Lord level, he had been full of confidence, feeling that no one in the world could stop him.

    But now, just a wave of killing intent made him feel the threat of death.

    "Not good!" Old Fatty''s expression changed drastically, followed by anger.

    The palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace also realized something and was filled with worry.

    If something happened to Qi Yuan in the Ten Thousand Saints Palace, the palace would likely be held responsible.

    Most importantly, the killing intent seemed to come from the Buddha corpse.

    There was... a hint of conspiracy in this.

    The killing intent came quickly and left just as fast.

    For an existence like the Buddha corpse, killing a Realm Lord could be done in an instant.

    Without hesitation, Old Fatty and the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace rushed into the Wind Spirit Cloud.

    But just then, a black light suddenly descended from the sky, shining on the two of them.

    "Black God Shield?"

    "Palace Master of the Black Profound Palace!"

    Old Fatty''s eyes widened in fury.

    The Black God Shield was a Realm Lord treasure of the Black Profound Palace, and not an ordinary one.

    There were rumors that when this Realm Lord treasure was being forged, it had listened to a Dao Lord''s teachings.

    This treasure was enough to trap a powerhouse like Old Fatty for a hundred breaths.

    The palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace felt a chill run down his spine.

    With this setup, it was clear what was happening.

    He felt a sense of relief that the Black Profound Palace had targeted Qi Yuan.

    If they had targeted him...

    He would probably have been severely injured, if not killed, and the foundation of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace would have been handed over.

    Thankfully, it was Qi Yuan.

    He felt a sense of relief.

    However, he still angrily shouted: "The Black Profound Palace has gone too far!"

    "Heavenly Silkworm Scholar, let''s work together to destroy the Black God Shield!"

    Old Fatty glanced at the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace: "I hope you weren''t involved in this, otherwise..."

    Old Fatty coldly snorted and began to attack.

    The palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace also attacked frantically, trying to break the Black God Shield.

    Meanwhile.

    Inside the Wind Spirit Cloud, a black shadow blotted out the sky, as if it were the only existence in the world.

    All light in the world disappeared.

    If an Yin God cultivator were here, they would suddenly find themselves blind.

    "The Buddha corpse has made its move. Even if he doesn''t die, he''ll be severely injured."

    "I don''t have much time, thirty breaths... I must kill him, or... capture him!"

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace calculated in his heart.

    He moved deeper into the Wind Spirit Cloud. The closer he got, the more intense the killing intent became.

    Even he felt a great threat.

    Not to mention Qi Yuan, who had taken a hit from the Buddha corpse.

    So this time, Qi Yuan, the prodigy, was doomed.

    Time passed quickly. In the span of a breath, the palace master of the Black Profound Palace appeared in the deepest part of the Wind Spirit Cloud.

    "Where is he? Where is he hiding?" After scanning with his divine sense, the palace master of the Black Profound Palace didn''t find Qi Yuan.

    His heart tightened, immediately thinking that Qi Yuan might have been severely injured and was hiding somewhere, concealing his aura.

    "Break!"

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace cast a divine ability, sweeping through the heavens.

    All living beings in the world would be revealed.

    But just then, a lazy voice came from the forbidden zone.

    "So you''re the one trying to ambush me, Palace Master of the Black Profound Palace?"

    "Just you? Didn''t the Palace Master of the White Profound Palace come?"

    The voice even carried a hint of disappointment.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace suddenly looked up, his gaze falling on the forbidden zone.

    He was stunned.

    In the forbidden zone.

    The massive Buddha corpse''s eyes were bleeding, and its Buddha robes were dim.

    On the shoulder of the Buddha corpse sat an exceptionally handsome young man, exuding a lazy aura.

    Qi Yuan?

    How was he sitting on the Buddha corpse?

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace''s mind raced, filled with confusion.

    After all, the Buddha corpse was a terrifying existence that could easily kill him.

    Even if it awakened for just a breath, it could severely injure a Creation Realm Realm Lord.

    But now, Qi Yuan was not only unharmed but also sitting on the Buddha corpse.

    What was going on?

    "How did you do it?" The palace master of the Black Profound Palace was anxious, his thoughts in turmoil.

    Qi Yuan once again stood on the moral high ground.

    A terrifying giant hand pressed down on the palace master of the Black Profound Palace.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace was filled with despair.

    "All my scriptures, burn!"

    At this moment, he unleashed his most powerful attack.

    Dozens of Dao Lord scriptures burned simultaneously.

    His aura became sacred and vast.

    His power suddenly increased dozens of times.

    Such a terrifying attack could shatter the Milky Way.

    Such an attack could be unleashed ten thousand times in a single breath.

    "Confess and receive leniency, resist and face justice. The trial of justice!"

    Qi Yuan pushed out a palm.

    The terrifying defenses constructed by countless Dao Lord scriptures.

    Under this palm, they crumbled like rotten wood, turning to ash.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace''s body also shattered at this moment.

    His face showed disbelief.

    Until his death, he hadn''t expected to die here.

    After all, in the Primordial Council, Dao Lords couldn''t enter.

    He had already reached the pinnacle.

    Even if four or five leaders of the Myriad Transformations Society of the same level surrounded him, he could easily escape.

    Facing a strange existence like the Buddha corpse, as long as he didn''t get close, everything would be fine.

    Yet, he had truly died.

    Most importantly, this was the Primordial Council.

    Once the true spirit perished, it couldn''t be revived in the river of time.

    Death... was truly the end.

    "Thankfully, I controlled my strength. The Realm Lord treasures on his body are still intact."

    "Although they''re not worth much, they''re still resources. I''ll put them in my underworld."

    "My underworld is too empty."

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    He found three Realm Lord treasures on the palace master of the Black Profound Palace.

    As for Dao Lord scriptures, there were a total of forty-seven, a large number.

    "A windfall."

    At that moment, his gaze fell on the Black God Shield not far away.

    "Is Old Fatty having a secret rendezvous with the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace?"

    Without hesitation, he flicked his finger, and the Black God Shield appeared in his hand.

    Two powerful auras erupted, and Old Fatty and the palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace both looked confused.

    When their eyes fell on the Buddha corpse and Qi Yuan sitting on its shoulder, both of them showed shock.

    "Qi Yuan, be careful of the Buddha corpse, be careful of the palace master of the Black Profound Palace!" Old Fatty quickly warned.

    If it weren''t for his fear of the Buddha corpse, he would have already grabbed Qi Yuan and fled.

    "Don''t worry, the Buddha corpse is dead. It won''t hurt anyone," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    This statement was akin to saying, "My dog is well-behaved, it won''t bite."

    The palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace''s expression changed.

    He also knew the Buddha corpse was dead.

    "As for the palace master of the Black Profound Palace, he''s already dead," Qi Yuan said indifferently.

    Old Fatty quickly looked around. When he saw the familiar body, his eyes showed shock.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace... was dead?

    The palace master of the Ten Thousand Saints Palace was also stunned.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace was dead!

    Could it be...

    Many thoughts raced through his mind.

    Could it be that the palace master of the Black Profound Palace had been overconfident, trying to control the Buddha corpse to kill Qi Yuan.

    But instead, he was killed by the Buddha corpse.

    That was the only explanation.

    A powerhouse like the palace master of the Black Profound Palace couldn''t possibly die in the Primordial Council.

    If he were in a universe and encountered a Dao Lord''s death, that would be one thing.

    But this was the Primordial Council, where the fifth layer of Yang God couldn''t enter.

    "He came to assassinate me, and I acted in self-defense and killed him.

    Old man, since he came to kill me, now I''m going to the Black and White Profound Palaces to use their places of opportunity as compensation for my mental distress. They shouldn''t dare to stop me, right?" Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    Old Fatty took a deep breath.

    Originally, he had been thinking about how to save Qi Yuan and how to handle this matter.

    But now, things had become even more complicated.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace was dead.

    This was a major event.

    The members of the Myriad Transformations Society who had planned this... were probably in trouble.

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    Outside the White Profound Palace.

    The Heavenly Tang Realm Lord looked elegant: "Although we couldn''t kill the palace master of the White Profound Palace in this battle, we managed to lightly injure him and seize seven Dao Lord scriptures. This counts as a great victory."

    As he spoke, his face showed confidence.

    He was one of the three deputy leaders of the Myriad Transformations Society and one of the most promising candidates for the position of leader.

    "With these seven Dao Lord scriptures and this achievement, Fellow Daoist Heavenly Tang is sure to become the leader," a thin female Realm Lord flattered. "However, the Heavenly Silkworm Scholar might have some objections."

    The Heavenly Tang Realm Lord''s expression remained unchanged: "That Qi Yuan has some strength. He probably won''t die so easily. If he''s still alive, I''ll let him take a look at these seven Dao Lord scriptures as compensation."

 Chapter 583: The Despair of the Cultivation Path, Strength is a Calamity

    Myriad Transformations Society.

    The Heavenly Tang Realm Lord returned, his aura deep and restrained, exuding a vibrant vitality that inspired awe.

    This was in stark contrast to the aura of decay that surrounded the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society.

    "Greetings, Deputy Leader."

    Many Realm Lords bowed, their eyes filled with reverence.

    Currently, the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society was erratic and rarely seen.

    Power was concentrated in the hands of the three deputy leaders.

    Among them, two of the deputy leaders, perhaps due to their extreme longevity, had become somewhat mentally unstable. More importantly, they exuded an aura of decay, lacking the dignity expected of Creation Realm powerhouses.

    Thus, within the Myriad Transformations Society, the most popular figure was the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord, one of the deputy leaders.

    The Heavenly Tang Realm Lord''s gaze fell on Realm Lord Chun Ran, and he said indifferently, "Your contributions during the raid on the White Profound Palace rank among the top three. From now on, you will work at Heavenly Tang Mountain."

    During this operation, Realm Lord Chun Ran had provided crucial intelligence.

    However, her actions had also exposed her identity as a double agent.

    Staying in the "Spirit Summoning" research topic would cause dissatisfaction and complications, so it was better for her to work at Heavenly Tang Mountain.

    "Thank you, Leader Heavenly Tang," Realm Lord Chun Ran said respectfully, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

    At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out: "Qi Yuan is still alive."

    "Oh? He''s quite lucky, with some fortune on his side," the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord said, unsurprised.

    Hearing this, Realm Lord Chun Ran''s expression changed slightly.

    She felt guilty for betraying Qi Yuan and hoped he wouldn''t return, wishing he would die in the Wind Spirit Cloud.

    That way, she could continue to feel at ease with her guilt.

    But Qi Yuan hadn''t died.

    "The palace master of the Black Profound Palace... is dead," the voice said, trembling slightly.

    Hearing this, the Realm Lords present were all shocked.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace was a Creation Realm powerhouse, no weaker than the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord.

    After all, every Creation Realm Realm Lord, if left unchecked, could destroy a small universe given enough time.

    The palace master of the Black Profound Palace, who had mastered dozens of Dao Lord scriptures, was no ordinary figure.

    Yet, he had died in the Ten Thousand Saints Palace. How could they not be shocked?

    "Oh? Did the Buddha corpse undergo a change and backlash, killing the palace master of the Black Profound Palace?

    I didn''t expect this operation to yield such a pleasant surprise. Excellent, excellent.

    I will record this as a major merit."

    The Heavenly Tang Realm Lord smiled broadly, looking quite pleased with himself.

    The other Realm Lords present all congratulated him.

    The Black Profound Palace had long been an enemy of the Myriad Transformations Society.

    Killing the palace master of the Black Profound Palace was a tremendous achievement, and it could even propel him to the position of leader of the Myriad Transformations Society.

    Just then, a lazy voice suddenly rang in everyone''s ears.

    "I was assassinated by the Black Profound Palace. Shouldn''t I be given an explanation?"

    A figure in a blood-red robe appeared¡ªit was Qi Yuan, his expression calm and indifferent.

    Beside him stood Old Fatty, gritting his teeth and seething with anger.

    Seeing this, Realm Lord Chun Ran''s heart skipped a beat, and she subtly moved behind the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord.

    "Using you as bait to set a trap for the Black and White Profound Palaces was my plan," the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord admitted directly, speaking magnanimously. "For this operation, I will credit you with thirty major merits, and you may also borrow these seven Dao Lord scriptures."

    Hearing this, the Realm Lords present all showed envy.

    With just a small risk, Qi Yuan had received such a generous reward.

    "Why don''t you thank the leader?" the female Realm Lord beside the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord said, her tone condescending.

    "Is that all?" Qi Yuan''s voice was calm.

    Beside him, Old Fatty couldn''t help but speak up: "Deputy Leader Heavenly Tang, when you formulated this plan to target the Black and White Profound Palaces, shouldn''t you have informed Qi Yuan first and obtained his consent? Do you know what he represents within the Myriad Transformations Society?"

    He was furious.

    Furious that the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord had formulated such a plan without their consent, putting Qi Yuan in danger.

    "If the leader had informed us in advance, the plan might have been leaked, and we wouldn''t have achieved such results," a Realm Lord said.

    "Didn''t you already receive your reward?"

    "Everything should be for the greater good. Don''t argue over trivial matters."

    The Realm Lords discussed among themselves, most siding with the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord.

    Clearly, they were part of his faction.

    "The greater good?" Qi Yuan stretched lazily. "It''s been a while since I''ve heard that term. But your ''greater good'' means nothing to me. My ''greater good''... is the true greater good."

    "This matter must be resolved to my satisfaction.

    Although I am lawful and good, even a clay Buddha has a temper."

    Although being betrayed and ambushed had ultimately benefited Qi Yuan, he didn''t like being schemed against.

    "You''re right," the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord said at this moment. "At our level, concepts like morality and the greater good are nothing but illusions and excuses.

    I was able to formulate this plan without informing you.

    "Qi Yuan, come with me," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said.

    "Alright."

    Qi Yuan''s figure disappeared.

    The Heavenly Tang Realm Lord''s gaze shifted, lost in thought.

    The female Realm Lord beside him showed a strange expression: "Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism is too old. He''s gone senile."

    The other Realm Lords echoed similar sentiments.

    The current Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism was old and frail, his Dao heart weak, like a Rule Realm or All Things Realm Lord on the verge of mental collapse.

    ...

    In a decaying cave dwelling.

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism propped up his cheek with a hand that looked like tree bark, as if he might fall asleep at any moment.

    "Old Pants told me he saw you in the Cosmic Spirit Sea," he said, opening his eyes, which were filled with an aura of decay.

    "Old Pants?" Qi Yuan found the nickname amusing.

    "The leader, the old guy who keeps asking where his underwear is," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said, a rare smile appearing on his face.

    "Oh, him," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    "Sigh... he and I don''t have much time left before we lose our lucidity. We don''t know when... we''ll step into the fourth layer of Yang God," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said, his tone filled with melancholy.

    He had lived for an extremely long time.

    Even some Dao Lords might not have lived as long as he had.

    "You''re interesting. Although you''re as erratic as us, your true spirit remains clear and pure. That''s rare... It seems you have a chance to surpass the fourth layer of Yang God and reach the fifth layer," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said, his eyes showing envy.

    If one could surpass the fourth layer of Yang God and reach the fifth, who would willingly let their true spirit fade into oblivion and enter the fourth layer?

    "Heavenly Tang is a talented kid, but not exceptionally so. He''ll probably just muddle through like this for the rest of his life.

    Sigh, if he were in our position, why would he waste time on petty power struggles?

    However, one of his ancestors was once close to me, so today, I spoke a few words on his behalf.

    Whether he understands or what he chooses to do is up to him," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism sighed. "The world is full of fools. I see him as naive, while he sees me as decrepit."

    Although many in the Myriad Transformations Society believed that the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord was stronger than the other two deputy leaders and might even surpass the leader soon, in reality, compared to him and the leader, Heavenly Tang was as naive as a cabbage.

    Creation Realm Realm Lords could indeed improve their strength by mastering Dao Lord scriptures.

    But Dao Lord scriptures weren''t everything.

    "I feel he''s already on the path to death," Qi Yuan commented casually.

    "I''ve already repaid the debt to his ancestor. His life and death are no longer my concern," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said.

    "Old man, how many people like you are there in the Primordial Council?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The Primordial Council was vast and boundless, with many unknown places.

    "Not many, probably fewer than twenty. Who knows how many of them will awaken from their madness and step into the fourth layer of Yang God?" Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism sighed.

    This sigh was filled with helplessness and despair.

    Everyone who had reached their level was a true prodigy, having experienced grand myths and legends.

    But at the end of the cultivation path, they had to step into the fourth layer of Yang God, where their true spirits would fade.

    Perhaps it was the despair of seeing the end of the cultivation path, or perhaps they were still searching for a way forward, that made them erratic, only occasionally lucid.

    One day, when they could no longer remain lucid, it would mean either stepping into the fourth layer of Yang God, their true spirits fading, or truly perishing.

    The outcome... was the annihilation of their true spirits, death.

    Only by stepping into the fifth layer of Yang God was there a sliver of hope, a chance to survive.

    But this chance was only for themselves.

    For the beings within their Dao systems and universes, the future was already set, already a cycle.

    "Strength is a calamity," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism sighed.

    "That''s interesting. I once heard the Great Calamity say the same thing," Qi Yuan said.

    When he had destroyed the Great Calamity in the Canglan Realm, he had heard it say, "Strength is a calamity."

    "The fourth layer of Yang God is a dead end. Don''t enter it. The fifth layer offers a sliver of hope.

    In less than a hundred years, the Dao Lord of Witchcraft may descend. You can discuss the Dao with Him and seek a path to the fifth layer of Yang God," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said, his aged eyes filled with envy.

    He could not enter the fifth layer of Yang God.

    If a junior could achieve it, he would be overjoyed.

    As he spoke, his once-clear eyes grew cloudy, and he seemed to descend into madness.

    "Who are you?"

    "Old dog, kneel!"

    In his madness, he was infinitely close to the fourth layer of Yang God.

    "Old man, I''m leaving," Qi Yuan said, quickly making his exit.

    After all, when encountering a lunatic, it''s best to keep your distance.

    Although he had a certificate, he didn''t want to be around a real lunatic.

    This kind of magical confrontation was too costly.

    Before leaving, he called out.

    "Old man, if I ever open a mental hospital, remember to come and support me!"

 Chapter 584: Kill

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism''s muddled eyes briefly cleared, and his lips moved as he responded faintly: "Alright."

    Qi Yuan''s figure disappeared, and he murmured, "The path of cultivation is too difficult."

    In the decaying cave dwelling, only a frail old man remained, his eyes dull and lifeless, like a lonely old man waiting for nothing but oblivion.

    "If I build a mental hospital, not only will there be business opportunities to make money, but it will also provide humanitarian care. I might even win a ''Touching Blue Planet Award.'' I''m truly a genius."

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    ...

    Half a day passed.

    In the Knowing Mountain Pavilion, Qi Yuan gazed at the towering mountain ahead, its jagged rocks and sparse bamboo.

    "This place of opportunity is quite unique. It tempers one''s true spirit through the appreciation of scenery."

    "Observing the fragility, the richness, and the leanness of the mountain, contemplating the rise and fall of the true spirit."

    Qi Yuan, dressed in a red robe, climbed the mountain like a hiker, with no trace of power flowing through him.

    At the mountain''s peak stood the Knowing Mountain Pavilion, where the most beautiful scenery could be enjoyed.

    Along the way, Qi Yuan encountered many hikers.

    In his eyes, these hikers included children, the elderly, and strong men.

    Regardless of their form, the higher they climbed, the more aged they appeared, resembling old men, their true spirits increasingly withered.

    Only Qi Yuan''s true spirit remained pure and unchanging, like the blazing sun, radiant and illuminating.

    "Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said that strength is a calamity."

    "Perhaps that''s only because he isn''t strong enough."

    "Strength... can also be a blessing."

    "But... in this world, how rare are those like me, who work so hard and are blessed with such explosive opportunities?"

    In just three hours of mortal time, the Knowing Mountain Pavilion had experienced the four seasons.

    Qi Yuan, dressed in blood-red robes, reached the mountain''s peak, as if surveying all the mountains below.

    He looked into the Knowing Mountain Pavilion and saw an elderly woman sitting there.

    Her eyes were half-closed as she leaned against the pavilion, seemingly basking in the sun.

    "Someone''s here?"

    The old woman opened her eyes, her gaze characteristically cloudy, clearly unwell.

    Perhaps due to her advanced age, her face carried a hint of kindness.

    Seeing the old woman, Qi Yuan smiled: "Granny, would you like to move to the mental hospital I''m building?"

    Men are called "old man," so women are naturally called "granny."

    He couldn''t miss this business opportunity.

    Although the mental hospital hadn''t been built yet, he could start building it in the underworld.

    "I''m too old, my legs don''t work well anymore. I won''t go, young man," the old woman said kindly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the youthful Qi Yuan. "If I were a few decades younger, in the age of youthful infatuation, I would have snatched you up as my male concubine."

    "That''s illegal!" Qi Yuan quickly covered his chest with his hands.

    Men really aren''t safe outside.

    The old woman chuckled: "Why don''t you come sit for a while?"

    She seemed so old that even speaking a sentence drained all her energy.

    "Since I''m here, even if I encounter a creepy granny, I''ll still enter the Knowing Mountain Pavilion. I''m a strong young man, after all."

    Qi Yuan sat down in the Knowing Mountain Pavilion, not far from the old woman.

    The old woman shook her head: "It seems you''re not well either."

    This shake of her head seemed like a final burst of energy.

    "I''m not sick," Qi Yuan replied.

    He could sense that the old woman was like a candle in the wind, about to flicker out.

    The old woman struggled to lift her head, gazing at the scenery ahead.

    "When I was young, I kept climbing mountains, always thinking that the scenery at the top would be beautiful. But I never expected that upon reaching the summit... I would feel so alone, the scenery so desolate."

    "I wonder, countless epochs from now, will a future version of me climb this mountain again, and... will I sit here in the Knowing Mountain Pavilion once more?"

    The old woman sighed.

    In the Dao systems or universes where Dao Lords resided, time was cyclical.

    She would grow old, climb the mountain, and sit in the Knowing Mountain Pavilion.

    After an unknown amount of time, a new version of her might climb the mountain again and sit here.

    "I wonder if I''ll meet you again, to enjoy the mountain''s scenery together," the old woman mused.

    "Whether we''ll meet again in the future, I don''t know. But this is the first time. If we meet again, I''ll let you know," Qi Yuan said.

    The old woman glanced at Qi Yuan, then at the mountains, murmuring: "People are more beautiful than scenery."

    With these words, the old woman''s white hair fell, as if she had fallen asleep.

    In the silence, the old woman, an unknown Realm Lord, failed to break through to the fourth layer of Yang God and quietly faded away.

    The wind blew, and the jagged cliffs, devoid of many trees, did not roar in response.

    Qi Yuan looked at the deceased old woman, his expression calm.

    "So, should I have a second child?"

    "Or maybe, condense ten trillion golden cores."

    In the following days, Qi Yuan continued to visit the remaining places of opportunity.

    His strength grew rapidly.

    His true spirit remained pure and powerful.

    But he never encountered another being as powerful as the old woman.

    After all, according to Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism, there were fewer than twenty such beings in the Primordial Council.

    They weren''t easy to come by.

    Returning from Thunderfall Mountain, Qi Yuan arrived at his temporary residence in the Cloud Pavilion.

    "Greetings, Lord Qi Yuan."

    A young, beautiful woman bowed respectfully, not daring to look directly at Qi Yuan.

    She was an external member of the Myriad Transformations Society, only at the second layer of Yang God.

    This time, she was specifically assigned to take care of Qi Yuan''s "daily needs" and communicate with the forces behind the various places of opportunity.

    She understood the extraordinary status this man held within the Myriad Transformations Society.

    Even Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism had intervened on his behalf during his conflict with Deputy Leader Heavenly Tang.

    Unless something unexpected happened, this Realm Lord might soon hold a purple token and become a deputy leader, a figure of great importance.

    "Has the Brocade Palace still not responded?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The Brocade Palace was a major power similar to the Ten Thousand Saints Palace.

    Thus, here, she was virtually invincible and naturally unafraid of Qi Yuan.

    "Sigh."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    "I''m a good person. I don''t want to kill."

    "Why are you forcing me?"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan made his move.

    "Remember, the one who kills you is Qi Yuan!"

    As his words fell, Qi Yuan casually struck out, sending an ordinary attack toward Red Brocade.

    In the Brocade Palace, many Realm Lords watched calmly.

    Red Brocade''s expression was also calm as she smiled: "An attack like this couldn''t even pluck a hair from my head. How do you expect to kill me?"

    But in the next breath, an intense sense of danger suddenly arose.

    Red Brocade''s body stiffened, and she felt a moment of confusion.

    Why did such a simple attack make her feel such overwhelming danger?

    At this moment, she was like a little girl on the road, watching a goose feather fall from the sky. She had a thought: if she caught it, she would be crushed to death.

    Many people with itchy hands would probably catch it.

    Red Brocade was in such a state now.

    "Impossible. How could he possibly threaten me?"

    Though she thought this, Red Brocade quickly transformed into a beam of light, trying to escape into the void and avoid the attack.

    Unfortunately, Qi Yuan''s attacks weren''t something one could simply choose to avoid.

    "You have no idea of the gap between you and me!"

    "You don''t understand. I am a true Yin God!"

    "A mere Realm Lord dares to provoke an Yin God? You''re seeking death!"

    Escape was futile.

    As Qi Yuan''s words fell, all the Realm Lords witnessed an unforgettable scene.

    The ordinary, unremarkable attack landed on Red Brocade''s body.

    Red Brocade''s sturdy and majestic body burst like a balloon.

    Her true spirit... faded.

    The Red Brocade Realm Lord, who had been taunting just moments ago... was dead.

    Just like that... dead!

    "How is this possible!"

    All the Realm Lords were shocked.

    If the old woman from the Knowing Mountain Pavilion knew what had happened here, she might have risen from the dead to gasp in shock.

    "I''m not hiding it anymore. In the Yin God realm, I am invincible."

    At this moment, a cold voice echoed across the sky.

    Meanwhile, in the Myriad Transformations Society.

    Realm Lord Chun Ran and Realm Lord Green Brocade, who had been playing chess, suddenly widened their eyes, their faces filled with horror.

    "Red Brocade is dead?"

    "Killed by Qi Yuan?"

    "How is this possible!"

    The two of them were stunned, unable to comprehend.

    Not only were they shocked, but everyone who heard the news was equally stunned and baffled.

    After all, Red Brocade had almost reached the pinnacle of the Realm Lord stage.

    While stationed in the Brocade Palace, even the leader of the Myriad Transformations Society would find it difficult to harm her.

    And yet, she had died just like that?

    However, before they could ponder further.

    A lazy voice rang out.

    "Heavenly Tang has repeatedly schemed against me. I will kill him. Who dares to stop me?"

    This voice, of course, came from Qi Yuan.

    He didn''t dare to say "who dares to kill me," so he said "who dares to stop me."

    After all, what if a Ma Dai suddenly appeared? That would be interesting.

    At the same time, within the Myriad Transformations Society, hundreds of Realm Lords were in an uproar.

    No one had expected Qi Yuan to kill the Red Brocade Realm Lord.

    Even Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism, who had been erratic, seemed to regain some clarity.

    "This... how is this possible?" He couldn''t understand, nor could he comprehend.

    The other Realm Lords were equally shocked.

    Especially the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord, whose expression was one of utter disbelief.

    Without hesitation, he immediately fled.

    Now, only by escaping to the main universe and seeking the protection of a Dao Lord could he have a chance of survival.

    He didn''t dare to confront Qi Yuan head-on.

    Returning to the main universe, he would investigate the truth.

    Unfortunately, just as he was about to flee, a giant hand descended, blocking his path.

    "Those I wish to kill cannot escape!"

    "Die!"

    The hand clenched.

    The Heavenly Tang Realm Lord''s face was filled with disbelief.

    Against such power, he had no way to resist.

    It was as if he had encountered a Dao Lord.

    "Impossible!"

    He snarled, panicked, and finally, his body shattered.

    Facing Qi Yuan''s terrifying attack, he couldn''t even last a single breath.

    Countless Realm Lords were shocked.

    Some Realm Lords took a deep breath, doubting their own eyes.

    At this moment, Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism emerged from the depths of the Myriad Transformations Society, his face filled with astonishment. Finally, his aged voice rang out: "Hey, is your mental hospital open yet? Any vacancies?"

 Chapter 585: Soft but Not Hard

    Upon hearing the words of Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism, Qi Yuan spoke up, "This matter requires careful consideration. After all, in this era, starting a business is the easiest way to fall back into poverty. I don¡¯t want my mansion to be auctioned off."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, he pointed into the distance.

    The other Realm Lords were struck with fear.

    They saw that the once-arrogant Green Brocade Realm Lord and the Chun Ran Realm Lord, who had spread news about Qi Yuan, exploded like balloons.

    These two Realm Lords were extremely powerful.

    In the outside world, they could be called ancestors, beings revered as creators.

    Even the Leader of the Myriad Transformations Society might not be able to fully subdue them, let alone kill them.

    But in Qi Yuan''s hands, they were as fragile as paper, easily crushed.

    Two Creation Realm Lords had fallen.

    The Realm Lords of the Myriad Transformations Society were utterly shocked.

    The fat old man looked at Qi Yuan, the words "sworn brother" stuck in his throat, eventually turning into a sigh of resignation.

    "No wonder you could fall in love with a fourth-layer Yang God."

    He was referring to Qi Yuan''s claim when he first joined the Myriad Transformations Society that his partner was a fourth-layer Yang God.

    At first, everyone thought he was just a pretty boy.

    But now, it was clear that he was no pretty boy¡ªhe was a ruthless man.

    Among the Myriad Transformations Society, an elderly man with white hair stared at Qi Yuan, his eyes gleaming with intensity. "A variable, this is the variable we¡¯ve been searching for over countless eons in the Myriad Transformations Society!"

    All the Realm Lords were startled upon hearing this.

    They realized something, snapping out of their shock over the death of the Heavenly Tang Realm Lord, and were filled with immense joy.

    The path pursued by the Myriad Transformations Society was precisely about seeking a new way, to forge a different path beyond the fourth and fifth layers of Yang God, and even to extend it to a sixth layer.

    But... the universe is a vast, unchanging cycle.

    Even if ripples occasionally appear, they are merely fleeting waves, unable to alter the grand tide.

    Yet now, what had they witnessed?

    In the Cosmic Sea, someone had effortlessly slain Creation Realm Lords.

    The only beings capable of such feats were likely the Dao Lords.

    If Qi Yuan wasn¡¯t the variable, who was?

    Everyone looked at Qi Yuan, their eyes shining as if they were desert wanderers who had been stranded for a hundred thousand years, suddenly seeing a peerless beauty.

    This gaze made Qi Yuan uncomfortable.

    "Don¡¯t look at me like that, I¡¯m socially awkward," Qi Yuan said, pulling another layer of clothing over himself, covering up completely.

    Meanwhile, on Myriad Transformations Mountain, Zhao Santui was initially stunned, then overcome with immense joy. Suddenly, he burst into maniacal laughter. "When one person achieves enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. I never thought I, Zhao Santui, would have such an opportunity!"

    All the Yin God servants and Yang God managers were filled with ecstasy.

    They never expected that the master they served would be so powerful, his will unbreakable.

    At that moment, Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism suddenly spoke, "Fellow Daoist Qi, you should take the Purple Token and become the Leader of the Myriad Transformations Society!"

    The other Realm Lords echoed without hesitation.

    "Fellow Daoist, you should take the Purple Token and lead the Myriad Transformations Society!"

    Even Liu Xu, the Realm Lord who had joined the Myriad Transformations Society with Qi Yuan in the Cosmic Spirit Sea, bowed her head, her heart filled with complex emotions.

    "Me... as the Leader?" Qi Yuan asked in return.

    "With your talent and strength, you are more than qualified to lead the Myriad Transformations Society," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said. "If you become the Leader, you can communicate with the Dao Lords."

    As for the old Leader, he had long been forgotten by Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism.

    After all, a perverted old man constantly searching for his underwear was no match for a handsome young man like Qi Yuan.

    "In that case... I¡¯ll reluctantly accept the role of your Leader," Qi Yuan said after a moment of thought.

    Becoming the Leader came with many benefits.

    Not only could he collect cultivation techniques from various cosmic realms, but he could also freely access numerous Dao Lord scriptures.

    This would be of great help in creating the "Qi Yuan Scripture."

    ...

    In the White Profound Palace, the Palace Master''s expression was unreadable. "I never expected such heavy losses this time."

    Originally, he and the Black Profound Palace Master had plotted against Qi Yuan.

    But in the end, the Black Profound Palace Master had perished, and he himself had suffered minor injuries, a significant loss.

    Now, his one hundred millionth descendant was about to be born in the main universe.

    This special number should have been celebrated in the main universe.

    But after causing such a mess in the Cosmic Sea, he dared not return, fearing the wrath of the Dao Lords.

    At that moment, an urgent voice came through, "Palace Master, bad news! The Myriad Transformations Society has a new leader!"

    "Oh? Did Heavenly Tang take over?" the White Profound Palace Master asked, unsurprised.

    "It¡¯s Qi Yuan!"

    "Him?" The White Profound Palace Master was shocked. "Did Heavenly Tang lose to Qi Yuan?"

    "Heavenly Tang Realm Lord... is dead."

    "How is that possible?" The White Profound Palace Master was stunned. "Did his Dao heart collapse?"

    At this level, the death of a Creation Realm Lord could only occur if their Dao heart collapsed, their true spirit extinguished.

    But Heavenly Tang Realm Lord had been full of vitality, with no signs of decay or ill omens. How could he be dead?

    "He was killed by Qi Yuan... instantly!"

    "Chun Ran Realm Lord was also killed instantly!"

    "What?!!!" The White Profound Palace Master''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Is he a Dao Lord?"

    But Dao Lords couldn¡¯t truly enter the Cosmic Sea.

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism''s face twitched.

    For some reason, he felt Qi Yuan was subtly reprimanding him.

    "Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan, there were too many people earlier. Now that it¡¯s just us, let me kowtow to you," Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism said, then promptly kowtowed to Qi Yuan, completely disregarding his dignity.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan sighed again at how power corrodes the heart.

    "Ah, you¡¯re making me feel embarrassed. Tell me, what do you want from me?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He was someone who responded better to softness than hardness.

    Perhaps that was why he liked soft, fragrant women, often indulging in his junior sister Jiang Lingsu, Jinli, Ning Tao and Canary.

    Their soft bodies and delicate scents... were delightful.

    Hard, unyielding men, he kept at a distance.

    Hearing this, Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism perked up. "How did you cultivate?"

    Cultivation?

    This topic always excited Qi Yuan.

    "To cultivate, you must first find a good teacher, attend lectures diligently, and cultivate the strongest methods."

    "When I was at the Qi Refining stage, I sought a way to break through to Foundation Establishment. So I attended a lecture where the teacher said that Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was the strongest method."

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism nodded.

    All paths lead to the same destination.

    Foundation Establishment, the second stage of cultivation, had different names.

    Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was indeed one of the strongest methods.

    After all, capturing the remnants of the Heavenly Dao required the strength of an Yin God.

    "So, while I was still at Qi Refining, I devoured the Heavenly Dao to establish my foundation," Qi Yuan said earnestly, holding nothing back.

    "..." Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism looked at Qi Yuan strangely. "You didn¡¯t explode?"

    Devouring the Heavenly Dao?

    For Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism, it was simple.

    But even the weakest Heavenly Dao would require the strength of a Great Venerable to devour.

    Not to mention, the Heavenly Dao contained the consciousness of countless beings, enough to grind a cultivator¡¯s soul to dust.

    "Why would I explode? I¡¯ve watched a lot of TV," Qi Yuan replied.

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism fell silent.

    Qi Yuan continued to elaborate.

    "Later, I was stuck at Foundation Establishment. That¡¯s when I met a great benefactor in my life, the Great Wisdom True Lord.

    Though he was a bit eccentric, he often had ingenious ideas that were very helpful to me.

    I asked him what the best material for forming a Golden Core was, and he said... the bigger, the better."

    "Your Golden Core material was... breasts?" Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism''s eyes widened.

    Qi Yuan was speechless.

    What was this old man thinking?

    "The sun!" Qi Yuan said. "Isn¡¯t the biggest thing we can see with our eyes the sun? So, I used the sun to form my Golden Core."

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism was utterly silent. "Your path... is bizarre. It¡¯s a miracle you¡¯re still alive."

    At the Foundation Establishment stage, forming a Golden Core with a star?

    Wasn¡¯t that suicidal?

    He closed his eyes, pondering the feasibility of Qi Yuan¡¯s cultivation path.

    After countless calculations, he finally said with disappointment.

    "Your cultivation method... is likely only suitable for you."

    "However, you¡¯ve inspired me. Perhaps, from the very beginning of cultivation, one should prepare to forge a new path."

    Forging a new path meant creating a new cultivation system.

    But how difficult was that?

    Who, just starting out in cultivation, could forge their own path?

    Even Creation Realm Lords might not be able to do so.

    Only those who could forge new paths would eventually become Dao Lords.

    Dao Lords were the pinnacle of cultivation, the strongest beings in the world.

    "Alright, anything else? If not, I need to head to the opportunity zone," Qi Yuan said.

    He planned to go to the opportunity zone to further enhance his strength.

    Once he had explored all the opportunity zones, his strength would likely reach terrifying new heights.

    "Have you glimpsed the path beyond?" Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism asked seriously.

    This question was likely on the minds of all Creation Realm Lords, including the deceased fourth and fifth-layer Yang Gods.

    Qi Yuan shook his head. "No, cultivation is too difficult. But it¡¯s fine. As the saying goes, three cobblers with their wits combined equal Zhuge Liang. When the time comes, I¡¯ll gather many people, hold a discussion, and ask for their opinions. Perhaps then I¡¯ll glimpse the future path."

    Qi Yuan answered earnestly.

    "A Dao Lord assembly?" Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism asked.

    Such an assembly was beyond his reach.

    "Why Dao Lords? That¡¯s too high a level. I can¡¯t afford the drinks. I think Old Man Wang from the next village will do."

    Back when he was forging his Purple Mansion path, he had sought advice online, freely borrowing ideas from netizens.

    Now, forging the Yang God path, he would likely do the same.

    Hosting a banquet at a five-star hotel to invite Dao Lords was out of the question.

    A village feast would be more appropriate.

 Chapter 586: Inheritance

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism pondered for a long time before speaking.

    "You''re still so young, yet you''re already so deeply afflicted. Could it be that the path of cultivation has been wrong from the very beginning?"

    Qi Yuan shook his head at this. "As long as one''s strength increases, no path is wrong. It''s just that the path you all walk may not be suitable for me."

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism''s eyelids turned pale, as if deep in thought. After about ten breaths, he sighed. "You have a great chance of reaching the fifth layer of Yang God."

    In his eyes, Qi Yuan was currently forging his own path. If this continued, he would undoubtedly become a Dao Lord in the future, shaking the cosmos.

    However... when it came to this, Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism still felt a sense of despair.

    Although the fifth layer of Yang God was ten thousand, even a hundred million times better than the fourth layer¡ªat least it didn''t involve the annihilation of the true spirit¡ªthe universe entering a cycle, becoming an alternative omniscient and omnipotent being... was that truly good?

    Perhaps everyone had their own answer to this question.

    At that moment, a mysterious voice echoed in the hearts of Qi Yuan and Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism.

    "If possible, delay entering the Dao Lord realm as long as you can."

    In the void ahead, a five-colored "Î×" (Wu) character appeared.

    It was a symbol, representing the uniqueness of the heavens.

    In this "Î×" character, Qi Yuan seemed to see a vast cultivation system.

    Wu Scholars, Great Wu.

    "Greetings, Dao Lord of the Wu Path!" Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism immediately bowed, his attitude extremely humble.

    This "Î×" character represented the will of the Dao Lord of the Wu Path.

    Qi Yuan''s expression also shifted slightly. This was the first time he had encountered a being of the fifth layer of Yang God.

    Such beings were the ultimate existence on the path of cultivation, the highest beings in the myriad universes.

    "Greetings, Dao Lord," Qi Yuan also spoke with a bit more seriousness.

    The "Î×" character transmitted a voice devoid of joy or sorrow.

    "The various Dao Lords established the Myriad Transformations Society to seek change, to find a trace of variability.

    If you step into the fifth layer, variability will cease to exist."

    In a fixed, unchanging world, a cyclical spacetime, even a trace of variability could bring hope of breaking the cycle.

    However, within the Dao Lords'' systems, there might be small variables, but they couldn''t change the overall situation.

    The end of the cultivation path was the fifth layer of Yang God, an unchanging cycle.

    Thus, all Dao Lords believed that beyond the fifth layer of Yang God lay variability.

    Hence, the Myriad Transformations Society was created.

    "The fifth layer of Yang God is too difficult; I''m still far from it," Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    He was currently only an Yin God cultivator.

    "What do you need?" The Dao Lord of the Wu Path was straightforward, wasting no words.

    "I need cultivation techniques, the more the better," Qi Yuan said, looking expectantly at the "Î×" character.

    "All techniques of the Wu Path are contained within this ''Î×'' character. I now bestow it upon you."

    With that, the "Î×" character floated down like a leaf and landed in Qi Yuan''s hand.

    The voice of the Dao Lord of the Wu Path abruptly ceased, as if it had vanished.

    Qi Yuan took the "Î×" character, his eyes filled with surprise. "The Dao Lord of the Wu Path is so generous. Ah, if only my white moonlights were as generous as him, they wouldn''t have struggled so much."

    Within the "Î×" character were a hundred volumes of the Dao Lord''s true scriptures, along with countless other Wu Path techniques.

    There were more techniques here than Qi Yuan had encountered in his entire life.

    If he still needed Ning Tao and Canary to condense stellar Golden Cores, these techniques would likely allow him to condense billions.

    "Isn''t he afraid that I''ll comprehend all the Wu Path techniques and devour him?" Qi Yuan muttered softly.

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism''s mouth twitched, feeling that Qi Yuan was being audacious.

    "In this world, there has never been a case of a Dao Lord falling in battle."

    The Wu Path revered the Dao Lord of the Wu Path as supreme. Even if later generations comprehended all the Wu Path techniques, they could never surpass the Dao Lord of the Wu Path.

    In the Wu Path, He was the supreme, the only eternal existence.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan thought of the Dao Lord from the Immortal Realm.

    "Have any Dao Lords fallen?" he asked.

    In the Myriad Transformations Society, Qi Yuan had read many books but had never seen any records of such events.

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism pondered for a moment. "Perhaps there have been, but I do not know.

    For example, the Dao Lord of the Nanke Universe disappeared, becoming an eternal mystery.

    There are rumors that this Dao Lord chose to enter nirvana."

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan also pondered.

    ...

    After concluding his conversation with Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism, Qi Yuan headed alone to the final few opportunity zones.

    With the White Profound Palace Master fleeing and the Black Profound Palace Master dead, he encountered almost no resistance as he entered the opportunity zones.

    His true spirit became purer and more unified, and his strength increased rapidly.

    "How strong am I now?"

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    He felt his strength swelling immensely.

    If he were to encounter Black Heaven now, he could probably easily subdue him.

    "How far is this strength from that of a Dao Lord?"

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself, then shook his head.

    He had never fought a Dao Lord and didn''t know how strong they truly were.

    Although he had seen the "Î×" character, that was only the tip of the iceberg.

    "Now, I''ve completed all thirty-six opportunity zones."

    Qi Yuan thought of the message bottle in the Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    After completing all thirty-six opportunity zones, he could receive the inheritance of a mysterious great being.

    He was very curious about this mysterious being.

    There were also races born as Yin Gods, and without reaching the Great Venerable level, they would suffer from malnutrition and need to drink nutrient solutions.

    "There are ten supreme physiques in the world. It is said that obtaining one of them can break through the fifth layer of Yang God and shatter the cycle."

    "Unfortunately, the Dream Origin Body I obtained was ultimately just an imitation."

    The Dao Lord sighed.

    A true Dream Origin Body could not be grafted.

    He had merely simulated and reconstructed a Dream Origin Body.

    "However, even with this imitation Dream Origin Body, I still... gained immensely."

    "In my dreams, I created the Nanke Universe, the Immortal Realm, and the Meteor Universe, among tens of thousands of others.

    In these universes, I became a Dao Lord nine times and reached the fourth layer of Yang God thirty-six times."

    As he spoke, the Dao Lord''s face showed a mix of pride and despair.

    Ten times a Dao Lord, thirty-six times at the fourth layer of Yang God.

    The Dream Origin Body was indeed terrifying.

    Because reaching the fourth layer of Yang God meant the annihilation of the true spirit.

    But the Dream Origin Body created illusory worlds, or dream worlds, allowing him to continue forging new paths.

    "Unfortunately, even so... I still failed."

    "I am already the strongest Dao Lord, with ten paths combined in one body, yet I still cannot break through to the sixth layer of Yang God, or beyond."

    The Dao Lord''s voice was filled with desolation and despair.

    "Finally, I chose another path, one where... the strong sever the future. Perhaps... this can break the cycle."

    The Dao Lord continued.

    In the end, despairing and immensely powerful, he chose to enter nirvana.

    By having a being at the fourth layer of Yang God, at the moment of breakthrough, reach the pinnacle and sever the future, giving the universe a chance.

    "Unfortunately, I cannot see the future path."

    "Later generations, can you... see the scenery beyond Yang God for me?"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan''s thoughts were calm, but he felt a sense of melancholy. "Alright."

    He also wanted to see the scenery of the sixth layer of Yang God, or beyond.

    However, he felt it would be difficult.

    Because he was only an Yin God now.

    And currently, the loading of new games in the jade slip was becoming slower and slower.

    He didn''t know when the next game would come.

    "My gift to you is... the Dream Origin Body," the Dao Lord said, his voice mysterious. "The reason I could become a Dao Lord of ten paths and reach the fourth layer of Yang God thirty-six times was all due to this physique, as well as my pitifully weak talent and effort."

    His voice carried a hint of helplessness and unwillingness.

    It was as if he believed in the "theory of bloodline."

    At their level, they didn''t believe in physiques, bloodlines, or talent.

    The self was the strongest.

    But this Dao Lord had struggled for so long, only to find that a physique brought him more power than his efforts.

    How could he accept this?

    "I hope you can achieve the true Dream Origin Body."

    After the Dao Lord finished speaking.

    The ten shadows on the boat all turned to look at Qi Yuan.

    Ten gazes, some filled with expectation, some with despair, some emotionless, all focused on Qi Yuan.

    In that instant, the ten shadows vanished.

    As if they had never existed.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan realized that his physique had changed.

    "So... I now have the Dream Origin Body?"

    "A fake Dream Origin Body?"

    Of course, this physique wasn''t the pure Dream Origin Body, but a reduced, imitated version.

    "What is the relationship between the Dream Origin Body and the Devouring Origin Body?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    He thought of the Foodless Holy Mother, who possessed two powerful origin bodies.

    Later, the Foodless Holy Mother gave him the Devouring Origin Body.

    This terrifying physique had helped Qi Yuan greatly.

    In the Mortal Heart Realm, without the Devouring Origin Body, even with the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra and all the Nascent Souls, he might not have been able to defeat those two Yang Gods.

    "So... the Immortal Realm and the Nanke Universe were dream universes created by the Dao Lord using the Dream Origin Body?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    At this moment, he understood many things.

    These universes were illusory.

    Of course, at their level, the distinction between illusion and reality was unimportant.

    Illusory beings were still beings.

    Dream creatures were still creatures.

    The only difference was...

    "No wonder the beings of the Immortal Realm cannot leave for other worlds.

    The Dao Lord of the Immortal Realm has fallen. If the beings went to other worlds and discovered the truth, they would easily perish."

    "Moreover, these worlds were created by the Dao Lord and exist within his dreams."

    "The Dao Lord has fallen. Where does the dream exist?"

    "If these beings were to realize this, these universes would likely collapse instantly."

 Chapter 587: Iâ€™m Just a Mortal Who Does as He Pleases

    All the Dao Lord shadows disappeared, leaving Qi Yuan standing alone in the Cosmic Spirit Sea.

    "So, the ten Dao Lords are all one person, and the news of creating worlds in dreams cannot be leaked. Once... the will of the Immortal Path or the will of the universe learns of this, it will likely collapse instantly."

    Perhaps it was precisely because Qi Yuan had tempered his true spirit to purity in the thirty-six opportunity zones that he received this Dao Lord''s inheritance.

    Otherwise, if he returned to the Immortal Realm or other worlds, the information elements might inadvertently leak, causing the Immortal Realm and the universes created by this Dao Lord in dreams to collapse and perish.

    "So, this information must remain buried in my stomach for now."

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    The Dao Lord had passed on his inheritance to him.

    In addition to obtaining the most terrifying Dream Origin Body, Qi Yuan also received the coordinates of the universes created by this Dao Lord, as well as many insights into the Great Dao.

    "So, although I¡¯ve undergone the baptism of the thirty-six opportunity zones, in terms of strength... I¡¯m still far from this Dao Lord. Is this the power of a Dao Lord?"

    The gap between him and the Dao Lord of Nanke was vast.

    If they were to meet and fight in the universe where the Dao Lord of Nanke resided, Qi Yuan would undoubtedly lose.

    "However, he is an exceptionally powerful Dao Lord... I wonder if there¡¯s a chance to fight other Dao Lords."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    But in their respective universes and Dao systems, Dao Lords are alternative omniscient and omnipotent beings, invincible. Qi Yuan would likely still be unable to defeat them.

    "Cultivation is truly difficult."

    ...

    Immortal Realm.

    In the Supreme Truth Society.

    The Second Leader''s face was filled with ambition and vigor.

    When he saw Realm Lord Ghost and Dragon Turtle Supreme return, he quickly went to greet them.

    "Realm Lord Ghost, your power has deepened further. Congratulations. To continue entering the Cosmic Sea, you¡¯ll need more immortal veins. I have a plan to help you obtain more immortal veins," the Second Leader said confidently.

    Dragon Turtle Supreme remained silent.

    Realm Lord Ghost asked curiously, "What plan?"

    In the Cosmic Sea, his strength had improved significantly.

    But without a single cosmic cycle, the daily consumption of immortal veins in the Cosmic Sea was terrifying.

    Even with the resources of Ghost Heaven, it was impossible to sustain for long.

    "The Immortal Realm is vast and boundless, with many unknown immortal veins. Realm Lord Ghost, as the number one figure in the Immortal Path, should unify the Immortal Realm, bringing all under your rule. The immortal veins of heaven and earth will naturally fall into your hands," the Second Leader said, his eyes filled with ambition.

    If Realm Lord Ghost unified the Immortal Realm and became its ruler, the Second Leader would truly be second only to him, above billions.

    "No!" Realm Lord Ghost''s expression changed drastically.

    The Second Leader was puzzled. "Is Realm Lord Ghost too kind-hearted?"

    "No, it¡¯s just... you overestimate me as the number one figure in the Immortal Path," Realm Lord Ghost said seriously. "In the Cosmic Sea, there are countless Realm Lords... all stronger than me. I¡¯m like an ant among them."

    He explained the situation in the Cosmic Sea and the approximate number of powerful beings to the Second Leader.

    The Second Leader''s expression stiffened.

    He hadn¡¯t expected that someone as powerful as him and Realm Lord Ghost would be like cannon fodder in the Cosmic Sea.

    However, he still didn¡¯t understand. "Precisely because of this, Realm Lord Ghost, you should unify the Immortal Realm, consolidate resources, and enhance your strength."

    Realm Lord Ghost shook his head. "Do you know that the number one figure in the Cosmic Sea can kill a Creation Realm Lord with a snap of his fingers?"

    The Second Leader was confused, not understanding what this had to do with unifying the Immortal Realm.

    "This person... comes from our Immortal Realm. He is none other than the Great Sun Supreme."

    "How is that possible!" The Second Leader''s heart was filled with shock.

    ...

    Twelve years passed in the blink of an eye.

    "Time waits for no one!"

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    He had aged another twelve years.

    Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t returned to Blue Star, missing out on twelve years of retirement benefits. What a loss.

    But then he remembered that he hadn¡¯t paid into social security, so he wouldn¡¯t get any retirement benefits anyway. His mood improved.

    "Senior Brother... what are you worrying about?"

    The wealthy young lady Jiang Lingsu walked over gracefully, her slender waist and ample bosom exuding charm.

    "I¡¯m worrying that all things have a beginning and an end, and soon... the Immortal Realm will be destroyed."

    Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu showed no anxiety.

    She had heard Senior Brother say this many times and was used to it.

    The Immortal Realm would indeed be destroyed and reset, but that was three hundred billion years from now.

    It was too distant for her.

    "Before the Immortal Realm is destroyed, what does Senior Brother want to do?" Jiang Lingsu asked, her snow-white face filled with anticipation.

    Having tasted the pleasures of life, she had often sneaked into Qi Yuan''s residence over the past twelve years.

    Sometimes she got what she wanted, and sometimes she encountered Ning Tao, Jinli, or Canary, "reluctantly" joining the fray.

    "I want..." Qi Yuan thought seriously.

    He hadn¡¯t considered this question before.

    There were rumors that the True Creator had created the Heavy Origin Universe and all living beings.

    The True Creator was the origin of everything.

    "Nonsense! To worship the True Creator, you have to give up half your flesh, half your spirit, and half your desires!" Wu Xue cursed under his breath.

    He had no fondness for this church.

    "Isn¡¯t that better than dying?" someone muttered.

    "Hmph, do you think joining the church means you won¡¯t die?" someone else retorted angrily.

    In the fortress, humans were divided into several factions.

    Many belonged to the church faction.

    One reason Wu Xue disliked the church faction was that he believed the church was full of frauds.

    This so-called church claimed that when the True Creator awakened, all dream beasts would be eradicated, and humanity would see the dawn.

    But before that... sacrifices had to be made.

    Who would make the sacrifices?

    Naturally, the lower-ranking church members and their... friends and family.

    His childhood sweetheart, separated from him due to the dream beast disaster, had married a church member.

    To resist the dream beast invasion, the church member had sacrificed his wife.

    In the end, that person became a high-ranking member of the church.

    Wu Xue had always resented this.

    At that moment, the tall woman suddenly looked outside the city, her eyes widening. "Look, who¡¯s that?"

    "A wanderer?" Wu Xue¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Although there had been many wanderers at the beginning of the dream beast disaster, as the disaster grew, their numbers had dwindled, with almost no place to hide.

    "Quick, open the fortress gates and let him in. If he stays outside and the dream beasts get close, he¡¯ll die for sure!" Wu Xue said.

    The man in golden robes objected. "If we open the gates now and the dream beasts get in, the fortress will fall. Who will take responsibility?"

    "But... he¡¯s close, and the dream beasts are far. If we¡¯re quick, the dream beasts won¡¯t have time to enter," Wu Xue argued.

    "This wanderer has survived outside for so long. He must have some skills. If he joins us, we might find a way to deal with the dream beasts," the tall woman said.

    "Hmph, aside from the True Creator, no one in this world can deal with dream beasts. Right now, the church is forging a divine artifact, and we¡¯re at a critical stage. Any disturbance could ruin it. Even if you¡¯re right and the dream beasts can¡¯t get in, what if... he¡¯s a dream beast? Even the slightest chance of disrupting the artifact¡¯s forging means we can¡¯t let him in," the man in golden robes said seriously.

    Without his approval, no one else had the authority to open the gates.

    Wu Xue and the tall woman were tense and worried.

    At that moment, a calm voice suddenly rang out.

    "From your perspective, it makes sense not to open the gates. But... I don¡¯t need the gates to enter."

    As soon as the words fell, Qi Yuan¡¯s figure appeared inside the fortress.

    Seeing this, everyone¡¯s eyes widened.

    This fortress was the last stronghold of the Flying Bird Realm.

    Without opening the gates, even a legendary Yang God expert couldn¡¯t enter so quickly.

    Yet, this person had entered as if it were nothing.

    The group was shocked, their faces filled with confusion and wariness.

    "Who are you?"

    "Why are you here?"

    They asked.

    "My name is Qi Yuan."

    "I¡¯m here to ask you, do you want to die?"

    Hearing this, everyone¡¯s expressions changed drastically, their wariness deepening.

    Was this person... here to kill them?

    "What do you mean?" they asked angrily.

    "Oh, I forgot to mention. This kind of death is the type where you can revive by watching an ad."

    Qi Yuan continued.

    After arriving in the Heavy Origin Universe, he found that this universe was even more tragic than he had imagined.

    Most beings in the Immortal Realm didn¡¯t know that the Immortal Realm¡¯s Dao Lord had fallen, nor did they know that the Immortal Realm was created by a Dao Lord in a dream.

    But the Heavy Origin Universe wasn¡¯t so lucky.

    Some of the information had leaked, creating disasters like the dream beasts. If this continued, the universe would slowly collapse and be destroyed.

    "Revive by watching an ad?" Hearing this, Wu Xue was puzzled. Then, as if remembering something, he looked shocked. "Are you from the Ad Church?"

    Beside him, the man in golden robes also looked wary. "This place is under the grace of the True Creator. The Ad Church... please leave immediately."

    He had heard a little about the Ad Church.

    It was a newly established church.

    This church was mysterious and terrifying.

    It was said that to join this church, one had to die first, then revive by watching an ad.

    Those who joined the church had all died once and claimed the ads were amazing.

    But the man in golden robes didn¡¯t believe it. It had to be a scam.

    How could anyone die and then come back to life?

 Chapter 588: Ad Space for Rent

    Everyone present looked at Qi Yuan with strange expressions.

    The Ad Church was too mysterious, absurd, and even a bit abstract.

    Many people believed it was a cult, one that ground people''s intelligence into the dirt.

    After all, this church claimed that people should die.

    The man in golden robes directly told Qi Yuan to leave.

    As a believer in the True Creator, he naturally looked down on heretical cults like the Ad Church.

    "Why should I leave? I came here to save you," Qi Yuan said calmly, transforming into a preacher. "The world is about to be destroyed, and all living beings will perish. Only by watching ads and being revived can you find a sliver of hope."

    The Heavy Origin Universe was special.

    After obtaining the Dream Origin Body, the Dao Lord of Nanke had also modified this universe.

    Thus, this universe was half-real and half-illusory.

    If news of the Dao Lord''s death spread, the entire universe would collapse instantly.

    This universe, however, would collapse... slowly.

    Only half of it would collapse.

    As a kind-hearted person and someone who had inherited the Dao Lord of Nanke''s legacy, Qi Yuan naturally had to step in and give these people a chance to revive by watching ads.

    Moreover, as the old saying goes, "The underworld is empty, and the cattle and horses are in the mortal world."

    If the underworld had no cattle or horses, could it still be called the underworld?

    Thus, he took on countless forms, actively spreading his teachings to guide some "cattle and horses" to the underworld.

    As long as these people died and then revived by watching ads, they would escape the fate of being "half-illusory" and "collapsing," avoiding being devoured by dream beasts.

    In addition, Qi Yuan also wanted to find outsiders.

    Specifically, those "lured" by the Dao Lord of Nanke.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s words, everyone present felt it was absurd.

    The man in golden robes sneered inwardly, feeling disdainful.

    Without any divine arts, how could he preach?

    When the True Creator''s missionaries preached, they used divine arts.

    Under the influence of divine arts, their words were more persuasive, more believable, and carried psychological suggestions.

    Qi Yuan''s words earlier were just plain speech.

    Of course, what he didn''t know was that if Qi Yuan wanted to persuade them, he didn''t need the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra. A simple spell would be enough to make them fully believe his words.

    But he didn''t like the idea of forcing his will on others under the guise of "doing what''s best for them."

    Enemies were an exception.

    So, even though he genuinely wanted to help these people, he didn''t use the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra.

    "What do you think? According to my calculations, in three days, the dream beasts will breach this fortress. By then, even watching ads won''t save you," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    Everyone present exchanged glances.

    They were all mid-to-high-level figures in the fortress. Convincing them was equivalent to convincing many others.

    "You should leave. This place is under the protection of the True Creator. The fortress will remain safe," the man in golden robes said coldly.

    Qi Yuan stood quietly, pondering a question.

    Although he didn''t like twisting others'' wills, if he wanted to achieve his goals, he needed to demonstrate his... strength?

    Otherwise, their skepticism was understandable.

    Should he summon a star and shatter this world to show them?

    See, I''m very powerful!

    But wasn''t that too crude?

    Or should he find another way?

    Just then, an elderly woman in luxurious robes appeared, her white hair adorned with jade and emerald, exuding a noble and sacred aura.

    Seeing her, Wu Xue and the others were moved.

    The man in golden robes was even more excited.

    This was the priestess of the True Creator''s church in this fortress.

    The priestess looked at Qi Yuan, her eyes flashing with joy. "If you want to leave, you''ll have to ask me first."

    As a priestess of the True Creator''s church, she had recently received orders from above to capture or kill missionaries of the Ad Church.

    So, upon learning that Qi Yuan had come to this fortress, she personally intervened.

    Seeing the priestess, Qi Yuan also smiled.

    This was like a pillow appearing just as he was about to fall asleep.

    He had been wondering how to demonstrate his strength, and now someone had come to cause trouble.

    "I''m not leaving. Hurry up, gather your ultimate move, use all your trump cards. Otherwise, I''m afraid killing you won''t have much of an effect," Qi Yuan said, always high in emotional intelligence and considerate, allowing her to die in a spectacular manner.

    "Hmph." The white-haired priestess snorted, thinking that this wild chicken church was full of people who had never seen the world, acting crazy.

    "Seeking death!"

    With the priestess''s shout, the heavens stirred, and a black spear appeared in her hand.

    Legend had it that the True Creator used this spear to slay the world-destroying beast and create the world.

    This spear was a replica of the divine spear used in creation, possessing infinite power.

    Seeing this spear, everyone present was moved.

    "A divine artifact!"

    The deal was to sell ad space.

    In return, he wanted to obtain the information and resources he needed through the guilds.

    Although, with his strength, he could easily conquer this universe.

    But Qi Yuan had morals.

    The branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild quickly asked, "Esteemed guest, what kind of deal?"

    The tall, thin man from the Dawn Merchant Guild was also curious.

    "Since we can revive by watching ads after death, I plan to sell this ad space to you," Qi Yuan said, transforming into a top-notch salesman, pitching his ad space.

    "Let me first explain the advantages of our ad space."

    "First, it targets the lower-tier market. What makes up the majority of this world? The lower class. They actually have immense spending potential."

    "Second, it aggregates the mid-to-high-tier market. Many nobles and the middle class will also die. They control most of the world''s resources, and their spending power should not be underestimated."

    The branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild was dumbfounded.

    The leader of the Dawn Merchant Guild listened intently, his expression odd.

    "This ad space, though only sixty seconds, is absolutely worth it," Qi Yuan said.

    "This..." The branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild felt that Qi Yuan was asking for a bribe.

    He was considering how much to donate.

    "By the way, I''m not making a deal with you. I''m making a deal with your headquarters.

    You can relay this message to your headquarters. Tell them... I want one-third of your guild''s manpower and network to work for me," Qi Yuan stated his goal.

    The branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild took a deep breath.

    He thought Qi Yuan was insane.

    He didn''t even know how large their headquarters was.

    If he reported this, his superiors would likely question his professionalism.

    As for the leader of the Dawn Merchant Guild, after some thought, he decided to report the matter.

    "Esteemed guest, please wait. This matter will likely take some time to resolve," the branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild decided to stall.

    "Fine," Qi Yuan nodded.

    He didn''t care.

    He always acted as he pleased.

    At this moment, the branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild leaned in closer, his face filled with a suggestive smile. "Esteemed guest, I have some gifts for you. They''ll be delivered to your residence tonight."

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan''s expression was unreadable.

    ...

    Night fell, and a fragrant aroma filled the air. The sounds of singing and dancing reached his ears.

    A group of graceful young women arrived at the palace where Qi Yuan was staying.

    These young women were the dancers who had performed at the banquet earlier.

    There were twenty-seven of them, each stunningly beautiful in their own way.

    They wore dance attire, their fair arms and long, shapely legs exposed to the air, their chests either perky or flat, exuding charm and allure.

    They had also brought with them full-length mirrors, seemingly to enhance the visual stimulation, forming a circle during their performance.

    "Esteemed guest, the branch leader sent us to serve you," the leading beautiful woman said shyly, not daring to look at Qi Yuan.

    "Is this the gift?" Qi Yuan was somewhat disappointed. He glanced at one of the mirrors, his expression calm. "I don''t need your service."

    These women were all quite beautiful, young, and seemed to have practiced seduction techniques, their every movement exuding charm.

    But to Qi Yuan, they were no different from ordinary women.

    Even though there were many of them.

    Occasionally, Canary and Ning Tao would also transform into countless forms, the beauty of which was indescribable to outsiders.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s refusal, the women looked as if they were about to cry, appearing pitiful.

    Clearly, if they didn''t serve him, they would face reprimands from those who sent them.

    "Fine, you can perform a dance before you leave," Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    Although he could directly tell the branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild not to blame these women, he chose to watch the dance instead.

    Not because he was lustful, but because he had refined tastes and...

    The mirror was somewhat interesting.

    ...

    The night was pitch black.

    The branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild had a dark expression. "I didn''t expect him to resist the temptation. But fortunately... the divine mirror has recorded him."

    Sending the dance troupe to Qi Yuan was not out of goodwill.

    One of the mirrors used for entertainment had been tampered with.

    This divine mirror came from the True Creator''s church and could record the characteristics of living beings.

    At that moment, a flash of white light appeared, and a phantom descended. "Liu Tu, how did it go?"

    Seeing the phantom, Liu Tu immediately knelt down. "Reporting to the High Priest, the divine mirror has recorded his information."

    This High Priest was from the True Creator''s church, not a minor priestess like the one before.

    "Hmph, his strength is impressive, perhaps even at the legendary Yang God stage. But what does it matter?

    The divine mirror has recorded his information. Send the mirror to True Mountain Realm. I will use the blood of our Lord to curse him. He will surely die."

    The High Priest''s face was filled with ferocity. "Dare to kill a follower of the True Creator? Seeking death!"

 Chapter 589: The Terrifying Supreme Destroyer of Dark Evil Gods

    Under the cover of night, the branch leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild left using a teleportation array.

    There was a teleportation array in the fortress, but the resources required for teleportation were exorbitantly expensive.

    With the dream beast disaster looming, only a select few would be able to use the array to escape.

    The vast majority of the lower-class civilians, and even some nobles, would be unable to leave.

    By the time the sky began to lighten, the deputy leader of the Stormwind Merchant Guild had arrived at a magnificent palace.

    This palace was the grand hall of the True Creator''s Church, where the High Priest who had contacted Liu Tu resided.

    The True Creator''s Church was a colossal entity, spanning numerous worlds.

    This High Priest was a significant figure even within the church''s headquarters, being a member of the Elder Council.

    The Elder Council was the true core of the True Creator''s Church.

    Every member of the Elder Council possessed the strength of the seventh realm.

    The seventh realm was the Yang God realm.

    "Enter."

    A commanding voice rang out, and Liu Tu immediately entered with humility, his face filled with reverence.

    That Qi Yuan from the Ad Church was strong, but to Liu Tu, he was nothing special.

    He had once witnessed this High Priest of the True Creator''s Church destroy an entire world of heretics with a single palm strike.

    Such terrifying power made Liu Tu regard the High Priest as a god.

    How could a mere Ad Church possibly stand against such a powerful True Creator''s Church?

    "Greetings, High Priest. The divine mirror has been delivered," Liu Tu said with utmost respect, a stark contrast to the respect he had shown Qi Yuan.

    The High Priest, dressed in a gray-white robe, glanced at the divine mirror and asked, "Tell me what happened in the Flying Bird Realm."

    Liu Tu quickly recounted the events in the fortress in detail.

    "To destroy a divine artifact, he has some strength," the High Priest commented indifferently.

    "Compared to the High Priest, that Qi Yuan from the Ad Church is nothing but a clown.

    If the High Priest were to act personally, he could be killed with a snap of your fingers," Liu Tu flattered, though he was also somewhat curious.

    Why didn''t the High Priest act personally? Wouldn''t that better demonstrate the power of the True Creator''s Church?

    The High Priest narrowed his eyes but did not respond.

    He had barely reached the seventh realm, becoming a Yang God.

    The opponent was also a Yang God. Without a fight, the outcome was uncertain.

    The High Priest couldn''t be sure of his victory.

    Thus, the safest method was to use the blood of the True Creator to cast a curse.

    The High Priest waved his hand, and the divine mirror flew into his grasp.

    At that moment, a drop of golden blood appeared, and the High Priest''s face showed reverence.

    "This drop of blood comes from the True Creator, possessing divine power. With it, even a church leader-level existence cannot resist the curse."

    Church leaders were the leaders of major churches, beings at the second layer of Yang God.

    In other words, aside from the True Creator, church leaders were the strongest beings in the world.

    As the High Priest spoke, his eyes shone with divine light.

    He reached into the divine mirror, and the drop of the True Creator''s blood also entered the mirror.

    "Blood Curse, True Descent... Die!"

    The High Priest chanted, and the curse was activated.

    In the heavens and earth, a terrifying blood-red light seemed to descend.

    The High Priest looked up, his face filled with awe.

    "The shadow of the True Creator has descended. His shadow will remember the aura in the divine mirror and cast the curse. No matter where he hides, he will die."

    The High Priest spoke with certainty.

    However, at that moment, a calm voice suddenly rang out.

    "If I don''t hide, does that mean I won''t die?"

    As the words fell, a man of unparalleled handsomeness appeared.

    Seeing the newcomer, Liu Tu''s heart skipped a beat. "How did you get here!"

    The teleportation array could only be used twice a day. How had Qi Yuan arrived?

    The High Priest''s heart also trembled, and he looked at Qi Yuan with wariness. "I didn''t expect you to evade my perception and come here. You have some strength. And to have discovered Liu Tu''s anomaly, you have some wisdom. But choosing to follow him here shows a lack of wisdom."

    The golden light illuminated all directions.

    Within the True Creator''s Church, dozens of elders from the Elder Council were startled awake.

    They looked in shock at the newly appeared sun, their faces filled with confusion.

    "What is this?"

    "Such intense light!"

    "My eyes!"

    "What kind of power is this?"

    "This is blasphemy against the god! How dare they!" one elder shouted angrily, his faith shattered.

    These Yang God experts, even the church leader-level Yang Gods, showed fear.

    Suddenly, a massive sun had appeared in the core area of the church. How could they not be shocked?

    "Church leader, what is this?" someone asked.

    The church leader of the True Creator''s Church looked grave. "I see a great sun."

    "See, the sun is about to burn your butt," Qi Yuan continued. "If you don''t wake up, I''ll add another sun, or maybe three?"

    As Qi Yuan''s strength increased, his stellar golden core had also become more powerful, not just a simple tool for smashing enemies.

    Of course, using it to smash enemies was still terrifyingly effective.

    At that moment, an ancient and profound aura spread.

    The True Creator, who had been slumbering for countless years, finally awoke.

    His first thought was, who am I, where am I, what''s happening? Wasn''t I severely injured and in a deep slumber? Why did I suddenly wake up?

    Wait... it''s so hot.

    The True Creator awoke, his aura weak, like a shut-in who had stayed up all night.

    His gaze fell on his buttocks and immediately saw two terrifying objects not far away.

    His eyes widened in disbelief.

    He clearly remembered that he had fled to an ordinary universe.

    In that universe, he should have been the top existence.

    How...

    When he saw Qi Yuan, his neck instinctively shrank, as if he had seen a natural predator.

    In an instant, he seemed to understand the reason.

    It turned out that this majestic being had created an Ad Church, seemingly competing with the True Creator''s Church for faith.

    A mere elder from the Elder Council had casually issued an order to suppress the Ad Church.

    That was bad enough, but one of the elders, only at the first layer of Yang God, had even used his blood to curse this majestic being.

    At this moment, the True Creator felt like crying.

    While he was sleeping at home, disaster had fallen from the sky.

    "Esteemed god, I was at fault first. All those who bear ill will toward the Ad Church have their fates intertwined here. You may sever them at any time. This is all a misunderstanding," the True Creator immediately knelt, offering a thread of fate to Qi Yuan.

    This thread of fate was connected to the lives of tens of thousands of beings.

    "I''m not here to blame you. I want to ask, who caused the injury on your hand?" Qi Yuan asked. "According to your doctrine, it was the Terrifying Supreme Destroyer of Dark Evil Gods. Who is that?"

    The True Creator''s expression turned grave, and he seemed hesitant. "Once, I was severely injured and fell into a deep slumber. After countless years of effort, my followers managed to awaken a sliver of my consciousness, and my hand reached out to the world...

    But then, a... cat''s paw slapped my hand, and I was immediately severely injured again."

    As he spoke, the True Creator shuddered with fear.

    Although he had been severely injured, he had still reached the third layer of Yang God, making him a realm lord.

    Yet, a cat had slapped him back into slumber.

    "Was this cat black and white?" Qi Yuan asked thoughtfully.

    "Do you know it, esteemed god?" the True Creator asked, surprised.

    That cat had been too terrifying, or perhaps bizarre. It looked like an ordinary cat, yet it was so confident and powerful.

    And the being behind the cat was even more terrifying.

    "If I''m not mistaken, it should be the cat I raised.

    Xie Xinsu."

    Qi Yuan said calmly.

 Chapter 590: The Path of Gods?

    The True Creator''s heart tightened.

    That cat was actually raised by this senior? If so, it was possible.

    After all, this senior gave him a mysterious and extraordinary feeling.

    "But I''m curious, how did it injure you?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Although Xie Xinsu had some talent, it was impossible for her to break through to the third layer of Yang God so quickly.

    Even with Zero-One''s help, it would be extremely difficult.

    The True Creator recalled, "It was just an ordinary cat, but it carried a strange treasure with it."

    When mentioning the strange treasure, the True Creator''s expression turned serious.

    "Who else was with it?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The True Creator lowered his head, his gaze distant. "There was also... a woman?"

    His tone was uncertain.

    "Anyone else?" Qi Yuan asked.

    This woman might be Zero-One, his robot.

    "No one else," the True Creator shook his head.

    "Where did you come from, and how can you return?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    He still wanted to find his robot.

    After all, Zero-One''s body contained various high-tech features. Having a robot butler would make everything more convenient.

    "I come from... the Divine Sound Universe," the True Creator said seriously. "The Divine Sound Universe is a universe under the Divine Mountain. When I was severely injured, the Divine Mountain experienced turmoil, affecting the Divine Sound Universe. Deities like me faced the risk of falling if we stayed in the Divine Sound Universe, so I followed an ancient passage and secretly crossed over to the Heavy Origin Universe."

    When mentioning the Divine Mountain, the True Creator''s eyes were filled with deep wariness, awe, and longing.

    "Oh, are there beings above the fifth layer of Yang God on the Divine Mountain?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He was very curious about this.

    After all, the Dream Origin Body also came from the Divine Sound Universe.

    Perhaps, in that universe, there were beings who had broken through beyond the fifth layer of Yang God.

    "I don''t know," the True Creator shook his head.

    In the Divine Sound Universe, he was considered a big shot, but on the Divine Mountain, he was just a small fry.

    He didn''t know much about the situation on the Divine Mountain.

    "However, there are many Dao Lords on the Divine Mountain. Among them... the Lord of Gods sits on the divine throne, with many Dao Lords bowing to him. Perhaps... he is a being above the fifth layer of Yang God," the True Creator speculated.

    The strength and origins of the Lord of Gods were a mystery.

    Some said the Lord of Gods was at the fifth layer of Yang God, while others argued that he had surpassed it, becoming an extraordinary being. Otherwise, why would the other Dao Lords bow to him and acknowledge him as their lord?

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan became even more curious about the Divine Sound Universe and the Divine Mountain.

    "Where is the ancient passage?"

    Qi Yuan asked.

    "After I arrived, the ancient passage was severed," the True Creator replied. "Senior, you can follow me to take a look."

    As soon as he finished speaking, the two figures traversed countless miles, arriving at the other end of the universe.

    Here, it was pitch black, without a trace of light.

    Terrifying storms raged, strong enough to tear apart Yang Gods.

    "Back then, I came to the Heavy Origin Universe through a passage here," the True Creator said.

    Qi Yuan looked ahead, his eyes showing disappointment. "This passage is indeed destroyed."

    It seemed he couldn''t go to the Divine Sound Universe, nor could he find his robot Zero-One or Xie Xinsu.

    As for Wu Shi and that bird, he couldn''t find them either.

    "Do you know about the Ten Great Origin Bodies?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    Originally, such a decision required discussion among the nobles to reach a consensus.

    But the city lord understood that in major matters, it was better to make quick decisions.

    Dragging things out would only lead to complications, which was not ideal.

    "Let''s go, we''ll meet Lord Qi Yuan!"

    Soon, the city lord brought Wu Xue and others to meet Qi Yuan.

    "Oh, have you decided to join the Ad Church and watch ads?" Qi Yuan asked with a smile.

    The Dao Lord of Nanke had given him some inheritance, and in return, he would protect the beings of the Heavy Origin Universe.

    At the same time, he wanted to find the descendants of the Dream Origin Body to learn more about the realms beyond the fifth layer of Yang God or the Ten Great Origin Bodies.

    "Yes, we ask that you save the people from their suffering!" the city lord said, bowing his head, his eyes clouded and aged.

    "In that case, it''s simple. I''ll kill everyone here, and then they can revive by watching ads," Qi Yuan said.

    The city lord''s heart skipped a beat.

    Kill everyone?

    So straightforward!

    He thought for a moment and said, "I''ll order all the citizens not to resist."

    "No need for orders. Killing all of you would only take a thought," Qi Yuan said casually. "But I''ll wait a bit before doing it. First, I need to see if anyone is interested in my ad space."

    Hearing this, the city lord was even more shocked.

    With just a thought, he could wipe out the entire fortress?

    With such power, there was no need to lie to them.

    After all, if he wanted to kill them, he could do it with a single thought.

    ...

    Dawn Merchant Guild.

    Zhou Wu frowned deeply. "What a pity. To resist the dream beast disaster, our guild has exhausted many resources and is now at the bottom of the top ten guilds."

    Zhou Wu was a high-ranking manager of the Dawn Merchant Guild, holding a prestigious position.

    The Dawn Merchant Guild, as its name suggested, had been providing resources to resist the dream beasts when the disaster first struck.

    They had even established outposts in areas affected by the dream beasts to fight them and save ordinary people.

    Unfortunately, despite consuming vast resources, the results were minimal.

    In fact, all those investments had come to nothing.

    Fortunately, the two founders of the Dawn Merchant Guild didn''t mind.

    However, as one of the high-ranking managers, Zhou Wu still felt pained by the guild''s decline.

    "Now, with the dream beasts running rampant, according to the Divine Calculator''s prophecy, half of the Heavy Origin Universe... will fall. What a troubled time," Zhou Wu sighed. "So many things have happened recently."

    For example, the True Creator in the same region had awakened, purged the Elder Council, and issued some decrees.

    Another example was the formation of alliances by the Chaos Bandits, who were plundering freely and cutting off trade routes.

    Zhou Wu frowned as he dealt with the documents sent by the branch guilds.

    Suddenly, his brow furrowed. "A message from a seventh-level manager?"

    He was a second-level manager.

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    A seventh-level manager was far below him.

    Generally, a seventh-level manager had no right to report directly to him.

    "Could it be something important?"

    With curiosity, he opened the message.

    "The Ad Church?"

 Chapter 591

    Zhou Wu''s gaze sharpened.

    "It''s actually the Ad Church!"

    His voice trembled slightly.

    If it were before, he might not have known about the Ad Church, and even if he had heard of its doctrines, he would have scoffed at them.

    But recently, the events surrounding the True Creator''s Church had revealed some secrets to him.

    The awakening of the True Creator was closely related to the Ad Church.

    The elders who had been punished by the True Creator had once taken action against the Ad Church.

    The Ad Church was shrouded in a veil of mystery, making it difficult to understand.

    Many major forces wanted to make contact with the Ad Church but had no way to do so.

    Now, there was news about the Ad Church, and it was even a proactive collaboration. How could he not be shocked?

    However, after carefully reading the details of the collaboration, Zhou Wu was left dumbfounded.

    "Embedded ads? Reviving by watching ads?"

    "How can dead people watch ads?"

    He was completely baffled.

    The content was too abstract and absurd.

    The gist was that the Ad Church would collaborate with the Dawn Merchant Guild.

    The Dawn Merchant Guild would produce an ad, and the Ad Church''s members would watch it after death.

    But how could dead people watch ads?

    "Such a senior expert must have deep intentions behind his actions. Agreeing to this might not be a bad idea," Zhou Wu thought to himself.

    This could be an opportunity for the Dawn Merchant Guild.

    "Though this collaboration... is a bit strange."

    "When I meet that senior from the Ad Church, perhaps we can discuss it in detail. Moreover..."

    Zhou Wu''s eyes gleamed with a flash of insight. "The Ad Church... might be even more terrifying than the True Creator''s Church. This could be a great opportunity."

    With this in mind, he quickly ordered, "Someone, bring some of the younger generation from the clan. Choose those with good talent and insight, who are clever in dealing with people, and... make sure they are good-looking."

    ...

    Flying Bird Realm.

    Fortress.

    Zhou Wu stood with a young man and woman behind him, both descendants of the Zhou family.

    The young man was handsome, and the woman was beautiful, dressed in long robes and skirts. They stood quietly behind Zhou Wu, not speaking, though their expressions showed a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

    At that moment, a figure appeared, and Zhou Wu, along with the young man and woman, immediately turned to look.

    When they saw Qi Yuan''s face, the beautiful young woman''s eyes flickered, and a blush crept onto her cheeks.

    Zhou Wu was also surprised, as Qi Yuan looked far too young, exuding a vibrant energy rather than the solemnity and authority of a powerful figure.

    "I am Zhou Wu of the Dawn Merchant Guild. Greetings, Senior," Zhou Wu said respectfully, bowing deeply.

    "I heard that Senior wishes to collaborate with the Dawn Merchant Guild. May I ask... what exactly does this collaboration entail?"

    Zhou Wu got straight to the point.

    "It''s simple. I''ll help you place ads, and you''ll use one-tenth of your guild''s manpower and resources to help me find someone," Qi Yuan said. "Don''t worry, our ads have many clients, and they are mandatory to watch. You can''t skip them, even if you buy a membership. You won''t lose out."

    Zhou Wu was momentarily confused by the latter part of Qi Yuan''s words, but recalling the branch leader''s description of Qi Yuan, he quickly accepted it as normal.

    Zhou Wu focused on the first part and asked, "Who are we looking for?"

    "Some people who have strayed far from home," Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    What he wanted to find were the outsiders lured by the Dao Lord of Nanke.

    The Dream Origin Body obtained by the Dao Lord of Nanke was incomplete.

    Thus, he had modified the Heavy Origin Universe to "fish" for more outsiders, hoping to perfect the Dream Origin Body.

    Unfortunately, before he could complete it, he perished.

    The Dream Origin Body Qi Yuan had inherited was, at best, only 70% complete.

    The Dao Lord of Nanke''s ultimate failure might have been due to not obtaining the complete Dream Origin Body.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Zhou Wu with a smile.

    He hadn''t expected that finding people would be so coincidental.

    He had already detected a faint trace of the Dream Origin Body''s aura on Zhou Wu and the young man and woman behind him.

    Clearly, these three might be descendants of a Dream Origin Body bearer, carrying a trace of its bloodline.

    Zhou Wu was momentarily stunned, as if realizing something.

    His status in the Dawn Merchant Guild was high enough that he knew about outsiders who had drifted into this universe.

    "Coincidentally, you three are also the people I''m looking for," Qi Yuan said casually, not hiding the truth.

    After all, he was lawful good, and this was a collaboration, not a scavenger hunt.

    When Zhou Wu heard this, his expression changed drastically, as if he had thought of something terrifying.

    Qi Yuan continued, "I''m very curious about your physique. How about selling it to me? Don''t worry, this physique is of no use to you, and taking it away won''t affect you."

    He was telling the truth.

    The Dream Origin Body in their bloodline was too faint and weak, almost nonexistent.

    It was of no use for cultivation or anything else.

    Zhou Wu''s face shifted through several expressions before he finally gritted his teeth and said, "I don''t know what Senior is talking about."

    "I''m talking about... the Dream Origin Body," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    When Zhou Wu heard this, it was as if he had resigned himself to fate. "So Senior is with the Shadow Mountain Society."

    When mentioning the Shadow Mountain Society, Zhou Wu clenched his teeth.

    The young man and woman behind him grew visibly uneasy.

    "Don''t talk nonsense. I don''t know any Shadow Mountain Society," Qi Yuan quickly clarified.

    If he obtained the complete Dream Origin Body, what would that be like?

    He wondered if the Shadow Mountain Society could help him complete the Dream Origin Body.

    "If it''s complete, wouldn''t that mean I''d have both the Dream Origin Body and the Devouring Origin Body?"

    "I''d have as many origin bodies as the Foodless Holy Mother."

    The Foodless Holy Mother also had two origin bodies.

    However, those two origin bodies were inherently conflicting.

    Qi Yuan was quite curious about the universe the Foodless Holy Mother came from.

    That universe also had no future.

    Could it be like the Immortal Realm and the Nanke Universe, where the future had been severed?

    "Alright, it''s time to go to the Shadow Mountain Society."

    Qi Yuan''s eyes flashed, and his figure disappeared once again.

    At the same time, within the Zhou family.

    Zhou Wu watched Qi Yuan''s disappearing figure, a complex expression in his eyes.

    "Senior Qi Yuan... can he really destroy the Shadow Mountain Society?"

    Beside him, the young man muttered, "He didn''t just take what he wanted and leave, did he?"

    Zhou Wu''s face changed, and he immediately glared at his descendant. "Watch your words! Go to the Niluo Pagoda and stay silent for ten years!"

    The young man''s face twisted in distress, his expression fearful. "Uncle, I..."

    He realized he had said the wrong thing.

    After all, such a being could destroy their family with a single thought. They could not afford to offend him.

    Even though Qi Yuan had been amiable, high-level cultivators were not to be insulted or provoked.

    ...

    Shadow Mountain Society.

    As a mysterious organization, the Shadow Mountain Society was not well-known in the Heavy Origin Universe, but it was undoubtedly a colossal force.

    "Have you still not found the remaining people?"

    An aged voice rang out, carrying a hint of anger.

    All the deacons and elders who heard this voice trembled in fear.

    "Master, please calm your anger. The world is vast, and finding them is too difficult."

    A deacon replied.

    He was telling the truth.

    The universe was incredibly vast. Even a Realm Lord might not be able to explore every corner or uncover every secret in their lifetime.

    Of course, Dao Lords were an exception.

    A few hundred people hiding away was like finding a needle in a haystack.

    "With the dream beast disaster spreading, perhaps... those people have already perished in the mouths of the dream beasts," an elder said worriedly.

    If that were the case, they might never be found.

    "Find them!"

    The aged voice rang out again, filled with anger.

    Hearing this, the elders and deacons on duty felt extremely uneasy.

    The leader of the Shadow Mountain Society, the Shadow Mountain Elder, had been in a daze lately, and every day¡ªyes, every day¡ªhe would question the elders and deacons on duty.

    These elders and deacons were miserable but dared not neglect their duties.

    After all, the Shadow Mountain Elder''s strength was too terrifying.

    Once the questioning was over, the deacons and elders dispersed in small groups.

    "Sigh, when will this end? We''ve already become true gods, yet we have to endure daily questioning and scolding like mortal officials. It''s truly frustrating," one elder couldn''t help but complain.

    "Unless we find the remaining people."

    "Hmph, even if we find them, it''s useless. The leader is in a daze, and questioning has become a habit. Even if we find everyone... we''ll probably have to report every day for the rest of our lives."

    Although the questioning sessions were short, the frequency was unbearable.

    These true gods were growing restless.

    "I hope this ends soon," another elder muttered.

    At that moment, a calm voice rang out.

    "You all should go work in an electronics factory or sort packages at ," a handsome figure appeared, looking at the group of elders and deacons.

    All the elders and deacons were shocked.

    "Who are you?"

    "What do you want?"

    "To fulfill your wish, so you never have to clock in and slack off at work again."

    As soon as the words fell, the elders and deacons witnessed the most terrifying scene of their lives.

    A majestic sun descended from the sky.

    The aura emanating from this sun was enough to make even a third-layer Yang God tremble in fear.

    The power of the sun was unstoppable.

    In an instant.

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    A scream rang out.

    "Who!"

    But the scream lasted less than half a breath before it was abruptly cut off.

    The elders and deacons before him were instantly reduced to ashes.

    Qi Yuan clapped his hands. "Another day of doing good deeds. If I were to become a god, I''d definitely be a very considerate one."

 Chapter 592: The Dao Lord Assembly

    The Shadow Mountain Society, which had once dominated the Heavy Origin Universe, was annihilated in an instant.

    Even though the so-called Shadow Mountain Elder had reached an extremely high level within the third layer of Yang God, far surpassing the True Creator in strength, and even had a one percent chance of breaking through to the fourth layer of Yang God, where the true spirit would extinguish, he was still no match for Qi Yuan. He couldn''t even put up a fight.

    The entire area was reduced to ruins.

    As for the people imprisoned and enslaved by the Shadow Mountain Society, they had already been transported elsewhere by Qi Yuan.

    With a wave of his hand, a drop of blood fell into Qi Yuan''s palm.

    "This is the result of the Shadow Mountain Society''s efforts over the years. I never thought it would benefit me."

    In his hand, a drop of dreamlike, crystalline blood appeared.

    This drop of blood was the Dream Origin Blood, as if it didn''t exist in reality but only in dreams.

    In an instant, this drop of blood merged into Qi Yuan''s body.

    A strange aura spread.

    His body became transparent, as if caught between reality and dreams.

    At this moment, all the sleeping beings in the Heavy Origin Universe seemed to dream of a phantom-like existence.

    "Is this the complete Dream Origin Body?"

    Qi Yuan was surprised.

    The Dream Origin Body was now fully complete.

    He had obtained the complete Dream Origin Body.

    "According to the Dao Lord of Nanke, I now have a chance to surpass the fifth layer of Yang God?"

    Based on the memories obtained from the Dao Lord of Nanke, only the Ten Great Origin Bodies could break through beyond the fifth layer of Yang God.

    "But... how do I break through?"

    Qi Yuan was still puzzled.

    The Dao Lord of Nanke had obtained the Dream Origin Body and eventually walked multiple paths, becoming a Dao Lord of ten paths and even reaching the fourth layer of Yang God dozens of times, achieving a terrifying level of power that far surpassed ordinary Dao Lords. However, it seemed unrelated to breaking through to the fifth layer of Yang God.

    "The path ahead is unclear."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    At present, he hadn''t found the way forward.

    His gaze fell on the game jade slip in his hand.

    "Is it still loading?"

    The new game was still loading, and it was unclear how long it would take to finish.

    Perhaps the key to breaking through to Yang God lay within this new game.

    ...

    Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

    In a hidden corner of the Heavy Origin Universe.

    Qi Yuan''s expression was complex. "All the illusory beings have been revived by watching ads."

    Over the past few years, he had collaborated with the Dawn Merchant Guild, splitting into countless forms to continuously save the beings of the Heavy Origin Universe through the Ad Church.

    The reputation of the Ad Church had grown significantly.

    Among them, the Dawn Merchant Guild had benefited the most.

    Reviving by watching ads was too abstract, absurd, and astonishing.

    And the ads they watched were from the Dawn Merchant Guild.

    Naturally, these people had a deep impression of the Dawn Merchant Guild.

    This was nearly half the population of the universe, an unimaginable number.

    "The universes created by the Dao Lord of Nanke in his dreams, aside from the destroyed Nanke Universe, I have visited all of them. There are actually three hundred and seventy-two... Is this the power of the Dream Origin Body?"

    Creation Realm Lords could create worlds but not universes.

    Even for Dao Lords, creating universes was extremely difficult.

    Yet, the Dao Lord of Nanke, with the Dream Origin Body, had created three hundred and seventy-two dream universes. This was somewhat exaggerated.

    "Unfortunately, I am not a Dao Lord after all."

    "I cannot revive those killed by the Shadow Mountain Society."

    He was referring to the source of the Dream Origin Blood. The Shadow Mountain Society had killed those people to extract the Dream Origin Blood.

    Qi Yuan had obtained the Dream Origin Blood, so he owed them a debt of gratitude.

    Naturally, he wanted to revive them.

    "Life is too hard."

    "Currently, the Heavy Origin Universe has no Dao Lord, so there is no Cosmic Mother River to revive those who have passed away."

    "But if I become a Dao Lord, although I could pull them out from the Cosmic Mother River, the universe would immediately enter a cycle."

    Over the past three years, Qi Yuan hadn''t just stayed in the Heavy Origin Universe. He had also visited other universes.

    With his current strength and the inheritance from the Dao Lord of Nanke, if he wanted, he could immediately become the second-generation Dao Lord of Nanke, achieving enlightenment in the universe where the Dao Lord of Nanke had attained enlightenment.

    But Qi Yuan hadn''t done so.

    His strength was already sufficient.

    Whether or not he achieved enlightenment wasn''t important.

    What mattered most was surpassing the fifth layer of Yang God.

    ...

    Myriad Transformations Society.

    "Has Senior Qi Yuan still not appeared?"

    Deputy Leader Divine Mechanism was anxious.

    The Dao Lord of the Wu Path was about to begin his teachings.

    Missing this would be a great loss.

    The other Dao Lords also looked at Qi Yuan, their gazes filled with curiosity.

    After all, as Dao Lords, they had lived for an eternity.

    They had seen all kinds of anomalies and variables, but someone like Qi Yuan was a first.

    "He is qualified," the Dao Lord of the Phoenix Path replied, saying nothing more.

    "This time, we have restarted the Dao Lord Assembly for two reasons. First, among us, we finally have a variable like Young Friend Qi Yuan.

    Second, as per tradition, the matter of what lies beyond the Dao Lord level," the Dao Lord of the Sword Path said.

    For these Dao Lords, being nearly omniscient and omnipotent in their respective universes, there was nothing left to trouble them.

    The only trouble was how to break through beyond the fifth layer of Yang God.

    Or rather, whether there was a sixth layer of Yang God, or something beyond Yang God.

    "We have reached the pinnacle, immortal and nearly omnipotent. How could there be a higher realm?" the Dao Lord of the Phoenix Path said.

    He was part of the unchanging faction.

    For him, becoming a Dao Lord and having the universe enter a cycle was already good enough.

    There was no need to seek change.

    "How are you omnipotent? Can you create a stone that you cannot lift?" Qi Yuan asked the classic question.

    "Hmph," the Dao Lord of the Phoenix Path snorted, not wanting to engage with Qi Yuan, thinking him as foolish as a mortal.

    At their level, they could remain eternal and unchanging, or exist in two states, depending on the observer.

    Thus, creating a stone they couldn''t lift was something they could also do.

    "The sixth layer of Yang God... is truly shrouded in mist," one Dao Lord sighed.

    The Dao Lords began to discuss the Dao.

    The content was dry, tedious, and profound.

    Qi Yuan found it so boring that he almost fell asleep, feeling both confused and impressed.

    It wasn''t as interesting as the quarrels of old women at the village entrance.

    After an unknown amount of time, the Dao Lord of the Sword Path said, "If we don''t find a turning point in this epoch, I will reincarnate my true spirit to seek a sliver of hope."

    Hearing this, the Dao Lords present all looked shocked.

    "You would actually give up the cultivation of this lifetime."

    "Reincarnating the true spirit... might not lead to the path forward."

    The Dao Lords spoke one after another.

    Reincarnating the true spirit was exactly what it sounded like.

    It meant a Dao Lord would abandon everything and reincarnate.

    However, the reincarnation would not take place in these universes but in some "external realms."

    Over so many epochs, these Dao Lords had conducted experiments with reincarnating their true spirits.

    Various Realm Lords had become chess pieces, reincarnating into unknown worlds.

    Some Dao Lords had risked everything, abandoning their current Dao status.

    "Dao Lord of the Sword Path, you must think carefully. Among us, three have chosen to reincarnate their true spirits. Two have disappeared without a trace, and one... perished, causing their universe to collapse," the Dao Lord of the Wu Path said.

    He was the Dao Lord of the Wu Path, the Wu of the Great Wu Path.

    There was also another Dao Lord of the Wu Path, the Wu of the Sorcerer Path.

    That Dao Lord of the Wu Path had chosen to reincarnate his true spirit, but no one knew where he had reincarnated.

    In the end, that Dao Lord perished, and his universe collapsed.

    This was extremely frightening.

    After all, even when reincarnating their true spirits, they were still Dao Lords.

    Even if that wisp of true spirit was extinguished, they could still emerge anew from the Cosmic Mother River.

    But that Dao Lord of the Wu Path had died so carelessly.

    How could the other Dao Lords not be shocked?

    "I have lived long enough. Life and death... can''t I see through them?" the Dao Lord of the Sword Path said coldly. "If I can catch a glimpse of the sixth layer of Yang God, even if I perish, so be it."

    The other Dao Lords fell silent, their thoughts varied.

    Qi Yuan listened quietly, his eyes calm.

    The so-called reincarnation of the true spirit, according to other interpretations, was the descent of a heavenly demon.

    However, previously, this was limited to the same universe or a great thousand worlds.

    But the reincarnation of a Dao Lord''s true spirit would definitely not take place in a known universe or great thousand worlds.

    "Dao Lord of the Sword Path, if you choose to reincarnate your true spirit, count me in. I''ve also lived long enough," the Dao Lord of the Dog Path said.

    He was the oldest among the Dao Lords present.

    In fact, the combined ages of the other Dao Lords present didn''t match his.

    In the Ethereal Realm, he had seen too many Dao Lords choose to reincarnate their true spirits, only to achieve nothing.

    After hiding for so many years, he had finally decided to take the risk.

    "Haha, good," the Dao Lord of the Sword Path laughed heartily.

    After all, this time, there was someone willing to walk the same path as him. He wasn''t alone.

    The other Dao Lords looked hesitant, as if also considering reincarnating their true spirits.

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    Reincarnating the true spirit to an external realm, or some other place, was very troublesome. Avatars, incarnations, or illusory true spirits wouldn''t work.

    The true spirit had to be here, or it would only reincarnate into known universes.

    As for Qi Yuan, he had no hesitation.

    He didn''t need to reincarnate his true spirit.

    He had the game jade slip.

 Chapter 593: Daoist Friend

    After roughly forty-nine days, the Dao Lord Assembly came to an end.

    All the Dao Lords gradually departed, and Qi Yuan was no exception.

    However, before he left, one of the Dao Lords stopped him.

    "Little friend, wait a moment."

    "Old man, what do you want?"

    Qi Yuan turned to look at the Dao Lord, who had an ordinary appearance.

    This Dao Lord was none other than the Dao Lord of the Dog Path.

    His face was so plain that it would be easily overlooked in a crowd, lacking any sense of presence.

    "Little friend, your talent is something I''ve rarely seen in my life. Perhaps you look down on the Dao Lord realm and are considering reincarnating your true spirit.

    What I want to say is that reincarnating your true spirit is a deep and treacherous path."

    The Dao Lord of the Dog Path spoke with a grave expression.

    "I have lived for an unknown number of years and have seen too many true geniuses.

    They were stuck at the Realm Lord stage, unwilling to break through, and ultimately chose to reincarnate their true spirits.

    Among the Realm Lords who chose to reincarnate their true spirits, just the ones I know of number seventeen thousand two hundred."

    The Dao Lord of the Dog Path showed a look of reminiscence.

    Most of these Realm Lords had extraordinary talent. Some chose to reincarnate their true spirits voluntarily, while others did so at the behest of a Dao Lord.

    Some of these Realm Lords even had the potential to master a path and reach the Dao Lord stage.

    However, becoming a Dao Lord meant entering a cycle, so they preferred to reincarnate their true spirits instead.

    "Among those who reincarnated their true spirits, there were even double-digit Dao Lords. Yet... not a single one has returned," the Dao Lord of the Dog Path sighed.

    His talent was average, but his most unique trait was his ability to survive.

    Those Realm Lords and Dao Lords included many geniuses who chose to reincarnate their true spirits in search of a new path.

    But to this day, not a single one has returned.

    This speaks volumes.

    It suggests that none of them managed to break through beyond the Dao Lord stage.

    It seems that the success rate of reincarnating one''s true spirit is extremely low.

    Or perhaps, it is a dead end.

    The Dao Lord of the Dog Path came to warn Qi Yuan specifically because he feared that Qi Yuan, like those genius Realm Lords, would look down on the Dao Lord realm and ultimately choose to reincarnate his true spirit.

    "Who provided the method for reincarnating one''s true spirit?" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but ask, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    "All those who achieve enlightenment become omniscient and omnipotent. The method for reincarnating one''s true spirit is one of them," the Dao Lord of the Dog Path replied.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan''s gaze remained calm.

    After achieving enlightenment, one would become nearly omniscient and omnipotent, gaining access to vast amounts of information, including the method for reincarnating one''s true spirit.

    "The path of reincarnating one''s true spirit is shrouded in mist. Little friend, your talent is extraordinary, and you have already transcended. You can afford to wait a bit longer for the results," the Dao Lord of the Dog Path said.

    His words were sincere.

    In the past, he had thought the same way.

    He had waited for the results of other Realm Lords and even Dao Lords who had reincarnated their true spirits.

    But after waiting for who knows how long, he still hadn''t seen any results.

    The universe had restarted countless times, and he had watched the same people, the same stories, day after day.

    Now... he was finally growing tired and restless.

    "Alright, don''t worry. I won''t use the method to reincarnate my true spirit until I break through to Yang God," Qi Yuan replied seriously.

    He naturally wouldn''t choose to reincarnate his true spirit. He had the game jade slip to take him to other worlds.

    His opportunity to break through to Yang God lay in the next world.

    Currently, he was only at the Yin God stage, yet his combat power was close to the fourth and fifth layers of Yang God. How strong would he be after breaking through to Yang God? It was unimaginable.

    Could he defeat an omniscient and omnipotent Dao Lord?

    "This time, I don''t know what lies ahead after reincarnating my true spirit..." The Dao Lord of the Dog Path''s plain face showed a smile. "The heavens and earth remain unchanged, and time cycles endlessly. One day, I''ll share a drink with you, little friend."

    After surviving for so many years, he was finally ready to take a risk and break through his limits.

    "How about you drink wine, and I''ll have juice?" Qi Yuan replied.

    He never smoked or drank.

    The Dao Lord of the Dog Path was momentarily stunned, then laughed. "Alright."

    With that, the Dao Lord of the Dog Path''s figure dissipated from the Ethereal Realm.

    Only Qi Yuan remained.

    "The Yang God realm?" His gaze was complex.

    ...

    Twelve more years passed in the blink of an eye.

    During these twelve years, many things happened.

    Qi Yuan had collected countless cultivation techniques from various universes.

    It could be said that, at this point, Qi Yuan was least lacking in cultivation techniques.

    He had mastered various paths, systems, and secret arts.

    In fact, these techniques were likely enough to revise the Qi Yuan Scripture up to the Yang God stage.

    Of course, while the quantity was sufficient, it still lacked a central guiding principle.

    As for Yang God, Qi Yuan hadn''t yet figured out how to proceed.

    During these twelve years, perhaps due to Qi Yuan''s good luck, the White Profound Palace Master had mysteriously died.

    It would likely take another epoch for a new White Profound Palace Master to emerge.

    Another interesting thing happened.

    At this moment, several figures had gathered in the Sole Hall.

    The Sword Keeper, Nameless, stood with a cold expression, exuding an aura that warned others to stay away.

    The others were either dazed or exuded extraordinary auras.

    "I heard another Ming Sovereign Token has been issued. Doesn''t that mean we have another competitor?" a disheveled woman asked, her voice enigmatic.

    "What''s this newcomer''s background?"

    "Tu Ri, this newcomer seems to have some connection with you. Back when you severed your evil thoughts and condensed them into the Great Sun, that Great Sun was killed by him," an old man said with a hint of schadenfreude as he looked at Tu Ri.

    Behind Tu Ri, Tai Ri stood quietly, surprised by the news.

    After the Taihuang Palace was destroyed by Qi Yuan, he had been forced to flee to the Sole Hall.

    Later, he was nearly devoured by the spirits of the Sole Hall.

    Unexpectedly, Tu Ri had taken a liking to him and saved him.

    Tu Ri took him as a disciple, and only then did Tai Ri learn that above the Supreme Truth was the Realm Lord stage.

    There were also vast differences among Realm Lords.

    For example, his master, Tu Ri, was a Creation Realm Lord, arguably the strongest among those present.

    Tai Ri never expected that the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, Qi Yuan, would also receive a Ming Sovereign Token.

    This meant that Qi Yuan had broken through to the second layer of Yang God and reached the Realm Lord stage.

    In just a hundred years, it was terrifying.

    Tu Ri snorted. "Hmph, the Great Sun was my evil thought. If I hadn''t been asleep, I would have killed it myself. This junior helped me kill the Great Sun, so I should be thanking him."

    Through his disciple, Tu Ri had learned some information about Qi Yuan, and he was also surprised. He never expected that after sleeping for so long, another genius had emerged in the Immortal Realm, someone who could break through to the third layer of Yang God while still in the Sixth Heaven.

    This showed that his talent was extraordinary.

    However, no matter how talented he was, his cultivation time was still short, so he couldn''t compare to Tu Ri.

    The other old monsters shared Tu Ri''s thoughts and didn''t pay much attention to Qi Yuan, the new Realm Lord.

    Their competitors were each other.

    Qi Yuan had just broken through to the Realm Lord stage and was still inexperienced. It would be difficult for him to pass Ming Sovereign''s trials, obtain the treasure transformed from Ming Sovereign, and seal the Dao Fruit of the Immortal Realm''s Dao Lord.

    Although Realm Lord Ghost had admitted that Qi Yuan was far stronger than him, to the other Realm Lords present, that was because Realm Lord Ghost was too weak.

    "Are you all here?" At that moment, Qi Yuan''s figure appeared, his expression calm.

    When Tai Ri saw Qi Yuan, his gaze sharpened.

    It was indeed him.

    He sighed inwardly.

    Back in the Supreme Truth Society, he had been radiant, slightly overshadowed by Qi Yuan, but he had been confident he could surpass him.

    But now, he hadn''t even reached the Great Supreme Truth stage, while Qi Yuan was already a Realm Lord. The gap between them had grown so vast.

    The others also looked at Qi Yuan.

    The old man who had been gloating earlier said with a sly tone, "This fellow Daoist is a bit late."

    "Oh, some friends sent me some cultivation techniques, and I got absorbed in reading them on the way. I didn''t realize I was late. My apologies," Qi Yuan said sincerely.

    Because it was true.

    One of the techniques was called The Dual Cultivation of Yin and Yang, which could enhance cultivation with almost no side effects.

    On the way, Qi Yuan had been thinking about whether to try it with Junior Sister Jiang Lingsu to boost her cultivation.

    "At your level, there are still friends who can send you techniques that satisfy you?" Tu Ri asked curiously.

    The gap between the third and second layers of Yang God was enormous.

    In his opinion, the cultivation techniques of the Immortal Realm were crude and simplistic.

    "Yes, more than one," Qi Yuan replied honestly.

    The six Realm Lords present fell silent.

    The gloating old man''s eyes flashed with disdain.

    As expected, this new Realm Lord was inexperienced, treating the techniques of the Immortal Realm as treasures.

    His disdain, of course, didn''t escape Qi Yuan''s notice.

    "That look in your eyes¡ªare you looking down on me, or the techniques my friends sent?" Qi Yuan asked directly.

    The old man''s expression froze.

    He hadn''t expected his subtle disdain to be noticed so quickly.

    Since the other party was also a Realm Lord, he didn''t want to offend him too much, but he still had his pride, so he said, "I''m looking down on... your friends."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan couldn''t help but say, "Sigh, I never thought my Dao Lord friends would be so disrespected."

    At the mention of "Dao Lord," the Realm Lords present all showed slight changes in expression, but none of them took it seriously.

    Dao Lord friends?

    How could that be?

    He must be joking.

    After all, beings of that level wouldn''t have friends.

    Even if they did, they would likely be of the same level.

    "Hey, Dao Lord of the Wu Path, this guy is looking down on you. What do you think?" Qi Yuan said softly.

    At that moment, an enigmatic and profound aura descended in the Sole Hall.

    A "Wu" character appeared.

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    When the Realm Lords present saw this "Wu" character, they were all filled with terror and shock.

    This aura...

    Then, the "Wu" character turned to look at the sly old man.

    The old man instantly felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

    This feeling... how many years had it been since he last felt it?

 Chapter 594: New Game

    The Realm Lords present looked at the character "Wu", their expressions filled with terror.

    Especially the old man, whose face looked even more miserable than if his mother had died.

    "Dao Lord of the Wu Dao, what do you think?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    The character "Wu" was directly facing the old man, its voice mysterious: "I am the Dao Lord. Do you despise me?"

    The old man was so frightened that he immediately knelt down: "This humble old man wouldn''t dare."

    The character "Wu" chuckled and looked at Qi Yuan: "It seems he doesn''t despise me."

    At his level of cultivation, having lived for countless eons, how could such trivial matters affect him?

    All he sought was to break the cycle or ascend to an even higher realm.

    Hearing this, the old man breathed a sigh of relief, though the worry in his heart had not yet dissipated.

    After all, he had never encountered a being like the Dao Lord before, and the Dao Lord''s thoughts were difficult to fathom.

    Qi Yuan stretched lazily: "Since he doesn''t despise you, then you have no business here. Hurry up and leave."

    With a wave of his hand, the character "Wu" disappeared.

    He had summoned the Dao Lord of the Wu Dao on a whim.

    As the character "Wu" dissipated, the terrifying, oppressive, and suffocating aura vanished, and the Realm Lords present all let out a sigh of relief.

    However, their gazes toward Qi Yuan became peculiar.

    To be able to befriend a Dao Lord, and even dismiss the Dao Lord of the Wu Dao with a wave of his hand¡ªwhat level of strength and cultivation did Qi Yuan possess?

    At this moment, Qi Yuan turned to the Sword Keeper, Nameless: "Quick, tell me how to obtain the remains of Ming Zun and seal the Dao Fruit."

    He always followed the rules in his actions.

    He also needed to seal the Heterodox Dao Fruits.

    Otherwise, if more and more Heterodox Dao Fruits were to scatter across the Immortal Realm, the news that the Immortal Realm was a world created by the Dao Lord in a dream might also leak out.

    If that happened, the Immortal Realm might collapse and disappear, just like the Heavy Origin Universe.

    This would require the efforts of the Ad Church.

    Qi Yuan was too lazy to deal with it.

    If it could be sealed, it was better to seal it.

    "To obtain Ming Zun''s gift, one must pass Ming Zun''s trial," said the Sword Keeper, Nameless.

    As soon as he finished speaking, the sky turned pitch black.

    In the night sky, pairs of eyes belonging to Heterodox Spirits gazed down at the Realm Lords present.

    "The trial is simple. Among the Realm Lords present, whoever slays the most Heterodox Spirits will receive the gift."

    The other Realm Lords looked at the Heterodox Spirits and felt a hint of pressure.

    If this had been before, they would have immediately unleashed their various divine abilities as soon as the Sword Keeper, Nameless, finished speaking.

    But now, everyone looked at Qi Yuan.

    If Qi Yuan did not move, they dared not act.

    After all, with Qi Yuan here, how could they possibly compete?

    "Is it that simple?" Qi Yuan said, then waved his hand.

    An ordinary attack, seemingly devoid of any divine abilities or techniques, not even a ripple of spiritual energy.

    Yet, it was precisely this kind of attack!

    In an instant, all the Heterodox Spirits in the world were captured in his palm.

    The other Realm Lords watched this scene, exchanging glances, yet feeling it was entirely reasonable.

    Tai Ri sighed, not daring to look directly at Qi Yuan anymore.

    Once a fellow prodigy, Qi Yuan had long since left him far behind.

    In fact, it was likely that he would never have the chance to surpass Qi Yuan in the future.

    "Congratulations, Senior!"

    The Realm Lords present all spoke up, offering their congratulations.

    To compete with a Dao Lord stage existence for an opportunity?

    That was suicide.

    The Sword Keeper, Nameless, took a deep breath and slowly said, "Since Senior has captured all the Heterodox Spirits, this... Hall of Eternity... shall belong to Senior."

    The Hall of Eternity was formed from Ming Zun.

    In its previous stage, it existed only in the past and future.

    Now, it had reached the second stage of the fourth layer Yang God, transforming into a Heterodox Treasure.

    This Heterodox Treasure was the Hall of Eternity.

    As the Sword Keeper, Nameless, finished speaking, the Hall of Eternity shrank into a small palace and landed in Qi Yuan''s hand.

    Qi Yuan looked at the small palace with curiosity: "The Hall of Eternity... it''s quite extraordinary."

    It seemed to represent the one and only palace in the world.

    "After I reach Yang God, I won''t live in a big villa anymore. I''ll live in this Hall of Eternity. It suits my status," Qi Yuan murmured.

    The Sword Keeper, Nameless, took a deep breath.

    He hadn''t expected Qi Yuan to be so powerful.

    He had thought that even with his master''s hidden arrangements, it would take Qi Yuan considerable effort and time to control the Hall of Eternity.

    Yet, Qi Yuan had refined it in an instant.

    Of course, with Qi Yuan''s strength, obtaining the Hall of Eternity didn''t require such trouble. He could have taken it with a wave of his hand.

    But Qi Yuan was lawful and good, abiding by the rules, so he wouldn''t resort to force. Everything was done according to the rules.

    This was, in a way, a form of "doing as one pleases."

    "With the Hall of Eternity in hand, Senior, please accompany me to the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Realm to seal the Heterodox Dao Fruits," the Sword Keeper, Nameless, said with renewed vigor.

    If someone else held the Heterodox Treasure but lacked the cultivation, sealing the Heterodox Dao Fruits might lead to complications.

    But with Qi Yuan''s strength, sealing them would be effortless.

    "Wait," Qi Yuan called out to the Sword Keeper, Nameless.

    The Sword Keeper, Nameless, looked at Qi Yuan in confusion: "Senior, please speak."

    Qi Yuan then said leisurely, "If I remember correctly, your Hall of Eternity has been harboring some criminals. These criminals have committed many crimes in the lower realms. According to the rules... they should at least be sentenced to a hundred years of mining."

    Qi Yuan was referring to the people from the Taihuang Palace who had fled into the Sole Hall.

    Tai Ri, upon hearing this, was initially wary but then became delighted, looking at Qi Yuan with gratitude.

    Qi Yuan suddenly remembered the nutrient fluid and other things he had seen in the ancestral land of the Mortal Heart Realm.

    That race seemed to have infants born as Yin Gods.

    Now, he was also an Yin God.

    Was there a connection?

    But he had been born as an Yin God. Shouldn''t he have inherited memories or something?

    At that moment, a phantom figure descended, answering Qi Yuan''s doubts.

    "Your father is one of the Twelve Pillars of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, the supreme and majestic Divine Seat... Tian Kai."

    So, he had gained a father?

    What father? Qi Yuan couldn''t be bothered to acknowledge him.

    But the title sounded impressive.

    One of the Twelve Pillars of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    Was there a connection between the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain and the so-called Mount Olympus?

    "A hundred years ago, Divine Seat Tian Kai was traveling through the Primordial Star Domain when he suddenly felt a desire and bestowed his essence upon all things, giving birth to hundreds of millions of god-children. However... only about ten thousand have been born so far, and you are one of them."

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was speechless.

    This Tian Kai had quite the taste, even going for this tree...

    But then he thought about it and realized it wasn''t a problem.

    This Tian Kai, as expected of his father, the style is the same.

    "Of course, you cannot yet be called a god-child. Only by breaking through to... the True God realm can you attain the status of a god-child and go to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain to gain the recognition of Divine Seat Tian Kai."

    As the phantom figure moved, a flood of information entered Qi Yuan''s mind.

    And the phantom figure disappeared at that moment.

    "Ten Thousand Gods Mountain?"

    "The supreme place above countless planes."

    "The strongest in the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain is called the Emperor God?"

    "Below the Emperor God are the Twelve Pillars, and Tian Kai is one of them."

    "Wait... Dao Lord?"

    "No, it''s different from a Dao Lord. They are not omniscient and omnipotent.

    According to the information received.

    The cultivation in this world is also divided into seven stages.

    The sixth stage is not called Yin God, but Void God.

    Only upon reaching the seventh stage, the Yang God realm, is one called a True God.

    True Gods are also divided into five stages.

    The first stage: Divine Kingdom.

    The second stage: Divine Decree.

    The third stage: Divine Lord.

    The fourth stage: Spirit God.

    The fifth stage: Dao God.

    The fourth and fifth levels are similar to the Yang God stages in the Immortal Realm.

    But the Dao God stage... once reached, only the Divine Kingdom enters a cycle or becomes eternal.

    In other words, Dao God experts are only omniscient and omnipotent within their Divine Kingdoms.

    And Divine Seat Tian Kai is a terrifying existence at the fifth level of True God, the Dao God stage.

    Moreover, on the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, there are not only these Twelve Pillars at the fifth stage of True God, but also some other fifth stage True Gods striving to reach the position of the Twelve Pillars.

    As for the Emperor God of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, his cultivation is unknown.

    Some say he is at the sixth stage of True God, meaning he is beyond True God.

    "How is this so similar to... Mount Olympus? Are they related?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    "My Yin God... is a bit weak."

    Qi Yuan muttered.

    "Indeed, it''s similar to the Void God."

    Perhaps due to the laws of this world, the destructive power of the Void God is somewhat weaker than that of the Yin God.

    "The ''True God Method''? What a casually named cultivation technique."

    Qi Yuan silently complained.

    The cultivation in this world was quite peculiar.

    From Void God to True God, the process was simple: make more people, or believers, believe that you are a True God.

    Then, ignite the Divine Flame and become a True God.

    "It feels a bit like faith-based divinity... the more believers... the stronger the Divine Kingdom?"

    In this world, there were many planes.

    But ninety-nine percent of the planes were already occupied by gods of various sizes.

    Finding new believers was extremely difficult.

    So, according to the memories from the phantom figure.

    The Ten Thousand Gods Mountain had been constantly conquering other planes and worlds, expanding its territory.

    "This Ten Thousand Gods Mountain... occupies quite a few planes. Combined, their area is probably the size of a universe?"

    "Can the faith of a single universe create so many Dao Gods? Even an Emperor God?"

    "If I were to have the people of my universe or the Immortal Realm believe in me..."

    "This ''True God Method'' is quite interesting."

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    According to the received information, all the gods in the territory ruled by the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain cultivated techniques derived from the "True God Method," though the versions varied depending on their "family background."

    The version Qi Yuan now possessed was a premium edition.

    He looked at the "True God Method" and didn''t start cultivating immediately. Instead, he used his eyes to examine it.

    "Indeed, even the premium edition of the technique has many backdoors and flaws."

    The stronger he became, the more he understood, and the more precise and detailed the hidden information his eyes could see.

 Chapter 595: Fulfilling the Wishes of Believers

    Without any hesitation, Qi Yuan began fine-tuning the "True God Method."

    "I need to break through to the True God stage as soon as possible, the earlier the better."

    According to the information conveyed by the phantom figure.

    Currently, the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain has too few planes available for spreading faith.

    This time, Pillar Tian Kai sowed billions, but only a little over ten thousand god-children were born.

    Most of them died in the womb.

    Qi Yuan''s competitors are these ten thousand god-children.

    He needs to break through to the True God stage early so he can go to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain sooner, claim his own "territory," gain his own followers, and establish his own Divine Kingdom.

    Territory is limited, and so is faith.

    "These things aren''t really important, but cultivating faster is always better."

    Qi Yuan looked at the revised "True God Method" and began cultivating seriously.

    "The key to cultivating the Void God stage is to have believers... and some people recognize you as a True God."

    The first step in Void God cultivation is to accumulate divine power.

    The second step is to gain the recognition of believers, making them believe you are a True God.

    Of course, the early stage is still about accumulating divine power.

    "There are actually three other god-children on this plane. Are they considered my competitors?"

    Without further thought, Qi Yuan began accumulating divine power.

    It was better to focus on cultivation first.

    ...

    About half a month passed.

    The golden-clad girl had a sharp look in her eyes: "Have you contacted Qi Yuan?"

    She was a goddess with considerable talent.

    The towering green-haired elephant spoke: "I contacted him. He refused to cooperate with us, only focusing on cultivating the ''True God Method.''"

    The massive elephant was also a child of Tian Kai.

    After all, his offspring were numerous, even including the bloodline of flies.

    "It seems... after just ten days since birth, this younger brother of ours isn''t very bright," the golden-clad girl said.

    For these god-children, the difficult part of breaking through to the True God stage isn''t accumulating divine power, i.e., cultivating the "True God Method," but the second step¡ªgetting believers to recognize them as True Gods.

    The more believers there are, and the higher the degree of recognition, the greater the chance of breaking through to the True God stage.

    Out of the ten thousand offspring Tian Kai sowed this time, it would be impressive if even one percent managed to break through to the True God stage.

    Breaking through to the True God stage is difficult, and the difficulty lies in the second step.

    Currently, on this plane, most of the faith has already been claimed by other True Gods.

    Although they are god-children, Tian Kai doesn''t acknowledge them unless they break through to the True God stage.

    Those True Gods wouldn''t give them any face either.

    So, the golden-clad girl and the green-haired elephant joined forces, secretly controlling forces, establishing their own churches, and expanding their followers.

    This was actually a dangerous endeavor, as it could easily provoke attacks from other churches.

    That''s why the golden-clad girl and the elephant cooperated, secretly developing their followers together and striving for the second step.

    "If he won''t cooperate, he can stay in this stinking mortal world forever," the elephant said discontentedly.

    He had long been dissatisfied with the plane he was born on, yearning for the sweet air of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    The golden-clad girl snorted coldly: "Let''s go. The holy knights of the Probe Church are coming. We need to protect our followers."

    The elephant nodded: "Alright."

    ...

    On the other side, a spring gushed forth, and a bright-eyed, fair-skinned boy cultivated diligently.

    The divine power within him surged rapidly.

    "Cultivating... is so simple."

    "Probably in another half year, my divine power will reach perfection, and I can consider the second step¡ªgaining the recognition of believers."

    Qi Yuan didn''t waste time seeking followers or gaining their recognition.

    He was a True God¡ªwasn''t that an obvious fact?

    If the believers didn''t recognize him, did that mean he wasn''t a True God?

    Moreover, his followers would surely share his temperament, recognizing a True God when they saw one!

    Who were his followers?

    All living beings in the world could be his followers.

    At that moment, Qi Yuan''s mind stirred slightly.

    He sensed a peculiar fluctuation.

    "Is this checking the progress of the god-children?"

    He didn''t pay it much mind and continued cultivating the "True God Method."

    In the air, a phantom True God wrote the evaluation "B+" on a piece of paper, then disappeared, reappearing in the void.

    "Patro, how are this batch of god-children and goddesses?" an old man asked.

    Patro pondered: "There are three with an A+ rating. In just half a month, they''ve recruited over ten thousand followers. They have a promising future and might even become lords, conquering foreign lands."

    "Only three? It seems this batch isn''t very high quality."

    "Indeed," Patro sighed. "In just half a month, 372 god-children have been killed for trying to recruit followers. Some were foolish enough to think they were truly Tian Kai''s children and went to ask True Gods to share their followers. They were killed on the spot!"

    Only by becoming a True God and going to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain would Tian Kai acknowledge them as his children.

    If they didn''t become True Gods, they were no different from those who died in the womb or mere weeds.

    "This time, quite a few god-children have chosen a more cautious path, first accumulating divine power and then recruiting followers later. They make up about one percent of the batch," Patro said.

    The old man''s eyes showed a hint of amusement: "Being cautious is fine, but their potential... is lacking."

    For True Gods, followers are the most important.

    The power gained from followers far surpasses that gained from cultivating divine power.

    And the more followers one manages, and the longer they are managed, the more fanatical believers there will be.

    The hope of breaking through to the True God stage increases, and the strength after breaking through becomes greater.

    Moreover, those who break through to the True God stage earlier gain more benefits.

    Although all who break through to the True God stage can be called god-children, there''s an unspoken rule: in this batch, those ranked beyond 100 will likely be very marginal god-children.

    ...

    "My divine power... has reached perfection."

    "According to the ''True God Method,'' I just need to fulfill the wishes of my followers and then... have them recognize me as a True God, and I can ascend to the True God stage?"

    Qi Yuan muttered.

    For other god-children, completing this step would be very troublesome, requiring battles with other churches, accumulating followers, and gaining recognition.

    For Qi Yuan, however, it was simple.

    At that moment, a sharp voice rang out: "Brother Qi Yuan, are you still cultivating hard?"

    The golden-clad girl landed, looking only about 1.2 meters tall, with a cute appearance.

    Qi Yuan, being socially awkward, didn''t speak.

    But the golden-clad girl continued: "I see you''ve almost finished cultivating. Would you like to work with me to fight against the Probe Church? As payment, I''ll give you one-tenth of my followers."

    The golden-clad girl had been expanding her faith and now had ten thousand followers.

    Currently, the Probe Church was putting unprecedented pressure on her.

    That foolish elephant had already been killed by the Probe Church.

    Now, she was seeking Qi Yuan''s help.

    "No," Qi Yuan shook his head.

    Hearing this, the golden-clad girl''s expression changed: "Don''t be greedy. One-fifth is the most I can offer."

    Her situation was indeed dire.

    Otherwise, she wouldn''t have sought cooperation with this younger brother she had always looked down upon.

    Qi Yuan continued to shake his head, then said: "How about this? You become my follower, I fulfill your wish, and then you recognize me as a True God. I''ll become a god immediately."

    Qi Yuan''s plan was well thought out.

    This way, he could complete the second step of godhood in one go.

    "You''re delusional!" the golden-clad girl said angrily.

    Any god-child with ambition would never worship another god-child!

    Doing so would mean they could only become Qi Yuan''s subordinate god or vassal god in the future.

    "If you won''t cooperate, then there''s nothing more to say.

    Hmph, I hope I can still see my dear younger brother when I''m at the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain."

    After speaking, the golden-clad girl left with resentment.

    Although her situation was precarious, she had a high chance of breaking through to the True God stage.

    As for this younger brother... he still had no followers. Even if he luckily became a True God, his ranking would be very low, with no future prospects.

    Qi Yuan paid no attention to the golden-clad girl.

    After all, he respected the elderly and cherished the young.

    The elderly, he regarded as his white moonlight.

    "Time to become a god."

    "The first step to godhood: fulfill the wishes of followers."

    "Time to... use my superpowers."

    Qi Yuan had no followers.

    But he had superpowers.

    His ears could hear the thoughts of others.

    His mouth could answer questions.

    He had no followers, but there were too many problems in this world.

    By solving the troubles of mortals, wouldn''t they become his followers?

    He closed his eyes and began listening to the thoughts of the living beings on this plane.

    "I, Sid, want to become an emperor for thousands of years!"

    "Too troublesome, skip."

    "My sister-in-law''s figure is so soft. I want to be with her again..."

    "Disgusting, skip."

    "I want to become a Sword Saint. Why won''t Sword God Hutu take me as his true disciple? If I can''t become a Sword Saint, I''ll have to go home and inherit the family business."

    "Humblebrag, skip."

    When fulfilling follower tasks, it was best to pick the easy ones.

    The ones above were either too difficult or too disgusting.

    Qi Yuan didn''t want to help, as helping would make them his followers, which was too embarrassing.

    Especially one who wanted to steal socks from all the women in the city¡ªutterly ridiculous.

    "This endless rain is making me depressed. When will I see the sun again?"

    At that moment, a thought entered Qi Yuan''s ears.

    His eyes lit up.

    "Depressed? Want to see the sun? Isn''t that simple? I am the sun!"

    ...

    Roland Royal City.

    Yu Sanbao looked at the continuous drizzle outside, feeling melancholy, or perhaps anxious.

    "I didn''t expect three years to pass in the blink of an eye. I''ve been undercover in Roland Royal City for so long... every day is filled with anxiety and nightmares."

    Yu Sanbao hadn''t slept well for many days.

    Just yesterday, he received news that a spy from the Glorious Moon Kingdom in Roland had been uncovered, and the spy leader had been sawed into three pieces.

    He had even gone to watch the execution, and after seeing it, he slept even worse.

    After all, he was the spy leader from the Great Jin Kingdom in Roland.

    At that moment, he couldn''t help but murmur.

    Now, not only was he, the spy leader, on edge, but the other spies were probably scared out of their wits too.

    Morale was at an all-time low.

    Just then, a voice sounded in his ear.

    "If you''re depressed, you should go out more."

    "According to a famous spy leader, when spies are depressed or unhappy, they can organize outings, go on spring trips."

    "Who?" Yu Sanbao was startled, his face filled with terror.

    He thought his identity as a spy leader had been exposed.

    He immediately imagined the scene of being sawed into three pieces, his face turning pale.

    "I am the True God Qi Yuan. I heard your thoughts and came to help you solve your problem."

    "So, buddy, now take your spy colleagues and go on a happy outing."

    Yu Sanbao was shocked, not understanding what Qi Yuan was up to.

    "Don''t misunderstand. I''m a True God. Why would I harm you? If I wanted to harm you, why would I go through all this trouble?

    Besides, your closest colleagues number only fifteen. One lives in Blue Noble District, another in..."

    Qi Yuan effortlessly revealed the locations of all these people.

    Yu Sanbao''s face turned ashen, filled with fear.

    It seemed this person already knew the whereabouts of all of them.

    They were doomed.

    He was going to die.

    His family would probably perish too.

    "Stop daydreaming. Go contact your colleagues and go on an outing.

    Oh, and didn''t you say you wanted to see the sun? When you go on the outing, you''ll see the sun."

    Qi Yuan said.

    Yu Sanbao''s body stiffened. He didn''t understand what this voice''s master wanted or what his intentions were.

    But now, the lives of everyone were in Qi Yuan''s hands. He dared not disobey.

    ...

    "What is the boss doing, gathering us all together?"

    "Did the boss defect?"

    "How could that be? The boss saved my life. If he defected, I''d defect with him."

    After receiving Yu Sanbao''s message, the spies gathered together, looking puzzled.

    Of course, they had all disguised themselves. Once they dispersed, it would be hard for others to recognize them.

    Just then, the door opened, and Yu Sanbao walked in.

    Unlike usual, this time he wasn''t wearing a mask, revealing his true face.

    The other spies looked at Yu Sanbao, exchanging glances. One of them looked particularly nervous.

    He had seen the boss''s true face before.

    Now, the boss was showing his true face. What was going on?

    "Boss... why have you gathered us here? Is there something big happening, or... do we have new orders from above?"

    The dozen or so spies were filled with anxiety.

    After all, so many spies gathering together surely meant something big was happening.

    Perhaps... they were about to die.

    Yu Sanbao took a deep breath, remembering the instructions from the mysterious voice. He slowly said: "The rain has been continuous lately, and everyone has been working hard, feeling depressed and stifled. So, I''m taking everyone out for an outing to see the sun."

    "An outing?"

    "Depressed?"

    "Boss, we''re all here. Stop speaking in code. Just say it plainly!"

    "Yeah, stop being cryptic."

    "No, I''m telling you to pack up and go on an outing," Yu Sanbao said. "A real outing."

    "Boss, I get it. The mission code name is ''Outing,''" a middle-aged man said with an understanding expression.

    Everyone suddenly understood.

    So, the group packed up and headed out of the city for their outing.

    Meanwhile, a plain-looking man stood downstairs, watching the group with a strange expression: "What are these spies doing... coming out in full force?"

    "Reporting to the leader, according to our eavesdropping, it seems they''re carrying out a mission code-named ''Outing.''"

    "Oh, keep a close eye on them," the plain-looking man said with a complicated expression.

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    He had originally planned to play the long game.

    But now, with all the spies coming out together, something big was likely happening.

    About half a day later, after reading the reports from his subordinates, the plain-looking man couldn''t hold back anymore: "They really went on an outing?"

    The report stated that the outing was a real outing.

    "This is a talented individual. If the enemy country is full of such talents, that would be great," the plain-looking man sighed. "It seems this thorn can''t be pulled out yet."

 Chapter 596: Becoming a True God

    The light rain fell like mist, and dewdrops hung from the tips of tender grass. A pair of boots stepped heavily on them, shattering the dewdrops and splashing water everywhere.

    "Boss, are we really here for an outing?"

    A middle-aged man asked nervously.

    Originally, they thought there was some top-secret mission, code-named "Outing."

    But it turned out to be a real outing.

    They even had camping gear prepared.

    The other spies looked at Yu Sanbao with complex expressions.

    If this wasn''t a mission, then the boss taking them on an outing in the enemy kingdom''s capital... had he lost his mind?

    "Boss, if we''re going on an outing, shouldn''t we pick a sunny day? This rain is endless," someone said, seemingly sensing the dissatisfaction of the other spies and trying to change the subject.

    Yu Sanbao''s thoughts were in disarray, as if he hadn''t slept for days.

    Just then, a warm yet intense voice rang out.

    "The sun is here."

    A child about 1.2 meters tall appeared, floating in the air, his body seemingly radiating divine light.

    The spies present were momentarily stunned, then their expressions changed: "Divine power!"

    "This is divine power!"

    As spies, most of them had some cultivation, and even if they hadn''t seen divine power before, they had heard of it.

    Could this little boy be a legendary god-level powerhouse, a figure on the level of a church''s pope?

    "This isn''t divine power; this is the divine power of the sun," Qi Yuan looked at Yu Sanbao and asked seriously, "Weren''t you feeling depressed? Now that you''ve brought your colleagues out for an outing and seen the sun, do you feel better?"

    Qi Yuan asked earnestly, his divine voice like the ocean.

    Yu Sanbao trembled, looking at Qi Yuan''s face. How could he dare to deny it?

    "I feel a bit better, especially after seeing the sun. My mood has brightened," he said, almost shaking.

    Faced with such a question from a god, how could he dare to deny it?

    Hearing this answer, Qi Yuan was satisfied.

    As a god, sometimes it was necessary to play dumb.

    Although his nose had grown a bit longer, he was still young and growing. Wasn''t it normal for his nose to grow?

    "What about you?" Qi Yuan asked the other spies.

    The other spies also shivered.

    "Happy!"

    "Joyful!"

    Qi Yuan nodded in satisfaction: "Indeed, that Guo guy has some wisdom.

    You spies, living in a foreign country, often bury yourselves in work, constantly anxious. This isn''t good for your mental health.

    From now on, go on more outings to ease your worries. Don''t worry, I allow your outings. No one can stop you from going on outings."

    Qi Yuan said.

    What if Yu Sanbao got depressed again in the future?

    So, he encouraged him to go on outings.

    Hearing this, the spies who had initially thought Qi Yuan was acting strange now had a change in their expressions.

    Especially Yu Sanbao, whose breathing became slightly hurried.

    Was this... a god''s promise?

    "Thank you, Lord Sun!" Yu Sanbao quickly said.

    This time, he truly felt brighter and happier.

    Although this god seemed a bit eccentric, wasn''t it normal for gods to be eccentric?

    "Alright, now I''ll ask you one last question. Am I a True God?" Qi Yuan asked.

    This was also the final step from Void God to True God.

    Hearing this, Yu Sanbao''s heart tightened. He seemed to realize something.

    Was this... the second step from Void God to True God?

    As a spy leader, he knew quite a bit.

    The lofty gods, once recognized by their followers, would become True Gods and establish their own Divine Kingdoms.

    "You are... the supreme True God!"

    Yu Sanbao said, trembling.

    If the other party was a True God, then... he could go on outings every day, and the King of Roland wouldn''t be able to do anything to him.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan immediately felt a change in his divine body.

    "Indeed, someone has recognized me as a True God."

    "Now, I just need to think, and I can instantly transform from Void God to True God."

    However, Qi Yuan chose not to break through immediately.

    His figure suddenly turned.

    In the next moment, he returned to the universe of his Stellar Golden Core.

    In a single thought.

    In an instant, over four thousand Nascent Souls appeared, arrayed before him.

    Each Nascent Soul exuded a terrifying and profound aura.

    As Qi Yuan''s strength increased, the cultivation of these Nascent Souls also rose steadily.

    Now, there were even quite a few at the third stage of the Yang God realm.

    Of course, apart from their efforts and the power of the "Visualizing Gods Method," most of their strength came from Qi Yuan.

    If Qi Yuan wished, their divine power could vanish in an instant.

    But since they were his Nascent Souls, Qi Yuan wouldn''t do that.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at these four thousand Nascent Souls and slowly asked, "Am I... a True God?"

    Asking only Yu Sanbao wasn''t enough. Qi Yuan chose to ask his Nascent Souls.

    These Nascent Souls were his true followers.

    "Yes."

    Led by Qi Qi, Shen Lei and the others answered in unison, their voices resounding.

    In an instant, Qi Yuan felt his divine power undergoing a transformation.

    This change far surpassed the transformation brought by Yu Sanbao''s recognition.

    The quality and devotion of the followers influenced the transformation from Void God to True God.

    "So, now I should use my divine power to construct a Divine Kingdom?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    The first stage of True God was the Divine Kingdom stage.

    "My divine power is too scarce now, and constructing a Divine Kingdom is too troublesome. How about... using the Hall of Eternity as my Divine Kingdom?

    And the Gate of Myriad Principles as the entrance to the Divine Kingdom?"

    Qi Yuan thought.

    Now, with his immense strength, he could exist in two states upon returning from the game.

    He could be in the game state or his true form state.

    In fact, he could even break through in the Immortal Realm.

    Now, breaking through in the Stellar Golden Core universe was also feasible.

    So, using the Hall of Eternity to form a Divine Kingdom was possible.

    No sooner said than done.

    In an instant, the Hall of Eternity appeared in his hand.

    Qi Yuan looked at the mysterious Hall of Eternity, his gaze calm.

    "You are not the Hall of Eternity; you are the Divine Kingdom formed by my divine power."

    The "Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra" activated, and divine power surged over the Hall of Eternity.

    The Hall of Eternity seemed to turn into liquid, or perhaps divine light.

    This divine light then slowly formed a Divine Kingdom, eventually taking the shape of the Hall of Eternity.

    "Divine Kingdom stage... achieved?"

    Qi Yuan squinted, feeling his game body, his expression calm.

    Suddenly, he realized something and his expression changed: "No, I need to return to the game world quickly."

    Qi Yuan''s figure vanished.

    All sounds disappeared at that moment.

    A black-clad figure appeared, her expression charming and with a hint of amusement.

    "Husband... why did you run away?"

    "Hehe, my little husband... I really want to step on you."

    Ning Tao, dressed in a black miniskirt, looked like a dark genre princess. Her slender jade legs were clad in black stockings, and her delicate, exquisite feet were also wrapped in black silk, her toes small and fair, like works of art.

    Some time ago, Qi Yuan in his game state had returned, small and adorable. When he encountered Ning Tao, her yandere traits were in full force, almost restarting the events of their first meeting, where she had captured him and made him call her "mother."

    So, with that psychological shadow, Qi Yuan had quickly left.

    He didn''t want to be stepped on by Ning Tao in this state¡ªit was too embarrassing.

    ...

    "Congratulations, Your Highness, for becoming the seventh in this batch to break through to the True God stage."

    A long-haired old man bowed his head, his expression respectful and slightly surprised.

    This prince, according to observations, had been cultivating all along and hadn''t recruited any followers. His aptitude had been rated as C+.

    Yet, he was the seventh in this batch to break through to the True God stage, which was somewhat unexpected.

    But then again, considering his bloodline came from Pillar Tian Kai, it wasn''t too surprising that he broke through so quickly.

    "So, can I go to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain now?"

    Qi Yuan asked.

    "Yes," the old man nodded, his expression respectful.

    Once one became a True God, they were a child of Tian Kai, a true prince.

    "However, Pillar Tian Kai is currently in slumber, so Your Highness cannot pay respects to His Majesty," the old man said, sounding somewhat regretful.

    If these god-children could meet Pillar Tian Kai, they might receive rewards.

    But with His Majesty in slumber, there were no such benefits. He felt sorry for Qi Yuan.

    "Oh, when can I go to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He was very curious about this so-called Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    Did it have any connection to Mount Olympus?

    "Please follow me, Your Highness," the old man said.

    With a flash, the two appeared before a teleportation array.

    This teleportation array was similar to those in the Immortal Realm, but its principles were slightly different, seemingly powered by divine energy.

    Qi Yuan sat in the teleportation array, his expression curious.

    About thirty breaths later.

    Qi Yuan squinted and looked up at the sky.

    In the sky, there seemed to be an endless number of floating mountains.

    Each mountain seemed to harbor a terrifying presence.

    Seeing Qi Yuan''s reaction, the old man was quite pleased. He hunched over and said, "The Ten Thousand Gods Mountain does not exist in the material world, nor in the spiritual world. It exists within the heart of the Emperor God."

    "The heart of the Emperor God?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    The so-called Emperor God was the leader of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    "What we see is all manifested by the Emperor God," the old man continued. "Your Highness only needs to release a strand of divine energy, and the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain will guide you. A new mountain will also appear on the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain."

    "Alright," Qi Yuan didn''t refuse.

    He didn''t sense any danger.

    Besides, this was just a game. What was there to fear?

    He released a strand of divine energy, and immediately, a vast and mighty divine energy from the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain reached out.

    A beam of divine light split off, and a small mountain a hundred zhang tall appeared.

    "Your Highness, please cultivate in your palace. Within half an hour, a Divine Lord will come to pledge allegiance to you," the old man said, his eyes filled with envy.

    A Divine Lord was a being at the third stage of True God.

    Such beings were considered major figures in the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, true high-level existences.

    He might never become a Divine Lord in his lifetime.

    But for a child of Pillar Tian Kai to have a Divine Lord protector was not surprising.

    Although this Divine Lord protector might be newly ascended to the Divine Lord stage, he was still a Divine Lord.

    "Alright."

    Qi Yuan returned to the mountain he had formed on the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    He looked at the other mountains, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    "All the mountains seem close at hand, but... if I want to go to any of them... I can''t."

    This feeling was like using a laser pointer to play with a cat.

    The cat kept trying to catch the light dot, not realizing that the light dot was impossible to catch.

    "This Emperor God is quite interesting."

    Qi Yuan waved his hand casually.

    A villa appeared on the mountain.

    For a True God, creating a villa with divine energy was a trivial matter.

    Just then, a voice rang out.

    "Feng Ye pays his respects to Your Highness."

    A thin old man walked over, dressed in a green robe. His aura was gentle, like that of a butler or an old servant.

    But Qi Yuan knew this was a powerhouse at the third stage of True God, the Divine Lord stage.

    He was also Qi Yuan''s protector, attendant, and guide.

    "From now on, Feng Ye will serve Your Highness, Qi Yuan!" Feng Ye continued, his attitude respectful, without the arrogance of a Divine Lord.

    After all, the other party was a child of Pillar Tian Kai, with limitless potential.

    If one day, the other party had the chance to break through to the fifth stage of True God, he too could rise to great heights.

    "Hmm," Qi Yuan nodded.

    Feng Ye continued, "Your Highness, the cultivation of a True God requires a vast amount of resources. However, due to Pillar Tian Kai''s requirements, I cannot provide these resources for Your Highness. Please forgive me."

    "Tell me about cultivation after becoming a True God," Qi Yuan said.

    The "True God Method" and the memories he had obtained were only enough to establish a Divine Kingdom and break through to True God.

    As for the cultivation methods beyond that, Qi Yuan was still unaware.

    "The first stage of True God is called the Divine Kingdom stage.

    As the name suggests, it involves building a Divine Kingdom.

    Since Your Highness has broken through to the Divine Kingdom stage, you must have already formed the rudiments of a Divine Kingdom.

    But... this is not enough. A powerful Divine Kingdom requires constant infusion of treasures and resources from the material world, as well as faith power from the spiritual world, and so on."

    Feng Ye explained the cultivation of the Divine Kingdom stage to Qi Yuan.

    The cultivation was simple: continuously build the Divine Kingdom.

    Invest treasures, resources, and faith power.

    "How do I get these treasures? And what about faith power?" Qi Yuan asked a seemingly foolish question.

    Although his Divine Kingdom was already quite strong with the Hall of Eternity as its foundation, he was curious about how other god-children cultivated and grew stronger.

    At the same time, he was following the script, asking the NPC questions to learn more about the plot.

    "There are two methods. The first is to form alliances with other established god-children and goddesses, serving them. They have many treasures and resources and can reward Your Highness.

    The second method is the legacy of Pillar Tian Kai."

    Feng Ye spoke seriously.

    "Back then, the Emperor God observed all living beings and captured the Myriad Heavens Mirror from the void, refining it.

    The mirror has a strange attraction, able to draw the spiritual power of beings from some worlds into it.

    Now, the mirror''s fragments have multiplied, and as a child of the Pillar, Your Highness is entitled to one of these fragments."

    As he spoke, Feng Ye''s eyes showed envy.

    He was now a Divine Lord, yet he didn''t have a fragment of the mirror.

    Yet this prince, only at the Divine Kingdom stage, already had one. Truly, birth was the most important factor.

    "The Myriad Heavens Mirror connects to other worlds. God-children can entice the natives of these worlds to release coordinates, then capture these worlds to obtain resources and faith.

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    However, Your Highness must be careful. These worlds also hold great dangers. Do not rashly enter them, or you may face the risk of falling."

    Feng Ye said.

    The Ten Thousand Gods Mountain was constantly capturing worlds, harvesting faith.

    But some worlds also coveted the True Gods of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    In the process of plundering other worlds and planes, many Divine Lords of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain had fallen. Even Spirit Gods and Dao Gods faced the risk of never returning.

 Chapter 597: Love-minded Wen Zhuyun

    On the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    The seventeenth god-child of Pillar Tian Kai, Ha Jin, and the three hundredth goddess, Xi Shui, gathered together.

    The seventeenth god-child was an absolute veteran, having already reached the peak of the Divine Decree stage, just one step away from entering the Divine Lord stage.

    Once he entered the Divine Lord stage, he would become a true regional overlord.

    "New prince, Qi Yuan?" The seventeenth god-child, Ha Jin, laughed heartily. "Another fat sheep has arrived."

    Xi Shui''s eyes sparkled with amusement: "Should I send him a message now, inviting him over?"

    These veteran god-children and goddesses showed no mercy to their younger siblings.

    "Yes, he''s just entered the True God stage. He doesn''t have enough resources to build his Divine Kingdom. Let''s give him a chance to serve me," Ha Jin said confidently.

    Building a Divine Kingdom required an immense amount of resources.

    Relying solely on the occasional resources from the Myriad Heavens Mirror, the Divine Kingdom built would likely be shoddy.

    Thus, most of the later god-children and goddesses would serve the veteran ones or form alliances.

    Of course, if one chose to be independent and not join any group, they would be isolated.

    The pioneers blocked the path of those who came after.

    Unless, of course, the newcomer had exceptional talent and was noticed by other True Gods for investment.

    "If even one-tenth of this batch of god-children pledges allegiance to you, brother, your power will grow significantly. In the Star Cloud Domain, even Six-Six won''t be able to compete with you," Xi Shui said with a giggle.

    Ha Jin nodded.

    He had ambition and aspirations.

    Only by standing out among the many god-children and goddesses could he gain the attention of his father, Tian Kai, and obtain more resources.

    "One-tenth is too difficult," Ha Jin said.

    The two chatted for about a day, discussing the current situation in the Star Cloud Domain.

    Just then, Xi Shui''s expression turned complicated: "Brother, that Qi Yuan... refused to come and join us."

    Xi Shui was no longer giggling.

    Ha Jin was no longer laughing: "It seems he doesn''t respect me. Let''s see if he plans to collude with Six-Six."

    ...

    "Random messages. I''m socially awkward, so unnecessary socializing is out of the question."

    Looking at the dozens of messages in his residence, Qi Yuan rejected them one by one.

    Feng Ye, seeing this, had a complicated expression: "Your Highness, by rejecting these invitations, you might offend them."

    In the past, most of the later god-children would choose to cooperate with, or even serve, the veteran god-children and goddesses.

    Only in this way could they obtain enough resources to perfect their Divine Kingdoms and increase their potential.

    For True Gods, the deeper the foundation of their Divine Kingdom, the greater their potential and strength.

    "Not attending their gatherings means offending them?" Qi Yuan looked puzzled. "That''s not how the world works."

    Hearing this, Feng Ye didn''t argue further, only feeling that this prince was naively pure to a frightening degree.

    He just didn''t know if following such a prince would lead to any future.

    "I''ll go take a look at the Myriad Heavens Mirror and see if I can gather some faith."

    Qi Yuan said.

    "Your Highness, be careful. Do not easily descend in your true form, or... there may be danger," Feng Ye reminded.

    "Don''t worry."

    Qi Yuan held the Myriad Heavens Mirror, and his consciousness descended at that moment.

    The so-called Myriad Heavens Mirror was like a broken piece of jade, but this jade was as transparent as glass, looking ordinary, no different from a mundane object.

    "Indeed, the inside of the Myriad Heavens Mirror is no different from a chat group.

    But the difference is... positioning.

    With the other party''s consent, I can even project my consciousness into their plane."

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    This gave him a strange feeling.

    As if he were a demon, tempting everyone to send him their coordinates so he could descend like a demon.

    At this moment, the chat group was quite lively.

    "I, Gou Bu Dao, am dashing and handsome, with millions of fans. Why would I lie to you?"

    "What are fans?"

    "You bitch, you''re so uncultured. Did you not attend compulsory education?"

    "Why are you insulting me?" In the Great Ruins World, Wen Zhuyun looked at the messages, her chest heaving with anger.

    Some time ago, she had returned to her ancestral home and found a piece of broken jade in the house, accidentally entering this strange place.

    She was very curious.

    Especially since there seemed to be others here, communicating with her through text.

    Currently, she was chatting with someone named Gou Bu Dao.

    According to Gou Bu Dao, he was a cultivator and very popular.

    Now, Wen Zhuyun was chatting in the group, inadvertently revealing her girlish worries.

    She asked the group, she had fallen in love at first sight with the son of the Minister of Rites, but she was just a merchant''s daughter. What should she do? How should she confess?

    She didn''t dare.

    As a result, Gou Bu Dao said, since she liked him, she should invite him to eat some delicious shit.

    At that time, Wen Zhuyun was furious, feeling that Gou Bu Dao was too unserious.

    She was somewhat puzzled. Gou Bu Dao had previously spoken elegantly and seemed quite knowledgeable, which was why she had boldly asked.

    But not only did he tease her, he also insulted her. Wen Zhuyun felt wronged.

    "I''m insulting a dog," Gou Bu Dao said. "Humans are my favorite creatures. Each one is a lovely ice cream machine. How could I bear to insult them?"

    Hearing this, Wen Zhuyun was confused, not understanding what Gou Bu Dao meant.

    "Wait, you''re not human?" At this moment, Zuo Jingyun, who had been lurking, sent a message.

    "Wait, you''re not dogs?" Gou Bu Dao was slightly stunned, then showed a look of surprise. "You''re... humans?!?"

    "Haha, I''ve struck gold! So many ice cream machines!"

    Gou Bu Dao''s messages were becoming increasingly frenzied, showing his excitement.

    The group fell silent.

    Wen Zhuyun also felt something was off.

    Was Gou Bu Dao a dog?

    Were the strange tales in the novels true?

    Did dogs really become spirits?

    But then again, if they could enter this chat group, it wasn''t strange for a dog to become a spirit.

    "Um, Brother Gou, why do you call us ice cream machines?" Wen Zhuyun asked, puzzled.

    "Hehe, I won''t tell," Gou Bu Dao laughed.

    Just then, a message notification appeared.

    Gou Bu Dao was slightly stunned.

    "A dog has arrived?"

    "No, a new member?"

    Wen Zhuyun was also curious.

    Was it a human, a dog, or some other creature?

    "I am a god. You can call me the Origin Heavenly God," the newcomer was naturally Qi Yuan.

    He briefly browsed the previous messages and replied.

    This group had few members, only seven including him.

    The ones who talked the most were Gou Bu Dao and Wen Zhuyun. The others mostly lurked, only speaking tentatively and not revealing much about themselves.

    Except for Gou Bu Dao and Wen Zhuyun, who had almost revealed the color of their underwear.

    "A god? You have quite the mouth," Zuo Jingyun spoke up. "Why don''t you go spar with the Heavenly Dragon Emperor?"

    Zuo Jingyun naturally didn''t believe in gods.

    Since the Seven Warriors slew the gods, there had been no gods in this world.

    "You want me to spar, so I''ll spar? Wouldn''t that make me lose face?" Qi Yuan said. "I come from the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain and am a True God. I came to the Myriad Heavens Mirror to help you fulfill your wishes and collect your faith."

    Sincerity was the ultimate weapon. Qi Yuan didn''t hide anything.

    Upon hearing this, the group fell silent for a moment.

    In two unknown places, two murmurs were heard.

    "The Ten Thousand Gods Mountain?"

    "This True God is quite new, quite foolish. I wonder... how does he taste?"

    Meanwhile, in the group chat, Zuo Jingyun slowly said, "Your backstory isn''t very convincing. The Heavenly Dragon Emperor claims to be the Dragon of Dragons, a terrifying black dragon that devours worlds."

    At this moment, Gou Bu Dao asked, "Do you poop?"

    Qi Yuan fell silent for a long time before finally saying, "True Gods don''t poop."

    "Too bad. I was hoping you could help me fulfill my wish. I''ve never tasted god-flavored ice cream," Gou Bu Dao said, disappointed.

    If the other party could produce ice cream for him every day, he wouldn''t mind worshiping them.

    "Origin Heavenly God, can you really fulfill our wishes?" Wen Zhuyun asked eagerly.

    As for faith?

    What was that?

    When short on money, pray to the God of Wealth. When sick, pray to the God of Medicine.

    Her bottom line for faith was that she could worship any god, as long as they were useful.

    "Yes, as long as you have faith in me."

    "Don''t worry, even if you reveal your coordinates, it''s fine.

    When the Origin Heavenly God arrives, he only wants your faith. Spring has come for the people." Qi Yuan was all about sincerity.

    Wen Zhuyun felt a bit dizzy. She didn''t quite understand what coordinates were.

    "Origin Heavenly God, I can have faith in you, but can you fulfill a wish for me? I... I like the son of the Minister of Rites, Yan Yuqing, but I don''t know if he likes me..." Wen Zhuyun stammered.

    Back then, she had asked Gou Bu Dao for advice, and he told her to invite the Minister''s son to eat shit.

    So unreliable.

    Now, here was someone claiming to be a True God. Surely this one was more reliable?

    "That''s simple. How about I find someone to ask him if he likes you?" Qi Yuan said.

    Wen Zhuyun was stunned, then shyly said, "Wouldn''t that be bad? What if he gets angry and refuses?"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan really wanted to take apart Wen Zhuyun''s brain to see what was inside.

    This girl was too much of a romantic.

    Logically, with such a chat group, the least one could do was see if they could find a way to get rich or engage in cross-world trade.

    Better yet, use the information gap to step onto the path of transcendence.

    But this girl? Completely love-struck.

    "He''s from an official''s family, surrounded by guards. What if he gets angry and has you beaten?" Wen Zhuyun was very worried.

    In the Great Ruins World, there were all sorts of strange tales.

    And those officials had righteous auras protecting them, making them immune to ghosts and gods.

    "He hits people? That violent?" Qi Yuan said. "Seems like I should stay away to avoid trouble. How about this: I''ll find a burly man to ask Yan Yuqing if he likes you?"

    Qi Yuan thought for a moment before replying.

    He didn''t want to descend in his true form.

    He had so many Nascent Souls that he could easily send one to do the job for him.

    Now that he was at the True God stage, his Nascent Souls could descend into this world.

    He could even bring the projections of Canary and Ning Tao, who lived on the Stellar Golden Core.

    "A burly man? Tall? Strong?" Wen Zhuyun asked.

    "Don''t worry, very tall, very strong," Qi Yuan was thinking of sending the Giant Spirit God to ask.

    Wasn''t the Giant Spirit God tall and strong enough?

    "But... wouldn''t he be outnumbered?" Wen Zhuyun was still anxious.

    After all, when Yan Yuqing went out, he was always accompanied by over a dozen guards, some even armored. A single burly man probably couldn''t get close and would be captured as an assassin.

    "One isn''t enough? How about I send ten, all burly!" Qi Yuan said.

    The Barefoot Immortal, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Bull Demon King¡ªthey could all go ask Yan Yuqing. Surely they could get an answer, right?

    "Ten should be enough!" Wen Zhuyun was delighted, her face beaming with joy. "In five days, it will be a rest day, and Yan Yuqing will go out. Thank you, Origin Heavenly God."

    "No problem, no problem. See you in five days," Qi Yuan said in the group.

    He glanced at the others and then asked, "Does anyone else have a wish they want fulfilled?"

    But the group fell silent, and no one answered.

    After about thirty breaths, Gou Bu Dao said, "Why don''t you become my ice cream machine?"

    If you''re a god, this ice cream machine should have better insulation and sealing, right?

    "Get lost!" Qi Yuan was speechless.

    This Gou Bu Dao was always disgusting him.

    Zuo Jingyun chuckled and said, "Origin Heavenly God, you should fulfill Wen Zhuyun''s wish first."

    Actually, he had more to say.

    There wouldn''t be many naive girls like Wen Zhuyun. The others weren''t so easily fooled.

    If you''re really a True God, why go through the trouble of sending someone to ask Yan Yuqing if he likes Wen Zhuyun? Just use your divine power to make Yan Yuqing fall in love with her. Isn''t that simple?

    If you can''t even do that, how can you call yourself a god?

    Just like that edgy teenager, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor.

    "Sigh, why don''t you people believe in True Gods?"

    "Just watch. In five days, I''ll fulfill Wen Zhuyun''s wish. Don''t start barking then!" Qi Yuan said casually.

    "Woof woof woof!" Gou Bu Dao sent a message.

    ...

    "Gods are just powerful humans," Zuo Jingyun murmured to himself in the True Martial World.

    Thirty years ago, there was a man who claimed to be a god and wreaked havoc in the martial world.

    This so-called god was just a martial artist who had consumed the blood of a mystical beast, the Dragon Turtle, gaining a thousand years of lifespan and greatly increased martial prowess.

    But then the Chosen One descended, and the seven strongest warriors, wielding divine artifacts, slew the god.

    "Unfortunately, after thirty years of hard training, I''ve only reached the Grandmaster level. Although I obtained that mysterious jade, the cultivation techniques Gou Bu Dao gave me only made my body stronger."

    Zuo Jingyun had an enemy¡ªone of the seven warriors who had slain the god.

    Over the years, he had been hunted by the disciples and followers of that warrior.

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    After joining this chat group, he felt it was his opportunity. After observing the group members, he chose to privately chat and trade with Gou Bu Dao.

    He shared some medicinal recipes, and Gou Bu Dao gave him some cultivation techniques.

    Gou Bu Dao''s techniques were indeed useful, even comparable to the secret manuals of the seven warriors, but they were still far from enough to defeat his enemy.

    "If what this Origin Heavenly God says is true, he should be a foreign demon. The True Martial World has slain many foreign demons," Zuo Jingyun murmured. "Unfortunately, cooperating with Wu Santong, the Green Flame Divine Art he passed to me is too weak. The martial arts in his world must be underdeveloped."

    Wu Santong was also a member of the chat group, a martial artist and the leader of the Empty Mountain Sect, seemingly ambitious.

 Chapter 598: Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun?

    Empty Mountain Sect.

    Located on the steep and lush Empty Mountain, the sect was surrounded by dense greenery, with figures occasionally darting through the trees, seemingly practicing martial arts.

    "San Tong, you look troubled. Is the sect... short on funds?" A woman approached, her hair neatly tied up in a bun, showing no signs of disturbance, a clear indication of her excellent lightness skill.

    Liu Xian''er, with her gentle demeanor, looked at her husband with concern in her eyes.

    Since taking over the role of sect leader fifteen years ago, Wu Santong had been tirelessly working to revive the sect, dedicating himself day and night.

    Under Wu Santong''s efforts, the Empty Mountain Sect had indeed grown significantly, rising from the bottom of the second-tier sects to a position where it could challenge the first-tier sects.

    However, Wu Santong was somewhat old-fashioned, strictly adhering to ancient traditions.

    Disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect were forbidden from using their martial arts to bully the weak.

    Because of this, as the number of disciples increased, the sect''s expenses were becoming unsustainable.

    Sometimes, Wu Santong and Liu Xian''er would venture down the mountain to hunt down notorious bandits, earning bounties from the imperial court, or help escort caravans for some security bureaus.

    "The bounty we received for capturing the flower thief Wu Tong last time still has some left," Wu Santong said.

    "Could it be that you''re worried about... the Severing Heaven Society?" Liu Xian''er mentioned the Severing Heaven Society, her eyes also filled with concern.

    The Severing Heaven Society was a recently risen force in the martial world.

    Its leader, Hua Wubing, was a prodigy with astonishing martial talent. At the age of seventeen, he defeated the renowned Jiangnan hero, Yun Tiankong, and became famous overnight.

    Later, he joined the first-tier force, the Severing Heaven Society.

    Now, in his early thirties, Hua Wubing was widely regarded as the top martial artist in the world.

    He was also ambitious, aiming to unify the martial world and become its leader.

    The Empty Mountain Sect was not far from the Severing Heaven Society. Last month, three sects had already been annihilated for refusing to be absorbed by the Severing Heaven Society.

    "The Severing Heaven Society''s methods resemble those of demonic sects. How can they become the leader of the martial world?" Wu Santong said with worry.

    Mentioning the martial world leader, he, like other young heroes, had once dreamed of becoming the martial world leader.

    But as he grew older and faced reality, his only goal now was to revive the sect and uphold the legacy of his master.

    It was only after joining that chat group some time ago that he saw a great opportunity and reignited his dream of becoming the martial world leader.

    However, after communicating with Zuo Jingyun and obtaining a peculiar cultivation technique, which Zuo Jingyun claimed to be incredibly powerful, Wu Santong found himself unable to master it.

    What he didn''t know was that in Zuo Jingyun''s world, martial arts had reached a level where one could fly and move through the earth at will.

    But cultivating such martial arts depended heavily on destiny.

    Without destiny, no matter how talented or hardworking one was, it would be useless.

    Moreover, with the Severing Heaven Society''s increasing aggression, the immediate concern was not becoming the martial world leader but preserving the Empty Mountain Sect and the lives of its disciples.

    "The Severing Heaven Society''s backing might... have the imperial court''s involvement," Liu Xian''er said, her expression grave.

    Mentioning that behemoth, Wu Santong felt the situation was even more dire.

    As the leader of the Empty Mountain Sect, his internal energy was profound and refined, making him a martial arts master.

    But if faced with over twenty armored imperial guards, he would stand no chance.

    Individual martial prowess was nothing in the face of such a terrifying war machine.

    "I need to think about how to get through this..." Wu Santong pondered whether to seek help from the martial world''s leading figures.

    But just then, a hurried voice came.

    "Bad news, Master! The Severing Heaven Society has sent an envoy, demanding that all our disciples attend their Hero Conference in half a month. If we don''t go..."

    Hearing this, Wu Santong''s expression tightened.

    "Half a month?"

    The Severing Heaven Society was giving him little time.

    Wu Santong frowned, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.

    Could it be that the legacy his master left him would be destroyed in his hands?

    As someone who cherished his reputation, how could he accept such a thing?

    Suddenly, he remembered the chat group, especially the newly joined Origin Heavenly God.

    If he was truly a god, could he resolve this crisis?

    ...

    "These people are relentless, constantly inviting me to banquets."

    "I''m so socially awkward, attending a banquet is out of the question."

    Shortly after settling into the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, Qi Yuan received numerous invitations from various god-children and goddesses, all of which he declined.

    "Now, the cultivation of the Divine Kingdom... seems to lie within the Myriad Heavens Mirror.

    But with just these few worlds... the improvement to my Divine Kingdom is less than a drop in the ocean."

    Qi Yuan was speaking the truth.

    For other god-children, conquering those worlds and gaining their faith would significantly boost their Divine Kingdoms.

    But Qi Yuan''s Divine Kingdom was built on the Hall of Eternity, which was already extraordinary. Adding a few more worlds wouldn''t make much of a difference.

    "So, I need to find a way to increase the occupancy rate of the Myriad Heavens Mirror," Qi Yuan pondered.

    He then shared his thoughts with Feng Ye.

    Hearing this, Feng Ye sighed, "This... requires opportunity. It cannot be forced. If we could increase the probability of other beings entering, the power of many True Gods would skyrocket."

    Feng Ye meant there was no shortcut.

    After all, the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain''s method of increasing strength was through expansion and the acquisition of faith.

    Naturally, the more worlds discovered, the better.

    Especially worlds not yet claimed by other True Gods.

    "Is there no other way?" Qi Yuan was somewhat disappointed.

    Feng Ye hesitated, then whispered, "There are rumors that True Gods at the fourth stage, the Spirit Gods, might have a way to increase the probability.

    However, fourth-stage Spirit Gods rarely appear in the divine world. Even with Your Highness''s status, it would be difficult to meet one."

    "I see," Qi Yuan responded.

    He was also curious about the True God system.

    According to the records here, Spirit Gods, equivalent to the fourth stage of Yang God, had a unique state of existence. Unlike in the Immortal Realm or other universes, their true spirits did not perish but existed in the past and future, eventually condensing into a Heterodox Treasure.

    But with his current low strength, he couldn''t access more information about Spirit Gods.

    "If there''s a chance to increase the probability, it seems I need to devise a plan to find more worlds."

    Qi Yuan considered restarting his grand plan.

    If the Myriad Heavens Mirror couldn''t find more worlds and gather more faith, his strength would stagnate.

    He might as well flaunt his inheritance.

    He could inherit his Stellar Golden Core universe, the Immortal Realm, and the hundreds of universes left by the Nanke Dao Lord, having those beings worship him.

    Of course, Qi Yuan currently only had his Nascent Souls worship him.

    The constitutions of different universes varied. What if those beings worshiping him caused an accident?

    Experimentation was necessary.

    Just then, the Myriad Heavens Mirror flickered.

    "Huh, someone is privately messaging me. Is it that love-struck girl?"

    Qi Yuan''s consciousness entered the Myriad Heavens Mirror, and he was surprised to see the private message was from someone named Wu Santong.

    This person had been lurking.

    "Esteemed God, I am willing to worship you. I only hope that you can save my Empty Mountain Sect."

    Wu Santong''s words were sincere.

    He didn''t beat around the bush.

    After all, trying to scheme in front of a god would be laughable.

    "Oh, is that so?"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan activated his superpower, the ability of his ears.

    He could hear thoughts and gather more information.

    Indeed, even through the Myriad Heavens Mirror, he could hear some of Wu Santong''s thoughts.

    "Tell me about the major forces in your world, and I''ll think about how to help you," Qi Yuan replied.

    He didn''t put on airs or refer to himself as "this deity" or anything like that.

    Hearing this, Wu Santong hesitated.

    Because gods... were usually aloof and not so approachable.

    "As you command, God..." Wu Santong spoke humbly, detailing the Empty Mountain Sect, the martial world''s situation, and even mentioning the imperial court.

    "Ah, I see. In half a month, you don''t need to go to the Severing Heaven Society. Take your disciples to You Mountain City, and you''ll get what you want," Qi Yuan quickly devised a plan to help Wu Santong.

    Of course, the price was Wu Santong''s worship.

    Wu Santong was puzzled. Go to You Mountain City?

    You Mountain City was currently unstable.

    There were rumors that the You Mountain King was planning a rebellion.

    However, since it was the Origin Heavenly God''s instruction, he dared not refuse.

    ...

    "Origin Heavenly God, today is the rest day. Don''t forget!" Wen Zhuyun seemed nervous.

    Qi Yuan smiled, "Don''t worry, the helpers I found are very reliable. They will definitely ask the Minister of Rites'' son for you."

    Zuo Jingyun also said in the group, "Now we''ll see if the Origin Heavenly God is truly a god."

    "Can you give me the coordinates of your world? It''s been a long time since I''ve seen a good, well-sealed person," Gou Bu Dao chimed in.

    Wu Santong also said, "The God will surely fulfill Miss Wen''s wish."

    He was also looking forward to how the Origin Heavenly God would fulfill Wen Zhuyun''s wish.

    If he could fulfill it, it would mean that even if the Origin Heavenly God wasn''t a god, he still had some extraordinary abilities.

    Perhaps he could help him too.

    Hearing Wu Santong''s message, Zuo Jingyun was slightly surprised. It seemed Wu Santong had privately contacted the Origin Heavenly God.

    "Wait a moment, they will soon meet Yan Yuqing and help you confess," Qi Yuan said confidently.

    "Alright," Wen Zhuyun replied, though her heart was still in turmoil.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in the Great Ruins World.

    Outside Chang''an City, a group of young nobles and officials'' sons, dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses, were in high spirits.

    With falcons on their left arms and hounds on their right, they carried bows and arrows, clearly heading out for a hunt.

    Yan Yuqing, the son of the Minister of Rites, held a prominent position among these second-generation elites.

    "Yuqing, I heard you came in first in the mounted archery exam the other day. It seems today''s harvest will be bountiful," said the son of a count, his tone flattering.

    This count''s son was a bastard child.

    In the Great Ruins Kingdom, bastards were inferior to legitimate children, to the point where there was a saying: "A bastard emperor must kneel before a legitimate prince."

    Yan Yuqing was a legitimate child and the only heir for three generations, giving him a much higher status than this count''s bastard son.

    "But I''ve also offended the Prime Minister''s son because of it," Yan Yuqing sighed.

    The second place in the archery exam was the Prime Minister''s son.

    "Hmph, that Yang Xiong is just a bastard. How can he compare to Brother Yuqing!" the count''s son immediately flattered.

    A handsome man said, "Brother Yuqing''s archery skills are divine. I heard there''s a water monkey in the Drunken Pavilion Lake ahead that often causes trouble, drowning women washing clothes by the river. Why don''t we go and shoot the water monkey? Whoever kills it will be today''s top hunter?"

    "An excellent idea!"

    "Agreed."

    The group of several dozen rode their horses toward Drunken Pavilion Lake.

    About an hour later.

    Yan Yuqing shot an arrow, piercing the water monkey''s abdomen. A dark stain of blood appeared in the lake.

    The other officials'' sons clapped and cheered.

    "Brother Yuqing is truly both cultured and martial, unparalleled in mounted archery! With one arrow, he killed the troublemaking water monkey!"

    "Such archery skills could even shoot down the sun in the sky."

    "Haha, even if a god descended, could they dodge this arrow?"

    They flattered each other, boasting.

    Yan Yuqing, still young, felt somewhat inflated by the praise, feeling as if the world was in his hands.

    But just then, their horses began to neigh, seemingly restless.

    "What''s going on?"

    "What''s happening? Is there a tiger around?"

    "Hmph, even if a tiger came, could it withstand three arrows from Brother Yuqing?"

    "If Brother Yuqing kills a tiger with three arrows, he will surely become famous throughout the Great Ruins World."

    Hearing this, Yan Yuqing held his bow, his ego swelling.

    "Wait, why is the sky darkening?"

    "Is it an eclipse?"

    Then, they realized something was wrong.

    It didn''t seem to be a tiger.

    Their surroundings had turned dark, as if night had suddenly fallen.

    This phenomenon was quite rare.

    Just then, a thunderous voice echoed.

    "Are you Yan Yuqing?"

    Yan Yuqing''s horse shivered, throwing him off. His ears rang, and his thoughts became chaotic.

    "Who?"

    "Who is it?"

    "Where?"

    The other officials'' sons were also terrified, unsure of what was happening.

    "Your grandpa is above you."

    As the voice spoke, a massive figure seemed to shift its foot.

    With that movement, the earth shook.

    Some sunlight broke through, and Yan Yuqing and the others saw a towering, terrifying giant above them.

    This giant was taller than Chang''an City''s walls, no, taller than Mount Ye!

    The giant had a thick beard, bushy eyebrows, and a fierce expression, wearing golden armor and holding a battle-axe.

    Seeing this, everyone was stunned, their worldviews shattered.

    "A god..."

    "There really are gods in this world!"

    "Ah, we have offended the gods. We deserve to die!"

    The quick-witted immediately remembered they had just urged Yan Yuqing to shoot the god.

    Had the god heard and descended to punish them?

    They felt bitter and terrified.

    Especially Yan Yuqing, whose legs trembled, on the verge of wetting himself.

    Faced with such a terrifying giant, anyone would instinctively fear.

    A dog would wet itself seeing a tiger, a house cat would defecate seeing a stray cat, let alone them.

    "Yan Yuqing is here..." Yan Yuqing knelt on the ground, trembling, already imagining his death.

    But the next moment, the god''s words left him dumbfounded.

    "In Chang''an City, there is a woman named Wen Zhuyun, as beautiful as a flower. She admires you but dares not speak her heart, so she sought us to ask."

    "Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun?"

    Hearing this, Yan Yuqing''s scalp tingled, feeling utterly confused.

    It was as if on Earth, you suddenly encountered the President of the United States with an army, arresting you and asking, "Do you like eating century eggs?"

    As Yan Yuqing was stunned, several more thunderous voices rang out.

    "I, the Barefoot Immortal, ask you, Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun?" The earth shook as Yan Yuqing saw a massive jade foot.

    This foot seemed as large as Chang''an City.

    Yan Yuqing''s mind was in chaos, unable to speak or think.

    He even struggled to recall Wen Zhuyun, only vaguely remembering seeing her before, the daughter of a merchant.

    In front of the Wen family''s gate, there wasn''t even a plaque.

    In the Great Ruins, merchants were of low status. How could their daughter marry into a noble family?

    At best, she could be a concubine.

    Then, more majestic voices sounded.

    "I, the Heavenly King of the East, Mo Lihai, ask you, Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun?"

    "I, the Heavenly King of the South, Mo Liqing, ask you..."

    "I, the Heavenly King of the West, Mo Lishou, ask you..."

    "I, the Heavenly King of the North, Mo Lihong, ask you..."

    "Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun?"

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    Four majestic voices echoed one after another, as if four deities had appeared in the world.

    One held a pipa, another a vajra, a third was entwined with a red dragon, and the fourth held a precious umbrella.

    Their presence was awe-inspiring, their anger palpable.

    Faced with these gods'' roars, Yan Yuqing felt dizzy.

    "I... I like her."

 Chapter 599: This Heavenly Dao is a Little Weird

    "It seems we don''t need to appear and ask; he has already agreed."

    Four more heavenly gods were hidden in the sky, not asking any questions.

    Just those few were enough to get an answer from Yan Yuqing.

    At this moment, Yan Yuqing kept his head down, not daring to look up at the majestic gods in the sky.

    His heart was in turmoil, and all the Confucian teachings of benevolence and morality he had learned were long forgotten.

    As for Wen Zhuyun, he recalled seeing her at a gathering once. She had a dignified appearance, and he had glanced at her a few times.

    Back then, some people had even teased him, suggesting he take Wen Zhuyun as a concubine.

    He had indeed considered it.

    However, given Wen Zhuyun''s family background, she could only be a concubine, and he wasn''t ready to take a concubine yet, so he had dismissed the idea.

    Now, with these gods descending and asking him this question, even a fool would know how to answer.

    At this moment, he was most grateful that he hadn''t married yet.

    At the same time, a hint of ambition stirred in his heart as he prostrated himself on the ground.

    So what if she was the daughter of a merchant? So what if her ancestors had never held high office?

    This was a match made by the gods!

    "Since you like her, how about... you get married right here? I''ve even brought the civil affairs bureau," the Giant Spirit God said in a booming voice.

    With a loud crash, the officials'' sons saw a building descend from the sky.

    Seeing this, they prostrated themselves on the ground, filled with awe.

    "A miracle!"

    "A divine miracle!"

    "Is this where the gods reside?"

    Yan Yuqing''s head was spinning.

    "I will follow your arrangements, esteemed gods," Yan Yuqing said, trembling.

    But then, the Giant Spirit God seemed to remember something and slowly said, "We still need to ask Wen Zhuyun for her opinion. You go home first and ask your parents if they agree."

    After saying this, the Giant Spirit God and the other gods disappeared.

    The world brightened again.

    The officials'' sons knelt on the ground, shivering, feeling as if what had just happened was an illusion.

    "Was I... dreaming just now?"

    "I think we all had the same dream."

    "No, it wasn''t a dream. Look at that building... the civil affairs bureau!"

    The officials'' sons all looked at Yan Yuqing, their expressions lively. Some of the smarter ones began to piece things together.

    "Congratulations, Young Master Yan!"

    "Brother Yuqing, congratulations!"

    What followed was simple.

    Yan Yuqing, following the Giant Spirit God''s instructions, returned home.

    And thus, the following conversation took place.

    "Father, I want to marry Wen Zhuyun, in a proper wedding!"

    "Who is this Wen Zhuyun? A merchant''s daughter? Nonsense!"

    "Father, I truly like her. More importantly, this time is different. Her matchmaker is..."

    "Even if the Emperor himself were the matchmaker, he couldn''t insult our Yan family!"

    "Father, her matchmaker is a god!"

    "What are you talking about? Wait, today''s strange phenomena..."

    Meanwhile, Wen Zhuyun, at home, was filled with anxiety.

    She clutched the broken jade in her hand, her thoughts in turmoil, her heart racing with the worries of a young girl.

    Did Young Master Yan agree?

    Would he look down on me for being a merchant''s daughter?

    Did the Origin Heavenly God really send someone to ask?

    Just then, in the group chat, Qi Yuan asked Wen Zhuyun.

    "I''ve already sent someone to ask Yan Yuqing. He said he likes you. It seems you two are meant for each other. Congratulations."

    Hearing this, Wen Zhuyun was overjoyed, her ears turning red.

    "Really?"

    "Yes. I''ve already told him to go home and ask his parents for their opinion. If they agree, they will come to propose to you. Are you willing to marry Yan Yuqing and become his wife?" Qi Yuan asked again.

    He never forced matches.

    "Ah?" Wen Zhuyun felt a wave of immense joy. "I am willing!"

    Without any hesitation, she agreed.

    Qi Yuan wasn''t surprised.

    After all, Wen Zhuyun was a hopeless romantic.

    At this moment, everyone in the group was paying attention to the messages.

    Especially Wu Santong, who wanted to see if he was truly as powerful as he claimed.

    After some time, Wen Zhuyun sent a message in the group.

    "Ahhh! The Yan family has really come to propose! Origin Heavenly God, thank you!"

    "How did you convince them? The Yan family is a powerful noble family!" Wen Zhuyun was both delighted and shocked.

    She hadn''t expected that Young Master Yan Yuqing also admired her and was willing to marry her as his official wife.

    "It''s not about convincing. I just sent my people to ask, and it turned out he also likes you, so he said yes," Qi Yuan replied.

    He never forced anyone, always preferring to persuade with reason.

    Of course, with enemies, he didn''t even bother with reason; he just killed them and held a feast.

    In the group, Zuo Jingyun''s expression changed slightly, murmuring, "He really is a foreign demon."

    ...

    On the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    Qi Yuan looked at the messages in the Myriad Heavens Mirror, his eyes thoughtful.

    "A few Nascent Souls entered and found no danger. Should I go in and take a look, maybe attend a feast or something?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    Now that he had helped Wen Zhuyun fulfill her wish, it was time for him to enter her world, start gathering followers, and harvest resources to perfect his Divine Kingdom.

    If he asked Wen Zhuyun and Yan Yuqing to do this for him, it would probably be very slow.

    With the backward manpower of that feudal dynasty, building temples and statues for him would take who knows how long.

    Moreover, Qi Yuan, being socially awkward, didn''t want to trouble others.

    Life was already hard for the common people; forcing them into corve?e labor to build temples and undertake large-scale construction projects wasn''t right.

    As soon as he expressed his desire to enter the Great Ruins, Feng Ye, the Divine Lord, came over to advise him: "Your Highness, you must be careful. If you encounter danger, please return to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain immediately."

    "Mm, I know," Qi Yuan replied calmly.

    From Feng Ye, he had learned much about the various planes and worlds.

    Many of the worlds connected by the Myriad Heavens Mirror had World Spirits.

    These World Spirits, in the context of a cultivation world, were akin to the Heavenly Dao.

    However, unlike the Heavenly Dao of the Immortal Realm, most World Spirits had their own consciousness and intelligence.

    "Wen Zhuyun, I''ll come to your feast later. Don''t refuse," Qi Yuan had already made up his mind and said to Wen Zhuyun.

    Wen Zhuyun, seeing this, was overjoyed: "Alright."

    Great Ruins World.

    Rumors began to spread.

    "Have you heard? The son of the Minister of Rites is going to marry a merchant''s daughter, and as his official wife!"

    "How is that possible? This is the Minister of Rites we''re talking about!"

    Logically, shouldn''t the Minister of Rites be the most concerned with propriety?

    "I heard the Emperor is furious and plans to dismiss Minister Yan."

    "It seems the wedding is today."

    "This is going to be interesting."

    At this moment, undercurrents were stirring in Chang''an City.

    The son of the Minister of Rites marrying a merchant''s daughter was, in the Great Ruins World, a violation of propriety and a disregard for the rules of etiquette.

    Moreover, the one violating these rules was the Minister of Rites himself.

    How could people not be shocked?

    Even Confucian scholars had begun to speak out against this marriage.

    However, this did not affect the love-struck Wen Zhuyun.

    It also had little impact on Yan Yuqing, who was determined to go through with it.

    At this moment, outside the Yan family estate, the atmosphere was festive.

    Although this wedding violated propriety, many of those who had hunted the water monkey together, along with their families, chose to attend.

    "Greetings, sir. May I ask your name?" A servant of the Yan family looked at the young man beside him, unable to help but take a few extra glances.

    This young man was even more handsome than the young master.

    "Mm, Qi Yuan. I was invited by Wen Zhuyun to attend the feast."

    As he spoke, Qi Yuan presented his gift.

    His gift was simple: a piece of calligraphy with the characters "°ÙÄêºÃºÏ" (May you live in harmony for a hundred years).

    The servant looked at the calligraphy and couldn''t help but praise, "Young master, you are indeed a calligraphy master."

    He was somewhat surprised.

    The young master''s wedding had caused quite a stir in the city, even angering the Emperor, who had threatened to dismiss the Minister.

    Because of this, many scholars and Confucianists had avoided the event, and no one of note had come to attend.

    Clearly, he mistook Qi Yuan for a renowned scholar.

    Under the servant''s guidance, Qi Yuan was seated in the upper hall.

    Although the marriage between Yan Yuqing and Wen Zhuyun violated propriety, the Yan family, being the family of the Minister of Rites, had divided the feast into three areas: upper hall, middle hall, and lower hall.

    Qi Yuan sat casually, occasionally drawing glances, as his appearance was too striking.

    While attending the feast, Qi Yuan wasn''t idle.

    He occasionally listened to the sounds of the world and even used his divine sense to skim through some books.

    The more he read, the more he found this world peculiar.

    "This world is quite interesting."

    "A bastard prime minister kneeling before a legitimate county magistrate."

    "Class distinctions are rigid and unbreakable."

    "But the Emperor committed suicide for love."

    "The general commanding a hundred thousand cavalry, when his wife was humiliated, surrendered his military authority just to save her."

    The stories of this world were somewhat insane.

    To use an inappropriate analogy, it was as if a "romance novel''s Heavenly Dao" had invaded.

    Of course, this "romance novel''s Heavenly Dao" wasn''t the real thing but rather the stereotypical notions of "legitimacy," "rules," "imperial authority," and "love" being paramount.

    (Note: No offense intended toward romance novels.)

    These fixed impressions had shaped the world.

    "This World Spirit is quite interesting. I should go and meet it."

    According to the records, this world wasn''t always like this.

    But since the founding of the Great Ruins Kingdom three thousand years ago, it had become this way.

    The Great Ruins Kingdom had lasted for three thousand years.

    There had been times of suffering, times of corrupt officials, but everyone had always adhered to the "rules," not daring to challenge the "legitimate Emperor."

    "Wen Zhuyun, I''ve finished your feast. Goodbye, let''s talk again next time."

    After sending the message, Qi Yuan''s figure disappeared.

    In the upper hall, the feasting guests were momentarily stunned.

    "Huh? There was a handsome young man sitting next to me just now. Where did he go?"

    "Who was he?"

    Everyone was confused, doubting their own eyes.

    But those who had gone to hunt the water monkey were filled with excitement.

    "Could it be that the person just now was the... divine being Sister-in-law mentioned?"

    Those who were already tied to the Yan family knew a lot.

    They knew that Wen Zhuyun had called someone to ask Yan Yuqing.

    And those terrifying gods were all subordinates of the Origin Heavenly God.

    As Qi Yuan left, about thirty breaths later, Yan Yuqing and the Minister of Rites rushed out, their faces filled with urgency.

    "Where is that divine being?"

    Not seeing Qi Yuan, Yan Yuqing was disappointed.

    ...

    "Is this the World Spirit?"

    Qi Yuan looked at the World Spirit, his expression calm but with a hint of curiosity.

    "This World Spirit is quite powerful."

    Qi Yuan made his assessment.

    In the lower realms of the Immortal Realm, the Heavenly Dao of those worlds could be devoured by a Great Sovereign.

    But this World Spirit was not something an Yin God could handle.

    "According to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain''s system, it is probably at the Divine Decree stage."

    The Divine Decree stage was somewhat similar to the concept of "words becoming law," establishing rules.

    And this World Spirit''s rules were that the legitimate were superior to the illegitimate, rules were paramount, and love was also paramount.

    Thus, the Great Ruins Kingdom had all sorts of bizarre occurrences.

    Just then, a stern voice rang out.

    "Audacious! Why do you not kneel before me?"

    This was the World Spirit''s instinctive roar.

    Seeing Qi Yuan, a True God, descend, it felt a greedy desire to suppress and devour him.

    The original World Spirits of this world had all been devoured by this new World Spirit.

    Now, it had taken over.

    "Why should I kneel to you?" Qi Yuan asked calmly.

    In an instant, various divine lights emanated from the World Spirit, rushing toward Qi Yuan.

    Within them, Qi Yuan felt the power of Divine Decrees.

    "I am the legitimate World Spirit, the master of this world. All living beings who see me must kneel!"

    The World Spirit instinctively declared.

    Qi Yuan did not resist, allowing the Divine Decrees to fall upon his body.

    In an instant, he felt many thoughts arise in his mind.

    He was illegitimate; he should kneel to the legitimate.

    He seemed to have fallen in love with the World Spirit; he should commit suicide to prove to the World Spirit that he loved it the most.

    "So, this is what influences the living beings of this world, placing a lock on their souls?" Qi Yuan murmured.

    If the Giant Spirit God and the other gods had not appeared and shouted, affecting the "Divine Decrees" of this place, Yan Yuqing probably wouldn''t have had the courage to marry a merchant''s daughter.

    Those people wouldn''t have attended the wedding.

    Those who criticized outside the Yan estate and wrote mocking songs were the majority.

    Qi Yuan really wanted to say, "Qiu Ya is getting married, and you''re here singing and dancing."

    Qi Yuan shook his head, and the strange thoughts in his mind disappeared.

    "I like your Divine Decrees. Soon, they will be mine."

    Although he was only at the Divine Kingdom stage, his Divine Kingdom was constructed from the Hall of Eternity.

    Even against a Divine Lord, he dared to fight, let alone this Divine Decree-stage World Spirit.

    "The illegitimate need not kneel to the legitimate!"

    Qi Yuan spoke, divine light emanating from his body.

    He took a step forward, and a lotus flower bloomed beneath his feet.

    "Do kings and nobles have a divine right to rule?"

    Another lotus flower bloomed, bright and vibrant.

    "The Emperor''s throne rotates; tomorrow it will be my turn."

    Although Qi Yuan had not reached the Divine Decree stage, his words were like the sharpest blades.

    Crack!

    Crack!

    The chains of rules on the World Spirit''s body broke one by one as Qi Yuan spoke.

    "No!" The World Spirit instinctively let out a roar.

    It was somewhat puzzled. It was the legitimate World Spirit, at the Divine Decree stage, and of higher status than this Divine Kingdom-stage being. Why was the gap in power so vast?

    Finally, with a mournful cry, the World Spirit fell silent.

    Its Divine Decrees condensed into a Rule Divine Decree, falling into Qi Yuan''s hands.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Rule Divine Decree, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    "This Rule Divine Decree seems to be able to lower the intelligence of enemies."

    If he mastered this Rule Divine Decree to an extremely high level, could he tell a Dao Lord, "You are illegitimate; kneel before me!"?

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    Suddenly, Qi Yuan felt a bit melancholic.

    "Without this Divine Decree, I wonder if this world will become better or worse."

    "It''s fine. Worshiping me is definitely a good thing!"

    "I am lawful good."

    As Qi Yuan murmured, in an instant, everyone in the Great Ruins Kingdom felt as if they had lost something important.

 Chapter 600: This is not feudal dregs

    What had shattered in the hearts of the people was the shackles of the World Spirit''s Divine Decrees.

    "From this day forward, divine statues shall be erected, and all living beings shall believe in me!"

    At that moment, a murmur echoed.

    Across the mountains and rivers, countless divine statues rose from the ground.

    Many laborers and hunters, witnessing this miraculous sight, were filled with awe and knelt in reverence.

    But then, a voice entered their ears.

    "To believe in me, you need not kneel."

    ...

    "Congratulations, Your Highness, on breaking through to the Divine Decree stage."

    On the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, a True God at the Divine Kingdom stage showed a look of reverence.

    Divine Child Tan Ying''s face revealed a satisfied expression: "This time, I was lucky to plunder a decent plane and managed to break through."

    Though he said this, the pride in his eyes was hard to conceal.

    Among this batch of god-children who had broken through to the True God stage, Tan Ying''s progress was exceptionally fast.

    In less than half a month, he had crossed the Divine Kingdom stage and reached the Divine Decree stage.

    Such a feat was rare but not unheard of.

    After all, the True God stage was not about grinding through time to cultivate.

    The more resources one plundered and the more faith one gained, the faster one could break through.

    Moreover, the plane Tan Ying had plundered had a different time flow compared to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    Of course, talent also played a significant role.

    "Your Highness''s current strength is already comparable to that of the veteran god-children," the True God attendant said humbly.

    Among this batch of god-children, only about fifty had reached the True God stage, while the rest were still at the Void God stage.

    But Tan Ying had already reached the Divine Decree stage, which was terrifying.

    Tan Ying''s eyes flashed with seriousness: "To surpass the top veteran god-children, I need to reach the Divine Lord stage.

    To gain the attention of my father and inherit his authority, I must become a Spirit God."

    Mentioning the Spirit God stage, Tan Ying''s eyes showed a complex expression.

    The Spirit God stage was a difficult hurdle to cross.

    Pillar Tian Kai had countless offspring, but none had yet reached the Spirit God stage.

    There were seven god-children at the Divine Lord stage who had attempted to break through to the Spirit God stage, but all had perished in the three calamities.

    Thus, among Pillar Tian Kai''s offspring, none had yet broken through to the Spirit God stage.

    As for skipping the Spirit God stage and directly reaching the Dao God stage...

    That was even harder.

    Because it required a certain divine treasure.

    But such treasures had long been used up by previous Dao Gods, leaving none for the current generation.

    "Now that I''ve just entered the Divine Decree stage, I need to consolidate my cultivation and recover my divine power.

    You can go ahead and send messages to my younger siblings, inviting them to gather."

    Tan Ying said.

    The so-called gathering was merely an opportunity for those younger siblings to pledge their allegiance to him.

    This was a common practice.

    The top veteran god-children and goddesses all operated in this manner.

    After Tan Ying stabilized his realm, his eyes gleamed with sharpness.

    "The Divine Decree stage is indeed a different realm from the Divine Kingdom stage. With a single Divine Decree, I can influence reality. Lower-stage True Gods dare not disobey."

    The Divine Decree he had mastered was related to fire, simple and brutal.

    And controlling fire was among the top-tier Divine Decrees.

    "Your Highness, all forty-seven god-children and goddesses in this batch have agreed to attend the banquet, but..." The True God attendant bowed and reported, "Divine Child Qi Yuan refuses to come. He says he''s... socially awkward."

    "Oh, he''s not giving me face?" Tan Ying''s eyes showed a smile, but it was a smile that hid a knife. "It seems I''ll have to personally invite this younger brother."

    About a quarter of an hour later.

    On the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, at Qi Yuan''s residence, an uninvited guest arrived.

    "I''ve broken through to the Divine Decree stage and plan to invite my younger siblings to gather, so we can support each other. Why won''t you come, younger brother?"

    Tan Ying, dressed in a fiery red robe, approached, and the temperature around him rose noticeably.

    He looked at Qi Yuan with a smile, but the smile concealed a sharp edge.

    "Are you blind? Didn''t I tell you? I''m socially awkward," Qi Yuan replied without any politeness.

    Tan Ying''s tone was far from friendly.

    Since the other party was hiding a knife behind his smile, Qi Yuan decided to follow the example of "screw his mother" and directly curse.

    Tan Ying was momentarily stunned, not expecting Qi Yuan to be so blunt.

    Wasn''t he socially awkward?

    Why was he speaking so directly and rudely?

    "Among this batch of god-children, I was the first to break through to the True God stage.

    In a way, I am your elder brother.

    Moreover, I am also the first to reach the Divine Decree stage.

    Qi Yuan, disrespecting your elder brother... today, I will teach you a lesson." Tan Ying felt it was time to show his strength, establish his authority, and suppress any troublemakers.

    "Tch." Qi Yuan sneered. "You''re older than me, but you''re a bastard child. I''m an only child, clearly the legitimate heir.

    A bastard must kneel before a legitimate heir!"

    "What are you talking about?" Tan Ying was confused, not understanding Qi Yuan''s words.

    "I''m saying that the illegitimate is inferior to the legitimate. A bastard emperor must kneel before a legitimate general.

    As a bastard, you must kneel before me!"

    As soon as the words fell, Tan Ying''s expression of rage turned into confusion.

    My mother was not Pillar Tian Kai''s officially wedded wife.

    So I''m a bastard?

    Qi Yuan is the legitimate heir?

    He''s an only child, so he''s the legitimate heir?

    The illegitimate must kneel before the legitimate.

    Kneel.

    His mind was in chaos, and his body instinctively knelt down.

    "Bastard Tan Ying pays respects to the legitimate heir, Qi Yuan."

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan''s eyes showed a smile.

    The World Spirit''s Divine Decrees weren''t all feudal dregs.

    They were quite useful, weren''t they?

    "Now, get lost."

    Qi Yuan waved his hand.

    Tan Ying, without any hesitation, actually rolled away.

    About a dozen breaths later, Tan Ying''s eyes suddenly cleared, and his face turned red and then pale.

    "Damn it! Qi Yuan has humiliated me like this!"

    He instantly realized that he had fallen for Qi Yuan''s trick and knelt before him.

    They were both children of Pillar Tian Kai. How could Qi Yuan be the only child? That was nonsense.

    "I..."

    He was furious and wanted to go back and burn Qi Yuan''s residence to the ground.

    But he remembered that Qi Yuan had already tricked him once.

    If he went back now, he would only be humiliating himself further.

    "He''s been hiding his strength so well. No, I must kill him to vent my hatred!" Tan Ying roared, feeling that he had lost face this time. If other god-children saw this, they would surely laugh at him.

    Indeed, as Tan Ying had thought, his attempt to invite Qi Yuan had been observed by many god-children and goddesses.

    "This Qi Yuan is quite interesting. I thought Tan Ying was the only one in this batch with some talent, but it seems Qi Yuan has also mastered a Divine Decree," the seventeenth god-child, Ha Jin, said indifferently.

    Goddess Xi Shui''s expression was grave: "The Divine Decree he mastered is very strange, something about legitimacy and illegitimacy, forcing Tan Ying to kneel. It''s hard to guard against.

    However, such a Divine Decree is very niche and unconventional, not a true path."

    Goddess Xi Shui giggled, offering her evaluation.

    The five elements, space, slaughter, strength, light¡ªthese were the true paths.

    Ha Jin glanced at his sister: "Don''t deceive yourself. In this world, what is the true path? Whoever''s Divine Decree is stronger, that is the true path.

    Why don''t you go and test Qi Yuan yourself?"

    Xi Shui, recalling Tan Ying kneeling before Qi Yuan, quickly shook her head.

    "No!" Xi Shui was no longer giggling.

    She didn''t want to lose face.

    Qi Yuan''s Divine Decree was too bizarre. She had no way to counter it and could easily fall victim to it.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Feng Ye''s face was filled with worry.

    "Your Highness, today you''ve thoroughly offended Divine Child Tan Ying. You must be careful," Feng Ye warned.

    "Don''t worry. By offending me, he has sealed his own fate," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    Though he was lawful good, he would not spare enemies who harbored murderous intentions toward him.

    While using the Divine Decree of legitimacy and illegitimacy, Qi Yuan had also subtly implanted another Divine Decree into Tan Ying''s mind.

    This Divine Decree was called "Love to the Death."

    In the Great Ruins Kingdom, even the emperor, a ruthless political figure, had been consumed by love and committed suicide for "love."

    With Tan Ying''s personality, he wouldn''t truly fall in love with someone or something.

    But... this Divine Decree''s love was not ordinary love.

    He was waiting for Tan Ying to commit suicide for love.

    Perhaps one day, Tan Ying would fall in love with a rat, accidentally kill it, and then commit suicide for love.

    "Such feudal dregs of Divine Decrees, when used properly, can also be a sharp weapon."

    Qi Yuan sighed inwardly.

    Beside him, Feng Ye breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that his master was too kind.

    Now, this master''s talent far exceeded his expectations, and he was ruthless.

    He was a lord worth serving.

    "Your Highness, now that you''ve reached the Divine Decree stage, you must prepare for the Spirit God stage," Feng Ye said seriously. "Currently, divine treasures are scarce. Divine Lords cannot skip the Spirit God stage and reach the Dao God stage. They must enter the Spirit God stage through their own efforts.

    The Spirit God stage has three calamities and three tribulations, which are extremely difficult to overcome.

    Pillar Tian Kai had seven offspring who attempted to forcibly enter the Spirit God stage, but none survived the three calamities and tribulations. All perished."

    Feng Ye''s face was grave.

    "The Spirit God stage is quite difficult," Qi Yuan commented.

    This world''s cultivation system was somewhat similar to other universes but not entirely the same.

    In this world, one could skip the fourth stage and reach the fifth stage, the Dao God stage.

    But it required the use of divine treasures.

    These treasures seemed to be born naturally, but as they were used, they became nearly extinct.

    Another path was to endure the three calamities and tribulations, break through to the Spirit God stage, and then reach the Dao God stage.

    This path intrigued Qi Yuan.

    Because in previous universes, the fourth stage of Yang God was a dead end.

    Here, although it was also a dead end, one could still become a Spirit God by overcoming the three calamities and tribulations.

    "Regarding the three calamities and tribulations, there are many theories. Each True God''s experience with them is different, but... they are absolutely deadly," Feng Ye said. "Once, a prodigious Dao God, seeing no path forward, chose to enter the Spirit God stage. But even with his Dao God body, which was indestructible, he still perished in the three calamities and tribulations."

    "Even a Dao God died?" Qi Yuan was surprised.

    After all, a Dao God was equivalent to a weak Dao Lord.

    If even a Dao Lord couldn''t survive the three calamities and tribulations, how could Divine Lords, who were at the third stage of Yang God, hope to do so?

    "Therefore, Your Highness, while at the Divine Decree stage, try to master as many powerful Divine Decrees as possible to increase your foundation. Otherwise... the three calamities and tribulations will be hard to overcome," Feng Ye said earnestly.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan thought of something and asked curiously, "There must be quite a few Dao Gods who took the Spirit God path, right?"

    Feng Ye nodded: "Indeed, the Dao God path is almost at a dead end. Many Dao Gods chose to endure the three calamities and tribulations. Pillar Tian Kai... endured two calamities and two tribulations. There are rumors that the Emperor God fully endured the three calamities and tribulations."

    Mentioning the Emperor God, Feng Ye''s face was filled with reverence.

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    "Could it be that after reaching the fifth stage of Yang God, entering the fourth stage is the path to breaking through the fifth stage?"

    "But what exactly are these three calamities and tribulations?"

    Qi Yuan was curious.

    But for now, he was still too weak to consider this.

    At the very least, he needed to reach the Divine Lord stage first.

    "I need to work harder and stop slacking off."

    With this thought, Qi Yuan''s consciousness entered the Myriad Heavens Mirror.

    The group chat was quite lively at the moment.

    "Wen Zhuyun, you''re not lying to us, are you?"

    "I think you''re all setting us up."

    "Are you all just alternate accounts of the Origin Heavenly God?"

    Some time ago, Qi Yuan had helped Wen Zhuyun with her matchmaking and incidentally captured the World Spirit.

    The Great Ruins Kingdom immediately underwent drastic changes.

    First, countless divine statues rose into the sky. Then, the king of the Great Ruins Kingdom, who had been tyrannical and incompetent, was influenced by the World Spirit. The oppressed people, now free from their shackles, began to rebel.

    The king was strangled to death by a few palace maids in his sleep.

    The crown prince, Qi, ascended to the throne.

    The kingdom was in turmoil.

    But then, the divine statues appeared.

    Wen Zhuyun and Yan Yuqing became the most powerful figures in the divine religion.

    Countless commoners began to worship the divine religion.

    The chaos gradually subsided.

    At that time, Yan Yuqing, using a divine decree, declared that the current emperor, Qi, was unvirtuous and deposed him.

    Thus, the most powerful entity in the Great Ruins Kingdom was now the divine religion, which could depose emperors with a single word.

    When Qi Yuan first learned of this, he felt a slight resistance.

    After all, religion... well, you know how it is.

    But then he thought, this was his religion, operating according to his will.

    And he felt relieved.

    He was lawful good. How could he mistreat the common people?

    The changes in the Great Ruins Kingdom, seen by the group members, were met with disbelief by most.

    "The Origin Heavenly God is a true god," Wu Santong spoke up for Qi Yuan.

    After all, he had chosen to worship Qi Yuan and found a way to save the Empty Mountain Sect.

    Moreover, hearing about Wen Zhuyun''s transformation, Wu Santong felt a burning desire.

    If he could cling to the Origin Heavenly God''s coattails, the Empty Mountain Sect might not only avoid destruction but also allow him to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming the martial world''s leader.

    What a glorious position that would be.

    "If what Wen Zhuyun says is true, it seems the Origin Heavenly God does have some power," someone in the group said, secretly assessing Qi Yuan''s strength.

    "Origin Heavenly God, can you come to my world and help me too?" At this moment, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor, who had been lurking recently, spoke up.

    This Heavenly Dragon Emperor had been very active when he first joined the group, boasting about his greatness.

    Then, for a while, he had gone silent.

    Now, he was active again.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Heavenly Dragon Emperor''s message, his expression calm.

    His nose had grown longer.

    This meant the Heavenly Dragon Emperor was lying to him.

    Was he... trying to bait him?

    "Sure, send me your coordinates privately, and I''ll come help you when I have time.

    I''m always eager to help others and value relationships.

    Back then, when my white moonlight died, I put aside past grievances and took care of their descendants."

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    By "descendants," he naturally meant their inheritance.

    The others, hearing this, all thought Qi Yuan was a great person.

    Though some had strange expressions.

    Them?

    More than one white moonlight?

 Chapter 601: The Conflicted Qi Yuan

    Perhaps fearing that he might arouse Qi Yuan''s suspicion, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor did not speak again.

    He was fishing in the group chat, naturally targeting Qi Yuan.

    But he was also afraid of going too far and arousing Qi Yuan''s suspicion, so he stopped after a brief attempt.

    At this moment, in a certain world, a man calling himself the Heavenly Dragon Emperor had a deep, blood-red glint in his eyes.

    He was originally a wandering knight who liked to brag about his exploits.

    After joining the group chat, he naturally continued to boast.

    But one day, someone in the group privately messaged him, and disaster struck.

    Now, he was like a walking corpse, a puppet.

    "Heavenly Dragon, what do you think of that Origin Heavenly God?"

    At this moment, a seductive voice rang out.

    The Heavenly Dragon Emperor immediately fell silent, not daring to look at the owner of the voice.

    In his eyes, this person was a devil.

    The world he was in had been taken over by this person, with blood and light stretching for thousands of miles.

    "Your humble servant is ignorant and cannot say," the Heavenly Dragon Emperor replied truthfully.

    He answered truthfully.

    Although he was a superhuman with the strength of ten dragons and ten elephants, capable of moving mountains and dominating the world, he was still far from being a true god.

    "He must be a True God, but I''m not sure how strong he is," the seductive woman murmured. "Perfect... he can be a dessert after the main course."

    The seductive woman belonged to a terrifying force called the Nine Kill Palace.

    This was a formidable force, though significantly weaker than the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    The Nine Kill Palace also possessed fragments of the Myriad Heavens Mirror, which they used to fish for targets.

    If the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain''s cultivation was based on faith, then the Nine Kill Palace''s cultivation was based on slaughter.

    Thus, they descended upon one world after another, unleashing carnage.

    Because of this, the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain and the Nine Kill Palace were often enemies.

    The seductive woman was a powerhouse at the peak of the Divine Decree stage, just one step away from the Divine Lord stage.

    Thus, to her, Qi Yuan was a dessert after the main course.

    And a bold one at that.

    Because many people in the Myriad Heavens Mirror could be like her, fishing for targets.

    Generally, if not fully prepared, people like her would not rashly descend into a world.

    The Heavenly Dragon Emperor was someone she had observed for a long time, and after confirming there was no danger, she had descended into his world.

    But that Origin Heavenly God had just arrived in the Myriad Heavens Mirror, boldly descended into a world once, and was now preparing to do so again. She found it quite amusing.

    This reckless True God couldn''t die in someone else''s hands. She had her eyes on this juicy target.

    ...

    In the group chat, everyone had their own thoughts.

    Wu Santong was filled with anticipation.

    If the Origin Heavenly God helped him deal with the Severing Heaven Society, could he... unify the martial world and become its leader?

    Thinking of this, his heart raced.

    Becoming the martial world leader would mean he had truly revived the Empty Mountain Sect, living up to his master''s expectations.

    "San Tong, You Mountain City... seems to be in turmoil recently. Why are we... bringing the entire sect here?" Liu Xian''er asked with a hint of hesitation.

    Some time ago, Wu Santong had ordered all 237 disciples of the sect to head to You Mountain City.

    Fortunately, Wu Santong''s prestige was high, and none of the disciples objected.

    But now that they were nearing You Mountain City, the scenes they witnessed were alarming, and Liu Xian''er couldn''t suppress her doubts any longer.

    "For survival," Wu Santong replied, not mentioning the Origin Heavenly God.

    After all, who would believe in gods?

    Just then, a loud voice rang out. Ten riders approached, led by a man with a thick beard and a robust aura: "Are you Wu Santong of the Empty Mountain Sect? Have you come to join the You Mountain King?"

    Wu Santong had a good memory and recognized the bearded man after a moment''s thought.

    Some time ago, when the sect was short on funds, he and Liu Xian''er had worked as bounty hunters, helping the imperial court track down fugitives for rewards.

    Once, they had captured a notorious rapist in Shu and handed him over to the authorities. The official who had dealt with them was this bearded man.

    This bearded man, Cui Huai, was a well-known martial artist in Shu who had joined the imperial court as a minor official. At the time, Wu Santong had been puzzled by this.

    "Master Cui Huai, it''s been a long time. You look as spirited as ever," Wu Santong said, cupping his hands in greeting.

    Cui Huai looked up, a smile on his face: "Now, I humbly serve as a captain under the You Mountain King. Sect Leader Wu, with your formidable martial skills, have you brought your disciples to join the You Mountain King?"

    Cui Huai spoke with a hint of pride.

    Now that the You Mountain King had risen in rebellion, Cui Huai had joined early. Moreover, unlike other martial artists, he had studied military strategy while honing his martial skills.

    His martial skills were mediocre compared to Wu Santong''s, but now he was a captain in the army, commanding three thousand soldiers, which was more prestigious than being the leader of the Empty Mountain Sect.

    "Now that Sect Leader Wu has joined, though a bit late, with my recommendation, becoming a guest advisor should be easy," Cui Huai said generously.

    In the martial world, in terms of martial skill, status, and reputation, he was far inferior to Wu Santong.

    But the martial world...

    In Cui Huai''s eyes, it was somewhat contemptible.

    The so-called Severing Heaven Society, if he led his three thousand troops, could be crushed in an instant.

    "No," Wu Santong shook his head.

    He was not here to join the You Mountain King.

    Cui Huai''s expression changed: "Have you joined the imperial court? Are you here to assassinate the You Mountain King?"

    Now that the You Mountain King had risen in rebellion, the imperial court had sent an army of two hundred thousand to suppress the rebellion, stationed at Matang Pass.

    Some martial artists had also tried to assassinate the You Mountain King to end the conflict.

    But these attempts had all failed, with the assassins being captured and killed before they could even enter the city.

    Cui Huai had thought Wu Santong was here to join, given that he had brought his disciples, and didn''t seem like an assassin.

    "No," Wu Santong shook his head again, then said, "The Severing Heaven Society''s ambition to swallow the martial world is clear. Some time ago, I dreamed of a god, who told me to come to Youzhou, where there might be a chance of survival."

    "Hmph," Cui Huai sneered, clearly finding the idea of gods absurd. "Now that military affairs are pressing, you... should not wander around outside."

    Clearly, he intended to detain Wu Santong.

    After all, with two armies facing off, spies had to be careful.

    Whether Wu Santong was willing or not, in the end, the Empty Mountain Sect was placed under house arrest.

    The disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect were anxious, feeling like they had just escaped the wolf''s den only to fall into the tiger''s mouth.

    ...

    "After practicing martial arts all my life... I realize how narrow-minded I''ve been. How can individual martial skill compare to an army of ten thousand?"

    Wu Santong''s eldest disciple was filled with shock.

    In the past few days, he had seen small-scale military skirmishes, and his emotions were mixed.

    His martial skills were good, and he had some reputation in the martial world.

    But if he encountered these armored soldiers, even ten of them could kill him.

    His former pride was shattered in the face of the army.

    "The so-called martial world is nothing more than a small pond in the eyes of the imperial court."

    The other disciples felt the same.

    They felt that all their years of martial training were useless.

    Power and influence were what truly mattered.

    Many of the disciples began to think of persuading Wu Santong to join the You Mountain King, to gain merit and avoid being prisoners who might die at any moment.

    Hearing these words from his disciples, Wu Santong said sternly, "Do not belittle yourselves. When our martial arts reach a profound level, we can face a thousand enemies alone."

    Wu Santong had once communicated with Zuo Jingyun.

    Zuo Jingyun had hinted that he had once single-handedly slaughtered three thousand bandits.

    Though it might be an exaggeration, it could be true.

    This kind of power was what Wu Santong yearned for. If he could obtain it from the Origin Heavenly God, perhaps... he really could become the martial world leader.

    "Master, to face a thousand enemies alone, one would need to accumulate ten thousand years of internal energy. How can we possibly gather that much?"

    The disciples secretly complained, their thoughts varied.

    Just then, a voice suddenly echoed in Wu Santong''s mind.

    "Alright, I''m ready to fulfill your wish. Remember... to believe in me."

    Hearing this strange voice, Wu Santong was first puzzled, then overjoyed.

    Had the Origin Heavenly God finally come to help him?

    "Your humble servant obeys!" Wu Santong''s spirits lifted. He wanted to see how the Origin Heavenly God would resolve the Empty Mountain Sect''s crisis and make him the martial world leader.

    His thoughts were in chaos.

    At that moment, the overlapping dark clouds in the sky suddenly parted.

    It was as if a giant hand had reached out from the clouds, covering the sky and radiating golden light.

    The two armies facing each other, hundreds of thousands of soldiers, looked up at the terrifying giant hand in the sky, their faces filled with shock. The horses reared and neighed in fear.

    "What is this?"

    "A heavenly omen!"

    "This is an auspicious sign! The You Mountain King will surely succeed!"

    "This is an ill omen! It means the You Mountain King will be defeated!"

    Different people had different interpretations of the scene.

    But the next moment, they realized their interpretations were meaningless.

    "I am the Origin Heavenly God."

    "My believer, Wu Santong, shall be emperor and the martial world leader!"

    The voice boomed from the heavens.

    All the soldiers, generals, and officials who heard it were stunned.

    Many ran around, asking, "Who is this Wu Santong?"

    Some generals sneered, looking at the sky: "Who is pretending to be a god?"

    Cui Huai''s heart trembled. He thought of Wu Santong, whom he had detained.

    "It seems I''ll have to show off a bit in front of these mortals," Qi Yuan murmured in the sky.

    If it were another True God descending into this world, showing off might mean unleashing a sword strike that would annihilate an army of a hundred thousand.

    But Qi Yuan was lawful good.

    So he also unleashed a sword strike.

    But he did not annihilate an army of a hundred thousand.

    Instead...

    "I shall take half of your hair."

    As Qi Yuan''s voice fell, a golden light flashed.

    The earth shook.

    A chasm dozens of miles long and bottomless appeared on the plains outside You Mountain City.

    Such power, such a sight, was like a myth to these soldiers and martial artists.

    Moreover...

    "My hair..."

    "Ah, my hair!"

    The soldiers were shocked.

    As the golden light flashed, half of their hair was gone.

    Hundreds of thousands of soldiers clutched their heads, their faces filled with terror.

    This was beyond description; it could only be seen as a divine miracle.

    After all, if a single sword strike could cut their hair, couldn''t it also cut their heads?

    The owner of the voice in the sky, if not a True God, then who was?

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the pile of hair in front of him, a thoughtful expression on his face.

    "When I was a child, I heard that hair could be used to make soy sauce. Turns out... it''s true."

    Of course... it was true.

    After all, Qi Yuan had cultivated immortality and become a god. Turning hair into soy sauce was simple.

    Even turning water into gasoline or stones into gold was easy for him.

    Of course, even if he turned hair into soy sauce, Qi Yuan wouldn''t use it for cooking. It was too disgusting.

    If he wanted to eat, he''d go for national brands or group buys. He''d heard they were quite energizing.

    "Another world conquered, simple as that."

    "But this world... hasn''t formed a World Spirit yet?

    Or has the World Spirit already disappeared?"

    As Qi Yuan took action and displayed his divine miracle, the world underwent a tremendous change.

    Wu Santong naturally became the god''s spokesperson and, in fact, the first emperor and martial world leader of this world.

    Wu Santong was overjoyed.

    Because initially, his wish had only been to become the martial world leader.

    But the Origin Heavenly God had made him an emperor.

    When he saw the armies clashing, he realized how insignificant the martial world was. Being the martial world leader was nothing.

    But now, with a single word from the Origin Heavenly God, he was an emperor. How could he not be shocked?

    Although he had become an emperor, Wu Santong did not let it go to his head. He knew his reliance was the Origin Heavenly God. His future... how could it be limited to being a mere emperor?

    ...

    "I''ve already helped Wu Santong fulfill his wish. Who''s next?" Qi Yuan said in the group.

    He never pretended.

    "So fast? You''ve already made Wu Santong the martial world leader?" Zuo Jingyun asked, somewhat surprised.

    He had always known that Wu Santong had ambitions, not just to revive the Empty Mountain Sect but also to become the martial world leader.

    Other lurkers in the group also appeared, seemingly surprised or flattering Qi Yuan.

    "No one?"

    Qi Yuan asked in the group.

    Unfortunately, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor did not respond directly. He was still fishing, afraid of arousing Qi Yuan''s suspicion.

    "Sigh, how boring. Where is the sincerity between people?"

    Qi Yuan exited the Myriad Heavens Mirror and returned to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    "Progressing like this is too slow."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    Generally, god-children like Qi Yuan, who obtained the Myriad Heavens Mirror, found it difficult to quickly conquer all the worlds.

    First, people were naturally cautious.

    Second, those worlds also had dangers, and with the god-children''s strength, they might not be able to conquer them.

    Some worlds, though small, had many powerful figures. Even Divine Lords who entered might become prey, so many True Gods entered cautiously.

    Someone like Qi Yuan, who progressed so quickly, was quite rare.

    "So, how to speed things up?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    Suddenly, he thought of something.

    "It''s just that there aren''t enough people."

    "If there were more, expanding the base, fools... no, my believers would also increase."

    Qi Yuan thought of scams.

    Why did such obviously flawed scams still manage to deceive so many people?

    Clearly, it was because of the wide net cast.

    As long as there were enough people, there would always be fools.

    "Unfortunately, there are too few people in my Myriad Heavens Mirror group chat."

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    His group had only a few people.

    Even if all of them believed in him, it would only be a few worlds.

    "Maybe... I should go back and inherit my universe, have those people believe in me?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    If he returned to his Stellar Golden Core universe, the Immortal Realm, and the universes created by the Nanke Dao Lord, and had all those people believe in him, his power would likely explode to a terrifying level.

 Chapter 603: Qi Yuanâ€™s Oracle

    The leading expert, Professor Liu, seemed deep in thought, as if afraid that mentioning the wraiths rashly might expose Zhao Song''s identity.

    After all, they were proper humans, not vampires.

    He hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Let''s observe for a few more days, then tentatively bring it up."

    He still didn''t dare to reveal anything about the wraiths too quickly, fearing it might expose their identity.

    At this moment, the group chat was bustling with activity.

    "I really want to drink blood."

    "Today, I drank a delicious beverage. (It only cost three hundred bucks a bottle.)"

    "Demon hunters? Just tasty snacks for us."

    "On my way back tonight, I ran into a group of demon hunters. Though I''m brave and powerful, I was outnumbered, and they stole a lot of my blood coins."

    "Sigh, my phone was also stolen by demon hunters. I need to find some time to sneak into their lair and steal it back."

    The group chat was filled with all sorts of random chatter.

    For Qi Yuan, none of it was particularly meaningful.

    But for Zhao Song and the people of the Sky Federation, these messages contained a lot of information.

    "They mentioned phones. It seems these vampires also live in a civilized society."

    "How strange. Do they also call phones ''phones'' in their world?"

    "Is the language the same, or... does this artifact translate our messages into something we can understand?"

    "Regardless, this is the supernatural, something our current science and technology cannot comprehend."

    The supernatural isn''t superstition; it can also be explained from a scientific perspective.

    It''s just that their current level of technology isn''t advanced enough to explain it yet.

    "Just like the wraiths," Professor Liu said.

    Mentioning the wraiths, everyone in the room looked uneasy.

    Compared to two hundred years ago, the Sky Federation was now technologically advanced and prosperous.

    In this world, there would no longer be famines or desperate acts like exchanging children for food.

    Everyone, including the homeless, could have enough to eat.

    But beneath the glitz and glamour, the wraiths were becoming increasingly rampant.

    Especially at night, wraiths would occasionally appear on the streets.

    Not everyone could see these wraiths¡ªonly a small portion of people could.

    Those who saw the wraiths would suffer great misfortune.

    Terror, death.

    The atmosphere was eerie and terrifying.

    Once, a group of twelve tourists went out for barbecue.

    After eating and drinking, they prepared to take a taxi back to their hotel.

    Normally, three taxis would suffice.

    But one person called an extra taxi because he saw fourteen people.

    The others only saw twelve.

    It was somewhat like a Chinese horror story.

    In the end, when he and the extra person were waiting for the taxi, a cold breeze sobered him up, and he suddenly realized something.

    Realizing it was bad enough, but then... the extra people stared at him with sinister eyes.

    In the end, he never got the taxi and never returned to the hotel.

    Things like this happened frequently in the Sky Federation.

    With a population of over a billion, the number of people who died from or because of the wraiths exceeded a million each year, and this number was steadily increasing.

    Just ten years ago, it was only a hundred thousand.

    Based on the Sky Federation''s predictions and the frequency of wraith appearances, in three years, the annual death toll would exceed ten million.

    In twenty years, civilization would collapse, destroyed by the wraiths.

    Thus, they were desperate and saw this group chat as a lifeline.

    "I hope the vampires can... deal with the wraiths," the tall woman said, her eyes filled with hope.

    This was the hope of everyone present.

    ...

    Time passed slowly.

    The group chat was as usual, quiet during the day and lively at night.

    "If it weren''t for the strange nature of this so-called Myriad Heavens Mirror, I''d almost think these people were elementary or middle school students.

    They don''t have time during the day because they''re in class, and only have time to chat at night after getting home."

    "Right, and they log off very punctually every day."

    In the Sky Federation, many people were discussing this, their expressions complex.

    But they knew this was an illusion. The group was full of vampires.

    Of course, there might also be some, like Zhao Song, who weren''t vampires but were pretending to be.

    The experts and strategists had already analyzed the conversations and suspected the identities of thirteen group members.

    They also confirmed that the group leader, the so-called Vampire Emperor, had no way to determine whether they were wraiths or not.

    At this moment, the Vampire Emperor spoke again.

    "Are there any subjects willing to believe in me? I''m preparing to test my Divine Decree recently."

    Qi Yuan was telling the truth.

    He had been pondering the matter of Divine Decrees.

    Divine Decrees were somewhat like making words into laws.

    Reaching the Divine Decree stage was simple: it was about having one''s Divine Decree recognized and trusted by believers.

    The more the believers trusted and recognized it, the stronger the Divine Decree would become.

    Then, it was about extracting the true essence of the Divine Decree.

    Seeing this, the people of the Sky Federation held their breath.

    Zhao Song also widened his eyes, excited.

    Was the group leader finally mentioning something about the supernatural?

    But what was this Divine Decree?

    They were curious but didn''t dare to ask, fearing it might expose their identities.

    "What is a Divine Decree?" Fortunately, a group member asked for them.

    "A Divine Decree is what a god says," Qi Yuan replied casually.

    This statement was half true.

    Generally speaking, for the True Gods of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, Divine Decrees were the core rules they had condensed.

    For example, if a True God''s core was fire, or if the path they aspired to was fire, then the Divine Decree they could condense would be something like "fire can burn everything."

    Then they would bestow a flame upon their believers to burn everything.

    On the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, Qi Yuan had learned this from communicating with some True Gods.

    However, he had his own understanding.

    "If Divine Decrees are limited to things like fire, water, or space, then that''s definitely the Divine Decree of a Void God, not a True God."

    "Divine Decrees... should be about making words into laws."

    Just like how Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment is based on the Heavenly Dao.

    Divine Decrees, aren''t they just about making my words into laws?

    Qi Yuan''s idea was simple.

    He had a superpower: his words could fulfill people''s wishes.

    For example, back in the Canglan Realm, a cultivator wished for a quiet companion.

    After Qi Yuan responded, a cup appeared beside that person¡ªone that could even be heated.

    Using the Hall of Eternity to create a Divine Kingdom.

    As for Divine Decrees, Qi Yuan thought of refining his superpower into a Divine Decree, making his words into laws.

    Looking at the group chat, Qi Yuan continued, "There are many truths in the world, and my words are one of them."

    Qi Yuan didn''t think his words were the only truth.

    "Grant me a soft companion? One that can protect me," said the person who called himself Count Nall.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan hesitated.

    "Are you sure you want a companion?"

    He thought of the cultivator from the Canglan Realm.

    His Divine Decree wasn''t stable yet.

    He was afraid he might end up granting another cup.

    "Yes!" Count Nall confirmed.

    In the group, others watched curiously.

    The people of the Sky Federation were filled with anticipation, eager to see the group leader''s true capabilities.

    "In that case, by my Divine Decree, I grant you a companion!"

    In the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, Qi Yuan spoke, his voice calm and carrying a hint of sacredness.

    His superpower of speech merged with the Divine Decree at this moment.

    Meanwhile, in an unknown world, within a high-rise building, a young girl lay on her bed in pajamas, her legs raised as she happily read the messages in the Myriad Heavens Mirror.

    She was the one pretending to be Count Nall.

    After being diagnosed with severe delusional disorder, she could only have her own space at night after undergoing treatment during the day.

    However, Count Nall always believed she wasn''t sick.

    It was the world that was sick.

    These people, with their horse eyes, tiger heads, and snake bodies, dressed like humans.

    In the entire city, there were very few humans like her.

    "Can I really get a companion?"

    The girl looked forward to it, her starry eyes filled with anticipation.

    But the next moment, her anticipation turned into a scream.

    "Ah... this... this!"

    In her hand, a soft, gel-like object suddenly appeared.

    Her face turned red instantly.

    She looked at this companion, both shocked and embarrassed.

    "This companion is a bit... outrageous," she said in the group chat.

    Others asked curiously.

    "Did you really get a companion?"

    "What kind?"

    "Cough, it''s kind of like a stick," Count Nall said.

    "A vampire staff? That''s a good companion."

    "It''s a bit weird," Count Nall continued.

    "What, you''re not satisfied?" Qi Yuan replied. "You asked for a soft companion, so it''s soft. But don''t worry, when needed, it can also be hard."

    Qi Yuan was telling the truth.

    Count Nall''s wish was for a soft companion who could protect her.

    With Qi Yuan''s Divine Decree, the companion appeared in her world.

    When Count Nall was in danger, the companion Qi Yuan had granted would immediately become hard, indestructible, like a magical weapon, protecting Count Nall and slaying demons.

    "I want one too!"

    "I want a sweet wife!"

    "I want delicious eggs!"

    "I want ice cream!"

    Now, the group had turned into a wishing pool.

    Many people began making wishes.

    "Indeed, the more people there are, the more fools there are."

    "No need to scheme with them."

    Qi Yuan was in a good mood.

    In other groups, people would likely be cautious and not make wishes so readily.

    But here was different.

    "Alright, my Divine Decree will fulfill your wishes."

    "Here''s your sweet wife. Be careful, though¡ªshe''s sensitive to heat and sunlight. Don''t roast her, or she might melt."

    "Here''s a delicious egg, but be careful¡ªit''s a bit hard. Don''t chip your teeth."

    Qi Yuan was frantically fulfilling their wishes.

    His superpower was also being refined into a Divine Decree.

    Of course, even after cultivating the Divine Decree, his superpower remained.

    At this moment, the people in the Sky Federation were tempted.

    "Should we take this chance to make a wish?"

    "What should we wish for?"

    "We need to hold a meeting and discuss this carefully."

    After all, it was rare for the group leader to fulfill wishes.

    Could they take this opportunity to bring up the issue of the wraiths?

    But just then, Zhao Song''s face suddenly turned pale.

    "A wraith!"

    His pupils dilated, his eyes filled with fear, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

    His scream drew everyone''s attention.

    A bad feeling crept into everyone''s minds.

    "What''s wrong, Zhao Song? Did you see a wraith?" Professor Liu scanned the room, his face filled with concern.

    "Yes... it''s under the table, grabbing my leg, wuwu."

    A sense of restraint and slipperiness came from his leg. Zhao Song didn''t dare move, not even to look down.

    At first, he thought it was something else, but when he lifted the tablecloth, he met a pair of dull, sinister eyes. His body went numb.

    He realized he had encountered a wraith.

    "What do we do?" Zhao Song, after all, was just a high school student. He didn''t have the mental fortitude to face a terrifying wraith and immediately broke down.

    "Don''t panic, stay calm," Professor Liu took a deep breath.

    The people around looked at Zhao Song with pity.

    Those who encountered wraiths and survived were one in ten thousand.

    Those were the extremely lucky ones.

    Zhao Song clearly didn''t have that kind of luck.

    "There''s a chance to survive if we find the pattern," Professor Liu took a deep breath, his mind racing.

    Just then, the tall woman said, "Why don''t we ask the group leader?"

    Hearing this, everyone felt it made sense.

    "Right, ask the group leader!"

    "Maybe the group leader can help you!"

    If Zhao Song died, what if the group disappeared?

    So, many experts felt they must protect Zhao Song. Asking the group leader might be a good solution.

    The numbness in his leg grew stronger. Professor Liu made the decision: "Ask the group leader what to do if you encounter a wraith!"

    "Alright," Zhao Song''s voice trembled, on the verge of tears.

    "Vampire Emperor, I''ve encountered a wraith. I want to live... what should I do? I don''t want to die, wuwu."

    At this point, Zhao Song couldn''t care less about pretending. After all, he was just a student.

    "Encountered a wraith?" Qi Yuan''s eyes flashed with a smile. "It''s simple. Go to the nearest restroom and squat inside. If the wraith knocks, just say someone''s inside."

    Qi Yuan was quite satisfied with his answer.

    If there''s someone in the restroom, wouldn''t the wraith leave?

    "Do as I say, and you''ll survive."

    Hearing this, the experts in the room looked puzzled.

    "Someone''s in the restroom?"

    "What kind of nonsense is this!"

    "How could this work!"

    Clearly, they didn''t believe Qi Yuan.

    After all, it was too absurd.

    Moreover, restrooms were high-frequency locations for encountering wraiths.

    Every year, tens of thousands of people died in restrooms after encountering wraiths.

    Everyone discussed it, feeling it was unreliable.

    At this moment, Professor Liu said solemnly, "Do as the Vampire Emperor says."

    They had no better options and could only try this as a last resort.

    After all, encountering a wraith meant certain death.

    What if the group leader''s words could really save Zhao Song?

    It was worth a try.

    "My legs are numb, wuwu, I can''t walk to the restroom," Zhao Song said tearfully.

    The wraith was still holding his leg, making it impossible for him to walk to the nearest restroom.

    "Find someone to carry him," someone muttered.

    Everyone''s expressions changed.

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    Since they couldn''t see the wraith, they could carry Zhao Song to the restroom without being affected by the wraith.

    But... this would also draw them into the wraith''s trap, leading to their deaths.

    So, if someone screamed for help at night, it was best not to respond.

    Because once you helped, you would also be targeted by the wraith.

    "Li Xiang, you carry him," a high-ranking official finally ordered a guard to carry Zhao Song to the restroom.

 Chapter 604: Abandoned Land

    Li Xiang''s heart was uneasy, but his face still bore a resolute expression.

    Guards like him had long been prepared to face death.

    If he were to die this time, his parents and family would be taken care of by the Sky Federation, and his name would be recorded separately in the family genealogy.

    He approached Zhao Song and effortlessly hoisted him onto his back.

    However, as he carried Zhao Song, he felt a dark force emanating from Zhao Song''s calf. It was clearly a Wraith.

    He dared not look, for if he did, he might see the Wraith before even reaching the restroom.

    Zhao Song''s body was stiff, as if he had been dead for days, lying on Li Xiang''s shoulder.

    Zhao Song glanced back stealthily and was instantly horrified. A female Wraith in a white robe, with long, disheveled hair, stood eerily behind them.

    Under normal circumstances, he might have dared to say she was a beautiful Wraith, and he would have considered himself lucky.

    But now, he just wanted to cry.

    All the experts present watched this scene with tense expressions.

    "Professor Liu, how much of what the Vampire Emperor said do you think is true, and how much is false?"

    "Hiding in the restroom and saying ''someone''s here''... it''s just too childish."

    The other experts murmured among themselves.

    If you''re in a public restroom and someone knocks, saying "someone''s here" would indeed prevent the person from entering.

    But that''s under normal circumstances.

    Now, what''s outside is a Wraith.

    "Could it be that the Vampire Emperor has discovered our identities and is toying with us?" someone suggested.

    The others felt a heavy weight in their hearts. That was a possibility.

    "This is too absurd."

    There had never been such a case before.

    Wraiths cannot be understood through ordinary human reasoning.

    At this moment, Professor Liu slammed the table and said gravely, "Do not speculate about the Supreme Being. Besides... we''ll know the result soon. What''s the point of arguing?"

    The room fell silent, and everyone turned their attention to the large screen.

    Li Xiang was equipped with a live-streaming device, allowing everyone to see what was happening in the restroom.

    At this moment, Li Xiang had already carried Zhao Song into the restroom.

    Inside the restroom was a toilet, and the space was quite large. Even with two people inside, there was still plenty of room.

    Li Xiang took a deep breath and stood quietly. Under the bright light, he could hear Zhao Song''s heart pounding.

    Besides that...

    His pupils suddenly contracted.

    Tap, tap...

    The faint sound of footsteps reached Li Xiang''s ears.

    He knew this sound came from the Wraith.

    He and Zhao Song had been entangled with the Wraith for too long, and now he could see the Wraith.

    Once you see a Wraith, it means death.

    "She''s here," Zhao Song said, his voice trembling.

    In the empty restroom, the tapping footsteps were particularly piercing.

    The sound grew closer and louder.

    Zhao Song was extremely nervous.

    Li Xiang was a professional and shouldn''t have been afraid, but now he was also tense.

    Tension is contagious, and the experts in the hall held their breath, sweating for Zhao Song and Li Xiang.

    If Zhao Song died, would the chat group still exist?

    Could they still rely on the Vampire Emperor''s help to deal with the Wraiths?

    The Wraiths were nearly invincible, and the number of lives taken by them each year was skyrocketing.

    At this moment, the two in the restroom exchanged glances.

    The Wraith had stopped at the restroom door.

    And most bizarrely, the Wraith actually knocked on the door.

    Knock, knock, knock!

    The knocking was rhythmic, pounding on the hearts of the two in the restroom.

    Zhao Song was terrified.

    Outside, it was eerily quiet, with only the sound of knocking.

    "Someone''s in the restroom."

    Remembering Qi Yuan''s words, Zhao Song quickly said.

    At this moment, the female Wraith outside the restroom seemed momentarily stunned, as if unsure what to do.

    In normal circumstances, when this happened, the person in the restroom would first feel an itch on their buttocks, as if something wet and hairy was touching them. Then, looking into the toilet, they would see a pale face.

    However, this time, the female Wraith, upon hearing that someone was in the restroom, simply... left.

    The sound of footsteps grew fainter until it disappeared completely.

    Zhao Song''s face showed disbelief. "The Wraith... really left?"

    This was the first time something like this had happened.

    Usually, a Wraith wouldn''t leave without killing someone.

    He couldn''t believe it and even glanced at the toilet.

    What if the Wraith hadn''t left and was hiding in the toilet?

    "Gone?"

    "The Wraith left!"

    Zhao Song took a deep breath.

    At this moment, Li Xiang mustered his courage and peeked through the door crack.

    The area he looked at was empty.

    He didn''t see any ankles, nor did he see the figure of the female Wraith.

    He said, "The Wraith really left."

    In the hall, everyone who heard this showed expressions of joy, disbelief, and confusion.

    The terrifying Wraith... had actually left!

    The method taught by the Vampire Emperor really worked!

    "It really worked!"

    "Just by saying ''someone''s here'' in the restroom, the Wraith will leave?"

    "What kind of principle is this!"

    Everyone was shocked, finding it unbelievable.

    At this moment, Li Xiang and Zhao Song also came out of the restroom.

    The others looked at the two with moved expressions.

    Professor Liu said excitedly, "Zhao Song, you''ve done a great service."

    Zhao Song''s initial fear had now turned into joy.

    Professor Liu continued, "The most urgent task now is to confirm with the Vampire Emperor whether this method... can be used at home in the future."

    "Yes, if it can be used, we must mobilize the entire Sky Federation to build public restrooms!"

    "This matter must be brought to the attention of all the council members for a meeting!"

    "Building public restrooms!"

    "This is a national strategy!"

    The people present spoke solemnly, as if discussing a matter of national importance.

    If this news were to leak, it would surely leave those who heard it utterly confused.

    A national strategy... to build restrooms?

    Is this nation''s citizens maggots?

    "Vampire Emperor, thank you. With your method, the Wraith really knocked and then left.

    But is this method... a one-time thing, or can it be used in the future?" Zhao Song asked nervously.

    The group members watched the chat, their hearts tense.

    "This is my divine decree. In your world, it can be used indefinitely," Qi Yuan said indifferently.

    Divine decrees are complex and mysterious.

    His special abilities are the same.

    Combining his special abilities with divine decrees produces equally peculiar effects.

    "Thank you, Vampire Emperor!" Zhao Song said excitedly.

    Seeing this, Professor Liu understood that the national strategy of building public restrooms should be put on the agenda.

    After all, this was a welfare policy that could save countless lives.

    If you encounter a Wraith on the road, the first thing to do is run to a restroom.

    It could save your life.

    At this moment, someone said, "But some Wraiths appear without giving us time to enter a restroom."

    This was true.

    The appearance of Wraiths is always bizarre, and they might appear out of nowhere.

    Moreover, they might start hunting within moments.

    Where would you find the time to run to a restroom?

    Could the entire Sky Federation be turned into public restrooms?

    Professor Liu looked at Zhao Song and said, "Ask him, what if there''s no time to reach a restroom?"

    Zhao Song repeated Professor Liu''s words.

    At this moment, in this dimension, Qi Yuan appeared in front of a pig trotter rice shop.

    Even though the chances of Wraiths appearing at night were high, business had to go on. One couldn''t starve, right?

    Seeing the message in the group, Qi Yuan said indifferently, "Isn''t that simple? Just pick your earwax. As long as you''re picking your earwax, no one can touch you, not even Wraiths."

    Qi Yuan felt particularly clever.

    As everyone knows, when someone is picking their ears, no one can disturb them.

    So, even Wraiths can''t.

    "Picking earwax?"

    The experts were stunned, their faces showing disbelief.

    "Would that work?"

    "It still feels so strange!"

    "I don''t know why, but even though it sounds ridiculous, it feels somewhat reasonable!"

    After all, if saying "someone''s here" in a restroom could make Wraiths leave, then Wraiths not being able to disturb someone picking their earwax also seemed normal, right?

    At this moment, the shop owner brought over a steaming bowl of pig trotter rice.

    Qi Yuan took the bowl and began eating slowly.

    "Ah, the taste of Hextech. It''s been years since I''ve tasted this."

    Through the divine decree, he had already determined the coordinates of these worlds.

    Thus, he chose to descend.

    As soon as he arrived, he had a bowl of pig trotter rice.

    "Handsome, can I get your contact info?"

    At this moment, a young woman in hot pants approached. Her shorts reached her thighs, revealing long, straight legs. She had a faint smell of alcohol and wore heavy makeup, looking mature but still youthful.

    Not far away, her friends were laughing, some recording the scene on their phones.

    "Sorry, I''m married, and my child is old enough to fish," Qi Yuan declined.

    Being handsome comes with its own set of troubles.

    The young woman''s eyes showed disappointment.

    After all, someone as handsome as Qi Yuan was a first for her. He seemed... like a male celebrity.

    No, even male celebrities didn''t have this unique aura.

    "Although I can''t give you my contact info, there''s one among your friends I''d like to meet," Qi Yuan said, looking at the five young women, a smile in his eyes.

    The young woman was stunned. She hadn''t expected this handsome man to be interested in one of her friends.

    She began to doubt her own attractiveness, feeling somewhat frustrated. "Which one?"

    "The one in red, with long hair down to her waist, and only one arm."

    "My friends aren''t wearing red, and none of them are disabled!" the young woman said firmly. But as she turned to look at her friends, her expression froze.

    "A Wraith... a Wraith!"

    The other friends, startled by her reaction, realized something was wrong.

    They looked over, and their expressions also froze.

    "Wraith!"

    "Wuwu, a Wraith!"

    Behind them stood a Wraith, with one arm, dressed in red, her hair long, and her face bearing that peculiar expression that instilled fear in anyone who saw her.

    This was a Wraith, a spirit that could take lives, standing right beside them.

    Seeing the Wraith, they felt like mice encountering a cat, their spines chilled, some even wetting their shorts.

    "Can I invite your red-dressed friend to have some pig trotter rice?

    This pig trotter rice is quite good, much more delicious than those cheap meals, and a bit more upscale," Qi Yuan said seriously.

    This bowl cost 26 yuan, after all.

    It wasn''t something those cheap meals could compare to.

    The young woman was dumbfounded. Qi Yuan''s words snapped her back to reality.

    "She... she''s not human, she''s a Wraith!"

    Now she regretted going out with her friends tonight.

    At the same time, she was curious. How did this handsome man not know it was a Wraith, and why wasn''t he reacting at all?

    Was he mentally ill, or perhaps intellectually disabled?

    "Hey, do you want to come over and have some pig trotter rice?" Since the young woman wouldn''t call the Wraith over, Qi Yuan did it himself, waving at the Wraith.

    The other young women were stunned.

    Was this man really inviting the Wraith to have pig trotter rice?

    Was he insane?

    A lunatic!

    Would a Wraith even respond to a human?

    But then, something unimaginable happened.

    The red-dressed Wraith floated over to Qi Yuan.

    "The Wraith... he called her over?"

    "This!"

    The young women were both shocked and bewildered.

    In the next second, the red-dressed Wraith sat down beside Qi Yuan.

    The young women, seeing this, were terrified. They didn''t know whether to stay or run.

    Because when encountering a Wraith, running would trigger its hunting instincts, accelerating the killing.

    "This pig trotter rice, though full of artificial flavors, the rice is real. Here, have a taste."

    Qi Yuan pushed his bowl of rice toward the Wraith.

    His eyes showed a hint of curiosity.

    [Wraith: A special entity formed after the death of a living being, usually appearing in abandoned lands.]

    This information surprised him.

    The former Flowing Wind Realm, due to the Deceitful Fate Tablet, was known as the God-Forsaken Land, where the sun and moon did not shine.

    Now, this place seemed to be an abandoned land.

    Regarding abandoned lands, he had read a few lines in the library some time ago.

    It was mentioned that a true god had died in an abandoned land.

    About abandoned lands, Qi Yuan didn''t have much information.

    It seemed he needed to visit the library again to understand what was so peculiar about abandoned lands.

    The Wraith sat beside Qi Yuan, picking up the chopsticks with her left hand and eating the remaining rice from Qi Yuan''s bowl.

    The young women around were shocked.

    A Wraith had accepted a human''s invitation to eat.

    Was this a dream?

    Or had the world gone mad?

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at the Wraith with admiration.

    "You lost one arm and became so powerful, terrifying these people. If you lost both arms, wouldn''t you be even stronger?"

    The Wraith, who had been eating, stopped and stared at Qi Yuan, her expression eerie.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Wraith, curious.

    In the myriad worlds and universes, he had seen countless beings and races.

    Stone people, metal creatures, silicon-based life forms¡ªhe had seen them all.

    But a Wraith like this was a first for him.

    Though somewhat similar to the ghosts of the Divine Wood Universe, they were entirely different beings, or rather, not beings at all.

    If he had to compare...

    Qi Yuan remembered when he had the strange painter use the Mountain and River Brush to help him paint the Underworld.

    When the Underworld was first created, some dirty things had entered, babbling in incomprehensible languages.

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    Later, Qi Yuan, acting as a language teacher, taught those dirty things to speak.

    Finally, they conveyed their purpose.

    "No... soul, borrow... return..."

    In the end, those dirty things condensed into the Monument of the Dead and placed it in the Underworld.

    To Qi Yuan, the Wraith before him was somewhat similar to those dirty things.

 Chapter 605: Strange Abandoned Place

    Qi Yuan looked at the Wraith with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

    The Wraith also looked at him.

    Unfortunately, this Wraith seemed to be like those dirty things¡ªunable to speak.

    "What''s... your name?"

    Qi Yuan asked softly.

    The Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra and his other special abilities were also activated.

    He wanted to hear if the Wraith had any inner thoughts.

    Unfortunately, even as he stared intently at the Wraith''s face, he didn''t hear any sound.

    "Are you like those dirty things and can''t speak? Do you want me to teach you?"

    "A, O, E..."

    Qi Yuan was very proactive. He started teaching immediately.

    Around him, the girl in hot pants couldn''t hold back her shock.

    Her friends were also dumbfounded.

    "Is this guy... teaching a Wraith?"

    "Am I going crazy?"

    Originally, they were filled with terror, but now, all they felt was absurdity. They had a lot of colorful language they wanted to use.

    "Still haven''t learned?" Qi Yuan looked at the Wraith. He had been teaching for about ten minutes.

    He spoke quickly, his tone gentle.

    The Wraith remained expressionless, as if it had no intelligence.

    "It''s okay, you''re doing great. Let''s keep going," Qi Yuan continued, showing great patience.

    Kindergarten teachers could teach children to read. Although he didn''t have a teaching certificate, he had a mental illness certificate. Both were certificates, so teaching a Wraith to speak shouldn''t be a problem, right?

    But while teaching, not only did he need patience, but he also had to encourage and give positive feedback.

    So, even though the Wraith remained motionless and unresponsive, Qi Yuan continued.

    "You''re doing so well, your eyes are even moving."

    "Keep it up, good job. You''re so focused, I''ll reward you with some pig trotter rice."

    The Wraith quietly listened, while the young women and the pig trotter rice shop owner were completely stunned.

    The young women could still see the Wraith.

    The shop owner couldn''t see it and thought Qi Yuan was a lunatic, talking to himself.

    After an unknown amount of time, the one-armed red-dressed female Wraith finally spoke. She wasn''t good with language and spoke in a timid, almost pleading voice.

    "Help... help... me..."

    After saying these three words, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength and couldn''t speak anymore.

    At this moment, something slightly unexpected happened to Qi Yuan.

    The game''s notification finally sounded.

    [Received a plea for help from a Wraith.]

    [Main quest initiated: Reduce the number of Abandoned Lands, prevent the Abandoned Lands from becoming "Void."]

    [The more Abandoned Lands you help, the greater the reward.]

    [The quest can be terminated at any time to claim rewards.]

    Hearing these prompts, Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow.

    "The quest has finally started."

    "Help the Abandoned Lands?"

    "The more, the better the reward?"

    This meant he could terminate the quest at any time and claim the rewards.

    Of course, he could also help all the Abandoned Lands across the myriad worlds and then claim the rewards.

    The rewards would likely be substantial.

    [Note: The deeper your entanglement with the Abandoned Lands, the worse your luck becomes.]

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was slightly stunned.

    Bad luck?

    Misfortune?

    "It seems this game is a bit challenging," Qi Yuan sighed.

    He looked at the Wraith, his expression serious. "I''ll do my best to help you."

    The beautiful Wraith seemed to understand Qi Yuan''s words. A sweet smile appeared on her face.

    Then, her figure disappeared in an instant.

    Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

    "No magical fluctuations, no spatial distortions, no rules... she just disappeared like that?"

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    The young women around, seeing the Wraith disappear, were filled with joy.

    "We survived!"

    "We actually survived!"

    "Wait, where''s that handsome guy?"

    "Supernatural?"

    "Superman?"

    They suddenly realized that after the Wraith disappeared, Qi Yuan was also gone.

    On the other side, Qi Yuan murmured, "Indeed, I can''t figure out how the Wraith disappeared, just like they couldn''t figure out how I disappeared. They don''t cultivate immortality, and I don''t understand the Wraith''s system."

    Qi Yuan thought as he stopped by a trash can, picking out a few dozen yuan from it.

    He hadn''t paid for the pig trotter rice yet.

    He didn''t steal or rob, so he could only pick up money.

    "Although the Wraith ate some of the rice, she ran away. I have to pay for the meal alone. What a loss."

    After saying this, Qi Yuan paid the bill and disappeared again.

    He wanted to meet more Wraiths, observe more Wraiths, and better understand this Abandoned Land.

    Thus, in the following time, the people living in the Sky Federation suddenly felt that the world had undergone significant changes.

    First, the Federation suddenly enacted a national policy.

    This policy was... national restrooms.

    They began large-scale construction of various public restrooms.

    The Sky Federation''s council members even held a press conference and sent messages to everyone''s phones.

    "If you encounter a Wraith, please run to the nearest restroom as quickly as possible. If the Wraith knocks, respond with ''Someone''s here.'' This may save your life."

    This news left all the Federation citizens dumbfounded.

    They wondered if the council members'' heads had been kicked by a donkey.

    Later, the Federation also announced:

    "If you don''t have time to reach a public restroom, immediately start picking your earwax. As long as you maintain the action of picking your earwax, the Wraith won''t harm you."

    This series of bizarre actions left the citizens speechless, calling it absurd.

    However, absurd as it was, it actually worked.

    This left many citizens in a daze.

    "I told you, our world is a giant game."

    "Such a setting can exist, and you still say we''re not NPCs?"

    "Only getting new clothes during the New Year, shoddy character models, daily fixed location check-ins¡ªif I''m not an NPC, who is?"

    In addition, in some places, people saw a handsome young man appearing beside Wraiths, seemingly teaching them to speak.

    The world was becoming more and more absurd, more and more chaotic.

    However, it was only superficially full of jokes. In reality, despair was everywhere.

    Even though the Federation government had issued various policies, countless people were still killed by Wraiths every day.

    Besides Wraiths killing people, some people even killed each other.

    Although in the news, it might just be a cold number, each number represented a living life.

    Each of them had their own life.

    Ordinary or extraordinary, brilliant or mundane.

    "This world... has no World Spirit."

    "And... although my divine decree can prevent Wraiths from killing people... the number of deaths hasn''t decreased significantly, or rather, hasn''t decreased at all."

    "Or rather, it''s not just people."

    At a noodle shop, Qi Yuan''s face was clouded with worry.

    This game quest was more difficult than he had imagined.

    Even though his divine decree influenced the Wraiths and saved many lives.

    He still found that the number of deaths hadn''t decreased significantly.

    If not killed by Wraiths, they might be killed by other disasters.

    In other words, the effect was much worse than expected.

    It seemed like an invisible hand was harvesting the lives of the world.

    He ate his noodles, rarely frowning.

    At this moment, a little girl about six or seven years old walked over. She was wearing a princess dress, black leather shoes with two bows, looking lively and cute.

    "Big brother, are you unhappy? Have a candy. Eating candy will make you happy."

    The little girl spoke with effort, tightly clutching the candy in her hand, her palm slightly sweaty, looking very nervous.

    Not far away, her mother smiled, seemingly encouraging her.

    Looking at the little girl, Qi Yuan smiled. "Thank you, little one."

    He took the candy from the little girl''s hand, a smile on his face.

    "You should go back to your mom. Big brother has been unlucky lately, don''t let it affect you," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    "Big brother, smile. If you smile, your luck won''t be bad," the little girl said thoughtfully, then returned to her seat.

    Qi Yuan picked up his noodles, his thoughts complex.

    A smiling girl''s luck won''t be bad.

    That''s the truth. Those with bad luck can''t smile.

    At this moment, a fly buzzed around, seemingly about to land in his bowl.

    He glanced at it, and the fly turned to ash.

    "Is this what bad luck looks like?"

    "Or is it that while my divine decree is saving people, other lives are dying in other ways... like this fly seeking death."

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    Originally, he thought this was just an ordinary world.

    But upon closer contact, he realized this world was much deeper than he thought.

    Beside him, conversations in the noodle shop continued.

    "We should thank that Vampire Emperor. If it weren''t for his divine method, I would have died when I encountered a Wraith the other day!"

    "These restrooms really work."

    "Does that mean one day, our Sky Federation won''t have to suffer from Wraiths anymore?"

    "Thank the Vampire Emperor!"

    "Life is getting better."

    The people around were filled with joy and hope for the future.

    The little girl also pestered her mother to go play on the little train.

    In the past, under the shadow of Wraiths, her mother would have taken her home long ago.

    Now, life was getting better, and the threats seemed to be decreasing.

    At this moment, suddenly, a cement truck seemed to lose control and crashed toward the noodle shop.

    Boom!

    The people in the noodle shop were stunned, feeling like they were about to die.

    But at that moment, it was as if an invisible hand had appeared in the world, stopping the out-of-control truck.

    The driver, terrified, looked confused and scared.

    The people in the noodle shop also breathed a sigh of relief, their hearts racing, unable to calm down for a long time, feeling like they had narrowly escaped death.

    At this moment, the little girl seemed to notice something and looked at where Qi Yuan had been sitting.

    "Big brother... where did he go?"

    ...

    On the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods.

    Qi Yuan took a deep breath.

    "My luck is getting worse and worse."

    "All sorts of strange disasters are happening in the Sky Federation."

    During this time, he spent most of his time in the Sky Federation, encountering various Wraiths.

    Unfortunately, even with all his special abilities activated, he hadn''t gained any useful information.

    "Your Highness, this is the information you asked for about the Abandoned Lands."

    At this moment, Feng Ye walked over, holding a book in his hands.

    After receiving Qi Yuan''s instructions some time ago, he had gone to various places to collect information about the Abandoned Lands.

    All the information was recorded in this book.

    He was somewhat puzzled, not understanding why His Highness was looking for such forbidden knowledge.

    "Thank you," Qi Yuan took the book and began reading it carefully.

    "However, my status is lowly, and I couldn''t access the higher levels of the library. The information I collected is quite rudimentary. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

    "It''s fine," Qi Yuan said, his expression serious as he read the information in the book.

    "The so-called Abandoned Lands, as the name suggests, are forsaken places.

    There are rumors that the Abandoned Lands are related to a mysterious powerhouse.

    After the fall of this mysterious powerhouse, the lands he ruled were plagued by disasters.

    Finally, twelve powerhouses, including the Emperor God, banished the lands ruled by the mysterious powerhouse."

    "So, to solve the problem of the Abandoned Lands, we first need to understand the identity of this mysterious powerhouse.

    Even the Emperor God took action, so he must be a powerhouse of the same level.

    Sigh... I''m still too weak now to access such high-level secrets."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    "Your Highness, the Abandoned Lands are mysterious and extraordinary. Generally, the Myriad Heavens Mirror doesn''t connect to the Abandoned Lands.

    But there are exceptions. If you encounter an Abandoned Land, never enter it," Feng Ye said with concern. "According to the information I found, a True God at the peak of the Divine Lord realm once entered an Abandoned Land. He didn''t know what an Abandoned Land was.

    So, as usual, he devoured the World Spirit of that Abandoned Land. Then... something terrifying happened to him.

    First, many eyes inexplicably grew on his back. Later... hair grew from his nose and mouth. In the end... he died in agony.

    At the time, even a Dao God intervened but couldn''t save him."

    Feng Ye''s eyes were filled with fear as he spoke of the Abandoned Lands.

    This information was recorded at the end of the book.

    Qi Yuan frowned. "Is that so?"

    A Divine Lord realm powerhouse, comparable to a Realm Lord, could crush the Milky Way with a single hand.

    Yet, after refining a World Spirit, he died a bizarre death.

    "This Divine Lord realm powerhouse was the descendant of one of the Twelve Pillars of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the Tian Immortal... An Ba Xian," Feng Ye continued.

    "Where is An Ba Xian''s body?" Qi Yuan asked.

    He wanted to see An Ba Xian''s corpse to see if his special abilities could uncover any secrets.

    "This... I don''t know, but I can contact An Ba Xian''s descendants for Your Highness," Feng Ye said.

    "Good," Qi Yuan nodded.

    Feng Ye left.

    The empty palace was now only occupied by Qi Yuan.

    "This game is still quite complicated."

    "I wonder what rewards I''ll get when the game ends."

    Now, he could end the game at any time and claim the rewards.

    But if he claimed them now, the rewards would surely be meager.

    "This Abandoned Land seems like a trap.

    But isn''t that normal for games?"

    ...

    In a palace.

    The Hei Tian Divine Lord received a report from his subordinate, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    "Qi Yuan is actually interested in An Nan. Could it be related to An Ba Xian?"

    The news of Feng Ye seeking an audience with An Nan was somewhat notable.

    Because the Tian Immortal and Tian Kai were both among the Twelve Pillars, and the two were at odds.

    Their descendants rarely interacted, avoiding each other as much as possible.

    Thus, Qi Yuan''s invitation to An Nan naturally ended in failure.

    "Should I help Qi Yuan?" the Hei Tian Divine Lord pondered.

    He was hesitant.

    Others didn''t dare to befriend the Tian Immortal''s descendants, but the Hei Tian Divine Lord wasn''t afraid.

    Because he had long considered himself a dead man, just waiting for the day he would be sent out to die.

    Tian Kai didn''t interfere with his life.

    "Some time ago, Tan Ying became a named disciple of the Infinite Dao God. However, after paying his respects to the Infinite Dao God, he... committed suicide that night. There are rumors that he fell in love with his master, and unable to attain her love, he killed himself," the Hei Tian Divine Lord narrowed his eyes.

    Things definitely weren''t that simple.

    After all, a True God of Divine Decree committing suicide over love was absurdity to the extreme.

    There must be more to it.

    And Tan Ying had always been arrogant, offending many people, including Qi Yuan.

    "It just so happens that An Nan owes me a favor. Helping Qi Yuan can be considered an investment."

    The Hei Tian Divine Lord said.

    After saying this, he felt a bit wistful.

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    He didn''t know if he was just wasting his efforts.

    After all, only when Qi Yuan reached the Spirit God or Dao God realm could he speak up for him and potentially save him from death.

    And even then, it wasn''t a guarantee.

    "Do your best and leave the rest to fate," the Hei Tian Divine Lord thought.

    After all, he had many friends. He wasn''t pinning all his hopes on Qi Yuan.

 Chapter 606: The Forgotten Sword

    Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods.

    Tian Immortal''s Grotto-Heaven.

    This place was inhabited by the descendants of the Tian Immortal, one of the Twelve Pillars, as well as their subordinate gods.

    An Nan''s expression was cold as he looked at Qi Yuan. "If it weren''t for the fact that Hei Tian once helped me when I was still a Void God, and I owe him a great debt, I would have avoided meeting you as well."

    Among the Twelve Pillars, the Tian Immortal and Tian Kai were at odds, and their descendants rarely interacted with each other. Someone like Hei Tian, who dared to cross these boundaries, was indeed rare.

    "I will remember Hei Tian''s kindness," Qi Yuan said calmly, with a polite tone.

    "I am very curious about the incident where An Ba Xian perished in the Abandoned Lands. I would like to see if there is any information left behind. If possible, I would like to pay my respects to An Ba Xian''s remains."

    An Nan frowned.

    To be honest, Qi Yuan''s request was a bit excessive. However, the debt he owed to Hei Tian... this could be a way to settle it. He didn''t want to get too deeply involved with Hei Tian.

    "These are some fragments of information left behind by my ancestor when he was in the Abandoned Lands," An Nan said, handing Qi Yuan a tattered book.

    Qi Yuan took the book and began reading it carefully on the spot.

    An Nan sat to the side, turning his head away and playing with fish that seemed to float in the air.

    "In the Profound Zero Realm, strange things are happening. People are growing extra eyes... this is bizarre.

    I erected a divine statue, absorbed faith, and devoured the World Spirit."

    Generally, when the True Gods of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods descended into various worlds and planes, they would absorb faith and sometimes devour the World Spirit.

    "However, after I devoured the World Spirit, the extra eyes on the inhabitants of the Profound Zero Realm disappeared... no, they didn''t disappear. They transferred to me!!!"

    The outcome was clear. The strange phenomenon had shifted to An Ba Xian.

    He was a Divine Lord realm powerhouse, equivalent to a Realm Lord in other universes.

    Yet, after devouring a mere World Spirit, his body became grotesque, and he suffered unbearable pain, nearing death.

    Even a Dao God who examined him could only shake his head¡ªthere was no saving him.

    "So, after he refined the World Spirit, the anomalies of the Profound Zero Realm were transferred to him.

    When he could no longer endure and died, the anomalies would return to the Profound Zero Realm."

    From the content above, Qi Yuan extracted these key points.

    In the current Sky Federation, Wraiths were rampant. Even though Qi Yuan''s divine decree specifically targeted Wraiths, there were always special circumstances that caused the number of deaths in the Sky Federation to increase daily.

    If someone were to devour the World Spirit of the Sky Federation, would the accidental deaths in the Sky Federation decrease?

    The problem was, the Sky Federation didn''t have a World Spirit.

    And... who would devour it?

    Even a Divine Lord realm powerhouse could die from it. To devour it, one would need an indestructible attribute.

    If anyone were to devour it, it would have to be Qi Yuan.

    After all, the mission of this game was to protect the Abandoned Lands.

    "I''ve finished reading. If you want to see that guy''s corpse, follow me," An Nan said, showing no respect for An Ba Xian.

    Qi Yuan nodded.

    The two entered an underground leyline, where the temperature gradually rose, as if they were in the core of the sun.

    Everywhere they looked, there were flames and explosions.

    However, at the very center, there was an extreme cold.

    A small iceberg stood there, surrounded by endless flames, yet it never melted.

    On the iceberg lay a shattered divine body.

    His expression was extremely twisted, filled with terror.

    On his back were countless eyes, each exuding an indescribable aura, with blood seeping from them.

    In addition, the hair inside his body was unusually thick.

    Even the blood droplets contained strands of hair, making it all the more bizarre.

    "This is An Ba Xian?"

    He looked like he had died a gruesome death.

    [Cursed Corpse: Burdened with misfortune, twisted to death.]

    This was the hidden information Qi Yuan''s eyes revealed.

    "Can I take one of the eyes and a strand of hair?" Qi Yuan asked An Nan.

    "Sure," An Nan replied, looking somewhat puzzled. He then warned, "These things are extremely strange. Try not to study them too much, and don''t bring them into your divine realm. Be careful of contamination."

    "Thanks for the reminder," Qi Yuan said with a smile, taking an eye and a strand of hair before leaving.

    In the following days, Qi Yuan''s daily routine involved examining the eye and the hair, as well as visiting the Sky Federation to see if he could protect more people.

    After all, this was his mission.

    As he observed the eye and the hair, Qi Yuan gained more useful information.

    "These so-called misfortunes are curses of damnation. To avoid falling into the abyss, one must... forget."

    After observing for so long, Qi Yuan finally found a way to deal with this kind of misfortune.

    "Create a Sword of Forgetfulness to cut away the cursed flesh."

    Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

    He had found a method to protect the Abandoned Lands.

    Of course, this method wasn''t perfect.

    In fact, it would be extremely painful and torturous.

    "Gather all the curses of damnation and misfortunes of the Abandoned Lands onto myself... then use the Sword of Forgetfulness to cut away the fatal misfortunes."

    Qi Yuan frowned.

    "Only a saint could do something like this."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    These so-called misfortunes and curses of damnation varied in severity.

    Bearing such things would bring immense suffering, enduring what ordinary people could not.

    In addition, when a part of the body was eroded by misfortune and curses to the point of death, the Sword of Forgetfulness would be used to cut away that part.

    "But this is just a game. No matter how painful, it''s all illusory."

    "Could it be that I''m afraid of suffering even in a game?"

    "Compared to those true saints, I''m still far behind."

    Qi Yuan smiled faintly.

    He had made his decision.

    He would use this method to protect the Abandoned Lands.

    Although there were risks, and it might be painful, it was just a game, wasn''t it?

    In the game of life, suffering is part of the experience.

    "So, the top priority now... is to forge a Sword of Forgetfulness?"

    Qi Yuan pondered deeply.

    "Feng Ye, I''m going into seclusion for a while. Don''t disturb me."

    After giving his instructions, Qi Yuan began forging the Sword of Forgetfulness.

    Although Qi Yuan wasn''t particularly skilled in sword-making, at his current level of cultivation, and with the knowledge of artifact forging he had gained in the Divine Wood Universe, creating a sword was still a relatively simple task for him.

    "Mother of All Metals, Yin-Yang Nine Truth Stone, Void Yin Malice..."

    Various flames rose from Qi Yuan''s hands.

    Blazing heat, icy cold, extreme frost.

    Different special effects filled the air as the materials in his hands melted into liquid.

    "To forge the Sword of Forgetfulness, one must enter a state of self-forgetfulness.

    The heart must be filled with nothing but the concept of forgetting!"

    The most unique aspect of the Sword of Forgetfulness wasn''t the materials, but the "forgetfulness" imbued into it.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra activated.

    He entered a state of self-forgetfulness.

    "Forgetting is the beginning of everything."

    "Forgetting is the end of time."

    "The cycle is ultimately broken by forgetting."

    A peculiar aura spread as Qi Yuan refined the materials, exuding a terrifying presence.

    It was as if something horrifying was being born.

    At the same time.

    An Unknown Place.

    Here, endless flames burned, covering an area perhaps one-third the size of a universe.

    The flames consumed everything¡ªspace, time, cause and effect, and even fate seemed to be burned away.

    Suddenly, a clanging sound echoed.

    Clang!

    The sound of chains rattling grew faster, louder, and more frequent.

    At the edge of the world.

    Several Divine Lords woke up, their eyes filled with confusion.

    "What''s going on?"

    "Why is the Endless Sea of Flames acting up?"

    "There''s... a sword buried here!"

    "Report this to the Dao Gods!"

    Immediately, several Divine Lords vanished.

    After all, there were many legends about the Endless Sea of Flames.

    It was said that a peerless sword of great calamity was buried here.

    No one knew the name of this sword.

    Those who knew its name were all dead.

    In the blink of an eye, three Dao Gods descended, their majestic figures towering over the flames.

    They stretched out their hands, capable of enveloping the entire Endless Sea of Flames.

    It was as if this space, one-third the size of a universe, was nothing more than a plaything in their palms.

    "The sword... is gone," one Dao God murmured, his voice complex.

    "Its essence has long been worn away, forgotten by all. What remains... is but a broken sword," another Dao God said.

    "Even a broken sword... is enough to kill us," the third Dao God said, his face filled with worry. "This matter must be thoroughly investigated."

    The other two nodded, their expressions grave.

    This broken sword was stained with too much blood.

    "Unfortunately, the broken sword doesn''t carry any karma, and its fate cannot be divined. We cannot calculate its whereabouts."

    "Regardless, we must find it and determine the reason for its disappearance."

    "Order an increase in surveillance of the Abandoned Lands."

    "Let us hope... the disasters of the past do not repeat."

    "All we desire... is peace in the heavens and the eternal continuation of our Dao."

    ...

    "Is this the sword I forged?"

    Qi Yuan looked somewhat dazed.

    To forge the Sword of Forgetfulness, the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra had to be activated, deceiving even himself.

    Now, he was in a state of confusion, his memory hazy.

    But even with his memory impaired, he still had some common sense.

    He had clearly been forging a new sword, yet what he ended up with was an old, broken sword.

    The sword wasn''t long, and it seemed to have rust on it, with many fine cracks running through it.

    [Sword of Forgetfulness: A broken sword.]

    "Perhaps, due to the nature of forgetfulness, this sword has forgotten the passage of time, which is why it has become so broken?"

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    Under the influence of the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, he was in a state of clarity and didn''t dwell on it further.

    "There''s still so much material left. Let''s add more and then imbue it with the essence of forgetfulness."

    As Qi Yuan worked, new materials were integrated into the broken sword.

    The essence of forgetfulness was being infused into it through the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra.

    "Forgetfulness is the foundation, the essence, the root of the Dao!"

    "Only through forgetfulness can one achieve eternity."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, the essence of the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra continued to pour into the Sword of Forgetfulness.

    After an unknown amount of time, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, his face pale.

    "I''m exhausted. Did I finally succeed?"

    He shook his head, dispelling the state induced by the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra.

    However, his eyes still held the clarity and confusion of a college student.

    "Strange, why do I feel like my Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra didn''t fully imbue this sword?"

    "This is one tricky sword."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    Although it wasn''t fully imbued, the power of this sword still exceeded Qi Yuan''s expectations.

    "I didn''t expect my forging skills to have reached such a pinnacle."

    Qi Yuan praised himself.

    This sword was far more powerful than the light sword he had forged in the Divine Wood Universe.

    "With this sword, killing a Divine Lord would be a piece of cake, right?"

    Qi Yuan''s thoughts wandered.

    But suddenly, he froze.

    "Something''s not right. Did something happen while I was forging this sword?"

    "Damn it, using the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra made me forget even the process of forging the sword."

    "What... happened back then?"

    For some reason, Qi Yuan felt like he had forgotten something important.

    "Well, forget it. It''s probably just some useless information, junk memory. Deleting it is no big deal."

    Holding the newly forged Sword of Forgetfulness, Qi Yuan was in a good mood.

    This sword gave him a feeling that it was no less powerful than the Hall of Eternity or the Gate of Myriad Principles.

    Qi Yuan guessed that he had been able to forge it due to a stroke of luck.

    If he tried to forge it again, he might be able to create another Sword of Forgetfulness, but... it definitely wouldn''t be as powerful.

    "So, my luck is still pretty good. Where''s the bad luck?"

    Qi Yuan thought smugly.

    "Your Highness."

    At this moment, Feng Ye approached, his expression grave.

    "What is it? How long have I been in seclusion?"

    "Forty-nine days," Feng Ye replied, his face still serious. "Thirty days ago, Pillar Tian Kai... went to the front lines."

    "To fight the Soul-Severing Bridge?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods had always been at odds with the Soul-Severing Bridge, and the two factions had been in conflict for a long time.

    However, previous battles had always been kept within a certain scope. Although Pillar-level powerhouses were stationed at the front lines, they were usually just figureheads.

    Now, the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods had sent Pillar Tian Kai to the front lines, indicating that the situation there had changed.

    This change could affect everyone in the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods.

    For Feng Ye, the one most affected would be the god-child he served, Qi Yuan.

    "Your Highness, please cultivate as quickly as possible and break through to the Divine Lord realm. Otherwise, if you are summoned to the front lines, there is a risk of death," Feng Ye urged.

    Now that Tian Kai had rushed to the front lines, things were moving quickly.

    Once the situation stabilized, it was possible that god-children like Qi Yuan would be summoned to the front lines.

    As Qi Yuan''s protector, Feng Ye would also have to go.

    "Alright, I''m already working hard on my cultivation," Qi Yuan said.

    Currently, he was still tempering his divine decree in the Abandoned Lands.

    The Divine Lord realm wasn''t far off.

    This speed, if revealed, would be considered terrifying.

    However, after reading through the books in the library, Qi Yuan had discovered many strange things.

    For example, Hei Tian had reached the Divine Lord realm in just ten thousand years, and then... he had remained stuck at that level.

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    This speed... in other universes or the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm, would be considered astonishing.

    After all, reaching the third stage of the Yang God realm in ten thousand years was no small feat.

    But in the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, there were quite a few people like him.

    What was more important was that most people needed millions of years to achieve this, which was already considered a prodigy. For others, it took tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of years.

    So, this world was, overall, quite strange.

 Chapter 607: Mission

    "After Tian Kai went to the front lines, the attempts to recruit me have increased."

    Qi Yuan glanced at the messages. Many god-children had sent him invitations to collaborate.

    After all, Pillar Tian Kai was now at the front lines, and it was possible that they, the god-children, would soon be summoned to join the battle.

    The mortality rate at the front lines was extremely high.

    Even god-children had a high chance of dying in battle.

    So, at this moment, many god-children set aside their past grievances and banded together, cooperating to improve their strength.

    However, Qi Yuan paid little attention to these matters.

    For him, the game was the most important thing.

    As for war... what was that?

    He just wanted to say that he was a lover of peace.

    ...

    Sky Federation.

    Professor Liu''s face was filled with worry as he stared at the data on his computer screen. The overwhelming amount of information made him dizzy and unsure of what to do.

    "The public restrooms have indeed helped reduce the number of deaths caused by Wraiths, but during this period... the number of Wraiths has skyrocketed, and various disasters and accidents have become more frequent... the number of daily deaths is still increasing," Professor Liu said gravely.

    Everyone in the room looked grim.

    Originally, they had thought that with the help of the Vampire Emperor, they could reduce the number of deaths caused by Wraiths.

    And indeed, the number had decreased significantly, but the Wraiths were now targeting even more people.

    Coupled with other disasters and accidents, the number of daily deaths... was still rising.

    "Could it be that even a god who can command the laws of nature with his words cannot save us?" one expert said, his voice breaking.

    In the past, he had been the most staunch atheist.

    When he learned of the existence of the Vampire Emperor, he had fervently hoped that the god was real.

    A god could save the world.

    The public restrooms appeared, and the Wraiths stopped killing.

    He had been overjoyed.

    But now, the number of deaths was still increasing.

    "Could it be... that even a god cannot save us?"

    The experts in the room fell silent.

    They were experts in various fields, outstanding talents.

    But they were also human, weak and ordinary.

    Without supernatural powers, they were just like everyone else.

    "Humans have built strong fortresses and weapons with a range of thousands of miles, yet they cannot protect themselves or determine their own fate. How tragic is that?"

    Someone lamented.

    In the Sky Federation, ordinary people were still immersed in joy.

    Because the public restrooms had truly helped them avoid the persecution of Wraiths.

    They felt that there was hope for life, hope for the future.

    But they didn''t have access to information channels, nor could they see the data. Moreover, the government was deliberately or unintentionally covering up the news.

    They didn''t know that the sky was now like a barrel of oil, with explosions happening everywhere and a large number of people dying every day.

    "I want... to meet the Vampire Emperor and see if He has a way... to save us."

    "Perhaps, there''s something wrong with this land. If we leave... would the problem go away?"

    "During this period, a mysterious figure has appeared in various parts of the Federation, suspected to be the Vampire Emperor. Here is his information."

    One expert spoke up and then projected the data onto the large screen.

    There were no photos of Qi Yuan recorded here.

    Modern technology, such as phones and cameras, couldn''t capture his form.

    The information about him was mostly based on descriptions from others.

    The others felt uneasy.

    Facing a god, they felt a mix of reverence and fear of the unknown.

    "From the descriptions above, the Vampire Emperor... is handsome, kind-hearted, and hates evil. His actions are somewhat eccentric," Professor Liu said.

    To be honest, the descriptions he read felt astonishing and absurd.

    In his mind, if there were a god, the god should be lofty, mysterious, and unknowable, majestic and grand.

    But the descriptions of Qi Yuan were a bit too down-to-earth.

    Eating braised pork rice, eating pig trotter rice, and even paying for it.

    "About gods, it''s best not to speculate. What if this is just one side of him, playing around in the mortal world?"

    "I really want to meet the god and ask him... what the solution is."

    Many experts began to have other thoughts.

    They wanted to meet Qi Yuan and ask about the Wraiths and the deaths.

    But how could they get the chance to meet a god?

    At that moment, a calm voice suddenly rang out in the hall.

    "Oh, you''re all here."

    A man in a blood-red robe appeared, sitting lazily on a conference seat.

    Everyone looked at him, their expressions tense, then filled with awe.

    "Are you... the Vampire Emperor?" Professor Liu swallowed hard.

    "You could say that," Qi Yuan smiled. "Let''s cut to the chase. I''m here to save you."

    Hearing this, the experts felt a mix of joy and wariness.

    A god said he was here to save them?

    What were the god''s intentions?

    Was this all an act, and now he was showing his true colors?

    Was there a conspiracy?

    Naturally, other thoughts arose in their minds.

    "By the way, whether you believe I''m here to save you or not doesn''t matter," Qi Yuan continued to smile.

    He was playing a game, advancing the plotline.

    Whether the NPCs trusted him or not wasn''t important.

    As long as they cooperated to progress the story.

    The experts felt a chill, as if they had been seen through.

    "All you need to do is cooperate with me."

    "What I want is simple... you need to... believe in me"

    "As for how I''ll save you... I can''t be bothered to explain."

    "Oh, and I''m more terrifying than the Wraiths. If I wanted to, I could wipe out the Sky Federation with a single finger."

    Qi Yuan''s voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable authority.

    Qi Yuan was lawful good, so he was willing to reason with the NPCs.

    If he were more unscrupulous, he could have simply activated the *Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra* and forced the world''s inhabitants to believe in him without their consent.

    "Alright," Professor Liu agreed solemnly.

    He knew that facing a god, he had no say and no bargaining power.

    After all, gods were unknown and terrifying to them.

    "Alright, I''ll be off now. I have important matters to attend to.

    Oh, and the god you''ll be believing in is called the Origin Heavenly God."

    After saying this, Qi Yuan disappeared.

    The reason he wanted the inhabitants of the Sky Federation to believe in him was twofold: to increase his faith and to use that faith to create a World Spirit.

    The Sky Federation had no World Spirit.

    Qi Yuan planned to use faith to create one, and then transfer the misfortunes and curses of damnation onto himself.

    This was his method to protect the Abandoned Lands.

    Of course, for Abandoned Lands that already had a World Spirit, it wouldn''t be so complicated.

    He could simply devour the World Spirit and transfer the misfortunes and curses onto himself.

    After leaving the conference room, Qi Yuan appeared in many places.

    Perhaps by a pond.

    His voice carried a strange charm: "Grass carp, crucian carp, turtles, paramecium... you must believe in me."

    Perhaps in front of a mountain.

    "Tigers, sparrows, tung trees... you must believe in me."

    Throughout the Sky Federation, Qi Yuan''s figure appeared everywhere.

    Wherever there were living beings, he harvested their faith.

    "Stones, gold elements, protons, cations... do you believe in me?"

    Finally, Qi Yuan tentatively asked.

    But this time, he didn''t get the answer he wanted.

    "These... cannot believe in me."

    ...

    "Detection... a True God-level powerhouse has appeared in the Shuxing Domain."

    In a sealed palace, a voice rang out.

    Inside the palace were many large cocoons of various colors.

    As the voice spoke, three cocoons cracked open, and powerful auras filled the air.

    Three True God-level powerhouses stepped out.

    They all exuded the aura of Divine Decree realm.

    "Got a job?" The leader, a man with red hair, spoke with a casual tone, wearing streamlined armor.

    "Looks like we''re about to make a small profit," a burly woman said, her eyes filled with greed.

    The last one was cloaked in black, his entire body shrouded in darkness, and he didn''t like to talk.

    "Same rules as always. Whoever contributes the most gets the most resources," the red-haired man said, his eyes filled with anticipation.

    "I hope... he''s carrying a lot of resources," the burly woman licked her thick lips.

    They were from the Heavenly King Mountain, part of a mysterious alliance.

    Outside, they couldn''t act as bandits, and their cultivation resources were tight.

    But in the Abandoned Lands, they could receive missions to hunt and harvest True Gods who mistakenly entered this place.

    After killing those True Gods, the spoils would belong to them.

    Moreover, they would receive rewards from the mysterious organization.

    This was even better than being bandits.

    "I hope he''s a wealthy god, preferably... with a deep background," the burly woman said casually.

    That way, their harvest would be even greater.

    "Aren''t you afraid... that he might have powerful treasures that allow him to unleash strength beyond his realm?" the red-haired man said calmly.

    "This is the Abandoned Lands... even if he''s a Divine Lord, so what?" The burly woman patted her streamlined silver armor. "I have the Water-Fire Silver Armor to ward off calamities. What about him?

    The longer he stays in the Abandoned Lands, the deeper the entanglement of karma, and the closer he is to death."

    This special armor was created by the mysterious organization.

    It only appeared on them when they were on missions.

    Once the mission was over, it would be taken back.

    This armor could effectively prevent them from becoming deeply entangled with the Abandoned Lands, isolating them from the curses and misfortunes.

    "Unless absolutely necessary, we can''t use this method. Otherwise, we won''t receive the organization''s rewards," the red-haired man said calmly.

    This method was indeed omnipotent.

    Using the misfortunes and curses of the Abandoned Lands against their enemies.

    But if they did that, their mission wouldn''t be considered complete.

    Their goal was to harvest, to hunt down the True Gods who mistakenly entered this place... not to use the calamitous power of the Abandoned Lands to kill them.

    After all, the latter would only allow them to obtain the spoils of the True God.

    "Don''t worry, with the three of us working together, how could we not be a match for him?" the burly woman said.

    The red-haired man nodded. "We need to hurry. If someone else completes the mission, wouldn''t we have worked for nothing?"

    "Humph, last time I almost killed a pretty boy, but the Water Star Palace actually saved him. How infuriating," the burly woman said angrily when mentioning this.

    The organization''s missions weren''t just taken by the three of them.

    Moreover, different factions had different ways of completing missions.

    The Heavenly King Mountain usually hunted down those who mistakenly entered, taking their spoils and the organization''s rewards.

    As for the Water Star Palace, they persuaded the intruders to leave.

    Of course, "persuading to leave"... didn''t mean that leaving the Abandoned Lands would solve everything.

    "There are many worlds in the Shuxing Domain. Let''s split up. If we encounter that True God, don''t act rashly and alert him. Contact us, and we''ll attack together," the red-haired man said.

    The cloaked man nodded, his voice hoarse. "Alright."

    ...

    Sky Federation.

    Following the Federation''s orders, all citizens began to believe in the Origin Heavenly God.

    Everything was progressing step by step.

    As for believing in the Origin Heavenly God, the people... were naturally resistant.

    After all, who would want a god hanging over their heads?

    However, when they learned that the Origin Heavenly God was the one who had issued the divine decree, creating the public restrooms to block the Wraiths, and that he could bring stability to the Sky Federation, more and more people chose to believe in him.

    After all, if the god was useful, what harm was there in believing in him?

    At this moment, in an underground conference room.

    Professor Liu listened to the discussions of the others, frowning.

    "This so-called god might just be putting on an act. Our weapons... are capable of leveling mountains. Could it be... that we can''t kill him?" an old man said.

    With today''s advanced technology, no flesh-and-blood body could withstand humanity''s advanced weapons.

    Another person spoke up. "He possesses the ability to teleport, making it difficult to pinpoint his location. Moreover... he might have other abilities. The success rate of ambushing him is less than ten percent."

    Clearly, they were discussing deicide!

    After all, whether believing in the Origin Heavenly God was good or bad, they didn''t know.

    What if the Origin Heavenly God had ulterior motives?

    "So, do you want to test the god''s limits? Who will test him, how will you test him, and can we bear the consequences?" an irritable old man said.

    Immediately, the others fell silent, not daring to speak further.

    Indeed, there weren''t many opportunities for trial and error in the world.

    Who could bear the consequences of failure?

    The ruling class?

    That would be them.

    Elsewhere, on a quiet street, a cold wind blew, carrying a plastic bag with it.

    An old man in a Taoist robe looked lazy.

    He looked at the young man ahead, his expression indifferent.

    "Fellow Daoist, do you know that you are in great danger?"

    As the old man looked at Qi Yuan, Qi Yuan also looked at him. "Oh? What do you mean?"

    "You probably don''t know that this is the Abandoned Lands," the old man said lightly, as if expecting to see shock, fear, and panic in Qi Yuan''s eyes.

    However, he saw none of that.

    "Oh, I know," Qi Yuan shrugged. He thought it was something serious.

    The old man was slightly stunned, then realized.

    This True God before him was probably a rogue True God who didn''t know the terror of the Abandoned Lands.

    "The Abandoned Lands are a forbidden zone. Even the legendary Dao Gods, if they stay here too long, will be plagued by calamities and eventually meet a gruesome end.

    Fellow Daoist, if you continue to stay here collecting faith, I''m afraid... your end will be tragic.

    There''s only one way to survive."

    "Oh, how can I survive?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

    "Join our Water Star Palace," the old man said. "As long as you serve the Water Star Palace for a hundred million years, the calamities on you will be cleansed, and you will survive."

    "Then forget it," Qi Yuan refused.

    Hearing this answer, the old man wasn''t surprised.

    "Indeed, until calamities befall you, even a god won''t feel pain or regret. But once calamities entangle you, even the Water Star Palace won''t be able to save you.

    You might think I''m exaggerating, but this is the truth."

    The old man spoke, and a stream of information flowed out, which Qi Yuan received.

    This information was vast, mostly detailing the tragic fates of many True Gods who had mistakenly entered this place.

    "Now... do you believe me?"

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    "You''re lucky to have met me. If you had encountered the cultivators from the Heavenly King Mountain... they probably wouldn''t give you a chance to live. They would kill you on the spot. Only our Water Star Palace is kind enough to give every cultivator a chance."

    The old man spoke indifferently, with a hint of arrogance.

    Generally, when faced with the choice between death and serving for a hundred million years to survive, True Gods would choose the latter.

    After all, life was the most precious and important thing.

    A hundred million years was but a blink of an eye.

 Chapter 608: The innate supreme truth?

    "Oh, is it illegal for me to stay in the Abandoned Lands?"

    Qi Yuan said, feeling a bit speechless.

    From the looks of it, he was in danger in the Abandoned Lands, and someone was coming to cause him trouble.

    The scruffy old man was momentarily stunned.

    "Well, it''s not exactly illegal."

    Indeed, there was no such law in the world.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. "Since it''s not illegal, what''s the point of talking about it? It''s my freedom to stay here."

    The scruffy old man continued, squinting his eyes. "Although it''s not illegal, it''s more serious than breaking the law. You''re violating... the Heavenly Decrees."

    "Nonsense," Qi Yuan said dismissively.

    "Any True God who enters the Abandoned Lands must either be expelled and purified for a hundred million years in a place like our Water Star Palace, or be killed by the Heavenly King Mountain.

    This rule was set by the Heavenly Emperor. His words are... the Heavenly Decrees." When the old man mentioned the Heavenly Emperor, his eyes filled with reverence.

    Hearing this name, Qi Yuan was slightly surprised.

    He had read many books in the library and knew some secrets.

    Among them was a mysterious powerhouse known as the Heavenly Emperor.

    He was rumored to be the strongest being in the world.

    There were rumors that the Heavenly Emperor came from the mysterious Divine Han Clan and was the undisputed supreme powerhouse of this great world.

    Even the Emperor God of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods had once sought guidance from the Heavenly Emperor.

    This great realm was vast and boundless, like an ocean filled with countless bubbles, each bubble being a world.

    Powerful forces like the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods were not rare.

    It could be said that true powerhouses were as numerous as clouds.

    The Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods had the Emperor God, the Twelve Pillars, and dozens of Dao Gods.

    Such a force was extremely terrifying, but even a top-tier force like the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods was only a regional hegemon in this great realm.

    The Heavenly Emperor''s Heavenly Emperor Palace was the true overlord, its influence spanning the entire realm.

    At its peak, a full third of the major powers revered the Heavenly Emperor.

    The Heavenly Emperor''s words were known as the Heavenly Decrees.

    Once, the Heavenly Emperor Palace was unrivaled, and no one dared to challenge its authority.

    However, according to the records in the books, the Heavenly Emperor had disappeared countless eons ago.

    He was an ancient and terrifying powerhouse.

    And here, Qi Yuan was hearing about the Heavenly Emperor''s Heavenly Decrees.

    "Didn''t the Heavenly Emperor disappear long ago?" Qi Yuan asked in surprise.

    "Although the Heavenly Emperor has disappeared, the Heavenly Decrees remain," the old man revealed some secrets.

    "Oh, I''m not a subject of the Heavenly Emperor. His Heavenly Decrees don''t apply to me," Qi Yuan said indifferently.

    Hearing this, the old man wasn''t surprised.

    After all, the Heavenly Emperor was too ancient and distant, and his reputation couldn''t intimidate everyone.

    Moreover, the once-mighty Heavenly Emperor Palace had long since vanished.

    "It seems you''re stubbornly refusing to see reason," the old man sighed.

    Once the powerhouses from the Heavenly King Mountain made their move, the Origin Heavenly God would have no chance of survival.

    Since this mission had been assigned to him, it meant that the Origin Heavenly God before him was only at the Divine Decree realm.

    A Divine Decree powerhouse was considered a pillar of a major force.

    But once the powerhouses from the Heavenly King Mountain arrived, he would undoubtedly die.

    Just as he thought this, the old man''s expression suddenly changed. "Fellow Daoist, the people from the Heavenly King Mountain are already here."

    As soon as he finished speaking, the sky of the Sky Federation, which had been clear in the afternoon, suddenly turned red.

    This sudden change caused many people to look up in surprise.

    "What''s happening?"

    "Why did the sky change color?"

    In the underground conference room, Professor Liu and the others also looked at the sky through the large screen, their eyes filled with astonishment.

    "The sky has changed. What''s going on?"

    Even though there were many experts here, no one could explain this phenomenon.

    However, they didn''t need to explain it, as a vast voice rang out, dispelling everyone''s confusion and filling them with terror.

    "Origin Heavenly God, come forth and meet your death!"

    In the sky above, three majestic deities appeared.

    The leader had red hair and red eyes, his height immeasurable, blocking out the sky and the sun. His figure was larger than the sun and moon.

    Beside him stood a burly woman and a cloaked man.

    Their figures were unimaginably vast.

    Even the satellites in the sky were smaller than a single hair on their bodies.

    In fact, the people of the Sky Federation had a premonition that if these three terrifying deities wished, they could crush the Sky Federation with a single pinch.

    Such grandeur was unimaginable. Even the most advanced weapons of the Sky Federation would be unable to harm such powerhouses.

    Now, these three deities seemed to be challenging the Origin Heavenly God.

    This meant that the Origin Heavenly God was of the same level.

    This made the council members who had wanted to use advanced weapons to kill the Origin Heavenly God feel ashamed and terrified.

    At this moment, within the Sky Federation, Qi Yuan''s expression was calm.

    "You''ve finally arrived."

    Qi Yuan seemed relaxed, facing three True Gods of the same realm without a hint of panic.

    The red-haired man wasn''t surprised.

    Every True God was brimming with confidence.

    If ordinary people could be overconfident, how much more so for deities?

    The red-haired man glanced at the old man in the corner, somewhat surprised, then smiled. "Another overconfident fool!"

    Generally, when the Water Star Palace appeared, True Gods would choose to go to the Water Star Palace to be purified for a hundred million years to save themselves.

    Now, Qi Yuan hadn''t left, which meant he refused to go to the Water Star Palace.

    The burly woman also smiled. "I like confident men. They must have a lot of treasures on them."

    Qi Yuan stood in the void, looking lazy.

    Suddenly, he snapped his fingers.

    How could there be a fight without background music?

    Although his suona band and funeral team weren''t here, the Sky Federation had plenty of TVs, phones, and sound systems.

    "Play the music!"

    Qi Yuan spoke.

    As soon as he finished speaking, all the phones, computers, TVs, and sound systems in the Sky Federation began to play.

    A battle anthem filled the air, the autumn wind carrying a killing intent, the sound of ten thousand troops charging, mountains and rivers collapsing.

    All the citizens of the Sky Federation were momentarily stunned, not knowing how to react.

    In the sky above, Qi Yuan spoke indifferently. "No one can defeat me in my background music. Today, I''ll play a funeral dirge for you."

    "What a lunatic," the burly woman muttered under her breath.

    At this moment, the cloaked man, who had been silent, suddenly made his move.

    He always liked to hide in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

    Now that he had found his opportunity, he didn''t hesitate, attacking with lightning speed.

    Mysteries of the Wind!

    Layered Shadows!

    Thunderous Destruction!

    In an instant, various divine laws and decrees filled the air. The cloaked man transformed into a god of death, ready to reap Qi Yuan''s life.

    This strike was too fast, too sharp.

    The red-haired man''s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

    The cloaked man was the strongest among them in terms of offensive power.

    A sudden attack like this would severely injure even a peak Divine Decree powerhouse.

    However, in the next moment, a calm voice rang out.

    "Didn''t I say it? In my background music, I''m invincible," Qi Yuan said calmly. "To defeat me, you''d first have to cut the power to the Sky Federation."

    He stood in the void, allowing the cloaked man to attack.

    The cloaked man was strong, even capable of assassinating peak Divine Decree powerhouses.

    But Qi Yuan''s combat power couldn''t be measured by common sense.

    With a wave of his hand, the cloaked man''s eyes went blind, his mouth went mute, his body paralyzed, and he lost all ability to move. His divine power became sluggish, and he was reduced to a cripple.

    The world around the cloaked man turned dark. He could perceive nothing, except...

    The piercing hot blooded background music looping in his ears.

    Crack.

    The cloaked man was easily killed by Qi Yuan.

    The red-haired man and the burly woman saw this and were visibly shaken.

    The strongest among them, the cloaked man... had been killed in an instant!

    The two exchanged glances, seeing shock and horror in each other''s eyes.

    Without hesitation, the red-haired man gritted his teeth and shouted loudly.

    "You forced me to do this!"

    It seemed the organization''s rewards were out of reach.

    Now, the most important thing was to save their own lives.

    The red-haired man crushed a piece of jade, his voice filled with reverence.

    "By the will of the heavens, summon misfortune, and destroy evil!"

    This piece of jade had been forged by the Heavenly King Mountain.

    It was specifically designed to deal with True Gods like Qi Yuan who mistakenly entered the Abandoned Lands.

    Generally, True Gods couldn''t enter the Abandoned Lands. Once they did, they would inevitably be corrupted.

    However, the process of corruption might not be that fast.

    This piece of jade accelerated Qi Yuan''s corruption, using the calamities of the Abandoned Lands to kill him.

    "Now, how will you survive!" the red-haired man roared.

    This kind of misfortune and corruption was something even Dao Gods found difficult to resist.

    Qi Yuan, a mere Divine Decree powerhouse, would undoubtedly die.

    At this moment, as the misfortune and curses of damnation were triggered, something strange happened to Qi Yuan.

    His hair seemed to grow eyes.

    Eerie, evil, corrupt... All kinds of negative aura permeated him.

    This aura was something Qi Yuan had seen on An Ba Xian.

    Seeing this, the red-haired man breathed a sigh of relief.

    The old man hiding in the corner sighed. "It seems he''s doomed."

    His figure also disappeared at this moment.

    The burly woman looked at this scene, her eyes filled with disappointment. "This time, we''ve suffered a huge loss."

    Not only had the cloaked man died, but they hadn''t received the organization''s rewards and had wasted a piece of jade.

    "I''ll turn his corpse into a puppet!" the burly woman said angrily.

    Since the red-haired man had used the Misfortune Jade to trigger the misfortune and kill Qi Yuan, most of the spoils would go to him.

    The burly woman could only claim Qi Yuan''s corpse.

    However, at this moment, Qi Yuan, who was entangled in misfortune, suddenly opened his eyes. His expression was calm.

    "Hey, I''m not your white moonlight. Why are you discussing how to divide my heritage?"

    At this moment, he felt strange.

    He had thought that this misfortune, these curses of damnation, would be painful.

    After all, according to the information left by An Ba Xian, it was indeed painful.

    Even a Divine Lord couldn''t endure this pain.

    But Qi Yuan found that it didn''t hurt at all. In fact, it felt somewhat... pleasant.

    This misfortune, these curses of damnation, seemed to be dissolving his body, his spirit, his true soul.

    It wasn''t painful. Instead, it felt liberating and ethereal.

    It was like the afternoon sun shining on an overworked office worker, who finally had some time to relax, lying down with a book.

    Could it be that he had a masochistic streak?

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but wonder.

    Or was it that he was too tired?

    His mind was playing tricks on him.

    "You..."

    Seeing that Qi Yuan could still remain clear-headed and conscious, the two were stunned.

    "Could it be that he has a special constitution?"

    Not good!

    As soon as this thought emerged, the red-haired man sensed danger.

    Qi Yuan was now in the late stages of the curses of damnation. Generally, even True Gods would lose their consciousness at this point, becoming confused and eventually perishing.

    However, some special physiques could maintain their consciousness, although they would still perish in the end.

    But... if he was conscious, didn''t that mean he could... kill them!

    His thoughts were correct.

    Or rather, as soon as this thought emerged, a strand of hair, like the sharpest sword in the world, sliced through him, killing him instantly.

    As for the burly woman, she also met her end.

    Their strength was too far below Qi Yuan''s.

    In an instant, the three True Gods who had surrounded him were all dead.

    Qi Yuan stood alone in the void, his body radiating a terrifying aura.

    Misfortune, evil, and damnation filled the air.

    Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes. "In one more breath, I''ll be completely dead. It seems I''ll have to use the Sword of Forgetfulness."

    This feeling was indeed intoxicating, and Qi Yuan hadn''t felt any pain.

    But it would truly kill him.

    Qi Yuan could even feel that, in the end, his body, hair, and flesh would turn to nothingness.

    The Sword of Forgetfulness slashed down.

    It was an ordinary-looking sword, quite plain.

    Yet, the misfortune and curses of damnation that even Dao Gods couldn''t handle were severed in an instant.

    "Forgetting is everything."

    "Forgetting is the beginning."

    "Forgetting is the end."

    "Forgetting is hope."

    Qi Yuan''s body shattered.

    All the flesh that had been eroded to death by misfortune and curses was stripped away.

    His aura returned to normal.

    "It seems... I''ve learned something?"

    As the Sword of Forgetfulness slashed down, Qi Yuan suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment.

    "Why do I feel like I''m about to comprehend a supreme truth...Innate tier...?"

    In the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm, the supreme truths were divided into Innate, Unique, Cyclical, and Absolute.

    Among them, he had already comprehended "Absolute Adaptation", "Doing as i please" and "Great Sun".

    Now, after being struck by misfortune and curses of damnation, he felt as if he was about to comprehend another supreme truth.

    Innate...

    Of course, it was just a flash of insight. He was still far from truly comprehending it.

    "Innate... has nothing to do with enlightenment. It''s only related to bloodline and Origin. Could it be that getting sick has caused me to undergo a genetic mutation?"

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    Perhaps, with more misfortune or curses of damnation, he would gain more insights.

    "The waters here run deep," Qi Yuan pondered.

    But no matter how deep the waters were, it was just a game.

    Now that the people from the Heavenly King Mountain had been dealt with, he still had to continue his plan to protect the Abandoned Lands.

    ...

    In the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed.

    God-child Ha Jin''s eyes showed disappointment. "In a hundred years, I still haven''t broken through to the Divine Lord realm. It seems I''ll have to go to the front lines this time."

    He didn''t want to go to the front lines.

    After all, at the front lines, he couldn''t cultivate in peace, and there was the risk of death.

    "Ah, we don''t have much time left," God-child Xi Shui said, her usual smile gone.

    She was also still at the Divine Decree realm and would have to go to the front lines.

    Only by breaking through to the Divine Lord realm could one gain ten thousand years of freedom, exempt from being summoned to the front lines.

    "During this time, who has broken through to the Divine Lord realm?" Ha Jin asked.

    Xi Shui thought for a moment. "Three people: Zhan Li, Luo Hua, and Fen Tian."

    "Those three are lucky," Ha Jin said, somewhat envious.

    "By the way, the eleventh god-child, Tong Xun, will also be going to the front lines this time. He''ll probably summon Qi Yuan as a subordinate," Xi Shui said indifferently.

    She had been paying close attention to Qi Yuan, her younger brother.

    The eleventh prince, Tong Xun, was a late-stage Divine Lord True God.

    When Tan Ying was alive, he had been close to Tong Xun.

    Tong Xun had played a significant role in helping Tan Ying become a named disciple of the Infinite Dao God.

    After Tan Ying''s death, Tong Xun had suffered a great loss, but without evidence, he couldn''t take action against Qi Yuan.

    Moreover, given Tong Xun''s personality, he wouldn''t act unless he was certain of success.

    This time, when he went to the front lines, he would likely summon Qi Yuan as a subordinate to exact revenge.

    "It seems Qi Yuan is in for some bad luck. He''ll probably die at the front lines."

    "Ah, although he''s close to Hei Tian, even Hei Tian can''t help him."

    "Don''t worry about others. Worry about ourselves. Let''s not die at the front lines."

 Chapter 609: Three Calamities and Three Tribulations

    The Call to the Frontlines.

    For the descendants of Pillar Tian Kai in the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, being summoned to the frontlines was a troublesome matter.

    In times of peace, going to the frontlines to gain some experience would have been fine.

    But now, even Pillar-level powerhouses were heading to the frontlines, which showed just how brutal the war had become.

    Going to the frontlines now was practically suicide!

    They weren''t like those rogue True Gods with no backing. They came from noble bloodlines.

    Unfortunately, since Pillar Tian Kai had already gone to the frontlines, they had no choice but to follow.

    A group of True Gods, their eyes filled with worry, were extremely reluctant to go to the frontlines.

    The eleventh prince, Tong Xun, declared: "We have received the blessings of heaven and earth, and the support of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods. Going to the frontlines to fight the enemy is a responsibility we cannot shirk."

    Among all the princes, the eleventh prince was one of the top three strongest.

    He was at the peak of the Divine Lord realm.

    He had been lying low for countless eons, accumulating strength and preparing to face the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Once he overcame one calamity and one tribulation, he would be crowned the crown prince.

    When Pillar Tian Kai went into seclusion to face the final calamity and tribulation, he would take over Tian Kai''s authority and enjoy boundless power.

    Even Dao Gods would have to bow respectfully when they saw him.

    However, this was just wishful thinking. Among Tian Kai''s many descendants, none had yet overcome even one calamity and tribulation.

    Rather than trying to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, it was more realistic to find a divine treasure and break through to the Dao God realm.

    The chances of that were even higher than a peak Divine Lord overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Meanwhile, in the palace, Feng Ye''s expression was filled with worry.

    "Because of Tan Ying, Your Highness has offended the eleventh god-child, Tong Xun. This time... it''s very dangerous."

    He was genuinely worried.

    If Tong Xun wanted to kill Qi Yuan, it would be all too easy, especially at the frontlines.

    Over the past hundred years, Qi Yuan had been diligently cultivating.

    But even if he had started cultivating from the womb, he would probably still only be at the Divine Decree realm by now.

    At that moment, a figure appeared.

    Feng Ye''s expression stiffened, and he immediately lowered his head. "Greetings, Your Highness."

    For some reason, when he saw Qi Yuan, he felt an inexplicable fear, as if he were facing a terrifying creature.

    After all, he was a Divine Lord.

    Qi Yuan was only at the Divine Decree realm.

    Could it be because of Pillar Tian Kai''s bloodline?

    Was the Dao God''s bloodline really that powerful?

    Setting these thoughts aside, Feng Ye prepared to carefully explain the situation regarding the summons.

    But at that moment, Qi Yuan spoke. "I''ve broken through to the Divine Lord realm."

    "What?" Feng Ye''s face was filled with shock, which then turned to joy. "Your Highness has broken through to the Divine Lord realm?"

    The True God he served naturally benefited from being stronger.

    For him, his status would also rise accordingly.

    Hadn''t Your Highness only been cultivating for less than two hundred years?

    And he was already a Divine Lord?

    This... was too fast.

    He was overjoyed.

    "Your Highness breaking through to the Divine Lord realm means you have ten thousand years to consolidate your strength. You won''t have to go to the frontlines. This is a joyous occasion," Feng Ye said with a smile.

    If Tong Xun had summoned Qi Yuan to the frontlines, as Qi Yuan''s protector, Feng Ye would also have met a bad end.

    "By the way, Your Highness, every god-child who breaks through to the Divine Lord realm receives a drop of divine blood to stabilize their realm."

    Feng Ye explained.

    As he spoke, he couldn''t help but feel envious.

    Rogue cultivators like him didn''t have access to divine blood.

    Divine blood could rapidly strengthen a Divine Lord, allowing them to quickly increase their power.

    Only the descendants of the Pillars had access to such resources.

    "Oh? Is that so?" Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    Over the past hundred years, he had traveled to dozens of worlds in the Abandoned Lands.

    In each world, he had used his divine decrees.

    Sometimes, he recreated the World Spirit; other times, he devoured it.

    His entanglement with the Abandoned Lands grew deeper.

    Fortunately, he had the Sword of Forgetfulness. Otherwise, Qi Yuan felt he would have died long ago.

    Under Feng Ye''s guidance, Qi Yuan arrived at the top level of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods to receive the divine blood.

    "Your Highness has broken through to the Divine Lord realm? Congratulations," the golden-armored man guarding the temple said, the surprise in his eyes fading.

    Although he could see with his own eyes that Qi Yuan was at the Divine Lord realm, he still took out a divine artifact and followed the proper procedure to verify Qi Yuan''s realm.

    Once the verification was complete, the golden-armored Divine Lord''s smile became even warmer.

    "Your Highness, this is your divine blood, sealed in a white jade vial.

    Once opened, you must consume it within three breaths, or the divine nature of the blood will dissipate."

    The golden-armored Divine Lord handed over a jade vial, cold to the touch and radiating divine energy.

    "Thank you."

    Qi Yuan took the vial, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    Since the vial was sealed, he couldn''t see the divine blood inside.

    Feng Ye''s eyes were filled with envy.

    He explained, "For us gods, bloodline is very important before reaching the True God realm. Some beings are born as Void Gods, while others are weak mortals.

    But from the Void God realm to the Divine Lord realm, the importance of bloodline diminishes. What matters then is... talent.

    However, after reaching the Divine Lord realm, the key to further progress lies in bloodline and... opportunity."

    For someone like Feng Ye, with an average bloodline and no extraordinary opportunities, even if his talent was remarkable, he would likely remain stuck at the Divine Lord realm for the rest of his life, with little chance of advancing further.

    As for the so-called Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, that was out of the question. It was a death sentence.

    "Divine blood can enhance a True God''s bloodline and physique, bringing it closer to a powerful constitution and slightly increasing the chances of overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations," Feng Ye said.

    "The Three Calamities and Three Tribulations?" Qi Yuan also fell silent.

    In the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the number of True Gods was beyond count.

    But only one had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations: the Emperor God.

    Moreover, the Emperor God had overcome them as a Dao God.

    For an ordinary Divine Lord, overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations was harder than reaching the heavens.

    Yet, even with such a high mortality rate, countless Divine Lords continued to throw themselves at the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    This was the heart of a seeker of the Dao.

    Perhaps, living for an eon wasn''t enough.

    But even after living for countless eons, those Divine Lords would still charge forward like moths to a flame.

    To hear the Dao in the morning and die content by evening.

    Returning to his residence, Qi Yuan opened the jade vial.

    In an instant, a dragon-shaped form shot out of the vial, moving at incredible speed.

    An invisible hand caught the dragon-shaped divine blood, and Qi Yuan examined it closely.

    [Divine Blood: Imitation of the original blood. Can enhance physique.]

    The information revealed by his eyes was limited to this.

    The divine blood, once out of the vial, began to rapidly dissipate.

    Without hesitation, Qi Yuan swallowed the divine blood in one gulp.

    Immediately, he felt his bloodline boil.

    Yes, it just boiled for a moment.

    "Hmm... my strength increased a bit, and my bloodline... seems a bit more mixed."

    "Not bad. It saved me decades of hard cultivation."

    Qi Yuan evaluated.

    For him, it saved decades of grinding and leveling up.

    But for a Divine Lord like Feng Ye, it could mean tens of thousands, or even hundreds of millions of years of hard cultivation, while also slightly enhancing their physique.

    "From this perspective, I''ve received a gift from Pillar Tian Kai and owe him a small favor?"

    Qi Yuan murmured. He always repaid kindness and avenged wrongs.

    At that moment, an invitation landed in Qi Yuan''s hand.

    "An invitation from Hei Tian Divine Lord?"

    This invitation came from Hei Tian Divine Lord.

    Hei Tian Divine Lord had probably learned of his breakthrough to the Divine Lord realm and was inviting him to celebrate.

    If it were anyone else, Qi Yuan wouldn''t bother.

    But last time, he had borrowed Hei Tian Divine Lord''s favor to meet An Nan.

    "I should go," Qi Yuan yawned.

    ...

    Endless divine light cascaded down, and three thousand divine maidens danced gracefully, their red sleeves swirling, their white arms faintly visible.

    It was an extremely beautiful scene, but Hei Tian Divine Lord found it dull and uninteresting.

    "Hei Tian, I didn''t expect... you to invest so heavily in this Qi Yuan. Last time, you used your favor with An Nan, and this time... you''re even giving him the Taiqing Yisha Original Text.

    You know, even the eleventh god-child, Tong Xun, asked you for this text, and you refused."

    The speaker was Hei Tian''s sworn brother.

    The two had been close for nearly an eon, their relationship unshakable.

    "This Qi Yuan, although talented, is still far behind Tong Xun in terms of accumulation and foundation.

    From what I know, Tong Xun has already collected ten types of divine blood. Even the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations might not be impossible for him.

    Moreover, he has been at the Divine Lord realm for a long time and has made many preparations. He will undoubtedly attempt to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations before Qi Yuan.

    Wouldn''t investing in Tong Xun be more worthwhile than Qi Yuan?" Devouring Star Divine Lord spoke, his face filled with confusion.

    No matter how you looked at it, an established Divine Lord like Tong Xun was a better investment than someone like Qi Yuan.

    Although Qi Yuan had broken through from the Divine Kingdom realm to the Divine Lord realm in just over a hundred years, for those aiming to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, the Divine Lord realm was just the starting point.

    Talent... was practically meaningless.

    No matter how extraordinary one''s talent was, without a powerful bloodline or physique, it couldn''t be transformed into the foundation needed to survive the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Hei Tian Divine Lord was unfazed. "Tong Xun is selfish and ungrateful. If I helped him, once he became the crown prince, he might not speak up for me, especially if it meant offending a Dao God.

    But Qi Yuan''s character... is upright and fair. If he ever overcomes the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, even if a Dao God intervened, he would still speak up for me."

    "Hmph," Devouring Star Divine Lord snorted. "You can''t judge a book by its cover. What if he turns out to be another Zhonglang Divine Lord?"

    Hearing this name, Hei Tian Divine Lord''s expression changed.

    Once, he had also befriended Zhonglang Divine Lord.

    He had repeatedly told Devouring Star Divine Lord that Zhonglang Divine Lord was loyal and trustworthy, a worthy friend.

    But when Hei Tian Divine Lord was in danger, Zhonglang Divine Lord had fled without a word.

    "He''s different," Hei Tian Divine Lord said awkwardly.

    If Qi Yuan heard this, he would probably say, "My ghost flame is already parked downstairs."

    Devouring Star Divine Lord shrugged, picked up his wine gourd, and disappeared.

    He didn''t want to see Qi Yuan.

    Aside from Hei Tian, he didn''t particularly like the other second-generation nobles.

    About a few dozen breaths later.

    Hei Tian Divine Lord''s face lit up with a smile. "Brother Qi Yuan, I didn''t expect that in just a hundred years, you''ve broken through to the Divine Lord realm.

    This speed is truly remarkable, even in the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods."

    This cultivation speed was indeed shocking and would astonish ordinary True Gods.

    But in the eyes of Dao Gods and some special Divine Lords, it was nothing extraordinary.

    Without overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, it wasn''t worth paying attention to.

    "So, do you need my help with something? I still remember the favor from last time. When do you plan to collect it?" Qi Yuan was very direct.

    Such directness could sometimes be hurtful.

    But Hei Tian Divine Lord wasn''t offended. Instead, he felt somewhat pleased.

    However, when he thought of his troubles, his expression darkened.

    Even a Dao God would find it difficult to bring him peace.

    "Let''s not talk about that. Since you''ve broken through to the Divine Lord realm, I have a gift for you."

    Hei Tian Divine Lord took out the Taiqing Yisha Original Text, his face filled with a smile.

    "What''s this?"

    Hei Tian Divine Lord''s smile grew wider. "You should know that the path forward for a Divine Lord is either to find a divine treasure and break through to the Dao God realm, then face the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, or to face the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations directly as a Divine Lord."

    "Right," Qi Yuan nodded.

    "Divine treasures are limited, and most have already been used by Dao Gods. Even the Emperor God probably doesn''t have more than one or two divine treasures left.

    So the path to breaking through to the Dao God realm is practically sealed.

    The only hope is to face the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations directly as a Divine Lord.

    But how difficult is it to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations?

    The Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods has existed for countless eons... and from ancient times to the present, only three people have overcome one calamity and one tribulation as Divine Lords. Two of them died in later tribulations." As Hei Tian Divine Lord spoke, his eyes carried a strange emotion.

    "The odds are low," Qi Yuan sighed.

    In countless eons, how many Divine Lords in the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods had attempted to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations? The number was beyond count.

    Yet, only one had succeeded so far.

    "In this great world, fewer than a hundred have succeeded in overcoming the calamities and tribulations as Divine Lords."

    "That sounds like a lot?" Qi Yuan smiled.

    As the saying goes, where the enemy can go, I can go too.

    If others have succeeded, with some effort, perhaps he could too.

    "The Taiqing Yisha Original Text records many... methods for dealing with the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    After reading this book, you might find some help in overcoming them."

    "Oh, it seems this book is quite valuable," Qi Yuan said, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    For almost all god-children and True Gods with ambition, the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations were an unavoidable topic.

    It could be said that in this great world, two-thirds of the fallen Divine Lords had died during the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Even with such a high mortality rate, Divine Lords continued to throw themselves at the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    The Three Calamities and Three Tribulations were the nightmare of all living beings.

    Even Dao Gods found it difficult to overcome them, and many had perished during the tribulations.

    Qi Yuan held the Taiqing Yisha Original Text and began reading it carefully.

    "The so-called Three Calamities and Three Tribulations are formless and intangible. People cannot describe or summarize them. Each person''s Three Calamities and Three Tribulations are different.

    It could be choking on water, suddenly collapsing from emotional breakdown, or dying from encountering something horrifying.

    The symptoms and causes of mortal deaths can appear in Divine Lords, even in Dao Gods.

    The only commonality is that they are calamities and tribulations, capable of killing even the immortal Dao Gods."

    "The method with the highest success rate for avoiding the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations is..."

    The following words were blank.

    Qi Yuan looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.

    Hei Tian Divine Lord seemed to understand Qi Yuan''s confusion. His eyes carried a strange sorrow. "This method is not revealed to the world. Even Dao Gods cannot see it. Only powerhouses like the Emperor God know of it."

    His meaning was simple.

    This method was monopolized.

    Aside from powerhouses like the Emperor God, no one else could know of it.

    In truth, he had some guesses about this method.

    But he couldn''t say it, nor could he express it.

    Even if he did, perhaps what Qi Yuan heard wouldn''t be what he meant.

    This method was obscured by an inexplicable force.

    "Black-hearted, deserves to be hanged on a lamppost!" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but curse.

    He continued reading.

    The contents of the Taiqing Yisha Original Text were extremely complex.

    It listed various powerful physiques and bloodlines.

    According to the book, obtaining various physiques and bloodlines to strengthen oneself and use one''s own strength to resist the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations was also a method.

    This was the method chosen by most Divine Lords.

    However, the success rate of this method was also very low.

    According to the book, before it was written, only fifteen people in the world had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations using this method.

    When Qi Yuan flipped to the end of the book, a line of text caught his eye.

    "There are three Pure Methods in the world, which may allow one to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Since the Heavenly Emperor disappeared, the Three Pure Methods have been lost to the world."

    Three Pure Methods?

    This term couldn''t help but make Qi Yuan''s imagination run wild.

 Chapter 610: Mysterious Man

    Qi Yuan looked at the mention of the Three Pure Methods in the text, his expression thoughtful.

    "These Three Pure Methods... could they be something like ''One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones''?" Qi Yuan asked.

    In the Immortal Realm and the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, he had never heard of anything related to the Three Pure Ones.

    Although he had occasionally encountered organizations named Three Pure Mountain, Three Pure Sect, or Three Pure Gate, they were nothing like the Three Pure Ones he remembered.

    Those three seemed to exist only on Blue Star.

    Of course, he had also once visualized the Three Pure Ones.

    Could it just be a coincidence?

    Hei Tian Divine Lord''s eyes showed a hint of surprise. "Brother Qi Yuan, have you also heard of the Three Pure Methods? The so-called Three Pure Methods involve condensing three bodies to help one withstand calamities and tribulations.

    Of course, these Three Pure Methods are not ordinary techniques for creating avatars. After all, the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations act on the main body, and avatars or clones cannot substitute for it.

    By using the Three Pure Methods to condense three true bodies, each can substitute for death three times, reducing the calamities and increasing the chances of overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations."

    Hei Tian Divine Lord had also investigated the Three Pure Methods, and this was all the information he had gathered.

    "However, since the Heavenly Emperor disappeared, there has been no trace of the Three Pure Methods in the world.

    There are rumors that the Three Pure Methods are incompatible with the Great Dao and are despised by heaven and earth. Before the Heavenly Emperor left, he took the Three Pure Methods with him.

    There are also rumors that the Three Pure Methods never existed in the first place. They were either fabricated by some True Gods or spread through hearsay."

    In short, the Three Pure Methods were nowhere to be found.

    "The first method requires becoming a Dao God to know; the third method is elusive and out of reach. The most useful method recorded in this book is the second one," Hei Tian Divine Lord said.

    The second method recorded many powerful bloodlines and physiques.

    As well as the ways these bloodlines and physiques might manifest.

    "These bloodlines and physiques might be extremely diluted, so much so that even a Dao God cannot extract them, or even if extracted, they would be useless.

    However, we are True Gods. As long as beings with these bloodlines and physiques believe in us, we can also obtain their bloodlines and physiques," Hei Tian Divine Lord explained. "Therefore, for us True Gods, faith... must be fought for. This is a struggle for the Dao."

    "The more faith one has, the more bloodlines and physiques one might possess, the deeper one''s foundation, and the greater the chances of overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations."

    "Thank you for the information. This book... will be of great use to me," Qi Yuan said sincerely.

    After all, he was now a Divine Lord and needed to start considering how to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    As for obtaining a divine treasure to break through to the Dao God realm?

    First, he didn''t have a divine treasure.

    Second, after breaking through to the Dao God realm, the divine kingdom within him would enter a cycle.

    Those who believed in him would also fall into this cycle.

    He didn''t like this path.

    So, it was better to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations as a Divine Lord.

    Returning to his residence, Qi Yuan held the Taiqing Yisha Original Text and continued reading.

    "It''s strange... the people in the Abandoned Lands seem to have more special physiques and bloodlines.

    Is this related to the misfortunes and curses they suffer?"

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    "So, my current foundation is actually much stronger than that of an ordinary Divine Lord.

    The only thing lacking is transforming these physiques and bloodlines into my own foundation."

    It wasn''t enough to just have beings with special bloodlines and physiques believe in you.

    They needed to be transformed.

    The methods of transformation were hidden within the Taiqing Yisha Original Text.

    This was also one of the most valuable aspects of this book.

    [Bloodline Tracing Method: This is an ordinary transformation method with several flaws. If modified in 307 million places, its effectiveness can be increased by over a hundred times.]

    [Body Devouring Art: This is an ordinary transformation method with several flaws. If modified in 573,000 places, its effectiveness can be increased by over a hundred times.]

    The transformation methods recorded here were naturally not the only ones in this great world, nor were they the most effective. But after being modified by Qi Yuan, their effectiveness would likely be top-tier.

    "The first method is unknown for now, and the Three Pure Methods are still shrouded in mystery. For now, I''ll use the second method to improve my strength."

    The second method, no matter what, could enhance his foundation and strength.

    Even if not used to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, it would still be very useful.

    ...

    Spring passed, and autumn arrived.

    On the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, a mysterious man walked in.

    He arrived silently, and not many True Gods in the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods noticed.

    One of the Twelve Pillars, Tian Mo, personally received him.

    "Fellow Daoist, when do you plan to take Hei Tian away?

    If you take him, I''ll need to inform Tian Kai.

    After all, Hei Tian is Tian Kai''s descendant."

    The mysterious man before Tian Mo was dressed in black, his aura extraordinary, exuding the air of a nobleman.

    He was clearly a Dao God.

    "It took me thirty thousand years to obtain a divine treasure and break through to the Dao God realm. My cultivation is still unstable, and my chances of overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations are not high.

    I need to go into seclusion for a while longer to strengthen my foundation before using Hei Tian to substitute for death and help me overcome the calamities," the mysterious Dao God said indifferently.

    Pillar Tian Mo nodded, offering some polite praise. "Breaking through to the Dao God realm in thirty thousand years shows that your foundation is quite solid."

    The mysterious man smiled. "Thirty thousand years... is a bit long. I heard that Hei Tian has recently been forming a close relationship with a Divine Lord, constantly investing in him. That person... broke through to the Divine Lord realm in just a hundred years. His talent is quite remarkable."

    Despite saying this, he showed no sign of surprise.

    The cultivation system of this great world was inherently fast-paced.

    Pillar Tian Mo''s gaze sharpened. "Could he be...?"

    The mysterious man shook his head. "His aura is ordinary. He''s not from the same place as me. Perhaps... he''s just naturally talented."

    Although he acknowledged the talent, the mysterious man still didn''t care much.

    What did it matter if someone in this great world was talented? They were still confined to this world, unable to transcend it.

    "In that case," Pillar Tian Mo breathed a sigh of relief, and the wariness he had felt toward Qi Yuan disappeared.

    A talented individual without backing, in the eyes of these lofty Dao Gods, was no different from a weed.

    Their only use was to die attempting the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, providing these Dao Gods with some insignificant experience.

    "Since that''s the case, and he''s now close to Hei Tian, should I write a letter to Tian Kai?" Pillar Tian Mo said indifferently.

    Otherwise, with just a few words, Qi Yuan''s fate would be decided.

    The mysterious man smiled.

    Indeed, this great world... was crude.

    Even after overcoming two of the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, Tian Mo still lacked a proper Dao heart.

    Of course, it was also possible that he was putting on an act for the mysterious man.

    "No need. After all, in a way, Hei Tian and I are connected. Perhaps he could even be considered another version of me.

    Let him hold onto hope... andvsubstitute for death for me when the time comes," the mysterious man said softly, magnanimous.

    As for Qi Yuan, he paid him no mind.

    "Fellow Daoist, you truly are from that place," Tian Mo continued to flatter. "If I ever have the chance to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations and go to that place, I hope you will take care of me."

    The mysterious man nodded, then said, "Hei Tian can only help me overcome one calamity and one tribulation. There''s another Hei Tian... I wonder if he will come to this great world. Sigh."

    He sighed, seemingly melancholic.

    "That one?" Hearing this, Pillar Tian Mo seemed thoughtful. "Some time ago, the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods captured someone from the Cosmic Alliance... Fellow Daoist, you could go and ask him if he knows about that Hei Tian."

    The mysterious man''s expression deepened. "That great world is vast. It''s not easy to encounter someone from there. And if I do meet him, will he substitute for death for me, or will I die for him? That remains to be seen. We''ll have to fight it out."

    ...

    All things in the world are interconnected, with yin and yang, substance and void.

    "This Yin-Yang Dao Body is quite interesting."

    Qi Yuan casually commented.

    After breaking through to the Divine Lord realm, many god-children had sent him gifts.

    The race with the Yin-Yang Dao Body was a gift from God-child Ha Jin and God-child Xi Shui.

    It was meant to enhance his foundation.

    A rather nice gift.

    "Since they''re so generous, if they die in the future, I''ll give them a larger share of the funeral expenses," Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    As for the gifts, he didn''t accept all of them.

    Those who had sent him messages with rude or disrespectful tones, he simply ignored.

    Even if they offered white-haired lolis or golden-haired mature women, Qi Yuan was a righteous man.

    "Back off! Back off!"

    Ha Jin and Xi Shui, at least, had invited Qi Yuan in a polite and friendly manner.

    Last time, they had even sent him a message warning him that the eleventh prince, Tong Xun, might target him, showing goodwill.

    This kind of goodwill, even if casually given, Qi Yuan was willing to accept.

    "It''s a pity Tong Xun has already gone to the frontlines. Otherwise, I would have gone to ask him if he really plans to deal with me.

    What if I misunderstood a good person?"

    Qi Yuan muttered.

    Thinking this, Qi Yuan turned his attention to the chat group.

    During this time, he had discovered several more Abandoned Lands.

    These Abandoned Lands were all chaotic, with yin and yang reversed, on the brink of collapse.

    So, Qi Yuan transformed into the World Spirit and used the Sword of Forgetfulness to cut away the "dead" misfortunes and curses of damnation.

    What he had expected to be a painful process turned out to be completely painless for Qi Yuan.

    He even began to suspect that he had set the pain sensitivity in this game to zero.

    But he clearly remembered pulling out a single hair from a native, and the native had been in great pain.

    Why call them native? Because during the game''s timeline, Qi Yuan had once returned to Purple Fate Heaven.

    That old guy, Purple Fate Ancestor, had actually married another wife.

    When Qi Yuan met Horned Sister, they had talked about many things.

    Qi Yuan had mentioned the term native, but Horned Sister had said, "Didn''t you say everyone is equal? Why use such a derogatory term like native? Are you calling them uncouth?"

    Qi Yuan couldn''t quite remember the true meaning of native.

    Being socially awkward and not good at communication, he couldn''t argue with Horned Sister.

    Of course, later on, Qi Yuan reflected on the discussion and felt he hadn''t performed well.

    He shouldn''t have said native. He should have called them indigenous people.

    "Alright, it''s time to go to Duke Nair''s world."

    Qi Yuan said indifferently.

    Over the years, the group had grown larger.

    He had entered more and more worlds.

    But he had never had the chance to visit Duke Nair''s world.

    This time, he would finally go.

    ...

    Abandoned Lands.

    In one of the worlds, Zhao Jian''s figure descended and then went into hiding.

    At that moment, a terrifying divine sense swept across the sky, seemingly finding nothing unusual before disappearing.

    Zhao Jian remained seated quietly, his expression complex. "I''ve finally entered the legendary Abandoned Lands."

    On his body, he wore a streamlined silver armor.

    This armor was similar to what the powerhouses of the Heavenly King Mountain and the Water Star Palace wore.

    When on missions, it could isolate the curses and misfortunes of the Abandoned Lands.

    "There are rumors that after the Heavenly Emperor used the Heavenly Decrees to seal off the Abandoned Lands, the Three Pure Methods were hidden here. I wonder if I''ll have a chance to find them."

    Thinking this, he felt a glimmer of hope.

    Of course, it was just a glimmer.

    If the Three Pure Methods were so easy to find, the Heavenly King Mountain and the Water Star Palace would have already discovered them.

    After all, these methods could be used to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Even Dao Gods would go mad for them.

    "Fortunately, I have the fate guidance of the Destiny Dao Lord. Perhaps I can find the Three Pure Methods."

    Zhao Jian thought this, reigniting his hope.

    Although a Dao Lord skilled in divination had once said that the Three Pure Methods didn''t exist, or that they might be a trap, Zhao Jian still held onto hope.

    If he could complete the mission of the Dao Lord, or rather, the Dao God, the benefits would be immense.

    "However, before that, I need to lay low in this world and avoid the detection of the Water Star Palace and the Heavenly King Mountain."

    Thinking this, Zhao Jian transformed into an ordinary person and headed toward a settlement.

    In the following days, he lived like an ordinary person in this mortal world.

    This mortal world had advanced technology.

    But it was also insane.

    Zhao Jian clearly saw that many people had horse faces, some had fish fins, or scales like reptiles.

    Those who looked normal were locked up in buildings, declared sick, and forced to take medication daily.

    To blend in, Zhao Jian gave himself a pair of wings.

    Of course, to hide his aura, he stopped using any Dao techniques and lived like an ordinary person.

    Life became quiet.

    Although sometimes he had to endure the disgust of watching waiters serve a large plate of claws, pretending to eat.

    Sometimes, he had to watch a chimpanzee''s furry legs wrapped in black stockings, twisting and turning on stage, pretending to look at its eyes first, and only when it wasn''t looking at him, would he glance at those black-stockinged legs.

    But one day, this peaceful life was suddenly disrupted.

    On this day, a majestic figure descended from the sky, spanning the heavens and the earth.

    A voice resounded through the clouds, echoing in everyone''s hearts.

    "I am the Origin Heavenly God. Believe in me, and I will save you from suffering!"

    The voice was enchanting, like divine music.

    Hearing this, Zhao Jian''s expression changed drastically.

    "Oh no, which fool has entered the Abandoned Lands? This is suicide! If this attracts the attention of the Heavenly King Mountain, what if I get implicated?"

    Zhao Jian was frantic.

    He hadn''t expected to encounter such a low-probability event here.

    The reason the Abandoned Lands were called the Abandoned Lands was that True Gods did not come here.

    It was difficult for True Gods to enter.

    Yet, in this world, he had encountered a reckless youth collecting faith. How could he not feel unlucky?

    "I''m done for. How do I get out of this?"

    "Should I run?"

 Chapter 611: Guided by Fate, the Three Pure Ones actually exist!

    Zhao Jian''s mind was in turmoil, unsure of what to do.

    Should he run now?

    If he ran, he would definitely attract the attention of this True God.

    Wouldn''t that just expose him?

    The Heavenly King Mountain would easily become aware of his presence.

    He felt like he had walked into a dead end.

    The only chance of survival was to stay here and play dead?

    But that would test his luck.

    If the people from the Heavenly King Mountain discovered him, he would undoubtedly die.

    "My luck is terrible. Such a low-probability event actually happened to me."

    Zhao Jian thought to himself.

    Even though a Dao Lord had divined for him and given him fate guidance, he still ended up in this situation.

    "Perhaps, my sacrifice will pave the way for others."

    He could only think this way.

    Because, under the guidance of fate, he wasn''t the only one who had entered the Abandoned Lands.

    Sacrificing many to achieve success for one.

    As long as that person truly found the Three Pure Methods, it would be considered a success.

    After all, the current Cosmic Alliance was facing both internal and external threats.

    Although the Dao Lords were incredibly powerful, they were no match for the sheer number of Dao Gods.

    Not to mention, there were also those terrifying Dao Gods who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Even if the Dao Lords regained their peak strength, they would still avoid such beings.

    After all, overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations was a completely different concept.

    After some thought, Zhao Jian decided to continue hiding and lying low.

    Meanwhile, in this world, as Qi Yuan''s voice echoed across millions of miles, drastic changes began to occur.

    More and more people chose to have faith in Qi Yuan.

    At this moment, inside a shopping mall, Qi Yuan sat on a small train, his expression calm.

    Looking around, the children in front of him looked bizarre.

    Some had sharp, jagged teeth, densely packed like saw blades; others had tails.

    "Many mutations... once the mutation is complete, they become... food."

    This world was also cursed.

    And the nature of the curse made Qi Yuan feel particularly uncomfortable.

    So, since arriving in this world, he hadn''t even touched pig trotter rice, duck leg rice, or his favorite soda.

    This world was utterly insane.

    The chicken wings sizzling on the grill, in Qi Yuan''s eyes, were actually mutated human wings.

    Although it was called grilled fish, it was actually deep-fried fish. If you cut open the belly, you could see charred fingers and greasy ears inside.

    "The people of this world... are sick, but they don''t realize it."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    In the Sky Federation, at least people knew to fear the Wraiths and resisted them.

    But in this world, humans were gradually transforming into "ingredients."

    Once they became ingredients, they would be chopped up and turned into meals.

    Wives would chop up their husbands and store them in the fridge; mothers would pickle their children.

    These things were done as if they were completely normal, without any sense of abnormality.

    The few humans who hadn''t mutated were considered sick and locked up in their homes.

    "I told you, the world is sick, but no one believes me!" Duke Nair, a young girl wearing a long dress with a lace outer layer, looked up with a determined expression.

    "The world is indeed sick, very sick," Qi Yuan sighed.

    After coming to the Abandoned Lands, he had truly witnessed the diversity of life, encountering all sorts of insane and chaotic things.

    "At least you understand me, Vampire Emperor. They''re all sick, only I''m not!" The girl pursed her lips, then continued, "Actually, all these years I''ve been trapped in the house, I haven''t been idle. I''ve been researching the truth of the world, the essence of the world."

    As she spoke, her face showed a mix of longing and fervor.

    "Oh?" Qi Yuan''s eyes lit up.

    Had he encountered another genius?

    "Duke Nair, what are your insights?" Qi Yuan quickly asked.

    "I''ve discovered... that the world is actually a cycle, a loop," Duke Nair said, shocking everyone.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan fell into thought.

    Was Duke Nair a reincarnated Dao Lord?

    Or was it that this great world was truly filled with prodigies?

    Meeting a true genius at random?

    "Are we even alive? In truth, we''re on the path to death. From the moment we''re born, we''re walking toward death."

    "Death is the starting point of rebirth."

    "The world is the same. From its beginning, it slowly moves toward destruction."

    "What we''re experiencing today has happened before.

    In the past, I''ve seen you before. Today''s conversation has also happened before."

    "Have you ever felt like, suddenly, something seems to have happened before?"

    Duke Nair spoke, looking seriously at Qi Yuan, her fair hand resting on his shoulder.

    "This morning, I tripped and fell, my hand landing in dog poop. I didn''t get up immediately because I felt like... hadn''t this happened before?"

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan glanced at the girl''s fair hand and secretly cast a cleansing spell on his shoulder.

    "This isn''t your imagination. It''s a loophole and bug in the world," Duke Nair said seriously. "The universe is constantly restarting, in an endless cycle. Where is the past? Where is the future?

    Tomorrow is the future of today, but on another scale, today is the distant future of tomorrow."

    Duke Nair spoke with great philosophical depth.

    "A true genius!" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but praise her, then added, "Would you be willing to work with me?"

    He had great plans for Duke Nair''s brilliant mind.

    "You''re the Vampire Emperor, and I''m just a duke. It''s only natural for a duke to serve an emperor," Duke Nair replied earnestly.

    "Here''s the thing. There''s a problem that''s been troubling me for a long time," Qi Yuan stated his request. "I appoint you as the Grand Steward of Intelligence. Help me figure out... what exactly is the Yang God!"

    This Duke Nair, who wasn''t even a cultivator, could see that many universes had entered a cycle.

    She was a true genius. Helping him figure out what the Yang God was should be simple.

    Duke Nair frowned, then finally spoke. "I will not fail your trust."

    Meanwhile, Zhao Jian, who was driving the small train, listened to the conversation behind him, his heart trembling.

    He began to suspect that this True God had discovered him.

    Soon, he realized it wasn''t just suspicion¡ªit was fact.

    "Hey, why don''t you have faith in me?"

    At some point, Qi Yuan had appeared in the front seat of the small train.

    Zhao Jian''s thoughts were complex.

    It seemed trouble was brewing.

    "Fellow Daoist, do you know this is the Abandoned Lands?" Zhao Jian asked.

    At the same time, he honked the horn.

    Ahead, a dog was being walked on a leash, while a person was tied up and lying on the ground, blocking the path.

    "I know," Qi Yuan said indifferently.

    Hearing this, Zhao Jian''s heart grew even more panicked.

    It seemed this True God before him had already been affected by the Abandoned Lands, his mind becoming chaotic.

    He had been secretly observing Qi Yuan for a long time today.

    Clearly, he was seriously ill.

    "Fellow Daoist, staying here will attract the pursuit of True Gods," Zhao Jian reminded him politely.

    "How dare they come to kill the Vampire Emperor! Don''t they know that in this world, justice will always triumph over evil?

    Anyone who dares to kill the Vampire Emperor will become the Emperor''s accumulation and stepping stone!" Duke Nair couldn''t help but interject.

    Qi Yuan found Duke Nair increasingly agreeable.

    He was lawful good.

    No matter the story, he would always be the ultimate winner.

    Of course, those evil NTR and doujins didn''t count.

    Those weren''t stories or books!

    Zhao Jian shrugged, not daring to respond, and instead said, "Fellow Daoist, if True Gods come to hunt you, could you please not expose my presence?"

    He asked tentatively.

    Since the other party''s mind was compromised, perhaps they could still communicate.

    Thinking this, he couldn''t help but feel pity.

    A True God, reduced to madness after entering the Abandoned Lands.

    He could easily "scheme" and "manipulate" him.

    "Sure, but you''ll have to tell me why you''re here," Qi Yuan said, looking at Zhao Jian.

    "I came here... to escape my enemies," Zhao Jian said.

    "Duke Nair, what kind of person usually lies?" Qi Yuan ignored Zhao Jian and asked the girl.

    The girl quickly replied, "Generally, those who lie have ulterior motives, though there are a few who lie with good intentions."

    "I didn''t sense any good intentions," Qi Yuan said, looking at Zhao Jian with a calm expression.

    For some reason, being stared at by those calm eyes, Zhao Jian felt a chill down his spine. He had the sense that if he made any move, he could die at any moment.

    Realizing this, he understood there was no need to hide anymore.

    Besides, searching for the Three Pure Methods wasn''t a secret.

    "I came here to find the Three Pure Methods."

    "The Three Pure Methods?" Qi Yuan was surprised. "The Three Pure Methods are hidden in the Abandoned Lands?"

    During this time, he had been working hard to improve his strength and foundation.

    He had absorbed all sorts of messy physiques and bloodlines.

    But there had been no trace of the Three Pure Methods.

    "According to a senior, the Three Pure Methods might be hidden somewhere in the Abandoned Lands."

    "The Abandoned Lands are so vast. How do you plan to find them?" Qi Yuan couldn''t help but ask.

    He felt that the senior Zhao Jian mentioned might as well have said nothing.

    Qi Yuan could just as easily say the Three Pure Methods were in the great world.

    The Abandoned Lands, in terms of scale, might not be smaller than the great world.

    Zhao Jian hesitated, recalling the terrifying feeling from earlier, and finally said, "The senior gave me a special artifact called the Fate Compass. It will guide me to the Three Pure Methods."

    The Fate Compass was also known as the guidance of fate.

    Fate was something mysterious and profound.

    At the Yang God stage, almost all Yang Gods believed that fate was a terrifying and dreadful Great Dao.

    But once one reached the Dao Lord realm, fate seemed to become a joke.

    The world entered a cycle, everything was predetermined, everything was a replay.

    Who could play with fate?

    They were merely being played by fate.

    "How about this... I''ll help you find the Three Pure Methods, and when we find them, we''ll share them?" Qi Yuan proposed.

    He was also very curious about the Three Pure Methods.

    First, they might actually be useful.

    Second, he wondered if these so-called Three Pure Methods were related to the "One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones."

    Zhao Jian hesitated.

    He definitely didn''t want to team up with Qi Yuan.

    After all, Qi Yuan was so high-profile. The Heavenly King Mountain was probably already keeping an eye on him, waiting for the right moment to strike.

    But now, he was at Qi Yuan''s mercy, his life in Qi Yuan''s hands.

    "This..." Zhao Jian looked troubled, but in the end, he decided to be honest. "Fellow Daoist, you''re probably already being watched by some True Gods. They could strike at any moment. If I join you in the search, I might die before we even find anything."

    "You''re too timid. I''ve been in the Abandoned Lands for over a hundred years, and I''m still fine," Qi Yuan said lazily.

    He didn''t seem concerned.

    Over the past hundred years, True Gods had indeed come to cause him trouble.

    After defeating the small fry, bigger ones would come; after defeating the bigger ones, even stronger ones would appear.

    After killing so many, no one came anymore.

    He had been at peace for over sixty years.

    Hearing this, Zhao Jian was stunned.

    A hundred years?

    And still alive?

    A terrifying thought crossed his mind.

    Could it be that Qi Yuan... was a notorious figure on the list?

    In that mysterious organization, missions were issued daily to hunt down or expel True Gods who mistakenly entered the Abandoned Lands.

    But there were some troublesome figures who consistently evaded capture or expulsion, earning a place on the list.

    Some of them could no longer be called True Gods, their bodies riddled with terrifying curses, making them untouchable.

    Thinking this, Zhao Jian''s heart raced, and he wanted to stay as far away from Qi Yuan as possible.

    Even though he wore special armor, he feared it might not fully protect him from the misfortunes and curses.

    If he got infected, he would be as good as dead.

    No wonder no True Gods had come to hunt the Origin Heavenly God all this time.

    He was a notorious monster on the list.

    This was both good and bad.

    "Fellow Daoist, you should be careful. Every ten thousand years, a Dao God descends to the Abandoned Lands to eliminate those notorious True Gods on the list.

    The next purge is less than a thousand years away," Zhao Jian warned.

    Notorious monsters like Qi Yuan wouldn''t be targeted by ordinary True Gods.

    Instead, a Dao God would personally intervene.

    With the might and power of a Dao God, Qi Yuan would stand no chance.

    "It''s fine. There''s still time. Maybe by then, I''ll have already overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations."

    Qi Yuan didn''t seem concerned.

    Although he wasn''t a match for a Dao God now, there was still plenty of time for him to improve.

    Hearing this, Zhao Jian realized the Origin Heavenly God was beyond reasoning with.

    "In that case, I''ll take out the Fate Compass and see... if there''s any guidance from fate," Zhao Jian resigned himself to his fate.

    There were some benefits to following a notorious monster.

    At least, the True Gods from the Heavenly King Mountain wouldn''t come after him.

    Thinking this, Zhao Jian took out a compass.

    The compass was made of special materials like Sunstone, Frostfire, and Mangqi.

    It radiated the power of fate.

    "Fate is with me, guide me to the Three Pure Methods!"

    Zhao Jian immediately activated his Dao techniques, using the Fate Compass to seek guidance.

    Normally, such guidance would be faint, at most giving a vague direction, making it extremely difficult to find anything.

    It was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

    But at that moment, something unexpected happened.

    The Fate Compass suddenly burst into intense light.

    It spun rapidly, faster than the speed of light.

    "Why is the reaction so strong!" Zhao Jian''s eyes widened in shock and confusion.

    Could it be... was the Three Pure Methods nearby?

    After about forty-nine breaths, the Fate Compass began to slow down.

    Finally, it came to a complete stop.

    The direction it pointed to was none other than Qi Yuan.

    "The Three Pure Methods... are on you?" Zhao Jian''s eyes widened in disbelief, a mix of joy and confusion flooding his mind.

    Had he really found the location of the Three Pure Methods so easily?

    Did the Three Pure Methods truly exist in this world?

 Chapter 612: Three Sentences, the Strongest Swordsmanship

    Qi Yuan''s gaze fell on the Fate Compass, his expression calm.

    "You say the Three Pure Methods are within me?" Qi Yuan asked, surprised.

    He thought of the Forgotten Sword.

    Could it be that the Three Pure Methods are within the Forgotten Sword?

    He carefully inspected it but found nothing unusual.

    "The Fate Compass... points to you!" Zhao Jian looked at Qi Yuan, his thoughts complex.

    "But I don''t have the Three Pure Methods," Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

    He truly didn''t possess the Three Pure Methods.

    "How can that be?" Zhao Jian was skeptical, wondering if Qi Yuan had the methods but was unwilling to share them.

    Of course, it was also possible that the Fate Compass was wrong.

    Although the Fate Compass was created by the Dao Lord, it didn''t guarantee absolute accuracy.

    "Even if they''re not within you now, they must be deeply connected to you..." Zhao Jian said.

    He was anxious and excited.

    If he could truly find the Three Pure Methods and bring them back to the organization, perhaps they could produce a few experts capable of surviving the calamities.

    This would give them more confidence in dealing with other forces, rather than being constantly trapped in a precarious situation.

    The Three Pure Methods were crucial.

    Before coming here, Zhao Jian hadn''t even considered that they might find clues to the Three Pure Methods.

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan seemed lost in thought.

    Seeing this, Zhao Jian suddenly thought of something: "Perhaps the senior doesn''t know the content of the Three Pure Methods, so even if he has them, he wouldn''t recognize them? The opening lines of the Three Pure Methods are as follows: ''Before heaven and earth took shape, before the sun and moon shone, there was only one breath...''"

    These were the opening lines of the Three Pure Methods.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan was puzzled.

    "One breath transforming into the Three Pure Ones?"

    A fellow traveler? Or had the Dao Ancestor also crossed over to this world?

    "I''ve never heard of this before," Qi Yuan said.

    Hearing this, Zhao Jian was disappointed.

    Qi Yuan''s demeanor didn''t seem like he was lying.

    Could it be that the Fate Compass was malfunctioning? Was it all a mistake? This seemed plausible.

    If the Three Pure Methods truly existed in the world, so many experts would have already found them. How could he have stumbled upon them so easily?

    "Sigh." Zhao Jian sighed deeply. It seemed he had been deluded.

    After all, when he tried using the Fate Compass again to locate the Three Pure Methods, it showed no reaction.

    It was likely that the previous indication had been a false alarm.

    "Although I don''t have the Three Pure Methods, I believe I can create a version of them based on these opening lines," Qi Yuan said seriously, eager to try.

    Zhao Jian was taken aback.

    Create a technique? At their level, creating techniques was as easy as drinking water.

    But the Three Pure Methods were different.

    This was a technique that could allow one to survive the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Even the Dao Lord or the Dao God couldn''t create such a method.

    But considering Qi Yuan''s current state, Zhao Jian could only say, "I look forward to your good news."

    Zhao Jian now seemed disheartened.

    It was as if he had found hope, only to have it turn into despair.

    Perhaps it would have been better if it had never appeared.

    ...

    "Before heaven and earth took shape, before the sun and moon shone, there was only one breath..."

    [This is a special passage that can serve as the foundation for creating countless unique techniques.]

    This was the hidden information Qi Yuan''s eyes saw.

    He smiled with delight.

    "Since I haven''t obtained the Three Pure Methods, why not create my own version... wouldn''t that be the same?"

    Qi Yuan felt this made sense.

    With his special ability and the opening lines of the Three Pure Methods, he could certainly create a method to avoid the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    "One breath transforming into the Three Pure Ones, three avatars to bear the tribulations?"

    "No, not avatars, but the true self."

    "This is different from the past and future selves of the Yang God in the immortal realm."

    The Three Calamities and Three Tribulations act on the true self; no number of avatars can bear them.

    "However, the hidden information I see each day is different, making it difficult to create the Three Pure Methods."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    He still had a vague understanding of the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    But he had some insight into the purpose of the Three Pure Methods.

    He had the result and the starting point; what he needed to do was fill in the middle.

    Although this process was fraught with difficulties and would take an immense amount of time.

    Without the special ability to see hidden information, even if this task were given to the Emperor God, he might not be able to complete it in his lifetime.

    Even for Qi Yuan, creating the Three Pure Methods was a daunting challenge.

    "I understand what I''m lacking now!"

    "What I lack is... a detailed and reasonable plan."

    "Without a plan, without a framework, any endeavor will fail."

    With this realization, Qi Yuan felt that creating the Three Pure Methods had become simpler, no longer an insurmountable task.

    He had a plan now.

    If the plan didn''t succeed, it would mean the game was against him.

    "Step one of the plan: find a place where time flows faster."

    "Step two: daily review the opening lines of the Three Pure Methods and create the subsequent content."

    "Step three: complete the creation."

    "Indeed, with the plan in place, I feel much more secure."

    "No wonder so many people fail in their endeavors in this world."

    "It''s because they don''t create a detailed plan like I do."

    ...

    With that, Qi Yuan set to work.

    In the following days, Qi Yuan spent some divine crystals in the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain and borrowed some from the Hei Tian Divine Lord to exchange for access to the "Mihua Void Realm."

    One day in the mortal world was a thousand years in the Mihua Void Realm.

    Every day, Qi Yuan would look at the opening lines of the Three Pure Methods.

    He would see the hidden information and use it to create the subsequent content.

    Time flew by.

    In the blink of an eye, a hundred years had passed in the mortal world.

    In the Mihua Void Realm, an immeasurable amount of time had elapsed.

    Qi Yuan opened his eyes, his gaze momentarily dazed.

    "The Three Pure Methods... have I finally created them?"

    [These are the Three Pure Methods, created by you. Perhaps... they can be used to avoid the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.]

    Looking at the Three Pure Methods he had created, Qi Yuan hesitated.

    "The so-called Three Pure Methods involve splitting into three versions of myself... no, more accurately, splitting into one version of myself... growing, and then... dying to bear the tribulations."

    Rather than one breath transforming into the Three Pure Ones.

    More accurately, this technique required Qi Yuan to abandon everything and become a new version of himself.

    This version would grow, become powerful, and then... die to bear the tribulations.

    After the first version died, the second would appear, and after the second died, the third would appear.

    Only after the third version died would Qi Yuan truly reappear, facing a weakened version of the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    "Interesting."

    When creating the Three Pure Methods, Qi Yuan had drawn inspiration from the past, present, and future selves of the Yang God.

    "So, the first version of myself in the Three Pure Methods... exists in the past?"

    The second version exists in the present, and the third... in the future.

    "So... should I start using the Three Pure Methods to avoid the calamities?"

    Qi Yuan hesitated.

    Once the Three Pure Methods were activated, they couldn''t be stopped.

    Only after three deaths could he return.

    Moreover, these weren''t avatars but his true self.

    His true self would lose everything.

    "My special abilities, my divine powers, my skills... all gone. Could I reach the other shore?"

    These weren''t the main concerns.

    "The most important thing is that even my brilliant mind, which I rely on for survival, would be gone."

    Qi Yuan was conflicted.

    He had always relied on his intellect.

    What if the first version was a fool?

    "It doesn''t matter. After all, I''ll die three times and then return. If I fail, so be it. There''s no real loss."

    With this thought, Qi Yuan felt it wasn''t a big deal.

    Without his brilliant mind, it would be like his game character going offline and letting an AI take over.

    The AI would die three times, and then he would return.

    Thus, Qi Yuan returned to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, went to the Abandoned Land, and even returned to the immortal realm to make some preparations.

    After all, he wanted to see what the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations looked like.

    He also wanted to see what lay beyond the Dao Lord.

    A year passed.

    Qi Yuan finished his preparations. He stayed in the Abandoned Land, his gaze profound.

    "Then... let''s begin the Three Pure Methods. The first... the past."

    As Qi Yuan spoke, his body dissipated.

    In this world, Qi Yuan''s presence vanished.

    ...

    Cloud Dream Mountain, towering at a height of 100,000 light-years.

    This mountain was home to countless beings, with various wonders, ruins, and civilizations.

    At the foot of Cloud Dream Mountain.

    In the Kingdom of Feilai, lightning flashed and thunder roared.

    In the Marquis''s mansion, a group of servants was in a frenzy. Inside a room, a woman''s painful cries could be heard.

    Outside, a middle-aged man paced back and forth, visibly anxious.

    The wind grew stronger, and the rain poured down harder.

    Outside the Marquis''s mansion, thirty-seven men in black robes, armed with swords and knives, stood with murderous intent.

    Today, they had a mission: to slaughter everyone in the Marquis''s mansion.

    Each of them radiated a killing aura.

    Their presence was something the ordinary people in the Marquis''s mansion couldn''t comprehend.

    Just then, the cry of a baby echoed, and the mansion was filled with joy.

    A bolt of lightning struck from the sky.

    At the same time, a notification sounded.

    [On this day, you were born, and a celestial phenomenon occurred. The thirty-seven bandits were struck dead by lightning.

    You helped the Marquis''s mansion avoid a massacre.]

    Time flew by, and the young lord of the Marquis''s mansion grew up.

    He was no different from other children.

    Average in talent, average in physique, with only his noble birth and good looks setting him apart.

    The celestial phenomenon at his birth was gradually forgotten.

    As for the thirty-seven bandits killed by lightning, the Marquis had investigated for a long time but found no answers, so he ordered the matter sealed.

    From then on, the Marquis wore a subtle look of worry.

    Five years later, the Marquis''s mansion welcomed a new addition.

    The young lord now had a younger sister.

    Life was happy, with a touch of mischief, filled with laughter and joy.

    But this peaceful happiness was eventually shattered.

    [Your divine nature at birth eventually faded into mundanity.

    At birth, a celestial phenomenon occurred, killing thirty-seven bandits and saving the Marquis''s mansion.

    But this time, you were no different from an ordinary person.

    Holding a iron sword, you watched helplessly as your parents were slaughtered, the servants killed, and the maid who doted on you, who dreamed of being your bed-warmer, died before your eyes.]

    The rain continued to fall, a steady drizzle.

    But it couldn''t extinguish the raging fire consuming the Marquis''s mansion.

    By the lake, shadows of trees swayed.

    The young man, covered in blood, his eyes filled with tears, clutched his sword, his breath weak.

    He hated his own weakness.

    He hated his average talent.

    He hated being the only one left alive.

    "No... there''s still my sister!"

    The young man''s eyes burned with a desire to live.

    But... revenge? How?

    Survival alone was difficult.

    Just then, a shadow appeared beside the young man.

    "Do you want revenge?"

    The young man quickly turned, but he saw nothing, no shadow.

    "I do!"

    "Even if it costs you everything?" the shadow asked.

    The young man nodded, images of his family''s slaughter flashing in his mind.

    "Yes, even if I become a devil, a follower of evil gods, I am willing!"

    "Good." The shadow seemed to smile. "Then, I want all your emotions. In exchange, I will give you... the greatest talent in swordsmanship."

    The young man hesitated.

    Without emotions, even if he became strong, wouldn''t he just kill indiscriminately?

    What if he killed his sister?

    "Of course... I''m not so heartless as to turn you into a killing machine.

    You can keep three things, or rather... three sentences.

    For example... like in those stories, you could vow not to harm your sister." The shadow laughed, though there was a hint of mockery in its voice.

    The young man''s expression was grave.

    Finally, he gritted his teeth and spoke the first sentence.

    His sister was his only family.

    No matter what, he would never harm her.

    "What about the second sentence?" the shadow asked.

    "I... want to live, become strong, and take revenge," the young man said.

    Losing all emotions, including desire, meant that even with the greatest talent in swordsmanship, he might not cultivate it.

    As for whether the shadow was lying or toying with him, did it matter?

    "And the third?"

    "I..." The young man hesitated, unsure what the third sentence should be.

    Wealth?

    Continuing the family line?

    Restoring the Marquis''s mansion?

    Or...

    Just then, he felt a strange impulse and spoke.

    "I will always adhere to the principles of order and goodness, protecting the world."

    This young man wasn''t blinded by hatred and a desire for slaughter.

    Perhaps this was due to his upbringing.

    "Good, the deal is struck."

    With that, the shadow disappeared.

    The young man lying by the lake felt as if it had all been a dream.

    But as he grasped a reed floating in the lake, he felt the world change.

    "From now on, there is no self... only the Sword Disciple."

    When he held the sword, the Sword Disciple lost all emotions.

    He couldn''t feel the coldness of the lake water.

    The deaths of his parents and clan members were like cold images to him.

    He couldn''t feel hunger, pain, or even the desire for revenge.

    Or curiosity.

    What drove him were those three sentences.

    They would be his everything.

    From then on, the Kingdom of Feilai had an expressionless Sword Disciple.

    No one knew his identity, nor what he sought.

    No one knew his weaknesses.

    They only knew he was a true genius in the way of the sword.

    With an iron sword in hand, he traveled three thousand miles.

    In a canyon, he witnessed two armies clashing and comprehended the Seven Killings Sword Technique.

    Seeing a powerful figure cleave the heavens with a sword, he grasped the Heaven-Splitting Sword Technique.

    Watching flowers bloom and wither, he understood the Cycle of Reincarnation Sword Technique.

    Everything in the world was a sword to him.

 Chapter 613: I Feel Like Youâ€™re Familiar

    Peach petals scattered across the ground.

    The slender branches of the peach tree curved delicately, resembling a simple ink painting of a landscape, with thin, spindly branches.

    A burly man clutched his chest, blood streaming down, staining the ground.

    His face was twisted with a fierce expression: "Sword Disciple, no matter how strong your swordsmanship talent is, you will never find the culprits who annihilated the Marquis''s mansion. You will never get your revenge."

    With these words, the burly man breathed his last.

    But before he died, his face still bore a mocking smile.

    Beside him, Princess Anyang watched with a look of pity: "Sword Disciple, the trail has gone cold again."

    Although Sword Disciple was younger than her by a few years, being near him felt like standing next to a block of ice.

    Despite his handsome face and strong build, she felt no attraction, only fear that she might be cut down by his sword.

    Sword Disciple remained silent.

    Princess Anyang continued, "Could it be... that the culprits are from another kingdom?"

    This was the only guess she could make.

    "I''m leaving," Sword Disciple said, and with that, his figure vanished.

    Princess Anyang watched his retreating figure, biting her lip. She wanted to chase after him but ultimately gave up.

    Beside her, a guard spoke up: "Princess, should we try to keep Sword Disciple? With his help, achieving our grand ambitions would be effortless."

    Princess Anyang shook her head: "The Kingdom of Feilai... is not where he belongs."

    Princess Anyang spoke quickly. In the following days, Sword Disciple traversed the Kingdom of Feilai on foot.

    He continued searching for the culprits behind the massacre of his family and for his younger sister.

    Unfortunately, even after traveling through the entire Kingdom of Feilai, venturing into the Kingdom of Aoxiong, south to the Tianhai Desert, and north to the Dixue Mountains, he found no trace of the enemies.

    Those enemies seemed to have appeared out of thin air, slaughtered the Marquis''s household, and then vanished without a trace.

    The cold wind howled, biting to the bone.

    Sword Disciple, carrying a broken sword, walked alone through the vast snowy wilderness.

    The world was vast, and he was utterly alone.

    Just then, Sword Disciple suddenly stopped. He looked toward the southwest.

    Five hundred meters away, an orange flame flickered, accompanied by faint smoke.

    A woman wrapped in a fox fur cloak sat on the snow, her brows like a painting, her lips exhaling white breath.

    A red cape was tied around her, and her slender, delicate hands rubbed together. She glanced at Sword Disciple and raised an eyebrow: "Care to join me by the fire?"

    Sword Disciple stared at the woman, sensing an inexplicable aura.

    "What''s your name?" the fox-fur-clad woman asked.

    "Sword Disciple," he replied tersely.

    "Fitting name," the woman smiled, her expression fox-like. "How about becoming my disciple? I can give you what you desire."

    Sword Disciple fell silent for a moment.

    He seemed to be thinking.

    But without emotions, thinking became difficult.

    Only the sword in his hand was something he could trust.

    "Revenge... and finding your sister," the fox-fur-clad woman chuckled, seemingly cold. She rubbed her hands together. "If you keep wandering here, you''ll never find them."

    "Fine," Sword Disciple agreed. "I pay my respects to my master."

    Though he lacked emotions, he wasn''t a fool.

    The woman''s smile widened. She looked at the handsome young man and said softly, "You seem... familiar."

    Sword Disciple remained silent.

    "Have we... met before?" the woman continued.

    She seemed to be a chatterbox.

    Or perhaps, having been alone for so long, she couldn''t help but talk more when she finally met someone.

    Sword Disciple said nothing.

    His silence was answer enough.

    At that moment, the woman stood up.

    The snow piled on her clothes scattered and fell to the ground.

    Her figure was slender, almost like a delicate bamboo shoot, but with curves in all the right places, giving her a mature, elder-sister-like aura.

    She clapped her hands, and the snowflakes dispersed: "Let me introduce myself. I am Wu Shi."

    Sword Disciple listened and silently committed the name to memory.

    Wu Shi.

    For some reason, the name felt familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

    "Hehe, I never thought I, Wu Shi, would have a disciple. I''ll have to make good use of you," Wu Shi said, her fox-like eyes filled with delight. "Come, disciple, cook a meal for your master. It''s been a long time since I''ve had a proper meal."

    Indeed, it had been a long time.

    She couldn''t even remember the last time she had eaten.

    "What do you want to eat?" Sword Disciple asked in a deep voice.

    "Hmm... fish," Wu Shi replied, seemingly lost in memories, her gaze distant.

    "Fine," Sword Disciple said, then turned and left without another word.

    "Hey!" Wu Shi called out to the air. "Shouldn''t you ask your master why I''m reminiscing, why I want fish? Don''t you want to hear the story behind it?"

    "No."

    Sword Disciple''s voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

    "Hmph," Wu Shi snorted, though she wasn''t angry. She placed her delicate hands over the fire.

    Perhaps her skin was too pale, as her hands turned slightly red and translucent under the flame''s glow.

    The fish was quickly caught, and Sword Disciple began to roast it. Soon, the aroma of fish filled the air.

    Despite the lack of seasoning, Wu Shi didn''t smell any fishy odor. For the first time in a long while, her taste buds stirred.

    Resting her chin on her hand, she stared at Sword Disciple, lost in thought: "You''re quite skilled."

    Her fox-like peach-blossom eyes seemed to gaze with deep affection at anyone.

    Unfortunately, Sword Disciple had no emotions.

    He didn''t understand what affection was.

    "I hereby appoint you... the Grand Steward of Cooking, my personal chef."

    Wu Shi spoke as she picked up the fish and began eating with relish.

    "Not bad, your skills are excellent."

    "It''s been a long time since I''ve eaten something so delicious, so satisfying."

    "But I can''t eat anymore, or I''ll get a little belly."

    Despite her gluttony, Wu Shi knew her limits.

    Sword Disciple watched her finish eating before speaking: "Revenge. Sister."

    His voice was as cold and hard as ever.

    Wu Shi looked at Sword Disciple''s handsome face: "Too cold. Smile a little?"

    Sword Disciple hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile.

    "Forget it, better not smile," Wu Shi said, exhaling a white breath. "The Marquis''s mansion was attacked twice. The first time... was when you were born, but a celestial phenomenon occurred, and all the attackers died.

    Later, there was a second attack."

    Wu Shi kept her eyes on Sword Disciple''s reaction.

    Unfortunately, Sword Disciple remained silent, showing no emotion.

    "Identity," Sword Disciple said tersely.

    "They are from... the Nine Heavens Divine Palace."

    Sword Disciple had never heard of this name.

    "It''s normal that you don''t know. They are not from Cloud Dream Mountain."

    "Oh, you don''t know about Cloud Dream Mountain either."

    "Cloud Dream Mountain is 100,000 light-years tall."

    "But Cloud Dream Mountain is just a small hill."

    Wu Shi spoke as if to herself.

    "The Nine Heavens Divine Palace''s target is your sister."

    "Initially, they might have received a request from a client to kill your sister before she was born."

    "But later, another client wanted her taken alive."

    Wu Shi kept her eyes on Sword Disciple''s reaction.

    However, Sword Disciple remained silent.

    "Hey, aren''t you going to ask why they wanted to kill your sister, or why they wanted to take her alive?

    If you beg me, I''ll tell you," Wu Shi said, her eyes narrowing, her gaze even more fox-like.

    "It doesn''t matter. I just need to take revenge, kill them all, and find my sister," Sword Disciple replied.

    "So you can say more than ten words at a time?" Wu Shi laughed. "But the Nine Heavens Divine Palace isn''t something you can just destroy. They have... many Dao Gods. With your swordsmanship talent, you might be strong, but you can''t even leave Cloud Dream Mountain. How do you expect to take revenge?"

    Sword Disciple said nothing, only holding his sword.

    "I am your master, so naturally, I will take care of you.

    As long as you cook for me every day, I''ll teach you how to become stronger."

    "Fine."

    On this day, in the snowy wilderness, Sword Disciple gained a master, and Wu Shi gained a disciple.

    The snow on Cloud Dream Mountain seemed to fall even heavier.

    Sword light crisscrossed, seemingly piercing the heavens.

    [By becoming Wu Shi''s disciple, the trajectory of your life changed.]

    [Wu Shi was naturally quiet and disliked public appearances, so you became the sharpest sword in her hand.]

    [Your strength grew, your realm advanced, and you drew closer to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.]

    [Ten thousand years passed. You fought battles everywhere, finally unifying Cloud Dream Mountain and establishing the Cloud Dream Palace.]

    "To defeat the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, you can''t do it alone."

    In the snowy wilderness, pear blossoms scattered. Wu Shi sat on a throne.

    Below her were 9,999 steps, the distance between the two of them. The orange-yellow lantern light intertwined with the snowflakes, creating a scene both warm and desolate.

    Sword Disciple, clad in black, his features sharp and his jawline elegant, held a sword in his arms, resembling a peerless sword god.

    "When will I be strong enough?" Sword Disciple asked.

    Wu Shi narrowed her eyes, her smile enchanting: "When you can kill me with a single sword strike... then you''ll be strong enough."

    Sword Disciple remained silent.

    On the throne, Wu Shi continued: "The background of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace is far more complex than it appears. Their business is vast... you could say it''s the largest business in the world."

    Wu Shi spoke as if to herself, her tone lonely.

    "Have you heard of the True Spirit Reincarnation Method?" Wu Shi asked.

    Sword Disciple shook his head.

    "That is also their handiwork."

    "In this world, there are Three Calamities and Three Tribulations. Overcoming them is incredibly difficult."

    "However, one begets two, two begets three, and three begets all things.

    In this world, all realms can be divided into three types.

    The first is the ''One,'' the beginning, also known as the Yang Realm.

    The second is the ''Two,'' the transition, known as the Rebirth Realm.

    The third is the ''Three,'' known as the Yin Realm.

    In these three realms, if one searches carefully, perhaps everyone can find their counterparts.

    We are in the ''Two,'' the Rebirth Realm.

    My dear disciple, perhaps in the Yang Realm or the Yin Realm, there is another version of you.

    Well... he isn''t you, but... he can be used to help you avoid the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations."

    The three realms are distinct.

    The Yang Realm is the beginning, the origin, the orthodox, possessing all kinds of innate spiritual energy.

    Everyone is like a god.

    The Rebirth Realm is more like a transit point. People from the Yang Realm can descend here, and those from the Yin Realm can come through the True Spirit Reincarnation Method.

    As for the Yin Realm, it is the ''Three'' that begets all things. Resources are scarce, treasures are rare, and the essence of transcendence is thin.

    Thus, the path to transcendence for its inhabitants is exceptionally difficult.

    "Your sister came from the Yin Realm. Her life was bought by a Dao God," Wu Shi said calmly.

    Hearing this, Sword Disciple tightened his grip on his sword: "I will go practice my sword."

    "Don''t practice. Come eat fish with me. It''s been a long time since I''ve had your fish," Wu Shi said, her face filled with anticipation.

    The response she received was a cold "Practice."

    On the towering palace, Wu Shi watched the slender figure, occasionally coughing: "I never thought that after all these years, my injuries... still haven''t healed."

    Bright red blood fell to the ground, staining the pear blossoms and snow.

    ...

    "My sword is still not strong enough."

    In the snowy wilderness, Sword Disciple practiced his sword.

    Within the Cloud Dream Palace, his prestige was high. He was known as the God of Slaughter and the Sword Fanatic.

    At that moment, whispers could be heard nearby.

    "Sigh, the Cloud Dream Palace was built by Sword Disciple''s efforts, so why is that woman the palace master?"

    "Hmph, that woman is ambitious. She''s just using Sword Disciple!"

    "Sword Disciple is nothing more than a sword in her hand."

    Hearing this, Sword Disciple stopped his sword practice. He looked at the distant figures whispering and said coldly, "She is my master."

    At the mountain peak, Wu Shi heard this and couldn''t help but cover her mouth, her fox-like eyes filled with laughter: "My disciple still cares about me."

    Time flowed, and another 100,000 years passed.

    Wu Shi sat high above, her smile cold and distant.

    Sword Disciple stood before her like a sword.

    "The mountains have been conquered. The Cloud Dream Palace is now the greatest power in the Hunxuan Wasteland," Sword Disciple said indifferently.

    Behind him, a dozen Dao Gods looked at him with deep respect.

    Over these 100,000 years, Sword Disciple had fought battle after battle, building the vast foundation of the Cloud Dream Palace.

    He was known as the God of Slaughter, but also as a gentle God of Slaughter.

    Though Sword Disciple''s face was expressionless, he seemed to care for the world.

    He never killed innocents.

    His sword only killed those who deserved it.

    This earned him the admiration of the Dao Gods behind him, though they also found it somewhat ironic.

    A God of Slaughter who was so righteous it was almost sinister.

    "Good, disciple. You''ve helped your master build such a grand foundation. Come, as a reward, you''ll dine with me tonight," Wu Shi said with a smile.

    However, the Dao Gods couldn''t tell if she was truly happy.

    The master of the Cloud Dream Palace was mysterious and enigmatic. Few had ever seen her take action.

    All they knew was that she must be incredibly powerful.

    "I need to practice my sword," Sword Disciple said, giving Wu Shi a deep look.

    At his current strength, he was no match for Wu Shi, and thus couldn''t seek revenge against the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    Wu Shi''s smile froze, and her voice turned cold: "This is an order."

    She seemed genuinely angry.

    The surrounding Dao Gods felt as if they had been plunged into an icy abyss.

    Realizing what was happening, they quickly excused themselves.

    At the mountain peak, only the master and disciple remained.

    Wu Shi''s icy demeanor melted away: "There were too many people earlier. Your master needs to save face."

    Her voice became gentle again.

    "Mm," Sword Disciple responded indifferently.

    "I''m hungry," Wu Shi said, her face drooping listlessly. "You''ve been away fighting battles all these years. It''s been so long since I''ve had a meal cooked by you."

    As she spoke, she seemed lost in memories.

    "I really miss the old days, when I wasn''t the master of the Cloud Dream Palace, and you...

    We would eat, sleep, wake up, and eat again. But... those days are gone."

    She had always been a glutton, especially fond of food.

    However, aside from the meals Sword Disciple prepared, she wouldn''t eat anything else.

    Perhaps her tastes had been spoiled by him.

    "I''ll cook fish," Sword Disciple said flatly.

    Wu Shi''s eyes finally lit up with a smile. She looked at her disciple''s back, her gaze seemingly spanning millennia.

    As if remembering something, she murmured, "Do you even have a heart?"

    She placed her hand over her chest, where it felt empty.

 Chapter 614: Snow Falls

    The Present Game.

    Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    Hei Tian Divine Lord''s eyes were filled with worry.

    He had just received news that the person who had pre-ordered him had arrived at the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    At this moment, he was especially anxious.

    After all, once that person came to claim him, he would undoubtedly die.

    "I thought I still had several epochs of time left. I never expected it to be so close."

    The reason he had held onto hope and invested was that he believed there was still enough time.

    The friends he had made still had enough time to grow.

    But now, that person had arrived, and his time was running out.

    He stood outside a mountain, waiting patiently.

    After an unknown amount of time, Feng Ye walked out: "Hei Tian Divine Lord, my lord has been in seclusion and it''s unclear when he will awaken."

    Hearing this, Hei Tian Divine Lord was disappointed. He said, "When Qi Yuan emerges from seclusion, tell him that the debt he owes me is now settled."

    Feng Ye''s expression changed.

    Settled?

    At their level, any debt or favor was a matter of karma.

    To transcend and progress, these karmic ties needed to be resolved.

    Hei Tian Divine Lord''s words carried immense weight.

    Not paying attention to Feng Ye''s expression, Hei Tian Divine Lord cupped his hands and left.

    About three breaths later, a voice echoed in Hei Tian Divine Lord''s ears.

    "All plans become meaningless in the face of absolute power."

    The speaker was Hei Tian Divine Lord''s friend, the Star Devourer Divine Lord.

    Hei Tian Divine Lord''s expression was neither sad nor happy: "Star Devourer, you should leave too. Staying close to me now is not a good idea."

    The Star Devourer Divine Lord looked at Hei Tian Divine Lord and finally said, "If one day I obtain a divine treasure and use it to become a Dao God, I will definitely seek justice for you!"

    As for becoming a Spirit God by overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations as a Divine Lord, he had no confidence.

    His only hope lay in obtaining a divine treasure.

    After all, even the most mediocre Divine Lord could leap to the level of a Dao God by obtaining a divine treasure.

    This was the terrifying power of divine treasures.

    There were rumors that divine treasures were formed from the primordial laws of the Great World at its inception.

    By devouring a divine treasure, one could master a Great Dao and become a Dao God.

    However, divine treasures were limited in number, and it was almost impossible to find one outside the control of powerful forces.

    Even if one appeared, it would be immediately seized by Dao Gods.

    For a rogue cultivator like the Star Devourer Divine Lord, obtaining a divine treasure was nearly impossible.

    ...

    Cloud Dream Mountain.

    The fish emitted a faint aroma, the flames flickered, and the red stove melted the snow, leaving nothing behind.

    Wu Shi sat casually, her bare feet resting on a long chair covered with fox fur. Her slender legs were tucked under her, and her snow-white, rounded calves peeked out from under her skirt.

    Only when she was with Sword Disciple did she let down all her guard, enjoying the delicious food.

    "Why are you always so cold? Learn to smile like me," Wu Shi said, looking at the icy Sword Disciple.

    Her fox-like face, paired with her peach-blossom eyes, exuded a deep, enchanting charm.

    Sword Disciple held his sword, exuding an aura that kept others at a distance.

    He looked at his lofty master and asked inexplicably, "What do you want to do?"

    After receiving the divine treasure bestowed by Wu Shi, Sword Disciple had finally stepped into the realm of a Dao God, becoming the sharpest sword in the Cloud Dream Palace.

    His swordsmanship was indescribable, transcending all.

    With his sword in hand, even ordinary Dao Gods were no match for him.

    Over the years, he had built an unparalleled foundation for Wu Shi.

    But rumors and gossip also spread within the Cloud Dream Palace.

    The world said that the Cloud Dream Palace Master, Wu Shi, was a fox demon who used her charms to control Sword Disciple, exploiting him.

    Using him as a sharp sword to clear obstacles and satisfy her ambitions.

    But Sword Disciple knew that his sword could not rival his master, Wu Shi.

    The world said that Wu Shi was ambitious.

    Sword Disciple believed these were just rumors.

    Wu Shi was momentarily stunned. Snowflakes fell on her red fur coat, melting away and leaving only faint water spots.

    "Disciple, after all these years, this is the first time you''ve shown concern for me."

    Wu Shi''s smile was enigmatic.

    This disciple of hers seemed indifferent to everything in the world.

    The only thing he cared about was...

    This was the first time he had asked her what she wanted to do.

    "Me..."

    Wu Shi gracefully stood up, her slender figure visible under the large red feathered cloak.

    Standing at the peak of Cloud Dream Mountain, she looked down upon all living beings.

    "I not only want to be the master of Cloud Dream Mountain, but also the master of the Hunxuan Wasteland, and even the master of the Zhou Mountain World.

    I want... to stand on the highest point of Forget Zhou Mountain."

    Her voice was cold, carrying an air of pride and authority.

    At this moment, she was not the lazy woman who sneaked fish, but a lofty empress.

    "Oh," Sword Disciple responded indifferently.

    He wasn''t interested.

    Or rather, without emotions, he was indifferent to everything in the world.

    [Your strength continues to grow. In the Zhou Mountain World, Sword Disciple is also known as the Sword Butcher.

    Dao Gods dare not contend with you, and major forces avoid you like rats.

    Your strength is skyrocketing, and everything in the world can be transformed into the sword in your hand.

    You feel that your strength is sufficient, enough to defeat your master, Wu Shi.

    So, you prepare to challenge Wu Shi. Once you defeat her, you can take action against the Nine Heavens Divine Palace and bring your sister back.

    But...]

    "Disciple, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace has returned your sister to you."

    Wu Shi''s face carried an enigmatic smile.

    It seemed she was happy for Sword Disciple.

    On this day, Sword Disciple met his sister after a separation of millions of years.

    He was not happy.

    Or rather, he had long since lost his emotions.

    His sister wore a yellow silk dress with a white gauze outer robe. She was delicate and lovely, looking timidly at Sword Disciple. Her eyes seemed curious about this brother she had never met.

    "You haven''t seen each other for a long time. Take some time to get acquainted and reconnect."

    After saying this, Wu Shi''s figure drifted away, disappearing.

    Only Sword Disciple and his sister remained.

    His sister said that she had lived well in the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, and that all the enemies who had slaughtered the Marquis''s mansion were dead.

    His sister kept talking about her past, and Sword Disciple listened quietly.

    His sister seemed very patient and did not lose her desire to share despite Sword Disciple''s cold reaction, chattering on.

    Finally, Sword Disciple looked at his delicate and beautiful sister and said softly, "From now on, I will protect you."

    This was one of the three sentences engraved in his heart.

    It was because of these three sentences, like anchors, that he did not lose himself in the slaughter and the sword.

    "I love you the most, big brother," the girl seemed to cheer, hugging Sword Disciple''s arm, her full chest pressing against him. She seemed to realize something and quickly let go, her face flushing red.

    At the peak of Cloud Dream Mountain.

    The snow fell in clusters.

    The woman in red couldn''t help but curse under her breath: "Scheming girl."

    She had no issue with Sword Disciple''s sister; she simply didn''t like her.

    She really wanted to cut her down with a sword.

    However, that was someone her disciple was protecting.

    She looked at the clouds under the falling snow.

    "Someone, keep an eye on Yujiao... forget it."

    Then, Wu Shi waved her sleeve, and the clouds dispersed.

    She had more important things to do.

    ...

    A million years passed in the blink of an eye.

    On Forget Zhou Mountain, several mysterious figures stood.

    "The Cloud Dream Palace Master''s origins are mysterious. What is her true identity?"

    "Unfortunately, with that Sword Butcher around, we''ve never seen her make a move. We don''t know her true strength or how many tribulations she has overcome."

    "That Sword Disciple''s identity is also quite mysterious."

    "Sword Disciple is nothing to worry about. What we need to be wary of is the Cloud Dream Palace Master. She is too mysterious."

    "No matter how mysterious she is, as long as she doesn''t provoke us, her mystery will remain intact."

    "Sword Disciple is strong, but he''s only comparable to a first-tribulation Dao God. Hmph, today he dared to barge into the Nine Heavens Divine Palace. He''s seeking death."

    "How is Yujiao doing? Has she not yet won over Sword Disciple?"

    "If Sword Disciple were to work for us, our chances against the Cloud Dream Palace Master would be much higher."

    "Yujiao says that Sword Disciple is detached from worldly desires. It seems there''s no one in this world he cares about."

    "Doesn''t he care about her?"

    "Tell her to hurry up and win him over."

    At their level, gender, morality, and emotions meant nothing.

    In their eyes, Sword Disciple had a weakness¡ªhis obsession.

    His sister was his obsession, his weakness.

    ...

    In the palace, fiery red maple leaves covered the ground.

    "Cough..." Sword Disciple coughed, the sound echoing in the empty palace.

    "Big brother, I''ve come to see you."

    Yujiao, wearing a thin gauze robe, hugged Sword Disciple from behind, her brows furrowed, looking pitiful.

    "Mm," Sword Disciple responded indifferently.

    This time, after forcefully barging into the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, Sword Disciple had suffered serious injuries.

    "The Palace Master... is still in the Cloud Dream Palace," Yujiao said, her voice carrying a hint of something, much like the movement of her chest.

    Seeing that Sword Disciple showed no reaction, Yujiao continued, "I''m just stirring the pot. I can''t stand her. Big brother, you''ve worked so hard for her, suffered such severe injuries, and she doesn''t even bother to come see you."

    Yujiao grew angrier as she spoke, clearly dissatisfied with Wu Shi.

    Sword Disciple''s gaze was calm: "She is my master."

    What does the master want to do?

    He didn''t know.

    Whether the master cared about him or not was also unimportant.

    At this moment, Yujiao''s hand seemed to intentionally move downward, her snow-like face flushing slightly.

    "I need to practice my sword," Sword Disciple said indifferently.

    Yujiao was stunned for a moment, then gritted her teeth and stomped away.

    In the palace, only Sword Disciple remained.

    His face showed neither sadness nor joy, and his voice was mechanical.

    "How... can I become stronger?"

    This was also one of the three sentences.

    The sword swung continuously, the Great Dao shattered and then reformed.

    His strength continued to grow.

    Unfortunately, he always felt that the progress was too slow.

    After an unknown amount of time, a Dao God approached.

    "Sword Butcher, the Palace Master has ordered you to pacify the Tianyuan Wasteland."

    He was Sword Disciple, but everyone called him the Sword Butcher.

    This Dao God''s expression was hesitant, as if he felt it was unfair to Sword Disciple.

    "Oh," Sword Disciple responded indifferently.

    The Dao God lowered his head and finally said, "Your injuries haven''t healed yet. Starting a war now... is probably unwise."

    At this point, the Dao God also showed resentment.

    "The Cloud Dream Palace spans two wastelands, and this foundation was built by you, Sword Butcher, with your sword.

    Has the Cloud Dream Palace Master shed a single drop of blood? Has she contributed in any way?" The Dao God grew more agitated as he spoke. Finally, he looked at Sword Disciple, "If you, Sword Disciple, wish it, we... are willing to follow you as our master, to have you lead the Cloud Dream Palace."

    This was also the wish of the other Dao Gods.

    After all, Sword Disciple''s contributions were visible to all.

    What about Wu Shi?

    She reaped the benefits without lifting a finger.

    Sword Disciple listened calmly, though it was unclear if he was truly paying attention.

    "I will go see my master."

    He wanted to ask his master some questions.

    Space shifted, and in one step, he moved from autumn to winter.

    The fiery red maple leaves turned into pure white snow.

    In the Cloud Dream Palace, the woman in red seemed to be murmuring to herself.

    The peak of Cloud Dream Mountain was always covered in snow, and it had been snowing for a long time.

    Year after year, the snow fell, but it grew lighter each time.

    The world was a vast expanse of white.

    At this moment, Wu Shi turned her head and looked at the figure approaching through the snowstorm.

    She revealed a bright and delicate face.

    "You don''t want to wage war on the Tianyuan Wasteland?" Wu Shi asked softly.

    "No."

    "Why have you come here?"

    Looking at Wu Shi, Sword Disciple''s expression was enigmatic.

    Tens of thousands of years ago, he had thought he could surpass his master.

    But as his strength grew, he found that he could no longer see through Wu Shi.

    Nor could he understand her.

    "With master''s strength, if you were to personally take action, you could quickly pacify the Tianyuan Wasteland. Why don''t you act yourself?"

    Sword Disciple, based on his understanding of Wu Shi, voiced the doubts of the other Dao Gods.

    Wu Shi smiled: "I cannot leave the Cloud Dream Palace."

    "Why?"

    "I am waiting for someone here," Wu Shi said, looking into Sword Disciple''s eyes.

    "Who are you waiting for?" Sword Disciple''s eyes were clear.

    "I am waiting for a sword, a sword... that can free the world from suffering."

    "Have you found it?" Sword Disciple asked.

    Wu Shi''s face showed a hint of reminiscence: "Forget Zhou Mountain has not yet broken. Perhaps... I have not found it."

    She added silently in her heart.

    Sword Disciple''s expression changed slightly.

    Forget Zhou Mountain was the core of the Zhou Mountain World.

    If Forget Zhou Mountain were to break, the Zhou Mountain World would collapse, and countless lives would be lost.

    This went against his principles of order and goodness.

    Wu Shi looked at Sword Disciple and said seriously, "It will come."

    Her memories told her that she would see that sword.

    After bidding farewell to Wu Shi, Sword Disciple walked alone, with only his sword for company. Over the course of 100,000 years, he pacified the Tianyuan Wasteland.

    From then on, the Zhou Mountain World had three of its seven wastelands under the control of the Cloud Dream Palace.

    Rumors and gossip continued to spread.

    "The Cloud Dream Palace Master is ambitious and seeks to unify the Zhou Mountain World!"

    "Are we to simply bow before her?"

    "Damn it, that Sword Disciple is aiding and abetting her, willingly acting as her executioner."

    "Hmph, calling himself righteous? Is this righteousness?"

    Many whispered complaints.

    About the Cloud Dream Palace Master, about Sword Disciple.

    It seemed that, for a time, they had become the targets of public criticism.

    However, using words as weapons of criticism was futile.

    Over the next million years, Sword Disciple''s strength continued to grow.

    His sword was almost a manifestation of the Dao.

    Ordinary Dao Gods were no match for him.

    In just a million years, the entire Zhou Mountain World had only one voice.

    That of the Cloud Dream Palace.

    And Sword Disciple was known as the number one Dao God.

    Even the Nine Heavens Divine Palace treated Sword Disciple with respect.

    After all, they still needed to do business in the Zhou Mountain World.

    Kill Sword Disciple?

    They were confident they could.

    But... the Cloud Dream Palace Master was too mysterious.

    No one knew her true depth. If anyone did, it was likely only Sword Disciple.

    "Master, are you still waiting for that sword?"

    Sword Disciple held his sword, his voice as cold as ever.

    Over the years, he had noticed that his master had become increasingly sleepy and gluttonous.

    However, she would only eat what he prepared.

    "Mm," Wu Shi said as she ate fish, her voice colder than before.

    Now, although the Zhou Mountain World was unified, the two of them met more often.

    But their relationship, in the eyes of outsiders, had grown colder.

    Wu Shi rarely smiled in front of Sword Disciple.

    Sword Disciple knew, based on what his sister Yujiao had said.

    This was the aloofness of a ruler.

    "Have you found it?"

    "No," Wu Shi said indifferently. "When Forget Zhou Mountain breaks, perhaps I will find it."

    "Master, if Forget Zhou Mountain breaks, the Zhou Mountain World will collapse. I hope you do not make a mistake," Sword Disciple said coldly.

    He remembered Yujiao''s words and the hints from some Dao Gods.

    Over the years, as the Zhou Mountain World was unified, Wu Shi seemed to have been setting up something within the world.

    There were rumors that Wu Shi intended to overthrow the Zhou Mountain World.

    He had also discovered some of Wu Shi''s arrangements.

    "Disciple, are you teaching me how to do things?" Wu Shi looked at Sword Disciple coldly.

    This was a look Sword Disciple had never seen before.

    Without emotions, he showed no reaction.

    He looked deeply at Wu Shi and said indifferently, "There is plenty of food here, enough for you for 100,000 years."

    After saying this, Sword Disciple turned and left.

    In the Cloud Dream Palace, only the lonely Wu Shi remained.

    She looked at the increasingly light snow and murmured.

    "Now, even you won''t listen to me?"

    Although she was nominally the Palace Master of the Cloud Dream Palace.

    All the Dao Gods revered Sword Disciple.

    Her orders did not leave the palace.

    She had truly become a loner.

    "I''m cold."

    "I''m hungry."

    "Yesterday, I watched the snow fall in clusters. Today, I watch the snow fall lightly."

 Chapter 615: The mountain is destroyed and people die, the sword is drawn

    The snow atop Cloud Dream Mountain grew lighter, and the temperature at the summit gradually rose year by year.

    Yet, Wu Shi''s aura grew even colder.

    It was as if the chill had transferred to her.

    In the days that followed, Wu Shi remained at the peak of Cloud Dream Mountain, waiting for the sword that never came.

    Sword Disciple no longer visited the peak.

    One day, a woman in a yellow dress looked at the snow-covered world before her, her eyes filled with triumph: "You like snow, don''t you? From now on, Cloud Dream Mountain will never see snow again."

    She had sought out a Dao God to perform a divine technique, ensuring that Cloud Dream Mountain would never again be covered in snow.

    ...

    "What is the true identity of the Cloud Dream Palace Master?"

    "Why is she making arrangements on Forget Zhou Mountain?"

    In the Zhou Mountain World, several Dao Gods murmured among themselves.

    They were deeply wary of Wu Shi, who had never once made a move.

    "Sword Disciple''s sword is growing stronger and stronger," one Dao God whispered.

    Originally, Sword Disciple was strong, but they hadn''t paid much attention to him.

    His strength had a clear trajectory.

    Wu Shi was the true enigma.

    However, in recent years, Sword Disciple''s rate of improvement had been astonishing.

    For Dao Gods like them, who had achieved their status through divine treasures, improving their strength was incredibly difficult. They needed to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Yet... Sword Disciple, who had not undergone any tribulations, was still growing stronger.

    His sword had become even sharper than before.

    "Sword Disciple... is nothing to fear."

    "Oh?"

    "Yujiao says that Sword Disciple... has a flaw. She tried to harm him subtly, and he didn''t resist."

    "Really?" another Dao God exclaimed in surprise.

    The world was vast, and anything was possible.

    Perhaps the bond between Sword Disciple and his sister was deeper than anyone realized.

    "His sister is the most important person in his heart, like a divine law."

    "Originally, we arranged for Yujiao to seduce him, but that failed. Who would have thought there would be such progress?"

    For beings at their level, morality had long ceased to exist.

    Lust was insignificant, merely a casual move in a game. If it worked, great; if not, no harm done.

    "With Sword Disciple''s weakness in our hands, he''s no longer a concern."

    "The only thing we need to worry about is Wu Shi''s identity and her intentions..."

    "We''ve made some progress in our investigation. We''re still confirming."

    The voices fell silent.

    ...

    In a chaotic space.

    Sword light streaked like meteors, shattering the space.

    A man in blood-stained robes appeared, carrying a sword on his back.

    He held a piece of jade in his hand, his expression devoid of emotion.

    "Devouring Primordial Body...?"

    "Devouring the Zhou Mountain World?"

    He stood there for an unknown amount of time.

    Finally, he crushed the piece of jade and vanished.

    "Big brother, why were you gone for so long?" Yujiao ran over, hugging Sword Disciple''s arm. She looked at his face, trying to discern something.

    But she saw nothing.

    "I was delayed," Sword Disciple replied curtly.

    At this moment, Yujiao seemed to remember something and whispered, "Big brother, Sister Wu Shi has been very lonely at the peak of Cloud Dream Mountain. So, I sent a few maids to take care of her. But..."

    "But those maids noticed that Sister Wu Shi has disappeared several times.

    A Dao God stationed at Forget Zhou Mountain secretly told me that Wu Shi''s presence has been detected there."

    "If the maids could see Master leaving, they must be extraordinary," Sword Disciple said indifferently.

    In the past, Yujiao would have turned pale with worry upon hearing this.

    But over the years, she had been testing Sword Disciple''s limits.

    Her cheap older brother truly had no emotions.

    Even toward his master, he was indifferent.

    Most importantly, no matter what she did, Sword Disciple would never harm her and would do his best to fulfill her requests.

    "Big brother, aren''t you curious about what Palace Master Wu Shi is really up to?" Yujiao changed the subject.

    By now, Sword Disciple had learned that Wu Shi had a Devouring Primordial Body.

    The term "Devouring Primordial Body" naturally invited speculation.

    "Oh, I''m not curious," Sword Disciple replied.

    Yujiao felt as if she had punched cotton.

    She looked at Sword Disciple and finally said, "Big brother, your sister is craving something delicious. I want you to cook for me."

    "Mm."

    "Add some blood. Yujiao loves your taste."

    "Mm."

    ...

    At the peak of Cloud Dream Mountain.

    Yujiao clapped her hands, and a lavish feast was dumped onto the snowy ground.

    "Disgusting! It''s way too salty!"

    "And the bloody smell wasn''t even handled properly."

    She was tall and carried herself with the arrogance of a spoiled young lady.

    After dumping the food, she glanced provocatively toward the peak of Cloud Dream Mountain.

    However, the place remained cold and desolate, as if no one was there.

    But soon, Yujiao narrowed her eyes and smiled happily.

    Because in front of her, a lonely figure appeared.

    Wu Shi, clad in red fur, was the only splash of color in the vast whiteness of Cloud Dream Mountain''s peak.

    "Wasting food is not good," Wu Shi''s voice betrayed no emotion.

    Yujiao grew even more smug: "If it''s not tasty, I''ll just throw it away. How is that wasting food?

    In a moment, big brother will make me an even more sumptuous meal."

    "Childish," Wu Shi''s voice was cold and indifferent.

    "Yujiao may be childish, but she has never thought of harming others, nor has she caused panic in the Zhou Mountain World.

    Sister Palace Master may not be childish, but everyone fears her like a snake or scorpion," Yujiao said, puffing herself up. "Sometimes, it''s better to be childish. At least, big brother loves me the most."

    She said this like a proud princess.

    Wu Shi''s gaze fell to the snow-covered ground, now marred by dirty footprints.

    The exquisite dishes lay scattered, with a hint of blood mixed in.

    This was the blood Sword Disciple had added to the food.

    Noticing Wu Shi''s gaze, Yujiao became even more provocative: "He''s my big brother. He''s willing to do anything for me. It''s just that his blood has such a strong, bloody smell."

    Wu Shi remained silent.

    At this moment, Yujiao suddenly leaned in: "Big brother already knows you''re a Devouring Primordial Body."

    "Oh."

    Yujiao was met with Wu Shi''s indifferent "oh."

    With that, Wu Shi''s figure vanished.

    Along with her, the scattered food also disappeared.

    "What you treasure, I treat as trash."

    After saying this, Yujiao also left the Cloud Dream Palace.

    About a quarter of an hour later, a pitiful voice sounded.

    "Big brother, Sister Palace Master is jealous of me. She knocked over the food you made for me."

    Sword Disciple fell silent for a moment.

    Finally, he asked, "What is jealousy?"

    After asking this question, he felt a sense of disorientation.

    Because in the past, aside from the three anchors in his heart, he had seemed indifferent to everything in the world, including his master, Wu Shi.

    ...

    The undercurrents finally surfaced.

    In the past, Sword Disciple would hear the murmurs of Dao Gods every day.

    Wu Shi wants to destroy the world. Wu Shi wants to devour the Zhou Mountain World.

    Sword Disciple had paid no attention.

    Or rather, he had been focused on growing stronger.

    But now, no Dao God dared to speak such words to him.

    Because Wu Shi had merged Forget Zhou Mountain with Cloud Dream Mountain.

    A decree now lay before Sword Disciple.

    "Disciple, I wish to become the true ruler of Zhou Mountain. Help me."

    "Those who submit will prosper; those who resist will perish."

    As Sword Disciple looked at this decree, he fell into deep thought.

    However, the panic in the Zhou Mountain World was real.

    Most importantly, when Wu Shi merged Forget Zhou Mountain with Cloud Dream Mountain, seven Dao Gods couldn''t resist and attacked.

    Facing the combined assault of seven Dao Gods, Wu Shi displayed terrifying power, easily injuring four and forcing the other three to retreat.

    Only then did the world realize that the Cloud Dream Palace Master was the strongest in the Zhou Mountain World.

    Even Sword Disciple, with his illustrious achievements, seemed inferior to his master.

    "The Zhou Mountain World must unite."

    "Forget Zhou Mountain cannot be lost!"

    "The Cloud Dream Palace Master is a demon!"

    "She is a Devouring Primordial Body. She will devour Forget Zhou Mountain and then the entire Zhou Mountain World to empower herself!"

    The "ambitions" of the Cloud Dream Palace Master were now clear.

    All the powerful beings had to unite to face this apocalyptic threat.

    At this moment.

    A divine decree descended from the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    "If Sword Disciple slays Wu Shi and resolves the crisis in Zhou Mountain, the Heavenly Emperor is willing to take him as a disciple."

    This decree made all the Dao Gods envious.

    The Heavenly Emperor was the master behind the Nine Heavens Divine Palace and its greatest support.

    This powerful being resided not in the Rebirth Realm but in the Yang Realm.

    Even ancient monsters who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations would bow their heads before the Heavenly Emperor.

    Such a terrifying figure had turned his gaze to the insignificant Zhou Mountain World?

    After all, the Zhou Mountain World didn''t even have a single being who had overcome all Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Facing the envoy from the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, Sword Disciple responded.

    "I will protect Zhou Mountain, but becoming the Heavenly Emperor''s disciple... I decline."

    Hearing this, all the Dao Gods were shocked, some even stomping their feet in frustration.

    The Nine Heavens Divine Palace''s influence extended far beyond the Zhou Mountain World. There were even rumors that they had connections in the Yin Realm.

    If Sword Disciple had become the Heavenly Emperor''s disciple, wouldn''t he have been able to use the Nine Heavens Divine Palace to find "another version of himself" in other worlds, allowing him to avoid tribulations?

    He might even have overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Yet, Sword Disciple had refused.

    Was this his pride?

    Did he not realize the opportunity he had missed?

    The entire Zhou Mountain World was in turmoil.

    The Cloud Dream Palace Master sat atop Cloud Dream Mountain, her aura so profound that no one dared approach.

    Other Dao Gods either gathered around Sword Disciple, hoping to stop the Cloud Dream Palace Master from devouring the world, or aligned themselves with the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, plotting new schemes.

    Some simply fled.

    In the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    "Sword Disciple actually rejected the Heavenly Emperor''s decree!"

    "No one in this world has ever refused a divine decree!"

    "How ungrateful!"

    "Whether the Zhou Mountain World is destroyed or not doesn''t matter. Forget Zhou Mountain cannot fall. It is a crucial node."

    However, as soon as these words were spoken.

    A deafening crash echoed.

    The mountain crumbled, the sky bled golden light, and the land was left in ruins.

    "Forget Zhou Mountain has fallen?"

    "Forget Zhou Mountain is gone!"

    "Cloud Dream Mountain... is also destroyed!"

    All the Dao Gods were horrified.

    No one had expected the Cloud Dream Palace Master to act so soon, toppling Forget Zhou Mountain.

    The towering Forget Zhou Mountain, spanning countless light-years, had collapsed onto Cloud Dream Mountain. The spine of the earth was broken, the bones of the mountains turned to dust, and the cries of countless souls echoed endlessly.

    The Dao Gods were filled with fear, hesitation, and uncertainty.

    "Since Forget Zhou Mountain has fallen, this place... has no more value," a Dao God from the Nine Heavens Divine Palace declared.

    Thus, on this day, many Dao Gods followed the Nine Heavens Divine Palace and left the Zhou Mountain World.

    Others turned their anger toward Sword Disciple.

    "If you hadn''t aided and abetted her, how could Wu Shi have toppled Forget Zhou Mountain?"

    "If you had stopped her earlier, such a catastrophe would never have happened!"

    Sword Disciple gripped his sword, remaining silent.

    Of course, these voices only grew loud at first.

    When Wu Shi had been a "white lotus," harmless and innocent, everyone had accused her of wanting to destroy the world, slandering her.

    But now that she had truly toppled Forget Zhou Mountain and displayed her overwhelming power, baring her fangs, those who opposed her grew fewer.

    In fact, many Dao Gods now gathered around Wu Shi, honoring her as the Cloud Dream Palace Master.

    Just as they had once gathered around Sword Disciple.

    After all, with the Zhou Mountain World in ruins and countless lives lost, they, as Dao Gods, could remain untouched.

    The fate of the masses meant nothing to them.

    The once-deserted Cloud Dream Palace became lively again.

    In contrast, Sword Disciple was left alone.

    "Lord Sword Disciple, you are, after all, the Palace Master''s disciple. Since she intends to devour the Zhou Mountain World, we ask that you continue to serve her," a Divine Lord urged.

    This was the same Divine Lord who, when Wu Shi had not yet revealed her true power, had advised Sword Disciple to imprison or even kill her.

    Now, he had switched sides.

    Such was the unpredictability of the world.

    "Lord Sword Disciple, put down your sword. The Cloud Dream Palace Master still values the bond between master and disciple."

    "You remain the sharpest sword in her hand."

    Facing these voices, Sword Disciple remained unmoved.

    Since the fall of Forget Zhou Mountain, he had not seen his master, and Wu Shi had not come to see him.

    It was like the last time, when he had prepared ten thousand years'' worth of food for her and then never visited her again.

    Was it a grudge?

    Or something else...

    The voices outside meant nothing to him.

    "Grow stronger, be kind, protect my sister."

    He murmured, his sword flowing like fire, yet cold as snow.

    Kindness... kindness...

    Why did Master do this?

    Since obtaining this unparalleled talent in the sword, this was only the second time he had truly felt doubt.

    The first was when he asked, "What is jealousy?" This time, he wondered, "Why did Master do this?"

    He didn''t understand.

    He didn''t want to see Cloud Dream Mountain shattered, countless lives lost.

    All of this... was caused by his master.

    Why... did she do this?

    His doubts came to an abrupt end three years later.

    A broken body lay in the hall¡ªit was Yujiao''s corpse.

    His sister, one of the three anchors in his heart, was dead.

    Killed by Wu Shi.

    His heart felt empty.

    Was it because of his sister''s death, or because his master had killed her?

    ...

    The peak of Cloud Dream Mountain, which had not seen snow for a long time, was once again covered in snow.

    Along with the snow, pear blossoms fell.

    Cloud Dream Mountain was broken, but the Cloud Dream Palace remained intact.

    On the 9,900 steps, the world was blanketed in white.

    At the summit, a woman in red fur caressed a warming stove, a smile in her eyes.

    "When it snows on Cloud Dream Mountain, I know... it''s you who has come."

    At the base of the 9,900 steps, Sword Disciple looked up at the woman he knew so well.

    His eyes were as calm and indifferent as ever.

    He didn''t understand his master, didn''t understand Wu Shi.

    Just as the distance between them was measured in steps, he couldn''t fathom Wu Shi''s heart, and she seemed unable to reach his.

    "Shouldn''t you say... ''Master, I need an explanation''?" Wu Shi smiled.

    "Master, you shouldn''t have toppled Forget Zhou Mountain, shouldn''t have caused the deaths of countless lives, shouldn''t have killed my sister," Sword Disciple said, looking up at the cold woman standing so high above, as if she were in the clouds.

    "Sometimes, death is not the end. Perhaps..."

    "Life is the true suffering."

    "I killed them to free them from their suffering."

    Wu Shi spoke indifferently.

    At this moment, she truly embodied the aura of a world-destroying demon.

    As if the only thing awaiting all living beings in this world was suffering, and death... was liberation.

    She was doing a good deed, pulling people out of their misery.

    Sword Disciple remained silent, simply looking at his master.

    After an unknown amount of time, the snow grew tired and stopped for a while. The world was covered in white, and snow piled on their shoulders.

    "Master, are you still waiting for that sword?" Sword Disciple asked.

    Wu Shi''s smile was as enchanting as peach blossoms, yet as pale as pear blossoms.

    "Yes."

    "Can my sword replace that sword?"

    As soon as he finished speaking, his sword flashed like snow.

    ¡ªEnd of the Sword Disciple Arc¡ª

 Chapter 616: Crazy criticism of Masterâ€™s forced love?

    At the southern foot of Yiyi Mountain, tender green grass sprouted new shoots. The mountain air was still damp from the rain, but the grass had already dried, bathed in the warm, golden sunlight.

    A young man lay on the grass, chewing on a blade of dogtail grass, one hand shielding his eyes from the sun.

    "In the Cloud Dream Palace, Sword Disciple and the Cloud Dream Palace Master clashed, shattering mountains and rivers.

    That night, the snow fell heavily, and the laws of the Great Dao crumbled.

    In terms of strength, Sword Disciple was naturally no match for the Cloud Dream Palace Master.

    After all, when a master teaches a disciple, they always hold back a few tricks."

    "Master, would you hold back tricks from me?" a little girl asked, tilting her head as she gently pounded the young man''s shoulders with her small fists.

    "Am I that kind of person? Besides... what''s the point of holding back?

    In the end, Sword Disciple still unleashed his full potential, striking down the Cloud Dream Palace Master with a single sword strike, thus... saving the Zhou Mountain World.

    However, this strike drained Sword Disciple''s life force, and both he and his master perished."

    "That''s so tragic, Master! Where are they buried? I want to sweep their graves!" The little girl''s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

    "Pfft, you don''t want to sweep their graves. You''re just after their burial treasures!" The young man didn''t hold back.

    The little girl wasn''t offended, just giggled, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

    The young man continued, "But who would have thought that Sword Disciple, the scoundrel, grew stronger with each battle, his sword reaching a state of selflessness. In the end, he even transformed into a supreme sword, slaying the Cloud Dream Palace Master."

    "Thus, the demon was vanquished, peace was restored, and the people rejoiced."

    Hearing this, the little girl''s eyes gleamed with greed. "Did Sword Disciple turn into a divine treasure sword?"

    "Who knows?" The young man''s expression was lazy.

    "Master, do you think it''s still possible to find Sword Disciple''s grave now?" the little girl asked.

    She had always wanted a sword of her own to roam the world.

    After all, wearing a red cloak and wielding a sword would be so cool.

    Not hearing her master''s response, she nudged him harder, only to realize he had fallen asleep.

    "No, I need to check the map and see where the Zhou Mountain World is!"

    Clearly, the little girl had taken her master''s story to heart.

    She didn''t care about the grievances and affections between Sword Disciple and the Cloud Dream Palace Master. What she cared about were the burial treasures and artifacts.

    But... about a quarter of an hour later.

    A deafening scream rang out.

    "Master! You lied to me!"

    The young man quickly covered his ears, feeling dizzy.

    "What did I lie about?"

    "I checked some records, and your story is completely made up."

    "First, your story has no basis. For example, the Cloud Dream Palace devouring the Zhou Mountain World? Even the Nine Heavens Divine Palace avoided its edge, which shows how powerful the Cloud Dream Palace Master was. Sword Disciple hadn''t even overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations. How could he be a match for her?"

    "Second, in your story, you mentioned that the Cloud Dream Palace Master died in the 70 billionth year of the Wind and Thunder Profound Heaven Dao''s founding. You also said that in the 50 billionth year, a celebration was held on Forget Zhou Mountain.

    But now, the Wind and Thunder Profound Heaven Dao has been around for less than a billion years, and Forget Zhou Mountain has already collapsed!

    Are you saying that in 50 billion years, the Wind and Thunder Profound Heaven Dao will rebuild Forget Zhou Mountain?"

    "So, Master, this is just a made-up, melodramatic story of yours."

    "Maybe it''s not me who''s wrong, but the world?" Bai Xiaosheng retorted. "Maybe the world''s time and space is chaotic, full of loopholes."

    He felt as if he had been born in the wrong era.

    "Shame on you, Bai Xiaosheng, who claims to know everything under heaven."

    The little girl chattered on, and the young man felt the air grow noisy.

    "Ahem, little Wu Shi, would your master ever lie to you?"

    "If you''re not lying, then help me find Sword Disciple''s grave. I want the sword he turned into."

    "Hey, it was you who said he might have turned into a sword!"

    "Master, you can make up stories, but I can''t?"

    The little girl tilted her head, looking smug.

    "You... go practice. At your age, you should be focusing on improving your cultivation," the young man said, seemingly unable to win the argument, so he resorted to his authority as a master.

    "Master, why don''t you practice?" The little girl grumbled when the topic of cultivation came up.

    "Your master was born as a divine treasure with a spirit. I was born with a spirit, so I don''t need to cultivate," the young man said proudly.

    [In this life, you were born as a divine coin, revered as the ancestor by the beings of the Tu Wu Great World.]

    This Bai Xiaosheng, born as a divine treasure with a spirit, was actually the second life of Qi Yuan''s Three Pure Methods.

    At the same time, this Tu Wu Great World, in its humble beginnings, had beings who lived in primitive conditions, with weak civilizations and no concept of transcendence.

    However, when Qi Yuan had broken through his realm and gained supernatural abilities, he had "spoken the law into existence," allowing the Tu Wu Great World to understand "money." From then on, the Tu Wu Great World embarked on the path of civilization.

    In this life, he was born as a divine treasure with a spirit and was revered as the ancestor by the Tu Wu Great World.

    ...

    "Master, spit out some money!"

    In his drowsy state, Bai Xiaosheng felt a small hand patting his back.

    He opened his mouth reflexively.

    Clink, clink, clink¡ªa pile of golden coins spilled out.

    Well, the old man had coughed up some gold.

    The little girl, Wu Shi, smiled happily at the sight of the money.

    Bai Xiaosheng opened his eyes and looked at Wu Shi helplessly. "What, did someone outside see yellow hair growing on your head?"

    "Pfft, Master, you''re so unreliable. I need to save some private money," the little girl, Wu Shi, said.

    She held the golden coins in her hands, feeling a sense of security.

    Seeing this, Bai Xiaosheng smiled.

    His disciple, Wu Shi, had a rather tragic childhood.

    She was an orphan of war, abandoned on a snow-covered mountain.

    Her clothes were thin, and her bare feet were frozen stiff.

    When Bai Xiaosheng first saw her, she was so thin she looked like skin and bones.

    Fortunately, she had extraordinary bloodline, or she would have frozen or starved to death.

    Even so, Wu Shi had a hard life and was left with many lingering health issues.

    That''s why she now liked to hoard private money and food.

    All thanks to Bai Xiaosheng.

    "Don''t make me cough up gold while I''m sleeping," Bai Xiaosheng said.

    Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and his expression changed.

    "Hide quickly."

    With a wave of his hand, Wu Shi''s figure vanished.

    At that moment, ripples of Dao essence spread through the air.

    Time and space seemed to freeze.

    A Dao God with no fixed form, existing in an unknown space-time, descended.

    Bai Xiaosheng narrowed his eyes and smiled. "The Source Heaven Dao God of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace graces us with his presence. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."

    "As expected of Bai Xiaosheng. Even though I concealed my origins, you still recognized me.

    In that case, I won''t beat around the bush.

    The Nine Heavens Divine Palace needs the specific locations and information of Luo Feng Jian, Tian Qian Gu... Ming Ri Xue..."

    The Source Heaven Dao God listed seven locations.

    "Luo Feng Jian... isn''t that within the Nine Heavens Divine Palace?" Bai Xiaosheng asked with a smile.

    "Correct," the Source Heaven Dao God was slightly surprised.

    Of the seven locations, Luo Feng Jian had already been occupied by the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    This matter was highly secretive.

    Yet Bai Xiaosheng still knew about it. He really had some skills.

    "Of these seven places, six are nodes of the Yin Realm. The last one, Ming Ri Xue... doesn''t seem to be a node. May I ask why you''re inquiring about its location?" Bai Xiaosheng asked, his face showing curiosity.

    The Nine Heavens Divine Palace had always been searching for strange places.

    These strange places were all nodes.

    Hearing this, the Source Heaven Dao God was even more impressed with Bai Xiaosheng.

    Truly knowledgeable.

    "The other six are all nodes... Ming Ri Xue is a peculiar snow mountain.

    Though peculiar, it''s not important.

    What we''re looking for is a special being on Ming Ri Xue.

    Bai Xiaosheng, I''ll give you an epoch to help the Nine Heavens Divine Palace find these places. As for the reward... 10,000 portions of divine treasure essence for each location."

    For Dao Gods, aside from overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, another way to increase their strength was by consuming divine treasure essence.

    Divine treasure essence was a byproduct of the birth of divine treasures, extremely rare and imbued with special Dao principles.

    "By the way, once you find Ming Ri Xue, don''t go up there yourself. Otherwise... even as a Dao God, you risk death," the Source Heaven Dao God warned.

    "Oh, is the being on Ming Ri Xue that special... and powerful?" Bai Xiaosheng asked curiously.

    The Source Heaven Dao God''s face showed a hint of fear. "It''s related to a fallen Dao Lord."

    "The Cosmic Alliance?"

    "No, a Dao Lord from the Rebirth Realm."

    "Wait, isn''t the Rebirth Realm only accessible to divine treasures who have reached the Dao God realm?"

    "Because it possesses the Ten Great Primordial Bodies."

    "The Ten Great Primordial Bodies..." Bai Xiaosheng fell silent.

    There were rumors that obtaining one of the Ten Great Primordial Bodies could allow one to break through the limits of a Dao God.

    Of course, that didn''t guarantee success.

    "If you find any information about Ming Ri Xue, report it to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace immediately. The Heavenly Emperor will personally descend," the Source Heaven Dao God said.

    Bai Xiaosheng took a deep breath. "The legendary Heavenly Emperor..."

    The Source Heaven Dao God left as suddenly as he had arrived.

    The bamboo hut was once again just Bai Xiaosheng and Wu Shi.

    The concealment faded, and Wu Shi reappeared. She blinked her big eyes and clutched Bai Xiaosheng''s wide sleeve. "Master, why do you look so worried?"

    Sometimes, Wu Shi could be very understanding and well-behaved.

    "Sigh, your master just feels that I chose the wrong nickname. ''Bai Xiaosheng'' is an unlucky name.

    In this world, those who call themselves ''Bai Xiaosheng'' never end well."

    Bai Xiaosheng sighed.

    He recalled seven years ago, when he had found little Wu Shi on that snow-covered mountain.

    That mountain... was Ming Ri Xue.

    This also meant that his disciple''s identity...

    If he had met the Source Heaven Dao God a few years earlier, before meeting Wu Shi, he might have traded the information about Ming Ri Xue for 10,000 portions of divine treasure essence.

    But now, little Wu Shi was his disciple.

    And he was a good person.

    He wouldn''t do anything against his conscience.

    Even if it meant offending the terrifying Heavenly Emperor.

    Wait...

    Thinking this, Bai Xiaosheng smiled again.

    Even without Wu Shi, wouldn''t he still have offended the Heavenly Emperor?

    On the surface, he was the mysterious Dao God, Bai Xiaosheng.

    But in reality, he was also the ancestor of the Tu Wu Great World and a partner in the Cosmic Alliance.

    One of the founders of the Anti-Nine Heavens Divine Palace Alliance.

    Why oppose them?

    Tian Qian Gu was located in the Tu Wu Great World, the birthplace of Bai Xiaosheng.

    If he revealed this node to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, the Tu Wu Great World would likely become a "breeding ground" for the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, and he, the divine treasure spirit of Tian Qian Gu, would also perish.

    "Pfft, pfft, Master, don''t say such unlucky things," Wu Shi said, her little face tense.

    Bai Xiaosheng smiled and stretched lazily. "Then you better practice hard. When your master gets old, I''ll be counting on you to take care of me."

    "Pfft, practicing is so tiring..." Wu Shi wanted to slack off, but then she added, "Master, I''ll go practice now."

    Watching Wu Shi''s small figure, Bai Xiaosheng''s eyes showed a hint of worry.

    Time flew by, and ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

    The little girl Wu Shi''s voice continued to chatter in Bai Xiaosheng''s ears.

    "Master, I caught a black fish today."

    "Right, your disciple wants to eat fish!"

    "Master, we need to run away!"

    "The city lord''s daughter said she likes me. If I don''t give in, she won''t let you off!"

    "Master... I never knew you were so strong, aside from digging graves!"

    "Master, should I get married?"

    "Master... the sword in the grave is really nice, but I don''t like it."

    "Master, when will you find Sword Disciple''s grave? I want his sword."

    "Master, you''re injured."

    "Wow, Master, you''re a Dao God!"

    As time passed, Wu Shi looked at Bai Xiaosheng with surprise.

    "Little girls shouldn''t swear," Bai Xiaosheng said, enjoying the look of astonishment on Wu Shi''s face.

    "Hey, Master, I''m not a little girl anymore!" Wu Shi crossed her arms, looking smug.

    Bai Xiaosheng''s mouth twitched. "You don''t act like a girl at all."

    "Pfft."

    Wu Shi was still as lively as she had been as a child, full of energy.

    But as she spoke, she seemed to realize something.

    "Master... you''re injured?" Wu Shi''s face showed concern.

    "Huh?" Bai Xiaosheng narrowed his eyes. "How did you notice?"

    He was a Dao God. If he wanted to hide his injuries, someone with Wu Shi''s rudimentary cultivation level wouldn''t be able to detect them.

    "Hehe, I won''t tell you," Wu Shi said. "Don''t change the subject, Master. How could you be so careless and get injured again? If you get seriously hurt and can''t spit out coins, how will your disciple survive!"

    Wu Shi spoke as if she cared deeply about the coins Bai Xiaosheng coughed up.

    "Mm," Bai Xiaosheng didn''t bother to press further.

    Everyone had their secrets.

    His disciple, who was suspected to be the reincarnation of that person, having some peculiarities was normal.

    As for his injuries, they were from battles with the Dao Gods of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    After all, he was part of the Anti-Nine Heavens Divine Palace Alliance.

    "By the way, I need to go to the Cosmic Alliance for a while. Stay here and don''t go anywhere."

    Remembering something, Bai Xiaosheng instructed.

    "Master, am I so embarrassing that you won''t introduce me to your Dao God friends?" Wu Shi grumbled, seemingly unhappy. "Even an ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her mother-in-law!"

    Seeing Bai Xiaosheng remain silent, Wu Shi pressed on. "Is it... a story of a crazy divine lord forcing love, imprisoning and torturing while doting?"

    "Hey!"

    "Hehe, usually in such stories, the master is cold and obsessive.

    Master, you''re always lazy, without the aura of a noble prince. You''re always grinning like an idiot, spitting out coins for no reason. You''re clearly not the male lead."

    Bai Xiaosheng was annoyed.

    What''s wrong with smiling?

    He was a sunny, cheerful young man.

    He decided to keep smiling every day.

    "Master, be careful when you go to the Cosmic Alliance this time. Don''t get injured again."

    "If you''re injured, there''ll be no one to spit out coins for me."

 Chapter 617: Mysterious Black Shadow, the Fallen Dao Lord

    Bai Xiaosheng''s figure vanished.

    When he reappeared, he found himself before a sea of rolling clouds.

    The ground hung above, and the sky stretched below.

    The seawater did not pour downward.

    The rules here were chaotic, even reversed.

    Even Dao Gods dared not linger here for long.

    Although their divine kingdoms ensured their immortality, in such a space, no being could truly kill a Dao God.

    But once one entered, they might be trapped in a spatial bubble.

    A moment in the bubble could equate to billions of years in the outside world.

    Even Dao Gods did not wish to lose tens or even hundreds of billions of years for no reason.

    This chaotic space was the headquarters of the Cosmic Alliance.

    The powerful beings of the Cosmic Alliance relied on a divine treasure to reside here.

    "Unfortunately, I am merely a divine treasure with a spirit. In terms of combat power, I am quite ordinary. If I could devour Tai Ya, perhaps I could reach a new realm."

    Tai Ya was a unique divine treasure controlled by the Cosmic Alliance.

    This divine treasure was born in this chaotic space.

    It was thanks to this divine treasure that the Cosmic Alliance could settle here.

    At that moment, a graceful figure appeared, exuding a special aura: "Senior Bai Xiaosheng, please follow me into the Cosmic Alliance."

    Although she was a Divine Lord, she was no ordinary Divine Lord.

    Moreover, she did not carry the heavy scent of faith. In Bai Xiaosheng''s eyes, she seemed to follow the Yin Realm''s system, or perhaps the Yang Realm''s.

    "Why the change in who greets me today?" Bai Xiaosheng asked with interest, looking at the woman.

    The woman smiled without answering, saying nothing more.

    Her only task was to guide Bai Xiaosheng into the Cosmic Alliance.

    About a hundred breaths later, in a pale-white palace.

    Bai Xiaosheng came to a stop.

    A hundred meters ahead, a young man in black robes sat casually on a bronze chair, holding an egg in his hand, examining it carefully as he peeled it.

    Black Crow Dao Lord, whose mastered Dao was unknown, loved eating eggs.

    He was one of the few in the Cosmic Alliance who had regained the strength of a Dao Lord.

    This was all the information Bai Xiaosheng had about the man in black.

    "You''re here. Want an egg?"

    Black Crow Dao Lord casually tossed an unpeeled egg to Bai Xiaosheng.

    He then slowly ate the peeled egg in his hand.

    He ate only the egg white, not the yolk.

    Bai Xiaosheng ate the egg, shell and all, then asked, "Why have you called me here? Recently, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace has been keeping a close eye on me. If I''m exposed, this old body of mine might just kick the bucket."

    As he spoke, he glanced at the woman who had guided him.

    Within the Cosmic Alliance, few knew of Bai Xiaosheng''s collaboration with them.

    In the past, it was always the same person who brought him into the headquarters.

    This time, it was a woman.

    The more people who knew the secret, the greater the risk of exposure.

    "Her name is Wang Yuanyu," Black Crow Dao Lord said, putting down the egg in his hand. "Wang Yuanyu, tell Bai Xiaosheng what happened back then."

    Only then did Bai Xiaosheng realize that Wang Yuanyu was involved in the incident.

    The Cosmic Alliance''s summoning of him must be related to her.

    "Seventeen years ago, I was cultivating in a cave with my friend Wu Shi when suddenly, a mysterious aura emerged and abducted Wu Shi," Wang Yuanyu recounted seriously.

    She also opened part of her memories to Bai Xiaosheng.

    Bai Xiaosheng''s heart skipped a beat.

    The timing and the name... why did they sound so familiar?

    Though he felt uneasy, he showed no outward reaction, focusing on listening and examining the images in Wang Yuanyu''s memories.

    He first looked at the shadowy figure Wang Yuanyu mentioned, then glanced at the Wu Shi in her memories.

    "This shadowy figure... its aura is strange," Bai Xiaosheng thought. Though he knew a little about everything, he couldn''t fully identify this aura.

    "This is the power of rebirth," Black Crow Dao Lord said, eating the egg and discarding the yolk. "Back then, this powerful being infiltrated our ranks, alarming several Dao Lords. However, that person was too elusive. Even we couldn''t capture them. But one Dao Lord speculated that the aura they carried was that of rebirth."

    Black Crow Dao Lord was curious.

    Because the abducted Wu Shi seemed quite ordinary.

    In terms of talent, she might not even match Wang Yuanyu.

    Yet, a mysterious powerhouse had infiltrated the chaotic headquarters of the Cosmic Alliance and taken her away.

    This matter was deeply puzzling.

    Fortunately, the intruder didn''t seem to be an enemy.

    Otherwise, if the method of infiltrating the Cosmic Alliance were revealed to their enemies, the alliance could suffer a devastating blow.

    "Aside from rebirth, there''s another aura... it seems like illusion," Bai Xiaosheng suddenly recalled.

    "Illusion?" Black Crow Dao Lord narrowed his eyes. "Could it be... related to the Forbidden Land?"

    Mentioning the Forbidden Land made Bai Xiaosheng''s heart skip another beat.

    The space where the Cosmic Alliance resided was chaotic and disordered.

    The Forbidden Land, on the other hand, was a place of calamity and ruin.

    Black Crow Dao Lord frowned, deep in thought.

    "If it''s the Forbidden Land, finding this mysterious powerhouse will be extremely complicated."

    His original purpose in summoning Bai Xiaosheng was to use his intelligence network to investigate the identity of that person.

    But if the person was from the Forbidden Land...

    Things would become much more complicated.

    The Forbidden Land was vast and boundless, with many regions being independent and possessing unique characteristics.

    Its time and space were also chaotic.

    Past, present, and future were tangled together.

    Amidst this chaos, the Forbidden Land continued to spiral toward destruction and illusion.

    There were rumors that the Forbidden Land... was the divine kingdom of a certain powerful being.

    Others said it was the place where a powerhouse achieved enlightenment.

    Of course, such rumors might not be true.

    The Forbidden Land was vast and endless.

    Some regions had time dimensions that did not align with the Rebirth Realm, or even flowed backward.

    Black Crow Dao Lord thought of something and then asked, "Have you been in the Zhou Mountain World recently?"

    "Yes."

    "The Zhou Mountain World borders the Forbidden Land. Be careful it doesn''t get pulled into the Forbidden Land," Black Crow Dao Lord warned.

    Bai Xiaosheng smiled but said nothing.

    Black Crow Dao Lord continued, "Let''s set aside the matter of the mysterious powerhouse for now. Currently... the Nine Heavens Divine Palace is growing stronger. They have used Luo Feng Jian to continuously influence the Yin Realm, establishing the Mountain of Gods."

    Mentioning this, Black Crow Dao Lord looked deeply concerned.

    They did not know the purpose behind the Nine Heavens Divine Palace''s actions.

    But it was certainly not for good.

    Most of the beings in the Cosmic Alliance originated from the Yin Realm.

    They had come to the Rebirth Realm through the True Spirit Reincarnation Method.

    However, many powerful beings, upon reincarnating, were captured by the Nine Heavens Divine Palace and used as tools to resist calamities.

    If the Nine Heavens Divine Palace''s influence in the Yin Realm grew any stronger, it was hard to predict what might happen.

    "Luo Feng Jian is already in the hands of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace. The other nodes... must not fall into their hands," Black Crow Dao Lord said gravely.

    After all, if the reincarnated powerful beings from the Yin Realm descended near Luo Feng Jian, they would be captured and raised like livestock by the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, their true spirits clouded.

    If they descended at other nodes, unnoticed by the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, they might grow and eventually, like them, regain their memories and return to the Dao Lord realm.

    The more nodes the Nine Heavens Divine Palace controlled, the more powerful beings from the Yang Realm would overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Naturally, the Cosmic Alliance would be weakened in comparison.

    "They will find them eventually," Bai Xiaosheng sighed, feeling somewhat helpless.

    Although he was a lofty Dao God, his combat power was quite ordinary.

    His greatest strength was survival, and bullying weaker cultivators.

    "Therefore, these nodes must be erased. Even if we can''t control them, we cannot allow another Mountain of Gods to appear in the Yin Realm!"

    Black Crow Dao Lord said solemnly.

    "How do we erase them?" Bai Xiaosheng asked.

    Black Crow Dao Lord frowned.

    This was indeed a problem.

    Even as Dao Lords, it was difficult to completely erase those nodes.

    Even if they destroyed the void, the nodes would still exist.

    "If there were a Devouring Dao Lord, or someone who mastered the Dao of Devouring, or a treasure formed from the fourth layer of the Yang God''s realm... perhaps they could erase the nodes," Black Crow Dao Lord said.

    Bai Xiaosheng shrugged.

    Dao Lords were far rarer than Dao Gods.

    Moreover, this was the Rebirth Realm, not the Dao Lords'' home turf.

    At this moment, Black Crow Dao Lord glanced at Bai Xiaosheng.

    The space around them solidified, and all information particles froze.

    "An old friend once used fate to deduce that there was a Yang Realm powerhouse who mastered the Dao of Devouring in the Yin Realm... However, before it could transform into a treasure, it inexplicably perished in the void."

    "What?" Bai Xiaosheng was surprised.

    A Yang Realm powerhouse at the fourth layer... with his current level as a Dao God, encountering such a being would mean certain death.

    Only by devouring Tai Ya and overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations would he have a chance against such a powerhouse.

    "So we can''t count on that treasure. But... that old friend also deduced through fate that... countless epochs ago... there was a Dao Lord in the Rebirth Realm who achieved enlightenment through the Dao of Devouring."

    "A Dao Lord who achieved enlightenment in the Rebirth Realm? Tsk tsk, such talent... is terrifying. And to master the Dao of Devouring? Who was it? Did they overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations and ascend to the Yang Realm?" Bai Xiaosheng asked.

    Such a terrifyingly talented powerhouse, and he had never heard of them.

    Suddenly, he thought of something.

    The Source Heaven Dao God of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had once sought him out to find Ming Ri Xue, mentioning that it was related to a fallen Dao Lord.

    Could it be...

    He had a terrifying suspicion.

    "No, that Dao Lord... is suspected to have perished."

    "Perished? A Dao Lord can perish?" Bai Xiaosheng''s sense of foreboding grew stronger.

    At the Dao Lord realm, within one''s own Dao system, one was nearly omniscient and omnipotent. How could such a being perish?

    "Therefore, we need to find the Dao Fruit left behind by that Dao Lord... and then, with the full strength of the Cosmic Alliance, refine it into a Devouring Treasure to erase the nodes."

    The Cosmic Alliance had summoned Bai Xiaosheng for two reasons.

    First, to investigate the identity of the mysterious powerhouse through his intelligence network.

    Second, to find the Dao Fruit of the fallen Dao Lord.

    "The Dao Fruit is incredibly difficult to find. Are there other ways to erase the nodes?" Bai Xiaosheng asked.

    "The world is vast, and anything is possible. There may be other methods, but we are unaware of them. If you find any, feel free to inform me," Black Crow Dao Lord said, sounding old and wise despite his youthful appearance.

    His meaning was clear: for now, refining the fallen Dao Lord''s Dao Fruit into a Devouring Treasure was the only way to erase the nodes.

    Bai Xiaosheng looked disappointed. "Life is so hard!"

    It was unclear whether he was lamenting the lack of methods or something else.

    ...

    "Master, are we going to your hometown? Hehe, is the ugly daughter-in-law finally going to meet her mother-in-law?"

    Wu Shi teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

    Her slender, curved eyebrows arched with laughter, making her look radiant.

    To an outsider, it might seem as if Wu Shi was deeply in love with him.

    But Bai Xiaosheng knew that Wu Shi''s peach-blossom eyes could make even a dog look affectionate.

    "Go away, I was born naturally. I have no parents."

    Bai Xiaosheng was annoyed, but more than that, he was worried.

    On his way back, he had pieced everything together.

    He had come to a terrifying conclusion.

    His disciple was the person the Nine Heavens Divine Palace was searching for.

    She was deeply connected to the "Wu Shi" who had disappeared from the Cosmic Alliance.

    Moreover, she might also be closely linked to the fallen Devouring Dao Lord.

    This worried him greatly. How had he, of all people, ended up picking up a disciple with such an extraordinary background?

    Should he... hand her over?

    As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Bai Xiaosheng immediately dismissed it.

    First, he was a kind person who valued gratitude and grudges.

    Second, over the past decade, his disciple had become one of the few people close to him.

    "Difficult... difficult... difficult..."

    He was torn.

    Should he sacrifice one to save billions?

    Or...?

    "Master, why do you look so unhappy? Is something troubling you?" Wu Shi looked at Bai Xiaosheng, clutching his sleeve, her expression filled with concern.

    She looked like a little girl worried about her piggy bank breaking, or a village woman fretting over her hen not laying eggs.

    Bai Xiaosheng knew she was worried he might stop spitting out gold coins.

    "Maybe you should... disfigure yourself and change your name?" Bai Xiaosheng looked down at Wu Shi''s face, which, though still youthful, was already captivating enough to enchant anyone.

    Wu Shi quickly covered her chest with her hands, her eyes wide and sparkling.

    "Master, your possessiveness and desire for control are too strong! Are you afraid someone will fall in love with me and try to take me away, so you want to disfigure me?"

    "Master, there''s no need to disfigure me. Just keep me by your side and don''t let me see outsiders. I''ll be obedient and won''t cheat on you."

    "Your disciple doesn''t ask for much. Just... dote on me once or twice a day."

    "If you''re worried about rumors, I can sneak into your bed at night."

    Wu Shi bit her lip, looking up at Bai Xiaosheng with pitiful eyes, as if on the verge of tears.

    From this angle, Wu Shi, despite her mature figure, seemed small and delicate, with a slender waist that could be encircled with one hand, yet with all the right curves in the right places.

    In short, she had a slim waist, long legs, ample bosom, and fair, beautiful skin.

    "You..." Bai Xiaosheng knew Wu Shi was deliberately provoking him, but for a moment, he felt a flicker of desire and imagination.

    After all, he was a divine treasure with a spirit, and his actual age wasn''t that old.

    "Hehe," Wu Shi suddenly laughed, her chest heaving. "Master, you spat out gold coins."

    She looked delighted, reaching out to grab the coins.

    She had done it on purpose.

    Whenever her master''s emotions fluctuated intensely, he would spit out gold coins.

    This was a little trick she had learned over the years.

    It was deliberate.

    "You..." Bai Xiaosheng''s face turned red, then pale.

    After collecting the coins, Wu Shi transformed back into a well-behaved disciple.

    "Master, if you want to disfigure me, go ahead," she said, standing obediently beside Bai Xiaosheng.

    "No need to disfigure you. Just... wear a mask from now on, and... change your name. You can''t be called Wu Shi anymore."

    Hearing this, Wu Shi nodded seriously. "Okay."

    Her master would never harm her.

    If he said so, there must be a good reason.

    As for possessiveness or a desire for control, that was just Wu Shi''s nonsense.

    "Master, I like swords. Let''s call me... Sword Maiden."

    "Fine," Bai Xiaosheng nodded. "And your background¡ªyou can''t say you came from that snowy mountain, understand?"

    "Understood," Wu Shi nodded solemnly.

    She could sense that her master was speaking of something very important.

    After all, it had been a long time since she had seen such a worried expression on her master''s face.

    As a disciple, it was her duty to... cheer him up.

    "Master, can I ask you a question?" Wu Shi asked timidly, like a well-behaved kitten, just as she had been when she first met Bai Xiaosheng.

    She always liked to place herself in a submissive position, looking up at her master with wide, pitiful eyes.

    "Ask."

    "Just now, when you spat out the gold coins... did you... feel a little something for me?"

    The atmosphere froze.

    Their eyes met, and Bai Xiaosheng looked away, but Wu Shi''s gaze followed.

    Then came an exasperated shout.

    "Rebellious disciple!"

    "Do you want to betray your master?"

    "Pfft, such a clueless guy."

    "Spit out more gold coins!"

 Chapter 618: Master, You Have to Compensate Me with a Sword

    This time, Bai Xiaosheng did not spit out gold coins due to emotional fluctuations.

    "Let''s go, we''re returning to the Tu Wu Great World, your master''s hometown."

    Bai Xiaosheng waved his sleeve, and Wu Shi''s small figure was instantly caught in the fabric.

    "Master, I don''t want to be wrapped in your sleeve!" Wu Shi shouted.

    "Fine."

    Bai Xiaosheng smiled and grabbed Wu Shi by the back of her snow-white neck.

    "Hey!"

    Wu Shi struggled, her long legs kicking and flailing, but it was no use.

    In the next moment, Wu Shi felt the world around her change.

    The surrounding space was filled with distorted squares, painted in various strange colors, with patterns of dragons and turtles overlapping.

    Strange, ethereal, and melodious sounds filled her ears.

    "This is the Dark Void."

    Bai Xiaosheng said proudly, "In this world, no one understands the Dark Void better than me."

    Generally, when teleportation arrays are used, they travel through the Dark Void.

    Bai Xiaosheng''s innate Dao art was "Money Paves the Way."

    This Dao could also be used in the Dark Void.

    "Your master, though not particularly strong, is first-rate when it comes to survival.

    Even those old monsters who have overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations¡ªif I can''t beat them, as long as I can escape into the Dark Void, don''t worry... they won''t catch me!"

    As his innate Dao art activated, countless coins spilled out, forming a shimmering, golden path.

    Bai Xiaosheng held Wu Shi by the neck and strolled through the Dark Void.

    For some reason, looking at the twinkling starlight, Wu Shi felt a sense of romance.

    Of course, that was only if she wasn''t being held by the neck like a chicken.

    "So, little Wu Shi, in life, the most important thing is to play it safe. Survival is the ultimate truth. Having more survival skills is always useful," Bai Xiaosheng lectured Wu Shi on some principles of cultivation.

    "Master, Master, you''re too timid. If I had a sword, I''d definitely cut down all the injustices in my heart. Running away... doesn''t solve problems," Wu Shi replied seriously.

    She recalled the times her master had returned injured.

    He never told her what had happened, but she had always remembered.

    When she became strong enough, she would kill those who had hurt her master.

    She would avenge him.

    "Being too rigid leads to breaking!" Bai Xiaosheng always believed that in life, it was better to play it safe.

    After all, he had been born a Dao God.

    He had been lucky in his reincarnation, clearly here to enjoy life.

    He was still young and hadn''t lived enough, so he naturally wanted to enjoy life for a long time.

    Wu Shi didn''t argue.

    Since her master was so weak, she would protect him when she became strong.

    Of course, she also understood how difficult it was to reach her master''s level.

    At that moment, strange, piercing noises began to fill her ears, and Wu Shi couldn''t help but say.

    "Master, the Dark Void is so noisy, with all these strange sounds."

    "Noisy? I don''t hear anything. Are you trying to mess with me again?" Bai Xiaosheng listened carefully but heard nothing.

    Wu Shi was stunned for a moment, then revealed a sly smile. "Hehe, Master, you''ve gotten smarter this time."

    "Do you think I''m as dumb as those fools? Your master is a divine treasure with a spirit," Bai Xiaosheng said proudly.

    About ten breaths later¡ªBai Xiaosheng had deliberately slowed down to let Wu Shi enjoy the scenery of the Dark Void¡ªthey arrived.

    "The Tu Wu Great World is here."

    "Ah, the air of home is so sweet, so full of security."

    Bai Xiaosheng led Wu Shi toward his residence in the Tu Wu Great World.

    Soon, a golden palace came into view.

    Everywhere you looked, there were coins of all kinds.

    Wu Shi couldn''t help but click her tongue, thinking that her master was truly vulgar.

    However, she loved all these shiny little coins.

    "From now on, this will be your home."

    "You can cultivate here for now. I''ll make a mask for you based on your design to hide your appearance."

    "Thank you, Master." Wu Shi smiled sweetly.

    After her master left, Wu Shi took a deep breath of the air here, her face filled with joy.

    She kicked off her shoes, lifted her skirt to reveal a section of snow-white skin, and ran around barefoot, lively and adorable.

    "This is my home."

    "My home, Wu Shi''s home!"

    ...

    The Tu Wu Great World had no winter.

    Snow never fell from the sky, and even if it did, it would be in the shape of gold coins.

    "Master, didn''t you say that no two snowflakes in the world are the same?"

    "So why are the snowflakes in the Tu Wu Great World... all identical?"

    Wu Shi stood on the mountain peak, her hair cascading down to her waist, swaying in the wind.

    Just her silhouette was enough to make ordinary people''s hearts flutter.

    The golden snow fell on Wu Shi''s hair, sparkling like stars, adding a shimmering glow to her black locks.

    "No two snowflakes in the world are the same. This is to show that all living beings are unique, with no two being exactly alike," Bai Xiaosheng explained.

    Even in the Yang Realm, Yin Realm, and Rebirth Realm, living beings have counterparts.

    These counterparts are related but are not the same being.

    "What if someone reincarnates?" Wu Shi asked.

    Bai Xiaosheng knew all about this.

    "There is no true reincarnation in this world."

    "Reincarnation is simply the indestructibility of the true spirit, starting a second life."

    "So, when mortals are killed, their true spirits are weak and scatter, dissipating in seven days. There is no reincarnation."

    "When cultivators reach the end of their lifespan or are killed by a powerful enemy, their true spirits are destroyed, and there is no possibility of reincarnation."

    "So, when people are killed, they die. When the true spirit is destroyed, there is no second life."

    "Of course, there are exceptions in this world. If one enters the divine kingdom of a Dao God or the Dao system of a Dao Lord, they will be caught in a cycle.

    Even if the true spirit is destroyed, it can reappear in the next cycle or be fished out of the cosmic mother river."

    Of course, this only applies if one dies within the Dao system or divine kingdom.

    If one dies elsewhere, it is still possible to be retrieved, but there are exceptions, and it is not as reliable as being within a Dao system or divine kingdom.

    Bai Xiaosheng was a divine treasure born with a spirit.

    His divine kingdom was empty, with no people, only coins.

    He had not transferred the beings of the Tu Wu Great World or Wu Shi into his divine kingdom.

    Although doing so would mean that as long as he didn''t die and his divine kingdom didn''t collapse, they could be resurrected even if they died.

    But in that case, their lives would end upon entering the divine kingdom, and they would be caught in an endless cycle.

    "Master, do you think the Rebirth Realm we live in is a giant cycle? Could it be that I''ve met you before?"

    Wu Shi turned her head, and a golden mask came into view.

    The mask was as thin as a cicada''s wing, transparent and golden, with a sword emblem in the center.

    "How could that be? I''m a Dao God. If I were caught in a cycle, I would sense it," Bai Xiaosheng said dismissively.

    If ordinary people couldn''t detect the cycle, that was one thing.

    But he was a Dao God.

    "Master, when are we going to find Sword Disciple''s tomb? I''m called Sword Maiden now, but I still don''t have a sword of my own," Wu Shi muttered.

    She changed topics quickly.

    "Let''s not go looking. The Zhou Mountain World... is very dangerous, and many people are watching it," Bai Xiaosheng said thoughtfully.

    He was afraid that if Wu Shi went to the Zhou Mountain World, she might be discovered by the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    If the Heavenly Emperor descended, even with his exceptional escape skills, he would likely be severely injured, if not killed.

    After all, the Heavenly Emperor was someone even Dao Lords feared, and Dao Gods who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations had to bow their heads before him.

    Besides the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, other Dao Gods might also be watching the Zhou Mountain World, searching for the remains of the fallen Dao Lord to refine into a treasure to erase the nodes.

    "Okay, Master," Wu Shi, who was usually carefree and loved to argue, this time obeyed like a well-behaved girl.

    "You, stay in the Tu Wu Great World for now.

    In three years, there will be the Innate Spirit Gathering, where some Dao Gods like me, born as divine treasures with spirits, will gather.

    I''ll ask around and see if there are any good swords."

    "Master is the best." Wu Shi rushed over and threw herself into his arms.

    He stood still, his body stiff.

    Although he was a Dao God, he was actually quite young, not someone who had cultivated to this level through hard work.

    With her warm, soft body in his arms, and her being his disciple, he felt a slight sense of taboo.

    Pfft.

    His emotions reacted.

    "Haha, Master, you spat out gold coins! More private money for my little stash!"

    Wu Shi quickly grabbed the coins, her peach-blossom eyes filled with a triumphant, sly smile.

    Clearly, she had deliberately thrown herself into her master''s arms.

    "You..."

    "Master, I''m curious. If you find a mistress in the future, and she kisses you, will you spit coins into her mouth?" Wu Shi''s thoughts jumped around.

    "Stop talking nonsense!" Bai Xiaosheng felt somewhat powerless.

    "Master, you shouldn''t find a mistress. If you spit coins for her, your disciple will be heartbroken," Wu Shi said, her eyes sparkling as if she were genuinely worried about her master''s wealth.

    Recently, the female priestess of the Tu Wu Great World had visited her master several times, dressed in revealing clothing, paying her respects in a very... suggestive manner.

    This scheming, fox-like woman was clearly taking advantage of her master''s youth and inexperience.

    If it were any other Dao God, would the priestess dare to flirt so openly?

    ...

    The Innate Spirit Gathering was grand.

    A total of sixteen Dao Gods, born as divine treasures with spirits, attended.

    The location was chosen in the Tu Wu Great World because Bai Xiaosheng was the newest Dao God.

    These sixteen Dao Gods were all extraordinary, with profound auras. Among them, White Sugar Dao God was the strongest.

    There were rumors that White Sugar Dao God had already overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, reaching a level of strength that was almost unimaginable.

    The other Dao Gods all respected White Sugar Dao God.

    In fact, it was largely because of White Sugar Dao God''s presence that the lives of these divine treasure-born Dao Gods had improved.

    In the past, newly born divine treasure Dao Gods were often hunted.

    After all, divine treasures with spirits were still divine treasures. Devouring them... could allow one to reach the Dao God realm.

    The Innate Spirit Gathering lasted for forty-nine days.

    Bai Xiaosheng mostly just went through the motions.

    After all, he was young and weak.

    However... a single sentence from White Sugar Dao God left Bai Xiaosheng in a daze.

    At that moment, Bai Xiaosheng sat on a bronze throne, his chin resting on his hand, seemingly lost in thought.

    "Hehe, Master Moneybags?"

    Just then, a clear, bell-like laugh rang out.

    A figure in a red dress walked in. Even though she wore a mask, Bai Xiaosheng could still sense the teasing in her tone.

    It was only during this Innate Spirit Gathering that Wu Shi learned her master''s formal title.

    Dao God Moneybags.

    Yes, simple, direct, and a bit tacky.

    No wonder her master had never told her his name.

    She hadn''t expected her master to be so shy.

    "Master, your penniless disciple has no money. Can you lend me some?" Wu Shi stretched out her fair hand, smiling sweetly, her fox-like face exuding charm.

    Only when she was alone with her master would she remove her mask.

    Looking at Wu Shi, Bai Xiaosheng recalled White Sugar Dao God''s words. He asked solemnly, "Wu Shi, how many years have you been with me?"

    Wu Shi''s smile slowly faded. "One hundred and twenty-seven years and three months."

    "Wu Shi, your nature has always been lively, and you love to explore the outside world.

    Your master is lazy by nature and prefers to play it safe, always hiding in the Tu Wu Great World.

    Staying here for so many years, suppressing your true nature, you''ve suffered.

    Yesterday, White Sugar Dao God mentioned that he wants to take you as his true disciple.

    A lofty Dao God like White Sugar Dao God is not something a mediocre Dao God like me can compare to.

    By following him, you''ll have a bright future and won''t have to suppress your true nature.

    Most importantly, didn''t you want a sword? White Sugar Dao God has a sword, a legendary treasure.

    Wielding it, you could kill Dao Gods.

    If you become his disciple, that sword will be yours," Bai Xiaosheng said slowly.

    Wu Shi''s identity was mysterious, and if it were exposed, Bai Xiaosheng''s strength might not be enough to protect her.

    If Wu Shi became White Sugar Dao God''s disciple, even if the Nine Heavens Divine Palace came looking for trouble, they would have to consider White Sugar Dao God''s reputation.

    After all, the leader of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had once fought White Sugar Dao God and lost.

    So, by following White Sugar Dao God, Wu Shi would be safe.

    Moreover, White Sugar Dao God''s offer was extremely generous.

    Most of the Dao Gods present would likely want to become White Sugar Dao God''s disciples.

    "Old man, what are you talking about!" Wu Shi glared at Bai Xiaosheng angrily. "A dog doesn''t complain about a poor home, and a child doesn''t complain about an ugly mother."

    The heartfelt master-disciple bond Bai Xiaosheng had imagined, with tearful goodbyes, did not happen.

    He had thought his disciple might grab his sleeve and pitifully say, "Master, don''t send me away."

    But instead...

    He couldn''t help but facepalm. "Can''t you use a more elegant metaphor?"

    "No," Wu Shi shook her head. "Don''t bring this up again, or I''ll make you spit out gold coins every day!"

    "Sigh, it seems I''m stuck with you for life," Bai Xiaosheng didn''t know whether to feel happy or worried.

    "Master, it''s because you''re rich."

    "Your disciple... loves money the most."

    "Master, it''s because your disciple is filial, beautiful, and kind-hearted, and can''t bear to leave you alone.

    If I became White Sugar Dao God''s disciple, I might come back one day to find you being manipulated by those big-breasted priestesses."

    "I used a lot of willpower to refuse White Sugar Dao God, giving up this immense fortune."

    "Because of this, your disciple lost a sword. Master, you have to compensate me with one!"

    "It doesn''t need to be as fancy as White Sugar Dao God''s treasure sword. A sword made of coins will do!"

    Wu Shi chattered on, her words flowing endlessly.

    Bai Xiaosheng looked at his disciple and said seriously, "Alright, your master will definitely forge a good sword for you."

    He was worried but also determined to create a high-quality sword.

    He couldn''t let his disciple settle for less.

    Of course, it might also be his competitive side acting up.

    If White Sugar Dao God was gifting a treasure sword, his gift couldn''t be too shabby.

    "Thank you, Master." Wu Shi smiled sweetly. "Master, since you like to play it safe, in the future, your disciple will wield a sword and slay your enemies for you."

    She had always remembered the Dao God who had injured her master.

    One day, she would take revenge.

    ...

    The matter with White Sugar Dao God came to an end.

    But many people heard that White Sugar Dao God had wanted to take Dao God Moneybags'' disciple, Sword Maiden, as his disciple and gift her a treasure.

    However, Sword Maiden had refused.

    The world thought Sword Maiden was ungrateful.

    After all, White Sugar Dao God was qualified to be Dao God Moneybags'' master.

    People lamented and wondered what kind of talent Sword Maiden had to make White Sugar Dao God want to take her as a disciple.

    Wu Shi, who was at the center of the public opinion storm, was no different from before.

    She practiced her sword, cultivated, and teased her master to spit out some private money.

    But one day, as golden snow fell from the sky, Wu Shi fell ill.

    "Master, I''m so cold, so hungry."

    Wu Shi curled up in her master''s arms, her body icy, her face pale.

    Bai Xiaosheng looked at Wu Shi, his face filled with worry. He held her cold hands.

    Spells and divine powers couldn''t warm her.

    He could only clumsily rub her hands or hold her closer to share his warmth.

    "The Dao Fruit... is transforming her body."

    "Will she remember her past?"

    "Will she still recognize me as her master?"

    He speculated that Wu Shi was the Dao Lord of Devouring that Black Crow Dao Lord had mentioned.

    Such a prodigy would have a future no less impressive than White Sugar Dao God''s.

    He, on the other hand, had nothing special except for being rich.

    If her true spirit awakened, would she still recognize him as her master?

 Chapter 619: Searching for the Sword

    Bai Xiaosheng felt both anxious and nervous.

    A special transformation was taking place within Wu Shi''s body.

    Aside from her coldness and unconsciousness, her body was steadily improving.

    "She''s broken through to the Void God realm!"

    "True God..."

    "It''s still rising..."

    "She really is..."

    Bai Xiaosheng''s last bit of hope was shattered.

    It was clear that his disciple was the fallen Dao Lord he had suspected.

    Previously, she had been in a state of ignorance, but now she was awakening.

    Otherwise, her strength wouldn''t have increased so rapidly.

    But once she awakened...

    He was deeply worried.

    Wu Shi''s aura was skyrocketing. In just half a day, she had gone from a mortal being, not even a Void God, to a True God.

    And now, she had reached the peak of the Divine Lord realm.

    "It''s stopped." Bai Xiaosheng was extremely conflicted.

    At the same time, he was also puzzled.

    Why hadn''t she returned to the Dao Lord realm?

    "Master?"

    Wu Shi opened her eyes, still groggy.

    "You''re awake?" Bai Xiaosheng looked carefully at Wu Shi''s face, trying to see if there were any changes from before.

    "Yes, what happened to me?"

    Her clear eyes were filled with confusion as she tightly gripped Bai Xiaosheng''s hand, still feeling cold.

    "I think I had a dream?"

    "What dream?" Bai Xiaosheng asked nervously.

    "I dreamed that I became a great figure, using the sword you gave me to slay all the bad guys!" Wu Shi said, her eyes sparkling with joy.

    Clearly, it had been a satisfying dream.

    "Anything else?" Bai Xiaosheng asked. "...Did you remember anything?"

    "No," Wu Shi shook her head. "Wait, Master, what happened? How did I suddenly become so strong?"

    Wu Shi looked both amazed and puzzled.

    From her expression, it didn''t seem like she was pretending. She truly didn''t remember anything.

    Bai Xiaosheng fell silent, pondering how to answer.

    Suddenly, Wu Shi covered her chest with both hands, her pupils dilating in disbelief.

    "Master, did you... did you sleep with me?"

    "Could it be that your virginity is so powerful that just one dual cultivation session made me this strong?"

    As she spoke, Wu Shi, who had initially seemed a little shy, now looked as if she had struck gold, her eyes gleaming.

    "What nonsense are you talking about!"

    What did she mean by "slept with her"?

    And how did she know about his virginity?!

    "Master, you''re blushing!" Wu Shi''s eyes sparkled. "Haha, more gold coins!"

    She shook her master''s sleeve, and golden coins cascaded down, which Wu Shi quickly gathered.

    Her thoughts were always so erratic.

    Bai Xiaosheng looked at his disciple, his mind racing. Finally, he decided not to hide the truth any longer. "Disciple, actually..."

    "Back then, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace approached me, asking for help in finding Ming Ri Xue."

    "Ming Ri Xue is where I found you."

    "The Source Heaven Dao God said that Ming Ri Xue is connected to a fallen Dao Lord.

    This Dao Lord is an enemy of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace."

    "So... I might be that Dao Lord?" Wu Shi asked, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

    "Yes," Bai Xiaosheng nodded.

    He also felt a sense of relief.

    This secret was finally out in the open.

    "Hehe, so my past self was a Dao Lord. Master, once I regain my strength, I''ll protect you!" Wu Shi said proudly, her eyes shining with joy. "From now on, you can just focus on staying safe. I''ll handle everything outside!"

    "..."

    After learning that she was the reincarnation of a Dao Lord, Wu Shi''s attitude toward Bai Xiaosheng remained unchanged.

    She still lacked the demeanor of a powerful figure, always laughing and carefree¡ªat least on the surface.

    Every day, she still enjoyed teasing Bai Xiaosheng''s emotions to make him spit out more gold coins.

    If there was any difference, it was that she seemed to be cultivating more diligently and working harder than before.

    Perhaps in the past, reaching the fifth level of True God had seemed too distant.

    But now, it felt within reach.

    She was also more determined than ever.

    However...

    In a palace, Wu Shi''s body felt cold, and she frowned delicately. "Breaking through to the Dao Lord realm is incredibly difficult."

    Or rather, she had no idea how to proceed.

    "What was I like back then?"

    In truth, Wu Shi also felt some resistance.

    If she regained her memories, would a second personality emerge within her?

    Would she still be herself?

    How would she treat her master?

    After all, as a Dao Lord, she couldn''t possibly keep shaking her master to make him spit out coins, right?

    "To possess the strength of a Dao Lord, you need a sword. A supreme sword."

    Just then, a voice echoed in Wu Shi''s ears.

    Wu Shi''s heart tightened.

    She instinctively wanted to call out for help, to alert her master.

    But after a moment''s thought, she decided against it.

    This person had appeared too suddenly, so much so that even her master hadn''t noticed.

    Calling out for help would be useless.

    And what if... it put her master in danger?

    "Do you know me?" Wu Shi looked at the shadowy figure before her, studying it intently.

    Unfortunately, the figure was too ethereal.

    She had many guesses.

    Perhaps her past self, the Dao Lord, had some connection with this shadowy figure?

    "Perhaps we met in some cycle of reincarnation," the shadow said.

    It seemed unwilling to elaborate on this topic.

    "Reincarnation?" Wu Shi murmured.

    The term surprised her.

    She continued, "What sword?"

    Earlier, the shadow had said that to possess the strength of a Dao Lord, she needed a supreme sword.

    "That sword, you''ve heard of it. It is Sword Disciple."

    "Sword Disciple?"

    Wu Shi''s pupils contracted.

    The name surprised her.

    Because she had heard the story of Sword Disciple and the Cloud Dream Palace Master from her master.

    She had mentioned more than once that she wanted to find the tombs of Sword Disciple and the Cloud Dream Palace Master.

    She had even said that Sword Disciple might have turned into a sword.

    Now, it seemed her words had come true.

    Sword Disciple had truly become a sword?

    Then... was she the Cloud Dream Palace Master?

    The Cloud Dream Palace Master and Sword Disciple''s sword...

    Her thoughts were tangled.

    "Am I the Cloud Dream Palace Master?" Wu Shi couldn''t help but ask.

    "You were, and you will be," the shadow said, seemingly trying to sound profound.

    Its words were cryptic.

    What did it mean by "you were" and "you will be"?

    Time was supposed to flow linearly¡ªpast, present, future.

    "How can I find that sword?" Wu Shi asked the shadow.

    She truly wanted to grow stronger.

    Her master had mentioned that the Nine Heavens Divine Palace was searching for her.

    They were enemies, not friends.

    If one day the Nine Heavens Divine Palace found her, she would drag her master down with her.

    But if she had the strength to protect herself, that wouldn''t happen.

    Moreover, she might even be able to avenge her master, to retaliate against those Dao Gods who had injured him.

    She craved power.

    "That sword..." The shadow''s voice was ethereal, and its form began to fade. "Forget Zhou Mountain."

    It vanished, leaving Wu Shi alone, murmuring, "Forget Zhou Mountain?"

    ...

    A day later, the young woman changed her attire, her face now adorned with a golden mask.

    "Master, I want to go to Forget Zhou Mountain."

    In the palace, Bai Xiaosheng was taken aback, the joy on his face disappearing.

    The golden sword in his hand was quickly hidden in his sleeve.

    "Why?"

    "I want to find a sword. A supreme sword."

    "Forget Zhou Mountain?" Bai Xiaosheng''s gaze was calm.

    He seemed to understand something.

    "Alright, go ahead. Be careful to avoid the Nine Heavens Divine Palace," Bai Xiaosheng couldn''t help but advise.

    "Hehe, Master, remember to miss me," Wu Shi said with a smile.

    "Mm," Bai Xiaosheng nodded.

    "Master, don''t look so gloomy. Even if I find that sword, I''ll always be your disciple.

    The me now is the real me," Wu Shi said seriously.

    Bai Xiaosheng''s thoughts were in turmoil, but he managed a smile. "If you become a Dao Lord, just don''t bully this old man. I''ll be very grateful."

    "Master, before I go, can you grant me one wish?" Wu Shi blinked her big eyes, looking at Bai Xiaosheng.

    "...Alright."

    "Hehe."

    Wu Shi''s smile turned mischievous.

    She suddenly shook Bai Xiaosheng vigorously.

    Clink, clink, clink¡ªgold coins poured out of Bai Xiaosheng like a waterfall, sparkling like fireworks.

    "So much money!" Wu Shi''s eyes sparkled like stars. Finally, she calmed down. "Master, there''s something in your sleeve that I can''t shake out."

    She looked at Bai Xiaosheng expectantly.

    She had known for a while that her master had been working hard to forge a sword for her.

    Now, there was a sword hidden in his sleeve.

    "I thought that once you found that sword, the one I forged wouldn''t be an embarrassment.

    But since you''re going out into the world, you''ll need a sword to tide you over.

    This sword... is for you.

    If you ever run out of money, you can pawn it."

    With that, a golden sword appeared in Wu Shi''s sight.

    It was a dazzling sword.

    It looked... extremely ornate.

    Well, aside from its ornate appearance, there wasn''t much else to say.

    "Wow, Master, you really understand me," Wu Shi said, taking the golden sword and admiring it more and more.

    "From now on, when you''re out in the world, don''t go by the name Sword Maiden or Wu Shi," Bai Xiaosheng added.

    "Huh? Master, are you worried I''ll ruin your reputation out there?" Wu Shi stuck out her tongue and said obediently, "I understand."

    After Wu Shi left, Bai Xiaosheng let out a sigh of relief.

    "She''s finally gone."

    Originally, he had thought it would take three hundred years to complete the sword.

    But recently, he had been working tirelessly to speed up the process.

    All to finish the sword and give it to her.

    Even if Wu Shi hadn''t left, he would have given her the sword and sent her away.

    Because the Tu Wu Great World was no longer safe.

    The information about Tian Qian Gu had leaked to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    This meant that the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had set its sights on him, Dao God Moneybags.

    However, out of respect for White Sugar Dao God''s reputation, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had not yet taken direct action against the Tu Wu Great World, biding its time.

    But Bai Xiaosheng knew his time was running out.

    ...

    Time passed, and a hundred years went by.

    The young woman wandered alone through the wilderness, the world around her blanketed in silver.

    "Forget Zhou Mountain... where exactly is it?"

    Over the past century, she had traveled across the Zhou Mountain World, searching for traces of Forget Zhou Mountain.

    She had scoured ancient texts and unofficial histories, but there was no trace of Forget Zhou Mountain.

    "The Cloud Dream Palace Master crashed into Forget Zhou Mountain and fell into Cloud Dream Mountain... but now, I can''t even find Cloud Dream Mountain."

    The Zhou Mountain World was vast.

    And Forget Zhou Mountain had likely been reduced to fragments, leaving only a few ruins.

    "I wonder how Master is doing. It''s been so long since I made him spit out gold coins. I miss it."

    "Has Master been fooled by that green tea priestess?"

    "I wonder how Master is now..."

    "That old man is so heartless. In the past hundred years, he hasn''t even come to see me secretly."

    Wu Shi''s thoughts were all over the place.

    Just then, a voice came from behind.

    "Fairy Falling Snow, what a coincidence, we meet again."

    A handsome man appeared, a wooden plaque with the emblem of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace hanging from his waist.

    Hearing the voice, Wu Shi frowned. "For you, it''s a coincidence. For me, it''s bad luck."

    While wandering Forget Zhou Mountain, Wu Shi had encountered this man named Yu Hei, a True God.

    Yu Hei had been clinging to her like a leech, shamelessly pursuing her.

    Wu Shi knew that what Yu Hei really wanted was her dazzling golden sword.

    Seeing Wu Shi''s rejection, Yu Hei wasn''t discouraged.

    "Fairy, are you also here to try your luck at the ruins of Forget Zhou Mountain? Why not travel together?" Yu Hei invited.

    The ruins of Forget Zhou Mountain were connected to two Dao God-level powerhouses.

    So, many people came to explore the ruins.

    "No," Wu Shi refused outright.

    At this moment, Yu Hei suddenly said, "Last time, I heard the fairy mention a friend in the Tu Wu Great World."

    "Oh, what about it?" Wu Shi asked calmly.

    "The Tu Wu Great World isn''t safe these days," Yu Hei continued.

    "The Tu Wu Great World has a Dao God overseeing it. What could be unsafe?" Wu Shi''s tone was indifferent.

    "A Dao God is strong, but if..." Yu Hei''s eyes gleamed with a smile, but he didn''t elaborate. "Fairy, why not travel with me? I''ll tell you the details as we go."

    He was trying to manipulate Wu Shi.

    "If you won''t say, then forget it."

    Wu Shi snorted coldly and vanished in a streak of light.

    Yu Hei was left standing there, stunned.

    "Does she really not care about the Tu Wu Great World?"

    "Right, it''s just a friend. If they die, they die. Who would care except for saving face?"

    Failing to manipulate Wu Shi, Yu Hei wasn''t angry.

    There would be other opportunities.

    Meanwhile, Wu Shi''s expression changed.

    "Master... is in danger."

    "No wonder he sent me away so directly."

    "And he hasn''t come to see me in the past hundred years."

    Her earlier confusion was now resolved, and Wu Shi was filled with anxiety.

    In truth, she had a special ability: she could hear people''s thoughts.

    She had listened to the thoughts of countless people.

    To her, the most gentle and pure thoughts were her master''s.

    Just now, Yu Hei had tried to manipulate her, so she had eavesdropped on his thoughts.

    The Tu Wu Great World was now in grave danger.

    The Nine Heavens Divine Palace was watching closely, ready to strike.

    Several Dao Gods were poised to attack.

    Her master was skilled at escaping, but in terms of combat power, he was quite ordinary.

    How could he stand against several Dao Gods from the Nine Heavens Divine Palace?

    "No, I have to see Master."

    She suspected that the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had discovered her and was trying to use her master to find her.

    She didn''t want to drag her master down.

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    Even though she knew her master probably didn''t want her to return.

    She had no choice.

    Her life had been given to her by her master.

    Her money had been given to her by her master.

    Her mask, her sword¡ªall had been given to her by her master.

 Chapter 620: New Crisis, Curse of Destruction

    Tu Wu Great World.

    A voice entered Bai Xiaosheng''s ears.

    "Dao God Moneybags, you''d better watch yourself. Out of respect for White Sugar Dao God, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace has already shown you enough courtesy."

    Bai Xiaosheng''s expression remained calm, and he did not respond.

    After the Nine Heavens Divine Palace discovered Tian Qian Gu, numerous Dao Gods descended upon the Tu Wu Great World.

    The Tu Wu Great World was now a place where one could enter but not leave.

    With Bai Xiaosheng''s strength, he could have escaped through the Dark Void, and the Nine Heavens Divine Palace would have had a hard time catching him in the short term.

    But if he left, what would happen to the Tu Wu Great World?

    Moreover, he was a divine treasure born with a spirit, bound to the Tu Wu Great World. If the Nine Heavens Divine Palace took control of the Tu Wu Great World and refined it over time, dealing with him would become much easier.

    "Ten thousand years should be enough for you to sever your karmic ties with the Tu Wu Great World. Although your strength will decrease significantly, it''s better than dying now, isn''t it?" the voice continued.

    Out of respect for White Sugar Dao God, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had not launched a full-scale attack on the Tu Wu Great World.

    Instead, they had given Dao God Moneybags a chance.

    As long as Dao God Moneybags truly severed his connection with the Tu Wu Great World and handed it over to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, they would spare him.

    Hearing this, Bai Xiaosheng looked out at the mountains, rivers, sun, moon, stars, wind, and falling leaves of the Tu Wu Great World.

    "I will not abandon the Tu Wu Great World," Dao God Moneybags replied.

    He had been born in the Tu Wu Great World, and it was like a mother to him.

    The beings of the Tu Wu Great World revered him as their master.

    How could he abandon the Tu Wu Great World and let the Nine Heavens Divine Palace enslave it?

    "Dao God Moneybags... our patience is limited. You have a hundred years to think it over. Choose between death or severing your ties with the Tu Wu Great World."

    The voice faded away.

    In the vast palace, only Dao God Moneybags remained.

    "Cough..."

    He coughed, golden blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

    Although the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had not harmed him out of respect for White Sugar Dao God, they had still clashed.

    "The gap between us... is too great."

    Aside from his exceptional escape skills, he was quite ordinary in other areas.

    And facing the siege of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, he couldn''t run.

    Otherwise, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace would seize the opportunity to take control of Tian Qian Gu.

    Then, the Tu Wu Great World would become a stronghold of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, and he wouldn''t be able to return.

    "A hundred years..." Bai Xiaosheng muttered, his eyes filled with worry.

    His time was running out.

    If he couldn''t give the Nine Heavens Divine Palace the answer they wanted within a hundred years, he would likely perish.

    "Aside from the method Black Crow Dao Lord mentioned, is there any other way to erase the nodes?"

    Bai Xiaosheng looked deeply troubled.

    Now, resisting the Nine Heavens Divine Palace was nearly impossible.

    The only way was to erase the nodes.

    If he could do that, the Tu Wu Great World would be useless to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    Although they would still be angry with him, the situation would ease significantly once the nodes were gone.

    "According to Black Crow, we need to find the Dao Lord of Devouring... is it Wu Shi?"

    There were very few Dao Lords who had achieved enlightenment in the Rebirth Realm.

    Such powerful beings, with their extraordinary talent, were usually taken to the Yang Realm.

    And that Dao Lord of Devouring had already perished.

    Moreover, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace was searching for Wu Shi.

    It was highly likely that Wu Shi was closely connected to that Dao Lord of Devouring.

    "No, if the Nine Heavens Divine Palace discovers her existence, she will definitely die."

    Therefore, Bai Xiaosheng chose not to seek out Wu Shi.

    Although Wu Shi had now reached the Divine Lord realm, reaching the Dao Lord realm would be incredibly difficult.

    Even if she were the true spirit or Dao Fruit of a Dao Lord, the time required would be immense, and the success rate was not high.

    And the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had given him very little time.

    Dismissing this thought, Bai Xiaosheng went to Tian Qian Gu.

    This wasn''t his first time visiting Tian Qian Gu.

    Since learning that Tian Qian Gu was a node, he had often come here, searching for a way to close the node.

    "How... can I erase the properties of the node?"

    He looked at the countless coins hanging from the money trees, his eyes filled with worry.

    "Aside from devouring, what other methods... can erase the node?"

    Even though Bai Xiaosheng was a Dao God, knowledgeable and well-informed, he had no solution for the nodes.

    "Extreme fire? Intense light? Transfer techniques? The Dao of Yin and Yang?"

    He murmured, pondering all possibilities.

    Time passed, and Bai Xiaosheng sat in meditation at Tian Qian Gu. His once-black hair now had streaks of silver.

    "I... am too weak."

    "If I were as strong as White Sugar Dao God, even if I couldn''t erase the nodes, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace wouldn''t dare treat me like this!"

    "If I dominated the heavens, stronger than the Heavenly Emperor, even if the Nine Heavens Divine Palace knew Wu Shi was my disciple, what could they do?"

    Dao God Moneybags once again lamented his weakness.

    What did it matter if he was a Dao God? He was still living a life worse than death.

    All beings in this world had their own suffering.

    Even a stone on the ground.

    "Master..." Just then, a familiar voice called out. "I knew you''d be here."

    Bai Xiaosheng turned around.

    Under the money tree adorned with golden coins stood a masked young woman, a gleaming golden sword slung over her shoulder.

    "You... why did you come back?"

    Bai Xiaosheng''s tone carried a hint of reproach.

    But deep down, he felt an inexplicable warmth.

    "If you''re being bullied here, and your disciple doesn''t return, those fox priestesses will surely gossip behind my back."

    "Besides... your disciple is out of money. I need you to spit out some gold coins."

    Hearing Wu Shi''s lighthearted tone, Bai Xiaosheng smiled, though his smile was tinged with bitterness. "The Nine Heavens Divine Palace has given me a hundred years... When the time comes, you should leave. Once you''ve cultivated enough and become a Dao Lord, avenge me."

    Bai Xiaosheng spoke these words to give Wu Shi a goal.

    To prevent her from joining him in death.

    "Enough with the talk of death!"

    "Master, you''re a Dao God, equal to the heavens!"

    "Master, don''t dwell on it. I came back to help you through this calamity."

    Wu Shi spoke, her face showing no signs of despair.

    Bai Xiaosheng looked at Wu Shi and took a deep breath. "You have a kind heart."

    "Master, you''re not that old. Don''t act so ancient," Wu Shi said, her tone slightly displeased.

    As she spoke, she moved closer to Bai Xiaosheng.

    Noticing the ground was dirty, she tugged at Bai Xiaosheng''s robe to cover the ground before sitting on it.

    Once seated, she glanced at Bai Xiaosheng with a proud look. "This time, it''s your disciple coming to save you. I deserve this."

    "How will you save me?"

    "I have a plan," Wu Shi''s tone turned serious.

    "What plan?"

    "Master, haven''t I been searching for a sword all this time?"

    "Yes."

    "Once I find that sword, I can regain the strength of a Dao Lord.

    With me guarding the Tu Wu Great World and the Cosmic Alliance''s support, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace... won''t be able to conquer the Tu Wu Great World for millions of years.

    By then, we can think of other solutions."

    Wu Shi explained briefly.

    As for why finding that sword would grant her the strength of a Dao Lord, she didn''t elaborate.

    After all, these words had come from the shadowy figure, and she couldn''t explain it well.

    So, she simply told Bai Xiaosheng about the shadowy figure.

    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Bai Xiaosheng''s expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "This will drag you into the mess."

    "Master, if the Nine Heavens Divine Palace wanted to kill me, would you save me?" Wu Shi asked.

    "Yes."

    "Then stop being so indecisive. Come with me to Forget Zhou Mountain to find the sword.

    Once we find that sword, everything will be fine.

    The Tu Wu Great World... will have hope."

    Bai Xiaosheng pondered and finally nodded. "Alright."

    ...

    Bai Xiaosheng secretly left the Tu Wu Great World, following Wu Shi.

    Leaving the Tu Wu Great World for a short time was fine.

    Moreover, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace had given Bai Xiaosheng a hundred years to consider, so there was no immediate conflict.

    "Master, the Zhou Mountain World is so vast. Where exactly is the Forget Zhou Mountain ruins?"

    In the mountains, the figures of a man and a woman appeared.

    The man was handsome, but a cloud of worry always lingered between his brows.

    The woman, on the other hand, was always smiling, no matter what she encountered.

    It was as if sadness and sorrow had no place in her life.

    "Master, you know, you have a bit of a melancholic beauty now."

    "Sigh, I''m such a cruel person, hehe."

    Wu Shi spoke without a care.

    By "cruel," she meant that instead of comforting her master when he was worried, she found him even more attractive in his melancholy.

    "Master, we''ve been out for three months. Where exactly is Forget Zhou Mountain?"

    "I don''t know."

    "I''ve been to Ming Ri Xue several times, but... I''ve never seen any trace of Forget Zhou Mountain," Wu Shi said.

    At that moment, amidst the heavy snow, she stood side by side with Bai Xiaosheng.

    This was Ming Ri Xue.

    The place where she and her master had first met.

    At first, she had wondered if Ming Ri Xue might actually be Forget Zhou Mountain.

    But after searching for a long time, she had found no trace of Forget Zhou Mountain, let alone... the sword.

    The snow on Ming Ri Xue fell heavily, like willow catkins drifting in the wind.

    Wu Shi didn''t use any Dao techniques, letting the snow fall on her head and shoulders.

    Bai Xiaosheng''s shoulders were also covered in snow.

    "Master, do you remember? When you first met me here, I followed you until my feet were frozen before you agreed to take me as your disciple!" Wu Shi''s eyes filled with nostalgia.

    The scene was still vivid in her mind.

    She had been an orphan on Ming Ri Xue, ragged and starving.

    When she saw Bai Xiaosheng appear, it was as if she had seen a ray of light.

    Her small figure had followed Bai Xiaosheng for four days and nights before finally moving him.

    Bai Xiaosheng''s eyes also showed a hint of nostalgia. "Time flies."

    "Yes," Wu Shi''s eyes also showed a moment of realization.

    Happy times were fleeting.

    She didn''t know how much longer she could spend days like these, side by side with her master.

    She had always wanted to find Forget Zhou Mountain.

    But... she also felt some resistance.

    What if that person... awakened and took over her consciousness? What would happen then?

    Now, with the threat of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace looming, she had to put those thoughts aside.

    "Forget Zhou Mountain..." Wu Shi murmured.

    Time passed, and half of the hundred years had already gone by.

    "Sigh, if we weren''t looking for Forget Zhou Mountain, we might have had children who could fly by now."

    Wu Shi shrugged and said casually.

    Bai Xiaosheng rolled his eyes at Wu Shi.

    Over the past fifty years, the two of them had almost traversed the entire Zhou Mountain World.

    They had seen countless mountains, breathtaking scenery, and heard the most peculiar sounds of the world.

    But there was still no trace of Forget Zhou Mountain.

    "Forget Zhou Mountain... if we don''t find it in the next forty years, I''ll have to return to the Tu Wu Great World," Bai Xiaosheng said.

    He also needed to save some time to deal with the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    Hearing this, Wu Shi''s smile froze slightly. "Master, don''t worry. We''ll definitely find Forget Zhou Mountain... and your disciple will become a Dao Lord and protect you."

    "I hope so," Bai Xiaosheng sighed.

    His mood was low.

    Even though Wu Shi was like a cheerful snow spirit, it was hard for him to feel happy.

    But just then, Bai Xiaosheng''s expression suddenly changed.

    "This is... no."

    He looked up at the sky, his body trembling.

    Even when facing the siege of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, he had never trembled like this.

    Wu Shi''s smile finally faded. "The curse of the Forbidden Land... is spreading."

    "At this rate... in less than a thousand years, it will... reach the Tu Wu Great World..." Bai Xiaosheng''s voice was filled with deep despair. "First the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, now the Forbidden Land. Is the Tu Wu Great World doomed?"

    The Forbidden Land had always been expanding.

    Even Dao Gods spoke of the Forbidden Land in hushed tones.

    The Forbidden Land was a cursed place.

    Any world pulled into the curse of the Forbidden Land would become part of it.

    In the Forbidden Land, all things perished.

    Even the immortal Dao Gods would dissolve if they stayed in the Forbidden Land for too long.

    This dissolution was irreversible.

    Thus, the Forbidden Land was also known as the Land of Endings.

    Now, the Forbidden Land was spreading toward the Tu Wu Great World...

    Once the Tu Wu Great World was pulled into the Forbidden Land, it would perish without the Nine Heavens Divine Palace''s intervention.

    Even a powerful True God who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations could not stop it.

    Wu Shi''s face also showed worry, her usual smile completely gone.

    "How could this happen..." She turned to Bai Xiaosheng, her eyes filled with tenderness and pity. She grabbed his hand. "There must be a way. There has to be a way. Once your disciple becomes a Dao Lord, maybe we can stop the expansion of the Forbidden Land."

    She comforted him.

    Bai Xiaosheng''s figure looked desolate, but feeling the warmth of Wu Shi''s hand, his heart calmed.

    Panicking... would be useless.

    Just then, his expression suddenly froze. "This is... Forget Zhou Mountain!"

    He looked toward the direction where the curse of the Forbidden Land was spreading.

    A broken mountain range appeared in his vision.

    This mountain range seemed to have been pulled out by the curse of the Forbidden Land.

    Wu Shi''s eyes lit up with joy. "Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise. Master... we''ve finally found Forget Zhou Mountain."

    She glanced at Bai Xiaosheng.

    Bai Xiaosheng also looked at her.

    Without hesitation, she took Bai Xiaosheng''s hand, and together they stepped into Forget Zhou Mountain.

    "Hope lies ahead. Once we find that sword, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace won''t be able to touch us for a while."

    "And we''ll find a way to deal with the curse of the Forbidden Land."

    Wu Shi spoke, though it was unclear whether she was comforting Bai Xiaosheng or herself.

    "The wind and snow here are quite strong. Be careful."

    At that moment, Bai Xiaosheng pulled Wu Shi into his arms, shielding her from the snow.

    This snowstorm was no ordinary one¡ªit could even harm Dao Gods.

    So, he had to protect Wu Shi.

    Wu Shi obediently stood in Bai Xiaosheng''s embrace, her eyes fixed on the snowstorm outside.

    "Master... be careful."

    When she saw her master injured by the snowstorm, she simply clenched her sleeves, not saying anything sentimental.

    "Don''t worry, these minor injuries are nothing," Bai Xiaosheng said with a smile.

    He shielded Wu Shi as they passed through the snowstorm, heading toward the broken peak.

    "Who built these steps? Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps? What a hassle!" Wu Shi complained.

    The nine thousand nine hundred steps were long, very long.

    Carrying Wu Shi, Bai Xiaosheng walked for nine hundred days.

    During these days, the two were never apart, step by step ascending the stairs.

    "Master, once I become a Dao Lord, I''ll definitely protect you!" Seeing her master''s injuries, Wu Shi felt a pang of heartache.

    The summit was now visible.

    It was within reach.

    Seeing that they were close to success, Bai Xiaosheng''s eyes showed a smile. Frost had already formed on his eyebrows. "Alright."

    For Wu Shi, the time spent climbing the mountain felt both long and short.

    Long because her master had shielded her from the snowstorm.

    Short because she was about to see the sword.

    Another dozen or so days passed.

    The snowstorm grew fiercer, crashing down like a waterfall, its momentum awe-inspiring.

    At that moment, the next step was right beneath their feet. Wu Shi tightly gripped Bai Xiaosheng''s hand. "Master, if the world were to write a book, we''d definitely be the main characters. Look... after overcoming countless hardships, we''ve finally arrived here."

    As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Xiaosheng carried Wu Shi and took the final step.

    They suddenly found themselves at the summit of Forget Zhou Mountain, which was also the summit of Cloud Dream Mountain.

    Whoosh!

    The wind howled, cold as a blade, treating all living beings as mere wood, shaping the world.

    "We''re here," Wu Shi said, exhaling a large puff of white air. Her face was filled with anticipation as she looked ahead.

    But in the next moment, her face turned pale.

    "Where''s the sword?"

    "Where is the sword?"

    Her face was filled with confusion and despair, as well as uncertainty about the future.

    There was no sword here.

    Only an empty stone scabbard.

    If there was no sword here, then all hope... would be lost.

    Bai Xiaosheng also scanned the area but found no trace of a sword.

    Just then, he seemed to notice something, his eyes filled with a strange expression.

    "Wu Shi, place the sword I gave you... on the stone scabbard."

    Whether by coincidence or not, he suddenly felt that the stone scabbard matched the sword he had given Wu Shi.

    A strange feeling arose in his heart.

 Chapter 621: People call me Cycle

    Wu Shi''s gaze couldn''t help but fall on the Sword Sheath Stone.

    In this icy, snowy wilderness, only this one stone remained unfrozen, standing out conspicuously.

    She looked at the Sword Sheath Stone, then at the golden sword in her hand.

    For some reason, she felt a sense of resistance, afraid to insert the sword into it.

    A coincidence?

    Or something else?

    Why... does this have to do with her master?

    She trembled instinctively, hesitating to move forward.

    "I..."

    Her master looked at Wu Shi, a glimmer of hope in his eyes: "Quick, give it a try. Perhaps... there''s a chance!"

    Once Wu Shi regained her Dao Lord combat power, she might be able to obliterate the node of the Tu Wu Great World.

    Facing the sinking curse that was pulling the Tu Wu Great World, she wouldn''t be as helpless as Bai Xiaosheng.

    Seeing the anxiety on her master''s face, Wu Shi didn''t hesitate any longer. Perhaps it was because the cold was too intense, her hand holding the golden sword trembled slightly.

    Clang!

    The golden sword slid into the Sword Sheath Stone, and the sound of the sword echoed like a dragon''s roar.

    Both of them stared intently at the golden sword, as if expecting something unusual to happen.

    "It must be a coincidence," Wu Shi comforted herself inwardly.

    However, in the next moment, her face turned pale.

    The golden sword began to tremble violently.

    The Sword Sheath Stone also started to shake.

    The surrounding void began to collapse and disintegrate.

    Time, space, and all the rules began to overlap and shatter.

    "Is this... a reaction?" Bai Xiaosheng''s expression was one of excitement.

    Was his disciple about to find her sword?

    Did this mean she could regain her Dao Lord combat power?

    At that moment, a surge of sword intent erupted into the sky.

    Bai Xiaosheng immediately turned his gaze toward the source of the sword intent.

    He saw a faint silhouette.

    "Is that the Sword Disciple?"

    He felt an overwhelming, razor-sharp sword intent.

    Pure and extreme.

    This sword intent seemed capable of tearing apart everything in the world.

    In an instant, this sword intent flooded into the golden sword.

    The previously shattered golden sword was reforged.

    The sword''s rank also ascended, as if it had been infused with a sword soul.

    Seeing this, Wu Shi let out a sigh of relief.

    The Sword Disciple had nothing to do with her master.

    It was all... her own delusion.

    The aura surged.

    The sword was transforming.

    From extraordinary, it climbed to the pinnacle.

    However, just as Wu Shi and Bai Xiaosheng were filled with anticipation, as the sword was about to fully form and its power reached its peak, a crack appeared on the golden sword.

    "What''s going on?" Bai Xiaosheng was puzzled.

    Despite his abilities and knowledge, he couldn''t understand what was happening.

    But he knew one thing: the sword was cracking.

    At this rate, it would completely shatter in ten breaths.

    Bai Xiaosheng quickly reached out and grasped the sword, trying to use his immense divine power to slow down the sword''s disintegration.

    Wu Shi did the same, her cold little hands covering her master''s, tightly gripping the sword.

    "It can''t shatter. It must not shatter," Bai Xiaosheng muttered, his heart filled with urgency.

    Time was running out.

    The sword''s edge was sharp, its intent overwhelming.

    Holding the sword, Bai Xiaosheng felt as if he was reliving the battle between the Sword Disciple and the Cloud Dream Palace Lord.

    Every strike was filled with killing intent, reckless and unrestrained.

    He also realized that the enmity between the Sword Disciple and the Cloud Dream Palace Lord was real.

    The Sword Disciple truly wanted to kill the Cloud Dream Palace Lord!

    The sword intent spread, and Bai Xiaosheng felt as if he had traveled back in time, witnessing the battle on Cloud Dream Mountain through the sword''s intent.

    He saw a man in black, transforming into a sword, relentlessly fighting.

    He also saw the Cloud Dream Palace Lord, standing atop the mountain peak, snow falling around her, her expression desolate.

    The whispers of time and space echoed in his ears.

    "Master, who are you waiting for?"

    "I''m waiting for a sword... a sword that can make the world forget its pain."

    "Have you found it?"

    "Forget Zhou Mountain is still standing... perhaps I haven''t."

    ...

    "Master, are you still waiting for that sword?"

    "I wonder if my disciple''s sword can replace that one."

    These whispers reached Bai Xiaosheng''s ears, and naturally, they reached Wu Shi''s as well.

    "The Cloud Dream Palace Lord was waiting for a sword?"

    "Forget Zhou Mountain is still standing, the sword hasn''t been forged!"

    "Now, the mountain has fallen, but where is the sword?"

    Wu Shi grew anxious.

    Time was running out¡ªless than five breaths remained.

    In five breaths, the sword would completely shatter.

    At that moment, another whisper echoed.

    "Forget Zhou Mountain has fallen, Master... have you found that sword?"

    "I... wish I hadn''t."

    A desolate voice reverberated through time and space, and all sounds and images abruptly ceased.

    "Why speak in riddles? Just say it clearly!" Wu Shi was frantic, almost cursing.

    If she were the Cloud Dream Palace Lord, she would have slapped her past self.

    But...

    At that moment, a strange piece of information flooded into the minds of Bai Xiaosheng and Wu Shi.

    Their expressions changed, and they exchanged glances.

    The information was clear: to prevent the sword from breaking, a Dao God must sacrifice everything.

    Wu Shi urgently said, "Master, don''t believe it. It''s a lie, a trap."

    Bai Xiaosheng looked at Wu Shi, his eyes gentle, filled with clarity and a smile: "If sacrificing one person can save the world, why not sacrifice me?"

    Bai Xiaosheng considered himself selfish and self-serving.

    But he also had the courage to sacrifice himself for a greater cause.

    To die for the Tu Wu Great World was a noble death.

    As for the trap...

    The moment he grasped the sword, he felt an inexplicable sense of destiny.

    As if he was born for this sword.

    He had no time to bid farewell to Wu Shi.

    The sword''s breaking point was imminent.

    He chose to sacrifice himself.

    His true spirit began to dissolve.

    His consciousness blurred.

    His vast divine power turned to ashes.

    A Dao God, a divine treasure given life, vanished into nothingness.

    The cracks on the golden sword began to heal!

    It... was truly being repaired.

    The sword seemed to be nearing completion.

    The golden color... was replaced by red.

    The Dao God Moneybags was no more.

    The golden sword her master had given her was gone.

    In its place was a blood-red sword.

    Wu Shi held the sword, shaking it repeatedly.

    She wanted it to be like before.

    But this time, no coins fell from it.

    Her cold hands bled, and the sword became even more crimson and sinister.

    Wu Shi collapsed onto the snowy ground, the vast world now empty except for her and the sword.

    She clutched the sword, her voice choked with tears: "Master, I don''t want you to compensate me with a sword anymore!"

    Countless memories flooded her mind.

    She remembered her first meeting with her master on Ming Ri Xue.

    She remembered the days spent with her master in the Zhou Mountain Great World.

    She also remembered, before Forget Zhou Mountain collapsed, she had seen a child who resembled her master.

    She took him as her disciple.

    She killed his sister.

    She was waiting for a sword.

    She was heartbroken, and confused, as if time and space had gone mad.

    "Are you confused about who was whose master first?"

    At that moment, an ethereal voice sounded.

    A black shadow descended.

    "It''s you!" Wu Shi gripped the blood-red sword, her eyes filled with deep wariness.

    The black shadow seemed oblivious to Wu Shi''s expression and continued speaking.

    "This place... is a massive cycle."

    "Within the cycle, there are variables."

    "If there were no Sword Disciple, if there were no Dao God Moneybags, in the future, you would become the Cloud Dream Palace Lord."

    "If time is a line, you are in front, and the Cloud Dream Palace Lord is behind."

    "But if there are cycles... the Cloud Dream Palace Lord exists in the previous cycle, and you are in the next."

    "Cycle... cycle..." Wu Shi murmured.

    This cycle was different from what she knew.

    Suddenly, her heart tightened, and she looked hopeful: "Master isn''t dead yet, and will become the Sword Disciple in the future?"

    Did this mean she could see her master again?

    "In countless cycles, this sword has never been born."

    "If the sword remains unformed, in some cycle, you might still see him."

    "But now... the sword is complete, and he is truly dead."

    The black shadow murmured, its voice devoid of emotion.

    Hearing this, Wu Shi was devastated, and more blood seeped from the sword.

    However, her expression quickly turned resolute.

    She still had to protect her master''s Tu Wu Great World.

    She had no time to grieve.

    "Who are you, and what is your purpose?" Wu Shi asked coldly.

    She felt as if her life had been manipulated like a puppet by this black shadow.

    Even the Sword Disciple...

    It seemed his astonishing sword talent, and his lack of emotions, might be related to this black shadow.

    The black shadow had manipulated her, manipulated the Sword Disciple, all to forge a sword.

    Realizing this, her killing intent was as strong as her sorrow, but... she didn''t show it.

    She wasn''t afraid of death.

    She just hadn''t yet protected the Tu Wu Great World, resolved the node, or dealt with the curse.

    "The world calls me the Cycle," the black shadow said calmly.

    Hearing this, Wu Shi''s heart skipped a beat.

    "Cycle?"

    The term "Cycle" carried profound implications.

    The Dao Lords'' doctrines, the Dao Gods'' divine realms, all would fall into cycles.

    "However, I prefer to be called the Wheel of Reincarnation," the black shadow''s voice carried a rare hint of emotion.

    It was a tone of regret, of loneliness.

    "As for my purpose?"

    "To forge this Sword of Forgetting."

    The Devouring Dao Lord of the Rebirth Realm had perished.

    To forge the Sword of Forgetting, he had to find the counterpart of the Devouring Dao Lord in the Yin World, and have Wu Shi inherit all of the Devouring Dao Lord''s power.

    Hearing this, Wu Shi gripped the sword tightly.

    "I won''t give you the sword."

    This sword carried too much weight for her.

    It was far too significant.

    But this time, the black shadow didn''t respond.

    As if he had come only to see if the Sword of Forgetting had been forged.

    Now that he had seen the sword, his figure vanished.

    "Who... is he?"

    Wu Shi''s heart was filled with doubt.

    This black shadow was an enigma.

    He had manipulated her master and herself with ease.

    Her heart was filled with killing intent, her expression cold: "I... will definitely kill him."

    If it weren''t for him, her master wouldn''t have turned into a cold sword.

    At that moment, a demonic obsession took root in her heart.

    As if only this could slightly ease her pain.

    "Master..."

    The young girl hugged the sword and disappeared into the snowy expanse of Forget Zhou Mountain.

    Later, people saw a Dao Lord in the Tu Wu Great World using a sword to obliterate the node of the Heavenly Money Valley.

    Others saw a young girl holding a blood-red sword, storming the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, slaying three Dao Gods, and forcing the palace into seclusion.

    As for the mysterious Heavenly Emperor, he never appeared.

    Some saw the girl holding the sword, forgetting and severing the curse.

    Later, people saw her by the riverside of the Tu Wu Great World, or on the snowy peaks of the Zhou Mountain Great World, catching a fleeting glimpse of her.

    Finally, some saw her entering the Forbidden Land, searching for something unknown.

    From then on, the legends of the girl and the Dao God Moneybags slowly faded from memory. Perhaps, one day, in some tavern, fragments of their story might still be told.

    Time is the best poison and medicine in the world, capable of erasing everything.

    (End of the Dao God Monyebags Arc.)

    ...

    Yang World.

    Unknown time, unknown space.

    "San Sheng, you''re insane."

    "I''m not insane."

    "You''re not insane?"

    "I can cultivate normally. How am I insane?"

    "Insane people can cultivate too."

    "Can insane people cultivate to the level of Yang God?"

    "Yin Gods are everywhere, Yang Gods are as common as dogs."

    The young man muttered.

    "There are too many people. If only I could be like Thanos and snap my fingers to wipe out half of all living beings."

    "Who''s Thanos?"

    "I don''t know him."

    "Then why mention him?"

    "Because I want to."

    "Then you still claim you''re not insane!"

    The young man was clearly angry.

    It was obvious that San Sheng was insane.

    San Sheng was born a mortal, without a prestigious background, powerful bloodline, or exceptional talent.

    But he... was diligent.

    He cultivated every moment.

    While others indulged in pleasures, he cultivated.

    While others couldn''t resist humming, he cultivated.

    While others'' descendants spread across countless worlds and universes, he was still cultivating.

    Perhaps heaven rewards the diligent.

    His efforts paid off.

    Now, San Sheng was one of the top powerhouses in the world.

    "San Sheng, the Heavenly Emperor wants to see you," the young man said, a hint of worry in his eyes.

    The Heavenly Emperor was also one of the most powerful beings in the world.

    It was said that when the Heavenly Emperor was angered, countless universes could be reduced to dust in an instant.

    "Let him come," San Sheng said indifferently.

    The young man''s figure vanished.

    In the underground palace, the Heavenly Emperor, dressed in white, appeared.

    "San Sheng... I need to borrow your brain."

    In front of San Sheng, the Heavenly Emperor showed no airs of a supreme being.

    Long ago, he and San Sheng had known each other.

    In fact, San Sheng had been his guide on the path of cultivation.

    San Sheng had given him much help in his cultivation.

    However, his talent far surpassed San Sheng''s.

    He had long since crossed that threshold, reaching the sixth stage of Yang God.

    As for San Sheng, he had been stuck at the fifth stage of Yang God for countless eons, countless ages.

    "You say..."

    At that moment, San Sheng, in the underground palace, spoke.

    His form was semi-transparent.

    He seemed to be constantly dissolving and regenerating.

    Shifting between reality and illusion, existence and nothingness.

    "The Xi Li World... is sinking, on the verge of complete annihilation... how can we stop it?"

    This sinking and annihilation were irreversible.

    The myriad worlds of the universe were born from one, divided into two, then three, and then all things.

    The Heavenly Emperor could traverse all timelines, reach any point in time, even alter history, return to the past, and eliminate enemies who had wronged him in his weaker days.

    But there was one thing he couldn''t do.

    He couldn''t stop the return to nothingness, or the return to zero, also known as the return to the abyss.

    From a human perspective, returning to nothingness was death.

    From a cosmic perspective, returning to nothingness was the destruction of the universe.

    Of course, there were some differences.

    When a person dies, their body remains.

    When something returns to nothingness, it is completely gone.

    "I thought the return to nothingness only existed in the Yin Realm and the Rebirth realm. I didn''t expect it to spread to the Yang Realm," the Heavenly Emperor said, his brow furrowed.

    "You want to save the Xi Li World?" San Sheng asked.

    "Yes."

    "The power of nothingness isn''t strong enough in the Yang World to erase you.

    So, as long as you become the Xi Li World, nothingness can''t destroy it."

    "Wait, you''re saying... I should become the Xi Li World?"

    The Heavenly Emperor''s eyes flashed with a sharp light.

    It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck his mortal brain, jolting him awake.

    "I see... as long as all living beings in the myriad worlds are me, I can stop the power of nothingness!"

    Nothingness was still weak. Before it grew stronger, if all living beings were him, he could halt the power of nothingness.

    "Actually, I have many other methods."

    "Huh?" The Heavenly Emperor was surprised.

    "Nothingness... violates the law of conservation of energy. As long as we adhere to the law of conservation of energy, nothingness will cease to exist," San Sheng muttered.

    "But..." The Heavenly Emperor was puzzled, "Laws are just rules we create at will."

    "Really? I remember, when a whale dies, it nourishes all life."

    "True spirits will return to nothingness."

 Chapter 622: One is helpless, the other is quiet

    "Indeed, life and death are the essence of the Dao."

    San Sheng murmured.

    The world is boundless, divided into three realms: Yin, Yang, and the Rebirth realm.

    All things in the world revolve, with life and death.

    There are world creators who bring life into existence from nothingness.

    And there is the existence of "Return to Nothingness," which seems to be constantly reducing the three realms of Yin and Yang to zero.

    This is the ultimate truth, the law, the Great Dao.

    For beings like the Heavenly Emperor, who have reached the sixth stage of Yang God, there seems to be nothing in the world that can challenge them.

    Solving the problem of "Return to Nothingness" has become their path.

    Hearing San Sheng''s murmurs, the Heavenly Emperor seemed lost in thought.

    San Sheng''s words had given him many insights.

    Although he might have heard similar words from others before, San Sheng was different. His words seemed to carry a special kind of magic, capable of triggering sudden enlightenment.

    "San Sheng, thank you for imparting the Dao," the Heavenly Emperor said.

    San Sheng smiled, indifferent, as if he was still pondering how to reach a higher realm or how to deal with "Return to Nothingness."

    "Coincidentally, the Origin Mountain is opening, and I will grant you a spot," the Heavenly Emperor said. "On the Origin Mountain, there is a being you might find interesting, somewhat similar to what you just mentioned about ''a whale''s death nourishing all life.''"

    The Origin Mountain is the beginning of everything, the Dao of "One begets all."

    On the Origin Mountain, there are traces left by beings above the fifth stage of Yang God.

    Any living being seeking to break through to a stage above the fifth level of Yang God would go to the Origin Mountain to observe these traces and seek the method of breakthrough.

    However, not everyone has the qualification to enter when the Origin Mountain opens.

    There are countless fifth stage Yang God powerhouses in the world.

    After all, once one reaches the level of Yang God, as long as they don''t court death, their lifespan is infinite.

    They can slowly break through.

    Because of this, the number of powerhouses in the world keeps increasing.

    Various miraculous Dao techniques and divine abilities have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

    These Dao techniques and divine abilities are immensely powerful, and most emphasize eradicating the root of the problem.

    Thus, when two powerhouses fight, they can destroy endless matter and true spirits.

    Not only do they annihilate their enemies'' physical bodies, but they also obliterate their true spirits.

    This, to some extent, aids the spread of "Return to Nothingness."

    When the young man heard that the Heavenly Emperor had granted San Sheng a spot to enter the Origin Mountain, his eyes lit up with joy.

    "San Sheng... you can go to the Origin Mountain. Doesn''t that mean our lineage... might produce a being above the fifth stage of Yang God?"

    The young man''s happiness was unrestrained.

    Although the fifth stage of Yang God is already the pinnacle.

    Who wouldn''t want to reach an even higher realm?

    After all, that is the true summit, the rarest of the rare!

    Eternal and unchanging!

    There are records of fifth-level Yang God powerhouses falling.

    But the sixth level of Yang God... is almost unimaginable.

    If San Sheng were to reach the sixth level of Yang God, the benefits for their lineage would be immense and incalculable.

    "Hmm," San Sheng responded, seemingly lost in thought.

    "Haha, our lineage will finally produce a being above the fifth level of Yang God!" The young man laughed maniacally, almost crazed.

    There are countless fifth-level Yang God powerhouses in the world, but the number of sixth-level Yang God beings is only in the single digits.

    "San Sheng, this time, you must reach the sixth stage of Yang God!"

    The young man''s face was twisted with excitement.

    Among the many fifth-level Yang God powerhouses in the world, the chance to reach the sixth level is extremely rare.

    But when it comes to San Sheng, everyone knows that once he enters the Origin Mountain, he will undoubtedly reach the sixth level of Yang God.

    "This time, as you journey to the Origin Mountain, I, along with our ancestors and the entire lineage''s resources, will... escort you there!" The young man''s earlier madness faded, replaced by solemn determination.

    San Sheng was the hope of their lineage.

    He was the only one in their lineage with the potential to reach a higher realm.

    If San Sheng succeeded, the future of their lineage would be unimaginable.

    Their achievements, in the mortal world, would be akin to the merit of supporting a rising dragon.

    San Sheng''s journey to the Origin Mountain would undoubtedly attract assassins.

    There would certainly be those who did not wish to see another sixth-level Yang God powerhouse emerge in the world.

    The young man''s figure vanished, and soon, in countless spaces, many ancient beings who had been dormant for who knows how long began to awaken.

    "San Sheng can go to the Origin Mountain?"

    "Haha, I never thought I would live to see this day!"

    "I will stake my life to ensure he reaches the Origin Mountain!"

    "Above the fifth level of Yang God..."

    The powerhouses of this lineage, at this moment, set aside their differences and reached a consensus. Their sole goal was... to escort San Sheng to the Origin Mountain.

    As for the expectations of these elders, San Sheng paid no mind.

    At this moment, what occupied his thoughts was not reaching the sixth level of Yang God, but rather the concept of "Return to Nothingness" and other matters.

    "The number of supreme powerhouses in this world... is too many."

    "It''s becoming overcrowded."

    San Sheng murmured.

    He looked around and saw people crowded together, creatures packed tightly.

    The masses struggled bitterly.

    Some, just born, had not even experienced the world before being caught in the crossfire of battles between powerhouses, their entire worlds vanishing.

    Matter destroyed, true spirits extinguished.

    "Return to Nothingness..."

    What others might see as oppression or conflicts of interest, San Sheng saw as "Return to Nothingness."

    Every moment, the world was returning to nothingness, tending toward zero.

    As if all things were merging into one.

    "How... can we stop ''Return to Nothingness''?"

    San Sheng furrowed his brow in deep thought.

    In the distance, a stone shattered, turning into nothingness, struck by the power of a Yang God.

    To San Sheng, this stone had completely vanished, no longer existing, and had not transformed into anything else.

    "Humans, living beings... how similar they are to this stone."

    San Sheng pondered seriously, his brilliant mind constantly searching for a solution.

    As time passed, the opening of the Origin Mountain drew nearer.

    San Sheng and his group began their journey to the Origin Mountain forty-nine days in advance.

    Except for powerhouses like the Heavenly Emperor, no matter how fast or powerful one was, it would always take forty-nine days to reach the Origin Mountain.

    During these forty-nine days, battles raged incessantly.

    Every day, fifth-level Yang God powerhouses fell.

    Many of the fifth-level Yang God powerhouses escorting San Sheng were also injured.

    "San Sheng, don''t worry. With us here, you will reach the Origin Mountain safely!" The young man patted his chest and declared, though golden blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

    The other powerhouses around him were also injured to varying degrees.

    San Sheng glanced at the many powerhouses, then closed his eyes, sensing the distant battles, the blood, and the fire.

    "This path... is also a path of ''Return to Nothingness,''" San Sheng murmured.

    He seemed to have realized something.

    There were far too many powerhouses.

    And powerhouses, who could manipulate time, even return to the past to protect their weaker selves, or unify timelines, had an extremely low chance of falling.

    But the destructive power of these powerhouses was immense. When they killed weaker beings, they obliterated their true spirits as well.

    Thus, the Yang World, the Rebirth Realm, and the Yin World had become playgrounds for powerhouses.

    Powerhouses acted with impunity.

    Forty-nine days passed.

    After countless battles, an unknown number of fifth-level Yang God powerhouses had fallen.

    Only twenty-seven fifth-level Yang God powerhouses arrived at the entrance to the Origin Mountain.

    This time, forty-nine fifth-level Yang God powerhouses had earned the right to enter the Origin Mountain.

    But only twenty-seven made it this far.

    This showed just how perilous the journey had been.

    Even San Sheng, the prodigy escorted by many fifth-level Yang God powerhouses, was stained with blood.

    Though it was the blood of others.

    "We have finally reached the Origin Mountain!" A powerhouse trembled with emotion.

    This was his second time coming to the Origin Mountain.

    This journey had been even more dangerous than the last.

    His Dao body was shattered, and his true spirit was dim.

    This would also be his final chance to enter the Origin Mountain.

    "I wonder if any of us will be able to reach a level above the fifth level of Yang God," a young woman sighed, her voice tinged with melancholy.

    Since ancient times, the Origin Mountain had opened countless times.

    But the number of sixth-level Yang God beings seemed to be less than the fingers on two hands.

    As the woman spoke, many of the fifth-level Yang God powerhouses present turned their gazes toward San Sheng.

    Their eyes held reverence, envy, and calm.

    It was clear.

    If anyone among them could reach a level above the fifth level of Yang God, it would likely be San Sheng.

    This legendary figure.

    The one who could guide even a sixth-level Yang God powerhouse.

    "The Origin Mountain... has opened."

    San Sheng''s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

    This was his first time entering the Origin Mountain.

    All the powerhouses'' attention was drawn to the Origin Mountain ahead, and they stepped inside.

    "This feeling..."

    "The beginning?"

    "Rebirth?"

    "All things?"

    "All the laws and rules are intertwined here!"

    "Our Great Dao can all find their counterparts here!"

    The fifth-level Yang God powerhouses carefully sensed everything, greedily absorbing the essence of the Origin Mountain.

    "Wait, are those traces left by beings above the fifth level of Yang God?" The female fifth-level Yang God powerhouse said, her eyes filled with reverence and awe.

    The other fifth-level Yang God powerhouses also looked at the traces, their eyes filled with either reverence or contemplation.

    Understanding the paths of those who came before and comprehending their own paths¡ªthis was the purpose of their journey here.

    However, comprehension... was difficult for them.

    After all, they couldn''t even count the number of traces before them, let alone comprehend them.

    Faced with the grandeur of the sixth level of Yang God, they were like children who couldn''t count, utterly lost.

    However, they knew that the number of traces was neither one nor ten, but somewhere between one and ten.

    Everyone sat down and began to observe the traces.

    "Legend has it that one must possess one of the Ten Primordial Bodies... to break through to a level above the fifth level of Yang God?" San Sheng murmured thoughtfully.

    He didn''t know why this thought had occurred to him, nor why he had spoken it aloud.

    The woman next to him heard this and seemed puzzled as to why someone of San Sheng''s background wouldn''t know this.

    She explained, partly to ingratiate herself with San Sheng.

    "It''s not that one must possess a Primordial Body to reach a level above the fifth level of Yang God. Rather... when one reaches a level above the fifth level of Yang God, their physique is then referred to as a Primordial Body!"

    "So, there are ten beings above the fifth level of Yang God?" San Sheng muttered.

    After all, he seemed to recall that there were Ten Primordial Bodies in the world.

    The woman shook her head: "Probably not."

    Of course, she wasn''t sure of the exact number.

    Some physiques were called Primordial Bodies simply because they were comparable to those limit-breaking physiques in the early stages, with the potential to break through the limits and surpass the peak of cultivation¡ªthe fifth level of Yang God.

    "I see."

    San Sheng said no more.

    He looked at the traces ahead and began to study them carefully.

    The others did the same.

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    Time flowed, and no one knew how many years had passed.

    Suddenly, San Sheng spoke.

    "So, your name is Wu Fa."

    "And yours is Jing."

    It was as if he had glimpsed the paths of two beings above the fifth level of Yang God.

 Chapter 623: I Reject Your Way

    In San Sheng''s eyes, the two traces¡ªone named "Wu Fa" ("No Law") and the other "Jing" ("Stillness")¡ªrepresented the laws and rules of the universe.

    These were the paths of the two beings above the fifth stage of Yang God.

    His eyes were filled with contemplation as he continued to delve deeper into understanding their paths.

    As for the other fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses, their eyes were focused, seemingly lost in their own realizations.

    They too were attempting to comprehend the paths left by those traces.

    At that moment, a multicolored light fell upon San Sheng.

    This light was ordinary, even less intense than a basic flash spell from a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

    Yet, all the remaining fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses present turned their gazes toward San Sheng, their eyes filled with surprise and envy.

    "What is this?"

    "The traces have shifted!"

    "Could it be that San Sheng has comprehended something?"

    "Indeed, he is the one among us most likely to reach a stage above the fifth stage of Yang God."

    These fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses, who had lived for countless eons, were still filled with excitement at this moment.

    Then, a mechanical voice emerged from the light.

    "My name is Wu Fa. Would you be willing to walk my path?"

    The voice was mechanical, as if extending an invitation to San Sheng.

    The surrounding fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses, upon hearing this, were filled with excitement.

    The stage above the fifth stage of Yang God was mysterious and unfathomable, but there were some rumors about it.

    To reach the sixth stage of Yang God, one either had to forge their own path or... follow the path of another sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse.

    Walking the same path did not imply superiority or inferiority.

    This sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse named Wu Fa was inviting San Sheng, offering to share his path.

    Which of these fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses wouldn''t envy or be excited by this?

    If San Sheng agreed, he could instantly ascend to the sixth stage of Yang God.

    However, something unexpected happened.

    "Wu Fa, conservation. Your path is not my Dao."

    San Sheng refused.

    He had already seen through Wu Fa''s path.

    This path might be suitable for Blue Star.

    Wait, what was Blue Star?

    In any case, Wu Fa''s path emphasized severing the connection between heaven and earth, eliminating all supernatural elements from the world.

    In other words, without supernatural factors, all living beings in the world would be ordinary mortals.

    Without supernatural existence, the destructive power of Dao techniques would cease to exist.

    It would be impossible to truly annihilate true spirits or completely destroy matter.

    Thus... conservation?

    Such a path was not what San Sheng sought.

    If all beings were mortals, even if "Return to Nothingness" could not affect them, such a path would still be as useless as a chicken rib.

    San Sheng''s refusal shocked all the fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses present.

    After all, he had just rejected a path to the sixth stage of Yang God.

    Some of the fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses were so frustrated they wanted to beat their chests and take San Sheng''s place in accepting the offer.

    Unfortunately, they were not qualified, and could only lament for San Sheng.

    Others, however, secretly rejoiced. If San Sheng had missed this opportunity, would he still have a chance to reach a stage above the fifth stage of Yang God?

    But at that moment, several more beams of light fell upon San Sheng.

    Mysterious and profound voices, like immortal whispers, echoed.

    The fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses could not clearly hear what was being said.

    But they understood that these were the voices of the sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses, inviting San Sheng to walk their paths.

    "This is..."

    "The gap in talent between beings is truly vast."

    "Which one will he choose?"

    Those who could come to the Origin Mountain were all true prodigies¡ªno, prodigies couldn''t even describe them. They were peerless powerhouses.

    But in front of San Sheng, they seemed utterly foolish.

    Most of them watched San Sheng, paying close attention to his choice.

    After all, at this moment, the traces were fluctuating, making it temporarily impossible to comprehend them.

    "Your paths do not suit me," San Sheng still refused, without any hesitation.

    As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of all the beings present changed.

    "How many did he reject?"

    "Did he reject all of them?"

    Although there were only a few beams of light, they couldn''t count how many there were.

    But from the looks of it, San Sheng had rejected every invitation.

    The other fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses felt a mix of emotions.

    They coveted these paths, while San Sheng treated them as worthless.

    They sighed.

    San Sheng''s rejection of so many paths showed his ambition.

    They too had ambition.

    But if it were them, they would never have rejected the invitations.

    No matter what, they would have ascended to the sixth stage of Yang God first.

    As San Sheng rejected the offers, the traces on the Origin Mountain fell silent once more.

    Seeing this, the powerhouses couldn''t help but feel regret for San Sheng, though some were secretly pleased.

    Would those sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses, having been rejected by San Sheng, choose them instead?

    Unfortunately, those sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses were not promiscuous, nor did they keep backup options. They simply fell silent.

    The others, seeing this, each with their own thoughts, returned to their contemplation.

    San Sheng did the same.

    However, at this moment, something peculiar was happening to him.

    His consciousness also came to a halt.

    "Is it you... Jing?"

    San Sheng spoke, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    Before him, there seemed to be a circle, infinitely looping.

    This circle was like a point, a sphere, or a higher-dimensional shape.

    While he had not been curious about Wu Fa''s trace or the other sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses, he was deeply curious about Jing.

    "Jing, or stillness, refers to the cessation of all things, or the stopping of time," San Sheng murmured.

    Stopping time once was simple enough.

    A fifth-stage Yang God powerhouse could stop the flow of time in an entire universe.

    But what Jing pursued was the stillness of all things, all beings, the Origin Mountain, the sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses, and even "Return to Nothingness."

    When all known, unknown, unknowable, and non-knowable regions, or even nothingness, were still, that was Jing.

    "Your path is stillness, so you no longer exist," San Sheng said.

    To still others, one must first still oneself.

    Thus, this state of stillness was quite special.

    "You are correct. The Dao of Stillness is the true Great Dao. When all things are still, all beings survive."

    The Dao of Stillness was also a Dao of time.

    However, it was a level above the Dao of time.

    "Even I, lost between movement and stillness, between the past, present, and future, cannot truly comprehend the Dao of Stillness.

    That is why... I called you here."

    The motionless, special form spoke.

    "Called me here?" San Sheng''s eyes were filled with confusion.

    This "calling" likely did not refer to the present.

    "I observed the origin, observed the future, existing in the past, present, and future. In the final moment of ''stillness,'' I pulled a thread of hope into this realm," Jing said.

    The Dao of Stillness was extremely difficult, and Jing had a grand wish: to still all things, which naturally included stilling other powerhouses of the same level.

    Thus, his path was fraught with thorns, always just one step away from success.

    In the final moment, he used all his Dao techniques, divine abilities, and accumulated resources to pull a thread of hope from the infinite worlds.

    This thread of hope was San Sheng.

    In other words, San Sheng''s birth was the result of Jing pulling him into existence.

    "Your talent is immense. You have the qualifications to become the true ''Jing,''" Jing said.

    Stillness was eternal.

    Stillness was everlasting.

    Stillness could resist "Return to Nothingness."

    Stillness was supreme.

    Stillness was omniscient and omnipotent.

    Jing seemed to see San Sheng inheriting his legacy, attaining stillness.

    All things would be still, but he would not.

    Stillness and non-stillness would be at his whim.

    All beings, all things in the myriad realms, would be under his control.

    "Sorry, my path is not stillness," San Sheng shook his head.

    Jing was not surprised: "I believe that after traversing endless years, you will eventually choose ''stillness.''"

    As the words fell, the so-called "Jing" disappeared, and a jade slip appeared in San Sheng''s hand.

    "Such powerful time energy, and... stillness," San Sheng murmured.

    "This is somewhat like a game jade slip. Is Jing hoping that I can truly comprehend time and the so-called movement and stillness through this?"

    San Sheng muttered to himself.

    This game jade slip was chaotic with time.

    Through it, he could traverse the myriad realms and manipulate time.

    Past, present, and future were all in chaos.

    "Unfortunately, this is not my path."

    "My path... is reincarnation!"

    San Sheng declared.

    This game jade slip could be considered a supreme treasure, something even sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses would covet.

    But San Sheng paid it no mind.

    His talent, his wisdom, his brilliant mind¡ªthese were his true treasures.

    "It seems I need to formulate a plan to walk the path of reincarnation."

    San Sheng said softly.

    ...

    The comprehension on the Origin Mountain soon came to an end.

    Many powerhouses left in despair, while others seemed to have gained some insights, deepening their understanding of the fifth stage of Yang God.

    "How is San Sheng? Has he reached a stage above the fifth stage of Yang God?" an elder asked, his face filled with anxiety.

    The young man looked displeased: "San Sheng hasn''t come out yet. Why the rush? Even if San Sheng has gained some insights and reached the sixth stage of Yang God, it won''t happen overnight."

    The other fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses said nothing more.

    They were all part of San Sheng''s lineage and naturally hoped he could reach the sixth stage of Yang God.

    Then their lineage would truly... become eternal.

    "What? San Sheng rejected the path to the sixth stage of Yang God?"

    "Not just one!"

    "He rejected all of them!"

    Hearing this, the powerhouses of the lineage were horrified.

    Even the young man was somewhat surprised.

    However, his face showed reverence: "As expected of Brother San Sheng, forging his own path to the sixth stage of Yang God."

    The others also showed reverence.

    After all, if it were them, they might have chosen the paths of those sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses.

    Of course, some were filled with regret.

    After all, San Sheng had been so close to becoming a sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse.

    Their lineage would have soared to new heights.

    When San Sheng returned, the powerhouses did not say much. They mostly offered encouragement or showed reverence.

    Although they were still injured from escorting San Sheng to the Origin Mountain, no one complained.

    However...

    After an unknown amount of time, whispers finally began to spread.

    "''Return to Nothingness'' has begun again. Despite our efforts to stop it, another universe has fallen!"

    "The Great Wall of the Dharma Immortal King cannot stop ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "Without a sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse, who can resist ''Return to Nothingness''?"

    "Sigh, if San Sheng had reached the sixth stage of Yang God, our lineage wouldn''t be so helpless against ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "We can only wait for San Sheng... to reach the sixth stage of Yang God."

    "But who knows how long that will take?"

    "Could it be... that he won''t be able to reach it?"

    "Don''t say such things!"

    On the other side, in his cave abode.

    San Sheng opened his eyes, his gaze profound.

    "The plan is finally complete."

    "Reincarnation should take the Yin World, the Rebirth realm, and the Yang World as nodes.

    The first step of the plan is to enter the Rebirth realm and forge reincarnation.

    When Yin is born, Yang dies; when Yang is born, Yin dies. All enter reincarnation."

    His idea was simple.

    To turn the Rebirth realm into reincarnation.

    Of course, this was extremely difficult.

    After all, he was a being of the Yang World. Entering the Rebirth realm would subject him to suppression.

    "The second step of the plan is to understand all beings in the Yin World, the Yang World, and the Rebirth realm."

    The essence of "Return to Nothingness" was similar to powerful beings hunting the weak, depriving them of their right to exist.

    He needed to understand and master the Dao techniques that annihilated true spirits and destroyed matter. Only then could he truly reincarnate those whose true spirits had been extinguished into the cycle of reincarnation.

    Thus, he needed to establish a Dao lineage and understand all beings.

    "The third step of the plan is the completion of reincarnation."

    San Sheng murmured.

    At that moment, a voice emerged from the game jade slip.

    "The reincarnation you seek is interesting, no less profound than ''stillness.'' But can you truly succeed?

    Walking the path of ''stillness,'' with Jing''s accumulated knowledge, you have a ninety percent chance of success."

    San Sheng frowned.

    "You have no intelligence, yet you act like a system."

    "Being able to speak, aren''t you a bit toxic?"

    With a wave of his hand, the game jade slip fell silent.

    San Sheng''s eyes became profound.

    "Can I truly... be called ''Reincarnation'' by the world?"

    He felt immense pressure.

    He also saw the elders of his lineage filled with expectations for him. He saw countless beings perishing in "Return to Nothingness."

    What he sought also required understanding the essence of all sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses.

    This was to make enemies.

    "Backup plan: if reincarnation fails, then... cycle."

    If reincarnation failed, he would use the cycle to achieve the Dao and resist "Return to Nothingness."

 Chapter 624: Stepping on the fourth stage of Yang God, Entering the fifth stage of Yang God

    The young man returned from the front lines, bearing injuries.

    Even though he had reached the fifth stage of Yang God and possessed unparalleled combat power, he still suffered wounds when facing "Return to Nothingness."

    "How is San Sheng?" the young man asked.

    Since San Sheng had returned from the Origin Mountain, he had been in seclusion, contemplating the path to the sixth stage of Yang God.

    "He is still in seclusion," a third-stage Realm Lord replied respectfully.

    "Your Majesty, should we inform San Sheng about the situation with ''Return to Nothingness''?" the Realm Lord then asked.

    It was clear that this was not his own question but one prompted by others.

    The young man frowned: "There is no need to inform San Sheng about this. I will handle ''Return to Nothingness.'' He only needs to focus on breaking through to the sixth stage of Yang God"

    This was his way of expressing his stance.

    He knew that because San Sheng had not chosen any of the paths offered by the sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses on the Origin Mountain, there had been much gossip within their lineage.

    After all, in the eyes of others, if San Sheng had reached the sixth stage of Yang God, their lineage might not have suffered so terribly against "Return to Nothingness," and they wouldn''t have had to abandon so many territories.

    After speaking, the young man said no more. He merely glanced at San Sheng''s place of seclusion and prepared to leave.

    "Come here."

    At that moment, San Sheng''s voice rang out.

    The young man''s brow twitched, and he entered the seclusion chamber.

    San Sheng looked at the young man, his voice calm: "I plan to go to the Rebirth realm."

    Hearing this, the young man''s expression changed slightly.

    However, he did not speak.

    "The Rebirth realm, as well as the Yin realm, are crucial to my Dao," San Sheng explained.

    The young man took a deep breath.

    If it were anyone else, they would likely have tried to dissuade San Sheng.

    After all, the Rebirth realm and the Yin realm were not like the Yang realm. They were further from the Dao.

    Breaking through to the sixth stage of Yang God there would be a distant dream.

    "I will handle things here. You focus on your cultivation and breakthrough," the young man said.

    "Alright," San Sheng nodded.

    After making some simple arrangements, his figure vanished.

    From that moment on, San Sheng was no longer in the Yang realm.

    In the Rebirth realm, a new San Sheng appeared.

    ...

    "The Dao of Reincarnation must also be reforged in the Rebirth realm."

    The San Sheng who arrived in the Rebirth realm was a completely new San Sheng.

    He started from the very bottom, re-cultivating the Dao techniques¡ªQi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul... until he finally reached the third stage of Yang God.

    "After the third stage of Yang God comes the fourth stage, where the true spirit is extinguished and solidified into rules."

    On the Mi Ri Xue, San Sheng''s eyes were filled with melancholy.

    "Is the fourth stage of Yang God... the result of that failure?"

    San Sheng recalled that on the Origin Mountain, a sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse had also invited him.

    That sixth-stage Yang powerhouse was named "Dun" ("Escape").

    This "Dun" referred to the concept of "Heaven''s Dao has fifty, but one escapes."

    "Return to Nothingness" was the inevitable trend, the opposite of life.

    This "Dun" used escape to counter "Return to Nothingness."

    However, his "Dun" was not perfect, much like how "Jing''s" stillness was incomplete.

    "So, influenced by ''Dun,'' all fourth-stage Yang God powerhouses in the world... lose their true spirits, existing only in the past and future. Only by solidifying into treasures can they exist in the present?"

    This was "Dun''s" method of countering "Return to Nothingness," and it was also his Dao.

    "All Daos ultimately aim for eternity.

    However, since ''Return to Nothingness'' exists in the world, resisting it has become the ultimate goal of the Dao."

    "Return to Nothingness" is the return to zero, destruction, calamity, chaos, and oblivion.

    All negative, annihilating, and eradicating methods in the world can be called "Return to Nothingness."

    "Reincarnation means that even beings consumed by ''Return to Nothingness'' can emerge from my cycle of reincarnation."

    This was San Sheng''s vision.

    But realizing it would be extremely difficult.

    Destruction is always easier than reconstruction.

    The Yin realm, the Rebirth realm, and the Yang realm contain countless universes, spaces, and great realms.

    Even the cosmos beyond the three realms.

    The number of powerhouses born is incalculable.

    The Dao... is also infinite.

    The methods of annihilation are beyond measure.

    Some methods are unfathomable, involving absolute banishment, techniques that do not harm the true spirit, or imprisonment.

    Anything that causes living beings distress or, conversely, seems favorable but carries malice, can be called "Return to Nothingness."

    "Return to Nothingness" is the opposite of eternity.

    Even malicious eternity can be considered a form of "Return to Nothingness."

    The "Return to Nothingness" currently appearing in the three realms mostly manifests as destruction.

    "Therefore... to achieve the Dao through reincarnation... I need to understand... every Dao technique, every path... and reach the pinnacle of each."

    San Sheng murmured.

    This was why "Jing" had once said that San Sheng was delusional.

    Because the methods of destruction are too numerous, and "Return to Nothingness" encompasses everything.

    The Dao in the world is beyond counting.

    Even a single cell has its own unique Dao.

    A stone, a barren planet, also has its own Dao.

    He needed to understand them all, to be omniscient and omnipotent, to resist "Return to Nothingness" and truly allow beings to emerge from reincarnation.

    "The fourth stage of Yang God... must also be entered."

    Without entering the fourth stage of Yang God, how could he understand "Dun''s" path?

    Although a sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse could comprehend the essence of the fourth stage of Yang God, in San Sheng''s view, that was merely knowing the "what," not the "why."

    "I must enter the fourth stage of Yang God in the Yin realm."

    As San Sheng murmured this, his figure split into two.

    One entered the Yin realm, while the other remained in the Rebirth realm.

    Many years later.

    In the Yin World, San Sheng, clad in black robes, exuded an obscure aura.

    Behind him followed a group of powerhouses.

    Judging by their auras alone, they were all at the fifth stage of Yang God.

    Yet, even these fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses showed respect to San Sheng, who was only at the third stage of Yang God.

    This was because San Sheng''s talent was too high.

    A few words from him could lead a powerhouse to sudden enlightenment.

    Moreover, although he was only at the third stage of Yang God, his combat power was astonishing.

    He had many methods to resist "Return to Nothingness."

    Thus, in the Yin realm, he had many followers.

    "Your Majesty San Sheng, the path to the fourth stage of Yang God... is not orthodox. With your talent, you could easily reach the fifth stage of Yang God," an elderly fifth-stage Yang God powerhouse said.

    He had been stuck at the third stage of Yang God for countless years.

    It was only under San Sheng''s guidance that he had broken through to the fifth stage of Yang God.

    "The fifth stage of Yang God is not my goal," San Sheng said softly.

    In the Yin realm, he had established a vast organization spanning endless spaces, collecting all the methods of the world.

    But the Yin realm was too vast.

    Even a sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse might not be able to traverse it entirely.

    "This time, I will enter the fourth stage of Yang God. If one day, my true spirit revives... there will be no more ''Return to Nothingness'' in the world."

    The fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses behind him all looked at San Sheng with complex expressions.

    After all, sacrificing his true spirit to enter the fourth stage of Yang God, just to seek a sliver of hope for the revival of true spirits and to counter "Return to Nothingness," was something they would never do.

    Even if the world fell into ruin.

    The myriad realms are so vast that they could simply go elsewhere and live eternally.

    "If my true spirit cannot revive..." San Sheng smiled, "there will be others who come after me, surpassing me."

    As San Sheng''s voice fell, his figure vanished into nothingness.

    His true spirit was extinguished.

    At that moment, San Sheng felt an overwhelming power, as if he could wound a sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse with a single strike.

    But this extreme sublimation lasted only for an instant.

    His true spirit was completely extinguished.

    In the universe, only a group of powerhouses remained, staring at the void with complex expressions.

    At the same time, in the Rebirth realm.

    San Sheng''s thoughts were sluggish.

    "Indeed, even with the method I created to split my true spirit and enter the fourth stage of Yang God, I am still affected."

    The current San Sheng had a dimmed true spirit.

    It was as if dust had settled on a lightbulb.

    "Sleep."

    To deal with these issues, San Sheng chose to sleep.

    After an unknown number of years, San Sheng awoke once more.

    Suddenly, he raised his hand, his eyes calm.

    "Was I bitten?"

    On his arm was a clear set of teeth marks.

    Clearly, while he was asleep, someone had tried to take a bite out of him.

    He paid it no mind.

    This time, upon awakening, his understanding of the myriad Daos had deepened.

    However...

    He opened the jade slip, which contained many messages.

    "San Sheng, the Void Battle Domain has been consumed by ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "The Yang Heaven Realm is gone."

    "More and more beings are migrating to the Ancestral Domain. The Ancestral Domain is in constant turmoil."

    During the time he had been asleep, "Return to Nothingness" had become more rampant.

    In the Yin realm, the Rebirth realm, and the Yang realm, "Return to Nothingness" was spreading.

    All things were turning to nothingness.

    "A dream of a thousand autumns. I never expected... the effects of extinguishing my true spirit in the fourth stage of Yang God would last so many years."

    San Sheng sighed.

    In the current Yang realm, apart from the powerhouses of his lineage and some ancient beings, probably... no one remembered him.

    The newly ascended fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses did not know him either.

    "The more I know, the further I realize I am from reincarnation."

    San Sheng lamented.

    The reincarnation he sought was even more complex than the omniscience and omnipotence of the sixth stage of Yang God.

    It was as if one person... was opposing the entire world.

    "Reincarnation... reincarnation."

    This became San Sheng''s obsession.

    In the time that followed, he slowly traversed the Rebirth realm alone.

    He also encountered the being who had left teeth marks on his arm.

    He did not hold it against them.

    He was collecting the methods of the world, observing "Return to Nothingness."

    However, from time to time, news from the Yang realm reached him.

    "The Wind Realm has been consumed by ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "This time, an entire universe of beings failed to evacuate in time. All were consumed by ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "San Sheng, you were nurtured by all races. On the Path of Origin, I too escorted you and was severely injured. It took me ten trillion years to recover. Now that ''Return to Nothingness'' is upon us, why do you not return to protect your people?"

    "Are the paths of other sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses not enough?"

    More and more gossip reached him.

    Yet, San Sheng''s determination to seek the Dao remained unchanged.

    "Without achieving reincarnation, how can I resist ''Return to Nothingness''?"

    However, many years later, a girl came to San Sheng in tears, her expression filled with sorrow.

    "Your Majesty San Sheng, the Divine One... he fought against ''Return to Nothingness.'' His true spirit... was extinguished. Only a wisp remains."

    The "Divine One" was the young man, San Sheng''s junior brother.

    After so many years, "Return to Nothingness" had grown increasingly terrifying. Even fifth-stage Yang God powerhouses could fall to it.

    "True spirit extinguished, only a wisp remains?" San Sheng murmured, his expression complex. "Where is the wisp?"

    "The wisp... does not wish to see you," the girl cried.

    The extinction of the true spirit meant complete death.

    The wisp was merely the last breath of a powerhouse.

    His junior brother''s last breath... did not want to see him.

    San Sheng sat beneath a large tree for seven days, his expression desolate.

    "I understand."

    "The closer I get to reincarnation, the further I realize I am from it."

    "Without entering reincarnation, there is only the cycle."

    At this moment, San Sheng no longer clung to the path of reincarnation.

    "First the cycle, then reincarnation."

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    San Sheng''s voice was calm.

    But he understood.

    After entering the cycle, he might infinitely approach reincarnation, but... he would never truly touch it.

    At this moment, San Sheng entered the fifth stage of Yang God.

    From then on, the fifth stage of Yang God became the Dao Lord, and the mortal world entered the cycle.

 Chapter 625: Return to Nothingness Spreads, True Spirit Dims

    In the myriad realms and countless spaces, many ancient beings opened their eyes, their faces filled with shock.

    "I... have fallen in rank?"

    "No, my combat power hasn''t been affected at all!"

    "Wait... the fifth stage of Yang God is now the Dao Lord?"

    "I see the path ahead... no, it''s not the sixth stage of Yang God. It''s still the fifth stage."

    "Omniscient and omnipotent, the cycle?"

    At this moment, all fifth-stage Yang God cultivators suddenly sensed the path ahead.

    It was a path of even greater power!

    "Entering the cycle means eternal existence. Even ''Return to Nothingness'' can do nothing against it!"

    "To enter the cycle, one must master a Dao!"

    At this moment, across the myriad realms, countless fifth-stage Yang God cultivators discovered the path ahead.

    The path ahead was to become a Dao Lord, to enter the cycle.

    This was a path available to all fifth-stage Yang God cultivators, aside from reaching the sixth stage of Yang God.

    However... this path was fraught with danger, requiring complete mastery of a Dao.

    In an instant, wars erupted across the Yang Realm, the Yin Realm, and even the Rebirth realm.

    The struggle for the Dao was fiercer than the hatred between a cheating husband and a murdered father.

    More and more powerhouses emerged, known as Dao Lords.

    Cycle-like worlds began to appear, forming great walls that spanned the Yang Realm.

    More and more instances of "Return to Nothingness" were blocked by these great walls.

    For a time, "Return to Nothingness" seemed to diminish, its expansion slowing.

    However, at that moment, an unexpected change occurred.

    "Disaster! Even we fifth-stage Yang God cultivators, who have mastered a Dao, find it difficult to become Dao Lords!"

    "Three Calamities and Three Tribulations!"

    It seemed that "Return to Nothingness" had noticed that the cycle was hindering its spread, and thus it unleashed the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations to block fifth-stage Yang God cultivators from becoming Dao Lords.

    After all, it was too easy for fifth-stage Yang God cultivators to become Dao Lords, hence the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    Of course, for third-stage Yang God Realm Lords, there were no Three Calamities and Three Tribulations to hinder them from becoming Dao Lords.

    After all, there were too many existing fifth-stage Yang God cultivators. If everyone became a Dao Lord, the spread of "Return to Nothingness" would slow to a halt.

    Naturally, the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations were known by different names and manifested differently in the Yin Realm, Yang Realm, and Rebirth realm.

    At the same time, in the Rebirth realm, San Sheng''s eyes flashed with confusion.

    The Three Calamities and Three Tribulations had descended, blocking the path to becoming a Dao Lord for all beings.

    And he, the cultivator who had proven the cycle, suffered the greatest blow.

    "Return to Nothingness"... had fallen upon him.

    "Cycle!"

    San Sheng used the cycle to resist "Return to Nothingness."

    The place where he had achieved the Dao was in the Rebirth realm, where time and space were trapped in a cycle. As long as he did not die, even if the world was destroyed, he could retrieve it from the cosmic river.

    But at this moment, "Return to Nothingness" seemed to awaken with consciousness, viewing him as a threat and instinctively seeking to destroy him.

    In an instant, the power of "Return to Nothingness" from countless spaces and myriad realms fell upon San Sheng.

    A crack appeared on San Sheng''s face.

    His body shattered like a porcelain doll.

    Experiencing "Return to Nothingness" up close, a look of sudden realization crossed his face.

    "So this is ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "There is life and death, stillness and movement."

    "The Heavenly Emperor is ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "Stillness is ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "''No Law'' is ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    "Even I... am ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    All Dao techniques, divine abilities, ultimate truths, Great Daos, and rules fall within the scope of "Return to Nothingness."

    The stronger living beings become, the more powerful "Return to Nothingness" grows.

    All things revolve, and people move from life to death.

    The universe moves from creation to "Return to Nothingness."

    "Cycle!"

    San Sheng roared, using the power of the cycle to resist "Return to Nothingness."

    At this moment, he felt an overwhelming pressure.

    It was as if several sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses were attacking him simultaneously.

    Or perhaps, all the Dao Lords, all the fifth-stage Yang God cultivators, all living beings, and all inanimate objects in the world were attacking him at once.

    Having achieved the Dao at the fifth stage of Yang God, his strength was comparable to that of a sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse.

    However, this was not reincarnation, not the Dao he sought.

    In just an instant, his arm was destroyed.

    The power of the cycle reformed it.

    Such collisions happened every moment.

    Even a single overflow of power could annihilate tens of thousands of Realm Lords.

    The collision between San Sheng and "Return to Nothingness" reached a stalemate.

    Destruction, rebirth, shattering, and renewal.

    "Is this... illusion?"

    After an unknown number of years, San Sheng''s consciousness grew hazy, and he became muddled.

    As for the erosion of "Return to Nothingness"... it also weakened.

    At this point, San Sheng''s soul was dim, and his true spirit was shattered.

    He saw his body transforming into illusion.

    "This is the curse of sinking."

    "It curses me, curses the lineage I belong to."

    "Everything will eventually return to nothingness."

    By using the cycle to resist "Return to Nothingness," he had incurred the curse of sinking.

    This curse was not only destroying him but also destroying his world.

    This destruction was so severe that even the cycle of a Dao Lord could hardly recover.

    After all, this was the power of all destruction.

    "Cough..."

    San Sheng coughed up blood, his mouth filled with bloody foam.

    It had been countless years since he had suffered such injuries.

    He was muddled, his consciousness blurred, stumbling like an ordinary cultivator.

    "This karmic force cannot be resisted without reincarnation."

    "What is reincarnation?"

    "Where is my reincarnation?"

    He fell into the mortal world.

    His figure was thin, like a wounded swordsman.

    "Hey, beggar, here''s a bun for you."

    "Miss, stay away from this kind of person. What if he has enemies..."

    "Beggar, get out of here!"

    "This person must be an immortal. He hasn''t frozen to death despite three years of heavy snow!"

    "Immortal, please take me as your disciple. I want revenge!"

    In the mortal world, San Sheng, in his muddled state, met many people.

    Suddenly, he seemed to realize something, and a glimmer of clarity appeared in his eyes.

    "Someone has become a Dao Lord?"

    "A Dao Lord of Devouring?"

    "It feels familiar."

    That aura felt familiar.

    It was as if... it belonged to the being that had once taken a bite out of him.

    "Reincarnation... what is reincarnation?"

    He did not try to sense that Dao Lord further but continued to search for his reincarnation.

    Time passed, and an unknown number of years went by.

    The curse of sinking affected him more and more.

    The place where he had achieved the Dao was now known as the Forbidden Land.

    Over the endless years, he saw the Heavenly Emperor descend into the Rebirth realm, seemingly trying to find him.

    He also saw the last breath of the Divine One transform into a Heavenly Emperor, full of ambition.

    However, all of this was irrelevant to him.

    His true spirit and consciousness continued to dissolve.

    Only a wisp of obsession remained.

    Suddenly, he seemed to remember something.

    "In reincarnation, there is Meng Po."

    "Who is Meng Po?"

    "Forgetfulness?"

    "Is reincarnation missing forgetfulness?"

    "Yes, I need to forge a... Sword of Forgetting."

    San Sheng''s obsession was muddled.

    The Sword of Forgetting could erase the curse of sinking.

    It was also a part of reincarnation.

    "This is my only chance... to enter reincarnation."

    At this moment, San Sheng''s body completely shattered, turning into illusion. Only a shadow remained, like a ghost wandering the world.

    He lingered in the Rebirth realm, searching for the materials to forge that sword.

    "Proud bones are the bones of the sword."

    "Only bones filled with fearlessness and obsession are the best."

    He traversed mountains and rivers.

    Later, he saw a young boy burdened with hatred. He took away all the boy''s emotions and gave him the greatest talent for swordsmanship in the world.

    Later still, he saw, within the cycle, the man thrusting his sword at the woman.

    Snow fell heavily, but the sky rained blood.

    The woman was covered in blood, her expression cold, like a lonely figure under a lamp.

    She held the sword tightly in her hand.

    The sword that the Sword Disciple had become.

    Later still, within the cycle, he saw the remnant spirit of the Dao Lord of Devouring.

    She seemed to have died in the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    The shadow that San Sheng had become went to the Cosmic Alliance and found Wu Shi, using her to replace the Dao Lord of Devouring.

    Later still.

    The Moneybags Yang God perished, and Wu Shi held a blood-red sword, her expression suppressed yet fierce.

    Looking at the lonely figure of the young girl, San Sheng''s eyes were filled with confusion.

    "Has this sword... succeeded?"

    "No, it hasn''t succeeded yet. What is it missing?"

    For Wu Shi, the sword was already powerful enough, strong enough to resist the curse of sinking.

    But for San Sheng, the sword was still too weak.

    It could not serve as the pillar of reincarnation.

    "What is it missing?"

    San Sheng was puzzled. He did not retrieve the sword.

    On the other side, Wu Shi, holding the blood-red sword, repelled the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, avenging her master.

    The Yang God who had once injured her master was also slain by her.

    The expanding curse of sinking was also quelled by the sword in her hand.

    "Master..."

    Wu Shi''s eyes were red.

    She stood on Ming Ri Xue, where snow fell heavily, but the familiar figures of the past were nowhere to be seen.

    "The Zhou Mountain Great Realm... and the Forbidden Land... because of the curse of sinking, delving deep into them causes time and space to go mad. Past and future exist in a single thought..."

    She thought of the Sword Disciple.

    She thought of the Sword Disciple who had thrust his sword at her on Cloud Dream Mountain.

    "Master, I will surely see you again."

    She no longer actively roamed the Rebirth realm but ventured deep into the Forbidden Land.

    The Zhou Mountain Great Realm had long been pulled into the Forbidden Land, becoming a part of it.

    She delved deep into the Forbidden Land, standing at the edge of time and space in the Zhou Mountain Great Realm.

    She waited, for in the madness of time and space, perhaps in some crack of time, she could see the Sword Disciple again.

    Unfortunately, even though she traversed the cycle through the Forbidden Land, she did not see that familiar figure on that timeline.

    At the same time, in the cracks of time, San Sheng''s eyes were calm as he murmured, "Quite the actor."

    If others were to observe Wu Shi, they would think she was a lovesick fool, always wanting to see the Sword Disciple again and change the reality of him becoming a sword.

    But in reality...

    That was part of it.

    But Wu Shi, at every moment, was subtly investigating San Sheng''s identity, strength, and methods of increasing her power.

    It was clear that Wu Shi wanted revenge.

    After all, San Sheng had toyed with her and her master.

    San Sheng, cloaked in a black robe, his muddled eyes showing a rare glimmer of clarity, muttered, "Could it be... that this sword is missing me?"

    Later, in the Forbidden Land, Wu Shi had a fortuitous encounter. She found a strange treasure.

    This treasure had drifted in from the Yin Realm, seemingly transformed from a fourth-stage Yang God.

    Without drawing attention, she integrated this treasure into the Sword of Forgetting that her master had become.

    The snow fell heavily, and she held the sword in her hand, her expression cold. "Can I... kill him?"

    She was not confident.

    The shadow that had toyed with her and her master was too mysterious and unfathomable, far more terrifying than an ordinary Dao Lord.

    The only consolation was that his condition did not seem to be good.

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    She lay in wait for an unknown amount of time.

    Finally, on a day of heavy snow, she chose to draw her sword.

    She would avenge her master!

    She would avenge the Sword Disciple!

    Those who play with fate will eventually be played by fate!

 Chapter 626: A dream of three thousand years, how much gold was lost!

    In a secluded corner, a shadowy figure coughed incessantly.

    The bubbles from his cough seemed to contain traces of blood.

    "Reincarnation... what is it still missing?"

    San Sheng was puzzled.

    With his talent, even the Heavenly Emperor paled in comparison.

    The closer he got to reincarnation, the further he felt from it.

    Even if the Sword of Forgetting was successfully forged, it would still be far from achieving true reincarnation.

    "San Sheng, the reincarnation you seek is different from what we envision. It is a dead end.

    Why not switch to... Stillness?"

    The jade slip, which had been silent for many years, finally transmitted a faint message.

    "Stillness" was dead.

    The Dao of Stillness remained, but it was incomplete.

    Thus, "Stillness" hoped that San Sheng could walk its path and achieve true "Stillness."

    All things would be still, but he would not.

    San Sheng frowned and waved his hand: "You''re already dead, yet you still echo so much?"

    The jade slip immediately fell silent.

    What San Sheng sought was reincarnation.

    As for "Stillness," it could freeze all things in a state of his choosing, but that was not what San Sheng desired.

    "What am I missing... to achieve reincarnation?"

    San Sheng murmured, and at that moment, he began coughing violently again, spitting out a large amount of bloody foam.

    The power of "Return to Nothingness" was still corroding him, and now he was extremely weak.

    Suddenly, San Sheng raised his head, and the black robe covering him trembled.

    "You''ve come?"

    Not far ahead stood a young woman holding a blood-red sword.

    Her expression was cold, her eyes serious.

    Even though the shadowy figure before her was extremely weak, she treated him with utmost caution.

    After all, a single misstep could plunge her into an abyss.

    Moreover, the other party was incredibly mysterious.

    He had orchestrated the fate of her and her master.

    As San Sheng''s voice fell, the battle began silently.

    This was a battle between Dao Lords.

    And not just ordinary Dao Lords.

    Although San Sheng was weakened by the karmic force of "Return to Nothingness," he could still easily slay ordinary Dao Lords.

    Wu Shi, on the other hand, wielded the Sword of Forgetting, an enhanced version at that.

    The collision between the two was enough to overturn the universe.

    However, their exchange was swift and brief, not even shattering the mountain they stood on. It was purely a contest of Dao principles and Great Daos.

    Devouring, forgetting, the cycle, and more.

    "Who are you, and why do you also possess the power of devouring?"

    Wu Shi had gained the upper hand.

    But she was not pleased.

    The depth of the other party''s power was too astonishing.

    If he weren''t so weakened, she would stand no chance.

    "My name is... Reincarnation."

    San Sheng''s body grew increasingly illusory and ethereal.

    Even without Wu Shi''s assassination attempt, he would eventually fade into nothingness, completely consumed by "Return to Nothingness."

    This was the curse, the curse of "Return to Nothingness."

    The blood-red sword slashed, as if it could devour everything in the world, even "Return to Nothingness."

    The sword finally pierced through San Sheng''s hand, breaking the skin on the back of it.

    His blood, at that moment, merged with the Sword of Forgetting.

    A hoarse voice rang out.

    "What is missing between the cycle and reincarnation?"

    "Death?"

    Even at this moment, he clung to his obsession, trying to see the path ahead.

    But even in death, he could not see reincarnation.

    What was he missing to achieve reincarnation?

    "Who are you?"

    Wu Shi''s blood-red sword trembled, and the hood covering the shadowy figure''s face was lifted.

    A pale, weak, yet eerily familiar face came into Wu Shi''s view.

    Wu Shi''s pupils contracted sharply, and her face showed disbelief.

    "Master?"

    ¡¶San Sheng Arc¡·End.

    ...

    "What you''re missing is the Netherworld."

    On the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

    Countless memories flooded into his mind.

    For a moment, his eyes showed confusion, melancholy, and then...

    The Sword Disciple, the Moneybags Yang God, and San Sheng.

    These three lives were part of his journey in creating the Three Pure Methods, a part of his past.

    "I never thought I''d encounter little Wu Shi within the Three Pure Methods."

    Recalling his experiences with Wu Shi, Qi Yuan found it quite amusing.

    But upon reflection, it made sense.

    After all, Wu Shi was his Nascent Soul.

    It was natural for them to have a connection.

    However, later, Wu Shi was captured by San Sheng and devoured the Dao fruit of the Devouring Dao Lord.

    Memories of the past surfaced bit by bit.

    Qi Yuan''s eyes were calm.

    "So, above the fifth stage of Yang God is the sixth stage."

    "The cycle is just the beginning of reincarnation."

    At this moment, Qi Yuan waved his hand, and a jade slip fell into his palm.

    This jade slip was the game jade slip.

    "So this jade slip has a name, ''Jing Jing''? No... there''s also a part of San Sheng in it. It''s a bit brainy now."

    The game jade slip, also known as "Stillness," had been taken by San Sheng.

    Later, San Sheng was killed by Wu Shi.

    A part of San Sheng merged into the Sword of Forgetting, while another part entered the game jade slip, combining with "Stillness" to form the game jade slip.

    "So, this game jade slip is a part of me."

    "Ah, my head feels a bit dizzy."

    "Am I San Sheng''s future?"

    "Or is San Sheng a part of me?"

    Qi Yuan muttered.

    Although he was very intelligent, he didn''t like to overthink.

    Thinking was reserved for crafting grand plans.

    "None of this matters."

    After a moment, Qi Yuan understood something.

    For "Stillness," time did not exist.

    Past, present, and future were all frozen at a single point.

    For San Sheng, who sought to master reincarnation, causality did not exist.

    He created history, edited history, or rather...

    Qi Yuan was an observer.

    If he did not observe a certain period of history, then... that history might not truly exist.

    Just as an ant does not know Qi Yuan.

    To the ant, Qi Yuan is an illusion, not truly existing.

    And that period of history, to Qi Yuan, is like Qi Yuan to the ant.

    "The reason San Sheng failed in reincarnation is that... he lacked the Netherworld."

    "Without the Netherworld, how can there be reincarnation?"

    This is common knowledge for people on Blue Star.

    The Netherworld is an indispensable part of reincarnation.

    San Sheng suffered from a lack of education.

    Although San Sheng was created by Qi Yuan''s Three Pure Methods, possessing immense talent, intelligence, and good looks.

    Qi Yuan, as the original, believed he was no less than San Sheng.

    After all, he had a bachelor''s degree, while San Sheng did not.

    He also had property deeds, marriage certificates, and even a mental health certificate¡ªthings San Sheng lacked.

    "Indeed, San Sheng never underwent the nine years of compulsory education, which is why he failed in reincarnation."

    "I''m different. I already have the Netherworld. Achieving reincarnation will be a breeze."

    "I have the Netherworld, the Ten Yama Kings, and all that. The only thing missing is the River of Forgetfulness."

    "Wait, where did my river go?"

    "The Star River? The Milky Way?"

    "No, the Cosmic River!"

    The Cosmic River, capable of reviving beings from the universe, resembled the River of Forgetfulness that Qi Yuan had lost.

    "Now, I have overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations."

    Qi Yuan felt his strength.

    He was still far from the peak of San Sheng''s power.

    But he had already overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, making him exceptionally powerful. With the Sword of Forgetting, he was invincible below the sixth stage of Yang God.

    Even against a sixth-stage Yang God, with the Sword of Forgetting, he dared to confront them.

    Moreover, once he achieved reincarnation, his power would instantly surpass the peak of San Sheng''s strength.

    "Feng Ye, how long have I been in seclusion?"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan asked.

    Of course, he could sense the information particles to find out.

    But he was lazy.

    "Your Highness, you''ve emerged from seclusion?"

    "Your Highness, you''ve been in seclusion for three thousand years!"

    Feng Ye replied respectfully.

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    "Three thousand years? That long? Tsk, my strength has only improved this much."

    Qi Yuan was somewhat disappointed.

    As the saying goes, time is money. He had lost a fortune.

    "During these three thousand years, has anything significant happened?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "Your Highness, Hei Tian Divine Lord once sought you out, but you were in seclusion," Feng Ye answered carefully, slowing his speech. "Hei Tian Divine Lord said that the debt he owed you is now settled."

 Chapter 627: Peacemaker Qi Yuan

    Qi Yuan was slightly surprised, but his gaze quickly cleared.

    "Is that so?"

    After overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, he was nearly omniscient and omnipotent.

    With just a slight perception, he understood the cause and effect of the matter.

    Of course, this ability was limited to ordinary cosmic regions.

    In places like the Forbidden Land, where "Return to Nothingness" reigned, this ability was greatly restricted.

    Thus, for Qi Yuan, finding Wu Shi in the Forbidden Land was still somewhat difficult.

    "It seems this game mission still has some level of difficulty," Qi Yuan thought to himself.

    The mission''s content was simple: protect the Forbidden Land and prevent it from being consumed by "Return to Nothingness."

    This was something even the peak San Sheng would have struggled to achieve.

    For the current Qi Yuan, it was challenging.

    However, compared to San Sheng, Qi Yuan had a bachelor''s degree, a brilliant mind, and was particularly skilled at making plans.

    The advantage was his.

    Completing the game mission was not an insurmountable problem.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Feng Ye and said calmly, "I''m planning to host a banquet, a small gathering. Go and invite Hei Tian."

    Qi Yuan was a man of rules.

    Moreover, he was clever and wise, never killing innocents indiscriminately.

    Thus, inviting Hei Tian was necessary.

    On the other side.

    Feng Ye entered the area where Hei Tian resided. When Hei Tian heard Feng Ye''s message, his eyes showed surprise.

    "What? Brother Qi Yuan is inviting me to meet?"

    For many years, he had not seen Qi Yuan.

    His friend, the Devouring Star Divine Lord, had also whispered in his ear that Qi Yuan might have caught wind of something and was afraid to meet him.

    Hei Tian naturally believed his judgment of character was sound, but he couldn''t help being influenced by the Devouring Star Divine Lord''s constant reminders.

    Moreover, Qi Yuan had been in seclusion all this time.

    A sliver of doubt had crept into his heart.

    However, none of that mattered now. He had already distanced himself from Qi Yuan to avoid implicating him.

    Now, Qi Yuan had emerged from seclusion and invited him.

    He felt a pang of guilt.

    Perhaps he shouldn''t have entertained such thoughts.

    "I..." Hei Tian hesitated.

    He didn''t want to drag Qi Yuan into his troubles again.

    "His Highness said you must attend this gathering!" Feng Ye emphasized.

    Hei Tian hesitated for a moment, then finally shook his head: "I''ll go."

    With a heavy heart, Hei Tian arrived at Qi Yuan''s cave abode.

    He felt a mix of melancholy and gratitude.

    However, he understood that after this gathering, he would have to sever ties with Qi Yuan and explain the stakes clearly.

    Otherwise, even if Qi Yuan was the son of Pillar Tian Kai, offending that person would likely cost him his life.

    After all, Pillar Tian Kai had many offspring.

    He wouldn''t particularly favor one over the others.

    "Brother Hei Tian, long time no see. Have you eaten?"

    At that moment, Qi Yuan walked out, draped in a robe adorned with characters, looking noble and dignified.

    He opened with a question about whether Hei Tian had eaten.

    Hei Tian was momentarily stunned.

    You invited me to a gathering and now you''re asking if I''ve eaten?

    If I say I have, are you going to kick me out?

    "Not yet," Hei Tian forced a smile.

    Since the Devouring Star Divine Lord had left to seek a breakthrough, his residence had been deserted for a long time, with almost no visitors.

    The True Gods he had once befriended and helped now avoided him like the plague.

    "Perfect, I''ve had the kitchen prepare a feast. You''ll definitely enjoy it and eat to your heart''s content," Qi Yuan said casually.

    Hei Tian smiled, though his smile was strained.

    The ever-observant Qi Yuan noticed this and quickly added, "Don''t worry, the food is absolutely lavish. It''s not pre-made dishes or some cheap takeout. You helped me a lot back then, so inviting you to a meal has to be something respectable, like braised chicken or pork trotter rice."

    Although Hei Tian didn''t fully understand Qi Yuan''s words, he laughed heartily: "It''s been three thousand years, yet Brother Qi Yuan remains as spirited as ever."

    He felt a sense of nostalgia.

    Now, on the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the only one who treated him this way was Qi Yuan.

    Along with the Devouring Star Divine Lord, who was still outside.

    Qi Yuan nodded and got straight to the point: "In ancient times, people often hosted banquets to mediate disputes. Today, I''ve invited you here to play the role of a mediator, to resolve your issues and, in the process, repay the favor I owe you."

    This was his goal.

    Hei Tian was momentarily stunned: "A mediator?"

    He somewhat understood Qi Yuan''s meaning.

    But... being a mediator was not something just anyone could do.

    After all, he was the trigger for that person who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    To interfere would be to block their path, incurring a grudge.

    Even Pillar Tian Kai couldn''t mediate this.

    On the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the only one qualified to mediate was likely the Divine Emperor.

    "Brother Qi Yuan, that person... has an extraordinary background. You must not offend them," Hei Tian quickly warned.

    He feared Qi Yuan didn''t understand the gravity of the situation.

    That person hailed from the Yang Realm.

    "How could I? I live by the principle of not offending others unless provoked. I''m lawful good, never causing trouble recklessly. Right, Hei Tan?"

    Qi Yuan called out to the screen behind him.

    Hei Tian was puzzled. From behind the screen, a Dao God clad in black robes slowly emerged.

    This Dao God''s eyes still carried a look of lingering fear, as if he had been deeply shaken.

    When Hei Tian saw this person, he was utterly confused.

    Wasn''t this that Dao God?

    Why was he here?

    And in such a state?

    Moreover, what did Qi Yuan just call him?

    Hei Tan?

    His mind was in turmoil, unsure of what was happening.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan spoke: "Hei Tan, you should recognize this person. He''s the Hei Tian Divine Lord you wanted to use to bypass the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations."

    Hearing this, Hei Tian confirmed that this was indeed that person.

    The "Hei Tan" Dao God quickly nodded: "Yes, Senior."

    Little did he know, while he was in seclusion preparing to face the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, a vast and boundless force had suddenly abducted him.

    As a Dao God, he had no ability to resist.

    At first, he thought it was the Divine Emperor who had acted.

    But later, he realized how wrong he was.

    This mysterious powerhouse was even more terrifying than the Divine Emperor, who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    To be abducted from the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the Divine Emperor''s territory, without the Divine Emperor even noticing¡ªthis was undoubtedly a peerless powerhouse.

    Perhaps even stronger than the Divine Emperor.

    Such a terrifying powerhouse had targeted him.

    His life and death were entirely in Qi Yuan''s hands.

    "You both understand the purpose of this gathering, right?" Qi Yuan glanced at the two, his voice calm.

    Hei Tian and "Hei Tan" both felt a chill, though their emotions were completely different.

    "Sigh, the Yin Realm, Yang Realm, and Rebirth realm... you two are practically counterparts. If we stretch it, you could even be considered brothers.

    I can''t stand to see brothers turn against each other.

    Hei Tan, how about this: if I can write a poem within seven steps that moves you to tears, you''ll leave Hei Tian alone. What do you think?" Qi Yuan looked at "Hei Tan," his voice steady.

    He was preparing to plagiarize again.

    "Hei Tan" could only nod.

    If he refused, he would likely be the one used to help Hei Tian bypass the calamities.

    Now, whatever Qi Yuan said, he had to listen and comply.

    Beside him, Hei Tian''s face was filled with shock that refused to fade.

    He even wondered if he was on the verge of death, hallucinating.

    But he was a Divine Lord. How could that be?

    "Alright, I''ll start walking."

    "Step one!"

    Qi Yuan began moving, reciting the plagiarized poem with great emotion.

    He even used a broadcasting tone, mixed with a bit of electronic and bubble sounds.

    "Boiling beans to make soup, filtering the beans...

    ...

    Born from the same root, why rush to harm each other?"

    As Qi Yuan took his steps, he finished reciting the poem.

    Qi Yuan was about to speak and gauge "Hei Tan''s" reaction when he realized his seven steps had taken him straight into the Forbidden Land.

    He hurried back.

    "Oops, I didn''t realize my steps were so big. But you heard the poem, right?" Qi Yuan returned to the banquet, feeling relieved.

    Thankfully, he was a cultivator. Otherwise, such large steps would have been disastrous, possibly tearing his pants and embarrassing him.

    "I heard it," Hei Tan replied, feeling utterly bewildered, as if ten thousand monsters were running amok in his head.

    Qi Yuan''s actions were beyond his comprehension.

    "How was the poem? Did it move you to tears?" Qi Yuan asked.

    The poem was well-written.

    With his heartfelt recitation, it could easily win a top-three prize in an elementary school recitation contest.

    Moving Hei Tan should have been a breeze.

    "I... was deeply moved," Hei Tan dared not move.

    Faced with the choice between breakthrough and death, he chose to play along.

    "I''m sorry," he directly apologized to Qi Yuan, even squeezing out "tears of emotion."

    If Hei Tian weren''t present, he might have even kowtowed to Qi Yuan.

    As for the dignity and face of a Dao God...

    What were those?

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    He wasn''t some ascetic cultivator.

    His unique physique and extraordinary background had allowed him to reach Dao God with little effort, relying on divine treasures.

    "Don''t! I hate it when people apologize to me!"

    At this moment, Qi Yuan shuddered with disgust.

    If some random man or woman apologized to him, it would be utterly terrifying.

 Chapter 628: Boring, Interesting

    "In that case, Dao God Hei Tan, will you still trouble the Hei Tian Divine Lord?"

    Qi Yuan looked at Hei Tan and asked calmly.

    His voice was steady, devoid of any emotional undertones, yet it made Hei Tan''s heart skip a beat.

    At their level of cultivation, the desire for survival and eternity was no less than the pursuit of the Dao.

    "After hearing Senior''s poem, I am deeply remorseful. I never imagined I would almost make such a grave mistake," Hei Tan replied, his expression as if he and Hei Tian were truly brothers.

    Of course, in reality, he and Hei Tian had no blood or familial ties.

    Their relationship was akin to that of an amoeba and a monkey.

    "Good. If everyone in the Yang Realm were as sensible as you, the world would be a much better place," Qi Yuan said.

    Not just the Yang Realm¡ªif the beings of the Yin Realm and the Rebirth realm could also understand human speech and be moved by Qi Yuan''s words, wouldn''t the world be filled with love?

    The atmosphere of the cultivation world would surely be purified.

    Since Hei Tan understood human speech, the banquet proceeded harmoniously, with no awkward incidents.

    Hei Tan sat to the side and asked in a low voice, "May I ask, Senior... what is your name, and which lineage do you belong to?"

    A powerhouse of Qi Yuan''s level couldn''t possibly be unknown. There must be traces of his existence in the world.

    Hei Tan was deeply curious about Qi Yuan''s identity and was trying to figure out who he was.

    After asking, perhaps feeling his question was too abrupt, Hei Tan introduced himself.

    "I am from the Tian Guang lineage. Our lineage master is Fu Guang, who once visited the Origin Mountain."

    When mentioning the lineage master, Hei Tan''s eyes were filled with reverence and pride.

    The Tian Guang lineage master was even stronger than the Divine Emperor.

    As Hei Tan spoke, he observed Qi Yuan''s expression and reaction.

    "Fu Guang?" Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

    Memories from San Sheng''s past surfaced.

    Fu Guang¡ªhe had met him once.

    When San Sheng went to the Origin Mountain, Fu Guang had once acted as a protector for other fifth-stage Yang God cultivators.

    Later, when San Sheng pursued the path of the cycle, Fu Guang achieved the Dao Lord realm.

    What happened after that, San Sheng did not know.

    "Senior knows Lineage Master Fu Guang?" Hei Tan asked.

    "One of my avatars met him at the Origin Mountain," Qi Yuan answered truthfully, without any concealment.

    "An avatar? The Origin Mountain?" Hei Tan gasped in shock.

    These two terms alone were enough to astonish him.

    He grew even more curious about Qi Yuan''s identity.

    It seemed he was undoubtedly an ancient, eternal existence.

    Of course, even if he weren''t, the power Qi Yuan had displayed was enough to prove his strength without needing any titles.

    A king only needs to sit on his throne, while the weak are the ones who need to prove their noble status.

    ...

    "Life is rather dull."

    After parting ways with Hei Tian, Qi Yuan wandered alone through the Rebirth realm.

    The experience of walking through the world now was vastly different from when he had done so as San Sheng.

    Back then, San Sheng''s goal was to understand all the methods of the world, seek ways to break them, and then forge his own path of reincarnation.

    San Sheng''s obsession was reincarnation.

    Everything he did was to pave the way for reincarnation.

    Unfortunately, San Sheng had talent but lacked Qi Yuan''s brilliant mind.

    When Qi Yuan was on Gongxing, he had posted online, gathering the wisdom of many netizens to create an alternative Purple Mansion.

    That is, the so-called Netherworld.

    Without the Netherworld, how could there be reincarnation?

    This was a truth every Blue Star native understood.

    Sadly, San Sheng was not from Blue Star and did not grasp this concept.

    Of course, the most important thing was that during San Sheng''s Nascent Soul stage, he wasn''t as bold as Qi Yuan, who directly created the Netherworld.

    Thus, Qi Yuan was only one step away from the reincarnation San Sheng had sought.

    "Once I complete this game mission and protect the Forbidden Land, then... I can step into the Yang God realm, or perhaps... master reincarnation?"

    "But what is a Yang God?"

    Qi Yuan fell into contemplation once more.

    The path of reincarnation was clear to him.

    It was the pursuit of great freedom and liberation.

    Even if all things turned to "Return to Nothingness," even if all existence in the world became "Return to Nothingness," he could still grasp reincarnation within "Return to Nothingness" and find his true self.

    "It''s time to visit Duke Nall and see if this clever steward has any good ideas for me."

    With a flash, Qi Yuan headed toward the Forbidden Land.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in the Forbidden Land.

    Zhao Jian''s face was filled with worry.

    "Our luck is terrible. The sweep by Heavenly King Mountain is about to reach here. Duke Nall, are you really not leaving?"

    To search for the Three Pure Methods, Zhao Jian had hidden in this world.

    But three thousand years ago, Qi Yuan had disappeared.

    Now, mysterious forces like Heavenly King Mountain had begun sweeping through the Forbidden Land, with multiple Dao Gods taking action.

    Even Dao Gods who had overcome one or two calamities were involved.

    The notorious figures of the Forbidden Land were being hunted down, their wings clipped.

    Naturally, a ruthless figure like Qi Yuan was also on their list.

    Fortunately, there were too many dangerous individuals in the Forbidden Land, and Qi Yuan hadn''t attracted too much attention from the Dao Gods.

    The sweep hadn''t yet reached Duke Nall''s world.

    But it was close.

    "Why should I leave? This is my home. I am the Grand Steward, appointed by the Vampire Emperor himself," Duke Nall said matter-of-factly, tilting her head.

    "But the Vampire Emperor hasn''t been seen for a long time. Who knows if..." Zhao Jian wanted to say that even if the Vampire Emperor showed up, it wouldn''t matter. Not even the Vampire Ancestor could help.

    The sweep by Heavenly King Mountain and other mysterious forces was something even the Dao Lords of the Cosmic Alliance wouldn''t dare interfere with lightly.

    There seemed to be great karma involved, enough to make Dao Gods who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations take it seriously. Perhaps even the legendary sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses were keeping an eye on it.

    How could Qi Yuan, a mere Divine Lord, meddle in such terrifying affairs?

    "I believe in the Emperor," Duke Nall said, patting her still youthful chest.

    "Sigh, if we don''t run now, it''ll be too late," Zhao Jian said. "Actually... it might already be too late."

    Zhao Jian had wanted to flee long ago.

    But after some thought, he decided against it.

    Dao Gods were too mysterious and powerful. Whether he ran or not, the probability of encountering one was the same.

    Of course, another reason was that Qi Yuan had placed a restriction on him, preventing him from leaving.

    "This is my territory. Why should I run?"

    At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

    Zhao Jian turned to see the newcomer, his eyes flickering with complex emotions.

    The reason he had stayed here for so long was ultimately for the so-called Three Pure Methods.

    If Qi Yuan could truly produce the Three Pure Methods, even the Dao Lords of the Cosmic Alliance might attempt to breach the Forbidden Land and rescue Qi Yuan from the hands of the Dao Gods.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s face showed a hint of regret.

    "Ah, I didn''t expect long legs to have their own troubles. I walked too fast¡ªit only took me half a second to cover the distance light takes a year to travel.

    If light walked faster, could it cover a light-year in half a year?

    I came too early. If I had arrived later, I might have seen the Dao Gods take action and suppress this world.

    This world is on the brink of collapse. If I had descended as a savior at the last moment, it would have been the most thrilling. Life would have had a bit more excitement."

    Qi Yuan spoke lazily.

    Beside him, Duke Nall''s eyes lit up.

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    The Vampire Emperor hadn''t been seen for a long time, and his words were becoming increasingly profound.

    As for Zhao Jian, he was utterly confused.

    Originally, he had planned to persuade Qi Yuan to see if he could produce the Three Pure Methods, lift his restriction, and enlist the help of the Cosmic Alliance''s Dao Lords.

    Now, it seemed Qi Yuan was genuinely unwell, not just pretending.

    He actually wanted to take on those Dao Gods!

 Chapter 629: Wu Shiâ€™s Traces

    Zhao Jian could only remain silent upon hearing this.

    He knew that when dealing with a cultivator like Qi Yuan, who had mental issues, no amount of persuasion or reasoning would help.

    In fact, if he angered Qi Yuan, the Dao Gods from Heavenly King Mountain and other forces might not even get the chance to kill him¡ªQi Yuan would do it first.

    He shrugged, not daring to say anything more.

    Beside him, Duke Nall remained as carefree as ever, still appearing like a young girl.

    Three thousand years had left no trace on her.

    She wore a JK skirt, her legs fair and delicate, her hair a wine-red color, exuding youthful energy.

    She looked at Qi Yuan, her eyes filled with both joy and worry.

    "Master, over these three thousand years, I have held over 7,600 Yang God Conferences, with a total of 3.7 billion participants. However... regarding the path to the Yang God that you seek, progress has been... minimal."

    As she spoke, Duke Nall was filled with self-reproach.

    The Vampire Emperor hadn''t been interested in her body but in her brain, and she had been thrilled and proud at the time.

    She felt her intellect had finally found its purpose.

    Over the years, she had diligently organized Yang God Conferences, gathering wisdom from all corners to find the path to the Yang God.

    Unfortunately, there had been almost no progress.

    She couldn''t help but think that it would have been better if the Vampire Emperor had been interested in her body instead.

    That way, she wouldn''t have had to use her brain.

    She could have just laid back and made money.

    "Oh? Any progress?" Qi Yuan asked.

    Regarding the path to the Yang God, even he was somewhat unclear.

    The so-called Yin God was nearly omniscient and omnipotent, capable of creating life and making anyone pregnant with a single glance.

    But what about the Yang God?

    "Refining all the yin impurities within the spirit, achieving pure yang without yin, is the Yang God."

    "The fusion of spirit and energy, reaching the pinnacle of ascension, ethereal and formless, capable of infinite transformations, is the Yang God."

    "The Yang God, the god of the sun."

    ...

    "The Yang God is said to transcend the Three Realms and Six Paths, never to reincarnate."

    Duke Nall recounted all the answers she had compiled over the years.

    Her explanations could be broadly categorized into a few types.

    One type focused on pure yang, pursuing the ultimate yang, refining all yin and negativity in the world.

    Another type involved transforming into a single yang, transcending the mortal world, the immortal realm, the material realm, and the true spirit realm, existing only as a concept.

    "These are all quite good," Qi Yuan nodded.

    As a leader, he always maintained a high emotional intelligence, not wanting to dampen his subordinates'' enthusiasm.

    These ideas were also enlightening and inspiring to him.

    For example, refining all yin impurities to achieve the sole Yang God.

    What was yang? The sun? Masculinity? Righteousness?

    Duke Nall, hearing this, straightened her posture, somewhat surprised that the Vampire Emperor hadn''t reprimanded her.

    Could it be that her brain was actually useful after all?

    Beside her, Zhao Jian remained silent, feeling somewhat speechless.

    What was the Yang God if not the True God?

    What was there to explore?

    After all, in his eyes, Qi Yuan was already a Divine Lord.

    ...

    Space continued to shatter.

    A massive hand reached out, tearing through endless nothingness.

    A Divine Lord, like a fish caught in a net, struggled and fell into the abyss.

    However, this Divine Lord was unwilling to accept such a fate.

    Countless beings emerged from his divine kingdom, surging forth in an endless stream, seemingly trying to break the net.

    The laws of the Great Dao, the rules of the universe, and the principles of the divine kingdom erupted with terrifying power.

    Unfortunately, with just a flash of light from the net, as if electricity had coursed through water, all the resisting beings were effortlessly annihilated, completely vanishing.

    Even a powerful Divine Lord, capable of creating life and opening worlds, was like rain on this net, his body shattered.

    "Wanted List Number 17, An Chi, has been eliminated."

    A majestic and mysterious voice echoed.

    Dao God Tu Feng descended, his aura so overwhelming that no one dared to look directly at him.

    "Tu Feng, your technique of using heaven and earth as a net has become even more refined.

    This An Chi was no ordinary foe. He was a divine treasure given life. If not for his flawed Dao fruit, he might have been one of us," the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain praised.

    Heavenly King Mountain was not particularly powerful, with only three Dao Gods.

    This time, all three Mountain Lords had joined forces to sweep through the Forbidden Land.

    The one who had just been killed was named An Chi.

    He was a formidable figure, with a record of escaping from Dao Gods.

    The Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain had thought Tu Feng would need to exert some effort to capture him.

    He hadn''t expected it to be so easy.

    "He had some strength, but nothing extraordinary," Tu Feng said matter-of-factly.

    The gap between a Dao God and a Divine Lord was immense.

    "He had roamed the Forbidden Land for so many years without being dealt with because Dao Gods feared Bai Tang, the White Sugar Dao God.

    Now that Bai Tang is injured and unable to protect himself, An Chi''s time was up," Tu Feng continued.

    Among divine treasures given life, Bai Tang was the strongest.

    This Dao God was also particularly protective of his kind.

    Anyone who wanted to harm his kin would have to answer to him.

    "This Bai Tang is also foolish, daring to offend even the Heavenly God," the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain said, his eyes filled with awe.

    "There are always those who have lived too long and no longer fear death.

    In the past, there was also a reckless Dao God who tried to attack the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, and the result..." Tu Feng''s gaze was cold.

    Outside the Forbidden Land, there were many powerful forces dedicated to cleaning up True Gods who had mistakenly entered the Forbidden Land.

    These forces were backed by the Heavenly God and the Heavenly Emperor.

    The Heavenly God''s stance was to kill.

    The Heavenly Emperor''s stance was to persuade them to leave.

    Heavenly King Mountain, in a sense, was a force under the Heavenly God, carrying out his will.

    "Alright, this area is cleared. Let''s move forward. I hear there''s another reckless Divine Lord ahead," Dao God Tu Feng said.

    "Be careful. Travel through the Dark Void and conceal your presence. I''ve heard there''s a reincarnated Dao Lord in the Forbidden Land who is extremely hostile to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace," the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain warned.

    Dao God Tu Feng nodded seriously, clearly aware of that figure''s reputation.

    "I wonder when the Heavenly God will take action and eliminate that person."

    "The Forbidden Land is chaotic, with time flowing backward. Finding someone is incredibly difficult," the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain said.

    But at that moment, his expression suddenly changed, as if he had realized something.

    "Run!"

    Beside him, Dao God Tu Feng didn''t hesitate and immediately plunged into the Dark Void.

    The Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain was even more panicked, diving into the Dark Void as well.

    Because at that moment, he sensed an eerie presence.

    In this place, who else could make even Dao Gods feel uneasy?

    Only that Dao Lord.

    That Dao Lord had slain many Dao Gods of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    The two didn''t even dare to face that person, quickly diving into the Dark Void.

    Yet even so, a blinding light shattered their bodies.

    Their physical forms were destroyed, and only their true spirits escaped into the Dark Void, fleeing desperately.

    "Is this the power of a Dao Lord?"

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    "She''s no ordinary Dao Lord!"

    "A Dao Lord who has entered the cycle is incredibly difficult to kill, even for those of us who have overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations!"

    Their true spirits fled madly.

    At this moment, only a graceful woman remained, holding an intangible sword. She watched the fleeing Dao Gods with cold, empty eyes.

    She stood for a long time, her hair swaying in the wind, before her figure vanished as if she had never been there.

 Chapter 630: I am a good person

    In the Dark Void, Dao God Tu Feng and the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain fled in panic.

    Neither of them had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, making them relatively weak among Dao Gods.

    Encountering a Dao Lord, especially one who was hostile, meant certain death if they were caught.

    At this moment, the two were using every means possible to escape.

    Fortunately, the Dark Void was intricate and complex, making it difficult even for a Dao Lord to pursue them.

    "She''s too powerful. This Dao Lord... is no ordinary Dao Lord!" Dao God Tu Feng said, his voice trembling with fear.

    His physical body had been completely shattered, and he was now reforming it within the Dark Void.

    His remaining true spirit was still dim.

    "She''s been making more frequent moves lately," the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain said.

    The Dao Lord hiding in the Forbidden Land had a particular vendetta against the Nine Heavens Divine Palace and the Heavenly God behind it.

    However, the Forbidden Land was too chaotic, and even someone as powerful as the Heavenly God would find it difficult to locate that Dao Lord.

    "The more she exposes herself, the more danger she''s in. The Heavenly God has never made a move against her, likely waiting for the perfect moment to strike with absolute certainty," the Mountain Lord speculated.

    In truth, this speculation was something anyone familiar with the situation would know.

    "What should we do about the remaining sweep of the Forbidden Land?" Dao God Tu Feng asked.

    He was considering retreating.

    Otherwise, encountering that Dao Lord again would mean certain death.

    "Don''t worry. She definitely won''t make another move. We''re safe," the Mountain Lord said confidently. "There are just a few small pests left. Let''s be cautious, finish the sweep, and then leave."

    Clearing the Forbidden Land was a task assigned to them by the Heavenly God, and it had to be completed.

    Otherwise, the more beings consumed by the Forbidden Land, the greater the catastrophe that would follow.

    Dao God Tu Feng nodded, agreeing with the Mountain Lord''s decision. He said, "After this, I plan to cultivate the Dao of the Dark Void."

    This experience had made him realize that even Dao Gods were fragile.

    Facing a Dao Lord or a Dao God who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, there was almost no chance of survival.

    Survival skills were paramount.

    For Dao Gods, escaping into the Dark Void was the safest option.

    "What''s the use? There was once a Dao God named the Moneybags Dao God, who was most skilled in the Dao of the Dark Void. His escape skills were unmatched.

    But in the end, after offending the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, he still died under mysterious circumstances."

    The Mountain Lord couldn''t help but say.

    Dao God Tu Feng sighed upon hearing this.

    Indeed, no matter how many escape methods one had, it was useless.

    Offending a truly top-tier powerhouse meant there were countless ways to be erased.

    They could even travel back to your past and eliminate you when you were still weak.

    To counter such methods, one would need to overcome at least one calamity and one tribulation, or become a Dao Lord.

    "Let''s go," the Mountain Lord waved his sleeve, and the two left the Dark Void.

    Although they were still injured and their strength had diminished significantly, dealing with the notorious figures in the Forbidden Land who weren''t even Dao Gods was no harder than swatting flies.

    "The world ahead has a peculiar aura. There might be some prisoners there," Dao God Tu Feng said.

    The Mountain Lord nodded.

    Without hesitation, Dao God Tu Feng pressed his massive hand downward.

    In an instant, the rules of heaven and earth seemed to twist like threads.

    The vast world was like a puppet entangled by strings.

    Why would they need a second move to deal with those people?

    However, at that moment, an unexpected voice rang out.

    "You''re walking too slowly."

    "Looks like your legs are too short."

    "Do you want me to perform a height-increasing surgery for you?"

    "Otherwise, if you go to Blue Star for a blind date, you''ll be discriminated against."

    A figure in a red robe appeared, his handsome face exuding a lazy charm, with a bright smile that made him look like a harmless boy next door.

    Of course, if he were wearing shorts and flip-flops, the vibe would be even stronger.

    When they saw the newcomer, Dao God Tu Feng and the Mountain Lord''s expressions froze, and their hearts trembled.

    "Are you... Qi Yuan?" the Mountain Lord couldn''t help but ask.

    He had memorized the list of notorious figures to be cleared during this sweep.

    Qi Yuan was a mysterious Divine Lord, suspected to have ties to the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods.

    None of that mattered now. Entering the Forbidden Land meant certain death.

    But now, the aura emanating from Qi Yuan was not that of a Divine Lord.

    Could it be... an ancient powerhouse in disguise?

    Without hesitation, the Mountain Lord and Dao God Tu Feng, without even exchanging a glance, immediately retreated into the Dark Void.

    Although they hadn''t tested Qi Yuan''s strength, survival was always the top priority.

    "Hey, why are you short-legged folks running?"

    "How about this? I''ll perform the surgery for free?"

    "Not enough money?"

    "Give me your phone!"

    The two Dao Gods'' true spirits fled through the Dark Void, with Qi Yuan''s voice chasing after them.

    In the Dark Void, the Mountain Lord''s face showed astonishment.

    "This is the Dark Void. How is he catching up?"

    The Dark Void was intricate and complex.

    A slight deviation could mean being millions of realms off course.

    Even if a Dao Lord entered, they wouldn''t be able to catch up to him and Dao God Tu Feng.

    "Because my legs are long!" Qi Yuan lifted his robe, revealing his long legs, as he blocked the path of Dao God Tu Feng and the Mountain Lord.

    The expressions of the two Dao Gods changed drastically.

    They realized that the environment within the Dark Void had shifted dramatically, and their path had been cut off by the man before them.

    Even a Dao Lord couldn''t achieve such a feat.

    This level of control and understanding of the Dark Void... was terrifying.

    "Who are you?" the Mountain Lord asked, his aura surging as he prepared to strike at any moment.

    "Me? Didn''t you already say my name?" Qi Yuan replied calmly. "I''m Qi Yuan, the wanted criminal you''re here to eliminate. I''ve been waiting for you."

    The two Dao Gods'' faces shifted repeatedly, unsure how to respond.

    "Don''t be afraid. I''m not a villain like you. I''m a good person."

    "See? You came here to kill me, and I''m still offering to perform free surgery to make your legs longer so you can walk faster."

    "That way, if there''s another cycle, maybe you can walk faster and die quicker."

    Qi Yuan''s words were a jumbled mess, leaving the Mountain Lord and Dao God Tu Feng utterly confused.

    At this point, the Mountain Lord could only say, "Sir, we are acting under the orders of the Heavenly God to clear the Forbidden Land.

    Since you are one of us, why not come with us to Heavenly King Mountain? I will personally help you resolve the curse of sinking on you."

    He chose to yield, while also using the Heavenly God''s name to pressure Qi Yuan.

    After all, the Heavenly God''s reputation was something even Dao Gods who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations had to respect.

    "Oh? You''re from the Nine Heavens Divine Palace?" Qi Yuan murmured. "That makes sense. Other than the Heavenly God, that little guy, who else would keep an eye on the Forbidden Land for no reason?"

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    Hearing this, Dao God Tu Feng and the Mountain Lord''s hearts skipped a beat, as if they had heard something unbelievable.

    This madman actually called the Heavenly God a "little guy"!

    Who was he?

    A wave of intense confusion washed over them, followed by despair.

    We''re doomed!

 Chapter 631: Everything Returns to Nothingness

    In the Dark Void, Qi Yuan made a casual move.

    The Sword of Forgetting swung.

    In an instant.

    The rules within the Dark Void twisted and snapped.

    Countless rays of light, threads, and colors were kneaded together like a chaotic mix of paint.

    An ancient blood-red longsword traversed the Dark Void, and all the Great Dao rules bowed beneath its feet.

    "I am the Slaughter!"

    Dao God Tu Feng roared, his Great Dao rules erupting as he sought to fight for survival.

    This was his strongest attack, capable of effortlessly annihilating a Divine Lord.

    It could even injure the true spirit of a weaker Dao God.

    However, his attack, his Great Dao rules, were utterly fragile against that sword.

    Or rather, it wasn''t that they were fragile¡ªthey simply didn''t resist.

    It was as if his attack didn''t even notice the sword, allowing it to cut through unimpeded.

    The Sword of Forgetting!

    It could make all the rules of the world forget its existence.

    Dao God Tu Feng''s eyes widened in fury, his true spirit trembling. "How can this be?"

    He was confused, unwilling to accept this.

    Even if a sixth-stage Yang God were before him, he would have the courage to fight.

    But now, how could he possibly face Qi Yuan''s sword?

    "Forgetting is the true ''Return to Nothingness,''" Qi Yuan''s calm and clear voice echoed.

    Dao God Tu Feng''s body stiffened, and his true spirit froze in place.

    All his memories were annihilated in that moment, including the Great Dao rules he had mastered.

    His body shattered, his true spirit extinguished, and all traces of Dao God Tu Feng''s existence in the world were completely erased.

    Not far away, the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain watched this scene, trembling, his shock impossible to dissipate.

    That was a Dao God!

    Killed so effortlessly, without any resistance!

    This Qi Yuan... had he already overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, or was he even stronger?

    After all, even the Dao Lord in the Forbidden Land wouldn''t have found it so easy to kill Dao God Tu Feng.

    At this moment, Qi Yuan''s gaze turned to the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain. "You''re well-behaved. You didn''t resist or try to escape."

    How could the Mountain Lord dare to run?

    When he saw Qi Yuan chasing after them, moving through the Dark Void as easily as a fish through water, he knew this Qi Yuan was an enemy he couldn''t defeat.

    "This old man''s life is at your disposal, Senior. If you find me unworthy to serve, you may erase my mind and consciousness," the Mountain Lord bowed his head, his attitude extremely humble.

    His meaning was simple: he was willing to submit to Qi Yuan.

    If Qi Yuan disliked him as a being, he could erase his consciousness and mind.

    Then, a new being would be born from his true spirit, one completely loyal to Qi Yuan.

    "Interesting," Qi Yuan glanced at the Mountain Lord, his gaze seeming to span millennia.

    This Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain had his true spirit annihilated at least a hundred times.

    His consciousness, personality, and spirit had been replaced countless times.

    His original personality had been that of a peerless genius, always striving to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations and create a method for the true spirit to never perish.

    Time and time again, he had barely survived the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, his true spirit annihilated, his personality and consciousness destroyed, only for a new personality to emerge.

    However, despite surviving the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations so many times, he had never succeeded.

    This showed just how difficult it was to truly overcome them.

    "Perfect, I need a coachman," Qi Yuan waved his hand, choosing not to kill the Mountain Lord.

    This new Mountain Lord''s personality and consciousness hadn''t been around for long. In Qi Yuan''s eyes, he wasn''t yet a "white moonlight."

    "Heavenly King Mountain is at your service!" the Mountain Lord quickly kowtowed.

    His title was Heavenly King Mountain.

    "Good," Qi Yuan nodded, then asked, "Where is the Heavenly God now?"

    This game had several objectives for Qi Yuan.

    The first mission goal was to protect the Forbidden Land.

    The second goal was to achieve reincarnation.

    The third goal was to attain the Yang God realm.

    The final goal was to resolve "Return to Nothingness."

    These goals overlapped in some ways.

    Before addressing them, he needed to meet the Heavenly God and settle old grievances.

    After all, the Heavenly God was the last breath of San Sheng''s junior brother.

    There had always been enmity between them.

    San Sheng''s junior brother had worked tirelessly, fighting against "Return to Nothingness."

    Even when San Sheng gave up the chance to reach the sixth stage of Yang God, choosing the path of reincarnation with no future, his junior brother had continued without complaint, battling "Return to Nothingness."

    However, the junior brother''s strength was relatively weak, and he eventually perished in "Return to Nothingness," leaving behind only a breath, a lingering obsession.

    Unlike the junior brother''s admiration and respect for San Sheng, this obsession harbored resentment, even hatred, toward San Sheng.

    This obsession also made it its mission to resolve "Return to Nothingness."

    However, its methods were brutal and explosive.

    To resolve "Return to Nothingness," the Heavenly God would create even more "Return to Nothingness."

    In fact, the Heavenly God had established the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, aiming to bring the Yin Realm under its control, using the beings of the Yin Realm as scapegoats for the Yang Realm beings to overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    "The Heavenly God..." the Mountain Lord hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "This old man does not know. But if Master goes to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace... you might have a chance to meet the Heavenly God."

    His meaning was clear.

    If Qi Yuan forced his way in and subdued the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, he might be able to meet the Heavenly God.

    "Shall we go to... the Nine Heavens Divine Palace?" Qi Yuan was ready to act immediately.

    The Mountain Lord''s face showed a troubled expression.

    "The headquarters of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace is located in the far north of the Rebirth realm. The journey is long, and... the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods and the Soul-Severing Bridge are at war. The path through the Dark Void has been cut off. To reach the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, we must pass through the battlefield."

    The Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods and the Soul-Severing Bridge were old rivals, and these two great powers often clashed.

    This time, the scale of the battle was immense.

    Even the strongest from both sides had taken action, using their immense power to cut off the Dark Void.

    Thus, even a Dao God couldn''t simply traverse it; they would have to pass through the battlefield.

    "Oh, that''s a small matter," Qi Yuan said dismissively.

    He was, after all, from the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods. Passing through shouldn''t be a problem.

    ...

    "Return to Nothingness."

    "The Cycle."

    "Forgetting."

    "Reincarnation."

    Inside the carriage, Qi Yuan lay lazily, a hint of worry between his brows.

    Although he was different from San Sheng, having cultivated the Netherworld and possessing an advantage in pursuing the path of reincarnation, Qi Yuan''s vision of reincarnation was anything but ordinary.

    After all, any Dao Lord could establish a Netherworld and bring the dead back to life.

    But Qi Yuan''s reincarnation was about resisting "Return to Nothingness."

    Even if a being perished in "Return to Nothingness," their true spirit annihilated, forgotten by all, and not a trace left in the cosmic river, they could still emerge through reincarnation.

    The reincarnation he sought would essentially make him an enemy of all cultivators in the Yin Realm, Rebirth realm, and Yang Realm.

    For example, the Heavenly Emperor was incredibly powerful, right?

    The Heavenly Emperor had many methods to effortlessly annihilate a person, erasing their true spirit.

    If Qi Yuan wanted to revive that person and bring them back through reincarnation, he would essentially be opposing the Heavenly Emperor''s Dao.

    Thus, his reincarnation would make him an enemy of the entire world.

    "Not only an enemy of the world, but also... resisting the curse of sinking."

    The curse of sinking that San Sheng had suffered was particularly terrifying.

    Only the Sword of Forgetting could withstand it.

    "The curse of sinking keeps eroding... I''m afraid I might awaken the Innate Void Saint Body."

    While using the Sword of Forgetting to resist the curse of sinking in the Forbidden Land, Qi Yuan''s physique had begun to change, even awakening a special constitution¡ªthe Innate Void Saint Body.

    Void, representing emptiness, signifying nothingness.

    If he used the Sword of Forgetting too much, there might come a day when Qi Yuan would cease to exist, leaving behind only a symbol, like "Stillness."

    "Heavenly King Mountain, tell me... if I were to forget ''Return to Nothingness,'' would I have a chance to resist it?" Qi Yuan asked thoughtfully.

    The Great Forgetfulness Sutra was a powerful ability, his innate divine power.

    If he used the Great Forgetfulness Sutra as a foundation to counter "Return to Nothingness"... would he have a chance to achieve reincarnation?

    All fallen beings would forget the fact of their death.

    "Master, what you speak of is too profound for this old man," the Mountain Lord said cautiously. "However, forgetting... is indeed a great terror. It is also a form of ''Return to Nothingness.''"

    Many Dao Gods, Dao Lords, and even powerhouses above the fifth stage of Yang God liked to use the method of forgetting to completely erase beings.

    They would erase all traces of a being across all timelines, and even the one who performed the erasure would forget the act.

    In this way, that being would cease to exist.

    It was like someone tearing a page out of a history book in a feudal dynasty. After a thousand years, who would remember the person recorded on that page?

    "You''ve reminded me. Forgetting is also ''Return to Nothingness,''" Qi Yuan said, somewhat disappointed.

    The Heavenly God was "Return to Nothingness."

    The Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain was "Return to Nothingness."

    The Heavenly Emperor was "Return to Nothingness."

    He himself was "Return to Nothingness."

    His Great Forgetfulness Sutra was "Return to Nothingness."

    The Sword of Forgetting was also "Return to Nothingness."

    How could he possibly counter "Return to Nothingness"?

 Chapter 632: Pillar Tian Kai

    All the methods in the mortal world are part of "Return to Nothingness."

    On the Origin Mountain, San Sheng had seen the paths of other sixth-stage Yang Gods.

    Those sixth-stage Yang God powerhouses had also extended olive branches to San Sheng, inviting him to walk the same path.

    Among them was one named "Wu Fa" (No Law).

    Wu Fa, meaning conservation.

    In Wu Fa''s world, there was no supernatural, no supernatural factors, no living beings, or strange phenomena. All visible matter was erased.

    In Wu Fa''s world, energy and matter were conserved.

    This was somewhat similar to San Sheng''s path of the cycle.

    However, the real world¡ªwhether it was the Yin Realm, the Rebirth realm, or the Yang Realm¡ªwas not truly conserved.

    "Cultivation is too difficult."

    "This game is also too hard to play."

    Qi Yuan couldn''t help but sigh.

    The Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain, who was serving as his coachman, heard this but didn''t dare to offer any opinion.

    ...

    The flames of war spread.

    Terrifying divine power blocked the sky, splitting the world in two, even cutting through the Dark Void.

    To the north and south of this divine barrier, the armies of the Soul-Severing Bridge and the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods were stationed.

    Countless war fortresses were scattered across the land, each filled with iron-clad soldiers.

    A single war fortress could trample the beings of a small universe.

    And there were thousands of such war fortresses here.

    In one of the war fortresses, the Eleventh Divine Son, Tong Xun, wore military armor as he studied the battle reports, his brow furrowed.

    "The Pingya Fortress remains unconquered. The front lines are at a stalemate. This is difficult!"

    It had been thousands of years since Pillar Tian Kai had arrived at the front lines, but the battle lines had not truly advanced.

    For Tong Xun, a divine son eager to make a name for himself, this was not good news.

    "The Pingya Fortress now has thirty-seven Divine Lords stationed there. It will be difficult to advance in the short term," a subordinate said.

    Tong Xun stroked his chin, deep in thought.

    At that moment, another subordinate spoke up.

    "Your Highness, we''ve just received news that your brother, Qi Yuan, has applied to visit the northern front to meet an old friend."

    Tong Xun''s expression changed sharply: "Him?"

    He had some grievances with Qi Yuan, even resentment.

    If Qi Yuan hadn''t reached the Divine Lord realm and avoided conscription, he might now be serving under Tong Xun, sent to attack the Pingya Fortress.

    Tong Xun held a letter in his hand, reading it carefully.

    The letter was simple, just a standard pass permit.

    Although the Soul-Severing Bridge and the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods were at war, cutting off the path and even the Dark Void, many True Gods could still pass through as long as they obtained the necessary permits.

    War was war, but business was business.

    Despite the long-standing conflict between the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods and the Soul-Severing Bridge, the nearby merchant guilds and auction houses were places where people from both sides could coexist peacefully.

    "Wanting to go north?" Tong Xun held the pass permit, a smile forming on his face. "This brother of mine comes to the front lines but doesn''t pay his respects to me, his elder brother, or to Father God. How presumptuous."

    Tong Xun was about to withhold the pass permit.

    "Tell the True God in charge that there''s an issue with this pass permit. It will remain with me for now," Tong Xun said with a cold laugh.

    The prolonged stalemate at the Pingya Fortress had already put him in a bad mood.

    Now that Qi Yuan wanted to pass through and had crossed his path, he naturally had to make things difficult.

    ...

    On the other side, Divine Son Ha Jin and Divine Daughter Xi Shui wore troubled expressions.

    "Qi Yuan''s pass permit has been blocked by Tong Xun."

    "How despicable. Tong Xun is deliberately causing trouble."

    They had helped Qi Yuan with his pass application.

    Although they had some past grievances with Qi Yuan, after Qi Yuan reached the Divine Lord realm, they had sent many gifts to smooth things over.

    Now that Qi Yuan wanted to pass through, they had naturally wanted to handle the matter properly.

    But then this happened.

    "That despicable Tong Xun..." Ha Jin''s expression darkened.

    He disliked Tong Xun.

    But given their strength, they were in no position to confront him.

    "Qi Yuan will be here soon. If he finds out about this..." Xi Shui frowned.

    They had prepared a banquet for Qi Yuan''s visit.

    The hall was filled with rare divine materials, immortal wines, and sacred delicacies.

    And now, this mess had occurred.

    "Long time no see."

    At that moment, a voice rang out.

    Ha Jin and Xi Shui perked up, knowing it was Qi Yuan.

    "Brother Qi Yuan, long time no see. You look as spirited as ever," Ha Jin and Xi Shui quickly said.

    Their minds raced, trying to figure out how to explain the issue with the pass permit.

    Now that Qi Yuan was a Divine Lord, surpassing them in strength, they naturally couldn''t call him "younger brother" anymore. In the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, strength was respected.

    "It has been a while¡ªthree thousand years," Qi Yuan sighed.

    Time flies.

    It had already been three thousand years.

    But as soon as he finished the thought, he froze.

    Wait, he had never actually met Ha Jin and Xi Shu before. This was their first meeting.

    Oh no, he had messed up the opening line. That was a bit of a low-EQ move.

    But what''s done is done.

    Let''s move on.

    "Brother Qi Yuan, which old friend are you planning to visit on the northern front?" Ha Jin asked.

    He was preparing to bring up Tong Xun at the right moment.

    "A little brother named... Heavenly God."

    "Heavenly God?" Ha Jin was stunned.

    That term sounded familiar.

    The Heavenly God of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace?

    Or just someone with the same name?

    After some thought, Ha Jin concluded it must be the latter.

    After all, even the Divine Emperor might not be able to meet the Heavenly God.

    As for Qi Yuan... how could he possibly meet him?

    At the same time, he was shocked that Qi Yuan''s friend had the audacity to name himself "Heavenly God."

    Didn''t he know to avoid using the names of the revered?

    "That name is quite bold. Not just anyone can use the name ''Heavenly God,''" Xi Shui casually remarked.

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan was momentarily puzzled.

    But he felt the name was quite ordinary.

    Besides, what someone chose to call themselves was their own freedom.

    "When I meet the Heavenly God, I''ll pass on your words," Qi Yuan said to Xi Shui.

    Xi Shui was momentarily stunned, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

    At that moment, Ha Jin saw the opportunity and was about to bring up the matter with Tong Xun.

    But then...

    Suddenly, an intense divine light descended.

    The entire front line seemed enveloped by this terrifying divine radiance.

    In that moment, the world seemed to consist of nothing but this light.

    It was like the sun, like a cosmic wonder.

    Everyone noticed this terrifying fluctuation.

    Ha Jin and Xi Shui were no exception.

    "A Dao God?"

    "No, this is... Pillar Tian Kai?"

    "Has the Soul-Severing Bridge launched an attack?"

    Everyone was confused.

    Amid the confusion, Ha Jin and Xi Shui''s expressions shifted from bewilderment to excitement.

    In the center of the hall, a figure of light appeared.

    It stood between heaven and earth, yet seemed not to belong to this world.

    Its features were indistinct, even its gender unclear.

    Divine light coiled around its body, and the Great Dao seemed to radiate from it.

    "Greetings, Father God!"

    Without hesitation, Ha Jin and Xi Shui immediately bowed.

    After bowing, they glanced at Qi Yuan, signaling him to do the same.

    What are you standing there for? Bow!

    This is Father God, one of the Twelve Pillars of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, Tian Kai.

    Why has He come here?

    But in the next moment, something even more unexpected happened.

    "Senior, your arrival was so discreet that I had no choice but to come personally. I hope you will not take offense," Pillar Tian Kai spoke, his voice distant, as if not from this world.

    Qi Yuan shrugged and smiled. "It''s nothing."

    Ha Jin and Xi Shui''s hearts were rocked by waves of shock.

    What did Father God just call Qi Yuan?

    Senior?

    Could it be that Qi Yuan had already overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations?

    Was he now on par with the Divine Emperor?

    Pillar Tian Kai looked at Qi Yuan with respect. "The Divine Emperor has mentioned that he has long wished to pay his respects to you."

    On the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, Qi Yuan had once invited the Hei Tian Divine Lord.

    He had left afterward.

    But the aura he had exuded had been detected by the master of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the Divine Emperor.

    Thus, Tian Kai had also learned some information about Qi Yuan.

    For a mysterious existence like Qi Yuan, a powerhouse like the Divine Emperor, who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, naturally wanted to meet him.

    After all, there was a chance to gain valuable insights from Qi Yuan.

    So this time, upon learning of Qi Yuan''s arrival, Pillar Tian Kai had immediately appeared.

    "Once I finish my business, I will pay him a visit," Qi Yuan said calmly.

    Regarding reincarnation and "Return to Nothingness," he had many thoughts.

    He would meet the Divine Emperor and other powerhouses to understand "Return to Nothingness."

    After all, all cultivators were, in a sense, part of "Return to Nothingness."

    At that moment, Pillar Tian Kai extended his hand, and a bubble appeared.

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    Inside the bubble was a being, frozen in time and space.

    "This is Tong Xun. He has offended you and is now imprisoned. He is at your disposal."

    With a wave of his hand, Pillar Tian Kai sent the bubble floating toward Qi Yuan.

    It was as if he was tossing a marble, not his own offspring.

    Inside the bubble, Tong Xun''s face was filled with terror, his fear at its peak.

 Chapter 633: Qi Yuanâ€™s Identity

    Tong Xun whimpered, his fear reaching its peak.

    He had been cultivating in his cave abode when suddenly, Father God Tian Kai had captured him.

    Father God hadn''t asked him a single question, simply taking him away.

    He was confused and bewildered.

    Now, through the bubble, he saw Qi Yuan!

    Confusion, shock, and deep regret flooded his heart.

    "I was wrong! Spare me, spare me!"

    When he saw how respectfully Father God Tian Kai treated Qi Yuan, as if facing the Divine Emperor himself, Tong Xun lost all courage and immediately knelt, begging for mercy.

    The longer one lived, the more one feared death.

    Looking at Tong Xun, Qi Yuan saw through many things with a single glance. He couldn''t help but recall a famous saying.

    Then, he couldn''t resist plagiarizing it.

    "He doesn''t realize he was wrong; he just realizes he''s about to die."

    As the words fell, Tong Xun, who had repeatedly caused trouble for Qi Yuan, was completely annihilated.

    The death of this promising offspring meant nothing to Pillar Tian Kai. It was as insignificant as swatting a mosquito.

    Yet, at this moment, Qi Yuan''s face showed a trace of melancholy. "Am I not also ''Return to Nothingness''?"

    He had casually killed Tong Xun. Wasn''t that also a form of "Return to Nothingness"?

    In a sense, "Return to Nothingness" existed because of people like him.

    Especially in Blue Star, where certain countries loved to wipe out entire families. If those people were to cross over and achieve cultivation success, "Return to Nothingness" would likely spread across all realms and universes.

    Ha Jin and Xi Shui looked serious, unsure of what Qi Yuan meant.

    Pillar Tian Kai, however, seemed to have heard something profound. He pondered deeply, lost in thought.

    "Alright, now that I have the pass permit, it''s time for me to leave and head to the far north to meet the Heavenly God."

    After bidding farewell to everyone, Qi Yuan''s figure dissipated, leaving only Pillar Tian Kai, Ha Jin, and Xi Shui behind.

    Pillar Tian Kai''s expression was profound. "The Heavenly God... that is..."

    A being even more terrifying than the Divine Emperor, rumored to be a sixth-stage Yang God powerhouse.

    Pillar Tian Kai murmured to himself. From Qi Yuan''s tone, it seemed a battle was imminent.

    "The Rebirth realm... is about to be thrown into chaos."

    "This battle will undoubtedly draw the attention of many."

    "Who will win... and who will lose?"

    Reason told Tian Kai that Qi Yuan was destined to lose.

    Although Qi Yuan''s strength was mysterious and unfathomable, he was still within the realm of the fifth stage of Yang God, likely on par with the Divine Emperor.

    However, the Heavenly God was rumored to be a legendary sixth-stage Yang God existence, someone even the Divine Emperor would look up to.

    But since Qi Yuan dared to challenge the Heavenly God, he must have some confidence.

    At this level, a 99% chance of success and a 1% chance were no different.

    Without absolute superiority and the certainty of annihilation, anything could happen.

    ...

    At the same time, in the Rebirth realm, countless powerhouses awoke.

    "Qi Yuan... intends to challenge the Heavenly God?"

    "Someone dares to fight the Heavenly God?"

    The Rebirth realm was in an uproar. Countless powerhouses whispered among themselves, spreading the news.

    "Who is this Qi Yuan?"

    No one had heard of Qi Yuan before.

    He was a reclusive powerhouse who had emerged from obscurity to challenge the Heavenly God. How could this not shake the world?

    Many powerhouses and influential figures awoke, turning their gazes to the far north.

    They wanted to witness how this world-shaking battle would unfold.

    ...

    "Someone dares to challenge the Heavenly God. This is good news for us."

    The Black Crow Dao Lord spoke, his voice devoid of emotion.

    The Cosmic Alliance had always been at odds with the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.

    Countless battles had been fought between them.

    There had even been instances of Dao Gods, and even Dao Lords, falling in battle.

    The Cosmic Alliance was deeply wary of the Heavenly God.

    "Who is this Qi Yuan, and why is he opposing the Heavenly God?" a Dao Lord hidden in the shadows asked.

    They were extremely curious about Qi Yuan''s origins.

    After all, the enemy of their enemy could be a potential ally.

    Of course, they needed to figure out Qi Yuan''s background.

    What if Qi Yuan was also an enemy of the Cosmic Alliance?

    Most beings in the Cosmic Alliance hailed from the Yin Realm and were not on good terms with those from the Yang Realm and the Rebirth realm.

    Especially the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, which sought to conquer the Yin Realm and use its inhabitants to nurture beings from the Yang Realm, helping them transcend the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

    "I have observed his fate. He has ties to the Yin Realm, the Rebirth realm, and the Yang Realm..." a mirror spoke.

    This mirror was a Dao Lord of the Cosmic Alliance, one who mastered the mysterious Dao of Fate.

    "Ties to all three realms?" The Black Crow Dao Lord''s expression was complex.

    Generally, beings from the Yin Realm found it difficult to establish connections with the Yang Realm.

    After all, it was hard enough for Yin Realm beings to enter the Rebirth realm, let alone the Yang Realm.

    But the Yang Realm was different. Beings from the Yang Realm found it easier to enter the Rebirth realm and the Yin Realm.

    The fact that Qi Yuan had ties to all three realms suggested he likely originated from the Yang Realm.

    "It seems he is an enemy, not a friend," the shadowy Dao Lord said.

    Due to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, they held no fondness for beings from the Yang Realm.

    "His entanglement with the Yin Realm... runs the deepest," the mirror added.

    "What?"

    The other Dao Lords were shocked.

    This statement implied that the mysterious powerhouse named Qi Yuan might have originated from the Yin Realm.

    Only then would his ties to the Yin Realm be the strongest.

    "Qi Yuan... Qi Yuan... is there such a figure in the Yin Realm?" the Black Crow Dao Lord murmured.

    He waved his hand.

    Instantly, a sea of stars appeared.

    Within the sea of stars were swirling clouds of mystery.

    The clouds rotated, exuding an aura of sacred inviolability.

    But most of the sea of stars was shrouded in impenetrable darkness.

    The mirror''s gaze fell on these clouds, scanning one area and shaking its head, then moving to another and shaking its head again.

    "He is not one of our old friends."

    "Or perhaps, he is hiding too deeply."

    These Dao Lords had existed for an extremely long time, ancient even by their standards.

    "Older than us?" someone asked, puzzled.

    The Dao Lords present extended their true spirits, probing all the secrets of the Yin Realm.

    "Such a powerhouse... seems nonexistent, or perhaps... he has reached the fourth stage of Yang God."

    There were almost no matches for Qi Yuan.

    Most importantly, if the other party deliberately concealed themselves, they might not be found.

    "We should ask some newcomers," the Black Crow Dao Lord suggested.

    The other Dao Lords were somewhat dismissive.

    The chances of a newcomer being relevant were too low.

    However, they still chose to inquire.

    After all, the world was full of impossibilities.

    The Black Crow Dao Lord waved his hand, sending a ripple through the sea of stars.

    About ten breaths later.

    Suddenly, the Black Crow Dao Lord''s eyes lit up with intense excitement.

    "I''ve found something!"

    The others immediately turned to him, their expressions eager.

    Although Dao Lords, and even Yang Gods, could conceal their emotions, there were times when they allowed their true natures to show¡ªanger when angry, surprise when surprised.

    This was also a form of cultivation.

    Otherwise, if one remained completely unflappable, there was a risk of becoming like the fourth stage of Yang God, transforming into a rule of heaven and earth.

    "In the Bright Cosmic Sea, there is a powerhouse named Qi Yuan. Although only at the third stage of Yang God, his combat power is astonishing. He can fight Dao Lords."

    "What? A third-stage Yang God fighting Dao Lords?"

    "This..."

    The Dao Lords were truly shocked this time.

    The gap between the third stage of Yang God and a Dao Lord was something everyone understood.

    There had never been an instance of a third-stage Yang God fighting a Dao God, let alone defeating a Dao Lord.

    "Such talent is enough to shake the world. He might... be comparable to the legendary San Sheng of the Yang Realm!"

    As Dao Lords, they had been in the Rebirth realm for countless years.

    They were also privy to many secrets of the Yang Realm.

    The path to the fourth stage of Yang God was created by the sixth-stage Yang God, Dun.

    Lost in self, true spirit annihilated, existing only in the past and future, never appearing in the present.

    The path of the Dao Lord, however, was forged by San Sheng.

    It was said that this peerless genius was friends with sixth-stage Yang Gods, rejecting the paths of many such powerhouses to walk his own solitary path.

    In the end, this powerhouse created the path of the cycle.

    All fifth-stage Yang Gods could enter the cycle, becoming omniscient and omnipotent.

    However, this powerhouse also offended "Return to Nothingness" and was ultimately annihilated.

    There were rumors that the Forbidden Land was his domain.

    "If he enters the Yang Realm, he will surely reach the sixth stage of Yang God!" A Dao Lord''s spirit was invigorated, his eyes filled with longing.

    Beings from the Yang Realm could enter the Rebirth realm, and even the Yin Realm, at great cost.

    But beings from the Yin Realm had no way to enter the Yang Realm.

    Without entering the Yang Realm, how could one reach the Origin Mountain and ascend to the sixth stage of Yang God?

    "Entering the Yang Realm... the Origin Mountain... a chance at the sixth stage of Yang God!"

    These Dao Lords considered themselves geniuses, their talents world-shaking in their respective eras.

    If they could enter the Yang Realm and reach the Origin Mountain, they might have a chance to climb even higher.

    However, the gates to the Yang Realm remained firmly shut.

    These Dao Lords struggled to survive in the Rebirth realm, let alone launch a counteroffensive into the Yang Realm.

    But... what if...

    Qi Yuan''s appearance gave them hope.

    "Is it possible that Qi Yuan could become the leader of our Cosmic Alliance?" a Dao Lord asked.

    The others were intrigued.

    "If this battle happens... no matter how strong the Heavenly God is, I dare to help Qi Yuan fight him!" The Black Crow Dao Lord declared, his fighting spirit blazing.

    This was the first time in countless years that he had a chance to enter the Yang Realm.

    If he missed this opportunity, he might never have another.

    These Dao Lords had lived through countless epochs, experienced countless cycles.

    If they could enter the Yang Realm and seize the chance to reach the Origin Mountain, they might glimpse the heights of the sixth stage of Yang God.

    "I agree!"

    "Even if I die, I will have no regrets!"

    At this moment, these Dao Lords, with their complex thoughts and varied personalities, were united in purpose.

    After all, the path to the Yang Realm lay before them.

    If they didn''t seize this opportunity, they would never forgive themselves.

    Even if there was a high chance of dying in battle... so what?

    Compared to glimpsing the heights of the sixth stage of Yang God, death a thousand times over... was worth it.

    "With our strength and Qi Yuan''s, we dare to draw our swords against the Heavenly God!"

    "What of the sixth stage of Yang God?"

    These Dao Lords chose to step out of their cycles, to help Qi Yuan face the Heavenly God.

    Stepping out of the cycle risked the annihilation of their true spirits.

    But seeing that sliver of hope, they were willing to fight for it!

    Of course, this was all contingent on Qi Yuan being the Qi Yuan they knew.

    ...

    Meanwhile, in the distant far north.

    The carriage moved slowly, with the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain transformed into a coachman, his expression solemn as he drove the horses.

    Their speed seemed slow, but in reality, it was incredibly fast.

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    In a single breath, they traversed countless light-years.

    Inside the carriage, Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    "Indeed, handsome people are always the center of attention."

    "Just going to meet the Heavenly God, and so many people are watching!"

    "I should have charged admission and made millions!"

 Chapter 634: Brother San Sheng, long time no see

    The carriage moved slowly through the vast, snow-covered landscape.

    Heavy snow fell from the sky, lightning crackled like thunder, and fierce winds howled.

    The closer they got to the far north, the more terrifying celestial phenomena and cosmic wonders appeared everywhere.

    Even a True God would find it difficult to traverse such a place.

    However, with the Mountain Lord of Heavenly King Mountain, a Dao God, driving the carriage, these obstacles were nothing.

    Qi Yuan reclined lazily, gazing at the endless snow and strange cosmic phenomena outside.

    "There are quite a few powerhouses in this world."

    Behind these countless wonders, Qi Yuan''s omniscience and omnipotence allowed him to sense many powerful beings.

    These powerhouses, whether as a wisp of true spirit or a trace of aura, hung high in the sky, watching from an immeasurable distance, as if observing a battle.

    "Leave... only a sixth-stage Yang God can challenge the Heavenly God."

    At that moment, a fragmented voice reached Qi Yuan''s ears.

    Clearly, someone was sending a friendly signal.

    Or perhaps, they were an enemy of the Heavenly God and didn''t want to see Qi Yuan walk to his death.

    But the sender didn''t want to reveal their identity, so they sent the message covertly.

    Qi Yuan smiled.

    The voice was like a message in a bottle, with no clear recipient, making it impossible for him to respond directly.

    After all, the sender was clearly a powerhouse who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, on par with the Divine Emperor, with unfathomable abilities.

    However... Qi Yuan''s special abilities were still intact.

    He could even converse with the "soundless sound," like his master, Ruan Yixi, let alone this voice.

    "Thank you for the reminder."

    Qi Yuan replied lightly.

    At the same time, in an unknown space beyond the heavens, a shadow seemed to shudder.

    "He actually knows it''s me?"

    He had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations and had even visited the Origin Mountain, standing at the peak just below the sixth stage of Yang God.

    One could say that, with no sixth-stage Yang God present, he was nearly invincible.

    His covert message, he believed, would be difficult even for a legendary sixth-stage Yang God to detect and respond to.

    Yet, Qi Yuan had replied so effortlessly.

    How could he not be shocked?

    "If he can reply, it means he can pinpoint my location... If..."

    This revealed too much information.

    At their level, true forms were rarely revealed.

    Their true bodies existed in secrecy and mystery.

    "Who... is he?"

    He was deeply curious about Qi Yuan''s identity.

    After all, if this feat were revealed, even the top powerhouses would be astonished.

    Meanwhile, in a spiritual realm, whispers began to spread.

    "Rumors say this Qi Yuan hails from the Yin Realm?"

    "A being from the Yin Realm?"

    "Strange. Most beings from the Yin Realm cannot overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations. How does he possess such strength?"

    "Could it be that he has already overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations?"

    Very few beings could overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations on their own.

    Many powerhouses relied on the Nine Heavens Divine Palace to achieve this.

    In return, these powerhouses would assist the Heavenly God in resisting "Return to Nothingness."

    "His strength is unfathomable, but compared to the Heavenly God, he should still be at a disadvantage."

    "Indeed. No matter what, the Heavenly God has reached the sixth stage of Yang God. Although it''s somewhat different from other sixth-stage Yang Gods and not complete, it''s still beyond our ability to contend with."

    Although Qi Yuan was confident in challenging the Heavenly God, in the eyes of the top powerhouses, there was a 99% chance he would lose.

    In this world, there had never been an instance of a fifth-stage Yang God challenging a sixth-stage Yang God.

    Even among these top powerhouses, no one dared to challenge a sixth-stage Yang God.

    Because, before the challenge even began, they knew they would lose, or even die.

    Or perhaps, the moment they entertained the thought of challenging a sixth-stage Yang God, something catastrophic would happen.

    Sixth-stage Yang Gods... were not just at that level because of their cultivation. Rather... the sixth stage of Yang God was the ultimate destination of all cultivation paths.

    "Anything is possible. Variables exist. Perhaps... Qi Yuan might win this battle," the shadowy figure said.

    The fact that Qi Yuan could reply to him suggested he was no ordinary figure. Perhaps he even had a sliver of hope against the Heavenly God.

    "Variables and possibilities are all in the hands of sixth-stage Yang Gods. How can a fifth-stage Yang God win?"

    Someone laughed.

    The path of cultivation was indeed filled with variables and possibilities.

    Especially at their level, even a one-in-a-million chance could become absolute.

    "Aside from ''Return to Nothingness,'' is there anything a sixth-stage Yang God cannot handle?

    Even ''Return to Nothingness'' is on par with sixth-stage Yang Gods and cannot harm them in the slightest."

    "Can a sixth-stage Yang God handle another sixth-stage Yang God?" someone asked.

    Instantly, the spiritual realm fell silent. No one spoke.

    Sixth-stage Yang Gods couldn''t handle many things.

    They couldn''t break the cycle.

    They couldn''t truly confront fourth-stage Yang Gods who existed in the past and future.

    They couldn''t completely eradicate "Return to Nothingness."

    Because, in a sense, these were all within the domain of sixth-stage Yang Gods.

    "He''s here."

    At that moment, a murmur rang out.

    The spiritual realm fell completely silent, and many gazes turned toward the far north, their eyes flickering.

    Because Qi Yuan had arrived at the far north.

    A great battle... was about to begin.

    Many eyes, including the shadowy figure and the Divine Emperor, turned to the far north.

    In a corner of the vast void, a carriage came to a stop.

    A tall, slender man lifted the curtain and stepped out.

    The world was vast, and he walked alone.

    Many eyes watched this young man, but they kept their distance.

    After all, a battle at this level could easily spread to them.

    It might even shatter a third or half of the Rebirth realm, or perhaps all of it.

    "That must be him, Qi Yuan!" the Black Crow Dao Lord said, his gaze focused.

    In the Yin Realm, there were no images of Qi Yuan.

    Because other powerhouses couldn''t record Qi Yuan''s appearance, let alone manifest it.

    But now, seeing Qi Yuan, they felt in their hearts that this was the Qi Yuan from the Yin Realm, the one they knew.

    Several Dao Lords hid in the darkness, their forms concealed by divine treasures.

    "Should we make contact now?" someone asked.

    "It''s too late now."

    "We must strike the Heavenly God by surprise. Any information leakage could ruin our plans!"

    The Dao Lords reached a consensus.

    Once the plan was set, their true spirits were all enveloped by this divine treasure, preventing any information from leaking.

    Even their thoughts were isolated.

    "Revealing ourselves now would alert the enemy."

    These Dao Lords were prepared to die.

    The battle between Qi Yuan and the Heavenly God was their only chance to enter the Yang Realm.

    Once in the Yang Realm, they might also reach the Origin Mountain, ascend to the peak, and achieve the sixth stage of Yang God.

    Although the odds were less than one in a billion.

    After all, over countless epochs and ages, countless beings had visited the Origin Mountain, but only a handful had reached the sixth stage of Yang God.

    "Do not act rashly. Do everything to conceal yourselves. The Heavenly God is coming!"

    The Black Crow Dao Lord spoke, his body trembling with fear.

    Because, above the far north, the sky seemed to split open, and a terrifying being was about to descend.

    Although it hadn''t revealed its form or leaked any aura, these fifth-stage Yang God Dao Lords couldn''t help but tremble inwardly.

    Of course, this was related to the Heavenly God being an unconventional sixth-stage Yang God.

    It wasn''t like those... legitimate sixth-stage Yang Gods.

    Under the extreme light of myriad Daos, the Heavenly God''s form was invisible, unfathomable, unseeable, unhearable, and unsmellable.

    All the Dao Lords and top powerhouses tried to sense it, but they found nothing.

    It was as if the Heavenly God didn''t exist.

    "Is this the sixth stage of Yang God? I know it''s here, but I can''t perceive it at all?"

    "What... is the Heavenly God?"

    "The path of the sixth stage of Yang God... is mysterious and unfathomable."

    For fifth-stage Yang Gods, the sixth stage was indeed too powerful.

    It was like the symbols representing the sixth stage of Yang God on the Origin Mountain. There weren''t many.

    But these fifth-stage Yang Gods couldn''t even count how many there were.

    Sixth-stage Yang Gods could interfere with the perceptions of all living beings.

    They could even manipulate the Great Dao, the rules of heaven and earth, and the rules of the universe, dictating them with a single word.

    Dao Lords could set the rules within their own universes, but a sixth-stage Yang God''s word... could dictate the rules of countless worlds across the myriad realms.

    "I take back my earlier words. Qi Yuan stands no chance against the Heavenly God."

    A powerhouse who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations spoke.

    With a single glance, the Heavenly God was completely unknown to him.

    But if the Heavenly God were to glance at him, all his secrets would be laid bare.

    With such a gap, how could they fight?

    Without seeing a sixth-stage Yang God, how could one understand their power?

    Unfortunately, fifth-stage Yang Gods... didn''t even have the right to see a sixth-stage Yang God.

    So how could Qi Yuan fight this battle?

    At the same time, in the far north, an ethereal, desolate voice echoed.

    Or rather, this voice resonated in the hearts of all beings in the Rebirth realm.

    "Senior Brother San Sheng, it''s been a long time."

    This voice, ancient and distant, fell into the hearts of countless beings, stirring various thoughts.

    "Wait... Qi Yuan is the Heavenly God''s senior brother?"

    "San Sheng... that name... wait... the Cycle!"

    "San Sheng... the Lord of the Cycle who rejected the sixth stage of Yang God?"

    These top powerhouses were filled with fear and shock.

    The name San Sheng, though hidden and ancient, was known to many.

    After all, this figure was one of the most legendary in countless epochs.

    Inside the divine treasure, a Dao Lord''s body trembled violently. "He is... Lord San Sheng?"

    Back in the Yin Realm, he had served a great and majestic being.

    That being could answer countless questions and guide all directions with a single word.

    That being could have stepped into the fifth stage of Yang God but chose the fourth stage instead.

    Seventy percent of his achievements as a Dao Lord were thanks to San Sheng.

    Now, hearing that Qi Yuan was San Sheng, how could he not be shocked?

    Though he was a Dao Lord, he regarded San Sheng as a teacher.

    "He''s San Sheng?"

    "What do we do? He''s not from the Yin Realm?"

    The Dao Lords hesitated, unsure of what to do.

    If Qi Yuan were from the Yin Realm, they would naturally ally with him to infiltrate the Yang Realm.

    But if he wasn''t...

    "Strange. He clearly has the deepest ties to the Yin Realm. How could he be San Sheng from the Yang Realm?" The Dao Lord who mastered fate was puzzled and confused.

    At that moment, in the Forbidden Land, a woman surrounded by snow-covered trees opened her eyes, a trace of killing intent emanating from her.

    "San Sheng isn''t dead yet?"

    Her consciousness awakened, and her form entered the Dark Void.

    ...

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    "I am not your Senior Brother San Sheng, and you are not my junior brother."

    Qi Yuan spoke, his tone calm.

    He also couldn''t see the Heavenly God''s form.

    Hearing Qi Yuan''s words, the Heavenly God seemed to fall into a long silence.

    "You''re right. Senior Brother San Sheng is a part of you, and I... am merely a part of your junior brother."

 Chapter 636: Finale: The Road to Reincarnation

    The Heavenly God has perished.

    The powerful beings observing this scene were all stunned.

    "The Heavenly God has actually perished!"

    "Did he dissipate his obsession upon seeing Qi Yuan?"

    "It seems the relationship between the Heavenly God and San Sheng... is not just that of ordinary senior and junior brothers."

    These powerful beings sighed, their expressions varied.

    A shadowy figure also murmured.

    "I was the only one who believed in him in this battle... but I never expected it to end like this!"

    Many powerful beings had thought that this battle would be extremely fierce, ending with Qi Yuan''s defeat.

    After all, there had never been an example of someone at the fifth stage of Yang God defeating someone at the sixth stage of Yang God.

    But no one expected that Qi Yuan would survive, win, and win so easily.

    Upon seeing Qi Yuan, the Heavenly God simply perished.

    It was too simple, too unexpected, beyond everyone''s imagination.

    After all, it defied logic and reason.

    Of course, they didn''t know that the Heavenly God had already been at the end of his rope.

    Over the years, resisting "Return to Nothingness", his injuries were not much lighter than San Sheng''s.

    "San Sheng... is actually a part of him. Will the world... gain another sixth-stage Yang God being?"

    Pillar Tian Kai murmured, his gaze complex.

    That was the sixth stage of Yang God, a being that existed eternally across the heavens and the earth, throughout all realms.

    "San Sheng did not enter the sixth stage of Yang God. With his pride and his pursuit of the Great Dao, would he simply step into the sixth stage of Yang God?" The Divine Emperor had a different perspective.

    For them, reaching the sixth stage of Yang God was extremely difficult, almost impossible, with not even a glimmer of light visible.

    But for San Sheng, it was nothing.

    After all, the legendary Heavenly Emperor had a relationship with San Sheng that was both mentor and friend.

    There were even rumors that the Heavenly Emperor was able to step into the sixth stage of Yang God because of San Sheng''s guidance.

    After the journey to Origin Mountain, everyone believed that San Sheng would definitely step into the sixth stage of Yang God.

    But who would have thought that San Sheng would choose not to follow the path of others, wanting to forge his own path.

    He refused to enter the sixth stage of Yang God.

    With such talent and pride, how could he easily step into the sixth stage of Yang God?

    "The Heavenly God entered the sixth stage of Yang God, and the Heavenly Emperor also entered the sixth stage of Yang God... If I could become friends with him, perhaps..." The Divine Emperor sighed, his thoughts wandering.

    Fortunately, through Tian Kai''s connections, he had the opportunity to meet with Qi Yuan.

    If Qi Yuan could impart some wisdom and give him some guidance, the benefits would be unimaginable.

    The many powerful beings in the distance were all moved, their hearts filled with various thoughts.

    Who wouldn''t want to befriend Qi Yuan, to befriend San Sheng?

    Even a little bit of their wisdom would be like the sound of the Great Dao to them.

    However, when they looked towards Qi Yuan, they found that his figure had disappeared at that moment.

    It was as if he had never appeared.

    "Where did he go?"

    All the powerful beings and leaders were puzzled, even the Dao Lords of the Cosmic Alliance was surprised.

    Qi Yuan had disappeared right under their noses.

    ...

    Origin Mountain.

    The sound of dripping water echoed as the Heavenly Emperor, dressed in a white robe, held a teapot in one hand and brewed tea with the other.

    The tea boiled, steam rising. The Heavenly Emperor shook his hand, causing more steam to rise, evenly distributing the tea leaves and water.

    "Beings like us... originally have no meaning in this world. If there is any meaning, it is... to find an opponent and surpass them."

    The Heavenly Emperor smiled lightly.

    A cup of hot tea was poured into the cup, instantly cooling.

    Qi Yuan took a sip, finding it slightly bitter: "Is this the thinking of all sixth-stage Yang God beings?"

    The sixth stage of Yang God was the pinnacle of cultivation.

    No matter how far one walked, it was still the sixth stage of Yang God.

    "In this world, one must always find something to do," the Heavenly Emperor said. "Last time, you told me that ''all beings are me''... is a good path."

    If all beings were the Heavenly Emperor, all at the sixth stage of Yang God, then "Return to Nothingness" would be unable to devour them.

    This was also a method to resist "Return to Nothingness".

    If other cultivators resisted "Return to Nothingness" for survival.

    Then for sixth-stage Yang God beings, it was more about tempering themselves, or finding an opponent to give their existence some meaning.

    "All beings are me, and I am constantly growing stronger. Compared to the last time I saw you, I have grown stronger... perhaps a hundred million times?" The Heavenly Emperor casually mentioned a terrifying number.

    Back then, he was already at the sixth stage of Yang God.

    A hundred million times stronger, what kind of concept was that?

    "However... in this lifetime, I''m afraid it will be difficult for me to surpass "Return to Nothingness"." The Heavenly Emperor changed the subject, looking at Qi Yuan.

    This was what he truly wanted to express.

    "I am also a part of "Return to Nothingness", all beings are "Return to Nothingness".

    Therefore, I must be stronger than me plus "Return to Nothingness"."

    He grew stronger, "Return to Nothingness" also grew stronger.

    He was considered a part of "Return to Nothingness".

    Therefore, no matter how strong he became, he could not surpass "Return to Nothingness".

    After all, the other sixth-stage Yang God beings were also considered part of "Return to Nothingness".

    He was no exception.

    Hearing this, Qi Yuan fell silent, then said: "So, you resist "Return to Nothingness"... to improve yourselves?"

    "Something like that," the Heavenly Emperor said. "Time is too short, living beings... must always find something to do, always have a goal to strive for?"

    All sixth-stage Yang God beings regarded "Return to Nothingness" as a goal to strive for.

    If, at the beginning, a certain sixth-stage Yang God being''s strength was close to "Return to Nothingness".

    After so many years, they were infinitely close, but never truly surpassed it.

    This was also the path and amusement of these sixth-stage Yang God beings over the endless years.

    Too omniscient and omnipotent, having seen too many sights in this world.

    So-called morality, ethics, and all other cognitions seemed insignificant in the eyes of sixth-stage Yang God beings.

    In their eyes, only "Return to Nothingness" and their own Great Dao held some importance.

    After all, there weren''t many interesting or challenging things left for them.

    It was like, with the strength of a sixth-stage Yang God being, they could cheat in any game in the world.

    Only with "Return to Nothingness" did they need to take it step by step, slowly playing, slowly grinding.

    "Sigh, I''m still young, haven''t lived long, and haven''t developed such profound thoughts and deep connotations as you."

    Qi Yuan said honestly.

    In fact, he admired those who were open-minded, saw through worldly affairs, or had found their own path.

    "I resist "Return to Nothingness" simply because... I''m a mundane person."

    Although he had cultivated immortality, Qi Yuan always felt that he was a mundane person, without the demeanor of a powerful being.

    The battles between powerful beings often involved casually affecting an entire galaxy, causing the deaths of billions of living beings.

    Those powerful beings were ruthless, not even blinking an eye, nor caring if their eyes were sore.

    Qi Yuan couldn''t do that, he liked to blink.

    Every time he killed an enemy, he was also very careful, controlling his spiritual power to avoid harming the innocent.

    He didn''t even kill an ant.

    Of course, the flies and mosquitoes buzzing around his ears were exceptions.

    So Qi Yuan didn''t have the mindset of a powerful being, he always thought of himself as a mundane person.

    "My heart is too soft."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    As for killing someone''s entire family, wiping out their entire clan, that wasn''t his fault.

    Moreover, was it the same?

    "I don''t want to see mortals struggling all their lives just to survive.

    I don''t want to see the kind-hearted die from misfortune.

    I don''t want to see the lovely fall into dire straits.

    I don''t want to see the tyrannical live too comfortably.

    I don''t want to see the foul-mouthed enjoy a wicked life.

    I also don''t want to see the devoted destroyed by betrayal, the promiscuous die from loyalty, the sincere slandered... the eight sufferings of life, everywhere unattainable."

    There were too many things Qi Yuan didn''t want to see.

    Especially the foul-mouthed enjoying a wicked life, Qi Yuan wasn''t good at arguing, and was socially awkward, he had never won an online argument.

    If his arguing skills improved, he would delete the part about the foul-mouthed.

    He would support the foul-mouthed enjoying a wicked life.

    Qi Yuan was also a very complex person.

    Or perhaps, all living beings in this world were complex.

    The scheming conspirator also had things they cherished.

    The high-ranking official who contributed greatly to the ages also had moral flaws.

    Even saints... had selfish desires.

    So-called right and wrong... to some extent, were defined by the world, or perhaps, depended on whose perspective one took.

    From different perspectives, the answers were different.

    Of course, it could also depend on who held the power of discourse.

    "I also don''t want to see innocent ants being crushed by me.

    Now that I think about it, when I was thirteen, I accidentally spilled a cup of boiling water, killing three ants.

    I was a minor, protected by the law, not legally responsible.

    Also, I have a mental illness.

    But... I feel guilty, those were three ants, although they were worker ants, busy all their lives dedicating themselves, in the eyes of us cultivators, perhaps it was even helping them escape suffering.

    But... I shouldn''t judge their lives, arbitrarily deciding their fate, even if... in the eyes of most, I might have been doing them a favor.

    Do you understand?"

    Qi Yuan looked at the Heavenly Emperor, his emotions genuine.

    The Heavenly Emperor leisurely picked up a cup of tea, sipping it slowly.

    "If it were before, I would say you''re sick, sentimental, childish, but now... good luck, Qi Yuan, I also want to see... if your path of reincarnation... can truly resist "Return to Nothingness"."

    "Why resist "Return to Nothingness"? Actually... aren''t I also "Return to Nothingness"?" Qi Yuan took another sip of tea, "What has "Return to Nothingness" done wrong, why should we resist it?"

    "..."Return to Nothingness" hasn''t done anything wrong." The Heavenly Emperor said, "In fact, it is the first sixth-stage Yang God in this world."

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan''s expression was calm, he finished the tea in one gulp, "The tea is finished, I should go, the game isn''t finished yet, I''m very busy, next time... I''ll come here to drink tea with you."

    After saying this, Qi Yuan''s figure disappeared.

    On Origin Mountain, the Heavenly Emperor continued to leisurely drink his tea, as if Qi Yuan had never appeared.

    ...

    "My special ability is to merge with all things."

    "Merge with... "Return to Nothingness"?"

    "To create reincarnation, to solve "Return to Nothingness", to save those three ants, I need to understand them, know them..."

    "It''s like, if I kill the Heavenly Emperor, to resurrect him, I need to know his divine abilities, Great Dao, methods... everything."

    In an unknown place, Qi Yuan''s clothes fluttered in the wind, rustling.

    He thought of many things, and understood many things.

    "Reincarnation... starts from the beginning... starts now."

    "Merge with... "Return to Nothingness"."

    After becoming an Yin God, Qi Yuan had obtained this special ability, but apart from merging with the Gate of Myriad Principles, he rarely used it.

    This time, he chose to merge with "Return to Nothingness".

    He wanted to see those beings consumed by "Return to Nothingness".

    Without seeing those people, without seeing those beings, how could he pull them into... his soul.

    "Three ants... I''m coming."

    Qi Yuan murmured, his figure completely disappearing.

    His consciousness also became muddled at this moment, like the sound of cicadas in the midday sun, sped up a hundred times.

    Suddenly, an ice-cold can of Sprite exploded, like a signal.

    Spinning, flipping.

    Time was pulled back to its normal trajectory.

    ...

    Moonwatch Continent.

    July Lake.

    The ancient tree reached into the sky, its height unknown, seemingly just a bit short of touching the stars.

    "Old man, stop bragging, what Faceless Sword God, what Outer Realm Demons, it''s all just stories to scare children."

    In the tavern, a burly man, his face flushed with alcohol, spoke with disdain.

    "You''ve told this story a hundred times, we''re all tired of it, change it up."

    Many martial artists joined in the jeering.

    The old man with a thick beard blushed, as if he had drunk fake wine.

    "You, you... sigh, the world is not worth it."

    The old man with the beard cursed as he left.

    When his figure reappeared, he was in a dilapidated temple.

    Inside the temple, there was a somewhat damaged statue.

    This statue did not have a face.

    "Only three hundred years, and it has already come to this?"

    "Sigh..."

    The old man with the beard looked at the statue, his face filled with longing and memories, and a trace of awe.

    At this moment, a clear voice rang out.

    "Old man, don''t keep living in the past, people need to look forward.

    Maybe, in your heart, this person is very important, but to others, they have more important people... and things in their hearts."

    "Get lost, you young brat, what do you know about the Faceless Sword God!" The old man with the beard couldn''t help but retort.

    "No one in this world understands him better than me." The young man plagiarized a certain famous quote.

    At this moment, the old man with the beard seemed to realize something, suddenly turning around.

    He scrutinized the young man behind him, his eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty.

    His pupils trembled.

    "You... you..."

    "Long Pan, it''s been a long time, you''re still as prone to blushing as ever."

    This young man was naturally Qi Yuan.

    He had merged with "Return to Nothingness", originally intending to go to the very beginning, to see the three ants he had killed with boiling water.

    But instead, he ended up in Moonwatch Continent.

    Or rather, Moonwatch Continent after the Outer Realm Demons had been destroyed.

    Long Pan was a Divine Realm expert who had lain in a coffin within the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

    Back then, when Qi Yuan entered the Five Elements Forbidden Land, he gained the recognition of the Five Elements Ancestors, obtaining control of the Five Elements Forbidden Land and the divine reflections of the Divine Realm experts.

    Long Pan was one of them.

    From the memories of the divine reflections, Qi Yuan knew that Long Pan was very handsome and delicate, but prone to blushing. To avoid being looked down upon, he grew a thick beard.

    "You..." Long Pan''s heart was shaken, still unable to believe it.

    After all, back then, Qi Yuan had entered the Earth''s End alone, fighting the Outer Realm Demons, how tragic, how heroic.

    He must have died without even ashes remaining.

    "Don''t get excited, I came from the future, here to take a look, but I ended up at the wrong time." Qi Yuan said.

    He glanced at the statue of the Faceless Sword God, slowly walking towards July Lake.

    July Lake held many memories for him.

    Long Pan''s heart was in turmoil, the words "future" made him hesitant.

    "This time... it''s finally not snowing."

    July Lake shimmered, with white ducks and red feet, green carp jumping, and the ancient tree stretching endlessly.

    "Yu... and Zanghua, where are they?" Qi Yuan asked casually.

    Being omniscient, he could easily know all the answers with a simple perception.

    But that would be boring.

    "We were already at the end of our ropes, after coming out of the seal, learning that you alone had slaughtered all the Outer Realm Demons, we all felt guilty... but also happy." Long Pan''s voice was filled with nostalgia, "The first to go was Yu... he was the strongest among us, but also the one who contributed the most each time, with the most hidden injuries. The second to go was... Zanghua, a month ago, Little Green also left, she was buried in the Five Elements Forbidden Land, resting beside the Five Ancestors.

    Now, only I remain, clinging to life."

    Long Pan stammered, filled with memories of the past.

    Old friends gradually passed away, the world they once protected becoming more and more unfamiliar.

    He also seemed like a passerby in this world, in some corner, on some night, quietly passing away.

    When discovered, he would likely be treated as a dead vagrant.

    Wrapped in a straw mat, buried in a mass grave.

    No one in this world would remember him.

    Or rather, in the future timeline, apart from Qi Yuan, no one would remember this handsome, bearded man who blushed easily.

    "Back then, in the Five Elements Forbidden Land, the Five Ancestors sacrificed themselves to empower me, I remember this kindness.

    At that time... I thought, if I could rebuild the earth, water, wind, and fire, turn the false into the real, the virtual into the actual, I would definitely bring the Five Ancestors back to the world of the living."

    Qi Yuan said.

    Beside him, Long Pan''s body trembled violently, he remembered Qi Yuan''s earlier words, that he came from the future.

    He seemed to realize something.

    Could it be...

    This... was a bit too terrifying and unimaginable.

    "Long Pan, do you think Yu, Tong, and Zanghua... would be willing to enter my reincarnation?"

    Qi Yuan asked.

    He respected people''s opinions.

    His resurrection was different from that of other Yang Gods.

    Perhaps, other Yang Gods resurrected people with the same memories, the same person.

    While the Dao Lord resurrected true spirits in the Cosmic Mother River.

    Qi Yuan''s... was to mark them and enter his reincarnation.

    Long Pan''s body trembled slightly: "Perhaps... they would be willing."

    "But my resurrection... might infringe on people''s privacy, wouldn''t that be a bit inappropriate?" Qi Yuan hesitated.

    His resurrection also had several types, or rather, his method of resisting "Return to Nothingness" was to truly know all things, understand all things.

    The Dao gave birth to one, one gave birth to two, two gave birth to three, three gave birth to all things.

    All things belong to "Return to Nothingness".

    To resist "Return to Nothingness" is to resist all, including oneself.

    To understand "Return to Nothingness" is to understand all things, to understand everything in the world.

    It could be a gust of wind passing through a hall, a yeast cell sleeping soundly, or a pangolin laughing and playing.

    Merge with all things, mark them, enter his reincarnation.

    "Ah, I forgot, they had once reflected their divine selves to me, I already know their privacy." Qi Yuan said.

    Hearing this, Long Pan''s old face blushed again.

    His past had also been glimpsed by Qi Yuan.

    "They probably wouldn''t mind." Long Pan hesitated.

    "Sigh, reincarnation is too difficult, the first step is to infringe on people''s privacy." Qi Yuan sighed.

    Indeed, the path to great achievements is always fraught with difficulties.

    Running red lights, infringing on people''s privacy, these were things Qi Yuan couldn''t do.

    He had always been lawful good.

    Although, occasionally killing someone''s entire family, wiping out their clan.

    But wasn''t that influenced by the Patriots of Blue Star?

    Moreover, was it the same?

    Killing someone''s entire family doesn''t affect never running a red light.

    "In that case, I''ll begin." Qi Yuan said.

    "Alright." Long Pan nodded vigorously.

    Qi Yuan closed his eyes.

    He began to use his special ability again.

    He merged with "Return to Nothingness".

    He merged with Moonwatch Continent.

    He merged with... the deceased Metal Ancestor, Wood Ancestor, Water Ancestor, Fire Ancestor, and Earth Ancestor, as well as the Divine Realm experts from the Five Elements Forbidden Land who had reflected their divine selves to him.

    Countless memories flooded into his mind once again.

    He seemed to see a cheerful blacksmith, diligently forging every day, sparks flying, always grinning from ear to ear.

    His life was monotonous, his favorite pastime was fishing.

    Every time he fished, he felt a great sense of satisfaction.

    He lived in his own little world, his wife often complained that he lacked ambition, destined to be a blacksmith in this small town forever.

    Then... the Outer Realm Demons invaded.

    As the Metal Ancestor of the Divine Court, he charged to the front lines.

    Unfortunately, the strength of a Divine Realm giant was far inferior to those Outer Realm Demons.

    A fishing line descended from the sky, the hook glinting, he was hooked.

    Just like the fish he usually caught.

    He died, only a skin remained in the world.

    That skin was the vessel of the metal attribute.

    This time, his wife cried her heart out, never again saying he lacked ambition.

    "This is his story."

    "Everyone''s story, when you delve into it... is so touching."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    Just like a dog kicked on the side of the road, if you delve into its heart, it also has its story, its joys and sorrows.

    Unfortunately, people are different, species are different, interests are entangled, survival of the fittest, all living beings have struggles.

    "Now it''s the Fire Ancestor''s story..."

    "Now the Earth Ancestor..."

    "Yu..."

    <hr>

    "Little Green..."

    He stood by the shore of July Lake, contemplating the pasts of these people, their lives.

    After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes, his gaze clear.

    Long Pan, who had been standing beside him, perked up, seemingly wanting to ask something but not daring to.

    "No need to rush. When I return to the present world, they will naturally revive and reappear in the world."

    "They can choose to live in the present or in the future."

    "If they complain about me bringing them back to suffer in this world, they don''t need to come to me; they can just return to nothingness."

    Hearing this, Long Pan''s expression was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

    After all, without seeing the Five Ancestors revive and his old friends return to the world, he couldn''t be sure.

    Qi Yuan didn''t pay much attention to this.

    At that moment, a gentle woman''s voice rang out.

    Dressed in a green robe, her figure was graceful.

    "May I ask where you come from, your name, and what brings you to the Moon Emperor''s Dynasty?"

    The woman''s voice carried a hint of caution.

    Qi Yuan glanced at her and said softly, "A guest from the heavens."

    With those words, his figure disappeared, leaving behind the stunned woman in green and the dazed Long Pan.

    It all felt like a dream.

    "The wood attribute of the world, the ancient Qi Chuang is supreme. You... should also be a part of my master, or rather... a coordinate. It''s because of you... that Xiao Jia came to me?"

    Qi Yuan reclined on a branch of the ancient Qi Chuang tree, his hand reaching up as if he could grasp the sun, moon, and stars.

    "Grasping the sun and moon, plucking the stars, there is no one like me in this world."

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    With a wave of his hand, a faint fragrance wafted through the air.

    Jinli sat in Qi Yuan''s arms, the confusion in her eyes vanishing, replaced by a gentle moonlight-like gaze.

    "Actually... does this count as meeting many times before our official meeting?" Qi Yuan asked.

    "In all timelines, I want to be the first."

    The woman in his arms turned her head, her soft lips approaching.

    ...

    The desert was vast, with a long river but no setting sun.

    "Indeed, this world without the sun and moon''s light is missing my Golden Core."

    "Your sun has arrived."

    Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

    Ahead lay the City of No Return.

    Back then, Qi Yuan had stood guard here alone, fighting against the demonic scourge.

    No, Xiao Jia had been with him.

    Now, Qi Yuan stood there, gazing at the city walls from afar.

    The walls were empty.

    His gaze shifted, and in the distance, dust and sand filled the air as two figures trudged forward.

    One carried a military flag, the other held a jug of wine.

    Every few steps, they would stop to rest.

    In the future, they would go to the City of No Return to stand guard, only to die from severe injuries.

    Qi Yuan glanced at them and then disappeared.

    He reappeared on a battlefield.

    Bloodstains were everywhere, with severed limbs and broken bodies scattered about.

    This was the burial ground of the soldiers who had died in the Songzi Camp.

    "Back then, I said I was destined to become a Great Luo Golden Immortal, and I would remember them."

    "Although my memory isn''t great, I still remember them."

    "Not only that..."

    "I not only remember these NPCs with stories, but I also remember those... who didn''t even have names, who only appeared as background characters, as mere numbers."

    "I remember you."

    He looked at the corpses, some old and frail, some young and tender.

    Fathers, children, husbands... or just themselves.

    Qi Yuan looked at them seriously, committing them to memory, as well as the sand on the ground.

    After an unknown amount of time, he flashed away again.

    In a dilapidated village, in a pigpen, a pig was eating pigweed.

    The pig''s diet didn''t seem great; it was thin and pale.

    "Is this the pig that Chen Jiao kept talking about not castrating?" Canary''s crisp voice rang out, clear and pleasant.

    "Husband, although my body and heart are yours, castrating pigs... is better done by you." Ning Tao, dressed in a black skirt, took a step back, her petite figure hiding behind Qi Yuan.

    "Ah?" Canary realized something and tightly grasped Qi Yuan''s hand, "I am the number one beauty of Jiupan Mountain, my body is precious, I won''t castrate pigs!"

    Clearly, she couldn''t do such work either.

    Canary was still as proud and spoiled as ever.

    "You all..." Qi Yuan hesitated, "Before castrating the pig, shouldn''t we ask for its opinion? Does it want to be castrated?"

    "Uncastrated pigs don''t taste as good?"

    "It probably doesn''t want to be eaten either?"

    "But if we don''t eat it, people will starve."

    "So complicated."

    Canary and Ning Tao whispered to each other.

    "Right, ask Chen Jiao, it''s his pig."

    "He''s dead?"

    "In this timeline, there''s still a bit of his true spirit left."

    Qi Yuan waved his hand, and a trace of consciousness seemed to awaken in the dazed true spirit of the deceased Chen Jiao.

    He immediately saw Qi Yuan, as well as Canary and Ning Tao.

    "Didn''t I die?"

    "Could it be... that after death, people really go to the underworld?"

    He looked at Qi Yuan, extremely nervous.

    In his eyes, this person must be the ruler of the underworld, a deity.

    But why did he feel that this person resembled the guardian of the City of No Return?

    Unfortunately, he couldn''t see clearly.

    Facing such a being, he didn''t know what to say.

    "Chen Jiao, do you still want to castrate your pig?"

    "If you do, you do it!"

    "...???" Chen Jiao.

    ...

    Mortal Heart Realm.

    Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

    "No wonder the Blood Sun Great Sage''s lineage produced two Yang Gods; they were lucky to find part of the Nanke Dao Lord''s inheritance."

    This time, he had come to the Mortal Heart Realm.

    Here, he met many people and discovered things he had overlooked before.

    "Wu Shi comes from the Yin Realm, a world created by the Nanke Dao Lord, a collapsed universe.

    No wonder the creatures that chased us here were so weak; it''s because... this place is also a dream of Nanke?"

    "The ancestral land... is a product of the Yang Realm. When I have time, I should visit the ancestral land''s hometown.

    Back then, they helped me so much; I should repay them."

    Qi Yuan believed in repaying kindness.

    "Here, I comprehended that all beings are me. In fact... this is also a precursor to my reincarnation."

    Qi Yuan''s reincarnation to resist "Return to Nothingness" is to know all things, to know everything in the world.

    All beings are me, which is also part of it.

    "Unfortunately, the concept of all beings being me has flaws; I was still weak back then."

    "In that battle, everyone sacrificed themselves, like selling low-tier cards in Teamfight Tactics, just to chase after my three-star five-cost."

    "Although I revived them with the concept of all beings being me, turning them into my Nascent Souls, someone like Venerable Tianbao who died early, only his memories were revived in my Nascent Soul."

    "Now... I can truly remember him, and... many others, many NPCs."

    Back then, in the group chat, Venerable Tianbao knew he was in danger and didn''t have much time left.

    He wanted to give Qi Yuan the treasure for breaking through to True God.

    They had never met, and their only interaction was this.

    Later, the sky lit up, the night illuminated by a pillar of light, and Qi Yuan learned of Venerable Tianbao''s death, met his granddaughter Wang Wenqi, and received the treasure for breaking through to True God.

    After an unknown amount of time, Qi Yuan seemed lost in thought.

    "Should I go see... Ancient God Yuan? Could she be a fellow countryman, Yuan Shen?"

    Qi Yuan thought about it and finally decided not to.

    He looked up, through the ages, and seemed to see the swaying Heavenly Pillar.

    The Heavenly Pillar was the backbone of the Mortal Heart Realm.

    "It''s time... to see her."

    Qi Yuan recalled his three meetings with the Foodless Holy Mother.

    He sighed inwardly.

    In Wu Shi''s timeline, the first Little Wu Shi was weak and pitiful.

    The second time he met Wu Shi, she discovered the truth. She understood why, as a Devouring Primordial and Innate Primordial, she could eat fish. It turned out she was eating Qi Yuan''s blood.

    At that time, with the characteristics of the Devouring Primordial and her strength, if she had acted, she might have been able to devour part of Qi Yuan across time and space, but in the end, she held back.

    The desires inherent in such a physique were hard for ordinary people to suppress and control.

    Even during their last meeting, she had a meal with Qi Yuan, eating ordinary fish.

    Back then, Qi Yuan didn''t understand why she chewed so slowly; was she afraid of fish bones?

    Now he realized she was enduring immense pain.

    She was also telling Qi Yuan that her strength wasn''t solely due to her physique; she had overcome the desires it brought.

    She didn''t eat him.

    "It''s time to see her."

    Thinking of Wu Shi, Qi Yuan also remembered the cold, snow-white woman from the Cloud Dream Palace and the mischievous young Wu Shi from the Tu Wu Great Realm.

    Half a breath later, a graceful figure appeared behind Qi Yuan.

    The woman was as cold as frost, as lonely as snow, with a trace of turbidity in the corners of her eyes, as if she had been in the Forbidden Land for too long, where time and space were chaotic, and curses of sinking clung to her.

    Or perhaps her eyes were tainted by hatred.

    She stared at Qi Yuan, her voice hoarse.

    "Should I call you master, or disciple?"

    "Or... Cycle?"

    Her laugh carried a hint of grievance.

    ...

    Gongxing.

    Robot Zero-One stood beside Qi Yuan, holding a cat.

    "The myriad paths are composed of zero and one. Zero-One, you''re right."

    "Games are made of zero and one; the present world is just a large-scale game."

    "If "return to Nothingness" is zero, representing nothingness, then my reincarnation is one, representing existence."

    "Master, how many levels of computer exams have you passed?"

    "Ahem, that''s not important. Do those programmers understand zero and one better than me? Do they understand games better than me? Or do they understand world creation better than me?"

    "Probably not as much as you." Zero-One''s voice remained mechanical. It turned its head to look at the man in black ahead. "Do you think if the Luo and Chen families hadn''t been wiped out, he would still be determined to seek death?"

    "Probably not. Back then... he was probably more heartbroken than anything."

    "Should I help you package this world and send it to you?"

    "No, don''t. I still have to respect their privacy!"

    "Sigh, reincarnation is too hard."

    "The myriad worlds... should practice family planning. Otherwise, when will I ever finish walking through them, knowing all things, creating reincarnation?"

    "Hey, this stone, do you want to enter my reincarnation? But before you do, your privacy might be slightly exposed. I might see you bathing naked?"

    "Hey, why aren''t you saying anything? Are you shy?"

    "Don''t worry, I''m very humane; I''ll delete the memories!"

    "Otherwise, with so many memories, my memory will be insufficient, and it''ll be annoying if I lag."

    "This stone doesn''t understand human language. Little Junior Sister is better, rich and beautiful."

    "Right, I''ll go ask if Junior Sister''s money is willing to enter my reincarnation."

    "Junior Sister''s money is probably very obedient."

    <hr>

    In the Divine Wood Universe.

    "Black Heaven exists in the past and the future, but not in the present."

    "Am I... in the past now?"

    Qi Yuan wandered through the vast Divine Wood Universe for a long, long time.

    Different timelines, different points in time.

    Unfortunately, he met many people, including Chen Kangbao.

    But he never found Shen Lingxuan, the blind girl, or his master, Ruan Yixi.

    He understood that Shen Lingxuan was a Chosen One, a manifestation of a lingering thought from the ancient Qi Chuang tree.

    In a way, she was a part of his master.

    "Does the fourth stage of Yang God exist only in the past and future? Even now... I can''t see them?"

    Qi Yuan felt lost.

    Back then, when he fought Black Heaven, it was also across time and space.

    They had never met face to face.

    His master, Ruan Yixi, was a sentient being born from the lingering thoughts of the fourth-stage Yang God ancient Qi Chuang tree.

    Her existence was different from ordinary fourth-stage Yang God beings.

    Ordinary fourth-stage Yang God beings had no true spirit and existed only in the past and future. Only when they reached the second stage of solidification would they exist in the present.

    But she was born from a fourth-stage Yang God being that existed in the past and future.

    Such an example was unique in all the myriad worlds.

    If not for Qi Yuan''s special ability, she would not have gained sentience.

    Thus, she could only exist in the past and future.

    "The reincarnation I seek is one without regrets, a perfect fulfillment of desires."

    "I am still too weak now."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    To see his master, he first needed to surpass the understanding of "escape."

    Second, he needed to make a significant leap forward in his path of reincarnation.

    "The Divine Wood Universe was born because of you. Every blade of grass, every tree, every cycle of life and death here is a trace of your existence."

    "Know all things, enter reincarnation."

    At this moment, Qi Yuan became a traveler.

    He walked through the Divine Wood Universe across different timelines.

    He seemed to hear his own murmurs, telling the stories of "Journey to the West" and "The Romance of the Eastern Chamber".

    He seemed to see an ancient Qi Chuang tree standing alone in the vast emptiness.

    The clouds drifted, the rain fell, but she couldn''t hear the sound of the drizzle. She could only hear one person''s voice.

    The lonely Qi Chuang in the wilderness had no one to share her thoughts with, but one person told her about many beautiful sights.

    The thunder in the sky deliberately fell silent, as if unwilling to speak to her. Fortunately, she had someone to confide in.

    In the wet marshes, the white mugwort and cockleburs grew lush and beautiful, but she couldn''t appreciate them. It seemed she was waiting for something.

    "Know all things, understand all beings, master reincarnation."

    "Master, I know too little about you."

    He walked through the entire Divine Wood Universe.

    He saw flowers, grass, trees, insects, fish, birds, beasts, clouds, thunder, stones, and iron.

    But his understanding of his master remained limited.

    He had stillness, he had reincarnation, and though he could traverse time and space, he could never touch the traces of his master.

    He could only occasionally catch glimpses of some scenes and hear fragmented words.

    "Hey, who are you? What''s your name?"

    "Qi Yuan?"

    "Then I''ll call myself Yuan Qi?"

    "Hmm... no, Yuan Qi?"

    "Ruan Yixi."

    "I want to open the seven orifices."

    "Who am I?"

    "Who are you? What''s your name?"

    "Don''t remember?"

    "No name?"

    "Then I''ll call you..."

    "Little Blood?"

    "Little Robe?"

    "Blood Robe!"

    "Let''s get divorced!"

    "Stick together."

    ...

    "Hey... did you give me my eyes?"

    Countless whispers, murmurs, and fragmented images entered his eyes and ears.

    Qi Yuan felt as if he could reach out and touch them.

    But he never could.

    "Reincarnation... what''s still missing?"

    Qi Yuan murmured.

    He didn''t know how long he had walked, forgetting time. He left the Divine Wood Universe.

    He seemed like a madman, a lunatic, or a cultivator with a poor memory.

    He traveled between the past and future while existing in the present.

    He knew all things, understood all things, and step by step perfected reincarnation.

    "I forgot, I''m still missing a sword."

    "The Sword of Forgetting."

    The Sword of Forgetting was forged from his fourth-stage Yang God self, crafted by the Moneybags Dao God and the Sword Disciple.

    This sword could sever the curse of sinking.

    It could cut away excess memories.

    There were too many things in the myriad worlds, and too many possibilities across different timelines.

    "The Great Forgetfulness Sutra couldn''t make me forget."

    "What about the Sword of Forgetting?"

    "I do not exist in the present, nor do I come from the present. I exist in the past and the future."

    "Can I temporarily sever all the noisy memories, leaving only those related to my master?"

    He seemed to have discovered something.

    "More pure now."

    "So this... is the Dao of Escape."

    "Is this the past and future of Escape?"

    "Am I now at the sixth stage of Yang God?"

    "Should I keep going?"

    The path of reincarnation continued to expand, and Qi Yuan continued to walk alone.

    His strength and realm also continued to rise.

    He felt no fatigue, no weariness, wandering outside the timelines.

    His strength and realm continued to climb.

    First, he surpassed Escape, then he surpassed the Heavenly Emperor, surpassed Stillness.

    More and more sixth-stage Yang God beings were left behind.

    He seemed to be getting closer and closer to "Return to Nothingness".

    One day, he grew tired, his legs sore, and he felt lonely.

    After all, he was a mundane person, walking around ants, and feeling lonely was normal.

    "Together as one."

    At this moment, Xiao Jia in her red wedding dress appeared and said, "Qi Yuan, I am Xiao Jia!"

    "Let''s walk together."

    This time, it wasn''t a wooden sign.

    The End!

 Extra 1: The game has just begun

    Canglan Realm.

    Shenguang Sect.

    The morning bell rang continuously, as it always had.

    "Wake up!"

    "Wake up!"

    The voice of the wooden cat puppet was as annoying as ever.

    Qi Yuan tossed a piece of dried fish at it, effectively silencing the wooden cat puppet.

    Only then did the noise finally cease.

    At that moment, a crisp voice sounded beside Qi Yuan.

    "Senior Brother, get up already! Stop sleeping in, the sun is already shining on your butt."

    A graceful figure appeared in the seaside villa.

    That''s right. After Qi Yuan''s strength increased, he upgraded to a house befitting his status.

    This time, it was a seaside villa.

    What if there was no sea on Seven Colors Peak?

    He simply moved one there.

    "Sigh, just a little longer." Qi Yuan stretched lazily, shifting into a more comfortable position. "And what sun? Where is there a sun?"

    As soon as Qi Yuan spoke, the several suns in the sky above Seven Colors Peak disappeared.

    Jiang Lingsu looked at Qi Yuan, hands on her hips. "Sigh, Senior Brother, even Sister Ning Tao says you''ve been too weak lately. She won''t even sleep with you at night anymore."

    "Ahem, what nonsense are you talking about?" Qi Yuan rolled out of bed like a carp leaping out of water.

    This was what they called a Yang God''s roll.

    "I''m just tired from playing games." Qi Yuan yawned, looking listless.

    On his journey to resist "Return to Nothingness", he had been moving forward relentlessly.

    Some time ago, he expended a tremendous amount of energy to finally protect the Forbidden Land and break free from its sinking.

    He had also stepped into the realm of Yang God.

    His Yang God realm was actually quite ordinary.

    It wasn''t as flashy as the Stellar Golden Core, nor as powerful as the Nascent Souls of the Innate Gods.

    According to Qi Yuan''s understanding, Yang God, Yang God¡ªhis Yang God was just a bit more... yang.

    Yang represents brightness and righteousness, symbolizing justice.

    This time, he didn''t awaken any superpowers.

    Perhaps one day, when he had traveled through all the myriad worlds and seen all the sights, he would awaken a new ability.

    "Senior Brother, isn''t the game over?" Jiang Lingsu was a bit confused.

    She also knew a bit about Stillness.

    "Is the game... over?"

    Qi Yuan took a deep breath.

    "Am I not still in the game?"

    "In fact, aren''t the Canglan Realm and the Immortal Realm also just games?"

    Although Qi Yuan had a poor memory and a somewhat chaotic mind, being mentally ill didn''t mean he was stupid.

    During the first game, or rather, in Moonwatch Continent, he had already realized that the so-called game... was also reality, or truth.

    But back then, he was too weak, living in a thatched hut.

    Moreover, his soul and true spirit were still fragile.

    Playing in the game for a long time consumed his true spirit.

    On top of that, the countless plots and complex human emotions also drained his true spirit.

    In Blue Star terms, it was like taking up memory.

    Qi Yuan''s true spirit couldn''t fully support the game''s operation.

    So, he would selectively forget some things.

    This way, it was a win-win.

    He could also act more freely.

    After all, he was just a 200-month-old baby at the time.

    Constantly dealing with saving the world, national hatred, family grudges, and betrayals¡ªhis young heart couldn''t handle it.

    "Wait, are we also part of the game?" Jiang Lingsu''s eyes widened, looking utterly adorable.

    "Not just part of the game, but also within the dream of the Nanke Dao Lord. In fact... we don''t exist." Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    At his current level, turning the virtual into reality and refining the false into truth was a trivial matter.

    No big deal.

    "The false game has ended, and the real game... the one that belongs to me, has just begun."

    Qi Yuan said.

    His game was a long one.

    As a certain famous person once said:

    "The road ahead is long, and the journey is far."

    If "Return to Nothingness" is represented by 0, then reincarnation is 1.

    To achieve 1, one must traverse all the myriad worlds, countless times, past and future.

    Examine every living being, every stone, every trace of nothingness.

    This isn''t something that can be done in a short time.

    In other words, from now on, Qi Yuan will be playing a game in reality.

    A game... of traveling the world.

    A game... of traversing reincarnation.

    "When I have seen all the sights in the world, Xiao Jia... will truly have her own eyes."

    "When I have heard all the sounds in the world, she will have her own ears."

    "When I have greeted all living beings and nothingness in the world, she will be able to speak continuously."

    "The game is always ongoing, the road is always being walked, and the scenery is always in my eyes."

    Qi Yuan''s expression was somewhat desolate.

    He was already invincible.

    Even those at the sixth stage of Yang God were no match for him.

    But his journey was still long.

    Every space, every corner of time, every hidden place¡ªhe needed to set foot in them, to see them.

    It was like a story he heard as a child.

    About throwing stranded fish on the beach back into the sea.

    Someone asked, "There are so many fish, how can you save them all? Who cares?"

    The person replied, "This fish cares."

    For Qi Yuan, what he needed to do now was pick up every fish, save them from nothingness, and throw them into reincarnation.

    Unlike the person in the story who saved fish, Qi Yuan had plenty of time¡ªeternal and infinite. Plus... he was fast.

    Though sometimes, Qi Yuan felt that he had been cultivating for too long, and his mind was in chaos. He didn''t know what was right, what was wrong, what was good, what was evil.

    Fortunately, he was a Yang God now.

    Yang represents brightness and righteousness, so he... was at least good.

    Representing correctness.

    So, when throwing those fish back into the sea, he would also ask, "Are you sunbathing? Do you want to go back to the sea?"

    What if it was a misunderstanding?

    What if there was a fish that disliked its pale belly and preferred sunbathing on the sand to get a healthy tan?

    He wouldn''t make decisions for others.

    Nor did he need the beings of the myriad worlds to kneel before him.

    After all, the education he received on Blue Star was about... everyone standing tall.

    "Alright, this time... I''ll go to the Yang Realm, to the ancestral land of the Ancient Clan, and have some fun."

    Although he was still sleeping here now, his path of reincarnation was constantly at play, entering countless reincarnations, countless times and spaces, bit by bit, understanding all living beings and inanimate objects in the myriad worlds.

    "Senior Brother, I''ll go too!" Jiang Lingsu said excitedly, but then she hesitated. "Never mind, I won''t go. I promised Qi Jianjun to go fishing."

    "You guys... fishing fanatics." Qi Yuan was speechless.

    After Qi Jianjun returned, she took Jinli, Ning Tao, Canary, and the others fishing every day.

    During this time, they were probably fishing and playing in Purple Fate Heaven.

    Moreover, under the instigation of Horned Sister, they were planning to hold a fishing competition.

    The location would be the Twelfth Heaven of the Immortal Realm.

    After stepping into the Yang God realm, Qi Yuan reshaped the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Realm and the Twelfth Heaven, also breaking the Immortal Realm''s lack of a future.

    "Whoever catches the biggest fish, I''ll crown them the Universe''s Invincible Fishing General."

    After saying this, Qi Yuan''s figure disappeared.

    "Going to the ancestral land... let''s create a small account."

    "Hmm, make it look ordinary, with low presence. After all... I need to observe living beings and stones every day. If I look too handsome, someone might mistake me for a pervert, right?"

    Although Qi Yuan''s path of reincarnation was observing the myriad worlds on his behalf, constantly perfecting reincarnation, he himself... still needed to observe, right?

    To improve efficiency.

    It''s just that when observing in person, it''s easy to be mistaken for a pervert.

    Fortunately, he didn''t have a phone, so he wouldn''t be mistaken for a peeping tom.

    "The game... begins."

    ...

    Three years later.

    In a courtyard.

    "I think... is there something wrong with Little Yuan?"

    "Huh? Malnourished? Give him some nutritional supplements?"

    "I think... there''s something wrong with his brain. He''s already three years old, and he''s still watching ants, playing with stones, and messing with mud."

    "Definitely a bit mentally challenged... Wang Zhiyong next door was already running a family business and smuggling Thunder Ore Divine Ducks at three."

    "It seems Little Yuan needs some medicine to fix his brain."

    PS: The extras are just random writings, updated sporadically!

 Extra 2: Healing

    In the courtyard, various colors flowed and shifted.

    Qi Yuan squatted on the ground, intently watching the ants.

    The ants marched in formation, carrying crumbs of bread back to their nest.

    A figure in a wedding dress stood quietly in Qi Yuan''s shadow, silent.

    "Cousin, are the ants that interesting?"

    A childish voice rang out.

    A plump young woman walked over, her belly swollen. She looked at Qi Yuan with a particularly complex expression.

    "It depends... on who''s watching the ants with you." Qi Yuan didn''t look up, continuing to observe the ants, learning the story of each one.

    "Little Fang, don''t follow your cousin''s example. You''ll go into business when you grow up." The plump young woman patted her belly as she spoke.

    From within the belly, a childish voice responded, tinged with dissatisfaction, resisting.

    "I don''t want to go into business! I want to cultivate!"

    Clearly, the one who had just spoken to Qi Yuan was the embryo inside the young woman''s belly.

    That''s right. In this ancestral land, children developed quickly. Even embryos had consciousness and could speak.

    Thus, Qi Yuan, who at three years old was still watching ants, playing in the mud, and playing house with his wedding dress, seemed particularly out of place.

    "Alright, cultivate. My Little Fang will surely become a god and an ancestor." The plump young woman laughed, clearly pleased.

    About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

    The embryo, Qi Fang, twitched his eyelids. "Strange, in this timeline, my cousin should have died young... Why is he still alive?"

    Qi Fang was a regressor, having returned to his childhood.

    In the future, he would leave the Celestial Dragon Firefly Constellation and become an ancestral-level existence.

    He was only one step away from becoming a true Primordial Ancestor.

    However, before he could break through to the Primordial Ancestor level, a terrifying disaster struck.

    All living beings were annihilated in an instant.

    This annihilation was no less severe than "Return to Nothingness", or perhaps, it was another expression of "Return to Nothingness".

    All the Primordial Ancestors, in that moment, sacrificed themselves to instantly reverse the timeline, turning cause into effect, reverting the world.

    Thus, he was reborn.

    At the same time, he also knew that this might not be the first time the worldline had restarted.

    But each time, it ended with the annihilation of spirits.

    "Could it be that there''s also an ancestral-level powerhouse nearby who altered the timeline, indirectly affecting my cousin Qi Yuan and allowing him to survive?"

    "But even though he survived, his development is still slow. He''s already three years old and still watches ants."

    "I heard Uncle gave him a lot of nutritional supplements, but it didn''t help."

    ...

    "Xiao Jia, this is the Golden Light Jade Orchid. Before the Divine Wood Universe was even born, there was one in the chaos.

    Unfortunately, you didn''t have consciousness back then, so you couldn''t see it bloom or smell its fragrance... Now... can you see it?"

    Below the cliff, a fluid resembling lava flowed, and a Golden Light Jade Orchid grew at an angle.

    Its stem was like shattered jade, each segment emitting a faint green smoke; its leaves were sword-shaped and narrow, with seal script flowing through their veins.

    When it bloomed, the edges were gold, the center a deep purple with pink stamens, the petals layered, and inside was a golden tassel.

    "The orchid... smells nice..."

    The voice was ethereal, fragmented.

    Qi Yuan seemed to see Xiao Jia closing her eyes, breathing in the air of the world with all her might.

    Qi Yuan held Xiao Jia''s cold hand, his face lighting up with surprise. "You can smell the fragrance now?"

    "Mm..."

    Xiao Jia nodded timidly, her body leaning closer to Qi Yuan''s.

    She seemed to want to remember Qi Yuan''s scent.

    "It seems it won''t be long before I can take you to watch movies, go to amusement parks, visit the Milky Way, and even black holes..."

    Qi Yuan said.

    This world, he needed to traverse it all, to familiarize himself with every inch of land, every living being.

    As his familiarity grew, as reincarnation became complete, Xiao Jia would also truly become normal, emerging from nothingness.

    The lava-like fluid rose, blooming like ten thousand flowers, iron sparks flying.

    "Wedding... wedding night..."

    Xiao Jia stammered, her face looking somewhat anxious.

    Seeing this, Qi Yuan chuckled. "Hey, what are you thinking about!"

    He held Xiao Jia, just like watching the desert from the walls of the City of No Return, or digging a hole to sleep in the ground.

    Life was already beautiful.

    But then, a voice shattered this beauty.

    "Human... can you trade this Golden Light Jade Orchid to me?"

    Qi Yuan looked over and saw a figure faintly visible in the mist not far away.

    The figure was wary of him, its gaze sweeping over the Golden Light Jade Orchid with a hint of desire.

    Being called "human," Qi Yuan felt slightly surprised.

    "Ming, you''re ruining the mood."

    The creature hidden in the mist was a member of the Ming tribe.

    Since the other called him "human," he called the other "Ming."

    It was like a cat calling a human "human," and a human calling a cat "cat."

    "But I really need this Golden Light Jade Orchid. Our clan leader is injured and needs it for treatment." The Ming youth said, "Please, help me. I can trade."

    The Ming tribe was inherently kind.

    Otherwise, if it were another race, they might have directly attacked Qi Yuan in secret.

    "By the way, is your partner suffering from some condition, missing her five senses? I''m willing to give her my five senses!"

    The Ming youth said.

    Qi Yuan looked at the Ming youth and smiled. "I appreciate your kindness."

    The youth''s five senses were indeed precious, comparable to some supreme treasures.

    But giving them to Xiao Jia wouldn''t work.

    "Not enough?" The Ming youth was disappointed, his heart anxious.

    For a moment, he didn''t know what to do.

    Then, Qi Yuan''s clear voice surprised him.

    "How about this? You don''t need the Golden Light Jade Orchid. I''ll help you heal your clan leader instead. How does that sound?" Qi Yuan said with a smile.

    The flower from earlier carried part of Xiao Jia''s memories.

    If it were destroyed, it would, to some extent, delay the reconstruction of Xiao Jia''s true spirit.

    Of course, that flower also had a faint consciousness of its own.

    "This..." The Ming youth was stunned.

    This person couldn''t even heal his own partner, yet he wanted to heal their clan leader.

    He didn''t quite believe in Qi Yuan''s medical skills.

    "Alright." After much hesitation, the Ming youth finally nodded.

    "Let''s go, Xiao Jia. Let''s visit the Ming tribe. We''ve checked off another new place."

    Qi Yuan held Xiao Jia''s cold hand and followed the Ming youth, disappearing.

    Later, ancient records would note:

    "A Ming child sought medicine and encountered a strange man who owned the herb. The Ming child offered to trade, but the strange man said, ''Why bother with the herb? I can heal.''

    He led them back to their ancestral land, causing an uproar. The strange man tapped the elder''s spiritual platform, and the foul miasma dissipated. After the treatment, he left with the bride, leaving the Ming tribe in awe."

 Chapter 602: Create More Groups

    Chapter 602: Create More Groups

    "I need to find a way to increase the occupancy rate of the Myriad Heavens Mirror and gain more faith," Qi Yuan pondered.

    Feng Ye, however, was of no help in this matter.

    "It seems I need to read more books."

    Having spent so much time as a recluse on the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, Qi Yuan felt something was amiss.

    Knowledge is power.

    Thus, he decided to visit the various libraries on the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain to better understand the background of this game.

    "This game is indeed different from the previous ones."

    As he walked out of his residence, Qi Yuan reflected.

    In the past, when entering a game, there would always be game task prompts.

    But this game had yet to provide any such prompts.

    "There are so many gods here, it''s quite lively."

    Walking through the streets of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, Qi Yuan saw many stalls and shops, bustling like a mortal marketplace.

    "Red Dragon Bone, only one hundred divine crystals!"

    "Fragment of the ''Nine Suns An Miao True God Scripture,'' a rare find!"

    Qi Yuan listened to these calls and used his eyes to see the hidden information about these items.

    "If I ever fall on hard times, I could use my eyes to pick out treasures here and maybe become a millionaire."

    With this thought, Qi Yuan arrived at the library of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    The library was towering, with six floors.

    As a nominal child of Pillar Tian Kai, Qi Yuan had access to the first three floors.

    Inside the library, many Void God scribes were busy organizing books, heads bowed.

    Qi Yuan entered the library and immediately immersed himself in reading.

    "This world is vast, and the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain isn''t even the most powerful force. Interesting."

    The number of Dao Gods and Spirit Gods on the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain was a secret.

    But with twelve Pillars like Tian Kai, the number of ordinary Dao Gods must be considerable.

    So many Dao Gods already surpassed the number of Dao Lords in the Cosmic Realm.

    Moreover, there was the Emperor God, who had survived the three calamities and tribulations.

    With such immense power, the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain was still not the strongest force, which surprised Qi Yuan.

    "The Ten Thousand Gods Mountain''s greatest enemy is... the Soul-Severing Bridge?"

    The Soul-Severing Bridge was also a terrifying force, not inferior to the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain.

    It was said that the master of the Soul-Severing Bridge was a bridge itself, with a grudge against the Emperor God.

    Thus, the two forces were now at war.

    If one encountered members of the Soul-Severing Bridge in the Myriad Heavens Mirror, caution was necessary, as the two sides would kill each other on sight. After all, killing a True God from the opposing side would earn significant merit.

    "This game''s atmosphere isn''t great either. Why all the fighting?"

    "And even as a True God, I have to serve in the military?"

    According to the rules of the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain, if Qi Yuan did not reach the Divine Lord stage within a hundred thousand years, he would have to go to the front lines and face True Gods from the Soul-Severing Bridge and other forces.

    "I won''t be fighting in any wars. I need to reach the Divine Lord stage as soon as possible."

    Currently, Qi Yuan was still at the Divine Kingdom stage.

    However, after capturing that "romance novel" Heavenly Dao, he had gained a strange Divine Decree ability, so other True Gods saw him as being at the Divine Decree stage.

    "The so-called Divine Decree stage is essentially the ability to make words into laws.

    Reaching the Divine Decree stage isn''t difficult. It''s about... making your believers trust your Divine Decrees, thereby imbuing them with infinite power?"

    "I need to cultivate seriously. If I fail to survive the three calamities and tribulations, it''s over."

    Even Dao Gods, comparable to Dao Lords, might not survive the three calamities and tribulations, perishing utterly.

    Although Qi Yuan was confident, he didn''t think he was necessarily stronger than a Dao Lord.

    Thus, he needed to be cautious about the three calamities and tribulations.

    "Unfortunately, I''m too weak now to access the higher floors and read about the three calamities and tribulations."

    Qi Yuan sighed.

    To read about the three calamities and tribulations, he needed at least the strength of a Divine Lord.

    He flipped through the books in the library, time passing quickly.

    "Qi Yuan?"

    After an unknown amount of time, a crisp voice called out.

    Qi Yuan put down the book and looked at the newcomer.

    It was a man dressed in a green robe, looking very scholarly.

    "My name is Hei Tian," the man introduced himself, perhaps fearing Qi Yuan wouldn''t know him.

    "Your name is similar to an old friend of mine," Qi Yuan said.

    The old friend he referred to was Hei Tian from the Divine Wood Universe.

    "I am also a child of Pillar Tian Kai. In a way, I''m your elder brother," Hei Tian said with a smile. "By the way, let me remind you, the Infinite Dao God is currently accepting disciples. Tan Ying... has a high chance of becoming the Infinite Dao God''s disciple."

    He was showing goodwill to Qi Yuan.

    Some time ago, Tan Ying had a falling out with Qi Yuan.

    Now, if Tan Ying became the Infinite Dao God''s disciple, Hei Tian believed it would be unfavorable for Qi Yuan.

    Seeing Qi Yuan in the library, he decided to give a heads-up.

    "This time, not only is Tan Ying striving to participate, but many god-children and goddesses are also eager to become disciples of the Infinite Dao God.

    Brother Qi Yuan, why not give it a try? Becoming a Dao God''s disciple has many benefits," Hei Tian advised.

    The Infinite Dao God''s recruitment of disciples had caused quite a stir on the Ten Thousand Gods Mountain. Many True Gods were sharpening their knives, hoping to become his disciples.

    Becoming a disciple of the Infinite Dao God would bring many benefits, including exemption from military service.

    "Is that so?" Qi Yuan responded indifferently. "Thanks for letting me know."

    He wasn''t concerned.

    After all, Tan Ying would soon die.

    He probably wouldn''t even become the Infinite Dao God''s disciple before meeting his end.

    Hei Tian chatted with Qi Yuan for a while, always polite and seemingly friendly.

    "Brother Qi Yuan, I''ll take my leave now. I need to check the Mystic Zone.

    If you have any cultivation questions, feel free to ask me. If I know, I''ll share everything."

    After saying this, Hei Tian bid farewell to Qi Yuan and headed to the Mystic Zone.

    About thirty breaths later, Hei Tian''s expression turned solemn, his back appearing somewhat lonely.

    "I, Hei Tian... am not a bargaining chip.

    My fate must be in my own hands. I absolutely... will not be a shield for others!"

    Hei Tian muttered, though more out of helplessness.

    Unlike other god-children, he had been born as a Void God and was directly promoted to True God.

    Because he knew he was a bargaining chip.

    Thus, after reaching the Divine Lord stage, he could no longer cultivate.

    He could only wait quietly for the transaction to begin, and then... die.

    This was not the outcome Hei Tian desired.

    So, he had been constantly befriending other True Gods, acting like a good-natured person.

    He hoped that among those he befriended, one might eventually reach the Spirit God or Dao God stage.

    Then, they could lend him a hand¡ªjust a hand, not multiple hands.

    Of course, he knew this was just a pipe dream.

    First, most of those he befriended were his siblings. While they were talented, reaching the Spirit God or Dao God stage was extremely difficult.

    Second, his method of befriending was too unstable.

    After all, the one who would trade him away was a Dao God.

    Even a Dao God would not offend another Dao God for his sake.

    On the other side.

    Qi Yuan put down the book.

    "This Hei Tian... is quite interesting."

    Qi Yuan stretched and continued reading.

    He was now researching information about the Myriad Heavens Mirror.

    After all, his current group chat was too quiet, with too few people.

    "Hmm?"

    "There are many fragments of the Myriad Heavens Mirror scattered across the myriad worlds. The reason there are so few people in the group chat is because... the fragments haven''t been activated?"

    According to the books, Qi Yuan learned much about the Myriad Heavens Mirror.

    It had many, many fragments.

    But to many, it might appear as a piece of broken jade or a shard of pottery, just an old relic. Without paying attention to it or studying it, they couldn''t activate it to enter the group chat.

    "So, if I help those people activate it, can they join my Myriad Heavens Mirror?"

    Qi Yuan pondered.

    "If I use my Myriad Heavens Mirror as a small loudspeaker and combine it with my superpower, can I make those who possess the Myriad Heavens Mirror fragments... join the new group chat I create?"

    One of Qi Yuan''s superpowers was that his voice could traverse vast distances, reaching unknown places.

    This could be random or targeted.

    Qi Yuan thought about using the Myriad Heavens Mirror to send his voice to those who possessed its fragments.

    If he could make those people pay attention to the Myriad Heavens Mirror, they might join the group chat.

    ...

    In an unknown place.

    The Heavenly Dragon Emperor''s expression was complex.

    "What, the Origin Heavenly God hasn''t spoken?" the seductive woman asked.

    The Heavenly Dragon Emperor nodded: "Since descending into Wu Santong''s world, he has rarely spoken. It seems he''s indifferent to going to other worlds. Master... could it be that Wu Santong is like you?"

    The Heavenly Dragon Emperor asked cautiously.

    He suspected that Wu Santong was also fishing and had already hooked Qi Yuan.

    The seductive woman shook her head: "Wu Santong is a mortal. Perhaps the Origin Heavenly God is cautious and has discovered your flaws. Don''t panic. He only has one Myriad Heavens Mirror and a few worlds to gather faith from. He will surely grow restless. We just need to wait patiently."

    Hearing this, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor could only agree: "What if he takes a long time to act?"

    "As a True God, patience is the least of our concerns," the seductive woman said with a smile.

    At most, she would wait a few hundred thousand years. To her, it was nothing.

    A few hundred thousand years¡ªwhat could he possibly do in that time?

    While the seductive woman was plotting against Qi Yuan, Qi Yuan was busy creating new group chats.

    For him, the previous group chat had too few people, and with a small base, the number of fools like Wen Zhuyun would also be low.

    Thus, using his special ability, he frantically created new groups.

    With more people, the number of fools like Wen Zhuyun would surely increase. He wouldn''t need eloquence or sophisticated rhetoric to make those people believe in him.

    After relentless effort, Qi Yuan had created two new groups.

    One group was chaotic, with over a hundred people.

    The other group had fewer members, around fifty, but Qi Yuan felt the probability of finding fools there was higher.

    At this moment, his attention was on one of the newly created groups.

    "This group is quite interesting. It''s very quiet during the day, lively at night, but then quiet again after midnight," Qi Yuan mused.

    He checked the time, roughly 6 PM by Earth''s standards.

    Sure enough, the quiet group suddenly became lively.

    "Count Nall is accepting blood servants (arrogant)."

    "Lord Nall, please don''t drink my blood, sob sob."

    "Pfft, slurp, so delicious. (licking lips)"

    "Wah, no!"

    Qi Yuan looked at the messages in the group, feeling somewhat speechless.

    "Why do they all like to tell little lies?"

    His nose told him that everyone in the group was lying.

    "Group Leader, please drink the blood of your humble servant," a group member tagged Qi Yuan.

    Qi Yuan was at a loss for words.

    When he created this group, he had only mentioned vampires.

    But the group''s vibe had completely deviated.

    "I''m not in the mood for blood lately," Qi Yuan said. "How are your territories? Any dangers? Have the demon hunters been causing trouble?"

    Since he was role-playing, Qi Yuan played along.

    On the other side, in the Sky Federation.

    In a luxurious palace, men and women in uniforms were intently watching a screen.

    On the screen was a group chat.

    The group chat was from the Myriad Heavens Mirror.

    At this moment, Zhao Song looked nervous and uneasy.

    He was not a natural-born human but created by the Federation.

    There were many like him, making up one-tenth of the Federation''s population.

    Some time ago, a piece of broken jade he had acquired suddenly emitted a sound, and he inexplicably entered a group chat.

    Without hesitation, he reported this to the Federation.

    This caused a stir in the Federation.

    Soon, the Federation''s higher-ups formed an elite team to observe and study this group chat.

    At this moment, an elderly man with gold-rimmed glasses spoke. He was an expert in psychology and sociology.

    "It seems our speculation is correct. The beings in this group chat are likely the legendary vampires.

    The Vampire Emperor has summoned his subjects into the group chat, and Zhao Song accidentally entered.

    Our top priority is to not reveal our identity, speak less, but also not remain silent."

    The old man spoke, his face filled with excitement.

    "To think we could encounter the supernatural..." some women exclaimed excitedly.

    At this moment, a burly man asked, "The group leader has spoken. How should we respond?"

    In the group chat, due to Qi Yuan''s message, many people responded.

    "Demon hunters? They''re just my drinks. I, Count Nall, fear no one but the Emperor."

    "Hmph, a group of singing elves recently arrived in my territory. Their blood is delicious."

    The group chat was lively with messages.

    The people from the Sky Federation, seeing these messages, took them seriously.

    If this were an ordinary group chat, like QQ, they wouldn''t believe it, thinking it was a joke.

    But this piece of broken jade had inexplicably allowed them to enter a group chat, and their technological methods had detected nothing unusual.

    This suggested it was supernatural.

    A group of supernatural beings talking must be real.

    Even if these supernatural beings seemed a bit childish.

    But that was normal.

    What if these supernatural beings had underdeveloped brains?

    "A dragon has appeared in my territory. Vampire Emperor, should I capture it for you?"

    "No, we must protect animals."

    The elites were shocked.

    See? Even when encountering a dragon, they talk about protecting animals.

    This must be supernatural.

    The people present were excited, their expressions shifting.

    "Professor Liu, should we try asking about... the wraiths?"

    Mentioning wraiths, everyone''s expressions changed.

    Every night, wraiths roamed the Federation.

    Wraiths were like ghosts, formless and intangible. Guns couldn''t harm them, yet they often took lives, terrifyingly so.